must glorifie God in their martyrdome yet there shall be other Ministers one after another till the second coming of Christ preaching the Gospel from place to place in despite of all the persecuters in the world for of this our Lord giveth assurance saying Verily I say unto you Ye shal not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of Man be come Ver. 24. The Disciple is not above his Master nor the servant above his Lord. 25. It is enough for the Disciple that he be as his Master and the servant as his Lord if they have called the master of the house Beelzebub how much more shall they call them of his houshold The seventh reason It may content you that you shall not be worse used then I your Lord and Master am and shal be used Therefore Fear not Doct. 1. There are very neer and sweet bands between Christ and us for he is our School-master and we his Disciples he is our Lord and we are his servants he is the Good man of the house his church and we his Domesticks and houshhold men so importeth his words saying The Disciple is not above his Master c 2. Christ is a pattern of sufferings from the cradle to the crosse from his birth to his buriall for here he setteth forth his own suffering to encourage us to suffer by like example 3. To seek or look after freedom from persecution is to seek that we who are Christs Disciples should be better dealt with then our Master was which is unreasonable for The Disciple is not above his Master nor the servant above his Lord. 4. Conformity with Christ in suffering may sufficiently comfort any man who suffereth for Christ for It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master 5. The comparison of Christs excellency and our base condition should make us willing to undergo any sort of humiliation therfore saith he It is enough that the servant be as his Lord. 6. Beelzebub was the idoll of Ekron and one of the chiefest divels names There is no blasphemy so great against Christ but Satan will find mouths to vent it for it is written They called the Master of the house Beelzebub 7. No wonder that Christs servants be called divels when Christ was called a divel so reasoneth Christ saying How much more shall they call them of the houshold Beelzebub Vers. 26. Fear them not therefore for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed and hid that shall not be known The eight reason The truth of my doctrine and your innocency must both be brought to light upon all hazards Therefore Fear not but avow my Gospel boldly Doct. 1. Christs servants are in danger to minish their testimony concerning Christs truth for fear of men Therefore are they warned not to fear them 2. Albeit the holinesse and innocency of Christs servants be overclouded and born down for a time by scandalous speeches of persecuters and they esteemed no better then Beelzebub yet shall it be brought forth to light in Gods time for our Lord hath said That there is nothing covered that shal not be revealed nor secret which shall not be known Thus may this generall sentence serve the purpose in this place 3. Because at last the light of the Gospel shall break forth and overcome all obstacles Therefore Ministers should boldly preach Christs truth and thus also doth this generall sentence serve Christs intent as the next verse maketh it plain Vers. 27. What I tell you in darknesse that speak ye in light and what ye hear in the eare that preach ye upon the house tops Christ commandeth his Apostles to publish as openly as they could whatsoever he should reveale unto them in any manner of way putting the house top for the most patent places where a man might be best seen and heard for the houses of Judea were covered platform Doct. 1. The matter of Preachers sermons should be nothing but truth revealed by Christ therfore saith he What I tell you that speak 2. Christ doth not reveal any thing to his servants whether ordinarily by ordinary meanes as by reading or meditation or extraordinarily by his Spirit but it is able to abide the light and the tryall of all who shall hear of it and is worthy to be avowed openly for he saith What I tell you in darknesse that speak you in light and what you hear in the care that preach on the house tops Ver. 28. And fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell The ninth reason You must fear me who am able to kill both soul and body therefore Fear not man who cannot harme you so much Doct. 1. Plain and faithfull preaching of Christs truth may readily be met with persecution and hazard of life and a man must be master of death and delivered of the fear not only of smaller losses but even of the losse of life also if he would preach all Christs truth as he should Therefore saith Christ Fear not them which kill the body 2. All that men can do against a faithfull witnesse of Christs truth is to take the life of the body they cannot reach to the soul to destroy it or to take away from it righteousnesse or peace or joy in the holy Ghost for They are not able to kill the soul saith he 3. The true remedy of all base fear of the creature and of death is the true fear of God Therefore saith he Fear him rather which is able to destroy soul and body in hell 4. If a man suppresse the testimony which he should give to Christ for fear of being killed by men he falleth in the danger of being cast in hell and losing soule and body This is imported in the saying Fear him which is able to destroy soul and body in hell Vers. 29. Are not two Sparrows sold for a farthing And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father 30. But the very hairs of your head are all numbred 31. Fear ye not therefore ye are of more value then many Sparrows The tenth reason Gods providence which reacheth unto Sparrowes and to the haires of your head to preserve the least of them may incourage you sufficiently against fear of men therfore Fear not to preach my truth Doct. 1. Gods providence is very particular toward all the creatures so that the least of them is not taken or slaine without Gods dispensation for One Sparrow saith he shall not fall to the ground without your Father 2. The Lords care of his servants doth reach to the preservation not only of their life but also of the smallest thing that concerneth them for The very haires of your head are numbred saith he 3. God esteemeth much more of his servants then of other creatures for his children are bought with his Sons blood Therefore saith he
their intention and be disclaimed of Christ as unfit to be accounted his servants for this is it which the answer doth speak Ver. 21. And another of his Disciples said unto him Lord suffer me to go and bury my father 22. But Iesus said unto him follow me and let the dead bury their dead Here is another man called to follow Christ who desires a delay and putteth off the matter with an excuse till his old father were dead and buried Hence learn 1. That such as Christ hath a mind to call to the Ministry he wil find them out for here is a Disciple who hath no mind to follow Christ unto the constant attendance of the Ministry and yet Christ intends to have him 2. A true calling may be met possibly at first with an unwilling minde either altogether refusing the Ministry or shifting off the calling for a time for this man desires to be let alone till his aged father should die that he might discharge the last duty unto him ere he followed Christs call Suffer me first to bury my father saith he 3. Christ will not take a refusall of the man whom he intends to imploy and that no pretence of doing duty to mens bodies shall be taken for an excuse for the not taking charge of souls when Christ doth call for Christ urgeth him stil saying Follow me 4. Common civil duties may be done by any men but the work of the Ministry only by men chosen and called and sent Therefore follow thou me saith Christ and let the dead bury their dead that is men dead in their sins are sufficient for such a work as burying the dead but follow thou this higher imployment Ver. 23. And when he was entred into a ship his disciples followed him 24. And behold there arose a great tempest in the sea insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves but he was asleep 25. And his disciples came unto him and awoke him saying Lord save us we perish 26. And he saith unto them Why are ye fearfull O ye of little faith Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm 37. But the men marvelled saying what manner of man is this that even the winde amd the sea obey him In this miracle observe 1. That our Lord of set purpose will lead his Disciples into dangers for the stirring up and triall of their faith and for evidencing of his own glory for He enters into a ship for this end and maketh his Disciples follow him wherein they might safely hazard indeed when he went before and did give warrant to them to follow 2. His presence exeemeth not his Disciples from trouble and danger for Now there arose a great tempest in the sea 3. Our Lord as he took on him our nature so also he subjected himselfe to our naturall and sinlesse infirmities for being weary on the land he fals asleep in the ship 4. The church may be like to be drowned and Christ may seem to neglect the marter for the Church now in the ship was covered with the waves but he was asleep in the ship 5. The church must beleeve Christ to be God and able to deliver them albeit he seem as it were sleeping among them because he can carry himself as one a sleep and that of purpose in his wisdom to the end he may be awaked by their prayers as by the Disciples here They came and awoke him and cried Lord save us we perish 6. As sense of danger and need is a choise argument when we deal with Christ for help for We perish speaketh much so is it an ordinary fore-runner of deliverance and help for Save us we perish went before the rebuking of the wind 7. It is a sinful misbelief to be too much feared to perish in Christs company and service therfore he rebuked them saying why are ye fearfull 8. He can put difference between small faith and no faith and as he will reprove unbelief so wil he not despise the smallest measure of belief therefore saith he O ye of little faith 9. Whether he seem to sleep or to be awake he is Lord of heaven and earth ruler and commander of wind sea and land whom all the creatures must obey for he arose and rebuked the wind and there was a calm 10. The glory of the deliverance which Christ doth give to his people in their greatest straight is marvellous and far above all that they can apprehend ere it come for when the Disciples looking as men on the Lords work saw the great calm they marvelled 11. The faith which Christs Disciples had in his God-head was little in comparison of what they had ground fâ—r even from the works of the glory therof demonstrate unto them for say they What manner of man is this that even the windes and sea obey him Ver. 28. And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesens there met him two possâ—ssed with divels coming out of the tombs exceeding fierce so that no man might passe by that way 29. And behold they cryed out saying what have we to do with thee Iesus thou Son of God Art thou come hither to torment us before the time 30. And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding 31. So the divels besought him saying If thou cast us out suffer us to go away into the herd of swine 32. And he said unto them Go. And when they were come out they went into the herd of swine and behold the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea and perished in the waters 33. And they that kept them fled and went their wayes into the city and told every thing and what was befallen to the possessed of the divels 34. And behold the whole city came out to meet Iesus and when they saw him they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts The last part of the chapter containeth the delivery of the two men possessed with divels Wherein learn 1. That Christ went no whether but for a speciall errand pity to these two poor possessed men moved him to crosse The sea or the loch of Tiberius and when he came to the other side his errand appeares The two possessed men are presecuted unto him Christ can make the divels bring men unto him nill they will they for here there met him two possessed with divels 3. The malice of the divels is exceeding cruel where they can get liberty to shew it against man for they drive these men from the society of other men unto the saddest spectacle of tombes or sepulchers they imbitter them with rage and fierce anger and move them to come against all other men so that no man could passe by that way 4. How powerfull soever divels be yet they can neither stand out against Christs power nor flee from him nor abide his presence Therefore They cry
out for fear of him 5. The case of possessed souls in whom the spirit of disobedience doth rule is to be seen in these whose bodies were possessed with divels the man is their lodging house he is no more master of his own actions but is Satans slave The mans eyes look for Satan his hands and feet work and walk for Satan his throat is made Satans blowing-horn his mouth speaketh for Satan and here they cry out by the Poor mans throat saying What have we to do with thee 6. Divels did know Christ to be the Son of God but they knew also that he came not in the world for their good but to be Saviour of men therefore What have we 〈◊〉 do wâ—th thee say they 7. Albeit it be not in the divels power not to yeeld to Christ yet they remain their wicked aversnesse to obey him being loath to leave the possession they have gotten they would be let alone by him if they could and do wickedly plead for it saying What have we to do with thee 8. They know there is a time coming when they shall be more tormented then they are as yet even the day of Judgement and this they tremble at saying Art thou come to torment us before the time 9. They cannot hurt so much as a sow except Christ Lord of Heaven and Earth do suffer them therefore the divels besought Christ saying If thou cast 〈◊〉 out suffer us to go away into the herd of swine 10. The Lord suffereth somtime Satan to have his wil of mens bodies and goods for their tryal as here to go into the Gadarens swine to try the owners mind therfore Christ said unto them Go. 11. These wicked spirits love alwayes to do evill and make it a sport to destroy what they are permitted Therefore they drove the swine headlong into the sea and made them perish in the water 12. To the end that the tryal of men might be perfected Christ will have them to know be Spirituall benefits of the Gospel as well as the temporall inconveniencies following it This it the reason that Christ will have the Gadarens to know as well of the delivery of men possessed with divels as of the drowning of the swine for The swincherds tell them of all that so they might be inexcusable 13. Men left to their own selves will choose any thing rather then Christ and will do no better then these Gadarens did 14. Temporall losse of swine is so great in the worldly mens estimation that spirituall advantage is nothing esteemed of for the Gadarens are not so moved with the delivery of the souls and bodies of the possessed men as they are with the losse of their swine 15. If men see nothing of Christs sweet mercies but only take up his power they will be loath to have him in their company therfore these Gadarens do Beseech him to dapart from them Such worldly men will rather quit the Gospel then hazard their worldly goods 16. This is the greatest token of Christs leaving a place or not coming into a place when the whole incorporation city or place doth consist only of Gadarens and all do consent that he should depart for there apparantly he hath no errand to stay him and wheresoever Christ hath no imployment thence will he remove CHAP. IX Here are moe evidences of Christs divine power authority and love to his people in healing the palsie and pardoning of sin vers 8. Calling of Matthew and defending of his Disciples vers 17. Removing of sicknesse vers 22. Raising the dead vers 31. Dispossessing divels vers 35. And care to have ministers provided for the conversion of souls Ver. 1. ANd he entered into a ship and passed over and came into his own city HE cometh to Cpernaum which is called his own city not only because he dwelt in it but because he had a number of his own in it as may be gathered from the history Hence learn 1. That the more godly persons be in a city the more the Lord will own it and albeit a city for the most part be unthankfull as Capernaum was yet will noâ— the ungratitude of the multitude hinder him to be good to his own in it for Christ here returneth to Capernaum and makes it be stiled His own city Ver. 2. And behold they brought to him a man sick of the palsie lying on a bed and Iesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsie Son be of good cheer thy sins are forgiven thee In the healing of the soul and body of the man sick of the palsie learn 1. That such as are seeking benefit of Christ will watch for oportunity to finde him When Christ cometh to Capernaum certain men do bring out One sick of the palsie to him 2. It is an act of lively faith as to come to Christ so also to help others to come unto Christ for of those that bring the palsie sick to Christ as well as of the palsie sick himself it is said Iesus saw their faith 3. Our Lord loves to entertain faith with evidences of respect unto the beleevers for Iesus seeing their faith speaketh comfortably unto the palsie sick 4. When Christ will heal sicknesse and miseries at the root he takes away sin and forgiveth it therefore saith he to the palsie sick Thy sins are forgiven thee 5. When he remitteth sin he advanceth a man to Son-ship and doth regenerate him Therfore Christ doth here call him Son while he pronounceth him forgiven 6. The man whose sins are forgiven is blessed albeit his outward condition do seem miserable Therefore Jesus biddeth the sick of the palsie be of good chear because his sins were forgiven Ver. 3. And behold certain of the Scribes said within themselves This man blasphemeth The adversaries of Christ conceive ill thoughts of this his mercy to the palsie sick Hence learn 1. That it is no wonder to see Christs followers misconstrued for the Scribes think of Christ himselfe that he blasphemeth 2. Even these who are of the learned sort who should know him best may be mistaken about him for Certain of the Scribes misconsture him 3. Any vail is sufficient to blind-fold the wicked for these men will not see Christ to be God notwithstanding he doth demonstrate his deitie daily because they see him to be a man This man say they blasphemeth 4. Christs forgiving sins by his own authority was a plain avowing himself to be very God for who can forgive sins so but God And this is the ground whereupon the Scribes do think Christ guilty of blasphemie that being as they thought a man and no more he did forgive sins by his own authority which is the property of God Ver. 4. And Iesus knowing their thoughts said Wherfore think ye evill in your hearts Christ will prove himselfe to be God by discovering their inward thoughts Hence learn 1. That the more the God-head of our Lord be opposed the more will he