Father Jesus having given his Disciples all these Instructions John 17 1-26 lift up his Eyes to Heaven and praying to his Father said My Father the hour is come glorify thy Son that thy Son may glorify thee And as thou hast given him power over all flesh so he hath given to as many as thou hast given him Eternal Life which consists in the knowledge of thee the true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent I have glorified thee on Earth I have finished the Work which thou hast given me to do And now O Father glorifie me with thy self with that Glory which I had with thee before the World was He then prays for the Apostles which his Father had given him and who having received his Word had believed that he came from God and that he had sent him and since he left them in the World he commends them to his Father not to take them out of the World by Death but to preserve them from Sin He had kept them all in his Fathers Name and had lost but One viz. Judas He had separated them from the World and because they had not the Spirit of the VVorld the VVorld hated them wherefore he prays his Father to keep them and Sanctify them by his VVord which is Truth it self offering himself a Sacrifice for them that he might obtain that favour for them He also recommedns all those to God who should believe in his Name thro' the Preaching of his Apostles and prays for such an Admirable Union among them as makes all Christians One being united together in God by his Charity as the Father who is in the Son and Son who is in the Father are by one Nature O Father adds he I pray that where I am those whom thou hast given me may also be that they may behold my Glory And he concludes this Admirable Prayer with these words Holy Father the World hath not known thee but I have known thee these have known that I have sent thee I have declared unto them thy Name and will declare it that they may have that love among them with which thou hast loved me and that I may be also my self among them XXIX The Agony of Christ in the Garden upon the Mount of Olives Jesus having finished the former Prayer Matth. 26 36-46 Mark 14 26-42 Luke 22 39-46 Jo. 18.1 went on his Journey towards the Mount of Olives and passing over the Brook Cedron which runs between Jerusalem and this Mountain went with his Disciples into a Garden called Gethsemani Here he commanded them to stay till he went and Prayed a little distance from it and in the mean time to pray themselves that they be not delivered over to temptation Jesus then taking with him Peter and James and John began to be seized with fear trouble and grief and said unto them My Soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto Death tarry ye here and watch with me Then departing from them about a Stones cast he threw himself upon the Earth and as he was willing for the Consolation of his Disciples to endure all the Passions which Nature ordinarily stirs up at the approaches of Death so he was desirous by his Example to teach them what to do in that Estate Thro' the voluntary perception of the infirmities of the flesh he Prayed his Father to save him from that Hour wherein he had declared him to suffer Death but thro' the Motion of a Spirit full of Submission and Charity he corrected those first Motions and yielded entirely to the Will of his Father saying My Father My Father all things are possible with thee remove this Cup from me nevertheless not mine but thy Will be done Having thus prayed he arose and went to his Disciples whom he found asleep their Hearts being filled with sorrow wherefore speaking to Peter he reproved him Simon sleepest thou and then he said to all of them What could ye not Watch one hour with me Watch and Pray that ye enter not into Temptation The Spirit is ready but the flesh is weak As if he had said The Spirit would not be afraid of Death and ye believe that ye have strength enough to contemn it but the weakness of the flesh makes such a strong resistance against the Spirit that it will easily conquer it unless you beg the Divine grace to support you against the fears of Death Having said thus he returned again to his Prayers and said to God My Father If this Cup may not pass from me unless I drink it Thy Will be done Then he returned again to his Disciples and finding them so sleepy that they knew not what to answer him he went again to his Prayers a Third time St. Luke tells us that there came an Angel from Heaven to him to strengthen him and that the Agony in which he was i. e. the conflict that he had in himself between the Flesh which dissuaded him from suffering and the Spirit which was willing to submit to the Will of God caused such a violent disturbance in his Body that there issued from it a Swet which fell down to the Earth like drops of Blood Then he went a Third time to find his Apostles and saying unto them by way of Reproof and Irony That they might now sleep on and take their rest because his time was come He tells them in good earnest That the time was come that the Son of Man shall be delivered into the Hands of Sinners Arise therefore saith he Let us go hence behold he that betrayeth me is at hand XXX The Apprehension of Jesus Jesus had scarcely said these words Matth. 26 47-56 Mark 14 43-52 Luke 22 47-53 John 18 2-11 but Judas Iscariot came with a Band of Soldiers and Officers which the Priests Scribes Pharisees and Rulers had sent to take him They were Armed with Swords and Staves and had Lanthorns and Torches with them because it was Night and because they knew not him whom they had Orders to Seize Judas told them That it is he whom he shall Kiss Take him and carry him away safely He then came to Jesus and saying to him Hail Master he gave him a Kiss which was the Sign he had given them to make him to be taken by them Jesus said no more to him but these words Friend why are you come hither What Judas Dost thou betray the Son of Man with a Kiss Jesus then immediately goes to the Soldiers whom Judas had brought and asked them Whom they sought They answered Jesus of Nazareth He saith to them I am He And immediately they went back and fell to the Earth Then again he asked them Whom seek ye They answered again Jesus of Nazareth he said I have told you already That I am He and if ye seek me Let these Men go which he spoke of his Disciples that he might fulfil his Words spoken in his Prayer to his Father of them which thou gavest me have I
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
Blood upon them 199. the Blood of all the Righteous Men slain shall be punished upon Jerusalem 118. C Caiphas High-Priest of the Jews foretells Jesus Death 143. Condemns Christ 192. Calling of St. Peter and St. Andrew 26. the 2d time 32. of St. Philip and Nathaniel 40. of St. Matthew 46. of the 12 Apostles 54. to the great Supper 126. to the Marriage 160. to repentance 35. many called few chosen 126. Calumnies Dispersed of Jesus a Magician that cast out Devils by Belzebub 50. a friend of Publicans and Sinners 46. a Glutton and VVine bibber 64. a breaker of the Law 52. an Impostor 195. a Sinner 110. a Blasphemer and Impious 192. a Samaritan 108. a seditious Man 195. a Seducer 196. one who sought to make himself a King 195. forbad paying Tribute to Caesar ibid. Capernaum A City of Galilee scituate upon the Bank of Gennesareth 38. Jesus Christ dwelt there ibid. he reproves their hardness 65. Miracles which Jesus did there 38 39. Centurion's Faith and Care of his Servant 60. acknowledgeth Jesus the Son of God 204. Caesar Ought to have his dues 162. Christ Acknowledged to be Messias by Andrew and Philip 26. by St. Peter 92. by Martha 141. by the Centurion 204. by the Devils 39. confesseth it himself 33. the Son of David 105. Commandments of God to be preferred before the Traditions of Men 87. to be kept 136. the two great Commandments of the Law what 163. to love one another 183. he that loves God keeps his Commandments 182. Confession Of Sins at Baptism 21. of Christ by Devils 39. by all that Christ will own 77. Conversion Of a Sinner rejoyceth Heaven 128. of St. Matthew 46. of a Woman Sinner 65. of Zacchaeus 146. of S. Peter of the Thief 202. Corazin An Impenitent City 64. Covetousness to be avoided 118. of the Pharisees 131. of Judas 150. the folly of it 118. Cross We must bear the Cross 127. Jesus Christ carried his own Cross to Calvary 200. he is fixed to it 201. his Title on the Cross ibid. he entred into glory by the Cross 210. he was lifted up on the Cross as the Brazen Serpent 29. D DEbtors The Parable of the two Debtors 65. of the ungrateful Debtor 101. Dedication Feast of 122. Devils Acklowledge Jesus to be the Christ 38. he gives his Apostles power over them 76 and to 72 Disciples 113. some of them driven out only by Prayer and Fasting 97. Jesus accused of having commerce with Devils 67. Judas called a Devil 86 into whose heart he entred 173. Jesus tempted by the Devil 24. cast him out of the World 154. Prince of the VVorld Ibid. Destruction Of Jerusalem 152 153. Disciples Of John two of them become Jesus's 29. two sent to Christ by John when he was in Prison 62. fasted often 47. Disciples Of Jesus Christ their first calling 26 36. the Twelve Apostles chosen out of them 54. Seventy Two of them sent to preach 113. Devils subject to them Ibid. some forsake him 86. all leave him at his Death 190. the beloved Disciple who 178. Jesus appears to them 213. to be a Dissciple of Christ we must forsake all 127. Doctor Doctors of the Law are the Scribes 158. Doctrin Jesus 's Doctrin not his but God's 104. it was accompanied with authority 38. Pharisees Doctrin to be obeyed but their example not to be followed 164. Drachma a Tribute of Two Drachma's pay'd by Jesus 98. E ELias John Baptist said to be Elias 4. he appeared to Christ at his Transfiguration 94. Elizabeth John Baptists Mother 4. Enemies to be loved 57. Epiphany Or Christs manifestation of the Magi 15 Eucharist In it Christs Flesh and Blood are received 85. to be received by all Ibid. its effects Ibid. and institution 177. F FAith Makes Men Children of God 12. can do all things 96. power of it 157. Jesus reproves his Disciples for having little Faith 42. St. Peters faith 82. Jesus Christ is our food by Faith 84. the Apostles pray Jesus to increase their Faith 97. the Faith of the Apostles 82. of those that carryed the Man sick of the Palsey to Jesus 45. of the VVoman that had the bloody flux 48. of the Blind-men 49. of the Blind-man at Jericho 149. of the Centurion 61. of the VVoman that was a Sinnet 66. of the VVoman of Canaan 88. Jesus prays that St. Peters Faith fail not 179. requires Faith of Martha 141. Questions whether he shall find Faith on Earth at his Second coming 135. Faithful In small things 130. the commendation of a Faithful Servant 104. the unfaithful Steward put out of his Office 130. Fasting of Jesus 24. how to fast 58. Feasts St. Matthew made a Feast for Jesus 46. the Feast of Simon the Pharisee 65. Simon the Leper at Bethany 149. of Herod to his Lords 78. to sit in the lowest Room at a Feast 125. to Feast the Poor rather than the Rich 126. the Marriage feasts 160. the daily Feasts of Dives 131. Fig-tree Barren Cursed 156. Flight Of Jesus into Aegypt 18. in persecution lawful 77. of the Apostles from Jesus at his apprehension 190. G GAbriel The Angel appeared to Zachary 4. to the Holy Virgin Ibid. Galilee Joseph went into Galilee at his return out of Aegypt 19. Jesus leaving Judea went into Galilee 33. went over the First time 35. the Second time 76. the Jews would not allow a Prophet to come out of Galilee 105. Galileans Jesus Disciples called so 105. the Galileans slain by Pilate 121. Gennesareth A City of Galilee 37. the Lake of Gennesareth 36. Jesus appeas'd a Tempest in that Lake 41. went upon it and suffered Peter to come to him on it 82. the Miraculous fishing in this Lake the first 37. the second 213. Jesus Christ taught upon the Lake 37. Gentiles Called into the Church instead of the Jews 160. desire to see Jesus 153. are some of Christs Flock 112. Gerasa Or Gadar the Miracle done there 42. the People there desire Jesus to depart out of their Coasts 44. Gethsemane Where the Garden was into which Jesus often went with his Disciples 187. God Is faithful to his promises 7. his Love to Man 29. to be Worshipped in Spirit and Truth 33. alone to be Worshipped 24. to be loved with all the Heart 114. not to be tempted 24. is good only 136. never seen by any 25. he that is of God hears his Word 108. to know him is Life Eternal 186. he that doth his VVill shall inherit Eternal Life 59. he is one in Three Persons 11. he shall be seen by the pure in Heart 55. peacemakers are his Children Ibid. and so are they that love their Enemies 57. that which is highly esteemed by Men is odious to God 72. Gluttony To be avoided 169. Grace Brought by Jesus Christ 25. he grew in Grace 20. his VVords were full of Grace 74. Christs Grace compared to Living Water 33. Great Greatness who is the greatest 98. he that is Servant of all Ibid. great Men did
hast believed for the Things which have been told thee from the Lord shall be accomplished These Commendations did not at all puff up the Virgin 's Heart with Pride she could not be unsensible of the Favours which God had bestowed on her but being desirous to give him all the Glory and not daring to attribute any thing that the Lord had wrought in her to her Faith she referr'd all to the Mercy of her Creator saying My Soul doth magnify the Lord and my Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour for he hath regarded the lowliness of his Handmaid She adds That God is pleased when he sees fit to do great Things for his mean Creatures That he loves to exalt the Humble and debase the Proud and that lastly He is faithful to his Promises because he made her the Mother of his Son That he might perform the Promises which he had made to Abraham and the other Patriarchs IV. The Nativity of S. John Luke 1. 56-80 Mary continued Three Months with her Cousin and then returned to her own House In the mean while Elizabeth's Time of Delivery came and her Relations and Cousins met together to rejoyce with her concerning the Birth of her Son On the Eighth Day when he was to be circumcised and named they all gave him the Name of Zachary as his Father was called but Elizabeth opposed them desiring he should be named John as God had commanded by the Angel They answered her That there was none of her Family called by that Name and made Signs to his Father that he should shew them his Will about it And he required Writing-Tables and wrote thereon His Name must be called John and immediately his Tongue was loosed and his Speech being restored to him he made use of it to praise God But all that had been Witnesses of these Miracles and all that heard him speak were astonished and said one to another What manner of Child shall this be How great how holy a Man But that which they were ignorant of was revealed to Zacharias who being filled with the Holy Spirit understood the Mystery of the Incarnation and the part his Son was to have in that Mystery whereupon he prophesied and said Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his People He adds as the Virgin had done in her Song That God hath raised out of the House of David a Saviour of the World to perform the Promises which he had made to Abraham and renewed often by the Mouth of his Prophets And then he sums up all the Benefits of the Incarnation in a few Words he hath promised us That we being delivered from the Power of our Enemies might serve him by walking before him in Holiness and Righteousness all the Days of our Life Then he speaks these Words to his Son And thou Child shalt be called the Prophet of the most high for thou shalt go before the Face of the Lord to prepare his Ways and to give Knowledge of Salvation to his People for the Remission of their Sins And indeed God did fulfil what Zachary had foretold of his Son and that he might fit this Infant for the great Office he designed him he made him eminent in all Spiritual Gifts and kept him in the Deserts till the Time of his appearing to his People Israel V. God reveals the Conception of Jesus Christ to Joseph While the Fame of those Miracles which happened at the Birth of John Matth. 1 18-25 spread it self over all the Hill-Country of Judea the Holy Virgin being returned to Nazareth meditated in deep Silence upon the Mystery which God had wrought in her She had not told Joseph what had befaln her but her Bigness discovered it and he perceived she was with Child But being an Holy and Pious Man he was not willing to disgrace her publickly whereupon he resolved to put her away privately And in this Purpose he continued till an Angel appearing to him in a Dream said unto him Joseph thou Son of David fear not to take unto thee Mary thy Wife for the Child that is conceived in her is the Work of the Holy Ghost She shall bring forth a Son and thou shalt call his Name Jesus because he is the Person which shall save his People from their Sins Joseph submitted to this Command and remained with his Wife both of them living in perfect Chastity And so that which God had long before foretold by the Prophet Isaiah was fulfilled A Virgin shall conceive and bring forth a Son Isai 7.14 which shall be called Immanuel which being interpreted is God with us VI. The Divine Generation of Jesus Christ The Time being come when the Virgin should be delivered she brought forth Jesus Christ in the manner which we shall hereafter speak of But before we relate the History of this Birth it is necessary to give an account of the Person who was born Men describe the Genealogies of the Grandees of the World that they may make them honourable by the Nobility of their Parentage and great Actions of their Ancestors who have no Worth of their own to render them remarkable Matth. 1 1-17 Luke 3. 23-38 Mary brought forth a Son of whom the Gospel recites Two Pedigrees and Two Births because he had Two Natures Jesus Christ is both God and Man and hath united in one Person the Divine and Human Nature As he is Man he is descended of a numerous Succession of Ancestors As he is God he hath only God for his Father as Man he was born in Time but as God he was born and is from all Eternity What S. John in the beginning of his Gospel teaches us concerning his Divine and Eternal Generation and for what Reasons he became Incarnate is this He says That Jesus Christ as God is the Word John 1 1-14 i. e. the Thought or Speech of God When a Man thinks he forms an Idea or Spiritual Image of the Thing he thinks of and this Image is called the Word i. e. the Speech of the Mind for it is by the Thoughts that the Mind reasons with and speaks to it self God is a pure Spirit who knows himself most perfectly and that from all Eternity He thinks then in knowing himself and forms an exact Image of himself and this Image is his Word But this Word infinitely excels all the Thoughts of Men in this That he is a Thought subsisting by himself and a distinct Person from him that formed it but yet the same God with him The Two Persons love each other infinitely from all Eternity and this Eternal Love is a Third Person called the Holy Spirit who is also the same God and of the same Nature with the Two other Persons from whom he proceeds This is what the Holy Scripture teaches us of the Holy Trinity which is nothing else but the God which we worship One in Three Persons of which the Second is called not
his Disciples could not cure him This Child was a Lunatick and possessed with a Devil which made him Dumb and grievously tormented him for when it seized upon him it threw him down upon the Ground cast him often into the Fire or Water and racked him with such violent Convulsions that he cryeth out fomes gnashes with his Teeth and pineth away and much bruising him hardly departeth from him The Unbelief of the Jews who did not as yet firmly believe in Jesus Christ though they had seen so many Miracles was a greater and more dangerous Disease than this of the Lunatick and was often an Impediment to the Miracles which Jesus would have done For this Reason it is that he would cure that before he drive out the Devil and therefore smartly touched that Wound that the Men afflicted with it might feel it saying O faithless and perverse Generation how long shall I be with you to convince you how long shall I suffer your Infidelity will you never believe Bring him hither to me The Child no sooner saw him but the Devil began to tear him with fierce Convulsions and threw him down where he rowled foaming Jesus asked his Father How long it was since his Son began to be vexed after this manner His Father answered him From his Childhood and added If thou canst do any thing have Pity on us and help us Jesus saith unto him If thou canst believe all things are possible to him that believeth Immediately the Father of the Child cryed out with Tears Lord I believe help thou my Vnbelief i. e. supply all the Defects of my Faith to make it worthy to obtain a Cure for my Child Then Jesus rebuked the Devil saying to him Thou Dumb and Deaf Spirit I command thee to depart out of this Child and to enter no more into him Then the Spirit cryed out and much tore and rent the Child and left him almost dead but Jesus taking him by the Hand lifted him up and delivered him to his Father perfectly cured And all that were present beheld it with Admiration and were amazed at the mighty Power of God When Jesus was come into the House his Diciples asked Why they could not cast out this Devil He answered them Because of your Vnbelief adding Luke 17 6 That if they had but one Grain of Syncere and Sound Faith they might by their mere Word remove both Trees and Mountains And then he says further That this kind of Devil goeth not out but by Prayer and Fasting The Apostles did without doubt profit by these Instructions for S. Luke teacheth us elswhere That they addressed themselves to their Master Luke 17.5 and said Lord increase our Faith XIV Jesus foretels his Death and pays Tribute While the Multitude was in Admiration of the great things Matth. 17.22 27. Mark 9 30-32 Luke 9 43-45 that Jesus did in all Places where he went his Thoughts were mainly employed in fitting his Disciples for the Disgraces and Contempt of his Death He tells them a second Time of it and desires them to hearken with Attention to him and think seriously of these Words in their Hearts The Son of Man shall be delivered into the Hands of Men who shall put him to Death and he shall rise again the Third Day But they understood not that Saying and yet this Prediction which they could not fully comprehend made them very sorry and cast them into such a Consternation that they durst not ask him to explain it to them They went through Galilee and returned to Capernaum Here the Receivers of a certain Tribute of Two Drachma's i. e. Fifteen Pence an Head asked Peter whether his Master did not pay Tribute To whom the Apostle answered That he did As soon as he came into the House Jesus prevented him by asking him Whether the Kings of the Earth exact Tribute of their own Children or of Strangers Peter answers Of Strangers Then Jesus concludes That the Children are exempted leaving it to him to infer from thence That he being the Son of God was not obliged to pay Tribute to Men Nevertheless saith he that we may not offend them Go thou and cast an Hook into the Sea and take the Fish that shall be first catched and open his Mouth and thou shalt find a Piece of Mony of Four Drachma's or half a Crown 's Value which give to them for thy self and me XV. Jesus checks the Ambition of his Disciples Matth. 18 1-14 Mar. 9 23-50 Luke 9 46-50 About the same Time it came into the mind of the Disciples of Jesus Who of them should be greatest and they disputed about it in the Way to Capernaum Jesus knowing the Thoughts of their Hearts asked them when they came into the House What they disputed about in the Way but they durst not answer him But when he had called his Twelve Disciples to him they asked him in general Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven He answered them If any Man desire to be first he shall be the last of all and Servant of all And having called a little Child to him he took him and set him by him and taking him up in his Arms he said unto them Except ye become as little Children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of God and that whosoever shall so humble himself that he makes himself small as the little Child before them he shall be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven And then adds That who so shall receive one such little Child in his Name receiveth him and he that receiveth him received him that sent him Hereupon John the Son of Zebedee saith unto him Master we saw a Man casting out Devils in thy Name and we forbad him because he would not joyn himself and associate with us But Jesus reproved this Action and told him That this Man would not readily speak ill of him in whose Name he did Miracles and that they ought not to look upon him as their Enemy since he did not engage in any thing against them Jesus then turns his Discourse to these little ones i. e. to the humble to whom he would have them make themselves like and pronounces a Wo against those who should be an occasion of Falling or Scandal to them declaring That whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in him and whose Angels continually behold the Face of God in Heaven it were better for him to be cast into the Depth of the Sea with a Milstone about his Neck He adds That the World is full of Offences which will necessarily happen but Wo unto him by whom they come That to avoid them we must lay before Men the Torments of Hell where the Worm that gnaws the damned never dies and the Fire that burns them is never quenched yea is so far from consuming them that on the contrary 't is like Salt to them which preserves them from consuming that they may be
they were desirous of doing the Will of God they would easily acknowledge that his Doctrin proceeded from God that sent him and whose Glory he sought after but because they observed not the Law instead of receiving the Truth he spake they sought to put him to Death The People then cryed out Thou hast a Devil who goeth about to kill thee Jesus puts them in Mind of that Man who had a Disease Thirty six Years whom he cured on the Sabboth Day John 5 1-16 for which though they themselves Circumcise Men on the Sabboth Day and do not think that they have broken the Law of Moses yet they were so implacably incensed against him that they had taken up a Resolve to slay him Some People of Jerusalem who knew how their Magistrates and Grandees hated him wondred to see him speak so freely no Man questioning or opposing him and said Are they convinced that this is really the Christ Nevertheless add they No Man knows whence Christ comes but we know whence this Man is Then cryed Jesus with a loud Voice in the Temple Ye know me and ye know whence I am yet I am not come of my self and ye know not him that sent me Thus reproving them for looking upon his Earthly Original as Man but did not know his Divine Original which he had from God whose Son he was from all Eternity Then several of the People believed on him being convinced by the greatness of his Miracles that he was the Christ But the Priests and Pharisees sent Officers to take him Jesus who could not suffer but at the Time prefixed by his Father said unto the Officers Yet a little while I am with you and then I return to him that sent me ye shall seek me and shall not find me and whither I go ye cannot come The Jews did not understand these Words but thought that he threatned them to leave Judea and go to teach the Gentiles The Officers did not take him because his Time was not come and in the last Day of the Feast he cried out with a loud Voice If any Man thirst let him come unto me and drink Whosoever believeth in me out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of Living Water which he meant of the abundant Graces of God's Holy Spirit which should be poured out upon the Souls of those that believe in him after he should be entred into his Glory Nevertheless the People were much divided in their Opinions about this Saying for some took him for a Prophet others acknowledged him for the Messias and others who knew not that he was born at Bethlehem could not believe him to be the Christ because they knew that Christ should not come out of Galilee but out of the Town of Bethlehem and from the Family of David Then the Priests and Pharisees asked the Officers whom they had sent to take him Why they had not brought him They gave them no other Answer but this Never Man spake like this Man The Pharisees asked them If they were so simple as to be lead away with such a Seducement and follow the Error of the cursed Populacy leaving the Pharisees and Grandees who being Learned and Judicious have none of them believed on him Upon this Nicodemus that Pharisee that came to Jesus Christ by Night told them That the Law doth not permit them to condemn any Man before an Hearing But they answered him Art thou also a Galilean i. e. a Disciple of this Man of Galilee From whence they affirmed That there never was a Prophet that rose out of Galilee Thus the Assembly parted without doing any thing to him and every Man returned to his own House XX. Jesus saveth a Woman taken in Adultery John 8 11-11 Jesus departing from Jerusalem from this Feast went up into a Mountain called the Mount of Olives which is distant from Jerusalem about the space of a Sabboth-days Journey which is something less than two Miles and as soon as it was day he returned again from thence to the Temple where being sat down he began to instruct the People that were gathered about him Then the Scribes and Pharisees brought a Woman to him who had been taken in Adultery and setting her before him in the midst of the People said unto him Master This Woman was taken in Adultery Lev. 20.10 Now Moses in his Law commanded us to Stone Persons found Guilty of that Crime But what sayest thou This Question they put to him that they might have an occasion to accuse him either of using too much Cruelty towards Sinners if he had commanded the Law to be executed upon her or of nulling the Law if he should pardon her But Jesus instead of Answering them stooped down and Wrote with his Finger upon the Ground But they continuing to ask him he raised up himself and saith to them He that is without Sin among you let him cast the first Stone Then stooping down he Wrote upon the Ground as before But they being amazed at this unexpected Answer and convicted by their own Consciences went away One by One. Jesus being left alone with the Woman asked her Where are thine accusers Hath no Man condemned thee she answered him No man Lord. He saith unto her Neither do I condemn thee Go and Sin no more XXI Jesus remains in the Temple Teaching The Jews go about to Stone him The Jews hated Jesus every day more and more Jo. 8 12-59 but that did not deterr him from Preaching the Truth undauntedly to all He tells them That he is the Light of the World and if they follow him they shall not walk in Darkness Hereupon the Pharisees replyed that the Testimony which he gave of himself was not worthy of Credit But he demonstrates that they judged amiss and the Testimony which he gave of himself was not therefore less to be believed because it was confirmed by the Testimony of his Father who wrought so great Miracles by him They then asked him Where his Father was He answered them That they knew not his Father because they would not acknowledge his Son He added moreover and said I go my way and ye shall seek me and shall dy in your Sins Whither I go ye cannot come And because they thought he would kill himself that they might not follow him hereupon he tells them That he was not from below as they are but from above and that if they did not believe in him they should dye in their Sins They then asked him Who he was He answers That he was the Son of God but in such words as they did not understand He adds That when they have lifted him up on high by which he means the Cross to which he was to be fastned they should believe him and know that he had done nothing of himself nor said any thing but what he hath heard of his Father These Truths which blinded the Proud enlightned several other Persons who believed on him
had in his Heart some Time before Jesus then said unto him That thou dost do quickly whereupon Judas went out But the rest of the Apostles knew not whither he went supposing that Jesus had sent him to buy something or bestow some Mony on the Poor because it was he that carried the Purse As soon as he was gone out Jesus considering the Glory which his Father would gain by his Death and which he himself should receive as the Reward of his humble Obedience faith unto his Disciples Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him and if God be glorified in him God will also glorify him in himself and will streightway glorify him Then they sung an Hymn and rose from the Table to go to the Mount of Olives where we have seen that Jesus went usually at Night XXV Jesus foretells S. Peter's Denial and the Apostles Flight Jesus having thus discoursed of his Glory Matth. 26 30-35 Mark 14 27-31 Luke 22.31 38. John 13 33-38 raised a fresh Contention among his Disciples Who of them shall be accounted greatest and have the greatest Share in it Jesus checks their Ambition by repeating what he had said to them long before That it shall not be so with you as it is with Kings who rule over their Subjects with Authority but that the greatest among them should be as the least just as he who was their Master had been among them little not as he that sits at Table but as he that serveth He then tells them That since they had held firm to him in all his Persecutions he would prepare for them a Kingdom as his Father had prepared one for himself But he adds That Satan had desired to sift them as Wheat is sifted i. e. to tempt them that he may make them fall And he said to Peter I have prayed for you that your Faith fail not and when thou art converted i. e. recovered from thy Fall strengthen thy Brethren Then turning to them all he tells unto them That he had but a little Time to be with them That he went whither they could not come but he commanded them to love one another as he had loved them because by this Love they should be known to be his Disciples Hereupon S. Peter asked him Whither he would go Jesus answered Whither I go thou canst not follow me now but thou shalt follow me afterwards He replyed Lord why cannot I follow thee now Jesus explains himself further saying to his Apostles All of you shall be offended because of me this Night for it is written I will smite the Shepherd and the Flock shall be scatter'd but after that I am risen again I will go before you into Galilee Peter answered him Although all Men should be offended yet will not I be offended for I am ready to go with thee into Prison and unto Death yea I will lay down my Life for thy Sake Jesus answered Wilt thou lay down thy Life for me Verily verily I say unto thee That this Night before the Cock crows twice thou shalt deny me thrice Peter asserted it more passionately That he would not deny him though he dyed for him And all the Disciples said the same consulting the present Sentiments of their Hearts more than their own Weakness which was throughly known to Christ Jesus then ask'd them Whether they wanted any thing when he sent them without Purse or Scrip or Shoes And when they answered him No he said to them But now he that hath a Purse or a Scrip let him take it and he that hath no Sword let him sell his Garment and buy one In which figurative Language he describes the Greatness of the Persecution which they must shortly undergo that it should be so violent that if they fly to such ordinary means as are usually made use of they must sell their very Garments to provide Arms for their Defence For I say unto you adds he that this must be accomplished Isai 53. â—2 which is written of me He was reckoned among the Transgressors They who took his Words in the literal Sense That they must sell their Garments and buy one said unto him We have here Two Swords but because he understood them in another Sense he answered 'T is enough XXVI Jesus comforts his Apostles It was almost impossible but that all these Predictions of his approaching Death would much trouble his Apostles which when he saw John 14 1-31 he comforted them saying That they should not be troubled but believe in him That they knew that if he went before them to prepare a Place for every one of them in his Fathers House he would come again and take them to himself Then he says Whither I go ye know and the way ye know Thomas saith unto him Lord we know not whither thou goest and how should we know the Way Jesus replyed That he himself is the Way the Truth and the Life that they must go to God by him and that if they knew him they would know his Father also Upon this Philip saith unto him Lord shew us the Father and it sufficeth us But Jesus answered him Have I been so long with thee and hast thou not known me And then adds That in seeing him we see the Father because he is in the Father and the Father in him which they might have discerned by the Miracles which they had seen him do assuring them at the same time That they that believe in him shall do the same Wonders and greater than they because whatsoever they ask of God his Father in his Name it shall be done to them Then he promises them that he will by his Prayers obtain another Comforter for them which should be the Spirit of Truth which the World cannot receive because it knoweth him not That he will not leave them Comfortless but will come unto them That they shall see him when the World seeth him not which happened after his Resurrection for he appeared to none but own Disciples That he will one Day shew them that he is in his Father because he will discover himself to those that love him and shew evident Signs of his Love by receiving and keeping his Commandments Judas ask'd him Why he would discover himself to them and not unto the World He answered him If any Man love me he will keep my Commandments and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our Abode with him He that loveth me not keepeth not my Commandments He enlarges no farther upon Judas's Question but leaves us to infer from his Answer That the Reason why he doth not discover himself to the World i. e. the Lovers of the World is because the World neither loves nor keeps his Commandments He adds That the Doctrin which he had taught them was his Fathers and that the Holy Spirit would make them understand and remember all the Truths which he had taught them Lastly
knowest not what hath happened there in these days What things replyed he They answered Concerning Jesus of Nazareth who was a Prophet mighty in Deeds and in Words how the Chief-Priests and Rulers delivered him to be Condemned to Death and have Crucified him But added they We trusted that it should be he that would have redeemed Israel And besides all this This is the third day since these things happened Yea and some VVomen of our Company made us astonished VVho having been very early at the Sepulchre and not finding his Body returned and told us that the Angels themselves appeared unto them and assured them that he was alive This Relation was confirmed by some of us who went also to the Sepulchre and found all things as the VVomen had reported to them but him they saw not From hence Jesus took an occasion to reprove their unbelief very severely saying to them O Fools whose Heart is dull and slow to believe that which the Prophets have foretold That Christ must suffer all these things and enter into his Glory And he explained to them all that was spoken in the Scripture concerning him beginning at Moses and going through all the Prophets VVhen they came near the Village he went on as if he were going further but the two Disciples importun'd him to stay saying Abide with Vs for it is already late and the day is almost spent Wherefore he went in with them and being sat at Meat he took Bread Blessed it and having broken it he gave it them And immediately their Eyes were opened to discern what they saw not before i. e. to acknowledge Jesus who immediately vanished out of their sight Then said they one to another Did not our Hearts burn within us while he talked with us in the Way and while he expounded the Scriptures The same instant they arose and returned to Jerusalem where they found the Apostles and the Disciples met together saying That Jesus is indeed risen from the Dead and hath appeared unto Peter They also told them what had happened in the Way and how the Lord was known to them by breaking of Bread Notwithstanding all which there were several Disciples that believed nothing of the Truth of it XLVII Jesus appeared to the Apostles The Apostles being assembled in a private place Mark 16.14 Luke 24 36-43 John 20 19-23 for fear of the Jews were discoursing about all these several Appearances of their Master and in the Evening being sat down to Meat and the Doors being shut Jesus came in and stood in the midst of them and said unto them Peace be unto you It is I be not afraid Having saluted them after this manner he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of Heart that they would not believe his Resurrection nor give credit to the Testimony of those that had seen him after he was risen The Apostles were terrified and affrighted and supposed that they had seen a Spirit or a Fantom But Jesus to confirm and pacifie them said unto them Why are ye troubled Look upon my Hands and my Feet It is I my self Handle me and consider that a Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones as ye see me have Then he shewed them the Wounds in his Hands Feet and Side The Apostles could not yet believe what they saw being transported with so great Joy and Admiration till Jesus asked them Whether they had any thing to Eat Then they gave him a piece of Broyled Fish and of an Hony-comb and he eat before them Not to nourish his Body for that being Spiritualiz'd by his Resurrection had no need of such Nourishment as is necessary for it in this Mortat Life but to take away all the Doubts of his Disciples and to convince them by sensible Proofs That 't was he and that he was really risen from the Dead After he had done eating he gave them the Fragments and said to them a Second Time Peace be unto you And then added As my Father hath sent me so send I you and then breathing upon them said Receive ye the Holy Ghost Whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whosoever sins ye retain they are retained Thomas was not with the other Disciples when Jesus appeared to them in the manner aforesaid John 20 24-29 Therefore when he returned to them they told him That they had seen the Lord. But he said Vnless I see in his Hands the print of the Nails and put my Finger into them and my Hand into his Side I will not believe The Son of God who made use of all this Infidelity to establish the belief of the Resurrection would not forsake this Apostle in his unbelief and therefore Eight days after when his Disciples were met in the same place and Thomas with them he came to them the Doors being shut and standing in the midst of them saluted them saying Peace be unto you Then speaking to Thomas he saith Reach hither thy finger and behold my Hands and reach hither thy hand and put it into my Side and be not faithless but believe Then Thomas being convinced cryed out My Lord and My God! Jesus said unto him Thou hast believed because thou hast seen Blessed are they who having not seen yet do believe XLVIII The Miraculous Fishing Jesus shewed himself yet another time to some of his Disciples on the Banks of the Sea of Tiberias John 21 1-13 Peter Thomas the two Sons of Zebedee Nathaniel and two others of his Disciples being met together Peter said that he would go a Fishing and the rest would go with him They all therefore took Ship and cast their Nets into the Waters but that Night they catched nothing In the Morning Jesus presented himself to them on the Shore but his Disciples knew not that it was he And he asked them Children have ye any thing to eat They answered No And he said unto them Cast the Net on the Right side of the Ship and ye shall find They cast immediately and catched so great a Number of Fishes that they could not pull it up Then John the Beloved Disciple of Jesus said unto Peter It is the Lord. Then Peter presently taking his Garment which he had put off to Fish cast himself into the Water to go quickly to his Master on the Shore The other Disciples who were not far from Land but as it were Two Hundred Cubits or an Hundred Yards came to him with the Ship dragging with them the Net full of Fishes Being come ashore they found Coals burning and Fish upon them and Bread Jesus said unto them Bring hither some of the Fish that ye have catch'd And Peter going presently into the Ship drew the Net to Land with a Hundred Fifty Three great Fish in it And the Gospel observes that tho' it was full of so many heavy Fish it was not broken Jesus said unto them Come and Dine Then they went to him not daring to ask him Who he was
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
which he left us in the Time of his Mortal Life He lived subject to our Calamities and suffered Death which is the Punishment of Sin but he was raised in a State of Glory and entred into the Possession of Eternal Felicity He was first of the same Nature with us that we might one Day be as he is If we imitate him in his Life and Death we shall be like him in his Resurrection and Glory but we must not pretend to that Happiness he now enjoys if we do not go in the same Path he did to attain it By disobeying his Laws and not imitating his Actions we not only renounce the Glory to which he invites us but bring upon our selves inexpressible as well as everlasting Torments for there are but Two Ways the one leads to Life and the other to Death and he that walks not in the first must necessarily go into the second Jesus Christ is himself the Way that leads to Heaven and we go by him when we practise those Truths which he hath taught and regulate our Lives by the Pattern of his To live otherwise than he lived is not to follow him but to wander and destroy our selves which we do not seriously enough consider of We do not examine our selves in which Way we are we go on every Day in Ignorance and when we come to the End of our Race we find our selves on a Precipice because we have followed the Multitude which securely went before us and guided us Christians therefore cannot do any thing more important and conducing to their Salvation than to meditate continually upon the Life of Jesus Christ and to look upon it as a Mirror to discover the Blemishes and Faults of their own they ought to account Jesus Christ conversing on Earth as our Guide and Light and comparing what they do with what he hath done and taught to acknowledge themselves in a lost Estate and in Darkness so long as our Conversation is not conformable to his Examples and Precepts In Heaven they ought to esteem Jesus Christ as the End to which they continually aspire and which they labour daily to attain that they may support themselves in all the Troubles and Difficulties which they met with in their Way thither by the Contemplation of the Glory which he hath promised them They should in the last Place think always upon his First and Second Coming They are instructed by his First what they must do to fit themselves for his Second and they shall be judged at his Second Coming by the Precepts which they have received at his Second They will have no Excuses to make for following the corrupt Customs and Examples and false Errors of the Ages they have lived in when they come before that Judge who hath told them that he will judge them by the Doctrin he hath taught them himself and by the Life he lived here upon Earth to be a Model of theirs That then we may appear before him with Boldness in that Great Day when he will judge all Men let us take the Advice which S. John the beloved Disciple gives us My little Children 1 John 2.28 abide in him that when he shall appear we may have Confidence before him and may not be ashamed at his Coming And that we may know what it is to abide in Jesus Christ let us meditate upon these Words of the same Apostle 1 Joh. 2.6 He that saith that he abideth in him ought himself to walk as Jesus Christ hath walked FINIS INDEX A ABraham saw Christs coming with Joy 109. the Jews boast themselves his Children 22. Abraham's Bosom what 131. Adultery forbidden by the Law 57. punished with Death 40. The Adulteress 105. he that Marrys another Woman while his Wife is alive is an Adulterer 132. Aegypt Christs flight into 18. Agony of Christ 188. Ambition Of the Disciples reproved by Christ 98. 145 179. Almsgiving The necessity of it 119. how it must be given 58 it purifies all things to us 155. Christ commends it in a poor Widow 165 St. Andrew was John's Disciple 26. Brother of Peter ibid. goes to Christ ibid. brings his Brother 36. leaves all at Christs Call 37. made an Apostle 54. Angels Watch over Men 99. foretel the Nativity of J. Baptist and Christ 2. move the Pool of Jerusalem 50. comfort Christ in his Agony 188. open the Sepulchre 201. declare his Resurrection 208. Anointing Diseases cured by it 78. Christs Feet and Head Anointed 152. Apostles What it signifies 58. Christ chose Twelve ibid. one proves a Devil 86. their Mission and Instructions given them 76. cure Diseases 77. continue with Christ in all his temptations 179 forsake him 190. believe not his Resurrection 208. receive the Holy Spirit and a power to bind and loose 212. sent into all the World to Preach 316. and for this end are enabled to work Miracles 218. Appearances of Christ 1. to Mary Magd. 208. 2d to the Women 209. 3d. to St. Peter 211. 4th to the Disciples going to Emmaus 210. 5th to all the Apostles 213. 6th to some of them going to the Lake of Gennesareth ibid. 7th to more than 500 Brethren ibid. 8th to St. James ibid. 9th his last appearance before his Ascension ibid. Augustus's Edict which he published about the Taxing 13. B BAptism of St. John with Water 21. his Baptism does not pardon Sins ibid. a figure of Christ 14. slighted by the Scribes and Pharisees 64. Jesus receives it 23. asks the Jews whether it was from Heaven 158. Baptism of Jesus Christ with Water 31. with the H. Ghost and with Fire 23. no Salvation without it 29. the Apostles sent to Baptize all Nations with it 216. Barrabbas The great Thief preferred before Jesus Christ 196. Beatitudes The Eight Beatitudes 55. Blessing Jesus Blesseth Infants 135. breaks Bread 81. the Sacrament 177. he is blessed and praised by the People of Jerusalem 151. Simeon blesseth the H. Virgin and Joseph 18. Bethany The place where Lazarus and his Sisters dwelt 140. Jesus Christ raised Lazarus there 142. Supped with Simon the Leper 149. went thither every Night in the Week of passion 156. he carryed his Apostles thither at his Ascen 218. Bethlehem The City of David 13. Jesus Chr. born there 15. Worshipped the Magi 16. the Children of Bethlehem slain 18. Bethsaida A City of Galilee of which Peter and other Apostles were 26. Cursed by Jesus 24. there he Cursed a Blind Man 18. Blasphemy Against the Holy Ghost 67. against Jesus Christ at the Crucifixion 202. he is called a Blasphemer 45. Blind-men Jesus Healed two at Capernaum 49. another at Bethsaida 91. a blind Man Possessed and Dumb 67. two at Jericho 148. several in the Temple of Jerusalem 157. spiritually blind 87. Blood Christs Blood drink indeed 85. the Blood of the Galilâ—eans mingled with their Sacrifices 121. the VVoman with a bloody-flux 48. Jesus sweat Blood 188. out of his Side came VVater and Blood 204. the Jews wish his
163. the Devil desires to tempt the Apostles 179. Prayer to keep out of Temptation 188. by Watching and Prayer also Ibid. S. Thomas Made an Apostle 55. willing to dye with Christ 140 doubts of the Resurrection 212. sees and believes Ibid. Traditions Preferred before the Law by the Pharisees 87. Transfiguration Of Jesus Christ 93. Trinity To be believed 11. Truth Jesus Christ is the Essential Truth 12. the Truth and the Life 155. makes us free 108. Tyre A Pagan City shall be less punished than the Jews 64. V VIrgin Mary The Mother of Jesus always a Virgin 5. a Virgin Conceived 10. the Praise of Virginity 133. the Parable of the Ten Virgins 183. Vine Vineyard the Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard 138. the Vineyard and the Husbandmen that Hired it 159. Jesus Christ the true Vine 204. Vipers Pharisees compared to them 22. Voice Jesus owned to be the Son of God by a Voice from Heaven 23. W WAsh Water Baptism with Water 22. Water changed into Wine 27 Jesus went upon the Water 82. as also St. Peter Ibid. Water and Blood issued out of Jesus's Side 204. living Water 6. Rivers of living VVater 105 Jesus VVashed the Feet of his Disciples 176. Simon the Pharisee reproved for not VVashing Jesus Feet 66. and the Disciples for not VVashing their Hands 86. Wine VVater changed into Wine 27. Wine and Oyl poured into VVounds 114. Wine mingled with Gall given to Jesus 201. Woman The Woman with the Bloody Flux 48. the Woman of Canaan 88. the VVoman bowed down 121. the VVoman Sinner 65. sinful VVomen converted by John Baptist 64. a VVoman Divorced not to be Marryed 132. the Woman that had 7 Husbands 163. Holy Women Delivered from evil Spirits 7. follow Jesus and Minister to him Ibid. saw him dye 203. Prepared Spices to emalm him 206. go to the Sepulchre 208. saw two Angels Ibid. and then Jesus himself 209. tell the Apostles of his Resurrection ibid. Word What it is 10. Jesus is the Word of God Ibid. this Word is the Life and Light of Souls 12. the Truth and essential Wisdom Ibid. Word Of God happy are they that observe it 79. Christ's words are words of Life 86. he that keeps them shall not dye 77. World Knows not nor receives Christ 12. full of offences 99. is no profit when gotten by the loss of the Soul 93. hates Christ 183. an Enemy of Christ and believers 186. the Devil is its Prince 154. Christ calls us out of the VVorld 186. false pleasures of the VVorld 56. Z ZAchary Father of John the Baptist 4. Prophesieth 8. Zachaeus Jesus Lodgeth at his House 146. Zebedee Father of James and John Apostles 36. Zeal The disorderly Zeal of John and James 145. ERRATA PAge 4. line 14. read had and so p. 17. l. 2. p. 26. l. ult after saw him add he said p. 27. l. ult after Feast r. He. p. 36. l. 2. r. will and l. ult dele in p. 39. l. 6. r. instant p. 55. l. 10. r. touch p 57. l. 8. from bott after did put not p. 64. l. 8 from bottom dele use p 69. l. 20. for they have r. he hath and for have r. hath and l. 21. for are r. is p. 70. l. 15. for end r. shore p. 73. l. 10. for they r. we p. 77. l. 9. from bott for they r. the. p. 78. l. 2. r. followed l. 7. after with r. in the. p. 81. l. 12 r. thousand p. 84. l. 7. r. 5000. p. 85. l. 11 12. and p. 91. l. 12. change hard and heard for each other p. 89. l. 4 r. hand p. 95. l. 11. from bott r. their p. 101. l. 9. from bott for suffered from r. committed against and in the Margin for 19. r. 10. p. 109 l. 6. from bott r. Siloam p. 114. l. 23. after but r. a. p. 132. l. 1. after that r. as p. 135. l. 2. dele will p. 138 l. 29. dele came p. 144. l. 1. r. that p. 161. l. 12. r. without p. 182. l. 1. after but put his l. 32. before power r. no. p. 184. l. 26. dele of p. 187. l. 13. r. thou hast sent me p. 188. l. 5. r. decreeed p. 201 l. penult r. casting p 204 l 6 â—efore gave r. and. p. 216. c 51. r. appearances p. 217 l. 7 after meet put them and l. 10. r. this p. 223. l. 4. for second r. first Other Literal Mistakes in the Printing are desired to be corrected with the Pen by the Reader