Harmony of the Gospels, Section 6
SECT. VI.
S. LUKE, CHAP. II.
CHRIST borne; published to the Shepheards; rejoyced in by Angels; circumcised; presented in the Temple; confessed by Simeon and Anna.
AND it cam… to passe in those dayes, that there went outa[foreign] in the Greek: in Dan. 6. 8. 12. a decree frombCaesar, the common name of the Roman Emperours; as Abimelech of the Philistims Kings, Ols. 34. in tit. and Pharaoh of the Egyptians: from Julius the first Emperor, who was of this name; but the name Caesar was long before him, see Plin. lib. 7. cap. 9. Caesar Augustus, thatcAs Ezr 12. all the World should bee taxed.
2 And this taxing was first made, whendIn the Roman Historians he is called Quirinus. Cyrenius was Governour of Syria.
3 And all went to be taxed every one into his owne City.
4 And Joseph alsoeTaking a journey in Scripture, bee it whither soever it will; is called indifferently, a going up, or going downe, as Numb. 16. 12. 14. Jer. 21. 2. Judg. 16. 18. Gen. 42. 3. Judg. 15. 8. 1 Sam. 2. 10. went up from Galilee out of the City of Nazareth into Judea, unto the City of David, which is called Bethlehem; because hee was of the flock and linage of David;
5 To beefThis word here, and in vers. 1. 3. hath various translations. That they might bee inrolled. Syr. Arab. Rhem. That they might professe, Vulg. Erasm. That they might bee taxed, Erasm. againe, and our English: All these laid together, make up a compleat description of the manner of their taxing. First, they were taken notice of, who were in every Towne and City, and were inrolled, upon their inrolling they professed subjection to the Romane State; and upon this profession they payed some money, at which they were assessed. taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with Child.
6 And so it was, that while they were there, the dayes were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her first-borne Sonne, andgforeign: See the Gr. in Job 38. 6. & Ezek. 1. 4. some deriving the word from foreign, To rend, conceive that, is meant, that his swaddles were poore and ragged, and that this is expressed as a particular of his abasement. wrapped him in swadling cloaths, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for him in the Inne.
8 And there were in the same Countrey, Shepheards abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flockehChrist borne by night, for if hee were borne by day, why should the revealing of it be forborne till night? by night.
9 And …o, 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 saidaThis message of the Angel, as it was full of comfort, so also was it of plainenesse, according to the condition of the men to whom he spake. Feare not, for behold I bring you good tydings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is borne this day in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a signe unto you, yee shall find the babe wrapped in swadling cloaths, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the Angel,bOr the multi…ude, a multitude of the Heavenly host, praising God, and saying,
14cOr the good will of God towards men, is glory to God in the Highest, and peace on the earth. Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.
15 And it came to passe, as the Angels were gone away from them into Heaven, thedIt hath bin held that these Shepheards were about the Tower of Ed…r, Gen. 35. 21. and that this was about a mile from Bethlehem. Shepheards said one to another, Let us now goe even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to passe, which the Lord hath made knowne unto us.
16 And they came with hast, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the 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 Shepheards.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondred them in her heart.
20 And the Shepheards returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seene, as it was told unto them.
21 And when eight dayes were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the Angel, before he was conceived in the wombe.
22 And when the dayes of her purificationeLevit. 12. according to the Law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord.
23 As it is written in the Law of the Lord,fExod. 13. 1. every male that openet… the wombe, shall bee called holy to the Lord.
24 And to offer a Sacrifice according to that which is said in the Law of the Lord,gMaries poverty in that her hand could not reach to a lambe, which was the proper offering that the Law required, Levit. a paire of Turtle Doves, and two young Pigeons.
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 spirit of Prophecy. It had bin long a stranger among the nation, even ever since the death of Zachary & Malachi, but is now begun to bee restored, to speak of the great Prophet neere at hand. the holy Ghost was upon him.
26 Andgforeign. This word is used againe in this sense, Mat. 2. 12 22. Act. 10 22. Heb. 11. 7. & by the Lxx, 1 Kin. 18. 27. and in another sense, Act 11. 26. it was revealed to him by the holy Ghost that hee should not see death before hee had seen the Lord Christ.
27 And hee came by the Spirit into the Temple, and when the Parents brought in the Childe Jesus to doe for him after the custome of the Law.
28 Then took hee him up in his armes, 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.
33 And Joseph and his Mother marvelled, at those things which were spoken of him.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his Mother, Behold, this childe is set for the fall and rising againe of many in Israel, and for a signe which shall bee spoken against.
35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soule also) that the thoughts of many hearts may bee revealed.
36 And there was onehCompare 1 Sam. 1 & 2. Anna a Prophetesse, the daughter ofiIn Hebrew it would bee written Penuel, as Gen. 32. Phanuel, of the Tribe of Aser, shee was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven yeares from her Virginity.
37 And shee was a Widow of about fourescore and foure yeeres, which departed not from the Temple, but served God with fasting and prayer night and day.
38 And shee comming in at that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their owne City Nazareth.
Reason of the Order.
THe dependence of the beginning of this Section upon the end of that that went before, doth even prove and confirme it selfe. For after the story of the birth of Christs forerunner, and the relation of what happened and befell at that time, what could bee expected to come next in order, but the birth of Christ himselfe? Especially, since none of the Evangelists mention any thing that came between.
Harmony and Explanation.
Ships shall come from the coasts of Chittim, and shall afflict Ashur, and shall afflict Heber, Num. 24. 24.
THat by Chittim is meant Italy, or the Romanes, it is not onelyonly the generall opinion of the Jewes, as may bee seene in their Targums, and in other writers, but of the most Christians also, yea of the Romanists themselves, whom the latter part of the verse doth so neerely pinch: As see their vulgar Latine, and Lyranus upon the place.
This Prophecy was fulfilled when the power of Rome first set her foote upon the necke of the Hebrews by the conquest of Pompey: but especially when shee tyrannized over Christ, the chiefe childe of Eber, even before, and at his birth, as in this story, but chiefely in condemning him to death, as in the story of his passion.
As Jacob had before told that the Jewes at Messias his comming should bee under the Subjection of a Foraine Nation, so doth Balaam in this Prophecy shew who that Nation should bee. And this the more ancient and more honest Jewes tooke notice of, and resolved that Christ should come in the time of the Roman Empire, and neere to the destruction of the Temple by it: So in the Talmud they question What is the name of Messias? Some answer, Hhevara Leprous, and hee sitteth among the poore in the gates of Rome carrying their sicknesses, Sanhedrin.
The Chaldee Paraphrast likewise on Esa. 11. 4. readeth thus, With the speech of his lips shall Messias slay Romylus the wicked one: or the wicked Roman, shewing at once his opinion of Christs comming in the time of the Romans, and also of the Romans being foreign, the wicked one, after a singular manner. Augustus was the second Emperour of the Romans, or rather, the first that was intire Monarch: for Julius Caesar his Uncle and Predecessor, had hardly injoyed any Monarchicall government at all, nor did Augustus of many yeeres neither: till hee had outed Lepidus, and overcome Anthony, which were copartners with him in the dominion.
His name Augustus was given to him for his worthy administration of the Common-wealth: For before-time he was calledaDion. C…pias, andbSueton. Thurinus, and Octavianus, and had like to have been named Romulus, as a second founder of the City, but by the advice of Munacius Planous hee was named Augustus, which importeth Sacrednesse and reverence.
SS. That all the world should bee taxed.
To so…vast an extent was the Roman Empire now growne, from Parthia to England, and they two also included, that it was a world rather then one dominion: And so did their own Authours boast it in those times: as, Caesar Regit omnia terris: Divisum imperium cum Jove: Totum circumspicit orbem: Virgil, Ovid, Florus.Terrarum orbis imperium, and such like speeches usuall among them, both in Poesy and Prose. This huge and unweldy body, of so large and spacious a dominion, Augustus had now reduced to the healthfull temper of peace and quietnesse: which is the more remarkable, by how much the more warres had been more frequent, and more bloody but a little before. For never had that Empire felt so great distemper within it selfe, as it had done of latter times, in the civill warres betwixt Sylla and Marius, betwixt Julius and Pompey, betwixt Augustus and Antony: not to mention the continuall warres that it had abroad. It had not been very long before this time that the Evangelist speaketh of, when both Rome it selfe, and the rest of the world was at that pitifull plight that Polybius speaketh of,foreign, cap. 2. That the Romans were forced to send to Prolomy, King of Egypt, for a supply of corne, because there was a great scarcity and dearth among them. For in Italy all their corne was destrayed even to the gates of Rome, by the Souldiers, and abroad there was no helpe nor supply to bee had, there being warres in all parts of the world. But now is there an universall Peace, not onelyonly in the Romane Empire [so that the Temple of Janus was shut up, which it never used to bee when any warres at all were stirring,] but if wee will beleeve Crantzius, even in those parts and Countries, where the Romane power had not yet set her foote; as Denmark, Norway, and those Northerne Climates, there was so great a peace, that in some places there, Money and Jewels were hung up by the high way, and there was neither Theefe nor Enemy to take them away. Such times became the comming of Shilob the Peaceable one, Isa. 6. 9. And such a beginning was befitting the Gospel of Peace.
Augustus having brought the Empire under this quiet obedience, like a politicke Prince will have it all taxed, and brought into the Subsidie Book, that hee might know the extent of his command, of his strength and of his revenues.
And thus wee see and may observe Rome come to its intire and absolute Monarchy but at this time, and the state and power that should persecute Christ in his Members to the end of the world, beginning and borne as it were, at the very same time when Christ himselfe.
Augustus, ascAnnal. …. 1. Tacitus recordeth of him, did cause an account to be taken of all the Empire, and himself had a Book & Record of it written out with his own hand. Opes publieae continebantur: quantum civium sociorumque in armis: quot classes, regna, Provinciae, tributa aut vectigalia, & necessitates ac largitiones, quae cuncta, suae manu perscripserat Augustus: which contained the publick revenue, the number of Citizens or confederates in the Armies: what Shipping: Kingdoms: Provinces: Tributes or Subsidies: and reliefe money, and beneficences. Dion also in the life of Augustus, and much also about this time, mentioneth a taxe laid by him upon those that dwelt in Italy, whose estates were not lesse then five thousand Sesterces: and poorer then these hee taxed not.
Ver. 2. This taxing was first made when Cyrenius was Governour of Syria.
The Taxe is dated by the time of Cyrenius his Governing of Syria: First, because Judea was annexed to Syria, as a member of it: and in naming the one, the other is included. Secondly, hereby the losse and want of the Scepter and Law-giver in the Tribe of Judah is the better seen, for the subjection of the Jewes by this is shewed to bee in the third degree. They subject to Herod, Herod to Cyrenius, and Cyrenius to Augustus. Thirdly, from Syria had Israel had their greatest afflictions, that ever they had in their own Land; as by Gog and Magog, Ezek. 38. or the house of the North, Dan. 11. And Luke deriving the taxing of the Jewes from Syria, calleth those things to mind: and sayeth as it were the last verse of Dan. 11. and the first of Dan. 12. together.
The taxing is said first to bee made in his time: As first, denying, that ever there was such an universall taxation in the Empire before, for the Empire was never in that case of universall quietnesse to bee taxed before: And secondly, importing the taxes of that Country that followed after: [Augustus at this very time laying the platform subjection and submission of the Empire for succeeding posterities:] And here, [let it bee said againe] in exact propriety beginneth the Romane Monarchy: and is farre from being any of the foure, Mentioned Dan. 2. or 7.
Josephus cAntiq. lib. 18. cap. 1.mentioneth Cyrenius his comming into Syria, after Archelaus his death, To doe justice and to assesse and taxe every mans goods, and hee came into Judea, which was now annexed to Syria, and did so there: Now Archelaus reigned after Herod, Mat. 2. and reigned till Christ was about ten yeers old, forten yeers hee reigned, as saith the same Josephus dAnttq. lib. 17. cap. 15.: and therefore either Cyrenius came twice into Syria to lay taxations, as Funccius concludeth, or else Josephus fayleth here, as hee doth not seldome elsewhere in Chronology.
Ver. 3. And all went to bee taxed.
This taxing was first by Kingdomes and Countries, then by Cities and Townes, and then by poll: First, Kingdomes and Provinces were divided one from another. Secondly, Cities and Townes in every Kingdome and Province, were also particularized, and notice given that every one should repaire to the place to which by stock and descent they did belong. Thirdly, the people being thus convened in their severall Cities, their names were taken and inrolled, and so the Greek word here used doth signifie in the neerest propriety. Then did they make profession of Subjection to the Romane Empire, either by some set forme of words, or at least by payment of some certaine summe of money which was laid upon every poll.
And now, first, are the Jews entring under the yoke of that subjection which they never cast off again, but it pressed them into a finall desolation even to this day. Secondly, They had voluntarily brought this misery upon themselves in calling in the Romans in their civill warres. Thirdly, No sparke of their former freedome and authority is left among them for their King and Law-giver is cleane gone. Fourthly, they are now to bee inrolled, and registred for vassals to all succeeding generations. Fifthly, they must now leave their own occasions, and many of them their owne houses to attend their owne bondage and misery: And thus It is in the words of our Rabbins, if thou see a generation that hath many afflictions, then looke for the Redeemer: from Isa. 59. 17, 18. Jer. 30. 6, 7. &c. D. Kimch: in Isa. 59.
Ver. 4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, &c.
Whether it were for the feare of Herod that had a murderous spite at the stock of David, or for the more commodiousnesse for his trade, or for whatsoever else it was that Josoph a Bethlehemite became a resident in Galilee, surely it was the wondrous disposall of the Lord that a decree from Rome should bring him now from Galilee to Bethlehem, that the Prophecy of Christs being borne in that place might take effect.
Ver. 7. Shee brought forth her first-borne.
This is to bee understood according to the propriety and Phrase of the Law, agreeable to which it speaketh. Now the Law speaking of the first-borne, regardeth not whether any were borne after or no, but onelyonly that none was borne before. As Hur is called the first-born of Ephr…, 1 Chron. 2. 5. and yet no mention of any childe that shee had after: So Christ is here called the first-borne, not as though shee had any children besides, but to shew that in him was fulfilled what was typifyed by the first-borne under the Law, who was as King, Priest, and Prophet, in the Family, and holy to the Lord.
And so likewise in that sp…ch of Matthew, chap. 1. 25. Hee knew her not till shee had brought, f…rth her first-borne: It implyeth not that … knew her after, for the word till inforceth no such thing, as see the Geneva notes upon the place; but the Evangelists intention is to cleere the birth and generation of Christ from any carnall mixture of Joseph and Mary, before hee was borne.
And here it is not unseasonable to looke a little narrowly into the time of our Saviours birth, namely, the time of the yeere, … which hee was borne, as wee have done into the yeere it self, or the time of the world, heretofore.
The yeere of the world, as wee observed then, was, 3928.
The yeere of Augustus is neither so necessary to seek, nor so ease to find: partly, because there is some difference among Historians about the number of the yeeres of his Reigne, and partly because there may bee some about the yeere of Tiberius, in which Christ was Baptized, from which wee should count backward: For though it bee said that John came Baptizing in his fifteenth yeere, Luk. 31. yet may it bee questionable, whether hee Baptized Christ in that yeere or no: But not to swarve from the most common consent of Romane Historians, that say that Augustus Reigned six and fifty yeeres, and of Christians that hold that Christ was baptized in the fifteenth of Tiberius, then may it bee readily concluded that hee was borne in the forty second of Augustus.
The time of the yeere at which hee was borne, hath beene much mistaken, being concluded upon, at the latter end of December: This mistake did first arise by another: for it being misunderstood that Zacharias was the High Priest, and that hee was in Sancto Sanctorum, on the expiation day, when the Angel Gabriel appeared unto him, they could doe no lesse then conclude, that John was borne in the middle of Summer, and Christ in the middle of Winter. A time very unfit for people to travaile to their severall Cities to be taxed, but far more unfit for Shepherds to lye abroad in the fields all night.
For finding out therefore the true and right time of his Nativity, these things are to bee taken into consideration.
First, That the time that Christ lived here upon the earth, was two and thirty yeeres and a halfe, exactly: And so long did David Reigne in Jerusalem, 2 Sam. 5. 4, 5.
This time was divided into two unequall parts: twenty nine yeers compleat hee spent as a private man before hee was baptized, for it is said, hee began to bee thirty, or was entring upon his thirtieth at his Baptisme, Luk. 3. 23. And three yeeres and an halfe from his Baptisme to his death: This summe was precisely told of by the Angel Gabriel, Dan. 9. 27. In halfe that week shall hee cause sacrifice and oblation to cease: And is plainly parcelled out by Passeovers and other circumstances of time, Mat. 4. 2. Job. 1. 29. 35. 44. & 2. 1. 13. & 5. 1. & 6. 4. & 13. 1.
Secondly, That the time of Christs death was at Easter, or their Passeover, as is most plaine by all the Evangelists.
Thirdly, That hee living just two and thirty yeers and a halfe, and dying at Easter; it must needs follow that hee was borne about the middle of the monethmonth Tisri, which answereth to part of our September; And it is not only probable, but also necessary, if he lived thirty two yeeres and a halfe exactly; that then as hee died upon the fiftheenth day of the monethmonth Abib, or at the Passeover; so that he was borne about the fifteenth day of Tisri, at the Feast of Tabernanacles: a monethmonth and a Feast, that had been exceedingly renowned in ancient times. In this monethmonth the World had begun, and sin had entred into it. In this monethmonth were all the Father born before the Flood, as the Jewes averre, and reason confirmes it. From this monethmonth began the circle of the yeere from the Creation, to the redemption out of Egypt. From this monethmonth began the typicall yeere of Jubile in the ages after. And in this monethmonth were the three famous Feasts of Trumpets, of Expiation, and of Tabernacles. And like glorious things may bee observed upon the Feast of Tabernacles it selfe: At that very time did Israel fall upon the making of the Tabernacle in the wildernesse, Exod. 35. At this very time was the consecration of the Temple, 1 King. 1. 8. 2. And at this very time, was our Saviour borne, and began to carry the Tabernacle of his flesh; and at this very time was hee Baptized, and began the Ministery of the Gospel. So that here appeareth one addition more to the present misery and subjection of the Jewes at the time of this taxe; that not onelyonly they must leave all their occasions, to wait upon thier own taxing, and promote their own bondage, but that they must neglect a maine part of the service of God, the Feast of Expiation, and the Feast of Tabernacles, as Zech. 14. 16, 17. to attend the Conquerour, and their owne thraldome.
And now, it being considered that John the Baptist was but halfe a yeere older then our Saviour, it will be observable how the foure points of the yeer, as it may be so said, were renowned with their conception and nativity. John conceived at the Summer Solstice, and our Saviour at the Winter, John born at the vernall Equinox, and our Saviour at the Autumnall.
SS. And wrapped him in swadling cloaths.
This passage is one ground-work whereupon Expositors conclude that Christ was borne without paine to his mother: for that shee performed the Midwives p…t her selfe, and none to help her. A second is this: That he was borne without his Mothers paine, because hee was conceived without her pleasure. A third Argument may bee fetched from the blessing of propagation given to our first Parents in the Garden. And a fourth from the example of the delivery of the Hebrew women in Egypt: For first, when God gave this blessing to Adam and Eve in their innocency, increase and multiply, Gen. 1. 28. it inabled them to beget children agreeable to their owne perfection; that is, holy, righteous, and without any symptomes or consequents of sinne, either in themselves, or in the mothers. But they never begat any child thus, because of their sudden fall. What, did this first blessing then utterly faile, and never take effect, in its proper sense and full extent? Could such emphaticall words of God to man in innocency, fall to the ground without performance? No, they took place in the second Adam, who was borne according to the full extent and intent of that blessing to our innocent parents; in perfect holinesse and righteousnesse, and without paine to his mother. Secondly, if the Hebrew wonien in Egypt had so quicke and easie a delivery, as that they were not like to other women: much more may we thinke the travaile and delivery of the Virgin to have been quicke, lively, miraculous and painlesse, as Esa. 66. 7. Before her paine came, she was delivered of a man child.
SS. Because there was no roome for them in the Inne.
At the returne out of Babylon, the Children of Bethlehem were a hundred twenty three persons, Ezra 2. 21. Now that being foure hundred and fifty yeers past, and somewhat above; to what a multitude might the stock or breed of that City be growne by this time of Christs birth? This multitude pressing together to their own City, according to the Emperours edict, the weakest goe to the walls, and Joseph and Mary are excluded out of the Inne: and thus the freewoman and her Son, are cast out of doores, as the bond-woman and her Sonne had been, Gen. 2.
Vers. 8. And there were Shepheards, &c.
The Patriarchs to whom Christ was more especially promised, were of this vocation, Gen. 47. 3. especially Abraham and David, to whom the promise was more clearly made; peculiarly David who was feeding Sheepe neere to Bethlehem, when hee was taken a Father and type of Christ, 1 Sam. 16. 11, 12. And it doth illustrate the exactnesse of the performance the more, and doth Harmonize with the giving of it the better, when to Shepheards it is first revealed, is to Shepheards it was first promised. Compare this with the Visions of Jacob and Moses with their flocks, Gen. 31. 10. Exod. 3. 3. and of Sampsons mother in the field.
SS. Keeping watch over the flocke by night.
Greek, [Keeping the watches of the night] For the night was divided by the Jewes into foure watches of three houres a piece. The first, or beginning of watches, is mentioned, …, 8, 19. The second, and third, Luke 12. 38. The fourth, Mat. 14. 25. this was called, also the morning watch, Exod. 14. 24. Howbeit, the Tal…ud, from Judg. 7. 19. divideth it only into three Be it the one or the other, these Shepheards it seemeth observed such an order, as that they watched by course, while others slept: or not to take it so very strictly, they lay now in the fields, and watched their flocks all night, which had been in a manner impossible to have done, in the deepe of winter, at which time our Kalendar hath placed Christs Nativity.
Vers. 9. The glory of the Lord …, &c.
That is an exceeding great glory, for so doe the Hebrewes heighten their expressions, as Cedars of the Lord, that is, goodly Cadars: Such an exceeding great glory shone about Paul, Act. 26. 13. That at noone day, this in the dead of the night.
Vers. 13. A multitude of the Heavenly best, &c.
It might not unproperly be rendred, The multitude; as importing that all the Quire of Angels, or the whole multitude of that …lestiall Militia, was now knit together in a consort, for the praises and acknowledgment of Christ: according to that of the Apostle, Heb. 1. 6. When hee bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the Angels of God worship him. And thus as all the Angels sang at the beginning of the old world, of at the Creation, Job 38. 7. So doe they at the beginning of the new, and of the redemption.
Angels are called the Heavenly host, 1 King. 22. 19. Job. 25. 3. And in this sense, Rab. Menahem understandeth, Gen. 2. 1. Thus were the Heavens and the Earth finished, and all their Host, that is, faith hee, the Angels whose Creation Moses nameth not elsewhere.
Vers. 14. Glory to God in the Highest, &c.
The last words of this verse, the Vulgar Latine readeth, to men of good will; contrary to the Syrian, Arabicke, and to the ancient Greek Copies, as appeareth by Greg. Nazi…nzen, Orat. 42. Andreas Jerusolomitanus, in Orat. de Salutatione Angeli, &c.
The whole Verse is but one Proposition or Axiome, in which the last clause of all is the subject, and the two former are predicated of it. And it lieth in this sense, The good will of God to men shewed in the Incarnation of our Saviour, when God himselfe disdained not to take the nature of man, is glory to him in the highest, and is peace upon the earth: And that this is the genuine and proper meaning and posture of the words, may be observed; First, by the conjunction …, And, put betweene, Glory to God, and peace on earth, and none between them, and good will. And secondly, the very sense and matter it self inforceth this construction: For first, foreign beareth the same sense here, that foreign doth, Mat. 3. 17. and 17. 5. of Gods good-will, or will-pleasednesse with men. Now, secondly, this well-pleased nesse of his, with men, was expressed and evidenced at this time, in the birth of our Saviour, in that God had assumed the nature of men, and it had never been so cleered and demonstrated before. So that, thirdly, the birth of Christ being the occasion of the Angels singing this song, the good will of God towards men revealed, in this his birth, must needs bee the subject of their Song. And then fourthly, the other two things expressed in the two other clauses, glory on High, and peace on Earth, must needs be understood as Predicates; seeing that, being laid, to this expression of God of his good will towards men, they are but as fruits and consequences of it. And this reading and construction, how facil and plaine is it, in comparison of these intricacies and obscurities, that those readings bring with them, that either breake the verse into three distinct axiomes, or into two, or that read foreign, in the Genitive case, or foreign, in the Dative, as may bee seene in Expositors.
Now how the good-will, and well-pleasednesse of God towards men, exhibited and shewed in the incarnation and birth of our Saviour, did glorifie God in the highest, in all his attributes, of wisedome, truth, justice, power, mercy, &c. And how it wrought peace on earth, betwixt man and himselfe, and man and Angels, and man and man, and man and his owne co…cience, might bee shewed at large, if wee were common placing in stead of commenting.
Ver. 21. And when eight daies were accomplished for the circumcising, &c.
It was necessary that Christ should bee circumcised, that hee might both beare the badge of a childe of Abraham, and have upon him an obligation to the keeping of the Law: For hee that was circumcised was a debter to the whole Law, Gal. 5. 3.
Ver. 22. And when the dayes of her purification, &c.
At forty daies old, Levit. 12. 1, 2, 3, 4. the Lord commeth to his owne Temple: and by an old man, and an old woman, is proclaimed both to young and old, that expected redemption. Herod had heard no tidings of him as yet, by the Wisemen, for otherwise this had beene an opportunity for him to have put in practice his bloody and malicious intent. Mary is purified according to the custome of the Law, although shee had contracted no pollution, by her childing and bringing forth; partly, that Christ in nothing might bee wanting to the Law, and partly, that this might bee an occasion, for the first publicke declaration of him, by Simeon and Anna.
Ver. 25. A man whose name was Simeon.
This Simeon seemeth to bee hee whom the Jewish Authours name for the son of Hillel: and who was the first that bare the title of Rabban, the highest title that was given to their Doctors, and which was given but to seven of them.
Hillel was the famous head or principall of that Schoole that is so renowned in the Jewish Authours by the name of Beth Hillel. Out of which [as they relate] there came thousands of Schollers, but fourescore especially of most renowne. Hillel the old (they are the words of the Talmud) had fourescore Schollers. Thirty of them were fit, on whom the divine Majesty should rest, as it did on Moses: Thirty of them were worthy for whom the Sun should stand still, as it did for Joshua: and twenty were of a middle r…e between. The greatest of them all, was Jonathan ben Uzziel, that Paraphrased the Prophets in the Chaldee tongue, and the lowest of them was Johanan the son of Zaccai.
Such a Father had this our Simeon, and so renowned, but himselfe infinitely were renowned, in the thing that is now in hand, and in his having the Saviour of the world in his armes and heart: Now this is the Genealogy of this man, as it is Recorded by the Jewes themselves: Hillel begat Simeon, who was first titled Rabban. Rabban Simeon begat Rabban Gamaliel, the Tutor of Paul. Rabban Gamaliel begat Rabban Simeon the second. Rabban Simeon the second, begate Rabban Gamaliel the second. Rabban Gamaliel begat Rabban Simeon the third. Rabban Simeon the third, begat Rabbi Juda the holy. Rabbi Juda begat Rabban Gamaliel the third.
These six Rabbans were of the line of Hillel, besides whom there was a seventh, that bare the same title, of another stocke, Rabban Jobanan be… Zaccai.
But it may bee justly questioned, if Simeon were the man wee suppose, namely the Sonne of Hillel, and the Father of Gamaliel, and if hee were so holy and devout a man, and confessed Christ, as this Evangelist relateth of him, how came it to passe that his Sonne Gamaliel was so farre contrary, as appeareth by the education of Paul, in Pharisaicall righteousnesse, and persecution of the Truth?
Answ. First, it is no strange thing for holy Fathers to have wicked Children: witnesse Eli, David, Josaphat, and common experience.
Secondly, it was thirty yeeres from Simeons acknowledging of Christ, to Gamaliels education of Paul, or little lesse, and so much time might weare out the notice of his Fathers action, if hee had taken any notice of it: especially, his Father dying shortly after he had made so glorious a confession.
SS. Waiting for the consolation of Israel.
It is an Article of the Jewish Creed, To beleeve the comming of the Messias, and to wait and wait for his comming, although hee deferre it: which foolishly they doe even to this day, after sixteene hundred yeeres expired since hee came. But Simeons expectation is neither so vaine nor so uncertaine: For, besides the generall expectation of the whole Nation, that the Messias should appeare about that time, Luke 19. 11. hee had it by a speciall and assured revelation, ver. 26.
The comming of Christ, is called The con…ation of Israel, from Isa. 49. 13. & 52. 9. & 66. 13. Jer. 31. 13. Zech. 1. 17. and such like places, which the Jewes doe not onelyonly apply to the comming of the Messias, but also in their Talmud, questioning what his name should bee when as hee came, some conclude it to bee Menahem, The Comforter, from Lam. 1. 16, In Sanbedr.
Ver. 26. That hee should not see*As Psal. 89. 48. & to see corruption. Psal. 16. 10. death before hee had seen the Lords Christ.
This was the time when the Nation expected that Messias should appeare, Luk. 19. 11. and began to look for redemption neere at hand, Luk. 2. 38. The Angel Gabriel to Daniel, and hee to the people had so determinately pointed out the time, Dan. 9. 26, 27. that not onelyonly Jewes of all Nations are gathered to Jerusalem, against the expiring of that Prophecy, Act. 2. but also all the East was possessed with an opinion of a Prince to rise about these times, of supereminent honour, glory, and dominion. Baron. in Appar. &c. Sueton. Virgil, &c.
Simeon having learned the time with the rest of the studious of the Nation, out of the Scripture, hath the certainty of it sealed up to him by the spirit of Prophecy, which assured him that the time of so great expectation was so neere at hand, that hee, though hee were old, yet should not dye, till hee had seene what hee desired: And thus Prophecy, that was departed from Israel so long agoe, is returning and dawning to it againe, to bee as the morning starre, to tell that the Sun of righteousnesse would rise ere long.
Ver. 35. Yea a sword shall pierce through thine owne soule also.
These words seeme to bee of the same tenor and intent with those of our Saviour to Peter, Joh. 21. 18. and to tell. Mary of her suffering martyrdome for Christ and the Gospel, as those doe of his. For Simeon having in the preceding verse related, how Christ both in his person and in the Gospel, should bee as a signe to bee spoken against, persecuted, and opposed, yea, saith hee, and thou his Mother also, for his and the Gospels sake, shalt drinke of the same cup, and partake of the same lot, for the sword of persecution shall goe through thy life …lso (for so the word foreign doth often signifie.)
SS. That the thoughts of many hearts may bee revealed.
This clause is linked to the latter end of the verse preceding, and reacheth beyond the Parenthesis that lyeth before it, and in conjuncture with the clause before that, it maketh this sense, that Christs being set up for a signe to bee spoken against, or persecution for the Gospels sake, should detect many mens tempers and affections, which were not descryed nor revealed before, and discover what malignity, or sincerity to him and to his cause, is in their hearts, as Mat. 13. 21. and as it is at this day.
Ver. 36. The daughter of Phanuel, of the Tribe of Aser.
Hannah a Widow indeed, as 1 Tim. 5. 3. 5. that is, not by divorce, but by the death of her husband, and now of above an hundred yeeres of age, is chosen also, and actuated by the Holy Ghost, to give testimony of Christ as Simeon had done, that out of the mouth of two such witnesses, of either sex one, the thing might bee established, and the party witnessed unto, might bee the more taken notice of. Her Father Phanuel is named, as either being a noted and well knowne man in those times, or for the significancy of his name, made good in her, in that shee now beholdeth the Lord face to face, as Gen. 32. 30. 31. And thus the New Testament doth by this Prophetesse, as the Old Testament doth by divers of the Prophets, in naming her and her Father with her, as Isa. 1. 1. Jer. 1. 1. Joel 1. 1. &c. Phanuel her Father was a Galilean, for in Galilee lay the Tribe of Aser, and from thence commeth a Prophetesse now, to declare and publish the great Prophet, that must once appeare thence to the wonder of the Nation.
Ver. 37. Which departed not from the Temple.
Her constant continuance there might bee, either because shee was a poore Widow, and so maintained upon the foundation, or because shee was a Prophetesse, and so lodged in some of the buildings or chambers belonging to the Temple. For so might women doe, as 2 Chron. 22. 11, 12.