Annotations on Chap. IV.
[ a] * 5. The Scripture saith] There is no place of Scripture of the Old Testament which can own so much of this citation as that Gen. 6. where in the Septuagints rea∣ding there is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉spirit,* and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉abideth; and the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉abiding there, is all one with the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉sojourning here. Now whereas 'tis here added of that Spirit,* that it doth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, desire to envy, first 'tis clear that the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, my spirit, there, is the spirit or soul of man, given him by God, and so called God's in respect of the original, (see Note on 1 Pet. 3. f.) but signifies the mind of man as it is in him, and is corrupted by an habite of worldly and wicked desires, which cannot be affirmed of Gods holy Spirit, (and for any evil Angel, it will be hard to say, either that such dwell in, or that it is they that lust in us. It is our own corrupt hearts, even when the devils move us, to which the lust and all the sin is to be im∣puted:) and 2ly, this is parallel to what Gen. 6. 3. is said of that old world, that man is flesh, and the thoughts of his heart alwaies evil, that is, his carnal or worldly desires are insatiable, bent to all manner of wicked∣nesse; the desires here being distinctly noted by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉desiring, and either the wickednesse or insatiate∣nesse of them by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉envie,* which sometimes in Authors is the contrary to liberality, and signifies all manner of covetousnesse, pining to see any man have what we have not, and elsewhere signifies malice, vio∣lence, and the like. As for the addition here ver. 6. But he giveth more grace, that seems to be the Apo∣stles own observation of that place in Genesis, that when the world so provoked God, yet he gave them time of repentance (as it there follows, Neverthelesse his daies shall be an hundred and twenty years, they shall have that space allowed them to reform and escape pu∣nishment) and so God in Christ doth now; and upon repentance there is yet mercy and pardon to be had, upon which is superstructed naturally that which fol∣lows, Wherefore he saith, &c.
[ b] * V. 6. The proud] The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 here notes not particularly the vice of pride and haughtinesse, but a general disobedience and resistence against the Law of God, which is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, contumeliousnesse, and superbia, pride, in opposition to obedience, as in Virgil,
[ C] * V. 13. To day, or to—] It was an old saying of the Hebrews, mentioned by Ben Syra, Let no man say he will doe any thing unlesse he first say, If the Lord will. On which occasion there follows in him a story of a man, who, when he said, Tomorrow I will sit with my spouse in the marriage-chamber, was admonish'd that he ought to say, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉If God will, and he answered, Whether God will or not, I will sit there. Of whom, saith he, it followed, that he sat with her all the day, but at night when they were going to bed, before he knew her, they were both dead. Wherefore they said, The spouse went up to her marriage-bed, and knew not what would befall her; therefore whosoever desires to doe any thing, let him first say, If God will.
[ d] * V. 16. Boastings] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies boasting, or assuming to ones self more then belongs to him, and differs from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉self-pleasing or insolence, Tit.* 1. 7. in this, that that is a great love, or high opini∣on, of ones self,〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉self-love, 2 Tim. 3. 2. be∣ing puffed up, 1 Cor. 13. 4. being wise in ones own con∣ceit, Rom. 11. 25. and 12. 16. but this is a fastuous speaking: and as this is ordinarily expressed in magni∣fying ones own abilities or power above other men, so hath it here a notion little different from it; speaking in such a form as if he depended not upon God himself, and so it belongs to the fault reprehended v. 13. when a man promises or affirms that simply which is not in his power, but as God is pleased to enable o••oncur with him. And thus it is used Prov. 27. 1. 〈◊〉 not thy self of to morrow, that is, assume not to thy se•••arro∣gantly that thou wilt doe this or that to morrow, for, saith Solomon, thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. These kind of speeches then are here called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉boastings, and they that take pleasure in such language, in assuming thus to themselves, speaking thus magnificently of their own purposes, are here said 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to rejoice, or glory, in such boa∣sting: and though all sort of rejoicing be not, yet 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, all such kind of rejoicing, is evil, v. 16. and that in an high degree.
