the motions of your owne naturall corruptions See Gal. 6. 8. Yee shall dye namely the everlasting death Through the spirit if you make use of the gifts of the holy Ghost and of his exercises continually desire his assistance and co-operate with his motions and power to mortifie the concupiscences and sins which are practised by the body â—nd doe yet reside in you during this corporall life Now he seemes here to oppose that onely effectuall meanes of the spirit to all humane meanes which are too weake as lawes reason doctrines disciplines c. Ye shall live namely in heavenly glory and happinesse V. 14. For as many he gives a reason why the promise of life is made to regenerate mens namely because being made children of God by adoption sealed by the spirit of regeneration thay are consequently heires V. 15. For ye he proveth further that they are children by the holy Ghost who is the seal of their adoption imprints the feeling thereof in them and causeth them to feel the effects thereof and bear the fruits and yeeld the duties thereof contrarie to his operation towards those consciences which are absolutly under the law servisely tied to work to gain the wiges being in continuall terror of the punishment without comfort liberty or confidence In which manner the spirit of God in some sort had also used the beleevers in the legal discipline under the old testament vsing them as younger sons under tuition with much subjection and feare whereas now the spirit of grace being fully powred out as upon eldest sonnes filleth them with confidence and liberty towards God Gal. 13. we cry with a holy boldnesse wee sweetly and tenderly call upon our heavenly father crying out like little children See upon Marke 14. 36 V. 16. The spirit as he sets us on to call upon God our father so he likewise assureth us on his part and sealeth it in our hearts that we are his children V. 17. Then heirs having right by this gift of adoption to the everlasting goods of the heavenly father in the communion of Christ essential sonn of the father and sole heire by nature See Mat. 38. 12. Heb. 1. 2 if so be S. Paul purposing to go on to the effect of the holy ghost namly to comfort beleevers in their afflictions doth first set down that they are by Gods appointment a necessary condition to attain to glory to the imitation of Christ their head with him as he hath suffered for his cause in the communion of his body in manner of an army that fighteth with its head See 2. Cor. 1. 5. 6. 7. Col 1. 24. V. 18. For I we must supply This condition ought to be freely embraced by beleevers for the good which is promised under that condition is farre greater then the evil which they can feare therein V. 19. For the he proves the height of this glory because it is the end of all things which do aspire thereunto by a naturall instinct but especially beleevers who have the chief part therein waiteth for lookes attentively for the time when it shall cleerely appear which are the true qualities rights and priviledges of Gods children in the perfect love of God in his likenesse in the inheritance and possession of his blessednesse and in the enjoying of his glory V. 20. For the he gives a reason of the whole words ayming at this last mark namely because it hath been by mans sin put besides its first and naturall establishment into which as one should say it disires to be set again made subject being drawen by man to serv for an instrument to sinne and to the vaine end of seeking its good an creatures forsaking the creator and consequently being enfolded in Gods curse in the continuall disorder ruine and destruction of many of its parts and finally to the annyhilation of this faire outward fabrick of the world Psa 102. 26. not willingly according to Gods first institution who hath given all creatures certain naturall vses to which they seeme voluntarly to incline whereas seduction seemes to have some resemblance of violence of him namely man who was the onely cause of this curse Gen. 3. 17 in hope grounded upon this that it having suffered part of the curse for mans sin when he shall be fully reestablished in grace and glorie all trackes of curse shall be also quite extinguished in the world as it is set downe Isa. 51. 16. and 65. 17. and 64. 22. V. 21. Delivered it shall be no more subject to any alteration nor corruption as it is this present nor should not serve for obiect or instrument of sin but shal according to its degree and nature participate of the glorious estate of Gods children freed from all evills and wants V. 22. For we know that is to say though the world seem at this present to be in its highest splender and beauty yet it hath an evil which burthens it and sincks it namely sin of which burthren it would faine be eased in a maner like a woman that is great with child which not withstanding will not be untill the last resurrection V 23. and not only that which the world doth by a secret inclination without any feeling or discourse we beleevers do it thorow knowledg and spirituall judgment fighing for grief under the burden of sin which we bear with a desire to be perfectly freed from it the first fruits namely that first degre of regeneration and gifts of the spirit which is conferred in this life for a pledge of the perfection which shall be in the eternall life 2. Cor. 1. 22. and 5. 5. Ephes. 1. 14. the adoption namely the full manifestation and effect hereof in the delivering of our bodyes from the power of death by the resurrection Psal. 49. 15. V. 24. For we it ought not to seeme strange that I say that we waite though wee be saved alreadie for we are not so as yet but onely by right and not perfectly in deed which is evident by the nature of the vertue of hope chief amongst those which the sp 〈…〉 creates in us which would not take place if the effect of our salvation were present See 1. Cor. 13. 13. V. 25. But if wee the Italian and if wee if that hope by which even at this time wee doe appreheâ—â— our happinesse which is not as yet revealed be lively and well grounded it ought to produce in us an inuincible patience for any length of time suffering of troubles and oppositions to receive the effect at the appointed time See 1. Thess. 1. 3. Iam. 1. 4. V. 26. Likewise the same spirit which hath imprinted these perswasions and desiers in us doth also worke another effect in us namely to strengthen and beare us up in our weaknesses and that by the meanes of holy prayers by which wee obtaine from God his grace and strength and whatsoever else is necessarie for our salvation 2 Cor. 12. 8. 9. maketh in 〈…〉 ess
of Gods covenant V. 24. Schoolmaster that is to say a meanes and instrument to governe our soules and actions fitting for the Churches childhood with much rigor and servitude That we might namely that looking still upon Christ the Church might even in those dayes receive from him the gifts of righteousnes and life and that at this present time the effect of free justification might shew it selfe at full by those rigors and labours of the Law V. 26. For ye for the Christian Church is at this time come to such an age that childish servitude is taken away and the â—ight of her adoption is fully revealed and the use of holy libertie is given unto her by the holy Ghost Rom. 8. 15. Gal. 4. 1 5. V. 27. For as many Faith in Christ causeth Christ to be effectually applied to all true Believers who are baptized in his Name with internall as well as with externall Baptisme even as a garment to the bodie to communicate his righteousnesse life rights and dignitie unto them that as he is the son of God by nature they may also be made the like by grace and adoption and that without any distinction of nations states or conditions V. 28. Ye are all all Believers indifferently are one bodie enjoy the same rights and are reputed to be of one and the same condition V. 29. Christs his members by faith and by the communion of his Spirit Then are ye then need ye no more be joyned to the blessed nation by circumcision and other ceremonies as the ancient proselites were and as the false Apostles would tie you to be for being united with Christ the reall Head of the blessed race whereof Abraham was but onely the titular father you are sufficiently incorporated into it CHAP. IIII. VER 1. Dâ—ffereth nothing that is to say he is kâ—pt in strict subjection as concerning his person and hath neither the entire knowledge nor the 〈…〉 ment and enjoyment of his rights and 〈◊〉 V 〈…〉 the Law the 〈…〉 l members for it was composed of Gods children who had right to the heavenly inheritance in Christ Rom. 4 13 16. and yet by reason of their minoritie namely the small common distribution of Gods Spirit it was all hidden under a forme of servile conduct Under the namely under the discipline of the Law called elements because that in comparison of the full and solid doctrine of the Gospell the Law was but onely as an Alphabet or rough rudiments Hebr. 5. 12. by which the world began to be instructed in the mysteries of redemption or because the Law made use of many corporeall and earthly meanes which were not so simply and generally spirituall as the Gospell see Hebr. 7. 18. and 9. 1. V. 4. The fulnesse which was appointed and ordained by God Sent-forth he would have him taking upon him humane flesh manifest himselfe unto the world comming forth as one should say our of the everlasting habitation of his glorie and fulfill in his own person the worke of humane redemption Made of having assumed humane nature which he had not before according to which he hath been true man and a creature Iohn 1. 14. Rom. 1. 3. Phil. 2. 7. Borne of the holy Virgin without any worke of man Gen. 3. 15. Isai 7. 14. Mich. 5. 3. Made under namely hath taken upon him the forme of a servant Phil. 2. 7. subjecting himselfe to the the entire observation and satisfaction of the Law to acquire by vertue thereof to his humane nature and to all Believers the right to eternall glorie and to free them not onely from the curse of the Law but also from that hard externall government of it which hath been spoken of before Instead whereof he hath instituted the strong and free conduct of his Spirit V. 5. We might namely the whole Church of this present time The adoption not onely the benefit thereof but also the use and fruition See Rom. 8. 15 23. Ephes. 1. 5. V. 6. Because Because God hath adopted you to be his children in Christ he would make this gift full by regenerating you by his Spirit powred upon you by Christ who hath received the fulnesse of it Iohn 1. 16. for to distribute it to all his members by which also they being assured that God is their father they do call upon him as such with full confidence V. 7. Thou art no more Every Believer is freed by Christ both in right and in deed from the curse and servile pedagogie of the Law V. 8. Howbeit then that which I have said of the servile discipline of the Law belongeth to the Jewes but you O Galatians Gâ—ntiles we are under a worser servitude namely under a blinde idolatrie now then seâ—ing it hath pleased God at the very fiâ—â—st to bring you 〈…〉 ht or fall libertie of his Gospell why do you with foul ingratitude for such a benefit make your selves slaves to observe such things as are now altogether unprofitable and vain V. 9. Ye have known namely with that lively saving and effectuall knowledge which he of himselfe gives by his Word and Spirit Are known namely chosen and accepted of to be his To the weak to Mosaicall externall and corporeall ceremonies by which God formerly instructed his Church in its childhood as by a rough Alphabet and which had never any power in themselves to produce any spirituall effects Heb. 9. 9. and now under the Gospell are not so much as of any figurative or sacramentall use Again the Italian going backe namely from that degree of forwardnesse in the course of your heavenly vocation to which you have already attained in Christ. See Galat. 5. 7. Phil. 3. 14. V. 10. Ye observe following the false Apostles doctrine you do bring again the Mosaicall observation of distinction of times into a sacred use binding your consciences thereunto as if it were part of your holinesse and righteousnesse Col. 2. 16. V. 12. Be as Be my imitatours 1 Cor. 4. 16. and 11. 1. 1 Thess. 1. 6. For I am as in the state of a Believer and a Christian I am in the same degree and condition as you are under the same rule of faith and of Gods service that no man may thinke that I have any particular priviledge to exempt me from ceremonies Ye have not I am not any way exasperated against you for any offence done to my person I onely desire you to have a care of your own salvation V. 13. Infirmity namely afflictions and bodily miseries by which God hath tried and exercised me V. 14. As an Angell See Zech. 12. 8. As Christ not by yielding the honour which is due to Christ onely unto my person but by yielding obedience to my word as being the Word of Christ himselfe 1 Thess. 2. 13. 2 Pet. 3. 2. V. 15. Where is then that is to say What is the â—â—use that you so quickly alienate your selves from me and forsake my doctrine since at other times you reputed your selves
wind By this tempestuous and scorching wind Jon. 4. 8. is meant Gods judgement executed by the meanes of the Chaldeans Ezek. 19. 12. in the furrowes that is to say notwithstanding Egypts assistance and reliefe V. 12. The King namely Jehoiachim v. 2. 3. V. 13. Of the namely Zedekiah v. 5. and hath taken that is to say hee hath carried them away with him to weaken the Kingdome so much the more and for to have hostages by him V. 17. Made for him Hee shall doe Zedekiah no good who was straitly besieged by Nebuchadnezzar Jer. 37. 57. V. 18. His hand namely his faith and promise V. 19. Mine oath namely the punishment for breaking the oath hee had made in my name V. 22. Take off This begun to be put in execution in Zerubbabel who was of the blood Royall and brought the people out of Babylon but the perfect accomplishment is in Christ the everlasting King and sonne of David Isa. 11. 1. a tender hereby are meant Christs weake beginnings in his humane nature who was descended from the ancient stocke of the Kings of Juda. V. 23. The mountaine namely in my Church which spiritually is higher then any worldly height Isa. 2. 2. 3. Ezek. 20. 40. Mic. 4. 1. under it all nations shall come under the Messias to shelter themselves from all evills V. 24. The trees namely the great ones and Princes of the world CAAP. XVIII Vers. 2. HAve eaten have sinned and the children have suffered for it as the sins of Mannasâ—â—h are remembred upon Judah and the sinnes of Jeroboam upon the ten tribes See Lam. 5. 7. V. 3. Any more Since you make my patience an argument whereupon to tax my judgements I will hereafter bring them presently upon him that sinneth and lay open your iniquities like unto the iniquities of your forefathers for which I have heretofore punished you V. 4. All soules I am equally God and Judge of all not accepting of persons And if I doe delay my generall punishments it is out of my superabundant goodnesse And if the children doe beare the iniquities of the fathers it is according to justice either by reason of their imitating them or in so much as I punish them in their body and goods which they have from their fathers But the judgements upon the soule which proceed absolutely from me and is mine have no other cause nor foundation but every ones owne works V. 6. Hath not eaten namely of the idols sacrifices whose service was done upon hils and mountaines Ezek. 22. 9. See Deut. 32. 38. Ps. 106. 28. 1 Cor. 10. 20 21. List up his that is to say shall have detested them with all his heart Desiled by adultery V. 10. Any one the Italian any thing like to one Heb. the brother of any of these things V. 11. Any of those namely all the good deeds set downe before v. 7 8 9. V. 13. His bloud He shall suffer the capitall punishment for his owne sinne and he shall be the causer of his owne death Lev. 20. 9. Acts 18. 6. V. 17. Hath taken off his hand the Italian hath withdrawne that is to say keeps himselfe from wronging or oppressing him though he might have cause to doe it V. 19. Why He sheweth that those prophane men contending with the Prophets did seeke to catch them and make them confesse either that Gods judgements were not just in punishing the children for the fathers sinnes Or that the Prophets limitations and expositions were contrary to Gods Law Exod. 20. 5. Deut. 59. When the meaning of my Law is that I will punish the sinnes of the fathers upon the children in case that they follow their fathers examples which I doe often suffer to fall out so through my secret judgement And if through my speciall grace I doe sanctifie them so that they doe not follow their fathers steps they shall also be exempted from the punishment V. 20. The sonne namely the innocent sonne who is by my spirit purged from his fathers wickednesses Yet this is no generall rule in respect of the body and bodily goods in which God in all seasons hath visited the children for the fathers sinnes but must be understood of the everlasting punishment of the soule or especially and particularly of the corporall punishments of those times The righteousnesse that is to say every one shall receive either a reward for his good works or punishment for his evill works V. 22. Shall live He shall be delivered from the common evils of this world and shall attaine to everlasting life to which the true way and direction is the pure and constant conversion of a sinner V. 23. And live Or had I not rather that he should be converted from his evill wayes and live V. 25. Ye say the Italian will ye say will you yet dare to taxe either mine actions with injustice or my words and my law with contradiction Are not your All the injustice is in you who follow your fathers wayes and not in me My Law agreeth well with this doctrine but your understanding is perverted V. 26. When 〈◊〉 This is the rule of my soveraigne Justice that the death of every one shall be the punishment of his owne proper sinne as the order of my mercy is to give a sinner hope that he shall be restored by repentance Both the one and the other ought to be well enough knowne unto you but that in this contestation you fight against your owne consciences V. 30. Every one and not for the sinnes of their fathers as you impute it to me Your ruine the Italian a stumbling blocke to you to cause your ruine V. 31. Make you give way to the spirit of grace to whom it properly belongeth to regenerate a man who cannot doe it of himselfe Ier. 13. 23. Ezek. 11. 19. and 36. 26. CHAP. XIX Ver. 1. FOr the Princes namely for Jehoahaz Jehoiachim and Zedekiah last Kings of Judah in whom consisted the remainder of the people of Israel V. 2. What is thy mother a Lionesse that she layeth namely every one of those Kings Or thou Nation of the Jewes Jerusalem wherein you have been borne and bred hath for a long time been a city of bloud and violence and hath brought forth Kings of the same nature V. 3. One of her namely Jehoahaz who was carried away a prisoner into Aegypt 2 King 23. 33. Jer. 23. 11. V. 4. Their pit or net a terme taken from the hunting of Lyons V. 5. When she saw namely Jerusalem when she saw that there was no hope that Jehoahaz should be restored tooke another namely Jehoiakim appointed to be King by the King of Aegypt 2 King 23. 34. V. 6. Went A description of Jehoiakims treaties with other Kings and chiefly with the King of Aegypt which was also the cause of his ruine V. 7. Their Cities namely the Cities of his people by his extorsions and violences 2 King 24 4. Jer. 22. 17. By the noise by his cruell and
which lived in those dayes Others that it is a fained name to signifie the qualities of Gods people as well in grace for it may signifie perfection as in judgement for it may be taken for the end or finall extermination Diblaim the reason of this name which seemes also to be figurative is very obscure Some have held it to be the name of some wildernesse Ezek. 6. 14. to shew the Churches wretched beginning in its own nature As Cant. 3. 6. Ezek. 16. 7. V. 4. Izreel it seemes that by those three Children was figured the ruine of the kingdome of the ten Tribes which was effected at three severall times The first was when the progeny of Jehu was extinguished 2 Kings 15. 12. The other two was when the King of Assyria did invade them 2 Kings 15. 29. 17. 3 6. The blood namely the executions done by Jehu in Izreel 2 Kings 9. 24 31. 10. 11 17. which were commanded by God for the re-establishment of his service which Jehu not performing they are imputed unto him for so many murthers See 1 Kings 16. 7. Will cause to cease for by the rooting out of the line of the line of Jehu the kingdome of Israel receaved such a wound that it could never rise againe V. 5. Breake I will beat down the power of Israel I will take away from them all means of defending themselves and of subsisting against their enemies by the losse of some battell or by some other accident not mentioned in Scripture In the valley of which See Josh. 17. 16. Judg. 6. 33. V. 6. Lo-ruhamath that is to say one of whom no mercy is had Rom. 9. 25. But I will because I have pardoned them enough already V. 7. Of Judah in which the covenant remained and the service and Church of God By the Lord by my selfe miraculously or by vertue of the everlasting Son of God perpetuall Head and Saviour of his Church V. 9. Lo ammi that is to say one that is not my people Rom. 9. 25. Your namely your God according to the enterchangeable condition of the covenant V. 10 The number this may be understood of the increase of this people in all their dispersions untill the time of their conversion In the place the Italian Instead that is to say by the Gospell which they shall at last receive they will obtaine a more firme covenant and conjunction with God being made not onely his people and subjects but his children by adoption of grace and regeneration of Spirit and holy spirituall liberty V. 11. The children that is to say at the last all Israel shall acknowledge and accept of Christ for their head and shall be altogether re-united to his Church Rom. 11. 12 15 25. 2 Cor. 3. 16. See Isay 11. 13. Jer. 3. 18. Ezek. 37. 16 22. Come up they shall separate themselves from the world to joyne themselves to the Church and so goe on the way to the Kingdome of heaven The day That time shall be admirable by reason of the gathering together of the Israelites which before seemed rather to be an Izreel that is to say a people dispersed by God then an Israel CHAP. II. Vers. 1. SAy yee unto Thou Hosea and all other believers which are amongst these people doe not hold them to be altogether rejected to forsake them to their owne lusts but call them to repentance setting before them what is the duty of Gods people signified by Ammi that is to say My people towards whom God hath not yet shut up the entrals of his mercy which is signified by Ru-hamah V. 2. Plead with Reprove the body of your Nation openly She is not She doth not keepe her faith which she hath promised me and I have already good cause to put her away which I forbeare to do through my great patience Let her therefore put away Let her dispose her selfe to true chastity and spirituall purity using no more lascivious baits and practices to draw prophane Nations on to trade with her in Idolatry see Jer. 2. 33. and 4. 30. V. 3. Lost I strip her Lest I take away from her all my bodily and spirituall graces and bring her to extreme misery see Ezek. 16. 39. and 23. 26 29. She was borne See Ezek. 16. 4. With thirst that is to say With the scorching heat of my wrath not tempered with any grace or comfort Jer. 2. 15. Ezek. 22 24. Amos 8. 11 13. V. 4 Upon her children Namely Upon the particular members of this people Of whoredomes that is to say Bastards having no part in the regeneration of the heavenly Father to holinesse of life but being altogether corrupted like their mother see John 8 44. V. 5. My lovers Idols and Idolatrous people by whose gift and benefit and not the true Gods I have plenty of all good things v. 8. 12. See Jer. 44. 17. V. 6. I will hedge I will enclose her up with difficulties and extreme distresses that shee shall not be able to run out at her owne pleasure see Job 3. 23. and 19. 8. Lam. 3. 7 9. V. 7. She shall follow She shall seeke for favour and aid at their hands but all in vaine they shall all forsake her and shall change their ancient love into mortall hatred Jer. 2. 36. Ezek. 16. 27. To my first namely to God V. 8. Which they In making of Idols or in serving and honouring them see Ezek. 7. 20. and 16. 16. Hos. 8. 4. V. 9. In the time namely At the time which I have appointed or in Harvest-time and Vintage-time I will take away her increase of corne and wine and give it for a prey unto her enemies V. 11. Her feast dayes Which were dayes of publike rejoycing Numb 10. 10. and were observed even amongst the ten tribes in imitation of those of Judea 1 King 12. 32. V. 13. Decked her selfe A terme taken from lascivious women which decke themselves to allure men whereby are meant the Israelites prophane pomps in their Idolatries V. 14. Therefore Because she hath quite forgotten me and will never be converted of her selfe I will prevent her by my mercy recalling her mildly by my Gospel Which is referred to the last conversion of Israel And bring her I will bring her unto me bringing her home from her banishment through many miseries as I brought my people out of Egypt into the land of Canaan through the wildernesse V. 15. From thence namely From the head of the wildernesse The meaning is that as my people comming out of the wildernesse came into a most fruitfull countrey so mine elect comming out of an extreme spirituall misery shall enjoy mine abundant blessings Others translate it from that time forward The valley of Whereof mention is made Jos. 7. 26. Isa. 65. 10. It was a most fruitfull place at the entrance of the countrey so soone as they were come over Jordan and by it are meant the first favours which God bestowed on his when they enter into his
〈◊〉 12. 1. 12. Of the daughters namely of their descent or lineage V. 6. Before God in truth and sincerity of conscience answerable to God and to his Judgement and not in shew towards men onely V. 9. His lot this manner of distributing the particular services in the Temple is not specified in Scripture and therefore is thought to be brought in by tradition Now that which is said Exod. 30. 7. that it belonged to Aaron to burne incense ought also to be understood of all his children 1 Chron. 6. 49. V. 10. Without namely in the peoples Court. V. 13. Thy prayer which he had made long before for to obtaine children For it is not likely that he sought it at that time being both past age See v. 18. 25. Iehn that is to say favour or grace of the Lord to shew not onely the abundant favour and grace of the Lord upon his person but also the ministery of Gods grace in Christ for which he was ordained V. 15. In the sight that is to say in his service and in his esteeme which is opposite to Iohns meannesse according to the worlds esteeme Neither wine beeing consecrated to God as a Nazarite Num. 6. 3. Shall be filled that is to say he shall be abundantly endowed with the gifts of the holy Ghost befitting his vocation V. 16. Shall he turne that is to say he shall be an instrument of their conversion by his preaching accompanied with Gods power Acts 26. 18. Iames 5. 19. 20. V. 17. Before him namely before the Messias who is the true God of Israel as it is cleere by this passage In the Spirit that is to say adorned in his person and acompanied in his ministery by the miraculous power of Gods Spirit as Elias was and for the same ends The disobedient this is added for the explication of the words of Mal. 4. 5 6. to shew that the childrens going astray from their fathers wayes which Malachy speakes of was nothing but their disobedience and rebellion and their going astray from the wisdome and justice of their good forefathers V. 19. That stand as his minister and messenger V. 20. Thou shalt be a miraculous signe to confirme the foresaid things and withall for a punishment of his incredulity See Ezek. 3. 26. 24. 27. Because thou hence it appeares that Zecharias his request v. 18. did not proceed from a pure and humble desire of being confirmed in Gods promise as Mâ—â—ies was v 34 but from a vicious diffidency V. 23. As the dayes which were a whole weekeâ— 1 Chro. 9. 25. V. 24. Hid her selfe untill the miracle came to be certaine because she might not expose her selfe to the scorne of men which might have moved her faith and have redounded to the contempt of God V. 25. Thus hath words of admiration and joy after she was certain of her conception My reproach because that barrennesse was accounted a dishonourable thing amongst Gods people Gen. 30. 23. as a kinde of curse of God or defect of nature V. 26. Sixth moneth after Elizabeth had conceaved V. 28. Favoured who art excepted of at Gods hands and hast received this singular favour as to be esteemed worthy of this Soveraigne honour to be the Mother of the Messias V. 32. Shall be called that is to say shall be acknowledged to be the true everlasting and essentiall Sonne of God though manifested in the flesh which he taketh from thee and that by reason of the union of the two natures The throne that is to say the spirituall kingdome of the Church of which Davids temporall kingdome was a figure V. 34. How shall a question out of pure admiration and a desire to be instructed in a truth needfull to be knowne and not to be apprehended by mans understanding Seeing the Virgin speaketh thus because that the Angell had spoken to her of Christs conception as of a thing which should shortly come to passe and the marriage betweene Ioseph and her might be deferred for a time as it appeareth by Mat. 1. 18. V. 35. Overshadow thee a figurative kinde of speech to signifie the secret power of the holy Ghost in this worke taken most likely from thence that God did anciently appeare wrapped up in a Cloud and mist 1 Kings 8. 12. Therefore that is to say this supernaturall conception and sanctification of Christs humanity shall cause the glorious name of Sonne of God which did from all eternity essentially belong unto his Godhead to be also fitly attributed to him in regard of his humanity by reason of the correspondency of it in perfect holinesse and other vertues V. 36. With her of her being with childe V. 39. The hill countrey it was a part of the land of Iudah See Iosh. 15. 48. Into a Citie namely Hebron a City appointed for the Priests such as Zacharias was in the same countrey of Iudah See Iosh. 21. 11. V. 41. Leaped for a signe of this new power and motion of the holy Ghost that did at that instant seaze upon the mother by Propheticall inspiration Or to shew the secret and miraculous correspondency which was between Christ and Iohn and Iohns joy at Christs comming Was filled that is to say was inspired and fully enlightened by the h. Ghost in the knowledge and mistery of the incarnation of the Sonne of God and in the knowledge of such things as had hapned to Marie though absent and farre off V. 45. That beleeveth for Mary by faith which is also a gift of God in her had made her selfe capable of this miraculous grace as that vertue was necessary in all miracles V. 48. Hath regarded that is to say hath taken pity upon the wretched condition and estate that I the daughter of David was brought into and hath not disdained my poverty but hath been pleased to chuse me for a vessell of his grace in this great work See Psal. 113. 56. and 138. 6. V. 51. He hath a prophecie of the establishment of Christs kingdome to the overthrowing of all the counsels and endeavours of Gods enemies In the the Italian By the as Psal. 34. 22. and 94. 23. Or those who are proud in the imagination of their hearts See Iob 5. 12. V. 54. Hath holpen or hath taken into his protection or hath raised up V. 55. As he spake that is to say as he promised V. 59. They came namely into the place of prayer or into the Synagogue according to the custome or into the private house with an assembly of people V. 60. Not so it is likely that Zacharias had given Elizabeth notice by writing of the name which was appointed by the Angell v. 13. V. 66. The hand that is to say Gods apparant favour and protection was with him and there appeared in him an extraordinary divine vertue and operation V. 67. Prophecied that is to say he spake by divine inspiration of the misteries of the Churches salvation which as yet were not fully revealed V. 68. Visited that
V. 36. If the Sonne this title of Sonne doth by nature belong to me alone you as all other men are become bondmen by reason of sinne and in mee alone can bee adopted and enjoy the benefit of children V. 37. Seed according to the flesh but not according to the spirit and faith Rom. 4. 16. and 9. 6 7. Gal. 3. 7. V. 38. Which yee have seene Namely which the devill doth and induceth you to doe V. 39. Children Namely true and lawfull imitatours of Abrahams faith Father of all beleevers wherein consists the true meaning of this name of Children of Abraham Romans 4. 16. and 9. 6 7. Gal. 3. 7. V. 41. One Father a namely spirituall Father for they perceaved that Christ did not speak of a carnall father V. 42. If God if ye were regenerate by Gods Spirit you would know me and love me as the substantiall sonne of the same father 1 Iohn 5. 1. and cause of your adoption Gal. 4. 5. V. 43. Why doe you cannot pretend ignorance for your malice onely which the Devill hath excited and ingendred in you thorow your voluntary inclination to follow his suggestions is that which lets you not learn my doctrine V. 44. The Devill it is he that hath ingrafted in you as it were the beginning of all your actions and hath made you like unto himselfe in malice and other vices A murtherer in that thorow his envie and deceipt he seduced man and precipitated him into death and afterwards incited Cain and all his other instruments to cruell and bloudy acts From the beginning not from his creation but from the beginning of the world after the fall of devils In the truth namely in the purity and integrity in which all the Angels were created And the Father namely the first author and introductor of the false-hood 〈◊〉 deeds and sayings which he also soâ—â—eth and 〈…〉 tereth abroad amongst men V. 47. Of God namely regenerate by his Spirit Seeing it is the property of children to know their fathers voice See Iohn 10. 4. V. 48. A Samaritan that is to say apostated from the Iewish religion and their deadly enemy Iohn 4. 9. and transported with a devilish rage V. 49. I honour that is to say through a just jealousie of Gods glory I cannot suffer you to call your selves his children having the Devils stampe upon you and not Gods V. 50. There is on namely the Father glorifying me Iohn 17. 1. 5. shall revenge the contempt and ignominy which you have done me V. 51. Keepe that is to say keepâ— it in his heart by faith and observes it in his workes Death namely everlasting death V. 54. That honoureth that hath given me a glorious office Heb. 5 5. and hath borne honourable witnesse by words and deeds and at last shall crown my obedience with celestiall glory V. 55. Not knowne him by a lively and spirituall light which hath imprinted in you a true and resident image of the heavenly glory to regeneration V. 56. My day namely my comming and manifestation in the flesh He saw it by faith which is a demonstration of things which are not to be seen by the eye Heb. 11. 1. V. 58. I am namely a true and eternall God and Saviour of the world V. 59. Hid himselfe it is very likely that he miraculously became invisible CHAP. IX VER 2. WHo did to avoide the absurdity which at the first sight appeares in this demand seeing none can commit sinne before they be borne we may say that this is spoken iâ— regard of Gods foresight as if they had said what sin had God foreseen in this man unlesse the Disciples were tainted with that phantasticall opinion which reigned amongst the Iewes namely that the soules after death did passe out of one body into another and that in the subsequent body they suffered punishment for the offences committed in the first V. 3. Neither hath this either that God indeed in the afflicting of this man had not had any respect to any particular sin of his father or his mother nor to any foreseene offence of his or that the meaning plainly be Leave this curious and unprofitable inquiry and onely reape the fruit of Gods secret providence who in this blinde man will make you see his wonders to his glory and your edification and confirmation V. 4. While it is while the appointed time lasts for me to lay open my power in working of miracles Iohn 11 9. The night he seemes to meane the time of his approaching passion at which that power should be restrained to give way unto his voluntary sufferings See Luke 22. 53. V. 5. As long as I I doe not measure my actions by the time as men do by the length of the day but the time takes his measure from me For whilest I am in the world I am the Sun which shineth in it in grace and miracles when I am gone out of the world you shall have no light but shall be given over to the darknesse of your own reprobate sense V 6 Made clay as God in his miracles hath often times used actions and matters as he hath pleased beyond all naturall causes and properties whereof there can be no reason given unlesse we say in this place that Christ would try this mans faith encreasing his blindnesse to heale it to teach us that in the spirituall illumination we must renounce the light of sence and reason to receive the heavenly light from God See Acts 9. 17 18. 1 Cor. 3. 18. V. 7. In the poole whereof see Nehem. 3. 15. See upon Iohn 5. 2. V. 16. A sinner a wicked and bad man V. 22. Be put out that is to say excommunicate and interdicted by the Church See Iohn 12. 42. and 16. 2. V. 24. Give God that is to say humble thy selfe before him by a sincere confession of thy dissimulation and collusion See Iohn 7. 19. V. 27. Did not heare that is to say did not give care unto it and beleeve it V. 29. From whence who hath sent him or from whom he hath his charge and authority Iohn 8. 14. V. 31. God brareth not that is to say wicked men are alwayes hatefull to God and their prayers and requests are rejected and refused though sometimes he granteth them some temporall thing to their greater condemnation but in all Christs life and in all his actions there appears Gods perpetuall assistance and favour V. 33. Nâ—thing namely none of these great miracles V. 34. Borne in namely of a most perverse nature Cast him out namely out of the Synagogue v. 22 V. 39. For judgement to governe justly the kingdome which my Father hath given me to the salvation of pooâ—e and humble sinners whom I enlighten with the light of truth and of Gods grace so they do renounce themselves And to the condemnation of the proud who being full of their own understanding reject my Gospell whereby they are deprived of all heavenly light and given over to
namely because by the same they receive Christ who being pay-master for them to God hath borne his wrath and curse for them to give satisfaction to it and free them from it and to obtain Gods grace for them which is the spring of all blessing by his perfect righteousnesse 2 Corinthians 5. 21. V. 14. Of Abraham namely promised to Abraham and to his spirituall posteritie onely The Gentiles the Italian the Nations namely to all believers of all nations indifferently Through Iesus Christ that is to say by vertue of him and through the communion with him by Faith That we might that being so restored into Gods grace he might communicate his gifts unto us and especially that of the holie Ghost to regeneration which had been so often and so solemnly promised by the Prophets Isai 32. 15. and 44. 3. Iâ—r 31. 33. and 32. 40. Ezek. 11. 19. and 36. 27. Ioel 2. 29. Zech. 12. 10. V. 15. After the manner taking example from that which is by common reason observed amongst men in their covenants and contracts V. 16. The promises he hath a relation especially to that solemne forme of covenant which was made with Abraham Genes 17. 7. long time before the Law was given by Moses He saith not upon occasion of that passage he sheweth that seeing all nations at the appointed time were to have part in that blessing as they were Abrahams posteritie which is but onely one the naturall Jewes and the Gentiles who were children in spirit were to be united together now that is not done by conformitie of ceremonies nor by them the proselites which were of the Gentiles were incorporated into one and the same carnal nation with the Jewes but by the spiritual gathering together which Christ as Head makes of all his Believers into one sole bodie of a Church which is Abrahams true off-spring V. 7. See Ephes. 2. 14 15. and 3. 6. Christ namely his whole mysticall Bodie which is the Church which hath all its life and being from him and also participates of the glorie of his Name see 1 Cor. 12. 12. V. 17. In Christ that is to say of which covenant Christ already appointed and promised for a Mediatour was the onely foundation shewn and apprehended by the fathers The Law namely Moses his Law with all its dependencies The promise namely that Euangelicall promise of blessing to all nations and other such like which are all free promises Rom. 4. 13 14. V. 18. Forif we ought to suppose it would make the promise of none effect indeed if the inheritance and the blessing were by the Law for these two meanes are incompatible one with the other The inheritance namely the heavenly inheritance of which the Land of Canaan promised to Abraham and his seed was a figure Rom. 4. 13 16. V. 19. Wherefore namely seeing the blessing and the inheritance are absolutely given through grace and are received by faith the Law being no cause thereof neither in whole nor in part Because of namely to regulate mens lives and to represse the licentiousnesse and frequencie of misdeeds or to discover the horror and seal the condemnation thereof to drive men to seek the remedie of grace in the promised Messias Romans 3. 20. and 5. 20. 1 Tim 1. 9. Till the the use of this servile pedagogie wâ—s to last so long as the Church was yet in its infancie subject to fall easily into sin through weaknesse or ignorance but it was to cease at Christs comming in the flesh who gathering together the whole bodie of his Church from amongst the Jewes and the Gentiles and endowing it with abundant graces of his Spirit in knowledge and vertue hath made it by effects be known to be the blessed seed of Gods children V. 26. driven to love him and obey him by the spirit of adoption and libertie and not by the spirit of terror as it was anciently see Rom. 8. 15. It was ordained the Italian it was published God in the externall manner which he observed in giving his Law did shew that thereby man had no accesse to his Grace to obtain life and inheritance for God did then appear extremely terrible which was a qualitie contrary to a treatie of confederacie and because that at the peoples request who were not able to endure those terrours a signe of the guilt of their consciences Moses was fain to come in between as a mediatour of word and communication Exod. 20. 19. Deut. 5. 5. Acts 7. 38. Hebr. 12. 19. he was therein the figure of Christ the onely Mediatour of propitiation by whom we have accesse to God in confidence Hebr. 12. 24. By the Angels who were also mediatours on Gods side as Moses was on the peoples side V. 20. A Mediatour that is to say the Office which Moses then performed and which is not used but onely amongst disagreeing parties sheweth that by the Law God and man were contrary to one another as the delinquent and the Judge Is one he doth not varie one jot in his soveraigne justice which he hath set down in his Law and therefore these two parties could not be united but onely by the full satisfaction of Christ the Mediatour as the Apostle had said V. 13. V. 21. Is the Law By the foresaid things it appeares that God giving his Law by Moses would not bring in a meanes of acquiring righteousnesse and life which should be contrarie to his covenant of Grace but onely to guide men thereby to Christ For if he gives a reason why the Law hath not been contrarie to the promises of Grace namely because neither of it selfe nor by any order from God it had any power to restore man whâ— was dead in sin to life nor consequently to justifie him whereupon we ought to conclude that God would not imploy it to any disproportionable use to the prejudice of his Grace to which he had reserved that absolutely V. 22. But the Law is so far from having been given to justifie man that contrariwise it shewed and sealed to the very Jewes who were Gods people their condemnation Rom 3. 10. 20. and 4. 15. The Scripture namely God by his Law and Word Rom. 9. 17. Gal. 3. 8. hath declared that all men generally are sinners and in state of damnation to the end that the elect laying aside all confidence in their own righteousnesse might have recourse to Christ to obtain by faith in him the blessing and inheritance which are the subject of Gods promise V. 23 â—aith namely the time of the full manifestation and of the free exercise of Faith under the Gospell We namely the Church which was then restrained within the Jewish nation onely Kept under that is to say the severitie of the Law and the subjection to so many painfull observances kept us like children at school in perpetuall labours and discipline still attentively expecting Christ to keep us from going astray either in religion or in life and conversation beyond the bounds
over to his posterity by teachings and traditions from Father to Sonne yet questionlesse Moses had thereof a new full and most certaine knowledge by the inspiration of the holy Ghost which likewise guided him in the histori all relation of the beginning and continuance of the Church to hinder the forgetfulnesse ignorame and falsification of those things wheâ—ein are contained the grounds of her being and the rules and drections of her continuance in all ages He declarcth therefore how the world was by God created of nothing and by him was distinguished into its parts and by him appointed to his uses adorned enriched and filled with creatures very great in number and variety in a most admirable order And all this for man who was especially created for the service and glory of God according to his image and likenesse in innocency wisdom and justice and by him established as his deputy on earth for the governement of his creatures joyned with a holy and free use of them with the enjoyment of a most happy contented equall and immortall life after the course of which he should have been without old age paines sicknesses drooping or death transported into the celestiall and eternall And all this if he persevered in his obedience to God whereof he had asufficient grant in the originall justice wherein he was created if he would have practised it But be having transgressed the commandement of triall which had been given him is fallen into death and condemnation and hath lost his spirituall gifts totally and a great part of his naturall ones and hath been deprived of the lawfull right he had over Gods creatures and dispossessed of the quiet and sweet possession of them and hath lost the Sacraments of life and happinesse which were the inhabiting of earthly Paradice and the free use of the fruit which grew upon the tree of life Againâ— Moses declareth Gods infinite mercy in restoring man into a new state of grace and hope of life by the promise of a Saviour which promise with all its signes stamps and dependencies of sacrifices and other Religious acts being made unto Adam did notwithstanding not indifferently belong to all his progenie as sin and the sentence of condemnation was generally passed against them all but it was Gods pleasure to appropriate it only to part of his race So that after the said promise there came two branches from Adam the one by Cain and the other by Abel and afterwards by Seth. The first of the sonnes of men accursed abandoned in his sin and condemnation having the Divell for his head The other of the sons of God blessed holy adopted by the heavenly Father reconciled unto him through his sonne and sanctified by his spirit Whose chief head is and hath alwayes been Christ Iesus even at that time promised and embraced through a lively Faith by all believers These two bodies have even from the beginning continued in enmitie trained up in much cruelty and fiercenesse of the evill against the good one the first alwayes strengthening himself and increasing in power and number and exceeding in wickednesse and unrighteousnesse The second contrary wise being oppressed by the other and to its greater losse corrupted by his enticements and conversation whereby it hath decayed and even quite degenerated Which provoked Gods Iustice to drown the first world by an universall deluge which being spared only for Gods elect whose number was so decreased that as it appeareth it was included in Noahs Family which God only saved out of the universall destruction not so much to preserve mankind or beasts and plants as for the preservation of the seed of his Children But soone after the deluge there sprung out of Noahs race againe two generations with the same contrarieties as the former For the accursed one quickly grew mighty and powerfull in the world by setting up great and tyrannicall empires and was corrupted by idolatries pride violences and other vices So that amongst all those Nations which Noahs posterity was divided into the knowledge and pure service of God was almost utterly extinguished Untill it pleased God to cause the holy stock to sprout out againe in Abraham severed from the rest of the world by an especiall calling new promises of grace and a most peculiar covenant sealed with the Sacrament of Circumcision a token of the regeneration of Gods Children in the spirit and of their separation from the world This blessing was continued in Isaac though somewhat interrupted in its beginnings by the buds of the accursed race which sprouted out of the Godly one namely Ismael and Esau. But the blessed one began to take body and being in â—acob and his numerous familâ—â— under the new name of Israel none of his Children being rejectéd as some of the others were Yet was the Church his posterity alwayes a wanderer and a stranger in the world full of defects and infirmities within and many oppositions and molestations without having none of her side but only her God who pardoning and correcting its sius hath continually comforted it guided it provided for it defended it and increased it giving it a promise also of a firmâ— and happy dwelling in the World in the Land of Canaan And from time to time visiting it by visible apparitions of the sonne of God its head in proper person under shape of an Angell under whose conduct it was at last all brought into Aegypt where it was kept untill the death of Ioseph with which this book endeth ANNOTATIONS VPON GENESIS CHAP. I. VERS 1. IN the beginning God giving the world its first being began with the creation of the two generall parts of it and then went to the particulars The Heaven that is the highest and aethereall part under which it is very likely the Angels are comprehended Gen. 2. 1. The Earth The lower and elementall part of the Universe here indifferently called earth waters and abysse because it was a consused masse of all the Elements V. 2. Without forme Without any particular or distinct creature without order forme or ornament The Spirit that is the 3d person of the most holy Trinity immediatly and through its proper operation which is to preserve and maintaine all things in their being which they have received by the supreame will of the Father and the productive action of the Son see Psal 104. 2. 29. 30. Moved the Hebrew terme signifieth the moving or beating of the wings which a bird useth over her young ones to signifie the action of the holy Ghost in maintaining and cherishing of that shapelesse masse to prepare it for the subsequent productions V. 3. Let there be It is likely that the light was at first imprinted in some part of the heaven whose turning made the first three dayes and the fourth it was restrained into the body of the Sun or of all the other Stars but in a different degree V. 4. God saw he liked and approved of his work and took delight in it
these besides Wife That is to say Concubine verse 6. 1 Chron. 1. 32. Such women were marryed by the custome of inhabiting together but were not partakers of their husbands dignity and estate as the true wives called Ladies An abuse of Gods first Ordinance tolerated in those dayes Gen. 30. 4 9. V. 2. Zi 〈…〉 ram These were the heads of many people of Arabia and neighbouring Nations V. 3. Ashurim See concerning these names that have a plurall termination Gen. 10. 4. V. 5. Gave Made him his full and generall heire V. 6. The East Country Called afterwards Arabia which people were called the children of the East or Easterne in regard of Palestina See Judg. 6. 3. and 7. 12. Job 1. 3. V. 8. Gathered See upon Gen. 15. 15. V. 13. According As they have beene set down in their Registers and Genealogies and their names as being heads of Nations have remained to their posterity Nebaioth The Nabateans and the Chadarens named in histories amongst the people of Arabia descended from these V. 16. By their That is to say the names of these heads were given to the places where their pâ—stâ—rity dwelt which through the craggednesse of the Countrey were either strong castles or unwalled townes V. 18. And he dyed c. The Italian hath And his Countrey fell to him before all his brethren As well that which he first inhabited as that which hee afterwards usurped V. 20. Padan Aram was a part of Mesopotamia where Charran was V. 22. Struggled By an extraordinary and prodigious kind of moving which was by Rebecca her selfe found to be such If it be so fore-seeing by this prodigiâ— that her burthen was of two brethâ—eâ— which should hate and hurt one another To enquire By some Prophet or by some divine revelation in a dreame or by some Angels message obtained by prayers and devotion V. 23. Two nations The heads of two nations the one blessed and the other rejected Shall be stronger bodily the people issuing from Jacob the younger shall bring into subjection the other which issued from the Elder 2 Sam. 8 14. 1 King 22. 48. and spiritually the Church little and weake in the world shall overcome by the word and by the spirit and by the power of God the world and its kingdome represented by the wicked Idumeans perpetuall and capitall enemies to Gods people Shall serve Being by me bereâ—â— of his right of first borne which was to command his brethren and all the house under his Father Gen. 4. 7. and 49. 3. See concerning this accursed slavery Mal. 1. 3. V. 25. Râ—a That is with a red hayre all over his body Esau That is to say a man of his hands valiant and of deeds as ordinarily your red and hairy men are Or a man already wholly formed because that when a body is hairy he is a man already and not like a new borne babe V. 26. Tooke hold A miraculous signe to signifie that Jacob should in a manner strike up Esau's heels by getting away his birth-right and that the Church by the only power of the spirit should overthrow her enemies though mightier than she Iacob That is to say supplanter or a wrestler that striketh up ones heeles V. 27. Hunter The qualities of the Children of the world to be violent and fierce and of the children of God to be simple and milde are here pointed out by the two different natures of these two brothers See Gen. 10. 9. Of the field A man having a sociable civill and homely life loving to live in the fields Dwelling homely stayed and peacefull V. 29. Sod All this was brought to passe by a secret providence of God which doth not for all that cleare Jacob from all manner of deceit and evill cunning yet makes Esau his prophanenesse evident in despising that which was taken from him by Gods decree v. 23. V. 30. Edom That is to say red Gods people used this name more than the other Esau in remembrance of this voluntary sale which justified their contention against the Idumeans their perpetuall emulators and adversaries Amos 1. 11. deriving this name more from the red pottage than from his haire ver 25. V. 31. Thy Which in those dayes carryed the Patriarchship with it and the first degree in the blessed race and the dignity of the sacred function See Gen. 4. 7. Exod. 19. 22. Num. 8. 16. to this is answerable the spirituall birth-right of the Church Exod. 4. 22. Jer. 31. 9. Ja. 1. 18. V. 32. I am at That is to say I am mortall and any manner of living doth daily expose me to a thousand dangers why should I then debarre my selfe of a present pleasure for this imaginary dignity Here is his prophanenesse found noted in him Heb. 12. 16. whereby hee despised the signes and earnests of the spirituall graces 〈◊〉 V. 34. He did eat This plaine relation shewe◠〈◊〉 Esau his security and astonishment in his sin CHAP. XXVI VERS 1. VNto thee To thy person will I now presently give the use and peaceable and sure enjoying of it and to thy posterity the possession and proprietie V. 5. Because that God doth fulfill his promises for the same reason by which he was moved to make them which is nothing else but his meere grace and not mans works Rom. 4. 4. But because between the promise and the accomplishment hee hath ordained the way of faith and obedience on mans side Gen. 17. 9. The Scripture doth often attribute the effect not to the Soveraigne and only cause but to means well observed See Genesis 22. 16. to incite man to his duty V. 8. Sporting Using some pleasant familiarity of a husband V. 14. Of servants Or a great deale of land to manure V. 16. For thou Because thy great number of people is a hinderance to us and thy power and wealth breeds a jealousie wherefore for our security and to the end we may continue friends it were good thou shouldest goâ— further from us V. 20. Ezek That is to say strife V. 21. Sitna Enmity hatred opposition V. 22. Rehâ—both Making of roome He shall be The Italian hath it We being or we may be fruitfull in the land or as we shall increase V. 24. Sake Alwayes regarding what I promised to Abraham and his progeny the conditions of which promise hee hath faithfully kept So that the blessing of his off-spring proceedeth alwayes from this hâ—ad or fountaine V. 29. That thou wilt The Italian hath it if ever thou shalt A manner of swearing amongst the Jewes the execration being alwayes understood to bee meant to which hee was to bee subject that did forsweare himselfe Thou art The Italian hath it Thou who aâ—t Hee like a prophane man attributeth unto himselfe to bee partly the cause of Gods blessing as if it had laine in his power to hinder it V. 33. Called it That is to say confirmed the name which Abraham had given it before See the one and twentieth Chapter of Genesis
Father shall g 〈…〉 all power in heaven and on â—aâ—th and shall grant hâ—â— the victory over all his enemies V. 11. Did minister See v. 18. Before Under Eli his command and direction V. 12. Knew not They had no lively li 〈…〉 t feel 〈…〉 nor apprehension to feare and hâ—nor h 〈…〉 Rom. 1. 28 1 Cor. 15. 34. T it 1. 16. V. 13. The flesh Of the sacrifices of 〈◊〉 whereof some portions were â—ssigned to thâ— Priests Lev. 7. 32 34 35. but they would have th◠〈◊〉 of those preces which were left for the Peâ—plâ— which o 〈…〉 red the Sacâ—ifices and were boilâ—â— neâ—â—â— the Tabernacle for the hâ—ly feasts V. 15. The sat And all other parts of such Sacrifices which God reserved for 〈…〉 Leviticus cha 3. verses 3 4 9. which is also anothâ—r centempt of God and his worship to which they preferred their own ravenosnesse Give shewing by this their greedinesse that they took no care of serving at the offering but only to satisfie their gluttony Ile will not have because he might better make choyce of the best pieces whilest the flesh lay in sight raw then when it boyled promiscuously in pots or caldrons V. 17. Abhorred Their zeale to offer and their devotion and reverence in offering did much abate seeing the abuse violence and gluttony that was therin committed V. 18. A linnen Ephod It was a kind of holy ornament Exodus 28. 4. promiscuously used both by Priests and others in publick acts of Gods service See 2 Samuel chapter 6. verse 14. The high Priests was wrought and of diverse stuffes and colours Exo. 28. 6. the rest were plaine of very fine linnen 1 Sam. 22. 18. V. 20. For the leane That other issue may supply Samuels place to serve and converse with thee at home seeing thou hast bestowed him upon God V. 22. With the women Whereof see upon Exodus 38. 8. V. 24. To transgresse Not only by imitating your evill examples but also by giving over publick exercises of piety seeing thâ—m to proâ—aned by you V. 25. Against the Lord Directly in things concerning his service and perposely for to oâ—â—end him Numbers 15. 30. The meaning is If God will revenge the injuries done by one man to another how much more unâ—ppâ—asâ—able will he be for wrongs which touch his own glâ—râ— would he had thereupon given an irrevocable sentence and therefore hee did not give them the spirit of repentance to obey â—heir fathers admâ—nitioâ—s V. 27. A man A Prophet Unto the house namely to Moses and Aaron V. 28 Châ—sâ— hâ—m The Italian hath it Chuse thy father 〈…〉 〈…〉 Kâ—cke ye Casting off all reverence in your sel es and abating the peoples devotion Honourest 〈…〉 ving them strongly 〈…〉 t punishing thâ—m 〈…〉 ly as the zealâ— of my g 〈…〉 y 〈…〉 uired and if 〈…〉 y prâ—vâ—d obstmately rebellious by putting them 〈…〉 y â—hâ— priesthood V. 30. I sa dindeed Not by any irrevocable and ab 〈…〉 but conditionall or according to the 〈…〉 ome of Scripture which only hath 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 was knowne of Goâ—s will Should walâ—e Should be my servant and of my houshold For ever 〈…〉 t interruption so lâ—â—g as my ceremoniall worship 〈…〉 d lâ—â—st V. 31 I will cut off That iâ— to say I will put thâ—e and all thy postâ—rity from the high Priesthood and degrade thee frâ—m all authâ—rity and take away my power and all other gifts necessary for such a holy function from you Zac. Chapter 11. verse 17. V. 32. Thoushalt see All these calamities shall happen in thy life time 1 Samuel Chapter 4. verse 11. V. 33. To consume If thou wert at that time living and shouldest see it thou wouldest even pine away for grief to see thy selfe have such a posterity either so wicked or so wretched V. 34. For a signe That all the rest spoken in this my sentence shall surely happen V. 35. A faithfull Priest Zadock by name 1 Chro. 29. 22. Eze. 44. 15. who was of Eleazars line in whose posterity the Priesthood continued according to the promise made to Phinehas Num. 25. 13. I will build him I will confirme the state of his family as well in the continuance of his off-spring as in the lastingnesse of his prosperity See Exod. 1. 21. 2 Sam. 7 11. 1 Kin. 11. 38. Walke he shall be continually with the King which I will appoint â—vâ—r my people doing the offices belonging to his charge in councels in giving answers from God by meanes of the brest-plate in prayers blessings admonitions c. V. 36. Every one See the sequels or tracks of this curse Ezechrel Chapter 44. verse 10. To him namely to Zadock and him of his posterity that shall be in his place of high Priest For a piâ—ce to crave an almes of him Now though God had largely provided for the Priests maintenances yet it chanced oftentimes when they were degraded for their misdeeds misbehaviours or for some other reasons that they fâ—ll into poverty One of the Priests offices the Italian Someservices belonging to the Priesthood some of the most abject and base services Ezechiel Chapter 44. verses 11 13. CHAP. III. VERS 1. THe word There were but very few prophetick revelations See Psalme 74. verse 9. Amos chap. 8. v. 11. V. 2. At that time Even at that time that the afore-said Prophet had spoken to Eli 1 Samuel chapter 2. verse 27. V. 3. The lampe Which burnt all night and was put out in the morning Exod. 27. 21. Gen. 24. 3. as much as to say 〈◊〉 morning Of God that is to say which was consecrated in the great candlestick Laid down to sleep the Italian addeth In the Temple namely in some chamber or part of that building within the precincts of which the Tabernacle and the Arke stood V. 7. Did not yet know Had as yet had no tryall of that way whereby the Lord did make himselfe known to his Prophets by visions see Acts 19. 2. V. 11. A thing Which is set down in the next chap. Both the cares a frequent phrase in Scripture to describe a strange or terrible case V. 13. Râ—strained them not By severely chiding them as he was a father by deposing them as he was high Priest and by punishing them corporally as he was a Judge V. 14. Be purged In any such fashion that I revoke my sentence concerning their corporall punishments for this hath no relation at all to everlasting punishments V. 15. The doores See upon 1 Sam. 1. 9. V. 17. God do so See upon Ruth 1. 17. V. 20. From Dan see upon Judg. 20. 1 established The I alian Warra 〈…〉 ed or established V. 21. By the word Namely by propheticall revelation not by corporall and visible apparitions as to Joshua Gideon Manoa and other Judges CHAP. IV. VERS 1. THe Word that is to say Samuel as an acknowledged Prophet begun to preach to all the people Others the word of Samuel came to passe that is to say God
Israel V. 27. Hee râ—nt signes of griefe through remorse of conscience and for feare of punishment it not being the love of God which caused that griefe in him having no firme resolution to convert himselfe having no recourse to faith nor to his mercy as Iohn 3. 6. V. 29 The evill of the destruction of his house So God to shew the effects of true repentance which is to obtaine eternall pardon for sinne granteth this false and dissembled repentance some delay of temporall punishments CHAP. XXII VER I. THree yeares after the agreement was made 1. Kings 2â— 34. V. 2. Came down having entred into alliance with him 2. Kings 8. 18. V. 3. Is ours as well because it is within the bounds of the Land which the Lord did give his people as also by covenants and agreements 1. Kings 20. 34. V. 5. Enquire namely by some Prophet V. 6 The Prophets it is uncertain whether they were corrupt and flattering prophets going under the name of Prophets of the true God or whether they were those foure hundred prophets of the grove 1 Kings 18. 19. which were not destroyed by Elias who might here use the name of the true God to please Iehoshapat who notwithstanding knew them to bee false ones or to cover their idolatry as if the true God did reveale himselfe to them although they served the Idol V. 7. Besides besides these false oâ—es or left after the extermination of so many 1. Kings 18. 4. and 19. 10. V. 9. An officer the Italian an Eunuch or courtier or chamberlain V. 11. Hornes according to the custome of prophets who did use such signes to make a stronger impression in mens minds see Isa. 20. 2. Ier. 27. 2. with these with the strength and power that God shall give thee which is figured by these hornes V. 14. VVill I speak I will answer all questions as shall bee demanded of mee according to the revelations I have had from God V. 15. Goe these words were spoken with some signe of scoffing and dissimulation which Ahab perceived very well V. 17. I saw in a prophetick vision V. 19. Therefore seeing thou takest that which is fore told thee in evill part as though I did invent it of mine own imagination through hatred or malice I will now open the vision to thee at large V. 21. A spirit namely an evill one father of lies was brought in in this vision as Iob 1. 6. though hee be banished out of heaven where God dwelleth in glory with his Angles and blessed spirits V. 22. Thou shalt I will suffer it and not hinder thee whereby thou shalt not misse but shalt surely perswade see Iob 12. 16. Ezec. 14. 9. 2. Thess. 2. 11. V. 23. Hath put hee hath given the divell power to work in the hearts and tongues of thy Prophets that they may deceive thee V. 28. If thou according to the proofe of true or false prophecies set down Deut. 18. 22. Hearken I call you all to witnesse this my prediction V. 32. Cryed out namely upon God to helpe him at his need 2. Chron. 18. 31. but in such a manner as the Syrians knew that it was not Ahab V. 34. At a venture Heb. in his simplicity looking no more after Ahab than after any else Others with all his strength V. 35. Stayed up to keep together or bring together againe the people V. 39. Ivory the walls being overlaid with such stuffe Amos 3. 15. V. 42. Twenty and five by 2. Kings 3. 1. it appeareth that the eighteenth yeare of Iehoshaphat Joram King of Israel began to reigne And by 2. Kings 1. 17. that the eighteenth yeare of Iehoshaphat was the second yeare of his sonne Ioram And by 2. Kings 8. 16. that this Ioram sonne of Iehoshaphat did not begin to reigne but in the fifth yeare of the other Ioram King of Israel whence wee must conclude that in these five and twenty yeares of the reigne of Iehoshaphat is comprehended all the time from his succession to the Kingdome even to his death whereof he reigned sixteen yeares alone then hee joyned his sonne Ioram with him for seven yeares space and at last put the whole government into his hands disburthening himselfe of it two yeares before his death V. 43. The high places as 1. Kin. 15. 14. V. 44. Made peace which was noted for a grievous sin in Iehoshaphat 2. Chron. 19. 2. V. 47. A deputy put in by the King of Iudah aâ—tâ—r that Edom was subdued by David 2. Sam. 8. 14. Afterwards it had a King but hee was feodatory see upon 1 Kings 11. 21. And at last it shaked the yoak quite off 2 Kings 8. 20. according to the prophecy Gen. â—7 40. V. 48. Shipps fitting to saile in the great Ocean sea see 1. Kings 10. 22. V. 49. Then said after the first preparation was broken Ahazia treated with Iehoshaphat concerning the renewing of 〈◊〉 but hee would not consent to it God having already reproved him for keeping company with him at the first 2 Chron. 20. 37. THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS The ARGUMENT THe sacred History continueth in this Book the narration of things which happened to the people of God divided into two Kingdomes of Israel and Iudah untill the desolation of the first by the Assyrians and captivity of the other by the Caldeans Carefully pointing out the true causes of these horrible disasters for the instruction of the Church in all ages And as for the Kingdome of the ten tribes or of Israel the History sets down how that the corruption of Gods service being first brought in by Ieroboam and not amended by his successors but rather obstinately retained and increased by the addition of many idolatries and pagan abominations was at last followed and punished with grievous turmoiles of State frequent murthers of Kings treasons changes of Royall lines warres and other accidents which befell sometimes by Gods expresse command and sometimes through the ambitious and perfidious motions of mens minds The Prophets never prevailing so farre as to bring them to a sincere conversion and an entire and setled reformation though they still endeavoured to bring back the people to their ancient duty by reprehensions exhortations and threatnings Whereupon after long God caused the Assyrians with their power to over-runne the ten tribes For the Assyrians being possessed of the greatest Empire in the world and having Conquered Syria they overflowed the land of Israel and after they had over-runne it spoiled and unpeâ—pled it at divers onsets they at last conquered and subdued it wholly râ—iâ—ed the Kingdome overthrew the state thereof and transported the people into totall captivity and the land was againe inhabited by a new kinde of heathen people of severall nations who framed to themselves after they were there seated a new kinde of bastard and corrupt divine service in stead of that pure service which was wont to be in Ierusalem whence grew that implacable hatred and hostility which was alwayes after that
the world 1 Cor. 11. 32. but may bee gathered to eternall rest and even in this world be delivered from his evils V. 15. Iudgement the world shall be put into an actuall way of exercising justice and righteousnesse by which the good shall be saved and the wicked destroyed Shall follow it the Italian shall be after him that is to say God shall gather together his poore elect who were before dispersed and they shall follow him and cleave close unto him V. 17. In silence or under earth in the quiet and tenebrous clâ—isters of death where they doe not sing thy praises a poeticall terme as Psal. 115. 17. V. 20. The throne canst thou approve of or favour these tyrants that doe abuse their publike authority by using of extortion V. 22. My refuge the Italian my confidence or with whom I shall be safe PSAL. XCV VER 3. ABove all above any thing which is called God either through abuse and mens false conceit or through any resemblance of dignitie and glory V. 9. And saw I made them also feele the punishments of my justice and the efficacie of my power according to their deserts Or although they had seen my works and had so many times had experience of my grace truth and power V. 10. Have not known they have no knowledge to understand nor no affection to obey my commandements to suffer themselves to bee peacefully and in faith guided by my providence V. 11. Rest namely into the countrey where I have promised to settle them in quietnesse and where I will my selfe settle mine Ark as in a firme and settled habitation 2 Chr. 6. 41. Psal. 132. 8. which is a figure and pledge of mine everlasting rest in my glory Heb. 4. 9. PSAL. XCVI VER 6. MAjesty as beames sent forth from his eternall Deity Strength hee exerciseth his glorious power in his Church V. 7. And strength that is to say honour and acknowledgement of his infinite power V. 11. Rejoyce as participating according to their degree and nature of the glory and happinesse of Christs Kingdome see Psal. 69. 32. Rom. 8. 21. V. 13. To judge that is to say to govern it by way of justice PSAL. XCVII VER 1. THe multitude of the Italian the great Isles or the Isles in great number By Islands are meant the great and generall parts of the world divided and encompassed with the Sea V. 2. Clouds a figurative description of the Messias his appearing taken from that which is often repeated of the darknesse wherewith God did hide the brightnesse of his presence when hee appeared as when hee gave his Law Exod. 19. 16. and at other times 1 King 8. 12. Psal. 18. 11. V. 7. All yee Gods the Apostle Heb. 1. 6. referreth this to the Angels but according to the propertie of the word it may bee also more generally extended to all those who are called gods on earth as Kings and Princes And also to all creatures employed to Idolatrous uses whereof the first ought to submit themselves by a religious worship and obedience unto Christs Soveraigne Kingdome And the latter through the preaching of the Gospel bee spoiled of their false honour and freed from the Idolaters abuses to let God alone he acknowledged and worshipped in the person of his Sonne V. 8. Sion that is to â—say the Church in generall The daughters the particular Churches Ierusalem being as a mother and the other cities as daughters Thy judgements that is to say the executions of thy justice to destroy every power and dominion which shall oppose thine and to establish thy Sonnes Kingdome V. 11. Light eternall happinesse as is even in this world prepared for the righteous which have the seed thereof quick within themselves through Gods promises and by the gift of the holy Ghost Or it is spread abroad and laid open for them in Christs Kingdome PSAL. XCVIII VER 1. HAth gotten him that is to say Christ by his own power and by vertue of his most perfect righteousnesse hath obtained for his own humane nature and for his whole Church the victory over all his enemies and eternall glory V. 2. Made known namely by preaching of his Gospell his righteousnesse namely his loyalty in his promises his goodnesse and mercy the word righteousnesse being often used in this sense unlesse Evangelicall righteousnesse be meant here which is a pure gift of God by which hee is pleased to justifie sinfull man in vertue and by the merit of his sonnes most perfect righteousnesse embraced by a lively faith Dan. 9. 24. Rom. 1. 17. and 3. 21. V. 3. The house namely according to the spirit it being the true Church V. 6. The King namely Christ Iesus true and everlasting God in his owne nature and established by his father universall King in the qualitie of a mediator PSAL. XCIX VER 1. BE moved the Italian tremble namely with feare and reverence V. 2. In Sion namely the Church which is as the seat of this universall Empire Isa. 2. 2. 3. V. 4. Strength that is to say this King temperethâ— is power with justice contrary to the custome of tyrants of the world see Iob. 36. 5. V. 5. At his the Italian before his a phrase taken from the thrones of earthly Kings Or from the Arke of the covenant called footstoole 1 Chro. 28. 2. towards which all ceremonia'l kinde of worship was to be done either from neere or from farre off V. 8. Of their inventions the Italian of their actions namely of the faults of his servants as Exod. 32. 2 Num. 20. 2. 24. Deut. 9. 20. Or of the peoples sins Others translate it thou tookest vengeance for their actions that is to say thou wert a defender of their ministry by grievously punishing the rebellious PSAL. C. THE title Of traise that is to say made to give God thanks peradventure publickly in the Temple when the sacrifices of thanksgiving were offered Levit. 7 12. V. 3. Made us as well in regard of the first naturall creation as of the spirituall regeneration Psal. 149. 2. Ephes. 2. 10. PSAL. CI. VER 1. I will sing I will in this Psalme make a vow to God and a publick protestation to all the Church of the good will which I will shew to good men and the severe justice which I will exercise against guilty men whensoever I shall attaine unto the Kingdome which the Lord hath promised mee V. 2. I will behave my selfe wisely in a c. the Italian I will compose an instructing song concerning the perfect way the Hebrew terme hath a relation to a certaine kind of sacred hymne called Masch 〈…〉 the titles of the Psalmes which is as much as to say a song of great instruction Others translate it I will give instructions concerning the perfect way Or I will proceed wisely in the prefect way when th 〈…〉 is to say when wilt thou fullfill that which thou hast decreed and thy promise making mee King over thy people V. 3. I
enemies V. 5. For every he gives a reason why he hath likened the Churches deliverances to the peoples deliverance from the Midianites tyranny namely because that by the preaching and light of the Gospel like unto Gideons lights and trumpets Judges 7. 20. the enemies shall be put to flight and terrified and the world shall be filled with blood and wars and at last shall be consumed with fire at the day of judgement V. 6. A childe namely that childe which was spoken of Isa. 7. 14. which is Jesus Christ the everlasting Sonne of God who hath taken humane flesh by being born of the Virgin and defends the Churches right against all her enemies in quality of Mediatour and head of the same The government God the Father hath made him Head and King of the universe and especially of his Church being his generall Deputy in the quality of Mediatour Upon his hee seems to have a relation to those who were in eminent places and great Offices about Kings who for a badge of their office carried a key upon their shouldes Isa. 22. 22. Rev. 3. 7. And his name he shall be such a one in effect as these names demonstrate him to be Wonderfull in his divine glorious adorable person and in his wonderfull and incomprehensible works Judg. 13. 18. Counsellour he that is the fathers everlasting wisdom and by reason of the unitie of essence is partaker of all his counsells see Prov. 8. 14 27. Everlasting Father the Italian Father of eternity the head and as it were the stocke of the spirituall and everlasting life of all beleevers who have that life from him by the communication of his justice life and spirit as all men have their naturall and animall life from Adam The ancient did translate it Father of the age that is to say the head and author of the renewed state of the world in grace and justice Hebr. 2. 5. and 6. 5. opposite to the evill world Gal. 1. 4. of sinne and death of which the devill is prince The prince that is to say the onely and supream King of the Church who hath made peace between God and it and giveth true peace to the conscience and reigneth thereby to life and salvation over it Col 3. 15. and by his Kingdom establisheth the said peace amongst beleevers Isa. 60. 17. V. 7. Of David namely of Christ figured by David and descended from him according to the flesh who shall change Davids temporall Kingdom into an everlasting and spirituall one Luke 1. 32. The zeale that is to say God shall give his Sonne for a Saviour to the world for to maintaine his glory against the attempts of the Devill and for to accomplish the salvation of those who are his V. 8. The Lord the Prophet now returnes to the predictions of Israels calamities V. 9. Shall know that is to say Shall feele it and finde the effects of it V. 10. The bricks proverbiall kinds of speeches the meaning whereof is True it is that our State hath suffered many great overthrowes and ruines but wee will raise it up againe in greater splendour and glory then ever it was A vain hope conceived upon the happy reigne of Jeroboam the sonne of Joas 2 King 14. 16. V. 11. Shall set up namely shall give the Assyrians victorie over the Syrians and Rezin their King 2 King 16. 9. V. 12. The Syrians their invasions are not any where made mention of in Scripture V. 14. The head a kinde of speech taken from beasts and plants meaning he shall cut off all from the greatest to the least see Isa. 19. 15. V. 15. He is the taile he seems to meane that in the Church vices and vertues and not titles and dignities make a difference of degrees see Matth. 5. 19. V. 16. Cause them to erre the Italian shall be seducers in the triall shall be knowne and found to be such V. 17. No joy for to spare them in these universall judgements V. 18. Wickednesse that is to say the sinnes being common both to great ones and little ones shall cause them likewise all to perish indifferently as in an universall burning V. 19. No man shall that is to say The land shall be full of seditions discords and civill wars see 2 Kings 15. 14 16 25 30. V. 20. The flesh of that is to say those that are neerest and most allied unto him V. 21. And they the Italian though they the ten tribes shall not agree together but onely in warring against Judah and in other things they shall continually bee divided into severall factions amongst themselves CHAP. X. Vers. 1. THat write namely those that by violence cause unjust sentences to be given in courts of Justice according to their owne private passions V. 2. From judgement namely from the means of obtaining their just demands and pretences by the way of justice V. 3. Where will you leave for to keep it safe and out of danger Your glory your power titles and wealth V. 4. Bow downe that is to say they shall be prisoners great companies of them bound together thrusting and crouding one another V. 5. The staffe that is to say they are armed with my wrath and have no other power over my people but what I through my just judgement do grant them V. 7. He meaneth not that is to say the Assyrians end which he proposeth to himselfe shall not be to obey me in punishing of my people nor hee shall not acknowledge that whatsoever he can doe or undertake doth depend upon my will V. 8. Are not my princes that is to say am not I King of Kings Ezech. 26. 7. Dan. 2. 37. who have for mine officers Barons and Captains Kings that are my vassals V. 9. Is not have I not subdued all these nations and provinces as well one as the other see of the destruction of Calno and Hamath Amos 6. 2. V. 11. Jerusalem and her words of an idolater who knowes not the true God V. 12. His whole work namely of punishing and visiting of his people The fruit namely his proud deeds and blasphemous words see Isa. 36. and 37. V. 14. All the earth bringing the greatest part of the world under my command Moved the wing to withstand me or so much as to complain V. 15. Boast it selfe a scoffe at the Assyrians vain boasting who were but instruments of Gods hand from whom they had all their power and motion V. 16. Send that is to say he shall destroy all the flower of the nation 2 King 19. 35. see of this kinde of speech Judg. 3. 29. Psal. 78. 31. V. 17. The light that is to say God who is a devouring fire but doth not worke with his Church in that quality but is to it as a lively light as it was figured Exod. 3. 2. but shall cause his enemies to feele the other effect by being a consuming fire to them as Exod. 14. 24. His thornes by which and by great trees vers 18. the
great ignominie before the world Isa. 53. 2. 3. Phil. 2. 7. shall be exalted to soveraign glory Heb. 2. 9. V. 15. So shall he as thou O my people hast received abundance of graces after thy miserie even so shall Christ receive the fulnesse of the Spirit from the Father which he shall shed over all the world Acts 2. 33. and by this meanes shall make himselfe known Shall shut submitting to him in silence and humilitie For that which namely the mysterie of the Gospell and of the Sonne of Gods Kingdom which was unknowne in former ages Rom. 15. 21. CHAP. LIII Vers. 1. WHo hath whereas other nations have yeelded themselves to the obedience of faith the Jewish nation shall resuse Christ foretold by us Prophets and preached by the Apostles To whom how few of the Jewes shall open their eyes and hearts to the Gospell which is the power of God unto salvation to every one that beleeveth Rom. 1. 16. Or in whom God shall work by his powerfull and superabundant grace to bow their hardned hearts V. 2. For he shall that is to say Christs beginnings in respect of his humane nature and of his Kingdom shall be very small and weak like unto a young plant growing in dry ground see Isa. 11. 1 Before him namely before God the Father under whose protection and providence the Kingdom of Christ is grown up Or before the people who seeing Christs weaknesse in the flesh did contemn and despise him Shall see him he speakes as if he were a carnall Jew who judged of Christ according to his outward appearance Joh. 7. 24. V. 3. Acquainted to whom all manner of evils and sufferances have been familiar and ordinary V. 4. He hath born in the quality of a pledge for his Church he hath given satisfaction for her sins bearing all the punishments due for them in torments and extreame griefes both of body and soul and by feeling the wrath of God and death c. Yet we namely the Jewish nation Stricken namely for his own proper sins V. 5. The chastisement that is to say Gods just judgements for sin have been fully executed against him in stead of all his Elect for their benefit and absolution whereby his wrath hath been appeased and they reconciled with him V. 6. All we all men through sinne were alienated from God and were gone astray out of the way of everlasting life and every one followed his own lusts and particular sins Laid on him by his Sons one and onely righteousnesse he hath expiated all those severall sins Rom. 5. 16 18 19. The iniquity not the transgression nor the fault but the bond by which we were liable to Gods justice and the punishment of it Christ being our surety Of us all namely of all beleevers who in Christ have a true spirituall communion amongst themselves V. 8. Was taken into celestiall glory From judgement namely from the punishment of judiciall death which hee suffered for men as their pledge His generation the Italian his age namely the lastingnesse and eternity of his Kingdome into the possession of which he entred after his resurrection V. 9. His grave according to the custome of malefactors condemned to death he was to be buried ignominiously But Joseph a rich and honourable man laid the body in his grave by a secret providence of God to shew that with Christs death all the punishments and shame due to sinne were ended V. 10. He shall see hee shall gaine an infinite number of beleevers regenerate according to his own image through his Spirit and the incorruptible seed of his word Psal. 110. 3. Hebr. 2. 13. Prolong he shall reigne and live eternally The pleasure namely Gods eternall decree concerning the salvation of the Elect shall be powerfully and fully executed by Christ who by his word and Spirit shall communicate unto them the fruit of his death to everlasting life and salvation V. 11. He shall see he shall receive a full reward for his sufferings when after he hath accomplished the work of redemption he shall be raised up in glory and shall gather unto him all his Elect by the preaching of the Gospell My righteous servant who hath and possesseth that perfect righteousnesse as can alone satisfic Gods judgement for his Elect. Dan. 9. 14. Zech. 9. 9. Rom. 5. 18 19. 1 John 2. 1. Justifie that is to say he shall cause them to be absolved as righteous before God by his righteousnesse which through faith shall bee imputed to them Rom. 4. 5 6. By his knowledge by the lively light and impression of faith which embraceth Christ and his righteousnesse to salvation and doth mystically unite the beleever to him Gal. 2. 20. He shall beare to redeem them from condemnation by his suffering to make intercession for their defects by presenting himselfe continually before God and to mend their defaults by his Spirit V. 12. Will I divide him that is to say I the Father will cause my Son after he hath overcome the devill and death to gain unto himselfe a great many men whom the devill held in slavery and shall upon them establish his Kingdome amongst the other Kingdoms of the world Ephes 4. 8. Of many not generally of the whole world but of the decreed number of the Elect John 17. 9. Rom. 5. 15 19. CHAP. LIIII Vers. 1. O Barren namely O thou Church which before Christs comming wert like a barren woman or like a woman forsaken of her husband bringing forth no more spirituall children Rejoyce in the Messias his time because that by the renewing of the covenant of grace and by the sending of the Spirit thou shall become a most fruitfull mother farre more fruitfull then ever the ancient Jewish Church was whilest it continued in Gods Covenant V. 2. Enlarge a representation of the wonderfull increase of beleevers under the Gospel by the figure of a tent that should grow too little for them that live in it V. 3. And thy seed that is to say The beleevers which thou shalt bring forth to the Lord shall spiritually become Lords of the world planting his faith and Kingdome in it and peopling with a new and sanctified kinde of people the whole world which before was void of the knowledge and grace of God V. 4. Shalt forget that is to say the greatnesse of thy glory under the Gospel shall blot out and cancell in thee all feeling and remembrance of thy former state which was infamous for sins and idolatries and wretched for punishments by meanes of which I was in a manner divorced from thee Isa. 50. 1. V. 5. Thy maker namely God who as by his grace he gave thee thy first being to make thee his Church can also restore it to thee again when he pleaseth Of the whole and not onely of the Jewish Nation V. 6. Hath called thee hath re-united thee to himselfe by the Covenant of grace V. 9. This is namely this salvation and deliverance from the deluge
of former sinnes That I would not namely that I would not reprove nor suffer my true Church to perish which consists of mine Elect and beleevers with whom God is never angry so far as to curse or overthrow them but doth onely punish and correct them see Jer. 31. 35 36. V. 11. I will lay a figurative description of the Churches spirituall excellency which is like a building comosed of precious stones which are the faithfull upon an exquisite foundation which is Christ 1 Cor. 3. 12. Rev. 21. 18. With faire colours the Italian upon fine marble the Hebrew word is of a doubtfull signification V. 14. In righteousnesse that is to say in a well and right ordered manner Or by Gods grace and bounty for the word Righteousnesse is oftentimes taken for Gods property which is to doe good to those that are his V. 15. They shall the enemies shall often conspire against thee but as I will not be the author of it so will I cause the issue of it to prove to their ruine V. 16. I have that is to say Weapons and Souldiers have no power nor cannot bring any thing to passe but onely so far as I will give them leave by my permission and pleasure V. 17. And their that is to say the fruit and reward of their faith and loyaltie in my service Or this is the inheritance which I will bestow upon them as my servants and children CHAP. LV. Vers. 1. THat thirsteth that are in want and necessity of Gods grace and have a lively feeling thereof Come ye namely to mee Christ who am the welspring of grace signified by the water and of life signified by the wine and milke which are nourishment for the body That hath that hath no means to gaine this good of your selves Buy and that is to say take as a gift that which shall be made yours in like manner as if you had paid the just price of it Or give that is to say forsake and renounce all other worldly goods for this Matth. 13. 44. Rev. 3. 18. V. 2. Do ye spend that is to say Why doe you bestow all you have in superstitions idolatries works of the Law and other wayes to purchase eternall life which none can give you but I V. 4. I have given him words of the Father confirming his Sonne in his vocation in whom descending from David according to the flesh were to be verified the promises made to David and to all the other Fathers A witnesse namely to declare and confirme the Fathers will and counsell at which being his eternall wisdom he had been present He toucheth Christs two Offices namely of Prophet and King after he had accomplished his priesthood upon earth V. 5. A nation namely the poore Gentiles who were strangers to Gods Covenant and void of all true knowledge of him Ephes. 2. 11 12. Because of because that God the Father shall accompany thy Gospel with his divine vertue by which mens hearts shall be effectually converted Or because God shall have plainly manifested himselfe to be thy God and thy Father by thy resurrection and glorious ascension Rom. 1. 4. V. 6. While he while he offers himselfe to men by the Gospel out of which he cannot bee found Psal. 32. 6. John 7. 34. and 8. 21. V. 8. My thoughts I am infinitely mercifull and ready to forgive and not hard and implacable as men are neither am I inconstant and wavering in my promises as they are V. 11. So shall so likewise will I never recall the promise of my grace but will fully performe it Shall proper shall happily accomplish it without any obstacle or let V. 12. Ye shall goe out namely out of your spirituall bondage from which Christ shall free you V. 13. In slead God shall fill the world with true beleevers noble plants in stead of harmfull bastard and wilde plants such as man is in the state of his corrupt nature Mic. 7. 4. And it shall be this miraculous change shall be as an eternall monument of Gods glorie and he shall be everlastingly praised for it in his Church CHAP. LVI Vers. 1. FOr my salvation since I do proffer my salvation to the world by the Messias it is fitting that all men should turn to me their Benefactor And it is also needfull for them to do so for to make themselves capable of receiving it Mat. 32. and 4. 17. Rom. 13. 11 12. My righteousnesse namely mine Evangelicall righteousnesse which onely is the cause of salvation Rom. 1. 17. and 3. 21 22. V. 2. The Sabbath namely all the true and spirituall service of God especially in the keeping of the first Table of which the Sabbath was anciently the figure and summe V. 3. Neither let that is to say by the Messias shall be abolished and disannulled all manner of distinction and difference of Nations and persons and none shall be excluded out of the assembly of beleevers as formerly those that are here specified were Deut. 23. 1 2 3. V. 5. A name that is to say an honour and dignity far more excellent then theirs who are called Fathers amongst my people namely they shall have the right and priviledge to be called my children John 1. 12. That shall not which I will never take away from them recalling mine election and of which they shall alwayes have an inward impression by the Spirit of adoption Rom. 8. 16. Revel 2. 17. V. 7. Will I bring I will graft them into my Church and make them partakers of all my good and comfort and will accept of the service which they shall do me in Spirit and truth V. 8. Yet will I I will also gather the Gentiles into my Church as I have done the Jews to make of two Nations one John 10. 16. Ephes. 2 14 15. To him namely into the congregation of the Church which is the true Israel according to the Spirit V. 9. Come another prophetick speech by which Isaiah declares that the chiefe cause of the despersion and destruction of the Lords flock by their enemies was the disloyaltie and negligence of the Shepherds as well Bcclesiasticall as politick who are called watchmen according to the ordinary stile of Scripture V. 11. They all look every one hath given himselfe to following of his own disordered lusts V. 12. And to morrow that is to say Let us not take care for anything if to day we take our deligh's we may also continue to morrow at our own leisure words of a prophane securenesse and dissoluâ—enelle see Prov. 23. 35. Isa. 22. 13. CHAP. LVII Vers. 1. THe righteous it is likely that in the time of these Prophecies God did take out of the world divers persons noted for piety and vertue which was a presage of great approaching evils from which God would exempt those his faithfull servants see 2 Kings 22. 20. V. 2. In their beds as the death of the faithfull is called a sleep so is their grave like unto a
Italian married that is to say returned into favour and communion with her husband which is God V. 5. Thy Sonnes that is to say thou shalt have Princes and Magistrates of thine owne Nâ—tion and not strangers Jer. 30. 21. under the supreame command of God and his Christ. V. 6. I have set Gods Word that is to say I have given thee Prophets who are like watchmen upon the wals to admonish thee by their preaching and to preserve thee by their prayers to God Isa. 21. 11. Ezek. 13. 17. 38. 7. Ye that Isaiah his words That make mention the Italian that remember the Lord that doe keep the knowledge and service of God amongst his people and the remembrance of his grace and promises by your preaching V. 7. And give him never let your fervencie and perseverance in praying grow slacke V. 8. By his right hand that is to say as true as he is almighty Give thy Corne thou shalt be no more exposed for a prey Figurative termes to shew the Churches security and spirituall tranquillity under the Messias his Kingdom A promise contrary to the threatning Deuâ— 28. 31. Jer. 5. 17. V. 9. In the Courts that is to say in my Church and as it were in my presence with thanksgiving He hath a relation to those sacred feasts which were kept in the Court of the Temple to give thankes unto the Lord in holy mirth see Deut. 12. 12. 14. 26. 16. 11 14. 26. 11. V. 10. Goe thorow that is to say O you beleevers which are already gathered into the Church goe and meet the Gentilesâ— whom God purposeth to bring into it And make their conversion â—he easier by your doctrine example and charity take away all stumbling blocks and le ts out of the way Gather out or pave the waies with stones V. 11. The Lord God hath appointed this to be publiquely declared by us Prophets that all men may receive him when he appeares His worke that is to say his redemption and salvation Or the recompence which he wil give to his V. 12. They shall call them namely those that shal joyne themselves to the Church vers 10. And thou namely O thou Church in general Sought out namely by God thy husband after he had cast thee off Isa. 54. 6 7. Now this terme sheweth that the beginning of conversion commeth from God CHAP. LXIII Vers. 1. WHo is this the Prophets words or the Churches brought in here wondring at Christs glorious triumph over all his enemies figured by the Idumeans the Jewes perpetual adversaries Bozrah a chiefe City of Edom. Died namely with blood I Christs answer That speake who have faithfully promised everlasting salvation to my Church and wil powerfully perform my promise V. 3. I have namely I have without the help or assistance of any man executed Gods just vengeance upon his enemies often set downe under the name of Vintage Lam. 1. 15. Revel 14. 19 20. 19. 15. V. 4. The yeere namely the time of the Gospel figured out by the yeere of Jubile in which every one re-obtained his liberty and his patrimony V. 5. I looked he sheweth how that the whole glory of this victory belonged to Christ alone see John 16. 32. My fury all my weapons and aid were nothing but my justice provoked and zeale for my Fathers glory V. 6. Make them drunke as who should say drowned in their own blood see Rev. 16. 6. V. 7. I will mention Isaiah or the Churches words giving God thankes for his infinite goodnesse V. 8. He said namely God said formerly when he brought his people out of Egypt Surely they he brings God in as a father conceiving good hopes of his children V. 9. In all he had a lively feeling of all those evils which were done to his people see Zach. 2. 8. Acts 9. 4. The Angel namely the Sonne of God in whom the father hath at all times revealed himselfe as being â—he lively Image of God who is invinsible see Exod. 23. 20 21. and 33. 14. Col. 1. 15. V. 11. Remembred namely in many deliverances of his afflicte people Moses namely his covâ—nant in which Moses had been the Mediator Or Moses his vehement intercession that he had used upon the like occasion Exod. 32. 11. Saying the Italian but now namely in Isaiah his time in the peoples great distresse neere the time of the Babylonian captivity Where is that is to say God seemeth to have given over the conduct of his people the outward conduct by his Word and the inward conduct by his Spirit With the shepherd the Italian with the shepherds namely by the ministerie of Moses and Aaron Exod. 34. 10. Psal. 77. 20. V. 12. With his that is to say he accompanied Moses his ministerie with his glorious and divine power V. 15. The sounding the Italian the commotion the fervency of that fatherly affection which thou formerly shewest V. 16. Though Abrabam though we are so much degenerate that if Abraham were alive againe he would hardly acknowledge us to be his children V. 17. Made us to erre that is to say thou hast by thy just judgement taken away the conduct of thy Spirit from us and hast forsaken and left us to our own blinde lusts and for a height of punishment hast given us over to the spirit of error see Job 12 16. Thyservants sake namely the ancient Fathers with whom God made his Covenant and who did also faithfully keep it for whose sake he prayeth God to be mercifull to their posterity V. 18. Have possessed it namely the countrey which thou hadst promised us we should enjoy for ever V. 19. Not called not accepted for thine own nor called by thy Name as children are by their fathers name CHAP. LXIIII. Vers. 1. OH that the Churches prayer to God that hee would bee pleased to shew his divine power for her deliverance as he did formerly when he brought her out of Egypt and gave her his Law Psal. 68. 8. V. 3. When thou didst namely in the old daies in the deliverance out of Egypt in the bringing of thy people through the wildernesse and in the bringing of them into the land of Canaan V. 5. Thou meetest thou wert most bountifull of thy favours towards this people that did endeavour to serve thee and doe good works with a willing heart Remember Isaiah his words the meaning is when thou hast executed thy judgements upon thy people by the Babylonians they will turn unto thee in their captivity and will call upon thee with a sincere confession of their sinnes Levit. 26. 39. Dan. 9. 4. V. 6. He are all we acknowledge that our persons and our actions even the most praise worthy of them namely those wherewith we did thy service were all contaminated with hypocrisie prophanenesse or some other vices wherefore thou hast rejected us as abominable Taken us away namely out of thy sight out of the blessed country into captivity V. 7. For thou hast because
to Thee it belongs to use mercie and forgivenesse for thou alone hast power to doe it v. 18. V. 13. Understand Endevouring to to repent truly according to thy Word by meanes of which we may be made partakers of the fruit of thy holy promises V. 14. Watched upon the evill His providence hath been attentive to bring it in the prefixed time and instant see Jer. 1. 12. and 31. 28. and 44. 27. 2 Pet. 2. 3. V. 16 Thy righteousnesse namely Thy goodnesse and loyalty in thy promises and fatherly equitie towards thy poore children cruelly tormented by their enemies upon unjust causes See Psal. 31. V. 17. To shine Shew thy Grace and Favour in effects which like a 〈…〉 lfying and cheaâ—ing sunne may disperse all these mists of extreme desolations Numb 6. 25. Psal. 8. 3. 7. 19. For the Lords sake For thine owne sake or as some will have it for the promised Messias and Mediators sake V. 19. Thy Name They are and professe themselves to be thine and doe beare the bages and markes of it V. 21. Touched me In token of encouragement to heare these mysteries and of infusion of new divine vertue to understand and remember them and of comfort in these promises V. 23. The commandement the Italian The Word God hath revealed to us Angels and to me especially the secrets of his Councell concerning the restauration of Jerusalem and how long it shall last afterward untill the Messias and hath sent me to declare it unto thee See Dan. 10. 12. Beloved Singularly beloved of God and favoured with his graces Dan. 10. 11 19. V. 24. Seventie weekes Thou hast prayed to God concerning the seventy yeeres of the peoples captivity which the Lord hath appointed And I will tell thee moreover That after the accomplishment of those yeeres there be seventie times seven yeeres which are the weeke of yeeres that is to lay foure hundred and ninty yeeres appointed for the lasting of the people and of the city of Jerusalem in which time the Messias shall come shall fulfill the Prophecies shall satisfie for the sins of the world by his death and shall establish the true righteousnesse of the Gospell which shall remain for ever through Which all believers shall be absolved and justified and shall by his spirit be regenerate to a new and godly life and hee shall be consecrated and made an everlasting King at the right hand of God his Father having obtained the fulnesse of Gods-spirit as head of his Church And after all this the City and the Nation shall be destroyed by the Romans The most holy Heb The Holinesse of Holinsse that is to say He that is Holinesse it self and in Whom consists all the Churches holinesse who is in Spirit and truth that which the Arke the Propitiatory the Altar and the Sanctuary which were called most holy things and were consecrated by unction Exod. 30. 36. were but in shadow and figurative V. 25. From the going forth He sheweth when the beginning of these seventie weekes shall be namely After that by Darius his decree Ezr. 4. 24. and 6. 1. 15. The Temple was re-edified and consequently the City also after Darius had given way for that which the enemies would have hindred namely the restauration of the City Ezra 4. 12 13 24. Unto the Messiah Untill the Son of God made manifest in the flesh and consecrated everlasting King of the Church v. 2â— doe by a secred conduct make Himselfe as it were Captaine of the Romans v. 26. Matth. 22. 7. and utterly destroy Jerusalem Seven weekes Of yeeres which are nine and forty yeeres from Darius his decree untill such time as the walls of Jerusalem were finished by Nehemiah Threescore and two Which are foure hundred foure and thirty yeeres namely from the restauration of Jerusalem untill the time of the last ruine of it by the Romans Built againe that is to say Jerusalem shall subsist being continually built and beautified with new buildings within side and fortified on the outside notwithstanding the grievous oppressions which it shall suffer under the Empires of Persia Greece and Rome V. 26. And after Joyned to the seven precedent weekes which make in all threescore and nine weeks that is to say In the last of the seventie Be cut off By the Jewes and in their opinion quite destroyed without any residue or hope of restauration Isa. 53. 8. But not for the Italian And shall have nothing left Being brought to nothing by death having no life strength nor dignitie in shew left him See Psa. 22. 6. Isa. 53. 2 3. Phil. 2. 3. Others there being nothing in him namely no cause nor fault Isa. 53. 9. Or there being nothing therein for him that is to say All being done for the good and redemption of mankind The people of namely The Romans Shall be with It shall be sudden irreparable and violent like to a destruction caused by a deluge of waters Desolations are After the warre with the Romans is once begun it shall never cease untill Jerusalem be quite destroyed according to Gods decree V. 27. And he namely Christ being come and comming in the world shall in one of those weekes by the Gospel renew the Covenant with the Jewes which shall believe which he had made with their forefathers and shall ratifie it by new sacraments Of the weeke Of that weeke which remaines after the foresaid sixty nine to make up the number of seventy for indeed the revolts and troubles of the Jewes lasted three yeeres and a halfe or foure yeeres after the threescore and nine weeks Shall cause Through the desolation of the Temple by the Romans the Jewish service and sacrifices shall cease And for the the Italian The destroyer shall come upon the abominable wings that is to say The Roman army led by Titus shall come with great speed as if it were carryed flying upon Eagles wings which were the ensignes of the Roman legions called abominable because the Romans did worship them as God-heads of armies and did place them in the Temple of God for to prophane it Mat. 24. 15. Mar. 13. 14. Luke 21. 20. Uâ—tiâ— See Isa. 10. 23. The consummation the Italian The inundation Whereof see v. 26. CAAP. X. Vers. 1. THe third After hee had seized upon the Babylonian Empire and had established the second Monarchie The time appointed the Italian The army was great namely Of the Angells which appeared in this vision Others The time appointed was long that is to say Though the things fore-told are not to be fulfilled of a long time yet is the Prophecie true V. 2. Was mourning For the enemies of our Nation hindered the re-establishment of Jerusalem and of the Temple which Cyrus had given way to Ezra 4. 5. V. 3. I eate no I abstained from all meales wherein one might rejoyce either at the qualitie of the food or at the company that was at them or that I tooke any delight in I fasted with bread and
Conductor 〈◊〉 of thee he comforteth the Church which was deprived of her earthly King by the promise of Christs comming the heavenly and everlasting King Come forth he was from everlasting come forth of the Father by generation and by an eternall decree was by him appointed to be a mediator V. 3. Therefore namely to fulfill these prophesies Will he God shall suffer his people to be subject to forreine Princes and Lords their enemies untill Christ be borne of a Virgin according to the promises Gen. 3. 15. Isay 7. 14. The remnant namely the Gentiles converted by faith to Christ and thereby made brothers to the true Israel in Spirit shall be united with them in one body of a Church under Christ their head V. 4. And be namely Christ shall doe the office of a good shepheard standing still on foot and watching for the safegard of his employing for their safety the divine power of his Father whereby the Church shall rest secure having the King of the Universe for her Protector Now namely at the prefixed and appointed time or within a short space V. 5. And this man namely Christ shall be the foundation the author and maintainer of the true spirituall rest of the Church and if it bee assaulted by the enemies it shall from him have sufficient meanes for to withstand them As if they had raised seven Armies under the command of seven Captaines against the Assyrians who were the Jewes ancient enemies Seven shepheards having likened the Church to a flock of sheepe he calleth the defendors of it and all the ministers of her preservation shepheards as servants to the great shepheard who in respect of Christ are also sheep and members of the Church V. 6. Shall waste they shall utterly ruine Sathan and the worlds kingdome with the sword of Gods word and by temporall slaughters like unto those slaughters which the enemies had made of them Rev. 18. 6. or using against them their owne weapons which they had taken away from them Psal. 37. 15. Of Nimrod See Genesis 10. 10 11. V. 7. As a dew by reason of its multitude growne up as it were in an instant and miraculously fallen from heaven they shall be like dew or raine Psal. 110. 3. That tarrieth not which doth not grow in Gardens nor tilled lands watered by mens hands but in Deserts Mountaines and wilde places that have no other water but what fals upon them from heaven Iob 38. 26 27. Psal. 104. 13. V. 8. As a Lion the faithfull shall be endowed with an invincible force of the Spirit of God to overcome and overthrow the devill the world and all their enemies 2 Cor. 10. 4. 5 6 〈◊〉 Ioh. 5. 4 5. V. 10. Cut off I will take away all worldly strength from my Church And cause her to renounce all damnable and unlawfull meanes to maintaine her selfe as sorceries and recourse to Idols and idolatrous people which meanes the people had formerly made use of to the end she may put all her trust and confidence in Me and that she may obtaine the victory over all her enemies only by the power of my Spirit See Hosea 1. 7. Zech. 4. 6. V. 11. The Cities namely the walled and strong Cities to bring them to live in Villages and open places See Ezek. 38. 11. V. 14. Groves dedicated to Idolatry Deut. 16. 21. V. 15. Have not heard have not beleeved and obeyed the Gospell 2 Cor. 10. 6. CHAP. VI. Verse 1. ARise O Micahl debate thou Gods cause against this rebellious and ingratefull people as it were in judgement calling all the creatures to be judges seeing their consciences are more insensible then these creatures See Deut. 32. 1. Isay 1. 2. Micha 1. 2. V. 4. For I thou canst not alledge that there is any fault in me who have accumulated blessings upon thee Miriam who had also the gift of prophesie V. 5 Consulted namely to make Balaam curse thee who instead of that fruitlesse endeavour perswaded Balack to induce thee to idolatry and fornication Rev. 12. 14. From Shittim after thou wentest astray after Baal-Peor Num. 25. 1. Yet I did endure thee and brought thee into the land of Canaan where I renewed my Covenant with thee in Gilgal by the Circumcision See Josh. 3. 1. 5. 2. The righteousnesse his sovereigne loyalty in keeping his covenant and promises Or his infinite mercies V. 6. Wherewith the Prophet brings in the people desiring to know the true meanes to appeale God and be reconciled unto him V. 9. The Lords voice the Lord seeing what his people had deserved by their sinnes doth admonish them by his Prophets that they should take heed of his judgements which did hang over them and by his predictions doth warne them and instruct them not to hold them to be casuall chances but things proceeding from his Providence and justice that they might prevent them by Repentance Thy name thou thy Self as thou hast manifested thy selfe to thy Church by thy proper Name doest judge rightly of the sinnes of thy people and of the punishments which they deserved therefore V. 10. Theasurers of gotten possessed and used unjustly and wickedly Scant measure the Italian Scant Eph 〈…〉 to sell by Amos 8. 5. V. 12. Thereof namely of Jerusalem V. 13. Will 〈◊〉 Gods words V. 14. Thy casting downe that is to say those shall perish like a building that sinketh and ruineth by its owne weight having an evill foundation or being built with evill stuffe Shalt take hold of some part of thy goods to save them out of the ruine V. 16. For the namely those sinnes which have been spoken of before Statutes namely the Idolatry brought in by those wicked Kings 1 Kings 16. 25. 32. A hissing a matter of scorne and derision The reproach the ignominious punishment for having prophaned the name and title of being my people and my Church by your sins Ezek. 36. 20 23. Rom. 2. 24. CHAP. VII Verse 1. VVOe is me the Prophets lamentation because godly men were decayed in the countrey as if a thirsty and wearied traveller could not finde any fruit or Grapes in the Fields or Vine-yards See Psal. 12. 1. The first ripe rare fruits and therefore most to be desired Isay 28. 4. Hos. 9. 10. The meaning is that he fought for a good man amongst the people as for a very rare thing V. 3. Asketh for presents Wrap it up they make a league together they joyne and strenthen their evill councels and frauds even as by the twisting together of diverse threeds and strings they do make a strong rope V. 4. As a brier hurtfull and catching as Psal. 58 9. Ezek. 2 6. The day the time of thy punishment foretold by the Prophets who are called the watchmen Ezek. 3. 17. 33 7. Hos. 9 8. Perplexity and extreme anguish instead of the windings and practices of your deceipts See Nah. 1. 10. V. 5. Trust ye not there is no more faith nor loyalty no not even amongst
I have made use of therein have added their rage and the excesses of their cruelty thereunto not containing themselves within the limits of my revealed will though they could not go beyond my secret permission See Isay 47. 6. V. 16. A line that is to say her buildings shall be reedified and made up againe V. 17. Chuse shall confirme and renew the right and priviledge which he had granted her of being the place of his residence See Isay 14. 1. Zech. 2. 12. V. 18. Foure hornes a figure of the Churches enemies which had set upon her from the foure corners of the world or of the foure Monarchies by which she had been and should be oppressed untill Christs comming Dan. 2. 17. 7. 3. Now by these hornes must be meant iron hornes such as warriers did weare upon their helmets and therefore Carpenters are brought in to breake them and not Butchers V. 20. Carpenters a figure of the instrument which ruined those Empires that persecuted the Church V. 21. So that so that they have easily brought it to passe seeing none had power to resist them CHAP. II. Verse 1. I Lift up in a vision A man the Sonne of God in humane shape as appeares by V. 9. 11. This vision sets forth the great amplification of the Church under the Messias See Isay 54. 2 3. 60. 4. 11. V. 3. The Angell he that had the line in his hand Another Angell namely a created Angell V 4. And said unto he that was the Sonne of God commanded the other who was but a creature to expound the meaning of the vision of the line to the Prophet Shall be inhabited the number of those which shall come thither shall be so great that it will be impossible to encompasse the City with wals Figurative termes to signifie the infinite number of beleevers which shall be called into the Church by the preaching of the Gospell V. 5. A wall of fire that is to say an impregnable wall and defence The glory my presence in Spirit grace and power shall make it glorious as the residence of a King is a glory to the royall City Or as formerly in the desert the glory of God shewed it selfe in the signes of the pillar and of the cloud V. 6. Ho he he exhorteth all the Jewes whereof many for case and carnall enticements staid in Babylon to returne to Jerusalem And by this figure all the elect to leave the world and the corruption thereof to come into Christs Church For I have Babylon cannot be your countrey nor a blessed nor holy abode for you seeing I sent you thither to exile and punish you wherefore when I set you at liberty make use of my benefit V. 7. Deliver thy seâ—fe come forth speedily that thou maist not be infolded in her totall ruine See Jer. 51. 6. 45. Acts 2. 40. V. 8. After the glory a terme taken from that which was ordained in the desert namely that all the people should move and follow the cloudy pillar in which God appeared in majestie when it stirred Exod. 40. 36. Num. 9. 17. The meaning is let all true beleevers follow thorow the deserts of this world the guide of my word and spirit residing and divinely shining in my Church by which they may be conducted to the firme seat of glory which is the heavenly Jerusalem Hath he sent words of the Sonne of God speaking of his Father V. 9. To their servants namely to nations that had been subject to them A figure of the Churches victory over the world which before had oppressed her and kept her in bondage V. 11. In that day namely in the time of the Churches re-establishment by the Messias figured by the Babilonian deliverance V. 12. Shall inherit he shall hold his elect which are the true spirituall Judah for his proper and peculiar people and as such he shall love governe and preserve them See Exod. 34. 9. In the holy namely in the Church V. 13. He is raised he hath wrought powerfully from heaven and hath manifested his power for the deliverance of his people CHAP. III. Verse 1. SHowed me in a vision The end whereof is to shew that in the restauration of the Temple of Gods service it was first of all necessary to have those persons which were to be imployed therein reconciled to God and cleansed from the pollution which they had gotten in Babylon And that likewise the Church represented here by Jehoshua a chiefe Officer of it should be re-admitted into Gods favour to the end that the service which she should yeeld unto him might be accepted which is figured by a forme of judgement wherein Jehoshua is by the Lord absolved and afterwards sanctified Standing like unto a man accused before a Judge Before the Angell namely before the Sonne of God who is both Judge and Advocate and Defendor of those that beleeve in him in this judgement 1 Joh. 2. 1. Satan the adversary the malicious accuser of the Faithfull to 〈◊〉 against whom he complaines pretending to be zealous of having justice done though he be onely moved through an envious and malignant rage Rev. 12. 10. See Psa. 109. 6. V. 2. The Lord namely the Sonne of God who was before called Angell Rebuke thee may mineâ— everlasting Father rebuke and confound thee in this malitious instance which thou makest against my Church See Jude 9. the same words spoken upon another occasion That hath chosen hereby is intimated and shewne the chiefe foundation and ground of the Churches absolution here represented by Jehoshua which is that God from all eternity hath out of his own meere grace chosen his elect to salvation Rom. 8. 33. Is 〈◊〉 this namely this small company which Jehoshua represents a reservation of my grace which I have reserved out of my people whom I have caused to passe thorow the fire of my judgements Amos 4. 11. See Rom. 11. 5. And therefore towards them my decree of grace shall stand firme and invariable V. 3. Filthy garments an ordinary signe of sinne as a white and cleane garmentis a signe of Christs righteousnesse put on by faith and of the regeneration of the Spirit to the newnesse of life See Ezek. 16. 8. 10. Rev. 3. 4 18. 7. 14. V. 4. Unto those namely to the created Angels his Ministers to shew that Christ who only hath power to forgive sinnes doth therein imploy the holy Ministery for an instrument See 2 Cor. 5. 18. I have caused this hath a relation to two spirituall effects The one is that by Christs satisfaction sinne is taken away from before the eyes of God and is not imputed to condemnation though the corruption be not altogether blotted out in man during this life See Psal. 32. 1 2. The other is that Christs merit and righteousnesse is applyed to the beleever to life and that by his Spirit he puts on the new man in righteousnesse and holinesse Gal. 3. 27. Col. 3. 10. V. 5.
Mitre a Priestly ornament for the head Exod 28. 4. to shew that God besides his grace which was common to all the members of his Church did also adorne him with the gifts of his Spirit befitting his priestly charge Stood by as it were to have this his sentence put in execution Whereby is signified Christs assistance to the worke of the ministery in power and Spirit As to that also seemes to be referred his speaking alone in this place to shew that he alone doth all this worke and doth all things in all men and that he can alone pronounce the sentence and comfort the soule by his Spirit V. 7. Judge I will keepe thee in the Priestly degree of which the two chiefe parts were the government in Ecclesiasticall businesses and concerning the worship of God according as it is set downe in the Law Deut. 17. 12. 2 Chro. 19. 11. And the chiefe and continuall Ministery of holy things I will give thee After all this I will gather thee up into my heavenly glory with mine Angels the likenesse of which thou beholdest here in this vision V. 8. Thy fellowes namely The inferiour Priests For they are the Italian For you are I have appointed you to be in your own persons and actions a signe and representation of my Churches re-establishment by the Messias of which I will give you a particular instruction For behold He gives a reason why he had termed them signes and figures namely Because that in Christ was the accomplishment I will bring I will shortly send my sonne into the world who shall take upon him the forme of a servant to accomplish the worke of redemption Phil. 2. 7. The branch A frequent name of the Messias See upon Isa. 4. 2. V. 9. For behold The end of the sending of my Sonne shal be to lay the foundation of my Church upon him who was the fundamentall and corner stone Psa. 118. 22. Isa. 28. 16. figured by some especiall stone which was solemnlie put into the fabrick of Temple and in the presence of the Priests when it begun to be built up ugaine See Zech. 4. 7. 10. Upon one the Italian Upon that one As that materiall stone hath been set in the sight of Joshua and of other Priests So shall the eyes of my providence 2 Chro 16. 9. which is infinite and universall here signified by the number of seven Zech. 4. 10. and 5. 6. and 9. 1. be alwayes fixed upon Christ to maintaine favour and cause him to prosper in his Kingdome See Isa. 24. 6. and 49. 8. and 51. 16. I will engrave Words of God the Father who hath appointed his Sonne to be Mediator and hath confirmed upon his humane nature all the gifts of his Spirit for to performe it See Dan. 2. 34. 44. Heb. 9. 11. I will remove As in Joshua namely made fitting to undertake the Priesthood againe I have sanctified all my Church so by one onely oblation of my Sonne who was eternally consecrated high Priest I will purge all the sinnes of my Church See Heb. 9. 12. and 10. 12 24. In one day This is opposite to your figurative sacrifices which were namely times reiterated see Heb. 7. 27. and 9. 26 28. and 10. 10. V. 10. Shall yee call A figure of the spirituall peace and rest of the Church redeemed and reconciled to God by Christ Mich. 4. 4. CHAP. IV. Vers. 1. CAme againe It is likely that there was some space of time between those visions during which time the Prophet in his extasie was as it were asleepe that is to say without any light of Propheticke revelation without any action or motion of the spirit to him V. 2. A candlestick It seemes he would shew the mysticall meaning of Moses his candlestick Exod. 25. 31. to the description of the making whereof here are some parts added belonging to the mysterie The Candlestick is the Church the bowle above it is Christ who hath received of the Father the fulnesse of the Spirit signified by the oyle to powre it upon his Church Joh. 1. 16 and 3. 34. Acts 2. 33. And as the oyle is pressed out of the Olive which is as it were the lively spring of it so all these gifts and graces proceed from that Christ hath been annoynted and consecrated for an everlasting King and Priest the seven lamps are the severall operations of the Spirit in the faithfull all in fervencie of life and motion and in light of faith and understanding whose chiefe use is to carry the lampe of Gods Word in the world and to cause his glory to shine therein Mat 5. 15 16. Phil. 2. 15. The seven pipes are the severall meanes of the communication of the spirituall and mysticall power of Christ to his members Ephes. 4. 16. Seven pipes Which you must imagine to be in the bottome of the bowle to distribute the oyle to each lampe V. 3. By it the Italian Over it that is to say On the side of it but in such manner that the branches might hang above the bowle V. 5. Knowest thou not This is spoken to inflame the Prophets desire to know the truth of it and to shew him that this was the meaning of Moses his ancient candlestick of which he might by some meanes have learned the signification V. 6. This is This vision is especially directed to Zerubbabel to strengthen him in his charge of politick head of the people as the other was for Joshua the Ecclesiasticall head Not by night I have caused thee to see in this figure that the subsistance of my Church is not in the same kind as that of worldly Empires in force of armes and might but in a lively internall action of my Spirit wherefore be not dismaied in thy mind O Zerubbabel if worldly strength doe faile thee my spirit and power shall supply all as well for the re-establishment of the materiall temple as for the spirituall conduct and preservation of the Church see Hos. 1. 7. V. 7. Who art thou The Empires which oppresse the Church though they be great yet shall they be beaten downe by the stone Dan. 2. 34. which is Christ figured by Zerubbabel See Zech. 14. 10. Shall bring forth It shall be shewen to the world at the appointed time and exalted above all worldly greatnesse Dan. 2. 35. The head stone Or corner stone or front-stone see Psal. 118. 22. With The Angels the faithfull and all creatures rejoycing at Christs Kingdome established in the world shall desire God the Father to heape all manner of blessing and happinesse upon it See Psal. 118. 26. or they shall acknowledge and preach that the Father hath laid up in him all the treasures of his grace and gifts of his Spirit V. 9. That the Lord Seeing the Lord v. 8. is he that saith That the Lord hath sent him we must of necessitie conclude that there are here two persons the one the Sonne who is sent and the other the Father that
singular gift upon men in the first creation namely the gift of reason of knowledge and of wisdome to know God and serve him V. 5. The light that is to say this first originall light being ecclipsed and almost extinguished by sin the Son of God who was the author of that light did not cease from enlightning men many wayes by workes and by the word to make himselfe known unto them but mans inward darknesse could not comprehend any thing thereby to salvation and life even as the eye which hath not his inward light seeth nothing in the outward light V. 6. There was that is to say that divine light being so extinguished the Sonne of God himselfe came into the world to light it againe by the Gospell whereof Iohn Baptist was the first Preacher V. 7. For a witnesse to give me a certaine knowledge of it and to maintaine it against all doubts and contradictions upon the certainty that one might and ought to have as well of Iohn the Baptist his person as of his vocation and calling as well by the prophecies as by the cleere divine proofes which accompanied him See Heb. 3. 5. Of the light namely of Christ the spring author of this celestiall light Iohn 8. 12 9. 5 12. 46. Might beleeve might be induced and prepared to beleeve the Gospell V. 9. That was here the discourse concerning Iohn is interrupted untill the 15 vers for to set down the differences and preheminences of Christ above him who was but a witnesse and a guide Lighteth that is to say infuseth and preserveth in men some sparkes of that first light by the gift of understanding reason and knowledge Rom. 1. 19. which Iohn could not doe V. 10 He was even from the creation he hath alwayes been present in the world in power and in perpetuall action V. 11. He came he hath even from the beginning alwayes manifested himself unto his Church which is as it were his own house but he hath often times been rejected thorow incredulity and rebellion V. 12. As many another prerogative of Christs who hath conferred upon all beleevers the effect and vertue of the spirituall adoption of which Iohn did onely administer the signe and Sacrament in his baptisme The power or dignity and excellency V. 13. Noâ— of blood they are not such by any natural generation Of the will of man neither have they made themseves such by any act disposition or motion of their owne proper humane will Of God by the power of his Spirit and the image of the heavenly Father V. 14. Waâ— not by any way changing himselfe but by assumption in unity of person See Heb. 2. 16. Made to shew the disterence between his eternall generation as he is the Son of God and of his creation and â—raming in time as he is true man See Rom. 1. 3. Gal. 4. 4 Flesh that is to say a humane creature in the state of an animall and corporall life with all its infirmities wants often intimated by the word flesh 1 Tim. 3. 16 Heb. 2. 14. and 5. 7 And dwelt he conversed in the world and there did accomplish his vocation We beheld namely we Apostles have seen many beames of his majestie and divine power in his workes and miracles and especially in his transfiguration Mat 17. 1 2. 2 Pet. 1. 16 17. Of grace this may bee understood of the gifts of the holy Ghost of which Christ was full as well in the understanding whose perfections are all comprehended under the truth as also in the heart and active part whose endowments go all under the word of grace Luke 2. 40. Or of his effects towards men working in all manner of mercy and benignity and teaching in truth Or also verifying by the accomplishment all the ancient promises of grace V. 15. Cried when Christ presented himselfe before him and he by divine inspiration knew him Applying to this particular person all that which he had alwayes spoken concerning the comming of the Messias He that though I was made manifest to the world before him Yet he is beyond comparison greater then 〈◊〉 in dighity office and power of operation being true eternall God V. 16. Have a'lwe words of the Evangelist in sequell of the fourteenth verse The meaning is he is not onely full of the said gifts in his owne person but hath been as a spring thereof to all beleevers who participate thereof by faith And grace that is to say we are received into Gods grace by the grace and love of the father towards Christ our Mediator Rom. 5. 15. Ephes. 1. 6. by which also having established him head of the Church he distributes to every one of his members a portion of his gilts V. 17. For the law Christ alone can bestow the foresaid benefits for they cannot be obtained but either by the law or by Christ Now Moses and the law doe indeed set downe what the will of God is and the righteousnesse of man but they doe not give the power of fulfilling of it for to obtaine Gods grace and do set forth the figures but they do not produce the effect but Christ hath done both the one and the other V. 18. No man no man of himselfe hath accesse nor communication of knowledge nor of grace with God but onely by his Sonne who in his person is the lively and perfect pourtraiture of the Father Iohn 14. 9. 2 Cor. 44. Colos. 1. 15. Heb. 1. 3. and by his merit and intercession makes him propitious and communicable to man Which is â—n who is intimate with him to know him perfectly And most deere unto him to be a mediator of grace and pardon V. 21. Elias who they did imagine should come in his own proper person by the passage of Mal. 4. 5. evill understood Mat. 17. 10. That Prophet soretold of by Moses Deut. 18. 16 wh 〈…〉 they beleeved to be some other besides the Messias See Iohn 6. 14. and 7. 40 41. V 24 The Phar sees this seemes to be noted to show that like great Doctors they were not satisfied when they had done theiâ— message but they did also fall a questioning with â—ohn that did use baptisme to the contempt and as it were in emulation of so many religious washings appointed and observed by them V. 25. Why by what authority dotst thou bring in this new Sacrament and what vertue can it have being administred by thee who hast not so high a calling as those great persons which are foretold in Scripture that they shall powre out the waters of grace promised by the Prophets V. 26. I baptize I am the Messias his minister who is already come in the world though he be not yet manifested and by his authority I doe that which I do and upon him depends all the spirituall vertue whereof I dâ—pence nothing but the outward signes v 33 V. 28. Bethabara it is thought to be the place mentioned Iudges 7. 24. and it should seeme that
there was some passage over Iordan there as the Hebrew name importeth Others reade it Bethany but then it must be another besides that of Iohn 1 18. V. 29. The Lambe him whom God hath appointed to make expiation for sinne and take away the bond and kingdome and punishment of it by offering his own person in a sacrifice acceptable to God figured by the daily immolation of Lambes under the law the signification of all which hath been accomplished by him And it is more likely that the similitude is drawne from the Lambes of the daily sacrifices then from the Paschall Lambe which savoured more of a Sacrament in application of the expiation made then of an offering in making of it Now it should seeme that this meeting of Christ Iohn happened after Christs return out of the Desert where he was tempted by the Devill V. 31 I knew him not not by sight before God had revealed him to me when Christ came to my baptisme and did afterwards confirme it by the sight of the Dove The meaning is there is no collusion between us seeing that I did not know him but only by divine revelation which was given me because that I shou'd make him knowne V. 32. Bare record namely after the second manifestation of Christ by the token of the Dove V. 34. Is the Sonne whom the Prophets had declared should be the Messias Psal 2. 7. 12. Isay 9. 6. V. 39. The tenth so that there were but two houres of day more This seemes to be noted to shew the short stay that they made with him at that time and to distinguish this first degree of their vocation from the other Mat. 4. 18. after which they remained continually with the Lord. V. 41. First it should seeme he meanes that the afore said two Disciples being gone to look for Peter Andrew found him first V. 42. Cephas a Syriack word which signifieth stone See upon Matthew 16. 18. V. 45. Of Nazareth namely that hath his ordinary abode there V. 46. Said unto a him this is grounded upon this that Nazareth was in Galilee a countrey much mixed and infected with paganisme And also because the Galileans were a more grosse and idâ—otish people V. 49. Thou art the King a word proceeding from divine inspiration joyned to the admiration of that act of Deity namely for to see those things which are out of his presence V. 51. Hereafter that which I have told thee is but a smal essay of my Godhead which now after my baptisme when I shall have enâ—ed upon the publike exercise or mine office I will make to appeare more fully 〈◊〉 you by the ervice which the Angels shall do me continually Mat 4. 11. Luke 22. 43. Iohn 12. 29. And he seemes to allude to Iacobs ladder Gen. 28. 12. CHAP. II. VER 1. THe third day namely after the afore-said discourses or after his returne out of the wildernesse Iohn 1. 29. 43. Of Galilee an addition to distinguish this City from another of the same name which was in the Tribe of Asher Ioth 19. 28. Surnamed Cana the great V. 3. They have no this sheweth that the holy Virgin after Christs baptisme did more cleerely know his divine power which she desires him to shew in this present case of necessity V. 4. What have I Christ after his baptisme being come out of his private life and entred into the exercise of his sacred office did no more yeeld such humane submission to his mother as he did before Luke 2. 51. See Mat. 12. 48. and therefore he receives neither prayer nor admonition from her to shew that in the unfolding of his divine power he did use his own absolute free will according to his own wisdome and also that he is the onely intercessor towards his father and that none can be an intercessor towards him Mine hours I will doe the miracle which thou requirest but the moment of time prefixed by my Soveraigne will is not yet come See Iohn 7 8. V. 6. After the manner to serve for those frequent washings which were appointed by the law or were brought in by tradition Mark 7. 3 4. V. 11. Beleeved that is to say were confirmed in the faith which was as yet tender and feeble in them V. 12. His brethren See Mat. 12. 46. V. 13. Went up according to the law Exod. 23. 17. Deut. 16 16. V. 15. He drove them an act like to that Matth. 21. 12. yet not the same V. 18. What sign shew us thy calling and authority receaved from God to reforme customes in this kinde which have hitherto beene approved of Though indeed it was not a generall law that every Prophet should verifie his vocation by miracles Iohn 10. 41. V. 19. In three Christ will not shew them any miracle because the doing of it dependeth upon his good will and pleasure and because that in that act which he had done it being evidently good and laudable there needed no ex raordinary proofe and because they thorow their incredulity were unworthy of it And therefore hee referres them to his resuâ—rection and glorification by which the truth of his person and office would cleerely appeare See Mat. 12. 40. Rom. 1. 4. V. 20. This Temple some referre this to the restauration of the Temple made by Zorobabel others to the reparations and beautifyings which Herod added to it A worke which had already lasted six and forty yeares and lasted a long while after that V. 24. Did not commit knowing the hypoerisie and inconstancy of many of them he did not admit them into his ordinary society as he did his trusty Disciples but did keepe himselfe from them CHAP. III. VER 2. By night for feare of the Iewes persecution Iohn 7. 13. and 9. 22. and 12. 42. and 19. 38. V. 3. Except a man if of the sonne of Adam corrupt in his own nature and the sonne of wrath he doth not become the sonne of God by adoption of grace and regeneration of spirit V. 5. Of water he seemes to intimate two distinct and severall parts of this change and by water he meanes the expiation and remission of the sinne and by the Spirit the whole worke of regeneration and inward sanctification of man Or he sheweth the ordinary externall meanes of this regeneration which is baptisme and the internall power of the holy Ghost by which it hath all its efficacy V. 6. That which is a man who is naturally engendred by his father and mother who are defiled with sinne is also defiled for all things do participate of the quality of their originall and therefore hath in him the cause of death and no disposition to life Contrariwise man regenerate by the Spirit being made spirituall hath the seed of everlasting life in him according to the order and infallible consequence that the flesh is to death and the Spirit is to life Rom. 8. 13. Gal. 6. 8. Of the flesh this word signifieth here as well as in
not so much for any desire they had to advance his doctrine as because they did not as yet so firmely beleeve in him To contemne all dangers and accidents for the love of him and of his Gospell V. 6. My time as much as to say you may goe when you please But I have certaine moments for all mine actions which are determined by my Fathers will and mine which are not regulated by any humane will example or custome See Iohn 2. 4 V. 7. The world you need not be afraid of the world seeing you doe not fight against it nor condemne it as I doe according to mine office from whence grow up all these worldly persecutions against me V. 10. As it were namely at the first to kindle the desire of hearing and seeing him so much the more Or to discover first whither there were any number disposed by his first preachings for to receive him to the end he might not shew himselfe in value V. 14. Of the least which lasted eight dayes Lev. 23. 34. 36. V. 15. Having never for it was a thing knowne that Iesus had not frequented the Schooles at Ierusalem but had been brought up amongst mechanick people See Mark 6. 3. V. 16. Is not mine he would say two things the one My doctrine is not a humane science which I have needed to learne by teaching according as you take me to be simply man It is a perfect knowledge of Gods mysteries which as I am his Sonne I have by eternall generation from the Father and as Mediator in shape of man by voluntary communication The other is I doe most faithfully relate it there being nothing diverse much lesse contrary betweene the Father and me V. 17. If any man the divinity and faithful Ye of my doctrine is so evident that it can no way â—e contradicted but onely by a wicked rebellion against God but every soule that is well disposed by the Spirit to the true obedience of faith and to voluntary humility may very easily judge of it 1 Cor. 2. 14 15. Phil. 1. 17. V. 18. Of himselfe without any vocation or not conforming his words to his commission Seeketh is moved thorow ambition to bring men to his opinions and will wherein consisteth the false glory He that seeketh contrariwise the signe of a faithfull minister is to purchase audience and obedience for God only which is his true glory V. 19. Moses the meaning is You do yet beare me malice since that time as I healed the impotent man and caused him to carry away his bed on the Sabbath day Iohn 5. 8. as if I had violated the holinesse of the day But if we ought to take that Commandement so strictly how many wayes doe you transgresse it either by vitious and sinfull actions as also by common and indifferent actions Luke 13. 15. 14. 5. or in religious actions commanded by the law Mat. 12. 5. Iohn 7. 22. V. 20. The people who knew not what the chiefe intended Thou hast not for to devine but be frantick and speak senselesly as a man possessed with the Devill V. 21. One worke namely the foresaid healing Marvell to see me so freely break the Sabbath V. 22. Gave unto you as much as to say If the law of the Sabbath be not violated by circumcision which is administred on that day when the eighth day from the birth of the childe fals thereon Gen. 17. 12. no more is it not by any other action of piety and vertue such as mine was in healing the man that was sick of the palsie and the commandement to do good at all times limits the generall law of the Sabbath as well as that of the Circumcision Not because that is to say though circumcision was appointed and used before Moses by the ancient 〈…〉 riarchs Which seemes to be added to correct the Iewes superstitious veneration of the name and person of Moses V. 24. According by a precipitate and superficiall judgement without exact enquiry as it were outwardly and by acceptation of persons looking more upon some externall qualities as that I am a Galilean without degreee without title little followed rejected by the chiefe then to the grounds of my doctrine and the truth which you heare from me which are the two principall vices of a judge who contrariwise ought to shut his eyes and open his eares V. 26. The Rulers of the Iewish nation who sought to put Iesus to death by cunning and secretly Or to take him to put him into the hands of the Romans to whom was reserved the execution of capitall punishments V. 27. But when a false opinion grounded upon that the Iewes expected then as they doe now the Messias to come suddenly and unlooked for as comming from heaven according as his comming in the flesh is often described by the Prophets as Isay 60. 2. Mal. 3. 1. and 4. 2. though for all that they have set downe his descent according to the flesh and the time and place and manner of his birth c. V. 28. Ye both that is to say you have sufficient proofes for to know me and indeed you are convinced in your owne consciences that I am of divine originall and that my vocation is from God Iohn 9. 41. but you resist me out of pure malice Or though you know whence I am according to my corporall originall yet neverthelesse I am the true Messias approved by the Father He that sent me the proofes which my Father hath given of my sending Iohn 5. 32. are most certaine and infallible but you being carnall and wilfully putting out all light that is within you cannot wholesomely judge of them nor know them to be perswaded thereby See Iohn 8. 14. V. 29. But I know him I have a cleer knowledge of him and a most firme approbation within my selfe which I oppose to all your contradictions V. 34. Shall seek me namely after ye have so rejected me as you do ye shall go seeking the Messias and the Saviour and shall finde none there being none other but I. And as for me I being gathered up into heaven you will not know where to finde me because you know not what it is to seeke me in spirit and that your incredulity excludes you from accesse to my Father and even from life everlasting V. 35. Vnto the to the Iewes and Israelites who were formerly gone amongst the Gentiles and regenerated in religion language and customes Iac. 1. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 1. V 37. That great day this was the eight day of the feast of Tabernacles a day of solemn assembly Lev. 23. 36. So called by the Iews as also the most solemn dayes of other feasts Ioh. 19. 31. Saâ—ing the Iewes relate in their writings that 〈◊〉 this last day of the Tabernacles the people by an ancient tradition weâ— and fetched water from the fountaine of Siloâ— in certaine great vessels and brought it into the Temple to the Priests who powred it upon the Altar
be more blinded by the devill See Luke 1. 52 53. 2. 34. Iohn 12. 39. Rom. 11. 7 8. V. 41. If ye were if your sin were a sin of meere ignorance it might be remissible 1 Tim. 1. 13. but having the knowledge of divine things Iohn 7. 28. whereof you make profession and shew and which I have declared unto you Iohn 15. 22. it can no way be imputed but to wicked obstinacy And therefore it becomes incorrigible and irremissible Matth. 12. 32. Mark 3. 29. CHAP. X VER 1. HE that entreth not in this similitude Christ is the Doore the Porter and supreame Shepherd altogether those that come in thorow him are beleevers whom he admits into his Church through faith in him and also all the good Shepherds who have their charge from him and get themselves an entrance into mens hearts by his pure doctrine The theeves are the wicked She pherds who intrude themselves without any lawfull calling or doe insinuate themselves by false doctrines and hurtfull deceipts The Sheepfold is the Church The sheep are the beleevers endowed with spirituall light and discretion The passure is the word of God and all the benefits of his grace V. 3. Calleth his care is not only for the generall body of the Church but it extends it selfe also towards every particular member as need requireth See Acts 20. 20. 31. 1 Thess. 2. 11. Leadeth that is to say he openeth unfoldeth and distributs unto them the pasture of Gods word 1 Cor. 16. 9. 2 Cor. 2. 12. Rev. 3. 8. V. 4. Goeth before them he doth guide defend and protect them and finally he is alwayes present and vigilant upon all occasion of need Follow him the faithfull doe voluntarily adhere unto him acknowledging him in his word to be their faithfull Shepherd and therefore loving him with all their hearts V. 5. They know not this ought to be understood of the knowledge of approbation and inclination not of that of judgement and discretion V. 7. The doore because that by faith in Christ onely man obtaineth entrance into the communion of Saints into the favour and grace of God and into the kingdome of heaven Iohn 14. 6 7. V. 8. All that namely all those that have usurped the right which belongeth to me alone to establish religions and meanes for to be reconciled to God Came before me the Italian That came are c. namely being not sent by me Therefore some texts adde before me The sheep namely the true beleevers and elect See 1 Cor. 11. 19. 1. Iohn 2 19. 10. V. 9 Shall goe in by the going in he means the spirituall safegard and security by the going out the pasture V. 10. Abundantly the Italian That they may abound namely in all manner of true good Or that they may alwayes have more that is to say that the spirituall life may alwayes increase in them untill it come to its perfection V. 12. The Wolfe namely the false Doctors or other kinde of corruptors and also the violent persecutors that seek to subvert the beleevers faith which every true shepherd ought to endeavour to maintain to the last V. 14. And know hereby is intimated the election of beleevers 2 Tim. 2. 19. accompanied with Christs perpetuall care love and protection and ratified by the interchangeable knowledge which he gives them of himselfe to be by them embraced by faith lored followed and retained V. 15. As the Father as my Father hath chosen me to be head of the Church so I likewise reâ—â—â—te my selfe who'ly to him and do adhere unto him by a perfect obedience which is said according to the proportion which the Scripture sets between that as the Father is towards Christ Mediator and that which Christ is towards his beleevers Iohn 6. 57. 17. 11. 18. 21. 1 Cor. 3. 23. 11. 3. V. 16. Other sheep namely the elect amongst the Gentiles who are to be called by the Gospell and incorporated into the Church with the elect of the Iewish nation I must bring for Christ by his Spirit fulfilleth all things in all men 1 Cor. 12. 5 6. V. 17. Therefore he doth not speak of the eternall and naturall love of the Father to the Son but of the acceptation of Christs perfect obedience and righteousnesse as he is man by which both his humane nature and all beleevers in him are acceptable to God See Matth. 3. 17. Ephes. 1. 6. V. 18. Taketh it from me namely by force and against my will for I myselfe aâ— the Priest of this oblation though men be the instruments thereof V. 22. The feast of which see the occasion and ordination 1 Mac. 4. 59. Winter for that feast was kept in the moneth of Caflew which was the November Moone V. 23. Porch this was the Porch of the Easterne comming in of the Temple called Solomons Porch as Acts 3. 11. Peradventure because it was a part of the ancient Temple which remained more entire then any of the rest though that also was repaired by Herod V. 25. Name that is to say by his commission authorley and power V. 26. Of my namely of my Fathers elect which he hath given me to save and in whom I create the gift of faith Iohn 12. 39 40. Acts 13. 48. As I said this ought to bee referred to Christs reproving of them Or the meaning is you are none of those good sheepe which I have before described unto you V. 30. I and in unity of essence and power as everlasting Sonne And so the Iewes understood it v 33. and Christ approves it v. 36. And likewise in perfect union of action and communion of vertue as Mediator wherefore none can forcibly take my sheep out of my hands no more then he can out of my Fathers hands V. 32. From my Father whereof my Father is the first author by order of subsistency and operation and which as Mediator I doe by his commission and power V. 34. Law namely the holy Scripture Ioh. 12. 34. V. 35. If he called if the word of God communicates the name of God to those who by a publick calling doe represent him in the world you cannot tax me with blasphemy if I call my selfe God if I were no more but what I undoubtedly shew you that I am namely a holy Prophet sent by God Be broken gainsaid resuted and reproved as false V. 36. Sanctified cleansed in my humane flesh even from my first conception from all contagion of sin full of the gifts of the holy Ghost and consecrated to the divine office of being Saviour of the world Luke 1. 35. V. 37. Of my Father which my Father only who is the only true God can do V. 38. That the Father namely that all his power dwelleth in me either by unity of essence as I am his Son or by union of will as Man and Mediator I do subsist and am as it were founded in him in both respects and that perfectly and inseparably V. 40. Into the place
beene largely set downe by the other Evangelists is here left out by Saint Iohn Veâ— 14. To wash that is to say to humble your selves to doe all deeds of Charity and the basest and most abject kinds of service to one another V. 18. Chosen not onely to the charge and calling of being Apostles but also to eternall life See Iohn 6. 70. and 15. â—1 6 19. But that the not that Iudas had any intention to fulfill that prophecie nor that he was by it forced to commit his misdeed but this is spoken simplie nor to free the Apostles from their amazement the deed having been foreseene and foretold Ver. 19. Yoe may beleeve yee may be confirmed in beleeving my God head by which I know the secrets of hearts and things to come And by this terrible accident be rather strengthened then shaken in your faith V. 20. Verily having stiled his Apostles Messengers or men sent ver 16. and having instructed them by his example to voluntary humilicy he now authorizeth and confirmeth them against the contempt which humility doth breed V. 21. Hee was troubled as much thorow the lively apprehension of the combates which hee was entring into as thorow indignation and horrour of Iudas his wickednesse V. 23. Was leaning according to the custome of those times in solemne feasts to take their foode lying along and leaning upon their elbow upon a great bed about the table so that the shoulders of one did meete with his next neighbours bosom their feete hanging out of the bed See upon Ezek. 23. 41. And that was specially observed in the Paschal Supper disfering from the first Passeover Exod. 12. 11. where every thing was to be done in hast to signifie the sodaine departure out of Aegypt instead of which afterwards God suffered by this diverse ceremony of eating the Passeover lying the people to have a signe of the peaceable enjoying which hee had granted them of the foresaid benefit Loved to whom according to his will and pleasure hee bore some more tender and intimate humane affection then to the rest Ver. 25 Saith unto him softly speaking in his eare as Christ also answered him V. 26. When bee had dipped in the second part of the Iewish Supper see upon v. 2. V. 27. After the sop Whether It were that seeing himselfe discovered by this act of the Lords hee did shake off all feare of God all curbe of conserence and all respect of men to give himselfe in prey to the Devills instigations by whom he was already troubled ver 2. Or whither the Sonne of God by his supreame power did absolutely give him over into the hands of the Devill taking away from him all manner of stay of his spirit by which he had until that time stayed him Doe quickly that is to say the time of fulfilling thy malice is come I doe represse it no longer as I have heretofore done run now with the reines loose Words not of exhorcation but of a wrathfull grant and abandoning V. 30. Immediately because the sop was given to Iudas in the second part of the Paschall Supper we may gather from hence that hee did not communicate of our Saviours Sacrament V. 31. Now is the I am now entring into my last combates in the victory of which shall appeare the strength of my deity and righteousnesse and so my Fathers glory shall bee fully manifested in the work of Redemption by me his Son which being accomplished he will give me a glorious reward for it in his Kingdome V. 32. In himselfe not with any forraign worldly glory but with his own proper glory to the fruition of which the Sonne of Gods humanitie hath also beene raised by the glorious power of God Rom. 6. 4. 2 Cor. 13. 4. V. 33. As I said Not to exclude his Disciples out of the Kingdome of Heaven as the unbelieving Iewes but only to shew that their entrance was yet put off for a time v. 36. V. 34. A new that is to say a renewed one and re-established into its originall sence by my word and into its efficacy by my spirit And a spirituall and internall Law diverse from ancient Ceremonies CHAP. XIV VER 1. YEE beleeve or beleeve yee the meaning is As in my Father you have all the arguments and grounds of confidence in respect of his power so you have them also in me in respect of the righteousnesse and satisfaction and of your reconciliation with him and of all the worke of Grace and the accomplishment whereof is in mee which are the two objects and foundations of true faith V. 2. In my Fathers that is to say the Kingdome of Heaven is not for me alone but for all beleevers likewise It is a house wherein there is room for many children Heb. 2. 10. I goe I shall shortly die to the end that by my satisfaction I may obtaine you right to life everlasting and then I will rise againe and enter into glory to make intercession for you for ever for to bring you into it actually See Ephes. 2. 6. Heb. 9. 11 12 24 and 10 19 20. V. 3. Receive you Namely my whole Church which you represent V. 4. Yee know I have told you so often and so plainely that you must needs know it The way Namely the true and onely meanes for to attaine unto it V. 6. I am in mee is the onely meanes to get that life and that glory which I my selfe goe unto I doe give the most assured Declaration and direction by my word and by my spirit I doe conferre that life upon men and the power to hold and follow that secure way unto the end Or I am the way in mine owne person the truth in my doctrine and the life in my spirit V. 7. From henceforth if the fault lie not in you you may sufficiently know it in me and by me considering my person my workes and my doctrine which teach you what is needfull to bee knowne of the Father to salvation Namely what he is in himselfe and especially what he will be towards you V. 8. Shew us doe not lead us so far about but reveale unto us fully at once the heavenly Father and that life light and glory which is hidden with him V. 9. Hast thou not Seeing that being as yet earnall as thou art thou hast not beene able to comprehend those mysteries which I have revealed unto thee proportioning them to thy capacitie how wouldest thou be able to comprehend that infinitenesse of glory Content thy selfe at this time with the revelation which the Father makes of himselfe in me so much is sufficient for thee to salvation Hath seene me that hath known me by faith and by the lively light of the spirit V. 10. The words God sheweth himselfe present in my doctrine and in my workes of which he 〈◊〉 the first spring and Author That dwelleth who is inseparably united with me and that doth work continually in me and by me Verse 11.
graeter not in his nature nor essentiall glory for therein the Son is equall with the Father Ioh. 5. 18. Philo. 6. but in the order of redemption in which the Father holds the degree of party principall as representing the whole deiâ—â— in its glory and Majesty and the Son that of Mediatour of peace and reconcilition The meaning is Seeing that I came from the Father and have beene manifested in the flesh for this worke my returne to the Father in his glory â—s a certaine proofe that all things are accomplished and therfore you ought for to rejoycefully having by 〈◊〉 free accesse to God and large communication of his graces V. 29. I have told you I have declared unto you the great good which my departure out of the world will produce unto you to the end that when you finde the effects of it you may be confirmed in your faith in me V. 30. The Prince that is to say the Devill is going to bend all his forces inciting the malignlty of men against me to bring me to nothing Luk. 22 53. but as hee hath no right in mee that am without fin so hath he no actuall power to doe with me according to his will and my death shall not bee thorâ—â— any endeavour of his but because I voluntarily submit my selfe to my fathers will about the salvation of the world V. 31. Arise it should seeme that Christ spâ—â—â— this going out of the house where he had eaten the Passcover and that hee uttered these following discourses upon the way untill hee came out of the Citie and went over the brooke Cedron Ioâ—â— 18. 1. CHAP. XV. VER 1. THe true Namely hee who in the order of spirituall things have the reall properties whereof the Vine beares the figure being immediately as it were wholly engrafted and rooted in the love life and favour of the Father who is as it were the ground I am the prop of the subsistency and the well spring of the spirituall life of my beleevers engrafted in mee by faith to beare the fruits of the spirit in good workes And my Father Namely hee is the first Author of all this order of grace having ordained his Son to bee the head of salvation and of life which is correspondent to the planting of the Vinâ— uniting unto him all his elect which is as it were the engrasting of the branches and by his spirit cutting ost and correcting all their vices and continually sanctifying them which hath a relation to the manuring and dicssing of the vine Verse 2. Every branch Namely every exterior member of the Church which by profession seemes to be ingrafted in mee though in spirit and truth hee it not See Rom 11. 17 20. 2 Pet. 1. 8. V. 3. Cleane Namely sanctified in your persons by my spirit Through the word Namely by my word accompanied with the efficacie of my spirit Ioh. 17. 17. Eph. 5. 26. 1 Pet. 1. 22. Others according as I have expresly told you Ioh. 13. 10. V. 4. Abide persevere in being united with mee by a lively faith that by this meanes I may likewise â—â—â—tinue in communicating my life and my spirit unto you V. 5. Without me being severed and cut off from my communion Doe nothing in spirituall workes truly good and holy and pleasing to God V. 8. Herein the good workes of believers reâ—ound to the glory of God as being effects of his Grace representing the holinesse of the heavenly Father in his Children See Matth. 5. 16. Ephes. 1. 12. Phil. 1. 11. Shall yee be you shall shew your selves to be truely such doing acts worthy of such a Title V. 9. As the Father as the Father loving mee most perfectly in the qualitie of Mediatour I doe eater changeably answer that love of his by my compleate righteousnesse which causeth that love to bee 〈◊〉 and immutable so doe you preserve the love which I beare unto you by a true obedience V. 11. That my have a perpetuall and full feeling of my grace in consolation of my spirit without interruption or diminution Verse 14. â—ee are this friendship shall bee knowne to be true by the effects of a conformitie of â—â—ll and correspondencie of love in sincere obedience Ioh. 14. 23. V. 15. I call you not besides that great tryall of my love by the benefits which I have conserred upon you in giving my selfe unto you There is also this second triall namely that I have communicated my secrets unto you wherein consists the application of the said benefits and the fruition of them V. 16. that yee should goe that in all the course of your life and chieflie in your ministerie you â—â—â—y persevere in bearing of good fruits the use whereof may be durable to your selves as fruits that are fitt to keep and a sure provision to nourish your faith and hope to eternall life See Ioh. 4 36. 1 Tim. 6. 19. That whatsoever the profit of these your good works shall redound to your selves seeing that by that meanes you shall alwayes have free accesse to God by prayers to obtaine alwaies increase of grace and of blessing In my Name to shew that howsoever good works do take away the hinderance of prayer which is sinne Iohn 9. 3 1. yet they are not the ground of prayer which ground is only the â—orit and intercession of Christ. Ver. 19. If yee were if you were on that side which is contrarie to my Kingdome of which side the Devill is head and hath no other end but the world and its owne concupiscence nor no other sence but that of the flesh nor no other motion but earthly and corrupt Hu owne Namely united to him by likenesse and conformity which is the naturall cause of love amongst men V. 21. They know not they have not nor will not receave any lively impression of God concerning the mysterie of redemption by his Son V. 22. They had not had they might seem innocent sinning thorow meere ignorance Ioh. 9. 41. Or their sin would bee nothing in respect of their voluntary rebellion V. 26. But when notwithstanding their hatred against my person and doctrine yet at last the former shall be acknowledged and the other established in the world by the most efficacious operation of the Holy Ghost and by your ministerie From the Father I my selfe having in the qualitie of Mediatour receaved it in all manner of fulnesse from the Father who is the well-spring of all grace to distribute it to all my members Iohn 3. 34. Acts 2. 33. Of truth See upon Iohn 14. 17. Testifie by his secret and internall inspirations and perswasions and by his externall works and miracles U. 27. From the beginning wherefore you ought to be fully informed of my doctrine and coversation 1 Ioh. 1. 1. CHAP. XVI VERSE 1. OFFended See upon Matthew 11. 6. V. 4. Yee may to dispose your selves to a voluntary patience and to be prepared as against foreseene and foretold accidents and to bee perswaded that they
words and deeds Matth. 5. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 12. and 3. 1. V. 22. The glory Namelie the everlasting happinesse into which my humane nature is going and where the full accomplishment of my Churches union with mee her head shall bee I have given by iâ—sallible promise and by a right title having for them fulfilled that righteousnesse which hath the promise of life and besides that by the earnests and 〈◊〉 fruits of the spirituall life In which they are transformed into the glorious Image of the Son of God 2 Cor. 3. 18. Eph. 26. Ver. 23. I in them by the influence and power of my spirit as thou art in me by the fulnesse of God-head and by the perfect communication of thy fatherly love and vertue See Iohn 14. 20. Bee made perfect that is to say perfectly joyned in one namely in the life everlasting To attaine to which Christ desires of his Father that the beginnings may bee maintained and furthered in this life V. 24. Hast given me in my humanitie as I am head of the Church Lovedst me diddest chuse mee and accept of mee for to conferre this Soveraigne dignitie upon me and diddest also approve of 〈◊〉 obedience which thou diddest foresee to appoint this height of glory for me V. 25. The world Namely that part of men which is not of thine elect nor of my beleevers hath no communication of lively knowledge nor grace with thee I only have it in perfection and decommunicate it to beleevers by faith in me as the only Mediator appointed by thee Verse 26. May bee in them may come to them by the meanes of my dwelling in them by my spirit CHAP. XVIII VER 1. WEnt forth Out of the Citie being come out of the house before See upon Ioh. 14. 31. Cedron which was on the East side of the Citie See a Samuel 15. 23. 1 Kings 15. ver 13. U. 3. A band Namely a company of the Roman Garrison which lay in the Rocke neere the Temple and it is likely it was granted by the Governour for feare least that by reason of Christ some popular tumult might arise See Matth. 27. 65. Pharisces whither they did come to publike counsells as expounders of the Law Or that many of those which were Councellours were of that Sect as Acts 23. 6. V. 8. Let these a word of command and likewise of reall hinderance of doing them any harmâ— A figure and pledge that he would by his being taken set all his free and by his death bring them to life and by his sufferances to everlasting joy V. 9. Might bee fulfilled that hee might verifie both in soule and body the care which hee alwayes had of them according to his words Iohn 17. 12. V. 13. To Annas of whom see Luke 3. 2. Ver. 28. Unto the hall Namely the Roman governours Hall Matth. 27 27. Be defiled Namely if they came into a heathen and prophane mans house See Acts 10. 28. and 11. 3. which was not so peremptorily forbidden by the law but was observed by à more strict tradition to shun all manner of forbidden communication and covenant V. 30. If he were not this they say because the Romans suffered the Iewes to live according to their law and to have the cognizance of crimes according to it but not to pronounce sentence of death not much lesse to put it in execution for that was reserved to their magistrates and governours V. 31. Judge him that is to say I give you leave in this particular case to proceed against him to a capitall sentence Now the Iewes refuse to doe it for feare of committing an errour in a pretended crime of treason which was beyond the bounds of their ordinary politick government V. 32. That the saying Christ would dye by the kinds of pâ—late because hee had foretold that hee should be put into the hands of the Heathen and that he should be crucified a kinde of punishment which the Romans used to inflict and not the Iewes See Mat. 20. 19. Iohn 12. 32. V. 34. Sayest thou this this thy question in an ordinary and carnall sense is most absurd I having no quality nor appearance of worldly King In a spirituall and divine sence it is most trueâ— but from whence shouldest thou have notice of it V. 35. Am I a lew I do not desire to know any thing of the Iewish opinions concerning the Messias or his kingdome mine office only bindes me to pronounce sentence for such crimes as are by them adjudged according to their law and that after sufficient examination of the truth of the fact V. 36. My kingdome so Christ affirmes the truth that he was a spirituall King but denieth the false accusation that he meant to make himselfe a temporall King V. 37. Thou sayest see upon Mat. 27. 11. To this end seeing that I am appointed by God himselfe to teach and declare what I am I will not faile to do it in thy presence That is of that is enlightned by it and hath the lively impression and habitude of it by the holy Ghost and followeth it and makes profession of it See 1 Iohn 3. 19. Heareth receives it beleeves it and learneth it V. 38. What is a word of disdaine as if he should say of what truth doest thou speak to me CHAP. XIX VER 1. SCourged him See upon Mat. 27. 26. V. 2. A purple robe see upon Mat. 27. 28 V. 8. More afraid fearing on the one side left there might arise some tumult amongst the people and on the other side being affrighted with the name of Sonne of God which Christ tooke upon him And yet he knew him to be most innocent and righteous V. 11. Thou couldest thou hast thine office and power of magistrate by Gods appointment Rom. 13. 1. Thy power to doe me harme doth therefore come likewise by his permission Therefore the Iewes sin is so much the greater that do abuse publick power to revenge themselves and vent their spleens against me and that which God suffers thee their instrument to doe evill shall be imputed to them for a greater sinne who are the first authors of it V. 13. The pavement it was some Tetrace or Gallery before the Palace or Hall which might be paved in squares or in Mosaick work where they sat in judgement and pronounced sentences V. 14. The preparation See upon Mat. 27. 62. The sixth namely at noone Now because S. Marke saith that it was the third houre which was nine 〈◊〉 clock in the morning and that the other Evangelists agree in saying That at the sixth houre the darknesse came which â—asted all the time that Christ was upon the Crosse and that between this darknesse and the time in which he was crucified there must be some time as about some three houres it hath been anciently thought that it was some errour of the Scriveners of sixth for third and indeed some ancient texts have it the third Others think that because the Iewes divided the
the creation and in the whole order of nature V. 21. In the wisdome namely in the frame and Table of this world which represents the infinite wisdome of God in its creation and conduct By wâ—sdome namely by the right use of reason and discourse See Iohn 1. 5 10. By the foolishnesse namely by the Gospell which according to the understanding of the flesh is but a shallownesse for the Iewes doe not finde therein the greatnesse of the miracles of heaven and of the clements as there was in the Ministery of Moses Ioshua Elias and others Nor the Gentiles the exquisite and subtile doctrine of Philosophers nor the eloquence of Orators by them highly esteemed and admired V. 23. A stumbling blocke the Italian A Scandall namely a subject of disdaine and of refusall by reason of the discordancie betweene it and their understanding See Mat. 11. 6. V. 24. Christ in whose person office actions word and Kingdome God manifesteth unto men and communicates unto them his Soveraigne wisdom and power opposite to the Grecians worldly wisdom and to the power of miracles required by the Iews V. 25. Because he gives a reason why the Gospell though esteemed by men to be foolishnesse and weakenesse is never the lesse wisdome and power namely because it is Gods whose least things if a man may say so do far exceed the greatest of mens V. 26. For yee see the like proceeding God useth in employing such meanes for salvation as are so contrary to carnall sence may be also perceaved in the calling of men amongst which hee often maketh choice of such as are of least esteeme Matth. 11. 25. as he had likewise done by the Corinthians After the flesh that is to say endowed with fleshly wisdome Ver. 27. To confound the Italian To shame Namely to make it appeare that before him all worldly power and wisedome is of no esteeme and how much it hinders the receaving of Gods grace and therefore to teach us that wee ought altogether to renounce it if wee meane to make ourselves capable of the glory of Gods Kingdom See Mat. 18. 3. V. 28. Which are not thus is shewed the totall annihilation of man before God without worth meâ—its strength or disposition Rom. 4. 17. To bring to nought namely to make us see and feele the vamtie and unprofitablenesse thereof for the end of life everlastâ—ng Things that are namely whatsoever the world holdeth to be greatest and most excellent V. 30. Of him having nothing of your owne God hath given you all in Christ according as hee hath made him to bee the spring and root of all the good things of the Church namely wisdome in the revelation of the mystery of salvation righteousnes in satisfaction and perfect obedience for the justification of man sanctification in the gift of his spirit of regeneration and redemption in the last and glorious resurrection by vertue of the mysticall union with him Luke 21. 28. Rom. 8. 23. V. 31. He that glorieth namely he that thinkes worthily of himselfe and would in truth have reason to doe it and raise him selfe by elevation of the spirit above the common sort of men let him seeke and acknowledge all the cause and matter thereof in God alone â—and in his grace to give him all the honour and glory of it CHAP. II. VER 1. THe testimony namely the Gospell in which God declares and testifies unto men his councell and will concerning their salvation 1 Cor. 1. 6. V. 2. Determined not I did not judge it fitting for me to know that is to say to make profession of any other knowledge or doctrine or to teach it V. 3. In weaknesse namely in misery and in an abject condition befitting the preaching of Christs Crosse. In feare namely of persecution Acts 18. 12. and so the sence would be that he had preached the Crosse bearing it himselfe Now that is the tryall of Gods faithfull servants which also dissâ—pates all worldly vanities and ostentations which ordinarily grow from too much ease rest Others take these words for the vertues of the reverence of God humblenesse and modestie As 2 Cor. 7. 15â— Ephes. 6. 5. Phil. 2. 12. V. 4. Demonstration that is to say in the divine efficacie of the Holy Ghost with which God doâ—â—â—ccompany his word rightly preached to enlighteâ— the mindes and perswade the hearts or at least redargue and convince them See 2 Cor. 6. 6 7. V. 5. In the power namely grounded upon and subsisting in that powerfull and invinsible internall perswasion of Gods Spirit opposite to all fraile reasons of humane art V. 6. How be it we speake the doctrine which I speake is nothing but a true wisdome and a wisdome altogether divine and spirituall Perfect namely true beleevers who only are capable of theâ—e mysteries A terme taken from the Pagans superstitioâ— who admitted none to their most secret ceremonies but only persons well prepared and purified 〈◊〉 many yeares Or it is meant for men of full and 〈◊〉 age See 1 Cor. 14. 20. Phil. 3. 15. Heb. 5. 14. 〈◊〉 if the Princes namely of that false reason of state or politicke wisdom of the great ones of the world which more directly fighteth against Christs kingdome then any else See Matth. 1â— 25. That come whose persons God sendeth into perdition and subâ—eâ—eth their councells so that they are not with all their wisdoms able to maintaine themselves Which is a certaine proofe that it is vaine and weake in respect of the Churches which brings forth everlasting life and glory Ver. 7. In a mystery after a divine manner incomprehensible to the fleshes understanding Before 〈◊〉 which hée from everlasting had ordained to reveale and communicate unto us to direct us thereby to eternall happinesse Ver. 8. Of the Princes namely mecre worldly oâ—es not enlightned nor regenerated by Gods Spirit They would not he sets forth the chiefe of the Iews and the other great oâ—es who joyned with them in condemning of Christ Acts 4. 27. under the example and name of all worldly Princes who by their obdurate ignorance doe make themselves their successors and imitators in persecuting the Gospell and the Church The Lord namely Christ Iesus true 〈◊〉 and likewise true everlasting God and glorious King of the Church Acts 3. 15. V. 9. As it is this passage is alledged more by â—llusion then according to the Prophets exprosse meâ—ning V. 10. For the spirit Namely the Holy Ghost is being true God with the Father and the Sonne 〈…〉 veth Gods most inward secrets and revealeth is much thereof to beleevers as is needfull for their salvation V. 11. For what namely none but the spirit can doe it for as mans soule and understanding only can know mans secret thoughts so none can know Gods secret thoughts but onely his owne spirit who also reveales it and perswades it to whom he pleaseth See Ioh. 1. 18. and 3. 11 32. V. 12. Not the spirit namely the carnall understanding and Judgement
bee altogether rejected Or by singular miracle having not beene framed noâ— prepared before by the LORD as the other Apostles were but in an instant advanced to mine office V. 9 The least namelie concerning that which is in me and mine owne Though he elsewhere protest himselfe to be no way inferior to others in gifts or vocation 2. Cor. 11. 15. Gal. 2. 6. V. 10. His grace namelie his gift and calling In vaine that is to say vnprofitable to the Church and not imployed by me to the uttermost oâ— my power But the grace not onely the gift it selfe but also the will and power the occasions and means to make use of it all comes from Godsgrace See Matth. 10. 20. 2 Cor. 3. 5. Phil. 2. â—3 V. 12. There is no it is likely that it was the same error which is noted 2. Tim. 2. 18. as if by resurrection so cleerly taught in the whole scâ—ipture nothing should be meant but the renewing of the world by the Gospell and the spirituall regeneration of soules by Gods spirit V. 12. If there be if that be absolutly denied it must also be denied in Christ also if it be denied in the faithfull Chrisâ—s also is disannulled taking away the vertue principall and inseparable effect of it which is to raise his faithfull to his owne likenesse Iohn 11. 25 and 14. 19. Rom 4. 25. 2. Cor. 5. 15. 1. â—hâ—sse 4. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 3. V. 14 Vaine false and unprofitable seeing the ground of it is Christ risen Now his meanning is that seeing it is impossible that you should have such an opinion of our preaching having undoubted proofes to the contrary râ—ject likewise any thing as may induce you thereunto by a necessary consequence also vaâ—ne which you will not agree unto seeing you yet persevere â—â—d glory in the profâ—ssion o 〈…〉 V. 15. 〈…〉 d we which likewise was most abâ—urd and impossible to â—erswade the châ—â—ches unto who werefully assured of the trueth of the Apostles doctrine V. 17. Ye are yet theyare not yet purged since the payment is not fully made nor God appeased if Christ doe yet remaine dead seeing he cannot deliver others from death if he himself remaine overcome by it V. 18. A â—â—llen a sleep namly those beleevers who are dead in Christs faith of whose salvation it was as unjust as inhumane to doubt V. 19. If in this lâ—fe by this false doctrine we make our selves utterly wretched for seeing it takes away from us eternall happinesse and that our condition iâ— this world is alwayes mostwiâ—tâ—hed we shall find our selves deprived of all manner of good both present and eternall Now the ground of this is that the immortality of the soul and the perfect happinesse of it is by Gods order insepable from the resurrection of the bodyes so that hee which donieth the one annihilates the other See upon Mâ—tch 22. 32. V. 20. The first fruits not onely the first in order of the resurrection which is in beleevers as it wâ—eâ—a wakning from death but also in the quality of chief the cause and pledg of it in all his members inseparable vnited to him by communion of spirit Rom 8. 11 even as under the law in the first fruites offered to God the people had an assurance of Gods blessing upon all their harvest See upon Rom. 11. 16. V. 21. For siâ—ce he proves that by Christs resurrection that of his members necessarily followth for in the order of grace Christ hath bin by God appointed head of all the elect as Adam had bin of all men in the order of nature seeing then that Adam hath communicated his sinne and his death to all those who are his Christ likewise communicates his righteousnesse and his life to his belevers See Rom. 5. 14. 15. 17. by mâ—n the Italian by no man by one who beeing true God is likewise true man in which regard he is the meritorious cause of resurrection by this perfect obedience and likewise gives his beleevers assurance thereof by the community of human nature joyned to the communion of the spirit V. 22. All die all men that are by nature the sonnes of Adam and are enfolded in his condemnation shall all namly all beleevers whose father is Christ by grace and in spirit by vertue whereof being engrafted in his body they are also partakers of his life and resurrection V. 24. The end namly of the world and of temporall things and withall the accomplishment of all Gods promises of Christs kingdome and the sâ—ivation of his elect when he shall namely when the sonne oâ— God who in quality of Mediator hath bin established king or the whole world â—â—d especially of his church like his fathers great deputy togather together governe and bring unto himselfe all his elect and to destroy his enemyes shall have brought his work to an end and the father with the sonne and the holy Ghost in vnitie of essence shall begin to raigne immediatly over his church in a manner altogether new namely by himself without any outward meanes wiâ—hout the work of angels or men or Ecclesiallicall or politick orders as it is in this world and likewise without adversaries or opposition filling all his with his light love life and glory which indeed will not a whit disannull Christs kingdom but only ch 〈…〉 g the meaner forâ—e thereof into a more subline and perfect one See Dan. 2. 44 and 7. 14. 27 Luke 1. 33. Rev. 11. 15. 17. and 12. 10. V. 25. Must reigne namely the sonne of God must execise his empire in this manner and inferior dispensation by his word by the established orders in perpetuall oppositions etc. V. 26. death whose power shall be quite annihiliated in Christ member by the resurrection V. 27. When he saith we must not thinke that the father by bestowing the office of king upon his sonne hath dispossessed himself of his soveraigne empire but after the sonne shall have accomplished his worke the father shall manifest and exercise his kingdome of glory and essencein all eternity V. 28. Also himself not in his divine nature wherein hee is alreadie equalâ—e to the father Philiphans 2. 6. but in this humane nature and as coucerning his church which is his body and the forme of his government which then shall give way to the forme which is above described that God may of himself immediately and absolutly worke fully in his elect perfectly united unto him and may possesse and rule them for ever V. 29. Which are from this manner of speech it appeares that the Apostle means not an ordinary â—ite of the church but a particular custome of some whereof antiquity makes mention and it should seeme that the beginning thereof was if not altogether good and laudable yet at the least to terrable Which was that when anyone died in Christs faith before he was christened some of his kindred or friends comming to be Christened would be baptized both in his own name also in the
so happy in having me to be your Apostle and teacher that there was nothing so deaâ— but you would willingly have given it me for an acknowledgement of so great a benefit in me there is no change the inconstancie is in you V. 16. Am I Is it sitting for you at this time in recompence of the truth which I have preached to you to hold me to be your enemie V. 17. They namely those false Apostles make shew of being moved by a singular love towards you and a care to have you not drawn away from them but seeing they lead you away from Christ the true Bridegroom and Master to captivate you unto themselves that shew of love is but a spirituall dishonestie See contrariwise concerning godly jealousie 2 Cor. 11. 2. Would exclude you namely they endeavour to separate you from the love of me and of all other true Pastours that you may wholly depend upon them alone V. 18. It is good the faithfull are to be commended for being continually carefull of their Pastours love but you Galatians contrariwise have forgotten me so soon as I have been absent from you V. 19. Of whom I travell for whom I endure great paines and anguishes as a woman that is in travell untill such time as Christs pure Doctrine be re-established amongst you as I had planted it V. 20. Change to have occasion to be glad and rejoyce with you in stead of my former complaints and reproofes For I stand this is the reason of the desire he had to see them namely because that being not certain what state they were in he was in great doubt of them V. 21. Tell me you that of your own will without and contrary to Gods command do put your selves again under ther yoak of the Mosaicall Law consider in Abrahams familie as in an allegoricall pourtraiture what you ought to judge of your act Hear the Law namely this Scripture which is part of those bookes which are called the Law V. 22. That Abraham the meaning is that as in Abrahams familie there were two mothers and two kindes of issues the one of bondage and the other free and the heir so amongst those that have the knowledge of the true God and make profession of serving him there are two kindes according to the two doctrines or covenants propounded by God unto men namely the Law and the Gospell those which hold themselves to the Law to obtain righteousnesse and life are slaves to sin and to the curse and are finally excluded from the heavenly inheritance those that embrace the Gospell are heires and free V. 23. After the flesh in a meer naturall way A figure of them who are out of Christs grace and do of themselves endeavour to obtain life and righteousnesse by the Law By the promise namely by a free gift and by a miraculous operation of God out of the course of nature A figure of Believers who are made sonnes and heires of God by his onely grace and power V. 24. Are an allegorie the Italian have an allegoricall sense namely besides the historicall and literall sense may be taken for a figure of Gods great familie Are the two that is to say they signifie and represent the two c. The one namely that of the Law which was given in mount Sinai Gendreth of it selfe it may make those who are its followers to be part of Gods people by knowledge profession and worship but in the mean time it cannot free them from their naturall bondage nor bring them into Gods grace nor obtain the inheritance of heavenly life for them Which is namely this covenant was figured by Agar V. 25. Agar is namely in this similitude of Abrahams familie with Gods familie Agar first is correspondent to Sinai because that as Agar was a stranger not of the blessed progenie so Sinai was in Arabia in the Ismaelites land out of the bounds of the Land of Promise And secondly to the earthly Jerusalem of this age which makes profession of seeking life and righteousnesse in the Law whereby all those which follow it do lose all right in the adoption and grace of God and doe remain subject to sin and malediction V. 26. But Iâ—rusalem there is also another bodie which is correspondent to Sara namely the Christian Church which God himselfe hath created by his Word and Spirit whose state shall also be perfect in Heaven and that is freed by God from all spirituall bondage and in it and by it God gendreth and bringeth up all his true children V. 27. For it is he proves by this passage of the Prophet that there was to be these two mothers one spirituall namely the Christian Church the other carnall namely the Jewish Synagogue seeing that the great number of Gods true children was to be borne of the first by the calling of the Gentiles not of the last which in former times haue enjoyed Gods grace and presence and finally that those children should be brought forth by Gods onely grace and power without the worke of man being the mother of her own nature was barren V. 28. Now we namely all true Christians are and ought to acknowledge themselves to be the children of God supernaturally engendred by meer grace V. 29. But as this singular priviledge hath a condition joyned unto it like unto that which happened unto Isaac who was scorned by Ismael Gen. 21. 9. that is to say that all Christians are likewise persecuted by the Jewes as indeed persecutions began by them Him that was â—amely Isaac who was not onely Abrahams son according to the flesh but also was his spirituall issue in Gods adoption and in the regeneration of the Spirit V. 30. What saith namely as the sacred Historie sets down that God would have Ismael with his mother driven out of Abrahams familie so all carnall unbelieving proud and perverse Jewes shall be bainshed out of Gods Church and out of the Kingdom of Heaven CHAP. V. VER 1. AGain as the Jewes were formerly Rom. 8. 15. V. 2. Circumcised as a thing which ought of necessitie to be done and that is a part of manâ— righteousnesse and necessary to salvation according to the false Apostles meaning Acts 15. 1. For otherwise circumcision mgiht be used as an outward and indifferent thing through wisdom and charitie to gain the Jewes and cut off the scandall which offendéd their weaknesse Acts 16. 3. Christ for mans righteousnesse before God ought to be be either all by workes or all by Christ and these two meanes cannot be mixed see upon Gal. 2. 21. and therefore he that attributeth one part to workes doth wholly renounce Christ and to be saved he bindes himselfe to fulfill the whole Law which being impossible for man to do all his endeavours are not onely unprofitable but also very hurtfull V. 4. Christ is the Greek terme seemes to signifiâ—e you are as dead members upon which by reason of your wickednesse and incapacitie Christ worketh no more
which is hidden to flesh and blood and which God alone can reveale Matth. 16. 17. and in the exercising of which consisteth the highest and perfectest service of God V. 11. Their wives namely Bishops and Deacons wives V. 13. Purchase to themselves they make themselves fitting and worthy to be promoted to higher degrees in the Churches service Boldnesse the Italian Liberty for a pure life freeth one from the fear of reproaches and gaineth authority and credit with the hearers and generally a good conscience is alwayes bold In the faith namely in the preaching of Christian Doctrine V. 15. The pillar by whose ministery the authority dignity knowledge vertue and use of the truth of the Gospell ought to be preserved in the world and maintained against all errours contradictions and corruptions whereunto nothing is more adverse or prejudiciall then the vitious life of those that preach it V. 16. And without as in the mysteries and most sacred actions under the law and also in the false mysteries of the Gentiles there was a most exact purification required before they could be admitted to them much more is it necessary in the Gospell which is the onely holy and Soveraigne mysterie Of godlinesse not onely of ceremonies as Moses his Law nor of prophane superstitions as the Gentiles mysteries but a most holy and truely religious mysterie by which God is served in Spirit and truth God namely the everlasting Sonne of God true God with his Father hath taken upon him human nature and in it hath manifested himselfe unto the world for to be the true Messias and promised Redeemer who untill that time was hidden in Gods counsell and under his promises Justified fullie approved of before Gods judgement Seate as having perfectly fulfilled all righteousnesse especially in what belonged to his office of Redeemer and by that meanes was delivered from death and from all paines and crowned with deserved glorie Esay 53. 8. and besides plainely declared what he is against all the false judgements contradictions and calumnies of the World by his glorious resurrection Matth. 11. 19. Luke 7. 35 Rom. 1. 4. In the Spirit in the power of his Godhead by which he hath fulfilled his office Heb. 9. 14. the truth whereof he hath caused to appeare by his resurrection Rom. 1. 4. 1 Pet. 3. 18. Seen of the Angels being risen he caused the Angels first to behold the accomplishment of Gods promises and of the Worlds salvation which they fervently expected and desired Matth. 28. 2. Marke 16. 5. Luke 24. 4. John 20. 12. Ephes. 3. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 12. CHAP. IV. Vers. 1. THe Spirit the holy Ghost hath revealed this to the Apostles and Prophets under the Gospell In latter times namely in the time of Christianity which is the last age of the World after which followeth the everlasting estate of the Church Heb. 1. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 2. but especially towards the end of the World Seducing Spirits to false Doctors who shall boast of being inspired and sent by God See 1 John 4. 1. V. 2. Seared that shall have left all manner of feeling and motion of conscience as a cautery applied to some part of the body deads it and causeth it to fall See Rom. 1. 28. Ephes. 4. 19. Jude 〈◊〉 V. 3. Forbidding not absolutely to all persons but onely to some under pretence of greater holinesse See Col. 2. 22 23. From meats namely from certaine kinds of meats Which beleeve who onely have as they are Gods children right to make use of his goods and creatures whereas the wicked before God are onely usurpers of them V. 4. For every he gives a reason why he hath said this forbidding of meats to be a divellish thing Is good that is to say the use thereof in it selfe is pure and lawfull as touching the conscience before God V. 5. It is God by his Word and Ordinance hath declared the use thereof to be lawfull especially for believers who in Christ have gotten a new right to the creatures Psal. 8. 6. Rom. 4. 13. and besides the said use is actually sanctified by them by the religious acknowledgement which they make thereof to God by calling upon his Name V. 6. Thou shalt be thou shalt in effect shew thy selfe to be such a one Attained or which thou hast carefully followed V. 7. Fables vaine humane imaginations as if in outward austeritie in abstinences fasts which he cals disciplines and exercises of the bodie did consist true holinesse before God V. 8. Little seeing all the good that it can doe is but to tame the members of the body and their externall motions and actions 1 Cor. 9. 27. without sanctifying the heart and the inward part of man as lively faith and the love and feare of God doth See Rom. 8. 13. V. 10. For therefore of this infallible vertue of Gods promises made to true pietie the afflictions which I and all true believers doe voluntarily suffer are a verie good proofe for it were a greatfolly to suffer so much without any certaine hope The Saviour the preserver of mens naturall and temporall being in generall and especially of the everlasting and spirituall being of his children V. 12. Despise doe not thou give any occasion of having it despised but make it venerable by thy vertuous carriage in thine office In Spirit in holy zeale and in spirituall and heroicke motions and actions V. 13. To reading to the study and meditation of the holy Scripture To exhortation under this part and the following is comprehended the whole Evangelicall ministery V. 14. Neglect not exercise carefully thy calling of Evangelist revive manure and strengthen the gifts which thou hast received thereby Which was given thee God having declared thy vocation not by votes of humane or ordinary election but by propheticke revelation and expresse oracle signified to the Church by the Prophets See Acts 13. 1 2. 1 Tim. 1. 18. With the laying on not to adde by mans meanes any weight to the divine calling but onely for a signe of consecration and blessing Of the Presbyterie the Italian Of the Elders namely of the pastors and other guides of the Church V. 15. To all or in all things V. 16. Both save thy selfe thou shalt avoid the condemnation for not having to the uttermost of thy power procured the salvation of soules Ezek. 33. 9. and shalt hold on a secure way in thy calling to attaine unto eternall happinesse Phil. 2. 12. and shalt be an instrument of salvation to thy hearers Rom. 15 14. 1 Cor. 9. 22. CHAP. V. Vers. 3. HOnour have an especiall care of them as well to relieve such as are in want as v. 17. as also to employ such as are vertuous in the Deaconship That are that have the true qualities of the soule and vertues befitting Christian widdows and such as have no other helpe nor assistance vers 5 16. V. 4. But if I free the Church from this duty of maintaining widdows that have kindred able
a happy period For the joy namely to obtaine in his human nature the Heavenly glory and happinesse to which according to Gods order and his vocation he could no otherwaies attaine but onely by his Crosse and sufferings Luke 24. 26. Phil. 2. 8. 9. 1 Pet 1. 11. V. 3. Him that namely what the height of his person is and what the greatnesse of his sufferings hath been comparing them to the meannesse of your condition and the smallnesse of your sufferings V. 4. Unto blood namely unto death and bodily punishments for the first persecutions of the Church did generally extend no further then to the taking away of their goods or in outrages and disgraces Heb. â—0 33. 34. Peradventure he hath a relation to the freeing of those Fencers which were not condemned to die in that action after that they had plaied so long upoÌ„ the stage as that they were come to the losse of blood Against sinne namely against sinners and unbeleevers and against the whole Kingdome of sinne which is the divels Kingdome Oâ— against your own corruption which the Lord would reform by his crosse and it continually spurns against it V. 7. If ye so the fault be not in you for want of faith and patience the afflictions on Gods side are but onely visitations for correction very well b 〈…〉 ing a father and saving to you V. 8. All are namely all Gods children at all times See Psal 73 14. 1 Pet. 5. 9. V. 9. Of Spirits namely who of himselfe and immediately hath created mans soule and given it to him Or the spirituall father who hath regenerated our soules to his owne image in Christ. And liveâ— that by our afflictions we may obtaine the fruit and reward of everlasting life V. 10. For a few namely for the daies of our infancie for which these corrections are onely fit He seemes to point at the shortnesse of the time of our afflictions during our minority in this world opposite to the full and ripe ago of eternity See 1 Cor. 13. 11. 2 Cor. 4. 17. V. 11. The peaceable namely a just reformation and instruction joyned with a spirituall repose of the soule opposite to all manner of trouble of the flesh in afflictions V. 12. Last up take heart and strength knees to runne and hands to fight vers 1. 4. See Iob 4 3. V. 13. Make straight make the way of the Gospel plaine and easie for you by your voluntary obedience and using of it overcomming all difficulties that you shall meet upon the way So he will have the believers strength to overcome the roughnesse of the way and not the nature of the way to be altered by reason of the Travellers weaknesse That which is lest those who have neglected to strengthen themselves in Christian vertues be not through Gods just punishment put out of the way into apostacie V. 15. Fail of See Heb. 4. 1. 6. 4. 10. â—6 Any root lest any grievous scandall of heresie or apostacie growing and spreading it selfe abroad like a venomous plant Trouble you like poyson that troubleth the bodies health V. 16. Prophane person or impure and polluted person And under this name are comprehended all those who for the pleasures of the flesh do renounce the heavenly blessing as Esau did V. 17. The blessing when he would have had the holy Seed and Covenant of Gods grace preserved and propagated in him and his posterity He was rejected his request was denied Isaac telling him that he was excluded from it by Gods decree Mal. 1. 2. He found he could not get Isaac to alter his resolution Or his repentance could not take place and was of none effect Sought it namely the blessing V. 18. For ye he confirmes the exhortation of vers 15 16. by the grace of God communicated in all abundance and vertue by the Gospell which cannot be rejected nor contemned without grievous sinne And likewise incites and binds men to fulfill the Evangelicall precepts and exhortations and also gives the means and power to do it Rom. 6. 14. And to extoll this grace he compares the covenant of the Law full of rigor threatnings and terrour as it was figured by the manner in which it was given with the spirituall and gracious covenant of the Gospell That might be touched namely Sinai an earthly mount which God had forbad to be touched Exod. 19. 12. opposite to the spirituall hill of Sion v. 22. Gal. 4. 24. V. 19. They that heard see the meaning of this upon Gal. 3. 19. 20. V. 20. They could not they were quite cast down at that God willing to make a covenant with them should keepe them farre off from him with such terrible threatnings untill such time as having offered Sacrifices and being sprinkled with the blood of the Covenant they were admitted to come to God Exod. 24. 6 8 9 10. To shew that not the Law of it selfe gives accesse to God but the propitiation in Christs blood onely v. 24. V. 21. Moses though he was a Mediator of this Covenant and a figure of Christ Gal. 3. 19. yet he testified that the confidence of his soule towards God was not grounded upon the Law but upon the blood of Christ shadowed by the blood of those beasts I exceedingly feare this is not set downe in Moses his History and we must suppose that the Apostle hath known it and spoken it by revelation V. 22. Ye are come by the Gospell ye have been called and by faith you have been received into the communion of the Christian Church figured by Jerusalem and by Mount Sion See Galat. 4. 26. Of Angels which are part of this body of the Church V. 23. To the generall namely to the universall Church represented by that generall assembly of the people when the Law was given And Church of namely to the true and spirituall communion with the ancient fathers whose names are written in the booke of life See Exod 32. 32. Phil. 4. 3. The Judge not onely the Law-giver as when he gave the Law but as absolute and soveraigne Judge to pardon and absolve whomsoever he pleaseth To the Spirits namely to the company of beleevers soules who have been justified and afterwards perfectly sanctified and glorified in Heaven V. 24. To the blood namely to the participation of Christs blood spilt for the purging of sins and wiâ—h which all beleevers have been besprinkled that is to say which is actually applied unto them by the gift of faith to ratifie the new Covenant as the ancient one was ratified by the sprinkling of the blood of Sacrifices Exod. 24. 8. That speaketh which as one should say presents it selfe before God not to desire vengeance of the murtherous Jewes as Abels blood did of Cain Gen. 4 10. but to obtaine favour and pardon for them see Heb. 10. 20. 1 John 5. 8. V. 25. Him that namely Christ who is exalted into Heaven from whence he gloriously speakes to men by his Spirit and
Sinnes for punishment and reformation whereof the Lord hath punished him with sicknesse V. 20. Shall save that is to say Shall be the instrument of another mans salvation and of grace for himself because that the Lord will reward this his charity by a more expresse and abundant feeling of his pardon towards him who peradventure is laden with many sinnes see Rom. 11. 14. 1 Corimb 9. 22. 1 Tim. 4. 6. ⧠THE FIRST EPISTLE generall of St. PETER the Apostle ARGUMENT THis Epistle containeth three principall heads the first is a large representation which the Apostle makes to the Iews which were turned Christians of the inestimable benefit of redemption and salvation which having been destinated for them from everlasting was acquired and accomplished by Christ and communicated by the Gospell and possessed by them in the hope of everlasting life and glory The second is a strong perswasion to the fruits of faith and holinesse of life as well in the generall calling of all beleevers as in the particular callings of each person and condition The third is a lively exhortation to patience and constancy in afflictions and persecutions for the glorious cause of the faith and of the Name of Christ. CHAP. I. Vers. 1. TO the namely to the Jews dispersed out of their own countrey into those Provinces and converted to the Christian faith V. 2. Elect separated from the world by Gods effectuall calling which is the execution of the eternall election The foreknowledge the Italian preordination the Greek foreknowledge that is to say A decree made by Gods knowledge and judgement Rom. 8. 29. Through sanctification sanctifying you really by his Spirit to whom it belongs to make Gods vocation firm and effectuall 2 Thess. 2. 23. Unto obedience that by faith making you obedient unto the Gospell you may be partakers of the benefit of the Lords death for the remission of your sinnes Or he declares the two ends of the beleevers vocation which are the justification in the blood of Christ and the new obedience through the sanctification of the Spirit V. 3. Unto a lively hope namely to conceive a lively still growing and operating hope of celestiall goods by meanes of the spirituall regeneration which is the true seed and pledge of eternall glory By the resurrection namely by vertue of Christs resurrection which is the fountain of regeneration Rom. 6. 5 11. Coloss. 2. 12. and likewise the foundation of our future glory 1 Cor. 15. 18 20 21. Ephes. 2. 6. V. 4. To an inheritance to gain us the right unto it and make us capeable thereof as being made the children of God Incorruptible by these titles he sheweth How that as celestiall goods are everlasting and without any impurity of sinne beleevers ought likewise to be such by the gift of the holy Ghost which causeth them to put off these two qualities namely of sinne and finally also the weak conditions of a sensuall life see 1 Cor. 15. 50. V. 5. By the power by his power which onely works effectually in this defence against all assaults and deceits of the enemies John 10. 29. and is lent man by meanes of a true and lively faith Are kept that is to say Preserved against all dangers of losing their salvation John 17. 11 12 15. Jude 1. Unto salvation namely to be made possessours of the chief end and perfect fulnesse of it V. 6. Wherein namely in the certainty of this inviolable safegard of God and in the earnest which he hath given you of the promised salvation by means of your regeneration If need be whereby the necessity of God will must impose upon you the Law of â—â—voluntary obedience Temptations that is to say Trials and exercises of afflictions Iames 1. 2. V. 7. The triall namely your faith well tried and standing to any souch Might be found before God V. 9. Receiving having even in this very world the first fruits of the fruition of salvation after which undoubtedly shall follow the fulnesse thereof V. 10. Have enquired by a fervent desire and expectation That should come the Italian that is come or that was received for you or which was to be communicated unto you V. 11. Of Christ which is that Spirit by which all the Prophets were inspired and have spoken and which proceeds from the Father and from the Son and whose gifts presence and power have at all times been dispensed by Christ head of the Church and supreme Prophet of it see Eccles. 12. 13. Acts 16. 17. 1 Peter 3. 19. V. 12. That not namely that they foretold and preached the mysteries of the Gospell the full manifestation and fruition of which should not happen in their times but in ours With the holy Ghost that is to say Being inspired by it Which things that is to say Which things are so admirable and excellent that the full knowledge thereof is much desired and is wonderous amiable even to the very Angels who cannot be satisfied with the contemplation and the height thereof with extreme wonder and rejoycing V. 13. Wherefore namely seeing you are come to that holy and so much desired time see Rom. 13. 11. 2 Cor. 6. 2. Gird up being continually free from worldly cares and affections and prepared for the race and voyage of the heavenly vocation a terme taken from travellers of those dayes in which they used to gird up their long garments that they might be the more fitting and ready for travell but particularly it is taken from the Israelites when they came out of Egypt Exod. 12. 11. V. 15. Hath called you to unite you unto him which cannot be done unlesse you be holy as he is Psal. 5. 4. V. 17. Of persons namely of their outward qualities of titles shew or condition but looks onely to the reality of true holinesse and obedience Of your journeying namely this present life which is an absence from our true heavenly countrey In fear with all reverence care and heavenly humilitie V. 18. That ye were not and consequently that so great a gift requires an equall gratitude From your vain from your unfruitfull works of darknesse Ephes. 5. 11. and from all false doctrines and religions V. 19. As of a namely who is the substance and the truth of that figure of the Paschall Lamb by whose blood the Israelites were delivered V. 20. For you namely for your salvation V. 21. By him Christ manifesting the Father unto us by his word and creating faith in us by his Spirit and also he only having made him propitious unto us that we might put all our confidence in him That your he saith so because that by Christs exaltation the Father sheweth that he is pleased with us which would not be if Christ had remained dead 1 Cor. 15. 14 17. and also because that being fulfilled in the head we are certain that it shal likewise be so with the members and because that Christ ascended into Heaven he makes intercession for his beleevers to
the doctrine and religion which teacheth true holinesse and righteousnesse pleasing to God according to which man ought to lead his life CHAP. III. Vers. 4. THe promise that is to say the effect and accomplishment of it V. 5. Willingly that is to say though they be sufficiently instructed by the holy Scripture yet either through neglect of thinking well upon it or through malicious extinguishing of this light they have no lively apprehension or doe utterly cast off the remembrance of it Were of old the Italian were made of old and consequently may be overthrown as God gave a proof and essay thereof in the destruction of the primitive world by the floud Out of the water for the Scripture placeth the deep of waters under the earth and the sea and rivers about it V. 6. Whereby namely by the waters under and about the earth Gen. 7. 11. V. 7. Which are now that is to say the world in its elementary parts high and low in the state which they have been in since the floud to shew by the comparison of these two worlds that the change which shall be made in this last world by fire shall be onely in the forme and qualities and not in the substance as it was in the first by the water V. 8. One day that God everlasting doth not judge of the lastingnesse of time after the same manner as men do who measuring it by division and succession of small parcels and besides referring it unto their own being and lasting do finde the termes of it to be very long whereas God comprehending all ages gathered together in the indivisible point of his eternitie and comparing it thereunto makes no distinction therein of short or long V. 9. Long suffering that is to say if there be any manner of sslacknesse in his comming as the flesh falsly conceiveth that is not through forgetfulnesse or slownesse but through long-suffering to give his elect time to be converted and so to make up the number and likewise to make the wicked inexcusable That any namely of us or of the elect who are his as we are V. 10. Shall melt not to be brought to nothing but to be changed in forme and qualitie see Job 14. 12. V. 11. Seeing then that is to say as well for fear of that terrible ruine of the present world as for desire of everlasting happinesse in the new world and through an holy disdain and contempt of the vanity of the present state of it which ought to be changed in this manner V. 12. Looking for that is to say persevering in patience untill the time which the Lord hath prefixed Hasting unto that is to say advancing your selves through a fervent zeal and desire in the course of your heavenly vocation to attain unto the perfection which shall then be Phil. 3. 11 12. V. 13. Wherein in which state of the world sin and the kingdom of it shall be altogether brought to nothing to give place unto the perfect righteousnesse which shall then be in the whole body of the Church Or into which new Heavens none shall come but onely true beleevers justified by Christs blood and sanctified by his Spirit Revel 21. 27. 22. 14 15. V. 15. Salvation that is to say a saving thing for you and for the whole Church Rom. 2. 4. Hath written unto you some thinke he meanes Saint Pauls Epistle written to the Hebrewes ⧠THE FIRST EPISTLE generall of St. JOHN the Apostle ARGUMENT THis Epistle containeth three principall parts dispersed up and downe in the Epistle without any speciall distinction or order The first of doctrine of the holy Trinity of Christs Person and of his Office of the benefit of redemption regeneration and glorification of beleevers and of the gift of the Holy Ghost and of his dwelling in them and of his power in enlightning their understandings encouraging their hearts and sanctifying them to newnesse of life and of faith and of calling upon God and of his love towards beleevers and of beleevers towards him Of the nature fruit and end of good workes Of the comming of Antichrist and of the sinne against the Holy Ghost The second is of exhortation to holinesse purenesse and obedience and especially to true brotherly charity The third is of admonition to beware of seducers back-sliders hereticks and Antichrists whom the Apostle biddeth them to discerne with great care by the light of the Holy Ghost and by the rule of Gods Word guarding and strengthning beleevers against the scandal and danger of such plagues CHAP. I. Vers. 1. WHich was namely the Sonne of God true everlasting God John 1. 1. who also hath taken human nature in which he hath manifested himselfe he is the subject of our preaching Which we have heard of whom we have been fully certified by all manner of proofes of sence of reason and of Gods Spirit Luke 1. 2. 2 Pet. 1. 16. Our hands a figurative speech the handling being done by an immediate application of the Organ to the object is the most certaine of all the sences Luke 24. 39. John 20. 25. Of the Word namely of the Sonne of God Iohn 1. 1. who hath not onely life in himselfe but is likewise the authour of life in men especially of the spirituall life John 1. 4. 5. 26. 1 John 5. 11. V. 2. For the life the Italian and the life namely he that is the onely spring and dispenser of life Was manifested namely in the flesh and the assumption of humane nature John 1. 14. 1 Tim. 3. 16. V. 3. May have fellowship or be by true faith united to the Church and Christ its head to be partakers of his goods and life and are by him perfectly united with God Iohn 17. 21. V. 4. That your joy that is to say that you may be the more confirmed in faith and by this meanes may have the fruition of that divine joy which consists in the feeling of Gods grace and in the comfort of the Spirit which may also increase in you untill it is come to its perfection 2 Iohn 12. V. 5. The message that is to say the summe of the Gospell consists in this that we have communion with the father that is to say that we are by him called to the participation of his grace life and glory which cannot be done but onely by meanes of regeneration to his likenesse in righteousnesse and glory No darknesse of ignorance error falshood and sinne V. 6. If we say this verse and those that follow are also concerning that message We lie because that the true union with God doth necessarily import a participation of his happinesse and likenesse of his vertues see 2 Cor. 3. 18. V. 7. He is in the he in his owne proper nature from everlasting possesseth the perfection of vertues which are meant by the light whereas beleevers doe but onely walke in the light that is to say they live and converse following that light of God which is
conferred upon them by grace and is not their owne by nature and besides they can never have the full fruition of it in this life but do aspire thereunto by continuall progresse Cleanseth us this cleansing is shewed and felt by us by this undoubted triall of regeneration and sanctification the workes of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost being inseparable and also by this progresse in holinesse the application of Christs blood is assured unto us for the remission of sinnes untill the end of our life Rev. 22. 11. V. 8. If we say the Gospell also teacheth us that during this life we are never quite without sinne whereby we have alwaies need of Christs blood V. 9. Faithfull for to obtaine the promises of forgivenesse and grace made unto those who with a true heart and lively feeling of their errors doe confesse them and by faith doe flie unto his mercie to aske forgivenesse for them And just that is to say benigne mercifull bountifull or loyall and just in keeping his promises See Rom. 3. 25. V. 10. We make him because that by his Law and word he redargues the whole world of sinne and in regard that his promises are but onely of grace and forgivenesse towards sinners and that they cannot produce their effect without confessing the sin whereby he that doth not confesse it makes them unprofitable as if they were false CHAP. II. Vers. 1. THe righteous whose perfect righteousnesse makes him exceeding acceptable to God to be our intercessor towards him and being imputed to us doth also gaine us his grace see Isa. 53. 11. Zeph. 9. 9. Heb. 7. 26. Eph. 1. 6. V 2. The propitiation namely the onely meanes and reason of it which is the other part of the office of Mediatour and the ground of the intercession Not for ours onely namely ours who beleeve already or those of the present Church Of the whole indifferently of all Nations and sorts of people that shall beleeve the Gospell V. 3. We doe know that is to say we have a certaine proofe that our faith in him is true if we be by his Spirit framed to new holinesse and obedience We know him namely by that lively and effectuall light which is nothing but faith John 17. 3. V. 5. The love that is to say Gods grace comes to its true marke and produceth its soveraigne effect as far as it may be in this world which is mans regeneration though it never be the absolute decree of perfection That we are namely in the spirituall state of our soules we doe subsist in his communion and being united to him by faith we live by his Spirit V. 6. He abideth namely that he is united to him in spirit and is engrafted into his body see John 6. 56. V. 7. No new namely concerning the holinesse of life He seemes to have a regard to that which some prophane and ignorant people did oppose that the first Apostles had more recommended faith and Christian liberty c. and not good workes so much From the beginning namely ever since the Gospell was preached The meaning is there was never any contradiction in the Evangelicall doctrin but according to severall occasions it hath been diversly dispensed against the Pharisees faith hath been exalted and against prophane Christians good workes have been pressed V. 8. A new that is to say though it be eternall in its substance yet it may be called new in respect of Christ who gave it and in respect of you that receive it of Christ in so much as he hath renewed the Law giving it towards his beleevers a new life and force by his Spirit to make use of it of you in that by him you have gotten that new quality of sonnes endowed with the Spirit of adoption to love the father and all the brethren in stead of the old qualitie of servants possessed with terrour without any bond of love neither towards God nor the one towards the other see Rom. 8. 15. 2 Tim. 1. 7. The darknesse there is a new day risen in Christ by whom all things are made new in the light of truth grace and power of the Spirit in stead of the former darknesse of ignorance of sinne of the curse and confusion of the divels Kingdome V. 9. Is in darknesse hath no part in this saving light but lieth still in the darknesse of his naturall corruption V. 10. He that loveth that is to say by true love the beleever keepes himselfe in the fruition and use of this divine light without renouncing it or putting it out in himself whereby he is alwaies securely guided in the course of his vocation without any danger of ruine V. 11. Is in darknesse that is to say he hath forsaken the light and hath againe engulsed himselfe in his former darknesses in which he goeth wandring all his life time after the lusts of it without any upright end or any direction of happinesse V. 12. Little children this is spoken to all beleevers Because your and therefore you are so much the more bound to the gratefulnesse of true obedience and you have the gift and power of being so by meanes of the remission of your sinnes For his Names sake even for the love of Christ himself such as he hath made himself known to be by the Gospel V. 13. Fathers now he distinguisheth the beleevers according to the diversity of their ages applying to each age the spirituall benefits correspondent to their properties in this life as the knowledge of ancient things which are past is befitting old men the strength for warre is sitting for young men Young children should know their fathers and mothers and cleave to them and shunne strangers Him that is namely the true everlasting God O Christ likewise everlasting as well in his essence as in his office and vertue Overcome the by faith which unites you with Christ and so makes you partakers of the benefit of his victory upon the divell John 16. 33. 1 Cor. 15. 57. 1 John 5. 4. and besides you follow the remainders of this victory in your selves Rom. 16. 20. Eph. 6. 11 13. V. 14. Abideth that is to say is strongly rooted in him by a lively faith V. 15. Love not have not your heart setled upon worldly things and doe not take in them the full content of your soule Love having these two properties the one to unite the lover to the thing beloved the other to produce in him a content and delight in the possessing of it make use of them as of instruments and be at all times prepared to leave them Unlesse by the world he meane all things which are contrary to Christs spirituall and heavenly Kingdome The love he cannot say that he loves the father because that Divine love cannot be divided no more then love in matrimony V. 16. Of the flesh he seemes to meane their irregulate desires whose roots and provocations are in the nature of man as gluttony lust