diſtinzuiſhed from Pagans by a vitible Profeſſion ;, {o as the Devil in a great meaſure had lefc them. Now, faich he, the Devil is an unquiet Spirir, and findeth no reſt, if he cannor be doing MilChieft to Men. For the Phraſe, { He walketh through dry places, Doking for re. \We muſt knovw, chart in Parabolical Speeches, we mult nor Scrue, or make a ſevere Scrutiny upon every Phraſe, Dry pl.rces are for the moſt part places leaſt inhabited, for want of the Conveniencies of Water. The Devil cannor be at reſt where ke harh no Miſchiet to do ro Men. Then he faith, f 7 wil return unto my Houſe from whence I came out.) The Devil ſo leaverh none, bur he will be arrempring to come into them again, and he ordinarily ſucceedeth where Chriſt hath nor prepoſleſt rhe Soul, All other Reformation proves but a Sweeping and a Gaye niſhing , while the Soul is empry of Chriſt. It may be ſwept from che Filch of Flagiticus Sins, and garnithed with che Paint of Reli- 210n, or ſome Habits of Moral Virtue , bur none of theſe will keep out the Devil. { He greth and takerh with himſelf ſeven Spi- rits more wicked than himſelf, and enters in, and dwelleth there.] Seven; that is, many. The meaning 1s, he makes that Man much worſe than betore. So (ſaith he) 1t ſhall be ro theſe ny God gave them his Laws, and to delivered them from ſuch a Domi- nion as the Devil doth excerciſe over Pagans. In Force of this Law, the Scribes and Phariſees amended many things, ſo as they were like an Houſe ſwept and garniſhed. God ſent his Son to dwell amonezſt them , bur him they rejected ; fo rhe Houſe was empty, tho' ſivept and garniſhed. The Devil will come again, and they will be ten times worſe.
46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren ſtood without, defiring ro ſpeak with him.
-47 Then aid one unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren ſtand without , defiring to ſpeak with thee.
48 Bur he anſwered, and ſaid unto him that told him,VV ho 1s my mother? and who are my brethren ?
a9 And he ſtretched forth his hand towards his dif ciples,and 1/1. Bzhold,my mother and my brethren.
50 For * whoſoever ſhall do the will of my Fa- ther whichis in heaven, the ſame is my brother, and fiſter, and morher.
Mark repeateth we lame Pailage, 2/ar. 3. 31,32, 32, 34, 35.
M ATTHE W.
Lube repeaterh ir more ſhortly, Luk. 8. 20, 21. Both 27; Þ ;
Luke faich, more than one fpake to our Saviour: brit one, _ others. {| Thy Mother and thy Brethren, ] Moſt Interpreters th: Brethren here fignifieth no more than ſome of his Kirdro7 W—_ che Hebrews uſually called Brethren, Ey the following Worg, > our Saviour, v. 48, 49, 50. we muſt not underſtand that a Saviour flighred his Mother or Brethren, We are elſewhere wg what Honour he gave to his Parents, Luk. 2.51. Yet he "ty ro ſpeak ſomething angerly, becauſe he was interrupred in i... Work; fo, Luk. 2. 49. Fob. 2. 3, 4 We may ſhe a juſt Ref et ro our Parents, and Reſpe& to our Relations , tho' we oy . negle& our Duty ro God out of Reſpe& ro them. The ow, thing to be turcher Jearned trom this Paragraph is, Hoy ES Believers and Holy Perſons are to Chi, He counts them 2: gk as Mother, Brethren, or Siſters, and thereby reacherh us t!:e Efieen we ought to have for ſuch. Lube ſaith, He that hexroth mn = and doth it. Matthew ſaith , he that doth it : It is che Win , > God, that we ſhould believe on him -whem he hath ſent; — oh. 6. qo. and 1.12. and 8.47, This Texr derogares norhin: trom the Honour truly due ro the Blefſed Virgin as the Mother
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CHAT. AL
Feſits in a Ship teacheth the Multitude by Parables, I—2, The? rable of the Sower and his Seed, 4—9. Hu Diiciples asb him why he ſpake in Parables : His Anſwer ſhewing their Happineſs, in byzy- ing of Myſteries above others : Unbelief and Stupidity a judement, I0—17. Chri8t expoundeth the foregoing Parable, 18—23, He Putteth forth the Parable of good Seed and Tares, 24—30, (5 Muſtard-ſeed, 31, 32. Of the Leaven, 33. The reaſon of his Teac ing by Parables, 34, 35. At the deſire of his Diſciples he expyny- eth the Parable of the good Seed and the Tares, 35—423. Th P;. rable of Treaſure hid in a Field, 44. The Jerchant ſeeking if g::9. ly Pearls, 45, 46. The Parable of a Net ca$ into the Sea, withi;; Expoſition, 47—50, Jeſus aheth his Diſciples whether they ur. derſlood all theſe things : Their Anſwer, 51. He proveth it thei duty to communicate what they had learnt , 52. Christ teachins in the Synagogue, is contemned and wilified of his Countryren, $3, 56» He ſheweth that Prophets have n» Honour in their oy Country : Their Unbelief hindreth his doing mighty Works, 57,58,
I 6 Þ HE fame day went Jeſus out of the houſe and fate by the ſea-ſide. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, ſo that he * went intoa ſhip, and ſate, and *1; the whole multitude ſtood on the ſhore. |