IX 26. there it seems they lost the Brook that Moses fetcht out of the Rock at Massa and Meriba Ex. XVII This Brook had followed them hitherto but it could not ascend as they did to their next station which was at c Num. XX. 1. and XXXIII 36. Kadesh in the * There it was that Miriam the Sister of Moses dyed by which we know the just Time of their being there For at Mount Hor which was their very next stage there her Brother Aaron dyed which was in a Num. XXXIII 38. the fortieth year of the Peoples coming out of Egypt and on the first day of the fifth month of that year But Miriam's death is remember'd by the Iews on the Tenth day of the first month by which account she dyed not quite four months before him b Ios. Ant. IV. 4. p. 109. G. Iosephus saith she was buried there on a Mountain which they call Sein So it seems it was remember'd in his time wilderness of Zin Num. XX. 1. Hereupon there was a second d Num. XXVIII 14. and Deut. XXXII 51. Massa and Meriba so called on the following occasion There being no water for the Congregation they gather'd themselves together against Moses and Aaron and the People dd Num. XX. 2. v. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chid with Moses and said would to God we had dyed with our Brethren c. wherefore have you made us to come out of Egypt to bring us into this evil place Here is none of all those good things we were to have in the promised Land e v. 5. neither is there any water to drink This want of water was a Temptation that they had not Faith to withstand And yet even now at this present they could not but see by the Pillar of Chud that the same God which brought them up out of Egypt was still with them And they knew what he could do in this very case by having ee Ex. XVII 6. seen what he did in the like which they could not forget having lived upon the effects of it ever since But besides they had seen many other wonderful proofs of an Almighty Providence over them by which they had been deliver'd out of Egypt brought through the Red Sea and preserv'd and fed for so many years since in the wilderness But all these great works of God they threw back to him with Contempt wishing they had never been They wished that f Num. XX. 3. they had dyed with that Rebellious Crew that perished in the gain saying of Korah This was such a g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 13. quarelling with God as he calls it v. 13. that Moses the meekest Man on the Earth could not bear it It provoked him to that degree that he could not speak to them with Patience Insomuch that when God commanded him to take his Rod and go and speak to the Rock before their Eyes and told him that that being done it should give forth its water abundantly He called the People together to see this work of God and as they stood there h v. 10. together before the Rock v. 10. He said unto them Hear now you Rebels must we fetch you water out of this Rock i v. 11. And Moses lift up his hand and with his Rod he sinote the Rock twice and the water came out abundantly In his Anger it seems he did so far forget himself as to do things like one that believed not what God had said to him He struck the Rock twice when God had told him only a Num. XX. 8. speaking to it would suffice Aaron was as it seems in the same fault with Moses for which the dignity of their Persons being consider'd God thought fit to lay Exemplary Punishments on both of them and so he declared that b v. 12. neither of them should enter into Canaan As for Aaron God shorten'd his Journey then presently for he dyed at the next station which was at c v. 28. Mount Hor as has been already shewn and Moses dyed at d Deut. XXXIV 5. Mount Nebo within six months after 108. The next Journey of the People of Israel was through a Third Murmuring at Tsalmona tedious and troublesome e Num. XXI 4. way in which they had nothing to live upon but what came by daily and continual Miracles And whereas they ought to have been thankful for this they were so far from it that they spoke as well against God himself as against Moses They joined them both together in this bitter Expostulation ee v. 5. wherefore have You brought us up out of Egypt to dye in the wilderness Num. XXI 5. This was their Third Rebellion and the last that we read of in the History of this Generation For the punishment of this Sin f v. 6. punisht with fiery Serpents God sent fiery Serpents among them v. 6. It was a most venemous sort of Creature with which that Wilderness did abound And they bit the People so as that a Multitude of them dyed of it The rest came to Moses to intercede for them g v. 7. They said we have sinned for we have spoken against the Lord and against thee pray unto the Lord that he take away the Serpents from us They could not have asked a thing which Moses was readier to do He prayed and God order'd him to h v. 8. set up the Image of such a Serpent made of Brass on the top of a very high Pole that every one that was bitten might look up to it and live It is more than once that our blessed Lord minds us of this as a Type of his being i Ioh. III. 14. XII 32. lifted up on the Cross that they that are bitten with Sin may look up to Him and be saved 109. This last Rebellion was at Tsalmona * This place was so called from Tselem which signifieth an Image in memory of this Brazen Serpent It seems the People took this away with them and had it in so great esteem that in process of time they came to worship it as an Idol for which it was r 2 Kin. XVIII 4 broken in pieces by King Hezekiah 2 Kings XVIII 4. which was the thirty At Zered was an end of this murmuring Generation fift station of God's People in the k Num. XXXIII 41. wilderness Num. XXXIII 41. In four stations more they came to the place called l v. 45. Dibon-Gad in the Valley of Zered There as Moses tells us being m Deut. II. 13. come over the Brook of that name there were now none remaining of that Generation of men that were twenty years old or upward when they came up out of Egypt It was now n v. 14. thirty eight years since they came from Kadesh Barnea and full forty years since God took them first to be his People in Egypt All which time of o
Chief Priests on our Saviour that he called himself King of the Iews as Pilate being vexed at their pressing him with this had it seems to vex them called him your King more then once Ioh. XIX 14 15. So now to vex them more he had it written in the Table above mention'd Iesus of Nazareth the King of the Iews It seems before this was Nailed up that many of the Iews had read it as all might that would for it was written in Hebrew Greek and Latin there being scarce any of the Iews but understood one or more of these Languages Hereupon the Chief Priests being disturbed did as it seems hinder the setting of it up for a while till they had spoken with Pilate And fain they would have perswaded him not to write the King of the Iews but that he said I am King of the Iews But Pilate did not fear their complaining to Caesar of This and therefore being as Philo says inflexible in his own Nature and Angry with them besides he Answer'd them accordingly what I have written I have written Ioh. XIX 19 22. While this matter was in Debate the Soldiers expecting the Title and having nothing else to do at present sat down and watched him there Matt. XXVII 36. It seems to have been on that Occasion of Pilate's giving our Saviour the Title of King of the Iews that their Rage which he had quieted a little before by Sentencing him to that cruel Ignominious Death now flamed out afresh to that degree that they were for punishing him More if it were possible They did what they could toward it by falling upon him in several Attaques reviling and scoffing and insulting over his Miseries First we read how the People that stood Looking upon him and the Rulers also with them Dâ—…rided him Luk. XXIII 35. wherein They fulfilld that part of the Prophecy Psal. XXII 6. in which David says in the Person of the Messias They that See me laugh me to scorn Next They also that Passed by reviled him wagging their Heads Matt. XXVII 39 40. Mar. XV. 29 30. therein fulfilling the following part of the same Prophecy But above all the rest the Sanhedrin or a Commitee of them for they were of all three Orders Chief Priests and Elders and Scribes that attended there to set on the People had so much forgot the Sacredness or even the Gravity of their Profession that they stood there mocking at him and jesting among themselves Matt. XXVII 41. Mar. XV. 31. Some of these Scoffers charged him with those Words that the false Witnesses could not agree about that he said he would destroy the Temple and build it again in three Days a plain Wresting of the Words of that Prophecy of his Death and Resurrection which was even now to be fulfilled Others scoffed at his Miracles as if his saving others were nothing unless he did now save himself And yet they could not deny he had newly raised Lazarus from the Dead and they very well knew he had foretold that after three days he would rise himself Matt. XXVII 63. The Scoff they all join'd in was at his being called the King of the Iews the King of Israel the Messias the Christ the Son of God these are severall Words for the same thing and the Scoffers used some one Word some another all agreeing in this that if he were the Christ he must come down from the Cross. But he had told them often before that he was to be lifted up Ioh. XII 34. but not once of his coming down And he was to prove his being the Messias not by his escaping Death but by his Resurrection from the Dead The strangest of all their Scoffs was in these Words He trusted in God let him deliver him now if he will have him Matt. XXVII 43. Strange indeed that they that saw his Hands and Feet pierced when he was Nailed to the Cross and now he was hanging on it they could tell all his Boâ—…es they that saw the Soldiers parting his Garments all which things they had read in that Psalm of the Passion Psal XXII 16 17 18. should themselves use those Words which it is there foretold some would use on that Occasion Psal. XXII 8. A plain Instance of the just Judgement of God upon them for their Obstinacy that though they read the Writings of the Prophets every Day yet they fulfilled All that was written in them of our Saviours sufferings Act. XIII 27 28 29. It is no wonder that the Soldiers also mocked our Saviour when they saw it done by all those of his own Nation But these poor Heathens did it with some kind of Humanity For coming to him they offerd him Vinegar Luke XXIII 36 37. This being mingled with Water was their common Drink †See Mâ—…ill in Ioh. XIX not XXXVI And no doubt it was in compassion that they offer'd it to him it was for the asswaging of his Thirst which could not but be very great after his violent Sweatâ—… and so much loss of Blood The Soldiers at this time having received the Table with that Superscription before mention'd were order'd to Nail it on the Top of the Cross above our Saviour's Head Luke XXIII 38. Which being done they were now at Leisure to do what they had left undone at the time of their dividing our Saviour's Garments They had then laid aside the Seamless Coat and now they cast Lots to know whose it should be So Now they had fulfilled the whole Prophetical verse in that Psalm of the Passion Psal. XXII 18. where David saith not of himself but the Messias They parted my Raiment among them and for my Vesture they did cast Lots They had fulfilled the former part of it before Matt. XXVII 35. Now the latter part also was accomplished Thâ—…se things therefore the Soldiers did Ioh. XIX 23 24. Of all sorts of men Iews and Gentiles that were present at our Saviour's Sufferings there were none but had already taken their Turn in reviling and scoffing at him but onely the two Thieves that were Crucified with him But they also having heard what the Chief Priests said of him that if he were Christ he should now come down from the Cross they cast the same in his Teeth Matt. XXVII 44. Mar. XV. 32. But it was onely one of them did this as we learn from Luke XXIII 39. He said if thou be Christ save they self and Us. The other hearing this rebuked him for it and told him how different their Case was from Christ's We indeed suffer justly for we receive the due Reward of our Deeds but this Man has done nothing amiss vers 40 41. It appears by what this man said of Christs Innocency that he knew of his Holy and Exemplary Life He knew also of his Doctrine and Miracles So far as to be thereby converted though Probably not till since his committing those Crimes for which he suffer'd This appears by his Prayer that he made
in this they desired it might not be without breaking their Legs first which was a Cruell way of putting them out of their pain Pilate ordered howsoever that it should be as they desired So the Soldiers came and brake the Legs of the first and of the other which was crucified with Him vers 32. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was Dead already they brake not his Legs but to be sure of his being dead one of the Soldiers with a Spear pierced his Side and forthwith there came out Blood and Water vers 33 34. Which as is commonly observed was a sure sign that the Spear had pierced his Heart St. Iohn declares himself to have been an Eye witness of this against them that held that Christ died not really but in appearance which was a prevailing Heresie in those days But withall he shews how wonderfully God orderd things by taking our Saviour so soon out of the World to make way for the fulfilling of two other Prophecies of Scripture One of them was to shew that in Him that great Type of the Paschal Lamb was accomplished In token whereof as He Died at the same Hour when the Paschal Lamb was to be killed so according to the Ordinance of the Passeover Exod. XII 43 46. it truely came to pass that not a Bone of Him was broken Iohn XIX 36. The other was that in Zechary's Prophecy of the Conversion of the Iews wherein it is saied by Him whose Spirit spake in the Prophets They shall look on Mee whom they have pierced Zech. XII 10. So now to put them out of doubt that he was Dead his blessed Body was pierced which would have been Spared if he had been yet Living St. Iohn layes great weight upon that which he Saw of the fulfilling of both these Scriptures in our Saviours Person First that He was the true Paschal Lamb that was slaine to redeem us by his Blood Rev. V. 6 9 12. VII 14. XII 11. That we may often think of this he mindes us of it above twenty times more in that Book The other is that the Jews shall know him to be their Messias by that very Token of their having Pierced him Psalm XXII 16. Zech. XII 10. That they would use him so was foretold in those Prophecies which their own Writers †See Pearson on the Creed p. 201. Edit 1692. have acknowledged to belong to the Messâ—… They are now so blind they cannot see it But it will be otherwise at the coming of the Son of Man Dan. VII 13. to their Conversion Then they shall see Him whom they have Pierced and all the Tribes of Israel all the World over shall waile because of him Rev. 1. 7. Our blessed Saviour himself sayd the same in effect Matt. XXIV 30. That then shall be the fulfilling of these Prophecies Even then when he shall gather his Elect from the four Winds from one end of Heaven to the other vers 31. The fulfilling of this Prophecy concerning Christ's Death proved by Instances out of the foregoing Account of the Gospel History THe Chief design of all this Discourse in relation to our present business has been to shew how our blessed Saviour understood and Explained that principal part of the Angel's Prophecy That after LXII Weeks the Messias shall be cut off And also to shew how it was fulfilled in his Person so as to prove beyond contradiction that He was the very Messias spoken of in this Prophecy In Order to this here are two things to be considered First what the Messias was to suffer And Secondly The time when it should come to pass First what He was to suffer the Angel expressed in one Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is properly rendred he shall be cut off But as the Reader will find in the Explication of this Prophecy it is to be cut off Judicially either by Man's Judgement or by the Judgement of God The learned Iews will find that the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies so in fortie places of their Scripture and it is never used otherwise in speaking of a Person Affirmatively as it is here in this Prophecy Now as to our blessed Saviour's case we are to shew that He was cut off Judicially both ways First he was so by the Judgement of God in being made a Curse for us Gal. III. 13. and that according to the Sentence of the Law which saies He that is Hanged is accursed of God Deut. XXI 23. The Iews know to whom they Apply this Secondly to be cut off by Man's judgement is according to the usuall practice to be taken and Tried for one's Life and being found guilty to be condemned and put to Death And it must be to such a Death as the Law of the Land has prescribed for such a Crime as Particularly in the Roman Empire for any one of Servile condition that was found guilty of any State Crime by their Law he was to be Crucified Much needs not be said to shew that this was our blessed Saviour's case Secondly as to the Time when the Messias was to suffer this to be cut off Iudicially The Angel foretold it should be after LXII Weeks Dan. IX 26. And in the next verse before he saies there should be VII Weeks and LXII Weeks from the going forth of the Commandement to build Jerusalem again till the Messias the Prince VII Weeks and LXII are LXIX Weeks that is they are 483 years And these are to be reckond from Nisan or soon after in the 20th of Artaxerxes Longimanus So that after the End of these 483. years was to be the Death of the Messias as is shewn in the Explication of this Prophecy Now these 483 being such years as were generally known in the place and Age in which Daniel lived Namely years of 360 days let them begin from Nisan in the 20th year of Artaxerxes that is from April in the year 445. before Christ they will end in May or very little later in the 32th year of the Vulgar Aera as hath been already shewn in the first set of Tables And therefore it must be within the compass of a year after Mâ—…y 32 that the Messias was to dye according to this Prophecy it must not be a whole Day after the LXII Weeks How our blessed Saviour himself understood those Words of his being cut off will appear by many Instances in the Chronological account which are referr'd to at the bottom of the Page The first time we read of the Iews having determined to kill Him was upon his healing one on the Sabbath Iohn V. 16 18. That was at the Time of Passeover in the 30th year of the Vulgar Aera The next year in Galilee for another such Sabbath-breach as they called it the Pharisees took Counsel to destroy Him Matt. XII 14. But our Saviour knowing their design did only withdraw Himself He made no Reflexion upon it till the Weeks were Expired
AN EXPOSITION Of the PROPHECY OF SEVENTY WEEKS WHICH GOD SENT TO DANIEL By the Angel GABRIEL Dan. IX 24 27. CHAP. I. A short View of the Historical things that are in the foregoing part of this Chapter BEFORE we come to the Prophecy it self it will be of use to consider those historical things that are deliver'd together with it in the same Chapter particularly what the Prophet tells us concerning Himself and the Time when he had this Revelation from God and the Occasion on which it was given him These things we shall see are communicated to us with great exactness and care which we have reason to believe was done not only to stir up our Attention in reading but also in order to our better Understanding of this Prophecy 1. First of the Prophet himself it will be our business elsewhere in our first DISSERTATION to shew what a bright shining Saint he was in his Generation and that even from his Childhood throughout the whole course of his Life But here we are to speak only of those instances of it that occur in the Historical part of this Chapter Such were his diligent studying of the Holy Scriptures his pious zeal and concernedness for the Church of God his deep sense of the Sins of his People his sad apprehension and fear of their obstructing the promised Deliverance for which he applied himself to God with fasting and fervent Prayer How highly acceptable these things were to God we cannot but see by his sending such a Person and much more by the several gracious Messages that he sent by him 2. The Favour appear'd very signal in God's sending to him by the Angel Gabriel the only Angel of his rank whom God has made known to us by name And that we had not known but on the account of God's sending him with such extraordinary Messages first to the Prophet Daniel and afterwards to the Virgin Mary Those to Daniel were of a very different nature The two first were only Discoveries of the meaning of those dark figures that he had seen They were frightful Sights of Beasts that appear'd to him in a prodigious manner the first in a Dream of the Night in the first Year of King Belshazzar as we read in the seventh Chapter of this Book the other in a Vision which he had two Years after as we read in the eighth Chapter But now at the Angel's third coming to Daniel which was fifteen Years after his second coming in the first Year of King Darius He was sent to him not as before to interpret a Dream or a Vision but to deliver him a Message from God in plain words containing a Prediction of several of the most wonderful Events that were to happen in this world and that of such great and lasting Consequence that God would have him put it in writing to be left upon Record for the use of his Church in after times 3. Why God was pleased to make choice of Daniel for this service before any other person the Angel tells him in these words I am sent to shew thee these things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because thou art GREATLY BELOVED It might as well have been translated in the same words as that is which the same Angel said to the blessed Virgin Luke I. 28. Thou art 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 HIGHLY FAVOURED OF GOD. The same Angel uses the same Expression again to Daniel twice after this calling him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a man GREATLY BELOVED which being not used to any other of the Prophets nor perhaps to any other person but only the blessed Virgin there must be something extraordinary in it And it seems to be plain what that is by the Angel's never speaking these words to Daniel before till he came to deliver this Prophecy to him from God 4. It is plain why he used these words to the blessed Virgin by his telling her the Effect of his Message that she should be the Mother of Christ. For certainly there could be no greater Instance of the singular favour of God to any Human creature than that which God vouchsafed to the blessed Virgin that Christ should be born of her body But the Chief end of Christ's birth being to Dye for our Salvation therefore the Prophecies of That are of the Weightiest concern to mankind above all other Prophecies of Scripture It was that SALVATION by THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST which Moses and all the Prophets had foretold Luke XXIV 26 27. Acts XXVI 22 23. and yet they knew not when it would be But for that they enquired and searched diligently as St. Peter tells us desiring to know 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what Time or what manner of Time it should be that the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify when he testifyed before-hand of the sufferings of Christ and of the Glory that should follow Nay not only Men but even the Angels desired to look into these things as St. Peter there tells us For even they were not in this Secret at St. Paul plainly shews calling it THE MYSTERY of our Redemption by the Death of Christ and telling us that from the beginning of the World it was hid in God Ephes. III. 9 10. to the intent that unto the Principalities and Powers in Heavenly places that is to the blessed Angels themselves might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God According to both these Apostles the Discovery of the Determinate time of Christ's death which God was pleased to send to Daniel by the Angel Gabriel was not more surprising News to the Prophet than it was to the Angel himself But when the Angel consider'd withall that he should not have known it now but for the Prophet's sake and knowing no doubt how well he was Qualified for it by those eminent Graces that had so much endear'd him to God the Angel could not find how to deliver his message with a fitter Preamble than that before mention'd telling him how much he was beloved of God from whom he brought him this sure Token of it in giving him the first Revelation of the precise time of Christ's death the knowledge of which had been so earnestly desired and sought after by Angels as well as Men but could never be attain'd by any of them 5. For the TIME when Daniel had this Revealed to him we are told in the beginning of the Chapter that it was in the first year of DARIUS the Son of AHASUERUS of the Seed of the MEDES who was now made King of the Realm of the CHALDEANS Dan. IX 1 2. 6. That AHASUERUS the Father of this King DARIUS was King of the MEDES and the same that in Alliance with King NEBUCHADNEZZAR took the great City of Ninive and utterly destroyed it thereby putting an End to the Assyrian Empire this the Reader may see proved
land they had despised they must now go wandring the rest of their days in the wilderness For this they e v. 45. wept before the Lord. They would have got him to take off that sentence but that could not be only this God was pleased to change in it whereas he had ordered them to begin their Journey to morrow into the wilderness and so on f Num. XIV 45. to the Red Sea Num. XIV 45. Now in compassion to their wounded men he gave them leave to lie still g Deut. l. 46. many daies till they were so well cured as to be able to go with the rest 98. After this they took their Iourney into the wilderness as God They wâ—…nder 38 yeâ—…rs in the wilderness had commanded them Their way was now directly from Canaan toward the h Deut. II. 1. Red Sea But it was not the same way that they came hither For now they were to i v. 4. compass the land of Edom Deut. II. 1 4. first from North to South till they came to the Red Sea and then from South to North still compassing k v. 8. Idumaea till they came to the wilderness of Moab Deut. II. 8. There they were to pass the brook l v. 13. Zered v. 13. And so they did thirty eight years after their coming from m v. 14. 1â—… Kadesh-Barnea In which time all those that came out of Egypt at the age of twenty years old and upward were n v. 16. consumed and dead from among the people It was a long and tedious Journey as God ordered it for them For it was at his Commandment that they journied and at his Commandment they pitched their Camp His pleasure was fignified to them by the Pillar of Cloud by day and of Fire by night When the Pillar was taken up from the Tabernacle then after that they journied and wheresoever that rested there they pitched their Camp The way of it is largely and clearly a Num. IX 15 23. described Num. IX 15 23. And whereas from Kadesh Barnea to the Red Sea it was not above b Bp. Patrick on Nâ—…m XXXIII 19. â—…en days Journey the shortest way they made it a Journey of 37 years in all which time they had no more than 17 Resting places So that if in every one of those places they had rested an equal space of time every time they had rested it would have been more than two years No doubt in some places they rested a less time and in some much longer Then from Ezion Geber at the Red Sea they went somewhat quicker to the Brook Zered which was in the Confines of Moab They went it in one year during which they had no more but eight Resting places But now they had been full thirty and eight years in coming from Kadesh Barnea to the Brook Zered which as we are told by one c Geo. Synceâ—…us in Chronogr p. 142. 〈◊〉 Paris that travel'd it himself is no more than five days Iourney Thus it pleased God to give those Rebel's time to dye in the wilderness as every one of them did within those thirty eight years in all which time a New Generation was growing up which Ioshua and Caleb were to bring into the promised Land and there to shew them how that good Land was belied by their ungrateful and rebellious Fathers 99 Of what they did in those first thirty seven years or what Of their three last Rebellions happen'd to them in all that time we have very little Information in History only Moses gives us an account of three of their Rebellions in that time which shewed how far they were from being reclaim'd by all their warnings and punishments 100. The first of these Rebellions was that which Korah and his 〈◊〉 that of Korah Complices raised against Moses and Aaron It was as the d Ios. Ant. IV. 1. Iewish Historian tells us such a Sedition as never was known among the Greek or Barbarous Nations The chief mover in it was Korah a Levite whose father Izhar was Brother to Amram the father of Moses and Aaron He was himself a chief man among those of his Tribe but he was not contented with that He was for the Chief Priesthood if he could get it But there was no other way to come at that but by breaking through the divine Institution of the three Orders of the Ministry It was by God's immediate e Ex. XXIX Command that Moses had f Lev. IX consecrated Aaron and his Sons to be Priests which Act of his God had confirmed by sending Fire from heaven on their Sacrifice in the sight of all the People of Israel g Lev. IX 24. Lev. IX 24. He had also given them the Levites to assist them h Num. III. 9. VIII 19. Num. III. 9. VIII 19. in all the inferior parts of their ministry But this was it which Korah could not endure He was for the Priesthood himself and so were others of his Tribe Num. XVI 10. Which since God had taken from them they would have it of the People's Gift The People of Israel could not forget that before this Divine Institution the Priesthood had gone by Primogeniture It was i instead of all the First born of Israel that God took the Levites into Num. III. 12 〈◊〉 his Service Num. III. 12 41. For this reason it seems that Korah applied himself to Dathan and Abiram the Sons of Reuben who was the first-born Son of Israel together with them there were a Nuâ—… XVI 〈◊〉 3. two hundred and fifty Princes of the Assembly famous in the Congregation that rose against Moses and Aaron It appears that all these took the Priesthood upon them as well as Korah himself For b v. 1â—… they took every man his Censer and put fire in them no doubt from the Altar of God and laid incense thereon to offer it before the Lord. He that was not a Priest and did this was to be put to death Num. III. 10 38. * King Uzzialâ—… attempting to burn incense to God though he was not put to death he was chastised with the utmost severity for it n Câ—…ron XXVI 16 21. The Leprosy rose up in his Foreâ—… at that Instant and they that saw it thrust hâ—… out of the Temple yea himself also hasted to go out and he dwelâ—… ever after in a separate house being a Leper unto the day of his death and Iotham his Son took upon him the Government of Israel 2 Chron XXVI 16 21. This they could not but know But they would venture it thinking perhaps that the Laws which Moses delivered from God concerning the Priesthood were not God's but his Own made in favour of and Combination with his Brother Aaron If they had not thought so they would not have dared to break out into such Language as they c Nuâ—… XVI 〈◊〉 gave Moses and Aaron v. 3. When they
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every one that shall come near the Tabernacle of the Lord shall dye God heard this and thereupon for a farther provision against their falling into this Sin he made a fresh Declaration of his mind almost in the same words in which the People had repeated the former They had said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every one that comes near shall dye God repeated it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every one that comes near shall be put to death For the Reason of this enough XVIII 7. has been said in the Context of this Discourse 104. The direful Complaints of the heavy Judgements of God as appeared by their bitter complaints that they had seen inflicted on others and expected the like on themselves do plainly shew that they had no Abhorrence of the Sins by which those their Brethren that died and perish'd had provoked the Righteous God to send these Judgements upon them So far they were from that that in the mind they were in they seem to have thought of no other but that they should a Num. XVII 12. all perish in like manner though they knew that could not be unless they themselves were guilty of the same Sins They did not know but they might all murmur against Moses and do all the rest that Dathan and Aoiram had done 105. But it seems they took a more particular notice of the Sin especially on Kâ—…rah's death of Korah and his Fellows and of the Judgement of God inflicted on them God had appointed b Num. XVI 38. the Censers of those Sinners against their own Souls to be worked into a Covering for the Altar that it might be a Memorial to all that were not of the Seed of Aaron that not c See Num. XVI 40. in the bottom of page 47. oâ—…e Man of them should come near to offer Incense that is to officiate as a Priest that they might not suffer as Korah and his Company had done Moses d Num. XVII 10 11. warned them again of the same at the setting up of that Second Memorial of Aaron's Rod which warning of his seems to have been the immediate occasion of those passionate words Thereupon the Text saith a vers 12. the Children of Israel spake unto Moses saying behold we dye we perish we all perish then adding that which stuck most in their thoughts namely the b XVI 40. words that he spake at the setting up of the former Memorial Num. XVI 40. There it was declared as they here repeated the words c XVII 13. See it here in the bottom Every one that comes near the Tabernacle of the Lord to offer Incense shall dye How then say they have we done dying Is the Danger over No certainly unless we give up our Right of doing the same that Korah did which it seems they would not promise for themselves In short here is nothing else in all their speech but Tokens of the utmost impenitence They neither ask Pardon of God nor of either of his Ministers they did not so much as desire that Moses would Pray for them nor did they make the least confession of any Sin that either they or those Rebels were guilty of The last mention they made of them in all this History was d XVI 41. Num. XVI 41 where they charged Moses and Aaron with killing them They told them plainly you have killed the People of the Lord. For this God justly called them a Num. XVII 10. Rebels ch XVII 10. and provided the second Memorial quite to take away their murmurings that they dye not But they were still for b vers 22 13. dying and perishing rather than they would promise to Amend and give over those Rebellions by which they that did dye and perish had brought those Judgements on themselves 106. By what has been said it abundantly appears that as yet God gives a New Law against intruding into the Priesthood the Murmurings were not quite taken away nor were like to be as long as this Generation was living God was therefore so much the more concerned to take care that they might not destroy themselves by their Rebellions before the Time was run out that he had set them to wander in the Wilderness And since for the preventing of this no sort of Miracles would do for all had been tried and cast away on this stiff-necked People therefore God was pleased to resort to the Ordinary means by enacting Judicial Laws with strict Penalties and making it the business of Persons concern'd to see them put in Execution It was Aaron himself that was chiefly concern'd in all matters of publick worship He was the High Priest that was appointed of God to be Judge in all causes touching Religion and c Deut. XVII 11. 12. from the Sentence of the Law which he should deliver there was to be no Appeal Deut. XVII 11 12. Therefore now to put an end to those disputes about the Priesthood God was pleased to deliver to Aaron a Judicial Law concerning Holy places and things Num. XVIII 1 7. By which in the first place d Num. XVIII 1 7. God laid upon Him and his Sons the whole charge of those places and things that belonged to the Priesthood viz. of the Sanctuary and the Vessels thereof and also of the Priest's Court wherein was the Altar of Sacrifice But for the People's Court and all the Offices in the outer Verge of the Tabernacle God laid the charge of all these on the other Levites that were not of the Sons of Aaron And as well to oblige them both Priests and Levites to look to their respective charges as to deter others from breaking in upon them he ordain'd that if any one who was not of the Tribe of Levi should intrude into any place of their Ministry or should meddle with any of the Vessels belonging to it he should be put to death and so should the Levites that suffer'd him to do it And for those places and vessels that were within the charge of the Priests the Sons of Aaron if any stranger should presume to come near them he must be e vers 7. put to death v. 7. nay though he were a Levite as Korah was he must dye for it and the Priests that suffer'd it must also dye with him f v. 3. Their second Massa and Meriba v. 3. 107. They were by this Ordinance of God kept under a lasting Aw which they could not be by Temporary Miracles So that now from this time forward we read no more of any one 's intruding into the office of Priesthood in Moses's time or his Successors Nor do we read of the People's Murmuring on any other account till 37 years after their departure from Kadesh Barnea Then the Children of Israel being come down to a Num. XXXIII 35. Ezion Geber Num. XXXIII 35. which was by the Red Sea b 1 Kings IX 26. n. 73. 1 Kings
Vers. 23. But yet they could not hurt him Vers. 30. because his HOUR was not yet come So another time Ioh. VIII 20. when they would fain have layd hold on him the same reason is given why they could not because his HOUR was not yet come it could not be till the Passeover The latter time here mention'd was on the 23th of Tisri when our Saviour was teaching in the Treasury In the end of that day upon his saying those words before ABRAHAM was I am they took up Stones to cast at him But not to work Miracles needlessly he escaped from them in the throng and that probably by the help of his Disciples for they were then about him or near him Ioh. IX 2. He had no sooner escaped that storm but another was raised against him upon his working a Miracle on the Sabbath day It was his giving Sight to one that was born blind Ioh. IX 14. for which since they could not reach our Saviour they layd hold on the poor man and cast him out of the Synagogue Vers 34. The mean while our blessed Saviour in his return from Ierusalem met with his LXX Disciples who brought him an account of what they had done in their Ministry The first place he came to was Martha's house Luk. X. 38. She was a widow as Grotius thinks Her House was at Bethany Ioh. XI 1. about fifteen furlongs from Ierusalem Vers. 18. From thence he went on through the Cities and Villages Luk. XIII 22. which were prepared for him by his LXX Disciples No doubt it was by their means that wheresoever he came he found the People so ready to hear him As we reade Luk. XI 29. that in one place they were gathered thick together for that purpose So in another it is sayd there were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. XII 1. innumerable multitudes insomuch that they trode upon one another But every where the Scribes and Pharisees got in among them Luk. XI 53 54. who were still laying wait for him seeking to catch something out of his Mouth that they might accuse him No doubt they were these that were still cavilling at his Miracles seeking Signs from heaven Luk. XI 15 16. But it appears they put the people on the same Vers. 29. and so again Luk. XII 56. where he gives them the same answer as he had done before to the Pharisees Matt. XVI 3. Our Saviour thus going on through the Cities and Villages where the LXX had been was now again making his journey to Ierusalem Luk. XIII 22. This was no doubt to the Feast of DEDICATION which was yearly held on the 25th of Cisleu above two months after the Feast of Tabernacles In his way to that Feast we find him at Peraea in Herod's Dominions Luk. XIII 31. There Herod kept his Court at Machaerus as we learn from Iosephus Ant. XVIII 7. and elswhere But he could not like to have the blessed Iesus so near him for His being there could not but mind the people of his forerunner Iohn Baptist whose death was very grievous to them It seems most likely that Herod for that reason sent the Pharisees to try if they could affright him out of those coasts It appears that our Saviour knew they came from Herod for to Him he sends them with this Answer go tell that Fox c. I cannot dye out of Ierusalem And thereupon he pronounced the Fate of that City that it should be layd desolate and should be left so till the time foretold Psal. CXVIII 25 26. even the Time when the JEWISH Nation shall turn to him saying blessed be he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. All this our Saviour repeated again Matt. XXIII 37 c. when the Hosanna-time at his coming up to Ierusalem was past and therefore it is not necessary that these words should refer to that particular Occasion That being indeed a fulfilling of that Prophecy Zech. IX 9. of Christ's coming to Ierusalem riding on an Asse in such manner as is therein described with all those Shews of public joy among the common People which were but a low Type of the universal joy that shall be hereafter at their Restauation Our Saviour's coming up now from Peraea to Jerusalem was to the Feast of DEDICATION before mentioned It was now that he had that dispute with the Iews Ioh. X. 24. upon which they were for stoning him more than once Vers. 31 39. but both times he escaped out of their hands And after the Feast he went again into Peraea Vers. 40. About this time on the 25th of December began the 36th year of his Age. 33 36 19 Our blessed Lord being returned from the Feast of DEDICATION made his abode in Peraea with his Disciples for some time Iohn X. 40. and there on the account of what they had heard Iohn Baptist say of him as well as what they saw of the Miracles that he wrought many believed on him Vers. 41 42. From thence at the desire of Mary and Martha he came into Iudaea again to help their Brother Lazarus who was sick unto death Ioh. XI 7 8. At his coming thither he found Lazarus dead and buryed some days before There in the presence of many witnesses our Saviour restored him to life which put his Enemies out of all patience The chief Priests and Pharisees from that day forth were in consultation together how to put him to death Now it was not safe for our Saviour to stay there nor to go to any place that they were acquainted with for they had given a Commandment that if any man knew where he was he should shew it that they might take him Vers. 57. Our Saviour therefore retired into the Country near to the Wilderness It was that which reaches from Iericho to Bethel Iosh. XVI 1. and which is called the Wilderness of Bethaven XVIII 12. There his retirement was in a City called Ephraim which seems to have been that where Absolom had his Sheep-shearing to which he invited David and his Sons II Sam. XIII 23. In St. Ierom's time there was a very great Village called Ephrea about 20 miles North of Ierusalem This long Wildernesse as Ioshua there shews was in the confines between Benjamin and Ephraim or between the Countries of Iudaea and Samaria as they were called in our Saviour's time Our blessed Saviour could not be safer than there in any place at that distance from Ierusalem and he could not well be further off being soon to return to Ierusalem for the Passeover was nigh at hand Ioh. XI 54 55. So near that they that sought his life were enquiring whether he would not come up that year Vers. 56. They were afraid he would stay away from this Passeover as he had done from the two last beforegoing But when our Saviour saw his time to come up to the Feast then out of his retirement he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee Luk. XVII 11. that is as the learned
first what things would come one after another before the Destruction of Ierusalem to the end they might not be surpris'd but might know what they were to do when any of these things should come to pass But whereas in speaking of these things now mention'd that his Disciples might not mistake he had told them these things must come to pass but the END is not yet Matt. XXIV 6. Mar. XIII 7. Luk. XXI 9. he at last tells them of one particular thing that should be going on all the while and says when that is done then shall the END come Matt. XXIV 14. It was the preaching of the Gospel in all the Roman World That was plainly the preparing of the Messias's future People mention'd Dan. IX 26. This was the business of his holy Apostles and by what steps they went on in the doing of it we are told in the History St. Luke has given us of it viz. in the Acts of the Apostles whereof there is a summary Account at the End of the Tables of Daniel's Weeks There it also will be shewn that at the very year which ends the History of the Acts of the Apostles there begins Daniel's single Week Dan. IX 27. That our Saviour referrs to that Prophecy of Daniel he plainly declares Matt. XXIV 15. Mar. XIII 14. And he not onely uses the Words of that Prophecy let him that readeth understand which as Grotius observes are taken from Dan. IX 25. but he quotes the principal thing in it concerning the Destruction of Ierusalem viz the Abomination of desolation being set up in the holy place Dan. IX 27. For the clear understanding whereof the Reader may be pleased to see what is said upon that verse in the explication of Daniel's Prophecy After this Destruction our blessed Saviour shews what the miserable Estate of that People shall be till their Conversion and Restauration But this is a principal part of that which these Disciples meant by his COMING in their 2d Question the Answer to which our blessed Saviour gives them Matt. XXIV 29 35. Mar. XIII 24 31. Luk. XXI 25 33. Then he comes to answer the last of the three Questions in the last part of the three chapters now mentioned But he ended not his Answer here but went on with it through the whole 25th chapter of St. Matthew in three parables the first of the ten Virgins the 2d of the Talents and the 3d. of his coming to Iudge the World It follows in St. Matthew's Gospel XXVI 1. When IESUS had finished all these Sayings which was most probably on the Wednesday night that began the XIV of Nisan that then at his return to Bethany knowing that Iudas since his dismission that evening had gone to the chief Priests and bargained with them to betray him without naming the Person he imparted the matter to his Disciples in these words vers 2d You know that after two Days is the PASSEOVER and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucifyed It follows vers 16. that from that time of Iudas's contract with the Priests he continually sought opportunity to betray him Our blessed Lord knowing this would not go on Thursday morning as he had done every day this Week to Ierusalem but continued at his retirement in Bethany Thither some Greek Proselytes known to Philip got him to bring them to see and hear the Lord Iesus Iohn XII 21. 22. It appears that he did admit them by what follows vers 29 34. and that on this occasion he said such things as he saw proper as well for theirs as for his Disciples Instruction Vers. 30 36. At his entrance into this discourse he told them the HOUR is come that the Son of man should be glorifyed Iohn XII 23. This is spoken of his Passion and Death Vers. 24 33. From which he prayed to be deliver'd vers 27 but with Submission to the Will of his Father All this was proper to be said on Maundy Thursday and no sooner for Then he knew his next Sleep was to be that of Death But having something yet to do before his going out of the World particularly in his Institution of the holy Sacrament that he might not be surprised besore he had done that he hid himself no doubt he went out of Iudas's knowledge Ioh. XII 36. After this the Evangelist gives a short Account of the reasons of the Iews unbelief Vers. 37 43. and after that he repeats some of those vehement Words which our Saviour had formerly said to his Disciples declaring his faithfull discharge of his message from his Father and the consequence of Mens hearing or not hearing him It appears that our blessed Lord was at his retirement in Bethany when he sent two of his Disciples to prepare the Passeover for him now as no doubt they had done in former years Luk. XXII 8. This was as St. Matthew tells us XXVI 17. on the first day of unleavened Bread St. Mark XIV 12. makes it plainer by adding that it was the day on which they killed the Passeover St. Luke plainer yet that it was the day on which the Passeover ought to be killed Luke XXII 7. And in the beginning of that Verse he has these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that day came which words plainly import that it was in the beginning of that day But the Passeover ought to be killed on the XIV of Nisan according to God's command by Moses Exod. XII 6. and as it is said there expressely it must be between the evenings that is as the Iews understand it between three of the clock in the afternoon and Sun-setting So that this coming of the Disciples to our Saviour was after Sun-set in the Evening before the killing of the Passeover that is in the beginning of the XIV of Nisan And that was after Sun-set on Thursday the second of April as will be shewn at large in the discourse before Daniel's Tables St. Luke XXII 8. tells us they were Peter and Iohn whom our Saviour sent on this Affair It seems as if none of the rest knew the place where he was To be sure he would not trust Iudas with the knowledge of it though it was his Office to buy in things for such an Occasion As for those two Disciples our Saviour bad them Go into the City and told them there they should meet a man bearing a Pitcher of Water and they were to follow him to the House whither he was going Mar. XIV 13. We are told it is the manner of the Iews after Sun-set on the XIV of Nisan to fetch in the Water with which they are to make their Azyms the next day and probably this man was so employed on this occasion Our Saviour bad them tell the Owner of the House the Master says my Time is at hand I will keep the Passeover at thy House with my Disciples Matt. XXVI 18. that is according to Dr. Hammond's Exposition the time of my Death is so
as a Criminal before you hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of Power and coming in the Clouds of heaven meaning this of Himself as the Messiah is described in Dan. VII 13. Our blessed Lord having thus owned that he was the Messiah the High Priest rent his clothes as they used to do at the hearing of Blasphemy 2 Kings XVIII 37. XIX 1. Now he cryed what need we any further Witness Behold you have heard his blasphemy what think you By the Law Blasphemy was a Capital Crime Lev. XXIV 16. And so they all condemned him as being guilty of Death Matt. XXVI 64 66. Mar. XIV 61 64. Now they found a great want of the power of Life Death that was taken from them by the * The Iews say that 40 years before the Destruction of the Temple Capital Judgements were taken away from Israel v. Lightfoot Vol. I. pag. 265. Romans But in this matter they did not doubt to get Pilate to supply that defect The mean while they treated our Lord Iesus with the utmost spite and contempt as if he were the very worst and vilest of men Matt. XXVI 67 68. They that just before had Judged him Guilty of Death came to him and spit in his Face and then in mockery having cover'd his Eyes they Buffeted him bid him Prophecy Mar. XIV 64 65. Their Servants went on with their inhumane Sport striking him with the Palms of their Hands or their Sandals and then saying Prophecy unto us thou Christ who is he that smote thee The mean while the whole Sanhedrin having sent no doubt to know Pilate's pleasure when they should attend him with their Prisoner to get Him to put him to Death Matt. XXVII 1. were now consulting together about the Accusation they should bring in against him They knew that to charge him according to their manner with speaking Blasphemous Words against the Holy Place and the Law Acts. VI. 13. would signify nothing And if they should charge him with that which they had condemned him for his making himself the Christ Pilate would not understand it But they knew he would be toucht to the quick with any charge relateing to CAESAR the Emperor that then was Tiberius being a most jealous Prince that would not endure the least seeming Neglect especially of them that were entirely his Creatures as Pilate was This was the reason why they pitched upon that Ensnaring Question about the Lawfullness of paying Tribute to Caesar and put that to our Saviour for this very End that so they might deliver him to the Governor Luk. XX. 20. And though he escaped them then by giving them such an Answer as shewed how unjust it was in them Now to charge him with the same Crime yet to make sure work they resolved that this should be his Accusation And so when the morning was come Matt. XXVII 1. Mar. XV. 1. at or after †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was after Sun-rising See LXX Iud. IX 33. II Sam. XXIII 4. II King III. 22. So here Mar. XV. 1. Censorinus C. XXIV saith vocatur Mane cum lux videtur solis It must signify so in this place for it was Day a good while since Luke XXII 66. Sun-rising they took our Saviour with them to the Iudgement Hall Ioh. XVIII 28. or Pilate's House as it is in the Margin There went the whole Sanhedrin together Mar. XV. 1. to give the more countenance to their Business When they were come thither these bloody Hypocrites that had just now Swallow'd a Camel were presently straining at a Gnat. They held it a Legal pollution for any one of their Religion to go into a Room among the Sinners of the Gentiles as they called them Though there was no such thing in the Scriptures yet according to their Doctrine it would have been such a Defiling of themselves Ioh. XVIII 28. that after it they could not have eaten the Passeover that Friday Evening On this Solemn Occasion so great a part of that Nation being there at Ierusalem together Pilate could not but think it his best way to Humor them in this and therefore upon their sending in their Prisoner to him Ioh. XVIII 28. he went out to them and demanded their Accusation vers 29 He asked it in such a manner as shewed he would willingly have declined this Trouble But they told him plainly it was a Capital Cause and therefore properly belonged to his Cognizance Our blessed Lord being now to be cut off according to Daniel's Prophecy and that Judicially as it has been shewn in the Exposition it was as St. Iohn tells us XVIII 32. so ordered by the Providence of God that he should be brought before a Roman Judge to be condemned by the Roman Law to be Crucified which was the very Death that our blessed Lord himself had foretold he should suffer Ioh. XII 32 33. He could not have come to it otherwise They began to Accuse him in these Words we have found this Fellow perverting the Nation and forbidding to give Tribute to Caesar saying that he himself is Christ a King Luke XXIII 2. What they called now perverting the Nation they called afterward vers 5. Stirring them up no doubt against the Roman Government And if that and all they charged him with had been True then he had been a Messias for their turn as much as Barchochba was to the Iews in the next Age. But their Quarrel against our blessed Lord was onely because he came in a low suffering Condition as it was foretold that he should in Esai LIII and other such Prophecies of Scripture The things which they charged him with being just contrary to what appear'd in all his Life and Doctrine they could not pretend to bring any Proof of them But for that there would be no need of any in the way that they took The last thing in their Accusation being this that he made himself a King it was their way to get Pilate to ask him the Truth of That They knew he would own it to Pilate as he had done already to Them and they reckoned his Owning of this would be taken for Proof of all the rest Pilate could not think by any thing he saw in the Prisoner that they were in Earnest when they charged him with this However since they would have it so he did ask him Art thou the King of the Iews Our Saviour answer'd him thou sayest vers 3. Which Words were an Affirmation in the Syriac that was his Native Language But Pilate either understood not the Idioms of that tongue or would not believe a thing so contrary to what he Saw in him Therefore the chief Priests seeing that would not do went on to accuse him of many other things Mar. XV. 4 But still they offer'd no proof of any thing that they said And the things they charged him with being palpably false our blessed Lord heard them as one unconcern'd He answer'd