The Marrow and Juice of 260 Scriptures, Part 17
The first Sonday in Lent.
THe Father of our Lord Iesus Christ gaue a commandement of increasing, and a blessing therewith,Dependance of the 19 and 32 chapters of Genesis with the 19 & 12 chapters. that the world might increase after the floud, but chiefly that his Church and holy people might be multiplyed, for the mulplying of their praises vntounto God in thought,Mankind is multiplied that he might multiply his praises to God. word, and deed.
Our Lord Iesus Christ himselfe propounds no other end of the good and honest hearing of Gods word,Christ propoūds it in the Gospell before going. & receiuing the graces and gifts of God, then a multiplication in fructification. Saint Paul shewed vsus the manner how we should do all,Pauls argument and subiect is the same. and the salt of louelove to God and our neighbours,Sodomites forget the blessing of cresci…e & multiply and the curse of Deluge wherewith all mens gifts must be seasoned, as we heard in the foure former precedent Scriptures.
Summe of the foure Scriptures following.In these 4 following we may see,
First in the filthy Sodomites, the slender regard that they had of Crescite and multiplicamini: either of Gods blessing or of any other benefite or grace of God, or of the late destruction of the world for filthy lust and cruelty.
Secondly, that notwithstanding their wickednesse not to be named amongst Christians, though blamed and purged by the showre of fire and brimstone, yet the Lord God would shew himselfe vntounto his friend Abraham; most gracious in preaching Christ vntounto him, vnderunder a type and figure of sacrificing his sonne Isaak and in reiterating the promise. By my selfe hauehave I sworne, &c. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.
Paul and the other Minsters of Christ being workers together, making vse of the doctrines concerning the publication of this embassage of blessing and saluation in and by Christ, beseeching the Church of Christ that they would not receiue this grace of God in vaine.
In the Gospell for the day it doth appeare, how our Lord by the Spirit is led into the wildernesse, to buckle with sathan, whom he not onelyonly woundeth, but ouercomes, that we in this our Champion and Captaine beleeuing, might not onelyonly ouercome the world, but sin, sathans temptation, and condemnation.
Mor. Prayer. 1 Les. Gen. 19.In the first of these foure Scriptures, which is Genesis 19. Moses doth shew vsus,
PartsFirst, the intertainement of two Angels, two manner of waies:1 The two-fold entertainment of the two Angels. to wit, their good vsage by Lot.
2 Their bad vsage by the Sodomits: Their good vsage by Lot is two-fold, the
First, is mentioned in the 1.2.3. ver. the
Second, in the 6.7. & 8. verses.
The Angels bad intertainment by the Sodomites is two-fold.
The first is mentioned. ver. 4.5.
The second is in the 9. ver.
In the second part of this chapter Moses tels vsus how Lot and his family were from these beastly sauages,2 Lots deliuerance from Sodom burning, and from Gods fire which burnt all. and from the fire of God preserued, and how filthy Sodom and wicked Gomorthe were consumed: which he expresseth in a large discourse from the 10. ve. to the end of the 24.
In the third part, how Lots wife was taken in the taile of the fiery showre and storme for looking behind her.3 Lots wiues punishment in the end and taile of the fiery showre. ver. 26.
Fourthly, Moses tels vsus how Abraham was a beholder of all these iudgements brought vponupon Sodom, 4 Abraham saw all this and God was mindfull of his mercy to Lot and Abrahamand that God was mindfull of his mercy promised to Abraham and Lot in the midst of these iudgements, ver. 27.28.29.
Fiftly, Moses records that ill measure which Lot did mete vntounto his God for all the former fauours to him,5 Lots vnthankfulnesse to God for all. and his, viz. the taking in of an immeasurable and vnreasonable quantity of wine, whereupon he was prouoked vntounto vnsatiable and vnnaturall filthinesse, euen the committing of incest. ver. 30. to the end of the 38. which is the end of the chapter.
The second of these Scriptures, Genesis 22. chapter,Eue. Prayer. 1 Less. Gen. 22. doth affoord History.
1 Of Abrahams faith1 The history of Abrahams faith. and obedience in offering vp his sonne Isaak, from the 1. ver. to the end of the 19:Parts.
2 Of the pedigree of his brother Nahor 2 The pedigree of Nahor Abrahams brother,grandfather to Rebekah which was married to Isaak. ver. 20. to the end of the. 24.
In the story of the sacrifice are considered
First, Gods commandement to Abraham, ve. 1.2.
Secondly, Abrahams faith & obedience, frō the 3. v. to the end of the 14.Abraham remembers all, & is obedient to Gods, &c,
Thirdly, the subsequent effects hereof, from the 15. ver. to the end of the 19.
The third Scripture, which is the EpistleEpistle. for this day. written. 2. Cor. 6. ver 1.2. Cor. 6.1. to the end of the tenth, is the edge of the former (and the like doctrines) with an exhortation concluding the doctrine concerning the vse of all,Summe or the most of Gods graces and fauours tendred vntounto vsus in this glorious ministery of the Gospell, containing mans reconciliaiion vntounto God the father by the onelyonly merits of his Sonne Christ our Sauiour.
Parts:In the first part wherof S. Paul propounds the exhortation.1 Exhortatiō
2 Motiues to itIn the next place the motiues wherewith he perswades to it.
Parts of the exhortation.The exhortation is so emphaticall and patheticall of it selfe, that vntounto good people attending well thereto it were sufficient. For if we respect
The mannerManner. of the exhortation, So we therefore as workers together beseech you: Or
The matter,Matter, that ye receiue not the grace of God in vaine, as ver. 1. it is no ordinary perswasion, but most pithy and Rhetoricall.
Grounds of this Rheoricall manner of exhorting.The grounds of this elegant Rhetorick are
First, most ancient and Canonical Scripture.1 Canonicall Scripture. For he saith, I hauehave heard thee in a time accepted, &c. cited out of Isay, 49.8. as ver. 2. or
Secondly, the honored approued, or rather the honorable conuersation,2 Examples of the holy conuersation of the Apostles, and example of the Apostles and ministers of Christ, who
1 Are not scandalous in any thing, because they would auoide the obloquies and reproches of their ministery. ver. 3.
2 But in all things, to thēselues & others are as the ministers of Christ, approued in much patiēce, in afflictiōs in necessities in distresses,Exhortations and examples, &c. ver. 4.
This holy walking and approuednesse of the blessed Apostles, the first pillars of the Christian Church, is nine and twenty times put to the Apostles touch-stone of tryall.The approuednesse of the Apostles in twēty nine times put to the teast and tryall. It hath
Three touches in the fourth verse.
Foure in the fifth verse.
Eight in the sixt verse.
Three in the seuenth verse.
Fiue in the eight verse.
Three in the ninth, and three in the tenth verse.
It must needs be good mettall that will abide nine and twenty sayes or examinations.Good and pure mettall, a most golden ministery most exquisit teaching. It must needes be a golden ministery that did abide so many tryals, Exquisitely were those people taught by such kind of teachers, which for their doctrines were so gracious, and for their liues so honorable.
In the fourth Scripture which is the GospellGospell. for the day, Math. 4.1.Math. 4.1. we hauehave a tryall aboue the tryall of Lots patience among the Sodomites, Summeexceeding the tryall of Abrahams faith and obedience, and much exceeding the 29. touches of the Apostles excellence. For here Lots deliuerer and Ahrahams Sauiour, the Apostles Rabbi and our greatest teacher (before euer he preacheth any Sermon) is set vponupon by the aduersarie of mankind, the enemy to all good Sermons: God is heere tryed by the diuell.God is tryed by the diuell. Iesus is led aside of the good spirt to be tempted of the diuell, who is that euill and most wicked spirit?
S. Mathew in the forefront of this battell lets vsus seeParts of the Gospell.
First, the Apparation or preparation of the combatters1 The Apparatiō, or preparation of the two combatters. themselues before there was a stroake strooken betweene them.
1 Iesus Christ that victorious conquerour and Lyon of Iudaes Tribe is thus made ready.How our Lord Iesus Christ is made ready.
1 The spirit leades him aside.
2 Into a solitary place the wildernesse.
3 To this end to be tempted of the diuell. ver. 4.Christs temptation & tri… all exceeds all other trials.
4 He was prepared by fasting 40. daies and 40. nights. ver. 1.
5 By being hungry. ver. 2.
Secondly, the diuell, the roaring Lyon (who is neuer vnready) thus prepares himselfe.How the diuell makes himselfe ready. He knew that occasion was bald behind: hele therefore take his time and oportunity. No better time or occasion, to offer Christ an occasion of bread making, then when Christ is hungry. So he practised with Esau to let go his birthright for a messe of pulse pottage when he came from his hungry pastime of hunting. Then came to him the tempter and said, &c. part of the 3. ver.
S. Matthew in the processe of this battell makes mention (as in the second place) of the blowes and stroaks that were giuen on both sides.2 The blowes & stroakes that were giuen on both sides.
The first stroake that sathan stroake was,The first stroak giuen by the diuill, at one of the principall parts of Christs attributes, the power and almightinesse of God, intimating thus much, that the particular wil of God must alwaies go with the generall power of God. This is the diuels diuelty,The Italian diuels incarnate do reason thus: God can do all things, ergo, he doth turne, and wil turne bread Sacramental into Christs body reall. or rather his villanous sophistry, If thou be the Sonne of God: that is, God Almighty: then let this power of thine be seene in putting it in execution: in being willing: that is, now at this paritcular time, commanding these stones to be made bread. ver. 3. But thou art of power sufficient being the Sonne of God: ergo, thou must be willing to do it, command that these stones be made bread.
The answer vntounto this double veny, is with the single and simple sword of the Spirit,Christs answere and award to this blow. which is the word of God, Scriptum est, Man shall not liue by bread onelyonly, &c. ver. 4.
The second blow that sathan giues vntounto Christ,Sathans second blow, was in an high place vponupon the Temples pinacle (as the first was below vponupon the ground) In which assault he takes Christs own weapon to wound him withall, prouing in more particular the consequent of his maior proposition expressed before in the first temptation. For the diuel knew that it did not follow necessarily, that because Christ is the Sonne of God, ergo he must cast himselfe downe.Christs challenge & combate with the diuell. For which cause hele vrge and worke vponupon that consequent with the powerfull word of God, though cursedly by detraction he alledgeth, For it is written, that he will giuegive his Angels charge ouer thee, &c. ver. 5. & 6.
The wound & stroak that our Lord God gaue the diuel,Our Lords answere. is with the same weapon, It is written, againe: not simply, it is written. ver. 7.
The third bickering place, was higher then the Temples pinacle (the better to accomodate himselfe to the third encounter and battell) an exceeding high mountaine, where
1 He takes vponupon him like a lyer,The diuels third stroake. to shew Christ more then he could.
2 Like a vaine bragger to giuegive him more then he had himselfe, and that vponupon condition, That Christ would doe to him more then he ought, or should: to wit,
1 To fall downe, and
2 Worship the diuell▪ ver. 8.9.
Christ gaue him two blowes, & that with two weapons.Our Sauiour answeres him with a double veny.
1 Wounding him with his powerfull authority, Auoide Sathan.
2 With his old sure weapon. For it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him onelyonly shalt thou serue. ver. 10.
Saint Matthew, Christs standerd bearer, in the third place.3 S. Matthews… relation of the successe of Christs temptation.
1 Displayeth the ensigne of victory,
2 Sounds a triumph of Christ ouer sathan,
3 He sounds the diuels dasterdly retraite, and
4 He sounds amarch of the holy Angels which attended vponupon Christ. ver. 11.