Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 15:7

7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more then over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance.

See the Note[illegible: 1 letter] on Matth. [illegible: 1 letter]8.12, 1[illegible: 1 letter]. where we met with the same Parable, [illegible: 1 letter]ho not related with so many Circumstances. The Seventh Verse which is the Epiparabole, sheweth us the Principal thing, which our Saviour by this Parable designeth to teach his Hearers, and us also, viz. That Christ is so far from rejecting the greatest Sinners, that Repent, and Fly unto his Mercy, that if it were possible, he should take a greater Satisfaction, in such an issue of Divine Providence, than in all the glofyed Saints. No Repenting Sinner, let his Sins be as many, and as great as they can be, shall be unwelcome unto Christ, [illegible: 1 letter]lying to him with a broken Heart (resolved against his former Courses) for Pardon and Mercy. But as it happeneth to them, who by Study and Practice make great Experiments, they can hardly find out what they mostly seek for, but in the way to it, they will find out several other Notions, which are of great use to them: So it will fall out to them, who diligently Study the Parables of the Gospel. Tho some one Truth be that, the Explication of which our Saviour doth chiefly intend; yet the Parable will also afford some other profitable instructions, not unworthy of our notice and regard. The Man here intended▪ is Christ, who was the Son of Man, as well as the Eternal Son of God. The Hundred Sheep signifies the whole number of his Elect, whether in Heaven or on Earth, whether yet called, or hereafter to be called. The Sheep, going astray signifyeth all the Elect, who are by Nature Children of Wrath as well as others, Dead, in Trespasses and Sins, Eph. 2.1.3. Here is mention but of one Sheep so gone astray, tho there be many to let us know the Love of Christ to every individual Soul, that if but one of them had been to have been Redeemed, he would have come down from Heaven to have Redeemed it. The Ninety Nine left in the Wilderness, seem to me to be the Glorifyed Saints, they are the only just Persons who need no Repentance. The Country Mans going after the lost Sheep till he finds it, then bringing it home upon his Shoulders rejoycing, signifies the infinite Love of Chri[illegible: 2 letters], both in leaving his Fathers Throne, and the Society of the Glorifyed Saints, and Angels to come and to seek, and to save that which was lost, to pay a Redemption price for them, then sending his Holy Spirit, and the Ministers of his Gospel to invite, and effectually [illegible: 1 letter]o persuade them to accept of his Salvation, truly Repenting of their Sins, and also p[illegible: 3 letters]erving them through his Power by Faith, unto Salvation (for it is upon his Shoulders, that any Elect Soul is brought home) it is his Eye must find them, and his Power that must bring them Home) The Country-mans Rejoycing, and calling his Neighbours to Rejoyce, &c. signifyeth the satisfaction and well pleasedness of Christ, in the Conversion of Sinners, which is more plainly expressed, v. 7. I say unto you, that likewise there shall be Ioy in Heaven over one Sinner that Repenteth, more than over Ninety and Nine just Persons, which need no Repentance. We have much the same again, v. 10. leaving out the Comparative part. There also it is: There is Ioy in the presence of the Angels of God. We will consider the Expressions in both the Verses together. As to which there may arise these Questions. 1. Qu. What is here meant by Ioy in Heaven? The Inhabitants of Heaven are God, the blessed Angels, and the Glorifyed Saints, how can they be said to Rejoyce, whereas Rejoycing is in us the product of a Passion, by which we Triumph in our Union to some good, which we before wanted. 1. An. When Terms Expressive of our Passions, are applyed to perfect Beings, we must understand them so, as they alone can agree to such Beings, separated from those Excesses, which they have in beings more imperfect. Ioy signifyeth nothing but the full satisfaction of the Will, in a good obtained. Thus God is said to Rejoyce in his People, Isa. 62.5. 2. Qu. Who are these Ninety Nine just Persons that need no Repentance? (For the number, it is but an incertain number put for one certain) 2. An. Some by such as need no Repentance understand, such as think so of themselves, tho indeed they do need it. Others understand it Comparatively, such as if compared with others need no Repentance. 3. Others by Repentance understand Penance. Such Sober Persons as stand in no need of a being called to a Publick Conf[illegible: 1 letter]ssion, for the satisfaction of the Church offended. I had rather understand it of the Glorifyed Saints, whose Society Christ left, when he came to Work out our Redemption. 2. For the others it had been no great matter for Christ to have told them, that God, and the Holy Saints, and Angels, Rejoyce more over one Repenting Sinner, than over Ninety Nine Impenitent Sinners, and self-righteous Persons, who continually grieve him, and whom he abhoreth. But then, 3. Qu. How can it be said, that God, and the Angels, and Saints, more Rejoyce over one Repenting Sinner, than over Ninety Nine Glorifyed Saints? An. It is universally agreed, that Christ speaks here of God, and of the Angels, after the manner of Men, Of whose Nature it is to express more Passion, upon a new Object that pleaseth them, than upon others, that they have been long pleased with. As a Parent Rejoyceth more over one Child recovered from the Jaws of Death, than over all the rest of his Children. Tho nothing can be new to God, that is, which he did not see, and [illegible: 1 letter]ore-know, yet somethings may be new to him in facto esse, as done and fulfilled, and tho we must not imagine any Mutation, or Alteration of the Divine Being upon any Emergency amongst Men. Yet to express how infinitely pleased God is, in the Repentance and Conversion of great Sinners, he is set out, as receiving an Augmentation of satisfaction in the effecting of it; such Expressions as these condescended to by God for our Consolation, must not be so strained by us, as to occasion any unbecoming thought[illegible: 1 letter] of God. Qu. Some query how the Angels know of the Conversion of a Sinner, and from hence the Papists would some of them infer, that they know our Hearts, because that is the Seat of Conversion. An. both the Angels, and the Glorifyed Saints also may know it by Gods revealing it to them.

Marginal references: Chap. 5.32