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
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
to preserve it Divided that is ordained the heaven to turne continually about and that when the Hemispheare wherein the light was imprinted was above the earth it should then be day and when it was under the earth it should be night which was the beginning of the vicissitude or succession of day and night V. 5. God called God gives names to these great creatures which he reserved under his own governement Gen. 1. v. 8. 10. and 5. 2. And lets Adam give names unto them which he set under him Gen 2. v. 19. 23. Evening that is night at which the Jews begin their artificiall days The meaning is that in this first turning of the heaven none but the afore-named things were created V. 6. A Firmament in the middest that is the aire a thin and clear body which being at first confused in the masse of the Elements is now severed and set in its proper situation From the waters The Scripture placeth waters in the heavens Psal. 104. v. 3. and 148. v. 4. yet neither declareth the nature nor the use of them According to some they are the very substance of the heavens yet not fluent or running impure nor corruptible as the elementall Whatsoever they are it is not said that they were taken out of this lower masse The waters under do here also signifie the water and the earth mixed together in a kind of mirie stuff V. 8. Heaven a name common in the Scripture to the aire to the place of the Stars and the abode of glory V. 9. Into one place that is in the great deep under the earth Gen. 7. 11. which hath divets issues or openings above see Psa. 24. 2. V. 11. Grasse it is that Kind of grasse which groweth of it self without seed or manuring and is food for beasts V. 14. Lights great celestiall round bodies into which God reduced the light Now together with these bodies were their motions also established different amongst themselves and also from the motion of heaven Signes namely of naturall effects and chances as of heate cold raine faire weather c. signes of the occasions and seasons of many humane actions also fore-bodings of diverse extraordinary chances V. 16. Great though indeed the Moon be no bigger than any other Star but this is spoken in regard of our sight to which the Moon is neerest and also by reason of her more sensible operation Tâ— rule not only by the light but also by the greater influence and operation Joh. 38. 33. V. 20. Moving a common name to all living creatures as well of the water as of the earth which traile along creep or glide In this place are meant the water ones and v. 24. the Land ones V. 26. Let us make This manner of consultation of the Father with the Son who is his eternall wisdom and with his spirit whereof you may see other examples Gen. 3. 22. 11. 7. Isa. 6. 8. here used only in the creation of man seemeth to shew his excellency above other creatures Man that is the generation of men in their first stock and beginning Image set downe in the spirituall immateriall immortall qualities of his soule in the naturall faculties of it understanding memory reason and will in the supernaturall gifts of wisdom justice and holinesse in the dominion over other creatures all stamps set on man out of the everlasting modell of Gods perfections Dominion as well for the governing of them as for the makin use and employing of them V. 27. Male This is here spoken by way of anticipation to gather together the creation of man-kinde in its two sexes because that woman was made afterward Gen. 2. 18. V. 29. Herbe That is agreeable with your nature and so likewise of trees In this place there is nothing said of the use of the flesh of beasts as Gen. 9. 3. though it is likely that God did then grant it V. 30. Herbe Which is the same as V. 11. CHAP. II. VERSE 1. OF them Namely of the heavens to which this word of hosts is often attributed to give an inkling of the starres and the Angels as well in respect of their order as of their services under Gods command V. 2. He rested He ceased to shew his vertue and power in creating of new kindes of Creatures yet ceased not in working of their preservation sustenance and increase by order of nature and in guiding them with his providence Joh. 5. 17. V. 3. Blessed That is granted unto it this sacred prerogative of being free from bodily Labours to be imployed by men in exercises of piety and the publike service of God Because That is to say that he would have a perpetuall remembrance to remaine of this his cessation to teach man from time to time to with-draw himselfe from the cares of this life to apply himselfe in freedom and tranquillity to the meditations and actions of the spirituall life and by this meanes to dispose himself to the perfect repose of the eternall imitating God who had ended the worke of Creation on the seventh day in which he did as it were retire himself within himselfe to enjoy his owne blessednesse And made This seems to be added to shew that as by this rest God would not proceed in infinitum increaâ—ing so would he not leave any thing imperfect which he had intended to make V. 5. For The meaning is that the first plants were immâ—â—iately brought forth by God the order of nature being as yet not established and there being yet no raine nor labour of man under which two meanes the one naturall and the other artificiall are comprehended all other meanes of the earths yiâ—lding V. 6. But there After the first creation of plants God did appoynt raine engendred by vapours from below and created man to manure the earth and finally did establish the order of nature for the preservation and continuance of the kindes of them V. 7. Of the ground mingled with the other Elements yet in such sort that the earthly part did predominate Breathed it seemeth it was some created sensible and externall breath as Ioh. 20. 22. for a signe of the vertue proceeding immediately from God to create the soule of man without taking it cut of any other matter as hee had done the body See Num. 16. 22. Ioâ— 27. 3. Zach. 12. 1. Heb. 12. 9. into his nostrills to shew the means ordayned by God to preserve the union of the body and the soule which is continuall breathing Soule That is a living soule moving and operating whereas before the body was but a dead immooveable masse V. 8. Planted Hee caused a certaine parcell of ground to bring forth plants and trees most exquisite and usefull for man and enriched that place with more fruitfulnesse and beauâ—ie than any other part of the earth A garden called by the Hebrewes and Greeks Paradice a figure of the heavenly one See Gen. 13. 10. Ezek. 28. 13. in Eden A Countrey of Mesâ—potamia which
or remedy for others like a fire of Flax which quickly goeth out and leaves no embers behind it V. 15. Merchants namely strangers who had any trading of states businesse with thee see Revel 18. 11. CHAP. XLVIII Vers. 1. COme forth like streames from a spring Sweare which acknowledge and professe the true God for every Nation did sweare by that God which they worshipped Deut. 6. 13. Psa. 63. 1â— Isa. 45. 23. V. 2. Stay themselves they doe rest upon that outward profession see Micah 3. 11. Rom. 2. 17. V. 3. I have as formerly I did beforehand tell my people what benefits I would doe for them that afterwards when those things came to passe their incredulity and inclination to idolatry might be suppressed and altered so now I have foretold them their miraculous deliverance from Babylon that they may acknowledge serve and worship me for their onely God V. 6. Will not that is to say would you be so ungrateful as not to celebrate the memory of it in all ages and not give unto God perpetual honour and praise for it Hidden things the Italian New things concerning the Babylonian deliverance and the ruine of the Empire V. 7. Created that is to say brought to light by my revelations and predictions V. 8. For I I had reserved this excellent proofe of mine eternal deity for this time to convince thee more lively for thine apostacy and idolatry thou being more licentiously addicted to it now then at any other time Called thou hast at all times shewed thy selfe inclined to this vice of Idolatry V. 9. Mine anger that is to say I will moderate my wrath and wil not vent it all upon thee Psa. 78. 38. And for because I would not be scorned nor abused by mine enemies Deut. 32. 26 27. but praised and extolled for mine infinite mercy towards my children V. 10. I have I have chastised and tried thee by the Babylonians yet not to the uttermost as they use to doe your most precious mettals which will not perish by fire for I have had a regard to thy weaknesse and imperfection Psal. 118. 18. V. 11. Polluted by the enemies blasphemies V. 12. My called namely to the participation of my grace and covenant in my Church V. 14. All ye namely idolatrous Jewes Among namely among the false gods after which ye have gone astray Loved namely he hath favoured Cyrus and his enterprises His arme namely the worke and efficacy of his power V. 16. From the I have at all times given you by my Prophets publique cleare and undoubted predictions of many things for your deliverance and have punctually put them in execution that you might cleave to me the onely true God and your benefactor From the time I have from everlasting been the author of that counsell by which all these things have had as it were their first beginning and afterwards in their appointed time I have brought them forth by my power Now that is to say at this present time I doe 〈◊〉 like by these admirable prophecies Hath sent me some hold that the Sonne of God speakes in his owne proper person in this sence The holy Trinity having consulted and decreed to reveale these things to the Church I the Sonne of God whose personall property it is to be the fathers word wisedome and Interpreter doe bring this worke to passe by my Prophets who have all spoken by Christs Spirit 1 Pet. 1. 11. see Zech. 2. 9 â—1 Others referre it simplie to Isaiah sent by God and inspired by the holy Ghost V. 18. As a river abundant and continuall without any interruption Thy righteousnesse that is to say my blessings upon thy piety and loyalty or the right and well ordered establishment of all thy businesses V. 21. Thirsted not that is to say he did not onely deliver them but did also provide for them all things necessary as he did in the wildernesse at the comming out of Egypt from whence these termes are taken see Isa. 43. 19 20. V. 22. There is no this seemes to be added for to exclude wicked men and hypocrites from the generality of the aforesaid promses made to the Church Or to oppose Gods implacable judgements upon his enemies to the Churches deliverances or to his fatherly chastisements CHAP. XLIX Vers. 1. ISles that is to say Provinces afarre off Which have no communication with the Jewes as the places beyond the Sea see Isai. 41. 1. whereby are meant the Gentiles Hath called me that is to say God the Father shal make known his everlasting decree concerning the sending of me his Sonne and concerning mine Office whilest I shal yet be in the Virgins wombe from whence I shal take flesh upon me see Matth. 1. 20 21. Luke 1. 31. V. 2. Made my mouth he shal adde to my Word and Doctrine the power of his Spirit to make it of efficacy to destroy any thing that shall oppose it see Isa. 11. 4. 2 Thes. 2. 8. Heb 4. 12. Rev. 1. 16. 2. 16. 19. 15 21. Hid me that is to say he is my defender and Keeper in the infirmities of the flesh which I shal take upon me V. 3. Servant in regard of my humane nature and voluntary tying of my selfe to fulfill the Law see Isa. 42. 1. Phil. 2. 6 7. Israel I wil by thy meanes unfold and lay open my glorious power for the safeguard and deliverance of my people before any other V. 4. Then I said the Sonne of God his words complaining to his Father of the Jewes incredulity and obstinate rebellion against his word which he hath so faithfully preached My judgement the Italian my right that is to say God knoweth with what uprightnesse and in what perfection I have accomplished his worke And therefore he wil crowne me with eternall glory though my labour hath beene in vaine with the most part of the people V. 5. To bring Jacob namely that I should reconcile Jacob unto him by meanes of his faith and conversion to me Israel though the body of the Nation doe remaine in its naturall errors Isai. 53 6. My strength that is to say my glory Or his divine vertue shall not therefore be taken away from me but shal rather shew it selfe so much the greater in calling of all Nations whereby my glory shal also increase V. 6. The preserved namely this poore Nation preserved unto Christs time and delivered out of so many calamities Others to restore the desolations of Israel V. 7. To him namely to Christ contemned and hated by the Jewes and who voluntarily submitted himselfe to humane power into whose hands they delivered him see Psa. 22. 7. Isa 53. 3. Kings that is to say I wil cause Kings and Princes to acknowledge thee and submit themselves to the command which I shal give thee by the preaching of the Gospel Because of because they shal see God maintaine thy vocation and Crowne thy perfect obedience with glory according to the loyalty of his justice
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
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
true Christians made Priests by him Rer. 1. 6. to offer unto God spirituall sacrifices Rom. 12. 1. which were figured by the Ceremoniall sacrifices as Mal. 1. 11. In righteousnes rightly lawfully and according to his ordinance without any default See Psal. 51. 19. V. 5. Come neare to you my Spirit shall effectually redargue all sinners Isa. 4. 4. John 16. 8. and the execution shall speedily follow that inward redargution V. 6. For I am under the Gospell I will proceed with a speedy operation of my Spirit and judgement whereas now I doe use a great deale of clemency and patience out of my meere loyalty and constancy in my promises See Lam. 3. 22. 23. V. 7. Wherein wherein have we sinned that we should returne V. 8. In tythes keeping those things back which are my right and are to furnish out my service and for the maintenance of mine Officers Neh. 13. 10. V. 10. The store-house of the Temple 1 Chron. 26. 20. See the performance of this Commandement Neh. 13. 12. Prove me whither if you obey my Commandements I will faile in my promises I will not open A figurative terme to signifie as it were a deluge of goods See Gen. 7. 11. 2 King 72. 19. V. 11. The devourer the Italian the beasts namely those insects which doe spoile the fruits of the earth Cast her fruit they shall not lose their fruit by any accident V. 12. A delighâ— sâ—me A most happy Land and abounding in all things as can be desired in the world V. 14. Walked moâ—rnfull the Italian gone mourning as Job 30. 28. Psal. 38 6. he seemes to have relation to those Fasts which are set down Zech 7. 3. V. 15. The proud an ordinary title given to the most grievous sinners who sinne maliciously and boldly Set up established and preserved in lasting happinesse V. 16. Spake whilest the wicked did blaspheme in this manner the true beleevers opposed themselves against them and strengthened themselves against those temptations A Booke God shall remember them in due time and reward them for their faith and constancy Termes taken from men Psal. 56. 9. That thought that have his feare alwayes in their hearts and before their eyes that meditate upon his grace and his commandements have a care to call upon him and doe actually remember him in all their works V 17. Make up namely execute my judgements upon the wicked Spare I will love them and preserve them carefully V. 18. Returne you doe wrongfully impute to God that he doth not reward those that serve him serve you him heartily and uprightly and then you shall finde the effect of his promises whereas now you deprive your selves of it because your service is defiled with hypocrisie and impiety CHAP. IV. Ver. 1. THe day of Christs comming wherof he had spoken Mal. 3 2 3. Neither root A proverbiall terme as Job 18. 16. and 29. 19. Isa 5. 24. Amos. 2 9. V. 2. Ariâ—e by faith you shall know and enjoy Christ who shall be a devouring fire to the wicked but unto his Elect a Son of yeelding a vivifying and comfortable heate by vertue of his perfect righteousnes by which he will reconcile them to God his Father and obtaine his Spirit for them which shall regenerate sanctifie and save them perfectly See Isa. 60. 1 2 19. Goe forth A description of the liberty of Spirit in the Elect in joy vigor and promptitude of spirituall motions V. 3. Tread down A representation of the Churches victory over her spirituall enemies which is very frequent in the Prophets V. 5. Eliah that is to say John the Baptist who shall come in the Spirit and power of Eliah Luke 1. 17. The great that stately apparition of the Sonne of God in the flesh accompanied with the consuming power set downe before Mal. 3. 2. 4 1. Especially in regard of the Jewes who shall be destroyed by him by reason of their rebellion and ingratitude V. 6. Shall turne his preaching shall be for 〈◊〉 bring backe the children of Israel that are gone astray to the true faith and piety of their fore-fathers whereby their fathers as Abraham Isaac and Jacob who as one may say did not know them againe Isa. 29. 22 23. shall re-accept them for their lawfull posterity which thing failing I will finally and totally destroy the whole Nation FINIS An Advertisement concerning the Books which are called Apocrypha IT is most certaine that in the ancient Jewish Church to which Gods Oracles were sent and lay deposited the Books of the Law and the Prophets having bin faithfully kept there untill such time as the gift of Prophecying and the Prophets Ministry ceasing there was a Register or authenticall Catalogue made of all the said Books gathered into one volume by Ezra either alone or with the assistance of other Prophets which lived in his time being guided therein by the same infallible conduct of the Holy-Ghost by which they had composed their owne writings This Volume being gathered together was the firme rule of the Church at that time the only modell of all its Religion and rule of divine worship the foundation of all their hopes the forme and soveraigne Law of their customes and government and the only subject of all their Expositions and Lectures which were made in their Assemblies And though there were even at that time many other Books of pious subjects as Ecclesiasticus and the Books of Maccabees and some also of more antiquity as the Prophecye of Enoch mentioned in Saint Jude his Epistle and also some History out of which Saint Paul had the names of Jâ—nnes and Jambres 2 Tim. 〈◊〉 8. yet the Jewish Church never gave place for publicke uses to any other Books but such as were divine and sacred and comprehended within their Catalogue The same care of the divine Providence was also shewed in the Christian Church For the last Apostles and especially Saint John who outlived all the rest made also as ancient writers relate such a Catalogue of the Holy Books of the New Testament for the same end as there had been one made of the old And it seemes that Saint John in the last Chapter of his Revelation would seale and shut up the close of it by His Apostolicall Authority and by His terrible protestations But the Christian Church after the death of the Apostles did not use the same scrupulous circumspection as the Jewish Church did For many writings of seeming piety passing through the Churches hands under the name of divine Books The care and severity in discerning cutting off the supposed ones was not used but only in such as were most notoriously false and did most dangerously corrupt Christian Doctrine as containe false Gospels and Epistles which were written in the name of the Apostles Being the worke of some Jewes which were turned Christians or of some Heretickes which were reproved and banished even in their first beginnings But a greater toleration was used with other Books
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
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
not that singular gift from God to preserve themselves in holinesse and purenesse of body and spirit without the remedy of marriage Then to burne with a carâ—all desire which God doth not give every one the gift to quench without marriage whereby man is troubled in minde and hindered in his spirituall actions which require a tranquillity of all passions V. 10. Not I not by a new doctrine or law 〈◊〉 yet by meere councell and advice of wisdome as ver 25 40. but by Christs expresse command Mat. 5. 32. and 19. 6. 9. Depart namely by divorse unlesse it be for the only lawfull cause which is adultry which was very frequent amongst the Grekeâ— and the Romans and from them this abuse did also partly creep in amongst the Iewes though the law of Moses gave the wife no power at al to be divorced from her husband See Marke 10. 12. 〈◊〉 Tiâ— 5. 9. V. 11. Let her remaine this is not to say that this separation without marrying again is lawfull v. 3. 4 5. but if the woman can not be induced or forced to live with her husband or that there be some invincible leâ—â— The Law of God doth absolutely forbid her to marry another V. 12. To the rest spoken of in the letter which you sent to me namely beleevers married with unbeleevers Speake I guided in this mine opinion by the Holy Ghost ver 15. 40. though without Gods expresse command in his word Ver. 13. The woman namely the believing and Christian woman Ver. 14. Is sanctified though the unbelieving partie be uncleane before God yet the use of maâ—â—monie with her is holy unto the believing party thorow the mediation of faith and invocation Tiâ— 1 15 and Gods approâ—ation and blessing no otherwise then if both parties weare holy So he answeareth them who thought themselves to be defiled by these maâ—iâ—ges with infidels contracted before their conversion and by reason of this scruple sought for 〈◊〉 separation Yâ—u Children borne of such unequall marriages Unclâ—ane that is to say they would not from their birth bee comprehended within Gods coâ—â—â—ant made with the fathers and with the sons Geâ— 17. 7. nor endowed with the spirit of sanctification And would by the Church he held as profane â—cap ab le of baptisme untill such timeas being come to age they were admitted thereunto by their owne faith Holy namely members of the Church and partakers of the grace of regeneration which Saint Paul speakes by Apostolicall declaration according to which such little children were admitted to baptisme V. 15. Depart be divorced for hatred to the religion oâ— that shee marrieth another Or that all possible and reasonable remedies having beene used and a convenient time allotted for that purpose the unbelieving party cannot be induced to a due conjunction A brother namely the beleeving party is loosâ—ed from the bond being thus forsaken by the unbelieving party But God but the believers they are 〈◊〉 by Gods command to endeavour to maintain by 〈◊〉 and concord the matrimony which they 〈◊〉 contracted Ver. 16. Thou shalt save whither thou staying with him mayest be the instrument of his conversion 〈◊〉 salvation by word holy conversation example prayers c. V. 17. Buâ— as howsoever it be if the Inâ—idell be 〈◊〉 coâ—verted yet let the believer remaine in the state 〈◊〉 condition which his person is in be it marriage 〈◊〉 otherwise and in that ordinary course of life which God had appointed him before he called him to be a Christian because these things may very well 〈◊〉 together V. 18. Let him not become as some used to doe by Câ—irurgerie to cancell in their bodies all signes of Iâ—daisme which they had renounced 1 Mac. 1. 16. V. 19. Is nothing Namely now under the Gospell it is of no force nor anyway considerable for Gods service or for mans salvation But the keeping the true Christian and spirituall vertues are not only sufficient but do likewise disannull and exclude under the Gospell all ceremonies of the Law Iohn 4. 23. Rom. 14. 17. V. 20 Abide hee may abide therein with a safe Conscience and ought not rashly to change it neither through superstition nor by doing another any wrong but if hee can doe it for any just causes or through any lawfull meanes it is then lawfull for him to dâ—â— it V. 21. Care not for it be not grieved at it nor doe not take it to heart as if it were a condition unworthy of a Christian or pernicious and unlawfull for him If thou mayest by lawfull and honest wayes V. 22 For he hee confirmeth the exhortation made to servants to beare their condition mildely thorow the comfort of their spirituall freeing from siâ—ne the Devill and death by â—esus Christ. In the Lord to the communion of his spirituall body and Church and to the participation of his grace Is Christs servant he is not master of himselfe not of his actions hee is subject to Christ his Lord. So in Christ all servants and distressed persons have matter of comfort and those who are free and live at ease have cause to humble and subject themselves V. 23. Be not yee if yee bee free doe notwilfully make your selves servants but keepe your selves wholly both body and soule for Christs service to which bodily service is a great disturbance in outward actions Or in your servitude remember alwayes that before anyother you are Christs servants therefore doe not doe any mens service which may bee contrary to Christs service Or as concerning your soule and conscience let not living man have any command over you depend upon Christ onely and upon his word See 2 Cor. 11. 20. Galath 2. 4. Col. 2. 18. V. 24. With God in the order and degree of service which he hath appointed for every one Ver. 25. Vergins namely daughters of families concerning whom the Corinthians had also written to the Apostle to know whither their Parents were oblieged to get matches for them or no. I have no God hath not declared any thing expressely concerning it in his word I give my as of a thing which of it selfe is free and indifferent I doe advise by wisdome enspired by the Holy Ghost what is most expedient according to the circumstances See 2 Cor. 8. 〈◊〉 10. That hath obtained being by especiall grace endowed with the infallible guide of the Holy Ghost not onely in truth but also in good and loyall councell See Isaiah 11. 2. 1 Cor. 7. 40. 1 Thes. 4. 8. V. 26. That this this seemes to shew his opinion concerning the Corinthians question namely whither it was good to keepe ones daughter at home without marrying This is good See ver 1. For the namely for the distresses and persecutions which the Church is falling into which are more difficult to be borne then when one is married then when one is not See Ier. 16. 1. and 29 6. I say that because the reason is generall for all manner of persons To be namely
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
and heard his doctrine see 1. Cor. 15. 5. 2 Pet. 1. 16. 1 John 11. V. 15. Shall confesse with his mouth beleeving it verily in his heart Romans 10. 9. That Iesus under this head of Christian faith which was contrary to the heresics of those dayes are comprehended all the rest which are inseparable in their own nature for if he be the Son of God all his Doctrine is everlasting truth V. 16. And we namely we Apostles have not onely been enlightned in the foresaid knowledge but likewise have by faith received a lively feeling of Gods grace towards us which is firme and perpetuall through the gift of love created in us and therefore we exhort all beleevers to faith and love vers 6 7. V. 17. Made perfect it is to come to its height of perfection seeing we receive not onely the effects but also a lively impression and likenesse of it That we may that is to say which is a most certaine and sensible proofe unto us of Gods grace and of the liuely application of it whereby our consciences are emboldned against the terrors of the judgement to come Matth. 25. 35. As he is namely in holinesse and righteousnesse love c. Luke 6. 36. 2 Cor. 3. 18. Eph. 4. 24. Col. 3. 10. Heb. 12. 10. 2 Pet. 1. 4. V. 18. No feare namely no terrible feare of an unavoydable evill which causeth trouble of the mind and weakning of the strength Perfect love namely true lively and sincere love which hath all its essentiall parts towards God and men 1 Joh 3. 18 19. Casteth out that is to say it is towards God not for feare of his terrible Majesty and judgement but through a sweet humble and reverend apprehension of his grace and goodnesse by which he hath made and declared himselfe most loving to the soule whereby is ingendered hope and confidence As likewise love towards ones neighbour doth confirme the heart in the certainty of Gods love it being the worke of the Holy Ghost and the holy Ghost the Seale of Grace see 2 Tim. 1. 7. Hath torment and love contrariwise is nothing but joy comfort and mildnesse V 19. Because he because he by his love hath not onely bound and induced us to love him for love bringeth forth love but hath also given us the power and facultie to doe it enlighten our minds in the lively knowledge of him and moving our hearts to love him V. 20. He is a lyer because these two commandements are inseparable Matth. 22. 38 39. and the brother is the Sonne of God bearing the Fathers Image 1 Pet. 5. 1. and the true love of God consists in obeying him John 14. 21. 1 John 5. 3. Whâ—râ— he hath he hath a relation to that love springeth from the sight and knowledge The meaning is if man by the sences which doe apprehend the communion and similitude of nature and any thing that is good and comely in another man is not moved to love him it is impossible that he should be moved to love God who is invisible and incomprehensible seeing he hath no naturall love and so long as he is such he is not capable of supernaturall love which the Holy Ghost inserts in the other as in his owne subject and vessell and by it sanctifies and sublimes it see 1 Tim. 5. 8. CHAP. V. Vers. 1. BEleeveth with a true and firme assent and with a lively application to himselfe That Jesus under this is comprehended the whole substance of Christian Religion Every one that whosoever truely loves the father loves the children likewise for love of the father whose they are and who is by them and in them represented V. 2. That we love namely that the love of our neighbour is true and holy in us and that it is regulated as it ought to be When we namely when our conscience witnesseth unto us that we love God above all things and then our neighbours under him in him and for the love of him V. 3. Are not because that the Holy Ghost gives beleevers the power and will to execute them and to overcome all oppositions of the flesh Rom 8. 2 4. Phil. 2. 12 13. V. 4. The World namely all the temptations assaults and deceipts of the divell working in the world by his instruments The victory namely the onely meanes by which we have already obtained the beginning and chiefe part of the victory against the divell and his kingdome and by which also we are assured to overcome the residue Our faith by which we apprehend and apply unto our selves the victory of Christ our head Iohn 16. 33. 1 Cor. 15. 57. Rev. 12. 11. and by which also he works in us and beats down the divell under our feet Rom. 16. 20. 1 Pet. 5. 9. V. 6. That came who being true glorious God in Heaven hath taken upon him humane nature on earth to bring these two benefits to men namely satisfaction for sinne by his death to disannull the guilt and curse of it which is meant by the name of blood And next of purification from the inward corruption by the spirit of sanctification which is meant by water Not by water that is to say it was convenient that before he sanctified man in himselfe he should justifie him before God for God doth not give his Spirit of grace but onely to those whom he hath received into grace by meanes of the satisfaction and reconciliation made by Christ. That beareth outwardly by the word and inwardly in the heart of every beleever Because the the Holy Ghost alone doth this because that he onely is able and sufficient to doe it being he is the Spirit of truth and witnesse by sight and who is of a most intimate communion in Gods secrets Iohn 14 17. 1â— 26. 16. 13. 1 Cor. 〈◊〉 10 11. V. 7. That beare witnesse of the same truth by glorious effects proper to each of the three persons of the holy Trinity See Iohn 5. 32. 8. 18. Are one namely in essence and most perfect union of operation especially in regard of this witnessing V. 8. And there are three there are likewise three things which confirme this truth in the heart of be leevers in this world spoken of vers 6. namely the presence and effects of the Holy Ghost in them in life strength and light c. Secondly the lively feeling of the continuall forgivenesse of their sins see Heb. 11. 24. Thirdly the worke of their sanctification which continueth and goeth forward in them which benefits being all divine not brought forth by any humane art or industry doe testifie that all proceeds from Christs benefit and vertue Unlesse the Apostle would applie these three witnessings to the three persons of the Trinity The water that is to say the grace to the Father the blood that is to say the redemption to the Sonne the Spirit that is to say the light and spirituall vertue to the Holy Ghost In one namely to prove the
indeterminable eternity of the Sonne of God equall with the Father in essence and glory vers 4. V. 9. Patience the Italian sufferance which he commands and brings forth in those who are his by his Spirit to his own likenesse see 2 Cor. 15. Others in the patient expecting of Christ. Patmos an Iland in the Archipelagâ— in these dayes by some called Palmosa into which Saint John was conâ—ined by Domitian the Emperour for the Gospel and the preaching thereof V. 10. In the Spirit that is to say In an extasie and rapture of minde in which all the senses were suspended and bound up by a supernaturall power and the understanding fixed and raised up to the contemplation of divine objects represented in the vision see Ezech. 11. 24. On the Lords day the Italian that is to say The day of the Lord So was the first day of the week called even from the Apostles time because that day the Lord was risen whereupon it was consecrated to exercises of piety in stead of the Sabbath see Acts 20. 7. 1 Cor. 16. 2. V. 12. I turned namely in vision The voyce namely him from whom it proceeded V. 13. Unto the Sonne the Italian unto a Sonne that is to say unto a man Dan. 7. 13. and 10. 1â— Revel 14. 14. and was Christ himself Revel 2. 18. who in vision shewed to Saint Iohn a likenesse of his humanity which is resident in Heaven V. 15. His feet see the explication of this upon Cant. 5. 15. Ezech. 1. 7. Dan. 10. 6. Fine brasse the Italian Calcolibano that is to say a kinde of most fine and bright brasse see Ezech. 1. 4. V. 16. Sword a figure of the most effectuall and penetrant power of Gods word in the destroying of his enemies and overcomming the world V. 18. Amen that is to say This is an everlasting truth which every one ought to acknowledge and worship The keyes namely the absolute power over these things to condemn unto them and to free from them at my pleasure V. 20. Are that is to say do signifie and represent The Angels that is to say the Bishops or the chiefe ministers honoured sometimes in Scripture with this title by reason of the resemblance of theirs and the Angels office concerning beleevers salvations see Eccles. 5. 6. Mal. 3. 1. The seven by which are meant the particular Churches because the Lord hath set in them the gift of his Spirit which is in stead of oil and faith which is in stead of fire to carry and hold up before all men the lamp of truth and knowledge of God and make it to shine before the eyes of the world by works see Zech. 4. 〈◊〉 Matth. 5. 15. Philip. 2. 15. CHAP. II. Vers. 1. THe Angel that is to say The Pastor or Bishop under whose person ought to be understood the whole Church That holdeth who is the soveraign Lord and master of all the Pastors who have no authority but from him who onely doth establish them and likewise can depose them according to their works Who walketh that is alwayes present and working in his Church in the power of his Spirit to preserve the light of his power and the oil of his grace in it as anciently the Priestâ— had the charge of the great Candlestick to make it clean and keep the lamps lighted in it all the night see Exod. 27. 20. and 30. 8. Levit. 24. 3. V. 3. Hast born the Italian hast born the burden namely those sufferings and that yoke which I have laid upon thee V. 5. Will reâ—â—â—ve that is to say I will deprive thee of every qualitie title and property of a Church transporting my grace and truth elsewhere Matth. 21. 21 41 43. V. 6. Nicolaitans most ancient hereticks who permitted the community of women and eating of idols sacrifices it is thought the name came from Nicolas a Deacon Actâ— 6. 5. and that the heresie was grounded upon an act and saying of his misunderstood if Histories be true V. 7. That overcommeth that is to say that perseveres unto the end against all assaules and temptations by a lively faith in me Will I give that is to say I will cause them to enjoy the everlasting goods of my glory Figurative termes taken from the earthly Paradiâ—e Gen. 2. 8 9. see Revel 22. 2 14. Paradice see Luke 23. 43. V. 9. Rich namely in spirituall goods see Luke 12. 21. James 2. 5. The blasphemie or sâ—anders and calumâ—ies And are not are not the true people of God in Spirit and faith John 8. 39. 44. Rom. 2. 28. and 9. 6. V. 10. Dayes some take these dayes for yeers as Dan. 9. 24. V. 11. Second death which is the everlasting and totall separation of the whole man from God and from his life to be abyssed into everlasting torments after the corporall death V. 13. Where Sataâ—s namely where he reigns powerfully be it by false religion or by wickednesse of life or by persecution of the Gospell My name namely the pure profession of my Gospel in which I have fully manifested my self V. 15. Nicolaitans who by such decâ—its did lead Christians astray 2 Pet. 2. 18. V. 16. Will fight that is to say I will destroy them by my judgements pronounced by my mouth and executed by my power and withall imprinting the feeling of their condemnation in their hearts by my word V. 17. Will I give that is to say I will cause him to enjoy the everlasting goods of my heavenly kingdom teaâ—ms taken from the Manna which was kept in the Sanctuary Exod. 16. 32 33. Psal. 65. 4. see Iohn 6. 31 35 48 51. A white stone the sigure of the new heart puâ—iâ—ied and made sound by faith which God bestoweth upon those who are his and whereon by his Spirit he engraves and seals the testimonie of their adoption by which they obtain the new name and right of the children of God Iohn 1. 12. Revel 3. 12. the certain judgement and knowledge whereof lieth in the closet of the beleevers conscience and is not manifested but onely by the effects Rom. 8. 16. V. 19. Service the Italian ministerie namely in alms assistances and other duties of charitie V. 20. Iezâ—â—â—â— whether this were that womans proper name or that for the resemblance of the old Iâ—zebel an impious dishonest and wicked Queene of Israel here be meant some false Prophetesâ—e of the Nicolaitans or some such like heretiâ—ke sects V. 21. Fornication namely bodily fornication and likewise the spirituall of idolatry V. 22. That commit adultery this may likewise bee understood spiritually of the communicating with that womans false doctrine V. 24. Aâ— have not as have no way assented to that devillish doctrine which those hereticks did qualifie with the name of great and deep mysteries of Gods Spirit 1 Cor. 2. 10. though indeed it was nothing but a gulph of abominations and hollow illusions of the divell Burthen or calamities or threatnings V. 26. My workes the faith and
25. For although Jacob reproved the deed Gen. 34. 30. and 49. 6. yet remained he Lord of the place as by right of warre which was as the first fruit of the destruction of the accursed natioâ—ns CHAP. XLIX VERS 3. MY might Begotten in the floure of my age and of my strength an Hebrew phrase as Deut. 21. 17. Psa. 78. 51. The excellency By the right of thine eldership thou hadst the superiority of commanding thy brethren and the honour of Priesthood and the prerogative of the double part V. 4 Unstable The Italian hath it All that is runne out Through thine abominable incest thou hast lost that naturall right thou hadst like water powred upon a pent-house for the Dominion was transferred to Iudah the Priesthood to Levi and the double portion to Ioseph in the persons of his 2 children Gen. 48. 5. 1 Chr. 5. 1. Thou shalt not excell The Italian Thou shalt not have the superioritie By my patriarchall authoritie I deprive thee of thy right of eldership Up to my couch The Italian addeth All that vanished away that thy degree is vanished away like a vapour or smoake the Hebrew is gone up V. 5 Are Brethren Even as they were borne of one mother so were they joyned together in their wills in the action touching the Sichemites Gen. 34. 25. V. 6 Come not thou God forbid that ever I should either in thought or word have had any part in those bloudy councells and enterprizes Mine honour That is my tongue according to the Hebrew phrase Psal. 16. 9. and 30. 12. and 57. 8. 9. because that the facultie of speaking amongst the sensible faculties is the noblest that man hath above all creatures In their selfe will In their owne passion without any lawfull power or any just enforcement which are the two things which make taking up of armes just Digged down Utterly destroyed the City of Sichem though that be not expressed in the history V. 7 I will divide them For a punishment of their blame-worthy union and league I decree their posteritie to be scattered amongst the other tribes in the division of the Land of Canaan So Simeons part was intermixed with Iudahs Ios. 19. 1. and it was yet more scattered when the one part of it went to seek out new habitations 1 Chron. 4. 24. Levi also had no part together but was divided amongst all the tribes Ios. 21. 4. c. V. 8 Shall praise That is shall honour thee and acknowledge thee for their head and superior 1. Chron. 5. 2. He alludes to the signification of Iudahs name whereof see Gen 29. 35. Thy band he prophecyeth of the peoples victoriâ—s wherein Iudah was alwayes the chief Iudg. 1. 2. and 20. 18. chiefly under David and his descent Now under these corporall warres and victories are also understood Christs spirituall ones who was the true Lion of Iudah Râ—v 5. 5. Thy fathers châ—ldren All my posterity shall respect thee as their Lord in the Kingdome conferred upon the Tribe of Iudah in Davids person And all the Chuâ—ch which is the true Israel in spirit shall worship Christs person which came from Iudah according to the flesh Gen. 27. 29. V 9 A Lions whelp That is to say in his beginnings and as it were in his first youth he shall overcome and subdue his enemies and then shall enjoy that rest which he hath established through his valour An old Lion For there are two kindes of Lions the one short and trussed up with a curled haire the other greater with long haire and more fierce V. 10 The Sâ—â—pter The right of eldership and of supreme temporall Dominion shall never be quite taken away from thee untill the Messias be come who shall be of thy posterity and he shall change it into a spirituall and everlasting kingdome destroying a little while after by means of the Romans both the people and forme of any Jewish Common-weale Dan. 9. 26 27. Now although the Tribe of Judah have not alwayes beene in possession of the kingdome as before David in Babylon under the Asmoneans who were Levites and under Herod the Idumean yet it never lost the title and right to it and hath alwayes kept some Reliques of the possession having the body of its common-weale severall and its divine and humane Lawes which never was promised nor happened unto any of the other Tribes Isa. 7. 8. And the alteration of one raigning generation altereth not the kingdome if the same people and Lawes remaine Now he describeth this slate by the Scepter and the Law-giver and by the first fifteen poynted out the supream power and by the second the administration of Justice Councels and Offices of government Between It seemeth that he alludes to the custome and fashion of Kings who when they sit in their Thrones have below at their feet their Chancellors Councellors and chiefe officers Shiloh The Italian hath it him to whom that belongeth That is the Messias the true everlasting King of his Church Psalm 2. 6 and 110. 2 Of whom the earthly ones were onely figures and representers The Hebrew word Shiloh hath beene by many of the ancient rightly translated Vnto him Hee shall convert it into a spirituall and universall Kingdome over all people Others unto him shall the people be gathered and reduced V. 11. Binding A propheticall and allegoricall description of the Churches spirituall blessings Vnto the Vine As in some other lands one might bind his bâ—ast he râ—deth on to a stump or wild shrub The meaning is the Land shall be so perfectly unshrubbed and unforrested that one shall hardly find any uselesse plant to tye an Asse unto See Isa. 7. 25. He washed As Job 29. 6. V. 12. With Wine Or more than Wine or Milk V. 14. Asse A mighty nation but cowardly in its enterprizes and base to submit it self to the yoak of slavery before it will free it selfe with labour and danger Coâ—ching down Shut up in his owne countrey like an Asse in a stable See Judges Chapt. 5 verse 15. V. 16. Shall judge By allusion to the name of Dan which signifieth judgement Genesis 30. 6. He meaneth that Dan shall have his Tribe within his jurisdiction and government as the other or peradventure he meaneth it of Sampson the Danite who judged that is to say governed the whole nation see Judges 13. 2. 24. V. 17. A Serpent A crafty people who shall proceed more by deceits than by open strength See an an example thereof Judg. 18. and in the whole history of Sampson V. 18 O Lord It should seem that Jacob at the remembrance of Dan trembleth with horror and rageth fore-seeing that in that Tribe should be erected the generall idolatrie of the ten Tribes from whence should grow their ruine 1. Kings 12. 29. Amos 8. 14. which should be restored by the Messias whom he also looketh upon in this astonishment see Hos. 3. 4 5. V. 19 A troup His country shall be exposed to incursions and robbings
this was one of the ceremoniall abstinences of the Law 1 Sam. 21 4 5. Zach. 7. 3. V. 16. Thunders tokens of Gods terrible Majesty and to teach us that the Law was given after sin to abate mans pride to terrifie and awake mens consciences to have recourse to the grace of the Gospel Heb. 12 19. A thick cloud as it were to shadow the brightnesse of Gods glory which is not communicated unto us by the Law but by the only grace of Jesus Christ See 1 Kings 8. 12. 2 Cor. 3. 13. 18 and 4. 6. Trumpet an instrument of command justice war and uproare A figure of the rigor of the law in commanding and of its force in piercing the consciences Heb. 12. 19 opposite to the sweet sound of the Gospel 1 Kin. 19. 12 All the people yea and Moses himself Heb. 12. 21. V. 18 In fire to represent the power of Gods word like unto that of fire Jer. 23 29 V. 19. By a voyce the Italian hath it By thunder by a loud and resounding voyce Yet distinct and intellgible see Psa. 81. 8 Iohn 12. 29 V. 22 The Priests Before the Priesthood was restrained within the tribe of Levi the first born of great families did execute the place see Exo. 24. 5. Num. 8 16 which come nâ—â—re which present themselves before God and go between men and him by prayeis sacrifices ordinary service see Lev. 10 3. Break forth lâ—st he send upon them some suddain unresistible plague to cast them to the earth V. 23 Ca 〈…〉 they are sufficiently warned to take heed â—â—d their own fear keepeth them back sufficiently sanctifie it separate it by this signe from all approaches and contamination of sinfull men CHAP XX. VERS 3. GOds Idols to whom idolaters do falsly attribute any divinity see 1 Cor. 8. 4 5 Before me in my Church where I am present in grace and power wherfore idolatry in it is like an adultery committed before the husbands eyes and despighteth God to his face Isa. 65. 3 5. V. 4 Image No representation of God absolutely Nor likenesse of any creature to yeeld unto it any part of divine honor and service V. 5. Jealous Impatient to see my divine glory taken from me or imparted unto any else and an uâ—placable revenger of this misdeed Isa 48. 〈◊〉 Visiting I inquire after it and punish it Of the Fathers As concerning eternall judgement upon the soule every one dieth for his own iniquity Jer. 31. 30. but for the fathers sins the children are often punished in body in goods and other things which they hold and derive from their fathers Num. 14. 33 Sam. 12. 1â— 21. 5 14 And besides God often times cuâ—seth the generation of the wicked withdrawing his grace and spirit from it wherby imitating their parents wickednesse they are punished in the same manner 1 Same 15 2 Mat. 23. 32 35. V. 7. Shalt not take That is to say in oathes and other kind of frivolous unprofitable rasâ—i false and impious speeches V. 8. To keepe it Holy To keep it as consecrated to divine exercises of piety and religion Isay 58 13. and effectually employ it wholly therein V. 10. Of the Lord The Italian To the Lord and dedicated to him and to his service Any work That is to say servile or toilesome labour or diligence about corporall things Exodus 34. 21. Leviticus 23 7. Num. 28. 18. That is That dwelleth with thee in the same city or countrey V. 12. May be Or that they may bee prolonged through them that is to say that they may be instruments and a meanes of it by their blessing and that this good may befall thee from God by their means V. 18. Saw They could perceive and hear plainly They removed The Italian hath It trembled or went further off and fled V. 19. Speake thou This request of the people was approved of and allowed by God Deut. 5. 28. and by this interposition of Moses was figured the necessity of the great Mediator between God and men See Gal. 3 19. Which was also promised upon this occasion Deut. 18. 16. V. 20. To prove you Whether this terror will breed in you a holy feare and reverence which is the 〈◊〉 spring of obedience V. 21 Where Where he shewed the power of his presence by these admirable effects and signes V. 22. From Heaven From above on high in the aire on the top of the mount Deu 4. 36. Neh. 9. â—5 And therefore Heb. 12. 25 26 It is said that he had spoken on earth V. 23. Ye shall not make Imagine none in your minds neither shape any with your handy work neither set it up to be worshipped through any customeâ— or authority V. 24. An Altar This is to be understood of some altars set up for some extraordinary service Deu. 27. 5. Jos. 8. 31. or made only for the mean time until the Tabernacle was built where the Altar was made of wood or till the Temple was built where it was made of brasse Exod. 27. 1. 1 King 8. 64. And it seemeth that God would have such transitory altars to be of some meane stuffe and of no durable forme because that in ensuing times they might not divert the people from the only altar upon which he delighted to be servâ—d Deuteron 12. 5. see Jos. 22. 16. 19. 23. in token of the onely altar of the crosse of Christ Burnt offerings See Lev. 1. 3. Peace offerings See Lev. 3. 1. In all places Build no constant altars to fixe as it were my grace upon any place at thy pleasure For I will heare thee indifferently in any place where I shall give thee occasion or command to call upon me V. 25 Thou hast Thou having transgressed my commandement the altar shall no more be holy to sanctifie the offering Matth. 23. 19. V. 26 By steps This was in part changed in ensuing times when God caused the brazen altar to be made ten cubites high 2 Chro. 4 1. with an ascent Eâ—ec 43. 17. providing for modestie the Priests linnen breeches Exod. 27. 42. Now the occasion of this commandement seemeth to be taken from the shamefull shewes and actions which the Pagans used in their sacrifices CHAP. XXI VERS 1. THe judgements The Italian hath it The judiciall Laws by which judgements in civill and criminall causes were to be regulated V. 2 If thou buy Which was lawfull in two cases First when one sold himselfe and his children for poverty Secondly when he was sold for his theft Exod. 22 3. For nothing Because he had repaid the price which was given for him by his servitude Deut. â—5 18. V. 4 Have given him a wiâ—e Some foâ—â—aigne bond-woman for a concubine to have children by For it was not lawfull to abuse an Hebrew bond-woman in that kinde v. 8 9. and such conjunctions with forraigne women had not the streight bounds of lawfull marriages in them see Deut. 21. 11. Neh. 13. 23. V. 6 Shall bring him To
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 onely cause and foundation of all their honour and glory V. 6. A worme a most vile and contemptible person as Isa. 41. 14. V. 9. That took mee see Psal. 71. 6. Isa. 46. 3. V. 10. I was cast thou tookest me into thy care and tuition and tookest me up as a mid-wife or nurse taketh an infant when it first comes into the world V. 12. Bulls namely strong and fierce enemies Bashan a place abundant in fat pastures and great cattell Deut. 32. 14. V. 15. Hast brought me thou haste made mee even ready to bee laid downe in the graye see Psal. 7. 5. V. 17. They look feeding their eyes and passions with my misery as with a pleasant spectacle see Luke 23. 35. V. 20. My darling the Italian my onely one an epithet of the soule as Psal. 35. 17. for man having but one life that is so much the dearer to him Vnlesse he meane the solitude hee was in being destitute of all humane reliefe Psal. 25. 16. which was also verified in Christ Iohn 16. 32. V. 22. My Brethren all the faithfull adopted by the Father through grace and regenerate by his spirit and made brothers and co-heires with Christ Iohn 20. 17. Kom 8. 29. V. 26. The meeke an ordinary title of the faithfull Shalt eat shall spiritually be fed with the Lords flesh and blood who died and did rise againe for them and in him shall have the full fruition of all good things V. 27. All the ends a prophecie of the calling of the Gentiles shall remember the 〈◊〉 and lively knowledge of the sufferances and glory of Christ shall be given to and preserved amongst all Nations by the preaching of the Gospel and especially by the Sacrament of his body therefore called a remembrance Luke 22. 19. V. 28. The Kingdome namely the spirituall Kingdom over the Church and the universall one over all the world belongeth unto Christ true eternall God V. 29. All they that be all the true elect and faithfull rich and poore of what condition soever shall participate of these spirituall goods without vainely slopping vainely at the worldly and corruptible ones That goe down that are weak and halfe dead through hunger and misery V. 30. Shall bee accounted shall bee put into the number of the children of God Psal. 87. 6. V. 31. His righteousnesse by this word is meant Gods grace under the Gospel which was acquired unto men by Christ the everlasting Gods righteousnesse according to the truth of his promises and covenant see Rom. 3. 21. 22. PSAL. XXIII VER 3. HE restoreth or bringeth it againe into the rightway when it goeth astray Ofrighteousnesse according to others straight and plaine paths V. 4 I walk and though I were in the terrors of present death thy rod namely thy providence and conduct or thy spirit which is the internall guide and comfort of the faithfull V. 5. Thou annointest that is to say besides my necessary occasions thou dost fill me with joy and glory Your odiriferous oyles being used at banquets and upon other festivall occasions and to consecrate Kings and Princes see Psal. 92. 10. and 104. 15. V. 6. In the house namely in his Church in this world and in the everlasting Kingdome of heaven afterwards PSAL. XXIV VER 2. VPon the Seas that is to say upon the the great abisse of waters which is under the earth enclosed in great hollow places whence the heads of rivers doe spring and bubble out upon the earth see Gen. 7. 11. and 49. 25. 2 Pet. 3. 5. V. 3. Into the Hill that is to say into the Lords Temple set upon the hill Moriah in Jerusalem where David carried the Arke 2 Sam. 6. 17. 2 Chron. 3. 1. And afterwards into the Kingdome of heaven figured by that hill V. 4. Lift up who giveth no heed nor puts no confidence in the vaine and foolish designes of the world nor in the fraudulent enticements of the Devill V. 5. Righteousnesse the effects of the loyaltie of Gods promises and covenant and of the righteousnesse which his sonne hath acquired to the Church Psal. 22. 31. and the free reward of that righteousnesse which the faithfull doe practice through the Spirit of regeneration V. 6. Jacob the Italian hath it◠such is Iacob that seeketh thy face O God namely the true Israel according to the Spirit Rom. 4. 16. Gal. 6 16. Others translate it that seeke thy face in Iacob Others that seek thy face O Jacob that is to say which seek out the true Church to be incorporated into it by a lively faith under the onely head of the Church which is Christ see Isa. 44. 5. Rev. 3. 2. V. 7. O yee gates a prophetick representation of Christs glorious entrance into heaven under the figure of the Arke brought into the place prepared by David as Psal. 47. 15. and 68. 25. to shew the onely cause of the Churches gathering together and of the bringing of it up into heaven namely Christs ascention see Iohn 12. 32. Acts 2. 33. Ephes. 4. 8. 10. Lift up a phrase or terme taken from triumphall arches or great porticoes set up or beautified and adorned for the comming in of great victorious and triumphant Captaines V. 8. Who is the Angels admirations at the comming in of Christs humanitie into heaven see Ephes 3. 10. PSAL. XXV WIthout cause through meere and wilfull malice no way merited nor provoked by any offence of mine V. 6. Remember that is to say use them effectually towards me according as thou wert wont to doe for they seeing that from all eternity thou hast made use of those thy loving kindnesses in decreeing my salvation to thy selfe let not them now be interrupted staied nor limited any way V. 8. Therefore because God is good therefore he will give his children his Spirit for their direction and because he is upright it must of necessity bee a good and most certaine direction V. 10. The pathes that is to say the works and councels by which hee commeth and communicateth himselfe to his and by which he also bringeth them back to himselfe guiding them by the tracks of his owne vertues V. 11. For it is great therefore the expiation of that iniquity must be a work of thine infinite mercy whereunto thou art moved most when thou seest the greatest misery and necessity and the offender grieving most for it Rom. 5. 20. V. 14. The secret namely his decree and fixed will concerning their salvation and all the meanes appointed for it see Iohn 15. 15. Acts 10. 27. V. 21. Mine integrity let mine innocencie and sincerity be a sufficient defence and safeguard against all mine enemies ambushes and violence drawing thy protection upon mee Or let these vertues alwayes keep me from doing evill and let them never depart from me PSAL. XXVI VER 2. MY reines see Psalm 7. 9. and 16. 7. V. 3. Is before thy grace goeth alwayes along with my faith and I have sincerely obeyed the truth of thy
bee quite freed thereof in heaven see Num. 23. 21. Isa. 1. 18. Ephes. 5. 26. 27. V. 8. Come with mee raise thy selfe up through faith and desire to mee and my heavenly Kingdome Cant. 2. 10. 13. From amidst the world which is likened to those high hills that are full of wilde beasts and so is the world full of violence and cruelty against the Church see Psal. 76. 4. Zach. 4. 7. V. 9. Thou hast ravished thy lively faith in mee hath caused mee to bestow my whole heart and love upon thee Psa. 45. 10. 11. With one chaine to shew that those gifts which are acceptable to Christ in his Church are those gifts of grace which hee hath bestowed upon her and adorned her with and not her naturall gifts of themselves Cant. 1. 10. and 7. 1. Ezech. 16. 10. 11. 12. V. 10. My sister as well by reason of the communion of humane nature as by the heavenly fathers adoption Ioh. 20. 17. Heb. 2. 11. thine Ointments that is to say the exercises of the gifts of the holy Ghost which are poured down upon the Elect and figured by the unctions used in ancient times 2 Cor. 1. 21. and 2. 15. Philip. 4. 18. 1 Iohn 2. 20. 27. V. 11. Thy lips thy sanctified mouth bringeth forth words of invocation praise and confession and preacheth my word which are things most pleasing to mee and doe much edifie and comfort the faithfull Of thy garments namely of the gifts of the holy Ghost with which I have cloathed thee see Gen. 27. 27. Psal. 45. 13. 14. Ezech. 16. 11. 13. Lebanon a hill of Cedars and other odoriferous plants Hos. 14. 6. 7. V. 12. A garden a description of the Churches inviolable spirituall chastity of Gods secure watch which hee guardeth her with V. 13. Thy plants namely the true Elect which are now termed young and tender in comparison of the ripenesse and perfection which they shall attaine unto in the Kingdome of Heaven see Isa. 5. 7. and 60. 21. and 61. 3. Camphire the Italian Cypresse see upon Cant. 1. 14. Now by those aromatick plants joyned to fruits to eat is meant the variety and sufficiencie of the Churches graces and vocations whereof some are more ordinary but necessary other some more rare and exquisite for the Churches ornament recreation and enrichment but especially for the glory of God see 1 Cor. 4. 7. and 12. 7. 8. V. 15. A fountaine the Italian O fountaine here the Bride speaks and it is an exclamation of the Church who acknowledgeth herâ— life and spirituall nourishment 〈…〉 her gifts and vâ—rtues to proceed from her Bride-groomes grace who is to her as a living spring in a garden which he had termed her to bee verse 12. Now Christ may be termed a spring in his eternall Godhead a well in his Office of Mediator the Father having gathered together in him all the waters of grace and all the running streames in the communication of the spirit Isa. 12. 3. V. 16. Awake that is to say O holy Ghost doe thou animate and vivifie in me the gifts and vertues which I have received from my bridegroome that they may not remaine idle and buried in me but may be stirred up to beare fruits pleasing to God untill they come to full ripenesse and perfection seeing they are imprinted in mee by thy power see 2 Tim. 1. 6. North South by these two wiâ—deâ— of opposite qualities is signified the same spirit working either coolnesse and refreshment of comfort or heat and servencie of zeale CHAP. V. VER 1. MY Spouse this is the bride groome who answering his brides precedent desires comes by a speciall grace to visit her taking a singular delight in her good works proceeding from the ground of his grace and the manuring of his Spirit whereby they are properly his own and consecrated unto him by the Church O friends that is to say yee holy Angels and blessed Spirits rejoyee with mee for the fruits which my Church Militant bringeth forth in the world Luk. 15. 7. Iohn 3. 29. Yea drink abundantly the Italian be drunken with love that is to say receive yee new matter of being ravished in the love of God in that eternall glory which you are in by considering the grace and vertues which are in your brethren and members upon earth and by the enjoying of that common happinesse with them in perfect charity V. 2. I sleep this is the bride which relateth a new visit of the bridegroomes with circumstances differing from the other the meaning whereof is I had a little laid aside my divine thoughts and meditations still keeping the eye of faith open and the care of the heart attentive when the Lord returned That knocketh moving my heart by secret inspirations to give full admittance and entrance to his grace and vertues Revel 3. 20. Open to me receive mee in thine heart by a lively act of faith for it is mine onely place of refuge and abode upon earth out of which I finde nothing but annoyance and displeasure in the world V. 3. I have put off I have for a time laid aside this deep meditation wherein my soule was wholly enfolded how can I then betake my selfe to it againe so soone my weaknesse in this life will hardly endure it I have washed like a traveller that is newly come home The meaning is how should I then so suddenly fall a running after thee which thou doest exhort mee to doe in all thy visites V. 4. Put in his hands a description of Christs power to work that inwardly by his Spirit in a faithfull man which he outwardly commandeth by his word Acts 16. 14. which notwithstanding he never accomplisheth unlesse the faithfull man doe concurre thereunto with his will and action as is set down afterwards My bowels all my affections being stirred up by this working of God were moved to answer to his call see Luke 24. 32. V. 5. My hands this signifieth that the grace of the holy Ghost doth alwayes accompany these endeavours of the faithfull in these actions of faith even as a look that is oyled openeth the easier V. 6. My beloved or Christ did suspend and keep back this rich communication of his grace and spirit which hee offered me if so bee I had received it in time My soule â—aâ—â—ed repenâ—ances and confessions of her defect of spirituall understanding for that shee had not in time taken notice of Gods visite as Psal. 73. 2â— Luk. 19. 44. V. 7. The watchmen that is to say the great ones and Princes of the world and preservers of the peace thereof Cant. 3. 3. Seeing mee inflamed with zeale to seek after Christ did persecute and torment me through Gods permission for punishment of my negligence V. 8. I charge you the Italian I adjure you words of the generall body of the Church directed to the faithfull souls or to the particular Churches to which sometimes the Lord doth particularly communicate himselfe whilest the
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
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
onely gather all Nations indifferently into my Church but this shall last untill such time as all mine elect be gathered together V. 12. For the Nation they shall all come to thee because that cut of the Church there is no salvation That will not namely that will noâ— submit themselves to Christs Kingdome established in thee and administred by thâ—e by meanes of his Word V. 13. The glory the faire Cedars of Lebanon and other Trees of value shall be made use of in the building and beautifying of my Temple that is to say whatsoever is good in the World either in understanding vertue or doctrine shall be sanctifyed and employed for the building up of the Church see Isa. 41. 19. Of my feet namely of mine ordinary residence in grace He hath a relation to that the Arke was called the Lords foot-stoole 1 Chro. 28. 2. Psal. 132. 7. V. 15. Thou hast been that is to say thou Church whilsâ— thou wert restrained within the compasse of the Jewish Nation onely which suffered so many evils and reproaches from the World V. 16. Thou shalt the Princes and Nations which are converted to Christ shall maintaine thee with their substance and wealth V. 17. I will bring my graces under the Gospel shall be farre more excellent and precious then they were under the Law Also make whereas heretofore thou wert tyrannized over by those that were thy Governours I will now have thy government be in peace and justice V. 18. Thou shalt call thou shalt be every way defended by my protection And thy gates the meaning seemes to be that God will continually come to thee with new benefits and thou shalt goe forth to meet him with thankesgiving Psa. 89. 16. V. 19. Shall be no more thy true light shall be Gods grace in this world and his glory in Heaven both which are firme and without variation V. 21. Thy people all the true members of the Church shall be justified through faith in Christ and sanctified by his Spirit Isa. 35. 8. 52. 1. The Land the world in the estate renewed by Christ and the good things thereof as well in this life as in the life everlasting V. 22. A little one that is as much as to say the Church shall increase wonderfully CHAP. LXI Vers. 1. IS upon me Christs words Anointed me in my humane nature God the Father hath endowed me with the gifts of his Spirit above measure John 3. 34. and in my whole person hath consecrated me to be King Prophet and Priest of his Church for the ancient holy unction was applied to these three offices Good tidings namely the Gospel of grace which hath a reference to his Office of Prophet Unto the meeke the ordinary title of true beleevers for this quality is required in true faith and is a true token of the Spirit of regeneration To bind up to heale those soules that are afflicted by the feeling of their sinnes and contrite through repentance which belongeth to the Office of Priest Liberty from the bondage of the divell sinne and death John 8. 36. Which belongeth to the Kingdome and Kingly Office of Christ. V. 2. The acceptable yeere namely the new and happy age of Gods grace answerable to the ancient yeere of Jubile where in all bondages and morgages of Lands were freed see Isa. 49. 8. and Tit. 3. 4. Of vengeance upon the Churches enemies This seemes to be added to shew that the spirituall jubile hath a great advantage of benefit over the ancient ceremoniall jubile for in the old jubile a man had no way to complaine or have right of a master that had abused his servant during the time of his bondage But here Christ punisheth the divell and all his ministers V. 3. For ashes which they were wonted to cast upon their heads in time of mourning Job 2. 12. Lam. 2. 10. The Oyle according to the fashion of the times wherein they used to anoint their faces with Oile in the time of rejoycing The garment namely festivall garments which were worne onely in those daies that they offered Sacrifices of praise and solemne thankesgiving Psal 30. 11. 132. 16. Eccl. 9. 8. Be called they shall be like unto faire great Trees well rooted by faith in Christ firme and abounding in fruits of good workes V. 5. And strangers namely those that shall joyne themselves to the Church only by an outward profession and shall not be incorporate into it in Spirit and truth like unto the Gibeonites Jos. 9. 21. and they shall also doe service in Gods Church in secular businesses V. 6. Ye shall be all true beleevers shall attend upon the spirituall service Offering up through Jesus Christ their owne bodies and persons their goods praises and thankesgivings c. Ro. 12. 5. Heb. 13. 15. 1 Pet 2. 5. V. 7. Double that is to say extreame as Isa. 40. 2. Jer. 17. 18. Or full of misery within themselves and subject to contempt from others Their portion namely the beleevers The double that is to say the fulnesse of goods and glory Zech. 9. 12. V. 8. For I that is to say I will doe all beleevers this good because I will have them by reason that they shall be truely converted to me renouncing all manner of hypocrifie for which they were heretofore abominable unto me Robbery for that is to say all outward profession and exercise of religion which is not joyned with inward righteousnesse and justice Matth. 23. 25. V. 9. Shall be knowne by its vertue and good workes and also by Gods singular blessings upon them V. 10. I will the Churches words acknowleding Gods benefits Hath clâ—athed me he hath compassed me round about with glory by the deliverance which he hath sent me and by the effects of his righteousnesse and grace see Psa. 132. 9 16. Decketh himselfe c. the Italian decked with a Crown the Hebrew word signifieth a Priestly garment for peradventure a bridegrooms head ornaments had some resemblance to the Priests ornaments V. 11. Cause righteousnesse namely the effects of his grace and bounty followed by the Churches acknowledgements and thankesgivings CHAP. LXII Vers. 1. FOr Zions sake the Prophets words in the name of all the other Prophets ver 6 7. by which he protesteth that because of his zeale for the good and safety of the Church he wil continue in declaring of Gods promises concerning the Messias and in praying him to fulfill them The righteousnesse that is to say the defence of the Churches right against her enemies and the communication of Gods in benefits to her V. 2. Thou shalt be called thou shalt be set into a new estate which the Lord himselfe shall create V. 3. Thou shalt also be that is to say he shall keep thee as a most precions thing or thou shalt be the subject of his glory V. 4. Forsaken namely by Gods grace and presence like unto a woman that her husband had put away see Isa. 54. 6 7. Beulah the
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-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
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
the same as his divine nature yet was it perfectly regulated by it Matthew 26. ver 39. V. 31. If I beare If you had no other proofe of the truth of my person and doctrine but only mine owne word as I am in your imaginatior but onely a meere man My witnesse I grant that you might then have some pretence to hold it to bee false though in deed it be very true Ioh 8. 14. Verse 32. There is another Namely GOD the Father who hath borne mee witnesse from Heaven Matthew 3. ver 17. and then afterwards by Iohn who was sufficiently approved to bee his Prophet and by my workes verse 36. and by his Scriptures verse 39. And I knew I doe condescend unto and am content with his witnesse And am certaine that you are convinced there by and do withstand it but only thorow malice and obstinacy Ver. 34. I receive not I have no need of it for my selfe being the Soveraigne truth but only make use of it to you for your salvation to whom Iohns person and ministery hath beene more evident then mine though they both be true enough in the same way of truth but in different degrees Ver. 35. Shining light as 2 Pet. 1. 19. We dwelling you tooke pleasure in Iohns doctrine but without any firme root of faith see Mat. 13. 20. V. 37. Hath borne witnesse by his Prophets or by his voyce from Heaven Mat. 3. 17. Yee have neither it is no marvaile that my fathers witnesse is of so little esteeme and weight amongst you for his word is as unknowne and obscure unto you as his glorious face in heaven is V. 38. Yee have not yee have no light nor internall habit of true knowledge nor faith in Gods Word wherefore like blinde men you cannot discerne the light of Gods witnessing V. 40. And yee your ignorance can not be holpen because it is wilfull See 2 Pet. 3. 5. V. 41. I receive not this which I speake is not because I am ambitious of being receaved or honoured by you but out of meere zeale to the glory of God whom you hate in rejecting mee Iohn 15. 23 24. V. 43. In my Fathers name sent by him with commission and authority from him mine actions having no relation but to obey him without pretending any thing for myselfe which should be a sufficient proofe to you of my fidelity In his owne of his owne minde and motion seeking his owne glory and his owne advantages V. 44. How can yee the true cause of your incredulity is your hypocrisie and worldly ambition in being desirous to appeare holy and perfect before men which hindereth you from giving glory to God through repentance and from comming to mee by faith And those among you which are convinced concerning the truth of me will not make open profession thereof for feare of being reviled by the rest Iohn 7. 13. and 12. 43. Romans 1. ver 16. 2 Cor. 4. 2. V. 45. Doe not thinke you are sufficiently accused for your incredulity by Moses himselfe and by his doctrine and you need not be any more accused by my word and the proofes thereof which you doe not beleeve See Rom. 2. 12. In whom in the observing of whose Law you repose all the trust of your salvation Rom. 2. 17. and whose name you make a buckler as if you rejected mee to cleave to him supposing there is some contrariety between Moses and me which is not so CHAP. VI. VER 1. WEnt over one bay of the lake long wayes and not the whole breadth of the lake The Sea Namely the lake of Genezareth Ver. 4. The Passeover this seemes to bee set down not only to shew the circumstance of the time but also to shew that the Lord did thereupon take an occasion to speake of the spirituall eaâ—â—ng of the true Lambe figured by the Paschall Lambe to which end all this discourse and preaching is referred V. 6. To prove him whither he had any lively feeling and beliefe of his divine power and any motion to desire the assistance of it in a time of neede V. 21. Immediately Namely by miracle the Lord having appeased the wind and driving the ship to land V. 22. When the people the meaning is the people seeing the Apostles goe away alone beleeved that Christ had sent them about some businesse but that hee himselfe would stay there being there was never another veslell there to carry him away Wherupon the next morning finding themselves frustrate of their opinions they went after Iesus having gotten some boates which were come from Tiberiaâ— V. 26. Not because notbeing moved by a lively feeling of my divine power which appeares in my workes to bee thereby brought to the obedience of faith but only drawne by a desire of getting some benefit and bodily profit as it I should feed you all without any labour or paines taking V. 27. For that meat namely for the doctrine of the Gospell and for Christ himselfe who is proposed in it and which is not bodily food that perisheth it selfe and cannot keepe the body from perishing but the food of the soule to everlasting life Sealed that is to say expresly appointed as by a character of formall propriety and made him fitting for it through the fuluesse of the gifts of the Spirit which is Gods seale V. 28. What shall we doe what order hath God established for the gaining of this spirituall food as he hath appointed bodily labour for to gaine our bread for bodily food V. 30. What signe what solemne and noted miracle from heaven doest thou shew us whereby 〈◊〉 may be induced to follow thee As by Moses his ministery Manna was given the people See upon Mat. 16. 1. Mark 8. 11. V. 32. Bread from heaven namely the true food of the soule which comes net out of the aire as Manna did but from the heaven of glory as I did abasing my selfe to farre as to take humane flesh upon me for the worlds salvation See Iohn 3. 13 V. 34. Give us a request made out of ignorance as Iohn 4. 15 V. 35. I am that is to say in me receaved and applied and ingrafted in the soule by a lively faith remaines the power to quicken the soule which is separated from God who is the spring of life and is dead in sinne and to preserve it allve by a continuall communication and influence of Gods grace Shall never hunger see upon Iohn 4 14. V 36. Beleeve not and therefore cannot participate of this benefit of life V. 37. All that all my fathers elect which he hath given me to save and to be mine as members of my body those being drawne by the power of my Spirit do come and joyne themselves with me by a lively faith and I lovingly entertaine them and doe keepe them safe V. 39. I should lose that I should give to all his elect true everlasting salvation the perfection of which shall be at the blessed resurrection V. 40. And this
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
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
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.
Believe mee upon the word which I speake to you and upon the assurance which I give you of it upon the knowledge which you have of mee V. 12. That beleeveth Christ speakes not of the common sort of beleevers in all ages but of his Apostles and other his Ministers who in the beginning of his Church should convert the world cast downe idols overthrow all contrary power obtaine the Holy Ghost by their prayers Workes of more high esteeme and of a more excellent nature then those miracles as Christ wrought in the world Because I for by my going up into heaven I shall obtaine that abundance of the spirit by which I shall shew forth my power in my kingdome which at this time is not fiting for my state of humiliation V. 13. Whatsoever though it be never so high and so difficult so it be convenient and agreeable to your vocation and to the advancement of my kingdome of which things hee had spoken in the precedent verse so you desire them in faith In my name by vertue of my intercession and for the love of me That the Father that obtaining such things as you have desired you may yeeld him honour praise and service for it by my means V. 16. Another because that the Holy Ghost is distinct from the Son in his personall subsistence and in the manner of working in beleevers by way of seale and inward application of Christs benefits Comforter the Greeke word signifies sometimes an Intercessor and an Advocate and in this sence it is attributed to Christ 1 Iohn 2. 1. Sometimes a person who by his discourses comforteth an afflicted one or a Mediator of Grace and good will Isaiah 50. 4. and both the one and the other effect is attributed to the Holy Ghost who doth sweetly bring in the promises of God into beleevers hearts and frameth in them unspeakeable breathings â—oâ—th of holy prayers Rom. 8. 25. 26. V. 17. Of truth Namely the true Author of all divine inspiration opposite to the lying spirits of false Prophets and Doctors Or the Spirit of God which accompanieth the truth of his word to seale it and perswade it Whom the world worldly men and unbeleevers having neither the life nor light of God cannot receave this continuation nor increase of it by this spirit of comfort no more than a dead man can bee nourished Matth. 13. 12. Or plainely he meanes Neither having in them nor being willing to receave the light of knowledge they can not have any part in the comfort of the spirit which is not obtained nor made use of but only by the understanding Ye know him by all reason you should know him by the effects of his residence and power in you though you have not yet received that abundance whereof I speake Ver. 18. Come to you Not by my Resurrection only but especiallie by the presence of my spirit which shall be an assured pledge unto you of my last returne to your full redemption V. 19. Ye see me The Italian Yee shall see me Namely by corporall sight after my Resurrection with the eye of faith in my spirituall presence with you and with an everlasting sight in glory Iob 19. 27. Because Namely as your head having overcome death by my Resurrection and obtained the fulnesse of the spirit by my going up into Heaven I will viviâ—ie you with a spirituall life which at the appointed time I will make full in the eternall life in my owne Kingdome Iohn 6. 57. V. 20. A 〈…〉 t dâ—y when you shall have reccaved the Holy Ghost you shall be cleerly instructed concerning the truth of my divine person in regard of which the Father is in mee by unitie of offence and perpetuall beginning of life and of operation and 〈◊〉 in him by subsistencâ—e in the divine essence which I have from him by eternall generation without division or distraction of the being or of the operation And also concerning the most perfect communion which I have with him as Mediator by vertue of which hee is in mee by the sustentation of my person and by the full influence into it of every grace life and vertue and I in him by an entire conjunction and dependencie And likewise concerning that communioÌ„ which you have with me in all my benefits righteousnesse life and and spirit I being in you as beginning foundation and roote of all your spirituall being and you in mâ— by an engraftment of faith and a mysticall incorporation in spirit Iohn 17. 22. Vnlesse hee meane that they shall have perfect knowledge of all these high mysteries in Heaven 〈◊〉 his last comming Ver. 21. Hee that hath the foresaid Communion with mee begins by light of knowledge but must be accomplished by love and the love verifie it selfe by voluntary obedience on your part and on my part shall be alwayes recompenced with new effects of Gods love and with greater light Shall bee loved still more by new increase of graces for oherwise God loveth first Romans 5. 8 10. 1 Iohn 4. 10 19. V. 22. How â—â—it a question very likely not so much out of humility as out of some secret presumption wherewith the Apostles were almost alwayes touched presuming to have some proper worth above others of which they desire here of the Lord some assent U. 23. If a man Christ according to his custome leaves the question without any answer and thereby sheweth sufficiently that it did not deserve any and so goeth on with his discourse Wee will come this loyall love of the beleever shall cause the habitation that is to say the lively and perpetuall operation of the Holy Ghost in his heart to bee more and more increased and confirmed by my Father and mee to make the grace and love of my Father and the righteousnesse satisfaction and all other benefits of mee his Redeemer to be alwayes more present with him that is to say secure and enjoyable by faith and by feeling his own consciousnesse Eph. 3. 17. Or plainly it shall cruse the communion which he hath with the Father and the Son to be firm and everlasting 1 Ioh. 1. 7. Revel 3. 20. V. 24. Loveth me not out of this love there can bee neither true nor acceptable obedience in man Is not mine I am not the first nor the only author of it The Father doth propound it by me I having every thing common with him and doe nor say 〈…〉 thing without his will and command V. 26. But the it is true that I teach you by my outward word which as yet you doe not very 〈◊〉 apprehend but the spirit shall give you a lively â—â—d and internall understanding of it V. 27. Peace namely grace and blessing Nâ—â— as the world vainely in words without truth or vertue V. 28. If yee loved me Namely with a true spirituall love ayming at my glory and your owne good and salvation which two things cannot be obtained but only by my departure out of the world Is
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
he is the head of his Church and also in regard of the state of celestiall life and glory to which he was ordained by God his father and of which he hath taken possession from thence to power doune his spirit upon all those who are his V. 49. We have borne beeing engendered by him we have bin like him in nature and qualities shall also bâ—eing regenerated by him wee shall be also made like him in glory V. 50. Now this as the vicious nature of of man signified by these termes of flesh and bloud ought to be changed by the gift of the holy Ghost to have entrance into Gods kingdome so the body ought to be spoiled of its corruptible mortall and animall qualities before it can enjoy the everlasting and glorious life 2. Cor. 5. 1. 4. V. 51. We shall not all those beleevers which shall bee found aliue at CHRISTS last comming shall not die a naturall death which is with sicknesse sorrow and perishing of the body but in stead thereof there shall be in them a sodaine change of qualities V. 52. we shall be namely those beleevers who shall be then living And the Apostle speakes thus to teach every one to be prepared expecting that day every moment 1 Thess. 4. 15. 17. V. 54. Swallowed up destroyed and brought to nothing Rev. 20. 14. in victory that is to say eternally according to the meaning of this phrase amongst the Hebrews from whom it is taken V. 56. The sâ—ing namely that thing which armeth and gives death and hell strength and victory over us The strength namely that by vertue of which sinne produceth utter condemnation and death upon man namely in so much as he transgresseth the law Rom. 4. 15. which besides beeing unable to correct mans wickednesse doth kindle and exasperate it Rom. 5. 20. and 7. 5. 8. 9. 13 V. 57. Through Our lord iâ— as much as through his satisfaction condemnation is disannulled and through his spirit of regeneration the kingdome of sinne is ouerthrowne Rom. 8. 1. 2. 3 and by his coâ—porall death he freeth vs from the reliques of sinne and by his resurrection he freeth vs from all manner of Subiection to death V. 58. In the worke in all actions belonging to your heauenly vocation and to the servâ—ce of God Not in vaine namelie without fruit or reward seeing there is a resurrection eternall happinesse In the Lord that is â—o say iâ—respeect of God and of Christ and accordinge to the manner and order as he vseth in rewarding those who are his with spirituall and everlasting goods which is spoken in opposition of the world in which beleevers ought not to looke for there reward CHAP. XVI VER 1. COllection namelie contribution of almes For the Saints namelie for the Churches of Ierusalem and Iudea V. 2. The first day which was the Sunday which after the Lords resurection and his appearings upon that day Iohn 20. 19. 26. was dedicated to sacred actions and assemblies in stead of the ancient Sabbath Acts 20. 7. Reu. 1. 10. Haâ—â— prospâ—ed as he shall iudge fitting to be done according to reason Or according to the prospering of 〈◊〉 estate V. 6. That ye may desiring to have some of you to beare me companie in my voyages becausâ— of the great confidance I have in you I will stay till the season and time of yeare be sitting because I will not vrge you to any discommoditie V. 9. Doore namelie an occasion of preaching and advancing the worke of the Gospell namelie in Ephesus Acts 19. 1. 9. 23. V. 10. Come to you because that he had given him aduice to goe theither 1. Cor. 4. 17. V. 11. Dispisâ— him for his youth 1 Tim. 4. 12. Jâ—peace louinglie or saâ—elie With the brethren be seemes to meane other brethren who accompanied Timothie V. 15. Adâ—cted themselues nameliâ— to the ministrie of the Gospell as it seemes to be set foorth in the verse following Oâ— in the office of Deacon V. 16. Submâ—tt as to lawfull guides of the Church And labouâ—eth in the holie ministrie which is common to vs all V. 17. That which was namelie the comfort of the spirit or pereadventure bodilie assistance which by reason of your remoâ—enesse I can not re 〈…〉 from you Philip. 2. 〈◊〉 Philp. 13. V. 18. My spirit namely my soule which 〈…〉 holly yours by a sincere and perfect love V. 19. In the Lord that is to say with a spirituall affection in the communion of Christ. V. 21. With mine owne The Apostle employing some scribes for to write his epistles Rom. â—6 22. was wont in the end of them to write something with his owne hand which was well knowen to the Châ—rches to prevent supposed epistles and keep the Church from being deceived Such are this ver and the two following in the first of which he excludes the false brethren who are Christâ— and his churches enemies not only from these his testimonies of charity but even from the communion of Saints V. 22. Anathema a greeke word used in solemne excommunications which signifieth curse and execration See 1. Cor. 12. 3. Maranatha A Syriack word which signifie the Lord commeth vsed amongst Christians in the highest and greatest excommunications in imitation of other equivalent termes which was alwayes used amongst the Iewes to signifie a citing of the excommunicate person before the terrible judgment Seat of God at the last comming of the sonne of God See Iude 15. V. 24. My love I present my good will unto you and all mine intimate affections in the spirituall communion of Christ. The Second Epistle Of Saint Paule the Apostle to the Corinthians Argument THe former epistle having brought forth great fruit of correction in the Church of Corinth yet there remaining many disorderly persons amongst them who on set purpose and to the utmost of their powers did vilifie Saint Pauls â—uthority to with draw the Corinthians love respect and â—bedience from him he writs unto them this second epistle to exhort them to accomplish the reformation which they had so happily begun And at the very first beginning he writes unto them of his troubles combates and dangers and likâ—wise of his deliverances and comforts and desireth to be assisted by their prayers and to bee by 〈◊〉 seconded in his thansgivings Excusing himself for that he had not yet in person visited them according as he had given them hope that he would which was not by reason of any incon 〈…〉 cie in him but onely because he would give them time to sett their Church in such state that he might not at his comming he forced to use and Apoctolicall rigor to the common grief of them and him Commending them in the meane time for their obediâ—cce in the incâ—stuous mans case who bâ—eing becom 〈…〉 penitent upon the first admontion he exhorteth them to receive him again into the peace and communion of the Church giving his Apostolicall vote to the said absolution And he relates unto them how that
unite them Leaning upon the Hebrew text hath it he worshipped upon the beds head or toward the beds head as 1 Ki. 1. 47. but S. Paul in a thing indifferent by Apostolical authority hath followed the Greek Translation in which the Jewes that lived amongst the Grecians were more habituated the meaning is the same namely that Jacob having had a promise from Joseph that he would bury him with his fathers thanked God and though he were growne impotent through age that he could not stirre himselfe nor get out of his bed apprehending by faith the heavenly goods of the communion of Saints whereof that company in his grave was a signe and an earnest The same ought to be understood in the following example of Joseph V. 23. By faith the meaning is that the sight of that divine beauty of Moses Acts 7. 20. did againe revive in his father and mother by some divine inspiration their faith in Gods promises that he would deliver his people out of Egypt Whereupon for a time they were imboldned to keepe and bring up the child Against Pharaohs command though the same faith afterwards partly decaied againe in them V. 24. By faith Moses apprehending by faith the promises made to Gods people because he would participate of them did separate himselfe from the society of the Egyptians amongst whom he was brought up in great dignity to joyne himselfe with the servile and ignominious condition of his brethren V. 25. Of sinne namely prophane and hurtfull pleasures joyned with sinne and alluring a man to forsake God and his true service V. 26. Of Christ that is to say of his Church whereof he hath alwaies been the head and which he even then made conformable to his future sufferings see 1 Cor. 10 9. 2 Cor. 1. 5. Heb. 13. 13. Had respect through faith and the Spirit Unto the to the heavenly reward which the Lord out of his meere grace had promised to his afflicted beleevers in this world V. 27. By faith this must be understood of the last departure out of Egypt before which and in which Moses did with an incomparable strength and force of faith overcome the feare of Pharaohs rage and threatnings never swerving from Gods Commandement As seeing being in Spirit and through faith assured of Gods aide and protection which was invisible to the sence of seeing Psal. 16. 7. V. 28. Through faith when he celebrated the Passcover according to Gods appointment he did by a lively faith apprehend the benefits which God would signifie and seal by that Sacrament The Sprinkling upon the lintell and postes of the Israelites doores Lest he that that marke being appointed for that purpose V. 29. By faith they adventured to goe thorow the middest of the Sea being confident in Gods promise Or Gods promise produced that miraculous effect by the meanes of faith which is the ordinary condition of such miracles V. 30. By faith namely by means of faith in Gods promises joyned with the observation of his order in going about the City V. 31. By faith Rahab because she verily believed that which she heard concerning Gods promises to his people Ios. 2 9. did convey away the spies whereupon she was saved from the destruction of the City With them that namely with the Canaanites who had likewise heard of Gods promises and workes Josh. 2. 10 11. and yet through incredulity grew obstinate to resist the Israelites whereupon they were exterminated V. 33. Wrought did many good and holy workes performing their generall or particular callings and through faith overcomming all oppositions and difficulties Promises namely they obtained those things which God had promised V. 35. Were tortured the Italian Were beaten to death he meanes a cruell kind of putting to death which is yet used amongst your Easterne people to lay a man all along and beat him with wandes till he swell all over and die Now he goeth on in describing the strength of their faith in former times in suffering of persecutions and torments especially in Antiochus his time which are set down in the Books of the Maccabees Deliverance which was oâ—red them if they would deny God and his service A better namely the blessed and everlasting deliverance from death and from all evill opposite to that temporall evasion which to the flesh might seem a kind of resurrection V. 37. Sawen asunder an ancient manner of putting to death 2 Sam. 12. 31. Tempted that is to say solicited to apostacie by martyrdomes and torments V. 39. The promise namely the accomplishment of Gods promises made to the fathers concerning the Messias his comming his Kingdome and the abundant sending of his Spirit V. 40. God having namely the said accomplishment having been reserved for our times under the Gospell which is therefore called the better covenant upon better promises Heb. 7. â—2 8. 6. seeing the Law which hath made nothing perfect Heb. 7. 19. having no power to bring the fathers to that last marke and degree of the state of the Church under Christs Kingdome to which both they which are now in Heaven and we who are upon Earth joyned both under one head Ephes. 1. 10. Col. 1. 20. Heb. 12. 23. have now attained CHAP. XII Vers. 1. ARe compassed about terms taken from those publike sports of Races and the like that were performed in your Circles or Amphitheaters The beleevers which are already glorified are the witnesses as well because their example ought to instruct men in the duties of the Race and assure them of the end of it as likewise because they are as it were spectators from Heaven of the Churches Combates looking after her victories rejoycing at her constancy which God reveales unto them by the relation of his Angels or otherwise Revel 12. 10 11. the burthen or weight are all manner of worldly cares affections or desires Or vice and corruption The Race is the continuall progresse to Heavenly glory which is also the marke and end of the Race the length of the Race is all our life time See Phil. 3. 13 14. Which doth so easily beset us the Italian Hinder us the similitude seems to be taken from such long and large garments aâ— were wont to be laid off in such Races to be so much the freer Now sinne is often times called a garment or robe Ephes. 4. 22. Col. 2. 11. 3. 9 10. Other copies have it sinne which cannot be restrained like a garment that cannot be girded close enough but that it will hinder one from running and therefore is better to be laid quite away Or sinne which is so easie and therefore a man may so easily slip into and is opposite to that hard and laboursome spiritual race V. 2. Unto Jesus to take from him a most perfect and lively example of constancy and so secure us through faith in him who is the head of this warfare of faith And who doth likewise by his power beare up our faith and brings her strivings to
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
is that Christ is risen again by vertue of his death by which he hath fulfilled his obedience whereby he hath obtained the reward of life Or that he is the great shepheard by his blood having by it redeemed saved and gotten his sheep which he likewise feedeth unto everlasting life by the perpetuall application of his death V. 21. Through Iesus that is to say working in you by his Spirit V. 22. Of exhortation namely the reprehensions admonitions and corrections inserted amongst the doctrine of this epistle For I have if there seem to you to be any harshnesse in it impute it to the brevity of an Epistle which will not allow a man to use such infinuations and mitigations as a rhetoricall discourse wil do see 1 Pet. 5. 12. V. 23. Know ye seeing he writes this Epistle by Timothy himself the meaning is Ye shal know by himselfe that he is delivered namely out of prison where he was with me and how If he come namely if he returns from the voyage which he undertakes by mine appointment to come to you I will see you I hope according to all likelihood that I shall see you see Phil. 1. 25. THE GENERALL EPISTLE OF St. JAMES the Apostle ARGUMENT THis Epistle and those which follow saving the two last of John have been named Catholick because they are not directed to any particular Church or person as those of Saint Paul but in common to all the Churches gathered out from amongst the Iewes scattered over all the World This beares the name of James it is uncertaine of which namely whether it be the Apostle sonne of Alpheus or the Bishop of Jerusalem and Evangelist often times called the brother of the Lord. The subject is a gathering together of divers doctrines exhortations comforts reproofes instructions and sentences concerning afflictions and trials to desire of God with faith wisedome and all other gifts Of riches and of poverty of the temptation of concupiscence of true regeneration and of the fruits thereof of faith joyned with true charity equall towards all men without any respect of outward qualities and fructifying in good workes to flie ambitious superiorities to bridle the tongue of contentions and of fleshly desires of humility and turning to God to eschew evill speaking and rash judgements to depend upon Gods providence of the vanity and wretched end of unjust riches of patience of abstaining from unlawfull and vaine oathes of the power and force of prayer and of setting againe in the way such as are strayed from the truth CHAP. I. VER 1 JAmes according to some it is James of Alpheus the Apostle according to oâ—hers James the brother of the Lord Act. 15. 13. Gal. 1. 19. Which are scattered namely amongst the Gentiles see Iohn 7. 35. V. 2. Temptations that is to say tryals and exercises through afflictions and adversities V. 4. Have her that is to say let it persevere unto the end and be accompanied with other Christian vertues Be perfect that is to say furnished with all necessary vertues though never in a perfect degree in this World V. 5. Wisedome namely spirituall wisedome to judge rightly of afflictions of their causes end and fruit c. to moderate in them the afflictions of the soule keeping it in an immoveable tranquillity Liberally or benignely the Greeke simply see 2 Cor. 8. 2. Upbraided not that is to say disdainfully rejecting or upbraiding the asker with his unworthinesse V. 6. Is like a hath not the constancie of the soule nor is not perswaded of Gods grace by the Holy Ghost whereby wanting the first foundation of faith God doth not build the fabricke of his other gifts in him According to the saying of the Gospell that to him that hath is given Matth. 25. 29. V. 8. A double minded the Italian a double hearted because that his inward part doth not agree with his outward profession whereby his thoughts motions and actions floating continually he is uncapable of patience and perseverance vertues which require a constant and firme posture of the soule V. 9 the brother the meaning is that Christian patience ought not onely to beare afflictions but also to glory in it see Rom. 5. 3. That he is exalted spiritually being the Sonne of God member of Christ made worthy of participating of his afflictions Acts 5. 41. Rev. 2. 9. V. 10. That he is made low that is to say if he does not exalt himselfe in pride for his goods and honours but containes himselfe in holy humility before God and modesty towards men and if acknowledging the vanity thereof he doth with his heart renounce them as if he possessed them not He shall passe namely this his worldly prosperity V. 11. In his waies namely in this his state and condition V. 12. Tried the Italian approved namely of God for his obedience to his will order and condition established by him V. 13. Let no man now he goeth on to the other kind of temptation which is the inducement and allurement to sinne which doth not proceed from God as the other of afflictions doth For God as he hath no inclination nor taketh no delight in evill so can he not induce others unto it as the divell doth V. 15. When lust namely mans depraved and corrupted will which is the first spring of all vicious appetites Hath conceived namely after it hath by the apprehension of some unlawfull object fixed in it selfe a wicked desire it doth afterwards bring it to effect whence followeth the punishment of eternall death V. 16. Doe not erre either in attributing to God the cause of your sins or not having recourse to him in your wants as to the authour of all good things V. 17. From the father namely from God the authour and fountaine of all light of knowledge grace and spirit without ever changing or diminishing Shadow a terme taken from the celestiall lights which by reason of their resolutions and vicissitudes doe not alwaies shine in the same degree and some of them do also suffer eclipses decreases and failings V. 18. His owne will of his grace and free will to oppose this spirituall regeneration of grace to that of nature and everlasting of the onely begotten Sonne With the word which is as it were the seed of this new generation revived by the Spirit see 1 Cor. 4. 15. 1. Pet. 1. 23. First fruits namely a part of the whole masse of mankind which is consecrated unto him as the first fruits were under the Law see Ier. 2. 3. Rev. 14. 4. V. 19. Wherefore seeing you have received from God the gift of spirituall regeneration worke you the true workes and performe the true duties thereof keeping your selves especially from your most common and sudden sinnes which are those of rash speaking and wrath V. 20. For the wrath Though wrath in man be moved naturally with some resemblance of justice against a wrong and offence yet that is not the right way to do the Will of God wherein
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
that is to say Doe also signifie those same Kings who either through conversion to Christ or for some offences received or for some other reasons shall turn against the whore and shall destroy her And shall eat a figurative terme taken from wilde beasts which are taken in hunting V. 17. And give that is to say as he had for a time suffered them to submit themselves to the beast so when the terme of the accomplishment of Gods counsels and of the prophecies shall be come he shall stir them up to war against it V. 18. That great namely the state and empire that hath its seat there because otherwise the city is the beast and the woman is the state vers 3. CHAP. XVIII Vers. 2. SAying see upon Rev. 14. 8. V. 9. The kings whether we must take them to be some other Kings beside the ten Revel 17. 16. or some of those same ten V. 12. Thine the Italian all kinde of cedar the Greek word signifieth a wilde kinde of cedar very sweet and which doth not rot and hath a grained and curled root of which anciently they made works of great value V. 13. Souls of men that is to say Persons which seem to be added besides slaves because that anciently they made merchandize of persons not onely for slavery but also for pleasures or abominable delights V. 14 The fruits that is to say the delights of the earths yeelding which thou didst seek after with so much care and delight V. 22. Of a milstone for in ancient times they commonly used hand-mils which did make a great noise in the cities V. 23. Of a candle a great number of which were lighted at night-feasts and merry meetings For thy merchants for thou hast made use of Kings and Princes to doe thy businesse and to seek thy profit and hast bewitched the nations with false perswasions and seducements V. 24. In her that is to say she hath been sound guilty of it because that all the counsels instructions and inducements to persecutions have proceeded from her Prophets that is to say faithfull Doctors of the Church That were slain namely for the pure profession of the faith and for witnessing the truth of the Gospel CHAP. XIX Vers. 1. ALleleuia an Hebrew word frequent in the Psalms which together with many more hath passed to be used in other Languages in the service of God and signifieth Praise the Lord see Psal. 104. 35. V. 8. Was granted to shew that the sanctification of the Church which is all its ornament Psal. 45. 13. and 93. 5. is a meer gift of Christ her bride-groom Ephes. 5. 26 27. Rev. 3. 18. V. 10. At his feet the Italian addeth before him at his feet namely before the Angel which uttered this voyce For the testimony that is to say To me who am but a created Angel and Minister of Christ doth not belong the honour of these Propheticke Revelations but to Christ alone who is true God who hath witnessed that is to say revealed these secrets and counsels of his Fathers and who by his Spirit inspireth the light and certain knowledge thereof into his servants see Psal. 2. 7. 1 Pet. 1. 11. Revel 1. 1. 2. 5. and 22. 6. V. 11. He that namely Christ. V. 12. A name thus is his Godhead signified incomprehensible to any creature Judges 13. 18. Matth. 11. 27. Or the dignity of head of the Church which no man knoweth that is to say Possesseth not besides himselfe and is incommunicable to any other Phil. 2. 9. V. 13. In blood for a signe as well of his victories over his enemies as of his perfect righteousnesse and redemption acquired by the merit and in vertue of his death and passion V. 14. The armies that is to say the Angels V. 15. Treadeth the Italian shall tread that is to say Shall execute Gods vengeances upon his enemies gathered together as it were in a wine-presse V. 17. Unto the supper of the great God the Italian unto Gods great banquet that is to say Unto the great slaughter which he will make CHAP. XX. Vers. 4. ANd they the Italian persons namely the glorified Saints Iudgement namely power to judge the world as Christs adsessors and assistants who is the supreme judge see upon 1 Cor. 6. 2 3. That were that ha◠in any manner suffered martyrdom In all this Prophecie it is better and more sure to expectand stay for the explication by the event then to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without any certain ground V. 9. The camp namely the Church militant in the world by a figure taken from the children of Israel which encamped in the wildernesse V. 11. Him that namely Jesus Christ everlasting King of his Church and supreame judge of the world From whose face that is to say at the appearing of whose new Kingdom all this forme and state of the world was changed in an instant and vanished away V. 12. The books termes taken from the publike judgements here amongst men wherein are produced all the writings of the processe informations depositions of witnesses c. to shew that all actions even the most secret ones shall then be rehearsed and made manifest 1 Cor. 4. 5. Another book which represents the everlasting election to life and glory in Christ. V. 13. And hell namely the places under ground where the bodies are laid after they are dead V. 14. Death that is to say There was no more neither death nor sepulchre for Gods Elect the command of death over them was quite annihilated and remained upon the damned in whom death and the grave were changed into everlasting imprisonment and torments of hell CHAP. XXI Vers. 1. WEre passed that is to say Were changed in forme and state see upon Rom. 8. 21. V. 2. Holy city that is to say The Church in glory V. 3. The tabernacle that is to say God shall be present with them for ever a terme taken from the Tabernacle where the Arke was and the other signes of Gods presence in the midst of the people of Israel V. 6. It is done that is to say the end of the world is come all Gods words are accomplished V. 8. Fearfull that is to say cowardly in their spirituall combats who through carnall fear shall not dare to make profession of my truth or shall deny it Sorcerers or poisoners V. 10. In the Spirit namely in extasie and vision not corporally V. 11. Her light that is to say her sunne which enlightneth her V. 12. Angels namely of grace and peace contrary to the Cherubin set at the entrance of earthly paradice with a Sword to drive Adam out of it Gen. 3. 24. V. 16. The length and a figure of the perfect and everlasting stability of the Church in Heaven the cube or solid square being the most stable and equal figure of all V. 17. An hundred and forty and foure namely in thicknesse That is of that is according to the proportion of the resemblance of the body in which