condition that separated Souls are in after Death Thus the Miracles of Christ drew many followers after his Person who were never converted by his Doctrine It was the Sin of many when Christ was here upon Earth that they flock'd after him rather out of Curiosity than out of Conscience and chose rather to gaze upon his Works than to fall in Love with the Worker The Multitude here came to Bethany Not for Jesus's sake onely but that they might see Lazarus also 10 ¶ But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death 11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away and believed on Jesus Observe here 1. The unreasonableness of that Rage and Madness which was found in the chief Priests against Lazarus They consulted together how they might put Lazarus to Death But supposing that Christ had spoken Blasphemy in making himself equal with God or supposing that he had broken the Sabbath by curing the Man that was Born Blind on that Day yet what had Lazarus done that he must be put to Death But from hence we learn That such as have received special Mercy and Favours from Christ or are made the Instruments of his Glory must expect to be made the Mark and Butt of malicious Enemies Christ had highly honoured Lazarus by raising him from the Grave and here there is a Resolution against his Life whom Christ had thus highly Honoured The chief Priests consulted that they might put Lazarus to Death also Observe 2. The cause why the Chief Priests consulted that they might put Lazarus to Death Namely Because that by Reason of him many of the Jews went away and believed on Jesus That is many of the Jews seeing the Miracle of Christ's raising Lazarus from the Grave were drawn thereby to Believe in Jesus Christ and this so inraged the Chief Priests against Lazarus that they sought to put him to Death Learn hence That nothing so much enrages the Enemies of Christ as the enlargement of his Kingdom and the sight of the number of Believers daily encreasing This provokes the Devil's wrath and his Servants rage 12 ¶ On the next day much people that were come to the Feast when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem 13 Took branches of palm-trees and went forth to meet him and cried Hosanna blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. 14 And Jesus when he had found a young ass sat thereon as it is written 15 Fear not daughter of Sion behold thy King cometh fitting on an asses colt 16 These things understood not his disciples at the first but when Jesus was glorified then remembred they that these things were written of him and that they had done these things unto him Here we have Recorded the carriage of the Multitude towards our Saviour when he came near the City of Jerusalem They take Palms in their Hands and go forth to meet him and cast their Garments on the Ground before him to Ride upon yea they do not only Disrobe their Backs but expend their Breath in joyful Acclamations and loud Hosannahs wishing all manner of Prosperity to their meek but mighty King In this Prince-like yet Poor and Despicable Pomp doth our Saviour enter the Famous City of Jerusalem Lord How far wert thou from affecting Worldly Greatness and Grandeur Thou despisest that Glory which our Hearts fondly Admire Yet because Christ was a King he would be proclaimed such and have his Kingdom confest and applauded and blest Yet that it might appear that his Kingdom was not of this World he abandons all Worldly magnificence Oh Glorious yet homely Pomp Oh meek but mighty Prince 17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave and raised him from the dead bare record 18 For this cause the people also met him for that they heard that he had done this miracle 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing behold the world is gone after him 20 ¶ And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast 21 The same came therefore to Philip which was of Bethsaida of Galilee and desired him saying Sir we would see Jesus 22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew and again Andrew and Philip told Jesus Observe here 1. How the Multitude at Jerusalem came forth to meet Christ when he was making his publick entry into the City hearing the fame of his Miracles For this cause the People also met him for that they had heard that he had done this Miracle Observe 2. How amongst others who came forth to meet our Saviour certain Greeks or Gentile Proselytes who came up to worship in the outward Court of the Temple apply themselves to Philip that he would help them to a sight of Jesus Sir we would see Jesus It is probable that this desire to see Christ in these persons proceeded from Curiosity only But if it did produce true Faith in them we may thence infer That a spiritual sight of Christ by the discerning Eye of a Believer's Faith it is the most glorious and consequently the most desirable sight in all the World and so must needs be for it is a Soul-Ravishing a Soul-Satisfying a Soul-Transforming and a Soul-Saving sight This sight of Christ by Faith will constrain a Soul highly to admire and greatly to commend him It will incline a Soul to chuse him and cleave unto him and will set the Soul a longing for the full fruition and final injoyment of him Luke 2.29 Mine eyes have seen thy Salvation now let thy Servant depart Observe lastly How the Envious Pharisees were galled and cut to the Heart to see such a Multitude both of Jews and Greeks crouding out of the City to meet Jesus in his Triumphant entrance into the City The Pharisees said Behold the World is gone after him Learn hence That in the day of Christ's greatest Solemnity and Triumph there will not be wanting some persons of such a canker'd disposition that they will neither rejoyce themselves nor can they endure that others should This was the case of the wicked Pharisees here 23 ¶ And Jesus answered them saying The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified 24 Verily verily I say unto you Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die it abideth alone but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal Observe here 1. How our blessed Saviour entertains his followers with a Discourse concerning his approaching Death and Sufferings The hour is coming that the Son of Man shall be glorified Observe 2. How he Arms his Disciples against the scandal of the Cross by shewing them the great Benefit that would redound by his Death unto all Mankind and this by a Similitude taken from Grain Except
Messias a King of the Jews should come riding upon an Ass But this Ass was a Colt the Foal of an Ass on which never Man had rode before says St. Mark Ch. 11. 12. signifying thereby that the most unruly and untamed Creatures become obedient and obsequious to him and upon a borrowed Ass the use of which he demands thereby manifesting his Soveraign Right to all the Creatures and accordingly he bids his Disciples tell the Owner of the Ass that the Lord had need of him not our Lord but the Lord that is he that is the Lord of all whose are the Cattel upon a Thousand Hills he that is Lord of all the Beasts and the Owners too Observe farther That notwithstanding Christ's supream Right to the Ass and the Colt he will have neither of them taken without the Owner's Knowledge or against his Will but the Disciples must acquaint him with it and by a double Argument move him to it 1. Christ's Right of Dominion and Soveraignty over them he is the Lord that sends for them 2. His present Occasion for them the Lord has need of them Obs lastly What a clear and full Demonstration Christ here gave of his Divine Nature by his Omnisciency in foreseeing and foretelling the Event by his Omnipotency in inclining the Heart and over-ruling the Will of the Owner to let the Colt go and by an Act of Soveraignty as he was Lord of the Creatures to command and call for their Service when he needed them 4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet saying 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion Behold thy king cometh unto thee meek and sitting upon an ass and a colt the foal of an ass Here the Reason is assigned why Christ rode upon the Ass into Jerusalem it was to fulfil an ancient Prophecy that the Messias or King of the Jews should come riding upon that Beast into Jerusalem There was not any Prophecy of Christ more plainly fulfilled than this The Prophecy alluded to is Zach. 9.9 Rejoice greatly oh Daughter of Zion shout oh Daughter of Jerusalem behold thy King cometh unto thee he is just and having Salvation lowly and riding upon an Ass and upon a Colt the Foal of an Ass Where Note the Character given of the Messias he is the Supream King and Governour of his Church thy King cometh The Errand that he comes upon Bringing Salvation and the Entertainment which his Church was to give him Namely To receive him with Triumphs of Joy and Universal Acclamations Rejoice oh Daughter of Zion and shout oh Jerusalem for Joy 6 And the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them 7 And brought the ass and the colt and put on them their cloaths and they set him thereon 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way others cut down branches from the trees and strawed them in the way 9 And the multitudes that went before and that followed cried saying Hosanna to the Son of David Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest Observe here 1. The Obedience of the Disciples and the Motions of the Multitude the Disciples never dispute their Lord's Commands nor raise Objections nor are afraid of Dangers but speedily execute their Lord's Pleasure and find every thing according to their Lord's Prediction When our Call is clear our Obedience must be speedy What God commands we are not to dispute but to obey The Disciples did as Jesus commanded them Obs 2. The Actions of the Multitude in acknowledging Christ to be their King They cast their Garments on the Ground for him to ride upon according to the Custom of Princes when they ride in State and they do not only disrobe their Backs but expend their Breath in joyful Acclamations and loud Hosanna's wishing all manner of Prosperity to this meek but mighty King In this princely yet poor and despicable Pomp doth our Saviour enter into the famous City of Jerusalem Oh how far was our Holy Lord from affecting Worldly Greatness and Grandeur He despised that Glory which Worldly Hearts fondly admire yet because he was a King he would be proclaimed such and have his Kingdom confest applauded and blest But that it might appear his Kingdom was not of this World he abandons all Worldly Magnificence Oh glorious yet homely Pomp Oh meek but mighty Prince 10 And when he was come into Jerusalem all the city was moved saying Who is this 11 And the multitude said This is Jesus the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee This is not the first or only time that Jerusalem was moved and troubled at the Appearance of Christ at his Birth Matth. 2. we read all Jerusalem was troubled together with Herod and now he that rides into Jerusalem tho' in so mean a Port yet there is a new Commotion Jerusalem instead of being thankful for his Company is troubled at his Presence Thence Learn That such Persons and Places aâ— have the greatest Helps and Priviledges afforded to them are not always the most answerable in their Returns of Thankfulness 'T is not Christ's Presence with us but his Welcome to us that makes us happy Christ is daily taught in our Synagogues and preached in our Streets yet alas Multitudes are ignorant of him and say with the Men of Jerusalem when Christ was before their Eyes Who is this 12 And Jesus went into the temple of God and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple and overthrew the tables of the money-changers and the seats of them that sold doves 13 And said unto them It is written my house shall be called the house of Prayer but ye have made it a den of thieves Our Blessed Saviour having entered Jerusalem Observe his first Walk was not to the Palace but to the Temple and his Work there was to purge and reform All Reformation of Manners must begin first at the House of God Our Lords Business was to reform the Temple not to ruin it Places dedicated to publick Worship if prophaned and polluted ought to be purged from their Abuses not pull'd down and destroy'd because they have been abused But what was the Prophanation of the Temple which so offended our Saviour Answ Within the third or outward Court of the Temple there was a publick Mart or Market held where were sold Oxen Sheep and Doves and such things as were needful for Sacrifice many of the Jews coming an Hundred Miles to the Temple it was burthensome to bring their Sacrifices so far with them Wherefore order was taken by the Priests that Sheep and Oxen Meal and Oil and all other Requisites for Sacrifice should be had for Money close by the Altar to the great ease of the Offerer Nothing could be more plausible than this Plea But the fairest Pretences cannot bear out a Sin with God therefore our Blessed Saviour in Indignation at so foul an Abuse whips out these Chapmen casts down their Tables
rather grew worse 27 When she had heard of Jesus came in the press behind and touched his garment 28 For she said If I may touch but his cloaths I shall be whole 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague 30 And Jesus immediately knowing in himself that vertue had gone out of him turned him about in the press and said Who touched my cloaths 31 And his disciples said unto him Thou seest the multitude thronging thee and sayest thou Who touched me 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing 33 But the woman fearing and trembling knowing what was done in her came and fell down before him and told him all the truth 34 And he said unto her Daughter thy faith hath made thee whole go in peace and be whole of thy plague As our Saviour was on his way to Jairus his House a diseased Woman comes behind him touches his Cloaths and is presently healed the Virtue lay not in her Finger but in her Faith or rather in Christ which her Faith instrumentally drew forth Obs here 1. The diseased Person a Woman with a Bloody-Flux Let Women here take notice of the Miseries which the Sin of the first Woman has brought upon all Women amongst which this is one that it has made their Bodies subject to unnatural Issues and Fluxes of Blood Obs 2. The long Continuance of this Disease Twelve Years It pleases God to lay long and tedious Afflictions upon some of his Children in this Life and particularly to keep some of them a very long time under bodily Weakness to manifest his Power in supporting them and to magnifie his Mercy in delivering them Obs 3. This poor Woman was found in the use of Means she sought to Physicians for Help and is not blamed for it tho' she spent all she had upon them The use of Physick is not to be neglected by us in times of Sickness especially in dangerous Diseases of the Body To trust to Means is to neglect God and to neglect the Means is to tempt God The Health of our Bodies ought to be dear and precious to us and all lawful Means ought to be used both to preserve it to recover it and confirm it Obs 4. The workings and acting of this poor Woman's Faith her Disease was unclean by the Ceremonial Law and therefore to be separate from Society accordingly she is ashamed to appear before Christ but comes behind him to touch his Cloaths being firmly perswaded that Christ had a Power communicated by God unto him miraculously to cure incurable Diseases And see how our Saviour encouraged her Faith tho' she did not believe him to he the Eternal Son of God but one to whom God had communicated a Power of healing bodily Diseases yet says Christ This thy Faith hath made thee whole Learn hence That Faith oft-times meets with a better Welcome from Christ than it did or could expect This poor Woman came to Christ trembling but went away triumphing Obs 5. Christ would have this Miracle discovered he therefore says Who toucheth me and I perceive that Vertue is gone out of me First In Reference to himself to manifest his Divine Power that by the Touch of his Cloaths he could cure such an incurable Disease Secondly In Relation to the Woman that she might have Opportunity to give God the Praise and Glory for the Cure And Thirdly With Respect to Jairus that his Faith might be strengthned in the Belief of Christ's Power to raise his Daughter 35 While he yet spake there came from the ruler of the synagogues house certain which said Thy daughter is dead why troublest thou the Master any further 36 Assoon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue Be not afraid only believe 37 And he suffered no man to follow him save Peter and James and John the brother of James 38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue and seeth the tumult and them that wept and wailed greatly 39 And when he was come in he saith unto them Why make ye this ado and weep the damsel is not dead but sleepeth 40 And they laughed him to scorn but when he had put them all out he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel and them that were with him and entereth in where the damsel was lying 41 And he took the damsel by the hand and said unto her Talitha cumi which is being interpreted Damsel I say unto thee arise 42 And straightway the damsel arose and walked for she was of the age of twelve years and they were astonished with a great astonishment 43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it and commanded that something should be given her to eat Obs here 1. The doleful News brought to Jairus his Ears Thy Daughter is dead The Lord doth sometimes suffer the Faith of his Saints to be hard put to it greatly assaulted with Difficulties and Trials Obs 2. Our Saviour's seasonable Word of Comfort Be not afraid only believe Christ is ready to comfort Believers in the Hour of their strongest Temptations and greatest Trials Obs 3. Christ's Application of himself to the raising unto Life Jairus his dead Daughter In order to which 1. He goes into the House only with three of his Disciples which were sufficient to witness the Truth of the Miracle Our Saviour to avoid all shew of Vain-Glory and to evidence that he sought not ambitiously his own Honour and Praise would not work this great Miracle publickly before all the People 2. He rebukes them for the shew they make of immoderate Grief and Sorrow for the dead Damsel they wept and wailedâ— eatly with Ministress and musical Instruments according to the Custom of the Heathens who by a mournful sort of Musick did stir up the Passion of Grief at their Funerals To mourn immoderately for the dead is an Heathenish Practice and Custom 'T is hurtful to the Living and dishonourable to the Dead nor is it an Argument of more Love but an Evidence of less Grace 3. He adds a Reason for this Rebuke and Reproof given them The Damsel is not dead but sleepeth Vobis Mortua mihi Dormit She is Dead to you but asleep to me Not so dead as to be beyond my Power to raise her to Life Souls departed are under the Conduct of Angels to their several Regions of Bliss or Misery It is very probable that the Soul of this Damsel was under the Guard of Angels near her dead Body waiting the Pleasure of God in order to its Disposal either to restore it again to the Body or to translate it to its Eternal Mansion Observe farther The Nature of Death in general and of the Saints in particular described 'T is a Sleep Sleep is a State of Rest Sleep is a sudden Surprizal in Sleep there is an
give Entertainment to them and their Doctrine They were to denounce the Judgments of God against such Contemners by shaking off the Dust of their Feet for a Testimony against them Thence Learn That the Contempt of God's Ministers and especially of their Ministry and Doctrine is an odious and execrable Sin detested by God and which ought to be abhorred by Man Shake off the Dust of your Feet This Action was Emblematical signifying that Almighty God would in like manner shake them off as the vilest Dust Learn 2dly That where-ever the Word is preached it is for a Testimony either a Testimony for or against a People For if the Dust of a Minister's Feet bear Witness against the Despisers of the Gospel their Sermons much more Observe Lastly The dreadful Judgment denounced by our Saviour against the Contemners of the Apostle's Doctrine Verily it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that City Where Note 1. That there shall be a Day of Judgment 2. That in the Day of Judgment some Sinners shall fare worse than others 3. That of all Sinners the Condition of such will be saddest at the Day of Judgment who having lived under the Gospel have died after all in Impenitency and Infidelity Verily I say unto you it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than c. 14 And king Herod heard of him for his name was spread abroad and he said That John the Baptist was risen from the dead and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him 15 Others said That it is Elias And others said That it is a prophet or as one of the prophets 16 But when Herod heard thereof he said It is John whom I beheaded he is risen from the dead 17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John and bound him in prison for Herodias sake his brother Philip's wife for he had married her 18 For John had said unto Herod It is not lawful for thee to have thy brothers wife 19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him and would have killed him but she could not 20 For Herod feared John knowing that he was a just man and an holy and observed him and when he heard him he did many things and heard him gladly 21 And when a convenient day was come that Herod on his birth day made a supper to his lords high captains and chief estates of Galilee 22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in and danced and pleased Herod and them that sat with him the king said unto the damsel Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt and I will give it thee 23 And he sware unto her Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me I will give it thee unto the half of my kingdom 24 And she went forth and said unto her mother What shall I ask And she said The head of John the Baptist 25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king and asked saying I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist 26 And the king was exceeding sorry yet for his oaths sake and for their sakes which sat with him he would not reject her 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought and he went and beheaded him in the prison 28 And brought his head in a charger and gave it to the damsel and the damsel gave it to her mother 29 And when his disciples heard of it they came and took up his corps and laid it in a tomb The History of John the Baptist's Death is here recorded by this Evangelist as St. Matthew had done before Ch. 14.1 2. here we have these Particulars farther observable 1. The Character and Description of a zealous and faithful Minister He is one that deals plainly and durst tell the greatest Persons of their Faults Herod tho' a King is reproved by the Baptist for his Incest in taking his Brother's Wife The Crown and Scepter of Herod could not daunt the faithful Messenger of God There ought to meet in the Ministers of God both Courage and Impartiality Courage in fearing no Faces Impartiality in sparing no Sins Obs 2. Who it was that commanded the Baptist to be beheaded It was Herod the King whom he had reproved How sad is it when Kings who should be Nursing-fathers to the Church do prove the bloody Butchers of the Prophets of God The severest Persecutions which the Prophets of God have fallen under are usually occasioned by their telling great Men of their Crimes Men in Power are impatient of Reproof and imagine that their Authority gives them a License to transgress Obs 3. The time of the Baptist's Death It was upon Herod 's Birth-Day It was an ancient Custom among the Eastern Kings to celebrate their Birth Days Pharaoh did so Gen. 40. and Herod here but both with Blood yet these personal Stains do not make the Practice unlawful when we solemnize our Birth-Days with Thankfulness to our Creator and Preserver and recommend our selves by Prayer to his Gracious Providence and Protection for the Remainder of our Days This is an Act of Piety and Religion But Herod's Birth-Day was kept with Revelling with Feasting with Musick and Dancing All which were made sinful to him by the Circumstances which did attend it Great Men's Feasts and Frolicks are too often the Season and Occasion of much Sin Obs 4. The Instigators and Promoters of the Holy Baptist's Death Herodias and her Daughter Lord How deadly is the Malice of Soulâ— debauched with Lust Imprisonment would not satisfie them they must have his Blood Resolute Sinners who are mad upon their Lusts run furiously upon their Opposers and resolve to bear down all Opposition they meet with in the Gratification of their unlawful Desires Obs 5. With what great Reluctancy Herod consented to this Villany The King was exceeding sorry Wicked Men oft-times sin with a troubled and disturbeâ— Conscience there is a mighty Struggle betwixt their Reason and their Lusts but at last they master their Consciences and choose rather to gratifie their Lusts than to obey their Reason So did Herod here for notwithstanding his Sorrow he commands the Fact he sent and beheaded John in the Prison Obs 6. The Motives and Inducements which prevail'd with Herod to behead this Holy Man 1. The Conscience of his Oath Nevertheless for his Oath sake See his Hypocrisie he made Scruple of a rash Oath who made no Scruple of real Murther See here not only the Folly but great Impiety of rash Vows especially in ignorant Persons who think themselves obliged by them Whereas it is their Duty first to repent of them and then to break them as fast as they can St. Chrysostom says Herod might have spared the Baptist's Head and yet have kept his Oath to Herodias for he sware to give her only half of his Kingdom and his Head was worth more than his
hard Dealing towards others An Evil Eye That is an Envious Spirit which frets and grieves at the Happiness of others called an Evil Eye because Envy doth much shew and manifest it self in the outward Countenance and especially by the Eyes From the whole Note That the best way to hinder the progress of Sin in the Life is to mortifie it in the Heart to Crucifie all inordinate Motions Lusts and Corruptions in their root for the Heart is the first Seat and Subject of Sin from whence it flows forth into the Life and Conversation 24 And from thence he arose and went into the borders of Tyre and Sydon and entered into an house and would have no man know it but he could not be hid 25 For a certain woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell at his feet 26 The woman was a Greek a Syrophenician by nation and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her Daughter 27 But Jesus said unto her Let the children first be filled for it is not meet to take the childrens bread and to cast it unto the dogs 28 And she answered and said unto him Yes Lord yet the dogs under the table eat of the childrens crumbs 29 And he said unto her for this saying go thy way the devil is gone out of thy daughter 30 And when she was come to her house she found the devil gone out and her daughter laid upon the bed All along in the History of our Saviour's Life we are to take notice how he went about from place to place doing good being now come into the Borders of Tyre and Sidon he finds a poor Woman of the Race of the Canaanites who becomes first an humble Supplicant and then a Bold Beggar on the behalf of her Possessed Daughter Where Obs 1. That though all Israel could not example the Faith of this Canaanite yet was her Daughter Tormented with the Devil Learn thence That neither truth of Faith nor strength of Faith can secure against Satan's inward Temptations or outward Vexations and consequently the worst of Bodily Afflictions are no sufficient proof of Divine Displeasure Obs 2. The Daughter did not come to Christ for her self but the Mother for her Perhaps the Child was not so sensible of its own Misery but the Mother feels both the Childs sorrow and her own True Goodness teaches us to appropriate the Afflictions of others to our selves causing us to bear their Griefs and to Sympathize with them in their Sorrows Obs 3. The seeming Severity of Christ to this poor Wâ—man he calls her not a Woman but a Dog and as it were Spurns her from the Table Did ever so Severe a Word drop from those mild Lips What shall we say Is the Lamb of God turned Lion that a Woman in Distress imploring Pity should be thus rated out of Christ's Presence But hence we Learn How Christ puts the strongest Faith of his own Children upon the severest Tryal This Tryal had never been so sharp if her Faith had not been so strong Usually where God gives much Grace he tries Grace much Obser 4. The Humble Carriage of this Holy Woman her Humility grants all her Patience overcomes all she meekly desires to possess the Dogs place not to croud to the Table but to creep under it and to partake of the Crumbs of Mercy that fall from thence Indeed she shewed one of the best qualities of the Dog in keeping her hold where she had once fastned not letting go nor giving over until she had gotten what she desired But nothing is so pleasing to Christ as to see his People follow him with Faith and Importunity when he seems to withdraw himself from them 31 And again departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sydon he came unto the sea of Galilee thorow the midst of the coasts of Decapolis 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf and had an impediment in his speech and they beseech him to put his hands upon him 33 And he took him aside from the multitude and put his fingers into his ears and he spit and touched his tongue 34 And looking up to heaven he sighed and saith unto him Ephphatha that is be opened 35 And straightway his ears were opened and the string of his Tongue was loosed and he spake plain 36 And he charged them that they should tell no Man but the more he charged them so much the more a great deal they published it 37 And were beyond measure astonished saying He hath done all things well he maketh both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak See here 1. The bitter Fruits and sad Effects of Sin which has brought Deafness Dumbness and Blindness upon the Humane Nature As Death so all Diseases entred into the World by Sin Sin first brought Infirmities and Mortality into our Natures and the Wages of Sin are Diseases and Death Observe 2. That the Blessing of Bodily Health and Healing is from Christ who by his Divine Power as he was God miraculously and immediately healed them that were brought unto him Obser 3. The Actions and Gestures which our Saviour used in healing this Deaf Person He put his Fingers into his Ears he spit and touched his Tongue Not that these were Means or Natural Causes effecting the Cure for there was no healing Vertue in the Spittle but only outward Signs Testimonies and Pledges of Christ's Divine Power and Gracious Readiness to cure the Person in Distress Obser 4. How Christ withdrew the Person from the Multitude whom he was about to help and heal Teaching us in all our Good Works to avoid all Shew and Appearance of Ostentation and Vain-Glory To set God's Glory before our Eyes and not seek our own Praise Observe 5. The Effect which this Miracle had upon the Multitude it occasion'd their Astonishment and Applause They were astonished and said He hath done all things well It becomes us both to take Notice of the wonderful Works of God and also to magnify and extol the Author of them This is one way of glorifying our Creator CHAP. VIII 1 IN those days the Multitude being very great and having nothing to eat Jesus called his Disciples unto him and said unto them 2 I have compassion on the multitude because they have now been with me three days and have nothing to eat 3 And if I send them away fasting to their own Houses they will faint by the way for divers of them came from far 4 And his Disciples answered him From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread in the wilderness 5 And he asked them How many loaves have ye and they said Seven 6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground and he took the seven loaves and gave thanks and brake and gave to his Disciples to set before them and they did set them before the People 7 And they had a few small fishes and he blessed
long time under Bodily Weakness to manifest his Power in supporting them and to magnify his Mercy in Delivering them Observe 3. This poor Woman was found in the use of Means she sought to Physicians for help and is not blamed for so doing altho' she spent all she had upon them The use and help of Physick is by no means to be neglected by us in times of sickness especially in dangerous Diseases of the Body to trust to means is to neglect God and to neglect the means is to tempt God The health of our Bodies ought to be dear unto us and all lawful means used both to preserve it to recover it and to confirm it Observe 4. The actings of this poor Womans Faith her Disease was unclean by the Ceremonial Law and she to be separated from Society Accordingly she is ashamed to appear before Christ but comes behind him to touch his Cloaths being firmly perswaded that Christ had a power Communicated to him miraculously to Cure incurable Diseases and see how our Saviour encouraged her Faith he saith This thy faith hath made thee whole Learn hence That Faith oft-times meets with a better welcome from Christ then it did or could expect this poor Woman came to Christ Trembling but went away Triumphing Observe 5. Christ would have this Miracle Discovered he therefore says Who toucheth me for I perceive that vertue is gone out of me Christ says this first in Reference to himself to manifest his Divine Power that by the touch of his Cloaths he could cure such an incurable Disease secondly in Relation to the Woman that she might have opportunity to give God the Praise and Glory for the Cure and thirdly with respect to Jairus that his Faith might be strengthned in Belief of Christ's Power to raise his Daughter 49 While he yet spake there came one from the Ruler of the Synagogues house saying to him thy Daughter is Dead trouble not the Master 50 But when Jesus heard it he answered him saying fear not believe only and she shall be made whole 51 And when he came into the house he suffered no man to go in save Peter James and John and the Father and Mother of the Maiden 52 And all wept and bewailed her But he said weep not she is not dead but sleepeth 53 And they laughed him to Scorn knowing that she was dead 54 And he put them all out and took her by the hand and called saying Maid Arise 55 And her Spirit came again and she arose straitway and he commanded to give her Meat 56 And her parents were astonished But he charged them that they should tell no man what was done Observe here 1. the doleful News brought to Jairus his Ear Thy Daughter is dead The Lord doth sometimes suffer the Faith and Patience of his Children to be greatly exercised and tryed The Loss of dear Relations particularly of Children especially of an only Child is one of the greatest Sorrows of humane Life a Tryal which has often shockt an ordinary Patience and constancy of mind Observe 2. Our Saviour's seasonable Word of Advice and Comfort fear not only believe Christ stands ready to comfort Believers in the Hour of their greatest Tryals and Temptations Observe 3. Christ's Application of himself in order to the raising unto Life Jairus his dead Daughter And here 1. he goes into the house only with three of his Disciples and the Father and Mother of the Maid which were sufficient to bear Witness to the Truth of the Miracle Our Saviour to avoid all shew of vain Glory would not work this Miracle publickly before all the People 2. Our Saviour rebukes them for the shew they made of immoderate Grief and Sorrow for the dead Damsel they wept and wailed greatly with Minstrels making a noise say the other Evangelists according to the Custom of the Heathens who by a mournful sort of Musick did seek to stir up the passion of Grief at their Funerals To mourn immoderately for the Dead is an Heathenish Custom and Practice 't is hurtful to the Living 't is dishonourable to the Dead nor is it an Argument of more Love but an Evidence of less Grace 3. Christ adds a Reason for this Rebuke given by him for the Damsel is not dead but sleepeth Vobis mortua mihi dormit She is dead to you but asleep to me not so dead as to be beyond my Power to raise her to Life Souls Departed are under the Conduct of Angels to their several Regions of Bliss or Misery It is very probable That the Soul of this Damsel was under the Guard of Angels near her Dead Body waiting the pleasure of God in order to its Disposal either to restore it again to the Body or to translate it to its Eternal Mansion Observe farther the Nature of Death in General and of the Saints Death in particular 't is a Sleep Sleep is a state of Rest sleep is a sudden surprisal in sleep there is an insensible passage of our Time the person sleeping shall certainly Awake Oh how much is it our Wisdom to prepare for the Bed of the Grave and so to live that when we lye down in it there may be nothing to disturb our Rest Observe farther with what facility and ease our Saviour Raises the dead Damsel with a word speaking and St. Mark tells us what the word was Talitha Cumi Syriack words to shew the Truth of the Miracle not like a Conjurer muttering a Charm in an unknown Tongue The Miracles which Christ wrought were real Miracles and carried their own Evidence along with them Observe Lastly The charge given by our Saviour not to publish this Miracle he charged them to tell no Man what was done that is Divulge it not imprudently to such of the Scribes and Pharisees as would not be convinced by it but only cavil at it and be the more enraged against him for it and seek his Death before his appointed time was come Again tell it to no man unseasonably and all at once but gradually and by degrees For it was the Will of God that the Divine Glory of Christ should not be manifested to the World all at once and on the sudden but by little and little during his estate of Humiliation for his Resurrection was the time appointed by God for the full manifestation of Christ's Godhead Rom. 1.4 Declared to be the Son of God with power by the Resurrection from the Dead CHAP. IX 1 THen he called his twelve Disciples together and gave them power and authority over all Devils and to cure Diseases 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick 3 And said unto them take nothing for your journey neither Staves nor Scrip neither Bread nor Money neither have two Coats a piece 4 And whatsoever house ye enter into there abide and thence depart 5 And whosoever will not receive you when ye go out of that city shake off the very dust