Matthew 11

Matthew 11:1

IN their Cities,] In the Cities of Galile of whence most of the Apostles were.

Matthew 11:2

He sent,] not for himselfe, who was very certaine of the truth concerning Christs person, Iohn 1. 29. but to assure his disciples thereof by Christs most effectuall word and presence.

Matthew 11:3

Art thou he] namely the Messias which was promised to our fore-fathers.

Matthew 11:5

The blind] hee seemes to send them backe to consider upon the prophesies, Isa. 35. 5. and 61. 1. in which these benefits were promised to the Church by the Messias at his comming.

Matthew 11:6

That shall not] that shall not have taken occasion to alienate himselfe from me by reason of my person seeming weake, object, and wretched in the respect of the world. Nor by reason of my doctrine contrary to the fleshes understanding; which bringeth tydings, & beareth along with it the crosse and tribulations, 1 Corinthians 1:23. Galatians 5:11.

Matthew 11:7

Into the wildernesse] where John the Baptist preached, A Reed] namely a thing of nought. The meaning is, did you goe by chance, or to behold some worldly greatnesse, or to heare the word of God, from an excellent Prophet of his, such a one as you beleeve Iohn was? if it be so, why doe you not give credit to the witnesse which hee hath boren of me?

Matthew 11:10

Before thy ace] in Malachy it is my face, but the sence is the same, for the father hath appeared to the world in his sons person.

Matthew 11:11

A greater] in dignitie of office, and in clearenesse of doctrine of salvation shewing with his finger Christ already come, and preparing the world to receave him, Luke 1:15-16 that is least,] every plaine beleever, or servant of God, in the state of the Church renewed by the Messias, shall have more advantage then Iohn the Baptist hath had, because he shall see the mystery of the redemption accomplished in my person and shall enjoy the fruit thereof by my spirit, spread abroad in greater abundance and vertue.

Matthew 11:12

The Kingdome] Iohn hath begun to stirre up the desire of participating of Gods grace in the Gospell, and that encreaseth and shall daily increase 〈…〉ore and more by vertue of my spirit, which brings forth strength of faith, and fervency of zeale in mine elect in great number to come thronging into my Church, to enrich themselves with the goods of it: which in this is like unto a city taken by force, where every thing is taken & snatched up. See Isaiah 60:48, 11

Matthew 11:13

For all] Iohns prerogative above the precedent Prophets is, that they have only foretold, and described things to come, but hee hath declared the present salvation, and in him is begun the Evangelicall ministery, and the legall and figurative ministery is ceased.

Matthew 11:14

If ye will] know that hee is Elias, whose comming was foretold, unlesse you will refuse to beleeve the truth.

Matthew 11:15

Hee that hath] a frequent admonition in the Gospell as Romans 2:3. to stirre up beleevers that have receaved the gift of faith, which is the eare of the soule to make use of it in apprehending, and making use of those things, which were particularly directed to them by revelation.

Matthew 11:16

Unto children] He hath a relation to some popular song which was used in those dayes, to signifie that neither Iohns preaching of repentance, accompanied with great austerity of life, nor the annunciation of Gods grace by Christ confirmed with that admirable benignity, in conforming himselfe to the ordinary course of life, and calling unto him the most grivous sinners: could asswage the Iews hardnes

Matthew 11:18

Neither eating] living almost of nothing, not caring for his body, nor giving it those eases & delights which commōly men take in their life time They say]especially the Scribes and Pharisees. See Luke 7:30.

Matthew 11:19

Wisdome,] the beleevers indowed with true spirituall wisdome, have acknowledged, approved of, and maintained against these calumnies as well the celestiall doctrine preached by Iohn and by Christ; as also Gods wisdome in appointing each of them their manner of living, besitting their manner of preaching.

Matthew 11:21

Tire and Sidon,] prophane Cities, to whom the Prophets had denounced their extreame desolation, Isay 23. Ezekiel 26 and 27. and 28 Repented,] not with a generall, internall, and spirituall repentance, which the working of miracles cannot bring forth; but is an effect of Gods Spirit co-operating with his word, but only with an exteriour and disciplinary kinde of repentance, which is nothing but being displeased, and a forsaking of those great & grievous sins which do fight against nature, and civill and morall justice, and do violate common society, for which sins the Lord destroyed those nations. Now, this was sufficient to condemne the Iewes insensible and inflexible rebellion.

Matthew 11:22

But I say,] we must suppose those nations ae indeed perished for their grevous sins: but at the last judgement the malignty of these rebels shall appear to be more crul, & shall be severely punished.

Matthew 11:23

Exalted] by that incomparable blessing of having bin the place of aboad, and ordinary conversation of the worlds Saviour.

Matthew 11:25

I thanke thee] to the glory of thy divine Majestie, I acknowledge thy Soveraigne power accompanied with justice wisdome and mercy: in so much that thou hast not wrought upon the mindes and hearts of wise worldly men, to give them a lively light of the mysteries of eternall salvation: but upon soules of a weake understanding in worldly matters upon simple, weake, ignorant, and contemptible people, 1 Corinthians 1:27.

Matthew 11:26

Even so] I doe not only acknowledge this truth, but do also consent unto it, and approve of it:

Matthew 11:27

Are delivered] he meanes the universall Kingdome which he hath receaved from God his Father in the qualitie of a Mediator: and especially over his Church to accomplish the salvation of it, according to the Fathers everlasting decree No man knoweth,] namely the mystery of the sonnes person, and consequently of the Holy Trinity. As likewise his In carnation, and all the properties of his office of Mediator, is onely knowne by God by a proper, naturall and perfect knowledge; And all that men and Angells know thereof, they know it but only of his meere good will: and that which is revealed is done by the Sonne, to whom it onely belongeth to reveale it: as knowne to him by knowledge of nature; and he onely having that property of being the Word of God, Iohn 1. 1. and revealer of his secrets, Psalms 2:7. Iohn 1. 8. 1.

Matthew 11:28

That labour] in your soules and consciences by a lively feeling of your sins, by the terrour of Gods judgments and the hardnesse of his scourges and punishments. And also by a painefull and fruitlesse enquirie how you might satisfie Gods justice, and obtaine his favour by your own proper works, Isaiah 55:2

Matthew 11:29

Take] Yeeld and submit your selves to me by obedience of saith, laying aside all pride and rebellion, 1 Corinthians 7. 22. and 9. 21. 1 Peter 2:16 Learne] imitate my example in these vertues which are fitting and necessary for every Christian.

Matthew 11:30

Is easie] the Italian is pleasing] or easie: Namely, to those that are regenerate whose sanctified will, enclined by Gods Spirit, doth no more oppose Christs Law (which in the corrupt man is the only cause of the lawes severity towards him) but rather consents unto it, and sets his whole delight therin, Rom. 7. 22. and 8. 7. and this yoake of Christs is opposite to the rigorous yoake of the law, unsufferable withu: Christ, Acts 15:10. to the intolerable yoke of Pharisaicall orders, Matth 23 4. and to the cruell and tyrannicall yoake of the Princes of the world, Isa. 9. 3. and 10. 27.