Quaker Bible Index

(Mat 3:1-10 | Mk 1:3-6 | Lk 3:2-9)

GF6:185 (1684): [6:185-200: tract arguing from scripture, with examples from gospels and Acts, that "it is no strange thing for God's people to meet in mountains, or deserts, or in ships, or in common houses."] And did not John the Baptist preach in the wilderness of Judea, saying, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," in his raiment of camel's hair and leathern girdle, and then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and the regions round about Jordan.... [cites in tandem Mat 3:1-10, Mk 1:3-6, Lk 3:2-9]

(Mat 3:2)

IP2:31 (1660): "The kingdom of heaven is at hand," said John the Baptist. Mat 3:2. "It is come unto you," said Christ, Mat 12:28. [discusses Luke 17:20f, Mat 13:31-33, etc.]

(Mat 3:3)

[Other texts citing Mat 3:3: JSS 22 (John 10:8)]

(Mat 3:4 | Mar 1:6)

WPR 62 (1669): John Baptist, the messenger of the Lord, who was sanctified in his mother's womb [Luk 1:15], preached his embassy to the world in a coat of camel's hair [Mat 3:4 | Mar 1:6], a rough and homely garment; nor can it be conceived that Jesus Christ himself was much better appareled, who was a man of poor friends, and great plainness, insomuch that it was usual in a way of derision to say, is this not Jesus the son of Joseph, a carpenter? [Mat 13:55| Mar 6:3]

(Mar 1:2)

MFU 58f (1654): So a measure of the Substance, & of the life of all the types & figures, thou hast in thee, if thou be faithful, & obedient, when it checks and calls thee to repentance, for the baptism of repentance [Acts 19:4], which washeth away the filth of the flesh [1 Pet 3:21], thou art not yet come to; no, nor the first principle that leads to it, which is the messenger that goes before him, to prepare the way for him [Mar 1:2, Mal 1:3], which baptized with the Holy Ghost & with fire [Mat 3:11 | Luk 3:16].

(Mar 1:4 | Luk 3:3)

JN2:228: [Mar 1:4 | Luk 3:3, see under Mat 3:10]

SIW 67 (Catherine Patton Phillips, 1797): I was made willing patiently to abide the judgments of the Lord for sin, in order that I might witness remission thereof through the baptism of repentance [Mar 1:4 | Luk 3:3] ....

(Luk 3:4f)

[Other texts citing Luk 3:4f: GFJN 31 (Rom 5:14)]

GFJN 32: And I saw that none could read John's words [Lk 3:4f, Isa 40:3f] aright and with a true understanding of them, but in and with the same divine Spirit by which John spoke them, and by his burning, shining light [John 5:35], which is sent from God (John 1:6). For by that Spirit their crooked natures might be made straight, and their rough natures smooth, and the exacter and violent doer in them might be thrown out, and they that had been hypocrites might come to bring forth fruits meet for repentance [Mat 3:8, Lk 3:8], and their mountain of sin and earthliness might be laid low in them, and their valley exalted in them, that there might be a way prepared for the Lord in them; and then the least in the kingdom is greater than John [Mat 11:11]. But all must first, know the voice crying in the wilderness, in their hearts, which through transgression were become as a wilderness.

(Luk 3:5)

EQ 547 (John Crook, 1686): Whereas the youth and others of latter times found the Truth ready proved, [this was] successfully defended against the subtle arguments and wits of those professing times in which it at first brake forth ... not by the might and power of wit, or of outward learning, but by simplicity and godly sincerity [1 Cor 1:12], accompanied with holiness of life and conversation; which was a great confirmation to the first publishing of it, together with the meek and patient ... suffering [of] the loss of all [Phil 3:8] for the truth as it is in Jesus [Eph 4:21]; by which, in great measure, the rough way was worn smooth [Luk 3:5], and the passage made much more easy to those that followed than it was at the beginning.

(Luk 3:6)

GF5:220 (1676): Now Christ doth not say, he would give his flesh for the life of some of the world [John 6:51]; but in Luk 3:6 saith, "all flesh shall see the salvation of God;" and they that see their salvation, Christ Jesus, they must come to the light that comes from him, which gives the knowledge [2 Cor 4:6?]; but if they hate this light, it doth condemn them [John 3:19].

(Mat 3:7 | Luk 3:7)

[Other texts citing Mat 3:7 | Luk 3:7: TEM 114 (Luk 12:45)]

GF conflates Mat 3:7 (=Luk 3:7) with 1 Th 1:10. e.g., GF3:191 (1659): And the Quakers do witness they are made free from the wrath to come, which the Pharisees that fled to John did not.

[Mat/Lk 3:7: flee from the wrath to come; 1 Th 1:10: Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come]

(Mat 3:8 | Luk 3:8)

[Other texts citing Mat 3:8: WPR 577 (Heb 6:1)]

MFU 241 (1657): dear heart, wait & be faithful to thy measure of the good word of God, which thou hast received, that with it thou may see that which is contrary cut down, and the axe that is laid to the root of the tree [Mat 3:10 | Luk 3:9] keep it there, that the fruits may be brought forth meet for repentance [Mat 3:8 | Luk 3:8]....

IP4:374 (1675?): Yet that there was a figurative washing away of sins by John's baptism, I do not deny; for it was unto repentance, and they thereby professed repentance, and were to "bring forth fruits meet for repentance." Mat 3:8.

(Mat 3:9 | Luk 3:8)

RBA 241f, RBAF 183 (1678, X.10): Now this was the great error of the Jews, to think they were the church and people of God because they could derive their outward succession from Abraham.... But how severely doth the Scripture rebuke this vain and frivolous pretense? Telling them, "that God is able of the stones to raise children unto Abraham" [Mat 3:9 | Luk 3:8], and that not the outward seed, but those that were found in the faith of Abraham, are the true children of faithful Abraham [Rom 4:16, Gal 3:9]. Far less can this pretence hold among Christians, seeing Christ rejects all outward affinity of that kind: "These," saith he, "are my mother, brethren, and sisters, who do the will of my Father which is in heaven [Mat 12:48-50 | Mar 3:33-35]."

(Mat 3:10 | Luk 3:9)

[Other texts citing Mat 3:10 | Luk 3:9: MFU 241 (under Mat 3:8); IP1:133 (Luk 19:41-44)

Mat 3:10 | Luk 3:9 often confl w Mat 7:17: axe to the root of the corrupt tree

GF4:100 (1656): Repent: the voice and sound of repentance is cried unto you all, which reacheth to the root of you all; [quotes Mat 3:10/Lk 3:9]; for the cry and voice of repentance is sounded, and sounds to you all, rich and poor, small and great; all tradesmen, lawyers, merchants [etc. Rev 13:16f] repent, for the day of the wrath of the Lord [Zeph 1:18] is at hand, his vial is to be poured out on you all [Rev 16].

JN2:228 (1655): And if you abide faithful in the light waiting, you will ... come to see the axe laid to the root [Mat 3:10 | Luk 3:9] of the corrupt tree, that hath brought forth the evil fruit [Mat 7:17], which is John's ministry, and the baptism of repentance [Mar 1:4 | Luk 3:3], and so be led onto him who fulfills all righteousness [Mat 3:15]. [continued under John 5:35]

IP1: 408f (1660): What will become of all the fruit that flesh hath borne [Rom 7:5], when God maketh bare, and cutteth down the root? What will become of all mortal knowledge of the Scriptures, mortal worship; the faith and obedience which hath its root, growth, and spreading in the mortal part, when the Lord heweth at it with his immortal axe [Mat 3:10 | Luk 3:9]?

IP3:471 (1671): As to the Quakers, whom he stileth nonsensical, and saith, if they had power to their wills, they would soon lay the axe to the root [Mat 3:10 | Luk 3:9] of all magistry and ministry whatsoever; this I know to be utterly false....

IP4:209 (1671): Oh! glorious is that axe of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is laid to the root of the corrupt tree [Mat 3:10 | Luk 3:9 /Mat 7:17], and is daily hewing at it and cutting it down, that it might cumber the ground no more [Luk 13:7]; but that the heart might become good earth [Mat 13:8,23], sanctified earth, circumcised by the Lord [Deu 30:6] to bring forth good fruit....

(Luk 3:8-14)

JN1: 298 (Richard Farnworth, 1654): You that imitate John in Luke 3, where is your fruits brought forth? [Luk 3:8 | Mat 3:8] Where is the axe laid to the root of the tree? [Luk 3:9 | Mat 3:10] You baptists that were oppressors before, where is your oppression ceased? You that have two coats, where do you give to them that have none? [Luk 3:11] Where do you feed the hungry, clothe the naked [Isa 58:7, Mat 25:35f], and let the oppressed go free [Isa 58:6], and use no violence [Luk 3:14]? Where do you act according to John's counsel in Luke [3:8-14]?

(Luk 3:11)

GF3:72 (1659): The Scriptures say, "He that hath two coats, let him give to him that hath none" [Luk 3:11]; and the rich will give to the rich, and thus they affront the scriptures. God gives wisdom how to distribute, and to whom to distribute, and how to honour the Lord with the substance [Prov 3:9]; and so you show yourselves ignorant of Christ's doctrine, in letting so many poor beg at your doors and in the streets, and yet you will have boot-hose-tops, and double cuffs, and ribands about you, who are more like stage-players than ministers, and are not like to give your coat to the next beggar....

(Luk 3:14)

[Other texts citing Luk 3:14: GF7:178 (Rev 13:10)]

GFJN 157 (1653): And after, I went up to the castle amongst the soldiers. And they beat a drum and called them together and I turned them to the Lord Jesus Christ their teacher, and warned them of doing violence to any man [Luk 3:14]....

EQ 92 (Edward Burrough, 1656): To all you poor desolate soldiers.... The light reproves you in secret of violence, and false accusing [Luk 3:14], and all unjust words and actions which are contrary to God. So, turn your minds to the light, which will lead you to repentance from dead works [Heb 6:1], out of the broad way of destruction [Mat 7:13], ... and it will teach you in your place to serve the living God [Heb 9:14], and to do violence to no man [Luk 3:14], but to be terrors, reprovers, and correctors of all violence, and of such who live in it. And it will teach you not to strengthen the hands of evil-doers [Jer 23:14], but to lay your swords in justice upon everyone that does evil. And it will teach you not to make war, but to preserve peace in the earth.

RBA 472, RBAF 430 (1678, XV.15): ... what [John] proposeth to soldiers doth manifestly forbid them that employment, for he commands them "not to do violence to any man, not to defraud any man" [or "accuse any falsely"], but that they "be content with their wages [Luk 3:14]." Consider then what he dischargeth to soldiers, viz, not to use violence or deceit against any, which being removed, let any tell how soldiers can war? For is not craft, violence, and injustice, three properties of war, and the natural consequence of battles?

(Luke 3:15-17 | Mat 3:11f)

IP3:337 (1674): While people were in expectation, and mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ or not, John answers the case, and tells them how they might discern and know the true Christ. It is not I, who baptize with water, but he that baptizeth "with the Holy Ghost, and with fire; whose fan is in his hand," &c. Luke 3:15-17. Was not this then, and is not this now, the way to know the true Christ? He that knoweth him who inwardly and spiritually baptizeth, him who hath the fan, who inwardly fanneth and purgeth the floor, gathering in the wheat, and burning up the chaff, doth he not inwardly, truly, and spiritually know Christ?

(Mat 3:11| Luk 3:16)

[Other texts citing Mat 3:11: GF2:317 (under Mar 9:49), MFU 59 (Mar 1:2), RBA 355 (John 3:30), RBA 370 (John 3:5)]

JN1: 131 (1653): are any baptized into Christ [Rom 6:3, Gal 3:27] who are not able to witness the baptism of fire and the Spirit [Mat 3:11| Luk 3:16], without which water baptism avails not to salvation?

IP4:386 (from a long tract on baptism, 1679): The baptism Christ commands his disciples to submit to, is his own baptism, the baptism of his Spirit. The true disciples of Christ are inward Jews [Rom 2:29] and inward Christians, and they are to submit to the inward circumcision and baptism of Christ their Lord. They are to be washed inwardly with the water of that fountain, which God opens to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. Zech 13:1.... They are to be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Mat 3:11.... They are to be washed with the Spirit of judgment and burning, and to have their corrupt blood purged away thereby. Isa 4:4.... [more]

RBA 344 (1678, XII) THE TWELFTH PROPOSITION. Concerning Baptism. As there is one Lord and one faith, so there is one baptism [Eph 4:5], which is not the putting away the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience before God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ [1 Pet 3:21], and this baptism is a pure and spiritual thing, to wit, the baptism of the Spirit and fire [Mat 3:11 | Luk 3:16], by which we are buried with him, that being washed and purged from our sins, we may walk in newness of life [Rom 6:4]; of which the baptism of John was a figure which was commanded for a time and not to continue for ever; as to the baptism of infants it is a mere human tradition for which neither precept nor practice is to be found in all the scripture. [Additional refs in margin: Gal 3:27, Col 2:12, John 3:30, 1 Cor 1:17.]

(Mat 3:11f | Luk 3:16f)

[Other texts citing Mat 3:11f: GF6:290 under (Mat 3:13-15), SIW 106 (Rev 14:3), SIW 132 (Luk 24:5)]

EQ 506 (George Fox, 1680): Now in Adam all died [1 Cor 15:22], and so were plunged into his death and imperfection. Now comes Christ, the second Adam [1 Cor 15:45/47], of whom it is said: He shall baptize you with fire and and with the Holy Ghost [Mat 3:11 | Luk 3:16]. People have been baptized with a foul unclean spirit and unholy ghost in old Adam.... Now here is the baptism of Christ by fire: this Holy Spirit to plunge down the foul spirit and power that is got into man, which fills him with chaff and corruption. This baptism destroys him and his work in man [Heb 2:14/1 Jn 3:8], and burns him up and his chaff with his fire.... [Mat 3:12 | Luk 3:17]

WPR 604 (WPT 410, 1694): Have you known the baptism of fire, and the Holy Ghost, and the fan of Christ that winnows away the chaff; the carnal lusts and affections? [Mat 3:11f | Luk 3:16f] That divine leaven of the kingdom, that being received, leavens the whole lump of man, sanctifying him throughout in body, soul and spirit? [Mat 13:33] If this be not the ground of your confidence, you are in a miserable estate.

JSS 14 (179-): While filth and opposition to divine influence remain in man, there remains fuel for the fiery baptism of Jesus, nor can the floor of the heart be thoroughly cleansed until all defilement is removed. [Mat 3:11f | Luk 3:16f]

]

(Mat 3:12 | Luk 3:17)

[Other texts citing Mat 3:12 | Luk 3:17: GF7:77 (under Heb 4:12), GF7:262 (Rev 14:14f), JN3:718f (Gen 9:25f), IP3:486 (Heb 12:29), WPR 145 (Luk 13:7)]

GF4:19 (1653): Awake, awake all people everywhere who live in forms, see what ye possess, not having that eternal spirit that gave forth the scriptures [2 Pet 1:21]; all your formal prayers, formal preaching, formal singing will be found as the chaff, which is for the unquenchable fire [Mat 3:12 | Luk 3:17]....

MFS 16 (1660) It may be that they have read a chapter, then turn, pervert it, and mix it with their own dark imaginations of their evil hearts [Jer 7:24 etc]. Again, [they] read a verse of a chapter and make an hour's discourse of what they had intended and hatched up in their minds (it may be) a week before. Thus, they have fed poor people with chaff and husks [Luk 15:16], but the Lord is arisen in his mighty power [Psa 12:5f?], with his fan in his hand. He is separating the chaff from the wheat, is gathering the wheat into his garner, and will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire [Mat 3:12 | Luk 3:17].

MFU 265 (1659): Therefore as thou loves thy soul haste to meet the Lord, & to the touchstone come to be tried, & give up freely to the death that which is for the sword to the sword, that which is for the fire to the fire, & that which is for the famine to the famine [Jer 15:2], that so thou may witness the flaming fire of the Lord's righteousness revealed, & all the chaff burnt with unquenchable fire [Mat 3:12 | Luk 3:17]....

IP2:328f (1663): For there is a center of souls, as well as of the earthly nature; and the spirit of man returneth to God that gave it [Eccl 12:7], as well as the body to the earth. And then the Lord appointeth it to its proper place, which is according to the nature it is found in. If it be wheat, if it be of the renewed nature, if it hath taken up the cross [Mat 16:24], and followed Christ in the regeneration [Mat 19:28], then he gathereth it into his garner. If it be of the chaffy nature, of the earthly spirit; the mind remaining unrenewed [Rom 12:2] and unreconciled to the nature of God; then to the unquenchable fire [Mat 3:12 | Luk 3:17] ... and to the worm which dieth not [Isa 66:24]; but gnaweth perpetually, and bringeth to mind all the former vanity and mis-spent time, to increase the heat and flames of the fire.

JSS 31f (17–): "The light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame [Isa 10:17]," and it shall kindle in the thickets; the briers also and the thorns shall be burnt up. [Isa 9:18] This is all inward, for redemption and salvation; it is so in all, as far as it is not quenched. But men may and do quench the spirit [1 Th 5:19], this spirit of judgment and burning [Isa 4:4]; but those who cease to quench it, soon find the good effects of it; it kindles up more and more, till the chaff is consumed, and the wheat is gathered into the Lord’s garner [Mat 3:12 | Luk 3:17].

(Mat 3:13-15)

GF6:289f (1685): [quotes Mat 3:13-15] So here, John knew that himself must be baptized with Christ's baptism, with fire, and with the holy ghost, before the seed of God, the wheat, be gathered into God's garner [Mat 3:12f | Luke 3:16f].

(Mat 3:15)

[Other texts citing Mat 3:15: JN2:228 ( Mat 3:10), IP3:45 (John 6:56), IP4:79 (John 5:30)]

IP4:172 (1667): Christ is that Word of eternal life, which was glorified with the Father before the world was [John 17:5]; who, in the full appointed time took up the body of flesh prepared by the Father, to do the will in [Heb 10:5-7], and did the will in it, fulfilling all righteousness [Mat 3:15], to the satisfaction of the very heart of the Father; for whose name's sake the sins of believers are pardoned.

RBA 362 (1678, XII.8): First, some object that Christ, who had the Spirit above measure [John 3:34] was notwithstanding baptized with water.... I answer, so he was also circumcised; it will not follow from thence that circumcision is to continue; for it behooved Christ to fulfill all righteousness, not only the ministry of John, but the law also.... and therefore Christ (Mat 3:15) gives John this reason of his being baptized, desiring him to "suffer it to be so now": whereby he sufficiently intimates that he intended not thereby to perpetuate it as an ordinance to his disciples.

(Mat 3:16 | Mar 1:10 | Luk 3:21f)

IP3:226 (1672): There is a foundation of death, and that is the wicked spirit; there is a foundation of life, and that is the Holy Spirit, by which Christ himself was led and guided (in that his appearance in the flesh), which descended upon him [Mat 3:16 | Mar 1:10 | Luk 3:22], and he was anointed with, and all his are to be anointed with, and live in, the same Spirit.

(Mat 3:16f | Mar 1:10f | Luk 3:21f)

JN1:298 (Richard Farnworth, 1654): You that imitate a baptism from Christ because he went down into the water (Mat 3:16-17): When did ever the heavens open to any of you? At when did you after you came out of the water, at any time see the spirit descend like a dove and light upon you, as it did upon him? [etc. Quotes from Rom 8:14-17, 6:3-4] They who baptized them had manifest tokens of the love of God to confirm that visible and outward baptism with water. But what power or manifest token have you baptizers that do but imitate them who had the Holy Ghost and the power, is not that wanting? and doth not accompany your baptism, and so it is ... a form without power [2 Tim 3:5].

(Mat 3:17 | Mar 1:11 | Luk 3:22)

[Other texts citing Mat 3:17: MFU 339 (John 3:16)]

(Luk 3:23)

GF7:111 (1656): ...no prophecy of the scripture came by the will of man [2 Pet 1:21]; all prophecies in it were out of the will of man; and they witnessed and prophecied of Christ, who was born not by the will of man [John 1:13]; who was supposed to be the son of Joseph [Luk 3:23], but was the son of God.

(Mat 4:1-11 | Luk 4:1-13)

[Other texts citing Mat 4:1-11: GFJN 12 (John 1:9)]

GF3:211 (1659): The devil came with scriptures (who is out of the truth [John 8:44]), to tempt Christ the word [Mat 4:1-11 | Luk 4:1-13; John 1:1]; but the word, the substance of scriptures, hammered down the devil [Jer 23:29], and the Pharisees that had got the scriptures, but were out of the life that gave them forth.

HPS 517f (Dorcas Dole, 1684): ...seeing we can do nothing without him [John 15:5] that is acceptable in his sight, we have great reason to wait at the heavenly Jerusalem, to be indued with power from on high [Luk 24:49], that we may be carried on in the ark of safety, Christ Jesus, who vanquished the Tempter when he tried him with various temptations, and when he had overcome in all things the angels ministered to him [Mat 4:1-11 | Luk 4:1-13], and in the power of the Spirit he was carried into Galilee [Luk 4:14] and all places to do his Father's will...

(Mat 4:1 | Luk 4:1f)

EQ 156 (Richard Hubberthorne, letter to George Fox, 1652): Pray for me, that the pure which witnesses thee may grow to overcome all his enemies; for he is a servant made under the Law in me, often clouded over and a veil drawn; and then thou art hid, yet within me pressed down, and I am led into the wilderness to be tempted [Mat 4:1], and strong temptations compass me about.

(Mat 4:4 | Luk 4:4)

[Other texts citing Mat 4:4: MFU 350 (John 4:34), IP3:306 (Heb 4:12)]

GF3:457 (1659): Many may have the scriptures, and never hear the voice of God, as the Jews, in the fifth of John [John 5:37]; they said they believed the scriptures, though they were out of the true belief; but receiving the word from God, as they did that gave forth the scriptures, is that which man lives by, and not by bread alone [Mat 4:4 | Luk 4:4, Deut 8:3], and so knows him which was before scripture was given forth.

HPS 276 (Barbara Blaugdone, 1691): ... they put me in prison for six weeks, where I fasted six days and six nights, and neither eat bread nor drank water, nor no earthly thing; then I came to a feeding upon the Word, and had experience that man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord [Mat 4:4 | Luk 4:4, Deut 8:3].

(Mat 4:6 | Luk 4:10f)

GF5:82 (1674): [Mat 4:6, quotes Psa 91:11f] And was not the Messiah tried and tempted by Satan and you in your days, wherein that scripture was fulfilled upon him, when Satan tempted him, and perverted those words?

(Mat 4:8-10 | Luk 4:5-8)

[Other texts citing Mat 4:8-10: GF7:55 (John 7:49), WPR 139f (John 8:44)]

(Mat 4:8f | Luk 4:5-7)

GF4:48 (1655): O the glory of the world has swallowed up many of you! O! you have entered into the great temptation. What would the devil have given Christ to have bowed down to him? [Mat 4:8f | Luk 4:5-7] Have you not the lusts of the flesh? Have you not the pride of life? [1 Jn 2:16] And yet profess scriptures and bow down to him who is out of the truth [John 8:44]: have you not your heart's desire in these things? [Mat 6:21 | Luk 12:34]

JN1:53 (1653): But there is a seed thou couldst never bring to fall down before thee, though thou hast often attempted it and divers ways: sometimes by great threatenings, even to destroy the whole seed at one blow, as in Haman to Mordecai and all the seed of the Jews, because he would not worship thee [Esth 3:6]; and sometimes by great promises and large dissembling proffers, as unto Christ the Son of God, showing him all the riches of the world and the glory thereof, saying, all this I will give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me [Mat 4:8f]. But this seed is that which is appointed to bruise thy head [Gen 3:15] and lay all thy pride in the dust [Psa 7:5].

IP3:79 (1668): [Lodowick Muggleton] affirmeth that that "saying of the devil was true" which he said to Christ, "all the kingdoms of the earth are mine" [Luk 4:5f]. Observ. The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof [Psa 24:1]. The devil hath no right to it. God never gave it him: but God himself is Judge, who throweth down one and setteth up another [Psa 75:7], disposing of the kingdoms of men according to his pleasure [Dan 4:25].

(Mat 4:9 | Luk 4:7)

HPS 183: [Mat 4:9, see under Mat 10:22]

(Mat 4:9f | Luk 4:7f)

GF4:304 (1662): doth the devil, who is out of the truth [John 8:44], tempt thee to worship him [Mat 4:9f], look to Christ, he was tempted, who overcame [Heb 2:18]: look to him who overcame, he is the captain of our salvation [Heb 2:10].

GF7:23f (1652): Babes in Christ [1 Cor 3:1], born again of the immortal seed [1 Pet 1:23], in it wait, my life is with you in perfect unity; bow down to nothing but the Lord God. Satan would have had Christ to have bowed down, but he would not [Mat 4:9f]; the same seed now, the same birth born in you now, which is the same to-day, yesterday, and for ever [Heb 13:8]. The tempter will come to you; and if ye look forth, and hearken to his words, and let them in, then ye bow down under him, and worship him. But I say unto you, and charge you in the presence of the Lord, mind the pure seed of God in you, and the mighty power of God will cherish you up to the Lord God above all temptations, not to bow down to any thing; but feeding upon the immortal food, ye will feel yourselves supported, and carried over him by your Father and your God, who is over all, blessed for ever!

(Mat 4:10 | Luk 4:8)

[Other texts citing Mat 4:10: MFU 357 (Heb 10:5- 7), JN2:319f (under Rev 5:9)]

JN2:584 (1655): Also we are imprisoned & fined because we cannot put off the hat and bow to proud men, which the Lord hath forbidden us to bow to any but him alone [Mat 4:10 | Luk 4:8] & is contrary to the faith of Christ & the liberty of conscience.

IP2:500 (1667): Therefore, in the evil hour, fly from all things that thus arise in thee; lie still, feel thy stay [2 Sam 22:19 | Psa 18:18], till his light, which "makes manifest" [John 3:21], arise in thee, and clear up things to thee. And think not the time of darkness long, but watch, that thy heart be kept empty, and thy mind clear of thoughts and belief of things, till He bring in somewhat, which thou mayst safely receive. Therefore, say to thy thoughts, and to thy belief of things (according to the representation of the dark power, in the time of thy darkness), "Get thee hence!" [Mat 4:10]

(Mat 4:11 | Mar 1:13 | Luk 4:13)

GF7: 212 (1661): And when thou hast been troubled, and resisted the tempter, hath not the angel of the Lord after ministered to thee [Mat 4:11], to the strengthening of thee?

(Mat 4:16)

IP3:334 (1674): Is there not a kingdom of darkness, a land of iniquity inwardly? and do not they that dwell there, and sit there, dwell in darkness, and sit in the region and shadow of death [Mat 4:16]? And is there not a travel out of this land into the holy land (the land of light, the land of the living), and a translation out of this kingdom into the kingdom of the dear Son [Col 1:13]?

WTG 216 (Elizabeth Hudson, 17--): And in his own time he was graciously pleased to cause light to spring up [Mat 4:16] and I in an acceptable time [Psa 69:13] found that saying fulfilled in me that they that sit in darkness should see a great light [Mat 4:16, Isa 9:2] and by virtue of its blessed influence my way was opened to me as clear as though a plan were drawn and spread before my natural eyes.

(Mat 4:17 | Mar 1:15 | Luk 4:15)

[Other texts citing Mat 4:17: JN2:228 (John 5:35)]

(Mat 4:18-22 | Mar 1:16-20)

Other texts citing Mat 4:18-22: WPR 167 (under Luk 14:18-20)

GF2:342 (1689): [quotes Mat 4:18-22] He gave them power (a net that will hold, and not want mending) and made them fishers of men, to fish them out of the great sea, the world of wickedness. [GF6:419 similar]

(Mat 4:18 | Mar 1:16)

[Other texts citing Mat 4:18: EQ 360 (Gen 4:2)]

(Mat 4:19f | Mar 1:17f)

JN2:590 (1655): Friends, thou sayest that which at first called thee out of the world's vain customs [Jer 10:3] and worships was a net; and thou bids me leave my nets and follow thee [Mat 4:19f | Mar 1:17f]. I say, truth it is that the net of the kingdom has been cast into the sea [Mat 13:47f], and many have been caught by it, and upon trial some are found fit for the master's use [2 Tim 2:21], and some are cast back into the sea again. But should I leave that which called me out of the world ... and crucifies me thereto [Gal 6:14], to follow thee therein, I should be unfaithful to the spirit of Christ, deny my calling, and make his cross (to me) of none effect [1 Cor 1:17]....

(Mat 4:22 | Mar 1:20)

JN1:134: [Mat 4:22, see under Mat 10:37]



(Luk 4:16-21)

GF3:277 (1659): He saith, "Christ took up a Bible, and preached on a text...." Christ who came to fulfil, took a book, and read, and said it was fulfilled [Luk 4:16-21]. He did not take a text, as you do, and lay half a year in it, as some of you, and have ten shillings a day, more or less, for your pains; he said it was fulfilled.

RBA 325 (1678, XI.18): But they allege that Christ took took the book of Isaiah and read out of it, and spake therefrom [Luk 4:16-21]; and that Peter preached from a sentence in the prophet Joel [Acts 2:14-21]. I answer, that Christ and Peter did it not but as immediately acted and moved thereunto by the Spirit of God, and that without premeditation, which I suppose our adversaries will not deny; in which case we willingly approve of it; but what is this to their customarily conned way, without either waiting for or expecting the movings and leadings of the Spirit?

(Luk 4:18)

[Other texts citing Luk 4:18: GFT 141 (John 11:37)]

(Luk 4:21)

JN2:182 (1655): And thou says Christ took a text and applied it, and this thou would bring to prove your literal ministry to be the ministry of Christ. I say Christ took a text and said it was fulfilled in him [Luk 4:21]; but if you take no text but what is fulfilled in you, then you may take only such as John 10:12-13; and those scriptures that tell of a priesthood that were called of men Masters [Mat 23:8,10], bore rule by their means [Jer 5:31], cried peace while people put into their mouths, but if not prepared wars [Mic 3:5], but were proud and covetous, taught for fleeces, beat and cast out of synagogues [Mar 13:9], wolves in sheep’s clothing [Mat 7:15], &c; these and suchlike which suit your practice you must take, and then say this day is these scriptures fulfilled in your ears [Luk 4:21], and then read your portion.

(Luk 4:25-29)

IP1:199f (1659): His doctrine administered abundance of offence to them, and they were continually stumbling at it.... Yea, when he did but preach a parable or two about "the widow of Sarepta, and Naaman the Syrian" (it coming a little close to their state) "all they in the synagogue were so filled with wrath, that they rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill, to cast him down headlong" [Luk 4:25-29].

(Mar 1:24 | Luk 4:34)

IP3:21 (1667): Since the prevailing of the apostles’ testimony, the way of the enemy hath not been directly to deny Christ, but to bring men into such a knowledge of Christ, as saves not. And as the enemy did own Christ, when he appeared in that body of flesh, saying, "I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God" [Mar 1:24 | Luk 4:34]; so he hath found it for his advantage, almost ever since, to own that appearence of his.... But the saving knowledge, the true knowledge, the living knowledge, the powerful knowledge of truth,– that he always opposeth; for that alone overturns and destroys his kingdom in man, and brings man from out of his reach.

(Mat 8:14f | Mar 1:30f | Luk 4:38f)

WPR 575, WPT 357f (1694): Seeing upon a serious trial of all things, nothing else would do but Christ himself; the light of his countenance, a touch of his garment, and help from his hand; who cured the poor woman's issue [Mat 9:20-22 | Mar 5:25-27 | Luk 8:43-48], raised the centurion's servant [Mat 8:13 | Luk 7:10], the widow's son [Luk 7:12-15], the ruler's daughter [Mat 9:18,23-25 | Mar 5:35-43 | Luk 8:49-55], and Peter's mother [Mat 8:14f | Mar 1:30f | Luk 4:38f]: And like her, they no sooner felt his power and efficacy upon their souls, but they gave up to obey him in a testimony to his power....

(Mar 1:45)

GF3:363 (1659): [his opponents] are like unto Jannes and Jambres who resist the truth, being men of corrupt minds [2 Tim 3:8], who blaze abroad [Mar 1:45] in the nation to make truth odious....

(Mar 1:34 | Luk 4:41)

JSS 17 (17–): "No man can say that Jesus is Lord but by the holy ghost," 1 Cor 12:3. This is the reason why "every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God," 1 Jn 4:2. The evil spirits of old confessed him in words, but he rejected their testimony, and suffered them not to speak; Luke 4:41. For though they had outward knowledge who he was, they spake not by the holy ghost; they were not of God.