the extream Malice and Cruelty of the Devil against Mankindâ— in that so many evil Spirits did at once afflict and torment a single Person even a Legion many Thousands of them Observe also The Unity and Agreement which is amongst these evil Spirits in doing Mischief tho' there was a Legion of them in this one Person yet they have all but one Name Learn That the very Devils have a sort of Unity amongst themselves and in their Malice and mischievous Designs against Mankind they are as one How happy were it if good Men were as much united in Designs and Endeavours for the Glory of God as Devils conspire and combine against it Note 7. The Outcry which the Devil makes at the Appearance and Approach of Christ Art thou come to torment us before the time From thence Learn 1. That there are Tortures appointed to the Spiritual Natures of evil Angels 2. That the Devils are not so full of Torment as they shall be Altho' they are as full of Discontent as they can be there will be a Time when their Torments shall be encreased when they shall have their Fill of torment This they know and accordingly thus they pray Torment us not before our Time That is encrease not our Torments before the appointed time of their Encrease Note 8. The Devils Request for Permission and Leave to go into the Herd of Swine Where Observe First The Devil's Malice he will hurt the poor Beasts rather than not hurt at all Secondly His powerful Restraint he cannot hurt a 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 Body or Soul of Man without Leave and Licence Note 9. How Satan's Request is yeilded to by our Saviour he permits the Devils to enter into the Swine not to satisfie their Desire in doing Mischief But First To shew his Power over the Devils that they could do nothing without his Permission Next To shew how great the Power and Malice of the Devil would be if not restrained and Lastly That the Miracle of casting out such a Multitude of 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 Hurt and Mischief unto the Creatures Jesus said unto them Go. Note 10. What a contrary Effect this Miracle which Christ wrought had upon these People instead of believing his Divine Power upon the Sight of his miraculous healing the possessed the Loss of their Swine enrages them and makes them desire Christ to depart from them Carnal Hearts preferr their Swine before their Saviour and had rather lose Christ's Presence than their Worldly Profit So desirous were these Gadarens to get rid of our Saviour's Company that they pray and beseech him to depart out of their Coasts Learn hence Sad is the Condition of such from whom Christ departs more sad the Condition of such who say unto Christ Depart but most sad the Case of them who pray and beseech Christ to depart from them Thus did these Gadarens desire and beseech Christ to depart from them which accordingly he did and we read no more of his Return to them Note lastly 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 testifie his Thankfulness to Christ partly out of fear of being repossess'd 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 things which God hath done for us 21 And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side much people gathered unto him and he was nigh unto the sea 22 And behold there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue Jairus by name and when he saw him he fell at his feet 23 And besought him greatly saying My little daughter lieth at the point of death I pray thee come and lay thy hands on her that she may be healed and she shall live 24 And Jesus went with him and much people followed him and thronged him Obs here 1. The Person who came to Christ on Behalf of his sick Daughter described by his Name Jairus by his Office a Ruler of the Synagogue by his Gesture he fell down at Jesus Feet and worshipped him 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 yet his confining Christ's Power to his bodily Presence and to the Touch of his Hand was a Token of the Weakness of his Faith Come says he and lay thine hand upon her and she shall live As if Christ could not have cured her without either coming to her or laying his Hand upon her Note All that come to Christ are not alike strong in Faith yet our blessed Redeemer refuses none who come to him with a smeere Faith tho' in much Weakness of Faith Obs 2. How readily our Saviour complies with Jairus's Request Jesus went with him Altho' his Faith was but weak yet our Saviour doth not reject him or deny his Sute but readily goes with him Learn hence How ready we should be to go to Christ in all our Distresses Afflictions and Necessities who is so ready to hear and so forward to help us if we seek him in Sincerity tho' our Faith be feeble Obs 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 Our Lord did not only suffer them to come near him but even to throng him What an Example is here for the greatest Persons upon Earth to imitate and follow not to despise the Persons nor disdain the Presence of the meanest and poorest of the People but to look upon some with an Eye of Favour upon others with an Eye of Pity upon none with an Eye of Contempt 25 And a certain woman which had an issue of blood twelve years 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians and had spent all that she had and was nothing bettered but
said by the Holy Ghost the 〈◊〉 sâ—id to my Lord sit thou on my right hand till I make thine Enemies thy footstool 37 Dâ—vid therefore himself calleth him Lord and whence is he then his Son and the common people heard him gladly The Pharisees had often put forth several questions malitiously unto Christ and now Christ puts forth one question innocently unto them namely What they thought of the Messiah whom they expected They reply that he was to be the Son of David that is a secular Prince descending from David who should deliver them from the power of the Romans and restore them to their Civil Rights This was the Notion they had of the Messiah that he should be a meer Man the Son of David according to the flesh and nothing more Our Saviour replys Whence is it then that David calls the Messiah Lord Psalm 110. v. 1. The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou on my right hand how could he be both David's Lord and David's Son No Son being Lord to his own Father therefore if Christ were David s Soveraign he must be more than Man more then David's Son as Man so he was David's Son as God-man so he was David's Lord. Note hence 1. That although Christ was truly and really Man yet he was more then a bare Man he was Lord unto and the Salvation of his own Fore-fathers Note 2. That the only way to reconcile the Scriptures which speak concerning Christ is to believe and acknowledge him to be God and Man in one Preson the Messiah as Man was to come forth out of David's Loyns but as God-man he was David's Soveraign and Saviour As Man he was his Fathers Son as God he was Lord to his own Father 38 And he said unto them in his Doctrine beware of the Scribes which love to go in long cloathing and love Salutations in the market place 39 And the chief seats in the Synagogues and the uppermost rooms at feasts 40 Which devour widows houses and for a pretence make long prayers these shall receive greater Damnation Observe here What it is that our Saviour condemns not civil Salutations in the Market place not the chief seats in Synagogues not the uppermost Rooms at Feasts but their fond Affecting of these things and their Ambitious aspiring after them It was not their taking but their loving the uppermost Rooms at Feasts which Christ condemns Observe 2. How our Saviour condemns the Pharisees for their gross Hypocrisy in colouring over their Covetousness with a pretence of Religion making long Prayers in the Temple and Synagogues for Widows and thereupon perswading them to give bountifully to Corban that is the common Treasury for the Temple some part of which was imployed for their maintenance whence we learn that it is no new thing for designing Hypocrites to cover the fowlest Transgression with the cloak of Religion The Pharisees made long Prayers a cloak and cover for their Covetousness 41 And Jesus sat over against the Treasury and beheld how the people cast money into the Treasury and many that were rich cast in much 42 And there came a certain poor widow and she threw in two mites which makes a farthing 43 And he called unto him his Disciciples and saith unto them verily I say unto you that this poor Widow hath cast more in then all they which have cast into the Treasury 44. For all they did cast in of their abundance but she of her want did cast in all that she had even all her living As our blessed Saviour sat over against the Treasury that is that part of the Court of the Temple where the Corban or Chests for receiving the Peoples Offerings and Gifts were set he observed and took notice of those that offered their Oblations and some that were rich offered very liberally but a certain poor Widow came and offered two Mites Our Saviour hereupon takes occasion to instruct his Disciples in this comfortable Truth namely that Almighty God accepts the will of those that give chearfully though they cannot give largely This poor Woman cast in more in respect of the inward affection of her heart and in proportion to her estate then all those that were Rich and Wealthy that had cast in before her a mite to her being more then a pound to them From the whole Note 1. That the poorer yea the poorest sort of People are not exempted from good works even they must exercise charity according to their Abilities Learn 2. That in all works of pious charity which we perform God looks at the heart the will and the affection of the Giver more then at the largeness and liberality of the Gift if there be a willing mind says the Apostle 2 Câ—r 8.12 It is accepted according to what a man hath and not according to what he hath not CHAP. XIII 1 AND as he went out of the Temple one of his Disciples saith unto him Master see what manner of stones and what buildings are here 2 And Jesus answering said unto him seest thou these great buildings there shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down Our blessed Saviour being now ready to depart from the Temple never more after this entring into it and his Disciples shewing him with wonder and admiration the magnificient Structures and Buildings thereof apprehending that in regard of its invincible strength it could not be destroyed or that at least in regard of its incredible magnificence it was great pitty it should be destroyed They say to Christ Master behold what Buildings are here not considering how sin will undermine and blow up the most famous Structures Sin brings Cities and Kingdoms as well as particular persons to their end not one stone of this magnificent Structure says Christ shall remain unpulled down which threatning was exactly fulfilled after Christ's Death when Titus the Roman Emperor destroâ—ed the City burnt the Temple and Turnus Rufus the General of his Army ploughed up the very foundation on which the Temple stood Thus was the threatning of God fulfilled Jer. 26.18 Zion shall be ploughed as a Field and Jerusalem shall becâ—me an heap Learn hence 1. That sin has laid the foundation of ruin in the most flourishing Cities and Kingdom 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 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the Temple Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately 4 Tell us when shall these things be and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled A double question is here propounded to our Saviour by his Disciples namely When the Destruction of Jerusalem shall be and what should be the signs of that Destruction See here what an itching curiosity there is in the best of Men to know
wicked Parents repine because they had Children but because they had lost them Mothers have the sharpest Throws both in their Childrens Births and Burials As Children in their Births are their Mothers Benjamins so in their Burial they are their Mothers Benoni's Sons of Sorrow 19 But when Herod was dead behold an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt saying 20 Arise and take the young child and his mother and go into the land of Israel for they are dead which sought the young child's life Obs 1. Herod's Death like a Bloody Persecutor he is sent unlamented to his Grave Historians say that out of his Body issued forth such impure Streams of Blood that the Loathsomness and Pain made him attempt the killing of himself God seldom suffers Persecutors to pass in quiet to their Graves they rarely die the common Death of all Men having no other Balm at their Funeral than their own Blood Obs 2. The happy Consequent of Herod's Death Christ is now call'd Home without Danger Herod being sent to his Grave the Coast is clear for the Return of the Holy Family The Death of Persecutors is the Delivery of the Persecuted 21 And he arose and took the young child and his mother and came into the land of Israel 22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod he was afraid to go thither notwithstanding being warned of God in a dream he turned aside into the parts of Galilee Observe here 1. The just Fear that Joseph has upon his Mind that Herod's Son would be as Bloody a Tyrant as his Flagitious Father No wonder that the Children of Cruel Persecutors are suspected to tread in their Bloody Parents Steps Obs 2. How God's Warrant and Direction doth quiet Joseph's Mind resolve his Doubts and remove his Fears and makes him readily comply with the Command of God Being warned of God he removes out of Egypt into Galilee Oh how safe and satisfactory is it in all our Ways to follow the Call and Command of God! Joseph and Mary durst not move their Feet no not out of Egypt it self till God gives them a Warrant for their departure and bids them go 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet He shall be called a Nazarene A threefold Interpretation is given of these Words He shall be called a Nazarene Some read the Words 1. He shall be called a Nazarite the Nazarites were a Religious and Separate Rank of Persons among the Jews who abstained from Wine and came not near the Dead for fear of Pollution Christ was a Holy Person but no Nazarite in a strict sence for he drank Wine and touched the Dead 2. Others read the Words He shall be called Netzer a Branch in Allusion to Isa 11.1 where he is called a Branch of the Root of Jesse Christ was that True Branch of which the Prophets had so often spoken 3. Others will have the Word Nazarene referr to the City Nazareth where Christ was conceived and lived most of his time He shall be called a Nazarene because he dwelt at Nazareth hence his Disciples were called the Sect of the Nazarenes that is the Followers of him that dwelt at Nazareth and Christ himself is pleased to own the Title Act. 22.8 I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest Learn from hence The great Humility of Mind that was found in our Saviour He was Born at Bethlehem a little City he Lives at Nazareth a poor contemptible Place He aspires not after the Grandeur of the World but is meek and lowly in Spirit may the same humble Mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus CHAP. III. This Evangelist having declared our Saviour's Miraculous Conception in the First Chapter and recorded several remarkable Circumstances relating to his Birth in the Second Chapter in this Chapter before us he passes over in silence the whole Course of our Saviour's Life in private taking no notice how he spent his Minority whilst he dwelt at Nazareth which was till he was Thirty Years old at which time he entred upon his Publick Ministry having John the Baptist for his Harbinger and Forerunner at this Chapter fully informs us 1 IN those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 And saying Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand Observe here 1. The Preacher sent by God John the Baptist a Pattern of Mortification and a Preacher of Repentance Obs 2. The Place he is sent to Preach in The Wilderness of Judea not in Populous Jerusalem but in a Barren Wilderness where Inhabitants were sew and probably very ignorant and rude Learn hence That it is God's Prerogative to send forth the Preachers of the Gospel when and whither and to what People he pleases and none must Assume the Office before they be Sent. Obs 3. The Doctrine that he preaches namely the Doctrine of Repentance Repent ye This was to prepare the People for the Messias and the Grace of the Gospel Learn thence That the Preaching of the Doctrine of Repentance is absolutely necessary in order to the preparing of the Hearts of Sinners for the receiving of Christ Jesus Obs 4. The Motive which St. John uses to inforce the Exhortation to Repentance The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand that is now is the so much expected Time of the Appearing of the Messiah come the Old Testament Dispensation is now to be Abolished and the Mercy and Grace of the Gospel is now to be Revealed therefore Repent and Amend your Lives Note thence That the free and full Tenders of Grace and Mercy in the Gospel are the most alluring Arguments to move a Sinner to Repent and to Convert to God 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias saying The voice of one crying in the wilderness Prepare ye the way of the Lord make his paths straight The Papists from John Baptist's living in the Wilderness would make him the first Founder of the Order of the Hermits but very groundlesly For 1. What he did was by God's Command what they do is by the Dictates of their their own Fancy 2. He busied himself in Preaching in the Wilderness they bury themselves alive and do nothing 3. He lived in the Wilderness but for a time afterwards we find him at Court Preaching a Sermon to Herod but they bind themselves with a Vow to live and die Hermits 4 And the same John had his raiment of camels hair and a leathern girdle about his loins and his meat was locusts and wild honey The plainess of John's Habit and Diet is here declared he was habited in a plain Suit of Camels Hair much as Elijah was before him and as his Habit was plain so his Diet was ordinary feeding upon Herbs and such Things as the Wilderness affords hence it was that Nazianzen said he was all
unto this last even as unto thee 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own is thine eye evil because I am good 16 So the last shall be first and the first last for many be called but few chosen Here observe 1. That the time of God's full rewarding of his Labourers is the Evening of their Days that is when their Work is done When the Evening was come the Lord of the Vineyard called his Labourers and gave them their Hire not but that they have part of their Reward in Hand but it is chiefly laid up in Hope Obs 2. That tho' God makes no difference in his Servants Wages for the time of their Work yet he will make a difference for the degrees of their Service Undoubtedly they that have done most Work shall receive most Wages He that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully God will reward every Man according to his Works that is not only according to the Nature and Quality but the Measure and Degree of his Works All shall have Equity but all shall not have equal Bounty Obs 3. That all Inequality in the Distribution of Rewards doth not make God an unjust Accepter of Persons he may dispence both Grace and Glory in what Measure and Degree he pleases without the least Shadow of Unrighteousness Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own Obs 4. That when we have done much Service for God by labouring longer than others in his Vineyard it is our Duty to have a low Esteem both of our Services and our selves for the first shall be last and the last first That is they that are first and highest in their own Esteem shall be last and least in God's Account 17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way and said unto them 18 Behold we go up to Jerusalem and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes and they shall condemn him to death 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucifie him and the third day he shall rise again This is now the third time that Christ had acquainted his Disciples very lately with his approaching Sufferings and bloody Passion He did it twice before Chap. 16 and Chap. 17. yet now he mentions it again that they might not be dismayed and their Faith might not be shaken to see him dye who called himself the true Messias and the Son of God The first time he told his Disciples of his Death in general the second time he declares the means by Treason now he tells them the manner by crucifying that he should be Scourged Mocked Spit upon and Crucified All this he did to prevent his Disciples Dejection at his Sufferings Learn thence That it is highly necessary that the Doctrine of the Cross be often preach'd to us that so being armed with Expectation of Sufferings before they come we may be the less dismayed and disheartned when they come Our Lord 's frequent forewarning his Disciples of his Death and Sufferings was to forearm them with Expectation of his Sufferings and with Preparation for their own 20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons worshipping him and desiring a certain thing of him 21 And he said unto her What wilt thou she saith unto him Grant that these my two sons may sit the one on thy right hand and the other on the left in thy kingdom Observe here 1. The Persons making this Request to Christ Zebedee's Children that is James and John by the Mouth of their Mother They spake by her Lips and made use of her Tongue to usher in a Request which they were asham'd to make themselves Obs 2. The Request it self Grant that these Two may sit the one on thy Right the other on thy Left Hand Where Note How these Disciples did still dream of Christ's Temporal Kingdom altho' he had so often told them that his Kingdom was not of this World and ambitiously seek to have the Preference and Preheminence in that Kingdom See here how these poor Fishermen had already learnt craftily to fish for Preferment Who can wonder to see some Sparks of Ambition and Worldly Desires in the holiest Ministers of Christ when the Apostles themselves were not free from aspiring Thoughts even when they lay in the Bosom of their Saviour Ambition has all along infected Churchmen and troubled the Church even from the very first Original and Foundation of it Obs 3. Both the Unseasonableness and Unreasonableness of this Request made by the Disciples Christ speaks of his Sufferings to them and they sue for Dignity and great Places from him in optimis non nihil est pessimi The holiest the wisest and best of Men in this their imperfect State are not wholly free from passionate Infirmities Who would have expected that when our Saviour had been preaching the Doctrine of the Cross to his Disciples telling them that he must be Mocked Scourged Spit upon and Crucified for them that they should be seeking and suing to him for Secular Dignity and Honour Preheminence and Power But we plainly see the best of Men are but Men at the best none are in a State of Perfection on this side Heaven 22 But Jesus answered and said Ye know not what ye ask Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with they say unto him We are able Our Saviour in his Answer tells these Disciples 1. That they were greatly ignorant of the Nature and Quality of his Kingdom which was not Secular but Heavenly but the Carnal Notion of a Glorious Earthly Kingdom upon Earth in which they should be delivered from the Roman Power was so deeply imprinted in their Minds that they frequently declared their Expectation of it notwithstanding all the Assurances which Christ had given them of the contrary Obs 2. The Course which our Saviour takes to cool the Ambition of his Disciples he tells them they must expect here not Crowns on their Heads but a Cross on their Backs they must first taste of his Sufferings before they talk of his Glory and patiently suffer for him before they expect to reign with him plainly intimating that the Cross is the way to the Crown Suffering the way to Reigning and that those that suffer most for Christ shall partake of highest Dignity and Glory from him Obs 3. The presumptuous Confidence which the Disciples had of their own Strength and Ability for Sufferings Are ye able says Christ to drink of my Cup They reply We are able Alas poor Disciples when it came to the Tryal they all cowardly forsook him and fled A bold Presumption makes us vaunt of our own Ability holy Jealousie makes us distrustful of our own Strength Those that are least acquainted with the Cross are usually the most confident Undertakers
is no Desire like unto God's Desire of a People's Repentance no Longing like unto God's Longing for a People's Salvation Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thee When shall it once be CHAP. XXIV 1 AND Jesus went out and departed from the temple and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple 2 And Jesus said unto them See ye not all these things Verily I say unto you There shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down Our Blessed Saviour had often acquainted his Disciples with his approaching Death at Jerusalem The Son of Man must go up to Jerusalem to be Crucified Now in this Chapter he acquaints them with the Destruction that should come upon Jerusalem in general and upon the Temple in particular for their putting him the Son of God to Death The Disciples looking upon the Temple with Wonder and Admiration were apt to think that the Temple in regard of its invincible Strength could not be destroyed or that at least in regard of its incredible Magnificence 't was great pity it should be destroyed and accordingly they say to Christ See what goodly Buildings are here as if they had said Master what great Pity is it that such a magnificent Structure should become a ruinous Heap But hence we Learn 1. That Sin brings Cities and Kingdoms as well as particular and private Persons to their end There are no places so strong but an Almighty God is able to destroy them and Sin is sufficient to lay them waste Observe 2. That the Threatnings of God are to be feared and shall be fulfilled whatever appearing Improbabilities there may be to the contrary God had threatned Jerusalem with Destruction for her Sin and now it is not all her Strength that can oppose his Power Learn 3. That notwithstanding Magnificence and Worldly Glory doth mightily dazle our Eye yet how little doth it affect Christ's Heart Even the Temple it self that most magnificent Structure Christ values no more than an Heap of Rubbish when the Impiety of the Worshippers had devoted it to Destruction Not one Stone says Christ shall be left upon another unthrown down This threatning was fulfill'd Forty Years after Christ's Death when Titus the Roman Emperor destroyed the City and burnt the Temple and Turnus Rufus the General of his Army ploughed up the very Foundation upon which the Temple stood Thus was the Threatning of God fulfilled Jer. 26.18 Zion shall be ploughed as a Field and Jerusalem shall become Heaps The Truth and Veracity the Faithfulness and Fidelity of God is as much concerned in the Execution of his Threatnings as in the Performance of his Promises 3 And as he sat upon the mount of olives the disciples came unto him privately saying Tell us when shall these things be and what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the World 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them Take heed that no man deceive you 5 For many shall come in my Name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many A double Question is here propounded by the Disciples to our Saviour First As to the time of the Temple's Destruction Secondly As to the Signs of that Destruction As to the former the time when the Temple should be destroyed See the Curiosity of Humane Nature both in desiring to know what should be hereafter and also when that hereafter should be Thence Learn That there is found with all of us an itching Curiosity and Desire rather to inquire and pry into the hidden Counsels of God's secret Will than to obey the manifest Declarations of God's revealed Will. Tell us when these things shall be As to their second Question What should be the Sign of his coming Our Saviour acquaints them with this amongst many others That there should arise false Christs false Prophets and Seducers a multitude of Impostors that should draw many after them therefore he bids them Take heed and beware Where Observe That Christ doth not gratifie his Disciples Curiosity but acquaints them with their present Duty to watch against Deceivers and Seducers who should have the Impudence to affirm themselves to be Christ Some Christ Personal or the Messiah others Christ Doctrinal affirming their erroneous Opinions to be Christ's Mind and Doctrine From the whole Note 1. That there will be many Seducers many erroneous Persons and false Opinions before the end of the World For Jerusalem's Destruction was a Type and Emblem of the World's Destruction 2. That such Seducers will come in Christ's Name and their Errors and false Opinions shall be given out to be the Mind of Christ 3. That many will be seduced and carried away with their fair Pretences and plausible Deceits 4. That Christ's own Disciples had need to take heed lest they themselves being led away by the Error of the Wicked do fall from their own Stedfastness Take heed that no Man deceive you for many will come in my Name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars see that ye be not troubled for all these things must come to pass but the end is not yet 7 For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom and there shall be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in divers places 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows The next Sign which our Saviour gives his Disciples of Jerusalem's Destruction is the many Broyls and Commotions civil Discords and Dissentions that should be found amongst the Jews Famines Pestilence and Earthquakes fearful Sights and Signs in the Air. And Josephus declares that there appeared in the Air Chariots and Horses Men skirmishing in the Clouds and encompassing the City and that a Blazing Star in fashion of a Sword hung over the City for a Year together Learn 1. 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 Wars Famine and Pestilence 2. That altho' these be mighty and terrible Judgments yet are they the Forerunners of worser Judgments All these are the Beginnings of Sorrow 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you and ye shall be hated of all nations for my Names sake 10 And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another and shall hate on another 11 And many false prophets shall arise and shall deceive many 12 And because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold 13 But he that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved Our Saviour here goes on in giving farther Signs of the Destruction of Jerusalem 1. He declares the sharp Persecutions which should fall upon the Apostles themselves they shall kill you Thence Learn That the keenest and sharpest edge of Persecution is usually turn'd against the Ambassadors of Christ and falls heaviest on the
Bloodshed Accordingly they industriously suborn false-witnesses to take away his Life not sticking at the grossest Perjury so they might destroy him The Chief Priests and Elders and all the Council sought false Witness against Jesus to put him to Death Abominable Wickedness Innocency it self cannot protect from Slander and false Accusation No Man is so innocent or good whom false Witness may not condemn Yet Observe farther Our Lord's Meekness and Patience his submissive Silence under all these wicked Suggestions and false Accusations Jesus held his Peace v. 63. Guilt is clamorous and impatient Innocency is silent and careless of mis-reports Learn hence That to bear the Revilings Contradictions and false Accusations of Men with a silent and submissive Spirit is an excellent and Christ-like Temper Our Lord stood before his unjust Judges and false Accusers as a Sheep before the Shearer dumb and not opening his Mouth Altho' a Trial for his Life was managed most maliciously and illegally against him when he was reviled he reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously Oh let the same humble Mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus 63 And the high priest answered and said unto him I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ the Son of God 64 Jesus saith unto him Thou hast said nevertheless I say unto you Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven 65 Then the high priest rent his cloaths saying He hath spoken blasphemy what further need have we of witnesses behold now ye have heard his blasphemy 66 What think ye They answered and said He is guilty of death 67 Then did they spit in his face and buffetted him and others smote him with the palms of their hands 68 Saying Prophesie unto us thou Christ who is he that smote thee We observed even now that our Saviour was silent and did make no Reply to the false Witnesses that evidenced against him at his Trial because being so manifestly contradicting they did fall to the Ground of themselves But now when the Question was solemnly put by the High Priest Art thou the Christ He said I am Thence Learn That altho' we are not obliged to answer every cavilling or ensnaring Question yet we are bound faithfully to own and freely to confess the Truth when we are solemnly called thereunto Christ who in the former Verses was silent and as a deaf Man that heard not now witnesses a good Confession Teaching us both by his Example and Command to confess and own both him and his Truth when lawfully required when our Silence will be a denying of the Truth a Dishonour to God and a Scandal to our Brethren Christ knew that his Answer would cost him his Life and yet he durst not but give it Art thou the Son of the Blessed Jesus said I am Yea farther Observe That as Christ answer'd directly and plainly at his Trial so he did not refuse to answer upon Oath I adjure thee by the living God says the Judge of the Court that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ That is I require thee to answer this Question upon Oath for adjuring a Person or requiring them to answer upon Oath was the manner of swearing among the Jews Now to this Adjuration our Saviour answer'd plainly and directly I am Mark 14.61 Hence Learn That swearing before a Magistrate upon a just and great Occasion is lawful If Christ in the Fifth of St. Matthew forbids all Oaths then here his Practice was contrary to his own Doctrine but it is evident that Christ answered the Magistrate upon Oath and so may we Observe Lastly The Sentence of Condemnation which the Council passed upon him for owning himself to be the Son of God He hath spoken Blasphemy and is worthy to die Hereupon the unruly Rabble affront him with the vilest Abuses and most horrid Indignities They Spit in his Face they Blind-fold him they Smote him with their Fists and Palms of their Hands and in a way of Contempt and Mockery they bid him Divine or Prophesie who it was that smote him Learn hence That there is no Degree of Contempt no Mark of Shame no Kind of Suffering which we ought to decline or stick at for Christ's sake who hid not his Face from Shame and Spitting upon our Account 69 Now Peter sat without in the palace and a damsel came unto him saying Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee 70 But he denied before them all saying I know not what thou sayest 71 And when he was gone out into the porch another maid saw him and said unto them that were there This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth 72 And again he denied with an oath I do not know the man 73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by and said unto Peter surely thou also art one of them for thy speech bewrayeth thee 74 Then he began to curse and to swear saying I know not the man And immediately the cock crew 75 And Peter remembred the words of Jesus which said unto him Before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice And he went out and wept bitterly This last Paragraph of the Chapter gives us an Account of the Fall and Rising of Peter of his Sin in denying Christ and of his Recovery by a speedy and severe Repentance Both must be consider'd distinctly First As touching his Sin and Fall there are Four Particulars Observable namely the Sin it self the Occasion of that Sin the Reiteration and Repetition of it and the aggravating Circumstances attending it Obs 1. The Sin it self the Denial of Christ I know not the Man a manifest Untruth Next he adds an Oath to confirm that Untruth he swore that he knew not the Man And last of all he wish'd an horrid Curse and Imprecation upon himself That is he wish'd himself excommunicated and cast out of the Church Say some he wish'd himself eternally separated from the Presence of God Say others he wish'd in effect that the Devil might take him if he were acquainted with Jesus The inordinate Love of Life and slavish Fear of Sufferings and Death may draw the best Men to commit the worst of Sins Obs 2. The Occasions of this Sin and they were Three his following Christ afar off his being in bad Company amongst Christ's Enemies and his presumptuous Confidence of his own Strength and Standing 1. His following of Christ afar off To follow Christ is the Work of Faith and Fruit of Love but to follow him afar off was the Effect of Fear and Frailty Wo unto us when a Temptation comes if we be far off from Christ's Presence and Assistance 2. His being in wicked Company amongst Christ's Enemies Oh Peter thou hadst better have been a cold by thy self alone than sitting by a Fire compassed in with the Blasphemies
to contemn worldly Possessions as to be willing to part with them when they hinder our Happiness and Salvation It follows And take up the Cross an Allusion to the Roman Custom when the Malefactor was to be crucified he bare his Cross upon his Shoulder and carried it to the Place of Execution 'T is not the making but the patient bearing of the Cross which is our Duty Learn That all Christ's Followers should prepare their Shoulders for Christ's Cross To bear the Cross implies Faithfulness and Integrity without shifting Patience and Submission without murmuring Joy and Chearfulness without fainting Obs 4. The Effect which our Saviour's Admonition had upon this young Person He was sad and grieved at that Saying Thence Note 1. That carnal Men are sad and exceeding sorrowful when they cannot win Heaven in their own way 2. That such as are wedded to the World will renounce Christ rather than the World when the World and Christ stand in Competition 23 And Jesus looked round about and saith unto his disciples How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words But Jesus answereth again and saith unto them Children how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God 25 It is easier for a camel to go thorow the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God 26 And they were much astonished saying with themselves Who then can be saved 27. But Jesus answered and said With men it is impossible but not with God for with God all things are possible From this Discourse of our Holy Lord's concerning the Danger of Riches and the Difficulty that attends Rich Men in their way to Heaven we may collect and gather First That Rich Men do certainly meet with more Difficulties in their Way to Heaven than other Men. 'T is Difficult to withdraw their Affections from Riches to place their supream Love upon God in the midst of their Abundance 'T is difficult to depend entirely upon God in a Rich Condition for the Rich Man's Wealth is his strong Tower Secondly That yet the Fault lies not in Riches but in Rich Men who by placing their Trust and reposing their Confidence in Riches do render themselves uncapable of the Kingdom of God Obs 3. The Proverbial Speech which our Saviour makes use of to set forth the Difficulty of a Rich-Man's Salvation It is easier for a Camel to go through a Needle 's Eye This was a Proverb amongst the Jews signifying a thing of great Difficulty next to an Impossibility and it implies thus much That it is not only a very great Difficulty but an utter Impossibility for such as abound in worldly Wealth and place their Confidence therein to be saved without an extraordinary Grace and Assistance from God 'T is hard for God to make a Rich Man happy because he thinks himself happy without God Obs 4. The Disciples are affected with Wonder and Admiration at this Doctrine of our Saviour's and cry out Who then can be saved Learn thence That such are the special and peculiar Difficulties which lye in the Rich Man's way to Salvation that their getting to Heaven is matter of Wonder and Admiration to the Disciples of Christ Obs 5. How our Saviour resolves this Doubt by telling his Disciples That what was impossible with Men was possible with God implying That it is impossible for any Man Rich or Poor by his own Natural Strength to get to Heaven And 2. That when we are discouraged with the Sense of our own Impotency we should consider the Power of God and act our Faith upon it With God all things are possible 28 Then Peter began to say unto him Lord we have left all and have followed thee 29 And Jesus answered and said Verily I say unto you there is no man that hath left house or brethren or sisters or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake and the Gospels 30 But he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions and in the world to come eternal life 31 But many that are first shall be last and the last first The Apostles having heard our Saviour's Command to sell all and give to the Poor St. Peter in the Name of the rest tells Christ That they had left all to follow him Where Note How Peter magnifies that Little which he had left for Christ and ushers it in with a Note of Admiration Lo We have left all Learn hence That though it be very little that we suffer for Christ and have to forsake upon his Account yet are we apt to magnify and extol it as if it were some great Matter Lord we have left All says Peter What All Man hadst thou to lose besides thy ragged Nets and thy tatter'd Fisher-Boat A great All next to nothing at all scarce worth mentioning and yet how is it magnified Behold we have left all and followed thee Observe next Our Lord 's kind and gracious Answer that those that leave all to follow him shall be no Losers by him We may be Losers for Christ we shall never be Losers by him for whatever we part with in this World for the sake of Christ Houses or Lands Brethren or Sisters we shall receive an hundred fold now in this Life But how so Non formalitèr sed eminenter non in specie sed in valore not in Kind but in Equivalency Not an hundred Brethren Sisters or Lands in Kind but he shall enjoy that in God which all Creatures would be to him if they were multiplied an hundred times And the Gifts and Graces the Comforts and Consolations of the Holy Spirit shall be an hundred times better Portion than any thing we can part with for the sake of Christ For the Sense of those Words The first shall be last c. see the Note on Matth. 30.19 32 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem and Jesus went before them and they were amazed and as they followed they were afraid and he took again the twelve and began to tell them what things should happen unto him 33 Saying Behold we go up to Jerusalem and the son of man shall be delivered to the chief priests and unto the scribes and they shall condemn him to death and shall deliver him to the gentiles 34 And they shall mock him and shall scourge him and spit upon him and kill him and the third day he shall rise again This is at least the Third time that Christ had acquainted his Disciples with his approaching Sufferings The first time he told his Disciples of his Death in geâ—eral the second time he declares the Means by Treason now he tells them the Manner by Crucifying him All this he did to prevent their Dejection at his Sufferings Learn hence That it is highly necessary
Act of Obedience doth the holy Virgin here perform to two Ceremonial Laws The one concerning the purification of Women after Child-birth the other concerning the presenting of the Male Child before the Lord. The Law concerning the purification of Women we have Recorded Levit. 12. where the time mentioned for the Womans Purification is set down namely after a Male Child forty days after a Female Fourscore days after which time she was to bring a Lamb of a year old for a Burnt-offering in case she was a person of ability or a pair of Turtle-Doves or two young Pidgeons in case of extreme poverty Now as to the Virgins Purification Observe 1. That no sooner was she able and allowed to walk but she Travels to the Temple Where Note That she visited God's House at Jerusalem before her own house at Nazareth Learn thence that such Women whom God has blest with safety of Deliverance if they make not their first visit to the Temple of God to offer up their Praises of Thanksgivings there they are Strangers to the Virgins Piety and Devotion Obs 2. Another Act of Mary's Obedience to the Ceremonial Law she presented her Child at Jerusalem to the Lord. But how durst the Blessed Virgin carry her holy Babe to Jerusalem into Herod's mouth It was but a little before that Herod sought the young Child's Life to destroy it yet the Virgin sticks not in Obedience to the command of God to carry him to Jerusalem Learn hence That the apprehension of no dangers either imminent or approaching either at hand or afar off ought to hinder us from performing our Duty to Almighty God we ought not to neglect a certain Duty to escape an uncertain Danger Observe further as the Obedience so the Humility of the Holy Virgin in submitting to the Law for purifying of Uncleanness For thus she might have pleaded What need have I of purging who did not conceive in Sin Other Births are from men but mine is from the Holy Ghost who is purity it self Other Womens Children are under the Law mine is above the Law but like the Mother of him whom it behoved to fulfil all Righteousness she dutifully fulfils the Law of God without quarrelling or disputing Observe Lastly as the exemplary Humility so the great poverty of the Holy Virgin she has not a Lamb but comes with her two Doves to God Her Offering declares her Penury The Best are sometimes the poorest seldom the wealthiest yet none are so poor but God expects an Offering from them he looks for somewhat from every one not from every one alike The Providence of God it is that makes difference in persons abilities but his pleasure will make no difference in the Acceptation Where there is a willing mind it shall be accepted according to what a person hath 2 Cor. 8.12 25 And behold there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon and the same was just and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel and the holy Ghost was upon him 26 And it was revealed unto him by the holy Ghost that he should not see Death before he had seen the Lord's Christ 27 And he came by the Spirit into the Temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law 28 Then took he him up in his arms and Blessed God and said No sooner was our Saviour brought into the Temple and presented to the Lord by his holy Parents but in springs old Simeon a pious and devout Man who had a Revelation from God that he should not dye until he had with his bodily Eye seen the promised Messiah Accordingly he takes up the Child Jesus in his arms but hugs him faster by his Faith then by his feeble Arms and with Ravishment of heart praises God for the Sight of his Saviour whom he calls the Consolation of Israel that is the Messiah whom the Israel of God had long look'd and waited for and now took Comfort and Consolation in Note here 1. How God always performs his Promises to his Children with wonderful advantage Simeon had a Revelation that he should not Dye until he had seen Christ now he not only sees him but feels him too he not only has him in his Eye but holds him in his hands Tho' God stays long before he fulfils his Promises he certainly comes at last with a double Reward for our expectation Note 2. That the Coming of the Messiah in the fulness of Time and his appearing in our Flesh and Nature was and is matter of unspeakable Consolation to the Israel of God And now that he is come let us live by Faith upon him as the Foundation of all Comfort and Consolation both in Life and Death Alas what are all other Consolations besides this and without this They are impotent and insufficient Consolations they are dying and perishing Consolations nay they are sometimes afflictive and distressing Consolations The Bitterness accompanying them is sometimes more than the Sweetness that is tasted in them but in Christ who is the Consolation of Israel there is light without darkness joy without sorrow all Consolation without any mixture of discomfort 29 And he said Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word 30 For mine eyes have seen thy Salvation 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel 33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him These words are a sweet Canticle or Swan-like Song of old Simeon a little before his Dissolution He had seen the Messias before by Faith now by sight and wishes to have his Eyes closed that he might see nothing after this desirable sight It is said of some Turks that after they have seen Mahomet's Tomb they put out their Eyes that they may never defile them after they have seen so glorious an Object Thus old Simeon desires to see no more of this World after he had seen Christ the Saviour of the World but sues for his Dismission Lord let thy servant depart Note here 1. That a good Man having served his Generation and God in his Generation faithfully is weary of the World and willing to be dismist from it 2. That the Death of a good man is nothing else but a quiet and peaceable departure 't is a departure in peace to the God of peace 3. That it is only a spiritual sight of Christ by Faith that can welcome the approach of Death and render it an object desirable to the Christian's choice he only that can say My eyes have seen thy Salvation will be able to say Lord let thy Servant dâ—part Observe farther Holy Simeon having declared the Faithfulness of God to himself in the Gift of Christ Next he celebrates the Mercy of God in bestowing this invaluable Gift of a Saviour upon the whole World The world consists of Jews and
this he was sorrowful for he was very rich Here Note the Effect which our Saviour's Admonition had upon this Person He was sorrowful Learn thence That Carnal Men are exceeding sorrowful when they cannot win Heaven in their own way 2. That such as are wedded to the World will renounce Christ rather than the World when the World and Christ stand in Competition he went away sorrowful St. Mark 10.22 for he was very rich 24 And when Jesus saw he was very sorrowful he said How hardly shall they that have Riches enter into the Kingdom of God 25 For it is easier for a Camel to go thorough a Needle 's eye then for a rich Man to enter into the kingdom of God 26 And they that heard it said Who then can be saved 27 And he said the things which are impossible with men are possible with God Our Holy Lord takes occasion from the rich Man's Departure from him to discourse concerning the danger of Riches and the Difficulties that attend Rich Men in their way to Heaven From whence we may collect and gather 1. That Rich Men do certainly meet with more Difficulties in their way to Heaven then other Men 't is difficult to withdraw their Affections from Riches to place their supreme Love upon God in the midst of their Riches and to depend entirely upon God in a rich Condition For the rich mans wealth is his strong Tower 2. That yet the fault lies not in Riches but in rich Men who by placing their Trust and reposing their Confidence in Riches do render their Salvation difficult if not impossible 3. Our Saviour's proverbial Speech of a Camels going thorough the eye of a Needle implies thus much That it is not only a great Difficulty but an utter impossibility for such as abound in Worldly Wealth and place their Confidence therein to be Saved without an extraordinary Grace and Assistance from God 'T is hard for God to make a Rich Man Happy because he thinks himself Happy without God 4. That as difficult and impossible this may seem to Men yet nothing is impossible with GOD he can change the Heart of the Rich by the rich and powerful Influences of his Holy Spirit That which is impossible with Men is possible with God 28 Then Peter said Lo we have left all and followed thee It was well done and wisely done of Peter to leave all and follow Christ it was the best Bargain he ever made in all his Life But Observe how he magnifies that little he had left for Christ and ushers it in with a Note of Admiration Lo we have left all and followed thee Learn hence That tho' it be very little that we Suffer for Christ and have to forsake upon his Account yet we are prone to magnify and admire it as if it were some great matter Lord says Peter We have left all What all Man hadst thou to leave a few ragged Nets and a Tatter'd Fisherboat a great All indeed next to nothing at all scarce worth mentioning and yet how is it magnified Behold we have left all and followed thee 29 And he said unto them Verily I say unto you There is no man that hath left house or parents or brethren or wife or children for the kingdom of God's sake 30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time and in the world to come Eternal Life Observe here the Lenity and Kindness of our Lord 's Gracious Answer he tells his Disciples That they who had left all and followed him should be no losers by him that in this World they should receive many fold St. Mark 10.30 says an hundred fold but how so Non formaliter sed eminenter non in specie sed in valore Not in Kind but in Equivalency not an hundred Brethren and Sisters and Possessions in Kind but he shall enjoy all that in God which all Creatures would be to him if they were multiplied an hundred times Oh the Sanctifying Gifts and Saving Graces the supporting Comforts and ravishing Consolations of the Holy Spirit are a sufficient Compensation for any thing for all yea for more than all that we can part with for the sake of Christ 31 Then he took unto him the Twelve and said unto them behold we go up to Jerusalem and all things that are written by the Prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles and shall be mocked and spitefully entreated and spit upon 33 And they shall Scourge him and put him to Death and the third day he shall rise again 34 And they understood none of these things and this saying was hid from them neither knew they the things which were spoken We find our Blessed Saviour very frequently acquainting his Disciples with his approaching Sufferings to prevent the Offence that they might take at them when the Providence of God brought them forth his Design was to arm them with expectation of his Sufferings and to quicken them to Preparation for their own yet is it here said That the Disciples understood none of these sayings Why so were not the words easy enough to be understood yes but they could not reconcile them to the Notion of the Messiah which they had drank in they concluded he should be a Temporal Prince and subdue their Temporal Enemies but could not conceive how he that should redeem Israel should dye and be thus barbarously used we had great need to consider well what Notions we have concerning the things of God before we entertain them for false Notions once taken up are not without great difficulty laid down 35 And it came to pass that as he was come nigh unto Jericho a certain blind man sate by the way-side begging 36 And hearing the multitude pass by he asked what it meant 37 And they told him That Jesus of Nazareth passeth by 38 And he cryed saying Jesus thou Son of David have mercy on me 39 And they which went before rebuked him that he should hold his peace and he cryed so much the more Thou Son of David have mercy on me 40 And Jesus stood and commanded him to be brought unto him and when he was come near he asked him 41 Saying What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee and he said Lord that I may receive my sight 42 And Jesus said unto him Receive thy sight thy Faith hath saved thee 43 And immediately he received his sight and followed him glorifying God and all the people when they saw it gave praise unto God This Chapter concludes with the recital of a famous Miracle wrought by our Saviour upon a Blind Man whom St. Mark calls Bartimeus Where we have Observable 1. The Blind Man's Faith in Acknowledging Christ to be the Messiah for so much the Title of Son of David did import 2. Observe his Fervency as well as his Faith he cryed to Christ for the Mercy of Healing Have mercy on me thou Son of David
as Man he was David s Son as God man he was Lord to his own Father 45 Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his Disciples 46 Beware of the Scribes which desire to walk in long Robes and love greetings in the markets and the highest Seats in the Synagogues and the chief Rooms at Feasts 47 Which devour widows houses and for a shew make long prayers the same shall receive greater Damnation Observe here What it is that our Saviour condemns not Civil Salutations in the Market-place not the chief Seats in the Synagogue not the uppermost Rooms at Feasts but their fond affecting of these things and their ambitious aspiring after them it was not their Taking but their loving the uppermost Rooms at Feasts which our Saviour condemns God is the God of Order there may and ought to be a Precedency among Persons God commands us to give Honour to whom Honour is due but Pride and Ambition are detestable and hateful Vices especially in such as are Preachers and ought to be Patterns of Humility Observe 2. How our Saviour condemns the Pharisees for their gross Hypocrisy in colouring over their abominable Covetousness with a specious pretence of Religion making long Prayers in the Temple and Synagogues for Widows and thereupon perswading them to give Bountifully to Corban that is the Common Treasury for the Temple some part of which was employed for their Maintenance Whence we Learn That it is no new thing for Designing Hypocrites to cover the fowlest Transgressions with the Cloak of Religion thus the Pharisees made their Prayers a cloak and cover for their Covetousness CHAP. XXI 1 AND Jesus looked up and saw the rich men casting their Gifts into the Treasury 2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites 3 And he said Of a truth I say unto you That this poor Widow hath cast in more then they all 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God but she of her penury hath cast in all that she had At the door of the Temple thro' which all the People passed in and out who came up three times a Year at the Solemn Feasts to Worship Almighty God in his own House there was a Chest set like the poor Mans Box in some of our Churches into which all Persons cast in their Free Will Offerings and Oblations which were employed either for the use of the Poor or for the Service of the Temple and what was thus given our Saviour calls an Offering to God v. 4. These of their abundance have cast in unto the Offering of God Thence Learn That what we rightly give to the Relief of the Poor or for the Service and towards the Support of God's publick Worship is Consecrated to God and as such is accepted of him and ought to be esteemed by us Observe 2. With what pleasure and Satisfaction our Saviour sets Himself to view those Offerings he beheld the rich men casting their Gifts into the Treasury Thence Note That our Saviour sees with pleasure and beholds with Delight whatever we have Hearts to give unto him whether for the Relief of his Members or for the Support of his Service Oh Blessed Saviour while now thou sittest at thy Father's Right Hand in Glory thou seest every hand that is stretched forth to the relief of thy poor Members here on Earth But a certain poor widow cast in two mites Several Circumstances relating both to the Person and the Action are here Observable as 1. The Person that offered was a Widow the Married Woman is under the careful Provision of her Husband if she spends he earns but the Widow has no hands but her own to work for her 2. She was a poor Widow poverty added to the Sorrow of her Widowhood she had no rich Joynture to live upon it is some alleviation of the Sorrow that attends Widow-hood when the Hand is left full tho' the Bed be left empty this Widow was needy and desolate but yet gives some in her Circumstances would have look'd upon themselves as having Right to receive what was given by others rather than to give any thing themselves 3 Observe her Bounty and Munificence in giving her two Mites are proclaimed by Christ to be more then all the rich Mens Talents more in respect of the mind and affection of the Giver more with respect to the proportion of the Gift a Mite to her being more than Pounds to others Pounds were little to them two Mites were all to her she leaves her self nothing so that the poor Woman gave not only more than any of them all but more then they all Christ's Eye look'd at once into the bottom of her Purse and into the bottom of her Heart and judge of the Offering rather by the Mind of the Giver than by the value of the Gift From this instance we Learn 1. That the Poorer yea the poorest sort of People are not exempted from good Works but even they must and ought to exercise Charity according to their Ability This poor Widow that had not a Pound nay not a Penny presents God with a Farthing 2. That in all Works of pious Charity which we perform God looks at the Heart the Will and the Affection of the Giver more then at the largeness and liberality of the Gift it is not said the Lord loveth a Liberal Giver but a chearful Giver He accepteth the Gift according to what a Man hath and not according to what he hath not Oh our God the poorest of us thy Servants have our two Mites also a Soul and a Body perswade and enable us to offer them both unto thee tho' they are thine own already yet wilt thou graciously accept them and oh how happy shall we be in thy acceptation 5 And as some spake of the Temple how it was adorned with goodly Stones and Gifts he said 6 As for these things which ye behold the days will come in which there shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down Our Blessed Saviour being now ready to depart from the Temple never more after this Entering into it and his Disciples shewing him with Wonder and Admiration the magnificent Structures and Buildings thereof apprehending that in regard of its Invincible Strength it could not be destroyed not considering that Sin will undermine and blow up the most magnificent and famouâ— Structures For Sin brings Cities and Kingdoms as well as particular Persons to their End Not one stone says Christ shall be left upon another which threatning was exactly fulfilled after Christ's Death when Titus the Roman Emperour destroyed the City burnt the Temple and Turnus Rufus the General of his Army ploughed up the very Foundation on which the Temple stood Thus was the Threatning of God fulfilled Jerem 26.18 Zion shall be ploughed as a Field and Jerusalem shall become an heap Learn hence 1. That Sin has laid the
farther Witness we have heard his Blasphemy Abominable Wickedness It is not in the Power of Innocency it self nay not in the Power of the greatest and unspotted Innocency to protect from Slander and false Accusation Observe farther The great Meekness of our Saviour under all these ill Suggestions and false Accusations as a Lamb before the Shearer so is he Dumb and opened not his Mouth Learn thence That to bear the Revilings Contradictions and false Accusations of Men with a Silent and Submissive Spirit is an excellent and Christ-like Temper Though a Tryal for his Innocent Life was now Managed most Maliciously and Illegally against him yet When he was Reviled Reviled not again when he Suffered he Threatned not Oh may the same Meek and Humble Mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus who instead of Reviling his Accusers Prayed for his Murtherers and Offered up his Blood to God on the Behalf of them that shed it Lord Jesus help us to set thy Instructive Example continually before us and to be daily Correcting and Reforming of our Lives by that Blessed Pattern Amen CHAP. XXIII 1 AND the whole Multitude of them arose and led him unto Pilate 2 And they began to accuse him saying We found this Fellow perverting the Naâ—ion and forbidding to give Tribute to Cesar saying That he himself is Christ a King 3 And Pilate asked him saying Art thou the King of the Jews And he answered him and said Thou sayest it 4 Then said Pilate to the Chief Priests and to the People I find no fault in this Man 5 And they were the more fierce saying He stirreth up the People Teaching throughout all Jeury beginning from Galilee to this place 6 When Pilate heard of Galilee he asked whether the Man were a Galilean 7 And as soon as he heard that he belonged to Herod's Jurisdiction he sent him to Herod who himself was also at Jerusalem at that time 8 And when Herod saw Jesus he was exceeding glad for he was desirous to see him of a long Season because he had heard many things of him and he hoped to have seen some Miracle done by him 9 Then he questioned with him in many words but he answered him nothing 10 And the Chief Priests and Scribes stood and vehemently accused him 11 And Herod with his Men of War set him at naught and mocked him And arrayed him in a gorgeous Robe and sent him again to Pilate 12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made Friends together for before they were at enmity between themselves In this Chapter we have a Relation of the Black and Saddest Tragedy that ever was Acted upon the Stage of the World Namely the Barbarous and Bloody Murther of the Holy and Innocent Jesus by the Jews his own Country-Men the Best of Kings put to Death by his own Subjects And the first step towards it is his Arraignment before Pilate and Herod they Post him from one to another Pilate sends him to Herod and Herod having made sufficient Sport with him Remands him to Pilate Neither of them find any Fault in him worthy of Death yet neither of them would Release him Here Observe That our Saviour being before Pilate Answers him Readily and Cautiously Art thou the King of the Jews says Pilate Thou sayest it says our Saviour Art thou the Christ the Son of the Blessed He Replied I am Hence says the Apostle 1 Tim. 6.13 That Jesus Christ before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good Confession Teaching us That though we may and sometimes ought to hold our Peace when our Reputation is Concerned yet must we never be Silent when the Honour of God and his Truth may be effectually promoted by a Free and a Full Confession yet is it farther Observable That our Saviour being before Herod would neither Answer him to any Question nor Work any Miracle before him This was an Instance and Evidence of our Lord 's great Humility in refusing to Work Miracles before Herod who desired it only to gratify his Curiosity Thus do vile Men abuse the Holy Power of God desiring to see it exerted for Admiration and Pastime not to be Convinced or Converted by it And as Admirable was the Patience as the Humility of Christ and his present Silence who neither at Herod's Request nor at the Jews Importunity and false Accusations could be moved to Answer any thing Observe Lastly That though Herod had Murthered Christ's Fore-runner John the Baptist and our Saviour's own Life was in danger by Herod heretofore yet now he had him in his Hands he lets him go only he first abuses him and mocks him and Arrays him in a Gorgeous Robe like a Mock King Thus were all the Marks of Scorn imaginable put upon our Dear Redeemer yet all this Jearing and sportful Shame did our Lord undergo to shew what was due unto us for our Sins and also to give us an Example to bear all the Shame and Reproach imaginable for his sake Who for the Joy that was set before him despised the Shame Hebr. 12.2 13 And Pilate when he had called together the Chief Priests and the Rulers and the People 14 Said unto them Ye have brought this Man unto me as one that perverteth the People And behold I have examined him before you and find no fault in this Man touching those things whereof ye accuse him 15 No nor yet Herod For I sent you to him and lo nothing worthy of Death is done unto him 16 I will therefore chastize him and Release him 17 For of necessity he must Release one unto them at the Feast 18 And they cryed out all at once saying Away with this Man and Release unto us Barabbas 19 Who for a certain Sedition made in the City and for Murder was cast into Prison 20 Pilate therefore willing to Release Jesus spake again to them 21 But they cryed saying Crucify him Crucify him 22 And he said unto them the third time Why What Evil hath he done I have found no Cause of Death in him I will therefore Chastise him and let him go 23 And they were instant with loud Voices Requiring that he might be Crucified And the voices of them and of the Chief Priests prevailed 24 And Pilate gave Sentence that it should be as they Required 25 And he Released unto them him that for Sedition and Murder was cast into Prison whom they had desired But he delivered Jesus to their Will Observe here 1. How unwilling how very unwilling Pilate was to be the Instrument of our Saviour's Death One while he Expostulates with the Chief Priests Saying What Evil hath he done Nay St. Luke here declares that Pilate came forth Three several Times professing that he found no Fault in him Where Note How much more Justice and Equitâ— Christ met with from Pilate an Heathen then from the Chief Priests and People of the Jews professing the true Religion Oh how desperate is the Hatred that grows upon the Root of
as they were afraid and bowed down their Faces to the Earth they said unto them Why seek ye the Living among the Dead 6 He is not here but is Risen Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee 7 Saying The Son of Man must be delivered into the Hands of Sinful Men and be Crucified and the Third day Rise Again 8 And they Remembred his Words 9 And Returned from the Sepulchre and told all these things unto the Apostles and to all the Rest 10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the Mother of James and other Women that were with them which told these things unto the Apostles 11 And their words seemed to them as Idle Tales and they believed them not 12 Then arose Peter and ran unto the Sepulchre and stooping down he beheld the Linnen Cloaths laid by themselves and departed wondering in himself at that which was come to pass The Lord of Life who was put to Death upon the Fryday was Buryed in the Evening of the same Day and his Holy Body Rested in the silent Grave all the next Day being the Jewish Sabbath and some part of the Morning Following Thus Rose he again the Third Day according to the Scriptures neither sooner nor later Not sooner lest the Truth of his Death should have been questioned that he did not Dye at all not later lest the Faith of his Disciples should have failed Accordingly when the Sabbath was past Mary Magdalene getting the other Women together she and they set out very early in the Morning to Visit the Holy Sepulchre and about Sun-rising they get to it intending with their Spices and Odours farther to Embalm their Lord's Body Observe here 1. That although the Hearts of these Holy Women did burn with an Ardent Zeal and Affection to their Crucified Lord Yet the Commanded Duties of the Sabbath are not omitted by them they keep close and silently spend that Holy Day in a Mixture of Grief and Hope A good Pattern of Sabbath-Sanctification and worthy of our Christian Imitation Observe 2. These Holy Women go but not empty-handed She that had bestowed a costly Alablaster upon Christ whilst alive prepares no less Precious Odours for him now Dead thereby paying their last Homage to our Saviour's Corpse But what need of Odours to perfume a precious Body which could not see Corruption True his Holy Body did not want them but the Love and Affection of his Friends could not withhold them Observe 3. How great a Tribute of Respect and Honour is due and payable to the Memory of these Holy Women for their great Magnanimity and Courage They followed Christ when his Cowardly Disciples left him they accompanied him to his Cross they attended his Herse to the Grave when his Disciples did not durst not appear And now very early in the Morning they Visit his Sepulchre Fearing neither the Darkness of the Night nor the Presence of the Watchmen though a Band of rude Soldiers Learn hence That Courage and Resolution is the special Gift of God if he gives it to the feebler Sex even to timerous and fearful Women it shall not be in the power of Armed Men to make them afraid But to come to a close Consideration of the several Circumstances relating to the Resurrection of our Holy Lord. Note 1. With what Pomp and Triumph our Holy Lord Arises Two Men that is Two Angels in the Shape of Men V. 4. are sent from Heaven to roll away the Stone But could not Christ have Risen then without the Angels help Yes doubtless he that Raised himself could easily have Rolled away the Stone himself But God thinks fit to send an Officer from Heaven to open the Prison-door of the Grave and by setting our Surety at Liberty proclaims our Debt to the Divine Justice â—â—â—y Satisfied Besides it was fit that the Angels who had been Witnesses of our Saviour's Passion should also be Witnesses of his Resurrection Note 2. our Lord's Resurrection declared He is Risen he is not here Almighty God never intended that the Darling of his Soul should be left in an obscure Sepulchre He is not here said the Angels where you laid him where you left him Death has lost its Prey and the Grave has lost its Prisoner Note 3. It is is not said He is not here for he is Raised but he is Risen V. 6. The Original Word imports the Active Power of Christ or the Self-quickning Principle by which Christ Raised himself from the Dead Acts 1.3 He shewed himself alive after his Passion Hence Learn That it was the Divine Nature or God-head of Christ which Raised the Human Nature from Death to Life others were Raised from the Grave by Christ's Power but he Raised himself by his own Power Note 4. The Persons to whom our Lord's Resurrection was first declared and made known to Women to the two Mary's But why to Women and why to these Women To Women first because God sometimes makes choice of weak Means for producing great Effects knowing that the weakness of the Instrument Redounds to the greater Honour of the Agent In the whole Dispensation of the Gospel God intermixes Divine Power with Humane Weakness Thus the Conception of Christ was by the Power of the Holy Ghost but his Mother a poor Woman a Carpenter's Spouse So the Crucifixion of Christ was in much Meanness and outward Baseness being Crucified between two Thieves But the Powers of Heaven and Earth Trembling the Rocks Rending the Graves opening shewed a mixture of Divine Power Thus here God Selects Women to declare that he will Honour what Instruments he pleases for the Accomplishment of his own Purposes But why to these Women the two Mary's is the first Discovery made of our Lord's Resurrection Possibly it was a Reward for their Magnanimity and Masculine Courage These Women cleave to Christ when the Apostles forsook him They Assisted at his Cross they Attended at his Funeral they Waited at his Sepulchre These Women had more Courage than the Apostles therefore God makes them Apostles to the Apostles This was a Tacit Rebuke a Secret Check given to the Apostles that they should be thus out-done by Women These Holy Women went before the Apostles in the last Services that were done for Christ and therefore the Apostles here come after them in their Rewards and Comforts Note 5. The quick Message which these Holy Women carry to the Disconsolate Disciples of the Joyful news of our Saviour's Resurrection They Returned from the Sepulchre and told all these things to the Eleven Verse 9. And the other Evangelists say That they were sent and bidden to go to the Apostles with the Notices of the Resurrection Go tell the Disciples says the Angel Matthew 28.7 Go tell my Brethren says Christ Verse 10. A most endearing Expression Christ might have said Go tell my Apostate Apostles my Cowardly Disciples that left me in my Danger that durst not own me in the High Priest's Hall
Humility of the holy Baptist the mean and lowly Opinion he had of himself Although John was the greatest among them that were born of a Woman and so much esteemed by the Jews and had the honour to go before Christ in the Exercise of his Office and Ministry yet he judges himself unworthy to carry Christ's Shoes after him He that cometh after me is preferred before me whose Shoes I am not worthy to unloose Learn hence That the more eminent Gifts the Ministers of the Gospel have and the more ready Men are to honour and esteem them the more will they abase themselves if they be truly Gracious and account themselves highly honoured in doing the meanest Offices of Love and Service for Jesus Christ Thus doth the holy Baptist here His Shoes Latchet I am not worthy to unloose 29 ¶ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him and saith Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world 30 This is he of whom I said After me cometh a man which is preferred before me for he was before me This is John the Baptist's third Testimony concerning Christ in which he points out Christ as the True Sacrifice for Expiation of Sin Behold the Lamb of God the Lamb of God's appointing to be an Expiatory Sacrifice the Lamb of God's Election the Lamb of God's Affection the Lamb of God's Acceptation the Lamb of God's Exaltation who by the Sacrifice of his death has taken away the sin of the World The sin not the sins in the plural Number to denote Original Sin as some think or as others to shew that Christ has universally taken upon himself the whole Burthen of our Sin and Guilt And there seems to be a secret Antithesis in the Word World In the Levitical Sacrifices only the sins of the Jews were laid upon the sacrificed Beast but this Lamb takes away the sin both of Jew and Gentile The Lord hath caused to meet on him the Iniquity of us all And the Word Taketh Away being of the Present Tense denotes a continued Act and it intimates to us thus much viz. That it is the daily Office of Christ to take away our sin by presenting to the Father the Memorials of his Death Christ takes away from all Believers the Guilt and Punishment of their sins the Filth and Pollution of them the Power and Dominion that is in them and as St. John called upon the Jews to behold this Lamb of God with an Eye of Observation so is it our Duty to behold him now with an Eye of Admiration with an Eye of Gratulation but especially with an Eye of Faith and Dependence improving the Fruit of his Death to our own Consolation and Salvation Isa 45.22 Look unto me and be saved c. 31 And I knew him not but that he should be made manifest to Israel therefore am I come baptizing with water 32 And John bare record saying I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and it abode upon him 33 And I knew him not but he that sent me to baptize with water the same said unto me Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him the same is he which baptizeth with the holy Ghost 34 And I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God Observe here 1. That John the Baptist tho' a near Kinsman of Christ's according to the Flesh yet the Providence of God so ordered it that for thirty Years together they did not know one another nor converse with each other nor probably ever saw the faces of each other to be sure he did not know him to be the Messiah This no doubt was over-ruled by the wisdom of God to prevent all suspicion as if John and Christ had compacted together to give one another Credit that the World might suspect nothing of the Truth of John's Testimony concerning Christ or have the least jealousie that what he said of Christ was from any Bias of Mind to his Person therefore he repeats it a second time v. 31. v. 33. I knew him not Hence we may learn That a Corporal sight of Christ and an outward Personal Acquaintance with him is not simply needful and absolutely necessary for enabling a Minister to set him forth and represent him savingly to the World Observe 2. The Means declared by which John came to know Christ to be the true Messiah it was by a Sign from Heaven namely the Holy Ghost descending like a Dove upon our Saviour He that sent me to Baptize with Water the same said unto me Vpon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining the same is he Learn hence 1. That Christ taking upon him our Nature did so cover his Glory with the Veil of our Flesh and common Infirmities that he could not be known by bodily sight from another Man Till John had a divine Revelation and an evident Sign from Heaven that Christ was the Son of God he knew him not Learn 2. That Christ in his solemn entry upon his Office as Mediator was sealed unto the Work by the descending of the Holy Ghost upon him he was sealed by the Holy Ghost's descending and the Teacher's testifying that this was his beloved Son in whom he was well pleased Now it was that God gave not the Spirit to Christ by Measure for the effectual Administration of his Mediatorial Office now it pleased the Father that in Christ should all fulness dwell He was filled Extensively with all Kinds of Grace and filled Intensively with all Degrees of Grace in the Day of his Inauguration when the Holy Spirit descended upon him ¶ 35 Again the next day after John stood and two of his disciples 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked he said Behold the Lamb of God It is evident that John's Disciples were never very willing to acknowledge Jesus for the Messias because they thought he did shadow and cloud their Master See therefore the Sincerity of the Holy Baptist he takes every Opportunity to draw off the Eyes of his own Disciples from himself and to fix them upon Christ he saith to two of his Disciples Behold the Lamb of God As if he had said Turn your Eyes from me to Christ take less Notice of me his Minister but behold your and my Lord and Master Behold the Lamb of God Learn hence That the great Design of Christ's faithful Ministers is to set People upon admiring of Christ and not magnifying themselves Oh! 't is their great Ambition and Desire that such as love and respect them and honour their Ministry may be led by them to Christ to behold and admire him to accept of him and to submit unto him John said to his Disciples Behold the Lamb of God 37 And the two disciples heard him speak and they followed Jesus 38 Then Jesus returned and saw them following and saith unto them What seek ye They said unto him Rabbi which is to say being interpreted Master
been actually his Son as certainly he was from before the Foundations of the World Prov. 8.23 I was set up from everlasting from the Beginning or ever the Earth was 37 If I do not the works of my Father believe me not 38 But if I do though ye believe not me believe the works that ye may know and believe that the Father is in me and I in him Here we have a second Argument by which our Saviour proves That it was no Blasphemy to call himself God But that he was God in very deed Namely an Argument taken from his Works If I do not the Works of my Father believe me not And the Argument runs thus If says Christ I do those miraculous Works which no Power less than a Divine Power can effect then you ought by these Works to be led to believe and acknowledge that I am truly and really God But the Works which I do are the Effect and Product of an omnipotent Power therefore ye ought to believe That I am one in Essence with the Father there being a mutual Inexistence of one Person in the other so that the Father is in me and I in him and thus I and the Father are one Learn hence That Christ never required of his Disciples and Followers an Implicite Faith or a blind Obedience but as he submitted his Doctrine to the Tryal of Reason so he submitted his Miracles to the Examination and Judgment of Sense therefore he says If I do not the Works of my Father that is Divine Works believe me not to be a Divine Person 39 Therefore they sought again to take him but he escaped out of their hand 40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized and there he abode 41 And many resorted unto him and said John did no miracle but all things that John spake of this man were true 42 And many believed on him there Observe here 1. The Violence and Fury of these unbelieving Jews against the Holy and Innocent Jesus They sought again to take him Observe 2. The prudential Care of Christ for his own Preservation his time being not yet come he withdraws from Jerusalem the Nest of his Enemies and goes beyond Jordan when Christ was persecuted in one City he fled to another he has sanctified a State of Persecution to his Ministers and Members by his own being in it 'T is no Disgrace for any of them to fly when their Captain did it and bids them do it saying When they persecute you in one City flee unto another Obs 3. The Success of Christ's Ministry beyond Jordan Many resorted to him and believed on him This Place about Jordan was the Place where John had exercised a great Part of his Ministry and now many Years after John's Death the Fruit of his Ministry appears for many believed on him there that is about Jordan where John had preached and baptized Learn thence That the Labours of faithful Ministers may seem to be lost and lye long like Seed under the Ground and yet at last by some new Watering may spring up and the Fruit appear in abundance Here John's Ministry about Jordan hath fresh Fruit upon Christ's coming long after John was dead Observe 4. The Dignity of Christ above John John did no Miracle but Christ did all The Wisdom of God so ordered it that though the Old Testament Prophets Elijah and Elisha wrought many Miracles for the Confirmation of their Divine Mission yet John the Baptist coming immediately before Christ as his Messenger and Forerunner wrought none for these three Reasons probably 1. That so the Glory of Christ in working Miracles when he came upon the Stage of his Ministry might be the more clear and evident 2. That the Evidence of Christ's being the Messias might be made the more clear by the Miracles which he wrought 3. That the Minds of the People might not be divided and distracted between John and Christ and that there might be no Pretence of Competition between them Therefore John did no Miracle but all things that John spake of Christ were true CHAP. XI 1 NOw a certain man was sick named Lazarus of Bethany the town of Mary and her sister Martha 2 It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair whose brother Lazarus was sick 3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him saying Lord behold he whom thou lovest is sick 4 When Jesus heard that he said This sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God that the Son of God might be glorified thereby This Chapter relates unto us the Miraculous Power of Christ in raising of dead Lazarus which as it was one of his last so was it one of the greatest Miracles which he wrought and yet we find none of the Evangelists making mention of it but only St. John the Reason supposed to be this because when the other Evangelists wrote their History Lazarus was then alive for Epiphanius says he lived thirty Years after he was raised by Christ and probably the mention of this Relation might have brought Lazarus into Danger and Trouble but St. John wrote his Gospel after Lazarus his Death This Miracle was a sufficient Demonstration of Christ's Godhead None but an Almighty Power could recal a Man four Days dead from a settled Corruption to a State of Life None but he that created Lazarus could thus make him new Here Observe 1. The Tender Sympathy of these Two endeared Sisters with their afflicted Brother they feel his Sorrows and Acquaint their Saviour with his Sufferings Lord Behold he whom thou lovest is sick They do not say our Brother that Loves thee is sick but he whom thou lovest is sick Thereby pleading not the Merit of Lazarus but the Mercy of Christ For how can the Love of Christ which is infinite and eternal have any Cause but it self Note the Person whom Christ loved is sick and dyes Learn thence That Strength of Grace and Dearness of Respect even from Christ himself cannot prevail either against Death or against Diseases Lazarus whom Christ loved is sick Obs 2. The gracious Answer which Christ sent to the Sisters Message This Sickness is not unto Death but for the Glory of God that is this Sickness shall not bring upon him such a Death as he shall remain under the Power of to the General Resurrection but is only designed to give me an Opportunity of glorifying God by exerting my miraculous Power in restoring him to Life Learn hence 1. That as God's own Glory is his supream Aim and End in all his Actions so in particular it is designed by him in sending Afflictions upon his People to glorifie his Power and Wisdom Mercy and Love in and upon them The Saints Sicknesses are all for the Glory of God 2. That God is glorified when his Son is glorified as none do honour the Father who do not honour the Son so the Father accounts