The Marrow and Juice of 260 Scriptures, Part 3
The third Sonday in Aduent.
Connexi…n of these with the ormer.THe Scr…ptures of God, chosen out for this third, and for the fourth Sonday in Aduent, must needs in the generall scope agree with the rest before going: sith the occasion of the choice is generally all one, which is, to confirme vntounto the Church of God the truth of the first, and the certainty of the second coming of their Sauiour Christ.
Generall sūme of the first two.The two Scriptures of the old Testament, taken out of Isaies Prophecie, se…ected for the two first Lessons this day, doe Prophetically, and yet plainely declare and proue the same. In the first whereof eueryevery true member of the Church thanks God for that benefite and sauour of God in Christ, diuisim.
And in the second, the chosen of God continue that holy song,Generall sūme of the Epistle & Gospell. for that vnspeake…ble benefite, coniunctim. The first of the Scriptures of the new Testament, doth for this cause, bid men to liue in hope, and patiently to expect, in forbidding men to iudge any thing before the time, vntill the Lord come who will lighten things that are hid in d…rkenesse. &c.
In the second, our greatest Lord and teacher himselfe vponupon Iohn Baptists question. Art thou he that should come, &c. Remised this message, vntounto his herbenger. Go and shew Iohn what things ye hauehave heard and seene.
Mor. Prayer. 1 Lesson, Isay 25.The first Lesson for morning prayer is, Isay 25. which doth containe a speciall kind of praising God, and full of feeling: wherein eueryevery child of God doth in particular, apply the coming of Christ and his redemption vntounto himselfe.
Parts.The chapter may be distributed into these chiefe heads. 1. containing a forme and manner of the thanksgiuing,1 A forme of gratulation. the words thereof. O Lord thou art my God, I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name. Ver. 1. And in that day shall men say: loe, this is our God we hauehave waited for him, and he will saue vsus: this is the Lord, we hauehave waited for him, and we will reioyce and be ioyfull in his saluation. Ver. 9.
The second is the motiue and foundation of this gratulation,2 The ground of this gratulation. which is, 1. either, generall in the first verse, containing the specials. For thou hast done wonderfull things according to the counsels of old, with a stable truth, 2. Or speciall, which is manifold, containing many reasons, yet all of them drawne from two strong places: 1. from the iustice of God, in executing of his iudgements vponupon the rebellious and disobedient Iewes, or any other, Ʋer. 1. to the end of the 5, or from his mercy and louing fauour, in calling, sanctifying, and offering saluation by meanes of his Son Iesus Christ, vntounto his chosen people of all nations ver. 6. to the end of the 12. which is the end of the chapter.
The 26. chapter of Isay is the first Lesson for euening prayer,Eue. Prayer. 1 Less. Isay 26. wherein the Prophet foretelleth what complicate & combined ioy there shall be of Gods p…pl… together assembled, or in speaking and singing in their hearts all one song concern…ng Christs coming, & bringing wi…h him sa…uation, which he shall set for wals and bulwarkes. The chapter giues vsus a view and sight of these principall points.
First,Parts. the Prophet propounds the substance & ditty of this generall and Catholicke song.1 The ditty of this Catholick song. ver. 1. In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Iudah, we hauehave a strong city: saluation shal God set, for wals and bulwarkes.
The second is, that vse which the Prophet makes of this song,2 The vse of the song. by his exhortation. ver. 2.3.4.
The third is the ground and reasons, whereupon these exhortations are founded:3 The reasons and ground of the exhortatiō. drawne
First, from the experience of Gods power, in taking away the lets and hinderances vntounto the saluation of his people. 2. from the experience of his fauour vntounto all the godly, in generall to the Prophet, and each godly man in speciall, Verse. 5. to the end of the 21. verse. which is the end of the chapter. For▪ lo, the Lord cometh out of his place, to visite the iniquity of the inhabitants of the earth vponupon them, and the earth shall disclose her bloud, and shall no more hide her slaine. What meane these speeches? who shall performe this & more then this? But our God in Christ, and by Christ. Christ, I say, God with vsus, and man for vsus and in vsus: He did it at his first coming, by himselfe immediatly and in mercy, when he played the Priest and the Prophet by his mercifull and gracious ministery. He shall do it at his second coming, when he shall act the part of a King, the King of Kings, and sole Iudge of Kings, to iudge Kings, and all others in the world, as he sits in his glorious throane and tribunall of Maiesty,
Epistle.In the third portion of Scripture selected for this day, 1. Cor 4.1. to the end of the 5. verse, 1. Cor. 4.1. to the 5. ver.we hauehave an Apostolicall exhortation, as before a Propheticall, touching Christs mediate ministery, and his coming to vsus by the Ministers of his word and disposers of his secrets, That we may cary such a reuerent esteeme and opinion of them as their places deserue, and as becommeth vsus. The Text broken vp hath these parts,
1 Pauls exhortions.First S. Pauls exhortation, which is double, 1. concerning other mens respect and iudgement of the Ministers, ver. 1. 2. concerning the ministers carriage and respecting themselues, that they may be accounted indeed, and not in word, the Ministers of Christ & worthy disposers of Gods secrets, ver. 2.
2 Pauls resolutiō concerning his censurers.The second part containeth the Apostles owne resolutiō, concerning other mens estimation and iudgement of himselfe. ver. 3.4.
3 Pauls exhortation touching this point of censuring.The third containeth his concluding exhortation, as touching this point of iudgement and censuring: limiting it vntounto the time of the Lotds coming, who being the great censurer of all, will then make it appeare, who hath iudged rightly and with commendation at Gods hand. ver. 5.
The fourth portion of Scripture for this day,Gospell. is Math 11.2, to the end of the 10 ver. Mat 11.2. to the 10.deliuering vntounto vsus two most worthy demonstrations of the vndoubted truth & certainty of this powerful & gratious Aduent, & coming of Iesus Christ.
The fi…st is that answere which S. Iohns Schollers carried to their Maister,1 Demonstration of Christs comi…g as touching the infallible certainty of Christs coming (for this was Iohns question) ve. 2. to the end of the 6. ver.
The second is our Lords testimony,2 Christs own testimony to confirme Iohns ministery, and consequently the inuiolable truth of his owne coming, in the 7. 8. 9. & 10 verses. The former of these demonstrations containes, 1. a question moued by Iohn Baptist (though he was in prison) in the 2. & 3. verses, 2. an answere made by Christ in the 4.5. & 6. verses, The latter comprehends a patheticall question, thrice repeated by Christ, cōcerning Iohns person and ministerie, and by himselfe answered, 1. negatiue…y foreign, in the 7. & 8, verses, 2. affirmatiuely foreign in the 9. and 10. verses.