Matthew 3

Matthew 3:1

THe Baptist,] a name of a religious office, often used by other Iewessuperstitiously and without any calling: but by Saint John, holly and with divine calling, to serve for a preparation to Christ, and for a passing over from the Law to the Gospell In the Wildernesse,] it was a place in the land of Iudah, not so frequently inhabited, which was for pastures, Ios. 15. 61.

Matthew 3:2

Repent yee,] the Italian, recall your selves,] with sorrow and repentance for your former life, and with a servent and firme purpose for to amend it, turne to God to crave favour and pardon at his hands: and in this manner prepare your selves to receave the Messis who is already come. Who shall re-establish Gods Kingdome in righteousnesse and peace to bring salvation to such as repent, and finall ruine to obduate rebels. See Isaiah 56. 1. and 59. 20 Mal. 3. 2. and 4. 2.

Matthew 3:4

Of Camels haire,] whereof was made a course kind of cloth or felt. Now whither Iohn did imitate the rough and shaggie clothing of the ancient Prophets, 2 Kings 1:8. Zechariah 13:4. Or that by reason he preached repentance, he would use such clothing and foode as were used in fasts, mournings, and humiliations, laying aside all tendernesse and delight, See Matth. 11. 8 Locusts,] which were used for food in former times, and in these dayes also in diverse places of the East. See Leviticus 11:22. Wild, which groweth in the woods, without any ar or care of man. See 1 Sam14. 26.

Matthew 3:6

Baptized,] that is to say ducked in the water for a sacred signe and Seale of the expiation and remission of si, off-times represented by the washing of corporall ordures: and of the purification & regeneration of the soules: and of the mortification of sin as drowned by the benefit of the Redeemer who was ready to be revealed: and likewise for a ceremony obligatory on mans side, to endeavour himselfe to holinesse and puritie of life, flying all pollution of sinne. See, Luke 3:3. Confessing,] to God in the person of Iohn his Minister: though not with a particular enumeration: but yet with a true feeling of compunction, shame, and humble acknowledgement, and with hate and disallowance of sinne, for to implore Gods mercy. See Acts 19 18.

Matthew 3:7

Pharisees and Sadduces,] religious sects and orders among the Jews, the beginning and time of which are very doubtfull. Certaine it is that they begun after the returne from Babylon, and likewise after Anichus his persecutions. Pharisees signifieth separate: namely from the common manner of living; by their singular studying of the law of God and by profession of holinesse: and distinguished from the vulgar, by abstinences, disciplines, clothing and other the like things. The institution might be laudable, but at last they went astray into superstition, error, hypocrisie, pride, and sedition. The Sadduces had their name from one Sadocke their founder, who wresting the saying of a master of his, that one ought not to serve God for hope of reward, nor feare of punishment, brought in Epicurisme amongst theIews, denying the reuction, and all the state of the life to come, and the immortality of the Soules, and all subsistency of spirits, &c. Who hath,] words of admiration to see such people come, which were so evill disposed to receive that internall baptisme of which they came to take the signe. As if he should say if you come rightly unto it, it is indeed a wonderfull work of Gods grace, but it is iting that you should verifie it by your works, otherwise it will appeare that it is but a vaine desire of novelty, Iohn 5. 35.

Matthew 3:8

Mete for,] the Italian, Worthy of,] whih may yeeld a certaine proofe, as proper and naturall effects thereof. Others, be fitting repentance.

Matthew 3:9

And thinks 〈◊〉] doe not dally with your selves to thinke that because you are issued from Abraham according to the flesh, you are in Gods faour and free from his judgment; for with him, the imitation of Abrahams faith and piety is the onely thing which demonstrates and causeth to bee Abrahams Children and not the corporall generation, Romans 4:12. now such children may be brought forth of all nations, yea and out of these stones. Neither doe you perswide your selves, that by your perdion Gods people shall perish: for GODs people shall alwayes subist in these spirituall children of ABRAHAM towards whom Gods Covenant and promises shall bee verified.

Matthew 3:10

Now] from henceforth God will use no more so much toleration as he hath done heretofore with you false Iewes, Malachi 3:5. hee having proffered his grace to you in his sonne if you refuse it he will sodainely reprove and punish you.

Matthew 3:11

I indeed,] I am but a Minister of the externall signe of your spirituall purification by repentance, but Christ shall be the true author and worker of the action by his spirit, which shall operate with the power of fire, whose property is to cleanse perfectly and inwardly all that passeth thorow it, whereas water washeth only the superficies and ourside. See Isaiah 4:4. Malachi 3:2-3.

Matthew 3:12

Whose fan,] hee shall cleanse his Church, from the mixture of all hypocrites and wicked men casting them into hell fire, and gathering all his true beleevers into the Kingdome of heaven.

Matthew 3:13

To be] not for any signe of need to be purified from sinne, or in token of Repentance but to fulfill all parts of Gods service, amongst which is also the use of the Sacraments: and also to beare, as one should say, the same ensigne as his Church doth and to recommend to all beleevers, the use of these sacred ceremonies. So he participated of all the Sacraments, as well new, as old.

Matthew 3:15

It becommeth us,] obedience to God in all things ought to be observed by me, and all mine to the imitation of me, and particularly the observance of Ecclesiasticall orders, and religious actions.

Matthew 3:16

Were opened unto him,] it was some vision created in the aire, and represented unto the senses, or the imagination of Christ, or according to others of John, having the resemblance of the heavens opened, and severed in sunder, see Mark 1:20. ?Acts 7:56; Acts 7:10-11 Revelation 19:11. The spirit,] that is to say a signe of the presence, vertue and operation of the H. Ghost in Christ, and in his Kingdome, in perfect innocency, purity, simplicitie, grace, and mildnesse: vertues which are represented in the Scripture by the nature of the Dove: and opposite to the deceits, and dammages of the spirit of Satan who seduced Eve under the shape of the Serpent which is cunning, impure, and venemous.

Matthew 3:17

A voice,] this manner of revelation, by heavenly articulate voyces was frequent amongst Gods people after that prophecies ceased whereof there are diverse examples in the Gospell and in Histories, in whom,] whom in the qualitie of mediator, that fulfills my whole will, and satisfies my justice for men I doe perfectly accept of; and in him, and for his sake only, I doe appease my wrath towards men, and participate my grace unto them, Ephesians 1:6.