A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Matthew · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV.
1. AT that time Herod the Tetrarch heard of the fame of Jeſus, 2. And ſaid to his ſervants, This is John the Baptiſt, he is riſen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do ſhew forth themſelves in him.
1, 2. Note, That Herod did believe the Immortality of the Soul; elſe he could not have believed Johns Reſurrection.
3, For Herod had laid hold on John, and b…und him, and put him in priſon, for Herodia's ſake, his brother Philips wiſe. 4. For John ſaid to him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. 5. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, becauſe they counted him as a prophet.
3, 4, 5. N. 1. Faithful Prophets did tell Kings of their ſin. 2. But ſuch as Herod cannot bear reproof. 3. The perſecution of faithful Teachers is uſually for telling great men of their ſins. 4. The multitude then did ſo much reverence prophets, that they were a terrour and reſtraint to perſecuting Rulers.
6. But when Herods birth day was kept, the daughter of Herodias danc'd before them, and pleaſed Herod. 7. Whereupon he promiſed with an oath to give her whatever ſhe would ask. 8. And ſhe being before inſtructed of her mother, ſaid; Give me here John Baptiſts head in a charger.
6, 7, 8. N. Great mens feaſts and frolicks are a uſual ſeaſon of great ſin, and carnal pleaſures are their ſnares. 2. Raſh Oaths are the fruit of vice and the ſeed of more. 3. Voluptuous wantons are oft the moſt cruel and bloudy perſecutors. 4. The Devil ſeldom wanteth ſuggeſtors of cruelty.
9. And the king was ſorry: nevertheleſs for the oaths ſake, and them which ſate with him, he commanded it to be given her.
9. N. Wicked men oft ſin with troubled conſcience: but yet will do it for their baſe ends. 2. Hypocrites that dare murder the juſt, yet may make the Conſcience of a wicked Oath their pretence. (How conſcionably then ſhould bad Oaths be avoided and good ones kept?) 3. The reputation of m…n in bad company, is a uſual ſnare of iniquity.
10, 11, 12. And he ſent and beheaded John in priſon. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damſel; and ſhe brought it to her mother. And his diſciples came and took up the body and buryed it, and went and told Jeſus.
10, 11, 12. Note, The Bloud of Saints is vile and cheap to Tyrants, that can ſell them to a Whore or wanton: But they ſhall pay dear for it at the laſt. 2. So great a Prophet as John muſt be a Martyr, that he may be like to Chriſt. 3. Its as true Martyrdom to ſuffer for Duty as for Faith. 4. The bloud of Saints is part of the ſport and pleaſure of laſcivious wicked women.
13. When Jeſus heard of it, he departed thence by ſhip into a deſert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot, out of the cities.
13. Note, 1. The Lord of Life that came in fleſh to ſave the world, was fain to fly for his life into a wilderneſs from the face of men, yea of the eminent members of the Jewiſh Church. 2. It is not cowardize, or unlawfull to fly from perſecutors, till we have ſome ſpecial call to ſuffer.
14. And Jeſus went forth and ſaw a great multitude, and was moved with compaſſion towards them, and he healed their ſick.
14. Note, Thoſe that follow Chriſt, and ſeek to him, are liker to find his compaſſion than thoſe that drive him away.
15. And when it was evening, his diſciples came to him, ſaying, This is a deſert place, and the time is now paſt; ſend the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themſelves victuals. 16. But Jeſus ſaid to them, They need not depart, give ye them to eat. 17. And they ſay to him, We have here but five loaves and two fiſhes. 18. He ſaid, Bring them hither to me. 19. And he commanded the multitude to ſit down on the graſs, and took the five loaves and two fiſhes, and looking up to heaven, he bleſſed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his diſciples, and the diſciples to the multitude.
15, &c. Note, 1. Chriſt fed the Body to win the Soul, and ſo muſt we. 2. Nothing is too little which God will bleſs. 3. Tho God be every where, yet Chriſt directeth us in Prayer to him to look up to Heaven; for there is the Glory in which he will appear to glorifie his people. 4. If the Son of God muſt look up to heaven and bleſs his food, ſurely we muſt not take it like brutes, without craving Gods bleſſing on it.
20. And they did all eat, and were filled, and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 21. And they that had eaten, were about five thouſand men, beſides women and children.
20, 21. Note, 1. This Miracle was done before five thouſand Witneſſes and more, that there might be no ſuſpicion of deceit, or miſreport. 2. He that was Lord of all and could feed by Miracle, yet would not have the fragments loſt.
22. And ſtraightway Jeſus conſtrained his diſciples to get into a ſhip, and to go before him unto the other ſide, while he ſent the multitudes away. 23. And when he had ſent the multitude away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray.
22, 23. Note, Chriſt uſed to pray alone, becauſe his caſe ſo differed from all mens in the world, (having no ſin, &c.) that the ſame prayers would not ſuit the caſe of others which were fit for him.
24. And when the evening was come, he was there alone: But the ſhip was now in the midſt of the ſea, toſſed with waves, for the wind was contrary. 25. And in the fourth watch of the night Jeſus went out unto them walking on the ſea.
24, 25. Note, 1. Chriſt permits dangers to us, that he may the more notably deliver us. 2. The waters can bear him, when he will walk on them. All elements are at his ſervice.
26. And when the diſciples ſaw him walking on the ſea, they were troubled, ſaying, it is a ſpirit, and they cried out for fear.
26. Note, Nature maketh man afraid of apparitions of Spirits, becauſe unknown and unuſual.
27. But ſtraightway Jeſus ſpake to them, ſaying, Be of good cheer: it is I, be not afraid.
27. Note, Chriſts true Diſciples ſhould be ſo far from being afraid of him, as hurtfull to them, that they ſhould make him their comfort and courage againſt the fears of men and devils.
28. And Peter anſwered him, and ſaid, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee upon the water.
28. N. This ſhewed much faith in Peter: yet none muſt tempt God, nor go unbidden into danger.
29. And he ſaid, Come: And when Peter was come down out of the ſhip, he walked on the water to go to Jeſus. 30. And when he ſaw the wind boiſterous, he was afraid, and beginning to ſink, he cried, ſaying, Lord, ſave me. 31. And immediately Jeſus ſtretched forth his hand and caught him, and ſaid to him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didſt thou doubt.
29, &c. Note, 1. Even ſtrong faith hath its weakneſs, and is liable to fears: 2. Our weak faith cauſing great fear, would expoſe us to ſinking did not Chriſt lay hold on us.
32. And when they were come into the ſhip the wind ceaſed. 33. Then they that were in the ſhip came and worſhipped him, ſaying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
32, 33. N. Renewed great conviction…, renew and increaſe the exerciſe of faith, and praiſe to Chriſt.
34. And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Geneſaret. 35. And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they ſent out into all the countrey round aabout, and brought to him all that were diſeaſed. 36. And beſought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
34, &c. N. What great cauſe have we to truſt a Saviour ſo able and willing to ſave Body and Soul, and to believe his word.