Commentary on the Gospels and Acts, Commentary 3 · Chapter 4 – Chapter 5
CHAP. IV.
Verse 1. Returned from Jordan and was led]
NO sooner out of the water of baptisme, but in the fire of temptation. After greatest feelings, we are to expect sharpest assaults: neither can we better quench the Devils fiery darts then with the water of baptisme. We read, saith Luther, of a certain holy virgin, who, whensoever sollicited to sin, would stop the tempters mouth with this one answer Christiana sum, I am a Christian. Intellexit enim hostis statim virtutem Baptismi & fidei —. & fugit ab ea. Satan could not abide the mentions of baptisme, but fled from her presently.
Verse 2. Being fourty dayes]
During which time, he was set upon with al sorts of temptations. These three here recorded were likely the very worst; in quibus Diabolus omnes astus & … suae sacculos deplevit, (as one saith) wherein the Devill did his utmost.
Verse 3. Command this stone]
Bread of deceit is sweet to aProv. 20. 17. man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravell. Compare this verse with verse 9. and see how the devill usually tempteth by extreams, to make men offend either in defect, or excesse. Thus he tempted Master Knox upon his death-bed, if not to despair,…. then to presume that heaven should be his, for his zeal in the Scottish Reformation.
Verse 5. Shewed unto him all the Kingdomes]
In visible landskip of his own making, presented to the eye.
Verse 6. To whomsoever I will, I give it]
The Pope, as heir to the Devill, takes upon him to be Dominus regnorum mundi. Boniface. 8. wrote to Philip King of France, that he was lord of all, both Temporals and Spirituals, in all countries. Os papae & cultus diabobi in eodem sunt praedicamento, saith one. But, Cui volo do illa, is Gods only to say Dan. 4. Z 2.
Verse 7 If thou wilt worship]
Papa duliâ adorandus, say the Canonists.
Verse 8. Get thee behind me]
See the Note on Matthew 4. 10.
Verse 13. He departed from him for a season]
We must look for the tother bout, and in a calm prepare for a storm. The tempter is restlesse and impudent: so that a man is to expect, if he live out his dayes, to be urged to all sins, to the breach of every branch of the ten commandements, and to be put to it in respect of every Article of the Creed.
Verse 14. In the power of the Spirit]
Without which the word is preached to no purpose. Cathedram in caelo habet, qui corda docer, saith Augustine. It is with the word and spirit, as with the veines and arteries; as the veines carry the bloud, so the arteries carry the spirits to quicken the bloud.
Verse 15. Glorified of All]
Envy it self was thrattled, which yet usually waits upon vertue. Every Zopyrus hath his Zoilus.
Verse 16. Where he had been brought up]
The Jewes were to be kind to the AEgyptians, and to pray for the prosperity of Babylon, where they had bin bred, and fed. Be ye thankfull, Coloss. 3. 15, viz. to your friends and benefactors.
And stood up for to read]
In honour of the word that he read: So …. 8. 5. A commendable custome.
Verse 17. He found the place]
Whether he looked for it, or it so fell out by a providence, its uncertain. Origen, after his fall, lighting on that text, Psal. 50. What hast thou to do to take my words, &c. fell into a passion of weeping, and came out of the pulpit, as not able to speak to the people. Augustine hearing from heaven Tolle, lege, and happening upon that place Rom. 13. 14. Put Aug. Confess. lib. 8 cap. 12.ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, &c. was presently converted thereby. So was Cyprian, by reading the prophecy of Jonah.
Verse 18. He hath anoynted me to preach]
Therefore the Gospel is a sure saying, and worthy of al acceptation, sith its an effect of the holy Spirit: doubt not of its excellency, authority, certainty, sufficiency. See my True Treasure.
Verse 19. The acceptable year of the Lord]
A joyfull Jubilee. Let us not stand out the time, least we be bored in the eare by the Devill.
Verse 20. Were fastened on him]
A good help against distractions. Our hearts are fickle and fugitive, if not hard held to it.
Verse 21. This day is the Scripture, &c.]
This was the summe of his sermon, as were also the … we read, the heads only and short notes of the Prophets larger discourses. Brevity breeds obscurity.
Verse 22. Is not this Josephs sonne?]
And what of that? But it is still the course of our hearers, to look round about, if possibly they may find any hole in our coat, through which to flight and slip the coards of our doctrine, though they cannot but admire it.
Verse 23. Physitian heale thy selse]
That is thy Country. So that for a man to cure his Country, is to cure himself.
Verse 24. No Prophet is accepted]
See the Note on Matt. 13. 57.
Verse 25. Many widows were in Israel]
q. d. God hath … on whom he will have mercy, &c. He is a free agent, and may do with his own as he pleaseth. If the Prophets, by the Spirits direction, healed and helped forraigners sooner then Israelites; what so great wonder that Christ did not that for his own Country, that he did for others?
Verse 26. That was a widow]
A calamitous name, 2 Sam. 14. 5. The Hebrewes call her Almanah, a dumb woman, because either she dare not, or may not speak for her self: but God professeth himself the patron of such; and he can speak for them in the hearts of their greatest adversaries. Happy they in such an Advocate.
Verse 27. … the Syrian]
Nor he neither so long as he looked upon Gods Jordan with Syrian eyes.
Verse 28. And all they in the Synogogue]
Though but plain rusticks, yet they soon understood this saying of preaching to the Gentiles: which put them into an anger, and our Saviour into a danger.
Verse 29. Thrust him out of the City]
As unworthy to tread on their pavement. And so mad they were, that they could neither stay till the businesse were brought to a judiciall tryall, nor forbear execution till the Sabbath were over.
Verse 30. But he passing, &c.]
Like a second Sampson: … own arme saved him. This might have convinced his adversaries; but that they were mad with malice.
Verse 31. And came down to Capernaum]
Contempt drives away Christ. And woe be unto you if I forsake you, Hos. 9. 12. Contend earnestly for the Faith, sith it is but once delivered to the Saints, Jude 3. You must never expect another edition of it.
Verse 32. For his word was with power]
He preached not frigide & trepidè, as the Scribes: but uttered oracles, and did miracles.
Verse 33. And in the … ]
See Notes on Mark 1. 23.
Verse 34. The Holy One of God]
The Pope will needs be called Most Holy: and so lifts up himself above Christ.
CHAP. V.
Verse 1. As the people pressed upon him]
THis was both an argument of the truth of his humanity (that he was throng'd and thrust … by the unmannerly multitude) and a part of his passion.
Verse 2. Were washing their nets]
Though they laboured last night and had taken nothing. Ferendum & sperandum. Hope beguiles calamity, as good company doth the way.
Verse 3. He prayed him]
Gr. He gently asked him, Will youforeign be pleased to thrust out a little? See Philem. 8, 9. Posse & nolle, … est.
Taught the people out of the ship]
Any place served him for a pulpit. So if men be desirous to hear, they will make a mat a seat, a pair of legs a ….
Verse 4. Let down your … ]
This is the fare he paies them, for the use of their ship. No man … by Christ.
Verse 5. We have toyled all night, &c.]
Omnia fui, & nihil expedit, Spartian.said Severus the Emperour. See Hab. 2. 13. Hag. 2. 6. If God stop not that hole in the bottom of the bag, all will run ….
Verse 6. And their net brake]
Yet the … got not out: which some note for another miracle.
Verse 7. Filled … the ships]
Here the dumb fishes do cleerly preach Christ to be the Son of God.
Verse 8. For I am a sinfull man]
Gr. A man, a sinner, aforeign very mixture and compound of dirt and sin. See the like phrase, Numb. 32. 14.
Verse 9. And he was astonished]
Gr. Fear seazed upon him, foreignand surrounded him, as Tacitus saith Induere pavores.
Verse 10. Thou shalt catch men]
See the Note on Matthew 4. 19.
Verse 11. They forsook all, and followed him]
They had given their names to him before, John 1. But now they see by this miracle his power to provide for them, they leave all to live with him. We love to see how we shall subsist.
Verse 12. If thou wilt, thou canst]
It is a ready way to speed, to found our prayers upon the power of God.
Verse 13. I will, be thou clean]
So ready is Christ to gratifie his suppliants, yea to be commanded by them, Isaiah 45. 11.
Verse 14. For a testimony unto them]
For a Bill of Indictment against them. Reprobates shall give an heavy account to God of all the means and offers of grace.
Verse 15. But so much the more]
Fame followes them that fly from it, and the contrary: as the Crocodile doth.
Verse 16. And he withdrew]
Pray, if you meane to prosper.
Verse 17. And the power of the Lord]
So tis, when any Ordinance is afoot.
Verse 18. And behold men brought]
See the Notes on …. 8. 2, 3, &c. and on Mark 2. 3. &c.
Verse 20. Thy sins are forgiven thee]
Let our sicknesses mind us of our sins, that we may soon seek pardon.
Verse 23. Whether is easier]
q. d. Neither of either: for both are equally hard, and feisable to God alone.
Verse 36. Strange things]
… Paradoxes, things that weforeign. never thought to have seen: and above beleif, had we not seen them.
Verse 35. And then shall they fast]
This is fulfilled saith Bellarmine, in our Lent-fasts. But this was fulfilled say we, … …. de … cap. 10.Christ was crucified, and the Apostles mourned. Papists set-fasts are meer mock-fasts.
Verse 39. The old is better]
That is, milder, and so pleasanter. Vetustate enim vina mitescunt, quia vetustas igneum calorem, acerbitatem, & … e vino tollit. Age clarifies wine, and ripens…. it.