Matthew 8

Matthew 8:4

SEE thou,] See the like manner of forbiddings, Matth. 9. 30. and 12. 16. the cause whereof seemed to be, that Christ would have men looke after his doctrine rather then after his miracles: And also because that those miracles producing for the most prt nothing but vaine effects of admiration, worldly honour and desire of participating of those corporall favours, did rather hinder then further. Christ in hs chiefe end, which was the eternall salvation of men To the Priest,] to be searched according to the Law, and being judged cleane to have permission to come againe into the company of men and of the Church For a Testimony,] that thou mayest witnesse that I am true God: and that during the time of my humiliation, I doe keep, and cause Moses Law to bee kept; which were the two chiefe heads whereupon the Iewes used to contest with Christ.

Matthew 8:5

A Centurion,] A Roman and a Heathen but instructed and inwardly enlightned:

Matthew 8:9

A man,] And thou God. I am a subject, and thou a supreame Lord: how much more than shall thy command be fulfilled?

Matthew 8:10

He marvailed,] He used some externall gesture of wondering to cause the Centurions faith to be so much the more commended and esteemed; not that he was ignorant of the causes of it; nor that it was a faith beyond Christs Capacitie; which are the two ordinary causes of true admiration.

Matthew 8:11

Many,] Namely of the Gentiles such as the Centurion was Si downe,] shall enjoy the fruits of eternall life with the holy Patriarches, being by faith, and in spirit become their children heires of the promises made to them, and their posteritie.

Matthew 8:12

The Children,] Namely the Iewes, who by the prerogative of Gods Covenant seemed to be the true heires of this Kingdome Darkenesse,] in the extreame misery confusion, horror, and torment of those, who are eternally banished out of the Kingdome of heaven Gnashing,] the noise, the rage, and the blasphemies, which are alwayes coupled to the everlasting torments of the damned, Roma 16. 9. 11, 21.

Matthew 8:14

His Wives mother,] For Peter had a wife, 1 Corinthians 9:5.

Matthew 8:16

With his word,] using no othre mane but only his meere command.

Matthew 8:17

It might be fulfilled,] That he might verifie that which Isaiah speaketh in that place. Namely that he is the only Saviour of soules and bodies, according to the charge which he hath taken upon him and by the merit of his voluntary sufferances; by which having appeased Gods wrath, he hath cut o the cause of all our evills: and hath obtained his favour for us, which is the fountaine of all good and happinesse.

Matthew 8:18

The other side,] Namely of the lake of Genesareth.

Matthew 8:20

The Foxes,] This is spoken either for a tryall of the truth of the Scribes protestation, or for a preparative for him to keepe it; being in time instructed in the condition which is in separably annexed to the Gospell, namely the crosse: without any constant proprietie of goods and without any peace or rest in the world Nests] or places to go and shelter themselves in The Son] Christ calls himselfe so oftentimes in the Gospell, to signifie the truth of his humane nature, and the excellencie of his person above all other men. As who should say. That man which hath in all ages bin foretold expected, desired, and seene by the Prophets in their visions as particularly, Daniel 7:13. for a prelude of his manifestation in the flesh.

Matthew 8:21

Bury] that is to say assist him in his extreame old age, untill the end of his life.

Matthew 8:22

Let the dead,] being called to the ministery of my word, leave off these duties belonging to a mortall life, to those that live and have their callings and places therein, that thou mayest readily and without disturbance follow the duties of the spirituall life, which are now at this present incompatible with the duties of a temporall life.

Matthew 8:26

Rebuked] A kinde of speech very frequent in Scripture to signifie Gods power to appeale the commotion of any of the creatures especially if they rise against his elect whom they ought to serve.

Matthew 8:28

Gergasenes] it is thought to be the ancient nation of the Gergashites, Gen. 10 16 which afterwards, were called Gerashites where the Citie of Gadara was, whereupon Saint Marke and St Luke call this Country of the Gadarenes.

Matthew 8:29

To torment us] driving us out of that little light and libertie which is left us to wander up and down the world, working our wills, and shut us up in the darknesse and paines of hell, as it shall be after the last judgment Before the time] namely of the last judgment, which they might know was not yet come.

Matthew 8:32

Into the Sea,] Namely into the lake of Genezreth.

Matthew 8:34

They besought him] not for any hatred they bare to him but for feare of that divine power which they only considered in him, Luke 8:37. An ordinary motion of a mans conscience not yet confident in Gods grace, when he feeles his Majestie nigh him. See Deut. 5. 25. 1 King 17. 18. Luke 5:8.