than that we seeing the necessity of the duty of sanctifying our selves and not finding power in any other to sanctifie us besides God we should apply our selves to God as the fountain of our sanctification 168. Lev. 13.46 The Leper and unclean lived alone without the Camp Mat. 8.2 In the City a Leper craved of Jesus The divine Law was that the Leper set apart should dwell alone but this Leper comes boldly to Christ not doubting to be free from his leprosie 169. Lev. 16.3 The sacrifices were appointed by Gods commandement Psalm 40.7 Sacrifices and burnt-offerings thou wouldst not The sacrifices were appointed by God under the Old Testament that they might shadow forth the sacrifice of Christ and foreshew his coming but God would none of them as the Jews abused them for ostentation and placed the worship of God in the outward ceremony without the internall devotion 170. Lev. 16.6 Aaron shall offer his bullock and make an attonement for himself Heb. 10.4 It is impossible that the blood of Goats should take away sins The legall sacrifices did not expiate sinnes of themselves but as they were a figure of Chrst his own oblation surpasseth them all and is propitiatory for our sins * 171. Lev. 17.3 with 1 Sam. 7.9 1 Kings 18.33 The cause ceasing the effect ceaseth or the prohibition ceaseth The causes of these prohibitions were two First That no Lay-man should not arrogate the office of sacrificeing Secondly That the Jews should not fall into the Gentiles mode of sacrificing in the high places 172. Lev. 18.6 None of you shall approach to any that is neer of kin to him Verse 16. Thou shalt not uncover the nakednesse of thy brothers wife Deut. 25.5 The brother shall take his brothers wife The law of the nearness of blood and not uncovering the brothers nakednesse is perpetuall and must be holily observed by us but that of raising seed to the brother was partly ceremoniall figuring the primogeniture of Christ partly judiciall lest the inheritance should depart to another family which doth not oblige us but is abrogated The former was a generall rule and was to have no exception but such as God himself who made that rule did give which he did Deut. 25 5. * 173. Lev. 19.18 Thou shalt not avenge nor bear any grudg c. Numb 31.2 Go and revenge Midian Private revenge of personall injuries is one thing to be the instrument of Gods vengeance is another We must not revenge our selves as private persons But where God is wronged in his peoples wrong there we being lawfully called to it having the Word of God for our rule we may execute his wrath upon these wicked ones 174. Lev. 19.18 Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self 1 John 2.15 If any man love the world the love of the father is not in him In the former pâ—ace he understands the love that is due to our neighbour according to Law In the latter concerning unlawfull love of worldly things as those that prefer the things of this world as honours riches and pâ—easuâ—es before God himself * 175. Lev. 19.27 Ye shall not round the corners of your head 1 Cor. 11.14 Doth not nature it self teach you that if a man weare long hair c. The word round signifies such a rounding as may be without cutting The word corners is in the original in the singular number and so may not some singular cutting of one corner of the head round in the manner of a circle as the Aegyptian Priests or else in manner of an half Moon or taking the singular number for the plurall so it may be meant of crisping or curling round the hair in some corners of the head or cutting off the longest of the hair to offer tufts or locks as a devoted oblation to Idols as many Heathens did makeing the bare place round with a superstitious conceit of a round figure as most pleasing to God Or of cutting the hair as the Aegyptian Priests did who worshipped the Idols Anubis and Isis shaving round their heads and their eye-brows or of cutting round the hair in mourning The second place speaks of wearing long hair as Women do or very long hair longer than is modest 176. Lev. 22.25 From a strangers hand you shall not offer the bread of your God 1 Kings 5.10 Hiram gave to Solomon cedar-trees and fir-trees All strangers were not abominable in the sight of God but onely the enemies and persecutors of his Church so Cyrus King of the Persians promoted the building of the second Temple and restored to the Jews the golden and silver vessels 177. Lev. 24.19 As he hath done so it shall be done to him Rom. 12.19 You shall not revenge your selves In the former place private persons are forbidden to avenge themselves but the Magistrate is admonished of his office In the latter onely private revenge is forbidden Exod. 22.29 Deut. 1.18 178. Lev. 27.30 And all the tithe of the Land whether of the seed of the Land or of the fruit of the tree is the Lords Numb 18.21 I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel for an inheritance for the service which they serve me The tenths are called Gods because they were commanded by him for a holy use and good of the Church they were given to the sonnes of Levi or to the Ministers of the Church for their service for an inheritance to support them because they being consecrated to Gods service had no inheritance amongst their brethren NUMBERS THIS Book is so called from the numbring of the people of God Wherein Mansions and Offices were ordained for all the Tribes between the Mount of Sinai and the promised Land many transgressions and dangers of the people and punishments and benefits of God are numbred The History contains 28 years 179. NUmb 1.19 Moses numbred the people in the wildernesse of Sinai 2 Sam. 24. David offended God by numbring the people Moses and Aaron did that for good order as God commanded them but David sinned out of arrogancy by numbring the people without command 180. Numb 4.3 The Levites stood from 30 years old to 50 years old to minister in the Tabernacle of the Covenant 1 Chron. 23.3 24. The Levites did the work of the Ministry for the house of the Lord from 20 years old Numb 8.23 from 25 years The younger Levites were newly instructed to 20 years then they were admitted to the office of doing service at 25 years from that time a kind of secondary service was committed to them till they came to be 30 years old from 30 to 50 years they did fully execute the Leviticall office 181. Numb 7.89 Moses entred into the Tabernacle of the Covenant Exod. 40.35 Moses could not enter into the Tabernacle of the Congregation for a cloud abode thereon and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle First when the cloud covered the Tabernacle of the testimony and the glory of God filled that Moses could not
hear and grant though not just in the same mode and time another thing to hear and presently give a supply in the same manner and method 1051. Joh. 11.50 Caiphas a wicked man prophesied by the instinct of the Spirit Rom. 8.14 As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God The gifts of Gods Spirit are of Sanctification and Salvation and those are proper to the elect children of God or gifts of administration which are common to good and bad men amongst which is the gift of Prophesie * Joh. 11.50 That one man should dye c. Rom. 8.14 The gifts of God are one thing the graces of God are another Caiphas though a wicked man might have this gift given or by a thorough consideration of the Scriptures might know that one man was to dye and yet this hinders not but that only the Sons of God should have the graces of the Spirit * 1052. Joh. 12.25 He that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto eternal life 1 Joh. He that loveth wickedness hateth his own soul Hatred is not here taken properly for so man never yet hated his own flesh but hating is taken for less loving i. e. He that less loveth his life than trouble for the Gospel while he lives here shall keep his soul to eternal life though he may suffer the loss of his external life Hatred in the second place is taken for the effects of hatred He that loveth wickedness effecteth that to his soul which a man that hateth him would do that is he punisheth his own soul 1053. Joh. 12.27 Father save me from this hour Phil. 2.8 He became obedient unto death Christ feeling the sins of the world lying upon him feared death as he was man and desired rather to live than dye if that might have been granted without detriment to Gods glory and our salvation but because it was not possible that that Cup should pass from him he submitted himself to his Fathers will and said Therefore came I unto this hour 1054. Joh. 12.30 Now shall the Prime of this world be cast out Eph. 6.12 We have yet war with the Prince of this world That casting out was out of the hearts of the faithful whom though the devil do tempt and oppose many waies yet he cannot vanquish them but is cast out Also Christ respects the casting out of the devil whilst both Jews and Gentiles amongst whom the devil reigned were called to the grace of Christ by his coming * Joh. 12.30 with Eph. 6.12 Satan is cast out while the darkness of Ceremonies neglecting the Substance and the Idolatry that was amongst Jews and Gentiles was cast out and Christ by the preaching of the Gospel was exalted 2. Satan is cast out of the hearts of Gods people when he hath not his Regal and full sway in the heart but by the power of Gods grace he is mastered though satan as a tyrant even in them may strive and make onsets against the grace of God so that he being cast out as to his reigning yet not as to his tempting and striving warring against the hearts of Gods children which the latter place speaks of * 1055. Joh. 12.50 And I know that his Commandment is life 2 Cor. 3.7 The Law is the ministration of death The Commandment of God is that which either may be accounted Legal or Evangelical The former place intends Evangelical Commands i. e. such commands as were given by Christ or concerning Christ The latter is meant of Legal Commands without reference to Christ or else without the ministration of the Spirit * 1056. Joh. 13.1 Loving his own in the world he loved them to the end Hos 1.9 For you are not my people and I will not be your God Hos 9.17 My God will cast them away c. Gods People are his own first in a general or National way so are they which make an external profession of the Lord and are in outward covenant with him as the Jews these may have the external signs and impresses of Gods love and these turning away from the Lord the Lord will turn from them Secondly Gods own Elect or chosen forth of others which he once setting his love upon he loves to the end The former place is meant of his Elect. 1057. Joh. 13.27 After the sop satan entred into him Ver. 2. And supper being ended the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot The first place is of total possession when after so many admonitions from Christ and so many humane favours received Judas yet continued in his purpose of betraying Christ he is delivered to satan to be ruled so that he could think on nothing that was sound and good * 1058. Joh 13.27 Do quickly God commands no sin These are not the words of exhortation or command but spoken Ironically as if he should say Well take thy course and do what thou wilt make haste man * 1059. Joh. 13.29 Judas had the bag Mat. 10.9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor brass in your purse The latter place speaks of Christs Command upon a peculiar and particular occasion not upon the account of all times and that temporary command expired with that expedition But Christ having a purse-bearer constantly as Judas was shews that it is lawful to have and use money for our necessaries 1060. Joh. 13.34 A new Commandment I give unto you that you love one the other Mat. 22.27 This was the greatest Commandment in the Old Testament to love God and our Neighbour It is called a new Commandment not by reason of the substance but because Christ renewed it and the singular affection of love which Christ requires in his followers As he loved them and gave himself for them so he would that they should love one the other with singular affection * Joh. 13.34 with Mat. 22.37 It was an old command as to the substance of the command but a new command as to the circumstances Christ commanding it in a new manner it is not now Love your Neighbour as your self but As I have loved you The Gospel or Testament whereof this is a part is new the Spirit works it in out new hearts 1061. Ioh. 14.3 I go to prepare a place Mat. 25.34 Inherit the Kingdom prepared from the beginning of the world The place was predestinated from the beginning of the world but now by Christ it was particularly designed and fitted by the Ascension of Christ actually for the Godly 1062. Ioh. 14.4 Whither I go ye know and the way ye know Ver. 5. We know not They did know inchoatively and imperfectly but because they know not that they did know the cause was their rudeness and forgetfulness of Christs words * Joh. 14.4 wi h 5. The Disciples knew that Christ was to go to heaven but they were not so thoroughly instructed what heaven was or that he would go then thither Possibly they might imagine him to speak of
going to some other place and so say We knew not and yet Christ might justly say You know you know if you will consider what you know and apply it to this present purpose 1063. Joh. 14.8 Shew us the Father Ver. 9. He that seeth mâ— seeth the Father The Apostles did not perfectly know Christ therefore he taxed them of ignorance for they ought to have seen and known the Father in him * 1064. Joh. 14.10 I am in the Father and the Father in me Psal 22. Why hast thou forsaken me I am in the Father by an essential union the Father in Christ as God being one and so in the first place In the second Christ was forsaken not in respect of Essential Union nor in respect of the personal Union the Godhead with the Humane Nature in the Mediator that which the Person of the Son took once upon him he never laid down But he was forsaken in respect of the sense of Divine aide in the time of his passion in his Humane Nature 1065. Joh. 14.12 He that believeth on me the works that I do shall he do also and greater Chap. 3.2 No man can do these Miracles that thou dost 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 than they were wrought by the Apostles whose shadows cured sick men as they passed by after Christs Ascention and the wonderful conversion of the Gentiles followed * Joh. 14.12 with 3.2 The latter place saith no more than no man can do such Miracles as thou dost except he have power from God it saith not that no other man shall do such excluding all but no man can do them except he come from God The former place shews that power of him which gave not of him who brought forth the Miracles he which did greater Miracles than Christ did them not without but by Christs power whether by greater works greater works of conversion as Peters conversion of three thousand by one Sermon and the conversion of multitudes Or by greater works be meant the working Miracles as healing their sick by his shadow and handkerchiefs which was not done by Christ I shall not determine However if we interpret it thus we must restrain it to believers in the Primitive times not to all believers and that in all Ages 1066. 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 ful confidence of his merits with true faith and without doubting spiritual or corporal blessings with exception of Gods Will and our own salvation in oll occasions and in all our prayers they that ask so receive and they that receive not ask amiss * 1067. Joh. 14.16 And he shall give you another Comforter 1 Cor. 12. No man can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost The latter place intends no man can do it truly and cordially but only fainedly acknowledging him in words but in deeds denying him By this word another is not meant any other than that Holy Ghost which formerly had wrought grace which now was to work comfort in them in another manner i. e. in a more large clear and spiritual manner than formerly and he is called another to shew the distinction of the Person of the Holy Ghost from the Son He is called another Comforter not as if it were another spirit which was to work now in them which did not before but whereas before they were comforted immediately and visibly by the presence and words of Christ so now they should be comforted immediately and invisibly by his influences within 1068. Joh. 14.23 If any man love me he will keep my words Ver. 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 1069. Joh. 14.23 And we will come unto him and make our abode with him Rom. 7.20 Sin dwelleth in me Ver. 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 * Joh. 14.23 with Rom. 7.14 20. The former place speaks of the indwelling of the Trinity in the souls of believers not personally but powerfully and effectually The latter place speaks of the dwelling of sin but so as it is in all the faculties or parts of the soul Understanding Will Memory Not that these the Trinity and sin have different parts of the soul but that they both exercise their powers and Energies in the same Faculties as water which is luke-warm is both hot and cold all over so sin and grace is all over the soul and as we say fire is still in the hand which is burned when it is only the effect of fire So it is here God is in the soul when grace which is the effect of his presence is there and not God personally dwelling there * 1070. Joh. 14.28 The Father is greater than I. Joh. 17.21 The Father and I are one Eph. 2.6 The Father is greater than Christ as Mediator and in respect of his humanity but the Father and I are one in respect of his Divinity * 1071. Joh. 15.13 Christ laid down his life for his friend Rom. 5.10 When we were enemies c. He laid down his life for us as we were enemies that we might become his friends and he laid down his life for us as friends that we should continue so as we were enemies by the corruption of the flesh as we are friends as reconciled by the bloud of his Cross 1072. 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 * Joh. 15.15 with Mat. 25.21 Christ calls us not servants in the former place to shew the great Union and happiness by that Union which a Christian should have with and in Christ He would not use them as servants in his dispensations and favours but rather as children with love and delight In the second place Christ cals them servants when he was to give them the reward of heaven which reward was so far beyond their deserts that our thoughts cannot imagine they being but servants and so owed all they did to God as duty and they might say they were unprofitable servants The former place tells us Christ calleth us not servants to shew that now we were free as friends The latter place is but a Parable and Parabolical speeches and words are not argumentative A man may be a son by Adoption and yet the servant of God by duty 1074. Joh. 15.15 All things
than the Pharisees not all the Precepts perfectly There is a disciplinary knowledge as when any thing is taught by Precepts and an experimental knowledge which we from experience obtain which is proper to the Elect and faithful 1466. 2 Pet. 1.21 Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Joh. 7.39 The Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified The Prophets in the Old Testament had the same Holy Ghost which the Apostles had in the New Testament but after another manner and degree the least of the Apostles after the visible miraculous sending of the Holy Ghost in the day of Pentecost knew the Prophesies more fully and clearly than the Prophets that foretold them because the Apostles had seen the fulfilling of the Prophesies and Christ opened their minds Luk. 24.41 that they might understand the Scriptures Three Epistles of the Apostle St. JOHN THe first is Catholick it breaths out the love of God to us in Christ out Mediator and our love towards God and our neighbour commands us to beware of the world Antichrist and Idols The second admonisheth the Elect Lady and her Children that remaining in the doctrine and love of Christ they take heed of seducers The third commends the bounty of Gaius and commends to him those that were banished for Christ rebukes Diotrephes and gives testimony to Demetrius 1467. 1 JOH 1.8 If we say we have no sin we deceive our selves Joh. 9.3 Neither hath this man sinned nor his parents In the former place sin is taken generally and so we are all sinners In the latter in special for some grievous sin which useth to be the cause of some grievous singular punishment from God 1468. 1 Joh. 1.8 If we say we have no sin the truth is not in us Chap. 3.9 He cannot sin because he is born of God To have sin and to commit sin differ we all have sin and we are conceived and born in it yet the faithful commit no sin because they will not suffer sin to reign in them but the wicked and hypocritical have sins dwelling in them 1469. 1 Joh. 2.2 Christ is the propitiation for our sins and for the sins of the whole world Ver. 15. Love not the world Joh. 17.9 I pray not for the world The word World is taken variously in the Scripture In the first place are meant the men that are in the world son whose sins Christ is the propitiation as for the sufficiency of his merits the price and vertue but not for the efficacy thereof which is hindered by the infidelity and sins of the wicked concerning which the latter places must be understood 1470. 1 Joh. 2.18 Antichrist shall come and even now are there many Antichrists 2 Thes 2.3 Antichrist was not yet revealed All those are Antichrists in general who deny Christs Divine or Humane Nature or in his Person or Office c. In special that great Antichrist is the son of Perdition who in the time of Paul was not yet revealed though the mystery of iniquity began to work * 1471. 1 Joh. 3.15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murtherer Luk. 14.26 He that hateth not his brother cannot be my disciple The former place speaks of an hatred towards our brother which is either because our brother is good or upon the account of some temporary affairs or upon the account of true Doctrine whosoever thus hateth his brother is a murtherer The latter place is spoken of such an hatred as cometh by our brothers being against Christ and hating of him or striving to draw us from him 1472. 2 Joh. v. 10. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine receive him not into your houses neither bid him God speed Mat. 5.44 Love your enemies The first place forbids not to shew our duty of humanity to all men or to salute them civilly but we are admonished not to use too great familiarity with seducers * 1473. 2 Joh. 10.11 with Rom. 16.3 3 4. Salute Priscilla c. John speaks of such persons as are enemies to God and to his truth and Church such we must not embrace 2 Kin. 3.14 These here in S. John were open and desperate enemies such as Marcion whom Polycarpe meeting would not salute the not saluting them is a chastisement to them by it they may know whence they are fallen The other place is salutation of one Christian to another 1474. 3 Joh. v. 13. I had many things to write but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee Joh. 20.31 These things are written that you might have life through his Name In the former place it is not said as though the Apostle would say something else then what is contained in the sacred Scriptures In the latter he manifestly confirms that all things are written which appertain and are necessary to true faith in Christ and to eternal life So that we have no need of Traditions by word of mouth The Canonical Epistle of St. JUDE The son of Thaddaeus HE exhorts the Faithful to constancy and threatens the adversaries of Christ with extream misery and warneth that the godly hold their faith in God and avoid false doctrine 1475. JUDE v. 9. Michael disputed with Satan about the body of Moses Ver. 14. The Prophesie of Enoch is mentioned whereof the Scripture before speaks not at all The striving of the Arch-Angel is not expresly set down in Scripture yet there appears some prints of it in the burial of Moses by God for that the Israelites knew not the place of his burial and it is out of question that the devil would willingly have made that known to the Israelites to set up Idolatry there but that he was hindred by Michael The Prophesie of Enoch if it were not set forth in writing yet it went by tradition from hand to hand unto posterity The REVELATION of St. JOHN The Apostle the Divine IT is called Apocalyps that is the Revelation because it contains the visions which St. John saw in the Isle of Pathmos about the year of Christ 96. and the Prophesie concerning the state of the Church Militant on earth and the Church Triumphant in Heaven 1476. REV. 1.1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave â—nto him Col. 2.3 In whom are 〈…〉 treasures of wisdom and knowâ—â—â—â— Christ as he is God is the fountain 〈◊〉 knowledge born of the substance of the Father in respect of order he is â—â—id to have received this Revelation from the Father because the Father by him doth reveal his secrets unto us as man by his personal union he hath a perfect knowledge of all things communicated to him They are hid in Christ as in a Treasury yet not so hid but he that seeks may find All Treasures are hid in him though some of the droppings are to be revealed to us 1477. Rev. 1.1 The things which must shortly come to pass they are not yet fulfilled Shortly signifies the