CHAP. XVII.
Verse 5. Lord encrease our faith]
A Most necessary request in this case. For the more any man beleeveth that God for Christs sake hath pardoned
To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
A Most necessary request in this case. For the more any man beleeveth that God for Christs sake hath pardoned
him, the readier he will be to pardon others.
It implies 1 readinesse: 2 nimblenesse, handinesse, and handsomenesse. A loose 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mind is unfit to serve God. The Deacons cried of old in the Church-meetings Oremus, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Let us pray, let us attend to prayer, &c.
Or, our debt: and* 1.1 it is no matter of merit to pay debts. This made 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 founder of New-Colledge, &c. professe, he trusted in Jesus Christ alone for Salvation. Charles the Fifth did the like, when he came to die. And in times of Popery, the ordinary instruction appoin∣ted to be given to men upon their death beds, was, that they should look to come to glory, not by their own merits, but by the vertue and merit of Christs passion: that they should place their whole* 1.2 confidence in his death only, and in no other thing: and that they should interpose his death betwixt God and their sins, betwixt them and Gods anger.
These sought them∣selves only in their prayers as do hypocrites: and nought esteem∣ed the love of Christ. So did those that fasted to themselves,* 1.3 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 7. more to get off their chains then their sins. Ephrain is an empty vine, he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fruit to himself. The Church keeps her fruit for her beloved.
As if yee were already cleansed. They did so, though they saw no sense for it: and before they came to the Priest, they were cleansed indeed. Make your requests known to God with thanksgiving, Philip. 4. 6. As who should say, make account to speed, and be ready with your thanks, as if you had what you ask of God.
Its ten to one if any return to give thanks. Men make prayer their refuge, but not their recom∣pence. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 returned not according to his receipts.
He was as earnest in praises, as he had been in prayers. Our thanks should be larger and louder then our requests; because God prevents us with many mercies, and denies nothing: we have it either in mony or monies worth.
A thankfull man is worth his* 1.4 weight in gold. Sed perrarò grati homines reperiuntur, saith the Oratour. Plerique ut accipiant. importuni, donec acceperint, in∣quieti; ubi acceperint, ingrati, saith the Father. Most pray, but pay
not: they make prayer their refuge, but not their recompence.
Christ keeps count how many favours men receive from him, and will call them to a particular account thereof. He is an austere man this way.
The Syriack, and some others 〈◊〉〈◊〉 these words question-wise, and so it is more emphaticall: Are there not found that returned? &c. q. d. That's admirable, that's abhominable.
This they asked in 〈◊〉〈◊〉. q. d. You tell us oft of the kingdom of God, and that it is at hand: but when comes it once? All things continue as they did, &c.
That is, with outward pomp, or superstitious seeking after.
It is spiritual, Rom. 14. 17. Or, it is among you, but that you cannot see wood for trees. You seek me as absent, whom you reject present.
q. d. This doctrine con∣cerns you also, as well as the perverse Pharisees. You shall be ere long at a great losse for me: look to it therefore and bestirre you.
q. d. From mine Ascention, and so forwards, you are not to look for me again till I come to judgement: and then I come on a sudden. Many devices there are in the minds of some, to think that Jesus Christ shall come from heaven again, and reign here upon earth a Thousand years. But* 1.5 they are (saith a good Divine) but the mistakes of some high ex∣pressions in Scripture, which describe the judgements powred out upon Gods enemies, in making a way to the Jewes conversion, by the pattern of the last judgement.
An elegant Asyndeton. For the reason whereof, see the Note on Matt. 24. 38.
It is not said here as vers. 27. they married wives: they affected rather those odious 〈◊〉〈◊〉,* 1.6 qui non utrinque resolvunt. The Turkish Bashaes have their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which, are their serious loves: for their wives are used* 1.7 but to dresse their meat, to laundresse, and for reputation, saith one that had been amongst them. Sodomy (saith he) in the Levant is not held a vice.
A fair Sun-shine-morning had a foul dismall evening. Neseis quid serus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vehat. Thou* 1.8 knowest not what a great-bellyed day may bring forth, 〈◊〉〈◊〉
crede diem tibi diluxisse supremum. Think every day the last day.
Security ushereth in destructi∣on. The Judge standeth before the door, as is easie to foresee:* 1.9 Watch therefore.
An hyperboli∣call expression, usuall among the Jewes, to denote matter of haste.
Who either out of curiosity* 1.10 or covetousnesse turnd her but, and she was turned. We are as hardly drawn off the world, as a Dog from a fat morsell. Those that set forth of Italy with Galeacius Marquesse of Vicum (who left all for the liberty of conscience at Geneva) many of them when they came to the borders of Italy, and considering what* 1.11 they forsook, first looked back, afterward went back again, and were taken by the Spanish Inquisition, and made publikly to abjure the Christian religion. Remember the horrible history of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of old, and the lamentable case of Spira alate, said the Lady* 1.12 Jane Gray prisoner, to Harding the Apostate. Lege historiam, (saith one) ne fias historia: lege judicia, ne fias exemplum 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
Or, Whither Lord, viz. shall they be taken, of whom thou speakest? To heaven, saith he. See the Note on Matt. 24. 28.
Those vulturine Eagles, that are said to fly two or three dayes before, to the place where armies are to meet, and carcases shall be.
〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Church. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in a Serm. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Eph. 4. 13.
Cant. 51.
〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. Barn. de Consid. lib 4.
Mr. Cotton upon the 7 Vials.
〈◊〉〈◊〉.
Blounts Voy∣age, pag. 14.
Horat.
Jam. 5.
Vt 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ab uncto 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. by Mr. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
Acts & Mon. sol 1291.