A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Matthew · Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII.
1. IN the end of the ſabbath, as it began to to dawn, toward the firſt day of the week, came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to ſee the ſepulchre.
1. Note, They came in love with ſpices to have embalmed his body.
2. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the angel of the LORD deſcended from heaven, and came and rolled back the ſtone from the door, and ſat upon it. 3. His countenance was like lightening, and his rayment white as ſnow. 4. And for fear of him the keepers did ſhake and became as dead men.
2, &c. Note, 1. Well might Abraham ſay, if one roſe from the dead, they will not be perſwaded, when all this would not convince men. 2. If an Angel be ſo dreadful, what will God be to the wicked?
5. And the angel anſwered and ſaid to the women, Fear ye not: for I know that ye ſeek Jeſus, who was crucified. 6. He is not here: for he is riſen, as he ſaid: Come, ſee the place where the LORD lay. 7. And go quickly, and tell his diſciples that he is riſen from the dead. And behold, he goeth before you into Gallilee, there ſhall ye ſee him: lo, I have told you.
5. N. Angels were the preachers of Chriſt birth to Shepheards, and they are the firſt preachers of his Reſurrection to Women.
8. And they departed quickly from the ſepulchre, with fear and great joy, and did run to bring his diſciples word.
8. N. Women muſt be the firſt preachers of Chriſts reſurrection to his Apoſtles.
9. And as they went to tell his diſciples, behold, Jeſus met them, ſaying, All hail. And they came, and held him by the feet, and worſhipped him.
9. N. It was poor Women that had been ſinners, that Chriſt honoured with his firſt apperance.
10. Then ſaid Jeſus to them, Be not afraid, Go, tell my brethren that I go into Gallilee, and there they ſhall ſee me.
10. N. 1. He would not ſhew himſelf ſo openly, to the malicious forſaken people at Jeruſalem. 2. His diſciples and kinſmen are called his Brethren. 3. No one evangeliſt mentioneth the whole of this Hiſtory; but what one omitteth another hath (of which after.)
11. Now when they were going, Behold, ſome of the watch came into the city, and ſhewed to the chief prieſts all the things that were done. 12. And when they were aſſembled with the Elders, and had taken counſel, they gave large money to the ſoldiers. 13. Saying, ſay ye, His diſciples came by night, and ſtole him away while we ſlept. 14. And if this come to the governours ears, we will perſwade him and ſecure you.
11. N. What will convince hardned, forſaken men.
15. So they took the money, and did as they were taught. And this ſaying is commonly reported among the Jews to this day.
15. N. 1. Lying is the Devils great meanes againſt Faith; And the love of money is the meanes that ſubſerveth it. 2. They that will not believe the truth, eaſily believe deceiving lies.
16. Then the eleven diſciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain, where Jeſus had appointed them. 17. And when they ſaw him, they worſhipped him: but ſome doubted.
17. N. Tho the evangeliſts ſay no more of Chriſts meeting them on this Mountain, and what he there ſaid to them; and Luke and John ſay nothing of it, and there ſeem a ſtrange difference in their Narratives of Chriſts appearances, it is but one ſaying what another had omitted; and no one of them ſaying all (of which after on John 20. and 21.)
18. And Jeſus came, and ſpake to them, ſaying, All power is given to me in heaven and on Earth. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt.
18. After theſe and other appearings to them, Jeſus ſaid, As I have dyed to redeem the World, in order to the ends of my undertaking, the Father hath given me an Univerſal Propiety and Governing power by the right to Redemption; as chief Adminiſtrator under him in Heaven and Earth. So that henceforth all the concerns of men in this World and the other, are at my diſpose; and all men under my Government by Right and Obligation. By which authority I now commiſſion you, to go, abroad the World and make all Nations (to the utmoſt of your power) my Diſciples; taking them into my Church by Solemn Covenant, celebrated by Baptizing them, into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghoſt.
N. 1. Chriſts Right of Dominion and Empire is founded in the Fathers Covenant with him as redeemer. 2. And being Ʋniverſal Lord, Redemption is ſo far univerſal as to prove theſe and other common effects. Rom. 14.9. To this end Chriſt dyed, roſe, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
2. The word tranſlated Teach ſignifieth [Diſciple to me] or [make Nations my Diſciples.]
3. All Chriſtians ſhould endeavour to make Chriſtianity the National Religion, that the Kingdoms of the World may become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Chriſt; that is that they be [Chriſtian Kingdoms] and not only Chriſtians gathered out of Kingdoms.
4. This maketh not all to be Chriſtians, who are in thoſe Kingdoms, but only ſuch as are Diſcipled.
5. Infants being parts of all Kingdoms, this text commandeth to Diſciple and Baptize them, they are made Diſciples by being juſtly dedicated to Chriſt, by thoſe that have true Power to diſpoſe of them, to learn of him, and obey him as they grow up and are Capable. As Chriſt was relatively, Head of the Church in his Infancy, when his humane nature was uncapable of the actual adminiſtration; ſo are Infants capable of being Diſciples by Covenant, Dedication, (by thoſe that have the diſpoſe of them for their good, and can covenant for them which men) and by Relation and Obligation. God had never a Church on Earth, of which Infants were not Infant-members ſince there were Infants in the World.
6. To be baptized into the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghoſt; is no leſs than by ſolemn Covenant to give up ones ſelf to God the Father, as our Father reconciled by Chriſt; our chief owner and rules, and our chief Benefactor, even as our God; and to Chriſt as our Saviour, and the Holy Ghoſt as our Sanctifier. And meerly to conſent to learn of Chriſt, makes none a baptizable diſciple.
7. Baptiſm is Chriſtening, and is the badge of thoſe that muſt love and take each other for Chriſtians, and the terms of Church Unity; till it be nullified by verbal or actual apoſtacy.
And it is Church tyranny and Schiſm, to make Canons which ſhall exclude thoſe from the Church of Chriſt, whom he taketh in by baptiſm; before they impenitently nullify that Covenant in whole or in ſome eſſential part, viz. by proved denying eſſentials of Faith, or forſaking ſome eſſential part of obedience.
8. Baptiſm making us Chriſtians, is our ſtate of Regeneration by which we may know our right to Juſtification and Salvation; that is, He that conſenteth heartily and unfeignedly to the Baptiſmal Covenant, is Regenerate and juſtified, and ſhall be ſaved. And he that doth conſent but with the mouth and outward ſigne, or leaveth out ſome eſſential part in his heart conſent, is regenerate only ſacramentally and a viſible member of the Church, but is not juſtified nor ſhall be ſaved.
20. Teaching them to obſerve all things whatſoever I have commanded you: and …o, I am with you alway, to the end of the World.
20. And when you have Baptized them, and ſo united them to me and my univerſal Church, upon their underſtanding profeſſed faith and repentance, (and dedication of their ſeed to me) then congregate them in order under faithful Paſtors. And as you as general Teachers to all the Churches, muſt deliver to them all the commands which I have committed to your truſt (by word and writing) ſo theſe Paſtors muſt further inſtruct them that they may grow up in knowledge, of all theſe my commands: And in the performance of this charge, I ſhall by the help of my Spirit and protection, be preſent with you and ſuch paſtors in their courſe, to the end of this World, (or age) till I ſhall come in glory to the final judgment. Tho you ſee me not, I ſhall be as really aſſiſting to you and regardful of you, even in all your labours and ſufferings, as if you ſaw me.
Note, 1. This general command of teaching all Nations Chriſts commands, includeth writing the Scriptures, without which they could not teach poſterity in all Nations his commands.
2. It maketh them his intruſted Apoſtles, from whoſe fidelity we may believingly receive his commands: And therefore implyeth the promiſe of his Spirit to make them true and credible reporters.
3. It implyeth that his commands are the univerſal Laws for his Catholick Church. And no man or men have authority to make Laws for the univerſal Church on Earth but he; and to undertake it, is to undertake the prerogative of Chriſt, and to be Vice-chriſt by uſurpation; be it Pope or Councils.
4. Yet the precept of obſerving his commands, forbids not the obſerving of the commands of any lawful limited local rulers under him, not croſſing his commands; Parents, Maſters, Paſtors, Princes muſt be obeyed in their Provinces and Places; even about Gods worſhip. If men make ſubordinate Laws, according to Chriſts General Laws of Love, Concord, Edification, Order, they muſt be obeyed (as e. g.) what tranſlations of Scripture to uſe, what Pſalms, Meters, Tunes, Geſtures, Time, Place, and abundance ſuch like.