Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 14 · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Verſe 1. With ſo great a cloud]
OR cluſter of witneſſes, whoſe depoſitions we ſhould hearken to, and reſt in. Iuſtin Martyr confeſſeth of himſelf, that ſeeing the pious lives, and patient ſufferings of the Saints, he concluded that that was the truth that they profeſſed, and ſealed with their bloud. Theſe, in things imitable, are as the cloud that led Iſrael; but in things unwarrantable (for in many things we fail all) as the black of the cloud, which who ſo followeth with the Egyptians, is like to be drowned, as they.
Let us lay aſide every weight] Or burden, foreign.or ſwelth. He that runs in a race will not have a burden upon his back, or ſhut up himſelf in a ſtrait-bodied ſuit.
The ſinne which doth ſo eaſily beſet us] Or that ſticks ſo cloſe to us,foreign. or that troubles and puzzles us, or that curbs us and girds us in, that we cannot run at liberty. Inordinate paſſions (ſaith one) come like foul weather, before we ſend for them; they often prevent all action of the will: but good affections are ſo overlaid with ſin (which compaſſeth us about) that if we gather not winde under their wing (ſo ponderous the fleſh is) they cannot mount up to purpoſe.
Let us run with patience] This ſeems to be a contradiction (as one obſerveth) for running is active, patience paſſive: but he that here runs without patience, never gets to the end of the race; for in the race of Gods commandments, men have foul play: one rails, another ſtops him, &c.
The race] Gr.foreign. The ſtrife-race, for we muſt run, and fight as we run, ſtrive alſo to out-ſtrip our fellow-racers.
Verſe 2.foreign. Looking unto Jeſus] Gr. Looking off thoſe things that may either divert or diſcourage, and looking unto Jeſus with loving and longing looks.
The authour and finiſher] The Alpha and Omega, the beginner and ender. In all other things and arts, Non eſt ejuſdem invenire & perficere, the ſame man cannot begin and finiſh. But Chriſt doth both, Phil. 1.5.
Endured the croſſe] Ran with a courage though he ran with the croſſe upon his back all the way.
Despiſing the ſhame] Whereof mans nature is moſt impatient. Chriſt ſhamed ſhame (ſaith an Interpreter) as unworthy to be taken notice of, in compariſon of his deſigne.
Verſe 3. For conſider him] Gr.foreign Comparatione… inſtituite. Make the compariſon betwixt Chriſt and your ſelves, betwixt his ſufferings and yours, and then you will ſee a difference. Our troubles are but as the ſlivers and chips of his croſſe. I am heartily angry (ſaith Luther) with thoſe that ſpeak of my ſufferings, which if compared with that which Chriſt ſuffered for me, are not once to be mentioned in the ſame day.
Lest ye be wearied and faint] Gr. Looſened,foreign. as the nerves are in a ſwoon or palſey: or, let go, as water ſpilt upon the ground. This to prevent, keep your eye upon your Captain, and that cloud before mentioned. There were in Greece certain fields called Palaeſtae, where young men exerciſed themſelves in wreſtling, running, &c. In theſe were ſet up ſtatues of ſundry valiant Champions, that the young men that ran or wreſtled might fix their eye upon them, and be encouraged. When Hierom had read the life and death of Hilarion, he folded up the book, and ſaid, Well; Hilarion ſhall be the Champion that I will follow.
Verſe 4. Ye have not yet reſiſted] q. d. You may do, and muſt look to do. And if you cannot endure words for Chriſt, how will you endure wounds? If you have runne with the footmen, and they have tired you, how can ye contend with horſes? Jer. 12.5.
Striving againſt ſinne] That is, Againſt ſinners that perſecute you, or the ſin that doth ſo eaſily beſet you, and ſollicite you to ſpare your ſelf, and rather to yeeld a little then to ſuffer ſo much. The Tabernacle was covered over with red (and the Purple-fathers tell us they take that habit for the ſame intent) to note that we muſt defend the truth even to the effuſion of bloud. If we cannot endure Martyrdome (if called thereunto) and ſweat a bloudy ſweat for Chriſts ſake, we cannot be comfortably aſſured that we are of his body. Chriſto ſubmittemus (ſaid that Dutch Martyr) ſexcenta ſi nobis eſſent colla. We will ſubmit to Chriſt, though we ſhould ſuffer never ſo many deaths for his ſake.Act. and Mon. fol. 1474. John Lea…e a young man, burnt with M. Bradford, hearing his own confeſſion, taken before the Biſhop, read unto him, in ſtead of a pen took a pin, and ſo pricking his hand, ſprinkled the bloud upon the ſaid bill of his Confeſſion, willing the Meſſenger to ſhew the Biſhop that he had ſealed the ſame bill with his bloud already. See the ſtory of Will. Pikes, Act. and Mon. 1853.
Verſe 5.Legenda h… ſunt cum inter rogatione, Piſ…. And ye have forgot the exhortation] Or, Have ye forgot the conſolation? Are the conſolations of God ſmall unto you, Job 15.11? Doe ye in ſtead of wreſtling with God, wrangle with him, refuſing to be comforted (as Rachel) out of the pettiſhneſſe of your ſpirits, as he, Pſal. 77.2? Will ye not as children, …at your milk, becauſe you have it not in the golden diſh? Will ye be like the hedge hog, of which Pliny reporteth, that being laden with nuts and fruits, if the leaſt …ilbeard fall off, will ſling down all the reſt in a pettiſh humour, and beat the ground with her briſtles.
Deſpiſe not thou the chaſtening] See my love-tokens, pag. 37. Count it not a light matter, a common occurrence, ſuch as muſt be born by head and ſhoulders, and when things are at worſt, they'l mend again. This is not patience but pertinacy, ſtrength but ſtupidity, The ſtrength of ſtones, and fleſh of braſſe, Job 6.12. When Gallienus the Emperour had loſt the Kingdom of Aegypt, What? ſaid he, Sine lino Aegyptio eſſe non poſſumus? Cannot we be without the hemp of Aegypt? But ſhortly after he was ſlain with the ſword.Turk hiſt. 185. When the Turks had taken two Caſtles in Cherſoneſus, and ſo firſt got footing in Europe, the proud Greeks ſaid, that there was but a hogſty loſt, alluding to the name of the Caſtle. But that fooliſh laughter was turned within a while into moſt bitter tears. When Callice was loſt under Q. Mary, thoſe of the faction ſtrove to allay the Queens grief, ſaying, that it was only a refuge for runagate-heretikes, and that no Roman Catholike ought to deplore, but rather rejoyce at the damage;
At Regina gravi jamdudum ſaucia curâ,
Vulnus alit venis—
Nor faint when thou art rebuked] If we faint in the day of adverſity,Prov. 24.10. out ſtrength is ſmall, ſaith Solomon: and it is, Non quia dura, ſed quia molles patimur, ſaith Seneca. Not for that we ſuffer hard things,Judg. 8.21. but becauſe we are over-ſoft that ſuffer them. As is the man ſo is his ſtrength, ſaid they to Gideon. Joſephs bow abode in ſtrength, even when the iron entred into his ſoul, Gen. 49.24. and Jobs ſtroak was heavier then his groaning, Job 23.2. Invalidum omne naturâ querulum, ſaith Seneca. It is a weakneſſe to be ever puling. See my Love-tokens, p. 44, 45.
Verſe 6. For whom the Lord loves] Whom he entirely loveth and cockereth above the reſt of his children. That Son in whom he is well pleaſed, ſaith Mercer on Prov. 3.12. whom he makes his white boy, ſaith Theophylact here. See my Love-tokens, pag. 54.55.
And ſcourgeth every Sonne] Laies upon them hard and heavy ſtrokes. When Ignatius came to the wilde-beaſts, Now, ſaith he, I begin to be a Chriſtian. Omnis Christianus crucian…u, ſaith Luther: And he hath not yet learned his ABC in Chriſtianity, ſaith Bradford, that hath not learned the leſſon of the croſſe. When Munſter lay ſick, and his friends asked him how he did, and how he felt himſelf, he p…inted to his ſores and ulcers, (whereof he was full) and ſaid, Hae ſunt gemmae & pretioſa ornamenta Dei, &c. Theſe are Gods gems and jewels where with he decketh his beſt friends,Joh. Manl. loc, com p. 127. and to me they are more precious then all the gold and ſilver in the world.
Verſe 7. God dealeth with you, &c.] Corrections are pledges of our Adoption, and badges of our ſonſhip. One Sonne God …ad without ſin, but none without ſorrow. As God corrects none but his own, ſo all that are his ſhall be ſure to have it; and they ſhall take it for a favour too, 1 Cor. 11.32.
Verſe 8. Then are ye bastards] Qui excipitur a numero flagellatorum, excipitur â numero filiorum, ſaith one. He that eſcapes affliction may well ſuſpect his adoption. I have no ſtronger argument againſt the Popes Kingdoms, ſaith Luther, then this, Quòd ſine cruce regnat, that he raigns without the croſſe, they have no changes, ſurely they fear not God.
Verſe 9. And we gave them reverence] Pater est. ſi pater non eſſes, &c. It is my Father, &c. This cooled the boiling rage of the young man in Terence. Nicolas of Jenuile a young French Martyr, when he was condemned and ſet in the cart; his father coming with a ſtaffe would have beaten him:Act. and Mon. fol. 837. but the officers not ſuffering, it would have ſtruck the old man. The ſon crying to the officers, deſired them to let his father alone, ſaying, he had power over him to do what he would amp;c.
And live] For corrections of inſtruction (and God never chaſtiſeth, but withall he teacheth, Pſal, 94.12.) are the way of life, Prov. 6.23. and 15.31. See my Love-tokens, pag. 25, 26, 27.
Verſe 10. After their own pleaſure] To eaſe their ſtomacks, vent their choller, diſcharge themſelves of that diſpleaſure they have (and perhaps without cauſe) conceived againſt us. Not ſo the Lord: Fury is not in me, ſaith he, Iſa. 27.4. Though God may do with his own as he pleaſeth, yet he doth never over-do. For it goes as much againſt the heart with him, as againſt the hair with us: It is even a pain to him to be puniſhing, Lam. 3.33.
That we might be partakers] thus bitter pils bring ſweet health, and ſharp winter kils worms and weeds, and mellows the earth for better bearing of fruits and flowers. The Lilly is ſowed in its own tears, and Gods vines bear the better for bleeding. The Walnut tree is moſt fruitfull when moſt beaten, and Camomile the more you tread it, the more you ſpread it. Aloes kils worms, and ſtained clothes are whitened by froſting.
Verſe 11. The peaceable fruit of righteouſneſſe] That crown of righteouſneſſe wrought out unto us by afflictions, 2 Cor. 4.17. Theſe are the preludes of our triumph, yea a part of our ſalvation. Look therefore thorow the anger of Gods corrections, ſaith one, to the ſweetneſſe of his love therein, as by a rain-bow we ſee the beautifull image of the Suns-light in the midſt of a dark and wateriſh cloud. And look upon theſe afflictions as on ſo many wayward and touchy gueſts; which while they ſtay, watch every officer, but when they depart, they pay freely.
Verſe 12. Lift up the hands] Pluck up your good hearts, and buckle cloſe to your buſineſſe; how elſe will you runne the race that is ſet before you? as verſ. foreign.I. Gird up the loins of your minds: a drooping ſpirit makes no riddance of the way. Set all to rights, as the world ſignifieth.
Verſe 13. Make ſtraight paths] Seek not by-waies (thoſe high-waies to hell) leap not over the hedge of any Commandment, ſo to eſcape any peece of foul way: but as thoſe kine of the Philiſtims held ſtraight on their way to Bethſhemeſh, 1 Sam. 6.12. though they had calves at home: ſo let us to heaven, though we have divers things to divert us. Let thine eyes look right on: and let thine eye-lids look ſtraight before thee, Prov. 4.25.
Verſe 14. Follow peace] Gr. Purſue it, though it flee from you.Pſal. 120.7. I am peace (ſaith David) but when I ſpeak of it, they are for warre.
And holineſſe] Or chaſtity, 1 Theſſ. 4.4. ſuch a holineſſe as is oppoſed to fornication and profaneneſſe. v. 16.
Without which] The Article may be neuter: and then the ſenſe is, Without which following peace and holineſſe, or an holy peaceableneſſe, none ſhall ſee God to their comfort.
Verſe 15. Lest any man fail] Or, Fall ſhort, as Chap. 4.1. See the Note there. Short ſhooting loſeth many a game: he that in a race lieth down ere he come to the goal, gets not the garland. Pe…everance crowns all our vertues. But its an eaſie thing to fall a napping with the fooliſh virgins (yea the wiſe alſo ſlumbered) which will prove to our coſt, when God ſhall ſend forth ſummons for ſleepers.
Lest any root of bitterneſſe] Any ſcandalous ſin to the corrupting of others, and the corroding of our own conſeiences: and out of which we recover not without much adoe, till we have felt what an evil and a bitter thing …inne is, as David did, Pſal. 51.
Verſe 16. Fornicatour or profane] He inſtanceth in ſome roots of bitterneſſe. Eſa…'s profaneneſſe appeared in theſe particulars. 1. In that he was no ſooner asked for the birth-right, but he yeelded. 2. That he parted with it for a trifle, a little red, red, as he called it in his haſte and hunger. 3. That he did this, being, as he thought, at point of death. 4. That he we…t his way when he had done, as if he had done no ſuch thing: he ſhewed no ſigne of remorſe or regret. Hence he is four of five ſeverall times branded with, This is Edom.
Who for one morſell, &c.] Many ſuch Edomites now-adaies that prefer earth before heaven, a ſwine-ſty before a ſanctuary, as the Gadarens, their part in Paris before their part in Paradiſe, as that carnall Cardinall. Vale lumen amicum, ſaid Theotimus; Ambroſ.Farewell eyes, if I may not drink and do worſe, ye are no eyes for me. He would rather loſe his ſight then his ſin: ſo will many rather part with heaven then with their luſts. O what mad men are theſe that bereave themſelves of a room in that City of pearl, for a few carnall pleaſures, amp;c. Pope Sixtus the fifth ſold his ſoul to the devil to enjoy the Popedome for ſeven years.
Verſe 17. He was rejected] Or, Repulſed. For Iſaac, foreignwhen he ſaw that he had done unwilling juſtice in bleſſing Jacob, he durſt not reverſe the bleſſing: for he feared an exceeding great fear, Gen. 27.33. Neither naturall affection, nor Eſau's importunity could make him repent and repeal what he had done.
Though he ſought is carefully with tears] Tears they were of diſcontent, for he cries, and at ſame time threatens his brother Jacob. Some weep for ſin, ſome for miſery, ſome for joy, ſome for compaſſion, ſome for revenge and in hypocriſie, as Eſau here, who rued his deed, but repented not his ſin.
Vetſe 18. For ye are not come, &c.] q. d. You are not under the law, but under grace: beware therefore of prophaneneſſe and licentiouſneſſe. For think you that God hath hired you to be wicked? Are you delivered to do all theſe abominations? Jer. 7.10. Ought you not to walk Goſpel-high, Phil. 1.27? Will not the Angel (Chriſt) that goeth along with you, deſtroy you after that he hath done you good, if ye turn not and repent according to the rules of his Law, the Goſpel? Exodus 33.2, 3, 4, &c.
Verſe 19. And the ſound of a trumpet] Shewing the nature of Gods Law, to manifeſt Gods will, mens ſins, and to warn them of the wrath deſerved: likewiſe to ſummon them to appear before the Judge.
The voice of Words] That is, The delivery of the Decalogue, called the words of the Covenant, Exodus 33.28. the ten words.
Verſe 20. For they could not endure] This ſhews the nature and uſe of the Law, contrary to that of the Goſpel. It is a killing letter, written in bloud, holding forth juſtice only, and no mercy.
Verſe 21. Moſes ſaid, I exceedingly] This Paul might have by tradition, or rather by revelation, unleſſe he gathered it from Exod. 19.19. compared with Dan. 108, 16, 17, 19.
Verſe 22. But ye are come to Mount] And the bleſſings that come out of Sion (Grace and peace that come by Jeſus Chriſt) are better then all other the bleſſings of heaven and earth, Pſal. 134.3.
The heavenly Jeruſalem] As Jeruſalem was diſtinguiſhed into two Cities, the ſuperiour and the inferiour, ſo is the Church into triumphant and militant; yet both make up but one City of the living God.
To an innumerable company] Gr. To Myriads, or many ten thouſands of Angels. Some have ſaid that they are 99. to one, in compariſon of the Saints: grounding their conceit upon the Parable of the loſt ſheep, Luk. 15.
Verſe 23. To the generall Aſſembly] Or publike meeting of a whole Countrey, as at a great Aſſize, or ſome ſolemn celebrity. The Roman Emperours raiſed up ample Amphitheatres in a circular form, that the people ſitting round about might have a commodious ſight of ſuch pleaſant ſpectacles as were ſet before them. That which Pompey erected was of ſuch extent, that it was able to receive 40000 men, as Pliny witneſſeth. But O what a glorious Amphitheatre is that of heaven? What a ſtately Congregation-houſe? O praeclarum diem cum ad illud animorum concilium caetum que proficiſcar & cum ex hac turba & colluvione diſcedam! Cic deſenect…te.Surely, if Cicero or ſome other Heathen could ſay ſo, how much more may we exult and ſay, O that dear day when we ſhall go out of this wretched world, and wicked company; to that generall Aſſembly of holy and happy ſouls! And how ſhould we in the mean while turn every ſolemnity into a ſchool of Divinity: as when Fulgentius ſaw the Nobility of Rome ſit mounted in their bravery, it mounted his meditation to the heavenly Jeruſalem. And another when he ſat and heard a ſweet conſort of muſick,M. Eſ…y. Art of Meditat. by D. Hall. ſeemed upon this occaſion carried up for the time before-hand to the place of his reſt, ſaying very paſſionately, What muſick may we think there is in heaven!
Which are written in heaven] In Jeruſalem records were kept of the names of all the Citizens, Pſal. 48.3. ſo in heaven. And as the Citizens of Rome might not accept of freedom in any other City: ſo neither ſhould we ſeek things on earth, as thoſe whoſe names are written in the earth, Ier. 17.
Verſe 24. That ſpeaketh better things] Every drop whereof had a tongue to cry for vengeance: whence it is called blouds in the plurall, Gen. 4.10.
Verſe 25. See that ye refuſe not, &c.] Gr.foreign. That ye ſhift him not off, by frivolous pretences and excuſes, as thoſe Recuſant gueſts did, Mat. 22. It is as much as your ſouls are worth.foreign. Look to it therefore.
That ſpeaketh from heaven] By his bloud, Word, Sacraments, motions of his Spirit, mercies, &c. If we turn our backs upon ſuch bleeding embracements, and ſo kick againſt his naked bowels, what will become of us? And mark, that he ſpeaketh of himſelf, as one.
Verſe 26. Whoſe voice then ſhook, &c.] viz. When he gave the Law. What ſhall he do when he comes to judgement?
Not the earth only, &c.] Not men only, but angels, who ſtand amazed at the myſtery of Chriſt. As for men, they will never truly deſire Chriſt, till they are ſhaken, Hag. 2.7. Gods ſhaking ends in ſettling; it is not to ruine, but to refine us.
Verſe 27. And this word, Yet once more] The Apoſtle commenteth upon the Prophet whom he citeth, and from that word of his, Yet once, concludeth the diſſolution of the preſent frame of the world by the laſt fire, and the eſtabliſhing of that new heaven and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſſe, 2 Pet. 3.12, 13. The force of Scripture-words is then well to be weighed by thoſe that will draw there-hence right conſequences: And they have done ſingular good ſervice to God and his Church, that they have emploied their time and their talents for the finding out the ſenſe of the Text, by fiſhing out the full import and ſignification of the Originall words. In which kinde learned Mr Leigh by his Critica Sacra upon both teſtaments, hath merited much commendation.
Verſe 28. A kingdome which cannot be moved] As the mighty Monarchies of the world could: for thoſe had their times and their turns, their ruine as well as their riſe, ſo that now they live but by fame only. Not ſo the Kingdome of heaven. You may write upon it the Venetian Motto, Nec fluctu, nec flatu movetur: Neither windes nor waves can ſtir it.
With reverence] Gr. With baſhfulneſſe, as in Gods holy preſence. See Deut. 23.13.
Verſe 29. A conſuming fire] viz. To profligate profeſſours, ungirt Chriſtians, Iſa. 33.14.