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.

§ Mine hour is not yet come.

Not to trouble my self and the Reader to shew that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, an hour, in Scripture is not all∣ways taken in that strict sense, as an hour properly is taken with us, but that it very common∣ly and often is used to signifie time in general, and of an undefined measure; these words of Christ seem to have this aim. He had told the day before, that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, From thence∣forth they should see the Heavens opened, &c. that is, that now he began to be revealed, and from henceforward he must declare himself in his Publick Ministery and in power. Mary taketh occasion of her proposal to him for this miracle from his own words, as was observed before; But Christ says no, upon this reason, because his working miracles was to confirm his doctrine, and therefore it were fit he should first preach and shew his first miracle rather upon a Sermon than upon a feast: And that this is his mind in this clause, may be concluded by his condescension, and in that he doth accomplish what the Vir∣gin his mother doth desire, although he seem to deny her desire: He first gives her a mild reprehension, for that she will be medling so with his Ministerial actings, as that when he hath but told that he must do miracles, she will offer to prescribe the time and occasi∣on. This he doth in those words, Woman, what have I to do with thee? He then recti∣fies her in the doctrine concerning his miracles, namely, that they were not to be acted upon all offers and occasions, but to confirm his Doctrine among those uncredulous ones, that unless they saw a sign or wonder would not believe: This he doth in this clause, Mine hour is not yet come: And then he acts the miracle that she did desire, because he knew it would have the fruit here that his miracles aimed and looked after, namely, be∣lief in those that saw it; and so it had, for his Disciples that he had chosen before in the former Chapter, beleived on him; ver. 11. and there were new ones added, of his own kindred: So that though the former part of Christs speech in this verse be a flat repre∣hension of his mother, yet is not the latter part a flat denial of her request, but an ex∣position of the most proper meaning of his former words. Now if it be questioned when that hour came of which he speaketh, it is answered by some when John Baptist was laid up in his prison, for that then it is said, Jesus began to preach, &c. but it is more than ap∣parent that Jesus both preached very much, and did miracles very many before that time, and therefore those words, From that time Jesus began to preach, are to be construed in another sense, than in an antithesis to what he had done before, as shall be shewed when we come there. And this hour that he speaketh of here, is to be understood of the first time of his publick Ministery and Miracles after this; which the text at the furthest gives account to have been at Jerusalem at the Passover, ver. 23. For Jerusalem was the chief City, and the place where Messias was especially looked for, and therefore the Evangelist doth properly refer us thither for the miracles after this; and to observe his hour there come.

The strangeness of Christs seeming to deny to do this miracle, and yet doing it, hath put some upon this manner of reconciling of the matter, namely, that while there was any wine remaining, he refused to do it, lest the miracle should not be apparent enough, but some suspition might have been that there was some remnant of, or some mixture with the old wine; but when that was all gone, then he wrought the miracle, and then it was undeniable, and accordingly they understand the tense in the Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, not when the wine was clean gone, but when it was in failing. But besides that the Greek word will not make this out, the same cavil might have been now, if they would have cavilled, as before: for the cross-grain'd unbelievers that would have said before, that there was some mixture of the water with the wine that remained; might say now as well, that there was some mixture of the water with some wine that was concealed.

Ver. 5. His mother saith unto the Servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

Here is a scruple, that Mary should be denyed as she was in the verse before, and yet be so confident of the thing to be done, as she is in this. Divers answers are given to it, as 1. That she doubted not but that he would begin to work miracles the sooner for her sake. 2. That she was assured of his power, and of his benignity towards all. 3. By her familiarity with him, and acquaintance with all his manner of speeches, she knew it was no repulse. 4. The strength of her Faith would not suffer her to doubt. 5. It may be after his check given her for instruction, he shewed some evidence that he would

do this thing, either by word or gesture, which the Evangelist hath concealed. 6. There is negatio probationis, sometimes used in Scripture, as Gen. 19. 2. the Angels say unto Lot, Nay, but we will lodge in the streets, and Mat. 15. 26. It is not meet to take the childrens bread, and cast it to dogs. Not that the Angels were fixedly resolved to lie in the streets all night, but that they would try and put on Lots importunity: Nor that Christ was determinate∣ly resolvedly not to help the woman of Canaan, but that he would try and exercise her faith: So may we understand the denyal here, and so did Mary understand it. Not that he did hereby totally and irreversibly gainsay her desire and proposal, [the sequel shews the contrary] but that he would instruct her and inform her understanding, and prove and strain her Faith, to see how it would act upon such a denyal. And it acted strongly, and as she asked in faith, so she goes on in Faith, and according to her faith it was done unto her.

Ver. 6. And there were set there six water-pots of stone, after the manner of the puri∣fying of the Iews.

By purifying here, is not meant those sprinklings and washings that were commanded by the Law for the cleansing of the unclean, [for that uncleaness lasted till even, and what to do with those washings at a feast?] but those traditional and Pharasaical washings of the hands, mentioned Matth. 15. 2. which the Jews used before they ate bread, and of Tables, and cups, and platters, mentioned Mar. 7. Now there is a special tract in the Talmud, concerning this washing of their hands, called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Jadaim, which may give some light to this matter in hand. There is discoursed, first, concerning the quantity of water necessary for one mans hands, or the minimum quod sic, the least measure that may be used, and such as if there be less, the washing is not right; their rule for that is this, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that is, they allow the fourth part of a Log of water to the hands of one man, yea, of two, half a Log to three or four, a whole Log to five, or to ten, or to an hundred: Now this measure called a Log, mentioned Lev. 14. 12. we shall consider of by and by.

Then they discourse concerning the vessels in which water is to be put for this purpose, and that matter they determine thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 That water for the hands may be put in any vessell, yea, even in a ves∣sell of oxe dung. [for so the Hebrew gloss upon the place explaineth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, viz. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] or, in a vessel of stone, [such were those vessels we have in mention here] or, in a ves∣sel of Earth: Then they speak of the manner of washing, that it is by pouring of water upon the hands out of a vessel, and they dispute what water this must be, which will be more proper to consider of upon Matth. 15. if the Lord bring us thither: And there also may be produced the prayer they made when they washed their hands.

But for our present purpose, it appeareth by the rule they give about washing the hands, that these vessels mentioned here by the Evangelist, were not the vessels out of which they poured water upon their hands when they washed, for these were too heavy for such a purpose, but they stood here with water in them, to take out from thence ei∣ther into the vessels that they poured out of upon their hands, or for washing of their cups and tables as occasion served. Now the number of six was not either the set and constant number of such vessels at such occasions, nor is there any mystical business in it, but the number of vessels was now suted to the company of guests, and occasion of much washing; and their number is mentioned for the setting forth of the miracle the more, when not only so much water was made wine in an Instant, but also in so many several vessels.