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. HYpocrisie) That (as the Syriack declares) is an affected Counterfeiting of anothers person, and Christ understands by it that affected ostentation both of learning and

holinesse, by which the Pharisees did set forth themselves among the people, and so endeavoured to win authority and beliefe to their false doctrine.* 1.1 Also by the Antithesis he desires that the Disciples deliver bona fide the Doctrine of truth received by them, and that they confirme it by a sincere, not counterfeit holinesse of life.

Vers. 2. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed, neither hid, that shall not be known] This sentence is also elsewhere used by Christ in the Gospell, as Mat. 10.26. and Mark. 4.22. Christ would have his Disciples and followers abstaine from all fraud and hypocrisie, as well in sayings as deeds, since all things in their time shall be brought to light,* 1.2 and be manifested before God, Angels and men; therefore it is most advised to do all things sincerely and candidly according to the prescript of God, that our works may beare the light as being done in God. Iohn 3.21.

Vers. 4. My friends] That is, those which he knew favoured him, and he saw to be solicitous about their own safety.

Be not afraid of them that can kill the body] It is not to be understood as though any man had any power in himself to kill it, but God gives them leave sometimes. But if you will feare profitably, and so as you shall be the better for it, I tell you whom you shall feare,* 1.3 and I repeat it again that you may the better marke it, I say feare him.

Vers. 6. Are not five sparrows sold for a farthing, &c.] A sparrow is little esteemed of as the price sheweth, and the haire of our head lesse, whence the Proverb, Non pili facio, to signifie a thing of small moment.

Vers. 8. Whosoever shall confesse me before men] To confess Christ is not barely to ac∣knowledge him to be the only Saviour and Redeemer of mankind, God and man in one undivided person, also our Priest and King: but also to witnesse and affirme him to be the same before men, as Mat. 16.16. Nor in words only but in deeds, that so our whole life may speake Christ.

Vers. 11, 12. Take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say. For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same houre, what ye ought to say] There were among the Ancient Fathers, some (of which number is Augustine) who interpret this promise of infallibility (if we may so speake) made to the Apostles by Christ, of absolute illumi∣nation made simul ac semel when the Holy Ghost at the feast of Pentecost descended upon them; yet the opinion of Euthymius seemes more probable, who expounds it of an extraordinary and infallible suggestion to be made by the Holy Ghost, as often as occa∣sion required it, the very words of Christ seeme rather to favour this exposition, which also receives strength from thence, because it is manifest the Apostles used books, from 2 Tim. 4.13. But this would not be necessary the former opinion standing.

* 1.4Vers. 13. Master, speake to my brother that he divide the inheritance with me]

Vers. 14. Man, who made me a Iudge, or a divider over you] As if he should say, it is not within the compasse of my calling, for I came to accomplish the work of mans re∣demption, and not to divide Inheritances, hereby giving us to understand, that every thing must be done by warrant of some calling, Ministers must not neglect dividing the word to divide Inheritances. Vide Grotium.

Vers. 15. Take heed and beware of covetousnesse] Watch and ward, watch and guard, eyes and weapons. The first word implying an ocular warinesse, an eye-watch; the second, an hand watch, a kind of manuall, if not materiall guarding of a mans self, as if he had said, to paraphrase the Text, not to mend the Translation, watch and ward, nay, watch and guard, and defend your selves from the sin of Covetousnesse. Dike. The Greeke word rendred Covetousnesse, signifieth an immoderate desire of having.

For a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth] Christ plainely crosseth that opinion which the heart of man had conceived about riches, viz.

that the life of man consisted in them. But whether we consider mans life in the length and continuance of it, or in the comfort of it, it consists not in riches, no man lives a day longer, or merrier for his riches. See Brugensis.

Vers. 17. What shall I do, because I have no roome where to bestow my fruits] Behold, abundance doth not bring to the Covetous tranquility and felicity of mind, but ra∣ther greater solicitude and misery, he calls them his fruits, he doth not acknowledge them to be Gods, from whose blessing all things proceed; if 〈◊〉〈◊〉 covetous man had ac∣knowledged this he would have known what to have done, he would then have given thanks to God the giver.

Vers. 21. So is he that layeth up treasure for himself] Gets together Lands, and Goods, and all abundance of things that the world counts precious.

And is not rich towards God] That is,* 1.5 was not plentifull in good works according to the measure of wealth which he had; men are rich toward God, 1. When they are recon∣ciled to God in the merits of Christ. 2. Cor. 8.9. 2. When they receive his grace, where∣by they are enabled to bring forth good works both in duties to God and man.* 1.6 1 Tim. 6.16.

Vers. 24. Consider the ravens] See Psal. 141.9.* 1.7 Albertus magnus in the History of the li∣ving Creatures relates, that the yong Crows are forsaken by the old out of a cruel 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Aristotle saith they are cast out of their nests. In such a great want of things Albertus saith, that certaine little wormes arising out of their dung do of their own accord cast themselves into their gaping beckes, and by this meanes wonderfully nourish them; When Matthew named the fowle in generall, Luke did not in vaine specially instance in the Ravens; For Job and the Psalmist extoll the speciall care of God toward the young Ravens.

Vers. 29. Neither be ye of doubtfull mind] Hang not in suspence and doubt for the event of the work as the meteors do in the aire, uncertaine whether to stay there,* 1.8 or to fall to the ground.

Vers. 32. Feare not little flock] There are two diminutives in the originall, the word translated flock signifieth a little flock; but that the exceeding littlenesse of it might appeare, Christ adds another word, so the words are, feare not little little flock, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, little in their own esteeme, in the worlds account, and in regard of wolves. Christs twelve Apostles, seventy Disciples, and other faithfull persons which came out of Ga∣lilee and elsewhere, were but few, compared with the Priests, Pharisees, and the rest of the Jews.

For it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom] Feare not the losse or want of earthly things, it is your kind and loving father that doth tender your estate and hath care of it, it standeth with his good pleasure, and he wills freely to give without any merit of yours. The kingdome] That is, the heavenly kingdom prepared for you.

Vers. 33. Sell that ye have, and give alms, &c.] Our Saviours meaning is,* 1.9 in the case of extreme necessity, when there is no other way to relieve those that are to be re∣lieved. See Acts 2. and 4.34, 35.

Vers. 35. Let your loynes be girded about,* 1.10 and your lights burning] By these words he would intimate, that all whensoever they are called out of this prison of the world, should be ready and prepared to go out of it. By the name of light we understand the word of God, and the light of faith kindled by it.

Vers. 36. When he commeth and knocketh] He knocks by his word, as Rev. 3.20. and when by the trouble of sickness he shews death to be neere, we presently open to him, when we readily and willingly receive it.

Vers. 42. To give them their portion of meat in due season] He alludeth to the care of Governours of Families or stewards, who do allow to every one in the house their por∣tion. James 2.25.

* 1.11Vers. 48. Vnto whomsoever much is given] Not whosoever hath much, but to whom∣soever much is given: 1. Because we have nothing but from gift. 2. It is a foundation of improvement, and of the duty of giving account. Things given are abilities natu∣rall, acquired, advantages, opportunities and time to improve all these.

Much] A comparative: First In regard of our selves, so we receive much in regard of our desert. 2. God needs not to bestow any thing. Secondly in regard of others.

Vers. 50. I have a baptisme to be baptized with] He cals the death of his Crosse a bap∣tisme, as also Marke 10.38. partly because it was a certaine immersion into extreme calamities into which He was cast,* 1.12 partly also because in the Crosse he was so to be sprinkled with his own bloud as if he had been drowned and baptized in it.

Straightned] Pained, or pent up, not with such a griefe as made him unwilling to come to it, but with such as made him desire that it were once over.

There seemes (saith Grotius) to be a similitude implyed in the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ta∣ken from a woman with Child, which is so afraid of the bringing forth, that yet she would faine be eased of her burthen.

Vers. 51. Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you nay, but rather di∣vision] You expect that your Messiah should be such a King as should far exceed the Roman Emperour in Riches, Power, and Majesty, who may bestow a universall peace upon you freed from the tyranny of the Romans, may subdue all nations, and so set them in safety. But I say unto you, that not peace, but separation shall follow, even of those that ought to be joyned together in the bond of the straightest kindred and affinity.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Polyc. Lyser.
• * 1.2

  Id. ib.
• * 1.3

  Mr Dod.
• * 1.4

  Dum Christus de rebus gra∣vissimis & aeternam salutem concernentibus disserit, importunus quìdam de turba sermonem ejus interrumpit, & de fratris sui iniquitate conqueritur, qui tergiversans communis haereditatis partitionem vel justo diutius proroget, vel penitus recu∣set. Christus ob has causas hanc petitionem rejecit, 1. Non venerat in mundum ob temporalia sed ob aeterna ac proinde tempora∣libus hisce noluit se immiscere, 2. Noluit confirmare Iudaicam opinionem neque in discipulorum suorum neque in reliquorū auditorum animis qui arbitrabantur Messiae esse regnum mundanum. 3. Praecidere etiam voluit suis adversariis occasiones calumniandi, qui attentè observarent an ex dictis & factis aliquid arripere possent, quod speciem haberet, ac si magistratus politici Iurisdictionem sibi usurparet, quo seditionis ipsum accusare possent. 4. Praevidit futurum, si uni in vilioribus hisce gratificaretur, mox plures ex rudioribus adventuros, qui idem essent postulaturi, unde plus negotii in dirimendis litibus auditorum, quam in plantando regno Dei habiturus fuisset. Polyc. Lyser.
• * 1.5

  See 1 Tim. 6.18.
• * 1.6

  Perkins.
• * 1.7

  R. Dav. Inquit pullos corvorum candidos esse ac proinde non ag∣nosci matri∣bus, item Deum pascere illos muscis. Drusius.
• * 1.8

  In Syriaco E∣vangelio est, nec immoretur vel suspendatur mens vestra in illis. Videtur alludere ad gestum ejus qui prae magna solicitudine angitur vultum ad Coelum at∣rollens; verti potest, ne curetis sublimia, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, propriè, in dubio esse & in incerto, ut quae suspensa sunt & sublimia facilè huc & illuc impelluntur, ita animus hominis qui in dubio est & incertus, huc atque illuc fluctuat. Varab. in loc. Vide Aretium in loc.
• * 1.9

  Vide Aretium. in loc. Mr Perkins.
• * 1.10

  Metaphora à vigilatium ha∣bitu. As those who look for the returne of the Bridegroom, v. 36. Beata vi∣ta hic & alibi nuptijs compa∣••atur, partim quia in ea nullus dolori, luctui aut lachry mis locus est, sed solidi & perpetuig audii plena sunt omnia, partim quia aeternus Dei filius ecclesiam suam sponsam verè in ea sibi adjungit, ut bonorum ipsa omnium particeps & Consori fias. Polyc. Lyser.
• * 1.11

  Cam crescunt dona crescunt & rationes do∣norum. Gregory. As the gifts grow so grow the accompts too.
• * 1.12

  Christ also Matth. 20.20. understands by the word Bap∣tisme his passion, the dayes of the death of Martyrs were called Natalitia Martyrum, martyrdome it selfe, Baptismus sanguinis.