The exposition of Dionysius Syrus written above 900 years since on the evangelist St. Mark / translated by Dudley Loftus ... anno 1672 ; wherewith are bound up several other tracts of the same authour, and an ancient Syriack scholia on the four evangelists, as also some Persian, Armenian, and Greek antiquities, translated as aforesaid : the titles whereof are set down immediately after the Epistle to the reader, with refereuce [sic] to the several pages where they are.

Dionysius Syrus concerning the woman that had six husbands, John 4.

Translated by D. L. J. U. D.

GO call thy husband (i. e.) That he might partake of these spiritual Things.

I have no husband. She did not de∣clare that she had a husband, because she hastned to decline her answer to his de∣mand, and because she was willing to conceal the shame of the matter of Fact between her and her husband, and because she thought she spoke with a man who had not known secrets.

For thou hast had five husbands. He revealeth two secrets to her:

• First, That he reckoned the five husbands which she had.
• Secondly, In that he declar'd the Intreague between her and her last husband.

St. Ephraim: The five husbands which she took dyed one after another, and when she was reputed one, that had caused the death of her husbands, as Thamar seem'd to be unto Judah, she took a man to avoid the reproach of widowhood, that he might be a protector unto her without the use of marital commerce, but that he might onely bear the name of her husband, for she did not compell him to perform that office, inas∣much

as she was afraid least he should dye, but she took care to avoid her reproach.

Others thus, This Woman liv'd an unclean life, and it seem'd the Husband which she now had, she did not take according to the Law, wherefore she said, I have no husband; nor did she take the five former husbands orderly, and openly, as appeareth from the admiration of the Woman, saying, That which was known to none of the City, he being a stranger, hath he declar'd openly before all men.

He is not thy husband. He said so, because he plow'd, and did not sowe.