of David Matthew observes the natural order descending from Fathers to the sons Luke ascends from the sons to the Fathers Matthew by Solomon and his posterity reckons the fore-fathers of Christ from David to Salathiel Luke by Nathan and his posterity for Solomons race being extinct Christ was born of the posterity of Nathan according to the flesh 530. Mat. 1. 12. Jeconias begat Salathiel Luk. 3. 27. Salathiel was the son of Neri Melchi Addi Jeconias died without children Salathiel was the natural son of Neri born from David by Nathan the legal son of Jeconias because he succeeded him by right in the Kingdome 531. Mat. 2. 1. Behold wise men came from the East to Jerusalem cap. 11. 25. I confesse to thee Lord because thou hast hid these things from the wise c. The Wise men were led to Christ not by humane but divine wisdome acknowledging Col. 2. 3. Rom. 1. 25. Mat. 23. 23. Luk. 11. 12. 1 Cor. 1. 26. that in Christ were hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge Christ rejects no such wise men but such as are not wise from Gods Spirit and yet think themselves wise following the wisdome of this world as the Heathen Philosophers and the Pharisees amongst the Jews and those that are wise now adayes with fleshly wisdome 532. Mat. 3. 1. John the Baptist preached in the wildernesse Luk. 3. 3. He came into all the Countrey about Jordan preaching by the Desert Matthew means not the inward remote parts separated from the company of men but the fore-parts a Mountainous Countrey lying about Jordan 533. Mat. 3. 14. John knew Christ before he baptized him Joh. 1. 33. I knew him not but he that sent me to baptize with water said unto me Vpon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and resting upon him he it is that baptizeth with the holy Ghost John had a knowledge of Christ before his baptism by inchoation but that knowledge was confirmed and consummate when in baptism he saw the Heavens open and the Spirit of God descending upon him like a Dove and so by an outward revelation joyned with an inward illumination he pronounced that Jesus was the Messias and the Lamb of God that takes away the sinnes of the world 534. Mat. 3. 16. The Spirit of God descended and came upon Christ Luk. 1. 35. Christ had the holy Ghost before Gal. 4. 6. At the baptism of Christ the holy Ghost came upon him like a Dove to declare that Jesus Christ is the Mediator between God and man according to the prophesie The Spirit Isa 61. 1. of the Lord was upon me because he hath anoynted me to preach good tidings to the meek to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord who being to Psal 45. 8. take upon him the Office of Mediator is anoynted with spiritual oyl 535. Mat. 4. 2. And when Jesus had fasted forty dayes and forty nights he was afterward an hungred and the Tempter came and said unto him Luk. 4. 1. He was tempted forty days The internal temptation lasted forty dayes then came the Devil to Christ in an external and corporal shape and spake unto him 536. Mat. 4. 8. The Devil at the third temptation took him up to a Mountain Luk. 4. 5. The Devil at the second temptation took him into a high Mountain In the holy Scripture saith Augustine there is no contradiction where any thing is related by divers Authors and not observed the same way De Cons Ecclesiae Matthew placeth the temptations in order But Luke by Hysterosis puts the second temptation after the third 537. Mat. 4. 12. 17. Jesus began to preach from the imprisonment of John the Baptist Joh. 1. 2 3 4. chap. He preached before John was in prison Matthew passeth over that which John sets down in his 4 first chapters 538. Mat. 4. 18. Jesus walking by the Sea of Galilee saw two brothers Simon and Andrew casting a Net into the Sea and he said Follow me Luk. 5. 1. He stood by the Lake of Gennesareth v. 3. Ascending into Simons ship he bade them put off a little from the land and he sat and taught the people out of the ship as he ended his speech he said to Simon Lanch into the deep v. 10. Fear not henceforth thou shalt catch men Here we have need of a threefold reconciliation Matthew saith that Christ walking toward Sea called Peter Luke in a little ship But Matthew speaks of his first call and Luke of his confirmation in it 2. Matthew makes no mention of the Miracle but what he let passe Luke describes 3. Matthew cals it the Sea of Galilee Luke the Lake of Genesareth because the Hebrews call all waters Seas Matthew respects the Province Luke the banks by the next City 539. Mat. 5. 1. Christ seeing the multitude went up into a Mountain and taught them Luk. 6. 17. He came down with them and stood in the plain Vers 20. Looking on his Disciples he said Blessed c. Here is also a threefold difference either Matthew saith that Christ preached in the Mountain Luke in the field Or Matthew saith he preached to the people Luke to his Disciples or Matthew saith before Luke after the healing of the leper Whence we conclude that Christ repeated that Sermon a second time 540. Mat. 5. 4. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Vers 14. Rejoyce and be glad Phil. 4. 4. Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes Christ speaks not of all that mourn but such as from the heart mourn for their sins Joh. 16. â—3 Luk. 16. 25. 2 Cor. 1. and believe in him whose condition in this life is sorrowful and they suffer pressures in the world their mourning brings joy in this world and the world to come and God comforts them in all afflictions Christ pronounceth such mourners happy 541. Mat. 5. 5. Blessed are the meek for they shall possesse the earth Heb. 1â— 13. And they all confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims in the earth Meek are gentle such as with a quiet mind induring injuries do not resist evill but overcome evil with goodnesse by the example of Christ to these is the possession of the earth Rom. 12. 21. Mat. 11. 28. 1 Cor. 3. 22. Psal 27. 13 14. 16. promised not simply but by right of inheritance for the godly though they possesse nothing are said to possesse the earth because they have Christ who possesseth all things and he is only rich who hath a quiet mind The earth here is principally taken not for the element of earth but the land of the living 542. Mat. 5. 10. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake Ver. 12. Because great is their reward in heaven 1 Pet. 2. 10. c. 4. 14. Rom. 8. 18. The afflictions of this world are not worthy of the glory hereafter which shall be revealed in us The reward here hath no relation to any merit of ours but to the free love of
labour shall not be lost 963. Gal. 5. 17. The flesh lusteth against the spirit Eph. 6. 12. We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers Flesh is taken in the first place for our corrupt nature in the later for men whose nature is frail and weak nor is our chief conflict with those but with spirituall powers which use many deceits and make many incursions upon the faithfull 964. Gal. 5. 24. They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections Eph. 5. 29. No man ever yet hated his own flesh The first place is not concerning the nature of the flesh but the desire of the regenerate man who cares not for the affections of the flesh will not serve his belly his pleasures the world or worldly delights the later is concerning self-love naturall to us all and the Apostle speaking of the wife useth the name of flesh because they are both made one flesh 965. Gal. 6. 2. Bear ye one anothers burdens ver 5. Every man shall bear his own burden In the first place is spoken of the faults and infirmities of our brethren which are indeed a burden to us yet we must bear them by sympathy and the rule of charity will have it so that all of us help our brethren and tolerate their infirmities to lift up such as are down to hide their faults so much as may be and is fitting Thou hast this fault and not that another Theoderez man hath another fault do thou bear his fault let him bear thine and so fulfill the love of charity be not curious in other mens faults for every man shall give account of his own 966. Gal. 6. 4. Let every man prove his works 1 Cor. 3. 13. The fire shall try every mans work In the first place is intimated what is our duty to make our works approved to God in the later place the fire signifies either the holy Ghost or afflictions by which we are tried The Epistle of St PAUL to the EPHESIANS HE commemorates the benefits of God which are part and recites our Election Redemption Sanctification Vocation into the Church Justification by faith our future inheritance of eternall life and our duties in generall of us all in speciall of married people and unmarried of Parents of Children of Masters and of servants It was written from Rome in the Year of Christ 59. and sent by Tychicus 967. Eph. 1. 7. In whom we have redemption Rom. 8. 18. We wait for future glory and the redemption of our bodies We have redemption in Christ from the guilt of sinne by our justification we expect a full redemption from inherent sinnes in our glorification for Christ shall transform our mortall bodies that he may make them like to his glorious body that as we are one with him here in soul and body by grace so we may be also in glory 968. Eph. 3. 5. The mystery of Christs incarnation was in other ages unknown to men Col. 1. 5. You have heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel It was unknown to the Fathers under the Law in respect of fulnesse and clearnesse of knowledge revealed since Christ came and it was made manifest to the whole world by the Ministry of the Apostles 969. Eph. 3. 15. All paternity is named from God the Father Joh. 8. 44. The devil is the father of lies God is the Father of heavenly and earthly paternity the devil is excluded from these for he hath no such paternity but as he is the Authour he is called the Father of a lie 970. Eph. 4. 19. The Gentiles gave themselves over to lasciviousnesse to work all uncleannesse Rom. 1. 28. God gave them over to a reprobate minde The Gentiles gave themselves over in regard of their sinnes God gave them over in regard of punishment 971. Eph. 5. 25. Husbands love your wives Luk. 14 26. Wives are to be beloved as they are wives but if they hinder us from following Christ they are to be hated with such a hatred as proceeds not from anger but zeal to Gods glory 972. Eph. 5. 33. Let the wife see that she reverence Deut. 6. 13. her husband Matth. 10. 28. Rather fear God Fear in respect of God must be guided the same way that love must God must be beloved above all not excluding fear which is due to others 973. Eph. 5. 1. Be ye followers of God 1 Cor. 11. 1. Be ye followers of me The Apostle warns the Ephesians to be followers of God for by that they shall fructifie the more Ae exhorts the Corinthians to follow him that as he followed Christ so they would learn of him as if he would have said If you cannot follow Christ yet follow me at least that am his servant 974 Eph 5. 26. Christ hath cleansed his Church by the washing of water by the word 1 John 1. 7. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sins Christ purgeth away our spots with his blood as with water by the Word and Sacraments as by instruments he communicates to us the power of his death 975. Eph. 6. 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood Gal. 5. 17. The spirit and the flesh are contrary In the former place mention is made of our principall and capitall enemy that is the devil in the later of the concupiscence of our corrupt flesh and the strife of it against the Spirit The Epistle of St PAUL to the PHILIPPIANS HE exhorts them to patience and not to be offended with his chains but that they should live patiently in mutuall love and take heed of false Teachers and study to lead a life unblameable Written from Rome by Epaphreditus 976. Phil. 2. 7. He was made in the likenesse of man and was found in fashion as a man 2 Cor. 5. 16. Henceforth know we Christ no more after the flesh The first place is concerning Christs true humanity who after his humiliation was exalted of God above all creatures and made to be Lord in the glory of the Father 977. Phil. 2. 9. God hath given him a Name which is above every name Matth. 1. 21. In his conception Luk. 2. 21. In his Circumcision they called his name Jesus By the Name above all names is understood Majesty and glory given from God the Father Mat. 1. 22. unto Jesus Christ our Lord. In his conception he was called Jesus because he shall save his people from their sinnes 978. Phil. 2. 12. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling 2 Tim. 1. 12. I am certain because the Lord is able to keep that which I committed unto him The Apostle means fear and trembling not that which is servile but filiall which is opposed to presumption and security least we should grow insolent upon the confidence of our gifts but that we should altogether depend on the mercy and goodnesse of God 979. Phil. 3. 12. Not as though I were already perfect ver 15. So many
contumacy forsake her husband nor the husband to forsake his wife but if she depart let her live unmarryed or be reconciled to her husband 694. Luk. 22. 28. Ye are they who have continued with me in my temptations Mat. 26. 56. All the Disciples forsook him and fled In the former place the Disciples constancy is commended for the time past that they forsook not Christ in his temptations when others were backward In the latter is observed their scattering abroad for that at the time of Christs passion their faith was much shaken 695. Luk. 22. 29. I appoint to you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed me Mar. 10. 40. For to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give He speaks at first not of the Kingdome of heaven whereof he hath the sole government but of the administration of the Kingdome of Grace in the promulgation of the Gospel through all the world and planting of Churches by Apostolical Authority which he going to his Father left in charge with them as he had it committed to him by his Father 696. Luk. 22. 31. Satan desired to have you that he may sift you as Wheat 1 Joh. 5. 18. And he that is born of God sinneth not and that wicked one that is the Devill toucheth him not Satan lays snares for godly men alwayes seeking whom he may devour that Christ confirms by example of the Disciples John teacheth that that evill one shall not hurt us though he set upon us For God is faithful who will not 1 Cor. 10. 13. suffer you to be tempted above what you are able but will with the temptation make a way to escape that you may be able to bear it 697. Luk. 23. 34. Father forgive them Joh. 17. 9. I pray not not for the world Christ both by words and his own example taught us to pray for our enemies he prayed not for the world that is for wicked men hardned in their sins of whom there was no hopes of repentance we must not imitate that because he onely knew best who they were that were such 698. Luk. 24. 10. Mary Magdalen and Joanna and Mary the Mother of James which told these things unto the Apostles Mar. 16. 10. Mary Magdalen told them that had been with him Mark excludes not the other women he names Mary Magdalen either because she spake to the Apostles in the name of all the rest or else with greater affection or because she spake first The Gospel of St. JOHN IT contains a relation of Christs Person both Mat. 10. 7. according to his divine and humane Nature also his Office and pains he endured unto the death or the Crosse his Resurrection also and his appearings It was written after the other Evangelists against the Heresies of Ebion and Cerinthus being as it were a Complement of those things were let passe by the other Evangelists 699. Joh. 1. 7. John came for a witnesse to bear witnesse of the light c. 5. 34. I saith Christ receive not testimony from man John testified of Christ that he was the light Act. 1. 8. c. 10. 39. of the world not for Christs cause but for mans cause that they might believe in him For seeing he is the chief good the testimony of men or Angels can adde nothing unto him 700. Joh. 1. 8. He that is John was not that light c. 5. 35. He was a burning light John was not the light of life which enlightens Joh. 8. 12. every man that comes into the world but Christ who is the light of the world Yet John was a burning light which not of himself but before others carryed the Torch-light of the Word and enlightned many by the Ministery that so they might see that true Light and Sun of Righteousnesse So Ministers of the Church and all the godly shine before others in holy doctrine and a pious life 701. Joh. 1. 14 18. We behold his glory as of the only begotten of the Father Gal. 3. 26. For you are all the children of God by faith which is in Christ Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God Rom. 8. 15. 2 Cor. 1. 22. c. 5. 15. namely the natural Son begotten from everlasting by the communication of the whole divine Nature from the Father the faithful are called the sons of God by Adoption their faith in Christ and the holy Ghost which is called the Spirit of Adoption because by his vertue and operation he adopts us to be the sons of God 702. Joh. 1. 27. He it is who came after me v. 27. For he was before me Christ was born after John the Baptist of the Virgin Mary in the sixth moneth according to his humane Nature but he was before him as he was God from everlasting 703. Joh. 2. 4. Woman what have I to doe with thee Mat. 15. 4. Honour thy Father and Mother The words of Christ were of Information not of Reprehension For we must obey God rather then men By the word woman he implyes that the Virgin Mary must not be the object of Invocation but God only saith Epiphan Haeres 79. 704. Joh. 3. 13. No man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came from heaven even the Son of Man which is in heaven c. 17. 24. Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory By ascending and descending here we must understand the usurpation of heavenly things for the natural and carnal man perceiveth not those things which are from the Spirit of God And all those whom the Father gave to Christ that is the faithful shall be blessed with him for ever both in souls and bodies and so the first place is explained by the latter Christ is Head of the faithful and we are his Members he is in the midst of us and our conversation is in heaven He descended in weaknesse that he might raise us to his glory for no man can come to the Father but by him 705. Joh. 3. 17. God sent not his Son into the world Gal. 4. 4. God sent his Son God sent not his Son to judge the world in his state of humiliation but he sent him to redeem those that were under the law now in his state of exaltation he doth and will judge the world For all judgement and power is Joh. 5. 19. Mat. 28. given to him from the Father both in Heaven and in Earth 706. Joh. 4. 1. Jesus baptized v. 2. Jesus himself baptized not but his Disciples Christ did not outwardly baptize with his own hands but by his Disciples yet it is called Christs Baptism because he appointed it and consecrated it by his Word sanctified it by his own Baptism adorned it and confirmed it by annexing a promise to it and because with the outward Baptism by water he joyneth the baptism by fire that is he Mat. 3. 11. Luk. 3. 17. inwardly washeth
ch 5. 20. Where there is no Law there is no transgression ch 2. 12. As many as sinne in the Law shall be judged by the Law In the former place the Law is taken generally without which there can be no transgression in the later he speaks of the natural Law for even the Gentiles shall perish for violating of it 837. Rom. 4. 18. Abraham against hope ver 18. Believed in hope He beleeved contrary to humane hope by his hope in God having confidence contrary to the reason of the flesh the force of nature for all these would have weakned hope would make him doubt and despair also yet he overcame all those difficulties by firm hope he hoped in things desperate distrusting himself but trusting in God 838. Rom. 4. 25. God raised Jesus Christ our Lord from the dead Joh. 10. 18. I have power to lay down my life and I have power to take it up The Resurrection is ascribed to God the Father because the works of the Trinity ad extra are indivisible to the Sonne because he hath the same power with the Father who willingly underwent death and therefore the Resurrection is to be ascribed to his free will 839. Rom. 5 2. By faith we stand and rejoyce 1 Cor. 10. 12. Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed least he fall We stand founded on Gods grace whilst we are kept by the power of God by faith unto salvation by sinne we fall when we think we stand 840. Rom. 5. 4. Patience worketh experience James 1. 3. Experience worketh patience Probation in the first place is taken passively for experience which rejoyceth by patience in the later it is taken actively for triall and the effect of it that is tribulation for affliction trieth faith as fire doth gold 841. Rom. 5. 6. 7. Christ died for us 1 John 3. 16. Because he that is Christ laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren Christ dying for us a sacrifice and revenger Col. 1. 24. paied our ransom for us John comparing the death of Christ for us and our death for the brethren doth it secundum quid for we die not to redeem our brethren but to edifie them 842. Rom. 5. 8. God commendeth his love towards us in that when we were yet sinners Christ died for us Rom. 8. 32. The Father spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all The Father and the Son did alwaies love us and have done all things for us Christ delivered himself for our sins into the power of the devil and because we were not to be redeemed by power but by Righteousnesse Christ the righteous died for us and so by righteousnesse he overcame the devil therefore because the devil had slain Christ it was necessary that he should release those that were captives and the Aug. de Trin. l. 13. c. 2. devil by the price paid was not made rich but ensnared 843. Rom 5. 10. When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne John 15. 13. No man hath greater love then this that a man lay down his life for his friends By nature we are Gods enemies by reason of sinne but by grace we are reconciled to God by Christ who died for us and we are so made the dearest friends unto God 844. Rom. 5. 12 18. As by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne so death passed over all men ver 19. as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by one mans obedience many shall be made righteous The guilt of Adam is here compared with the grace of Christ because both have that descends on their followers Adam derives his guilt on all men by nature Christ derives his righteousnesse by grace on all that beleeve on him 845. Rom. 5. 20. The Law entred that sinne might abound ch 7. 12. The Law is holy and the Commandment holy just and good The Law increaseth sinne not of it self and its own nature but by accident because it discovers sinne and the poyson of it that we may know it for by the corruption of nature we are stirred up to strive against the Commandment yet the Law remains still in it self just and good 846. Rom. 6. 3. So many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death Act. 8. 13. Simen Magus and other hypocrites were baptized yet they put not on Christ To be baptized into Christ is to put on Christ the Robes of his Righteousnesse and Holinesse which beleevers who are baptized do Simon Magus and hypocrites that are not faithfull Hieror in Rom 6. receive not the Spirit but water only in Baptism for there is a common Baptism to all that are baptized but not the vertue of Baptism that is grace Aug. in Psal 77. 847. Rom. 6. 12. Let not sinne reign in your mortall body ch 3. 12. There is none that doth good no not one The first place is to exhort us to mortifie sinne in us in the Regenerate sinne reigns not they are wholly dead to sinne in Christ and partly in themselves they that are not Regenerate know indeed what they ought to do and know that of themselves they are unable to perform it 848. Rom. 6. 14. Ye are not under the Law but under grace Gal. 3. 22. The Scripture hath concluded all under sinne The first place is concerning the Regenerate who are not under the malediction dominion and rigid exaction of the Law the later is concerning all that are subject to sin for whom the Law is a Schoolmaster to Christ by the knowledge of our sins 849. Rom. 6. 18. You are become the servants of righteousnesse vers 20. You were free from righteousnesse In the former place is spoken of those who were converted and freed from the yoke of sin in the later of those that are not yet converted who are free from righteousnesse and are not under the government of righteousnesse for carnall wisdom cannot be subject to the Law of God 850. Rom. 6. 23. The wages of sinne is death Wisdom 2. 24. By the envy of the devil death entred into the world The wages of sinne is death because the Justice of God would have it so to punish mankinde that was fallen by death the Authour whereof was not God but it came into the world by the envy of the devil 851. Rom. 7. 6. Now we are delivered from the Law Matth. 5. 17. I came not to destroy the Law We are delivered from the curse of the Law the rigour and provocation of it to sinne also from the Law or death in which we were held but that takes not away the right use of the Law in respect of us 852. Rom. 7. 7. I had not known lust unlesse the Law had said thou shalt not covet 1 Tim. 3. 1. If a man desireth the office of a Bishop he desireth a good work Concupiscence taken