instant, come in that manner into her womb. But the words only mean, the Lords be∣ing with her in regard of that favour and respect, which he was about to shew her, as Judg. 6. 12. And this among other things sheweth how senseless Popery is in its Ave Maries, using these words for a Prayer, and if occasion serve for it, for a charm: As first, Turning a Salutation into a Prayer: Secondly, In fitting these words of an Angel, that was sent, and that spake them upon a special message, to the mouth of every person, and for every occasion. Thirdly, In applying these words to her now she is in Heaven, which suited with her only while she was upon Earth. As first, to say, full of grace, to her that is full of glory: And secondly, to say, The Lord is with thee, to her that is with the Lord.
[Blessed art thou among women.] Not above, but among them. See Gen. 30. 13. Judg. 5. 24.
Vers. 29. [And when she saw him.] So readeth the Syrian, Arabick, and generally all other translations, but only the vulgar Latin; that swarving, as it is to be suspected, wil∣fully, from the truth of the Original, that hereby there might be the greater plea and co∣lour for the Virgins familiarity with Angels: Whereas indeed apparition of Angels, till this very occasion to Zachary and the Virgin, was either exceeding rare, or just none at all.
What manner of salutation, &c. Judge how Superstition straineth the Text to the Vir∣gin Maries praises, when it infers from hence, that she had never been saluted by a man in all her life before: An opinion and gloss not worth the examining.
Vers. 31. [Behold thou shalt conceive, &c.] From Esa. 7. 14. the Angel giveth her to un∣derstand, that she is the Virgin spoken of in that place: and of her apprehension of this, ariseth her question, Vers. 4.
[And shalt call his Name.] This followeth the same Prophesie still, and is one of the significations of the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; for it hath more then one.
For, first, it denoteth the third person feminine, as Deut. 31. 29. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and so it is to be taken in that Prophesie. And she shall call his Name Immanuel.
Secondly, It betokeneth also the second person, as the Chaldee, the Lxx, and the other two Greek translations render it, and the Angel here; And thou shalt call.
Thirdly, It is also applied to the third person plural, as in the Greek, Matth. 1. 23. and in the Chaldee, Esa. 60. 18.
[Jesus.] The same with Jehoshua in Hebrew, as Act. 7. 45. Heb. 4. 8. and Joshua in Chal∣dee, Ezra 2. 2. These were two renowned ones before; the one whereof brought the peo∣ple into Canaan, after the death of Moses; and the other, that brought them thither out of Babel, and so were both lively figures of our Jesus, that bringeth his people to the heavenly Canaan.
Vers. 32. [The Son of the Highest] From 2 Sam. 7. 14. as it is explained, Heb. 1. 5. the Angel now draweth the Virgin to remember that glorious promise made to David, as the words following, concerning an eternal Throne and Kingdom, do evince; and upon the rumination upon that to reflect upon her self, and to consider that she was of the seed of David; and so he leadeth her on by degrees to believe and entertain what he was re∣lating to her.
[Shall give unto him the Throne.] Psal. 2. 7, 8, 9. Ezek. 21. 27. Dan. 7. 14. &c.
Vers. 33. [He shall reign over the house of Jacob.] This term, the house of Jacob inclu∣deth; First, All the twelve tribes, which the word Israel could not have done. Secondly, The Heathens and Gentiles also, for of such the house and family of Jacob was full.
Vers. 34. [Seeing I know not a man.] These words, say the Rhemists, declare that she had now vowed Virginity to God: For if she might have known a man, and so have had a child, she would never have asked how shall this be done: And Jansenius goeth yet further: From these words, saith he, it doth not only follow that she hath vowed, but this seemeth also to follow from them, that her vow was approved of God: See also Aquin. part. 3. quaest. 28. art. 4. Baron. in apparatu ad Annal. &c.
Answ. First, Among the Jews, marriage was not held a thing indifferent, or at their own liberty to choose or refuse, but a binding command; and the first of the 613. as it is found ranked in the Pentateuch, with the threefold Targum, at Gen. 1. 28. and Paul seemeth to allude to that opinion of theirs, when speaking of this subject, he saith, Praeceptum non habeo, 1 Cor. 7. 6.
Secondly, Among the vows that they made to God, Virginity never came in the num∣ber. Jephtha's was heedless, and might have been revoked, as the Chaldee Paraphrast, and Rabbi Solomon well conceive; and David Kimchi is of a mind, that he was punished for not redeeming it according to Lev. 27.
Thirdly, To die childless, was a reproach among men, Luke 1. 25. and to live unmar∣ried, was a shame to women, Psal. 78. 63. Their Virgins were not praised; that is, were not married. Now what a gulf is there between vowing perpetual Virginity, and accounting it a shame, dishonour, and reproach?