Deut. 33. and Apoc. 7. 5. and Numb 1. 5. 2. 5. â— and blessed them To Reuben Simeon and Levi it might seeme rather a curse then a blessing yet the denomination may be from the greater and better part And their fathers reprehension might prove a blessing to their further repentance He concludes them within the number of the tribes and so comprehendeth them within the Covenant gives them a right to Canaan the type and so by faith to the heavenly Canaan And likely he dismissed them all with a general benediction praying for them all And as those three became tribes and had their shares and portions in Canaan so they had their names in Aarons breast-plate on twelve stones Exod. 28. 21. and on two Onix-stones upon the shoulders of the Ephod Exod. 28. 10 11 11. Levi likely because they were the Priests and holy Ministers themselves being left out in the precious stones And as many of their tribes are sealed Apoc. 7. 5 7. as of the rest every one according The blessings applied to every tribe according to the several references to his twelve sonnes such blessings as were meet for every of them as Gods Spirit did allot V. 29. Gathered into my people His soule to the Saints Heb. 12. 23. His body to the grave See Annot. on ch 25. 8. and on ch 47. 9. to my holy fathers by death v. 33. bury me with my fathers See Annotat on chap. 47. 30. â— in the cave This a ground of Josephs request to Pharaoh ch 50. 5. And lest in seventeen yeares absence question might be made of his right to the place evidences by writings being not then in use of Ephrou Bought of him v. 30. ch 23. 9 10 c. and ch 47. 30. V. 31. I buried Leah Ch. 47 30. 48. 7. Of the death and burial of Rebekah and Leah we have nothing elsewhere set down in Scripture V. 33. He gathered up his feet Which haply hung down before as he sate on the beds side And so composed himself to a quiet rest and sleep of death enjoying the use of memory and speech unto the last Psal. 37. 37. The gesture ch 47. 31. was for reverence and thankfulnesse to God and haply to Joseph 100. CHAP. L. Verse 1. ANd Joseph fell upon his face Exceeded his brethren as in Piety toward God so in filial affection and duty to his father Religion rejects not but regulates natural affections wept upon him Not womanish weaknesse to weep Men of excellent spirit and valour have been noted for it David Ezekiah Ne hemiah Joseph seven times Christ himself thrice John 11. 3. Luke 19. 41. Heb. 57. Paul Acts 20. 19 31. 2 Cor. 2. 4. Lawful in Funerals if mixt with faith and exceed not a just measure The want is a fault Esay 57. 1. Acts 8. 2. Jer. 22. 18. and kissed him To touch the dead was after forbidden Numb 19. 11 12. yet in Josephs time not forbidden Filial affection in a good sonne dieth not with a good father but surviveth V. 2. His servants the Physicians The Antiquity of Physick Physicians and embalming the dead Luke a Physician Col. 4. 14. 2 Tim. 4. 10 11. embalmed Embalmed bodies are transported from Egypt into other parts of the world at this day to be used for medicine Hence the Jewes had the custome of embalming so they embalmed King Asa 2 Chron. 16. 14. 21. 16. and our Saviour John 12. 7 19 39 40. Mar. 14. 8. Though his body needed it not being secured from corruption Psal 16. 10. Act. 2 31. 13. 35. yet they that embalmed him knew not so much Jacobs body was to be kept long and carried far V. 3. Seventy dayes To honour him as 2 Chron. 32. 33. The Hebrewes time of mourning was thirty dayes Numb 20. 29. Deut. 21. 13. 34. 8. And the Egyptians time for embalming was fourty dayes These two might make up the seventy dayes much time taken in the very ceremonies of mourning V. 4. Joseph spake unto the house Useth the mediation of Egyptian Courtiers to testifie his modesty in a businesse concerning himself to prevent all suspicion of his not returning and to decline their envie and endear himself to them the more And perhaps also Mourners were not to come into the presence of Princes Esther 4. 2. V. 5. Made me swear Lest he should seem to disdain to have his father buried in Egypt he alledgeth this tie upon him by the dead which I have digged for me So spacious was the place that they might dig themselves several Repositories or Cells for their dead bodies in it where his Progenitors and wife were buried The manner of men to build sepulchres while they were alive So Absalom so Asa 2 Chron. 16. 14. so Joseph of Arimathea Mat. 27. 60. so Shebna Esay 22. 16. bury me Some bodies are embalmed and not buried most buried without embalming some embalmed with Aromatick spices put into their bodies some only had spices upon them and about them some had sweet odours burnt at their burials 2 Chron. 16. 14. 21. 19. Jer. 34. 5. some had their dead bodies themselves burnt 1 Sam. 31. 12. sundry other manners amongst Heathen Want of burial is a calamity bewailed Psal. 79. 3. and a judgement threatened Jer. 7. 33. 22. 19. V. 6. As he made thee swear Very infidels would have oathes performed V. 7. All the servants A very great multitude of them So Mat. 3. 5. All Judea and so again many is put for all Rom. 5. 19. Such was Josephs prudence and sweetnesse of disposition that he kept the height of honour still without envie which Court-favourites seldome do and all the Elders Senatours Governours Officers Counsellours Ezech. 7. 26. Psal. 105. 22. V. 10. Valley of Atad Signifies a bramble or thistle Likely not far from Hebrou or Machpelah beyond Jordan As Moses stood when he wrote this Deut. 1. 1. 3. 25. being now in the plaines of Moab Else in a direct journey from Egypt to Hebron Mamre or Machpelah their way was not to passe over Jordan seven dayes So long in Moses Law they were unclean the touched the dead Numb 19. 11. See Annot. on v. 3. V. 13. And buried him in the cave which Acts 7. 15 16. saith Stephen to Jacob went down into Egypt and died he and our fathers and were carried over into Sichem and laid in the Sepulchre that Abraham bought for a summe of money of the sons of Emor the father of Sichem The case is clear that the two places which Abraham bought ch 23. and which Jacob bought ch 33. are not one and the same but divers as appears by the place or situation by the name use price and persons buyers and sellers And yet these two purchases seem to be confounded in the speech of Stephen Again Stephen might have a failer in memory in his long and sudden speech as not being then infallibly guided as an Inditer of Scripture though full of the Holy Ghost Acts 6. 5. 7. 55.
Ophir 1 Kings IX 28. Uphaz Jer. X. 9. This is the chiefest gold Dan X. 5. Job XXVIII 15. Psal. CXIX 72. See the Observations on Esay XIII 12. great reward Which reward yet is of grace verse 11 not of merit Rom. VIII 3. through Gods free grace and bounty not the merit of our works The Apostle doth thus distinguish of merit Rom. IV. 4 5. and XI 6. There is no merit properly if the work be not properly out own and not otherwise due debt and justly equal to the reward They are justly due out of his true and free promise who can Where then is that possibility verse 12 and facility of fulfilling the Law even unto works of Supererogation whereof Papists do so much brag dominion over me There are sinnes reigning and not reigning but rebelling verse 13 Rom. VI. 12 22. and VII 15 20. The Lord hear thee This Psalme chapter XXI verse 1 and the next are composed by David for a publike forme of a Prayer in the one of a Thanksgiving in the other to be used by the people for himself the King They seeme to stretch this Psalme too farre and that without ground who make it to be a Prophesie of Christs Sufferings and his deliverances out of them for which the Church with him triumpheth As also the next Psalme to gratulate the victory and Salvation of Christ. Save Lord verse 9 let the King hear us Most here understand God or the Messias Some David The LXX not observing or keeping the Hebrew distinction Athnach render it thus Lord save the King and hear us when we call upon thee for ever and ever Psal. chapter XXI verse 4 LXXXIX 29 36 37. and LXI 6 7. David lived but seventy years yet in his royal posterity for many ages and in Christ the Sonne of David Matth. XXII 42. for ever and ever eternaly Rom. VI. 9. Apoc. I. 18. Heb. VII 25. See the Observations on Deut. XV. 17. Thine hand King Davids hand chapter XXII verse 8 In some Psalmes there are passages that properly and literaly belong to David and to Christ only as David was a Type of him But in this Psalme are some Passages as ver 16 17 18. besides many other which are applied to Christ in the New Testament as ver 1 7 8 22 27. which literaly and properly belong to Christ and are appliable to him only or to him more then to David Then here is no place left for that question of the Eunuch Acts VIII 34. The allegations out of this Psalme Matth. XXVII 46 35 43. Heb. II. 12. and the body of the Psalme it self do shew that little of it can be applied to David as a Type most of it is proper and peculiar to Christ alone as I formerly said 1 Pet. I. 11 12. my God Jesus on the Crosse little before his death verse 1 about the ninth hour cryed out these words with a loud voice Matth. XXVII 46. Heb. V. 7. upon the weight of Gods wrath under the burden of our sinnes The Deity by a special providence and dispensation withdrawing and suspending its influence from the Humanity for this time God withdrawing all sense of his favour from him Not that the hypostatical union of both natures was then or ever severed or dissolved But yet he suffered chiefly in his soul all the paines pangs and agonies of a justly angry and punishing God even more then can either be expressed or imagined even so farre above the measure of ordinary sufferings as himself was above ordinary men without any influence or joy or comfort streaming from the Vision of God upon his mind and wil for that time So that he suffered as in body so in soul in his whole man as in his sensual part so in his intellectual also in his whole soul and body and in all the parts powers and faculties of them And the greatest sufferings as was said that could be sustained in this life Lam. I. 12. yet without any derogation to the integrity purity innocencie dignity of the person of Christ our Surety and Saviour These words then are not a complaint out of impatience ignorance disobedience or diffidence They are the words of sense not of infidelity See ver 24. Luke XXIII 46. He strongly calls him his God even in that instant of these suffering so expressing his firme faith in him But they are a Protestation of the bitternesse of his Passion so stricken smitten of God and afflicted and so farre prevailing on him in whom the spirit of fortitude had his residence forsaken me This sense of dereliction and carencie of Divine favour for the time as it was the Fathers pleasure to have it so so the Sonnes office called him unto it and he did not contract it by any fault of his but did voluntarily undertake it for our sinnes and the expiation of them as he did the death it self So that in this then there could not be any defect or defanlt of faith and hope requisite in him And likewise that Prayer and Speech Matth. XXVI 39. bewrayes the sense of the flesh but joyned with the obedience of the Spirit in him A double Will in him against Monothelites but joyned both in one holy obedience and subjection All which shew the nature of sinne the infinite wrath of God against it the infinite Love of the Father and the Sonne towards the children of men and the verity of Christs Humane Nature both in body and soul. roaring Like that of Lions Psal. XXXII 3. and XXXVIII 8. Matth. XXVI 38. Marke XIV 33. Luke XXII 44. so that he had need of an Angel for his Comforter Yet he so wrestles and prevailes that no signe of halting was left remaining after no signe or voice of despair as some are shamelesly wronged to charge upon him All the agonies of Christs soul ceased with his death but thou hearest not We read that God ever heard him verse 2 ver 24. John XI 42. Heb. V. 7. But here this Prayer was only conditional a signification of a natural desire not an absolute and plenary Prayer inhabit the praises of Israel Whose praise thou art verse 3 Deut. X. 21. And they praise thee in thy House and Sanctuary Thou art still praised by them for thy benefits to them and acknowledged their holy one Our fathers And shall I be so forsaken verse 4 not heard nor holpen nor delivered Thus he aggravates his complaint rouzeth up his faith bowes and moves God to mercie Cried Crying or clamor verse 5 and Prayer are oft conjoyned Psal III. 4. and XVIII 7. Jer. VII 16. Jonas III. 8. Micah III. 4. a worme So vile and contemptible in the eyes of men verse 6 Esay LIII 2 3. as Job XXV 6. Esay XLI 14. Not only made lower then the Angels Psal. VIII 5. Heb. II. 7. but disesteemed more then Barrabas or the two theives All they that see me This verse verse 7 and the next we see fulfilled in the History of Christs Passion
and humbled himself and suffered even to death and so was made a little lower then the Angels But now hereby he is crowned with glory and honour Yet this dignity here is not ascribed to his Humanity singly in it self considered but in supposito as it hypostaticaly subsists in the Person of the Sonne of God And this Dignity is not an elevation and exaltation of the Humanity of our Saviour into the Majesty and essential properties and prerogatives of the Divine-nature and so to have a parity of Dignity with it an equality in all points realy communicated to the Humanity in it self as the Ubiquitaries contend and plead for and which they referre not to the Person only but to the very Humane nature also in the Person of the Sonne of God But this Dignity of Christs Humanity is that which is next in degree under God and the Father above that of the Angels and all creatures Heb. I. 3 4. Ephes. I. 20 21 22 23. given to him in time after his Ascention as a consequent and reward of his exinanition and passion Phil. II. ult Heb. II. 9. Luke XXIV 26. This Dignity Saint Paul declares 1 Cor. XV. 25. and Saint Peter Acts V. 31. and X. 42. Iohn V. 27. In summe then as Christ emptied himself and subjected himself to the Father not in regard of his Divine nature but in regard of his Person God-man and that only out of his Voluntary dispensation So out of the same his voluntary dispensation it is that he exercises this office of Mediation in both natures And here after his Ascention not before in the Personal Union of both Natures he receives this Dignity of sitting on the Fathers right hand his Person reigning so in both natures It is not then the Humanity in it self singly taken that sits on the right hand of God but the Humanity of that Person that sits at the right hand of God as in the Incarnation it came to passe not that the Humanity became God but that the Humanity became then the Humanity of God And Christ now sitting at the right hand of God doth reigne every where even as Man also though his Humanity be not every where as a King doth in his Kingdom though his body be not every where as the Head in the Body though the Head be not every where as the Sun in the firmament enlightens heats cherisheth quickeneth things below though the Sun remaine in its own place above until 1 Cor. XV. 14 25 28. Not yet that the Son shal then leave off all Rule and Reigne and be subject to the Father simply But that then he shall leave off his Office of Mediation having then overcome his enemies and fully gathered his Church he shall not thenceforth use those meanes and actings which formerly he did the whole work being then finished then shall he leave off the administration of that delegation which he had formerly freely undertaken there being then no more need of it But thenceforth shall he reigne together with the Father to all eternity Dan. VII 14. Luke I. 23. In a sense not unlike is this particle untill used Psal. CXXIII 2. Matth. ult ult Gen. XXVIII 15. what is affirmed of the time past is not denied for the time to come I make I God the Father Not excluding God the Sonne For the same action is attributed to him 1 Cor. XV. 25. Iohn XVI 33 Opera Trinitatis ad extra sunt indivisa thine enemies The Devill John XIV 30. 1 Cor. XV. 24. The World John XVI 33. and XV. 18. Antichrist and all wicked men Luke XIX 27. Not but that these are the enemies of God and the Father also John V. 23. And so both are joyned together Psal. II. 2. yet more immediately and directly enemies to Christ the Sonne who came into the world to destroy the works of the Devil 1 John II. 8. enemies to his Kingdome and his inheritance Matth. XXI 38. thy foot-stoole All utterly subdued and put under thy feete 1 Cor. XV. 14. As Iudg. I. 7. Psal. XLVII 3. and Psal. XVIII 39 40. 1 Kings V. 3. Iosh. X. 24. 25. Thus did Sapor the Persian King Tamerlane the Scythian and Pope Alexander the fourth to the Emperour Frederick the first This Conquest was made by Christs Resurrection and Ascention Col. II. 15. Ephes. IV. 8. Iohn XII 3. and chap. XVI 11. 33. They touch not Christs person now as they did when he was upon earth They have not power over his mystical body and true members to domineer over them subdue them or deadly destroy them yet they have power to bite and bruise their heel and so to persecute Christ in his members Acts IX 4. and ch XXII 7. Zech. II. 8. And so the victory is not yet fully compleat Rom. XVI 20. And this makes for Christs greater glory and his childrens good But at the last day in the end of the world all the enemies shall be altogether utterly subdued and destroyed and punished everlastingly 1 Cor. XV. 25 28. Matth. XXV 41 c. The Lord shall send The Prophet David here turnes his speech to his Lord and Sonne and speaks here of Iehovah what he shall do to and for him the rod of thy strength Thy royal Scepter or Shepherds staffe thy Kingdome and the Dominion thereof Ier. XLVIII 17. Ezek. XIX 4 11. thy royal power which shall be strong to overpower all the strength of the world opposing it Rom. I. 16. And this is his Word and Gospel not any temporal armes or power out of Zion There began the promulgation and thence sprang the Propagation of the Gospel and of Christs Kingdome which wondrously subdued all the world Ps. II. 6 8. Esay II. 2 3. Mich. IV. 2. rule thou in the midst of thine enemies Here is the successe of Christs Kingdome even among his enemies He and his Church Militant in this world shall still have enemies Matth. X. 6. Yet he shall rule and reigne in the midst of them in despight of them and that with all confidence and boldnesse Thy people As by right of Creation so chiefly here verse 3 by right of Redemption Here is the successe of Christs Kingdome among his subjects shall be willing Their first property to be prompt ready devout chearfully obedient 1 Pet. II. 9. freely led thereto by Gods free Spirit Psal. LI. 12. Rom. VIII 14. Psal. LIV. 6. 2 Cor. IX 7. As Iudg. V. 9. Nehem. XI 2. Acts II. 41. Made such by Christ of unwilling to be so willing Iohn VI. 44. Psal. CXIX 10 11. 108. and in many other places of that Psalme Esay ELIX 18. and LV. 5. and LX. 4. in the day of thy power When by the powerful preaching of thy Gospel thou shalt rule in the midst of thine enemies and powerfully convert thy people to so willing an obedience unto thee The word here translated Power signifies also an armie and may relate to Christs mustering of his people as armies in the dayes of their
I will be in my bringing of them out of Egypt notwithstanding all Pharaohs obstinacie V. 7. breathed To shew that mans spirit is not of the earth as his body but of nothing by the insufflation of God and so differing from the spirit of beasts Job 33. 4. Eccles 3. 21. It hath iâ—s immediate original from the Father of spirits who did by creating infuse it or by infusion create it V. 8. planted On the third day chap. 1 11 12. Eastward From Moses in the wildernesse where he wrote this History in Eden A part of Mesopotamia V. 9. tree of life Because naturaly much but sacramentaly more it conduced thereunto tree of knowledge From the event in respect of our first parents V. 10. went out of Eden Flowing into it from above V. 11. Pison A part of Tygris Paâ—itygris or Pisotygris Havilah From Havilah the sonne of Cush Gen 10. 7. 25. 18 1 Sam. 15. 7. V. 13. Gihon The lower part of Euphrates Ethiopia Cush i. e. the Westerne Ethiopia adjacent to the Desert Arabia V. 14. Hiddekel The upper part of Tygris Euphrates Called the river the great river Deut. 1. 7. 11 24. Rev. 9. 14. V. 17. Thou shalt not eate of it The thing in it selfe indifferent but made unlawful to him by Gods command both sheâ— the Lords absolute dominion over him and his sin to be the greater and more notorious if he disobeyed it surely die Be subject to mortality misery death and to him which hath the power of death that is the Devil Heb. 2. 14. A man sentenced to death we count him a dead man dead in Law though he and his execution be reprieved for a time If he had not sinned he had continued in a safe and blessed condition free from death and all maner of evil V. 19. and brought them unto Adam Gen. 7. v. 8. 9. V. 20. And Adam gave names Not that the names must needs be given according to their natures V. 21. ribs With the flesh v 23. The want of which rib God could and easily did sufficiently supply by closing up the flesh instead thereof V. 22. made he a woman 1 Cor. 11. 8. brought her to the man As to her husband Thus the married estate honourable in the state of Innocency Matth 19. 4 5 6. V. 23. This is now bone c. He knew it partly of himself but more by divine revelation V. 24. Therefore shall a man leave c. These seeme to be rather the words of God Matth. 19. 4. 5. then of Adam or of Moses And are spoken both simply Gen. 24. 58 59. and comparatively rather leave the duty of children to parents then of husband to wife when any such case of necessity shall fall out And they Explained by twaine Matth. 19. 5 6. by two 1 Cor. 6. 16. Against Polygamy and unlawful divorces and carnal copulation out of marriage V. 25. both naked c. That shameful through sin since the Fall Rom. 6. 21. which was not so before not shall be after the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15. 43. CHAP. III. â—â—rs 1. SErpent Divers sorts are of them Some specious and beautiful to the eye subtil Prudent Matth. 10. 16. crafty 2. Cor. 11. 3. and so the fitter instrument for Satan he said Many Angels fell Mar. 5. 9 12. 2 4. Pet. 2. Jude v. 6. having one for Principal Matth. 25. 41. And they fell from the beginning 1 John 3. 8. Now they are called Devils or Daemons of their knowledge and cunning still remaining One of them if not the Principal opened here the Serpents mouth and caused it to speak with mans voice 2 Cor. 11. 3. as the Lord did with Balaâ—ms Asse And the Devil did this speedily after mans creation Whence he is called a Murtherer from the beginning Joh. 8. 44. and that old Serpent which deceiveth the whole world Rev. 12. 9. yea hath God This would be an abrupt beginning But it seemes to presuppose a Precedent parley in a more cunning and winning way V. 2. And the woman said She wonders not at the Serpents speaking and speaking so or it may be she did at the first for a while at least though it be not here expressed yet haply conceiving that her knowledge in some things was to increase by experience as our blessed Saviour did Luke 2. 52. He came to finde fruit on the fig-tree when the time of figs was not yet Mar. 11. 13. And she being not apt bâ— able to suspect any evil or sinne as not knowing the fall of the Angels or any evil to be in the world she might the rather entertaine this conference V. 3. Neither shall ye touchit lest ye die These words may be uttered with a good intention and receive a good interpretation in answer to the Serpents question she hereby heightening Prohibition to the utmost to put the greater â—ie upon her obediente and averring and ascertaining the danger and death which otherwise would ensue as Matth. 15. 32. compared with Marke 8. 3. V. 4. ye shall not surely die Thus the Devil is a liar and the father of it John 8. 44. V. 5. as Gods Satan might be pretend to meane it of the Angels But the woman conceived it of the true God in plurality of persons as appears v. 22. Knowing Satan abuseth the name of the treeâ— to a wrong sense pretending all good but intending all wofull knowledge of sinne and misery by it experimentally V. 6. And when the woman saw c. Here was the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life 1 John 2. 16. And thus through his eating by one man sinne and death entered into the world In Adam all his posterity sinned being then in his â—oines Rom. 5. 12 19. And in Adam all die 1 Cor 15. 22. Rom 5. 15 16 17 18. and he did eate Yet it is said Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived was in the transgression â— Tim. 2. 14. She first and deepest in the transgression and she not the Devil immediately the meanes to induce her husband to sinne she giving the forbidden fruit to him with words to perswade him v. 17. though she did not purposely deceive him as the Devil did purposely deceive hee V. 7. And the eyes of them both Small distance then betweene the time of both their eating naked In body before without shame while without sin chap. 2. 25. But now experimentally they know that they were naked both in body and soule with shame as Exod. 32. 25. through guilt of sinne and sting of conscience they sewed A silly shift And therefore notwithstanding this they seek to hide themselves v. 8. But for their souls they did not nor indeed could make any shift at all aprons To cover especially those parts of all most uncomely now which serve for generation By which sinne hath its derivation to all mankinde V. 8. voice of the Lord God walking Either in an humane shape or otherwise without that
Abel and the rooâ— of that holy progeny wherein the Church was afterward established V. 26. Enos Sorrowful Psal. 9. 20. that the Nations may know themselves to be but Enos i. e. woful men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Then began men to call the Worship of God grew more publick and solemne and in a sort restored and revived again in the persons and families of Seth and Enos having bin almost buried in the paucity and privacy of the godly before this time a separation now being made by them from the profane society of the wicked such as were generaly the posterity of Cain CHAP. V. Ver. 3. IN his own likenesse after his image such as he was now sinful not as he was created Holy Yet still God was the Father of spirits the God and Creator of the spirits of all flesh Heb. 12. 9. Numb 16. 22. V. 4. And he begat sonnes and daughters after Seth yet not excluding some to be begotten before Seth as Cain and others And the same is likely to be understood of the rest of the ten Patriarches in this chapter before the flood That they begat sons and daughters as well before as after the birth of those Patriarchs by whom the line of the Genealogy and Chronology is drawn For it is scarce probable that in this first Age of the world before the flood wherein mankinde had most need of multiiplication the Patriarchs should be so old as the half of them above 100. yea Jared 162 Lamecb 182. Methusalah 187. Noah 500. before they had any children though indeed Noah for his part had no more then three when the flood came 1 Pet. 3. 20. But so old they were before that sonne was borne who was the Progenitor of our Saviour and in whose race the main progresse and succession of the true Church did consist V. 5. All the dayes Adam was living in Lamechs dayes V. 21. Enoch walked with God the seventh of Adam followed not the wickednesse of his age But pleased God prophesied saying Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Sants to execute judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Jude ver 14 15. And Henoch was not died not as others but was translated by faith God took him body and soule as after he did Elias that he should not see death and he was not found Heb. 11. 5. after he had lived on earth so many yeares as there are dayes in our yeare Thus was he a pledge and pawne of the Resurrection and life eternal and celestial and prophesied of the last and general judgement Adam and Methusalah and five Patriarchs between them were living witnesses of his Translation V. 27. All the dayes of Methusalah the longest liver and died the last of the nine Patriarchs in the beginning of the yeare of the flood V. 29. Noah Thus Lamech his father prophesied of him at his birth presaging comfort and rest by him in the midst of all miseries in those evil and uncomfortable times V. 32. And Noah begat i. e. began to beget So chap. 11. 26. and chap. 7 10. Japheth the eldest Sem the second Chaâ—â— youngest Of the LXX-Chronology in this Chapter They extend the age of Methusalah beyond the flood contrary to Scripture and adde almost 1600. yeares to the true Chronology in this and the eleventh chapters Haply out of some considerations touching the Heathens for whom that Greek Translation was made But the LXX now is no where extant but patched infinitely CHAP. VI. Ver. 1. WHen men began to multiply very greatly and specially Cains wicked progeny and wickednesse with them and daughters the occasion both of the corruption and calamity set forth in the ensuing story V. 2. That the sonnes of God Professors of the true Worship of God Deut. 14. 1. 2 Cor. 6. 18. 1 John 3. 1. Which here grew remisse in Religion Daughters of men of the profane race of Cain that had little of God or his image in them in their mindes or manners but were meer men 1 Cor. 3. 3. natural men unregenerate and out of the Church and such these their daughters were Faire without respect to spiritual beauty not minding at all what they were for Religion and manners Thus beauty intangleth the fond and fleshly affection Wives Loved liked and chosen only for Beauties sake Gods Law after forbade such marriages with those out of the Church Deut. 7. 3 4. Exod. 34. 16. 2 Cor. 6. 14. V. 3. My spirit In the Patriarchs and specially in Noah a Preacher of righteousnesse 1 Pet. 3. 19 20. 2 Pet. 2. 5. And by good motions and checks of conscience in the men of these times As Nehem. 9. 30. For that he also is flesh even my people also all mankinde v. 12. are fleshly not having the Spirit Jude v. 19 Rom. 8 8 9 Gal. 5. 16 17. 120 years granted for trial of their repentance the long suffering of God waiting whether in this space of time while the Ark was a preparing they would repent 1 Pet. 3. 20. by mortification of the flesh and vivificatiâ— of the Spirit or as St. Peter expresseth it be judged according to men in the flesh but live according to God in the Spirit ch 4. 6. agreeing with that of Paul 1 Cor. 5. 5. This was twenty yeares before the birth of Japheth V. 4. Giants Men of huge stature and strength beyond others in those dayes such as Og was of the race of giants and the Anakimâ— in Moses time Numb 13. 33. Amorites Amos 2 9 Deut. 3. 11. Goliath Isbbi-benob Saph Lahmi in Davids time 2 Sam. 21. 16 18. 1 Chron. 20. 5 6 8 Men who in the pride and confidence of their bodies greatnesse were apostates from God oppressors of men fierce and cruel And also after that After those unlawful mixtures and marriages v. 2. many of their seed became such Giants and after that destruction threatened v. 3. V. 5. Every imaginariâ—n This heightens the sinfulness of this age Mic. 7. 3. But Gen. 8. 21. More strongly proves the universal corruption of mans nature by the fall V. 15. 300 cubits The length is ten times the height and six times the breadth resembling for the fashion of it a mans coffin V. 16. In a cubit shalt finish it The Ark not the window Doore Wide to receive an Elephant closed up and pitched belike when all were in and that by God himself ch 7. 16. With lower second and third stories These stories considered with the quantity and kinde of the cubits a common cubit then being longer then our cubits now and the sacred cubit being double to the common cubit as appears by comparing 1 Kings 7. 15. with 2 Chron. 3. 15. not to speak of a Geometrical cubit six times as some alledge as great as a common cubit we may easily conceive the capacity
Begat Abram c. Began to beget as Gen. 5. 32. For Abram was borne in the one hundred and thirtieth yeare of his father Terah Terah dying at the age of two hundred and five in Haran ch 11. 31 32. and Abram being then seventy five years old as appears ch 12. 4. Acts 7. 4. Likely Haran was the eldest Nahor the second and Abram the youngest as the eldest likewise is named last ch 5. 32. V. 28. In Ur Nehem. 9. 7. Acts 7. 4. Ur signifieth fire which likely was worshipped by the idolatrous Chaldeans and some place or city received denomination from that idol Heathen Writers call it Orchoe it is the Easterne part of Mesopotamia when Mesopotamia is taken in a large sense comprehending â—haldea in it of the chaldees Given much to Astrology whence such are called Chaldeans Dan. 2. 2 4 5. Ur of the Chaldees Called Mesopotamia Acts 7. 2. V. 29. Milcah the daughter of Haran Not another Haran but Abrams eldest brother as appears by the next words He was elder then Abram sixty yeares the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah This Milcab was Grand-mother to Rebecca Isaacs wife Geâ— 22. 2â— 22 23. great Grandmother to Rachel and Leah Gen. 29. 10 12 13 16. This Ischa is Sarai the daughter i. e. the Grandchilde of Abrahams father but not the daughter i. e. the Grandchilde of his mother Terah having Haran her father by another wife then he had Abraham Gen. 20. 12. Nahor and Abraham marry their Neeces their brother Harans daughters and so Amran takes Jochebed his father Kohaths sister to wife Exod. 6. 20. Such marriages are forbidden Lev. 18. 12 14. however here by divine dispensation tolerated or not condemned V. 31. And Terah took Abram Abram first motioned this remove God having appeared to him in Ur of the Chaldees Acts 7. 2. Gen. 15. 7. And here begin the foure hundred and thirtie yeares at the end whereof the Israelite came out of Egypt Exod. 12. 41. Gal. 3. 17. Nahor came too though not mentioned here For he setled in Haran whence it is called Nahors City ch 24. 10. 29. 4. 28. 2 10. to Haran A City of Mesopotamia but not taking Mesopotamia in a strict sense as it is taken Act. 7. 2 3. Gen. 24 10. 28. 2 7 10. and dwelt there Likely through Terahs old age and sicknesse so long till they got substance and soules there ch 12. 5. See Judeth 5. 8 9. even five yeares as may be gathered out of the thirty yeares between Abrams calling out of Ur and the birth of Isaac See Annot. on ch 15. v. 13. CHAP. XII Ver. 1. HAd said For this seemes not to be a second Call But the Narration of the first Call out of Ur and the cause of their going forth of Ur ch 11. 31. and thy kindred If they had rather stay behinde thee then remove with thee will shew thee As he raised this righteous man from the East so he called him to his foot to follow him and his direction Esay 41. 2. Likely God bade him go to Canaan but told him not that that was the land intended for him till he came thither Heb. 11 8 Gen. 12. 7. And this was for the greater trial of his faith V. 2. A great Nation Yet Sarah now at sixty five was barren And under this is also a spiritual seed promised Rom. 4. 11 12. Gal. 3. 7. blesse thee Spiritually also Gal. 3. 14. thou shalt be Or be thou a blessing God will command a blessing as Ps. 42. 8. 44. 4. and so 133. 3. V. 3. And I will blesse Like to this is that of Isaac to Jacob Gen. 27. 29. and that of Balaâ—m to Israel Numb 24. 9. in thee In thy seed Christ Gen. 18. 18. 22. 18. Acts 3. 25 26. Gal. 3. 8 14. Thus the Gospel was preached unto Abraham Gal. 3. 8. From this Promise and Covenant made in Ur of the Chaldees to the giving of the Law which could not disannul it were foure hundred and thirty yeares Gal. 3. 17 18. V. 4. Departed Went out by faith not knowing whither he went Heb. 11. 8. and Lot went with him Terahs family and Nahor stayed here See Annotations on ch 11. 3â— Here they left following God and fell again to idolatry ch 31. 30 53. Josh. 24 2. Seventy five He lived one hundred yeares after ch 25. 7. And Isaac his sonne then seventy five yeares old being borne in the one hundredth yeare of Abrahams age ch 21. 5. is left heire of Canaan V. 5. Soules Likely divers were converted Proselytes considering his care of his family ch 18. 19. and their ready obedience to him ch 14. 14. and to Gods Ordinance of Circumcision ch 17. 23. Canaan Deut. 8. 7 8 9. This was the type of an Heavenly which Abraham looked for Heb. 11. 9 10. And in Salem a City of Canaan Melchisedech dwelled and reigned a Priest of the most High God V. 6. Sichem Where after the City Sichem was chap. 33. 18. about the midst of the countrey called Sichar in our Saviours time Joh. 4. 5 unto the Plaine Set with a grove of oakes Deut. 11. 30. the Canaanite When God promiseth the cleansing of his Church he saith the Canaanite shall be there no more Zach. 14. 21. V. 7. Unto thy seed Here he tells him this is the land intended for him and now doth promise it whereupon it is called the Land of Promise Heb. 11. 9. the Lords Land Hos. 9. 3. the Holy Land Zach. 2. 12. the Land of Immanuel Esay 8. 8. thy seed When as yet he had no childe Acts 7. 5. an Altar As Gen. 8. 20. V. 8. Bethel After so called at this time Luz ch 28. 19. Moses calls many places by the names which were afterwards given to them sitting his speech to the men of that age wherein himself lived West Sea is here put for the West as Desert for the South Ps. 75. 6. V. 9. South Next Egypt V. 10. Into Egypt Ps. 105. 13. V. 11. Faire Very faire v. 14. in her self but more comparing her with the Egyptian women though now she was sixty five yeares old V. 13. My sister Neece she being his brothers daughter his fathers Grand-childe persons so near of kin are usually called brothers and sisters sons and daughters Gen. 31. 28. Exod. 2. 18. which makes him say to Abimelech ch 20. 12. Indeed she is my sister But Abram praying her to conceale part of the truth and purposely that the Egyptians might not conceive her to be his wife bewrayeth weaknesse of faith and humane frailty fearing perhaps that if he should die without issue Gods Promise should not have taken place and therefore he exposeth her to danger to save himself though withal he might have some hope that God would prevent that mischief V. 15. The Princes Courtiers Pharaoh The common name of the Egyptian Kings as Abimelech of the Philistines and Caesar of the Roman Emperours They had other
50. Rom. 16 1. 1 Cor. 7. 15. Jam. 2 15. But untrue in their intent V. 8. Looked out As David saw Bathsheba 2 Sam. 11. 2. sporting Deut. 24. 5. Prov 5. 18 19. V. 9. Of a surety she is thy wife So holy and unblameable was Isaacs life that worse then this Abimelech never suspected V. 10. What is this By this passionate expostulation he sheweth how greatly adultery if not dissimulation too were condemned by heathen morality ch 20. 9. guiltinesse Both sin and punishment Lev. 5. 5 6. V. 11. Toucheth So v. 29. ch 20. 6. Josh 9. 19. Ruth 2. 9. Ps. 105. 15. Prov. 6. 29. Zech. 2. 8. V. 12. An hundred fold Mat. 3 8 23. V. 14. Envied him Eccl. 4 4. Psâ—â— 2 10 Job 5. 2. V. 15. The Philistines had stopped Contrary to Covenant and Oath ch 21. 30 31. V. 17. Valley of Gerar V. 6. V. 18. After the names by which his father Renewing the ancient good names and altering idolatrous names Numb 32. 38. The names of idols are not to be heard out of our mouthes Ex. 23. 13. Ps. 16. 4. Deut. 12. 3. Hos. 2. 17. V. 21. Sitnah Hatred or spight Hence Satan hath his name V. 23. To Beersheba The famine being ended he returned to the place whence the famine had driven him the place of his fathers dwelling See Annot. on v. 1. and on ch 21. 31. V. 24. And the Lord appeared As it seems to comfort him against the envious dealings of the Philistines So ch 15. 1. the God of Abraham Therefore Abraham lives in soul Mat. 22. 32. V. 25. An Altar Ch. 12. 7 8. 13. 4 18. V. 26 Then Abimelech As ch 21. v. 22. c. These may be those same men This history is to be compared with that Ahuzzath More then in ch 21. v. 22. V. 27. Seeing ye hate me Prov. 16 7. V. 28. And they said See Annotat. on chap. 21. 22 23. an oath And execration as ch 24. 41. V. 29. That thou wilt With a curse if thou shalt so ch 21. 23. in the margin the blessed Ch. 24. 31. This is spoken to further the Peace and Covenant desired V. 30 Feast Used at Covenants ch 31 54. V. 32. Concerning the Well V. 25. V. 33 Sâ—ebah Oath Beersheba Ch. 21. 31 Here the name of the City This Well was formerly so called by Abraham ch 21. 31. But having been stopped by the Philistines and now opened again by Isaacs servants the old name is again imposed upon the same occasion V. 34. Fourty years old He married thirty six yeares before Jacob. At fourty years old also Isaac married chap. 25. 20. Judith Esaus wives and their fathers had several names Gen. 36. 2. Both Hittites the worst sort of Canaanites Ezech. 16. 3. contrary to the cares and commands of his father mother and grandfather ch 24. 3. and v. 35. of this chapter and ch 27 46. and ch 28. 1 6 8. CHAP. XXVII Verse 1. ISaac was old One hundred thirty six or one hundred thirty seven yeares old As is rightly gathered and proved in the great late Annotat. upon this place For Isaac was sixty yeares old when Jacob was borne ch 25. v. 26. And Jacob was at this time seventy five or seventy six yeares old when he got the blessing and fled to Laban See the Annotat. on ch 29. 21. and his eyes were dimme So Jacobs ch 48. 10. so Elies 1 Sam. 3. 2 4 15. Isaac lived blinde fourty foure yeares at least ch 35 28. V 4 That my soule He would by that feasting chear up his spirit against dulnesse or any distemper that he might be the more fit instrument of the Spirit of God so Elisha calls for a minstrel to allay his passion against Jehoram prepare his minde compose his spirit and fit it for a divine motion of Gods Spirit by Prophecie 2 Kings 3. 15. may blesse thee In faith before the Lord by the Spirit of the Lord Hebr. 1â— 20. some blesse men by praying to God to blesse them So Luke 6. 28. Some by pronouncing a blessing upon them by vertue of their calling and warrant of Gods Word So the Priests blessed the people Numb 6. 23 to the end Some by the Spirit of Prophecie foretelling the blessings should come upon them so Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh ch 48. 9 15 16 20. and the twelve tribes ch 49. 28. and so did Moses likewise Deut. 33. 1. And so Isaac intends to blesse Esau here And doth blesse Jacob and Esau v. 27 28 29 39 40. and Jacob again ch 28. 3 4. Thee Esau. Isaac being left in this point to his owne spirit out of his carnal judgement and affection he intends the blessing to Esau to transmit the inheritance of the blessings and promises made to his father unto Esau as his first-borne either not mindful of the divine Oracle ch 25. 23. Or understanding it not of their persons but of their posterity But Gods Providence serving it self upon the better faith and illumination of Rebekah and by her meanes doth disappoint Isaacs purpose and he by his free grace and singular favour transfers the blessing upon Jacob. V. 6. And Rebekah spake Being soundly grounded that the blessing belonged to Jacob and seeing now her husband going about to give it to Esau she labours to disappoint his errour though by wayes not so warrantable unlesse she were moved by some secret instinct of Gods Spirit V. 7. Before the Lord before my death In his presence and by his power and authority who will ratifie this my last Will and Testament Heb 11. 20 V. 12. I shall bring a curse For my deceiving Deut. 27. 18. Jer. 48. 10. Mal. 14. V. 13. Upon me be thy curse She was over-confident using such ill meanes though in a good cause and trusting to the Oracle V. 15. Goodly raiment Perfumed or kept sweet v. 27. not likely to be holy robes received from their Ancestors and kept for the first-borne to minister in Which were with her Not with Esaus wives V. 16. Skins upon his hands His face by a beard and haire might be much like Esaus V. 19. I am Esau It is in vaine to labour to excuse Jacob here and hereafter from divers lies deceipts and dissemblings V. 20. Brought it to me Ch. 24. 12. one lie drawes on another V. 27. The smell of his raiment Aromatick odours and spices for perfume abounded in those countreys V. 27. As the smell of a field With flowers fruits and vines Cant. 2. 13. 4. 14. 7. 13. V. 28. God give thee A Prayer and Prophecie And these promises of earthly blessings were types of spiritual blessings extending to all that was included in the Promises and Covenant made to and with Abraham Deut. 33. 28. 8. 8. V. 29. Let people serve thee From Jacob came Judah 1 Chron. 5. 2. Gen. 49. 10. David subdued many Nations be Lord over thy brethren Hereby he confirmes to him the right of the first-borne thy brethren and let thy
So Aaron Lev 10. 3. and David Psal. 39. 9. Thus Jacob ruling his own spirit did better then his sonnes that took the City Prov. 16. 32. until As fittest to comfort and counsel him V. 7. And the sonnes of Jacob Reuben being born the first yeare of Jacobs coming to Laban was now about twenty five yeares old Simeon twenty foure Levi twenty three wroth In hatred of the sin and for the disgrace and reproach of the Church folly So the rape Judg. 20. 6. and Achans sacriledge Josh. 7. 15. are called folly Rom. 1. 22. Folly in offending God losing the soule forfeiting heaven gaining hell in Israel This name given him first ch 32. 28. Therefore these words likely are the words not of Jacobs sonnes but of Moses who writeth this story according to the phrase of speech used in his time and suitable to the words of the Law delivered by him afterwards Deut. 23. 17. See Deut. 21. 21. Josh. 7. 15. Judg. 20. 6. V. 8. With them Likely apart from their father Your daughter They treating in their fathers name as well as in their own So v. 17. V. 11. I will give See Annot on ch 29. 18. Amnon did far worse with Tamar 2 Sam. 13. Exod. 22. 16 17. and Deut. 22. 28 29 is in satisfaction for wrong done not upon a free and equal motion and proceeding in marriage V. 13. And the sonnes of Jacob Without their fathers consent deceitfully Without their fathers knowledge He was a plain man and sincere ch 25. 27. V. 14. Uncircumcised Superfluous Though Isaac and Jacob were married to women of Bethael and Labans family where circumcision of the males in all likelihood was not in use V. 15. But in this will we Jacob would not have the holy Sacrament prophaned and obtruded upon unbelievers nor his holy seed to be mingled with the cursed Canaanites Deut. 7. 3 4 Neither did Jacobs sons here deal otherwise then deceitfully v. 25. be circumcised Thus they abuse and prostitute the holy Sacrament to their bloody purpose and under colour of Religion cover their deceipt so did Jozebel 1 Kings 21 9 10. and Absalom 2 Sam. 15. 7 8. V. 16. Our daughters Which we have or shall have V. 17. Our daughter As v. 8. using the name of their father V. 19. More honourable His great esteem was one ground of his present prevailing so much with all the men in so strange a request V. 20. The gate of their City Where were the publick Assemblies and Courts of justice See Annotat. on chap. 23. 10. V. 23. And every beast of theirs be ours Not as a spoile from them but by commerce marriages and the like V. 25. On the third day The Critical day by Physicians for wounds Simeon and Levi Dinahs brethren By father and mother Reuben was of a more milde nature ch 37. 29. They only the chief Authours and Actors others also both brethren and servants like to be Assistants v 13 27. boldly Because the wounded men could not resist them and the City was secure slew all the males A male had done the wrong Their wives and little ones they took captives v. 29. God might justly suffer this for the Shechemites own sins and take occasion for it from the sin of their Prince 1 Chron. 32. 25. 2 Sam 24. 1 15 17. V. 27. The sons of Jacob The rest likely and spoiled the City V. 28 29. of murderers become robbers they had defiled their sister One of them had and the other repressed it not nor judged him for it So Josh. 7. 1 11 12. 22. 20. V. 29. Captive What they did after with them we reade not in the house In every house chiefly Shechems house wherein Dinah was v. 2â— V. 30. Unto Simeon and Levi As the chief offenders ye have troubled me He then was neither privy to nor approver of this massacre And therefore ch 49. 5 6 7. he doth by the spirit of prophecie curse them for it Josh. 6. 18. 7. 25. 1 Kings 18. 18. For this fact likely he deprives them of their birth-right as Reuben for his sinne and conferres it on Judah chap. 49. Prov. 11 29. to make me Though he were in no fault to stink Cruelty and treachery are odious crimes Ex. 5. 22. 1 Chron. 19 6. V. 31. As with an harlot A stubborne answer In the Hebrew Zonah the first letter is extraordinarily great In ch 23. 2. There is a little letter to note Abrahams moderation without excesse in weeping CHAP. XXXV Verse 1. ANd God said Jacob being now perplexed with feare for that done to the Shechemites and likely thinking thereupon of removing God here bespeaks him as followeth said Whether by vision or dream or in what manner is not set down to Bethel Southward from Shechem about thirty English miles and dwelt there Yet he dwelt a small while there as appeares by the birth of Benjamin after he went from Bethel v. 16 18. And from Dinahs ravishing at Shechem to Benjamins going down with his father into Egypt there can be no more then twenty seven yeares reckoning Joseph to be thirteen yeares old when Dinah was ravished both being borne in one yeare ch 30 21 22. and Joseph being fourty yeares old in the third yeare of famine when Benjamin with his father came down into Egypt And Benjamin then had ten sons ch 46. 21. an Altar unto God Altars built by Noah Abraham Isaac and Jacob himself chap. 33. 20. To sacrifice thereon unto God Speaks of himself in the third person So Ex. 20. 7 10 11. that appeared unto thee Thereby minding him of Gods gracious Promises and of his own vow there made ch 28. 22. when thou fleddest And wast in as much danger then as thou art in now V. 2. Unto his houshold Jacobs religious care of his houshold and to all that were with him This may relate to the captived Sichemites and to all of his retinue and followers Put away So Josh. 24. 23. Judg. 10. 16. 1 Sam. 7. 3 4. no mixture permitted no toleration allowed in a false worship Deut. 29. 9 10 11. 1 Sam 5. 1. 2 Cor. 6. 16. Strange gods Of strange Nations and other people differing from the true God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob whether Labans gods stollen by Ruchel and it may be yet unknown to Jacob or any other brought by any other of his retinue when they came from Laban and Mesopotamia or any gods of the Shechemies their captives among them worshipped by them or taken as spoile and secretly kept for the tichnesse of them and change your garments Putting on others or washing these Zech. 3. 3 4 5. Exod. 19. 10 14. Ceremonies afterwards enjoyned by the Law in divers cases Lev. 15. 13. Numb 31 23. importing change of minde and manners cleansing from sin to holinesse Jude v. 23. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Ezech 16. 8 10 Apoc. 3. 4 18. 7. 14. V. 3. And go up to Bethel Eccl. 5. 1. The House of God that dreadful the
forceth confession and a guilty conscience though likely sleeping afore yet now upon twenty yeares after galleth afresh Hos. 5. 15. Job 36. 8 9 10. therefore is this distresse Divers wayes Joseph dealt now with them as they had done with him Judg. 1. 7 Mat. 7. 2. Jam. 2. 13. V. 24. And wept Ch. 43 30 moved with their self-accusations and his own natural affection which was to o strong to be kept in by artificial disguises but that in secret it must have vent Simeon and bound him That eldest of them that were most against him Reuben most and Judah next were for him And Simeon was chief in that bloody massacre of the Sichemites before their eyes Though haply when they were gone he might give him some more liberty ch 43. 23. V. 25. Every mans money Lest his father should be in want Thus did he unto them Josoph did so or his steward at his command Thus Joseph rewards evil with good Rom. 12. 17 19. Mat. 5. 44. V. 27. And as one of them V. 35. What Judah saith ch 43. 21. as if they had all opened their sacks and found their moneys in the Inne â—is but a summing and cutting off particulars for brevity sake to Josephs steward as not a thing material to their present purpose with him and they speaking in haste V. 28. Failed them Suspecting some plot laid for their ruine or at least some danger to Simeon by it Lev. 26. 36. God hath done They rightly acknowledge Gods hand and his Providence in it V. 35. Were afraid Lest also they should be accused of theft chap. 44. 5. Guilty consciences timorous Lev. 26. 36. V. 36. Against me Heavy to me though ye make light of them V. 37. My two sonnes That is slay two of my sonnes For he had foure ch 46. 9. or my two sonnes here present or most deare to me A passionate speech yet such as might make Jacob conceive he had some reason for his so confident undertaking for Benjamins return V. 38. For his brother is dead Only brother by the mother ch 44. 20 27 28. to the grave See Annot. on ch 37. 35. Here Jacob bewrayes too much passion and too little faith and patience CHAP. XLIII Verse 1. SOre The longer the sorer V. 2. Eaten up Near-hand a little food For present need not knowing there were five yeares of famine yet to come and he had a great family V. 3. Solemnely protest Ch. 42. 15 20. not see my face With favour and safety V. 4. Thee food At thy command for thee and us all thy family V. 5. We will not go Because it were vaine and dangerous ch 44. 26. V. 7. Asked us strictly Many things passed between Joseph and his brethren which are not so expressely related in the story ch 44. 22 19. They could not upon Josephs questions honestly avoid the telliug of their brother Benjamin V. 8. And Judah said He now fittest to move and this the fittest season the lad Benjamin was now about twenty seven yeares being twelve or thirteen yeares younger then Joseph and borne after Dinahs ravishing and in the departing from Bethel See Annot. on ch 35. 18. And now Benjamin had nine or ten sonnes ch 46. 21. See Annot. on ch 22. 5. Lad comparatively being the youngest V. 11. Must be so No wisdome to strive against necessity Better to adventure one to uncertain danger then to cast the whole family upon certain famine a Present Prov. 18. 16. 21. 14. 17. 8. So Jacob had tried ch 32. 20. He useth prudent meanes as subservient to Gods Providence nuts Of Terebinth or the Turpentine-tree V. 12. Double money Because the price of corne increased by the continuance of the famine and the money This besides Jacobs just dealing V. 14. God Almighty Our chief trust must be in him Prov. 21. 1. If I be boreaved Esther 4. 16. Contentation in Gods Will referring all to him with patience V. 18. Sâ—ek occasion Guilty persons are suspicious V. 19. At the doore of the house Before they went in V. 21. Every mans money See Annot. on ch 42. 27 35. For haste they joyne together what was done in the Inne and what was discovered at home V. 23. Your God It seems Joseph taught his steward and family to feare God V. 24. Washed their feet Ch. 18. 4. 24. 32. V. 26. They brought him the Present Each a part of it as they had divided it amongst themselves bowed Ch. 37. 9. V. 28. Thy servant our father Ch 37. 9. V. 30. Did yerne 1 Kings 3. 26. V. 32. By himself As became the Viceroy Here were three Tables Abomination unto the Egyptians For the Hebrewes were known to be Keepers of sheep and so to kill eat and sacrifice such cattel as the Egyptians worshipped ch 46. 34 Exod 8. 26. The Egyptians had flocks of sheep ch 47. 6. Oxen Exod. 9. 3 19. But not to kill the sheep or kine or to eate the head of any beast But for delight and profit by their milk and wool and for commerce And haply those that kept them were strangers rather then Egyptians V. 33. Youngest Hebt Least in age marvelled Seeing themselves so seasted and that Joseph appointed them their places according to each mans age V. 34. Messes The custome of those times to have the meat set before the Lord and he to distribute to the Guests 1 Sam. 1. 4 5. 9 23 24. 2 Sam. 6. 19. five times To shew his affection to him and to make trial whether his brethren would envie him for it 1 Sam. 1. 4 5. drank and were merry yet with sobriety Hag. 1. 6. John 2. 10. Cant. 5 1. CHAP. XLIV Verse 2. PUt my Cup To try their affection to his father and to Benjamin and for the more full verification of the dreams Josephs case and place and person may carry out these practices which otherwise are not so warrantable 2 Cor. 1. 12. 11. 3. V. 5. Is not this it Speaking according to the opinion the Egyptians had of him who by reason of his prophetical skill in interpreting dreams thought he used divination as their Magicians did whereby Or in which or by which or of which cup. Their fault so made the greater a kinde of sacriledge in stealing such a Cup. he divineth Searching searcheth maketh trial by experience as ch 30. 27. searcheth thoroughly 1 Kings 20. 33. or searcheth by divination and so sinfully using the cup as some do a basin and other things in such an unlawful Art Thus the steward by Josephs appointment may speak as an Egyptian as they conceived of Joseph and as their Magicians used to do Not yet that Joseph was guilty of such a crime V. 7. My Lord Thus they call Josephs steward God forbid Far be it ch 18. 25. V. 8. We brought againe Therefore would noâ— steal V. 9. Let him die So ch 31. v. 32. Innocency is confident yet this is too rash and rigorous They might have though of their money in their
Iehoshaphat 2 Chron XVII 6. and XX. 33 1 King XXII 43 The meaning is They took away those High places which were for Idols and strange gods not those which were for Gods worship or they laboured in the Reformation of these later also but through the peoples waywardnesse could not therein fully prevaile In the Reformation of Manasseh upon his Repentance it is said That neverthelesse the people did sacrifice still in the High places yet unto the Lord their God only 2 Chron XXXIII 17 But zealous Hezekiah and Iosiah went through-stitch with all Gibeon The Tabernacle was never at any one of the Cities of the Levites verse 4 except here at Gibeon only Askeâ— Gods proffer to Solomon verse 5 in that night after he had offered up those numerous Sacrifices at Gibeon 2 Chron. I. 7. And his large Petition thereupon for Wisdome 1 King III. 6 7 8 9. And Gods ample Grant thereunto and further Largesse partly added partly upon Condition promised ver 11 12 13 14. were transacted all whiles Solomon was asleep as appears by ver 5. and 15. Though in this same History 2 Chron. I. 7 12. of Sleep or Dreame there is no mention made at all a little childe In that sleep Solomon calls himself a little childe verse 7 And a little before that David testifies the like of him 1 Chron. XXII 5. and chap. XXI 1. with an eye had to his grear charge at that age not unlike to that Jer. I. 6. Yet then David calls him a Wise-man 1 King II. 9. even before that wonderful increase of wisdome added to him after Davids death And then Solomon being indeed about seventeen years old had Rehoboam his son as appears by the age of Rehoboam at the beginning of his reigne 1 King XIV 21. 2 Chron. XII 13. Harlots The King knew not likely verse 16 that the women were Harlots haply open Inne-keepers and close Harlots sonne of Nathan chapter IV verse 5 The Prophet Nathans two sons highly honoured and advanced by Solomon Spake Solomon chosen by God to be King verse 32 1 Chron. XXVIII 5. and XXIX 1. and chap. XXII 9 10 spake three thousand Proverbs And he spake of all Trees 1 King IV. 32 33. Not that the Text saith he writ them or of them And his Songs were one thousand and five Hiram Hiram chapter V verse 1 or Huram King of Tyre and Sidon too ver 6. having Lebanon in his possession Both father and son of that name 2 Chron II. 3 13. And again Hiram the workman father and sonne at the same time of the said Kings both it seemes of the same name likewise 1 King VII 13 14. 2 Chron. II. 14. and IV. 11. and both wrought to Solomon 2 Chron. IV. 16. The sonnes mother was of Dan 2 Chron. II. 14. His father of Naphtali though inhabiting in Tyre 1 King VII 14. The House of the Lord This House chapter IV verse 1 called the Temple ver 3. the Throne of Gods glory Jer. XIV 21. a Glorious high throne Jer. XVII 12. our Holy and Beautiful House where our fathers praised thee Esay XLVI 11. the Beauty of Holinesse 1 Chron XVI 29. was built in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah or Sion on the Threshing-floore of Araunah or Ornan the Jebusite 2 Chron. III. 1. 1 Chron. XXII 1. Very wonderful riches acquired and laid up and other preparations made by David and others towards the building of the Temple 2 Sam. VIII 11 12. 1 Chron. XXII 14. and ch XXIX And the Patterne or Platforme of it given to David by the Spirit 1 Chron. XXVIII 21. he set down in writing particularly and gave it to his sonne 1 Chron. XXVIII 11 18. This was such like an help as Moses had Exod. XXV 40. The Preparations for the second Temple were very small Huge stones and costly and precious stones used in Solomons Buildings 1 King VII 9 12. and chap. X. 2 10 11. 1 Chron. XXIX 2 8. 2 Chron. III. 6. The Brazen Altar for Sacrifice was in the Court next the Temple in the open aire The Lavers likewise in that Court between the Brazen Altar and the Temple fixt and placed before the Temple in the inmost Court viz. five Bases and Lavers upon them on the right hand and five on the left as one was to go from the East into the Temple To wash in them such things as they Offered for the Burnt-offerings and Sacrifices The great molten Sea standing on twelve Oxen or Brazen Buls which were by and beside not under the Bases and Lavers as the word is rendered Jer. LII 20. This Sea was placed on the right hand or North-side over against the South For the Priests to wash in 2 Chron. IV. 6 10. In most other places in Scripture the Right hand is taken for the South and the Left hand for the North as supposing a mans posture with his face towards the East Going on from the East towards the West and passing by the Altar Lavers and Sea Entrance was so made into the Porch of the Temple This Porch being the entrance and East-end of the Temple was in length twenty Cubits from North to South In breadth ten Cubits from East to West and in height as high as the Temple and thrice as high above it one hundred and twenty Cubits in all 1 King VI. 3. 2 Chron. III 4. In the middle betweene the walls not joyning to the walls stood on each side of the entrance or Porch the two Pillars of Jachin on the right hand and Boaz on the left eighteen sacred Cubits apiece high 1 King VII 15. or thirty five common Cubits besides the Basis or Pedestal of one Cubit 2 Chron. III. 15. Although some would have this thirty five to be the number arising from the height of both Pillars or the shafts of them And a Chapiter on the top of each five sacred Cubits high 1 King VII 16. 2 Chron. III. 15. to a part whereof are assigned three Cubits 2 King XXV 17. And they being four fingers thick of brasse and hollow within Jer. LII 21. a line of twelve sacred Cubits did compasse either of the Pillars about 1 King VII 15. Some divide the Pillars into five parts or rather into six thus a square Table on the bottome a Rundle or round Basis upon that the shaft and maine body of the Pillars round and above that a square Border upon which the Pomegranates were a Head or Chapiter or Belly and a Crowne or Powel both round All the three parts above the Shaft are called by the name of Chapiter and are said to be five Cubits high 1 King VII 16. Jer. LII 22. And the four Cubits 1 King VII 19. is to be understood of some parts of them And the thâ—ee Cubits 2 King XXV 17. of the other or the four Cubits relate to the Lilie-work and the three Cubits to the Net-work The whole Chapiters had Nets of Checker-work and wreaths of Chain-work seven on either 1 King VII 17.
This Reformation and Covenant made verse 8 and Passeover kept chap. XXXV 19. And yet from this or rather from the twelfth year above mentioned begins that reckoning of the sinne of Iudah Ezek. IV. 6. For under so good a King yet the people continued obstinately wicked as appears in Ieremie who began to prophesie in the thirteenth year of Iosiah's reigne Ier. I. 2. and XXV 3. and ch III. 6. And Iosiah only caused and made them outwardly to obey 2 Chron. XXXIV 32 33. the Houses The Houses of the Priests which adjoyned to the Temple and of the Levites which adjoyned to the Courts Levites Scribes 1 Chron. verse 13 XXIV 6. Ezra VII 6. 21. Neh. VIII 9. and chap. XII 26. and XIII 13. See the Annotation on 1 Kings IV. 3. More fully thus we read in the Old Testament of severall persons that were Scribes some Scribes of Kings or their Secretaries So David had one And Solomon two Ioash one 2 Kings XII 10. Iosiah one 2 Kings XXII 3. Of Ionathan Davids Uncle that he was a Counseller a wise man and a Scribe 1 Chron. XXVII 32. And of Baruch that he was Ieremies Scribe And of families of Scribes that dwelt at Jabez in the tribe of Iudah and were of the posterity of Iethro 1 Chron. II. 55. But why so called or what their Office was whether as Publike Notaries Scriveners or Transcribers of the Law or what else it appears not Here in Iosiah's time we finde that in his businesse of repairing the house of the Lord there were appointed of the Levites Scribes And in Nehemiah's time he made Treasurers over the Treasuries in the Lords House Shelemiah the Priest and Zadok the Scribe And in his time also was that famous Ezra a Priest sonne of the High Priest Serajah slaine by Nebuchadnezzar and the same a ready Scribe in the Law of Moses a Scribe of the Law of the God of Heaven of the words of the Commandments of the Lord and of his Statutes to Israel and the same a publick Reader and Teacher of the Law In the New Testament we finde them much more mentioned and to be of more esteeme and themselves affected Preheminence and precedencies Mark XII 38 39. Here they are often joyned with the Chief Priests and Elders and often with the Pharisees They pretended to extraordinary holinesse as the Pharisees did whence is that Matth. V. 20. and Acts XXIII 9. They were of the Pharisees part against the Sadduces Yea he that is called a Scribe Marke XII 28. the same is called a Pharisee and a Lawyer Matth. XXII 34 35. We read not that they were of the Sect of the Sadduces or Essenes But we finde them to joyne with all the rest to question to pose and oppose our Saviour to entangle and insnare him by Questions to charge his miracles to be done by Belzebub Himself with Blasphemy to apprehend and binde him to condemne him in the Councel to deliver him to Pilate to accuse him before Herod to prosecute him to death to mock him upon the Crosse. And we finde that these Scribes sate in Moses-chair Matth. XXIII 2. and were Preachers and Teachers of the people Mat. VII 29. and XIII 52. And likely were all of the tribe of Levi. rent his clothes See the Annotations on 2 Kings XXII 8. verse 19 Huldah the Prophetesse See the Observations on Zeph. verse 22 III. 4. The High Priest Hilkiah is here sent to her she being an extraordinary Prophetesse so near at hand Put the holy Ark It might be put out of his place chapter XXXV verse 3 in the dayes of his wicked father if not of his grandfather Passeover-Offerings So ver verse 8 9. in the Feast of Unleavened bread for the seven dayes After all this Thirteen years after the foresaid Passeover verse 20 that being in the eighteenth and this in the thirty one and last year of his reigne by Euphrates Heb. Phrat or Prat or Perath the fourth river in Eden Gen. II. 14. usually called the River and the great River made one of the Boundaries of the Promised Land Gen XV. 18. Deut. 1. 7 and chap. XI 24. Iosh. I. 4. 2. Chron. IX 26. Cut by Cyrus into severall Channels when he lay in siege before Babylon which stood upon it and so by him much dreyned and dried Ier. L. 38. See 1 Chron. XVIII 3. Ier. XIII 4. and chap. LI. 63. Apoc. IX 14. and Chap. XVI 12. See on Dan. IV. 30. Megiddo See the Annotations on Zech. verse 22 XII 11. to carrie him But he died by the way chapter XXXVI verse 6 Jer. XXII 18 19. Eight years old when he He was eighteen when himself began to reigne verse 9 2 Kings XXIV 8. And but eight then when his father began to reigne The like relative sense may that speech admit 2 Kings XVI 2. no remedy Desperate sinners procure implacable wrath verse 16 irrevocable exterminating judgements Kingdome of Persia See the Observations on the beginning of the Book of Ezra verse 20 threescore and ten years For the beginning of these verse 21 see the Annotations on Dan. IX 2. rather then those on Zech. VII 3. yet many learned are of the later opinion Ezra THE Book of Ezra contains an History of seventy years viz. from the first of Cyrus or his Proclamation chap. I. 1. to the seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus upon this Accompt viz. Cyrus seven Cambyses seven Smerdis one Darius Hystaspis thirty six Xerxes twelve of Artaxerxes Longimanus seven where Ezra end Or premising two of Darius Medus before Cyrus it comes to seventy two The four last Chapters containe the History but of that one year concerning Ezra which was in that seventh year of Artaxerxes See chap. VII 7 9. and chap. VIII 15 21 31 32 33. and chap. X. 8 9 16 17. But the six first Chapters are extended by some otherwise learned men yet upon lesse probable grounds to a farre larger scope of time even to one hundered thirty eight or one hundred fourty five years And they end the Book with the nineteenth year of Artaxerxes Mnemon which seemes cleane contrary to the Text chap. VII 7 8. For the clearer knowledge of divers things in this Book as likewise in Nehemy and Esther A Catalogue of the Persian Monarchs and of the years of their Reignes is very useful which out of the best Authors with very little variation may be as followeth  years Darius Medus 2 Cyrus 7 Cambyses 7 Smerdis 1 Darius Hystaspis 36 Xerxes 12 Artaxerxes Longimanus 48 Xerxes 1 Sogdianus 1 Darius Ochus seu Nothus 19 Artazerxes Mnemon 43 Darius Ochus 23 Arsen 3 Darius Codomannus 5 And so the Persian Monarchy continued two hundred and eight years or there about In this Book of Ezra there is mention made of six Persian Monarchs first of Cyrus chap. I. 1. secondly of Darius ch IV. 5. thirdly of Ahasuerus chap. IV. 6. fourthly of Artaxerxes chap. IV. 7. fifthly of another Darius chap. IV. 24. and
due order without any other letter or verse interposed cease from anger Upon unjust causes verse 8 in an unjust maner and measure Ephes. IV. 31. yet in it self lawful Ephes. IV. 26. Mark III. 5. A little Prov. XV. verse 16 16. and XVI 8. and X. 22. Eccl. IX 7. I have been young This was Davids experience in his time verse 25 It followes not to be so in all ages to bring to remembrance That he might remember Gods chastisement upon him for his sinne chapter XXXVIII or that God might remember him to help and deliver him out of it lest otherwise A like argument or expression God useth verse 16 Deut. XXXII 27. to Jeduthun Or for him chapter XXXIX and his posteritie 1 Chron. XXV 3. So Psal. LXXVII title Even from good Not much unlike that idiotisme and expression verse 2 Gen. XXXI 29. Num. XXIII 25. the fire burned See Jer. XX. 9. Job XXXII 18 19. verse 3 a moath The moath is suddenly crushed verse 11 Job IV. 19. and doth insensibly consume a garment Job XIII 28. Hos. V. 12. That this Psalme should wholly be understood of Christ chapter XL excluding David may seeme not so safe and warrantable I waited They are Davids words throughout this Psalme verse 1 Yet he being in some things a Type of Christ and was to be the Father of Christ according to the flesh he useth some words propheticaly of Christ speaking them as in the person of Christ which are directly applyed to Christ by the Apostle Heb. X. 7 8 9. and heard my cry Thus from experience of mercie formerly received in Gods hearing his Prayers and delivering him from deepest dangers in the former part of the Psalme he strengthens his faith in Prayer for obtaining like mercie and deliverance in the later part of the Psalme so as there is no shew of opposition or contradiction between the beginning and ending of it an horrible pit Not that imaginarie Limbus Patrum verse 2 nor that state of sinne before regeneration whereunto their own preparatorie dispositions to their conversion did availe and prevaile whiles they were in that state of sinne to their deliverance out of it by merit of congruity But this pit is the depth of miseries the evils of punishments the gulph of temporal afflictions wherein David was plunged after his conversion and the graces of faith hope and invocation appearing in him ver 1. a new song For new benefits and deliverances verse 3 and those such and so new as the like were scarce heard of before many shall Psal. XXXII 6. fear and shall trust These two conjoyned in a pious soul fear and faith a reverent fear and trust in Gods mercie Psal. CXXX 4. unto our God To god and Christ. his trust Whose sure mercie to them is such verse 4 as we read 1 Tim. IV. 10. Deut. I. 31. and XXXII 10 11 12. John III. 16. Many O Lord my God David speaking to God and Christ verse 5 if not in the person of Christ as his Type with admiration of his infinite goodnesse and mercy towards man and in ordering the meanes of his salvation So that he riseth up now to a more general admiration of Gods wonderful works and thoughts towards his and of the number quantity and quality of them Sacrifice Christs words verse 6 Heb. X. 5. So that these words and the next are spoken unto God in the person of the Messias who was to come of the seed of David Heb. X. 5 6 7. See the like before XVI 10. David having spoken in the former verse of Gods wonderfull works and thoughts towards mankinde doth in this maner in the words of the Messias rise up to the very highest of them all in these two verses For Sacrifices see my Table of them in Leviticus not desire Jer. VII 22. Hos. VI. 6. Prov. XXI 3. 1 Sam. XV. 22. Psal. L. 5 16. Matth. XII 7. Mark XII 33. And Christ was now to put an end to them Dan. IX 27. as not able in themselves to purge away sinne Heb. X. 4. Therefore God desired them not simply of themselves without inward piety concurring as the very life and soul of them Or in comparison of the spiritual worship of God or in comparison of that al-sufficient Sacrifice of Christ which he was to offer in the body of his flesh Heb. X. 1 4. Rom. VIII 3 4. After which these Legal Typical Sacrifices were to be abolished as was said And that Sacrifice of Christ one offered never to be reiterated Heb. IX and X. chapters contrary to that blasphemous sacrifice of Christ in the Popish Masse mine ears hast thou opened Digged open or peirced made me obedient to thy voice or bored to make me thy servant for ever in allusion to the Law Exod. XXI 6. For these words here we read Heb. X. 5. but a body hast thou prepared me or fitted me Wherein the Apostle either followeth the LXX or cites not the words but the sense Rom. VIII 3. Phil. II. 7. it being the same both wayes in issue Besides that varieties of readings in both places are alledged out of ancient Copies by the learned Papists themselves deny not this text to be incorrupt The Apostle faithfuly retaining the sense and scope of the place without tying himself to the letter of the words in his quotation The variation is but a change of the figurative phrase into a proper to expresse the ready obedience of Christ to do the will of his Father in the work of the redemption of mankind John V. 30. VI. 38. and IV. 34. whereunto by framing him a body God had fitted him Sinne-offering Heb Sinne. Put often in the Law for the Sinne-offering So Levit. IV. 3. 24. Exod. XXIX 14. In which sense Christ is called Sinne 2 Cor. V. 21. Then said I verse 7 Lo I come When thou hadst so fitted me Mark X. 32 33 34. In the volume or Scroll rowled up Jer. XXXVI 2. Ezek. II. 9. The Volume of the Law and Scripture Luke XXIV 27 44. John V. 39. of the Book Sepher or Book generaly signifies any writings Court-rools c. Deut. XXIV 1. 2 Kings V. 5 6. Jer. XXXII 11. it is written of me So Christ himself saith Matth. XXVI 24 John V 46. See Luke XXIV 44 46. Acts XIII 29. I delight Luke XXII 15. Heb. X. 10. to do thy will Heb. X. 10. John VI. 38. Luke XXII 42. In all things to be performed by me in my flesh which are required by thee for the redemption and salvation of man even to my obedience in suffering the death of the Crosse Phil. II. 8. Thus Christ in regard of his humane nature was truly lesse then the Father John XIV 28. was subject to him his will to the will of his Father took upon him the forme of a servant Phil. II. 7. was truly a servant Esay XLII 1. obeyed the mandates of the Father John XII 49. and XIV 31. and XV. 10. Being our Surety was made under
in the highest degree in the bravest tents of wickednesse grace and glory Many referre grace to this life verse 11 and glory to that which is to come But grace rather may seeme here to signifie favour estimation honour as Prov. III. 34. Iames IV. 6. 1 Pet. V. 5. Exod. III. 21. Num. chap. XII 36. and XXXIII 12. Gen. VI. 8. and XXXIX 4. and L. 4. Esther II. 15. 17. and V. 2. Prov. XXII 1. and chap I. 9. and IV. 9. Luke II. 52. and I. 28. compared with verse 30. Thou hast been chapter LXXXV verse 1 Formerly brought back Out of Babylon Some understand this of the bringing back of David to Ierusalem after the rebellion of Absalom But not so likely covered all their sinne See the Observations on Psal. LI. 4. verse 2 Turne us Do now so again verse 4 I will hear Complaine no more verse 8 but hearken to God speaking his promises to his people and their duty are met Will meet have kissed Will kisse verse 10 though for the present things are otherwise verse 4 5. This and what followes had it most compleat fulfilling in and by the coming of Christ. A Prayer So is the Title of Psal. chapter LXXXVI XVII And this seemes to be as a set forme of prayer for the godly in distresse without any particular circumstances used in it of persons places or times appliable to all and may not unfitly be applied to Christ. I am holy So rather then as in the margin verse 2 one whom thou favourest The Hebrew word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which imports an active rather then a passive signification And so Psal. IV. 3. and XXXII 6. and L. 5. and LXXIX 2. This word is actively taken and that rightly in our translations though many learned men not so well advised therein render it passively to denote not the author and agent and his quality but the object spoken of Among the gods Verse 10. verse 8 Psal. LXXXIX 6. Deut. XXXII 39. Esay XXXVII 16 and XLIV 6. 1 Cor. VIII 4 5 6. Exod. XV. 1◠From the first Hebrew letters of which four words in Exodus came the name of the Maccabees as is thought unite my heart to fear thy Name Loose it from all other things verse 11 and cares and fears and knit it fast to thy fear only without back-sliding ever give thy strength Iohn XV. 5. verse 16 Phil. II. 13. and IV. 13. a toaken as in the end of the verse verse 17 His foundation Gods chapter LXXXVII verse 1 and his Churches Mountains Moriah and Zion Not now in a flitting Tabernacle Glorious things See Esay LIV. and LX. verse 3 and LX. and LXII and LXV Apoc XXI and XXII And see the Observations on Josh. 10. 1. Rahab So LXXXIX 10. verse 4 Esay LI. 9. See the Observations on Gen. XII 10. Egypt is meant hereby And the calling of Egypt to the fellowship of the Church Of whose calling see Esay XIX 19 21 25. to them that know me Or among them as of my knowne familiars Philistia Palestine the Philistines Psal. LX. 8. this And the rest afore named were born in the Citie of God by regeneration spiritual made the sonnes of God and of the Church verse◠5 6. 1 Pet. I. 23. Iames I. 18. Esay XLIV 5. Singers The spiritual joy both great verse 7 and general and of the Psalmist in particular which shall be in those dayes in the Church and of and for the Church in an allusion haply to the Jewish service Springs Of my joy and of Gods spiritual gifts and graces also Iohn VII 38. Esay XII 3. Ephes. III. 10. A Song See the Observations on Psal. chapter LXXXVIII XLVIII title Mahalath A kinde of winde-instrument Psal. LIII Leannoth May either make up the name of the Instrument or may seeme to signifie to sing by turnes or courses as Exod. XV. 21. Ezra III 11. Heman The next Psalm◠is of Ethan These were sacred Singers and Musitians descended of Levi 1 Chron. XV. 17 19. and XVI 41 42. and VI. 44. Of Heman see 1 Chron. XXV 1. 4 7. He was of the posterity of rebellious Korah and grandchilde of Samuel the Prophet 1 Chron. VI. 33. and himself King Davids Seer 1 Chron. XXV 5. There were two brethren Heman and Ethan of the posterity of Judah 1 Chron. II. 6. men renowned for their wisdome 1 King IV. 31. This Psalm is one of the most doleful of all the Bible And may serve as a set forme of a sad complaint to any man in his greatest distresse Some make application of it to Christ in his Sufferings free among the dead Psal. XXXI 12. verse 5 Job III. 18 19. I am shut up As a close prisoner in the Dungeon of sorrowes verse 8 and distresses wilt thou Psal. VI. 5. verse 10 and XXX 9. CXV 17. Esay XXXVIII 18. prevent thee Psal. V. 3. verse 13 Hab. II. 1. into darknesse That they hide themselves from me verse 18 none will appear to my releif by reason of the darknesse wherein I am buried as it were in the black Dungeon of calamities a Covenant In faithfulnesse verse 3 verse 1 2. How then comes it to be made void verse 38 45. David The figure and father of Christ who is also called David Ezek XXXIV 23. Jer. XXX 9. Hos. III. 5. Of him this Psalme is chiefly to be understood though not in all the particular passages Rahab See the Observations on Psal. LXXXVII 4. verse 10 Tabor Westward verse 12 see the Observations on Judg. IV 6. Hermon Eastward see the Ohervations on Deut. IV. 48. joyful sound Of the Trumpet verse 15 and other sacred musical instruments calling them to and used in the sacred services and solemnities to thy holy one To Samuel verse 19 who anointed David laid help upon one that is mighty Or help against the mighty both wayes meaning David who yet here may be taken as a Type of Christ. I will set Psal LXXII 8. verse 25 my Father This verse 26 and verse 27 28 29. universaly and plenarily belong to Christ And only imperfectly as in a weak type are applyable to David or Solomon 2 Sam. VII 14. Heb. I. 5. Luke I. 32 33. my first-borne The first-borne had the priviledges of double portion verse 27 chief Rule and Priesthood This true in Christ Col. I. 15 18. Matth. I. 25. Rom. VIII 29. Heb. I. 6. Apoc. I. 5. His seede Verse 36. Christians his spiritual seed Esay LIII 10. Heb. verse 29 II. 13. whence Christ is called the everlasting Father Esay IX 6. his throne Verse 37. Heb. I. 8. Dan. II. 44. and VII 14. Luke I. 33. The accomplishment of these Promises cannot be found in Solomon If his children So 2 Sam. VII 14 15. verse 30 True of Solomon and of his children and cannot be understood of Christs person who was not the natural of sonne of Solomon but of his brother Nathan And who was without sinne 1 Pet. II. 22 But as he bare our sinnes
solemn assemblies for his worship and service in the beauties of holinesse Or in the comely honours of the Sanctuarie meaning either the comely or honourable places of holinesse the Sanctuary or Church or rather in the beautiful ornaments of holinesse that is holy graces and vertues which with admirable varietie adorne the faithful and their inner man from the womb The second propertie or condition of the subjects of Christs Kingdome to be very numerous as willing so numerous as the dew from the womb of the morning 2 Sam. XVII 12. by a sudden unusual and wonderful increase and multiplication Esay LIV. 1. Micah V. 7. Esay LXVI 9. so numerous shall his youth be his new-borne people Iohn I. 13. and III. 3. Gal IV. 19. Heb. II. 14. 1 Pet. II. 2. See Esay LIII 10. So that these words are not to be understood of the temporal Nativity of Christ from the Virgin or his eternal generation from the Father as some do but of his active spiritual generation of his children the subjects of his Kingdome The Lord hath sworne The Vocation of Christ to his Office of verse 4 Priesthood Jehovah is the Author of it hath sworne Jehovah swears to confirme matters of greatest moment when and where his wisdome pleaseth And upon this point here of Christs eternal Priesthood mans salvation dependeth He swears by himself though that is not here expressed because he hath no greater to swear by Heb. VI. 13 16. Gen. XXII 16. And so by his life Esay XLIX 18. by his soul Jer. LI. 24. by his right-hand and the arme of his strength Esay LXII 8. The result of all which is the same with himself And implying thereby thus much Let me not be accounted what I am namely God the living God the omnipotent God if that which I speak be not true or my promises or threatnings do faile of performance Of Oaths See the Observations on Jer. LI. 14. and my Annotations on Hos. IV. 15. and will not repent Will not change or retract what he hath sworne Num. XXIII 19. James I. 17. Repenting is sometimes ascribed to God as Gen. VI. 6 7. Psal. CVI. 45. 1 Sam. XV. 11. 35. Not that there is any change of minde of will in God as there is in mans repenting But the change is in the work God eternally and unchangably decreeing both as to do the thing so again to change it upon mans repentance or disobedience Jer. XXVI 3 13 19. Of this see more in the Observations on Jer. XV. 6. In all this God condescends to mans weaknesse Heb. VI. 17 18. Shewes the greatnesse and excellency of the thing here avowed that the Lord Christ was lawfully Called and Ordained to be an eternal Priest for us and our salvation for our greater confirmation and consolation herein Thou art The Lord Christ well knew this and could not doubt of the will of the Father herein What then needed this Oath to be made unto him Answ. It was made to him for the use of his Church that his Church might know and be assured of it As that John XI 42. art God saying is as much as doing a Preist So Gen. XIV 18. Heb. VII 1. Melchizedec in type Christ in truth the Antitype The Priests office was to Teach Pray and Sacrifice The High Priest among the Jewes once a year entred into the most Holy place Yet he in all things was not an absolute and sufficient Type of our High Priest Christ the Lord. For he is an eternal High Priest and both King and Priest and his Sacrifice of another nature and himself of another Tribe for ever Not so the Priests after the order of Aaron Heb. VII 23. 34 and chap. IX 12. after the order Or similitude Heb. V. 6. and chap. VII 15. of Melchizedec Much question who this Melchizedec was He was not the Sonne of God himself our Lord and Christ. Very many take him to be Sem the Sonne of Noah who saw both worlds before and after the Flood and lived to the one hundred and fiftieth year of the age of Abraham Yet because Sems genealogie is exactly set down in Scripture and that the Levitical Priests themselves came from him after sundry descents and the Land of Canaan seems not to be Sems habitation which took its name from his younger brother Cham or from Chams sonne Canaan Neither would Abraham so long have forborne his due respects and visitation of Sem in Canaan if Sem had lived there Therefore divers learned men take this Melchizedec to be rather some eminent man in Canaan raised up by God in those corrupt times both good and godly both King and Priest living in Salem after called Jerusalem whose King in Joshuahs time was called Adoni-Zedeck that is Lord of righteousnesse Josh. X. 1. As this man here is called Melchizedec that is King of righteousnesse By which place or near to it Abraham in his returne from this warre and victory was to passe Of this Melchizedec and his Priesthood and the difference of it from Aarons Priesthood the Apostle to the Hebrews chap VII entreateth at large and observeth divers things his Name and Title his greatnesse in that he blessed Abraham and received Tythes of Abraham his being mentioned in Scripture without any Pedegree without father without mother without descent having neither beginning of dayes nor end of life All these he had as our Saviour himself had them but none of them recorded or registred in the Scripture that he might so become a Type of the eternity of Christs Person and Priesthood verse 3. The Apostle further observeth his Offices that he was both King and Priest and that our Saviour was made such with an oath of God the Father and a Priest of a better Priesthood Covenant and Commandment and that he was made not after the Law of a carnal commandement having carnal successors in his Priesthood but after the power of an endlesse life consecrated for evermore having an eternal Priesthood and unchangeable continuing ever and living ever to make intercession and by his one offering up himself once for all saving them to the uttermost that come to God by him In all which there are manifold resemblances between Christ and Melchizedec and manifold differences between theirs and the Aaronical Priesthood As for those fond and forced dreams of the Papist That Melchizedec offered up to God the sacrifice of bread and wine And therein was a Type and Figure of their sacrifice of the Masse And that thereupon Christ our Lord is said to be a Priest after the order of Melchizedec These may well befal to them who for want of the love of the truth are given up to beleeve lies but are too weak poor and silly for us to trouble our selves withal The Lord at thy right hand The prophesie of Christ the Lord his administration of his Kingly Office verse 5 in this and the next verse The Lord God the Father who will make thine enemies thy footstoole
Apoc. XIX 15. Here the enemies of his people as grapes in a wine-presse alone In the greatnesse of his strength verse 1. So Deut. XXXII 12. Yet see verse 12. in this Chapter And so Zech. IV. 6. The power of the instrument is from him alone Some application of this may be made to that Apoc. XIX 15. them The Edomites none of them to withstand me nor any other assistant to me staine all my raiment Not with my blood in my passion but the Edomites blood none to help Chap LIX verse 5 16. Then God struck in when all humane helps failed chap. XXVI 18 19. and XXXVII 3 36. 2 Chron. XX. 12 15 16 17. drunck With their own blood verse 6. 7. Here seemes to begin a new Sermon and to continue to the end of the next chapter I will mention Esay's thankful acknowledgement of Gods great goodnesse and manifold mercies to his people so he was their Saviour Upon those hopes verse 8. 9. and expectations In all their affliction He took to heart their afflictions Psal. CVI. 44. Zech. II 8. the Angel Christ the Messias Exod. XXIII 21 22 23. and XIII 21. and XIV 10 24. Gen. XLVIII 24. Mal. III. 1. Acts VII 38. But they rebelled Their ungracious and rebellious demeanour towards God verse 10 Where is he The Prophet verse 11 or the people then saying this As Judg. VI. 13. The want of this enquiry is complained of Jer. II. 6 8 And punished with the want of Gods presence in time of adversity Hos. V. 6. And thereupon that admonition is Chap. LV. 6. Look down A prayer of the people verse 15 or of the Prophet in their person Where is thy Zeale What is become of them Psal. LXXXIX 49. the sounding of thy bowels Chap. XVI 11. rumbling yearning in compassion 1 Kings III. 26. Jer. XXXI 20. Hos. XI 8. though Abraham be ignorant of us As being dead verse 16 he and Israel long ago made us to erre By denying us the conduct of thy Spirit verse 17 and leaving us to our selves and giving us up to the spirit of error Or why shouldest thou give this people any occasion so to do as 1 Sam. XXVI 19. Psal. CXXV 3. See the Observations on chap. VI. 9 10. but a little while In comparison of thy promise verse 18 This Chapter beginneth in the middle of a verse chapter LXIV according to the distinctions in the Hebrew wouldest rent Considering the indignities verse 1 and outrages against thee and thy people chap. LXII 18. come down Psal. XVIII 9 16. terrible things Of old verse 3 on the behalf of thy people Ps. LXXVIII and CV and CVI. Nehem. IX Exod III. 8. welooked not for Were then unexpected or beyond expectation mountains flowed down Judg. V. 5. Psal. XLVII 5. Deut. IV. 11. Exod. XIV 3 9. Hab. III. 3 15. For since the beginning of the world This brought in verse 4 as in the person of Gods people to intimate that they wanted not some good ground to solicite God to do for them as they here desire in their present distresse because they knew him to be such a God as was able to do had done and would do such things for his people that rested and rerelied upon him as no humane eye or eare had ever either seene or heard or any other God was ever known to have done or was able to do chap. LXVI 8. The Apostle 1 Cor. II. 9. seemeth to have made use of the Prophets words in this verse applying them to his present discourse as he doth those other of the Psalmist XIX 4. in that place of Rom. X. 18. that waiteth for him 1 Cor. II. 9. that love him And those that wait for him do love him For thou A continuation of their commemoration of Gods dealings for verse 5 and with his people in times past meetest Or didst meet was wont to meet As Luke XV. 2c Psal. XXI 2 3. him that rejoyceth and worketh righteousnesse Him that rejoyceth to work righteousnesse and delights in well-doing Deut. XXVIII 47. Psal. II. 11. and XXXVII 4. and LXVIII 3. and CXII 1. and ch LVIII 13. in thy wayes Of Providence and of precepts and direction in those is continuance and we shall be saved In those thy wayes Or in our sinnes and shall we be saved interrogatively importing the cleane contrary Or in those righteous works and by their being with and among us is our continuance and meanes of being saved But we And so none of us fit to intercede verse 6 We not like those ver 4 5. Psal. CVI. 23. Those are now all gone verse 7. Jer. V. 1. Mic. VII 2. Psal. XII 1. our righteousnesses are as filthy rags So noting out not the defects and defilements the inbred vitiosities of meere infirmities in all the best works even of the best and in the best maner performed But the vile and abominable practices which had so highly incensed the Lord against his people And the most righteous among us for all our outward semblances of holinesse and righteousnesse are indeed no better then such verse 7 Micah VII 4. 2. Sam. XXIII 6. 7. None So few as are drowned in the multitude hold of thee To stay thee with us verse 8. 9. or bring thee back unto us But now A pathetical imploration of Gods favour and mercie thy people thy peculiar people Chap. LXIII 19. Deut. V. 3. and XXIX 10 15. Our holy and our beautiful house Chap. verse 11 LX. 7. and LVI 7. and LXXXIV 1 2. burnt 2 Kings XXV 9. Lam I. 7 10. refraine thy self Canst thou endure to see them verse 12 and be still and suffer them Another Sermon chapter LXV I am sought of them that Rom. verse 1 X. 20. cleare this to be spoken by Christ of the Gentiles and of their coming in to him Acts XIII 46. not called by my Name Chap. LXIII 19. I have spread out To the Jewes verse 2 Rom. X. 21. See Rom. XI 11 24. in gardens To their Idols altars of brick Of matter verse 3 and maner according to their owne devising which remaine among the graves To consult with spirits verse 4 that haunt such places or to have dealings with the dead necromancers chap. VIII 19. Deut. XVIII 11. 1 Sam. XXVIII 8 11. and lodge in the monuments In their idol-temples or in Caves under ground haply to expect dreams from their imaginary deities or among the corpses as that possessed man did Mar. V. 5. and broth Wherein unclean flesh had been sod stand by thy self Though themselves so impure and vile verse 5 Luke VII 39 Such sinners would yet be such Saints a smoak A continual provocation and vexation to me written before me Upon record in my sight verse 6 and the iniquities of your fathers together Though God lay nothing upon any person verse 7 but what indeed comes farre short of what is due to him Yet he hath an eye oft in inflicting judgements on notorious wicked ones descended also from such