The Marrow and Juice of 260 Scriptures, Part 2
The second Sonday in Aduent.
AS the foure holy Scriptures for the former Sunday made mention of Christs Aduent and coming to his old people, and to the Temple of the Iewes:Coherence of these 4 with the other 4 scriptures going before. so these foure for this day do declare and shew the further spreading of the wings of Gods fauour in Iesus Christ towards the Gentiles. For the Gospel-like Prophet Esay in the two first Lessons,Generall sūme of the two first Lessons. chosen out for this dayes seruice, speakes most euidently and certainely of Christs Aduent to the Gentiles, of his gracious calling of the nations vntounto the light of the Gospell, of his coming to vsus with such glory and brightnesse, that the Moone shall be abashed, and the Sunne ashamed of their light, when the Lord of hosts shall raigne in mount Sion and Hierusalem. S. Paul the teacher of the Gentiles,Generall sūme of the epistle and gospell. in a portion of his Epistle to the Romanes (which were Gentiles) chosen out for the Epistle in his doctrine exhortatiue, confirmeth the calling of the Gentiles. And our Lord Iesus Christ, S. Pauls maister and ours, preacheth a Sermon (which S. Luke recordeth) concerning Christs second Aduent, his comming to iudgement at the end of the world, wherein Iewes and Gentiles shall be finally called to their last account.
The first Lesson for morning prayer this day is,Mor. Prayer. 1 Lesson Isay 5. the first chapter of Isaies prophecie, containing these principall heads of doctrine.
First,The parts. the Lord by way of exprobation recapitulates many great fauours and mercies vouchsafed to his people and Church of the Iewes. v. 1, to a part of the 4.1 A rehearsall of many great fauours shewed.
Secondly, the Lord in the exposition of the song and parable of the vineyard,2 How the Iews abused these mercies of god. declareth what vse (or rather what abuse) the Iewes made of all Gods mercies shewed toward them from thence to the end of the 7 verse.
3 A grieuous denunciation for their grieuous iniquities, to wit, against the Ingrossers of lands and houses, Ingrossers of drinke & pleasures, Obstinate and violent in sin, Proud Philautist…, Mightie drinkers, and swinish beasts.Thirdly, the Prophet of God (beholding their vnthankfulnesse and wickednesse) falleth to his obiurgation and grieuous denouncing of woes and curses against these trees that brought forth such fruit. First, against the couetous tree bringing forth the corrupt fruits of ingrossing of commodities, as houses and lands, of oppressing and grinding the poores faces. verse 8.9. and 10. Secondly, against the ingrossers of drinke and pleasures, against greedy drunkards and epicures, making a god of their pleasure. verse 11. to the end of the 17. Thirdly, against the stiffe Okes and hard beames, to wit, first, such wicked ones as draw iniquity with cords of vanitie. v. 18.19. Secondly, such as speake euill of good, &c. vers. 20. Thirdly, against the stiffe in their owne conceit, the selfe-conceited, the Philautist. ver. 21. Fourthly, against the mightie guzzelers and stiffe or hard drinkers, which bring out of that swinish and beastly tree, most filthy and loathsome fruit, and shall hauehave a plague and iudgement proportionable to their contagious and infectiue iniquity. verse 22. to the end of the 25 verse.
4 A prophecie of the Gentiles calling.In the fourth part of the chapter there is a prophecie concerning Christs coming to call the Gentiles, to plant a Church of them, that the Lord may see whether they will bring forth any better fruits then the Iewes did. verse 26, to the end of the 30, which is the end of the chapter.
Euen. Prayer. 1 Less. Isay 24.The first Lesson for Euening prayer, is the 24 of Isay, which may be distributed into these chiefe heads,
1 Curses are denounced against the Iews, and why.First, the Prophet pronounceth and denounceth, vntounto, and against the defectiue Iewes, Gods curses and plagues vponupon the earth and inhabitants thereof; vponupon the soules of the people, and of the Priest and Ruler of the people, as also vponupon others of the body oeconomicke, and the body politicke. And in like manner he pronounceth the curses that are to come vponupon the fruits of the earth, vponupon the chiefe trees, as the vine which should yeeld the most cordiall liquor. And all this the Lord doth for their wickednesse, and departing from him; therfore all ioy is darkened, and the mirth of the world is gone …w…y ver, 1. to the end of the 12.
In the second place the Prophet makes mention of the calling of the Gentiles to magnifie the Lord,2 The Gentils are called to magnifie Gods name. with that remnant of Iewes which shall be reserued for saluation, Who shal praise the Lord in the valleys, in the Iles of the sea: yea, the Kings of the world that are vponupon the earth, shall be gathered together, an… shall showte, for the magnificence of the Lord. They shall be gathered together, as the prisoners in the pit, and they shall be shut vp in the prison, and after many daies shall they be visited. Then the Moone shall be abashed. &c. and glory shall be before his ancient men. Ver. 13. to the end of the 23. the end of the chapter.
The third part of holy Scripture for this day is,Epistle. Rom. 15. v. 4.14. a part of the 15. chap. to the Romans. ver. 4. to the end of the 14. ver. containing these principall points.
The first is, Saint Paules illatiue doctrine,1 Doctrine illa…iue. or proposition inferred vponupon the premisses. For whatsoeuer things are written, they are written for our learning, &c. Ver. 4.
The second is the Apostles prayer to God for the Romans, Now the God of patience and consolation &c. Ver. 5. & 6.2 Prayer.
The third is his exhortation.3 Exhortation. Wherefore receiue ye one another, as Christ also receiued vsus to the glory of God. Ver. 7.
The fourth is,4 Confirmation of the exhortation. the confirmation and ground of this exhortation.
First by the Apostles peremptory proposition, drawne from the office of Christ, and the end of that office. Now I say that Iesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirme the promises made vntounto the Fathers, Ver. 8.
The second kind of proofe and confirmation is by foure quotations of holy scripture, three out of the Psalmes, and one out Esaies prophecy cited in the 9▪ 10.11. & 12. Verses.5 Another prayer conceiued vponupon the former occasions.
The fift point of this portion of Scripture is another prayer, which the Apostle conceiueth vponupon the former occasions of doctrine. Now the God of hope fill you with all ioy and peace in beleeuing, that he may abound in hope through the power of the holy Ghost. Ver. 13.
The sixt and last, is the good conceit and opinion that Saint Paul had conceiued of the Romaines, 6 S. Pauls good opinion of the Romanes.causing him thus to write vntounto them, and in this manner to speake and pray for them. And I my selfe also am perswaded of you my bretheren, that ye are full of goodnesse, filled with all knowledge, and are able to admonish one another, verse 14.
Gospell. Luke 21.25.33. The agreemēt betweene this & the former.The fourth portion of holy Scripture, the Gospell for this day is the 21. of Luke, verse, 25. to the end of the 33. Which being compared with the three formerly chosen, it will euidently appeare, what a sweete agreement and connexion there is among them, to confirme this Aduent of Christ, and calling of the Gentils: and to maintaine the infallible certainty and assurance of the full redemption and saluation both of Iewes and Gentiles.
Christ Iesus hauing occasion offered him to prophecy and foretell the signes of Hierusalems destruction, ariseth much higher, & preacheth of the signes preceeding the end of the world.Christs principall purpose in this Gospell: a reason of the choife hereof. He discourseth (I say) of his second coming to iudgement, bringing a more generall and more grieuous desolation, then euer was heretofore from the beginning of the world. And here withall in this second Aduent of his (appointed by the Church to be taught for this second Sonday in Aduent) he principally makes mentiō of the end and purpose of this his Aduent: to wit, the perfect redemption of their soules and bodies, as he saith: When these things begin to comt to passe, then looke vp and lift vp your heads, for your redemption draweth neere. Analise of the Gospell in generall.Our Lord in this Gospell, by the pen of Saint Luke (that happy Physition for the soule and the body) doth first acquaint vsus with the signes immediatly foresheweing Christs coming, with a description of the Aduent, or coming it selfe. ver. 25.26.27.
The second is a most comfortable vse, that both they and we, Iewes, and Gentiles, are to make of this our Lords coming and second Aduent, ver. 28 to the end of the 33. This is the generall suruey of the text.
In more parts to diuide it (that we may see each and eueryevery parcell thereof,Parts of the Gospell special. when it is laid open and dissected) let vsus giuegive good eare vntounto our Preacher the great Rabbi and doctor, who by a Synecdoche, taking some parts principall for the whole, and eueryevery singular, tels vsus: first, that there shall be signes of this his Aduent: first, in the superiour, coelestiall, and irrationall bodies: to wit, the Sunne, the Moone, 1 Signes in diuerse sorts of creatures.the Starres, in the inferiour, and sublunary, the earth, the sea, the waters. Secondly, in the rationals and animals, as first trouble among the nations, with perplexity, ver. 25. Secondly, he sheweth the effect of this trouble, which shall be this. Mens hearts shall faile them for feare, and for looking after those things, &c. Ver. 26.
Secondly, he shewes vsus,2 Subsequent or sequele of these signes. what shall be the subsequent or consequent of these signes: to wit, Men seeing the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory, Ver. 27. Concerning the vse of these signes and Christs coming, it is deliuered: First, with a couragious Attendite and most comfortable exhortation, to be encouraged,How Christ deliuers the vse of these signes. not discouraged at the signes, but rather 1. to looke vp, 2. and to lift vp their heads, our Sauiour inducing one gook reason for both: which is this, For the redemption draweth neere, ver. 28.
Secondly, he beats the vse of these signes into men heads with a sound mallet, and beetles of a figge-tree, and all other trees. the Protasis whereof is in the 29. and 30. ver. the: Apodosis ver. 31. so likewise ye when yee see these things, &c.
Thirdly,3 His strong proofe to confirme all. that the elect and people of God might herein be so confirmed, as nothing in heauen nor in earth should cause them to quaile. He prooues all that he hath spoken with his most vsuall and vehement asseueration of the truth of two signes. Verily I say vntounto you, that this age shall not passe (1. some of the Iewes shall remaine when the last signe shall be seene) till all these things be fulfilled. Ver. 32. The second of these two, and the last signe that shall be after all eternities, is the perpetuity and eternity of Gods truth: to wit, though heauen and earth shall passe (which is the last signe of all) yet Gods word shall not passe away; that is to say,Certainty of Christs coming. either in this doctrine now deliuered, or any other clause or title of Gods word whatsoeuer, ver. 33.