Neither this Man sinned nor his Parents Rom. 3. 10. There is none righteous no not one none that understandeth The cause of his blindenesse was no notable and enormous wikednesse of himself or his parents though all men be sinners and for their sins infirmities and defects of nature are ohnoxious to temporal and eternal punishments 739. Joh. 9. 31. God heareth not sinners 1. Joh. 1. 9. If we confesse our sins God is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all our sins God hears not impenitent sinners obdurate in their wickednesse but to such as repent confesse and amend their lives he pardons their sins 740. Joh. 9. 39. For Judgment I am come into this world chap. 3. 17. chap. 12. 40. 47. I came not to judge the world but to save the world In the former place by Judgement is meant a benefit given to men by the coming of Christ by which he brought those things to good order that were out of order in the latter Christ speaks of his principal end of his coming into the world 741. Joh. 9. 41. If you were blind you should have no sin Rom. 11. 25. Blindnesse is hapned unto Israel In the first place Christs speak of the Jews according to the opinion they had of themselves for they did not acknowledge any blindnesse of their minds or their sins in the latter what was the truth of them indeed blindnesse hapned to them not that they should all perish but that many multitudes of the Gentiles might be converted and saved so well as the Jews 742. Joh. 10. 28. My sheep shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand chap. 13. 18. Judas was chosen to be of Christs sheep and yet perished Election in the first place is meant to eternal life in the latter to an Office Judas was Christs sheep only by outward vocation and profession 743. Joh. 10. 29. My Father is greater ver 30. I and my Father are one Christ is equal to God the Father according to his Divine Nature lesse then the Father according to his humane Nature and his Office of Mediatorship between God and Man 744. Joh. 10. 32. Many good works have I shewed you from my Father chap. 14. 10. The Father that dwelleth in me he doth the works In the former place Christ speaks not exclusively because the works of the Trinity outwardly are common to the three Persons there is no work of the Son which the Father doth not work in him In the latter he ascribing operation to the Father he asserts that it is done by the authority and counsel of his Father so speaking of the manner and order of working he takes not away the unity of essence Majesty and power 745. Joh. 11. 4. Lazarus sicknesse was not unto death vers 14. Lazarus is dead The sicknesse of Lazarus by reason of the event was not unto death because Christ raised him again and saith that his death was but a sleep for we are not so early awaked from sleep as Christ called Lazarus out of his grave and he shall raise us all at the last day 746. Joh. 11. 25. He that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live vers 26. He that believeth in me shall never dye Death is temporal and eternal temporal in this world is corporal and spiritual Christ speaks of both in the former place Spiritual death is either of them who being dead have not Christs quickning Spirit and of this he speaks not here but of them that being quickned by Christs Spirit are dead to sin and the flesh in the latter is meant chiefly eternal death 747. Joh. 11. 26. Whosoever believeth in me shall never dye Heb. 9. 27. It is appointed for all men once to dye The faithful doe not dye a spiritual and eternal death but natural death is common to all men 748. Joh. 11. 34. Where have you laid him chap. 21. 17. Thou knowest all things Christ enquired of Lazarus his grave not as if he were ignorant thereof but that he might stir up a desire in his sisters and those that were present to consider and to see the Miracle of the Resurrection So God said to Adam Gen. 3. 9. Adam where art thou 749. Joh. 11. 50. Caiphas a wicked man prophesied by the instinct of the Spirit Rom. 8. 14. As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God The gifts of Gods Spirit are of Sanctification and Salvation and those are proper to the elect children of God or gifts of administration which are common to good and bad men amongst which is the gift of Prophesie 750. Joh. 12. 27. Father save me from this hour Phil. 2. 8. He became obedient unto death Christ feeling the sins of the world lying upon him feared death as he was man and desired rather to live then dye if that might have been granted without detriment to Gods glory and our salvation but because it was not possible that that Cup should passe from him he submitted himself to his Fathers will and said Therefore came I unto this hour 751. Joh. 12. 30. Now shall the Prince of this world be cast out Ephes 6. 12. We have yet war with the Prince of this world That casting out was out of the hearts of the faithful whom though the Devill doe tempt and oppose many wayes yet he cannot vanquish them but is cast out also Christ respects the casting out of the Devill whilest both Jews and Gentiles amongst whom the Devill reigned were called to the grace of Christ by his coming 752. Joh 13. 27. After the sop Satan entred into him Vers 2. And Supper being ended the Devill having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot The first place is of totall possessing when after so many admonitions from Christ and so many humane favours received Judas yet continued in his purpose of betraying Christ he is delivered to Satan to be ruled so that he could think on nothing that was sound and good 753. Joh. 13. 37. A new Commandement I give unto you that you love one the other Mat. 22. 37. This was the greatest Commandement in the Old Testament to love God and our Neighbour It is called a new Commandement not by reason of the substance but because Christ renewed it and the singular affection of love which Christ requires in his followers as he loved them and gave himself for them so he would that they should love one the other with singular affection 754. Joh. 14. 4. Whither I goe ye know and the way ye know vers 5. We know not They did know inchoatively and imperfectly but because they knew not that they did know the cause was their rudenesse and forgetfulnesse of Christs words 755. Joh. 14. 8. Shew us the Father vers 9. He that seeth me seeth the Father The Apostles did not perfectly know Christ therefore he taxeth them of ignorance for they ought to have seen and
institution 17. Gen. 3. 6. The woman saw that the tree was good for food Vers 7. And the eyes of them both were opened First she saw with the eyes of her body the tree and the fruit that was good to eat but at length both their eyes were opened spiritually when they knew their sin and transgression of the law of God 18. Gen. 3 12. The woman gave to the man of the tree and he did eat 1 Tim. 2. 14. And Adam was not deceived but the woman The woman became for prevarication to the man for by her he was deceived and not by the Serpent as she was Aug. l. 11. de Gen. ad lit c. ult 19. Gen. 3. 16. Thy desire shall be to thy husband and he shall rule over thee 1 Cor. 7. 4. The 1 Cor. 11. 2. husband hath not power over his own body but the wife The woman is under the power of the man in oeconomicall government whilst she obeyeth and is subject as the body is to the head but in conjugal union the man hath not power of his own body 20. Gen. 3. 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread Mat. 6. 11. Give us this day our dayly bread In the first place punishment and a laborious Prov. 10. 22. life is denounced against man idlenesse is condemned and Gods blessing is promised because a man is born to labour as a bird to Deut. 8. 3. Mat. 4. 4. flying nor is it repugnant to honest labour to desire those things which are necessary for the sustentation of our life for it is not labour but the blessing of God which maketh rich God can feed us without bread as he sed Moses Elias Christ but bread cannot feed us without God 21. Gen. 3. 19. For dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return Ecclus. 10. 12. A man when he dyeth shall inherit creeping things beasts and wormes c. A man though he be consumed by Serpents Job wormes beasts toads yet at last he is brought into the dust of the earth 22. Gen. 4. 1. Eve bear Gain and said I have gotten a man from the Lord. 1 Joh. 3. 12. Not as Psal 128. Cain who was of that wicked one Eve in childbearing acknowledged Gods blessing and by way of thankfulnesse she offered the first fruits of her labours to God John speaks not of the person of Cain which was created by God but of his wickednesse that came from the Devill 23. Gen. 4. 4. And Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock Chap. 4. 26. Seth began to call upon the name of the Lord. Adam with his sons before Seth offered sacrifice and called on the name of the Lord in his family but publick invocation began in Seth in whose posterity the Church remained the Canaanites being rejected 24. Gen. 4 7. Vnto thee shall be his desire and thou shalt rule over him Psal 37. 23. Prov. 16. 9. Jer. 10. 23. The way of man is not in himself In the first place it is said what a man ought Rom. 6. 12. to do Let not sin raigne in your mortall body In the latter place it is declared that a man of himself can do nothing in divine and saving mateers 25. Gen. 4. 15. Whosoever slayeth Cain vengeance shall be taken on him seven fold Chap. 9. 6. Whosoever sheddeth mans bloud by man shall his bloud be shed God is the wisest and freest law-giver therefore he would not have Cain killed by reason of propagation of mankind after the flood he gave the law that the Magistrate should punish a Murderer with death 26. Gen. 4. 16. And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord. Psal 139. 7. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence Cain being made a runnagate left his parents and their habitation and the place where they worshipped God In the Psalm Gods omnipresence is maintained 27. Gen. 5. 24. And Enoch walked with God for God took him Rom. 8. 8. They that are in the flesh cannot please God Enoch walking with God lived according to Gods will the Apostle by the flesh here understandeth men that walke after their carnall lusts 28. Gen. 5. 24. Enoch was not for God took him Heb. 9. 27. It is appointed for all men once to die Enochs translation was a work extraordinary it was to him in the place of death as the 1 Cor. 15. 53. 1 Thes 4. 17. taking away of Elias and the translation of those who in the last day shall be saved alive But the Apostle sheweth what must ordinarily befall all men the consequence is not good from a singular priviledge to a generall rule 29. Gen. 6. 3. His dayes shall be 120 yeares Chap. 11. 13. Arphaxad and others after the flood lived above 400 years In the first place the space of time betwixt manifest impiety and the flood and not the age of man is to be understood as if he had said unlesse the world repent they shall perish within Aug. l. 13. De civ dei 1 Sam. 15. 11. 120 years 30. Gen 6. 6. It repented the Lord that he had made man 1 Sam. 15. 29. God is not a man that he should repent Repentance as it is an argument of mans weaknesse so can it not fall upon God but the Scripture often speaks of God after the manner of men and where it is said that it repented God there is meant the change of Aug. l. 1. c. 7. De civ dei Psal 131. things God still remaining unchangeable 31. Gen 6. 9 Noah was a just man and perfect 2 Pet. 2. 5. Psal 13. 3. There is none that doth good no not one Rom. 3. 12 Heb. 11. Noah was just before God by faith and unblameable in the sight of men he is said to be perfect not as though he were without sin but in comparison of others he had his conversation holy and without hypocrisie 32. Gen. 7. 2. Of every clean beast thou shalt take Lev. 11. 1. Moses divided the clean beasts from the unclean The Patriarchs before the flood had a distinction in their sacrifices between clean and unclean living creatures By the Mosaicall law not onely for sacrifices but for meat the use of the unclean was forbidden 33. Gen. 7. 6. Noah was 600 years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth Chap. 5. 32. Noah when he was 500 years old made the Arke in 120 years The 500 years of Noah were not yet compleat when he began to make the arke the Scripture useth oft times to reckon the times though the years be not yet compleat as Exod. 40. 17. Num. 1. 1. Deut. 1. 4. Ezek. 1. 1. 8. 1. 20. 1. 34. Gen. 8. 1. God remembred Noah Esa 49. 1 Joh. 3. 20. 15 I will not forget thee In the fight of God all things are naked and open he knows all things remembrance and forgetfulnesse are attributed to him by
Kingdome is eternal and without end not as Davids earthly Kingdome was for a few dayes but it must be continued for ever in the Person of Christ and the faithful after a spiritual manner he shall deliver the Kingdome to the Father not that he shall no longer rule with the Father but because after this world is ended he will fully joyn us to his Father and will govern his Church otherwise then it is now governed 665. Luk. 1. 36. Elizabeth Maries Cousin ver 5. She was of the daughters of Aaron Luk. 2. 5. Mary was of the Tribe of Judah of the house of David In Scripture they are called Cousins though they are not all of the same family so vulgarly Anna is affirmed to be the Mother of Mary and the sister of Elizabeth 666. Luk. 1. 44. The babe leaped in my womb for joy that is John Baptist in the womb of his Mother when Mary came to her Joh. 1. 31. I knew him not saith John Christ was known to John before by internal and spiritual knowledge but John knew him externally and corporally in his baptism 667. Luk. 1. 67. Zacharias prophesied being full of the holy Ghost Joh. 7. 39. The holy Ghost was not yet because Christ was not yet glorified The first place is meant of the gift and Spirit of Prophesie the latter place is concerning the visible and wonderful effusion of gifts of the holy Ghost upon the Apostles after Christs glorification 668. Luk. 2. 11. There is born to you a Saviour in the City of David which is Christ the Lord. 1 Pet. 3. 21. Baptism doth save us Subalternates doe not disagree Christ makes his people safe from their sins principally as the efficient meritorious cause Baptism serves but instrumentally and not alwayes for it is not the want of baptism but the contempt which condemns us 669. Luk. 2. 33. His Father and Mother marvelled at those things Mat. 1. 8. Jesus according to his humanity no Father Heb. 7. 3. according to his Divinity had no Mother The Father of Jesus Christ Joseph was only so for his care but not really and naturally so for he was appointed by God to be a keeper of the Virgin Mary espoused to him and her Son and Christ being a little child gave him honour and reverence due to a Father The Virgin Mary was his natural Mother according to the flesh for he received his humane nature of her substance 670. Luk. 2. 34. Simeon blessed him Heb. 7. 7. The lesser is blessed of the better Simeon prayed well for Mary congratulating her concerning her happy and blessed Off-spring and by a Prophetique Spirit fore-shewing the hard successe she and her Son should have but he did not prefer himself before them 671. Luk. 3. 7. The Baptist cals the Pharisees a generation of Vipers Mat. 5. 22. He that saith to his brother Thou Fool shall be in danger of Hell fire John Baptist cals them not so reproachfully out of an ill affection but from his Office because such were full of poyson and malice working the Viperous works of the Devil the old Serpent So the Ministers of the Church must publickly complain of the sins of the people 672. Luk. 5. 10. Fear not from henceforth thou shalt catch men Joh. 1. 42. Andrew brought Simon his brother to Christ Simon is brought by Andrew to follow Christ and to professe the Gospel by a general call but Christ cals him by a special call to the Sacred Function about the matter of Fishing 673. Luk. 6. 1. And it came to passe on the second Sabbath after the first that he went through the Corn fields Mat. 12. 1. At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn The Jews called the eight day of the great solemnity the second Sabbath after the first for some of their Feasts lasted for eight dayes and the first day with the eight day were the most solemn and the intermediate days not so much regarded moreover they were called Sabbaths 674. Luk. 6. 25. Woe to you that laugh now for you shall mourn and weep Joh. 16. 22. Your heart shall rejoyce and your joy no man taketh from you In the first place the pleasures and delights of the world are understood by the name of laughter the end whereof is alwayes sorrow in the latter place is meant joy in Christ by the holy Ghost which is heavenly and eternall 675. Luk. 6. 26. Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you Mat. 5. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 12. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven Woe be to them who do only so that they may please the world and desire the praise of men flattering the wicked and winking at their sins that they may get favour But not to them who like a light are an example of good works and a godly life to others 676. Luk. 6. 30. Give to every man that asketh Eccles 12. 4. Give to the godly and help not a sinner hold back thy bread and give it not unto him Christ will have that we shall doe good to our friends and to our enemies though they be wicked and ingrateful by the example of our merciful heavenly Father and if we give not to the person yet give to his Nature as he is a man A place of Ecclesiasticus may not be opposed to Canonical Scripture who will have him that craves an alms to be humble shutting out the wicked and obstinate in malice who abuse the beneficence of good men 677. Luk. 7. 13. Weep not Eccles 38. 16. Let tears fall down over the dead Christ comforts the widow who wept for the death of her onely son because her son should suddenly live again But Christ disallows not moderate weeping for the death of our neighbour only we must not mourn as those that have no hope 678. Luk. 8. 39. Return to thy house and shew how great things God hath done unto thee c. 5. 14. He commands the Leper that he should tell no man Christ commanded him that was possessed with the Devil to tell what benefits God had done for him because the time the place and other circumstances required that but he sent the leprous party who was cleansed to the Priest that he might approve of the cure 679. Luk. 10. 4. Salute no man by the way Rom. 16. 16. Salute one the other with an holy kiss The Churches of Christ salute you Phil. 4. 22. The Saints Christ will have his Disciples diligent in dispatch of their Office that they should not hinder the course of their Ministery with long discourses and salutations but should fulfil their journey in a short time such a command gave Elias to his servant which denyeth not our Christian duty and humane good manners to salute one the other 680. Luk. 10. 18. I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven Joh. 8. 44. The Devill was a Murderer from
labour shall not be lost 963. Gal. 5. 17. The flesh lusteth against the spirit Eph. 6. 12. We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers Flesh is taken in the first place for our corrupt nature in the later for men whose nature is frail and weak nor is our chief conflict with those but with spirituall powers which use many deceits and make many incursions upon the faithfull 964. Gal. 5. 24. They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections Eph. 5. 29. No man ever yet hated his own flesh The first place is not concerning the nature of the flesh but the desire of the regenerate man who cares not for the affections of the flesh will not serve his belly his pleasures the world or worldly delights the later is concerning self-love naturall to us all and the Apostle speaking of the wife useth the name of flesh because they are both made one flesh 965. Gal. 6. 2. Bear ye one anothers burdens ver 5. Every man shall bear his own burden In the first place is spoken of the faults and infirmities of our brethren which are indeed a burden to us yet we must bear them by sympathy and the rule of charity will have it so that all of us help our brethren and tolerate their infirmities to lift up such as are down to hide their faults so much as may be and is fitting Thou hast this fault and not that another Theoderez man hath another fault do thou bear his fault let him bear thine and so fulfill the love of charity be not curious in other mens faults for every man shall give account of his own 966. Gal. 6. 4. Let every man prove his works 1 Cor. 3. 13. The fire shall try every mans work In the first place is intimated what is our duty to make our works approved to God in the later place the fire signifies either the holy Ghost or afflictions by which we are tried The Epistle of St PAUL to the EPHESIANS HE commemorates the benefits of God which are part and recites our Election Redemption Sanctification Vocation into the Church Justification by faith our future inheritance of eternall life and our duties in generall of us all in speciall of married people and unmarried of Parents of Children of Masters and of servants It was written from Rome in the Year of Christ 59. and sent by Tychicus 967. Eph. 1. 7. In whom we have redemption Rom. 8. 18. We wait for future glory and the redemption of our bodies We have redemption in Christ from the guilt of sinne by our justification we expect a full redemption from inherent sinnes in our glorification for Christ shall transform our mortall bodies that he may make them like to his glorious body that as we are one with him here in soul and body by grace so we may be also in glory 968. Eph. 3. 5. The mystery of Christs incarnation was in other ages unknown to men Col. 1. 5. You have heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel It was unknown to the Fathers under the Law in respect of fulnesse and clearnesse of knowledge revealed since Christ came and it was made manifest to the whole world by the Ministry of the Apostles 969. Eph. 3. 15. All paternity is named from God the Father Joh. 8. 44. The devil is the father of lies God is the Father of heavenly and earthly paternity the devil is excluded from these for he hath no such paternity but as he is the Authour he is called the Father of a lie 970. Eph. 4. 19. The Gentiles gave themselves over to lasciviousnesse to work all uncleannesse Rom. 1. 28. God gave them over to a reprobate minde The Gentiles gave themselves over in regard of their sinnes God gave them over in regard of punishment 971. Eph. 5. 25. Husbands love your wives Luk. 14 26. Wives are to be beloved as they are wives but if they hinder us from following Christ they are to be hated with such a hatred as proceeds not from anger but zeal to Gods glory 972. Eph. 5. 33. Let the wife see that she reverence Deut. 6. 13. her husband Matth. 10. 28. Rather fear God Fear in respect of God must be guided the same way that love must God must be beloved above all not excluding fear which is due to others 973. Eph. 5. 1. Be ye followers of God 1 Cor. 11. 1. Be ye followers of me The Apostle warns the Ephesians to be followers of God for by that they shall fructifie the more Ae exhorts the Corinthians to follow him that as he followed Christ so they would learn of him as if he would have said If you cannot follow Christ yet follow me at least that am his servant 974 Eph 5. 26. Christ hath cleansed his Church by the washing of water by the word 1 John 1. 7. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sins Christ purgeth away our spots with his blood as with water by the Word and Sacraments as by instruments he communicates to us the power of his death 975. Eph. 6. 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood Gal. 5. 17. The spirit and the flesh are contrary In the former place mention is made of our principall and capitall enemy that is the devil in the later of the concupiscence of our corrupt flesh and the strife of it against the Spirit The Epistle of St PAUL to the PHILIPPIANS HE exhorts them to patience and not to be offended with his chains but that they should live patiently in mutuall love and take heed of false Teachers and study to lead a life unblameable Written from Rome by Epaphreditus 976. Phil. 2. 7. He was made in the likenesse of man and was found in fashion as a man 2 Cor. 5. 16. Henceforth know we Christ no more after the flesh The first place is concerning Christs true humanity who after his humiliation was exalted of God above all creatures and made to be Lord in the glory of the Father 977. Phil. 2. 9. God hath given him a Name which is above every name Matth. 1. 21. In his conception Luk. 2. 21. In his Circumcision they called his name Jesus By the Name above all names is understood Majesty and glory given from God the Father Mat. 1. 22. unto Jesus Christ our Lord. In his conception he was called Jesus because he shall save his people from their sinnes 978. Phil. 2. 12. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling 2 Tim. 1. 12. I am certain because the Lord is able to keep that which I committed unto him The Apostle means fear and trembling not that which is servile but filiall which is opposed to presumption and security least we should grow insolent upon the confidence of our gifts but that we should altogether depend on the mercy and goodnesse of God 979. Phil. 3. 12. Not as though I were already perfect ver 15. So many