A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Mark · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
1. THE beginning of the goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt the Son of God. 2. As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I ſend my meſſenger before thy face, who ſhall prepare thy way before thee. 3. The voice of one crying in the Wilderneſs, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths ſtraight.
1. &c. The publick entrance of Chriſt on his Miniſtry, and Preaching the glad tydings of Salvation, was by the preparation of Johns Miniſtry Preaching Repentance, to fit men for the Kingdom of the Meſſiah at hand; which the Prophets had foretold.
Note, Whether by the Prophets be here meant Iſay and Malachi; or onelyonly Iſay, is a Controverſie of ſmall moment.
4. John did Baptize in the wilderneſs, and preach the baptiſm of repentance, for the remiſſion of ſins.
4. John told the Jews, that the Meſſiah was now come, and brought Pardon and Salvation to all that received him; and therefore perſwaded them all to Repent, that they might be Pardoned, and fit Members of his Kingdom: and Baptized thoſe that Profeſſed this.
5. And there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jeruſalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confeſſing their ſins.
5. The generality of the people (longing for the promiſed Meſſiah,) were glad of this News, that he was Come, and thronged to John, Confeſſing their Sins, and Profeſſing Repentance, and were Baptized by him.
6. And John was clothed with camels hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loyns: and he did eat locuſts and wild honey.
6. N. This kind of Eremetical Life, and Abſtinence, is overvalued by them who place Merit, or Perfection in it; and is unjuſtly vilifyed by ſome, who know not of how great uſe it is ſome perſons, to withdraw from worldly Vanities, and Temptations.
7. And preached, ſaying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whoſe ſhoes I am not worthy to ſtoop down and unlooſe.
7. N. Chriſt and his Servants are patterns of Humility: But Satan and his ſervants are known by Pride.
8. I indeed have baptized you with water; but he ſhall baptize you with the holy Ghoſt.
8. My Baptiſm doth but prepare you; but his ſhall power out the Spirit on the Baptized.
9. And it came to paſs in thoſe days that Jeſus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
9. N. Qu. Did Chriſt Profeſs Repentance for the Remiſſion of Sins? If not, how was he capable of Johns Baptiſme? Anſw. He was not Baptized to the ſame uſes, as other men, but as owning Johns Baptiſme, and the Coming of the Kingdom of God. As a General will wear the ſame Colours with his Soldiers, though theirs ſignifie ſubjection to him.
10. And ſtraitway coming up out of the water, he ſaw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove deſcending upon him.
10. See on Matt. 3.
11. And there came a voice from heaven, ſaying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleaſed.
11. N. God from Heaven Preached the Goſpel at Chriſts Baptiſme.
12. And immediately the ſpirit driveth him into the wilderneſs. 13. And he was there in the wilderneſs forty days tempted of Satan, and was with the wild beaſts, and the Angels miniſtred to him.
12.13. N. 1. To conquer Temptations, is to conquer Satan. 2. Angels brought him meat at the end of the Forty days.
14. Now after that John was put in priſon, Jeſus came into Galilee preaching the goſpel of the kingdom of God.
14. That the Kingdom of God was coming.
15. And ſaying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe the goſpel.
15. The promiſed time of the Meſſiahs appearing is Come: Repent: and believe this glad-tidings.
16. Now as he walked by the ſea of Galilee, he ſaw Simon and Andrew his brother, caſting a net into the ſea: for they were fiſhers. 17. And Jeſus ſaid to them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fiſhers of men. 18. And ſtraitway they forſook their nets and followed him.
16. &c. See on John 1.40. and Matt. 4.18.
19. And when he had gone a little further thence, he ſaw James the ſon of Zebedee, and John his brother, who alſo were in the ſhip mending their nets. 20. And ſtraitway he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the ſhip with the hired ſervants, and went after him.
19.20. N. He ſpake to their hearts.
21. And they went into Capernaum, and ſtraitway on the ſabbath day he entred into the Synagogue, and taught. 22. And they were aſtoniſhed at his Doctrine; for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the ſcribes.
21.22. He ſpake, as Authorized by God to ſpeak in his name, and not as an ordinary Expoſitor of the Law.
23. And there was in their Synagogue a man with an unclean ſpirit, and he cryed out, 24. Saying, Let us alone, what have we to do with thee, thou Jeſus of Nazareth? Art thou come to deſtroy us? I know thee, who thou art, the holy One of God. 25. And Jeſus rebuked him, ſaying, Hold thy peace▪ and come out of him. 26. And when the unclean ſpirit had torn him, and c…d with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27. And they were all amazed, inſomuch, that they queſtioned among themſelves, ſaying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? For with authority commandeth he even the unclean ſpirits, and they do obey him.
23. &c. N. 1. By an Ʋnclean Spirit, he meant the Devil as ſuch. 2. Forced Obedience is common to Devils; Willing and Loving Obedience belongeth to Children.
28. And immediately his fame ſpread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. …9. And forthwith, when they were come out of the ſynagogue, they entred into the houſe of Simon, and Andrew, with James and John.
29. N. Chriſts Chief Apoſtles dwelt in Capernaum.
30. But Simons wives mother lay ſick of a fever: and anon they tell him of her. 31. And he came and took her by the hand, and lift her up, and immediately the fever left her, and ſhe miniſtred to them.
30.31. She was perſently ſo cured, that ſhe ſerved them.
32. And at even, when the ſun did ſet, they brought unto him all that were diſeaſed, and them that were poſſeſſed with devils. 33. And all the city was gathered together at the door. 34. And he healed many that were ſick of divers diſeaſes, and caſt out many devils, and ſuffered not the devils to ſpeak becauſe they knew him.
32. &c. He needed not the Devils Teſtimony.
35. And in the morning, riſing up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a ſolitary place, and there prayed.
35. N. Have not we Sinners more need to break our ſleep for ſecret Prayer? He prayed not with his Diſciples, becauſe the ſame Confeſſions and Prayers were not fit for him, and them.
36. And Simon, and they that were with him, followed after him. 37. And when they had found him, they ſaid unto him, All men ſeek for thee. 38. And he ſaid unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there alſo: for therefore came I forth.
36.37.38. I muſt Preach in more places than one.
39. And he preached in their Synagogues throughout all Galilee, and caſt out devils. 40. And there came a leper to him, beſeeching hi… and kneeling down to him, and ſaying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canſt make me clean. 41. And Jeſus moved with compaſſion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and ſaith unto him, I will, be thou clean. 42. And aſſoon as he had ſpoken▪ immediately the leproſie departed from him, and he was cleanſed.
39.40. Believing his Power, he found, that he was willing,
43. And he ſtraitway charged him, and forthwith ſent him away; 44. And ſaith unto him, See thou ſay nothing to any man: but go thy way, ſhew thy ſelf to the prieſt, and offer for thy cleanſing thoſe things which Moſes commanded for a teſtimony unto them.
43. N. Chriſt required the Legal Duties to the unlawfully-called, and bad Prieſts.
45. But he went out, and began to publiſh it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, inſomuch that Jeſus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in deſert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
45. Publication raiſed Envy, and cauſed Chriſt to withdraw into the Wilderneſs: what wonder if our Hearers indiſcretion hurt us?