The Marrow and Juice of 260 Scriptures, Part 18
The second Sonday in Lent.
AS the Church of Christ,Coherence of the 27 & 34 of Genesis with the 19 & 22, for the humiliation of the members thereof, hath in the Scriptures before going propounded many examples of triall: first, of patience. secondly, of faith, 3. of constancy, 4.Our soules and bodies must be tamed, of fortitude and victorious conquering. And that the best example of all was Christ himselfe, of whom we must learne, because he is meeke and lowly, who would be humbled, first, by fasting miraculously: secondly, and by temptation diabolicall. And, as fasting after the right manner is a good preparatiue to prayer: so the taming of the body by refraining of lust & vncleannesse, with all the allurements thereunto: yea, the abstaining from all other sinnes, as deceit, oppression, couetousnesse, is the true fasting. We hauehave therefore,
Briefe summe of the foure Scriptures.First, in Iacobs beguiling of Esau, by the counsell and perswasion of Rebeckah, a manifest view of a fearefull effect of satisfying the desire and appetite of a man: yea, an holy mans mouth, and that this sweete and sauory meate had but sower sauce, for the eldest sonne was thereby beguiled of his fathers purposed blessing.
Secondly, we may finde the old prouerbe true, Occasio furem, or Occasio meretricem, in Dinalo the Patriarch Iacobs daughter: who feeding her eyes with the sight of the daughters of the country, gaue occasion to Sechems lust, and losse of her owne virginity.
Thirdly. S. Paul doth therefore disswade the Thessalonians from the two former vices of fornication and defrauding one another, and perswades to the contrary vertues. That being holy and cleane in soule and body we may lift vp pure and innocent hands in eueryevery place.
Of which faithfull inuocation, we hauehave a memorable example out of the fourth Scripture in the woman of Canaan the Syrophenician, so zealously praying and effectually obtaining her sute at Christs hands.
Mor. Prayer. 1 Les. Gen. 27.The first of the foresaid points is in a History related vntounto vsus by Moses, Genesis 27. In which chapter he deliuers,Parts
First, the charge that Isaak gaue to Esau 1 Esau his charge receiued from his father.to prouide him some venison, that his eldest sonne might be blessed before the Fathers death. verse 1, to the end of the 4. verse.
Secondly, Rebekahs plotting of a deceitfull course,2 Rebekahs deceitfull plot, to intercept the blessing, and to circumuent her eldest sonne. v. 5, to the end of the 17.
Thirdly, Moses deliuers Iacobs accomplishing and effecting of this deceitfull designement.3 Iacobs affecting and effecting this plot, verse 18, to the end of the 29.
Fourthly, the discouery of this deceit,4 The discouery of both, with a specimen of Ishaks fatherly louelove vntounto Esau his sonne, though farre inferiour to Iacobs, from the thirtieth verse, to the end of the fortieth.
Fiftly, Moses reporteth what bad effect all this bad dealing tooke, to wit, in Esau, his intent to kill Iacob. 5 The bad end of all Esaus plotting of Iacobs death.verse 41. which murther was preuented by Rebekah, as verse 42, to the end of the chapter.
The second fearefull example is also recorded by Moses, Eue. Prayer. 1 Less. Gen. 34.Genes. 34. wherein
First, he lets vsus see the occasion of Dinahs deflowring,Parts. 1 Occasion of Dinahs deflouring,drawing on the act. verse 1,
Secondly, the filthy act it selfe.2 Shechems act, verse 2.3.
Thirdly, the meanes that Shechem made to his father to hauehave her in mariage.3 The meanes which he vsed to marry the forced woman, verse 4.
Fourthly, the course that Hamor Shechems father tooke to bring this to passe, with the consent of Iacobs sonnes,4 Hamors course taken with Iacobs sonnes, v. 5. to the end of the 12.
Fiftly, the conditions are rehearsed by the sonnes of Iacob, which the Shechemites were to performe before Iacobs sonnes would yeeld to part with their sister,5 Conditions of couenant on both sides, and the Shechemites consenting to the sayd conditions, from the 13 verse to the end of the 24.
Sixtly, the irefull and fearefull act of murther commited by Simeon and Leui, 6 Ireful reuenge of this act by Simeon & Leui.vponupon the Shechemites, from the 25 ver. to the end of the 29.
Seuenthly, Moses sets downe Iacobs dislike7 Iacobs reprofe and dislike of their furious act and reproofe of this murther, with his sonnes answere thereto. ve. Exhortation to cleanesse in soule and body.30.31.
Epistle.The third selected Scripture which is written 1. Thes. 4.11. Thess. 4.1. Summe. to the end of the eight ver. teacheth inward and outward cleanesse, generall and speciall sanctification, holinesse of soule, cleannesse of body, singlenesse of heart, and purity of hands.
Parts.S. Paul, Siluanus, and Timotheus, a three-fold cord (which is not easily broken) do combine themselues together, as in the rest of this Epistle, so
1 Exhortations by Paul, Syluanus & Timotheus that the Thessalonians would abound in louelove.First, in this louing, painefull, and fruitfull exhortation contained in these words. And furthermore we beseech you brethren, and exhort you in the Lord Iesus, that ye increase more and more, as ye hauehave receiued of vsus how ye ought to walke and to please God. ver. 1.
Secondly, the Thessalonians hauehave a sight of the ground-selles and supporters of this exhortation:2 Supporters & motiues of this exhortation. For nothing can better, or more strongly beare vp the worke and building of an exhortation, then these two pillars,
1 The acknowledging and calling to minde of the commandements giuen of the Apostles by the Lord Iesus ver. 2.
2 The will of God, that is to say, the finall end and purpose of God in ordaining this ministery, to publish such doctrines, to giuegive such commandements. For this is the will of God, your sanctification. ver. 3
Thirdly, these three holy men deliuer vntounto the view of the Thessalrniaoe two goodly branches of this sanctification.3 The branches of this sanctification.
The first is the cleannesse and holinesse of the body, to abstaine from fornication, as ver. 3.4.5.
4 The fearfull estate of the disobedient to these exhortatiue commandements.The second is the cleanesse and vprightnesse of heart and mind, which must be free from oppression or defrauding our brethren in any matter. ver. 6.7.
Fourthly, these three seruants of God hauehave an especiall care that the former Lessons be well regarded, remembred and obeyed, and therfore they set downe the fearefull estate of him or them that do despise these or the like instructions. He therefore that despiseth these things, despiseth not man but God who hath giuen you his holy spirit. ver. 8.
In the fourth Scripture Math. 15.21.Gospell. Math. 15.21. to the end of the 28, ver. the Euangelist hauing related our Lords reprehension of the outward hypocriticall cleanenesse of the Scribes & Pharises, shewing that euill thoughts, murthers, adulteries,Coherēce with the preceeding doctrines. fornications, do defile the man,Summe History of the precious & vnfained faith of the Syropheniciā woman. but not to eate with vnwashen hands, doth now set downe a true story of the pure, precious & vnfained faith of a Cananitish woman, exercising it selfe in a most zealous and feruent manner of powring forth her petitions, as the incense in the presence of God, & casting all her cares into Christs bosome, who cared for her and for her possessed daughter, speedily deliuering them both out of their aduersity,
The text containethParts.
1 An introduction or preface into the history,Introduction, History it selfe. in the 21. and a part of the 22. ver.
2 The history it selfe, from the 23, ver. to the end of the 28.
In the preface S. Matthew notes the occasions.Parts of the introduction or preface,
1 Of his going from the Scribes and Pharisies.
2 Of his departure into the coasts of Tyre and Sydon, to offer himselfe vntounto this godly and zealous Cananite. ver. 21.22.
In the story of the womans petition,Parts of the History Foure sundry passions in the womans prayer and Christs answere to it, we hauehave the womans indefessible and vnfained supplication made vntounto the Sonne of God, for one and the same thing expressed in foure sundry and seuerall suffrages.
The first is, HaueHave mercy 1 HaueHave mercyon me ô Lord the sonne of Dauid, ve. 22. whereunto she receiues no answere by word. ver. 23.
The second is her crying after Christ,2 Her crying after Christ and the Apostles, and the Disciples who would faine hauehave bene rid of her, because she was importunate. Therefore they are spokes-men to Christ for her. Our Lords answer is, I am not sent but to the lost sheepe.Rare examples of chastitie▪ verse 23.24.
The third is, she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord helpe me, 3 Her coming before him with Lord helpe me,verse 25. To this Christ answereth thus, It is not good to take the childrens bread, &c. verse 26.
4 Her humility in acknowledging her vnworthinesse & misery; yet not leauing off to vrge her suite. Christs answer to the womans earnest suite.The fourth, is the holding out of her incessant request, (for women will seldome be sayd nay) her yeelding of▪ a full assent and consent vntounto her Lords words, perswading her selfe that he would grant her request, in saying, Truth Lord, and though she acknowledged her selfe by birth, nation, and nature, to be no better then a dogge; yet she knew that whelpes eate of the crummes, &c. verse 27. whereto she receiued a twofold answer,
1 That which a dogge could not looke for, O woman great is thy faith,
2 The comfortable answer in graunting that which she made suite for, Be it to thee as thou desirest. And her daughter was made whole the same houre. verse 28.