An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Let us begin with the aggravation; his trouble was so great, That he had received the sentence of death in himself. This is more than the clause in the precedent verse, for there it was [Greek or Hebrew], He was in such a doubt and perplexity about his life, that he did not see any way to evade; but here he is positive, he comes now to make resolute conclusions, He must die, He had received the sentence of ⟨p. 293⟩death. The Greek word is [Greek or Hebrew], used here in this place only in the New Testament. The Verb from whence it cometh [Greek or Hebrew] and [Greek or Hebrew], Budeus showeth to have two more eminent significations; the one is, to separate and secerne one thing from another; in which sense I do not observe it used in the New Testament. It useth [Greek or Hebrew] in that sense, even as humane Authors also do most frequently. 1 Cor. 1. 15. The spiritual man judgeth all things, by searching and judging he cometh to discern the truth from error. The other signification is to answer, in which sense it is always used in the New Testament. Favorinus in his Lexicon maketh this difference between [Greek or Hebrew] and [Greek or Hebrew]. The former is a bare simple Answer made to any Question; the later is an Answer by way of defence against some accusation. The proper word for an Answer is [Greek or Hebrew], as Luke 2. 47. Luke 20. 26. Joh. 1. 22. [Greek or Hebrew] is seldom used for an Answer, yet Stephen showeth out of Suidas an expression [Greek or Hebrew], like that à secretis, one whose office was to answer requests. Hence some translate it answer, as it is in the margin. But the most genuine translation is sentence; for so Hesychius expounds the word [Greek or Hebrew], whom Favorinus followeth verbatim in this, as in many other particulars. It is true Heinsius on the place maketh the word in a contrary sense, to signify an answer or inspiration from God, secretly assuring of him that he should not die; like that Act. 24. 24. Fear not Paul, such answers were by the Urim and Thummim. So that in his sense it should imply Gods suretyship or undertaking for his preservation: But the other is more generally received, and the following words argue such a sense.