Theologicall questions, dogmaticall observations, and evangelicall essays, vpon the Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to St. Matthew Wherein, about two thousand six hundred and fifty necessary, and profitable questions are discussed; and five hundred and eighty speciall points of doctrine noted; and five hundred and fifty errours confuted, or objections answered: together with divers arguments, whereby divers truths, and true tenents are confirmed. By Richard VVard, sometimes student in the famous vniversities of Cambridge in England: St. Andrews in Scotland: and Master of Arts of both the kingdoms; and now a preacher in the famous city of London.

§. 1. VERS. 19. [Vers. 19] And when Herod was dead be∣hold an Angell of the Lord appeareth unto Io∣seph [Sect. 1] in Egypt in a dreame.

It may here be doubted, [Quest.] whether Herod died a naturall death, or if he went out of the world (after so many bloudy cruelties) without some remarkeable judgement? It should seeme hee did, because the Scripture makes no mention of any thing, but that onely he died, neither ex∣pressing when nor how.

I answer first, that he dyed about two yeares [Answ. 1] after.

Secondly, as his life was short (after this un∣heard [Answ. 2] of cruelty) so it was miserablea 1.1 as may appeare by this description of it: Hee first was stricken with an extreame burning heat within, which so fast consumed his meat, that hee had continually a most greedy desire to feed, but could never be satisfied; his intrails rotted in his body, he was tormented with most cruell pangs in his genitals, and his feet were greatly swolne. To all this was added a putrifying of his privy parts crauling with wormes, and a most horri∣ble

stinch proceeded from him: in which mise∣rable lothsome case hee continued some weekes and then dyed.

[Sect. 2] §. 2. This verse may bee allegorized thus: Herod is sin, and as long as he lives and raignes, Christ doth absent himselfe, and will not come unto his people: Herod must dye before Christ will returne: sinne must bee mortyfied before Christ will come unto the soule: whence it may be questioned.

[Quest.] Why is there no participation of Christ be∣fore mortification?

I answer first, because the Holy Spirit will not come into a polluted vessell, God and Mam∣mon [Answ. 1] cannot dwell togetherb 1.2, one Temple can∣not hold the Arke and Dagon. 1 Sam. Non bene conveniunt, nec in una sede morantur, sin and grace, Satan, and Christ will never bee immates, or co∣habitants in one, and the same heart, at one and the same time; and therefore sinne must bee ex∣pulsed, before Christ wil be entertained.

[Answ. 2] Secondly, to dye, and to live are contraries: as the Apostle S^t Paul saith, how can hee that is dead in sin live thereinc 1.3? A man cannot be alive and dead at one instant, in one sense: and there∣fore we cannot pertake the spirituall life of grace and Christ, untill sinne dyed 1.4 Christ will rather continue an exul in Egypt, then come into Israel so long as this Herod (sin) is alive; and therfore if we desire the fruition, and possession of Christ in the soule, wee must labour to fight againste 1.5 & to mortifief 1.6 all carnal affections in us, putting off this old garment of sinne, and casting it from us, that so wee may bee clothed with that new man Christ Jesusg 1.7.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Ioseph. lib. 2. de Bell. Iud. cap. 22.
• b 1.2

  Matth. 6.24.
• c 1.3

  Rom. 6.2
• d 1.4

  1 Cor. 15
• e 1.5

  1 Pet. 2.11.
• f 1.6

  Col. 3.5.
• g 1.7

  Rom. 13 12.13.14.