out of the Temple cast the Changers Mony on the Ground and overthrew their Tables and said unto those that Sold Doves Ps 69.9 Take these things hence make not my Fathers house an house of Merchandize This Action of Jesus brought to the Disciples minds these words of Scripture The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up but it surpriz'd and incensed the Jews who required of him a Miracle to prove his Authority of acting in that manner To whom he said Destroy this Temple and in three days I will rebuild it They understood it of the Temple out of which he had driven the Traders but he meant it of his Body which should be destroyed by Death and raised again the third day He did many Miracles at the Passover in Jerusalem which continues seven days and many Persons believed in his Name but he would not trust himself with those who were won only by Miracles because he knew the bottom of their hearts and exactly discerned what was unsound and imperfect in their Faith XX. The Discourse between J. Christ and Nicodemus VVhile Jesus was at Jerusalem Jo. 3 1.-12 a Jewish Ruler of the Sect of the Pharisees came to him by night and said unto him Master We know that thou art a Teacher come from God for no man can do those Miracles that thou dost except God be with him From hence Jesus takes an Occasion to teach this Pharisee the necessity of Baptism in order to Salvation saying unto him Except a Man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God To which he adds these important Truths That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit and that the Spirit inspires whom it pleaseth Nicodemus being surpriz'd asked him how can this be Jesus reproving his Ignorance that he was a Doctor and knew not these things saith unto him We testify what we have seen and ye receive not our Witness He then discovers these Mysteries of our Religion to him Jo. 3 13.-20 That no Man hath ascended up to Heaven but the Son of Man that came from Heaven That the Brazen Serpent which Moses put upon a Pole in the VVilderness that all those who were bitten by the fiery Serpents by looking upon it might be healed of their VVounds was but a Figure of him who was fixed unto the Cross for the deliverance of all those that believe in him from Eternal Death That he was sent into the World not to condemn the World but to save it That so great was the love of God towards Men that he gave them his only begotten Son to dy for them but this Love will be a just cause of Condemnation to all those that believe not in this Son and receive not this Light that is come to enlighten them loving rather to continue in darkness because they will not bring their VVorks to the Light of Truth lest they should be convinced thereby that the Actions which they so much delight in are criminal and sinful XXI St. Johns second Testimony concerning Jesus Jo. 3 23.-27 Jesus being come from Jerusalem after the Feast tarryed in Judea with his Disciples and there Baptized at the same time that John administred his Baptism in Jordan Here the Disciples of John had a dispute with the Jews about Baptism And they came to their Master and spake to him concerning Jesus Saying He to whom thou bearest Witness doth now Baptize and all men flock to him St. John who would not have gathered Disciples but that he might resign them to the Son of God answered them A man can receive nothing except it be given him from Heaven signifying by this answer that he acted in his Ministry only by the power and command of him who had called him to it Jo. 3 28.-36 He then puts them in mind of the Protestations which he had made before them That he was not the Christ He tells them that he is not the Bridegroom of the Church but the Bridegroom's Friend only And in that Quality 't was his only Joy and delight to hear the Bridegroom's Voice He goes on and says He must increase but I must decrease He adds that Jesus Christ came from above and therefore is above all that he speaks what he hath seen and heard and that he that receiveth his Testimony acknowledgeth that God is true because God hath sent him and hath not given his Spirit by measure to him but because he loveth him he hath given all things into his hands That Jesus Christ is the Son of God and he that believeth in him hath eternal Life and on the contrary he that believeth not shall not see Life but is an Object of the Wrath of God which shall not depart from him XXII John 's Imprisonment St. John did not think he had discharged his Office sufficiently Mat. 14 3.-5 Mar. 6 17.-20 Lu. 3.19 20. in discovering Jesus to be the Messiah at the River Jordan but he went to the Princes Court to Preach true Morality and Piety Herod Antipas the Son of Herod the Great in whose Reign Jesus Christ was Born and his Successor in one fourth part of his Kingdom from whence he is called Herod the Tetrarch had Marryed contrary to all Laws Herodias his Brother Philips Wife John went to reprove him for this Crime and for all the other evils which he had done and told him confidently that it was not Lawful for him to have her for his Wife who was his Brothers Wife Herod was not presently angry with this Holy Man but on the contrary believing him to be a Just Man and an Holy he had a great Respect and Veneration for him yea he feared him was a diligent Hearer of him and followed his advice in many things But Herodias was not so well affected to John for she hated him Mortally and sought all Occasions to destroy him By her instigation Herod became every day more averse to him and at length to please her apprehended him and put him into Prison He had at that time put him to Death but that he feared the People who accounted of and reverenced John as a Prophet VVhen Jesus knew that John was put into Prison and that the Pharisees had heard that he made and Baptized more Disciples than John tho' he Baptized no Man himself Jo. 4 1.-4 but by his Disciples he left Judea and returned into Galilee through Samaria XXIII The Samaritan Woman Jo. 4 5.-11 About noon Jesus came to a City of Samaria named Sychar and being wearied with his Journey he sat down on the brink of a Fountain called Jacob's VVell in a parcel of Ground which that Patriarch gave long since to his Son Joseph A certain VVoman of this Countrey came to fetch VVater at this VVell and Jesus saith unto her Give me to drink This VVoman who thought him to be a Jew wondred that he
is an Hebrew and Christ a Greek Word and signify both of them Anointed the Jews calling him so because they expected He should be a great King consecrated to God by a special Unction of which the Anointing of their Kings and Prophets was but a Figure Four thousand Years being at last expired and spent in waiting for him the Time appointed by God and foretold by the Prophets for the Deliverance of Mankind came The Roman Empire enjoyed a profound Peace under the Reign of Augustus and the Jews were governed by Herod whom the Romans had made King over them being some Years before become subject to their Power This Government by a Foreign Prince was an Evident Sign that the Coming of the Messiah drew near according to the Prophesy of Jacob Gen. 49.10 The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his Feet until Shiloh he that is sent do come This was the Time which God from all Eternity had prefixed for the Execution of his gracious Design That Jesus Christ the Saviour both of the Jews and Gentiles should be born in Judea and by him hath he accomplish'd the great Work of Man's Salvation in such a manner as the Gospel relates and which we are about to give an account of in this History of which I shall make Four Parts containing so many Periods of our Saviour's Life and shew what passed I. From the Conception of John the Baptist to his entrance upon his Ministry II. In the first Two Years of his Preaching III. In the Third Year of his Ministry IV. From his triumphant going up to Jerusalem to his Ascension into Heaven BOOK I. An Account of what passed from the Conception of John the Baptist to the Entrance of Jesus Christ upon his Ministerial Function I. The Conception of S. John the Baptist Book I. Luke 1 5-22 THere was among the Jews a certain Priest named Zacharias who with his Wife Elizabeth kept all the Commandments of the Lord blameless They were both of them very old and God that he might at length reward their Patience and contentedness in a signal manner having given them no Child but laid upon them the Disgrace of Barrenness which at that Time was accounted a great Curse inflicted by God It came to pass as Zachary ministred in the Temple according to his Course and offered the Incense commanded by the Law to God the Angel Gabriel appeared to him and told him from God That he should have a Son whom he should call John That this his Son should be great in the Sight of God and be filled with the Holy Spirit from his Mother's Womb That he should convert many Israelites from their Sins and should go before the Lord in the Spirit and Power of Elias preparing his Ways for him and disposing p. 5 The Anunciation of the Blessed Virgin Men to receive him Zachary doubting of the Truth of these Promises answered the Angel How shall I be assured of the Truth of thy Words for I am Old and my Wife is well stricken in Years The Angel reproving his Unbelief told him That from that Moment he should be dumb and not be able to speak till the Things which he had spoken of should come to pass And in that very instant he lost his Speech and the People who could not understand him but by Signs perceived by his Silence that he had seen a Vision The Days of his Ministration being accomplish'd he returned to his own House at Hebron Luke 1 23-25 a City in the Tribe of Judah and God performed that which he had foretold by the Angel for Elizabeth conceived and hid her self Five Months that she might between God and herself raise in her Heart a more perfect Sense of his Favour in taking away from her the Reproach of Barrenness and giving her a Son of whom she might hope for so great things II. The Conception of Jesus Christ. Six Months after the Conception of Elizabeth the same Angel Luke 1 26-38 which had foretold the Birth of S. John to Zachary was sent by God into a City of Galilee called Nazareth to foretel the Nativity of Jesus Christ to her who was chosen from all Eternity to be his Mother It was an Holy Virgin of the House of David named Mary who was espoused to a Man of the same Family called Joseph and living in perfect Chastity had her Spouse for a faithful Witness and Guardian of her Purity The Angel being come to her said Hail O thou that art highly favoured the Lord is with thee blessed art thou among Women Her Modesty raised in her a great Disturbance at the unusual Appearance of the Angel and she was surprized at this kind of Salutation But the Angel bid her not be troubled telling her That she should have a Son who should be great and be called the Son of the Most High to whom God would give the Throne of his Father David i. e. an Eternal Kingdom and that she should call his Name Jesus which signifies a Saviour She reflecting upon her way of living with Holy Joseph and not understanding how she could preserve her Virginity and yet become a Mother said unto the Angel How shall this be seeing I know not a Man The Angel answered her That this Holy Child which shall be called the Son of God shall be born by the invisible Operation of the Holy Ghost and to shew her that God to whom nothing is impossible would work this great Miracle in her by his Almighty Power he tells her what had befallen her Cousin Elizabeth who having been barren for many Years was Six Months since with Child Being satisfied by this Instance that she might bear a Child and yet continue a Virgin she humbly submitted her self to the appointment of God and said to the Angel Behold the Handmaid of the Lord be it unto me according to thy Word Then the Angel departed from her but the Holy Spirit wrought this great Mystery in her for which she had been fitted and disposed a great while before by the plentiful effusion of his Graces She conceived the Son of God the Second Person of the Holy Trinity who was incarnate i. e. became Man by taking on him a Body and Soul like us in the Womb of this chast and humble Virgin III. The Visitation of the Holy Virgin As soon as Mary had heard that her Cousin was with Child she went with haste to see her Luke 1. 39-55 and entring into her House saluted her which when Elizabeth heard she felt the Infant leaping in her Womb for Joy and being filled with the Holy Ghost she spake out with a loud Voice and said Blessed art thou among Women and blessed is the Fruit of thy Womb How great a Felicity is this to me that the Mother of my Lord should come unto me And having inform'd the Virgin That her Child leaped in her Womb she added Blessed art thou because thou
whence he shewed him in a moment all the Kingdoms of the World with all the Splendor and Pomp that attends them and promised him all those things if he would fall down before him and Worship him for they are given to me saith he falsly and I give them to whom I please Deut. 6.13 Then Jesus answered him Get the hence Satan for it is written Thou shalt Worship the Lord thy God and serve none but him only The Devil having thus finished all the temptation without success departed for a time and the Angels came to Jesus Christ and readily tendred themselves to minister unto him XVI St. John's Testimony concerning Jesus Christ After these things Jesus being come out of the Wilderness went to Bethabara Jo. 1 15.-18 the place where John was Preaching and Baptizing This faithful Fore-runner when he saw him could not but bare witness of him before all that heard him and therefore cryed out with a loud voice This is He of whom I spake He that cometh after me is preferred before me for he was before me he adds We have received of his Fulness a sufficiency of all Graces for the Law was given by Moses but Jesus Christ hath brought Grace and Truth to the World and that the only begotten who is in the Bosom of the Father is come to discover God to us whom no man hath ever seen Notwithstanding John spake thus honourably Jo. 1 19.-28 and plainly of the Messias the Jews took him for the Person he spake of and therefore sent certain Priests and Levites who were Pharisees and consequently much admired by the people to enquire of him Who he was And he freely confessed and denied not but owned that he was not the Christ for so the Gospel delivers the Confession of St. John and the Testimony which he gave of Jesus to these Messengers Then they asked whether he were Elias or some other Prophet And when he had answered them that he was not They said to him Who art thou then that we may give an answer to them that sent us What sayest thou of thy self I am saith he the Voice of one Crying in the Wilderness Make strait the ways of the Lord. They urged Why then Baptizest thou if thou art not the Messias nor a Prophet He replyed It is true I Baptize with Water but there is one among you whom ye know not He it is who coming after me is preferred before me whose Shoo-strings I am not worthy to unloose The next day John seeth Jesus Christ coming unto him Jo. 1 29.-34 and being unwilling to lose so good an opportunity of discovering him he saith to them that were with him Behold the Lamb of God This is He that bears and takes away the Sins of the World He adds That this was He of whom he had spoken so much already and he assures them that he saw the spirit descending and remaining upon him in the shape of a Dove and that he had been taught by Revelation that this was He that should Baptize with the Holy Ghost XVII Jesus Christ calling Disciples Jo. 1 35.-42 The next day Jesus passed again through the same place two hours before Sun-set and St. John who was there with two of his Disciples said as soon as he saw him Behold the Lamb of God The two Disciples hearing these words followed Jesus who turning himself about demanded of them Whom seek ye They answered Master where dwellest thou he saith unto them Come and see They went with him and abode with him that day One of these two Disciples named Andrew had a Brother called Simon to whom he said We have found the Messias and he brought him to Jesus who having considered him said unto him Thou art Simon the Son of Jonas thou shalt be called Peter The day following the Son of God going into Galilee Jo. 1 43.-51 found one named Philip who was of Bethsaida of which place both Andrew and Peter were and he saith unto him follow me Philip meeteth Nathanael and tells him that they had found the Messias promised by the Law and foretold by the Prophets and that Jesus of Nazareth was he Nathanael answered Can any good thing come out of Nazareth And he followed Philip who brought him to Jesus As soon as Jesus saw him Behold an Israelite indeed without guile or deceit Nathanael astonished at his words asked him Whence knowest thou me Jesus answered Before that Philip called thee when thou wast under the fig-tree I saw thee Nathanael saith Master Thou art the Son of God thou art the King of Israel Jesus answered him Dost thou believe because I said unto thee that I saw thee under the fig-tree thou shalt see greater things Verily verily I say unto thee Hereafter thou shalt see Heaven opened and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man to attend his triumphant Ascension into the Glories of his Father XVIII The first Miracle that Jesus did The third day after his departure from the River Jordan Jesus was at a Marriage in Cana of Galilee Jo. 2 1.-11 to which the Holy Virgin was also invited and his Disciples At this solemnity there being a great want of Wine the Holy Virgin pitying the unseasonable scarcity said to her Son They have no Wine But Jesus being desirous to teach us that in those Actions wherein the Service and Honour of God is concerned we ought to have no respect to Man but even our Parents themselves are to be look'd upon as Strangers saith unto his Mother What is that to you or me mine hour is not yet come The Holy Virgin was not at all disturbed or discouraged at this answer but bid them that waited to do whatsoever he commanded them Now there were six great Water-potts of Stone which were used in the Purifications which were common among the Jews The Son of God orders them to fill them with Water and when they were full he saith unto the Servants Draw out now and carry it to the Governour of the Feast Having tasted of it and perceiving it to be excellent Wine but not knowing whence it was tells the Bridegroom that he had done contrary to the Custom because he had kept the best Wine till the end of the Banquet This change of Water into VVine was the first Miracle that Jesus did and it was of great use to manifest his Glory and confirm his Disciples in their Faith in him XIX Jesus drives the Merchants out of the Temple Jo. 2.12 -25. From Cana he went with his Mother Kindred and Disciples to Caparnaum a City of the same Province of Galilee where he stayed but a little while because the Feast of the Passover being near he went up to Jerusalem Being there he found in the Temple certain Merchants who sold Oxen and Sheep and Doves and the Changers of the Mony sitting at their Tables And he immediately made a VVhip with Cords and drave them all
would accept such a piece of Service from her who was a Samaritan for the Jews abhor the Samaritans and will have no commerce with them because they being Strangers had possessed themselves of part of their Country and had changed the Laws of Moses by several Pagan Superstitions which they mixed with it This her surprize she discovered to Jesus who said unto her If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that desires drink of thee thou wouldest have asked of him thy self and he would have given thee Living Water The VVoman understood these words in the literal sense Jo. 4 12.-18 and not knowing but he would draw the Living VVater either out of that or some other VVell She replyed Master thou hast nothing to draw with and the Well is deep how then wilt thou get this Living Water Art thou greater than our Father Jacob who gave us this Well and drank of it himself and all his Family Jesus answered He that drinks of this Water shall thirst again but he that shall drink of the Water that I will give him shall never thirst but it shall become a Well in him springing up unto eternal Life which he meant either of that Grace which quenches all humane desires of Earthly and Carnal Enjoyments or else of his Celestial glory which shall perfectly satisfie all our Appetites But the Samaritan VVoman understood it of Corporeal VVater which made her to say to Jesus Christ with great earnestness Lord give me this Water that being a-thirst no more I may not be forced to come hither to draw Jesus said to her Go call thy Husband She answered that she had no Husband whereupon Jesus reply'd Thou hast good cause to say so for thou hast had five Husbands and he that thou now hast is not thy Husband in this thou hast said truly By these words she perceived that he knew how she had lived and she said unto him Jo. 4 19.-26 either to divert his discourse to a more pleasing Subject or that she might get some Advantage and Instruction from a Person so knowing Lord I am sensible that thou art a Prophet I pray resolve me this controversie Our Fathers worshipped upon this Mountain and ye say that Jerusalem is the place where Men ought to Worship VVhich of us are in the Right Jesus takes an occasion to tell this VVoman that God being a Spirit and the Truth he will be adored in Spirit and Truth and be known by those that worship him that this VVorship depends not upon Places and the time is coming when he shall be worshipped in that manner only She replyed I know that Messias will come and when he is come he will Instruct us throughly in these matters Whereupon Jesus said unto her I am the very Messias that thou speakest of In the mean time his Disciples who were gone into the City to buy Food Jo. 4 27.-34 came and wondred to see him Discourse so freely with the VVoman but the respect which they had for him hindred them from demanding the Reason of it Nevertheless she left her Pitcher there and went into the City and said to the Inhabitants Come and see the Man who hath told me all that ever I did Is not this the Christ Jesus remained still at the Well And when his Disciples earnestly desired him to eat he said unto them I have meat to eat which ye know not of and then he explains to them what sort of meat he meant in these Words My meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his Workâ— This Work was the Salvation of Man and his Meat was the Faith of those who were converted by his Preachings Soon after these things the Woman with whom Jesus had talked Jo. 4 39.-42 returned with the Inhabitants of Sychar who believing on him already because of the Womans words came to desire him to abide with them He stayed with them two days and by his Discourses much confirmed them in the Faith and increased the number of those that believed in his Name Insomuch that they said unto the Woman Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and we know that this is certainly the Christ the Saviour of the World The End of the First Book BOOK II. The History of what Jesus Christ Did and Taught in the First two Years of his Preaching I. His Preaching in Galilee WHEN the two days were expired Matt. 4 12.-17 Mar. 1.14 15. Lu. 4.14 15. Jo. 4.43 -45. Jesus went on his intended Journey into Galilee being filled with the power of the Spirit and was joyfully received by the Galileans because they had seen the Miracles which he did at Jerusalem at the Feast of the Passover Here he began to Preach the Gospel that is to say the Joyful news of the Kingdom of God which he came to publish to the World saying The time is come The Kingdom of God is at hand Repent ye and believe the Gospel And this he taught in all the Synagogues of this Province with great success for he was highly esteemed with all Men and his Fame went abroad into all that Country Jesus being again at Cana of Galilee where he made the Water VVine Jo. 4.46 -53. there came a certain Noble Man to him who desired him to go down with him to Capernaum to heal his Son who was at the Point of Death Jesus knowing the thoughts of his Heart and the Imperfections of his Faith Book II. said unto him Except ye see Signs and Wonders ye shall not believe But this Lord wheâ— was one of Herod's Courtiers being very earnesâ— with him to go down before his Child dyed he answered him Go thy way thy Son liveth And he believed Jesus's words and returning home his Sarvants met him and brought him the Newâ—s of his Sons recovery He then inquired of them what hour he began to amend and they told him yesterday about One a Clock in the Afternoon the Fever left him which was the very same hour in which Jesus said unto him Thy Son iâ— well This Miracle converted the Noble Man and all his Family and they believed on Jesus Christ II. The Calling of Four Apostles Matt. 4 18.-22 Matt. 8.24 On the East side of Galilee there was a great Lake which the Gospel calls a Sea according to thâ— usual manner of speaking among the Jews and sometimes it is called the Sea of Galilee because some part of this Province adjoyns to this Lake and sometimes the Lake or Sea of Gennesareth of Tiberias Lu. 5.1 Jo. 21.1 from a City of these two Names which stood upon the Shore of it Jesus walking by the side of this Lake saw two Fishermen casting their Nets into the Water The one of them was Simon and the other Andrew his Brother who being one of John's Disciples and hearing his Master say that Jesus was the Lamb of God followed
concurring Approbation of his Father in Holy Scripture to render it credible nay certain but yet he knew that they would not be convinced by all these Proofs because they loved not God and instead of seeking that Glory which is from God they delighted in no other Persons Esteem or Approbation but what they receive one from another XIII The Jews accuse Jesus's Disciples of Sabboth Breaking Matth 12.1 8. Mark 2 23-28 Luke 6 1-5 The Jews who had charged Jesus with a Sin in healing a Man upon their Sabboth Day as having thereby broken the Law of God were not afraid to condemn him for the same Fault upon many the like occasions for as he passed along the Corn-Fields upon the Sabboth Day and his Diciples being very hungry took some Ears of Corn as they went along and rubbing them in their Hands eat them some of the Pharisees complained of it to him saying Behold thy Disciple do that which is not lawful to be done on the Sabboth Day But he demonstrates to them first of all by the Example of David who in an urgent case of Necessity had eaten of the Shew-Bread which none but the Priests might lawfully eat that Necessity may create a Dispensation of a Law Secondly by the Example of their own Priests who were not thought guilty of Sabboth-breaking notwithstanding they slay and slay their Sacrifices in the Temple upon the Sabboth Day according to the Commandment of the same Law 〈◊〉 that the Law doth not forbid all sorts of Action upon the Sabboth Day But if they pretend that the Temple justifies these sorts of Actions he might as well justifie this Action of his Disciples since He was greater than the Temple But if they had known that Mercy is more acceptable to God than Sacrifice they would not have so rashly condemned the Innocent That they inverted the Order of things in that they would have Man made for Sabboth whereas the Sabboth was made for Man And lastly That the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabboth-day and so may lawfully command or permit what he pleases to be done in it XIV Jesus Cures several sick Persons on the Sabboth On another Saturday as he taught in the Synagogue Matth. 12 10-13 Mar. 3 1-5 Lu. 6 6-10 there was a Man who had his Right Hand withered And the Lawyers and the Pharisees asked Jesus Whether it was Lawful to heal on the Sabboth day And they at the same time observed whether he would heal this Man that they might have cause of Accusation against him But Jesus knowing their thoughts bid the Man stand forth in the middle of the Assembly and asked them again Whether it be Lawful to do good and save Life on the Sabboth day And to give them an undeniable proof of the Lawfulness of it he adds What Man is there among you that shall have a Sheep which happens to fall into a Pit upon the Sabboth day will not lay hold of it and lift it out How much is a Man better than a sheep They could not answer any thing to this but they would not acknowledge the Truth so that Jesus having looked upon them with anger and being grieved for the hardness blindness of their Heart he turned himself to the Man that had the Withered Hand and said unto him Stretch out thy hand which he did and immediately his Hand was made as whole as the other Mat. 12 14-21 Mar. 3 6.-12 Lu. 6.11 The Pharisees seeing this Miracle were enraged against him and took Councel together how they might destroy Jesus Whereupon he withdrew himself with his Disciples to the Lake of Gennesareth being followed by a great number of People for the Fame of these Miracles being spread abroad throughout all Galilee Judea Idumaea and all the Country round about Jordan as far as the Mediterranean Sea to the Coasts of Tyre and Sydon they came in throngs from all these places to hear him and to be cured of their Diseases This caused him to order his Disciples to keep a small Ship there ready to go into that he might not be crowded by the People He healed all that were present of their Diseases commanding them at the same time not to discover him and silencing with threatnings the Devils who fell down before him crying out and saying Thou art the Son of God XV. Jesus Christ chooseth his Twelve Disciples and preacheth his Sermon on the Mount After these things Jesus retired into a Mountain where he continued all Night in Prayer to God Lu. 6 12.-26 Mar. 3 13.-20 Matt. 5. â—-12 And when it was day he called his Disciples and out of them he chose twelve whom he named Apostles which signifies Persons sent because he sent them to preach his Gospel with a power to heal Diseases and cast out Devils The Gospel observes that he chose whom he would and that these were the Twelve which he preferred to this Dignity viz. Simon whom he had already named Peter and Andrew his Brother the two Sons of Zebedee James and John whom he Surnamed Boanerges i. e. Sons of Thunder Philip to whom he first of all said Follovv me Bartholomew Matthew whom he took from the Custom-house Thomas also called Didimus i. e. a Twin another James the Son of Alpheus and his Brother named Judas or Thaddaeus Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot Then he came dovvn with them and remained in the Plain near the same Mountain vvhither the Multitude abovementioned vvhich came to hear him and touched him because such Virtue vvent out of him as healed all manner of Diseases flocked unto him Among them vvere many possessed vvith Devils vvhom he freed After this in the presence of all this Company he made a Discourse which contains all the Precepts of the Christian Law he spake it to his Disciples and begins it by teaching them wherein true Happiness consists saying to them Blessed are the poor in spirit that is to say those who are loose in their desires of Earthly things for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Blessed are they that mourn for their own and others sins hating the Carnal pleasures of this World for they shall be comforted and filled with spiritual Joy Blessed are the meek and quiet spirited for they shall inherit the Earth i. e. Paradise which is as the Fathers explain it the Land of the Living and the Heritage of such as suffer Joyfully the spoiling of their Goods which they cannot preserve without offending God Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness for they shall have their Holy desires satisfied Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy Blessed are they whose hearts are clean from all Carnal Lusts for they shall see God Blessed are the peace-makers who not only love and live in peace themselves but labour to make others to be at peace for they shall be called the Children of God being as like the God of Peace as Children are to their
the Multitude That if the Devils who are Man's irreconcilable Enemies should thus cast out one another their Kingdom would not stand long that there were some Persons among the Jews who cast out Devils whom yet the Pharisees did not accuse of casting them out by the Prince of the Devils That an armed Man will not be put out of his own House but by a stronger than himself so that he did not cast out Satan but by the Power of a Spirit stronger than Satan i. e. by the Spirit of God which ought to be a convincing Proof that the Kingdom of God is come unto them that in opposing such manifest Works of the Holy Spirit as they had done they had made themselves guilty of an unpardonable Blasphemy that since we judge of a Tree by its Fruits they ought to judge of him by his Works and not condemn him as a wicked Man whenas he doth nothing but good Actions that the Calumnies which they so rashly spoke against him proceeded from the evil Treasure of their Hearts and should not escape unpunished since at the Day of Judgment we must give an account of every evil Word and be condemned for them as we are justified by good XXIV The Pharisees desire a Sign of him Matth. 12 38-46 Luke 11 29-32 Then certain of the Scribes and Pharisees said unto him Master we desire that thou wouldst shew us some Sign of thy Mission They had been Witnesses of a great Number of Miracles which they cryed down for Cheats and Impostures and as if all that he had done already were not enough to convince them that he wrought them by the Spirit of God they desired to see some new thing But Jesus gave them no other Answer but this An evil and an adulterous Generation seeketh after a Sign and no other Sign shall be given them but that of the Prophet Jonas Jonas was a Prophet who being sent by God to foretel and Threaten to the Inhabitants of Ninive the Destruction of their City within Forty Days instead of obeying this Command took Ship to go to another Place but a Tempest arising in his Voyage he confessed that it was a Punishment of his Disobedience and to appease it bid them cast him into the Sea He was immediately devoured by a great Fish which at the end of Three Days cast him upon the Shore from whence he went to Ninive and preached as God had commanded him The Ninivites believed his Words proclaimed a solemn Fast and so by their Repentance escaped the Punishment which God had threatned them Jesus propounds this Sign of Jonas to the Pharisees and makes a double Application of it the one to himself the other to them for he says That as this Prophet was Three Days in the Belly of the Fish which devoured him so should the Son of Man be Three Days in the Heart of the Earth By which he signifies That he should be buried in a Tomb and should rise from the Dead the third Day He adds for a second Reflection That as Jonas was a Sign to the Ninivites so should he be to the Pharisees which he explains in this manner The Men of Ninive shall rise up in the Judgment against this Generation and shall condemn them because they repented at the Preaching of Jonas but a Person greater than Jonas is here He says further to them That the Queen of Sheba shall also condemn them in the Day of Judgment because she came from a far Country to hear the Wisdom of Solomon which Princess they are so far from imitating that they despise his Words and Miracles who manifested more Divine Wisdom than Solomon ever did Lastly He threatens them with such Fury as the Devil exercises over those Persons from whom they have been once forced to go out but have found out a way to enter again which are therefore the more enraged Teaching us at the same Time That we ought to be always upon our Guard when we are delivered from an unclean Spirit because the Devil doth not wholly abandon us but if we are not watchful against him will return with Seven Spirits more wicked than himself and by this second Possession make the Condition of that Soul more miserable a great deal than it was by the first As Jesus was thus confuting the Pharisees Malice a certain Woman of the Company lift up her Voice and said Blessed is the Womb that bare thee and the Paps that thou hast sucked But he answered her Yea rather blessed are they that hear the Word of God and practise it At the same Time it was told him That his Mother and his Brethren Matth. 12 47-50 Mark 3.31 35. Luke 8 19-21 i. e. his Kindred stood without because they could not get at him for the Press and desired to speak with him But he answered Who is my Mother and who are my Brethren Then looking upon those that were set about him and stretching forth his Hands towards his Disciples he said Behold my Mother and my Brethren for my Mother and my Brethren are they that hear the Word of God and do it and they that do the Will of my Father which is in Heaven XXV Jesus Christ delivers many Parables Matth. 13 1-23 Luke 8.4 15. Mark 4 1-20 The same Day Jesus went out of the House and came to the end of the Lake of Gennesareth but when he saw a great Multitude of People coming unto him from the neighbouring Towns he went into a Ship and instructed the People out of it who gave great Attention to him from the Shore He delivered many excellent and saving Truths to them in Parables which was his ordinary way of Teaching Parables in the Gospel are feigned Stories or Comparisons taken from Nature Things the Application of which being something hard to find out exercises the Attention of the Mind but being discovered opens some Mystery of Religion to us or makes known some important Maxim or Precept for the Government and Direction of our Manners As for Example this is a kind of Parable which Jesus speaks of the strong Man armed who keeps his House but is expelled by a stronger than he The Application of which is this as we have seen The strong Man is the Devil whom Jesus Christ drives out of Men's Souls by the Spirit of God which is stronger than the Devil The First Parable which the Son of God propounded to the People from the Ship where he sat was this A Man went out to sow and some of his Seed fell in the High-Way and it was trodden upon and devoured with Birds Another Part fell upon a Rock and was scorched by the Sun because it had no Root for want of Moisture Other fell among Thorns which chok'd it And other fell on good Ground and brought forth Fruit in abundance Now because the Application of this Parable which our Saviour intended by it was not easy to find out he added He that hath Ears to
because they knew it was their Master And Jesus having taken the Bread gave it them and likewise the Fish XLIX Jesus commits the care of his Sheep to St. Peter When they had eaten Jesus said to Peter Simon John 21 15-23 Son of Jonas Lovest thou me more than these do He answered him Yea Lord thou knowest I love thee Jesus saith unto him Feed my Lambs He asked him again a Second time Simon Son of Jonas Lovest thou me Yea Lord answered Peter thou knowest that I Love thee Jesus says again Feed my Lambs Jesus again the Third time put the same Question to him Peter was troubled that his Master seem'd to doubt of his Love and answered him Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I Love thee Our Saviour having made him thus make some amends for his Sin in denying him Thrice by giving a Triple Testimony of his Love committed the Care of his Sheep to him i. e. the Souls of his People saying to him again Feed my Sheep He adds Verily Verily I say unto thee when thou wast Young thou girdedst thy self and went whither thou pleasest but when thou shalt be Old thou shalt stretch forth thy Hands and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldst not The Gospel saith that Jesus signified by these Words by what Death Peter should glorify God and they did indeed concur in the Martyrdom of this Apostle whom Tradition teacheth us to have been Crucified as his Master was Euseb Eccles Hist. lib. 2. c. 25. After this Jesus commanded Peter to follow him and Peter turning him seeth John the Beloved Disciple of Jesus following him and seeing him he saith unto Jesus Lord what shall become of this Man But Jesus checks his Curiosity by tclling him that he ought not to trouble himself with what shall befall others and orders him to mind nothing but to follow him And speaking of John he sayeth to him I will that he tarry till I come Or according to other Editions If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee These words seemed to intimate to the Apostles that John should not dye But this Evangelist who wrote these things himself observes that Jesus did not say that he should not dye and History indeed tells us That he is Dead But the sense of these Words of the Son of God perhaps signifies that that Disciple should continue as he was to his Death i. e. he should not dye a Violent Death as Peter should or that he should Live till the Destruction of Jerusalem for these words Vntil I come may signify according to the usual Language of Scripture Vntil I come to take him out of the World by Death Or till I come to punish and Chastize this People St. John did really live till after the Destruction of Jerusalem and dyed at last of his Natural Death L. Jesus Instructed the Apostles The Son of God shewed himself several times more to his Apostles during the Forty days Matth. 28 16-20 Mark 16 15-18 Luke 24 44-49 Acts 1.3 that he abode upon Earth after his Resurrection and he appeared so often saith St. Luke to give them ample Proofs that he was alive and to talk with them of the Kingdom of God And since he had determined to call Men by Preaching to the possession of that Kingdom he gave them necessary instructions to discharge their Functions well He explained to them all that was spoken of himself in the Law of Moses and in the Books of the Prophets and in the Psalms and opened their Understandings to understand the sense of Scripture He shews them that according as it is Written Christ must suffer Death and be raised the Third day and that Repentance and remission of Sins should be preached in all Nations beginning at Jerusalem He Communicates to them the Authority which he had received of his Father and saith to them All power is given to me in Heaven and Earth Go ye therefore into all the World and Preach the Gospel and Instruct all People Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you He adds That they that believe not shall be Damned and on the contrary They that believe their Word by a lively Faith and are Baptized shall be saved and likewise shall do Miracles Casting out Devils Speaking with Tongues Drinking Poison without getting harm and Healing the Sick by laying their Hands on them Lastly since the Apostles had need of Power and Strength to exercise the Ministry which was entrusted to them he assured them of his protection telling them that he would be with them always to the End of the World and he promised them to endue them with power from above by the Holy Spirit which he would send from Heaven LI. The last Appearance of Jesus Christ Matth. 28 16-18 It is probable that Jesus gave them the greatest part of these Instructions at the Famous Apearance p. 217. The Ascension of Jesus Christ which he made to them upon the Mountain of Galilee where he appointed to meet them Here he promised them before he dyed to shew himself to them And on the day of his Resurrection the Angels and He himself commanded the Holy Women to tell his Disciples that he would meet in Galilee They went thither they saw him as he had promised and they Worshipped him 1 Cor. 15.6 It is credible that all his Disciples met him there as the Apostles and that it is of the Appearance that St. Paul speaks who saith That Jesus appeared to more than Five Hundred Brethren at once The same Apostle tells us that he also appeared to James but doth not relate in what manner Luke 24.49 Acts â—1 4-8 Lastly He shewed himself the Last time to his Apostles at Jerusalem where he commanded them to abide till they should receive the Holy Spirit which he promised them in these words John Baptized with Water but ye shall be Baptized i. e. Washed and Sanctified by the Holy Ghost not many days hence They asked him Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the Kingdom of Israel He answered them That it is not for them to know the Times and Seasons which God hath put in his own absolute Power But ye shall receive saith he to them the power of the Holy Spirit which shall come down upon you and ye shall be witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the Earth LII The Ascension of Jesus Christ These were the last Words according to S. Luke Mark 16.19 20. Luke 24 50-53 Acts 1 9-12 which Jesus spake upon the Earth if they were spoken immediately before he left his Apostles it was at Bethany whither he led them upon the Day of his Ascension or upon the Mount of Olives From which it appears he ascended as S. Luke relates He
he prayed for S. Peter's Faith 179. For his Apostles and all the World 186. for his Elect ibid. in the Garden to avoid Death 188. upon his Cross for the Persecutors 201. commending his Soul to God 204. his Prayer was always heard 205. he promises to pray for the Holy Spirit 181. Prodigy The Jews desire one 68. several appeared at Jesus Death 204. Prodigal The Parable of him 128. Prophet Prophecy a Prophet is without Honour in his own Countrey 75. Caiphas Prophecy concerning Christs Death 143. Prophets Explained by Christ 210. the Prophets end at John 63 who was more than a Prophet Ibid. Zachary's Prophecy 8. Publicans Instructed by St. John 22. received by Jesus 46. more just than the Pharisees 61. hated by the Jews 46. the Parable of the Pharisee and Publican 135. a Publican made an Apostle 46. and another a Child of Abraham 147. Purification Whom the Law obligeth in that case 16. the Virgins Purification 17. Q. QVeen of Sheba shall condemn the Jews 69. R REconciliation Necessary before we Sacrifice to God 56. as also before prayer 158. Redemption Jesus Christ shed his Blood for the Redemption of Souls 145. Reward Shall be great to those that suffer for Righteousness sake 56. Hypocrites receive their Reward here 57. the VVorkman is worthy of his Hire 77. Repentance Preached by St. John 21. and Jesus Christ 35. by the Apostles 76. Repentance of the Ninivites 68. in Sackcloath and Ashes 65. of a Sinner causeth Joy in Heaven 129. necessity of it 121. Baptism of Repentance 21. Fruits worthy of Repentance 22. it ought to be Preached every where 144. the Repentance of a Woman that was a sinner 66. God expects Repentance 121. Jesus Christ receives sinners upon their Repentance 128. reproves the impenitent Cities 65. Judas's false Repentance 194. Reproof Given by Jesus Christ to the Apostles 42. Pharisees 64. Scribes 16. Impenitent Cities of Galilee Ibid. Simon the Pharisee 66. Resurrection Jesus Christ hath all the Power to raise the Dead 51. he is the Resurrection and the Life 141. he will raise them that eat his Flesh 85. the Dead shall rise 163. there shall be no Marriage after the Resurrection Ibid. Christ raised from the Dead Jairus's Daughter 49. The Widows Son of Nain 62. Lazarus 142. the dead Bodies of many Saints at his own Resurrection 204. Retreat Jesus retires into the Desert where he is tempted 5. he retreated from Judaea after the Imprisonment of John 33. into a Desert to pray 39. to the Sea-side 54. into a Mountain to pray before he chose his Apostles Ibid. into the Desert after he had healed the Leper 60. after his Fame was spread in Herods Court 80. into a Mountain when they would have made him a King 82. into the Coasts of Tyre and Sidon 88. Into the City of Ephrem after the Resurrection of Lazarus 143. Riches Rich-men a Wo pronounced against them 65. the Covetous Rich-man 119. the VVicked Rich-man 131. Rich toward God Ibid. Riches Are Thorns 119. why Jesus calls Riches the Mammon of unrighteousness 130. rich Men hardly saved 136. the good use to be made of Riches 119. S SAbboth-day A day of Rest 51. Jesus Christ often accused of breaking the Law of the Sabboth because he did Miracles on it Ibid. justifies himself 52. and his Apostles Ibid. it is lawful to do well on the Sabboth-day Ibid. it is for Man Ibid. Jesus Christ is Lord also of the Sabboth Ibid. Sadducees Who they were 22. Johns saying to them Ibid. they desire a Sign of Jesus Christ 90. their Doctrin called Leaven 91. they Question with Jesus 163. he proves the Resurrection to them Ibid. Salome The Wife of Zebedee prayeth Jesus for her Children 145. stood by the Cross 203. went to the Sepulchre 206. Salomon Visited by the Queen of Sheba 69. Jesus Christ greater than he Ibid. Samaria Samaritans Enemies of the Jews 33. the Samaritan Woman converted by Jesus Christ Ibid. the Samaritans believed on him 34. they would not let him pass thro' their City 77. the Good Samaritan 114. the thankful Leper of Samaria 10. Scandal The necessity of Scandals 100. the World is full of them Ibid. Wo to the causes of them by their Faults Ibid. the Eye to be plucked out and Hand to be cut off that offend Ibid. Jesus Chtist a Scandal to the Nazarenes 74. to the Pharisees 87. Apostles 180. he is happy that is not offended in him 63. Jesus Christ slights the offence of the Pharisees 84. he pays Tribute to avoid Scandal 98. Servant We cannot serve two Masters 58. the Servant is not Greater than his Master 77. all are unprofitable Servants 120. the first among Christians must be Servant of all as Christ himself was 146. Christs Servants must follow him 187. Sidon A Heathen City 64. Simeon An Old Man full of the Spirit 17. saw and embraced Christ Ibid. his Hymn and Prophecy 18. Simon The Pharisee made a feast for Jesus Christ 65. offended at him for suffering a sinful Woman to kiss his Feet Ibid. reprov'd by Jesus 66. Simon The Leper Jesus Christ Supped at his House at Bethany 90. Simon Of Cyrene bears Jesus 's Cross before him 200. v. Sinn Sin Against the Holy Ghost 67. God only forgives Sins 45. the Church hath Power to pardon Sin 100. Servant of Sin 108. Sin forgiven to the Man sick of the Palsy 45. and Woman that was a Sinner 66. Sinner Jesus Christ called a Sinner 110. eats with Sinners 46. came down from Heaven for Sinners 128. Sodom A City punished for her Sinns 50. less Guilty than the Impenitent Cities of Galilee Ibid. Soldiers Johns Instructions to the Soldiers 22. Guard the Cross of Christ 204. the Sepulchre 206. Holy Spirit John Baptist filled with the Spirit 4. Jesus Christ Conceived by the Operation of the Holy Spirit 6 9. it proceedeth from the Father and Son 11. discovered Jesus Christ to Simeon 17. came down from Heaven upon Jesus in the form of a Dove 23. carryed him into the Desert 24. Inspired whom it pleaseth 29. to be Born of Water and of the Spirit Ibid. Baptism with the Holy Ghost and with Fire 23. Blaspheming against the Holy Ghost 67. it was given after Christ was Glorified 184. the Spirit of Truth Ibid. Condemns the World Ibid. promised to the Apostles 181. given them 212 216. Star A Miraculous Star conducted the Magi to Christ 15. Steward The unjust Steward 119. Sun Darkned at Christs passion 203. and so it shall be at Christs Coming 168. T TAbernacles The Feast of Tabernacles one of the Great Feasts of the Jews 102. why Instituted Ibid. Jesus came to Jerusalem in the midst of this Feast Ibid. Temple Christ drove the Traders out of it Twice 28 156. the House of God and of Prayer Ibid. the Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem 153. the Vail Rent from the top to the bottom 204. Temptation Of Christ by the Devil 24. by a Scribe 164. by the Pharisees 162. by the Sadducees