A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Mark · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
1. AND again he entred into Capernaum, after ſome days, and it was noiſed that he was in the houſe. 2. And ſtraightway many were gathered together; inſomuch that there was no room to receive them, no not ſo much as about the door: and he preached the Word unto them.
1.2. He Preached to them that were within the houſe, and without the door, not fearing the Reproach of a Conventicle.
3. And they came unto him, bringing one ſick of the palſie, which was born of four.
4. And when they could not come nigh unto him for preſs, they uncovered the roof where he was, and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed, wherein the ſick of the palſie lay. 5. When Jeſus ſaw their faith, he ſaid to the ſick of the palſie, Son thy ſins be forgiven thee.
5. The Sin for which thou art thus Afflicted, is forgiven thee.
6. But there were certain of the Scribes ſitting there, and reaſoning in their hearts.
7. Why doth this man thus … blaſphemies? who can forgive ſins but God onelyonly?
7. None but God can forgive any wrong done to God: But 1. Chriſt was God. 2. A Miniſter of God may declare Gods forgiveneſs.
8. And immediately, when Jeſus perceived in his ſpirit, that they ſo reaſoned within themſelves, he ſaid to them, Why reaſon ye theſe things in your hearts? 9. Whether is it eaſier to ſay to the ſick of the palſie, Thy ſins be forgiven thee: or to ſay, Ariſe, take up thy bed and walk? 10. But that ye may know, that the Son of man hath power on earth, to forgive ſins, (he ſaith to the ſick of the palſie,) 11. I ſay to thee Ariſe, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thy houſe. 12. And immediately he aroſe, took up the bed, and wentforth before them all; inſomuch, that they were all amazed, and glorified God, ſaying, We never ſaw it on this faſhion.
8, &c. Is it not all one to forgive the Sin, and to forgive the Puniſhment. We never ſaw ſuch Works before.
13. And he went forth again by the ſeaſide, and all the multitude reſorted to him, and he taught them.
13. N. In Field-Meetings, Houſe-Meetings, Mountain-Meetings, Ship-Meetings, Synagogue-Meetings, and Temple-Meetings, he Taught the People, and Preached the Goſpel.
14. And as he paſſed by, he ſaw Levi the ſon of Alpheus ſitting at the receipt of cuſtom, and ſaid unto him, Follow me. And he aroſe and followed him.
14. N. He called Publicans.
15. And it came to paſs, that as Jeſus ſate at meat in his houſe, many publicans and ſinners ſate alſo together with Jeſus and his diſciples: for there were many, and they followed him. 16. And when the ſcribes and phariſees ſaw him eat with publicans and ſinners, they ſaid to his diſciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and ſinners?
17. When Jeſus heard it, he ſaid to them, They that are whole, have no need of the phyſitian, but they that are ſick? I came not to call the righteous, but ſinners to repentance.
15. &c. N. 1. The Hypocrite Phariſees wil be more ſtrict and holy than Chriſt, if ſeparating from others, and aggravating other mens Sins, and juſtifying themſelves were Holineſs. 2. I came to be a Saviour to Sinners, by calling them to Repentance, that they may be Converted, and Forgiven. If you are no Sinners, I am no Saviour for you.
18. And the diſciples of John, and the Phariſees uſed to faſt: and they come and ſay to him, Why do the diſciples of John, and the Phariſees faſt, but thy diſciples faſt not? 19. And Jeſus ſaid to them, Can the children of the bride-chamber faſt, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot faſt: 20. But the dayes will come, when the bridegroom ſhall be taken from them, and then they ſhall faſt in thoſe dayes.
18. Why do you think you merit by your faſting? which is to be uſed only in its ſeaſon. You uſe not to faſt but feaſt at your Marriages; my preſence is more joyful to them, than a Marriaged feaſt; when I am aſcended, and they are expoſed to the ſcorn and perſecution of men; they ſhall faſt. Humiliation will be more ſuitable to their outward ſtate, tho they inwardly rejoyce.
21. No man alſo ſeweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: elſe the new piece that filled it up, taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worſe. 22. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: elſe the new wine doth burſt the bottles, and the wine is ſpilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine muſt be put into new bottles.
21.22. They are not yet fit for auſterities.
23. And it came to paſs, that he went through the corn fields on the ſabbath-day, and his diſciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. 24. And the Phariſees ſaid to him, Behold, why do they on the ſabbath-day that which is not lawful?
23.24. Ceremonious Hypocrites will be ſtill ſtrickter then Chriſt in the Ceremonious part, while they violate morals.
25. And he ſaid to them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry, he, and they that were with him. 26. How he went into the houſe of God, in the daies of Abiathar the high Prieſt, and eat the ſhew-bread, which is not lawful to eat, but for the Prieſts, and gave alſo to them which were with him?
25. &c. Do you not know that precepts of rites and ceremonies, give place to neceſſity and precepts of Charity, and ſelf preſervation? And that Davids inſtance proveth this, in the daies of Abiathar, a little before he was High Prieſt, even in his father Abimeleohs Prieſt-hood, he and his company did eate the hallowed bread, which without neceſſity had not been lawful.
27. And he ſaid to them, The ſabbath is made for man, and not man for the ſabbath. 28. Therefore the ſon of man is LORD alſo of the Sabbath.
27.28. The ſabbath is appointed to be a meanes of the good of Man, and not man a meanes of it: And no meanes is to be uſed againſt its end, but … it; even the good of Man. And therefore, I … to ſettle the Laws of grace, as conducing to … recovery and good of man, have power of diſpenſation or alteration of the Sabbath, as ſhall tend to the ends of mans good and Salvation.