A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Luke · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
1. THen drew near unto him all the publicans and ſinners for to hear him. 2. And the Phariſees and Scribes murmured, ſaying, This man receiveth ſinners; and eateth with them. 3. And he ſpake this parable unto them, ſaying, 4. What man of you having an hundred ſheep, if he loſe one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderneſs, and go after that which is loſt, until he find it? 5. And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his ſhoulders, rejoycing. 6. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, ſaying unto them, Rejoyce with me, for I have found my ſheep which was loſt.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Should not I do more for a loſt Sinner, than you would do for a loſt Sheep?
7. I ſay unto you, that likewiſe joy ſhall be in heaven over one ſinner that repenteth, more then over ninety and nine juſt perſons, which need no repentance.
7. The heavenly Society rejoyce over one converted ſinner, more than over many that need no converſion from a ſtate of ſin, (though they …eed daily ſorrow for daily failings.)
Note; More Joy ſignifieth not more Love to that perſon: But Chriſt ſpeaketh of the Angels after the manner of men, that are moſt affected with unexpected things, and after ſorrow moſt rejoyce.
8. Either what woman having ten pieces of ſilver, if ſhe loſe one piece, doth not light a candle, and ſweep the houſe, and ſeek diligently till ſhe find it? 9. And when ſhe hath found it, ſhe calleth her friends and her neighbours together, ſaying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had loſt. 10. Likewiſe I ſay unto you, There is joy in the preſence of the angels of God, over one ſinner that repenteth.
8, 9, 10. Note 1. Oh what Love do we owe to Angels, Who ſo much love us? Why do we not deſire their company more, than that of this wicked World?
Angels Love is but a Copy of God's Love, And ſhall we diſtruſt, fear, and flie from Love it ſelf? 2. Angels and good Men rejoyce at a ſinners converſion: Devils and wicked men are againſt it. How contrary are theſe? 3. Do Angels rejoyce at the converſion of a ſinner? What joy ſhould the coverted themſelves then have in it? 4. Uncoverted ſinners gratifie Devils, and deny Angels the joy of Love.
11. And he ſaid, a certain man had two ſons: 12. And the younger of them ſaid to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13. And not many dayes after, the younger ſon gathered all together, and took his journey into a far countrey, and there waſted his ſubſtance with riotous living.
11, 12, 13. Note 1. Fooliſh ſinners had rather have their concerns in their own hands, than in God's. Note 2. When it is left to themſelves, it is ſoon waſted. Note 3. Ryotous fleſh-pleaſing is the deſtructive ſin. Note 4. When ſinners go from God our Father, they go to deſtruction.
14. And when he had ſpent all, there aroſe a mighty famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15. And he went and joyned himſelf to a citizen of that countrey, and he ſent him into his fields to feed ſwine. 16. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the ſwine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
14, 15, 16. He hired himſelf a Servant to feed Swine, to prevent famiſhing; and they would not let him fill his belly with the Cods of the Carabe Tree, which was the Swines meat.
N. 1. Worldly Treaſure will ſoon be ſpent. N. 2. Fooliſh ſinners will ſubmit to the baſeſt ſervitude, and be attendants of Swine, rather than return to God. N. 3 All worldly hopes and helps will ſail ungodly Prodigals at laſt.
17. And when he came to himſelf, he ſaid, How many hired ſervants▪ of my father have bread enough and to ſpare, and I periſh with hunger.
17. Note 1. Prodigal ſinners are beſide themſelves. 2. Converſion is a man's coming to himſelf, or his right wits. 3. It is conſideration, ſpecially of a man's own ſafety and intereſt, which bringeth a man …o himſelf. 4. Utter diſtreſs and neceſſity is oft needful to drive home ſinners unto God, when they ſee that there is no other way of hope. 5. And the conſideration that the pooreſt Chriſtian is in a far better condition than the Prodigal: They have all, and he hath nothing.
18. I will ariſe and go to my father, and will ſay unto him, Father, I have ſinned againſt heaven, and before thee, 19. And am no more worthy to be called thy ſon: make me as one of thy hired ſervants.
18, 19. Note 1. Converſion beginneth in a purpoſe to return to God (though at firſt conſtrained by neceſſity.) 2. It worketh by a penitent confeſſion of ſin, and utter unworthineſs 3. It would be glad of the loweſt place in God's Church, and of the loweſt terms of Mercy.
20. And he aroſe, and came to his father: But when he was a great way off, his father ſaw him, and had compaſſion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kiſſed him.
20. Note 1. True purpoſes will appear in practice and performance: They ſtop not in ſluggiſh wiſhes, but ariſe and go to God. 2. God is readier to meet and receive ſinners, than they are to return to him. 3. He ſurprizeth returning ſinners with kindneſs, and embraces them who expected frowns and wrath, and uſeth them not after their deſert. 4. Though neceſſity and ſelf-love begin converſion, God's Love meeteth ſuch, and perfecteth it. 5. God is reconcileable to the ſinner, by his goodneſs, though not to his ſin.
21. And the ſon ſaid unto him, Father, I have ſinned againſt heaven, and in thy ſight, and am no more worthy to be called thy ſon.
21. Note; Our own humble and penitent confeſſions muſt go before God's forgiveneſs and entertainment.
22. But the father ſaid to his ſervants, Bring forth the beſt robe, and put it on …m, and put a ring on his hand, and ſhoes on his feet.
22. Note; God findeth ſinners in ſhameful rags, and miſery, but clotheth them, as his Children, with righteouſneſs and holineſs.
23. And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat and be merry.
23. Let us feaſt and rejoyce for the return of a Prodigal Son.
24. For this my ſon was dead, and is alive again; he was loſt, and is found. And they began to be merry.
24. Note; The ſtate of …n is a loſt condition, and a converted ſinner is found and recovered; it is a dead condition, and converſion is a reviving. It giveth the life of Grace in order to the life of Glory.
God ſpeaketh of himſelf, as rejoycing in a ſinners converſion. How little cauſe then have ſuch to doubt whether God will receive them? Q. How is God called a Father to wicked Prodigals? Anſ. As his Nature is Love it ſelf, and as he made man's Nature capable of happineſs, and as he hath conditionally pardoned all through Chriſt.
25. Now his elder ſon was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the houſe, he heard muſick and dancing. 26. And he called one of the ſervants, and asked what theſe things meant. 27. And he ſaid unto him, Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, becauſe he hath received him ſafe and ſound.
25, 26, 27. Thy Father hath received him with joy.
28. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
28 He envyed his Brother's Entertainment, and was offended with his Father's Love and Mercy.
Note 1. The elder Brother is the Jew, (who not only in his unbelief deſpiſeth the Gentiles, but) when converted to Chriſt, is hardly brought to communion with the Gentiles. And alſo all that have from their childhood ſerved God, and are ready to grudge at the Entertainment of wicked men-converted. Note 2. There is in the beſt of us, though we need God's mercy our ſelves, a diſpoſition to envy his Grace to others. Note 3. God is put to bear with the faults of his Children, and in mercy to ſtoop to them in their envy and quarrelſomneſs with others. Note 4. There is a ſinful eſteem of their own goodneſs, that inclineth God's own Servants even to withdraw and ſeparate from his Houſe, becauſe he entertaineth returning Prodigals. Thus God is put to bear with all.
29. And he anſwering, ſaid to his father, Lo, theſe many years do I ſerve thee, neither tranſgreſſed I at any time thy commandment, and yet thou never gaveſt me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
29. Note; We be apt to overvalue our own ſervice o… God, and to undervalue his Mercy.
30. But aſſoon as this thy ſon was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou haſt killed for him the fatted calf.
30. Note 1. Even good men are apt to grudge at God's Mercy to ſinners, and would not have him ſo gracious to them as he is; and they are not ſo ready to forgive it, but upbraid others with ſin, which God doth not upbraid them with, who hateth it more than we can do. 2. Were we in the hands of our beſt Brethren, we ſhould ſpeed worſe than in God's hands.
31. And he ſaid unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
31. N. 1. Obedient Children are always with God, and in his favour. 2. What great happineſs doth it ſignifie to ſay, All that I have is thine? that is, all that thou art fit for, and that is fit for thee. 3. God giveth ſuddener Joy oft-times to returning Prodigals, than to his Children that have been true to him from their youth. 4. Yet the conſtant ſafety, happineſs and peace of thoſe long obedient Children is a greater bleſſing and good, than thoſe ſudden Joys of converted ſinners.
32. It was meet that we ſhould make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again, and was loſt, and is found.
32. Note; God is pleaſed to reaſon his forward Children out of their envious, ſelf-eſteeming, cenſorious, ſeparating, quarrelſom diſtempers, and not to let them go, and take them at the worſt. He that will pardon the wicked life of a penitent Prodigal, will not rigorouſly deſpiſe a froward wrangling Child. And Rulers and Paſtors, that learn of God, will do ſo too, and not as Satans Miniſters, abhor the faithful, and aggravate their infirmities, and caſt them out of the Church, while they connive at the ungodly, and encourage them.
This Parable is very inſtructive to bad and good, and very comfortable to the truly penitent and converted: And ſpeaketh God's Mercy to the Gentiles, againſt the froward ſelf-eſteeming Chriſtian Jews.