Heaven taken

Again, Christ commends John as being his forerunner, who prepared the way before him, vers. 10. He was the morning Star which did precede the Sun of Righteousness; and that Christ might sufficiently honour this holy man, he doth not only parallel him with, but prefer him before, the chief of the Prophets. Vers. 9. What went ye out for to see, a Prophet? yea I say unto you, and more than a Prophet. Vers. 11. Among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: He was eminent both for Dignity of Office, and Perspicuity of Doctrine; and so the Text is ushered in: From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffere• violence, and the violent take it by force. In which words there is,

Again, Christ commends John as being his forerunner, who prepared the way before him, vers. 10. He was the morning Star which did precede the Sun of Righteousness; and that Christ might sufficiently honour this holy man, he doth not only parallel him with, but prefer him before, the chief of the Prophets. Vers. 9. What went ye out for to see, a Prophet? yea I say unto you, and more than a Prophet. Vers. 11. Among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: He was eminent both for Dignity of Office, and Perspicuity of Doctrine; and so the Text is usher'd in: From the dayes of John the Baptist •ntil now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffere• violence, and the violent take it by force. In which words there is,

1. The pref• or introduction; from ¹the days of J• the Baptist until now. John Baptist was a zealous Preacher, a Boanerges, or Son of Thunder; and after his Preaching, People began to be awakened out of their si•s.