A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Luke · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
1. IN the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, inſomuch that they trod one upon another, he began to ſay unto his diſciples firſt of all, beware ye of the leaven of the Phariſees, which is hypocriſie.
1. Note; He diſſwadeth none from joyning with them in any good, or hearing the Law from them, but to avoid their Hypocriſie, and ceremonious covers of iniquity, joined with malice againſt Chriſt.
2. For there is nothing covered, that ſhall not be revealed, neither hid, that ſhall not be known. 3. Therefore whatſoever ye have ſpoken in darkneſs, ſhall be heard in the light: and that which ye have ſpoken in the ear in cloſets, ſhall be proclaimed upon the houſe tops.
2.3. Truſt not to Secreſie and Deceit; for all ſecret ſins ſhall be opened at the laſt.
Note; O how many will that day ſhame! It is our wiſdom, by due confeſſion, to take ſhame ſooner to our ſelves.
4. And I ſay unto you, my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5. But I will forewarn you whom you ſhall fear: Fear him which, after he hath killed, hath power to caſt into hell, yea, I ſay unto you, Fear him.
4, 5. I give it you as the moſt friendly counſel, Take heed of too much fear of man, leſt it cauſe you to betray your Souls: They can but kill the Body: The Soul overliveth it; and man's welfare or miſery is after death: Perſecutors or Tyrants cannot reach or hurt you after death. But, as you love your ſelves, fear God, whoſe Juſtice will be executed on the ungodly after death, and when he hath taken away their Souls, will caſt them into Hell: Again, I ſay, be ſure to fear him.
6. Are not five ſparrows ſold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7. But even the very hairs of your head are all numbred: fear not therefore, ye are of more value then many ſparrows.
6, 7. God's Providence extendeth to a Sparrow, and to the ſmalleſt creatures; (for he is omnipotent, and all-ſufficient, and maintaineth all;) and much more to you: There is not an hair of your heads not-cauſed, not known, and not regarded by him: And doth he diſregard your lives or welfare, whom he hath raiſed above the rank of Brutes?
Note; God is as ſufficient for every creature and event, as if he had but that one to mind.
8. Alſo I ſay unto you, Whoſoever ſhall confeſs me before men, him ſhall the Son of man alſo confeſs before the angels of God.
8. Own me ſincerely in the time of Tryal, and I will own you before Angels, where are your greateſt concerns.
9. But he that denieth me before men, ſhall be denied before the angels of God.
9. Without true Repentance.
10. And whoſoever ſhall ſpeak a word againſt the Son of man, it ſhall be forgiven him: but unto him that blaſphemeth againſt the holy Ghoſt, it ſhall not be forgiven.
10. To ſpeak againſt me, as a man, is pardonable: But when I ſhall ſend the Spirit of Miracles and Holineſs to be my Witneſs in the World, they that will not be convinced by this Spirit, but blaſphemouſly ſay, It is the power and work of the Devils, do ſin againſt the laſt and great means of Conviction, and being uncured, are unpardoned.
11. And when they bring you unto the ſynagogues, and unto magiſtrates and powers, take ye no thought how, or what thing ye ſhall anſwer, or what ye ſhall ſay: 12. For the holy Ghoſt ſhall teach you in the ſame hour, what ye ought to ſay.
11, 12. Let not the fear of your unready ſpeech diſcourage you, but truſt the Spirit of God to help you.
13. And one of the company ſaid unto him, Maſter, ſpeak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14. And he ſaid unto him, Man, who made me a judge, or a divider over you?
13, 14. N. Whether the man would have had Chriſt taken on him an Authoritative Deciſion, or only a free Arbitration, is uncertain; which ever it was, Chriſt refuſeth it: A work of worldly Rule he diſclaimed: And he would not be ſo imprudent as to offend men by an Arbitration without need.
15. And he ſaid unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetouſneſs: for a mans life conſiſteth not in the abundance of the things which he poſſeſſeth.
15. Take heed of being too deſirous of wealth or plenty: For neither life, nor the comfort of life, depends on plenty, but on the holy and obedient uſe of what you have, and on the bleſſing and love of God.
16. And he ſpake a parable unto them, ſaying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. 17. And he thought within himſelf, ſaying, What ſhall I do, becauſe I have no room where to beſtow my fruits? 18. And he ſaid, This will I do, I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there will I beſtow all my fruits, and my goods. 19. And I will ſay to my ſoul, Soul, thou haſt much goods laid up for many years, take thine eaſe, eat, drink, and be merry. 20. But God ſaid unto him, Thou fool, this night thy ſoul ſhall be required of thee: then whoſe ſhall thoſe things be which thou haſt provided?
16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Note; The damning folly of wicked men, is 1. In over-loving the pleaſure of the fleſh, to eat, and drink, and be merry, and live at eaſe. 2. To over-love Riches and Plenty, as proviſion for this fleſhly pleaſure. 3. To flatter themſelves with the conceit of long life, and to forget the ſhortneſs of time, and their latter end. 4. To neglect a due dependence on God for all things. 5. To neglect the due care of the Soul, and preparation for another World, and to ſet leſs by Heaven than Earth; ſuch are the moſt miſerable fools.
21. So is he that layeth up treaſure for himſelf, and is not rich toward God.
21. Such is every one, whoſe chief care and labour is, to have plenteous proviſion for his own Body, and is not rich in Grace, nor uſeth his riches to pleaſe God in good works.
22. And he ſaid unto his diſciples, Therefore I ſay unto you, Take no thought for your life what ye ſhall eat, neither for the body what ye ſhall put on. 23. The life is more then meat, and the body is more then raiment.
22, 23. Note; Luke brings in things ſpoken at ſeveral times, on ſeveral occaſions, for the matters ſake. See Matth. 6. Truſt him for the leſs, who hath freely given you the greater.
24. Conſider the ravens, for they neither ſow nor reap, which neither have ſtorehouſe nor barn, and God feedeth them. How much more are ye better then the fowls? 25. And which of you with taking thought can add to his ſtature one cubit? 26. If ye then be not able to do that thing which is leaſt, why take ye thought for the reſt? 27. Conſider the lilies how they grow, they toil not, they ſpin not: and yet I ſay unto you, that Solomon in all his glory, was not arayed like one of theſe. 28. If then God ſo cloth the graſs, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is caſt into the oven: how much more will he cloth you, O ye of little faith?
24, 25, 26, 27, 28. Note; All this is againſt diſtruſtful care and trouble, and not diligent labour in a Calling, or prudent care to do our work, and avoid evil. See Mat. 6.
29. And ſeek not ye what ye ſhall eat, or what ye ſhall drink neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30. For all theſe things do the nations of the world ſeek after: and your father knoweth that ye have need of theſe things.
29, 30. Be not anxious or troubled. Note 1. The faithful muſt live quite above the life of worldlings. 2. It ſhould quiet a Child of God, that his Father knoweth all his wants.
31. But rather ſeek ye the kingdom of God, and all theſe things ſhall be added unto you.
31. Seek firſt, &c.
32. Fear not, little flock, for it is you… Fathers good pleaſure to give you the kingdom.
32. Note 1. Chriſt's Flock was then little, and will be ſo comparatively on Earth, but not in Heaven. 2. They ſhall have a Kingdom. 3. By the gift of God's good pleaſure. 4. They that ſhall have the Kingdom of Heaven, ſhould be above diſtruſtful fear on Earth.
33. Sell that ye have, and give alms: provide your ſelves bags which wax not old, a treaſure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
33. See Matth. 6.19, 20. The wiſdom of Faith is to do all we can in this World, in pre…aration for another, and at any rate, to make ſure of Salvation.
34. For where your treaſure is, there will your heart be alſo.
34. Either by Deſire, if you are uncertain to obtain it, or by Delight, if you have Aſſurance or ſtrong hope; or in full Joy when you poſſeſs it.
Note; A man's Treaſure is that which he believeth will make him moſt happy, and loveth and ſeeketh it accordingly.
A dreadful Word to wordly men, whoſe hearts are not on Heaven.
35. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning. 36. And ye your ſelves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
35, 36. Live in a conſtant prepared waiting for my coming, for your change; and let not your preparation be to m…e a… laſt.
37. Bleſſed are thoſe ſervants, whom the lord when he cometh ſhall find watching: verily I ſay unto you, that he ſhall gird himſelf, and make them to ſit down to meat, and will come forth and ſerve them.
37. Chriſt will do more for them than if he were a Servant to them.
38. And if he ſhall come in the ſecond watch, or come in the third watch, and find them ſo, bleſſed are thoſe ſervants.
See Matth. 24.45.
39. And this know, that if the good man of the houſe had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have ſuffered his houſe to be broken thorow. 40. Be ye therefore ready alſo: for the Son of man cometh at an hour, when ye think not.
39, 40. Every one would be awaked juſt at the time, if they foreknew the hour. But God will conceal it, that ye may be always ready.
41. Then Peter ſaid unto him, Lord, ſpeakeſt thou this parable unto us, or even to all? 42. And the Lord ſaid, Who then is that faithful and wiſe ſteward, whom his Lord ſhall make ruler over his houſhold, to give them their portion of meat in due ſeaſon? 43. Bleſſed is that ſervant, whom his Lord when he cometh ſhall find ſo doing. 44. Of a truth I ſay unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
41, 42, 43, 44. I ſpeak it to all ſo far as they are Gods Stewards of their ſeveral truſts: But eſpecially of thoſe that are ruling Stewards over the Churches, appointed to give the Children their due food in ſeaſon: All ſuch ſhall be rewarded.
45. But and if that ſervant ſay in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming, and ſhall begin to beat the men-ſervants, and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken: 46. The lord of that ſervant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in ſunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbeleivers.
45, 46. Note, This dreadful threatning is alſo a prophecy of a worldly perſecuting ſort that ſhould ariſe under pretence of ruling and feeding the houſhold of Chriſt; both Civil and Eccleſiaſtical.
47. And that ſervant which knew his lords will, and prepared not himſelf, neither did according to his will, ſhall be beaten with many ſtripes.
47. The ſins againſt knowledge are greater far than thoſe of ignorance.
Note, There are degrees of pain in Hell.
Note, And wicked Clergy men and Teachers will have the greateſt Torment.
48. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of ſtripes, ſhall be beaten with few ſtripes. For unto whomſoever much is given, of him ſhall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
48. Some in hell have few ſtripes comparatively.
Note, Great gifts muſt be uſed with great diligence and great power, and truſt, and charges, are rather to be feared than ambitiouſly ſought. Little do the Great Conquerors of the World, or thoſe that ſtrive for Church-preferments believe and conſider what Duty or deep Damnation, they ſo much labour for.
49. I am come to ſend fire on the earth, and what will I, if it be already kindled? 50. But I have a baptiſm to be baptized with, and how am I ſtraightned till it be accompliſhment!
49, 50. I come to do that work that will ſet the World on fire, and occaſion perſecution: And it is already begun. And I am to lead the way in ſuffering, and to go through theſe flames my ſelf; And I am as in pain till it be accompliſhed.
51. Suppoſe ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay but rather diviſion. 52. For from henceforth there ſhall be five in one houſe divided, three againſt two, and two againſt three. 53. The father ſhall be divided againſt the ſon, and the ſon againſt the Father: the mother againſt the daughter, and the daughter againſt the mother: the mother in law againſt the daughter in law, and the daughter in law againſt her mother in law.
51, 52, 53. Some think that the Coming of the Meſſiah, will ſettle an univerſal peace; but they are miſtaken: I come to conquer Satans Kingdom, and ſave Souls from ſin, which will not be without a conflict: I come to divide men from ſin and Satan, who poſſeſſed them in peace: And the Soldiers of Satan will purſue thoſe that by grace eſcape; natural kindred will not reconcile them.
54. And he ſaid alſo to the people, When ye ſee a cloud riſe out of the weſt, ſtraitway ye ſay, there cometh a ſhower, and ſo it is. 55. And when ye ſee the ſouth wind blow, ye ſay, There will be heat; and it cometh to paſs. 56. Ye hypocrites, ye can diſcern the face of the skie, and of the earth: but how is it, that ye do not diſcern this time?
54, 55, 56. You have by experience learned to foretel the weather by the winds; and why learn you not, by the ſigns in your own hearts and lives, to foreſee what is like to befall you; even the deſtruction that is at hand.
57. Yea, and why even of your ſelves judge ye not what is right?
57. Yea why do you not gather it from the nature of duty and ſin, and of the Juſtice of God?
58. When thou goeſt with thine adverſary to the magiſtrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayeſt be delivered from him; leſt he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer caſt thee into priſon. 59. I tell thee, Thou ſhalt not depart thence, till thou haſt paid the very laſt mite.
58, 59. Carry it towards God, as thou wouldſt do to one that hath a juſt action againſt thee at Law: Thou ſhouldſt make thy peace with him by all means, before the Magiſtrate take the cauſe in hand, and judge thee to priſon, till thou have paid all the debt, and deliver thee to the jaylor to that end: So make thy peace with God by Chriſt, by timely and true repentance and faith, before judgment paſs on thee the irrevocable ſentence.
Note, 1. This was ſpoken by Chriſt on another accuſation, and Luke ſets various things together, like Solomans Proverbs; (unleſs it were ſpoken twice by Chriſt.)
Note 2. Timely repentance muſt prevent too late wiſhes, and utter deſtruction.
Note 3. They err that hence gather that men in hell ſhall at laſt come out, by paying the very laſt mite. The ſenſe of ſimilitudes muſt not be extended beyond the deſigned end of him that ſpeaketh, upon any pretence of the ſtrict ſenſe of the words.