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large the borders of their garments, 6. And love the permoft rooms at feafts, and the chief feats in the fynagogues, 7. And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8. But (2) be not yeh called Rabbi: for one is your mafter, even Chrift, and all ye are brethren.

*

Mar. 12. 38, 39. He faid unto them in his Do&trine, Beware of the Scribes, which love to go in long Cloathing, and love Salutations in the Market-places, and the 5 chief Seats in the Synagogues, and the uppermost Rooms at Feafts. Luk. 11. 43. Wo unto you Pha-, rifees; for ye love the uppermoft Seats in the Synagogues, and greetings in the Markets. † Luk 20. 46. Beware of the Scribes, which defire to walk in long Robes, and love Greetings in the Markets, and the

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Serve or keep: They are generally thought to be Schedules, or pieces of Parchment which they wore on their Foreheads, and on their left Arms or Hands. On thefe pieces of Parchment were written fometimes the Ten Commandments, fometimes fuch Portions of the Law as these, Exod. 13. from the 2d, to the End of the 10th Verfe; and from the 14th, to the end of the 16th Verfe. Deut. 6. from the 4th, to the end of the 9th Verfe. And Deut. 11. from the 13th, to the end of the 20th Verfe, which were written in four Columns. They placed much Religion and great Holinefs in wearing these Phylatteries; and therefore thofe who would be thought devout, made them broader than ordinary. This Practice began from a mistaken Interpretation offome of the Texts referr'd to. They underftood them literally, but it is highly probable that they ought to be interpreted figuratively, and that the Meaning of them is, that they should diligently read, remember, and meditate on, obferve and keep the Laws and Commandments of God. Our bleffed Lord, on all fit Occafions, con demns all fuperftitious Practices, and inculcates this Truth, that then, and then only, are the outward Duties of Religion pleafing and acceptable to God, when they make Men better, more holy, and more like unto him.

(2) That our bleffed Lord does not abfolutely forbid the Ufe of fuch Titles as Rabbi, Father, Mafter, Doctor, Teacher, &c. is plain, because the Apoftles themselves, who doubtless understood the Extent of this Precept, not only claimed them themfelves, but gave them to others. St. Paul ftyles himself the Father of the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 4. 15. and calls Timothy his own Son in the Faith, 1 Tim. 1. 2. He enjoins Servants to be obedient to their Masters, and he gives himself the Title of an Apostle and Teacher, or Doctor of the Gentiles, 2 Tim. 1. 11. St. John, 1 Ep. 2. 13. fays, I write unto you Fathers.

What our Lord here forbids, is an ambitious Affectation of high and

great

3

XXIII.

i

And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your father which is in heaven. fo. Neither be ye called mafters for one is your mafter, even Chrift. 11. But he' that is greatest among you, fhall be your fervant. 12, And whofoever fhall 'exalt himself, fhall be abafed, and he that' fhall humble himself, fhall be exa'ted. 13. But wo ununto you Scribes and Pharifees, hypocrites; for ye

1

*Mal. 1. 6. A Son honoureth his Father, and a Servant his Mafter: if I then be a Father, where is mine Honour and if I be a master, where is my Fear?

* See on Mat. 20. 26, 27. + Prov. 29. 23. A Man's Pride hall bring him low: but Honour fhall uphold the humble in Spirit. Dan.4.37.-Thofe that walk in 10 Pride he is able to abafe. Luk. 1. 51, 52. He hath fcattered the Proad in the imagination of their Heart. He hath put down the Mighty from their Seats, and exalt- 15 ed them of low degree. 2 Chron. 32.25. Hezekiah rendred not again according to the Benefit done unto him: for his Heart was lifted ; therefore there was Wrath 20 upon him, and upon Judah and Jerufalem. tJob 22. 29. When Men are caft down, then thou fhalt fay, there is lifting up and he fhallfave the bumble Perfon. Pfal. 25 18. 27. Thou wilt bring down high Looks. Prov. 18. 12. Before

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Deftruction the Heart of Man is Haughty, and before Honour is Hu mility. Luk. 14. 11. Whosoever exalteth himself, fhall be abafed; and he that humbleth himself, fhall be exalted. Luk. 18. 14. This Man [Publican] went down to his Houfe juftified rather than the other for every one that exalteth, &c.

tJam. 4. 6. But he giveth more Grace: Wherefore he faith, God refifteth the Proud, but giveth Grace to the Humble. Pet. 5. 5. All of you be Subject one to another; and be clothed with Humility: for God refifteth the Proud, but giveth Grace to the HumbleEcclefiafticus 3. 18. The greater thou art, the more humble thy felf, and thou fhalt find Favour before the Lord.

m

*Luk. 11. 52. Wo unto you, Lawyers: for ye have taken away the Key of Knowledge: ye entred not in your felves, and them that were entring in ye hindred.

great Titles, but chiefly that we fhould not fo acknowledge any Man our Father upon Earth, as to yield an abfolute Obedience and Subjection to him; for that is due only to God. He forbids us to receive any Man, or number of Men, to be our Guides, fo as to fubject our felves and Confciences to them in Matters of Eternal Salvation. And this was what the Rabbies and Teachers among the Jews required of their Followers. The Apoftles difclaimed all Dominion over the Faith of Chriftians. They defired to be accounted as the Minifters, Stewards, and Ambaffadors of Chrift, and expected to be obeyed no farther than as they made it manifelt by the miraculous Power they had, that their Doctrine was agreeable to the Will of Chrift, whom they owned to be the fole Guide and Teacher of his Church, to whom they were abfolutely to submit and

Jield Obedience.

* fhut up the kingdom of heaven againft men: for ye neithe go in your felves, neither fuffer ye them that are entring, to go in. 14. Wo unto you Scribes and Pharifees, hypocrites for ye devour widows houses, and for a pretence make long prayer; therefore ye fhall receive the greater damnation 15. Wo unto you Scribes and Pharifees, hypocrites, for y compafs fea and land to make one profelyte, and when he i made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than your felves. 16. Wo unto you, ye a blind guides, which fay Whofoever fhall fwear by the temple, it is nothing: bu whofoever fhall fwear by the gold of the temple, he is debter. 17. Ye fools, and blind: for whether is greater the gold, or the temple that fanctifieth the gold? 18. An whofoever fhall fwear by the altar, it is nothing: but who foever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty [Or debtor, or, bound]. 19. Ye fools, and blind: for whether i greater, the gift, or the altar that fanctifieth the gift? 20 Wholo therefore fhall fwear by the altar, fweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21. And whofo fhall fwear by the temple, fweareth by it, and by him that "dwelleth there. in. 22. And he that fhall fwear by heaven, fweareth by

n Joh. 9. 22. The Jews had a greed already, that if any man did confefs that he was Chrift, he fhould be put out of the Synagogue.

*

*

Mar. 12. 40. Which devour 5 Widows Houfes, and for a pretence make long Prayers: thefe fhall receive greater Damnation. Luk. 20. 47. Which devour Widows Houfes, and for a fhew make long Prayers the fame fhall receive greater Damnation. † 2 Tim. 3. 6. Of this fort are they which creep into Honfes, and lead captive filly Women laden with Sins, led away with divers Lufts. Tit. I II. Whofe Mouths must be ftopped, who fubvert whole Houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy Lucres fake.

P Gal 4 17. They zealously affect you, but not well.

9 Ifa. 56. 10. His Watchmen are Blind, they are all ignorant. See on Mat. 15. 14.

*

the

Mat.5. 33, 34. Ye have heard that it hath been faid by them of old Time, Thou shalt not forfwear thy felf, but fhalt perform unto the Lord thy Oaths. But I fay unto you, fwear not at all.→

f Exod. 30. 29. Thou fhalt fanctifie them, that they may be moft holy, whatfoever toucheth them, fhall be holy. st Exod. 29. 31. Whatfo ever toucheth the Altar fhall be holy.

t1 King. 8. 13. I have furely 15 built thee an houfe to dwell in, a fettled Place for thee to a bide in for ever. † 2 Chron. 6. 2 I have built an House of Habitation for thee, and a Place 20 for thy dwelling for ever. Pf. 26. 8. Lord, I have loved the Ha bitation of thine Houfe, and the Place where thine Honour The dwelleth. Pf. 132. 13, 14. ord

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f

the throne of God, and by him that fitteth thereon. 23. Wo unto you Scribes and Pharifees, hypocrites; for yeb pay tithe of Mint, and *anife, (Gr. ändor, Dill,] and cummin, and have omitted the weighter matters of the Law, judgment, mercy, and faith: thele ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24. Ye blind guides, which ftrain at agmat, and fwallow a camel. 25. Wo unto you Scribes and Pharifees, hypocrites; for ye make clean the outfide of the cup, and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excefs. 26. Thou blind Pharifee, cleanfe first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outfide of them may be clean alfo. 27. Wo unto you Scribes and Pharifees, hypocrites; for ye are like unto whited fepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead mens bones, and of all uncleannefs. 28. Even fo ye alfo outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrifie and iniquity. 29. Wo unto you Scribes and Pharifees, hypocrites; because yeh build the tombs of the Prophets, and garnish the fepulchres of the righteous, 30. And fay, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the Prophets. 31. Wherefore ye be witneffes unto your felves, that ye are

is

Lord hath chofen Zion: he hath defired it for his Habitation. This is my reft for ever: here will I dwell, for I have defired it.

Mat. 5.34. Swear not at all; nither by Heaven, for it is God's Throne. A&. 7. 49. Heaven is my Throne, and the Earth is my Footftool. Ifa. 66. 1. Thus faith the Lord, Heaven is my Throne, 10 and the Earth is my Footstool.

b

Luk. 11. 42. Wo unto you Pharifees for ye pay Tithe Mint and Rue, and all manner of Herbs,

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Tables. Luk.11. 39. Now do ye Pharifces make clean the outside of the Cup and Platter: but your inward Part is full of ravening and wickedness.

e

Jer. 4. 14. O Jerufalem, wash thine Heart from Wickednefs, that thou may't be faved: How long fhall vain Thoughts lodge with

in thee?

f Tit. 1. 15. Unto the Pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their

and pas over judgment and the love 15 Mind and Confcience is defiled.

of God: thefe ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other

undone.

8t Luk. 11. 44. Wo unto you Scribes and Pharifees, hypocrites; for ye are as Graves which appear not, and the Men that walk over See 20 them are not aware of them.

ti Sam. 15. 22. + Hcf. 6. 6. + Mic. 6. 8. + Mat. 12. 7.

on Mat. 9. 13.

+ Mar. 7. 4. Many other things there be, which they have receiv ed to hold, as the Washing of Cups, and Pots, and brazen Veffels and 25

h Luk. 11.47. Wo unto you, for ye build the Sepulchres of the Prophets, and your Fathers killed them.

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the children of them which killed the Prophets. 32. * Fi ye up then the meafure. of your Fathers. 33. Ye ferpents, y generation of vipers, how can ye elcape the damnation o hell? 34 Wherefore behold, I fend unto you Prophets and Wifemen, and Scribes, and "fome of them ye fha kill and crucifie, and fome of them fhall ye fcourge in you Synagogues, and perfecute them from city to city: 35. Tha (1) upon you may come all the righteous Blood fhed upor the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel, unto the bloo of Zacharias, fon of Barachias, whom ye flew between th temple and the altar. 36. Verily I fay unto you, Afl thef thing

it A&t. 7. 52. t1 Theff. 2. 15. See on Mat. 21. 35.

K Gen. 15. 16. The Iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. Wifd. 19. 4. The Deftiny whereof they were worthy, drew them to this End, and made them forget the things that had already happened, that they might fulfil the Punishment which was wanting to their Torments. † Theff. 2. 16. -To fill up their [the Jews] Sins alway.

3. 7.

ות

Mat. 12, 34. + See on Mat.

Luk. 11. 49. Therefore faid the Wisdom of God, I will fend them Prophets and Apoftles, and fome of them they will flay and perfecute.

P

35. ↑ A&t. 22. 19. Í faid, Lord they know that I imprisoned, and beat in every Synagogue them that believed on thee..

† Mat. 10. 17. Beware of men for they will deliver you up to the Councils, and they will Scourge you in their Synagogues. † 2 Cor. I L 24, 25. Of the Jews five times re 10ceived I forty Stripes fave one Thrice was I beaten with Rods, once was I ftoned.

p* Gen. 4. 8. And Cain talked with Abel his Brother: And it 15 came to pafs, when they were in the Field, that Cain rofe up against Abel his Brother, and stew him.

9t2 Chron. 24. 20, 21. The Spirit of God came upon Zechariah 20 the Son of Jeboida the Prieft, which ftood above the People, and faid unto them, Thus faith God, Why tranfgrefs ye the Commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot profper? Because ye have forfaken the Lord, he hath alfo forfaken

nt Act. 5. 40. When they had called the Apoitles and beaten them, they commanded that they fhould nct fpeak in the Name of Jefus, and let them go. Act. 12. 2. He 25 killed James the Brother of John with the Sword. See on Mat. 21.

A

you.

(1) Almighty God 'did punish the Wickedness of those who flew the Prophets and righteous Men in the Ages wherein the Facts were com mitted, as appears in the Cafe of Cain, &c. But feeing the prefent Gene ration would fill up the Meafure of their Fathers Sins; feeing they would commit a Crime which wou'd far exceed the Sin of any of their Fa thers in killing the Prophets: namely, the putting to Death the Son of Gód, it was juft that this greatest and most fevere National Judgment hould fall upon them, who were much more wicked than any that lived before them. See the Note on Luk. 11. 50.