Exposition of the Moral Law, Additions 2
Additions.
Pag. 73. 24.
The conſcience bindeth more than the Law of the ſuperiour, Let every ſoule be ſubject to the higher power, Rom. 13.1. the ſupreme power hath a Commandement above inferiour powers, and this Commandement bindeth all men both in ſoule and body, and Iames giveth the reaſon, becauſe There is one lawgiver who is able to ſave and deſtroy, Iam. 4.12. and Chriſt ſaith, feare not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the ſoule; but rather feare him which is able to deſtroy both ſoule and body in hell. Matth. 10.28, it is onelyonly contempt of the Magiſtrats Law which defileth the conſcience, primario it is this, becauſe he diſobeyeth Gods Law which commandeth obedience to the Magiſtrate, but the Commandement of the Magiſtrate, non influit primario & per ſe in conſcientiam. The Commandement of an inferior Magiſtrate, obligeth as well as the Commandements of the ſuperior Magiſtrate, but the conſcience is the immediate Deputy alwayes under God for the internall obedience, but here we muſt put a difference, &c.
Pag. 77. L. 17.
In the age before Chriſt, the Doctors of the Iewes tooke titles to themſelves to be called Rab, Rabbi, and Rabban; and they ſay Rabbi was leſſe than Rabban, for they called few of the Doctors Rabban; Rabbi was their common Title, but Rabban was their higheſt Title.
But why doth Chriſt forbid to call any man Maſter. Queſt.
This Title is not condēned ſimply by Chriſt, Anſw. but this kind of Rabbi, or Maſter-ſhip, ſo to be called Maſter, as the Schollers to have their faith pinned upon their ſleeve, and their faith to reſt ſimple upon them, whereas the Lord will have our faith immediatly depend upon him, and if an Angell from heaven ſhould preach another Goſpell let him be accurſed, Galath. 1.8.
Pag. 182. 8.
The Innocent blood when it was ſhed, was not expiated but by the blood of him who killed, but he who caſually killed, the blood which he ſhed did not bring on guilt properly; but rather a ceremoniall pollution, becauſe it defiled the Land; and therefore it was purged by the death of the high prieſt.
Pag, 174. L. 33.
Polygamy in a large ſenſe is called adultery, and ſo inceſt is called fornication, 1 Cor. 5.1. it is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, the fathers make it a middle ſin betwixt adultery and fornication; having a reſpect to their knowledge and the times wherein they lived; but reſpecting the firſt inſtitution, it was adultery.
Pag. 182.
The bill of divorce was permitted to be given by Moſes, to obviate their unjuſt divorces; but for adultery there was death, for ſuſpition of adultery there was the bitter water.
Pag. 313.
To praiſe men in that which they are moſt defective, is vile flattery, Paul was farre from this, when he ſaid to the Corinthians, what ſhall I ſay to you; ſhall I praiſe you in this; I praiſe you not 1 Cor. 11.22. So to humor them in their ambition, ſuch was Tertullus to Faelix, Act. 24.2. Seeing that very worthy deeds are done unto this Nation by thy providence, we accept it alwayes, and in all places, most noble Faelix, with all thankfullneſſe. Such flatterers are like a falſe Glaſſe which makes things to ſeeme more than they are.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Weemes, Exposition of the Moral Law (1632)