CHAP. XX••.
Vers. 1. ANd he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the Treasury] Not be∣cause the Treasury was in a high place that he had need to lift up his eyes;* 1.1 but be∣cause Christ being a patterne of modesty had cast his eyes upon the ground. The Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifieth studiously to behold, which notion doth best agree here. See Chap. 8.25.
Ver. 3. Hath cast in more than they all] Qualitate, animi intentione, quantitate, pro fa∣cultatum ratione.
Ver. 4. Hath cast in all the living that she had] That is, all the meanes she had to su∣staine her self that day.
Ver. 11. And fearefull sights, and great signs shall then be from heaven] Josephus of the wars of the Jews l. 7. c. 12. recites divers signes which happened before the destruction of Jerusalem,* 1.2 1. That a blazing star in fashion of a sword hung over the City. 2. That at the feast of unleavened bread a light shone round about the Altar as cleare as day. 3. That a Cow led to be sacrificed calved a Lambe. 4. That the brazen Gate of the Temple, which twenty men could scarcely open, was seene to open at midnight of it own accord. 5. That in the first of May there were seen in the aire Chariots and stand∣ing battles skirmishing in the clouds, and compassing the City. 6. In the Temple was heard the sound of a wonderfull terrible voice which said, Migremus hinc, let us go hence.
Ver. 13. And it shall turne to you for a testimony] That is, you shall have great honour by it, as you give testimony to Christ, so Christ shall give testimony unto you.
Ver. 19. In your patience possesse ye your soules] As if he should say, if you would save your soules,* 1.3 you must labour to beare all crosses that fall on you with patience.
Patience and strength to beare afflictions must be ours, not by usurpation, nor yet by lawfull use and occupation, as a thing borrowed for the present, but by just title and possession, we must have it of our own, and be provided of it to use when time shall serve. When one is comfortable and cheerefull, we say he enjoyes himself, so when one keeps himself quiet in crosses he possesseth his soule in patience.
Ver. 24. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword] In the Greek by the mouth of the sword:* 1.4 For the sword bites in that part in which it is sharper, therefore the sword is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 two mouthed for two edged, Heb. 4.12.
* 1.5Ver. 28. Then look up and lift up your heads] That is, be of good courage, as the Sy∣riack hath exprest the sense in its Paraphrase by a metonymy of the effect, for when men are merry they lift up their heads, when sad they cast them down, and the reason which is added confirmes this exposition.
For your Redemption] That full deliverance in which death shall be triumphed over, draweth nigh.
Vers. 34. Be overcharged with surfetting and drunkennesse] With a surfetting arising from drunkennesse, or a drunkennesse which produceth a surfetting; but it is better in this place to take the metonymicall signification of this word for too much cram∣ming or pouring in of meat or drink,* 1.6 from whence a surfet ariseth as an effect, so it is taken by the Septuagint in 77. Psal. 71.
And so that day come upon you unawares] It comes unawares when peoples hearts are