Paraphrase of the Hard Texts of Scripture, Scripture 36 · Chapter 11
CAP. XI.
2. 3 He sent two of his Disciples, saying, Art thou hee that should come, or do wee looke for another?IOhn sent two of his Disciples to Jesus to inquire of him; whether hee were the Messiah that should come.
Not for that John the Baptist did any way doubt of this truth; who had heard the voice from heaven acknowledging Jesus to be the sonne of God, and had seen the Spirit descending upon him; and had said so often, and long before, Behold the Lambe of God, &c. But that by this meanes hee might procure a full confirmation hereof to his disciples; who (he knew) would be sent back by Jesus fully convinced; and setled (by his wonderfull miracles, and heavenly doctrine) in this perswasion and assurance.
5 And the deafe heare, the dead are raised up, and the poore have the Gospell preached to them.The deafe heare, the dead are raised up, so as I have by many undeniable miracles made good unto the world the truth of this, whereof ye inquire; and moreover, tell your master, that in mee is fullfilled that which Esaias fore-prophecyed of the Messias to come, that the Gospell is preached to the poore.
6 And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in mee.And blessed is hee that doth not take occasion to be offended at my meane and homely condition; but sees and acknowledges majesty and power in this my outward povertie and infirmities.
7 What went ye out into the wildernesse to see? a reed shaken with the winde.To what purpose went yee out into the wildernesse, to see John Baptist? What conceit, or expectation drew you thither? Did you thinke to see there a man light, and unconstant to his owne courses and resolutions?
8 But what went ye out for to see? A man cloathed in soft rayment: behold they that weare soft cloathing are in Kings houses.Or did you thinke there to see a man gayly, or richly cloathed; this kinde of outward bravery of apparell is to be look't for in the courts of Kings and Princes; not in a rude desert.
No, ye say ye went out to see a Prophet, for such indeed yee acknowledge him;9 But what went ye out for to see? a Prophet, yea I say unto you, and more then a Prophet. and yet ye regard not the testimony that hee gives concerning me; herein yee are not mistaken, that ye hold John no lesse then a Prophet; yea, let mee adde somewhat to your valuation of him; I say he is more than a Prophet.
See Malach 3.1.Behold I send.
Verily I say unto you,11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are borne of women, there hath not risen a greater than Iohn the Baptist: notwithstanding, hee that is least in the kingdome of heaven, is greater than he. that among all those ancient Prophets which have beene most famous in the world in former times, there hath not arisen one greater, or more honoured in his function, than John Baptist. They all have spoken of the Messias to come, and this hath beene their principall glory, that they have fore-shewed him to the world, long before he was exhibited: but this is the priviledge and honour of John, that he points to that Saviour, and Messias already exhibited. And in the very same regard, the meanest minister under the Gospell, may justly challenge to have a more excellent office and function than John the Baptist; for that hee preacheth the same Saviour, as having fully satisfied for mankinde, triumphed over death and hell, ascended into the glory of heaven.
Ever since the dayes of Johns first preaching,12 And from the dayes of Iohn the Baptist, untill now, the kingdome of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. untill now, there hath beene much zealous search after the Gospell; and such confluence of holy clients to the Evangelicall Church, as if they would forceably thrust themselves into it; with such eagernesse doe men follow the ordinances of God, the meanes of grace, as if they would offer a kinde of religious violence to heaven.
Neither is it any wonder,13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophecied untill Iohn. that God workes now so strongly and vehemently in the hearts of men; for now in the dayes and preaching of John, the Gospell which was formerly hid under types and shadowes, is clearely opened, and revealed to the world; so as hee doth fully make up all that which in the Law and Prophets was fore-signified.
And if yee had grace to know, and acknowledgee it;14 And if yee will receive it, this is Elias which was for to come. whereas the last Prophet Malachy told you of an Elias, that should come before the day of the Lord; yee should see and finde that this John is the fore-promised Elias, in whose power and Spirit hee is come, to prepare the way before me.
He that hath not an outward onelyonly,15 Hee that hath eares to heare, let him heare. but an inward and hearing eare, let him heare, and receive this which I deliver unto you.
But alas, what shall I say to this generation,16 But whereunto shal I liken this generation? or whereto shall I liken them? It is just with them, as in the ordinary proverbe of the boyes playing with their fellowes in the market place.
It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows.Whose word (in their sport) to each other, is, We have piped to you, and yee have not danced, &c. Even the very same word may I take up against this people; we have spoken comfortable things to them, and they have not so farre beleeved, as to rejoyce therein: we have justly bewailed their dangerous condition, and they have not beene affected with sorrow, and feare.
18 For Iohn came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, Hee hath a devill.Neither way are they to bee reclaymed, whether by austerity, or sociablenesse: by gentlenesse or rigour. for John came severely, and sadly to them, in a retired and hard course of life; and they say, Hee hath a Devill.
19 The Sonne of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of Publicanes and sinners, but wisedome is justified of her children.And againe, the Sonne of man came in a kinde, affable, and plausible manner, conversing with them sociably, at their tables; and they say; Behold a man that loves his panch and his palate well; a Glutton, a Winebibber, a friend of Publicanes and sinners; with whom he freely eates and drinkes, at Matthews late feast, and upon every occasion. But however, the false pretenders unto wisedome, are ready to passe these unjust verdicts, and to spend their censures thus injuriously; yet those who are the true sonnes of wisdome, can, and will give a justifying, and approving testimony of me, and of my carriage and Doctrine.
21 For if the mighty workes which were done in you, had beene done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long agoe in sackcloth and ashes.For the mighty and admirable miracles which have beene done in you, had beene enough to have converted those impious, and infamous Cities of Tyre and Sidon; and in all humane probability, had those workes beene done amonst them, they would have beene convinced thereby, and have beene drawne to a serious, and solemne repentance.
So also, the latter part of vers. 23.
23 And thou Capernaum which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought downe to hell.And thou Capernaum, which hast beene so frequented by me, as if thou hadst beene my native City, and by this honour of my presence, and continuall Doctrine, and miracles, hast beene exalted farre above all other Cities, and hast had better, and more meanes of salvation, than they all; shalt for thy unproficiencie, and contempt, be cast downe unto hell, &c.
25 I thanke thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.I thanke thee O Father, who being Lord of heaven and earth, having therefore absolute power to dispose of all things, according to thy good pleasure; hast thought good to hide the great mysteries of salvation from the worldly wise and great clerkes of the world, and to reveale them to plaine, simple, unlearned soules.
In your recourse unto me,29 Take my yoke upon you, and learne of me, for I am meeke and lowly in heart: and yee shall finde rest unto your soules. doe not dreame of liberty and ease, as if the following of mee should secure you from all troublesome restraints of your corrupt nature; but know that you must submit your selves to the discipline of my Spirit; and yeeld your selves over to the obedience of my command; and learne of me that lesson of meekenesse and humility, which you see so plainely and eminently practised in me.
Which if yee shall compose your selves unto,30 For my yoke is easie, and my burden is light. yee shall finde the obedience which I require of you, to bee easie, and pleasant.