---

Passage 1: 1 Samuel 15

(1Sa 15:1) Afterward Samuel said vnto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee King ouer his people, ouer Israel: nowe therefore obey the voyce of the wordes of the Lord.

(Notes Reference) Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee [to be] king over his people, over Israel: now therefore (a) hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.

(a) Because he has preferred you to this honour, you are bound to obey him.

(1Sa 15:2) Thus saith the Lord of hostes, I remember what Amalek did to Israel, howe they laide waite for the in ye way, as they came vp from Egypt.

(1Sa 15:3) Nowe therefore goe, and sinite Amalek, and destroy ye all that perteyneth vnto them, and haue no compassion on them, but slay both man and woman, both infant and suckling, both oxe, and sheepe, both camell, and asse.

(Notes Reference) Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but (b) slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

(b) That this might be an example of God's vengeance against those who deal cruelly with his people.

(1Sa 15:4) And Saul assembled ye people, and nombred them in Telaim, two hundreth thousande footemen, and ten thousand men of Iudah.

(1Sa 15:5) And Saul came to a citie of Amalek, and set watch at the riuer.

(1Sa 15:6) And Saul said vnto the Kenites, Goe, depart, and get you downe from among the Amalekites, least I destroy you with them: for ye shewed mercie to all the children of Israel, when they came vp from Egypt: and the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

(Notes Reference) And Saul said unto the (c) Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed (d) kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

(c) Which were the posterity of Jethro, Moses father in law.

(d) For Jethro came to visit them, and gave them good counsel, (Exo 18:19).

(1Sa 15:7) So Saul smote the Amalekites from Hauilah as thou commest to Shur, that is before Egypt,

(1Sa 15:8) And tooke Agag the King of the Amalekites aliue, and destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

(1Sa 15:9) But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the better sheepe, and the oxen, and the fat beasts, and the lambes, and all that was good, and they would not destroy them: but euery thing that was vile and nought worth, that they destroyed.

(1Sa 15:10) Then came the worde of the Lord vnto Samuel, saying,

(1Sa 15:11) It repenteth me that I haue made Saul King: for he is turned from me, and hath not performed my commandements. And Samuel was mooued, and cryed vnto the Lord all night.

(Notes Reference) It (e) repenteth me that I have set up Saul [to be] king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

(e) God in his eternal counsel never changes or repents, as in (1Sa 15:29), though he seems to us to repent when anything goes contrary to his temporal election.

(1Sa 15:12) And when Samuel arose early to meete Saul in the morning, one tolde Samuel, saying, Saul is gone to Carmel: and beholde, he hath made him there a place, from whence he returned, and departed, and is gone downe to Gilgal.

(1Sa 15:13) Then Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said vnto him. Blessed be thou of the Lord, I haue fulfilled the commandement of the Lord.

(Notes Reference) And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed [be] thou of the LORD: I have performed the (f) commandment of the LORD.

(f) This is the nature of hypocrites to be impudent against the truth, to condemn others, and justify themselves.

(1Sa 15:14) But Samuel saide, What meaneth then the bleating of the sheepe in mine eares, and the lowing of the oxen which I heare?

(1Sa 15:15) And Saul answered, They haue brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheepe, and of the oxen to sacrifice them vnto the Lord thy God, and the remnant haue we destroyed.

(1Sa 15:16) Againe Samuel saide to Saul, Let me tell thee what the Lord hath saide to me this night. And he said vnto him, Say on.

(1Sa 15:17) Then Samuel saide, When thou wast litle in thine owne sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? for the Lord anointed thee King ouer Israel.

(Notes Reference) And Samuel said, When thou [wast] (g) little in thine own sight, [wast] thou not [made] the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

(g) Meaning, of base condition as in (1Sa 9:21).

(1Sa 15:18) And the Lord sent thee on a iourney, and saide, Goe, and destroy those sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them, vntill thou destroy them.

(1Sa 15:19) Nowe wherefore hast thou not obeyed the voyce of the Lord, but hast turned to the pray, and hast done wickedly in the sight of the Lord?

(1Sa 15:20) And Saul saide vnto Samuel, Yea, I haue obeyed the voyce of the Lord, and haue gone the way which the Lord sent me, and haue brought Agag the King of Amalek, and haue destroyed the Amalekites.

(Notes Reference) And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, (h) I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

(i) He stands most impudently in his own defence both against God and his own conscience.

(1Sa 15:21) But the people tooke of the spoyle, sheepe, and oxen, and the chiefest of the things which shoulde haue bene destroyed, to offer vnto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.

(1Sa 15:22) And Samuel saide, Hath the Lord as great pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as when the voyce of the Lord is obeyed? beholde, to obey is better then sacrifice, and to hearken is better then the fatte of rammes.

(1Sa 15:23) For rebellion is as the sinne of withcraft, and transgression is wickednesse and idolatrie. Because thou hast cast away the worde of the Lord, therefore hee hath cast away thee from being King.

(Notes Reference) For (i) rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king.

(i) God hates nothing more than the disobedience of his commandment, even though the intent seems good to man.

(1Sa 15:24) Then Saul sayde vnto Samuel, I haue sinned: for I haue transgressed the commandement of the Lord, and thy wordes, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voyce.

(1Sa 15:25) Nowe therefore I pray thee, take away my sinne, and turne againe with mee, that I may worship the Lord.

(Notes Reference) Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my (k) sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.

(k) This was not true repentance, but deceit out of fear for the loss of his kingdom.

(1Sa 15:26) But Samuel saide vnto Saul, I will not returne with thee: for thou hast cast away the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath cast away thee, that thou shalt not be King ouer Israel.

(1Sa 15:27) And as Samuel turned himselfe to goe away, he caught the lappe of his coate, and it rent.

(1Sa 15:28) Then Samuel saide vnto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdome of Israel from thee this day, and hath giuen it to thy neighbour, that is better then thou.

(Notes Reference) And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a (l) neighbour of thine, [that is] better than thou.

(l) That is, to David.

(1Sa 15:29) For in deede the strength of Israel will not lye nor repent: for hee is not a man that hee should repent.

(Notes Reference) And also the (m) Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he [is] not a man, that he should repent.

(m) Meaning God, who maintains and prefers his own.

(1Sa 15:30) Then he saide, I haue sinned: but honour mee, I pray thee, before the Elders of my people, and before Israel, and turne againe with mee, that I may worship the Lord thy God.

(1Sa 15:31) So Samuel turned againe, and followed Saul: and Saul worshipped the Lord.

(1Sa 15:32) Then saide Samuel, Bring yee hither to me Agag ye King of the Amalekites: and Agag came vnto him pleasantly, and Agag saide, Truely the bitternesse of death is passed.

(Notes Reference) Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the (n) bitterness of death is past.

(n) He expected nothing less than death, or as some write, he passed not for death.

(1Sa 15:33) And Samuel sayde, As thy sworde hath made women childlesse, so shall thy mother bee childelesse among other women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.

(1Sa 15:34) So Samuel departed to Ramah, and Saul went vp to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

(Notes Reference) Then Samuel went to (o) Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

(o) Where his house was.

(1Sa 15:35) And Samuel came no more to see Saul vntill the day of his death: but Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord repented that hee made Saul King ouer Israel.

(Notes Reference) And Samuel came no more to (p) see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD (q) repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

(p) Though Saul came where Samuel was, (1Sa 19:22).

(q) As in (1Sa 15:11).

---

Passage 2: Isaiah 59

(Isa 59:1) Beholde, the Lordes hande is not shortened, that it can not saue: neither is his eare heauie, that it cannot heare.

(Isa 59:2) But your iniquities haue separated betweene you and your God, and your sinnes haue hidde his face from you, that he will not heare.

(Isa 59:3) For your handes are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquitie: your lips haue spoken lies and your tongue hath murmured iniquitie.

(Notes Reference) For your hands are defiled with (a) blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath uttered perverseness.

(a) Read (Isa 1:15).

(Isa 59:4) No man calleth for iustice: no man contendeth for trueth: they trust in vanitie, and speake vaine things: they conceiue mischiefe, and bring foorth iniquitie.

(Notes Reference) None calleth for justice, nor [any] (b) pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and (c) bring forth iniquity.

(b) All men wink at the injuries and oppressions and none go about to remedy them.

(c) According to their wicked devices, they hurt their neighbours.

(Isa 59:5) They hatch cockatrice egges, and weaue the spiders webbe: he that eateth of their egges, dieth, and that which is trode vpon, breaketh out into a serpent.

(Notes Reference) They hatch (d) eggs of an adder, and weave the spider's (e) web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.

(d) Whatever comes from them is poison, and brings death.

(e) They are profitable to no purpose.

(Isa 59:6) Their webbes shall be no garment, neither shall they couer themselues with their labours: for their workes are workes of iniquitie, and the worke of crueltie is in their handes.

(Isa 59:7) Their feete runne to euill, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are wicked thoughts: desolation and destruction is in their paths.

(Isa 59:8) The way of peace they knowe not, and there is none equitie in their goings: they haue made them crooked paths: whosoeuer goeth therein, shall not knowe peace.

(Isa 59:9) Therefore is iudgement farre from vs, neither doeth iustice come neere vnto vs: we waite for light, but loe, it is darkenesse: for brightnesse, but we walke in darkenesse.

(Notes Reference) Therefore is (f) judgment far from us, neither doth (g) justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, [but] we walk in darkness.

(f) That is, God's vengeance to punish our enemies.

(g) God's protection to defend us.

(Isa 59:10) Wee grope for the wall like the blinde, and we grope as one without eyes: we stumble at the noone day as in the twilight: we are in solitarie places, as dead men.

(Notes Reference) We grope for the wall like the (h) blind, and we grope as if [we had] no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; [we are] in desolate places as dead [men].

(h) We are altogether destitute of counsel, and can find no end to our miseries.

(Isa 59:11) We roare all like beares, and mourne like dooues: wee looke for equitie, but there is none: for health, but it is farre from vs.

(Notes Reference) We all roar like (i) bears, and mourn bitterly like doves: we look for judgment, but [there is] none; for salvation, [but] it is far from us.

(i) We express our sorrows by outward signs, some more and some less.

(Isa 59:12) For our trespasses are many before thee, and our sinnes testifie against vs: for our trespasses are with vs, and we knowe our iniquities

(Notes Reference) For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our (k) sins testify against us: for our transgressions [are] with us; and [as for] our iniquities, we know them;

(k) This confession is general to the Church to obtain remission of sins, and the prophets did not exempt themselves from the same.

(Isa 59:13) In trespassing and lying against the Lord, and wee haue departed away from our God, and haue spoken of crueltie and rebellion, conceiuing and vttering out of the heart false matters.

(Notes Reference) In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of (l) falsehood.

(l) That is, against our neighbours.

(Isa 59:14) Therefore iudgement is turned backewarde, and iustice standeth farre off: for trueth is fallen in the streete, and equitie cannot enter.

(Notes Reference) And (m) judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.

(m) There is neither justice nor uprightness among men.

(Isa 59:15) Yea, trueth faileth, and hee that refraineth from euill, maketh himselfe a praye: and when the Lord sawe it, it displeased him, that there was no iudgement.

(Notes Reference) Yea, truth faileth; and he [that] departeth from evil maketh himself (n) a prey: and the LORD saw [it], and it displeased him that [there was] no judgment.

(n) The wicked will destroy him.

(Isa 59:16) And when he sawe that there was no man, hee wondered that none woulde offer him selfe. Therefore his arme did saue it, and his righteousnes it selfe did sustaine it.

(Notes Reference) And he saw that [there was] no man, and wondered that [there was] no intercessor: (o) therefore his arm brought (p) salvation to him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

(o) Meaning, to do justice, and to remedy the things that were so far out of order.

(p) That is, his Church or his arm helped itself and did not seek aid from any other.

(Isa 59:17) For he put on righteousnes, as an habergeon, and an helmet of saluation vpon his head, and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeale as a cloke.

(Notes Reference) For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an (q) helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance [for] clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

(q) Signifying that God has all means at hand to deliver his Church and to punish their enemies.

(Isa 59:18) As to make recompence, as to requite the furie of the aduersaries with a recompence to his enemies: he will fully repaire the ylands.

(Notes Reference) According to [their] deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the (r) isles he will repay recompence.

(r) That is, your enemies who dwell in various places, and beyond the sea.

(Isa 59:19) So shall they feare the Name of the Lord from the West, and his glory from the rising of the sunne: for the enemie shall come like a flood: but the Spirit of the Lord shall chase him away.

(Notes Reference) So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall (s) come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

(s) He shows that there will be great affliction in the Church, but God will always deliver his.

(Isa 59:20) And the Redeemer shall come vnto Zion, and vnto them that turne from iniquitie in Iaakob, saith the Lord.

(Notes Reference) And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and to (t) them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.

(t) By which he declares that the true deliverance from sin and Satan belongs to none but to the children of God, whom he justifies.

(Isa 59:21) And I will make this my couenant with them, saith the Lord. My Spirit that is vpon thee, and my wordes, which I haue put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seede, nor out of the mouth of the seede of thy seede, saith the Lord, from hencefoorth euen for euer.

(Notes Reference) As for me, this [is] my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that [is] upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, (u) shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

(u) Because the doctrine is made profitable by the virtue of the Spirit, he joins the one with the other, and promises to give them both to his Church for ever.

---

Passage 3: Matthew 3-4

(Mat 3:1) And in those dayes, Iohn the Baptist came and preached in the wildernes of Iudea,

(Notes Reference) In (a) those days came (1) John the Baptist, preaching in the (b) wilderness of Judaea,

(a) Not when Joseph went to dwell at Nazareth, but a great while after, about fifteen years: for in the 30th year of his life Jesus was baptized by John: therefore "those days" means the time when Jesus remained as an inhabitant of the town of Nazareth. (1) John, who through his singular holiness and rare austerity of life caused men to cast their eyes on him, prepares the way for Christ who is following fast on his heels, as the prophet Isaiah foretold, and delivers the sum of the gospel, which a short time later would be delivered more fully.

(b) In a hilly country, which was nonetheless inhabited, for Zacharias dwelt there, (Luk 1:39-40), and there was Joab's house, (1Ki 2:34); and besides these, Joshua makes mention of six towns that were in the wilderness, (Jos 15:61-62).

(Mat 3:2) And said, Repent: for the kingdome of heauen is at hand.

(Notes Reference) And saying, (c) Repent ye: for the (d) kingdom of heaven is at hand.

(c) The word in the greek signifies a changing of our minds and heart from evil to better.

(d) The kingdom of Messiah, whose government will be heavenly, and nothing but heavenly.

(Mat 3:3) For this is he of whome it is spoken by the Prophet Esaias, saying, The voyce of him that crieth in the wildernes, Prepare ye the way of the Lord: make his pathes straight.

(Notes Reference) For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, (e) make his paths straight.

(e) Make him a plain and smooth way.

(Mat 3:4) And this Iohn had his garment of camels heare, and a girdle of a skinne about his loynes: his meate was also locusts and wilde hony.

(Notes Reference) And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was (f) locusts and wild honey.

(f) Locusts were a type of meat which certain of the eastern people use, who were therefore called devourers of locusts.

(Mat 3:5) Then went out to him Ierusalem and all Iudea, and all the region rounde about Iordan.

(Notes Reference) Then went out to him (g) Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

(g) The people of Jerusalem.

(Mat 3:6) And they were baptized of him in Iordan, confessing their sinnes.

(Notes Reference) And were baptized of him in Jordan, (h) confessing their sins.

(h) Acknowledging that they were saved only by free remission and forgiveness of their sins.

(Mat 3:7) Now when he sawe many of the Pharises, and of the Sadduces come to his baptisme, he said vnto them, O generations of vipers, who hath forewarned you to flee from the anger to come?

(Notes Reference) (2) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

(2) There is nothing that shuts up the way of mercy and salvation from us so much as the opinion of our own righteousness does.

(Mat 3:8) Bring foorth therefore fruite worthy amendment of life.

(Notes Reference) (3) Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

(3) True repentance is an inward thing which has its seat in the mind and heart.

(Mat 3:9) And thinke not to say with your selues, We haue Abraham to our father: for I say vnto you, that God is able euen of these stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham.

(Notes Reference) (4) And (i) think not to say (k) within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

(4) The faith of the fathers does not benefit you unbelieving children at all: and yet for all that, God does not play the liar, nor deal unfaithfully in his covenant which he made with the holy fathers.

(i) Think not that you have any reason to be proud of Abraham.

(k) In your hearts.

(Mat 3:10) And now also is the axe put to the roote of the trees: therfore euery tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewen downe, and cast into ye fire.

(Mat 3:11) In deede I baptize you with water to amendment of life, but he that commeth after me, is mightier then I, whose shoes I am not worthie to beare: hee will baptize you with the holy Ghost, and with fire.

(Notes Reference) (5) I indeed baptize you with water unto (l) repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and [with] fire:

(5) We may neither dwell upon the signs which God has ordained as means to lead us into our salvation, neither upon those that minister them: but we must climb up to the matter itself, that is to say, to Christ, who inwardly works that effectually, which is outwardly signified to us.

(l) The outward sign reminds us of this, that we must change our lives and become better, assuring us as by a seal, that we are ingrafted into Christ; by which our old man dies and the new man rises up; (Rom 6:4).

(Mat 3:12) Which hath his fanne in his hand, and wil make cleane his floore, and gather his wheate into his garner, but will burne vp the chaffe with vnquenchable fire.

(Notes Reference) (6) Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly (m) purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

(6) The triumphs of the wicked will end in everlasting torment.

(m) Will clean it thoroughly, and make a full riddance.

(Mat 3:13) Then came Iesus from Galile to Iordan vnto Iohn, to be baptized of him.

(Notes Reference) (7) Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

(7) Christ sanctified our baptism in himself.

(Mat 3:14) But Iohn earnestly put him backe, saying, I haue neede to be baptized of thee, and commest thou to me?

(Mat 3:15) Then Iesus answering, saide to him, Let be nowe: for thus it becommeth vs to fulfill all righteousnes. So he suffered him.

(Notes Reference) And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil (n) all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

(n) All such things as it has appointed for us to keep.

(Mat 3:16) And Iesus when hee was baptized, came straight out of the water. And lo, the heaues were opened vnto him, and Iohn saw the Spirit of God descending like a doue, and lighting vpon him.

(Notes Reference) And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto (o) him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

(o) To John.

(Mat 3:17) And loe, a voyce came from heauen, saying, This is my beloued Sonne, in whome I am well pleased.

(Notes Reference) (8) And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am (p) well pleased.

(8) Christ's full consecration and authorization to the office of mediator is shown by the Father's own voice and a visible sign of the Holy Spirit.

(p) The Greek word signifies a thing of great worth and such as highly pleases a man. So then the Father says that Christ is the only man whom when he beholds, looking at what opinion he had conceived of us, he lays it clean aside.

(Mat 4:1) Then was Iesus led aside of the Spirit into the wildernes, to be tempted of the deuil.

(Notes Reference) Then was (1) Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

(1) Christ is tempted in all manner of ways, and still overcomes, that we also through his virtue may overcome.

(Mat 4:2) And when he had fasted fourtie dayes, and fourtie nights, he was afterward hungrie.

(Notes Reference) And when he had fasted (a) forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

(a) A full forty days.

(Mat 4:3) Then came to him the tempter, and said, If thou be the Sonne of God, commande that these stones be made bread.

(Mat 4:4) But he answering said, It is written, Man shall not liue by bread onely, but by euery worde that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

(Mat 4:5) Then the deuil tooke him vp into the holy Citie, and set him on a pinacle of the temple,

(Notes Reference) Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a (b) pinnacle of the temple,

(b) The battlement which encompassed the flat roof of the Temple so that no man might fall down: as was appointed by the law; (Deu 22:8).

(Mat 4:6) And said vnto him, If thou be the Sonne of God, cast thy selfe downe: for it is written, that he wil giue his Angels charge ouer thee, and with their hands they shall lift thee vp, lest at any time thou shouldest dash thy foote against a stone.

(Mat 4:7) Iesus saide vnto him, It is written againe, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

(Notes Reference) Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not (c) tempt the Lord thy God.

(c) Literally, "Thou shalt not go on still in tempting."

(Mat 4:8) Againe the deuil tooke him vp into an exceeding hie mountaine, and shewed him all the kingdomes of the world, and the glory of them,

(Mat 4:9) And sayd to him, All these will I giue thee, if thou wilt fall downe, and worship me.

(Mat 4:10) Then sayd Iesus vnto him, Auoyde Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him onely shalt thou serue.

(Mat 4:11) Then the deuill left him: and beholde, the Angels came, and ministred vnto him.

(Mat 4:12) And when Iesus had heard that Iohn was committed to prison, he returned into Galile.

(Notes Reference) (2) Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

(2) When the Herald's mouth is stopped, the Lord reveals himself and brings full light into the darkness of this world, preaching free forgiveness of sins for those that repent.

(Mat 4:13) And leauing Nazareth, went and dwelt in Capernaum, which is neere the sea in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim,

(Notes Reference) And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in (d) Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

(d) Which was a town a great deal more famous than Nazareth was.

(Mat 4:14) That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the Propet, saying,

(Mat 4:15) The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim by the way of the sea, beyond Iordan, Galile of the Gentiles:

(Notes Reference) The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, [by] the way of the (e) sea, beyond Jordan, (f) Galilee of the Gentiles;

(e) Of Tiberias, or because that country went toward Tyre, which borders the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

(f) So called because it bordered upon Tyre and Sidon, and because Solomon gave the king of Tyre twenty cities in that quarter; (1Ki 9:11).

(Mat 4:16) The people which sate in darkenes, sawe great light: and to them which sate in the region, and shadowe of death, light is risen vp.

(Mat 4:17) From that time Iesus began to preach, and to say, Amende your liues: for the kingdome of heauen is at hand.

(Notes Reference) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at (g) hand.

(g) Is come to you.

(Mat 4:18) And Iesus walking by the sea of Galile, sawe two brethren, Simon, which was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishers.)

(Notes Reference) (3) And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

(3) Christ, thinking that he would eventually depart from us, even at the beginning of his preaching gets himself disciples of a heavenly sort, poor and unlearned, and therefore such as might be left as honest witnesses of the truth of those things which they heard and saw.

(Mat 4:19) And he sayd vnto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

(Mat 4:20) And they straightway leauing the nets, folowed him.

(Mat 4:21) And when he was gone forth from thence, he saw other two brethren, Iames the sonne of Zebedeus, and Iohn his brother in a ship with Zebedeus their father, mending their nets, and he called them.

(Mat 4:22) And they without tarying, leauing the ship, and their father, folowed him.

(Mat 4:23) So Iesus went about all Galile, teaching in their Synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdome, and healing euery sicknesse and euery disease among the people.

(Notes Reference) And (4) Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in (h) their (i) synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the (k) kingdom, and healing (l) all manner of sickness and all manner of (m) disease among the people.

(4) Christ assures the hearts of the believers of his spiritual and saving virtue, by healing the diseases of the body.

(h) Their, that is, the Galilaeans.

(i) Synagogues, that is, the Churches of the Jews.

(k) Of the Messiah.

(l) Diseases of all kinds, but not every disease: that is, as we say, some of every kind.

(m) The word properly signifies the weakness of the stomach: but here it is taken for those diseases which make those that have them faint and wear away.

(Mat 4:24) And his fame spread abroad through all Syria: and they brought vnto him all sicke people, that were taken with diuers diseases and torments, and them that were possessed with deuils, and those which were lunatike, and those that had the palsey: and he healed them.

(Notes Reference) And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and (n) torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were (o) lunatick, and those that had the (p) palsy; and he healed them.

(n) The word signifies properly the stone with which gold is tried: and by a borrowed kind of speech, is applied to all kinds of examinations by torture, when as by rough dealing and torments, we draw out the truths from men who otherwise would not confess: in this place it is taken for those diseases, which put sick men to great woe.

(o) Who at every full moon or the change of the moon, are troubled and diseased.

(p) Weak and feeble men, who have the parts of their body loosed and so weakened, that they are neither able to gather them up together, nor do with them as they wish.

(Mat 4:25) And there folowed him great multitudes out of Galile, and Decapolis, and Hierusalem, and Iudea, and from beyond Iordan.