he prayed for S. Peter's Faith 179. For his Apostles and all the World 186. for his Elect ibid. in the Garden to avoid Death 188. upon his Cross for the Persecutors 201. commending his Soul to God 204. his Prayer was always heard 205. he promises to pray for the Holy Spirit 181. Prodigy The Jews desire one 68. several appeared at Jesus Death 204. Prodigal The Parable of him 128. Prophet Prophecy a Prophet is without Honour in his own Countrey 75. Caiphas Prophecy concerning Christs Death 143. Prophets Explained by Christ 210. the Prophets end at John 63 who was more than a Prophet Ibid. Zachary's Prophecy 8. Publicans Instructed by St. John 22. received by Jesus 46. more just than the Pharisees 61. hated by the Jews 46. the Parable of the Pharisee and Publican 135. a Publican made an Apostle 46. and another a Child of Abraham 147. Purification Whom the Law obligeth in that case 16. the Virgins Purification 17. Q. QVeen of Sheba shall condemn the Jews 69. R REconciliation Necessary before we Sacrifice to God 56. as also before prayer 158. Redemption Jesus Christ shed his Blood for the Redemption of Souls 145. Reward Shall be great to those that suffer for Righteousness sake 56. Hypocrites receive their Reward here 57. the VVorkman is worthy of his Hire 77. Repentance Preached by St. John 21. and Jesus Christ 35. by the Apostles 76. Repentance of the Ninivites 68. in Sackcloath and Ashes 65. of a Sinner causeth Joy in Heaven 129. necessity of it 121. Baptism of Repentance 21. Fruits worthy of Repentance 22. it ought to be Preached every where 144. the Repentance of a Woman that was a sinner 66. God expects Repentance 121. Jesus Christ receives sinners upon their Repentance 128. reproves the impenitent Cities 65. Judas's false Repentance 194. Reproof Given by Jesus Christ to the Apostles 42. Pharisees 64. Scribes 16. Impenitent Cities of Galilee Ibid. Simon the Pharisee 66. Resurrection Jesus Christ hath all the Power to raise the Dead 51. he is the Resurrection and the Life 141. he will raise them that eat his Flesh 85. the Dead shall rise 163. there shall be no Marriage after the Resurrection Ibid. Christ raised from the Dead Jairus's Daughter 49. The Widows Son of Nain 62. Lazarus 142. the dead Bodies of many Saints at his own Resurrection 204. Retreat Jesus retires into the Desert where he is tempted 5. he retreated from Judaea after the Imprisonment of John 33. into a Desert to pray 39. to the Sea-side 54. into a Mountain to pray before he chose his Apostles Ibid. into the Desert after he had healed the Leper 60. after his Fame was spread in Herods Court 80. into a Mountain when they would have made him a King 82. into the Coasts of Tyre and Sidon 88. Into the City of Ephrem after the Resurrection of Lazarus 143. Riches Rich-men a Wo pronounced against them 65. the Covetous Rich-man 119. the VVicked Rich-man 131. Rich toward God Ibid. Riches Are Thorns 119. why Jesus calls Riches the Mammon of unrighteousness 130. rich Men hardly saved 136. the good use to be made of Riches 119. S sabboth-SAbboth-day A day of Rest 51. Jesus Christ often accused of breaking the Law of the Sabboth because he did Miracles on it Ibid. justifies himself 52. and his Apostles Ibid. it is lawful to do well on the sabboth-Sabboth-day Ibid. it is for Man Ibid. Jesus Christ is Lord also of the Sabboth Ibid. Sadducees Who they were 22. Johns saying to them Ibid. they desire a Sign of Jesus Christ 90. their Doctrin called Leaven 91. they Question with Jesus 163. he proves the Resurrection to them Ibid. Salome The Wife of Zebedee prayeth Jesus for her Children 145. stood by the Cross 203. went to the Sepulchre 206. Salomon Visited by the Queen of Sheba 69. Jesus Christ greater than he Ibid. Samaria Samaritans Enemies of the Jews 33. the Samaritan Woman converted by Jesus Christ Ibid. the Samaritans believed on him 34. they would not let him pass thro' their City 77. the Good Samaritan 114. the thankful Leper of Samaria 10. Scandal The necessity of Scandals 100. the World is full of them Ibid. Wo to the causes of them by their Faults Ibid. the Eye to be plucked out and Hand to be cut off that offend Ibid. Jesus Chtist a Scandal to the Nazarenes 74. to the Pharisees 87. Apostles 180. he is happy that is not offended in him 63. Jesus Christ slights the offence of the Pharisees 84. he pays Tribute to avoid Scandal 98. Servant We cannot serve two Masters 58. the Servant is not Greater than his Master 77. all are unprofitable Servants 120. the first among Christians must be Servant of all as Christ himself was 146. Christs Servants must follow him 187. Sidon A Heathen City 64. Simeon An Old Man full of the Spirit 17. saw and embraced Christ Ibid. his Hymn and Prophecy 18. Simon The Pharisee made a feast for Jesus Christ 65. offended at him for suffering a sinful Woman to kiss his Feet Ibid. reprov'd by Jesus 66. Simon The Leper Jesus Christ Supped at his House at Bethany 90. Simon Of Cyrene bears Jesus 's Cross before him 200. v. Sinn Sin Against the Holy Ghost 67. God only forgives Sins 45. the Church hath Power to pardon Sin 100. Servant of Sin 108. Sin forgiven to the Man sick of the Palsy 45. and Woman that was a Sinner 66. Sinner Jesus Christ called a Sinner 110. eats with Sinners 46. came down from Heaven for Sinners 128. Sodom A City punished for her Sinns 50. less Guilty than the Impenitent Cities of Galilee Ibid. Soldiers Johns Instructions to the Soldiers 22. Guard the Cross of Christ 204. the Sepulchre 206. Holy Spirit John Baptist filled with the Spirit 4. Jesus Christ Conceived by the Operation of the Holy Spirit 6 9. it proceedeth from the Father and Son 11. discovered Jesus Christ to Simeon 17. came down from Heaven upon Jesus in the form of a Dove 23. carryed him into the Desert 24. Inspired whom it pleaseth 29. to be Born of Water and of the Spirit Ibid. Baptism with the Holy Ghost and with Fire 23. Blaspheming against the Holy Ghost 67. it was given after Christ was Glorified 184. the Spirit of Truth Ibid. Condemns the World Ibid. promised to the Apostles 181. given them 212 216. Star A Miraculous Star conducted the Magi to Christ 15. Steward The unjust Steward 119. Sun Darkned at Christs passion 203. and so it shall be at Christs Coming 168. T TAbernacles The Feast of Tabernacles one of the Great Feasts of the Jews 102. why Instituted Ibid. Jesus came to Jerusalem in the midst of this Feast Ibid. Temple Christ drove the Traders out of it Twice 28 156. the House of God and of Prayer Ibid. the Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem 153. the Vail Rent from the top to the bottom 204. Temptation Of Christ by the Devil 24. by a Scribe 164. by the Pharisees 162. by the Sadducees
hast believed for the Things which have been told thee from the Lord shall be accomplished These Commendations did not at all puff up the Virgin 's Heart with Pride she could not be unsensible of the Favours which God had bestowed on her but being desirous to give him all the Glory and not daring to attribute any thing that the Lord had wrought in her to her Faith she referr'd all to the Mercy of her Creator saying My Soul doth magnify the Lord and my Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour for he hath regarded the lowliness of his Handmaid She adds That God is pleased when he sees fit to do great Things for his mean Creatures That he loves to exalt the Humble and debase the Proud and that lastly He is faithful to his Promises because he made her the Mother of his Son That he might perform the Promises which he had made to Abraham and the other Patriarchs IV. The Nativity of S. John Luke 1. 56-80 Mary continued Three Months with her Cousin and then returned to her own House In the mean while Elizabeth's Time of Delivery came and her Relations and Cousins met together to rejoyce with her concerning the Birth of her Son On the Eighth Day when he was to be circumcised and named they all gave him the Name of Zachary as his Father was called but Elizabeth opposed them desiring he should be named John as God had commanded by the Angel They answered her That there was none of her Family called by that Name and made Signs to his Father that he should shew them his Will about it And he required Writing-Tables and wrote thereon His Name must be called John and immediately his Tongue was loosed and his Speech being restored to him he made use of it to praise God But all that had been Witnesses of these Miracles and all that heard him speak were astonished and said one to another What manner of Child shall this be How great how holy a Man But that which they were ignorant of was revealed to Zacharias who being filled with the Holy Spirit understood the Mystery of the Incarnation and the part his Son was to have in that Mystery whereupon he prophesied and said Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his People He adds as the Virgin had done in her Song That God hath raised out of the House of David a Saviour of the World to perform the Promises which he had made to Abraham and renewed often by the Mouth of his Prophets And then he sums up all the Benefits of the Incarnation in a few Words he hath promised us That we being delivered from the Power of our Enemies might serve him by walking before him in Holiness and Righteousness all the Days of our Life Then he speaks these Words to his Son And thou Child shalt be called the Prophet of the most high for thou shalt go before the Face of the Lord to prepare his Ways and to give Knowledge of Salvation to his People for the Remission of their Sins And indeed God did fulfil what Zachary had foretold of his Son and that he might fit this Infant for the great Office he designed him he made him eminent in all Spiritual Gifts and kept him in the Deserts till the Time of his appearing to his People Israel V. God reveals the Conception of Jesus Christ to Joseph While the Fame of those Miracles which happened at the Birth of John Matth. 1 18-25 spread it self over all the Hill-Country of Judea the Holy Virgin being returned to Nazareth meditated in deep Silence upon the Mystery which God had wrought in her She had not told Joseph what had befaln her but her Bigness discovered it and he perceived she was with Child But being an Holy and Pious Man he was not willing to disgrace her publickly whereupon he resolved to put her away privately And in this Purpose he continued till an Angel appearing to him in a Dream said unto him Joseph thou Son of David fear not to take unto thee Mary thy Wife for the Child that is conceived in her is the Work of the Holy Ghost She shall bring forth a Son and thou shalt call his Name Jesus because he is the Person which shall save his People from their Sins Joseph submitted to this Command and remained with his Wife both of them living in perfect Chastity And so that which God had long before foretold by the Prophet Isaiah was fulfilled A Virgin shall conceive and bring forth a Son Isai 7.14 which shall be called Immanuel which being interpreted is God with us VI. The Divine Generation of Jesus Christ The Time being come when the Virgin should be delivered she brought forth Jesus Christ in the manner which we shall hereafter speak of But before we relate the History of this Birth it is necessary to give an account of the Person who was born Men describe the Genealogies of the Grandees of the World that they may make them honourable by the Nobility of their Parentage and great Actions of their Ancestors who have no Worth of their own to render them remarkable Matth. 1 1-17 Luke 3. 23-38 Mary brought forth a Son of whom the Gospel recites Two Pedigrees and Two Births because he had Two Natures Jesus Christ is both God and Man and hath united in one Person the Divine and Human Nature As he is Man he is descended of a numerous Succession of Ancestors As he is God he hath only God for his Father as Man he was born in Time but as God he was born and is from all Eternity What S. John in the beginning of his Gospel teaches us concerning his Divine and Eternal Generation and for what Reasons he became Incarnate is this He says That Jesus Christ as God is the Word John 1 1-14 i. e. the Thought or Speech of God When a Man thinks he forms an Idea or Spiritual Image of the Thing he thinks of and this Image is called the Word i. e. the Speech of the Mind for it is by the Thoughts that the Mind reasons with and speaks to it self God is a pure Spirit who knows himself most perfectly and that from all Eternity He thinks then in knowing himself and forms an exact Image of himself and this Image is his Word But this Word infinitely excels all the Thoughts of Men in this That he is a Thought subsisting by himself and a distinct Person from him that formed it but yet the same God with him The Two Persons love each other infinitely from all Eternity and this Eternal Love is a Third Person called the Holy Spirit who is also the same God and of the same Nature with the Two other Persons from whom he proceeds This is what the Holy Scripture teaches us of the Holy Trinity which is nothing else but the God which we worship One in Three Persons of which the Second is called not
only the Son because he is begotten of the Father to whom the Name of Father is given for that Reason but also the Word because he is the Thought or interior Speech of the First Person which begat him by knowing himself and that from all Eternity because he knoweth himself from all Eternity And upon this Ground it is that S. John says That in the Beginning i. e. when the World began the Word was and the Word was in or with God for the Thought is in the Mind that forms it and that he was God it being the Property of this Word as we have said to be the same thing with the Being that begets it p. 23 The Birth of JESUS CHRIST VII The Human Birth of Jesus Christ. Augustus the Roman Emperor Luke 2. 1-20 being desirous to know the Number of all his Subjects published an Edict commanding every Person to go and be registred in his Native City In Obedience to which Order Joseph went up from Galilee with the Holy Virgin to Bethlehem a City of Judah to have his Name enrolled there because he was of the House and Linage of David For this Prince was born at Bethlehem which is therefore called in the Gospel The City of David While they were there her Time came that the Holy Virgin should be delivered And she brought forth Jesus Christ wrapped him in Swaddling Cloaths and because there was no Room in the Inn laid him in a Manger Not far from thence there were certain Shepherds who kept their Flocks by Night these Men all of a sudden were encompassed with a great Light and saw an Angel which said unto them Fear not for I bring you good News which shall fill all People with great Joy which is that this Day there is born in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord and by this Sign ye shall know him ye shall find the Infant wrapped in Swaddling Cloaths and lying in a Manger As soon as they had received this Message from God they heard a great number of those blessed Spirits praising God and saying Glory be to God in the height of Heaven and on Earth Peace to the Men of his good-liking i. e. to all truly penitent Sinners and sincere new Creatures As soon as the Angels were departed the Shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem where they found Mary and Joseph with the Babe who was laid in a Manger and they acknowledged the Truth of what the Angel had said unto them Then they returned glorifying God published the Miracles which they had seen and raised an Admiration in all those that heard them But Mary seriously meditated upon all these Things in her Mind and was careful to keep a faithful Remembrance of them VIII The Circumcision of Jesus Christ. Luk. 2.21 Lev. 12.3 Gen. 17.12 By the Law of Moses every Male Child ought to be circumcised within eight Days after the Birth according to the Command which God had given to Abraham for God being about to give this Patriarch a Son of whose Posterity our Redeemer should be born and entring into a Covenant with him to be kept by all his Posterity he instituted Circumcision as a Seal and Sign of that Covenant threatning to cut off that Male Child from his People which shall not be Circumcised Abraham himself and all the Jews his Posterity did exactly observe this Law and Jesus Christ was willing to submit to it himself wherefore the Gospel observes That he was Circumcised the Eighth Day and that he was named JESVS which was the Name that the Angel had ordered to be given him before his Conception IX The Adoration of the Magi. Matth. 2 1-12 The Holy Virgin and Joseph continuing still at Bethlehem the Magi which were certain great Philosophers and Astronomers came from the East to Jerusalem and asked Where the Person was who was lately born King of the Jews saying Numb 24.17 That they had seen a Star in the East signifying his Birth and conducting them thither and were come to worship him This Question much surprized the People of Jerusalem and above all troubled Herod who was then King of the Jews Whereupon he assembled the Chief Priests and the most learned in the Law among the Jews to be informed of them Where the Messiah which they expected should be born for he believed that it was he that the Magi enquired after under the Name of the King of the Jews They answered him At Bethlehem according to the Prophecy of Micah And thou Bethlehem Mic. 5.2 in the Land of Judah art not the least among the principal Cities of that Tribe for out of thee shall come a Governour that shall rule my People Israel Herod as soon as he had received this Information sent for the Magi privately to him and enquired of them At what Time the Star they spoke of was seen by them and sending them to Bethlehem said unto them Go and search diligently for the young Child which ye desire to see and when ye have found him let me know it that I may also pay him the like Adoration Being just got into the Way to Bethlehem they saw the Star again which had appeared to them in the East and the Gospel says they were filled with exceeding great Joy for it went before them to conduct them to him and stood over the Place where Jesus Christ was They immediately entred into the House and falling down before him they worshipped him and offered to him for Gifts Gold and Frankincense and Myrrhe And thus having paid their Homage they returned into their own Country but did not go by Jerusalem because they had been admonished in a Dream not to return again to Herod X. The Presentation of Jesus Christ in the Temple The Holy Virgin and Joseph having so punctually observed the Law of Circumcision were not less exact in the performance of Two other Commandments of the Law the One of which concerned Mothers the other their First-born Children Lev. 12 2-8 The First of these obliges every Woman after her Delivery not to touch any hallowed Thing for a certain Time nor to go into the Temple for Forty Days after the Birth of a Son and Fourscore Days after the Birth of a Daughter and at the End of that Term the Mother shall go to the Temple to be purified for which end she must offer a Lamb for a Burnt-Offering and a Pigeon or a Turtle-Dove foâ— the Attonement of her Sins But if she be noâ— able to offer a Lamb she is allowed to offer â— Pigeon or a Turtle for it which being sacrificed by the Priest she is clean The Second Commandment of the Law which concerns the First-born Children enjoyns the Parents to present them to the Lord and to redeem them with Mony Exod. 13.2 15. Every First-born in Israel both of Man and Beast was consecrated to God bâ— a Command which God gave them when he slew the First-born
concurring Approbation of his Father in Holy Scripture to render it credible nay certain but yet he knew that they would not be convinced by all these Proofs because they loved not God and instead of seeking that Glory which is from God they delighted in no other Persons Esteem or Approbation but what they receive one from another XIII The Jews accuse Jesus's Disciples of Sabboth Breaking Matth 12.1 8. Mark 2 23-28 Luke 6 1-5 The Jews who had charged Jesus with a Sin in healing a Man upon their Sabboth Day as having thereby broken the Law of God were not afraid to condemn him for the same Fault upon many the like occasions for as he passed along the Corn-Fields upon the Sabboth Day and his Diciples being very hungry took some Ears of Corn as they went along and rubbing them in their Hands eat them some of the Pharisees complained of it to him saying Behold thy Disciple do that which is not lawful to be done on the Sabboth Day But he demonstrates to them first of all by the Example of David who in an urgent case of Necessity had eaten of the Shew-Bread which none but the Priests might lawfully eat that Necessity may create a Dispensation of a Law Secondly by the Example of their own Priests who were not thought guilty of Sabboth-breaking notwithstanding they slay and slay their Sacrifices in the Temple upon the Sabboth Day according to the Commandment of the same Law 〈◊〉 that the Law doth not forbid all sorts of Action upon the Sabboth Day But if they pretend that the Temple justifies these sorts of Actions he might as well justifie this Action of his Disciples since He was greater than the Temple But if they had known that Mercy is more acceptable to God than Sacrifice they would not have so rashly condemned the Innocent That they inverted the Order of things in that they would have Man made for Sabboth whereas the Sabboth was made for Man And lastly That the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabboth-day and so may lawfully command or permit what he pleases to be done in it XIV Jesus Cures several sick Persons on the Sabboth On another Saturday as he taught in the Synagogue Matth. 12 10-13 Mar. 3 1-5 Lu. 6 6-10 there was a Man who had his Right Hand withered And the Lawyers and the Pharisees asked Jesus Whether it was Lawful to heal on the Sabboth day And they at the same time observed whether he would heal this Man that they might have cause of Accusation against him But Jesus knowing their thoughts bid the Man stand forth in the middle of the Assembly and asked them again Whether it be Lawful to do good and save Life on the Sabboth day And to give them an undeniable proof of the Lawfulness of it he adds What Man is there among you that shall have a Sheep which happens to fall into a Pit upon the Sabboth day will not lay hold of it and lift it out How much is a Man better than a sheep They could not answer any thing to this but they would not acknowledge the Truth so that Jesus having looked upon them with anger and being grieved for the hardness blindness of their Heart he turned himself to the Man that had the Withered Hand and said unto him Stretch out thy hand which he did and immediately his Hand was made as whole as the other Mat. 12 14-21 Mar. 3 6.-12 Lu. 6.11 The Pharisees seeing this Miracle were enraged against him and took Councel together how they might destroy Jesus Whereupon he withdrew himself with his Disciples to the Lake of Gennesareth being followed by a great number of People for the Fame of these Miracles being spread abroad throughout all Galilee Judea Idumaea and all the Country round about Jordan as far as the Mediterranean Sea to the Coasts of Tyre and Sydon they came in throngs from all these places to hear him and to be cured of their Diseases This caused him to order his Disciples to keep a small Ship there ready to go into that he might not be crowded by the People He healed all that were present of their Diseases commanding them at the same time not to discover him and silencing with threatnings the Devils who fell down before him crying out and saying Thou art the Son of God XV. Jesus Christ chooseth his Twelve Disciples and preacheth his Sermon on the Mount After these things Jesus retired into a Mountain where he continued all Night in Prayer to God Lu. 6 12.-26 Mar. 3 13.-20 Matt. 5. â—-12 And when it was day he called his Disciples and out of them he chose twelve whom he named Apostles which signifies Persons sent because he sent them to preach his Gospel with a power to heal Diseases and cast out Devils The Gospel observes that he chose whom he would and that these were the Twelve which he preferred to this Dignity viz. Simon whom he had already named Peter and Andrew his Brother the two Sons of Zebedee James and John whom he Surnamed Boanerges i. e. Sons of Thunder Philip to whom he first of all said Follovv me Bartholomew Matthew whom he took from the Custom-house Thomas also called Didimus i. e. a Twin another James the Son of Alpheus and his Brother named Judas or Thaddaeus Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot Then he came dovvn with them and remained in the Plain near the same Mountain vvhither the Multitude abovementioned vvhich came to hear him and touched him because such Virtue vvent out of him as healed all manner of Diseases flocked unto him Among them vvere many possessed vvith Devils vvhom he freed After this in the presence of all this Company he made a Discourse which contains all the Precepts of the Christian Law he spake it to his Disciples and begins it by teaching them wherein true Happiness consists saying to them Blessed are the poor in spirit that is to say those who are loose in their desires of Earthly things for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Blessed are they that mourn for their own and others sins hating the Carnal pleasures of this World for they shall be comforted and filled with spiritual Joy Blessed are the meek and quiet spirited for they shall inherit the Earth i. e. Paradise which is as the Fathers explain it the Land of the Living and the Heritage of such as suffer Joyfully the spoiling of their Goods which they cannot preserve without offending God Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness for they shall have their Holy desires satisfied Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy Blessed are they whose hearts are clean from all Carnal Lusts for they shall see God Blessed are the peace-makers who not only love and live in peace themselves but labour to make others to be at peace for they shall be called the Children of God being as like the God of Peace as Children are to their
Parents Blessed are they that are persecuted for Righteousness sake for their is the Kingdom of Heaven He adds further to his Disciples Blessed are ye when Men shall hate you and persecute you for my sake and load you with Injuries and Reproaches Rejoyce then for great is your reward reserved in Heaven And after he hath thus shewn that there is no happiness in this Life but in the contempt of Riches Honour and Pleasures and in the love of Religion Peace and Mercy Purity of heart and Patience by which we may render our selves worthy of that Eternal Life which God hath reserved in Heaven for us He pronounces a Wo against Riches against those who live in Plenty Mirth and Worldly Honours because they that place their Happiness in all these things shall one day find that their Pleasures Honours Comforts and Plenty shall end in Eternal Wailing and Sorrow XVI What are the Truths which Jesus Christ teacheth in this Sermon upon the Mount Matt. 5 13-48 Lu. 16 27-36 He next teacheth his Apostles that they were the Salt and Light of the World to reform their corrupt Manners and to illuminate their darkneâ— Minds that they ought therefore to be Pure and Holy themselves and not to omit any occasion of dispersing the Light of their Doctrin because they are set on a Candlestick i. e. preferred to the Ministry of the Gospel for that end That he came not to destroy the Law of Moses but to fulfil it and to bring it to its utmost perfection by teaching his Disciples a Righteousness far more compleat and excellent than that of the Scribes and Pharisees and without which no Man can be saved Indeed the Old Law forbids several Sins and regulated the exterior Actions But the New Law which Jesus Christ gives in this Discourse aims at the Reformation of the Heart and to suppress Sin in its very Source and Original For it was said to the Jews in the Law Thou shalt not kill But Jesus Christ commands every Man to curb in his Anger and not to utter the least affront or abuse of his Brother and if there be any differences not to offer any Sacrifice to God before they are reconciled The Law forbids Adultery Jesus forbids with the same strictness all Lascivious Glances and commands Men to pluck out the right Eye in which they are i. e. to deprive themselves of that pleasure of the Sight which excites irregular desires in the Heart The Law commands us to avoid Perjury Jesus Christ will not allow us to Swear at all and Teaches us that when we are obliged to confirm our Words with an Oath that very Oath tho' not sinful in it self yet proceeds from a bad Cause viz. as St. Austin says from the Custom of Lying and dealing falsly so much used among Men that they dare not trust to their bare Words The Law regulates Revenge and requires that the punishment do not exceed the Offence on which it is inflicted But Jesus Christ is so far from allowing us to revenge our selves that on the contrary he teacheth us not to resist evil not to go to Law but to give to those that ask and to yield our Cheek to those that smite us i. e. to bear all things rather than lose Charity The Jews believed that the Obligation we have to Love our Neighbour did hinder us from hating our Enemies But Jesus Christ will have us to love those that Hate us and to do good to those that Persecute us that we may excell the Heathens in well-doing and imitate Himself who makes his Sun to rise upon the Evil as well as upon the Good and so deserve the Honourable Title of the Children of God From Sins he passes to Good actions and to make them pure Mat. 6 1-34 he teacheth us to purify the Motives and causes of them shewing us that the Intention is such to the outward Actions as the Eye is to the whole Body and that they are pure or sinful according as the Intention is good or Evil after the same manner as the Body is either Light or in Darkness as the Eye is either Clear or Blind Wherefore he teaches us that we must not perform our good Works as Alms Prayers or Fasting that we may be praised of Men but of God who will reward them He lays down rules for Prayer that it should be made with a full Trust in the Divine Bounty with perseverance and with a mind full of Peace and Love to our Brethren knowing that he that will neither give to nor pardon others deserves neither the Mercies nor Pardon he petitions of God He makes the force and excellency of a Prayer not to consist in a multitude of Words as if God had need of our Words to manifest our Wants to him and that we may know what we may desire and request of God he hath taught us to pray after this manner Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdom come Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily Bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and Lead us not into Temptation but deliver us from evil Amen In the next place he endeavours to make the Souls of his Disciples contemn the good things of this World by teaching them not to lay up Treasures upon Earth but in Heaven where neither Thief nor any other danger is to be feared that they cannot love God and Mamon i. e. Riches at the same time and that instead of being sollicitous for the necessaries of this Life since God who nourisheth the Fowls and adorns the Lillies will not cease to take care of Man who is far more precious in his sight than Flowers or Beasts We should first seek the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof above all other things and then we may hope that God will give us all other things as an Overplus of favour to us He forbids rash Censures and Judgments Matt. 7 1-29 Lu. 6 37-42 and condemns those Hypocrites who cannot see the Beam which groweth in their own Eyes but would cast out the Mote out of their Brothers Eye He teaches them to distribute Holy things prudently saying We must not cast Pearl before Swine He summs up our whole Duty to our Neighbours in this short Precept Whatsoever ye would that Men should do unto you do ye even so to them He assures us That the way which leads to Life is streight but that which leads to Hell is bread and many there be that go in it He teacheth us to beware of false Prophets who come in sheeps-cloathing yet are ravening Wolves That we must not Judge of them by their Words but by their Works And altho' they may do some Miracles yet God will reject them one day as a People he never knew In the same manner will he also treat all those who content themselves to say Lord
hear let him hear i. e. let him understand the Sense and Meaning of what I say The Apostles themselves did understand it no more than others and therefore when they were alone with him they prayed him to tell them why he spoke to the People in Parables and to explain what he had already propounded to them In answer to the First Question he tells them How great an Happiness they enjoyed in being with him because they saw and heard those Things which many Righteous Men and Prophets desired to see and hear but could not obtain it And because he made them understand clearly those great Mysteries which he propounded to others in dark Similitudes and Parables only to punish the Blindness and Obstinacy of their Hearts which makes them unworthy and incapable of knowing the Truth Then he teaches them That by the Seed he spoke of he understood the Word of God They that after they have heard regard it not but immediately let themselves loose to their Sins are like the High-Way The Devil is figured by the Birds who are ready to take the Word out of their Hearts lest they believe and be saved Those that receive the Word with Joy but the first Temptation spoils all the Fruit because the Word has had no deep Root in the Soul are the Rock Others that choke the Word with Avarice love of Pleasures and other Passions are the Thorns which must be pulled up if we will have the heavenly Seed to thrive in our Hearts Lastly the good Ground signifies those well-disposed Souls which receive and retain faithfully the Word of God and through Patience and Constancy bring forth as much Fruit as they are able XXVI Other Parables Matth. 13 24.-35 Mark 4 26-34 Luke 13 18-30 He propounded also several other Parables He compares the World to a Field in which the Owner sowed good Seed but afterward discerned it to be mixed with Darnel which his Enemy had sown in the Night his Servants as soon as they saw it would have weeded it up but he hindred them lest they should root up the Corn with it and bad them let it grow with the Corn till the Harvest when he would have it separated from the Corn and burnt but gather the Corn into his Barn He compares the Kingdom of God to Seed which being cast into the Ground springs up and grows the Sower knows not how without any further Care Then to Mustard-Seed which being a very small Seed less than any other becomes the biggest among Herbs Lastly to Leaven which is put into the Dough till the whole is Leaven'd When he had spoken these things he sent the People away and returned to the House with his Disciples who prayed him to declare to them the Meaning of the Parable of the Darnel He tells them That it signifies That the Good ought to tolerate the Wicked with whom they are mixed till God shall separate them the one from the other at the End of the World for then the Sinners shall be cast into Hell-Fire and the Good shall shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of God He teaches them also the same Truth under the Parable of the Fishermen who catch all sorts of Fish in their Nets promiscuously but sitting upon the Bank separate the Good which they carry away and cast away the Bad. Lastly he makes them sensible that we ought to part with any thing to purchase Heaven by the Comparison of a Man who sold all he had to buy a Pearl of great Price or the Field in which he knew there was a great Treasure The Gospel gives us the Explication of none of the other Parables that by an Attentive Consideration of those which are explained we may find out the Sense of those that are not our selves having first begged of God that Spirit of Understanding which Jesus Christ requires of his Auditors when he says He that hath Ears to hear let him hear The Ignorant and Simple who have not Abilities to find out the Signification of those Parables which the Son of God hath not unfolded and who may justly fear mistaking by following their own Sense ought to consult their Pastors about such difficult Places and while we wait for the Resolution of what we demand practising the Truths they know which it is easy for an humble and teachable Soul to understand And for the help of these sort of Persons it is that I composed this Work chiefly and therefore shall give you the Sense of the Three following Parables to that of the Darnel out of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church All Three of them may signify the Preaching of the Gospel The Preacher disperses the Seed of the Word and this Seed groweth by little and little by the secret Operation of God's Grace in the Heart of him 1 Cor. 3.6 that receives it for the Preacher Soweth Planteth and Watereth There was nothing more contemned at first than the Doctrin of the Gospel but like a Grain of Mustard-Seed it hath grown and filled the whole Earth Lastly we must carefully keep and preserve the Word of the Gospel in our Hearts that the Sacred Leaven may leaven the whole Lump and by its secret Vertue reform all the Thoughts Desires and Actions of Man XXVII Jesus Christ goes to Preach at Nazareth Matth. 13 54-58 Mark 6 1-6 Luke 4 16-30 The Son of God after he had finished these Parables went to Preach in the City of Nazareth where he had been conceived and brought up His Disciples were also with him According to his usual Custom he went into the Synagogue on the Sabboth Day where standing up to read they gave him the Book of the Prophet Isaias He opened it and found the Place where the Prophet speaking of the Messias Isai 61.1 says That he was consecrated and sent by the Spirit of God to preach the Gospel to the Poor to heal the Sick to publish the Day of Grace from the Lord and declare the Day of Judgment When he had read this Text he shut the Book and gave it to the Minister Then sitting down he explained this Prophecy and shews that it was accomplished in himself All that were in the Synagogue fixed their Eyes on him while he spake and wondred so much at the gracious Words that proceeded out of his Mouth that they demanded one of another Whence hath this Man this great Wisdom which he shews Is not this the Son of the Carpenter called Joseph the Son of Mary and are not his Brethren i. e. Cousins James and Joses and Simon and Judas and are not his Kindred with us Whence then hath this Man all these thing The Gospel observes That he was not only a Subject of Astonishment but also of Scandal Whereupon Jesus knowing their Thoughts saith unto them Ye will surely apply this Proverb to me Physitian Heal thy self as a Reproach to him that he would not do as great Miracles in his own Country as he
better till he came to a perfect sight Then the Son of God sent him to his own House forbidding him to tell any Man what had happened unto him X. S. Peter confesseth That Jesus Christ is the Son of God Matth. 16 13-20 Mark 8 27-30 Luke 9 18-20 Jesus went from thence with his Disciples and ascending up towards the Head of Jordan he went into the Towns adjoyning to Caesarea Philippi a City situate upon the same River on the South-Side of Galilee By the Way he asked them What Men said of him They answered him That some took him for John the Baptist others for Elias others for Jeremiah and lastly others for one of the old Prophets risen from the Dead But saith he to them whom say ye that I am Peter answered and said Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God Whereupon Jesus saith unto him Blessed art thou Simon Son of Jonas for Flesh and Blood hath not revealed this that thou hast said unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven And I also say unto thee That thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it And I will give unto thee the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven XI Jesus foretels his Death to his Disciples Matth. 16 20-28 Mark 8 30-38 Luke 9.21 22. Jesus after this Discourse forbids his Disciples to publish it that he was the Son of God and then begins to tell them what he must suffer as he was the Son of Man He declares unto them That he must go to Jerusalem and be there disowned by the Jewish Governours Chief Priests and Scribes suffer many Cruelties and Indignities from them be put to Death and raised again the Third Day Peter who by reason of the great Love he had for his Lord and Master could not endure to hear this Discourse took him aside and reproved him saying God forbid that such Things should befal thee Lord. But Jesus rebuking him for giving him such Council which though it testified much carnal Love and Affection to him did so plainly oppose the Sacred Purpose of God in redeeming Man said unto him before all his Disciples Depart from me Satan for thou art an Offence to me for thou savourest not the things of God All this was transacted privately between Jesus Christ and his Disciples but he called the People Luke 9 23-27 and began to preach before them all those Truths which Peter did not understand when he discouraged him from suffering Death for he asserted it publickly That if any Man will follow him he must bear his Cross all his Days That to lay down his Life for him and the Gospel is the only way to be saved and to seek salvation any other way is to destroy himself and that he gets nothing by the World that loses his own Soul That he shall hereafter come in his Glory and render to every Man according to his Works and then he will disown them before his Father who have been ashamed of him and his Word before Men And he adds That there are some among his present Hearers who shall not dye till they see him in his Kingdom and in the Greatness of his Glory XII Jesus Christ is transfigured on the Mountain The Promise Matt. 17 1-13 Mark 9 1-13 which Jesus made in the last Words he partly performed within Eight Days after for he took Peter and James and John privately and led them into a very high Mountain where he went to Prayers and while he was at Prayers his Face became as radiant and shining as the Sun Luke 9 28-36 and his Garments as bright as the Light appeared as white as Snow The Three Apostles in the mean while were asleep but when they awoke they saw their Master Transfigured i. e. clear another Man from what they had seen him before for they saw him in that Glory in which he had promised to discover himself to some of them and they beheld also with him Two Men full of Majesty who talked with him concerning that Death which he should suffer at Jerusalem They knew that these Two Men were Moses and Elias and when they were about going from Jesus Peter that he might detain them with them said unto his Master Lord it is good for us to be here and if thou pleasest let us make Three Tabernacles One for thee and One for Moses and One for Elias But as he was thus speaking scarce knowing what he said in his Transport as the Gospel observes a bright Cloud over-shadowed them and there came a Voice out of the Cloud which spake these Words This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear him This Cloud and Voice filled the Three Disciples with so great Fear that they fell on their Faces to the Earth But Jesus came to them and comforted them and raised them up Then they lifted up their Eyes and looking round about they saw no Man save Jesus only As they were coming down from the Mountain he commanded them to tell no Man what they had seen till the Son of Man be risen from the Dead They obeyed this Command but did not understand the Last Words and they disputed among themselves about the Meaning of this Expression Vntil the Son of Man be risen from the Dead The Disciples having seen Elias with him in the Mount took an occasion to ask him Why the Scribes and the Pharisees did assert That that Prophet was to come before the Messias Jesus answered them That Elias shall indeed come and shall be rejected and evil-intreated as well as the Son of Man yea he adds That he is already come and that the Jews have done what they list to him and so will they make the Son of Man suffer as they have done his Fore-runner This Answer plainly discovered to the Apostles That the last Elias of whom he had spoken was John the Baptist who had gone before the first coming of Jesus Christ in the Spirit and Power of Elias as Elias himself in Person should go before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ XIII Jesus heals a young Man Lunatick and Dumb. The next Day Jesus being come to the Place Matth. 17 14-21 Mark 9 14-29 Luke 9.37 -42. where the rest of the Apostles were he met a great multitude of Men and the Scribes questioning with them As for the People as soon as they saw the Son of God they ran to him and saluted him being full of Admiration and Joy Jesus then asked the Scribes What was the occasion and Subject of your Dispute but at the same Time came a certain Man to him having broke through the Press and kneeling down at his Feet prayed him to have Pity on his only Son whom he had brought unto him because
use but in this Life where we have wants and miseries to relieve and succour before an Action whose benefit is eternal which Mary was about who by hearing the Word of Jesus Christ begins to feed upon the contemplation of that God who is the nourishment of the Blessed Saints and Angels in Heaven But Jesus doth not content himself to teach us to hearken to the Word of God Luke 11.1 -13. by the example of Mary but also he directs us how to speak to God in Prayer for upon a certain day one of his Disciples seeing him at prayer after he had finished said unto him Lord teach us to pray as John also taught his Disciples Whereupon he taught them that excellent Prayer which we have set down in the Abridgment of his Sermon on the Mount and gave them those good rules for Prayer there mentioned XXVII He reproves the Pharisees and Scribes for their Sins Luke 11.27 -54. Matth. 23.4 -39. Mark 12.38 -40. Jesus on a certain day was invited by a Pharisee to Dinner and as soon as he was entred into his House set him down to Meat without washing his Hands first according to the Custom of the Pharisees His Host was much offended at his Carriage and murmured in himself at it till Jesus said unto him You Pharisees are very careful to keep the out-side of your Cups and Platters clean but your inward parts i. e. your heart is full of Rapine Wickedness and Vncleanness and at the same time he teaches them an excellent remedy to purify themselves from all their filth Give Alms and all things shall be clean unto you He objects many other Crimes to these proud Men who affected to be Honoured and Esteemed of all Men as the greatest Saints He discovers their Hypocrisy and severely censures their irregular conversation for he pronounces a Wo against them because they were very fearful of omitting small duties but were not afraid to commit great Sins like those Men who strain at a Gnat and swallow a Camel Because they were very exact in giving the Tenth of their Garden-herbs but neglected the more important Duties of the Law Justice Mercy Faith and the Love of God Because they love to have the uppermost places in all Assemblies and be saluted in the Markets Because under the pretence of their long Prayers they devoured and ruined Widows into whose Houses they insinuated themselves by that means Because they would Travel into all places to convert Infidels to the Jews Religion and afterward make them more worthy of Hell than themselves either by their wicked example teaching them to prophane the True Religion which they had brought them over to or else so scandalizing them by their sinful Lives that they chose to return to that Pagan Worship they had forsaken Because they undertake to Guide and Instruct others but are themselves so Ignorant and Blind as to teach Men that they are obliged to keep their words when they swear by the Gift bestowed upon the Temple or offered on the Altar but are not obliged when they swear by the Temple or Altar themselves He compares them therefore to those Sepulchres which have fine white out-sides but are within full of Dead-mens Bones and Rottenness The Lawyers thought that all these Reproofs equally concerned them wherefore one of them taking upon him to speak to Jesus said to him Master in thus speaking thou disgracest Vs also But he spared them no more than the former but pronounced also a Wo against them because they impose a Yoke upon others which they will not touch with the Tip of their Fingers and that they will neither enter into Heaven themselves not suffer those that would He tells them also by way of reproach that those very Magnificent Ornaments with which they adorned the Sepulchres of the Prophets as a Demonstration of their Abhorrence of the Fact of those Men who were their Murderers were contrary to their design evident Marks of their Approbation of their Crime since by Persecuting those who Preached the Truth to them they imitated their Malice so exactly that they shewed themselves the Children of those who slew the Prophets He concludes after this manner saying to them Fill ye up then the Measure of your Fathers Sin that you may have a share in their punishment And after adds this terrible Threatning Behold I will send you Prophets Wise-men and Scribes and some of them shall ye Kill and Crucify and others of them shall ye Scourge in your Synagogues and Persecute them in your Cities that all the Innocent Blood which hath been shed by your Fathers may fall upon you for I say unto you that God shall call this Nation to an account and will pour cut all this Wrath upon the Men of this Generation As he was thus speaking to them the Scribes and Pharisees began to urge him vehemently and to ensnare him by the various Objections and Questions they put to him but they could get nothing from him for which they could as they designed fix an Accusation upon him XXVIII Jesus gives several Instructions to his Disciples Luke 12.1 -53. In the mean time an Innumerable Multitude of People being gathered about him so that they trod one upon another Jesus admonished his Disciples to beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees which is Hypocrisy and not to fear the Persecutions of Men but to fear God alone and to repose a stedfast confidence in him Then did a certain Man of the Company say unto him Master speak to my Brother to divide the Inheritance fallen to Vs peaceably with me But Jesus desirous to teach Us that 't is every Mans Duty to keep within his own Calling answered him my Friend who made me a Judge or a Divider among you Then he subjoyns Take heed and beware of Covetousness and to insinuate this the more into the Hearts of his Hearers he propounded to them this Parable A certain rich Man being troubled for a place where to lay up the extraordinary plenty which his Land had produced resolved to pull down his Barns and Build bigger and when he had thus secured and layd up his Goods he said within himself that having a sufficient Provision for many Years he had nothing to do but take his ease and be merry But God said to this Man O thou Fool This Night shall thy Soul be required of thee and for whom then hast thou hoarded up these things Such is the condition saith he of him that layeth up Treasure for himself and is not Rich towards God For this reason it is that he teaches his Disciples not to be sollicitous or careful for the things of this Life but to seek the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof and God will give all other things to them That they should be so far from heaping up Riches that they ought to sell all that they have and give it to the Poor that they may have a Treasure in Heaven That
whom he taught according to his Custom healing at the same time all the Sick that were brought unto him Many believed on him and said John did no Miracles but all things that John spake of this Man we have found to be true XXXII Jesus advises Men to enter in at the strait Gate and foretels the Destructon of Jerusalem Jesus having remained some Time in that Place Luke 13 22-35 went on his Way to Jerusalem and all-a-long his Journey gave Instructions to the People where he passed Among others that came to him there was one that offered this Question Lord are there few that shall be saved Jesus from hence takes occasion to advise his Hearers To strive to enter in at the strait Gate for many I say unto you shall seek the way to enter in and shall not be able And to shew that it will be in vain for them to desire to enter into Heaven through the strait Gate who have walked all their Lives in the Broad Way He adds That when the Door shall be shut it will be in vain to say Lord open to us for the Master of the Family will say I know you not but if they shall answer We have eat and drank with thee and thou hast taught in our Streets he will answer them I know not who you are depart from me ye Workers of Iniquity Then shall the Jews weep and lament to see so many Heathens come from all Parts of the World to be possessed of the Glories of Heaven and themselves who are the Heirs of the Kingdom to be cast out and so to be the last who were once the first The same Day came some of the Pharisees unto him and said Depart from this Place for Herod hath a Grudge against thee and threatens to kill thee if thou stayest long in his Jurisdiction Jesus knowing the Time of his Death and that he should not dye till he pleased sends them to that Fox for so he calls Herod to shew that tho' he was a very cunning Prince yet all his Arts and Devices could not do him any harm and bids them tell him That he had some Time yet remaining to cast out Devils and heal Diseases and then he should consummate his Sacrifice by suffering Death at Jerusalem which was the place appointed as it were for the Slaughter of the Prophets Matth. 23 37-39 Whereupon he upbraids that unhappy City O Jerusalem Jerusalem which killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy Children together as an Hen gathers her Chickens under her Wings and ye would not wherefore he threatens her with Destruction and assures her That they shall not see him more till her Inhabitants shall say Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. XXXIII Jesus heals a Man sick of a Dropsy and beats down the Pride of the Pharisees Jesus then entred on the Sabboth Day Luke 14 1-14 into the House of one of the chief Pharisees to dine with him While he was here there came a Man sick of the Dropsy and stood before him and he asked the Scribes and Pharisees Whether it were lawful to heal a Man on the Sabboth Day But they not giving him an Answer he took the Man by the Hand and healed him and having sent him away made the same Apology for himself as he had done upon the like occasion Who is there of you who if his Ox or his Ass fall into a Pit will not immediately pull them out on the Sabboth Day and they could answer him no more to this Question than the former After this Jesus taking notice how they who were invited to this Feast chose the chief Places he endeavouring to beat down their proud Humor said unto them When any Man is invited to a Wedding he ought not to sit down in the uppermost Place lest he be forced with Disgrace to come lower to make room for some more honourable Person But on the contrary if he sits down in the lowest Place he that invited him will make him go higher which will gain him more honour among all the Guests for whosoever exalts himself shall be abased but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted To this Advice which he gave the Guests he adds another to the Persons inviting them and teaches them Not to invite to their Tables the Rich who will return their Treats again but the Poor and the Lame for God shall recompence them himself at the Resurrection of the Just because they have done it without any Design of Interest but merely being mov'd with Charity XXXIV He teaches the Guests That he came to invite them into his Kingdom Luke 14 15-24 One of the Guests who sat at Table with him hearing his last Words said unto him Blessed is he that eateth Bread in the Kingdom of God Then Jesus shews them by a Parable That he came to invite Men to this great Feast of Heaven and that notwithstanding the great Happiness there was in being at that Feast they that were invited would not come because they loved the temporal and perishing Riches of this World before the heavenly Riches which remain for ever This Parable is of a Man who having invited many to a great Supper sent his Servants to call them to it when all was ready But they all made Excuses One because he was to go see a Farm which he had lately purchased Another because he was to prove some Oxen which he had bought a Third because he was newly married and others for other Pretences So that the Servant having related these Things to his Lord he swore That none of those which were bidden shall taste of his Supper wherefore he invited in their stead the Poor and the Infirm which they met in the Streets and Lanes of the City When all these were come in there was still Room for more wherefore the King sent his Servant into the High-ways and Hedges ordering him to compel all that he met with to come in and fill his House So the Gentiles came to be called and invited to Heaven instead of the Jews some of which Gentiles God did as it were force to come in such are those Persons who would never think of their Salvation if God did not oblige them to it not by sanctifying them against their Will but by taking from them all their worldly Enjoyments which they loved most putting them under an happy Necessity of flying to him and thinking of nothing but Heaven XXXV Jesus teaches what we must do to be saved Jesus went on still in visiting the Places on this Side Jordan in respect of Judea Luke 14 25-33 where he had formerly preached and was always accompanied with a great multitude of People One Day as he went along he turned himself to those that followed him and said unto them Whosoever cometh after me and hateth not his Father and his Mother his Wife and Children
others in the middle-age of it and others shall enter at the end of the World There are some that begin to live well in their Infancy others in their Youth others in their Riper-age and some are not converted till just before their Death But so great is the Mercy and Goodness of God that they shall all go to Heaven and shall be rewarded for their Good Works which they have done since their Conversion with the Beatifick Vision of God himself But we ought well to consider upon these Words Many are called but few are chosen that we may not content our selves to be in the Church into which God hath called us but may be diligent 1 Pet. 2-10 as St. Peter teaches us To make our calling and election sure by Good Works and to fit our selves for the Kingdom promised to the Elect. XLIV Jesus raiseth Lazarus from the Dead As Jesus was thus instructing his Disciples on this side Jordan the two Sisters abovementioned John 11 1-45 Martha and Mary sent him word of the sickness of their Brother Lazarus by certain Messengers who spake to him in these words Lord He whom thou Lovest is sick for indeed he loved these Persons and therefore having heard this News he said This sickness is not unto Death but is only inflicted on him to gain Glory to God and that the Son of God may be Glorified thereby Nevertheless he tarryed two days still in the same place and then said to his Apostles Let us go into Judea for Bethany where the House of Lazarus and his two Sisters was was in Judea about two Miles distant from Jerusalem to which he must go by crossing the River Jordan The Apostles said unto him Master The Jews there were lately about to Stone thee and dost thou think of venturing among them again He answers them That he must discharge his Ministry while God gives him Time and Opportunity let what dangers will stand in the way And then he adds Our Friend Lazarus sleepeth but I will go to awake him His Disciples understanding his words literally said unto him Lord if he sleep he will grow well Then he told them plainly That Lazarus was Dead and that for the kindness he had for them he was glad that he was not present with him to prevent his Death because that which he intended to do for him would be of great use to increase and confirm their Faith Thomas one of the Twelve seeing his Master resolv'd to go into Judea said to his fellow Disciples Let us also go with him It is indeed dangerous but we ought rather to dy with him than forsake him or leave him so they accompanyed him They got not to Bethany till Lazarus had been Buryed Four Days and when they came to the House of Martha and Mary they found many Jews there which were come to comfort the two Sisters for the Death of their Brother Martha hearing that Jesus was coming went a little way out of the Town to meet him and said unto him Lord if thou hadst been here my Brother had not dyed But I know that even now God will grant thee whatsoever thou askest of him Jesus answered her Thy Brother shall rise again She replyed I know that he shall rise again at the last Day Jesus says again I am the Resurrection and the Life i. e. I am able to raise the Dead to Life at any time as well now as hereafter he that believeth in me as thy Brother did altho' he be dead shall if I please live again and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never dye if I please to preserve him Believest thou this She answered him Yea Lord I believe that thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God which should come into the World After this Discourse she went and called her Sister to tell her privately that the Master was come and asked after her Mary arose immediately and went to Jesus out of the Town to the place where Martha met him The Jews who were with her when she arose to go to the Son of God seeing her go out so hastily followed her thinking that she went to the Grave of her Brother to Weep there As soon as she came to Jesus she fell down at his Feet and said unto him Weeping Lord if thou hadst been here my Brother had not Dyed Her Tears and Sorrow accompanyed with the Lamentations of the Jews that came with her affected the Son of God so that he groaned in himself and was troubled i. e. he stirred up in his own heart a Voluntary Motion of Compassion and Tenderness which appeared outwardly by the same signs which discover the involuntary passions and affections of Men. Hereupon he demanded where they had Buryed him they said unto him Lord come and see He went along with them Weeping which made some of the Jews to say See how he loved him while others said Could not this Man who openeth the Eyes of the Blind have prevented Lazarus 's Death Jesus still shewing the same disturbance of mind came to the Grave which was a Pit with a Stone lay'd at the Mouth of it He commanded them to take away the Stone but Martha told him that the Dead Man by this time stank because he had been Buryed Four Days But he answered Did not I tell you that if ye would believe ye should see the Glory of God magnified in raising him from the Dead They then removed the Stone and Jesus lifting up his Eyes to Heaven said these words Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me always As for me I know that thou always hearest me and thy Power is present with me but this I say because of the People which is about me that they may believe when they see thy Power granted to me by my Prayer that thou hast sent me Having spoken these words he cryed with a loud Voice Lazarus come forth And immediately the Dead Man came forth having his Hands and his Feet bound with grave Cloaths and his Head wrapped about with a Napkin Jesus then bid them loose him and several of the Jews who came to see the two Sisters believed on him having been Eye-witnesses of this Miracle XLV The Jews hold a Council against Jesus John 11 46-54 As soon as Jesus had wrought this Miracle some who saw it went to tell the Pharisees of it who were his Mortal Enemies Whereupon they immediately called a Council with the High-Priests and said Why do we lose time and do nothing This Man doth many Miracles and if we let him thus alone all Men will believe him to be the Messias and the Romans fearing lest he should set up for a King and withdraw the People from Obedience to them will come and destroy our City and Nation Caiphas who was High Priest that Year said unto them Ye understand nothing nor consider that it is better to put one Man to Death to secure all the People than that
do as ye will so they went to the Sepulchre Sealed it up and set a Guard upon it XLIII The Resurrection of Jesus Matth. 28 1-4 Mark 16 1-4 Luke 24 1-2 John 20 1-10 On the day after the Sabboth the first day of the Week which we call the Lords day Mary Magdalene and the other Women who had prepared Spices on Friday in the Evening went early in the Morning to Embalm the Body of Jesus and came to the Sepulchre about Sun-rising But because they had seen the Mouth of the Sepulchre shut with a great Stone they were troubled and disputed in the way how they should remove the Stone But it was taken away before they came for an Angel whose Countenance shined like Lightening and his Raiment was as White as Snow came down from Heaven and rowling away the Stone sat upon it At the same time there was a great Earthquake which together with the presence of the Angel so affrighted the Soldiers who Guarded the Sepulchre that they became as Dead Men so p. 206. The Resurrection when the VVomen came to the Sepulchre they saw neither the Guards nor Stone which might hinder the Entrance but they were astonished mightily when being entred in they found not the Body of Jesus Then ran Mary Magdalene to find the Apostles and having found Peter and John she said unto them They have taken away the Lord out of the Sepulchre and we know not where they have lay'd him These two Disciples went immediately to the Sepulchre John came thither first and stooping down to look into the Sepulchre but not going in saw the Linnen-Cloaths lying on the Ground Peter came after him and entring in saw besides the Shroud the Napkin that was bound about his Head which was wrapped up in a place by it self Then John also going into the Sepulchre saw the same thing and they both thought that the Body of their Master had been taken away as Mary Magdelene told them for as yet they neither knew what the Scripture Taught nor remembred what Jesus had so often told them that he must rise from the Dead Then they returned to their own home and Peter as he went admired with himself at the things that had happened XLIV Jesus appeareth to Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene Mark 16 5-11 John 20 11-18 tho' she came with Peter and John to the Sepulchre yet went not away with them but stayed weeping and her love making her very uneasie she stooped down to look into the Sepulchre where she saw two Angels cloathed in White sitting in the place where the Body of Jesus lay the one at the Head and the other at the Feet The Angels said unto her Woman why weepest thou she answered Because they have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have lay'd him After she had said these words she turned her self and saw a Man who asked again Woman why weepest thou whom seekest thou She taking him for the Person who looked to the Garden where the Sepulchre was said unto him Sir If thou hast taken him away tell me where thou hast laid him and I will carry him away As she was about to leave him he said unto her Mary Upon this she turning her self immediately knew him to be Jesus and being transported with Joy she cryed out Rabboni i. e. My Master Jesus saith unto her Touch me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father But go to my Brethren so he calls his Apostles and tell them from me That I go to my Father and your Father my God and your God Going immediately to seek the Apostles whom she found in Affliction and Tears she told them that she had seen the Lord and related to them what he had commanded her to tell them but they believed her not XLV Jesus appeareth to certain Women The other Women who remained about the Sepulchre Matth. 28 5-10 Luke 24 3-11 could not be pacified but were mightily troubled because they could not find the Body of Jesus which was increased by their seeing of two Men who appear'd to them in shining Garments They were the two Angels which Mary Magdalene had seen in the Sepulchre As they were therefore much affrighted and looked down to the Earth the two Angels said unto them Why seek ye him that is alive among the Dead Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth who was Crucified Fear not he is risen as he said unto you Remember what he said unto you when ye were yet in Galilee That the Son of Man must be delivered into the Hands of Sinners Mrtth. 26.32 and be Crucified and be raised again the Third Day Come see the place where he lay and go quickly and tell his Disciples and Peter that he is risen from the Dead They added That he will go before them into Galilee Matth. 26.32 and there they shall see him according to his Promise These words brought the Promise of Jesus to their Remembrance and the news of his Resurrection much moderated the fear with which they were seized at the sight of these Angels Then they went immediately from the Sepulchre to go to his Apostles and tell them what they had seen but as they went they met Jesus in the Way who saluted them and they being transported with Admiration and Joy came near unto him held him by the Feet and Worshipped him Then he said unto them Be not afraid Go tell my Brethren that they go into Galilee there shall they see me They went and told all that had happened to the Apostles and all the other Disciples but all they said appeared to them as an idle Tale and they believed them not XLVI Jesus shews himself to Peter and two other Disciples While these Women were executing the Orders given them by the Son of God Matth. 28 11-15 to tell the Disciples of his Resurrection some of the Soldiers which Guarded the Sepulchre and had faln down as Dead at the Sight of the Angel who rouled away the Stone went to Jerusalem and related all that had passed to the Chief-Priests Upon this the Priests and Rulers assembled and having consulted together they gave a Large Sum of Money to the Soldiers That they should say that his Disciples came by Night and took away his Body The Soldiers took the Money and did as they were Ordered so that this Report flew abroad and was commonly told among the Jews for a long time after Mark 16 12-13 Luke 24 13-35 The same day two of his Disciples went to a Village named Emmaus which is distant from Jerusalem about seven Miles and an half or Sixty Furlongs and in the way they discoursed about that which had passed Three days ago at Jerusalem Jesus himself overtook them and went along with them but they knew him not He asked them What they were talking of and why they were sad One of them Named Cleophas said unto him Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem that thou
because they knew it was their Master And Jesus having taken the Bread gave it them and likewise the Fish XLIX Jesus commits the care of his Sheep to St. Peter When they had eaten Jesus said to Peter Simon John 21 15-23 Son of Jonas Lovest thou me more than these do He answered him Yea Lord thou knowest I love thee Jesus saith unto him Feed my Lambs He asked him again a Second time Simon Son of Jonas Lovest thou me Yea Lord answered Peter thou knowest that I Love thee Jesus says again Feed my Lambs Jesus again the Third time put the same Question to him Peter was troubled that his Master seem'd to doubt of his Love and answered him Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I Love thee Our Saviour having made him thus make some amends for his Sin in denying him Thrice by giving a Triple Testimony of his Love committed the Care of his Sheep to him i. e. the Souls of his People saying to him again Feed my Sheep He adds Verily Verily I say unto thee when thou wast Young thou girdedst thy self and went whither thou pleasest but when thou shalt be Old thou shalt stretch forth thy Hands and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldst not The Gospel saith that Jesus signified by these Words by what Death Peter should glorify God and they did indeed concur in the Martyrdom of this Apostle whom Tradition teacheth us to have been Crucified as his Master was Euseb Eccles Hist. lib. 2. c. 25. After this Jesus commanded Peter to follow him and Peter turning him seeth John the Beloved Disciple of Jesus following him and seeing him he saith unto Jesus Lord what shall become of this Man But Jesus checks his Curiosity by tclling him that he ought not to trouble himself with what shall befall others and orders him to mind nothing but to follow him And speaking of John he sayeth to him I will that he tarry till I come Or according to other Editions If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee These words seemed to intimate to the Apostles that John should not dye But this Evangelist who wrote these things himself observes that Jesus did not say that he should not dye and History indeed tells us That he is Dead But the sense of these Words of the Son of God perhaps signifies that that Disciple should continue as he was to his Death i. e. he should not dye a Violent Death as Peter should or that he should Live till the Destruction of Jerusalem for these words Vntil I come may signify according to the usual Language of Scripture Vntil I come to take him out of the World by Death Or till I come to punish and Chastize this People St. John did really live till after the Destruction of Jerusalem and dyed at last of his Natural Death L. Jesus Instructed the Apostles The Son of God shewed himself several times more to his Apostles during the Forty days Matth. 28 16-20 Mark 16 15-18 Luke 24 44-49 Acts 1.3 that he abode upon Earth after his Resurrection and he appeared so often saith St. Luke to give them ample Proofs that he was alive and to talk with them of the Kingdom of God And since he had determined to call Men by Preaching to the possession of that Kingdom he gave them necessary instructions to discharge their Functions well He explained to them all that was spoken of himself in the Law of Moses and in the Books of the Prophets and in the Psalms and opened their Understandings to understand the sense of Scripture He shews them that according as it is Written Christ must suffer Death and be raised the Third day and that Repentance and remission of Sins should be preached in all Nations beginning at Jerusalem He Communicates to them the Authority which he had received of his Father and saith to them All power is given to me in Heaven and Earth Go ye therefore into all the World and Preach the Gospel and Instruct all People Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you He adds That they that believe not shall be Damned and on the contrary They that believe their Word by a lively Faith and are Baptized shall be saved and likewise shall do Miracles Casting out Devils Speaking with Tongues Drinking Poison without getting harm and Healing the Sick by laying their Hands on them Lastly since the Apostles had need of Power and Strength to exercise the Ministry which was entrusted to them he assured them of his protection telling them that he would be with them always to the End of the World and he promised them to endue them with power from above by the Holy Spirit which he would send from Heaven LI. The last Appearance of Jesus Christ Matth. 28 16-18 It is probable that Jesus gave them the greatest part of these Instructions at the Famous Apearance p. 217. The Ascension of Jesus Christ which he made to them upon the Mountain of Galilee where he appointed to meet them Here he promised them before he dyed to shew himself to them And on the day of his Resurrection the Angels and He himself commanded the Holy Women to tell his Disciples that he would meet in Galilee They went thither they saw him as he had promised and they Worshipped him 1 Cor. 15.6 It is credible that all his Disciples met him there as the Apostles and that it is of the Appearance that St. Paul speaks who saith That Jesus appeared to more than Five Hundred Brethren at once The same Apostle tells us that he also appeared to James but doth not relate in what manner Luke 24.49 Acts â—1 4-8 Lastly He shewed himself the Last time to his Apostles at Jerusalem where he commanded them to abide till they should receive the Holy Spirit which he promised them in these words John Baptized with Water but ye shall be Baptized i. e. Washed and Sanctified by the Holy Ghost not many days hence They asked him Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom of Israel He answered them That it is not for them to know the Times and Seasons which God hath put in his own absolute Power But ye shall receive saith he to them the power of the Holy Spirit which shall come down upon you and ye shall be witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the Earth LII The Ascension of Jesus Christ These were the last Words according to S. Luke Mark 16.19 20. Luke 24 50-53 Acts 1 9-12 which Jesus spake upon the Earth if they were spoken immediately before he left his Apostles it was at Bethany whither he led them upon the Day of his Ascension or upon the Mount of Olives From which it appears he ascended as S. Luke relates He
lifted up his Hands to bless his Disciples and as he blessed them he was parted from them who saw him ascend up towards Heaven till a Cloud into which he entred took him out of their Sight They still looked after him with earnestness and as soon as they had lost the Sight of him Two Men cloathed in White presented themselves to them on a suddain and said unto them Ye Men of Galilee why stand ye looking up towards Heaven This Jesus who hath left you and is gone up into Heaven shall come again in the same manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Then the Apostles ador'd him who had left the Earth to be seated in Heaven at the Right Hand of God i. e. to receive in his Sacred Humanity the Rest and Glory which was the Reward of his Labour and Sufferings They departed full of Joy from the Mount of Olives and returned to Jerusalem where Ten Days after they received the Holy Ghost Then they went and preached every where according as their Master had commanded them and the Lord confirmed the Word which he had put in their Mouth by Miracles LIII The Glorious Life of Jesus Christ in Heaven John 20.30 31. This is a full account of all the Gospel teacheth us of the Life which Jesus Christ lived upon the Earth He did indeed many other Things and wrought a great number of Miracles which are not written these that are written being sufficient for our Salvation if by reading them we believe That Jesus is the Son of God that by Faith we may have Life in his Name This is the Life which he hath promised us and into which he is entred by his Ascension for he told his Apostles That he went to prepare a Place for them John 14.3 And S. Paul assures us That he is entred into Heaven for us as our Fore-runner Heb. 6.19 20. that we may follow him now in Hope which serveth us as an Anchor sure and stedfast in the various Disturbances and Troubles of this Mortal Life As to the Life which Jesus Christ now liveth in Heaven the Gospel tells us That he sits there Mark 16.19 at the Right Hand of God He siteth i. e. is at perfect Ease and Rest having no more Trouble or Sufferings in his Sacred Humanity to which he is united for our Salvation He sitteth at the Right Hand of God i. e. is made equal with the Father being God of like Nature with him and is raised up above all Creatures This Rest Acts 7.56 which Jesus Christ enjoys for himself hinders him not from acting for us and altho he sits at the Right Hand of God S. Stephen saw him there standing indeed since he came to the Earth not only to purchase the Glorification of that Body and Soul which he assumed in the Womb of the Virgin but also to obtain Salvation for all that believe on him If he hath nothing else to do with his Sacred Humanity yet it is his business to intercede for the Salvation of his Saints till they shall come to be Partakers of his Glory He there finishes the great Work of Man's Redemption which he began upon Earth in Heaven Eph. 1.22.4.15 'T is there as Head of the Church as the Apostle calls him he governs it by his Pastors which he hath appointed enlightens it by her Doctors sanctifies it by his Sacraments protects it by the Help of his Grace and quickens it by his Spirit 'T is there that he prays without ceasing for us and we use him as our Advocate to defend our Cause before his Father as our Mediator to offer our Prayers to him and obtain the Mercies and Graces we petition as High Priest and Sacrifice by offering always the same Blood which he poured out upon the Cross once for all for the Salvation of the whole World Hence it was that S. John saw him in Heaven in the Figure of a Lamb slain and laid upon the Altar which is before the Throne of God Rev. 5.6 7. Heb. 4.16 't is there that he sits upon a Throne of Grace and Mercy where we may go in a Time of Need to obtain Pardon of our Sins before he appears upon his Throne of Justice to judge the World 1 Joh. 2.1 Lastly 't is there that he calls us and invites us to consider upon him in his Glory which he hath merited both for himself and us by the Effusion of his Blood that by the Prospect of that Eternal Happiness which he hath prepared for us he may make us contemn all earthly Things and stir us up to follow him in the Way he is gone before us i. e. to imitate the Examples he hath given us in this Mortal Life of which we have related the History in this Book For this Reason it is that S. Paul exhorts us by these Words which include all the Benefit we ought to make of all that is said of the Life of Jesus Christ Heb. 10 19-31 We have freedom to enter with Boldness into the Heavenly Sanctuary by the Blood of Jesus Christ going after him in that new Way which he hath trodden out for us in his own Flesh And since he is in Heaven an High Priest set over the House of God let us draw near to him with a truly sincere Heart and full of Faith with a Soul purified from the Filth of an Evil Conscience and a Body preserving the Purity which it hath received from the pure Water of Baptism let us remain firm and stedfast in our Faith and in the Hope of that Glory which he hath promised to us for he is faithful who hath promised And to obtain it let us provoke one another to Love and to good Works and let us encourage our selves so much the more as we see the last Day draweth nigh for if we sin wilfully after we have received the Knowledge of Truth we must expect nothing but the terrible Judgments and the Flame of that Revenging and Rageing Fire which shall consume the Enemies of God He that despised Moses 's Law was condemned to Death without Mercy how much greater Punishment doth he deserve think ye who hath trodden under Foot the Son of God and hath counted the Blood of the Covenant by which we are sanctified an Vnholy and Prophane Thing i. e. who hath profaned by Sin the Blood of Jesus Christ by which he hath been purified in Baptism and who hath abused and affronted the Spirit of Grace for we know him that hath said Vengeance is reserved for me and I know how to repay it It is a terrible Thing to fall into the Hands of the Living God LIV. The Conclusion This Living God which S. Paul speaks of is the very same Person which we have seen in this History dying for the Salvation of Men upon the Cross He was judged but he shall judge us and that by the Rules which he hath given us and the Examples