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forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say 9 within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto

day. 2 The. i. 9, 10. (God confirmed his promise by an oath) that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope set before us. He. vi. 18. And (the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, &c.) said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? Re. vi. 16, 17.

8 Bring forth, &c.] See chap. iii. 2. Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Is. i. 16, 17. Bring forth (therefore) fruits worthy of repentance; now the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. And the people asked him saying, What shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you; do violence to no man neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages. Lu. iii. 8. 10-14. Despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness, and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in welldoing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life; but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation, and wrath, tribulation, and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile. Ro. ii. 4-7. For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought în you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 2 Co. vii. 11. Whereby (by Christ's divine power) are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And besides this, giving diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. 2 Pe. i. 3-7. For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye

shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Pe. iii. 8. Fruits meet for repentance.] The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. Ga. v. 23, 24. The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness, and truth. Ep. v. 9. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God. Phi. i. 11.

Meet, &c.] Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways, and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these. For if ye thoroughly amend your ways, and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; if ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers for ever and ever. Je. vii. 3-7. Therefore now amend your ways, and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you. Je. xxvi. 13. It may be, that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin. Je. xxxvi. 3..

9 Think not to say.] From within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, &c. Mar. vii. 21. Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Lu. iii. 8. When Jesus perceived their thoughts (respecting his forgiving sins), he answered and said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Lu. v. 22. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden "him" (“Jesus”) saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. Lu. vii. 39. And he (the rich man in the parable) thought within himself, saying, What shall Í do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? Lu. xii. 17.

We have Abraham, &c.] Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many, the land is given us for inheritance. Ez. xxxiii. 24. And he (the rich man, being in torments)

you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto 10 Abraham. And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees:

on

cried and said, Father Abraham have mercy me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame, Lu. xvi. 24. They (the Jews) answered "him" ("Jesus"), We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man. How sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham; but now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth which I have heard of God; this did not Abraham. Art thou (said the Jews) greater than our father Abraham which is dead? And the prophets are dead, whom makest thou thyself? John viii. 33. 39, 40. 53. Men and brethren (said Paul at Antioch), children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. Ac. xiii. 26. What shall we then say, that Abraham our father as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith, which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. For the promise that he should be the heir of the world was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law; but through the righteousness of faith. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. Ro. iv. 1. 11. 13. 16. Neither because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children; but in Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God. But the children of promise are counted for the seed. Ro. ix. 7, 8. It is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise. For it is written, Rejoice thou barren that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise: but as then, he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit: even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the Scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. Ga. iv. 22, 23. 27-31.

God is able of these stones, &c.] Many shall come (said Jesus) from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and gnashing of teeth. Mat. viii. 11, 12. And Jesus answered, and said unto them (the Pharisees), I tell you, that if these (the disciples) should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. Lu. xix. 40. Simeon hath declared (said James to the muititudes of the Jews) how God at the first did visit the Gentiles to take out of them a people for his name. Ac. xv. 14. As it is written, I have made "thee” (“Abraham”) a father of many nations; before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they Ro. iv. 17. 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 Cor. i. 27, 28. As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond, nor free: there is neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Ga. iii. 27, 28, 29. At that time (when Gentiles in the flesh) ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenant of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were afar off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Ep. ii. 12, 13.

were.

10 Now also, &c.] Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of his covenant whom ye delight in ; behold, he shall come saith the Lord of hosts: but who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap, and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Mal. iii. 1, 2, 3. For behold the day cometh which shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall be stubble, and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts: that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. Mal. iv. 1. Wherefore holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle, and high priest of our profession, Jesus Christ, who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in

therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn

all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. He. iii. 1, 2, 3. 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. 28-31. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven. He. xii. 25.

The ax is laid.] And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Lu. iii. 9. If they do these things in a green tree (the Romans), what shall be done in the dry? (the Jews.) Lu. xxiii. 31.

Therefore every tree, &c.] "He" ("the godly man") shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. Ps. i. 3. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the house of our God. The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Ps. xcii. 12, 13.

The Lord hath anointed me (saith Christ by the prophet) to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes; the oil of joy for mourning; the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called Trees of righteousness, the Planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. Is. Ixi. 3. For he (that trusteth in the Lord) shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. Je. xvii. 8. Every branch in me (saith Christ) that beareth not fruit, he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it; that it may bring forth more fruit. John xv. 2.

Is hewn down.] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Mat. vii. 19. And when he (Jesus) saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. Mat. xxi. 19. Behold, and visit this vine (O God of hosts), and the vineyard which thy right hand hath

planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself: it is burnt with fire: it is cut down, they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. Ps. lxxx. 15, 16. He (God) fenced it (his vineyard), and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a wine press, and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to, I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up, and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down. And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned nor digged, but there shall come up briers and thorns; I will command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant. And he looked for judgment, but behold, oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. Is. v. 2-7. The defenced city shall be desolate, and the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness; there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof (of the vineyard) ; when the boughs thereof are withered they shall be broken off: the women come and set them on fire. Is. xxvii. 10, 11. What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest? Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? Or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon? Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel. The fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burnt: is it meet for any work? Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work; how much less shall it be meet yet for any work when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned? Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will set my face against them: they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them : and ye shall know that I am the Lord, I set my face against them. Ez. xv. 1-7. A certain man (said Jesus in a parable) had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came, and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he to the dresser of his vineyard, Behold these three years I come, seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none, cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering, said unto him, Lord, let it alone

11 down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the

this year also, till I shall dig about it and dung it, and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. Lu. xiii. 6-9. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John xv. 6. That which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. He. vi. 8. The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God, and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God. 1 Pe. iv. 17. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Pe. iv. 18.

11 Baptize you.] See verse 6, and com. Of this man's (David's) seed hath God, according to his promise, raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus, when John had first preached before his coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. Ac. xiii. 23, 24. But he that cometh.] See Mat. iii. 1, and com. John bare witness of "him" ("Jesus") and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, he that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. He it is who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me, for he was before me. And I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God. John i. 15. 27, 28. 30. 34. John also was baptizing in Ænon, near to Salem, because there was much water there; and they came and were baptized; for John was not yet cast into prison. I am not the Christ (said John), but I am sent before him; he that cometh from above is above all; he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth; he that cometh from heaven is above all; he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God, for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John iii. 23–36.

Whose shoes I am not worthy.] There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. Mar. i. 7. And when "he" ("Jesus") was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself, for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: where

neither thought I myself worthy to come

unto thee, but say in a word and my servant shall be healed. Lu. vii. 6, 7. As John fulfilled his course he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. Ac. xiii. 25. Unto me (said Paul) who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Ep. iii. & Ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder, yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 1 Pe. v. 5.

He shall baptize you, &c.] He that is left in Zion shall be called holy; when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. Is. iv. 4. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground. I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring. Is. xliv. 3. The Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord. As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever. Is. lix. 20, 21. I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried. Zec. xiii. 9. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness: then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, as in former years. Mal. iii. 2, 3, 4. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. Mar. i. 8. John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Lu. iii. 16. And I (John) knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. John i. 33. For John truly

Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will 12 throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Ac. i. 5. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Ac. ii. 2, 3, 4. And as I (Peter) began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning, Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Ac. xi. 15, 16. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Co. xii. 13. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Ga. iii. 27, 28.

12 Fan is in his hand, &c.] The oxen and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. Is. xxx. 24. Thou (Jacob) shalt fan them (the moun tains), and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them, and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and shalt glory in the holy One of Israel. Is. xli. 16. At that time shall it be said to this people, and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness, toward the daughter of my people, not to fan nor to cleanse: even a full wind from those places shall come unto me. Je. iv. 11, 12. I will fan "them" ("the Jews," saith God) with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children. I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways. Je. xv. 7. And I will send unto Babylon fanners that shall fan her, and shall empty her land; for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about. Je. li. 2. Whose (Christ's) fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner, but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. Lu. iii. 17.

He will throughly purge his floor.] See verse 10. and com. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just; and shall cast them into the furnace of fire,

Then 13

there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Mat. xiii. 41. 49, 50. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit. John xv. 2.

And gather his wheat.] Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Mat. xiii. 30. 43. Lo (saith God), I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations; like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. Am. ix. 9. See chap. xiii. 30.

But he will burn up the chaff.] "They" (" the wicked") are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. Job xxi. 18. The ungodly are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Ps. i. 4. Let "them" ("the enemies of the Lord") be as chaff before the wind, and let the angel of the Lord chase them. Ps. xxxv. 5. As the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as the dust, because they have cast away the law of the Lord, and despised the word of the holy One of Israel. Is. v. 24. The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters, but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. Is. xvii. 13. Therefore (because Ephraim offended in Baal) they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away; as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney. Ho. xiii. 3. All the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble. Mal. iv. 1. See verse 12. “Fan is in his hand,” and chap. xxi. 41.

With unquenchable fire.] The strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them. Is. i. 31. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? Is. xxxiii. 14. And "they" ("the believing Jews and Gentiles") shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me; for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. Is. lxvi. 24. Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out (saith God) upon this place (Jerusalem), upon man, and upon beast, and

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