The Marrow and Juice of 260 Scriptures, Part 9
The Iewes are taught the calling of the Gentiles.The first Sonday after the Epiphany.
AS the malicious and refractary Iewes do deny Christ to be as yet come in the flesh,Agreements with the former scriptures. so hauehave they with a deadly and capitall hatred infested that most sweete and comfortable doctrine, concerning the calling of the Gentiles, and of Christs most familiar and gratious appearing vntounto them. Wherefore the Christian church hath thought it good to choose out principall Scriptures for the fiue Sondayes following, that Christs Catholicke Church,Occasion of the choice of the Scriptures for the 5 sondaies following. and each member thereof may be further established in this ground and maine point of Theologie: that they may want no assured props to stay them from falling, nor any defences wherewith to vphold them in contending for the maintenance of that faith which was once giuen to the Saints.
Our Euangelicall Prophet in the two first Lessons, first,Summe of the two first Lessons. doth make the defectiue Church of the Iewes to vnderstand this point, and secondly, teacheth them to trust in him: for tis vaine to hauehave confidence in idols.
And the Doctor of the Gentiles in the Epistle for this day,Summe of the Epistle and Gospell. exhorts the beleeuers to performe another manner of seruice then was vsed by the Iewes, perswading them to offer vp their bodies a liuing sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.
In the fourth Scripture for this day, the child Iesus is a president vntounto vsus of the spirituall and reasonable seruice and sacrifice of perfect obedience to God his father.
The 44. chapter of Isay is the first Lesson for Morning prayer,Mor. prayer. 1 Lesson Isay 44 conteining these chiefe instructions and most comfortable considerations.
First,Parts. how God offereth himselfe in Iesus Christ vntounto his old and first people the Israelites,1 Gods bountifulnesse to the old Iewes. in most ample and comfortable manner. verse 1.2.
Secondly,2 Gods flowing fauours to the Gentiles, how the riuers and waters of his mercies shall flow vponupon the Gentiles, whom he calleth the thirstie, barren, Iewes are taught, &c.or drie ground. vers. 3.4.5.
3 Gods ffecti…g her of, and by what meanes.Thirdly, the Lord confirmeth the effecting hereof by his omnipotent power, mercy, and eternall essence, and that difference which is betweene him the liuing God, and all false Gods and idols: That it is hee which hath put away their transgressions like a cloud, and their sinnes like a mist. Turne vntounto me therefore (saith he) for I hauehave redemed thee, as verse. 22. & after the same maner he speaketh ver. 25. of the 43. chapter) &c. See more at large in the text, from the sixth verse of this chapter, to the end of the 28. verse, which is the end of the chapter
Euen. Prayer. 1 Lesson Isay 46In the 46. of Isay appointed for euening prayer, the same lesson is taught againe to the Iewes.
Parts.First, that as he is, was, and will be their God, and the God of the Gentiles,1 His gratious promise to thē, vrging their reliance vponupon him. so hauehave they no reason to flye from him by hauing recourse to idols. Because the end of the chiefe idols, as Bell and Nebo, is ruine and destruction, vers. 1.2. Confusion shall come to the idols, their Makers and Worshippers.
2 Exhortation to giuegive care onelyonly to him.Secondly, God exhorts his Church to hearken onelyonly to him; because he hath done, he doth, and will doe, whatsoeuer is done,3 Dehortation from worshipping of id…ls, and why. or to be done for them. vers. 3.4.
Thirdly, that they may not worship idols, because there is nothing which God hath made, or which man can make which can be resembled vntounto that diuine essence and maiestie. For I am God (saith he) there is none other, there is no thing like me. Which declare the last thing from the beginning, and from of old, the things that were not done, saying, my counsell shall stand and I will do what I will, I will giuegive saluation to Sion, and my glorie to Israel, &c. See more from the 5. verse to the end of the 13. the end of the chapter.
Saint Paul in our Epistle for this day, Rom. 12. verse 1.Epistle. Rom. 12.1. to the end of the 5. in that his golden exhortation, perswades all beleeuers,God must bee serued of Christians oth…rwise then of Iewes, Caldeans, &c. and namely the Roman Gentiles, to serue God after another fashion then was vsed by the idolatrous Iewes,Our Lord Iesus the true, &c. or the filthy Chaldeans (a sacrifice which was vnreasonable, vnseasonable, and vnacceptable to God,) viz. to the offering and yeelding vp their bodyes a liuing sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, their reasonable sacrifice. The text comprehends,Parts.
First his exhortation,1 Exhortation verse 1.2.
Secondly, the grounds2 Grounds and motiue hereof, vers. 3.4.5.
This was not written for the Romanes onelyonly,Vse hereof to vsus also. which were Gentiles, but for our instruction also vponupon whom the ends of the world are come.
In our fourth Scripture, Luk. 2.42.Gospell. Luke 2.42, to the end of the chapter, the child Iesus that sate in the midst of the Doctors, hearing them, and posing them, being the only votary of obedience, deuoted altogether to his Fathers businesse, teacheth vsus what we should do.Generall parts S. Luke in this Gospell first recordeth generally,
First, the care and imploiment of Christs parents1 The care of Christs parēts. in seeking out their child in the first fiue verses.
Secondly, the care and imployment of the child Iesus2 The imployment of Christ in doing of his heauenly fathers businesse, and yet not neglecting to go downe with his earthly parents to Nazareth, but being also subiect to them in the other 7. verses.Speciall parts of the text. The Euangelist relateth more particularly,
First,His parents care is twofold. his parents care is either particular in respect of the discharge of their particular and proper duties of coming to the feast and performing that which they came for accordingly, as verse 42.43.
Or secondly, more speciall, or more particular for Christ Iesus their child, as ver. 44.45. and in a part of the 46. verse.
Christs care & imploiment in his function propheticall,Effects of Christs employment, wrought diuers effects according to the diuer obiects, as
First, in the multitude or greatest part, Christs vnderstanding and answeres wrought astonishment.1 Christs vnderstanding and answers wrought astonishment.
Secondly, his absence from his parents which arose and was an effect of his imploiment,
First, wrought and effected an amazement in his parents.
1. Christs absence arising of his imployment effected diuersly.Secondly,Our Lords Iesus the true an expostulation or an obiurgatiue question in his mother, Sonne, why hast thou thus dealt with vsus, &c. vers. 48. Which question is answered with our Lords demanding of another question, whereby he
1. His parents ignorance is reproued.First taxeth their ignorance, which caused their needlesse seeking of him, How is it that ye sought me?
2 His employment was rhe cause of his absence from them,Secondly, he sheweth that his employment was the cause of his absence, Wist ye not that I must go about my Fathers businesse. verse 49. And that it was an imputation of ignorance vntounto them S. Iohn shewes, But they vnderstood not the word that he spake to them. verse 50.
Christs obedience another obiect of his imploiment.Another obiect of Christs care and employment in this his tender age, is his obedience and subiection to his earthly parents, after he had done his heauenly Fathers businesse, Then he went downe wich them, and came to Nazareth, and was subiect to them.
Which words and deeds were effectually treasured vp, and pondered in his mothers heart. This was the effect that Christs employment tooke in his mother Mary, verse 51, And Iesus increased. The fruits and effects of Christs perfect obedience,Fruites of Christs perfect obedience, were the increasings of God and godly increasings, first in wisedome, secondly stature, thirdly and fauour with God and man.