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.

SECTION XIX.

LUKE Chap. V from the beginning to Ver. 12.

MATTH. Chap. IV. Ver. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.

MARK Chap. I. Ver. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.

Peter and Andrew, &c. called to be fishers of men.

THe method and series is confirmed by the transition of Matthew and Mark: but in the order of Luke there is some difficulty. 1. He relateth the calling of these Dis∣ciples differently from the relation given by the other: for they say Christ called Peter and Andrew as he walked by the sea side, but he storieth their call when Christ was with them in the ship: they say he called James and John at some distance beyond Peter and Andrew, but he carrieth it as if he called them all together. But this is not contrariety, but for the more illustration; they all speak the same truth, but one helps to explain another. The story at full in them all is thus: As Jesus walked by the sea of Genezareth, he saw two ships standing there, the one whereof belonged to Peter and Andrew, and the other to James and John. All these men, being partners, had been fishing all night, but had caught nothing, and were now stepped down out of their ships to wash their nets. Christ pressed with multitude on the shore, entreth into Peters ship and thence teacheth the

people. And thence putting off a little into the main, he helpeth Peter to a miraculous draught of fishes, which was so unwieldy that he was glad to becken up James and John from the shore to come and help them. The draught of fishes was got up and boated, and then James and John return to the shore again, and fall to mending their net which was rent at the helping at so great a draught. Peter seeing what was done, adoreth Christ, and he and Andrew being yet at sea, are called by him for fishers of men, and bringing their ship to shore, they leave all and follow him. Christ and they coasting a little further along the shore, came to James and John, and he calleth them. And thus lieth the story at the full.

2. A second scruple in the order of Luke is this, that he hath laid the two miracles of casting out a Devil in Capernaum Synagogue, and the healing of Peters mother in law, before the calling of these Disciples, which apparently by this Evangelist were after. But the reason hereof may be conceived to be, especially this. In Chap. 4. ver. 30, 31. he had related that Jesus escaping from Nazaret, came down to Capernaum, and being now in the mention of his being there, he recordeth these two miracles that he did there [though not at that very time he hath brought them in] having an eye in that his relation, ra∣ther to the place then to the time. And so we shall observe elsewhere, that the very men∣tion of a place, doth sometimes occasion these holy penmen, to produce stories out of their proper time, to affix them to that their proper place.

These Disciples hitherto, were only as private men, following Christ, and here is the first time that they are but mentioned to the Ministerial function, to be fishers of men: How then did they baptize before? John 3. 22. with John 4. 2. And the starting of this question, calleth to remembrance that saying of the Apostle, 1 Cor. 1. 17. Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: Is baptism administrable by private men, and is there any inconsistency betwixt baptizing and preaching? Answ. As baptism was in use among the Jews for admission of proselytes under the Law, these two things were required to it, 1. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He that was baptized must be baptized before three: 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The thing required a concessus, or to be done by the allowing of some eldership. And because it required this [saith Maymony, whose words the for∣mer are also] therefore they baptized not on the Sabbath, nor on the holy days, nor in the night. A man that baptized himself, and proselyted himself, although it were before two witnesses; or that came and said I was proselyted in such a mans concessus and they baptized me, he is not per∣mitted to come into the Congregation, till he bring witness. Maym, in Issure. biah. per. 13. The reason of this strictness was, because of their strict niceness about conversing or matching with a Heathen, till they were sure he was fully Israelited.

Christ and the Apostles in the administration of baptism, followed or forsook their custom as they saw cause. In the case alledged, he follows it, he preacheth and calleth in Disciples, and they are baptized by these Disciples, but Christ chief in the action: and therefore one text tells us that he baptized, though we are taught by another text, that he baptized not. Now the Disciples are not to be looked upon as private men, since they were men of such privacy with the Messias, and not only converted by him, but called to be with him, and intended by him to be solemnly inducted into the ministerial function when he should see time.

And answerably in that saying of the Apostle, I came not to baptize, but to preach, he set∣teth not an inconsistency between these two, which were joyned by Christ in Pauls and all Ministers Commission, Matth. 28. 19. but he speaketh according to this custome that we have mentioned, which the Apostles followed when disciples came in to be baptized, by multitudes, they themselves preaching and bringing in disciples to be baptized, and others baptizing them, and they not private men neither, but fellow-labourers with them in the Gospel, and Ministers of it.

Fishers of men] Maym. in Talm. Torah. per 7. speaks of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Fishers of the Law.