Nehem. 6. 15. About the seventeenth of our August She met with her mate after Thus there are twenty one dayes from the opening of the window for the sending out of the Raven and the Dove V. 13. First moneth first day of the moneth Twenty nine dayes after the last sending forth of the Dove to this time This moneth is the moneth Tizri or Ethanim 1 Kings 8. 2. though there called the seventh moneth according to the Ecclesiastical Account And the first day if it is about the sixteenth of our September but we must not here make this the first moneth according to the Ecclesiastical account which would be the moneth Nisan or Abib the first day of it answering to the middle of our March covering of the Ark v. 6. He opened the window of the Ark. was dry Yet soft and muddy V. 14. Second moneth Not Jiar or Zif the second moneth according to the Ecclesiastical Account 1 Kings 6. 1 3 7. answering to part of our April and part of our May but the moneth Bull according to the Civil Account and yeare according to the Annotations on the fourth verse of this chapter And answering to part of our October and of our November Twenty seventh day The second of our November And thus there are fifty seven dayes from the first moneth first day to this time And here is the end of the flood continuing from first to last one yeare and ten dayes The Account whereof must no wise be cast as in the said Annotations on this fourteenth verse But thus beginning on the second moneth seventeenth day thence to the seventh moneth seventeenth day are one hundred and fifty dayes reckoning in them the fourty dayes of raine as is confessed on ch 7. ver 24 and as according to the truth it must needs be And the Ark then rested on the mountaines of Ararat Thence to the tenth moneth first day whereon the tops of the mountaines were seen are seventy three dayes Thence fourty dayes at the end whereof Noah opened the window of the Ark. Thence twenty one dayes of the sending out of the Raven and the Dove Thence twenty nine dayes reacheth to the first moneth first day when the ground was dry Thence fifty seven dayes to the second moneth twenty seventh day when Noah came out of the Ark. The total summe of this reckoning ariseth to three hundred and seventy And the compasse of the yeare reckoning twelve moneths to the yeare and thirty days to the moneth ariseth to three hundred and sixty dayes And the other ten dayes were those ten wherein he continued in the Ark more then one year V. 20 And offered burnt-offerings on the Altar In this verse is an Altar first nominated and burnt-offerings or whole burnt-offering Lev. 6. 9. And this so long before Moses and the Levitical Law an Altar likely of earth or turf V. 21. In his heart After spoken to Noah chapt 9. 11. not again curse the ground This is opened more in this and the next verse not as formerly with an universal deluge Though particular inundations may be for the imagination c. This in part moved God to destroy the world ch 6. 5 6. This here is brought in as a motive to mercy as Psal 103. 13 14. A like plea David makes Psal 25. 11. and God himself Esay 48. 8 9. Though sin abound Gods mercy superabounds mercy rejoyceth against judgement V. 22. While the earth God restores and repaires the natures of things corrupted by the flood This hinders not Peters fiery Prophecie of the end of the world 2 Pet. 3. 7. Esay 54. 8 9 10. Seed-time c. Generaly so which hindereth not particular judgements upon particular places to the contrary as 1 Kings 17. 1. God will henceforth deal more particularly with men and not overturn the general course of nature any more CHAP. IX Verse 1. BE fruitful c. Though we reade not of any more children of Noah after this time yet it is not likely but he had more Gods Word and his Work go together In three hundred fifty two yeares viz. from the flood to the birth of Abraham mankinde was wonderfully multiplied and yet mans life in that time mightily shortened V. 2. The fear of you Though not your dominion over them as it was before the fall yet the fear and dread of you shall upon them even to the taming or over-awing at least of the wildest fiercest and strongest of them by force or cunning Psal 8. 6 c. 104 20 21 22 23. Jam. 3. 7. Though God can arme even the least of them to execute his judgements upon man V. 3. That liveth Likely not dying of it selfe or torne by beasts as Levit. 17. 15. and 22. 8. Exod 12. 31. For many of the Mosaical Lawes were in use long before meat for you See Annotations on ch 1. 29. meat Such as were fit for meat and even those that were not fit for meat and sustenance yea poisonous yet might serve for Physick or otherwise for the maintenance and preservation of the life of man V. 4. But flesh with the life thereof the blood The blood of these creatures in called the life of them and their life is said to be their blood and in their blood Lev. 17. 11. 14. because the spirits which are the most lively parts of them are produced of the purest part of the blood and with it diffused in arteries throughout the whole body without which vital spirits though blood be in the body yet the body may be dead as in things strangled Now with the blood or in the blood the flesh was not to be eaten but first it must be killed and cleansed of the blood A restraint no doubt to make them the more fearful of shedding mans blood as the words following do declare But yet thus the sense of the place seemes not so full as when the blood is forbidden not only with the flesh in the veines for who desires so to eat it but also poured out by it self alone And thus the prohibition was given by Moses to the Jewes who declared at large the various manner of the use of blood in their several kindes of sacrifices but inhibits the eating of it rather then or at any other time In their sacrices sometimes some of it was sprinkled upon the side of the Altar and the rest of the blood wrung out at the bottome of the Altar as when turtle-Doves or Pigeons were sacrificed Lev. 1. 15. and 5. 9. sometimes it was sprinkled round about upon the Altar as in the burnt-offerings and peace-offerings Lev. 1. 5 11. and chap. 3. 2 8 13. sometimes with the finger dipped in it some of it was put upon the hornes of the Altar and the rest poured out at the bottome of the Altar as in the sin-offering for the Ruler and for any one of the common people Lev. 4. 25 30 34. sometimes with the finger dipped in it some of it was to
Ps. 81. 3 Esay 1. 13. Yearly at Feasts 3. Solemn of Passeover and Unleavened bread Lev. 23. Weeks Deut. 16. Tabernacles Deut. 16. Others for one day viz. of First-fruits Lev. 23 9. 15. Blowing of trumpets Lev. 23. 24 25. Fast of expiation Lev. 16. and ch 23 27. 32. Incident occassions more Extraordinary as at the Consecration of Aaron and his sonnes Lev. 8. Exod. 29. and ch 40. See Aarons first-offerings Lev. 9. Levities Numb 8. Dedication of the Altar Numbers 7. 10 88. Ordiâ—â— Purification and cleansing of Women after childe-birth Lev. 12. 13 14 15. chapters Leper Lev. 12. 13 14 15. chapters Men in their issues Lev. 12. 13 14 15. chapters Women in theire 〈…〉 Lev. 12. 13 14 15. chapters 9. Day Nadab and Abihu offer Incense with strange fire and are slaine Levit. X. 11 12 13. Dayes Seeme those Lawes given from the Lord to Moses and Aaron touching Beasts Fishes Fowles clean and unclean Ch. XI Moses for Purification of Women in child-birth Ch. XII Moses and Aaron for Leprosies their cleansings Ch. XIII XIV For issues of men and women their cleansings Ch. XV. 14. Day Celebration of the Passeover Num. IX whether the Feast of unleavened Bread for seven dayes was added hereunto is not expressed After the death of Nadab and Abihu Moses receives Lawes from the Lord touching the High Priests coming into the most Holy Place once a year to make an Atonement on the tenth day of the seventh moneth And the maner of it Ch. XVI Place of Sacrificing And touching Blood Ch. XVII Unlawful mixtures and Lusts and other sins And the Punishments of them Ch. XVIII XIX XX. Priests their Holinesse Honour and cleansing Ch. XXI XXII Feasts Ch. XXIII Oile and Lamps And Shew-bread Ch. XXIV 1 9. Shelomiths sonne blasphemeth Ch. XXIV 10 14. Thereafter Moses receiveth Lawes from the Lord touching Blasphemy and Murder Chap. XXIV 15 23. Sabbath-year and Jubile Ch. 25. Idolatry and Religiousnesse with Blessings and Curses Ch. XXVI Vowes and Tythes Chap. XXVII For the better understanding and remembring of this Book And specially of the Offerings and Sacrifices therein contained The Table ensuing and the Directions thereof may give some part of help and furtherance though the same be not in all points perfect and compleat Sacrifices then are of a Divine Institution And were indeed practised by Adam and his children and in all ages But by Moses enlarged with many Observations Circumstances and Prefigurations contained in them Yet not principally commanded nor so much as Morall duties of Piety and Honesty 1 Sam. 15. 22. Psal. L. 5 16. Marke XII 33. Hos. VI. 6. Matth. XII 7. as Joel II. 13. Esay I. 11. and Jer. VI. 20. Amos V. 21. Jer. VII 21 22 23. Of the Cattell The kindes of Beasts and Birds verse 2 for Sacrifices were Oxen Bullocks Sheep Lambs Rams Goats Turtle-Doves young Pigeons The Sparrow or living Bird mentioned Levit. XIV 4. in the cleansing of the Leper was not properly a Sacrifice These Creatures for Sacrifice were of common use for mans sustenance maintenance And so were lawfull to be eaten in civill and common use Deut. XIV 4 26. and Ch. XII 15 21. And they were easie to be had As also Bread Flower Cakes Wafers Wine Salt Oile Frankincense used most in the Meate and Drink-offerings And such likewise are Water Bread and Wine in our Sacraments See Levit. I II III IV. Ch. and Ch. VII v. 11 12 13. A Burnt-Sacrifice In all Burnt-Offerings verse 3 and in such Sin-Offerings whereof any of the Blood was to be brought into the Tabernacle of the Congregation to reconcile withall in the holy place and also in Meat-Offerings of and for a Priest all was to be burnt to the Lord There was nothing left to be eaten by any Levit. I. and Ch. VI. 22 23 30. In all other Sin-Offerings and Trespasse-Offerings besides the fat and kidneys burnt to the Lord All the Flesh was the Priests and to be eaten by him and his And so in all other Meat-Offerings Levit. VI. 16 17 18 26 29. and Ch. VII 6 7 9 10 14. In the Peace-Offerings the Wave-breast and heave or right shoulder were the Priests to be eaten by him and his And the rest of the Flesh belonged to the bringer of the Peace-Offering to be eaten by him and his Levit. VII 31 32 33 34. and v. 15 21. The Levites had no part in any Offerings Burnt-Offerings used for Sinne-Offerings in Jobs time Job XLII 8. At the doore Killed there Because thither it was lawful for the Offerer or Bringer of it to come that he might put his hand upon the head of the Sacrifice Lev. I. 3 4. and III. 2 8 13. and IV. 15 24 29 33. Leaven Leaven generally forbid in Meat-Offerings chapter II verse 11 except in those two mentioned Lev. VII 13. and Ch. XXIII 17. Confesse chapter V verse 5 This Confession of sinne differeth altogether from the Popish Sacramentall Confession That soul shall be cut off from his people This Punishment as it is awarded here against the eating of the flesh of the Peace-Offering chapter VII verse 20 for him who hath any Legal pollution upon him so it is against such who are not circumcised Gen. XVII 14. who eate leavened bread during the Feast of the Passeover Exod. XII 15 19. who do any work on the Sabbath-day Exod. XXXI 14. who eate of the fat of Beasts of which men offer Sacrifices Levit. VII 25. who eate Blood v. 27. and Ch. XVII 10 14. who bring not the Sacrifice to the doore of the Tabernacle to be killed there not elsewhere Levit. XVII 4 9. who eate of the Sacrifice of Peace-Offering on the third day Levit. XIX 8. who give of their Seed to Moloch Levit. XX. 2 3. or kill not such a sinner v. 4 5. who go a whoring after Wizzards and such as have familiar spirits v. 6. who commit incest v. 17. or lie with a woman in her sicknesse v. 18. who goeth unto the holy things which the children of Israel hallow unto the Lord having his uncleannesse upon him Levit. XXII 3. who doth any work or is not afflicted on the Fast-day of Atonement Levit. XXIII 29 30. who keep not the Passeover Num. IX 13. who sinne presumptuously Num. XV. 30 31. who being unclean do not purifie themselves Num. XIX 13 20. who being idolaters come to a Prophet to enquire concerning the Lord Ezek. XIV 8. This kinde of punishment hath variation of phrases in the expressions in Scripture thus shall be cut off utterly cut off cut off from Israel from the Congregation of Israel from among the Congregation in the sight of their people from the midst of my people cut off from the earth cut off from my presence which likely do import various kindes and degrees of punishments according to the nature of the sinnes spoken to in them How farre this phrase advanceth the Jewish Excommunication I leave to further consideration The
39. 5. Verily every man at his best estate is altogether Abel i. e. vanity And so indeed Abel was being slaine by his brother Vâ— 3. of the fruit of the ground an offering An Oblation or Meat-offering of fine flower or first-fruits in the eare in Levit. 2. and chap. 22. 14. Exod. 22. 29 23. 19. The Heathen Greeks and Romanes in their times did likewise Likely by an imitation of the Jewes V. 4. firstlings This afterwards by a special Law upon a special reason prescribed to the Jewes Exod. 13. 2. Num. 3. 13. and of the fat thereof In Moses time this expressely commanded Exod. 20. 13 22 25. Levit. 3. 3 4 5 9 10 11 14 15 16 17. The fat is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet favour unto the Lord. All the fat is the Lords neither Offerer nor Sacrificer nor yet in Civil use was any Jew to eate of it at leastwise of the fat of such cleane beasts as were fit for sacrifice Levit. 7. 23 24 25. The fat of the oile is mentioned Num. 18. 12. meaning the best of it And so of all things offered to the Lord the best is required which it seemes also that Abel here performed Not as those did Mal. 1. 13. By Faith Abel offered this Sacrifice Heb. 11. 4. And therefore it was no will-worship but grounded on Gods Word for his warrant revealed to Adam and by him likely to his sonnes had respect This was seene of Cain It is likely therefore that God shewed it by some visible signe as by fire from heaven consuming the Sacrifice as Levit. 9. 24. Judg. 6. 21. 1 Chron. 21. 26. 2 Chron. 7. 1. 1 Kings 18. 38. or it might be by some other wayes unto Abel and to his offering To the man first to the Offering for the mans sake as a fruit of his faith He righteous Matth. 23 35. V. 5. not respect Through his want of faith and sincerity in this service of God 1 John 3 12. very wroth At God and Abel both V. 7. Sinne lieth Sinne is anomâ—e or enormity and the punishment of sinne which like a Serjeant or they is couching and lieth watching ready to seize upon thee and tear thee And unto thee shall be his desire Subject to thee as to the first-borne as chap. 3. 16. This is to allay his wrath and incensed spirit V. 8. talked In a brotherly maner dissembling his hatred that he might get the better opportunity to kill him when Abel should not think of it See the Annotations on chap. 35. 22. V. 11. Cursed from the earth The earth shall plague thee that received thy brothers blood as is shewed in the next words V. 12. when thou tillest A punishment the more proper because he was a tiller of the ground and proper to Cains portion where ever he was not a second general curse upon all the earth a fugitive Cast out from society with thy kindred and acquaintance from Gods presence and the communion of his Church and pursued still with a guilty conscience So in ver 14 16. V. 14. Of the earth Of this earth where I now dwell with my Parents and Kindred Else he speaks like a man distracted by a guilty conscience He dilates his punishment that denied his sin Every one that findeth me shall slay me There might be many living by this time of Abels murther of whom he might stand in feare yea of them as yet unborn And his guilty conscience now feares every one as having made himself odious to every one And such flee when none pursueth yea the sound of a shaken leaf doth chase them And he might justly fear the beasts of the field Amongst the ancient Romanes Greeks and others such notorious offendors whosoever would might surely kill them And what large power is given to the revenger of blood by Gods Law we may see in Numb 35. 19 21. V. 15. Seven fold God would have him preserved alive though a life likely worse then death as a monument of his justice against murder and tratricide Psal. 59. 11. Not for love to Cain but to prevent future murder Mark a mark of protection and of ignominy too likely a kinde of palsie and ghastly look or some worse mark that made him an horrible spectacle of Gods vengeance against so hainous a crime V. 16. From the Presence of the Lord not of his general Providence but of his special Presence by grace in the place of his Worship and Service of which place and the Presence of the Lord there with Adam and his godly seed it might be said as Gen. 28. 17. This is no other but the House of God and this is the gate of Heaven Nod so called by Anticipation from his wandring there V. 17. Builded a City at last builded or rather was building began to build as the builders of Babel Gen. 11. as in many hundred years after he and his posterity well might and yet he be a vagabond in body and minde neverthelesse V. 19. Two wives The first bigamist and corrupter of wedlock V. 23 I have slain c. Beastingly he speaks of his valour and wrath to asray and appease the brawles of his wives between themselves and the vexing of him that he was a man that would not suffer the least injury of them or of any man but he would avenge himself and that fully Or vaunting himself to his wives of his valour to appease their feare of him lest hurt should come to him from others through his fiercenesse and boisterous violence bragging what heavy vengeance he would take of him that should set upon lamech many times more then God himself appointed to be taken for the avengement of Cain Or if he had slain a man and was wounded himself and thereupon his wives afraid of his life he seeks to appease them but in a fierce and insolent manner as scorning their feare of his danger and thinking it a disparagement to him and his valour and upon this reason too That he had a juster cause for what he had done then Cain had and therefore might be the more secure that if Cains death should be avenged much more his or rather in an Atheistical scorne vaunting That if God did set such a guard upon Cain surely Lamech they needed not to doubt should scape well enough Cains impunity might well serve for his security Thus variously may these vaunting words of this wrathful lustful man be understood and taken bearing himself haply the more proudly upon his sons inventions v. 20 21 22. V. 25. Seth borne when Adam was 130. years old ch 5. 3. Therefore in all probability Cain slew Abel not long before that time For God Eve rejoyceth that her whole number of children in him was filled up again For it is not imaginable that she had no more then Cain and Abel in all that time And it might be she foresaw by the Spirit of God that Seth should be like righteous faithful
hand A quarrelsome man he for booty by prey and pillage they most to defend themselves and he shall dwell His seed be a several Nation from his brethren border upon them and they not able to overbear him ch 25. 9 18. 37. 23. V. 13. Have I also c. Magnifying Gods mercy for his careful eye and providence over her for vouchsafing her so clear a sight of him and that even here in the desert which was more marvell then if it had been in her holy Masters family and that after her so ill carriage of her self and letting her yet live after it many after the sight of God were afraid yea some that they should die Gen. 3. 10. 32. 30. Exod. 3. 9. 24. 12. 33. 20. Deut. 4. 33. and 5. 24. Judg 6. 22. 13. 22 Esay 6. 2. 5. Luke 5. 8. V. 14. Beerlehai-roi i. e. The Well of him that liveth and seeth me Kadesh Kadesh-barneah Numb 32. 8. 13. 26. Deut. 1. 19. 9. 23. Josh. 14 6 7. V. 15. Abram called his name Therefore Hagar returned as the Angel commanded Ishmael Likely upon Hagars relation V. 16. Eighty six See Annot. on v. 1. For the space of thirteen yeares after this God keepeth silence and speaketh not to Abram ch 17. 1. CHAP. XVII Verse 1. APpeared In a visible forme v. 22. before me As alwayes in my presence Gen. 5. 22. 48. 15. 1 King 2. 4. 3. 6. 2 Kings 26. 3. V. 2. Make Renew or stablish it being made as v. 7. multiply ch 12 2 V. 3. Fell on his face v. 17. In way of feare and reverence of gratulation and rejoycing and God talked with him After he had lifted him up as may appear out of the seventeenth verse where he is said to fall upon his face again V. 4. My Covenant is with thee Ch. 12. 2. a father of many Nations Rom. 4. 16 17. even all believing Christians Gal. 3. 28 29. following Abrahams doctrine and example V. 5. Abraham i. e. a high father of a multitude Nehem 9. 7. so Jacobs name changed to Israel ch 32. 28. Esay 6â— 2. Rev. 2. 17. a father Rom. 4. 17. Gen. 17. 6. have I Ch. 15. 8. V. 6. Kings As Saul David Solomon c. of the Ishmaelites Midianites and Idumeans Also the faithful Kings of the Gentiles Rev 21. 24. V. 7. And thy seed Specially Isaac v. 19. ch 21. 12 22. 7. 18. Rom. 9. 8. everlasting In respect of the long continuance of the outward ceremony of Circumcision but for the spiritual part literally everlasting in Christ Heb. 13. 20. 9. 15. Luke 1. 71 73. 1 Pet 1. 4. a God unto thee Herein consisteth the summe and substance of all God himself wholly being applied to man for blessing and salvation Ps. 144. 15. exercising his perfections for mans happinesse V. 8. Wherein thou art a stranger Acts 7. 5. Hebr. 11. 9. everlasting So Esay 60. 21. which for the earthly Canaan is to be understood conditionally if his seed keep the Covenant which they brake and so kept it but for a time Though the outward signe is changeable yet the Covenant it self remaineth one in substance for ever Esay 63. 18. Lev. 18. 28. 20. 22. V. 10. My Covenant Token of it v. 11. so Covenant of Circumcision Acts 7. 8. so the Lamb is the Lords Passeover Exod. 12. 11 the bread the Lords body It is called the seale of the righteousnesse of faith Rom 4. 11. sealing on Gods part that he would give them that promised seed the Messiah and in him accept them pardon and cleanse them and on their part that they would believe in the Messiah and as Gods peculiar people mortifie their â—usts and be new creatures Everyman-childe The man is the head of the woman from him the generation proceedeth 1 Cor. 11. 3 8. women are baptized Act. 8. 12. Circumcised With shedding of blood with shame and much paine Exod. 4. 25 26. Gen. 34. 25. It figured mortification Deut. 10. 16. 30. 6. Rom. 2. 25 29. 4. 11. Phil. 3. 3. Col. 2. 11 13. See Lev. 26. 4I Esay 6. 10. Jer. 4. 4. 6. 10. Lev. 19. 23. Heb. 9. 22. Circumcised By whom it is not specified Abraham did it v. 23. And likely the Parents Masters or Magistrates did in case of neglect Zipporah did it Exod 4. 25. V. 12. Eight dayes old Though it fell on the Sabbath-day Josh. 7. 22. Creatures till eight dayes old were unclean not fit for sacrifice Lev. 22. 27. And so in mankinde Lev. 12. 2. The same number of dayes in many other Levitical rites Lev 8. 33 35. 9. 1. 14. 8 9 10. 15. 13 14. Numb 6. 9 10. Ezech. 43. 26 27. And yet we reade Josh 5. 2. c. the day and Sacrament it self neglected and the Lord commanding Joshuah to circumcise all the males borne in the wildernesse in that space of fourty yeares wandring at Gilgal And haply sicknesse might put off circumcision till time of health Hos. 6. 6. V. 13. Bought with thy money Heathen Proselytes and their Infants were hereby made capable and partakers of Gods Covenant in your flesh Genital part To teach regeneration of nature Psal. 517. to make an holy seed Ezra 9. 2. 1 Cor. 7. 14. Thus honouring that uncomely part to beare the mark of the heavenly Covenant Thus the foolishnesse of God is wiser then men 1 Cor 12. 23. 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. V. 14. Cut off from his people The Infant here can be in no fault as not capable either of the command or contempt He cannot be said to break the Covenant in the end of this verse that can do nothing that belongeth to the keeping of it Neither was Moses childe in danger of it but the father Exod. 4. 24. neither was the want of Circumcision so pâ—rillous except in case of contempt or wilful neglect Josh. 5. 7. As likewise it was with the Passeover enjoyned upon the same danger and penalty Exod. 12. 14 15. And yet omitted in the wildernesse and put off upon occasions to the second moneth Numb 9. v 10 11. 2 Chron. 30. 2 3. The penalty here then is laid upon that man who not being circumcised in his Infancy should afterwards also wilfully and contemptuously neglect it and upon those by whose default Circumcision of the Infant is omitted as Ezech. 18. 20 Now the penalty of cutting off from his people here is elsewhere in Scripture expressed in other cases with this variety shall be cut off Lev. 17. 4. utterly cut off Numb 15. 31. cut off from Israel Exod. 12. 15. cut off from my presence Lev. 22. 3. from the Congregation of Israel Exod. 12. 19 from among the Congregation Numb 19. v. 20. from the midst of my people Ezech. 14. 8. in the sight of their people Lev. 20. 18 as in the case of Moses before mentioned cut off from the earth And it is used as a threatening and penalty against divers sorts of sins and sinners against such as eate leavened bread in the
feast of the Passeover Exod. 12. 15 19. or forbear to keep that feast Numb 9. 13. or that eate fat Lev. 7. 25. or blood Lev 7. 27. 17. 10 14. or that eate of the flesh of the peace-offering on the third day Lev. 19. 8. or that eat of the flesh of sacrifice having their uncleannesse on them or being uncleane do not purifie themselves Numb 19. 13 20. or having touched any unclean thing Lev 7. 20 21. 22. 3. or that bring not their sacrifice to the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation to be killed there and not elsewhere Lev 17. 4 9. or that shall not afflict his soule on the fast-day the tenth day of the seventh moneth Lev. 23. 29. or doth any work in that same day or that defileth the Sabbath to do any work therein Exod. 31. 14. or that lieth with a woman in her sicknesse Lev. 20. 18. or with a sister Lev. 20. 17. or an idolater Ezech. 4. 8. or that gives of his seed to Molech Lev. 20. 2 3 4 or that turneth after wizards and such as have familiar spirits â—ev 20. 6. or that doth ought presumptuously Numb 15. 30 31. All these are expressely threatened with and sentenced to this punishment And the meaning of the phrase is most usually taken to signifie a cutting off by death and it is so expressed Exod. 31. 14. Lev 17. 4 20. 2 3 4. 5. And must needs be so understood when it is used against grievous sins and crimes as against idolatry witchcraft incest and sins done presumptuously despising the Word of the Lord and reproaching him This penalty is to be inflicted by the Magistrates power no doubt And in case of his faile God himself threatens and undertakes to do it Lev. 17. 10 20. 2 3 4. 5 6. 23. 30. And for the lesser offences mentioned they being wittingly and wilfully done in Gods Worship and service and against his plaine and peremptory command I see not how they come short of sins of presumption Numb 15. 30. which are doomed to death in the judgement of the learned upon that place I conceive therefore that they fall short that by this penalty here will understand no more but that such an offender is to be cast off and held for no Jew but as an Heathen man And they also that would apply this phrase here and in other places of the Old Testament for the maintenance of Ecclesiastical Excommunication among the Jewes The doubtfulnesse of the meaning of the phrase hath made me the more inquisitive into it I confesse if not too tedious in it However I leave all to better judgements And for my part like not in things dubious to be too definitive V. 15. Sarah Yet in the New Testament it is written Sara without the h the Greek tongue having no h at the end of words V. 16. Nations 1 Pet. 3. 6. Jerusalem which is above her answerable type is the mother of us all Gal. 4. 26. V. 17. Laughed For joy and wonder Rom. 4. 17 18 19 20 21. as over-joyed and amazed at the promise which he believed Heb. 11. 12. rejoycing even at the promised seed Joh. 8. 56. an hundred yeares old Rom. 4. 19 20. he did hope against hope If Abraham married Keturah thirty seven years after this time and had six children by her then surely God shewed his power in renewing Abrahams vigour and strength of body as the Eagles Psal. 103. 5. or it may rather seem that Abraham took Keturah in Sarabs life-time within those thirty seven yeares between the birth of Isaac and her death seeing Keturah is called his Concubine 1 Chron. 1. 32. V. 18. Oh that Ishmael Ch. 16. 10. V. 19. Isaac Laughter Chap. 21. 6. V. 21. My Covenant Thirteen times named in this chapter Luke 1. 72 73 74. with Isaac Ch. 21. 12. Rom. 9. 7 8. Gal. 3. 29. at this set time Ch 18. 10. This was just a yeare before Isaacs birth V. 22. Went up Ascending vanished out of his sight so from Jacob ch 35. 13. so from Manoah and his wife Judg. 13. 20. V. 23. In the self-same day Of the command not eight dayes after V. 24. When he was circumcised By whom Abraham was circumcised is not set down But he is said to circumcise the rest v. 23. some say that now the Jewes use Chirurgions in this service CHAP. XVIII Verse 1. PLaines O. Oak-grove of Mamre Ch. 13. 18. 14. 13. 23. 19. V. 2. Three men So in his thought and in appearance But thus he entertained Angels at unawares Heb. 13. 2. But one of them is called Jehova 13 14 17 20 22. And after Abraham so acknowledgeth him v. 25 27. The other two were created Angels Ch 19. 1. V. 3. Lord Speakes to one of them in shew the chief V. 6. Three measures Jewes write that their measure which they call Seah the Greeks Saton containes as much as one hundred fourty foure Hens egges about two gallons and 1 2 of our measure three of these measures make an Ephah containing about seven gallons and 1 2 V. 8. And they did eate Ch. 19. 3. They had true bodies for the time and did truly eate Though a Spirit hath not flesh and bones Luke 24. 39. yet Spirits may and by Gods dispensation sometimes do assume humane bodies V. 9. Where is Sarah thy wife Thus they begin to manifest themselves to be more then men V. 10. He said Jehova v. 13. returne Not by apparition again but by performance of promise ch 21. 1. according to the time of life From this time according as the time of life is between conception and birth so many moneths as a woman goes with childe Rom. 9. 9. This Promise argued more then men V. 11. After the manner of women Rom 4. 19. Heb. 11. 11. V. 12. Laughed Not as Abraham ch 17. 17. but through weaknesse of saith and therefore it is reproved v. 13. yet commended Heb. 11. 11. after sure she did better recollect her self Luk. 1 45. after she laughed for joy ch 21. 6. within her self Not outwardly and openly which haply made her the more readily deny it V. 13. And the Lord said Jehova said Christ so v. 17. He knew her thoughts themselves fâ—ying shall I c She used if not the very same words yet to the same sense V. 15. Denied for she was afraid Weaknesses and failings in Saints V. 16. Toward Sodom As going thither the two Angels did so ch 19. 1. V. 17. Shall I hide Amos 3. 7. Joh. 15. 15. Abraham a Prophet ch 20 7. and a friend 2 Chron. 20. 7. V. 19. He will command Duty of Parents and Masters of families and example to them Gen. 28. 1. Deut 6. 7. 11. 10. 32. 46. Job 1. 5. Prov. 6. 20. V. 20. Sodom and Gomorrah Admah and Zeboim Deut. 29. 23. Hos. 11. 8. V. 21. I will go down and see God speaks after the manner of men as ch 11. 5 7. V. 22. And the men Two of the three
verse 8 and with the boughs and branches thereof purging and pruning them and making them fruitful and the smell of thy nose Or nostrils the breath that thence proceedeth shall be sweet odoriferous and grateful to those at least that have their inward senses habitualy and spiritualy exercised causing the lips Hyperbolicaly verse 9 but excellently expressing the vertue and efficacie the power and vigour of the Word and Gospel preached under the similitude of the best wine and the operation of it They that have tasted of the power of the good Word of God and of the world to come cannot forbear to declare and speak of it to â—ll the world Acts IV. 20. and II. 4 11 14. I am my Beloveds The Churches renewed speech and profession verse 10 upon Christs so great commendations of her and affections towards her notwithstanding her former faylings and imperfections She growes up to this confident assurance Come She is emboldened hereupon to these Petitions following verse 11 that he will accompany her to visit the particular Churches that his spirit and care may joyne together to prosper hers for the good of all the Churches She will not now go any way ot do any thing without him and his companie She had lately felt the sorrow and smart of his absence from her of her being without him and his presence She is minded now as Barâ—k was Judg. IV. 8. my loves The fruition of my graces verse 21 the fruits of my faith hope love good works thanksgivings c. She will detaine nothing that is hers from the love and service of Christ but resigne all unto him who is worthy alone to enjoy all The mandrakes See the Annotations on Gen. verse 13 XXX 14. at our gates c. This may seeme to allude to the order of strawing the wedding-house doores with sweet smelling flowers or of laying up of fruits in gate-houses and garners for thee All for Christ. He gives all to them all his offices and efficacies all his merits and graces what he did and suffered was for them and they returne all to him all that they are and have all that they do and suffer all their good works and services as fruits of his owne Graces in them they ascribe and devote unto him Psal. CXV 1. that he may be Ali in All. In this last Chapter the Church proceeds to her dearest wishes for and after Christ How she faine would have him and use him in the three first verses And in the next verse she againe chargeth others not to disturbe or displease him as my brother That she might have more close conjunction and consociation with him chapter VIII verse 1 more intire familiarity and sweetnesse more intimate union and communion with him kisse thee Chap. I. 2. Psal. II. 12. and publikely professe thee notwithstanding any danger yet they should not despise me 2 Sam. VI. 22. not dishearten me from duty and affection but she would bravely sleight all scorning Michols all contumelies and contempts for her conscience sake and Christs sake 〈◊〉 mothers house The universal Church she calls her her mother verse 2 in her universal latitude of al her members yea somtimes comprehending in that notion Christ the head also as v. 5. And so again in the New Testament the whole Church in all her members with her head Christ is called Christ i. e. mystical Christ 1 Cor. XII 12. Thither from without would she bring him with solemnity and joy and there humbly welcome and entertaine his presence with all honour and obedience instruct me The Church would do it instrumentaly and subordinately from God primarily and originaly John VI. 45. Esay LIV. 13. Jer. XXXI 34. of spiced wine Prov. IX 2. This should be her hospitality and kindnesse to Christ nothing too dear for him as he doth the like for her Esay LV. 1 2 3. who is this verse 5 c. Chap. III. 6. Some would have this to be the speech of the Church some of Christ some of the Angels that cometh up Sure whosoever speaks it this is meant of the Church it is she comes up There are continual ascensions in the hearts of Gods people whiles here they are ever aspiring to heaven-ward from the wildernesse Of this world and the tribulations of it of sin and the temptations and miseries of it Leaning For otherwise without him she could not ascend No more then the Vine without its supporter or the Ivy without its Oak And leanes truly not as those Micah III. 11. And leanes wholy and solely upon him utterly unbottomed of her self and of every creature All other are but as Job VI. 17. and VIII 15. and Esay XXXVI 6. I raised thee up c. Some understand these words as spoken by the Church and in answer to Christs question That namely I is she her self and no other even she that raised him up and awoke him from under the apple-tree by her prayers as Psal. XLIV 23. Matth. VIII 25. Esay LXII 7. And there by acts of faith and beleeving on the promise did after a sort conceive bear and bring him forth And that it is she also that in the extreme height and heat of her love and zeal so prayes to him and so professes as is in the two verses following Others under stand all these words as spoken by Christ to the Church whose grace alone did and doth raise up his Church depressed and fallen under the tree of offence after the eating of the forbidden fruit lying in her blood as it is Ezek. XVI 5 6. then and there he said unto her and be the mother of the living as Gen. III. 20. And so they make the rest of the words to be his command to his Church naturaly following as her duty from the consideration of his foresaid benefits to her vouchsafed But yet however the words in the fifth verse be taken I do rather incline to understand the words in the six and seven verses to be the Churches by reason of their masculine idiome She so begging Christs dearest love to her and so professing her own love to him as riding in a Chariot o triumph victorious over all oppositions unconquerable unquenchable And such indeed is the Divine mutual love between Christ and his Church thus exalted to the highest Set me as a seale Have me in precious esteeme verse 6 bear me on thy breast and shoulders as Aaron did the Tribes Exod. XXVIII 11 12 20 21 29 30. Thus she begs to be highly remembered preserved honoured by Christ in his heart dearly cherished and valued by his arme mightily defended strong as death Death conquers all is the King of terrors Job XVIII 14. yet Love as strong as death Jonathan would have died for the love of David and David for Absalom See Rom. XVI 4. Apoc. XII 11. She would not refuse to die for him but shall die if he grant not her desire Wherein the irresistible and undaunted vigour and courage of holy love and