The Marrow and Juice of 260 Scriptures, Part 43
The eleuenth Sonday after Trinity.
Coherence of these 4 Scriptures with the former.TO the intent that the loathsome sinnes of couet…usnesse, contempt of Gods word, and tyranny pr…ctised against the Ministers thereof: as also incredulity, pride, and beastly hypocrisie might be shunned and auoyded of all Gods people,Examples of Gods iudgment vponupon tyrants, and couetous persons. and the contrary vertues and graces of God,Sūme of these and the reason of the choyce. imbraced and followed. There are now for this day also foure Scriptures not much differing from the former chosen and selected:Scope of the 2 first lessons. For as God by Eliah denounced iudgements against Ahab and Iesabel, for their couetousnesse and cruelty: so before this iudgement was fully executed vponupon them both, there is brought in by the way, an example of Gehezi, who for his lying and couetousnesse, was plagued with leprosie.
The two Scriptures out of the new Testament do teach,Scope of the Epistle & Gospell that as the Gospell and word of God must bee beleeued in generall; so eueryevery part and parcell thereof, to wit, Christs resurrection from the dead, and our rising againe also. And as this faith is required both in the Corinthians and all other Churches of Christ: so a good fruite and effect of this faith doth God expect at our hands, that is, to pray vntounto him aright, without pride, hypocrisie, vaine-glory, or iustifying of our selues, and despising others, without exalting our selues, and casting downe others.
In the first Lesson for morning praiecr, 2. Kings. 5.Mor. Prayer. 1 Less. 2 King, 5 the text recordeth,
First,Parts. an example of Gods great louelove and fauour vouchsafed vntounto an heathen, a Syrian, an idolater,1 An example of Gods louelove to a Syrian, to …ause him and others to confesse that there is no God in all the world, but in Israel. As 2. of his wrath and iustice poured out,2 An example of his wrath to the bad seruant of a good Prophet, Parts of the first example, and inflicted vponupon the wicked seruant of a godly and righteous Prophet.
In the first, which is the story of Naamans cleansing from his leaprosie, these things are to bee considered, as the text doth affoord them.
First the introductions into the cure of this Leaper.1 The introduction into the cure of Naaman conteining 4. circumstances,
1. The report that Naamans seruant made to him of Elisha the man of God.
2. By the letters of the king of Aram to the king of Israel.
3. By Naamans coming to the Prophet Elisha, Iesabels pasport is sealed with Dogs teeth.and standing at his doore.
4. By the counsell which his seruants gaue him, to be aduised of the Prophet, ve. 1. ad 13.
2 The cure it selfe.The second relation that the text maketh, is of the cure it selfe, ver. 14.
3 Naamans acknowledging Gods power, & his thankfulnes to Elisha.The third is of Naamans acknowledging the power of God, and his thankefulnesse to Elisha, verse. 15. to the end of the 19.
The fourth is Gehezies greedinesse couered with a grosse and shamelesse lye (concerning his maisters needinesse) for which he is of Elisha reproued,4 Gehezies greedinesse couered with dissimulation and lying. and in Gods iust iudgement by his maister with Naamans plague of leaprosie punished, ve. 20. ad 27. the end of the chapter.
Eue. Prayer. 1 Less. 2 Kin. 9.In the first for Euening praier, 2. Kings. 9. the text declareth,
Parts general1. What was done before that base & ignominious death of Iesabel the Queene mother. ve. 1. to the end of the 29.
2. The maner & accomplishment hereof, when all things were fulfilled for her destruction.Two things done before Iesabels death.
1. The things done before her death were these.
1. How Elisha sent a messenger to annoynt Iehu, and to deliuer a message to Iehu for his effecting of the Lords word & comm…dement, as touching the rooting out of Ahabs house, and Iesabels being eaten vp with dogs, ve. 1. ad 10.
The second is how the report o… Iehues annointing, and his conspiracy against Iehoram being come to Iehorams eare, (because Iehorams messengers returned not) he and Ahaziah met Iehu, who after a peremptory parley on Iehues part, were both of them smitten by Iehu, and Iehoram was slain by him: which Iehu with his followers smote Ahaziah also in the field of Naboth the Iesraelite.The accomplishment and performance of Iesabels destruction. ve. 11. ad 29.
2. The holy Ghost recordeth Iesabels destruction and execution, according to the fore-denounced iudgement of God, which was performed at Iehues commandement, verse 30. to the end of the 37. the end of the chapter.Christ ministers antidotes, & cures the leprous in soule,
Our Apostle Paul in the third of the selected scriptures, 1. Cor. 15. ad 11.Epistle. 1. Cor. 15, 1, ad 11. (to vrge & inforce the truth of God vntounto the Corinthians concerning the resurrection from the dead,Scope of the text. which some among them denyed) doth
First proue this truth by his preaching, & their receiuing the Gospell, conteining principally Christs death,Parts. 1 He proues the resurrection by his preaching the Gospel, & their receiuing, his buriall and resurrection. ve. 1. ad 4.
Secondly, he …lledgeth testimonies & witnesses to proue his proposition, because in the mouth of two or three witnesses eueryevery word, &c. 2 He proues it by testimonies of persōs which saw Christ after his resurrection. 1 Testimony, 2 Testimony, 3 Testimony, 4 Testimony, 5 Testimony, 6 Testimony,His testimonies are 6. or rather 500. but of 5. sorts and kindes.
1, He was seene of Cephas, that is, Peter.
2. He was seene of the twelue Disciples together, ve. 5.
3. Of mo then 500. brethren at once. ve. 6.
4. Of Iames.
5. Of all the Apostles. vers. 7.
6. Of Paul himselfe, ve, 8.9 10.
Thirdly, S. Paul concludes the truth of this proposition: Wherefore, whether it were I, or they, so we preach, and so yee hauehave beleeued, therefore it is true, ve. 11.3 He concludes this point ex praemissis,
That portion of Scripture which is appointed for the Gospell, is Luk. 18. ve. 10. to the end of the 14. …erein,Gospell. Luk. 18.10. ad 14 Sūme & scope of this text. Christ sets downe a cure for all diseases, because the state of Gods people and Church is so lamentable, by reason of their sinnes, and the punishment due to them. Therfore Christ Iesus the true & only Physitian to cure these leprosies, will shewe the helpe and cure for the one, and a preuention or antidote against the other: for Christ that came to heale all our sicknesses and diseases, will, as a good Physitian, so regard his patients, that he will endeuour both to take away the cause of the malady (be it in the principall parts) and also the symptomes and effects thereof. He will here prescribe a course that the sicke soule must take, oppressed and polluted with the vncleannesse and leprosie of sin, and fearing a sep…ration from God,Miserere mei Domine, is the best medicine for a sicke soule. euen his most heauy iudgements for the same.
Parts generall of this text.It i… true, hearty, and earnest prayer vntounto God, not hypocriticall,1 A difference betweene vnfained & fained prayer. proudly, and arrogantly iustifying our selues.
Hereof Christ Iesus in the parable of the Pharisie and Publicane, will,
First giuegive a touch. And
2 A Censure of both by our Sauiour. Particular analyse of the text,Secondly, in few words set downe a good censure and commendation of th one, with his dislike and reproofe of the other. In this text m…st bee regarded,
1 Occasion of Christs speechFirst the occasion of Christs speech: He spake this parable vntounto certaine which trusted in themselues, that they were righteous, 2 The speech it selfe intreating of the two men praying, Pharisies thāks giuing without prayer, Pu…licanes true and penitent prayer, Publicanes behauiour & preparation to prayer Publicans praier & forme therof consisting in 3, chiefe pointes,and despised others, ve. 9.
The second generall is our Lords speech it selfe, wherein mention is made,
1. O… the Pharisies, Lord I thanke thee, for hee vttered no part of any petition, or prayer, ver. 11.12.
2. Of the Publicanes Miserere, his humble, heartie, and penitent prayer: Lord bee mercifull vntounto mee a sinner. wherein, first the Publicanes behauiour is recorded by our Sauiour, as
1. In standing a farre off.
2. Not lifting vp his eyes.
3. In striking his breast.
Secondl… our Lord records the Publicanes prayer, the forme whereof Christ reporteth to consist,
1. In a confession of his sinnes,
2. In his confidence and trust in Gods mercies.
3. In crauing mercy and pardon at Gods hands for for his sins, verse 13.
3 Our Lords censure both of the estate of the Publican & of the Pharisie, & the reason which he yeelds of this censure,The third mention which S. Luke maketh, is our Lords censure both of the Publicanes and Pharisies estate, which censure is two-fold, in that
1. The one departed to his house iustified,
2. And not the other, to wit, the Pharisie.
Of which true censure Christ giues the reason: For eueryevery one that exalteth himselfe, Gods words shall not faile till all be fulfill…dshall be brought low, &c. ve. 14.