for the Hardness of their Hearts That is he did not punish it not allowing it as good but winking at it as a lesser Evil because the Jews were so barbarously cruel to their Wives as to turn them away upon every Disgust Now our Saviour in his Reply referrs them again to the Primitive Institution of Marriage bidding them compare the Precept and their Practise together for in the Beginning it was not so Learn That according to the Word and Will of God nothing can violate the Bonds of Marriage and justifie a Divorce between Man and Wife but the defiling of the Marriage-Bed by Adultery and Uncleanness This is the only Case in which Man and Wife may lawfully part Whosoever shall put away his Wife except for Fornication committeth Adultery 10 His disciples say unto him If the case of the man be so with his wife it is not good to marry That is if a Man be so strictly tied by Marriage it is best for him not to marry A very rash Saying of the Disciples discovering both their great Carnality and also the Tyranny of a sinful Practice grown up into Custom Learn 1. That the best of Men have their Weaknesses and Infirmities and the Flesh takes its Turn to speak as well as the Spirit in them All that the Saints say is not Gospel Learn 2. How impatient Nature is of Restraint and how desirous of sinful Liberty and to be freed from the Ties and Bonds which the Holy and Wise Laws of God put upon it 11 But he said unto them All men cannot receive this saying save they to whom it is given 12 For there are some eunuchs which were so born from their mother's womb and there are some eunuchs which were made eunuchs of men and there be eunuchs which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heavens sake He that is able to receive it let him receive it As if our Lord had said You my Disciples do not consider what you say All Men without sinning against God cannot abstain from Marriage But those only to whom God has given the Gift of Continency and Grace of Chastity Some indeed by Nature or natural Impotency are unfit for Marriage Others wickedly are made unfit by Castration others by Religious Mortification bring under their Bodies That being freed from the Incumbrances that attend a Marriage State they may give up themselves the better to the Exercises of a Holy Life Learn 1. That Almighty God has given to divers Persons different Tempers and Constitutions Some can subdue their impure Desires and Affections without the Remedy of Marriage others cannot 2. That Continency or an Ability to live chastely without the use of Marriage is the special Gift of God not common to all but bestowed only upon some A Gift it is worthy of our fervent Prayers worthy of our best Endeavours 3. That a Vow of Chastity is not in our Power to quench a natural Affection requires a Supernatural Gift All have not received it but he that is able to receive it let him receive it 13 Then were brought unto him little children that he should put his hands on them and pray and the disciples rebuked them 14 But Jesus said Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me for of such is the kingdom of heaven 15 And he laid his hands on them and departed thence Observe here A solemn Action performed Children are brought to Christ to be blest by him Where Note 1. The Persons brought Children young Children sucking Children as the Word imports St. Luke 18.15 They brought them in their Arms not led them by the Hands 2. The Person they are brought unto Jesus Christ but for what End Not to Baptize them but to Bless them The Parents looking upon Christ as a Prophet a great Prophet the great Prophet do bring their Infants to him that they may receive the Benefit of his Blessing and Prayers Whence Learn 1. That Infants are Subjects capable of Benefit by Jesus Christ 2. That it is the best Office that Parents can perform unto their Children to bring them unto Christ that they may be made Partakers of that Benefit 3. If Infants be capable of Benefit by Christ if capable of his Blessing on Earth and Presence in Heaven if they be Subjects of his Kingdom of Grace and Heirs of his Kingdom of Glory then they may be baptized For they that are in Covenant have a Right to the Seal of the Covenant If Christ denies not Infants the Kingdom of Heaven which is the greater what Reason have his Ministers to deny them Baptism which is the less 16 And behold one came and said unto him Good master what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life Observe here A Person addressing himself to Christ and propounding an important question to him namely What he should do to gain Eternal Life Where Note 1. He believes the Certainty of a future State 2. He professes his Desire of an Eternal Happiness in that State And 3. He declares his Readiness to do some good thing that he may obtain that Happiness Learn That the Light of Nature or natural Religion directs and teaches Men that good Works are necessary to Salvation or that some good thing must be done by Men that at Death expect Eternal Life What good thing shall I do that I may have Eternal Life It is not talking well and professing well but doing well and living well that entitles us to Eternal Life 17 And he said unto him Why callest thou me good there is none good but one that is God but if thou wilt enter into life keep the commandments The Person thus addressing himself unto Christ was either a Pharisee or a Disciple of the Pharisees who did not own Christ to be God or to come from God but taught that Eternal Life was attainable by fulfilling of the Law in that imperfect Sense which the Pharisees gave of it And accordingly 1. Christ reproves him for calling him Good Why callest thou me Good When thou wilt neither own me to be God nor to come from God For there is none Good that is Essentially and Originally Good but God only Nor any derivatively Good but he that receiveth his Goodness from God also Obs 2. That our Saviour might convince him of the Error of the Pharisees who believed that they might without the Knowledge of him the true Messias enter into Life by keeping the Law of God according to that lax and loose Interpretation which they the Pharisees had given of it he bids him Keep the Commandments Where Note Christ calls him off from outward Ceremonies which the Pharisees abounded in to the Practise of Moral Duties yet withal lets him understand that if he expected Salvation by the Moral Law he must keep it perfectly and exactly without the least Deficiency which is an Impossibility to Man in his laps'd Estate Learn 1. That such as seek Justification and Salvation by the
them Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdom of God 15 Verily I say unto you Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child he shall not enter therein 16 And he took them up in his Arms put his hands upon them and blessed them Obs here a solemn Action performed Children are brought to Christ to be blest by him Where Note 1. The Persons Brought children young children sucking Children as the Word imports St. Luke 18.15 They brought them in their Arms not led them by the Hands 2. The Person they are brought unto Jesus Christ But for what End not to Baptize them but to bless them The Parents looking upon Christ as a Prophet a great Prophet the great Prophet do bring their Infants to him that they might receive the Benefit of his Blessing and Prayers Whence Learn 1. That Infants are capable of Benefit by Jesus Christ 2. That it is the best Office that Parents can perform unto their Children to bring them unto Christ that they may be made Partakers of that Benefit 3. If Infants be capable of Benefit by Christ if capable of his Blessing on Earth and Presence in Heaven If they be Subjects of his Kingdom of Grace and Heirs of his Kingdom of Glory then may they be Baptized For they that are in Covenant have a Right to the Seal of the Covenant If Christ denies not Infants the Kingdom of Heaven which is the Greater what Reason have Ministers to deny them the Benefit of Baptism which is the Less 17 And when he was gone forth into the way there came one running and kneeled to him and asked him Good master what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life Obs Here 1. A Person addressing himself to Christ with an important Question in his Mouth This Person was a young Man a rich Man and a Ruler a young Man in the Prime of his Age a rich Man in the Fulness of his Wealth and a Ruler in the Prime of his Authority and Power From whence Learn That for young Men rich Men especially Noble Men to enquire the way to Salvation is very commendable but very rare Observe 2. As the Person addressing so the manner of the Address he came running and kneeled to Christ Where Observe his Voluntariness he came of himself not drawn by others Importunity nor drawn by his own personal Afflictions And his Readiness he came Running This shewed his Zeal and Forwardness to meet with Christ and be resolved by him And Lastly His Humility he Kneeled to him as an eminent Prophet and Teacher not knowing him to be the Son of God Obs 3. The Address it self What shall I do to inherit Eternal Life Where Note 1. He believes the Certainty of a future State 2. He professes his Desire of an Eternal Happiness in that State 3. He declares his Readiness to do some good thing in order to the obtaining of that Happiness Hence Learn That the Light of Nature or Natural Religion teaches Men that good Works are necessary to Salvation or that some good thing must be done by them who at Death expect Eternal Life It is not talking well and professing well but doing well that entitles us to Heaven and Eternal Life 18 And Jesus said unto him Why callest thou me good there is none good but one that is God As if Christ had said Why callest thou me good when thou dost not believe or own me to be God for there is none good that is essentially and originally good absolutely and immutably good but God only nor any derivatively good but he that receiveth his Goodness from God also There is no mere Man that is absolutely and perfectly good of himself but by Participation and Derivation from God only See the Note on St. Matth. 19.17 19 Thou knowest the commandments Do not commit adultery Do not kill Do not steal Do not bear false witness Defraud not Honour thy father and mother Observe here That the Duties which our Saviour instances in are the Duties of the Second Table which Hypocrites are most failing in But nothing is a better Evidence of our unfeigned Love to God than the sincere Performance of our Duty to our Neighbours Love to Man is a Fruit and Testimony of our Love to God for he that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen 1 John 4.20 Learn hence That such as are defective in the Duties of the Second Table Charity and Justice do make but a counterfeit Shew of Religion though they pretend to the highest Measures and Degrees of Love to God 20 And he answered and said unto him Master all these have I observed from my youth This Assertion of the young Man might be very true according to the Pharisees Sense and Interpretation of the Law which condemned only the gross outward Act not the inward Lust and Motion of the Heart An out-side Obedience to the Law this young Man had performed this made him think well of himself and conclude the Goodness of his own Condition Learn hence How prone Men are to think the best of themselves and to have too high an Opinion of their own Goodness and Righteousness before God All these things have I kept from my Youth It is a natural Corruption in Men to think too well of themselves and of their own Goodness and Righteousness before God but it is very dangerous and fatal so to do 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him and said unto him One thing thou lackest go thy way sell whatsoever thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come take up the cross and follow me 22 And he was sad at that saying and went away grieved for he had great possessions Observe here 1. Christ's Compassion towards this young Man He loved him with a Love of Pity and Compassion with a Love of Courtesy and Respect There may be some very amiable and lovely Qualities in natural and unregenerate Men and Goodness in what Kind or Degree soever it is doth attract and draw forth Christ's Love towards a Person If Christ did love Civility what Respect has he for sincere Sanctity Obs 2. Our Lord's Admonition One thing thou lackest which was true Self-denial in renouncing the Sin of Covetousness and the inordinate Love of worldly Wealth We ought upon God's Call to maintain such a readiness of Mind as to be willing to part with all for God's sake which is dear unto us in this World Obs 3. Our Lord's Injunction Sell what thou hast and give to the Poor This was not a common but a special Precept belonging particularly to this young Man it was a Commandment of Tryal given to him like that given to Abraham Gen. 22. to convince him of his corrupt Confidence in his Riches Yet is it thus far of general use to us all to teach us so
seem to thank God that he was not so bad as the Publican when indeed he was glad that the Publican was not so good as himself Observe 3. The Publicans Behaviour in an humble sight and sense of his own sinfulness and unworthiness He stood afar off probably in the Court of the Gentiles where all sorts of Sinners might come acknowledging thereby that he was unworthy to come near the Holy Majesty of God not presuming to lift up his eyes to Heaven That place of perfect Holiness and Purity but like a true self-condemned Penitent smote upon his Breast and in bitter Remorse of Soul said God be merciful to me a sinner Hence Learn That a truly humble temper of mind well becomes us in all our Approaches and Addresses to God and is more acceptable to him than all pompous Performances whatsoever For Observe Lastly The Publican being thus condemned of himself departs Justified by God He went down to his house justified rather than the Pharisee the Pharisee justified himself the Publican was justified by God Thence Learn That a Penitent Sinner who is indeed poor in Spirit is far more esteemed of God than he that makes long Prayers fasts often Tythes all his Substance and prides himself in all this Without Humility all is vain Glory and Hypocrisy and the Seemingly most Sanctified Person that has it not is like a painted Sepulchre Beautiful without but full of rottenness within 15 And they brought unto him Infants that he would touch them but when his Disciples saw it they rebuked them 16 But Jesus called them unto him and said Suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of God 17 Verily I say unto you whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little Child shall in no wise enter therein Observe here 1. A solemn Action performed Children Infants sucking Children as the word signifies are brought to Christ that he might bless them the Parents looking up-Christ as a Prophet as a great and extraordinary Prophet perswaded themselves that by his Prayers and laying his Hands on their Children they should be preserved from Bodily Diseases and from Satan's Power and that he would confer upon them all needful Blessings Learn 1. That Infants are capable of Benefit by Jesus Chrst 2. That it is the best Office that Parents can perform unto their Children to bring them unto Christ that they may be made partakers of that Benefit 3. That if Infants are capable of Benefit by Christ if capable of his Blessing on Earth and Presence in Heaven if they be Subjects of his Kingdom of Grace and Heirs of his Kingdom of Glory then may they be Baptized for they that are within the Covenant Acts 2.39 have a Right to the Priviledges of the Covenant and to Baptism the Seal of the Covenant And if Christ denies not Infants the Kingdom of Heaven which is the greater What Reason have his Ministers to deny them the Benefit of Baptism which is the less Learn 4. That Christ will have all his Disciples and Followers to resemble little Children in such Properties wherein they may be patterns to them viz. in Humility and Innocency in freedom from Malice and Revenge in Docibility and Teachableness in Cleaving to and Depending upon their Parents and in Contentedness with their Condition Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little Child shall in no wise enter therein 18. And a certain Ruler asked him saying Good Master What shall I do to inherit Eternal Life We have here a considerable Person a Ruler coming to Christ with an important question in his Mouth What must I do to inherit eternal Life Where Note 1. He believes the certainty of future State 2. He professes a desire of an Eternal Happiness in that State 3. He declares his readiness and willingness to do some good thing in order to the obtaining of that Happiness Hence Learn 1. That the Light of Nature or Natural Religion teaches Men that good Works are necessary to Salvation or that some good thing must be done by them who at Death expect Eternal Life it is not Talking well and Professing well but Living well that Entitles us to Heaven and Eternal Life 19 And Jesus said unto him Why callest thou me Good None is good save one that is God Our Saviour here reproves this Person for calling him Good when he did not own to be God saying There is none good that is Essentially and Originally Good absolutely and immutably Good but God only nor any derivatively Good but he that receives his Goodness from God also 20 Thou knowest the Commandments Do not commit Adultery Do not Kill Do not Steal Do not bear false Witness Honour thy Father and thy Mother Note here that the Duties Directed to by our Saviour are the Duties of the Second Table nothing being a better Evidence of our unfeigned Love to God than a sincere Performance of our Duty to our Neighbour Love to Man is a Fruit and Testimony of our Love to God Learn thence That such as are defective in the Duties of the Second Table Charity and Justice towards Man do make but a Counterfeit shew of Religion tho' they pretend to the highest Degrees of Love to God 21 And he said all these things have I kept from my Youth up This Assertion might be very true according to the Pharisees sense and interpretation of the Law which Condemned only the gross outward Act not the inward Lusts and Motions of the Heart An external Obedience to the Letter of the Law this Man might possibly have performed this made him think well of himself and conclude the goodness of his own Condition Learn hence How prone Men are to think the best of themselves and to have too high an Opinion of their own Goodness and Righteousness before God this is very natural but dangerous and fatal 22 Now when Jesus heard these things he said unto him Yet lackest thou one thing Sell all that thou hast and distribute unto the Poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven and come and follow me Here Observe 1. Our Lord's Admonition Yet lackest thou one thing which was true Self-denial in renouncing the Sin of Covetousness and the inordinate Love of Worldly Wealth We ought in the midst of our abundance to maintain a readiness of Disposition to part with all for God's sake that is dear unto us in this World Observe 2. Our Lord's Injunction Sell all that thou hast and give to the poor This was not a Common but a special Precept given particularly to this Rich Man for Tryal like that given to Abraham Gen. 22. and to convince him of his corrupt Confidence in Riches yet is the Precept thus far of general use to us all to teach us so to contemn Worldly Possessions as to be willing to part with them all at God's Pleasure and when they prejudice our Salvation 23 And when he heard
EXPOSITORY NOTES WITH PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS ON The Four Holy Evangelists VIZ. S T. Matthew S T. Mark S T. Luke S T. John WHEREIN The Sacred TEXT is at large Recited the Sence Explained Doubts Resolved Controversies Declined References Avoided Seeming Contradictions Reconciled And the Instructive Example of the Holy JESUS to our Imitation Recommended Designed for the Instruction of Private Families and particularly put into the Hands of Family-Governours in Dedham for the Improvement of Themselves and their Houshold in Knowledge Faith and Holiness BY WILLIAM BURKITT M. A. Vicar and Lecturer of Dedham in Essex LONDON Printed by R.J. for T. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside J. Robinson at the Golden Lion and J. Wyat at the Rose in S. Paul's Church-yard M.DCC. To the Right Honourable CHARLES Lord Fitzwalter My Lord THE Sacred Pages inform us of a Son that was Nourished up in the Words of Faith by his Grandmother Lois and his Mother Eunice The like Pious Care has been taken for Your Lordship 's Religious Education by one of the Wisest of Women and the Best of Mothers that the Age has afforded And that Your Lordship's Improvement in Knowledge and Sincere Piety may Answer the Prayers the Tears the Endeavours of such an Endearing Parent who preferrs Your Lordship's Happiness abundantly before her Own I take Leave to put a Part of the Inspired Writings into Your Lordship's Hand with an Endeavour of Mine to Render the Reading of them both Profitable and Delightful to Your Lordship Whilst Others consume their Precious Hours in Plays and Romances and such-like Corrupting and Effeminating Trash which the Superfoetation of the Stage furnishes the Nation with to the Scandal of Our Holy Religion and the Grief of all Good Men Debasing the Minds and Debauching the Manners of so many amongst us That Your Lordship and Others of Your Noble Order with you may Taste such Incomparable Delight and Sweetness in and Experience such Invaluable Benefit and Advantage by Reading the History of Your Blessed Redeemer's Life and Actions and may thereby be Transformed into His Holy Likeness here on Earth and spend an Eternity in the Rapturous Contemplation and Ravishing Fruition of Him in Heaven is the Fervent Prayer of My Lord Your Honour 's Faithfully Devoted Servant and Chaplain W. Burkitt To Family-Governours particularly those of my Charge AS Religion did always consist in an Imitation of God and in a Resemblance of those Excellencies which shine forth in the Best and most Perfect Being so we may Imitate Him now with much more Ease and greater Advantage since His Son was manifest in our Flesh and dwelt among us For He was pleased to become Man on purpose to shew us how we might become like to God by a Daily Imitation of His Holiness And it is most certain that God Our Father will never own any of us for His Children unless He sees upon us the Air and Features the Impresses and Resemblance of Christ Our Elder Brother This Consideration has induced me to set the Example of the Holy Jesus before my self and you in these Plain Practical Notes upon the Holy Evangelists which contain Remarks upon the History of our Saviour's Life Doctrine and Miracles and of His Death Resurrection and Ascension To the Intent that the Temper of our Minds and the Actions of our Lives may be a lively Transcript of the Mind and Life of our Blessed Redeemer That we may Admire and Imitate His unspotted Purity His Condescending Humility His Fervent Charity His Patience under Sufferings and Reproaches His Readiness to Forgive Injuries and His entire Resignation to the Divine Will in all Conditions of Life whatsoever That so following our Lord and Master in all the Steps of an Imitable Vertue and setting His Example continually before us we may be Daily Correcting and Reforming of our Lives by that Glorious Pattern for without present Likeness to Him we have no Grounds to hope that we shall hereafter Live with Him A true Compassion to your Souls and a fervent Desire to farther their Salvation from the Press as well as from the Pulpit has put me upon Redeeming Time for this Work I must acknowledge my constant Preaching thrice a Week unto you besides Occasionals and Visiting as often a populous and scattering Parish from House to House amongst you which I have always accounted a most Important Part of my Duty would allow me but little too little Time for such a Work as This which I heartily wish had fallen upon the Shoulder of one that had more Leisure and Greater Abilities for it But thus much I can truly say that earnestly Imploring Divine Assistance I have done what I could my Work has been my Recreation and the Lord accept it and succeed it And I have this Observation to Ground my Hope of Acceptance and Success upon that Almighty God has in all Ages rendered those Labours of his Servants how mean soever in themselves most Acceptable and Useful which have been employed in the profitable Explication of any part of the Holy Scriptures As if He who Imprinted such a Majesty upon the Text delighted also to Reflect an Honour upon the Interpreters thereof My Design in preparing and giving these Notes into your Hands is to Oblige you to Read a part of the Holy Scriptures in your Families every Day and to invite you thereunto the Sacred Text is here at large Recited Controversies Declined and References Avoided I have chosen to Transcribe and Write over again upon another Evangelist what was observed in a Former rather than give you the Trouble of looking back upon what is written elsewhere And I do most Affectionately Request you not to suffer the Holy Word of God which is in all your Hands to lye by you as a Neglected Book but daily to Read it in and to your Families with a Simplicity of Mind to be Directed and Instructed by it All the Return I desire from you for this my Labour of Love is your living in a daily Imitation of that Grand Pattern of Holiness and Obedience which is here set before you and in every Page Recommended to you and that we may continue to strive together in our Prayers one with and one for another for that Grace which may enable us to the Faithful Discharge of our Respective Duties towards God towards each other and all Mankind And that the Happy Unity and Unanimity which has hitherto been amongst us may continue and encrease still with us to the Glory of God the Honour of our Holy Religion the present Benefit and Comfort and the Eternal Joy and Rejoycing both of Minister and People in the Day of the Lord Jesus Which as it is the fervent Prayer so it shall be the constant Endeavour of your Unworthy Minister whose Highest Ambition it is to serve you in the Faith and Fellowship of the Gospel whilst I am Dedham 1700. W. Burkitt EXPOSITORY NOTES WITH PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS UPON The Holy Gospel
be offended because of me this Night for it is written I will smite the Shepheard and the Sheep shall be scattered 28 But after that I am Risen I will go before you into Galilee 29 But Peter said unto him Although all shall be offended yet will not I. 30 And Jesus saith unto him Verily I say unto thee That this day even in this Night before the Cock Crow Twice thou shalt deny me Thrice 31 But he spake more vehemently if I should dye with thee I will not deny thee in any wise Likewise also said they all Observe here 1. The Warning that our Saviour gives his Disciples of their Forsaking of him in the time of his Sufferings All ye shall be offended because of me this night Learn that Christ's dearest Friends forsook and left him alone in the midst of his greatest distress and danger Observe 2. What was the Cause of their Flight it was their Fear the weakness of their Faith and the prevalency of their Fear Oh how sad and dangerous is it for the best of Men to be left under the power of their own Fears in the day of Temptation Observe 3. Notwithstanding our Saviour's Prediction St. Peter's Presumption of his own Strength and Standing Though all Men forsake thee yet-will not I. Learn thence That Self-confidence and a Presumptuous Opinion of their own Strength is a sin very incident to the holiest and best of Men. This good Man resolved honestly no doubt but too too much in his own strength Little little did he think what a Feather he should be in the Wind of Temptation if once left to the Power and Prevalency of his own Fears None are so near falling as those who are most confident of their own Standing if ever we stand in the day of Tryal 't is the fear of falling that must enable us to stand 32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane and he saith unto his Disciples sit ye here while I shall pray 33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John and began to be sore amazed and to be very heavy 34 And saith unto them My Soul is exceeding sorrowful unto Death Tarry ye here and watch 35 And he went forward a little and fell on the Ground and Prayed That if it were possible the Hour might pass from him 36 And he said Abba Father all things are possible unto thee Take away this Cup from me nevertheless not as I will but what thou wilt 37 And he cometh and findeth them sleeping and saith unto Peter Simon sleepest thou couldst not thou watch one Hour 38 Watch ye and pray lest ye enter into Temptation the Spirit truly is ready but the Flesh is weak 39 And again he went away and prayed and spake the same words 40 And when he returned he found them asleep again for their Eyes were heavy neither wist they what to answer him 41 And he cometh the third time and saith unto them Sleep on now and take your rest it is enough the Hour is come behold the Son of Man is Betrayed into the Hands of Sinners Rise up let us go lo he that Betrayeth me is at hand Our Blessed Saviour being now come with his Disciples into the Garden he falls there into a bitter and bloody Agony in which he prayed with wonderful Fervency and Importunity to his Heavenly Father his Sufferings were now coming on a great pace and he meets them upon his Knees and would be found in a Praying Posture Learn thence That Prayer is the best Preparative for as well as the most powerful Support under the heaviest Sufferings that can befal us As to this Prayer of our Saviour in the Garden many things are very Observable as 1. The place where he Prayed the Garden But why went Christ thither not with our first Parents to hide himself there amongst the Trees of the Garden from the Notice and Observation of his Enemies But as a Garden was the place where our Misery began as the first scene of humane sin and misery was Acted in a Garden so does our Lord choose a Garden as the fittest place for his Agony and Satisfactory pains to begin in Again this Garden was a place of privacy and Retirement where our Lord might best attend the Offices of Devotion preparatory to his Passion John 18.2 tells us That Jesus oft-times resorted to this Garden with his Disciples and that Judas well knew the place It is evident then that Christ went not into the Garden to shun his Sufferings but to prepare himself by Prayer to meet his Enemies 2. Observe the Time when he entered into the Garden for Prayer it was in the Evening before he Suffered here he spent some hours in pouring forth his Soul to God For about Mid-night Judas with his Black Guard came and Apprehended him in a Praying Posture Our Lord Teaching us by his Example that when eminent Dangers are before us especially when Death is Apprehended by us to be very much in Prayer to God and very fervent in our Wrestlings with him Observe 3. The Matter of our Lord's Prayer That if possible the Cup might pass from him and he might be kept from the Hour of Suffering that his Soul might escape that Dreadful Wrath at which he was so sore Amazed But what Did Christ then begin to Repent of his Undertaking for Sinners Did he shrink and give back when it came to the pinch No nothing less but as he had two Natures being GOD and Man so he had two distinct Wills as Man he feared and shunned Death as GOD man he willingly submitted to it The Divine Nature and the Humane Spirit of Christ did now Assault each other with disagreeing Interests Again this Prayer was not Absolute but Conditional If it be possible Father if it may be if thou art willing if it please thee let this Cup pass if not I will drink it The Cup of Sufferings we see is a very bitter and distastful Cup a Cup which Humane Nature abhors and cannot desire but pray against yet doth God put this Bitter Cup of Affliction into the Hands oft-times of those whom he doth sincerely Love and when he doth do so it is their Duty to drink it with Silence and Submission as here their Lord did before them Father let the Cup pass yet not my Will but thine be done Observe 4. The Manner of our Lord's Prayer in the Garden and here we may Remark 1. it was a Solitary Prayer he went by himself alone out of the Hearing of his Disciples The Company of our best and dearest Friends is not always Seasonable there is a time to be Solitary as well as to be Sociable there are Times and Cases when a Christian would not be willing that the most intimate Friend he has in the World should be with him to hear what passes in secret betwixt him and his God 2. It was an humble Prayer that 's Evident by the Postures into which
chearful Obedience a pleasing and an acceptable Obedience A constant and Abiding Obedience All other motives without Love are servile and base and beget in us the drudgery of a Slave but not the Duty of a Son he that fears God only is afraid of smarting but he that Loves God is afraid of offending Learn hence That the best and surest evidence we can have of our Love to the Lord Jesus Christ is an humble chearful universal and persevering Obedience to his commands keep my Commandments that is endeavour it without reserve for tho' we cannot keep the Commandments to a just satisfaction yet we may perform them to a gracious acceptation And the Word My My Commandments is a sweetning and alleviating Word Moses's Law an unsupportable Load but Christ's Law an easie Burthen The Law from Sinai dreadful the Law from Sion Gracious it pardons weakness and accepts sincerity 16 And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever 17 Even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you Christ comforteth his Disciples here with a promise of the Mission of the Holy Spirit to supply the want of his Bodily presence Where Observe The procurer of this Blessing 1. And that is Christ by his prevailing Prayer and powerful Intercession I will pray it runs in the future Tense and so 't is a promise of Christ's continual Intercession As long as Christ is in Heaven a Christian shall not want a supply of Comfort and Consolation here on Earth Observe 2. The Author and Donour of the blessing and that is God himself I will pray the Father and he shall give The Father that is my Father your Father and he that is the Father of Comfort and all Consolation I will pray and he will give 'T is an expression of great assurance Observe 3. The blessing it self the Holy Ghost called here Another Comforter Where note 1. The Divinity of the Holy Ghost he that will supply the Comforts of Christ's presence must be as Christ is the God of all Comfort Note 2. The person of the Holy Ghost he is a Divine person not a Divine quality or operation then we might call him a Comfort but not a Comforter Note 3. The Office and Imployment of the Holy Ghost He is a Comforter that is an Advocate and Intercessour to sue for us an Encourager and one that Administers Consolation to us and as he is an Holy Spirit so are his Comforts Holy Comforts Observe 4. The stability of this Blessing That he may abide with you for ever The best of our outward Comforts are sudden flashes not lasting flames but the Consolations of the Holy Spirit are strong Consolations they are abounding Consolations and everlasting Consolations especially the Holy Spirit will be the Comforter of good Men in the day of Affliction in the day of Temptation and at the hour of Death when all other comforts flag and fail Observe lastly The additional Title given to the Holy Ghost he is called the Spirit of Truth partly in opposition to Satan who is called a Lying Spirit partly because he teacheth and revealeth the Truth leadeth his People into all Truth and sealeth and confirmeth Truth to the Souls of Believers he is the Spirit of Truth both in his Essence and in his Operations Learn hence That as the Holy Spirit is True in his Essence and Nature so is he True in his Office as a Comforter to good Men. All his Consolations being real and solid and free from imposture and delusion 18 I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you Here Observe 1. The Condition which the Disciples were in upon the account of Christ's removal from them and that was sad and Comfortless Fatherless or Orphans as the word signifies Hence learn That Christ's Departure or the loss of his gracious Presence is very sad and Comfortless to a Pious Soul well might the Disciples here lament and mourn upon the occasion of Christ's leaving of them seeing thereby they should be deprived of his Doctrine and Instructions of his Advice and Counsel and of the Benefit of his Holy and Instructive Example Observe 2. The care of Christ for his Disciples in reference to this their sad and disconsolate Condition He would not leave them Comfortless Where Note He doth not say I will not suffer you to be comfortless but I will not leave you so that is he will not desert or disown them in their comfortless Condition he will not leave them either in point of Affection or in point of Activity he will not cease to Love them nor cease to bestir himself for them Learn hence That Christ will not leave his Friends in a sad and Comfortless state and Condition tho' for a time they may be brought into it I will not leave you Comfortless I will come unto you Christ's coming here unto them is to be understood of his coming to them by his Holy Spirit in the Gifts of it in the Graces of it and in the Comforts of it thus he did not long leave them Comfortless but at the Feast of Pentecost came again to them 19 Yet a little while and the world seeth me no more but ye see me because I live ye shall live also 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you Here our Saviour foretels his approaching Death that within a little time the Men of the World should see him no more for tho' he arose again the World saw him no more after his Death for we Read of no Appearances of him after his Resurrection to any but to his Disciples only indeed the hour is coming when the World shall see him again Namely At the Day of Judgment when every Eye shall behold him with Terror and Amazement Observe farther The Consolation given to his Disciples Ye shall see me and because I live ye shall live also Because I am raised from the Grave I will quicken your Dead Bodies in the Grave and ye shall live also and as I live by my Ascension into Heaven so shall you my Disciples live a Life of Grace here and a Life of Glory with my self hereafter Learn hence That a Believer's Spiritual Life is derived from Christ who by his Spirit Communicates a quickening vertue to all his Members because he lives they shall live also Observe lastly A farther priviledge ensured to Believers after Christ's Ascension and the Spirits Mission they should more perfectly understand the Essential union betwixt Christ and the Father and the Mystical Union betwixt Christ and his Members At that Day ye shall know that I am in my Father c. The knowledge which the Saints now have of the Mysterious and Mystical Union is but dark and imperfect but in Heaven they shall
humble himself that he needed to pray to his Father to bestow upon him the Glory which he wanted Namely The Glory of his Ascension and Exaltation Now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self 6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world thine they were and thou gavest them me and they have kept thy word By the name of God we are here to understand his Nature his Properties and Attributes his Designs and Counsels for the Salvation of Mankind Christ as the Prophet of his Church made all these known unto his People Learn thence That Jesus Christ has made a full and compleat Discovery of his Father's Mind and Will unto his People I have manifested thy name unto them which thou gavest me thine they were and thou gavest them me and they have kept thy word Learn 1. That all Believers are given unto Christ as his Purchase and as his Charge They are given him as his Subjects as his Children as the Wife of his Bosom as the Members of his Body Learn 2. That none are given to Christ but those that were first the Fathers Thine they were and thou gavest them me Learn 3. That all those that are given unto Christ do keep his word they keep it in their understandings they hide it in their Hearts they feel the force of it in their Souls they express the power of it in their Lives They have kept thy word 7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee Observe here 1. The faithfulness of Christ in revealing the whole Will of his Father to his Disciples 2. The proficiency of the Disciples in the School of Christ they knew all the things which Christ had told them Namely That whatsoever he had it was given him of the Father and that he had these things from him to be a Mediatour Learn hence That Christ hath approved himself a faithful Prophet to his Church a faithful Messenger from his Father to his People in that he hath added nothing to his Message nor taken nothing from it 2. That it is our duty to know and believe on Christ as the only Messenger and Mediatour sent of God Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee 8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me and they have received them and have known surely that I came out from thee and they have believed that thou didst send me As if Christ had said The Message by thee my Father committed to me I have communicated to them my Disciples and they have received it and will communicate it from thee to the World being sufficiently assured that my coming and preaching was all by Commission from thee Hence learn 1. That the Doctrine of the Gospel which was revealed by Christ was received from the Father 2. That Faith is a receiving of the word of Christ and of Christ in and by the word Receiving is a relative term and presupposes an offer God offers on his part we receive on our part the whole word with the whole heart 3. That the Ministers of the Gospel are to preach that and only that which they have out of the word of God I have given them the word which thou gavest me 9 I pray for them I pray not for the world but for them which thou hast given me for they are thine That is I now offer up a Prayer particularly 1. For my Apostles designed to so great a work as the Preaching of the Everlasting Gospel to the obstinate Jews and obdurate Gentiles 2. I interceed also for all Believers at this time for their perseverance in the Faith and constancy in Persecution but I do not now interceed for the wicked and impenitent World they not being capable whilst such of these Mercies and Blessings though at other times we find him praying for the World yea for his very Crucifiers Father forgive them c. Nay in this very Prayer at the 20th Verse he Prays for the World that is for the Gentile World all those that by the preaching of the Apostles and their Successors should be brought to Believe on him to the End of the World Learn hence 1. That the Lord Jesus Christ is the Great and Gracious Intercessour 2. That all Believers all the Children of God in general are under the fruit and benefit of Christ's Intercession 3. That as all the Members of Christ in general so the Ministers and Ambassadours of Christ in special have a peculiar interest in Christ's Intercession and great are the Advantages of His Intercession for them 1. From the person interceeding Christ consider the Dignity of his Person God Man the dearness of his Person God's Son 2. From the manner of his Intercession not by way of entreaty but meritorious claim 3. From the sublimity of the Office our Intercessor is near to God even at his Right Hand 4. From the Fruits of his Intercession it procures the Acceptance and Justification of our Persons the hearing and answering of our Prayers the pardon and forgiveness of our Sins our preservation in Grace and our hopes of Eternal Glory 10 And all mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them We may understand this two ways 1. Of all Persons all my Friends all my Disciples are thine as well as mine Thence learn That the Father and the Son have a like Share and Propriety in all Believers 2. The words in the Original being of the Neuter Gender signifie all thy things are mine and all my things are thine Christ and his Father are one and they agree in one they have the same Essence and Nature the same Attributes and Will Christ hath all things that the Father hath willeth all things that the Father willeth and doth all things that the Father doth he is therefore really and essentially God It followeth and I am glorified in them that is I am made glorious by their owning and receiving me by their believing in me and accepting of me for their Lord and Saviour Thence Note That the Lord Jesus Christ is eminently glorified in and by all those that believe in him and belong unto him 11 And now I am no more in the world but these are in the world and I come to thee Holy Father keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are Here Observe 1. Our Saviour's present Condition I am no more in the World that is I shall continue on Earth but a small time longer and then ascend to my Father in Heaven Learn thence That Jesus Christ as he is Man is gone out of this lower World into the immediate Presence of his Father He had been abased before he must be exalted now He had no more Work to do on Earth but much to do in Heaven therefore he left this Earth to go to Heaven Observe 2.