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
gave Thanks and brake it and gave unto them saying This is my Body which is given for you this do in remembrance of me 20 Likewise also the Cup after Supper Saying This Cup is the New Testament in my Blood which is shed for you 21 For behold the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the Table 22 And truly the Son of man goeth as it was determined but wo unto that Man by whom he is Betrayed 23 And they began to enquire among themselves which of them it was that should do this thing Observe here 1. What ardency of Desire and vehemency of Affection our holy Lord expresses to Celebrate the Passover with his Disciples and to Administer the Sacramental Supper to them before he left them with desire have I desired to eat with you before I suffer Thence Learn That it is very necessary when Sufferings do appear especially when Death does approach to have immediate Recourse to the Table of the Lord which affords both an Antidote against Fear and is Restaurative to our Faith Christ the Night before he Suffered Communicated with his Disciples Observe 2. The unexampled Boldness of the impudent Traitor Judas tho' he had sold his Master he presumes to sit down at the Table with him and with the other Disciples had the presence of Judas polluted this Ordinance to any but himself doubtless our Saviour would not have suffered him to approach unto it It Teaches us That altho' nothing be more ordinary then for unholy Persons to press in to the Holy Ordinances of God which they have no Right whilst such to approach unto yet their Presence pollutes the Ordinances only to themselves Holy Persons are not polluted by their Sins therefore ought not to be discouraged from coming by their presence Observe 3. Christ did not Name Judas and say Oh thou perfidious Traitor but behold the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the Table Doubtless Christ did not name him because he would not provoke him he did not name him because he would not drive him to despair but draw him to Repentance But Lord thou knowest us when thou namest us not Oh how sad is it for any of thy Family who pretend Friendship with thee to conspire against thee and after they have eat of thy Bread to lift up the heel against thee Observe 4. That tho' Judas was not named yet he saw himself pointed at by our Saviour Behold the hand that Betrayeth me is on the Table and Judas his Heart told him whose hand that was yea tho' Judas heard that dreadful Sentence denounced against him Wo to the Man by whom the Son of Man is Betrayed yet is he no more Blank'd then Innocency it self This Shameless Man had the Impudence to say to our Blessed Saviour Master is it I tho' St. Luke says it not the other Evangelists tell us that Christ answered him Thou sayest it Did not Judas think we blush extremely hang down his Guilty Head at so galling an Intimation nothing less we read not of any thing like it Lord How does obstinacy in Sinning Steel the Brow and render it uncapable of all relenting Impressions Immediately after the Celebration of the Passover followed the Institution of the Lord's Supper where we have Observable The Author the Time the Elements and the Ministerial Actions 1. Observe the Author of this new Sacrament Jesus took Bread Learn 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 our Saviour has made 2. The Time of the Institution the Night before the Passion the Night in which he was Betrayed he took Bread 3. The Sacramental Elements Bread and Wine Bread representing the Body and Wine the Blood of our Redeemer Bread being an absolutely necessary Food a common and obvious Food a strengthning and refreshing Food and Wine being the most excellent drink the most pleasant and delightful the most Cordial and Restaurative for these Reasons amongst others did Christ Consecrate and set these Creatures apart for those Holy Purposes for which he designed them 4. The Ministerial Actions Breaking of the Bread and Blessing of the Cup Jesus took Bread that is separated it and set it apart from common Use for holy Purposes He blessed it that is he 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 which is suddenly to be broken upon the Cross for the Redemption and Salvation of a Lost World Do you likewise 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 For says he this Cup is the new Testament in my Blood that is The Wine in this Cup doth represent the shedding of my Blood by which the New Covenant betwixt GOD and Man is ratified and confirmed Drink ye all of this says our Saviour whence we gather That every Communicant has as undoubtedly a Right to the Cup as he has to the Bread in the Lord's Supper therefore for the Church of Rome to deny the Cup to the Common People is Sacriledge and directly contrary to Christ's Institution 24 And there was also a strife amongst them which of them should be accounted the Greatest 25 And he said unto them the Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them and they that exercise Authority upon them are called Benefactors 26 But ye shall not be so For he that is greatest among you let him be as the younger and he that is chief as he that doth serve 27 For whether is greater He that sitteth at meat or he that serveth Is not he that sitteth at Meat But I am among you as he that serveth If these Words be not placed out of Order by St. Luke here it may seem very strange that the Apostles immediately after their Receiving the Sacrament should entertain their Minds with thoughts of Precedency and Superiority and much stranger yet that they should Discourse openly of such a Subject as this especially considering what our Saviour had just before told them that he was betrayed into the hands of Sinners but whether at this time or not it is most certain at some time or other a strife was found amongst them which should be the Greatest now that our Saviour might effectually quench these unhappy Sparks of Ambition which were kindled in his Apostles Minds he tells them that Supremacy and Dominion belongs to Secular Princes not to Evangelical Pastors who ought to carry themselves with Humility and Condescention one towards another Not that Christ directs to a parity and equality amongst his Ministers or forbids the Preheminency of some over others but the affecting of Superiority and the love of Preheminency is that which our Saviour disalloweth Learn 1.
and Man was ratified and confirmed Whence we Learn That every Communicant has an undoubted Right to the Cup as to the Bread in the Lord's Supper Drink ye all of it says Christ therefore to deny the Cup to the Laity is contrary to the Institution of Christ 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 113th to the 119th Psalm Learn hence How fit it is that God be glorified in his Church by singing of Psalms and in particular when the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is celebrated When they had sung an Hymn they went unto the Mount of Olives 31 Then saith Jesus unto them All ye shall be offended because of me this night for it is written I will smite the shepherd and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad Here our Saviour acquaints his Disciples that by reason of his approaching Sufferings they should all of them be so exceedingly offended with him that they would certainly forsake and leave him which accordingly came to pass Learn thence That Christ's dearest Freinds forsook him and left him alone in the midst of his greatest Distress and Danger Obs 2. What was the Cause of this their Flight it was the Prevalency of their Fear Thence Note How sad it is for the holiest and best of Men to be left under the Power of their own Fears in a Day of Temptation 32 But after I am risen again I will go before you into Galilee Observe here The wonderful Lenity of Christ towards his timerous and fearful Disciples notwithstanding their cowardly Flight from him he tells them he would not forsake them but love them still and as an Evidence of it would meet them in Galilee I will go before you into Galilee there shall you see me And when they did see him he never upbraided them with their Timerousness but was Friends with them notwithstanding their late Cowardice Christ's Love to his Disciples is like himself unchangeable and everlasting Having loved his own he loved them unto the end 33 Peter answered and said unto him Though all men shall be offended because of thee yet will I never be offended 34 Jesus said unto him Verily I say unto thee That this night before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice 35 Peter said unto him Though I should die with thee yet will I not deny thee Likewise also said all the disciples See here what strong Purposes and settled Resolutions both Peter and all the Apostles had to keep close to Christ but how did their Self-confidence fail them Learn thence That Self-confidence is a Sin too too incident to the holiest and best of Men. Tho' all Men forsake thee yet will not I. Good Man he resolved honestly but too too much in his own Strength Little little did he think what a Feather he should be in the Wind of Temptation if once God left him to the Power and Prevalency of his own Fears Observe farther That the Rest of the Apostles had the like Confident Opinion of their own Strength with St. Peter Likewise also said they all Note thence That the holiest of Men know not their own Strength till it comes to the Trial. Little did these good Men imagine what a cowardly Spirit they had in them till Temptation put it to the Proof 36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane and saith unto the disciples Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and very heavy 38 Then saith he unto them My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death tarry ye here and watch with me 39 And he went a little further and fell on his face and prayed saying O my Father if it be possible let this cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt 40 And he cometh unto the disciples and findeth them asleep and saith unto Peter What could ye not watch with me one hour 41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak 42 He went away again the second time and prayed saying O my Father if this cup may not pass away from me except I drink it thy will be done 43 And he came and found them asleep again for their eyes were heavy 44 And he left them and went away again and prayed the third time saying the same words Our Blessed Saviour being now come with his Disciples into the Garden he falls there into a bitter and bloody Agony in which he prayed with wonderful Fervency and Importunity to his Heavenly Father His Sufferings were now coming on a great pace and he meets them upon his Knees and would be found in a praying Posture Learn thence That Prayer is the best Preparative for as well as the most powerful Support under the heaviest Sufferings that can befal us As to this Prayer of our Saviour's in the Garden many things are very Observable As 1. The Place where he prayed In the Garden but why went Christ thither Was it to hide or shelter himself from his Enemies Nothing less for if so it had been the most improper Place because he was wont to retire thither to pray John 18.2 Judas knew the Place for Jesus oft-times resorted thither so that Christ went thither not to shun but to prepare himself by Prayer to meet his Enemies Obs 2. The time when he enter'd the Garden for Prayer it was in the Evening here he spent some Hours in pouring out his Soul to God for about Midnight Judas and the Soldiers came and apprehended him in a praying Posture Teaching us by his Example that when eminent Dangers are before us especially when Death is apprehended by us to be very much in Prayer to God and very fervent in our Wrestlings with him Obs 3. The Matter of our Lord's Prayer that if possible the Cup might pass from him That is those bitter Sufferings which were then before him particularly the insupportable Burthen of his Father 's Wrath. He prays if possible that his Father would excuse him from this dreadful Wrath his Soul being amaz'd at it But what Did Christ then begin to repent of his Undertaking for Sinners Did he shrink and give back when it came to the Pinch No no as Christ had Two Natures being God and Man so he had Two distinct Wills as Man he feared and shunned Death as God-man he willingly submitted to it the Divine Spirit and the Humane Nature of Christ did now assault each other with disagreeing Interests till at last Victory was got on the Spirit 's side Again This Prayer was not absolute but conditional If it be possible Father it may be if thou art willing if it please thee let it pass if not I will drink it Learn hence 1. That the Cup of Sufferings
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
some Satisfaction and Restitution for the Wrong and Injury done by it They that mourn for Sin as Sin They that mourn more for the intrinsical Evil that is in Sin than for the Penal and Consequential Evils that follow Sin They that confess Sin voluntarily and freely particularly penitently believingly with an Eye of Sorrow upon their Sin and an Eye of Faith fixt upon their Saviour They that make Restitution as an Act of Obedience to the Command of God and as an Act of Justice and Righteousness to their Neighbour such Persons Repentance shall find Acceptance with God Obs 3. The Answer and Reply which the wicked high Priests and Elders make to despairing Judas 1. They excuse themselves What is that to us 'T is natural to all Sinners to shift Sin from themselves and to lay it at any Door rather than their own Those that have had a Share in the Pleasure and Profit of Sin are yet very desirous to throw the Odium and Guilt of it upon others What is that to us say these Monsters in Sin 2. As they excuse and acquit themselves so they load and burthen him Look thou to that Lord what miserable Comforters are Companions in Sin to one another when Distress and Sorrow comes upon them When Sin comes to be question'd in order to its being punish'd every Sinner is for shifting for himself and leaves his Fellow in the Suds Let us then remember the Words of the Holy Ghost He that walketh with wise Men shall be wiser but a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed Obs 4. The sad and fatal End of Judas he went forth and hang'd himself Horror and Despair took hold upon him and seized his Conscâ—ence which was so intolerable that he ran to the Halter for a Remedy Learn hence 1. That Conscience is a powerful tho' invisible Executioner the Wrath of Man may be endured but the Wrath of God is insupportable and the Eruptions of Conscience are irresistible Oh how intolerable are those Scourges that lash us in this tender and vital Part Judas awakened with the Horror of his Fact Conscience begins to rouze and the Man is unable to bear up under the furious Revenges of his own Mind Learn 2. That there is an active Principle in Mens Breasts and Bosoms which seldom suffers daring Sinners to pass in quiet to their Graves Guilt is naturally troublesome and uneasie it disturbs the Peace and Serenity of the Mind and fills the Soul with Storms and Thunder both in Life and Death How vainly did Judas hope to take Sanctuary in a Grave and to meet with that Ease in another World which he could not find in this Thus ended this miserable Man Judas Lord how earnest ought we to be for thy persevering Grace when neither the Presence the Miracles the Sermons the Sacraments of Christ could preserve and secure a Professor a Disciple an Apostle from the fatal Mischief of a ruinous Apostacy 6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces and said It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury because it is the price of blood 7 And they took counsel and bought with them the potters field to bury strangers in 8 Wherefore that field was called The field of blood unto this day 9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet saying And they took the thirty pieces of silver the price of him that was valued whom they of the children of Israel did value 10 And gave them for the potter's field as the Lord appointed me Observe here 1. The Niceness and Scrupulosity of these Hypocrites they made no Scruple to give Money to shed Blood but they scruple the putting that Money into the Treasury which was the Price of Blood They are afraid to defile their â—reasury but are not afraid to polute their Souls Thus Hypocrites strain at a Gnat and swallow a Camel scruple a Ceremony but make no Conscience of Murther and Perjury Observe 2. The use which they put this Money to which Judas brought them they bought with it a Field to bury Strangers in Thus Christ who was himself a Stranger in a borrow'd Grave by the Price of his Blood being Thirty Pieces of Silver conferred Graves on many Strangers Observe Lastly How the Wisdom of God order'd it that hereby a Scripture-Prophecy was fulfilled Zach. 11.13 They weighed for my Price Thirty Pieces of Silver and I took and cast them unto the Potter Whence Learn That all the Indignities and debasing Sufferings which the Lord Jesus underwent were not only fore-ordain'd by God but also foretold by the holy Prophets His being Scourged Buffetted Spit upon and here his being sold for Thirty Pieces of Silver 11 And Jesus stood before the governour and the governour asked him saying Art thou the king of the Jews And Jesus said unto him Thou sayest 12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders he answered nothing 13 Then saith Pilate unto him Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee 14 And he answered him to never a word insomuch that the governour marvelled greatly Observe here 1. That our Saviour readily answers Pilate but refuses to answer the chief Priests before Pilate Pilate asks him Art thou the King of the Jews Jesus readily answers Thou sayest or it is as thou sayest But to all the Accusations of the chief Priests and to all that they laid to his Charge before Pilate our Saviour answers never a Word probably for these Reasons Because his Innocency was such as needed no Apology because their Calumnies and Accusations were so notoriously false that they needed no Confutation To shew his Contempt of Death and to teach us by his own Example Patience and Silence when for his sake we are slandered and traduced Learn hence That altho' we are not obliged to answer every captious and ensnaring Question nor to refute every Slander and false Accusation yet are we bound faithfully to own and confess the Truth when we are solemnly called thereunto Our Saviour as a deaf Man hears not answers not the Calumnies of the chief Priests but when Pilate asks him Art thou the King of the Jews Or as St. Mark has it Art thou the Son of the Blessed Jesus said I am tho' he knew that Answer would cost him his Life Hence the Apostle 1 Tim. 6.13 says That Christ before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good Confession Teaching us Sometimes to hold our Peace when our own Reputation is concerned but never to be silent when the Honour of God the Glory of his Truth the Edification and Confirmation of others may effectually be promoted by our open Confession Then must we with Christ give a direct plain and sincere Answer For whoever denies him or any Truth of his knowingly and wilfully him will Christ deny in the Presence of his Father and before all his Holy Angels 15 Now at that feast the governour was wont to release unto the people a prisoner whom they would 16
Face from his Children now this was both agreeable to the Dignity of Christ's Nature and also suitable to his Office who was to satisfie the Justice of God for our forsaking of him and to bring us near to him that we might â—e received for ever Observe Lastly What a miraculous Evidence Christ gave of his Divinity instantly before he gave up the Ghost He cried with a loud Voice This shew'd that he did not dye according to the ordinary Course of Nature gradually departing and drawing on as we express it No his Life was whole in him and Nature as strong at last as at first Other Men dye gradually and towards their End their Sense of Pain is much blunted they faulter fumble and dye by degrees but Christ stood under the Pains of Death in his full Strength his Life was whole in him This was evident by the mighty Outcry he made when he gave up the Ghost contrary to the Sense and Experience of all other Persons this argued him to be full of Strength And he that could cry with such a loud Voice in articulo mortis as he did could have kept himself from dying if he would Hence we Learn That when Christ died he rather conquered Death than was conquer'd by Death He must voluntarily and freely lay down Life before Death could come at him 51 And behold the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom and the earth did quake and the rocks rent 52 And the graves were opened and many bodies of saints which slept arose 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared unto many 54 Now when the centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus saw the earthquake and those things that were done they feared greatly saying Truly this was the Son of God 55 And many women were there beholding afar off which followed Jesus from Galilee ministering unto him 56 Among which was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joses and the mother of Zebedee's children Here we have an Account of several extraordinary and wonderful Things which occurr'd and fell out about the time that our Saviour died 1. The Vail of the Temple rent asunder That is the Partition Wall of Stone between the Sanctuary and the outer Court was now broken down Signifying That the ceremonial Law was now abolished by the Death of Christ and that by the Blood of Jesus we have Access unto God and may enter into the Holy of Holies 2. The Earth quak'd As there was an Universal Eclipse so likewise an Universal Earthquake at our Lord's Crucifixion which did awaken many of the Saints that died before our Saviour's Incarnation out of their dead Sleep These arose both as Witnesses of Christ's Resurrection and also as Sharers in it But none of them arose till Christ was risen he being the first Fruits of them that slept And these holy Persons that arose with him possibly attended him to Heaven at his Ascension From hence we Learn That Christ was the Saviour of those that believed in him before his Incarnation as well as those that believed in him since his Incarnation and that the former are Partakers of the Fruit and Benefit of his Death and Resurrection no less than the latter Observe next What Influence and Effect the sight of these prodigious Things had upon the Centurion and the Soldiers It convinced them that verily this was the Son of God Here we see the Heathen Soldiers are sooner convinced of the Divinity of Christ than the unbelieving Jewish Doctors Obstinacy and Unbelief fill'd their Minds with an invincible Prejudice against Christ so that neither the Miracles done by him in his Life nor wrought at his Death could convince the high Priests that Christ was any other than an Impostor and Deceiver Observe Lastly Who of Christ's Friends were Witnesses of his Death They are Women who followed him from Galilee and ministred unto him not one of his dear Disciples except St. John who stood by the Cross with the Virgin Mary What a Shame was this for the Apostles to be absent from a Spectacle upon which the Salvation of the whole World did depend and what an Honour was this to the Female Sex in general and to these Women in particular that they had the Courage to follow Christ to his Cross when all his Disciples forsook him and fled God can make Women Glorious Confessors of his Truth and arm them against the Fears of Sufferings contrary to the natural Timorâ—â—sness of their Tempers These Women wait upon Christ's Cross when Apostles fly and durst not come near it 57 When the even was come there came a rich man of Arimathea named Joseph who also himself was Jesus disciple 58 He went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered 59 And when Joseph had taken the body he wrapped it in a clean linnen cloth 60 And laid it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out in the rock and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre and departed 61 And there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sitting over against the sepulchre Here we have an Account given of our Lord's Funeral and Interment in the Grave such a Funeral as never was since Graves were first digged Concerning which we have these Particulars Observable 1. The Preparatives that were made for our Lord's Funeral namely the begging and perfuming of his dead Body his Body could not be buried till by begging it was obtain'd of Pilate the dead Bodies of Malefactors being in the Power of the Disposal of the Judge Pilate grants it and to manifest their dear Affection to their dead Lord they wrap the Body in fine Linnen with Spices to perfume it But what need of Odours for that Body which could not see Corruption Tho' his holy Body did not want them yet the Affections of his Friends could not withhold them Obs 2. The Bearers that carried his Body to the Grave or the Persons concern'd in solemnizing his Funeral Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus Two rich Men and Two secret Disciples 1. They were rich Men Senators honourable Counsellors and so that Prophecy was fulfilled Isa 53. last He made his Grave with the wicked and with the rich in his Death 2. They were good Men as well as rich Men Disciples tho' secretly for fear of the Jews Grace doth not always make a publick and open show where it is As there is much secret Riches in the Bowels of the Earth which no Eye ever saw so there may be Grace in the Heart of a Christian which the World takes no notice of We never heard any News of Joseph of Arimathea till now yet was he eminently rich wise and good a Worthy tho' a close Disciple Much Grace may be where little is seen Some Gracious Persons cannot put forward and discover themselves like others and
be offended because of me this Night for it is written I will smite the Shepheard and the Sheep shall be scattered 28 But after that I am Risen I will go before you into Galilee 29 But Peter said unto him Although all shall be offended yet will not I. 30 And Jesus saith unto him Verily I say unto thee That this day even in this Night before the Cock Crow Twice thou shalt deny me Thrice 31 But he spake more vehemently if I should dye with thee I will not deny thee in any wise Likewise also said they all Observe here 1. The Warning that our Saviour gives his Disciples of their Forsaking of him in the time of his Sufferings All ye shall be offended because of me this night Learn that Christ's dearest Friends forsook and left him alone in the midst of his greatest distress and danger Observe 2. What was the Cause of their Flight it was their Fear the weakness of their Faith and the prevalency of their Fear Oh how sad and dangerous is it for the best of Men to be left under the power of their own Fears in the day of Temptation Observe 3. Notwithstanding our Saviour's Prediction St. Peter's Presumption of his own Strength and Standing Though all Men forsake thee yet-will not I. Learn thence That Self-confidence and a Presumptuous Opinion of their own Strength is a sin very incident to the holiest and best of Men. This good Man resolved honestly no doubt but too too much in his own strength Little little did he think what a Feather he should be in the Wind of Temptation if once left to the Power and Prevalency of his own Fears None are so near falling as those who are most confident of their own Standing if ever we stand in the day of Tryal 't is the fear of falling that must enable us to stand 32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane and he saith unto his Disciples sit ye here while I shall pray 33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John and began to be sore amazed and to be very heavy 34 And saith unto them My Soul is exceeding sorrowful unto Death Tarry ye here and watch 35 And he went forward a little and fell on the Ground and Prayed That if it were possible the Hour might pass from him 36 And he said Abba Father all things are possible unto thee Take away this Cup from me nevertheless not as I will but what thou wilt 37 And he cometh and findeth them sleeping and saith unto Peter Simon sleepest thou couldst not thou watch one Hour 38 Watch ye and pray lest ye enter into Temptation the Spirit truly is ready but the Flesh is weak 39 And again he went away and prayed and spake the same words 40 And when he returned he found them asleep again for their Eyes were heavy neither wist they what to answer him 41 And he cometh the third time and saith unto them Sleep on now and take your rest it is enough the Hour is come behold the Son of Man is Betrayed into the Hands of Sinners Rise up let us go lo he that Betrayeth me is at hand Our Blessed Saviour being now come with his Disciples into the Garden he falls there into a bitter and bloody Agony in which he prayed with wonderful Fervency and Importunity to his Heavenly Father his Sufferings were now coming on a great pace and he meets them upon his Knees and would be found in a Praying Posture Learn thence That Prayer is the best Preparative for as well as the most powerful Support under the heaviest Sufferings that can befal us As to this Prayer of our Saviour in the Garden many things are very Observable as 1. The place where he Prayed the Garden But why went Christ thither not with our first Parents to hide himself there amongst the Trees of the Garden from the Notice and Observation of his Enemies But as a Garden was the place where our Misery began as the first scene of humane sin and misery was Acted in a Garden so does our Lord choose a Garden as the fittest place for his Agony and Satisfactory pains to begin in Again this Garden was a place of privacy and Retirement where our Lord might best attend the Offices of Devotion preparatory to his Passion John 18.2 tells us That Jesus oft-times resorted to this Garden with his Disciples and that Judas well knew the place It is evident then that Christ went not into the Garden to shun his Sufferings but to prepare himself by Prayer to meet his Enemies 2. Observe the Time when he entered into the Garden for Prayer it was in the Evening before he Suffered here he spent some hours in pouring forth his Soul to God For about Mid-night Judas with his Black Guard came and Apprehended him in a Praying Posture Our Lord Teaching us by his Example that when eminent Dangers are before us especially when Death is Apprehended by us to be very much in Prayer to God and very fervent in our Wrestlings with him Observe 3. The Matter of our Lord's Prayer That if possible the Cup might pass from him and he might be kept from the Hour of Suffering that his Soul might escape that Dreadful Wrath at which he was so sore Amazed But what Did Christ then begin to Repent of his Undertaking for Sinners Did he shrink and give back when it came to the pinch No nothing less but as he had two Natures being GOD and Man so he had two distinct Wills as Man he feared and shunned Death as GOD man he willingly submitted to it The Divine Nature and the Humane Spirit of Christ did now Assault each other with disagreeing Interests Again this Prayer was not Absolute but Conditional If it be possible Father if it may be if thou art willing if it please thee let this Cup pass if not I will drink it The Cup of Sufferings we see is a very bitter and distastful Cup a Cup which Humane Nature abhors and cannot desire but pray against yet doth God put this Bitter Cup of Affliction into the Hands oft-times of those whom he doth sincerely Love and when he doth do so it is their Duty to drink it with Silence and Submission as here their Lord did before them Father let the Cup pass yet not my Will but thine be done Observe 4. The Manner of our Lord's Prayer in the Garden and here we may Remark 1. it was a Solitary Prayer he went by himself alone out of the Hearing of his Disciples The Company of our best and dearest Friends is not always Seasonable there is a time to be Solitary as well as to be Sociable there are Times and Cases when a Christian would not be willing that the most intimate Friend he has in the World should be with him to hear what passes in secret betwixt him and his God 2. It was an humble Prayer that 's Evident by the Postures into which
he cast himself sometimes Kneeling sometimes lying prostrate upon his Face he lies in the very Dust and lower he cannot lye and his Heart was as low as his Body 3. It was a vehement fervent and most importunate Prayer such was the fervour of our Lord's Spirit that he Prayed himself into an Agony Oh let us blush to think how unlike we are to Christ in Prayer as to our praying-frame of Spirit Lord what deadness and drowsiness what stupidity and formality what dulness and Laziness is found in our Prayers How often do our Lips move when our Hearts stand still 4. It was a Re-iterated and Repeated Prayer he Prayed the first second and third time for the passing of the Cup from him he returns upon God over and over again resolving to take no Denyal Let us not be Discouraged though we have sought God often for a particular Mercy and yet no Answer has been given in unto us Our Prayers may be answered though their Answer for the present is suspended A Prayer put up in Faith according to the Will of God though it may be delayed it shall not be lost Our Saviour Prayed the first second and third Time for the passing of the Cup and altho' he was not heard as to Exemption from Suffering yet he was heard as to Support under Suffering Observe 5. The Posture the Disciples were found in when our Lord was in this Agony Praying to his Father They were fast asleep Good God! Could they possibly sleep at such a time as that was when Christ's Soul was exceeding Sorrowful Could their Eyes be thus heavy Learn thence That the best of Christ's Disciples may be and oft-times are over-taken with Infirmities with great Infirmities when the most important Duties are performing He cometh to his Disciples and finds them sleeping Observe 6. The mild and gentle Reproof which he gives the Disciples for their sleeping Could ye not watch with me one hour Could you not Watch when your Master is in such Danger Could you not Watch with me when I am going to deliver up my Life for you What not one Hour and that the parting Hour too After his Reprehension he Subjoyns an Exhortation Watch and Pray that ye enter not into Temptation and super-adds a forcible Reason for though the Spirit be willing yet the flesh is weak Thence Learn That the Holiest and best Resolved Christians who have willing Spirits for Christ and his Service yet in regard of the Weakness of the Flesh or frailty of Humane Nature it is their Duty to Watch and Pray and thereby guard themselves against Temptation Watch and Pray that ye enter not into Temptation for though the Spirit is willing yet the flesh is weak 43 And immediately while he yet spake cometh Judas one of the Twelve and with him a great Multitude with Swords and Staves from the Chief Priests and Scribes and Elders 44 And he that Betrayed him had given him a Token saying whomsoever I shall kiss that same is he Take him and lead him away safely 45 And as soon as he was come he goeth straightway to him and saith Master Master and kissed him 46 And they laid their hands on him and took him 47 And one of them that stood by dreâ— a Sword and smote a Servant of the High-priests and cut off his Ear. 48 And Jesus answered and said unto them Are ye come out as against a Thief with Swords and with Staves to take me 49 I was daily with you in the Temple Teaching and ye took me not but the Scriptures must be Fulfilled 50 And they all forsook him and fled The Hour is now almost come even that Hour of Sorrow which Christ had so often spoken of yet a little while and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of Sinners for while he yet spake cometh Judas with a Band of Soldiers to apprehend him it was the Lot and Portion of our Dear Redeemer to be Betrayed into the hands of his Mortal Enemies by the Treachery of a false and dissembling Friend Here we have Observable 1. The Traitor 2. The Treason 3. The Manner how 4. The Time when this Treasonable Design was Executed Observe 1. The Traitor Judas All the Evangelists carefully describe him by his Name Judas by his sir-name Judas Iscariot lest he should be mistaken for Jude the Brother of James Almighty God takes great care to preserve the Names of his upright-hearted Servants he is further described by his Office One of the Twelve The Eminency of his Place and Station was an high aggravation of his Transgression Learn hence That the greatest Professors had need be very jealous of themselves and suspicious of their own Hearts and look well to the Grounds and Principles of their Profession for a Profession begun in Hypocrisy will certainly end in Apostacy Learn farther That Persons are never in such eminent Danger as when they meet with Temptations exactly suited to their Master Lusts Covetousness was Judas his Master-sin the Love of the World made him a Slave to Satan and the Devil lays a Temptation before him exactly suited to his Temper and Inclination and it instantly over-comes him Oh pray we that we may be kept from a strong and suitable Temptation a Temptation suited to our inclination and predominant Lust and Corruption Observe 2. The Treason of this Traitor Judas he led on an Armed Multitude to the place where Christ was gave them a Signal to discover him by and bids them lay Hands upon him and hold him fast This Treason of Judas is attended with these Hellish Aggravations He had been a Witness to the Miracles which our Saviour had wrought by his Divine Power and therefore could not sin out of Ignorance What he did was not at the sollicitation and perswasion of others but he was a Voluntier in this Service the High-priests did not send to him but he went to them offering his Assistance No doubt it was matter of Surprize to the Chief Priests to find one of Christ's own Disciples at the head of a Conspiracy against him Lord How dangerous is it to allow our selves in any one secret or open Sin None can say how far that one Sin may in time lead us Should any have told Judas that his Love of Money would at last make him sell his Saviour he would have said with Hasael is thy Servant a Dog that he should do this thing That Soul can never be safe that Harbours one sin within its Breast Observe 3. The manner how this Hellish Plot was Executed partly by Force and partly by Fraud by Force in that Judas came with a Multitude Armed with Swords and Staves and by Fraud giving a kiss and saying Hail Master Here was Honey in the Lips but Poyson in the Heart Observe 4. The Time when the Place where and the Work which our Saviour was about when this Treasonable Design was Executed he was in the Garden with his Disciples exhorting them to Prayer
is a Priest to God and may enter the Holy of Holies by the Blood of Jesus But Lord What are we the better for this Great and Gracious freedom of Access to Thee if we want Hearts to prize and to improve our Priviledge 11 And there appeared unto him an Angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the Altar of Incense Whilst Zachary was praying to God an Angel appears to Zachary when we are nearest God the Good Angels are nighest us they are most with us when we are most with him The presence of Angels with us is no Novelty but their Apparition to us is so They are always with us but rarely seen by us Let our Faith see them whom our Senses cannot discern Their assumed Shapes do not make them more present but only more visible Obs 2. The place as well as the time where the Angel appeared in the Temple and at the Altar and on the right side of the Altar of Incense As the Holy Angels are always present with us in our Devotions so especially in Religious Assemblies as in all places so most of all in God's House They rejoyce to be with us whilst we are with God but they turn their Faces from us when we go about our Sins 12 And when Zacharias saw him he was troubled and fear fell upon him It was partly the suddenness partly the unexpectedness and partly the Glory of the Apparition that affrighted this Good Man Glorious and sudden Apparations do affright even the holiest and best of Men. We cannot bear the sight and presence of an Angel without Consternation and Fear in this our frail and sinful State Oh happy hour when mortality and Sin being taken out of our Natures we shall not only behold the Glorified Angels without fear but the Glorious God with Delight and Love Lord let me now see Thee by Faith hereafter by sight Sit in alio Seculo non in Hoc visio tua merces mea 13 But the Angel said unto him fear not Zacharias for thy prayer is heard and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son and thou shalt call his name John Observe here 1. How Apprehensive this good Angel was of Zachary's Surprizing fear and encourages him against it The Holy Angels tho' they do not express it in words yet they pity our frailties and suggest Comfort to us The Evil Angels if they might would kill us with Terrour The good Angels labour altogether for our Tranquility and cheerfulness The Angel said unto him fear not Obs 2. the Comfortable words spoken by the Angel to Zacharias Thy prayer is heard and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a Son No doubt Zachary and Elizabeth had often prayed for a Child and now God sends them one when they least expected it Learn hence That sometimes God gives in a Mercy to us when we least expect it yea when we have given over looking for it No doubt this was the Case here Zachary and Elizabeth being both well stricken in Age. Obs 3. the Name which the Angel directs Zachary to give his Son Thou shalt call his name John which signifies Gracious because he was to open the Kingdom of Grace and to preach the Grace of the Gospel through Jesus Christ The giving of significant names to Children has been an ancient and pious practice Names which either carried a Remembrance of Duty or of Mercy 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness and many shall rejoice at his birth 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mothers womb 16 And many of the Children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Here the Angel declares to Zachary what kind of Son should be born unto him even one of eminent Endowments and designed for extraordinary Services The proof of Children makes them either the Blessings or Crosses of their parents What greater comfort could Zachary desire in a child then is here promised to him 1. he hears of a Son that should bring joy to himself and many others even to all that did expect the coming of the Messias whose fore-runner the Baptist was 2. That he should be great in the sight of the Lord that is a Person of great Eminency and great Usefulness in the Church A Person of great Riches and Reputation is great in the sight of Men but the Man of great ability and usefulness the Man of great Integrity and Serviceableness he is truly great in the sight of the Lord. They are little Men in the sight of the Lord that live in the World to little purposes who do little Service for God and bring little Honour and Glory to him But the Man that does all the possible Service he can for God and the utmost Good that he is capable of doing to all Mankind he is a person great in the sight of the Lord and such was the Holy Baptist 3. It is foretold that he should drink neither Wine nor strong drink that is that he should be a very Temperate and Abstemious Person living after the manner of the Nazarites tho' he was not separated by any Vow of his own or his Parents but by the special designation and appointment of God only It was forbidden the Priests under the Law to drink either Wine or strong Drink upon pain of Death during the time of their Ministration Levit. 10.9 And the Ministers of Christ under the Gospel are forbidden to be lovers of Wine 1 Tim. 3.3 4. He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost from his Mothers Womb That is he shall be furnished abundantly with the extraordinary Gifts and sanctifying Graces of the Holy Spirit which shall very early appear to be in him and upon him 5. His High and Honourable Office is declared That he should go before the Messiah as his Harbinger and Fore-runner with the same Spirit of Zeal and Courage against Sin which was found in the old Prophet Elias whom he did so nearly resemble 6. The great Success of his Ministry is foretold namely That he should turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just That is the Hearts of the Jews to the Gentiles say some that he should bring Men say others even the most disobedient and rebellious Pharisees and Sadduces Publicans and Sinners unto Repentance and to the minding of Justice and Righteousness and all moral duties and thus he made ready a people for the Lord. By fitting men to receive Christ upon his own Terms and Conditions namely Faith and Repentance From the whole Note That those whom Almighty God designs for eminent Usefulness in
their Obstinacy and Infidelity which he aggravates from the Example of the Queen of the South and the Men of Nineveh From hence Learn That the sins of infidelity and impenitency are exceedingly heightned and their guilt aggravated from the Means afforded by God to bring Men to Faith and Obedience The sin of the Pharisees was infinitely greater in rejecting the Evidence of Christ's Miracles than the sin of the Ninevites would have been in refusing to hearken to Jonas his Ministry therefore the Ninevites shall condemn the Pharisees 33 No man when he hath lighted a Candle putteth it in a secret place neither under a Bushel but on a Candlestick that they which come in may see the Light 34 The light of the body is the eye therefore when thine eye is single thy whole body also is full of Light but when thine eye is evil thy body also is full of darkness 35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness 36 If thy whole body therefore shall be full of light having no part dark the whole shall be full of light as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light Our Saviour in these words does these two things 1. he declares that altho' his Ministry had no effect upon the proud and obstinate Pharisees yet he would not hide the light which he came into the World to bring nor conceal that Heavenly Doctrine which his Father had committed to him to Communicate to the Children of Men teaching us That such as are enlightned by God with the Knowledge of his Word and Will ought not to conceal and hide this Knowledge within themselves but communicate it to others and improve it for the good and benefit of others No man that lighteth a Candle putteth it under a Bushel 2. Our Saviour here discovers the Reason why the Pharisees continued blind under so clear a light as that of his Ministry namely because the eye of their Understanding was darkned not so much with Ignorance as with Prejudice whereby they opposed Christ and his Holy Doctrine for if the Mind be clearly enlightned by the Word and Spirit of God that Light will diffuse and spread it self in the Soul as the bright shining of a Candle doth in the House enlightning all the inward Faculties and directing all the outward Actions and communicating its Light also to the enlightning of others 37 And as he spake a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him and he went in and sate down to meat 38 And when the Pharisee saw it he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner 39 And the Lord said unto him now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness 40 Ye fools did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also Observe here 1. The free Conversation of our Blessed Saviour how readily he complies with the Pharisees Invitation to dine with him I do not find that when Christ was invited to any Table that ever he refused to go if a Pharisee if a Publican invited him he constantly went not so much for the pleasure of eating as for the opportunity of Conversing and doing good Christ feasts us when we feed him He says of himself that he came eating and drinking that is allowing himself a free tho' innocent Conversation with all sorts of Persons that he might gain some Observe 2. The Exception which the Pharisee takes at our Saviour's not washing his hands before Dinner This they made but without any warrant for it a Religious Act abounding in external washings but neglecting the inward Purgations of their Hearts and Consciences from Sin and Uncleanness Thus Pharisaical Hypocrisy puts God off with outward cleansing instead of inward Purity regarding more the outward cleanness of the hand than the inward Purity of the Heart Observe 3. Our Blessed Saviour does not condemn any external Decency and cleanliness in Conversation but his design is to shew the vanity of outward Purity without inward Sanctity and to convince them of the Necessity of cleansing the Heart in order to the purifying and Reforming the Life The Pharisee washt his hands clean but left his Soul full of uncleanness not considering that he that made the Soul as well as the Body requires that both should be kept pure all the impiety of mens Lives proceeding from the impurity of their Hearts and Natures 41 But rather give alms of such things as you have and behold all things are clean unto you As if Christ had said the way to purify your Meats and Drinks and Estates from all pollution cleaving to them and to have them Sanctified Blessings to you is in Conjunction with other Graces by doing Works of Mercy and by liberal Alms-giving according to your Ability Learn that Charity and Alms-giving according to our ability and opportunity is a special means to sanctify our Estates to us and to cause us holily and comfortably to enjoy whatever we do possess Give Alms of such things as you have and behold all things are clean unto you 42 But Wo unto you Pharisees for ye Tythe Mint and Rue and all manner of Herbs and pass over judgment and the love of God these ought ye to have done and not to leave the other undone Our Saviour here denounces a Wo against the Pharisees for their strict and scrupulous observing the lesser things of the Law as Tything Mint and Rue whilst they were regardless of the principal and substantial Duties which they owed both to GOD and Man Learn hence That altho' some Duties are of greater moment and importance than others yet a good Man will omit none but make Conscience of all both great and small in obedience to the Command of God there is no Duty so little as to be neglected no Command so small as to be disobeyed but yet there is a difference in Duties and our first regard ought to be to the greater then to the less Christ doth not condemn them for Tything Mint and Rue but for passing over judgment and the love of God 43 Wo unto you Pharisees for ye love the uppermost seats in the Synagogues and greetings in the Market-place The next Wo denounced against the Pharisees is for their Ambition Pride and Popularity affecting the uppermost Seats in the Synagogues and Salutations in the Markets where their fault was not in taking but in affecting these uppermost places God is the God of Order there may and ought to be a precedency amongst Persons honour is to be given to whom honour is due and that by God's Command But Pride and Ambition are detestable Vices especially in such as are Preachers and ought to be patterns of Humility 44 Wo unto you Scribes Pharisees Hypocrites for ye are as Graves which appear not and the men that walk over them are not aware of them Another Wo is here
is establish others in the Faith from which thou art shamefully fallen thy self Now the Lessons of Instructions from the whole are these 1. That Temptations are like siftings God sifts to purge away our dust and dross Satan sifts not to get out the Chaff but to boult out the Flower his Temptations are Levelled against our Faith 2. That Satan has a continual Desire to be Sifting and Winnowing God's Flower Satan's own Children are all Bran all Chaff these he sifts not God's Children have Flower mix'd with Bran good Wheat mix'd with Chaff these he desires to sift winnow and fâ—n not to separate the Bran and Dross but to destroy the Flower Learn 3. That the intercession of Christ gives Security Satisfaction and Encouragement to all Believers that tho' their Faith may by Temptations be shaken and assaulted yet that it shall never be finally vanquish'd and overcome I have prayed that thy Faith fail not 4. That lapsed Christians when Recovered and Restored ought to endeavour to Restore and Recover to strengthen and establish others When thou art Converted strengthen thy Brethren 33 And he said unto him Lord I am ready to go with thee both into prison and to death 34 And he said I tell thee Peter the Cock shall not Crow this day before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me St Peter's Resolution to accompany Christ both to Prison and to Death was Holy and Good but his too confident Opinion of his own Strength and Ability so to do without a Divine Aid and Assistance was his failing and infirmity Self-confidence is a sin too too incident to the holiest and best of Men. Little did Peter think What a Feather he should be in the Wind of Temptation if once God left him to himself and to Satan's Assaults Learn farther How hard a matter it is for a Christian to excel in Gifts and not to be over-confident and conceited To see a Man eminent in Gifts and yet exemplary in Humility is a rare sight if we stand in the Evil Day 't is an humble fear of Falling that must enable us to stand 35 And he said unto them When I sent you without Purse and Scrip and Shoes Lacked ye any thing and they said nothing 36 Then said he unto them But now he that hath a purse let him take it and likewise his Scrip and he that hath no Sword let him sell his Garment and buy one 37 For I say unto you That this that is written must yet be accomplished in me And he was reckoned among the Transgressors For the things concerning me have an end 38 And they said Lord behold here are two Swords and he said unto them It is enough As if our Lord had said Hitherto I have been with you and you have had my special Protection and careful Provision tho' you went without Purse Scrip or Sword But the Time is now at hand when I must leave you when your Friends will be few and your Enemies many therefore make such Preparation for your selves as Prudence shall direct Indeed my Sufferings will be first I must be numbred with the Transgressors and all things that are written of me must be accomplished and will suddenly be fulfilled and after me you will next come upon the Stage therefore prepare and provide for it Learn That Christ having fore-warned his Members but especially his Ministers of the Dangers Distresses and Difficulties that they are to conflict and encounter with it is their Duty by Faith and Patience with Courage and Christian Resolution to be well armed and prepared against them 39 And he came out and went as he was wont to the Mount of Olives and his Disciples also followed him 40 And when he was at the place he said unto them Pray that ye enter not into Temptation 41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stones cast and kneeled down and prayed saying 42 Father if thou be willing remove this Cup from me nevertheless not my Will but thine be done 43 And there appeared an Angel unto him from Heaven strengthning him 44 And being in an Agony he prayed more earnestly and his Sweat was as it were great drops of Blood falling down to the Ground 45 And when he rose up from Prayer and was come to his Disciples he found them sleeping for Sorrow 46 And he said unto them Why sleep ye rise and pray lest ye enter into Temptation Our Blessed Saviour being now come to the Mount of Olives and having entered with his Disciples into the Garden near it whither he used to retire and pray In this place he falls into a bitter and bloody Agony in which he prayed with wonderful Fervour and Importunity his Sufferings were now coming on a great pace and he meets them upon his Knees and would be found in a Praying posture Learn thence That Prayer is the best Preparative for as well as the most powerful Support under the heaviest Sufferings that can befal us As to this Prayer of our Saviour in his Agony many particulars are very Observable As 1. The Time when he Prayed thus extraordinarily it was the Evening before he Suffered just before Judas with his Black Guard came to Apprehend him and when he did come he found him in a praying Posture our Lord Teaching us by his Example That when Eminent Dangers are before us especially when Death is apprehended by us it is our Duty to be very much in Prayer to God and very fervent in our Wrestlings with him Observe 2. The Subject Matter of our Lord's Prayer That if possible the Cup might pass from him That is he might escape that Dreadful Wrath at which he was so sore amazed But what Did Christ now begin to repent of his Undertaking for Sinners Did he shrink and give back when it came to the pinch No nothing like this but as he had Two Natures being GOD and Man so he had two distinct Wills as Man he feared and shunned Death as God-man he willingly submitted to it The Divine Nature and the Humane Spirit of Christ did now assault each other with disagreeing Interests Again This Prayer was not absolute but Conditional Father if it may be if thou wilt if it please thee let the Cup pass if not I will drink it The Cup of Sufferings we see is a very bitter and distastful Cup a Cup which Humane Nature abhors yet doth God oft-times put this Bitter Cup of Affliction into the hands of those whom yet he does sincerely Love and when he doth do so it is their Duty to drink it with Silence and Submission as here their Lord did before them Observe 3. The manner of our Lord's Prayer in this his Agony and here we may Remark 1. It was a Solitary Prayer he went by himself alone out of the Hearing of his Disciples The Company of our best and dearest Friends is not always Seasonable there are Times and Seasons when a Christian would not be willing that the most
farther Witness we have heard his Blasphemy Abominable Wickedness It is not in the Power of Innocency it self nay not in the Power of the greatest and unspotted Innocency to protect from Slander and false Accusation Observe farther The great Meekness of our Saviour under all these ill Suggestions and false Accusations as a Lamb before the Shearer so is he Dumb and opened not his Mouth Learn thence That to bear the Revilings Contradictions and false Accusations of Men with a Silent and Submissive Spirit is an excellent and Christ-like Temper Though a Tryal for his Innocent Life was now Managed most Maliciously and Illegally against him yet When he was Reviled Reviled not again when he Suffered he Threatned not Oh may the same Meek and Humble Mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus who instead of Reviling his Accusers Prayed for his Murtherers and Offered up his Blood to God on the Behalf of them that shed it Lord Jesus help us to set thy Instructive Example continually before us and to be daily Correcting and Reforming of our Lives by that Blessed Pattern Amen CHAP. XXIII 1 AND the whole Multitude of them arose and led him unto Pilate 2 And they began to accuse him saying We found this Fellow perverting the Naâ—ion and forbidding to give Tribute to Cesar saying That he himself is Christ a King 3 And Pilate asked him saying Art thou the King of the Jews And he answered him and said Thou sayest it 4 Then said Pilate to the Chief Priests and to the People I find no fault in this Man 5 And they were the more fierce saying He stirreth up the People Teaching throughout all Jeury beginning from Galilee to this place 6 When Pilate heard of Galilee he asked whether the Man were a Galilean 7 And as soon as he heard that he belonged to Herod's Jurisdiction he sent him to Herod who himself was also at Jerusalem at that time 8 And when Herod saw Jesus he was exceeding glad for he was desirous to see him of a long Season because he had heard many things of him and he hoped to have seen some Miracle done by him 9 Then he questioned with him in many words but he answered him nothing 10 And the Chief Priests and Scribes stood and vehemently accused him 11 And Herod with his Men of War set him at naught and mocked him And arrayed him in a gorgeous Robe and sent him again to Pilate 12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made Friends together for before they were at enmity between themselves In this Chapter we have a Relation of the Black and Saddest Tragedy that ever was Acted upon the Stage of the World Namely the Barbarous and Bloody Murther of the Holy and Innocent Jesus by the Jews his own Country-Men the Best of Kings put to Death by his own Subjects And the first step towards it is his Arraignment before Pilate and Herod they Post him from one to another Pilate sends him to Herod and Herod having made sufficient Sport with him Remands him to Pilate Neither of them find any Fault in him worthy of Death yet neither of them would Release him Here Observe That our Saviour being before Pilate Answers him Readily and Cautiously Art thou the King of the Jews says Pilate Thou sayest it says our Saviour Art thou the Christ the Son of the Blessed He Replied I am Hence says the Apostle 1 Tim. 6.13 That Jesus Christ before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good Confession Teaching us That though we may and sometimes ought to hold our Peace when our Reputation is Concerned yet must we never be Silent when the Honour of God and his Truth may be effectually promoted by a Free and a Full Confession yet is it farther Observable That our Saviour being before Herod would neither Answer him to any Question nor Work any Miracle before him This was an Instance and Evidence of our Lord 's great Humility in refusing to Work Miracles before Herod who desired it only to gratify his Curiosity Thus do vile Men abuse the Holy Power of God desiring to see it exerted for Admiration and Pastime not to be Convinced or Converted by it And as Admirable was the Patience as the Humility of Christ and his present Silence who neither at Herod's Request nor at the Jews Importunity and false Accusations could be moved to Answer any thing Observe Lastly That though Herod had Murthered Christ's Fore-runner John the Baptist and our Saviour's own Life was in danger by Herod heretofore yet now he had him in his Hands he lets him go only he first abuses him and mocks him and Arrays him in a Gorgeous Robe like a Mock King Thus were all the Marks of Scorn imaginable put upon our Dear Redeemer yet all this Jearing and sportful Shame did our Lord undergo to shew what was due unto us for our Sins and also to give us an Example to bear all the Shame and Reproach imaginable for his sake Who for the Joy that was set before him despised the Shame Hebr. 12.2 13 And Pilate when he had called together the Chief Priests and the Rulers and the People 14 Said unto them Ye have brought this Man unto me as one that perverteth the People And behold I have examined him before you and find no fault in this Man touching those things whereof ye accuse him 15 No nor yet Herod For I sent you to him and lo nothing worthy of Death is done unto him 16 I will therefore chastize him and Release him 17 For of necessity he must Release one unto them at the Feast 18 And they cryed out all at once saying Away with this Man and Release unto us Barabbas 19 Who for a certain Sedition made in the City and for Murder was cast into Prison 20 Pilate therefore willing to Release Jesus spake again to them 21 But they cryed saying Crucify him Crucify him 22 And he said unto them the third time Why What Evil hath he done I have found no Cause of Death in him I will therefore Chastise him and let him go 23 And they were instant with loud Voices Requiring that he might be Crucified And the voices of them and of the Chief Priests prevailed 24 And Pilate gave Sentence that it should be as they Required 25 And he Released unto them him that for Sedition and Murder was cast into Prison whom they had desired But he delivered Jesus to their Will Observe here 1. How unwilling how very unwilling Pilate was to be the Instrument of our Saviour's Death One while he Expostulates with the Chief Priests Saying What Evil hath he done Nay St. Luke here declares that Pilate came forth Three several Times professing that he found no Fault in him Where Note How much more Justice and Equitâ— Christ met with from Pilate an Heathen then from the Chief Priests and People of the Jews professing the true Religion Oh how desperate is the Hatred that grows upon the Root of
and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him 57 As the living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father so he that eateth me even he shall live by me 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven not as your fathers did eat manna and are dead he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever 59 These things said he in the synagogue as he taught in Capernaum Observe here How the Jews understanding Christ after a Carnal manner were offended at what he said for they thought it was Inhumane to eat Man's Flesh and could not understand how the Body of Christ could in such a Sense be Food to all the World Hence Note That Carnal Persons put a Carnal Sense upon Christ's Spiritual Words and so occasion their own stumbling But yet notwithstanding the Jews stumbled at our Saviour's Expression he doth not alter his words but presseth more and more the Necessity of feeding upon him by Faith in order to Eternal Life Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you Learn from hence 1. That the Lord Jesus Christ is the True Spiritual Food of all Believers 2. That those and only those who do by Faith feed upon him shall obtain a Life of Grace and Glory from him if we do not by Faith feed upon him we can have no Evidence for a Life of Grace nor Title to a Life of Glory This place some Papists produce to Countenance their Doctrine of Transubstantiation and a Bodily eating and drinking of Christ's Flesh and Blood in the Sacrament But it is evident that Christ Treats not of the Sacrament in this Chapter for the Sacrament was not now Instituted and therefore it is not a Sacramental but a Spiritual feeding upon Christ by Faith that is here meant For this eating gives Life to the Eater all that eat are saved and all that do not eat are damned but this is not true of a Sacramental eating besides this eating that Christ speaks of he makes absolutely necessary to Salvation but some are saved that never fed upon Christ in the Sacrament as John the Baptist and the Thief on the Cross Lastly if it be understood of a Sacramental Eating and Drinking wo be to the Church of Rome for denying the Cup to the Laity because Drinking of Christ's Blood is made here as necessary as eating of his Flesh in order to Eternal Life Except ye Eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and Drink his Blood ye have no Life in you Observe farther The close and intimate Union which is betwixt Christ himself and those that feed upon him He that eateth me Dwelleth in me and I in him As Meat is turned into the Eater's Substance so Believers and Christ become one and by feeding on him that is by believing in him there followeth a mutual Inhabitation Christ dwelling in them and they in him this is true of a Spiritual feeding upon Christ but not of a Sacramental Eating Nay Christ carries it higher still and tells us That as there is a Real Union between the Father and him and as the Father Lives who sent him â—aving an Eternal Fountain of Life in himself and the Son Lives by the Father having the same Life communicated to him with his Essence from the Father in like manner says Christ he that eateth me the same shall Live by me All which is certainly true of our Spiritual Feeding upon Christ by Faith but cannot be applied to a Corporal feeding upon him in the Sacrament as the Papists would have it 60 Many therefore of his disciples when they had heard this said This is an hard saying who can hear it 61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it he said unto them Doth this offend you 62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before The foregoing Doctrine of our Saviour concerning eating his Flesh and drinking his Blood sounded so very harshly that not only the common multitude but some of them that had been his Disciples that is who had given up their names to follow him could not tell how to bear them Our Saviour Reproves their unjust stumbling at what he had said That he was the Bread which came down from Heaven and tells them that his Ascension into Heaven should prove the Truth of his descent from Heaven Hence we learn That Christ's arising from the Grave and Ascending into Heaven by his own Power is an Evident proof of his Godhead and that he really came down from Heaven in respect of his Divine Nature which condescended to be cloathed with our Flesh What and if ye shall see the Son of Man Ascend up where he was before 63 It is the spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing the words that I speak unto you they are spirit and they are life To convince the Jews that our Saviour did not mean a carnal fleshly eating of his Body he tells them that such an eating would profit them nothing but it is a Spiritual eating of him by Faith that bringeth that Quickning Life of which he had spoken It is the Spirit or Divine Nature that Quickneth the flesh or human Nature alone separated from his Godhead profiteth nothing and can give no Life Learn hence That it is the Godhead of Christ united to the Humane Nature which adds all Vertue Efficacy and Merit to the Obedience and sufferings of the Humane Nature It is the Spirit or Divine Nature of Christ that Quickneth the flesh or Humane Nature alone profiteth nothing and therefore the carnal eating of my flesh would do no good 64 But there are some of you that believe not For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not and who should betray him 65 And he said Therefore said I unto you that no man can come unto me except it were given unto him of my Father 66 ¶ From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him Our Blessed Saviour having thus cleared his Doctrine that he was the Bread of Life which came down from Heaven and that he is not to be Carnally but Spiritually fed upon He plainly tells the Jews That the true cause of their stumbling at his Doctrine was their Ignorance and Unbelief there are some of you that believe not Upon which plain dealing of our Blessed Saviour's many unsound Professors did wholly forsake him and accompanied no longer with him Learn hence That multitudes who have long professed Christ and his Holy Religion may draw back and fall from their Profession and finally revolt from him 2. That it is an Evil heart of unbelief which causes Men to depart from Christ and to make Shipwrack of their Profession 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve Will ye also go away 68 Then Simon Peter answered him Lord to whom shall we go thou hast the words of eternal life 69 And we
Learn hence 1. That the Servants of God themselves are oftimes much to seek and cannot apprehend and understand at present the actings and dealings of God with them they understand not either the intent or the event of God's dispensations 2. That altho' God's dealings with his Children and People are for a while in the dark and are not presently made known yet there will come a time for the clearing and evidencing of them when they shall understand that all his dispensations were in mercy to them The second part of our Saviour's Reply to St. Peter follows If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me as if Christ had said Peter This external act of mine in washing thy Feet doth signifie something farther and imports my washing of thy Soul from the guilt and defilement of Sin without which thou canst neither have interest in me nor Communion with me Learn hence 1. That so universal is the pollution of Sin that every Soul stands in need of washing 2. That Christ washeth all that have a part and interest in him both from the guilt and pollution of all their Sin Observe 3. That St. Peter now understanding better what was meant by this outward washing Namely That it did signifie and represent the cleansing of the Soul from the defilement of Sin he is so far from refusing that Christ should wash his Feet that he offers Hands and Head and all to be washed by him Lord not my Feet only c. Learn hence That so thoroughly sensible are the Saints of the filthiness and pollution of Sin that they desire nothing more than an inward thorough and prevailing purification of their whole Man by the Blood and Spirit of the Lord Jesus Observe 4. Our Saviour's Reply to St. Peters's last Request he that is washed needeth not save to wash his Feet plainly alluding to the custom of those Countries where going abroad barefoot or with thin Sandals covering only a small part of their Feet they had frequent occasion to wash their Feet but no need to wash their whole Bodies In like manner the Saints and Servants of God who are already washed and cleansed by the Blood of Christ from the guilt of their Sins and have a real work of Renovation and Sanctification begun in them by the Spirit of Christ they ought to be daily purging and purifying their Affections and Actions and labouring daily after further measures and degrees of Sanctification Learn hence 1. That the holiest the wisest and the best of Saints whilest here in a World of Sin and Temptation do stand in need of a daily washing by Repentance and according to their renewed and repeated acts of Sin 2. That all justified persons are in God's account clean persons ye are clean but not all that is you are justified and pardoned sanctified and cleansed all of you excepting Judas whose heart was known to Christ tho' his Hypocrisie was hid from the Disciples 12 So after he had washed their feet and had taken his garments and was set down again he said unto them Know ye what I have done to you 13 Ye call me Master and Lord and ye say well for so I am 14 If I then your Lord and Master have washed your feet ye also ought to wash one anothers feet 15 For I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you 16 Verily verily I say unto you The servant is not greater then his lord neither he that is sent greater then he that sent him In these words our Saviour declares to his Disciples his intention and design in washing of their Feet Namely To teach them by his Example the duty of humility that as he had performed that act of abasement towards them so should they be ready to perform all offices of Love and humble Condescension one towards another Behold I have given you an Example that ye should do as I have done unto you Learn thence That humility and mutual condescension amongst the Members and Ministers of Jesus Christ is a most necessary Grace and Duty which the Son of God not only taught by his Doctrine but recommended and inforced by his Example Observe farther The Argument which Christ makes use of to press the imitation of his Example upon them and that is drawn from the titles given to him by his Disciples Ye call me Master and Lord and so I am Now Servants ought to imitate their Master and Subjects to obey their Lord and King Christ is a Master to teach and direct a Lord to govern and protect as he is a Master we are to learn in his School as he is a Lord we are to serve in his House he must be submitted to as a Prince as well as relied upon as a Saviour It is in vain to expect Salvation from him if we do not yield subjection to him Another Argument which our Lord makes use of to press his Disciples to imitate his Example is drawn from his Dignity and Superiority over them The Servant is not greater than his Lord as if Christ had said Tho' you my Disciples are to have a very high and honourable station in the Gospel Church yet let not this swell you with pride but be you mutually condescending to each other Remembring you are yet but Servants to my self and ought to be so to one another and the Servant is not greater than his Lord. Learn hence That whatever dignity Christ confers upon his Servants and Officers yet he is over them all superior to them and above them 2. That the consideration of Christ's Dignity and his Ministers meanness ought to keep their minds humble and lowly and far from affecting Superiority over their Brethren The Servant is not greater than his Lord nor he that is sent greater than he that sent him 17 If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Our Lord here intimates unto to us these two things 1. The necessity of Knowledge in order unto Practice 2. The necessity of Practice in order unto Happiness A Man may know the Will of God indeed and not do it but he can never do the Will of God acceptably and not know it Learn hence 1. That Christ doth not approve of a blind Obedience in his People but requires that their Practice and Obedience be founded upon Understanding and Knowledge 2. That the first care of those that will be Christ's Disciples and followers must be this With all seriousness to apply themselves to the Knowledge of their Master 's Will. 3. That next to the Knowledge of our Duty our first and chief care must be to practise every thing that we understand and know to be our Duty 4. That a right-knowledge and practice of our Duty will certainly make us happy If ye know these things happy are ye if do them 18 ¶ I speak not of you all I know whom I have chosen but that the scripture may be fulfilled He that eateth
Chief Priests and Pharisees for apprehending a single Person Gown-Men and Sword-Men Young and Old Jew and Gentile all sorts of Persons contriving his Death as all Conditions of People were afterwards to receive Benefit by it But what need these Lanthorns and Torches it being then as some observe Full-Moon when they sought him in the Garden All this argued their zealous Industry for our Saviour's Apprehension that they might be sure to find him in case he should hide himself in any holes or corners of the Garden Learn hence That Persecutors and wicked Apostates are not asleep in their designs and actings but very Vigilant and Active when at the same time Christ's own Disciples and Followers are asleep and careless how active is Judas and how watchful was his Bloody Crew even at that time when Christ's Disciples could not keep their Eyes open 4 Jesus therefore knowing all things that should come upon him went forth and said unto them Whom seek ye 5 They answered him Jesus of Nazareth Jesus saith unto them I am he And Judas also which betrayed him stood with them 6 Assoon then as he had said unto them I am he they went backward and fell to the ground Observe here 1. How our Lord's Sufferings were all foreknown to himself before they came upon him and yet how willingly and chearfully did he go forth to meet them Should our Sufferings be known unto us before they come upon us how would it disquiet and disturb us yea not only discompose us but distract us in great Wisdom therefore and in tender Mercy has God concealed future events from us but it was otherwise with Christ he had an exact Knowledg of those bitter Sufferings which he was to undergo and yet with a composed Mind he goes forth to meet them Jesus knowing all things that should come upon him went forth Lord How endearing are our Obligations to thy self that when thou knewest before-hand the bitterness of that Cup which the Justice of God was about to put into thy hand thou didst not decline to Drink it off for our sakes Observe 2. That it was not Man's Power but Christ's own Permission which brought his Sufferings upon him How easily could Christ have delivered himself out of his Enemies hands who with a word from his Mouth caused them to go backward and fall to the Ground Christ in speaking those words did let out a little Ray or Beam of his Deity and this struck them down O what fear will Christ send out when he cometh to judge the World who could send forth such a fear when he yielded up himself to be judged and condemned in the World If there was so much Majesty in the Voice of Christ in one of the lowest acts of his humiliation What will the Voice of a Glorified Christ be to Sinners when he shall come as a Judge to Condemn the World 7 Then asked he them again Whom seek ye and they said Jesus of Nazareth 8 Jesus answered I have told you that I am he If therefore ye seek me let these go their way 9 That the saying might be fulfilled which he spake Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none Here Note 1. How voluntarily and freely Christ laid down his Life when his Enemies were fallen to the Ground he suffered them to rise again and offers himself to them to take him and carry him away Note 2. How the sight of this glorious Miracle of the Soldiers falling to the Ground did not deterr or discourage them from their wicked purpose they get up again and go on with their blody design Learn thence That obstinate and obdurate Sinners will not be reclaimed by the most evident and convincing by the most miraculous and surprizing appearances of God against them Note 3. How mindful in the midst of his Sufferings Christ was of his dear Disciples to secure them at this time from Death and Danger If ye seek me let these go their way That is my Disciples against whom you have no Warrant at this time Learn hence That Christ is so tender of his Followers that he will not put them upon Trials or call them forth to Sufferings till they are ripe and ready fitted and prepared for them The Disciples yet were weak and feeble timerous and fearful And Christ had much Work and Service for them to do in the World namely to plant and propagate the Gospel in Foreign Countries he therefore resolves not to lose any one of them by Persecution at this time And thus was his Word fulfilled of them which thou gavest me I have lost none 10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it and smote the high priests servant and cut off his right ear The servants name was Malchus 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter Put up thy sword into the sheath Observe here St. Peter's Love unto and Zeal for his Lord and Master in defence of whom he now draws his Sword But why did he not rather draw upon Judas than upon Malchus Possibly because tho' Judas was most faulty yet Malchus might be most forward to carry off our Saviour Oh how doth a pious Breast swell with Indignation at the sight of any open Affront offered unto its Saviour Observe farther The Rebuke which Christ gave St. Peter for what he did tho' his Heart was sincere yet his Hand was rash good Intentions are no Warrant for irregular Actions Christ will thank no Man for drawing a Sword in defence of him without a Warrant and Commission from him To resist a lawful Magistrate even in Christ's own Defence is rash Zeal and discountenanced by the Gospel 11 The cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it Here observe 1. A Metaphorical Description of Christ's Sufferings They are a Cup put into his Hand to drink of and that by his own Father They are a Cup and but a Cup God will not over-charge his People and this Cup is from the Hand of a Father yea from the Hand of our Father The Cup which my Father hath given me Observe 2. Our Lord's Resolution to drink off this Cup how bitter soever being put to his Mouth by his Father's Hand Shall I not drink it That is I will drink it Learn hence 1. That oft-times the Wisdom of God is pleased to put a Cup a very bitter Cup of Affliction into the Hand of those to drink whom he doth most sincerely love 2. That when God doth do so it is their Duty to drink it with silence and submission Shall I not drink it That is I will certainly drink it with chearfulness and resignation 12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound him 13 And led him away to Annas first for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas which was the high priest that same year 14 Now Caiaphas was he which gave counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people Judas having made
Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his Name Observe here 2. The true End for which the Miracles of Christ were so carefully recorded namely that we might believe By believing that Christ is the Son of God we have Life and by the Evidence of his Miracles we know and believe him to have been the Son of God The Miracles which Christ wrought were the best external Evidence of his Mission Observe 1. That all Christ's Miracles both before his Passion and after his Resurrection were not recorded by the Evangelists Observe 2. The great Point concerning Christ to be known and believed from the Scriptures is this That Jesus the Son of the Virgin is the promised Messiah the anointed of the Father he in whom all the Types and Shadows of the Law are accomplished and that this Jesus is for Nature Co-essential for Dignity Co-equal and for Time Co-eternal with the Father One in Essence equal in Power and Glory Thus believing that Jesus is the Son of God and accompanying that Belief with a holy Life if we believe well and live well we shall have Life through his Name CHAP. XXI AFter these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias and on this wise shewed he himself The foregoing Chapter acquainted us with several Appearances of Christ to his Disciples after his Resurrection All which were in Jerusalem This Chapter acquaints us with his appearing to his Disciples in Galilee whither he had ordered his Disciples to go promising there to meet them Jerusalem now becomes a forsaken Place a People abandoned to destruction Christ will not shew himself openly to them but Gallilee was a Place where Christ's Ministry had found better acceptance to Galilee therefore doth he go Such Places wherein Christ is most welcome to preach shall be most honoured with his Presence Jesus shewed himself to his Disciples at the Sea of Tiberias called elsewhere the Sea of Galilee 2 There were together Simon Peter and Thomas called Didymus and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee and the sons of Zebedee and two other of his disciples 3 Simon Peter saith unto them I go a fishing They say unto him We also go with thee They went forth and entred into a ship immediately and that night they caught nothing Observe here That after Christ was crucified the Disciples returned for a time to their Trade and Employment of Fishing tho' they were called to be Fishers of Men yet Churches not being gathered and constituted at present nor able to maintain them they labour with their Hands to supply their present Necessities Afterwards when at the Feast of Pentecost they had received those visible Gifts of the Holy Ghost which did furnish them for preaching the Gospel to all Nations and they went forth to plant and propagate the Gospel we may believe they then gave over the Labours of their Secular Calling and applied themselves wholly to the Work of the Ministry That may be done in Ecclesiâ Constituendâ in a Churc◠which is constituting or about to be constituted which is not convenient to be done in a Church already constituted Observe farther How Peter with the rest toil all night and catch nothing but no sooner is Christ come among them but they inclose a multitude of Fishes Thereby teaching us That all human Labours and Endeavours are in vain unless Christ by his Presence and Blessing crown them with success 4 But when the morning was now come Jesus stood on the shoar but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus 5 Then Jesus saith unto them Children have ye any meat They answered him No. 6 And he said unto them Cast the net on the right side of the ship and ye shall find They cast therefore and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes Observe here 1. Christ was near very near to his Disciples but they perceive it not Jesus stood on the shoar but they knew not that it was Jesus Learn Christ is not always discerned by us when he is present with us it is a double Mercy to enjoy his Company and to know indeed that it is he Observe 2. Altho' they had laboured all the Night in vain yet at Christ's Command they go to Work again and with great success they were not able to draw the Net for the multitude of Fishes When Christ is about to do great things for his People yet will he have them exert all possible Endeavours of their own and the want of former Success must not discourage from future Endeavours Observe 3. What a Proof Christ here gives of his Divinity and Godhead How were all the Fish in the Sea at his Pleasure and obedient to his Command He knew where they swim and brings them from one part of the Lake to the other where the Disciples had toil'd all night and caught nothing Christ our Mediator is true God and as such has a Sovereign Power and Providence over all the Creatures the Cattel on a thousand Hills and all the Fish swimming in the Sea are obedient to his Power and observant of his Commands 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord he girt his fishers coat unto him for he was naked and did cast himself into the sea 8 And the other disciples came in a little ship for they were not far from land but as it were two hundred cubits dragging the net with fishes 9 Assoon then as they were come to land they saw a fire of coals there and fish laid thereon and bread Observe here 1. The great Zeal and Forwardness of Peter hearing that it was Christ he leaps into the Sea to get to him Oh how inviting attractive and alluring is a sight of Christ It will make those that know him break thro' all Difficulties to come unto him It is not a Sea of Water no not Seas of Blood that can keep a zealous Soul at a distance from Christ When Peter heard that it was the Lord he girt his Coat and cast himself into the Sea Observe 2. What a Complication of Miracles here were as soon as they came to Land they discerned another Miracle viz. A Fire of Coals and Fish laid on and Bread all created and produced by Christ out of nothing at this time as an Evidence of his Divine Power for before they could get the Fish to shoar they saw Fish broiling upon Coals which makes it evident that these were none of the Fish which they had catch'd Christ when he pleases for the Benefit and Comfort of his People will work Miracle upon Miracle Mercy upon Mercy one Wonder upon the head of another For here after a Miracle at Sea they meet with another Miracle at Land As soon as they came to Land they saw a Fire 10 Jesus saith unto them Bring of the fish which ye have now caught 11 Simon
And they had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas 17 Therefore when they were gathered together Pilate said unto them Whom will ye that I release unto you Barabbas or Jesus which is called Christ 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him Now at the Feast that is at the Feast of the Passover which by way of Eminency is called the Feast the Governour used to release a Prisoner possibly by way of Memorial of their Deliverance out of Egypt accordingly Pilate makes a Motion to them that Christ may be the Prisoner set at Liberty in Honour of their Feast for he was sensible that what they did was out of Envy and Malice As Covetousness sold Christ so Envy deliver'd him Envy is a killing and murthering Passion Envy slayeth the silly one Job 5.2 That is it slays the silly Person who harbours this pestilent Lust in his Bosom and is like a Fire in his Bones continually preying upon him causing him to pine away and dye miserably because another lives happily To envy another Man's Prosperity is an Argument of the worst Simplicity Yea farther as Envy slayeth the silly one so it prompts and provokes the Sinner to seek the slaying of simple and innocent ones Envy wishes the envied Person out of the way yea out of the World and if need be will not only wish it but lend a lift towards it too Witness the Chief Priests here whose Envy was so conspicuous that Pilate himself takes notice of it and says He knew that for Envy they had delivered him 19 When he was set down on the judgment-seat his wife sent unto him saying Have thou nothing to do with that just man for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him There are several sorts or kinds of Dreams Natural Moral Diabolical and Divine The Question is what kind of Dream this was Not Natural all agree some think it was Diabolical and that Satan hoped thereby to prevent the Work of Man's Redemption by the Death of Christ But if so why had not Pilate the Dream rather than his Wife Probably this Dream was from God for even our very Dreams are order'd by God our sleeping as well as our waking times are in God's Hand Learn hence How wonderfully the Wisdom and Power of God is seen in this Woman's Testimony which she gave to the Innocency of our Saviour When all his Disciples were fled from him when none of his Friends durst speak a Word for him God raises up a Woman a Stranger a Pagan to give Evidence of his Innocency And it is Observable That at our Saviour's Trial not one Mouth was opened to plead or speak a Word for him in Defence of Innocency it self but only Pilate's and his Wife 's they both pronounce him Righteous tho' they were Gentiles and Pagans whilst his own Kindred and Countrymen the Jews thirst after his Righteous and Innocent Blood 20 But the chief priests and elders perswaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus 21 The governour answered and said unto them Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you They said Barabbas 22 Pilate said unto them What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ They all say unto him Let him be crucified 23 And the governour said Why what evil hath he done but they cried out the more saying Let him be crucified Observe here 1. How exceedingly unwilling and averse Pilate was to be the Instrument of our Saviour's Death one while he bids the Jews take him themselves and judge him according to their Law Another while he offers to save Christ in Honour of their Feast when by Custom he was to release a Prisoner and this Prisoner he desired might be Jesus When this would not satisfie he expostulates with them about our Saviour's Innocency what Evil has he done Nay St. Luke says Ch. 23. That Pilate came forth three times and professed that he found no Fault in him Yet tho' Pilate was satisfied the Jews would not be deny'd Thence Learn That wicked Men and Hypocrites within the visible Church may be guilty of such Tremendous Acts of Wickedness as the Conscience of Infidels and Pagans without the Church may boggle at and protest against Pilate a Pagan absolves Christ whilst hypocritical Jews which had heard his Doctrine and seen his Miracles do condemn him But Obs 2. Who influenced the main Body of the Jews to desire Barabbas and to destroy Jesus It was the chief Priests and Elders they perswaded the Multitude Wo to the People when their Guides and Leaders are corrupt for then they shall be tempted by wicked Counsel And wo unto them much more if they follow their wicked and pernicious Counsels Thus did the Jews follow their Guides the chief Priests till they had preserv'd Barabbas and destroy'd Jesus 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing but that rather a tumult was made he took water and washed his hands before the multitude saying I am innocent of the blood of this just person see ye to it Two Things are here Observable in Pilate's washing of his Hands 1. By this Action he pronounces our Saviour's Innocency and was willing thereby to testifie his own that he did not consent to our Saviour's Death washing the Hands being an usual Ceremony in Protestation of a Person 's Innocency But 2. It was great Folly and Fondness in Pilate to think that washing of his Hands did or could free him from the Guilt of innocent Blood Oh Pilate thou hadst need rub hard if thou meanest to scoure from thy Soul the Guilt of that Crimson Sin which thou hast committed thy Guilt cleaves so close unto thee that nothing can expiate it but the Blood which thou hast spilt neither was it any Excuse of Pilate's Sin that what he did was to please the People and to gratifie their Importunity It is a fond Apology for Sins when Persons pretend that they were not committed with their own Consent but at others Instigation and Importunity 25 Then answered all the people and said His blood be on us and on our children That is Let the Guilt and Punishment of this Blood rest upon us and our Posterity A most horrid and impious Imprecation the dreadful Effects of it began to come upon them Forty Years after in the Destruction of Jerusalem and has rested and remained upon their Posterity to this Day near Seventeen Hundred Years the Jews being Vagabonds over the Earth abhorred by all Nations wheresoever they come This ought to be a Terror and 〈◊〉 Warning to all Persons that they avoid all cursed Imprecations and wicked Wishes upon themselves or others Wo to such as wish Damnation to themselves Pox and Plague upon others how if God says Amen and ratifie in Heaven thy cursed Imprecations made on Earth as he did this of the wicked Jews His Blood be on us and on our Children Yet what they with a wicked Mind
put up as a direful Imprecation we may with a pious Mind offer up to God as an humble Petition Lord let thy Son's Blood not in the Guilt and Punishment but in the Efficacy and Merit of it be upon us and upon our Posterity after us for evermore 26 Then released he Barabbas unto them and when he had scourged Jesus he delivered him to be crucified As the Death of the Cross was a Roman Punishment so it was the manner of the Romans first to scourge and whip their Malefactors and then deliver them to be crucified Now the manner of the Roman scourging is said to be thus They stript the condemned Person and bound him to a Post Two strong Men first scourged him with Rods of Thorns Then Two others scourged him with Whips of Cords full of Knots and lastly Two more with Whips of Wyre and therewith tore off the very Flesh and Skin from the Persons Back and Sides That our Saviour was thus cruelly scourged seems to some not improbable from that of the Psalmist Psal 129.3 The Ploughers ploughed upon my Back and made long Furrows Which if spoken Prophetically of Christ was Literally fulfilled in the Day of his Scourging But why was the precious Body of our Blessed Lord thus galled and torn with Scourgings Doubtless to fulfil that Prophecy I gave my Back to the Smiters and my Cheeks to them that plucked off the Hair That by his Stripes we might be healed And to Learn us Patience from his Example why should we think it strange to be scourged either with the Tongue or the Hand or with both when we see our dear Redeemer bleeding by Stripes and Scourges before our Eyes 27 Then the soldiers of the governour took Jesus into the common hall and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers 28 And they stripped him and put on him a scarlet robe 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns they put it upon his head and a reed in his right hand and they bowed the knee before him and mocked him saying Hail king of the Jews 30 And they spit upon him and took the reed and smote him on the head 31 And after that they had mocked him they took the robe off from him and put his own raiment on him and led him away to crucifie him The next part of our Lord's Sufferings consisted of cruel Mockings our blessed Sâ—viour had said that he was the King of the Jews not a Temporal King to rule over them with Pomp and Power but a Spiritual King to rule in the Hearts of his People but the Jews missing of their Expectation of a Temporal King in Christ look upon him as an Impostor and accordingly they treat him as a mock King putting a Crown upon his Head but a very ignominious and painful one A Crown of Thorns a Scepter in his Hand but it was of a Reed and a Robe of Purple or Scarlet both which were used by Princes and bowed the Knee before him as they were wont to do to Princes Thus all the Marks of Scorn imaginable are put upon our Blessed Redeemer yet that which they did in jest God did in earnest for all these things were Ensigns and Marks of Soveraignty and Almighty God caused the Regal Dignity of his Son to appear and shine forth even in the midst of his greatest Abasement Whence was all this Jearing and Sport but to flout Majesty And why did Christ undergo all this Ignominy Disgrace and Shame but to shew us what was due unto us for our Sins and to give us an Example to bear all the Scorn Reproach and Shame imaginable for his sake Who for the Joy that was set before him endured the Cross and despised the Shame 32 And as they came out they found a man of Cyrene Simon by name him they compelled to bear his cross 33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha that is to say a place of a scull 34 They gave him vinegâ—r to drink mingled with gall and when he had tasted thereof he would not drink 35 And they crucified him and parted his garments casting lots that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet They parted my garments among them and upon my vesture did they cast lots 36 And sitting down they watched him there The Sentence of Death being past by Pilate who can with dry Eyes behold the sad Pomp of our Saviour's bloody Execution Forth comes the Blessed Jesus out of Pilate's Gates bearing that Cross which soon after was to bear him With his Cross on his Shoulder he marches towards Golgotha and when they see he can go no faster they force Simon the Cyrenian not out of Compassion but from Indignation to be the Porter of his Cross This Cyrenian being a Gentile not a Jew who bare our Saviour's Cross might signifâ—e and shew that the Gentiles should have a part in Christ and be Sharers with the Jews in the Benefits of his Cross At length Christ comes to the Place of Execution Golgotha or Mount Calvary Here in a publick Place with infamous Company betwixt Two Thieves he is Crucified that is fastned to a great Cross of Wood his Hands stretched forth abroad and his Feet closed together and both Hands and Feet fastned with Nails his naked Body was lifted up in the open Air hanging betwixt Heaven and Earth thereby intimating that the crucified Person was fit to live in neither This shameful painful and accursed Death did the holy and innocent Jesus undergo for Sinners Some observe all the Dimensions of Length Breadth Depth and Height in our Saviour's Sufferings for Length his Passion was several Hours long from Twelve to Three exposed all that time both to Hunger and Cold the Thieves crucified with him were not dead so soon they enduring but personal Pain he undergoing the Miseries of all Mankind But what his Passion wanted in Length it had in Breadth extending over all the Parts and Powers of his Soul and Body no part free but his Tongue which was at Liberty to pray for his Enemies His Sight was tormented with the scornful Gestures of such as passed by wagging their Heads His Hearing grieved with the Taunts and Jears of Priests and People his Smelling offended with noisome Savours in the Place of Skulls his Taste with the Gall and Vinegar given him to drink his Feeling was wonderfully affected by the Nails which pierced his Hand and Feet and the Crown of Thorns which pierced his tender Temples with a Multiplicity of Wounds And for the Depth of his Passion it was as deep as Hell it self enduring Tortures in his Soul as well as Torments in his Body groaning under the Burthen of Desertion and crying out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Lastly For the Height of his Sufferings they were as high as Heaven his Person being innocent and infinite no less than the Son of God which adds infinite Worth and Value to his Sufferings Lord