Observations on Deut. verse 6 III. 9. but a moment Esay XXVI chapter XXX verse 5 20. and LIV. 7 8. in my blood By any violent death verse 9 through Sauls means into thy hands Luke XXIII chapter XXXI verse 5 46. 1 Pet. IV. 19. My times And troubles verse 15 and changes therein O how great Esay LXIV verse 19 4. 1 Cor. II. 9. in a As in a fensed Citie verse 21 in my hast 1 Sam. XXIII 26. verse 22 Or in my hasty thoughts through the extremity of my imminent instant danger So Psal. LXXVII 7. c. 2 Cor. I. 8 9. yet this might stand mixed with faith as Psal. XXII 1. And as Fear and Confidence are not altogether inconsistent Phil. II. 12. Heb. III. 6 14. Blessed Saint Paul chapter XXXII verse 1 Rom. IV. 6 7 8. alledgeth this to prove justification by Faith without Works Faith and Works are inseparable Ephes. II. 8 9 10. James II. 14 17 18 20 26. That Faith which is without Works is dead no true Faith But Faith onely acteth in the point of our justification before God applying Christ and the Promises beleeving according to the Covenant of the Gospel whereby Christ doth become ours his righteousnesse our justification and all the benefits of his redemption do redound and amount to our salvation imputeth Frequent is the use of this word in the point of justification verse 2 mule See the Annotations on Gen. verse 9 XXXVI 24. neer unto thee To hurt thee or not neer to thee to do thee service unlesse forced by the bridle Iam. III 3. Harp Invented by Iubal chapter XXXIII verse 2 Gen. IV. 21. made by Solomon of Almug trees 1 Kings X. 12. called the pleasant Harp Psal. LXXXI 2 much used for mirth and joy Gen. XXXI 27. Iob XXI 12. Esay V. 12. Ezek. XXVI 13. And much used in Gods worship and service in the praising of him by ordinance in the Temple 1 Chron. XV. 21. and XXV 1 3 6. And upon other religious occasions◠both publike as 1 Sam. X. 5. 2 Sam. VI. 5. 1 Chron. XV. 16. 2 Chron. V. 12. Nehem. XII 27. and private wherein David excelled 1 Sam. XVI 16 23. and abounded Psal. LVII 8. and CVIII 3. And much in holy use with others also as here and so XLIII 4. and LXXI 22. and XCVIII 5. And of spiritual harps we read in the Revelation chap. V. 8. and XIV 2. and XV. 2. Psalterie Or Lute or Viol. In Hebrew Nebel Whence the Greeks and Latines seeme to have the names of their instruments Nablium Naulon a new Song So Psal. XL. 3. verse 3 and XCVI 1. and XCVIII 1. and CXLIV 9. New still upon new and fresh occasions renued As Love is said to be both an old and a new Commandment Yet in Scripture phrase very much Things appertaining to the times of the Gospel are called New as a New Covenant Heb. VIII 13. a New Testament 1 Cor. XI 25. a New Ierusalem Apoc. III. 12. New Heavens and a New Earth Esay LXV 17. a New name a New man Eph. II. 15. Esay LXII 2. a New Commandment John XIII 34. a New way Heb. X. 28. a New heart Ezek. XXXVI 26. yea and all things New 2 Cor. V. 17. Apoc. XXI 5. See that Song Luke II. 14. Abimelech The common name of the Kings of the Philistines chapter XXXIV signifying my-father-King Achish being the proper name for this King of Gath a Citie of the Philistines 1 Sam. XXI 10. The LVI Psalme is also upon this same occasion And this one of the Alphabetical Psalmes Only Zain is omitted and Phe twice used They looked unto him To God verse 5 and to his dealing with David afflictions They serve to them as cures verse 19 or preservatives from spiritual evils Psal. CXIX 67 71. Heb. XII 6 c. not one of them is broken See Exod. verse 20 XII 46. Num. IX 12. John XIX 36. The sense here is more general Let them See the Observations on Psal. chapter XXXV verse 4 CIX False witnesses Mat. verse 11 XXVI 59. my prayer returned Though they got no good by it verse 13 yet I did my darling Psal. XXVI 20 23. verse 17 within my heart I verily beleeve it of them chapter XXXVI verse 1 by reason of their heinous transgressions which indeed proclaime it not good Extremely bad verse 4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See the Observations on Prov. XX. 23. great mountains Mountains of God verse 6 See the Observations on Jonah III. 3. and on 1 Sam. XIV 15. The matter of this Psalme chapter XXXVII or the first maine part of it is that grand point of the prosperity of the wicked and afflictions of the godly in this life and of Gods Providence therein Heathens have much debated this matter Job is much upon it as chap. XXI 7. c. and chap. XXIV and chap. XXVII and in other places Divers other Psalmes also insist upon it more or lesse as Psal. XLIX and LXXIII and XC Jeremie professedly chap. XII 1. c. And Habakkuk somewhat chap. I. 13. The case in point of fact is plain and undeniable The Providence Wisdome and Justice of God in it is a Mystery to man Yet to the Christian who believes the Resurrection of the body and eternal life things not so clearly revealed in the infancie of the Church the difficulty is now soone dissolved And the well and wise weighing of the point by an Heathen or natural man may much availe him for his further and better information in matters of great consequence and concernment See the Annotations on Psal. XLI 1. The greatest doubt arising hence to the godly may seeme to be this How these same occurrences of administrations in Gods Providence may stand with such constant continual and abundant promises of Gods blessings in temporal things to the godly in this life 1 Tim. IV. 8. and with his like threatnings of plagues and punishments to the wicked in this world The issue will be That these Promises and Threatnings specialy under the Law are spoken to vulgar capacities in those times and yet have their exceptions and limitations in the Word And that the prosperity of the wicked is but a seeming prosperity and a short and momentany prosperity in relation to eternity and many wayes disadvantageous and hurtful to them and ends with an overthrow suddaine and terrible and everlasting And again That the affliction of the godly is but momentany nothing to eternity and mainly profitable for the work of Grace here more then abundantly recompensing and over-poizing their afflictions and for the increase of Glory hereafter Yet super-adding this That Gods wisdome and wayes of Providence are not commensurate with mans finite and shallow capacity Psal. XXXVI 6. Rom. XI 33. Gen. XVIII 25. Esay LV. 8 9. Fret not Another Alphabetical Psalme verse 1 Wherein not every verse but every second verse begins with the letter of the Hebrew Alphabet in order Only verse 7 20 29 34. stand single in their
making this voice and noise by his Almighty power in the coole of the day Coole winde at evening tyde which brought the voice and noise to their hearing hid themselves With as much folly as faultinesse through the horror and amazednesse wherewith they were stricken at Gods approach V. 10. I heard He toucheth not but dissembleth the true and maine cause V. 11. hast thou eatâ—n c q. â— I appeale to thy conscience whether this be not the true cause of thy fear and present shame at thy nakednesse now V. 13. What is this c How heynous an offence as chap 44. 15. V. 14. unto the Serpent Curseth him as the Devils instrument Such is Gods hatred of sinne punishing the bare instruments of it as in Exod 32. 20. Levit 20. 15 16. as a father breaks the sword wherewith his childe was shine Yet this curse upon the Serpent is so expressed as fitly in a Mystical sense relates to and includes the curse inflicted on the Devil the chief agent and author upon thy belly This going on his belly and feeding on dust was not the natural gate and food of the Serpent before For he is numbered among the beasts chap. 3. 1. distinguished from creeping things chap. 1. 25. And the greene herbs was given him for meate chap. 1. 30. But now he is adjudged to go on his belly and breast and that with more paine and difficulty then other creeping things As to Adams labours and Eves conception and sujection to her husband paine and â—orrow were added for their sinne And for meat he must lick the dust Miâ—â—h 7. 17. Esay 65. 22. Whence they are called Serpents of the dust Deut. 32. 24. The Sovereignty of Gods power and authority over all his creatures doth clear the justnesse of his proceeding and doome here against all Serpents V. 15. enmity A natural antipathy betweene Mankinde and Serpents A greater enmity betweene Mankinde and the Devil His enmity to Mankinde is too apparent And mans to him so farre as he is rightly knowne and discerned to be the Devil though by his cunning conveyances as here with Eve he reignes since the fall as a God over a great part of Mankinde 1 Cor. 4. 4. It Or He the World for Seed and the Verb for shall break being both in the Hebrew of the masculine gender pointing to Christ the Seed of a woman Gal. 4 4. Luke 1. 42. 2. 7. the promised Seed Gal. 3. 16. who destroyed the Devil Heb. 2. 14. John 12. 31 and his works 1 John 3. 8. triumphing over him on his Crosse Col. 2. 15. And in Christ our Head we resist and overcome the Devil 1 Pet. 5. 9. 1 John 2. 13 14. The God of Peace bruising Satan under our feet Rom. 16. 20. V. 16. thy desire Shall be subject to thine husband as Gen. 4. 7. As Abels to Cain as the first-borne and he shall rule over thee By Creation she was to live in subordination to man 1 Tim. 2. 13. 1 Cor. 11. 9. But now a further rule in the man and desire of subjection in the woman is required here as a punishment or chastisement on her then he had over her by Creation and with more grief unto woman-kinde 1 Tim. 2. 12. 1 Pet. 3. 1 5 6. 1 Cor. 14. 34. Tit. 2. 5. V. 17. Cursed is the ground The earth which he gave to the children of men Psal. 115. 16. and to their use is now by Curse made more unprofitable to them and their use verse 18 19. chap. 5. 29. Yea the Creature was made subject to vanity by mans sin subject to a vanishing flitting and perishing estate subject to the corruption and abuse of man subject to serve for the object and instrument of sin Esay 24. 5. And therefore the heavens and the earth which are now are reserved unto fire against the day of judgement 2 Pet 3. 7 10. And the whole Creation groaneth and travelleth in paine together untill now The earnest expectation of the creature waiting for the manifestation of the sonnes of God that it may be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God that all the steps and traces of that malediction put upon it for mans sin may be utterly rased out of the world and new heavens and a new earth created as the Scripture phraseth it every creature according to every ones degree and nature partaking of that glorious liberty of the children of God being fully delivered from all vanity slavery abuse and evill Rom. 8. 19 20 21 22. V. 18. the herb of the field Not the herbs and fruits of Paradise v. 23 24. V. 20. Eve Here first so called God calls her Adam chap. 5. 2. because she was To be thus Propheticaly he foretels it else it is Moses that gives the reason of the name V. 21. coats of skins In likelihood of the skins of beasts which God taught him to kill for sacrifice being that Abel did so soone sacrifice chap. 4. 4. V. 22. And now lest c. Spoken by an ironie For it was not the eating of the fruit that could recover him or preserve him from the sentence of death whereunto God for his sin had now doomed him Both the Trees were Sacraments of the first Covenant of works to confirme the Promise and threatening there unto appertaining which Sacramental tree of Life he had now nothing to do withal no right to it having broken the Covenant and incurred the Curse no more then he ought to have medled with the other Tree in the state of innocencie V. 24. drove out The day not so certainly knowne But in all probability the same day of his creation For Satan would omit no time The woman if she had beene better practised and not taken at the first would not so soone have â—râ—ed or if she had knowne the Fall of the Angels she would have suspected the more Her speech v. 2. We may eate seemes to shew that no fruit had been eaten before And doubtlesse she fell a Virgin And accordingly Jewes Caldeans Aâ—abians Greeks Latines Barbarians hold that they fell the day they were created at the East Where the entrance was into Paradise Cheruâ—ims Angels Moses in the use of this word applying himself to the capacity of the people to whom the Cherubims in the Tabernacle were well known representing the Angels In Ezekiels Vision we read of Cherubims as living creatures with wings chap. 1. 5. and 10. 1 15. In Daniel the Angel Gabriel flying and a flaming sword Haply to each if there were more Angels then one Cherubims being of the plural number We read of an Angel with a drawn sword in Davids time 1 Chron. 21. 16. which turned every way All for the more terror thatâ— man should not dare to attempt re-entrance CHAP. IV. Verse 2. ABel So the New Testament writes him Matth. 23. 35. Luke 11. 5â— Heb 11. 4. and 12. 24. The Hebrew still is Hebel Saith David Psal.
verse 16 Yet so as more eminently intending Christ. that I may plant the heavens To make a new world a new heavens and a new earth chap. LXV 17. and LXVI 22. 2 Cor. V. 17 18. 2 Pet. III. 13. Awake verse 17 awake He largely declares the deep misery of Gods people their delivery and the utter overthrow of their enemies in the residue of the Chapter To the thirteenth verse chapter LII seemes to be an Appendix to the foregoing Prophecie running all along in the same tenor with the latter part of it How beautiful These bringers of good tydings of the delivery from Babels captivity verse 7 And much more from Satans slavery by preaching the Gospel of Christ that publish salvation corporal by Cyrus spiritual by Christ. Behold verse 13 my Servant Here seemes to begin a new Sermon and continued in the end of the next Chapter joyntly making up an entire Prophecie of Christ his person parentage condition manner of life sufferings humiliation exaltation benefit redounding thence to his and to himself shut their mouthes at him In admiration verse 15 and reverence our report Chap. chapter LIII verse 1 LII 7. Unto the times of his being in the flesh we finde these words applied in John XII 37 38. Rom. X. 16. Stripes Mat. XXVI verse 5. 7. 67. and XXVII 16. Opened not his mouth Mat. XXVI 39 42. 1 Pet. II. 23. Acts VIII 32. He was taken from prison verse 8 and from judgement From all those harsh and cruel courses as under pretence of judgement were exercised upon our Saviour whereby his life was taken from him And he made his grave verse 9 c. His burial was at the disposal of wicked ones and of rich ones or Rulers at his death They not only took his life from him but disposed of his burial at their pleasure he shall Christ shall die no more verse 10. 11. but live and reigne for ever by his Knowledge Objectively The words of God the Father justifie many The maine fruit and effect of Christs Passion many So verse 12. Matth. XX. 28. and XXVI 28. Rom. V. 15 19. Therefore I will divide him God the Father will verse 12 a portion with the great and he shall God would bestow many upon him or give many unto him to be his subjects whether with an allusion to a portion of inheritance or distribution of spoils it is indifferent This intimates the numerous or rather innumerable multitude of those that should be converted unto Christ. was numbred with the transgressors Mat. XXVII 38. Marke XV. 27 28. Barrabbas let loose rather then he should be let live made intercession Luke XXIII 34. Yet may relate further to Christs intercession which still continueth Rom. VIII 34. Heb. VII 25. and IX 24. 1 John II. 1 2. Another Sermon or Prophecie chapter LIV this seemes to be distinct from the former though much of the same subject and argument and depends well upon the latter end of it For this insists upon swarmes of people that should come in to Christ and become members of his Church O barren The Church under the New Testament verse 1 that little sister Cant. VIII 8. of the desolate She that had been desolate the Church of the Gentiles then that of the Synagogue of the Jews Enlarge Thou Christian Church verse 2 when thou wast refused As in the time of the Babylonish captivity verse 6 I have sworne No expresse mention of that oath verse 9 As neither of that to Isaac Psal. CV 9. yet meanes as much as if he had taken a solemne oath as he used in such solemne Covenants nor rebuke thee To forsake thee utterly For the mountains shall depart Sooner may verse 10 tossed with tempest In the Babylonish captivity verse 11 seemingly then forsaken of man and of God thy stones with fair colours The spiritual excellencies of the Church under the Messias are here described in way of hyperbolies See the like Apoc. XXI 11 21. The stones here seeme to be those of the Pavement borders Or walls verse 12 taught of the Lord Jer. verse 13 XXXI 34. John VI. 45. 1 Cor. II. 10. 2 Cor. XIII 3. Ephes. IV. 20 21. 1 John II. 20 27. gather together To attempt against thee verse 15. 17. No weapon that is formed against thee By the Smith ver 16. tongue that shall rise To accuse or charge thee wrongfully their righteousnesse The reward of their righteousnesse Ho chapter LV verse 1 A free invitation of all that are thirsty and hungry both Jew and Gentile to come and partake of the true spiritual food and graces of Christ in the Gospel Mat. XI 28. John VI. 35 37. buy This impeacheth not the freenesse of the Gift A Princes almes may be said to be freely given albeit it be required that those that desire to share in them do repaire to his Almoner And a Scholar may be said to have his learning freely given him when no stipend is required for the teaching yet must he ply the School hard the sure mercies of David Acts XIII verse 3 34. In this Citation the Apostle addes this I will give you for the fuller explication and fitter application of it to his purpose The like is Luke IV. 18. See Psal. LXXXIX and 2 Chron. VI. 42. touching these mercies of David But the full meaning is The mercies of the Messias the David not past but to come the mercies before promised and to be exhibited in and by him in whom the Covenant is made with Gods people and in whom all Gods Promises are Yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. which Promises had never been made good had not Christ been raised up from the dead And therefore the Apostle Acts XIII 34. to good purpose alledgeth this Text. I have given him The words of God the Father concerning the Messias verse 4. 5. And Nations that knew not thee The Gentiles he hath glorified thee When after thy state of humiliation he shall have glorified thee in heaven Seek ye the Lord An exhortation both to Jew and Gentile verse 6 to make request to Christ for grace and favour to repent and amend and turn to him his thoughts They not free verse 7. 8. For my thoughts are not But prone to pardon and constant and immutable therein as that shews which follows For as the heavens My disposition and dealings verse 9 both for mercie and goodnesse and for firmnesse and faithfulnesse is as farre above yours as c. So shall the Word My Promise to my people concerning reconcilement with them verse 11 upon their returne to me and my deliverance of them out of captivity be as firme and sure and take effect In stead Relating to the Jewes returne out of the Babylonish captivity verse 13 chap. IV. 2. and XXXV 1 2. The face and state of their Land and State should be strangely altered to the better And generaly the flourishing estate of the Church of God hereby is intimated as abounding in spiritual graces
the Bible printed in Anno 1651. did come forth Afterwards perusing them I found some differences between those Annotations and these Observations which did minister some occasion of enlarging my first draught chiefly by noting and insisting upon these differences yet rarely naming the said Annotations but leaving rather the full animadverting comparing and judging of them to the judicious Reader Thereafter I committed these to the Presse And after a good progress had been made by it for some reasons not so fit to trouble thee withal I was again induced and over-ruled to enlarge my self yet much more and to descend to very many Particulars by way of Exposition and Explanation in some of the ensuing Books of Scripture much beyond what was my first Proposal and Intendment Which thing I conceive will dim the light and lustre of those choice places and Observations which primarily were my only aime Yet I hope to the Candid Reader These larger additions will not seem altogether impertinent or improfitable as to the speedier understanding of Gods Holy Word Neverthelesse I never undertook or intended to meddle with or mention all the difficult places of Sacred Scripture For them in general I refer thee to the said Great Annotations as the best extant in that kinde Neither do I here touch upon the New Testament save only when and where the Text or the Old Testament doth crave for the quotation of it In this Collection of Observations and Explanations I follow the Order of the Books and Chapters of the Bible And I heartily wish that the holy Text were alwayes before their eyes who shall vouchsafe to read them without which the life of them or of many of them will be lost And the numerous quotations therein used will really appear specially to Divines to be of good concernment to them and who shall have occasion to use them and will take the paines to turne unto them Be pleased not to think that I am too curious or thy self can be too ambitious of knowing any truth revealed in the Scriptures Thou canst not search them too much nor can the Word of God dwell too richly and plentifully in thee Indeed the substantial and essential matters therein must first be known and cared for Yet these may help to bring divers remarkable Places and Passages of Scripture into more common knowledge and familiar notion then I suppose yet they are Such as they are yet now at the last though the Presse much retarded them if they may any wayes make for thy spiritual use and profit that same is the earnest desire of Thy Servant in Christ J. A. A TABLE Of such things as are occasionally discoursed of in this Book But for the maine things the whole Book is a TABLE to it selfe For the larger ANNOTATIONS upon GENESIS the INDEX referres you to the Chapter and Verse A. THe Ark its mansions pag. 76 77 B Baal and Baalim p. 62 63 Of Bethel Gen. 28. 19. Branch taken for the Messias 423 C Covenant how it is new under the Gospel 424 To be cut off to what sins threatned and what it is Gen. ch 17. 14. 21 D Day when it begins p. 1. Gen. 1. 5. Christs Descent into hell in what sense it is to be taken 181 E Egypt 5 Ephod 81 Places of Esay cited in the New Testament 352 Evening diversly taken 12 For ever a phrase diversly taken 40 F Solomons foole who 298 The foure hundred years of Israels bondage how accounted 15 13 H God how he hardens without being the Authour of sin 359 High places 90 91 Hyperbolies much used in Scripture 52 I. Jacob marries Leah at or before the beginning of the fourteen years service 8 Of Jerusalem 50 51 Of imprecations 195 Isreal how foure hundred years strangers and where 5 Israels number when they came into Egypt 9 K Kings of Israel and Judah their names reignes c. 100. to 104 M Hebrew-measures 6 14 Melchizedech who he was Gen. 14. 18. 254 255 Ministers among the Jewes what a liberal maintenance they had 32 N Of Names 3 O Of Oathes 138 Of the Oath with the Gibeonites 50 Oathes are to be kept 435 P Passeover whether Christ kept it on the 〈◊〉 day with the Jewes Passeover when kept by Christ when by the Jews and how the difference of their dayes 〈◊〉 Gen. 1. 5. Of Prophets 80 81 Psalmes their division 172. the musick mentioned in them 173 Psalmes cited in the New Testament 175 176 R Red sea why so called 11 Repentance how a scribed to God 422 S Scribes 129 130 Seven yeares Jacob served for Leaâ— and seven for Rachel when and how Gen. 29. 20. Shâ—kel 16 Shihor 115 Of Christs sitting at his Fathers right hand 251 The Sluggard how described in the Book of the Proverbs 274 275 Sun how it returned ten degrees 389 Of swearing and forswearing 434 435 Gen. 24. 3. Swearing a duty 434 T Temple described 92 to 96 Tempting how ascribed to God how to men ch 22. 1. Of tithes among the Jewes 31 32 V About various readings in Scripture 106 107 Of vowes Gen. 28. 20. Y Yeare when begins 11 12 ANNOTATIONS ON Genesis CHAP. I. Ver. 1. IN the beginning Of the Creation which God created Mark 13. 19. and so in the beginning of the world then not eternal nor the matter of it but God only eternal And this beginning most probably was at the Autumnal Equinoctial or Spring and that for the Ecclesiastical accompt only upon and because of Gods mâ—raculous bringing them out of Egypt at that season of the year from whence Gods people constantly began their year till the change made to the vernal Equinoctial God Elohim in the plural number intimating a plurality not of Gods Exod. 12. 2. 23. 11 16. 34. 22. Lev. 25. 9 10. Deut. 16. 13 c. but therefore of persons in the Deity The word Creators Eccles. 12. 1. hath a singular number viz. El. Gen. 14. 8. and Eloah Job 12. 4. And it signifies Strong Almighties powers Sometimes it is used but improperly to signifie false gods Exod. 20. 3. Angels and Magistrates among men Ps. 8. 5. 82. 1 6. created Bara This word is proper to God and a word in the singular number importing the singular unity of the Deity And that God had no Assistants Co-adjutors or subordinate Agents and Instruments in the work of Creation But the Angels themselves are his Creatures Col. 1. 16. A God and He the Creator of the World are acknowledged in a manner by all Heathen Writers if not by all men the heaven Or heavens and the earth Heaven and Earth here may be taken as a summary proposition of the whole Creation as ch 2. 1. and Exod 20 11. And the rather considering the Hebrew Articles here used ETH and HA as pointing to these now in being And yet as probably and more of the common Chaos and Masse and Stock of both as seeming to be included within the work of the first day and
so it will seem to have the best coherence with the words next following and the story ensuing of the Creation of the Heavens and Earth the second and third day light day Strictly and usually so taken otherwise called an Artificiall day consisting of about twelve houres John 119 As the natural day consists of 24. houres Both there are mentioned ch 7. 12 17. V. 5. And the evening c. The Evening which is the beginning of the Night and the Morning which is the beginning of the Day are called the first day largely taken the Day natural of 24 houres And here observe that as Darknesse was before Light v 2 3. so the Evening and Night is made and reckoned the beginning and first part of the natural day or large day of 24. houres And accordingly the large Day is called an Evening Morning Dan. 8. 14 26. And by Paul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Night-Day 2 Cor. 11. 25. And as Moses doth here so God commanded it and the Jewes observed it to reckon the beginning of their large Day at the Evening Lev. 23. 32. From evening to evening you shall celebrate your Sabbath And so for eating unleavened bread at the Passeover Exod. 12 18 In the first moneth on the fourteenth day of the moneth at even ye shall eat unleavened bread untill the twenty one day of the moneth at even And ye we finde in the dayes of our Saviour the reckoning altered that they began their natural and large Day in the Morning as appeares in the Evangelists recording the History of our Saviours Resurrection Mat. 28. 1. Mar. 16. 1 2 9. ch 15. 42. Luke 24. 1 Joh. 20. 1 19. Which alteration might haply be occasioned by the accompt of the Romans and complyance with them who then had the sovereignty and dominion over them Now these two things well observed may haply serve to assoyle a doubt and clear a difficulty The case is this Our Saviour did eat the Passeover twenty foure houres before the Jewes did eat it And this is clear out of the Gospels Matth. 26. 17 18 19 20 47. Mark 15. 42. Luke 23. 54. Joh 18. 28. and 9. 14 31 42. That our Saviour did not anticipate the day by reason of his future Passion But kept the right day appointed in the Law we are not to doubt of it Considering the strictnesse of the Command for the day Exod. 13. 10. And Christs coming to fulfil all righteousnesse to keep the Law both Moral and Levitical And that he did so in this point and particular appears also Matth. 26. 17. Marke 14. 12. Neither do those words in Joh. 13. 1 2. disagree from it The words there mentioned before the feast of the Passeover appearing to be understood of two dayes before the Passeover Mat 26. 2. And being spoken on the Mount of Olives Mat. 24. 3. And the Supper there mentioned being to be understood of the Supper in the night of the Passeover which was kept in Jerusalem Mat. 26. 17. And those loavs of bread in the Gospel Matth. 16. 9 10. could make and multiply the waters of the Deluge to rise to such an height and that as little by miracle as the other way must needs imply Now the right day was the fourteenth day of the first moneth Abib or Nisan in the evening or betweene the two evenings Exod. 12. 6. i. e. betweene the two extremities of the evening-tide whereof the former belonged to the end of the declining day the ending which was the thirteenth day not the fourteenth as in the late learned and large Annotations on Matth. 26. 17 the latter belonged to the beginning of the night when the day following is said to begin Gen. 1. 5. which was the fourteenth day at the beginning and evening whereof the Passeover was to be eaten as appears verse 18. Now how it came to passe that the Jews kept the wrong day and why so is the question and difficulty remaining Some speak of a Jewish Tradition That after the returne from the Babylenian captivity They ordered and altered the time so as the day of eating the Passeover might not fall on the Munday Wednesday or Friday but then they put it off to the day following The truth of this Tradition I am ignorant of much more of any reason why they should dare to have such a Tradition and Order But finding in the Gospels The Accompt for the Beginning of the natural large day of twenty four hours altered from the Evening to the Morning as was formerly observed I rather conceive that both our Saviour and the Jewes may be said to eat the Passeover on the same day viz. both on the Friday and at the evening too so it be understood according to their own several mindes and meanings reckonings and accountings Our Saviour rightly beginning and ending the day from evening to evening and the Jews erroneously from morning to morning The issue so wil be this That on the thirteenth day consisting of twelve hours from morning to evening called an artificial day the Disciples prepared the Passeover for our Saviour which is therefore called the first day of the feast of unleavened bread Matth. 26. 17 18 19. And when the â—ven was come which was the true Beginning of the fourteenth day Jesus sate down with the twelve to eate the Passeover Matth. 26. 20. according to the Law The Morning after and so on till the Evening making an artificial day which indeed was the true later part of the fourteenth natural day our Saviour was examined condemned and at last suffered And that time is called the Jewes Preparation Luke 23. 54. John 19 31 42. the Preparation of their Passeover John 19. 14. the Preparation before the Sabbath Marke 15. 42. And the Evening following which was the later part of their fourteenth day in their account they did eat their Passeover And the day following which was the Sabbath is called the day after the Preparation Matth. 27. 62. And whereas to countenance that pretended Jewish Tradition for putting off the eating of the Paschal Lamb from the Friday to the Saturday which was their Sabbath-day those words of John are alledged for that Sabbath was an high day John 19. 31. I answer That it is called an high day because it was the Sabbath that fell within the compasse of that high and solemne Feast But all this I propound and submit to the judgement of the learned And again This Observation of the true Beginning of the day at the Evening Together with the Alteration of it from the Evening to the Morning in the dayes of our Saviour may help to quiet that controversie which of late hath troubled too many about the Beginning and Ending of the Christian Sabbath or Lords day rather For if we will begin it as the Jewes began their Sabbath by Gods own appointment and as the Beginning of the natural day of twenty four hours was reckoned from the Creation Then sure we
we see at large Heb. 7. and David did so before him Psal. 110. 4. Now who this Melchisedech should be whether Shem who being borne before the flood lived seventy five yeares after Abrams coming into Canaan and about sixty five after the time of history of his meeting Abram who though his Parents Birth and Death be known to us yet not as here brought in under the name of Melchisedech or whether it were some neighbouring King of Canaan of another Kindred from that of Abraham Heb. 7. 6. extraordinarily raised up and sanctified by God to this purpose though haply it may be probably yet it cannot certainly be defined Melchisedech King of Salem Heb. 7. 2. Thus righteousnesse and peace do kisse each other Psal. 85. 10. Esay 32. 17. Salem Not Salim mentioned John 3. 23. But Salem Ps. 76. 2. Jerusalem brought forth Not for sacrifice but to refresh Abram and his army as 2 Sam. 17. 27 28 29 The neglect whereof was punished in the Moabites and Ammonites Deut. 23. 3 4. and he was the Priest King and Priest both offices concurring in one Person It was an ancient manner among Heathen Nations Rex Anius Rex idem hominum PhoebÃque sacerdos And how much short was it with the Patriarchs and first-borne in Israel before the Levites supplied their place V. 19. And he blessed him A part of the Priests office Numb 6 23 27. 1 Chron. 23 13. Heb. 7. 6 7. The lesse is blessed of the greater V. 20. Blessed be God Thanked and praised and he gave him tithes of all Abram gave Melchizedech Heb. 7. 2 4. 9 10 11. And Levi in Abrâ—ms loines Tythes are due as an homage to God as tribute is to Kings They are called holy an heave-offering to the Lord Lev. 27. 30 Numb 18. 24. As here Abram so Jacob also paid them to the Lord before the Levitical Law Gen. 28. 22. In the Law of Moses they are strictly enjoyned Numb 18. 20 21. yea if redeemed a fifth part must be added to it if changed both it and the change thereof shall be holy Lev. 27. 31 33. yea Heathen paid tithes both Greek and Latine And here being paid to Melchizedech a type of Christ they are not abolished by the Gospel of all Of all the spoiles of Sodoms too and of all the vanquished So of the Midianites Numb 31. 28 29 30. 37 38 39 40 41. V. 22. I have lifted up my hand He had sworne or vowed when he went forth to this war and implored Gods aide Deut 32. 40. Dan 12. 7. Rev. 10. 5 6. V. 23. Lest thou shouldest say Thou or any man should say that covetousnesse of the prey drew me to this warre or that this victory or any thing else enriched me but Gods extraordinary blessing Esther 9. 15 16. CHAP. XV. Ver. 1. AFter these things Spoken by Abram to the King of Sodom in a vision Of the night v. 5. Numb 22. 19. 20 There are nightly visions by dreams in sleep ch 31. 11. 46. 2. 1 Kings 3. 5. And so God came to Abimelech in a dream by night Gen. 20. 3. and secret revelations came to Eliphaz Joh 4. 12 13. whereupon the false Prophets counterseited false dreams and visions in them Deut. 13. 1. Jer. 23. 25 28 32. And there are also visions to men waking as Ezech. 1. 1. Dan. 8. 2. 10. 4 7. 2 Cor. 12. 2. Acts 2. 17. Both wayes God made himselfe known to his Prophets Numb 12. 6. whence Prophets were called Seers and Prophecie is named a vision Esay 1. 1. Here is meant an open apparition which Abram a Prophet ch 20. 7. beheld waking with the eyes of his body For v. 9 10. shewes he was waking and a deep sleep is said to fall upon him after this vision v. 12. In what manner and how glorious this vision was is not set down particularly feare not The Prophets were sometimes terrified with visions at the visible appearance of the Majesty of God So Dan. 10. 7 c. feare not For the presence of my glory for thine enemies for any discomfort whatsoever I am thy shield Against thine enemies those vanquished Kings and all else reward Beyond all merit and measure I go Am going on going away mine age going on towards mine end V. 2. Childlesse Yet he rejects not the Promises of God concerning his seed but as perplexed between feare and hope he bemoanes his sad state and condition intimates and commends his desire to God that he would at length remember his Promise made to him concerning his seed and the steward He most likely mentioned ch 24. 2. He now is the guide and stay of my family Here Abram complaines not of his steward but commends him rather of Damascus By his Ancestors though he borne in Abrams house v. 3. V. 3. Is mine heire Likeliest for the present in my thoughts if I go on and die childlesse my Nephew Lot having no sonnes but daughters and Eleezer having all under his charge V. 5. And tell the stars This rherefore was in the night if thou be able to number them Now at this view though haply it were possible for Astronomers by much Art to attain to the number of the visible stars God speaks as often according to common account Jer. 3â— 22. so shall thy seed be Innumerable Deut. 1. 10. specially counting his spiritual seed children by faith according to the Promise Rom. 4. 11 12 13. Rom. 9. 8 Gal. 3. 7 29. innumerable as the dust of the earth ch 18. 16. as the sand on the sea-shore ch 22. 17. V. 6. And he believed in the Lord For the innumerablenesse of his seed and principally for the promised seed wherein all the Nations of the earth should be blessed Believed Here is belief or faith first named in the Old Testament whence Abram is called the Father of all Believers Rom. 4. 11 16 17. And this before either Circumcision was ordained or the Law given Rom. 4. 9 10 Gal. 3. 17. Now the word belief or faith signifies a lively motion of the heart and spirit firmely resting in the things spoken For which this belief or faith in Abram is much commended Rom. 4. 18 to 22. Counted Imputed thought esteemed for righteousnesse Ps. 106. 31. Rom. 4. 3 9. Now of this the Apostle inferreth justification by faith without works both to Abram Rom. 4. 4 5. as having been an idolater Josh. 24. 2. and still without glory of works before God Rom. 4. 2. and also to all believers Rom. 4. 23 24. V. 8. Whereby shall I know This he asked to be strengthened against humane infirmity and to know somewhat more particularly of the manner of performance and likely it was by a special motion of Gods Spirit as that also of Gideon Judg. 6. 17 37. and of Hezekiah 2 Kings 20. 8. And others like by divine instinct Gen. 24. 13 14. 1 Sam. 14. 9 10. without which such qaestions are not so lawful Luke 1. 18. V. 9. Take me an
mothers sonnes Cursed Ch. 12. 3. Numb 24 9. The efficacy of the blessing here did not depend upon the intention of Isaac And no more doth the truth and efficacy of the Sacrament depend upon the intention of the Minister V. 33. Trembled As one perplexed astonished between wonder and feare lest he had done amisse Yea and he shall be blessed By that trembling as by a bit and bridle God restraines him from revoking the blessing And recollecting himself he doth now by faith re-establish it Heb. 11. 20. And after more advisedly chap. 28. 3 4. V. 34. Exceeding bitter cry Yet found no place of repentance no way to change his fathers minde to recal what he had done though he sought it carefully with tears Hebr. 12. 17. Prov. 1. 24 28. V. 35. Thy blessing Which I intended thee and by birth-right pertained to thee V. 36. And he said These words shew no true repentance in Esau. he took away Nay Esau sold it and despised it ch 25. 33 34. my blessing Not his then when the birth-right was none of his V. 37. Thy Lord V. 29. and what shall I do As if he should say comparatively all other blessings are nothing V. 39. The fatnesse of the earth Not unlike that v. 28. Mount Seir was such a place Josh. 24. 4. By faith Isaac blessed Esau concerning things to come Hebr. 11. 20. yet Canaan far surpassed Idumea Besides that Canaan was a type of the heavenly Canaan V. 40. And by this sword shalt thou live With warres and troubles defend thy state and countrey Mat. 10. 34. And not enjoy peace as Jacob Deut. 33. 27 28. Esay 2. 4. and shalt serve thy brother In thy posterity Deut. 33. 29. Gen. 25. 23. 2 Sam. 8. 14. 1 Kings 22. 47. Obad. v. 18 19 21. when thou shalt have the dominion Because of Israels sins as in the days of Jehoram 2 Kings 8. 20. 22. 2. break his yoke Of thy servitude 2 Chron. 21. 8. under which thou wast from Davids dayes till then above one hundred yeares Esay 9. 4. 10. 27. Jer. 27. 8 11. Herod was an Idumean V. 41. Hated Spitefully This shewes no true repentance in him 1 John 3. 12 15. This hatred continued in his posterity Obad v. 10 11 12 13 14 18 19 21. said in his heart Afterwards uttered it in words v. 42. are at hand In his wish and opinion Isaac being now blinde and yet he lived fourty foure yeares after V. 42. Comfort himself To receive his birth-right by killing of thee Revenge is sweet to the enraged wicked man yea the very purpose of it And thus they harden their heart in evil against Gods known Will so did Saul against David 1 Sam. 18. 28. God useth a like speech of himself in an holy sense Ezech. 5. 13. V. 44. A few dayes It proved to be above twenty yeares ch 31. 38. Doubtful whether ever Rebekah saw him again She sent not for Jacob because she saw Esaus rage and malice continue ch 32. 6. V. 45. Both in one day By fighting they might kill each other or if Esau lived they should and would then count him as dead and no better And the Law was such chap. 9. 6. V. 46. Of the daughters of Heth Esaus wives ch 26. 35 34. A wise godly and crafty counsel she conceales from Isaac the hatred of Esau and dangerous discord between his sons CHAP. XXVIII Ver. 1. ANd blessed him Isaac was constant to his first blessing notwithstanding Jacobs craft in getting it Jacob had need of this second blessing to confirme his faith against his future troubles and trials Isaac therefore by his fatherly authority now wittingly and willingly settles it on him again V. 2. Arise go Isaac was not but his fathers servant ch 24. 3 4. 5 6. And he with ten camels c. Jacob here with his staffe in his hand ch 32. 10. and to serve for a wife Hos. 12. 12. thy motheâ—s brother Cousin-germans marry V. 3. A multitude of people Chapter 35. 11. 48. 4. V. 4. The blessing of Abraham His Grandfather who had the Original grant of the blessings both temporal and spiritual earthly and heavenly made over to him and his seed and the blessing chiefly of the promised seed art a stranger Ch. 17. 8. This is to prevent the weakening of his faith by being but a stranger in it still as also his father and Grandfather were unto Abraham By Promise ch 12. 7. and often repeated V. 5. Of Bâ— thuel the Aramite Syrian So Luke translateth the word Luke 4. 27. V. 9. To Ishmael The Ishmaelites for he was dead ch 25. 17. Mahalath Called also Basemath ch 36. 3. sister By the same mother at least if not father Nebaioth Ishmaels eldest sonne ch 25. 13. From him Esau had his sister to wife Ishmael being now dead Esau and she were Cousin-germans two brothers children This Esau did to please his father and strengthen himself by the Ishmaelites against Jacob. And now he hath three wives assoon likely as Jacob had any V. 10. From Beersheba Ch. 26. 23. toward Haran Charran Acts 7. 2. a long journey seven dayes journey in Labans pursuit to Mount Gilead ch 31. 22 23. which Mount stretched through the two tribes and 1 2 beyond Jordan Eastward And now was Jacob seventy five or seventy six yeares old See Annot. on ch 29. 21. V. 11. And he lighted By Gods Providence chap. 32. 10. because the Sun was set And so or for wearinesse he did not reach Luz after called Bethel Though it were hard by v. 19. It is conceived to be near fifty English miles distant from Beer-sheba and from Jerusalem eight miles Northward for his pillowes Hard distresse He went so meanly from his parents or haply stole away in a sort lest Esau should lie in wait for him by the way as he did at his returne ch 32. 6. Abrahams servant went with great state so that Rebekah calls him Lord ch 24. 18. But Jacob with his staffe in his hand ch 32. 10. V. 12. Dreamed A divine dream See Annot. on ch 15. 1. and on ch 20. 3. Ladder Signifying Christ John 1. 51. In his two natures personally united Heaven and earth are as it were joyned together And by him the only Mediatour is man reconciled to God Colos. 1. 20. by him the Angels for our service and the Holy Ghost and his gifts descend down to us and we and our prayers have accesse and ascend unto God And secondarily hereby is signified the Providence of God in governing the world Psal. 113. 5 6. and particularly his provident care over Jacob in his journey going and returning v. 13 15. and 32. 1 2. And both these specially by the Ministery of Angels Psal. 91. 11 12. Heb. 1. 13 14. earth Denoting Christs humanity and his conversing with men Joh. 16. 28. Heaven Denoting his Deity and Mediation or negotiation for men with God Heb. 8. 1. 9. 24. John 14. 6. ascending Coming and going looking
the former Decree could not be reverst nor this new one being sealed with the Kings Seal See Ch. I. 19. third moneth Two moneths and ten dayes after Hamans Decree verse 9 chap. III. 12. The Lots were cast in the first moneth and twelfth year of Ahasuerus chap. III. 7. And the Decree issued out the thirteenth day of that moneth ver 12. And did stretch even to the Jews in Jury ver 6 8 13. And the execution of it was to be on the thirteenth day of Adar the twelfth moneth following But the Edict on their behalf issued forth on the twenty third day of the third moneth Sivan i. e. two moneths and ten dayes after Hamans bloody Edict Sivan Whereunto our May most answereth and unto the Jewes Whom it so much concerned crown of gold See chap. verse 15 VI. 8. became Jewes Proselytes verse 17 turned to their Religion as sought their hurt As assaulted them chapter IX verse 2 so as they were on the defensive part and stood for their lives chap. VIII 11. and chap. IX 16. smote all their enemies Wonder that they durst rise against the Jewes verse 5 considering the minde and power of the King and Queen and Mordecai for them see ver 3. in Shushan These likely of Hamans faction verse 6 eager set to revenge his death and downfal to do tomorrow It may be necessity to preserve the lives of the Jewes in Shushan verse 13 against such as might seek an opportunity hereafter to revenge the blood of Haman his sonnes and others that were slaine might move her to this Petition so to rid their hands of all their enemies 75000 It argues a great height of malice against the Jewes verse 16 That Hamans ten sonnes and others in Shushan even on a second day and so many in all the Kings Provinces durst so assault the Jewes that in their own defence they killed in all seventy five thousand eight hundred likely most Amalekites considering the Kings Edict for the Jewes and the power of the Queene and Mordecai with the King as hath been said yet the Jewes laid not their hands on the prey and spoile though granted to them by the King chap. VIII 11. chap. IX 10 15 16. to shew they did it not for covetousnesse but to preserve their own lives Mordecai wrote Some extend this to the whole Book verse 20 but more likely it relates to the point of Deliverance and ordaining the Feasts ver XXIII 29. And herein the power of the Church is seene in Ordaining set annual Feasts ver 27. 29 31. And so for Fasts Zech. VII Purim i. e. Lots verse 26 Of Lots see the Annotations on Jonah I. 7. the matters of the fastings verse 31 and their cry The occasions that were given of their fastings and cries by which they obtained such a blessing Some take this as a part of the Ordinance and Decree to fast on the thirteenth day And alledge for it the practise of the Jewes to this day in the Book Some publick record verse 32 a tribute We read of a release chapter X verse 1 chap. II. 18. whether the Jewes by Mordecai's means were released of this Tribute the Scripture expresseth not Job THE Book of Job is a true History accompanied fully with all the circumstances of a true History from first to last and attested Ezek. XIV 14. and Jam. V. 11. This Book is written in the judgement of some in Prose to chap. III. v. 3. In Verse thence to chap. XLII ver 6. And then again concludes in Prose thence to the end Job lived most likely when the Israelites were in Egypt His age being one hundred and fourty years after his Affliction was ended and he having seven sonnes and three daughters and being the greatest of all the men of the East before his Affliction began Job XLII 16. and I. ver 2 3. Jobs patience is wonderful and so highly commended by the holy Ghost Jam. V. 11. His Impatience too much accused as by his friends then so by some others now not weighing the burden of his Afflictions outward and inward from heaven earth and hell and withal his fair clearing of God and his justice and his full acknowledgement of his owne sinfulnesse though not of that Hypocrisie wherewith his friends did falsely charge him chap. VII 20 21. and IX 2 3. 14 15 20 21. and XIII 26. and XIV 17. and XXVII 5 6. and XXXI 6. 33 35 36 37. and XXIII 10. and XIII 15. and IX 12. Jobs three friends most likely were of the posterity of Abraham viz. Eliphaz and Zophar of the posterity of Esau Gen. XXXVI 11 40. Bildad of Abrahams race by Ketura Gen. XXV 2. 1 Chron. I. 32. And Elihu the fourth of the race of Nahor Abrahams brother Gen. XXII 21. Eliphaz Bildad and Zophar speak in order one after another Eliphaz and Bildad thrice Zophar twice To every one of which Jobs Answers are annexed and interposed Elihu speaks after they ceased without any answer made by Job to him Jehovah speaks last of all And Orders all Uz Uz in Idumea chapter I verse 1 or Arabia bordering upon it So called from Uz the sonne of Dishan of the linage of Seir Gen. XXXVI 28. Of this we read Lam. IV. 21. Jer. XXV 20. Or in that part of Arabia the Desert near to Chaldea where Job had such bad neighbours the Chaldeans on the one side and the Sabeans on the other chap. I. 15. 17. We read of Kings of the Land of Uz Jer. XXV 20. And of Uz the grandchilde of Shem Gen. X. 22 23. And of Vz the sonne of Nahor Abrahams brother Gen. XXII 21. three thousand Camels When God blessed his latter end verse 3 he had six thousand Camels chap. XLII 12. a wondrous number for one man They were numerous and of much use in the Eastern Countries Fifty thousand taken from the Hagarites 1 Chron. V. 20 21. The Midianites used very great multitudes of them in warre and put ornaments and chains of gold about their necks Judg. VII 12. and chap. VIII 21 26. Some of them were swift all for burden with bunches on their backs fit for that purpose but not fit to go through the eye of a needle David himself had a special officer only over his Camels 1 Chron. XXVII 30. East Whither Abraham sent his sonnes Gen. XXV 6. and sanctified them Sent to them verse 5 requiring them to fit and prepare themselves by all means in an holy maner to come and joyne with him in offering a sacrifice for them and their sinnes See Num. X 1. 18. Exod. XIX 10. Josh. III. 5. and chap. VII 13. 2 Chron. XXIX 5. continualy On those dayes when their feasting was gone about the sonnes of God The good Angels verse 6 Job XXXVIII 7. to present themselves See 1 Kings XXII 19. This is spoken after the maner of men as Rom. III. 5. among them Not that Satan comes into Heaven The similitude is taken from earthly Kings escaped
Ministers of the Gospel or requires parity of authority among them but saith that those things though good and lawful in themselves yet have no place in nor relation to his spiritual Kingdome which is in the soul. not stand As Num. XXX 5 12. verse 5 Josh. II. 11. and VII 12 13. Knoweth Acknowledge and own verse 6 approveth regardeth rewardeth As Exod. III. 7. Deut. XXXIV 10. Psal. XXXI 8. and XXXVII 18. and CXLII 5. and CXLIV 12. Prov. XII 10. Hos. XIII 5. Matth. VII 23. Rom. VII 15. John X. 14. Job XXIII 10. Prov. II. 8. Why I his Psalme by many of the Ancients is joyned to the former chapter II verse 1 as a part of it And they take the former as a Preface to this or rather to the whole Book of the Psalmes But Saint Paul doth distinguish them Acts XIII 33. And the Church doth ascribe this Psalme to David though it bear not his Title Acts IV. 25. And in this Psalme David bears a Type of Christ who is here more realy properly principaly and immediately intended All which appears Acts IV. 25 26. and XIII 33. Heb. I. 5. and V. 5. So that the first and open sense points to David the mystical and more abstruse to the Messias And no doubt but this and such allusions more were out of all question even from the beginning so fore-cast and appointed as it were by the holy Ghost Why The Psalmist demands and wonders at the banding and conspiring of all and all sorts of enemies against David and his Kingdome typicaly as did Saul Ishbosheth Abner the Philistines Jebusites and others But against Christ and his Kingdome principaly as is the prime purpose maine scope and intent of this Psalme Acts IV. 25 26. Mark III. 6. John XI 53. Luke XIX 14. Though all in vaine ver 1 2 3. The Kings 2 Sam. VIII and X. verse 2 Chapters heavens 1 King VIII verse 4 27. Jer. XXII 24. Psal. CXXXIX 7. The King of heaven against those Kings of the earth ver 2. laugh And have them in derision as Job XLI 29. dictum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intelligendum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. XXXVII 12 13. and LIX 8. Prov. I. 26. wrath No passion properly hath any place in Gods will verse 5 It is not in him but without him not in his affection but in his act These expressions are but condescentions to the weaknesse of our capacities Psal. LXXVI 6 9. and CIV 32. yet have I God the Father who makes and orders all earthly Kingdomes verse 6 Dan. IV. 14. and II. 21. and VII 14. Ezra I. 1. my King Prov. VIII 22 30. Acts II. 36. Sion See the Observations on Deut. III. 9. and on 1 Chron. XI 5. See Psal. LXXVIII 68. and LXVIII 17. and CXXXII 13. and LXXXVII 2. Esay II. 2 3 4. and IV. 4. I will declare David typicaly verse 7 Christ principaly who is in the bosome of the Father the Word and Wisdome of the Father The Lord hath said Hebr. V. 5. Psal. CX 1. my sonne Not as holy men Princes David or Angels are called the sonnes of God John I. 12. Jer. XXXI 9. Psal. LXXXII 6. Job I. 6. But in a peculiar maner farre above all these Hebr. I. 4 5 9. not by adoption or grace but by nature This day Relates to his Nativity as man not to his Divinity as God And as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he is called the Sonne of God Luke I. 35. Heb. I. 5. And that raising up of Jesus Acts XIII 33. relates to this Exhibition of him in the flesh mentioned also ver 23. That other raising him from the dead speaks plainly of his resurrection from the grave Acts XIII ver 34 37. Rom. I. 4. have I begotten thee Not relating here to his eternal generation as the Sonne of God the second Person and Hypostasis in the Trinity But to his gigniture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he revealed him to the world Aske of me God Decrees verse 8 as the End so the Means As Assuerus to Ester chap. V. 3. And Herod to the daughter of Herodias Mark VI. 23. And God himself to Solomon 1 King III. 5. So and much more here God the Father to Christ his Sonne the Mediatour Thus Christ asked and prayed in the dayes of his flesh and was ever heard in whatsoever he asked according to the nature of his asking John XI 22 42. Heb. V. 7. John XVII 9. and the uttermost Psal. XXII 29 30. Heb. I. 2. Dan. II. 44. them Thine enemies verse 9 ver 1 2 3. rod of iron Esay XXX 14. Jer. XIX 11. See the actual execution Apoc. II. 26. and chap. XII 5. and XIX 15. Esay XI 4. Be wise Take better counsel then that verse 10 ver 2 use better wisdome now Heb. V. 7. Prov. V. 7. and VII 24. and VIII 32. Esay XLIV 1. Delay is dangerous Kings Ye ver 2. serve Kings verse 11 and all other yet enemies serve him Luke I. 74 75. Psal. CXVI 16. with fear A filial fear which is joyned with joy Psal. C. 2. rejoyce with trembling These two also are coëxistent joy Rom. XIV 17. Ps. IX 2. 14. Phil. IV. 4. Trembling Phil. II. 12. The regenerate man is a kinde of mixt person hath as Rebecca two strugling in him Kisse A signe verse 12 of Love amongst equals Gen. XXXIII 4. 1 Sam. XX. 41. Rom. XVI 16. 1 Cor. XVI 20. Of Subjection in inferiours Gen. XLI 40. 1 Sam. X. 1. Prov. XXIV 26. Of religious adoration 1 King XIX 18. Job XXXI 27. the Sonne 1 John II. 23. John V. 23. lest he be angry Gen. III. 3. Certainly he will ver 5. 2 Thes. I. 8. Apoc. VI. 16 17. and ye perish from the way The way of happinesse you and your way perish Psal. I. 6. or your way of combination against Christ ver 1 2. or in the way of your conceited peace and secure prosperity Blessed Apoc. XIX 9. Rom. IX 33. John III. 36. ten thousands of people And likely more now gathered against him chapter III verse 6 by means of Absolom Most of Davids Psalmes in order of time go before this Psalme my glorie The glorie of my Kingdome which God hath promised me verse 2 and whereunto he hath anointed me godly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chapter IV verse 3 In an active signification Whence the Asideans 1 Macc. 7. 13. 2 Macc. XIV 6. may seeme to have their name And whence the Pelican hath the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the pious benignity it shews as to her young ones so to her dam when over-grown with years as some write And from her Greek name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ariseth the Greek Proverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to denotate a retribution and recompensation of pious duties offices and benefits such as the Pelican useth The same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken also and used by some for the Stork as Jer. VIII 7. the Stork having the like pious benigne
1 King X. 11. He arken Matth. XVII 5. Rom. X. 17. verse 10 O daughter John I. 13. Apoc. XXI 9 10. forget also Luke IX 23. and XIV 26. Matth. X. 37. As Abraham did Gen. XII 1. and Ruth chap. I. 16 17. So shall Upon these termes verse 11 more and more greatly desire This true in Solomon But Christ loves his Spouse first 1 John IV. 10. Loves her in her blood Ezek. XVI 6. thy Lord 1 Pet. III. 6. Judg. XIX 26. And that no common or vulgar person In the highest degree is Christ so to his Spouse the Church even her Lord and God Worship thou him Pharaohs daughter was with civil worship to do it to Solomon with civil reverent incurvation and adoration The Church to Christ with religious worship of Tyre Of this Citie verse 12 see the Annotations on Amos I. 9. This rich Merchant-Citie the prime Mart for traffick should bring to Solomons Spouse gifts and nuptial presents And much more Tyre and all Heathen Nations should bring themselves and their Gifts with all offices of submission and subjection to the Spouse of Christ Esay XLIX 23. and LXVI 12. Psal. LXXXVII 4. the rich Esay LX. 3 10 11 16. glorious within 1 Pet. II. 4 5. verse 13 Not Helen without and Hecuba within This true in Solomons Spouse partly But in Christs Spouse true altogether by her bridegroomes donation and operation Ephes. V. 27. brought With pompe verse 14 joy and jubilation of needle-work As formerly costly for matter so here curious for Art and work As the like Exod. XXVIII 6 8 15 39. with gladnesse As is fit in marriage solemnities verse 15 they be brought The Spouse first the Virgins and brides maids following and waiting on her Cant. IV. 8. Apoc. XIX 7 8 9. 2 Cor. XI 2. palace As the wise Virgins Matt. XXV 10. thy children We read not that Pharaoh's daughter had any child by Solomon verse 16 But this is abundantly verified in the Church the Spouse of Christ Esay XLIX 18 21. and LIV. 1 2 3. Heb. II. 13. I will Saith the Psalmist by himself verse 17 and by informing others so to do thy Name The name of the Bridegroome therefore By my example as well as for all the reasons foregoing in this Psalme praise thee Christ the Bridegroome for ever and ever whereas Solomon by his foul fall worthily merited and inherited shame and dispraise present help Deliverer chapter XLVI verse 1 or Assistant will not we fear Though a natural fear as Prov. XIV 16. and XXII 3. verse 2 Matth. VIII 26. yet not a godlesse and faithlesse fear Here faith triumphs over such a fear though the earth Hyperbolical expressions usualy intimating the fearful alterations of States and Polities or the most dreadful dangers a river Alluding to that of Kidron Gihon verse 4 and Shiloah intending chiefly that Ezek. XLVII 1. Joel III. 18. Apoc. XXII 1. Or the meaning of this seemes best expounded in the next verse and in the two verses following He maketh Esay XLV 7. Amos III. 6. Psal. LXXVI 3. verse 9 Exalted Esay XXXIII 9 10. and XXX 15. verse 10 O clap A signe of joyful acclamation used at the coronation of Kings 2 Kings XI chapter XLVII verse 1 12. and upon other joyous occasions Ezek. XXV 6. See Psal. XCVIII 8. Esay LV. 12. Psal. LXVI 1. The Psalmist exhorteth all people to sing Praises unto God ver 1. 7. A thing usual in the Psalmes For the Lord Reasons from Gods nature and properties verse 2 appliable also to Christ terrible to the wicked his enemies and a great King above all earthly Kings Mal. I. 14. Matt. XXVIII 18. He shall subdue The Jewes enemies verse 3 And he had done so the Canaanites and others And he will do so the Churches enemies Christ will call the Nations and bring them into subjection under him and his Church Ezek. XX. 37. He shall choose He did choose Canaan for his people Israel Psal. LXXVIII 55. verse 4 And will choose and prepare that heavenly Canaan that inheritance incorruptible 1 Pet. I. 4. for all that beleeve and hope in him for us The Jewes seeming here to include the Gentiles as called by Christ into the same communion of the Covenant for grace and glory John X. 16. Eph. II. 14. the excellencie of Jacob High and glorious excellencie whereby Jacobs posterity excelled Ezek. XXIV 21. Amos VI. 8. and VIII 7. Nahum II. 2. viz. the Temple Priesthood c. all those most excellent and precious promises and blessings made in Christ unto Iacob and his posterity God is gone up When the Ark was carried from Kiriathjearim to the house of Obed Edom verse 5 thence to the Citie of David thence by Solomon into the Oracle 1 Chron. XIII 8. and XV. 28. and 2 Chron. V. 13. Spiritualy and mysticaly when Christ ascended with triumph into heaven See Eph. IV. 8. Col. II. 15. the King of all the earth The universal Kingdome of God and of Christ. verse 7 So again verse 8. Differing from earthly Kings with understanding 1 Cor. XIV 15. The word Maschil is here used for Psalme which is the Title of sundry Psalmes signifying an instructing Psalme Thereby to instruct your selves and others of the Kingdome of God and Christ and of your duty of throne of his holinesse Psal. IX 4. Apoc. IV. 2. The Princes The voluntary verse 8 bounteous Princes and people subject themselves to this King of the God of Abraham His spiritual seed Luke III. 8. verse 9 John VIII 33. c. Rom. IV. 16 17. Sheilds He is the great Shield Gen. XV. 1. Psal. V. 12. and XVIII 35. the great conqueror and protector of all And Magistrates Sheilds under him Hos. IV. 18. Psal. LXXXIX 18. greatly exalted Psal. XCVII 9. A Song and Psalme chapter XLVIII Wherein both voice and instrument were used the voice began and the instrument after And where the Inscription is a Psalme and Song there likely the instrument began and the voice followed Of the former sort are as this Psalme to Psal. LXVI LXXXIII CVIII Of the later are Psal. LXVII LXVIII LXXV LXXXVII and XCII whole earth Or Land of Judea verse 2 As Exod. X. 15. and most likely Matth. XXVII 45. the sides of the North The Temple on Mount Moriah and the City of Jerusalem joyned North to Mount Sion Moriah is the North part of Sion So Esay XIV 13. the Kings were assembled The Philistian Princes 2 Sam. V. or those verse 4 in the dayes of Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. XX. or of Ezekiah 2 Kings XVIII Upon some of which occasions this Psalme seemes to be composed and inspired Psal. XLVI 6. marvailed and were troubled At Sions beauty verse 5 and at her strength and their own overthrow Thou breakest As in a Shipwrack verse 6 so thou didst break them As 2 Sam. V. 20. Tarshish See the Observations on 1 Kings X. 22. East wind See Ezek. XVII 10. and XIX 12. Hos. XII 1. and Ch. XIII 15. Jonah
bones Davids verse 7 and his followers they are in such like present danger when he was in the cave Psal LVII 1 Sam. XXIV 4. The later part of this prayer seemes chapter CXLII as spoken in the cave Yet it all might be composed after his deliverance out of it As that Prayer Jonah II. prison This Cave verse 7 wherein I am shut up as in a close prison faithfulnesse chapter CXLIII verse 1 For performance of thy faithful and true promises made to me righteousnesse To maintaine and defend a righteous cause Enter not Though my cause be just verse 2 yet my person is sinful and unjust not able to abide thy judgement Rom. III. 20. So Job XXII 4. and XIV 3. Gal. II. 16. no man living Heb. not all living i. e. not any living As Mat. XXIV 22. 1 John II. 21. 2 Pet. I. 20. Psal. LXXVI 5. is desolate Or wondrously amazed verse 4 upheld only by Gods power cause me The work is Gods verse 8 He the actor of it And therefore to him he lifts up his soul. So verse 10. good lead me Or verse 10 by thy good Spirit lead me Thus prayer-wise or shall lead me spoken in way of assurance of David It seemes composed after he came to the crown chapter CXLIV verse 3 and had got some victories over his enemies and yet other enemies were ready to invade him 2 Sam. V. VIII what is man Psal. VIII 5. Job VII 17. Heb. II. 6. Bow the heavens Shew thy self present on earth verse 5 for my help and my foes ruine who are like mountains in comparison of other men 1 Sam. XXII 10. a right hand of falshood Though they shake hands verse 8 yet they keep not promise whose God is the Lord This is opposed to all the other worldly wealth verse 15 as farre more then over-poising it all of praise His Hymne chapter CXLV And the whole book in Hebrew is called the book of Hymnes or Praises This is an Alphabetical Psalme Only the letter Nun is wanting See the Observations on Psal. XXV 1. and on the beginning of the book of Psalmes over all his works Or verse 9 towards upholdeth all that fall Psal. verse 14 CXLVI 8. all whom he in his goodnesse knows are to be upholden without whom and his goodnes none are upholden But some fall and never rise wait upon thee Psal CIV verse 15 27. 28. in truth This in Prayer requireth sincerity verse 18 without hypocrisie faith repentance earnestnes and constancie the desire Or will We pray that Gods will may be done verse 19 Matth. VI. 10 Here he doth his servants will So he honoureth them that honour him 1 Sam. II. 30. And their will agrees with his 1 John V. 14. Praise ye the Lord Heb. chapter CXLVI verse 1 Halelu-jah And thus do begin and end likewise the rest of the Psalmes that follow In the Greek it is Alleluia Apoc. XIX 1. Halelu-jah is in Psal. CIV and CVI. and CXXXV and in many others which executeth judgement Who succours and relieves all verse 7 in and according to their several necessities He it is that doth it But that when and how in his wisdome and goodnesse it seemeth to him best out-casts Deut. chapter CXLVII verse 2 XXX 4. telleth the number Esay XL. verse 4 26. though to man they are innumerable Ier. XXXIII 22. at least in common opinion and of him indeed cannot be all seene The number of the stars is counted by ancient Astronomers And all within and without their several Constellations in their several magnitudes are reduced by all much under the number of two thousand Yet their number in Scripture-phrase is marshaled with the sands of the sea as innumerable Which is spoken according to vulgar opinions and apprehensions as that of the Sunne and Moone Gen. I 16. And divers other things are in Scripture in like sort spoken of And yet the innumerable multitude of them appears the more in our times Wherein Galileus and others after him by their new instruments and Tubi Optici have made such strange discoveries of many many numbers of them never seene before young ravens Iob XXXVIII verse 9 41. Psal. CIV 27 28. Matth. VI. 26. fat of wheat Psal. verse 14 LXXXI 16. Deut. XXXII 14. runneth Psal. verse 15 XXXIII 9. snow like wooll accordingly the phrase is verse 16. 17. 19. fleeces of snow his yce like morsels Frost or frozen hailstones his word unto Jacob This is singular mercie and peculiar to his Church farre beyond all those formerly mentioned for which his Church is so bound to praise him stars of light Job XXXVIII chapter CXLVIII verse 3 7. havens of heavens The heaven of heavens is the highest heaven verse 4 called the third heaven 2 Cor. 2. XII The sky where the starres are is the second heaven And the aire under it and next us is the first heaven In the upper part whereof are the waters here mentioned For this Text and Gen. I 6 7. yeeld not a sure foundation whereon to build an Orbe of supercelestial waters above the starry heavens nor from the windowes of that Orbe came the waters in Noahs flood But from the lowest region of the aire called Heaven and the firmament of Heaven wherein the winds clouds and fowles do flie and do divide between the sea-waters and the watery clouds which moysten the earth and make it bring forth fruit for the sustenance of man and beast See Gen. I. 20. Jer. LI. 16. Dan. VII 2 13. Psal. LXXVIII 23. Mal. III. 10. a decree Statute verse 6 Rule and Ordinance whereby every creature is bound to his set time place and function Job XIV 5. and XXVI 10. and XXXVIII 33. Jer. XXXI 35. and XXXIII 25. the horne of his people Psal. verse 14 LXXV 10. the power glory and Kingdome of his people and Church and that by Christ who is the horne of salvation Luke I. 69. him that made him Heb. chapter CXLIX verse 2 his makers Likely relating to the Trinity of persons as Gen. I. 26. and III. 22. and XI 7. Job XXXV 10. Eccles. XII 1. Esay VI. 8. LIV. 5. King Christ of whom King David was a Type As Mat. XXI 5. Cant. I. 4 upon their beds Night and day verse 5 Psal. LXIII 6. Job XXXV 10. and a two-edged sword Heb. verse 9 two-mouthed This chiefly at least aimes at the spiritual sword Ephes. VI. 17. Heb. IV. 12. Apoc. I. 16. which is the Word of God coming out of Christs mouth To execute vengeance upon the heathen Chiefly in and by the power and preaching of the Gospel verse 7 2 Cor. X. 4 5 6 8. See Esay XLI 15 16. John XVI 8 9. To binder their Kings Psal. verse 8 II. 2 3 9 10. Esay XLV 14. Mark VI. 20. Acts XXIV 25. Apoc. XXI 24. Matth. XVI 19. the judgement written This may have reference to that Law verse 6 Deut. VII 1 2. Or to the exact rule of Gods Word without any addition or diminution Deut.
to the Nations for them bring or send in the Israelies that are in captivity with them or sojourne among them This typicaly and chiefly relates to the calling home of the elect of them to Christ wheresover dispersed some at one time some at another and also the maine body of the residue in his own appointed season Acts II. 41. and IV. 4. and XXI 20. Rom. XI 5 25 26. 2 Cor. III. 16. The envie also of Ephraim That had beene between them verse 13 and Judah since the rent of the Kingdomes by Jeroboam the Ephraimite 1 Kings XII was to cease when united either to other in Christ Ezek XXXVII 16. Jer. III. 18. and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off In the time of the Messias the obstinate enemies of the Church of God shall by Christ be destroyed see chap. LX. 12. But they shall flie verse 14 c. They shall subdue these inveterate enemies the enemies of the spiritual Kingdome of Christ hereby typified the tongue of the Egyptian sea verse 15 The Prophet here promiseth from God a removal of all impediments that might hinder the Jewes in this their returne into their land This their returne shadowing out the reducing of people to the obedience of Christ and his spiritual Kingdome By this tongue there is meant the red-sea which is like a tongue the river Nilus in the seven streames By which as by so many mouths it emptieth it self into the Sea To make way for the Jewes returne from her into their own land The meaning is that no impediment or obstacle should be so great that might hinder those who were to be brought home to Christ and his Church out of all quarters but it should be removed an high way The same meaning for Assyria verse 16 as in the former verse for Egypt in that day chapter XII verse 1 Of thy returne home thou shalt say And sing these or the like Hymnes of Praise composed by the Prophet as set formes or as directories to them or both So 1 Chron. XVI 7 35 36. in that day A preface or passage into a new forme verse 4 another ditty and this in way of exhortation to others to do the like Babylon Here begin Prophecies chapter XIII verse 1 purposely against forreign States And first against Babylon that should be their principal enemy The Inscription of this Sermon is here in the first words Of Burden See Jer. XXIII 33 36. Of Babylon see my Observations on Dan. IV. 30. Of her Fall see Jer. L. and LI. And this seemes to be the seventh Sermon Lift ye up a banner To summon those that were to be imployed against Babylon verse 2 nobles The great Peeres of Babylon my sanctified ones Set apart to this service verse 3 ver 17. Jer. LI. 27 28. a far countrey Media and Persia. verse 5 whole land Of Chaldea Howle ye Babylonians their faces shall be as flames Lam. IV. verse 6 8. and V. 10. Ezek. XX. verse 8 47. Yet this here seemes to be for fear of evil yet to come See therefore that Jer. XXX 5 6. Joel II. 6. Nahum II. 10. Yet the Original word seemes to incline to the faces of Lybians or tawny-moores the stars All shall be so full of horror and terror verse 10 that the heavenly bodies may seem to have lost their light no glimps of comfort shall appeare Ophir See the Observations on 1 King verse 12 X. 11. shake the heavens I will cause them to be in such confusion and distraction verse 13 as if heaven it self were falling upon their heads and the earth moving or removing from under their feet And it shall be Babylon turne to his owne people Babylon shall be forsaken by her hired forces and confederates verse 14 found Medes and Persians Medes verse 15 Under the conduct of Cyrus and Darius verse 17 overthrew Sodom verse 19 This utter devastation of Babylon was not at once but began at the conquest of it by Cyrus and in the succeeding ages was consummated It shall never be inhabited Jer. LI. 26 verse 20. 22. 29 43. and her time is near to come Esay in vision seeth the judgements as if presently approaching or this may be taken as spoken to and for them that then should be living in the time of the captivity of the LXX years For the Lord The reason of the hastening of the destruction of Babylon chapter XIV verse 1 which is Gods mercie and compassion towards his people the deliverance of whom depended upon Babylons destruction strangers shall be joyned See the like ch 5. XLIV and LVI 3. and LX. 3. Esther VIII 17. Psal. XLVII 8 9. This partly accomplished at their returne from Babylon but more in the Kingdome of Christ by the Ministery of the Gospel possesse them These Proselites and Converts verse 2 take them captive c. Partly verified in the time of the Maccabees literaly but most of all spiritualy by the means and ministery of the Apostles and Preachers subduing them to the obedience of Christs Scepter this Proverb Or by-word verse 4 or taunting speech Here the Prophet continues the denunciation of the destruction of Babylon the King i. e. the Kingdome O Lucifer Meaning the Babylonian verse 12 the mount of the Congregation Mount Sion verse 13 or mount Moriah being in the North-side of Jerusalem 2 Chron. III. 1. Psal. XLVIII 2. that opened not the house of his prisoners But kept them LXX verse 17 years in captivity Prepare slaughter Esay speaks to the Medes and Persians verse 21. 23. 25. for the bitterne See chap. XIII 21 22. that I will break the Assyrian in my land Rather as in breaking the Assyrian in my land Sennacheribs overthrow it seemes was before this And it is brought in as an argument and example to prove that as God had done that one so he would as certainly do the other that is overthrow Babylon in its time In the yeare that King Ahaz died Here begins another Sermon verse 28 or Prophecie And might well be the beginning of another Chapter Chap. VI. did beare the date of the death of Uzziah This of the death of Ahaz Palestina Meaning here the Westerne part of Jury that was inhabited by the Philistines verse 29 Of the Philistines see my Annotations on Zech. IX 6. The Babylonians were the greatest enemies to the Jews farthest off The Philistines were their greatest enemies nearest at hand because the rod c. This is meant of King Uzziah who prevailed much in his wars against them 2 Chron. XXVI 6 7. But in Ahaz his reigne the state and strength of the Jews was much weakened whereat the Philistines did much rejoyce But Esay biddeth them not to be overjoyed for it should not last long a cockatrice Ezekiah 2 Kings XVIII 8. and his fruit shall be a fiery flying Serpent The Serpents fruit shoul be a cockatrice yea more then so a fiery flying Serpent And the first-borne of the poore The extremely poore verse 30 as
them to thrive and prosper again I will poure A type of that spiritual blessing verse 3 and growth and increase of Gods Church and the members of it under the Messias by the graces and comforts of his Spirit One shall say Gods blessing to them verse 5 in the addition of many Proselytes since I appointed the ancient people The lineage of Abraham to be my peculiar people verse 7 things that are coming Things to come in a continued course from the first to the last like lincks of a chaine hanging one upon another Is there a God besides me That can so foretel verse 8 and do They that make a graven Image The sottishnesse of them verse 9 their makers and worshippers is largely set down ver 9 20. Remember these Their sottishnesse verse 21 and thy duty by all my dealings with thee so freely and bountifully above my dealings with others Sing verse 23 O ye heavens At the redemption and deliverance of Gods people Implying such abundant matter of joy as might well affect the whole Creation were it all sensible of it that frustrateth the tokens of the liars Specialy those that would prognosticate the long continuance of the Babylonian Monarchy verse 25 messengers Such as Esay verse 26. 28. Jeremy Ezekiel and others That saith of Cyrus Thus naming him about two hundred yeares before he was borne So to assure them of their deliverance by him This Chapter is also of the same subject with the former chapter XLV And begins where that did end two-leaved gates Such as great mens houses and Palaces are wont to have verse 1 and create evil Specialy to the Babylonians verse 7. 8. Drop down A command of a Blessing from God That Gods mercy and goodnesse should so manifestly and plentifuly appear in the deliverance of his people and disposing all things for their behoof as if the heavens and the earth were full of blessings for them even of righteousnesse and salvation woe to him that A curb to restraine the impatiencie of some verse 9 that murmured at their miseries and at the delay of their deliverance Or against the Babylonians that would strive even against God himself to keep his people in perpetual slavery And many other passages of Gods providence concerning the affaires of those times might be which flesh and blood would be over-prone to be quarrelling with God about and controuling his carriage of them Ask me Or by interrogation verse 11 will ye presume to appoint and direct me what I shall do and how I shall carry matters concerning the disposition and ordering of my people Or positively seek to me for these things concerning my sonnes and not to Idols raised him up Cyrus verse 13 build my Citie Give order for it and the Temple especialy Ezra I. 1. shall come over unto thee How verse 14 and by whom they should be furnished with supply of all requisite commodities Ezra I. 4. and chap. VII 21 22. Some expound this whole passage of Cyrus himself That because he had dealt so freely with Gods people God would therefore give him as a reward the wealth of those rich Kingdomes and Countries which together with Babylon of whom they formerly held at the fall of that State fell also into his hands surely God is in thee Or with thee with Cyrus typicaly with Christ realy And he in his Church verily Esay here admires the hidden depth of Gods dispensations verse 15 in the passages of his providence And men ought not therefore to take upon them to control and censure him therein I have not spoken in secret As your false gods deliver their Oracles verse 19 But plainly Assemble your selves Ye that escaped the sword of Cyrus verse 20 ye Chaldeans and other Nations seeing now how much God is able to do for his people how little their Idols for those that served them Look unto me Leaving Idols verse 22 betake your selves unto me who am the only true God and able to save you ver 16 17. unto me every knee shall bow And it is your wisest course therefore verse 23 to come willingly in unto me ver 22. Psal. II. 8 10. The Apostle Rom. IV. 11. applyeth this text to the last judgement which is a thing herein necessarily included be justified God approving their innocencie verse 25 and unjust sufferings at the hands of their enemies notwithstanding their pretences in doing justice upon them on Gods behalf for their sinnes and therefore they took them as lawful prize God would clear them deliver them and punish their enemies In this Chapter chapter XLVI and the next as in the 13. and 14. Chapters before is set down a full and pregnant Prophecie against Babylon and of her utter overthrow and of Gods deliverie of the Jewes from her Asserting withal the vanity of the Babylonian Idols and his owue incomparable divine power to effect it Bel This Chapter begins with the ruine of their Idols verse 1 See the Observations on Judges VIII 33. Nebo Another of their Idols Whose name is found inserted in many of the names of their Kings and Nobles as Nabonassar Nabopolassar Nebuchadnezzar Nabuzaradan The name imports Prophecie And so this may seeme their Apollo as Bel their Jupiter A burden to the weary beast On whose backs the Medes and Persians lead them to carry them away which are borne Minding them of his Divine power and love verse 3 God not like to those Idols ver 1 2. and shew your selves men Not beasts verse 8. 10. like these idolaters Declaring the end from the beginning Foretelling the issue of things in a continued course and progresse from the first to the last which no other then my self can do bird from the East Cyrus from Persia verse 11. 12. which is East from Babylon ye stout-hearted Impious obstinate of the Jewes or rather stomackful and proud enemies far from righteousnesse Or righteous dealing with my people my righteousnesse In executing judgements on you verse 13 and righting the wrongs done to my people This Chapter prosecutes the destruction of Babylon chapter XLVII and begins with the ruine of their State And describes throughout it her dejected and despicable condition upon her overthrow together with the procuring Causes and the suddennesse and unavoidablenesse of it Uncover thy locks Cast off thy stately head-tire verse 2 and go bare-headed as captives and drudges are wont to do as a man But in full wrath verse 3. 9. and power as God in a moment in one day That night of Belteshazzars feast Dan. V. 30. This Chapter is also much of the same subject chapter XLVIII and frame especialy with Chapters XLIII and XLIV out of the waters of Judah The stock of Judah verse 1 the royal Tribe that had kept the true worship of God and not fallen away as the ten Tribes and thy neck is an iron sinew A reason why God was pleased to foretel things to his people verse 4 that they might not be ascribed to their
like fathers unto the sins of the fathers also either enhauncing or lengthening the judgements to make their sufferings the more exemplarie that men may observe how execution of vengeance though delayed for a time yet at length falleth with a full storme on the race of the wicked 1 Sam. III. 12. Lam. V. 7. Matth. XXIII 32 35 36. 1 Thes. II. 15 16. a blessing in it The little liquor in the cluster argued life and sap to be in the plant verse 8 and so hope of recovery to become fruitful againe not destroy them all A Remnant still reserved and saved ver 9. for the propagating of the Church Jer. XXX 11. Amos. IX 8. Sharon Under Libanus verse 10 1 Chron. XXVII 29. valley of Achor Neere Jericho that prepare a table for that troope Feasts verse 11 for their troope of idols pointed at as it were with the finger in contempt by the Prophet here Some by this troope understand the hoast of heaven Some one particular Star as Jupiter that furnish the drink-offering Heb. that fill mixture i. e. wine Apoc. XIV 10. Psal. LXXV 8. Prov. IX 2. strong wine is in these places meant without mixture of water For they would not offer such to their Idols though in their ordinary drinking they did mix it for themselves behold A strange alteration verse 13 four times repeated by another name Verse 16. verse 15 chap. LXII 2 4 12. as being in another state and condition then you or they formerly Such a name as should be used not in Cursing but in Blessing See Hos. I. 6 9. and II. 1 23. Rom IX 26. 1 Pet. II. 10. I create new heavens A further more strange alteration verse 17 Make as it were a new world Their change shall be such that coming suddenly out of such adversity into such prosperity they shall seeme to be in a new in another world But this is chiefly applyable to the times of the Gospel under Christ in a spiritual sense in regard of those plentiful endowments of spiritual graces that therein should abound John I. 16 17 Acts II. 17 33. Heb. IX 9 12. And hereunto is this change applied chap. LXVI 22. 2 Cor. V. 17. begun here to be perfected in heaven 2 Pet. III. 13. Apoc. XXI 1 5. and the former Jer. III. 16. 1 Cor. II. 9. 2 Cor. III. 7 10. But be ye glad Gods speech verse 18 as chap. III. 10. and XXX 10. the childe He that was once a childe verse 20 None among them young or old should be taken away by untimely death but should live to the utmost course of nature wont usualy to be attained verse 22. but the sinner Such among them as remained still unreformed unrefined unreclaimed though he live never so long shall at length prove a cursed wretch as the dayes of a tree As the Oake verse 22 and Elme before they call Chap. LVIII verse 24 9. Psal. XXXII 5. Dan. X. 12. and IX 20 23. Luke XV. 18 20. Acts X. 44. and XI 15. John XIV 13 14. and XV. 7 16. and XVI 23 24 26. The wolf and the lamb Such as had beene of a wolvish disposition formerly verse 25 should now be thus transformed All shall be harmlesse ch XI 6 9. Another Sermon chapter LXVI like the former and that as in matter so also in many expressions agreeing with it The heaven in my throne Cited Acts VII verse 1 48 49 50. See Psalme CIII 19. Matth. V. 34. where is the House That ye have or should or can build unto me when as I fill heaven and earth with my presence Jer. XXIII 24 See 1 Kings VIII 27. Acts XVII 14 25. And this is to take off their minds from the Temple of Jerusalem wherein they over-much trusted and gloried Jer. VII 4. place of my rest Psal. CXXXII 8 14. Not but that he can well be without them as he was also before they were He needs no house to receive him nor service of man to be done to him Psal. XVI 2. and L. 10 11. He needs not these things as their idols do contrite spirit John IV. verse 2 21 23 24. God looks to him more then to his material Temple Psal. XXXIV 18. and CXXXVIII 6. He that killeth an Oxe For sacrifice verse 3 As in the Temple so in their Sacrifices the Jewes much confided and boasted 2 Chron. XIII 10 11. But when they rested in these outward things and exercises without any grace and goodnesse in the soul and with much filthinesse and wickednesse in their hearts and lives God loaths their persons and their sacrifices chap. I. 11 14. Prov. XV. 8. and XXI 27. Jer. VI. 20. and VII 21 22 23. Amos V. 21 22 23. Micah VI. 6 7. Ezek. XX. 39. blessed an idol With a Present or oblation Gen. XXXIII 10. and XLIII 11. I also will choose An implication of a Retaliation verse 4 As chap. LXV 12. Levit. XXVI 27 28. Psal. XVIII 26. Jer. XXXIV 17. their delusions Passively or objectively their illusions or mockages that they shall be exposed and subject unto As they have made choice of such wayes and courses as please not me so will I make choice of such things for them as they shall finde small pleasure in their fears Prov. X. 24. that cast you out Either by unjust Censure under pretence of a legal proceeding verse 5 or that shun you as persons so polluted and defiled that there is no dealing with you without being defiled by you See John IX 34. and XVI 2. See chap. LXV 5. Lam. IV. 15. Niddui a word of this root is the lowest degree of Excommunication in the Jewish Church for my Names sake For your loyalty to me As Matth. X. 22. Let the Lord be glorified Spoken in way of derision Let him manifest his might and majesty in doing some remarkable matter for you if ye be so dear to him as ye deeme your selves to be Thus jearing their trust and confidence in God As chap. V. 19. Psal. XXII 7 8. Matth. XXVII 43. 2 Pet. III. 3 4. but he shall appear The answer to that jear A voice Esay breaks out into these words verse 6 as if in a Prophetical rapture he heard the noise and voice Like that chap. XIII 4. Jer. L. 22 28. and LI. 54. A voice of noise of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Chaldeans or by the Romanes from the Temple To control their vaine confidence in it as implying how little relief or safeguard they should then receive from it Lam. II. 20. to his enemies Most likely the obstinately wicked amongst the Jewes verse V. 14. chap. LXV 6 7 and I. 24. Before she travelled A prophecie of the strange sudden verse 7 and unexpected restitution of the Church and the dilatation of it into all parts This may relate to the delivery out of Babylon by Cyrus done at an instant by his Proclamation not with so much ado as that was out of Egypt Here Zion is like the Hebrew
34 35 36. and chap. XXIII 16 22. Iames V. 12. See on Matth. XXIII 16 22. And againe though this maner of Speech The Lord liveth may be taken in a way of a strange asseveration only thus As surely as the Lord liveth As likewise that Gen. XLII 15. 1 Sam. I. 26. and XXV 26. Yet it goeth often in Scripture under the notion and name of an Oath as 1 Sam. XIX 6. Ier. V. 2. and chap. XII 16. And is here forbidden because God would not have his Name once in the mouth of Idolaters as not enduring to be joyned with Idols 2 Cor. VI. 15. Zeph. I. 5. Ezek. XX. 39. Of Oath see more in page 10 52 74. and upon Ier. LI. 14. And of the Maner and Ceremonies in swearing see Gen. XXIV 2. and XLVII 29. and XIV 22. Exod. VI. 8. Exod. XX. 5 15 23. Dan. XII 7. Apoc. X. 5 6. And there are divers Rites and Gestures for it in divers Countries in all ages as the raine chapter VI verse 3 as the later and former Raine in due season is mentioned Levit. XXVI 4. Deut. XXVIII 12. Ezek. XXXIV 26. The First or former Raine and the later Raine are mentioned Deut. XI 14. Jer. V. 24. so called in relation to their husbandry and the order thereof The former raine was in their Seeding time in the eighth moneth part of our October and November requisite for the bringing up of their Seed and thereupon is called the Seeds raine Esay XXX 23. And that moneth is called Bull from the abundance of raine and great showers then requisite and falling as making a Deluge Jer. III. 3. and this former raine is called Yoreh or Moreh from a word that signifieth to poure downe The later raine was in the first moneth Joel II. 23. part of our March and April for the filling of the corne then in the eare and the fitting of it for harvest whence this moneth is called Abib Exod. XIII 4. which signifieth the stalk with the eare of corne Their harvest-time for corne being commonly within the compasse of two moneths half Abib or Nisan all Jair or Zif and half Sivan And hereupon were those two Offerings of corne in the sheaf and of two loaves injoyned at the Beginning and End of harvest Levit. XXIII 10 21. Num. XXVIII 26. Deut. XVI 9 10. See my Annotations on Zech. X. 1. bread of mourners Banquets at Burials chapter IX verse 4 as well as Bridals as of mirth the one so of consolation against mourning the other See Prov. XXXI 6 7. Jer. XVI 7. Ezek. XXIV 17. Matth. IX 23. Memphiâ— verse 6 in the Original Moph And thence with the Greeks and Latines Memphis In Esay and Jermie named Moph Jer. XLIV 1. and XLVI 14 19. Likely now that Grand Cairo the Great Citie See Esay XIX 13. Ezek. XXX 13. Chap. IX 7. and Chap X. 3 4. do shew the miserable state and condition of things in those times Is true liberality of the Body of the Church of Israel in Egypt chapter XI verse 1 And true Mysticaly of the Head of the Church of Christ. Whereupon the Apostle doth allude to this place and alledge it Matth. II. 15. Jacob wept chapter XII verse 4 in wrestling and making Supplication to the Angel though his weeping be not recorded by Moses The names for Lions in Hebrew are very many chapter XIII verse 8 and distinguished in Scripture according to their ages and qualities See the Annotations on Job IV. 10 The like is true for the variety of the names of gold See the Annotattons on Job XXVIII 15 19. I did know thee Owne thee as Psal. I. ult verse 5 Exod. III. 7. Deut. XXXIV 10. Psal. XXXI 7. and XXXVII 18. and CXLII 4. Matth. VII 23. Rom. VII 15. As for that place Acts XXIII 5. Most likely it is that Paul did not know Ananias to be High Priest he being so long absent from Ierusalem and the High Priest being so often changed in those times Joel JOEL Preacheth to Iudah And by the Matter and Argument of his Book as well as by the Ranck wherein we finde him placed He seemes to Prophesie when Hosea did in the dayes of King Uzziah Yet some assigne to him a later time upon those passages chap. III. 1 9. He declareth a dreadful judgement of Famine brought upon them by a Drought and Vermine Exhorts to true Mourning Fasting and Repenting with Promises thereupon of abundant Blessings Temporal and Spiritual upon themselves and of Gods dreadful judgements and revenge upon their enemies The Armie and Camp described chap. II. is not of the Assyrians or Babylonians But of those Vermine Gods Hoast named chap. I. 4. The Valley of Jehoshaphat is not the place for the General judgement in the end of the world at Christs second coming But serves only to note out thus much That Gods judgements upon the enemies of his Church shall be visibly in her sight and before her eyes as the Valley of Jehoshaphat was nigh the walls and in the sight of Jerusalem weepe betweene the Porch and the Altar The Porch of the Temple chapter II verse 17 and the Altar of Burnt-offering in the Priests Court or inner Court where they stood to minister and officiate See Ezra X. 1. and 1 Macc. VII 38. Visions By them God of old did speak to man verse 28 and reveale his will unto him Job XXXIII 15. Particularly to his Prophets Num. XII 6. Hos. XII 10. Ezek. VII 26. So to Abraham to Jacob to Samuel 1 Sam. III. 1 15. to Esay Ezekiel and others whence Judea is called the Valley of Vision Esay XXII 1. And so to Daniel to Peter Acts X. 19. and to Paul Acts XVI 9. and XVIII 9. 2 Cor. XII 1. Yea to Balaam Num. XXIV 4. And to Nebuchadnezzar Dan. II. 28. See my Annotations on Ezek. I. 1. This whole Text And so on to the end of this Chapter is cited by Saint Peter Acts II. 16 21. and applied to his present time the Beginning of the Gospel the time immediately preceding the destruction of the Jewish Politie their Citie and Temple as being fulfilled and compleated then and there He shewes that both this effusion of the Spirit And likewise those wonders shewed in heaven and in earth so particularly mentioned had their accomplishment before that terrible day of their destruction by Vespasian and Titus about fourty years after their crucifying of our Saviour which said great and terrible day our Saviour likewise foretels and gives the dreadful signes the forerunners of it very largely in the twenty fourth Chapter of Saint Matthew as may be gathered more specialy out of ver 33 34. Vainly therefore is this pouring out of the Spirit applied to our times so farre advanced toward the end of the world to patronize our New Lights and pretended Divine illuminations our extraordinary Gifts and Inspirations poured now by the Spirit on all sorts of Christians young and old sonnes and daughters even to the sleighting and