out for fear of him 5. The case of possessed souls in whom the spirit of disobedience doth rule is to be seen in these whose bodies were possessed with divels the man is their lodging house he is no more master of his own actions but is Satans slave The mans eyes look for Satan his hands and feet work and walk for Satan his throat is made Satans blowing-horn his mouth speaketh for Satan and here they cry out by the Poor mans throat saying What have we to do with thee 6. Divels did know Christ to be the Son of God but they knew also that he came not in the world for their good but to be Saviour of men therefore What have we 〈◊〉 do wâ—th thee say they 7. Albeit it be not in the divels power not to yeeld to Christ yet they remain their wicked aversnesse to obey him being loath to leave the possession they have gotten they would be let alone by him if they could and do wickedly plead for it saying What have we to do with thee 8. They know there is a time coming when they shall be more tormented then they are as yet even the day of Judgement and this they tremble at saying Art thou come to torment us before the time 9. They cannot hurt so much as a sow except Christ Lord of Heaven and Earth do suffer them therefore the divels besought Christ saying If thou cast 〈◊〉 out suffer us to go away into the herd of swine 10. The Lord suffereth somtime Satan to have his wil of mens bodies and goods for their tryal as here to go into the Gadarens swine to try the owners mind therfore Christ said unto them Go. 11. These wicked spirits love alwayes to do evill and make it a sport to destroy what they are permitted Therefore they drove the swine headlong into the sea and made them perish in the water 12. To the end that the tryal of men might be perfected Christ will have them to know be Spirituall benefits of the Gospel as well as the temporall inconveniencies following it This it the reason that Christ will have the Gadarens to know as well of the delivery of men possessed with divels as of the drowning of the swine for The swincherds tell them of all that so they might be inexcusable 13. Men left to their own selves will choose any thing rather then Christ and will do no better then these Gadarens did 14. Temporall losse of swine is so great in the worldly mens estimation that spirituall advantage is nothing esteemed of for the Gadarens are not so moved with the delivery of the souls and bodies of the possessed men as they are with the losse of their swine 15. If men see nothing of Christs sweet mercies but only take up his power they will be loath to have him in their company therfore these Gadarens do Beseech him to dapart from them Such worldly men will rather quit the Gospel then hazard their worldly goods 16. This is the greatest token of Christs leaving a place or not coming into a place when the whole incorporation city or place doth consist only of Gadarens and all do consent that he should depart for there apparantly he hath no errand to stay him and wheresoever Christ hath no imployment thence will he remove CHAP. IX Here are moe evidences of Christs divine power authority and love to his people in healing the palsie and pardoning of sin vers 8. Calling of Matthew and defending of his Disciples vers 17. Removing of sicknesse vers 22. Raising the dead vers 31. Dispossessing divels vers 35. And care to have ministers provided for the conversion of souls Ver. 1. ANd he entered into a ship and passed over and came into his own city HE cometh to Cpernaum which is called his own city not only because he dwelt in it but because he had a number of his own in it as may be gathered from the history Hence learn 1. That the more godly persons be in a city the more the Lord will own it and albeit a city for the most part be unthankfull as Capernaum was yet will noâ— the ungratitude of the multitude hinder him to be good to his own in it for Christ here returneth to Capernaum and makes it be stiled His own city Ver. 2. And behold they brought to him a man sick of the palsie lying on a bed and Iesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsie Son be of good cheer thy sins are forgiven thee In the healing of the soul and body of the man sick of the palsie learn 1. That such as are seeking benefit of Christ will watch for oportunity to finde him When Christ cometh to Capernaum certain men do bring out One sick of the palsie to him 2. It is an act of lively faith as to come to Christ so also to help others to come unto Christ for of those that bring the palsie sick to Christ as well as of the palsie sick himself it is said Iesus saw their faith 3. Our Lord loves to entertain faith with evidences of respect unto the beleevers for Iesus seeing their faith speaketh comfortably unto the palsie sick 4. When Christ will heal sicknesse and miseries at the root he takes away sin and forgiveth it therefore saith he to the palsie sick Thy sins are forgiven thee 5. When he remitteth sin he advanceth a man to Son-ship and doth regenerate him Therfore Christ doth here call him Son while he pronounceth him forgiven 6. The man whose sins are forgiven is blessed albeit his outward condition do seem miserable Therefore Jesus biddeth the sick of the palsie be of good chear because his sins were forgiven Ver. 3. And behold certain of the Scribes said within themselves This man blasphemeth The adversaries of Christ conceive ill thoughts of this his mercy to the palsie sick Hence learn 1. That it is no wonder to see Christs followers misconstrued for the Scribes think of Christ himselfe that he blasphemeth 2. Even these who are of the learned sort who should know him best may be mistaken about him for Certain of the Scribes misconsture him 3. Any vail is sufficient to blind-fold the wicked for these men will not see Christ to be God notwithstanding he doth demonstrate his deitie daily because they see him to be a man This man say they blasphemeth 4. Christs forgiving sins by his own authority was a plain avowing himself to be very God for who can forgive sins so but God And this is the ground whereupon the Scribes do think Christ guilty of blasphemie that being as they thought a man and no more he did forgive sins by his own authority which is the property of God Ver. 4. And Iesus knowing their thoughts said Wherfore think ye evill in your hearts Christ will prove himselfe to be God by discovering their inward thoughts Hence learn 1. That the more the God-head of our Lord be opposed the more will he
unto him Doct. 1. The Lord knoweth the intentions of his honest servants and sets a price on their good deeds therby therfore saith he She did it for my buriall 2. Our Lord knew that the gospell should be preached through the world c what was to be preached also for Where this gospel shal be preached saith be this shall be told c. 3. True faith seeth afar off for this woman seeth life in death believeth the Lord Jesus to be the true Saviour worthy of all honour in his death as well as in his life believeth that he should not see corruption believeth that his death should be a sweet smelling sacrifice to God and the savour of life unto his people for She did it saith Christ for my buriall 4. The memorial of the just shall not go to the grave with them but their good deeds shal be had in everlasting remembrance In this woman we have assurance of it for This shall be preached for a memorial of her saith he 5. Whosoever do any thing for Christ shall never have cause to rew Christ accounts more of it then it is all worthy for She hath wrought a good work on me saith Christ before and now This shall be told of her for a memoriall Ver. 14. Then one of the twelve called Iudas Iscariot went unto the chief Priests 15. And said unto them What will you give me and I wil deliver him unto you and they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver 16. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him Iudas minding to have gain some way seeketh opportunity first to sel then to betray Christ. Doct. 1. When a wicked man is ingaged to do an evill turne he never taketh rest till he act it as is here seen in Judas from that time he sought opportunity to betray Christ. 2. When men have an evil turne in their heart and want opportunity only they shall not want occasion long as Judas minding to sell Christ doth seek and find fit Merchants the chief Priests 3. God will suffer wicked men to follow their designes even against himselfe when he seeth it fit for his own glory as here he wil not hinder a Judas to go to the high priests 4. He that is greedy of gain will sel his Soul and Heaven and Christ for money as Judas here doth 5. He that is not Christs friend in truth will soon turn Traitour as Iudas here doth 6. Hypocrites wil be found in best societies for here a Traitour is one of the twelve 7. The wicked shall bear their own blame and the society shall be free as here Judas is named alone 8. Secret enemies and open will easily agree together and own one another as here Judas and the high Priests make a short bargain 9. He thaâ—â—ellâ—th Christ knoweth not his worth for Whâ— wilâ— you giâ—e me saith the seller 10. He that will sin and sell Christ will do it upon a naughty condition ere he want all Thirty pieces of silver or what may be had will make the bargain â—all Ver. 17. Now the first day of the Feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Iesus saying unto him Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passeover The doctrine of the covenant of grace being delivered by our Lord and confirmed abundantly by miracles the institution of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper followeth for sealing up of this covenant unto the believer and to this intent mention is made of Christs last eating of the Sacrament of the Passover unto which was subjoyned the institution celebration of the Sacramental Supper for the clearing of some circumstances whereof and of the duty of preparation for right receiving of it that which is here spoken of the Passeover doth give light Doct. 1. It is commendable to remember Gods Ordinances in due time and to prepare for them as here The first day of the Feast the Disciples came and make ready for it 2. Our Lord made himself so poor that he had not a house of his own albeit he was Owner of all the earth as Where wilt thou that we prepare doth import 3. Our Lord subjected himself unto the Law and did keep exactly both the Moral and ceremoniall Law that he might deliver us from the yoke of the one and from the cursefor breaking of the other He kept the Passover 4. The terms of Sacramental speech were wel understood by Christs disciples as to put the thing signified for the sign namely by this phrase To cat the Passeover they mean to â—at the Lamb the Sacramental memorial of the Angels passing over of the houses of the Israelites in Egypt Ver. 18. And be said Go into the city to such a man and say unto him The Master saith My time is at hand I will keep the Passoever at thy house with my Disciples 19. And the Disciples did as Iesus had appointed them and they made ready the Passeover Christ directeth them to a friends house a worthy man for so holy a service Doct. 1. The Lord wil not want friends whersoever he is here in Jerusalem he hath friends as he had also in Bethany Go into the city to such a man saith he 1. He hath such commandement of the spirits of men as he can bow their will to do what service he pleaseth for he is sure to make such a man obey 3. Christ hath taken on him to be our Teacher and to him only the dignity of Master is due therefore he calleth himself the Master 4. It is of his own free choise that our Lord doth imploy any man more thâ—n another for Go to such a man and say importeth this 5. The more near our time to depart this life doth draw the more carefull should we be to have all things done by us which should beâ— done therefore saith he My time is at hand I will keep the Passeover 6. It is the part of true Disciples to follow Christs direction in all things and being clear in the command to go about the obedience of it for The Disciples did as Iesus appointed Ver. 20. Now when the even was come he sate down with the twelve For clearing of the history of the Lords Supper which was instituted at the close of the Passeover we have here set down the circumstances of eating of the Passeover as time place and persons whereby we have ground to conceive that Iudas was present at the Sacrament of the Passeover he being one of the twelve for first seeing there is no question made that as Iudas was imployed in the Apostleship with the rest so he was admitted also with the rest unto the fellowship of all Worship and Divine Ordinances and was present at so many former feasts of the Passeover as Christ did keep with his Disciples there can be no inconvenience to suppose him present at the Passeover at this time also Secondly seeing whatsoever is said by Historiographers concerning a
calling him Our Father in behalf of all the children on earth for whom and with whom we do pray From the first Petition we are taught that every true Disciple of Christ must have the glorifying of God for his chiefest desire for first and above all must he seek that Gods Name may be hallowed 2. That God must be hallowed as he maketh himself known by his word for it is his Name or Himself as he is named and manifested by his word and ordinances and works and providence which is to be hallowed 3. That he himself must be the procurer of his own glory among men for therfore pray we Hallowed be thy name Ver. 10. Thy Kingdom come thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven From the second petition we are taught that beside the generall Kingdome and government of all things which is alwayes fully in vigour there is a speciall Kingdome of grace wherein God is revealed and acknowledged to be King and Lord over his Saints this Christ cals Thy Kingdom as a peculiar wherein he specially delights 2. That this Kingdom of grace is so come already as it shall be still coming more and more so long as Christs Disciples shall have need to pray that is till the fulness of glory in the second coming of Christ shall be revealed Then shall the Kingdom prayed for fully come 3. That God is he who doth promove bring on and perfect this kingdome Therefore must we say Thy Kingdome come 4. That od will have all his Disciples drawing at his royall and triumphing chariot by their prayers and saying Thy kingdom come From the third Petition we learn 1. That albeit God dwelleth in heaven and doth all his intended will yet men do not obey as they should his commanded wil. Therefore there is need in this respect still to pray Thy will be done 2. That the Saints must renounce obedience to their own will and to Satans will and to the will of men and must submit themselves absolutely to Gods will revealed by word or work saying Not mine but thy will be done 3. That it must be divine power which shall change mens hearts and frame them to the obedience of his will and to this end do we request him to subdue mens wils to his own saying Thy will be done 4. That God hath no work of sanctification to work upon any man but upon these only who are on the earth for they that are in heaven are perfected and else-where there is none whose will the Lord doth sanctifie Therefore do we pray only Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven 5. Albeit we do not attain unto perfection of Holiness in this life yet we must aim at it long and pray for it for our Lord teacheth us to pray That the will of God may be done iâ— earth as it is in heaven Ver. 11. Give us this day our daily bread From the fourth petition we learn 1. That whatsoever we make use of for our subsistence comprised here under bread must be sanctified unto us by prayer and God must be acknowledged in every meanest matter which concerns our bodily sustentation even to the least morsell of Daily Bread 2. That we live not mainly by bread but by Gods word and his powerfull blessing imported in Giving of bread 3. That how lawfully soever and deservedly at mens hands we get our bread yet in regard Gof od we deserve nothing but must have all of free bounty must beg of him daily to give us our daily bread 4. That we should not be anxious for to morrow nor for great allowance in the world sufficient for the day is the care of it self and we must be content to crave and to receive This day our daily bread 5. That as we pray not for the dead but onely with and for such as have need of Daily bread and are living on earth with us so should we be sensible of their necessities and pray for them as for ourselves saying Give us our bread Vers. 12. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debters From the fifth Petition learn 1. That none of Christs Disciples are so fully sanctified in this life but sin will be found in them and that there is a necessity lying on us to acknowledg our sins 2. That every day in many things weâ— offend all and must confesse not only sin but sins 3. That howsoever we have right unto remission of sins in Christ Jesus yet we must seek to apply that our right unto our daily faults and beg the use of our right for applying of forgiveness 4. That our sins deserve due punishment even death which is a naturall merit of sin which doth oblige us unto the penalty for therefore sins here are called Debts 5. That the sin being forgiven the vindictive punishment is forgiven also for to the same sense are we directed to say Forgive us our debt and forgive us our sins Where-through it cometh to passe that there is no remission of sin and retaining of vindictive punishment but both the guilt and this sort of punishment are forgiven and taken away together 6. Wrongs done by others unto us do oblige the doers of injury to repair the wrong and so do make them not only debters unto God but also unto us therefore doth our Lord call such as have done wrong unto us Our debters 7. Though publick respects may move us to seek reparations of wrongs in the way of justice yet not only must we renounce private revenge of wrong done unto us but also forgive the same especially when the offender calleth for it at our hand for Christ presupposeth that he who seeks forgiveness of God doth also give forgiveness to men 8. It is an argument to perswade us of forgivenesse from God of our wrongs when we forgive men their wrongs done against us for Christ will have him who saith forgive us our trespasses to say also As we forgave these that trespasse against us Vers. 13. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evill For thine is the kingdome and the power and the glory for ever Amen From the sixth petition learn 1. That when our sins are forgiven us we are in perill to be overcome of new again by the tempter Satan of which our weaknesse and Satans power craft and malice we should be so sensible as in fear to be insnared we should pray not to be led in Satans temptations 2. Because we have so oft yeelded unto Satans temptation and of our self we are so prone to be tempted and to be overcome of our own concupiscence that God justly may give us over unto Satans temptation Therefore it is necessary that we should request God not To lead us in his justice into temptation 3. If God for our tryall and further humiliation shall suffer us to be tempted we may with confidence pray and expect that we shall be delivered from that ill
deeds for this is the intent of the similitude 2. As a man carryeth himself for Christ or against him so is he good or evil and though he were as blameless otherwise as these Pharisees yet he is a wicked man if he be against Christ for The tree is known by his fruit Ver. 34. O generation of vipers how can ye being evil speak good things For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh A second reason because the whole â—ect of the Pharisees were a wicked Pack seeming to be friends to the Law but adversaries to Christ the true intent thereof adversaries to the grace of God and to righteousnesse by faith and so not only by nature but also by succession to their Predecessours in holding their poisonable doctrine they were a generation of vipers the worst sort of adders who being evill could not speak good and having their heart full of poison could not but speak as their heart dyted unto them Hence learn 1. It is impossible for unrenewed men to speak good far more impossible to do good for How can you that are evil speak good saith he 2. Men who glory in their forebears as these men did in Abraham Isaac and Jacob and do not follow their footsteps are in Gods account to be fathered on Satan and are the viperous brood of his children Therefore justly doth our Lord call these men Generation of vipers A third reason Because the overflowing of their hearts in blasphemous words did prove them to be wicked blasphemers Doct. 1. The heart is the fountain of a mans words and works as it is set so is the current of a mans words and works good or evil for Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh 2. Whensoever evill doth break forth in a mans words for that time at least evil aboundeth in the heart for Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Ver. 35. A good man out of the treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things A fourth reason proving them to be wicked is because they did delight to lay up wickedness in their heart and to bring forth ill out of their heart Doct. Whether a man be renewed and a good man or unrenewed and an evil man it may be known by the stuffe which delibrately he layeth up in his heart and deliberately brings forth out of his heart for If it be a good treasure he is a good man if it be an evil treasure he is an evill man for here such as the man is such is his treasure for A good man out of the good treasure and an evil man of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth c. Ver. 36. But I say unto you That every idle word that men shal speak they shal give account thereof in the day of judgement Thus Christ hath removed the pretext and conceit of the Pharisees holiness now he removeth the conceit of the smalnesse of their sin in respect it was a matter of words for two reasons The first is Idle words should be punished much more blasphemous words Hence learn 1. How little soever men do esteem of words yet in Gods ballance they weigh not light for not only wicked words but also idle words such as serve for no good purpose or for no lawfull end shall come in reckoning as so many sins Therefore saith he Every idle word they shall give account therof 2. There shall be a day of judgment wherein all sins even words shall come to be judged for here a day of judgment is set and this judgment shall passe upon particulars even upon words whereof men have not before given account and received pardon Ver. 37. For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Another reason shewing that words will be respected by God whatsoever men think of them because the course of a mans words being naughty shall be sufficient to be a ditty to prove a man unrighteous and being well seasoned shall be a sufficient evidence to prove a man righteous therfore words are not to be slighted Hence learn That as a well governed tongue and the course of wisely ordered speeches is and shall be in Gods judgement a sufficient evidence of a man renewed and justified so also a loose tongue is and shal be an evidence of the contrary Ver. 38. Then certain of the Scribes and of the Pharisees answered saying Master we would see a sign from thee Another dispute about signes which the Pharisees craved of Christ wherein learn 1. That Christ was exercised with divers sorts of temptations by his adversaries some openly blaspheming some subtilly insinuating as if they would deal reasonably with him Master say these men we would see a sight as if they never had seen any of his miracles before or as if upon the doing of some miracle they minded to believe in him 2. Christs miracles were sufficient to cleare that he was the Messiah for even his enemies can crave no more but to have a sign for say they We would see a sign from thee 3. Obstinat unbeleevers wil not be satisfied with any of Gods words or works but stil wil crave new ones as these men after numbers of signes crave yet a sign 4. Mis-beleevers are also limitators of the Holy One of Israel nothing will satisfie these men but a sign at their direction We desire to see a sign say they Ver. 39. But he answered and said to them an evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of the Prophet Ionas 40 For as Ionas was three days and three nights in the Whales belly so shall the son of man be three dayes and three nights in the heart of the earth Our Lord refuseth to give them any signe save this That after they had killed him he should rise from the dead as Jonas came out of the Whales belly and so they would not prevaile over him for all their malice In this answer learn 1. That a people that doth not embrace the Lord as he is pleased to offer himselfe is a people alienate from God and is a follower of another God of their own devising for therefore he calleth them Adulterous generation 2. As when Jonas his doctrine was rejected by the Jewes God made him be accepted in Niniveh So shall it be with such as will not receive Christ offering himselfe unto them he shall find others to take the offer If the Jews refuse the Gentiles shal receive him this is one way of having the signe of Ionas 3. Again the enemies of Christ who will not cease to peâ—secute him shall know by Christs victory over them that he is the Messiah for as Jonas was proved to be the Lords Peophet by his miraculous delivery from death so shall Christ be found to be the true
prophets are Christs servants and witnesses unto him all of them agreeing in one with him 2. That the dead in the Lord are not perished but live with God in heaven for Moses and Elias are seen here kept therefore Vers. 4. Then answered Peter and said unto Iesus Lord it is good for us to be here if thou wilt let us make here three Tabernacles one for thee and one for Moses and one for Elias The effect of this glorious vision ravisheth so the hearts of the three apostles that they could have taken this estate for heaven Hence learn 1. How joyful the sight of glorified persons shall be 2. The sight of the least part of the glory in heaven so ravisheth the soul that it forgetteth all that is on the earth and is so satisfactory that a soul could rest on the least degree thereof as in a heaven for It is good to be here saith Peter 3. It is our nature if it be well with our selves not to care for others little mind had the Apostles what need others had of their service when they could have stayed still on the mount Verse 5. While hee yet spake behold a bright cloud overshadowed them and behold a voice out of the cloud which said This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him The third point of Christs glorification is the testimony of the Father concerning his Son Jesus which Peter could never forget again 2 Peter 1.17 First they see a bright cloud then they hear a voyce out of the cloud for we are not able to behold him as he is and must not pry into his glory which is unsearchable but must take heed unto what he revealed by the eare a Voice of his Word must reveal God unto us and that which is here revealed concerning Christ is 1. That the Man Christ is true God the Son of God one in substance with the Father for This is my Son saith the Father 2. That as he is incarnate going about the work of Redemption and presenting himself Mediator for us to satisfie God in all things about us he is Beloved accepted approved as satisfactory and rested upon for our behove In whom I am well pleased saith the Father 3. That we are to take him foâ— our Teacher and Commander to beleeve and obey Him for the Father hath said to us all Hear him Ver. 6. And when the disciples heard it they fell on their face and were sore afraid This voyce was so full of Majesty proceeding from the excellent glory that the disciples fel down Doct. 1. When the God-head of the Father or of Christ is manifested who can stand before his Majesty No wonder they fel on their face the presence of the Lord in this life even in mercy reveiled is very fearfull for it is said They were sore afraid such is his glory and our weakness Ver. 7. And Iesus came and touched them and said Arise and be not afraid Thus lay the Apostles as dead men till Christ came and put strength and comfort in them Doct. It is Christ by whom we are lift up when we fal and confirmed against our fears for the disciples did not stir till he touched them and said Be not afraid Ver. 8. And when they had lift up their eyes they saw no man save Iesus only That we may know that the voice was spoke of Jesus and concerned him alone he alone is left with the disciples and now the vision is removed when the intent of it is obtained Doct. The Lord measureth the means of manifesting himself as he seem fit for our good for When they lifted up their eyes they saw none but Iesus only Ver. 9. And as they came down from the mountain Iesus charged them saying Tell the vision to no man untill the Son of man be risen again from the dead The discharging of the disciples to shew the vision until the resurrection teacheth us that the Lord hath his own set-time when he wil make use of what he revealeth to his servants and will bring forth every truth in his own time when it may be most useful Therfore saith he Tell no man till the Son of man be risen from the dead Ver. 10. And his disciples asked him saying Why then say the Scribes that Elias must first come Upon the departure of Elias and the discharge of revealing the vision the three Disciples do move a question about the Prophesie of the coming of Elias which the Disciples do think to be now accomplished and that by his staying still it might have appear'd to the world to be accomplished But Christ sheweth that that prophesie was accomplished another way in John Baptist. Doct. 1. What doubts do arise unto us about Scripture among other means let us by prayer crave solution of them through Christ as the Disciples here asked him about Elias 2 The adversaries of Christ are ready to blindfold themselves and others also by mistaking Scriptures like these Scribes who wil not acknowledg Christ to be come Til Elias come to wit in their way Ver. 11. And Iesus answered and said unto them Elias truely shal first come and restore all things 12. But I say unto you that Elias is already come and they knew him not but have done unto him whatsoever they lifted likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them Our Lord did answer that indeed the Scripture must be accomplished not a letter fail for Elias saith he truly shal first come and that when John Baptist came this Scripture concerning the coming of Elias was fulfilled because when John Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elias Elias in a manner was revived for as Elias set himself to the reformation of Religion when all was wrong in his time so John Baptist when the whole frame of Religion was marred by the corruption of the Jewish Doctors did renew the doctrine and worship again Doct. 1. The fulfilling of the Scriptures may readily be mistaken of men for when that which is foretold is done before their eyes they wil not see it for Now Elias is come and they knew him not 2. The world instead of receiving Gods Messengers as becometh are ready to abuse them as they please Therefore saith he They have done to him what they listed 3. As men do deal with Christs Servants so would they deal with Christs self if they were able and could get occasion for Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them saith Christ. Ver. 13. Then the Disciples understood that he spake unto them of Iohn the Baptist. By this speech the Apostles take satisfaction and stumble no more at this doubt Doct. Albeit our Lord do not answer mens doubts and questions in so many letters and syllables yet he will make his own disciples understand the solution of their questions and what is his meaning His inquisitive Scholers shall be taught what is needful for them to know as here
false prophets that they shall not always be deceived Ver. 25. Behold I have told you before The Lord commandeth to make use of the warning Doct. 1. The Lords forewarning of the danger from false prophets should stirre up all to be the more watchfull and it shall make men inexcusable if they shall be seduced for Behold I have told you before saith he 2. The doctrine of election doth not give warrant unto security but should be made use of for diligence and watchfulness therfore saith he Behold I have told you for God hath decreed as to save the Elect so to save them by his own means 3. This forewarning sheweth that albeit the elect shal not bealtogether and without recovery deceived yet they may be so farr mistaken as it had been good they had watched much sin and misery may befal a man by not watching albeit at length he may be brought forth of it for Behold I have told you before maketh the Lord free of what ill unwatchfulnesse may let in Ver. 26. Wherefore if they shall say unto you Behold he is in the desert go not forth behold he is in the secret chambers believe it not As before ver 23. So here again Christ bids them beware to believe his bodily locall presence in the earth after his Ascension untill the day of judgment Doct. 1. Such a Christ as is not the Son of Abraham the Son of David such a one as is not described to us in the scriptures is not to be looked upon nor believed nor esteemed of such a Christ as is said to be locally present in the earth after Christs Ascension a man should not go unto nor believe any speech of such a Christ as shal be said to be in his body in the desert or in a chamber or in a box or in a wafer-cake Lo here lo there or such like as the Papists have their Christ Beleeve it not saith Christ himself Ver. 27. For as the lightning cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west so shall also the coming of the Son of man be He giveth a reason why such imaginations of his being on the earth in his body is not to be believed Doct. after Christ's Ascension no other bodily presence of Christ or coming into the World is to be beleeved save his second coming in glory which shall be on a sudden when men are not looking for itâ— and in such evidence of glory that all the World from the East to the West shall be made witnesses of it for As the lightning so shall the coming of the Son of man be saith Christ. Ver. 28. For wheresoever the carcasse is there will the eagles be gathered together He meeteth with an objection if he come in the East or in the West how shal those Elect persons come unto him who shal be so farr removed from that place as is the VVest from the East he answereth and teacheth that as the eagles from all quarters are shortly gathered unto the place where the carcass is so shall all the Elect be swiftly gathered together to the place where Christ shall shew his bodily presence at his second coming to judgment Doct. We need not trouble our selves about the swift dispatch of the last judgement how or in what place of the World the convocation of the Elect shall be this is sufficient We shall meet with Christ where he shall be for Where the carcass is there will the Eagles be gathered together Ver. 29. Immediately after the tribulation of those dayes shall the sun be darkened and the moon shall not give her light and the starrs shall fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken For further satisfaction of his Disciples Our Lord giveth six signes of his second coming Doct. 1. All the time before the second coming of our Lord whatsoever comforts may be mixed shal be dayes of tribulation and not so free of the miseries of this life as some do dream for here he telleth us the second coming of our Lord shal be immediatly after the tribulation of these days are ended and brought toward a period 2. When all the Churches Exercises all her Tribulations and warfare are accomplished then shall the comforter Jesus Christ come to give full refreshment immediately 3. Yet shall his coming be in a terrible manner to the world with such an alteration made upon the creatures being now all of them to be changed from the estate of vanity whereunto they are subject that Sun Moon and Stars obscured by the glory of Christ shall no more be able to give comfort unto men not to shew forth their glory as before but shall cease from their service and lose their power expressed here by Darkning not giving light falling from heaven and shaking of heaven as a tree that casteth her fruit for so must it be ere they be made new this is the first signe of his coming Ver. 30. And then shall appear the signe of the Son of man in heaven and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory The second signe or evidence of Christ's coming iâ— the glorious shining of Christ's Person approaching called the signe of the Son of Man because as the light of the Sun approaching is a signe of the present appearing or rising of the Sun so shall the shining glory of Christ's approaching which is more bright than the Sun Acts 26.13 14. be a signe of his present appearing what other signe of the Son of Man beside this may be we leave it till the time come of his revealing of it Doct. 1. Christ shall be seen visible Judge of quick and dead at the last day in his humane nature 〈◊〉 The signe of the Son of Man bodily descending shall appear in heaven The third signe of Christ's coming is the mourning of all people it being now manifest that the day of judgement is come the penitent shal fall on mourning and lamenting theâ—â— sins with a godly sorrow that they may be fitted for the promised consolation of wiping all tears from theâ— eyes and the wicked shall fall on weeping for the misery coâ—ing on them presently by the sentence of their Judge Doct. 1. Such as have mocked at the day of judgement and sâ—offed at piety and rejected or abused the Gospel of Jesus Christ shall then mourn a great mourning All the tribes of the earth shall mourn The fourth signe of his coming is the manifestation of his bodily down-coming in the clouds with power and great glory Doct. Howsoever Christ's first coming was in much infirmity because he was to suffer for us yet his second coming being to judgment and to reward all according to their works as here iâ— said Shall be with power and glory Ver. 31. And he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shall gather
together his elect from the four windes from one end of heaven to the other The fifth signe There shall be a great sound of a trumpet as it were summoning all to compear before the Tribunall of Christ unto judgement which teacheth us That the Day of Judgement shall be no lesse terrible thâ—n the Day of Promulgation of the Law upon Mount Sinai as for other reasons so for this that as there was an audible Trumpet which sounded at the giving out of the Law so 〈◊〉 there be an audible Sound of a Trumpet at the Day of judging Men for transgressing the Law The sixth signe or evidence of Christ's coming is That the Elect being raised from death or in stead of death changed from this mortall life unto the estate of Immortality the Angels shall be set on work to gather them from all the quarters of the earth whence the winds do blow or from the utmost paâ—eâ— of the earth where the sight of the Heavens have an end Doct. Albet the Elect be now fat scattered one from another in sundry respects yet then shall they all meet together not one shal be in lacking for the Angels shall gather Christ's Elect in unto him from one end of heaven unto another Ver. 32. Now learn a parable of the fig-treeâ— When 〈◊〉 branch is â—et tender and putteth forth leaves ye know that Summer is high 33. So likewise ye when ye shall see all tâ—â—â—e things know was it is near even at the doors 34. Verily I say unto you this generation shall not passe will all these things be fulfilled 35. Heaven and earth shall passe away but my words shall not passe away After he hath given the signes of the destruction of Jerusalem and of his own second coming he confirmed them in the certainty of the coming of both and draweth all this doctrine to good use and first he certifieâ—h them of the destruction of the Temple under the parable of a fig-tree that when the fig-tree beginneth to bud Summer is near So when they should see the Jews dâ—ting on false Christs hearkâ—â—ing to false prophets persecuting the preachers of the Gospel growing tumultuous and seditious under hopes of a bodily liberation from the yoke of the Romans rumours of wars arising Armies coming in upon Judea then let them perswade themselves saith he When these signs should appear judgment was at the door upon that Nation and that both these signes and the destruction of Jerusalem with the Temple should all come to passe in the dayes of them that were then living vers 33 34 and he forbiddeth them to doubt hereof because his words were more firm then heaven or earth vers 35. And so much for the destruction of the Temple and the signes and time therof Doct. 1. When we see some part of the truth of God come to passe in our sight it should help us to beleeve and expect the fulfilling of the rest as When we see the trees bud we know that Summer is near 2. It is hard to our misbeleeving hearts to give that credit to Christs words whereof they are worthy but by so much more is our Lords love to us and care of us to be praised and admired that he by so many meanes goeth about to confirm and perswade us therfore saith he Verily I say unto you c. 3. Whatsoever Christ doth say shal be or shal not be his word is more firm then the Fabrick of heaven and earth for these shal be altered but the Lords word is solid and endureth for ever Heaven and earth shal pass rather saith he c. Ver. 36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man no not the Angels in heaven but my Father only Concerning the precise time of his second coming he saith that neither man nor Angel knoweth but only the Father wherby he doth not exclude the rest of the persons of the God-head but only the creatures Doct. 1. The peremptory time of the day of judgement â—nd keepeth it to himself secret and will not have it particularly known and therefore it should not be narrowly pryed into for Of this day and hour knoweth no man c. 2. All things are not revealed neither to the Angels nor to men but so much at may edifie the Church and as concerneth us to know for My Father only knoweth saith he Ver. 37. But as the dayes of Noah were so shall also the coming of the Son of man be 38. For as in the dayes that were before the flood they were eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage untill the day that Noah entred into the Ark. 39. And knew not untill the flood came and tooke them all away so also shall the coming of the Son of man be Our Lord draweth this doctrine unto use to stir us up unto watchfulness and to this end he setteth before us seven motives the first motive is There is no small hazard in case men be sound secure and not watching when Christ cometh therefore watchfulnesse is necessary Doct. 1. It is safer to make ready for the day of judgment and to watch lest we be surprised then to be curious to know the particular time of it for As the dayes of Noah were c. 2. As the old world did not beleeve judgement coming albeit forewarned by Noah that it was coming so fares â—â— with the world and will be so with the multitude of the world till the day of judgment for As in the dayes of Noah 3. When men beleeve not things concerning the day of judgement and another life no wonder they be given over unto and drowned in the matters of this life for They were eating c. that is This and the like was al their care 4. Whatsoever truth men do not beleeve when it is told them that they do not rightly know though they conceive the meaning of the word told them for it is said They knew not 5. Who so beleeve not judgment when it is threatned shall feele judgement and be taken away with it when it cometh for The flood came and tooke them all away Ver. 40. Then shall two be in the field the one shall be taken and the other left 41. Two women shal be grinding at the mil the one shal be taken and the other left This second motive of watchfulnesse teaching that at the day of judgement they who have lived in near fellowship shal be shed one from another as for example they who had been joyned in one work Some in the field some in the miâ— 2. The meanest degree of people shall be taken notice of Even women labourers in the field grinding at the mill 3. Judgement shall passe exceeding exactly to take one and leave another to pull up one to meet Christ in the clouds and leave another to be punished with the damned Therefore watchfulnesse is necessary Ver. 42. Watch therefore for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come The third motive teaching