Commentary on the Gospels and Acts, Commentary 1 · Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII.
Verse 1. Then spake Iesus to the multitude, &c.]
CHrist having confuted and confounded the Scribes and Pharisees, turns him to the people and to his Disciples: and that he might do nothing to the detriment of the truth, he here …, that they despise not the doctrine of the Pharisees, so far … it was sound and sincere without leaven; but try all things,foreign. …. Deligas …. … fast that which was good. Be advised, and remember to search into the truth of what you hear, was the counsell of Epicharmus.
Verse 2. Sit in Moses chair]
i. e. Have the ordinary office of teaching the people, but quo iure, he questioneth not. The Preists and Levites should have done it, but the Scribes and Pharisees hadforeign. …. …. for present taken it upon them, stept into the chair, and there set …. R m. 2. 20. So Hildebrand and his successours, have invaded Peters chair, as they call the sea of Rome, but what said an Ancient? Non habent Petri haereditatem, qui … non …. They have no right to Peters chaire, that have not Peters faith. The Index …, commands (sublestâ fide,) instead of Fidem Petri, to print it Sedem Petri. … Quintil. lib. 9. … 2.…, said Calvus to Vatinius, & digniorem … dic qui Praetor … Catonem. Put on a good face, and say that thou art … for the office then Cato himself. But what a bold face had … the … who meeting the devil, required his chair of…. him, as one that better deserved it? He had his desire I doubt not. But if … and Pharisees sat in … chair, it's no news … for bad men to succeed better; as Timotheus Herulus did Proterius the good Bishop of Alexandria, and as Arminius did Junius in the … place at Leyden.
Verse 3. All therefore whatsoever]
Not their traditions, superstitions, and corrupt glosses upon the Law, but whatsoever they teach that is agreable to truth: so long as they sit close to Moses chair, and keep it warm, as it were, hearken to them. Gods good gifts are to be acknowledged and improved even in the worst, as David made Sauls epitaph, 2 Sam. 1. though the devil preached his funerall, 1 Sam. 28. 19.
But do not ye after … works]
If Ministers do well, saith Chrysostom, it is … own gain, if they say …, it is …. Take…. thou what thine own is, and let alone what is another mans. Sylla and K. Richard the third commanded others, under great penalties, to be vertuous and modest, when themselves walked the … contrary way. A deformed painter may draw a goodly… quod tuumest, … alienum. picture, a stinking breath, sound a mighty blast, and he that hath but a bad voice, shew cunning in descant. A blinde man may bear…. a torch in a dark night, and a harp make musick to others, which it self is not sensible of. Posts set for direction of … by the highway-side, do point out the way which themselves go not: And signe-posts … the travellour there is wholesome diet or warm lodging within, when themselves remain in the storms without. Leud preachers are like spirie-steeples, or high-…, which point up to heaven, but presse down to the center.
For they say, and do not]
They had tongues which spake by the talent, but their hands scarce wrought by the ounce; like that ridiculous actour at Smyrna, who pronouncing ô caelum, ô heaven,Of this actour, … chafing said foreign. pointed with his finger toward the ground: so these Pharisees had the heaven commonly at their tongues end, but the earth continually at their fingers-end. In a certain battel against the Turks, there was a Bishop that thus encouraged the army. Play the men fellow-souldiers, to day; and I dare promise you that if ye dye fighting, ye shall sup to night with God in heaven. Now after the battel was begun, the Bishop withdrew himself: And when some of the souldiers enquired among themselves what was become…. …. …. com. p. …. of the Bishop; and why he would not take a supper with them that night in heaven, others answered, Hodie sibi jejunium indixit, ideo que non vult nobiscum in caelo caenare. This is fastingday with him, and therefore he will eat no supper, no not in heaven. Epictetus was wont to say, that there were many Philosophersforeign, &c. … ap Di. onem. (we may say, Divines) foreign, as far as a few words would go. But is religion now become a word? goodnesse a name (as Brutus once cryed out?) Should it be said of holinesse, as it was once in another place, Audivimus famam; Iob. 28 22. ….we have heard the fame thereof with our ears, and that's all? The foolish Virgins were found with their sic dicentes, but the good servants shall be found with their sic facientes. Christ wasIob. 1. 16. full of grace, as well as truth. John Baptist was both a burning and shining light. Origens teaching and living were said to be both one. That's the best Sermon …, that's digg'd out of aforeign. … Quod … &. gessit. …. ep …. mans own brest, when he practiseth what he preacheth, non … solum praedicans sed exemplis, as Eusebius testifieth of Origen, and Mr Gataker of Mr Stock. As the want hereof … Campian to write Ministris corum nibil vilius, their … are most base.
Verse 4. For they binde heavy burdens, &c.]
Their humane …: so do the Popish Doctours (heires herein to the …, of whom this Sermon is not more historicall, then of the other it is propheticall,) The inferiour Clergy they make preach every day in Lent without intermission, throughout all Italy in the greater cities: so as six daies in the week they preach on the Gospel of the daies, and on the Saturday in honour and praise of our Lady. Whereas the Pope and Bishops preach not at all. SoSands his Surv. sect. 27. for the Laity; they must fast with bread and water; when the Priests have their suckets and other sweet meats three or four times on their mock-fast-daies. What should we speak of their pilgrimages to Peru, Ierusalem, &c. penances, satisfactions, &c. And no man must question, but obey without sciscitation. Walter Mapes sometimes Archdeacon of Oxford, relating the Popes … simony concludes, Sit tamen Domina mater que … Roma baculus in aquâ fractus, & absit credere quae vidimus. In things that make against our Lady-Mother Rome, we may not beleeve our own eyes.
Verse 5. To be seen of men]
Theatrically, thrasonically, and for ostentation, as stage-players or painted-faces. See notes on, chap. 6. verse 2. 5. Saints more seek to be good, then seem to be so.
They make broad their Phylacteries]
That is, Conservatories, so called 1. Because of the use of them, the law was kept in remembrance. 2. Because the superstitious Pharisees conceited, that by the wearing of them about their necks, themselves might be kept from danger, as by so many spels: what they were, see the Notes above on, Matth. 22. 40.
Enlarge the borders of their garments]
God had charged the … to binde the law to their hand, and before their …, …. 6. 8. wherein (as Hierom and Theophylact well interpret it) he meant the meditation and practice of his law. They (saith a learned Author) like unto the foolish patient, which when the… si puellus … patris pij vestigijs in fistendum, patris iter sacient is sirgula vestigia observaret, & in ijsdem pedes suos poneret. Physitian bids him take the prescript, eats up the paper, if they could but get a list of parchment upon their left arme next their heart, and another scroll to tye upon their forehead, and four corners of fringe, or (if these be denied) a red threed in their hand, thought they might say, Blessed be thou of the Lord, I have done the commandment of the Lord. What was this but as Mr Tindall said in another case, to think to quench their thirst by1 Sam, 16. 13. sucking the Ale-powl.
Verse 6. And love the uppermost rooms]
Which is a singular vanity, and yet hath bred greatest contestation in the Church; as between the Bishops of Rome and Constantinople, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York justling in Parliament for precedency, even unto blows and bloodshed: what dolefull effects followed upon the contention between the Lord Protectour and his brother in K. Edward the sixths daies, raised by their … wives, who could not agree about place? The Apostles rule is, in honour to pre … one another, Rom. 12. 10. And true humility is like true balm, that still in water sinks to the bottome: like the violet, the sweetest but lowest of flowers, which hangs the head downwards, and hides it self with its own leaves.
Verse 7. And to be called of men Rabbi]
They were tickled with high titles, and thought it a goodly thing to be held and stiled Magnifico's, to be flie-blown with flatteries. There is not a more vainglorious people under heaven then the Jews. Hence that… Chronol. pag. 432. rabble of titles amongst them in this order (… in a little before the nativity of our Saviour) Rabbi Rabban, Rab, Rabbi, Gaon, Moreh, Morenn and Moreh tsedek. So the Friers proceedSands his Surv. in their vain-glorious titles from Padre benedicto to Padre Angelo, then Archangelo, Cherubino, and lastly Cerephino, which is the top of perfection. Are not these those foreign the Apostle inveighs against, those great swelling titles 2 Pet 2. 18.of vanity?… 16.
Verse 8. Be not ye called Rabbi]
Do not ambitiously affect such a title, as if you were the only ones, and others not worthy to be named in the same day with you. Swelling in the body is an ill symptom, but worse in the soul.
For one is your master]
Your guide to godlinesse, and happinesse,foreign your Doctour and dictatour, your Oracle, your Ipse dixit, whose bare word you are to take, without further proof or pawn.
And all … are brethren]
Not as the Pope calls his Cardinalls brethren, when in creating them, he useth this form, … fratres nostri, & Principes …. Odi fastum illius Ecclesiae, saith Basil, which caused the lamentable seperation of the Eastern or Greek Church, from communion with the Latine, the other four Patriachs dividing themselves from the Bishop of Rome, for his encroaching upon them.
Verse 9. Call no man your father]
i.e. Give no man absolute power over you; be not the servants of men, or slaves to their opinions or mandates, as Friers are to their superiours, to argue or debate on whose commands is held high presumption: to search their reasons, proud curiosity: to detract or disobey them, breach of vow equall to sacriledge.Quibus nibil placet nisi quod e capitis sui lirippio ipsi protulerint.
Verse 10. One is your master]
Where then are Magistri nostri Parisienses? our Doctores resolutissimi? our Masters of opinions, whose word must stand for a law, whose tenets must passe for Oracles? By the Canon-law, Omnes sanctiones Apostolicae Muchesius. Dist 19 c. In memoriam.sedis irrefragabilitèr … observandae. The Pope may not be disobeyed.
Verse 11. Shall be your servant]
The word signifies one that is ready prest to raise dust, to do his utmost endeavour with all possible expedition in any businesse, that he is set about.q d. …, expeditus, paratus, promptus.
Verse 12. And whosoever shall exalt himself, &c.]
Loe here a great miracle, saith Augustin. God is on high, and yet the higher thou liftest up thy self, the farther thou art from him:Videte magnum miraculum: Altus est Deus, &c. the lower thou humblest thy self, the nearer he draweth to thee. Low things he looketh close upon, that he may raise them: proud things he knows. afarre off, that he may depresse them. The proud Pharisee pressed as … God as he could: the poor Publican,Aug. de temp. not daring to do so, stood aloof off: yet was God far from the Pharisee, near to the Publican.
Verse 13. … unto you Scribes, &c.]
By these eight dreadfull woes, as by so many links of an adamantine chain, our Saviour draws these hypocrites down to hell their place, and there leaves them to be reserved unto judgement. St Hierom was called Fulmen …, the Churches thunderbolt. How much more might this be attributed to Christ? How terribly doth he here thunderstrike these stupid Pharisees though he saw well (with Father Latimer) that whosoever will be busie with … Act. and Mon. sol. ….vobis, shall shortly after come coram nobis.
Ye shut up the kingdom of heaven]
By hiding heavenly truths, teaching damnable errours, excommunicating the well affected, or corrupting them by evil counsell and example: and all this, foreign cor àm & in os, before men, and to their faces, making fools of them, even whiles they look on, casting a mist before their eyes, as those Egyptian juglers did, Exod. 7. and keeping from them that collyrium, that should cure, and clear up their eye-sight, Revel. 3. 18. Thus did Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury, Quod verbum Dei …, ne … Tho …. in …. ….who bound up the word of God, that it might not be preached in his time (as the Historians words are,) and was therefore (according to this woe here denounced) so smitten in his tongue, that he could neither swallow, nor speak for certain daies afore he died. Steven Gardiner was plagued in like manner, for like reason. And generally, the Popish Clergy are vexed with that grievous and noisome sore of develish spite against the Reformation, Revel. 16. 2. which they therefore oppose with might and main, till wrath come upon them to the …. And albeit many of them escape the visible vengeance of God, yet this terrible Woe, as a moth, doth secretly … them up like a garment, and as a worm, eateth them up like wood, Isa 51. 8. as it did these Pharisees; on whose outside nothing could be discerned, all was as before, but their soules were blasted, seared, and sealed up to destruction. He that hath drunk poison, falles not down dead presently in the place, but he hath his death about him, as we say. Saul lived and reigned long after he was cast off by God: and the very devils are respited in regard of their full torment, but the more is behinde.
Verse 14. Ye devoure widdows houses]
Though they pretended to be great fasters, Luk. 18. 12. yet. their … prepared deceit, as Eliphaz hath it, Job 15. 35. and their throats (those open sepulchres swallowed up whole houses (such was their covetousnesse) and that of widows (such was their cruelty) and that under a pretence of long prayers, which was their hypocrisie: for while their lips seemed to pray, they were but chewing that morsell, that murthering … that made them receive the greater damnation. Multi in terris …, quod apud inferos digerunt, saith Augustin. Many … that on earth, that they must digest in hell, where the never-dying worm will feed greedily upon all such covetous caitiffs, as have the greedy worm underforeign their tongues, and their ill-gotten goods gotten already into theirLuk. 11. 41. bowels, … these Pharisees had: which therefore God shall fetchIob 20. 15. thence again with a ….
Make long …]
God takes not mens praiers by tale, but by weight. He respecteth not the Arithmetike of our praiers, how many they are, nor the Rhetorike of our praiers, how eloquent they are, nor the Geometry of our praiers, how long they are, nor the Musick of our praiers, the sweetnesse of our voice, nor the Logick of our praiers, or the method of them, but the divinity of our praiers, is that which he so much esteemeth. He … not for any James with horny knees through … in praier: nor for any … with a century of praiers for the morning, and as many for the evening: but S. Paul his frequency of praying with fervency of spirit, without all … prolixities and vain bablings; this is it that God maketh most account of. It is not a servants going to and fro, but the dispatch of his businesse that pleaseth his master. It is not the loudnesse of a preachers voice, but the holinesse of the matter, and the spirit of the preacher, that moveth a wise and intelligent hearer. So herenot gifts, but graces in praier move the Lord. But these long … of the Pharisees were so much the worse, because thereby they sought to entitle God to their sin, yea, they meerly mocked him, fleering in his face.
Verse 15. Ye compasse sea and land]
They walked the round, as the devil doth, to gain proselytes; they spared for no pains to pervert men (as now the Jesuites those Circulatores & …;) should not we be as diligent and indefatigable to convert them to God? Shall we not be as … in building stair-cases for heaven, as seducers are in digging descents to hell. If Saul seeking Asses found a Kingdom, shall not we by seeking others finde heaven?
Ye make him two-fold more … the childe of hell]
Either because they relapse to Gentilisme, as finding you so vile and vitious in your lives: Or, because ye teach them only Ceremonies and superstitions: Or, because you keep them ignorant of Christ, andAmbros. de … & …. cap. 12. plant in them an hatred of the truth, as the Jesuites do in their proselytes. So that of them we may say as Ambrose did of Polemo, who, of a drunkard, by hearing …, … a Philosopher, Si … a vino, … tamen … sacrilegio, Though he be now no drunkard, yet he remains drunk … with superstition.
Verse 16. Ye blinde guides which say]
His watchmen are blinde, foreignwas an old complaint, Isa. 56. 10. Which that it is a foul fault theVbi Tsaddi est majusculum. Rabbines have there noted from one letter (in the Originall) ofBuxtor. Tiber. the word rendered Watchmen, bigger then his fellows. How many are there that thrust into the Ministery, wanting both heart and art to teach the people? These lead their flocks to the pits brink, wherein if they perish, themselves lie lowermost.
Whosoever shall swear by the gold of the Temple]
So by the gift on the altar, vers. 18. these, they taught, were tied: the other … for a summe of money be dispensed with, that swore by the Temple, or the altar. Not so those that swore by the gold of the Temple, that is, decicated to the Temple, or by the gift on the altar: for these oaths brought these blinde guides in commodity, which the swearer was forced presently to pay down. The people also were hereby made more free and forward to offer gold for the Temple, sacrifices for the altar; because they were made believe, that those presents were more precious then either Temple or altar. Pretty devices these were to get money; and are they … still practised by Papists? Philip Brasier was abjured in Henry Act. and Mon.the eighths time, for saying, That when any cure is done the Priests do noint the Images, and make men believe the Images do sweat in labouring for them. The rood of Grace, and bloud … Hails is not orious. Our Lady of Loretto hath her Churches soSands his relat. stuffed with vowed presents and memories, that they are fain to hang their cloysters and Church-yards with them. They teach the people, that as they may sooner go to Christ by S. Dominick then by S. …: so to swear by holy reliques, and in swearing to lay hand on them, is a more binding oath, then to swear by God, laying hand on the Bible.
Verse 17. Whether is greater the gold, &c.]
The cause must needs be more noble then the …. But the dust of covetoulnes had put out the eyes of these buzzards, and expectorated their …. It is a besotting sin, and bereaves a man of right reason. Avidus … non videndo. Papists, our modern Pharisees, are most corrupt in those things, where their honour, …, or profit is ingaged. In the doctrine of the Trinity that … not upon these, they are sound enough.
Or … the gold?]
Solomons Temple was stone without, and gold within, to shew, saith one, the resplendent glory of divine Majesty, lurking within a humane and humbledMoses unveiled body. Quid est templi illius aurum sive aurea claritas, nisi ad dextram … sedentis immortalitas at que impassibilitas? saith Rupertus, What is the gold of the Temple, but the glory of Christ at Gods right hand?
Verse 18. But whosoever sweareth by the gift, &c.]
Vbi utilitas, foreign…, saith Epictetus, where there is gain, there is godlinesse. And, Deos quis que sibi utiles …, … another. All the worldlings plowing, sailing, building, buying, buts upon commodity, … knows no other deity. These Pharisees strove to reduce all … to their own purses and paunches, though they rendred men thereby not only irreligious, but unnaturall, Mat. 15. 5, 6. See the Notes there.
Verse 19. Ye fools and blinde]
The second time so. For behold they have rejected the word of the Lord (yea the Word, the Lord Christ) and what wisdom was in them? Jer. 8. 9. True it is, they were accounted the only … men: Where is the wise, 1 Cor. 1.… is the Scribe? saith S. Paul. As if wise and Scribe were terms convertible. And for the Pharisees, they did so carry away the hearts of the people, that there was no holy man that was not termed a Pharisee, as we finde in their …. And, … the most straitest sect of our religion, I … a Pharisee, saith Paul, Act. 26. 5. They were …, and did utterly out-shine and obscure those other sects of Sadduces and Essenes, the later whereof are not so much as mentioned in the Gospel: And yet we see what esteem Christ had of them, and what titles … here bestows upon them: To teach us not to rest in …, nor to think it sufficient that others think well of …. But let every man prove his own work, Galat. 6. 4. and know, that not he that commends himself, or is commended by others, is approved, but he whom the Lord …, 2 Cor. 10. 18.
Verse 20. Whoso therefore shall … ]
It was not lawfull to swear by the altar, or by any creature whatsoever, Jer. 5. 7. (much … by idols, Amos 8. 14. I my self, saith Latimer, have used in mine earnest matters to say, Yea by S. Mary, which indeed isSerm. in 3. Sun. in Advent. naught.) But though these oaths be formally naught, yet they are finally binding: and being broken they are plain perjury, becauseFieri non debuit factum valet. they are all reduced to God himself, no otherwise then if they had been taken expressely by the name of God. Hence it is that the oaths of Papists, Turks, Heathens (though superstitious) are obligatory, foreign, quasi foreign, An oath is an hedge, which a man may not break.
Verse 21. And by … that dwelleth therein]
By his grace in his ordinances, yea … his glory, which sometimes filled the temple. This temple at Jerusalem, together with that of Diana at Ephesus (which was also built of Cedar in an apish imitation of Gods temple, as Vitruvius … others witnesse) were destroy'd much about one and the same time; Believe me, saith Christ, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, not yet at Jerusalem worship the father. Demosthenes saith, ThatIoh. 4. 21. mans heart is Gods best temple, where he dwels with delight,Contra Arist, …. so it be beautified with modesty, piety, justice, &c. And this is the end of our creation, saith another, that man should be the Temple of God, and God the Altar of man.
Verse 22. By the throne of God]
Heaven is his throne, and earth his footstool: yet may we not conceive that God is commensurable by the place, as if he were partly here, and partly elsewhere: but he is every where all present. See more in the Notes on Mat. 5. 34.
Verse 23. Ye pay tithe of mint]
The Chaldee word for mintforeign signifies also a book of histories: because in that one poor herb large stories of Gods wisdom, might, and love, are described unto us. In tithing this and other pot-herbs the Pharisees were over and above sollicitous, and even superstitious, and all for a name. So in the year of grace, 1435. Capistranus the Minorite, being sent into Germany and other countreys by Pope Nicolas to preach obedience to the Sea of Rome, gat a great deal of credit and respectFuncc. …. to his Doctrine by putting down dicing, carding, dancing, feasting, masking, enterludes, &c. although he taught not one syllable of sound doctrine, touching Christ and his merits, … of faith, patience of hope, &c. There are both Magnalia & … legis, the great and the lesser things of the law: both must be looked to. Hypocrites are nice in the one, but negligent of the other.
Judgement, mercy and faith]
So of old, to those bodily exercises and externall rites, so stood upon by the hypocrites in their …, Isaiah opposeth judgement and justice, Chap. 1. Hosea opposeth mercy and kindenesse, Chap. 4. Zachary opposeth truth and fidelity, Chap. 8. as more to be looked after, and … for.
Verse 24. Which strain at a gnat, &c.]
A proverbiall speech warranting the lawfull use of such expressions, for illustration of a truth. The Greeks have a like proverb; to gargle down an image, statue or colosse; that is, to make no bones of a foul fault,foreign when matters of lesse moment are much scrupled. Saul kept a great stir about eating the flesh with the bloud, when he made nothing of shedding innocent bloud. Doeg was deteined before 1 Sam. 14. 33.the Lord, by some voluntary vow belike. But better he had been1 Sam. … 7. further off, for any good he did there. The Priests made … of putting the price of bloud into the treasury, Matth. 27 6.Fernicaripecca … esse …: At mu ieri osculum sigere mortale acinus arbitrab. Funcc. who yet made no conscience of imbruing their hands in the innocent bloud of the Lamb of God. The Begardi and Beginnae, a certain kinde of heretikes, Anno 1322. held this mad opinion, that a man might here attain to perfection, and that having attained to it, he might do whatsoever his nature led him to: That … Chronol ex Massei, l. 18.was no sin, but to … a woman was a mortall wickednesse, &c.
Verse 25. Ye make clean the out-side]
True Ephraimites or rather Canaanites, so they are called, Hos. 12. 7, 8. that is, meer naturall men, Ezek. 16. 4. the balances of deceit were in their hands, they loved to oppresse, yet so long as thereby they grew rich, they flattered themselves and said, In all my labours they shall … none iniquity in me; that were sinne. Hypocrites if they can but make fair to the worldward it is enough. But as the fish Sepia is bewraied by the black colour, which she casteth out to cover her: so the hypocrite is convinced by the very shew of godlinesse, under which he hoped to have lurked. God so discovers his deceitfull courses, as that his wickednes is shew'd before the whole Congregation, Pro. 26. 26.
Verse 26. Cleanse first that which is within]
God loveth truth in the inwards, Psal. 51. 6. O Jerusalem wash thy heart, Jer. 4. 14. (not thy hands only, as Pilate did:) this breeds constancy and evennesse in all our outward behaviours, Iam. 4. 8. Grace and nature both begin at the heart, at the center, and from thence goes to the circumference. Art and hypocrisie, begin with the face and outward lineaments.
Verse 27. Ye are like unto whited Sepulchres]
The Jews had their vaults or caves for buriall. These the wealthier sort would paint, garnish, beautifie at the mouth or entrance of them. And…. …. Heb …. hereunto our Saviour alludeth, Intùs Nero, foris Cato: … ….hic ut Piso, vivit ut Gallomus, &c. It was said of the Sarmatians, … Tac. lib. …. cap 10.that all their vertue was outward: And of Sejanus, that he had only a semblance of honesty, Intùs summa adipiscendi libido, within he was full of extortion and …. Hypocrites seem as gloworms,…, &c. to have both light and heat: but touch them, and they have neither. The AEgyptian temples were beautifull on theTac. out-side: when within ye should finde nothing, but some serpent or crocodile. Apothecaries boxes oft have goodly titles, when yet they hold not one dram of any good drug. A certain stranger coming on … unto the Senatours of Rome, and colouring his hoary hair and pale cheeks with vermilion hiew, a grave Senatour espying the deceit, stood up and said, What sincerity are we to expect at this mans hands, whose locks and looks, and lips do lie? Think the same of all painted hypocrites.
Verse 28. But within ye are full, &c.]
Fair professours they were, but foul sinners, not close, but grosse hypocrites, such as knew themselves to be so; like as Ieroboams wife knew her self to be disguised, when she went to the Prophet: and as the whore that offered sacrifice to cover her whoredom, Prov. 7. 14. This hypocrisie goes worthily coupled … with iniquity. It ariseth from secret Atheisme, as in Ananias and Saphira that noble pair of hypocrites, and paveth a way to the unpardonable sin, as in these Pharisees.
Verse 29. … build the Tombs, &c.]
And lost their cost, because… est … sancti …, vivi …. …. they received not their doctrine. So do the Papists at this day in their pretended honouring the ancient Saints and Martyrs, whose religion and practices they persecute in the true professours. How much better Rabus, Crispin, the French Chronicler, …, Fox, and others, who have raised the Martyrs, asAlan … us. …. ex cont. …. so many Phaenices, out of their ashes again, by recording their holy lives and Christian deaths? And how shall Cope and Kemp stink for ever in the nostrils of all good people? The former … fouling so much fair paper in railing at, and casting reproach upon the holy Martyrs of the Protestant religion, in his sixth dialogue especially: The later, for disgracing them some few years since, excusing… of … …. p. 15. the powder traitours at same time, in a Sermon at S. Maries in Cambridge.
Verse 30. If we had been in the daies]
Either these men grosly dissembled, or their hearts greatly deceived them; For certainly, an Herod and Herodias to Iohn Baptist, would have … an Ahab and Iezabel to Elias. But as it was said of Demosthenes, foreign. ….that he was excellent at praising the worthy acts of …, … so at imitating of them: In like sort may we say of the …, they could well declaim against their fore-fathers …, but not so well disclaim them. They were adversus sua ipsorum … facundi …, as one speaketh in a like case. Shrill accusers of themselves.
Verse 31. Wherefore ye be witnesses, &c.]
Here our Saviour casts all their cost in their teeth, as if thereby … had meant to commend … fathers curelty in killing the Prophets, sith they … it, by persecuting him and his to the death. … is commonly hereditary, and runs in the bloud: and (as we use to say of …) The older it is, the stronger; as in the deadly feud of Scotland, taken away by K. ….
Verse 32. Fill ye up then the measure]
Ironicè …. It gives us to understand, that sinners are stinted, and cannot do what mischief they would. If at any time they exceed their commission (as they are apt) and help forward the affliction, as out of their innate malice they will, God will soon grow jealous for …, and take them off, Zech. 1. 14, 15. When … hath … her ephah, God will soon transport it into the … …, Zech. 5. 8. - - 11. When it is once ripe in the field, God will not … it to shed to grow again, but cuts it up by a just and seasonable vengeance.
Verse 33 Ye Serpents]
Serpentum tot sunt venena, quot genera, Lib. 12. cap. ….saith Isidore, tot pernicies, quot species, tot …, qnot colores. See how our Saviour sharps up these …, that, if possible, they might be made sound in the …. So deals Peter by Simon Magus, Paul by Elymas, many of our Champions by their Popish Antagonists. Before God you are deceivers of the people (said M. Philpot Martyr, to his persecutours) afore God there is no truth in you. And to mocking Morgan, he said, I must tellAct. and Mon. fol. 1653. thee, thou painted wall and …, in the name of the living Lord, that God shall … fire and brimstone upon … of his word, and … of his people, as thou art. And afterward, Thou art but an Asse in the things of God, in that thou kickest against the truth, and art void of all godly understanding. Thou hast seduced others (said Bonner to Philpot) and madest them rejayce and sing with thee. Yea, my Lord, quoth he, we shall sing when you shall cry, Woe, woe, except ye repent. What an arrogant fool is this (said the Bishop) I will handleIbid. 1654. thee like an heretike, and that shortly. I fear nothing, I thank God (said the other) that you can do unto me. But God shall destroy such as thou art, and that shortly, as I trust. LikewiseIbid 1567. to the Bishop of Chichester he spake thus. I perceive you are… certè … quàm diabolus, quia Arrianus. blinde guides and leaders of the blinde, and therefore, as I am bound to tell you, very hypocrites tvrannously persecuting the truth, which you are not able to disprove. Thus Hilary called Constantius Antichrist, and … devil, because they were Arrians.
Ye generation of vipers]
Quarum morsus insanabilis. Sic … Plin. l. 11. c. 37.sycophantarum morsum non est remedium. See my Notes on Mat. 3. 7. Vipers teeth are buried in their gums, that one would think they could not bite: so hypocrites.
Verse 34. Wherefore, Behold I send you]
O the infinits goodnes of God, in striving by his Spirit with refractory sinners in the use of the means, waiting their return!
Sed pensare solet vi graviore moram.
Prophets, wise-men, and Scribes]
That is, Apostles, Pastours and Teachers, Eph. 4. 11. whom he here calleth by the customary names of that countrey. Scribe was an honourable name, till Pharisees dishonested it by their hypocrisie.
Ye shall kill and crucifie]
If therefore we have not yet resisted unto bloud, be content with lighter crosses, and look for heavier. Omnis Christianus crucianus. It is but a delicacy to divide betwixtLuther. Christ and his crosse.
Verse 35. From the bloud of righteous Abel]
God reckons of men by their righteousnesse, Rom. 10. The righteous (let him dwell where he will, and by whom) is better then his neighbour, saith Solomon. This was Cains grief, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother: And wherefore slew he him, but because his own works were evil, and his brothers righteous? So Alphonsus Diazius, that Cain the second, slew his brother John, because he could not win him to Popery. And I would1 …. 3. …. this patriarch of the devil (as one cals Cain) did not still live in his sons and successours, who carry about his club that is red with Abels bloud, Imò ut … sacram adorans & venerantur, think they do a goodly act in killing up the poor lambs of Christ. Caesar Quòd melior vir erat quam esse quenquam … expediret. Senec. 2 … benefic.… said to have slain Grecinus Julius for this reason alone, for that he was a better man, then that it was for the tyrants behoof, to suffer him to live.
Unto the bloud of Zacharias]
Most unworthily slain by his pupill Joas (as Linus likewise was by his scholar Hereules for a2 Chron 24. 20, …. few sharp words that he gave him, as he was teaching him.) OurCum ille Herculem verbulo asperiore inter … esset, &c. Saviour instanceth in this Zacharias as the last Prophet mentioned in the Scripture to have been slain by them, though they slew many more, not elsewhere mentioned, unlesse it be in that little Book of Martyrs, as one fitly calleth the eleventh to the Hebrews.Bucholc. ….
Verse 36. Shall come upon this generation]
In that last desolation of Jerusalem, whereof more in the next Chapter. God will not fail to punish persecutours. See Acts and Mon. of the Church, fol. 1902. to 1950. Good for them therefore is the counsellSi nobis non parcis, tibi parce: … non tibi, Carthagini. that Tertullian gave Scapula a bloudy persecutour, If thou wilt not spare us, yet spare thy self: If not thy self, yet thy City Carthage.
Verse 37. How often would I, &c.]
How then could they perish, whom God would have saved? It is answered, Voluntas Dei alia est praecepti, revelata Antecedens, alia beneplaciti, arcana Consequens. By the former God willed their conversion, but not by the later. A King wils the welfare of all his Subjects: yet he will not acquit those that are laid up for treason, …, and the like foul crimes. A father is willing to give his son the inheritance: yet if he prove an unthrift, he'l put him beside it, and take another. How oft would I have gathered? that is (say some) by the externall Ministery of the Prophets, sent unto thee, vers. 34, 35. Not by internall regenerating operation of the spirit.
Even as a hen gathereth her chickens]
Columbarum masculus Chytraeus in Levit. 12.ipse ovis incubat, … Christus ipse ecclesiam suam fovet. Of unreasonable creatures birds, and of birds the hen excels in kindnes to her young: so that she doubts not, in their defence, to encounter a Kite, a dog, &c. Iniquo & impari praelio, though with greatest disadvantage.
And ye would not]
Men may nill their conversion then, thoughPareus. called by God, Quo nihil est verius, sed & nihil turpius, saith one. Men are not damned, because they cannot do better, but because they will doe no better. If there were no will, there would… be no …, Joh. 12. 39. Therefore they could not believe; They could not, that is, they would not, saith Theophylact out of Chrysostom, who yet usually extolleth mans free-will more then is meet.
Verse 38. Behold, your house is left, &c.]
City and temple both. God will not alway stand men for a sinning-stock. They … will not hear his word, shall hear his rod, and feel his sword too. Elisha hath his sword as well as Jehu and …, 1 King. 19. 17. and the one usually precedes the other. They therefore that say, Following of Sermons will make men beggars, forget that … take away the Gospel from Jerusalem … to leave their houses, as well as Gods house, ….
Verse 39. Till ye shall say, Blessed, &c.]
That is, Ye shall never see me, or not till the generall Judgement: whenas you that would not obey that sweet voice of mine, Come unto me, ye that are weary, &c. … have no other command of mine to obey but that dreadfull Discedite, Go ye cursed into everlasting fire, &c.