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Passage 1: 2 Kings 19

(2Ki 19:1) And when King Hezekiah heard it, he rent his clothes and put on sackecloth, and came into the house of the Lord,

(2Ki 19:2) And sent Eliakim which was the stewarde of the house, and Shebnah the chanceller, and the Elders of the Priestes clothed in sackecloth to Isaiah the Prophet the sonne of Amoz.

(Notes Reference) And he sent Eliakim, which [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, (a) to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

(a) To hear some new prophecy and to have comfort from him.

(2Ki 19:3) And they said vnto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of tribulation and of rebuke, and blasphemie: for the childre are come to the birth, and there is no strength to bring foorth.

(Notes Reference) And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day [is] a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to (b) the birth, and [there is] not strength to bring forth.

(b) The dangers are so great, that we can neither avenge this blasphemy, or help ourselves any more than a woman in labour.

(2Ki 19:4) If so be the Lord thy God hath heard all the wordes of Rabshakeh, whome the King of Asshur his master hath sent to raile on the liuing God, and to reproch him with wordes which the Lord thy God hath heard, then lift thou vp thy prayer for the remnant that are left.

(Notes Reference) It may be the LORD thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up [thy] prayer for the (c) remnant that are left.

(c) Meaning, for Jerusalem which only remained of all the cities of Judah.

(2Ki 19:5) So the seruants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah.

(2Ki 19:6) And Isaiah said vnto them, So shall ye say to your master, Thus sayeth the Lord, Be not afraide of the words which thou hast heard, wherewith the seruants of the king of Asshur haue blasphemed me.

(2Ki 19:7) Beholde, I will sende a blast vpon him, and he shall heare a noyse, and returne to his owne lande: and I will cause him to fall by the sworde in his owne lande.

(Notes Reference) Behold, I will send a blast (d) upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.

(d) The Lord can with one blast blow away all the strength of man, and turn it into dust.

(2Ki 19:8) So Rabshakeh returned, and founde the King of Asshur fighting against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

(2Ki 19:9) He heard also men say of Tirhakah King of Ethiopia, Beholde, he is come out to fight against thee: he therefore departed and sent other messengers vnto Hezekiah, saying,

(Notes Reference) And when (e) he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, (f) Behold, he is come out to fight against thee: he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying,

(e) That is, Sennacherib.

(f) For the kings of Ethiopia and Egypt joined together against the king of Assyria because of his oppression of other countries.

(2Ki 19:10) Thus shall ye speake to Hezekiah King of Iudah, and say, Let not thy God deceiue thee in whome thou trustest, saying, Ierusalem shall not be deliuered into the hande of the King of Asshur.

(Notes Reference) Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy (g) God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

(g) The closer the wicked are to their destruction, the more they blaspheme.

(2Ki 19:11) Beholde, thou hast heard what the Kings of Asshur haue done to all landes, how they haue destroyed them: and shalt thou be deliuered?

(2Ki 19:12) Haue the gods of the heathen deliuered them which my fathers haue destroyed? as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden, which were in Thelasar?

(2Ki 19:13) Where is the King of Hamath, and the King of Arpad, and the King of the citie of Shepharuaim, Hena and Iuah?

(2Ki 19:14) So Hezekiah receiued the letter of the hande of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went vp into the house of the Lord, and Hezekiah spread it before the Lord.

(Notes Reference) And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the (h) LORD.

(h) Before the Ark of the covenant.

(2Ki 19:15) And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and saide, O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest betweene the Cherubims, thou art very God alone ouer all the kingdomes of the earth: thou hast made the heauen and the earth.

(Notes Reference) And Hezekiah (i) prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest [between] the cherubims, thou art the God, [even] thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.

(i) He shows what the true refuge and help is in all dangers, that is, to flee to the Lord by earnest prayer.

(2Ki 19:16) Lord, bow downe thine eare, and heare: Lord open thine eyes and behold, and heare the wordes of Saneherib, who hath sent to blaspheme the liuing God.

(Notes Reference) LORD, (k) bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the (l) living God.

(k) Show by effect that you will not allow your Name to be blasphemed.

(l) By this title he discerns God from all idols and false gods.

(2Ki 19:17) Trueth it is, Lord, that the Kings of Asshur haue destroyed the nations and their landes,

(2Ki 19:18) And haue set fire on their gods: for they were no gods, but the worke of mans hands, euen wood and stone: therefore they destroyed them.

(2Ki 19:19) Nowe therefore, O Lord our God, I beseech thee, saue thou vs out of his hande, that all the kingdomes of the earth may knowe, that thou, O Lord, art onely God.

(Notes Reference) Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the (m) kingdoms of the earth may know that thou [art] the LORD God, [even] thou only.

(m) He shows the reason the faithful desire God to deliver them: that is, that he may be glorified by their deliverance.

(2Ki 19:20) Then Isaiah the sonne of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I haue heard that which thou hast prayed me, concerning Saneherib King of Asshur.

(2Ki 19:21) This is the worde that the Lord hath spoken against him, O Virgine, daughter of Zion, he hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorne: O daughter of Ierusalem, he hath shaken his head at thee.

(Notes Reference) This [is] the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The (n) virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, [and] laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.

(n) Because as yet Jerusalem had not been taken by the enemy therefore he calls her virgin.

(2Ki 19:22) Whome hast thou railed on? and whome hast thou blasphemed? and against whome hast thou exalted thy voyce, and lifted vp thine eyes on hie? euen against the Holie one of Israel.

(Notes Reference) Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted [thy] voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? [even] (o) against the Holy [One] of Israel.

(o) God counts that as an injury done to him, and will avenge what is done to any of his saints.

(2Ki 19:23) By thy messengers thou hast rayled on the Lord, and said, By the multitude of my charets I am come vp to the toppe of the mountaines, by the sides of Lebanon, and will cut downe the hie cedars thereof, and the faire firre trees thereof, and I will goe into the lodging of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel.

(Notes Reference) By thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, [and] the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the (p) lodgings of his borders, [and into] the forest of his Carmel.

(p) Meaning Jerusalem, which Isaiah calls the height of his borders, that is, of Judah, (Isa 37:24).

(2Ki 19:24) I haue digged, and drunke the waters of others, and with the plant of my feete haue I dried all the floods closed in.

(2Ki 19:25) Hast thou not heard, howe I haue of olde time made it, and haue formed it long ago? and should I nowe bring it, that it should be destroyed, and laid on ruinous heapes, as cities defensed?

(Notes Reference) Hast thou not heard long ago [how] I have done it, [and] of ancient times that I have formed it? (q) now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities [into] ruinous heaps.

(q) He declares that as he is the author and beginning of his Church, he will never allow it to be completely destroyed, as other cities and kingdoms.

(2Ki 19:26) Whose inhabitants haue small power, and are afraid, and confounded: they are like the grasse of the field, and greene herbe, or grasse on ye house toppes, or as corne blasted before it be growen.

(Notes Reference) Therefore their (r) inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were [as] the grass of the field, and [as] the green herb, [as] the grass on the housetops, and [as corn] blasted before it be grown up.

(r) Thus he describes the wicked, who flourish for a time, and later fade and decay like flowers.

(2Ki 19:27) I knowe thy dwelling, yea, thy going out, and thy comming in, and thy furie against me.

(2Ki 19:28) And because thou ragest against me, and thy tumult is come vp to mine eares, I will put mine hooke in thy nostrels, and my bridle in thy lippes, and will bring thee backe againe the same way thou camest.

(Notes Reference) Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my (s) hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.

(s) I will bridle your rage, and turn you to and fro as it pleases me.

(2Ki 19:29) And this shalbe a signe vnto thee, O Hezekiah, Thou shalt eate this yeere such things as growe of them selues, and the next yeere such as growe without sowing, and the third yeere sowe ye and reape, and plant vineyardes, and eate the fruites thereof.

(Notes Reference) And this [shall be] a (t) sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof.

(t) God not only promised him the victory, but gives him a sign to confirm his faith.

(2Ki 19:30) And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Iudah, shall againe take roote downewarde, and beare fruite vpwarde.

(Notes Reference) And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take (u) root downward, and bear fruit upward.

(u) The Lord will multiply in great number that small remnant of Judah that escaped.

(2Ki 19:31) For out of Ierusalem shall goe a remnant, and some that shall escape out of mount Zion: the zeale of the Lord of hostes shall doe this.

(Notes Reference) For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the (x) zeal of the LORD [of hosts] shall do this.

(x) The love, that God has for his Church will overcome the counsels and enterprises of men.

(2Ki 19:32) Wherefore thus saith the Lord, concerning the King of Asshur, He shall not enter into this citie, nor shoote an arrowe there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a mount against it:

(2Ki 19:33) But he shall returne the way he came, and shall not come into this citie, saith the Lord.

(2Ki 19:34) For I will defende this citie to saue it for mine owne sake, and for Dauid my seruants sake.

(2Ki 19:35) And the same night the Angell of the Lord went out and smote in the campe of Asshur an hundreth foure score and fiue thousande: so when they rose earely in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

(2Ki 19:36) So Saneherib King of Asshur departed, and went his way, and returned, and dwelt in Nineueh.

(2Ki 19:37) And as he was in the Temple worshipping Nisroch his god, Adramelech and Sharezer his sonnes slewe him with the sworde: and they escaped into the land of Ararat, and Esarhaddon his sonne reigned in his steade.

(Notes Reference) And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons (y) smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

(y) This was the just judgment of God for his blasphemy, that he would be slain before the idol that he preferred to the living God, and by those who should by nature have needed his defence.

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Passage 2: Ezekiel 9

(Eze 9:1) He cryed also with a loude voyce in mine eares, saying, The visitations of the citie draw neere, and euery man hath a weapon in his hande to destroy it.

(Notes Reference) He cried also in my ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over (a) the city to draw near, even every man [with] his destroying weapon in his hand.

(a) The time to take vengeance.

(Eze 9:2) And beholde, sixe men came by the way of the hie gate, which lieth towarde the North, and euery man a weapon in his hande to destroy it: and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writers ynkhorne by his side, and they went in and stoode beside the brasen altar.

(Notes Reference) And, behold, six (b) men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the (c) north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them [was] clothed with linen, with a writer's (d) inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.

(b) Which were angels in the appearance of men.

(c) Signifying that the Babylonians would come from the north to destroy the city and the temple.

(d) To mark them that would be saved.

(Eze 9:3) And the glorie of the God of Israel was gone vp from ye Cherub, whereupon he was and stoode on the doore of the house, and he called to the man clothed with linnen, which had the writers ynkhorne by his side.

(Notes Reference) And the glory of the God of Israel had (e) gone up from the cherub, on which he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, who [had] the writer's inkhorn by his side;

(e) Which declared that he was not bound to it, neither would remain any longer than there was hope that they would return from their wickedness and worship him correctly.

(Eze 9:4) And the Lord said vnto him, Goe through the middes of the citie, euen through the middes of Ierusalem and set a marke vpon the foreheads of them that mourne, and cry for all the abominations that be done in the middes thereof.

(Notes Reference) And the LORD said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that (f) sigh and that cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst of it.

(f) He shows what is the manner of God's children, whom he marks for salvation: that is, to mourn and cry out against the wickedness which they see committed against God's glory.

(Eze 9:5) And to the other he said, that I might heare, Goe ye after him through the citie, and smite: let your eye spare none, neither haue pitie.

(Eze 9:6) Destroy vtterly the old, and the yong, and the maides, and the children, and the women, but touch no man, vpon whome is the marke, and begin at my Sanctuarie. Then they began at the Ancient men, which were before the house.

(Notes Reference) Slay utterly old [and] young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom [is] the (g) mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the (h) elders who [were] before the house.

(g) Thus in all his plagues the Lord preserves his small number, which he marks as in (Exo 12:12; Rev 7:3) but the chief mark is the spirit of adoption, with which the heart is sealed up to life everlasting.

(h) Which was the chief opportunity for all these evils, as in (Eze 8:11).

(Eze 9:7) And he sayde vnto them, Defile the house, and fill the courtes with the slaine, then goe foorth: and they went out, and slewe them in the citie.

(Eze 9:8) Nowe when they had slaine them, and I had escaped, I fell downe vpon my face, and cryed, saying, Ah Lord God, wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel, in powring out thy wrath vpon Ierusalem?

(Notes Reference) And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, (i) Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy the whole remnant of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?

(i) This declares that the servants of God have a compassion when they see his judgments executed.

(Eze 9:9) Then saide he vnto me, The iniquitie of the house of Israel, and Iudah is exceeding great, so that the lande is full of blood, and the citie full of corrupt iudgement: for they say, The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth vs not.

(Notes Reference) Then said he to me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah [is] exceeding great, and the land is full of (k) blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.

(k) That is, with all kinds of wickedness. See Isa 1:15

(Eze 9:10) As touching me also, mine eye shall not spare them, neither will I haue pitie, but will recompence their wayes vpon their heades.

(Eze 9:11) And beholde, the man clothed with linen which had the ynkhorne by his side, made report, and saide, Lord, I haue done as thou hast commanded me.

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Passage 3: Luke 5

(Luk 5:1) Then it came to passe, as the people preassed vpon him to heare the word of God, that he stoode by the lake of Gennesaret,

(Notes Reference) And (1) it came to pass, that, as the people (a) pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

(1) Christ reveals to the four disciples whom he had taken unto himself the office of the apostleship, which would be committed unto them in the future.

(a) Did as it were lie upon him, so desirous were they both to see him and hear him, and therefore he taught them out of a ship.

(Luk 5:2) And sawe two shippes stand by the lakes side, but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nettes.

(Luk 5:3) And he entred into one of the ships, which was Simons, and required him that he would thrust off a litle from the land: and he sate downe, and taught the people out of the ship.

(Luk 5:4) Now when he had left speaking, he sayd vnto Simon, Lanch out into the deepe, and let downe your nettes to make a draught.

(Luk 5:5) Then Simon answered, and sayd vnto him, Master, we haue trauailed sore all night, and haue taken nothing: neuerthelesse at thy worde I will let downe the net.

(Notes Reference) And Simon answering said unto him, (b) Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

(b) The word signifies someone that has rule over anything.

(Luk 5:6) And when they had so done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes, so that their net brake.

(Luk 5:7) And they beckened to their parteners, which were in the other ship, that they shoulde come and helpe them, who came then, and filled both the ships, that they did sinke.

(Luk 5:8) Now when Simon Peter saw it, he fel down at Iesus knees, saying, Lord, go from me: for I am a sinfull man.

(Luk 5:9) For he was vtterly astonied, and all that were with him, for the draught of fishes which they tooke.

(Luk 5:10) And so was also Iames and Iohn the sonnes of Zebedeus, which were companions with Simon. Then Iesus sayde vnto Simon, Feare not: from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

(Luk 5:11) And when they had brought the ships to land, they forsooke all, and followed him.

(Luk 5:12) Nowe it came to passe, as he was in a certaine citie, beholde, there was a man full of leprosie, and when he sawe Iesus, he fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me cleane.

(Notes Reference) (2) And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on [his] face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

(2) Christ, by healing the leper with only his touch and sending him to the priest, witnesses that it is he, through whom and by whom, apprehended by faith, all we who are unclean according to the law are pronounced to be pure and clean by the witness of God himself.

(Luk 5:13) So he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will, be thou cleane. And immediately the leprosie departed from him.

(Luk 5:14) And he commanded him that hee should tell it no man: but Go, sayth he, and shew thy selfe to the Priest, and offer for thy clensing, as Moses hath commanded, for a witnes vnto them.

(Luk 5:15) But so much more went there a fame abroad of him, and great multitudes came together to heare, and to be healed of him of their infirmities.

(Notes Reference) (3) But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

(3) Christ would rather be well known by his doctrine than by miracles, and therefore he departs from those that seek him as a physician of the body, and not as the author of salvation.

(Luk 5:16) But he kept himselfe apart in the wildernes, and prayed.

(Luk 5:17) And it came to passe, on a certaine day, as he was teaching, that the Pharises and doctours of the Law sate by, which were come out of euery towne of Galile, and Iudea, and Hierusalem, and the power of the Lord was in him to heale them.

(Notes Reference) (4) And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord (c) was [present] to heal them.

(4) Christ, in healing him that was sick from paralysis, shows the cause of all diseases, and the remedy.

(c) The mighty power of Christ's Godhead showed itself in him at that time.

(Luk 5:18) Then beholde, men brought a man lying in a bed, which was taken with a palsie, and they sought meanes to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

(Luk 5:19) And when they could not finde by what way they might bring him in, because of the preasse, they went vp on the house, and let him downe through the tyling, bed and all, in the middes before Iesus.

(Luk 5:20) And when he sawe their faith, he sayd vnto him, Man, thy sinnes are forgiuen thee.

(Luk 5:21) Then the Scribes and the Pharises began to reason, saying, Who is this that speaketh blasphemies? who can forgiue sinnes, but God onely?

(Luk 5:22) But when Iesus perceiued their reasoning, he answered, and sayd vnto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

(Luk 5:23) Whether is easier to say, Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee, or to say, Rise and walke?

(Luk 5:24) But that ye may know that that Sonne of man hath authoritie to forgiue sinnes in earth, (he sayd vnto the sicke of the palsie) I say to thee, Arise: take vp thy bed, and goe to thine house.

(Luk 5:25) And immediatly he rose vp before them, and tooke vp his bed whereon he lay, and departed to his owne house, praysing God.

(Luk 5:26) And they were all amased, and praysed God, and were filled with feare, saying, Doutlesse we haue seene strange things to day.

(Luk 5:27) And after that, he went foorth and sawe a Publicane named Leui, sitting at the receite of custome, and sayd vnto him, Follow me.

(Notes Reference) (5) And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.

(5) The Church is a company of sinners who are repentant through the grace of Christ, who banquet with him to the great offence of the proud and envious people of the world.

(Luk 5:28) And he left all, rose vp, and folowed him.

(Luk 5:29) Then Leui made him a great feast in his owne house, where there was a great company of Publicanes, and of other that sate at table with them.

(Luk 5:30) But they that were Scribes and Pharises among them, murmured against his disciples, saying, Why eate ye and drinke ye with Publicanes and sinners?

(Luk 5:31) Then Iesus answered, and sayd vnto them, They that are whole, neede not the Physician, but they that are sicke.

(Luk 5:32) I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

(Luk 5:33) Then they said vnto him, Why do the disciples of Iohn fast often, and pray, and the disciples of the Pharises also, but thine eate and drinke?

(Notes Reference) (6) And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise [the disciples] of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?

(6) Hypocrites and ignorant men make a point of making fasting and unimportant things a matter of holiness.

(Luk 5:34) And he said vnto them, Can ye make the children of the wedding chamber to fast, as long as the bridegrome is with them?

(Notes Reference) (7) And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

(7) Laws generally made without any consideration of circumstances; for fasting and other things of like sort are not only tyrannous but very harmful to the Church.

(Luk 5:35) But the dayes will come, euen when the bridegrome shalbe taken away from them: then shall they fast in those dayes.

(Luk 5:36) Againe he spake also vnto them a parable, No man putteth a piece of a newe garment into an olde vesture: for then the newe renteth it, and the piece taken out of the newe, agreeth not with the olde.

(Luk 5:37) Also no man powreth newe wine into olde vessels: for then ye new wine wil breake the vessels, and it will runne out, and the vessels will perish:

(Luk 5:38) But newe wine must be powred into newe vessels: so both are preserued.

(Luk 5:39) Also no man that drinketh olde wine, straightway desireth newe: for he sayth, The olde is more profitable.