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and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of 37 heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so 38 shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying

God), are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly men. 2 Pe. iii. 7.

My words shall not pass away.] God is not a man that he should lie, neither the son of man that he should repent. Hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Nu. xxiii. 19. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. Ps. xix. 7. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Ps. lxxxix. 34. Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Pr. xxx. 5. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand for ever. Is. xl. 8. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Is. lv. 11. Paul, a servant of God, in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began, to Titus, mine own son after the common faith, &c. Tit. i. 1, 2, &c. The word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 1 Pe. i. 25. And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans, write, These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. Re. iii. 14.

36 That day and hour knoweth no man.] See verses 42. 44. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Mat. xxv. 13. But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day nor night. But it shall come to pass, that at eventime it shall be light. Zec. xiv. 7. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man; no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Mar. xiii. 32. It is not for you (said Jesus to his disciples) to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. Ac. i. 7. For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 1 The. v. 2. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up. 2 Pe. iii. 10. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch,

I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Re. iii. 3. Behold, I come as a thief; blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. Re. xvi. 15.

27.

37 As the days of Noe, &c.] See Ge. chap. vi. and vii. throughout. Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood? which said unto God, Depart from us; and what can the Almighty do for them? Job xxii. 15, 16, 17. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man: they did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the food came and destroyed them all. Lu. xvii. 26, By faith, Noe being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and be came heir of the righteousness which by faith. He. xi. 7. By which (“Spirit” that quickened Christ) also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison, which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited, in the days of Noe, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is eight souls, were saved by water. The like figure whereunto, even baptism, doth now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Pe. iii. 19, 20, 21. If God spared not the old world, but saved Noe, the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world: The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations. 2 Pe. ii. 5. 9. For this "they" ("the scoffers") willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water; whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. 2 Pe. iii. 5, 6.

38 They were eating, &c.] The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. Ge. vi. 2. And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold he held a feast in his house like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart as merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing less or more until the morning light. But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out

and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all 39 away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall 40

of Nabal, and his wife had told him "these things" ("that David was pacified"), that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass, about ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal that he died. 1 Sa. xxv. 36, 37, 38. And when he (the Egyptian) had brought "him" ("David") down, behold "they" ("the Amalekites," of whom he gave intelligence to David) were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating, and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah. And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day, and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels and fled. 1 Sa. xxx. 16, 17. In that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth and behold joy, and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die. And it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord God of hosts. Is. xxii. 12, 13, 14. 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. 49, 50. Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; that lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; that chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music like David; that drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments, but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Am. vi. 36. I will say to my soul (said the rich man in the parable), Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years, take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But if that (faithless) servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his comimg, and shall begin to beat the men-servants, and maidens, and to eat and drink, and be drunken; the Lord of that servant (said Jesus in the parable) will come in a day when he looketh not for him, &c. Lu. xii. 19. 45, 46. And they all (that were invited to the marriage supper) with one consent began to make the first said unto "him (the "servant") I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it ; I pray thee

excuse;

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have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. Lu. xiv. 18, 19, 20. As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man: they did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. Lu, xvii.26—30. Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. Lu. xxi. 34. Let us walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Ro. xiii. 13, 14. But this I say, brethren, the time is short. It remaineth that both they that have wives, be as though they had none and they that weep, as though they wept not : and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not: and they that buy, as though they possessed not. And they that use this world, as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away. 1 Co. vii. 29, 30, 31.

39 Knew not until the flood came. e.] 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. Mat. xiii. 13, 14, 15. And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore; but they knew not that evil was near them. Ju. xx. 34. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not, when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. Pr. xxiii. 35. If thou sayest, Behold, we know it not, doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall he not render to every man according to his works? Pr. xxiv. 12. The righteous considereth the cause of the poor, but the wicked

two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, 42 and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour

regardeth not to know it. Pr. xxix. 7. Who among you will give ear to this? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come? Is. xlii. 23. "They" (" the idol makers") have not known nor understood; for "he" ("the Lord") hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand and none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge, nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also, I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? Shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? Is. xliv. 18, 19. And (thine enemies, said Jesus to Jerusalem) shall lay thee even with the ground, and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. Lu. xix. 44. Every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. John iii. 20. Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. Ac. xiii. 41. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. Ro. i. 28. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water, and in the water. 2 Pe. iii. 5.

40 The one shall be taken, &c.] And when "he" (" Manasseh") was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers and prayed unto him, and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem, into his kingdom. So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house and Amon his son reigned in his stead. But he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh his father; for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them. And humbled himself not before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more and his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house. 2 Ch. xxxiii. 12-24. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together, the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field, the one shall be

taken, and the other left. And they an

swered and said unto "him" (“ Jesus"), Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together. L. xvii. 34-37. And one of the malefactors which were hanged (with Jesus), railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and

us.

And the other answering, rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, to-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise. Lu. xxiii. 39-43. For who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive! Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 16 iv. 7. If God spared not the old world, but saved Noah, the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes: delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 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. 5, 6, 7. 9.

41 Two women shall be grinding.] And all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the first-born e the maid-servant that is behind the mill. Er. xi. 5. Take the millstones and grind meal Is. xlvii. 2.

42 Watch therefore.] See chap. xxvi. xli Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Mat. xxv. 13. My soul (said Jems to his disciples) is exceeding sorrowful, ever unto death; tarry ye here and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What could ye not watch with me one hour? watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Mat. xxvi. 38-41. Take ye herd. watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is: for the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work; and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye, therefore; for ye know

your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the 43 house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye 44 think not the Son of man cometh.

not when the master of the house cometh; at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning; lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping: and what I say unto you, I say unto all, watch. Mar. xiii. 33-37. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

xvi. 13.

Be ye

And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the good man of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. therefore ready also; for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Lu. xii. 35-40. Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Lu. xxi. 36. Love is the fulfilling of the law and that knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Ro. xiii. 10, 11. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith; quit you like men, be strong. 1 Co. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness, therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 1 Th. v. 5, 6. The end of all things is at hand, be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 1 Pe. iv. 7. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Pe. v. 8. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die. Remember, therefore, how thou hast received and heard; and hold fast, and repent. If, therefore, thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief; and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Re. iii. 2, 3. Behold, I come as a thief; blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. Re. xvi. 15.

For ye know not what hour.] See verses 36 44. Take ye heed, watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is. Mar. xiii. 33. 43 Good man of the house had known.] And

VOL. II.

Who then is a faithful and 45

when "they" ("the labourers who were first hired to work in the vineyard") had received "it" (a "penny" as their hire) they murmured against the good man of the house. Mat. xx. 11. Let us solace ourselves with loves (said the strange woman), for the good man is not at home, he is gone a long journey. Pr. vii. 19.

Had known in what watch.] See verse 42. For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night; for when they shall say, Peace, and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 1 The. v. 2, 3. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. 2 Pe. iii. 10, 11.

Would not have suffered, &c.] If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution. If he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. Ex. xxii. 2, 3.

44 Be ye also ready, &c.] While "they" ("the foolish virgins") went to buy (oil for their lamps), the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage; and the door was shut. Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Mat. xxv. 10, 13. Be ye therefore ready also; for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Lu. xii. 40. Let your

moderation be known unto all men: the Lord is at hand. Phi. iv. 5. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. Ja. v. 9. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. Re. xix. 7.

45 Is a faithful and wise servant.] Then Peter said unto "him" ("Jesus"), Lord, speakest thou this parable (of a good and wicked steward) unto us, or even to all? And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them thier Hh

wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household 46 to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom

portion of meat in due season? Blessed is
that servant whom his Lord when he cometh
shall find so doing. Lu. xii. 41, 42, 43. He
that is faithful in that which is least, is
faithful also in much, and he that is unjust
in the least, is unjust also in much. If there
fore ye have not been faithful in the un-
righteous mammon, who will commit to your
trust the true riches? Lu. xvi. 10, 11. And
if ye have not been faithful in that which is
another man's, who shall give you that which
is your own?
Lu. xvi. 12. Well, thou good
servant (said the nobleman in the parable to
his faithful servant), because thou hast been
faithful in a very little, have thou authority
over ten cities. Lu. xix. 17. Take heed
therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock,
over the which the Holy Ghost hath made
you overseers to feed the church of God
which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Ac. xx. 28. Let a man so account of us as
of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the
mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required
in stewards that a man be found faithful.
1 Co. iv. 1, 2. And I thank Christ Jesus
our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he
counted me faithful, putting me into the
ministry. 1 Ti. i. 12. And the things that
thou hast heard of me among many witnesses,
the same commit thou to faithful men, who
shall be able to teach others also. 2 Ti. ii. 2.
And Moses verily was faithful in all his house
as a servant, for a testimony of those things
which were to be spoken after. He. iii. 5.
As every man hath received the gift, even so
minister the same one to another as good
stewards of the manifold grace of God. If
any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of
God. If any man minister, let him do it as of the
ability which God giveth, that God in all things
may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom
be praise and dominion, for ever, and ever.
Amen. 1 Pe. iv. 10, 11. I know thy works
(said the faithful witness to the angel of the
church in Pergamus), and where thou dwellest,
even where Satan's seat is; and thou holdest
fast my name, and hast not denied my faith,
even in those days wherein Antipas was my
faithful martyr, who was slain among you,

where Satan dwelleth. Re. ii. 13.

To give them meat in due season.] Every Scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom

of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. Mat. xiii. 52. I was an hungred (said the King in the last judgment to those on his right hand), and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye

came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Mat. xxv. 35-40. Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed, but ye feed not the flock. Ez. xxxiv. 2, 3. When they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest them me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thes knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lorest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, then knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee! Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. John xxi. 15, 16, 17. And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but a unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 1 Co. iii. 1. 2 And "he" ("Jesus") gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors, and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Ep. iv. 11, 12, 13 The elders which are among you, I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but wil lingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind, Neither as being lords over God's heritage: but being ensamples to the flock. 1 Pe. v. 1—8

46 Blessed is that servant, &c.] Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Mat. xxv. 34. Blessed are thore ser vants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching. Verily I say unto you, that he

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