A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Luke · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
1. ANd it came to paſs in thoſe days, that there went out a decree from Ceſar Auguſtus, that all the world ſhould be taxed. 2. (And this taxing was firſt made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria) 3. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
1, 2, 3. Auguſtus decreed that all the Empire, called the Roman world, ſhould be enrolled in their ſeveral Families and Cities: That he might know the ſtate of his Empire, and how to tax them.
4. And Joſeph alſo went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (becauſe he was of the houſe and lineage of David,) 5. To be taxed with Mary his eſpouſed wife, being great with child.
4, 5. She was now marryed, though called eſpouſed.
6. And ſo it was, that while they were there, the days were accompliſhed that ſhe ſhould be delivered. 7. And ſhe brought forth her firſt-born Son, and wrapped him in ſwadling cloths, and laid them in a manger, becauſe there was no room for them in the inn.
6, 7. Note, It ſhould be rather [in the ſtables] than [in the manger.] Had Joſeph been a rich man its like he would have found better room.
8. And there were in the ſame countrey ſhepherds abiding in the field; keeping watch over their flock by night.
8. Some one part of the night, and ſome another, by turns (as is moſt likely.)
9. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord ſhone round about them, and they were ſore afraid. 10. And the angel ſaid unto them, Fear not: for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which ſhall be to all people.
11. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Chriſt the Lord. 12. And this ſhall be a ſign unto you: ye ſhall find the babe wrapped in ſwadling cloths, lying a [manger.]
9, 10. Glory is Light. Chriſts birth is cauſe of univerſal joy. 12. ſtable.
13. And ſuddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hoſt, praiſing God, and ſaying, 14. Glory to God in the higheſt, and on earth peace, good will towards men.
13, 14. Note, Angels are the heavenly hoſt. Note, Gods praiſe and Glory is the end of all his works. Note, Angels rejoiced at Chriſts birth, and for mans redemption.
14. In Chriſt the Redeemer God will be glorified in Heaven, Peace will be made on Earth, by this great Reconciler, and Gods Love or Benevolence will be towards men.
Or [Glory be to God in the Heavens through the Redeemer, and Reconciliation, or Peace, on Earth to men that are the objects of Gods good will.]
Q. Is it neceſſary or lawful to keep a day as holy in remembrance of Chriſts birth? Anſ. 1. If any ſhould appoint a weekly day for it, it would be an uſurping of the ſame power, (that hath already ſeparated a weekly day for it, it would be an uſurping of the ſame power) that hath already ſeparateh a weekly, day for commemorating the work of Redemption, though ſpecially for Chriſts Reſurrection: And it would ſeem an accuſing Chriſts Law of inſufficiency. 2. And if any ſhould make a yearly days obſervation neceſſary to the univerſal Church. 1. They would uſurp a power, not given to any, (to make Laws for all the Church.) 2. And they would accuſe Chriſts Law as imperfect.
But if particular Chriſtians, Churches, or Countries, voluntarily agree to celebrate yearly, the memorial of Chriſts birth, it is but what almoſt all the Churches on earth do, and have done at leaſt 1300 years; And i… …lawful to keep a yearly day of remembrance for a…y … deliverance or mercy to the Church, even in an Ap…le. But if any Chriſtian think that it is an unlawful addition to the inſtitution of the Lords day, which Go… ſet a part for our commemorating the whole work of Redemption, ſuch ſh…uld not be forced to keep it againſt their Conſciences; but muſt avoid affronting them that do.
15. And it came to paſs, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the ſhepherds ſaid one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and ſee this thing which is come to paſs, which the Lord hath made known unto us, 16. And they came with haſt and found Mary and Joſeph, and the babe lying in a manger, 17. And when they had ſeen it, they made known abroad the ſaying which was told them concerning this child. 18. And all they that heard it wondred at thoſe things which were told them by the ſhephards. 19. But Mary kept all theſe things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the ſhepherds returned, glorifying and praiſing God for all the things that they had heard and ſeen, as it was told unto them,
15, 16, 17, 18. In a Stable. 19. Regarded them… as tending to what was promiſed her. 20. Angel are not firſt ſent to Princes, but to poor Shephards, who muſt preach Chriſt.
21. And when eight days were accompliſhed for the circumciſing of the child, his name was called Jeſus, who was ſo named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
21. Jeſus is [a Saviour.] He was circumciſed, as bound to keep the Law of Moſes, not as a ſeal of pardon of ſin to him.
22. And when the days of her purification, according to the law of Moſes, were accompliſhed, they brought him to Jeruſalem to preſent him to the Lord.
22. To the Prieſt, as in Numb. 3.12.46.
23. (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb, ſhall be called holy to the Lord,) 24. And to offer a ſacrifice, according to that which is ſaid in the law of the Lord; A pair of turtle doves, or two young pidgeons.
23, 24. See Levit. 12.6.8.
25, And behold, there was a man in Jeruſalem, whoſe name was Simeon, and the ſame man was juſt and devout, waiting for the conſolation of Iſrael: and the holy Ghoſt was upon him. 26. And it was revealed unto him by the holy Ghoſt, that he ſhould not ſee death, before he had ſeen the Lord Chriſt.
25. Note; The Meſſiah was much expected at that time.
Note; It is Juſt and Devout men that God ſpecially favoureth by ex…raordinary gifts of his Spirit.
27. And he came by the ſpirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jeſus, to do for him after the cuſtom of the law, 28. Then took he him up in his arms, and bleſſed God, and ſaid, 29. Lord, now letteſt thou thy ſervant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30. For mine eyes have ſeen thy ſalvation, 31. Which thou haſt prepared before the face of all people. 32. A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Iſrael.
27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32. Praiſed God ſaying, now thou haſt performed thy word, by letting me live to ſee Chriſt, let me die in Peace as ſoon as it pleaſeth thee: For I have ſeen the Saviour, whom thou haſt appointed to be a light to the gentile World, to lead them into the way of Faith and Righteouſneſs to thee, and to be the honour of the Jews, of whom he is born after the fleſh; but the ſpecial glory of all that by Faith receive him.
33. And Joſeph and his mother marvelled at thoſe things that were ſpoken of him. 34. And Simeon bleſſed them, and ſaid unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is ſet for the fall and riſing again of many in Iſrael: and for a ſign which ſhall be ſpoken againſt.
33, 34. He ſhall prove eventually, a ſtumbling block, on which many Iſraelites ſhall fall to their deſtruction, and the chief Corner Stone, on which Believers ſhall be built up to Salvation; and the talk and obloquy of Men.
35. (Yea, a ſword ſhall pierce thorow thy own ſoul alſo) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
35. Yea thou alſo ſhall bear a deep part in ſufferings by grief of heart, and Men, in theſe Tryals, ſhall ſhew what they are, even the different State of their ſecret Thoughts.
36. And there was one Anna a propheteſs, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aſer, ſhe was of a great age, & had lived with an husband ſeven years from her virginity. 37. And ſhe was a widdow of about four-ſcore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but ſerved God with faſtings and prayers, night and day.
37, 36. She kept cloſe to the Temple Worſhip, and was conſtant in the duties of Faſting, Mortification and Prayer.
Note. It is not proved that ſhe deſerted all outward calling or labour in the World, on pretence of Religion, while ſhe was able for it: And if it be done but when age or ſickneſs diſableth one, it is lawful, and well.
Note. Some think Faſting unfit for age and weakneſs: But digeſtion being then weakeſt, and moſt dying by that ſuffocation of crudities, and not by mere defect of nutrimental matter, moderate Faſting may be fit for the aged, as well as for the young.
Note; She was not of the ſick mind of the prophane nominal Chriſtians, that cannot abide long Prayers, and Religious ſtrictneſs.
38. And ſhe coming in at that inſtant, gave thanks likewiſe unto the Lord, and ſpake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jeruſalem.
38. She was inſpired then to come in, and to Prophecy of Chriſt, and declare him to the People, that lookt for the Meſſiah.
39. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. 40. And the child grew, and waxed ſtrong in ſpirit, filled with wiſdom, and the Grace of God was upon him.
39, 40. Q. What increaſe of Spiritual ſtrength was Chriſt capable of, and what greater fulneſs of Wiſdom and Grace! Anſ. His Divine nature was capable of no increaſe: But the humane was capable, 1. Of increaſe of bodily ſtature and ſtrength. 2. Of ſeeing more objects, then he ſaw at firſt. 3. Of actual knowing them by that ſight. 4. Of improving them to holy uſes as known, which he did not in Infancy. 5. Of doing many good works, which he could not do in Infancy. 6. And of the increaſe of ſuch habits, by all theſe acts as are acquired by them. As Adam when new Created had perfect faculties; but not perfect knowledge of all the Creatures before he ſaw them, nor the fulleſt improvement of them, nor the perfect habit of ſuch uſe, as it is diſtinct from the faculties perfection.
41. Now his parents went to Jeruſalem every year at the feaſt of the paſſover. 42. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jeruſalem, after the cuſtom of the feaſt. 43. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jeſus tarried behind in Jeruſalem, and Joſeph and his mother knew not of it. 44. But they ſuppoſing him to have been in the company, went a days journey, and they ſought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance.
41, 42, 43, 44. Note; It may ſeem an unnatural neglect of a Child: But they had found him ſo manlike in all other matters, that they truſted him with himſelf.
45. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jeruſalem, ſeeking him. 46. And it came to paſs, that after three days, they found him in the temple, ſitting in the midſt of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them queſtions.
45, 46. Note; Chriſt himſelf diſdained not to hear the Jewiſh Doctors, and to ask them Queſtions.
47. And all that heard him were aſtoniſhed at his underſtanding and anſwers. 48. And when they ſaw him, they were amazed; and his mother ſaid unto him, Son, Why haſt thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have ſought thee ſorrowing.
47, 48. Note; If Chriſts Holy Mother blamed him, as dealing ill with his Parents, by miſtake, for want of true knowledge of the inſide of the caſe, what wonder if the beſt Perſon do, by the like ignorance of the caſe, by miſtake, blame and cenſure one another, and miſreport accordingly.
49. And he ſaid unto them, How is it that ye ſought me? wiſt ye not that I muſt be about my Fathers buſineſs? 50. And they underſtood not the ſaying, which he ſpake unto them.
49, 50. Where ſhould I be but in my Fathers Houſe, about his work? your ignorance maketh you blame me.
51. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was ſubject unto them: but his mother kept all theſe ſayings in her heart.
51. Note; Chriſt, who ſubmitted in his Humanity, to a ſtate of Infancy, (ſanctifying that ſtate, and ſhewing, that as an Infant was yet in title, King and Head of the Church; ſo Infants may be Members of him, and it) did alſo in his Childhood ſubject himſelf to his ſuppoſed Father, and to his Mother, reverencing them, and obeying them, both as part of his meritorious Humiliation, and to ſanctifie a ſtate of ſubjection, and become a Pattern thereof to us all: And it will greatly condemn proud, rebellious Children, and Youth, who will not obey the juſt government of Parents, (but their fleſhly appetites and luſts,) wh… the Son of God Incarnate, condeſcended to ſubjection.
Mary's laying up all theſe ſayings, was the working of her Faith and Hope, perceiving that God was going on to fulfil the Promiſes made to her.
52. And Jeſus increaſed in wiſdom, and ſtature, and in favour with God and man.
52. His Humane Nature increaſed, as in ſtature, ſo in actual Humane Knowledge, and its habits, knowing more than he knew in Infancy as Man: And God, that by way of approbation and complacence, loveth all things, ſo far as they are lovely, ſo approved and loved his Humanity more, as it grew more in act and habit toward perfection.