And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Ver. 16. And Jesus when he was baptized] Many of the ancients held that the day of Epiphany was the day of our Saviour's baptism. But that, I think, is but a conjecture. The Habassines, a kind of mongrel Christians in Africa, baptize themselves every year on that day in lakes or ponds; thereby to keep a memorial of our Saviour's baptism in Jordan. This is (as Tyndal was wont to say of a like matter) to pass by the provision, and lick the sign post.
Went up straightway out of the water] And stood upon the shore, apart from the company, that all might see and hear what was now to be done. St Luke addeth, Luk 3:21 that he fell there upon his knees and prayed; thereby teaching us, with what deep devotion we are to receive the sacraments, which are given us of God to signify, as by sign; to assure, as by seal; and to convey, as by instrument, Jesus Christ and all his benefits. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are there one in covenanting and working thy salvation. Stir up thyself therefore to hope and faith at the sacrament: speak to thy faith, as Deborah did to herself, Judges 5:12; "Awake, awake, Deborah, utter a song:" give glory to God, lay claim to the covenant: lean on Christ's bosom at that supper, and bethink thyself, with Esther at the feast, what suit thou hast to commence, what Haman to hang up, what lust to subdue, what grace (chiefly) to get growth in, &c. But for most communicants, urge them to prayer before, in, and after sacrament, and they must say (if they say truly), as David did of Saul's armour, I cannot go with these, for I have not been accustomed to them, 1 Samuel 17:39 .
And, lo, the heavens were opened unto him] As he was praying; for prayer is the key of heaven, wherewith we may take out of God's treasury plentiful mercy for ourselves and others. He cannot possibly be poor that can pray,Romans 10:12. One said of the Pope, that he could never want money so long as he could hold a pen in his hand: of the faithful Christian it may safely be affirmed, he cannot want any good thing while he can call to God for it. If he can find a praying heart, God will find a pitying heart and a supplying hand. Now he is worthily miserable that will not make himself happy by asking. The ark and the mercy seat were never separated. God never said to Israel, "Seek ye me in vain," Isaiah 45:19. The hand of faith never knocked at heaven's gates, but they were opened, and the Spirit descended, though not so visibly as here at the baptism of our Saviour, nor a voice heard so audibly from heaven as then, yet as truly and effectually to the support of the poor suppliant: who while he prayeth in the Holy Ghost, Judges 1:20, receiveth new supplies of the Spirit, επιχορηγια , Philippians 1:19 ; Eph 4:16 and is sweetly, but secretly, sealed up thereby to the day of redemption.
And he saw the Spirit of God descending] From the Father (who spake from the most excellent glory, 2Pe 1:17) upon the Son, who stood upon the shore, so that here was concilium augustissimum, a most majestical meeting of the three persons in Trinity, about the work of man's redemption, as once about his creation: Genesis 1:26; "Let us make man." The Hebrews interpret it, "I and my judgment hall;" by which phrase the Trinity of old was implied. For a judgment hall in Israel consisted of three at least; which, in their close manner of speech, they applied to God, but their posterity understood it not. And as in the matter of man's creation and redemption, so likewise of his sanctification, remarkable is that of the apostle, 1 Corinthians 12:4,7, where the diversities of gifts are said to be of the Spirit; the diversities of ministries (whereby these gifts are administered) of the Lord, that is, of Christ; and the diversities of operations (effected by the gifts and ministries) to be of God the Father.
Like a dove, and lighting upon him] This was shadowed of old, by Noah's dove lighting upon the ark; and serveth to denote Christ's innocence, purity, love to his little ones, κυουσι γαρ αλληλας, saith Aristotle; a and another thus:-
" Felle columba caret, rostro non caedit, et ungues
Possidet innocuos puraque grana legit. "
That was more than ridiculous, nay, it was blasphemous, that those pilgrims that went to Jerusalem to fight in the Holy War (as they called it) did carry a goose before them, pretending it to be the Holy Ghost. These were drunk with the wine of the whore of Babylon's abominations; and not filled with the Spirit, as St Stephen was, and Barnabas, and others of old; as of late, among many, that famous Beza, de quo collegae saepe dicebant, eum sine felle vivere. And himself reports of himself and his colleagues, in an epistle to Calvin, that, disputing with a Spanish Jesuit about the Eucharist, "the Jesuit" (saith he) "called us vulpes, et simias, et serpentes (foxes, apes, serpents). My answer was this, Non magis nos credere, quam transubstantiationem." To not greatly believe us than transubstantiation. So that angel John Bradford (as one calleth him), when he reasoned with Alphonsus a Castro; the friar was in a wonderful rage, and spake so high that the whole house rang again, chafing with om and cho, saith Mr Fox. But Bradford answered him with meekness of wisdom, and, like the waters of Shiloah at the foot of Sion, ran softly, Isaiah 8:6. He had been baptized with that Holy Ghost that descended upon our Saviour, who received not the Spirit by measure, but had a fulness, not of abundance only, but also of redundance, John 1:14 .
a περιστερα, παρα, του περισσως εραν. Herdfield.