faithfull person liueth not as the naturall man doth though he cannot but through humane frailty sinne yet his heart is against all sinne and his life is such a continuall practice of repentance and the Spirit of Christ doth so sway and carry him as that he falleth not so often as the naturall man doth and he doth daily wash and cleanse himselfe from sinne by the teares of true repentance and that when there is no worldly shame or losse to moue him hereunto Neither can I see but that the regenerate must needs be of such an holy life as not at any time to fall into any great sinne as of adultery murther theft drunkennesse or the like although vnder the Law most holy men haue fallen for the Spirit is now giuen in a greater measure than it was in those daies and the force of corruption is more abated as is cleare from sundry passages of holy Scripture Whereas vers 8. it is said Vers 8. that the Deuill sinneth from the beginning and the Sonne of God appeared that he might dissolue the workes of the deuill the meaning is that he was euer the Author of sinne by his temptations so preuailing amongst men as that the world hath hitherto beene full of sinne but now the Sonne of God comming hath giuen a contrary Spirit into the hearts of his people whereby they are sanctified to leade an holy and new life The Deuill had them before as it were in the chaines of sinne fast bound for stirring to forsake those superstitious and riotous courses but now these bands are loosed and they are set at liberty to walke in the waies of Gods Commandements because free will which was lost in Adam is restored in the regenerate by Christ that we may now striue against and resist euill temptations Note that the most certaine marke of a childe of God Note is to leade an holy life and truly to endeuour to refraine from all sinne out of an inward affectation of holinesse and the dislike and hatred of euery sinne be it neuer so pleasing or profitable to the outward man and not in any by-respect and being ouertaken with sinne by infirmity to be humbled therefore and to beg for mercy and pardon and that toties quoties The comfort of those that doe thus is that they are not now accounted sinners but are iustified here-from Luke 13. as it is said of the poore Publican that hauing knocked vpon his breast and humbled himselfe he went away iustified The penitent person sinneth not because he doth daily that which is righteous in calling himselfe to account for his sinnes and iudging himselfe therefore as Beda saith Beda in Luc. 10. Seruos nos inutiles fatcamur vt in sortem vtilium veniamus Hieron Vnica iustitia nostra est iniustitiam fateri In confessing our selues to bee vnprofitable seruants we come to be profitable and Ierome Our only righteousnesse is to confesse our vnrighteousnesse For whoso doth thus and bewaileth it daily in secret cannot but haue his heart set against sinne and so sinneth not in will and desire CHAP. 3. VER 21. If our heart condemne vs not wee haue boldnesse towards God and receiue what wee aske of him because we keepe his Commandements c. In commending brotherly loue Mayer Vers 14. which he had often done before he saith Hereby wee know that wee are translated from death to life if we loue the brethren vers 14. By the loue of brethren all vnderstand here the loue of one another which is vsually expressed by the word neighbours in the old Testament but by the word brethren in the new Brotherly loue is a signe of true grace which is the beginning of the spirituall life that is eternall it is not the cause of life as euen the Iesuit condescendeth orinus Hereby a man may know that hee is raised from the death of sinne to the life that is by grace if he hath true loue in him because all that are partakers of this life haue this loue in them and consequently a man may know that euerlasting life is his and not only haue a probable coniecture hereof as popish writers teach For to put it out of doubt that we may know certainly he saith vers 24. We know that he abideth in vs by the Spirit that he hath giuen vs Verse 19 20 21. and in vers 19 20 21. he argueth from the heart and conscience of euery man which vpon this ground of actuall loue comming to be quiet and free from any accusation argueth most certainly that wee are in his fauour He that loueth to the exercising of charitable actions keepeth Gods Commandements which stand but in two things the loue of God and the loue of our neighbour God is said to be greater than our conscience that is more able to iudge and condemne because all things are most euident vnto him so that if our conscience condemneth vs hee will condemne vs much more And this is his commandement Vers 23. Oecumen that we beleeue in the Name of his Sonne Iesus Christ To beleeue in the name of Christ here saith Oecumenius is to giue credit to his will for by his Name is set forth sometime his glory and sometime his will Now his will whereunto he would haue vs giue credit is that we should loue one another But this exposition is forced for hauing spoken of loue hitherto and how necessary it is because God hath commanded it hee now goeth somewhat higher and sheweth that in commanding vs to beleeue in the Name of his Sonne hee commandeth loue also seeing that loue is inseparable from a liuely faith Therefore hee addeth This is his command that we beleeue and loue one another as if he should haue said For so much as I haue spoken of the Commandements of God affirming that he which loueth keepeth thē hereby it plainly appeareth to be so because that in commanding to beleeue in Christ he inioyneth vs both to beleeue and to loue loue being vnto faith as the soule is to the body which is but a dead carkasse if it be away And so hee commeth aptly to mention the Spirit giuen vnto vs in the next verse whereby we know that we are in God that is The. Aquin. Gorran Beza this grace of the Spirit loue And hereunto doe others consent Note here Note because he maketh the keeping of Gods Commandements the ground of our confidence to God-ward so as that we may pray with certaine expectation to be heard that none but such as are of a godly life charitable to the poore can haue any assurance of Gods fauour All wicked men and hard-hearted cannot but haue an accusing conscience if it bee not cauterized and therefore their hope to God-ward is vaine though they call and cry to him for mercy they shall not preuaile Iam. 5.16 Mat. 7.22 CHAP. IIII. HAuing spoken in the last verse of the former Chapter of knowing
and Rom. 12.2 Bee not conformed to this world Faber Stap. Gagneus Some referre this saying to Exod. 20. I the Lord thy God am a ielous God the Spirit of God that dwelleth in you enuieth that ye should be ioined to any other but vnto himselfe seeing he doth offer more grace than any other vnto vs as it followeth but he giueth more grace c. the world giueth nothing of worth but taketh away but God giueth his holy Spirit and Son vnto vs here Piscator and life euerlasting hereafter Some vnderstanding the Spirit of God that dwelleth in vs also doe yet referre it vnto Numb 11.29 reading it interrogatiuely doth it lust vnto enuy as if he should say it doth not for it did not in Moses when Eldad and Medad prophecied in the Host Pareus for he forbad it vnto Ioshuah or else vnto Exod. 25.8 ch 29.45 Ier. 7.3 I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel rendring the sense thus the spirit that is often said to dwell in vs lusteth against that is hareth and carrieth vs against enuy Of all these expositions it is hard to say which is to be preferred and the place must needs be confessed to bee most intricate But that exposition whereby it is said that the Spirit of God is here meant though it be most commonly imbraced seemeth to me to be most improbable because he that is God who offereth more grace vers 6. is opposed to the spirit here spoken of for an aduersatiue particle but is vsed as if he should haue spoken of two contraries thus is our spirit inclined but God prescribeth otherwise Againe it were a strange speech to say that the spirit lusteth to enuy if the meaning were is iealous as Faber rendreth it seeing enuy is the corruption so much in this Epistle impugned and therefore if he would haue spoken a word which should carry a good sense he would haue chosen some other and not haue vsed this which was neuer yet taken but in an ill sense And to expound 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Pareus doth vnto by against is as strange neither doe the next words currantly follow any of both these expositions for so it should rather haue beene therefore or for he giueth more grace I preferre therefore that exposition which interpreteth the spirit that dwelleth in vs of that spirit which all men haue in common the spirit of naturall life for euery man that liueth liueth by a spirit which is the soule for when this departeth out of the body the spirit is said to goe to God that gaue it Eccl. 12. ◠and this is called the spirit of the world and as it is now corrupt since the fall of Adam is opposed to Gods Spirit 1 Cor. 2.12 By the spirit then dwelling in vs I vnderstand our naturall corruption which is vsually set forth by the name of a spirit as for example that corruption whereby we are vnfaithfull and doe not beleeue is called The spirit of bondage Rom. 8.15 That whereby men haue beene carried away to idolatry is called The spirit of whoredome Hos 4.12 That whereby men are blinded to goe on in sinne without looking at the danger is called The spirit of a deepe sleepe Esay 29.10 And this corruption is said to dwell in vs euen when we are regenerate Rom. 7.20 And in regard that it is an infection in the soule and spirit sometime a man infected herewith is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 2.14 naturall from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying the soule and because he is carried hereby to carnall things and it vttereth it selfe by the fleshly members of the body sometime he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 carnall as 1 Cor. 3.41 And if we vnderstand by the spirit dwelling in vs this corruption we shall easily finde out the Scripture where thus much in effect is set forth though not in the same words viz. Gal. 5.17 for there is shewed how the flesh lusteth against the spirit and vnto what this lusting tendeth when hee enumerateth the particular fruits thereof and amongst the rest enuy and strife And being thus vnderstood all things agree here most notably For it is as if hee should haue said Hereby it appeareth that to bee linked vnto the world by being like affected as the men of the world are is to be shaken off from God as being in enmity with him because the corruption whereby the world is carried as by their spirit here therefore called The spirit dwelling in vs lusteth vnto enuy fighting and striuing to bee most eminent and in highest place but God inclineth the contrary way viz. to humility by promising grace to the humble and threatning the proud that out of their pride breake out into such vnchristian brabbles and stirres This sentence He resisteth the proud and giueth grace to the humble is taken out of Prouerbs 3.34 where though the words be a little different in the Hebrew yet according to the Septuagints they are the very same here alleaged Resist the Deuill and he will flie from you Verse 7. this resistance is made by Faith 1 Pet. 5.8 and by other parts of the spirituall Armature Ephes 6.12 But it is not to be thought that hee will for euer be gone when he is thus resisted for he will returne againe and make new assaults but hee must alwaies bee thus resisted Vers 8. and so we shall preuaile against him Draw neere to God this is by reformation of our hearts and liues as is immediatly expressed and by lamenting our sinnes past vers 9. Speake not one against another Vers 11. hee that speaketh against a brother and iudgeth him speaketh against the Law c. Hauing exhorted to a course of reconciliation to God he now intreateth of vnity amongst themselues and forbearing one to detract from another or to impeach another wrongfully Hee that doth thus Leu. 19.16 speaketh against the Law because in the Law it is forbidden to goe about as a Tale-bearer against a mans neighbour and in carrying himselfe herein as contemptuous of the Law he taketh vpon him as it were as a Iudge ouer the Law so farre is he from submitting to the obedience thereof whereas indeed there is but one Iudge namely God whose Office whilst he thus vsurpeth hee may iustly feare a future condemnation by him And in this exposition all Interpreters generally doe agree Note Note that to be wedded to our owne wills and waies is to be at enmity with God for so much as our waies and Gods waies are diametrically contrary the one to the other our spirit as the spirit of the world generally doth carrieth vs to enuy and all euill affections but God would faine draw vs to humility Wherefore let vs renounce our owne wills and lusts and hearken to the Lord that we may haue his loue and not continue in enmity with him the heat of whose anger
Note that it concerneth euery one be he learned or vnlearned to reade and studie vpon the holy Scriptures that he may not be to seeke in his answers about the doctrine of faith Hom. 16. in Iohan when he is required thereunto Chrysostome doth sharply reproue Christians that labour not for knowledge that they may vnderstand the reason of the Christian faith alleaging how Artificers will fight in the defence of their profession and the Gentiles will argue strongly for their superstition and against the Christian religion and yet hee saith that many Christians are so ignorant that they cannot giue an answer what the Trinity is what the resurrection or why Christ was incarnate at such a time And lastly he refuteth that tenent that a simple soule is blessed that is one that is ignorant and knoweth nothing Oh how contrary to this is the teaching of the Papists at this day who commend ignorance and speake against reading of the Scriptures as most dangerous CHAP. 3. VERS 18 19 c. Being put to death in the flesh but quickened in the spirit Vers 19 Wherein he went preached to the spirits in prison which had sometime beene disobedient when once the long-suffering of God waited in the daies of Noah c. As Christ was both God and man so he dyed as man Occumen in 1 Pet. 3. and as God rose againe to deliuer vs from death and corruption For he was raised by the power of his deity to shew that we shal rise againe raising vp the bodies of many that were dead also for our further confirmation herein In which he went c. Here is shewed how the benefit of his passion extended to the vniust not onely liuing but dead long before because hee had said He suffered the iust for the vniust Wherein therefore is as much as for which cause that there might redound benefit from him to such as were dead long before as well as to the liuing namely to so many as liued well and would haue beene ready to embrace the faith of Christ if hee had come amongst them hee went and preached to them that they might bee deliuerd by him And that it might appeare that there haue beene alwaies meanes of comming to faith and obedience so that the condemnation of the vnfaithfull is iust he maketh mention of Noah who was long agoe euen almost from the beginning by whom they might haue beene conuerted And hauing spoken of the Arke and those that were in it saued by the waters he applieth it vnto Baptisme for as the waters then drowned the wicked world but those that fled into the Arke were preserued so by baptisme the wicked and vnbeleeuing deuils are drowned but the faithfull are saued as water washeth away the filthines of the flesh so baptisme cleanseth the soule in a mysticall and wonderfull manner and it is called the interrogation of a good conscience towards God because they only which apply their minds to an holy life are wont to make questions and to seeke vnto God by what meanes they may be saued and so vnderstanding that baptisme is the meanes they haue recourse thereunto Christ is said to haue died once it being implied Th. Aquinas Gorran Glos Ordin that hee shall die no more against those heretikes that held that he suffered in the aire for the deuils after that he had done suffering here vpon earth and to rouze vp the secure from sinne because if now after that Christ hath suffered they liue in sinne there will be no more redemption for them Mortificatos car ne vtuificatos autem spirtus seeing Christ dieth no more That he might offer vs vp vnto God being quickened in the spirit that is either the holy Ghost or our spirit because the true Christian dieth to the flesh but liueth to the spirit In which he went that is in a spirituall manner by internall inspiration euen before that he was incarnate preaching by Noah by his Angels whom he vsed as his Mâ—nisters to declare his will in those times To those that were in prison that is of the flesh of sin errour according to that Ps 141. Take my soule out of prison in one translation therefore it is To them that were shut vp in the flesh When they expected Gods patience that is thinking that God would still with patience beare with them They were saued by the water because the water lifted vp the Arke and eight persons are mentioned as alluding to him that should rise againe the eighth day and to the time of the generall resurrection which some thinke shall be vpon the same day Baptisme is like vnto the Arke and so is tribulation through which a Christian must goe in diuers things First The Arke was made of boords hallowed so the Church consisteth of persons afflicted Secondly The Arke was of incorruptible wood so are Christians such as will not be corrupted Thirdly They that were saued in the Arke were saued by Noah signifying rest so the Church is saued by Christ Fourthly Out of the Arke none were saued so neither out of the Church Fiftly The waters being increased the Arke was borne vp higher so the Church grew greater by tribulations But the Baptisme that saueth is not any Baptisme for there is no such thing in the Iewes baptizings or in Iohns baptisme or in that of heretikes in which there is onely water but not the spirit but the baptisme vsed in the true Church wherein the Minister demandeth whether he beleeueth and renounceth the deuill c. exacting a pure conscience in him that commeth to be baptized which good conscience tendeth to God and he that comming with such a conscience is baptized Iuther in 1 Peter 3. is saued by the resurrection of Iesus Christ that is exemplariter rising from sinne to vertue as he rose againe Rom. 6. Christ is said to be put to death in the flesh when the man Christ died vpon the Crosse his naturall faculties ceasing he not liuing by meat and drinke and rest any more as is vsuall amongst men that are liuing here And he was quickned in the spirit that is was raised vp againe to a spirituall life wherein he liueth for euer both in soule and body And liuing this life now he preacheth not vocally as hee did but spiritually when his Apostles and other Ministers preach being spiritually present with them vnto the end of the world The spirits vnto which he is said to preach are they that were sometime disobedient in the daies of Noah not that they precisely are meant but such as they were for when hee preacheth in wardly to mens hearts and spirits now hee may well be said to preach to the spirits in prison because some are such as they that now are in prison were so that they are in the number of rebellious spirits to whom it is daily preached Here is therefore a Synecdoche whereby the part is put for the whole The eight
the imputed righteousnesse of Christ Iesus but Workes make a mans Faith euident and conspicuous to the world it being hereby proued that a man is a true beleeuer and so accepted for iust and righteous before God Ob. Hypocrites haue good workes and therefore it seemeth Obiect that good workes are no certaine euidence of Faith and consequently on one iustified Sol. Their workes are not truly good Sol. for such are the proper effects of Faith but because they are the same which the faithfull doe and it is hidden from man oftentimes who is an Hypocrite if wee shall iudge one to be faithfull because hee doth good workes we may bee deceiued Yet good workes doe manifest the truly faithfull because such a one is not without good workes though hee that hath good workes in our thinking is not alwaies faithfull but God seeth accuratly of what sort euery mans worke is He that desireth to reade more about iustification by Faith and Workes may haue recourse to Rom. 3.28 Touching the particular passages here verse 18. Vers 18. But some man may say thou hast faith and I haue workes shew we thy faith by thy workes c. Here such as trust to bare Faith are confuted by the bringing in of two speaking together the one seeming to himselfe to be faithfull the other manifested to bee such by his workes But that is but I will oppose thee by this prosopopeia Admit that a man truly faithfull challengeth thee thus Thou saist that thou hast Faith but how dost thou proue it hauing no works I can proue my Faith by my workes here the conscience of him that wanteth workes must needs bee conuinced Thou beleeuest that there is one God Vers 19. thou doest well the Deuils beleeue also and tremble To beleeue this though it be an Article of our Faith and likewise to beleeue and hold aright the other Articles doth not make one a true beleeuer though to beleeue this be to doe well because here is not all required to a sauing Faith Faith what which is to beleeue to the hauing of the affection moued to all due obedience vnto him in whom it is beleeued for loue as Oecumenius hath partly touched already and as Augustine sometime speaketh Faith with charity is a Christian faith August Fides cum charitate est fides Christiana fides sine charitate est fides daemonis Faith without charity is a faith of Deuills that is Faith inclining the heart to obey the Law of God the substance whereof standeth in loue Pareus and others of our Writers generally teach that a sauing Faith is to beleeue with application to a mans owne soule in particular This I confesse is true if we speake of that Faith which is growne to more perfection Iob 19.25 such as was in Iob saying I know that my Redeemer liueth Gal. 2.20 c. and in Paul saying I liue by the Faith of the Son of God who hath died for me But the Faith necessary to saluation commended vnto vs in the holy Scriptures is a beleeuing with loue and affection ioyned hereunto Such was the Faith of the Samaritans said to be Ioh. 4.42 Such a Faith Philip told the Eunuch if he had he might be baptized Act. 8.37 and such was Abrahams Faith Rom. 4.21 And this is such a Faith as none but the Elect can haue the Deuill cannot haue it for he beleeueth with an auersation the wicked cannot haue it for there is the like auersenesse in them also or at the least a deadnesse of affection for their Faith worketh not by loue of which they are void Here is also a certainty without wandring or doubring which is set forth as a property of true Faith for it is without all doubting assented to Iam. 1.5 that Iesus is the Sauiour of the world and that whosoeuer rightly beleeueth on him shall haue euerlasting life But as for certainty of a mans owne particular estate in grace I suppose that is not so of the Esse of Faith as the hee should bee said to haue no Faith who is not able for the present to apply Gods promises without doubting vnto himselfe for then wofull were the case of many true Christians who in time of temptation finde many feares and perplexities in themselues in so much that they are ready to say with Dauid they are cast out of Gods presence though afterward they see their weaknesse and recouer their hold againe Besides this particular assurance is a thing that is to increase daily as men grow vp in Christ and therefore no maruell if in those that are yet children in the Faith it be not so strong as it should be Certainly true loue is an inseparable companion and fruit of a true Faith and then who can deny it to be a liuely Faith wherwith true loue concurreth though such assurance touching a mans owne particular estate be not yet atrained vnto Thou seest that Faith wrought together with his workes Vers 22. c. that is for so much as I haue spoken of his iustification by his worke I would not haue it vnderstood but with reference to his Faith whereby he brought forth this worke so that Faith as the cause and worke as the effect did perfectly iustifie him so that his worke was in no part cause of his iustification as though his iustice stood herein but hereby his Faith was perfected because without it his Faith could not haue beene a perfect and liuing Faith as it is not in any other man Euen as he that from his heart without any dissimulation assenteth to any thing that is iust and equall is in that instant honest and iust but this assent of his is perfected by his act when he doth accordingly And the Scripture was fulfilled saying Vers 23. that Abraham beleeued God and it was counted to him for righteousnesse that is by this fact he shewed that he beleeued and in his beleeuing whereby he did it stood his iustice and not in the doing of this thing nothing can be plainer for iustification by Faith and to declare that what is attributed to worke in Abraham is meant of a working Faith as hath beene touched already Touching the conclusion Vers 24. v. 24. it must not be vnderstood but according to the Premises that when a man bringeth forth the fruit of Faith he is iustified and not when he doth barely beleeue not being able to shew his Faith by any such fruits Vers 26. And to this also do the last words v. 26. agree as the body without a spirit is dead so is Faith without workes Faith only iustifieth not because being alone without Workes it is dead and vnprofitable as a Carkasse without a soule Note Note that to beleeue only in Christ doth not auaile vnto saluation but when with the apprehension of the loue of God toward a man in Christ which is the greatest loue that euer was doth concurre the loue
and againe which doth greatly delight him and into these things they desire to look the rather to declare them vnto men as Gabriel to Mary and many Angels to the Shepherds It is most grosse negligence therefore in men not to regard to know these mysteries when as both Prophets and Angels Note for our sakes haue beene so intent about them and taken so much pleasure to search and finde out and know them Greg. Moral 18. cap. 28. Bed Tom vlt. qu. 9. Isidor lib. 1. sententiarum Tho. Aquinas Glos ordin Beda Th. Aquinas Sophron. Orat. 1. de natiu Chri. There are many that following the Latine translation apply it to the Spirit of God saying That they desire to behold him not that they behold him not but because their delight is such in beholding him as that it is alwaies fresh and as it were then beginning there being herein no satiety Some also expound it of Christ whom the Angels desire to behold and to looke vpon his glory as he is man vpon his birth and place where he was borne The residue of this Chapter hath nothing difficult in it but that hauing spoken of those to whom he writeth as Gentiles vers 14. liuing before in ignorance he saith Vers 18. vers 18. that they were redeemed from their vaine conuersation deliuered vnto them by tradition of their fathers as if they were Iewes to whom he writeth who were knowne to haue beene led by such traditions Some as I haue already noted Lyra. Lorinus thinke that this Epistle was written both to Iewes and Gentiles conuerted and therefore by these traditions vnderstand both the traditions of the Iewes ouerthrowing Gods Lawes Titleman Caietan Beza and the idolatries of the Gentiles Some vnderstand onely the idolatries of the Gentiles which were deliuered and taught from father to sonne of such it is spoken Ezech. 20.18 And Onesimus Surius 16. Febru the seruant of Philemon as Surius reporteth answering one that questioned with him about the price wherewith he was bought spake in these words That the vaine conuersation from which he was redeemed was Adultery Couetousnesse Witchcraft Arrogancy Back-biting Dissembling Anger Drunkennesse and Idolatry the mother of all vices And this indeed must needs be the right meaning seeing that from all wickednesse wee are redeemed by the bloud of Christ which it was the more hard to be deliucred from because this wickednesse had beene so long rooted and grounded being deliuered for many ages from generation to generation Note that they which are deliuered from their sinnes by Christ Note are turned from that which they haue beene nuzled vp in and their fathers before though they had vsed to liue in that vaine manner from the first father vpon earth Adam That any corruption hath beene ancient is no plea amongst such as come to haue part in the bloud of Christ Note Traditions Hee doth also glance at traditions of the fathers here after which to liue is but to vse a vaine conuersation and such as they must be turned from that will be saued of such traditions reade Mat. 15. and such be the traditions of the Church of Rome many of them tending to the ouerthrow of Gods truth We imbrace such as are agreeable hereunto as touching the Lords Day the baptizing of Infants the communion of either sex and in the publike place c. but others whereof that Church is full being some absurd and superstitious and some impious we doe vtterly reiect Whereas it is said Verse 20. that he was foreknowne from the beginning of the world it is to be vnderstood because it was foreknowne that there would be sinne from which that we might be redeemed the shedding of this Lambes bloud was necessary otherwise this should not haue beene preordained Vers 22. purifying your soules in the obedience of the truth by the spirit In the Greeke it is making your selues chaste Here is the fruit of a true and liuely Faith they in whom it is are sanctified in their hearts which is when they endeuour and by endeuouring attaine to haue chaste and pure minds the Word of God descending into them and not being outwardly receiued only a like place vnto this is 1 Ioh. 3.3 He that hath this hope purgeth himselfe and this is done by the Spirit a fruit whereof is to be holy and pure Gal. 5.19 And this is the onely way to become chaste in deede for which it is laboured in vaine by abstinence as both Ierome and Bernard doe testifie of themselues he that would bee chaste indeede must haue a chaste heart made so by the Spirit entring in by the Word Luther Luther expoundeth the spirit here of the heart saying That the soule is purified by the obedience of the spirit when the heart becommeth obedient vnto the truth The collection made here by Lorinus that our free will doth co-operate together with faith to our iustification is false for hee doth not teach what is to bee done for our iustification but for the exorning of our holy and excellent condition Vers 25. to which wee that beleeue haue attained The Word of God is said to be the seed of our regeneration because it entereth into the heart Luth. in 1 〈…〉 and lying there maketh one a new man so that hee hath other thoughts and desires now neither is it changed as mans seed is Tho. Aquinas Basil Epist 79. Lyrinens Dogma Christianae relig his sequitur profectuum leges vt annis consolidetur tempore dilatetur aetate sublimetur incorruptum tamen illibatumque maneâ—t but remaineth the same for euer changing vs that are regenerate hereby and therefore it is said to endure for euer that is in the effect thereof because he that is regenerate hereby remaineth such for euer neuer being againe corrupted A speech like vnto this is Psal 118.89 Psal 148.6 Mat. 24.35 The seed of the Word groweth yet and is augmented in the heart as Basil obserueth as the seed sowne in the ground It followeth saith Lyrinensis these Lawes of increase It is consolidated in yeeres dilated in time sublimated in age and yet remaineth incorrupt CHAP. II. IN this Chapter he commendeth vnto them the Word of God whereby he had before shewed that they were begotten viz. the Word wherein Christ is set forth as the foundation vpon whom wee must build vnto eternall life exhorting to a conuersation worthy of the estate into which we are brought hereby So that here is First an exhortation to the right receiuing of the Word of God vers 1 2. inforced from the good taste therein vers 3. and from this consideration that it is the way to the Lord who is as a most precious corner stone and by the Word we are built vpon him and so become a most excellent people from vers 4. to vers 11. Secondly an exhortation to walke worthy of this estate by flying from euill vers 11. and doing of
in Limbo patrum the soules of the faithfull who died before Christs incarnation who were by his descent deliuered Some againe and they be the Diuines of our side which teach a descent of Christs soule hold that he went downe to vpbraid the incredulous in Noahs time and such like with their infidelity shewing them what he had suffered for the saluation of the faithfull of the benefit whereof they were altogether depriued through their owne default to their greater terrour Touching the distinction which is made of Christs preaching as if it had beene partly to such as were appointed to life when it is spoken onely of the disobedient in prison it is a plaine wresting of the place and therefore Lorinus himselfe a Iesuite calleth it in question how it can stand Touching the penitency supposed to haue beene in some that were drowned it is a meere coniecture without all ground and if any such were they went not with the rest doubtlesse to this prison but to Abrahams bosome or as the theefe vpon the crosse to Paradise Touching the last it seemes to be implied in an article of our Church determined in a Synod * Synod Angl. Quemadmodum Christus pro nobis mortuus est sepâ—ltus iâ—a â—tiam credâ—ndus est ad inferos deseâ—ndâ—sse Nam corpuâ—â— sque ad resurrectâ—oâ—â—m in sepulchro iacuâ— spiritus ab illo commissas cum spiritibus qui in carcere vel inserâ—o detinebantur fuit illisque praedicanâ—t quemadmodum â—â—statur Petrilocus assembled in King Edwards daies An. 1552. Artic. 3. Euen as Christ died for vs and was buried so he is also to be beleeued to haue gone downe into hell for his body lay in the graue to the time of his resurrection but his spirit that went out of him was with the spirits in hell or in prison and preached vnto them as Peter testifieth Secondly Some hold that Christs preaching in a spirituall manner by Noah is meant herein Thomas Aquinas followeth Augustine August epist 99. In this also ioyne Beda Hugo Carthusianus Beza c. Thirdly Luther Some vnderstand his preaching by the Apostles to whom he sent the holy Ghost Hessilâ—uâ— and herein they went and preached to the Gentiles being in the prison of the flesh who are described as bound in chaines Psal 106. Esa 42.49 And to shew that of olde they were bound with the chaines of infidelity he mentioneth the imprisoned in the daies of Noah and they are called spirits to intimate the immortality of the soule Fourthly Some vnderstand by the prison here Purgatorie Francis Turria Fiftly and lastly Some most absurdly apply this preaching to the eight persons in the Arke Aâ—ias Montan Caluanstu lib. 2. cap. 16. §. 9. as in a prison for the time And yet there is another interpretation of Caluin by his going and preaching vnderstanding his making them to feele the power of his passion who died long agoe and yet remained in their soules expecting the Lord Iesus and he saith that it should not be read in prison but in a watch-tower in specula as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth For my owne part I subscribe to those that hold this to be the most obscure place in all the Epistles for no Exposition that hath hitherto beene giuen doth so fully satisfie but that some exceptions will lie there against That of Arias Montanus falleth of it selfe because they in the Arke were obedient whereas this preaching was to the disobedient 2. That of Purgatory is a meere fiction there being no such place in rerum natura 3. That of Caluin applying it in part to the soules of the faithfull seemeth to be improbable because these were the disobedient and it is not onely said that hee preached but went and preached intimating a locall motion and not onely a vertuall penetration 4. To expound it of his preaching by Noah is to peruert the order of the Text according to which this his going must be after his inclining againe and why should he call the men liuing at that time spirits which is a word no where vsed to set forth liuing men by but either Angels good or bad or soules departed 5. Much lesse can the Gentiles bee vnderstood by the spirits in prison amongst whom the Apostles came because they were such as liued in the daies of Noah not men of like quality but those very men 6. The Popish Limbus is but an imaginary place and to hold that any being in hell were deliuered againe seemeth to be contrary to the holy Scriptures as hath beene already shewed There remaineth then onely that of his descending to triumph ouer the Deuils and to vpbraid the damned spirits with their infidelity and impenitency shewing how iustly they were for euer therefore shut vp in that place of torment and because they of the old world were the most noted for their great multitude that went downe thither together hee mentioneth them but in them vnderstandeth all other then damned spirits also And this is the most probable of all other expositions and most consonant with the rest of the holy Scriptures For this is one part of Christs preaching to conuince the impenitent as iustly and certainly reprobate and damned as appeareth Mat. 11.21 Mat. 12.41 c. What is meant when Baptisme is said not to be an outward washing Verse 21. but the request of a good conscience vnto God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ What others haue said hath beene already set downe Piscator Scholia Piscator to this speaketh most fully and excellently Baptisme standeth not so much in the outward washing of the body as in the remission of sinnes by the bloud of Christ which is the washing of the soule and conscience which being by faith apprehended the conscience becommeth good and so the faithfull in the confidence hereof boldly questioneth with God about his fauour reconciled vnto him by Christs death and testified by his resurrection saying Hath not Christ reconciled thy fauour vnto vs by his death to endure for euer Certainly it is so for his resurrection doth testifie it seeing that vnlesse he had made a perfect expiation of our sins by his death reconciled thy fauour vnto vs he could not haue risen againe to life and heauenly glory So that these words by the resurrection of Iesus Christ haue not reference to the word saueth but to the request of a good conscience for this ariseth from Christ his resurrection August contra Faustum cap. 12. Beda Gagneus Angustine and Beda say the same with Thomas Aquinas and Gagneus also setting it forth more fully thus The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth a stipulation or promise conceiued in words whereby he that is baptized couenanteth to beleeue and doe as hee is in baptisme required Act. 8. as the Eunuch answered Philip. And this beleeuing and renouncing of sinne and Satan saueth and not the washing with water by the resurrection of
it as a comfort in suffering seeing when a man hath suffered death for Christ he is receiued vnder his wing being conformable to him in being sacrificed they rest and are safe with him for euer Some expound the Altar of Christs humanity Bernard serm 4. Omnium sanct which the faithfull are receiued vnto now it being reserued till the last day to giue them the full fruition of his diuinity also Some by the Altar vnderstand the places of the martyrs buriall or sufferings Ribera Viegas because Altars were wont to be built vpon them and the crying of their soules they will haue to be none other but as the crying of Ables bloud where it was spilt and soules are spoken of by a phrase vsuall so many men being called so many soules But this is a meere Iesuiticall imagination seeing Altars vpon martyrs sepulchres were of a later edition and though so many men be often called so many soules yet when the soules of any that are slaine are named it cannot bee so taken Whereas most stand for Christ meant by the Altar I should willingly incline to thinke so to but that Christ yet standeth as a Lambe and therefore I cannot see how he can at the same time bee represented by an Altar also I conclude therefore as I began that by the appearance of an Altar is represented their sacrificing when they suffered the place wherein they now are being heauen the common receptacle of all faithfull soules but said to bee vnder the Altar to denote the manner of their death neither doth Iohn see them with his bodily eyes but being in the spirit And fidy doe the soules of the martyred appeare after such a number slaine by cruell enemies crying for vengeance not vocally for soules doe not vtter voyces but vertually the destroying and murthering of them hauing a loud cry in the eares of God so that a desire of reuenge in them is amisse surmised to bee from hence who being in the flesh had so much loue as that they prayed for their persecutors and were farre from the spirit of reuenge But they are brought in crying aloud for the terrour of persecutors seeing the cryes of such shall without doubt bee regarded though in respect of many more yet in these times of corruption to bee crowned also with martyrdome a delay to bemade Whereupon it is that their answer is also set forth in this manner And thus I haue briefly resolued the rest of the doubts without delaying the reader by the diuersity of expositions Pareus Brightman Chrysost Hom. in Psal 9. August Serm. 30. detemp some interpreting their cry for reuenge to be onely for deliuerance of the Church from persecutors hauing beene already so long oppressed and some for the taking away of this malice out of mens mindes that there may bee no more persecuting by confounding such Kings and Potentates that they may bee brought to turne vnto Christ The white robes giuen vnto them Bullinger Brightman howsoeuer some contend that they were signes of some comfort and breathing time which the Church should haue and had about this time according to their exposition yet both the plaine speech which is vsed in answering them is against it for they are told of their brethren that must be slaine also and white robes are neuer spoken of in this sense Pareus but to set forth heauenly glory which is not to be thought now first to haue been giuen vnto them but immediatly vpon their departure out of this life when their deaths began first to cry though it was not represented in vision till now so that euen when they cry they are in the midst of heauenly ioyes and without all passion of sorrow onely they are not perfectly glorified till the whole company being made vp at the day of iudgement being reunited to their bodies they shall reigne in heauen for euer wherefore they are bidden rest till their fellow seruants were slaine also And well doth this cry come in after the fourth seale representing the corruptions in the Church fighting against the truth because this persecution hath beene longer than any before it and therefore needfull it was to tell of martyrs which had beene already made crying out and of such as should yet bee made when it might seeme to bee full time to put an end to these miseries that expecting so long a continuance wee might arme our selues with patience Quest 3. The sixt seale being opened Vers 12. there was a great earthquake and the Sunne became blacke as haire cloth and the Moone as bloud c. What is meant by these things and whether the day of iudgement or no Answ Most Expositors hold that the day of iudgment is here described Fox Richard de Sancto victore Pannonius Primasius Beda Rupertus Arethas c. when the reuenge before cryed for is taken vpon all sorts of persecutors of the Church and the words here vsed are nothing else but a periphrasis vpon this day for thus the Lord setteth forth the day of iudgement Luk. 21.11 There shall be great earth-quakes in diuers places Vers 25. There shall be fignes in the Sunne Moone and Starres and vpon the earth distresse of nations with perplexity Vers 26. Mens hearts failing them for feare c. and more expresly Mark 13.24 The Sun shall be darkened the Moone shall not giue her light 25. The starres of heauen shall fall and the powers of heauen shall be shaken The Sun shall be darkened because it shall no more giue light to this world the Moone shall be turned into bloud to shew the great destruction that then shall be the stars shall fall there being no further vse of them when men shall cease to bee here euen as the leaues of the figtree fall off when there is no further need of them to couer the figs. The heauens are as a booke folded vp when they lofe all their light being as it were clapt together whereas now it standeth open That which followeth of the mountaines and ilands remouing out of their places is to shew the greatnes of this earth-quake euen to the destroying of the earth Then all wicked men how great soeuer they haue beene in this world shall quake and feare being vnable to beare the wrath to come vpon them set foorth in their calling to the mountaines to fall vpon them c. Blas Viegas Who also saith that many Doctors expound this thus Brightman Grasser Others will haue these things vnderstood allegorically the great earth-quake of the great persecution vnder Dioclesian being in all parts of the earth at once then say they the Sun of righteousnesse Christ was darkened in his members the Moone the Church appeared like bloud being all bloudy with slaughters the starres the ministers of God many of them fell for feare from Christianity to idolatry the heâ—uen the Church was folded vp as a booke hiding it selfe for feare at that time and the inhabitants of
but by the Westerne Kings who set vp the Whore she must be made desolate againe as is plainly shewed Chap. 17.16 and it were strange that such a poore runnagate people as the Iewes should haue the title of Kings of the East where they are the basest and of the least account I subscribe therefore to them that expound it as altogether Allegoricall by Euphrates the reuenues of the Popedome being meant and by the Kings of the East such Kings as God would stirre vp in these parts to be her vtter ruine and ouerthrow the great defence which is in the riuer of worldly wealth being taken away as sometime Euphrates was dreaned whereby Babylon was taken by Cyrus and Darius Easterne Kings And because the wealth of Spaine is so great a meanes to strengthen this kingdome yet I thinke it not amisse to bring that in also within the compasse of this great riuer In that part where the Popes reuenues runne the water is very shallow at this day there is great probability that the other will be much diminished shortly if not cleane dryed vp if the Indian treasure be once cut off which is very powerfully attempted And hitherto I thinke that these vials haue taken effect for the most part already onely we are to expect the drying vp of this Euphrates more and more and then that such Kings and Princes as abominate Rome for the wickednesse therof should vniting their forces giue the on-set vnto her desolation Touching the seuenth Angell I hold it best to go with the common streame of them that expound this of the finall iudgment 7. Angell not only of the beast and his followers but of the whole world that of the beast being againe re-assumed to bee more fully declared in the Chapters following as being the most remarkable thing pointed at in this booke For without wresting and straining the passages here in such manner as that there is no president for it in other places of holy Scripture it cannot be applied otherwise It is done Babylon came into remembrance to giue vnto her the cup of the wine of the fiercenesse of Gods wrath and euery Iland fled away and the mountaines were no more found What else can these speeches set forth but the full and finall recompencing of the Whore of Babylon and of others enemies of the truth which cannot be said to haue beene done but at the last day For then onely it may be rightly spoken it is done it being till then but in doing and it is at that time onely that there is flying away to hide themselues from the wrath of God and that the fashion of the world is altered It should seeme to make against it that the great city is not said to fall Vers 19. but to be diuided into three parts I answer with Pareus that hereby the vtter ruine of it is set forth seeing three parts which may well be taken for all the parts of a building are said to be diuided or rent in sunder and in speaking of three it is alluded to the three before spoken of as the founders of this city the Dragon the beast and the false prophet the three vncleane spirits like frogs comming out of their mouthes Againe the nations are immediatly said to haue fallen that is to be quite ouerthrown and therfore it is not likely but that the vtter ruine of Rome is meant also though deliuered in a diuers phrase Or if by the great city we vnderstand all the countries where the Christian religion hath beene planted as I haue expounded it before vpon Chap. 11. then the city of Rome is not so much meant but the whole dominions of Turke and Pope for it is likely that Rome shall be destroyed before the riuer Euphrates the defence thereof being dryed vp yea it must needs bee so by reason of the lamentation made by such as haue had trafficke there for the desolation of that city Chap. 17. which cannot be after the great day of iudgement And if the great city bee thus taken then by the nations other countreys which are neither Mahumetane nor Popish are to be vnderstood which for their sinnes shall come to ruine also this being plainly set forth and the fall of the city by a periphrasis taken from such a fal as is by diuision as Ierusalem fell before the Romans by a triple faction therin to which in particular it is to be thought that it is alluded for so much as Ierusalem trodden vnder foot by the Gentiles is a type of Christendome vnder the dominion of Turke and Pope as hath been shewed more at large vpon Chap. 11. Vers 21. If it should seeme to make against this exposition that a great haile like talents is said to follow after all this whereupon men blaspheme God which as Brightman saith is not to bee thought shall be at the day of iudgement because all mouthes shall then be stopped the generall silence of all arguing their consent to the iustice of Gods proceedings and none blaspheming any more I answer with Pareus againe that howsoeuer the wicked shall subscribe to this iudgement in their owne conscience as most iust and so shall not mutter any word of reason against those proceedings yet the sense of the extremity of torment from which they shall despaire euer to be deliuered will so inrage them Exod. 6. as that like the Aegyptians when haile fire mingled therwith came down from heauen or like the Canaanites vpon whom God hailed with exceeding great hailestones to the destroying of most of them to which I think it is rather than to the other alluded here as they I say being moued with anguish did doubtlesse bitterly take on against the God of Israel so here the wicked at the last day are brought in blaspheming to expresse the sense of intolerable pangs vpon which wicked men are wont thus to do And haply their tongues will thus rebell against God as the tongues of persons inraged euerlastingly These things being thus explained wee see that there is no reason why any should be offended and doubt whether Popery shall euer goe downe altogether or no because it is still vpheld after so many yeeres since it first receiued a blow for it must fall by degrees as it rose by degrees and as it had a long time of rising to the full height so it must bee long in falling into vtter destruction And seeing fiue of these Vials haue so manifestly taken effect already and the sixt in a great part why should wee not by faith assuredly expect the full accomplishment of it as well as wee see the accomplishment of those foregoing by experience O yee foolish and blinde Papists why are ye so hard to beleeue the things that this Prophet hath foretold touching your Babylon if ye loue your soules open your eyes and by that which hath beene hitherto done be assured of a full destruction and therefore come out of Babylon in
time and be not led hood-winked into ineuitable perdition Quest 2. Vers 13 14 15 16. Who are these three vncleane spirits like Frogs that come out of the mouth of the dragon the beast and the false prophet and what place is that Harmageddon into which the Kings of the earth are gathered and by whom are they gathered together into that place Answ It is agreed that these foule spirits are instruments of the Pope who come as it were out of his mouth because so like vnto him both in the same end which they aime at and the meanes to effect it lying signes and wonders and more particularly I hold them to be none other but the Iesuites because the time of their beginning by Ignatius Loyola within these threescore yeeres doth notably agree and their leaping vp and downe in Kings Courts they being the greatest Statists that the Pope hath for him to maintaine his credit with the Kings of the earth that his reuenues may be no more diminished neither doe their practises to stirre vp to warre against Heretikes vniustly so called disagree for they are knowne to be the very firebrands of dissentions tumults treasons and bloudsheds thorowout all Christendome euer since they beganne to be They are said to be three when as indeed they are many thousands to note out their triple originall from the Dragon who is the Deuill the Beast the Roman State which they trauell for and the false prophet the Pope who before was called the second beast and not till now a false prophet but here more fully declared by his name as there by his pseudopropheticall practises whose eldest sonnes they are bending themselues vp to the highest streine of wit and resolution for the supporting of his tottering chaire These stirre vp popish Kings and Princes so as that they enter into leagues and vnions to root out poore Protestants But silly men that they are whilst they are thus busie for the benefit of the Popedome little doe they thinke of him that sitteth aboue and laugheth them to scorne for that the ioyning of popish Princes together to root out the truth shall by him bee turned to a gathering together to be destroyed so as that they shall neuer be able to make head againe And this is intimated in saying That they gather them together to the battell of the great day of God that is Vers 14. wherein God will haue glory by their vtter ouerthrow which is also further confirmed in that changing the number by and by he saith Hee gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Vers 16. Armageddon What is meant by this word Armageddon there is great difference of opinions Some thinke Beza Iunius Forbs Fox Pareus Iudg. 5.19 2 Chron. 35.22 that it is to bee read Har-megiddo and so expound it as alluding to the place called Megiddo where Iabin and Sisera with their army were destroyed before Debora and Barak by the Lord and where Iosiah fell before Pharaoh Neco King of Aegypt giuing occasion to a great mourning to the children of Israel for the losse of so good a King for each History may be well alluded to here that of the Canaanites destruction for the ouerthrow of popish kings with their people the other of Iosiah for the mourning which the Iewes being conuerted shall make for their former opposition against Christ slaying him so good a King that came to saue them as is foretold by the Prophet saying I will powre out vpon them the spirit of compassion Zach. 12. and they shall see him whom they haue pierced and mourne euery family apart For they hold that at the same time the Iewes shall be conuerted As for the change of the waters of Megiddo as it is in the first place or of the Valley of Megiddo as it is in the second into Har a Mount and Megiddo they thinke that this is not without a mystery Forbs it being hereby intimated that the enemies of the truth shall be in an high attempt when this destruction shall befall them Beza Iunius and therefore purposely a Valley is turned in the word here vsed into a Mountaine whereas it should be Megiddo Others reade it Horma-geddon a cursed warfare Luther Grasserus of Horma signifying a curse and geddon which commeth of Gadad signifying to gather together an army or of Harma crafty because by craft they shall be gathered together to their owne destruction as God will turne it Others with a single 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reade it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 expounding Har a Mountaine and Maggedim Delights holding that it is alluded to that in Dan. 11.45 And he shall fasten his tents in the mount of his holy beauty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for as there the Turke is pointed at apart so here all the enemies of the Church ioyning together and as Ierusalem is properly so called so the pure Church of God figured out thereby is here called so and therefore this battell and destruction of the enemies shall be made in these parts of the world where the pure reformed Religion hath taken effect Napior Some expound it the Mountaine of the Euangelist applying it likewise Some expound it the destruction of an Army of Cherem destruction Deut. and Gedud an Army holding that the slaughter of the enemies shall be so great that according to the manner of the Hebrewes amongst whom many places are named from the euent the place where this shall be shall take the name also Ierome as Pareus sheweth expoundeth it Montem furum the Mountaine of the eues others a cursed troupe others the destruction of the Riuer All wee see are agreed here that no proper place is designed but some place onely where the enemies of the truth shall be destroyed There will be no errour therefore which way so euer it be taken only I thinke it dangerous to admit of any corruption in the change of the word by the incury of the Scribe I preferre that of Dent holding withall that it is alluded vnto the destruction of Iabin and Sisera with their armies and that it should be likewise with the enemies of the truth ere long they shall bee in a Catholike league together bending all their forces against the reformed but God helping his their attempts shall bee turned to their owne vtter ouerthrow Whether this be now a working seeing they were neuer so combined together neither haue they beene about so great attempts as now God knoweth Haply the gathering together of Papists at this time is the gathering together here pointed at if not as the time will scarce beare it is a preludium thereof some famous destruction may happen to them in the end of this conspiracy now but the greatest whereunto this may make a way afterwards Howsoeuer let all men take heed of the Iesuites as of vncleane and dangerous spirits and let vs be comforted when the Romish Catholikes bend their forces