The Marrow and Juice of 260 Scriptures, Part 15
Sexagesima Sonday.
Coherence of the 3 & 6 with the 1 & 2 of Genesis. God gaue man more then a peny for his work in the garden, Vegetals for meate, and animals for other vses would not content him. Summe of the two first Lessōs The reason of the choise of these Scriptures is for mans further humiliation, Summe of the Epistle and Gospell. Man is to boast of nothing but his infirmity. By this he becomes that good lowly ground wherein that good seed of Gods word fructifi…th.AS the matter whereof man was made might hauehave bene a meanes of his humiliation: so all the good which God did towards him, might hauehave continued his thankfulnesse and contentednesse with that excellent and glorious estate. And as Gods placing of man in the garden to dresse it and keepe it: yea, giuing him more then a peny for his labour, might hauehave bene a competent maintainance to a contented creature, who had the creatures vegetating in the garden for his meate and pleasure, and those out of the garden, going, creeping and swimming, for his necessary vses, at his commandement: Euen so he might hauehave bene so much the better contented, with his estate of innocency, of wisedome, and immortality.
Christs Church therfore hath chosen two other Scriptures, out of Moses his Genesis for mans further humiliation, to shew man his great downefall, from so excellent glory: That being Man did not continue humble, &c.humbled in the sight thereof he might hauehave nothing to boast of, except it be of his infirmities (as S. Paul doth in the Epistle for this day) and so become that good ground spoken of in the Gospell, wherein the good seed being sowen brought foorth good fruite: that is, out of an honest and good heart, heare Gods word (better then Eue and Adam did) keepe it, and bring forth fruite with patience, as our Lord sheweth in the Gospell Luk. 8.15.
In the third chapter of Genesis, Moses first expresseth mans fall in two dialogues,Mor. Prayer. 1 Less. Genes. 3. Parts general 1 Mans fall in two dialogues,from the 1. ver. to the end of the 13.
Secondly, the effect that this fall wrought2 The effect of this fall, in the cause & caused,
1 In the motiue and instrumentall & procreating cause thereof the serpent.
2 In those that yeelded to the serpents motions the man and woman. ver. 14. to the end of the chapter.
The dialogue is two-fold.
The first is perswasiue,1 Dialogue perswasiue, betweene the lying sophister the Serpent tempting the woman: and the weake tempted and yeelding woman. ver. 1. to the end of the 7.
The second dialogue is reprehēsiue2 Dialogue reprehensiue, Effect fourefold of the transgression & obiurgatiue, twixt Almighty God, reproouing and chiding the man and the woman, and cursing the Serpent. ver. 8.9.10, 11.12.13.
The effect of the trangression is foure-fold:Effect foure-fold of the transgression
1 In Gods cursing the serpent.1 Serpents curse. ve. 14.15.
2 In Gods punishing the woman,2 Punishment of the woman, ver. 16.
3 In Gods cursing the earth for mans sake.3 Punishment of the earth, ver. 17.18.
4 In Gods punishing of man fourefold.4 Punishment of man, which was foure-fold,
First, inioyning him to labour with paine.1 Labour with paine, ver. 19.
Secondly, in making of clothes2 Clothing, for him to couer his nakednesse. ver. 20.21.
Thirdly,3 Exile, in sending him out off the garden (where he liued like a King) to til the earth where he toiled like a clown. ver. 22.23.
Fourthly, in setting the Cherubines & the blade of a sword4 Terrour by the Cherubines & the fiery shaking sword. shaken to keepe the way of the tree of life,The fall of our first Parents▪ from the sight and hand of man, as v…. also 23. tis declared.
In the Lesson for euening prayerEue. Prayer. Gen. 6.1 Les. Gen. 6, Moses will shew how that out of the first bad weede and venemous tree of disobedience proceedeth the loathsome fruite of malice,Sūme & scope geenerall, foreign. Wickednesse followed the forgerfulnesse of Gods benefits & blessings. Peccandi nullus finis cum a ratione disceditur. and murther, vncleane lust, and letchery. And that by how much the more Gods blessing of propagation and multiplication, was vponupon the world and Church continued, by so much this their filthinesse was increased: whereupon God brought a plague of waters to wash away the sin and sinners wherein all flesh perished; though he reserued a few, wherewith and by whom he would be obeyed and honored.
In the first part of the chapter,Parts of the chapter. one of the speciall crying sinnes is described for all the rest. verse 1.2.3.4. with the displeasure which God conceiued against mankind for this sinne.1 A description of one of the speciall crying sinnes, & Gods displeasure cōceiued, ver. 5.6.7.
In the other part: first a relation2 A relation, of Gods fauour vntounto Noah, 1 Of Gods fauour to his Church,ver. 8.9.10. who (liuing vponupon the earth that was so corrupt and filled with wickednesse, cruelty &c.) which with the inhabitants was to be destroyed, as ver. 11.12.13. was therefore to be taken from the earth, and borne vp of the waters in his Arke: which he is commanded to make. ve. 14.
In the third part Moses describes the forme and proportion of the Arke.2 Of his iustice to the world. 3 A description of the Arkes forme,ver. 15.16. with the reasons why Noah was to make the Arke.
First, Behold I will bring a floud. ver. 17.
The second reason is, but with thee wil I establish my couenant, and thou shalt go into the Arke. ver. 18. The vse of which Arke, and end why it was madeThe end why it was made, so capacious, is declared. ver. 19.20.21.
In the fourth part Moses doth shew what effect Gods commandement tooke in Noah: to wit, his obedience in all things.4 The effect of Gods commandement in Noe is his obedience, ver. 22.
In the EpistleEpistle. written, 2: Cor. 11. ver. 19. to the end of the 32.Crying sinnes of the first age, God fauoureth Noah and his, He that saith, Galatians 6.17. I beare in my body the markes of the Lord Iesus. & Colos. 1.24.Summe Generall of the Epistle. God would prooue S. Pauls word true, I fulfill the rest of the sufferings of Christ in my flesh, &c. doth now shew by his wofull experience, how God would hauehave him (being but a teacher of the truth) to be humbled in suffering for the testimony of the Gospell, not being inferior to any of the false Apostles in that true and constant boasting & reioycing in these things and many more wherein they falsly reioyced.Paul is a good example of a right humbled minister, He is herein a good example of a minister truely humbled in soule and in body fitly prepared to preach Christ crucified, to suffer with Christ and for Christ.Parts of the text,
First, therefore he perswades them to suffer him (seeing they suffered fooles gladly) to reioyce after the flesh. 1 A perswasion to endure his reioycing.ver. 19.20.21.
Secondly, he propounds the matter and grounds:2 A propounding of the matter and ground first of his outward reioycing in the flesh,1 Of his owne reioycing in the flesh, whereof
The first ground is his stocke and kindred.1 In his kindred ver. 22.
The second is his place and function,2 In his calling and function. a minister, yea more then a Minister: that is, more then such false Ministers which he sheweth in particular: to wit, in labours more aboundant, in stripes aboue measure, &c. ver. 23.24.25.26.27.
Secondly, he propounds the matter of his inward reioycing,2 His inward reioycing which is threefold, as,
First, in his daily cumber and care 1 Dayly carefor all the Churches. ve. 28.
Secondly, in his weakenesse and being ouertoiled in his minde and spirit.2 Ouertoyling himselfe,
Thirdly, in the manifold scandales which were offered3 Greefe at the manifold scandels offered, vntounto the Church, whieh he could not but zealously greeue at, ver. 29.
Thirdly, the Apostle propounds the manner of both his reioycings,3 A propounding of the manner of both his reioycing and the mind or affection wherewith he doth it: to wit, in great humility and weakenesse: that is, of his infirmities, ve. 30. as Gal. 6.14, he reioyceth in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ whereby the world, &c.
Fourthly,4 A confirmation of all by Gods owne testimony he confirmes the truth of this outward and inward reioycing, that it was vnfained, and not false like that of the false Apostles,Christ shews who are rightly humbled. by taking God himselfe to witnesse the truth that he speaketh. The God, euen the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, which is blessed for euer, knoweth that I lie not. verse 31.
In the holy GospellGospell. written by S. Luke, chapter 8, verse 4, to the end of the 15,Luke 8.4, ad 15. Summe and scope. Christ shewes who they are that are truely and rightly humbled. our Lord will tell the people (which came to him out of all cities, as verse 4.) by a parable, which he expoundeth vntounto his disciples, who are the true humbled and contrite people indeed, euen such as tremble at his word, Isay 66.2. that is, with an honest and good heart heare it, keepe it, and bring forth fruit with patience, to the 15 verse of this chapter. In the text consider generally,Parts generall of the text,
First, the parable1 Parable, it selfe,
Secondly, the occasion that Christ tooke to expound it,2 Occasion of the exposition thereof,
Thirdly, our Lords exposition3 Christs exposition, thereof, as he propounded it.
And because the Church of God hath carefully culled out this Scripture for vsus:Why the Church hath culled out this text of Scripture for this time. the better to prepare vsus by the fruitfull hearing of Gods word, vntounto a more diligent consideration of the doctrines following, concerning the passion and resurrection of Christ (falling out to be celebrated but 8 weekes after) we ought therefore yet more specially to hearken vntounto our Lords Sermon.
In the first part whereof, being the parable,Parts of the Parable, he speakes
First, of the sower,1 Sower
Secondly, of seed,2 Seed,
Thirdly, of the manifold successe of this sowen seed,3 Successe of both: that is, operae & olei notwithstanding the seedmans diligence.
The sower is one, the seed is all one, but the successe is manifold,Successe differs from the Sower and seed, that is, fourefold. verse 5.
First, some fell by the way side, therefore two discommoditiesFirst ground, the way side had two discommodities, grew thereof, for
First, Twas troden vnderfeete,
Secondly, The soules of heauen deuoured it vp. verse 5.
The godly hearers & faithful practisers.Secondly,Secondly, the stony ground had the faire commodity of springing vp, with the discōmodity of withering, some fell on the stones, which though it made a faire shew in springing, yet this glory was turned into shame: for the hope…ull springing was turned into an hopelesse withering, because it lacked moysture. verse 6.
Thirdly, some fell among thornes, and the thornes sprang vp with it and choked it, 3 The thorny ground had the discommodity of choking all that came vpverse 7.
Fourthly, some fell vponupon good ground, 4 Good groūd hath all good commodities & effects without any discommodity at all,an happy fall, a blessed lot, a goodly heritage: for
First, it sprang vp,
Secondly, it bare fruit,
Thirdly, in great measure, an hundredfold. verse 8.
The occasion of the exposition being the second part, containeth
First, Christs zealous motiue to attention, He that hath eares to heare, &c. verse 8.
Secondly, the Disciples demaund of the exposition of the parable.Second part of the Gospell the occasion of the exposition. verse 9.
Thirdly,Third part of the Gospell Christs answer, VntoUnto you it is giuen, &c. but to other in parables, that when they see they should not see, &c. v. 10.
The exposition of the parable whereof Christ Iesus our Lord expounds two chiefe parts,Christs exposion of the parable and all the parts thereof. as
First, what the seed is. verse 11.
Secondly, what the fourefold ground and successe of the seed therein is.
The first ground is of them beside the way,What the first kind of ground is, by the way side. Those are a kind of hearers, out of whose hearts the diuell takes away the word, least they should beleeue and be saued. v. 12.
The second, which is the stony ground,The second kind of ground are such hearers which
First, receiue with gladnesse,
Secondly, hauehave no rootes,
Thirdly, beleeue for a while,
Fourthly, in the time of tentation go away. verse 13.
The third, is the thorny ground, who are such hearers,What the third ground and hearers are. which
First, are choked with cares,
Secondly, they are choked with riches,Faithfull practisers are &c,
Thirdly, they are choked with voluptuous liuing; therefore they bring forth no fruite. ver. 14.
Properties of the fourth groūd included in a smal room, an honest and good heart the best place of the body.The fourth soile is the fertile ground, they are such hearers which
First, with an honest and good heart and minde heare the word.
Secondly, they keepe it.
Thirdly, they bring forth fruite with patience. ver. 15.