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1, The sonnes of God, marry with the daughters of men: 4, so Giants are bred: 5, wickednesse increa∣seth; 6, God repenteth that he made Man; 7, and will destroy them: 8, Noe findeth grace, 13, and is forewarned of the Flood; 14, The Arke (with
matter and forme thereof) is commanded to bee made, 18, for the saving of Noes house, 19, and some of all living things; 21, with provision of food. 22, Noe doth all that God commanded.
ANd it was when men began to mul∣tiply [unspec 1] on the face of the earth: and daughters were borne unto them. That the sonnes of God saw the daughters [unspec 2] of men, that they were faire: and they tooke unto them wives, of all which they chose. And Iehovah said; My spirit shall not strive [unspec 3] with man, for ever; for that he also is flesh: and his dayes shall be an hundred and twen∣tie yeeres. There were Giants in the earth [unspec 4] in those dayes; and also after that, when the sonnes of God went-in unto the daughters of men; and they bare children to them: they were mighty men; which were of old, men of name.
And Iehovah saw, that the wickednesse of [unspec 5] man was much in the earth; and every ima∣gination of the thoughts of his heart, was onely evill every day. And it repented Ie∣hovah, [unspec 6] that he had made man on the earth: & it grieved him at his heart. And Iehovah [unspec 7] said; I will blot-out man, whom I have crea∣ted, from the face of the earth; from man unto beast, unto the creeping-thing, and un∣to the fowle of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noe found [unspec 8] grace in the eyes of Iehovah.
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THESE are THE GENERATIONS OF [unspec 9] NOE; Noe was a just man, perfect in his generations: Noe walked with God. And [unspec 10] Noe begat three sonnes: Sem, Cham, and Iapheth. And the earth was corrupt before [unspec 11] God: and the earth was filled with violent-wrong. And God saw the earth, and loe it [unspec 12] was corrupt: for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
And God said unto Noe; An end of all [unspec 13] flesh is come before me; for the earth is fil∣led with violent wrong, from the face of them: and behold I destroy them with the earth. Make for thee an Arke of Gopher [unspec 14] trees; nests shalt thou make in the Arke: and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this (the fashion) which thou shalt [unspec 15] make it of: three hundred cubits the length of the Arke; fifty cubits the bredth of it; and thirty cubits the height of it. A cleare∣light [unspec 16] shalt thou make to the Arke; and in a cubit shalt thou finish it from above; and the doore of the Arke shalt thou set in the side thereof: with lower, second and third stories shalt thou make it. And I, behold I doe [unspec 17] bring the Flood of waters upon the earth; to destroy all flesh, which hath in it the spi∣rit of life; from under the heavens: every-thing that is in the earth, shall give-up the ghost. But I will stablish my covenant with [unspec 18] thee: and thou shalt enter into the Arke; thou, and thy sonnes, and thy wife, and thy sonnes wives, with thee. And of every li∣ving [unspec 19] thing, of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the Arke, to keep alive with thee: they shall be male and female. Of the [unspec 20] fowle, after his kinde; and of the beast, after his kinde; of every creeping thing of the earth, after his kind: two of every sort, shall come unto thee, to keepe (them) alive. And take thou unto thee, of all meat, that is [unspec 21] eaten; and thou shalt gather it to thee: and it shall bee for thee, and for them, for meat. And Noe did: according to all that God [unspec 22] commanded him, so did he.
MEn:] Hebr. Adam: put generally for men, [unspec 1] as the Greeke translateth, and the last words of this verse doe confirme: so the Chaldee saith, the sonnes of man. The posterity of Kain is hereby meant, who increased faster then Seths did: and sought so to doe by taking moe wives, Gen. 4. 19.
Vers. 2. the sons of God:] the men of the Church [unspec 2] of God; for unto such Moses saith, ye are the sonnes of Iehovah your God, Deut. 14. 1. so 1 Ioh. 3. 1. The name God, in Hebrew Aelohim, is in the forme plurall, and sometime Princes are so named, Exod. 21. 6. Psal. 82. so the Chaldee here translateth, the sonnes of Princes: understanding (as I thinke) Seth, and the other Patriarchs. daughters of men:] meaning of Kains posterity, that were out of Gods Church, Gen. 4. 14. and because they were not borne againe of God, by the immortall seed of his word, (1 Ioh. 3. 9. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 23.) they continued children of the old Adam, and naturall man still. So Paul saith, 1 Cor. 3. 3. walke ye not as men? that is, as unregenerate men. fayre:] or goodly: Hebr. good, to weet, of countenance, as is expressed, Gen. 24. 16. the Chaldee translateth it fayre. tooke unto them:] that is, tooke to them∣selves, and regarded not the counsell of their god∣ly parents, (who should by right take wives for their children) nor the will of God, whose law after forbad such prophane mariages, Deut. 7. 3. 4. The like is noted of Esau, Gen. 26. 34. 35. and 28. 8. 9. Thus corruption grew in families. which they chose:] that is, which they loved and liked, fol∣lowing their owne affections. So, my chosen, Esay 42. 1. is interpreted, my beloved, Mat. 12. 18. and choosing is often used for liking or delighting, Ps. 25. 12. and 119. 173. Esay. 1. 2. and so the Chaldee
translateth it here. Into this sinne, Solomon also s••ll, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 King. 11. 1. 2.
Vers. 3. my spirit:] This is that holy spirit of Christ by which he preached in the Patriarches, [unspec 3] and especially in Noe, to the disobedient spirits of the olde world, 1 Pet. 3. 18. 19. 20. 2 Pet. 2. 5. not strive] or, not judge, that is, not contend in judge∣ment for so this word is elsewhere also used, Eccles. 6. 10. and may here import, both contending by preaching, disputing, convincing in the mouthes of the Patriarches, (as Nehem. 9. 30.) and by in∣ward motions and checks of conscience which his spirit gave them for their sinnes; against which they that struggle, fall into the sinne against the ho∣ly Ghost, despiting the spirit of grace, Heb. 10. 29. So the Spirit of God is sayd to be tempted, resisted, grieved, Acts 5. 9. and 7. 51. Esay 63. 10. Ephes. 4. 30. with man] or, in man, implying both the contending of the Prophets outward, and of Gods spirit inwardly; as before is observed. Here the Church declined, is called man (or Adam) to note their corrupt estate. The Greek trāslateth it, my Spi∣rit shall not continue in these men. The Chaldee para∣phraseth, This evill generation shall not continue be∣fore me for ever: understanding (as it seemeth) by the Spirit, mans naturall soule and life, which God would take away by the Flood. he also] that is, these also, which are my peculiar professant people. is flesh] that is, is fleshly, not having the spirit, but walking after their owne lusts; as Iude vers. 19. 16. The flesh and the Spirit, are also thus opposed, Rom. 7. 5. 6. and 8. 8. 9. Gal. 5. 16. 17. So the Chaldee here saith, For that they are flesh, and their workes e∣vill. And this is the state of all men in their first birth: for that which is borne of the flesh, is flesh, Ioh. 3. 6. 120. yeares:] meaning, that so long time by Noes preaching, and building the Arke, they should have space given them to repent, or else then to perish. This long-sufferance of God, the Apostle mentioneth, in 1 Pet. 3. 19. 20. 2 Pet. 2. 5. and sheweth the summe and end of his prea∣ching to be, that they might bee judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 1 Pet. 4. 6. that is, they repenting and turning un∣to Christ, the body might be dead because of sinne; but the spirit be life, because of righteousnesse, Rom. 8. 10. So the Chaldee here saith, A terme shall bee given them of 120 yeares, if they will convert: So ma∣ny were the yeeres of Moses life, Deut 34. 7.
Vers. 4. Gyants] in Hebrew, Nephilim, which hath the signification of falling, as being Apostates, [unspec 4] faine from God: and being fierce and cruell to men, falling on them (as Iob. 1. 15.) and whom they made by feare and force, to fall before them: Such were men of great stature, that other men were as grashoppers in respect of them, Num. 13. 33. The Chaldee calleth them Gibbaraja, that is, mighty men; (and so Nimrod was Gibbor, that is, mighty on the earth, Gen. 10. 8.) the Greeke nameth them Giganies, whereof our English is derived, and the Greeke Poets feyned them to be borne of the earth, noting them to be earthly minded, not caring for heaven: and borne also of such parents. after that] that is, as before; so after God had threatned their destruction, that they were not bettered, or brought to repentance. went in] namely, into the chamber, as is expressed, Iudg. 15. 1. and con∣sequently, companyed with them: in like sense as knowing is used before, Gen. 4. 1. So David went in to Bathsheba, Psal. 51. 2. Abram to Agar, Genes. 16. 2. Iaakob to his wife, Gen. 29. 21. a modest phrase they bare] to weet, the women last mentioned: or, they (the men) begat children to themselves. The Hebrew implyeth both. mighty men] the Greeke translateth this also Giants; and it seemeth to bee an explanation of their former name. men of name] that is, of renowm: famous and renowmed. Contrary hereto is, men without name, Iob 30. 8.
Vers. 5. wickednesse,] or malice, evill. every [unspec 5] imagination,] or, the whole fiction; the word is gene∣rall, for all and every thing that the heart first ima∣gineth, formeth, purposeth, 1 Chron. 28. 9. and 29. 18. Luke 1. 51. every day,] or, all the day: that is, continually. The Greeke translateth thus, and every one mindeth in his heart carefully for evils, all dayes.
Vers. 6. it repented Iohovah,] This is spoken not [unspec 6] properly, for God repenteth not, 1 Sam. 15. 29. but after the manner of men; for God changing his deed, and dealing otherwise then before, doth as men doe when they repent. So 1 Sam. 15. 11. the earth] hereby teaching, that there was none on earth whom God respected. So that but for the se∣cond man (Christ) the Lord from heaven, (1 Cor. 15. 47.) whom Noe beleeved in; the world had now beene consumed. So the Hebrew Doctors, as the Zohan upon this place saith, man on the earth, to except the man above, (or the superior Adam) who was not on the earth, it grieved him:] The Scrip∣ture giveth to God, joy, griefe, anger, &c. not as any passions, or contrary affections, for he is most simple and unchangeable, Iam. 1. 17. but by a kind of proportion, because he doth of his immutable nature and will, such things, as men doe with those passions and changes of affections. So heart, hands, eyes, and other parts are attributed to him, for effecting such things, as men cannot doe but by such members. God is said to be grieved for the corruption of his creatures: contrariwise, when he restoreth them by his grace, hee rejoyceth in them, Esay 65. 19. Psal. 104. 31. Of these phrases spoken concerning God, the Hebrew Doctors write thus: Forasmuch as it is cleare, that (God) is no corporall or bodily thing; it is also cleare, that not any corporall ac∣cident (or occurrence) doth befall unto him: neither composition, nor division, nor place, nor measure, nor going up, nor comming downe, nor right hand, nor left hand, nor face, nor back-parts, nor sitting, nor standing: neither beginning nor ending, nor number of yeares; nei∣ther is he chāgeable, for nothing can cause him to change. Neither is there in him death, or life, as the life of a cor∣porall living thing: nor folly, nor wisedome, according to humane wisedome; nor sleepe, nor waking, nor anger, nor laughter, nor joy, nor griefe, nor silence, nor speech, as the sonnes of Adam speake, &c. but all these, and the like things spoken of him in the Law and Prophets, are parabolicall and figurative. As when
it is said, Hee that sitteth in the heaven, doth laugh, (Psalm. 2.) and the like: of all such our wise men have said, The Law speaketh according to the language of the sonnes of Adam. And so he saith, Doe they pro∣voke me to anger? (Ier. 7. 19.) againe hee saith, I am the Lord, I change not. (Mal. 3. 6.) and if he be some∣time angry, and sometime joyfull, then is he changeable: But all these things are not found, save in persons obscure and base, that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust: but he the blessed (God) is blessed and exalted above all these. Maimony in Iesud. hatorah chap. 1. S. 11. 12.
Vers. 7. blot-out:] that is, destroy and abolish. [unspec 7] from man:] that is, both men and beasts. For as the beasts were made for man, Gen. 1. 28. so they be∣came subject to vanity and destruction, through mans iniquity, Gen. 3. 17. Rom. 8. 20.
Vers. 8. found grace:] that is, obtained favour, or [unspec 8] mercies, (as the Chaldee translateth it.) So this phrase is interpreted in Greeke, sometime finding grace, Heb. 4. 16. sometime finding mercy, 2. Tim. 1. 18. and grace is opposed unto workes, and unto debt, Rom. 11. 6. and 4. 4. And it is a speciall title of God, that he is named Gracious, Exod. 34. 6. and a speciall prerogative of his people, that they find grace in his eyes, as after of Lot. Gen. 19. 19. of Mo∣ses, Exod. 33. 12. of David, Act. 7. 45. of Marie, Luke 1. 30. And the letters of * 1.1 Noes name, are the letters of * 1.2 Grace in Hebrew, the order being changed.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 These three letters in the Hebrew Bi∣bles, do signifie the Parasha, or great Section of Mo∣ses law, which was a Lecture on the Sabbath day, read in the Iewes Synagogues, as is observed, Act. 15. 21. to which was added a Lecture out of the Prophets, Act. 13. 15. And the first Paragraph or Section (which is from the creation hitherto) they call Breshith, that is, In the beginning; this second, which reacheth to the twelvth Chapter, they call Noe; and so the rest: There are in all 54. Secti∣ons in the Law, which they read in the 52 Sab∣baths, joyning two of the shortest twice together, that the whole might be finished in a yeares space. Hereof the Hebrew Doctors write thus: It is a common custome throughout all Israel, that they finish wholly the (reading of the) law, in one yeare; begin∣ning in the Sabbath which is after the feast of Taber∣nacles, at the first section of Genesis: in the second (Sab∣bath) at These are the generations of Noe: in the third, at The Lord said unto Abraham, (Gen. 12. 1.) so they reade and goe on in this order, till they have ended the Law, at the feast of Tabernacles: Maimony in Misn. treat. of Prayer, chap. 13. S. 1.
Vers. 9. generations:] that is, off-spring, and things that did befall him and them: so Gen. 25. 19. and [unspec 9] 37. 2. and 2. 4. and 5. 2. just,] or, righteous: Noe is the first in the world that hath this title of just; and as generally the just liveth by faith, Rom. 1. 17. so of Noe the Apostle witnesseth, he was made heyre of the justice which is by faith, Heb. 11. 7. perfect] or, intire, syncere, of a simple, plaine, and upright cariage: as justice usually respecteth faith, so per∣fectnesse respecteth life and conversation, in the heart of man, Esay 38. 3. and in his wayes, Psalm. 119. 1. This is not meant of perfection in measure or degrees, as being without all sinne, Eccles. 7. 22. Iames 3. 2. 1. Ioh. 1. 8. but when men by the grace of God, keepe themselves from their iniquity, Psalm. 18. 33. 24. and sinne hath not dominion in them, Psal. 19. 14. The perfect man is opposed to the per∣verse and restlesse wicked, Iob 9. 20. 22. in his generations,] that is, among the men of the ages wherein he lived. So generation, Mat. 11. 16. and 12. 42. is expounded, the men of that generation, Luk. 7. 31. and 11. 31. walked with God:] that is, by faith pleased and acceptably served God: see the like be∣fore of Enoc, Gen. 5. 22. The word may imply also administration in the office whereunto God had called him, which was to be a preacher of justice, 2 Pet. 2. 5. So the Hebrew Doctors say, hee prea∣ched to the old world, and faid, Turne ye from your wayes, and from your evill workes, that the waters of the flood come not upon you, and cut off the whole seed of the sonnes of Adam. Pirke. R. Eliezer, ch. 22.
Vers. 11. the earth was corrupt;] that is, the inhabi∣tants [unspec 11] of the earth: (see Gen. 11. 1.) and so the earth it selfe for and through them; as is shewed after in vers. 12. 13. therefore both were destroyed to∣gether. Corrupting is in speciall applyed to idolatry, and depraving of Gods true service, Exod. 32. 7. Deut. 32. 5. Iudg. 2. 19. as, the people are said to doe corruptly, 2 Chron. 27. 2. when they sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, 2 King. 15. 35. So idolatry was their chiefe corruption here, as may also be gathered by Gen. 4. 26. see the anno∣tations there. before God:] that is, openly and boldly in Gods sight, as Gen. 10. 9. and in respect of his worship and law: see Gen. 17. 1. vio∣lent wrong] injurious and cruel dealing, which seem∣eth to be chiefly meant of violating the duties to∣wards men; as the former word noted corruption of religion, Gen. 49. 5. Ioel 3. 19. Obad. 1. 10. The Chaldee turneth it rapines, (or robberies.) Or, by violent wrong, violent and cruell men may bee un∣derstood: as, pride, is used for proud men, Ier. 50. 31. 32. sinne, for sinfull men, Prov. 13. 6. poverty, for poore men, 2 King. 24. 14. and many the like. Thus corruption encreased in the ecclesiasticall and poli∣ticall estate, as it began in the domesticall.
Vers. 12. all flesh:] that is, all men, who are cal∣led [unspec 12] flesh, both for their frailty, Psal. 71. 39. and cor∣rupt unregenerate estate, Gen. 6. 3. So flesh is ex∣pounded to be men, and people Psal. 56. 5. 12. Esay 40. 5. 6. their way:] that is, both their religion, or faith; (for so a way often signifieth, Act. 18. 25. 26. and 22. 4. 2 Pet. 2. 2.) and their manners, workes, or course of life; as elsewhere is mentioned the way of Kain, for maliciousnesse, Iude vers. 11. the way of Balaam for covetousnesse, 2 Pet. 2. 15. and sundry the like. And of this way of the old world, wherein wicked men did walke, it is noted, that God had filled their houses with good things, but they said unto him, depart from us: they did eate, they dranke, they maried wives, they were given in mariage, untill the day that Noe entred into the Arke, and the flood came, and destroyed them all: Iob 22. 15. 17. 18. Luke 17. 27.
Vers. 13. An end is come:] that is, the time of de∣〈…〉〈…〉tion [unspec 13] is at hand: so Amos 8. 2. Ier. 51. 13. Ezek. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2. 3. 6. from the face] that is, because, or through them. destroy] or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 corrupting, that is, ready to corrupt, or destroy. Before, the word was used for corrupting by sinne; here, for corrupting with punishment, due for their sinne: that is, destroying. So Gen. 18. 28. and 19. 13. and often in the Scrip∣tures. with the earth] the Greeke saith, and the earth: which being given for a possession to the somes of Adam, was also destroyed with them; as in other particular judgements, mens goods perish∣ed with them, Gen. 19. Num. 16. 32. Ios. 7. 15. 24.
Vers. 14. an Arke] or Chest, Coffin: called in He∣brew [unspec 14] Tebah: and differeth from the Arke or Cof∣fer which Moses made for Gods Sanctuary, which was called Aron, Exod. 25. 10. and served to keepe the Tables of Gods law, Deut. 10. 2. 5. but this Arke Tebah, was to keepe men, and live things from the water; as a ship, used onely in this histo∣ry, and in Exod. 2. 3 The holy Ghost in Greeke expresseth them both by one word Kibotos, an Ark Heb. 11. 7. and 9. 4. Heathen writers also make mention of this Arke, but by another name Lar∣nax, that likewise is an Arke: Plutarch. de industr. animal. This Arke was a figure of Christs Church, where into they that enter by saith, are saved from the stood of Gods wrath; of which grace, Bap∣tisme (the answerable type) is a signe and seale. See. 1 Pet. 3. 20. 21. Gopher trees] The Chal∣dee paraphrafts make them a kind of Cedars: the Scripture mentioneth not this word any other where. But Gophrith is after used for sulphure, or brimstone, Gen. 19. 24. whereupon some thinke these to be Turpentine trees, which beare sulphury b〈…〉〈…〉yes, and the wood is knowne to be fit for such an use. nests,] that is, little roomes or mansions, (as the Chaldee translateth) for men, beasts, birds, &c. to be in severally. So a nest, is for a mansion; Num. 24. 21. Obad. 4. pitch] or plaister: the Hebrew Copher, which elsewhere is often used for covering and propit••••ting of sinne, making atonement, and the like; is onely here used for pitch or plaister, there being two other proper words for such stuffe, Exod. 2. 3. It figured the atonement made for the Church by Christ, wherewith wee being by faith covered and plaistered, the waters of Gods wrath, enter not upon us.
Vers. 15. cubits:] or ells: a cubit is the measure [unspec 15] from the elbow to the fingers end, containing sixe hand bredths, or a foot and a halfe: so 300 cubits make 450 foot. height,] or stature. By these measures here set downe, the Arke was by propor∣tion like in shape rod Coffin for a mans body, sixe times so long as it was broad, and ten times so long as it was high: which was commodious for swim∣ming, and steddinesse against windes: fit also to fi∣gure out Christs death, and buriall, and ours with him, by mortification of the old man: as the A∣postle apply eth this type to baptisme, 1 Pet. 3. 20. 21. whereby wee are become dead and buried with Christ, Rom. 6. 3. 4. 6.
Vers. 16. A 〈◊〉〈◊〉 light:] whether by one, or [unspec 16] by many windowes, is uncertaine: after there is mention of a window that was in the Arke, Gen. 8. 6 The Hebrew Zohar (which the Chaldee transla∣teth, Neh••r, Light,) is not found in the Scripture but here: of it Zaherajim is used for the noone day light. Some Hebrew Doctors say it was a precious stone, hanged in the Arke, which gave light to all creatures which were therein: Pirk R. Eliezar, chap. 23. This clear-light signified the enlightning of the Church, by the holy Ghost, as the doore sig∣nified faith in Christ, Ephes. 1. 17. 18. Ioh. 10. 9. in a cubit:] or, unto a cubit. it from above:] by it, seemeth the Arke to be meant; (rather then the light or window,) which Arke had the roofe arched or bowed but a cubit, that it might bee al∣most flat; yet so as the water might easily slide off. third stories] or, third nests, that is, roomes; as v. 14. So many distinct stories, there are also with∣in mans bodie. And Paul maketh three parts of man, body, soule, and spirit, 1 Thess. 5. 23. Likewise in Moses Tabernacle, and in Solomons Temple, were three rooms; the Courtyard, the Holy place, and the Most holy, Exod. 25. and 27. 1 King. 6. The Church also (figured by the Arke) hath three states, before the Law, under the Law, and under Christ, Rom. 5. 13. 14. Ioh. 1. 27.
Vers. 17. I doe bring:] or, am bringing: the Lord [unspec 17] hereupon is said to sit at the flood: Psal. 29. 10. as being the judge from whom this wrath proceeded, and moderator in mercy to Noe. the flood,] or, deluge: the Hebrew mabbul, is a peculiar naine to this flood, which drowned the world, and made all things fade and dye on earth, whereof it hath the name. In Greeke the holy Ghost calleth it Kata∣clysmos, of the abundant shedding and inundation of the waters. Mat. 24. 38.
Vers. 18. I will establish:] that is, make sure and [unspec 18] stable, and faithfully keepe my covenant. For so the word importeth, and other Scriptures open it, as, establish thou, 2 Sam. 7. 25. is expounded, let it bee faithfull (or sure.) 1 Chron. 17. 23. and to stablish the words of a covenant, 2 King. 23. 3. is to doe (or performe) them, 2 Chron. 34. 31. and to continue in doing them, Gal. 3. 10. with Deut. 27. 26. my covenant,] or, testament; a disposition of good things faithfully declared: which God here usu∣ally calleth his, as arising from his grace towards Noe, (vers. 8.) and all men; but implying also con∣ditions on mans part, and therefore is elsewhere named our covenant, Zach. 9. 11. The Apostles call it Diathekee, that is, a Testament or Disposition; and it is mixed of properties both of covenant and of testament, as the Apostle sheweth in Heb. 9. 16. 17. &c. and of both may be named a testamentall co∣venant, or a covenanting testament: whereby the disposing of Gods favours and good things to us his children, is declared. and thou shalt enter, &c] This explaineth the Covenant made; on Gods part, that hee would save Noe and his houshold from death by the Arke; and on Noes part, that he should in faith and obedience make, and enter in∣to the Arke, so committing himselfe to Gods pre∣servation, Heb. 11. 7. And under this, the cove∣nant or testament of eternall salvarion by Christ, was also implyed; the Apostle testifying, that the
(antitype) or like figure hereunto, even Baptisme doth also now save us, 1 Pet. 3. 21. which baptisme is a seale of our salvation, Mar. 16. 16. wives] Hereupon the Apostle observeth, how in the Arke, a few, that is, eight soules, were saved by water, 1 Pet. 3. 20.
Vers. 19. two] or, by twoes, that is, by paires: which is after explained to be seven of every clean, [unspec 19] and two of every uncleane beast, Gen. 7. 2. Thus God sheweth himselfe to be the saver of man and beast, Psal. 36. 7. to keepe alive, that is, that thou maist keepe alive: (as the Greeke explaineth it, that thou maist nourish.) Observe how verbs indefinite, doe often times include (though not expresse) a certaine person, especially such as was spoken of before: as Eccles. 4. 17. (or 5. 1.) they know not to do evill; that is, they know not that they doe evill. Zach. 12. 10. they shall mourne, and to be bitternesse; that is, and they shall be in bitternesse This the Hebrew text it selfe sometime manifesteth: as Esa. 37. 18. 19. they have laid wast: and to cast their gods, &c. that is, and they have cast their gods: as is written 2 King. 1••. 18. So in 1 Chron. 17. 4. build me an house to dwell in: for which in 2 Sam. 7. 5. is written, build me an house for me to dwell in. Likewise in the Greek, as, Suzetein, to question, that is, they questioned, Mar. 1. 17. for which another Evangelist saith, Sunela∣loun, they spake together, Luke 4. 36. not lawfull to eate, Luke 6. 4. that is, for him to eate, Mat. 12. 4. not to enter, Luke 22. 40. or, that ye enter not, Mat. 26. 41. Also the holy Ghost so translateth; as, to be my salvation, Esay 49. 6. which Paul citing, saith, that thou maist be my salvation, Act. 13. 47. So in Gen. 19. 20. and 23. 8. Exod. 9. 16. and often through-out the Scriptures.
Vers. 20. shall come to thee:] to weet, of their [unspec 20] owne accord, by my instinct. Signifying hereby, that Noe should not need to hunt for them. So it was before with Adam, in Gen. 2. 19. to keepe alive:] that is, that thou maist keepe them alive: as be∣fore in vers. 19. Or, to be kept alive: as the Greeke here translateth, to be nourished with thee. For a verb indefinite active, is often to be understood passive∣ly; as, a time to beare, Eccles. 3. 2. that is, to be borne. What to doe? Est. 6. 6. that is, what shall be done? So, for to declare my name, Ex. 9. 16. is by the Apostles authority translated, that my name may bee declared, Rom. 9. 17. See Gen. 2. 20. and 4. 13.
Vers. 22. And Noe did it] This commendeth [unspec 22] Noes singular faith and obedience, in undertaking and performing so great a worke, full of infinite doubts, feares, troubles, charges, &c. wherefore hee hath of the holy Ghost this good report; By faith Noe being spoken to of God, of things not seene as yet, moved with reverence, (or using carefulnesse) pre∣paredan Arke, to the saving of his house: by the which he condemned the world, and became heyre of the justice which is by faith, Heb. 11. 7. did] or made it: namely, the Arke, and all things appointed him of God. Wherefore the Greeke so translateth; Noe did (or made) all things: and oftentimes a thing set downe thus generally, is to bee understood of all and every particular, the holy Ghost so expound∣ing: as (in a like case) Exod. 25. 40. looke and make them after their patterne: that is, looke thou make all things after the patterne, Heb. 8. 5. So Deut. 27. 26. Cursed be he that confirmeth not the words of this law: that is, Cursed be every one that continueth not in all things written in the booke of the Law, Gal. 3. 10. and sundry the like. according to all] so not onely the things themselves, but the manner of doing them, was according to the com∣mandement of God. Like praise was for the worke of the Tabernacle, Exod. 39. 43. and 40. 16.
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