A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Matthew · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
1. IN thoſe days came John the Baptiſt, preaching in the Wilderneſs of Judea. 2. And ſaying, Repent ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
1, 2. In thoſe daies John as a Prophet inſpired by God, Baptized upon preaching in the Wilderneſs of Judea; that the Kingdom of the Meſſiah long looked for, was now juſt at hand: and therefore they ſhould by true Repentance be prepared for its Entertainment
N. 1. Its called the Kingdom of Heaven, becauſe, it is a Theocracy, a Special Government of God by a ſaviour ſent from Heaven to lead men to Heaven: as diſtinct from the prophane Kingdomes of the World, who look but to humane power and Laws and bodily proſperity. 2. That of Mal. 3.7.2, 3. Was here fulfilled, The Jews longed for Chriſts coming ſuppoſing it would have exalted their Nations in temporal proſperity, but could not endure him when he was for humility; ſpirituality, and a heavenly Kingdom.
3. Tho repentance be always a duty, its ſpecially neceſſary to our ſpecial and great mercies; and our aſſurance of pardon by a ſaviour. A purified mind and life are ſuitable to the conſolation of Chriſt and the indwelling of the comforting Spirit.
3. For this is he that was ſpoken of by the Prophet Eſaias, ſaying, The voice of one crying in the Wilderneſs, prepare ye the way of Lord, make his paths ſtreight.
3. It was John that Iſaiah propheſied of, and foretold what his preaching ſhould be. Tho it be grace that prepareth for further grace, mans duty muſt be uſed thereunto, and the exalting works of grace preſuppoſeth the humbling work of repentance as a neceſſary preparation.
4. And the ſame John had his rayment of Camels hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, and his meat was locuſts and wild hony.
4. He was cloathed with Haircloth, bound to him with a leather girdle, and fed on what the wilderneſs afforded, which was Locuſts (which ſome think were an Herb ſo called, but moſt a ſort of flies like great Graſhoppers that devour all green things,) and wild Hony.
Note, Tho the Fryers and Hermits by ſuperſtitious overvaluing ſuch auſterity, have tempted others to deſpiſe them, yet God approved of Johns ſignification of his contempt of the world and fleſhly pleaſures by ſuch abaſing of the fleſh. And other mens ſuperſtition or Hypocriſie, will not excuſe mens ſuperfluity, or accuſe mortification.
5. Then went out to him Jeruſalem, and all Judea, and all the Region round Jordan. 6. And were baptized of him in Jordan, confeſſing their ſins.
5. So glad were the People to hear that the Kingdom of the Meſſiah was at hand, that they all flockt to him to be baptized, profeſſing repentance, that they might be prepared for the Kingdom.
Note, 1. We grant that Baptiſm then was by waſhing the whole Body: And did not the differences of our cold country as to that hot one, teach us to remember (I will have mercy and not ſacrifice) it ſhould be ſo here. 2. Tho many ſay Johns baptiſm and Chriſts were all one, its eaſie to prove that were any now baptized but with John's baptiſm, he ought to be baptized again, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghoſt, on the profeſſion of many Articles of the Creed which John required not.
7. But when he ſaw many of the Phariſees and Sadducees come to his Baptiſm, he ſaid to them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come. 8. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.
7. Knowing what theſe Phariſees and Saducees were, he ſaid [O generation of Vipers.] Are you aware indeed that wrath is coming upon you? And do you think that the Meſſiah will indulge your ſin, and come to promote your carnal intereſt? If you profeſs repentance and would have part in the Kingdom of the Meſſiah, reſolve againſt your ſins, and live in that righteouſneſs and holineſs which is the fruit of true repentance.
9. And think not to ſay in your ſelves, we have Abraham to our Father: For I ſay unto you, that God is able of theſe ſtones to raiſe up children to Abraham.
9. Think not that the Meſſiah will advance you for being the Carnal ſeed of Abraham: If you have not the Faith and Holineſs of Abraham: If you be wicked unbelievers, God will caſt you off tho Abraham was your Father, and can of the Gentiles (or the very ſtones) raiſe up ſuch as ſhall be bleſt as Abraham's believing ſeed.
10. And now alſo the Ax is laid to the root of the tree: therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and caſt into the fire.
10. The Meſſiah cometh with ſalvation to ſome, and judgment to others: He layeth the Ax to the root to cut down all of you that bring not forth the fruit of true faith and repentance, and will caſt ſuch into the fire, of temporal and eternal puniſhment.
11. I indeed baptize you with water to repentance: But he that cometh after me, is mighter then I, whoſe ſhoes I am not worthy to bear: he ſhall baptize you with the Holy Ghoſt and with fire.
11. I do but baptize you preparatorily with water to repentance: But he that is coming after me, is mightier than I, whoſe ſhoes I am not worthy to bear: he ſhall baptize not only with Water, but with the pouring out of his Spirit on believers, and with that fiery tryal, which ſhall refine the gold, the faithful, but ſeparate the droſs, and deſtroy the rebellious unbelievers.
12. Whoſe fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner: but will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
12. He will winnow and throughly ſeparate the wheat from the Chaff, the Faithful from the Rebellious, and will gather the faithful into his heavenly Kingdom, and into his Church in order hereto, but he will burn the unbelievers and unperſwadable as Chaff, and that with deſtruction here and unquenchable fire hereafter.
13. Then cometh Jeſus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14. But John forbad him ſaying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comeſt thou to me?
13, 14. Note, Chriſt was not baptized to the ſame ends as other men. He had no ſins to repent of, nor ſaviour to receive, but as the General will wear the ſame colours with his ſoldiers, Chriſt received baptiſm for the ends he was capable, as to profeſs that the Kingdom of God was at hand.
15. And Jeſus anſwering, ſaid unto him, (Suffer it to be ſo now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteouſneſs.) Then he ſuffered him.
15. I muſt fulfill the Law of Moſes, and thy prophetick miſſion, and be thus entered on my proper work.
16. And Jeſus when he was baptiſed, went up ſtraightway out of the water: and lo, the Heavens were opened unto him, and he ſaw the Spirit of God deſcending like a Dove, and lighting upon him.
16. As Jeſus went up out of the water, John ſaw the Heavens open to Chriſt, and the Spirit of God, in ſome reſemblance of a dove (or as a dove doth light on any place) deſcending on him, (its like in a lucid appearance) and reſting on him.
17. And lo, a voice from Heaven, ſaying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleaſed.
17. And with the apparition came a voice from heaven, ſaying, This is &c. This is my beloved Son the Meſſiah, ſent from Heaven as the Mediator to reveal my will, and to fulfill it, and by his perfect righteouſneſs and ſacrifice to reconcile the world to me, and be the propitiation for their ſins.