Thomas Pyle
M. A., Lecturer of Lyn-Regis, in Norfolk

(1674-1756)

Annotations on the New Testament: Compiled from the Best Critical Authorities (1829)

A Paraphrase, with some Notes on the Acts of the Apostles, and upon all the Epistles of the New Testament: being a complete supplement to Dr. Clarke's Paraphrase on the Four Gospels, &c." London, 1715. 2 vols. 8vo.

(On Acts 13:46)
"The apostle seems clearly to intimate their final destruction by the Romans." (Note in loc.)

(On 1 Timothy 3:6)
"Most exquisite and terrible will be the divine vengeance upon these people, that will give themselves up to diabolical arts, forged miracles, and lying prophecies — abandoned to the pernicious methods of fraud, violence, and injustice, and averse to all the clearest evidences of true and saving religion. For which irreclaimable corruptions, God, in just judgment, will let them loose to the prevalent delusions of false prophets and pretenders, so that they will embrace the most absurd and foolish things, and run headlong into such desperate courses, as must naturally end in the utter condemnation and destruction of a people lost to all sense of truth and goodness, and devoted to falsehood and impiety. See all these predictions exactly fulfilled, with respect to the Jews, in Josephus, of the Jewish wars." (Note in loc. )

(On 2 Peter 2:1-3)
"Thus, I say, the prophecies of the Old Testament prove the truth of our religion. But as, in those former ages of the Jewish church, there were some false, as well as true prophets, so you know Christ and his apostles have foretold there would be the same mixture in the Christian church, which predictions of theirs are now verified in those raging zealots of the Judaizing faction — a set of men that are broaching the most pernicious doctrines, by practising upon which, while they boast themselves as the peculiar and purchased people of God, they really renounce him that is indeed their Lord and Redeemer, and shall, in due time, feel the fatal effects of such obstinate malice and ingratitude. These people, by their violent zeal and plausible pretences, are like to seduce many converts to their party, to the great scandal of the Christian name. They insinuate themselves into your affections, and strive to gain proselytes for temporal ends, and the gratification of their own impure passions. But that divine judgment, long since pronounced against the authors of such wickedness, is drawing on, and will soon overtake them." (Par. in loc.)

(On 2 Peter 2:4-9)
"For however they may at present prevail, and whatever their malicious endeavors against you may be, rest yourselves satisfied, from all the course of the divine dispensation, that they are sure of their punishment, and you of a gracious and timely deliverance. Remember the apostate angels themselves reigned but a little while in their pride, were expelled the regions of heavenly light, thrust down into this dark and lower world, and are here confined, like prisoners, in chains, till the final day of judgment upon them and all wicked men. You may conclude the certainty of your rescue from these impious persecutors, from the instance of Noah, that preached repentance to the antediluvian world, and was one of the eight that were saved in the ark. And these may assuredly gather their approaching vengeance from the destruction of that wicked generation by the flood, and from the dreadful examples of Sodom and Gomorrah. Remember how special a deliverance that good man, Lot, had, from the ruins of those lewd people, after all the many vexations he was forced to endure at the sight of such profligate and numerous examples. From all which instances, good Christians ought to assure themselves of a proportionable share of the divine care and providence, for their deliverance from present afflictions, and of a future vengeance upon their cruel persecutors." (Par. in loc.)