When his disciples heard it they were exceedingly amazed saying Who can then be saved 26. But Iesus beheld them and said unto them with men this is impossible but with God all things are possible Upon this mans departure Christ teacheth his disciples wholesome lessons wherin learn 1. That Christ edifieth his church upon all occasions whether men joyn themselves to him or separate from him as here 2. It is as impossible to have riches and not to trust in them not to be insnared and hindred from heaven by them as for a camel or cables sow to go through a needles eye by reason of the naturall corruption which iâ— in man ready to intangle and drown the mans mind and his time and affections in the world and cares and pleasures of it Therfore saith Christ A rich man shall hardly enter in the Kingdome of heaven 3. Whatsoever difficulties be told us of in the way to heaven they serve onely to make us despaire of our own strength and abilities and to flee in unto God to whom nothing is impossible for he can â—o loose the heart of a man from the world as riches shall be no impediment to hinder him from Heaven and whatsoever elseâ—â— impossible to us he can make it possible and bring it to passe for To God all things â—â— possible Ver. 27. Then answered Peter and saâ—d unto him Behold we have forsaken all and followed thee what shall we have therefore 28. And Iesus said unto them Verily I say unto you thâ—â— ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the Son of man shal sit in the throne of his glory ye also shal sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel 29. And every one that hath forsaken houses or Brethren or Sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my name sake shall receive an hundred fold and shall inherit everlasting life Here upon occasion Christ sheweth the felicity of his faitfull disciples In Peters question Learn 1. Albeit it be little that we suffer for Christ yet we think much of it for Peters worldly case in following Christ was little worse â—hen when he traded onely in the fishing notwithstanding he thus speaketh saying We have for saken al as if it had been some great matter 2. Howsoever it be not worthy to speak of what we do or suffer for Christ yet the least thing done in sincerity is not despised by Christ but highly esteemed and richly rewarded â— for Christ promiseth a reward 3. Christ doth not narrowly mark the infirmities of his own but doth cherish the smallest beginnings and formenteth the smoaking flax as here may be seen in his answer to Peter albeit Peters speech smell of pride yet he paseth it over saying Verily I say unto you c. 4. Although Christ doth not always answer his peoples expectation by giving them the very thing which they look for yet he will not fail to give them a better thing as here the Apostles dreamed of an earthly Kingdom and of earthly honours to be given unto Christ and themselves this he will not give them but he leadeth them higher shewing them that what they loved to have in this life should be given them in substance and in a more eminent way in the life to come to wit a Kingdome to each of them which should be satisfactory unto them and that in stead of the Kingdom which they did affect over the twelve Tribes of Israel in their earthly conceit of his Kingdom saying Ye shall sit upon Thrones 5. The day of judgment shall be a sort of regeneration wherein our bodies and souls shall be renewed perfectly for glory and immortality â— Therfore Christ calleth tha◠〈◊〉 in the regeneration 6. At that day Christ even in his humane nature shall be seen to reign in glory sutable to his divine Majesty â— for He shall sit on the Throne of his glory 7. Such as follow Christ must resolve for Christs sake to be deprived of what is dear unto them in this life if he shal be pleased to put them to triall that is imported in Every one that hath forsaken houses or brethren 8. What men do lose for Christ shall breed them gain a hundred fold even in this life because the comforts and priviledges of Christs Kingdome are a hundred fold better then any thing they can be deprived of for the Gospels cause for saith he They shall receive an hundred fold 9. Beside what spirituall gain is gotten in this life to such as suffer for the Gospel life eternall is also given for an inheritance in the world to come which is able to make up all losses sustained for Christ for it is said And they shall inherit eternall life Ver. 30. But many that he first shal be last and the last shall be first Howsoever Christ esteem much of what his servants do suffer for him yet he giveth advertisement to Peter and the rest in them to al men that they should not conceit of any merit in their sufferings or worth in any other specious excellency but to study rather to be humble and sincere because at the time of Gods reckoning many who in their own eyes and before men were first should be found to be last that is of no esteem with God and such as in their own eyes and in the eyes of the world seemed nothing should be with God in prime estimation many who in the conceit of their own merit were first in the reward should be last and of no account and many who in the opinion of the merit were last and worthy of nothing should be first in the reward this is imported in saying But many that are first shall be last c. CHAP. XX. Christ sheweth in a parable how many that are last shall be first to ver 16. Forewarneth his disciples of his sufferings to ver 20. Dischargeth prelacie among them ver 29. And healeth two blind men Ver. 1. FOr the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an housholder which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard 2. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a peny a day he sent them into his vineyard 3. And he went about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market-place 4. And said unto them Go ye also into the vineyard and whatsoever is right I wil give you And they went their way 5. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour and did likewise 6. And about the Eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle and saith unto them Why stand ye here all the day idle 7. They say unto him Because no man hath hired us He saith unto them Go ye also into the vineyard and whatsoever is right that shall ye receive 8. So when even was come the Lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward Call the labourers and give them their hire beginning
cited giveth evidence Vers. 19. But when Herod was dead behold an Angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Ioseph in Egypt 20. Saying Arise and take the young child and his mother and go into the land of Israel for they are dead which sought the yong childes life Now Joseph is called back from Egypt Doct. 1. The Lord doth remember his owne in trouble to comfort them in due season for so soon as Herod dieth the Angel carrieth news 2. The death of Persecutors is the delivery of the persecuted therefore saith the Angel Arise for he is dead that sought the Childes life Vers. 21. And he arose and took the the young child and his mother and came into the land of Israel 22. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Iudea in the room of his father Herod he was affraid to go thither notwithstanding being warned of God in a dream he turned aside into the parts of Galilee Joseph is affraid of Archelaus and is delivered of his fear Doct. 1. No wonder the Children of wicked parents be suspected till their regeneration appear therefore Joseph is affraid of Archelaus Herods Son that he shall be father-like or father-worse 2. When God will comfort a man he removeth one doubt as well as another as this fear is removed by another revelation from heaven 3. The Lords warrant and clear direction doth quiet the mind Therefore Ioseph being warned by the Angel turned aside into Galilee Vers. 23. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets He shal be called a Nazarene In Christs abode at Nazareth The Evangelist observeth Gods providence intending therby that he should be called a Nazarite that is one separate from sinners Sundry types of Christ did foresignifie and promise that he should be called indeed a Nazarite or one separate for Joseph is called the Nazarite of his brethren or one separate from his brethren Gen. 29.26 first in regard of the measure of love which his Father bare unto him next he is separate from his brethren in regard they sold him unto the Gentiles and thirdly he is separate in Gods providence from his brethren that he might prepare a place for them and preserve the life of his owne people in Joseph was Christ sore-shadowed and promised to be such a Nazarite separate in all these respects Again in the typicall law of the Nazarite Numb 6. it is foresignified that Christ should be separate from sinners and dedicate unto holinesse dead unto the pomp and pleasure of this world that he should be the ornament and flower of Religion and the true pattern of piety to all the Israel of God Moreover in the type of Samson it is foresignified Iudg. 13.15 That Christ should from his birth be a Nazarite unto God who by his power and sufferings should overcome his enemies and bring delivery to Israel Now Christ his dwelling at Nazareth and his being called a Nazarene from his dwelling was a fit mean to call to mens minde the perfections of the Nazarite in him and to make them see the accomplishment of the foresaid prophesies in him And therefore doth the Evangelist mark the providence of God in directing his dwelling to be in this little town Nazareth whereby occasion might be given to all men to observe and perceive in Christ the fulfilling of the prophecies which foretold that he should be really a Nazarite Doct. Whensoever we hear him called Iesus of Nazareth let us remember that he is that true Nazarite that promised pleasant Plant that Holy One of Israel separate from sinners the true Deliverer of Israel from their enemies who hath broken the bars of death and hell and by his death hath overcome the divell and accomplished everything which in the types were foreshadowed of him CHAP. III. The Evangelist passeth over our Saviours life in private and iâ—ts down how John the Baptist by his Ministry as the forerunner of our Lord doth prepare the way for the receiving of him to vers 13. How Christ by him is baptized and how Christ is magnified from heaven in his entry into his publike office Vers. 1. IN those dayes came Iohn the Baptist preaching in the wildernesse of Iudea WHile Christ is dwelling at Nazareth in Galilee at the time appointed of God John Baptist is sent forth to preach in the wildernesse of Judea that is in the Mure lands and Hilly countrey of Judea John is called the Baptist because he was the first that did baptize herâ—by distinguishing him from John the Apostle Doct. 1. God hath set times wherein he will have every thing which was foretold to come to passe therefore it is said In those dayes to wit of which Isaiah did speak chap. 40 3. while Christ is dwelling at Nazareth this appointed work is done 2. How basely soever the world count of preaching yet is it the onely ordinary way to prepare souls for receiving of Christ Therefore it is said Iohn came preaching 3. It is in Gods choice to send the preachers of the Gospel to what place he will for John is sent to preach in the wildernesse of Judea and not in Jerusalem Vers. 2. And saying Repent ye for the kingdome of heaven is at hand The summe of Johns preaching was to move men to repent because the kingdome of Gods grace offered in the Gospel was now ready to receive the penitent Doct. 1. The Gospel finds men mad and out of their wits in an evill way when it is sent unto them they are men who must return to their wits as the originall of the word repent importeth 2. The end of the preaching of the gospel is to perswade men unto repentance for repent is Johns main scope 3. The grace of God offered in the gospel is in effect the Kingdome of heaven for it opens the way unto it and entreth the man not only in the right but also in the begun possession of the Kingdome of heaven 4. There can be no greater allurement to move a man to change his evill course and turn unto God then the offer made unto the penitent of the Kingdome of grace and glory through Christ for this is the motive which John useth saying Repent for the Kingdome of heaven is near 5. Both ability and exercise of repenting is brought about by the preaching and power of the gospel for to beget both John is sent to preach this doctrine saying Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand Vers. 3. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias saying The voyce of one crying in the wilderness Prepare ye the way of the Lord make his paths straight Johns calling and authority to preach is described to be from heaven according to the prophesie past of him Isay 40.3 Doct. 1. The calling and authority of a preacher is chiefly to be looked unto that he take not this honour to himselfe but be called therto
temptation as Christs question in answering of it doth import What is a man profited in this case saith he 2. He that in fear to lose or in hope to gain some earthly thing refuseth to maintain Christs cause shall lose more then he can gain were it a Kingdom for he loseth his soul and what profit hath he if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul A fourth reason Nothing in the earth can redeem a mans soul when he hath shed from me for fear of the crosse or hope of gain therefore resolve to bear my crosse rather then to deny me Doct. 1. There is no ransome of a mans soul beside Christ if any man deny him for What shall a man give in exchange for his soul 2. It is a special means to strengthen us against the fear of the crosse for Christs cause to foresee our irreparable losse if we deny him and to say with our selves What shall a man give in exchange for his soul Vers. 27. For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his Angels and then he shall reward every man according to his works A fifth reason Though I may seem mean and abased in that my followers are put to bear my crosse yet I will be found the glorious Son of God worthy to be suffered for Therefore let no man think shame of my crosse The Son of man saith he shall come in the glory of the Father The sixth reason The fruit of bearing my crosse or refusing of it shall be seen at the day of judgment when I shall be Judg and shall reward the backslider with deserved judgment and shal crown the grace of suffering for me with the reward of life He shall reward every man saith he according to his works Hence learn 1. That Christs incarnation neither should nor shall derogate any thing from the glory of his God-head for The Son of man shall come in the glory of the Father 2. The Son of man and the Son of God is onely one person for it is said The Son of man shall come in his Fathers glory 3. The fruit of every mans works whether good or ill shall be found at the second coming of our Lord for Then he shall reward every man according to his works Verse 28. Verily I say unto you There be some standing hâ—re which shall not taste of death til they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdome The seventh and last motive is I do promise a glance of the glory of my kingdom unto some of you my hearers before I die as much as may incourage you and all others my followers to indure any crosse for me Therefore resolve to bear the crosse Now some little glance of his glory he gave shortly after this in the transfiguration but this was not the main matter his coming in the power of his kingdome was then made more evident when after his resurrection he declared himself Lord and King in erecting his church with all her officers where he pleased in subduing Jews and Gentiles unto himself by the power of his Word and Spirit in separating his church and his people from the world without the church This Kingly power was seen most evidently by such of the Apostles as lived longest and this his coming in the power of the gospel is a pawn and evidence of his future coming to judgment in the glory of his Father Hence learn 1. Whosoever get a right sight of the glory of Christs power in converting soules in erecting his church with all his ordinances therin and governing of it will not refuse to bear his crosse for To encourage the disciples to bear the crosse this promise here is made 2. Christs power and grace manifested by conversion of soules and erecting of the church in the Apostles dayes is a demonstration of Christs Kingly Power and an evidence of his coming unto judgement for Some saith he here standing shall not taste of death till they see the Son of man coming in his Kingdome CHAP. XVII After Christs transfiguration to vers 14. He healeth the lunatick to vers 22. Fore-telleth his own passion and payeth tribute Ver. 1. ANd after six dayes Iesus taketh Peter Iames and Iohn his brother and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart HOwsoever the last verse of the former chapter is not altogether fulfilled in this transfiguration of Christ yet is it some earnest of performance of the promise there made for by this glance of Christs glory they had evidence how glorious he should be in the morefull manifestation of his Kingly power and Majesty He chooseth witnesses not all but some and these in a sufficient number three the same whom he was to make witnesses of his agony in the garden therafter Peter Iames and Iohn and these he takes apart into an high mountain that being separate and set above distractions they might attend the vision without interruption Doct. 1. Our Lord will not use all his servants alike familiarly but some such as he pleaseth he will make in some cases more intimate for here he chooseth only three to see his glorious transfiguration 2. Such as he minds to acquaint most with his sufferings he will readily acquaint most with his glory for their incouragement and preparation for these three are they who are made witnesses hereafter of his agony in the Garden Peter Iames and Iohn Ver. 2. And was transfigured before them and his face did shine as the sun and his raiment was white as the light In the transfiguration the Lords glory appeareth in three things The first is the alteration of the naturall obscurity of his flesh into a glorious shining brightnesse flowing from the in-dwelling of the God-head in him in so farre that the darknesse of his â—aiment is swallowed up in this light springing through the same so as it made his raiment appeare white as light Hence learn 1. Where the Lord pleaseth to let forth his glory it is able to beautifie our earthly and obscure bodies as this transfiguration far transcending Moses his face shining giveth evidence 2. Glorification taketh not away the substance nor naturall properties of the body for here is a glorious transfiguration but no abolition of the substance of Christs body Ver. 3. And behold there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him The second point of Christs glory is the apparition of Moses and Elias whether in their owne proper bodies resumed for a time or in bodies formed for the present purpose to be laid down again as garments it is not materiall to inquire for either this or that was alike easie to the Lord and presuppose their bodies had been raised and laid down again in dust yet wherein soever Moses and Elias could be serviceable to their Redeemers glory it was not their trouble or loss but their advantage The main matter which we have to learn is 1. That Moses and Elias and so all the