ACCORDING TO S T. MATTHEW ACTS xvii Ver. 11. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the Word with all Readiness of Mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so A PRAYER Before the Reading of the Holy Scriptures ALmighty God and Merciful Father who hast appointed thy Word to be a Light to our Feet and a Lamp unto our Paths and caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our Learning Grant us the Assistance of thy Holy Spirit that we may in such wise Read Mark Learn and inwardly Digest them that by Patience and Comforâ— of thy Holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the Blessed Hope of Everlasting Life which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ And seeing of thy tender Love to Mankind thou hast given thy Dear and Only Son to be unto us both a Sacrifice for Sin and also an Example of Godly Life give us Grace that we may always most Thankfully receive this His Inestimable Benefit and also daily endeavour our selves to follow the Blessed Steps of His most Holy Life who Liveth and Reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost ever One God World without end Amen EXPOSITORY NOTES WITH PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS UPON The Holy Gospel ACCORDING TO S T. MATTHEW The HOLY BIBLE contains the whole Revelation of the Will of GOD to the Children of Men This Sacred Book is usually divided into the Old and New Testament The Old Testament contains the Law and the Prophets The Writings of the New Testament are either Histories or Epistles the Histories are the Four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles The Four Gospels were written by the Four Evangelists whose Names they bear of whom St. Matthew and St. John were Eye-Witnesses of what they wrote but St. Mark and St. Luke had what they wrote from the Relation of others This Gospel before us of St. Matthew contains an History of the Birth Life Miracles Death and Resurrection of the Holy JESUS All which are the most Stupendious and Amazing Matters as well as the most Necessary Truths to be Known and Believed in the World And This Chapter before us contains the Genealogy or Pedigree of our Saviour JESUS CHRIST as he was Man unto Vers 17. and then relates the Fact of his Wonderful Incarnation to the End of the Chapter CHAP. I. 1 THE book of the generation of Jesus Christ the son of David the son of Abraham Our Evangelist designing to write a Narrative of our Saviour's Life begins with his Pedigree and Genealogy and shews whom he descended from namely from David and Abraham Where Observe 1. That David is named before Abraham because he being a King and an Illustrious Type of the Messias the Jews expected and do to this day expect that the Son of David should reign over them and that they should enjoy a Temporal Kingdom by him Observe 2. The Names given to our Blessed Saviour Jesus and Christ Jesus is his Hebrew Name and signifies a Saviour Christ is his Greek Name and signifies Anointed From whence some do inferr an Intimation and Encouragement that both Hebrews and Greeks both Jews and Gentiles may alike come unto Christ for Life and Salvation he being the common Saviour of both according to that of St. John Epist. 1. ch 2. ver 2. He is the Propitiation for our Sins and not for ours only but also for the Sins of the whole World 2 Abraham begat Isaac and Isaac begat Jacob and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren 3 And Judas begat Pharez and Zara of Thamar and Pharez begat Esrom and Esrom begat Aram. 4 And Aram begat Aminadab and Aminadab begat Naasson and Naasson begat Salmon Both the Evangelists St. Matthew and St. Luke make mention of our Saviour's Pedigree the former by his reputed Father's Side the latter by his Mother's Side the design of both was to present us with a general Draught of our Lord's Pedigree and Descent and not to be strict and accurate in enumerating every individual Person This should teach us not to be over-curious in scanning the Parts of this Genealogy much less captiously to object against it For if the Evangelists were not critical and exact in composing this Genealogy why should we shew our selves so in examining of it Rather let us attend to the Design of the Holy Ghost in Writing of it which was twofold First For the Honour of our Saviour as Man shewing who were his Noble and Royal Progenitors according to the Flesh Secondly For the Confirmation of our Faith touching the Reality of our Redeemer's Incarnation The Scripture making mention of all his Progenitors from the first Man Adam to his reputed Father Joseph will not suffer us to doubt either of the Truth of his Human Nature or of the Certainty of his being the promised Messias Learn hence That the Wisdom of God has taken all necessary Care and used all needful Means for the satisfying the Minds of all unprejudiced Persons touching the Reality of Christ's Human Nature and the Certainty of his being the promised Messias For both these Ends is our Saviour's Genealogy and Descent recorded in the Holy Scriptures 5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab and Booz begat Obed of Ruth and Obed begat Jesse 6 And Jesse begat David the king and David the king begat Solomon of her that had beeâ— the wife of Urias 7. And Solomon begat Roboam and Roboam begat Abia and Abia begat Asa 8 And Asa begat Josaphat and Josaphat begat Joram and Joram begat Ozias 9 And Ozias begat Joatham and Joatham begat Achaz and Achaz begat Ezekias 10 And Ezekias begat Manasses and Manasses begat Amon and Amon begat Josias 11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren about the time that they were carried away to Babylon 12 And after they were brought to Babylon Jechonias begat Salathiel and Salathiel begat Zorobabel 13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud and Abiud begat Eliakim and Eliakim begat Azor. 14. And Azor begat Sadoc and Sadoc begat Achim and Achim begat Eliud 15 And Eliud begat Eleazer and Eleazer begat Matthan and Matthan begat Jacob 16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations Observe Here are several Women mentioned in our Saviour's Genealogy and all or most of them have a Brand of Infamy upon them Thamar was one with whom her Father-in-Law Judah committed Incest Rachab is called an Harlot Ruth came of Moab whom Lot begat of his own Daughter and Bathsheba the Wife of Vriah was one with whom David had committed Adultery Now the Wisdom of God has thought fit to leave all this upon Record for several Ends and Purposes 1. To denote the Freeness of God's Grace which extends it self in the Saving Effects
but not improved them Learn hence 1. That Gospel-Ordinances enjoyed are a mighty Honour and Advancement to the poorest Persons and obscurest Places Thou Capernaum art exalted to Heaven 2. That Gospel-Ordinances and Church-Priviledges enjoyed but not improved provoke Almighty God to inflict the soarest of Judgments upon a People Thou that art exalted to Heaven shalt be thrust down to Hell 16 He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Here our Saviour encourages his Ministers to Faithfulness in their Office by assuring them that he should reckon and esteem all the kindness shewn to them as done unto himself He that receiveth you receiveth me he that despiseth you despiseth me Where Note That all the Offices of Love and Respect of Kindness and Charity which we shew to the Ministers or Members of Christ for his sake Christ reckons it as done unto himself 17 And the seventy returned again with joy saying Lord even the Devils are Subject unto us thro' thy Name 18 And he said unto them I beheld Satan as Lightning fall from Heaven Obs here 1. The Seventy Disciples return to give Christ an account of the Success of their Expedition they return as Victors with joy and triumph shewing Christ the Trophies of their Conquest Lord the Devils are subject unto us thro' thy Name the Weapons of their warfare were not carnal but Spiritual and Mighty through Christ the Powers of Darkness cannot stand but must fall before the power of Christ the Devils are no match for Christ no nor for the meanest of the Ministers of Christ who go forth in his Name armed with his Authority and Power Observe 2. our Saviour's Reply to the Seventy Disciples upon this occasion I beheld Satan as Lightning fall from Heaven a Two-fold Interpretation is given of which words 1. Some look upon them as a Secret Rebuke given by our Saviour to the Seventy for that excess of joy and mixture of vain-glory which was found with them upon the account of those extraordinary Gifts and Abilities of casting out Devils and healing Diseases which were conferr'd upon them I beheld Satan says Christ falling like Lightning from Heaven as if Christ had said Take heed of being puft up with Pride upon the account of those Endowments which I have bestowed upon you Remember Lucifer the Prince of Pride how he fell from Heaven by his Arrogancy and Labour you to ascend thither by Humility The words in this sense afford this Instruction That those whom Christ has bestowed the greatest measure of Spiritual Graces Ministerial Gifts and Temporal Blessings upon ought to be very watchful against that hateful Sin of Pride which has ruin'd and destroy'd so many Thousands of Angels and Men. 2. Some understand this Fall of Satan not Literally but Figuratively and Mystically of his Ruine by the Power and Preaching of the Gospel as if Christ had said I know that this is no vain boast of yours no vaunt nor brag of your Valour that Devils are conquer'd by your Courage for when I first sent you forth to preach the Gospel and armed you with Divine Power I easily foresaw that the Devils Kingdom would shake about his Ears and that his Power would be ruin'd by the Power of the Gospel and that wherever you Preached Satans Strength and Power should vanish like a Flash of Lightning suddenly and irrevocably Learn hence That the powerful and efficacious Preaching of the Gospel is the special means ordained and appointed by Christ for the Ruine and Subversion of Satans Kingdom in the World as the Gospel is the power of God unto Salvation to them that believe and obey it so it is the Power of God unto Destruction to Satan and all that fight under his Banner against it 19 Behold I give you power to tread on Serpents and Scorpions and over all the power of the Enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you Our Lord finding that his Seventy Ambassadors had managed their former Commission so well he here enlargeth it adding thereunto a promise of Divine Protection Behold I give you power to tread on Serpents and nothing shall hurt you as if Christ had said Go forth again in this Armour of Power with which I have girt you and I warrant you Sword-free and Shot-free nothing shall by any means hurt you neither Strength nor Stratagem shall overcome you neither the Power the Presence nor Protection of God shall be wanting to any of Christ's Ministers or Members who go forth in his Strength against the Spiritual Enemies of their Salvation As we have a Promise of Power in this Text to enable us to resist the Devil so we have a Promise of Success elsewhere upon our Resisting of him Resist the Devil and he will flee from you St. James 4.7 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoyce not that the Spirits are Subject unto you but rather rejoyce because your Names are written in Heaven In these words of our Saviour there is something Corrective and something Directive the corrective part lies in the first words wherein Christ checks the suspected excesses of their joy for Victories gained over Evil Spirits in this Rejoyce not that is lâ—t not your Hearts too much over-flow with joy upon this occasion the Negation is not absolute but comparative only Christ doth not forbid but only qualify and moderate their joy That the Spirits are subject to you that is the Devils Where Note 1. That tho' the Evil Angels by their Fall have lost their happy Condition yet not their original Constitution their Honour but not their Nature they are Spirits still 2. The Subjection of those Evil Spirits to the Power of Christ is not a free and professed but an involuntary and imposed Subjection like that of a slave to his Lord whether he will or no. Learn hence 1. That Evil Spirits are Subject to the Power of Christ not only to his personal but to his Ministerial Power 2. That it is matter of great joy to see Evil Spirits brought into Subjection by the Power of Christ to see the Evil Spirit of Pride and Contention of Envy and Malice of Error and Falshood of Jealousy and Self-love of Animosity and Division not only chained but changed to see not only an unwilling Subjection but a Subjection of the Will given to Christ is matter of great Joy and unspeakable Rejoycing The Directive part of our Saviour's Words lies in the latter part of the Verse But rather rejoyce that your Names are written in Heaven There are no literal Records in the Court of Heaven no Pen or Ink Paper or Parchment but to be written in Heaven is to have a Title to Eternal Life and to be made meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Learn 1. That God has in Heaven a Book of Life a Book written with the Golden Rays and Beams of his own Eternal Love Observe 2. That there are Names written in
this Book 3. That Persons may know that their Names are written in that Book otherwise they could not rejoyce for no Man can rejoyce in an unknown good 4. That it is greater matter of Joy and Rejoycing to know that our Names are written in Heaven then to have a Power to cast out Devils here on Earth A Man may have Power to cast forth Devils out of others and yet at the same time the Devil may have Power in and over himself Therefore in this rejoyce not that the Devils are subject unto you But rather rejoyce that your Names are written in Heaven If you say With what spectacles shall we read that at such a Distance Who will ascend up into Heaven to see whether his Name be written there Or who can send a Messenger thither to search the Records I Answer Turn thine Eyes inward if the Name of God be written in thy Heart thy Name is certainly written in Heaven if you in your daily Actions write out a Copy of God's Book the Blessed Bible here below assure your selves the hand of God has written your Names in his Book above that is you shall certainly be saved 21 In that Hour Jesus rejoyced in Spirit and said I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes even so father for so it seemed good in thy sight 22 All things are delivered to me of my father and no man knoweth who the Son is but the Father and who the Father is but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Here we find our Saviour glorifying his Father and magnifying himself 1. He glorifies his Father for the wise and free Dispensation of his Gospel-Grace to the meanest and most ignorant Persons whilst the Great and Learned Men of the World undervalued and despised it I thank thee Father that thou hast revealed these things to Babes Learn hence 1. That till God reveals himself his Nature and Will no Man can know either what he is or what he requires Thâ—u hast revealed 2. That the wise and knowing Men of the World have in all Ages despised the Mysteries of the Gospel and have therefore been judicially blinded by God Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent When Men shut their Eyes against the clearest Light and say they will not see God closes their Eyes and says they shall not see 3. That the most ignorant if humble and desirous of spiritual Illumination are in the readiest disposition to receive and embrace the Gospel Revelation Thou hast revealed them unto Babes 4. That this is not more pleasing to Christ then it is the pleasure of his Father even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight Observe 2. our Saviour magnifies himself 1. His Authority and Commission All things are delivered unto me that is all Power is committed to me as Mediator from God the Father 2. His Office to reveal his Father's Will to a lost World No man knoweth the Father but the Son or the Son but the Father That is no Man knoweth their Essence and Nature their Will and Pleasure their Counsel and Consent their mutual Compact and Agreement betwixt themselves for saving a lost World but only themselves and those to whom they reveal it Learn thence That all saving Knowledge of God is in by and thro' Christ he as the great Prophet of his Church reveals unto us the Mind and Will of God for our Salvation None knoweth but he to whom the Son revealeth 23 And he turned him to his Disciples and said privately Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see 24 For I tell you that many Prophets and Kings have desired to see those things which ye see and have not seen them and to hear those things which ye hear and have not heard them From the very first giving out of the Promise of Christ to Adam after the Fall Gen. 3.15 There was in all good Men a longing Desire and Expectation to see that Person who should be so great a Blessing to Mankind Prophets and Kings desired to see the promised Messiah Now says our Saviour to his Disciples Blessed are you for you have seen with the Eyes of your Body what others only saw with the Eyes of their Mind with your Bodily Eye you have seen the Promised Messias coming in the Flesh and also the Miracles to confirm you that I am He have been wrought before your Eyes therefore Blessed are the eyes of your Body which have beheld me corporally and blessed also are the eyes of your Mind which have beheld me Spiritually A sight of Christ by a Believing eye much more by a glorified eye is a blessed Sight Blessed are those eyes which see Christ in his Dispensations of Grace here they shall certainly see him in his manifestations of Glory hereafter 25 And behold a certain Lawyer stood up and tempted him saying Master What shall I do to inherit eternal Life 26 He said unto him What is written in the Law How readest thou 27 And he answering said Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy strength and with all thy mind and thy neighbour as thy self 28 And he said unto him Thou hast answered right this do and thou shalt live Here we have a Lawyer that is an Interpreter and Expounder of the Law of Moses tempting our Saviour that is making tryal of him whether he would deliver any Doctrine contrary to the Law of Moses he propounds therefore a question What he should do to inherit eternal Life Where Note 1. He Believed the certainty of a future State 2. he professes his desire of an Eternal Happiness in that State 3. He declares his Readiness to do something in order to the obtaining of that Happiness Hence Learn That all Religion both Nâ—tural and Revealed teaches Men that good Works are necessary to Salvation or that something must be done by them who desire to enter into Life What shall I do to inherit eternal Life It is not talking well and professing well but doing well that entitles us to Heaven and Eternal Salvation and this the very Light of Nature teaches Observe 2. Our Saviour's Answer What is written in the Law how readest thou intimating to us that the Word and Law of God is the Rule and measure of our Duty our Guide to direct us in the way to Eternal Life The Man Replies That the Law of God requires That we love God with all our heart soul and strength and our Neighbour as our selves Where Note 1. That the fervour of all our Affections and particularly the Supremacy of our Love is Required by God as his Right and Due Love must pass thro' and possess all the Powers and Faculties of our Souls The Mind must meditate upon God the Will must choose and embrace
but when thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy hands and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldest not 19 This spake he signifying by what death he should glorifie God And when he had spoken this he saith unto him Follow me In these words our Saviour forewarns Peter of his future Sufferings intimating that he should prove more stout than in his former Trial when he was young and unexperienced he enjoyed his Liberty but when he was grown older in Years and stronger in Grace he should willingly stretch forth his Hands and quietly suffer himself to be bound to the Cross for Peter say some was not nailed but tied and bound to the Cross only and so as a Martyr or Witness for the Truth of Christ glorified God by his Death Learn hence 1. The Ministers of Jesus Christ when they undertake the charge of his Flock must prepare for suffering work and lot upon it Therefore is this Prediction of Peter's sufferings joined with the former injunction feed my Sheep 2. That Humane Nature in Christ's Ministers as well as in other Men reluctates Sufferings has an antipathy against a violent Death They shall carry thee whither thou wouldest not 3. From the time of Peter's sufferings when he is old Learn That the timing of the Saints Sufferings is in Christ's Hands he can and when he pleaseth doth screen them from suffering till old Age when their work is almost done for God they close their Days with suffering for him When thou art old thou shalt stretch forth thine Hands and another shall gird thee Learn lastly That the sufferings of the Saints in general and of the Ministers of Christ in particular do redound much to the Glory of God which is a consideration that ought to reconcile them to the Cross of Christ and support them under it This spake he signifying by what Death he should glorifie God 20 Then Peter turning about seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following which also leaned on his breast at supper and said Lord which is he that betrayeth thee 21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus Lord and what shall this man do 22 Jesus saith unto him If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee Follow thou me Our Saviour having foretold the manner of Peter's Death in the foregoing Verses here in these Peter is inquisitive after and very solicitous for the Knowledge of what kind of Death St. John should die Christ cheeks him for his Curiosity as meddling with that which did not concern him yet intimates to him That John should live till he came to take Vengeance on the Jews and destroy Jerusalem If I will that he tarry till I come that is till I come to execute Judgment upon Jerusalem Here we may Note There are two great Vanities in Men with reference to Knowledge the one a Neglect to know what is our Duty to know the other a Curiosity to know what doth not belong to us to know Christ tells Peter it was none of his Business to inquire what John should do But he ought rather to be preparing for what he himself should suffer If I will that he tarry what is that to thee 23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren that that disciple should not die yet Jesus said not unto him He shall not die but If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee Here Observe How strangely our Saviour's Words were mistaken and misunderstood by his own Disciples They apprehend presently that John should not die And so it passed current among them From hence we may Note How much the Wisdom of God is and ought to be admired in giving us a written Word and tying us to it when we see erroneous Traditions so soon on foot in the World and our Saviour's own Speeches so much mistaken and that by wise and holy Men themselves in the purest Times Much more may the Words of others be misreported and wrested contrary to their sense and meaning How great then is the Vanity and Uncertainty of Oral Tradition Men are naturally prone to mistake to mistake themselves and to mistake one another The more to be admired is their over-daring Ignorance who think they cannot err Such an haughty Opinion of a Man's self concludes him to be neither good nor wise 24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things and wrote these things and we know that his testimony is true The great Modesty of the holy Evangelist St. John is all along throughout his Gospel very observable he mentioneth himself hitherto under a third Person he calleth himself a Disciple a Learner who excelled the most accomplish'd Doctors of the Ages ever since Here he speaks more plainly and expresly concerning himself declaring that he was an Eye-witness and an Ear-witness of what he wrote for the greater certainty thereof And this Protestation here made by the Evangelist of the Truth of what he wrote was highly necessary lest any should think that Christ's extraordinary Love and Affection to him he being the beloved Disciple should move him to exceed as we are prone to do in writing the History of their Lives who are dear to us and we to them Learn hence That this Gospel was written by John the beloved Disciple and the Narration is of Divine Truth worthy to be embraced and received by us as a perfect Rule of Faith and Life We know that his Testimony is true 25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose that even the world it self could not contain the books that should be written Amen John being about to conclude the History of our Saviour's Life asserts that there were many other Miracles and special Deeds done by Christ both before and after his Passions which he had not recorded or set down because should all that Christ did and said be committed to Writing it would even fill the World the Volumes would be so many From hence we gather 1. The wonderful Activity Industry and Diligence of the Lord Jesus Christ that he was never Idle but that his whole Life was spent in doing Good because should all the particular Instances have been recorded it would amount to an incredible Bulk Learn 2. That it is impossible to get all said which might be said of Christ and in his Commendation such is the transcendent Excellency of his Person and the Weakness of our Apprehensions and Judgments that if all were written which might be written concerning him the World it self could not contain the Books which should be written Learn lastly That although many of Christ's Sermons Conferences Miracles and Actions be not Recorded yet it doth not follow nor can it be inferr'd from thence That any necessary Doctrine is omitted or not sufficiently confirmed There being so much written as it pleased God we should know and was necessary for us to know in
of those that live under the Gospel are streighter and narrower than those that lived under the Law Observe farther In whose Name Persons are to be baptized in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Where we have a Profession of our Belief in the holy Trinity a Dedication of the Person to the Worship and Service of the holy Trinity and a Stipulation or Covenant Promise that we will continue faithful in the Service of Father Son and holy Spirit to our Lives end The third Branch of the Power which Christ delegated to his Apostles was by their Ministry to press upon all their Converts an Universal Observance of and Obedience to all his Commands Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I command you Where Note 1. That preaching is the ordinary and instituted Means to convert Nations unto God 2. That preaching must not only go before Baptism but follow after it Obedience must be prest upon and practised by all those that enter into Covenant with God otherwise they lye under a greater Condemnation 3. That preaching the Gospel is a chief part of the Ministers Work and no Apostle thought himself above that Duty 4. As the Apostles did not so the Ministers of Christ ought not to teach any thing but what Christ commands them 5. As they are to teach what Christ commands them so are they to teach all things whatsoever Christ commands them Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I command you Lastly Observe The Promise subjoined Lo I am with you always to the end of the World That is I am and will be with you and your Successors lawfully called by my Power and Authority by the Blessing and Assistance of my holy Spirit I will be with you to uphold my own Ordinance to protect encourage and reward you and all your Successors in the faithful Discharge of your Trust and this not for a Day a Year or an Age but to the End and Consummation of all Ages Learn hence That the Ministry of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments are a standing and perpetual Ordinance to continue in the Christian Church throughout all Ages Learn 2. That all the faithful Ministers of Christ in what part of the World soever God shall cast their Lot and in what time soever they shall happen to live may comfortably expect Christ's Gracious Presence with their Persons and his Blessing upon their Endeavours Lo I am with you I am always with you and to the end of the World I will be with you Thanks be to Christ for the Gracious Promise of his Spiritual and Perpetual Presence with his Ministers to the end of the World May this Promise cause us to gird up the Loins of our Minds encrease our Diligence Zeal and Fervour accounting no Labour too great no Service too much no Sufferings too severe so that we may but finish our Course with Joy and fulfil the Ministry we are engaged in Amen Amen The End of St. MATTHEW EXPOSITORY NOTES WITH PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS UPON The Holy Gospel ACCORDING TO ST. MARK DEUT. vi Ver. 6 and 7. These Words which I command thee this Day shall be in thy Heart And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children And shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine House and when thou walkest by the Way and when thou lyest down and when thou risest up EXPOSITORY NOTES WITH PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS UPON The Holy Gospel ACCORDING TO S T. MARK St. Mark the Writer of this Compendious History of our Blessed Saviour's Life and Death was the Disciple and Companion of St. Peter and some affirm that he wrote his Gospel from St. Peter's Mouth it being Dictated by St. Peter and Indited by the Holy Ghost But since we are assured that the Spirit of God Indited the Book we need not trouble our selves to find out whose Hand it was that held the Pen. CHAP. I. 1 THE beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the son of God The Word Gospel signifies a Message of glad Tydings and intimates to us that the Doctrine of the Gospel contains the most gladsome Tydings the most joyful Message that ever was sent from God to Mankind Happy Tydings concerning our Reconciliation with God and Salvation by Jesus Christ Oh how highly should we prize how stedfastly believe how cordially embrace these good Tydings of great Joy Observe 2. This Gospel is called the Gospel of Jesus Christ because Christ as God is the Author of this Gospel and also the principal Subject and Matter of it Indeed St. John the Baptist was the first Publisher and Preacher of the Gospel Doctrine but Christ himself was the first and principal Author and likewise the chief Subject-matter of it for whatever is taught in the Gospel relates either to the Person and Offices of Christ or to the Benefits received by him or the Means of enjoying those Benefits from him Observe 3. How St. Mark stiles Christ the Son of God as St. Matthew had stiled him before the Son of David the one sets forth the Verity of his Humane Nature the other the Reality of his Divine Nature Signifying to us that the true and promised Messias was both God and Man in two distinct Natures and one Person for ever He is true and real God as well as the Father and the Holy Ghost not a meer Man but God as well as Man 2 As it is written in the Prophets Behold I send my messenger before thy face which shall prepare thy way before thee St. Mark begins his Gospel with an Account of St. John the Baptist's Preaching and Ministry and declares 1. That the Prophets of old particularly Isaiah and Malachy did long before foretel the Baptist's Message and Ministry that he should go before Christ as his Harbinger to prepare the Way for him Behold I send my Messenger to prepare thy Way Where Note 1. The Dignity and Authority of the Ministers of Christ they are his Messengers sent by him to deliver his Mind and Will unto his People This Ministerial Mission is twofold Extraordinary and Ordinary the former when God immediately by himself calls Men to the Holy Function the latter when he uses the Ministry of Man in order thereunto Observe 2. The Work and Office of the Ministers of Christ declared and that is to prepare People to receive Jesus Christ offered and tendered to them in the Gospel Behold I send my Messenger to prepare thy Way before thee Learn thence That the great Design and End of the Ministry of the Word is to prepare and fit Men for entertaining the Holy Religion of Christ in their Hearts and to oblige them to walk according to the Rules and Directions of it in their Lives 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord make his paths straight Here Note 1. The Title given to John the Baptist He is called a Voice in respect of his Ministerial Office which was to speak forth to
sit down by him as his Members The only way to this namely to ascend unto and sit down with Christ in Heaven is to live like him and to live unto him here on Earth If any Man love me he will follow me and where I am there shall alsâ— my servant be St. Joh. 12.26 20 And they went forth and preached every where the Lord working with them and confirming the word with Signs following Observe here first the general publication of the Gospel by the Apostles They went forth and preached every where Secondly the reason of the Efficacy and Success of it namely that Divine and miraculous power which accompanied the Preaching of it the Lord wrought with them and câ—nfirmed the word with Signs following 1. Obs The general publication of the Gospel by the Apostles they went forth and Preached every where The industry of the Holy Apostles was incredibly great yet was their success greater then their industry even beyond all humane Expectation which will evidently appear if we consider 1. The vast spreading of the Gospel so far in so short a space of time for in thirty Years time after Christ's death it was spread through the greatest part of the Roman Empire and reached as far as Parthia and India 2. The wonderful power and efficacy which the Gospel had upon the lives and manners of men the generality of those that entertained the Gospel were obedient to it both in word and deed because Christianity being an hated and persecuted profession no man could have any inducement to embrace it that did not resolve to practise it and live up unto it 3. The weakness and meanness of the Instruments that were imployed in propagating the Gospel shews the success of it to be very great and strange a company of plain and illiterate Men most of them destitute of the advantages of Education and unassisted by the countenance of any Authority whatsoever yet did they in a short space draw the World after them 4. The powerful opposition which was raised against the Gospel namely the prejudices of Education the power of indwelling Lusts and also the powers of the World then in being did strongly combine against it yet did Christianity bear up against all this opposition and made its way thorough all the resistance that the Lusts and prejudices of Men armed with the power and authority of the whole world could make against it 5. The great discouragements that Men were then under to embrace the Gospel and the Christian profession all the evils of this World threatned them Mockings and Scourgings Banishment and Imprisonment Reproach and Ruin death in all its fearful shapes was presented to them to deter them from embracing this Religion Observe therefore 2. The reason of this wonderful Success the Lord wrought with them and confirmed the word with Signs following the Lord wrought with them this points at the inward operation of the Holy Spirit upon the minds of Men and confirmed the word with Signs that is confirmed their Doctrine with Miracles such as healing Diseases raising the Dead casting out Devils inflicting corporal Diseases on scandalous persons and sometimes Death it self from the whole we gather the Truth and Divinity of the Christian Religion that it was and is certainly of God and therefore never could never can be overthrown The End of St. Mark EXPOSITORY NOTES WITH PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS UPON The Holy Gospel ACCORDING TO S T. LUKE St. LUKE xxiii 45 46 47. Then opened he their Vnderstandings that they might understand the Scriptures And he said unto them Thus it is written and thus it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the Third day and that Repentance and Remission of sins should be Preach'd in his name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem EXPOSITORY NOTES WITH PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS UPON The Holy Gospel ACCORDING TO S T. LUKE CHAP. I. 1 FOrasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed amongst us 2 Even as they delivered them unto us which from the beginning were eye-witnesses and ministers of the word 3 It seemed good to me also having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first to write unto thee in order most excellent Theophilus 4. That thou mayest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed This Gospel together with the Acts of the Apostles were written by St. Luke the beloved Physician and Companion of St. Paul who wrote as did the rest of the Evangelists by the special Direction and Inspiration of the Holy Ghost where we may profitably Remark the wonderful wisdom of God who in Order to the Confirming of our Faith in the Truth of the Gospel raised up a sufficient number of Witnesses to testify the verity and infallible certainty of all that the Gospel delivers to us Now this Evangelist St. Luke Dedicates this Gospel together with the Acts of the Apostles to Theophilus who was as some think an Honourable Senator or a Renowned and eminent Person in the Church as Others suppose But many take the word Theophilus not for a proper Name but common Name signifying every one that Loveth God to whom St. Luke addresses his Discourse The first four Verses of this Chapter are a Preface to the following History and acquaint us with the Reasons which induced St. Luke to write namely because divers Persons in that Age had imprudently and inconsiderately set upon writing Gospels without direction from the Spirit of God whose Errors and Mistakes were to be corrected by a true Narrative This St. Luke declare he was able to make having had perfect Understanding and Knowledge of the Truth of those things he was about to Relate partly by his familiarity with St. Paul and partly by his Conversation with the other Apostles who constantly attending our Saviour were Eye and Ear-witnesses of those things that are the Subject matter of the â—â—â—hing-History Hence learn 1. That there were some Apocryphal Writings or Writings which were not of Divine Authority Reâ—â—ting to the New Testament as well as to the Old as the Books of Asher Gad and Iddâ— are recited in the Old Testament but were never received into the Canon of the Scripture So were there some Gospels or Historical Relations of our Saviour's Life and Actions wrote by Persons which the Church never received as not having the impress of God's Ordination Note Secondly that the Gospels which St. Luke and the other Evangelists wrote have nothing of fallibility or uncertainty in them they wrote nothing but what they either heard or saw themselves or else received from those that were Eye and Ear-witnesses of matter of Fact It seemed good to me to write having had perfect knowledge of all things from the very first 5 There was in the days of Herod the king of Judea a certain Priest named Zacharias of the course of Abia and his wife was of the daughters of
me St. Luke If thou wilt worship before me from whence we may gather that if to worship before the Devil be to worship the Devil then to worship before an Image is to worship the Image Obs 2. the Bait which Satan makes use of to allure our Saviour to the sin of Idolatry representing to his eye and view all the glories of the World in a most inviting manner and that in a moment of time that so he might affect him the more and prevail the sooner Learn thence That the Pomp and Grandeur of the World is made use of by Satan as a dangerous Snare to draw Men into a compliance with him in his Temptations unto sin He shewed him all the Kingdoms of the world and the Glory of them Observe 3. What an impudent Lyar and proud Boaster the Devil is he was a Lyar from the beginning All this will I give thee for it was delivered unto me an impudent untruth for the Dominion over the things of the World was never given to the Angels neither has the Devil any power over the Creatures but by permission from God The Devil is a most impudent Lyar he told the first Lye and by long Practice is become a perfect Master in the Art of Lying Observe also the Devil 's Boasting as well as Lying All this will I give thee when he had not one foot of Ground to dispose of Great Boasters are for the most part great Lyars and such Boasters and Lyars are like the Devil Observe 4. How our Saviour declares the true and only Object of Religious Worship namely God himself thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Religious Worship is to be given to none of the Creatures neither to Angels nor Men how excellent soever but to God alone We read but of two Creatures that ever desired in Scripture to be Worshipped with Divine Worship namely the Devil and Antichrist but the command is peremptory Thou shalt worship the Lord and him only 9 And he brought him to Jerusalem and set him upon a pinacle of the temple and said unto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy self down from hence 10 For it is written He shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee 11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone 12 And Jesus answering said unto him it is said thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God 13 And when the Devil had ended all the temptation he departed from him for a Season Observe here 1. The power which Satan by God's permission had over the Body of our Blessed Saviour He took him up and he carried his Body through the Air from the Wilderness to Jerusalem and there sets him upon one of the Pinacles of the Temple Learn hence 1. That Satan by God's permission may have a power over the Bodies of Men yea over the Bodies of the best of Men. 2. That this exercise of Satans power over the Bodies of Men is no Argument that such Persons do not belong to God Our Saviour himself who was dear to God is yet left for a time in Satans hands But tho' Satan had a power to set him upon the Pinacle of the Temple yet he had no power to cast him down tho' Satan's Malice be infinite his power is limited and bounded he cannot do all the mischief he would and he shall not do all he can Obs 2. The Sin which Satan tempts Christ to the sin of Self-murther Cast thy self down Learn that Self-murther is a sin which Christ himself was and the Best of his Children may be sollicited and tempted to yet tho' Satan sollicited Christ to the sin he could not compel him to comply with the Temptation Thence Note That how much earnestness and importunity soever Satan uses in pressing his Temptation he can only perswade he cannot compel he may entice but cannot enforce Observe 3. The Argument which Satan uses to perswade Christ to the sin of Self-murther it is a Scripture-Argument he quotes a Promise He shall give his Angels charge over thee What a wonder is here to see the Devil with a Bible under his Arm and with a Text of Scripture in his Mouth Christ had alledged Scripture before to Satan here Satan Retorts Scripture back again to Christ It is written says Christ it is written says Satan Learn That Satan knows how to abuse the most excellent and comfortable Scriptures to the most horrid and prodigious Ends and Purposes He that had Prophanely toucht the Sacred Body of Christ with his hand sticks not presumptuously to handle the Holy Scriptures with his Tongue Obs 4. The Text of Scripture which Satan makes use of Psal 91.11 12. He shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee where the Doctrine is good but the Application bad The Doctrine is true that God is pleased to imploy his Angels for the good of his Servants and particularly for their preservation in times of Danger But see how falsely the Devil perverts misapplies and wrests that Sacred Scripture When God promises that his Angels shall keep us it is in all his ways not in our own crooked paths Learn That altho' the Children of God have the promise of the Guardianship of his Holy Angels yet then only may they expect their Protection when walking in the way of their Duty He shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways Observe Lastly The issue of this Combat Satan is vanquished and departs from our Saviour St. Matthew says the Devil left him and Angels came and ministred unto him Satan is Conquered and quâ—â—s the Field Teaching us That nothing like a vigorous resistance of Temptations causes the Tempter to flee from us Satan is both a Cowardly Enemy and a Conquered Enemy resist him and he will run 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee and there went out a fame of him through all the Region round about 15 And he taught in their Synagogues being glorified of all 16 And he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custom was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath-day and stood up for to read 17 And there was delivered unto him the Book of the Prophet Esaias and when he had opened the Book he found the place where it was written 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted to preach deliverance to the Captives and Recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty them that are bruised 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the Book and gave it again to the Minister and sate down and the eyes of all them that were in the Synagogue were fastned upon him 21 And he began to say unto them This day
Work he will furnish them with Endowments answerable to their vast Employment And the best Furniture they can have is the Holy Spirit in his Gifts and Qualifications suitable to their Work He breathed on them and said Receive ye the Holy Ghost Observe 4. How Christ asserts their Authority in the discharge of their Commission and declares that what they act Ministerially according to their Commission here on Earth is ratified in Heaven Whose Sins ye remit they are remitted Where Note That there is a twofold Power of remitting or forgiving Sins the one Magisterial and Authoritative this belongs to Christ alone The other Ministerial and Declarative this belongs to Christ's Ambassadors who have a Power in his Name to bind and loose It is a pious Note of St. Austin upon this Place That Christ first conferr'd the Holy Ghost upon his Apostles and then said Whose Sins ye remit they are remitted Thereby intimating that it is not they but the Holy Ghost by them that puts away Sin For who can forgive Sin but God only The Power of forgiving Sin that Man hath is only to declare That if Men be truly and really Penitent their Sins are forgiven them for the sake of Christ's satisfaction 24 ¶ But Thomas one of the twelve called Didymus was not with them when Jesus came 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand into his side I will not believe What the cause of Thomas his absence was is not declared it is evident that he was not with the rest of the Disciples when Christ appeared to them and his absence had like to have cost him dear even the loss of his Faith and he might have had cause for ever to have bewailed his absence from that Meeting of the Disciples had not Christ been more merciful Learn thence That the letting slip of one holy Opportunity may prove exceedingly prejudicial to the Souls Advantage It is wise and safe to lay hold upon every Opportunity for injoying Communion with God and Fellowship with his Saints Thomas his absence deprived him not only of the good News which Mary brought of Christ's being risen but also of the sight of him which the other Disciples got by assembling together and for want thereof Thomas is left under many Doubts and Fears Observe farther What a strange Declaration Thomas makes of his obstinate Unbelief Except I see the print of the nails and put my finger into his side I will not believe Where Note How strangely rooted Unbelief is in the Hearts of holy Men insomuch that they desire the Objects of Faith should fall under the view of their Senses Thomas carries his Faith at his Fingers ends he will believe no more than he can see or feel whereas Faith is the Evidence of things not seen 26 ¶ And after eight days again his disciples were within and Thomas with them then came Jesus the doors being shut and stood in the midst and said Peace be unto you 27 Then saith he to Thomas Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing Observe here First Our Saviour's appearing again to his Disciples after his Resurrection it was eight days after he first arose which was the first day of the Week Here Note That Christ's rising the first day of the Week and appearing on the next First-day of the Week after to the Disciples and they observing that Day for their solemn Assemblies and St. Paul administring on that Day the Lord's Supper Acts 20. and commanding on that Day Collections for the Poor 1 Cor. 16. and St. John calling it the Lord's-Day Rev. 1.10 From these Authorities and the Primitive Practice we derive our Christian Sabbath For we do not find in all the Scripture one Instance of any one Congregation of Christians only assembling upon the Jewish Sabbath but on the First Day of the Week on which we ground our Observation of that Day Observe 2. The wonderful Condescension of Christ to the weakness of Thomas his Faith he bids him reach forth his hand and thrust it into his side Not that Christ was pleased with but only pitiful towards Thomas his Infirmities and it ought to be no encouragement to any Person to follow his Example in seeking or expecting the like Signs of their own prescribing for helping of their Faith Observe 3. How mercifully Christ over-ruled Thomas his Unbelief for the Confirmation of our Faith His Doubting proved a means for establishing his own and our Faith Therefore says Gregory well Plus mihi profuit dubitatio Thomae quam credulitas Mariae Had not Thomas doubted we had not been so fully assured that it was the same Christ that was crucified who rose again 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him My Lord and my God These Words may be considered two ways 1. As an abrupt Speech importing a vehement Admiration of Christ's Mercy towards him and of his own Stupidity and Dulness to believe Learn hence That the convincing Condescension of Christ turns Unbelief into a Rapture of holy Admiration and humble Adoration 2. This Expression of Thomas My Lord and my God contains a short but absolute Confession of Faith Thomas rightly collects from his Resurrection that he was Lord God blessed for evermore the true Messias the expected Redeemer and accordingly with an explicite Faith he now professes his Interest in him saying My Lord and my God 29 Jesus saith unto him Thomas because thou hast seen me thou hast believed blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed Here we have Christ's Reprehension of Thomas for not believing without such sensible Evidence as he desired He believed now that Christ was risen from the Dead but it was upon the Testimony of his Senses only Therefore Christ tells him that his Faith would have been more excellent and more eminently rewardable if he had believed without such demonstrative Evidence Faith is the Evidence of things not seen Therefore to give Credit to a thing upon the Evidence of Sense is not properly believing Observe farther How Christ pronounces them Blessed who should hereafter believe on him through the preaching of the Gospel though they did not see him as Thomas did nor handle him as he might This is a sure Rule that by how much our Faith stands in less need of the external Evidence of Sense the stronger our Faith is and the more acceptable it is provided what we believe be revealed in the Word of God Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed 30 ¶ And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book 31 But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the
Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his Name Observe here 2. The true End for which the Miracles of Christ were so carefully recorded namely that we might believe By believing that Christ is the Son of God we have Life and by the Evidence of his Miracles we know and believe him to have been the Son of God The Miracles which Christ wrought were the best external Evidence of his Mission Observe 1. That all Christ's Miracles both before his Passion and after his Resurrection were not recorded by the Evangelists Observe 2. The great Point concerning Christ to be known and believed from the Scriptures is this That Jesus the Son of the Virgin is the promised Messiah the anointed of the Father he in whom all the Types and Shadows of the Law are accomplished and that this Jesus is for Nature Co-essential for Dignity Co-equal and for Time Co-eternal with the Father One in Essence equal in Power and Glory Thus believing that Jesus is the Son of God and accompanying that Belief with a holy Life if we believe well and live well we shall have Life through his Name CHAP. XXI AFter these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias and on this wise shewed he himself The foregoing Chapter acquainted us with several Appearances of Christ to his Disciples after his Resurrection All which were in Jerusalem This Chapter acquaints us with his appearing to his Disciples in Galilee whither he had ordered his Disciples to go promising there to meet them Jerusalem now becomes a forsaken Place a People abandoned to destruction Christ will not shew himself openly to them but Gallilee was a Place where Christ's Ministry had found better acceptance to Galilee therefore doth he go Such Places wherein Christ is most welcome to preach shall be most honoured with his Presence Jesus shewed himself to his Disciples at the Sea of Tiberias called elsewhere the Sea of Galilee 2 There were together Simon Peter and Thomas called Didymus and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee and the sons of Zebedee and two other of his disciples 3 Simon Peter saith unto them I go a fishing They say unto him We also go with thee They went forth and entred into a ship immediately and that night they caught nothing Observe here That after Christ was crucified the Disciples returned for a time to their Trade and Employment of Fishing tho' they were called to be Fishers of Men yet Churches not being gathered and constituted at present nor able to maintain them they labour with their Hands to supply their present Necessities Afterwards when at the Feast of Pentecost they had received those visible Gifts of the Holy Ghost which did furnish them for preaching the Gospel to all Nations and they went forth to plant and propagate the Gospel we may believe they then gave over the Labours of their Secular Calling and applied themselves wholly to the Work of the Ministry That may be done in Ecclesiâ Constituendâ in a Churc◠which is constituting or about to be constituted which is not convenient to be done in a Church already constituted Observe farther How Peter with the rest toil all night and catch nothing but no sooner is Christ come among them but they inclose a multitude of Fishes Thereby teaching us That all human Labours and Endeavours are in vain unless Christ by his Presence and Blessing crown them with success 4 But when the morning was now come Jesus stood on the shoar but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus 5 Then Jesus saith unto them Children have ye any meat They answered him No. 6 And he said unto them Cast the net on the right side of the ship and ye shall find They cast therefore and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes Observe here 1. Christ was near very near to his Disciples but they perceive it not Jesus stood on the shoar but they knew not that it was Jesus Learn Christ is not always discerned by us when he is present with us it is a double Mercy to enjoy his Company and to know indeed that it is he Observe 2. Altho' they had laboured all the Night in vain yet at Christ's Command they go to Work again and with great success they were not able to draw the Net for the multitude of Fishes When Christ is about to do great things for his People yet will he have them exert all possible Endeavours of their own and the want of former Success must not discourage from future Endeavours Observe 3. What a Proof Christ here gives of his Divinity and Godhead How were all the Fish in the Sea at his Pleasure and obedient to his Command He knew where they swim and brings them from one part of the Lake to the other where the Disciples had toil'd all night and caught nothing Christ our Mediator is true God and as such has a Sovereign Power and Providence over all the Creatures the Cattel on a thousand Hills and all the Fish swimming in the Sea are obedient to his Power and observant of his Commands 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord he girt his fishers coat unto him for he was naked and did cast himself into the sea 8 And the other disciples came in a little ship for they were not far from land but as it were two hundred cubits dragging the net with fishes 9 Assoon then as they were come to land they saw a fire of coals there and fish laid thereon and bread Observe here 1. The great Zeal and Forwardness of Peter hearing that it was Christ he leaps into the Sea to get to him Oh how inviting attractive and alluring is a sight of Christ It will make those that know him break thro' all Difficulties to come unto him It is not a Sea of Water no not Seas of Blood that can keep a zealous Soul at a distance from Christ When Peter heard that it was the Lord he girt his Coat and cast himself into the Sea Observe 2. What a Complication of Miracles here were as soon as they came to Land they discerned another Miracle viz. A Fire of Coals and Fish laid on and Bread all created and produced by Christ out of nothing at this time as an Evidence of his Divine Power for before they could get the Fish to shoar they saw Fish broiling upon Coals which makes it evident that these were none of the Fish which they had catch'd Christ when he pleases for the Benefit and Comfort of his People will work Miracle upon Miracle Mercy upon Mercy one Wonder upon the head of another For here after a Miracle at Sea they meet with another Miracle at Land As soon as they came to Land they saw a Fire 10 Jesus saith unto them Bring of the fish which ye have now caught 11 Simon