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Passage 1: Exodus 21

(Exo 21:1) Now these are the lawes, which thou shalt set before them:

(Exo 21:2) If thou bye an Ebrewe seruant, he shall serue sixe yeres, and in the seuenth he shall go out free, for nothing.

(Notes Reference) If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for (a) nothing.

(a) Paying no money for his freedom.

(Exo 21:3) If he came himselfe alone, he shall goe out himselfe alone: if hee were married, then his wife shall go out with him.

(Notes Reference) If he (b) came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.

(b) Not having wife nor children.

(Exo 21:4) If his master haue giuen him a wife, and she hath borne him sonnes or daughters, he wife and her children shalbe her masters, but he shall goe out himselfe alone.

(Notes Reference) If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her (c) master's, and he shall go out by himself.

(c) Till her time of servitude was expired which might be the seventh year or the fiftieth.

(Exo 21:5) But if the seruant saye thus, I loue my master, my wife and my children, I will not goe out free,

(Exo 21:6) Then his master shall bring him vnto the Iudges, and set him to the dore, or to the poste, and his master shall bore his eare through with a nawle, and he shall serue him for euer.

(Notes Reference) Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the (d) door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for (e) ever.

(d) Where the judges sat.

(e) That is, to the year of Jubile, which was every fiftieth year.

(Exo 21:7) Likewise if a man sell his daughter to be a seruant, she shall not goe out as the men seruantes doe.

(Notes Reference) And if a man (f) sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.

(f) Forced either by poverty, or else with the intent that the master should marry her.

(Exo 21:8) If shee please not her master, who hath betrothed her to him selfe, then shall hee cause to buy her: hee shall haue no power to sell her to a strange people, seeing he despised her.

(Notes Reference) If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall (g) he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.

(g) By giving another money to buy her from him.

(Exo 21:9) But if he hath betrothed her vnto his sonne, he shall deale with her according to the custome of the daughters.

(Notes Reference) And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her (h) after the manner of daughters.

(h) That is, he shall give his dowry.

(Exo 21:10) If he take him another wife, he shall not diminish her foode, her rayment, and recompence of her virginitie.

(Notes Reference) If he take (i) him another [wife]; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.

(i) For his son.

(Exo 21:11) And if he do not these three vnto her, the shall she go out free, paying no money.

(Notes Reference) And if he do not these (k) three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.

(k) Neither marry her himself, nor give another money to buy her, nor bestow her on his son.

(Exo 21:12) He that smiteth a man, and he die, shall dye the death.

(Exo 21:13) And if a man hath not layed wayte, but God hath offered him into his hande, then I wil appoynt thee a place whither he shall flee.

(Notes Reference) And if a man lie not in wait, but (l) God deliver [him] into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.

(l) Though a man be killed unawares, yet it is God's providence that it should so be.

(Exo 21:14) But if a man come presumptuously vpon his neighbour to slay him with guile, thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.

(Notes Reference) But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine (m) altar, that he may die.

(m) The holiness of the place should not defend the murderer.

(Exo 21:15) Also hee that smiteth his father or his mother, shall die the death.

(Exo 21:16) And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, if it be founde with him, shall die the death.

(Exo 21:17) And hee that curseth his father or his mother, shall die the death.

(Exo 21:18) When men also striue together, and one smite another with a stone, or with the fist, and he die not, but lieth in bed,

(Notes Reference) And if men strive together, and one smite another with a (n) stone, or with [his] fist, and he die not, but keepeth [his] bed:

(n) Either far away from him or near.

(Exo 21:19) If hee rise againe and walke without vpon his staffe, then shall he that smote him go quite, saue onely hee shall beare his charges for his resting, and shall pay for his healing.

(Notes Reference) If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote [him] be (o) quit: only he shall pay [for] the loss of his time, and shall cause [him] to be thoroughly healed.

(o) By the civil justice.

(Exo 21:20) And if a man smite his seruant, or his maide with a rod, and he die vnder his hande, he shalbe surely punished.

(Exo 21:21) But if he continue a day, or two dayes, hee shall not be punished: for he is his money.

(Notes Reference) Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not (p) be punished: for he [is] his money.

(p) By the civil magistrate, but before God he is a murderer.

(Exo 21:22) Also if men striue and hurt a woman with childe, so that her childe depart from her, and death follow not, hee shall bee surely punished according as the womans husband shall appoynt him, or he shall pay as the Iudges determine.

(Notes Reference) If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart [from her], and yet no (q) mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges [determine].

(q) Or, "death": of the mother or child in the event she miscarries. Also the death on the unborn infant.

(Exo 21:23) But if death follow, then thou shalt paye life for life,

(Exo 21:24) Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hande for hand, foote for foote,

(Notes Reference) (r) Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

(r) The execution of this law only belonged to the magistrate, (Mat 5:38).

(Exo 21:25) Burning for burning, wound for wounde, stripe for stripe.

(Exo 21:26) And if a man smite his seruant in the eie, or his maide in the eye, and hath perished it, hee shall let him goe free for his eye.

(Exo 21:27) Also if he smite out his seruants tooth, or his maides tooth, he shall let him goe out free for his tooth.

(Notes Reference) And if he smite (s) out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.

(s) So God revenges cruelty in the even the least things.

(Exo 21:28) If an oxe gore a man or a woman, that he die, the oxe shalbe stoned to death, and his flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the oxe shall goe quite.

(Notes Reference) If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely (t) stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox [shall be] quit.

(t) If the beast be punished, much more shall the murderer.

(Exo 21:29) If the oxe were wont to push in times past, and it hath bene tolde his master, and hee hath not kept him, and after he killeth a man or a woman, the oxe shall be stoned, and his owner shall die also.

(Exo 21:30) If there be set to him a summe of mony, then he shall pay the raunsome of his life, whatsoeuer shalbe laied vpon him.

(Notes Reference) If there be laid on him a (u) sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.

(u) By the next of the kindred of him that is so slain.

(Exo 21:31) Whether he hath gored a sonne or gored a daughter, he shalbe iudged after the same maner.

(Exo 21:32) If the oxe gore a seruant or a mayde, hee shall giue vnto their master thirtie shekels of siluer, and the oxe shalbe stoned.

(Notes Reference) If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty (x) shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

(x) Read (Gen 23:15).

(Exo 21:33) And when a man shall open a well, or when he shall dig a pit and couer it not, and an oxe or an asse fall therein,

(Exo 21:34) The owner of the pit shall make it good, and giue money to the owners thereof, but the dead beast shalbe his.

(Notes Reference) The owner of the pit shall (y) make [it] good, [and] give money unto the owner of them; and the dead [beast] shall be his.

(y) This law forbids not only to hurt, but to beware lest any be hurt.

(Exo 21:35) And if a mans oxe hurt his neighbours oxe that he die, then they shall sel the liue oxe, and deuide the money thereof, and the dead oxe also they shall deuide.

(Exo 21:36) Or if it bee knowen that the oxe hath vsed to push in times past, and his master hath not kept him, he shall pay oxe for oxe, but the dead shall be his owne.

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Passage 2: Psalms 74

(Psa 74:1) A Psalme to give instruction, committed to Asaph. O God, why hast thou put vs away for euer? why is thy wrath kindled against the sheepe of thy pasture?

(Notes Reference) "Maschil of Asaph." O God, (a) why hast thou cast [us] off for ever? [why] doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?

(a) The Church of God is oppressed by the tyranny, either of the Babylonians or of Antiochus, and prays to God by whose hand the yoke was laid on them for their sins.

(Psa 74:2) Thinke vpon thy Congregation, which thou hast possessed of olde, and on the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed, and on this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.

(Notes Reference) Remember thy congregation, [which] thou hast purchased of old; the (b) rod of thine inheritance, [which] thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.

(b) Which inheritance you have measured out for yourself as with a line or rod.

(Psa 74:3) Lift vp thy strokes, that thou mayest for euer destroy euery enemie that doeth euill to the Sanctuarie.

(Psa 74:4) Thine aduersaries roare in the middes of thy Congregation, and set vp their banners for signes.

(Notes Reference) Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they (c) set up their ensigns [for] signs.

(c) They have destroyed your true religion, and spread their banners in sign of defiance.

(Psa 74:5) He that lifted the axes vpon the thicke trees, was renowmed, as one, that brought a thing to perfection:

(Notes Reference) [A man] was famous according as he had (d) lifted up axes upon the thick trees.

(d) He commends the temple for the costly matter, the excellent workmanship and beauty of it, which nonetheless the enemies destroyed.

(Psa 74:6) But nowe they breake downe the carued worke thereof with axes and hammers.

(Psa 74:7) They haue cast thy Sanctuarie into the fire, and rased it to the grounde, and haue defiled the dwelling place of thy Name.

(Psa 74:8) They saide in their hearts, Let vs destroy them altogether: they haue burnt all the Synagogues of God in the land.

(Notes Reference) They said in their (e) hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.

(e) They encouraged one another to cruelty, that not only God's people might be destroyed, but also his religion utterly in all places suppressed.

(Psa 74:9) We see not our signes: there is not one Prophet more, nor any with vs that knoweth howe long.

(Notes Reference) We see not our signs: [there is] no more any prophet: neither [is there] among us any that knoweth (f) how long.

(f) They lamented that they had no prophet among them to show them how long their misery would last.

(Psa 74:10) O God, howe long shall the aduersarie reproche thee? shall the enemie blaspheme thy Name for euer?

(Psa 74:11) Why withdrawest thou thine hand, euen thy right hand? drawe it out of thy bosome, and consume them.

(Notes Reference) Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? (g) pluck [it] out of thy bosom.

(g) They join their deliverance with God's glory and power, knowing that the punishment of the enemy would be their deliverance.

(Psa 74:12) Euen God is my King of olde, working saluation in the middes of the earth.

(Notes Reference) For God [is] my King of old, working salvation (h) in the midst of the earth.

(h) Meaning in the sight of all the world.

(Psa 74:13) Thou didest deuide the sea by thy power: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.

(Notes Reference) Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the (i) dragons in the waters.

(i) That is, Pharaoh's army.

(Psa 74:14) Thou brakest the head of Liuiathan in pieces, and gauest him to be meate for the people in wildernesse.

(Notes Reference) Thou brakest the heads of (k) leviathan in pieces, [and] gavest him [to be] (l) meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

(k) Which was a great monster of the sea, or whale, meaning Pharaoh.

(l) His destruction rejoiced them as meat refreshes the body.

(Psa 74:15) Thou brakest vp the fountaine and riuer: thou dryedst vp mightie riuers.

(Psa 74:16) The day is thine, and the night is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sunne.

(Notes Reference) The (m) day [is] thine, the night also [is] thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

(m) Seeing that God by his providence governs and disposes all things, he gathers that he will take care chiefly for his children.

(Psa 74:17) Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.

(Psa 74:18) Remember this, that the enemie hath reproched the Lord, and the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.

(Psa 74:19) Giue not the soule of thy turtle doue vnto the beast, and forget not the Congregation of thy poore for euer.

(Notes Reference) O deliver not the soul of thy (n) turtledove unto the multitude [of the wicked]: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.

(n) He means the Church of God, which is exposed as a prey to the wicked.

(Psa 74:20) Consider thy couenant: for the darke places of the earth are full of the habitations of the cruell.

(Notes Reference) Have respect unto the covenant: for (o) the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

(o) That is, all places where your word does not shine, there reigns tyranny and ambition.

(Psa 74:21) Oh let not the oppressed returne ashamed, but let the poore and needie prayse thy Name.

(Psa 74:22) Arise, O God: mainteine thine owne cause: remember thy dayly reproche by the foolish man.

(Notes Reference) Arise, O God, plead thine (p) own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.

(p) He shows that God cannot permit his Church to be oppressed unless he looses his own right.

(Psa 74:23) Forget not the voyce of thine enemies: for the tumult of them, that rise against thee, ascendeth continually.

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Passage 3: Mark 7

(Mar 7:1) Then gathered vnto him the Pharises, and certaine of the Scribes which came from Hierusalem.

(Notes Reference) Then (1) came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

(1) None resist the wisdom of God more than they that should be wisest, and they resist because of their zeal for their own traditions: for men please themselves in superstition more than in any other thing, that is to say, in a worship of God fondly devised by themselves.

(Mar 7:2) And when they sawe some of his disciples eate meate with common hands, (that is to say, vnwashen) they complained.

(Notes Reference) And when they saw some of his disciples (a) eat bread with (b) defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

(a) Literally, "eat bread": an idiom which the Hebrews use, understanding bread to represent every type of food.

(b) For the Pharisees would not eat their food with unwashed hands, because they thought that their hands were defiled with the common handling of things; (Mat 15:11-12).

(Mar 7:3) (For the Pharises, and all the Iewes, except they wash their hands oft, eate not, holding the tradition of the Elders.

(Notes Reference) For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash [their] hands oft, eat not, (c) holding the tradition of the elders.

(c) Observing diligently.

(Mar 7:4) And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eate not: and many other things there be, which they haue taken vpon them to obserue, as the washing of cups, and pots, and of brasen vessels, and of beds.)

(Notes Reference) And [when they come] from the (d) market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, [as] the washing of cups, and (e) pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

(d) That is to say, after coming from civil and worldly affairs they do not eat unless they first wash themselves.

(e) By these words are understood all types of vessels which we use daily.

(Mar 7:5) Then asked him the Pharises and Scribes, Why walke not thy disciples according to the tradition of the Elders, but eate meate with vnwashen hands?

(Notes Reference) Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why (f) walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

(f) Why live they not? This is a Hebrew idiom: for among them the "way" is taken for "lifestyle".

(Mar 7:6) Then hee answered and sayd vnto them, Surely Esay hath prophecied well of you, hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth mee with lippes, but their heart is farre away from me.

(Notes Reference) (2) He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from me.

(2) Hypocrisy is always joined with superstition.

(Mar 7:7) But they worship me in vaine, teaching for doctrines the commandements of men.

(Notes Reference) (3) Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.

(3) The more earnest the superstitious are, the more mad they are in promising themselves God's favour because of their deeds.

(Mar 7:8) For ye lay the commandement of God apart, and obserue the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and of cups, and many other such like things ye doe.

(Notes Reference) (4) For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, [as] the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

(4) The deeds of superstitious men not only do not fulfil the law of God (as they blasphemously persuaded themselves) but these deeds utterly take away God's law.

(Mar 7:9) And he sayd vnto them, Well, ye reiect the commandement of God, that ye may obserue your owne tradition.

(Notes Reference) (5) And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

(5) True religion, which is completely contrary to superstition, consists in spiritual worship: and all enemies of true religion, although they seem to have taken deep root, will be plucked up.

(Mar 7:10) For Moses sayd, Honour thy father and thy mother: and Whosoeuer shall speake euill of father or mother, let him die the death.

(Notes Reference) For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him (g) die the death:

(g) Without hope of pardon, he will be put to death.

(Mar 7:11) But yee say, If a man say to father or mother, Corban, that is, By the gift that is offered by mee, thou mayest haue profite, hee shall be free.

(Mar 7:12) So ye suffer him no more to doe any thing for his father, or his mother,

(Mar 7:13) Making the worde of God of none authoritie, by your tradition which ye haue ordeined: and ye doe many such like things.

(Mar 7:14) Then he called the whole multitude vnto him, and sayd vnto them, Hearken you all vnto me, and vnderstand.

(Mar 7:15) There is nothing without a man, that can defile him, when it entreth into him: but the things which proceede out of him, are they which defile the man.

(Mar 7:16) If any haue eares to heare, let him heare.

(Mar 7:17) And when hee came into an house, away from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

(Mar 7:18) And he sayde vnto them, What? are ye without vnderstanding also? Doe ye not knowe that whatsoeuer thing from without entreth into a man, cannot defile him,

(Mar 7:19) Because it entreth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught which is the purging of all meates?

(Notes Reference) Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, (h) purging all meats?

(h) For that which goes into the draught purges all meats.

(Mar 7:20) Then he sayd, That which commeth out of man, that defileth man.

(Mar 7:21) For from within, euen out of the heart of men, proceede euill thoughtes, adulteries, fornications, murthers,

(Mar 7:22) Theftes, couetousnes, wickednes, deceite, vncleannes, a wicked eye, backbiting, pride, foolishnesse.

(Notes Reference) Thefts, (i) covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an (k) evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

(i) All types of craftiness by which men profit themselves at other men's losses.

(k) Corrupted malice.

(Mar 7:23) All these euill things come from within, and defile a man.

(Mar 7:24) And from thence he rose, and went into the borders of Tyrus and Sidon, and entred into an house, and woulde that no man should haue knowen: but he could not be hid.

(Notes Reference) (6) And from thence he arose, and went into the (l) borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know [it]: but he could not be hid.

(6) That which the proud reject when it is offered to them, that same thing the modest and humble sinners as it were voraciously consume.

(l) Into the uttermost coasts of Palestine, which were next to Tyre and Sidon.

(Mar 7:25) For a certaine woman, whose litle daughter had an vncleane spirit, heard of him, and came, and fell at his feete,

(Mar 7:26) (And the woman was a Greeke, a Syrophenissian by nation) and she besought him that he would cast out the deuill out of her daughter.

(Notes Reference) The woman was a (m) Greek, a (n) Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

(m) By nationality, profane.

(n) A neighbour of or near to Damascus.

(Mar 7:27) But Iesus saide vnto her, Let the children first be fedde: for it is not good to take the childrens bread, and to cast it vnto whelpes.

(Notes Reference) But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] unto the (o) dogs.

(o) "Dog" here signifies a little dog, and he uses this term that he may seem to speak more reproachfully.

(Mar 7:28) Then shee answered, and saide vnto him, Trueth, Lord: yet in deede the whelpes eate vnder the table of the childrens crommes.

(Notes Reference) And she answered and said unto him, (p) Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

(p) As if she said, "It is as thou sayest Lord, for it is enough for the dogs if they can but gather up the crumbs that are under the table; therefore I crave the crumbs and not the children's bread."

(Mar 7:29) Then he said vnto her, For this saying goe thy way: the deuil is gone out of thy daughter.

(Mar 7:30) And when shee was come home to her house, shee founde the deuill departed, and her daughter lying on the bed.

(Mar 7:31) And hee departed againe from the coastes of Tyrus and Sidon, and came vnto the sea of Galile, through the middes of the coastes of Decapolis.

(Notes Reference) (7) And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of (q) Decapolis.

(7) As the Father created us to this life in the beginning in his only son, so does he also in him alone renew us into everlasting life.

(q) It was a little country, and it was so called because it consisted of ten cities under the jurisdiction of four surrounding governments; Pliny, book 3, chap. 8.

(Mar 7:32) And they brought vnto him one that was deafe and stambered in his speache, and prayed him to put his hand vpon him.

(Mar 7:33) Then hee tooke him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers in his eares, and did spit, and touched his tongue.

(Mar 7:34) And looking vp to heauen, hee sighed, and said vnto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

(Mar 7:35) And straightway his eares were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and hee spake plaine.

(Mar 7:36) And he commanded them, that they should tell no man: but howe much soeuer hee forbad them, the more a great deale they published it,

(Mar 7:37) And were beyonde measure astonied, saying, Hee hath done all thinges well: he maketh both the deafe to heare, and the domme to speake.