Exposition of the Dominical Epistles and Gospels, Section 26 – Errata
The Gospel. LVKE 18.31.
Iesus tooke vntounto him the twelue, and said vntounto them; Behold we goe vp to Ierusalem, and all shall be fulfilled, &c.
IN this Gospell, our Sauiour Christ, eIohn 1.9.the true light of the world, doth illuminate two sorts of blinde: the disciples, who were spiritually blind; and a poore beggar, who was corporally blind. The disciples fVers. 34.vnderstood not as yet the mysteries of our redemption, wrought by Christs humiliation and exaltation; by gThomas part. 3. qu…st. 53. art. 1.the one taking from vsus all euill; and by the other, giuing all that is good. hRom. 4.25.Hee died for our sinnes, and rose againe for our iustification.
Christ therefore doth open their eies, and instruct them in these two points exactly.
First, generally: vers. 31. Behold we goe vp to Ierusalem, and all things, &c.
Secondly, more particularly, declaring the maner of his death and resurrection, in the 32.33. verses.
Concerning his passion, fiue things are deliuered.
traditio, that hee shall be betraied.
illusio, that hee shall be mocked.
conspuitio, that hee shall be spitted on.
fl…gellatio, that hee shall be scourged.
occisio, that hee shall be put to death.
For truth it selfe was betraied, wisdome it selfe mocked, glory it selfe spitted on, innocencie it selfe scourged, and life it selfe killed.
Concerning his resurrection, hee sets downe two points especially:
1. that he shal rise.
2. that hee shall rise the third day.
Iesus tooke vntounto him the twelue] Reuealing to them the secrets of his kingdome, foretelling his passion
iTheophylact. in loc.for two causes especially:
1. that they might beare it more patiently, praemoniti, praemuniti.
2. to signifie that hee suffered willingly: Ioh. 10.18. See Gosp. dom. 10. post. Trin.
Behold] This word of attention, is kPontan. in loc.like the sounding of a trumpet before some waighty proclamation, or like the ringing of a great bell before the sermon of a famous Preacher. And therefore let vsus heare this doctrine with an especiall care, which Christ hath commended vntounto vsus here by such a remarkable note.
We goe vp] Christs passion is called an lIohn 3.14. & 12.32.exaltation or ascending. For albeit he could not ascend higher, as God, yet he was exalted by his humiliation, as man, and had a name giuen him aboue eueryevery name: Phil. 2.8.9. Lucifer and Adam by climbing vp, were cast downe: but Christ by casting himselfe downe, went vp.
Or, We goe vp: mCoster. in loc.insinuating that his iourney was not easie. Facilis descensus Auerni: Men go sooner downe hil, then vp hill; yet he that hath a good horse, can ride faster vp hill then downe hill. So the n2. Kin…. 2.12.charets and horsemen of Israel, assisted by Gods especiall grace, lifting them vp aboue the base vallies of the world, runne faster, and are more delighted in heauens vp hill, then the wicked i… hels downe hill.
To Ierusalem] Interpreters hauehave rendred oCost…r. in loc.sundry reasons, why Christ was crucified at Ierusalem, especially pPontan. & Di…z in loc.two. First, because there was not enough malice in any other Citie to kill the Lord of life; none but the holy could enuie the most holy. The prophane Gentiles & ignorant Iewes elsewhere, did not maligne Christ in his words and wonders; Ierusalem onelyonly the qMat. 23.37.Prophet-killer could not indure rIohn 1.21.the Prophet. His holinesse and wisdome was the fittest obiect for the Scribes and Pharises enuie. sMat. 23.35.That vponupon them might come all the righteous blood shed vponupon earth, euen from Abel the shadow, to Christ the substance, tH…b. 12.24.whose bloud speakes better things vntounto vsus, and cries …owder against them, then that of Abel. Here note by the …ay, that as the Sonne of God was crucified in the Citie of God; so by good correspondence, the members of Christ are persecuted most by the vicar of Christ.
Secondly, Christ suffered in that eminent place, that his passion and patience might be renowned in the whole world. There was not another stage fit for his tragedie, which is our comedie.
In a uAcos…a, con. 1. in loc.mysticall sense, Christ and his Apostles ascend to Ierusalem, euen to Ierusalem xGalat. 4.26.aboue, the yApoc. 21.2.new Ierusalem prepared as a bride trimmed for her husband: but the god of this world, with his company, descend to Iericho, to the lowest hell. Hee that followes not Christ in his course, goes from Ierusalem to Iericho; from heauenly paths, vntounto the by-waies of destruction; and so he falles among theeues, that is, as the zAugust. Ambros. Chrysost. apud Thom. in Luc. 10.fathers expound it, among many diuels and euils, who rob him, and wound him; and in fine, will leaue him dead, except Christ the true Samaritan relieue him, and set him in his right way againe.
And all shall be fulfilled that are written by the Prophets of the Sonne of man] aPontan. in loc.As the Painter at the first drawes his picture with a coale roughly, then with an accurate pensill, and or…ent colours exactly: so the holy Ghost in the Prophets and old Testament, shadowed Christs passion obscurely; but in the new, paints it as it were to life perspicuously. The two Testaments are bLuke 10.35.two pence, cTheophylact. in Luc. 10.bearing the same Kings image, though not of the same stampe: for all things being now fulfilled, written by the Prophets of the Sonne of man, our Sauiours picture ingrauen in the Gospell, is more full and cleere then that imprinted in the law. Now God hath shewed vsus the light of his countenance: Psal. 67.1. Let vsus therefore search the Scripture, for that is the way to Christ, and Christ is the way to God.
For hee shall be deliuered vntounto the Gentiles: and shall bee mocked] Hee did particularly foretell the manner of his suffering, dCaluin. apud Marlorat. in Mat. 10.19.that his disciples might see, that as God he did foresee these things, & that they might be strengthened at his Crosse, when as they should vnderstand all things to be fulfilled as they were told by Christ, and foretold by the Prophets.
That he should be
betraied, was foretold, Psal. 41.9.
mocked, was foretold, Ps. 69. v. 7.12.22.
spitted on, was foretold, Esay 50.6.
scourged, was foretold, Esay 53.5.
put to death. was foretold, Psal. 22.17.
Christ was deliuered vntounto the Gentiles, as we reade in
the Gospell, especially by three:
Iudas.
the Iewes.
Pilat.
By Iudas, out of couetousnesse, as the eMat. 26.15.text expresly; What will ye giuegive me, and I will deliuer him to you? For a little siluer, and that not paied, but onelyonly promised, he sold his friend; yea that which is worse, his Master; yea that which is worst of all, his Maker. See the Gospell the Sunday before Easter.
By the Iewes, out of malice. Matth. 27.18. Pilat knew well that for enuy they deliuered him.
By Pilat, through feare: for the Iewes said vntounto him: fIohn 19.12.If thou set him free, thou art not Caesars friend: for whosoeuer maketh himselfe a King, speaketh against Caesar. And therefore Pilat chose rather to crucifie the Lord eternall, then to displease Caesar, a Lord temporall.
In like sort, all couetous, all malitious, all cowardly professors betray Christ daily. The couetous, who make their coine their Creed, and their penny their Pater noster, and their bils their Bible, betray Christ with Iudas. It is but what will you giuegive them, and they will deliuer vp the Gospell vntounto you.
Enuious men, who persecute the Saints, and disgrace their graces, betray Christ in his members with the Iews, euen for meere malice, speaking to their Christian brother as Antoninus Caracalla to his naturall brother; gTo Gela.Sit diuus, modò non vinus.
Cowardly prof…ssors vse to betray Christ with Pilat. hMatth. 13.21.For as soone as tribulation or persecution commeth for the word, they feare more the threats of Caesar an earthly Prince, who can kill onelyonly the body, then the wrath of God, who being King of all Kings, is iMatth. 10.28.able to destroy both body and soule in hell.
The second point touching Christs passion, is illusio. Now Christ was mocked in foure places especially.
1. In Caiphas house, where the keepers kLuke 22.64.blindfolded him, and smote him on the face, and asked him, saying; Prophecie; who is it that smot… thee?
In Herods company, lLuke 23.11.when as the souldiers arraied him in white.
In the Common hall, where they mMatth. 27.28stripped him, and put vponupon him a scarlet robe.
In Golgotha, when he was crucified. First, as Saint Matthew in the 27. Chap. by the passengers, wagging their heads, and saying; Thou that destroiest the Temple, and buildest it in three daies; saue thy selfe, &c. Then by the Scribes and Pharises; Hee saued other, but he cannot saue himselfe. Last of all, some peruerted his words, affirming that he called for Elias, when as he praied; Eli, Eli, &c.
The popish Clergy mocke Christ with Caiphas, in that they blindfold the people, by denying them the Scriptures, and then mocke them for their ignorance. nIudges 16.25.Samson hauing his ei…s out, was a laughing stocke to the Philistins: and so the blinde laymen are the Priests pastime. Though a Iesuit or a Seminary buffet them eueryevery day, yet can they not prophecie who smote them. Either Samson must pull downe the Colledges of these Philistins, or else he shall neuer see but thorow their spectacles. They mock Christ with Herod, who retaine foule consciences in a white rochet, who conforme themselues in habit, but reforme not themselues in heart.
The Babylonian whore mocks Christ with the souldiers, in putting on oApocal. 17.4.skarlet, betokening zeale and charity, when her actions are cruell and bloudy.
They mocke Christ with the Iewes in Golgotha, who distort the words of Scripture for their aduantage, making Elias of Eloi. Like the popish dolt, who reading the subscription of Pauls 2. Epistle to the Thessalonians, in the vulgar Latine; Missa fuit ex Athenis, instantly cried out, that he had found a plaine text for the Masse. Or like that foppish Anabaptist, who gathered out of Christs words in English; pMat. 28.19.Goe and teach all nations, and baptise, &c. that it is not lawfull for a Clergy man to ride on a faire palfrey; much lesse, as the Bishops, in a stately coach. Or as that Fen-man, alias Fin-man, standing vponupon a marsh custom…, iustified his not paiment of Tithes out of Paul; qRom. 13.7.Custome to whom custome: but his Pastor replied aptly; r1. Cor. 11.16.the Churches of God hauehave no such custome.
So the blasphemous mouth spits on Gods face; the tyrants openly crossing the Gospels proceeding, scourge Christ: and all such as slide from the profession of the faith, are said in sH…b. 6.6.scripture, to crucifie againe the Sonne of God. And therefore tFeru…, s…r. 1. & …. in loc. Coster, Ditz. &c.the Church hath allotted this Gospell for this weeke most fitly. For at this Carniual & gut tide, many deliuer Christ vntounto ye Gentiles, in their chambering and wantonnes, drunkennes & gluttonie, making such as are no Christians to uRom. 2.24.blaspheme Christianitie, seeing such vncomely behauiour and mad meriments among prof…ssors of holy religion.
As a louing wife which hath her husband slaine, to moue compassion in the Iudges, and to make the fact most odious and hatefull, tels of his deadly wounds, and describes his gastly look…s, and shewes some garment of his embrued in blood: xPontan. in loc.so the Church at this time doth offer vntounto our considerations how Christ her deare LoueLove, was betraied, and mocked, and spitted on, and scourged, and put to d…ath; hereby recalling vsus from our horrible sinnes, which as another Iudas betray Christ, as another Herod mock Christ, as another Pilate condemne Christ, as another Longinus wound Christ, as another band of Iewes recrucifie Christ.
And the third day he shall rise againe] yDiez in loc.Christ is large in …he report of his ignominie, but short in this of his glo…ie: for he deliuered fiue points as concerning his humiliation, but he remembers on…ly two, yea for the matter but one touching his exaltation. And the third day hee shall rise againe. Yet this one is the locke and key of all Christian faith, on which all other articles of holy beleefe depend. See before the Creed, and after the Gospell on Easter and S. Thomas day.
The Prophets vsually mingle the sweet of Christs exaltation with the sower of his humiliation; as Gen. 49.9. Esay 53.7, 8. Psal. 4.9. and Christ heere foretold the one so well as the other to zZepper. in loc.strengthen his followers in affliction: for as he first suffered, and after entred into glorie; so such as beare with him the crosse, shall be sure to weare with him the crowne. aRom. 6.5.If we be grafted with him to the similitude of his death, euen so shall we be to the similitude of his resurrection.
And this saying was hid from them Men hardly conceiue ill of those whom they louelove well; and therefore the Disciples expecting better things of Christ, could not vnderstand this prophecie, but the Iewes (as bApud Tho…am in loc.Beda notes) hating Christ, and seeking how they might put him to death, easily beleeued him vponupon his word, yea one word, and that not so perspicuous as this, but obscure; for when he said, cIohn 12.32.If I were lift vp from the earth, I will draw all men vntounto me; the Iewes answered him: We hauehave heard out of the law, that Christ bideth for euer: and how saist thou that the Sonne of man must be lift vp?
Hence we may note dMelancthon. postil. in loc.that the dearest Saints of God hauehave their infirmities and errors; and lest wee should doubt of it, Saint Luke repeates it againe: They perceiued not the things which were spoken. eCaluin. apud Mar. orat. in loc.Not that we should follow their ignorance, but praise God for our knowledge, when we conceiue these deepe mysteries of our saluation.
Againe, we may learne from hence fMarlorat. in Matth. 20.19.not to be discouraged, if we do not at the first discerne Gods holy word: for the blessed Apostles after Christs resurrection vnderstood all these things, as S. Luke reports in his last chapter, vers. 45. God at his good time, will open our eyes, as he did the blindmans in this Gospel, and open our eares, as he did of the Prophet, Esay 50. and open our hearts, as he did of Lydia, Act. 16.
In that other part of this Gospell, concerning the bodily blind, we may behold a miserable patient, and a merciful Physitian.
In the patient two things are regardable: to wit, his
Outward wants,
Blindnes.
Beggerie, v. 35.
Inward vertues:
Faith.
Gratefulnes.
In his faith obserue the
Beginning, it came by hearing, vers. 36.
Continuance, though he was rebuked, he ceased not to crie, Iesus thou sonne of David hauehave merciemercy on me, vers. 37, 38, 39.
End and fruite, he receiued his sight, vers. 43.
His thankfulnes appeares in two things especially:
1. In following Christ.
2. In praising God.
And his example caused other to doe the like: All the people when they saw this gaue praise to God.
The mercifulnes of Christ the Physitian toward this distressed patient, is seene in his
Gesture: vers. 40. He stood still and commanded the blind man to be brought vntounto him.
Speech: vers. 41. What wilt thou that I doe vntounto thee?
Workes: vers. 42. Receiue thy sight, thy faith hath made thee whole, and immediatly hee receiued his sight.
And it came to passe, that as he was come nigh to Iericho] Christs actions are our instructions: as Christ then, gTheophylact. in loc.so we must doe good in all places, as occasion is offered, euen in the streets and high waies, so well as in the Temple. There is nothing in the sheepe but good; his fell is good, his flesh is good, his entrals good, his dung good: so the lambes of Christ must be profitable to all, hurtfull to none.
A certaine blind man sate by the high way side] hLuther. Culman. Zepper. i… loc.Protestant Diuines as well as the Fathers and Friers hauehave construed this mystically; for eueryevery man is blind by nature, not discerning the things of God; he sits by the way, but he cannot walk in the way, till Christ open his eyes & direct his paths. And it is most certaine that the state of the spiritually blind is more miserable then that of the other blind; for to want the eyes of Angels, is worse then to want the eyes of beasts, as iGranaten. in loc.Antonius told that good blind man Didymus.
As the bodily blind is led either by his seruant, or wife, or dogge; so the spiritually blind misled by the world, the flesh and the diuell: the bodily blind will be sure to get a seeing guide, but the spiritually blinde followeth his owne kEccles. 18.30.lusts and the blind guides; and so the lMatth. 15.14.blind leading the blinde, both fall into the ditch.
The bodilie blinde feeleth and acknowledgeth his want of sight, but the spiritually blinde thinkes hee sees as well as any. So Christ in the Gospell: mIohn 9.41.If yee were blinde, ye should not hauehave sinne: but now ye say, we see, therefore your sinne remaineth ▪ &c. The bodily blinde supplieth his want of sight oft by feeling, as nGen. 27.21.I sack when hee could not see Iacob, said, Let me feele thee my sonne: but the spiritually blind though hee feele many times in his conscience the flashing, yet n…uer auoides the flames of hell fire. The bodily blinde account… them happie who see; but the spiritually blind doth despise the Seers, and all such as walke in the right way: oWisdom. 5.3.This is hee whom wee sometime had in derision, and in a parable of reproch.
To conclude, the want of corporall eyes, is to many pPasseratius ora…. de caecit.diuinum bonum, albeit humanum malum; but the want of faiths eyes, is the greatest euill which can befall man in this life: for reason is our soules left eye, q…onauent. diaet salut. c. 26.faith our right eye, without which rHeb. 11.6.it is impossible to see the way to God. Come to me, saith sMatth. 11.28.Christ; credendo venimus, saith tSer. 12 de ver bis Apostol.Augustine, yea Christ uIohn 14.23.comes to vsus, and xEp …s 3.17.dwels in our heart by faith.
Begging] The Iewes had a yDeut. 15.4.law, that there should be no begger in Isra…l. England hath statutes also to correct impudent poore, and to prouide for impotent poore: but as it is obserued, our lawes hauehave a better prologue then epilogue; they be well penned, but ill kept: and so this good order is neglected among vsus, as it was about Iericho, to the great scandall of Christian religion, and dishonour of our English nation. It is written of the zChurch h…m. against idlenesse.Athenians, that they punished idle persons as hainous offenders. And the Egyptians had a law, that eueryevery man sho…ld bring his name to the chiefe ruler of the Prouince, and shew what trade of life he did vse. The aAul. G…l. lib. …. ca… 1….Romans enacted seuere statutes against such as negligently suffered their ground vntilled. Among the bDescription of the world. pag. 64Chinois, eueryevery man is …et about somewhat, according to his strength and yeeres: one laboureth with his hand, another with his foot, some with their eies, & some must be doing with their tongue; and that which is most admirable, they keepe in Cantane, foure thousand blind men, vnfit for other service, to grinde corne and rice or the people. If either the law were belieued as Gospell, or the Gospell kept as law, such c2. Thes. 3.10.as would not labour, should not eate. Loiterers and sturdie rogues, should be sent either to the Gallies, or prisons, or Bridewell, or to some like place where they might worke well: and as for such as cannot labour, it is fit, we that are strong, should help to beare the burdens of the weake, being dI…b 29.15.…ies to the blind, and feet to the lame.
And when hee he…rd the people passe by] eCulman. in loc.We must appr…hend eueryevery fit occasion for our good: and when once we hauehave begun well, we must not faint in our course, but continue, fArboreus …m. in loc.though the world r…buke vsus, as the people did the blind man here. Let v… still cry for mercy, manifesting a liuely saith in our words and wa…es. In our words, gI…ns…n. …oncora. cap 105.acknowledging Christ to be man: O Iesu▪ thou Son of Dauid & God, hauehave mercy on me. By our waies i… forsaking our old wicked courses, and following Christ, that other seeing our good example, may likewise giuegive praise to God.
The Gospell and Epistle hLuther. in loc. & Post…l. cum … & figuris ep…st. d…. qu…nqu…s.well agree. For i… the Epistle, S. Paul aboue all other vertues, extolleth louelove. Now iIohn 15.13.greater louelove then this hath no man. then t… b…stow his life for his fri…nds. And yet Christ, as S. Luk… …e…orts in the Gospell, was betraied and mocked, and spitte…, …nd …ourged▪ and …ut to dea…h e…en for vsus kRom. 5.10.h…s e…emie…. Agai…e▪ Saint Paul in the Epistle, next to louelove commends in a Christian, faith and hope; both which (as the Gospell i…tim…tes) are emine…t in blinde Bartimae…s, vnfai…edl… b… lieuing, that Christ could: and in his greatest d…scouragement▪ hoping against hope, that Christ would hauehave …rcie on him; in so much, that Truth it selfe giues this testimony; Rec…i…e thy sight, thy faith hath saued thee.
If Duke Ios…a be renowned in holy Bible, for that hee made the naturall Su…ne to stand still at his praier in Gibeon; O what omnipotent faith had this blind man, to make the supernaturall sunne, the Sunne of righteousnesse, the Sunne that made the sun to stay his course, and stand still in the way, till his desire was fulfilled! O Lord increase our faith and louelove, making the one like this in the Gospell; and the other according to thy precept in the Epistle, that being mounted vponupon these two wings, we may soare to the place where thine honor dwelleth, and there rest with thee for e…ermore.
Amen.
FINIS.
Errata.
Pag. 8. lin. 15. a fine, reade …. p. 10. l. …. reade measurably. p. 24. l. 11. reade are. p. 26. l. 12. a fine, reade same. p. 68. l. 5. a fine, reade a…. p. 96. l. …1. in the margin, reade Acts 13. p. …16. l. 10. a fine, reade …sti. p. 127. l. 8. a fine, reade w…y. p. 187. l. 7. reade Psalm. 135. p. 190. l. 2. in margin, reade &. pag. 225. in margin, dele…tur …eremy 17. pag. 230 l. …9. reade Cl…rius. p. 24…. …. 4. reade picture. p. 25…. l. 15. a fine, reade haru…st.
Other faults are either so grosse, that they correct themselues, or so small, that they will be soone corrected of other.
I forbeare prefaces and Indices vntill the whole be finished.
Assi…t me with thine hearty praiers vntounto the Father of mer…y, that it may be for his glory and thy good.
FINIS
End of the text · John Boys, Exposition of the Dominical Epistles and Gospels (1610)