to their own place, then, and not till then, will be perfect peace. For that blessed time let us wait, and watch, and pray. The night is far spent. The day is at hand. Our divisions are but for a little season. Our peace shall endure to eternity.
Notes. Luxb. XII. 49—63.
49. — [/ am come to send fire.'] Commentators differ widely about the meaning of the word **fire*' in this verse.
1. Some think that it means the Holy Spirit, and refers to the gift of the Holy Ghost which was bestowed on the day of Pente- cost. This, in the main, is the opinion of Chrysostom, Origen, Jerome, Athanasius, Ambrose, Gregory, Bede, Bernard, Cocceius, Cornelius a Lapide, Alford, and Stier.
2. Some think that it means the " preaching of the Gospel." This is the opinion of Theophylact, Cynl, Bucer, and Chemnitius.
3. Some think that it means the "word of God.'* This is the opinion of Bullinger, Gualter and Watson.
4. Some think that it means "love." This is the opinion of Jansenius, Stella, Ben gel, and, in part, of Euthymius.
5. Some think that it means the persecutions, afflictions, dis- sensions, and strifes which were to accompany the introduction of the Gospel into the world. This is the opinion of Tertullian, Brentius, Beza, Poole, Calovius, Trapp, Maldonatus, Hammond, Lightfoot, Whitby, Burkitt, Henry, Pearce, Scott, Barnes, and Burgon.
I decidedly adhere to this last opinion. The other four in- terpretations appear to me far-fetched and inconsistent with the context. Fire is an expression not unfrequently used in Scrip- ture as an emblem of trouble and affliction. See Psalm Ixvi. 13, and Isaiah xliii. 2. Moreover, it is worthy of remark, that "to send fire" is a common figure of speech in the Old Testament, to express sending trouble and affliction. Let the following pas- sages be examined : Lam. i. 13 ; Ezek. xxxix. 6 ; Hosea viii. 14 ; Amos ii. 2, 5.
[What wiU /, if it be already kindled f] The Greek words so translated, are so remarkable, that some have thought they ought to be rendered, " What will I ? Oh ! that it were already kindled." This is the opinion of Cocceius and Hammond. But I see no reason for disputing the correctness of our received translation.
Trapp's paraphfase is a fair exposition of the meaning of the