in the description of the whitenesse of the appearance of
Christs garments, that 'twas so pure a degree of white,
that no fuller by or with, earth could be able to whi∣ten
any thing so. And though the Preposition 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 doe
not favour this interpretation, yet the promiscuous un∣certain
use of Prepositions among sacred writers is so
observable, that it may take off much of that one ob∣jection.
For thus is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 used Acts 3. 16. in the sense
of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by faith, as by a means. And if it be
so rendred here, it will bear this sense, No fuller by, or
by means of, earth can so whiten any thing. So 1
Cor. 8. 10. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by thy knowledge. Other∣wise
it is used for with, Phil. 1. 3. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
cum omni memoria vestri, saith R. Stephanus,
with every remembrance of you. And that rendring will
agree to this sense also. But the truth is, neither of these
three examples come perfectly home to it, they being
in the Dative, this in the Genitive case, and so I leave
it as a conjecture, and only adde that in Theophra∣stus's
character of a niggardly person, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signi∣fies
much of this fullers earth. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
he earnestly eutreats the Fullers
that his garment may have a great deal of earth, that
it may not be sullyed quickly.
[ b] V. 18. Teareth him] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which fignifies to break
or rend, Mat. 7. 6. and 9. 17. Mar. 2. 22. Lu. 5. 37.
(and to break out, Gal. 4 27. that is to speak, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, saith Hesychius, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) signifies also to beat, or throw down, upon, or
against the ground, and is by Tertullian according
to that latitude of the word rendred evertere, to throw
down, Mat. 7. 6. (though the context in that place
seems not to own it, the treading under foot going be∣fore,
not following it) thus is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the
river, being swelled into a torrent, beat upon the house,
Lu. 6. 49. and upon it followes in the next words,
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 presently it fell. In stead of it S. Matthew
in the parallel place Mat. 7. 25, 27. reads 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, fell upon. And so in the end of the verse
in S. Luke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the fall of it was
great. Thus doth Hesychius render the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, not
only 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to divide, or break in pieces, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
also, to throw down, (as here v. 22. 'tis express'd
by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) and again 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
(perhaps it should be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, for so 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which
is rendred 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is also 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Hos. 12. 14 (and
so Lu. 5. 37.) and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 1 Sam. 30. 16. to poure on
the ground) and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Thus in this place the Sy∣riack
and the old Latine took it, and so the Hebrew
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is by the Septuagint rendred 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 also, Job 12. 14. Ezech. 26. 4, 12.
and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to subvert and cast down,
and so 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ezech. 29. 5. and 31. 12.
and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to lay on the ground, or dash against the
ground, Ezech. 31. 12. and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to throw
on the ground Am. 5. 6. is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Isa. 33. 2, 3. and
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Jer. 23. 33. and 39. And Mat. 17. 15. where
this disease is described, as also here v. 22. 'tis said that
he falls into the fire and into the water, as here 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
where ever it takes him, if by the fireside, it throwes
him into the fire, if by the water, into that. To this the
whole story of this mans disease perfectly agrees,
being directly the falling sicknesse.
[ c] V. 20. Tare him] What is the full notion of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
may be seen by the ancient Grammarians. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
saith Phavorinus out of Hesychius. The word
signifies such a stirre or tumult within one, as in a pot
or cauldron is joyned with boyling or seething, and
produceth a froth or foame at the top, and so is a clear
description of an Epilepsie, which doth so boyle within,
as to cause a foaming at the mouth both here and Lu.
9. 39. Some Manuscript copies read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for it, trou∣bled,
disquieted, put him in a commotion.
[ d] V. 28. Why] on here must signifie 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; wherefore;
see note on Lu. 7. c. and so the Kings MS. reads it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
and the ancient Greek and Latine MS. and
others in like manner.
[ e] V. 47. Salted] The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is made answe∣rable
to the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and is Isa. 51. 6. set by
Symmachus to signifie consumed, in like manner as the
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the whole burnt offering is consumed, burnt
all of it with fire; which is answerable to the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
unquenchable fire going before, and so the meaning
of this expression will be here, that that first sort of men,
the Apostates, or wicked carnall Christians, the subject
of the former verses (to which therefore the universal
particle, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 every one, is to be restrained, as in scrip∣ture
'tis frequent to restrain it) shall be used as the
burnt offerings are, they shall have fire in stead of salt,
but the pious minded Christian, like the Minchah, shall
have the salt, the grace of God and Christian doctrine,
and by Gods help make use of it to eate up all his cor∣ruptions,
and degrees of pu••refaction left in him, and
also to be a principle of union and peaceable mindednesse
in him, v. 50. as among other uses of salt it is said to be
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 unitive also, (see note f.) and is accordingly used
in covenants and confederations, and thence Lev. 2. is
the salt of the Covenant of God. But it is not unlikely,
that in this place (and that of Isaiah) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
may be put for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) which
signifies first to be caught, then to be consumed,
so 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 2 Pet. 2. 12. is preying upon, and joy∣ned
with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 destroying or consuming. So Isa. 66.
(whence the former words, their worm never dyeth
and their fire, &c. v. 24. are taken) after the mention
of Gods pleading by fire, v. 16. is added v. 17. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
they shall be consumed together.
The agreeablenesse of this interpretation both to the
words, and to the Context, shewes how unnecessarily
that conjecture was taken up by Jos. Scaliger, of the
text being corrupted 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, taking
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Lev. 2. when neither ••ny one copy
gives countenance to the emendatio•• the Septu∣agint
or any other ancient author 〈◊〉〈◊〉 used this
word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 And then it is strange to con∣ceive,
what should suggest those inordinate expressions,
which there follow in that Epistle, especially this, Mea
est vera hujus loci interpretatio, quem foedissima menda
ab incunabulis usque ipsius Christianismi invasit. Sunt
& alia passim in textum Evangelicum ab ultima ve∣tustate
vitia admissa, quae nemo praeter me indicaverit.
Et hoc quod jam aperuimus praecipuum est ex omnibus.
Qui aliquo sensu communi praeditus est, non poterit
non laudare sententiam nostram. Nihil enim verius
este potest.
[ f] V. 50. Salt] That salt is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
a symbol significative of friendship and peace, is
ordinarily said; In reference to which is that of Aes∣chines
de ementit. Legat. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the
salt of the city, meaning thereby the publike peace. and
prosperity; and from hence saith Eustathius 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
salt be∣fore
all other meaets was set before the guests. The onely
difficulty is, from whence this custome sprang, or where∣in
this symbolical nature of salt consists, and that is an∣swered
by the same Eustathius, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
for as salt being compacted of
many drops of water, every one in it self fluid and un∣steady,
becomes one solid body; so they that from distant
places conjoyne into a league of friendship, meet together
both in place and friendly disposition.