The Marrow and Juice of 260 Scriptures, Part 35
The third Sonday after Trinity.Examples of Hannahs patience and humility, and Helies sonnes violence, pride, and villany.
AS pride and haughtinesse of minde are the poyson and destruction of the gifts and blessings of God,Principal scope of these foure Scriptures, in men and Angels: so humility, meeknesse, and patience, long suffering, and brotherly kindnesse, are the antidotes and preseruatiues of all graces, and gifts, and of all blessings which God bestowes vponupon men in this life:Summe of the two first lessons in two contrary examples, wherefore there is a most fit choyce of two Scriptures out of the old Testament: both which are examples,
First of humility in Hannah, 1 Hannah,who after her obteining of a child by her prayer to God, in her meeke, modest, & shamefast kinde of speech vntounto God, not vttering words that were audible to mens eares. 1. Sam. 1.13. doth in her thankesgiuing to God, who gaue her the child, dehort from proud & presumptuous speeches, and disswade from arrogancie in words, chap. 2. ve. 3.
A second example we hauehave on the left hand, and contrary side, concerning the pride, rashnesse, and presumption, the violence, filthinesse, and villany of Elies sons,2 Elies sonnes, with Gods iudgement vponupon them, and vponupon their father, not punishing them for the same. S. Peter, that warme spirited Apostle,Summe of the Epistle and Gospell, who was taught humility, both by the humble life and doctrine of his maister, frames an exhortation to this purpose in the Epistle. And our Sauiour Christ being full of patience and long suffering; yea, humility it selfe, vttereth three parables to this purpose in one chapter, whereof two are set out for the Gospell, to wit, that of the lost sheepe, and that of the lost groat.
In the first of the foure Scriptures.Mor. Prayer. 1 Less, 1 Sam, 2. 1. Samuel. 2. the text doth
First set downe the humble and lowly song and prayer of Hannah, 1 Hannahs song and prayer,ve. 1. to the end of the 10.Parts.
2 A report of Samuels vprightnesse, and the Priests sonnes wickednesse.In the second part the text makes report,Christ sharply punisheth the sins of the Priest and his sonnes,
1. Of Samuels faithfull ministering vntounto the Lord before Eli the Priest, ve. 11. So
2. Of the wickednesse, disorder, violence, and filthinesse of Elies sonnes, ve. 12. ad 17.
3 Hannahs prouision and care for her son, and Gods prouidence towards her.Thirdly, the text shews vsus, what motherly prouision Hannah made for yong sonne Samuel, and how fatherly and graciously God dealt with her in blessing her with fiue children more, ve. 18. ad 21.
In the fourth place may be seene how foolishly and slenderly the fond father Eli reproued his wicked sonnes.4 Helies fond reprouing of his children, and God his reproofe of him. But withall how God tooke the matter into his owne handes: and by a man of God sharply reproued him, and denounced iudgements against him, against his sonnes and posterity: howbeit the Lord promiseth to stirre vp to himselfe a faithfull Priest that shall doe after his owne heart: vntounto whom Elies posterity shall crouch for a peece of siluer, and a morsell of bread, verse 22. to the end of the 36. which is the end of the chapter.Eue. Prayer. 1. Less. 1. Sam. 3
1 A famine of Gods word for the filthy wickednesse of the Priests.In the second Scripture written 1. Samuel. 3. appoynted for the first Lesson at Euening prayer, the holy Ghost shewes vsus,
First, how for the wickednesse of Ely and his sons, God brought a scarsity of his word: For the word of the Lord was precious in those daies, ve. 1.2.3.
In the second part of the chapter, the text maketh mention of Gods three-fold calling of Samuel, and of Samuels answer and obedience at the fourth call,2 Gods calling of Samuel three times, & Samuels answering the fourth time verse 4. to the end of the 10.
In the third, the holy Ghost tels vsus how the Lord made his purpose knowne to Samuel, concerning the subsequent iudgements to be executed vponupon Ely and his children,3 Samuel is made acquainted with Gods intent concerning the punishments of Ely & his sons. ver. 11. to the end of the 15.
4 Samuels relation hereof to E…y.In the fourth, how Samuel relateth the Lords purposed iudgements to Ely, ve. 16 to the end of the 18.
In the fifth, how God fauoured, blessed, and increased his gifts in Samuel.5 God increaseth his blessings in Samuel, as appeareth by three effects.
1. In effecting that which Samuel spake.
2. In giuing him faithfulnesse, roundnesse and soundnesse in his place.
3. In Gods speaking to him, and reuealing himselfe to him by word, as before by vision, ve. 19.20.21. to the end of the chapter.
Saint Peter in the third scripture for this day, written in his first Epistle,Epistle 1. Pet, 5.5. ad 11 Scope of this text of Scripture. Chapter 5. verse 5. to the end of the 11. as an heauenly harper plaieth vponupon the sweete instrument of exhortation, singing thereto a song and dittie of humility.Parts.
First therefore he pipes to the yonger in speciall, the lesson of submission.1 He sings a song of submission to the yonger.
Secondly, to all in generall, as harping still vponupon the same string, ve. 5. and 6.2 Hee sings it to all.
Thirdly, he perswades all Gods people to depend vponupon their Lord, and to cast all their care on him. ve. 7.3 Hee exhorts men to depend vponupon God prouidence.
Fourthly, he exhorts to sobriety and watchfulnesse, alleaging most sound reasons for their watchfulnesse, and resistance of the aduersary, ve. 8.9.4 He strikes vp the measures of sobriety, temperance & watchfulnesse.
Fifthly, hee prayeth to God for their confirmation, whereof assuring himselfe hee praiseth God for the same, vers. 10.11.5 His prayer & praises to God
Saint Luke in our fourth portion of scripture for this day, written, chap. 15.1. to the end of the 10. put apart for the Gospell,Gospell. Luk. 15.1. ad 10. Scope and end of this Gospel, Coherence hereof with the former. sets forth, and commends vntounto vsus the singular and vnspeakeable louelove of God in Christ, in his patience, long suffering…, and mercifulnesse vntounto vsus poore wandering sheepe, most miserable and wretched sinners: So that notwithstanding mens vnthankfulnesse in comming to God so slackely, or their pride and impenitency in not coming at all, or their ignorance in comming vnwillingly: yet wil not the maister of the feast be without guests.Christs vnspeakeable patience, &c
Christs compassion toward mankinde, and his patience in the expectation of sinners repentance.Our Euangelist therefore will in this text giuegive vsus a good rellish and taste of the sweetnesse, I say, of Christs compaspassion, and mercy, his patience in waiting for the conuersion of wandring sinners, and his reioycing for their returne to the sheepe-fold, and true repentance for their wandring.
Parts of the text,First, Publicans and sinners heard of the gracious words which proceeded out of Christs mouth, where vponupon they resorted to heare him,1 Occasion of their coming to Christ, ve. 1.
Secondly, this being a scandall to the Pharisies and Scribes, causing them to murmure,2 The Pharisies murmure at Publicanes good, and to reproach him with these wordes: Hee rec…iueth sinners, and eates with them, vers. 2.
Thirdly, our Lord therfore remoues this stumbling block, ouerthrowing the cauils and reproches of the Pharisies in 3. parables:3 Christ remoues this blocke out of the way by 3. parables, all which are conteined in this chapter, and two of them in this Gospell, whereof
The first is of the lost sheepe,1 Of the lost sheepe. from the 3. verse to the end of the 7.
The second is of the lost groat,2 Of the lost groat from the eighth verse to the end of the 10.
The third of the spendthrift, and prodigall child,3 Of the lost, or prodigall child, vponupon whom Christ the true sheepeheard, spends the rest of his speech, from the 11. verse to the end of the 31. which is the last verse of the chapter.