The Marrow and Juice of 260 Scriptures, Part 21
The fifth Sonday in Lent.
THe Lord,Coherence of these 4 scriptures with the former. which had so graciously deliuered Iacob and his posterity from the famine in Canaan, brought them into Egypt, and gat them fauour in the sight of King Pharaoh and his subiects, doth now stirre vp another king which knew not Ioseph, to exercise his seruants the Israelites vnderunder the crosse.Summe. And as they being the members of the Church endured and continued herein by the space of many yeares, being the sheepe of Christ:The sheepe were before scattered: now is the shepheard about to be troubled. so now is the head of the Church, the great and good shepheard of the sheepe, about to be smitten.
The great Passeouer therefore drawing neerer and neerer,Generall sum of the foure Scriptures, Distresses of the members, persecution of the head. wherein Christ our Passeouer was offered for vsus:Israelites oppressed, &c. his holy seruants hauehave thought vponupon foure such portions of Scripture as do shew,
First, the troubles and distresses wherein God exercised the members of his Church for the triall of their faith and patience, and for the chastening of them for their sinne.
Secondly, the persecution by thought, word, and deede, wherwith the Iews persecuted the Lord of life, who though he reproued his enemies of grosse and vpardonable sin: yet not one of them was able to taxe or rebuke him of sinne.
Mor. Prayer. 1 Less. Exod. 3.In the third chapter of Exodus the first of the foure Scriptures for this day, the text doth set forth,
Parts.First, the maner of Gods calling of Moses 1 Gods calling of Moses.to bee a meanes of the Israelites deliuerance out of the Egyptiacall oppressions, ver. 1. to the end of the 10.
Secondly, the singular humility of M…ses in acknowledging his vnworthinesse and insufficiencie2 Humility of Moses in ac— knowledging his insufficiency. either to go to Pharaoh, or to bring the Israelites out of Aegypt, verse eleuen, much like the speech of Saint Paule. foreign.
Thirdly, the text sets downe how God fitteth and furnisheth Moses 3 God fitteth and enableth Moses.to this weighty and troublesome function, ver. 12.
Fourthly, the desire of Moses to bee further instructed concerning the authoritye of this his Embassage.4 Moses desire to know the authority of his calling. verse 13.
Fifthly, the text relates vntounto vsus Gods answer to Moses, 5 Gods answer to Moses by the effects of his ministery.both concerning his propounded question, verse. 14.15. as also concerning that which Moses was further to doe, and in particular about this enioyned businesse, and the diuers es…ects, both in the Israelites and in the Egyptians of the true and faithfull discharge of Moses his conscience towards them, verse 16. to the 22. the end of the chapter.
In the fifth of Exodus, Pharaoh and his people oppresse Gods people.Eue. Prayer. 1 Less. Exod. 5.being the second of the selected Scriptures, the text sheweth,
First,Parts. how Moses and Aaron do accomplish and performe their duty of doing their message to Pharaoh ver. 1.1 Moses and Aaron execute their charge.
Secondly, how Pharaoh tooke their doing of this message.2 Pharaohs acceptance hereof in his 1 Minde. 2 Exceptions. 3 Tyranny. First, with what minde and words he answered the Lord, to wit, with the words and spirit of Atheisme, of irreligion, as ver. 2. Secondly, what exceptions he tooke against the answer which Moses and Aaron made to his speech ver. 3.4.5. Thirdly, how he tyrannized the more ouer the Church of God in oppressing them with vnconscionable, and vnreasonable taske-worke, to which end he sent out his tyrannous precept, which was executed by Pharaohs taskmasters, from the 6. verse to the end of the 14.
In the third part of this chapter the text sheweth: First,3 Israelites petition to the tyrant to be eased of their oppression. how the officers of the Israelites made their lamentable petition vntounto this tyrant, concerning the iniuries of the making of bricke without straw, the beating of the officers, & blame of the people, vers. 15.16. Secondly, the answer that this Atheist m…de (as before) not changing his minde nor wordes any more then the Leopard doth her spots, or the Moore his skinne. Ruling and ouer-ruling Gods people by his will alone, (as tyrants doe) against reason and religion. Ʋers. 17.18.
In the fourth part of the text he tels vsus how the officers of the Israelites laid an imputation of this tyranny of Pharaoh, vponupon Moses and Aaron. as vers. 20.21.4 Officers of the Israelites impute Pharaohs tyranny to Moses & Aaron.
In the fifth part how Moses went to the Lord (his refuge in due time of trouble) expostulating with him about this businesse, and casting his cares into the Lords bosome,5 Moses repaires to God in these distresses. who cared for them all, and in his due time deliuered them, as ver. 22.23. and in the 14. chapter, ver. 13.30. and 31. doth most comfortably appeare.
In the 9. chap. of the Epistle to the Heb. ver. 11. to the end of the 16.Epistle. Heb. 9.11. to the 16. Summe.the holy Ghost doth assuure vsus of the obtaining of an eternall redemption by Christ our high Priest,Christ an eternall Redemer whereas the deliuerance of the Israelites was but ex…ernall temporarie & typicall:Deliuerance by Chri…t eternall, by Moses externall a…d typical, no m…re then their s…crifices were, which did sanctifie as touching the p…rification of the flesh ve. 13.
Parts.First, therefore the Author of this Epistle, deliuereth this poin… positi…ely, and peremptorily,1 Tis positiuely and peremptorily set downe. that the sacrifice of Christ is eternall, and more perfect, n…t like that sacrifice of the bloud of bulles and goates. ver. 11.12.
2 Confirmation a minore ad maius.Secondly, this point is confirmed by an argument, a minore ad mai…s. If the lesser did so much, how much more then shall the greater do. For if the bloud of bulles and goates, and the ashes of an heiffer, &c. ve. 13. how much more shall the bloud of Christ, which through the eternall Spirit, offered himselfe without spot vntounto God, purge your consciences from dead workes, to serue the liuing God. ve. 14.
3 Confirmatiō a causa finali. He did it, that he might becōe the Mediator of the new Testament.In the third part of this portion of Scripture the holy Ghost proueth the proposition by an argument drawne, a causa finali. The end why this our high Priest vndertook and performed al this good for vsus, was, that he might become the Mediator of the new Testament, that through death which was for the redemption of the transgressors, they which were called might receiue the promise of eternall inheritance, ver. 15. For where a Testament is, there is the death of the Testator. ver. 16.
In the 8. chapter of S. Iohns Gospell ver. 46. to the end of th 59.Gospell. Ioh. 8 46. ad 59. which is the end of the chapter, the text directeth vsus to the sight and consideration of these principall points.Parts.
First, that he which was and is our high Priest,1 The innocency of our high Priest, His enimies answered with rayling. was innocent, because none of them (being all challenged) could rebuke him of sinne, as ver. 46.47. whereto his enimies answered with rayling and reuiling him, Say we not well, that thou art a Samaritane, &c. ver. 48. vntounto which blasphemous slander our Sauiour answereth. ver. 49.50.51.
Secondly, S. Iohn will shew vsus the obduracie and obstinacy of the Iewes hearts, from whence proceeded rhe venome and poyson of their tongues.2 Iewes hard— nesse of heart ingendred poyson of their tongues. Now know we that thou hast a diuell: Christ the head was persecuted of the members of his Churchmaliciously,Our Lords answere to them is three-fold. and contrary to their knowledge, indeuouring to maintaine this their blasphemy, Abraham (say they) is dead, and the Prophets. ve. 52, 53. Whereunto our Lord makes answere.
1 If I honour my selfe, mine honour is nothing worth: 1 His honour is not frō himselfe.it is my Father that honoureth me, whom ye say that he is your God. ver. 54.
2 Yet ye hauehave not knowen him, but I know him. 2 The Iewes knew not the Father,ver. 55.
3 Abraham knew him and me, your father Abraham reioyced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad. 3 Abrahā knew him & reioycedver. 56.
Thirdly, the holy Ghost testifieth against these wicked Iewes, misconstruing Christs words, and wilfully persisting in their scandalous obtrectation and obloquie.3 A contestation against these Iewes persisting in their obtrectations. Thou art not yet 50. yeares old, and hast thou seene Abraham. ver. 57. Hereunto our Sauiour answereth. Verely, verely, I say vntounto you, before Abraham was I am. ver. 59.
Fourthly, S. Iohn acquaints vsus heere,4 The enemies argument a fustibus or lapidibus. with that vltimum refugium of all persecutors, euen their last argument which they are wont to vse, against the truth and true speakers, Argumentum à fustibus, or à lapidibus ductum, their open and manifest persecuting by fire and sword, staues, and stones, Then they tooke vp stones to cast at him. Christs answere and auoiding of that argument is,
1 By hiding himselfe.
2 By going out of the Temple, ver. 59. to the end of the chapter.