A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Mark · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
1. AND he aroſe from thence, and cometh into the coaſts of Judea by the farther ſide of Jordan: and the people reſort to him again; and as he was wont, he taught them again. 2. And the Phariſees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. 3. And he anſwered and ſaid unto them, What did Moſes command you? 4. And they ſaid, Moſes ſuffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
1. N. Theſe Hypocrites ſeemed by putting caſes of Conſcience▪ to be afraid of Sinning.
5. And Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto them, For the hardneſs of your heart, he wrote you this precept. 6. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7. For this cauſe ſhall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife. 8. And they twain ſhall be on… …leſh: ſo then they are no more twain, but one fleſh. 9. What therefore God hath joyned together, let no man put aſunder.
5. This Law was good in it ſelf, becauſe it was fitted to your condition: But it was the badneſs, and hardneſs of your Hearts that made ſuch a Tolleration needful to you to keep you from worſe; ſo it was not a full approbation of the thing: For the perfect Law of Innocency ſo united Man and Wife, that no man ſhould Separate them, for his own pleaſure, without Gods licence.
10. And in the houſe his diſciples asked him again of the ſame matter. 11. And he ſaith unto them, Whoſoever ſhall put away his wife, and marry another; committeth adultery againſt her. 12. And if a woman ſhall put away her husband, and be marryed to another, ſhe committeth adultery.
10. &c. N. Though Mark mention not the exception of the caſe of Adultery, mentioned by other Evangeliſts, it is implyed.
2. Queſt. Doth Adultery diſſolve Marriage? Anſ. It giveth cauſe of a diſſolution, by divorce, or deſertion: But in ſome caſes, it is Lawful for the injured Perſon to forgive the wrong; and continue in the relation, without being Marryed over again.
3. Queſt. May the Woman put away her Husband for Adultery? Anſw. They that deny it, becauſe onelyonly the Man hath Governing Power, ſay nothing: For the man doth it not as a Governour, but as an injured Contractor, ſeeketh it as Juſtice from the Magiſtrate; or righteth himſelf, if permitted by the Magiſtrate; or if unjuſtly forbidden. And the Woman may be an injured Contractor, as well as the Man, and may ſeek to the Magiſtrate for a Divorce; and in ſome caſes, if denyed by the Magiſtrate, may right her ſelf by Deſertion. But whether that Deſertion ſhall be called, A putting away, is but a controverſie about the Name, and not the Thing. In what caſes it is Lawful to Marry again is a different Controverſie.
13. And they brought young children to him that he ſhould touch them, and his diſciples rebuked thoſe that brought them. 14. But when Jeſus ſaw it, he was much diſpleaſed, and ſaid to them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of ſuch is the kingdom of God.
13, 14. N. Tho they brought them not to be baptized (Chriſtian Baptiſm being not fully inſtituted till after Chriſts Reſurrection) yet they are offered to Chriſt for his acceptance and benediction. 2. He gave them ſuch acceptance and bleſſing, and declared them to be ſuch as the Kingdom (or Church) of God conſiſteth of: He could not mean only [of adult perſons that are like theſe Infants in the Kingdom of God:] elſe he might have taken up a Lamb or a Dove, and bleſſed them and ſaid [of ſuch harmleſs creatures is the Kingdom of
God.] But he muſt mean [of them and ſuch as them,] or of ſuch both in age, and alſo in humble teachable receptivity] is the kingdom of God: elſe it would be no reaſon to bleſs them. Which can be nothing lower than acceptance as Viſible-Infant-Church-Members.
2. He that in all ages from the beginning took Infants to be Infant-Members of his Church, and came not to deſtroy but to enlarge mercies to the faithful and their ſeed, and ſaith, They are holy; and was much diſpleaſed with his erroneous Apoſtles for forbidding them to be brought for his benediction, ſure will not be well pleaſed with thoſe that now forbid them to be dedicated in the Baptiſmal Covenant to him. But yet if any man will ſay, I deny not the intereſt of the Infants of the Faithful in the Church and Covenant, but only think (that Baptiſm was appointed only for the ſolemn reception of the adult, and ſo will be Baptized at age, after (or without) Infant Baptiſm, merely to ſatisfie Conſcience, and then live in Love and Peace with thoſe of another mind, I ſhould gladly live in Love and Peace with ſuch.
15. Verily I ſay to you, Whoſoever ſhall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he ſhall not enter therein. 16. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them and bleſſed them.
N. 1. Theſe words plainly intimate that he received them as capable of the Kingdom of God, that is the Church on Earth, and in Heaven. Chriſt doth not thus bleſs unbelievers and their ſeed, but thoſe that 1 Cor. 7.14. are called Holy.
17. And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good maſter what ſhall I do that I may inherit everlaſting life?
17. N. It hence appeareth that the Jews (except the Sadducees) then believed an everlaſting life. 2. And that we ſhould do whatever God would have us do to attain it.
18. And Jeſus ſaid to him, Why calleſt thou me good? there is none good but one, that is God,
18. Good indeed in the prime ſence is a high title, none being more proper to God himſelf, and none perfectly and primarily and eſſentially good but God: Its a greater matter to be good than thou deemeſt.
19. Thou knoweſt the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not ſteal, Do not bear falſe witneſs, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
19. N. Defraud not is the ſence of the Tenth Commandment, that is, Love thy Neighbour as thy ſelf, ſo as not to deſire from him any thing to his hurt. Qu. Why doth Chriſt mention none of the Commandments of the firſt Table? Anſw. The man is ſuppoſed to confeſs God, and conſequently his duty to him, and to mean in his queſtion, What good works muſt I do towards others? Qu. 2. Why doth not Chriſt recite the Commandments in their true order? Anſw. When the matter alone is intended, the order is not neceſſary. 2. The Evangeliſts recite not all Chriſts words in the ſame order that he ſpake them, as is evident in the difference of their recitals. Theſe very words are otherwiſe recited by Matth. 19.18, 19. [Thou ſhalt do no Murther,] is firſt, and, Thou ſhalt love thy Neighbour as thy ſelf, is laſt, and inſtead of [Defraud not.]
20. And he anſwered and ſaid to him, Maſter, all theſe have I obſerved from my youth.
20.N. He meant that he had not directly in the outward act broken any of theſe; not knowing how far the Law reacheth.
21. Then Jeſus beholding him, loved him, and ſaid to him, One thing thou lackeſt, go thy way, ſell whatſoever thou haſt, and give to the poor, and thou ſhalt have treaſure in heaven; and come, take up the croſs and follow me.
21. Jeſus beheld him with kindneſs, approving in him what was good, and ſaid, So far thou haſt done well: But there is more than this neceſſary to obtain everlaſting life, even to prefer it before all the wealth and pleaſure of this world, and life it ſelf; and to trie thee herein; Go and ſell all and give to the poor, and take heaven for thy treaſure inſtead of all, and follow me in ſelf-denial unto ſuffering. N. Not that all are bound to ſell all; but all are bound ſo to prefer heaven, as will make them forſake all that ſtands againſt it.
22. And he was ſad at that ſaying, and went away grieved; for he had great poſſeſſions.
22. Carnal men may be ſorry that they cannot bring down God to their terms: Good and bad would be as well as they can both here and hereafter: But when they ſee they cannot have both Earth and Heaven, the Faithful chuſe heaven (tho ſenſible of earthly ſufferings) and the worldly chuſe the world; and moſt to keep off ſorrow and deſpair, do force on themſelves a hope that they ſhall have both, and that God will ſave them on their own terms.
23. And Jeſus looked about and ſaith to his diſciples, How hardly ſhall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God?
23. How hard is it to perſwade rich men to love heaven better than earth, and to yield to the conditions of ſalvation.
24. And the diſciples were aſtoniſhed at his words: but Jeſus anſwered again, and ſaith to them, Children, how hard is it for them that truſt in riches to enter into the kingdom of God. 25. It is eaſier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
24. So bad is the heart of man, that it is exceeding hard to have riches and not to place mens truſt in them, and ſuch as do ſo cannot be true Chriſtians and be ſaved.
N. To truſt in riches is to take them for our beſt, and to take and expect more comfort from them than from Chriſt and Heaven.
26. And they were aſtoniſhed out of meaſure, ſaying among themſelves, Who then can be ſaved? 27. And Jeſus looking upon them, ſaith, With men it is impoſſible, but not with God: for with God all things are poſſible.
27. N. Sure the inordinate deſire to be rich muſt needs ſignifie unbelief: Can men ſeek that which they believe maketh their ſalvation almoſt impoſſible? The ſame I ſay of murmuring poverty.
28. Then Peter began to ſay to him, Behold we have left all and followed thee; 29. And Jeſus anſwered and ſaid, Verily I ſay to you, There is no man that hath left houſe, or brethren, or ſiſters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my ſake and the Goſpels. 30. But he ſhall receive an hundred fold, now in this time, houſes, and brethren, and Siſters, and mothers, and children, and lands with perſecutions: and in the world to come, eternal life. 31. But many that are firſt, ſhall be laſt, and the laſt firſt.
29. &c. N. To forſake them for Chriſt is rather to diſpleaſe them or part with them than with Chriſt and our Duty; when they ſtand in Competition, as comforts, or in oppoſition as adverſaries; It is not to forſake them in Paſſion, or for want of due Love to them; nor to go into a Monaſtery, or as rebellious Prodigals, or on any unjuſt cauſe.
2. A hundred fold in this life, is in value: God will here do better for them, in things of greater worth. And all Chriſtians ſhall be endeared to them in Love and Communion.
32. And they were in the way going up to Jeruſalem: and Jeſus went before them, and they were amaz'd, and as they followed, they were afraid: and he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things ſhould happen to him. 33. Saying, Behold, we go up to Jeruſalem, and the ſon of man ſhall be delivered up to the chief prieſts, and to the ſcribes, and they ſhall condemn him to death, and ſhall deliver him to the Gentiles. 34. And they ſhall mock him, and ſhall ſcourge him, and ſhall ſpit on him, and ſhall kill him, and the third day he ſhall riſe again.
32. When they were before put in fear of going to Jeruſalem, he told them again plainly what and how he muſt ſuffer, and riſe again. N. Of all Prophecies this is the moſt confirming.
35. And James and John the ſons of Zebedee come unto him ſaying, Maſter, we would that thou ſhouldeſt do for us whatever we ſhall deſire. 36. And he ſaid to them, What would ye that I ſhould do for you? 37. They ſaid to him, Grant to us that we may ſit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand in thy glory.
35. &c. They came with their Mother: N. Tho this might ſhew a ſtrong belief of his Reſurrection and Kingdom, if it were ſpoken as here placed, next his telling them of his Death and Reſurrection: yet afterward this Faith ſeemeth to be almoſt forgotten. And they were far from perfect, while they were ſo ſelfiſh, ambitious and preſumptuous in their requeſt.
38. But Jeſus ſaid to them, Ye know not what ye ask: Can ye drink of the cup that I drink of, and be baptized with the baptiſm that I am baptized with?
38. It is meeter for you to conſider whether you can ſuffer with and for me.
39. And they ſaid, We can? And Jeſus ſaid to them, Ye ſhall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of, and be baptized with the baptiſm that I am baptized with. 40. But to ſit on my right hand, and on my left hand, is not mine to give, but it ſhall be: given to them for whom it is prepared.
39. N. Their purpoſe was good, but not their ſelf-confidence. 40. It is to be given by way of reward to the moſt excellent and meet, according to my Fathers Decree, and not by me now by way of partial favour, as Courtiers obtain of Princes.
41. And when the ten heard it, they began to be much diſpleaſed with James and John.
41. N. Chriſt own followers and Apoſtles had their great diſpleaſures at each other, and indignation: no wonder then if ſuch ariſe in the Church now. 2. It was then the aſpiring Ambition of two that would have been above the reſt, that cauſed this breach and indignation: No wonder if the ſame Cauſe, have the ſame Effects, and worſe, when it is in worſe Men, and in very many.
42. But Jeſus called them to him, and ſaith▪ unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles, exerciſe lordſhip over them; and their great ones exerciſe authority upon them. 43. But ſo ſhall it not be among you: but whoſoever will be great among you, ſhall be your Miniſter. 44. And whoſoever of you will be the chiefeſt, ſhall be ſervant of all.
42. &c. Jeſus purpoſely thus decided the controverſie: You are not called to an Empire, or Dominion; The Rulers of the Nations exerciſe Lordſhip and Command on them. But your Pre-eminence ſhall be Moral, and he that is the worthieſt in Humility, and Serviceableneſs to the reſt, and in that Light and Love that fits them for it, ſhall have the Chief Authority with you: For his Wiſdom, and Service, Reaſon and Love, ſhall moſt prevail with Chriſtians for reſpect in Church Affairs.
45. For even the ſon of man came not to be miniſtred unto, but to Miniſter, and to give his life a ranſom for many.
45. Why ſhould you ſet up a higher Dominion over one another, than I have exerciſed over you? Have not I been more a Servant to you, in Teaching and Guiding you, than you have been to me, by any Service you have done me: Have not I ſtooped to you all, and will do even to Death.
46. And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his diſciples, and a great number of people, blind Bartimeus, the ſon of Timeus, ſate by the high-way ſide, begging. 47. And when he heard that it was J…ſus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and ſay, Jeſus thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 48. And many charged him that he ſhould hold his peace; but he cryed the more a great deal, Thou Son of David have mercy on me. 49. And Jeſus ſtood ſtill, and commanded him to be called: and they call the blind man, ſaying unto him, Be of good comfort, riſe, he calleth thee. 50. And he caſting away his garment, roſe, and came to Jeſus. 51. And Jeſus anſwered and ſaid to him, What wilt thou that I ſhould do to thee? The blind man ſaid unto him, Lord▪ that I might receive my ſight. 52. And Jeſus ſaid unto him, Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole: and immediately he received his ſight, and followed Jeſus in the way.
46. &c. See on Mat. 20.30. N. 1. It's great comfort to be called to Chriſt. 2. Chriſt maketh whole efficiently but Faith, by moral receptive qualification, of a free gift.