Annotations upon all the New Testament philologicall and theologicall wherein the emphasis and elegancie of the Greeke is observed, some imperfections in our translation are discovered, divers Jewish rites and customes tending to illustrate the text are mentioned, many antilogies and seeming contradictions reconciled, severall darke and obscure places opened, sundry passages vindicated from the false glosses of papists and hereticks / by Edward Leigh ...

CHAP. XII.

Vers. 1. WHerefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of wit∣nesses] The examples of godly men in the Old and New Testament are called a cloud of witnesses by allusion:* 1.1 for as the cloud did guide the Israelites

through the wildernesse to the Land of Canaan: so the faithfull now are to be gui∣ded to the heavenly Canaan, by the examples of good men. Perkins.

In their life and conversation they witnessed by word and deed to Gods Church. 2. In their death many of them witnessed by their bloud. 3. Hereafter they shall wit∣nesse for, or against us. Doctor Taylor.

Let us lay aside every weight] That presseth down, that is, all earthly affections, and what ever may hinder us in our spirituall course. See Beza.

And the sin which doth so easily beset * 1.2 us] The similitude (saith Deodate) seemes to be taken from such long and large garments, as were wont to be laid off in races, to be so much the freer. The Greeke work 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is nomen compos••ium signifying well, that is, easily besetting.

And let us run with Patience the race that is set before us] This race is the course it selfe wherein we strive by running; for in the Greek it is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a strife-race, whereby is signified all kind of strife in this manner, whether it be by running, wrestling,* 1.3 hurling, or any other way, but here he speaks of running. To run the race, is to strive by running, he meanes especially the false of our faith. 1 Tim. 6.12. See 2 Tim. 4.7. Vide Grotium.

Vers. 2. Looking unto Iesus the Author and finisher of our faith] Faith here is taken for all grace, it is a compleat work at first as Christ is the author of it; but he is the finisher also that is, upholds and maintaines it.

Vers. 4. Striving against sinne] That is, as interpreters of good note * 1.4 observe, either against the wickednesse of the enemies of the Gospell, which by cruell and bloody courses strive to force men from the faith, or against sinne, that is, against sinners, v. 3. Or against sinne in your selves.

Vers. 5. My sonne despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art re∣buked of him] The Greeke word translated Despise Imports the littling or think∣ing of them little; doe not little, or slight the chastenings of God in thy thoughts, nor doe not thinke thy afflictions so great, that thou must needs sinke and faint under them.* 1.5

Rebuke is chiefely referred unto words, and chasten is chiefely referred unto the Rod, and sharpnesse of discipline.

Vers. 7. God dealeth with you as sonnes] That is, he comes to you in the crosse, not as a Judge and revenger, but as a kind and loving Father. Perkins.

Vers. 11. Afterward it yeeldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousnesse, unto them which are exercised thereby] That is,* 1.6 afflictions and chastisements which seize upon Gods Children, doe leave after them amendment of life, as the needle passeth through the cloth, and leaveth the thred behind it.

The Greeke word translated exercised, is properly spoken of them qui nudi exercen∣tur in palaestra, and it is translated to all kinds of more vehement exercise. Chrysostome and Theophylact urge this Metaphore, and say correction is called an exercise, because it makes the faithfull as certaine champions more strong, and invincible in patience.

Vers. 13. Least that which is lame be turned out of the way] The Greeke word is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.7 which may be taken in two senses; either for the luxation, or sprayning of some Member, or joynt necessary for walking, which being dislocated takes away all use of walking, or else for straying from the way, which to most Interpreters seemes most probable.

Vers. 15. Looking diligently, least any man faile of the grace of God] He means not on∣ly to make us carefull for our own particular,* 1.8 but watchfull over others, as the reason annexed imports: least thereby many be defiled.

Trouble your] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.9 The Greeke word doth properly signifie to trouble; and hinder a mans rest; it is used onely here.

Or prophane person as Esau] This example may serve to expound what he meanes by prophane. The Lord had annexed to the birthright the promise of the Land of Canaan as a figure of heavenly felicitie; wicked Esau not considering this despised it. So God hath appointed his Ordinances to be meanes of grace and life to men; when they doe not know and beleeve this, and receive it by them, they are prophane.

* 1.10Vers. 17. He was rejected] viz. By his Father, Gen. 27.35.37.40. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is not to obtaine that which we will.

For he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with Teares] viz. In his Father, not in himselfe, that is for all his crying he could not move his Father to change his minde, and repent himselfe of his blessing Iacob; so Beza, Estius, Mr. Perkins, and others expound it. See Gen. 27.34.38. Pareus, and à La∣pide, would have the relative it referred not to repentance, but to blessing.

* 1.11Vers. 21. I exceedingly feare and quake] Those words are not to be found in all the Bookes of the Old Testament. Perkins. See Exodus 19.19.

Verses 22, 23, 24. But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the City of the living God] The Apostle in a heap of words,* 1.12 amplifies the high dignity of every one effectually called. Not that we have now full fruition of the glorious Deity, but first the use of Scripture is to speake of things that shall be, in the present time, or time past, to sig∣nifie certainty of accomplishment in time prefixed. 2. We have present title thereto, Gal. 4.1.2. 3. We are united with God in Christ, and Made one body with the whole Church Triumphant and Militant. Doctor Sclater.

Vers. 23. The spirits of just men made perfect] They are said to be perfect in respect of grace, though not of glory, till the body be there also. Quia carnis infirmitati∣bu•• non sunt amplius obnoxii, deposita ipsa carne. Calvinus.

Vers 24. And to the bloud of sprinkling,] It is so called in allusion to the Passeover, where the blood of the Paschall Lambe was sprinkled on the posts of the doore to save the house from the stroake of the revenging Angel.* 1.13 Mr. Hildersam.

That is, that blood which is sprinkled and applied to us, pleades and cries for mercy unto God for us.

That speakes better things then that of Abel] See Gen. 4.10. That cried for vengeance, this for pardon of sinnes.

Vers. 25. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh] See that ye shift not him off that speaketh; some say it hath reference to the 19 verse. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, id est, deprecari, v. 19. repellere, recusure, repud••are ut hoc loco. Pareus.

Vers. 26. Yet once more I shake not the earth onely, but also Heaven] The civill State, and Ecclesiasticall to, say some. Pareus saith by Heaven and earth he under∣stands both the frame it selfe of Heaven and earth, and the inhabitants of both, An∣gels and men.

Vers 27. The removing] Mutatio, Tremel. Translatio, Erasm. Ar. Mont. The Greek word is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. It is a common fault among translators, that they will ac∣commodate the words of a Text to their own apprehension of the sense and matter thereof: They understanding that the things here said to be shaken were the Jewish Ordinances, translated their disposition a Removall, and the truth is they were re∣moved, but the world signifieth no such thing. As its naturall importance from its rise and composition is otherwise, so neither in Scripture nor any prophane Au∣thour doth it ever signifie properly a removall. Translation or changing is the onely native, genuine import of it. Removall is of the matter; Translation of the form onely, Heb. 11.5. we render it translation and change, Heb. 7.12.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Haec conclusio est quasi epilo∣gus proximi ca∣pitis: ubi de∣monstrat quor∣sum recitaverit illum Sancto∣rum Catalogum, quorum fides sub lege excelluit: nempe ut se quisque comparet ad eorum imitationem. Et metaphoricè copiosam multitudinem vocat nubem; densum enim raro opponitur. Si pauci essent numero, tamen suo exemplo incitare nos deberent: sed ubi ingens est turba, acriores stimulos addere no∣bis debet. Praeteria dicit, nos densitate illa vel copia circundari, ut quocunque oculos vertamus, flatim occurrant multa fidei ex∣empla. Calvinus. Nubes Ebraicè 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 dicuntur à densitate, igitur nubes testium, id est, densitas, frequentia, multitudo. Drusius. Metaphora est ducta ab avibus magna multitudine volantibus quae all•• suis praetervolantes umbram instar nubis faci∣unt. Esai 60.8. Capel. Spic. Vide Bezam & Grotium.
• * 1.2

  Respicit forte locū Lam. 1.14. ubi peccata com∣parantur jugo lo∣ris implicanti∣bus hominem ac saepe dejicientibus. Grotius.
• * 1.3

  Currere certa∣men est cur∣rendo certare. Certamen hoc cursorum, illud est quod sibi propositum habet ac suscepit omnis Christianus, quando renunciavit vitae veteri, & professus est novam. Estius.
• * 1.4

  Piscat. & alij. Est in Graeco elegans verbum 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, quod est eorum qui totis virbibus in agone certant, ut vincant adversarium. Ribera in loc. In agone contrà certantes ut in∣telligamus nos esse debere peccati antagonistas, id est, adversarios, semper intentos ad vincendum & expugnandum peccatum: quomodo peccatum ex adverso semper vigilat in perniciem nostram. Estius. Vide Cornel. à Lapide.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 arguo, ad verba refer∣tur; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 castigo ad ferulā parvorum. Aret.
• * 1.6

  Perkins. Pro exercitatis est verbum ele∣gans 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, quòd de ils dicitur qui nudi exercebantur ad palaestram, unde & gymnasia dicta sunt loca in quibus athletae exerceban∣tur. Ribera & à Lapide in loc.
• * 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 est luxari vel diverti à justo acetabulo ac commissura ossium. Gerh. Claudicationem vocat, cum homines in religione alternant, nec sincerè Deo se addicunt. Calvinus. Idem habet Pareus.
• * 1.8

  Doctor Sclater.
• * 1.9

  Graecum pro∣prie significat obturbet, in∣terturbet. Estius. Gerh. Prophanesse lies in two things, 1. In a low esteeme of spirituall servic••s. Amo. 8.5. Prosanus quasi procul à sano loco sacro. 2. In a low esteeme of spirituall priviledges.
• * 1.10

  Non immediatè reprobatio refer∣tur ad rejectio∣nem à gratia salutari & gloria aeterna, sed ad repulsam quam passus est Esau, quia quod pete∣bat ab Isaaco, non potuit impetrare. Rivetus.
• * 1.11

  Torquet inter∣pretes quòd Mosi haec ver∣ba Apostolus tribuit, quae ausquam legimus Mosem protulisse; verum solutio non evit difficilis, si consideremus Mosem nomine po∣puli sic loquutum, cujus mandata quasi internuntius ad Deum referebat. Fuit igitur haec communis totius populi querimonia. sed Mose•• in l••citor, qui fuit veluti commene os omnium. Calvinus. Quid locutus fuerit Moses Exod. 19. Non exprimitur. Colli∣cere h••nc est eum his vocibus trepulationem suam testarum fuisse: Deum consolatione eum erexisse; unde verò Apostolus accepit? vel ex traditione: vel quod magis. videtur ex revelatione singulari: qua Moses Historiam creationis à Deo acc••pit. Trepidatio autem Mosis, argumento fuit, ipsum quoque peccatorem esse, licet propheta summus esset; metus enim ex peccato est. Pareus. vide Cornel. à Lapide.
• * 1.12

  The faithfull are made fellowes of Angels, and of all the perfect soules departed since the be∣ginning of the world, and of Christ himselfe. Doctor Fulke.
• * 1.13

  Quidam volunt alludi ad san∣guinem agni paschalis, quo Israelitae jubebantur aspergere postes & superliminaria aedium, Exod. 12.7. Sed rectius dicitur respectum haberi ad aspersionem sanguinis foederalis quae describitur. Exod. 24. v. 8. Confer Heb. 9.18: Gerh. Sanguis Abel testimonium est divinae justitiae adversus Gainum: sanguis Christi realissimum est testimonium divinae misericordiae erga miseros peccatores. Sanguis Abel loquitur de terra & efflagitat vindictam. Gen. 4.10. Matth. 23.35. Sanguis Christi de coelo quasi loquitur re∣conciliationem cum Deo, pacem & vitam. Glassius. vide Grotium.