Father Jesus having given his Disciples all these Instructions John 17 1-26 lift up his Eyes to Heaven and praying to his Father said My Father the hour is come glorify thy Son that thy Son may glorify thee And as thou hast given him power over all flesh so he hath given to as many as thou hast given him Eternal Life which consists in the knowledge of thee the true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent I have glorified thee on Earth I have finished the Work which thou hast given me to do And now O Father glorifie me with thy self with that Glory which I had with thee before the World was He then prays for the Apostles which his Father had given him and who having received his Word had believed that he came from God and that he had sent him and since he left them in the World he commends them to his Father not to take them out of the World by Death but to preserve them from Sin He had kept them all in his Fathers Name and had lost but One viz. Judas He had separated them from the World and because they had not the Spirit of the VVorld the VVorld hated them wherefore he prays his Father to keep them and Sanctify them by his VVord which is Truth it self offering himself a Sacrifice for them that he might obtain that favour for them He also recommedns all those to God who should believe in his Name thro' the Preaching of his Apostles and prays for such an Admirable Union among them as makes all Christians One being united together in God by his Charity as the Father who is in the Son and Son who is in the Father are by one Nature O Father adds he I pray that where I am those whom thou hast given me may also be that they may behold my Glory And he concludes this Admirable Prayer with these words Holy Father the World hath not known thee but I have known thee these have known that I have sent thee I have declared unto them thy Name and will declare it that they may have that love among them with which thou hast loved me and that I may be also my self among them XXIX The Agony of Christ in the Garden upon the Mount of Olives Jesus having finished the former Prayer Matth. 26 36-46 Mark 14 26-42 Luke 22 39-46 Jo. 18.1 went on his Journey towards the Mount of Olives and passing over the Brook Cedron which runs between Jerusalem and this Mountain went with his Disciples into a Garden called Gethsemani Here he commanded them to stay till he went and Prayed a little distance from it and in the mean time to pray themselves that they be not delivered over to temptation Jesus then taking with him Peter and James and John began to be seized with fear trouble and grief and said unto them My Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto Death tarry ye here and watch with me Then departing from them about a Stones cast he threw himself upon the Earth and as he was willing for the Consolation of his Disciples to endure all the Passions which Nature ordinarily stirs up at the approaches of Death so he was desirous by his Example to teach them what to do in that Estate Thro' the voluntary perception of the infirmities of the flesh he Prayed his Father to save him from that Hour wherein he had declared him to suffer Death but thro' the Motion of a Spirit full of Submission and Charity he corrected those first Motions and yielded entirely to the Will of his Father saying My Father My Father all things are possible with thee remove this Cup from me nevertheless not mine but thy Will be done Having thus prayed he arose and went to his Disciples whom he found asleep their Hearts being filled with sorrow wherefore speaking to Peter he reproved him Simon sleepest thou and then he said to all of them What could ye not Watch one hour with me Watch and Pray that ye enter not into Temptation The Spirit is ready but the flesh is weak As if he had said The Spirit would not be afraid of Death and ye believe that ye have strength enough to contemn it but the weakness of the flesh makes such a strong resistance against the Spirit that it will easily conquer it unless you beg the Divine grace to support you against the fears of Death Having said thus he returned again to his Prayers and said to God My Father If this Cup may not pass from me unless I drink it Thy Will be done Then he returned again to his Disciples and finding them so sleepy that they knew not what to answer him he went again to his Prayers a Third time St. Luke tells us that there came an Angel from Heaven to him to strengthen him and that the Agony in which he was i. e. the conflict that he had in himself between the Flesh which dissuaded him from suffering and the Spirit which was willing to submit to the Will of God caused such a violent disturbance in his Body that there issued from it a Swet which fell down to the Earth like drops of Blood Then he went a Third time to find his Apostles and saying unto them by way of Reproof and Irony That they might now sleep on and take their rest because his time was come He tells them in good earnest That the time was come that the Son of Man shall be delivered into the Hands of Sinners Arise therefore saith he Let us go hence behold he that betrayeth me is at hand XXX The Apprehension of Jesus Jesus had scarcely said these words Matth. 26 47-56 Mark 14 43-52 Luke 22 47-53 John 18 2-11 but Judas Iscariot came with a Band of Soldiers and Officers which the Priests Scribes Pharisees and Rulers had sent to take him They were Armed with Swords and Staves and had Lanthorns and Torches with them because it was Night and because they knew not him whom they had Orders to Seize Judas told them That it is he whom he shall Kiss Take him and carry him away safely He then came to Jesus and saying to him Hail Master he gave him a Kiss which was the Sign he had given them to make him to be taken by them Jesus said no more to him but these words Friend why are you come hither What Judas Dost thou betray the Son of Man with a Kiss Jesus then immediately goes to the Soldiers whom Judas had brought and asked them Whom they sought They answered Jesus of Nazareth He saith to them I am He And immediately they went back and fell to the Earth Then again he asked them Whom seek ye They answered again Jesus of Nazareth he said I have told you already That I am He and if ye seek me Let these Men go which he spoke of his Disciples that he might fulfil his Words spoken in his Prayer to his Father of them which thou gavest me have I
because they knew it was their Master And Jesus having taken the Bread gave it them and likewise the Fish XLIX Jesus commits the care of his Sheep to St. Peter When they had eaten Jesus said to Peter Simon John 21 15-23 Son of Jonas Lovest thou me more than these do He answered him Yea Lord thou knowest I love thee Jesus saith unto him Feed my Lambs He asked him again a Second time Simon Son of Jonas Lovest thou me Yea Lord answered Peter thou knowest that I Love thee Jesus says again Feed my Lambs Jesus again the Third time put the same Question to him Peter was troubled that his Master seem'd to doubt of his Love and answered him Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I Love thee Our Saviour having made him thus make some amends for his Sin in denying him Thrice by giving a Triple Testimony of his Love committed the Care of his Sheep to him i. e. the Souls of his People saying to him again Feed my Sheep He adds Verily Verily I say unto thee when thou wast Young thou girdedst thy self and went whither thou pleasest but when thou shalt be Old thou shalt stretch forth thy Hands and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldst not The Gospel saith that Jesus signified by these Words by what Death Peter should glorify God and they did indeed concur in the Martyrdom of this Apostle whom Tradition teacheth us to have been Crucified as his Master was Euseb Eccles Hist. lib. 2. c. 25. After this Jesus commanded Peter to follow him and Peter turning him seeth John the Beloved Disciple of Jesus following him and seeing him he saith unto Jesus Lord what shall become of this Man But Jesus checks his Curiosity by tclling him that he ought not to trouble himself with what shall befall others and orders him to mind nothing but to follow him And speaking of John he sayeth to him I will that he tarry till I come Or according to other Editions If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee These words seemed to intimate to the Apostles that John should not dye But this Evangelist who wrote these things himself observes that Jesus did not say that he should not dye and History indeed tells us That he is Dead But the sense of these Words of the Son of God perhaps signifies that that Disciple should continue as he was to his Death i. e. he should not dye a Violent Death as Peter should or that he should Live till the Destruction of Jerusalem for these words Vntil I come may signify according to the usual Language of Scripture Vntil I come to take him out of the World by Death Or till I come to punish and Chastize this People St. John did really live till after the Destruction of Jerusalem and dyed at last of his Natural Death L. Jesus Instructed the Apostles The Son of God shewed himself several times more to his Apostles during the Forty days Matth. 28 16-20 Mark 16 15-18 Luke 24 44-49 Acts 1.3 that he abode upon Earth after his Resurrection and he appeared so often saith St. Luke to give them ample Proofs that he was alive and to talk with them of the Kingdom of God And since he had determined to call Men by Preaching to the possession of that Kingdom he gave them necessary instructions to discharge their Functions well He explained to them all that was spoken of himself in the Law of Moses and in the Books of the Prophets and in the Psalms and opened their Understandings to understand the sense of Scripture He shews them that according as it is Written Christ must suffer Death and be raised the Third day and that Repentance and remission of Sins should be preached in all Nations beginning at Jerusalem He Communicates to them the Authority which he had received of his Father and saith to them All power is given to me in Heaven and Earth Go ye therefore into all the World and Preach the Gospel and Instruct all People Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you He adds That they that believe not shall be Damned and on the contrary They that believe their Word by a lively Faith and are Baptized shall be saved and likewise shall do Miracles Casting out Devils Speaking with Tongues Drinking Poison without getting harm and Healing the Sick by laying their Hands on them Lastly since the Apostles had need of Power and Strength to exercise the Ministry which was entrusted to them he assured them of his protection telling them that he would be with them always to the End of the World and he promised them to endue them with power from above by the Holy Spirit which he would send from Heaven LI. The last Appearance of Jesus Christ Matth. 28 16-18 It is probable that Jesus gave them the greatest part of these Instructions at the Famous Apearance p. 217. The Ascension of Jesus Christ which he made to them upon the Mountain of Galilee where he appointed to meet them Here he promised them before he dyed to shew himself to them And on the day of his Resurrection the Angels and He himself commanded the Holy Women to tell his Disciples that he would meet in Galilee They went thither they saw him as he had promised and they Worshipped him 1 Cor. 15.6 It is credible that all his Disciples met him there as the Apostles and that it is of the Appearance that St. Paul speaks who saith That Jesus appeared to more than Five Hundred Brethren at once The same Apostle tells us that he also appeared to James but doth not relate in what manner Luke 24.49 Acts â—1 4-8 Lastly He shewed himself the Last time to his Apostles at Jerusalem where he commanded them to abide till they should receive the Holy Spirit which he promised them in these words John Baptized with Water but ye shall be Baptized i. e. Washed and Sanctified by the Holy Ghost not many days hence They asked him Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom of Israel He answered them That it is not for them to know the Times and Seasons which God hath put in his own absolute Power But ye shall receive saith he to them the power of the Holy Spirit which shall come down upon you and ye shall be witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the Earth LII The Ascension of Jesus Christ These were the last Words according to S. Luke Mark 16.19 20. Luke 24 50-53 Acts 1 9-12 which Jesus spake upon the Earth if they were spoken immediately before he left his Apostles it was at Bethany whither he led them upon the Day of his Ascension or upon the Mount of Olives From which it appears he ascended as S. Luke relates He
He foretells his Death to his Disciples Ibid XII He is Tranfigured p 93 XIII He heals a Lunatick p 95 XIV He foretells his Death and pays Tribute p 97 XV. He checks the Ambition of his Disciples p 98 XVI He gives rules for Correcting and Pardoning p 100 XVII He goes to Jerusalem at the feast of Tabernacles p 101 XVIII He heals Ten Lepers p 103 XIX He teacheth in the Temple Ibid XX. He saves the Life of an Adulteress p 106 XXI He teaches in the Temple and they go about to Stone him p 107 XXII He restores sight to a Man born blind p 109 XXIII He proves himself the good Shepherd p 112 XXIV He chuseth 72 Disciples p 113 XXV He teacheth a Lawyer how to love his Neighbour p 114 XXVI He lodges with Martha and teaches his Disciples to Pray p 115 XXVII He reproves the Pharisees and Lawyers for their faults p 116 XXVIII He gives his Disciples several Instructions p 118 XXIX He shews the necessity of Repentance p 121 XXX He heals a Crooked Woman Ibid XXXI The Jews seek to Stone him p 122 XXXII He teaches them to enter in at the straight Gate and foretells the destruction of Jerusalem p 123 XXXIII He heals a Man of a Dropsie and confounds the pride of the Pharisees p 125 XXXIV He teaches that he came to call Men to his Kingdom p 126 XXXV He tells us what we must do to be saved p 127 XXXVI He receives Sinners to Repentance p 128 XXXVII He commends Alms-giving and reproves the Pharisees covetousness p 129 XXXVIII He shews the strict conjunction of Marriage and praises Virginity p 132 XXXIX He speaks of his Kingdom and concerning the true hour to pray p 133 XL. He teaches Men to be humble p 135 XLI He blesses Infants Ibid. XLII He shews that it is hard for rich Men to be saved p 136 XLIII He teaches that the first shall be last in the Kingdom of Heaven p 138 XLIV He raiseth Lazarus p 139 XLV The Jews hold Council against him p 142 XLVI He is rejected by the Samaritans p 143 XLVII He foretells his Death a Third time p 144 XLVIII He reproves the Ambition of his Apostles p 145 XLIX He Lodges with Zacheus p 146 L. They thought he would make the Kingdom of Heaven to appear p 147 LI. He heals two blind Men. p 148 LII He Sups at Bethany p 149. BOOK IV. Containing the History of what Jesus did after his Triumphant entring Jerusalem to his Ascension I. HE goes in triumph to Jerusalem p 151 II. He laments the Destruction of Jerusalem p 152 III. He foretells his Death again p 153 IV. He curses the Fig-tree p 156 V. He drives the Traders out of the Temple Ibid. VI. His Discourse with the Priests and Lawyers p 158 VII The Parable of the Husbandmen p 159 VIII The Parable of the Marriage-feast p 160 IX He confounds the Pharisees p 162 X. He confounds the Sadducees p 163 XI He teaches which is the grrat Commandment Ibid. XII He discovers the Vices of the Scribes and Pharisees p 164 XIII He commends the Alms of a poor Widow p 165 XIV He foretells the Destruction of Jerusalem Ibid. XV. He foretels his Second coming p 167 XVI He teaches to Watch. p 168 XVII The Parable of the Ten Virgins p 169 XVIII The Parable of the Servants p 170 XIX A description of the last Judgment p 171 XX. The Jews hold Council against him p 172 XXI What was the Jews Passover p 173 XXII Jesus made a Supper p 175 XXIII He washes his Disciples Feet p 176 XXIV He appoints the Eucharist and foretels Judas Treachery p 177 XXV He foretels Peters Denial and his Apostles flight p 179 XXVI He comforts his Apostles p 181 XXVII Instructions given to his Apostles p 183 XXVIII Jesus 's Prayer to God p 186 XXIX Jesus Agony in the Garden p 187 XXX Jesus apprehension p 189 XXXI He is carryed to Caiaphas's House p 190 XXXII Peter denies Jesus Christ p 192 XXXIII Judas's despair p 193 XXXIV Jesus is accused before Pilate p 194 XXXV He is set at naught by Herod p 195 XXXVI A Thief preferred before Jesus Christ p 196 XXXVII Jesus is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns p 198 XXXVIII Pilate condemns Jesus p 199 XXXIX They Crucified Jesus p 200 XL. Jesus words on the Cross p 201 XLI Jesus 's Death p 203 XLII Jesus 's Burial p 205 XLIII Jesus 's Resurrection p 206 XLIV Jesus 's appearance to Mary Magdalen p 207 XLV His appearance to the other Women p 208 XLVI He appears to two Disciples and Peter p 209 XLVII He appears to his Apostles p 211 XLVIII The Miraculous Fishing 213 XLIX Jesus commends his Sheep to St. Peter p 214 L. He instructs his Apostles p 215 LI. The last apparition of Jesus Christ p 216 LII The Ascension of Jesus Christ p 217 LIII The Glorious Life of Jesus Christ in Heaven p 218 LIV. The Conclusion p 221 THE HISTORY OF THE LIFE Of our Saviour Jesus Christ FOR about Four thousand Years Book I. after the Creation of the World Man lay groaning under the Power and Tyranny of Satan to whom he had sold and enslaved himself by Sin The greatest part of the World was involved in Ignorance and Idolatry and the Jews only had the Knowledge of the true God and lived in the Expectation of the promised Messiah For Man had no sooner subjected himself to the Decree of Death through the seducements of the Devil but God threatned him to raise up a Child of the Woman which should maintain a continual War with that Wicked Spirit And to this end it was that he discovered himself and his Worship to a certain Number of Men from whose Posterity he designed to raise this Conqueror of the Serpent and Deliverer of Mankind Abraham was the first to whom God promised That all the Nations of the Earth should be blessed in his Seed which he repeated to Isaac the Son of Abraham and Jacob the Son of Isaac and after explained more clearly to the Jews who were the Posterity of Jacob's Twelve Sons wherein this Blessing did consist by giving them Hopes of a Saviour whose Birth Life and Death he foretold in all their Circumstances For he so contrived it that all that befel them should be a continued Figure of this Saviour He appointed them such Sacrifices as represented the great Sacrifice which should expiate and atone for the Sins of Men and for their sakes wrought such Miracles as were nothing else but Shadows and Signs of what he would do for the Salvation of the whole World So that all things did as it were foreshew this Holy Redeemer The Prophets which God sent them from time to time put them in Mind of his Coming and the Calamities which Divine Justice inflicted upon them for their Irregularities and Sins did raise their Minds to a more ardent and earnest Expectation of him as their Messiah or Christ Messiah
had done at Capernaum But he assures them That a Prophet that is well received and honoured everywhere else is neither received nor honoured in his own Country This he proves by Two Examples the first of Elias who in a Famine was not sent by God to the Widows of his own Country but to a Widow of another Country to receive Relief in his need And the other of Elisha who cured a strange Lord of a Leprosy when there were many Lepers in Israel who would not desire a Cure from him These Truths much incensed all those that were in the Synagogue and they arose in their Fury and led him out of the City to the Top of a Mountain to cast him down from it But because he could only dye at the Time and in the manner he himself pleased he withdrew himself from the Fury of these wretched Men and passing through the midst of them he retreated from Nazareth The Gospel observes That he did but very few Miracles and healed a very small Number of Sick People then only by laying Hands on them the Infidelity of his hardned City rendring it unworthy of his Presence and good Deeds XXVIII Jesus goeth about Galilee again and sends his Apostles to preach Matth. 9 35-38 Luke 8 1-3 Jesus being departed from Nazareth went again throughout all Galilee going into every City and every Village teaching in their Synagogues preaching the Gospel and healing every Sickness and every Disease And the Twelve Apostles were with him to whom also were joyned certain Women who had been freed from Evil Spirits and cured of their Distempers Among whom were Mary Magdalen out of whom went Seven Devils and Joanna the Wife of Chuza Herod's Steward and Susanna and several others who ministred to him of their Substance In this Journey he looked upon this great Multitude to whom he was about to preach the Gospel as so many fainting and scattered Sheep which have no Shepherd to look after them and being moved with Compassion he said to his Disciples The Harvest indeed is great but the Labourers are few pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest that he would send Labourers into it Since he himself was Lord of this Harvest and his Apostles were the Labourers Matth 10 1-42 Mark 6 7-13 Luke 9 1-9 whom he had designed for that Work long before He called them gave them Power to cure Diseases and cast out Devils and sent them Two and Two to preach the Kingdom of God having first given them such Rules as he would have them observe in the Exercise of their Ministry He ordered them to preach to the Jews only and make this the Subject of all their Sermons The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand To use that Power freely that has been given freely not to incumber themselves with Mony or variety of Cloaths that they may be the more free to discharge their Office because they must receive a necessary Maintenance from those to whom they Preach To chuse their Abode in all Places with Honest Good Men To say when they go into their Houses Peace be to this House to stay there so long as they continue in the Place And to shake off the Dust off their Feet against those who will neither receive nor hear them He then tells them That he sends them as Sheep among Wolves and that they ought to live among those Sinners whom they labour to convert with Simplicity and Caution That notwithstanding all their Wariness they shall be persecuted that the only way to escape is to fly and if they are taken and carried before Tribunals they should not trouble themselves how to answer their Judges because the Holy Spirit shall supply them with an Answer That they should only take Care not to be discouraged with Fear and that they should not fear Men who have Power over the Body only but fear God who can destroy both the Body and Soul eternally That if they disown him before Men he will disown them before God at they Day of Judgment but on the contrary he will acknowledge them for his who are not ashamed to confess his Name Lastly to encourage them in suffering the greatest Torments rather than be wanting of their Duty he assures them That nothing should befal them but by the Order of God who counteth all the Hairs of their Heads and by losing their Lives for him in this World they should save it to all Eternity That they could not be his Disciples unless they took up their Cross and follow him and that they ought not to expect better Usage than their Master whom they had seen themselves to be called a Samaritan that had a Devil even by those Men whom he came to save He concludes this Discourse with Rewards that they shall have who hear their Word and furnish them with Things necessary saying Whosoever shall give you but a Cup of cold Water to drink in my Name verily I say unto you he shall have his Reward The Apostles having received these Instructions went throughout all the Country preaching to the People That they should repent and God confirmed their Discourses with Miracles for they cast out many Devils and by Anointing many that were Sick with Oil cured them XXIX Herod beheads John the Baptist Matth. 14 1-12 Mar. 6 14-30 The Fame of Jesus's Miracles spreading more and more in Galilee came at last to Herod's Court Every Man almost was guessing who this Man was that did such great Miracles some said he was Elias others one of the Old Prophets who appeared a-new others among whom was Herod himself suspected That it was John the Baptist risen from the Dead for not long before Herodias who had caused this Holy Forerunner of Christ to be imprisoned had found out a way to satiate her Malice which she had conceived against him by procuring his Death The Occasion was this Herod making a magnificent Feast upon his Birth Day for all his Court the Daughter of Herodias came in and danced before them and so pleased all the Company that the King bid her ask what Favour she would have and promised with an Oath That he would grant it her to the half of his Kingdom She immediately went and consulted with her Mother what she should ask And her Mother bid her ask the Head of John the Baptist She returned in haste to the King and prayed him to give her by and by the Head of John the Baptist in a Charger Herod was much disturbed at this Request but a false Respect to Men hindred him from denying her and not being willing to be accused of being worse than his Word by those who had been Witnesses of his Oath he sent and cut off John Baptist's Head in the Prison gave it to the Damosel who carried it to her Mother The Disciples of John hearing of the Death of their Master buried his Body and laid it in a Tomb and went to Jesus to tell him the
his Disciples could not cure him This Child was a Lunatick and possessed with a Devil which made him Dumb and grievously tormented him for when it seized upon him it threw him down upon the Ground cast him often into the Fire or Water and racked him with such violent Convulsions that he cryeth out fomes gnashes with his Teeth and pineth away and much bruising him hardly departeth from him The Unbelief of the Jews who did not as yet firmly believe in Jesus Christ though they had seen so many Miracles was a greater and more dangerous Disease than this of the Lunatick and was often an Impediment to the Miracles which Jesus would have done For this Reason it is that he would cure that before he drive out the Devil and therefore smartly touched that Wound that the Men afflicted with it might feel it saying O faithless and perverse Generation how long shall I be with you to convince you how long shall I suffer your Infidelity will you never believe Bring him hither to me The Child no sooner saw him but the Devil began to tear him with fierce Convulsions and threw him down where he rowled foaming Jesus asked his Father How long it was since his Son began to be vexed after this manner His Father answered him From his Childhood and added If thou canst do any thing have Pity on us and help us Jesus saith unto him If thou canst believe all things are possible to him that believeth Immediately the Father of the Child cryed out with Tears Lord I believe help thou my Vnbelief i. e. supply all the Defects of my Faith to make it worthy to obtain a Cure for my Child Then Jesus rebuked the Devil saying to him Thou Dumb and Deaf Spirit I command thee to depart out of this Child and to enter no more into him Then the Spirit cryed out and much tore and rent the Child and left him almost dead but Jesus taking him by the Hand lifted him up and delivered him to his Father perfectly cured And all that were present beheld it with Admiration and were amazed at the mighty Power of God When Jesus was come into the House his Diciples asked Why they could not cast out this Devil He answered them Because of your Vnbelief adding Luke 17 6 That if they had but one Grain of Syncere and Sound Faith they might by their mere Word remove both Trees and Mountains And then he says further That this kind of Devil goeth not out but by Prayer and Fasting The Apostles did without doubt profit by these Instructions for S. Luke teacheth us elswhere That they addressed themselves to their Master Luke 17.5 and said Lord increase our Faith XIV Jesus foretels his Death and pays Tribute While the Multitude was in Admiration of the great things Matth. 17.22 27. Mark 9 30-32 Luke 9 43-45 that Jesus did in all Places where he went his Thoughts were mainly employed in fitting his Disciples for the Disgraces and Contempt of his Death He tells them a second Time of it and desires them to hearken with Attention to him and think seriously of these Words in their Hearts The Son of Man shall be delivered into the Hands of Men who shall put him to Death and he shall rise again the Third Day But they understood not that Saying and yet this Prediction which they could not fully comprehend made them very sorry and cast them into such a Consternation that they durst not ask him to explain it to them They went through Galilee and returned to Capernaum Here the Receivers of a certain Tribute of Two Drachma's i. e. Fifteen Pence an Head asked Peter whether his Master did not pay Tribute To whom the Apostle answered That he did As soon as he came into the House Jesus prevented him by asking him Whether the Kings of the Earth exact Tribute of their own Children or of Strangers Peter answers Of Strangers Then Jesus concludes That the Children are exempted leaving it to him to infer from thence That he being the Son of God was not obliged to pay Tribute to Men Nevertheless saith he that we may not offend them Go thou and cast an Hook into the Sea and take the Fish that shall be first catched and open his Mouth and thou shalt find a Piece of Mony of Four Drachma's or half a Crown 's Value which give to them for thy self and me XV. Jesus checks the Ambition of his Disciples Matth. 18 1-14 Mar. 9 23-50 Luke 9 46-50 About the same Time it came into the mind of the Disciples of Jesus Who of them should be greatest and they disputed about it in the Way to Capernaum Jesus knowing the Thoughts of their Hearts asked them when they came into the House What they disputed about in the Way but they durst not answer him But when he had called his Twelve Disciples to him they asked him in general Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven He answered them If any Man desire to be first he shall be the last of all and Servant of all And having called a little Child to him he took him and set him by him and taking him up in his Arms he said unto them Except ye become as little Children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of God and that whosoever shall so humble himself that he makes himself small as the little Child before them he shall be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven And then adds That who so shall receive one such little Child in his Name receiveth him and he that receiveth him received him that sent him Hereupon John the Son of Zebedee saith unto him Master we saw a Man casting out Devils in thy Name and we forbad him because he would not joyn himself and associate with us But Jesus reproved this Action and told him That this Man would not readily speak ill of him in whose Name he did Miracles and that they ought not to look upon him as their Enemy since he did not engage in any thing against them Jesus then turns his Discourse to these little ones i. e. to the humble to whom he would have them make themselves like and pronounces a Wo against those who should be an occasion of Falling or Scandal to them declaring That whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in him and whose Angels continually behold the Face of God in Heaven it were better for him to be cast into the Depth of the Sea with a Milstone about his Neck He adds That the World is full of Offences which will necessarily happen but Wo unto him by whom they come That to avoid them we must lay before Men the Torments of Hell where the Worm that gnaws the damned never dies and the Fire that burns them is never quenched yea is so far from consuming them that on the contrary 't is like Salt to them which preserves them from consuming that they may be
to whom he said That if they would continue firm in the Observation of his Word then they should be his Disciples indeed That they should know the Truth and the Truth should make them free The Jews reply'd that they never were Servants but free as being the Children of Abraham He answers them That every one that commits Sin is the Servant of Sin and that they could not be truly free unless he made them free That they were indeed Abrahams Children according to the flesh but that in rejecting the Truth and seeking to Kill him who had told them the Truth they did not do like Abraham but made themselves the Children of another Father by following his Example and imitating him They maintain'd that in that sense they had no other Father but God but Jesus tells them again That if they were the Children of God they would hear God's Word and Love his only begotten Son whom he hath sent That Murther and Lying being the Works of the Devil those People who sought to destroy a Man whom they could not prove Guilty of any Crime and who had told them the Truth had the Devil for their Father They made no reply to this but by railing at him Calling him a Samaritan that hath a Devil Jesus answered them plainly I have not a Devil but honour my Father adding that there is another that will do him Justice because he seeketh not his own Glory Afterwards he saith That he that keeps his Word shall never dye which he means of Eternal Death But the Jews who understood it of the Death of the Body took occasion to insult over him asking him Whether he was greater than Abraham and the Prophets that he could preserve them from Death that keep his Commandments which these great Men could not avoid and therefore desire him to tell them what manner of Man he would have them to take him for He answers them again That he honoured not himself but derived all his Honour from his Father whom they worshipped as their God but know him not That as for Abraham whom they were always bragging of he had earnestly desired to see the Coming of him whom they contemned which he saw and was filled with great Joy They replyed Thou art not yet Fifty Years Old and hast thou seen Abraham He answered them Verily verily I say unto you before Abraham was I am Upon this they took up Stones to cast at him but he hid himself and went out of the Temple escaping the Fury of his Enemies for that time that he might expose himself to all their Malice and Rage when his time appointed by his Father for him to suffer was come XXII Jesus gives sight to a Man born Blind Jesus as he passed the Streets of Jerusalem John 9 1-41 saw a Man sitting in the Streets who was Blind from his Birth and his Disciples asked him whether it was his own or his Parents Sin that was the cause of his Blindness He answered them that he was not made Blind for any Sin that either himself or his Parents had committed but that God might manifest the more the wonderful Works of his Power He adds that it is his Office to do these Works in the time allowed him for it and that so long as he is in the World he is the Light of the World After this answer He spat on the Ground and having made Clay with the spittle he rubbed the eyes of the Blind Man with it and sent him to wash them to the Pool called the Pool of Silom where as soon as he had washed he saw clearly His Neighbours and all those that knew him when he was Blind and sat in the Streets begging could not believe what they saw but doubted whether he was the same Man or one like him But he told them all that it was he himself And further related to them That a Man called Jesus had restored his sight They asked him where he was but he saying that he could not tell they carryed him to the Pharisees who also themselves examined him and he related to them how the thing happened It was the Sabboth-day on which Jesus healed this Blind Man which was the cause that some of the Pharisees said This Man is not of God because he keepeth not the Sabboth But others could not believe that a Wicked Man could do so great Miracles so that there was a great Division among them Then they asked the Blind Man what he thought himself He answered that he looked upon Jesus as a Prophet All these things much astonished the Jews and they would not believe it till they had called the Father and Mother of the Blind Man of whom they enquired Is this your Son whom ye say was born Blind how then doth he see clearly But they fearing the Jews and knowing the Resolution that they had made to put every Man out of the Synagogue who should acknowledge that Jesus was Christ answered freely We know that this is our Son and that he was born Blind but we are ignorant by what means he seeth or who hath opened his Eyes He is of Age ask him he shall answer for himself Wherefore they called the Blind Man the second time and said unto him Give God the Glory we know that this Man is a Sinner and a Wicked Man He answered them I cannot tell whether he be a sinner but this I know that whereas I was Blind I now see clearly They asked him again how he had received his sight And he answered them I have already told and ye did not mind it why would you hear it again Are you desirous to be his Disciples Then were they enraged against him and reproaching him said unto him Thou art one of his Disciples but we are Moses 's Disciples For we know that God spake to Moses but as for this Man we knew not whence he is The Blind Man reply'd That it was very strange that they should not know that a Man who hath so Miraculously opened the Eyes of one Born Blind a thing the like to which was never heard of since the World began must needs be from God At this they cast him out of their Assembly with disgrace saying Thou wast altogether born in Sin and dost thou undertake to teach us Jesus heard that they had thus expelled him and meeting him he said unto him Dost thou believe on the Son of God He answered him Who is he Lord that I may believe on him Jesus saith unto him Thou hast seen him and it is he that speaketh to thee He answered him Lord I believe and immediately fell down at his Feet and Worshipped him as the Messias Jesus adds that he came into the World to exercise an amazing Judgment that the Blind may see and they that see may become Blind i. e. that they whose Pride hinders them from acknowledging their Spiritual Blindness may be blinded so as not to see the Truth for some
others in the middle-age of it and others shall enter at the end of the World There are some that begin to live well in their Infancy others in their Youth others in their Riper-age and some are not converted till just before their Death But so great is the Mercy and Goodness of God that they shall all go to Heaven and shall be rewarded for their Good Works which they have done since their Conversion with the Beatifick Vision of God himself But we ought well to consider upon these Words Many are called but few are chosen that we may not content our selves to be in the Church into which God hath called us but may be diligent 1 Pet. 2-10 as St. Peter teaches us To make our calling and election sure by Good Works and to fit our selves for the Kingdom promised to the Elect. XLIV Jesus raiseth Lazarus from the Dead As Jesus was thus instructing his Disciples on this side Jordan the two Sisters abovementioned John 11 1-45 Martha and Mary sent him word of the sickness of their Brother Lazarus by certain Messengers who spake to him in these words Lord He whom thou Lovest is sick for indeed he loved these Persons and therefore having heard this News he said This sickness is not unto Death but is only inflicted on him to gain Glory to God and that the Son of God may be Glorified thereby Nevertheless he tarryed two days still in the same place and then said to his Apostles Let us go into Judea for Bethany where the House of Lazarus and his two Sisters was was in Judea about two Miles distant from Jerusalem to which he must go by crossing the River Jordan The Apostles said unto him Master The Jews there were lately about to Stone thee and dost thou think of venturing among them again He answers them That he must discharge his Ministry while God gives him Time and Opportunity let what dangers will stand in the way And then he adds Our Friend Lazarus sleepeth but I will go to awake him His Disciples understanding his words literally said unto him Lord if he sleep he will grow well Then he told them plainly That Lazarus was Dead and that for the kindness he had for them he was glad that he was not present with him to prevent his Death because that which he intended to do for him would be of great use to increase and confirm their Faith Thomas one of the Twelve seeing his Master resolv'd to go into Judea said to his fellow Disciples Let us also go with him It is indeed dangerous but we ought rather to dy with him than forsake him or leave him so they accompanyed him They got not to Bethany till Lazarus had been Buryed Four Days and when they came to the House of Martha and Mary they found many Jews there which were come to comfort the two Sisters for the Death of their Brother Martha hearing that Jesus was coming went a little way out of the Town to meet him and said unto him Lord if thou hadst been here my Brother had not dyed But I know that even now God will grant thee whatsoever thou askest of him Jesus answered her Thy Brother shall rise again She replyed I know that he shall rise again at the last Day Jesus says again I am the Resurrection and the Life i. e. I am able to raise the Dead to Life at any time as well now as hereafter he that believeth in me as thy Brother did altho' he be dead shall if I please live again and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never dye if I please to preserve him Believest thou this She answered him Yea Lord I believe that thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God which should come into the World After this Discourse she went and called her Sister to tell her privately that the Master was come and asked after her Mary arose immediately and went to Jesus out of the Town to the place where Martha met him The Jews who were with her when she arose to go to the Son of God seeing her go out so hastily followed her thinking that she went to the Grave of her Brother to Weep there As soon as she came to Jesus she fell down at his Feet and said unto him Weeping Lord if thou hadst been here my Brother had not Dyed Her Tears and Sorrow accompanyed with the Lamentations of the Jews that came with her affected the Son of God so that he groaned in himself and was troubled i. e. he stirred up in his own heart a Voluntary Motion of Compassion and Tenderness which appeared outwardly by the same signs which discover the involuntary passions and affections of Men. Hereupon he demanded where they had Buryed him they said unto him Lord come and see He went along with them Weeping which made some of the Jews to say See how he loved him while others said Could not this Man who openeth the Eyes of the Blind have prevented Lazarus 's Death Jesus still shewing the same disturbance of mind came to the Grave which was a Pit with a Stone lay'd at the Mouth of it He commanded them to take away the Stone but Martha told him that the Dead Man by this time stank because he had been Buryed Four Days But he answered Did not I tell you that if ye would believe ye should see the Glory of God magnified in raising him from the Dead They then removed the Stone and Jesus lifting up his Eyes to Heaven said these words Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me always As for me I know that thou always hearest me and thy Power is present with me but this I say because of the People which is about me that they may believe when they see thy Power granted to me by my Prayer that thou hast sent me Having spoken these words he cryed with a loud Voice Lazarus come forth And immediately the Dead Man came forth having his Hands and his Feet bound with grave Cloaths and his Head wrapped about with a Napkin Jesus then bid them loose him and several of the Jews who came to see the two Sisters believed on him having been Eye-witnesses of this Miracle XLV The Jews hold a Council against Jesus John 11 46-54 As soon as Jesus had wrought this Miracle some who saw it went to tell the Pharisees of it who were his Mortal Enemies Whereupon they immediately called a Council with the High-Priests and said Why do we lose time and do nothing This Man doth many Miracles and if we let him thus alone all Men will believe him to be the Messias and the Romans fearing lest he should set up for a King and withdraw the People from Obedience to them will come and destroy our City and Nation Caiphas who was High Priest that Year said unto them Ye understand nothing nor consider that it is better to put one Man to Death to secure all the People than that
departed from Bethany Matth. 21 1-9 Mark 11 1-10 Luke 19 29-38 John 12 12-18 and as soon as he came to a little Village called Bethphage which was situated at the Bottom of the Mount of Olives which is distant from Jerusalem but little more than half a Mile he said to Two of his Disciples Go unto the Village over-against you and ye shall there find a Shee-Ass and with her a Colt on which no Man ever sat loose it and bring it to me and if the Owners ask you why ye do so ye shall answer them That the Lord hath need of him and they will let you bring him The Disciples exactly obeyed this Order and finding every thing as Jesus had foretold they brought the Ass and Colt to him upon which when they had set him he rode to Jerusalem In the mean Time the People which were come to Jerusalem to the Feast having received Information of the Resurrection of Lazarus from those that were Eye-Witnesses of the Miracle and hearing that Jesus was coming to that great City took Branches of Palm-trees and went in great Throngs to meet him crying out Hosanna i. e. Salvation and Glory Blessed be the King of Israel who cometh in the Name of the Lord. Jesus riding upon the Colt which his Disciples had covered with their Garments came in Triumph thus accomplishing that Prophesy of Zachary Zach. 9.9 Fear not Daughter of Zion behold thy King cometh full of Meekness and siting upon an Ass's Colt A great multitude of People did also spread their Garments in the way and others cut down Branches from the Trees and strewed them where he was to pass When they were come to the Descent of the Mount of Olives his Disciples being transported with Joy to see their Master so highly honoured gave Praise to God with a loud Voice for all the mighty Works which they had seen saying Blessed be the King that cometh in the Name of the Lord Peace in Heaven and Glory in the Highest And all the People as well those that went before as those that followed after joyned with the Disciples in their Acclamations so that he was surrounded with Shouts saying Hosanna i. e. Honour to the Son of David blessed be he that cometh in the Name of the Lord blessed be the Kingdom of our Father David which we have seen to come Hosanna Peace and Honour in the Highest Heavens II. Jesus Christ bewails the Destruction of Jerusalem Matth. 21.10 11. Luke 19 39-44 The Pharisees could not see so great Honour bestowed upon a Man whom they had resolved to put to Death without great Indignation and therefore argued among themselves Do ye not perceive that we prevail nothing Behold all the World is gone after him But some of them could not conceal their Anger but said among the Multitude to Jesus Master command thy Disciples to hold their Peace But he silenced them themselves by saying to them That the Stones would immediately cry out if his Disciples should hold their Peace Then they came near to Jerusalem and Jesus casting his Eyes upon that miserable City whose Miseries and Sins he foresaw shed forth Tears as a Sign of the Compassion with which he was affected for her and seeing her cryed out O that thou hadst known at least in this thy Day the things that conduce to thy Peace and Safety but now they are all hid from thine Eyes For the Time shall come when thy Enemies shall cast Trenches about thee and invest thee and keep thee in on every Side and demolish thee and cast thy Children out and shall not leave one Stone upon another because thou hast not known the Time wherein God hath visited thee So that he shews himself much more affected for the Ruin of Jerusalem than at the Acclamations with which they received him Being entred into the City with so great a Number of People all the Citizens were moved and every one enquired Who is this Man To whom the Multitude answered It is Jesus the Prophet of Nazareth in Galilee III. Jesus Christ again foretels his Death Besides the Jews who were come to Jerusalem John 12 20-36 to keep the Passover there were also Heathens who being Proselytes of the Gates were come to worship God at that Feast Some of these having a great Desire to see Jesus did for that Reason come to Philip one of the Twelve Apostles Philip tells Andrew of it and both of them told their Master Jesus who by his Death was about to obtain Salvation as well for the Gentiles as Jews answered these Two Apostles That his Hour was come that he should be glorified And as a Grain of Wheat brings forth no Fruit till it is dead in the Earth where it is sown so should his Death be the Seed which should produce a great Harvest that the Faithful which should be produced thereby should learn by his Example to hate their Lives in this World that they may preserve it to Life Eternal and that the Service which they should pay him in following him whithersoever he goeth should be rewarded with Eternal Glory He also for their Comfort brought upon himself the Horrors of his Death and therefore stirred up voluntarily a Passion in his Soul which discovered it self outwardly by these Words My Soul is troubled and what shall I say Father save me from this Hour But considering with himself how great Glory God would gain by his Death he added But for this Cause came I to this Hour Father glorify thy Name At the same Time there came a Voice from Heaven which said I have glorified it already and will glorify it again They that were present said That it was a Clap of Thunder and others said That an Angel spake unto him but he answered This Voice came not for me but for your sakes And to let them know what Influence his Death which he should suffer upon the Cross ought to have upon all Men he saith Now is this World judged and the Prince of this World i. e. the Devil is cast out and when I am lifted up from the Earth I will draw all Men unto me Upon this the Jews asked him How the Death of the Son of Man could be consonant with the Holy Scripture which saith That Christ must endure for ever and never dye And they added Who is this Son of Man He answers them That they should enjoy the Light a little Time and advises them That since it is no fit Time to walk or act when they are deprived of it they should believe in the Light that is in him so long as he is with them Jesus having spoke these Words John 12 36-50 hid himself from them since they made no deeper Impression upon their Hearts than his Miracles did which he had done before them in so great Numbers for they were stricken with that Blindness of Heart which according to Isaiah's Prophecy Isa 6.9 hindred them from seeing that
receive the Fruits of it But the Husband-men beat the Servant and sent him back empty Then he sent another to them whom they Wounded and a Third whom they Killed others also he sent to them and they used them after the same manner so that he resolved to send his only Son whom he loved most tenderly being perswaded that they would reverence him But on the contrary when they saw him they said one to another Lo this is the Heir let us Kill him and so get his Inheritance So they seized upon him cast him out of the Vineyard and slew him Then Jesus said When the Lord of the Vineyard cometh what will he do unto these Husband-men Some of them answered He will destroy those wicked Men according to their deserts and let out his Vineyard to other Husband-men who shall render him the Fruits in due season He approved of their answer and assured them that they should be used in that manner But others who perceived perhaps that this Parable touched them said unto him God forbid But Jesus looking upon them said What is then the meaning of this Parable of Scripture The Stone which the Builders rejected is by the Miraculous Power of God become the head Stone of the Corner And to make a full Application of this Parable to them he added For this reason it is that I have told you That the Kingdom of Heaven shall be taken from you and be given to a People that shall bring forth the Fruits of it And this indeed happened for the Jews to whom Jesus Christ had trusted his Vineyard that is to say his Law and Church and who instead of making use of these advantages had cruelly handled the Prophets who admonished them of their Duty and have Crucified the only Son of God are no longer the Lords People but his Church is now made up of Gentiles who heretofore knew not God Wherefore it is our Wisdom to profit by the misfortunes of them into whose Place we are entred bringing forth Fruits i. e. faithfully performing what God expects of us The Priests and Scribes easily perceiv'd that Jesus spake of them and would then have laid their Hands on him but the fear which they had of the People kept them from attempting it tho' they were much troubled and ashamed to see themselves thus Painted out in this other Parable VIII The Parable of the Marriage Feast Matth. 22 1-14 To the same purpose Jesus spake another Parable saying A certain King having made a great invitation to the Marriage of his Son sent his Servants when all things were ready to call them to it but because they refused to come he sent other Servants to perswade them and give them notice what great preparations were made for them But this did not make any impression upon them they went one to his Farm another to his Merchandize and some layd hold upon his Servants and slew them after they had committed many outrages against them The King having heard of these ungrateful rudenesses sent forth his Armies to slay those Murtherers and burn up their Cities and in their stead brought all that he found in the Streets to the Marriage This being done the King came in to see the Guests and there perceiving a Man who had not a Wedding Garment he asked him how he dare come thither with such a Vestment Wherefore binding him Hand and Foot he cast him into outer Darkness where there is nothing but Weeping and gnashing of Teeth Jesus made the Application of this Parable saying Many are called but few are chosen It is easy to see that the Jews were the first Invited to the Marriage of the Kings Son i. e. to the Kingdom of Heaven Preached to them by Jesus Christ that they despised his Word and put him to Death that God hath rejected them as a punishment for their Sin and instead of them hath called the Gentiles into his Church who before had never heard of him It remains only for us to see whether we have a Marriage-Garment i. e. Charity which is the White Robe which is given us in Baptism that so if we have it not we may endeavour to get it on before the King comes to examine with the great rigour of his Justice the State of all those that are in his Church to condemn them to Infernal Darkness who imagine that it is enough to be called and will not be at the pains by an Holy Life to obtain the Reward promised to the Elect. IX Jesus Christ Silenceth the Pharisees Matth. 22 15-22 Mark 12 13-17 Luke 20 20-26 The Pharisees who had as great a share-in the Application of these Parables as any other went away with a firm resolution to search out all Opportunities of destroying him who thus confounded them They believed they had found out an infallible way to do it by entangling him in his talk and therefore made no delays to make use of it Whereupon they sent some of their Disciples to him who were as much Hypocrites as themselves and counterfeiting themselves to be Righteous with the Herodians i. e. probably some of Herods Officers to ensnare him and tempt him to speak something which might bring him under the stroke of Justice These Men therefore went to him and spake thus to him Master We know that thou art upright and true and teachest the way of God in Truth without regard to any Man or thing Give us thy Opinion in this matter Is it Lawful to pay Tribute to Caesar or no It is certain their design was in this Question to make him odious to the People who never could be brought to submit themselves to the Romans but by force if he should assert that they ought to do it but if he answered that 't was unlawful to pay they would have him punished as a Rebel against the Emperour But he knowing their malicious intentions asked them to shew him a piece of the Money they pay'd Tribute withal and when he had it in his Hands he said Whose Image and Superscription hath it They answered him Caesars Then he reply'd Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods In which answer since they could find no fault they went away full of disappointment and admiration X. Jesus Christ silenceth the Sadducees As soon as these Men were gone Matth. 22 23-33 Mark 12 18-28 Deut. 25.5 Luke 20 27-38 there came to Jesus the Sadducees i. e. a Sect of the Jews that do not believe the Resurrection of the Dead and put a Question to him about the Command of the Law of Moses which obliged a Man to Marry the Widow of his Elder Brother dying without Children They then put this Case to him That there was a Woman who was Marryed according to this Law to Seven Brethren one after another and they all Dyed without Children wherefore they asked him Whose Wife of the Seven she should be after
Lamb that was eaten and to the Solemnity which began with the Sacrifice of that Lamb Whence it comes to pass that we often meet with such Expressions as these in the Gospel to Eat Sacrifice and Keep the Passover As the Bondage of Aegypt from which God delivered the Jews was a Figure of Man's Slavery to Sin from which he was about to free Men so the Lamb whose Blood saved the Israelites is a Figure of Jesus Christ who is called The True Passover because 't is by his Blood that we are truly redeemed And for this Reason it is that he would dye at the Passover to fulfil by his Sacrifice the great Mysteries which were represented by all the Jewish Ceremonies XXII Jesus sups with his Disciples This great Feast of the Passover being near Matth. 26 17-20 the Disciples asked their Master Where he would eat the Passover Jesus immediately sent Peter and John to Jerusalem and tells them That as soon as they are entred into the City they should find a Man bearing a Pitcher of Water let them follow him and where-ever he enters let them tell the Master of the House That he intends to keep the Passover at his House with his Disciples and he will shew you saith he a large upper Room furnished and prepared there prepare all Things necessary for us Peter and John did as they were commanded and in the Evening he came thither with his Twelves Apostles where at the Hour appointed they sat down to eat the Paschal Lamb. He saith then to his Disciples With much earnestness have I desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer for I say unto you That I will not eat any more thereof till it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God i. e. in Heaven where not only the Passover but also all the other Mysteries shall have a full accomplishment Then he taketh a Cup and giving Thanks said to them Take this and divide it among you for I say unto you That I will not drink any more of the Fruit of the Vine until the Kingdom of God shall come XXIII Jesus washes his Disciples Feet John 13 1-15 From this Time Jesus had his Death continually in his Thoughts which seems to have been appointed at this Feast of the Passover which signifies a Passage to put him in Mind that his Hour was come wherein he was to pass out of this World to his Father He knew that the Devil had put into the Heart of Judas Iscariot a Design to betray him but before he was delivered into the Hands of his Enemies he was desirous to give his Disciples whom he had always loved and would love unto the end a signal Testimony of his Love wherefore he riseth from the Table layeth aside his Garments takes a Towel pours Water into a Bason and knowing that his Father had given all Things into his Hands and that he was come from God and went to God he goes about to wash his Apostles Feet and to wipe them with the Towel he had about him Peter could not endure this great Debasement of his Master and says unto him in a Surprize Why wilt thou wash my Feet Lord And although Jesus answered him Thou knowest not now what I do but thou shalt know afterward yet he still asserted Thou shalt never wash my Feet But because his Master told him That if he washed him not he should have no part in him he chose rather to see him do so mean an Office than be separated from him and therefore replyed Lord not only my Feet but my Hands and my Feet Jesus said unto him He that hath been washed already hath no need to wash any part of him but his Feet and ye are clean but not all Under which Exception he marked out Judas who being his Disciple should betray him This Answer makes it credible that Jesus did wash his Apostles Feet not only to give them a signal Example of his Humility but to shew us that although we are purified by Baptism yet in this Life we have continual need to cleanse our Affections which are daily engaged in Human Affairs in the same manner as our Feet how clean soever the rest of our Body is do continually gather Soil and Filth and therefore only need washing After he had washed his Apostles Feet he took his Garments and sitting down at the Table he saith unto them Know ye what I have done unto you ye call me Lord and Master and 't is reasonable you should for so I am if I then your Lord and Master have washed your Feet ye also ought to wash one anothers Feet For I have given you an Example that ye may consider upon it and do as I have done unto you XXIV Jesus appoints the Eucharist and foretells Judas's Treachery After this they again returned to their Supper Matth. 26 26-29 Mark 14 22-25 Luke 22 19-29 1 Cor. 11 23-25 which being almost ended Jesus who having washed their Feet had as it were prepared them for the Sacrament which he intended to institute at the same Time wherefore he took Bread blessed it by giving of Thanks brake it and gave it to them saying Take eat this is my Body which is given for you do this in remembrance of me Likewise he took the Cup gave Thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of this for this is my Blood the Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the Remission of Sins Joyn this also with the Bread in remembrance of me Matth. 26 20-25 Mar. 14 18-21 Luke 22 21-23 John 13 21-32 Jesus then suffered himself to fall into a Trouble and Discomposure of Mind either at the Prospect of the Death which he was shortly to undergo or at the Thoughts of the monstrous perfideousness of Judas and said unto the Apostles Verily verily I say unto you that one of you who sitteth at Table and eateth with me shall betray me These Words not only astonished them but grieved them all and every one began to say Is it I Lord He answered them One of you Twelve that dippeth with me in the Dish shall betray me Instead the Son of Man goeth to suffer Death according as it is appointed concerning him in Holy Scripture but wo unto that Man by whom he is betrayed it were better for that Man that he had never been born They knew not who it was of whom he spake and therefore questioned among themselves who it was Peter seeing John who was the beloved Disciple leaning upon Jesus's Breast beckened to him to ask Jesus who it was of whom he spake Jesus then answered him He it is to whom I shall give a Sop when I have dipped it Judas then boldly asked his Master Is it I Jesus said Yes And having dipped the Sop gave it to him When Judas had received the Sop the Devil entred into him to embolden him in the execution of that wicked Design which he
had in his Heart some Time before Jesus then said unto him That thou dost do quickly whereupon Judas went out But the rest of the Apostles knew not whither he went supposing that Jesus had sent him to buy something or bestow some Mony on the Poor because it was he that carried the Purse As soon as he was gone out Jesus considering the Glory which his Father would gain by his Death and which he himself should receive as the Reward of his humble Obedience faith unto his Disciples Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him and if God be glorified in him God will also glorify him in himself and will streightway glorify him Then they sung an Hymn and rose from the Table to go to the Mount of Olives where we have seen that Jesus went usually at Night XXV Jesus foretells S. Peter's Denial and the Apostles Flight Jesus having thus discoursed of his Glory Matth. 26 30-35 Mark 14 27-31 Luke 22.31 38. John 13 33-38 raised a fresh Contention among his Disciples Who of them shall be accounted greatest and have the greatest Share in it Jesus checks their Ambition by repeating what he had said to them long before That it shall not be so with you as it is with Kings who rule over their Subjects with Authority but that the greatest among them should be as the least just as he who was their Master had been among them little not as he that sits at Table but as he that serveth He then tells them That since they had held firm to him in all his Persecutions he would prepare for them a Kingdom as his Father had prepared one for himself But he adds That Satan had desired to sift them as Wheat is sifted i. e. to tempt them that he may make them fall And he said to Peter I have prayed for you that your Faith fail not and when thou art converted i. e. recovered from thy Fall strengthen thy Brethren Then turning to them all he tells unto them That he had but a little Time to be with them That he went whither they could not come but he commanded them to love one another as he had loved them because by this Love they should be known to be his Disciples Hereupon S. Peter asked him Whither he would go Jesus answered Whither I go thou canst not follow me now but thou shalt follow me afterwards He replyed Lord why cannot I follow thee now Jesus explains himself further saying to his Apostles All of you shall be offended because of me this Night for it is written I will smite the Shepherd and the Flock shall be scatter'd but after that I am risen again I will go before you into Galilee Peter answered him Although all Men should be offended yet will not I be offended for I am ready to go with thee into Prison and unto Death yea I will lay down my Life for thy Sake Jesus answered Wilt thou lay down thy Life for me Verily verily I say unto thee That this Night before the Cock crows twice thou shalt deny me thrice Peter asserted it more passionately That he would not deny him though he dyed for him And all the Disciples said the same consulting the present Sentiments of their Hearts more than their own Weakness which was throughly known to Christ Jesus then ask'd them Whether they wanted any thing when he sent them without Purse or Scrip or Shoes And when they answered him No he said to them But now he that hath a Purse or a Scrip let him take it and he that hath no Sword let him sell his Garment and buy one In which figurative Language he describes the Greatness of the Persecution which they must shortly undergo that it should be so violent that if they fly to such ordinary means as are usually made use of they must sell their very Garments to provide Arms for their Defence For I say unto you adds he that this must be accomplished Isai 53. â—2 which is written of me He was reckoned among the Transgressors They who took his Words in the literal Sense That they must sell their Garments and buy one said unto him We have here Two Swords but because he understood them in another Sense he answered 'T is enough XXVI Jesus comforts his Apostles It was almost impossible but that all these Predictions of his approaching Death would much trouble his Apostles which when he saw John 14 1-31 he comforted them saying That they should not be troubled but believe in him That they knew that if he went before them to prepare a Place for every one of them in his Fathers House he would come again and take them to himself Then he says Whither I go ye know and the way ye know Thomas saith unto him Lord we know not whither thou goest and how should we know the Way Jesus replyed That he himself is the Way the Truth and the Life that they must go to God by him and that if they knew him they would know his Father also Upon this Philip saith unto him Lord shew us the Father and it sufficeth us But Jesus answered him Have I been so long with thee and hast thou not known me And then adds That in seeing him we see the Father because he is in the Father and the Father in him which they might have discerned by the Miracles which they had seen him do assuring them at the same time That they that believe in him shall do the same Wonders and greater than they because whatsoever they ask of God his Father in his Name it shall be done to them Then he promises them that he will by his Prayers obtain another Comforter for them which should be the Spirit of Truth which the World cannot receive because it knoweth him not That he will not leave them Comfortless but will come unto them That they shall see him when the World seeth him not which happened after his Resurrection for he appeared to none but own Disciples That he will one Day shew them that he is in his Father because he will discover himself to those that love him and shew evident Signs of his Love by receiving and keeping his Commandments Judas ask'd him Why he would discover himself to them and not unto the World He answered him If any Man love me he will keep my Commandments and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our Abode with him He that loveth me not keepeth not my Commandments He enlarges no farther upon Judas's Question but leaves us to infer from his Answer That the Reason why he doth not discover himself to the World i. e. the Lovers of the World is because the World neither loves nor keeps his Commandments He adds That the Doctrin which he had taught them was his Fathers and that the Holy Spirit would make them understand and remember all the Truths which he had taught them Lastly
also who was Crucified with him used the same Language If thou art the Christ save thy self and us but the other reproved him in these Terms Dost not thou fear God since thou art Condemned to the same Punishment and that justly for we suffer no more than our Crimes deserve But this Man hath done nothing amiss Then he addresses himself to Jesus and saith unto him Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom Jesus answered him Verily I say unto thee this Day shalt thou be with me in Paradise i. e. in a Place of Rest where the Souls of the Saints are which that Day was indeed a delicious Paradise by reason of Christ's Presence in it Among the great Number of People which stood about the Cross there were several Women who were come out of Galilee with Jesus and had ministred to him of their Substance All his Acquaintance also were there who beheld afar off what passed but the Holy Virgin Mary Magdalen and the other Mary stood by the Cross and John the Son of Zebedee stood by the Holy Virgin When Jesus therefore saw his Mother and the Disciple whom he loved standing by her he saith unto her Woman behold thy Son and look upon him with the Kindness of a Mother and then he said to his Disciple Behold thy Mother and reverence her and take Care of her as such From that Time this Virgin Mother say the Fathers dwelt with the Virgin Disciple to whose Care her Son had recommended her And we need not wonder saith S. Ambrose that this Apostle hath delivered such great Mysteries of Religion so divinely since he had with him the Sacred Temple wherein the Author of all these Mysteries was conceived It was about Noon when Jesus was fastned to the Cross and soon after the Sun was darkned and the Air was filled with Darkness for Three Hours About the Third Hour Jesus cryed with a loud Voice Eli Eli Lamma Sabacthani i. e. My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Some of them that were present hearing him say Eli Eli and being ignorant of the Hebrew Tongue in which these Words signify My God my God thought he had called the Prophet Elias to help him XLI The Death of Jesus Jesus had done and suffered all that was foretold of him in Scripture and there was nothing to be fulfilled but the Words of the Psalmist They gave me Gall to Eat and when I was Thirsty They gave me Vinegar to drink That therefore nothing might be unperformed which his Father had Commanded Psalm 69.21 Matth. 27 50-54 Mark 15 37-39 Luke 23 46-49 John 19 28-37 he said I Thirst And immediately one of the Soldiers ran and took a Spunge and dipping it in a Vessel of Vinegar which stood by put it upon a Reed gave him it to drink saying stay let us see whether Elias will come and take him down from the Cross Jesus having received the Vinegar said All is accomplished And then crying out again a Second Time he said Father I commend my Soul into thy Hands and when he had said these words He bowed down his Head and gave up the Ghost At the same time the Vail of the Temple was rent in twain from the Top to the Bottom the Earth trembled the Rocks rent and the Graves were opened and as soon as Jesus rose from the Dead many Dead Bodies of Saints arose and appeared to many Persons in Jerusalem So many Prodigies affrighted the Captain and Soldiers which Guarded Jesus and in the Fright they cryed out Certainly this Man was the Son of God All the People which were present and beheld this Sight were not less affected than they so that all returned smiting their Breasts Nevertheless the Jews not being willing that the Body of Jesus and the Two Thieves which were Crucified with him should remain on the Cross on the Sabbath-day desired Pilate that their Leggs might be broke and that they might be taken down Then the Soldiers came and brake the Leggs of the Two Thieves but coming to Jesus they found him already Dead and therefore instead of breaking his Leggs one of them pierced his Side with a Spear and immediately there issued out Blood and Water so that two Prophesies were thereby fulfilled together Zech. 12.10 They shall look upon him whom they have Pierced and another speaking of the Paschal Lamb which was a Type of Jesus Christ A Bone of him shall not be broken Exod. 12.46 XLII The Burial of Jesus Among the Disciples of Jesus there was a Man of great Wealth and Honour born in Arimathaea Matth. 27 57-66 Mark 15 42-47 Luke 23 50-56 John 19 38-42 a City of Judaea named Joseph It is true he was a Disciple only in secret because he feared the Jews but he was no way concerned in their Crime And tho' he was one of the Rulers of Jerusalem he had not consented at all to any thing that they had done against the Son of God The Death of his Master filling him with more Courage he went to Pilate and begged leave of him to take down the Body of Jesus and Bury it Pilate could hardly believe that he was Dead so soon but being assured of it by the Centurion he gave his Body to Joseph and Commanded it to be delivered unto him Joseph then went and bought Linnen-Cloaths to Bury Jesus in and taking his Body down from the Cross wrapped it in them Nicodemus the Ruler who came to Jesus by Night being desirous to share with Joseph in paying these last Offices to their Master brought a Mixture of Aloes and Myrrhe of about an Hundred Weight and they two together wrapped up the Body of Jesus in the Linnen with the Perfumes and Buryed it according to the ordinary Manner of the Jews There was in the place where Jesus was Crucified a Garden and in it a Sepulchre which Joseph had Hewn out of the Rock wherein no Man was ever lay'd Here they lay'd the Body of Jesus and went away having rould a great Sone to the Mouth of the Sepulchre Mary Magdalene and the other Women who were present at the Death of Jesus did also assist at his Burial and took notice where they laid him and having considered on it they went and prepared Spices to Embalm him as soon as the Sabboth-day which was the next day was over Jesus being Dead and Buryed on Fryday the next day the Chief Priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and said unto him Sir we remember that that Deceiver for so they Term'd Jesus in his Life-time said that he would Rise again in Three days after his Death Command therefore that his Sepulchre be kept under a Guard till the Third Day for fear his Disciples should come by Night and stealing away his Body should perswade the People that he is risen from the Dead and so they will fall into a new Error worse than the first Pilate said unto them Ye have a Guard go and
knowest not what hath happened there in these days What things replyed he They answered Concerning Jesus of Nazareth who was a Prophet mighty in Deeds and in Words how the Chief-Priests and Rulers delivered him to be Condemned to Death and have Crucified him But added they We trusted that it should be he that would have redeemed Israel And besides all this This is the third day since these things happened Yea and some VVomen of our Company made us astonished VVho having been very early at the Sepulchre and not finding his Body returned and told us that the Angels themselves appeared unto them and assured them that he was alive This Relation was confirmed by some of us who went also to the Sepulchre and found all things as the VVomen had reported to them but him they saw not From hence Jesus took an occasion to reprove their unbelief very severely saying to them O Fools whose Heart is dull and slow to believe that which the Prophets have foretold That Christ must suffer all these things and enter into his Glory And he explained to them all that was spoken in the Scripture concerning him beginning at Moses and going through all the Prophets VVhen they came near the Village he went on as if he were going further but the two Disciples importun'd him to stay saying Abide with Vs for it is already late and the day is almost spent Wherefore he went in with them and being sat at Meat he took Bread Blessed it and having broken it he gave it them And immediately their Eyes were opened to discern what they saw not before i. e. to acknowledge Jesus who immediately vanished out of their sight Then said they one to another Did not our Hearts burn within us while he talked with us in the Way and while he expounded the Scriptures The same instant they arose and returned to Jerusalem where they found the Apostles and the Disciples met together saying That Jesus is indeed risen from the Dead and hath appeared unto Peter They also told them what had happened in the Way and how the Lord was known to them by breaking of Bread Notwithstanding all which there were several Disciples that believed nothing of the Truth of it XLVII Jesus appeared to the Apostles The Apostles being assembled in a private place Mark 16.14 Luke 24 36-43 John 20 19-23 for fear of the Jews were discoursing about all these several Appearances of their Master and in the Evening being sat down to Meat and the Doors being shut Jesus came in and stood in the midst of them and said unto them Peace be unto you It is I be not afraid Having saluted them after this manner he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of Heart that they would not believe his Resurrection nor give credit to the Testimony of those that had seen him after he was risen The Apostles were terrified and affrighted and supposed that they had seen a Spirit or a Fantom But Jesus to confirm and pacifie them said unto them Why are ye troubled Look upon my Hands and my Feet It is I my self Handle me and consider that a Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones as ye see me have Then he shewed them the Wounds in his Hands Feet and Side The Apostles could not yet believe what they saw being transported with so great Joy and Admiration till Jesus asked them Whether they had any thing to Eat Then they gave him a piece of Broyled Fish and of an Hony-comb and he eat before them Not to nourish his Body for that being Spiritualiz'd by his Resurrection had no need of such Nourishment as is necessary for it in this Mortat Life but to take away all the Doubts of his Disciples and to convince them by sensible Proofs That 't was he and that he was really risen from the Dead After he had done eating he gave them the Fragments and said to them a Second Time Peace be unto you And then added As my Father hath sent me so send I you and then breathing upon them said Receive ye the Holy Ghost Whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whosoever sins ye retain they are retained Thomas was not with the other Disciples when Jesus appeared to them in the manner aforesaid John 20 24-29 Therefore when he returned to them they told him That they had seen the Lord. But he said Vnless I see in his Hands the print of the Nails and put my Finger into them and my Hand into his Side I will not believe The Son of God who made use of all this Infidelity to establish the belief of the Resurrection would not forsake this Apostle in his unbelief and therefore Eight days after when his Disciples were met in the same place and Thomas with them he came to them the Doors being shut and standing in the midst of them saluted them saying Peace be unto you Then speaking to Thomas he saith Reach hither thy finger and behold my Hands and reach hither thy hand and put it into my Side and be not faithless but believe Then Thomas being convinced cryed out My Lord and My God! Jesus said unto him Thou hast believed because thou hast seen Blessed are they who having not seen yet do believe XLVIII The Miraculous Fishing Jesus shewed himself yet another time to some of his Disciples on the Banks of the Sea of Tiberias John 21 1-13 Peter Thomas the two Sons of Zebedee Nathaniel and two others of his Disciples being met together Peter said that he would go a Fishing and the rest would go with him They all therefore took Ship and cast their Nets into the Waters but that Night they catched nothing In the Morning Jesus presented himself to them on the Shore but his Disciples knew not that it was he And he asked them Children have ye any thing to eat They answered No And he said unto them Cast the Net on the Right side of the Ship and ye shall find They cast immediately and catched so great a Number of Fishes that they could not pull it up Then John the Beloved Disciple of Jesus said unto Peter It is the Lord. Then Peter presently taking his Garment which he had put off to Fish cast himself into the Water to go quickly to his Master on the Shore The other Disciples who were not far from Land but as it were Two Hundred Cubits or an Hundred Yards came to him with the Ship dragging with them the Net full of Fishes Being come ashore they found Coals burning and Fish upon them and Bread Jesus said unto them Bring hither some of the Fish that ye have catch'd And Peter going presently into the Ship drew the Net to Land with a Hundred Fifty Three great Fish in it And the Gospel observes that tho' it was full of so many heavy Fish it was not broken Jesus said unto them Come and Dine Then they went to him not daring to ask him Who he was