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.

§ O generation of Vipers.

By Generation we are not to understand the present age, as when it is said, shall rise up in judgment with this Generation; An adulterous generation seeketh a sign, &c. that is, the people of this age: It is not to be so taken, as if the Baptist meant this present Generation are Vipers: for it is not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the Original, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: though he include no less in what he speaketh, and though, if ever generation were viperous, that was. But the Bap∣tist useth an expression, that hitteth and reflecteth upon their Fathers, and predecessors as well as themselves, for he calleth them a brood or off-spring of Vipers: intimating that they and their Fathers were Vipers both. And this he doth, that he might face and affront that fond and vain opinion of theirs, which so much deluded them, and whereupon they built great hopes and made great boasting, namely, of their being the children of Abraham:

No, saith John, Say not within your selves, we have Abraham to our Father, for ye are not the seed of the promise, but the seed of the Serpent: And thus he speaketh not only to the Pharisees and Sadduces, the hereticks of the Nation, but as Luke inlargeth it, to all the multitude that came to be baptized: Commenting upon the first promise at this first preaching of the Gospel, and as on the one hand proclaiming Jesus that was coming after him to be the seed of the Woman, so on the other, declaring the Jews to be now become the seed of the Serpent who should persecute and kill the seed of the Woman, howsoever they boasted themselves for the holy seed of Abraham.

And the same lesson our Saviour readeth them, when he giveth them the same title, Mat. 12. 34. and 23. 33.

Vipers are the worst and most deadly of any Serpents; for they destroy and kill sud∣denly, Act. 28. 4. 6. See Job 20. 16. Isai. 30. 6. and 59. 5. from whence the Baptist and our Saviour seem to have this phrase and Epithet: and Isai. 41. 24. as the margin of our English and an Expositor in Dav. Kimchi do interpret it.