with them Now this Person was so great a Cripple by reason of the Palsie that he was born of Four He could not go nor was capable of being led but was carried by Four in his Bed or Couch Obs 2. As the Grievousness of the Disease so the Greatness of their Faith The Man and his Friends had a firm Persuasion that Christ was cloath'd with a Divine Power and able to help him and they hoped in his Goodness that he was also willing to help him Accordingly the Roof of the Jewish Houses being flat they uncover some part of it and let the Bed down with the sick Man in it into the Room where Christ was Obs 3. No sooner did they exercise their Faith in believing but Christ exerts his Divine Power in healing And see the marvellous Efficacy of Faith it obtained not only what was desired but more than was expected They desired only the healing of the Body but Christ heals Body and Soul too Son be of good Cheer thy Sins are forgiven Thereby our Saviour shews them that Sin is the Original Cause of all Bodily Diseases and consequently that in Sickness the best way to find Ease and Deliverance from Pain is first to seek for Pardon The Sense of Pardon in some degree will take away the Sense of Pain Obs 4. The Exception which the Scribes took against our Saviour for pronouncing that this Man's Sins were forgiven him They accuse him of the Sin of Blasphemy urging that it is God's peculiar Prerogative to pardon Sin Their Doctrine was true but their Application false Nothing more true than that it is the highest degree of Blasphemy for any meer Man to arrogate to himself the incommunicable Prerogative of God which consists in an Absolute and Authoritative Power to forgive Sin But then their denying this Power to Christ of forgiving Sin which he had as God from all Eternity and as Mediator God and Man in one Person when here upon Earth this was Blasphemy in them the challenging of it none in him Obs â— Our Saviour gives these Scribes a twofold Demonstration of his Godhead 1. By letting them understand that he knew their Thoughts Jesus perceived in his Spirit that they reasoned within themselves To search the Hearts and to know the Thoughts and Reasonings of Men is not in the Power of Angels or Men but the Prerogative of God only 2dly By assuming to himself a Power to forgive Sin For our Saviour here by assuming to himself a Power of forgiving Sins in his own Name and by his own Authority doth give the World an undeniable Proof and convincing Evidence of his Godhead for who can forgive Sins but God only Obs 6. The Effect of this Miracle upon the Minds of the People They marvelled and were amazed but not believed They admire our Saviour for an extraordinary Man but did not believe him to be God Learn hence That the Sight of Christ's Miracles is not sufficient to work Faith in the Soul without the concurring Operation of the Holy Spirit The one may make us marvel the other must make us believe 13 And he went forth again by the sea-side and all the multitude resorted unto him and he taught them 14 And as he passed by he saw Levi the son of Alpheus sitting at the receit of custom and said unto him Follow me And he arose and followed him 15 And it came to pass that as Jesus sat at meat in his house many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples for there were many and they followed him 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicanes and sinners they said unto his disciples How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners 17 When Jesus heard it he saith unto them They that are whole have no need of the physician but they that are sick I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Obs here 1. The unwearied Pains and Diligence which our Saviour used in the Execution of his Ministerial Office and Calling No sooner had he done preaching in Capernaum and healing the sick of the Palsie but he goeth out thence to the Sea side to preach there Oh Blessed Saviour How perpetually wert thou employed in the Labours of thy Calling in the Service of thy Father and for the Good of Mankind Thou went'st about doing Good setting a Pattern for all thy Ministers to follow How doth the Example of thy laborious Diligence at once instruct and shame us Obs 2. The number of out Lord's Disciples not being fill'd up observe what a free and gracious unexpected and undeserved Choice he makes Levi that is Matthew for he had both Names a grinding Publican who gathered the Taxes for the Romans and was probably guilty as others were of the Sins of Covetousness Extortion and Oppression yet is he called to follow Christ as a special Disciple Learn thence That such is the Freeness of God's Grace that it calls and converts Sinners unto Christ when they think not of him nor seek unto him Little did Levi now think of a Saviour much less seek after him yet is he at this time called by him Matthew a Publican Zacheus an Extortioner Saul a Persecutor all these are brought home to God as Instances and Evidences of the mighty Power of converting Grace Obs 3. Matthew's ready Compliance with Christ's Call He arose and followed him When the inward Call of the Holy Spirit accompanieth the outward Call of the Word the Soul readily complies and presently yields Obedience to the Voice of Christ Christ oft-times speaks by his Word to our Ears and we hear not we stir not but when he speaks by his Spirit efficaciously to our Hearts Satan shall not hold us down the World shall not keep us back but we shall with Levi instantly arise and follow our Saviour Obs 4. Levi or Matthew to shew his Thankfulness to Christ makes him a great Feast Christ invited Matthew to a Discipleship Matthew invites Christ to a Dinner The Servant invites his Master a Sinner invites his Saviour We do not find that when Christ was invited to any Table that he ever refus'd to go if a Publican if a Pharisee invited him he constantly went not so much for the Pleasure of eating as for the Opportunity of conversing and doing Good Christ feasts us when we feast him Learn hence That new Converts are full of Affection towards Christ and very expressive of their Love unto him Matthew touch'd with a Sense of Christ's rich Love makes him a Royal Feast Obs 5. The Cavil and Exception which the Scribes and Pharisees made at our Lord 's free Conversation They censure him for conversing with Sinners he justifies himself telling them that he convers'd with them as their Physician not as their Companion They that are whole need no Physician says Christ but they that are Sick As if our Lord had said With whom should a Physician converse but
our Best friends is not always seasonable nor acceptable There are Times and Seasons when a Christian would not be willing that his Dearest Relations upon Earth should hear that Intercourse which passes betwixt him and his God Observe 3. The place our Lord withdraws to for private Prayer it is the desert he withdrew into the Wilderness and Prayed both to avoid Ostentation and also to enjoy Communion with his Father The modest Bridegroom of his Church says St. Bernard will not impart himself so freely to his Spouse before Company St. Mark 1.35 adds That our Saviour rose up a great while before day and went into this desert place to pray Teaching us that the Morning is the fit Season yea the best of Seasons for private Duties now are our Spirits freshest and our minds freest before the Distractions of the day break in upon us It is certainly much better to go from Prayer to business then from business to Prayer Note lastly that our Blessed Saviour had no idle hours here in the World his time did not lye upon his hand as ours do he was always either Preaching or Praying or working Miracles either paying Homage to God or doing good to man Lord help us to imitate this thy instructive Example by imbracing all opportunities of Glorifying God and doing good to one another 17 And it came to pass on a certain day as he was teaching that there were Pharisees and Doctors of the Law sitting by which were come out of every Town of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and the power of the Lord was present to heal them 18 And behold men brought in a Bed a man which was taken with the palsey and they sought means to bring him in and to lay him before them 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude they went upon the house-top and let him down through the Tiling with his Couch into the midst before Jesus 20 And when he saw their faith he said unto him Man thy sins are forgiven thee 21 And the Scribes and the Pharisees began to reason saying Who is this which speaketh Blasphemies who can forgive Sins but God alone 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts he answering said unto them what reason ye in your hearts 23 Whither is easier to say Thy sins be forgiven thee or to say Rise up and walk 24 But that ye may know that the son of man hath power on earth to forgive Sins he said unto the sick of the Palsy I say unto thee Arise and take up thy Couch and go into thy house 25 And immediately he rose up before them and took up that whereon he lay and departed to his own house glorifying God 26 And they were all amazed and they glorified God and were filled with fear saying We have seen strange things this day As the great End of our Saviours Miracles was to confirm his Doctrine so commonly after his Preaching he wrought his Miracles The Scribes and Pharisees tho' they had no love for our Saviour's person nor value for his Ministry yet they frequently accompanied him wherever he went partly to cavil at his Doctrine and partly out of Curiosity to see his Miracles but Observe the gracious Condescension of our Saviour altho' he well knew that the Pharisees at this time attended upon him with no good intention yet he puts forth his Divine Power in working Miracles before them the power of the Lord was present to heal Not that Christ's Power was at any time absent but it is said now to be present because it was now exerted and put forth at his Will and Pleasure And accordingly at this time before the Pharisees Eyes he Miraculously Cures a Person sick of the Palsy as the Paragraph before us does inform us Wherein Observe 1. The Diseased and Distressed Person one sick of the Palsy which being a Resolution and weakness of the Nerves enfeebles the Joynts and confines a Person to his Bed or Couch As a Demonstration of Christ's Divine Power he was pleased to single out the Palsy and Leprosy incurable Diseases to work a Cure upon Now this Person was so great a Cripple by reason of the Palsy that he could not go nor be led but was carried in his Bed or Couch Observe 2. As the grievousness of the Disease so the greatness of the Peoples Faith The Man and his friends had a firm and full perswasion that Christ was cloathed with a Divine Power and able to help him and they hope in his Goodness that he was willing as well as able And accordingly the Roof of the Jewish Houses being flat they uncover some part of it and let the Bed down with the sick Man in it and lay him at the foot of Christ in hopes of help and healing Observe 3. That no sooner did they exercise their Faith in Believing but Christ exerts his Divine Power in healing yet the Object of their Faith probably was not Christ's Divine Power as God but they look upon him as an extraordinary Prophet to whom God had Communicated such a Divine power as Elijah and Elisha had before him Yet see the marvellous efficacy even of this Faith which obtained not only what was desired but more then was expected They desired only the healing of the Body but Christ heals Body and Soul too saying Son be of good chear thy sins are forgiven thee Thereby our Saviour signifies to them that sin is the meritorious Cause of Sickness and consequently that in Sickness the best way to find ease and deliverance from pain is first to seek for pardon for the sense of pardon will in some degree take away the sense of pain Obs 4. The Exception which the Pharisees take against our Saviour for pronouncing that this Man's Sins were forgiven him they charge him with Blasphemy urging that it is God's peculiar Prerogative to pardon sin indeed their proposition was true but their application was false Nothing more true then that it is the highest Blasphemy for any meer Man to arrogate and assume to himself the incommunicable property of God absolutely and authoritatively to forgive sin But then their denying this power to Christ of Forgiving sins which he had as God from all Eternity and as Mediator GOD and Man in one Person when here on Earth this was Blasphemy in them but the assuming and challenging of it none in him Observe 5. To Cure if possible the obstinacy and blindness of the Pharisees our Saviour gives them a Two-fold Demonstration of his Godhead 1. By letting them understand that he knew their thoughts Jesus perceived their thoughts v. 22. to know the thoughts to search the Hearts and understand the reasonings of Men is not in the power of Angels or Men but the Prerogative of God only 2. By assuming to himself a power to forgive Sins for our Saviour here by taking upon him to forgive sins in his own name and by his own
Life Observe 2. How the Jews misunderstood our Saviour's words He that keeps my saying shall never see Death as if he meant a freedom from Temporal Death and hereupon they looked upon him as beside himself to promise a Priviledge which neither Abraham nor the Prophets did ever enjoy Whereas it was not Exemption from Temporal Death but freedom from Eternal Destruction which our Saviour promised to them that keep his sayings Hence learn That the misunderstanding of Christ's Doctrine and taking it in a Carnal Sense has given occasion for the many Cavils and Objections made against it Observe 3. How Christ clears himself of all Ambition in this matter and shews that he did not make this promise of delivering his followers from Death vain-gloriously but that God whom they called their Father had honoured him with Power to make good what ever he had promised to them that keep his saying Learn hence That as Christ intirely sought his Father's Glory so the Father conferred all Honour and Glory upon Christ as Mediatour thereby testifying how infinitely pleased he was with the Redemption of Mankind performed by him If I honour my self my honour is nothing it is my Father that honoureth me 56 Your father Abraham rejoyced to see my day and he saw it and was glad That is Abraham having Received a Promise that the Messias should come of his Seed he exceedingly Rejoyced to see the day of my coming in the Flesh tho' afar off with the Eye of his Faith and in a Figure in his Sacrificed Son Isaac And this sight of his Faith was so Transporting that he leap'd for Joy Learn hence That a strong Faith giveth such a clear sight of Christ tho' at a distance as produceth an Holy delight and Rejoycing in him 57 Then said the Jews unto him Thou art not yet fifty years old and hast thou seen Abraham 58 Jesus said unto them Verily verily I say unto you Before Abraham was I am 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him but Jesus hid himself and went put of the temple going through the midst of them and so passed by Observe here 1. What a false and Ridiculous construction the Jews make of our Saviour's words as if he had affirmed that he had seen Abraham and Abraham him with bodily Eyes whereas Christ only asserted that Abraham had seen his Day that is he foresaw by Faith the Day of his Incarnation and coming in the Flesh Observe 2. Our Saviour's positive asserting of his Divinity or that he had a Being as God from all Eternity for says he Before Abraham was I am Where Note That Christ doth not say Before Abraham was I was but Before Abraham was I am which is the proper name of God whereby is signified the Eternal duration and permanency of his Being The Adversaries of Christ's Divinity say that before Abraham was Christ was that is in God's fore-knowledge or Decree but this may be said of any other person as well as Christ that he was in the fore-knowledge of God before Abraham was Born Whereas undoubtedly it was Christ's design in these words to give himself some preference and advantage above Abraham which this Interpretation doth not in the least do Observe lastly How the Jews looking upon Christ as a Blasphemer for making himself equal with God and for asserting his Eternal Existence they make a Zealous attempt upon his Life by taking up Stones to cast at him as the Jews used to deal with Blasphemers but our Saviour delivers himself miraculously from their fury and escapes untouched Hence learn That when Arguments fail the Enemies of Truth betake themselves to force and violence They took up Stones to cast at him 2. That as Christ disappointed his own Persecutors so he can and will deliver his People in their greatest extremity from the Persecutors Rage and Fury 2. Pet. 2.9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptation and to reserve the Vnjust to the Day of Judgment to be punished CHAP. IX 1 ANd as Jesus passed by he saw a man which was blind from his birth The foregoing Chapter acquainted us with a famous Encounter which the Pharisees had with our Blessed Saviour in the Temple at Jerusalem This being ended as he passed from the Temple he saw a Man lying possibly by the High-way who was Born Blind Him Christ pitches upon as an object fit to exercise his Divine Power in the cure and healing of They that are Blind by casualty may possibly be relieved by Art and Industry but to cure one that is Born Blind nothing less is required than an Almighty Power Learn hence That Diseases and Distempers which are incurable by the ordinary course of Nature are not insuperable to Christ's Power nor impossible for him to help but a proper object for him to magnifie his Power upon Therefore is it here Recorded that this poor Man was Blind from his Birth such Blindness being accounted incurable by Natural means 2 And his disciples asked him saying Master who did sin this man or his parents that he was born blind Here Observe Something implied or supposed Namely 1. That all Bodily Afflictions and Calamities do come upon us for Sin Whereas Afflictions tho' they always fall upon a Sinner yet are they not always sent for Sin but by way of Purgation and Prevention of Sin 2. It is here supposed that as some Afflictions come upon Men for personal Sins so others come upon them for Parental Sins and that Children may and oftimes do very justly suffer for their Parents Sins 3. It is here supposed that there is no other Reason of a person's sufferings but only Sin Whereas tho' Sin be much and often the cause of suffering yet we may wrong God and Man yea and Sin too to conclude it is always the cause of suffering 4. It is implied here That there is a Transmigration of Souls from one Body to another the Disciples supposed that this Soul when it was in another Body sinned and was now punished by being put into a Blind Body This Pythagorean Error was crept in among the Pharisees and the Disciples here seem to be tainted and infected with it This may Teach us how far the Holiest and Wisest of Men are from an Infallible Spirit and that the Best Men may be misled by a common Error 3 Jesus answered Neither hath this man sinned nor his parents but that the works of God should be made manifest in him Christ's Answer must not be understood Absolutely as if he denied this Man and his Parents to be guilty of Sin for both he and they had Sin enough not only to deserve Temporal Blindness but Eternal darkness The meaning is That in Afflicting this Man the Lord did not so much Respect his or his Parent 's Sin as the manifestation of his own Glory in this miraculous Cure Christ doth not deny but that a Man 's own Sin and the Sin of his Parents may be the procuring
yet such weak Christians perhaps when a Trial comes shall stand their Ground when stronger run away We read of none of the Apostles at Christ's Funeral Fear had chased them away tho' they profess'd a Readiness to die with Christ But Joseph and Nicodemus appear boldly for him Let it be a Caution to strong Christians neither to glory in themselves nor to glory over the weak If God desert the strong and assist the weak the feeble shall be as David and the strong as Tow. Obs 3. The Mourners that followed the Hearse namely the Women that follow'd him out of Galilee and particularly the Two Maries a very poor Train of Mourners a few sorrowful Women Others are attended to their Graves by their Relations and Friends but Christ's Disciples were all scattered and afraid to own him either dying or dead Our Blessed Lord affected no Pomp or Gallantry in his Life and it was no ways suitable either to the End or Manner of his Death Humiliation was designed in his Death and his Burial was the lowest degree of his Humiliation Obs 4. The Grave or Sepulchre in which they buried him it was in a Garden As by the Sin of the first Adam we were driven out of the Garden of Pleasure the Earthly Paradice so by the Sufferings of the second Adam who lay buried in a Garden we may hope for an Entrance into the Heavenly Paradice It was in a Sepulchre hew'd out of a Rock that so his Enemies might have no Occasion to cavil and say that his Disciples stole him away by secret Holes or unseen Passages under Ground And it was in a new Sepulchre in which never any Man was laid lest his Adversaries should say it was some other that was risen or that he rose from the Dead by touching some other Corps Obs 5. The Manner of our Lord's Funeral hastily openly decently It was done in haste by reason of the Streights of Time the Preparation for the Passover caused them to be very expeditious the Sabbath was approaching and they lay all Business aside to prepare for that Learn thence How much it is our Duty to dispatch our Worldly Business as early as we can towards the end of the Week that we may be the better prepared to sanctifie the Lord's Day if we live to enjoy it We ought to remember that Day before it come and to sanctifie it when it is come Again our Lord was buried openly as well as hastily all Persons had Liberty to be Spectators that none might object there was any Fraud or Deceit used in or about his Burial He was also interr'd decently his Body wrapt in fine Linnen and perfum'd with Odours according to the Jewish Custom which used not to unbowel but embalm their Dead Obs 6. The Reason why our Lord was buried seeing he was to rise again in as short a time as other Men lye by the Walls and had his dead Body remain'd a Thousand Years unburied it could have seen no Corruption having never been tainted with Sin Sin is the Cause of the Body's Corruption 't is Sin that makes our Body stink worse than Carrion when they are dead A Funeral then was not necessary for Christ's Body upon the same Accounts that it is necessary for ours But 1. He was buried to declare the Certainty of his Death and the Reality of his Resurrection and for this Reason did God's Providence order it that he should be embalm'd to cut off all Pretensions For in this kind of embalming his Mouth his Ears and his Nostrils were all fill'd with Spices and Odours so that there could be no Latent Principle of Life in him being thus buried then declares him to be certainly dead 2. He was buried to fulfill the Types and Prophecies that went before concerning him Jonas being Three Days and Three Nights in the Belly of the Whale was a Type of Christ's being Three Days and Three Nights in the Heart of the Earth and the Prophet Esay 53.9 had declar'd the manner of his Funeral long before he was born He made his Grave with the Wicked and with the Rich in his Death Pointing by that Expression at this Tomb of Joseph's who was a rich Man and the Scriptures cannot be broken 3. He was buried to compleat his Humiliation They have brought me to the Dust of Death says David a Type of Christ This was the lowest Step he could possibly descend in his abased state lower he could not be laid and so low his blessed Head must be laid else he had not been humbled to the lowest 4. He went into the Grave that he might conquer Death in its own Territories and Dominions Christ's Victory over the Grave causes his Saints to triumph and sing Oh Grave where is thy Destruction Our blessed Lord has perfum'd the Bed of the Grave by his own lying in it so that a Pillow of Down is not so soft to a Believer's Head as a Pillow of Dust Observe Lastly what Use the Doctrine of our Lord's Burial may be unto us 1. For Instruction here we see the amazing Depths of our Lord's Humiliation From what to what his Love brought him even from the Bosom of his Father to the Bosom of the Grave Now the Depth of his Humiliation shews us the Fulness and Sufficiency of his Satisfaction as well as the Heinousness of our Transgression 2. For Consolation against the Fears of Death and the Grave The Grave received Christ but could not retain him Death swallow'd him up as the Fish did Jonas but quickly vomitted him up again so shall it fare with Christ mystical as it did with Christ Personal the Grave could not long keep him it shall not for ever keep us as his Body rested in Hope so shall ours also and tho' they see Corruption which he did not yet shall they not always lye under the Power of Corruption In a Word Christ's lying in the Grave has chang'd and alter'd the Nature of the Grave it was a Prison before a Bed of Rest now a loathsome Grave before a perfumed Bed now He whose Head is in Heaven need not fear to put his Foot into the Grave Awake and sing thou that dwellest in the Dust for the Enmity of the Grave is slain by Christ 3. For Imitation let us study and endeavour to be buried with Christ in respect of our Sins I mean Rom. 6.4 Buried with him into Death Our Sins should be as a dead Body in several Respects Are dead Bodies removed out of the Society of Men so should our Sins be removed far from us Do dead Bodies in the Grave spend and consume away by little and little So should our Sins daily Will dead Bodies grow every Day more and more loathsome to others So should our Sins be to our selves Do dead Bodies wax out of Memory and are quite forgotten So should our Sins in respect of any Delight that we take in remembring of them We should always remember our Sins to our Humiliation
Jewish Doctors Obstinacy and Unbelief filled their minds with an invincible prejudice against Christ so that neither the Miracles wrought by him in his Life or at his Death could convince them that Christ was any thing better than an Impostor and Deceiver None are so blind as those who through malicious obstinacy and inveterate prejudice will not see Observe 3. Who of Christ's Friends were witness of his Death they are the Women that followed him and ministred unto him not one of his dear Disciples dare come near him except St. John who stood by the Cross with the Virgin Mary Oh! what a shame was this for the Apostles to be absent from a Spectacle upon which the Salvation of the whole World did depend and what an honour was this to the Female Sex in general and to these holy Women in particular that they had the Courage to follow Christ to his Cross when all his Disciples forsook him and fled God can make timerous and fearful Women bold and couragious Confessors of his Truth and fortify them against the fears of his Suffering contrary to the natural timerousness of their Temper these Women wait upon Christ's Cross when Apostles fligh and durst not come nigh it 42 And now when the Even was come because it was the preparation that is the day before the Sabbath 43 Joseph of Arimathea an Honourable Counsellor which also waited for the Kingdom of God came and went in boldly unto Pilate and craved the Body of Jesus 44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead and calling unto him the Centurion he asked him whither he had been any while dead 45 And when he knew it of the Centurion he gave the Body to Joseph 46 And he brought fine Linnen and took him down and wrapped him in Linnen and laid him in a Sepulchre which was hewn out of a Rock and rolled a stone unto the door of the Sepulchre 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the Mother of Joses beheld where he was laid The Circumstances of our Lord's Funeral and Honourable Interment in the Grave are here Recorded by the Evangelist such a Funeral as never was since Graves were first digged Where Observe 1. Our Lord's Body must be Begg'd before it could be Bury'd the dead Bodies of Malefactors being in the Power and at the Disposal of the Judge Pilate grants it and accordingly the dead Body is taken down wrapped in fine Linnen and prepared for the Sepulchre Observe 2. The Person that bestows this Honourable Buryal upon our Saviour Joseph of Arimathea a Disciple no doubt though he did not make a publick and open Profession a Worthy though a Close Disciple Grace doth not always make a publick and open shew where it is as there is much Secret Riches in the Bowels of the Earth which no Eye ever saw so there is much Grace in the Hearts of some Christians that the Eye of the World takes little Notice of Some gracious Persons cannot put forward and discover themselves in Discourse as others and yet such weak Christians as the World counts them perhaps shall stand their Ground when stronger run away We read of none of the Apostles at Christ's Funeral fear had Chased them away but Joseph of Arimathea appears boldly if God strengthen the Weak and leave the strong to the prevalency of their own Fears The weak shall be as David and the strong as Tow. Observe 3. The Mourners that followed our Saviour's Hearse Namely the Women which came out of Galilee and particularly the two Mary's a very poor train of Mourners the Apostles were all scattered and afraid to own their Lord and Master either Dying or Dead And as our Lord affected no Pomp nor Gallantry in his Life so Funeral Pomp had been no way suitable either to the End or Manner of his Death Humiliation was designed in his death and his Buryal was the lowest Degree of his Humiliation and therefore might not be Pompous Observe 4. The Grave or Sepulchre in which our Lord was Buryed it was in a Sepulchre hewn out of a Rock in a new Sepulchre in a new Sepulchre in a Garden 1. Our Lord was Buryed in a Garden As by the sin of the first Adam we were driven out of the Garden of Pleasure the Earthly Paradise so by the Sufferings of the Second Adam who lay Buryed in a Garden we may hope for Entrance into the Heavenly Paradise 2. It was in a Sepulchre hewn out of a Rock that so his Enemies might have no occasion to cavil and say that his Disciples stole him away by secret holes or un seen passages under Ground 3. It was in a new Sepulchre in which never any Man was laid lest his Adversaries should say it was some other that was Risen who was Buryed there before him or that he Arose from the Dead by touching some other Corpse Observe 5. The Manner of our Lord's Funeral it was hasty open and decent it was performed in haste by reason of the streights of Time the Sabbath was Approaching and they lay all Business aside to prepare for that Learn hence How much it is our Duty to dispatch our Worldly Business as early as we can towards the End of the Week that we may be the better prepared to Sanctify the Lord's day if we live to enjoy it Hence it is that we are called upon to Remember that day before it comes and to Sanctify it when it is come Again our Lord was Buryed openly as well as hastily all Persons had Liberty to be Spectators lest any should object that there was deceit and fraud used in or about our Saviours Buryal yet was he also Interr'd Decently his Holy Body being wrapped in fine Linnen and perfumed with Spices according to the Jewish Custom Observe 6. The Reasons why our Lord was Buryed seeing he was to Rise again in as short a time as other Men lye by the Walls and had his dead Body remained a Thousand Years un-buryed it could have seen no Corruption having never been tainted with sin sin is the Cause of the Bodies Corruption 't is sin that makes our Bodies stink worse than Carrion when they are dead A Funeral then was not necessary for Christ's Body upon the same Accounts that it is necessary for ours But 1. Our Lord was Buryed to declare the certainty of his Death and the Reality of his Resurrection and for this Reason did God's Providence Order it that he should be Embalmed to cut off all Pretensions for in this kind of Embalming his Mouth his Ears and his Nostrils were all filled with Odours and Spices so that there could be no latent principle of Life in him he being thus Buryed then did demonstrate him to be certainly Dead 2. Christ was Buryed to fulfil the Types and Prophecies that went before concerning him Jonas being three days and three nights in the Belly of the Whale was a Type of Christ's being three days and three nights in the Heart of the Earth
a contrary Effect this Miracle which Christ wrought had upon these People Instead of Believing on him for his Miraculous Cure of the Possessed the Loss of their Swine enrages them and makes them desire Christ to depart from them Temporal Losses are so great in Worldly Mens Estimation that Spiritual Advantages are nothing esteemed Carnal Hearts prefer their Swine before their Saviour and had rather lose Christ's Presence than their Worldly Profit Obs 2. How Unanimous and Importunate these Gadarens were to get rid of Christ the whole City came out and are not only willing with his Departure but they beseech him to depart out of their Coasts Learn hence That deplorably sad is the Condition of such from whom Christ departs more deplorably sad their State who say unto Christ depart but most deplorably sad is the Case of them that intreat and beseech Christ to depart from them Thus did these Gadarens and accordingly Christ took Ship and departed from them and we never read of his return more unto them CHAP. IX 1 AND he entred into a ship and passed over and came into his own city In the last Verse of the foregoing Chapter the Gadarens with one Consent desire CHRIST to depart out of their Coasts â—here we find our Saviour according to their desire departing from them into his own City which was Capernaum for Bethlehem brought him forth Nazareth brought him up and Capernaum was his Dwelling-place From their Desire of Christ's Departure and from Christ's departing according to their Desire we Learn That the Blessed Jesus will not long trouble that People with his Presence who are weary of his Company and desirous of his Departure 2 And behold they brought to him a man sick of the palsie lying on a bed and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsie Son be of good cheer thy sins be forgiven thee Observe 1. The Patient One sick of the Palsie which being a Resolution of the Nerves weakens the Joints and confines the Person to his Bed or Couch As a Demonstration of Christ's Divine Power he was pleased to single out some Incurable Diseases as the World accounts them to work a Cure upon as the Leprosie and Palsie 2. The Physician Jesus Christ he alone is that Wise Faithful and Compassionate Physician that can and doth Cure both Soul and Body Obs 3. The Moving or Impulsive Cause of this Cure Jesus seeing their Faith that is their firm Perswasion that he was cloathed with a Divine Power and able to help together with their Confidence in his Goodness that he was as willing as he was able and no sooner did they exercise their Faith in Believing but Christ did exert his Divine Power in Healing Obs 4. The marvelous Efficacy and Power of Faith it obtained not only what was desired but more than was expected they desired only the Healing of the Body but Jesus seeing their Faith Heals Body and Soul too saying Be of good cheer thy Sins are forgiven thee 3 And behold certain of the scribes said within themselves This man blasphemeth See here how the best of Men are sometimes charged with saying and doing the worst of things to Do well and Hear ill was the Portion of Christ himself and may be the Portion of the holiest of those that belong to Christ The Innocent Jesus was accused of Blasphemy of Sorcery and of the blackest Crimes Innocency it self can protect no Man from Slander and False Accusations 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts 5 For whether is easier to say Thy sins be forgiven thee or to say Arise and walk 6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins then saith he to the sick of the palsie Arise take up thy bed and go unto thine house Our Saviour here gives the Pharisees a Twofold Demonstration of his Godhead First By letting them understand that he knew their Thoughts for to search the Hearts and to know the Thoughts of the Children of Men is not in the Power either of Angels or Men but the Prerogative of God only Secondly By assuming to himself a Power to Forgive Sins the Son of Man hath Power to Forgive Sins Our Saviour here by Forgiving Sins in his own Name and by his own Authority doth give the World an undeniable Proof and convincing Evidence of his Godhead for Who can Forgive Sins but GOD only 7 And he arose and departed to his house 8 But when the multitude saw it they marvelled and glorified God which had given such power unto men Note here The Multitude marvelled but not believed they admire our Saviour for an Extraordinary Man but did not believe in him as the Son of God They praise God for giving such Power to Heal the Bodies of Men but not for sending his Son into the World to Save the Souls of Men. Learn hence That the sight of Christ's Miracles is not sufficient to work Faith in the Soul but requires the concurring Operation of the Holy Spirit the one may make us marvel the other must make us believe 9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the receit of custom and he saith unto him Follow me And he arose and followed him Obs here The Number of our Lord's Apostles not being filled up what a strange Election and Choice he makes Matthew a grinding Publican is the Man Learn Such is the Freeness of God's Grace that it chuses and such is the Efficacy of it that it over-powers and brings in the worst of Sinners unto God Matthew a Publican Zaccheus an Extortioner Manasseh a Murderer Paul a Persecutor all these are brought home to God by the Power of Converting Grace Obs 2. Matthew's ready Compliance with God's Call He arose and followed Christ When the Inward Call of the Spirit accompanies the Outward Call of the Word the Soul readily complies and presently yields Obedience to the Voice of God Christ oft-times speaks by his Word to our Ear and we hear not we stir not but when he speaks by his Spirit to our Hearts Satan shall not hold us down the World shall not keep us back but we shall arise and follow our Lord and Master 10 And it came to pass as Jesus sat at meat in the house behold many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples Observe here Christ invited Matthew to a Discipleship Matthew invites Christ to a Feast the Servant invites his Master a Sinner invites his Saviour We do not find where ever Christ was invited to any Table that he refused to go if a Pharisee if a Publican invited he constantly went not for the Pleasure of Eating but for the Opportunity of Conversing and doing Good Christ feasts us when we feast him From Matthew's Example Learn That new Converts are full of Affection towards Christ and very expressive of their Love unto him Such
us from the Surcharge of it 2. A Cloud overshadows them to hinder their farther prying and looking into the Glory We must be content to behold God here through a Cloud darkly e'er long we shall see him Face to Face Obs 2. The Testimony given by God the Father out of the Cloud concerning Jesus Christ his Son This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Here Note 1. The Dignity of his Person he is a Son therefore for Nature coessential for Dignity coequal for Time coeternal with the Father and a Beloved Son because of his Likeness and Conformity to him Father's Likeness is the cause of Love and a Union of Wills causes a mutual endearing of Affections Note 2. The Excellency of his Mediation In whom I am well pleased Christ in himself was most pleasing to God the Father and in and through him he is well pleased with all Believers Christ's Mediation for us makes God appeaseable to us Note 3. The Authority of his Doctrine Hear him Not Moses and Elias who were Servants but Christ my Son whom I have commissioned to be the great Prophet and Teacher of my Church Therefore adore him as my Son believe in him as your Saviour and hear him as your Lawgiver He honours Christ most that obeys him best The obedient Ear honours Christ more than either the gazing Eye the adoring Knee or the applauding Tongue This is my beloved Son hear him 6 And when the disciples heard it they fell on their face and were sore afraid 7 And Jesus came and touched them and said Arise and be not afraid 8 And when they had lift up their eyes they saw no man save Jesus only 9 And as they came down from the mountain Jesus charged them saying Tell the vision to no man until the Son of man be risen again from the dead Observe here 1. The Effect which this Voice from Heaven had upon the Apostles it cast them into a Passion of Horror and Amazement They were sore afraid and fell on their Face Learn thence That such is the Majesty and Glory of God that Man in his sinful State cannot bear so much as a Glimpse of it without great Consternation and Fear How unable is Man to hear the Voice of God And yet how ready to despise the Voice of Man If God speaks by himself his Voice is too terrible if he speaks by his Ministers ir is too contemptible Obs 2. The Person by whom the Disciples were recovered out of these amazing Fears into which they were cast namely by Christ Jesus came and said be not afraid Learn That it is Christ alone who can raise and comfort those whom the Terrors of the Almighty have dejected and cast down Obs 3. The manner how Christ recovered them out of this passionate Amazement it was threefold 1. By his Gracious Approach he came unto them Christ will come with Comfort unto his Children when they are disabled from coming to him for Comfort 2. By his comfortable Touch He came and touched them Christ comforts Believers by a real and close Application of himself unto them An unapplied Christ saves none comforts none 3. By his comforting Voice He said be not afraid 'T is a Word of Assurance that there is no Ground nor Cause of Fear and 't is a Word of Assistance 'T is Verbum Operatorium he that said unto them Arise be not afraid did by his Spirit breath Life and conveigh Strength into their Souls to enable them to arise Obs 4. The strict Injunction given by Christ to his Disciples not to publish or proclaim this Vision till after his Resurrection for two Reasons 1. Lest it should hinder his Passion For had the Rulers of the World known him to be the Lord of Life and Glory they would not have crucified him Therefore Christ purposely concealed his Deity to give way to his Passion 2. Christ being now in a State of Humiliation would have his Majesty veiled his Glory concealed and consequently forbids that the Glorious Vision of his Transfiguration should be published and accordingly charges his Disciples That they tell the Vision to no Man till he was risen 10 And his disciples asked him saying Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them Elias truly shall first come and restore all things 12 But I say unto you that Elias is come already and they knew him not but have done unto him whatsoever they listed likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist Here we have the Disciples Question and our Saviour's Answer They ask our Saviour how the Observation of the Jewish Doctors holds good that Elias must come before the Messias come We see the Messias but we see no Elias our Saviour answers that Elias was come already Not Elijah in Person but one in the Spirit and Power of Elias One of his Spirit and Temper to wit John the Baptist who was prophesied of under the Name of Elias And indeed great was the Resemblance between the Elias of the Old Testament and of the New viz. John the Baptist They were both born in bad Times they were both Zealous for God and Religion they were both undaunted Reprovers of the Faults of Princes and they were both hated and implacably persecuted for the same Learn That Hatred and Persecution even unto Death has often been the Lot and Portion of such as have had the Courage and Zeal to improve the Faults of Princes Elias is come and they did unto him whatsoever they would 14 And when they were come to the multitude there came to him a certain man kneeling down to him and saying 15 Lord have mercy on my son for he is lunatick and sore vexed for oft times he falleth into the fire and oft into the water 16 And I brought him to thy disciples and they could not cure him Observe here 1. A sick Patient brought to Christ the great Physician for Cure and Healing A Lunatick that is a Person at certain times of the Moon afflicted with the Falling Sickness 2. This Sickness of his was aggravated by Satan who bodily possess'd him and cruelly cast him into the Fire and into the Water but rather for Torture than Dispatch Oh how does Satan that malicious Tyrant rejoice in doing Hurt to Mankind Lord abate his Power since his Malice will not be abated Obs 3. The Person that brought him forth for Cure his compassionate Father who kneeled down and cried out Need will make a Person both humble and eloquent Every one has a Tongue to speak for himself happy is he that keeps a Tongue for others 4. The Physicians that he was brought unto First To the Disciples and when they could not cure him then to Jesus We never apply our selves importunately to the God of Power till we totally despair of the Creatures help 17 Then Jesus answered
mere than the express Commandments of God Learn thence That Superstitious Men are always more Fond of and Zealous for the Traditions of Men in Divine Worship than of the express and positive Commands of God Secondly That it is the manner of such Persons to Tye others to their own Practice and Example in matters of Religious Worship and to Censure and Condemn all those who do not conform to them in the smallest matters The Pharisees here Censure the Disciples for eating with unwashed Hands because it was their Custom to wash when they did eat yet did not Christ or his Disciples refuse to wash before Meat as it was a Civil and Decent Custom but because the Pharisees made it a Religious Rite Teaching us that what is in it self indifferent and may without offence be done as a Civil Custom ought to be Discountenanced and Opposed when required of us as an Act of Religion The Jews fearing lest they should touch any Person or Thing that was unclean and so be Defiled unawares did use frequent washings as of Cups Pots Vessels Tables Beds or Couches which they lay upon when they eat Thus Pharisaical Hypocrisie puts God off with outward Cleansing instead of inward Purity regarding more the outward Cleanness of the Hand than the inward Purity of the Heart This was the Accusation of the Pharisees to which our Saviour Replies by way of Recrimination that if his Disciples did not observe the Tradition of the Elders They the Pharisees did reject and make void the Commandment of God and did Worship him in vain Teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men. Learn hence That all Service and Worship which is offered to God according to Man's Will and Ordinances and not according to the Rule of God's own Word is Vain and Unprofitable Divine Institution is the only pure Rule of Religious Worship as to the Substance of it here what God doth not Command he forbids Observe next the Instance which our Saviour produces of the Pharisees Violating an express Command of God and prefering their own Traditions before it He instances in the Fifth Commandment which requires Children to Relieve their Parents in their Necessities Now though the Pharisees did not deny this in plain Terms yet they made an exception from it which if Children pleased might render it vain void and useless For the Pharisees Taught that in case the Child of a Poor Parent that wanted Relief would give a Gift to the Temple which Gift they called Corban that is a Gift Consecrated to God and Religious Uses that then the Children of such Poor Parents were discharged from making any farther Provision for their Aged or Impotent Parents But might reply after this manner that which thou askest for thy Supply is given to God and therefore I cannot Relieve thee So that Covetous and Graceless Children lookt upon it as the most frugal way once for all to fine to the Temple rather than pay the constant Rent of Daily Relief to their Poor Parents Learn hence That the Practice of Moral Duties is required before and is more acceptable to Almighty God than the most Solemn Acts and Exercises of Instituted Worship whatsoever I will have Mercy says God rather than Sacrifice and to do Justice and Judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than Sacrifice Secondly That no Duty Gift or Offering to God is accepted where the Duty of Charity is neglected it is much more acceptable to God to refresh the Bowels of his Saints who are the Living Temples of the Holy Ghost than to Adorn Material Temples with Gold and Silver Corban is a Syriack Word signifying a Gift given to God The Pharisees applied these Gifts to the Use and Service of the Temple possibly to Repair Beautifie and Adorn it which had not been amiss if they had not taught that such Gifts to the Temple did discharge Children from the Duty of Charity to their Natural Parents These Things ought they to have done in the first place and not to leave the other undone 14 And when he had called all the people unto him he said unto them Hearken unto me every one of you and understand 15 There is nothing from without a man that entering into him can defile him but the things which come out of him those are they that defile the man 16 If any Man have ears to hear let him hear 17 And when he was entered into the house from the people his disciples asked him concerning the parable 18. And he saith unto them Are ye so without understanding also do ye not perceive that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man it cannot defile him 19 Because it entereth not into his heart but into the belly and goeth out into the draught purging all meats 20 And he said That which cometh out of the man that defileth the man 21 For from within out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts adulteries fornications murders 22 Thefts covetousness wickedness deceit lasciviousness an evil eye blasphemy pride foolishness 23 All these evil things come from within and defile the Man Our Blessed Saviour leaving the Pharisees with some dislike applies himself to the Multitude and instructs them in a very necessary and useful Doctrine Touching the true Original Cause of all Spiritual Pollution and Uncleanness Namely The Filthiness and Impurity of Man's Heart and Nature And that it is not the Meat eaten with the Mouth but the Wickedness of the Heart vented by the Mouth which Pollutes a Person in God's Account The Heart and Soul of Man alone is capable of Sinful Defilement Nothing can Defile a Person in God's Account but that which defileth the inward Man Learn hence 1. That the Heart of Man is the Sink and Seed-plot of all Sin the Source and Fountain of all Pollution 2. That all the Impiety of the Life proceeds from the Impurity and Filthiness of the Heart Mens Lives would not be so bad if their Hearts were not worse These Disciples desiring the Interpretation of the foregoing parable our Saviour gives it them but withal expostulates with them for not understanding a matter so obvious and plain Are ye yet without Vnderstanding As if he had said have you sat thus long under my Ministerial Teaching and enjoyed the Benefit of my Conversation and yet are no further Proficients in Knowledge Plainly intimating that Christ expects a Proficiency in Knowledge from us proportionable to the Opportunities and Means of Knowledge enjoyed by us Having given them this Rebuke he next acquaints them with the sense and meaning of the Parable namely That it is out of a Wicked and Sinful Heart that all Sin and Wickedness doth proceed Though the Occasions of Sin are from without yet the Source and Original of it is from within The Heart of Man is as a Cage full of Unclean Birds Hence proceed Evil Thoughts either against God or our Neighbours Adulteries or all the Sins of the Flesh Murthers that is all Cruelty and
we see the very Devils have a sort of unity amongst themselves and in their malicious and mischievous Designs against Mankind they are as one Oh how happy were it if good Men were as united in their Designs and endeavours for the Glory of God and the good of one another as Devils conspire and contrive against them Observe 6. The request which the Devils make to Christ we beseech thee torment us not From whence we may gather 1. That there are Torments appointed to the Spiritual Nature of Evil Angels 2. That the Evil Angels or Devils are not so full of Torment as they shall be altho' they are as full of sin and discontent as they can be there will be a time when their Torments shall be encreased therefore they pray Torment us not before the time that is do not encrease our Torments before the appointed time of their Encrease Observe 7. The Devils Request for Permission and Leave to go into the Herd of Swine Where Note 1. The Devils malice he will hurt the poor Beasts rather then not hurt at all 2. his powerful Restraint he cannot hurt a poor Pig without a Permission Suffer us to enter Satan's malice indeed is infinite but his power is bounded it is potestas sub potestate a power under a power if he could not hurt the Swine much less can he afflict the children of Men without Leave Obs 8. How Satans request is yielded to by our Saviour He suffered them to go into the Swine not to gratify their desire in doing mischief but first hereby Christ shewed his Power over the Devils that they could not Act without his Permission and Leave next to shew how great the malice and power of the Devil is if not restrained and Lastly That the Miracle of casting out so many Devils might appear to be the greater Learn hence That sometimes Almighty God for wise Ends and just Causes doth suffer the Devil to enjoy his Desire in doing mischief unto the Creatures Jesus said unto them go Observe 9. What a bad effect this Miracle had upon the Minds of the Gadarens instead of Believing and owning Christ's Divine Power the loss of their Swine enrages them and makes them desire Christ's departure from them Learn That Carnal Hearts prefer their Swine before their Saviour and had rather lose Christ's Presence then their Worldly Profit They besought him to depart from them Sad is the condition of those from whom Christ departs more sad the Condition of such who say unto Christ depart but most sad the condition of them who beseech and intreat Christ to depart from them thus did the Gadarens here and we do not read that ever Christ returned more to them Observe 10. How desirous the possessed Man was to continue with Christ after he was come to himself He prayed that he might be with him This he might desire partly to testify his Thankfulness to Christ partly out of fear of being Repossessed again by Satan or perhaps to have the opportunity of hearing Christ's Doctrine and seeing his Miracles for such as have once tasted that the Lord is Gracious and experienced the pleasure and profit of Christ's Company are very desirous of the continuance of it and exceeding loth to part with it However our Saviour at this time did not think fit to suffer him knowing that more Glory would redound to God by publishing this Miracle to his Friends Christ expects after eminent Deliverances wrought for us that we should be the publishers of his Praises and declare to all far and near the great and wonderful things which he has done for us 41 And behold there came a man named Jairus and he was a Ruler of the Synagogue and he fell down at Jesus Feet and besought him that he would come into his house 42 For he had one only Daughter about twelve years of Age and she lay a dying but as he went the People thronged him Obs here 1. The Person described who came to Christ on behalf of his sick Daughter by his Name Jairus by his office a Ruler of the Synagogue by his Gesture he fell down at Jesus Feet this Gesture of his was not only a Sign of tender affection in him towards his Daughter but also an evidence of his Faith in our Blessed Saviour He believed him either to be God or an extraordinary Man who had a miraculous power of healing Observe 2. How readily Christ complies with Jairus his Request Jesus went with him Altho' his Faith was but weak yet our Saviour doth not reject him or deny his Suit Oh how ready should we be to go to Christ in all our Distresses who is so ready to hear and so forward to help us if we seek him in Sincerity tho our Faith be weak and feeble Observe 3. The great Humility of our Blessed Saviour in suffering himself to be thronged by poor People much people followed him and thronged him Oh humble and lowly Saviour how free was thy Conversation from Pride and Haughtiness how willing to converse with the meanest of the People for their advantage Christ did not only suffer them to come near him but even to throng him Let not then the greatest Persons upon Earth despise or disdain the poorest of the People but look upon some with an eye of favour upon others with an eye of pity upon none with an eye of Contempt 43 And a woman having an issue of Blood twelve years which had spent all her Living upon Physicians neither could be healed of any 44 Came behind him and touched the Border of his Garment and immediately her Issue of blood stenched 45 And Jesus said who touched me when all deny'd Peter and they that were with him said Master the multitude throng thee and press thee and sayest thou who touched me 46 And Jesus said some body hath touched me for I perceive that vertue is gone out of me 47 And when the Woman saw that she was not hid she came trembling and falling down before him she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him and how she was healed immediately 48 And he said unto her Daughter be of good comfort thy Faith hath made thee whole go in peace As our Saviour was on his way to Jairus his House a Diseased Woman cometh behind him toucheth his Cloaths and is presently healed The virtue lay not in her Finger but in her Faith or rather in Christ which her Faith instrumentally drew forth Observe 1. The Diseased Woman one with a bloody Flux let Women here take Notice of the Miseries which the sin of the first Woman brought upon all Women amongst which this is one that it has made their Bodies subject to preternatural Issues and Fluxes of Blood Observe 2. The long continuance of this Disease Twelve years it pleases God to lay long and tedious Afflictions upon some of his Children in this Life and particularly to keep some of them a very
Foundation of Ruine in the most flourishing Cities and Kingdoms Jerusalem the Glory of the World is here by sin threatned to be made a Desolation 2. That the Threatnings of God are to be feared and shall be Fulfilled whatever appearing Improbabilities there may be to the contrary 'T is neither the Temples Strength nor Beauty that can oppose or withstand God's Power 7 And they asked him saying Master But when shall these things be and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass A double Question is here propounded to our Saviour namely when the Destruction of Jerusalem should be â—nd what would be the signs of it From whence Learn What an itching Curiosity there is in the best of Men to know Futurities and to understand things that shall come to pass hereafter and when that hereafter is come to pass oh how happy were it if we were as forward to obey the Declarations of God's Revealed Will as we are to pry into the hidden Counsels of his secret Will Tell us say the Disciples when shall these things be 8 And he said take heed that ye be not deceived for many shall come in my name saying I am Christ and the time draweth near go ye not therefore after them 9 But when ye shall hear of Wars and Commotions be not troubled for these things must first come to pass but the end is not by and by 10 Then said he unto them Nation shall rise against Nation and Kingdom against Kingdom 11 And great Earthquakes shall be in divers places and famines and pestilences and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from Heaven Observe here Christ does not gratify his Disciples Curiosity but acquaints them with their present Duty namely to watch against Deceivers and Seducers who should have the Impudence to affirm themselves to be Christ saying I am Christ Some Christ personal or the Messias others Christ Doctrinal affirming their erroneous Opinions to be Christ's Mind and Doctrine Take heed that ye be not deceived for many shall come in my Name saying I am Christ Observe farther the signs which our Saviour gives of Jerusalem's approaching Destruction namely the many Broyls and Commotions the Civil Discords and Dissentions that should be found amongst the Jews immediately before You shall hear of Wars and Commotions and see fearful Sights and great Signs from Heaven Josephus declares that there appeared in the Air Chariots and Horsemen Skirmishing and that a Blazing Star in fashion of a Sword hung over the City for a year together Hence Learn That War Pestilence and Famine are Judgments and Calamities inflicted by God upon a sinful People for their Contempt of Christ and Gospel-Grace Ye shall hear of War Famine and Pestilence 12 But before all these things they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you delivering you up to the Synagogues and into prisons being brought before Kings and Rulers for my names sake 13 And it shall turn to you for a Testimony 14 Settle it therefore in your Hearts not to meditate before what ye shall answer 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your Adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist 16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents and brethren and kinsfolks and friends and some of you shall they cause to be put to death 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish 19 In your patience possess ye your Souls Our Saviour here goes on in giving farther Signs of Jerusalem's Destruction he declares 1. The sharp Persecution that should fall upon the Apostles themselves They shall lay their hands on you and persecute you Learn thence That the keenest and sharpest edge of Persecution is usually turned upon the Ambassadors of Christ and falls heaviest on the Ministers of God 2. He acquaints them that for Preaching his Holy Doctrine they should be brought before Kings and Rulers but advises them not to be anxiously thoughtful or exceedingly sollicitous what they should say for it should be suggested to them by the Holy Ghost what they should say in that hour Learn thence That tho' the Truth of Christ may be opposed yet the Defenders of it shall never be ashamed for rather then they shall want a Tongue to plead for it God himself will prompt them by his Holy Spirit and suggest such Arguments to them as all their Enemies shall not be able to gainsay I will give you a mouth and wisdom Observe 3. How he describes the bitter Enmity of the World against the Preachers of his Gospel to be such as would overcome and extinguish even the Natural Affection of nearest Relations Ye shall be betrayed both by Parents and Brethren Grace teaches us to lay down our Lives for the Brethren but Corruption in General and Enmity to the Gospel in Particular will put Brother upon taking away the Life of Brother and cause Parents to hate and persecute their own Bowels Observe Lastly Our Saviour's Admonition In your patience possess your Souls There are three Degrees of Christian Patience the first consists in a silent Submission to God's Will the Second in a thankful Acceptation of God's Fatherly Rod the third in serious chearfulness under sorrowful Dispensations Rejoycing in Tribulation and counting it all joy when we fall into divers Temptations by this Patience we possess our Souls as Faith gives us the Possession of Christ so Patience gives us the possession of our selves an impatient Man is not in his own hand for what Title soever we have to our own Souls we have no possession of them without Patience In your patience possess your Souls 20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with Armies then know that the Desolation thereof is nigh 21 Then let them which are in Judea flee to the Mountains and let them which are in the midst of it depart out and let not them that are in the Countries enter thereinto 22 For these be the days of Vengeance that all things which are written may be fulfilled 23 But wo unto them which are with Child and to them that give Suck in those days for there shall be great distress in the Land and wrath upon this People 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the Sword and shall be led away Captive into all Nations and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled 25 And there shall be Signs in the Sun and in the Moon and in the Stars and upon the Earth distress of Nations with perplexity the Sea and the Waves roaring 26 Mens hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the Earth for the powers of Heaven shall be shaken 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory 28 And when these things come to pass then look up and lift
Lazarus ver 41 42. Yet as God he had a Power of himself to raise Lazarus an Almighty Power communicated with his Essence from the Father by an Eternal and ineffable Generation 23 Jesus saith unto her Thy brother shall rise again 24 Martha saith unto him I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day 25 Jesus said unto her I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die Believest thou this Here Observe 1. Christ's meek Answer to Martha's passionate Discourse he takes no notice of the forementioned failings but comforts her with a promise of her Brother's Resurrection Thy Brother shall rise again Thence learn That the Knowledge and Belief of the General Resurrection is and ought to be a sufficient support under the Loss of our endeared Friends ' who die in the Lord. Observe 2. That the Doctrine of the General Resurrection was no new Doctrine Job believed it ch 19.26 Daniel publish'd it ch 12.1 The Pharisees had a Notion of it but Martha here makes it an Article of her Faith I know he shall rise again in the Resurrection at the last Day Observe 3. How Christ particularly Instructs Martha in the cause of the Resurrection acquainting her that he himself is the Author and efficient cause of it I am the Resurrection and the Life That is I am the Author and principal efficient cause of the Resurrection And this with respect to both Natures 1. His Divine Nature is the efficient cause of the Resurrection he shall Raise our Bodies out of the Dust by the Power of his Godhead 2. His Humane Nature is the exemplary cause or pattern of the Resurrection For which Reason Christ is called the first Born from the Dead For tho' some were raised before him Yet was his Resurrection the cause of their Resurrection Hence St. Paul argues from Christ's Resurrection the certainty of the Resurrection of his Members Christ and Believers are one Mystical Body therefore is not Christ perfectly Risen till all his Members are Risen with him Indeed Christ's personal Resurrection was perfect when he arose and all Believers arose Representatively in him Yet till all Believers arise personally the Resurrection of Christ has not received its utmost perfection but there is somewhat behind of the Resurrection of Christ Most fitly then might our Saviour assert I am the Resurrection and the Life Observe 4. That Christ not only asserts himself to be the Resurrection but also the Life I am the Resurrection and the Life that is I am the cause of Life Natural Spiritual and Eternal and Whosoever Liveth and Believeth in Me shall never Die. That is eternally tho' his Body shall die because of Sin yet his Spirit shall live because of Righteousness 27 She saith unto him Yea Lord I believe that thou art the Christ the Son of God which should come into the world 28 And when she had so said she went her way and called Mary her sister secretly saying The Master is come and calleth for thee 29 Assoon as she heard that she arose quickly and came unto him 30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town but was in that place where Martha met him 31 The Jews then which were with her in the house and comforted her when they saw Mary that she rose up hastily and went out followed her saying She goeth unto the grave to weep there 32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was and saw him she fell down at his feet saying unto him Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not died Observe here 1. The full confession which Martha makes of her Faith in Christ as God Thou art the Christ the Son of God which should come into the World A confession which comes nearest to that of St. Peter Math. 16.16 of any that we meet with in Scripture Nay it seems more full than Peter's Confession for those additional words which should come into the World are not in his Confession the Summ is She believed Christ to be the very Messias who was Typified and prefigured Prophesied of and promised to the Old Testament Saints as the person that in the fulness of time should come into the World for the Redemption and Salvation of it Thou art the Christ the Son of God which should come into the World Thence Learn That Christ is never rightly believed in nor regularly depended upon for Salvation except he be owned and acknowledged to be the Eternal Son of God Martha was now fully perswaded of Christ's Divine Nature of which the best of the Disciples till after our Saviour's Resurrection had but a faint and uncertain perswasion Observe 2. How earnest and intent our Saviour was to dispatch the errand he came upon Namely to raise Lazarus from the Grave and to comfort the Two mournful Sisters he would not so much as enter the House till he had effected his work and therefore he goes strait to the Grave which probably was the place where Mary met him Lord it was thy Meat and Drink to do the Will of thy Father it was thy Meat and Drink by Day thy Rest and Repose by Night How unlike are we to thy self if we suffer either our Pleasures or our Profits to divert us from our Duty Observe 3. What haste and speed Mary makes to attend upon her Saviour she arose quickly and came unto him Mary's Love added Wings to her motion The Jews observing her hasty motion have a loving suspicion that she is gone to the Grave to weep there but their Thoughts were too low for whilst they supposed that she went to a dead Brother she was waiting upon a living Saviour And she that used to sit at Jesus feet now falls at his feet in an awful veneration the very gesture was supplicatory And her humble prostration was seconded with a doleful Lamentation Lord If thou hadst been here my Brother had not died Where Observe A mixture of Faith with humane infirmity Here was strength of Faith in ascribing so much Power to Christ that his presence could preserve from Death but here was Infirmity in supposing the necessity of Christ's presence for this purpose Certainly he that did raise him from Death being present could have preserved him from dying being absent had he pleased This was Mary's moan Lord hadst thou been here our Brother had not died full of Affection but not from frailty and infirmity However Christ takes no notice of her errors and infirmity but all the reply we hear of is a Compassionate Groan which the following Verses acquaint us with 33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping and the Jews also weeping which came with her he groned in the spirit and was troubled 34 And said Where have ye laid him They say unto him Lord come and see 35 Jesus wept 36 Then said the Jews Behold how he loved him 37
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
Peter went up and drew the net to land full of great fishes an hundred and fifty and three and for all there were so many yet was not the net broken Observe here 1. What was Christ's End in commanding his Disciples to bring forth the Fish which they had now taken namely That the sight of their number and bigness together with the sight of the Net remaining unbroken might confirm them in the belief of its being a real Miracle Christ had fed their Bellies before his business now is to feed their Minds with the Contemplation of the Greatness and Reality of the Miracle All Christ's Miracles were obvious to Sense and would bear the examination of the Senses not like the lying Wonders of the Church of Rome which are commonly wrought in the dark to couzen the Vulgar and are meer Cheats and Impostours Observe 2. That this full Draught of Fishes which Peter and the rest of the Disciples now had might probably presage that great and wonderful Success which he and they afterwards were to have in fishing for Men. Here we have an Hundred fifty and three great Fishes caught at one Draught but Acts 2. we find Three thousand Souls converted by St. Peter at one Sermon Oh the marvellous success of the Gospel at the first preaching and planting of it Three thousand then proselyted by one Sermon Now we have cause to fear that there are Three thousand Sermons preached and scarce one Soul savingly converted Lord Who hath believed our Report 12 Jesus saith unto them Come and dine And none of the disciples durst ask him Who art thou knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then cometh and taketh bread and giveth them and fish likewise 14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples after that he was risen from the dead A twofold Reason may be assigned why Christ did at this time invite and call his Disciples to dine with him The first and more principal Reason was to evidence to them the reality of his Resurrection and to assure them of the Truth of his Manhood that they might not think it was an Apparition only By the Miracle in catching the Fishes he proved himself to be God by his present eating of the fish he evidenced himself to be Man And consequently teacheth us That our exalted High-Priest continues our Kinsman in Heaven He is still Bone of our Bone and Flesh of our Flesh He has taken possession of Heaven in our Nature sitting there in our glorified humanity united to the glorious Deity clothed with that Body which hung in its Blood and Gore upon the Cross but now shining brighter than ten thousand Suns The second and less principal Reason why Christ called his Disciples to dine with him was this To shew his tender Care over the Bodies of his dear Disciples as being the Tabernacles of his own Spirit the Temples of the Holy Ghost Therefore Christ incourages though not to the pampering yet to the refreshing of them Jesus said unto them Come and dine And he would not confer with them till they had dined as the next Verse shews 15 ¶ So when they had dined Jesus saith to Simon Peter Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me more then these He saith unto him Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee He saith unto him Feed my lambs 16 He saith to him again the second time Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me He saith unto him Yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee He saith unto him Feed my sheep 17 He saith unto him the third time Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time Lovest thou me And he said unto him Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Jesus saith unto him Feed my sheep Observe here 1. Christ puts Peter upon a threefold profession of his Love unto him answerable to his threefold Denial of him His threefold Denial required a threefold Confession True Repentance ought and will be as eminent in the Fruits and Effects of it as the Saints Fall hath been A threefold Denial of Christ shall be attended with a threefold profession of Love unto him Observe 2. The solemn Question put by our Saviour unto Peter Lovest thou me Lovest thou me more than these That is more than the rest of my Disciples Dost thou love me more than thou lovest them Or more than they love me If so evidence the sincerity of thy Love to me by thy Care of mine Thence Note That Ministers who are called to take Care of Christ's Flock had need of much Love to Jesus Christ and great Compassion for Souls by which they will be animated and fortified to go through with the Labours and Difficulties as well as to encounter the Dangers and Sufferings which do accompany their Calling Simon lovest thou me Feed my Flock Note farther That the surest Argument and best Evidence of a Minister's Love to Jesus Christ is his conscientious Care to Feed that is to Teach Instruct and Govern the whole Flock of Christ Lambs and Sheep weak and strong the feeblest in the Fold were purchased by the great Shepherd And if he judg'd them worth his Blood well may we judge them worth our Sweat Note Again That such as would be faithful in their Ministerial Charge ought to look upon their People as committed to them by Christ himself as loved of him and committed to their care by him and for which they must be accountable to him Christ calls them three times over His Lambs and His Sheep and as often charges Peter to feed them Observe next Peter's threefold Answer to Christ's Question Simon lovest thou me more than these Lord thou knowest that I love Where Note 1. The great Modesty of Peter in his Reply Lovest thou me more than these says Christ Peter replies Lord Thou knowest that I Love thee he doth not say Lord I Love thee above them 〈◊〉 and before them all here is no boasting now once it was said and Peter vaunted tho' all Men forsake thee yet will not I but now his Fall had taught him Humility he boasts not of his Love above others and makes no comparison with others but only ranks himself among the true lovers of Christ Lord I love thee Note 2. The Evidence that Peter gives of his sincere Love to Christ he dare appeal to Christ himself Lord thou knowest that I love thee yea thou that art Omniscient the all-knowing and Heart-searching God Thou that knowest all things knowest that I Love thee Oh! 't is a blessed thing when we can and dare Appeal to God's Knowledge and 't is matter of high consolation to know that God knoweth our sincerity and Love unto him and that he knoweth and approveth us as such Lord Thou knowest all things thou knowest that I Love thee 18 Verily verily I say unto thee When thou wast young thou girdedst thy self and walkedst whither thou wouldest