The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

CHAP. XII. (Book 12)

VERS. III.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪

Calleth Iesus accursed.

VERY many Jews, that were Magicians, Exorcists, Conjurers, wandred up and down, who boasted that they were endued with the Holy Ghost, taught much, and did miracles; and yet called our Lord Jesus Anathema. But be ye certain, saith Apostle, that these men neither speak, nor act, nor are acted by the Spirit of God: For no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed. On the other part also, the whole Jewish Nation indeed denyed, that the Holy Ghost was given to the Gentiles. The Holy Ghost, say they, dwells not upon any without the land of Israel a 1.1. Hence is that, Act. X. 45. The believers that were of the Circumcision were astonished, that even upon the Gen∣tiles had been poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

But, saith the Apostle, when the Gentiles confess Jesus is the Lord, they do not this but by the Holy Ghost. And so he instructs Christians, that they be not deceived by the crafty and magical Spirits of the Jews; and in like manner he stops the mouth of the Jews, that they should not deny the Holy Spirit to be bestowed upon the Gentile Christians.

VERS. VIII.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.

The word of Wisdom, &c.

WHEN the Apostle in this very Chapter numbers up thrice the gifts of the Spi∣rit, perhaps it will not be in vain to make them stand parallel in that very or∣der, wherein he recites and ranks them.

VERS. VIII. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Is given. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The word of Wisdom. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The word of Knowledge.	VERS. XXVIII. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, God hath set some. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, First Apo∣stles. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Secondly Prophets.	VERS. XXIX. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Are all. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Apostles. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Prophets.

VERS. IX. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Faith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Gifts of Healings.	〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Thirdly Teachers. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, After that Miracles.	〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Teachers. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Miracles.
VERS. X. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Work∣ing of miracles. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Prophesie. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Dis∣cerning of Spirits. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Divers kinds of Tongues. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Interpre∣tation of Tongues.	〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Then gifts of healings. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Helps. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Governments. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Divers kinds of Tongues.	VERS. XXX. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Gifts of healings. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Speak with Tongues. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Interpret.

We will not be so curious, as to conclude, that all the words that are placed in paral∣lel denote the very same things, when Paul himself inverts his own order concerning the Gifts of Healings, and of Miracles, or Powers, vers. 9. and 28. and 30. Yet we can∣not be so negligent, but to observe a little his order, that we might fetch something out of it.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The word of Wisdom therefore we attribute to the Apostles: because they unfolded in a divine clearness the whole mystery of the most deep Wisdom of God con∣cerning Christ, and the Salvation of Man. Concerning which our Apostle very fre∣quently.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The word of Knowledge, we attribute to the Prophets, that is, The Knowledge of things to come.

But how do we apply 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Faith to Teachers? That by Faith in this place is not to be understood justifying Faith, is granted, as I think, by all; and that upon good rea∣son, when the Apostle treats here only of the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit: Nor can I indeed understand it of the Faith of Miracles; not of the Faith of doing Miracles, be∣cause 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Miracles, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Gifts of Healings, are particular∣ly, and distinctly reckoned up: Nor of the Faith of believing Miracles, because the dis∣course here is of the ways and persons that actively propagated the Gospel, not passive∣ly that received it. By Faith therefore I would understand Fiducia, that is, a holy boldness, confidence, and magnanimity, wherewith those most holy Preachers of the Gospel were armed; so that they could not be terrified by any thing, nor by any person. See Act. IV. 13. But especially vers. 29. 31. And in this sense Faith may very well be at∣tributed to Teachers.

Miracles, and the Gifts of Healings are very easily both distinguished, and understood. You have them again so distinguished, Mark VI. 5. and XVI. 17, 18.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Helps, were they probably, who accompanied the Apostles, and baptized those that were converted by them, and were sent here and there by them to such places, to which they, being employed in other things, could not come: as Mark, Timothy, Ti∣tus, &c. The Talmudists sometimes call the Levites 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Helps of the Priests.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Prophesie, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Helps, are placed in parallel according to the order of the Apostle; and do agree indeed excellently well together, if you take Pro∣phesie for Preaching: which is done very frequently.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Governments also, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Discerning of Spirits stand parallel; and that they denote one and the same thing, I scarcely make a doubt. But 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in this place to me sounds not Governments, or a power of ruling, but it speaks a deep and profound reach: in which sense it occurs in the LXX Interpreters more than once; and answers to the Hebrew word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Prudent counsils, Prov. I. 15. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Interlinear Version reads, Intelli∣gens consilia solertia possidebit; The Understanding man shall possess wise counsils. Aben Ezra saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Tahbuloth denotes counsel, and thinking. See also Kimchi, and R. Solomon upon the place. And the same LXX, Chap. XI. 14. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 reads, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ They who have not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, fall. What the word means you may easily gather from the Antithesis in the following words, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ But safety is in in much Counsil. And again,

Chap. XIV. 6. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Seventy read, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. War is made with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Vulgar reads, Cum dispositione inter bellum, with disposing, or, setting things in order.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Discerning of Spirits, was the Judging between Magical and Diabolical Spirits, and their operations, and between the operations and speech of the Holy Ghost. For many false Prophets had at that time gone out into the World, 1 Joh. IV. 1. and that, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 According to the working of Satan in all power, and signs, and lying wonders. So that it was not easie, I had almost said, it was impossible, to distinguish between their wonders, and the true miracles of the Holy Ghost. But the most merciful God taking pity upon his people, among other gifts of the Holy Ghost shed abroad for the edification of the Church, granted this also to some, that they might distinguish of prophetical Spirits, whether they were true and divine, or false and diabolical. That this deep reach is point∣ed out under this word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Apostles order, the signification of the word, and the thing it self do not a little perswade. For when among all the gifts of the Spirit, there was scarce any, either more useful, or more necessary, than this judging of Spirits, I think he would hardly omit it in his second Enumeration. But where will you find the mention of it, if not in that word?

Notes

• a 1.1

  See R. Sol. in Jon. 1.