is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears Our Blessed Saviour being thus fitted and prepared by his Baptism and Temptations for the Execution of his Ministerial Office he now enters upon the great work of Preaching the Gospel and St. Luke here declares the first place he preacht at namely Nazareth and the first Text he preacht upon Isa 61.1 Observe 1. The place which our Saviour preacht at he bestowed his first Sermon upon Nazareth the place of his Conception and Education For tho' Christ was Born at Bethlehem yet he was bred and brought up at Nazareth there he had his poor but painful Education working on his Father's Trade that of a Carpenter This prejudiced the Jews against him who lookt for a Scepter not an Ax in the hand of him that was born King of the Jews Our Saviour's short and secret abode at Bethlehem and his long and publick living at Nazareth occasioned him to be called Jesus of Nazareth Yet some conceive it was a Nick-name fastned by the Devil upon our Saviour that he might disguise the place of Christ's Nativity and leave the Jews at the greater loss concerning their Messiah Sure it is that this Name Jesus of Nazareth stuck upon our Saviour all his Life and at his Death was fixed by Pilate on his Cross Yea after his Ascention such as believed on him were called The Sect of the Nazareens or the followers of Jesus of Nazareth Observe 2. The Text which our Saviour preacht upon at Nazareth he takes it out of the Prophet Esaias Ch. 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me and he hath Anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor that is God the Father hath poured forth his Holy Spirit without measure upon me in all the Gifts and Graces of it to sit and furnish me for the work of a Mediator and particularly to preach the Gospel to the poor in Spirit and to such as are poor in outward Condition also if meekned and humbled with the sight and sense of their sins To bind up the broken hearted that is to comfort them with the glad tidings of the Gospel To preach Deliverance to the Captives to let such Sinners know who were slaves to sin and Satan that a Deliverer is come if they be willing to be Delivered by him To preach the acceptable year of the Lord or to proclaim a Spiritual Jubilee in which God proffers pardon of Sin and Reconciliation with himself upon the Terms of the Gospel Learn hence 1. That God stirreth up none to take upon them the Office of the Ministry whom he hath not fitted and furnished with Gifts for the Regular discharge of it 2. That Christ himself did not undertake the Office of a Mediator but by the Ordination of God the Holy Spirit The Spirit of the Lord is upon me and he hath sent me to preach the Gospel 3. That no Creature Angel or Man could perform the Office of a Mediator but only Christ who was Consecrated to that Office by an Anointing from the Holy Spirit without measure The Spirit of the Lord hath anointed me 4. That the preaching of the Gospel is the great Ordinance which Christ himself made use of and recommended to his Apostles and Ministers for inlightning blind Sinners for comforting broken hearts and for Delivering Captive Souls from the slavery and dominion of sin and Satan He hath sent me to preach the Gospel to the poor to heal the broken-hearted to publish Deliverance to the Captives and Recovering of Sight to the blind What Enemies then are they to the Souls of Men who have low and mean thoughts of this high and honourable Ordinance of God the preaching of the Everlasting Gospel which is the power of God unto Salvation Observe 3. The Behaviour of our Saviour's Auditors the Men of Nazareth under his Preaching their Eyes were fixt and their minds intent upon him and upon what was spoken by him The Eyes of all that were in the Synagâ—gue were fastned upon him not closed with sleep nor gazing about upon others but fixed upon Christ the Preacher fixing of the Eye is a great help to the attention of the ear and the intention of the mind a fastned eye is a means to help us to a fixed heart as a wandring eye is both a sign and a cause of a wandring Heart O that our Hearers would imitate our Saviour's Hearers under the Word They fastned their Eyes upon him as if they meant to hear with their eyes as well as with their Ears And yet we have cause to suspect that Curiosity rather than Piety caused this their Attention seeing as you will find v. 29. That these very Persons who out of Novelty were ready to eat his words soon after out of Cruelty were ready to devour the speaker for they thrust him out of the city led him to the Brow of the Hill and would have cast him down headlong Oh blessed Saviour What wonder is it that the Persons of thy Ministers are despised and their Doctrine neglected when thou thy self the first Preacher of the Gospel and for thy first Sermon at Nazareth wert thus ignominiously treated 22 And all bare him witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth and they said is not this Joseph's son 23 And he said unto them ye will surely say unto me this Proverb Physician heal thy self Whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum do also here in thy country 24 And he said verily I say unto you no Prophet is accepted in his own country Observe here 1. The effect of our Saviour's Ministry at Nazareth it created wonder but did not produce Faith they marvelled but not believed they admire the Wisdom of his Discourses but will not own him to be the promised Messias because of the Poverty and Meanness of his Condition Is not this Joseph's Son They expect the son of a Prince not the son of a Carpenter to be their Messiah Thence Note That the Poverty and Meaness of Christ's Condition was that which Multitudes stumbled at and which kept many yea most from Believing on him None but a Spiritual Eye can discern Beauty in an humbled and abased Saviour Obs 2. Our Saviour wonders not that so few of his Country men amongst whom he had been bred and brought up and with whom he had lived most part of his time did despise his Person and reject his Doctrine He tells them No Prophet has honour in his own Country that is very seldom has Teaching us that usually the Ministers of God are most despised where they are most familiarly known sometimes the remembrance of their mean Original and Extraction sometimes the poverty of their Parents sometimes the Indecencies of their Childhood sometimes the follies of their youth sometimes the faults of their Family and Relations are ript up and made occasions of Contempt and therefore that Prophet that comes from afar and has not been much known gains the greatest Reputation amongst a
not for Souls Obs 5. The Gracious Promise which Christ gives his Apostles for their Encouragement namely to qualifie them for and to succeed them in their Office I will make you Fishers of Men. Faithfulness and Care Diligence and Endeavour is our part but the Blessing and Success is Christ's our Labour is only in the Cast Christ's Power is wholly in the Draught Some Fish cleave to the Rocks others play upon the Sands more wallow in the Mud and verily we shall labour all our Days and catch nothing if Christ doth not bring our Fish to Net and inclose them in it as well as assist us in the throwing and casting of it Obs 6. The Apostles ready Compliance with our Saviour's Call Straightway they forsook Father and Friends Ship and Nets and followed Jesus Whom Christ calls he calls effectually he draws whom he calls and works their Hearts to a ready Compliance with their Duty Obs 7. That upon their Call to the Ministry they leave off their Trade they forsake their Ship and their Nets and lye close to their Ministerial Imployment Teaching us That the Ministers of the Gospel should wholly give themselves up to their great Work and not incumber themselves with secular Affairs and worldly Business Nothing but an indispensible Necessity in providing for a Family can excuse a Minister's encumbring himself with Worldly Concerns and Business 21 And they went into Capernaum and straightway on the sabbath-day he entred into the synagogue and taught 22 And they were astonished at his doctrine for he taught them as one that had authority and not as the scribes Our Saviour having called his Disciples Peter and Andrew James and John to follow him in order to their preaching of the Gospel here we may observe how he went himself along with them teaching personally in the Synagogues where-ever he came He did not send his Apostles forth as his Curates and lye at home himself upon his Couch of Ease What shall we say to those lazy Fishermen that set others to the Drag but care only to feed themselves with the Fish Not willing to wet their Hand with the Net or take any Pains themselves Our Saviour did not thus but when he sent forth his Apostles he still preached himself he went into their Synagogues and taught Observe farther The Success of his preaching the People were astonished at his Doctrine struck with Admiration apprehending and believing him to be an extraordinary Prophet sent from God Learn thence That such is the Efficacy of Christ's Doctrine especially when accompanied with the Energy and Operation of his Holy Spirit that it makes all his Auditors Admirers causing Astonishment in their Minds and Reformation in their Manners Observe lastly The Reason of our Lord's Success in preaching He taught as one having Authority He taught in his own Name as being Lord of his Doctrine not saying with the Prophets Thus saith the Lord but I say unto you And he wrought powerful Miracles which accompanied his Doctrine As Christ was careful to preserve the Authority of his Person and Doctrine with the People so is it the Duty of his Ministers to demean themselves amongst their People that neither their Authority may be contemned nor their Persons despised but their Doctrine and themselves reverenced and obeyed 23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit and he cried out 24 Saying Let us alone what have we to do with thee thou Jesus of Nazareth Art thou come to destroy us I know thee who thou art the holy One of God 25 And Jesus rebuked him saying Hold thy peace and come out of him 26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him and cried with aloud voice he came out of him 27 And they were all amazed insomuch that they questioned among themselves saying What thing is this what new doctrine is this for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits and they do obey him St. Mark having given an Account of our Saviour's Doctrine which he preach'd v. 15. namely the Doctrine of Faith and Repentance he now acquaints us in the remaining part of this Chapter with the Miracles which he wrought for the confirming of his Doctrine and they are Three First The casting of a Devil out of one possessed v. 23. Secondly The curing of Peter 's Wife's Mother of a Fever v. 29. Thirdly The cleansing of a Leper from v. 40. to the end of the Chapter His first Miracle was the casting out of a Devil out of one possessed There was a Man with an unclean Spirit That is an unclean Spirit did enter into him and bodily possess him Amongst the many Calamities which Sin has brought upon our Bodies this is one that we are liable to be bodily possess'd by Satan The Devil has an inveterate Malice against Mankind seeking to ruin our Souls by his Suggestions and Temptations and to destroy our Bodies by some Means or other but blessed be God tho' his Malice be infinite yet his Power is limited and bounded as he cannot do all the Mischief he would so he shall not do all he can Oh how much is it our Interest as well as our Duty by Prayer to put our selves Morning and Evening under the Divine Protection that we may be preserved from the Power and Malice of evil Spirits Obs 2. The Attribute or Title given to the Devil he is called an unclean Spirit The Devils those wicked Spirits of Hell are most impure and filthy Creatures impure by Means of their original Apostacy impure by Means of their actual and daily Sins such are Murder Malice Lying and the like by which they continually pollute themselves impure by Means of their continual Desire and Endeavour to pollute Mankind with the Contagion of their own Sin Lord how foul is the Nature of Sin which makes the Devil such a foul and unclean Creature Obs 3. This unclean Spirit no sooner saw Christ but he cried out Whence Note That the Greatness of Christ's Power being the Son of God over Devils and wicked Spirits is such that it is very terrible and tormenting to them it was terrible to them in his State of Humiliation on Earth and made them then cry out but Oh how terrible will his Power be to them at the great Day when Christ shall come in flaming Fire to render Vengeance both to Men and Devils Obs 4. The Substance of the Devil's Outcry Let us alone what have we to do with thee Art thou come to destroy us Where Note 1. That tho' the Devils are now as full of Sin and Discontent as they can be yet they are not so full of Misery and Torment as they shall be Art thou come to torment us before the time Says St. Matth. 8.29 Art thou come to destroy us Says St. Mark That is to bring upon us our full and final Destruction Implying that the Devil has not yet his full Judgment and compleat Damnation Therefore there is certainly a Day of
and Jesus rebuked the unclean Spirit and healed the child and delivered him to his Father Observe here 1. The Person brought to Christ for help and healing one Bodily possest by Satan who Rent and Tore him but rather to Torment than to Dispatch him Oh how does Satan delight to do hurt to the Bodies as well as the Souls of Mankind Lord abate his Power since his Malice will not be abated Observe 2. The Person who represented his sad Condition to our Saviour his Compassionate Father who kneeled down and cryed out Need will make a Person both humble and Eloquent every one has a Tongue to speak for himself happy he that keeps a Tongue for others Observe 3. The Physicians which this Distressed Person is brought unto first to the Disciples and then to Jesus We never apply our selves importunately to the God of power till we despair of the Creatures help But what hindered the Disciples that they could not cast this Evil Spirit out why it was their unbelief oh faithless Generation Learn thence That the great Obstacle and Obstruction of all Blessings both Spiritual and Temporal coming to us is our wretched Infidelity and Unbelief Observe 4. The Sovereign Power and absolute Authority which Christ had when on Earth over the Devil and his Angels Jesus rebuked him cast him out and charged him to return no more into him This was a Proof and Demonstration of the Godhead of our Saviour that in his own Name that is by his own Power and Authority he did and could cast the Devils out 43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did he saith unto his Disciples 44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men 45 But they understood not this saying and it was hid from them that they perceived it not and they feared to ask him of that saying Observable it is how frequently our Saviour fore-warned his Disciples of his approaching Sufferings and as the time of his Sufferings drew nearer he did more frequently warn them of his Death But all was little enough to arm them against the Scandal of the Cross and to Reconcile them to the thoughts of his Suffering Condition how an ordinary Prophet should be Delivered into the hands of Men they could easily understand but how the Messias should be so treated they could not apprehend for the Disciples had taken up the Common Opinion That the Messias was to be a Temporal Prince and should Conquer and Reign here upon Earth and how to Reconcile this with being killed they could no ways apprehend and they were afraid to be too particular in their Enquiries about it Now from Christ's so frequent warning his Disciples of his approaching Sufferings we may gather That we can never hear either too often or too much of the Doctrine of the Cross nor be too frequently instructed in our Duty to prepare for a Suffering State as Christ went from his Cross to the Crown from a State of Abasement to a State of Exaltation so must all his Disciples and Followers likewise 46 Then there arose a Reasoning among them which of them should be the greatest 47 And Jesus perceiving the thoughts of their Heart took a child and set him by him 48 And said unto them whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me for he that is least among you all the same shall be great It may justly seem a wonder that when our Blessed Saviour Discoursed so frequently with his Disciples about his Sufferings that they should at the same time be disputing amongst themselves about precedency and preheminency which of them should be the greatest the first in place and the highest in Dignity and Honour But from this Instance we may Learn That the Holiest and Best of Men are too prone to Ambition ready to catch at the Bait of Honour to affect a Precedency before and Superiority over others Here the Apostles themselves were touch'd with the Itch of Ambition to cure this our Saviour sets before them a little Child as the proper Emblem of Humility shewing that they ought to be as free from Pride and Ambition as a young Child which affects nothing of Precedency Such as are of highest Eminency in the Church ought to be singularly adorned with the Grace of Humility looking upon themselves as lying under the greatest Obligations to be most Eminently useful and serviceable for the Churches good 49 And John answered and said Master we saw one casting out Devils in thy name and we forbad him because he followeth not with us 50 And Jesus said unto him forbid him not for he that is not against us is for us Observe here 1. St. John's Relation of a matter of Fact to our Saviour namely his Forbidding one to cast out Devils in Christ's Name that did not follow Christ as they did for tho' only the Disciples which followed Christ had a Commission to work Miracles yet were there others no Enemies to Christ who in imitation of the Disciples did attempt to do the like and God was pleased for the Honour of his Son in whose Name they cast out Devils to give them sometimes Success Observe 2. The Action of the Disciples towards this Person we forbad him because he followed not with us where is Observable their Rashness in Forbidding him of their own Heads before they had consulted Christ about it and their Envy and Emulation in that they were grieved and discontented that good was done because they did not do it it is as hard a matter to look upon the Gifts of others without Envy as it is to look upon our own without Pride Observe 3. Our Saviour's Reply forbid him not Because Our Saviour knew that this Action of casting out Devils in his Name would some ways Redound to his Glory altho' he undertook the matter without Direction from Christ We ought not to censure and condemn those which do that which is good in it self tho' they fail in the manner of their doing of it 51 And it came to pass when the time was come that he should be received up he stedfastly set his Face to go to Jerusalem The time now drew on wherein our Saviour was to be Received up into Heaven and accordingly he sets his Face to go to Jerusalem that he might there Suffer and from thence Ascend Now here we have Observable 1. That altho ' Jerusalem was the Nest of his Enemies the Stage upon which his Bloody Sufferings were to be Acted the fatal place of his Death yet nothing terrified with Danger he sets his Face for Jerusalem that is come what will he will go with an invincible Courage and Resolution Learn thence That altho' Christ had a perfect and exact Knowledge of all the Bitter Sufferings he was to undergo
and I must disappear like the morning Star Not that John's Light was diminished but by a greater Light obscured only As all the Stars disappear at the appearance of the Sun Yet observe what matter of Joy it was to John to see himself out-shined by Christ Let him increase tho' I decrease That Minister has true Light in himself that can Rejoyce when he is out-shined by others Who is content to be abased and obscured if he may but see Christ dignified and exalted in the Lives of his People whoever the Person is whom God honours as his Instrument in that Service The fourth Difference wherein Christ excels John and all his Ministers is in the Divine Original of his Person v. 31. He that cometh from above is above all says John Now Christ is from above his Original is from Heaven I am from the Earth tho' I had my Commission from Heaven and accordingly my Words and Actions are Earthly My Master therefore infinitely surpasseth and excels me in the Dignity of his Person and in the Sublimity of his Knowledge From the whole Note How much it is the Desire and Endeavour of every Gospel-Minister to magnifie Jesus Christ to display his glorious Excellencies and Perfections before their People that they may reverence his Person revere his Authority and respect his Laws This was the Care of the Holy Baptist here and it will be the Endeavour of every faithful Minister of Christ that succeeds John to the end of the World 32 And what he hath seen and heard that he testifieth and no man receiveth his testimony 33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true 34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him Observe 1. Another great Difference which John the Baptist teacheth his Disciples to put betwixt his Testimony and Christ's To the intent that he might remove the Prejudice which was upon his Disciples Mind against the Messiah he shews them that his own Testimony which they so much admired was by Revelation only Christ's by immediate Intuition John testified only what he had received but Christ what he had seen lying in the Bosom of the Father What he hath seen and heard that he testifieth Learn hence That it is Christ's the great Prophet of his Church peculiar Prerogative to have the knowledge of Divine Truths immediately from the Father by special Communication and that all others receive their Knowledge from him by gracious Illumination only Observe 2. How sadly and sorrowfully the holy Baptist resents it that Christ's Testimony was no better received and entertained by the World He testifieth but no Man receiveth his testimony John's Disciples murmured that all Men came unto Christ v. 26. but John mourns that there came no more and complains that none that is very few received his Testimony Thence learn That it ought and will be matter of great Regret and Sorrow to all the Friends of Jesus Christ but especially to his faithful Ministers and Servants that his Doctrine is so ill received and entertained in the World It greatly affects and grievously afflicts them that when they testifie of Christ no Man that is comparatively very few Men receive their Testimony Observe 3. The Eulogy and high Commendation given of all true Believers they receive Christ's Testimony and thereby set to their Seal that God is true that is hath subscribed to and ratified the Truth of God that God in all his Promises of the Messiah under the Old Testament is faithful and true Learn hence The great Honour that God puts upon the Faith of Believers As Unbelief defames God and makes him a Lyer so Faith gives Testimony to the Truth of God and setteth its Seal that God is true He that receiveth his Testimony hath set to his Seal that God is true Observe 4. The Illustrious Character which the Holy Baptist gives of Christ his Master he is the Person whom God hath sent and unto whom God giveth not his Spirit by measure He whom God has sent that is immediately and extraordinarily from Heaven not as the Prophets and Apostles were sent but in a way peculiar to himself Having Authority for speaking not only from God but as being God himself And accordingly it is added that God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him that is the Gifts and Graces of the Holy Spirit were poured forth upon Christ in a Measure far above and beyond all finite Creatures There being a double difference betwixt Christ's fulness of the Spirit and all other Persons whatsoever 1. In the Measure of it God did not give out the Spirit to Christ sparingly and with limitation as he did to the former Prophets and John the Baptist in proportion to what their Offices required but he was anointed more plentifully and abundantly with the Holy Spirit above and beyond his Fellows 2. In the manner of its working The holy Prophets that were filled with the Spirit according to their Measures yet could not do or declare all Things nor act upon all Occasions but sometimes the Spirit restrained them and sometimes departed from them But Christ had no limits put upon the Vigour of his Spirit but his own Will therefore could work what and when he pleased Learn from hence That Christ had an abundant fitness from God for the discharge of his Office and an abundant fulness for his People God did not measure to him a certain Quantity and Proportion of the Gifts and Graces of his Spirit but pour'd it forth upon him without Measure 35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand The Father loveth the Son from Eternity as he was his Son by eternal Generation and he loved him as Mediator by special Constitution he loves him as the Brightness of his own Glory and the express Image of his Person with an Essential Natural and Necessary Love And he loves him as Mediator for undertaking our Cause and interposing for our Peace Learn hence That God the Father had a special Love and Affection to Christ not only in regard of his Eternal Sonship but with respect to his Office of Mediatorship The Father loveth the Son It follows he hath given all things into his hand that is intrusted him with all things necessary to our Salvation Lord what a Privilege is this that our Happiness is in Christ's Hand not in our own without his Oh wonderful Goodness to put our Concerns into the sure Hands of his Son which were lost by the weak Hands of Adam 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Learn 1. That tho' all Power be given to Christ to dispense Grace here and Glory hereafter yet none must expect to enjoy it but upon Condition of believing in him and obeying of him For the Original Word
Winnow his Corn separating it from the Chaff preserving the one and consuming the other Learn hence 1. That the Church is Christ's Floor 2. That this Floor Christ will Purge and that throughly 3. That the Word of Christ is the Fan in his Hands by and with which he will thoroughly Purge his Floor The Church is compared to a Floor upon the Account of that Mixture which is in the Church in a Floor there is Straw as well as Grain Chaff as well as Corn Tares as well as Wheat Cockle and Darnel as well as Good Seed Thus in the Church there is and will be a Mixture of Good and Bad Saints and Sinners Hypocrites and Sincere Christians But this Floor Christ will Purge Purge it but not Break it up Purge out its Corruptions but not Destroy its Essence and Existence and the Fan with which he will Purge his Floor is his Word accompanied with the Wing of Discipline The Fan detects and discovers the Chaff and the Wing dissipates and scatters it and by the help of both the Floor is Purged His Fan is in his Hand c. 13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him Here we have our Saviour's Solemn Inauguration and Publick Entrance upon his Prophetick Office by Baptism or Washing with Water according to the Manner of the Priests under the Ceremonial Law Exod. 29.4 Where we have Observable 1. The Circumstance of Time Then cometh Jesus that is after he had lain hid in Nazareth Thirty Years he comes abroad and enters upon his Publick Ministry Teaching us by his Example That when we are ripe and fit for Publick Service we should no less willingly leave our Obscurity than we took the Benefit of it for our Preparation Obs 2. The Action it self Christ is Baptized now as he was Circumcised before not because there was any Impurity in him either Filth or Foreskin which wanted either the Circumcising-Knife or the Baptismal-Water yet Purity it self condescends to be Washed Christ to be Baptized for these Reasons 1. That by this Symbol he might enter himself into the Society of Christians as by Circumcision he had done into the Society of Jews as a King condescends sometimes to be made a Freeman of a City or Corporation 2. That he might by his own Baptism Sanctifie the Ordinance of Baptism unto his Church 3. That thereby he might fulfil the Righteousness of the Ceremonial Law which required the Washing of the Priests in Water when they entred upon their Office as appears from Exod. 29.4 Obs 3. The great Dignation and Condescention of Christ in seeking and submitting to the Baptism of John Christ cometh to John not John to Christ Behold the Lord seeking to his Servant Christ will be Baptized of his Messenger Our Saviour's Design hereby no doubt was to put Honour upon the Ministry of John Oh how dare the Greatest upon Earth despise the Ministry of Man being appointed by God which Christ honoured in his own Person and graced with his own Presence 14 But John forbad him saying I have need to be baptized of thee and comest thou to me Note here 1. The Modesty of John's Refusal John forbad him and refused to admit him But why 1. In regard of Christ because he knew he needed it not such was his Majesty and Greatness that he was above it and such was his Purity and Holiness that he could not want it 2. In respect of himself he knew his own Uncleanness I have need to be Baptized of thee c. He thought it unsuitable that a Sinner should Baptize and Wash him that was no Sinner 3. With respect to the People lest they seeing Christ Baptized should apprehend him to be a Sinner and one that wanted the Baptism of Repentance as well as themselves Obs 2. As the Modesty of John's Refusal so the Reason he assigns for it I have need to be Baptized of thee As if he had said Thou art Purity I am Pollution thou art Spirit I am Flesh Thou are the Son of God I am the Son of Adam Such an humble Apprehension has this Holy Man of himself Learn That the more Holy a Person is the more sensible he is of his Unholiness where there is most Grace there is the greatest sense of the want of Grace 15 And Jesus answering said unto him Suffer it to be so now for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness Then he suffered him These Words contain our Saviour's Reason why he submitted to John's Baptism because it became him to fulfil all Righteousness that is particularly the Righteousness of the Ceremonial Law which required the Washing of the Priests in Water when they entred upon their Office Exod. 29.4 Learn hence 1. That whatever the Law required in order to perfect Righteousness that Christ fulfilled in most absolute Perfection both in his own Person and also in the Name of all Believers 2. That as it became Christ to fulfil the Righteousness of the Ceremonial Law for himself so it is our Duty and Interest to fulfil the Righteousness of the Moral Law for our selves as an Evidence of our being Righteous in God's Sight 1 Joh. 3.7 He that doth Righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous 16 And Jesus when he was baptized went up straightway out of the water and lo the heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him 17 And lo a voice from heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Here we have the solemn Investing of Christ into his Office accompanied with a threefold Miracle 1. The Opening of the Heavens 2. The Descent of the Holy Ghost in the likeness of a Dove 3. God the Father's Voice concerning his Son The Heavens were opened to shew that Heaven which was closed and shut against us for our Sins is now opened to us by Christ's Undertaking for us As the First Adam shuts us out of Heaven the Second Adam lets us into it he opened Heaven to us by his Meritorious Passion and he keeps it open by his Prevailing Intercession Next the Holy Ghost descends like a Dove upon our Saviour here we have an Evidence of the Blessed Trinity the Father speaks from Heaven the Son comes out of the Water and the Holy Ghost appears in the likeness of a Dove Hence we gather That the Holy Ghost is not a Quality or an Operation but a Person and a Person really distinct from the Father and the Son But why did the Holy Spirit now descend upon Christ First For the Designation of his Person to shew that Christ was the Person set apart for the Work and Office of a Mediator Secondly For the Qualification of his Person for the Performance of the Office This was Christ's Unction Isa 61.1 when he was Anointed above his Fellows to be the King Priest and Prophet of his Church Last of all We have the audible Voice
of God the Father pronouncing 1. The Nearness of Christ's Relation to himself This is my Son 2. The Endearedness of his Person This is my Beloved Son 3. The Fruit and Benefit of this near and dear Relation unto us In him I am well pleased Note 1. That there is no possibility for any Person to please God out of Christ both our Persons and our Performances find Acceptance only for His sake 2. That in and through Christ God is well-pleased with all Believers This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased c. CHAP. IV. The former part of this Chapter acquaints us with our Blessed Saviour's Combat with and Conquest over Satan and the first Verse informs us of the Time when and Place where the Combat was fought 1 THEN was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil Observe here 1. The Time when Christ entred the Lists with Satan implied in the word Then that is First Immediately after his Baptism he is no sooner out of the Water of Baptism but he is in the Fire of Temptation Secondly Immediately after the Spirit descended upon him and the Father had by a Voice from Heaven manifested his Complacency and Satisfaction in him This is my Beloved Son c. Note thence That great Manifestations of Love from God are usually followed with great Temptations from Satan Observe 2. The Place where this Combat was fought and that is in the Wilderness Learn thence That no Place can priviledge us from Temptation or be a Sanctuary from Satan's Assaults the solitary Wilderness has a Tempter in it yea Satan sometimes makes use of Mens Solitariness to farther his Temptations a Cell a Nunnery or a Cloister are as open to Satan as the open Fields and the Persons that live in them have a Tempter without and an Enticer within as well as other Men. Obs 3. The Efficient Cause of Christ's going into the Wilderness to be Tempted by Satan He was led up of the Spirit says St. Matthew The Spirit drove him says St. Mark That is the Holy Spirit of God not Satan the Unclean Spirit for the Devil is seldom if ever called The Spirit but usually some Brand of Reproach is annexed as the Evil Spirit or the Vnclean Spirit Christ was Led by the Spirit that is he was carried by a strong Impulse of the Spirit of God into the Wilderness to be Tempted by Satan Learn hence 1. That none of the Children of God ought to expect a Freedom from Temptations seeing Christ himself in the Days of his Flesh was strongly solicited by Satan unto Sin 2. That all the Temptations wherewith the Children of God are assaulted are ordered by Divine and Special Dispensation Satan could not assault our Saviour till he was Led by the Spirit into the Wilderness for that End and he shall not assault any of his Members but by Divine Permission and special Dispensation 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights he was afterward an hungred Obs here 1. How the Divine Power upheld the Human Nature of Christ without Food What Moses did at the Giving of the Law Christ doth at the Beginning of the Gospel namely Fast Forty Days and Forty Nights Christ hereby intended our Admiration not our Imitation or if our Imitation of the Action only not of the Time Christ teaches us by Fasting and Prayer to prepare our selves for a Conflict with our Spiritual Enemies as he prepared himself by Fasting to grapple with the Tempter so should we 3 And when the tempter came to him he said If thou be the Son of God command that these stones be made bread Observe here 1. The Occasion of the Temptation 2. The Temptation it self The Occasion was our Saviour's Hunger and want of Bread Learn thence That when God suffers any of his Dear Children to fall into Want and to be streightned for Outward Things Satan takes a mighty Advantage thereupon to Tempt and Assault them But what doth he Tempt our Saviour to To the Sin of Distrust to question his Sonship If thou be the Son of God And next to distrust his Father's Providence and Care Command that these Stones be made Bread Learn hence 1. That Satan's grand Design is first to tempt the Children of God to doubt of their Adoption and next to Distrust God's Fatherly Care over them and Provision for them and last of all to use Unwarrantable Means to help themselves Thus Satan dealt with Christ and thus he deals with Christians For to work a Miracle at Satan's Direction was not a Lawful Means of providing Food for himself 4 But he answered and said It is written Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Observe here The Weapon which our Saviour made use of to repell the Temptation and to vanquish the Tempter and that is the Word of God It is written Learn That the Scriptures or the Written Word of God is the only sure Weapon wherewith to vanquish Satan and to beat back all his Fiery Temptations 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city and setteth him on a pinacle of the temple That is Satan by God's permission took up his Body and carried it in the Air and set it upon one of the Battlements of the Temple Learn hence 1. What a mighty Power Evil Spirits have over our Bodies if God permits them to execute and exercise their Power upon them 2. That it is owing to the gracious Care and watchful Providence of God over us that we are not hurried away bodily by Satan Thanks be to God tho' the Devil's Malice be infinite yet his Power is limited and bounded as he cannot do all the Mischief he would to the Bodies and Souls of Men so he shall not do all he can 6 And saith unto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy self down for it is written He shall give his angels charge concerning thee and in their hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone Here we have Observable First the Sin which Satan tempts Christ unto and next the Argument which he tempts him from The Sin tempted to is the Sin of Self-Murther Cast thy self down Whence we Learn That Self-Murther is a Sin which Christ himself was and the best of Saints may by Satan be tempted to the Commission of But forasmuch as Satan tempted Christ to murther himself but had not power to do it himself do thou cast thy self down We Learn That tho' Satan may tempt yet he cannot compel he may entice but cannot enforce any to Sin against their own Consent Obs 2. The Argument which Satan uses it is a Scripture-Argument he quotes the Promise of God He shall give his Angels charge over thee What a Marvel is here to find Satan with a Bible under his Arm and a Text of Scripture in his Mouth Christ
had alledged Scripture before to Satan here Satan retorts Scripture back again to Christ It is written says Christ It is written says Satan Learn thence That it is no wonder to hear Hereticks and Hypocrites quote Scripture when Satan himself durst recite them He that had prophanely toucht the Sacred Body of Christ with his Hand sticks not presumptuously to handle the Holy Scriptures of God with his Tongue Yet Observe How wretchedly the Devil wrests perverts and misapplies the Scriptures When God promises his Angels shall keep us it is in Viis non in Praecipitiis 't is in all God's Ways not in any of our own crooked Paths Note here That altho' the Children of God have the Promise of the Guardianship of Holy Angels yet then only may they expect their Protection when they are walking in the Way of their Duty 7 Jesus said unto him It is written again Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God Observe here Tho' the Devil had wrested and abused Scripture yet still Christ alledges Scripture The Abuse of the Holy Scriptures by Hereticks and Seducers is no Argument against the Use of them As Christ here compares Scripture with Scripture so should we in order to the finding out the true Sence and Meaning of it 8 Again the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them 9 And saith unto him All these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me The next Sin which Satan tempts our Saviour to is the Sin of Idolatry even to Worship the Devil himself Oh thou Impudent and Foul Spirit To desire thy Creator to Adore thee an Apostate-Creature Surely there can be no Sin so black and foul so gross and monstrous but that the Christian may be tempted to it when Christ himself was tempted to Worship the Tempter St. Matthew reads the Words If thou wilt fall down and Worship me St. Luke If thou wilt Worship before me Whence we may gather That if to Worship before the Devil be to Worship the Devil then to Worship before an Image is to Worship the Image Obs 2. The Bait which Satan makes use of to allure our Saviour to the Sin of Idolatry and that was in representing to his Eye and View all the Glories of the World in the most inviting manner and that in a Moment of Time to the intent it might affect him the more and prevail the sooner Learn thence That the Pomp and Greatness the Glory and Grandeur of this World is made use of by Satan as a dangerous Snare to draw Men to a Compliance with him in his Temptations unto Sin 10 Then saith Jesus unto him Get thee hence Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Observe here 1. With what Zeal and Indignation of Spirit our Blessed Saviour repells and beats back this Temptation of Satan Get thee hence Note thence That the greater the Sins are which the Devil tempts us to the greater our Zeal and Indignation ought to be in opposing and resisting of the Temptation to them A great Temptation must be withstood with great Resolution Observe 2. The Weapon with which he repells and beats back the Fiery Dart of Satan's Temptation and that is with the Shield of Scripture It is written Thou shalt Worship the Lord thy God Learn thence That GOD is the Sole Object of all Religious Worship it is so peculiarly the Creator's Due that to give it to any Creature is gross Idolatry and repugnant to the Scriptures 11 Then the devil leaveth him and behold angels came and ministred unto him Observe here 1. The Issue of this Combat Satan is conquered and quits the Field Then the Devil leaveth him Teaching us That nothing like a vigorous Resistance of Temptation causes the Tempter to flee from us Resist the Devil and be will flee from you Observe 2. Our Lord's Triumph over his Enemy Behold Angels came and ministred unto him Food to his hungry Body and Comfort to his tempted Soul Learn thence That those who in the Hour of Temptation do hold out in resisting Satan shall find the Power and Faithfulness of God will not be wanting to them to send in Succour and Relief in the End 12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison he departed into Galilee 13 And leaving Nazareth he came and dwelt in Capernaum which is upon the sea-coast in the borders of Zebulon and Nephthalim 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet saying 15 The land of Zabulon and the land of Nephthalim by the way of the sea beyond Jordan Galilee of the Gentiles 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up Observe here 1. Our Saviour hearing of John's Imprisonment provides for his own Safety by departing into Galilee As our Holy Lord avoided Persecution so may we Observe 2. The Place in Galilee he comes to Capernaum Christ had three Cities which he called his own Nazareth where he was Bred Bethlehem where he was Born and Capernaum where he dwelt this was a Sea-coast Town in the Borders of Zebulon and Nephthali Observe 3. The Special Providence of God in this Change of our Saviour's Habitation for by that means the Prophecy Isa 9.1 was fulfilled which declares that in that dark part of the Country the Messiah the True Light should shine forth Learn hence 1. That a People destitute of the Saving Knowledge of the Gospel are in great Darkness how great soever the Light of their Outward Comforts may be This People had Natural Light enough and Civil Light enough they had an Abundance of Wealth and Riches Peace and Plenty but they wanted the Light of Christ and his Gospel and therefore are said to sit in Darkness 2. That where-ever the Gospel is Preached amongst a People it is as a Light springing up and shining forth amongst them quickning and enlivening reviving and chearing the Souls of those that entertain it how great soever their outward Darkness and Distress may be The People that sate in Darkness saw great Light and to them which sate in the Region and Shadow of Death Light is sprung up c. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand Here our Saviour begins to enter upon his Prophetick Office and by Preaching to make known the Will of God to Mankind and Observe The Doctrine which he Preached is the same that John the Baptist did Preach namely the Doctrine of Repentance Repent ye and the Argument is the same also For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand that is now is the so much expected Time of the Appearing of the promised Messiah Learn hence That the Doctrine of Christ and his Ambassadors is alike and the same
good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them Observe here 1. A Caution given Beware of False Prophets There were two sorts of Deceivers which our Saviour gave his Disciples a special Warning of namely False Christs and False Prophets False Christs were such as pretended to be the True Messias False Prophets were such who pretended to own Christianity but drew People away from the Simplicity of the Gospel Obs 2. The Ground of this Caution They come in Sheeps-cloathing but inwardly are ravening Wolves That is they make fair Pretences to Strictness in Religion and to greater Measures and Degrees of Mortification and Self-Denial than others Whence we Learn That such as go about to Seduce others usually pretend to Extraordinary Measures of Sanctity themselves to raise an Admiration amongst those who judge of Saints more by their Looks than by their Lives more by their Expressions than by their Actions What Heavenly Looks and Devout Gestures what Long Prayers and Frequent Fastings had the Hypocritical Pharisees beyond what Christ or his Disciples ever practised Obs 3. The Rule laid down by Christ whereby we are to Judge of False Teachers By their Fruits we shall know them Learn That the best Course we can take to Judge of Teachers pretending to be sent of God is to Examin the Design and Tendency of their Doctrines and the Course and Tenour of their Conversations Good Teachers like good Trees will bring forth the good Fruits of Truth and Holiness but Evil Men and Seducers like corrupt Trees will bring forth Error and Wickedness in their Life and Doctrine 21 Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven 22 Many will say to me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name have cast out devils and in thy Name done many wonderful works 23 And then will I profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye that work iniquity Not every one that is Not any one that saith Lord Lord that is that owneth me by way of Profession by way of Prayer and by way of Appeal shall be Saved But he that doth the Will of my Father sincerely and universally Learn hence 1. That Multitudes at the Great Day shall be really disowned by Christ as none of his Servants that did Nominally own him for their Lord and Master Many that have now Prophesied in his Name shall then Perish in his Wrath Many that have cast out Devils now shall be cast out to Devils then Such as have now Done many Wonderful Works shall then Perish for Evil Workers Note 2. That a bare Name and Profession of Christianity without the Practice of it is a very Insufficient Ground to Build our Hopes of Heaven and Salvation upon 3. That Gifts Eminent Gifts yea Extraordinary and Miraculous Gifts are not to be rested in or depended upon as Sufficient Evidences for Heaven and Salvation Gifts are as the Gold which Adorns the Temple but Grace is like the Temple that Sanctifies the Gold 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock 25 And the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell not for it was founded upon a rock 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the sand 27 And the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell and great was the fall of it Our Saviour here concludes his Excellent Sermon with an Elegant Similitude The Wise Builder is not the frequent Hearer but the faithful Doer of the Word or the Obedient Christian the House is Heaven and the Hope of Eternal Life the Rock is Christ the Building upon the Sand is resting in the bare Performâ—nce of Outward Duties the Rains the Winds and the Floods are all kind of afflicting Evils Sufferings and Persecutions that may befall us Note 1. That the Obedient Believer is the only Wise Man that Builds his Hopes of Heaven upon a sure and abiding Foundation Note 2. That such Professors as rest in the Outward Performance of Holy Duties are Foolish Builders their Foundation is weak and sandy and all their Hopes of Salvation vain and uncertain 28 And it came to pass when Jesus had ended these sayings the people were astonished at his doctrine 29 For he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes Here we have Two Things Observable 1. The Manner of our Lord 's Teaching it was with Authority that is it was Grave and Serious Pious and Ardent Plain and Profitable With what Brevity without Darkness With what Gravity without Affectation With what Eloquence without Meretricious Ornament were our Lord's Discourses The Majesty he shewed in his Sermons made it evidently appear that he was a Teacher sent of GOD and cloathed with his Authority Observe 2. The Success of his Teaching The People were Astonished at his Doctrine Affected with Admiration believing him to be an Extraordinary Prophet Learn That such is the Power of Christ's Doctrine especially when accompanied with the Energy of his Holy Spirit that it makes all his Auditors Admirers it causes Astonishment in their Minds and Reformation in their Manners CHAP. VIII This Chapter is called by St. Ambrose Scriptura Miraculosa the Miraculous Scripture there being several great Miracles recorded in this Chapter As the Cleansing of the Leper the Curing of the Centurion's Servant the Appeasing of the Winds c. Our Saviour having delivered his Doctrine in the former Chapters in this he backs his Doctrine with Miracles for the Establishment and Confirmation of it 1 WHEN he was come down from the mountain great multitudes followed him 2 And behold there came a leper and worshipped him saying Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean 3 And Jesus put forth his hand and touched him saying I will be thou clean And immediately his leprosie was cleansed 4 And Jesus saith unto him See thou tell no man but go thy way shew thy self to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded for a testimony unto them Several Particulars are here Observable as 1. The Petitioner and that is a Leper he came and Worshipped Christ and petitions him to Heal him saying Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean Where he discovers a firm Belief of Christ's Power but a Diffidence and Distrust of Christ's Will to Heal him Learn Christ's Divine Power must be fully assented to and firmly believed by all those that expect Benefit by him and Healing from him Obs 2. How readily our Saviour grants his Petition Jesus touched him saying I will be thou clean Our Saviour
but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell Obs here the following Particulars 1. An unwarrantable Fear condemned and that is the sinful servile slavish Fear of impotent Man Fear not him that can kill the Body 2. An holy awful and prudential Fear of the Omnipotent God commended Fear him that is able to kill both Body and Soul 3. The Persons that this Duty of Fear is recommended to and bound upon Christ's own Disciples yea his Ministers and Ambassadors they both may and ought to fear him not only for his Greatness and Goodness but upon the account of his Punitive Justice as Being able to cast both Soul and Body into Hell Such a Fear is not only Lawful but Laudable not only commendable but commanded and well becomes the Servants of God themselves 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbred 31 Fear ye not therefore ye are of more value than many sparrows Obs here 1. The Doctrine which our Saviour Preaches to his Disciples and that is the Doctrine of Divine Providence which concerns it self for the meanest Creatures even the Birds of the Air and the Hairs of our Heads do fall within the compass of God's Protecting Care 2. Here is the Use which our Saviour makes of this Doctrine namely to fortifie the Spirits of his Disciples against all distrustful Fears and distracting Cares Learn That the Consideration of the Divine Care and Gracious Providence of GOD over us and ours ought to antidote our Spirits against all distrustful Fears whatsoever If an Hair from the Head falls not to the Ground without a Providence much less shall the Head it self if the very Excrements of the Body such are the Hair be taken Care of by God surely the more noble Parts of the Body and especially the noblest Part of our selves our Souls shall fall under his particular Regard 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven Obs here 1. That not to confess Christ in his Account is to deny him and to deny him is to be ashamed of him 2. That whosoever shall deny disown or be ashamed of Christ either in his Person in his Gospel or in his Members for any Fear or Favour of Man shall with Shame be disowned and eternally rejected by Him at the Dreadful Judgment of the Great Day CHRIST may be Denied three ways Doctrinally by an Erroneous and Heretical Judgment Verbally by Oral Expressions Vitally by a Wicked and Unholy Life But Wo to that Soul that denies CHRIST any of these Ways 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth I came not to send peace but a sword 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and the daughter in law against her mother in law 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own houshold We must distinguish here betwixt the Intentional Aim of Christ's Coming and the Accidental Event of it His Intentional Aim was to propagate and promote Peace in the World but thro' the Corruption of Man's Nature the Accidental Event of his Coming is War and Division Not that these are the genuine and natural Fruits of the Gospel but Occasional and Accidental only Note That the Preaching of the Gospel and setting up the Kingdom of Christ in the World tho' it be not the Natural Cause yet it is the Accidental Occasion of all that War and Tumult of all that Distraction and Confusion which the World abounds with 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me 38 And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it Our Saviour by these Expressions doth not condemn Natural Love and Affection either to our Relations or our own Lives but only regulates and directs it and shews that our first and chief Love must be bestowed upon Himself We may have tender and relenting Affections towards our dear Relations but then the Consideration of CHRIST's Truth and Religion must take Place of these nay of Life it self nay when these come in Competition we are to regard them no more than if they were the Objects of our Hatred Luk. 14.26 If a Man hate not his Father c. Learn hence That all the Disciples of Christ should be ready and willing whenever God calls them to it to quit all their Temporal Interests and Enjoyments even Life it self and to submit to any Temporal Inconvenience even Death it self And all this willingly chearfully and patiently rather than disown their Relation to Christ and quit the Profession of his Truth and Religion 2. That such as for Secular Interest and the Preservation of Temporal Life do renounce their Profession of Christ and his Religion they do not only greatly hazard their Temporal Life but expose their Eternal Life to the greatest Danger He that findeth his Life shall lose it c. 40 He that receiveth you receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me 41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward 42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward Here in the close of the Chapter our Blessed Saviour encourages his Apostles to Faithfulness in their Office by assuring them that he should reckon and esteem all the Kindness shewn to them as done unto himself And to encourage the World to be kind to his Disciples and Ministers he assures them that even a Cup of cold Water should meet with a liberal Reward How cold is their Charity who deny a Cup of cold Water to the Ministers and Disciples of Christ Learn 1. That there is some special and eminent Reward due to the Faithful Prophets of GOD above other Men. 2. That he that shall entertain a Prophet and do any good Office for him under that Name that is for his Office-sake shall be Partaker of that Reward 3. That the least Office of Love and Respect of Kindness and Charity which we shew to any of the Ministers or Members of Jesus Christ for his sake Christ accounts it as done unto himself and it shall be rewarded by himself CHAP. XI 1 AND it came to pass
us from the Surcharge of it 2. A Cloud overshadows them to hinder their farther prying and looking into the Glory We must be content to behold God here through a Cloud darkly e'er long we shall see him Face to Face Obs 2. The Testimony given by God the Father out of the Cloud concerning Jesus Christ his Son This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Here Note 1. The Dignity of his Person he is a Son therefore for Nature coessential for Dignity coequal for Time coeternal with the Father and a Beloved Son because of his Likeness and Conformity to him Father's Likeness is the cause of Love and a Union of Wills causes a mutual endearing of Affections Note 2. The Excellency of his Mediation In whom I am well pleased Christ in himself was most pleasing to God the Father and in and through him he is well pleased with all Believers Christ's Mediation for us makes God appeaseable to us Note 3. The Authority of his Doctrine Hear him Not Moses and Elias who were Servants but Christ my Son whom I have commissioned to be the great Prophet and Teacher of my Church Therefore adore him as my Son believe in him as your Saviour and hear him as your Lawgiver He honours Christ most that obeys him best The obedient Ear honours Christ more than either the gazing Eye the adoring Knee or the applauding Tongue This is my beloved Son hear him 6 And when the disciples heard it they fell on their face and were sore afraid 7 And Jesus came and touched them and said Arise and be not afraid 8 And when they had lift up their eyes they saw no man save Jesus only 9 And as they came down from the mountain Jesus charged them saying Tell the vision to no man until the Son of man be risen again from the dead Observe here 1. The Effect which this Voice from Heaven had upon the Apostles it cast them into a Passion of Horror and Amazement They were sore afraid and fell on their Face Learn thence That such is the Majesty and Glory of God that Man in his sinful State cannot bear so much as a Glimpse of it without great Consternation and Fear How unable is Man to hear the Voice of God And yet how ready to despise the Voice of Man If God speaks by himself his Voice is too terrible if he speaks by his Ministers ir is too contemptible Obs 2. The Person by whom the Disciples were recovered out of these amazing Fears into which they were cast namely by Christ Jesus came and said be not afraid Learn That it is Christ alone who can raise and comfort those whom the Terrors of the Almighty have dejected and cast down Obs 3. The manner how Christ recovered them out of this passionate Amazement it was threefold 1. By his Gracious Approach he came unto them Christ will come with Comfort unto his Children when they are disabled from coming to him for Comfort 2. By his comfortable Touch He came and touched them Christ comforts Believers by a real and close Application of himself unto them An unapplied Christ saves none comforts none 3. By his comforting Voice He said be not afraid 'T is a Word of Assurance that there is no Ground nor Cause of Fear and 't is a Word of Assistance 'T is Verbum Operatorium he that said unto them Arise be not afraid did by his Spirit breath Life and conveigh Strength into their Souls to enable them to arise Obs 4. The strict Injunction given by Christ to his Disciples not to publish or proclaim this Vision till after his Resurrection for two Reasons 1. Lest it should hinder his Passion For had the Rulers of the World known him to be the Lord of Life and Glory they would not have crucified him Therefore Christ purposely concealed his Deity to give way to his Passion 2. Christ being now in a State of Humiliation would have his Majesty veiled his Glory concealed and consequently forbids that the Glorious Vision of his Transfiguration should be published and accordingly charges his Disciples That they tell the Vision to no Man till he was risen 10 And his disciples asked him saying Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them Elias truly shall first come and restore all things 12 But I say unto you that Elias is come already and they knew him not but have done unto him whatsoever they listed likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist Here we have the Disciples Question and our Saviour's Answer They ask our Saviour how the Observation of the Jewish Doctors holds good that Elias must come before the Messias come We see the Messias but we see no Elias our Saviour answers that Elias was come already Not Elijah in Person but one in the Spirit and Power of Elias One of his Spirit and Temper to wit John the Baptist who was prophesied of under the Name of Elias And indeed great was the Resemblance between the Elias of the Old Testament and of the New viz. John the Baptist They were both born in bad Times they were both Zealous for God and Religion they were both undaunted Reprovers of the Faults of Princes and they were both hated and implacably persecuted for the same Learn That Hatred and Persecution even unto Death has often been the Lot and Portion of such as have had the Courage and Zeal to improve the Faults of Princes Elias is come and they did unto him whatsoever they would 14 And when they were come to the multitude there came to him a certain man kneeling down to him and saying 15 Lord have mercy on my son for he is lunatick and sore vexed for oft times he falleth into the fire and oft into the water 16 And I brought him to thy disciples and they could not cure him Observe here 1. A sick Patient brought to Christ the great Physician for Cure and Healing A Lunatick that is a Person at certain times of the Moon afflicted with the Falling Sickness 2. This Sickness of his was aggravated by Satan who bodily possess'd him and cruelly cast him into the Fire and into the Water but rather for Torture than Dispatch Oh how does Satan that malicious Tyrant rejoice in doing Hurt to Mankind Lord abate his Power since his Malice will not be abated Obs 3. The Person that brought him forth for Cure his compassionate Father who kneeled down and cried out Need will make a Person both humble and eloquent Every one has a Tongue to speak for himself happy is he that keeps a Tongue for others 4. The Physicians that he was brought unto First To the Disciples and when they could not cure him then to Jesus We never apply our selves importunately to the God of Power till we totally despair of the Creatures help 17 Then Jesus answered
kind and gracious Answer You that have left all to follow me shall be no Losers by me For in the Regeneration that is at the Resurrection when Believers shall be perfectly renewed both in Soul and Body and shall enjoy my Kingdom then as I sit upon the Throne of my Glory so shall you sit with me in an higher Degree of Dignity and Honour Judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel that is the Jews first for their Unbelief and then all other Despisers of Gospel-Grace and Mercy Learn 1. That such Ministers as do most Service for Christ and forsake most to follow him shall in his Kingdom partake of most Honour and Dignity with him and from him 2. That as the Ministers of Christ in general so his Twelve Apostles in particular shall set nearer the Throne of Christ and have an higher place in Glory at the great Day than ordinary Believers 29 And every one that hath forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my Names sake shall receive an hundred fold and shall inherit everlasting life The foregoing Promise v. 28. respected the Apostles this all Christians who forsake their dearest Enjoyments for Christ He assures them they shall be recompensed in this Life an Hundred fold How Non formaliter sed eminenter Not in Specie but in Valore not in Kind but in Equivalency Not an Hundred Brethren or Sisters or Lands but first he shall have that in God which all Creatures would be to him if they were multiplied an Hundred times 2dly The Gifts and Graces the Comforts and Consolations of the Holy Spirit shall be an Hundred-fold better Portion than any thing we can part with for the sake of Christ and his Gospel here Learn hence That tho' we may be Losers for Christ yet shall we never be Loosers by him 30 But many that are first shall be last and the last shall be first A twofold Sense and Interpretation is given of these Words The First respects the Jews and Gentiles in general the Second all Professors of Christianity in particular The Jews as if Christ had said Look upon themselves as first and nearest to the Kingdom of Heaven but for their Infidelity they shall be last in it That is shall never come there And the Gentiles who are look'd upon as Dogs and farthest from Heaven shall be first there upon their Conversion to me and Faith in me As the Words respect all Professors the Sense is Many that are first in their own Esteem and in the Opinion of others and forward in a Profession of Religion yet at the Day of Judgment they will be last and least in mine and my Father's Estimation and Account And many that were little in their own and less in the Esteem of others who had a less Name and Vogue in the World shall yet be first and highest in my Favour Learn hence That the Day of Judgment will frustrate a great many Persons Expectations both as touching others and concerning themselves Many will miss of Heaven and be last which look'd upon themselves to be first And many will find others in Heaven whom they least expected there The Lord judgeth not as Man judgeth We judge of Men by outward Appearances but we are sure that the Judgment of God is according to Truth He can neither be deceived nor yet deceive CHAP. XX. 1 FOR the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an housholder which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day he sent them into his vineyard 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market-place 4 And said unto them Go ye also into the vineyard and whatsoever is right I will give you And they went their way 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour and did likewise 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle and saith unto them Why stand ye here all the day idle 7 They say unto him Because no man hath hired us He saith unto them Go ye also into the vineyard and whatsoever is right that shall ye receive A twofold Sence and Interpretation is given of this Parable The one Literal the other Analogical The Historical and Literal Sence relates to the calling of the Gentiles The Jews were the first People that God had in the World they were hired into the Vineyard betimes in the Morning the Gentiles not till the Day was far spent yet shall the Gentiles by the Favour and Bounty of God receive the same Reward of Eternal Life which was promised to the Jews who bare the Heat of the Day while the Gentiles stood idle In the Analogical Sence we may understand all Persons indefinitely called by the Gospel into the visible Church those that are called last shall be rewarded together with the first and accordingly the Design and Scope of this Parable is to shew the Freeness of Divine Grace in the Distribution of those Rewards which the Hand of Mercy conferrs upon God's faithful Servants The Vineyard is the Church of God the Husbandman is God himself the Labourers are particular Persons God's going at divers times into his Vineyard imports the several Ages of Man's Life some are called early in the Morning some at Noon others at Night Now when God comes to dispence his Rewards those that entered first into the Vineyard and did most Service for God shall be plentifully rewarded by him and such as came in later but did faithful Service shall not miss of a merciful Reward Learn 1. That so long as a Person keeps out of Christ's Vineyard and Service he is Idle Every unregenerate Man is an idle Man 2. That Persons are called by the preaching of the Gospel at several Ages and Periods of Life into God's Vineyard that is into the Communion of the visible Church 3. That such as do come in tho' late into God's Vineyard and work diligently and faithfully shall not miss of a Reward of Grace at the Hand of free Mercy 8 So when even was come the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward Call the labourers and give them their hire beginning from the last unto the first 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour they received every man a penny 10 But when the first came they supposed that they should have received more and they likewise received every man a penny 11 And when they had received it they murmured against the good man of the house 12 Saying These last have wrought but one hour and thou hast made them equal unto us which have born the burden and heat of the day 13 But he answered one of them and said Friend I do thee no wrong didst thou not agree with me for a penny 14 Take that thine is and go thy way I will give
Diet but both by their Habit and Diet set an Example of Gravity and Sobriety before their People being in these as well as in other things an Example unto their Flocks 7 And preached saying There cometh one mightier then I after me the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose Observe here 1. The high Opinion that the Baptist had of Christ he is mightier than I That is a Person of greater Dignity and Excellency by far than my self whence may be gathered that tho' Christ was Man he was not meer Man but more than Man even very God equal with the Father for John Baptist was the greatest of them that were born of Women Matth. 11.11 yet says he Christ is mightier or greater than I. How so but in regard of the Dignity of his Person being both God and Man in two distinct Natures and one Person Observe 2. The humble and low Estimation that the Baptist had of himself His Shoe-latchet I am not worthy to unloose A proverbial Speech implying that he was unworthy to do the basest and meanest Service for Christ Oh how well doth Humility of Mind an humble Apprehension a low Esteem and Opinion of themselves and their own Gifts and Abilities become the Messengers and Ministers of Christ John was a Man of eminent Abilities yet of Exemplary Humility he thought himself unworthy to unloose Christ's Shoe or do the meanest Office for him 8 I indeed have baptized you with water but he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost John shewed the Dignity of Christ's Person above his own in the former Verse in this he declares the Excellency of Christ's Office and the meanness of his own I wash the Body with Water but Christ cleanses the Soul by the Operation of his Holy Spirit Thence Learn That tho' the Ministers of Christ do by Christ's Command dispence the Outward Ordinance of Baptism yet it is Christ himself that by the Inward Work of his Spirit doth make it effectual to such as receive it I Baptize with Water but he with the Holy Ghost 9 And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized of John in Jordan 10 And straightway coming up out of the water he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him 11 And there came a voice from heaven saying Thou art my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased See the Note on Matth. 3.13 Observe here 1. The great Condescention of Christ in seeking and submitting to the Baptism of John Christ tho' he was John's Lord and Master yea Lord of Heaven and Earth yet cometh to hear John Preach and will be Baptized of his Messenger Thence Learn That the greatest Persons should neither think themselves too great nor too good to come unto the Ministers of God to hear the Word from his Mouth or to receive the Sacrament at his Hand Christ the Son of God was content to be Baptized of John a mean Person in Comparison of himself How dare then the greatest upon Earth despise the Ministry of Man being appointed by God Observe 2. The solemn investing of Christ into the Office of a Mediator by a threefold Miracle namely the opening of the Heavens the Descent of the Holy Ghost and God the Father's Voice or Testimony concerning his Son The Heavens were opened to shew that Heaven which was closed and shut against us for our Sins is now opened to us by Christ's undertaking for us As Christ opened Heaven by his meritorious Passion so he keeps it open by his prevailing Intercession Next The Holy Ghost descends like a Dove upon our Saviour Here we have a Proof and Evidence of the Blessed Trinity The Father speaks from Heaven the Son comes out of the Water and the Holy Ghost descends in the Likeness of a Dove But why did the Holy Ghost now descend upon Christ First For the Designation of his Person to shew that he was the Person set apart for the Work and Office of a Mediator Secondly For the Sanctification of his Person for the Performance of that Office This was Christ's Unction the Day in which he was Anointed above his Fellows to be the King Priest and Prophet of his Church Isa 61. v. 1. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me he hath anointed me c. Observe 3. The Voice of God the Father pronouncing 1. The Nearness of Christ's Relation to himself This is my Son 2. The Endearedness of his Person This is my Beloved Son 3. The Fruit and Benefit of this near and dear Relation unto us In him I am well pleased Hence Learn 1. That there is no Possibility for any Person to please God out of Christ neither our Persons nor our Performances can find Acceptance but thro' him and for his sake 2. That the Lord Jesus Christ is the Ground and Cause of all that Love which God the Father sheweth to the Sons of Men In Christ God is well pleased with us as a reconciled Father out of him a consuming Fire 12 And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness 13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan and was with the wild beasts and the Angels ministred unto him Immediately That is 1. After his Baptism Christ is no sooner out of the Water of Baptism but he is in the Fire of Temptation Such as are Baptized with Christ and entered into the Profession of Christianity they must look to be assaulted with Satan's Temptations Again Immediately that is 2. After the Father had declared his Complacency in him and being well pleased with him Learn thence That great Manifestations of Love from God are usually followed with great Temptations from Satan The Spirit driveth him That is the Holy Spirit of God For the Devil is seldom if ever called the Spirit but usually some Brand of Reproach is annexed as the evil Spirit or the unclean Spirit and the like Christ was led by the Spirit says St. Matthew 4.1 He was driven by the Spirit says St. Mark that is He was carried by a strong Impulse of the Spirit of God to be tempted by Satan and did not go of his own private Motion to enter the Lists with Satan Teaching us our Duty not to run into or rush upon Temptations without a Warrant and Call from God Observe next the Place where Satan assaulted Christ with his Temptations it was a solitary Wilderness No Place can priviledge us from Temptations or be a Sanctuary from Satan's Assaults The solitary Wilderness has a Tempter in it yea Satan oft-times makes use of Men's Solitariness to farther his Temptations and such as separate themselves from Humane Society and give themselves up to Solitude and Retirement they give great Advantage to the Tempter to tempt them Observe next the Time and Continuance of our Holy Lord's Temptations not for an Hour a Day a Week or a Month but for Forty Days
Judgment to come and the Devils are in Chains of Darkness reserved to the Judgment of that great Day But some by these Words Art thou come to destroy us understand as much as are thou come to restrain us from the Exercise of our Power Learn we thence That the Devil thinks himself destroyed when he is restrained from doing Mischief Obs 5. The Title which the Devil puts upon our Saviour Jesus of Nazareth the Holy One of God Altho' there was Ground for the common People's calling Christ Jesus of Nazareth because he was bred and brought up there and lived there during his private Life till about 30 Years of Age Tho' he was not born there but at Bethlehem yet it is conceived that the Devil gave this Title to our Saviour in Policy to disguise the place of Christ's Nativity that so the Jews might not believe him to be the true Messiah because he was of Nazareth whereas the Messiah was to come out of Bethlehem Therefore to the Intent that the Jews might be at the greater Loss concerning Christ and in Doubt of his being the true Messiah the Devil here calls him not Jesus of Bethlehem but Jesus of Nazareth But how comes the next Title out of the Devil's Mouth The Holy One of God Could an Apostle Could Peter himself make a Profession beyond this But how comes the Devil to make it For no good End or Purpose we may be sure For he never speaks Truth for Truths sake but for Advantage Probably 1. He made this Profession that so he might bring the Truth profess'd into Suspicion hoping that a Truth which received Testimony from the Father of Lies would be suspected 2. It might perhaps be done that the People might believe that our Saviour had some Familiarity with Satan and did work Miracles by his Help because he did confess him and seem so much to honour him From this Instance and Example Learn That it is possible for a Person to own and acknowledge Christ to be the true and only Saviour and yet to miss of Salvation by him If a speculative Knowledge and a verbal Profession of Christ were sufficient to Salvation the Devil himself would not miss of Happiness Obs 6. How our Saviour rebukes the Devil for this Confession and commands him Silence And Jesus rebuked him saying Hold thy Peace But why was this Rebuke given the Devil when he spake the Truth Ans 1. Because Christ knew that the Devil confess'd this Truth on purpose to disgrace the Truth 2. Because the Devil was no fit Person to make this Profession A Testimony of Truth from the Father of Lies is enough to render Truth it self suspected Yet the Devil's Evidence that Christ was the Holy One of God will rise up in Judgment against the wicked Pharisees who shut their Eyes against the Miracles and stopt their Ears against the Doctrine of the Holy One of God Obs lastly How the unclean Spirit obeys the Voice of Christ tho' with great Reluctancy and Regret When the unclean Spirit had torn him and cried with a loud Voice he came out Christ is Lord over the wicked Angels and has an absolute Power and Authority to over-rule them and command them at his Pleasure If Christ says to the evil Spirit Come out out he must come Yet observe the Devil's Spight at parting he tears the Man tortures his Body throws him violently from Place to Place shewing how loth he was to be dispossessed Where Satan has once gotten an hold and setled himself for a time how unwilling is he to be cast out of Possession yea it is a Torture and Vexation to him to be cast out it is much easier to keep him our than to cast him out Satan may possess the Body by God's Permission but he cannot possess our Hearts without our own Consent and Approbation it will be our Wisdom to deny him Entrance into our Souls at first by rejecting his wicked Motions and Suggestions for when once entered he will like the strong Man armed keep the House till a stronger than he casts him out 28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee 29 And forthwith when they were come out of the synagogue they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John 30 But Simons wives mother lay sick of a fever and anon they tell him of her 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lift her up and immediately the fever left her and she ministred unto them The second Miracle which our Saviour wrought in this Chapter to confirm the Truth and Authority of his Doctrine was his raising up of Peter's Wives Mother from her Bed of Sickness Where Note 1. That St. Peter now a Disciple and afterwards an Apostle was a married Person Neither the Prophets of the Old Testament nor the Ministers of the New did abhor the Marriage Bed nor think themselves too pure for an Institution of their Maker The Church of Rome by denying the Lawfulness of Priests Marriage makes her self wiser than God who says Heb. 13.4 Marriage is honourable amongst all Men. Obs 2. Peter tho' a good Man and his Wives Mother probably a gracious Woman yet is his Family visited with Sickness Strength of Grace and Dearness of Respect even from Christ himself cannot prevail against Diseases God's own Children are visited with Bodily Sicknesses as well as others Obs 3. The charitable Care of St. Peter and the other Disciples forthwith to acquaint Christ with the Condition of this Sick Person Anon they tell him of her The Care of our fellow-Christians especially when of the number of our near and dear Relations in a time of Sickness is not to be deferred or delayed Outward Help for their Bodies and the Spiritual Help of our Prayers for their Souls are both straightway to be afforded them Obs 4. Christ's Divine Power manifested in this miraculous Cure He no sooner took her by the Hand but the Fever left her The Miracle was not in curing an incurable Distemper but in curing an ordinary Distemper after a miraculous manner namely 1. By a Touch of the Hand 2. The Recovery was instantaneous and sudden Immediately the Fever left her 3. The visible Effects of her Recovery instantly appeared She arose and ministred unto Christ and his Disciples That she could arise argued her Cure miraculous that she did arise and did administer to Christ argued her Thankfulness Learn thence That after Christ has graciously healed any of us it ought to be our first Work and Care to administer unto Christ That is to employ our recovered Health in the Service of Christ and to improve our renewed Strength to the Honour and Glory of Christ 32 And at even when the sun did set they brought unto him all that were diseased and them that were possessed with devils 33 And all the city was gathered together at the door 34 And he healed many that were sick of divers
with them Now this Person was so great a Cripple by reason of the Palsie that he was born of Four He could not go nor was capable of being led but was carried by Four in his Bed or Couch Obs 2. As the Grievousness of the Disease so the Greatness of their Faith The Man and his Friends had a firm Persuasion that Christ was cloath'd with a Divine Power and able to help him and they hoped in his Goodness that he was also willing to help him Accordingly the Roof of the Jewish Houses being flat they uncover some part of it and let the Bed down with the sick Man in it into the Room where Christ was Obs 3. No sooner did they exercise their Faith in believing but Christ exerts his Divine Power in healing And see the marvellous Efficacy of Faith it obtained not only what was desired but more than was expected They desired only the healing of the Body but Christ heals Body and Soul too Son be of good Cheer thy Sins are forgiven Thereby our Saviour shews them that Sin is the Original Cause of all Bodily Diseases and consequently that in Sickness the best way to find Ease and Deliverance from Pain is first to seek for Pardon The Sense of Pardon in some degree will take away the Sense of Pain Obs 4. The Exception which the Scribes took against our Saviour for pronouncing that this Man's Sins were forgiven him They accuse him of the Sin of Blasphemy urging that it is God's peculiar Prerogative to pardon Sin Their Doctrine was true but their Application false Nothing more true than that it is the highest degree of Blasphemy for any meer Man to arrogate to himself the incommunicable Prerogative of God which consists in an Absolute and Authoritative Power to forgive Sin But then their denying this Power to Christ of forgiving Sin which he had as God from all Eternity and as Mediator God and Man in one Person when here upon Earth this was Blasphemy in them the challenging of it none in him Obs â— Our Saviour gives these Scribes a twofold Demonstration of his Godhead 1. By letting them understand that he knew their Thoughts Jesus perceived in his Spirit that they reasoned within themselves To search the Hearts and to know the Thoughts and Reasonings of Men is not in the Power of Angels or Men but the Prerogative of God only 2dly By assuming to himself a Power to forgive Sin For our Saviour here by assuming to himself a Power of forgiving Sins in his own Name and by his own Authority doth give the World an undeniable Proof and convincing Evidence of his Godhead for who can forgive Sins but God only Obs 6. The Effect of this Miracle upon the Minds of the People They marvelled and were amazed but not believed They admire our Saviour for an extraordinary Man but did not believe him to be God Learn hence That the Sight of Christ's Miracles is not sufficient to work Faith in the Soul without the concurring Operation of the Holy Spirit The one may make us marvel the other must make us believe 13 And he went forth again by the sea-side and all the multitude resorted unto him and he taught them 14 And as he passed by he saw Levi the son of Alpheus sitting at the receit of custom and said unto him Follow me And he arose and followed him 15 And it came to pass that as Jesus sat at meat in his house many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples for there were many and they followed him 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicanes and sinners they said unto his disciples How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners 17 When Jesus heard it he saith unto them They that are whole have no need of the physician but they that are sick I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Obs here 1. The unwearied Pains and Diligence which our Saviour used in the Execution of his Ministerial Office and Calling No sooner had he done preaching in Capernaum and healing the sick of the Palsie but he goeth out thence to the Sea side to preach there Oh Blessed Saviour How perpetually wert thou employed in the Labours of thy Calling in the Service of thy Father and for the Good of Mankind Thou went'st about doing Good setting a Pattern for all thy Ministers to follow How doth the Example of thy laborious Diligence at once instruct and shame us Obs 2. The number of out Lord's Disciples not being fill'd up observe what a free and gracious unexpected and undeserved Choice he makes Levi that is Matthew for he had both Names a grinding Publican who gathered the Taxes for the Romans and was probably guilty as others were of the Sins of Covetousness Extortion and Oppression yet is he called to follow Christ as a special Disciple Learn thence That such is the Freeness of God's Grace that it calls and converts Sinners unto Christ when they think not of him nor seek unto him Little did Levi now think of a Saviour much less seek after him yet is he at this time called by him Matthew a Publican Zacheus an Extortioner Saul a Persecutor all these are brought home to God as Instances and Evidences of the mighty Power of converting Grace Obs 3. Matthew's ready Compliance with Christ's Call He arose and followed him When the inward Call of the Holy Spirit accompanieth the outward Call of the Word the Soul readily complies and presently yields Obedience to the Voice of Christ Christ oft-times speaks by his Word to our Ears and we hear not we stir not but when he speaks by his Spirit efficaciously to our Hearts Satan shall not hold us down the World shall not keep us back but we shall with Levi instantly arise and follow our Saviour Obs 4. Levi or Matthew to shew his Thankfulness to Christ makes him a great Feast Christ invited Matthew to a Discipleship Matthew invites Christ to a Dinner The Servant invites his Master a Sinner invites his Saviour We do not find that when Christ was invited to any Table that he ever refus'd to go if a Publican if a Pharisee invited him he constantly went not so much for the Pleasure of eating as for the Opportunity of conversing and doing Good Christ feasts us when we feast him Learn hence That new Converts are full of Affection towards Christ and very expressive of their Love unto him Matthew touch'd with a Sense of Christ's rich Love makes him a Royal Feast Obs 5. The Cavil and Exception which the Scribes and Pharisees made at our Lord 's free Conversation They censure him for conversing with Sinners he justifies himself telling them that he convers'd with them as their Physician not as their Companion They that are whole need no Physician says Christ but they that are Sick As if our Lord had said With whom should a Physician converse but
Nature was asleep yet his Divine Nature neither slumbered nor slept Learn hence That the Prevalency of Fear in a time of great and imminent Danger tho' it may argue Weakness of Faith yet is no Evidence of a total want of Faith in the midst of the Disciples Fears they believed Christ's Power Obs 4. A doable Rebuke given by our Saviour first to the Winds next to the Fears of his Disciples He rebukes the Winds and instantly they are calm When the Sea was as furious as a madman Christ with a single Word calms it Learn hence That the most raging Winds and outragious Seas cannot stand before the Rebukes of Christ Christ as God lays a Law upon the most lawless Creatures even when they seem to act most lawlesly Observe farther Christ rebukes his Disciples Fears Why are ye fearful No sooner was the Storm up but their Fears were up they forgot that the Lord high Admiral of the Ocean was on board the Ship and were as much overset with their boisterous Passions as the Vessel was with tempestuous Winds and accordingly Christ rebukes the Tempest within before the Storm without First he calms their Hearts then he quiets the Seas From this Instance of the Disciples we may gather that great Faith in the Habit may appear little in Act and exercise the Disciples Faith in forsaking all and following Christ was great Faith but in this present Act their Faith was weak thro' the Prevalency of their Fears Oh the imperfect Composition of the best of Saints Faith and Fear will take their turns and act their part whilst we are upon the Stage of this World e're long our Fears will be vanquished and our Faith swallowed up in Vision Lord set our Souls a longing for that joyful Hour CHAP. V. 1 ANd they came over unto the other side of the sea into the country of the Gadarenes 2 And when he was come out of the ship immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit 3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs and no man could bind him no not with chains 4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains and the chains had been plucked asunder by him and the fetters broken in pieces neither could any man tame him 5 And always night and day he was in the mountains and in the tombs crying and cutting himself with stones 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off he ran and worshipped him 7 And cried with a loud voice and said What have I to do with thee Jesus thou Son of the most high God I adjure thee by God that thou torment me not 8 For he said unto him Come out of the man thou unclean spirit 9 And he asked him What is thy name and he answered saying My name is Legion for we are many 10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country 11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding 12 And all the devils besought him saying Send us into the swine that we may enter into them 13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave And the unclean spirits went out and entered into the swine and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea they were about two thousand and were choked in the sea 14 And they that fed the swine fled and told it in the city and in the country And they went out to see what it was that was done 15 And they come to Jesus and see him that was possessed with the devil and had the legion sitting and clothed and in his right mind and they were afraid 16 And they that saw it told them how it befel to him that was possessed with the devil and also concerning the swine 17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts 18 And when he was come into the ship he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him 19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not but saith unto him Go home to thy friends and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee and hath had compassion on thee 20 And he departed and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him and all men did marvel This piece of History gives us a very sad Relation of a Person that was possessed with a Legion of Devils we read of few if any in the Old Testament that were thus possess'd but of many in the New Testament Our Saviour came into the World to destroy the Works of the Devil therefore he suffered Satan to enter some humane Bodies to shew his Divine Power in casting him out Note here 1. That the evil Angels by their Fall lost their Purity but not their Power for with God's Permission they have Power not only to enter into Men's Bodies and to possess them but also to distemper their Minds and drive them to Frenzy and Madness causing them to offer Violence to their own Lives and to do Hurt and Mischief to their own Bodies Thus did this possessed Person here wounding and cutting himself with Stones Note 2. That the Reason why the evil Angels do no oftner exert their Power in doing Mischief to the Bodies and Lives of Men is from the restraining Power of God The Devils cannot do all the Mischief they would and they shall not do all they can Note 3. The Place where these evil Spirits delighted to make their Abode amongst the Tombs or Graves places desolate forlorn and solitary which are apt to breed Horror of Mind and give Advantage to Temptations Learn thence That it is dangerous and very unsafe for Persons especially in whom Melancholly prevails to give themselves to Solitariness to frequent desolate and forlorn Places and to affect the being much alone it giving Advantage to Satan to set upon them with powerful Temptations It is better to frequent Humane Society and especially to delight in the Society and Communion of the Saints by means whereof we may be more and more strengthned and fortified against Satan's Temptations Note 4. That the Devils own Christ to be the Son of God and that he came into the World to be a Saviour but not a Saviour to them therefore they cry our What have we to do with thee Or thou with us Oh! what an uncomfortable Confession and Acknowledgment is this to own Christ to be a Saviour and at the same time to know that he is none of our Saviour Note 5. That tho' the Devils do own Christ to be the Son of God and do pay Homage and Worship and yeild Service and Subjection to him as his Slaves and Vassals yet it is not a free and voluntary Service but extorted father and forced from them by the Power of Christ He worshipped and cried out saying What have I to do with thee Note 6. What a Multitude of evil Spirits did enter into one Man Oh
for Grace Zeal and Love towards Christ Now the most eminent manifestations of Glory are made to those that are most excelling in Grace 2. These Three Disciples were Witnesses of Christ's Agony and Passion to prepare them for which they are here made Witnesses of his Transfiguration This glorious Vision upon Mount Tabor fitted them to abide the Terror of Mount Calvary Obs 3. The glorious Attendants upon our Saviour at his Transfiguration They were Two Two Men and those Two Men Moses and Elias This being but a Glimpse of Christ's Glory not a full Manifestation of it only Two of the glorified Saints attend at it These Two Attendants are not Two Angels but Two Men because Men were more nearly concerned than Angels in what was done But why Moses and Elias rather than other Men 1. Because Moses was the Giver of the Law and Elias was the Chief of the Prophets Now both these attending upon Christ did shew the Consent of the Law and the Prophets with Christ and their Accomplishment and fulfilling in him 2. Because these Two were the most laborious Servants of Christ both adventured their Lives in God's Cause and therefore are highly honoured by him For Those that honour him he will honour Obs 4. The Carriage and Demeanour of the Disciples upon this great Occasion 1. They Supplicate Jesus not Moses and Elias they make no suit to them but to Christ only Master it is good being here Oh! what a ravishing Comfort and Satisfaction is the Communion and Fellowship of the Saints but the Presence of Christ amongst them renders their Joys transporting 2. They proffer their Service to farther the continuance of what they did enjoy Let us make Three Tabernacles Saints will stick at no Pains or Cost for the Enjoyment of Christ's Presence and his Peoples Company Learn hence That a Glimpse of Heavens Glory is sufficient to wrap a Soul into Extasy and to make it out of Love with worldly Company 2. That we are apt to desire more of Heaven upon Earth than God will allow We would have the Heavenly Glory come down to us But are unwilling by Death to go up to That Obs 5. How a Cloud was put before the Disciples Eyes when the Divine Glory was manifested to them partly to allay the Lustre and Resplendency of that Glory which they were swallowed up with The Glory of Heaven is insupportable in this sinful State we cannot bear it unvail'd And partly to hinder their farther prying and looking into that Glory We must be content to behold God through a Cloud darkly here e're long we shall see him Face to Face Obs 6. The Testimony given out of the Cloud by God the Father concerning Jesus Christ his Son This is my beloved Son hear him Where Note 1. The Dignity of his Person he is my Son for nature co-essential and for time co-eternal with his Father 2. The Endearedness of his Relation he is my Beloved Son because of his conformity unto me and complyance with me likeness is the cause of Love and an union and harmony of wills causes a mutual endearing of Affections 3. The Authority of his Doctrine hear ye him not Moses and Elias who were Servants but Christ my Son whom I have commissioned to be the great Prophet and Teacher of my Church Therefore Adore him as my Son Believe in him as your Saviour and hear him as your Law-giver The Obedient ear honours Christ more then either the gazing Eye the Adoring Knee or the Applauding Tongue 9 And as they came down from the mountain he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen till the Son of man was risen from the Dead 10 And they kept that saying with themselves questioning what the rising from the dead should mean 11 And they asked him saying why say the Scribes that Elias must first come 12 And he Answered and told them Elias verily cometh first and Restoreth all things and how it is written of the Son of man that he must Suffer many things and be set at naught 13 But I say unto you that Elias is indeed come and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed as it is written of him Obs here 1. The strict Injunction given by Christ to his Disciples not to publish or proclaim this glorious Vision at his Transfiguration till after his Resurrection because being now in a state of Humiliation he would have his Divine Majesty and Glory veilâ—d and concealed Learn hence that the Divine Glory of Christ's person as God was not to be manifested suddenly and all at once but gradually and by steps First more obscurely by his Miracles by the forced Acknowledgments of Devils by the free Confession of his Disciples and by the glorious Vision of his Transfiguration but the more clear and full the more publick and open manifestation of his divine Glory was at the time of his Resurrection and Ascension Obs 2. The Disciples obedience to Christ's Injunction toâ—ching the concealing of his Transfiguration till after his Resurrection they kept that saying with themselves questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean not that they questioned the Resurrection in general but Christs Resurrection only in particular because his Resurrection did suppose his death and they could not conceive how the Messiah whom they erroneously Supposed must be a temporal Prince should suffer death at the hands of men Obs 3. The Question which the Disciples put to Christ how the Observation of the Jewish Doctors holds good namely that Elias must come before the Messias come we see the Messias but no Elias Our Saviour answers That Elias was come already not Elias in person but one in the Spirit and Power of Elias to wit John the Baptist who was prophesied of under the name of Elias there being a great Resemblance between the Elias of the Old Testament and of the new viz. John the Baptist they were both Men of a mighty Zeal for God and Religion they were both undaunted reprovers of the faults of Princes and they were both implacably hated and persecuted for the same Thence learn that hatred and persecution even unto Death has often been the lot and portion of such Persons who have had the courage and Zeal to reprove the faults of Princes Elias is indeed come and they have done unto him whatsoever they Listed 14 And when he came to his Disciples he saw a great Multitude about them and the Scribes questioning with them 15 And straightway all the people when they beheld him were greatly amazed and running to him saluted him 16 And he asked the Scribes what question ye with them 17 And one of the multitude answered and said Master I have brought unto thee my son which hath a dumb spirit 18 And wheresoever he taketh him he teareth him and he someth and gnasheth with his Teeth and pineth away and I spake to thy Disciples that they should cast him out and they
to contemn worldly Possessions as to be willing to part with them when they hinder our Happiness and Salvation It follows And take up the Cross an Allusion to the Roman Custom when the Malefactor was to be crucified he bare his Cross upon his Shoulder and carried it to the Place of Execution 'T is not the making but the patient bearing of the Cross which is our Duty Learn That all Christ's Followers should prepare their Shoulders for Christ's Cross To bear the Cross implies Faithfulness and Integrity without shifting Patience and Submission without murmuring Joy and Chearfulness without fainting Obs 4. The Effect which our Saviour's Admonition had upon this young Person He was sad and grieved at that Saying Thence Note 1. That carnal Men are sad and exceeding sorrowful when they cannot win Heaven in their own way 2. That such as are wedded to the World will renounce Christ rather than the World when the World and Christ stand in Competition 23 And Jesus looked round about and saith unto his disciples How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words But Jesus answereth again and saith unto them Children how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God 25 It is easier for a camel to go thorow the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God 26 And they were much astonished saying with themselves Who then can be saved 27. But Jesus answered and said With men it is impossible but not with God for with God all things are possible From this Discourse of our Holy Lord's concerning the Danger of Riches and the Difficulty that attends Rich Men in their way to Heaven we may collect and gather First That Rich Men do certainly meet with more Difficulties in their Way to Heaven than other Men. 'T is Difficult to withdraw their Affections from Riches to place their supream Love upon God in the midst of their Abundance 'T is difficult to depend entirely upon God in a Rich Condition for the Rich Man's Wealth is his strong Tower Secondly That yet the Fault lies not in Riches but in Rich Men who by placing their Trust and reposing their Confidence in Riches do render themselves uncapable of the Kingdom of God Obs 3. The Proverbial Speech which our Saviour makes use of to set forth the Difficulty of a Rich-Man's Salvation It is easier for a Camel to go through a Needle 's Eye This was a Proverb amongst the Jews signifying a thing of great Difficulty next to an Impossibility and it implies thus much That it is not only a very great Difficulty but an utter Impossibility for such as abound in worldly Wealth and place their Confidence therein to be saved without an extraordinary Grace and Assistance from God 'T is hard for God to make a Rich Man happy because he thinks himself happy without God Obs 4. The Disciples are affected with Wonder and Admiration at this Doctrine of our Saviour's and cry out Who then can be saved Learn thence That such are the special and peculiar Difficulties which lye in the Rich Man's way to Salvation that their getting to Heaven is matter of Wonder and Admiration to the Disciples of Christ Obs 5. How our Saviour resolves this Doubt by telling his Disciples That what was impossible with Men was possible with God implying That it is impossible for any Man Rich or Poor by his own Natural Strength to get to Heaven And 2. That when we are discouraged with the Sense of our own Impotency we should consider the Power of God and act our Faith upon it With God all things are possible 28 Then Peter began to say unto him Lord we have left all and have followed thee 29 And Jesus answered and said Verily I say unto you there is no man that hath left house or brethren or sisters or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake and the Gospels 30 But he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions and in the world to come eternal life 31 But many that are first shall be last and the last first The Apostles having heard our Saviour's Command to sell all and give to the Poor St. Peter in the Name of the rest tells Christ That they had left all to follow him Where Note How Peter magnifies that Little which he had left for Christ and ushers it in with a Note of Admiration Lo We have left all Learn hence That though it be very little that we suffer for Christ and have to forsake upon his Account yet are we apt to magnify and extol it as if it were some great Matter Lord we have left All says Peter What All Man hadst thou to lose besides thy ragged Nets and thy tatter'd Fisher-Boat A great All next to nothing at all scarce worth mentioning and yet how is it magnified Behold we have left all and followed thee Observe next Our Lord 's kind and gracious Answer that those that leave all to follow him shall be no Losers by him We may be Losers for Christ we shall never be Losers by him for whatever we part with in this World for the sake of Christ Houses or Lands Brethren or Sisters we shall receive an hundred fold now in this Life But how so Non formalitèr sed eminenter non in specie sed in valore not in Kind but in Equivalency Not an hundred Brethren Sisters or Lands in Kind but he shall enjoy that in God which all Creatures would be to him if they were multiplied an hundred times And the Gifts and Graces the Comforts and Consolations of the Holy Spirit shall be an hundred times better Portion than any thing we can part with for the sake of Christ For the Sense of those Words The first shall be last c. see the Note on Matth. 30.19 32 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem and Jesus went before them and they were amazed and as they followed they were afraid and he took again the twelve and began to tell them what things should happen unto him 33 Saying Behold we go up to Jerusalem and the son of man shall be delivered to the chief priests and unto the scribes and they shall condemn him to death and shall deliver him to the gentiles 34 And they shall mock him and shall scourge him and spit upon him and kill him and the third day he shall rise again This is at least the Third time that Christ had acquainted his Disciples with his approaching Sufferings The first time he told his Disciples of his Death in geâ—eral the second time he declares the Means by Treason now he tells them the Manner by Crucifying him All this he did to prevent their Dejection at his Sufferings Learn hence That it is highly necessary
he cast himself sometimes Kneeling sometimes lying prostrate upon his Face he lies in the very Dust and lower he cannot lye and his Heart was as low as his Body 3. It was a vehement fervent and most importunate Prayer such was the fervour of our Lord's Spirit that he Prayed himself into an Agony Oh let us blush to think how unlike we are to Christ in Prayer as to our praying-frame of Spirit Lord what deadness and drowsiness what stupidity and formality what dulness and Laziness is found in our Prayers How often do our Lips move when our Hearts stand still 4. It was a Re-iterated and Repeated Prayer he Prayed the first second and third time for the passing of the Cup from him he returns upon God over and over again resolving to take no Denyal Let us not be Discouraged though we have sought God often for a particular Mercy and yet no Answer has been given in unto us Our Prayers may be answered though their Answer for the present is suspended A Prayer put up in Faith according to the Will of God though it may be delayed it shall not be lost Our Saviour Prayed the first second and third Time for the passing of the Cup and altho' he was not heard as to Exemption from Suffering yet he was heard as to Support under Suffering Observe 5. The Posture the Disciples were found in when our Lord was in this Agony Praying to his Father They were fast asleep Good God! Could they possibly sleep at such a time as that was when Christ's Soul was exceeding Sorrowful Could their Eyes be thus heavy Learn thence That the best of Christ's Disciples may be and oft-times are over-taken with Infirmities with great Infirmities when the most important Duties are performing He cometh to his Disciples and finds them sleeping Observe 6. The mild and gentle Reproof which he gives the Disciples for their sleeping Could ye not watch with me one hour Could you not Watch when your Master is in such Danger Could you not Watch with me when I am going to deliver up my Life for you What not one Hour and that the parting Hour too After his Reprehension he Subjoyns an Exhortation Watch and Pray that ye enter not into Temptation and super-adds a forcible Reason for though the Spirit be willing yet the flesh is weak Thence Learn That the Holiest and best Resolved Christians who have willing Spirits for Christ and his Service yet in regard of the Weakness of the Flesh or frailty of Humane Nature it is their Duty to Watch and Pray and thereby guard themselves against Temptation Watch and Pray that ye enter not into Temptation for though the Spirit is willing yet the flesh is weak 43 And immediately while he yet spake cometh Judas one of the Twelve and with him a great Multitude with Swords and Staves from the Chief Priests and Scribes and Elders 44 And he that Betrayed him had given him a Token saying whomsoever I shall kiss that same is he Take him and lead him away safely 45 And as soon as he was come he goeth straightway to him and saith Master Master and kissed him 46 And they laid their hands on him and took him 47 And one of them that stood by dreâ— a Sword and smote a Servant of the High-priests and cut off his Ear. 48 And Jesus answered and said unto them Are ye come out as against a Thief with Swords and with Staves to take me 49 I was daily with you in the Temple Teaching and ye took me not but the Scriptures must be Fulfilled 50 And they all forsook him and fled The Hour is now almost come even that Hour of Sorrow which Christ had so often spoken of yet a little while and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of Sinners for while he yet spake cometh Judas with a Band of Soldiers to apprehend him it was the Lot and Portion of our Dear Redeemer to be Betrayed into the hands of his Mortal Enemies by the Treachery of a false and dissembling Friend Here we have Observable 1. The Traitor 2. The Treason 3. The Manner how 4. The Time when this Treasonable Design was Executed Observe 1. The Traitor Judas All the Evangelists carefully describe him by his Name Judas by his sir-name Judas Iscariot lest he should be mistaken for Jude the Brother of James Almighty God takes great care to preserve the Names of his upright-hearted Servants he is further described by his Office One of the Twelve The Eminency of his Place and Station was an high aggravation of his Transgression Learn hence That the greatest Professors had need be very jealous of themselves and suspicious of their own Hearts and look well to the Grounds and Principles of their Profession for a Profession begun in Hypocrisy will certainly end in Apostacy Learn farther That Persons are never in such eminent Danger as when they meet with Temptations exactly suited to their Master Lusts Covetousness was Judas his Master-sin the Love of the World made him a Slave to Satan and the Devil lays a Temptation before him exactly suited to his Temper and Inclination and it instantly over-comes him Oh pray we that we may be kept from a strong and suitable Temptation a Temptation suited to our inclination and predominant Lust and Corruption Observe 2. The Treason of this Traitor Judas he led on an Armed Multitude to the place where Christ was gave them a Signal to discover him by and bids them lay Hands upon him and hold him fast This Treason of Judas is attended with these Hellish Aggravations He had been a Witness to the Miracles which our Saviour had wrought by his Divine Power and therefore could not sin out of Ignorance What he did was not at the sollicitation and perswasion of others but he was a Voluntier in this Service the High-priests did not send to him but he went to them offering his Assistance No doubt it was matter of Surprize to the Chief Priests to find one of Christ's own Disciples at the head of a Conspiracy against him Lord How dangerous is it to allow our selves in any one secret or open Sin None can say how far that one Sin may in time lead us Should any have told Judas that his Love of Money would at last make him sell his Saviour he would have said with Hasael is thy Servant a Dog that he should do this thing That Soul can never be safe that Harbours one sin within its Breast Observe 3. The manner how this Hellish Plot was Executed partly by Force and partly by Fraud by Force in that Judas came with a Multitude Armed with Swords and Staves and by Fraud giving a kiss and saying Hail Master Here was Honey in the Lips but Poyson in the Heart Observe 4. The Time when the Place where and the Work which our Saviour was about when this Treasonable Design was Executed he was in the Garden with his Disciples exhorting them to Prayer
is a Priest to God and may enter the Holy of Holies by the Blood of Jesus But Lord What are we the better for this Great and Gracious freedom of Access to Thee if we want Hearts to prize and to improve our Priviledge 11 And there appeared unto him an Angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the Altar of Incense Whilst Zachary was praying to God an Angel appears to Zachary when we are nearest God the Good Angels are nighest us they are most with us when we are most with him The presence of Angels with us is no Novelty but their Apparition to us is so They are always with us but rarely seen by us Let our Faith see them whom our Senses cannot discern Their assumed Shapes do not make them more present but only more visible Obs 2. The place as well as the time where the Angel appeared in the Temple and at the Altar and on the right side of the Altar of Incense As the Holy Angels are always present with us in our Devotions so especially in Religious Assemblies as in all places so most of all in God's House They rejoyce to be with us whilst we are with God but they turn their Faces from us when we go about our Sins 12 And when Zacharias saw him he was troubled and fear fell upon him It was partly the suddenness partly the unexpectedness and partly the Glory of the Apparition that affrighted this Good Man Glorious and sudden Apparations do affright even the holiest and best of Men. We cannot bear the sight and presence of an Angel without Consternation and Fear in this our frail and sinful State Oh happy hour when mortality and Sin being taken out of our Natures we shall not only behold the Glorified Angels without fear but the Glorious God with Delight and Love Lord let me now see Thee by Faith hereafter by sight Sit in alio Seculo non in Hoc visio tua merces mea 13 But the Angel said unto him fear not Zacharias for thy prayer is heard and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son and thou shalt call his name John Observe here 1. How Apprehensive this good Angel was of Zachary's Surprizing fear and encourages him against it The Holy Angels tho' they do not express it in words yet they pity our frailties and suggest Comfort to us The Evil Angels if they might would kill us with Terrour The good Angels labour altogether for our Tranquility and cheerfulness The Angel said unto him fear not Obs 2. the Comfortable words spoken by the Angel to Zacharias Thy prayer is heard and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a Son No doubt Zachary and Elizabeth had often prayed for a Child and now God sends them one when they least expected it Learn hence That sometimes God gives in a Mercy to us when we least expect it yea when we have given over looking for it No doubt this was the Case here Zachary and Elizabeth being both well stricken in Age. Obs 3. the Name which the Angel directs Zachary to give his Son Thou shalt call his name John which signifies Gracious because he was to open the Kingdom of Grace and to preach the Grace of the Gospel through Jesus Christ The giving of significant names to Children has been an ancient and pious practice Names which either carried a Remembrance of Duty or of Mercy 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness and many shall rejoice at his birth 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mothers womb 16 And many of the Children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Here the Angel declares to Zachary what kind of Son should be born unto him even one of eminent Endowments and designed for extraordinary Services The proof of Children makes them either the Blessings or Crosses of their parents What greater comfort could Zachary desire in a child then is here promised to him 1. he hears of a Son that should bring joy to himself and many others even to all that did expect the coming of the Messias whose fore-runner the Baptist was 2. That he should be great in the sight of the Lord that is a Person of great Eminency and great Usefulness in the Church A Person of great Riches and Reputation is great in the sight of Men but the Man of great ability and usefulness the Man of great Integrity and Serviceableness he is truly great in the sight of the Lord. They are little Men in the sight of the Lord that live in the World to little purposes who do little Service for God and bring little Honour and Glory to him But the Man that does all the possible Service he can for God and the utmost Good that he is capable of doing to all Mankind he is a person great in the sight of the Lord and such was the Holy Baptist 3. It is foretold that he should drink neither Wine nor strong drink that is that he should be a very Temperate and Abstemious Person living after the manner of the Nazarites tho' he was not separated by any Vow of his own or his Parents but by the special designation and appointment of God only It was forbidden the Priests under the Law to drink either Wine or strong Drink upon pain of Death during the time of their Ministration Levit. 10.9 And the Ministers of Christ under the Gospel are forbidden to be lovers of Wine 1 Tim. 3.3 4. He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost from his Mothers Womb That is he shall be furnished abundantly with the extraordinary Gifts and sanctifying Graces of the Holy Spirit which shall very early appear to be in him and upon him 5. His High and Honourable Office is declared That he should go before the Messiah as his Harbinger and Fore-runner with the same Spirit of Zeal and Courage against Sin which was found in the old Prophet Elias whom he did so nearly resemble 6. The great Success of his Ministry is foretold namely That he should turn the hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just That is the Hearts of the Jews to the Gentiles say some that he should bring Men say others even the most disobedient and rebellious Pharisees and Sadduces Publicans and Sinners unto Repentance and to the minding of Justice and Righteousness and all moral duties and thus he made ready a people for the Lord. By fitting men to receive Christ upon his own Terms and Conditions namely Faith and Repentance From the whole Note That those whom Almighty God designs for eminent Usefulness in
Submission and intire Resignation to the Divine pleasure to be disposed of by God as he thought fit Behold the Handmaid of the Lord be it unto me according to thy word We hear of no more Objections or Interrogations but an humble and submissive Silence Learn hence that a Gracious Heart when once it understands the pleasure of God argues no farther but quietly Rests in a Believing Expectation of what God will do All disputations with God after his Will is made known and understood arise from Infidelity and Unbelief The Virgin having thus Consented instantly Conceived by the Over-shadowing Power of the Holy Ghost 39 And Mary arose in those days and went into the Hill-country with haste into a City of Judah 40 And entred into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth 41 And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the Salutation of Mary the babe leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost 42 And she spake out with aloud voice and said Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb 43 And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me 44 For lo as soon as the voice of thy Salutation sounded in mine ears the babe leaped in my womb for joy 45 And blessed is she that believed for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. Observe here 1. The Visit made by the Virgin Mary to her Cousin Elizabeth The Holy Virgin had understood by the Angel that Elizabeth was no less akin to her in Condition than in Relation being both Fruitful in Conception she hastens into the Hill-country to Visit that Holy Matron The Two Wonders of the World were now met under one Roof to Congratulate their mutual Happiness only the meeting of the Saints in Heaven can parallel the meeting of these two Saints on Earth Obs 2. The design and intention of this Visit which was partly to Communicate their Joys each to other and partly to strengthen the Faith of each other Such a Soul as has Christ Spiritually Conceived in it is restless and cannot be quiet till it has imparted its joy Obs 3. The effect of the Virgins Salutation She had no sooner Saluted Elizabeth but the babe in Elizabeths womb leaped for joy doing homage and paying adoration to his Lord who was then in presence If Elizabeth and her holy Babe thus rejoyced when Christ came under their Roof how should our Hearts leap within us when the Son of God vouchsafes to come into the Secret of our Souls not to visit us for an hour but to dwell with us yea to dwell in us and that for ever Obs 4. How Elizabeth by an extraordinary Spirit of Prophecy confirms what the Angel before had told the Holy Virgin Blessed says she art thou among Women and Blessed is the Fruit of thy Womb and what an honour is this that the Mother of my Lord should come to me Where Note How Elizabeth acknowledgeth the Incarnation of Christ and the Union of the Divine and Humane Nature in the person of the Mediator She acknowledges Christ her Lord and Mary to be the Mother of the Son of God Obs Lastly How the Virgin is pronounced Blessed not so much for carrying Christ in her Womb by sense as for bearing him in her Heart by Faith Blessed is she that believed Mary was not so Blessed in bringing forth Christ as in Believing in him yet the Believing here mentioned I take to be her firm assent to the Message which was brought her by the Angel as if Elizabeth had said Dumbness was inflicted on my Husband for his Unbelief of what the Angel said but Blessed art thou that didst believe the Angel My Husband a Man an aged Man a learned and eminent Man a Priest of the most High God and the Message to him of more appearing possibility yet he disbelieved But thou a Woman a mean unlearned Woman of a private Condition and the Message brought most incredible both to Nature and Reason and yet is it believed by thee Blessed therefore is she that believed and know that as a Reward for thy Faith all things shall certainly be performed that were foretold thee from the Lord Learn hence 1. It is the Property of God to do Great and Wonderful things Our Faith must be Great and our Expectation great great Expectations from God Honour the greatness of God 3. If our Faith be Great God's performances will be gracious and full Blessed is she that believed for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said My soul doth magnify the Lord. 47 And my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his hand-maiden for behold from hence-forth all Generations shall call me Blessed 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things and holy is his name 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts 52 He hath put down the mighty from their Seats and exalted them of low degree 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich he hath sent empty away 54 He hath holpen his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy 55 As he spake to our Fore-fathers to Abraham and to his seed for ever This is the first Canticle or Song of praise Recorded in the New Testament composed by the Blessed Virgin with unspeakable Joy for designing her to be the Instrument of the Conception and Birth of the Saviour of the World Where Observe 1. The manner of her Praise her Soul and Spirit bear their part in the work of Thanksgiving My Soul doth magnify my Spirit hath rejoyced As the sweetest Musick is made in the Belly of the Instrument so the most delightful praise arises from the bottom of the Heart Obs 2. The object of her praise she doth not magnify her self but the Lord yea she doth not Rejoice so much in her Son as in her Saviour Where Note 1. That she doth implicitly own and confess her self a Sinner for none need a Saviour but a Sinner And 2. by rejoycing in Christ as her Saviour she declares how she valued her self rather by her spiritual Relation to Christ as his Member than by her natural Relation to him as his Mother according to that of St. Austin Beatior Fuit Maria percipiendo Christi fidem quam concipiendo Carnem She might have been miserable notwithstanding she bore him as her Son had she not Believed in him as her Saviour therefore she sings my Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour Obs 3. How she admires and magnifies God's peculiar favour towards her self in casting an eye upon her Poverty and lowly Condition that she a poor obscure Maid unknown to the World should be lookt upon
his History primarily for the Jews proves him to be the Son of Abraham and David for their comfort St. Luke designing the information and comfort of the Gentiles derives our Lord's Pedigree from Adam the common Parent of mankind to assure the Gentiles of their possibility of an Interest in Christ they being Sons of Adam Neither of these Evangelists are strict and accurate in enumerating every individual person which should Teach us not to be over-curious in scanning the parts of this Genealogy much less captiously to object against it because of some seeming contradictions in it For if the Evangelists were not nice and critical in composing this Genealogy why should we be so in examining of it Let us rather attend the design of the Holy Ghost in Writing of it which was Twofold 1. for the honour of our Saviour as Man shewing who were his Noble and Royal Progenitors according to the Flesh 2. For the confirmation of our Faith touching the Reality of our Saviour's Incarnation the Scripture making mention of all his Progenitors from the first man Adam to his Reputed Father Joseph we cannot reasonably doubt either of the truth of his humane Nature or of the certainty of his being the promised Messias Hence we may Learn That the wisdom of God has taken all necessary care and used all needful Means for satisfying the minds of all unprejudiced Persons touching the Reality of Christ's humane Nature and the certainty of his being the promised Messias for both these Ends is our Saviour's Genealogy Descent and Pedigree Recorded in Holy Scripture CHAP. IV. 1 AND Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness At the 22 Verse of the foregoing Chapter we find the Holy Ghost descending in a bodily Shape like a Dove upon our Saviour in this verse we find the extraordinary effects and fruits of the Holy Ghost's Descent upon our Saviour he was filled with all the Gifts and Graces of the Blessed Spirit to fit and furnish him for that ministerial Service which he was now entring upon But observable it is that before our Saviour undertook the ministerial Office he is led by the Spirit into the Wilderness and there furiously assaulted with Satan's Temptations Temptation Meditation and Prayer says Luther make a Minister great Temptations from Satan do fit us for greater Services for God And whereas it is said that Christ was led by the Spirit into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil by the Spirit we must understand the Holy Spirit of God for the Devil I think is never called the Spirit but has always a brand of Reproach annext as the evil Spirit the unclean Spirit and the like By his being led by the Spirit St. Mark says he was drove by the Spirit we must not understand any violent motion but a potent and efficacious perswasion he was carried by a strong impulse of the Spirit of God or as the Learned Lightfoot thinks Christ was bodily caught up by the Holy Spirit into the Air and carried from Jordan where he was Baptized into the Wilderness where he was tempted God had put Great honour upon Christ at his Baptism declaring him to be his well-beloved Son in whom he was pleased and the next News we hear is the Devil 's assaulting him with his Temptations Learn thence that the more any are beloved of God and dignified with more eminent Testimonies of his Favour so much the more is the Devil enraged and maliciously bent against them 2 Being forty days tempted of the Devil and in those days he did eat nothing and when they were ended he afterward hungred Obs here how the Divine Power upheld Christ's humane Nature without Food What Moses did at the giving of the Law Christ doth at the beginning of the Gospel namely Fast forty days and forty nights Christ hereby intended our Admiration rather than our imitation or if our Imitation of the Action only not of the Time From this Example of Christ we Learn that it is our Duty by fasting and Prayer to prepare our selves for a Conflict with our Spiritual Enemies as Christ prepared himself by fasting to grapple with the Tempter so should we 3 And the Devil said unto him if thou be the son of God command this stone that it be made Bread Obs here 1. The occasion of the Temptation and 2. the Temptation it self The occasion of the Temptation was our Saviour's hunger and want of Bread Learn thence That when God suffers any of his Children to fall into want and to be straightned for outward things Satan takes a mighty advantage thereupon to tempt and assault them Obs 2. What Sin it is he tempts our Saviour to it is the sin of Distrust to call in question his Sonship if thou be the Son of God and then to distrust God's Providence and care command that these Stones be made Bread It is the grand policy of Satan first to tempt the Children of God to doubt of their Adoption next to distrust God's fatherly care and provision and last of all to use unwarrantable means to help themselves Thus Satan dealt with Christ and thus he deals with Christians for to work a Miracle at Satans Direction was not a lawful means of providing food for himself 4 And Jesus answered him saying It is written that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God Note first That tho' the Devil abused Scripture yet Christ uses it Good things are never the worse for being abused by Satan and his Instruments Note Secondly the weapon which our Saviour made use of to vanquish Satan it was the word of God it is written says Christ Learn thence That the Scripture or the written word of God is the only sure Weapon wherewith to vanquish Satan and beat back all his fiery Temptations The Scripture is God's Armory out of which all our Weapons of War must be taken for managing our Conflict with Sin and Satan 5 And the Devil taking him up into an high mountain sheweth him all the Kingdoms of the world in a moment of time 6 And the Devil said unto him all this power will I give thee and the glory of them for this is delivered unto me and to whomsoever I will I give it 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me all shall be thine 8 And Jesus answered and said unto him Get thee behind me Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve The next Sin which Satan tempts our Saviour to is the Sin of Idolatry even to worship the Devil himself Oh thou impudent and foul Spirit to desire thy Creator to Worship thee an Apostate Creature Doubtless there is no sin so black and foul so horrid and monstrous but the Christian may be tempted to it when Christ himself was tempted to Worship the Tempter even the Devil himself St. Matthew reads it If thou wilt Worship
to the Devil he is called the Vnclean Spirit The Devils those wicked Spirits of Hell are most impure and filthy Creatures impure by reason of their original Apostacy impure by means of their actual and daily Sins such are Murder Malice Lying and the like by which they continually pollute themselves and impure by means of their continual desire and endeavours to pollute Mankind with the Contagion of their own sins Lord how foul is the nature of Sin which makes the Devil such a foul and filthy such an impure and unclean Creature Obs 3. The Substance of the Devil's out-cry Let us alone What have we to do with thee art thou come to destroy us that is to restrain us from the exercise of our power the Devil thinks himself destroyed when he is restrained from doing Mischief Obs 4. The Title given by the Devil to our Saviour he stiles him The Holy one of God How comes this Acknowledgment out of the Devil's Mouth could an Apostle make a Profession beyond this but how comes Satan to make it for no good end and with no good intention we may be sure for the Devil never speaks Truth for Truth-sake but for advantage-sake probably 1. he might make this Profession that so he might bring the Truth profest into question hoping that a Truth which received Testimony from the Father of Lies would be suspected or 2. it might perhaps be done to make the People believe that our Saviour had some familiarity with Satan and did work Miracles by his help because he did confess him and seem to put honour upon him Hence we may Learn That it is possible for a Person to own and acknowledge Christ to be the True and Only Saviour and yet to miss of Salvation by him If a Speculative Knowledge and a verbal Profession of Christ were sufficient to Salvation the Devil himself would not miss of Happiness Obs 5. How our Saviour rebukes the Devil for this Confession and commands him Silence Jesus rebuked him saying hold thy peace But why was this Rebuke given the Devil and his Mouth stopt when he spake the Truth Answer 1. Because Christ knew that the Devil confest this Truth on purpose to Disgrace the Truth 2. Because the Devil was no fit Person to make this Profession a Testimony of Truth from the father of Lies is enough to render Truth it self suspected Yet the Devil's Evidence that Christ was the Holy One of God will rise up in Judgment against the wicked Pharisees who shut their Eyes against the Miracles and stopt their Ears against the Doctrine of the Holy One of God Observe lastly How the unclean Spirit obeys the voice of Christ but with great Reluctancy and Regret when the unclean Spirit had thrown him in the midst he came out Where Observe The Devil's spite at parting he tares the Man throws him violently from place to place shewing how loth he was to be dispossessed Where Satan has once gotten an hold and settled himself for a time how unwilling is he to be cast out of Possession Yea it is a Torment and vexation to him to be cast out It is much easier to keep Satan out then to cast him out Satan may possess the Body by God's Permission but he cannot possess our Hearts without our own Consent and Approbation it will be our Wisdom to deny him Entrance into our Souls at first by Rejecting his wicked Motions and Suggestions for when once entered he will like the strong Man Armed keep the House till a stronger then he casts him out 38 And he arose out of the Synagogue and entred into Simons house and Simons wives mother lay sick of a fever and they besought him for her 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever and it left her and immediately she arose and ministred unto them Here Observe 1. That St. Peter a Disciple yea an Apostle was a Married Person Neither the Prophets of the Old Testament nor the Apostles of the New did abhor the Marriage-Bed nor judge themselves too pure for an Institution of their Maker The Church of Rome by denying the Lawfulness of Priest's Marriage makes her self wiser then God who says Heb. 13.4 Marriage is Honourable amongst All men Observe 2. Peter tho a Good Man and his Wifes Mother probably a Gracious Woman yet is his Family visited with Sickness Strength of Grace and Dearness of Respect even from Christ himself cannot prevail against Diseases God's own Children are visited with Bodily Sickness as well as others Observe 3. The Divine Power of Christ manifested in this miraculous Cure He stood over her says St. Luke he took her by the hand and lift her up says St. Mark Here was an ordinary Distemper cured after an extraordinary manner by a touch of Christ's hand in an instant Immediately the Fever left her and she arose and ministred unto them That she could arise argued her Cure Miraculous that she could and did arise and administer to Christ and his Disciples argued her Thankfulness After Christ had healed any of us it ought to be our first care to Administer unto him that is to employ our Recovered Strength in the Service of Christ and to improve our Restored Health to the Honour and Glory of Christ 40 Now when the sun was setting all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them 41 And Devils also came out of many crying out and saying Thou art Christ the son of God and he rebuked them and suffered them not to speak for they knew that he was Christ The Evangelist here declares sundry other Cures wrought by our Saviour he healed the Sick and dispossessed the Devils In our Saviour's time we read of many possessed with Devils and but of few either before or afterward Probably 1. Because Satan perceiving the Messiah to be come in the Flesh to destroy his Kingdom did rage the more and discover greater Malice and Enmity against Mankind 2. Perhaps Almighty God suffered Satan at that time to possess so many that Christ might have occasion to manifest his Divine Power by casting Satan out And accordingly we find our Saviour dispossessing all that were possest by Satan It is added That he suffered not the Devils to speak because they knew him that is Christ would not be made known to be the Son of God by the Preaching of the Devil lest the World should from thence take occasion to think that our Saviour held a Correspondency with those wicked Spirits and that the Miracles which he wrought were performed by the Devil's Assistance as being one in Combination with him Possibly from the Devil 's owning Christ to be the Holy one of God the Pharisees concluded that there was a compact and agreement betwixt them and thereupon their Affirmation was Grounded he casteth out Devils by Belzebub the Prince of Devils 42 And when it was day he departed and went
Authority doth give the World an undeniable proof and convincing Evidence of his Godhead For who can forgive Sins but God only Observe 6. The effect which this Miracle had upon the minds of the people they marvelled and were amazed were filled with fear but not with Faith Astonished but not Believed Learn hence That the sight of Christ's own Miracles is not sufficient to work Faith in the Soul without the efficacious Grace of God the one may make us marvel the other must make us believe 27 And after those things he went forth and saw a publican named Levi sitting at the receipt of custom and he said unto him follow me 28 And he left all rose up and followed him 29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house and there was a great company of Publicans and of others that sate down with them 30 But the Scribes and Pharisees murmured against his Disciples saying Why do ye eat and drink with Publicans and Sinners 31 And Jesus answering said unto them they that are whole need not a Physician but they that are sick 32 I came not to call the Righteous but sinners to Repentance The number of our Lord's Disciples not being filled up Observe 1. What a free and gracious what an unexpected and undeserved Choice Christ makes Levi that is Matthew for he had both Names a grinding Publican who gathered the Tax for the Roman Emperor and was probably Guilty as others were of the sins of Covetousness and Extortion yet is he called to follow Christ as a special Disciple Learn hence that such is the freeness of Divine Grace That it sometimes calls and Converts Sinners unto Christ when they think not of him nor seek unto him Little did Levi now think of a Saviour much less seek after him yet is he here called by him and that with an efficacious Call Matthew a Publican Zacheus an Extortioner Saul a Persecutor all these are effectually called by Christ as instances and evidences of the mighty power of Converting Grace Observe 2. Levi or Matthew's ready Compliance with Christ's Call He presently arose and followed him when the inward call of the Holy Spirit accompanieth the outward call of the word the Soul readily complies and yields Obedience to the voice of Christ Our Saviour says the pious Bishop Hall speaks by his word to our Ears and we hear not we stir not but when he speaks by his Spirit efficaciously to our Hearts Satan cannot hold us down the world shall not keep us back but we shall with Levi instantly arise and follow our Saviour Observe 3. Levi to shew his Thankfulness to Christ makes him a great Feast Christ invited Levi to a Discipleship Levi invites Christ to a Dinner The Servant invites his Master a Sinner invites his Saviour a better Guest he could not invite Christ always comes with his cost with him we do not find that when Christ was invited to any Table that he ever refused to go if a Publican if a Pharisee invited him he constantly went not so much for the pleasure of eating as for the opportunity of Conversing and doing good Christ Feasts us when we feed him Levi to give Christ a pledge and specimen of his Love makes him a Feast Learn thence That new Converts are full of affection towards Christ and very expressive of their Love unto him Levi's heart being touch with a sense of Christ's rich Love makes him a Royal Feast Observe 4 The cavil and exception which the Scribes and Pharisees made at our Lord 's free Conversation They censure him for conversing with sinners malice will never want matter of Accusation Our Saviour justifies himself telling them he convers'd with sinners as their Physician not as their Companion They that are whole need not the Physician but they that are sick as if our Lord had said with whom should a Physician converse but with his sick Patients and is he to be accused for that now this is my case I am come into the World to do the office of a kind Physician unto Men surely then I am to take all opportunities of conversing with them that I may help and heal them for they that are sick need the Physician but as for you Scribes and Pharisees who are well and whole in your own Opinion and conceit I have no hopes of doing good upon you for such as think themselves whole desire not the Physicians help Now from this Assertion of our Saviour The whole need not the Physician but the sick these Truths are suggested to us 1. That sin is the Souls malady its Spiritual disease and sickness 2. That Christ is the Physician appointed by God for the cure and healing of this Disease 3. That there are multitudes of sinners spiritually sick who yet think themselves sound and whole 4. That such and only such as find themselves sin-sick and spiritually diseased are subjects capable of Christ's healing They that are whole need not the Physician but they that are sick I came not says Christ to call the Opinionatively Righteous but the Sensible Sinner to Repentance 33 And they said unto him why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers and likewise the Disciples of the Pharisees but thine eat and drink 34 And he said unto them can ye make the children of the Bride-chamber fast while the Bridegroom is with them 35 But the days will come when the Bridegroom shall be taken away from them and then shall they fast in those days 36 And he spake also a parable unto them No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old if otherwise then both the new maketh a rent and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old 37 And no man putteth new wine into old Bottles else the new wine will burst the bottles and be spilled and the bottles shall perish 38 But new wine must be put into new bottles and both are preserved 39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new for he saith the old is better An Objection is here made against the Disciples of our Saviour that they did not fast so much and so often as John Baptist's Disciples did John's Disciples imitated their Master who was a Man of an austere Life Christ's Disciples imitated him who was of a more free Conversation Observe therefore our Saviour's Defence which he makes for the not fasting of his Disciples he declares that at present it was neither suitable nor tolerable not suitable in regard of Christ's Bodily Presence with them who being their Bridegroom and his Disciples children of the Bride-chamber it was now a day of Joy and Rejoycing to them and mourning and fasting would be very improper for them But when the Bridegroom shall be taken away that is Christ's bodily Presence removed then there will be cause enough for the Disciples to fast and mourn Learn hence 1. That Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom of his
hand stand forth to shew that he was resolved to heal him notwithstanding their malicious Purpose to accuse him for it as a Breaker of the Sabbath Opposition met with in doing our Duty must not discourage us from doing good if we will follow the example of our Blessed Redeemer Observe 2. The influence and effect which this miracle had upon the wicked Pharisees they were filled with madness and took counsel to kill him instead of being convinced by this Miracle they conspire against him for it The Enemies of Christ and his Holy Religion when Arguments fail fall to Violence It is a certain Sign of a weak cause that must be supported by Passion which is all Tongue and no Ear. 12 And it came to pass in those days that he went out into a mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God Observe here 1. The Duty which our Holy Lord performed the Duty of Prayer We have much more Business with God in Prayer then Christ had he had no sins to confess no want of Grace to make known yet did our Lord spend much time even a whole Night in this Duty Lord what delight didst thou take in paying this Homage to thy Heavenly Father Oh how doth thy zeal and forwardness condemn our remisness and luke-warmness Observe 2. It was solitary Prayer that our Lord did so exceedingly delight in He went into the mountain alone to pray not suffering his very Disciples to be with him There are Times and Seasons when a Christian would not be willing that his dearest Relations upon earth should hear that intercourse which passes betwixt him and his God Observe 3. The place which our Lord withdraws to for privacy in Prayer He went into a Mountain as a place of Retiredness God delights to meet his children alone The modest Bridegroom of the Church says St. Bernard will not impart himself to his Spouse before Company Observe 4. The Time when Christ retired into this Mountain to pray and spent a whole Night in Prayer to God If we look back to the former part of the chapter we shall find that it was at a time when the Pharisees were filled with rage and madness against him and conspired to take away his Life Thence Learn That it is our duty at such times especially when Enemiâ—s lie in wait to do us hurt to give our selves much unto Prayer Again if we look forward the next Verse tells us that our Saviour was now about to send forth his Twelve Apostles to preach and propagate the Gospel Christ thought so great a work was not to be done without solemn and extraordinary Prayer Accordingly he spends an whole Night in Prayer to God upon that occasion leaving herein a most instructive Example to his Church to continue in Prayer at all times but then especially to abound in it when Persons are to be set apart for the momentous work of the Ministry that they may enterprize it with extraordinary dread and caution not with aspiring but tremendous Thoughts for who is sufficient for these things 13 And when it was day he called unto him his Disciples and of them he chose twelve whom also he named Apostles 14 Simon whom he also named Peter and Andrew his Brother James and John Philip and Bartholomew 15 Matthew and Thomas James the son of Alpheus and Simon called Zelotes 16 And Judas the brother of James and Judas Iscariot which was also the Traitor As the Jewish Church arose from Twelve Patriarchs so the Christian Church became planted by Twelve Apostles The Person sending them forth was Christ none may undertake the work and calling of the Ministry but those whom Christ appoints and calls not immediately by himself but mediately by the Governours of his Church The Persons Commissioned were Disciples before they were Apostles to Teach us That Christ will have such as preach the Gospel to be Disciples before they are Ministers Trained up in the Faith and Doctrine of the Gospel before they undertake a publick charge Observe next how carefully the names of the Twelve Apostles those Laborious persons in the service of Souls are Recorded and transmitted with honour to Posterity God will signally honour those who singularly honour him and are the special Instruments of his Glory Of the Twelve Apostles Peter is named first and Judas last Peter is first named because probably elder then the rest or because for order-sake he might speak before the rest from whence may be inferred a Primacy but no Supremacy a priority of Order but no Superiority of Degree as the Fore-man of a Grand-Jury has a precedency but no preheminency he is first in order before the rest but has no Authority over the rest neither did St. Peter ever assume to himself a power of deciding Controversies but we find St. James in that first General Council mentioned Acts 15.13 speaking somewhat definitively Thus I judge or determine the matter and yet St. Peter was then and there present Had the champions of the Church of Rome such a passage in all the Scripture for St. Peter's Authority it would make a louder noise then Pasce Oves Feed my Sheep St. John 21.16 Again as St. Peter is named first so Judas is mentioned last with a Brand of Infamy upon him the Traditor the Person that Betrayed his Lord and Master From whence we may gather that tho' the Truth of Grace be absolutely necessary to a Ministers Salvation yet the want of it doth not disanul his Office nor hinder the lawfulness of his ministry Judas tho' a Traitor was yet a lawful Minister an Heart-hypocrite is no hypocrite in foro Ecclesiae before the Church tho' he shall be damn'd for his Hypocrisy before God 17 And he came down with them and stood in the plain and the company of his Disciples and a great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon which came to hear him and to be healed of their Diseases 18 And they that were vexed with unclean Spirits and they were healed 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him for there went vertue out of him and he healed them all Observe here 1. The great zeal and forwardness of the People in attending upon our Saviour's Ministry he had newly begun to preach in this place and the people flock after him from all parts from Judea from Jerusalem from Tyre and Sidon to hear his Doctrine and see his Miracles When our Saviour first began to Preach the people came unto him from every quarter His Ministers find it thus at our first coming among a people our Labours are most acceptable and they do most good Our peoples affections are then warmest and perhaps our own too Obs 2. What sort of People they were who attended thus zealously on our Saviour's Ministry they were the common and ordinary People the poor received the Gospel the learned Scribes the knowing Pharisees those wise men after the
Flesh the Mighty the Noble the great and Honourable these despised our Saviour's Person slighted his Ministry yea sought to take away his Life Thus from the first Plantation of the Gospel to this day the pooâ—â—r and meaner sort of People have entertained the glad Tidings of Salvation it is a sad but a certain Truth that Heaven is a place where few comparatively but very few of the great Men of the World are like to come Their Temptations are many their Corruptions strong and their great Estates thro' their own abuse become fewel to to their Lusts Lord how rare is it to find those that are Eminently Great Exemplary Good Observe 3. The Nature of our Saviour's Miracles Moses's Miracles were as great Judgments as Wonders but Christ's Miracles were as great Mercies as Wonders they were salubrious and healing there went Vertue out of him and he healed them all Christ's Miracles were like the Author of them full of Goodness yet would not the obstinate pharisees be convinced either by the Goodness that was in them or by that omnipotent power which wrought them All our Saviour's Miracles were wonderful but Wonders of Love and Mercy 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his Disciples and said Blessed be ye poor for yours is the kingdom of God As our Saviour's Condition in this World was very poor so was his Disciples condition also therefore to relieve them against their poverty and low estate in the World he thus bespeaks them Blessed be ye poor you that believe in me and follow me are in a happier condition then those that are rich and received their consolation for yours is the kingdom of Heaven Christ was the poor man's preacher and the poor man's comforter yet a bare outward Poverty or an avowed voluntary Poverty will entitle none to the Blessing 'T is not a Poverty of Possession but a poverty of Spirit that makes us members of the Kingdom of Grace and heirs of the Kingdom of Glory 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now for ye shall be filled Hunger and Thirst are not Blessings in themselves nor yet are they curses in themselves sanctified hunger is a far greater Blessing then surfeiting Fulness St. Matthew therefore adds Ch. 5. v. 6. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness Learn thence 1. That such as spiritually hunger and thirst after Christ and his Righteousness are certainly in an Happy and Blessed Condition 2. That the Happiness of those who do hunger and thirst after Righteousness consists in being filled 21 Blessed are ye that weep now for ye shall laugh As if Christ had said you my Disciples that are now in a sad mournful and afflicted State are Blessed for there will come a time when ye shall be Comforted a time when God shall wipe away all Tears from your Eyes yet must we not think that we have nothing to do but to mourn there is a time to Rejoyce as well as to Mourn nor that bare Mourning and Weeping is in it self and for its own sake acceptable unto God But when we mourn rationally for our own Sins and the sins of others God will comfort us in this World by his Word and Spirit and in the World to come with the sight of himself 22 Blessed are ye when Men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their Company and shall Reproach you and cast out your name as evil for the Son of man's sake 23 Rejoyce ye in that day and leap for joy for behold your reward is great in Heaven for in like manner did their fathers unto the prophets Observe here 1. The Sufferers described the Disciples and their Sufferings foretold ye shall be hated separated and reproached Hatred of Christ's Disciples is the bitter Root from which Persecution grows where there is Hatred in the Heart no wonder that Reviling is in the Lips Those that are Hated are sure to be reproached Excommunicated from the Church of Christ having their names cast out or blotted out of the Rolls of the Church Obs 2. For what cause they suffer all this For the Son of man's sake for their respect to Christ and his Holy Religion for their regard to his Worship and holy Institutions Learn hence That such Disciples as will cordially embrace and stedfastly hold fast the Faith delivered by our Saviour must expect and prepare for hatred and persecution to be separated from civil Society excommunicated from Church-fellowship and all this by them who shall call themselves the Guides and Governours of an Infallible Church 24 But wo unto you that are rich for ye have received your Consolation 25 Wo unto you that are full for ye shall hunger wo unto you that laugh now for you shall mourn and weep 26 Wo unto you when all Men shall speak well of you for so did their fathers to the false prophets Observe here 1. that tho' St. Luke omits divers of the Beatitudes mentioned by St. Matthew ch 5. yet he reciteth the Woes which St. Matthew omitteth If we will understand our Saviour's Doctrine fully we must consult all the Evangelists thoroughly Observe 2. These Woes are not to be understood absolutely but restrainedly the Wo does not belong to Men because they are Rich because they are full because they do laugh but because they place their happiness in these things take up with them for their portion rejoyce in them as their chief Good Valluing themselves by what they have in hand not by what they have in hope He that is Rich and Righteous he that is Great and Gracious he that has his hands full of this World and his heart empty of pride and vain Confidences he that laughs when God smiles he that expresses himself joyfully when God expresses himself Graciously such a man is rich in Grace who is thus gracious in the midst of Riches for to be Rich and Holy argues much Riches of Holiness 26 Wo unto you when all men shall speak well of you for so did their fathers to the false prophets Our Saviour's design in these Words is not to condemn any of his Disciples or Ministers who have by doing their Duty gain'd a fair Reputation amongst the men of the World but to let us understand how rarely and seldom it is attained for usually the best men are worst spoken of neither the Prophets of the Old Testament nor John Baptist the Prophet of the New Testament nor Christ himself nor his Apostles did ever gain either the good Will or the good Word of the Men of that Generation in which they Lived The Applause of the Multitude that contingent Judge of Good and Evil rather attends the vain then the vertuous None have ever been so much reproached by man as the Faithful Ministers of God who have learnt to take pleasure in Reproaches For tho' Grace does not bid us invite Reproaches yet it teaches us to bid them welcome The World has all along taken effectual care by their cruel
but not improved them Learn hence 1. That Gospel-Ordinances enjoyed are a mighty Honour and Advancement to the poorest Persons and obscurest Places Thou Capernaum art exalted to Heaven 2. That Gospel-Ordinances and Church-Priviledges enjoyed but not improved provoke Almighty God to inflict the soarest of Judgments upon a People Thou that art exalted to Heaven shalt be thrust down to Hell 16 He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Here our Saviour encourages his Ministers to Faithfulness in their Office by assuring them that he should reckon and esteem all the kindness shewn to them as done unto himself He that receiveth you receiveth me he that despiseth you despiseth me Where Note That all the Offices of Love and Respect of Kindness and Charity which we shew to the Ministers or Members of Christ for his sake Christ reckons it as done unto himself 17 And the seventy returned again with joy saying Lord even the Devils are Subject unto us thro' thy Name 18 And he said unto them I beheld Satan as Lightning fall from Heaven Obs here 1. The Seventy Disciples return to give Christ an account of the Success of their Expedition they return as Victors with joy and triumph shewing Christ the Trophies of their Conquest Lord the Devils are subject unto us thro' thy Name the Weapons of their warfare were not carnal but Spiritual and Mighty through Christ the Powers of Darkness cannot stand but must fall before the power of Christ the Devils are no match for Christ no nor for the meanest of the Ministers of Christ who go forth in his Name armed with his Authority and Power Observe 2. our Saviour's Reply to the Seventy Disciples upon this occasion I beheld Satan as Lightning fall from Heaven a Two-fold Interpretation is given of which words 1. Some look upon them as a Secret Rebuke given by our Saviour to the Seventy for that excess of joy and mixture of vain-glory which was found with them upon the account of those extraordinary Gifts and Abilities of casting out Devils and healing Diseases which were conferr'd upon them I beheld Satan says Christ falling like Lightning from Heaven as if Christ had said Take heed of being puft up with Pride upon the account of those Endowments which I have bestowed upon you Remember Lucifer the Prince of Pride how he fell from Heaven by his Arrogancy and Labour you to ascend thither by Humility The words in this sense afford this Instruction That those whom Christ has bestowed the greatest measure of Spiritual Graces Ministerial Gifts and Temporal Blessings upon ought to be very watchful against that hateful Sin of Pride which has ruin'd and destroy'd so many Thousands of Angels and Men. 2. Some understand this Fall of Satan not Literally but Figuratively and Mystically of his Ruine by the Power and Preaching of the Gospel as if Christ had said I know that this is no vain boast of yours no vaunt nor brag of your Valour that Devils are conquer'd by your Courage for when I first sent you forth to preach the Gospel and armed you with Divine Power I easily foresaw that the Devils Kingdom would shake about his Ears and that his Power would be ruin'd by the Power of the Gospel and that wherever you Preached Satans Strength and Power should vanish like a Flash of Lightning suddenly and irrevocably Learn hence That the powerful and efficacious Preaching of the Gospel is the special means ordained and appointed by Christ for the Ruine and Subversion of Satans Kingdom in the World as the Gospel is the power of God unto Salvation to them that believe and obey it so it is the Power of God unto Destruction to Satan and all that fight under his Banner against it 19 Behold I give you power to tread on Serpents and Scorpions and over all the power of the Enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you Our Lord finding that his Seventy Ambassadors had managed their former Commission so well he here enlargeth it adding thereunto a promise of Divine Protection Behold I give you power to tread on Serpents and nothing shall hurt you as if Christ had said Go forth again in this Armour of Power with which I have girt you and I warrant you Sword-free and Shot-free nothing shall by any means hurt you neither Strength nor Stratagem shall overcome you neither the Power the Presence nor Protection of God shall be wanting to any of Christ's Ministers or Members who go forth in his Strength against the Spiritual Enemies of their Salvation As we have a Promise of Power in this Text to enable us to resist the Devil so we have a Promise of Success elsewhere upon our Resisting of him Resist the Devil and he will flee from you St. James 4.7 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoyce not that the Spirits are Subject unto you but rather rejoyce because your Names are written in Heaven In these words of our Saviour there is something Corrective and something Directive the corrective part lies in the first words wherein Christ checks the suspected excesses of their joy for Victories gained over Evil Spirits in this Rejoyce not that is lâ—t not your Hearts too much over-flow with joy upon this occasion the Negation is not absolute but comparative only Christ doth not forbid but only qualify and moderate their joy That the Spirits are subject to you that is the Devils Where Note 1. That tho' the Evil Angels by their Fall have lost their happy Condition yet not their original Constitution their Honour but not their Nature they are Spirits still 2. The Subjection of those Evil Spirits to the Power of Christ is not a free and professed but an involuntary and imposed Subjection like that of a slave to his Lord whether he will or no. Learn hence 1. That Evil Spirits are Subject to the Power of Christ not only to his personal but to his Ministerial Power 2. That it is matter of great joy to see Evil Spirits brought into Subjection by the Power of Christ to see the Evil Spirit of Pride and Contention of Envy and Malice of Error and Falshood of Jealousy and Self-love of Animosity and Division not only chained but changed to see not only an unwilling Subjection but a Subjection of the Will given to Christ is matter of great Joy and unspeakable Rejoycing The Directive part of our Saviour's Words lies in the latter part of the Verse But rather rejoyce that your Names are written in Heaven There are no literal Records in the Court of Heaven no Pen or Ink Paper or Parchment but to be written in Heaven is to have a Title to Eternal Life and to be made meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Learn 1. That God has in Heaven a Book of Life a Book written with the Golden Rays and Beams of his own Eternal Love Observe 2. That there are Names
give him because he is his friend yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth The design of our Blessed Saviour in these and the following Verses is to excite and stir up his Disciples to fervency importunity and constancy in the Duty of Prayer and to this purpose he makes use of a double Argument the one of a Friend and the other of a Father 1. He lays before them the Parable of a Friend coming to his Friend at Mid-night and by his importunity obtaining that of him which otherwise he must have gone without From whence our Lord leaves us to infer that if an impudent and bold Beggar can obtain so much from Man what cannot an humble earnest and daily Petitioner obtain from God What Friend so faithful and helpful to his dearest Friend as God is to us his Children From the whole Note 1. That a Man must be brought into a state of Friendship and Reconciliation with God if he hopes his Prayers shall be accepted 2. That when any of the Friends of God are in Necessities and Streights he allows them the liberty at all hours to call upon him and pray unto him at mid-night as well as at Mid-day God's ear is open to his Praying Friends 3. That Almighty God takes pleasure in being urged in Prayer by the Holy importunity of his Friends never is he better pleased then when his People with Holy Jacob Wrestle with him and will not let him go till he has blessed them 4. That such holy and humble importunity shall not only obtain what we desired but more then we expected only three Loaves were desired here but because of importunity he had as many as he needed more is given in the Concession than was desired in the Supplication 9 And I say unto you ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you 10 For every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Our Saviour here goes on to urge us to importunity and constancy in Prayer he bids us ask seek and knock and assures us we shall be accepted heard and answered Here Note 1. That Man is a poor indigent Creature full of wants but unable to supply them 2. As Man is an indigent and insufficient Creature so God is an All-sufficient Good able to supply the Wants and to Relieve the Necessities of his Creatures 3. That All-mighty God stands ready to supply all our Wants not Temporal only but Spiritual also affording his Grace and the assistance of his holy Spirit to them that ask it 4. If therefore we want the Grace of God and the assistance of his Holy Spirit it is our own fault and not God's it is either for want of seeking or for want of earnestness in asking for our Saviour expresly assures us that God denies it to none but every one that asketh receiveth 11 If a Son shall ask Bread of any of you that is a Father will he give him a stone or if he ask a fish will he for a fish give him a Serpent 12 Or if he ask an egg will he offer him a Scorpion 13 If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him The Second Parable which our Saviour makes use of is that of a Father to his Children Christ represents the care and kindness of God towards us by the affections which Earthly Parents bear to their natural Children who tho' they be many times Evil themselves yet are not wont to deny their Children necessary good things when they dutifully and decently beg them at their hands If ye being evil how much more shall your heavenly Father give his holy Spirit that is the continual presence and influence of his Holy Spirit to all the purposes of Guidance and Direction of Grace and Assistance of Comfort and Support in our Christian Course Learn hence That the presence and assistance of God's Holy Spirit to enable us to do what God requires shall never be wanting to those that desire it and endeavour after it But we must always remember That the Assistance of God's Holy Spirit tho' it be offered and tendered to us yet it is not forced upon us for if we beg the Holy Spirit and his assistance but refuse to make use of it or if we cry to him for his help to mortify our Lusts but do not put forth his own endeavours we forfeit the Divine Assistance and God will certainly withdraw his Holy Spirit from us 14 And Jesus was casting out a Devil and it was dumb and it came to pass when the Devil was gone out that the dumb spake and the people wondered 15 But some of them said he casteth out Devils through Beelzebub the chief of the Devils 16 And other tempting him sought of him a sight from Heaven 17 But he knowing their thoughts said unto them Every kingdom divided against it self is brought to desolation and a house divided against a house falleth 18 If Satan also be divided against himself how shall his kingdom stand because ye say that I cast out Devils thrô Belzebub 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out Devils by whom do your Sons cast them out therefore shall they be your judges 20 But if I with the Finger of God cast out Devils no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you A Relation is here given of a famous Miracle wrought by our Saviour in casting a Devil out of a possessed Man it is called a dumb Devil because of the effect upon the poor possessed Person in restraining the use of his Tongue Learn here 1. That amongst the many Calamities which Sin has rendered humane Nature liable and obnoxious to this is one to be bodily possest by Satan 2. That one Demonstration of Christ's Divine Power and a convictive Evidence of his being truly and really God was his casting out Devils by the Word of his Power Observe 3. What a sad and contrary effect this Miracle had upon the wicked Pharisees through their own blindness obstinacy and malice instead of magnifying his Divine Power they maliciously accuse him for holding a correspondency with the Devil and acting by a Power derived from him as if Satan should lend our Saviour a power against himself and that for the Destruction of his own Kingdom Lord how dangerous is a wilful opposition against the Truth it provokes the Almighty to deliver Persons up to the most unreasonable Infidelity and obstinate Obduracy Observe 4. Our Saviour knowing their Thoughts makes a just Apology for himself by shewing how improbable and unlikely how unreasonable and absurd it is once to imagine or suppose that Satan should cast out himself and any ways seek to oppose or destroy his own Kingdom Now if I have received says Christ my power from
to keep in Heavens way for fear of Hell 't is good to bid a Friend fear when that fear tendeth to his good 6 Are not five Sparrows sold for two farthings and not one of them is forgotten before God 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered fear not therefore ye are of more value than many Sparrows Obs here 1. The Doctrine which our Saviour Preaches to his Disciples and that is the Doctrine of the Divine Providence which concerns it self for the meanest Creatures Even the Birds of the Air and the Hairs of our Heads do fall within the Compass of God's protecting Care Observe 2. Tha use which our Saviour makes of this Doctrine namely to fortify his Disciples Spirits against all Distrustful fears and distracting cares Learn hence 1. That the Consideration of the Divine Care and Gracious Providence of God over us and ours ought to Antidote our Spirits against all distrustful fears whatsoever If an hair from the Head falls not to the ground without a Providence much less shall the Head it self If the very excrements of the Body such are the Hair be taken care of by God surely the more Noble parts of the Body but especially the Noblest part of our Selves our Souls shall fall under his particular Regard 8 Also I say unto you whosoever shall confess me before men him shall the Son of man confess before the Angels of God 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the Angels of God Note here 1. That not to confess Christ is in his account to deny him and to be ashamed of him 2. That whosoever shall deny oâ— be ashamed of Christ either in his Person in his Gospel or in his Members for any fear or favour of Man shall with shame be disowned and eternally rejected by him at the dreadful Judgment of the great day Christ may be denied three ways Doctrinally by an erroneous and heretical Judgment verbally by oral expressions vitally by a wiâ—ked and unholy Life but wo to that Soul that denies Christ any of these ways 10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man it shall be forgiven him but unto him that blasphemâ—th against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven Altho' never Man Preached or Lived as Christ did yet there were those that spake against him the Person of Jesus was contemned and reproached for the meanness of his Birth for the poverty of his Condition for the freedom of his Conversation but this sin did not exclude the hope of pâ—rdon Whosoever shall speak a word against the Son â—f Man it shall be forgiven him all the Reproaches cast upon Christ as Man were pardonable But whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost it shall not be fsrgiven him that is whoever affirms that Divine power by which I do all my Miracles to be the power of the Devil such Blasphemy will be unpardonable because it is to resist the last Remedy and to oppose the best Means for Mens Conviction For what could be done more to convince Men that Christ was the True and Promised Messias then to work so many Miracles before their Eyes to that purpose Now these Miracles tho' evidently wrought by the power of God the Pharisees ascribed to the Power of the Devil which our Saviour calls Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost and a Sin unpardonable 11 And when they bring you into the Synagogues and unto Magistrates and Powers take ye no thought how or what ye shall answer or what ye shall say 12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say Here our Saviour acquaints his Apostles that for Preaching his Doctrine and professing his Religion they should be brought before all sorts of Magistrates and into all kinds of Courts but advises them when they should be so brought not to be anxiously thoughtful or sollicitously careful what they should say for it should be suggested to them by the Holy Ghost what they should speak in that Hour Thence Note That tho' the Truth of Christ may be opposed yet the Defenders of it shall never be ashamed for rather then they shall want a Tongue to plead for it God himself will prompt them by his Holy Spirit and furnish them with such Arguments to defend the Truth as all their Adversaries shall not be able to gainsay In that hour the Holy Ghost shall teach you what ye ought to say 13 And one of the Company said unto him Master Speak to my brother that he divide the Inheritance with me 14 And he said unto him Man Who made me a judge or a divider over you Whilst our Saviour was thus instructing his Disciples and the rest of his Auditors in things appertaining to the Kingdom of Heaven one of the Company being more intent as it seems upon his Temporal then his Eternal Concerns desired him to speak to his Brother to divide the Inheritance with him Christ tells him he would neither be judge nor arbitrator in any civil Affairs or secular Concerns This Work as if Christ had said belongs to the civil Magistrate to divide Inheritances and decide Controversies betwixt Man and Man But my work is of another Nature namely to preach the Gospel to a lost World and to direct Men how to secure an Inheritance in Heaven not to divide Inheritances here on Earth Teaching us That matters of Civil Justice do not belong to those whom Christ sends forth to preach the Gospel that work alone is sufficient for them The proper Work of a Minister is work enough one branch of which is to manage a perswading task betwixt Neighbour and Neighbour to prevent Differences and to compose them but as Christ's Commissioners and Ministers of the Gospel they have no Authority to intermeddle in civil Judgments Who made me a judge over you said our Great Master that is a Judge in Civil Affairs 15 And he said unto them Take heed and beware of Covetousness for a mans Life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth Our Saviour upon the occasion given him in the fore-going Verses admonishes all his Disciples and Followers to take heed and beware of the Sin of Covetousness assuring them that neither the Comfort nor Continuance of Man's Life doth consist in an Abundance for tho' something of this World's Goods is necessary to the Comfort and Happiness of Life yet abundance is not necessary Here Observe 1. The manner of our Lord's Caution he doubles it not saying take heed alone or beware only but take heed and beware both this argues that there is a strong inclination in our Natures to this Sin the great danger we are in of falling into it and of what fatal Consequence it is to them in whom this Sin Reigns Observe 2. The matter of the Caution or the Sin which our Saviour warns his Hearers against and that is Covetousness Take heed and beware of Covetousness where under
that bade when thou makest a Dinner or a Supper call not thy friends nor thy brethren neither thy kinsmen nor thy rich neighbours lest they also bid thee again and a recompence be made thee 13 But when thou makest a Feast call the poor the maimed the lame and the blind 14 And thou shalt be blessed for they cannot recompence thee for thou shalt be recompenced at the Resurrection of the just Our Saviour observing how the Pharisee that bade him to Dinner invited only the Rich over-looking and neglecting the Poor he exhorts him and the Company that whenever they make Entertainments for the time to come they should not only invite their rich Neighbours and Friends who can and will invite them again but remember the Poor Here Note 1. That Civil Courtesies and Hospitable Entertainments of Kindred and Friends for maintaining and preserving Love and Concord is not only Lawful but an expedient and necessary Duty Vse hospitality to one another says St. Peter without grudging 2. That altho' it be not lawful to invite and feast the Rich yet is it most acceptable to God when we feed and refresh the Poor When thou makest a Feast call rather the poor and thou shalt be blessed We must prefer the Duties of Christian Charity before Acts of Common Civility Blessed are those Feast-makers who make the Bowels of the Hungry to Bless them 3. That God oft-times Rewards our Liberality to the poor very signally in this Life but if it be deferr'd we shall not fail to receive it at the Resurrection of the Just The poor cannot recompence thee but thou shalt be recompenced at the Resurrection of the just 15 And when one of them that sate at meat with him heard these things he said unto him Blessed is he that shall eat Bread in the kingdom of God 16 Then said he unto him A certain man made a great Supper and bade many 17 And sent his Servant at Supper-time to say to them that were bidden Come for all things are now ready 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse The first said unto him I have bought a piece of Ground and I must needs go and see it I pray thee have me excused 19 And another said I have bought five yoke of Oxen and I go to prove them I pray thee have me excused 20 And another said I have married a wife and therefore I cannot come 21 So that the servant came and shewed his Lord these things Then the master of the house being angry said to his Servant Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the City and bring in hither the poor and the maimed the halt and the blind 22 And the servant said Lord it is done as thou hast commanded and yet there is room 23 And the Lord said unto the servant go into the High-ways and Hedges and compel them to come in that my house may be filled 24 For I say unto you None of those men which were bidden shall taste of my Supper One of them that sate at meat with our Saviour in the Pharisees House hearing Christ speak of being Recompenc'd at the Resurrection of the Just repeated that known saying among the Rabbins Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God that is who shall be partaker of the Joys of Heaven Hereupon Christ utters the Parable of the Marriage Supper Recorded here by St. Luke with small variation from what was delivered by St. Matthew Ch. 22. The first intention of our Saviour in that Parable seems to be this to set forth that gracious offer of Mercy and Salvation which was made by the preaching of the Gospel unto the Jews and to declare God's purpose of Receiving the Gentiles into the Fold of Christ upon the Jews despising and rejecting that inestimable Favour But besides this it has an aspect upon us Christians who have embraced the Doctrine of the Gospel Here Note 1. That the Gospel for its freeness and fulness for its varieties and delicacies is like a Marriage-Supper For 1. it does create the same Relation between Christ and Believers that Marriage doth between Husband and Wife 2. it entitles to the same Priviledges that a Conjugal Relation doth to the same endearing Love and Tenderness to the same Care and Protection to the same Honour and to the same Happiness 3. It obliges to the like Duties namely unspotted Love and fidelity chearful obedience to his Commands reverence to his Person submission to his Authority 4. It produces the same Effects as the Effect of Marriage is increase of Children so the fruit of the Gospel is bringing many sons to God Note 2. That Gospel invitations are mightily disesteemed they made light of the invitation and offered frivolous Excuses for their refusal of it Note 3. That the preference which the World has in Mens esteem is the great Cause of the Gospel-Contempt one had purchased a piece of Ground another had bought five yoke of Oxen. Note 4. The deplorable sadness of their Condition who refuse upon any pretence whatever to comply with the Gospel-Tender of Reconciliation and Mercy The King was wrath pronounced them unworthy of his Favour and resolved they should not taste of his Supper but sends forth his Servants to invite others to the Supper Note 5. The Notion under which the Gentiles are set forth unto us such as were in Lanes Streets and High-ways that is a rude rustick barbarous People whom the Jews despised yea whom they held Accursed yet even these are called and accepted whilst the Jews the first intended Guests are excluded by means of their own Contempt Note lastly The means used to bring in the Gentiles to the Gospel-Supper Go and compel them to come in not by Violence but perswasion by Argumentation not Compulsion the plain and perswasive the powerful and efficacious Preaching of the Word with the Motions and influences of the Holy Spirit are the Compulsion here intended not external Force not temporal Punishments not outward Violence Non Religionis est cogere Religionem says Tertullian No Man ought by Force and Violence to be compelled to the Profession of the true Faith 25 And there were great multitudes with him and he turned and said unto them 26 If any man come to me and hate not his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sisters yea and his own life also he cannot be my Disciple 27 And whosoever doth not bare his cross and come after me cannot be my Disciple Our Saviour by these Expressions doth not condemn natural Love and Affection either to our Relations or our own Lives but only regulates and directs it shewing that our first and chief Love must be bestowed upon himself we may have and ought to cherish tender and relenting affections towards our near and dear Relations But then the Consideration of Christ's Truth and Religion must take place of these yea of Life it self and when they stand in Competition
the greatest Hardships and Difficulties before they will leave their sins and return home to their Heavenly Father He joined himself to a Citizen of that Country and went into the Fields to feed Swine he chooses rather to feed at the Hogs Trough then to Feast in his Fathers House 5. Observe at last the happy Fruits of a Sanctified Affliction they put the prodigal upon serious Consideration he came to himself upon wise Consultation I perish for hunger and upon a fixed Resolution I will arise and go to my Father serious Consideration and solid Resolution are great steps to a sound Conversion and thorough Reformation Observe 6. The affectionate tenderness and compassion of the Father towards the returning Prodigal tho' he had deserved to be sharply reproved severely Corrected and finally rejected and shut out of doors yet the Fathers Compassion is above his Anger not a word of his miscarriages drops from the Fathers Mouth but as soon as ever the Son looks back mercy looks out and the Father expresses 1. His speedy readiness to receive his son he ran unto him the Son did only arise and go but the Father made haste and ran Mercy has not only a quick eye to spy out a Penitent but a swift Foot it runs to embrace a Penitent 2. Wonderful Tenderness he fell upon his neck it had been much to have looked upon him with the Eye more to have taken him by the hand but most of all to fall upon his Neck Divine Mercy will not only meet a Penitent but embrace him also 3. Strong Affectionateness he kissed him giving him thereby a pledge and assurance of perfect Friendship and Reconciliation with him Learn hence That God is not only ready to give Demonstrations of his Mercy to penitent sinners but also to give the Seals and Tokens of his special Reconciled Favour to them they shall now have the kisses of his Lips who formerly deserved the blows of his Hand The Father ran unto him fell on his Neck and kissed him Observe Lastly The great joy that appeared in the whole House as well as in the Fathers Heart upon this great occasion the prodigal Sons returning They all began to be merry there was Musick and Dancing Learn hence That sincere Conversion brings the Soul into a joyful into a very joyful State and Condition The joy that Conversion brings is an holy and spiritual joy a solid and substantial joy a wonderful and transcendent joy an encreasing and never fading joy our joy on Earth is an earnest of the joys of Heaven where there will be Rejoycing in the presence of our Heavenly Father and his Holy Angels to all Eternity Because we were dead but are now alive again we were lost but are found 25 Now his elder son was in the field and as he came and drew nigh to the house he heard Musick and Dancing 26 And he called one of the Servants and asked what these things meant 27 And he said unto him Thy Brother is come and thy Father hath killed the fatted Calf because he hath received him safe and sound 28 And he was angry and would not go in therefore came his Father out and entreated him 29 And he answering said to his Father Lo these many years do I serve thee neither transgressed I at any time thy Commandment and yet thou never gavest me a kid that I might make merry with my Friends 30 But as soon as this thy son was come which hath devoured thy Living with Harlots thou hast killed for him the fatted Calf 31 And he said unto him Son thou art ever with me and all that I have is thine 32 It was meet that we should make merry and be glad For this thy Brother was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found By the murmurings of the Elder Son at the Prodigals Returning to and Reception with his Father some think the Jews in general are to be understood whose peevishness to the Gentiles and their Repinings at the offer of Salvation made unto them by the Gospel is very evident from many places of Scripture others understand it of the Scribes and Pharisees in particular who presuming on their own Righteousness as if they had never transgressed God's Commandments at any time murmured at our Saviour for Conversing with Sinners tho' it were in order to the bringing of them to Repentance which instead of being frowardly discontented at they ought to have rejoyced in Learn hence There is such an envious Spirit in Men yea even in the best of Men as inclineth them to repine at such Dispensations of Divine Grace and Favour â—s others receive aâ—d they want 2. That to indulge such a Spirit and Temper in our selves argues great sin and great solly great sin in being dissatisfied with God's Dispensations and affronting his Wisdom and Justice and great Folly in making anothers Good our Grief as if we had less because another has more The elder Son was angry and would not go in it follows therefore came the Father out and entreated him This shews the meekness of God in dealing with us under our frowardness and the high satisfaction he takes in a Sinners Converâ—ion and Returning to his Duty Lastly This points out unto us our Duty to imitate God and be Followers of him as dear Children Doth he Reioyce at a Sâ—nners Return to his Duty so should we 'T is the Devil's Temper to regret and envy the Good and Happiness of others he gnashes his Teeth when the Prey he thought himself sure of is snatched out of his Jaws But to God and all his Holy Angels nothing is so agreeable as the Repentance and Conversion of a Sinner from the Error of his ways and the saving of a Soul from death this is look'd upon as a Resurrection from the Dead and a ground of the greatest Joy and Rejoycing It was meet that we should make merry and be glad For this thy Brother was dead and is alive again he was lost and is found CHAP. XVI 1 AND he said also unto his Disciples There was a certain rich Man which had a Steward and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his Goods 2 And he called him and said unto him How is it that I hear this of thee Give an account of thy Stewardship for thou mayest be no longer Steward 3 Then the Steward said within himself what shall I do For my Lord taketh away from me the Stewardship I cannot dig to beg I am ashamed 4 I am resolved what to do That when I am put out of the Stewardship they may receive me into their Houses 5 So he called every one of the Lord's Debtors unto him and said unto him first How much owest thou unto my Lord 6 And he said an hundred measures of Oyl and he said unto him Take thy Bill and set down quickly and write fifty 7 Then said he to another And how much owest thou and he said an hundred
and bring them to Repentance Learn hence how prone we are to dislike God's Method and Means which he has appointed for Reclaiming us from our Sins and imagin some Methods of our own would be more Successful The Scriptures read the Word Preached the Sacraments Administred these are the ordinary Means which the Wisdom of God has appointed for Mens Conviction and if we think a Messenger from the Dead would be a more conducible Means the next Verse will confute us and thoroughly satisfy us that whom the Scriptures convince not probably nothing will for thus it follows 31 If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded tho' one arose from the dead A very awakening Text this is which speaks dreadfully to Persons sitting all their days under the Ministry of the Gospel and yet find not their Understandings enlightned their judgments convinced their Wills subdued and their Lives Reformed by it Were it possible for such Persons to see one come from the Dead yea from the Damned with the flames of Hell about his Ears wringing his Hands and gnashing his Teeth bewailing his Misery and beseeching them to take warning by his Example and in time to acquaint themselves with God and be at Peace all this would have no farther effect upon them than to move their Passion a little for the present whilst the dreadful found is in their Ears the Ordinances of God and not his Providences are the instituted and appointed means for Mens Conversion and Salvation Note then 1. That no Visions or Apparitions no new revelations concerning Eternal Rewards and Punishments are to be expected from the other World in order to Mens Conversion and Salvation Note 2. That the Word of God dispensed to us and the ordinary Means of Grace enjoyed by us are a more conducible and effectual means to perswade Men to Repentance than if one should arise from the Dead and Preach unto them A Messenger from the Dead cannot bring with him either a more necessary Doctrine or a more certain and infallible Doctrine nor bring with him better Arguments for our Conviction then what the Scriptures do propound to our Consideration nor can we expect a greater Co-operation of the Holy Spirit or a greater Concurrence of Divine Power to render a Message from the Dead more effectual then doth ordinarily attend the Ministry of the Word Hence forward then let us not wonder if when a Drunkard drops down dead upon the spot the Companions say to one another drink on If Sinners daily tumble one another into the Grave without considering the Operation of God's Hand this to those that consider this Text will not seem strange For if they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be converted tho' hundreds of Sinners before their Eyes drop down dead nay if they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded tho' one arose from the Dead CHAP. XVII 1 THen said he unto the Disciples it is impossible but that offences will come but wo unto him through whom they come 2 It were better for him that a Milstone were hanged about his Neck and he cast into the Sea then that he should offend one of these little ones Two things are here Observable 1. The Necessity of Scandalous Offences It must needs be that offences come if we consider Mens Corruption Satan's Malice God's Permission and just Judgment Observe 2. The Misery and Mischief which comes by these Scandals Wo unto the World because of Offences Wo to such as give the Scandal this is vae indignantis the Wo of one denouncing and wo to such as stumble at offences given this is vae dolentis the Wo of one Lamenting From the whole Note 1. That Scandals or Offensive Actions in the Church of Christ will certainly happen and frequently fall out amongst those that profess Religion and the Name of Christ It is impossible but that Offences will come Secondly That Scandalous and offensive Actions from such as profess Religion and the Name of Christ are Baneful and Fatal Stumbling-blocks to wicked and worldly Men. Thirdly That the Offence which wicked Men take at the Falls of the Professors of Religion to the hardning of themselves in their wicked and sinful Practices is matter of just and great Lamentation Wo unto the World because of Offences Matt. 18.7 3 Take heed to your selves if thy Brother trespass against thee rebuke him and if he repent forgive him 4 And if he trespass against thee Seven times in a day and seven times in a day and turn again to thee saying I repent thou shalt forgive him The Doctrine of Forgiving an offending Brother is prest upon us with many forceable Arguments in the New Testament which speak it to be a Duty of indispensable Necessity This place is to be understood of private Offences and personal Wrongs and Injuries done by one Man to another which we must first reprove and then remit and altho' it be said If he repent forgive him that is not to be understood as if we needed not pardon our Brother if he neglected to repent and ask Forgiveness but whether he acknowledges his offence or no to us our Hearts must stand ready to forgive the Wrong done to us and to pray for Forgiveness on his behalf at the hands of God laying aside all thoughts and desire of Revenge in our own Cause and standing ready to do any Office of Love and Service for our offending Brother Learn hence 1. That to fall often into the same Offence against our Brother is a great aggravation of our Offence If thy Brother trespass against thee seven times in a day that is very often 2. That as the Multiplication of Offences is a great aggravation of Offences so the Multiplying of Forgiveness is a great Demonstration of a God-like Temper in us he that Multiplies sin doth like Satan sin abundantly and he that multiplies Pardon doth like God pardon abundantly 5 And the Apostles said unto the Lord encrease our Faith Observe here 1. The Supplicants the Apostles 2. the Person Supplicated the Lord 3. The Supplication it self encrease our Faith 4. The occasion of this Supplication our Saviour urging the Duty of forgiving Injuries Learn 1. That all Graces in general so the Grace of Faith in particular is weak and imperfect in the best of Saints 2. That the most eminent Saints Apostles not excepted are very sensible of the imperfection of their Faith and very importunate with God daily for the encrease of it Lord encrease our Faith 3. That Faith strengthned enables the Soul to the most difficult Duties of Obedience and particularly helps to the practice of that hard Duty of Forgiving Injuries When our Saviour had preach'd the Doctrine and Duty of Forgiveness the Apostles instantly pray Lord encrease our Faith 6 And the Lord said If ye had Faith as a Grain of Mustard-seed ye might say to this Sycamine-Tree Be thou plucked up by the Root and
his face at his feet giving him thanks and he was a Samaritane Observe here 1. All were Healed but one was Thankful the Cure is wrought upon the Bodies of all Thankfulness is found but in the Heart of one the Will makes the difference in Men but he makes the difference in Wills who at first made the Will All these Lepers were Cured all saw themselves Cured their sense was alike their Hearts were not alike Observe 2. The Person that made this return of Thankfulness to Christ he was a Samaritan that is none of the Jewish Nation but one that was a Stranger to the Common Wealth of Israel neither Place nor Parentage can block up the way or stop the Current of God's free Mercy which reaches the unworthy and the ill-deserving Observe 3. How singly he returns his Thanks he gets away from his Fellows to make his Acknowledgments there are Cases wherein Singularity is not only Lawful but Laudable instead of Subjecting our selves to others Examples it is sometimes our Duty to resolve to set an Example to others for it is much better to go the right way alone then to err with Company Observe 4. How speedily he returns his Thanks no sooner doth he see his Cure but he hasts to acknowledge it a noble Pattern of Thankfulness What speed of Retribution is here late Payments of our Thankfulness Savours of Ingratitude it were happy for us Christians did we learn our Duty of this Samaritan 17 Aâ—d â—â—â—s answering said Were there not Ten â—leâ—nâ—â—d but where are the Nine 18 There 〈◊〉 not found that returned to give Glory to God save this Stranger 19 And he said unto him Arise go thy way thy Faith hath made thee whole In the face of these ten Lepers we may as in a Glass behold the Face and Complexion of all Mankind How few are there oh Lord scarce more than One in Ten who after signal Mercies return suitable Thanks Men howl to God upon their Beds but run away from God as soon as they are raised up by him Observe farther what an exact account Christ keeps of his own dispensed Favours Were there not not ten cleansed He forgets our Sins but Records his own Mercies It is one of his glorious Titles a God Forgiving and Forgetting Iniquity but his Mercies are over all his Works and deserve everlasting Remembrance God keeps a Register of his Mercies towards us oh shall not we record the favours received from him at once to declare his Bounty towards us and our Thankfulness towards him Observe Lastly The thankful Leper was a Samaritane but the Nine that were unthankful were Israelites Learn thence That the more we are bound to God the more shameful is our ingratitude towards him where God may justly expect the greatest returns of Praise and Service he sometimes receiveth least God has more Rent and better paid him from a smoaky Cottage then he has from some stately Palaces 20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees when the kingdom of God should come he answered them and said the kingdom of God cometh not with Observation 21 Neither shall they say lo here or lo there for behold the kingdom of God is within you The Generality of the Jews and particularly the Pharisees expected that the promised Messias should be a Temporal Prince and deliver them from the Roman Yoke under which they groaned Accordingly the Pharisees here demanded of our Saviour when the Kingdom of God of which he had so often spoken should-come Christ answers them That his kingdom cometh not with observation that is without Pomp and Splendour which Men may observe and gaze upon but he tells them the Kingdom of God was now among them by the Ministry of John Baptist and Himself and was already set up in the Hearts of his People by the secret Operations of his Holy Spirit Learn here That the false Notion which the Jews had of the Messiah and his Kingdom That he himself was to be a Temporal Prince and his Kingdom a secular Kingdom to be set up with a great deal of Noise Pomp and Splendour did hinder the generality of them from believing in him Secondly That the Kingdom which Christ designed to set up in the World was altogether Spiritual not obvious to Humane Senses but managed in the Hearts of his People by the Scepter of his Spirit My Kingdom cometh not with observation but is within you 22 And he said unto the Disciples the days will come when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the son of man and ye shall not see it 23 And they shall say to you see here or see there go not after them nor follow them 24 For as the Lightning that lighteth out of the one part under Heaven shineth unto the other part under Heaven so shall also the Son of man be in his day 25 But first must he suffer many things and be rejected of this Generation In the remaining part of this Chapter our Saviour acquaints his Disciples with what days of Tribulation and distress were coming on the Jewish Nation in general and on Jerusalem in particular Days of Suffering as if our Saviour had said are not far off when you will wish for my Bodily presence again among you to support and comfort you and when many Seducers will rise up pretendinâ— to be Deliverers but go not you after them for after this Generation have rejected and crucified me my Coming says Christ to execute Vengeance on my Enemies and Murtherers at Jerusalem by the Roman Soldiers will be sudden and like the Lightning that shines in an instant from one part of the Heavens to the other From this Coming of Christ to judge Jerusalem which was an Emblem of the final Judgment we may gather this Instruction that the Coming and Appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ to the judging of wicked and impenitent Sinners it will be a very certain sudden and unexpected Appearance 26 And as it was in the days of Noe so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man 27 They did eat they drank they married Wives they were given in Marriage until the day that Noe entered into the Ark and the flood came and destroyed them all 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot they did eat they drank they bought they sold they planted they builded 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained Fire and Brimstone from Heaven and destroyed them all 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed In these Verses our Saviour declares that Jerusalem's Destruction and the World 's final Desolation at the great Day would be like the Destruction of the old World in the Days of Noah and like the Destruction of Sodom in the Days of Lott and that both in regard of unexpectedness and in regard of Sensuality and Security as they before the Flood were eating and drinking Marrying and
this he was sorrowful for he was very rich Here Note the Effect which our Saviour's Admonition had upon this Person He was sorrowful Learn thence That Carnal Men are exceeding sorrowful when they cannot win Heaven in their own way 2. That such as are wedded to the World will renounce Christ rather than the World when the World and Christ stand in Competition he went away sorrowful St. Mark 10.22 for he was very rich 24 And when Jesus saw he was very sorrowful he said How hardly shall they that have Riches enter into the Kingdom of God 25 For it is easier for a Camel to go thorough a Needle 's eye then for a rich Man to enter into the kingdom of God 26 And they that heard it said Who then can be saved 27 And he said the things which are impossible with men are possible with God Our Holy Lord takes occasion from the rich Man's Departure from him to discourse concerning the danger of Riches and the Difficulties that attend Rich Men in their way to Heaven From whence we may collect and gather 1. That Rich Men do certainly meet with more Difficulties in their way to Heaven then other Men 't is difficult to withdraw their Affections from Riches to place their supreme Love upon God in the midst of their Riches and to depend entirely upon God in a rich Condition For the rich mans wealth is his strong Tower 2. That yet the fault lies not in Riches but in rich Men who by placing their Trust and reposing their Confidence in Riches do render their Salvation difficult if not impossible 3. Our Saviour's proverbial Speech of a Camels going thorough the eye of a Needle implies thus much That it is not only a great Difficulty but an utter impossibility for such as abound in Worldly Wealth and place their Confidence therein to be Saved without an extraordinary Grace and Assistance from God 'T is hard for God to make a Rich Man Happy because he thinks himself Happy without God 4. That as difficult and impossible this may seem to Men yet nothing is impossible with GOD he can change the Heart of the Rich by the rich and powerful Influences of his Holy Spirit That which is impossible with Men is possible with God 28 Then Peter said Lo we have left all and followed thee It was well done and wisely done of Peter to leave all and follow Christ it was the best Bargain he ever made in all his Life But Observe how he magnifies that little he had left for Christ and ushers it in with a Note of Admiration Lo we have left all and followed thee Learn hence That tho' it be very little that we Suffer for Christ and have to forsake upon his Account yet we are prone to magnify and admire it as if it were some great matter Lord says Peter We have left all What all Man hadst thou to leave a few ragged Nets and a Tatter'd Fisherboat a great All indeed next to nothing at all scarce worth mentioning and yet how is it magnified Behold we have left all and followed thee 29 And he said unto them Verily I say unto you There is no man that hath left house or parents or brethren or wife or children for the kingdom of God's sake 30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time and in the world to come Eternal Life Observe here the Lenity and Kindness of our Lord 's Gracious Answer he tells his Disciples That they who had left all and followed him should be no losers by him that in this World they should receive many fold St. Mark 10.30 says an hundred fold but how so Non formaliter sed eminenter non in specie sed in valore Not in Kind but in Equivalency not an hundred Brethren and Sisters and Possessions in Kind but he shall enjoy all that in God which all Creatures would be to him if they were multiplied an hundred times Oh the Sanctifying Gifts and Saving Graces the supporting Comforts and ravishing Consolations of the Holy Spirit are a sufficient Compensation for any thing for all yea for more than all that we can part with for the sake of Christ 31 Then he took unto him the Twelve and said unto them behold we go up to Jerusalem and all things that are written by the Prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles and shall be mocked and spitefully entreated and spit upon 33 And they shall Scourge him and put him to Death and the third day he shall rise again 34 And they understood none of these things and this saying was hid from them neither knew they the things which were spoken We find our Blessed Saviour very frequently acquainting his Disciples with his approaching Sufferings to prevent the Offence that they might take at them when the Providence of God brought them forth his Design was to arm them with expectation of his Sufferings and to quicken them to Preparation for their own yet is it here said That the Disciples understood none of these sayings Why so were not the words easy enough to be understood yes but they could not reconcile them to the Notion of the Messiah which they had drank in they concluded he should be a Temporal Prince and subdue their Temporal Enemies but could not conceive how he that should redeem Israel should dye and be thus barbarously used we had great need to consider well what Notions we have concerning the things of God before we entertain them for false Notions once taken up are not without great difficulty laid down 35 And it came to pass that as he was come nigh unto Jericho a certain blind man sate by the way-side begging 36 And hearing the multitude pass by he asked what it meant 37 And they told him That Jesus of Nazareth passeth by 38 And he cryed saying Jesus thou Son of David have mercy on me 39 And they which went before rebuked him that he should hold his peace and he cryed so much the more Thou Son of David have mercy on me 40 And Jesus stood and commanded him to be brought unto him and when he was come near he asked him 41 Saying What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee and he said Lord that I may receive my sight 42 And Jesus said unto him Receive thy sight thy Faith hath saved thee 43 And immediately he received his sight and followed him glorifying God and all the people when they saw it gave praise unto God This Chapter concludes with the recital of a famous Miracle wrought by our Saviour upon a Blind Man whom St. Mark calls Bartimeus Where we have Observable 1. The Blind Man's Faith in Acknowledging Christ to be the Messiah for so much the Title of Son of David did import 2. Observe his Fervency as well as his Faith he cryed to Christ for the Mercy of Healing Have mercy on me thou Son of David
Person that Suffered three Days ago when his Death doth so well agree with the Predictions of the Prophets who fore-told that the Messias should be cut off but not for himself and be smitten for the iniquities of his People Here we may Observe The great Wisdom and Grace of God who makes sometimes the Diffidence of his People an occasion of farther clearing up the choicest Truths unto them Never did these Disciples hear so Excellent an Exposition of Moses and the Prophets concerning the Messiah as now when their sinful distrust had so far prevailed over them 2. Observe The Doctrines which Christ instructs his Disciples in namely in the Necessity of his Death and Passion and of his Glory and Exaltation Ought not Christ to Suffer and to enter into his Glory Learn 1. That with Respect to God's Decree and with Relation to Mans Guilt the Death of Christ was Necessary and Indispensable 2. That his Resurrection and Exaltation was as Necessary as his Passion 3. That there was a Meritorious Connexion between Christ's Sufferings and his Glory his Exaltation was Merited by his Passion He was to drink of the Brook in the way and then he should lift up his head Observe 4. Christ did not only put Light into these his Apostles Heads but Heat also into their Hearts which burned all the while he Communed with them Did not our Hearts burn within us while he opened to us the Scriptures Oh what an efficacious Power is there in the word of Christ when set home upon the Hearts of Men by the Spirit of Christ 33 And they rose up the same Hour and returned to Jerusalem and found the Eleven gathered together and them that were with them 34 Saying The Lord is Risen indeed and hath Appeared to Simon 35 And they told what things were done in the way and how he was known to them in Breaking of Bread 36 And as they thus spake Jesus himself stood in the midst of them and saith unto them Peace be unto you 37 But they were Terrified and Affrighted and supposed that they had seen a Vision 38 And he said unto them Why are ye troubled and why do Thoughts arise in your Hearts 39 Behold my Hands and my Feet that it is I my self handle me and see For a Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones as ye see me have 40 And when he had thus spoken he shewed them his Hands and his Feet 41 And while they yet believed not for joy and wondered he said unto them Have ye here any Meat 42 And they gave him a piece of a Broyled Fish and of an Honey-comb 43 And he took it and did eat before them 44 And he said unto them These are the words which I speak unto you whilst I was yet with you That all things must be Fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and of the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning me Observe 1. That these Two Disciples at Emmaus being fully satisfied in the Truth of Christ's Resurrection by his Appearing to them in Breaking of Bread they arose presently and went from Emmaus to Jerusâ—lem It must needs be late at Night being after Supper and Seven Miles Distance Yet considering the Sorrow that the Disciples were under these Two leave all their Private Affairs and hasten to Comfort them with the glad Tidings of our Lord's Resurrection Teaching us That all Secular Affairs all private and particular Business must give place to the Glory of God and the Comfort and Salvation of Souls Observe 2. The great Endeavours which our Saviour used to confirm his Disciples Faith in the Doctrine of the Resurrection He comes and stands in the midst of them and says Peace be unto you Next he shews them h s pierced Hands Side and Feet with the Scars and Marks which he yet retained that they might see it was their Crucified Master After all this He eats before them a piece of broiled Fish and Honey-comb Not that he needed it his Body being now become Immortal but to assure them that it was his own Person and that he had still the same Body Yet so slack and backward were they to Believe that Christ was Risen that all the Predictions of the Scripture all the Assurances they had from our Saviour's Mouth and the several Appearings of Christ unto them were little enough to establish and confirm their Faith in the Resurrection of our Saviour Observe 3. The highest and fullest Evidence which our Saviour offers to Evince and Prove the Certainty of his Resurrection Namely by Appealing to their Senses Handle me and see Christ admits the Testimony of our Senses to assure it be his Real Body And if the Church of Rome will not allow us to believe our Senses we shall loose the best External Evidence we can have to prove the Truth of the Christian Religion Namely the Miracles of Christ For how can I know that those Miracles were True but by the Judgment of my Senses Now as our Senses tell us that Christ's Miracles were True so they assure us that the Doctrine of Transubstantiation is False 45 Then opened he their Understandings that they might understand the Scriptures 46 And he said unto them Thus it is Written and thus it behoveth Christ to Suffer and to Rise from the Dead the Third Day 47 And that Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached in his Name among all Natitions beginning at Jerusalem 48 And ye are Witnesses of these things Note here That the opening of the Mind and Heart effectually to Receive the Truths of God is the peculiar Prerogative and Office of Jesus Christ Then opened he their Vnderstandings Namely by the Illuminations of his Holy Spirit One of the greatest Miseries under which Lapsed Nature Labours is Spiritual Blindness Christ has the only Eye-salve which can Heal and Cure it Revel 3.18 And there is no worse Cloud to Obscure the Light of the Spirit than a proud Conceit of our own Knowledge Observe 2. The Special Charge given by our Saviour to his Apostles to Preach Repentance and Remission of Sin to Preach it in Christ's Name to Preach it to all Nations beginning first at Jerusalem Where Note The Astonishing Mercy of Jesus Christ Although Jerusalem was the Place where he lost his Life the City that Barbarously Butcher'd and Inhumanely Murthered him yet there he will have the Doctrine of Repentance Preach'd nay first Preached there the Gospel-Combination must first begin That Repentanâ—e and Remission of Sin be Preached beginning at Jerusalem Lord How unwilling art thou that any should Perish when thou not only prayedst for thy Murtherers and offeredst up thy Blood to God in the Behalf of them that shed it but Requiredst thy Ambassadors to make Jerusalem the first Tender of Remission upon Condition of Repentance That Repentance and Remission of Sin should be Preached among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem 49 And behold I send the Promise of my Father upon you but tarry ye
Member or as the Paper in the Printing-Press receives Letter for Letter and the Wax under the Seal receives print for print So in the Work of Regeneration whatever Grace is in Christ there is the like for Kind instampt upon the Christian's Soul All the Members of Christ being made plentiful Partakers of his Spiritual Endowments Learn hence That all fulness of Grace by way of Supply for Believers is treasured up in Christ and communicated by him as their Wants and Necessities do require His Fulness is inexhaustible it can never be drawn low much less drawn dry Of his Fulness do we receive Grace for Grace that is Grace freely Grace plentifully God grant that none of us may receive the Grace of Christ in vain 3. John prefers Christ before Moses whom the Jews doated so much upon The Law was given by Moses not as the Author but as the Dispenser of it Moses was God's Minister by whom the Law which reveals Wrath was given to the Jews but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ Grace in Opposition to the Condemnatory Curse and Sentence of the Law and Truth in Opposition to the Types Shadows and Ceremonies of the Legal Administration Learn hence That all Grace for Remission of Sin and for Performance of Duty is given from Christ the Fountain of Grace Grace came by Jesus Christ The Grace of Pardon and Reconciliation the Grace of Holiness and Sanctification the Grace of Love and Adoption even all that Grace that fits us for Service here and Glory hereafter Christ is both the Dispenser and the Author of it Grace came by Jesus Christ Again 4. John the Baptist here v. 18. doth not only prefer Christ before himself before Moses before all Believers but even before all Persons whatsoever in Point of Knowing and Revealing the Mind of God No Man hath seen God at any time that is no meer Man hath ever seen God in his Essence whilst he was in this mortal State Here God's Invisibility is asserted next Christ's Intimacy with the Father is declared The only begotten Son that is in the Bosom of the Father This Expression implies three Things 1. Unity of Natures the Bosom is the Child's Place who is part of our selves and of the same Nature with our selves 2. Dearness of Affection None lye in the Bosom but the Person that is very dear to us A Bosom Friend is the dearest of Friends 3. It implies Communication of Secrets Christ's lying in his Fathers Bosom intimates his being conscious to all his Father's Secrets to know all his Counsels and to understand his whole Will and Pleasure Now as Christ's lying in the Father's Bosom implies Unity of Nature it teacheth us to give the same Worship to Christ which we give to God the Father because he is of the same Nature with the Father as it implies Dearness of Affection betwixt the Father and the Son it teaches us to place our chief Love upon Christ the Son because God the Father doth so He who is the Son of God's Love should be the Object of our Love as God hath a Bosom for Christ so should we have also the noblest Object challenges the highest Affection Again as Christ's lying in the Father's Bosom implies the Knowledge of his Mind and Will it teaches us to apply our selves to Christ to his Word and Spirit for Illumination Whither should we go for Instruction but to this Great Prophet for Direction but to this wonderful Counsellor We can never be made wise unto Salvation if Christ the Wisdom of the Father doth not make us so ¶ 19 And this is the record of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him Who art thou 20 And he confessed and denied not but confessed I am not the Christ 21 And they asked him What then Art thou Elias And he saith I am not Art thou that prophet And he answered No 22 Then said they unto him Who art thou that we may give an answer to them that sent us What sayest thou of thy self 23 He said I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness Make straight the way of the Lord as said the prophet Esaias 24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees 25 And they asked him and said unto him Why baptizest thou then if thou be not that Christ nor Elias neither that prophet 26 John answered them saying I baptize with water but there standeth one among you whom ye know not 27 He it is who coming after me is preferred before me whose shoes latchet I am not worthy to unloose 28 These things were done in Beth-abara beyond Jordan where John was baptizing In these Verses we have a second Testimony which John the Baptist gave of our Saviour Jesus Christ The Jews sent Priests and Levites from Jerusalem saying Who art thou That is the Sanhedrim or Great Council at Jerusalem to whom it belonged to judge who were True Prophets sent Messengers to the Baptist to know whether he was the Messias or not John refuses to take this Honour to himself but tells them plainly He was his Harbinger and Forerunner and that the Messias himself was just at hand From hence Note how very cautious and exceeding careful this Messenger of Christ was and all the Ministers of Christ ought to be that they do not assume or arrogate to themselves any part of that Honour which is due to Christ but set the Crown of Praise upon Christ's own Head acknowledging him to be All in All 1 Cor. 3.5 Who then is Paul and who is Apollo but Ministers by whom ye believed Observe farther in this Testimony of John the Baptist these two Things 1. A Negative Declaration who he was not I am not says he the Messiah whom you look for nor Elias nor that Prophet you expect not Elias that is in your Sense not Elias the Tishbite not Elias for identity of Person but Elias for Similitude of Gifts Office and Calling John came though not in the Person yet in the Power and Spirit of Elias He farther denies that he was That Prophet that Prophet which Moses spake of Deut. 18.15 nor any of the old Prophets risen from the dead nay strictly speaking he was not any Prophet at all but more than a Prophet The Old Testament Prophets prophesied of Christ to come but John pointed at shewed and declared a Christ already come and in this Sense he was no meer Prophet but more than a Prophet 2. We have here the Baptist's positive Affirmation who he was namely Christ's Herauld in the Wilderness his Usher his Fore-runner to prepare the People for the receiving of the Messias and to make them ready for the Entertaining of the Gospel by preaching the Doctrine of Repentance to them From hence Learn That the preaching of the Doctrine of Repentance is indispensably necessary in order to the preparing of the Hearts of Sinners for the receiving of Jesus Christ Observe lastly The Great Exemplary
would bring him to Heaven 't is not enough that we be new-dress'd but we must be new-made that is thoroughly and universally changed the Understanding by Illumination the Will by Renovation the Affections by Sanctification the Life by Reformation or we can never come at Heaven We must be like God or we can never live with him If we be not like him in the Temper of our Minds on Earth we can never be happy in the Enjoyment of him in Heaven for Heaven which is a place of the greatest Holiness would be a place of the greatest Uneasiness to an unregenerate and unholy person 4 Nicodemus saith unto him How can a man be born when he is old can he enter the second time into his mothers womb and be born Two things are observable in this Question of Nicodemus How can a Man be born when he is old 1. His Ignorance and Weakness in propounding of such a Question So true is that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God What a gross Conception had this learned Man of the Notion of Regeneration How ignorant is Nature of the Workings of Grace 2. Yet in this Question of his there is discovered a great deal of Plainness and Simplicity He did not come as usually the Pharisees did with an insnaring Question in his Mouth but with a Mind fairly disposed for Information and Conviction with a pious desire to be instructed Whatever Ignorance we labour under it is safest and best to discover it to our Spiritual Guide that we may attain the Mercy of saving Knowledge but how many had rather carry their Ignorance to Hell with them then discover it to their Minister 5 Jesus answered Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God Nicodemus not rightly understanding Christ's meaning in the former Verse our Saviour is pleased to explain himself in this and tells him that the Birth he spake of was not Natural but Spiritual wrought in the Soul by the Spirit of God whose Working is like Water cleansing and purifying the Soul from all sinful Defilement Learn hence That the regenerating Change is wrought in the Soul by the Spirit of God which purifies it from its Natural Defilement and renews it after the Divine Likeness and Image 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit As if Christ had said As Men generate Men and Nature begets Nature so the Holy Spirit produceth Holy Inclinations Qualifications and Dispositions Learn hence That as Original Corruption is conveighed by Natural Generation so Saving Regeneration is the Effect and Product of the Holy Spirit 's Operation 7 Marvel not that I say unto thee Ye must be born again 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth so is every one that is born of the Spirit Nicodemus making an Exception against our Saviour's Notion of Regeneration from the Absurdity and Impossibility of it as he thought our Saviour therefore proceeds to clear the Matter by a Similitude taken from the Wind which at once declares the Author and describes the Manner of Spiritual Regeneration The Author of it is the Holy Spirit of God compared to the Wind first for the Quality of its Motion It blows when and where it listeth Secondly From the Sensibleness of its Effects Thou hearest the sound thereof Thirdly From the Intricacy or Mysteriousness of its Proceedings Thou knowest not whence it cometh nor whither it goeth As the Natural Wind is not under the Power of Man either to send it out or to restrain it It bloweth where it listeth for all us though not where it listeth in regard of God In like manner the Holy Spirit is as Wind in the freeness of its Motion and in the Variableness of its Motion also Learn hence That the Way and Work of the Holy Spirit of God in the Soul's Regeneration it is oft-times very secret and usually exceeding Various Various as to the time Some are wrought upon in Youth others in old Age. Various in his Methods of Working Some are wrought upon by the Corrosives of the Law others by the Lenitives of the Gospel Various in the Manner of his Working and in the Means by which he works Upon some by a powerful Ordinance upon others by an awakening Providence But though there be such Variety in the Method of the Spirit 's Working yet is the Work in all still the same There is no Variety in the Work wrought The effect produced by the Holy Spirit in the Work of Regeneration is alike and the same in all namely Likeness to God A Conformity in our Natures to the Holy Nature of God and a Conformity in our Lives to the Will of God 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him How can these things be 10 Jesus answered and said unto him Art thou a Master of Israel and knowest not these things 11 Verily verily I say unto thee We speak that we do know and testifie that we have seen and ye receive not our witness 12 If I have told you earthly things and ye believe not how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things Observe here 1. How Nicodemus consulting only with carnal Reason persists in his Apprehension concerning the Absurdity and Impossibility of our Saviour's Notion of Regeneration or being born of the Spirit Nicodemus said How can these things be Learn hence That the great Cause of Mens Ignorance in the Matters of Salvation and the Mysteries of Religion is consulting their own Natural Reason without submitting their Understandings to the Authority of Divine Revelation Till they can give a Reason for every thing they believe they cry out with Nicodemus How can these things be whereas though we cannot give a reason of all Gospel Mysteries which we believe we can give a good reason why we believe them namely Because God has revealed them No Man can be a Christian who refuses to submit his Understanding to the Authority of Divine Revelation Observe 2. How our Saviour reproves Nicodemus for and upbraids him with his Ignorance v. 10. and his Infidelity v. 12. 1. His Ignorance is reproved Art thou a Master of Israel and knowest not these things as if Christ had said Ignorance in any as to the Fundamentals of Religion is shameful tho' but a common Learner much more in a Teacher and Master and he a Teacher and Master in Israel now art thou one of them and yet knowest not these things Learn hence 1. That a Man may be very knowing himself and take upon him to teach and instruct others and yet be very ignorant of the Nature and much unacquainted with the Work of Regeneration upon his own Soul A Man may be sharp-sighted as the Eagle in the Mysteries of Art
him 11 The woman saith unto him Sir thou hast nothing to draw with and the well is deep from whence then hast thou that living water 12 Art thou greater then our father Jacob which gave us the well and drank thereof himself and his children and his cattel 13 Jesus answered and said unto her Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life Observe here 1. How ignorant Persons are of spiritual things till enlightned by the Holy Spirit of God This poor Womans Question Whence hast thou that living Water looks much like that of Nicodemus John 3.9 How can these things be A natural Person cannot perceive the Mind of Christ when speaking to them about spiritual things Spiritual Objects must have a spiritual Eye to discern and behold them 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural man perceiveth not the things of the Spirit Observe 2. With what great Humility and Condescension our Holy Lord treats this poor Woman pitying her Ignorance and pardoning her Infidelity He tells her That the Water of that Well which she was about to draw could not give an abiding Satisfaction but the Thirst quenched for the present would certainly return again But he that should drink of the Water which he had to give that is be made partakers of the Graces of his Spirit shall find such refreshing satisfaction therefrom that all inordinate Desires after earthly things will be quench'd and extinguish'd and will be like a Well of Water springing up till they come to Eternal Glory Learn hence 1. That as the Body of Man is subject to natural so is the Soul of Man subject to a spiritual kind of Thirst 2. That no Creature-Comfort or earthly Enjoyment can quench this Thirst which the Soul of Man is subject unto 3. That the Spirit of Grace which our Saviour here calls the Water of Life is able fully and perfectly to quench this Thirst of the Soul And where it is once savingly received shall never be totally or finally lost It shall be in him a Well of Water springing up into everlasting life 15 The woman saith unto him Sir give me this water that I thirst not neither come hither to draw 16 Jesus saith unto her Go call thy husband and come hither 17 The woman answered and said I have no husband Jesus said unto her Thou hast well said I have no husband 18 For thou hast had five husbands and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband in that saidst thou truly These Words set forth unto us 1. What manner of Person this Woman was whose Conversion Christ sought so industriously after 2. The Means he used in order to that End Observe 1. What manner of Person this Woman was besides that she was an Idolater as being a Samaritan she was also an Adulteress and lived now in the Sin of Uncleanness with one that was not her Husband after she had had five Husbands before Whence we learn That the ice of old Age will not quench the Fire of Lust Concupiscentia non senescit such is the Pollulution of our Nature that Lust will be insatiable if Grace doth not restrain it This Woman after five Marriages yet lives in the Sin of Uncleanness Observe 2. The Way and Manner our Lord takes the Method and Means our Lord uses in order to her Conversion 1. He deals very tenderly and gently with her he uses no roughness or tartness of Speech with her he doth not call her Whore nor upbraid her for her impudent Lewdness in living with a Man that was none of her Husband but only gives her to understand that he knew the Sin she lived in yet this he did likewise with all imaginable privacy whilst his Disciples were away and no Body by but they two only Hence learn 1. That private Sins are not to be reproved publickly 2. That in reproving Sin all sharpness and bitterness of Expression must be avoided The Pill of Reproof must be rapp'd up in Sugar for if they to whom it is given taste the bitterness of Gall and Passion mixt with it they will certainly spit it out before it may be upon our Faces Our Lord's Practcie here instructs us That Sin is to be so reproved as that the Credit and Estimation of the Sinner may be preserved as much as may be Note 2. That as Christ dealt with this Woman tenderly and gently so he discovers her Sin to her particularly and sets her secret Sin before the Face of her Conscience distinctly If ever the Ministry of the Word works upon the Minds of Men to their Conversion it must be by a particular and close application of the Word to every Man's Conscience Generals will not affect Note 3. What the particular Sin is which Christ charges home upon the Conscience of this Woman it is the Sin of Uncleanness that the Man she kept with was not her Husband Learn thence That amongst all Sins the sin of Uncleanness will lie heaviest upon the Conscience and wound the Soul most deeply when the Spirit of God once effectually discovers it and charges it home upon the Conscience For there is no Sin so directly opposite to Sanctification and Holiness as this Sin No Sin that quenches the Holy Spirit of God like this Sin 19 The woman saith unto him Sir I perceive that thou art a prophet 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship In these Verses the Evangelist declares a threefold Effect and Fruit of the Grace of Conversion that appeared in this Woman 1. She neither denied nor excused nor extenuated the Sin which Christ had charged her with but tacitly owns and implicitly confesses it 2. She doth not only own and confess what she was charged with but she doth profess Reverence to our Saviour's Person and pays Honour to him as an extraordinary Prophet Sir I perceive that thou art a Prophet 3. She desireth Instruction and Resolution from him concerning the Worship and Service of the true God how she might seek him and where she might serve him most acceptably whether at Jerusalem or upon Mount Gerizim Our Fathers worshipped in this Mountain but ye say Jerusalem is the place where Men ought to worship Where Observe How ready and forward Persons of a false Religion are to ascribe too much to Antiquity and to the Example and custom of their Fore-Fathers Whereas it is not the continuance of a thousand or two thousand Years that can make any thing truly Ancient in Religion except it has been from the beginning Nothing is truly Ancient in Matters of Religion but that which can derive its Original from him that is truly called the Ancient of Days 21 Jesus saith unto her Woman believe me the hour cometh when ye shall neither
understand these things clearly 21 He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him Our Blessed Saviour in these words repeats what he had before injoined at Verse 15. Namely to evidence the sincerity of our Love to him by the Universality of our Obedience to his Commands He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me Where Note 1. The Necessity of Knowledge in order unto Practice 2. The Necessity of Practice in order unto Happiness we must first have Christ's Commandments before we can keep them we must have them in our Understandings and Judgments in our Wills and Affections not have them only in our Eyes to read in our Ears to hear or in our Mouths to talk of them but to hide them in our Hearts that we may not Sin against Christ in the wilful violation of them Farther we must keep as well as have these Commandments This denotes an universal diligent and persevering Obedience to them Hence Learn That altho' many loose Professors pretend love to Christ because they hear read know and can talk of his Commandments yet in Christ's Account none do truly love him but those who make Conscience of their Obedience to him He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me Observe next The gracious Promise of Christ to such as thus express their Love unto him 1. He shall be loved of my Father and of my self And shall he not be loved of the Holy Ghost too Yes no doubt But why is not he named then Because the Son dwelleth in us by the Spirit and sheds his Love abroad in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost 2. I will manifest my self unto him that is such Obedient Christians shall not only injoy the Fruit and Benefit of my Love but they shall injoy the Sense of my Love and experience the sensible manifestations and inward diffusions of my Love in their own Souls Learn hence That the only way to have Christ Love us and to let out his Love upon us and to know that he Loves us is to look diligently to our Obediential walking with him and before him We may as rationally think to nourish our Bodies with Poison as to injoy the manifestations of Christ's Love in a way of Sin 22 Judas saith unto him not Iscariot Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self unto us and not unto the world Some understand these words of a Temporal manifestation and think that Judas the Brother of James who spake them still expected that Christ should be a Temporal Prince and have such a Kingdom as should be Conspicuous to all the World and therefore puts the question how he could possibly shew himself to his Disciples and the World not see him Others understand it of a Spiritual manifestation as if he had said Lord who or what are we thy Disciples that we should enjoy more special manifestations of thy Love to us than to the rest of the World why should we be dignified with such distinguishing favours above others Learn thence 1. That there is a real difference put by Christ betwixt his own Children and the World in the matter of special Manifestations 2. That there being no cause from the Creature why Christ should make this difference his discriminating Grace is matter of just and great Admiration well might the Apostle out of a deep Admiration say Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self to us and not unto the World 23 Jesus answered and said unto him If a man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings and the word which you hear is not mine but the Fathers which sent me Observe here How our Saviour still goes on to direct and encourage his Disciples to evidence the sincerity of their Love to his Person by the universality of their Obedience to his Commands and tells them how great their Advantage would be by so doing For First the Father will love them that is manifest his favour to them in farther dispensations of Grace and Comfort Learn thence That all the Manifestations of Divine Love to the Souls of Believers depend upon their close walking with God in the paths of Holiness and strict Obedience Secondly We will make our abode with him He shall have Father and Son's Company an Allusion to a Parent that has many Children he will be sure to live with them that are most Dutiful to him and most observant of him The expression of making their abode with us denotes that sweet and intimate fellowship which shall be betwixt God and us and the perpetuity and constancy of it at all times till we are taken up by him into Heaven he will make his abode with us by the indwelling presence of his Holy Spirit the Graces and Comforts whereof shall abide with us for ever 25 These things have I spoken unto you being yet present with you 26 But the Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you Here we have a repeated Promise of the Mission of the Holy Ghost called the Comforter and his special Office declared Namely To teach and to bring to remembrance what Christ had taught He shall teach you all things As the Spirit of God is the great Comforter so he is the special Teacher of his Children he Teacheth condescendingly stooping to the meanest capacities he Teacheth efficaciously inclining the Heart to receive Instruction as well as opening the Ear to hear it he Teacheth plainly and â—learly unerringly and infallibly he is Truth it self and therefore his teachings are most True And as the Holy Spirit is the Saints Teacher so is he also their Remembrancer He shall bring all things to your Remembrance that is all Truths needful to be known and necessary to Salvation Here Note That the Holy Spirit Teaches nothing but what Christ himself Taught the Spirit Teaches in the word and by the word but never Teaches any thing contrary to the word He shall Teach and bring to Remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you 27 Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid As if our Lord had said Whatever outward Trouble the World gives you be not afraid of it before it comes nor troubled at it when it is come for I will give you inward Peace in the midst of all your outward Troubles Not as the world giveth give I unto you Where Note That Christ's Peace is vastly different from that Peace which is given or enjoyed
our Lord again forewarns his Disciples of their approaching Sufferings to the intent that they might remember that he had foretold them of them and would not fail to support them under them He had often told them in general of Persecutions and Troubles which they must expect to meet with but did not till now intimate the kinds and degrees of those Sufferings with respect to their Weakness and because whilst he was with them he himself bear the brunt of all the Worlds Rage falling upon him letting them along But after his Ascension when the Malice of Satan and wicked Men could not reach him then did the Storm fall upon them Hence learn 1. That Christ is so tender of his Disciples Weakness that he will not put them upon the hardship of Sufferings till they be trained up and prepared for them 2. That it may encourage the Saints in and under their Sufferings that Christ himself is the great Object of the Persecutors Malice and they only so for his sake for could they reach him they would not concern themselves with them Learn 3. That the Saints of God after long Exemption and Freedom from Sufferings must expect that Storms will arise Clouds gather thick and Trials come on a pace and their being under one Trial will not hide or shelter them from another 5 But now I go my way to him that sent me and none of you asketh me Whither goest thou 6 But because I have said these things unto you sorrow hath filled your heart Observe here How our Saviour again intimates to his Disciples his speedy departure from them and reproves them for being so sadded as it and concerned for it without considering the End and Design of it and the Benefit and Advantage they were to receive by it Here we see how the Disciples Thoughts were wholly taken up about themselves what they should do for want of Christ's bodily Presence without being instant with him to know whither he was going and what Benefit he should reap and they might expect from his departure Learn hence That Christ's Disciples ought not so much to have lamented the loss of his bodily Presence as to have rejoyced in his Glorious Exaltation and in their own Advantages by his Death Resurrection and Ascention None of you ask me Whither goest thou But sorrow hath filled your heart 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth It is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you In these words our Saviour urges his Disciples to submit to his Departure as that which would make way for his sending the Comforter to them which he assures them would be of more Advantage to them than his own stay and continuance amongst them Thence learn That the Presence of the Holy Spirit with us is a greater Comfort and Advantage to us than the Presence of Christ in the Flesh amongst us Christ's bodily Presence was comfortable but the Spirit is more intimately a Comforter than Christ in his fleshly Presence Because the Spirit can comfort all Believers at once in all Places but Christ's bodily Presence can comfort but few and that in one Place only at once Christ did converse with his Disciples outwardly but the Spirit possess'd himself of their Hearts inwardly Now for the Spirit to dwell in us is more advantagious than to have Christ dwell in the Flesh amongst us The Benefit of Christ's Conversation was great but the Advantage of the Spirit 's Renovation and holy Inspirations is much greater The one encourages and excites us to be Holy but the other quickens and enables us to be Holy Therefore well might Christ say It is expedient or highly necessary and advantagious for you that I go away He subjoyns a Reason If I go not away the Comforter will not come but if I depart I will send him to you Whence we learn That Christ's Ascension was indispensably necessary in order to the Spirit 's Mission the Spirit could not have descended if Christ had not first ascended the Spirit could not come but by the Gift and Mission of the Mediator Now the sending of the Spirit being a part of Christ's Royalty as Mediator it was not convenient that the Spirit should be sent till Christ was Crowned and sate down on his Throne in his Kingdom then the Spirit was to make Application to us of the Redemption purchased for us 8 And when he is come he will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment 9 Of sin because they believe not on me 10 Of righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more 11 Of judgment because the prince of this world is judged In these and the following Verses our Saviour acquaints his Disciples with the Advantages that will redound by the coming of the Comforter First The Advantage to the World Secondly To the Apostles And Thirdly To himself To the World 1. He shall convince them of Sin Righteousness and Judgment Of Sin that is of their sinful State and Nature of the large extent of Sin and particularly of the sin of Unbelief Learn hence 1. That the Spirit of God is the Author of Conviction of Sin and that all Convictions of Sin do either mediately or immediately flow from him 2. That Unbelief is a Sin of the greatest malignity against Christ and of greatest danger to a Christian's Soul He shall convince the World of Sin because they believe not on me Secondly Of Righteousness that is of the insufficiency of all humane Righteousness and of the necessity of the Righteousness of a Mediator by which alone we are to expect acceptance with God Thirdly Of Judgment that is the Spirit shall convince the World that Jesus is both Lord and Christ that he had a Power to judge Satan the Prince of the World and that he did by his Death put down the Kingdom of Darkness Learn hence 1. That Satan is a Prince who by unjust Usurpation and the Sinners voluntary Consent has exercised a Tyrannical Power over the World 2. That Christ by his Death did judge condemn and overcome this mighty Prince and hath made his Conquest evident to the Consciences of Men by the Convictions of his Holy Spirit The Spirit shall convince of Judgment that is that Satan the Prince of this World is judged 12 I have yet many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now 13 Howbeit when he the Spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth The second Benefit which our Saviour declares was to be expected by the coming of the Holy Spirit relates to the Apostles themselves He shall guide you into all Truth that is into all Truth necessary for you to know in order to Salvation This is a principal Text which the Papists bring for their Doctrine of Infallibility but groundlesly For this Promise was made to all
argue from the Knowledg of Christ's Omnisciency to the certainty of his Divinity Now are we sure that thou knowest all things by this we believe that thou camest forth from God The Knowledg and Experience of Christ's Omnisciency may and ought fully to confirm us in the Belief of his Deity 31 Jesus answered them Do ye now believe 32 Behold the hour cometh yea is now come that ye shall be scattered every man to his own and shall leave me alone and yet I am not alone because the Father is with me In the foregoing Verse the Apostles made a full profession of their Faith in Christ's Divinity and in Christ's Omnisciency Now are we sure that thou knowest all things and that thou camest forth from God In this Verse Christ intimates to them that their Faith should be put upon a great Tryal very shortly Namely when his Sufferings came on and that then they should all forsake him and take care of themselves Ye shall be scattered and leave me alone Learn hence 1. That Christ was forsaken and left alone by his own Disciples in the Day of his greatest Distress and Danger 2. That when the Disciples left Christ they were scattered every one to his own 3. That when all forsook Christ and left him alone he was far from being simply alone because God was with him Ye shall leave me alone and yet am I not alone because the Father is with me God was with Christ and will be with Christians in a Suffering hour in his Essential presence in his Gracious and supporting presence He that sent me saith Christ is with me the Father hath not left me alone for I do always those things that please my Father 33 These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world These words are the Conclusion of our Saviour's farewel Sermon to his Disciples in which he declares to them 1. The inevitable necessity of the World's Trouble In the World ye shall have Tribulation that is while ye have to do with the Men of the World while you have any thing to do with the things of the World nay while you have a being in the World you must look for Trouble both from within and from without from Friends and Foes in Body Soul Name Estate Heart-breaking Troubles Soul-rending Troubles such Troubles as will make the Heart to break and the Back to bend and you my Disciples must expect it as well as others In the World ye shall have Tribulation Hence learn That the Disciples of Christ in this World may yea must expect and look for Trouble Observe 2. The Remedy provided by Christ against this Malady In me ye shall have Peace when in the World ye have Tribulation Ye shall have Peace that is serenity of Mind a quiet and calm Temper of Spirit within when the World like a Tempestuous Air is full of Storms without Learn thence That though in the World Christ's own Disciples must look for and expect Troubles yet he has taken effectual care that amidst all their Troubles in him they may have Peace Christ's Blood has purchased Peace for them his Word has promised it to them and his Spirit seals it up to their Souls Observe 3. The Cordial provided by Christ for the support of his Disciples Spirits under the sinking Burthen of the World's Tribulations and Troubles But be of good cheer I have overcome the World I have taken the Sting out of every Cross and the Venom out of every Arrow Learn hence That it is a great Comfort to a Christian under all the Troubles of this World to consider that Christ has overcome the World That is all things in the World which may hinder his Peoples Comfort and Consolation here and their Eternal Happiness and Salvation hereafter As Namely the Prince of the World the Rulers of the World the wicked Men of the World the Troubles of the World the Temptations of the World the Corruptions that are in the World through Lust Now Christ having overcome the World all persons and things in it are at his disposal and can do nothing but by his permission and as he has overcome the World himself so he will enable us through Faith in him to overcome it also 1 John 5.4 This is the victory over the World even our Faith CHAP. XVII 1 THese words spake Jesus and lift up his eyes to heaven and said Father the hour is come glorifie thy Son that thy Son also may glorifie thee Our blessed Saviour having ended his Consolatory and Valedictory Sermon contained in the Three foregoing Chapters in this Chapter we have Recorded his last Prayer with and for his Disciples before he left the World which is a Copy left upon Earth of what he doth now interceed for as an Advocate in Heaven It is good saith one to compare Scripture with Scripture but not to prefer Scripture before Scripture all Scripture being written by Inspiration of God but if any part of Scripture be to be magnified above another this Chapter claims the preheminence it contains the breathings out of Christ's Soul for his Church and Children before his Departure not for his Disciples only but for the succeeding Church to the end of the World In the Verse before us Observe 1. The order of our Saviour's Prayer These words spake Jesus that is after he had finished his Excellent Sermon he closes the Exercise with a most fervent and affectionate Prayer teaching his Ministers by his Example to add Solemn Prayer and Supplication to all their Instructions and Exhortations if every Creature of God be to be Sanctified by Prayer much more the word of God which works not as a Natural Agent but as a moral Instrument in God's hand Now as God sets the Word on work so it is Prayer that sets God on work Observe 2. As the order of Christ's Prayer so the gesture in which he prayed He lifted up his Eyes to Heaven as an indication of his Souls being lifted up to God in Heaven to signifie his Reverence of God whose Throne is in Heaven and to denote his confidence in God and raised expectation of aid and help from God and not from any Creature Learn That the gestures which we use in Prayer should be such as may best express our Reverence of God and denote our Affiance and Trust in him Observe 3. The Person prayed to God under the Appellation of a Father it intimates a sweet Relation 't is a word of endearing Affection and implies great Reverence towards God and great confidence and trust in him Learn It is very sweet and comfortable in Prayer when we can come and call God Father Observe 4. The Mercy prayed for The hour is come glorifie thy Son that thy Son also may glorifie thee the hour is come that is the hour of my Sufferings and thy Satisfaction the hour of