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and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and 22 ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre

the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. Mat. xii. 41, 42. Thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech, and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel; not to many people of a strange speech, and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand surely, had I sent thee to them they would have hearkened unto thee: but the house of Israel will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted. Ez. iii. 5-7. The next sabbath-day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God; but when the Jews saw the multitudes they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you; but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles; for so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Ac. xiii. 44-48. When "they" ("the Jews") agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive; for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. Ac. xxviii. 25-28.

Repented long ago.] I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Job xlii. 6. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes; and he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh, by the decree of the king, and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing; let them not feed, nor drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto

God; yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way: and God repented of the evil that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. Jon. iii. 5-10.

22 It shall be more tolerable, &c.] See verse 24, and chap. x. 15. It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. Lu. x. 14. That servant which knew his lord's will and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; but he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes; for unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will seek more. Lu. xii. 47, 48. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him. He. ii. 3. It is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to them. selves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. He. vi. 4-8. If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law, died without mercy under two or three witnesses; of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace; for we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord; and again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. He. x. 26–31.

Tyre and Sidon.] The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: be

and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, 23 Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee,

still, ye inhabitants of the isle, thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished: be thou ashamed, O Zidon, for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins. It shall come to pass that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king; after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot, &c. Is. xxiii. 1, 2, 3. 15, &c. And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea (were of the nations who drank of the cup at the Lord's hands). Je. xxv. 22. Thus saith the Lord to "me" (" Jeremiah"), Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck, and send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah. Je. xxvii. 2, 3. Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalum, Aha! she is broken, that was the gates of the people; she is turned unto me; I shall be replenished now she is laid waste. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up. And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock: it shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea; for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God, and it shall become a spoil to the nations. And her daughters which are in the field shall be slain by the sword, and they shall know that I am the Lord. Ez. xxvi. 2—6. Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God, Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty: thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty: thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground: I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her. For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am the Lord. Ez. xxviii. 12. 17. 22, 23. Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his

army to serve a great service against Tyrus, every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled; yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it. Ex. xxix. 18. Thus saith the Lord; for three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant; but I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof. Am. i. 9, 10. Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus and Zidon, though it be very wise; and Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. Zec. ix. 2, 3.

The

The day of judgment.] I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Mat. xii. 36. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. 2 Pe. ii. 9. heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 2 Pe. iii. 7. Herein is your love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 1 John iv. 17.

Capernaum.] See chap. iv. 13. and viii. 5. Ye will surely say unto me (said Jesus) this proverb, Physician, heal thyself; whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum do also here in thy country (Nazareth). Lu. iv. 23.

Which art exalted unto heaven.] Thou (0 Lucifer, son of the mornnig) hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. Is. xiv. 13-15. How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger! La. ii. 1. Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God, Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom and perfect beauty: thou art the anointed cherub that covereth, and I have set thee so. Thou wast upon the holy mountain of God: thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire: thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude

had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land 25 of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven

of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God; I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground; I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. All they that know thee shall be astonished at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. Ez. xxviii. 12. 14-17. 19, 20. I made the nations to shake at the sound of his (Pharaoh's) fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit. They also went down into hell with him, unto them that be slain with the sword. Ez. xxxi. 16, 17. Though "thou" ("Edom") exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord. Obad. 4. Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Lu. xiv. 11. If God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; and spared not the old world, but saved Noe, the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds); the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. 2 Pe. ii. 4-9.

In Sodom.] The men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly. Ge. xiii. 13. The Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven: and he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. Ge. xix. 24, 25. As I live, saith the Lord God, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou (Jerusalem) hast done, thou and thy daughters. Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her, and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were

haughty, and committed abomination before me. Therefore, I took them away as I saw good. Ez. xvi. 48, 49, 50. The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own ha bitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day, even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them, in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Jude 6, 7. Their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Re. xi. 8.

More tolerable, &c.] See verse 14. and chap. x. 15. The punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her. Lam. iv. 6.

25 Jesus answered and said.] In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thon hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes, even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. Lu. x. 21.

I thank thee, O Father.] Now therefore our God, we thank thee (said David), and praise thy glorious name. 1 Ch. xxix. 13. I thank thee and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers (said Daniel), who hast given me wisdom, and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee; for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter. Da. ii. 23. Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. John xi. 41. We are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth; whereunto he called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 The. ii. 13, 14.

Lord of heaven and earth.] And he (Melchizedek) blessed "him" ("Abram"), and said, Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth. Ge. xiv. 19. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord the Most High God, the possessor of heaven and earth. Ge. xiv. 22. Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord's thy God; the earth also with all that therein is. Only the Lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you, above all people, as it is this day. De. I.

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and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and

14, 15. Hezekiah 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. 2 Ki. xix. 15. Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? Is. Ixvi. 1. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? Da. iv. 35. God, that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Ac. xvii. 24.

Because thou hast hid these things, &c.] It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them (the people), it is not given; for whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance, but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables; because they seeing, see not; and hearing, they hear not; neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see and shall not perceive: for this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. Mat. xiii. 11-16. Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight. Is. v. 21. The Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes; the prophets, and your rulers, the seers, hath he covered. And the vision of all is become unto

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you" (the "Jews"), as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I cannot, for it is sealed; and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee, and he saith, I am not learned. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men; therefore behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder. For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. And in that day shall the deaf hear the words

of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. The meek also shall increase their joy, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. Is. xxix. 10-14. 18, 19. And when he (Jesus) was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable (of the sower). And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables. That seeing they may see, and not perceive, and hearing they may hear, and not understand, lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. Mar. iv. 10, 11, 12. Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? But this people, who knoweth not the law, are cursed. John vii. 48, 49. For judgment I am come into this world (said Jesus), that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin; but now ye say, We see, therefore your sin remaineth. John ix. 39, 40, 41. Lord, who hath believed our report (said Esaias), and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe (said the evangelist), because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. John xii. 38, 39, 40. Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written (by Esaias), God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should see not, and ears that they should not hear) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling-block, and a recompence unto them. Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. Ro. xi. 7-10. The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the Scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto

26 prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for 27 so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me

them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence. 1 Co. i. 18-29. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect, yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory. 1 Co. ii. 6, 7. Let no man deceive himself; if any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness, and again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they are vain. 1 Co. iii. 18, 19, 20. Their minds (of the children of Israel) were blinded; for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament, which vail is done away in Christ. 2 Co. iii. 14. If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake: for God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Co. iv. 3-6.

And hast revealed them unto babes.] Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it (his knowledge of Christ) unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Mat. xvi. 17. Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of God. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Mat. xviii. 3, 4. Hearest thou what these (children) say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea, have ye never read, Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? Mat. xxi. 16. Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a

linen ephod. 1 Sa. ii. 18. Ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep, the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, Here am I. The Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh, by the word of the Lord. 1 Sa. iii. 3, 4, 21. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. Ps. viii. 2. Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God; behold, I cannot speak, for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me (Jeremiah), Say not I am a child; for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces, for I un with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Je i. 5-8. Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. Mar. x. 14, 15, 16. God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. 1 Co. i. 27.

26 So it seemed good in thy sight.] Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. Job xxxiii. 13. My counsel shall stand (saith God), and I will do all my pleasure. Is. xlvi. 10. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Ro. ix. 18. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out; for who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him are all things; to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Ro. xi. 33-36. He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known unto us the mys tery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the coun sel of his will. Ep. i. 9. 11. Unto me is this grace given (said Paul), that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. To the intent that now unto the

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