Bible Commentaries

Genesis 10:8 — to be a mighty one in the earth. Nimrod, he began to be a mighty one. — His name signifies a rebel: he was the chief Babel builder, and there began to be a mighty one. A giant, saith the Greek, - such another as Goliath was in his generation, 1 Samuel 17:51 where the same word is used, - a magnifico, a grandio; such a one as sought to make himself great, even to a proverb. Genesis 10:9 But there is a double greatness; first, genuine; secondly, brutal. This latter is no such commendation; a

Genesis 22:7 — not to be told now what belonged to a sacrifice. He had been long since taught by his father what was to be done in the service of God. "When I was young, my father taught me," saith Solomon, Proverbs 4:4 so did his mother also, Proverbs 31:1-31 in her Lemuel’s lesson. Plantus tenellas frequentius adaquare proderit , saith Primasius. Primas, in Philip. Greg. Moral., lib. xxvii cap. 14.

Genesis 26:29 — Hezekiah, because he had heard of the miracle of the sun’s going back for him. Now, because the sun, which was their god, had honoured him so much, the king of Babylon would honour him too, as Abulensis hath well observed. Abulens. in 2 Kings 20:1-21 .

Genesis 27:3 — is some blemish to holy Isaac, that he so favoured and loved Esau, and that because he did eat of his venison, or because venison was in his mouth. Genesis 25:28 "All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under of any thing". 1 Corinthians 6:12 It is a shame to a saint, to be a slave to his appetite, that it should be said of him, as it was of Epicurus, Dum palato quid sit optimum iudicat, coeli palatium suspexit. Ennius

Genesis 9:21 — but our learning. Instruunt nos patres tum docentes tum labentes . Augustin. The best have their blemishes, and a black part, as that cloud had, that conducted Israel out of Egypt; which, while the Egyptians followed, they fell into the sea. Hebrews 11:29 And was uncovered within his tent. — One hour’s drunkenness bewrays that which more than six hundred years’ sobriety had modestly concealed. Well might Solomon say, "Wine is a mocker"; Proverbs 20:1 for it mocked Noah

1 Corinthians 16:1 — Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Collection for the saints — The poor believers at Jerusalem, Romans 15:26 , who had suffered hard things of their own countrymen, 1 Thessalonians 2:14 , and taken joyfully the spoiling of their goods, Hebrews 11:34 , and were therefore relieved by the Churches of the Gentiles at Paul’s motions,Galatians 2:10; Galatians

Ephesians 3:4 — of heavenly learning; and hereby he proveth his calling to the ministry. The priest’s lips should both preserve knowledge and present it to the people, to give them the knowledge of salvation by the remission of their sins, Malachi 2:7 ; Luke 1:77 . An ass might not be coupled with an ox in ploughing. No ignorant doltish ass may plough in God’s field, the Church; such as was that silly soul, who coming to be ordained, and being asked by the bishop, Esne dignus? answered, No, my lord,

2 Thessalonians 1:5 — sufferings here are an ocular demonstration of a future judgment, wherein all their wrongs shall be righted, all their labour of love recompensed. This held Job’s head above water, when else he had been overwhelmed with the floods of affliction, Job 19:25 . So Daniel 12:1-2 . Though things be otherwise darkly delivered, yet when the Jews were to lose land and life, then plainly the general judgment is mentioned: soHebrews 11:35; Hebrews 11:35 .

1 Timothy 2:4 — — God willeth, to wit, with a will whereby he inviteth, and putteth no bar; not with a will whereby he effecteth it, taking away all impediments. That all men — Not distributively taken, but collectively, as thrice in one verse, Colossians 1:28 . Should be saved — viz. If they do what he commandeth: God doth not tie himself to cause them to do what he commandeth, that they may be saved. And to come to the knowledge — The only way to salvation. Pray therefore that their eyes

1 Timothy 5:18 — For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. Thou shalt not muzzle, … — See Trapp on " 1 Corinthians 9:9 " Worthy of his hire — Of his food,Matthew 10:10; Matthew 10:10 ; of his wages, as here. Hardest labourers have meat and drink and double wages. Among the Athenians, tragedians and comedians were said to labour in teaching

Hebrews 10:33 — companions of them that were so used. Made a gazing-stock — Gr. θεατριζομενοι , set upon a theatre; take it either properly, or metaphorically, both befell Christians. See1 Corinthians 4:9; 1 Corinthians 4:9 . Ye became companions of them — Sympathy hath a strange force; as we see in the strings of an instrument; which being played upon (as they say), the strings of another instrument are also moved with it. (Dr

Hebrews 12:18 — tempest, For ye are not come, … — q.d. You are not under the law, but under grace, beware therefore of profaneness and licentiousness. For think you that God hath hired you to be wicked? are you delivered to do all these abominations Jeremiah 7:10 . Ought you not to walk gospel high? Philippians 1:27 . Will not the angel (Christ) that goeth along with you, destroy you after that he hath done you good, if ye turn not and repent according to the rules of the law, the gospel? Exodus 33:2-4 .

Hebrews 6:17 — an oath: God willing more abundantly — His word is sufficient, yet tendering our infirmity he hath bound it with an oath, and set to his seal. His word cannot be made more true, but yet more credible. Now two things make a thing more credible: 1. The quality of the person speaking; 2. The manner of the speech. If God do not simply speak, but solemnly swear, and seal to us remission of sins, and adoption of sons by the broad seal of the sacraments, and by the privy seal of his Spirit, should

James 1:23 — virtue. " Si mihi difficilis formam natura negavit, Ingenio formae damna rependo meae. " Ovid. Epist. The law is a crystal glass, wherein a man may soon see his spiritual deformities, and be advertised of his duty. See Trapp on " James 1:25 "

1 Peter 3:2 — such a power over her husband that she could do anything with him? She answered, Multa modestia, By my much modesty. (Dio in Aug.) A prudent wife commands her husband by obeying. Coupled with fear — Not slavish fear of blows, but reverent fear: 1. Of offending God, by using unlawful means to get their husband’s love, as by plaiting of the hair, &e. 2. Of offending their husbands by immodesty or frowardness.

Revelation 13:8 — earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Whose names are not written — He then that lives and dies a Papist cannot be saved. Slain from the foundation — sc. 1. In God’s purpose; 2. In his promise; 3. In the faith of his people; 4. In the sacrifices; 5. In the martyrs; the first that ever died, died for religion. Christ undertook to pay our debt in the fulness of time; and hence we were enlarged. A man

Revelation 21:22 — for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. No temple — No need of external worships and ordinances; for they are all taught of God; they see his face and hear his voice. Now we see but in part, because we prophesy but in part, 1 Corinthians 13:9 . They that understand it of the Church on earth, say, there is no temple in opposition to the Jewish temple, but a gospel temple. But, Revelation 21:25 ; "There shall be no night there," as here no temple. Now we shall not

Revelation 3:10 — Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. The word of my patience — So called, 1. Because we must suffer for the truth of it. 2. Because, hid in the heart, it worketh patience. I will keep thee — From the hurt, if not from the smart of it; from the common distraction, if not from the common destruction. Which shall come upon

Revelation 3:17 — of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: Because thou sayest — Si dixisti, satis est, periisti, saith Augustine. He that thinks he knows anything, knows nothing yet as he ought to know, 1 Corinthians 8:2 . And knowest not — Whatever thou deemest and dreamest of thyself, as setting up thy counter for 1000 pounds, and working thyself into the fool’s paradise of a sublime dotage. That thou art wretched and miserable, …

Revelation 6:1 — And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. One of the seals — That is, the first of the seals, as Genesis 1:4 ; Mark 16:2 . Under these seven seals falls Rome pagan (saith Mr Cotton), as under the seven trumpets Rome Christian, under the seven vials Rome antichristian. So all the judgments in the Revelation are still upon Rome. Hence Mr Dent calls his exposition