L VIVES.
IN (a) The last daies.] The same is in Esay. 2. 2. (b) And thou Bethelem.] Augustine, and the seauenty do differ here from the Hebrew. S. Mathew readeth it thus. And thou Bethleem 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the land of Iudah art not the least among the Trinces of Iudah, for out of thee shall come the g•…•…rnor that shall feed my people Israel. S. Hierome vpon Michaeas (lib. 2.) saith that this quo∣•…•…ion of Mathew accordeth neither with the Hebrew nor the seauenty. This question put∣•…•…g the holy father to his plunges, hee is fayne to say that either the Apostle cited it not ha∣•…•…g the booke before him, but out of his memory, which some-time doth erre: or else 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hee cited it as the priests had giuen it in answer to Herod: herein shewing their negli∣•…•…, the first hee affirmeth as the opinion of others. It is an hard thing to make the Apostle •…•…ke iust contrary to the prophet: Neither Prophyry nor Celsus would beleeue this in a matter 〈◊〉〈◊〉 concerned not themselues. But the scope of both being one, maketh this coniecture in∣•…•…de the more tollerable: But it is a weake hold to say the Priest spake it thus, it were •…•…ly absurd in their practise of the scriptures to alter a Prophecy, intending especially •…•…hew the full ayme of it. But before the Apostle (nay the spirit of God) shalbe taxed with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 an error, let the later coniecture stand good, or a weaker then it, as long as we can finde 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stronger. But if we may lawfully put in a guesse, after Hierome (that worthy) in the ex∣•…•…tion of those holy labyrinths, to grant that the Hebrew and the seauenty read this place •…•…matiuely and the Euangelist negatiuely: read the place with an interrogation, and they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 both reconciled: I meane with an interrogation in the Prophet, as is common in their •…•…es, and befitting the ardor of their affections: but in the Euangelist the bare sence is •…•…y fit to be layd downe without figure or affection. (c) Of Ephrata.] The country where * 1.1 •…•…leem stood, which the Priests omitted, as speaking to Herod a stranger that knew Iuda 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The Euangelist gaue an intimation of Christ whence he was to come, by putting in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for Ephrata; there was another Bethleem in Galilee, as it is in Iosuah. Hierome vpon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…hew noteth it as the transcribers falt to put Iudea for Iuda, for all the Bethlems that are, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iudea Galelee, where the other is, being a part thereof. And the like falt it may be is in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which followeth; But when hee heard that Archelaus raigned in Iudaea, for Iuda, but •…•…ed Iudaea after the returne from Captiuity, kept not the old bounds, but was contracted 〈◊〉〈◊〉 country about Hierusalem, the metropolitane citty thereof. (d) A captaine.] The Bru∣•…•… copy leaueth out, a captaine, and so do the seauenty. But the putting of it in, alters not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sense. (e) Whose goings out.] This excludeth all mortall men from being meant of in this •…•…ecy: inculding onely that eternall Sauiour, whose essence hath beene from all eternity. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Will he giue them.] The gentiles shall rule, vntill the body of their states do bring forth •…•…en vnto the Lord (g) The remnant.] The bretheren of the people Israel, and the spiri∣•…•… seede of Abraham, &c. they shall beleeue on that Christ that was promised to the true 〈◊〉〈◊〉. (h) He shall stand.] Here shalbe rest, and security, the Lord looking vnto all his sheepe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…eeding them with his powerfull grace. (i) Ionas.] Being cast ouer-bord by the saylers * 1.2 •…•…orme, he was caught vp by a Whale, and at the third daies end was cast a shore by him: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was he the Image of Christ him-sefe vnto the tempting Iewes. Mat. 12. 39. 40. (k) By 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Apostles.] Act. 2. 17. 18.