of wrath Since God hath ordained the wicked for the day of wrath he hath ordained him for his own glory for when he punisheth wicked men with temporall or eternall punishments he justifieth himself in his own glory God created wicked men also but he created not their wickednesse 380. Prov. 16. 6. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged Heb. 9. 22. And without shedding of bloud there is no remission Mercy and Truth are understood of God 1 Joh. 1. 7. himself who is the primary cause of the remission of sins nor doth this contradict the meritorious effusion of Christs bloud for us whereby we are cleansed 381. Prov. 17. 15. He that justifyeth the wicked and he that condemneth the just even they both are abominable to the Lord. Rom. 4. 5. God justifieth the ungodly He that justifieth the wicked against the law of God or man without satisfaction made by himself or one for him is abominable unto God But God justifieth the wicked not that is so now but was so freely by faith for the merits of Christ and his full satisfaction 382. Prov. 20. 9. Who can say I have made my heart clean I am pure from my sin Psal 24. 3. He that hath pure hands and a clean heart shall stand in the holy place We are all unclean in the sight of God and corrupt by nature yet our hearts are purified by his grace through faith in the bloud of Christ 383. Prov. 21. 20. There is desirable treasure in the dwelling of the wise Mat. 6. 19. Treasure not up for your selves treasures upon earth Pious wisdome in honest gain is not reproved by Christ but covetousnesse and confidence in worldly wealth is forbidden since we lose thereby the heavenly treasure 384. Prov. 22. 28. Remove not the ancient I and-marke which thy Fathers have set Ezek. 20. 18. Walk not in the statutes of your fathers neither observe their judgements Solomon speaks of the bounds of Land and Inheritance Ezekiel concerning the statutes of their Fathers about the worship of God and the profanation thereof Let us not imitate those who oppose themselves against Gods law but let us walke in his laws and keep his statutes 385. Prov. 24. 17. Rejoyce not at the fall of thine enemy Psal 137. 8. Happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast rewarded us The Godly do not rejoyce for the destruction of their enemies and for revenge of wrongs but for Gods glory and the edification and good of the Church So Moses after the drowning of Pharaoh in the Red sea by his great zeal for Gods glory sang a song of praise 386. Prov. 26. 4. Answer not a fool according to his folly lest thou be like him Vers 5. Answer a fool according to his folly The art of dealing with fools is necessary that we speak not foolish things with a fool foolishly for if a fool that is an ungodly person blinded profane speaks with scorns and evill speaches and derisions we must not answer him likewise but when Gods glory is questioned if there be danger we must reprove his folly and his arrogancy lest he proceed to please himselfe and corrupt others ECCLESIASTES Heb. Coheleth The Preacher SOlomon in this book convinceth the vanity of the world and the foolishnesse of men Shews that there is nothing better then to fear God and to keep his Commandements And he maintains that there shall be a future judgment He wrote this book after his falling from God in token of true repentance 387. Eccl. 1. 4. The earth abides for ever Isai 40. 8. Luk. 21. 33. Heaven and earth shall passe away In the opinion of men the earth abides for Rom. 822. 2 Pet. 3. ever but in respect of God and the future change and purgation from corruption and vanity it shall passe away 388. Eccl. 1. 9. That which was shall be and there is no new thing under the sun Gen. 1. 1. The world was once created Heb. 9. 25. Christ once offered himself Ecclesiastes speaks not of all things none excepted but of the vanity of naturall and artificiall things which is collected from the naturall corruption and change of things 389. Eccl. 1. 10. There is no new thing under the sun Revel 21. 5. Behold I make all things new Ecclesiastes purpose is not concerning a creation of new kinds of creatures but concerning their change and vicissitude in the world and concerning the malice of men and the Devill that men by the instinct of the Devill from the beginning after man had sinned being defiled with much wickednesse proceed to covet after evill unlesse God renews their hearts and they become a new creature in Christ 390. Eccl. 2. 2. I said of laughter It is mad and of mirth What doth it Prov. 17. 22. A merry heart doth good like a medicine In the first place is meant naturall laughter and rejoycing in prosperity and the goods of Nature and Fortune as the Gentiles do and this Ecclesiastes condemns as folly But in the Proverbs is commended that joy only which proceeds from the holy Ghost 391. Eccl. 2. 15. What doth it profit me that I laboured to attain more wisdome Prov. 8. 35. He that findeth me findeth life Politick wisdome is indeed a singular gift of God but if any man abuseth it and dependeth on his wisdome it profits not but is all vanity Divine wisdome which teacheth us to wait all events from God and to pray to him for his direction in all confers eternall life 392. Eccl. 2. 23. The dayes of man are full of labour and sorrow Psal 128. 2. Of the labour of thy hands thou shalt eat and happy shalt thou be Ecclesiastes condemns not labour which God hath laid on men for that is good and necessary having great promises but because riches are purchased by much travell and no man knows whether he shall be a wise man or a foole that he must leave them to 393. Eccl. 3. 19. There is one event to man and beast as the one dieth so dieth the other Chap. 17. 7. The spirit of man returns to God that gave it him In the former place is shewed the opinion of carnall men concerning man and beasts who compares them by the likenesse of their deeds and events In the latter place is taught what is the excellency of mans soul above the beasts and the difference after death But a naturall man cannot perceive these things 394. Eccl. 4. 1. I saw the oppressions done under the sun and behold the tears of such as were oppressed and they had no comforter Joh. 14. 26. 15. 26. I will send unto you the Comforter from the Father the Spirit of Truth Ecclesiastes compares the oppressed with the oppressours in that which happens in the world for oppressours are rich mighty men they have their Abetters and their Clients The oppressed are alone and defend themselves with tears Christ sheweth how true comfort comes to those that are oppressed namely
the beginning and the Father of lyes Satan fals from heaven when he is cast out of our hearts by sound doctrine and loseth his light that is his authority by the preachiny of Gods Word here as it were by a Thunderbolt from heaven that is from the Kingdome of God in the heart of man is he cast down and trod under foot but he was a murderer and lyar from the beginning that he fell not from that he was created 681. Luk. 10. 22. No man knoweth who the Son is but the Father and who the Father is but the Son Joh. 15. 26. The Spirit of Truth he shall testifie of me Christ excludes not the Persons of the Deity but the creatures and the false gods for the Father by the Son from eternity infinitely Joh. 16 13. communicating his infinite wisdome revealed it to the holy Ghost and therefore Christ saith the Spirit shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear that shall hee speak 682. Luk. 10. 24. Many Prophets and Kings have desired to see those things that you see Joh. 8. 56. Abraham saw my day There are different manners of the Visions 1 Cor. 13. 12. of Christ and of God We see now in a glasse darkly but then that is in the next life we shall see face to face Abraham and the faithful in the Old Testament saw Christ promised that he should come the Apostles saw him manifested in the flesh The Prophets saw him of old in shadows and figures the Apostles and the Christians now see him clearly and manifestly 683. Luk. 10. 28. Doe this and live Rom. 4. 5. But to him that worketh not but believeth his faith is counted for righteousnesse The parts of Gods Word are the Law and the Gospel the Law promiseth life eternal to them that doe it the Gospel to them that believe Christ by the words Doe this doth not shew that the Lawyer was able to fulfil the law but only admonisheth him so that he might grow sensible of his own weaknesse 684. Luk. 10. 41. Martha Martha Thou art careful and troubled about many things 1 Tim. 5. 14. I will that the younger women marry guide the house Christ reprehends not Marthas care of her house but for presumption and false opinion because she preferred the care of her house before the Word of God 685. Luk. 11. 41. Give Alms and all things are clean unto you 1 Cor. 13. 3. If I bestow all my goods to feed the poor it profiteth me nothing Christ speaks of alms proceeding from faith and charity the Apostle speaks of hypocritical alms without Christian Charity 686. Luk. 12. 33. Sell what you have and give alms 1 Tim. 5. 8. But if any provide not for his own especially those of his own houshold he hath denyed the faith Christ would not have us forsake our neighbour in his wants and necessities but rather to help him we should sell our possessions to declare our conpassion so far as we are able without doing injury to our family 687. Luk. 14. 23. Compell them to come in 1 Pet. 5. 3. Not as being Lords over Gods heritage There is used an internal compulsion spiritually when men are drawn to the knowledge of their sins by the law of God explained to them and are urged in thier consciences to fly to the mediation of Christ so from the dayes of John the Baptist untill now the Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take Mat. 11. 12. it by force an external compulsion is when men not sufficiently instructed and forced by carnal weapons to religion against their conscience such are made rather hypocrites then good Christians therefore the Apostle warns us well that no man should affect to Lord it over Gods people that is the Church and to use a tyrannical power over their consciences 688. Luk. 14. 24. None of those men which were bidden shall tast of my Supper 2 Pet. 3. 9. God is long suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish The Gospel since it is the power of God to salvation to all that believe they that hear it being invited by God and receive it not dying in their sins without repentance they are the cause of their own ruine and not God 689. Luk. 14. 26. He that hateth not his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sisters yea and his own life also he cannot be my Disciple Ephes 6. 2. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that it may be well with thee c. 5. 25. Husbands love your Wives 1 Joh. 3. 15. He that hateth his brother is a Murderer Christ is to be beloved above all creatures and rather our Parents brothers and sisters and our own life should be lost then we should deny the Gospel He that loveth his Father or Mother more then me is not worthy of me saith Christ otherwise we must honour our Parents and love our children 690. Luk. 16. 9. Make you friends of the Mammon of unrighteousnesse 1 Tim. 4. 4. Every creature of God is good Riches are good in themselves as they are a creature but because they are after got unjustly and many abuse them to injustice pride tyranny luxury gluttony c. therefore Christ cals them the Mammon of unrighteousnesse thorns Mat. 13. 7. 1 Tim. 6. 9. the Apostle cals them the snare of the Devil and will have us so to dispose of our wealth that we may reap fruit of them in another world 691. Luk. 15. 7. The righteous need no repentance c. 3. 8. Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance Repentance of those that stand which is spoken of in the first place must be distinguished from repentance of those that are fallen which is meant by the latter place and we are admonished to it and to bring forth the fruits of it 692. Luk. 17. 10. When you have done all those things which you are commanded say We are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to doe 2 Cor. 11. 12. Paul glorieth and reckons up his good works and divine Revelations In the former place Christ saith that no man can deserve any thing at the hand of God since we are all bound to obey God in all things unto the end so that we cannot boast before God In the latter Paul mentioneth his labours not of vain glory boasting but being compelled to it for the defence of his Ministry against all back-biters and false Apostles that unjustly reproached him 693. Luk. 18. 29. Verily I say unto you there is no man that hath left house or parents or brethren or wife or children for the Kingdome of Gods sake who shall not receive manyfold more 1 Cor. 7. 10. The wife must not depart from her husband and the man must not put away his wife For Christ his sake we may leave our Wives and al things when necessity constraineth us but we cannot leave our Matrimony Paul admonisheth the wife that she should not by
the faith hope patience obedience constancy of his children or evill to an evill end and we pray in the Lords prayer that God will not let us be tempted with evill nor give us over into the hand of Satan to tempt us 557. Mat. 6. 13. For thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory Luk. 11. 4. That conclusion is not found in the Lords Prayer One Evangelist omitting what the other hath set down doth no wayes derogate from the truth of Gods Word David used the same 1 Chron. 29. 11. 2 Tim. 4. 18. thanksgiving Thine is the greatnesse and the power and the glory and the Victory and the Majesty And Paul useth the same words And the Lord shall deliver me from every evill work to whom be glory for ever Amen From whence is taken that of the Church Glory be c. 558. Mat. 6. 19. Lay not up for your selves treasures upon earth 1 Tim. 5. 8. But if any provide not for his own especially for those of his own house he hath denyed the faith Christ forbids no man to possesse wealth that comes as a blessing from God but to lay up treasures to the wrong of other men and to put our trust in them as the Gentiles doe nor Lev. 36. 14. Psal 112. 3. doth he condemn the care for a mans own family 559. Mat. 6. 31. Therefore take no thought saying What shall we eat or what shall we drink 1 Tim. 5. 8. If any man provide not for his own he hath denyed the faith Christ condemns here carnal care joyned with Heathenish distrust but not a Christian care to provide for our family with confidence in God 560. Mat. 7. 1. Judge not Joh. 7. 24. Judge righteous judgement Christ forbids rash judgement and defamation Mat. 18. 15. Jude v. 8 but not Politique or Ecclesiastical Judicature appointed by God under the Old-Testament nor yet domestick because all men are bound to judge of doctrine and manners and to call those to the right way that are wandring from it 561. Mat. 7. 8. Whosoever asketh receiveth Jam. 4. 3. Ye ask and receive not He that asketh as he ought to doe in faith receiveth what is convenient for him they that ask not as they should that is in faith nor for a good end receive not because they ask amiss 562. Mat. 7. 12. All things that you would that men should doe unto you doe you even so to them for this is the law and the Prophets c. 22. 4. On these two Commandements the love of God and our Neighbour hang all the Law and the Prophets The first place excludes not the love of God for he that loves his neighbour loves God the latter comprehends a moral rule of all things which are contained in the Books of Moses the Law and the Prophets 563. Mat. 7. 22. Many will say unto me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name have cast out Devils Then will I professe unto you I never knew you depart from me c. 10. 32. Whosoever shall confesse me before men him will I confesse before my Father which is in heaven Christ in the former place speaks of hypocrites who prophesied in his Name and teaching so did confesse him with their tongue In the latter place he speaks of those who professe his Name by faith openly and sincerely without hypocrisie they have both a promise and a large reward 564. Mat. 8. 4. Tell no man V. 4. Go thy way shew thy self to the Priest Christ forbad the Leper for a time but not for ever that he should tell no man that he was healed but that first he should make his comparition before the Priest 565. Mat. 8. 5. A centurion came to Jesus beseeching him and saying Luk. 7. 3. The Elders of the Jews were sent unto him beseeching him to come Theophylact reconciles these places thus first the Centurion sent Messengers to Christ then he came himself and met the Lord and beseeched him with his own mouth relating the businesse 566. Mat. 8. 19. A certain scribe came unto him and said Master I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest And Jesus said unto him The Foxes have holes Joh. 6. 37. Him that cometh to me will I in no wise cast out That Scribe would follow Christ out of vain boasting and promised to himself great wealth and dignities Christ did not reject this man but only admonished him of the poverty and misery of those that follow him in this life which is rewarded with salvation and eternal life 567. Mat. 8. 26. The Disciples were fearful and of little faith Jam. 1. 6. Ask in faith nothing wavering for he that wavereth is like a wave of the Sea driven with the wind and tossed The infirmity of the Disciples is to be distinguished from Heathenish distrust they that doubt receive nothing but believers receive what they ask in faith 568. Mat. 8. 28. Jesus came to the other side into the Countrey of the Gargasens Mark 5. 1. They came over to the other side of the Sea into the Countrey of the Gadarenes The City Gadara and Gergaza were neighbour places in the Tribe of Manasses having their several circuit in the borders whereof the possessed met our Saviour 569. Mat. 8. 28. There met him two possessed with Devils Mar. 5. 2. There met him out of the Tombes a man with an unclean spirit They were two in number Mark mentions one because the other was notably known August 570. Mat. 8. 29. The Devils cryed out saying What have we to doe with thee Jesus thou Son of God Joh. 8. 44. The Devil is a lyar and the Father thereof The Devils did not that for the glory of God and Christ but to cause distrust in mens hearts for the Devil though he doe speak truth yet he doth it not without fraud and a false end that he may draw men into errour 571. Mat. 9. 6. The Son of man hath power to forgive sins 23. 34. Father forgive them they know not what they doe The Father gives the Son hath merited and the holy Ghost confirms salvation and remission of sins 572. Mat. 9. 1. Jesus sat at meat in Matthews house Luk. 5. 28. Matthew left all rose up and followed Christ Matthew left all things which might hinder him from following Christ as the receipt of custome and his Office of a Publican but he left not his house nor did he wholly cast away his houshold affairs 573. Mat. 9. 18. My daughter saith Jairus to Christ is even now dead Luk. 8. 42. The daughter of Jairus lay a dying being about twelve years old She lay a dying when her Father went forth of his house she was dead before Christ came to her 574. Mat. 10. 2. The first Simon Peter Andrew James John Mar. 3. 17. Peter James John Andrew Gal. 2. James Cephas The Apostles were equal in dignity and office but unequal in order The Evangelists in naming the
Elias the Thishbite who lived in the dayes of Ahab for the Jews were of that opinion as some now adayes look for Enoch and Elias 589. Mat. 11. 18. John came neither eating nor drinking cap. 3. 4. His meat was Locusts and wild Honey Christ commends Johns austere life sobriety and temperance in the former place because he used not ordinary meat and drink Yet he did not exceed Christ in his austere life For bodily exercise 1 Tim 4. 8. profiteth but little 590. Mat. 11. 25. O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes Jam. 3. 13. Who so is a wise man and endued with knowledge amongst you let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meeknesse of wisedome Christ speaks of the wisdome of this world and Diabolical wisdome which is contrary to divine wisdome James speaks of both divine and humane wisdome 591. Mat. 11. 28. Christ saith Come unto me all 1 Cor. 1. 26. You see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many noble are called The general vocation extends to all there is one general call of all men to the great Supper and another special cal of believers onely who Luk. 14. obey Christ and his Gospel 592. Mat. 11. 30. My yoak is easie and my burden is light Mar. 10. 25. It is easier for a Camel to goe through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter into the Kingdome of God The yoke of Christ is easie and his burden light to the spirit not to the flesh to those that are mild and humble by Christs example or the Gospel yoke is easie by the holy Ghost and in comparison of the unsupportable yoke of the law It is a hard matter for a rich covetous man to enter into the Kingdome of God not for that riches are evil but because he doth wickedly abuse them 593. Mat. 12. 10. The Pharises ask Christ if it be lawful to heal on the Sabbath days Mar. 3. 4. Christ asketh the Pharisees whether it were lawful to doe good on the Sahbath dayes To the question of the Pharisees Christ answered by inversion intimating that God was more pleased to help a miserable man then to Mat. 12 8. forsake him 594. Mat. 12. 32. Whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man it shall be forgiven him but whosoever speaketh against the holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him Rom. 5. 20. Where sin hath abounded grace doth much more abound The unpardonable sin against the holy Ghost is not so in it self that it cannot be forgiven but for the malicious obstinacy of those that will not come to Christ by repentance and doe proudly seduce others 595. Mat. 12. 49. He stretched forth his hand towards his Disciples and said Behold my Mother and my Brethren Mat. 1. 10. Luk. 2. The Virgin was Christs Mother Christ denyeth not his kindred according to the flesh but prefers spiritual kindred before them and that speech depends on his Office who receives the faithful into the first degree of honour as though they were his neerest kindred 596. Mat. 13. 12. Hee that hath not Ver. 12. From him shall be taken away even that he hath He is said not to have who is more careful to seek after novelties then to believe Gods Word or look after his own salvation such a one because he thinks he hath the knowledge of God and disdains his Word shall fall away at last by his boasting and shall by his own Luk. 8. 18. Rom. 2. 17. Ap. 3. destruction understand how miserable naked and poor he is 597. Mat. 13. 16. Blessed are your eyes that see Joh. 20. 29. Blessed are they that have not seen and yet believed In the first place is understood the temporal blessednesse and felicity of those who conversed with Christ In the latter the heavenly and eternal felicity of believers 598. Mat. 13. 33. The kingdome of heaven is like to leaven 1 Cor. 5. 7. Purge out the old leaven The doctrine of the Apostles was like to leaven because of its sudden piercing into the whole world as the doctrine of the Pharisees was like to leaven which was to be avoided or all iniquity and filthinesse of nature and Mat. 16. 22. carnal desires of wicked men may be so compared therefore we may interpret this either for good or evill leaven in the first place is taken in a good sense in the second in an evill sense 599. Mat. 15. 22. A woman of Canaan Mar. 7. 26. A Greek a Syrophenissian She was of the posterity of the Cananites by kind a Syrophenissian in the borders of Tyre and Sydon she dwelt in the Countrey of Syria and Phenicia 600. Mat. 15. 24. I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel 1 Tim. 2. 5. There is one Mediator between God and man who gave himself a ransome for all In the former place Christ speaks of his Prophetical Office that is of teaching and working Miracles In his second of his Mediatorship of salvation and redemption that belongs and is extended to all believers 601. Mat. 16. 6. Take heed of the Leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadduces c. 23. 2 3. The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat All therefore whatsoever they bid you that observe and doe By the leaven of the Pharisees is here understood their perverse doctrine corrupting the purity of Gods Word Christ commands them to beware of this and their hypocrisie infecting the sincerity of manners for like leaven it penetrates puffs up and corrupts but the eyes of God respect sincerity only yet he bids them observe what they taught that sit in Moses Jer. 5. 5. chair out of the law of God For truth whosoever preacheth it must be received for it self but we must not depend on their false hypocritical glosses for God is worshipped in vain after the commandements of men 602. Mat. 17. 15. Lord have mercy on my son for he is lunatick Mar. 9. 17. I have brought unto thee my son who hath a dumb spirit He is lunatick who upon the wane of the Moon is sick of the Falling-sicknesse or a Vertigo which happens to many by imperfection of nature This man was said to be dumb and deaf not by nature but because Satan possessed his tongue and ears so that he added more diseases to his natural Infirmity 603. Mat. 18 8. If thy hand or thy foot offend thee cut it off and cast it from thee Ephes 5. 29. No man hateth his own flesh Christs speaks figuratively that we should crucifie the old man with his evill affections that bear rule in the members of our bodies that we must cast away the most dear and profitable things from us which set our sins on fire and foster them and offend us 604. Mat. 18. 15. If thy brother trespasse against thee
of Beleevers 772. Acts 1. 9. Whilst the Disciples beheld Christ was taken up and a cloud received him John 3. 13. No man hath ascended up into heaven but he that came down from heaven The body of Christ was taken up visibly on high where Christ was personally before according to his Divine nature 773. Acts 1. 15. The number of names together were about an hundred and twenty 1 Cor. 15. 6. After that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once The number of an hundred and twenty must be restrained to the faithfull there at Jerusalem the rest were out of this gathering in other places Luke by calling the brethren that were present sheweth that there were no women present at the Election of Matthias 774. Acts 1. 18. Judas purchased a field with the reward of iniquity Matth. 27. 3. He repented himself and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief Priests and Elders Judas purchased a field not actually but by purpose and event for he hoped with those silver pieces to buy a field he acquired the money It is Metonymia adjuncti and the price wherewith the Priests bought the field 775. Acts 2. 23. Jesus being delivered by the determinate counsell and foreknowledge of God by wicked hands you have crucified and slain John 19. 11. He that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin The death of Christ is ascribed to God and men in divers respects God delivered him by his determinate counsell that he might procure life for us The Jews out of their diabolicall hate that they might blot out the memory of him 776. Acts 2. 33. Christ is exalted by the right hand of God John 17. 5. Christ was glorified with the Father before the world was The state of Christs humiliation and exaltation is in respect of right and profession Christ was as Mediator at the right hand of God also before his corporall Ascension but in respect of use after his Ascension 777. Acts 2. 36. God hath made that same Jesus whom you have crucified both Lord and Christ Luke 2. 11. He is called Lord at his Nativity by the Angell Christ by right of his personall union was made Lord at his Nativity by possession and use in his Glorification declared to be so by his sitting at the right hand of God according to the rule Then a thing is said to be done when it is manifested to be done 778. Acts 2. 38. And be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ Mat. 28. 19. Baptizing them in the Name of the Father of the Son and of the holy Ghost In the first place there is the command and fruit of Baptism but not the form Some by the Name Christ understand the three Persons the Father anointing the Son anointed and the holy Ghost the unction Also in the Name of Christ is in the doctrine faith knowledge and obligation of Christ 779. Acts 3. 2. And a man lame from his mothers womb they laid daily at the gate of the Temple to ask alms chap. 4. 34. neither was there any among them that lacked They that carried the lame man to the Beautifull Gate of the Temple were not of the number of those who beleeved in Christ nor the lame man himself before he was healed 780. Acts 4. 31. And when they had prayed they were all filled with the holy Ghost chap. 2. 4. In the Feast of Pentecost the holy Ghost sat upon every one of them before The first place is of the increase of gifts and their boldnesse and confidence to professe the Gospel that casting away all sorrow they were full of rejoycing and preached the Word of God freely against the threatnings and interdicts of the High priests 781. Acts 7. 38. Moses received in mount Sinai the lively Oracles 2 Cor. 3. 7. Paul cals the Law the ministration of death The words of the Law were words of life because the Law hath life in it self and leads us to Christ it is not the Ministration of death in it self but in respect of mens infirmities and our corrupt nature 782. Acts 7. 2. Men Brethren and Fathers hearken vers 52. Betrayers and murderers In the former place he doth civilly use those compellation to the Jews in the later he shews what the truth is according to the Gospel they were enemies but according to Election they are beloved for the Fathers sake Rom. 11. 28. 783. Acts 7. 51. You do alwaies resist the holy Ghost as your fathers did Rom. 9. 19. Who hath resisted his will To resist the holy Ghost is not to hear him in the Word of God so the Jews rejected grace proferred unto them and despised it revealed in the Word and so were the cause of their own damnation The Apostle speaks of Gods absolute will according to that he doth all things to which we must be subject 784. Acts 7. 59. Lord Jesus receive my spirit Luk. 16. 22. Lazarus was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom All the godly and faithfull children of Abraham must commend their spirits into the hands of the Sonne of God who enlivens us there is that bosom and the soul of Abraham rests there 785. Acts 8. 1. And they were all scattered abroad throughout the region of Judah and Samaria except the Apostles Mark 16. 15. Go into all the world and preach the Gospel The beginning of the Apostles preaching was at Jerusalem where they suffered persecutions building a Church unto Christ before they went to other Nations 786. Acts 9. 6. Go into the City and there it shall be told thee what thou must do Gal. 1. 15. Paul was not called by man neither from men to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ Saul was taught by Ananias concerning the means of his conversion but not concerning the Articles of his faith Ananias was sent to baptize him and heal him but not to call him to be an Apostle 787. Acts 9. 7. And the men that journeyed with him stood speechlesse ch 26. 14. and when we were all fallen to the earth I heard a voice The companions of Saul were first cast down then they stood speechlesse nor could they go forward untill Saul also rose from the earth 788. Acts 9. 7. They heard a voice but they saw no man ch 26. 14. They that were with me saith Paul heard not the voice Hearing the sound of the voice they understand not the meaning of it so a voice coming to Christ from heaven the company that heard John 12. 29. it said it thundred 789. Acts 9. 8. They led Saul into Damascus Gal. 1. 17. He went into Arabia Paul after his conversion was first at Damascus then he went into Arabia and so returned again to Damascus 790. Acts 9. 15 Paul bare the Name of the Lord before the Gentiles the Kings and the children of Israel Gal. 1. 16. He was separated to preach to the Gentiles the Gospel of Christ He was the ordinary Apostle