Commentary on the Gospels and Acts, Commentary 3 · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII.
Verse 1. Alwaies to pray and not to faint]
GRaece, Not shrink back, as Sluggards in work, or Cowardsforeign. in Warre. Prayer should be redoubled and reinforced, as those Arrowes of deliverance, 2. Kings 13. 19. The woman of Canaan prayes on when denyed: And Jacob holds with his hands, when his thigh is lamed. He wrestled with slight and might,… post nau fragium tentantur …. he raised dust, as the word signifies, and would not away without a blessing. James surnamed the Just, (Christs Kinsman) had his knees made as hard as Camels knees with much praying, as … …. Epist. 81.…. Father Latimer during his imprisonment, wasAct. & Mon. sol. 1579. … constant and instant in prayer, that oftt-… he was not able to … off his knees, without help. Yea Paulus Emilius, being to…. fight with Perses King of Macedony, would not give over … to his God Hercules, till he saw certain arguments of a victory. As loathing of meat (saith a Divine) and painfulnesse of speaking are two symptomes of a sick body: so irksomnesse of …, and carelesnesse of hearing, of a sick soule.
Verse 2. Which feared not God, nor regarded man]
These two, … of God and shame of the world, God hath given to men as … to restraine them from outrage. But sinne hath oaded such … impudency in some mens faces, that they dare do any thing.
Verse 3. Avenge me of mine adversary]
A downright request, without either Logick or Rhetorick to set it forth, or inforce it: to each us that though our prayers be but blunt or broken language if importunate, they shall prevaile neverthelesse.
Verse 4. And he would not for a while]
There is a passive injustice. Non … nocens, sed … fuit, saith Ausonius of Claudius. Not to do justice is injustice.
Verse 5. She weary me]
Gr. She buffet me, or club me down. foreign.God must be pressed in prayer, till we put him (as you would say)Obtundat. Vota fundimus … tundimus Deum tangimus misericordiam ….to the blush, or leave a blot in his face, unlesse we may be masters of our requests.
Verse 6. 7. Heare what the unjust Judge saith]
Hic paria non inter se conferuntur, sed minus cum majore, saith Beza.
Verse 7. Though he bare long with them]
When they are at theTertul. Apol. … most under. When their enemies are above feare, and they below hope; when there is not faith in Earth to beleeve, then are there bowels in Heaven to releive and restore them.
Verse 8. Shall he finde faith upon earth]
God oft staies so long, till the Saints have done looking for him, when they have forgot their prayers; &c. he comes, as it were out of an engine.
Verse 9. That they were righteous, and despised others]
Pray to be preserved from this perillous pinacle of self exaltation.
Verse 10. The one a Pharisee]
A Doeg may set his foot as far and further within the Sanctuary, as a David. The Pharisee and Publican went both of them up to private prayer.
Verse 11. God, I thank thee]
Non vulnera sed muner a …, foreign. Basil.he shewes not his want but his worth: and stands not only upon his comparisons, but upon his disparisons, I am not as this Publican. No, for thou art worse: yea for this, because thou thinkest…. thee better. But of Pharisees it might be said as Arnobius did of the Gentiles, Apud vos optimi censentur, quos … pessimorum ….… facit. They are very good that are not very bad.
…]
Pride wears a triple crown with this motio, Tra. …, Non obedio, …. This Pharisee held himself …, and all others a … only, as Basil of … hath it: He takes his poor counter and sets it down for a Thousand pounds; he prizeth himself above the market.
Verse 12. I fast twice a week]
Cardinall Bellarmine did more: for he fasted thrice a week, saith he that writes his life. John ArchBishop…. D. …. of …, he who first affected the stile of Universall Bishop, was sirnamed Nesteutes, from his frequent fasting. Munday and Thursday were the Pharisees fasting-dayes: because Moses went up to the Mount on a Thursday, and came down on a Munday, saith ….
Verse 13. … upon his breast]
In token of indignation, and that he would have smitten his sin so hard, if he could have come at it.
God be mercifull, &c.]
Here was much in few. The Publican … much: though he spake little. As a body without a soul, much wood without fire, a bullet in a gun without powder, so are words in prayer without spirit. Oratio brevis penetrat caelum. The hottest springs send forth their waters by ebullitions.
Verse 14. Justified rather then the other]
The Pharisee was not at all justified: Neither is there More or Lesse in justification. But our Saviour here useth a popular kind of expression.
Verse 18. And a certain Ruler]
Saint Mark saith that thisMark 10. … …. Ruler came running, which argues his earnestnesse; and in a man of quality was …: for such walk softly for most part, and in state.
Verse 22. Yet lackest thou one thing]
Yea all things. But our Saviour speaketh thus by an holy irony.
Verse 25. It is … for a … ]
Caveant ergi divites (saith an Interpreter) & solicitè; mane, vesperi, interdiù, noctu, secum de periculosa vitae suae, atione commententur. Let rich men therefore weigh their danger, and beware.
Verse 34. And they understood none, &c.]
Prejudicate opinions of Christs earthly kingdom hung as so many bullets at their eye lids, that they could not perceive so plain a truth.