Matthew 6

Matthew 6:1

YOur almes.] Other texts say righteousnesse: that is to say every good work, especially concerning deeds of charitie, and helping of the poore. See Deuteronomy 24:13. Psal. 112. 9. Daniel 4:27 Otherwise] for the worke which of it selfe is good, is corrupted by the evill end, of affecting glory from men, in stead of the pure intent to performe the will of God, to his glory.

Matthew 6:2

Their reward,] having aspired only to this vaine glory from men, let them content themselves, there with; and not hope for any other reward from God. See Luke 6:24.

Matthew 6:3

Let not,] A proverbiall kinde of speech, to signifie a most concealed secret.

Matthew 6:4

Openly,] In the cleere light of the resurrection of the just, as Saint Luke saith.

Matthew 6:9

Pray yee,] Retaine ye alwayes the substance of this briefe formulary and restraine your selves to the heads thereof, and use 〈◊〉 simplicitie and sober brevitie of it, hallowed be,] thou who art perfect holinesse and that wouldest reveale thy selfe unto us as it were by a proper name, doe us this favour also that we may inll reverence acknowledge, worship, and glorifie thee in words and deeds.

Matthew 6:10

Thy Kingdome,] Establish thy Sons spirituall Kingdome, in the world by thy word and spirit, and destroy the kingdome of the Devill and sin and bring to perfection both these workes, in thy Kingdome of glory, 1 Cor. 5. 24.

Matthew 6:12

Our debts,] that is to say sinnes, Luke 11 4. for which we owe a death by thy judgement As we,] not to give an example to God by our most unperfect one: seeing we all ought to take example by him, Ephes. 4. 32. Colossians 3:13. Nor to ground our prayers upon the merits of our workes, Daniel 9:18. but to subscribe to Gods order to pardon, if we purpose to be pardoned our selves, and to shew ou good conscience to God, which is a great prop to faith, to obtaine that which is prayed for, if we performe it, and to condemne our selves to receive nothing from God and if we faile in performing it.

Matthew 6:13

Lead us not,] Keepe us from all vehemens occasion and object of sinne: and suppresse in us all manner of inclination to evill, give us the light, safeguard, and maintenance of thy Spirit, and never deprive us of it, to give us up into the devils hand, and leave us to his accursed inducements Amen,] so it is, or so be it. An Hebrew word used in the end of prayers to signifie the servent desire to obtaine that which a man prayeth for: Or to testifie the truth and sincerity wherewith a man speaks.

Matthew 6:14

For if,] this hath an especiall relation to verse 12.

Matthew 6:16

Of a sad,] by an hypocriticall and ambitious affectation Disfigure,] they use art in making themselves look pale and wanne.

Matthew 6:17

Annoint,] make no outward shew of fasting, for hypocrisie or vaine glory, but rather make shew to the contrary. This ought to be understood of private fasts: for in publike fasts God appointed there should be outward shewes of repentance, and humiliation, for to further the repentance of the heart, and for the common edification.

Matthew 6:19

Lay not up,] Be not set on fire with a desire of many worldly goods, for if you abound therin, there is great danger that you wil set your hearts, your trust, and content upon them, ver. 21. which is a dangerous and hurtfull kinde of Idolatrie, Ephesians 5:5. Colossians 3:5.

Matthew 6:20

But lay up,] Contrariwise purchase with great fervency spirituall and heavenly goods; and endeavour to abound in them in this world, and to obtaine the fulnesse of the assurance thereof in the Kingdome of heaven, 1 Timothy 6:19. 1 Peter 1:4.

Matthew 6:22

The light,] Even as the eye is the light and the guide of the whole body: So that if it bee pure and cleere, the whole body is well directed: and contrary wise if that be dimme and perished the body is as it were in darknesse. So if mans understanding which is the light of the soule in all its motions be enlightened by Gods spirit, all his actions are well guided. But if it want that light, & be darkened with carnall care, the whole man lieth, and goeth wandring in the darknesse of ignorance and sin, and at the last falleth into eternall perdition.

Matthew 6:23

That darknesse,] Namely the uncleannest, beastliest and most disordinate passions and affections of thy soule.

Matthew 6:24

Can serve,] A proverbiall kind of speech, which must be understood according to the subject whereunto it is applyed: namely to that kind of service, which requireth the whole endeavour, strength and heart of man to bee applyed to it, and in which masters are contrary, as God and the world, Iac. 4. 4 1 Iob. 2. 15. Mammon] a Syriack word which signifieth riches, mony, lucre, as Luke 16:9.

Matthew 6:25

Is not the life,] God out of his power and goodnesse having granted unto man his being which is the greater, shall be deny him the lesser, which is the preservation thereof. His wisdome certainely shewing us that he made nothing casually, to forsake it after he had made it. See Rom. 5. 8. 9.

Matthew 6:32

Seeke,] With an anxious care, because they doe not know God, nor believe in him.

Matthew 6:33

Seeke yee,] Desire and seeke before all other things to have parr in the Sonne of Gods kingdome, as well in regard of the happinesse thereof in grace, by the Application of his righteousnesse in this life, and in glory in the life everlasting: As in regard of the dutie of beleevers and subjects of this Kingdome, in holinesse and spirituall uprightnesse.

Matthew 6:34

The morrow,] You ought to expect how God will disposè of you: which if it bee to your reliefe, contrary to your expectation, it were great folly in you to trouble your selves in caring for that evill as will not come to passe: and if it bee to your affliction and punishment, what good will it do you to anticipate the sorrow of it, before the time? Sufficient,] you must distinguish your cares by severall spaces of times, as God sendeth you your evills: he doth not heape them upon you all in a moment, nor you ought not to overcome your selves in an instant thorough the care and feare for future times.