Sheep of the House of Israel He instructs them Secondly As to the Doctrine he would have them Preach namely the Doctrine of Repentance And Lastly He arms them against all the Difficulties they might meet with in their Ministry and particularly fortifies them against the Fears of Poverty and Persecution 1 AND when he had called unto him his twelve disciples he gave them power against unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease As the Jewish Church arose from Twelve Patriarchs so did the Christian Church become planted by Twelve Apostles the Person commissionating them was Christ None are to undertake the Work and Calling of the Ministry but those whom Christ appoints and the Persons commissionated were Discipleâ— before they were Apostles To teach us that Christ will have such as Preach the Gospel to be Disciples before they are Ministers trained up in the Doctrine of the Gospel before they undertake a Publick Charge 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these The first Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother James the son of Zebedee and John his brother 3 Philip and Bartholomew Thomas and Matthew the Publican James the son of Alpheus and Lebbeus whose sirname was Thaddeus 4 Simon the Canaanite and Judas Iscariot who also betrayed him Observe here Of the Twelve Apostles Peter is named first and Judas last Peter is named first because probably elder than the rest or because for Order-sake he might Speak before the rest From whence may be inferr'd a Primacy but no Supremacy a Priority of Order but no Superiority of Degree As the Fore-man of a Grand-Inquest has a Precedency but no Preheminency Judas is named last with a Brand of Infamy set upon him that he was the Traditor the Person that Betrayed his Lord and Master Learn thence That tho' the Truth of Grace be absolutely necessary to a Minister's Salvation yet the want of it doth not disannul his Office nor hinder the Lawfulness of his Ministry Judas though a Traytor was yet a Lawful Minister 5 These twelve Jesus sent forth and commanded them saying Go not into the way of the Gentiles and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel This was only a Temporary Prohibition whilst Christ was here upon Earth the Jews being Christ's own People of whom he came and to whom he was promised the Gospel is first Preached to them but afterwards the Apostles had a Command to Teach all Nations and after Christ's Ascension Samaria received the Gospel by the Preaching of Philip. From the Character which Christ gives of the Jews calling them Lost Sheep we Learn 1. That the Condition of a People before brought home to Christ by the Ministry of the Gospel is a Lost Condition Sinners are as Lost Sheep wandring and going astray from God till the Ministry of the Word finds them 2. That the great Work and Office of the Ministers of the Gospel is to call home and to bring in lost Sheep unto Jesus Christ the Great Shepherd Go says Christ to the lost Sheep c. 7 And as ye go preach saying The kingdom of heaven is at hand Observe here 1. The Duty injoined the Apostles in order to the bringing home of Lost Souls to Christ and that is Preaching As ye go Preach Note thence That the plain and perswasive Preaching of the Gospel is the Special Means appointed by Christ for the Salvation of Lost Sinners Obs 2. The Doctrine they are injoined to Preach namely that The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand that is that the promised Messias was come and had set up his Kingdom in the World and expected their Obedience to his Laws Where note How that the Preaching of John of Christ and his Apostles was one and the same namely the Doctrine of Repentance Repent say they all for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand that is the Time of the Messiah's Appearing which has been so long expected is now come 8 Heal the sick cleanse the lepers raise the dead cast out devils freely ye have received freely give Here our Saviour impowers his Apostles to work Miracles for the Confirmation of their Doctrine but gives them a Charge to work them freely without making any private Advantage to themselves Where Obs 1. How Beneficial the Miracles were which Christ and his Apostles wrought to Mankind Moses's Miracles were as great Judgments as Wonders but these were Beneficent they delivered Men from Miseries from Bodily Diseases from the Power and Malice of Evil Spirits They healed the Sick and cast out Devils Obs 2. That Jesus Christ to shew himself a free Saviour and that whatever came from him was the Effect of Free-Grace gave his Apostles a Charge to dispence their Power in working Miracles freely without Money and without Price 9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor brass in your purses 10 Nor scrip for your journey neither two coats neither shoes nor yet staves for the workman is worthy of his meat This Command of Christ was Temporary and extended only to the Apostles first Journey which they were soon to dispatch Our Saviour encourages them to trust God first for Protection take no Staves with you that is no striking or smiting Staves for your own defence Preachers must be no Strikers Tho' a Walking-Staff they might take with them Itinerant-Preachers might be wearied with Travelling as well as with Speaking Next for Provision he would not have them over-solicitous for that neither saying The Workman is worthy of his Meat As it is a Minister's great Duty to trust GOD for his Maintenance so it is the People's Duty to take care for their Minister's comfortable Subsistence The Labourer is worthy of his Hire and the Work-man is worthy of his Meat 11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter inquire who in it is worthy and there abide till ye go thence 12 And when ye come into an house salute it 13 And if the house be worthy let your peace come upon it but if it be not worthy let your peace return to you 14 And whosoever shall not receive you nor hear your words when ye depart out of that house or city shake off the dust of your feet 15 Verily I say unto you It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment than for that city Our Saviour proceeds to direct his Disciples how to manage this their first Journey in Preaching the Gospel he injoins them 1. To observe the Rules of Decency in their going from one Place to another not like Beggars wandring from House to House but having entred a City or Village to make enquiry who stood best affected to the Gospel and there turn in 2. Our Saviour injoins them Civil and Religious Courtesie towards those whom they applied themselves unto When ye come into an House salute it
with the elders and had taken counsel they gave large money unto the soldiers 13 Saying say ye His disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept 14 And if this come to the governours ears we will perswade him and secure you 15 So they took the money and did as they were taught and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day Observe here 1. How the Priests and Elders endeavour by a notorious Lie to hinder the Belief of our Lord's Resurrection they suborn and bribe the Soldiers to say that his Corps were stoln out of the Grave Lies have been an old Refuge which the Enemies of Christ have all along had Recourse unto â—â—lying is an ancient Device of Satan But Observe 2. What an improbable and unlikely Lie this was which they put into the Soldiers Mouths to vouch Say his Disciples came and stole him away while we slept If the Soldiers were asleep how could they discover the Disciples stealing away the Body If awake why did they not prevent their stealing it Besides how improbable was it that Christ's few and fearful Disciples should attempt to open the Sepulchre guarded by Soldiers And as unlikely was it that the Soldiers should be all asleep together and so fast asleep too that the great Stone at the Mouth of the Sepulchre should be rolled away and not one of the Soldiers awaked with the Noise Yet Observe farther That this incredible Falshood finds a fast and firm rooting in the Belief of the Jews to this Day Note thence That it is a Righteous Thing with God to deliver up to those strong Delusions even to the believing of notorious Lies who will not yield their Assent to Divine Truths upon the clearest Evidence and most convincing Demonstration How strange is it that such a Falshood as this should find Belief amongst the Jews to this Day But where Truth is obstinately rejected a Lie tho' never so improbable is received 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them 17 And when they saw him they worshipped him but some doubted This Meeting of our Saviour and his Apostles upon a Mountain in Galilee was an appointed and general Meeting The Mountain is supposed to be that near Capernaum where he made that famous Sermon called the Sermon on the Mount and the Meeting is supposed to be appointed as a general Rendezvous for confirming the Faith of all his Disciples in the Certainty of his Resurrection Possibly our Lord appointed this Place in Galilee so far from Jerusalem that his Disciples might without Danger come thither to see their Saviour alive again after his Crucifixion This is judged to be that famous Appearance of which St. Paul speaks 1 Cor. 15.6 When he was seen of above Five Hundred Brethren at once And those that saw him worshipped him who before had doubted Learn hence That when Faith is once satisfied and sees Christ to be God it engages the Soul to worship him Divine Worship is due to Christ upon the Account of his Divine Nature No Creature can be the Object of Divine Worship therefore they that worship Christ by praying to him and yet deny him to be God are certainly Idolaters If Christ had had an Angelick Nature that had not made him capable of Divine Worship for Adoration is founded only in Divinity and what is but Humane or Angelical is not Adorable 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them saying All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth 19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the world Amen Observe here 1. A Power asserted 2. An Authority delegated 3. A Command injoined 4. A Promise subjoined Observe 1. A Power and Authority asserted by our Saviour as belonging to himself All Power is given to me both in Heaven and in Earth 1. In Heaven which comprehends a Power of sending the Holy Ghost a Power over the Angels and all the Host of Heaven and a Power to dispose of Heaven to all that shall believe in him 2. In Earth which comprehends a Power to gather a Church out of all Nations and Authority to rule govern and defend the same against all its Enemies Learn hence That all Power and Authority concerning the Church of God was given unto Christ and conferr'd upon him upon the Account of his Meritorious Death and Triumphant Resurrection All Power is given to me That is as Mediator but this Power was inherent in him as God from all Eternity Observe 2. This Power delegated by Christ to his Apostles Go ye therefore and teach and baptize all Nations instructing them to observe all things whatsoever I command you Here is a threefold Power delegated by Christ to his Apostles 1. To congregate and gather a Church a Christian Church out of all the Heathen Nations throughout the World Before he had confined them only to Israel now they must travel from Country to Country and proselyte the Heathen Nations which before had been taught of the Devil and were led away by his Oracles and Delusions Go and disciple all Nations without any Distinction of Country Sex or Age whatsoever and make the Gospel Church as large as you can Thence Note That the Apostles and first Planters of the Gospel had a Commission from Christ to go amongst the Pagan-Gentiles without Limitation and were not to take up their settled Residence in any one Nation but to travel from Country to Country instructing them in the saving Mysteries of the Gospel The second Branch of their Power was to baptize in the Name of the whole Trinity Baptizing in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Where Observe That all adult and grown Persons are to be first taught and instructed before they be baptized But it follows not from hence that the Children of such Parents may not be baptized before they are taught for the Apostles were to baptize all Nations of which Children are a chief if not the chiefest part Besides those that were proselyted to the Jewish Religion tho' before they were circumcised themselves they were instructed in the Law of God yet when they were circumcised themselves their Children were not denied Circumcision at Eight Days old In like manner have we no Reason to deny the Children of baptized Parents who are in Covenant themselves the Sign and Seal of the Covenant which is Baptism God having assured his People that he will be the God of them and of their Seed If this Priviledge be denied the Children of Christian Parents are in a worse Condition than the Children of the Jews and consequently Infants are in a worse Condition since Christ's coming than they were before and the Priviledges
And they had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas 17 Therefore when they were gathered together Pilate said unto them Whom will ye that I release unto you Barabbas or Jesus which is called Christ 18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him Now at the Feast that is at the Feast of the Passover which by way of Eminency is called the Feast the Governour used to release a Prisoner possibly by way of Memorial of their Deliverance out of Egypt accordingly Pilate makes a Motion to them that Christ may be the Prisoner set at Liberty in Honour of their Feast for he was sensible that what they did was out of Envy and Malice As Covetousness sold Christ so Envy deliver'd him Envy is a killing and murthering Passion Envy slayeth the silly one Job 5.2 That is it slays the silly Person who harbours this pestilent Lust in his Bosom and is like a Fire in his Bones continually preying upon him causing him to pine away and dye miserably because another lives happily To envy another Man's Prosperity is an Argument of the worst Simplicity Yea farther as Envy slayeth the silly one so it prompts and provokes the Sinner to seek the slaying of simple and innocent ones Envy wishes the envied Person out of the way yea out of the World and if need be will not only wish it but lend a lift towards it too Witness the Chief Priests here whose Envy was so conspicuous that Pilate himself takes notice of it and says He knew that for Envy they had delivered him 19 When he was set down on the judgment-seat his wife sent unto him saying Have thou nothing to do with that just man for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him There are several sorts or kinds of Dreams Natural Moral Diabolical and Divine The Question is what kind of Dream this was Not Natural all agree some think it was Diabolical and that Satan hoped thereby to prevent the Work of Man's Redemption by the Death of Christ But if so why had not Pilate the Dream rather than his Wife Probably this Dream was from God for even our very Dreams are order'd by God our sleeping as well as our waking times are in God's Hand Learn hence How wonderfully the Wisdom and Power of God is seen in this Woman's Testimony which she gave to the Innocency of our Saviour When all his Disciples were fled from him when none of his Friends durst speak a Word for him God raises up a Woman a Stranger a Pagan to give Evidence of his Innocency And it is Observable That at our Saviour's Trial not one Mouth was opened to plead or speak a Word for him in Defence of Innocency it self but only Pilate's and his Wife 's they both pronounce him Righteous tho' they were Gentiles and Pagans whilst his own Kindred and Countrymen the Jews thirst after his Righteous and Innocent Blood 20 But the chief priests and elders perswaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus 21 The governour answered and said unto them Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you They said Barabbas 22 Pilate said unto them What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ They all say unto him Let him be crucified 23 And the governour said Why what evil hath he done but they cried out the more saying Let him be crucified Observe here 1. How exceedingly unwilling and averse Pilate was to be the Instrument of our Saviour's Death one while he bids the Jews take him themselves and judge him according to their Law Another while he offers to save Christ in Honour of their Feast when by Custom he was to release a Prisoner and this Prisoner he desired might be Jesus When this would not satisfie he expostulates with them about our Saviour's Innocency what Evil has he done Nay St. Luke says Ch. 23. That Pilate came forth three times and professed that he found no Fault in him Yet tho' Pilate was satisfied the Jews would not be deny'd Thence Learn That wicked Men and Hypocrites within the visible Church may be guilty of such Tremendous Acts of Wickedness as the Conscience of Infidels and Pagans without the Church may boggle at and protest against Pilate a Pagan absolves Christ whilst hypocritical Jews which had heard his Doctrine and seen his Miracles do condemn him But Obs 2. Who influenced the main Body of the Jews to desire Barabbas and to destroy Jesus It was the chief Priests and Elders they perswaded the Multitude Wo to the People when their Guides and Leaders are corrupt for then they shall be tempted by wicked Counsel And wo unto them much more if they follow their wicked and pernicious Counsels Thus did the Jews follow their Guides the chief Priests till they had preserv'd Barabbas and destroy'd Jesus 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing but that rather a tumult was made he took water and washed his hands before the multitude saying I am innocent of the blood of this just person see ye to it Two Things are here Observable in Pilate's washing of his Hands 1. By this Action he pronounces our Saviour's Innocency and was willing thereby to testifie his own that he did not consent to our Saviour's Death washing the Hands being an usual Ceremony in Protestation of a Person 's Innocency But 2. It was great Folly and Fondness in Pilate to think that washing of his Hands did or could free him from the Guilt of innocent Blood Oh Pilate thou hadst need rub hard if thou meanest to scoure from thy Soul the Guilt of that Crimson Sin which thou hast committed thy Guilt cleaves so close unto thee that nothing can expiate it but the Blood which thou hast spilt neither was it any Excuse of Pilate's Sin that what he did was to please the People and to gratifie their Importunity It is a fond Apology for Sins when Persons pretend that they were not committed with their own Consent but at others Instigation and Importunity 25 Then answered all the people and said His blood be on us and on our children That is Let the Guilt and Punishment of this Blood rest upon us and our Posterity A most horrid and impious Imprecation the dreadful Effects of it began to come upon them Forty Years after in the Destruction of Jerusalem and has rested and remained upon their Posterity to this Day near Seventeen Hundred Years the Jews being Vagabonds over the Earth abhorred by all Nations wheresoever they come This ought to be a Terror and 〈◊〉 Warning to all Persons that they avoid all cursed Imprecations and wicked Wishes upon themselves or others Wo to such as wish Damnation to themselves Pox and Plague upon others how if God says Amen and ratifie in Heaven thy cursed Imprecations made on Earth as he did this of the wicked Jews His Blood be on us and on our Children Yet what they with a wicked Mind
that is on the House-top not go down into the House neither enter therein to take any thing out of his House 16 And let him that is in the Field not turn back again for to take up his Gâ—rmâ—nt 17 But wo to them which are with Child and to them that give Suck in those days 18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the Winter The meaning is As soon as ye shall see the Roman Army appear before the City of Jerusalem let every one that values his own Safety fly as far and as fast as he can as Lot fled from the Flames of Sodom and be glad if by flight he can save his Life though he loose Goods and Cloaths and all things beside Whence Learn That when Almighty God is pouring forth his Fury upon a sinful People it is both Lawful and a Necessary Duty by Fliâ—ht to endeavour to shelter and secure our selves from the approaching Calamity and Desolation when ye see Jerusalem câ—â—mpassed with Aâ—mies flee to the Mountains 2. That in Case of fliâ—ht before an Enraged Enemy and Bloody Army if we loose all that we have and our Lives be given us for a Prey we fâ—re well and the Lord deals very Graciously and Mâ—â—cifully with us Next our Saviour declares the doleful Distress of those that could not flee from the Roman Army encompassing Jerusalem as Women great with Child and others gâ—ving suck who by that means are like to loose their Lives and adds farther that it would encrease the Calamity if their flight should happen to be in the Winter or as St. Matthew adds on the Sabbath day Matth. 24.20 Pray ye that your flight be not in the Winter nor on the Sabbath-day Flight in the Winter is sad because we can then fly neither fast nor far and on the Sabbath-day it is very sorrowful that being the day of our Spiritual Labour and of our Bodily Rest Learn thence That it is a great Addition to the trouble and disquiet of a good Man's Spirit when the day of his Spiritual Rest is Interrupted and instead of Enjoying Communion with God in his House he is driven from House and Home 19 For in those days shall be Affliction such as was not from the Beginning of the Creation which God Created unto this time neither shall be 20 And except that the Lord had shortned those Days no flesh should be Saved but for the Elects sake whom he hath Chosen he hath shortned those Days The dreadful Calamities which were coming upon the Jews in general and Jerusalem in particular are here fore-told by our blessed Saviour partly from the Roman-Army without and partly from the Seditions and Factions of the Zealots within who committed such outrages and Slaughters that there were no less than an Hundred Thousand Jews slain and Ninety Seven Thousand taken Prisoners They that Bought our Saviour for Thirty Pence were now themselves Sold Thirty for a Penny Now did the Temple it self become a Sacrifice a whole Burnt-Offering and was Consumed to ashes Yet Observe Christ promises that those days of Vengeance should be shortned for the Elects sake God had a Remnant which he designed shou d survive that Destruction to be an Holy Seed and accordingly the Providence of God so ordered it that the City was taken in six Months and the whole Country depopulated in Eighteen From whence Observe How the Lord intermixes some Mercy with the extreamest Misery that doth bâ—fal a People for their Sin on this side Hell No Sinner can say in this Life that they feel the stroaks of Justice to the utmost or that they have Judgment without Mercy 21 And then if any Man shall say unto you Lo here is Christ or lo he is there Believe him not 22 For false Christs and false Prophets shall rise and shall shew Signs and Wonders to Seduce if it were possible the very Elect. 23 But take ye heed behold I have fore-told you all things The Jews had all along cherished in themselves a vain expectation that the Promised Messias should be a Temporal Deliverer and set them at Liberty from the Power and Slavery of the Romans and accordingly our Saviour declares to his Disciples here that immediately before Jerusalem's Destruction several Persons taking the Advantage of this Expectation would make themselves Heads of Parties and pretend that they were the true Messiah who should save and deliver them from their Enemies if they would follow them hereupon our Saviour cautions his Disciples against such false Christ's and false Prophets and bids them not believe them though they did never so many great Signs and Wonders and promised them never such glorious Deliverances From hence Note 1. That the Churches great Danger is from Seducers that come in Christ's Name and pretend to Work Signs and Wonders by his Authority Note 2. That such is the power of Seduction and Delusion That many in all Ages of the Church have been carried away with Seducers and False Teachers 3. That the Elect themselves if lest to themselves might be Seduced but being guarded by Divine Power against Seduction and Delusision they shall be preserved from that fatal Mischief They shall seduce if p ssible even the Elect. 24 But in those days after that Tribulation the Sun shâ—ll be darkned and the Moon shall not give her Light 25 And the Stars of Heaven shall fall and the Powers that are in Heaven shall be shaken 26 And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds with great Power and Glory 27 And then shall he send his Angels and shall gather together his Elect from the Four Winds from the utmost part of the Earth to the uttermost part of Heaven Our Saviour goes on in Figurative Expressions to set forth the Calamities that should befal the Jewish Nation immediately after Jerusalem's Destruction The Sun shall be Darkened that is all their Glory and Excellency shall be Eclipsed all their Wealth and Prosperity shall be laid waste their whole Government Civil and Ecclesiastical destroyed and such Marks of Misery found upon them as never were seen upon a People Those that apply this to the general Judgment understand the words Literally that Sun and Moon will then have their Influences suspended that the Holy Angels will be sent forth to gather the Elect from all quarters of the World with the sound of a Trumpet says St. Matthew Probably as there was an audible sound of a Trumpet at the giving of the Law so there shall be the like found of a Trumpet when Christ shall Summon the World to Judgment for Transgressing of that Law A joyful Sound will this be to the Friends of Christ a doleful dreadful Sound in the Ears of his Enemies 28 Now Learn a Parable of the Fig-tree when her Branch is yet tender and putteth forth Leaves ye know that Summer is near 29 So ye in like manner when ye shall see these things come to pass know that it is nigh
Foundation of Ruine in the most flourishing Cities and Kingdoms Jerusalem the Glory of the World is here by sin threatned to be made a Desolation 2. That the Threatnings of God are to be feared and shall be Fulfilled whatever appearing Improbabilities there may be to the contrary 'T is neither the Temples Strength nor Beauty that can oppose or withstand God's Power 7 And they asked him saying Master But when shall these things be and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass A double Question is here propounded to our Saviour namely when the Destruction of Jerusalem should be â—nd what would be the signs of it From whence Learn What an itching Curiosity there is in the best of Men to know Futurities and to understand things that shall come to pass hereafter and when that hereafter is come to pass oh how happy were it if we were as forward to obey the Declarations of God's Revealed Will as we are to pry into the hidden Counsels of his secret Will Tell us say the Disciples when shall these things be 8 And he said take heed that ye be not deceived for many shall come in my name saying I am Christ and the time draweth near go ye not therefore after them 9 But when ye shall hear of Wars and Commotions be not troubled for these things must first come to pass but the end is not by and by 10 Then said he unto them Nation shall rise against Nation and Kingdom against Kingdom 11 And great Earthquakes shall be in divers places and famines and pestilences and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from Heaven Observe here Christ does not gratify his Disciples Curiosity but acquaints them with their present Duty namely to watch against Deceivers and Seducers who should have the Impudence to affirm themselves to be Christ saying I am Christ Some Christ personal or the Messias others Christ Doctrinal affirming their erroneous Opinions to be Christ's Mind and Doctrine Take heed that ye be not deceived for many shall come in my Name saying I am Christ Observe farther the signs which our Saviour gives of Jerusalem's approaching Destruction namely the many Broyls and Commotions the Civil Discords and Dissentions that should be found amongst the Jews immediately before You shall hear of Wars and Commotions and see fearful Sights and great Signs from Heaven Josephus declares that there appeared in the Air Chariots and Horsemen Skirmishing and that a Blazing Star in fashion of a Sword hung over the City for a year together Hence Learn That War Pestilence and Famine are Judgments and Calamities inflicted by God upon a sinful People for their Contempt of Christ and Gospel-Grace Ye shall hear of War Famine and Pestilence 12 But before all these things they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you delivering you up to the Synagogues and into prisons being brought before Kings and Rulers for my names sake 13 And it shall turn to you for a Testimony 14 Settle it therefore in your Hearts not to meditate before what ye shall answer 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your Adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist 16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents and brethren and kinsfolks and friends and some of you shall they cause to be put to death 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish 19 In your patience possess ye your Souls Our Saviour here goes on in giving farther Signs of Jerusalem's Destruction he declares 1. The sharp Persecution that should fall upon the Apostles themselves They shall lay their hands on you and persecute you Learn thence That the keenest and sharpest edge of Persecution is usually turned upon the Ambassadors of Christ and falls heaviest on the Ministers of God 2. He acquaints them that for Preaching his Holy Doctrine they should be brought before Kings and Rulers but advises them not to be anxiously thoughtful or exceedingly sollicitous what they should say for it should be suggested to them by the Holy Ghost what they should say in that hour Learn thence That tho' the Truth of Christ may be opposed yet the Defenders of it shall never be ashamed for rather then they shall want a Tongue to plead for it God himself will prompt them by his Holy Spirit and suggest such Arguments to them as all their Enemies shall not be able to gainsay I will give you a mouth and wisdom Observe 3. How he describes the bitter Enmity of the World against the Preachers of his Gospel to be such as would overcome and extinguish even the Natural Affection of nearest Relations Ye shall be betrayed both by Parents and Brethren Grace teaches us to lay down our Lives for the Brethren but Corruption in General and Enmity to the Gospel in Particular will put Brother upon taking away the Life of Brother and cause Parents to hate and persecute their own Bowels Observe Lastly Our Saviour's Admonition In your patience possess your Souls There are three Degrees of Christian Patience the first consists in a silent Submission to God's Will the Second in a thankful Acceptation of God's Fatherly Rod the third in serious chearfulness under sorrowful Dispensations Rejoycing in Tribulation and counting it all joy when we fall into divers Temptations by this Patience we possess our Souls as Faith gives us the Possession of Christ so Patience gives us the possession of our selves an impatient Man is not in his own hand for what Title soever we have to our own Souls we have no possession of them without Patience In your patience possess your Souls 20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with Armies then know that the Desolation thereof is nigh 21 Then let them which are in Judea flee to the Mountains and let them which are in the midst of it depart out and let not them that are in the Countries enter thereinto 22 For these be the days of Vengeance that all things which are written may be fulfilled 23 But wo unto them which are with Child and to them that give Suck in those days for there shall be great distress in the Land and wrath upon this People 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the Sword and shall be led away Captive into all Nations and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled 25 And there shall be Signs in the Sun and in the Moon and in the Stars and upon the Earth distress of Nations with perplexity the Sea and the Waves roaring 26 Mens hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the Earth for the powers of Heaven shall be shaken 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory 28 And when these things come to pass then look up and lift