holy Persons are not polluted by the Sins of such For to the Pure all things are Pure 21 And as they did eat he said Verily I say unto you that one of you shall betray me What an astonishing Word was this One of you my Disciples shall betray me Can any Church on Earth expect Purity in all its Members when Christ's own Family of Twelve had a Traitor and a Devil in it Yet tho' it was very sad to hear that one should betray him it was Matter of Joy that it was but One One Hypocrite in a Congregation is too much but there is cause of rejoicing if there be no more But why did not Christ name Judas and say Thou art he that shalt betray me Doubtless to draw him to Repentance and to prevent giving Judas any Provocation Lord how sad is it for such as pretend Friendship to Christ and call themselves of his Family and Acquaintance who eat of his Bread and yet lift up the Heel against him 22 And they were exceeding sorrowful and began every one of them to say unto him Lord is it I Observe here 1. The Disciples Sorrow and next the Effect of that Sorrow Their Sorrow was as well it might exceeding great Well might innocent Disciples be overwhelm'd with Sorrow to hear that their Master should dye that he should dye by Treason that the Traitor should be one of themselves But tho' their Sorrow was great yet was the Effect of their Sorrow very good it wrought in them an holy Suspicion of themselves and caused every one to search himself and say Master is it I Thence Learn That it is possible for such secret Wickedness to lurk in our Hearts as we never suspected which Time and Temptation may draw forth in such a manner as we could not believe and therefore it is both wise and holy to suspect our selves and be often saying Lord is it I There is no better Preservative from Sin than to be jealous over our selves with a godly Jealousie Observe farther That tho' the Disciples Fear and Sorrow made them jealous and suspicious yet was it of themselves not of one another nay not of Judas himself Every one said Master is it I Not Master is it Judas Learn hence That true Sincerity and Christian Charity will make us more suspicious of our selves than of any other Person whatsoever It always hopes the best of others and fears the worst concerning our selves 23 And he answered and said He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish the same shall betray me 24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him but wo unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed it had been good for that man if he had not been born 25 Then Judas which betrayed him answered and said Master is it I He said unto him Thou hast said Here our Saviour acquaints his Disciples who it was that had designed his Death even he that dipped with him in the Dish or he to whom he gave the Sop. Observe The Traitor whom Christ less loved he has the Sop given to him the other Disciples whom Christ lov'd better had no such particular Boon Outward good Things are not always given to the Children of Men in Love but are sometimes bestowed in Displeasure there is no measuring Christ's Affection by Temporal Blessings no concluding either Love or Hatred by these things Observe farther how Judas could sit still and hear the Threats of Judgment denounced against himself without Concern he hears Christ say Wo to the Man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed and is no more blank'd than Innocence it self Resolved Sinners run on desperately in their wicked Courses and with open Eyes see and meet their own Destruction and are neither dismayed at it nor concerned about it Observe farther That this shameless Man had the Impudence to say to Christ Master is it I Our Saviour gives him a direct Affirmation Thou hast said Did not Judas think we blush and cast down his guilty Eyes and let fall his droâ—ping dead at so gauling an Intimation Nothing less Lord how does Obâ—urâ—cy in Sin steel the Brow and make it uncapable of all relenting Impressions Observe Lastly How Christ preferrs Non-Entity before Damnation It had been better for that Man he had never been born A Temporal miserable Being is not worse than no Being but an Eternal miserable Being is worse than no Being at all Eternal Misery is much worse than Non-Entity It had been better for Judas he had not been born than to commit such a Sin and lye under such Wrath and that everlasting Oh better to have no Being than not to have a Being in Christ 26 And as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the disciples and said Take eat this is my body 27 And he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it 28 For this is my blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins 29 But I say unto you I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom 30 And when they had sung an hymn they went out into the mount of Olives Immediately after the Celebration of the Passover follows the Institution of the Lord's Supper In which Observe 1. The Author of this new Sacrament Jesus took Bread Note thence That to institute a Sacrament is Christ's sole Prerogative it is the Churches Duty to celebrate the Sacraments but she has Power to make none This belongs only to Christ Observe 2. The Time of the Institution the Night before his Passion The Night before he was betrayed Jesus took Bread Learn thence That it is very necessary when Sufferings are approaching to have Recourse to the Table of the Lord which affords both an Antidote against Fear and is Restorative to Faith Observe here 3. The Sacramental Elements Bread and Wine Bread representing his Body and Wine his Blood Observe 4. The Ministerial Actions the Breaking of the Bread and the Blessing of the Cup. As to the Bread Jesus took it that is set it apart from common Use and separated it for Holy Ends and Purposes He blessed it that is prayed for a Blessing upon it and brake it thereby shadowing forth his Body broken upon the Cross And he gave it to his Disciples saving This broken Bread signifies my Body suddenly to be broken upon the Cross for your Redemption and Salvation Do this in Remembrance of me and of my Death As to the Cup Christ having set it apart by Prayer and Thanksgiving he commands his Disciples to drink all of it and subjoins a Reason for it For This is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for Remission of Sins That is The Wine in this Cup represents the shedding of my Blood by which the new Covenant betwixt God
the holy Ordinances of God which they have no right whilst such to partake of 2. That the presence of such persons doth pollute the Ordinance only to themselves holy persons are not polluted by their Sins therefore ought not to be discouraged from coming by their presence there Observe 2. What a surprizing and astonishing word it was which dropt from our Saviour's Mouth amongst his Disciples One shall betray me yea one of you shall betray me Can any Church upon Earth expect purity in all its Members when Christ's own family of Twelve had a Traitor and a Devil in it Yet tho' it was very sad to hear of one it was matter of joy to understand that there was but one One Hypocrite in a Congregation is too much but there is cause of rejoycing if there be no more Observe 3. Christ did not name Judas and say Thou O perfidious Judas art the Traitor but one of you shall betray me Doubtless it was to draw him to Repentance and to prevent the giving him any provocation Lord how sad is it for any of thy Family who pretend friendship to Thee to conspire with thine Enemies against Thee For any that eat of thy Bread to lift up their heel against Thee Observe 4. The Disciples sorrow upon these words of Christ and the effect of that Sorrow Their Sorrow was as well it might exceeding great Well might innocent Disciples be over-whelm'd with Sorrow to hear that their Master should die that he should die by Treason that the Traitor should be one of themselves But though their Sorrow was great yet was the effect of their Sorrow very good it wrought in them an holy suspicion of themselves and caused every one to search himself and say Master is it I Learn hence That it is possible for such secret wickedness to lodge in the heart as we never suspected till Time and Temptation drew it forth None of the Disciples suspected nay Judas himself never apprehended that depth of iniquity and hypocrisy which was found lodging in him Yet Note that though the Disciples were jealous and suspicious yet was it of themselves not of one another nay not of Judas himself every one said Master is it I not Master is it Judas True Sincerity and Christian Charity will make us more suspicious of our selves then of any other it hopes the best of others and fears the worst of our selves Observe 5. That though Judas sees himself pointed at by our Saviour and hears the dreadful Threatnings denounced against him that it had been better for him that he had ne-never been Born yet he is no more Blank'd then innocence it self Resolute Sinners run on desperately in their Evil Courses and with open Eyes see and meet their own Destruction without being either dismayed at it or Concerned about it This Shameless Man had the Impudence to say to our Blessed Saviour Master is it I Our Saviour gives him a direct Answer Thou sayest it Did not Judas think we Blush extreamly cast down his guilty Eyes and let fall his drooping Head at so galling an intimation Nothing less we read of nothing like it Lord How does obduracy in Sin steel the Brow and make it uncapable of all Relenting impressions Observe Lastly How our Saviour prefers Non-entity before Damnation It had been better for that Man he had never been born A Temporal miserable Being is not worse than no Being but Eternal Misery is much worse than Non-entity Better to have no Being then not to have a Being in Christ It had been better for Judas that he had never been Born than to lye under Everlasting Wrath. 22 And as they did eat Jesus took Bread and blessed and brake it and gave to them and said Take eat this is my Body 23 And he took the Cup and when he had given Thanks he gave it to them and they all drank of it 24 And he said unto them This is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many 25 Verily I say unto you I will drink no more of the Fruit of the Vine until that day that I drink it new in the Kingdom of God 26 And when they had sung an Hymn they went out into the Mount of Olives Immediately after the Celebration of the Passover our Lord Institutes his Holy Supper in which Institution we have Observable The Author the Time the Elements and Ministerial Actions Observe here 1. The Author of this new Sacrament Jesus took Bread Note thence That to Institute a Sacrament is the sole Prerogative of Jesus Christ The Church has no Power to make new Sacraments it is only her Duty to Celebrate those which her Saviour has made Observe 2. The Time of the Institution the Night before his Passion The Night in which he was Betrayed Jesus took Bread Learn thence That it is very necessary when Sufferings are approaching to have Recourse to the Table of the Lord which affords both an Antidote against Fear and is a Restaurative to our Faith Observe 3. The Sacramental Elements Bread and Wine Bread representing the Body and Wine the Blood of our dear Redeemer Observe 4. The Ministerial Actions The Breaking of the Bread and the Blessing of the Cup as to the Bread Jesus took it that is set it apart from Common Use and separated it for Holy Ends and Purposes He Blessed it that is Prayed for a Blessing upon it and Brake it thereby shadowing forth his Body broken upon the Cross and he gave it to his Disciples saying This broken Bread signifies my Body suddenly to be broken upon the Cross for the Redemption and Salvation of a lost World Do this in Remembrance of my Death As to the Cup Christ having set it apart by Prayer and Thanksgiving he Commands his Disciples to drink all of it and accordingly they all drink of it says this Evangelist and our Saviour gives his Reason for it v. 24. For this is my Blood of the New Testament which is shed for Remission of sins that is the Wine in this Cup represents the shedding of my Blood by which the New Covenant betwixt GOD and Man is Ratified and Confirmed Whence we Gather That every Communicant hath as undoubted a Right to the Cup as to the Bread in the Lord's Supper Drink ye all of this says Christ therefore to deny the Cup to the Common People is Sacriledge and directly contrary to our Saviour's Institution After the Celebration was over our Saviour and his Disciples Sang an Hymn as the Jews were wont to do at the Passover the six Eucharistical Psalms from the 113th to the 119th Psalm From Christ's Example we gather how suitable it is to sing a Psalm after the Celebration of the Lord's Supper How fit is it that God be Glorified in his Church by singing of Psalms and in particular when the Lord's Supper is Celebrated When they had Sung an Hymn they went into the Mount of Olives 27 And Jesus saith unto them All ye shall
Olives Praying Lord What an Example of indefatigable Zeal and Diligence hast thou set before thy Ministers and Members Oh that when our Master comes we may be found Working our People Watching and both they and we waiting for the joyful Coming of our Lord and Saviour Amen CHAP. XXII 1 NOW the Feast of unleavened Bread drew nigh which is called the Passover 2 And the chief Priests and Scribes sought how they might kill him for they feared the people This Chapter gives a sad and sorrowful Relation of the Chief Priest's Conspiracy against the Life of our Blessed Saviour in which we have Three Particulars Observable 1. The Persons making this Conspiracy The Chief Priests Scribes and Elders that is the whole Jewish Sanhedrin or General Council they all lay their malicious Heads together to contrive the Destruction of the Holy and Innocent Jesus Thence Learn That General Councils have erred and may Err Fundamentally both in matters of Doctrine and Practice so did this General Council at Jerusalem consisting of Chief Priests Doctors and Elders with the High Priest their President They did not believe Jesus to be the Messias after all the Miracles wrought before their Eyes but ignominiously put him to Death Observe 2. The manner of this Conspiracy against the Life of our blessed Saviour it was Clandestine Secret and Subtle They consulted how they might take him by craft and put him to Death Learn thence That Satan makes use of the subtilty of crafty men and abuseth their Parts as well as their Power for his own Purposes and Designs the Devil never sends a Fool of his Errand Observe 3. The Circumstance of Time when this Conspiracy was managed at the Feast of the Passover It was a Custom among the Jews to Execute Malefactors at their Solemn Feasts at which time all the Jews came up to Jerusalem to Sacrifice and then they put Malefactors to Death that all Israel might see and fear and not do so wickedly Accordingly the Feast of the Passover was waited for by the Jews as a fit opportunity to put our Saviour to Death The only Objection was that it might occasion a Tumult and Uproar amongst the People there being such a mighty Concourse at that Time in Jerusalem But Judas making them a proffer they readily comply with the Motion and resolve to take the first Opportunity to put our Saviour to Death 3 Then entered Satan into Judas sirnamed Iscariot being of the number of the Twelve 4 And he went his way and communed with the chief Priests and Captains how he might betray him unto them 5 And they were glad and covenanted to give him Money 6 And he promised and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the Multitude Observe here 1. The Person Betraying our Blessed Saviour Judas Judas a Professor Judas a Preacher Judas an Apostle and one of the Twelve whom Christ had chosen out of the World to be his dearest Friend one of his Family and Houshold shall we wonder to find Friends unfriendly or unfaithful to us when our Saviour had a Traitor in his own Family 2. Observe The heinous Nature of Judas his Sin he Betrayed Jesus Jesus his Maker Jesus his Master It is no strange or uncommon thing for the vilest of sins and most horrid impieties to be acted by such Persons as make the most Eminent Profession of Holiness and Religion Observe 3. What was the occasion that led Judas to the Commission of this Sin it was his inordinate Love of Money I do not find that Judas had any particular Malice Spite or Ill will against our Saviour but a base and unworthy Spirit of Covetousness possest him and this made him sell his Master Covetousness is the Root-sin an eager and insatiable Thirst after the World is the Parent of the most monstrous and unnatural Sins for which Reason our Saviour doubles his Caution Luke 12.15 Take heed and beware of Covetousness it shews us both the great danger of the Sin and the great care that we ought to take to preserve our selves from it 7 Then came the day of unleavened Bread when the Passover was to be killed 8 And he sent Peter and John saying Go and prepare us the Passover that we may eat 9 And they said unto him Where wilt thou that we prepare 10 And he said unto them Behold when ye are entered into the city there shall a man meet you bearing a pitcher of water follow him into the House where he entereth in 11 And ye shall say unto the good man of the House the Master saith unto thee Where is the Guest-chamber where I shall eat the Passover with my Disciples 12 And he shall shew you a large upper Room furnished there make ready 13 And they went and found as he had said unto them and they made ready the Passover The time for the Celebration of the Passover being now at hand Christ sends two of his Disciples Peter and John to Jerusalem to prepare what was needful in order thereunto and here we have Observable 1. An eminent Proof and Evidence of Christ's Divinity in Fore-telling his Disciples all the particular Occurrences and Circumstances which they should meet with in the City as a man bearing a pitcher of Water c. Observe 2. How readily the Heart of the Householder was disposed to receive our Saviour and his Disciples and to accommodate them with all things needful upon this occasion Our Blessed Saviour had not a Lamb of his own and peradventure not Money wherewith to purchase one yet he finds a more agreeable Accommodation in this poor Man's House then if he had dwelt in Ahab's Ivory Palace and had the Provisions of Solomon's Table When Christ has a Passover to Celebrate he will dispose the Hearts of his Children and Servants to a free Reception of himself The Room that Christ will enter into it must be a large Room an upper Room a Room furnished and prepared a large Room is the Emblem of an enlarged Heart enlarged with Love with Joy and Thankfulness an upper Room is an Heart exalted not puft up with Pride but lifted up by Heavenly Meditations and a Room furnished is a Soul adorned with all the Graces of the Holy Spirit into such an Heart doth Christ enter and there delight to dwell Here is my rest for ever says Christ here will I dwell for I have a delight therein 14 And when the hour was come he sate down and the Twelve Apostles with him 15 And he said unto them With desire have I desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer 16 For I say unto you I will not any more eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God 17 And he took the Cup and gave Thanks and said Take this and divide it among your selves 18 For I say unto you I will not drink of the fruit of the Vine until the kingdom of God shall come 19 And he took Bread and
unto this last even as unto thee 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own is thine eye evil because I am good 16 So the last shall be first and the first last for many be called but few chosen Here observe 1. That the time of God's full rewarding of his Labourers is the Evening of their Days that is when their Work is done When the Evening was come the Lord of the Vineyard called his Labourers and gave them their Hire not but that they have part of their Reward in Hand but it is chiefly laid up in Hope Obs 2. That tho' God makes no difference in his Servants Wages for the time of their Work yet he will make a difference for the degrees of their Service Undoubtedly they that have done most Work shall receive most Wages He that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully God will reward every Man according to his Works that is not only according to the Nature and Quality but the Measure and Degree of his Works All shall have Equity but all shall not have equal Bounty Obs 3. That all Inequality in the Distribution of Rewards doth not make God an unjust Accepter of Persons he may dispence both Grace and Glory in what Measure and Degree he pleases without the least Shadow of Unrighteousness Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own Obs 4. That when we have done much Service for God by labouring longer than others in his Vineyard it is our Duty to have a low Esteem both of our Services and our selves for the first shall be last and the last first That is they that are first and highest in their own Esteem shall be last and least in God's Account 17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way and said unto them 18 Behold we go up to Jerusalem and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes and they shall condemn him to death 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucifie him and the third day he shall rise again This is now the third time that Christ had acquainted his Disciples very lately with his approaching Sufferings and bloody Passion He did it twice before Chap. 16 and Chap. 17. yet now he mentions it again that they might not be dismayed and their Faith might not be shaken to see him dye who called himself the true Messias and the Son of God The first time he told his Disciples of his Death in general the second time he declares the means by Treason now he tells them the manner by crucifying that he should be Scourged Mocked Spit upon and Crucified All this he did to prevent his Disciples Dejection at his Sufferings Learn thence That it is highly necessary that the Doctrine of the Cross be often preach'd to us that so being armed with Expectation of Sufferings before they come we may be the less dismayed and disheartned when they come Our Lord 's frequent forewarning his Disciples of his Death and Sufferings was to forearm them with Expectation of his Sufferings and with Preparation for their own 20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons worshipping him and desiring a certain thing of him 21 And he said unto her What wilt thou she saith unto him Grant that these my two sons may sit the one on thy right hand and the other on the left in thy kingdom Observe here 1. The Persons making this Request to Christ Zebedee's Children that is James and John by the Mouth of their Mother They spake by her Lips and made use of her Tongue to usher in a Request which they were asham'd to make themselves Obs 2. The Request it self Grant that these Two may sit the one on thy Right the other on thy Left Hand Where Note How these Disciples did still dream of Christ's Temporal Kingdom altho' he had so often told them that his Kingdom was not of this World and ambitiously seek to have the Preference and Preheminence in that Kingdom See here how these poor Fishermen had already learnt craftily to fish for Preferment Who can wonder to see some Sparks of Ambition and Worldly Desires in the holiest Ministers of Christ when the Apostles themselves were not free from aspiring Thoughts even when they lay in the Bosom of their Saviour Ambition has all along infected Churchmen and troubled the Church even from the very first Original and Foundation of it Obs 3. Both the Unseasonableness and Unreasonableness of this Request made by the Disciples Christ speaks of his Sufferings to them and they sue for Dignity and great Places from him in optimis non nihil est pessimi The holiest the wisest and best of Men in this their imperfect State are not wholly free from passionate Infirmities Who would have expected that when our Saviour had been preaching the Doctrine of the Cross to his Disciples telling them that he must be Mocked Scourged Spit upon and Crucified for them that they should be seeking and suing to him for Secular Dignity and Honour Preheminence and Power But we plainly see the best of Men are but Men at the best none are in a State of Perfection on this side Heaven 22 But Jesus answered and said Ye know not what ye ask Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with they say unto him We are able Our Saviour in his Answer tells these Disciples 1. That they were greatly ignorant of the Nature and Quality of his Kingdom which was not Secular but Heavenly but the Carnal Notion of a Glorious Earthly Kingdom upon Earth in which they should be delivered from the Roman Power was so deeply imprinted in their Minds that they frequently declared their Expectation of it notwithstanding all the Assurances which Christ had given them of the contrary Obs 2. The Course which our Saviour takes to cool the Ambition of his Disciples he tells them they must expect here not Crowns on their Heads but a Cross on their Backs they must first taste of his Sufferings before they talk of his Glory and patiently suffer for him before they expect to reign with him plainly intimating that the Cross is the way to the Crown Suffering the way to Reigning and that those that suffer most for Christ shall partake of highest Dignity and Glory from him Obs 3. The presumptuous Confidence which the Disciples had of their own Strength and Ability for Sufferings Are ye able says Christ to drink of my Cup They reply We are able Alas poor Disciples when it came to the Tryal they all cowardly forsook him and fled A bold Presumption makes us vaunt of our own Ability holy Jealousie makes us distrustful of our own Strength Those that are least acquainted with the Cross are usually the most confident Undertakers
Into whatsoever house ye enter first say peace be to this house they must wish peace to the Sons of peace yea to the Enemies of peace also and as their peace shall rest upon the one so shall it return from the other Peace be to this house is a fit Salutation for them to use who were the Disciples and Ambassadors of the Prince of Peace and very agreeable to the Gospel they were to Preach which was a Gospel of Peace and it was a Prayer as well as a Salutation the Disciples were to speak it not from the Lip only but from the Heart also Peace is the Musick which both Angels and Men are delighted with and the Christian Religion is the greatest Promoter and Preserver of it That commands us to pray for peace to follow after peace to part with our Coat and Cloak that is with our civil Rights for peace and if it be possible to live peaceably with all men Observe 2. As the injunction given by our Saviour to his Disciples to deliver a message of Peace first say Peace be to this house so the prediction of what should befal them in the Delivery of this their Message their Salutation tho' it be Peace yet will not find a welcome and entertainment with all Persons but only with the Sons of Peace If the Sons of peace be there your peace shall rest upon it Observe 3. An Encouragement not to be afraid of delivering their Message tho' it wanted Success If your peace rest not it shall return to you again Learn 1. That as there was at the first preaching of the Gospel so there is and always will be some that are Sons of Peace and others that are Enemies unto Peace 2. That this Peace will rest on none but those that are fit to receive it 3. That tho' it doth not rest yet it shall not be lost but return again to those that publish it Ministers can but say Peace be to this House they cannot make it rest there we can offer Terms of Peace to a lost World but cannot compel men to accept them and if they finally refuse them We shall be a sweet Savour unto God as well in them that perish as in them that are saved 7 And in the same house remain eating and drinking such things as they give for the Labourer is worthy of his hire Go not from house to house 8 And into whatsoever city ye enter and they receive you eat such things as are set before you 9 And heal the sick that are therein and say unto them the Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you 10 But into whatsoever city ye enter and they receive you not go your ways out into the streets of the same and say 11 Even the very dust of your city which cleaveth on us we do wipe off against you notwithstanding be ye sure of this that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you 12 But I say unto you it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city Here our Saviour gives his Disciples sundry directions how to manage themselves in this Expedition for Preaching the Gospel he enjoyns them 1. To observe the Rules of Decency in going from place to place having entered an house to continue there not changing their Lodging and going from house to house thereby avoiding all shew of Lightness and Inconstancy and testifying all gravity and stayedness in their Behaviour this being a special means to win Authority to their Persons and Ministry 2. He gives them a power to work Miracles for the confirming of the Doctrine which they Preach'd Heal the Sick that are therein This was necessary partly to procure Reverence to their Persons being poor and unlearned Men and partly to gain credit and Authority to their Doctrine for the Doctrine of Faith in the Messias as now come and exhibited in the Flesh being a strange and new Doctrine to the Jews the Truth and Certainty of it was to be extraordinarily ratified and confirmed by working Miracles one sort of which was healing of Diseases in an extraordinary manner Obs 3. How Christ encourages his Disciples against the want of Success he bids them denounce the Judgments of God against such contemners of their Doctrine by shaking off the dust of their feet which Action was Emblematical and signified that God in like manner would shake off them and esteem them no better then the vilest Dust Learn hence That those which despise the Message that the Ministers of the Gospel bring shall hereafter find the Dust of their Feet and the Ashes of their Graves to give a judicial Testimony against them in the Day of Christ Where ever the Word is Preach'd it is for a Testimony either a Testimony for or against a People For if the Dust of a Minister's Feet bear Witness against a People their Sermons much more Observe Lastly The dreadful Judgment denounced by our Saviour against the Contemners of his Disciples Doctrine Verily it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment then for that City Where Note 1. That there shall be a Day of Judgment 2. That in the day of Judgment some Sinners shall fare worse then others 3. That of all Sinners the Condition of such shall be saddest at the day of Judgment who living under the Gospel dye after all in their impenitency and infidelity It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah then for that City 13 Wo unto thee Corazin wo unto thee Bethsaida for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you they had a great while ago repented sitting in Sack-cloth and ashes 14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of Judgment then for you 15 And thou Capernaum which art exalted to Heaven shalt be brought down to Hell These Cities in Galilee Corazin Bethsaida and Capernaum having been the places where Christ preached and wrought his Miracles they have a Wo denounced here against them for their contempt of Christ and the offers of his Grace Wo unto thee Corazin c. The higher a People rise under the Means the lower they fall if they miscarry They that have been nearest to Conversion being not Converted shall have the greatest Condemnation when they are judged Capernaum's Sentence will exceed Sodoms for Severity because she exceeded Sodom in the enjoyment of Means and Mercy Observe here 1. Capernaums Priviledge enjoyned She was lifted up to heaven that is enjoyed Priviledges above all other Places namely the Presence Preaching and Miracles of our Saviour Observe 2. Capernaums doom denounced Thou shalt be thrust down to Hell that is thy condition shall be sadder then those that never heard of a Saviour even Tyre and Sidon Sodom and Gomorrah those rude and barbarous Nations out of the Pale of the Church shall be in an easier state and condition then those that have enjoyed Gospel-Ordinances and Church-Priviledges
That so far ought the Ministers of Christ to be from affecting a Domination and Superiority of Power over their Fellow Brethren that in imitation of Christ their Lord and Master they ought to account themselves Fellow-Servants I am among you as one that serveth 2. That such Ministers as do Love and Affect Preheminency and Superiority are most unfit for it and they deserve it best which seek it least 3. That the Dignity and Honour which the Ministers of Christ should chiefly and only affect is in another World and the way to be greatest and highest there is to be low and humble here mean in our own Eyes and little in our own esteem Whosoever is chief says Christ let him be your Servant 28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my Temptations 29 And I appoint unto you a Kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me 30 That ye may eat and drink at my Table in my Kingdom and sit on Thrones judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel Observe here What an Honourable Acknowledgment Christ makes of the Constancy of his Disciples Love and Affection towards him Ye are they that have continued with me in my Temptations that is in my Afflictions Tryals and Sufferings It is an easy matter to abide with Christ in days of Peace in times of Consolation but when we are under Afflictions Temptations and Troubles then to abide and keep close to Christ this is the proof of Love and Friendship And as Christ makes an honourable mention of their constancy towards him so he presently assures them of an honourable Reward I appoint unto you a Kingdom Learn hence That such as are Sharers with Christ in his Sufferings shall certainly Communicate with him in his Glory If we Suffer with him we shall Reign with him And whereas our Saviour promises his Apostles To sit upon Thrones with him judging the twelve Tribes of Israel we may gather That such Ministers as do most Service for Christ and forsake most to follow him and continue in Temptation and Tribulation with him shall in his Kingdom partake of most Honour and Dignity with him and from him You shall eat and drink in my Kingdom and sit on Thrones judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel possibly the Apostles and all the Zealous Faithful and Laborious Ministers of Jesus Christ shall be nearer his Throne in Heaven than either Saints or Angels nearer than the Angels because by Christ's assuming the Humane Nature they are more nearly allyed to him he is their Friend but our Brother and nearer than other Saints as having done more eminent Service for Christ and brought more Honour and Glory to him by a Laborious Diligence in their Place and Station Dan. 12.3 They that turn many to Righteousness shall shine c. 31 And the Lord said Simon Simon Behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as Wheat 32 But I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not and when thou art Converted strengthen thy Brethren Here I shall give 1. The general sense of the words 2. The particular Matters contained in them 3. The special Observations from them The Sense of the Words is this As for you my Disciples in general and for thee Peter in particular I must tell thee that Satan hath accused you all before God and desired that he may have the sifting of you all by his winnowing Winds of Temptation and Persecution that he may shake your Faith and weaken your Confidence But I have prayed for you all and particularly for thy self who art in greatest danger of falling because so confident of thine own Strength and Standing that thy Faith tho severely shaken may not utterly fail and when by Repentance thou art Recovered from thy Fall be careful to confirm and strengthen others that they fall not in like manner The particular matters contained in these words are three a Christians Danger a Christians Safety and a Christians Duty 1. a Christians Danger Satan hath desired to sift you Where Observe 1. The Person particularly warned of the Danger Simon Simon the Doubling of the Word doubtless carries a special intimation with it it denotes the greatness and nearness of Peter's Danger his own security and insensibleness of that danger and the great affection of Christ his Monitors to give him warning of his Danger Observe 2. The warning it self and that is of a Devilish Conspiracy against himself and all the Apostles Satan hath desired to have you to have you for his own if it might be to have you as Believers rather then other Men to have you as eminent Believers rather than other Christians and to have you as Apostles and Ministers rather than other eminent Believers And as Satan has desired to have you so to sift you too to winnow you as Wheat Here Note That Satan has his Winnowing Winds of Temptation and his Tempestuous Winds of Persecution for the sifting of God's Children Note further That it is the Wheat the good Corn that Satan Winnows not Chaff not Dross Sinners that are all Chaff and nothing but Dross Satan will not be at the pains to sift and winnow them But what is this Sifting Answer in sifting two things are performed 1. The agitation shaking and tossing of the Corn from side to side 2. The Separation of the Corn from the Chaff and Dust Satan intends the former GOD effects the latter Cribratione non perditur sed purgatur frumentum The Corn is improved not impaired by Winnowing The Saints of God shall be no losers in the end by Satans Temptations how many and strong soever they may be in the way Observe 2. The Christians Safety But I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not Where Note 1. The Care that Christ had of Peter and in him of all Believers I have prayed for thee for thee as a Believing Christian and for thee as a Tempted Christian and it is not said I will pray for thee but I have Prayed for thee Christ prayed for Peter before Peter understood that he had need of Christ's Prayer Christ Prayed for Peter as soon as ever Satan desired to sift Peter Our Intercessor is full as nimble and speedy in his Suit for us as Satan is in his Accusations against us he has desired but I have prayed he is a potent Assailant but thou hast a powerful Assistant Observe 2. The Subject Matter Prayed for That thy Faith fail not not that thy Faith be not assaulted not that thy Faith be not shaken but that thy Faith may not fail by an absolute and total deficiency The third Particular is the Christians Duty When thou art Converted strengthen thy Brethren When Converted that is when Recovered from thy Fall when Restored upon thy Repentance to the Divine Favour This Conversion is not from a State of Sin Peter was so Converted before but it was from an Act of Sin into which he should Lapse and Relapse Strengthen thy Brethren that
Christ he that was the Mediator of Redemption he and only he continues the Mediator of Intercession 6 And there were set there six water-pots of stone after the manner of the purifying of the Jews containing two or three firkins apiece 7 Jesus saith unto them Fill the water-pots with water And they filled them up to the brim 8 And he saith unto them Draw out now and bear unto the governour of the feast And they bare it 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine and knew not whence it was but the servants which drew the water knew the governour of the feast called the bridegroom 10 And saith unto him Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine and when men have well drunk then that which is worse but thou hast kept the good wine until now 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth his glory and his disciples believed on him In this Miracle of our Saviour's turning Water into Wine Observe 1. The reality of the Miracle and the sincerity of Christ in the working of it To evidence that there was no deceit in the Miracle not Wine-Casks but Water-Pots are called for Wine-Vessels in which some Lees were remaining might have given both a vinous colour and taste to the Water but Stone-Pots could contribute nothing of this nature and being open Pots there was no stealing Wine into them without Observation Again Our Saviour's employing of the Servants and not his Disciples takes off any suspicion of Collusion and his sending it to the Ruler or Governor of the Feast was an evidence that the Miracle would bear Examination Our Saviour's Miracles were real and beneficial they were obvious to Sense not lying Wonders not fictitious Miracles which the Juglers in the Church of Rome cheat the People with The greatest Miracle which they boast of Transubstantiation is so far from being obvious to Sense that it contradicts the Sense and Reason of Mankind and is the greatest Affront to humane nature that ever the World was acquainted with Obs 2. Tho' Christ wrought a real Miracle yet he would not work more of Miracle than needed he would not create Wine out of nothing but turned Water into Wine Thus he multiplied the Bread changed the Water restored withered Limbs raised dead Bodies still working upon that which was and not creating that which was not Christ never wrought a Miracle but when needful and then wrought no more of Miracle than he needed Obs 3. The Liberality and Bounty of Christ in the Miracle here wrought six Water-pots are filled with Wine enough say some Writers for an Hundred and fifty Men had he turned but one of those large Vessels into Wine it had been a sufficient Proof of his Power but to fill so many was an Instance both of his Power and Mercy The Lord of the Family furnishes his Houshold not barely for Necessity but for Delight giving richly all Things to enjoy And as the Bounty of Christ appeared in the Quantity so in the Excellency of the Wine Thou hast kept the best Wine till now says the Governor of the Feast It was fit that Christ's miraculous Wine should be more perfect than the natural But Oh Blessed Saviour how delicate and delicious shall that Wine be which we shall drink ere long with thee in thy Father's Kingdom Let thy Holy Spirit fill the Vessel of my Heart with Water with godly Sorrow and Contrition and thou wilt turn it into Wine For blessed are they that mourn they shall be comforted Observe 4. The double Effect of this Miracle Christ hereby manifested forth his Glory and his Disciples believed in him 1. He manifested forth his Glory that is the Glory of his God-head as doing this by his own Power Here shined forth his Omnipotency his Bounty and Liberality every thing that might bespeak him both the Great and Good God The second Effect of this Miracle was That the Disciples believed on him The great End of Miracles is the Confirmation of Faith God never sets the Seal of his Omnipotency to a Lye All the Miracles then that Christ and his Apostles did were as so many Seals that the Doctrine of the Gospel is true If you believe not me says Christ believe the works which I do for they bear witness of me John 5.36 12 ¶ After this he went down to Capernaum he and his mother and his brethren and his disciples and they continued there not many days 13 ¶ And the Jews passover was at hand and Jesus went up to Jerusalem 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves and the changers of money sitting 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords he drove them all out of the temple and the sheep and the oxen and poured out the changers money and overthrew the tables 16 And said unto them that sold doves Take these things hence make not my Fathers house an house of merchandise Observe here 1. How obedient in all things Christ was to the Ceremonial Law He was not naturally subject to the Law but to fulfil all Righteousness he kept the Passoever yearly according to the Command of God Exod. 23.17 That all the Males should appear before him in the Temple at Jerusalem Hence it is probably concluded that Christ came up to the Passover continually during his private Life and being now come up to Jerusalem to this first Passover after his Baptism and solemn entrance upon his Office his first Walk was to the Temple and his first Work was to purge and reform it from Abuses and not to ruine and destroy it because it had been abused Now the Abuse and Prophanation of the Temple at that time was this In the outward Court of the Gentiles there was a publick Mart or Market where were sold Oxen Sheep and Doves for Sacrifice which otherwise the People with great Labour and Trouble must have brought up along with them for Sacrifice Therefore as a pretended Ease to the People the Priests ordered these Things to be sold hard by the Altar the Intention was commendable but the Action not justifiable No pretences of good Ends can justifie that which is forbidden of God A good End can never justifie an irregular Action Obs 2. Our Saviour's fervent Zeal in purging and reforming his Father's House The sight of Sin in any Persons but especially in and among Professors ought to kindle in our Hearts as it did here in Christ's Breast a burning Zeal and Indignation against it Yet was not Christ's Zeal so warm as to devote the Temple to destruction because of its Abuse and Prophanation Places dedicated to the Worship and Service of God if idolatrously abused must not be pulled down but purged not ruined but reformed There is a special Reverence due to the House of God both for the Owners sake and the Service sake Nothing but Holiness becomes that Place where