Doctrine and Law delivered by him or by his Ministry as Acts 19. into John's Doctrine but in the later it is taken properly so we are baptized in the name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost for baptism cannot be performed in the name of any creature because to be baptized in the name of any one that is by his command and authority to be baptized for his worship faith and obedience 933. 1 Cor. 10. 23. No temptation hath befallen you but such as is common to men Matth. 4. 3. The devil is a tempter Temptation is the divine probation of our faith and obedience or a devilish tempting of us to sinne or when men tempt us to persevere in sinne or when the weaknesse of our nature draws us into faults and errours such were the temptations of the Saints and of the Corinthians here 934. 1 Cor. 10. 15. Judge ye your selves what I say Joh. 5. 39. Search the Scriptures The Apostle makes all men judges of his cause if any could not judge it was not imbecillity of the Law but the deed because all were bound to know things that concerned their faith for by the Word of God we may judge concerning things that belong to faith the knowledge whereof is necessary for all men and it is acquired by reading meditation invocation and searching the holy Scriptures 935. 1 Cor. 10. 15. I speak as to wise men ch 3. 1. As to carnall and babes The Corinthians were wise in respect of their doctrine but carnall in their affections by reason of their strife and contentions for the most learned have their carnall desires nor were they all wise or carnall for often what belongs to some is imputed to all 936. 1 Cor. 10. 21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils ch 11. 29. He that cateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh his own damnation The first place is of right and so they cannot nor must not eat or drink though they do eat and drink the later is understood of the fact whereby they take it 937. 1 Cor. 10. 24. Let no man seek his own but every man anothers wealth 1 Tim. 5. 8. But if any man provide not for his own especially for his own house he hath denied the faith and is worse then an Infidel The first is to be understood with limitation that no man out of over-much love of himself should do his own occasions boastingly which is farre from Christian charity which teacheth that a man is not born for himself but to serve God and to do good to his neighbour 938. 1 Cor. 11. 24. Eat this is my Body Rom. 6. 9. The Body dieth no more In the Lords Supper the Body of Christ is not broken by a naturall or carnall manner the Body and the Blood the Bread and the Wine are received conjunctively in respect of the instrument but they are received disjunctively in respect of the manner for the bread and wine is received after one manner the Body and Blood after another manner 939. 1 Cor. 11. 24. Which is broken for you Luk. 22. 1. Which is given The Apostle received from the Lord what he delivered to the Corinthians concerning the sacred Supper without doubt in the first institution the Lord used both the words and because the Evangelists make mention of the name of giving the Apostle addes the other 940. 1 Cor. 12. 3. No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost Matth. 7. 21. Isa 29 Mat. 7. â—â— Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven In the first place it is not only historically with outward lips to say that Jesus Christ is the Lord but with faith to beleeve that he is the Thâ—â— Lord which hypocrites and devils cannot do for though with their mouth they confesse him yet with works they deny him also no man can say for his own salvation that Jesus is the Lord unlesse he have the holy Ghost 941. 1 Cor. 12 6. God worketh all in all Phil. 2. 12. Work out your salvation God as the first cause works all good in all men we with God work 〈◊〉 our salvation subordinately we are called by God moving and helping us freely and by his grace we cooperate 942. 1 Cor. 13. 2. Though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains I am nothing Rom. 3. 28. We are justified by faith without the works of the Law In the first place by all faith is meant faith of Mat. 17 20. working all manner of miracles so that it can extend it self so farre as to remove mountains yet charity may be separated from such a 〈◊〉 but it can never be separated from a justifying Joh◠〈…〉 faith to subsist without it 943. 1 Cor. 13. 9. We know in part 1 John 2. 20. Ye know all things In this life our knowledge is in part and imperfect but in the next life it shall be perfected the later place is concerning necessary things to the knowledge of Antichrist that is done by the holy Ghost leading us into all truth by degrees and parts 944. 1 Cor. 13. 12. We see now through a glasse darkly but then face to face 2 Cor. 3. 18. But we all as with open face beholding the glory of the Lord. The face in Scripture is taken for Gods Essence Exod. 33. 23. for his generall presence Deut. 31. 17. for Gods grace Numb 6. 25. for his revenge Rev. 6. 16. for knowledge and internall vision Exod. 33. 11. of this in the first place but in the later is meant the sight of God in our Country that is in heaven as it is said through a glasse and in a riddle in respect of the Law for God is seen by us in part in the Word of God as he is 945. 1 Cor. 13. 13. Now abideth faith hope and charity but the greatest of these is charity Gal. 5. 6. Faith works by love Charity being the effect of faith is the inferiour for by faith we are justified and Christ Rom. 5. 1. dwelleth in us and we please God we are the sons of God and obtain eternall life Charity is not the greatest vertue but because it shall remain in the next life in its operations 946. 1 Cor. 14. 31. You may all prophesie one by one Heb. 5. 4. No man taketh this honour to himself but he that is called of God The Apostle understands all that are lawfully Jer. 28. 2. 1 Pet. 4. 11. called to the Office of Prophesying 947. 1 Cor. 15. 9 I am the least of the Apostles ver 10. I laboured more then they all He was the least in order because he was the last called to be an Apostle but he was greater in labouring because the charge of all the Churches was committed unto him In the first Rom. 15. 16 17. place he speaks lowly of himself according to Christs commandment When you have done all
of judgement against the obstinate Jews God is said to have kept his people as the apple of his eye so long Deut. 32. 10. Psal 17. 8. as they were obedient But temporall punishments inflicted on the wicked do not infringe the truth of his promise and of divine performance 519. Zech. 3. 9. I will remove the iniquity of his land in one day Revel 13. 8. Christ is slain from the beginning of the world In one day is the performance of Christs passion who dying for our sins restored us unto life But he was slain from the beginning of the world in Gods determinations by election virtue efficacy and acceptation and in respect of the fruits of it which redounded to the Church under the old Testament 520. Zech. 6. 13. He shall sit and rule upon his throne Isai 9. 7. He shall sit upon the throne of Daaid and upon his Kingdome Luk. 1. 33. Christ in respect of his divine nature hath his throne from everlasting to everlasting But in respect of his humanity being he is born of the seed of David according to the flesh the Lord God hath given him a throne that he may reign over the house of Jacob forever 521. Zech. 11. 12. They weighed for my price 30 pieces of silver Mat. 27. 9. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet they took 30 pieces of silver the price of him that was valued whom they did value Eusebius saith that Jeremiahs name was put De Demonstraâ—â— l. 10. c. 4. for Zecharias name by the errour of the Scrivener Out of Jeremiah some make the computation where he makes mention of 17 shekels which make 30 pieces of silver Jer. 32. 9. 522. Zech. 13. 7. Awake O sword against my shepherd and against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of hosts smite the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered Joh. 10. 10. No man takes away my life from me The Prophet mentioneth God the Father commanding in the name of the whole Trinity whose words outwardly are common to the three Persons and undivided that his shepheard namely Christ should be slaine that contradicts not Christs words who willingly laid down his life for us 523. Zech. 13. 7. The sheep shall be scattered Joh. 17. 12. Those that thou gavest unto me I have kept them Chap. 18. 9 10. I have not lost one God the Father speaks of the scattering Christ of the keeping That scattering takes not away Christs keeping because none of the Apostles which his Father gave to him perished but the son of perdition MALACHIES Prophesie HE complains of the wickednesse of the people of the Jewes and the Priests He comforts the godly Threatens the wicked Exhorts all to repentance and faith in Christ He was the last that prophesied before Christs incarnation In the year of the world 3513. 524. Mal. 1. 2. Was not Esau Jacobs brother saith the Lord yet I loved Jacob and hated Esau 2 Chron. 19. 7. There is no accepting of persons with God God is a most free agent and doth all things that he doth according to his own good pleasure he respects not the externall quality of the person nor his condition nation sex riches poverty hatred c. so he loved Jacob revealed himself unto him gave to his posterity the land of Canaan He neglected Esau who was Isaacs eldest son and most beloved of his Father nor was he bound by any laws to do otherwise unto him 525. Mal. 1. 8. If you offer the blind the lame the sick for sacrifice is it not evill Psal 50. 8. I will not reprove thee for thy burnt sacrifices The Prophet speaks of sacrifices the Psalmist of the sacrificers Sacrifices were to be offered unto God without spot or fault not blind or lame but without scars scabs or blisters for Christ of whom they were but types was an Lev. 22. 22 25. oblation most pure and absolute and free from all spots for our sins 526. Mal. 2. 7. The Priests lips should keep knowledge and they should seek the law at his mouth Mat. 22. 29. You erre not knowing the Scriptures of God The first place is concerning the office of the Priests who were bound to keep knowledge that the people might seek for knowledge at their mouth and they were to answer the people Lev. 10. 11 that inquired concerning the law The latter is concerning the ignorance of the Priests who fit upon Moses chair contrary to Gods commandement and their own duty which was the cause that the people together with the Priests and the Scribes ran to errour Hitherto we have described the Reconciliations of appearing contrarieties in the Canon of the old Testament for the space of 4000 years from the creation of the world from Adam Noah Abraham and Solomon untill the time that Christ came Now follow those of the new Testament from Christs Nativity to the end of the world RECONCILING Of Places of the NEW-TESTAMENT THe Scripture of the New-Testament is the Word of God written after Christ was revealed by the Apostles and Evangelists in the Greek tongue some few things were written in Hebrew namely St. Matthews Gospel and the Epistle to the Hebrews It is divided Euseb l. 3. c. 26. l. 6. c. 11. 19. Jeron in Catal. Scriptorum into Evangelical and Epistolical books Those are the Evangelical books which contain a part of the glad tidings or the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ with the History from his Nativity to his Ascension into Heaven at the thirty fourth year of his age The Gospel of St. MATTHEW IT contains the Genealogy of Jesus Christ his birth education his Prophetical Office in Preaching Miracles his Priestly Office in the oblation of himself for our sins and his Kingly Office in his rising from the dead and the government of his Church 527. Mat. 1. 1. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ 1 Tim. 1. 4. Tit. 3. 9. Avoid foolish and endlesse genealogies The knowledge of Christs genealogie is more profitable that we may know Jesus to be the true Messias promised of the seed of Abraham and David Paul condemns the madnesse of those who tell mens fortunes by their Nativities and such as move unprofitable questions concerning genealogies which the Jews addicted themselves much to neglecting the study of godlinesse those he bids us to avoid as vain and idle and Heathenish fancies 528. Mat. 1. 1. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ the son of David the son of Abraham Luk. 3. 23 38. Who was the son of Heli Nagge Matthat c. of Adam of God Matthew and Luke differ not Matthew describes the genealogie of Christ by the line of Solomon to Joseph Luke by Nathan another son of David from Josephs Father in law who was called Eli to David and so far as Adam the father of mankind 529. Mat. 1. 6. David the King begat Solomon Luk. 3. 31. Who was the son of Nathan who was the son
Jews and Gentiles by the Jew to be meant the Asse which our Saviour rid first on but because she went untowardly he left her and road on the Foal which was an embleme of the Gentiles who received the Gospel willingly which the Jews rejected 650. Mar. 14. 12. And the first day of unleavened bread when they killed the Passeover Joh. 13. 1. Now before the Feast of the Passeover when Jesus knew that his hour was come The Iews began their day from the evening and they were to celebrate the Passeover on the 14. day of the month Nisan according to the law as Christ did But the Iews referred that solemnity to the Sabbath day and called it the Lev. 23. great day of the Sabbath 651. Mar. 14. 32. They came to a place which was named Gethsemani Luk. 22. 39. And he went as he was wont to the Mount of Olives Gethsemani that is the Valley of fatnesse it was so called from the fruitfulnesse of the place or otherwise the Garden in which the Mount of Olives was Therefore the Evangelists here set the same place by divers names 652. Mar. 15. 25. And it was the third hour and they crucified him Joh. 19. 14. About the sixt hour Pilate said to the Iews Behold your King In the former place the hour of the day was reckoned according to the manner of the Iews from Sun rising to Sun setting twelve hours to a day in the latter from midnight after the custome of the Romans Christ was condemned and cruificed the third hour after Sun-rising at the sixt hour he was exposed to scorns at the ninth hour after three hours darknesse he was dead and the remainder of the day was spent in his burial 653. Mar. 16. 1. When the Sabbath day was Job 20. 12. â— past the Maries brought spices Luk. 23. 56. The day of the Passeover the women prepared Spices and Oyntments On the day of the Passeover they bought spices and began to make Oyntments on the Sabbath day after Sun-set they continued it and when the Sabbath was past they came very early in the morning to Christs Sepulcher 654. Mar. 16. 5. In the Sepulcher they saw a young man sitting on the right side Luk. 24. 4. Behold two men stood by them in shining garments Mark makes mention of one Angel which spake to the women Luke speaks of two that were witnesses of our Saviours Resurrection 655. Mar. 16. 6. He is risen he is not here Behold the place where they laid him Joh. 20. 14. Mary turned her self back and saw Iesus standing The Angel speaketh concerning him dead such a one as the women sought for that they might anoynt his body but Christ witnessed himself that he was alive not only by testimony of Angel but by manifesting himself at the monument and speaking unto Mary 656. Mar. 16. 9. When Iesus was risen early the first day of the week he appeared first to Mary Magdalen Mat. 28 9. Iesus met the women which were Mary Magdalen and Ioanna and Mary the Mother of Iames and the rest Mary Magdalen is first named because she in a peculiar manner saw Christ then the other women after her saw him in their order 657. Mar. 16. 15. Preach the Gospel to every creature Mat. 10. 5. Goe not into the way of the Gentiles The first place is concerning the enlarging of Christs Kingdome amongst all Nations after Christs Resurrection The latter is concerning the first temporal mission of the Disciples to the Iews only for the mystery of our Redemption before Christs death was not to be preacht to the Gentiles therefore Christ was called Rom. 15. 8. the Minister of the Circumcision 658. Mar. 16. 16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Rom. 10. 10. With the heart man believeth unto righteousnesse and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation Faith is the means of our salvation confession is required not that faith is unsufficient but because faith is not in the heart where confession is not in the mouth but where it is in the heart it ingenders all parts of outward confession 659. Mar. 16. 16. He that believeth not shall be damned Rom. 11. 32. God hath concluded them all in unbelief that he might have mercy upon all Christ speaks of some unbelievers who were hardned that they should not believe the Gospel such shall be damned So they that are not moved by promises or threatnings to believe the Gospel to them is cursing judgement and death Paul speaks of all them both Jews and Gentiles and describes their state before the preaching of the Gospel for they are all by nature shut up in unbelief and those that are believers of the Gospel are freed from this state that by the Gospel they may be made partakers of Gods mercy in Christ 660. Mar. 16. 19. The Lord Jesus after he had spoken unto them was received up into heaven and sate at the right hand of God c. 14. 22. This is my body Christ ascending and sitting at the right hand of God doth not take away the presence of his body in the holy Supper but confessing it that he is exalted above all things into Phil. 2. 9. glory 661. Mar. 16. 19. Christ sits at the right hand of God Eph. 1. 20. Col. 3. 1. Heb. 1. 3. c. 8. 1. 1 Pet. 3. 22. Act. 7. 56. Steven saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God To sit is the part of the Judge to stand the part of him that fights and helps us saith Gregory Homil. de Ascens Domini Steven therefore being at the conflict with death saw him standing whom he had for to help him but Mark describes Christ sitting after his Resurrection for after the glory of his Ascension he shall come as Judge in the end of the world St. LUKES Gospel IT comprehends the Conception of John Baptist and Jesus Christ with their Nativity Life Vocation Sermons in special the Miracles of Christ his Passion Death Resurrection Apparition and Ascension into Heaven 662. Luk. 1. 13. Zacharias prayer is heard v. 18. He believed not Although he had a conflict through the weaknesse of his faith of the special gift of so wonderful a son yet he had a general faith concerning a Messias the Deliverer of the people from their disgrace and therefore his doubting did not exclude his prayers from being heard 663. Luk. 1. 32. The Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David Joh. 18. 36. My Kingdome is not of this world To sit in the Throne of David here is not to govern a temporal Kingdome as David did here on earth but a spiritual wherein Christ reigns by faith in the hearts of his followers and he rules over sin death and the Devil 664. Luk. 1. 33. And he shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever 1 Cor. 15. 24. He shall deliver up the Kingdome to God the Father v. 28. He shall be subject unto him Christs
known the Father in him 756. Joh. 14. 12. He that believeth on me the works that I doe shall he doe also and greater chap. 3. 2. No man can doe those Miracles that thou doest Christ means not works of divine Creation Redemption or Sanctification but of his mission such Miracles as he wrought in the world such and greater then they were wrought by the Apostles whose shadows cured sick men as they passed by after Christs Ascension and the wonderful conversion of the Gentiles followed 757. Joh. 14. 13. chap. 16. 24. Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my Name that will I do Ask and you shall receive Jam. 4. 3. Ye ask and receive not We ought to ask in Christs Name in full confidence of his merits with true faith and without doubting spiritual or corporal blessings with exception of Gods will and our own salvation in all occasions and in all our prayers they that ask so receive and they that receive not ask amisse 758. Joh. 14. 23. If any man love me he will keep my words vers 23. The Word which ye hear is not mine The Word that Christ taught was his but not any invention of his but his Fathers Word which he was sent into the world to preach 759 Joh. 14. 23. And we will come unto him and make our abode with him Rom. 7. 20. Sin dwelleth in me vers 14. I am sold under sin The first place is concerning the inhabitation of the Sacred Trinity in the spiritual part of a regenerate man The latter is of the dwelling of sin in our carnal members 760. Joh. 15. 15. I call you not servants but friends Mat. 25. 21. Well done good servant The Disciples were Christs servants by right of creation redemption and vocation friends by right of adoption communication and patefaction Aug. tr 55. on John 761. Joh. 15. 15. All things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you chap. 16. 12. I have yet many things to say unto you In the Scriptures some things are said to be full which are to be fulfilled in the former place Christ speakes concerning the knowledge of God and the perfect worship of Christians in it self in the latter concerning the understanding of this Word which the Disciples by reason of their rudenesse could not bear before they had received the holy Ghost nor did they understand it 762. Joh. 16. 13. The Spirit of Truth shall guide you into all Truth Gal. 2. 11. Peter erred after he had received the holy Ghost The Apostles were led into all truth in parts and degrees of it After they had received the holy Ghost they erred not in doctrine in writing or teaching but in life and conversation such was the errour of Peter which was to be reproved whilest he conversed amongst the Gentiles 763. Joh. 16. 24. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my Name Mat. 6. 9. Luk. 11. 2. He had given them the form of Prayer before The Disciples did indeed pray before but not so plainly with a clear knowledge of Christs Office that their prayers should be heard for the Messias that was sent 764. Joh. 16. 26. I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you Rom. 8. 26. He makes intercession for us Christ alone doth not pray for us but we also must come to the Father and in his Name at his command pray in full assurance which is necessary for our salvation 765. Joh. 17. 3. That they may know thee Father to be the only true God Act. 20. 28. The Son is God chap. 5. 4. The holy Ghost is God Onely here doth not exclude the Persons in the Divine Essence but creatures and Idols which are no gods 766. Joh. 18. 20. I speak openly to the world and in secret have I said nothing Mar. 9. 28. He taught his Disciples privately in the Desert In the first place he speaks of his doctrine which he brought from Heaven that he might reveal it to all men and teach it publickly and in the temple not in private corners In the latter place he taught privately explaining those things which he had taught publickly 767. Joh. 19. 9. Jesus answered not Pilate 1 Tim. 6. 13. Christ Jesus before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession To Pilates question first Christ did not answer because he stood before him to suffer and not to plead or excuse at length he gave testimony to the Truth in words and deeds for his passion and death were a sufficient testimony and sealing of his doctrine 768. Joh. 20. 1. Christ rose on the first day of the week Mat. 12. 40. The Son of Mâ—â— shall be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth untill the third day This is a Synecdochical computation of time for the least part of the day of the preparation is taken for a whole day and the beginning of the day after the Passeover or the Sabbath is taken also for a whole day Christ was three days in the grave but it was incompleatly three days so also he was two nights in the grave the night before being added to them 769. Joh. 20. 1. Mary Magdalen came early when it was yet dark unto the Sepulcher Mar. 16. 2. Very early they came to the Sepulcher at the rising of the Sun When it was yet dark very early in the morning she went out of her house and the City waiting for the rest of the women with which afterwards she came to the Sepulcher at the Sun-rising 770. Joh. 20. 17. Touch me not Ver. 26. Reach hither thy finger Christ after the Resurrection would not be touched of Mary Magdalen who only sought him after a carnal way and thought of enjoying him no otherwise then she did formerly by his earthly presence amongst them But he commanded Thomas to touch him that his faith being confirmed he might be a more certain witnesse of Christs Resurrection The ACTS of the APOSTLES LVKE the Evangelist describes either in generall all the Acts of the Apostles or in speciall Peters Preachings Acts Visions Miracles Imprisonments the Conversion of Paul his Travels Disputations Miracles Bonds Imprisonments and the History of the Primitive Church after Christs Ascension from 26 years unto the 60 year from Christs Nativity 771. Acts 1. 1. Of all things that Jesus began both to do and teach Luke wrote John 21. 25. There are also many other things which Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose that even the world it self could not contain the books that should be written Luke in the first Book wrote of all things necessary for our salvation though not of all things but summarily concerning the conception of Jesus Christ his Nativity Life Passion Death Resurrection and Ascension into heaven August Christ did many things that are In John Tract 49. not written as John the Evangelist witnesseth but those things were chosen to be written which might suffice for the salvation
of Beleevers 772. Acts 1. 9. Whilst the Disciples beheld Christ was taken up and a cloud received him John 3. 13. No man hath ascended up into heaven but he that came down from heaven The body of Christ was taken up visibly on high where Christ was personally before according to his Divine nature 773. Acts 1. 15. The number of names together were about an hundred and twenty 1 Cor. 15. 6. After that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once The number of an hundred and twenty must be restrained to the faithfull there at Jerusalem the rest were out of this gathering in other places Luke by calling the brethren that were present sheweth that there were no women present at the Election of Matthias 774. Acts 1. 18. Judas purchased a field with the reward of iniquity Matth. 27. 3. He repented himself and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief Priests and Elders Judas purchased a field not actually but by purpose and event for he hoped with those silver pieces to buy a field he acquired the money It is Metonymia adjuncti and the price wherewith the Priests bought the field 775. Acts 2. 23. Jesus being delivered by the determinate counsell and foreknowledge of God by wicked hands you have crucified and slain John 19. 11. He that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin The death of Christ is ascribed to God and men in divers respects God delivered him by his determinate counsell that he might procure life for us The Jews out of their diabolicall hate that they might blot out the memory of him 776. Acts 2. 33. Christ is exalted by the right hand of God John 17. 5. Christ was glorified with the Father before the world was The state of Christs humiliation and exaltation is in respect of right and profession Christ was as Mediator at the right hand of God also before his corporall Ascension but in respect of use after his Ascension 777. Acts 2. 36. God hath made that same Jesus whom you have crucified both Lord and Christ Luke 2. 11. He is called Lord at his Nativity by the Angell Christ by right of his personall union was made Lord at his Nativity by possession and use in his Glorification declared to be so by his sitting at the right hand of God according to the rule Then a thing is said to be done when it is manifested to be done 778. Acts 2. 38. And be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ Mat. 28. 19. Baptizing them in the Name of the Father of the Son and of the holy Ghost In the first place there is the command and fruit of Baptism but not the form Some by the Name Christ understand the three Persons the Father anointing the Son anointed and the holy Ghost the unction Also in the Name of Christ is in the doctrine faith knowledge and obligation of Christ 779. Acts 3. 2. And a man lame from his mothers womb they laid daily at the gate of the Temple to ask alms chap. 4. 34. neither was there any among them that lacked They that carried the lame man to the Beautifull Gate of the Temple were not of the number of those who beleeved in Christ nor the lame man himself before he was healed 780. Acts 4. 31. And when they had prayed they were all filled with the holy Ghost chap. 2. 4. In the Feast of Pentecost the holy Ghost sat upon every one of them before The first place is of the increase of gifts and their boldnesse and confidence to professe the Gospel that casting away all sorrow they were full of rejoycing and preached the Word of God freely against the threatnings and interdicts of the High priests 781. Acts 7. 38. Moses received in mount Sinai the lively Oracles 2 Cor. 3. 7. Paul cals the Law the ministration of death The words of the Law were words of life because the Law hath life in it self and leads us to Christ it is not the Ministration of death in it self but in respect of mens infirmities and our corrupt nature 782. Acts 7. 2. Men Brethren and Fathers hearken vers 52. Betrayers and murderers In the former place he doth civilly use those compellation to the Jews in the later he shews what the truth is according to the Gospel they were enemies but according to Election they are beloved for the Fathers sake Rom. 11. 28. 783. Acts 7. 51. You do alwaies resist the holy Ghost as your fathers did Rom. 9. 19. Who hath resisted his will To resist the holy Ghost is not to hear him in the Word of God so the Jews rejected grace proferred unto them and despised it revealed in the Word and so were the cause of their own damnation The Apostle speaks of Gods absolute will according to that he doth all things to which we must be subject 784. Acts 7. 59. Lord Jesus receive my spirit Luk. 16. 22. Lazarus was carried by the Angels into Abrahams bosom All the godly and faithfull children of Abraham must commend their spirits into the hands of the Sonne of God who enlivens us there is that bosom and the soul of Abraham rests there 785. Acts 8. 1. And they were all scattered abroad throughout the region of Judah and Samaria except the Apostles Mark 16. 15. Go into all the world and preach the Gospel The beginning of the Apostles preaching was at Jerusalem where they suffered persecutions building a Church unto Christ before they went to other Nations 786. Acts 9. 6. Go into the City and there it shall be told thee what thou must do Gal. 1. 15. Paul was not called by man neither from men to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ Saul was taught by Ananias concerning the means of his conversion but not concerning the Articles of his faith Ananias was sent to baptize him and heal him but not to call him to be an Apostle 787. Acts 9. 7. And the men that journeyed with him stood speechlesse ch 26. 14. and when we were all fallen to the earth I heard a voice The companions of Saul were first cast down then they stood speechlesse nor could they go forward untill Saul also rose from the earth 788. Acts 9. 7. They heard a voice but they saw no man ch 26. 14. They that were with me saith Paul heard not the voice Hearing the sound of the voice they understand not the meaning of it so a voice coming to Christ from heaven the company that heard John 12. 29. it said it thundred 789. Acts 9. 8. They led Saul into Damascus Gal. 1. 17. He went into Arabia Paul after his conversion was first at Damascus then he went into Arabia and so returned again to Damascus 790. Acts 9. 15 Paul bare the Name of the Lord before the Gentiles the Kings and the children of Israel Gal. 1. 16. He was separated to preach to the Gentiles the Gospel of Christ He was the ordinary Apostle
those things which are commanded you say we are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to do Luk. 17. 10. In the later place he speaks of those that strove with him by emulation to whom he compares himself not derogating from others but he magnifies his Apostleship from his faith and fruits of his works 948. 1 Cor. 15. 27. He hath put all things under his feet ver 28. The Son also shall be subject to the Father That subjection shall be effected in his members and Church which is his Body and by resignation of his Kingdom that now he administers at present by his Ministers in the midst of his enemies but not without battell also he shall declare his subjection to the Father answerable to that nature according to which all power is given to him in heaven and in earth 949. 1 Cor. 15. 50. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God ver 53. This corruptible must put on incorruption Flesh and blood here signifies the corrupt nature of man in the state of sinne this as it is such cannot inherit the Kingdom of God but our nature purged from corruption shall put on incorruption 950. 1 Cor. 16. 15. The houshold of Stephanus addicted themselves to the ministry of the Saints Heb. 5. 4. No man taketh this honour to himself but he that was called of God In the first place is meant the ministry of transparting the collections to the brethren and they did it by the sending of the Apostles by them in a most dangerous time 951. 1 Cor. 16. 22. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him he Anathema Matth. 5 44. Love your enemies The Apostle doth not pronounce this Anathema out of his own private affection but being led by the holy Ghost it is not lawfull rashly to use private imprecations unlesse the glory of God require it in an especiall manner and there be no hope left of their salvation 952. 2 Cor. 1. 1. Timothy with Paul wrote that Epistle 1. Tim. 1. 3. He was left at Ephesus when Paul went into Macedonia Paul sayling from Corinth into Asia left Timothy at Ephesus together with Aquila Act. 18. 19. and Priscilla but that they were with the Apostle at Corinth at that time the Inscription it self testifieth 953. 2 Cor. 1. 8. In Asia we were pressed out of measure above strength 1 Cor. 10. 13. God will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able The first place is concerning temptation exceeding bare humane strength the second concerning faith and strength given to us by God which is our victory 954. 2 Cor. 5. 2. In this we groan earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven ver 4. We groan being burdened not that we would be uncloathed The first place is concerning the groaning by grace the second by nature for the holy Ghost stirres up a desire of life eternall in the minde of the godly and it is naturall to fear death because it destroys nature 955. 2 Cor. 5. 16. We know no man after the flesh Rom. 1. 3. Christ of the seed of David according to the flesh Phil. 2. 8. To know according to the flesh is to praise that which corrupt flesh delights in and to despise what it despiseth so we knew not Christ carnally but out of Gods Word we know him to be of the seed of David 956. 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself ver 20. We pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God Reconciliation is ascribed to God as the principall cause to Christ as the meritorious cause or to the Ministry of the Word as to the Instrumental cause or to our selves apprehending it by faith and applying it for our salvation 957. 2 Cor. 8. 20. Avoiding this that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administred by us 1 Cor. 4. 3. With me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you The first place is of just dispraise wherein our hearts convince us the later is concerning the unjust judgements of the world which proceed from mens depraved affections 958. 2 Cor. 11. 4. If he that cometh preacheth another Jesus whom we have not preached or receive another Gospel which ye have not accepted ye might well bear with him Gal. 1. 8. Though we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you then that we have preached let him be accursed In the first place is meant by another Christ and another Gospel a better Doctrine then the Apostle taught but in the later by another Gospel is meant false doctrine which overthroweth Gods grace and Christs merits 959. 2 Cor. 11. 17. That which I speak I speak it not after the Lord but foolishly 1 Pet. 4. 11. If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God Paul being forced to it by the calumnies of false Apostles said somethings concerning his own labours and dangers which did not directly appertain to his Ministry Peter speaks of those things which directly appertain to the Ministry of the Word wherein the rule of our words must be the Oracles of God revealed in the Scriptures St PAULS Epistle to the GALATIANS HE defends the Justice of faith against false Apostles that a man is justified not by the works of the Law but by faith in Christ and exhorts to good works that the fruits of faith must be sowed in Christian charity and liberty It was written from Rome in the Year of Christ 60. 960. Gal. 1. 1. Paul an Apostle not of men neither by man but by Jesus Christ ch 2. 2. I communicated unto them the Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles ver 6. Who seemed to be somewhat Paul came to Peter and the rest of the Apostles not that he might learn the Gospel from them but to have their testimony of his Doctrine that he preached nothing to the Gentiles but the Gospel of Jesus Christ 961. Gal. 1. 17. I went not up to Jerusalem to them which were Apostles before me but I went into Arabia Act. 9. 26. Paul after his return to Damascus came to Jerusalem Paul after his conversion went into Arabia from Damascus and coming back thence to Damascus in the third year persecution befell him who being in hazard of his life was let down in a basket and escaped and coming to Jerusalem when they were all afraid of him he was brought to the Apostles by Barnabas ver 27. 962. Gal. 4. 11. I am afraid of you least I have bestowed upon you labour in vain 1 Cor. 15. 58. Be ye stedfast knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. In the first place the Apostle feared of the successe of his labour by reason of schism amongst the Galatians who sought their salvation more from the Law then from Christ in Isa 65. 23 the later he hopes well of the Corinthians that his
the Father in respect of order he is said to have received this Revelation from the Father because the Father by him doth reveal his secrets unto us as man by his personall union he hath a perfect knowledge of all things communicated to him 1032. Rev. 1. 1. The things which must shortly come to passe they are not yet fulfilled Shortly signifies the certainty of the things foretold in respect of God though not in our opinion he shuts out long delaies for the whole time of this prophesie unto the last day is in the sight of God but as one day or one Psa 90. 4. 2 Pet. 3. 8. hour which is a comfort to the godly that they may not despair and it exhorts the wicked to repentance by reason of the sudden destruction shall fall upon them 1033. Rev. 1. 13. I saw one like to the Sonne of man Matth. 9. 6. Christ is the Sonne of man really The first place is an Hebraism by which is intimated the certainty of Christs humanity also he may be said to be like man because he appeared in a singular form 1034. Rev. 2. 11. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death Heb. 9. 27. It is appointed unto men once to die The bodily death is one because the soul is but once separated from the body The second death is taken Metaphorically for the misery and torment of the soul after the death of the body 1035. Rev. 3. 7. Christ openeth and no man shutteth shutteth and no man openeth ver 20. If any man hear my voice and open the door I will come into him The Sonne of God is he that opens the internall door of the heart we open only the externall for no man comes to the Father but by him 1036. Rev. 3. 10. I will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world ver 19. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten God kept the Angell of Philadelphia from evil temptation because he was a pious assertor of the truth but the Angell of Laodicea who was lukewarm he would mend by his reprehension 1037. Rev. 4. 8. They rest not night nor day ch 14 13. They that dye in the Lord rest from their labours The souls in the beavenly rest of the blessed are not idle they have their labours that weary them not but most sweetly refresh them in the later place is understood the end of the troubles of this world 1038. Rev. 5. 1. I saw a book written ver 4. No man was worthy to look thereon John saw the book in a bare Vision but no man could see the mysteries contained in it 1039. Rev. 6. 9. Vnder the Altar I saw the souls of them that were slain ver 11. White robes were given to every one of them Souls are invisible spirits which cannot be seen or clothed it is therefore the sight of the minde and not of the body which is here understood for these things were seen in the Spirit 1040. Rev. 6. 10. The souls of those that were slain cry out for revenge against those that slew them Matth. 5. 44. Love your enemies and pray for them The cry of the souls proceeds not from a wicked desire of revenge but an earnest desire for Gods glory because they would have no ungodlinesse or wickednesse remain unpunished c. in the day of revenge and judgement we suffering here according to Christs command pray for our enemies 1041. Rev. 7. 9. I saw a great multitude which no man could number Luk. 12. 32. The flock of Christ is called a little flock The Church compared with the numerous multitude of the wicked is a little flock but considered in it self it comprehends an innumerable multitude of all Ages Sexes Places Tribes and people 1042. Rev. 11. 19. The Temple of God was opened in heaven ch 21. v. 22. And I saw no Temple therein In the former place the Temple is taken figuratively this the holy Ghost intimates that God is worshipped most holily with Hymns and Psalms in the later place we must not think there shall be any materiall Temple in the life to come as we have here on earth 1043. Rev. 13. 8. The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Gal. 4. 4. When the fulnesse of time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman He was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world not properly but figuratively and in Gods Decree by Types Predictions and efficacy by acceptation not by execution 1044. Rev. 16. 1. Go and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth ver 4. to the 13. They poured out their vials of wrath upon the sea the rivers the fountains the sunne the seat of the beast and Euphrates In the first place the earth is taken in a generall signification because the effects of all the Vials redounds to the earth in a manner and to earthly men the followers of Antichrist for whatsoever the wrath of God was which was cast on the Seas Rivers or the Ayr or Sunne was not for themselves but to afflict the earth and those that dwell thereon 1045. Rev. 18. 6. Double unto her double according to her work Matth. 7. 2. And what measure you make shall be measured to you again The first place is a speciall command of God concerning retaliation In the later Christ forbids rash judgement concerning others adding the Law of retaliation the more to convince the Jews 1046. Rev. 20. 4. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years 1 Thess 4. 17. So shall we alwaies be with the Lord. In the first place a certain number is put for an uncertain and he speaks of the state of the Church which during the reign of Antichrist seemed to be dead but afterwards at the preaching of the Gospel she rose again which is the first resurrection 1047. Rev. 22. 11. He that is unjust let him be unjust still Matth 22. 39. Thou shalt love thy neighbour The Morall Law forbids private men to do hurt with an evil affection but to hurt another man at Gods command is not against the Law because God will have it so and he commands us to punish malefactors good men are proved by injustice and so are crowned with Martyrdom by it in the former place is spoken of punishment justly inflicted on the wicked which is not against charity since God doth most justly make use of all the creatures to punish ungodly men 1048. Rev. 22. 11. He that is righteous let him be righteous still Rom. 5. 1. Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Our righteousnesse is more and more to be declared and proved before men and before God by effects of our faith for we do not finde it perfect in us but in part only as our faith increaseth by degrees 1049. Rev. 22. 19. If any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this