A harmony upon the the three Evangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentary…A harmonie vpon the the three Euangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke with the commentarie…

58. And her neighbours and cousins. It may be doubted whether these men esteemed the great grace of God of the only blessing of bearing a child, or whether they had heard before that an Angel had appeared to Zechariah, which had promised him a son. Certainly this was no small benefit of God, that a barren woman, whose course of age was now past, should bear a child beyond the order of nature. Therefore it may be, that for this so great a cause, they extolled the greatness of the goodness of God. Furthermore, on the eight day (as the custom was) for duty & for humanity sake▪ they came together. But this occasion doth God use, that he might make them witnesses and beholders of his power, and of his glory. And it is not to be doubted, but that there came a greater concourse of the people, because of the extraordinary birth: for they accounted it as a wonder, to see an old and a barren woman suddenly to become with child. And now, when the child was borne, the wonder was renewed and increased. We gather by the words of Luke, that although they circumcised their children at home: yet they did it not without a concourse and an assembly of men: and that not without a cause: for seeing that it was a public sacrament of the Church, it ought not to be administered secretly or privately.

58. And her neighbours and cosines. It may be doubted whether these men esteemed the great grace of God of the onely blessing of bearing a child, or whether they had heard before that an Angell had appeared to Zachary, which had promised him a sonne. Certainly this was no small benefit of God, that a barren woman, whose course of age was now past, should beare a childe beyonde the order of nature. Therefore it may be, that for this so great a cause, they extolled the greatnesse of the goodnesse of God. Furthermore, on the eight day (as the custome was) for dutie & for humanitie sake▪ they came togeather. But this occasion doth God vse, that he might make them witnesses and beholders of his power, and of his glory. And it is not to be doubted, but that there came a greater concourse of the people, because of the extraordinarie birth: for they accounted it as a wonder, to see an old and a barren woman sodenly to become with childe. And now, when the child was borne, the wonder was renued and encreased. VVe gather by the words of Luke, that although they circumcised their children at home: yet they did it not without a concourse and an assembly of men: and that not without a cause: for seeing that it was a publike sacrament of the Church, it ought not to be administred secretely or priuately.