The Marrow and Juice of 260 Scriptures, Part 36
The fourth Sonday after Trinity.
Reasons and occasions of the choice of this text,BEcause rashnesse in mis-iudging of other men, and selfe-louelove in an ouer-weening of our selues, and carying of sinister opinions, and preiudicate affections of that which other men do or speake to vsus: yea many times of that which God himselfe speaketh and doeth for vsus, as also of such crosses as God inflicteth vponupon vsus. Forasmuch, I say, as these are great blockes and beames in our way to louelove, and doe interrupt our mercifulnesse one towards another:Examples of plaine and simple dealing in Samuel. yea, they are as trumps and hinderances in our course of religion and godlinesse towards God. Therefore the holy Ghost, in the two Scriptures out of the old Testament, will giuegive vsus examples,
First of Samuel, who walked vprightly, dealt plainly,Summe of the 2 first Lessons, and like an hypocrite, either with the Israelites, or with Saul their new-gotten King.
Secondly, of the Israelites, who in their owne opinions, and rash iudgments thought it better to be ruled by a king, then by a I…dge and Prophet. These people therefore were payed home in Gods anger, euen by this King, of whom they made such account, & thought they had gotten a great iewell of him.
In the other two scriptures chosen out of the new Testastament,Summe of the Epistle and Gospell, 1. S. Paul doth exhort vsus to be of his opinion concerning the afflictions of this life, and not to follow our owne fleshly opinion, which thinketh, that no affliction is pleasant for the present time. 2. Our Lord doth giuegive vsus many precepts perswasiue and diss…vasiue, to command and commend mercifulnesse and brotherly kindnesse vntounto vsus, and to forbid rash and heady iudging and condemning of our brethren, being the occasion and entrance into our owne ruine and condemnation.
In the first Lesson for morning prayer, written 1. Samuel. 12.Mor. Prayer. 1 Less, 1 Sam, 12 the text
First manifesteth to vsus,Parts. the vprightnesse and innocency of that holy man of God Samuel, ver. 1. ad 5.1 A relation of Samuels vprightnesse, and the Israelites wickednesse, that hee might thereby take occasion (as hee doth indeed) in the second part of the chapter, to taxe the Israelites, & to reason against them for their sins and vnthankfulnesse in receiuing Gods benefites, ver. 6. to the end of the 19.
In the third part of the chapter Samuel disswades the Israelites from forsaking the Lord,2 A caueat to beware of defection and apostacy, and falling to a further defection and Apostacy: exhorts them to feare the Lord, and to serue him in truth with all their hearts:Of hypocrisie, pride, and ouerweening in Saul & the Israelites. which if they doe not, he denounceth iudgements against them and their new obtained King, ve. 20. ad 25. the end of the chapter.
Eue. Prayer. 1. Les. 1, Sam. 13 Summe and scope of it.In the first Lesson for Euening prayer, written in the nex… chapter of the same booke, 1. Samuel 13. the holy Ghost sets vsus downe an example (which we are to auoyde) of a bold, foolish, and rash hypocrite (though a King,) who supposed that hee might hauehave serued God after his owne fashion and will, and not as God in his word commandeth.
Parts.The first part of the chapter makes mention of the warre betweene the Israelites and the Philistines,1 Victory of Saul & Ionathan against the philistines. and the victory which Saul and Ionathan obtained, ve. 1. to the end of the 4.
The second part sheweth how the Philistines seeke to be reuenged2 Philistines seeke for a reuenge. of the Israelites, and therefore gathered an Army like the sand of the sea in multitude, which put the Israelites to a plunge. When Saul saw that the people were in this straite, he offered a burnt offering, vers. 5. to the end of the 10.
The third part of the chapter containeth Samuels reprouing of Saul, and his denouncing of Gods iudgement against him,3 Samuels reproofe of Saul, & denouncing Gods-iudgements against him ve. 11. to the end of the 14.
4 The strength and pollicy of the Philistines, the weaknesse & insufficiency of the IsraelitesIn the fourth part the holy Ghost sheweth how strong and politicke the Philistines were, and how weake and vnfurnished the Israelites were, who had neither sword nor speare among them, verse 15. to the end of the 23. which is the end of the chapter.
Parts.The third scripture written Rom. 8.18. to the end of the 23.Epistle Rom. 8.18. ad 23 vers. 1 Doctrine touching the inequality of the afflictions heere, with the glory hereafter.containeth
First, a Thesis, as touching the inequality of the afflictions of this life, with the glory that shall bee shewed to vsus, vers. 18.
Secondly, the double foundation and ground-worke whereupon he buildeth this doctrine,Commandements & exhortations to mercy in censuring our brethren. 2 Confirmatiō hereof, which is two-fold.as most excellent reasons whereby he proues the doctrine.
The first is drawne from the feruent desire of the creatures (subiect vntounto vsus) groaning vnderunder their burthensome bondage, waiting for liberty and dissolution, verse 19.1 Creatures desire of liberty to the end of the 22.
The second is taken from the experience that the sonnes and daughters of God hauehave of their owne sighing and groaning vnderunder the burthenous bondage of their sinnes,2 Gods childrens desire of liberty from sin waiting for the Adoption, euen the Redemption of their bodies, verse 23.
The fourth Scripture, written Luke. 6.36.Gospell Luk. 6.36. ad 42 to the end of the 42. verse, instructeth vsus in the particular duties of louelove and charitie in our mercifull carriage of our selues one towards another, as in other things, so also in our charitable iudging and censuring of one another.Coherence of this Scripture with the former Gospel. So that as the last Sonday wee had in the Gospell, a most excellent patterne of Gods gracious and free louelove towardes vsus in Christ Iesus: so in this hee meanes to teach vsus how to bee imitators and followers of this patterne and example of charity to others and to our selues, as deriued from our selues, and beginning at our selues.
Two generall things Christ performes,Parts of this text. as we may see in this scripture, which is a part of that heauenly Sermon made vponupon the earthly mountaine.
First he perswades,1 Perswasion. and that in the 3. first verses.
Secondly, he disswades,2 Disswasion. and that in the other foure.
He perswades vntounto many duties by his two-fold commanmandementPerswasion, by his two-fold cōmandement, and authority, 1. Preceptiue,1 Preceptiue. 2. Prohibitiue.2 Prohibitue.
In his preceptiue authority, he commandes mercy, 1. in generall, 2. in speciall:Perswasion to mercy, 1. in generall, and 2. in speciall, Be yee mercifull, as your father also is mercifull, vers. 36.
In his authority prohibitiue, he forbids
1. Preiudice, or rash iudgement, that is, iudging and accusing one another before the time.Disswasion 1 From rash iudgement,Hypocrites and censuring Philautists are blinde,
2. Vtterly to condemne one another2 Vtterly condemning one another. vponupon so rash a censure, vers, 37. For it is a point next the worst, being against reason, therefore against law, that one and the same man should be a party to accuse, and a party to iudge and condemne his brother.
The mercy whereto Christ perswadeth, is two-fold, consisting either
Christ perswades to speciall mercy. which consists1. In Forgiuing, 1. in forgiuing,as in the latter end of the 37. vers. Forgiue, and yee shall be forgiuen.
2. Or in giuing: 2. in giuing,GiueGive, and it shall be giuen to you, a good measure, pressed downe, running ouer, &c. ve. 38.
1 Christ disswades from hypocrisie, and sharply reproues the sin & the sinner, Three bad effects of hypocrisie.In Christs disswasory speech we may see, that
1. He disswades the Disciples from that dangerous sinne of hypocrisie.
Secondly, hee sharply reproues the hypocrite himselfe, and the sin of hypocrisie, as being the sinne which
1. Hinders all men from performing mercifulnesse in the true and right manner.
2. It furthers them in rash iudging and condemning.
3. It interrupts the course of pardoning and forgiuing one another, and the true habite of liberality, which consisteth in a right manner of giuing and lending.
Christ his simile to demonstrate the dangers of hypocrisie,This our Lord doth by a parable or simile resembling the hypocrite accusing and iudging, and the brother hypocrite accused and iudged of him, vntounto the dangerous estate of two blinde men falling both into the ditch, by their blinde leading of one another.2 Christ disswades from selfe-louelove, ve. 39.
Secondly, Christ the great Maister disswades his scholers from selfe-louelove, and ouer-conceiting themselues, as proud hypocrites are wont to doe, in thinking that they are either too great, or too good to indure reproaches by bad men and hypocrites.Christs reprofe of the hypocrite, verse 40. The Disciple is not aboue his Maister.
Our Lord sharply reproueth the hypocrite by a parable.1 by a simile. 1. resembling him, (and therein shewing in what a predicament hee is) vntounto a very absurde and vnreasonable man,Saul is commanded to obey God, which hee refuseth. which wil pretend to do impossibilities, to wit,, supposeth that he spyeth a mote in his brothers eye, when a beame (which is inough to couer the face, much more the eye, if it bee within it) is in the hypocrites eye, ve. 41.
Secondly, Christ aduiseth (and yet reproueth the hypocrite.)2 By shewing the hypocrite the cause of his blindnes, which he neither seeth nor knoweth.
1. To cast the beame out of his owne eye.
2. Shewes him the good he shall get by it, and the benefite arising thereof: And then shalt thou see perfectly to pull out the mote that is in thy brothers eye, vers. 42.