us to bear Reproach and direct us to give Reproof he that is silent cannot be innocent Reprove we must or we cannot be faithful but prudently or we cannot be successful 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart My lord delayeth his coming 49 And shall begin to smite his fellow-servants and to eat and drink with the drunken 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him and in an hour that he is not aware of 51 And shall cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the hypocries there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Our Lord in these Verses describes an unfaithful and negligent Steward and denounces the dreadful Sentence of Wrath hanging over him he is described 1. By the Character of Infidelity he believeth not Christ's coming to Judgment tho' he preaches it to others he saith in his Heart My Lord delayeth his coming 2. He is described by his Hatred Envy and Malignity against his Fellow-servants that were more painful and faithful than himself He begins to smite at least with the Virulence of his Tongue if not with the Violence of his Hand 3. By his associating with the wicked and strengthening their Hands by his ill Example He eateth and drinketh with the Drunken That is as their Associate and Fellow-Companion Thus the unfaithful Servant is described next his Judgment and Sentence is declared Obs 2. The tremendous Judgment that shall come upon unfaithful Stewards 1. Christ will surprize them in their Sin and Security by coming in an Hour when they look'd not for him 2. He will execute Temporal Vengeance upon them He will cut them asunder or hew them in pieces as the Jews did their Sacrifices That is separate his Soul from his Body by untimely Death Hence some Observe That God seldom suffers slothful sensual wicked and debauch'd Ministers to live out half their Days 3. Christ will punish them with Eternal Destruction also Appointing them their Portion with Hypocrites That is with the worst of Sinners they shall have a double Damnation As the Hypocrite has a double Heart a double Tongue and is a double Sinner so shall he undergo a double Damnation Learn hence That such Ministers as neglect the Service of God and the Souls of their People as they are ranked amongst the worst sort of Sinners in this Life so shall they be punished with them in the severest manner in the next When Satan destroys the Souls of Men he shall answer for it as a Murtherer only not as an Officer that was intrusted with the Care of Souls But if the Steward doth not provide if the Shepherd doth not feed if the Watchman doth not warn they shall answer not only for the Souls that have miscarried but for an Office neglected for a Talent hidden and for a Stewardship unfaithfully administred Wo unto us if at the great Day we hear distressed Souls roaring out their Complaints and howling forth that doleful Accusation against us Lord Our Stewards have defrauded us our Watchmen have betrayed us our Guides have misled us CHAP. XXV Our blessed Saviour in the Close of the foregoing Chapter had exhorted all Christians to the great Duty of Watchfulness and to be in a Posture of Readiness against his coming Which Duty he is pleased to inculcate again in this Chapter and accordingly he urges the Necessity of it from two eminent Parables the former Of the Ten Virgins v. 1. and the latter Of a Man travelling into a far Country v. 14. 1 THen shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom 2 And five of them were wise and five were foolish By the Kingdom of Heaven here is meant the State of the visible Church here on Earth it cannot be understood of the Kingdom of Glory for there are no foolish Virgins in that Kingdom nor yet of the invisible Kingdom of Grace for therein are no foolish Virgins neither But in the visible Church here on Earth there ever has been a Mixture of wise and unwise of Saints and Hypocrites Five of these Virgins were wise and five were foolish Where Observe our Lord 's great Charity in supposing and hoping that amongst the Professors of the Gospel the number of sincere Christians is equal with Hypocritical Professors Five were wise and Five foolish Teaching us that we should not confine the Church of Christ within a narrow Compass nor confine our Charity to a few and think none shall go to Heaven but those of our own Party and Perswasion but to extend our Charity to all Christians that hold the Foundation with us and to hope well of them Lord let me rather err on the charitable Hand than be found on the censorious and damning side this is to imitate my Saviour whose Charity supposed as many wise as foolish Virgins as many Saints as Hypocrites in the Church All these Virgins are said to take their Lamps and go forth to meet the Bridegroom For understanding which we must know that our Saviour alludes to the ancient Custom of Marriages which were celebrated in the Night when usually Ten young Men attended the Bridegroom and as many Virgins attended the Bride with Lamps in their Hands the Bridegroom leading home his Bride by the Light of those Lamps By these Virgins are shadowed forth the Professors of Christianity The foolish Virgins are such as satisfie themselves with a bare Profession without bringing forth Fruits answerable thereunto The wise Virgins are such as walk'd answerable to their Profession persevered and continued stedfast therein and abounded in the Graces and Virtues of a good Life They are called Virgins for the Purity of their Faith for the Purity of their Worship and for the Purity of their Conversations 3 They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps By the Lamps are meant an outward Profession of Faith and Holiness By Oil in their Lamps is to be understood that solemn Profession of Repentance and Faith which all Christians make in Baptism By Oil in the Vessels is meant the Sanctifying and Saving Graces of the Holy Spirit the Growth and Improvement of them with Constancy and Perseverance in them Observe here wherein the wise and foolish Virgins agreed and wherein they differed They agreed thus far that both took their Lamps both lighted them they both had Oil in their Lamps the difference was not that the wise had Oil and the foolish had none but in this that the wise took care for a future Supply of Oil to feed their Lamp When the first Oil was spent some Professors like foolish Virgins content themselves with a blazing Lamp of an outward Profession without concerning themselves to secure an inward Principle of Grace and Love which should maintain that Profession as the Oil maintains the Lamp As the Lamp will
hard Dealing towards others An Evil Eye That is an Envious Spirit which frets and grieves at the Happiness of others called an Evil Eye because Envy doth much shew and manifest it self in the outward Countenance and especially by the Eyes From the whole Note That the best way to hinder the progress of Sin in the Life is to mortifie it in the Heart to Crucifie all inordinate Motions Lusts and Corruptions in their root for the Heart is the first Seat and Subject of Sin from whence it flows forth into the Life and Conversation 24 And from thence he arose and went into the borders of Tyre and Sydon and entered into an house and would have no man know it but he could not be hid 25 For a certain woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell at his feet 26 The woman was a Greek a Syrophenician by nation and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her Daughter 27 But Jesus said unto her Let the children first be filled for it is not meet to take the childrens bread and to cast it unto the dogs 28 And she answered and said unto him Yes Lord yet the dogs under the table eat of the childrens crumbs 29 And he said unto her for this saying go thy way the devil is gone out of thy daughter 30 And when she was come to her house she found the devil gone out and her daughter laid upon the bed All along in the History of our Saviour's Life we are to take notice how he went about from place to place doing good being now come into the Borders of Tyre and Sidon he finds a poor Woman of the Race of the Canaanites who becomes first an humble Supplicant and then a Bold Beggar on the behalf of her Possessed Daughter Where Obs 1. That though all Israel could not example the Faith of this Canaanite yet was her Daughter Tormented with the Devil Learn thence That neither truth of Faith nor strength of Faith can secure against Satan's inward Temptations or outward Vexations and consequently the worst of Bodily Afflictions are no sufficient proof of Divine Displeasure Obs 2. The Daughter did not come to Christ for her self but the Mother for her Perhaps the Child was not so sensible of its own Misery but the Mother feels both the Childs sorrow and her own True Goodness teaches us to appropriate the Afflictions of others to our selves causing us to bear their Griefs and to Sympathize with them in their Sorrows Obs 3. The seeming Severity of Christ to this poor Wâ—man he calls her not a Woman but a Dog and as it were Spurns her from the Table Did ever so Severe a Word drop from those mild Lips What shall we say Is the Lamb of God turned Lion that a Woman in Distress imploring Pity should be thus rated out of Christ's Presence But hence we Learn How Christ puts the strongest Faith of his own Children upon the severest Tryal This Tryal had never been so sharp if her Faith had not been so strong Usually where God gives much Grace he tries Grace much Obser 4. The Humble Carriage of this Holy Woman her Humility grants all her Patience overcomes all she meekly desires to possess the Dogs place not to croud to the Table but to creep under it and to partake of the Crumbs of Mercy that fall from thence Indeed she shewed one of the best qualities of the Dog in keeping her hold where she had once fastned not letting go nor giving over until she had gotten what she desired But nothing is so pleasing to Christ as to see his People follow him with Faith and Importunity when he seems to withdraw himself from them 31 And again departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sydon he came unto the sea of Galilee thorow the midst of the coasts of Decapolis 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf and had an impediment in his speech and they beseech him to put his hands upon him 33 And he took him aside from the multitude and put his fingers into his ears and he spit and touched his tongue 34 And looking up to heaven he sighed and saith unto him Ephphatha that is be opened 35 And straightway his ears were opened and the string of his Tongue was loosed and he spake plain 36 And he charged them that they should tell no Man but the more he charged them so much the more a great deal they published it 37 And were beyond measure astonished saying He hath done all things well he maketh both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak See here 1. The bitter Fruits and sad Effects of Sin which has brought Deafness Dumbness and Blindness upon the Humane Nature As Death so all Diseases entred into the World by Sin Sin first brought Infirmities and Mortality into our Natures and the Wages of Sin are Diseases and Death Observe 2. That the Blessing of Bodily Health and Healing is from Christ who by his Divine Power as he was God miraculously and immediately healed them that were brought unto him Obser 3. The Actions and Gestures which our Saviour used in healing this Deaf Person He put his Fingers into his Ears he spit and touched his Tongue Not that these were Means or Natural Causes effecting the Cure for there was no healing Vertue in the Spittle but only outward Signs Testimonies and Pledges of Christ's Divine Power and Gracious Readiness to cure the Person in Distress Obser 4. How Christ withdrew the Person from the Multitude whom he was about to help and heal Teaching us in all our Good Works to avoid all Shew and Appearance of Ostentation and Vain-Glory To set God's Glory before our Eyes and not seek our own Praise Observe 5. The Effect which this Miracle had upon the Multitude it occasion'd their Astonishment and Applause They were astonished and said He hath done all things well It becomes us both to take Notice of the wonderful Works of God and also to magnify and extol the Author of them This is one way of glorifying our Creator CHAP. VIII 1 IN those days the Multitude being very great and having nothing to eat Jesus called his Disciples unto him and said unto them 2 I have compassion on the multitude because they have now been with me three days and have nothing to eat 3 And if I send them away fasting to their own Houses they will faint by the way for divers of them came from far 4 And his Disciples answered him From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread in the wilderness 5 And he asked them How many loaves have ye and they said Seven 6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground and he took the seven loaves and gave thanks and brake and gave to his Disciples to set before them and they did set them before the People 7 And they had a few small fishes and he blessed
and destroyed Death dissolved the Union betwixt our Saviour's Soul and Body but there was a closer Union which no Violence of Death could dissolve namely the Union of his Godhead with his Manhood This was incapable either of Dissolution or Destruction Note 3. The repairing restoring and raising up of this Temple out of the Ruins of it by our Saviour's Resurrection In three Days I will raise it up Observe A full Proof of our Saviour's Divinity To raise a dead Man exceeds the Power of Nature but for a dead Man to raise himself requires the Power of God We read of dead Men raised by others but none but Christ ever raised himself The Jews could not say He raised others from the Grave himself he could not raise Inference 1. Was Christ's Body a Temple so should ours be too Temples for the Holy God to dwell in Temples by special Appropriation Temples by solemn Consecration Temples by actual Employment If any Man defiles this Temple of God him will God destroy 2. Was the Temple of Christ's Body pulled down by death and destroyed so must also the Temple of our Bodies ere long The Temple of his Body was pulled down for our sin the Temple of our Bodies is ruined by our own sin Sin brought Mortality into our Natures and the Wages of our sin is death 3. Was the Temple of Christ's Body repaired in the Morning of the Resurrection so shall the Temple of our Bodies also if we be the Members of Christ by a vital Union Thy dead Men Oh blessed Redeemer shall live together with thy dead Body shall they arise Awake then and sing ye that dwell in the Dust for thy Dew is as the Dew of Herbs and the Earth shall cast out the Dead Isa 26.19 23 ¶ Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover in the feast day many believed in his name when they saw the miracles which he did 24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them because he knew all men Observe here what Influence the sight of our Saviour's Miracles had upon many of the common People They believed in his Name when they saw the Miracles which he did That is they were convinced by the Works which our Saviour wrought that he came from God and that what he said and did was really True and no Imposture But Jesus did not commit himself unto them because he knew all Men. Our Saviour did not and would not trust them who yet believed on his Name Thence Note That a naked Assent to the History of the Gospel is not sufficient to entitle us to saving Faith We may assent to the Truth of all that we find there and yet be far from the Kingdom of God Saving Faith implies more than the Assent of the Understanding to the Truths of the Gospel We cannot believe or disbelieve what we please but must needs assent to what is evident to our Understanding so that it is possible for a Man to assent to the Truth of Christianity and yet remain in a state of Damnation if he doth not embrace it as Good as well as assent to it as True if our Faith be not the Parent and Principle of Obedience if our Belief doth not influence our Practice though we pass for Believers amongst Men we are no better than Unbelievers in the Account of Christ If we believe Jesus to be the True Messias and do not receive him in all his Offices if we commit our selves to his saving Mercy but do not submit our selves to his ruling Power if we desire him for our Saviour but disown him for our Sovereign if we expect Salvation by him and do not yield Subjection to him we put a Cheat upon our selves for he only believes as he should that lives as he does believe 25 And needed not that any should testifie of man for he knew what was in man St. John's design in the writing of this Gospel being to assert the Divinity of Christ he scatters Evidences of it in almost every Chapter Here he declares his Omnisciency He knew what was in Man that is being God blessed for ever he had an exact Knowledge of the Hearts of Men not by any Revelation of Men's Hearts from God but by immediate Intuitition from himself he knows all Men and all that is in Men. CHAP. III. 1 THere was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus a ruler of the Jews 2 The same came to Jesus by night and said unto him Rabbi we know that thou art a teacher come from God for no man can do these miracles that thou dost except God be with him The former part of this Chapter acquaints us with that famous Conference which our blessed Saviour had with Nicodemus This Man was by Sect a Pharisee which signifies a Person separated and set a-part for the study of the Law of God and to teach it unto others and by Calling or Profession a Ruler of the Jews that is probably one of the Jewish Sanhedrim A chief Person in their Ecclesiastical Court and Council Consider we Nicodemus first as a Pharisee which sort of Men were filled with inveterate Prejudice and Enmity against Christ yet from hence we may gather that such is the Efficacy of Divine Grace that it sometimes convinces and converts also those that are the greatest Enemies to Christ and the fiercest Opposers of him No such bitter Enemies to Christ as the Pharisees yet behold Nicodemus a Pharisee coming to him convinced and converted by him Consider him secondly as a Ruler of the Jews as a Person of Place and Power making a Figure in the World Though they were generally the Poor which followed Christ yet some of the Great and Rich Men of the World as Nicodemus a Master of Israel and Joseph of Arimathea an Honourable Counsellor are called to Christ and received by him lest if he had admitted illiterate and simple Men only the World might have thought that they were deceived thro' their Simplicity Observe farther The Time when Nicodemus came to Christ it was by Night partly out of Shame lest the World should think that such a knowing Man as he was wanted Instruction and partly out of Fear he had something to lose and therefore durst not own Christ publickly However our dear Lord upbraids him not with his Timerousness but graciously condescends to instruct him in the Fundamental Principle of Christianity the great Doctrine of Regeneration 3 Jesus answered and said unto him Verily verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Christ here acquaints Nicodemus and in him all Persons that there must be a Change from Nature to Grace before there can be a Change from Grace to Glory for tho' he was a Jew a Doctor and one that had good Thoughts of Christ looking upon him as an extraordinary Person one that had received Power from God to work Miracles yet Christ assures him that nothing short of the regenerating Change
a Corn of Wheat fall into the Ground and die it abideth alone That is as Corn unsown lodg'd in the Barn or laid up in the Chamber never multiplies nor encreases but sow it in the Field and bury it in the Earth and it multiplies and encreases and brings forth a plentiful crop So if Christ had not died he had remained what he was the Eternal Son of God but he had had no Church in the World Whereas his Death and Sufferings made him fructifie That brought a plentiful Encrease of exaltation to himself and Salvation to his People Observe 3. How plainly our Saviour dealt with his Followers he did not deceive them with a vain hope and expectation of Temporal Happiness but tells them plainly that all that will be his Disciples must prepare for Sufferings and not think their Temporal Life too dear to lay down for him when he calls them to it this being the surest way to secure unto themselves Life Everlasting He that loveth his life shall lose it but he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal Learn hence That the surest way to attain Eternal Life is chearfully to lay down our Temporal Life when the Glory of Christ and the Honour of Religion requires it at our hand 26 If any man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be if any man serve me him will my Father honour That is if any Man assumes the Title and enters into the sacred engagement of being Christ's Servant let his Conversation correspond with his Profession and let him be willing to follow him in the Thorny path of Affliction and Sufferings from this Assurance that all his grievous Sufferings shall end in Eternal Joys Where I am there shall my Servant be and him will my Father honour Learn hence 1. That all that will be Christ's Servants must be his Followers they must obey his Doctrine and imitate his Example 2. That Christ's Servants must not expect better usage at the hand of an unkind World than he their Master met with before them 3. That such as serve Christ by following of him shall at Death see him as he is and be with him where he is Where I am there shall also my Servant be 4. That God will crown the fideliâ—y and constancy of Christ's Servants with the highest Dignity and Honour If any Man serve me him will my Father honour 27 Now is my soul troubled and what shall I say Father save me from this hour but for this cause came I unto this hour 28 Father glorifie thy name Then came there a voice from heaven saying I have both glorified it and will glorifie it again Whilst our Saviour was thus preaching of his own Death and Sufferings a Natural horror of his approaching Passion tho such as was without Sin seizes upon him his Father giving him a Taste of that wrath which he was to undergo upon the Cross for our Sins Hereupon he betakes himself to Prayer Father save me from this hour this was the harmless inclination of his sinless nature which abhorred lying under wrath and therefore prays against it yet as it were recalling himself he submits to what his office as our surety required of him and prays again unto his Father to dispose of him as may most and best conduce to the purposes of his Glory Father glorifie thy name Learn hence 1. That meer Trouble is no Sin Christ's Soul was troubled Christianity doth not make Men Senseless Grace introduceth no stoical Stupidity 2. That fear of death especially when accompanied with apprehensions of the wrath of God is most perplexing and Soul-amazing My Soul is troubled and what shall I say 3. No extremity of Sufferings ought to discourage us from laying claim to that Relation which God stands in to us as a Father Our Saviour in the midst of his distress calls God Father Father save me from this hour 4. In the extremity of our Sufferings we may be importunate but must not be peremptory in our Prayers as Christ in his Agony prayed more earnestly so may we in ours but always submissively Father Save me from this hour but for this cause came I unto this hour 5. That our exemption from Suffering may sometimes be inconsistent with the Glory of God Father save me from this hour Father Glorifie thy name Observe lastly The Father's Answer to the Son's Prayer There came a voice from Heaven saying I have glorified it and will glorifie it again That is as God the Father had been already glorified in his Son's Life Doctrine and Miracles so he would farther glorifie Himself in his Death Resurrection and Ascension as also by the Mission of the Holy Ghost and the Preaching of the Gospel for the Conversion of the Gentiles to the ends of the Earth Learn hence That the whole work of Christ from the lowest degree of his Humiliation to the highest degree of his Exaltation was a glorifying of his Father he glorified his Father by the Doctrine which he Taught he glorified his Father by the Miracles which he wrought by the unspotted Innocency of his Life and by his unparallel'd Sufferings at his Death by his Victorious Resurrection from the Grave and by his Triumphant Ascension into Heaven 29 The people therefore that stood by and heard it said that it thundred others said An angel spake to him 30 Jesus answered and said This voice came not because of me but for your sakes 31 Now is the judgment of this world now shall the prince of this world be cast out 32 And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me 33 This he said signifying what death he should die Observe here 1. The way of God in speaking to his People by a Voice in Thunder for the greater declaration of his Glory and Majesty Thunderings and Lightnings usually attended the voice of God even in Consolations and when he spake comfortably to his own Servants Oh how dreadful and terrible then must the Voice of God be to his Enemies when he shall come in flaming Fire to render vengeance to them If there was such Dread and Terrors such Thunderings and Lightnings at the giving of the Law Lord What will there be another Day when thou comest to punish the violation of that Law Observe 2. The end why God the Father now spake with an Audible Voice to Christ his Son it was for his Consolation and the Peoples Confirmation His Soul being troubled he stood in need as Mediatour of comfort from his Father and the People had here a farther and fuller Confirmation of his being the promised and true Messias that so they might Believe in him This voice came not because of me That is not only or chiefly because of me but to confirm your Faith in the Belief of this great Truth that I am the Son of God by whom the Father hath glorified and will farther
That is Thou sparest none but tellest all Men of their Faults XIX In his Vniversal Obedience to his Father's Will and chearful Submission to his Father's Pleasure He obeyed the Will of his Father Universally Voluntarily Sincerely and with a single Eye at his Glory perseveringly and to the End and as he was so must we be faithful to the Death if ever we expect the Crown of Life And in like manner did he submit to the Will of his Providence Father not as I will but as thou wilt not my will but thine be done O let us keep this Example continually before us and every day obey the will of God's Precept universally And submit to the Will of his Providence very chearfully this is Heaven on Earth XX. In his Love and Practice of Universal Holiness both in Heart and Life He was Holy in his Nature Holy in his Principle and Motives Holy in his Aim and Ends he was perfectly Holy precisely Holy uniformly Holy exemplarily Holy he delighted only in holy Persons and holy Things it concerns us to imitate him herein if ever we expect to be where he is Heaven is the habitation of Holiness the company is Holy the imployment Holy the enjoyments Holy no unclean Thing can enter into Heaven or could be Happy in Heaven Heaven is rather a Nature than a place 'T is not the place of Heaven can make us Happy but the Disposition and Temper of our Minds in Heaven without Conformity to the Nature of God there can be no Communion with him nor Delight in him what a discourteous Courtesie would it be to turn a filthy Swine into a Garden of curious Flowers to lodge it in a Bed of sweet Perfumes to bath it in a clear and Crystal Fountain Alas its unclean Temper and sordid Inclinations would rather choose to lie down in a Kennel and to wallow in the Mire its proper Element Thus unsuitable would Heaven be that place of greatest Happiness be the greatest Vneasiness to an unholy Heart Let us then Pray and Endeavour that the Temper of our Minds and the Actions of our Lives may be a lively Transcript of the Mind and Life of the Holy Jesus that we may be like him in Purity and Holiness in Justice and Righteousness in Patience and Meekness in Charity and Universal Goodness That as he was we may be in the World Holy Humble Harmless Heavenly Minded glorifying God on Earth that we may be glorified with him and by him in his Eternal Kingdom Yet before I close this Exhortation to an Imitation of Jesus I must subjoin this cautionary Direction Take heed that you do not so imitate Christ for your Pattern as to disown him for your Priest This is the dangerous Error of those who affirm that the great End of Christ's Death was to give the World an Example of Patience Humility Meekness and the fore-mentioned Christian Graces and that his Sufferings were Exemplary but not properly Satisfactory We acknowledge that Christ's giving us an Example was one End of his coming into the World and Dying for us but not the great End A Subordinate End but not the Vltimate God preserve us from the Contagion of this growing Error other Errors only scratch the Face but this stabs the Heart of the Christian Religion in that it deprives us of the choicest Benefit of Christ's Death namely The Expiation of Sin by a proper Satisfaction to the Justice of God But blessed be God we have not so learned Christ as we are Taught so we Believe that the Holy Jesus by the Sacrifice of his Death has Redeemed us from Death and Hell and Saved us from Wrath to come by a full and adequate payment to Divine Justice and by the Redundancy of his Merit has purchased an Eternal Inheritance for us and as we are Taught and Believe so we Pray Almighty God who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a Sacrifice for Sin and also an Example of Godly Life Give us Grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable Benefit and also daily endeavour our selves to follow the blessed Steps of his most Holy Life through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Almighty and everlasting God who of thy tender Love towards Mankind hast sent thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our Flesh and to suffer Death upon the Cross that all Mankind should follow the Example of his great Humility Mercifully grant that we may both follow the Example of his Patience and also be made Partakers of his Resurrection through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen FINIS Advertisements BOOKS published by Mr. WILLIAM BURKITT and printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside THE Poor Man's Help and Young Man's Guide Containing I. Doctrinal Instructions for the right Informing of his Judgment II. Practical Directions for the General Course of his Life III. Particular Advices for the Well-managing of every Day With reference to his 1. Natural Actions 2. Civil Imployments 3. Necessary Recreations 4. Religious Duties Particularly I. Prayer Publick in the Congregation Private in the Family Secret in the Closet II. Reading the Holy Scriptures III. Hearing of the Word Preached IV. Receiving of the Lord's Supper Unto which is added An Earnest Exhortation unto all Christians to the Love and Practice of Universal Holiness The Fourth Edition An Argumentative and Practical Discourse of Infant-Baptism In which I. The Lawfulness of Infant-Baptism is Demonstrated II. The Objections against Infant-Baptism are Answered III. The Usefulness of the Ordinance is Asserted IV. The Sinfulness of Re-baptizing Manifested V. The Non-necessity of Dipping Evidenced VI. The Practical Use of Infant-Baptism Urged and Inforced The Second Edition A Sermon at the Funeral of the Reverend Mr. William Gurnall THE Works of the late Reverend and Learned William Bates D. D. In one large Volume in Folio Viz. 1. Of the Existence of God the Immortality of the Soul and the Divinity of the Christian Religion 2. The Harmony of the Divine Attributes 3. The Great Duty of Resignation 4. The Danger of Prosperity 5. Sermons of the Forgiveness of Sins 6. The Sure Trial of Uprightness 7. The Four Last Things viz. Death Judgment Heaven and Hell In which his Book called The Final Happiness of Man is included 8. Of Spiritual Perfection 9. Eleven Sermons on several Occasions 10. A Sermon upon the Death of Queen Mary 11. A Funeral Sermon on Dr. Manton 12. A Funeral Sermon on Dr. Jacomb 13. A Funeral Sermon on Mr. Baxter With his Life 14. A Funeral Sermon on Mr. Clarkson 15. A Funeral Sermon on Mr. Benjamin Ashurst To which are added Two Discourses never before publish'd being exactly taken in Short-hand and Approv'd by the Author in his Life-time viz. 16. A Discourse on Divine Meditation 17. A Discourse on the Fear of God c. With an Alphabetical Table to the Whole As likewise The Author's Effigies curiously Engrav'd by Mr. Robert White from an Original of Sir Godfrey Kneller And some Account of his Life and Character in a Funeral Sermon preach'd by the Reverend Mr. Howe Printed for Johnathan Robinson at the Golden-Lyon in St. Paul's Church-Yard There will be speedily publish'd A Catechetical Course of Sermons for the whole Year Being an Explanation of the Church-Catechism in Fifty Two Distinct Discourses on so many several Texts of Scripture Wherein are Briefly contained the most Necessary Points of Christian Doctrine in Two Volumes in Octavo With an Alphabetical Index to each Volume Recommended Especially for the Use of Families By Peter Newcome M. A. and Vicar of Aldenham in Hertford-shire Printed for John Wyat at the Rose in St. Paul's Church-Yard
his Head A Wicked Man needs no worse Tormenter than his own Mind Oh the Terrours and Tortures of a Guilty Conscience How great are the Anxiety of Guilt and the Fears of Divine Displeasure than which nothing is more stinging and perpetually tormenting 3 For Herod had laid hold on John and bound him and put him in prison for Herodias sake his brother Philip's wife 4 For John said unto him It is not lawful for thee to have her 5 And when he would have put him to death he feared the multitude because they counted him as a prophet Observe here 1. The Person that put the Holy Baptist to Death 't was Herod 't was Herod the King 't was Herod that invited John to Preach at Court and heard him gladly 1. It was Herod Antipas Son to that Herod who sought Christ's Life Matth. 2. Cruelty runs in a Blood Herod the Murderer of John who was the Forerunner of Christ descended from that Herod who would have murdered Christ himself 2. 'T was Herod the King Sad That Princes who should always be Nursing-Fathers to should at any time be the Bloody Butchers of the Prophets of God 3. 'T was Herod that heard John gladly John took the Ear and the Heart of Herod and Herod binds the Hands and Feet of John Oh how inconstant is a Carnal Heart to good Resolutions The Word has oft-times an Awakening Influence where it doth not leave an Abiding Impression upon the Minds of Men. Obs 2. The Cause of the Baptist's Death it was for telling a King of his Crime Herod cut off that Head whose Tongue was so bold to tell him of his Faults The Persecution which the Prophets of God fall under is usually for telling Great Men of their Sins Men in Power are impatient of Reproof and imagine that their Authority gives them a Licence to Transgress Obs 3. The plain Dealing of the Baptist in reproving Herod for his Crime which in one Act was Adultery Incest and Violence Adultery that that he took another's Wife Incest that he took his Brother's Wife Violence that he took her in spight of her Husband Therefore John doth not mince the Matter and say It is not Convenient but It is not Lawful for thee to have her it was not the Crown and Scepter of Herod that could daunt the Faithful Messenger of God There ought to meet in God's Ministers both Courage and Impartiality Courage in fearing no Faces Impartiality in sparing no Sins For none are so great but they are under the Authority and Command of the Law of God 6 But when Herod's birth-day was kept the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod 7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask 8 And she being before instructed of her mother said Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger 9 And the king was sorry nevertheless for the oath's sake and them which sat with him at meat he commanded it to be given her 10 And he sent and beheaded John in the prison 11 And his head was brought in a charger and given to the damsel and she brought it to her mother Several Observables are here to be taken Notice of 1. The Time of this Execrable Murther it was upon Herod's Birth-Day It was an Antient Custom among the Eastern Kings to Celebrate their Birth-Days Pharaoh's Birth-Day was kept Gen. 40. Herod's here both with Blood Yet these Personal Stains do not make the Practice unlawful When we solemnize our Birth-Day with Thankfulness to our Creator and Preserver for Life and Being for Protection and Preservation to that Moment and recommend our selves to the Care of his good Providence for the Remainder of our Days This is an Act of Piety and Religion But Herod's Birth-Day was kept with Revelling and Feasting with Musick and Dancing Not that Dancing which in it self is a set regular harmonious Motion of the Body can be unlawful any more than Walking or Running Altho' Circumstances may make it sinful But from this disorderly Banquet on Herod's Birth-Day we Learn That Great Men's Feasts and Frolicks are too often a Season of much Sin Obs 2. The Instigator and Promoter of the Holy Baptist's Death Herodias and her Daughter That Good Man falls a Sacrifice to the Fury and Malice to the Pride and Scorn of a Lustful Woman for being a Rub in the Way of her Licentious Adultery Resolute Sinners who are mad upon their Lusts run furiously upon their Gainsayers tho' they be the Prophets of God themselves and resolve to bear down all Opposition they meet with in the Gratification of their Unlawful Desires Obs 3. With what Reluctancy Herod consented to this Villany The King was sorry Wicked Men oft-times sin with a troubled and disturbed Conscience they have a mighty Struggle with themselves before they commit their Sins But at last their Lusts get Mastery over their Consciences So did Herod's here For 4. Notwithstanding his Sorrow he commands the Fact He sent and Beheaded John in the Prison And a threefold Cord tied him to this Performance 1. The Conscience of his Oath See his Hypocrisie he made Conscience of a rash Oath that made no Scruple of real Murther 2. Respect to his Reputation Them that sat with him heard him promise and will be Witnesses of his Levity if he do not perform Insisting upon Punctilio's of Honour has hazarded the Loss of Millions of Souls 3. A Loathness to discontent Herodias and her Daughter Oh vain and foolish Hypocrite who dreaded the displeasing of a wanton Mistress before the offending of God and Conscience Obs 5. These wicked Women not only require the Baptist to be Beheaded but that his Head be brought in a Charger to them What a Dish was here to be served up at a Prince's Table on his Birth-Day A dead Man's Head swimming in Blood How prodigiously insatiable is Cruelty and Revenge Herodias did not think her self safe 'till John was dead She could not think him dead till his Head was off she could not think his Head off till she had it in her Hand Revenge never thinks it has made sure enough Oh how cruel is a wicked Heart that could take Pleasure in a Spectacle of so much Horror How was that Holy Head tost by impure and filthy Hands That true and faithful Tongue those sacred Lips those pure Eyes those mortified Cheeks are now insultingly handled by an Incestuous Harlot and made a Scorn to the drunken Eyes of Herod's Guests From the whole Learn 1. That neither the Holiest of Prophets nor the Best of Men are more secure from Violence than from Natural Death He that was Sanctified in the Womb Conceived and Born with so much Miracle Lived with so much Reverence and Observation is now at Midnight obscurely Murthered in a close Prison Learn 2. That it is as true a Martyrdom to Suffer for Duty as for Faith He Dies as truly a Martyr that Dies for doing his Duty as he that Dies for
yet such weak Christians perhaps when a Trial comes shall stand their Ground when stronger run away We read of none of the Apostles at Christ's Funeral Fear had chased them away tho' they profess'd a Readiness to die with Christ But Joseph and Nicodemus appear boldly for him Let it be a Caution to strong Christians neither to glory in themselves nor to glory over the weak If God desert the strong and assist the weak the feeble shall be as David and the strong as Tow. Obs 3. The Mourners that followed the Hearse namely the Women that follow'd him out of Galilee and particularly the Two Maries a very poor Train of Mourners a few sorrowful Women Others are attended to their Graves by their Relations and Friends but Christ's Disciples were all scattered and afraid to own him either dying or dead Our Blessed Lord affected no Pomp or Gallantry in his Life and it was no ways suitable either to the End or Manner of his Death Humiliation was designed in his Death and his Burial was the lowest degree of his Humiliation Obs 4. The Grave or Sepulchre in which they buried him it was in a Garden As by the Sin of the first Adam we were driven out of the Garden of Pleasure the Earthly Paradice so by the Sufferings of the second Adam who lay buried in a Garden we may hope for an Entrance into the Heavenly Paradice It was in a Sepulchre hew'd out of a Rock that so his Enemies might have no Occasion to cavil and say that his Disciples stole him away by secret Holes or unseen Passages under Ground And it was in a new Sepulchre in which never any Man was laid lest his Adversaries should say it was some other that was risen or that he rose from the Dead by touching some other Corps Obs 5. The Manner of our Lord's Funeral hastily openly decently It was done in haste by reason of the Streights of Time the Preparation for the Passover caused them to be very expeditious the Sabbath was approaching and they lay all Business aside to prepare for that Learn thence How much it is our Duty to dispatch our Worldly Business as early as we can towards the end of the Week that we may be the better prepared to sanctifie the Lord's Day if we live to enjoy it We ought to remember that Day before it come and to sanctifie it when it is come Again our Lord was buried openly as well as hastily all Persons had Liberty to be Spectators that none might object there was any Fraud or Deceit used in or about his Burial He was also interr'd decently his Body wrapt in fine Linnen and perfum'd with Odours according to the Jewish Custom which used not to unbowel but embalm their Dead Obs 6. The Reason why our Lord was buried seeing he was to rise again in as short a time as other Men lye by the Walls and had his dead Body remain'd a Thousand Years unburied it could have seen no Corruption having never been tainted with Sin Sin is the Cause of the Body's Corruption 't is Sin that makes our Body stink worse than Carrion when they are dead A Funeral then was not necessary for Christ's Body upon the same Accounts that it is necessary for ours But 1. He was buried to declare the Certainty of his Death and the Reality of his Resurrection and for this Reason did God's Providence order it that he should be embalm'd to cut off all Pretensions For in this kind of embalming his Mouth his Ears and his Nostrils were all fill'd with Spices and Odours so that there could be no Latent Principle of Life in him being thus buried then declares him to be certainly dead 2. He was buried to fulfill the Types and Prophecies that went before concerning him Jonas being Three Days and Three Nights in the Belly of the Whale was a Type of Christ's being Three Days and Three Nights in the Heart of the Earth and the Prophet Esay 53.9 had declar'd the manner of his Funeral long before he was born He made his Grave with the Wicked and with the Rich in his Death Pointing by that Expression at this Tomb of Joseph's who was a rich Man and the Scriptures cannot be broken 3. He was buried to compleat his Humiliation They have brought me to the Dust of Death says David a Type of Christ This was the lowest Step he could possibly descend in his abased state lower he could not be laid and so low his blessed Head must be laid else he had not been humbled to the lowest 4. He went into the Grave that he might conquer Death in its own Territories and Dominions Christ's Victory over the Grave causes his Saints to triumph and sing Oh Grave where is thy Destruction Our blessed Lord has perfum'd the Bed of the Grave by his own lying in it so that a Pillow of Down is not so soft to a Believer's Head as a Pillow of Dust Observe Lastly what Use the Doctrine of our Lord's Burial may be unto us 1. For Instruction here we see the amazing Depths of our Lord's Humiliation From what to what his Love brought him even from the Bosom of his Father to the Bosom of the Grave Now the Depth of his Humiliation shews us the Fulness and Sufficiency of his Satisfaction as well as the Heinousness of our Transgression 2. For Consolation against the Fears of Death and the Grave The Grave received Christ but could not retain him Death swallow'd him up as the Fish did Jonas but quickly vomitted him up again so shall it fare with Christ mystical as it did with Christ Personal the Grave could not long keep him it shall not for ever keep us as his Body rested in Hope so shall ours also and tho' they see Corruption which he did not yet shall they not always lye under the Power of Corruption In a Word Christ's lying in the Grave has chang'd and alter'd the Nature of the Grave it was a Prison before a Bed of Rest now a loathsome Grave before a perfumed Bed now He whose Head is in Heaven need not fear to put his Foot into the Grave Awake and sing thou that dwellest in the Dust for the Enmity of the Grave is slain by Christ 3. For Imitation let us study and endeavour to be buried with Christ in respect of our Sins I mean Rom. 6.4 Buried with him into Death Our Sins should be as a dead Body in several Respects Are dead Bodies removed out of the Society of Men so should our Sins be removed far from us Do dead Bodies in the Grave spend and consume away by little and little So should our Sins daily Will dead Bodies grow every Day more and more loathsome to others So should our Sins be to our selves Do dead Bodies wax out of Memory and are quite forgotten So should our Sins in respect of any Delight that we take in remembring of them We should always remember our Sins to our Humiliation
give Entertainment to them and their Doctrine They were to denounce the Judgments of God against such Contemners by shaking off the Dust of their Feet for a Testimony against them Thence Learn That the Contempt of God's Ministers and especially of their Ministry and Doctrine is an odious and execrable Sin detested by God and which ought to be abhorred by Man Shake off the Dust of your Feet This Action was Emblematical signifying that Almighty God would in like manner shake them off as the vilest Dust Learn 2dly That where-ever the Word is preached it is for a Testimony either a Testimony for or against a People For if the Dust of a Minister's Feet bear Witness against the Despisers of the Gospel their Sermons much more Observe Lastly The dreadful Judgment denounced by our Saviour against the Contemners of the Apostle's Doctrine Verily it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that City Where Note 1. That there shall be a Day of Judgment 2. That in the Day of Judgment some Sinners shall fare worse than others 3. That of all Sinners the Condition of such will be saddest at the Day of Judgment who having lived under the Gospel have died after all in Impenitency and Infidelity Verily I say unto you it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than c. 14 And king Herod heard of him for his name was spread abroad and he said That John the Baptist was risen from the dead and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him 15 Others said That it is Elias And others said That it is a prophet or as one of the prophets 16 But when Herod heard thereof he said It is John whom I beheaded he is risen from the dead 17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John and bound him in prison for Herodias sake his brother Philip's wife for he had married her 18 For John had said unto Herod It is not lawful for thee to have thy brothers wife 19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him and would have killed him but she could not 20 For Herod feared John knowing that he was a just man and an holy and observed him and when he heard him he did many things and heard him gladly 21 And when a convenient day was come that Herod on his birth day made a supper to his lords high captains and chief estates of Galilee 22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in and danced and pleased Herod and them that sat with him the king said unto the damsel Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt and I will give it thee 23 And he sware unto her Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me I will give it thee unto the half of my kingdom 24 And she went forth and said unto her mother What shall I ask And she said The head of John the Baptist 25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king and asked saying I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist 26 And the king was exceeding sorry yet for his oaths sake and for their sakes which sat with him he would not reject her 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought and he went and beheaded him in the prison 28 And brought his head in a charger and gave it to the damsel and the damsel gave it to her mother 29 And when his disciples heard of it they came and took up his corps and laid it in a tomb The History of John the Baptist's Death is here recorded by this Evangelist as St. Matthew had done before Ch. 14.1 2. here we have these Particulars farther observable 1. The Character and Description of a zealous and faithful Minister He is one that deals plainly and durst tell the greatest Persons of their Faults Herod tho' a King is reproved by the Baptist for his Incest in taking his Brother's Wife The Crown and Scepter of Herod could not daunt the faithful Messenger of God There ought to meet in the Ministers of God both Courage and Impartiality Courage in fearing no Faces Impartiality in sparing no Sins Obs 2. Who it was that commanded the Baptist to be beheaded It was Herod the King whom he had reproved How sad is it when Kings who should be Nursing-fathers to the Church do prove the bloody Butchers of the Prophets of God The severest Persecutions which the Prophets of God have fallen under are usually occasioned by their telling great Men of their Crimes Men in Power are impatient of Reproof and imagine that their Authority gives them a License to transgress Obs 3. The time of the Baptist's Death It was upon Herod 's Birth-Day It was an ancient Custom among the Eastern Kings to celebrate their Birth Days Pharaoh did so Gen. 40. and Herod here but both with Blood yet these personal Stains do not make the Practice unlawful when we solemnize our Birth-Days with Thankfulness to our Creator and Preserver and recommend our selves by Prayer to his Gracious Providence and Protection for the Remainder of our Days This is an Act of Piety and Religion But Herod's Birth-Day was kept with Revelling with Feasting with Musick and Dancing All which were made sinful to him by the Circumstances which did attend it Great Men's Feasts and Frolicks are too often the Season and Occasion of much Sin Obs 4. The Instigators and Promoters of the Holy Baptist's Death Herodias and her Daughter Lord How deadly is the Malice of Soulâ— debauched with Lust Imprisonment would not satisfie them they must have his Blood Resolute Sinners who are mad upon their Lusts run furiously upon their Opposers and resolve to bear down all Opposition they meet with in the Gratification of their unlawful Desires Obs 5. With what great Reluctancy Herod consented to this Villany The King was exceeding sorry Wicked Men oft-times sin with a troubled and disturbeâ— Conscience there is a mighty Struggle betwixt their Reason and their Lusts but at last they master their Consciences and choose rather to gratifie their Lusts than to obey their Reason So did Herod here for notwithstanding his Sorrow he commands the Fact he sent and beheaded John in the Prison Obs 6. The Motives and Inducements which prevail'd with Herod to behead this Holy Man 1. The Conscience of his Oath Nevertheless for his Oath sake See his Hypocrisie he made Scruple of a rash Oath who made no Scruple of real Murther See here not only the Folly but great Impiety of rash Vows especially in ignorant Persons who think themselves obliged by them Whereas it is their Duty first to repent of them and then to break them as fast as they can St. Chrysostom says Herod might have spared the Baptist's Head and yet have kept his Oath to Herodias for he sware to give her only half of his Kingdom and his Head was worth more than his
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
they Witness against thee 5 But Jesus yet answered nothing so that Pilate marvelled It is very Observable how readily our Saviour Answers before Pilate Pilate said Art thou the King of the Jews Jesus answered Thou sayest it or it is as thou sayâ—st But to all the Accusations of the Chief Priests and to all that they falsly laid to his Charge before Pilate our Saviour answered never a Word â—e Answered Pilate but would â—ot answer the Chief Priests a word before Pilate probably for these Reasons because his Innocency was such as needed no Apology because their Calumnies and Accusations were so notoriously false that they needed no Confutation to shew his Contempt of Death and to teach us by hâ—s Example to despise the false Accusations of malicious Men and to learn us Patience and Submission when for his sake we are slandered and Traduced for these Reasons our Saviour was as a deaf Man not answering the Calumnies of the Chief Priests but when Pilate asks him a question which our Saviour knew that a direct Answer to would cost him his Life Art thou the King of the Jews he Replies I am Hence says the Apostle 1 Tim. 6.13 That Jesus Christ before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good Confession Teaching us That although we may and sometimes ought to hold our Peace when our own Reputation is Concerned yet must we never be silent when the Honour of God and his Truth may effectually be promoted by a free and a full Confession For says Christ whoever denies me before Men him will I deny in the presence of my Father and before all his Holy Angels 6 Now at the Feast he Released unto them one Prisoner whomsoever they desired 7 And there was one named Barabbas which lay bound with them that had made Insurrection with him who had committed Murther in the Insurrection 8 And the Multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them 9 But Pilate answered them saying Will ye that I Release unto you the King of the Jews 10 For he knew that the Chief Priests had delivered him for Envy 11 But the Chief Priests moved the People that he should rather Release Barabbas unto them 12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews 13 And they cryed out again Crucify him 14 Then Pilate said unto them Why what Evil hath he done and they cryed out the more exceedingly Crucify him 15 And so Pilate willing to content the People Released Barabbas unto them and delivered Jesus when he had Scourged him to be Crucified Now at the Feast that is at the Feast of the Passover which by way of Eminency is called the Feast the Governour used to Release a Prisoner possibly by way of Memorial of their Deliverance out of Egypt accordingly Pilate makes a Motion that Christ may be the Prisoner set at Liberty in Honour of their Feast for he was sensible that what they did was out of Envy and Malice Observe here 1. What were the sins which immediately occasioned the death of Christ they were Covetousness and Envy Covetousness caused Judas to sell him to the Chief Priests and Envy caused the Chief Priests to deliver him up to Pilate to Crucify him Envy is a killing and murthering Passion Envy slayeth the silly one Job 5.2 That is it slayeth the silly Person who harbours this pestilent Lust in his Breast and Bosom being like a Fire in his Bones continually preying upon his Spirits and it is also the occasion of slaying many an holy and innocent Person for who can stand before Envy The Person Envying wishes the Envied out of the way yea out of the World and if need be will not only wish it but lend a Lift upon occasion towards it also Witness the Chief Priests here whose Envy was so Conspicuous and Bare-faced that Pilate himself takes notice of it he knew that the Chief Priests had delivered him for Envy Observe 2. 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 another while he bids them take him and judge him according to their Law Nay St. Luke says that Pilate came forth three several times professing That he found no fault in him Luke 23. From hence Note That Hypocrites within the visible Church may be Guilty of such Tremendous Acts of Wickedness as the Consciences of Infidels and Pagans without the Church may Boggle at and Protest against Pilate a Pagan absolves Christ whilst the Hypocritical Jews that heard his Doctrine and saw his Miracles do Condemn him Observe Lastly How Pilate suffers himself to be overcome with the Jews Importunity and contrary to the Light of his own Reason and Judgment delivers the holy and innocent Jesus first to be Scourged and then Crucified it is a vain Apology for Sin when Persons pretend that they were not committed with their own Consent but at the Instigation and importunity of others Such is the Frame and Constitution of Man's Soul that none can make him either wicked or miserable without his own Consent Pilate willing to content the People when he had scourged Jesus dilivered him to be Crucified Here Observe That as the Death of the Cross was a Roman Punishment so it was the manner of the Romans first to whip their Malefactors and then Crucify them Now the Manner of the Roman Scourging is said to be thus They stript the Condemned Person and bound him to a Post two strong Men first Scourged him with Rods of Thorns then two others Scourged him with Whips of Cords full of Knots and last of all two more with Whips of Wire and therewith tore off the very Flesh and Skin from the Malefactors Back and Sides That our Blessed Saviour was thus Cruelly Scourged by Pilate's Command seems to some not improbable from that of the Psalmist Ps 129.3 The ploughers ploughed upon my back and made long Furrows which if spoken Prophetically of Christ was Literally Fulfilled in the Day of his Scourging But why was the precious and tender Body of our Holy Lord thus Galled Rent and Torn with Scourging Doubtless to Fulfil that Prophecy Isa 50.6 I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the Hair That by his Stripes we might be healed and from his Example Learn not to think it strange if we find our selves Scourged with Tongue with Hand or with both when we see our dear Redeemer bleeding by Stripes and Scourges before our Eyes 16 And the Soldiers led him away into the Hall called Pretorium and they call together the whole Band. 17 And they cloathed him with purple and platted a Crown of Thorns and put it about his Head 18 And began to Salute him Hail King of the Jews 19 And they smote him on the Head with a Reed and did
Jewish Doctors Obstinacy and Unbelief filled their minds with an invincible prejudice against Christ so that neither the Miracles wrought by him in his Life or at his Death could convince them that Christ was any thing better than an Impostor and Deceiver None are so blind as those who through malicious obstinacy and inveterate prejudice will not see Observe 3. Who of Christ's Friends were witness of his Death they are the Women that followed him and ministred unto him not one of his dear Disciples dare come near him except St. John who stood by the Cross with the Virgin Mary Oh! what a shame was this for the Apostles to be absent from a Spectacle upon which the Salvation of the whole World did depend and what an honour was this to the Female Sex in general and to these holy Women in particular that they had the Courage to follow Christ to his Cross when all his Disciples forsook him and fled God can make timerous and fearful Women bold and couragious Confessors of his Truth and fortify them against the fears of his Suffering contrary to the natural timerousness of their Temper these Women wait upon Christ's Cross when Apostles fligh and durst not come nigh it 42 And now when the Even was come because it was the preparation that is the day before the Sabbath 43 Joseph of Arimathea an Honourable Counsellor which also waited for the Kingdom of God came and went in boldly unto Pilate and craved the Body of Jesus 44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead and calling unto him the Centurion he asked him whither he had been any while dead 45 And when he knew it of the Centurion he gave the Body to Joseph 46 And he brought fine Linnen and took him down and wrapped him in Linnen and laid him in a Sepulchre which was hewn out of a Rock and rolled a stone unto the door of the Sepulchre 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the Mother of Joses beheld where he was laid The Circumstances of our Lord's Funeral and Honourable Interment in the Grave are here Recorded by the Evangelist such a Funeral as never was since Graves were first digged Where Observe 1. Our Lord's Body must be Begg'd before it could be Bury'd the dead Bodies of Malefactors being in the Power and at the Disposal of the Judge Pilate grants it and accordingly the dead Body is taken down wrapped in fine Linnen and prepared for the Sepulchre Observe 2. The Person that bestows this Honourable Buryal upon our Saviour Joseph of Arimathea a Disciple no doubt though he did not make a publick and open Profession a Worthy though a Close Disciple Grace doth not always make a publick and open shew where it is as there is much Secret Riches in the Bowels of the Earth which no Eye ever saw so there is much Grace in the Hearts of some Christians that the Eye of the World takes little Notice of Some gracious Persons cannot put forward and discover themselves in Discourse as others and yet such weak Christians as the World counts them perhaps shall stand their Ground when stronger run away We read of none of the Apostles at Christ's Funeral fear had Chased them away but Joseph of Arimathea appears boldly if God strengthen the Weak and leave the strong to the prevalency of their own Fears The weak shall be as David and the strong as Tow. Observe 3. The Mourners that followed our Saviour's Hearse Namely the Women which came out of Galilee and particularly the two Mary's a very poor train of Mourners the Apostles were all scattered and afraid to own their Lord and Master either Dying or Dead And as our Lord affected no Pomp nor Gallantry in his Life so Funeral Pomp had been no way suitable either to the End or Manner of his Death Humiliation was designed in his death and his Buryal was the lowest Degree of his Humiliation and therefore might not be Pompous Observe 4. The Grave or Sepulchre in which our Lord was Buryed it was in a Sepulchre hewn out of a Rock in a new Sepulchre in a new Sepulchre in a Garden 1. Our Lord was Buryed in a Garden As by the sin of the first Adam we were driven out of the Garden of Pleasure the Earthly Paradise so by the Sufferings of the Second Adam who lay Buryed in a Garden we may hope for Entrance into the Heavenly Paradise 2. It was in a Sepulchre hewn out of a Rock that so his Enemies might have no occasion to cavil and say that his Disciples stole him away by secret holes or un seen passages under Ground 3. It was in a new Sepulchre in which never any Man was laid lest his Adversaries should say it was some other that was Risen who was Buryed there before him or that he Arose from the Dead by touching some other Corpse Observe 5. The Manner of our Lord's Funeral it was hasty open and decent it was performed in haste by reason of the streights of Time the Sabbath was Approaching and they lay all Business aside to prepare for that Learn hence How much it is our Duty to dispatch our Worldly Business as early as we can towards the End of the Week that we may be the better prepared to Sanctify the Lord's day if we live to enjoy it Hence it is that we are called upon to Remember that day before it comes and to Sanctify it when it is come Again our Lord was Buryed openly as well as hastily all Persons had Liberty to be Spectators lest any should object that there was deceit and fraud used in or about our Saviours Buryal yet was he also Interr'd Decently his Holy Body being wrapped in fine Linnen and perfumed with Spices according to the Jewish Custom Observe 6. The Reasons why our Lord was Buryed seeing he was to Rise again in as short a time as other Men lye by the Walls and had his dead Body remained a Thousand Years un-buryed it could have seen no Corruption having never been tainted with sin sin is the Cause of the Bodies Corruption 't is sin that makes our Bodies stink worse than Carrion when they are dead A Funeral then was not necessary for Christ's Body upon the same Accounts that it is necessary for ours But 1. Our Lord was Buryed to declare the certainty of his Death and the Reality of his Resurrection and for this Reason did God's Providence Order it that he should be Embalmed to cut off all Pretensions for in this kind of Embalming his Mouth his Ears and his Nostrils were all filled with Odours and Spices so that there could be no latent principle of Life in him he being thus Buryed then did demonstrate him to be certainly Dead 2. Christ was Buryed to fulfil the Types and Prophecies that went before concerning him Jonas being three days and three nights in the Belly of the Whale was a Type of Christ's being three days and three nights in the Heart of the Earth
yea the Prophet Isa Chap. 53.9 Declared our Lord's Funeral and the Manner of it long before he was born he made his Grave with the wicked and with the Rich in his Death pointing by that Expression at this Tomb of Joseph's who was a Rich Man and laid him in the Tomb designed for himself 3. He was Buryed to compleat his Humiliation They have brought me to the Dust of Death says David a Type of Christ This was the lowest step he could possibly descend in his abased State lower he could not be laid and so low his blessed Head must be laid else he had not been Humbled to the lowest degree of Humiliation 4. Christ went into the Grave that he might Conquer Death in its own Territories and Dominions His Victory over the Grave causes his Saints to Triumph and Sing Oh Grave where is thy Destruction Our dear Redeemer has perfumed the Bed of the Grave by his own lying in it so that a Pillow of down is not so soft to a Believer's Head as a pillow of Dust Observe Lastly Of what use the Doctrine of our Lord's Buryal may be unto us his Disciples and Followers 1. For Instruction Here we see the amazing Depths of our Lord's Humiliation from what and to what his Love brought him even from the Bosom of his Father to the Bosom of the Grave Oh how doth the depth of his Humiliation shew us the Sufficiency of his Satisfaction and therewith the Heinousness of our Transgression 2. For Consolation against the fears of Death and the Grave the Grave Received Christ but could not Retain him Death swallowed him up as the Fish did Jonas but quickly Vomited him up again and so shall it fare with Christ Mystical as it did with Christ Personal as it was done to the Head so shall it be done to the Members the Grave could not long keep him it shall not always keep us as his Body Rested in Hope so shall ours also and although we see Corruption yet shall we not always lye under the Power of Corruption in short Christ's lying in the Grave has Changed and Alter'd the Nature of the Grave it was a Prison before a Bed of Rest now a Loathsom Grave before a perfumed Bed now he whose Head is in Heaven need not fear to put his Feet into the Grave Awake and sing thou that dwellest in the Dust for the enmity of the Grave is slain by Christ 3. For our imitation Let us study and endeavour to be Buryed with Christ in respect of our sins I mean Rom. 6.4 Buryed with him into Death Our sins should be as a dead Body in several Respects Are dead Bodies removed out of the Society of Men so should our sins be removed far from us Do dead Bodies in the Grave spend and consume by Degrees so should our sins daily Will Dead Bodies grow every day more and more Loathsome to others so should our sins be to our selves Do dead Bodies wax out of Memory and are quite Forgotten so should our sins also in respect of any delight that we take in the remembring of them we should always Remember our Sins to our Humiliation but never think or speak of them with the least Delight or Satisfaction for this in God's Account is a new Commission of them and lays us under an aggravated Guilt and Condemnation CHAP. XVI This last Chapter of St. Mark 's Gospel contains the History of our Saviours Resurrection and gives us an Account of what he did upon Earth between the Time of his Triumphant Resurrection and his Glorious Ascension 1 AND when the Sabbath was past Mary Magdalene and Mary the Mother of James and Salome had brought sweet Spices that they might come and anoint him 2 And very early in the Morning in the first day of the week they came unto the Sepulchre at the Rising of the Sun The Lord of Life was Buryed on the Fryday in the Evening of that Day on which he was Crucified and his Holy Body Rested in the silent Grave all the next day and some part of the day following Thus rose he again the third day neither sooner nor later not sooner lest the truth of his Death should have been questioned that he did not dye at all and 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 before day 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 Here Observe 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 Alabaster upon Christ whilst alive has prepared no less precious Odours for him now dead thereby paying their last Homage to our Saviour's Corpse But what need of Odours to Persume a Body which could not see Corruption True his Holy Body did not want them but the Love and Affection of his Friends could not with-hold 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 followed his Hearse to the Grave when his Disciples durst not appear and now very early in the Morning they go to Visit his Sepulchre fearing neither the Darkness of the Night nor the presence of the Watch-men Learn hence That Courage is the special Gift of God and if he gives it to the feebler Sex even to Timorous and fearful Women it is not in the power of Men to make them afraid 3 And they said among themselves Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the Sepulchre 4 And when they looked they saw that the Stone was Rolled away for it was very great 5 And entring into the Sepulchre they saw a young Man sitting on the right side cloathed in a long white Garment and they were afraid 6 And he saith unto them Be not affrighted ye seek Jesus of Nazareth which was Crucified he is Risen he is not here behold the place where they laid him 7 But go your way tell his Disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee there shall ye see him as he said unto you 8 And they went out quickly and fled from the Sepulchre for they trembled and were amazed neither said they any thing to any Man for they were afraid Observe here 1. With what Pomp and Triumph doth our Lord Arise An Angel is sent from Heaven to roll away the Stone But
words as a Prayer to the Holy Virgin saying Ten Ave Marys for one Pater Noster whereas they are only a Salutation declaring that she above all Women had the honour freely conferred by God upon her to be the mother of the Messiah The Original word signifies not full of Grace but freely Beloved Compare Mary with other Renowned Women and what had she besides this favour more then they Had she the Spirit of Prophecy so had they had she the Spirit of Sanctification so had they And she had no more immunity and freedom from Sin and Death then they Accordingly says the Angel Blessed art thou among Women He doth not say Blessed art Thou above Women Let the Church of Rome be as copious as they will in the Commendation of the Mother so they do not derogate from the Glory of the Son But how senseless are they 1. in turning a Salutation into a Prayer 2. in making use of these words upon every occasion which were spoken by an Angel upon a special occasion 3. In applying these words to her now in Heaven which suited with her only when she was here on Earth saying full of Grace to her who is full of Glory and the Lord is with Thee to her that is with the Lord. Obs 6. The effect which the Sight and Salutation of the Angel had upon the Holy Virgin she was afraid If Zachary before her were amazed at the sight of the Angel much more the Virgin her Sex subjecting her to fear All passions but particularly the passion of fear disquiets the Heart and makes it unfit to receive the Messages of God Therefore the Angel instantly says unto her fear not let Joy enter into thy Heart out of whose Womb shall come Salvation Thus the fears of holy Persons do end in Comfort Joy was the Errand which the Angel came upon and not Terrour what little cause had she to fear the presence of an Angel who was so highly favoured of him at whom the Angels tremble But we see the holiest Person on Earth cannot bear the presence of an Holy Angel much less the presence of an Holy God nor stand before the manifestations of his Favours Lord How unable then will the wicked be at the Great day to stand before the manifestation of thy Fury If the sight of an Holy Angel now makes the best of Saints to quake and tremble What will the sight of an infinitely Holy and Just God then do when the wicked shall be slain by the brightness of his presence Obs Lastly The Character which the Angel gives of the person that should be Born of the Blessed Virgin He shall be Great and called the Son of the Highest Great in respect of his Person Great in respect of his Offices Great in respect of his Kingdom For God would settle upon him a Spiritual Kingdom of which David's Earthly one was a Type which shall never be abolished Tho' the Administration of it by the Word and Sacraments shall cease at the day of Judgment when he shall deliver up the Kingdom in that respect to his Father All other Kingdoms have had or shall have their Periods but the Gospel-Church which is Christ's Kingdom shall continue till his Kingdom of Glory be Revealed 34 Then said Mary to the Angel How shall this be seeing I know not a man 35 And the Angel said unto her the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall over-shadow thee Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God 36 And behold thy cousin Elizabeth she hath also conceived a Son in her old age and this is the sixth month with her which is called Barren 37 For with God nothing shall be unpossible 38 And Mary said Behold the hand-maid of the Lord be it unto me according to thy word and the Angel departed from her Observe here 1. The Virgins question How shall this be This question did not import her denial of the possibility of the thing but her wonder at the strangeness of the thing it proceeded rather from a desire of information than from a doubt of Infidelity Therefore she doth not say this cannot be nor how can this be but how shall this be She doth not distrust but demand how her Virginity should become fruitful and how she being a Virgin could bring forth a Son Obs 2. The Angels Reply to the Virgins question The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee Where Note the Angel declares the Author who but not the manner how The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee but in what way and after what manner is not declared No Mother knows the manner of her Natural Conception What presumption had it then been for the Mother of the Messiah to have inquired how the Son of God could take Flesh and Blood of his Creature It is for none but the Almighty to know those Works which do immediately concern himself Obs 3. The Holy and Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Redeemer The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the most High shall over-shadow thee wherefore that Holy thing that shall be born of thee That is the Holy Ghost shall prepare and sanctify so much of thy Flesh Blood or Seed as shall constitute the Body of Christ For tho' it was the work of the whole Trinity yet it is ascribed particularly to the Holy Ghost Sanctification being his peculiar work And the Title and Epithet of That Holy Thing sheweth the purity and immaculateness of Christ's Humane Nature and that none was ever Born thus Holy and Immaculate but Christ only because none had ever such a way and means of Conception but only he Therefore that Holy thing shall be called the Son of God not constituted and made but evidenced and declared Christ was God before he assumed Flesh even from Eternity but but his taking Flesh in this manner evidences him to be the Son of God Obs 4. The Argument used by the Angel to confirm Many in the Belief of what he had told her namely the wonderful Conception of her Cousin Elizabeth in her old Age who was now six Months gone with Child Where Observe 1. What an exact Knowledge God has and what a particular Notice he takes of all the Children of men he knoweth not only our selves but our Relations also Behold thy Cousin Elizabeth the knowledge which God has of every Person and every Action is a clear and distinct Knowledge Note 2. How the Angel strengthens her Faith by a Consideration drawn from the Almighty power of God With God nothing shall be unpossible be it never so strange and difficult there is no such way to overcome difficulties as by strengthning our Faith in the Almighty power of God Faith will enable us to assent to Truths though seemingly incredible and to believe the possibility of things tho' appearingly impossible Obs Lastly how the Virgin expresses her Faith and Obedience her
2. The Name is given or at least declared at the time of the Child's Circumcising and that by its Parents His Mother said he shall be called John But how did his Mother know That when her Husband was dumb Answ 'T is like her Husband Zachary had by Writing informed his Wife concerning the whole Vision and what Name was imposed upon him by the Angel therefore she says he shall be called John and Zachary ratifies it his name is John The Nomination was originally from the Angel the Imposition of the Name is now at Circumcision from the Parents Obs 3. How Ancient a Custom it has been to give Names to Children according to the Names of their Fathers or Kindred There is none of thy Kindred of this name say they The Jews made it a part of Religion to give suitable Names to their Children and significant Names Accordingly they either gave them Names to put them in remembrance of God's Mercy to them or of their Duty to him Thus Zachary signifies the Remembrance of God which name points at God's Mercy in remembring him and his Duty in remembring God Well then is it usual and useful for Parents to give significant Names to their Children then let Children have a Holy Ambition to make good the Signification of their Names Thus John signifies the Grace of God but how will that Gracious Name rise up in Judgment against that Child that is Graceless Obs 4. How Zachary's Speech is immediately restored to him upon the naming of his Child The Angel v. 20. told him he should be dumb till the things he told him should be performed and now that they were performed his Tongue is loosed and he praises God in a most Thankful manner Obs 5. The effect which all this had upon the Neighbourhood fear came upon all that dwelt round about them that is an awful and Religious fear of God occasioned by these miraculous operations and they laid up these sayings in their hearts that is considered of them and pondered upon them It argues a very vain Spirit and temper of Mind when we pass over the Observation of God's wonderful Acts with a slight Regard The true Reason why we do so little admire the wonderful Works of God is because we consider so little of them Obs 6. The special favour vouchsafed by God to this Child John The hand of the Lord was with him that is God was in a special manner present with him to direct and assist him to protect and prosper him The hand of God in Scripture signifies the help of God the strength and assistance of God The hand of Man is a weak and impotent hand a short and ineffectual hand but the hand of God is a strong hand an Almighty hand able to assist and help able to protect and preserve The hand of the Lord was with him that is the heart of God and the help of God the Love and Favour of God to support him and the Power and Providence of God to protect and preserve him Lord let our Hearts be with thee and then thy Heart and thy helping hand will be with us 67 And his Father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophecied saying 68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people 69 And hath raised up an horn of Salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets which have been since the world began 71 That we should be saved from our Enemies and from the hand of all that hate us 72 To perform the mercy promised to our fore-fathers and to remember his holy Covenant 73 The Oath which he sware to our father Abraham 74 That he would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear 75 In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life 76 And thou child shalt be called the prophet of the Highest for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his way 77 To give knowledge of Salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins 78 Through the tender mercies of our God whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet in the way of peace Here observe 1. That no sooner was Zachary recovered and restored to his Speech but he sings the Praises of his Redeemer and offers up a Thanksgiving to God The best Return we can make to God for the use of our Tongue for the giving or restoring of our Speech is to publish our Creator's Praise to plead his Cause and vindicate his Honour Obs 2. What it is that Zachary makes the subject matter of his Song What is the particular and special Mercy which he praises and blesses God for It is not for his own particular and private Mercy namely the Recovery of his Speech tho' undoubtedly he was very thankful to God for that Mercy but he Blesses and praises God for Catholick and Universal Mercies bestowed upon his Church and People He doth not say Blessed be the Lord God of Israel that hath visited me in Mercy that hath once more loosed my Tongue and restored my Speech but Blessed be God that has visited and redeemed his people Whence Learn that it is both the Duty and Disposition of a gracious Soul to abound in Praise and Thankfulness to God more for Catholick and Universal Mercies towards the Church of God then for any particular and private Mercies how great soever towards himself Blessed be God for visiting and redeeming his people Obs 3. In this Evangelical Hymn there is a Prophetical Prediction both concerning Christ and concerning John Concerning Christ he declares that God the Father had sent him of his free mercy and rich Grace yet in performance of his Truth and Faithfulness and according to his promise and Oath which he had made to Abraham and the Fathers of the Old Testament Where Note 1. he blesses God for the Comprehensive blessing of the Messiah Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath visited his people namely in his Son's Incarnation The Lord Jesus Christ in the Fulness of Time made such a visit to this sinful World as Men and Angels admired at and will admire to all Eternity Note 2. The special fruit and benefit of this gracious and merciful Visitation and that was the Redemption of a lost World he hath visited and redeemed his People This implies that miserable Thraldom and Bondage which we were under to Sin and Satan and expresses the stupendious Love of Christ in buying our Lives with his dearest Blood and both by price and power rescuing us out of the hands of our Spiritual Enemies Note 3. The Character given of This Saviour and Redeemer he is an Horn of Salvation that is a Royal and Glorious a Strong
and powerful Saviour to his Church and people The Horn in Scripture signifies Glory and Dignity Strength and Power as the Beauty so the Strength of the Beast lies in its Horn. Now Christ being stiled an Horn of Salvation intimates that he himself is a Royal and Princely Saviour and that the Salvation which he brings is great and plentiful glorious and powerful God has raised up an horn of Salvation for us in the house of his Servant David Note 4. The Nature and Quality of that Salvation and Deliverance which the Son of God came to accomplish for us Not a Temporal Deliverance as the Jews expected from the power of the Romans but Spiritual from the hands of Sin and Satan Death and Hell his Design was to purchase a Spiritual Freedom and Liberty for us that we might be enabled to serve him without fear that is without the servile and offending fear of a Slave but with the Dutiful and ingenuous fear of a Child and this in holiness and Righteousness that is in the Duties of the First and Second Table all the days of our Life Learn hence That Believers who were Slaves of Satan are by Christ made God's free Men. 2dly That as such they owe God a Service a willing chearful and delightful Service without fear and a constant persevering Service all the days of their Life that we being delivered out of the hands of c. Note 5. The Source and Fountain from whence this Glorious Saviour and Gracious Salvation did arise and spring namely from the mercy and faithfulness of God To perform the mercy promised to our Forefathers and to remember his holy Covenant the Oath which he swear to our Father Abraham Learn hence That the Lord Jesus Christ the Mercy of Mercies was graciously promised and faithfully performed by God to his Church and People Christ was a free and full Mercy a suitable a seasonable and a satisfying Mercy an incomparable unsearchable and everlasting Mercy which God graciously promised in the beginning of Time and faithfully performed in the fulness of Time Thus far this Hymn of Zachary respects the Messiah Obs 4. How he next turns himself to his Child and Prophecies concerning him And thou Child shall be called the Prophet of the Highest c. Where Note 1. The Nature of his Office thou shalt be a Prophet not a common and ordinary one but a Prophet of the highest Rank the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts A Prophet thou shalt be and more then a Prophet Note 2. As the nature of his Office so the quality of his Work Thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his way Thou shalt be an Herald and Harbinger to the most High thou shalt go before the Face of the Messias and by thy severe Reproofs and powerful Exhortations shalt prepare his way before him and make men fit and ready to receive this mighty Saviour Thou Child shall be as the Morning Star to foretel the Glorious arising of this Sun of Righteousness Learn hence 1. That it is the highest Honour and Dignity to serve Christ in the quality and relation of a Prophet 2. That it is the Office and Duty of the Prophets of Christ to prepare and make fit the Hearts of men to receive and embrace him Obs 5. That Zachary having spoken a few Words concerning his Son he returns instantly to Celebrate the Praises of our Saviour comparing him to the Rising Sun which shined forth in the Brightness of his Gospel to enlighten the dark corners of the World thro' the tender mercies of our God whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us to give light to them that sit in darkness Learn here 1. That Jesus Christ is that true Son of Righteousness which in the fulness of Time did spring from on high to visit a lost and undone World 2. That the great Errand of Christ's coming into the World and the particular End of his Appearing in our Flesh it was to give light to them that sit in darkness 3. That it was nothing less than infinite Mercy and bowels of Compassion in God and Christ which inclined him to come from on high to visit them that sit in Darkness Through the tender Bowels of Mercy in our God whereby his own and only Son sprung from on high to visit us here below who sat in darkness and the shadow of Death and to guide our Feet into the way that leads to everlasting peace 80 And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel Here we have a short Account of John's private Life before he entred upon his publick Ministry which was at Thirty Years of Age He grew that is in Bodily stature and waxed strong in Spirit that is in the Gifts and Graces of the Holy Spirit which encreased with his Age and shewed themselves in him every day more and more and he was in the Deserts that is in the mountainous Country of Judea where he was Born till the time of his preaching to and amongst the Jews not that he lived like an Hermite Recluse from all Society with men but contented himself to continue in an obscure privacy 'till called forth to promulge and preach the Gospel and when that time was come John leaves the Hill-country and enters with Resolution and unwearied diligence upon his publick Ministry Teaching us by his Example That when we are fit and ripe for publick Service we should no less willingly leave our Obscurity then we took the benefit of it for our Preparation John abode in the Deserts till his shewing unto Israel that is till the time of his setting forth to execute his Office among the Jews CHAP. II. 1 AND it came to pass in those days that there went out a Decree from Cesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed 2. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was Governour of Syria 3 And all went to be taxed every one into his own city 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazarerh into Judea unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused Wife being great with child 6 And so it was that while they were there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered 7 And she brought forth her first born Son and wrapped him in swadling Cloaths and laid him in a Manger because there was no room for them in the Inn. The Conclusion of the former Chapter acquainted us with the Birth of John the Baptist the beginning of this Chapter relates the Birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ and the remarkable Circumstances which did attend it And here we have Observable 1. The place where he was Born not at Nazareth but at Bethlehem according to the prediction of the Prophet Micah Ch. 5.2 And thou Bethlehem in the Land of
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
them Barbarously to Mock him in his Misery and which was worse Atheistically to Jear and Scoff at his Faith and Affiance in God Saying He trusted in God that he would deliver him let him deliver him if he will have him This was such an Indignity as Confounds our Thoughts But from hence we Learn 1. That Persecutors are generally Atheistical Scoffers the Chief Priests and Elders who Persecuted Christ do Blaspheme God they mock at his Power and deride his Providence which was as wicked as to deny his Being 2. We Learn from this Example That such as Minister to God in Holy things by way of Office if they be not the Best they are generally the worst of Men no such bitter Enemies to the Power of Godliness as such Preachers who were never Experimentally Acquainted with the Efficacy and Power of it upon their own Hearts and Lives Observe 2. The Inscription wrote by Pilate over our suffering Saviour This is Jesus the King of the Jews It was the Custom of the Romans when they Crucified a Malefactor to publish the Cause of his Death in Capital Letters placed over the Head of the Person Now it is Observable how wonderfully the Wisdom of God over-ruled the Heart and Pen of Pilate to draw this Title which was truly Honourable and fix it to his Cross Pilate is Christ's Herald and proclaims him King of the Jews Learn hence That the Kingship and Regal Dignity of Christ was proclaimed by an Enemy and that in a time of his greatest Sufferings and Reproaches Pilate without his Knowledge did our Saviour an eminent piece of Service Verily he did that for Christ which none of his own Disciples durst do not that he did it designedly and with any intent to put Honour upon Christ but from the special over-ruling Providence of God No thanks to Pilate for all this Because the Highest Services performed to Christ undesignedly shall never be Accepted nor Rewarded by him 39 And one of the Malefactors which were hanged Railed on him saying If Thou be Christ Save thy self and us 40 But the other Answering Rebuked him saying Dost thou not fear God seeing thou art in the same Condemnation 41 And we indeed justly For we receive the due Reward of our Deeds But this Man hath done nothing amiss 42 And he said unto Jesus Lord Remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom Here we have a farther Aggravation of our Lord's Sufferings upon the Cross from the Company he Suffered with the Two Thieves who Reviled him with the rest Saint Matthew and Saint Mark say They both Reviled him Saint Luke says One of them Reviled possibly both of them might do it at first and one of them Repent which if so encreases the wonder of the Penitent Thiefs Conversion From the Impenitent Thiefs Reviling of Christ when he was at the very point of Death and even in the Suburbs of Hell we Learn That neither Shame nor Pain will change the Mind of a Resolute Sinner but even then when he is in the Suburbs of Hell will he Blaspheme From the Penitent Thief 's Confessing of Christ and Praying to him Lord Remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom We Learn Both the Efficacy and Freeness of Divine Grace 1. The efficacious Power of it Oh how Powerful must thaâ— Grace be which wrought such a Change in an instant which supplied that Heart in a Moment which had been hardning in Sin for so many Years 2. The Freeness of it which takes hold of his Heart when he was at the height of Sin and was not only void of Grace but seemed past Grace Oh the powerful Efficacy and adorable Freeness of the Heart-changing Grace of God in this vile Person it disposed him to own his Sin to confess the justness of his Punishment to justify Christ's Innocency to Reprove his Fellow-Companion to pray to a Crucified Christ and to intercede with him not for present Deliverance from Death but for a place in Christ's Kingdom Where we Learn 1. That true Conversion is never too late for obtaining Mercy and Salvation 2. That True Conversion how late soever will have its Fruits The Fore-mentioned Fruits of Faith and Repentance were found with this penitent Thief yet must not this extraordinary Case be drawn into Example This Extraordinary and Miraculous Grace of God is not to be expected ordinarily We have no warrant to expect an over-powering degree of God's Grace to turn our Hearts in an instant at the Hour of Death when we have Lived in Forgetfulness of God and in a Supine neglect of our Soul 's Concerns all the days of our Life For it is evident as to this Case of the Penitent Thief 's Conversion at the last Hour 1. It is an Example without a Promise 2. It is but a single Example 3. It is an Example Recorded but by one Evangelist the Spirit of God fore-seeing what an ill use some would make of this Instance leaves one Example upon Record that none might despair and but one that none might Presume 4. This Thief probably never had any Knowledge of Christ before 5. This was a Miracle with the Glory whereof Christ would Honour the Ignominy of his Cross So that we have no more ground to expect such another Conversion then we have to expect a Second Crucifixion This Converted Person was the first Fruits of the Blood of the Cross From whence we Learn That God can and sometimes doth though very seldom prepare Men for Glory immediately before their Dissolution by Death 43 And Jesus said unto him verily I say unto thee To Day shalt thou be with me in Paradise These Words are our Saviour's Gracious Answer to the Penitent Thief 's Humble Prayer Lord Remember me in thy Kingdom says the Thief To day shalt thou be with me in my Kingdom says our Saviour Where Note 1. The Immortality of the Souls of Men is without all doubt Our desires after and hopes for Immortality do prove our Souls Immortal and capable of that State 2. That there is a Future and Eternal State into which Souls pass at Death Death is our passage out of the swift River of Time into the Boundless and Bottomless Ocean of Eternity 3. That the Souls of all the Righteous at Death are immediately Received into a State of Happiness and Glory This day shalt thou be with me not after thy Resurrection but immediately after thy Dissolution That Man's Soul is asleep or worse that Dreams of the Soul 's sleeping till the Resurrection For why should the Believers Happiness be deferred when they are immediately capable of Enjoying it Why should their Salvation slumber when the Wicked's Damnation slumbereth not How do such delays consist with Christ's ardent Desires and his Peoples vehement Longings to be together 44 And it was about the sixth Hour and there was a Darkness over all the Earth until the Ninth Hour 45 And the Sun was Darkned and the Veil of the Temple was Rent in the midst
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
they took counsel together for to put him to death 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews but went thence unto a countrey near to the wilderness into a city called Ephraim and there continued with his disciples 55 ¶ And the Jews passover was nigh at hand and many went out of the countrey up to Jerusalem before the passover to purifie themselves 56 Then sought they for Jesus and spake among themselves as they stood in the Temple What think ye that he will hot come to the feast 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment that if any man knew where he were he should shew it that they might take him Observe here 1. How baneful and destructive Evil Counsel is especially out of the Mouth of leading Men and how soon embraced and followed Caiaphas no sooner propounds the putting of Christ to Death but from that Day forward they lie in wait to take him The High-Priest had satisfied their Consciences and now they make all possible speed to put their malicious Designs and purposes in Execution Obs 2. The prudential Care and Means which our Lord used for his own Preservation to avoid their fury he withdraws himself privately into a Place called Ephraim and there continues with his Disciples Learn As Christ himself fled so is it lawful for his Servants to flee when their Life is conspired against by their bloody Enemies and the Persecution is Personal Observe 3. When the time was come that he was to expose himself when the time of the Passover drew near in which he being the true Pascal Lamb was to be slain to put an end to that Type he withdraws no more but surrenders himself to the Rage and Fury of his Enemies and dyes a shameful Death for shameful Sinners as the next Chapter more at large informs us CHAP. XII THen Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany where Lazarus was which had been dead whom he raised from the dead The latter end of the foregoing Chapter acquainted us with the prudential Care of Christ in withdrawing from the Fury of his Enemies in and about Jerusalem who were consulting his Destruction his time not being fully come he gets out of the way of his Persecutors But now the Passover being at hand which was the time that this Lamb of God was to die as a Sacrifice for the Sin of the World Our Lord comes forth first to Bethany and then to Jerusalem not fearing the Teeth of his Enemies but with a fixed Resolution to encounter Death and Danger for the Salvation of his People His Example teacheth us That altho' we are bound by all lawful Means and prudential Methods to preserve our selves from the unjust Violence of our Persecutors yet when God's time for our Sufferings is come and we evidently see that it is his Will that we suffer for his sake we ought to set our Faces very chearfully towards it and resign up our selves to the Wisdom and Will of God Thus did Christ here ch 11.54 we find he withdrew from Suffering his Hour not being then come but now when the Passover was nigh at hand which was the time when he was to suffer he sets his Face towards Jerusalem and withdraws no more 2 There they made him a supper and Martha served but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard very costly and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment 4 Then saith one of his disciples Judas Iscariot Simons son which should betray him 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor 6 This he said not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief and had the bag and bare what was put therein 7 Then said Jesus Let her alone against the day of my burying hath she kept this 8 For the poor always ye have with you but me ye have not always In these Verses an account is given of our Saviour's entertainment at Bethany after he had raised Lazarus A Supper is made for him at which Martha served and Lazarus sate with him but Mary Anoints Christ with precious Ointments Where Note 1. The Action which this Holy Woman performed she pours a Box of precious Ointment upon our Saviour's Head as he sat at Meat according to the custom of the Eastern Countries at their Feasts I do not find that any of the Apostles were at thus much charge and cost to put honour upon our Saviour as this poor Woman was From whence learn 1. That where strong Love prevails in the Heart nothing is adjudg'd too dear for Christ neither will it suffer it self to be out-shined by any Examples The weakest Woman that strongly Loves her Saviour will vye with the greatest Apostle and Piously strive to express the fervour of her Affection towards him Observe 2. How this Action was resented and reflected upon by murmuring Judas who valued this Ointment at Three hundred Pence and grudg'd the bestowing of it upon Christ He accuses this Holy Woman of needless prodigality Lord How doth a Covetous heart think every thing too good for Thee He that sees a Pious Action performed and seeks to lessen or undervalue it shews himself possessed with a Spirit of Envy Judas his invidious Spirit makes him censure an Action which Christ highly approved Hence learn That Men who know not our Hearts may thro' ignorance or prejudice censure and condemn those Actions which God doth commend and will graciously reward Happy was it for this poor Woman that she had a more Righteous Judg to pass Sentence upon her Action than wicked Judas Observe 3. How readily our Holy Lord vindicates this poor Woman she says nothing for her self nor need she having such an Advocate and gives the Reason for her Action She did it for my Burial as Kings and great Persons were wont in those Eastern Countries at their Funerals to be Embalm'd with Odours and sweet Perfumes So saith our Saviour this Woman to declare her Faith in me as her King and Lord doth with this Box of Ointment as it were before-hand Embalm my Body for its Burial True Faith will put honour upon a Crucified as well as Glorified Saviour This Holy Woman accounts Christ worthy of all honour in his Death believing it would be a sweet smelling Sacrifice unto God and the Savour of Life unto his People 9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there and they came not for Jesus sake onely but that they might see Lazarus also whom he had raised from the dead Observe here It was not zeal but curiosity which brought these persons at this time to Christ they had an itching desire to see Lazarus to enquire after the Truth of his Death and possibly after the state of the Dead and the
glorifie his Name Observe 3. Our Saviour declares a double effect and fruit of his Death and Passion 1. The judgment of this World Now is the judgment of this World now shall the Prince of this World be cast out That is my Death will be the Devil's overthrow will bring down Sin and deliver the World from the Tyranny and Dominion of Sin and Satan Learn hence 1. That Satan is the Prince and Ruler of all those who live in Sin not a Prince by Legal Right but by Tyrannical Usurpation 2. That this Usurper Satan will not quit his Possession unless he be cast out 3. That Christ by his Death has cast out Satan dethroned him and deprived him of his Tyrannical Usurpation Now is the Prince of this World cast out That is I will shortly by my Death deliver the World from the slavery of Sin and Dominion of Satan and particularly from that Idolatry which the greatest part of the World were then in slavery under The second effect and fruit of Christ's Death which is here declared is his drawing all Men unto him When I am lifted up from the Earth I will draw all Men unto me There is a twofold lifting up of Christ the first Ignominious when he was hung upon the Cross the second Glorious in the Preaching of the Gospel by this he draws all Men unto him that is by the Preaching of the Gospel he calls and invites all persons to himself he offers the Benefits of his Death to all and gathered a Church to himself out of the Gentile as well as the Jewish World Learn 1. That all persons are naturally unwilling to come to Christ they must be drawn 2. That Christ meritoriously by his Death and instrumentally by the Preaching of the Gospel draws Sinners unto himself 3. That it is not a few or small number but a very great number consisting both of Jews and Gentiles Bond and Free persons of all Nations Sexes Ages and Conditions whom Christ draweth Not that all are effectually drawn to Christ so as savingly to Believe in him but by the Preaching of the Gospel they are called and invited to him and the Benefits of his Death are offered to them Thus Christ being lifted up upon his Cross and on the Pole of his Gospel draws all Men unto him 34 The people answered him We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever and how sayest thou The Son of Man must be lift up who is this Son of Man 35 Then Jesus said unto them Yet a little while is the light with you walk while ye have the light lest darkness come upon you for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth 36 While ye have light believe in the light that ye may be the children of light These things spake Jesus and departed and did hide himself from them Observe here 1. Tâ—â— Objection which the Jews make against our Saviour's being the True Messias Their Argument runs thus It was foretold under the Law that Christ or the Messias abideth for ever but thou sayest the Son of Man must be lift up and die How then canst thou be the promised Messias The Answer is in his state of Humiliation unto Death he was lifted up but in his state of Exaltation he abideth for ever Learn hence That Christ's lifting up by Death and his abiding for ever do very well consist together for both are true of him The one in his state of Humiliation the other in his state of Exaltation Observe 2. Our Saviour returns no Answer to their cavilling Objection nor doth he undertake to demonstrate how his Sufferings and his abiding for ever are consistent but gives them intimations that he was the Light of the World and advises them whilst they had the Light with them to prize it highly and improve it faithfully Yet a little while is the Light with you walk whilst ye have the Light lest Darkness come upon you Note here 1. A choice and singular Priviledge injoyed the Light is with you a personal Light Christ a Doctrinal Light the Gospel Both these brought with them a Light of Knowledge answering our Darkness of Ignorance a Light of Grace and Holiness answering our Darkness of Sin which we had brought upon our selves and a Light of Joy and Comfort answering the Darkness of Misery and Horror which we lay under by reason of our guilt Note 2. The time of injoying this priviledge limited yet a little while is the Light with you The time of a Peoples injoying the Light and Liberty of the Gospel it is a limited time it is a short time Note 3. A Duty injoined by Christ answerable to the priviledge injoyed by us Walk whilst ye have the Light An uniform and constant course of Holy walking according to the Rule of the Gospel is the indispensable Duty and Obligation of all those that injoy the Light and Liberty of the Gospel Namely To walk according to the precepts and commands of the Gospel answerable to the Priviledges and Prerogatives of the Gospel answerable to the helps and supplies of Grace which the Gospel affords and answerable to the glorious hope and expectation which the Gospel raises us unto Note 4. A danger threatned to the neglecters of this Duty lest Darkness come upon you Namely A Darkness of Ignorance and judicial Blindness a Darkness of Error and Seduction a Darkness of Horror and Despair and the fatal and final Darkness of Death and Hell for all contemners of Gospel Light there is reserved the Blackness of Darkness for ever where Sin and Torment run parallel their Torment makes them Sin and their Sin feeds their Torment 37 ¶ But though he had done so many miracles before them yet they believed not on him 38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled which he spake Lord who hath believed our report and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed 39 Therefore they could not believe because that Esaias said again 40 He hath blinded their eyes and hardned their heart that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their heart and be converted and I should heal them 41 These things said Esaias when he saw his glory and spake of him Observe here 1. The astonishing Infidelity and unbelief of the Jews who heard our Saviour's Doctrine and were Eye-witnesses of his Miracles Tho' he had done so many miracles before them yet they believed not on him Let not the faithful Ministers of Christ be discouraged and over much dejected at their want of success in dispensing of the Gospel when they observe and consider the small success of our Saviour's own Ministry in the Hearts and Lives of his hearers Yea tho' his Ministry was accompanied with Miracles and tho' his Miracles were many in number mighty in nature clear and obvious to Sense being wrought before their Eyes yet his Ministry succeeded not and his Miracles prevailed not Lord what little success
sufficient both for their Conviction and Condemnation The word that I have spoken the same shall judge him in the last day Observe 4. The Argument and Reason which our Saviour produces to prove that the Word of God and the Doctrine of the Gospel slighted and rejected should condemn Sinners at the great Day Namely From the Divine Authority of his Doctrine for albeit his Doctrine was his own as he was true God yet as Man and as Mediatour it was not his own but the Father's which sent him so that his Word and Doctrine being Divine and the Father 's as well as his for he did not speak of himself that is of himself alone and without the Father it is sufficient to Judge and Condemn all the rejecters and despisers of it Learn hence 1. That tho' the Doctrine of the Gospel be Christ's own as he is truly and really God yet it was not his own as meer Man exclusive of the Father who is one God with him and who gave him a Commission and Instructions as Mediatour to Preach and Publish the glad tidings of the Gospel for says he I have not spoken of my self but the Father which sent me gave me a Commandment 2. That the Doctrine which Christ delivered by command from the Father doth point out the way to Eternal Life and will bring lost Sinners thereunto if they sincerely believe it and obey it I know that his Commandment is Life everlasting 3. That therefore Sinners who reject the Doctrine of Christ contained in the Gospel do highly Dishonour Offend and Affront both the Father and Son and bring upon themselves a just and righteous judgment and expose themselves to unutterable and inevitable condemnation The word that I have spoken the same shall judge him in the last Day CHAP. XIII 1 NOW before the feast of the passover when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end 2 And supper being ended the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot Simons son to betray him 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he was come from God and went to God In this Chapter is Recorded the History of our Saviour's washing his Disciples Feet an Action full of Humility and Condescension and propounded to his followers Imitation The Circumstance of Time is here noted when this Act was done Namely At the Feast of the Passover when the time of our Saviour's departure was at hand and having constantly and immutably loved his own he expresses the permanency of his Love towards them to the end by this Action of his in washing their Feet Here Note How Christ chose the Time of the Jewish Passover to suffer in that he might prove himself to be the substance of that Type that he was the true Pascal Lamb who by the Sacrifice of his Death did attone Divine displeasure and taketh away the Sins of the World Observe 2. The means which the Wisdom of God permitted to bring the Lord of Life to his Ignominious Death And that was the Treason and perfidiousness of one of his own Disciples Judas Iscariot Where Observe 1. The person betraying Judas Judas a Professor Judas a Preacher Judas an Apostle being one of the Twelve whom Christ had chosen out of all the World to be his dearest Friend Can we wonder to find Friends unfriendly or unfaithful towards us when our Saviour had a Traytor in his own House Observe 2. The heinousness of Judas Sin in betraying Christ he betrayed Christ Jesus a Man Christ Jesus his Master Christ Jesus his Maker the first was Murther the second Treason Lord It is no strange or uncommon thing for the vilest of Sins and most horrid impieties to be acted by persons making the most eminent profession of thy holy Religion Observe 3. What hand the Devil had in the Sufferings of our Saviour He put it into Judas's heart to betray Christ that is he did suggest and inject such thoughts into his mind which Judas instantly closed with The Devil being a Spirit has a quick access to our Spirits and can instill his suggestions into them as Christ did breath upon his Disciples and they received the Holy Ghost and were filled with the Spirit so Satan breaths filthy suggestions into the Spirits of Men and fills them with all manner of wickedness even with the Spirit of Hell it self The Devil put it into Judas heart to betray him 4 He riseth from supper and laid aside his garments and took a towel and girded himself 5 After that he poureth water into a bason and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded Observe here The admirable humility and great self-denial of our Lord and Master he arises from Supper whilst his Disciples sate still and he that came in the form of a Servant performs all the offices of the meanest Servant to his Disciples he lays aside his upper Garments he girds himself with a Towel pours Water into a Bason and begins to wash and wipe their Feet which lay out behind them as they leaned at the Table all which was a most servile imployment Learn hence That the wonderful humility of Jesus Christ inclined him to do the meanest offices of Service unto his People even to become a Servant to them in the Day of his Humiliation and tho' now glorified in Heaven he retains the same Compassionate Heart towards them as when here on Earth 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter and Peter saith unto him Lord dost thou wash my feet 7 Jesus answered and said unto him What I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt know hereafter 8 Peter saith unto him Thou shalt never wash my feet Jesus answered him If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me 9 Simon Peter saith unto him Lord not my feet onely but also my hands and my head 10 Jesus saith to him He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet but is clean every whit and ye are clean but not all 11 For he knew who should betray him therefore said he ye are not all clean Observe here 1. How Simon Peter refuses to admit of such a condescending act from Christ his Lord and Master as the washing of his Feet Lord Thou shalt never wash my Feet it is a sinful humility to refuse the offered favours of Christ because we are unworthy to receive them Tho' we are not worthy of Christ and of his Love yet Christ is worthy of us and of our Faith Observe 2. Our Saviour's Reply to Peter's refusal 1. He tells him that there was more in it than the bare act of washing did at first sight import and that he should know hereafter what he did not understand now What I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt know hereafter
my Victory and of thy Glory the hour the sad hour determined in thy decree and purpose no calamity can touch us till God's hour is come and when the sad hour is come the best remedy is Prayer and the only person to fly unto for Succour is our Heavenly Father Father the hour is come the doleful hour of my Death and Passion Glorifie thy Son Glorifie him at his Death by manifesting him to have been the Son of God Glorifie him in his Death by accepting it as the Death of thy Son for the Sins of the World Glorifie him after his Death by a speedy Resurrection from the Grave and a Triumphant Exaltation at thy Right Hand Here note How the Glory of the Father and the Son are inseparably link'd together it was the Father's design to Glorifie the Son and it was the Son's desire to have Glory from the Father for this end that he might bring Glory to the Father Glorifie thy Son that thy Son may Glorifie thee 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him Observe here 1. The Dignity which Christ was invested with Power over all flesh that is Authority to Judge and Sentence all Mankind Observe 2. How Christ came to be invested with this Power it was given him by his Father Thou hast given him power over all flesh Hence the Socinians would infer that he was not God because he received all from God but the Text speaks not of his Divine Power as God but of his Power as Mediatour and the Note is That all Mankind is under the Power and Authority of Jesus Christ as Mediatour he has a Legislative Power or a Power to give Laws to all Mankind and a Judiciary Power or a Power to execute the Laws that he hath given Observe 3. The end for which Christ was invested with this Power That he might give Eternal Life to as many as God had given him Here Note 1. That all Believers that is all sincere and serious Christians are given by God the Father unto Christ they are given to him as his Charge to Redeem Sanctifie and Save and as his Reward Isa 53.10 2. All that are given to Christ have Life from him a Life of Justification and Sanctification on Earth and a Life of Glory in Heaven 3. The Life which Christ gives to them that are given him is Eternal Life 4. That this Eternal Life is a free Gift from Christ unto his People though they do not work for wages yet they shall not work for nothing I give unto them eternal Life John 10. 3 And this is life eternal that they might know thee the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent That is This is the way and means to obtain Eternal Life Namely By the true knowledge of God the Father and of Jesus Christ the Mediatour who was commissioned and sent by his Father to accomplish the work of Redemption for a lost World Here Observe Christ calls God the Father the only true God not in opposition to the Son and Holy Ghost who being one in Essence with the Father are truly and really God as well as the Father but in opposition to Idols and false Gods there is a great difference betwixt these two Propositions the Father is the only true God and the Father only is true God Christ saith the former This is Life Eternal to know thee the only true God The Socinian saith the latter This is Life Eternal to know only thee to be the true God and that neither Jesus Christ nor the Spirit are God but the Father only But how comes Eternal Life to depend as well upon the Knowledge of Jesus Christ as of God the Father if Jesus Christ be only Man and not truly and really God For thus our Saviour affirms this is Life Eternal to know thee and Jesus Christ Whence learn 1. That the beginning encrease and perfection of Eternal Life lyeth in Holy Knowledg 2. That no Knowledg is sufficient to Eternal Life but the Knowledg of God and Jesus Christ who is also God for who can think that the Knowledg of a mere Creature should be accounted equally necessary to Salvation with the Knowledg of the Great and Mighty God Surely if our Happiness consists equally in the Knowledg of God and Christ then God and Christ are of the same Nature equal in Power and Glory The comprehensive sense of the words seems to be this That the Knowledge of the only true God and of Jesus Christ the Mediatour is the Life of Grace and the necessary way to the Life of Glory 4 I have glorified thee on the earth Learn hence That the whole Life of Christ when here on Earth it was a glorifying of his Father he glorified his Father by the Doctrine which he preach'd he glorified his Father by the Miracles which he wrought he glorified his Father by the unspotted Purity and Innocency of his Life and by his unparallel'd Sufferings at his Death 4 I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do That is I am now about to finish it he speaks of what he was resolv'd to do as already done Here Note 1. That 't is work that glorifies God 2. That every Man has his work his proper work assigned him by God 3. This work must be finished here upon Earth 4. That when we have done our proportion of work we may expect our portion of wages 5. That it is a blessed thing at the hour of Death to be able to say in sincerity and uprightness that we have glorified God in the World and have finished the work which he appointed us to do Father I have glorified thee on the Earth and have finished the work which thou gavest me to do 5 And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was From the Connexion of this with the foregoing Verse Learn 1. That who ever expect to be glorified with God in Heaven must glorifie him first here upon Earth 2. That after we have glorified him we may expect to be glorified with him and by him I have glorified thee now O Father glorifie thou me it follows with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was Hence Note 1. That Christ as God had an Essential Glory with God the Father before the World was he had this Glory not in the purpose and decree of God only as the Socinians would have it for he doth not say Glorifie me with the Glory which thou didst purpose and prepare for me before the World was but which I had and enjoyed with thee before the World was by which words our Lord plainly asserts his own Existence and Being from Eternity and prays for a Re-exaltation to that Glory which he enjoyed with his Father before his Incarnation Note 2. That Christ as Mediatour did so far
Head and gave up the Ghost 31 The Jews therefore because it was the preparation that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day for that sabbath-day was an high day besought Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away 32 Then came the souldiers and brake the legs of the first and of the other which was Crucified with him 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was dead already they brake not his legs 34 But one of the souldiers with a spear pierced his side and forthwith came there out bloud and water 35 And he that saw it bare record and his record is true and he knoweth that he saith true that ye might believe 36 For these things were done that the scripture should be fulfilled A bone of him shall not be broken 37 And again another scripture saith They shall look on him whom they pierced These Verses contain several remarkable passages tending to the Confirmation of our Faith in the Belief of the certainty and reality of our Saviour's Death in which the Jews the Soldiers and St. John do all give their several and sufficient Evidences Observe 1. The Jews part in clearing up this Truth They desire Pilate who had Power alone to dispose of the Dead Bodies of condemned Persons that the Legs of the crucified Persons might be broken to hasten their Death that so they might be taken away and buried because according to the Law Deut. 21.22 23. the Land was defiled with those that were hang'd if not timely buried and they judged if the Bodies of these Persons did remain on the Cross all that Night and the next Sabbath Day which was an high day the ordinary Sabbath and the first Day of the Passover or Feast of unleavened Bread meeting together it might pollute both them and their Feast Where Note The cursed Hypocrisie of these Jews they look upon themselves as strictly bound to observe an outward Ceremony but their Consciences never scruple to violate the most weighty Precepts of the moral Law they strictly observe the Ceremonial Precept that the dead bodies should not remain upon the Cross but they scruple not to Crucifie the Son of God and to use him with the utmost Rigour desiring his Bones may be broken Observe 2. the Soldiers part contributing to clear the Truth of Christ's Death they execute what the Jews had desired and Pilate granted breaking the Legs of the two Thieves but not of Jesus because he was already Dead but one of the Soldiers resolving to make sure work thrusts a Spear into his Side and there came out straight way Blood and Water proving that he was really Dead All which points out to us that it is he who came by Water and Blood 1 John 5.6 and that from the merit and efficacy of his Death there floweth out Blood for the obtaining Remission of Sin and Water to Regenerate and wash us from our Uncleanness From the Barbarous Soldiers peircing of Christ's Side after he was Dead We learn That no cruelty was omitted towards Christ either Dead or alive which might testifie the great desert of our Sin nor was there any needful Evidence wanting which might make clear the Truth of his Death the Soldier 's piercing of our Saviour's Side was at once an exercise of their Cruelty and an Evidence of the certainty of Christ's Death Observe 3. St. John's part in this Evidence he avouches that Christ really died and expresly affirms that he saw it with his own Eyes for the confirmation of our Faith he that saw it bare Record and his Record is True And farther shews that by these Actions of the Soldiers That was done by which several Scripture-Prophecies were fulfilled and received their Accomplishment particularly That of Exod. 12.46 concerning the Paschal Lamb which was a Type of Christ that a Bone of it should not be broken and that prediction Zach. 12.10 They shall look on him whom they have pierced Learn hence That Christ is the Truth and Substance of that Type the Paschal Lamb mentioned Exod. 12. and the True Passover Sacrificed for us therefore what was ordained concerning the Paschal Lamb is applied here to Christ as the Substance of that Type A Bone of him shall not be broken 38 ¶ And after this Joseph of Arimathea being a disciple of Jesus but secretly for fear of the Jews besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus and Pilate gave him leave he came therefore and took the body of Jesus 39 And there came also Nicodemus which at the first came to Jesus by night and brought a mixture of myrrhe and aloes about an hundred pound weight 40 Then took they the body of Jesus and wound it in linen clothes with the spices as the manner of the Jews is to bury 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden and in the garden a new sepulchre wherein was never man yet laid 42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews preparation day for the sepulchre was nigh at hand This last Paragraph of the Chapter gives us an Account of our Lord 's Honourable Burial such a Funeral as never was since Graves were first digg'd Where Observe 1. Our Lord's Body must be begg'd before it could be buried the dead Bodies of Malefactours being in the Power and at the Disposal of the Judg Pilate grants it and accordingly the dead Body is taken down wrapped in fine Linnen and prepared for the Sepulchre Observe 2. The Persons who bestowed this Honourable Burial upon Christ Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus the one provided fine Linen the other fine Spices and they jointly wound and embalmed his Body after the Jewish manner both of them Worthy tho' close Disciples Grace doth not always make a publick and open shew where it is But as there is much secret Treasure unseen in the Bowels of the Earth so is there much Grace in the Hearts of some Saints which the World takes little notice of We Read of none of the Apostles at Christ's Funeral fear had put them to flight but Joseph and Nicodemus appear bold If God strengthen the weak and leave the strong to the prevalency of their own fears the weak shall be as David and the strong as Tow. Observe 3. The Grave or Sepulchre in which our Lord was buried it was a Sepulchre in a Garden to expiate Adam's Sin committed in a Garden as by the Sin of the First Adam we were driven out of Paradice the Garden of Pleasure so by the Sufferings of the Second Adam who lay buried in a Garden we may hope for Entrance into the Heavenly Paradice And it was in a new Sepulchre wherein never any Man was laid lest his Adversaries should say it was another that was Risen who was buried there before or that he Arose as one of the Old Prophets did by touching the Bones of some other Dead Person Observe 4. The
Crime but bids her Accusers look at home and examine their own Consciences whether they were not Guilty of the like or as great a Sin He doth not say Let her be stoned this had been against the course of his Mercy he doth not say Let her not be stoned this had been against the Law of Moses but he so Answers that both his Justice and his Mercy are intire she dismissed and they ashamed It is a false Zeal that is Eagle-eyed abroad and blind at home Such as are most wicked themselves are oftimes most ready and skilful to spie out the faults and failings of others We stand too near our selves to discern our own miscarriages The Eye that sees every thing sees not it self Observe 6. Tho' Christ abhorred the Sin yet he does not condemn the Sinner Hath no Man condemned thee Neither do I condemn thee says Christ This Christ said not to excuse the Woman or to connive at her offence but to shew that he declined the Office of a Civil Judge which was to pass Sentence on Criminals He therefore doth not say No Man ought to condemn thee but hath no Man condemned thee Christ doth not execute the Office of a Magistrate in judging her to Death but of a Minister in calling her to Repentance and Reformation How ought every one of us to keep within the bounds of our calling when our Saviour himself will not intrench upon the Office and Functions of others Observe Lastly Our Saviour's cautionary Direction to this Adulteress Go and sin no more Where Note Christ doth not say Go and commit Adultery no more but Go and sin no more It is not a partial Repentance or a turning away from this or that particular Sin that will denominate us true Penitents or intitle us to the pardoning Mercy of God but a leaving off all Sin of what kind soever Therefore says Christ Go and sin no more 12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them saying I am the light of the world he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life 13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him Thou bearest record of thy self thy record is not true 14 Jesus answered and said unto them Though I bear record of my self yet my record is true for I know whence I came and whither I go but ye cannot tell whence I come and whither I go 15 Ye judge after the flesh I judge no man 16 And yet if I judge my judgment is true for I am not alone but I and the Father that sent me 17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true 18 I am one that bear witness of my self and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me 19 Then said they unto him Where is thy Father Jesus answered Ye neither know me nor my Father if ye had known me ye should have known my Father also 20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury as he taught in the temple and no man laid hands on him for his hour was not yet come Our Blessed Saviour having baffled the design which the Pharisees had upon him and shewed a Spirit of Divine Wisdom in delivering himself from that snare which they had laid for him He returns to instruct the People in the Treasury And here Note 1. He instructs them in the nature of his Office which was to inlighten all Men with the Knowledge of Divine Truth so that they should not walk in Darkness either of Sin or Error but be led to Eternal Life Learn hence That the great End and Errand of Christ's coming into the World it was to give Light unto poor Souls that sat in Darkness Observe 2. The Exception which the Pharisees made against our Saviour's Testimony of himself Thou bearest Record of thy self thy Record is not True Indeed such is the Corrupt Nature of Man which is prone to seek it self and hunt after vain Glory that it may render a person's Testimony of himself suspected but Christ being true God that cannot Lye and coming out of the Bosom of his Father as his Ambassador his Testimony of himself is above all Exception and ought to be credited without farther proof Observe 3. How Christ challenges his Enemies the Pharisees for judging carnally of him and according to the meanness of his outward appearance whereas he judged no Man That is First No Man as they judged according to outward shew or 2dly I judge no Man that is at present My proper work is not to Condemn any but to Teach all and my present Office is that of a Prophet not of a Judge My coming now is to Instruct and Save the World my next coming will be to Judge and Condemn it Observe 4. Christ declares that he is not alone in the Testimony given of himself but that the Father did also Testifie and bear Witness of him and that according to their own Law the Testimony of Two was always accounted and esteemed valid Now says Christ If so much weight be to be laid upon the Testimony of Two Men how much more forcibly should the Testimony of the Father and of him whom the Father hath sent satisfie you that what I say of my self is True Learn hence That the Father and the Son tho' one in Essence and Operation yet are distinct persons Secondly That these distinct persons did bear joint witness concerning Christ God the Father testified of him by a Voice from Heaven and Christ as God bare witness of himself as Man and as Mediatour Surely out of the mouth of Two such Witnesses the Truth of Christ's Divine Mission is sufficiently established 21 Then said Jesus again unto them I go my way and ye shall seek me and shall die in your sins whither I go ye cannot come 22 Then said the Jews Will he kill himself because he saith Whither I go ye cannot come 23 And he said unto them Ye are from beneath I am from above ye are of this world I am not of this world 24 I said therefore unto you that ye shall die in your sins for if ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your sins Observe here A dreadful Threatning denounced by Christ against the Obstinate and Unbelieving Jews ye shall die in your sins that is in the Guilt of your Sins under the Power and undergoing the punishment of your Sins Lord what a sad word is this ye shall die in your Sins Oh better it is a Thousand times to die in a Ditch for they that die in their Sins shall rise in their Sins and stand before Christ in their Sins such as lie down in Sin in the Grave shall have Sin lie down with them in Hell to all Eternity The Sins of Believers go to the Grave before them Sin dieth while they Live But the Sins of Unbelievers go to the Grave with them While they live they are dead in Sin and by Sin they fall into
Death from which there is no Recovery unto Life Observe Secondly The grand Sin for which this great Punishment is threatned and that is the Sin of Unbelief If ye Believe not that I am he ye shall Die in your Sins Plainly intimating that of all Sins Infidelity or Unbelief is the grand damning Sin under the Gospel The Devil hath as great an advantage upon Men by making them strong in Unbelief as God hath by making his People strong in Faith Unbelief renders a Sinner's case desperate and incurable it doth not only procure Damnation but no Damnation like it 25 Then said they unto him Who art thou And Jesus saith unto them Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning 26 I have many things to say and to judge of you but he that sent me is true and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him 27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father 28 Then said Jesus unto them When ye have lift up the the Son of man then shall ye know that I am he and that I do nothing of my self but as my Father hath taught me I speak these things The Jews hearing our Saviour denouncing such a terrible Threatning against them because they Believed not on him in the foregoing Verses Here they perversely ask him who he was Our Saviour replies That he was the same he was from the Beginning even the very Christ and that they were the very same they were also the mortal Enemies and opposers of the Truth But that the time was hastning when they should be fully convinced who he was Namely When they had lifted him upon his Cross when he was Risen again and ascended into Heaven and brought that destruction upon them which he had so often threatned Learn hence That the Sufferings of Christ were clear and convincing Demonstrations both who he was and what he was the darkning of the Sun the quaking of the Earth the rending of the Rocks the opening of the Graves were such convincing Proofs of his Deity that they could not but say Verily this was the Son of God 29 And he that sent me is with me the Father hath not left me alone for I do always those things that please him That is he that sent and Commissioned me for the great work of Redemption he is continually with me both to assist and to accept me I doing every thing that is agreeable to his Holy Will and Pleasure Hence learn 1. That the work of Redemption in the hands of Jesus Christ was a work well pleasing to God the Father the work it self was highly pleasing to him and Christ's way of managing it was well pleasing also 2. That the Reason why it was thus pleasing to God was because he acted in a constant conformity to his Father's Will kept to his Father's Commission and executed his Father's Commands Doing always those things that pleased him Learn 3. That as the Father and Christ were inseparable in respect of the Unity of the Divine Essence So the Father was always with Christ as Mediatour both to support and to uphold him to accept and to reward him The Father hath not left me alone either in the doing of his Will or in the suffering of his Pleasure Learn 4. That those who desire the gracious and special presence of God with them in all Conditions particularly in times of Suffering and Trouble they must make it their care and study to please God and to observe his Will in all things Then God will be with them in his guiding presence in his strengthning presence in his comforting in his quickning in his sanctifying sympathising and accepting presence 30 As he spake these words many believed on him 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him If ye continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed 32 And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free Observe here 1. The Blessed Fruit and Success of our Saviour's foregoing Discourse concerning his Person and Office As he spake these words many Believed on him Not by their own natural Power and Ability but by Christ's omnipotent and efficacious Grace he that spake to the Ear caused his word to reach the Heart Christ himself that planted and watred gave also the Encrease Observe 2. The Love and Care of Christ mentioned to these new Converts he watreth immediately these Plants with wholesome Advice and Counsel If ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed Where Note It must be Christ's word the true Doctrine of the Gospel and this abided and continued in which will evidence our Discipleship Observe 3. A special priviledge which shall follow upon abiding in the Doctrine of Christ they shall increase in the Knowledge of it and be made free by it Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free Where Note That Man is naturally in Bondage and Captivity by blindness of Mind by hardness of Heart by rebellion of Will 2. That the means appointed by God for setting him at Liberty from this Captivity and Bondage is the word of Christ and the Doctrine of the Gospel The Truth shall make you free 33 ¶ They answered him We be Abrahams seed and were never in bondage to any man how sayest thou Ye shall be made free 34 Jesus answered them Verily verily I say unto you Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever but the Son abideth ever 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeed Observe here How these Carnal Jews understand all that our Saviour said to be spoken in and after a Carnal manner when he spake to them before of eating his Flesh and drinking his Blood they understood it grosly of his natural Body When he speaks to them here of a Spiritual freedom from Sin they understand it of a Civil freedom from servile Bondage and Subjection Alledging They were Abraham's Seed and never in Bondage to any Which was a manifest untruth having been in Bondage to their Ancestors to the Egyptians and Babylonians and in their own persons to the Romans But this was not the Bondage that Christ meant but a Spiritual Slavery and Thraldom under the Dominion of Sin and Power of Satan For he that committeth Sin is the Servant of Sin That is whosoever doth habitually wilfully deliberately and constantly allow and tollerate himself in a sinful course he is under the Servitude and Thraldom of Sin Every Sinner is a Bondslave and to live in Sin is to live in Slavery And this every Man doth till the Son makes him free Then and not till then is he free indeed Learn hence That interest in Christ and continuance in his Doctrine sets the Soul at liberty from all that Bondage whereunto it was subject in its natural and sinful State Oh happy exchange from being the