Commentary on the Pentateuch, Commentary 3 – Commentary 4

Commentary on the Pentateuch · Commentary 3 – Commentary 4

p. 113A COMMENTARIE OR EXPOSITION UPON THE Third BOOK of Moſes, called LEVITICƲS.

CHAP. I. Verſ. 1 And the Lord called]

A Continuation of the former Hiſtorie, from the rearing of the Tabernacle, to the numbering of the people; beeing the hiſtorie of one monethmonth onelyonly.

Ver. 2. Bring an offering] Whereby they were led to Chriſt; as the Apoſtle ſheweth in that excellent Epiſtle to the Hebrews; which is a juſt Commentarie upon this Book.

Ver 3. Burnt ſacrifice] A whole-burnt-off…ring. Heb 10.6. purporting whole Chri…, uffering for us Iſa. 53 12 and our ſacrificing our whole ſelvs to him, …s a reaſonable ſervice. Rom. 12.1

p. 114Ver. 4. And hee ſhall put his hand] As acknowledging his own guilt, and transferring the ſame upon Chriſt, reſting upon him with full aſſurance of faith, handfaſting us unto him.

Ver. 5. And bee ſhall kill the bullock] The Prieſt ſhall kill it: for it was death for anie man to offer his own ſacrifice; ſo it is ſtill for anie to com to God, otherwiſe then in, and by Chriſt.

Ver. 6. And hee ſhall flaie the burnt-offering] To ſhew the grievouſneſs of our Saviour's ſufferings; the cruel uſage of his ſuffering Saints. Micah 3.3. Heb. 11.35. and the dutie of all that have benefit by him, to flea off the old man with his deceitful luſts. Epheſ. 4.22. dealing thereby as the Turk dealt by him that betraied the Rhodes. L…unclav.Hee preſented unto him his promiſed wife and portion: but withal told him, that hee would not have a Chriſtian to bee his ſon-in-law: and therefore cauſſed his Baptized skin (as hee called it) to bee flaied off, and him to bee caſt into a bed ſtrawed with ſalt, that hee might get a new skin. See Mark 9.49.

Ver. 7. Fire upon the Altar] That ſire from heaven. Lev. 9.24. (which the Heathens apiſhly imitated in their Veſtal fire.) Typing either the ſcorching wrath of God ſeiſing upon Chriſt, or the ardent love of Chriſt to his, and their zeal for him.

Ver. 8. In order upon the wood] Shewing, that Miniſters muſt rightly divide, and diſpoſe the Word of God. 2 Tim. 2.15. and evidently ſet forth Chriſt crucified. Gal. 3.1.

Ver. 9. Shall hee waſh] Shadowing Chriſt's perfect puritie. Heb. 7. and our intire ſanctification. Ezek. 26.35. Heb. 10.22. [Of a ſweet ſavor unto the Lord] The burning and broiling of the beaſts could yield no ſweet ſavor; but thereto was added wine, oil, and incenſ, by God's appointment, and then there was a ſavor of reſt in it. Our praiers, as from us, would never pleaſ; but as indited by the Spirit, and preſented by Chriſt, they are highly accepted in heaven.

Ver. 10. A male without blemiſh] But curſed bee that coſener that hath in his flock a male, and ſacrificeth unto God a corrupt thing. Mal. 1.14.

Ver. 11. On the ſide of the Altar, northward] Not Eaſtward as the Heathen ſacrifices: or to note the obſcuritie of the Legal Cetimonies.

p. 115Ver. 12. In order] See the Note on Verſ 8.

Ver. 13. Hee ſhall waſh] See the Note on Verſ 9.

Ver. 14. Turtle doves, or young pigeons] Old turtles and young pigeons are the beſt: God muſt have the verie beſt of the beſt, as beeing beſt-worthie.

Ver. 15. Wring off his head] Or, pinch it with his nail, that the blood might go out, without ſeparating it from the reſt of the bodie. This figured the death of Chriſt, without either breaking a bone, or dividing the God-head from the manhood. As alſo the skill that ſhould bee in Miniſters, to cut or divide aright the word of truth.

Ver. 16. His crop with his feathers] Or the maw with the filth thereof (that is, the guts which receiv the filth ſent unto them from the maw) was pluckt out, and the blood ſtrained at the ſide of the Altar: this ſignified thoſe clods of blood wrung from our Saviour, before his oblation upon the Croſs.

Ver. 17. A…d hee ſhall cleav it] That the inward part might bee laid on the fire. See Pſal. 51.18, 19. Mark 12.33.

CHAP. II. Ver. 1. Of fine flour]

NO quantitie is here preſcribed, becauſ it was a Free-will-offering: onelyonly it muſt bee fine, no bran in it: to ſhew the puritie of Chriſt's ſacrifice. Heb. 7.26. and of our ſervices through him. Mal. 3.11. By means of the oil of his Spirit, and incenſ of his Interceſſion.

Ver. 2. Shall burn the memorial of it] Whereby God was inminded (as it were) of the partie offering, and acknowledging all his ſtore to bee from God.

Ver. 3. Shall bee Aaron's and his ſons] As meat for them: hence it was called a Meat-offering; and ſent them to Chriſt, the meat that endureth unto life everlaſting. John 6.27.

Ver. 4. Ʋnleavened cake, mingled with oil] Sinceritie is the mother of ſerenitie; Truth, of tranquillitie.

Ver. 5. Baken in a pan] Afterwards parted in pieces, and oil powred upon it: ſignified the graces of God's Spirit wherewith p. 116Chriſt was fully annointed within and without. Pſalm 45.8. and wherewith wee ſhould bee tempered and annointed. 1 John 2.27. 2 Cor. 1.21.

Ver. 6. And pour oil thereon] Jacob was the firſt wee read of that conſecrated his offerings with oil. Gen. 28.18. Probably hee had it from his predeceſſors.

Ver. 7. Baken in the frying-pan] So, My heart is frying of a good matter, ſaith David. Pſalm 45.1.

Ver. 8. Hee ſhall bring it unto the Altar] God would have all their offerings brought to one Altar; both to figure out the one onelyonly all-ſufficient-ſacrifice of Chriſt, and to teach all the faithful to conſent in one and the ſame truth of the Goſpel.

Ver. 9. Amemorial thereof] Signifying the perpetual benefit of Chriſt's death to all believers.

Ver. 10. Shall be Aaron's and his ſon's] Miniſters maintenence.

Ver. 11. Nor anie honie] Which hath a leavening virtue in it. Sweet ſins are to bee abandoned: there will bee bitterneſs in the end. Prov. 26.26, 27.

Ver. 12. Yee ſhall offer them] i. e. With the firſt-fruits yee ſhall offer both leven. Lev. 23.17. and honie. 2 Chron. 31.5. Both which are ſomtimes taken in the better part. Mat. 13.33. Cant. 4.11.

Ver. 13. Shalt thou ſeaſon with ſalt] Called here the ſalt of Gods's covenant; as ſignifying the covenant of God, made with us in Chriſt, who ſeaſoneth us, and make's all our ſervices ſavorie. See the Note on Mark 9.49, 50.

Ver. 14. Green ears of corn] To ſignifie that God ſhould bee ſerved with the firſt-fruits of our age, the primroſe of our childe-hood.

CHAP. III. Ver. 1. Whether it bee male or female]

IN Chriſt, there is neither male nor female, but all one. Gal. 3, 28. Souls have no ſexes. In Thank-offerings, the female alſo might paſs: to teach, that God look's not ſo much to the worth of the gift, as the honeſtie of the heart that offer's it. Leavened bread alſo in this caſe was accepted. Lev. 7.13.

p. 117Ver. 2. Ʋpon the Altar round about] This ſignified that plenteous redemption by the blood of ſprinkling.

Ver. 3. The fat that covereth the inwards] Heartie thanks muſt bee given to God; ſuch as cometh not from the roof of the mouth, but the root of the heart. An aërie, God bee thanked, profiteth not. Sing with grace in your hearts, is the beſt tune to anie Pſalm. The voice which is made in the mouth is nothing ſo ſweet as that which com's from the depth of the breaſt.

Ver. 4. With the kidnies] Thoſe ſeats of Luſts. Earth lie members muſt bee mortified by the thankful.

Ver. 5. Ʋpon the burnt-ſacrifice] Which was firſt offered; to teach us, that ſin muſt bee pardoned ere our Thank-offerings can bee accepted. It is therefore (ordinarily) beſt to begin our praiers with confeſſion of ſin, and petitions for pardon through Chriſt.

Ver. 8. Laie his hand] See the Note on Chap. 1. v. 4.

Ver. 9. The whole …ump.] Which in thoſe countrie-ſheep is verie large yet not ſo large as thoſe in America, The world encompaſſed.mentioned by S^r. Francis Drake, as big as kine, and ſupplying the room of horſes for burthen, or travel.

Ver. 11. It is the food] That whereupon God himſelf ſeemeth to feed. Pſalm 50.13.

Ver. 12. That yee neither eat fat, nor blood] Neither bee carnal nor cruel, but let your ſouls delight in the fatneſs and ſweetneſs of God's ordinances.

CHAP. IIII. Ver. 2. Shall ſin through ignorance]

OR infirmitie; beeing ſuddenly ſurpriſed, preoccupated Gal. 6.1. See the Note there, and on Heb 5.2.

Ver. 3. A young bullock] The ſame ſacrifice that ſhould bee offered for the ſin of the whole people. Verſ 14. To note the hainouſneſs of the Prieſt's ſin above others. The ſins of Teachers, are the Teachers of ſins.

Ver. 4. Shall laie his hand] Confeſſing his ſin. Lev. 5.5. and profeſſing his faith in Chriſt the true ſin-offering. 2 Cor. 5.21.

p. 118Ver. 5. Shall take of the bullocks blood] See Heb. 5.2, 3. and 7.26, 27, 28. with the Notes there.

Ver. 6. Seven times before the Lord] Becauſ in this caſe, there was need of much and great purgation.

Ver. 7. Ʋpon the borns of the Altar] To ſignifie (ſaith one) that the preaching of the Goſpel concerning the blood of Chriſt, ſhould bee publiſhed and proclaimed to the four corners of the earth. To ſhew (ſaith another) that by faith in the bloud of Chriſt, our praiers are acceptable unto God, and our infirmities pardoned and purged.

Ver. 8. All the fat] Becauſ (among other things) it ſignified hard-heartedneſs and inſenſibleneſs of ſin and danger. Pſal. 119.70. Dionyſius the Heracleot felt not needles thruſt into his fat bellie, ſaith the hiſtorie.

Ver. 9. With the kidnies] See Chap 3.4.

Ver. 11. And the skin, &c.] See the Note on Chap. 1.9.

Ver. 12. Shall hee carrie forth] Heb. 13.11, 12. See the Notes.

Ver. 13. And of the whole congregation] Particular congregations then may err for a ſeaſon; though not finally, fundamentally, if they bee the congregation of Saints. Pſal. 89.5. and not of Hypocrites. Job 15.34. the Church malignant. [And they have don ſomwhat] Either by tranſgreſſion or diſobedience. Hel. 2.2. on …ion or commiſſion.

Ver. 14. When the ſin is known] Sin may ſleep a long time like a ſleeping d…bt, not called for of manie years: but Nullum tempus occurrit Regi, God may ſend out a ſummons for ſleepers, and puniſh our by-gon or ſecret ſins.

Ver. 15. And the Elders] Theſe as the repreſentative congregation, took upon them the guilt of their common errors, as thoſe did. 2 Chron. 29 23.

Ver. 16. And the Prieſt that is annointed] i. e. The High-prieſt a type of Chriſt, who was annointed, not with material oil, as they, but with the Spirit, that oil of gladneſs both above, and for his fellow-brethren. Pſal. 45. Heb. 1. See 1 John 2.27. and 2 Cor. 1.21, 22. Howbeit his oil ſhine's brighteſt, and ſwim's a-loft above all others.

Ver. 17. Seven times A number of perfection; to note the moſt abſolute ſufficiencie of Chriſt's death to purge and reconcile us to God; foreign.and that hee is able to ſave ſuch to the uttermoſt that com unto God by him. Heb. 7.25.

p. 119Ver. 18. Ʋpon the borns] See the Note on Verſ 7. [At the bottom of the Altar] To ſet forth the plentie and ſufficiencie of Grace and Merit in Chriſt's death, for manie more then are actually ſaved by it.

Ver. 19. And hee ſhall take all his fat] Chriſt offered himſelf and the beſt parts … had; ſuffering in ſoul and bodie.

Ver. 20. As hee did with the bullock] For even ignorance and infirmities are deadlie ſins, direct fruits of the fleſh. John 3.6. and ſuch as for which Chriſt laid down his life, foreign.even for the notknowings of the people. Heb. 9.7.

Ver 21. Without the camp] Pointing to Chriſt, who carried our ſins out of God's light. See Heb. 13.12. with the Note.

Ver. 22. When a ruler hath ſinned] Great men's ſins do more hurt, 1. By imitation, for Vita principis cenſura eſt, imò Cynoſura, according to theſe glaſſes moſt men dreſs themſelvs. 2. imputation; for plectuntur Achivi, the poor people paie for it; as they did for David's, whether ignorance or infirmitie, in omitting that dutie enjoined Exod. 30.12, 13, 14, 15. thence the plague. 2 Sam. 24.

Ver. 23. Com to his knowledg] As David's did. 2 Sam. 24. who ſaw ſuch volumes of infirmities, and ſo manie Errata's in all that hee did, that hee once cried out, Who knoweth the errors of his life? Oh cleanſ mee from ſecret ſins. Pſal. 19.12. This hee knew was the import of all theſe Levitical cleanſings.

Ver. 24. Laie his hand] See the Note on Verſ 4.

Ver. 25. At the bottom] See Verſ 18.

Ver. 26. All his fat] See Verſ 19. The fat was burnt (ſaith one) becauſ (among other things) it ſignified duricordium, hardheartedneſs. Pſal. 119.70.

Ver. 27. And if a ſoul ſin] As there is none that liveth and ſinneth not. 2 King. 8.46. Triſte mortalitatis privilegium eſt licere aliquando peccare.Ephor. Auguſta nimis res eſt, & nulli mortalium conceſſa nuſpiam errare. Amana.

Ver. 28. Com to his knowledg] By the check of his own conſcience, awakened by the word or rod of God.

Ver. 29. And ſlaie the Sin-offering] That is, the Prieſt ſhall: for no man might offer his own ſacrifice upon pain of death; as is afore noted.

Ver. 31. For a ſweet ſavor] See the Note on Chap. 1. verſ 9. The death of Chriſt is ever in the fight of his heaven he p. 120father: and hence it was, that thoſe typical ſacrifices, and all our performances are …ill accepted.

CHAP. V. Ver. 1. Hee ſhall bear his iniquitie] i. e.

HEe ſhall ſuffer for his ſinfull ſilence; becauſ hee could, but would not help the truth in neceſſiti…, but ſtand as it hee were gag'd by Satan, poſſeſt with a dumb divel.

Ver. 2. And if it bee hidden from him] Debt is debt whether a man know of it, or not.

Ver. 3 Then hee ſhall bee guiltie] Guiltie hee was before ver. 2. but now hee ſhall ſee him …o, and bee readie to ſaie as Prov 5 14. I was almoſt in all evil, in the midst of the congregation and the aſſemblie By the law is the knowledg of ſin. Rom 3.20.

Ver. 4. And it bee hid f…om him] As is uſual with your common ſwearers, who will ſwear that they ſwear not. If men had ſuch diſtemper of bodie, as their excrements came from them when they knew not of it, it would trouble them; but they ſwear, and let go much filth, and it is hid from them.

To do evil] As David did to ſlaie Nabal 1 Sam. 25.22.

Or to do good] As the ſame David did to do good to Mephiboſheth and yet hee was not …o good as his oath.

Ver. 5. Hee ſhall confeſs] Homo agnoſcit, Deus ignoſcit. Man confeſſeth, and God pardoneth. In the courts of men it is the ſafeſt plea to ſaie, Non feci (quoth Quintilian) I am not guiltie: not ſo here; but ego feci, miſerere, I did it, have merciemercy upon mee.

Per miſerere mei tollitur ira Dei.

Ver. 6. For his ſin which hee hath ſinned] Bending his thoughts upon that particular ſin, it is charged upon I…raël, Ezek. 16.22. that they remembred not that they laie in their blood

Ver. 7. Two turtle Doves] See the Note on Chap. 114.

Ver. 8. For the ſin-offering firſt] For till un bee expi…ted, no ſacrifice or ſervice can bee accepted. Therefore Iſa. 1. Waſh you, …anſ you, and then com and let us reaſon.

p. 121Ver. 9. Ʋpon the ſide of the Altar] The North-ſide, and not upon the Eaſt: 1. that Iſraël might not ſymbolize with the Heathens, who worſhipped toward the Eaſt: 2. to ſignifie that they had no more under the Law then dark ſhadows of good things to com. Heb. 10.1. until the time of reformation. Heb. 9.10.

Ver. 10. According to the manner.] That is, the forms and rites preſcribed. So Amos 8.14. The manner of Beerſheba, i.e. the forms and rites of worſhipping in Beerſheba, as the Caldee paraphraſeth it.

Ver. 11. But if hee bee not able] So low doth the moſt High ſtoop to man's meanneſs, that hee will accept of a verie ſmall preſent from him that would bring a better, if it were in the power of his hand. Lycurgus enjoyned his Lacedemonians to offer ſmall ſacrifices, For God (ſaid hee) reſpecteth more the internal devotion, then the external oblation.

Ver. 12. Even a memorial] This is ſpoken after the manner of men who have need of remembrancers. God ſomtimes ſeem's to loſe his merciemercy, and then wee muſt finde it for him, as they Iſa. 63.15. ſomtimes to forget, ſleep, delaie, &c. and then wee muſt in-minde, awaken, quicken him. Iſa. 62.7.

Ver. 13. And it ſhall bee forgiven him] See a like promiſs made to our Miniſterie. Jam. 5.15.

Ver. 15. In the bolie things of the Lord] Things conſecrate to him, by robbing and wronging of God and his Prieſts; bee it but through ignorance or error. Sacrum qui clepſerit, rapſeritve, parricida eſte.For to do ſuch a thing preſumptuouſly was death. Numb. 15.30. and by the laws of the twelv Tables in Rome, ſuch were to bee puniſhed as parricides.

Ver. 16. And hee ſhall make amends] No remiſſion without reſtitution. God abhors holocauſtum ex rapina. Latimer's Sex.And if yee make no reſtitution, ye ſhall cough in hell, ſaid father Latimer.

Ver. 17. Though hee wiſt not] Ignorance, though invincible and unavoidable, well may excuſe à tanto, but not à toto. Luke 12.48.

p. 122CHAP. VI. Ver. 2. Againſt the Lord]

AS David in defiling his neighbours wiſe, and afterwards killing him, is ſaid to have deſpiſed the commandment of the Lord, and to have don evil in his ſight. 2 Sam. 12.9. which alſo hee penitently acknowledgeth. Pſal. 51.4. Sin is properly againſt none but God, Godw. Heb. Antiq. p. 98.beeing a tranſgreſſion of his law. Hence the manſlaier was confined to the Citie of refuge as to a priſon, during the life of the high-Prieſt; as beeing (ſaith one) the chief God on earth. That was a true poſition of the Pelagians, Omne peccatum eſt contemptus Dei, that everie ſin is a contempt of God. Prov. 18.3.

In fellowſhip] Heb. Job 8.20. Dextram conjungere dextrâ. Quid non mortalia pectora cogit. Auri ſacra fames? foreign.Job 8:20Heb. In putting of the hand. It is ſaid in Iob, that God will not take a wicked man by the hand, i. e. hee will have no fellowſhip with him.

Ver. 3. And lieth concerning it, and ſweareth falſty] Thorough inordinate love of money, that root of all evil; but ſuch monie ſhall periſh with them. Zech. 5.2.

Ver. 4. And is guiltie] Found guiltie by a ſelf-condemning conſcience; which now like Samſon's wife conceal's not the riddle, but tel's all, as ſhee ſaid of our Saviour. Iohn 4.

Ver. 5. In the daie of his treſpaſs offering] Before hee compaſs God's altar. Mat. 5.23. with the Note there.

Ver. 6. With thy eſtimation] i. e. as thou ſhalt rate it. Moſes did the Prieſts office for preſent. Hee was likewiſe a Prophet. Deut. 18.15. and King in Ieſhurun. Deut. 33.5. and ſo became a type of Chriſt that true Triſmegiſt, the Prieſt, Prophet and Prince. Dan. 9.25.

Ver. 7. Shall make an attonement] Thorough the ſacrifice of Chriſt. Heb. 10.1, 4, 10, 14.

Ver. 9. All night until the morning] God muſt bee thought upon in the night ſeaſon. Pſal. 4.4. David willingly brake his ſleep to do it. Pſal. 119.62. The daie is thine, the night alſo is thine, ſaith hee. Pſal. 74.16.

Ver. 10. Beſides the altar] On the Eaſt-ſide, furtheſt from the Sanctuarie. Levit. 1.16. in reverence of the divine majeſtie.

Ver. 11. In a clean place] Becauſ they came from the Lord's p. 123holie houſ. See the contrarie commanded concerning the ſtones and duſt of a leprous houſ. Levit. 14.40.

Ver. 12. It ſhall not bee put out] No more ſhould our faith, love, zeal, (that flame of God as Solomon cal's it. Cant. 8.6.) that ſhould never go out; the waters ſhould not quench it, nor the aſhes cover it. Cant. 8.10. 2 Tim. 1.6.

Ver. 13. The fire ſhall ever bee burning] The Gentiles (by an apiſh imitation hereof) had their veſtal fire, ſalted meal, and manie other ſacred rites. Baſil chargeth the divel as a thief of the truth, in that hee had decked his crows with her fethers.

Ver. 14. The law of the meat-offering] Beſides what is ſet down: chap. 2.1, 2. Thus one text explain's another; as the diamond is brightened with its own duſt.

Ver. 15. Even the memorial] See the Note on Levit. 2.2.

Ver. 16. Shall Aaron and his ſons eat] See 1 Cor. 9.13, 14. with the Note there.

Ver. 17. It ſhall not bee baken with leaven] Which is, 1. ſouring; 2. ſwelling; 3. ſpreading; 4. impuring.

Ver. 18. Shall bee holie] God will bee ſanctified in all that draw near unto him—procul binc procul eſte profani.

Ver. 20. When hee is anointed] i. e. When anie high-prieſt: for hee onelyonly was anointed. Exod. 29.7. on the head at leaſt.

Ver. 21. In a pan] Figuring out the ſufferings of Chriſt, who was ſo parched with the fire of afflictions for our ſins.

Ver. 23. It ſhall not bee eaten] To teach the high-prieſt to look …or ſalvation out of himſelf.

Ver. 25. In the place] i. e. at the North-ſide of the altar. And why, ſee the Note on Chap. 5.9.

Ver. 26. Shall eat it] Except in that caſe. verſ 30.

Ver. 27. Shall bee holie] This taught an holie uſe of the myſterie of our redemption: for the ſin-offering in ſpecial ſort figured Chriſt.

Ver. 28. But the earthen veſsel] So contagious a thing is ſin, that it defileth the verie viſible heaven and earth: which therefore muſt bee likewiſe purged by the laſt fire, as the earthen pot which held the ſin-offering was broken, and the braſen ſcoured and rinſed in water.

Ver. 30. And no ſin-offering] Here the ordinarie gloſs make's this obſervation, Remiſsionem dare, Dei ſolius eſt, qui per ignem ſignificatur: That to pardon ſin belong's to God alone, who is p. 124a conſuming fire. The Rhemiſts tell us of a man that could remove mountains: Rhem. Annot. in Jo…. 20. Sect. 3.which they may aſſoon perſwade us, as that their Prieſts have as full power to pardon ſins, as Chriſt had. One of their Prieſts meeting with a man troubled in minde, told him that their religion afforded more comfort to the conſcience then ours; and that becauſ it had, and exerciſed a power to pardon ſin; M. Ley his patte…n of pietie. p. 145.which our Miniſters neither did, nor durſt aſſume to themſelvs.

CHAP. VII. Ver. 1. Of the treſpaſs-offering] Heb.

A Sham, Piaculum, quo peccatum expiabatur. How it differed from the ſin-offering is hard to determine.

Ver. 2. In the place] See the Note on Chap. 1.11.

Ver. 3. That covereth the inwards▪ ] My ſon give mee thy heart. See Pſal. 51.6. Jer. 4 14.

Ver. 4. And the two kidneys] See the Note on Lev. 3.4.

Ver. 7. As the ſin-offering is] They were diſtinct then. See verſ 1.

Ver. 8. The Priest ſhall have to himſelf] It is a ſign of gaſping devotion, when men are ſo ſtreight-handed to their Miniſters, who ſhould have part of all. Gal. 6.6.

Ver 9. And all the meat-offering] Which ſeem's to bee ſo called, partly becauſ it went as meat unto the Prieſt (the laborer is ſurely worthie of his meat. Mat. 10.10.) but principally as leading to Chriſt, whoſe fleſh is meat indeed. John 6.

Ver. 10. Have one as much as another] In their father's houſ was bread enough. Put mee, I praie thee into one of the Prieſts offices, that I may cat a piece of bread. 1 Sam. 2.36. This the Tirſhata would not ſuffer thoſe turn-coats to do. Ezra 2.63. But how hard put too…t was that poor Prieſt, that anſwer'd young Pareüs, Vita Parei per Philipp: filtum, primo oper: tom… praefixa.asking him an alms (according to the cuſtom of thoſe times) Nos pauperi fratres, nos nihil habemus, an piſcimus, an caro, an panis, an miſericordia babemus?

Ver. 11. Sacrifice of peace-offering] Or, Paie-offering. See Pſal. 116.14. I will paie, or, I will perfect. Fitly: for a vow, till paid is an imperfect thing.

p. 125Ver. 12. Ʋnlevened cakes] There muſt bee ſinceritie in all our ſervices: for elſ God will not once look at them.

Ver. 13. Levened bread] Lo, levened bread will paſs in a peace-offering: God for Chriſts ſake reject's not the ſervices of his Saints, though tainted with corruption. August.Peccata nobis non nocent, ſi non placent. Wine is not thrown awaie for the dregs, nor gold for the dirt, that cleav's unto it.

Ver. 14. For an heav-offering] So called, becauſ it was heaved and lifted up before the Lord, in token that they received all from him, and did acknowledg all to be due to him.

Ver. 15. Eaten the ſame daie] Thanks muſt bee returned whiles mercies are freſh; leſt, as fiſh, they putrefie with keeping. Eaten bread is ſoon forgotten. Hezekiah wrote his ſong the third daie after his recoverie. Jehoſuphat gave thanks, firſt upon the ground where hee had the victorie, calling it Berachah; and three daies after again at Jeruſalem, 2 Chron. 20. See David's Now, Now, Now, I will paie my vows. Pſalm 116.14, 15.

Ver. 17. On the third daie] Foreſhadowing the reſurrection of Chriſt on the third daie, whereby all legal Cerimonies were aboliſh…d, and had no uſe in the Church, but by accident; as hee who buildeth a vault, letteth the centrels ſtand till hee put in the kei…-ſtone, and then pulleth them awaie.

Ver. 18. It ſhall bee an abomination] Kept beyond the time; and ſo uneatable, unſacrificeable, prophane, ſtinking.

Ver. 19. Shall not bee eaten] Becauſ not fit to repreſent Chriſt.

Ver. 20. Having his uncleanneſs upon him] To the unclean all things are unclean. &c. Tit. 1.15. See the Note.

Ver. 21. Cut off from his people] Confer 1 Cor. 11.27, 28, 29.

Ver. 22. And the Lord ſpa…e unto Moſes] This is oſt repeted to draw attention and get autoritie. See 1 Theſ. 2.13.

Ver. 23. No manner fat] See the Note on Levit 3.12.

Ver. 24. Ʋſed in anie other uſe] Though not in Sacrifice. Mudwals may bee made up of any refuſe matter: not ſo, the wals of a Church or Palace.

Ver. 25. Shall bee cut off] i. e. Shall bee liable to God's judgments.

Ver. 26. Yee ſhall eat no manner of blood]. This ſignified. p. 1261. That wee ſhould learn to honor holie things, and not to make a mock of them by employing them to common uſe. 2. That wee ſhould bee moſt careful not to ſhed man's blood, for the ſatisfying of our luſt. See Levit. 17.11, 12. with Gen. 9.4, 5. and Deut. 12.13.

Ver. 29. Ʋnto the Lord] Not kill it in the Camp, though there they might eat it.

Ver. 30. His own hands] Teaching them that they muſt live by their own faith. Hab. 2.5.

May bee waved] Or, Shaken to and fro; which ſignified the ſhaking of our lips, in giving thanks to God. Hoſ. 14.2. Heb. 13.15, 16. which yet muſt bee fetcht lower then the lips, even from the bottom of the heart; the deeper the ſweeter. The voice that is made in the mouth is nothing ſo ſweet, as that which com's from the depth of the breſt.

Ver. 31, 32. The breſt ſhall bee Aarons, and the right ſhoulder] To note, that men muſt give their breſts and ſhoulders, affections and actions, even their whole ſelvs; firſt to the Lord, and then to us Miniſters by the will of God, as thoſe famous Macedonians did. 2 Cor. 8.5. that ſo they may bee ſani in doctrina & ſancti in vita, ſound in doctrine, and holie in life.

Ver. 34. For the wave breſt, and the right ſhoulder] This might further ſignifie (ſaith one) that Chriſt Jeſus heaved up for us both breſt and ſhoulder, that is, wiſdom and ſtrength to all his elect Prieſthood, whoſe portion hee is. 1 Cor. 1 30. Or it might note (ſaith another) that Miniſters ſhould both take care (figured by the breſt) and pains (ſignified by the ſhoulder.) And therefore the high-prieſt did to that end wear the names of the Tribes upon his ſhoulders, and upon his breſt.

Ver. 35. This is the portion of the anointing] That is, of the anointed Prieſts; and that becauſ they were anointed to the office. Here Origen (according to his manner) turn's all into allegories and myſteries, and tel's us of a three-fold ſenſ of Scripture, 1. Literal. 2. Moral. 3. Myſtical; comparing them to the gridiron, frying-pan, and oven, uſed in dreſſing the meat-offering, Allegorias ſpumam ſcriprurae vocat. Luth. in Gen. 3. p. 67.Gen 3verſ 9. of this Chapter. But this itch of all allegorizing dark and difficult texts hath no ſmall danger in it. And I may doubt of Origen, as one doth of Hierom, Ʋtrùm plus boni peritiâ ling…arum, quâ excelluit, an mali ſuis allegoriis, in quibus p. 127dominatus fuit, Eccleſiae Dei attulerit; Amama Ant…batb.whether hee did more hurt or good to the Church.

CHAP. VIII. Ver. 1. And the Lord ſpake]

SEE the Note on Lev. 7.22. And for the reſt of the Chapter, read the Notes on Exod. 28. & 29. & 30.

Ver. 3. And gather thou all the congregation] Miniſters are to bee ordeined in the publick Aſſemblie. Acts 14.22. that the people may ſhew their approbation, profeſs their purpoſe of obedience, and praie for God's Spirit to bee poured upon them.

Ver. 7. And Moſes brought Aaron] They did not intrude themſelvs. See the Note on Heb. 5.4.

Ver. 8. Hee put in the breſt-plate the Ʋrim, &c.] Hence (it may bee) God appointed the breſt-plate to bee made double, that the Urim and Thummim might bee put within, and lie hid on everie ſide. This Urim and Thummim ſignified (ſaith one) that in Chriſt are hidden all the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledg. Col. 2.3. and that hee hath all ſecret things moſt perfectly known and numbred out before him, which hee revealeth continually to his Church and choſen, as need requireth, by ſuch means as himſelf hath ſanctified. Pſal. 25.14, John 14.21, 26. & 17.14, 17, 26.

CHAP. IX. Ver. 1. On the eighth daie]

THe verie next daie after the Prieſt's conſecration, that no time might bee loſt. I made haſte and delaied not, &c. Pſalm 119.16. Then ſaid I, lo I com: in the volume of the book it is written of mee, &c. Pſalm. 40.7. Live, live, live, (ſaith one) quickly, much, long: let no water go by, no daie bee loſt, &c. Preach, preach, bee inſtant, quick at work, &c.

Praecipitat tempus, mors atra impendet agenti.

p. 128Ver. 2. Take thee alyoung calf] In remembrance, and ſor the remiſſion of Aaron's ſin about the golden calf; as ſom Hebrews are of opinion.

Ver. 3. Take yee a kid of the goats for a Sin-offering] Quia gravis odor peccati, The ſmell of ſin is grievous; it offendeth all God's ſenſes, yea, his verie ſoul. Iſa. 1.12, 13. &c.

Ver. 4. For to daie the Lord will appear unto you] And hee may not ſinde you emptie-handed, unprepared. See the Notes on Fxod. 19.10.

Ver. 6. And the glorie of the Lord ſhall appear unto you] ſo ſhall it one daie to us: yea, wee ſhall bee like him, and appear with him in glorie; and muſt therefore purifie our ſelvs, as God is pure. 1 John 3.2, 3.

Ver. 7. Make attonement for thy ſelf] See Heb. 5.3. & 7.27, 28. with the Notes there.

Ver. 8. Went unto the Altar] i. e. The braſen Altar; for hee had not yet acceſs to the Altar of Incenſ. Wee muſt ſtaie our corruptions, before wee preſent our ſupplications; waſh our hearts from wickedneſs, and then compaſs God's Altar.

Ver. 22. Lift up his hands] Hee put the bleſſing upon them. A type of Chriſt. Luke 24.50. with Acts 3.26. Epheſ. 1.3.

Ver. 24. They ſhouted, and fell on their faces] The conſideration of God's gracious acceptation of us in Chriſt, ſhould make us to lift manie an humble, joiful, and thankful heart to God.

CHAP. X. Ver. 1. And Nadab and Abihu]

THeſe jollie young Prieſts, over-joied haply of their new emploiment, and over-warmed with wine (as ſom gather out of Verſ 9.) over-ſhoot themſelvs the verie daie of their ſervice. Verſ 19. and are ſuddenly ſurpriſed by a doleful death. So was that inconſiderate Prieſt o… Naples, Anno Dom. 1457. of whom Wolphius report's, Wolph. Mcmorab. Lect. C…. 15.that when the hill Veſuvius had ſent huge flames, and don great ſpoil; hee, to make proof of his pietie, read a Maſs, and would need's go up the hill to finde out the cauſ of ſuch a calamitie. But for a reward of his foolhardineſs, p. 129hee periſhed in the flames, and was never heard of anie more.

Ver. 2. And there went out fire] By fire they ſinned; and by fire they periſhed. Per quod quis peccat, per idem punitur & ipſe: Neſtorii lingua vermibus exeſa eſt. Evag. lib, 1.So Archbiſhop Arundel's tongue rotted in his head. The Archbiſhop of Tours in France made ſuit for the erection of a Court called Chambre Ardent, wherein to condemn the Proteſtants to the fire. Hee was afterwards ſtricken with a diſeaſ called the fire of God, Act. and Mon. fol. 1911.which began at his feet and ſo aſſcended upward, that hee cauſſed one member after another to be cut off, and ſo hee died miſerably.

Ver. 3. This is that the Lord ſpake] Where? and when? Lev. 8.35. Exod. 19.22. Or perhaps no where written, but at ſom other time ſpoken by God. Moſes might but ſet down the ſhort Notes of his diſcourſes, as the Prophets uſed to do. [I will bee ſanctified] Either actively or paſſively, Aut à nobis, aut in nos, either in us or upon us; ſure it is, that hee will bee no loſer by us. Sanctified hee will bee, either in the ſinceritie of men's converſation, or elſ in the ſeveritie of their condemnation. Singular things are exſpected of all that draw nigh to God in anie dutie, but eſpecially in the office of the Miniſterie. Thoſe that ſtand in the preſence of Princes muſt bee exact in their carriages. God appointed both the weights and meaſures of the Sanctuarie to bee twice as large as thoſe of the Commonwealth; to ſhew, that hee exſpect's much more of thoſe that ſerv him there, then hee doth of others. The ſouls of Prieſts muſt bee purer then the ſun-beams ſaith Chryſoſtom. D. Hakw. on Pſalm 101.Ps 101[And Aaron held his peace] Hee bridled his paſſions, and ſubmitted to the divine Juſtice. The like did David. Pſalm 39.9. which words were taken up by Du-pleſſis in the loſs of his onelyonly ſon.

Ver. 5. In their coats] Theſe were not burnt, as neither were their bodies: the fire, Toſtat.beeing of a celeſtial and ſubtile nature, might pierce their inward parts, not touching their outward: as the lightning kill's by piercing, not by burning.

Ver. 6. And Moſes ſaid unto Aaron] Philo reporteth, that the High-prieſt of the Jews, to keep alwaies his ſoul pure, never ſaw anie mournful object. Tiberius, counterfeiting grief at the funeral of Druſus, had a veil laid betwixt the dead and him, that hee might not ſee the bodie, becauſ hee was (as the reſt of the Emperors alſo were) Pontifex Maximus, or the High-prieſt; p. 130and therefore a ſacred perſon. Mourning in Aaron might have ſeemed murmuring: hee is therefore forbidden it, and accordingly hee forbear's. Manlii Loc. com. p. 215.So did Luther when hee buried his daughter, hee was not ſeen to ſhed a tear. No more did reverend Mr. William Whatelie late Paſtor of Banburie, when after hee had preached his own childe's Funeral upon this Text, The will of the Lord bee don: hee and his wiſe laid the childe in the grave with their own hands. [Bewail the burning] It's fit enough (ordinarily) that the bodie, when ſown in corruption, bee watered by the tears of thoſe that plant it in the earth.

Ver. 7. For the annointing oil of the Lord is upon you] This is everie true Chriſtian's caſe, who ſhould therefore carrie himſelf accordingly. There is a foreign, a ſeemlie carriage belong's to everie calling. You have an unction, &c. 1 John 2.

Ver. 9. Do not drink wine, nor ſtrong drink] As ſom are of opinion Nadab and Abihu had don; Ex malis moribus honae leges.which miſcarriage of theirs occaſioned this precept. The perpetual equitie whereof is, that Miniſters bee no wine-blbbers or Aleſtakes. 1 Tim. 3.3. Why ſhould it bee ſaid as of old, They have erred becauſ of wine, and have gon out of the waie becauſ of ſtrong drink, even the Prieſt and the Prophet? Iſa. 28.7. Drunkenneſs is a crime in all, but it's a kinde of Sacrilege in Miniſters. And if other drunkards deſerv double puniſhments for their miſdemeanours, (as Ariſtotle judgeth) firſt for their drunkenneſs, foreign. Ariſt. Ethic. lib. 3. c. 5and then for the ſin committed in, and by their drunkenneſs; what do drunken Prieſts? Iſa. 56.12.

Ver. 10. And that yee may put difference] Drunkenneſs take's away the heart. Hoſ. 4.11. beſot's and infatuate's; rob's a man of himſelf, and laie's a beaſt in his room.

Ver. 11. And that yee may teach] The Prieſt's lips ſhould both preſerv knowledg and preſent it to the people; even all the counſel of God. Mal. 2.7. Acts 20.27. To give the knowledg of ſalvation by the remiſſion of ſins. Luke 1.77.

Ver. 12. Take the Meat-offering] q. d. Think not that God hath caſhiered you, becauſ hee hath corrected you; neither refuſe your meat out of a ſullen ſowrneſs; but fall to your Meat-offering, and take better heed another time. OnelyOnly, eat before the Lord. Deut. 12.18.

Ver. 16. And behold it was burnt] Paſſion for their dead friends had ſo tranſported the Prieſts, that they knew not well p. 131what they did. Wee uſe to ſaie, Res eſt ingenioſa dolor; but then it muſt not bee exceſſive as here, and as 2 Sam. 18.33.

Ver. 17. To bear the iniquitie] This the ſinner doth ſubjectively, the Prieſt typically, the Lord Chriſt really.

Ver. 19. Should it have been accepted] God love's a cheerfull ſerver. Deut. 12.7. and 26.14. Mourners bread is polluted bread. Hoſ. 9.4. And Mal. 2.13. thoſe unkinde husbands are blamed for cauſſing their wives, when they ſhould have been chearfull in God's ſervice, to cover the Lords altar with tears, with weeping and with crying out, ſo that hee regarded not the offering anie more. This Aaron knew, and allegeth for himſelf.

CHAP. XI. Ver. 1. Ʋnto Moſes and to Aaron]

MAgiſtrate and Miniſter muſt jointly ſee that God's laws bee duly executed. Queen Eliſabeth once in her progreſs viſiting the Countie of Suffolk, all the Juſtices of Peace in that Countie met her Majeſtie; having everie one his Miniſter next to his bodie; which the Queen took ſpecial notice of, and thereupon uttered this ſpeech, that ſhee had often demanded of her Privie Councel, why her Countie of Suffolk was better governed then anie other Countie? and could never underſtand the reaſon thereof; but now ſhee her ſelf perceived the reaſon. It muſt needs be ſo, ſaid ſhee, where Moſes and Aaron, the Word and the Sword go together.

Ver. 2. Theſe are the beaſts which yee ſhall eat] Theſe, and theſe onelyonly; 1. That yee may bee at mine appointment for your verie meat, as who am chief Lord of all. 2. That there may bee a difference betwlxt you and all other people. 3. That yee may bee taught to ſtudie puritie, and know that the verie creatures are defiled by man's ſin: 4. That yee may have theſe things as a ſhadow of things to com. Col. 2.16, 17.

Ver. 3. Whatſoever parteth the hoof, and cheweth the cud] To teach them to think upon God's commandments to do them. Pſal. 103.18. cleanſing themſelvs from all filthineſs of fleſh and ſpirit. 2 Cor. 7.1.

p. 132Ver. 4. The camel] The fooliſh Jews when they ſaw Mahomet ariſing in ſuch power, D. Hall's Peace-maker.were ſtraight readie to crie him up for their Meſſiah. But when they ſaw him eat of a Camel (ſaith mine Autor) they were as blank as when they ſaw the hoped iſſue of their late Jewiſh Virgin, turn'd to a daughter.

Ver. 5. And the conie] Which hath his name in Hebrew from hiding himſelf in holes. A weak, but a wiſe creature. Pro. 30.26. And wiſdom is better then ſtrength. Eccleſ. 9.15. The Hare that truſt's to the ſwiftneſs of her legs, is at length taken and torn in pieces. When the Conie that fleets to the rocks doth eaſily avoid the dogs that purſue her. See Iſa. 40.30, 31.

Ver. 6. Becauſ hee cheweth the cud, but divideth not] Meditation muſt end in practice: as leſſons of muſick muſt bee practiſed, and a copie not read onelyonly, but written after.

Ver. 7. And the Swine] Anima ſui data pro ſale, nè carnes putreſcant, ſaid Cleanthes. The Swine hath his ſoul for ſalt onelyonly, ſo hath the drunkard.

Ver. 8. Of their fleſh, yee ſhall not eat] Not above the quantitie of an Olive, ſaie the Jew-Doctors, who will need's bee mending magnificat, adding to the Law.

Ver. 9. Whatſoever hath fins and ſcales] The fins of the fiſh are for ſteering of their motion, the ſcales for ſmoothneſs of paſſage, Serm. 1. in die 8. And.for ſafegard, for ornament. Thoſe onelyonly are clean in the ſight of God, Qui ſquamas & loricam habent patientiae, & pinnulas hilaritatis, ſaith Bernard.

Ver. 10. Of all that move in the waters] And yet ſwim alſo in the aër. Like to theſe is the temporarie believer: for that ſeeming to mount up in ſpiritual joies, yet hee withall ſwimmeth, yea batheth himſelf in the waters of ſenſual delights.

Ver. 11. They ſhall bee even an abomination] To teach us, that nothing is lawfull, no not for our common uſe, unleſs it bee ſanctified by the word of God and praier. 1 Tim. 4.5. Acts 10.35.

Ver. 13. The Eagle] Which yet is counted and called the king of birds, and delight's in high flying. That which is highly eſteemed amongſt men is abomination before God. Lu. 16.15.

Ver. 14. And the vulture and the kite] That feed upon carrion and dead carcaſſes, and are emblems of greedie gripers and oppreſſors.

p. 133Ver. 15. Everie raven] Unnatural to his young, whom God himſelf heareth and feedeth. Pſal. 147.9. though they crie with a harſh note, and crie to God by implication; and though the raven bee an inauſpicate bird, and a ſign both of man's puniſhment and God's curſ. Iſa. 34.11.

Ver. 16. And the owl, and the night-raven] Night-birds that hate the light, or flie againſt it, as bats do, are an abomination. Deeds of darkneſs are out of date, now in the daies of the Goſpel eſpecially. Rom. 13.12, 13.

Ver. 17. And the cormorant] An unſatisfiable bird, that fitly reſembleth the divel, who daily devour's ſouls, and yet enlargeth his deſires as hell.

Ver. 18. And the Swan] Whoſe white fethers, but black skin under them, might ſerv to ſet forth the hatefulneſs of hypocriſie.

Ver. 19. And the Stork] Which build's high. Pſal. 104.17. but feed's low on fiſhes, frogs and ſnakes; and ſo might bee the rather rejected, as unfit for food.

And the lapwing] Which is worthily made an hieroglyphick of infelicitie; becauſ it hath as a coronet upon the head, and yet feed's upon the worſt of excrements. It is pittie that the Saints that are brought up in ſcarlet ſhould embrace the dunghill. Lam. 4.5. that anie one that is waſh't in Chriſt's blood, ſhould bedabble his robe in the ſtinking puddle of the world.

And the Bat] Caſt awaie either thy wings or thy teeth (ſaith one to a neuter) and loathing this Bat-like nature, D. Hall epiſt. to W. L.bee what thou art, either a bird or a beaſt.

Ver. 20. All fowls that creep] So all mongrels in religion, that (like the planet Mercurie) can bee good in conjunction with good, and bad with bad; that have religionem Ephemeram, Hilar.fidem menſtruam.

Ver. 22. The Locuſt, &c.] All creeping fowls that go upon all four might not bee eaten, except Arbe, Soleam, Chargol and Chargab, names to us unknown.

Ver. 24. Whoſoever toucheth the carcaſs] This and the like ſignified, that all, even the leaſt ſins are to bee purged through Chriſt, and carefully caſt away.

Ver. 28. Shall waſh his clothes] As having committed a greater ſin, then hee that to ucheth a carcaſs onelyonly. All ſin defileth not alike.

p. 134Ver. 29. And the Tortoiſ] Which hath it's name in Hebrew of a Coach or Wagon: The thick ſhell wherewith it is covered, is ſaid to bee ſo hard, that a loaden Waggon may go over it, and not break it. And ſuch is a hard heart, that cannot repent, or relent never ſo little.

Ver. 30. The Chamaeleon] A verie fearfull creature, and therefore eaſily turning himſelf into ſundrie colours. Carnal fear put's men upon unwarrancable ſhifts. See Zeph. 3.13.

Ver. 31. Touch them when they bee dead] There is no kinde of living creature that is defiled whiles it is alive, or that defileth whiles it is alive, ſave man onelyonly, ſaith Maimonie.

Ver. 36. Nevertheleſs a fountain] Becauſ it would cleanſ it ſelf, and work out the uncleanneſs. So will Faith.

Ver. 37. It ſhall bee clean] Becauſ of neceſſitie.

Ver. 39. Of which yee may] Confer Pſalm 49.12. pecoribus morticinis. Tremel.

Ver. 40. Shall waſh his clothes] To teach them to hate, even the garment ſpotted by the fleſh. Jude 23. all provocations and inſtruments of ſin.

Ver. 44. Yee ſhall bee holie, for I am holie] Great men look to bee ſerved like themſelvs: ſo the great God.

Ver. 45. That bringeth you up] This is often inculcated. God's bleſſings are binders; and everie new deliverance cal's for new obedience.

Ver. 47. To make a difference] Miniſters alſo in their diſcourſes ſhould put a difference, and take out the pretious from the vile. Jer. 15.19. as did Zuinglius; who when hee inveighed moſt vehemently againſt ſin, would uſually com in with this clauſ, Probe vir, haec nihil ad te. This is not intended to thee, thou godlie man.

CHAP. XII. Ver. 2. If a woman have conceived ſeed]

OR yielded ſeed, Amam. Antibarbar. 575.as Gen. 1.11. Ʋrgendum hoc adversùs Anabaptiſtas; qui, ut ſuos de humanae Chriſti naturae origine errores ſtabiliunt, foeminas ſemen habere praefractè negant.

Then ſhee ſhall bee unclean] This ſignified that corruption of p. 135man's nature, wherein hee is conceived. Auguſtin.Pſal. 51.5. (being condemned aſſoon as conceived, Damnatus antequam natus) and the remedie wee have in Chriſt.

Ver. 3. And in the eighth daie] See the Note on Gen. 17.13, 14.

Ver. 4. Shee ſhall touch no hallowed thing] Preparation muſt go before participation of holie ordinances. Hag. 2.13.

Ver. 5. But if ſhee bear a maid-childe] To intimate, it may bee, the womans beeing firſt in the tranſgreſſion. 1 Tim. 2.14.

Verſ 6. And when the daies of her purifying] The Virgin Marie alſo obſerved this Law. Luke 2.21. not in conſcience of anie particular ſin, which in the conception of our Saviour, ſhee was free from; nor in ſhew, to ſatisfie the law; much leſs upon hypocriſie; but in conſcience of her natural corruption; which by this oblation, according to the Law, ſhee did confeſs holily and religiouſly before God and his Congregation, as one well obſerveth.

Ver. 7. And make an attonement] Whereby her faith was confirmed, that by Chriſt her ſin was remitted, and the curſ removed. 1 Tim. 2.15.

Ver. 8. And if ſhee bee not able] As the bleſſed Virgin was not. Luke 2.22, 24. who now can deſpiſe anie one for want, when the mother of our Lord was not rich enough to bring a Lamb for her purification? Wee may bee as happie in ruſſet, as in tiſſue.

CHAP. XIII. Ver. 1. And the Lord ſpake]

SEE the Note on Levit. 7.22.

Ver. 2. Like the plague of leproſie] Leproſie is both an effect and type of ſin; which is ſuch a ſickneſs of the ſoul, as thoſe are of the bodie, which Phyſicians ſaie are Corruptio totius ſubſtantia, univerſal diſeaſes, tending to the iſſues of death. It drie's up and draw's out the verie vital blood and life of the ſoul.

Ver. 3. The plague in the skin of the fleſh] That is, the white, bright ſpot, verſ 2. Confer Exod. 4.6. Numb. 12.10.

Is turned white] This might note ſuch as have continued p. 136long, and are aged in anie wickedneſs.

Bee deeper then the skin of his fleſh] Compare Numb. 12.12. 2 Kings 5.14. Such are they, whoſe wickedneſs is not onelyonly acted by their hands, but ſeated in their hearts, and ſunk into their ſpirits: like the ſpots of the leopard, which no art can cure, no water waſh off, becauſ they are not in the skin, but in the fleſh and bones, in the ſinews and moſt inner parts. Ingrained diſeaſes are not eaſily ſtirred, much leſs deſtroied.

Ver. 4. Shall ſhut him up] For further trial of truth, that daughter of time. Wee may not precipitate a cenſure, but bee ſlow to ſpeak, ſlow to wrath. The leper muſt bee ſhut up from week to week, till the thing were certain: So till mens perverſneſs bee made manifeſt. 2 Tim. 3.9. wee muſt ſuſpend our cenſures. Manie are like candles whoſe tallow is mixt with brine; no ſooner lighted, but they ſpit up and down the room.

Ver. 5. Spred not in the skin] So if men mend by admonition, and take up in time; if they refuſe not to bee reformed, hate not to bee healed, as Babylon. Jer. 51.9. as Ephraïm. Hoſ. 7.1. When I would have healed Ephraïm, then the iniquitie of Ephraïm was diſcovered, or brake out as a leproſie in his fore-head. See Ezekiel 24.13.

Ver. 6. It is but a ſcab] Such as may bee the ſpot of God's children. Deut. 32.5. Sin make's wicked men the object of Gods hatred, the Saints of his pitie; as wee hate poiſon in a toad, but wee pitie it in a man.

And hee ſhall waſh his clothes] The beſt cannot waſh in innocencie, hee muſt therefore waſh in tears. Iſa. 1.16. God alſo will ſet in and waſh ſuch with the blood of his ſon.

Ver. 7. But if the ſcab ſpread] So if ſin bee gaining and growing ſtill upon the ſinner, even after admonition; or is ſcattered and ſpread to the infecting of others, it is a verie ill ſign.

Ver. 9. Hee ſhall bee brought unto the Prieſt] Who was to diſcern it by the law of leproſie: Rom. 3.20. & 7.7.Rom 3:20Rom 7:7ſo muſt wee finde out our ſins by the moral law. Rom. 3. The works of the fleſh are manifeſt. Gal. 5. Neither need wee half ſo much caution or curioſitie to bee perſuaded of our ſpiritual leproſie, which is too too apparent: onelyonly thoſe manie cerimonies (as one well noteth) may put us in minde how much more exquiſite our diligence ought to bee in finding and ferreting out our ſpecial ſins.

p. 137Ver. 10. And there bee quick raw fleſh] It is one of the moſt remarkable things in all this law (ſaith a learned Divine) that quick or ſound fleſh in the ſore ſhould bee judged leproſie, and the man unclean: whereas if the leproſie covered all his fleſh, hee was pronounced clean, verſ 13. Hereby, 1. May bee meant ſuch as juſtifie themſelvs and their wickedneſs, as Jonas did his anger; whereas hee was judged himſelf, is like him who had the leproſie all over, and might bee declared clean. Or, 2. Such who ſin againſt the light of knowledg, and the quickning, yea rawneſs of a galled conſcience.

Ver. 12. And if a leproſie] So called, becauſ ſo counted at firſt: but it prove's no more then a kinde of ſcurf or ſcab.

Ver. 13. Hee ſhall pronounce him clean] i. e. not infectiouſly or incurably unclean.

Ver. 14. But when raw fleſh] Becauſ it ſhew'd that there were ſtill corrupt and poiſoned humors in the bodie, not eaſie to bee expelled till death.

Ver. 15. It is a leproſie] Properly ſo called, a fretting ſoreneſs or ſcabbedneſs. The Greeks call it Elephas or Elephantiaſis, when the skin grow's hard as the Elephant's skin. This the Iſraëlites brought (likely) out of Aegypt; for it was bred onelyonly about Nilus, and is therefore called the botch of Aegypt. Deut. 28.27.

Ver. 16. Turn again] Viz. to bee white like the reſt of the bodie: ſo if a ſinner ſtop or ſtep back, &c.

Ver. 18. Was a bile and is healed] Seemed to bee healed, as apoſtates to have eſcaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledg of Chriſt. 2 Pet. 2.20. and to have known the waie of righteouſneſs, verſ 21. and yet the later end is worſ with them then the begining. They becom altogether filthie. Pſalm 53.3. Forſakers of the Covenant, yea, wicked doers againſt the Covenant. Dan. 11.30, 32. Theſe ſin not common ſins, as Core and his companie died not common deaths.

Ver. 22. And if it ſpread much abroad] So, if ſin reign there is no pardon: rebel it may, reign it muſt not.

Ver. 23. But if the bright ſpot ſtaie] Sin, if it reign not is not imputed; for wee are not under the law, but under grace. Rom. 6.12, 14.

Ver. 25. A leproſie broken out of the burning] Seldom do paſſions p. 138burn, but there is a leproſie breaking out of that burning; ſuch as cauſſeth the climate where ſuch lepers live to be like the torrid Zone, too hot for anie to live neer them.

Ver. 30. A yellow thin hair] Which is a true ſign of a skall.

Ver. 34. Hee ſhall waſh his clothes] See the Note on ver. 6.

Ver. 35. After his cleanſing] See the Note on ver. 18.

Ver. 37. Black hair] A ſign of ſoundneſs. Quod ſanitas in corpore, id ſanctitas in corde, ſaith Bernard.

Ver 39. A freckled ſpot] Or white-morphew. This made not a man unclean: no more do meer infirmities make God abhor us.

Ver. 44. His plague is in his head] Such a leper is everie ignorant man; how much more the man that is an heretick? whom therefore after the firſt and ſecond admonition wee muſt reject. Titus 3.10. yea from ſuch ſtand off. 1 Tim. 6.5. Keep aloof as from lepers, Purchas Pilgr.their verie breath is infectious; and like the dogs of Congo, they bite, though they bark not.

Ver. 45. His clothes ſhall bee rent] To ſhew his ſorrow for ſin, the cauſ of his calamitie.

And his head bare] That men might not miſtake him; and further to ſhew his humilitie, whereof this alſo was a cerimonie.

A covering upon his upper lip] His Moucbaches, that by his breath hee might not inſect others: and to ſhew that God will not hear a good motion from an ill mouth.

Ʋnclean, unclean] Saie wee the ſame in our humbleſt acknowledgments; but withall add that of the leper in the Goſpel, Yet Lord, if thou wilt, thou canſt make mee clean.

Ver. 46. Without the Camp] And that utterly, if incurable, as Ʋzzias. A livelie type of Excommunication, which the Apoſtle deſcribeth. 2 Cor. 5.11, 12. and our Saviour. Mat. 18.17.

Ver. 47. The garment alſo] A plague not anie where elſ read or heard of: beeing nothing like clothes now-adaies infected with the plague, but far more ſtrange and dangerous, whether it did ſpread or fret inward, the garment was to bee burnt with fire. This ſignified that all inſtruments of idolatrie, or of anie other ſin are to bee deſtroied, and made awaie. As the Law commandeth, The graven images of their gods ſhall yee burn with fire. Deut. 7.25, 26. And Jude alludeth to it, when hee biddeth us p. 139ſave ſom with fear, pulling them out of the fire, bating even the garment ſpotted by the fleſh. Jude 23. See Iſa. 30.22. Acts 19.19. Juſticiaries alſo ſhall one daie finde, that though to the worldward they waſh themſelvs with ſnow-water, and make their hands never ſo clean, yet God will plunge them in the ditch, and their own clothes ſhall make them to bee abhorred. Job 9.30, 31.

CHAP. XIIII. Ver. 1. And the Lord ſpake unto Moſes]

ANd to Aaron alſo though not here mentioned, as hee is, verſ 33.

Ver. 2. Hee ſhall bee brought unto the Prieſt] To teach us to go to Jeſus Chriſt the high-Prieſt of our profeſſion, who healeth all our diſeaſes. Pſalm 103.3. He cured the leproſie (to others altogether incurable) by a touch of his hand onelyonly. Mark 1.41. Yea hee ſent his word and healed them. Pſalm 107.20. and ſo hee doth the ſouls of ſinners that com unto him.

Ver. 3. If the plague of leproſie bee healed] As it was in Simon the leper that entertained Chriſt. Jealouſie, Phrenſie and Hereſie are counted incurable diſeaſes: not ſo leproſie; though the moſt carried it to their death, as Gehazi, Azariah, &c.

Ver. 4. Command to take] That the leper might ſhew his thankfulneſs to Jehovah his Phyſician, as hee is called. Exod. 15.26. See Mat. 8.4. Men praie and paie Phyſicians of their bodies, who yet do but officiosè occidere manie times. And ſhall God have nothing? Muſt hee ask as once, Where are the other nine? Shall wee not turn again with Naaman now cleanſed, and offer our ſervice, renounce our idols, dedicate all wee are and have to the God of Iſraël?

Two birds] Or ſparrows, whereof two were ſold for a farthing: to ſhew how lightly ſet by Chriſt is in the world, whoſe blood nevertheleſs is more worth then a thouſand worlds.

Ver. 5. Over running water] Heb. Living water. Life conſiſt's in motion, in action: hence waters that ſpring and run are, for their continual motion, called living waters. O Lord, p. 140ſaith Hezekiah, By theſe things men live, and in all theſe things is the life of my ſpirit. Iſa. 38.16.

Ver. 6. That was killed over the running water] Pointing at Chriſt, who came not by water onelyonly, but by water and blood. 1 John 5.6. See the Note there, and on 1 Cor. 6.11.

Ver. 7. And hee ſhall ſprinkle] This led them to that blood of ſprinkling. Heb. 12.23. applied unto them by that hyſopbunch of faith, whereby the heart is purified.

And ſhall let the living bird looſ] This figured (ſale ſom) that neither Chriſt's deïtie without the ſhedding of his blood, nor Chriſt's blood (but for the quickning life of the God-head, perſonally dwelling in him) could have been available for the purging of ſin. Both which himſelf declareth. John 6.53, with 63. And hither belongeth 2 Cor. 5.19. Acts 20.28. Moreover it figured, that Chriſt by his death conquered him that had the power of death. Heb. 2.15. whileſt hee fled as a bird to the everlaſting mountains, from the jaws of death to the joies of heaven. Heb. 7.26.

Ver. 8. Shall waſh his clothes and ſhave] This the leper was to do the firſt daie of his cleanſing; 1 Tim. 6.18.1 Tim 6:18to teach men to bee thorough in the practice of mortification, at the firſt converſion: laying a good foundation for the time to com, that they may laie hold on eternal life.

And ſhall tarrie abroad] Men muſt not bee too haſtie at firſt to catch at comfort; but let humiliation have her perfect work, and our ſorrows bee ſutable to our ſins.

Ver. 9. Ezra 10.13.Ezra 10:13Even all his hair hee ſhall ſhave off] To ſhew that repentance and mortification is not the work of a daie (as hee ſaid in another caſe) but of a man's whole life. There muſt bee a dailie ſhaving and paring of luſts and ſuperfluities; which are to the ſoul as excrements are to the bodie. Yea, the more a ſinner is exerciſed in mortification, the more hee ſearcheth out his corruptions. Now hee ſhaveth off the hair not of his head onelyonly, but of his beard and eie-brows.

Ver. 10. Hee ſhall take two hee-lambs] That by theſe ſacrifices hee might bee taught to ſeek for the cleanſing of his ſoul, together with the healing of his bodie; that there might bee mens ſana in corpore ſano, a cure don on both inſide and outſide too.

Ver. 11. At the door of the tabernacle] There God is to bee p. 141found, viz. in the publick aſſemblies, and that wee are indeed (ſaith one) when wee are at the door of the Tabernacle.

Ver. 12. And wave them] This may note, 1. Chriſt's extreme ſufferings. 2. The waving of Chriſt in the preaching of the Goſpel. 3. The motion of the ſinner's lips in confeſſion and ſupplication.

Ver. 13. It is moſt holie] The waie of holineſs, in and by Chriſt is an abſolute waie, as ever was deviſed.

Ver. 14. Ʋpon the tip of the right ear] To ſignifie that all Chriſt's ſanctified ones have a hearing ear, an active hand, a nimble foot, to walk in the waie that is called holie.

Ver. 15. Som of the log] Chriſt's comforts muſt bee warily propounded to men, and with good diſcretion.

Ver. 16. Seven times] This might note the perfection of the joies God hath for his, and our imperfection in believing it, in that it was ſo manie times ſprinkled.

Ver. 17. Ʋpon the tip of the right ear] To aſſure him of comfort, in hearing, doing, perſevering.

Ver. 18. Ʋpon the head] Everlaſting joie ſhall bee upon the heads of Chriſt's ranſomed ones. Iſa. 35. ult.

Ver. 19. And afterwards the burnt-offering] Wee muſt bee reconciled by Chriſt (our ſin-offering) before the ſacrificing of our ſelvs (which is our reaſonable ſervice) can bee accepted.

Ver. 20. And the meat-offering] The meat-offering annexed to the burnt-offering ſhew's (ſaith one) either that Chriſtians grow marvellouſly in this life, Bifield on 1 Pet. 1.22.1 Pet 1:22after they have full aſſurance of pardon of ſin: or elſ that Chriſt will bee their eternal food in heaven.

Ver. 21. And if hee bee poor] Here's a proviſo for poor people: God make's no difference, but accept's of a little where much is not to bee had.

Ver. 32. Whoſe hand is not able to get] This is often urged, to ſhew, that the beſt can bee got muſt not bee thought too good for God: and that if through careleſneſs or niggardice men do not their utmoſt, that's a juſt exception.

Ver. 34. Plague of leproſie in a houſ] Such is the contagion of ſin, that it will infect the verie houſ wee dwell in, the garments wee wear, even all the creatures wee uſe, ſo as all things p. 142are to us impure. Titus 1.13. even the houſ of God alſo. Levit. 16.16. and his holie ordinances. The Canaanites had defiled the land from one end to another with their uncleanneſſes. Ezra 9.11. and ſo infected the air. This Law taught men; 1. Upon all occaſions to ſhew their utter deteſtation of ſin, but eſpecially of idolatrie. 2. To take heed of deſpiſing admonition, leſt they bee utterly ruined, and that without remedie. Prov. 29.1.

CHAP. XXV. Ver. 2. Arunning iſſue]

AN involuntarie flux of ſeed, ſuch as David imprecateth upon Joab, 2 Sam. 3.29.

Ver. 3. It is his uncleanneſs] Hereby they were taught the turpitude of ſin, of original ſin eſpecially, that peccatum peccans, as the Scholes call it; that ſinfull ſin, as S. Paul. Rom. 7.13. for ſo filthie it is, that hee can call it no worſ then by it's own name, as wanting a fitter Epithite.

Ver. 4. Everie bed] Sin is more catching then anie plague, and more defiling then anie jakes. Mark 7.23. Paul found it as noiſom to his ſoul, as a dead bodie to his ſenſ. Rom. 7.24. or as the ſanies of a plague-ſore to a rich robe. Job abhor's himſelf for it in duſt and aſhes. Chap. 40.4. And Iſaiah look's upon himſelf as an undon man, by reaſon of it, Chap. 6.5.

Ver. 8. Spit upon him] Noting the pollution that com's to men's ſouls by thoſe that ſpit hereſies, and belch out blaſphemies.

Ver. 13. Bathe his fleſh] This taught them to run to that open fountain, that Kings-bath. Zech. 13.1. with Ezekiel 36.29.

Ver. 15. And the Prieſt ſhall offer them] This Prieſt, and theſe ſacrifices led them to Chriſt who bore our ſickneſſes, and expiated our ſins. Seeſt thou then the bloodie iſſue of thy corruptions alwaie running, and guſhing out at thine eies, ears, month, fleſh? the iſſue of blood and water opened in Chriſt's ſide run's alwaie for waſhing it awaie.

Ver. 16. Seminifluus.Go out from him] By nocturnal pollutions, filthie dreams, &c.

p. 143Ver. 18. With ſeed of copulation] Though lawfull in it ſelf, as beeing the ordinance of God. Gen. 2.24. Sin is like copres, which will turn wine, or milk into ink; or leaven which turn's a verie paſ…eover into pollution.

Ver. 24. And if anie man lie with her] Unawares, or ſcecretly. For to do it preſumptuouſly, and upon publick notice, it was death. Levit. 20.18. Ezek. 22.10. And God often puniſheth ſuch unclean copulations now-a-daies, with monſtrous, deformed, or diſeaſed births.

Ver. 25. Have an iſſue] As ſhee had. Mark. 5.25.

Ver. 31. That they die not] Which is worſ then to die in a ditch.

CHAP. XVI. Ver. 1. After the death]

THat others might bee warned. Lege hiſtoriam, ne fias hiſtoria, ſaith one.

When they offered before the Lord] A little ſtrange ſire might ſeem a ſmall matter in the eies of indifferencie: and yet it was ſuch a ſin, as made all Iſraël guiltie, as appear's by the ſacrifices offered for that ſin, ſet down in this Chapter.

Ver. 2. That hee com not at all times] Whenſoever hee pleaſeth, but when I appoint him, i.e. once a year onelyonly. Exodus 30.10. and then alſo with reverence and godlie fear. God, as hee lov's to bee acquainted with men in the walks of their obedience, ſo hee tak's …ate upon him in his ordinances, and will bee trembled at in his judgments.

Ver. 3. For a ſin-offering] viz. For himſelf, and his familie, ver. 6. and 11. See the Note on Chap. 14.3.

Ver. 4. Therefore ſhall hee waſh] As wee muſt bee alwaies holie, ſo then moſt, when wee preſent our ſelvs to the holie eies of our Creätor. We waſh our hands everie daie: but when wee are to ſit with ſom great perſon, wee ſcour them with bals. See verſ 24.

Ver. 5. Two kids of the goats] Both of them types of Chriſt: who though hee died not for wicked goats, yet hee ſeemed rejected of God, and was reckoned among malefactors, Iſa. 53.

p. 144Ver.6. And for his houſ] Whereof a Miniſter muſt bee mainly carefull. 1 Tim. 3.4. leſt (as Augustus doing juſtice on others) hee bee hit in the teeth with his own diſordered familie. Aaron had lately ſmarted in his two eldeſt.

Ver. 8. Shall caſt lots] To ſhew that nothing was don for us by Chriſt, but what God's hand and his counſel had determined, Acts 4.28. 1 Pet. 1.20. See the Note. [For the ſcape goat] Which beeing a piacular or purging oblation, carried the peoples curſ with it: as did likewiſe thoſe Obominales among the Grecians; who, from this cuſtom of the Hebrews, borrowed their yearlie expiation of their cities: the manner whereof (ſomwhat like unto this) See in the Note on 1 Cor. 4.13.

Ver. 9. The goat] A type of Chriſt's mortal humanitie (ſaie ſom) as the ſcape-goat of his immortal deïtie: Or the one of his death, the other of his reſurrection. Others are of opinion that hereby was ſignified, that the Deïtie of Chriſt dwelling in light inacceſſible, gave to his humanitie ſufficient ſtrength for the induring of thoſe things, which no other creature could have com near, for the full expiating of our ſins. So hee telleth the Jews firſt, and (after) his diſciples, Where I ſhall bee, you cannot com. Ver. 22.

Ver. 11. An attonement for himſelf] That having firſt made his own peace, hee may be in caſe to attone for the people. This was David's method. Pſal. 25. & 51.

Ver. 12. And bring it within the veil] So to prepare the waie into the holie place. This incenſ ſmal-beaten might figure Chriſt in his Agonie, praying more earneſtly, before hee entred with his own blood into the moſt holie place of heaven.

Ver. 13. May cover the merciemercy-ſeat] And ſo bee as a skreen betwixt the Prieſt and thoſe everlaſting burnings: or as a cloud to darken the glorie of their ſhining, for the high-prieſt's ſafetie.

Ver. 14. Ʋpon the merciemercy-ſeat eaſtward] This and the following verſes ſignifie (ſaith one) that even heaven it ſelf is defiled unto us by our ſins; until it bee made clean by the blood and obedience of Chriſt; who is entred thither, not by the blood of goats and calvs, but by his own blood, and thereby hath purified the heavenlie things themſelvs. foreign.Heb. 9.12, 23.

Ver. 16. In the midſt of their uncleanneſs] Which did cleav to the Tabernacle, as the ſins of ſpiritual Babylon are ſaid to bee glewed to heaven. Revel. 18.5.

p. 145Ver. 17. And there ſhall bee no man] Chriſt will have no partner, and hee need's no co-adjutor. Heb. 7.25. Iſa. 63.3.

Ver. 18. And hee ſhall go unto the Altar] This ſignified (ſaith one) that everie Church-aſſemblie is acceptable to God, onelyonly through the blood of Chriſt, by the remiſſion of all their ſins.

Ver. 21. All their tranſgreſsions, in all their ſins] i.e. In their ſeveral circumſtances and aggravations: laying open how manie tranſgreſſions were wrapped up in their ſeveral ſins. This was to bring out their ſins (as they took the veſſels of the temple. Ezra 8.34.) by number and by weight.

Ver. 22. Shall let go the goat] The Hebrews ſaie, that hee was to throw it down the rock, and ſo it died. The Grecians had a like cuſtom in their ſolemn expiations of their cities. They tumbled the perſons devoted from ſom rock, into the ſea; Suidas. Aemulus Dei diabolus.ſacrificing them to Neptune, ſaying, Bee thou a propitiation for us.

Ver. 24. Hee ſhall waſh his fleſh] See what this taught them and us. Heb. 10.22. That Epiſtle to the Hebrews is an excellent Commentarie upon this book of Leviticus.

Ver. 26. Shall waſh his clothes] To ſhew, 1. That it was for our ſins that Chriſt ſuffered. 2. That all that partake of his benefits muſt waſh their hearts from wickedneſs. Jer. 4.14. 2 Cor. 5.15. and 7.1.

Ver. 29. Yee ſhall afflict your ſouls] With voluntarie ſorrows for your ſins, as David did. Pſal. 35.13. and Daniel. Cha. 10.3, 12. and ſo diſpoſe your ſelvs to obtein pardon and reconciliation. The Lord's Supper is with us a daie of attonement; at which time both the Scape-goat was let go, and affliction of ſoul was called for. This Paſſover muſt bee eaten with ſour herbs.

Ver. 31. It ſhall bee a Sabbath of rest] An exact and careſull reſt, ſuch as is deſcribed. Iſa. 58.13. which place of the Prophet ſom underſtand of this daie of attonement, and yearlie faſt, ſpoken of in the begining of that Chapter.

Ver. 33. For the holie Sanctuarie] For all the ſins of your holie ſervices; it beeing the manner that either make's, or mar's an action.

Ver 34. For all their ſins once a year] For whereas in their private ſacrifices they durſt not confeſs their capital ſins for fear of death, due to them by the Law. God gratiouſly p. 146provided and inſtituted this yearlie Sacrifice of attonement for the ſins of the whole people, without particular acknowledgment of anie.

CHAP. XVII. Ver. 2. This is the thing which the Lord]

WHo muſt bee readily obeied without tergiverſation, or ſciſcitation.

Ver. 3. What man ſoever] Whether Iſraëlite or proſelyte. Verſ 8. unleſs by ſpecial diſpenſation from the Law-giver, as 1 Sam. 7.9. and 11.15. 2 Sam. 24.18. 1 Kings 18.22. and then they were to offer upon altars of earth, or rough ſtone, that might bee ſoon and eaſily thrown down. Exodus 20.24, 25.

Ver. 4. And bringeth it not unto the door] To teach, that in the Church alone, and by Chriſt alone, that is, by faith in him, acceptable ſervice can bee performed to God. Chriſt is the door of the ſheep. Iohn 10.7, 9. by whom wee com to the Father. Iob. 14.6. and may everie where liſt up pure hands, without wrath, without doubting.

Ver. 5. Syneſius ſaith the divel is, foreign, an Idol-lover.Ʋnto the Prieſt] No man might offer his own ſacrifice, though never ſo good, but muſt bring it to the Prieſt; and the Prieſt was to offer as well the poor man's lamb, as the rich man's ox.

Ver 7. Ʋnto divels] As they had don in Aegypt. Ezek. 23.8. Deut 32.17. And as both Pagans and Papagans do. 1 Cor. 10.20. Revel. 9.20. The word here rendred divels, ſignifieth rough ones, Satyrs. Iſa. 34.14. Satan is a rough, rugged, harſh ſpirit: and ſuch alſo are his imps, as Eſau, Iſmaël, &c.

Ver. 9. Shall bee cut off] i.e. Deſtroied, not excommunicated onelyonly, as ſom do ſenſ it.

Ver. 10. That eateth anie manner of blood] See the Note on Gen. 9.4.

Ver. 11. And I have given it you] I have ſet it apart for a ſacred uſe: therefore you may not make food of that which is a figure of Chriſt.

p. 147Ver. 13. Which hunteth] Though hee bee as hungrie as a hunter. See 1 Sam. 14.32, 33, 34.

CHAP. XVIII. Ver. 1. And the Lord ſpake]

SEE the Note on Levit. 7.22.

Ver. 2. I am the Lord your God] Your Maker and Maſter.

Ver. 3. After the doings of the Land of Aegypt] Where, and in Canaan theſe hainous ſins are counted peccadillo's; as at this daie alſo they are in Spain, Italie, Turkie, where their Catamites are their ſerious loves, Sodomie is hardly held a vice, beſtialitie was boaſted of by Mahomet their prophet.

In their ordinances] The Aegyptians made it lawfull (ſo did the Perſians) for brother and ſiſter to couple together in marriage. Of this and the like ordinances it might bee rightly ſaid, as once it was of the cerimonial Law, that they were ſtatutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they ſhould not live. Ezek. 20.25.

Ver. 4. To walk therein] Not to halt therein, nor to take a turn or two, or for awhile, as Samſon went with his parents, till hee met with an honie-comb; but indeſinenter ambulabo, Pſal. 1 16.9. 1 Cor. 9.24.Ps 1:16Ps 1:91 Cor 9:24as David ſaith, Walk, and not bee wearie; Run, and not faint, as thoſe Iſa. 40. ult. So run, that yee may obtein, ſaith the Apoſtle.

Ver. 5. Hee ſhall live in them] As the flame live's in the oil, as the creature by his food, ſo the ſpiritual life is mainteined by an evangelical keeping of God's commandments. As on the contrarie, everie motion of the ſoul out of this waie, tend's to death; beeing as the motion of the fiſh out of his element.

Ver. 6. None of you ſhall approach] viz. To couple carnally with them. Ezek. 18.6. Iſa. 8.3. Yea though it bee under a pretext of marriage: for by marriage they ſeem to juſtifie their inceſt, which make's it the worſ, ſaith Toſtatus; whoſe reaſon here I better like then that of Cardinal Campeius, though it ſound ſomwhat like. If compariſon ſhould bee made (ſaid this carnal Cardinal) much greater offenſ it is, a Prieſt to p. 148have a wife, then to have and keep at home manie harlots. For they that keep harlots (ſaid hee) as it is nought that they do, Act. and Mon. fol. 790.ſo do they acknowledg their ſin: the other perſuade themſelvs to do well, and ſo perſiſt without repentance or conſcience of their fact.

Ver. 7. Shee is thy mother] And ſo it is againſt nature to lie carnally with her. Ariſtotle tel's of a Camel that killed his keeper for cauſſing him to cover his dam, and of an horſ that caſt himſelf down head-long after hee had don the like.Hiſt. animal. l. 9 cap 47.

Ver. 8. It is thy father's nakedneſs] For the wife hath not power over her own bodie, but the husband: and when her chaſtitie is aſſaulted, ſhee ſhould ſaie (ſaith Chryſoſtom) Non eſt corpus meum, ſed mariti, My bodie is not mine, but my huſband's.

Ver. 9. Or born abroad] i.e. baſe-born, which our Engliſh laws call natural children, The Hebrews call them brambles, and Mamzerim, ſpots abroad, and Shatukim, ſuch as muſt ſaie nothing when others are praiſing their parents. The Greeks call baſtards, foreign, becauſ they are their father's reproach, and are ſubject to contempt and contumelies of others.

Ver. 10. For their's is thine own nakedneſs] Children are but the father multiplied; the father of another edition.

Ver. 14. Of thy father's brother] The nakedneſs of whoſe wife is called his nakedneſs, becauſ man and wife are one fleſh. Mat. 19.6. See the Note there.

Ver. 17. It is wiokedneſs] Wickedneſs with a witneſs, and yet avowed for lawfull by ſom odious upſtart Sectaries, Hiſt. Davidis Georg p.28, 29. Little nonſuch, p. 5, 6, 7.who teach, that thoſe marriages are moſt laudable that are betwixt perſons neareſt in blood, brother and ſiſter, father and daughter, mother and ſon, &c. This they ſhame not to ſet forth in print.

Ver. 18. A wife to her ſiſter] i. e. Anie two women togethen: Compare Ezekiel 1.9. Here Polygamie is flatly forbidden. In which ſin manie of the Patriarchs lived and died; not through anie impietie, the Lord teſtifying that their hearts were upright, but meerly through the miſtaking of this text (as it may ſeem) taking the word [ſiſter] for one ſo by blood, which was ſpoken of a ſiſter by nation, as thoſe clauſes, to vex her, and during her life, do evince.

p. 149Ver. 19. Ʋnto a woman] See the Note on Chap. 15.24.

Ver. 20. To defile thy ſelf] As David, how did hee moil himſelf with Bathſheba, and chaſed away that pure ſpirit. Pſal. 51.10, 11, 12. Caſta Deus mens eſt.

Ver. 21. Paſs thorough the fire] Either to bee burned to death in honor of that abominable idol; or to bee conſecrated thereto, by paſſing between two fires, which ſcorched them. See the Note on Mat. 5.22. [Neither ſhalt thou prophane the name] i. e. Cauſ it to bee prophaned and blaſphemed by others, as Pro. 30. 9. & 1 Tim. 1.20. with the Note there.

Ver. 22. Thou ſhalt not lie with mankinde] The Sodomites ſin. Gen. 19.5. See the Note there. This, ſaie the Hebrews, was Iſmaël's ſporting with Iſaac: and this, ſaie others, was the ſin of Joſeph's brethren, the evil report whereof hee brought to his father. A ſad report it was ſurely to our king Henrie the firſt, that was brought him concerning his eldeſt ſon William, who croſſing the ſeas from France to England, was with manie other Gallants caſt away by ſhipwrack, being Sodomiticâ labe infecti ferè omnes, ſaith Guliel. Pariſienſis, almoſt all of them infected with this abomination of going after ſtrange fleſh. Jude 7, 8.

Ver. 23. foreign. 2. mag. mor. cap. 5.Neither ſhalt thou lie with anie beaſt] See what a foul ſink of ſin man's nature is; who would think that anie ſuch ſurpaſſing wickedneſs (ſo Ariſtotle cal's beſtialitie) ſhould ever enter into man's heart? but there (as in the ſea) is that Leviathan the divel, and there are creeping things (abominable and uglie luſts) innumerable.

Ver. 24. The nations are defiled] And yet are not the Scriptures defiled, by providing againſt ſuch filthineſſes, no more then the Sun-beams are by ſhining upon a ſtinking lake.

Ver. 25. And the land is defiled] From one end thereof to the other. Ezr. 9.11. as the face of the old world was grown ſo foul, that God was fain to waſh it with a flood.

Ver. 25. Yee ſhall therefore keep] Unleſs yee bee ambitious of a like deſtruction. Luke 13.3.

Ver. 28. That the land ſpue not you out] It is wiſely ſaid by Herodotus, That the deſtruction of Troie is a fit example of the rule, that great ſins bring great plagues.

p. 150CHAP. XIX. Ver. 2. Yee ſhall bee holie]

RItually and really. See the Notes on Levit. 11.44. Mat. 5. ult. 1 Pet. 1.16. 1 John 3.3.

Ver. 3. Yee ſhall fear everie man his mother] The mother is ſet firſt, becauſ uſually moſt ſlighted. The daies of mourning for my father are at hand, then will I ſlaie my brother Jacob, ſaid that prophane loſel. Gen. 27.41. As for his mother hee make's no reckoning of her, hee cared not to griev her. [And keep my Sabbaths] To the which the honoring of good governors (who are to ſee the Sabbath ſanctified by all under their roof) doth verie much conduce.

Ver. 4. Turn yee not unto idols] Heb. Elilim deunculi, deaſtri, Pettie-gods, dunghill-deities, of all which wee ſhould ſaie, as hee did once, Contemno minutulos iſtos Deos, modò Jovem (Jehovam) mihi propitium habeam, I care for the favor of no god, but of the great God of Gods.

Ver. 5. At your own will] Or, For your favorable acceptation, that God may graciouſly accept you.

Ver. 6. It ſhall bee eaten the ſame daie] See the Note on Chap. 7.15, 17, 18, 19.

Ver. 9. And when yee reap] See what proviſion the Lord maketh for his poor, commanding that the fuller cups of the richer ſort may overflow into their emptie diſhes: beſides that foreign (as Hierom cal's it) that poor man's tith appointed. Deut. 15.11. Iames the ſift of Scotland was for his charitie called, The poor man's King; much more may God.

Ver. 11. Yee ſhall not steal] See the Notes on Epheſ. 4.28. and 25. and on Exod. 20.15. Levit. 6.3.

Ver. 12. Neither ſhalt thou prophane the name] By preſuming raſhly and lightly to blurt out this reverend name in an oath, or otherwiſe. The Grecians (as Suidas obſerv's) when they would ſwear by their Iupiter, out of the meer dread and reverence of his name forbear to mention him, breaking off their oath with a foreign, as thoſe that onelyonly dare to ow the reſt to their thoughts. And Clinias the Pythagorean, out of this regard, would rather undergo a mulct of three talents then ſwear.

p. 151Ver. 13. The wages of him that is hired] This is a crying ſin. Iam. 5.3. condemned by the verie light of nature. Lib. 10. de legibus.Plato would have him double paid, that is not paid in due time.

Ver. 14. Thou ſhalt not curſ the deaf] So by analogie, the abſent that cannot ſpeak for themſelvs, or the dead. Of all fowl wee moſt hate and deteſt the Crows; and of all beaſts the Jackals (a kinde of foxes in Barbarie) becauſ the one dig's up the graves and devour's the fleſh, the other pick's out the eies of the dead. [But ſhalt fear thy God] Who both hear's and ſee's all thy miſcarriages, and will reckon with thee for all. Deo obſcura clarent, muta reſpondent, ſilentium confitetur, ſaith an Antient. Night will convert it ſelf into noon before God, and ſilence prove a ſpeaking evidence.

Ver. 15. Thou ſhall not reſpect] Spare not the great for their might, nor the mean for their miſerie. Cauſſes muſt bee heard, and not perſons.

Ver. 16. Ʋp and down as a tale-bearer] Heb. As a pedlar that firſt fil's his pack with reports and rumors, and then go's pedling up and down, dropping a tale here, and another there, to the taking away of the good name, and ſomtimes of the life of another. Hence it follow's here, Neither ſhalt thou ſtand againſt the life of thy brother. And agreeable hereunto is that of Ezekiel 22.9. In thee are men that carrie tales to ſhed blood. Such a wretched pedlar was Doeg: and ſuch is that backbiter ſpoken of. Pſal. 15.3. The word there uſed doth in the Hebrew properly ſignifie ſuch an one as footeth and trotteth it up and down, prying, and ſpying, and carrying tales and rumors. 2 Sam. 19.21.

Ver. 17. Thou ſhalt not hate thy brother] Moſt unkindeneſſes that fall out among friends grow upon miſtakes and miſunderſtandings. Now, a friendlie reaſoning the caſe, or, if need bee, a godly reproof cure's both the reprover, and the reproved; whereas the neglect of this dutie breed's dwelling ſuſpicions: ſuſpicions breed a verie habit of miſ-interpretation: this breed's a lothneſs to com to the light to ſhew the reaſons of our diſlike: this lothneſs beget's a verie ſeparation in heart, which at length turn's to down right hatred in heart. All which might have been better prevented by a ſeaſonable venting our mindes in a reproof or admonition. [Thou ſhalt in anie wiſe rebuke thy neighbour] Neither is this anie argument of hatred, but p. 152an office of love. Friends (as Bees) are killed with the honie of flatterie, but quickened with the vineger of reproof. The Eagle though ſhee loveth her young ones dearly, yet ſhee pricketh and beateth them out of the neſt. Exigne gehennali. Hier.[And ſhalt not ſuffer ſin upon him] But ſave him with fear, pulling him out of the fire. Jude 23. Out of the fire of hell, as Hierom interpret's it, which ſin ſuffered will bring him unto. Others read it thus, Lest thou ſuffer for his ſin; which, by not oppoſing, thou makeſt to becom thine own. To withſtand evil in thy brother, is the beſt waie to do him good, and thy ſelf too. Others render it thus, Thou ſhalt not lift up his ſin over him, as an enſign, by blabbing or blazing it abroad, to his juſt grief and diſgrace; but clap a plaſter of reproof upon the ſore, and then (as Chirurgeons uſe to do) cover it with thy hand, that the world may bee never the wiſer.

Ver. 18. Nor bear anie grudg] Heb. Nor keep. There is nothing that a man is more readie to keep then his wrath. Therefore the Hebrews both here and Jer. 3.5. Pſal. 103.9. put ſervare for ſervare iram; but wee muſt neither revenge nor remember; wee muſt not throw awaie the dagger, and keep the ſheath, but both forgive and forget. [But ſhalt love thy neighbour] See the Notes on Mat. 22.37-40. and on Rom. 13.9.

Ver. 19. Yee ſhall keep my ſtatutes] Even theſe next following, though they may ſeem to bee but minutula legis, not worth keeping. [Thou ſhalt not let thy cattle] The Doctors of Doway, upon this Text, Here all participation (ſaie they) with hereticks and ſchiſmaticks is forbidden. Philip of Spain ſaid, hee had rather have no ſubjects, Act. and mon. fol. 1189.then ſubjects of a diverſ religion. Our King Edward the ſixth told the Popiſh rebels of Devonſhire, who fought for libertie of Conſcience (as they call it) that rather then hee would yield to them, hee would ſpend his own royal perſon, his Crown, Treaſure, Realm, and whole eſtate; whereof wee aſſure you, ſaid hee, of our high honor. But now (alas) what ſecret and ſubtile projects and practices are there amongſt us of this Nation to bring in an univerſal, boundleſs, lawleſs, abominable and intolerable Toleration, which (as the London-Miniſters affirm in their Teſtimonie to the Truth of Jeſus Chriſt, now newly publiſhed to the ſingular praiſ of their exemplarie and ſeaſonable zeal for God) will prove an hideous and complexive evil of moſt dangerous and miſchievous p. 153conſequence, if ever (which God forbid) it ſhall bee conſented to by Autoritie. England ſhall bee ſwallowed up with Sects, Schiſms, Diviſions, Diſorders, Contentions and Confuſions, and becom an odious ſink and common receptacle of all the prodigious errors, lies, hereſies, blaſphemies, libertiniſm and prophaneneſſes in the world: ſo that Rome it ſelf ſhall not bee a more odious puddle and cage of all abomination and uncleanneſs. The godlie ſhall ſit down and lament us. The wicked ſhall riſe up and inſult over us. All the Nations about us ſhall bee amazed at us. All the reformed Churches ſhall bee aſhamed to own us. Thus, and much more to this purpoſe write thoſe worthie Zealots, The London Miniſters Teſtimonie, &c. atteſted.whoſe Teſtimonial to the Truth coming by a providence to my hand, even whilſt I was writing upon this Chapter, I could not but here ſet my ſeal to it, and here inſert this part of it, the whole beeing ſuch as deſerv's to bee written in letters of gold upon a table of marble, for the uſe of all poſteritie.

Ver. 20. Shee ſhall bee ſcourged] Thus ſtill (ſaith a grave Interpreter) the Lord debaſeth bond-ſervants, to teach his children to hate the bondage of ſin.

Ver. 22. Shall bee forgiven] ſc. By faith in Chriſt, whom theſe ſacrifices did ſhadow and ſet forth.

Ver. 23. Three years ſhall it bee as uncircumciſed] And ſo to bee caſt away, as the fore-skin of the fleſh was. The fourth year it was to bee ſeparate, to bee offered to the Lord in ſign of Thankſgiving: And then the fifth year to bee eaten. This was to ſhew, that the verie fruits of the earth are, after a ſort, polluted by man's ſin, till purged by a new kinde of bleſſing. 1 Tim. 4.5. Hereby alſo God would ſeparate his own people from other Nations: and ſhew that they might with a better conſcience feed upon the fruits of the earth, then others could. There are that ſet this myſtical ſenſ upon the Text. Chriſt for three years ſpace planted the Goſpel in Judaea; but the foreskins were caſt away for that time, that is, the Goſpel was not preached yet to the uncircumciſed Gentiles. In the fourth year theſe fruits were conſecrated to God; that is, Chriſt in the fourth year of his Miniſterie died for the ſins of the world, roſe again, aſſcended, and ſent down the holie Ghoſt, whereby the Apoſtles and others were ſanctified, beeing, p. 154as it were, the firſt fruits of the promiſed Land. In the fiſt year, the fruits of the Goſpel planted by Chriſt began to bee common, preached to the Gentiles, believed in the world. 1 Tim. 3.16.

Ver. 26. Neither ſhall you uſe enchantment] Or, obſerv fortune's conjecture by ſigns of good or evil luck, as ſom render it.

Ver. 27. Yee ſhall not round] Becauſ the Arabians their neighbors did ſo, Herod. in Tbal.and they ſhould not bee conformed to idolaters. Oleaſter a Popiſh Interpreter underſtandeth ſuch a ſhaving here, as their Prieſts uſe to bear. But ſhaving is ſo bald a Cerimonie, that ſom Prieſts in France are aſhamed of the mark, and few of them have it that can handſomly avoid it.

Ver. 28. Yee ſhall not make anie cuttings] Another Heatheniſh cuſtom, Conſol. ad Apol.of ſuch as mourned without hope. Plutarch tel's oſ ſom Barbarians that did tear their hair, rent their fleſh, ſlit their ears and noſe for the dead. Jer. 16 6.

Ver. 29. Do not proſtitute thy daughter] As ſom of the Heathens did in honor of their gods. As the Papiſts do at this daie, Martin. Vival. in Candelabro cap. de confeſſione.in their Stews and Brothel-houſes. Their Caſuiſts complain of ſom harlots there ſo boldly laſcivious, as to ſolicite others, ſo as to proſtitute themſelvs to all comers; yea in ſom Spaniſh Stews, to an unnatural filthineſs. But what a ſhamefull thing is that which Eſpencaeus a Papiſt report's with deteſtation, that in Rome a Jewiſh maid might not bee admitted into the Stews of whoredom, unleſs ſhee would bee firſt baptized. Eſpene.' de continent. lib. 3. cap. 4.Dici nequit, ſaith hee, quàm incredibili Chriſtianorum tum pudore, tum etiam eorum qui verè tales ſunt, cordolio, ut Judae filiae ſcortari non liceat, Dei filiae liceat. What a ſhamefull and ſad thing is this that a Jeweſs, unleſs ſhee turn Chriſtian, &c.

Ver. 30. Yee ſhall keep my Sabbaths] Twice in this Chapter is this commanded, that it may bee the better remembred: and that men may know that it is not enough to reſt on that daie, but that reſt muſt bee ſanctified by a reverent reſorting to the Sanctuarie, and not prophaned by runing into whore-houſes and tipling-houſes, as in Germanie; where Alſted complain's and ſaie's, that if the Sabbath-daie ſhould bee named according to manie mens obſerving of it, Alſted. En…yc.Daemoniacus potiùs quàm Dominicus vocaretur. [And reverence my Sanctuarie] Com wee p. 155muſt into the places of God's worſhip, with an inward aw and fear of his preſence, and not as into a dancing-ſchool, Hom. 36. 2d 1 Cor. 4.1 Cor 4as ſom do. How fearfull is this place, ſaith Iacob? It is the place of Angels and Archangels, the kingdom of God, it is heaven it ſelf, ſaith Chryſoſtom. Away then with all careleſs negligence and carnal ſecuritie.

Ver. 31. I am the Lord your God] What need you then run to the divel for direction? Is it becauſ there is no God in Iſraël? Everie one that conſult's with Satan, worſhip's him, though hee bow not: neither doth that evil ſpirit deſire anie other reverence, then to bee ſought unto.

Ver. 32. Thou ſhalt riſe up] Cognata ſunt foreign, old age and honor are near a kin in the Greek tongue, ut foreign. See Prov. 20.29. Lam. 5.12.

Ver. 33. And if a ſtranger] See the Note on Exod. 22 21.

Ver. 37. And do them] For they are verba vivenda, non legenda. Words not ſo much to bee read as lived.

CHAP. XX. Ver. 2. That giveth anie of his ſeed to Moloch]

SEE the Note on Chap. 18.21. Lactantius report's out of Peſcennius Feſtus, that the Carthaginians beeing overcom by Agathocles King of Sicilie, and fearing leſt their ſlackneſs in the ſervice of Saturn (who is thought to bee the ſame with Moloch) was the cauſ, offered unto him for a ſacrifice no fewer then four hundred young Gentlemen at once.

Ver. 3. To defile my Sanctuarie] Great ſins do greatly pollute. See Lev. 18.21.

Ver. 5. I will ſet my face againſt that man] See the reaſon. Ezek. 16.20, 21. Is this of thy whoredom… a ſmall matter, that thou haſt ſlain my children, and delivered them to paſs thorough the fire for them? This was an enraging ſin; ſuch as God is abſolute in threatning, and will bee as reſolute in puniſhing.

Ver. 6. I will cut him off] Nemo cum ſerpente ſecurus ludit, Chryſolog. Serm. 155.nemo cum diabolo jocatur impuné.

Ver. 7. For I am the Lord your God] And God that is holie ſhould bee ſanctified in righteouſneſs. Iſa. 5.16.

p. 156Ver. 8. I am the Lord that ſanctifie you] Ʋt acti agatis, that yee may trade with your talents, ſanctifie the Lord God in your hearts and lives, and walk up to your principles.

Ver. 9. For everie one that curſeth] See the Note on Mat. 15.4. and on Exod. 21.17.

Ver. 10. Shall ſurely bee put to death] Adulterie was death long before this Law. Gen. 26.11. and 38.24. So it was afterwards among the Greeks, Romans, and manie other Nations. Jer. 29.22, 23.

Ver. 15. Yee ſhall ſlaie the beaſt] Though innocent: this ſhew's the hainouſneſs of the ſin. See Chap. 18.9.

Ver. 17. And ſee her nakedneſs] In the Pope's war againſt the Albigenſes (thoſe antient French Proteſtants) when the Biſhops had taken a great Town yielded to them, they commanded the inhabitants both men and women to depart ſtark naked, Jeſuita vapulans. p. 331.Partibus illis, quae honeſtè nominari non poſſunt, ſanctorum illorum cruciatorum oculis expoſitis, ſaith Rivet, not ſuffering them to hide from the impure eies of thoſe Pope holie fathers, thoſe parts that nature would have covered. David that had faulted in looking luſtfully on bathing Bathſhedba, praie's hard, after hee had ſmarted for it, Turn away mine eies from beholding vanitie, Ovid.&c. … Cur aliquid vidi, cur noxia lumina feci? … See Hab. 2.15. Of looking com's luſting, eſpecially when they do foreign (which is the Apoſtle's word. 2 Cor. 4.14.) ſo look, as the archer at the mark.

Ver. 21. They ſhall bee childeleſs] Either barren or bereft; for this is a ſin, ſaith Iob, that root's out all a man's increaſ. Chap. 31.12. Hence that of Hoſea, They ſhall commit whoredom, velo iipparedu, they ſhall not increaſ. Pered is a mule, which is a beaſt verie libidinous, but begetting nothing. Solomon had manie concubines, yet but one ſon and two daughters. So had our Henrie 8. Hee had uncovered his brother's nakedneſs, and was well-nigh childleſs by her. Afterwards hee married manie wives, and was blame-worthie for women, but left no more children then Solomon did. More happie hee was in them then Solomon; for hee had Rehoboam a man neither wiſe nor fortunate, as they call it: his daughters but obſcure, and both of them ſubjects. But Henrie had a Peerleſs Prince to his ſon (viz. Edward 6.) and his two daughters were both Soveraigns of an imperial Crown.

p. 157Ver. 24. Separated you] With a wonderfull ſeparation, ſuch as was that of light from darkneſs at the Creätion.

Ver. 25. Between clean beaſts] How much more then ſhall you abſtein from thoſe unlawfull copulations, whereby men put off all manhood, degenerate into dogs? Rom. 1.27. Deut. 23.18. 2 Sam. 3.8.

Ver. 27. That hath a familiar ſpirit] As Paracelſus had one confined to the pummel of his ſword, or elſ Eraſtus belie's him.

CHAP. XXI. Ver. 1. There ſhall none bee defiled for the dead]

THis holie abſtinence of the Prieſts in matter of mourning, marriage, &c. figured the tranſſcendent holineſs of Chriſt: The divels could call him that holie One of God. Mark 1.24. It taught alſo both Miniſters and people (who are a Kingdom of Prieſts) 1. Well to govern their paſſions, and to bee paterns of patience. 2. Ever to keep ſuch a Sabbath of Spirit, that by no dead works, or perſons dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, they bee hindered in the diſcharge of the duties of either calling.

Ver. 2. And for his brother] The high-prieſt might not for anie of theſe, ver. 10, 11. nor might Eleazar and Ithamar for their dead brethren Nadab and Abihu. Levit. 10.6. becauſ in that caſe, mourning might have ſeemed murmuring.

Ver. 3. And for his ſiſter] What? and not for his wife? Yes ſurely (though ſhee bee not mentioned) becauſ ſhee is nearer then either daughter or ſiſter. See Ezek. 24.16. hee was a Prieſt; but that was an exempt caſe, an exception from what was ordinarily don.

Ver. 4. Beeing a chief man] A vir gregis, all whoſe actions were exemplarie, and have not an impulſive onelyonly, but a compulſive power and propertie. Gal. 2.14. Why compelleſt thou the Gentiles? His example was a compulſion.

Ver. 5. They ſhall not make baldneſs, &c.] So Chap. 19.27. Howbeit in humiliation for ſin the Lord God of hoſts called them all, both Prieſts and people, to weeping and mourning. p. 158Jeel 2.17. yea to baldneſs and ſackcloth. Iſa. 22.12. Here wee cannot eaſily over-do.

Ver. 6. They ſhall bee holie] Heb. Holineſs, i.e. all holie, even as holineſs it ſelf, meerly ſpiritual. [Not prophane the Name of their God] Not do anie thing unworthie the majeſtie of the Miniſterie: but ſuffer the dead to burie their dead. Mat. 8.22.

Ver. 7. They ſhall not take a wife] Leſt his function bee diſgraced. That which Hoſea was commanded to do againſt this prohibition. Chap. 1.2. was but viſional. [Or prophane] defloured, raviſhed. [Put away from her husband] Becauſ of evil report.

Ver. 8. Thou ſhalt ſanctifie him] i. e. Thou Moſes ſhalt command him to bee ſanctified, as Exod. 19.10.

Ver. 9. Shee ſhall bee burnt with fire] A peculiar plague, to ſhew the hatefulneſs of the ſin.

Ver. 10. Shall not uncover his head] So neither doth the Mufti among the Turks, nor the Pope of Rome uncover to anie man: but this is their pride and ſtatelineſs.

Ver. 11. Nor defi…e himſelf] But appear impaſſionate, as it were, and more than a man.

Ver. 12. For the crown of the anointing] Noting thereby, that Chriſt now riſen is crowned with glorie and honor. Heb. 2.7. Zach. 6.12. and ſo ſhall wee with him. Heb. 2.9, 10.1 Cor. 15.47, 48, 49.

Ver. 13. In her virginitie] Such is Chriſt's wife. 2 Cor. 11.2. Revel. 14.4. Mat. 25. not giving her love, or his worſhip to anie other.

Ver. 14. Of his own people] A Jeweſs of anie Tribe. Ezek. 44.22. 2 Chron. 22.11.

Ver. 15. Prophane his ſeed] Diſable them for the Prieſthood by marrying ſuch a wife as was forbidden him.

Ver. 17. That hath anie blemiſh] Chriſt was without blemiſh, ſo ſhould all the Saints bee, but eſpecially Miniſters, of whom it ſhould bee ſaid as of Abſalom, that from top to toe there was no blemiſh in him. 2 Sam 14.25.

Ver. 18. Hee ſhall not approach] Leſt his Miniſterie bee ſleighted for his perſonal defects and deformities: how much more for his ignorance, envie, indirect aims, uneven walking, injudiciouſneſs, unheavenlie mindedneſs, &c. purported by theſe bodilie imperfections?

p. 159Ver. 22. Hee ſhall eat the bread] So might not the unclean Prieſts. Levit. 22.3. Our involuntarie weakneſſes ſhall not debar us from benefit by Chriſt.

CHAP. XXII. Ver. 2. That they ſeparate]

THough Prieſts, yet they may not hold themſelvs privileged above others to commit ſin, but are the rather obliged to dutie. Why ſhould anie Chryſoſtom have cauſ to ſaie? Non arbitror inter ſacerdotes multos eſſe qui ſalvi fiant; I do not think that manie of our Miniſters can bee ſaved: 'tis well if anie? Or anie Campian to exclaim? Miniſtris eorum nihil vilius.

Ver. 6. Ʋnleſs hee waſh his fleſh with water] Whereby hee was led to the laver of Chriſt's blood, which is oppoſed to legal waſhings. Heb. 9.9. Run wee to that open fountain. Zach. 13.1. and bee everie daie waſhing and cleanſing our ſelvs therein from all filthineſs of fleſh and ſpirit. Everie Jew had his water-pots for dailie purification. John 2.6. Wee have a far better Bath.

Ver. 7. Becauſ it is his food] Animantis cujuſque vita in fuga eſt, and muſt bee preſerved by food.

Ver. 9. And die therefore] It is no dallying with God. Either do it wee muſt, or die for it.

Ver. 10. There ſhall no ſtranger] The equitie of all this was, that Miniſters ſhould have a comfortable ſubſiſtence for them and theirs: and that the things that are appointed to that purpoſe ſhould not bee converted to other uſes. 1 Cor. 9.13. It is certainly a ſad complaint that Luther make's. Niſi ſupereſſet ſpolium Aegypti quod rapuimus Papae, Luther. in Gen. 47.Gen 47omnibus Miniſtris verbi fame pereundum eſſet, &c. Were it not for ſuch ſpoils of Aegypt as wee have won from the Pope, God's Miniſters might ſtarve and periſh. And if ever it com to that, that they muſt bee mainteined by the people's benevolence, a miſerable maintenance they are like to have of it. That little that wee have now diripitur à Magiſtratu is got from p. 160us by the great Ones, who rob our Churches and Schools, as if they meant to make an end of us with hard hunger. Thus hee. See Hag. 2.14. All the water in Jordan, and the Cerimonies in Leviticus, cannot cleanſ a man ſo long as the polluted thing remain's in his hand.

Ver. 16. Or ſuffer them] From my other men's ſins, Good Lord deliver mee, ſaid One: Have wee not enough of our own to anſwer for? See 1 Tim. 5.22. wich the Note. That cannot bee wholſom meat, that is ſauced with the blood of ſouls, and ſpiced with the wrath of God.

Ver. 20. It ſhall not bee acceptable] Nay, it ſhall bee abominable. Mal. 1.7. God require's the beſt of the beſt, fine flour without bran. Levit. 2.1, &c. and curſeth that couſener, that having a ſound or a fat male in his flock, bringeth to him a corrupt carrion, or a lean ſtarvling for Sacrifice. Verſ 14.

Ver. 23. That maieſt thou offer] Though it have ſom kinde of defect, yet (in free-will offerings) it might paſs. This was to ſignifie, that our imperfect obedience after that wee are once in Chriſt, is accepted by Chriſt, who is without all blame and blemiſh.

Ver. 24. Neither ſhall you make anie offering] No not a freewill offering. Religion love's to lie clean. God will take up with a poor, but it muſt bee a pure ſacrifice.

Ver. 25. Their corruption is in them] As not having their hearts purified by faith; and therefore not in caſe to pleaſ God.

Ver. 27. It ſhall bee ſeven daies] As not beeing man's meat, till then: but legally impure, and in their blood, as were likewiſe infants.

Ver. 28. Yee ſhall not kill it and her young] Becauſ it bear's a ſhew of crueltie, and of adding affliction to the afflicted. See Gen 32.11. Hoſ. 10.14.

Ver. 29. Offer it at your own will] God ſtrain's upon no man. Virtus nolentium nullaeſt.

Ver. 30. On the ſame daie] See the Note on Chap. 7.15.

Ver. 31. I am the Lord] Your rightfull Lord, and my reward is with mee, to give unto everie man according to his works.

p. 161Ver. 32. My holie name▪ ] Holie, and therefore reverend. Pſal. 111.9. Holineſs hath honor.

CHAP. XXIII. Ver. 1. And the Lord ſpake]

SEE the Note on chap. 7.22.

Ver. 2. To bee holie convocations] Not bare reſts: foreign. 2. de legib.as Plato ſaid, that the Gods, pittying men's labor, appointed their feſtivals to bee a remiſſion of their labor. See the Notes on Exod. 20.8, 9, 10, 11.

Ver. 3. Yee ſhall do no work therein] Save onelyonly works of pietie, charitie and neceſſitie. Theſe are allowed by our Saviour. Mark 2.29. and 3.4. and 3.27. The Jews ſuperſtitiouſly hold, that it is not lawfull for a blinde man to lean upon a ſtaff on a Sabbath-daie, as the lame may: That if a Flea bite a man on that daie, hee may take it, but not kill it: that if a thorn prick him in the foot on that daie, hee may not pull it out: That a Tailor may not carrie a needle, much leſs a ſword; that a man may not ſpet, or bee taken out of a jakes, Ranulph. lib. 7 c. 37.as that Jew of Tewksburie, who ſaid, Sabbata ſancto colo, de ſtercore ſurgere nolo. Whereunto the Earl of Gloceſter replied, Sabbata noſtra quidem (Solomon) celebrabis ibidem.

Sir, reverence of the Sabbath keep's mee here: And you Sir, reverence ſhall our Sabbath there. In all your dwellings] Where you are to ſanctifie this reſt, and to repair to your Synagogues. Act. 15.21.

Ver. 5. In the fourteenth daie] See the Notes on Exodus 12.18.

Ver. 11. And hee ſhall wave the ſheaf] This ſignified that they and theirs were accepted of God through Chriſt. [On the morrow after the Sabbath] Here the Lord's daie was prefigured (ſaith one) therefore preſcribed, and inſtituted of God. This ſhake-daie-ſheaf was a pregnant type of Chriſt's riſing again, the firſt-fruits from the dead. It was fulfilled in Chriſt's reſurrection, the daie after the Sabbath: And becauſ this Sabbath p. 162bath was chiefly meant of the Paſſover (which was an high Sabbath) it was a double Sabbath, wherein Chriſt reſted in the grave. The verie next morning was Chriſt waved before the Lord; when, in the earth-quake, hee roſe from the dead (the firſt fruits of them that ſleep) and there-hence entered the everlaſting gates as a King of glorie. Pſal. 24.7. which Pſalm is in the Greek called, A Pſalm of David of the firſt daie of the week.

Ver. 15. Seven Sabbaths] That is ſeven weeks; The Sabbath is queen of all the daies of the week; and therefore carrie's the name of the whole week.

Ver. 17. Out of your habitations] That is, out of the new corn (growing of the ſame land which God gave them to inherit) not …orrein. [The firſt fruits] viz. of their wheatharveſt, as the ſhake-ſheaf, verſ 10. was of their barlie-harveſt. Thus were they to expreſs their thankfulneſs to God for thoſe pretious fruits of the earth. Jam. 5.7.

Ver. 22. And when yee reap] See Chap. 19.9. In theſe wee entertain Chriſtum convivam, Chriſt a gueſt, ſaith Hierom.

Ver. 24. Of blowing of trumpets] This feaſt ſignified the ſpiritual joie and gladneſs of the Saints, that are redeemed by Chriſt, all their life long. Iſa. 33.10.

Ver. 27. Alſo on the tenth daie] See the Note on Chap. 16.31. Thus they were kept in ſorrow five daies, before they might keep their feaſt of joie. verſ 34.

Ver. 34. The feaſt of tabernacles] It ſignified (the Prophet Zacharie beeing interpreter, Chap. 14.16, 17, 18, 19.) that the remembrance of our redemption by Chriſt ſhould bee perpetuated with all ſpiritual gladneſs.

Ver. 42. Yee ſhall dwell in booths] The ſiege of Jeruſalem by the Romans laſted ſix moneths. It began at the Paſſover, and ended at this feaſt of Tabernacles: Ità feſtum illud fuit finis iſtius politiae.

p. 163CHAP. XXIIII. Ver. 2. Beaten for the light]

MIniſters muſt beat their brains, and bend their utmoſt indeavors to give light to them that ſit in darkneſs, and in the ſhadow of death, and to guid their feet into the waie of peace: as that burning and ſhining light, the Baptiſt did. Luk. 1.79.

Ver. 3. From the evening unto the morning] In the morning it went out. 1 Sam. 3.3.

Ver. 4. Ʋpon the pure candle-stick] Pure, becauſ daily purified by the Prieſts: ſo muſt our conſciences bee from dead works by dailie repentance.

Ver. 5. Twelv Cakes] See the Note on Mat. 12.4.

Ver. 6. Six on a row] One by another, not one upon another, as they are commonly painted.

Ver. 8. Everie Sabbath] So muſt the bread of life bee everie Sabbath at leaſt ſet before the Saints.

Ver. 10. Whoſe father was an Aegyptian] His mother taught him to ſpeak, his father to blaſpheme. [Strove together] In the heat of contention, what will not men ſaie or do?

—qui non moderabitur irae

Indictum velit eſse, dolor quod ſuaſerit, & mens.

Ver. 11. Blaſphemed the name, &c.] Heb. bored it thorough, gored it, pierced it, as did thoſe Syrians, Iſa. 36.6. Turk. Hiſt. 423.Isa 36:6ſlain by the fall of the wall of Ap…ek, Rabſhakeh that dead dog, Julian the Apoſtate, Choſroes the Perſian, the raging Turk at the ſiege of Seodra, that foul-mouthed Papiſt that durſt ſaie, The God of the Proteſtants is worſ then Pan god of clowns, which can indure no cerimonies nor good manners at all. To theſe add Paul Best, Sheldon's Mark of the beaſt. Ep. ded.who hath lately publiſhed blaſphemous verſes againſt the Trinitie. See the London Miniſter's Teſtimonial to the Truth of Jeſus Chriſt.

Ver. 14. And let all that heard him] The Jews at this daie abhor the blaſphemies of Chriſtians, ſo openly and ordinarily darted up with helliſh mouths againſt God. The Turks puniſh their priſoners ſorely, when as, Spec. Europ.through impatience or deſperateneſs, they break out into them.

Ver. 16. And hee that blaſphemeth] Swearers and blaſphemers p. 164toſs God's name to & fro with ſuch impietie and prophaneneſs, as if their ſpeech could have no grace, but in his diſgrace: as if Auguſtus Caeſar were dealing with ſom god Neptune; or the three ſons trying their archerie at their father's heart, Lonicer. theat. hiſt.to ſee who can ſhoot nigheſt. [Shall bee ſurely put to death] Though hee bee never ſo much provoked by others, as this blaſphemer was; that ſhall no whit excuſe him.

Ver. 17. And bee that killeth anie man] Though in hot blood; Scripture make's no difference between murder and manſlaughter. See the Note on Gen. 9.6.

Ver. 19. As hee hath don] God love's to retaliate; it is his uſual manner of proceeding in puniſhing.

CHAP. XXV. Ver. 2. Then ſhall the Land keep a Sabbath]

BY their weeklie Sabbath they profeſſed that themſelvs belonged to God (though Seneca jeer them for it, as thoſe that caſt awaie the ſeventh part of their time) by this ſeventh year Sabbath, they profeſſed, That their Land belonged to God, and that they were onelyonly his hindes, his tenants, and tith-men. Hence it is called, the Lord's land. Hoſ. 9.3. and Immanuels. Iſa. 8.8.

Ver. 4. A Sabbath of reſt unto the Land] This and the Jubilee year ſhadowed our eternal reſt. Col. 2.16, 17. Heb. 4.9. 1. Everie ſeventh-daie they reſted from their labors. 2. Everie ſeventh year the ground reſted. Everie ſeventh ſeventh (as ſom reckon it) was the Jubilean Sabbath: at which time all debts were remitted, priſoners releaſed, morgages reſtored to the right inheritors. The great and eternal Sabbath comprehend's all theſe. How then ſhould wee breath after it, and even go forth to meet it (as the Jews do their weeklie Sabbath) begining it an hour ſooner then the Law required; and this they called their Sabbatulum, or little Sabbath?

Ver. 6. Shall bee meat for you] Thus God taught and inured them to depend upon his providence, and to feed on faith, as ſom read that text. Pſal. 37.3. For though the owner of the field might gather, even on that year, for the maintenence of p. 165himſelf and familie, yet hee was neither to ſowe his field, thereby to greaten his harveſt, nor to hedg his field, or lock up his vineyard, &c.

Ver. 9. In the daie of attonement] Here began the Jubilee: this feaſt was founded in a faſt. They that ſowe in tears ſhall reap in joie: neither is there anie ſuch comfort as theirs, that have ſoundly ſoaked themſelvs in godlie ſorrow.

Ver. 10. And proclame libertie] See this expounded by the Prophet Iſaiah. Cap. 61.1, 2, with Luk. 4.21. A moſt joifull Jubilee indeed. In the year of Chriſt, 1617, the Pope proclamed a Jubilee for the peace of Italie and Auſtria. The Proteſtants alſo of Germanie did the like, in honor of God, and for joie of the Reformation begun by Luther in Germanie, a juſt hundred of years before.

Ver. 12. Out of the field] See the Note on ver. 6.

Ver. 14. Yee ſhall not oppreſs] But proceed by that golden rule, What ever yee would that men ſhould do to you, even ſo do yee to them.

Ver. 17. But thou ſhalt fear thy God] And ſo depart from this evil alſo. Gen. 42.18. Joſeph ſaid to his brethren (who feared hee would roul himſelf upon them) This do and live, for I fear God. q. d. I dare do you no hurt, though yee bee fallen into my danger. So his grand-father Iſaac, ſeeing that hee had don unwilling juſtice, durſt not reverſ the bleſſing, though hee had ſom minde to it, for God had overawed him. Gen. 27.33. And ought yee not to have walked in the fear of the Lord, ſaid good Nehemiah to thoſe mercieleſs griping Uſurers? Cha. 5.9.

Ver. 20. And if yee ſhall ſaie] A clear anſwer to a carnal objection. Uſually God conceal's the objection in Scripture, and meet's it with an anſwer, which is an act of grace.

Ver. 21. Command my bleſſing] Now if God ſend his Mandamus, who ſhall gainſt and it?

Ver. 23. The Land is mine] See Verſ 2.

Ver. 25. And if anie of his kin] Chriſt is our near kinſman, and ſo by propinquitie (as a man) had the right of redemption. Ruth 2.20. and 3.9, 11, 13.

Ver. 34. May not bee ſold] This Law laſted but during the paedagogie: for Joſes a Levite ſold his land, and brought the monie, and laid it at the Apoſtle's feet. Act. 4.36, 37.

Ver. 35. That hee may live with thee] i. e. Live in good faſhion; p. 166for a neceſſitous life is a lifeleſs life. Thus ſhall yee ſaie to him that liveth. 1 Sam. 25.6. So Joh. 4.50. thy daughter liveth.

Ver. 36. Take thou no uſurie] God diſpenſeth with no uſurie, but condemn's both Neſhec the biting, and Tarbith the toothleſs. In Rome at this daie, all uſurers are excommunicated monethly. The Jews indeed are permitted to ſtrain up their uſurie to eighteen in the hundred upon the Chriſtian (for among themſelvs they no where uſe it) which cauſſeth manie of the unconſcionable Chriſtians to uſe theſe Jews under hand in improving their unlawfull rents to the utmoſt proportion.

Ver. 43. Rule over him with rigor] As the Aegyptians did over the Iſraëlites. Exod. 1.13. Thy ſervant is made of the ſame earth with thee, and hath right to the ſame heaven with thee. See Gal. 3.28. The ſervant paid the half ſhekel as well as the maſter. Stand not therefore on terms of inequalitie: but know that your ſelvs alſo have a maſter in heaven. Do therefore to them that which is right and equal. Col. 4.

CHAP. XXVI. Ver. 1. Yee ſhall make you no idols]

SEE the Notes on Exod. 20.4, 5. God knew the people's proneneſs to idolatrie.

Ver. 2. Yee ſhall keep] See the Note on Chap. 19.30.

Ver. 4. Rain in due ſeaſon] The beſt Almanack wee ſhould relie upon for ſeaſonable weather, is our obedience to God, love to our neighbour, care of our ſelvs.

Ver. 5. Dwell in your land ſafely] Confidently, fiducially, as boldly relying upon God's protection.

Ver. 6. Neither ſhall the ſword] To devour and deſolate it, to eat fleſh and drink blood, without meaſure or ſatietie. A fire it is that feed's upon the people. Iſa. 9.19. a hungrie Wolf that ſnatcheth on both hands. Ver. 20.

Ver. 7. And yee ſhall chaſe your enemies] If forreiners invade you, you ſhall bee able to quel and quiet them quickly.

Ver. 8. And five of you] God ſtrengthen's or weaken's the arm of either partie. 2 Chron. 7.6.2 Chr 7:6Ezek. 30.24. ſtrike's a Panick terror oft, as p. 167into thoſe Aramites that heard an hurrie-noiſ in the aër (made by the Angels likely) and fled.

Ver. 9. And eſtabliſh my Covenant with you] This is more then all the reſt. So Gen. 17.30, 21. I have bleſſed Iſmaël; twelv princes ſhall hee leget, but my Covenant will I eſtabliſh with Iſaac.

Ver. 11. I will ſet my tabernacle] The Philoſopher could comfort himſelf, that though hee had little elſ to truſt to, yet foreign, here are the gods with me, meaning his houſholdgods. And hee in Plutarch ſaid of the Scythians, That though they had no muſick, nor vines amongſt them, yet they had gods. Aug.How much more may the Saints glorie in God's preſence? Habent omnia qui habent habentem omnia.

Ver. 12. And I will walk] See the Note on 2 Cor. 6.16.

Ver. 13. Which brought you forth] This they often hear of, not by waie of exprobration. Jam. 1.5. but to incite them to thankful obedience Deut. 8 11. Joſh. 24. Servati ſumus, ut ſerviamus.

Ver. 14. But if yee will not hearken] Here wee may obſerv twice ſo manie threatnings as promiſſes; which ſerv's to ſet forth the baſeneſs of our natures, that will do more for fear then love.

Ver. 16. I will even appoint] Put them in commiſſion, ſend them with ſuch autoritie as ſhall bee irreſiſtible. [Terror, Sennert. de febrib. l. 4. c. 15. Coepit Anno 1486. Life of K. Ed. 6. by Sir John Heyw.conſumption, and the burning ague] i. e. terrible ſickneſſes of all ſorts, ſuch as was the ſweating ſickneſs, called, Sudor Anglicus, quia Anglis perpetuum malum. It reigned here ſom fortie years together, and ſlew ſo manie, that ſtrangers wondered how this Iſland could bee ſo populous to bear and burie ſuch incredible multitudes. No ſtranger in England was touched with this diſeaſ, and yet the Engliſh were chaſed therewith, not onelyonly in England, but in other countries abroad: which made them like tyrants, both feared and avoided, wherever they came.

Ver. 17. They that hate you] A heavie curſ to anie people, to have miſchievous malitious Princes ſet over them: odious to God, malignant to the people.Cic. 3. Tuſc. quae.

Ver. 18. Seven times more] God will have the better of us, and good reaſon: for is it fit that hee ſhould caſt down the bucklers firſt? Illud quidem ſic habeto, ſaid the Orator, niſi ſanatus animus ſit, quod ſine Philoſophia fieri non poteſt, finem miſeriarum nullum fore. Bee ſure of this; if thy minde mend not, there will bee no end of thy miſerie.

Ver. 19. Your heaven as iron] Hard hearts make hard times.

p. 168En quia jam nobis ſint ferrea pectora, reddit

Coelum etiam nobis durius aere Deus.

Et quia jam nummos gignant pro foenore nnmmi:

Antè ſerax tellus deſinit eſſe ferax.

Ver. 20. Bill. Anthol. l…b. 2.Your land ſhall not yield] See this fulfilled. Jer. 14.1, 2, &c. and Joel 1.12. Jer. 8 13. And yet their countrie was called, Sumen totius orbis, Cornelius Tacitus yield's it to bee a fruitfull countrie. So did Rabſhakeh long before. 2 King. 18.32.

Ver. 21. Contrarie unto mee] Or, Careleſly before mee, as our ungirt Chriſtians. Profligate Profeſſors do. [Seven times more plagues] God cannot bee exhauſted, neither need wee fear as hee did of his Jupiter,

Si quoties peccent homines ſua fulmina mittat

Jupiter, exiguo tempore inermis erit.

Ver. 22. I will alſo ſend wilde beaſts] As hee did, Num. 21.6. 2 King. 17.25. 2 King. 2.24. See Iſa. 13.21. Jer. 5.6.

Ver. 23. Yee will not bee reformed] Or, Chaſtiſed. God will maſter us, but the wicked refuſe to receiv corrections: like naughtie boies they prove more ſtubborn or more ſtupid: they ſtout it out, and will not ſtoop. When God's hand is lifted up, they will not ſee; bu they ſhall ſee, and bee aſhamed, &c. Iſa. 26.11.

Ver. 24. Then wil. I walk contrarie] God will bee as froward as they for the hearts of them. Pſ. 18.20. Hee will wrie with them; neither may they look to get anie thing of him by wriggling and wreſtling.

Ver. 25. I will bring a ſword] God make's peace and create's evil. i. e. war, called evil, per Antonomaſiam. Whenceſoever the ſword com's, it is bathed in heaven. Iſa 34.5. [The quarrel of my Covenant] For breach whereof Jeruſalem is long ſince laid waſte, thoſe ſeven golden Candleſticks are broken in pieces, Bohemia lie's ſtill a bleeding, which was the ſeat of the firſt open and autoriz…d Reformation. And what may wee think will becom of us all, who like men have tranſgreſſed the Covenant. Hoſ. 6.7. or as Junius read's it, not tanquam homines, but tanquam hominis, &c. Wee have made no more of breaking Covenant (alas! our National League and ſolemn Covenant!) then if therein wee had had to do with duſt and aſhes like our ſelvs, and not with the great God; who is therefore whetting his ſword, and furbiſhing it for ſlaughter, Quod Deus avertat.

Ver. 26. And not be ſatisfied] As ſick of a bûlimie, or doglike p. 169appetite, common in times of famine, ſuch as was that of Samaria, Saguntum, Jeruſalem, Sancerra, &c.

Ver. 28. Seven times more for your ſins] God will not ceaſ purſuing till Sheba's head bee thrown over the wall. Three times in this Chapter God raiſeth his note of threatning, and hee raiſeth it by ſevens, and thoſe are diſcords in muſick. Such ſayings will bee heavie ſongs, and their execution heavie pangs to the wicked.

Ver. 29. And yee ſhall eat] As they did 2 King. 6.29. Lam. 4.19. Pone pretium humanae carni, was once heard openly proclamed at Rome, in the reign of Honorius the Emperor. A hard caſe indeed. Here in England, in Edward 2. his time, Alſted. Chron.Anno 1316. there was ſo terribe a famine, that horſes, dogs, yea men and children were ſtolen for food, and the theeves newly brought into the Gaol were torn in pieces, Speed's Hiſt.and eaten preſently half alive, by ſuch as had been longer there.

Ver. 30. Ʋpon the carcaſſes] Or, Stumps and ſhivers of your idols overturned. Jer. 16.18. Ezek. 4.37. Thus in Ket's conſpiracie thoſe rebels of Norfolk, Act. and Mon. fol. 1190.that brought with them into the field the Pix under his Canopie in a cart, not without maſſes, croſſes, banners, candleſticks, &c. All which trumperie, together with their breaden god was tumbled in the dirt, amidſt the carcaſſes of their late idolatrous worſhippers.

Ver. 39, 40, &c.] A ſpecial text touching the rejection and converſion of the Jews.

CHAP. XXVII. Ver. 1. And the Lord ſpake]

THis is oft premiſed and prefaced for autoritie's ſake, and that wee may learn to reſolv all divine doctrines into Deus dixit.

Ver. 2. When a man ſhall make a ſingular vow] Votum eximium as Vatablus render's it, a perſonal, particular, voluntarie vow; which, drawn by ſom peculiar reaſon, a man promiſeth to God of his own accord; It is a binding of ones ſelf to God by an holy & religious promiſe, to do or not to do ſomthing lawful, poſſible, uſeful for our increaſ in godlineſs: As here of perſons, p. 170afterwards of things: all which might bee redeemed (under ſuch exception as the Law provideth) by the eſtimation of the Prieſt for certain ſhekels of ſilver, after the ſhekel of the Sanctuarie: this was double to the ordinarie ſhekel. The alm and intent of theſe perſonal vows was (ſaie ſom) that the price of their redemtion might bee imploied either for the maintenence of the Prieſts. Numb. 18.14. or for the repair of the Sanctuarie. 2 King. 12.4, 5. Neither by ſuch vows do wee caſt anie new ſnares upon our ſelvs, but rather a new tie to the paiment of an old debt.

Ver. 3. Fiftie ſhekels of ſilver] This was the greateſt rate, becauſ people are then in their prime; and yet no verie great one, leſt they ſhould think much to vow, or perform to the Lord their God.

Ver. 4. And if it bee a female] Shee is ſet at a lower valuation then the male; becauſ leſs able for anie laborious or rational imploiment.

Ver. 5. From five years old] Childhood and youth is vanitie. foreign.There is a bundle of follie in a child's heart. Prov. 22.15. The ſame Greek word ſignifieth a fool, and a childe. And Eccleſ. 11.10. the Hebrew word uſed to ſignifie youth, ſignifieth blackneſs or darkneſs, Niceph.to note, that youth is a dark and dangerous age. Few Macariuſſes to bee found, who, for his gravitie in youth, was ſir-named foreign, the old young man.

Ver. 8. But if hee bee poorer] Indulged hee ſhall bee, but not exempted. Vows (in things lawfull and poſſible) muſt bee performed, as wee can at leaſt. If raſhly made, that raſhneſs muſt bee repented of, but the vow, if otherwiſe lawfull, muſt bee kept, without delaie or diminution, to the utmoſt of our power. Men may not plaie with vows, as Monkies with their collars, which they can ſlip at pleaſure. Eccleſ. 5.3, 4. Pſ. 76.11. To vow is voluntarie, to paie is neceſſarie. And yet what more common in the world then ſhip-mens vows? Eraſm. Collo.As hee in Eraſmus, who in a ſtorm promiſed his Saint a picture of wax as big as S. Chriſtopher, but when hee came to ſhore, would not give a tallow candle.

Ver. 10. Then it, and the exchange thereof] For a puniſhment of his inſtabilitie and lightneſs.

Ver. 28. Notwithſtanding no devoted] Hitherto of things conſecrate, now of things exſecrate (whereof ſee a command. p. 171Deut. 13.15, 17. an example. Numb. 21.2.) Theſe could not bee ſold, nor redeemed, but muſt remain with the Prieſt: if it were a beaſt, then to bee put to death.

Ver. 30. And all the tithe] See here in this Chapter what a liberal maintenence God allowed the Prieſts: 1. Diverſ votive oblations, or their redemptions. 2. All the firſt-born, or their redemtions. 3. Everie devoted thing, unleſs devoted to ſom particular uſe. 4. All the tithes of what kinde ſoever. Beſides firſt-fruits, oblations, portions of ſacrifices, &c. And I ſee not (ſaith a reverend man) but that tithes at leaſt, M. Wilkinſon his Debt-book.or ſom better thing ſhould bee due to the Miniſters of the Goſpel by divine ordinance: and that thoſe that take them from us ſhould give us a better thing, as thoſe here that had a minde to redeem their tithe, were bound by the Law to add to the price everie fifth pennie above the true value.

FINIS.

p. 1A COMMENTARY or EXPOSITION UPON The Fourth Book of MOSES CALLED NVMBERS.