A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Matthew · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
1. THE Book of the generation of Jeſus Chriſt, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.
1. I begin this Hiſtory of Chriſt, with the Genealogy or Catalogue of his Anceſtors according to the line of Joſeph his reputed Legal Father after the fleſh, ſo far as to evince that he was the Son of David and Abraham, the rightful King of the Jews and the promiſed ſeed, by their own ſupputation.
2. Abraham begat Iſaac, and Iſaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren, 2. And Judas begat Pharez and Zara of Thamar, and Pharez begat Ezrom, and Ezrom begat Aram, 4. and Aram begat Aminadab, and Aminadab begat Naaſon, and Naaſon begat Salmon, 5. and Salmon begat Booz of Rachab, and Booz begat Obed of Ruth, and Obed begat Jeſſe, 6. and Jeſſe begat David the King, and David the King begat Solomon, of her that had been the Wi…e of Urias, 7. and Solomon begat Roboam, and Roboam begat Abia, and Abia begat Aſa, 8. and Aſa begat Joſaphat, and Joſaphat begat Joram, and Joram begat Ozias.
8. Ahaziah, Joaſh and Amaziah are here paſſed by, perhaps as being by the Mother of Ahaziah of Om…i's curſed Line, or for other unknown cauſe: Note that the Lawful Succeſſion, much more the Grandchild or diſtant iſſue, it with the Hebrews called the Son or Begotten, though not immediately.
9. And Ozias begat Joatham, and Joatham begat Achas, and Achas begat Ezekias, 10. and Ezekias begat Manaſſes, and Manaſſes begat Amon, and Amon begat Joſias, 11. and Joſias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon.
9. They were oft carried away: But this was a little before the moſt notable Captivity.
12. And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel, and Salathiel begat Zorobabel, 13. and Zorobabel begat Abiud, and Abiud begat Eliakim, and Eliakim begat Azor.
12. One old Copy hath before [Joſias begat Jechim; and Jechim begat Jechoniah; Dr. H. ſaith, in a very ancient Hebrew Copy of this Goſpel, this verſe goeth [and Eliakim begat Abner, and Abner begat Azor; By either of which the number of fourteen Generations is kept entire.
14. And Azor begat Sadoc, and Sadoc begat Achim, and Achim begat Eliud, 15. and Eliud begat Eleazar, and Eleazar begat Matthan, and Matthan begat Jacob, 16. and Jacob begat Joſeph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jeſus who is called Chriſt: 17. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, and from David till the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the carrying away into Babylon to Chriſt are fourteen generations.
14. I reduce them to fourteen in the recitation, for memory ſake and other reaſons; This ſufficeth to my intended end.
18. Now the birth of Jeſus Chriſt was on this wiſe: when as his Mother Mary was eſpouſed to Joſeph, before they came together, ſhe was found with Child of the Holy Ghoſt.
18. Note the Holy Ghoſt did miraculouſly cauſe Her Conception, without a humane Father.
19. Then her husband Jo…eph, being a juſt man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
19. Joſeph being a good man, averſe to hurtfulneſs, thought rather to hide all by putting her privily away, than to expoſe her to the ſhame and puniſhment due by the Law, to ſuch as he thought her to be.
20. But while he thought on theſe things behold, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, ſaying, Joſeph thou ſon of David, fear not to take to thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghoſt: 21. And ſhe ſhall bring forth a ſon, and thou ſhalt call his name Jeſus, for he ſhall ſave his people from their ſins.
20, 21. Note, It was a dream that had its convincing evidence; for ordinary dreams give no ſuch certainty, 2. The name Jeſus, a Saviour ſignified his office which is to ſave his people from their ſins, and deſerved puniſhment.
22, 23. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was ſpoken of the Lord by the Prophet, ſaying, Behold, a virgin ſhal be with child, and ſhall bring forth a …on and they ſhall call his name Emanuel, which being interpreted is God with us.
22, 23. In all this the Prophecy of Iſa. 7.14. to Ahaz, in how ſhort time God would then deliver them, was fulfilled in a farther ſenſe intended by the Holy Ghoſt, than that neareſt foretold event: Note, God with us, is God taking our Nature, appearing to us, and reconciling and bringing us to himſelf.
24. Then Joſeph being raiſed from ſleep, did as the Angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25. And knew her not, till ſhe had brought forth her firſt born ſon, and he called his name Jeſus.
24, 25. Note, Tho theſe words are no full proof that Mary had any other Children after, yet at leaſt they make it utterly uncertain; and as it is no Article of faith as to the moment of it, ſo neither as to the certainty: Yet the Papal Sect have pretended Tradition for it, that Mary lived and died a virgin, as of ſo much weight as to hereticate the deniers of it: And ſo they make all the Scripture inſufficient, not only as to matters of orders, diſcipline and worſhip, but to articles of Faith; that they may on pretence of Faith and Orthodoxneſs deſtroy Chriſtian unity and Love, and exerciſe domination by excommunicating and damning men on pretended tradition or authority at their pleaſure.