Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 9:24

24. He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

Mark saith, ch. 5.39. when he was come in, he sait[illegible: 1 letter] unto them, why make you this ado, and Weep? Th[illegible: 1 letter] Damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, but when he had put them all out, he taketh t[illegible: 2 letters] Father and Mother, and them that were with him, an[illegible: 1 letter] entreth where the Damsel was lying. Luke saith, ch. 8. v. 51, 52. when he came into the House, he suffered no Man to go in [that is into the Chamber, where the dead Body lay] save Peter, Iames, and Iohn, and the Father an[illegible: 1 letter] Mother of the Maiden. And all wept, and b[illegible: 1 letter]wailed he but he said weep not, she is not d[illegible: 2 letters]d, but sleepeth. An[illegible: 1 letter] they laughed him to scorn; knowing she was dead. The History is plain, when Christ came into the House, there was a mixed noise of Fidlers, or Pipers, and Mourners. Christ coming in with Peter, Iames and Iohn, asketh them what they made such ado for? The Maid was not dead but asleep: They apprehending that she was dead, mocked him. He desires to go into the Chamber, where the Corps lay: But would suffer none but Peter, Iames and Iohn, and the Father and Mother of the Maid, to go in with him, the reason appeareth afterward, because he did not desire that this Miracle should be presently published. The only question is, in what Sense our Saviour saith sh[illegible: 1 letter] is not dead, but sleepeth. When as they knew she was dead. 1. Some think our Saviour speaketh Ambiguously, for Death is in Scripture often called a sleep, 1 Kin. 14.20. Ioh. 11.11. Acts 7.60. 1 Cor. 15.6. with respect to the Resurr[illegible: 1 letter]ction. Others think that our Saviour speaks Ironically, knowing that some of them would so diminish the Miracle, to calumniate him or abate his Reputation. But it is a better Answer, to say that he speaks with Reference to their Opinion, she is not dead, in that Sense you judge her dead, so as she shall not come to Life before the Resurrection, she is not so dead▪ but she shall come to Life again; as he said to Mary concerning Lazarus, Ioh. 11.23. Or, To me she is not dead Or shall we say, as soon as Christ was come into the House▪ who is the Resurrection and the Life? Ioh. 11.24. her Soul again returned into her Body, which tho to their appearance it was separated from her Body, was not yet fixed in its eternal Mansion. In what Sense soever he spake it, they judged it Ridiculous, and laughed him to scorn.