Paraphrase of the Hard Texts of Scripture, Scripture 36 · Chapter 13 – Chapter 15
CAP. XIII.
3 Behold a sower went forth to sow.BEhold, the word of God is as the seed; the preacher is the sower or seedsman; men are the soyle; Gods messengers by his appointment go forth to preach his word, and Gospell to men.
4 By the way side.See our Saviours exposition. Vers. 19.
5 Some fell upon stony places.See verse 20, 21.
7 Among thornes.See Verse 22.
11 Hee answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdome of heaven, but to them it is not given.Although I doe speake in these riddles, or parables, yet the illumination of that spirit which is given to you, will sufficiently cleare these things unto you, who are acquainted with these divine mysteries; but as for those that have not this light from above, they understand them not, their infidelity is justly punished with ignorance of all saving doctrine.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and hee shall have more bundance: but whosoever hath not from him shall be taken away, even that he hath.For whosoever through my goodnesse and mercy hath any measure of grace wrought in him, that man in the effectuall use of those meanes which I afford unto him, shall have yet more; but whosoever hardneth his heart to refuse those gracious offers which are made unto him, it is and shall be just with God, to take away from him those helpes, and tenders of meanes and previous dispositions which are made unto him.
13 Therefore speake I to them in parables: because they seeing, see not; and hearing, they heare not.Therefore speake I unto them in parables, because they have brought this willing blindenesse upon themselves, that in seeing they see not; and this willfull deafnesse, that in hearing they heare not &c.
See Esay. 6. Verse 9.14 By hearing ye shall heare, and shall &c.
See Esay 6. Verse 10.15 This peoples heart is waxed grosse, and their eares are dull of hearing &c. & should be cōverted, and I should save them.
See our Saviours exposition of this parable, Verse 37, 25 But whiles he slept his enemie came, and sowed …ares.38, 39, 40. of this Chapter.
The Gospell of my kingdome,31, 32 The kingdome of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man tooke and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is growne, it is the greatest among hearbs, and becommeth a tree: so that the birds of the aire come and lodge in the branches thereof. in regard of the happy grouth and successe thereof, may well be resembled to a graine of mustard-seede; which being one of the least of all seedes, at length growes up to a strong and branched plant; and exceeding the quantity of an hearbe, becomes, as it were, a little tree, able to yeeld sufficient perches for the birds that resort unto it; even so my Gospell from weake and contemptible beginnings shall spread forth to that largenesse of extent, as that it shall reach unto all the nations upon earth.
Or,33 Another parable spake hee unto them; The kingdome of heaven is like unto leaven which a woman tooke and hid in three measures of meale, till the whole was leavened. upon the same reason this Gospell of mine is like unto leaven, which though in a very small quantity it be hid amongst much dough, yet seasoneth the whole batch: so shal this Gospell of mine diffuse the power and vertue thereof to all the whole masse of the habitable world.
As the Church or spirituall kingdome of God here upon earth,47, 48, 49. Againe the kingdome of heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kinde, which when it was full, they drew to shore, and sate downe and gathered the good into the vessels but cast the bad away: so shall it be at the end of the world: the Angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just. is thus largely diffused through efficacie of his Gospell; so it may not be conceived to be pure, and free from all sinfull mixtures, whiles it is here below; rather it is like unto a dragge-net, which is cast into the sea, and fetches up much variety, not of great, and little fishes onelyonly, but of stones, and sea-weed, and shels, and mudde, altogether; which when it is drawn to the shore, is disburdened of all the unprofitable load thereof; and yeeldeth the good provision of fish unto the vessels of the owner; so doth the Church of God, here, for the outward, and visible composition of it, it containeth not onelyonly sound, and holy, and faithfull men, but even the secretly vitious, slye hypocrites, hollow, and faithlesse professors; but at the end of the world, when this great net is drawne up to the shore, the Angels shall come forth, and make a due separation of the wicked from among the just.
52 Then said hee unto them; Therefore every Scribe which is instructed unto the kingdome of heaven, is like unto a man that is an housholder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure, things new and old.These parables I have delivered, and expounded unto you, not onelyonly for your owne information, but also for the instruction of others; for know, that it is not onelyonly required of you to understand the mysteries of my kingdome, your selves; but to be able to teach them unto others also: so as if yee will be meete doctors of my Evangelicall Church, ye ought to be furnished with all varietie of divine knowledge; that as a good housholder layes up, and fetcheth forth store and change of good provision for his guests and familie, so may ye that are my ministers, and messengers to the world be stored with plenty of saving knowledge, and heavenly doctrine.54 And when hee was come into his owne countrie,
And when hee was come to Nazareth, where he was brought up, &c.
54, 55, 56. Whence hath this man this wisedome, and these mighty workes? is not this the Carpenters Sonne? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren Iames, and Ioses, and Simon, and Iudas? and his sisters, are they not all with us? whence then hath this man all these things?Do not we know the birth and breeding of this man? Is he not the sonne of Joseph the carpenter? Is not his mother called Mary? Are not his cosens and neare kinsmen, James and Joses men well known of us? Are not his kinswomen here amongst us? Whence is it, that having not beene trained up in the Schooles, hee should come by this marvelous wisedome and knowledge, and whence are these his miraculous workes?
CAP. XIV.
22 And straightway Iesus constrained his Disciples to get into a ship, and to goe before him unto the other side, while hee sent the multitudes away.IEsus laid a vehement charge and command upon his Disciples (who were otherwise unwilling to have left him) that they should take ship, and goe before him to the other side of the lake.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night, Iesus went unto them, walking on the sea.In the last quarter of the night, which was the morning watch, when they had beene long tossed in the sea with contrary windes, Jesus came unto them; walking on the sea.29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come downe out of the ship, he walked on the water to goe to Iesus.
Lord, since it is thou, I am so confident of thy power, that if thou shalt but bid mee, I dare venture to set my foot upon the waves, and walke to thee.
30 But when hee saw the winde boisterous, hee was afraid: and beginning to sinke, he cryed, saying, Lord save mee.But when hee found that the winde was strong and boistrous, and the billowes rough, hee was afraid, and now as his faith bore him up before, so his feare made him beginne to sinke, &c.
CAP. XV.
THou know'st that we have a tradition from our late Elders,2 Why do thy disciples transgresse the tradition of the Elders: for they wash not their hands, when they eate bread. (though no law of God for it) that for the feare of many incident pollutions, wee should both before, and in our meales wash often; why do thy disciples violate and neglect this good order, set by our wise Elders in their repast?
But hee answered, and said unto them;3 But he answered and said unto them, why do you also transgresse the commandement of God by your tradition. ye are apt to take exceptions at my Disciples for transgressing the traditions of men; but in the meame time ye your selves make no conscience of transgressing the commandements of God, by these your vaine, and ill grounded traditions.
But ye say, whosoever shall say to his father or mother;5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father, or his mother, it is a gift by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me. Content your selves my parents; I have vowed and consecrated unto God that part of my substance which might have beene beneficiall, and helpefull unto you; and now I may not alienate or revoke it.
And thereupon give no aid or assistance to his father or mother,6 And honour not his father, or his mother, hee shall be free. hee is free from this bond wherein he is tyed by the law both of God and nature, &c.
In vaine do they worship mee,9 But in vaine they do worship me, teaching for doctrines, the Commandements of men. whiles in stead of my holy lawes (which onelyonly are able to binde the conscience) they obtrude upon men the devices of their own braines; and require the strict observation thereof, with the neglect of Gods precepts.
The Scribes and Pharisees have found fault with my Disciples for eating with unwashen hands;11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man: but that which commeth out of the mouth, this defileth a man. but know ye that the soule of a man is not polluted with that which he puts into his mouth; the creatures of God are in their nature good: and these outward foulenesses of the hand have no morall guilt in them; but those things which defile a man, are the wickednesses that come forth from an uncleane heart; and so breake forth into the expressions of the mouth, and hand.
See verse 17, 18, 19.
Master,23 Send her away, for she cryeth after us. thou art not wont to repell importunate suitors; be pleased to grant her request, for she cryeth …fter us.
24 But to the lost sheepe the house of Israel.See Matt. 10.6.
26 But hee answered, and said, It is not meet to take the childrens bread and to cast it to dogs.The Jewes are the select familie of God, and the children of the house; the Gentiles are but as dogs; despised and hated, as those that are without God in the world; it is not meete to communicate those favours and blessings which I have intended to the children of my Church, to these contemptible aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.
27 Truth Lord: yet the dogs eate of the crummes which fall from their masters table.O Saviour, I do not expostulate with thee for this so hard appellation; I do meekely yeeld my selfe such as thou hast termed mee; but if I be a dogge, give mee at least the common priviledge of this despised creature. I require not a whole morsell, I desire but a crum of thy favour: the dogges are allowed to licke the crummes that fall from their masters table, vouchsafe me but this small offall of thy mercy, and it shall be enough.