was not with them when Jesus came 25. The other Disciples therefore said unto him We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand into his side I will not believe 24. Note All Christs Disciples were not equally inclined to believe 2. This obstinate Resolution deserved a desertion yet Christ in mercy overcame it and forsook him not 26. And after eight days again his Disciples were within and Thomas with them then came Jesus the doors being shut and stood in the midst and said Peace be unto you 26. The next first day of that week they being assembled c. Note Coming in when the doors were fast shut whether he opened them as some groundlesly think or not was a Miracle he whose Body was quickly to be a Glorious Spiritual body when it came to that Glorious spiritual Region no doubt had after his Resurection a change preparatory thereto by which he could appear and disappear and vanish from their sight and come in when the door was shut and at last ascend to heaven And the Carnal objections against this are all vain 27. Then saith he to Thomas Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing 27. Note Wonderful is the Condescension of Christ to those that he will save 28. And Thomas answered and said unto him My Lord and my God 28. Note The convincing condescension of Christ turns unbelief into a Rapture of adoration Now Thomas cryeth My Lord and my God 29. Jesus saith unto him Thomas because thou hast seen me thou hast believed blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed 29. I have condescended to thy sight and feeling But this shall be the common way to blessedness but they that have not seen shall believe and so be happy 30. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his Disciples which are not written in this book 31. But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his name 30 31. These and many more not recited he did And it being by believing that Christ is the Son of God and Saviour that you must come to life and by the evidence of these Miracles that you must believe that he is the Christ therefore these Miracles are Recorded to convince you that you may believe CHAP. XXI AFter these things Jesus shewed himself again to the Disciples at the sea of Tiberias and on this wise shewed he him self 2. There were together Simon Peter and Thomas called Didymus and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee and the sons of Zebedee and two other of his Disciples 3. Simon Peter saith unto them I go a fishing They say unto him We also go with thee They went forth and entred into a ship immediately and that night they caught nothing 1 2 3. Note The Disciples went home to their Trades when Jesus was Crucified 2. Their unsucesfulness was to prepare for the Miracle 4. But when the morning was now come Jesus stood on the shore but the Disciples knew not that it was Jesus 4. His appearance after his Resurrection was with some change from what he appeared before 5. Then Jesus saith unto them Children have ye any meat They answered him No. 6. And he said unto them Cast the net on the right side of the ship and ye shall find They cast therefore and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes 5 6. Christ taketh occasion of their frustration to shew his Power and help their Faith 7. Therefore that Disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord he girt his fishers coat unto him for he was naked and did cast himself into the sea 7. When the Miracle convinced him upon Johns words that it was the Lord he put on his Fishers Coat and leapt into the Sea to shew that he trusted Christ with his Life 8. And the other Disciples came in a little ship for they were not far from land but as it were two hundred cubits dragging the net with fishes 9. As soon then as they were come to land they saw a fire of coals there and fish laid thereon and bread 10. Jesus saith unto them Bring of the fish which ye have now caught 11. Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land full of great fishes an hundred and fifty and three and for all there were so many yet was not the net broken 8. Here are two Miracles conjoyned The Fish catcht and the Fish and Bread Fire prepared for them 12. Jesus saith unto them Come and dine And none of the Disciples durst ask him Who art thou knowing that it was the Lord. 13. Jesus then cometh and taketh bread and giveth them and fish likewise 12 13. They knew him more by the Miracle than by his Visage Though it be not said tha the did Eat and Drink with them it is not improbable though uncertain 14. This is now the third time that Jesus sheweth himself to his Disciples after that he was risen from the dead 14. This was the third time that he appeared to many of them together or the third that John Recordeth and the third day of his appearing though the sixth appearance made And whether that on a Mountain in Gallilee mentioned by others was at this time is doubted 15. So when they had dined Jesus saith to Simon Peter Simon Son of Jonas lovest thou me more then these He saith unto him Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee He saith unto him Feed my Lambs 15. Thou didst lately profess that if all men forsook me yet thou wouldst not as if thou hadst loved me more than all the rest And yet did three times deny me Art thou now of the same Resolution more confirmed If thou be what Love thou hast to me shew it by thy Ministerial Love and Labour for the Souls even of the lowest 16. He saith to him again the second time Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me He saith unto him yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee He saith unto him Feed my sheep 16. Thou knowest the heart and therefore knowest that I love thee c. 17. He saith unto him the third time Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time Lovest thou me And he said unto him Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Jesus saith unto him Feed my sheep 17. N. Peters threefold denyal required a threefold Confession and engagement to future fidelity and obedience and this told him what Discipline he was to use by the power of Church Government towards others that so offend
he was afterward an hungred Note 1. In this Moses was a type of Christ 2. Fastâ—â—g and tryal by temptation were great preparatives to Christs exercise of his prophetick office And his Ministers should not be strangers to it The sensual are never true to Christ To serve the flesh by the Ministry by seeking preferment honour and fleshly ease and fulness more than mens Salvation is to serve the Devil as conquered by his temptations 3. Hunger and bodily suffering give Satan advantage for many temptations tho not so dangerously as prosperity and fleshly pleasures do 3. And when the Tempter came to him he said if thou be the Son of God command that these stones be made bread 3. The Son of God can do what he will feed thy self now by miracle Note 1. Whether the Devil thought by this to tempt him to doubt whether he were the son of God or only as supposing it to draw him to sin by obeying him is uncertain 2. Satan cannot tempt us when he will but when God permitteth him 3. His design was to obscure Christs God-head and glory 4. But he answered and said it is written Man shall not live by bread alone but by ever word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God 4. Note 1. Christ himself was not above making use of Gods written word 2. It is by this word that the tempter must be confuted and overcome 3. It is by Gods will that our food doth nourish us and his will and Love is more necessary to us than our food 5. Then the Devil taketh him up into the holy City and setteth him on a Pinnacle of the Temple 6. And saith to him if thou be the Son of God cast they self down for it is written he shall give his Angels charge concerning thee and in their hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash they foot against a stone 5.6 Then the Devil permitted by God carryed the body of Christ through the air and set him on the battlements or some high place on the Temple and said cast they self down c. Note 1. God may give Satan power even to carry our bodies about and yet not overcome our Souls 2. The Devil would tempt us to think that we may do any thing that hath no danger to us tho it be out of the way of our Obedience 3. He that will have Gods protection must keep in the way of his duty to God and not presume that God shall save him out of his way in our own 7. Jesus saith to him it is writtâ—n again Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God 7. Note 1. Tho the Devil use Scripture for temptation this is no dishonour to Scripture but we must confute misapplication of Scripture by Scripture rightly expounded and applyed Papists and all hereticks and the Devil himself may use Scripture and therfore all must not be believed that use it But that is an honour to it signifying that it is Gods word or else it would not serve the Hypocrites turn As all contenders pretend to Reason and yet Reason must decide their controversies 2. Tempting God is distrusting his ordinary care and providence and prescribing to him our own waies 8. Again the Devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain and sheweth him all the Kingdoms of the world and the glory of them 9. And saith to him All these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me 8 9. Note 1. Satan took advantage of Christ's voluntary poverty and fasting to tempt his flesh to the desire of earthly prosperity and dominion 2. By all Kingdoms is meant many that were within prospect 3. How far God hath given the power of Earthly Kingdoms and glory to the Devil is not fully certain But we see he hath given him power to tempt men by them and its like much to dispose of them as far as those temptations prevail That he useth almost all the Empires of the world against Christ and holiness by Malignity and worldy interests to keep up ignorance and ungodliness is notorious by sad experience 4. The Devil thinketh not Kingdoms and Glory too great a price to win and undo Souls 5. Christ himself was tempted to the most odious sin even to worship the Devil Therefore mere Temptation even to Blasphemy should not discourage melancholy persons who hate and resist it 10. Then Jesus saith to him Get thee hence Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve 10.1 Note When it cometh to Blasphemous and Atheistical temptations Satan should be driven away and no longer disputed with and endured 2. Yet even then Scripture must be given for confuting his Blasphemies 3. Whether Satan do all this in pride as desiring to be worshiped or in hatred to God and Souls is doubtful but its like to be from all these 4. Only excludeth other Gods and all Competitors and Opposites but not Parents Masters Princes as subordinate to God 11. Then the Devil leaveth him And behold Angels came and ministred to him 11. Note 1. Satan can stay no longer than God will 2. Angels are Gods servants for Christ and for his Church 3. As Christ had the Ministry of Angels we need it much more 12. Now when Jesus heard that John was cast into Prison he departed into Galilee 12. Note Christ avoided Persecution till his hour was come And so may we 13 14 15 16. An leaving Nazareth he came and dwelt in Capernaum which is upon the Sea coast in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim That it might be fulfilled which was spoken of Isaias the Prophet saying The Land of Zibulon and the land of Nephthalim by the way of the Sea beyond Jordan Galilee of the Gentiles The people which sat in darkness saw great light and to them which sate in the region and shadow of death Light is sprung up 13 c. Of which I may use the words of Isa 9. tho then spoken to another purpose as now fulfilled Literally as they seem to sound and as perhaps the Holy Ghost might farther mean them c. 17. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand 17. From that time Jesus exercised his Prophetick Office Preaching to them 1. That the time of the Kingdom of the Messiah was now at hand and 2. therefore that they should repent that they might be fit Subjects for his Kingdom and might believe and receive remission of sins 18. And Jesus walking by the Sea of Galilee saw two brethren Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother casting a net into the Sea for they were fishers 19. And he said to them follow me and I will make you fishers of men 20. And they straitway left their nets and followed him 18 19 20. It being part of Christs Office to appoinâ— Teachers under him as he walked by the Lake of Genesareth he
them to eat 34. Their Penny was Seven pence half penny Beza reckoneth the 200 pence to 35 pound Frank of Tours Note The Luxurious Bellys of this Land would have taken bread but for a dry Feast though they had the Fishes also 38. He saith to them How many loaves have ye go and see And when they knew they say Five and two fishes 39. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass 40. And they sate down in ranks by hundreds and by fifties 41. And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes he looked up to heaven and blessed and brake the loaves and gave them to his disciples to set before them and the two fishes divided he among them all 42. And they did all eat and were filled 43. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments and of the fishes 44. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men 38. c. N. 1. This Miracle had Witnesses enough 2. Though God do not now feed his Servants by Miracle he doth perform his Promise and provide for them nevertheless and is no less to be trusted 3. Even Miraculous Food is to be Sanctified by Heavenly benediction 45. And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida while he sent away the people 46. And when he had sent them away he departed into a mountain to pray 47. And when the even was come the ship was in the midst of the sea and he alone on the land 48. And he saw them toyling in rowing for the wind was contrary to them and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them walking upon the sea and would have passed by them 49. But when they saw him walking upon the sea they supposed it had been a spirit and cryed out 50. For they all saw him and were troubled and immediately he talked with them and said to them Be of good cheer it is I be not afraid 51. And he went up unto them into the ship and the wind ceased and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure and wondered 45. c. N. 1. If Christ must pray so much what need we 2. If Christ say it is I be not afraid it should quiet tumerous souls 3. Even the appearance of Christ himself in a strange way may amaze the faithful 52. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves for their heart was hardened 52. Had they duely considered the miracle of feeding no further miracle would have seemed so strange to them N. They that have not hearts hardened as the wicked may be hardened as to some particular thing 53. And when they had passed over they came into the land of Genesareth and drew to the shore 54. And when they were come out of the ship straightway they knew him 55. And ran through the whole region round about and began to carry about in beds those that were sick where they heard he was 56. And whithersoever he entered into villages or cities or country they laid the sick in the street and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment and as many as touched him were made whole 53. N. O that we were as earnest followers of Christ for Salvation as they were for their Bodies And that we could as boldly believe and trust him for our soulâ— as common experience of success caused them to do for their health CHAP. VII 1. THen came together unto him the Pharisees and certain of the scribes who came from Jerusalem 2. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled that is to say with unwashen hands they found fault 3. For the Pharisees and all the Jews except they wash their hands oft eat not holding the tradition of the elders 4. And when they come from the market except they wash they eat not many other things there be which they have received to hold as the washing of cups and pots and brazen vessels and tables If these hypocrites had not Ceremony and Tradition and Obedience to their Councils to make Religion of how could they quiet their Consciences in their wordly wicked lives And what pretence could they have had to persecute Christ and his Apostles had not disobedience to their masterships and councils and Traditions in Ceremony served their malignity for a pretense The Devil will be religious to destroy Religion 5. Then the Pharisees and â—cribes asked him Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders but eat bread with unwashed hands 5. Why observe you not the Cannons 6. He answered and said to them Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites as it is written This people honoureth me with their lips but their heart is far from me 7. How be it in vain do they worship me teaching for doctrines the traditions of men 6. c. Well doth I say describe you Hypocrites This people c. give me an outside ceremonious Worship but their hearts are void of true holiness Religion and spiritual worship But all their Hypocrital worship of â—â—e is in vain while they make doctrines and Laws of Religion of the injunctions of men and the traditions or cannons of their Councils or elders 8. For â—aying aside the commandment of God ye hold the tradition of men as the washing of pots and cups and many other such things ye do 8. God commands one to preach and obey his word and to live in love and shew mercy c. These you lay aside and hinder the preaching of his word and persecute his Servants and then you are zealous for your ceremoniea N. It is not washing fâ—r cleanliness but for Ceremony that Christ speaketh against 9. And he said to them Full well ye reject the commandment of God that ye may keep your own tradition 9. You think it very well done to set against Godliness and Gods own Laws or make nothing of them that you may keep your own presumptious Cannons or traditions N. By Full well is meant Full ill Christ sheweth us that all use of Ironies or derisions is not unlawful 10. For Moses said Honour thy father and thy mother and who so ourseth father or mother let him dye the death 10. Who so revileth 11. But ye say If a man shall say to his father or mother It is Corban that is to say a gift by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me he shall be free 11. If he say it is devoted to God N. God accepteth not any thing vowed to him for worship which he before bound us by his command to employ any other way 12. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or mother 13. Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition which ye have delivered and many such things ye do 13. N. They thought that their
here in thy countrey 23. As a Physician must first heal himself so do thou do thy Miracles here among thy Kindred and Neighbours 24. And he said Verily I say unto you No prophet is accepted in his own countrey 24. God can cause him to be accepted but as he worketh ordinarily by means familiarity breeds contempt 25. But I tell you of a truth many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias when the heaven was shut up three years and six months when great famine was thoroughout all the land 26. But unto none of them was Elias sent save unto Sarepta a city of Sidon unto a woman that was a widow 27. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elizeus the prophet and none of them was cleansed saving Naaman the Syrian 25 26 27. Prophets cure not all that are diseased You shall not see Miracles nor be saved for being my Neighbours if you be not Believers And familiarity and prejudice maketh fewer of you believe than of others 28. And all they in the synagogue when they heard these things were filled with wrath 29. And rose up and thrust him out of the city and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built that they might cast him down headlong 28 29. Note They that applauded his Preaching when the Application grated on them would have killed him even the Nazarite Neighbours that hated him not heretofore 30. But he passing thorow the mids of them went his way 31. And came down to Capernaum a city of Galilee and taught them on the sabbath-days 32. And they were astonished at his doctrine for his word was with power 30 31 32. By Miracle unhurt 33. And in the synagogue there was a man which had a spirit of an unclean devil and cried out with a loud voice 34. Saying Let us alone what have we to do with thee thou Jesus of Nazareth art thou come to destroy us I know thee who thou art the holy One of God 33 34. Christ's Power over Devils forced this confession 35. And Jesus rebuked him saying Hold thy peace and come out of him And when the devil had thrown him in the mids he came out of him and hurt him not 36. And they were all amazed and spake among themselves saying What a word is this for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits and they come out 37. And the same of him went out into every place of the countrey round about 35 36 37 Christ specially cured the diseases that the Devils caused to shew that he came to conquer Satan and save men from his power 38. And he arose out of the synagogue and entred into Simons house and Simons wives mother was taken with a great fever and they besought him for her 39. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever and it left her And immediately she arose and ministred unto them 38 39. Note We have still the same Physician 40. Now when the sun was setting all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him and he laid his hands on every one of them healed them 41. And devils also came out of many crying out and saying Thou art Christ the Son of God And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak for they knew that he was Christ 40 41. Experience made them believe that he could heal them 42. And when it was day he departed and went into a desert place and the people sought him and came unto him and stayed him that he should not depart from them 43. And he said unto them I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also for therefore am I sent 42 43. Note Preaching the Gospel was his great business to the belief of which his Miracles were but means subservient CHAP. V. 1. ANd it came to pass that as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God he stood by the lake of Genesareth 2. And saw two ships standing by the lake but the fishermen were gone out of them and were washing their nets 3. And he entred into one of the ships which was Simons and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land and he sat down and taught the people out of the ship 1 2 3. That he might not be crowded 4. Now when he had left speaking he said unto Simon Lanch out into the deep and let down your netts for a draught 5. And Simon answering said unto him Master we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net 6. And when they had this done they enclosed a great multitude of fishes and their net brake 7. And they beckoned unto their partners which were in the other ship that they should come and help them And they came and filled both the ships so that they began to sink 4 5 6 7. Note The Sea and Earth and all therein are at Christ's command 8. When Simon Peter saw it he fell down at Jesus knees saying Depart from mo for I am a sinful man O Lord. 9. For he was astonished and all that were with him at the draught of fishes which they had taken 10. And so was also James and John the sons of Zebedee which were partners with Simon And Jesus said unto Simon Fear not from henceforth thou shalt catch men 8 9 10. Note The miracle and danger made him afraid 11. And when they had brought their ships to land they forsook all and followed him 11. Note It was not only by his bare Command Follow me but by this Miracle that they were moved 12. And it came to pass when he was in a certain city behold a man full of leprosie who seeing Jesus fell on his face and besought him saying Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean 13. And he put forth his hand and touched him saying I will be thou clean And immediately the leprosie departed from him 14. And he charged him to tell no man but go and shew thy self to the priest and offer for thy clensing according as Moses commanded for a testimony unto them 12 13.14 Note A Miracle that the Priests themselves were to have notice of See Matth. 8. 15. But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him and great multitudes came together to hear and to be healed by him of their infirmities 16. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness and prayed 17. And it came to pass on a certain day as he was teaching that there were pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by which were come out of every town of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and the power of the Lord was present to heal them 18. And behold men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsie and they sought means to bring him in and to lay him before him 19. And when they could not find by what way they might
never heard his voice nor saw his appearance nor understand or belive his Word Else you would believe on me that am sent by him 39. Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they that testify of me 39. You own the authority of Moses and the Prophets and look to have eternal Life by keeping their word search their Writings and you will find that they testifie of me 40. And ye will not come to me that ye might have life 40. And though they tell you that it is in and by me that this Life must be attained ye will not believe in me and come to me that you may attain it 41 42. I receive not honour from Men But I know you that ye have not the love of God in you 41 42. It is not the applause of men that I seek for but your own Salvation But I know for all your boasting of being the peculiar people of God you are indeed no true lovers and obeyers of God 43. I am come in my Fathers Name and ye receive me not If another shall come in his own name him will ye receive 43. I come with testimony from Heaven of the mission and approbation of my Father and this prevaileth not against your prejudice to believe me But when a deceiver shall come with ostentation without any evidence from God and shall promise you a temporal Kingdom you will take him for the Messiah 44. How can ye believe who receive honour one of another and seek not the honour which cometh from God only 44. How can you receive the Messiah sent from God who do not seek and trust to Gods approbation and his way of saving you but must have a worldly Kingdom and be saved and advanced after the manner of worldly men and look for a Saviour suited to such ends 45. Do not think that I accuse you to my Father There is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom ye trust 46. For had ye believed Moses ye would have believed me for he wrote of me 47. But if ye believe not his writings how shall ye believe my words 45 46 47. I say not all this as if I come to be your accuser to my Father Even Moses in whom you trust will accuse you had you understood and believed the Prophesies and Types of Moses ye would have believed me For it is me that they all speak of and point you to But if you will not be convinced by his Writings whom you glory in no wonder if you reject my words CHAP. VI. 1. AFter these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee which is the Sea of Tiberias 2. And a great multitude followed him because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased 1 2. N. The first motives that draw men toward Christ are usually such as nature it self is somewhat capable to esteem and judge of such as Miracles are 3. And Jesus went up into a Mountain and there he sat with his Disciples 4. And the Passover a Feast of the Jews was nigh 5. When Jesus then lift up his eyes and saw a great company come unto him he saith to Philip whence shall we buy bread that these may eat 6. And this he said to prove him for he himself knew what he would do 3. c. N. Christs relief of Bodies was in love to Boâ—ies and Souls 2. Christs questions were to instruct the hearers and not himself 7. Philip answered him two hundred penny worth of bread is not sufficient for them that every one may take a little 7. N. Philips sense of the difficulty was a preparation to the value of the Miracle 8. One of the Disciples Andrew Simon Peters Brother saith to him 9. There is a Lad here which hath five Barley Loaves and two small Fishes but what are they among so many 8 9. N. It was not delicious fare but Barley Bread and two Fishes that Christ used a Miracle about 10. And Jesus said make the Men sit down Now there was much Grass in the place so the Men sat down in number about five thousand 11. And Jesus took the Loaves and when he had given thanks he distributed to the Disciples and the Disciples to them that were set down and likewise of the Fishes as much as they would 10 11. N. If Christ would not distribute Barley Bread and that Miraculously till he had given thanks not deterred by the suspicioâ—s of a Riot or Conventicle sure we should imitate him in our ordinary repast and eat and drink to the glory of God in a holy thankfulness for his liberallity When they were filled he said to his Disciples gather up the fragments that remain that nothing be lost 13. Therefore they gathered them together and filled twelve Baskets with the fragments of the five barly loaves which remained over and above to them that had eaten 12 13. N. To loose any of our useful food is a sin against God Where there is the greatest plenty no fragments should be lost while the poor do need it How much less should we lose Gods word or helps or our time or any such greater mercies 14. Then those men when they had seen the Miracle which Jesus did said This is of a Truth that Prophet which should come into the World 14 N. A Miracle done upon five thousand at once made a common Conviction of them that Christ was the Messiah or a great Prophet 15. When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force and make him a King he departed again into a Mountain himself alone 15. N. When they would have made a Captain and visible Monarch of him he shunned it and avoided them 16. And when Even was now come his Disciples went down unto the Sea 17. And entred into a Ship and went over the Sea towards Capernaum And it was now dark and Jesus was not come to them 18. And the Sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew 19. So when they had rowed about twenty five or thirty furlongs they see Jesus walking on the Sea and drawing nigh to the Ship and they were afraid 20. And he saith to them It is I be not afraid 16 c. N. This Miracle shewed Christ to be above nature 21. Then they willingly received him into the Ship and immediately the Ship was at the land whither they went 21. N. They might well be glad to receive him that could rule Sea and Land 22. The day following when the People which stood on the other side of the Sea saw that there was none other boat there save that one whereinto his Disciples were entred and that Jesus went not with his Disciples into the boat but that his Disciples were gone away alone 23. Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the Place where they did eat bread after that the Lord had given thanks 24. When the people therefore saw that Jesus
was the third part of men killed by the fire and by the smoke and by the brimstone which issued out of their mouths 18. Multitudes say some killed by the Romans and say most others the exceeding great numbers killed by the Mahometans Saracens and Tarks 19. For their power is in their mouth and in their tails for their tails were like unto serpents and had heads and with them they do hurt 19. They are both fierce and venemous and every way destructive Some expound mouth and tail of the front and the rear of their Armies 20. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands that they should not worship devils and idols of gold and silver and brass and stone and of wood which neither can see nor hear nor walk 21. Neither repented they of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their fornication nor of their thefts 20. 21. To take this for the Gnosticks and the Spiritual Idolatry of the Jews seems very unlikely The Mahometans say others made the destroying of Idols their chief profession and have not only rooted out image-worship from the Eastern Christians but turned since many great Kingdoms and Empires from Heathenism to Mahometanism But they repented not under those destructions CHAP. X. 1. ANd I saw another mighty Angel come down from Heaven clothed with a cloud and a rainbow was upon his head and his face was as it were the sun and his feet as pillars of fire 1. The circumstances describe the Glory of this Angel which some take for Christ and some for a proper Angel 2. And he had in his hand a little book open and he set his right foot upon the sea and his left foot on the earth 2. The plain sense is that he shewed the universality of his commissioned power sea and land comprehending the world below and that-the Book was the Decree of God committed to him to execute But the conjectured sense is manifold Some say it was Gods Decree to destroy Jerusalem and that Sea and Land was Galilee and Judea And others that it was Gods Decree to destroy the Roman heathen power and deliver his Servants And others that it was his Decree to destroy the Papacy and reform and deliver the Church And others that it was his Decree to destroy all oppressing powers and set up Christs thousand years reign in Righteousness And others that it was his Decree to end the World and come in judgment 3. And cried with a loud voice as when a lion roareth and when he had cried seven thunders uttered their voices 3. His terrible Aspect and Cry was to prepare for a progressive Increase of the Plagues signified by seven Thunders which are louder than Trumpets 4. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices I was about to write and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered and write them not 4. Say some Because the Plagues are so grievous that on Jerusalem say some on the Empire say others on the Papacy say others they shall be known by experience and not by words Therefore write them not at all say some or not yet say others 5. And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven 6. And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever who created heaven and the things that therein are and the earth and the things that therein are and the sea and the things that are therein that there should be time no longer 7. But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel when he shall begin to sound the mystery of God should be finished as he hath declared to his servants the prophets 5 6 7. He sware by God that there should be no longer delay that is say some of the Destruction of the Jews but till Adrian's time or as others of the Ruin of the Roman Empire or as others of the Churches Deliverance from Popery and Persecution or as others that there shall be no longer Duration of this World But that at the seventh Trumpet God's decreed Judgments shall be accomplished Or as Lira that the Arrian Heresie should no longer prosper 8. And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again and said Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth 9. And I went unto the angel and said unto him Give me the little book And he said unto me Take it and eat it up and it shall make thy belly bitter but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey 8 9. The Voice bid me take the Book c. And I asked the Angel for it who bid me eat it c. It shall be pleasant to thee to know what will be as News but bitter to know such heavy things or it will be sweet to thee to sore-know the Churches Deliverance but bitter to know the dreadful Judgments that effect it against the Jews say some the Roman Empire say others the Papal Church say others c. 10. And I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it up and it was in my mouth sweet as honey and as soon as I had eaten it my belly was bitter 10. The Mercy revealed in it was sweet but the dreadful Judgments of Bloodshed bitter 11. And he said unto me Thou must prophesie again before many peoples and nations and tongues and kings 11. Say some When Titus hath destroyed Jerusalem there is more for thee to prophesie of which many following Emperors and their Armies will do against them especially Adrian to finish their Destruction Or as others There are yet greater and more dreadful things to be told thee against many Nations and Kingdoms Or as others The Work of Prophesie or preaching the Gospel suppressed by the Pope and his Prelates shall be revived again and prosper before the end CHAP. XI 1. ANd there was given me a râ—ed like unto a rod and the angel stood saying Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and them that worship therein 1. Say some to measure the Temple and the Altar-places as reserved from Adrian's building an Idol-Temple which say they he did only in the Outer Court Say others Measure the Church which shall be reduced to a Conformity to the Word of God after all its Pollutions by Popery Or Measure it signifieth that the Church will be a small and measurable thing under the Papacy and even obscured but not forsaken of God 2. But the court which is without the temple leave out and measure it not for it is given unto the Gentiles and the holy city shall they tread under foot fourty and two months 2. Say some the outer Court and the City was rebuilt by Adrian called Aelia so the Gentiles to live in and a Temple
and the law prophesied until John And if ye will receive it this is Elias which was to come 15. He that hath ears to hear let him hear 13 14 15. The Law and Prophets till John indeed foretold the Messiah but not so determinately and nearly as John did And if you can receive it I tell you John is that Elias that Malachi foretold should go before to prepare the way to Christ The belief of this is of great moment to your faith 16. But whereto shall I liken this generation It is like to children sitting in the Market and calling to their fellows 17. We have piped to you and ye have not danced we have mourned to you and ye have not lamented 16 17. But the unbelievers of this generation do as children in their games complain of one another you will neither dance when we pipe nor lament when we mourn to you you are cross to us whatever game we play 18. For John came neither eating nor drinking and they say He hath a Devil 19. The Son of man came eating and drinking and they say Behold a man gluttonous and a wine bibber a friend of publicans and sinners But wisdom is justified of her children 18 19. John lived austerely on Locusts and wild-honey and they took him for a possessed mad-man And of me that exercise no such unusual austerity of diet but mere temperance they say I am a gluttonous man and a lover of wine No innocency will suffice to escape the false censures of Malignants But the sons of Wisdom will justifie it 20. Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done because they repented not 21. Wo to thee Chorazin Wo to thee Bethsaida for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sydon they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes 22. But I say to you It shall be more tollerable for Tyre and Sydon at the day of judgment than for you 20 21 22. Note 1. Christs own Preaching and Miracles had so little success as that he is put to upbraid the places where he had wrought them for their impenitence Therefore the best Preachers may be put to the like 2. The punishment of such as are unconverted under the most convincing Preaching will be most intollerable 3. Tho it be Gods grace which converteth Souls yet he usually so proportioneth it to the means he useth that the same means ordinarily would convert some which converts not others 23. And thou Capernaum which art exalted unto heaven shalt be brought down to hell For if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom it would have remained until this day 24. But I say to you that it shall be more tollerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for thee 23 24. Thou Capernaum where I have dwelt hast by my presence preaching and works been honoured with the heavenly gifts but for impenitence shalt be destroyed If Sodom had seen and heard what thou hast their repentance would have prevented their destruction But their doom at the day of Judgment shall be more tollerable than thine 25. At that time Jesus answered and said I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to babes 26. Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight 25 26. Then Jesus said to God his Father I thank thee O Father who being Lord of Heaven and Earth hast the absolute right to dispose of all that thou hast chosen the despised unlearned sort of men to make known effectually the Gospel of Salvation to rather than the men of reputation for learning and wisdom in the world and hast left proud self-conceited men in their ignorance whilst thou hast taught the humble and meek This pleaseth me as being the choice and good pleasure of thy wisdom 27. All things are delivered to me of my Father and no man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoeever the Son will reveal him 27. All things are delivered by the Father to me upon my right of Redemption in order to the ends of my saving office so that I am under the Diviâ—â— nature even in my humanity made the universa◠〈◊〉 Ruler and Benefactor And as none can comprehend the mystery of my Person Office and Works save the Father that sent me so none can savingly know God the Father but the Son and he to whom the â—â—n will make him known by the Gospel and the illumination of the Spirit 28. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest 29. Take my yoke on you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest to your souls 30. For my yoke is easie and my burthen is light 28 29 30. Come to me all ye that are under the slavery of Sin and Satan and under Gods displeasure by your guilt and under the burdensome ceremonious and cursing Law and the Pharisees tutorage and under the toil of a poor afflicted condition in the world and I will give you deliverance and rest Take on you the yoke of my Government and Covenant and learn of me as your Teacher by my Doctrine and Example for I am meek and lowly and my Doctrines are not suited to the Pomp and grandeur of this world nor to the interest and mind of the proud and covetous but to men of a low and humble quality and in this you shall find rest to your tired troubled fearful Souls For my Service and Law is gracious and â—asie fitted to the relief of the guilty and distressed and all that I lay on you by my word and works is sight in comparison of the heavy burdens that you undergo CHAP. XII 1. AT that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat Note Both the labour and the early eating seem here meant but specially the first 2. But when the Pharisees saw it they said to him Behold thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath day 2. Art thou a good Teacher who sufferest thy Disciples to break Gods law Note That the Pharisees controversie against Christ was that he was not religious and strict enough in keeping Gods Law so that pretended strictness is no proof that men are in the right 3. But he said to them Have ye not read what David did when he was hungred and they that were with him 4. How he entred into the house of God and did eat the shew-bread which was not lawful for him to eat nor for them that were with him but only for the priests 5. Or have ye not read in the law how that on the sabbath days
house 18. Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes 15.16.17.18 When ye see the desolating Heathen Army come to use their force and violence against the Sacred Place of the Jews answering that which Daniel saith of others then stay not but be gon and be glad if by Flight you can save your Lives but stay not to save your Goods or Cloathes 19. And wo unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days 19. And they that are made slow by impediments of children c. are like to lose their Lives 20. But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter neither on the sabbath day 20. It will increase the calamity of your Flight if it should fall out in the Winter when the Weather will delay you or on a Sabbath day when the Jews scruple Journeying or a Sabbath Year when the Land Untilled beareth not Fruit. 21. For there shall be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time no nor ever shall be 22. And except those days should be shortned there should no flesh be saved but for the Elects sake those days shall be shortned 21.22 N. This was most dreadfully fulfilled as Josephus who was then among them hath fully written 1100000 Killed and 97000 Captives 22. If these Slaughters by the Romans should continue long no Jews would be left alive But God will so far preserve the Believers that their Armies shall stay but a little while 23. Then if any man shall say to you Lo here is Christ or there believe it not 24. For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect 25. Behold I have told you before 23.24.25 In this Desolation it will add to their misery that False Christs and Prophets shall rise and promise to deliver them and lead them further into snares And they shall do such Signes and Wonders as if God did not preserve them would deceive the very chosâ—â— of God the true Believers But whatever same you hear of such believe it not I have fore-warned you 26. Wherefore if they shall say unto you Behold he is in the desert go not forth Behold he is in the secret chambers believe it not 26. Go not after any such Deceiver where ever they say he is though he promise deliverance 27. For as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west so shall the coming of the Son of man be 27. For as you must look for no other Saviour so my coming will not be such an appearance in Flesh but by Heavenly Light shining forth from the East unto the Westerne Parts of the World by my Word and Spirit turning men from Darkness to Light in preparation to my coming to Judgment in which I will suddenly appear from Heaven in Glory to all the World as Lightning doth in a moment in the Skies Note Some Expositors rather think it speaketh of his sudden Destroying Jerusalem 28. For wheresoever the carcase is there will the eagles be gathered together 28. And as for these forlorne Jews whose deserved Destruction is decreed of God they are as a carcase to the Eagles the Roman Messengers of Gods Wrath will find them out Note Others expound it where the Gospel is Preached thither will the People flock 29. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkned and the moon shall not give her light and the stars shall fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken 29 N. Some Expound this Metaphorically of the overthrow of all the Jewish State Power Policie Others of the Roman Wars and concussions Others properly of dreadful Prodigies that shall appear before Christs coming to Judgment Joel 2.31 and 3.15 30. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory 30. As some Then the Jews shall be convinced that their destruction was Christs Revenge for his Death and Rejection and all the Tribes of their Land shall Mourn as if they had seen Christ coming himself against them in the clouds with Power and Glory As others The sign of the Cross shall appear to Constantine in the Skie and all the Heathen Nations shall Mourn and be cast down and they shall see Christ setting up his Kingdom by imperial Armes with Power and Glory As others Then shall Christ suddenly appear from Heaven to Judge the World and come in the clouds with Power and Glory to the grief and terrour of all the Wicked Supposing that Christ passed from the Destruction of Jerusalem to speak of his last coming 31. And he shall send his angels with a â—reat sound of a trumpet and they shall gaâ—her together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other 31. As some He shall gather the Believers in all Judâ—a whom he saveth from this Destruction As others He shall send forth his Apostles with the Gospel as a Trumpet to call his chosen out of the World into his Church As others By Constantine and Christian Powers he shall through all the Empire set Christians in Honour and Power over the Heathens As others Literally He shall at his appearing and Judgment send his Angels and gather all his Elect to himself 32. Now learn a parable of the fig-tree When her branch is yet tender and putteth forth leaves ye know that summer is nigh 33. So likewise ye when ye shall see all these things know that it is near even at the doors 32.33 By the similitude of the Fig-tree I tell you that there must be time for these Changes but when ye see the beginning of these Signes Know that the accomplishment is not far off 34. Verily I say unto you This generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled 35. Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away 34.35 As some Some yet alive shall see all fulfilled that I have hitherto spoken that is Onely of the Destruction of Jerusalem As others That part that I have spoken of the Destruction of Jerusalem some alive shall see for it was but 38 years after As others some yet alive shall see the beginning of the performance of all that I have said and the rest will follow and a Thousand years with the Lord is but as one Day When Heaven and Earth passeth away you shall see that my Word is all Fulfilled They shall see the Catholick Church 36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man no not the angels of heaven but my Father onely 36. The day and hour of the Jews Destruction say some Of the End of the World say others none knows but God
Light is not to be hid nor God's Gifts and Man's Knowledge being given not only for themselves but for the good of all about them Note 1. Wo then to unjust silencers of God's faithful Ministers And 2. To idle treacherous unfaithful Pastors Note These passages are otherwise connected in Matthew 17. For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest neither any thing hid that shall not be known and come abroad 17. Note Oh then how vain is the hiding endeavour of the Hypocrite And how little should we trust to lies or to the secresie of our sins Note The connection of these sentences is not too much to be minded 18. Take heed therefore how ye hear for whosoever hath to him shall be given and whosoever hath not from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have 18. The thankful receiving of what is given you and the well using of what you have is the way to have more given you But the rejection or abuse of it forseiteth what you have Note When Luke collecteth several passages spoken on several occasions like Solomon's Proverbs to feign an Analysis and thence put the sense on them is to make the sense and not to expound it 19. Then came to him his mother and his brethren and could not come at him for the press 20. And it was told him by certain which said Thy mother and thy brethren stand without desiring to see thee 21. And he answered and said unto them My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God and do it 19 20 21. N. He knew that their acquaintance with his Parents Kindred and Education was the hinderance of their Faith and therefore he lets them know that he had a higher Original and Kindred and valued spiritual before carnal Relations 22. Now it came to pass on a certain day that he went into a ship with his disciples and he said unto them Let us go over unto the other side of the lake and they lanched forth 23. But as they sailed he fell asleep and there came down a storm of wind on the lake and they were filled with water and were in jeopardy 24. And they came to him and awoke him saying Master master we perish Then he rose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water and they ceased and there was a calm 22 23 24. Note 6. And cannot he with a word rebuke all popular and tyrannical rage against his Church 25. And he said unto them Where is your faith and they being afraid wondred saying one to another What manner of man is this for he commandeth even the winds and water and they obey him 25. Note And shall not we obey him 26. And they arrived at the countrey of the Gadarens which is over against Galilee 27. And when he went forth to land there met him out of the city a certain man which had devils long time and ware no cloths neither abode in any house but in the tombs 28. When he saw Jesus he cried out and fell down before him and with a loud voice said What have I to do with thee Jesus thou Son of God most high I beseech thee torment me not 29. For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man For oftentimes it had caught him and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters and he brake the bands and was driven of the devil into the wilderness 30. And Jesus asked him saying What is thy name And he said Legion because many Devils were entred into him 31. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep 26 27 28 29 30 31. See on Matth. 8. Mark 5.8 9. The bottomless Pit N. The Devils are not yet confined to Hell nor in their utmost misery 32. And there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them and he suffered them 33. Then went the Devils out of the man and entred into the swine and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake and were choked 34. When they that fed them saw what was done they fled and went and told it in the city and in the country 35. Then they went out to see what was done and came to Jesus and found the man out of whom the devils were departed sitting at the seet of Jesus clothed and in his right mind and they were afraid 36. They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed 32 33 34 35 36. Note 1. One man is of more worth than multitudes of Swine though swinish sinners vilifie themselves 2. What would not Devils do against us if God should permit them 37. Then the whole multitude of the countrey of the Gadarens round about besought him to depart from them for they were taken with great fear and he went up into the ship and returned back again 38. Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him but Jesus sent him away saying 39. Return to thine own house and shew how great things God hath done unto thee And he went his way and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him 37 38 39. Note All mens service of God is not in one way some may do most good at home and in a private state of life and some more publickly 40. And it came to pass that when Jesus was returned the people gladly received him for they were all waiting for him 41. And behold there came a man named Jairus and he was a ruler of the synagogue and he fell down at Jesus feet and besought him that he would come into his house 42. For he had one only daughter about twelve years of age and she lay a dying But as he went the people thronged him 40 41 42. Bodily Gifts are gladly received and earnestly sought 43. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years which had spent all her living upon Physicians neither could be healed of any 44. Came behind him and touched the border of his garment and immediately her issue of blood stanched 45. And Jesus said Who touched me When all denied Peter and they that were with him said Master the multitude throng thee and press thee and sayest thou Who touched me 46. And Jesus said Some body hath touched me for I perceive that vertue is gone out of me 43 44 45 46. Note Peter carpt at Christ's words because he knew not the reason of them 47. And when the woman saw that she was not hid she came trembling and falling down before him she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him and how she was healed immediately 47. She was afraid lest he would be angry with her for stealing a Cure without his consent 48.
long time 10. And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard but the husbandmen beat him and sent him away empty 11. And again he sent another servant and they beat him also and entreated him shamefully and sent him away empty 12. And again he sent the third and they wounded him also and cast him out 13. Then said the lord of the vineyard What shall I do I will send my beloved son it may be they will reverence him when they see him 14. But when the husbandmen saw him they reasoned among themselves saying This is the heir come let us kill him that the inheritance may be ours 15. So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them 16. He shall come and destroy these husbandmen and shall give the vineyard to others And when they heard it they said God forbid 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16. The Vineyard is the Land of Israel the Husbandmen are the Israelites the Owner is God the Messengers are the Prophets the Son is Christ c. See Matth. 21. 17. And he beheld them and said What is this then that is written The stone which the builders rejected the same is become the head of the corner 18. Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken but on whomsoever it shall fall it will grind him to powder 17 18. Whoever sins against Christ by unbelief will perish in his sin But they that strive against him by malignity and opposition will fall under his victorious Judgement which will make them the most miserable 19. And the chief priests and the Scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him and they feared the people for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them 19. Note That which is said against their sin enrageth the impenitent be it never so true and needful to their conviction 20. And they watched him and sent forth spies which would fain themselves just men that they might take hold of his words that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governour 20. Blood-thirsty Hypocrites would ensnare him to get some word for which they might accuse him to the Romans Governour as Treason against Caesar Note How like in all Ages are the nature and ways of wicked men Thus was Naboth used by Jezabel c. 21. And they asked him saying Master we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly neither acceptest thou the person of any but teachest the way of God truly 22. Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Cesar or no 23. But he perceived their craftiness and said unto them Why tempt ye me 24. Shew me a penny whose image and superscription hath it They answered and said Cesars 25. And he said unto them Render therefore unto Cesar the things which be Cesars and unto God the things which be Gods 26. And they could not take hold of his words before the people and they marvelled at his answer and held their peace 21 22 23 24 25 26. Note There is poison in the seeming kindness of cruel Hypocrites they flatter that they may hurt Note It is lawful to put off bloody ensnarers with doubtâ—â—l Answers 27. Then came to him certain of the Sadduces which deny that there is any resurrection and they asked him 28. Saying Master Moses wrote unto us If any mans brother die having a wife and he die without children that his brother should take his wife and raise up feed to his brother 29. There were therefore seven brethren and the first took a wife and died without children 30. And the second took her to wife and he died childless 31. And the third took her and in like manner the seven also And they left no children and died 32. Last of all the woman died also 33. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she for seven had her to wife 27 â—8 29 30 31 32 33. Carnal men from their own Errour do foolishly cavil against the Truth which they understand not 34. And Jesus answering said unto them The children of this world marry and are given in marriage 35. But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage 36. Neither can they die any more for they are equal unto the angels and are the children of God being the children of the Resurrection 34 35 36. Note Worthiness of that World is such a qualification as is required in God's Promise Note The Blessed shall be like the Angels and with them and be immortal Note By the Resurrection here is meant the next Life even to separated Souls and not only the Resurrection of the Body O why do we not long for such a change 37. Now that the dead are raised even Moses shewed at the bush when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob 38. For he is not a God of the dead but of the living for all live unto him 37 38. See Matth. 22. He is the Lord and Owner of the Dead and Living But to be Their God signifieth more even to be their Governour and Protector and their End and Portion and their All. 39. Then certain of the Scribes answering said Master thou hast well said 40. And after that they durst not ask him any question at all 39 40. Tâ—â—y were out of hope of entrapping him by their Quesâ—â—â—ns 41. And he said unto them How say they that Christ is Davids Son 42. And David himself saith in the book of psalms The LORD said unto my Lord Sit thou on my right hand 43. Till I make thine enemies thy footstool 44. David therefore calleth him Lord how is he then his Son 41 42 43 44. See Matth. 22. 45. Then in the audience of all the people he said to his disciples 46. Beware of the Scribes who desire to walk in long robes and love greetings in the markets and the highest seats in the synagogues and the chief rooms at feasts 47. Who devour widows houses and for a shew make long prayers The same shall receive greater damnation 45 46 47. Note The Character of formal Hypocrites â—â— to be worldly cruel unjust proud â—nd to be devout in a ceremonious Religion and â—â—p labour to quiet their Conscience and keep their reputation N. Tho' no doubt but some Hypocrites can use long prayers extempore it is most likely that the Scribes and Pharisees was a Form or Liturgy CHAP. XXI 1. ANd he looked up and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury 2. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites 3. And he said of a truth I say unto you that this poor widow hath cast in more then they all 4. For all these have of their abundance
more meet to be a Compassionate Helper the Example the Teacher and the Trust of them that must follow him through temptations and by his Merit and Victory hath obtained power to deliver them CHAP. III. WHerefore holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling consider the apostle and high priest of our profession Christ Jesus 2. Who was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his house 1. Wherefore you who are holy Brethren by Faith and Dedication given up to Christ and in him made partakers of that Calling from Heaven which maketh you Heirs of Heaven study and consider Jesus Christ the great Apostle sent of God to be the prime Preacher of the Gospel and the High Priest and chief Guide and Mediator to Godward of our Religion and Profession who faithfully did all that belonged to his undertaken Office in sacrificing himself for our sins and fulfilling all Righteousness and conquering Satan and Death and ascending to intercede for us in Glory and sending down the Holy Ghost and making and sealing the Law of Faith even as Moses in his time was faithful though with disparity of Honour and Work Christ in his own House by a more perfect Administration and Moses but as a Steward 3. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses in as much as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house 3. For Christ is as much more honourable than Moses as the Maker and Master is than the House for Moses was but a Member of the Family but Christ the Maker and Master of it 4. For every house is builded by some man but he that built all things is God 4. All Families or Houses are founded by some man but he that built the Church is the same that built or made all things and that is God 5. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after 6. But Christ as a son over his own house 5 6. And Moses as a Servant was faithful for the Delivery and Confirmation of so much of God's Word as was to be spoken to the Jews by him but Christ as the Son and Heir and Master of the House as his own 6. Whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end 6. This House is the Church of which we are parts so be it we hold fast the confident Profession of our faith and the joy and glorying in our hopes of the promised Blessedness firm to the end 7. Wherefore as the holy Ghost saith To day if ye will hear his voice 8. Harden not your hearts as in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness 9. When your fathers tempted me proved me and saw my works forty years 10. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation and said They do always err in their hearts and they have not known my ways 11. So I sware in my wrath They shall not enter into my rest 7 8 9 10 11. But seeing he will take none to dwell with him in Glory but those that persevere hear and consider what the Holy Ghost said to and of the Israelites To day c. Neglect not his present Call and your present Day to the hardening of your hearts as your Fathers did in the Wilderness by which God's Justice was engaged against them as a People whose hearts were habituated to evil and have not the obedient knowledge of his Ways and Works and Will So that he sware in his just displeasure that that Generation should not enter into the promised Land 12. Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God 12. Take warning by these Israelites and see that there be not in any of you an evil unsound heart that is prepared by secret Unbelief to depart in Tryal from the Living God 13. But exhort one another daily while it is called To day lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin 13. To this end one means appointed by God for your perseverance is speedily and daily to exhort and stir up one another the Pastors in the Church and Assemblies and all in their Places and Converse And the rather because Sin of which you are in danger is a deceitful thing and they that revolt are made believe that it is but a receiving of the Truth or a necessary Self-saving and no forsaking of Christ or Truth or Godliness N. Qu. But what if Rulers forbid us to meet daily for such Exhortation Answ God commandeth you to do it in the manner and time that the End requireth and no man can dispense with his Law The Christians for three hundred years assembled when forbidden Qu. But what if Christian Rulers forbid it Ans Christians have more Obligation than Heathens to do good but no more Authority to do evil or null God's Laws Qu. But what if Violence or Prisons restrain us Ans God requireth not Impossibilities 14. For we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end 14. We are iâ—itially made partakers of Christ as our Saviour but if we will attain Salvation by him we must hold the subsisting faith or the confidence in which we have begun or which is our Principle firm to the end For Perseverance is made a Condition of the Promise of Salvation 15. Whilst it is said To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts as in the provocation 16. For some when they had heard did provoke howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses 15 16. The words tell us that some that heard after Deliverance from Egypt provoked God but it was not all 17. But with whom was he grieved forty years was it not with them that had sinned whose carcases fell in the wilderness 17. With whom was God so displeased as Grief here signifieth Nothing displeaseth him but sin It was with backsliding disobedient unthankful murmurers that would not rest in the Will and Word and Providence of God but must have their own carnal will fulfilled and so God in Justice killed them in the Wilderness after so many Miracles had led them many years towards the promised Land Take heed lest you follow them in the like sin to greater punishment for abusing greater mercies 18 19. And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest but to them that believed not So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief 18 19. It was the sinning Unbelievers that he sware should not enter and it was because of their Unbelief that they could not enter Take heed therefore lest ye fall by Unbelief in Tryal for there is more required to our compleat Salvation than to our first part in Christ CHAP. IV. 1. LEt us therefore fear lest a
see death and was not found because God had translated him for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God 5. It was by trusting God for a better unseen life that Enoch was made fit for and obtained to be translated by God without dying and so was no more seen on Earth For before it is recorded of him that he pleased God who thus rewarded him Note 1. That though Enoch died not by any corruption of his body no doubt but it had such change at its entrance into Heaven as the bodies of the living Saints shall have at Christ's Second Coming which proveth a transmutation of Elements by Scripture Testimony and as Christ's own body had which made it suitable to the heavenly Region For flesh and blood cannot enter into the Kingdom of God It is made a spiritual incorruptible body as ours shall be 2. It is like that this intimateth how God would have used Man if he had not by sin contracted the guilt of threatned death 3. But it 's certain that it is recorded to tell us whither it is that Faith and Holiness do tend and that there is a better life 6. But without faith it is impossible to please him for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him 6. Those that please God must needs be happy for that is Happiness it self But it is impossible to have a heart or life that pleaseth God without a Trusting-belief of these two Articles 1. That God is the very and only God infinite in all perfection 2. And that he is as our Ruler and Benefactor the full Rewarder of all them that with sincere diligence seek to please him in the obedience of his Governing Will or his Law revealed to them Note He that thinks there is no God can neither love trust or obey him And he that thinks he is impotent ignorant or bad or any way imperfect thinks that he is not God giveth him but the name of God while he denyeth and blasphemeth him and he that thinketh that he is not Man's Ruler morally by Law but only physically by Motion like lifeless Engines will never obey his Laws and therefore will live after his lusts and be far worsâ— than saya e Brutes as abusing a nobler Nature And he that thinks that God will let men be losers by their most costly and diligent obedience takes him to be none of our Governour or to be unjust and so not to be God indeed Nay if he believe not that his Holiness and Goodness will â—e pleased with and abundantly reward such sincere diligence And he that believeth not a life of great Reward after this cannot well believe that God is such a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him seeing what they suffer here Qu. But are these two Articles enough to Salvation Ans He that sincerely and trustingly believeth and practiseth these shall not perish but what more is necessary God will make known to him For of a truth whoever deny it God is no respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him And if a Soul that truly loveth God and is accepted of him should be in Hell Heaven it self should be in Hell 7. By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with fear prepared an ark to the saving of his house by the which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith Note 1. God's Revelation was Noah's warning 2. The Flood neither seen nor likely in it self was the thing revealed and believed with the way to scape 3. True Belief will be effectual in an obedient use of God's appointed means of Salvation 4. The belief of God's Threatnings is a part of Saving Faith 5. Faithful Obedience to God condemneth the unbelieving rebellious World 6. All these acts of Faith go to make us Heirs of the Righteousness of Faith that is to be saved as those that God accounteth acceptably righteous 7. To be moved with the promised Glory and threatned Misery that is unseen is the Life of Faith 8. By faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance obeyed and he went out not knowing whither he went 8. Why did Abraham go when God called him into an unknown Land but that he practically trusted and believed God that he would give it his Seed for an Inheritance 9. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange countrey dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same promise 10. For he looked for a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God 9 10 And why did he and Isaac and Jacob sojourn there in Tents as strangers but because he believed that God would give his Posterity Cities there such as Jerusalem strong and walled instead of Tents and would give him in the Mean time a place in the heavenly Jerusalem for his Faith and Obedience to God 11. Through faith also Sarah her self received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a Child when she was past age because she judged him faithful who had promised 11. And Sarah past age brought forth Isaac because she trusted God's Promise against natural probability 12. Therefore sprang there even of one and him as good as dead so many as the stars of the sky in multitude and as the sand which is by the Sea-shore innumerable 12. Thus the numerous Seed of Israel sprang from one dead to generating by believing God 13. These all died in faith not having received the promises but having seen them afar off and were perswaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the Earth 13. Both Abraham and his posterity long lived as strangers before the promised Land was given to their Successors which they received not themselves And Abraham who foresaw Christ's day and rejoyced and his believing Seed died in that Faith which saw him afar off and the heaven Glory promised by him and yet lived not to see the promised Messiah but confessed that they were Pilgrims on Earth though they believed and embraced the Promises 14. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a Countrey 14. And as their taking themselves for strangers in Canaan shewed that they were not yet at home and were but seekers of a Countrey promised so those that were true Believers confessing that they were but strangers and Pilgrims on Earth declare that it was a better place than Earth that they sought and hoped for 15. And truly if they had been mindful of that countrey from whence they came out they might have had opportunity to have returned 15. And it was not Chaldea whence they came which they sought for they might have returned to that 16. But now
they desire a better countrey that is an heavenly wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a city 16. But it was a better Countrey which they desired and though the carnal Seed look't but to Canaan the true Believers took Jerusalem but as a Type of the Jerusalem above and chiefly desired a heavenly Countrey and it was specially in relation to Heaven that God condescended to be called The God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and the God of Israel for it 's there that he will gloriously own and govern them Note 1. The force of Christ's Argument against the Sadduces from God's relation to Abraham c. is here expounded 2. They err that think Believers of old expected not a heavenly felicity Though Moses's Law as it was political to be the Rule of Magistrates Judgment reached not so high yet as subordinate to the Promise or Covenant of Grace it did 17. By faith Abraham when he was tried offered up Isaac and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son 18. Of whom it was said That in Isaac shall thy seed be called 17 18. It was by believing and trusting the Promise of God concerning his Seed in Isaac that Abraham when God thereby tryed him offered up even that Son to death to whom the Promise of Multiplication was made and the Nations to be blest in his Seed 19. Accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the Dead from whence also he received him in a figure 19. For he believed that God's Promise must be fulfilled and could not be broken for want of Power no more than for want of Wisdom or Goodness and that he would rather raise him from the dead than break his word And indeed he received him again as it had been from the dead in which he prefigured Christ's Resurrection and ours Note The great difficulty of Abraham's case was how he was bound to take that to be God's Voice which bid him murder the Innocent and so break God's Law of Nature Must not we try the Spirits by the standing Law of God in Nature Ans 1. God is the absolute Lord of all Lives and can do no man wrong And Abraham knew that he could make both Isaac and himself amends yea that he could and would presently raise him to life again 2. And by full evidence and experimental proof he knew that it was God that spake to him But we are supposed to have more cause of doubting where we must try the Spirits We must believe no pretended Revelation against certain foreknown Truth nor yet disbelieve God upon a proud pretence that we know that to be Truth which indeed we know not 20. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come 20. It was by believing God's Promise of things to come yet unseen that Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau foretelling what God would do with them 21. By faith Jacob when he was a dying blessed both the Sons of Joseph and worshipped leaning upon the top of his staff 21. It was by believing unseen future things that Jacob when he could scarce sit up and was ready to die foretold what God would do with the posterity of Joseph's Sons Note Qu. When Isaac and Jacob both ignorantly preferred the younger before the elder how could that be said to be done by Faith which they understood not Ans. 1. They believed the promised Blessing to both 2. And they believed the inward Inspiration of God which told them This person on whom thou layest thy hands shall have this particular Blessing though they knew not which of them it was by name It was to a determinate individual 22. By faith Joseph when he died made mention of the departing of the children of Israel and gave commandment concerning his bones 22. How could Joseph foretel the Israelites going out of Egypt and give them order to carry his bones with them but by believing unseen future things on the credit of God's Testimony by inward prophetical Inspiration which was his Word to him 23. By faith Moses when he was born was hid three months of his parents because they saw he was a proper child and they were not afraid of the Kings commandment 23. It was by believing some intimation from God partly inward and partly in his personal appearance what Moses should prove as to unseen future things which encouraged his Parents to hide him notwithstanding the murderous commandment of the King 24. By faith Moses when he was come to years refused to be called the Son of Pharaohs daughter 25. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season 26. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward 24 25 26. It was by trusting God's Intimations oâ— unseen future things that Moses being grown up refused the wealth and honour of an Adopted Son of Pharaoh's Daughter preferring affliction among the People of God before the short enjoyment of sinful pleasures yea esteeming such reproach as we Christians now undergo for Christ and as the Believers of the future Kingdom of Christ then suffered to be not only tolerable but greater riches than all the Treasures of Egypt because he had a believing respect to the recompence of Reward to which such sufferings did conduce 27. By faith he forsook Egypt not fearing the wrath of the king for he endured as seeing him who is invisible 27. Why left he Egypt to go into a Foreign Land and Wilderness and after fearlesly faced a wrathful King when he spake from God but because as his Eyes saw the flaming tokens of the presence of God so his Faith was instead of a sight of him that is invisible He believed in an unseen God for unseen future things 28. Through faith he kept the passeover and the sprinkling of blood lest he that destroyed the first-born should touch them 28. Why kept he the Passover and sprinkled the door-posts with blood but because he believed God for unseen future things even that the destroying Angel should spare such houses 29. By faith they passed through the red sea as by dry land which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned 28. How durst they have ventured into and through the Red Sea but that they believed God that he would there deliver them by that Miracle when the Egyptians were drowned who went not in by Faith but by Presumption Note It is a great Controversie among Expositors whether the Israelites passed quite through the Sea to the other side or rather went in and came out as in a semicircular course on the same side because their Journeys are after said to be on the same side where they entred and so they think it was but to draw in the Egyptians 30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were compassed about seven
greater blessing than meer death 14. And I looked and behold a white cloud and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man having on his head a golden crown and in his hand a shaâ—p sickle 15. And another angel came out of the temple crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud Thrust in thy sickle reap for the time is come for thee to reap for the harvest of the earth is ripe 16. And he that sat on the cloud thurst in his sickle on the earth and the earth was reaped 14 15 16. Some understand this of an Angel in the likeness of a man but most of Christ or an Angel like Christ The other Angel seemeth to signify but another part of the Vision and execution Reaping the harvest is punishing sinners ripe for destruction 17. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven he also having a sharp sickle 18. And another angel came out from the altar which had power over fire and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle saying Thrust in thy sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth for her grapes are fully ripe 19. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth and cast it into the great wine-press of the wrath of God 20. And the winepress was trodden without the city and blood came out of the winepress even unto the horsre-bridles by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs 17 18 19 20. Of the difference between the Harvest and the Vintage and the two Angels and their executions opinions are various Some make it to be two degrees of oâ—â— plague some to be two some say conjunct some say dâ—stant Some say one is the destruction of the Turkish Empire and the other the Vintage of the Roman Papacy before Christ's coming Some say the first is the compleating of the Elect as converted and the latter the destroying of Antichrist Some say it fosaketh of the last Judgement some of the Fall only of Hearthen Rome and some of other Eâ—ecutions It is clear that it speaketh of divers degrees of â—â—ecution of God's Judgments on the Idolaters signified as by divers Angel appearance words and deeds But whether it meant any beside the Roman Heathen Idolatry and their consenting Countries sufferings and whether the sixteen hundred Furlongs signifie any more than diffused Plagues and whether it was meant of Trajan's Executions in Syria c. as Grotius thought or of the Country about Rome or any determinate space and where and which of the six or seven senses of power over Fire is right besides a meer destroying power are all things which I cannot determine Mr. Brightman hath found England to be the thousand six hundred Furlongs and Cranmer to be the Angel that had power over Fire because he held his right hand to be burnt and Thomas Cromwell to be the Executing Angel And some that can make themselves believe that so small a spot of ground as England is it that this Tragedy is acted on have thought that they found here the killing of the two Witnesses Magistracy and Ministry and the two Beasts and the number of their Names in the Letters here mentioned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 st and the wounding and the healing and the mark of the Beast PER as referring to Ch. Church and St. State and in a word that almost half the Revelation spake of England But unless they can prove that the two Beasts have their Off-spring who bear their Fathers Image and are dispersed as Cains off-spring was so that the same thing is acted over by them in several lands and ages which was acted by the first I shall rather than this confine the exposition to that empire and state that the Church suffered under when John wrote CHAP. XV. 1. ANd I saw another sign in heaven great and marvellous seven angels having the seven last plagues for in them is filled up the wrath of God 1. Seven plagues which are all to be poured out on the Idolatrous persecuting Empire as it were by seven Angels 2. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire and them that had gotten the victory over the beast and over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name stand on the sea of glass having the harps of God 2. I saw a sea like that in the Temple signifying purity and the multitude of worshippers mingled with fire signifying the Altar Sacrifices and their zeal and Gods acceptance and them that by patient suffering had overcome by keeping themselves undefiled from owning the Roman Idolatry by owning the Idol or his Image or Mark or the numeral Letters of his name And they stood on this sea having the harps on which they sang the praises of God as was used in the Temple 3. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb saying Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy ways thou king of saints 3. And they being many of them the first Christian Jews sang Moses's song after the drowning of Pharaoh the case being like their deliverance from the Roman Tyrants and the song of Christ suited to the joyful Praises of God for the work of mans Redemption and Salvation saying Great c. Thou gloryfiest thy Power in conquering the greatest proudest enemies and delivering thy Servants from the great dangers even by miracles of providence And thy Justice and truth O most Holy Lover and King of Saints are magnified in thy avenging them on their cruel enemies 4. Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name for thou only art holy for all nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgments are made manifest 4. This demonstration of thy Greatness Holiness and Justice shall move the nations to fear and Glorifie thee as the only most Holy God and to fear and worship thee because of thy Judgments 5. And after that I looked and behold the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened 6. And the seven angels came out of the temple having the seven plagues clothed in pure and white linnen and having their breasts girded with golden girdles 5 6. The Holy place and Gods Decree seemed to be opened And seven pure and Glorious Angels honourably girded to execute Gods will came forth with the seven last plagues that are to finish the destruction of the Idolatrous potent persecuting Roman Empire 7. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God who liveth for ever and ever 7. Those that undertake to tell whom these Angels and this Living Wight signified on Earth go further than I can who know no more but that the seven