The Third Part from John Baptists Nativity, Part 2
The Gospell.
LVKE 1. 57.
Elizabeths time came that she should be deliuered, and she brought forth a sonne, &c.
SAint kSerm. 63.Ambrose preaching on this day was a great deale troubled, where he should either begin or end the praises of Iohn the Baptist: for whatsoeuer was eminent almost in lSee Ferus ser. 1. de Io. Baptist.all other is found in this one Saint, as being an mMalac. 3. 1. Angelus offici….Angel, a nLuke 1. 76.Prophet, an oIohn. 1. 6.Apostle, an pMark. 1. 7. Iohn 1. 29.Euangelist, a confessor constantly teaching the truth, and patiently suffering for the same, his ingresse into the world, progresse in the world, egresse out of the world, were not (as our text speakes) without a marueilous noyse throughout all the countryes of Iury, and the qMatth. 3. 5.coast about Iordan, he was in his death a Martyr, in his life a miracle, yet his natiuity surmounted both; and therefore whereas the Church ordinarily celebrates the liues and deaths of other Saints, it doth especially solemnize the birth of Iohn the Baptist; allotting for this feast a Gospell accordingly, that sets downe the cheife parts and purtenance thereof, as namely
1. Elizabeths safe deliuerance, when her time was come, verse 57.
2. The congratulation of neighbours and cosins for this great mercy shewed vponupon her, verse 58.
3. The circumcision of Iohn, verse 59.
4. The contention about his name, verse 60. 61. 62. 63.
5. The marueyling of such as were present vponupon the sight of these things, and of such as were absent vponupon the report noysed abroad, verse 63. 65. 66.
6. The Benedictus of Zachary, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, &c.
Elizabeths time was come] The word of the Lord is true, Psalme 33. 4. I the Lord hauehave spoken it, and I will performe it, Ezechiel 37. 14. Whereas therefore God promised olde Zacharie by the mouth of his Angell at the 13. verse, that Elizabeth his wife should beare him a sonne: he now deales with his seruant according to his word, for albeit Zachary was a forspent man, and Elizabeth in respect both of yeares and sicknes a rLuke 1. 7.barren woman; yet when her time came that she should be deliuered she brought forth a sonne. The most almighty truth, and most true almightines effected whatsoeuer he determined, sNat. hist. lib. 7. cap. 5.Plinie, tAttic. noc. lib. 3 cap. 16.Gellius, and uArist. de nat. animal. lib. 7. cap. 3. 4.other secretaries of nature report that some children are borne in the 7. monethmonth after their conception, other in the 8. other in the 10. but ordinarily children are borne in the 9. monethmonth: and xAretius. Maldonat.so Iohn was brought into the world, when his mother Elizabeths time came that she should be deliuered, according to the most vsuall course of nature.
yHeming. post. in fest. Io. Baptist.Hereupon we may build a generall rule, namely that nothing is able to disappoint Gods holy determinations and purposes, and therefore whereas he hath zHeb. 9. 27.appointed that all men shall once dye, and after death come to iudgement, whereas he saith expresly that they who aDan. 12. 2.sleepe in the dust of the graue, shall awake some to perpetuall contempt, and other to an b1. Pet. 5. 4.incorruptible crowne of glory; (for the cApocal. 20. 13.sea and the sepulcher shall deliuer vp the dead which are in them at the last day:) let vsus looke for the dTit. 2. 13.blessed hope & glorious appearing of Christ our Sauiour, who shall ePhilip. 3. 21.change our vile body that it may be like his glorious body; though happily the resurrection of the dead seeme most impossible to nature, yet let vsus which are fIohn 1. 13.borne not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God, comfort our selues in these things, as being assured that our gIob. 19. 25.redeemer liueth, and that hee which is the hIohn 11. 25.resurrection and the life shall himselfe i1. Thess. 4. 16.descend from heauen with a shoute, and with the voyce of the Arch-angel; and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall arise first, and then the liuing that remaine shall also bee caught vp with them in the cloudes to meete the Lord in the ayre, and so we shall be with him euermore.
She brought forth a sonne] it is probable that Zachary being at his deuotion in the temple prayed not for any priuate blessing, but for the publike good of the whole congregation, and namely that God would (according to his gratious promises) giuegive his sonne, and so forgiue the sinne of his people: the coherence then of Gabriels speech vntounto him at the 13. verse (feare not Zachary, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall beare thee a sonne] may be kAugustin. quaest. Euang. lib. 2. cap. 1.this, thy prayer is heard for the Messias of the world, in that thy wife shall beare a sonne, who shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall goe before him in the spirit and power of Elias, as a Prophet to prepare his wayes, and to make ready a people for him. He which is the lIohn 1. 9.light of the world, and mCant. 1. 3. Haggai. 2. 8.delight of his people, shall ere it be long be borne of a Virgine, and Elizabeth thy wife shall hauehave a sonne, who shall as his beadle goe before his face, the sonne of a barren shall preach vntounto the world the sonne of the Virgine, nArdens hom. in loc.Et pulchrè de sene & sterili nascitur, qui nasciturum de virgine praedicare veniebat, vt mirabiliter natus mirabilius nasciturum demonstraret.
Or as other oTheophylact. Euthym. Iansen.obserue, thy prayer is heard for the sins of the people, because thy wife Elizabeth shall beare thee a sonne, who shall openly proclaime the Messias, and say, Behold the lambe of God which taketh away the sinne of the world, pEuseb. Emisen. hom. 2. de S. Io. Bap.Dum ille solicitus pro salute populi supplicat, promissus est per quem populus saluaretur.
Or as Saint qCom. in Luc. 1. vers. 13.Ambrose, God according to his rEphes. 1. 7.rich grace sIames. 1. 5.giuing to all men liberally, did not only heare the prayer of Zachary, for the common good, but also for his owne comfort in particular: and therefore tArboreus, Caluin.some construe the clause (thy prayer is heard) of his priuate suite for a sonne, commensed either at this instant in Gods house (for being hie Priest as uApud Marlorat. & Maldonat. in loc.many coniecture, his office was to xLeuit. 16. 17.make an atonement for himselfe, and his houshold, and for all the congregation of Israel) or else often yHeming. Caluin. Maldonat.heretofore in his owne house praying with Elizabeth his wife. We finde a parallel example to this Acts 10. 4. Cornelius a deuout man euidently saw in a vision an Angel of God comming vntounto him and saying, thy prayers and thine almes are come vp into remembrance before God. It is not sayed that Cornelius at that houre was either praying vntounto God, or giuing almes vntounto men: but the Lords Angel speakes of duties and bounties already past: and so Gabriel in saying thy prayer is heard, insinuates that his former and frequent suite for a childe was obtained now, thy wife shall beare thee a sonne, and our text reportes accordingly that in due time she brought forth a sonne, from hence learne, 1. That the prayer of the righteous zIames 5. 16.auaileth much if it be feruent: Iohn is gotten, and (as aSer. 63.Ambrose speakes also) begotten of his parents, non tam complexibus, quàm orationibus.
2. bHeming. post. infest. Io. Bap.That … must not cease from praying because many times our requests are delayed long; it is our duty to continue knocking vntill the father of mercies open the doore of grace; Christ in his preamble to that exquisite forme of prayer inioyneth vsus to call vponupon God in faith, hope, louelove; faith, in saying father: louelove, in saying our: hope, in saying which art in heauen: I finde the like conceit in cEpist. 121. cap 8.Augustine vponupon the fish, egge, and bread, mentioned Luke 11. fides in pisce, spes in ouo, charitas in pane. dEpist. lib. 1. epist. 4.Paulinus said of the woman anoynting Christs feete that she was pudenter impudens, & piè improba; so wee must in our prayers vntounto God (as it were) put on a modest impudence, fainting occasioneth a fayling, whereas eLuke 18. 5.importunity preuaileth euen with vnrighteous men on earth, and therefore much more with our holy father in heauen.
3. That maried couples ought to liue in the feare of God, alway relying vponupon his gratious prouidence both in wealth and woe: more principally the Preachers of the word and their wiues ought to shine before others in all kinde of vertues, in feruent and frequent prayers especially.
And her neighbours and her cousins] fPlutarch.Themistocles intending to sell a farme, caused the cryer to proclaime that it had among other commodities a good neighbour, as being assured that this one circumstance would ye rather induce chapmen to purchase it: olde Zacharias and Elizabeth had good neighbours, who did not enuy their happinesse, but according to the precept of gRom. 12. 15.Paul, reioyce with those that reioyce. A Preacher that liueth among such hath obtained a fat benefice, hee may well acknowledge with hPsalm. 16. 7.Dauid, the lot is fallen vntounto me in a faire ground, and I hauehave a goodly heritage, but woe to that Zacharie which is a iIob 30. 29.brother vntounto Dragons, and a companion of Ostriches, kPsalm. 120. 5.constrained to dwell with Mesech, and to hauehave his habitation among the tents of Kedar.
As Zachary the Priest had good neighbours, so likewise kinde cousins, for albeit they might hauehave well expected large legacies if he had dyed without issue, yet they reioyced at the birth of his sonne; an lDiez. con. 1. in festo Io. Bap.enuious man hath a great deale of lesse wit in his malice then a very brute, for whereas neither foule nor fish is taken in a snare without a baite, the spitefull wretch is brought to the diuels hooke without any pleasant bite: the voluptuous man hath a little pleasure for his soule, the couetous a little profit for his soule, the proud and ambitious a little honour for his soule; but an enuious man hath nothing of the deuill, or flesh, or world for his soule, but hearts-griefe, mLaurent. Pisan. Euang. paradox.hoc solum inuidus bene agit quod se cruciat. Wherefore n1 Pet. 2. 1.laying aside all malitiousnes and enuie, let vsus imitate the good neighbours and allyes of Elizabeth here: let vsus as feeling and fellow members of the same mysticall body oHeb. …2. 2.remember those that are in bondes, as though our selues were bound with them, and if any p1. Cor. 12. 16.member be had in honour to reioyce with it.
These neighbours and cousins visiting Elizabeth in childe-bed, came not (as qCulman. con. 1. in loc.one notes vponupon the place) with basket and bottle to drinke and eate, (though I confesse that kind of neighbourhood were better vsed in a Priests house, then in a tap-house) neither came they like the gossips in our time with a great deale of r1. Tim. 5. 13.tattle speaking things vncomely: but they came to praise God for his goodnesse shewed vponupon their friend Elizabeth: 1. sPaludensis Beauxamis.In taking away the reproach of barrennesse: 2. For giuing her a sonne; so the text, they heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy vponupon her, and they reioyced with her; it was mercy that she brought forth a sonne; great mercy, that she bare such a sonne. The Thracians vsed to laugh at the death, and to weepe at the birth of men; but the Scripture teacheth vsus to reioyce when a sonne is borne: tPsalm. 127. 4.children and the fruit of the wombe are a gift that commeth of the Lord, and therefore when Eua conceiued and bare Cain she said, uGen 4 1.I hauehave gotten a man from the Lord: and xGen. 5. 29.Lamech hauing gotten a sonne called his name Noah, saying, this same shall comfort vsus concerning our worke and sorrow of our hands, &c. When Isaac was borne Sarah his mother said, yGen. 21. 6.God hath made me to laugh: a woman (as Christ speakes Iohn 16. 21.) when she is in trauel hath sorrow, because her houre is come, but assoone as she is deliuered of the childe, she remembers no more the paine, for ioy that a man is borne into the world: zAeneas Syluius epist progenitori suo.quid dulcius in humanis quàm gignere sibi similem, aut beatius in terris quàm natos videre natorum. Elizabeth then had good cause to praise God in the gift of a sonne; but her selfe and her friends had greater cause to reioyce because she bare such a sonne, aPaludensis.tantum & talem filium, a sonne so great in the sight of the Lord, filled with the holy ghost, and strong in spirit euen from his mothers wombe; such a son, of whom as yet in swadling cloutes his father moued by the spirit said, hee should be the prophet of the most high, of whom also (when hee was growen vp and executed his office) bMat. 11. 11.Christ himselfe gaue this testimony, that among those which are borne of woemen there hath not risen a greater then Iohn the Baptist. If a▪ cProuerb. 10. 1.wise sonne make a glad father, and a foolish sonne bring heauines to his mother: Elizabeth; had great mercy shewed vponupon her, in that she brought forth a Iohn into the world.
dEuseb. Emisen. hom. 2. de Io. Bap. Idem Beaux. & alij.Mystically, gratious Iohn borne of barren Elizabeth, liuely represents the fulnes and fruitfulnes of the Gentiles arising from the barrennesse of the Iewes, and therfore the eEsay 54. 1. Galat. 4. 27.Prophet exhortes the Church, reioyce thou barren that bearest not, breake forth into singing thou that trauaylest not, for the desolate hath many moe children then she which hath an husband.
In the eight day they came to circumcise the child] Zacharias and Elizabeth fLuke 1. 6.walking in all the commandements and ordinances of the Lord without blame, caused their new borne babe to be circumcised according to the prescript of the law, concerning the time when, part where, cause why; see Gospell on the circumcision of Christ.
Now gColoss. 2. 11. 12.baptisme succeeds circumcision, and so consequently parents are taught by this example to bring their children in due time to holy baptisme; wherein they be made the members of Christ, the children of God, and inheritours of the kingdome of heauen. Againe parents may learne by this hCalain, Beauxamis.president (except some great necessity compell them otherwise) to baptize their infants in the face of the congregation, and not in the corner of a chamber or chimney: there was a great meeting of neighbours and cousins at the circumcision of Iohn in his fathers house, and the Iewes at this day circumcise their children in their publique Synagog…es: and lastly from hence wee may further obserue three things, especially concerning imposition of names among Gods children in old time.
1. That names were giuen in circumcision, as among vsus in baptisme, they came to circumcise the childe, and called his name Zachary: the reason hereof is plaine, iHeming. post. in Euangel. circum. Christi.that as often as we heare our selues named, we might instantly call to minde the solemne couenant betweene God and vsus in holy baptisme: or (as kTheophylact. Iansen. Beauxam. in loc.other obserue) because circumcision and baptisme are seales of Gods grace whereby men are first admitted into the Church, and as it were lPsalm 69. 29. See Sixt. s…nen. Bibliothec. sanct. lib. 2. fol. 126.written in the booke of the liuing: it is fit that none should be named or registred as the seruants and souldiers of Christ afore they hauehave receiued his Sacrament, which is the mAnglican. …. art. 27.badge of their profession and signe of their new birth.
2. From hence we may note nMaldonat.that Gods people did vsually name their children after the names of their ancestours, except God in some singular case by reuelation inioyned the contrary: for the neighbours and cousins of Elizabeth (as not knowing the Lords expresse pleasure concerning the naming of her childe) began to call his name Zachary after the name of his father; and when Elizabeth answered and said, not so but his name shall be called Iohn; they replied there is none of thy kindred that is named with this name. This example condems the nicenes of some, who thinke it vnlawfull to giuegive their children oAretius.vsuall names of their nation and families, as Edward, George, Robert, and the like: as also the prophanes of other, who giuegive names of pEstey hyst. of the Gospel pag. 125.flowers, or stones, or heathen names vntounto christians: if we name not our children after the names of our ancestours, it is fit that wee should take the names of qRhem. in loc.Saints that may put vsus in minde of their vertues, as Iohn, Peter, Stephen, &c. And not the names of Idols, as Venus, Mercurie, Bacchus, or the strange names of Saxon and Romane infidels, and therefore the Popes and Cardinals are worthily censured by reuerend rAnnot. in loc.Fulke, for that hauing most antichristianly renounced their names giuen in baptisme, by which they were first dedicated vntounto Christ: they chuse many times vntounto themselues prophane names, as Sergius, Leo, Iulius, Caesar, Sixtus, &c.
3. We may learne from hence that imposition of names is a duty belonging properly to parents, especially to the father, and therefore Gabriel said vntounto Zachary, thou shalt call his name Iohn. And in our present text, the determination of the question about the childes name was wholy referred vntounto the father, they made signes to his father, how he would hauehave him called, and he asked for writing tables, and wrote, saying, his name is Iohn.
Not so, but his name shall be called Iohn] It sMaldonat.may be (Zachary being now dumbe and not able to speake) that the neighbours asked Elizabeth his wife how the childe should be named, or happily hearing their consultation about this businesse, she might (as knowing the Lords pleasure herein) answere them vnasked, his name shall be called Iohn. Here then a question is moued, by what meanes Elizabeth vnderstood Gods expresse commandement in appointing his name, seeing her husband (to whom only Gabriel had made this knowen) was mute; to this obiection tTheophylact. Euthym. Caietan.answere is made, that she knewe the name by reuelation as a prophetisse, per prophetiam didicit, quod non didicerat à marito saith uCom. in loc.Ambrose: or (as xDi…. Carthus. Aretius.other assoyle the doubt) it may be Zachary signified so much vntounto her in writing heretofore, as now to his neighbours and kinsmen, for he asked for writing tables, and wrote, saying, his name is Iohn. yBeauxam. Culman.Here then obserue, that the parents of Iohn obeyed the commandement of God before the counsell of their friends and kinsemen, albeit they were neuer so deare to them. zPaulinus epist. lib. 1. epist. 1.Agamus quae Christus iussit, vt adipiscamur quae Christus spopondit, verit as illius nobis adsit, illi fides nostra non desit &c. If the Lord say follow me, then instantly we must forsake all, and leaue the dead to bury the dead, Matth. 8. 22.
His name is Iohn,] aAmbrose Iansen.As if Zacharie should hauehave sayd, I gaue not this name, but God himselfe hath appointed it. The words of his Angel (thou shalt call his name Iohn) are bMaldonat.non solum praedictio, sed etiam praeceptio nominis imponendi. Now the word signifies fauoured of God, or the grace of God, a name fit for the Baptist in many respects, as first, cArd…ns. Luther. Culman.for that he was the fore-runner & first preacher of Christ, dIohn 1. 16.of whose fullnesse we receiue grace vponupon grace, for the law was giuen by Moses, but grace and truth came by Iesus Christ. eNumb. 13. 23.The bunch of grapes that the spies of the children of Israel caryed from the land of promise was borne by two strong men vponupon a staffe or pole, he that went before could not see the grape, but he that was behind might both see & eate of it: So the Fathers of the old testament did not in like manner see the bunch of grapes, that was the son of God made man, as they that went behind vnderunder the new testament saw and tasted it, after Iohn had openly shewed this grape, behold the lambe of God that taketh away the sin of the world.
2 The Baptist is so called, fAretius Paludensis.as being filled with the holy ghost, abounding with a great many gSee Raulin. ser. de nat. Io. Baptist.prerogatiues of grace both in his conception, birth, and conuersation.
3 So called, as being borne not by natures ordinarie power, hBonauent. Beauxamis.but bestowed vponupon his parents by Gods extraordinarie grace.
4 So called, as being iParatus ser. 2. de Io. Baptist.gratious among men, for many reioyced at his birth, and moe at his doctrine, kMatth. 3. 5. Mark. 1. 5.Hierusalem and all Iudea went out vntounto him in the wildernes, and were baptized of him in the riuer Iordan. To compendiat all these notes in a few words, Iohn was gratious▪
In the sight of
God the
Father, as being vponupon the point his Godfather, lLuke 1. 13.imposing his name by the mouth of his Angell.
Sonne, for mMatth. 11.Christ highly commended him in respect of his calling and carriage.
Holy Ghost, as being strong in spirit, and going before Christ in the power of Elias, Luk. 1. 17. 18.
Men,
Kindred,
The blessed virgine Mary visited his Mother afore his birth, Luke 1. 40.
Other Cousins reioyced at his birth, acknowledging it for a great mercy.
Straungers,
Good, who were both nLuke 3.aduised by him, and Baptized of him: he spake comfortably to Ierusalems heart, and therefore gracious in the eyes of all good people.
Bad, for they thought his life too strict, Matthew 11. 18. and his greatest enemy cruell Herod: oMatth. 14.who bound him, and put him in prison, and in fine beheaded him also for Herodias sake his brother Philips wife, did notwithstanding pMark. 6. 20.reuerence him, and in many things heard him gladly, knowing that he was a iust man, and an holy. We may pronounce then in some sort of Iohn, as the qPsalm. 48. 9.Psalmist of God, according to thy name, so is thy praise vntounto the worlds end: Iohn is thy name, and gratious was thy person. O blessed Saint if thou wert now liuing, thou wouldest goe to the courtes of Princes, and tell Herode to his face (whilest other Prophets happily sowe rEzechiel. 13. 18.pillowes vnderunder his elbowes) that sMark. 6. 18.it is not lawfull for him to hauehave his brothers wife: if he were now liuing, hee would call our Pharisees a tMat. 3. 7.generation of vipers: if hee were now liuing, he would not stand vponupon by-questions and idle disputations which are fruitlesse, but the summe of all his sermons should be repent, for the kingdome of heauen is at hand: If he were now liuing, and preaching in the wildernes, he would teach vsus all to be more modest in our apparell, and moderate in our diet.
This gratious Saint hath a uCaietan. in Mat. 3.surname added to his name, called Mat. 3. 1. Iohn the Baptist, either xMaldonat.for that he baptized Christ, or else for that he was the yAretius, Marlorat. Piscator.first Minister of holy baptisme.
And his mouth was opened immediately] The dumbnes of Zachary (saith zHom. 2. de S. Io. Bap.Eusebius Emisenus) Et fidem reipraesentis expressit, & mysterium figurauit: it was a seale of Gods present promise, for when olde Zachary doubted, and said vntounto Gabriel at the 18 verse, whereby shall I know that I shall hauehave a sonne? the Lords Angel answered, behold, thou shalt be dumbe, and not able to speake vntill the day that these things be done, because thou beleeuest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season. His punishment is aTheophylact. Caluin.answerable to his fault, he was stricken deafe for that he would not hearken vntounto the word of God, and dumbe for that he contradicted it: hee was made mute through vnbeleife, but as soone as he beleeued his mouth was opened, bAmbros. com. in loc.quam vinxerat incredulitas, fides soluit: so that Zacharie might apply that of the cPsalm. 116. 10.Psalmist vntounto himselfe, I beleeued, and therefore hauehave I spoken. At the birth of Iohn (which as I hauehave shewed signifies the grace of God) he who was dumbe began to speake and to praise the Lord. dHuḡo Card. Beuxamis.Sin closed his mouth, and on the contrary grace loosed his tongue. The guilt of grieuous sinne confoundeth a man, and maketh him mute, not daring to eEzech. 16. 63.open his mouth any more because of his shame. Ignorance maketh a man mute, Ecclesiast. 20. 6. Some man holdeth his tongue because hee hath not to answere. Esay 56. 10. Their watchmen are all blind, they hauehave no knowledge, they are all dumbe dogs and cannot barke. The forgetting of Gods abundant mercy maketh a man mute, Psal. 137. 6. If I doe not remember thee, let my tongue cleaue to the roofe of my mouth. Now Gods grace remoueth all these stops and impediments, it is he that fPsal. 94. 10.teacheth man knowledge, it is he that out of the mouth of gPsal. 8. 2.infants hath ordained strength, it is hee that openeth a hColoss. 4. 3.doore of vtterance. Wherefore let vsus pray with Dauid, O Lord open thou my lips, and my mouth shal shew thy praise.
2. The dumbnesse of Zacharie the Priest vponupon the conception of Iohn the Baptist is iHierom. com. in Iob cap. 29. Origen. hom. 5. in Luc. August. hom. 44.mistycall, insinuating that now the Priests & Prophets also should hold their peace. So Christ himselfe teacheth in the kMat. 11. 13.Gospell, all the Prophets and the Law prophesied vntounto Iohn, but after once Iohn had not onelyonly painted out in his preaching, but also pointed out with his finger the Messias of the world, saying, behold the Lambe of God, &c. After once the Center of the Prophets, and end of the law was come, it was time for Priest and Prophet to bee silent, hee shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, Dan. 9. 27. Then as lUbi sup.Hierome doth apply the words of Iob, The Princes stayed talke, and laid their hand on their lips, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth, Iob 29. 9. In this houre the time drew nigh wherein there should be mSong of the 3. children, ver. 38neither Prince, nor Prophet, nor burnt offering, nor sacrifice, nor oblation, nor incense. Iohn is the voice of him that crieth in the wildernesse, it was therfore fit that his father Zacharie should vponupon his conception become mute, as nHom. 44.Augustine acutely, Tacet Zacharias generaturus vocem. Hence wee may learne to confound the stubborne Iewes as yet continuing in vnbeleefe, oEmisen. hom. 2. de Io. Baptist.Aut Christum venisse consentiant, aut si renuunt, dent prophetas qui annuncient esse venturum, either they must acknowledge that the Messias is come, or else shew the Priests and Prophets in holy Bible which as yet foretell his comming.
The hand of the Lord was with him] Almighty God is said in sacred writ to hauehave feet, and hands, and eyes, pAugust. de gen. ad lit. lib. 6. cap. 12. & octogin. quaest. 52. quaest. Thomas part. 1. quaest. 3. art. 1.not properly, but metaphorically, not simply, but in a simile, nihil enim in deo nisi deus, nihil habet in se nisi se, non partibus constat vt corpus, non affectibus distat vt anima, non formis substat vt omne quod factum est, vnus est, sed non vnitus as qLib. 5. de consid. ad Eugen.Bernard excellently.
Now the word hand, in a borrowed sense signifies sometime counsell, as in the words of Dauid vntounto the woman of Tekoah, r2. Sam. 14. 19.Is not the hand of Ioah with thee in all this? Sometime hand is vsed for power, as Psal. 102. 25. The heauens are the worke of thy hands, and Ier. 18. 6. Behold saith the Lord, as the clay is in the potters hand: so are ye in mine hand. And sPsal. 136. 12.Dauid reportes how God brought his Israel out of Egypt, with a mighty hand and stretched out arme. Sometime the giuing of the hand is a token of amity, so t2. King. 10. 15.Iehu to Ionadab, giuegive me thine hand. So uGalat. 2. 9.Iames and Cephas and Iohn gaue to Paul and Barnabas, the right hand of fellowship. In all these respects the hand of the Lord was with Iohn, his counsell and power, and louelove was with him. 1. Iohn as being filled with the holy Ghost had the spirit of xEsa. 11. 2.counsell, he was the forerunner of the yEsa. 9. 6.counsellor, and so consequently wel acquainted with that hidden zEphes. 3. 4.mystery of Christ in other ages vnknowne vntounto the sons of men. 2. The power of the Lord was apparantly with him in his conception and birth, in so much that all marueiled at these things, and said in their heart, what manner of child shall this be? 3. Gods grace and louelove was with him euen from his mothers wombe both in his conuersation and doctrine. See Illephons. Giron. Con. 3. in festo Io. Baptist.
A mans writing is called his aAugust cont. Faust. Man. lib. 14. cap. ….hand, so the Clyent hath his lawyers hand to his bill, and the Merchant his debtors hand to his booke; the cunning Artificer also calleth his painting his hand, and his Caruing his hand; and so the pillar of Absolon is tearmed manus Absolom in the vulgar translation, 2. Sam. 18. 18. After this manner the Lords hand was with Iohn, hee was so powerfull in his preaching, so sanctified in his life, that eueryevery one might say with bPsal. 109. 26.Dauid, how that this is thine hand, and that thou Lord hast done it. cDiez. con 1. in fest. Io. Baptist.A bird taken in the nest is so one made gentle; whereas a flying bird caught in a net is hardly tamed: our blessed Sauiour enclosed his Apostles within the net of his mercy when they were growne ancient; and therefore they forsooke their old nature with a great deale of difficulty; but he tooke Iohn the Baptist in the nest as it were, sanctifying him euen in his mothers wombe, so that hee was from his childhood dIoh. 5. …5.a burning and a shining light, that is, as eSer. fest. in loc.Aquine glosseth, Ardens per exemplum, lucens per verbum.
God hath two hands, a right hand of mercy, and a left hand of iustice. So wee reade in the fMat. 25. 33.Gospell how Christ at the last day shall set the sheepe on his right hand, and the goates on his left. His right hand is full of mercies, able to guard, open to giuegive: Able to guard his people; for he saith of it, gIoh. 10. …8.none shall plucke my sheepe out of my hand; Open to giuegive, for hee doth hPsal. 145. 16.open his hand, and filleth all things liuing with plenteousnesse. In these two respects his hands are tearmed by the Church as iCant. 5. 14.gold rings set with the beril, that is, exceeding rich vntounto such as call vponupon him. Rom. 10. 12. the cup of wrath is in his left hand, Esa. 51. 17. The kDan. 5. 5. 25.fingers of this hand wrote vpō the plaister of ye wall of Balshazzars palace, Mene, mene, Tekel, vpharsin. Of this hand Iob said, withdraw thine hand from me. Iob 13. 21. And lHeb. 10. 31.Paul, It is a fearefull thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God.
Now both hands of God are right hands vntounto the iust and godly, mPsal. 37. 24.though he fall he shall not bee cast away, for the Lord vpholdeth him with his hand, nRom. 8. 28.all things euen woe so well as weale worke together for the best vntounto him, hee finds and feeles each hand of the Lord gentle, for oProu. 3. 16.in his right hand is length of daies, and in his left hand riches and glory. Both hands of the Lord were so with Iohn the Baptist, as that it was no wonder if al men wondered at him. The first part of Zacharies hymne concerning Christ and his kingdome, is expounded in the Liturgie tit. the Benedictus. The latter touching Iohn the Baptist and his office. Gosp. Sun. 3. & 4. in Aduent.