a Pattern of Thankfulness then was Jesus to his followers There is hardly any one External Duty which we do not find the Hypocrite performing in Scripture except this of Thanksgiving and Praise we find Judas Repenting Ahab Humbling himself Saul Sacrificing but we do not find any wicked Man in an humble Spiritual manner blessing and praising God Need will make us Beggars but Grace only Thanks-givers X. In his Compassion towards those that were in Distress and Misery Matth. 20.34 Great was his Compassion to the Bodies of Men he healed all that came unto him he healed many undesired with great Condolency and tender Sympathy he exercised acts of Mercy and Compassion when the object of Compassion was before him and did perfectly abhor and severely condemn all Acts of Cruelty How great was his Compassion to the Souls of Men what Pains did he take and what Hazards did he run in preaching the Gospel to lost Sinners in his fervent Prayers for them but especially in Dying for them Let us imitate Christ herein as his Compassion was universal to all Mankind to the whole Man Soul and Body as it was Active and Operative as it was exercised with marvellous Complacency and delight as it was a preventing Compassion and an unwearied Compassion so let ours be also XI In his Holy and fruitful Discourse his Lips dropt as the Honey Comb and his Tongue was as choice Silver when walking with his Disciples to Emaus with what Heavenly Discourse did he entertain them in the way See Luke 24.13 c. A good Pattern for our Imitation when providentially cast into such Company as will bear it Lord what a Shame and Reproach is it to us that in common Conversation we spend so many hours together in talking over all the News of City and Country and part without speaking one word of Jesus Christ our best Friend XII In his free Conversation The Son of Man came eating and drinking Matth. 11. v. 19. that is was of a free and familiar Converse Affable and Sociable not Sower or Morose never shuning the Society of the worst of Men even of the Pharisees themselves but complying with their innocent Customs and accompanying them at their Feasts See on Luke 5.29 We do not find that when Christ was invited to any publick Entertainment that ever he refused to go not so much for the pleasure of Eating as for the opportunity of Conversing and doing good Christ converst with bad Men but as their Physician not as their Companion Let us go and do likewise XIII In his Patience under Sufferings and Reproaches when he was reviled he reviled not again but under-went the Burden of his Sufferings with admirable Patience and Meekness of Spirit when his Name and Honour suffered the vilest Indignities Blasphemies and Reproaches that the Malice of Satan and the Malignity of wicked Men could belch out against it when he was called a Blasphemer a Sorcerer a Devil a Wine-bibber a Glutton a Friend of Publicans and Sinners For an innocent Person and a dignified Person to bear all this when he could have look'd all his Enemies into Hell and have frown'd them into nothing Verily to bear all this without the least discomposure of Spirit is the highest Triumph of Patience that ever the World was acquainted with And why all this but to leave us an Example that we should follow his Steps 1 Pet. 2.21 22. XIV In his readiness to forgive Injuries One of his last Words upon the Cross was a Prayer for his Murtherers Father forgive them Luke 23.34 He offered up his Blood to God on the behalf of them that shed it Thus to forgive our Enemies and to beg Forgiveness for them will be an Evidence of a Christ-like Frame and Temper when the Grace of God calms those tumultuous and outragious Passions which at any time we find raging in our Breasts moulding our Spirits into Sweetness and Gentleness freeing us from all malicious desires of Revenge which are so far beneath a Christian that it is the baseness of a Man yea as Jealousie is the Rage of a Man so Malice is the Rage of the Devil 't is the very Soul and Spirit of the Apostate Nature XV. In his laying to Heart the Sins as well as the Sufferings of others Mark 3.5 He was grieved for the hardness of their Hearts Such was his Zeal for his Father's Glory such his Compassion to the Souls of Men such his Antipathy against and hatred of Sin that he was grieved for Sin where-ever he found it and mourned over those who had no Hearts to mourn for themselves Lord how far are they from a Christ-like Spirit and Temper who instead of mourning for other Mens Sins rejoyce in Iniquity and take Pleasure to see their Brother stab at once the Christian Name and his own Soul XVI In his Zeal for the Publick Worship of God John 2.17 The Zeal of thine House hath eaten me up Now as Christ was so Christians ought to be intensly Zealous for the Glory of God the Honour of his House and the Purity of his Publick Worship The Zeal of thine House that is for the Honour of thine House hath eaten me up Our Zeal for the Publick Worship of God glorifies him most and he accepts it best Now we own that God whom we serve in the face of the World And this creates a veneration and esteem of God in the Minds of Men. XVII In his glorifying of his Father in all he did John 17.4 I have glorified thee on the Earth The whole Life of Jesus when here on Earth it was a glorifying of his Father he glorified his Father by the Doctrine which he taught by the Miracles which he wrought by the unspotted Purity of his Life and by his unparallel'd Sufferings at his Death In like manner should we glorifie God in all we do in all we design in all we desire in our natural Actions of eating and drinking in our Civil imployments buying and selling in our lawful Recreations taking care that too much of our time be not consumed therein Recreation is not to be our business but to fit us for business but especially let us seek to glorifie God in our Religious Duties Publick and Private and Secret XVIII In his Impartiality in reproving Sin He feared the Faces and spared the Faults of no Offenders The Pharisees were a Proud and Haughty sort of People who dishonoured God above most when they pretended to glorifie him above any Therefore we find Christ denouncing a Bed-Roll of Woes against them in one Chapter St. Matth. 23. Wo to you Scribes Pharisees Hypocrites Eight several Woes are denounced against them for so many several Sins committed by them Those to whom God has given Authority to Reprove the Sins of others ought to imitate their Pattern in his Impartiality in reproving Sin His very Enemies gave him that Character St. Matth. 22.17 Thou carest not for any Man thou regardest not the Person of Men
all sides by Reviling Tongues Why should we expect better Treatment than the Son of GOD 25 And Jesus knew their thought and said unto them Every kingdom divided against it self is brought to desolation and every city or house divided against it self shall not stand 26 And if Satan cast out Satan he is divided against himself how shall then his kingdom stand 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils by whom do your children cast them out therefore they shall be your judges 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God is come unto you 29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house and spoil his goods except he first bind the strong man and then he will spoil his house 30 He that is not with me is against me and he rhat gathereth not with me scattereth abroad Our Blessed Saviour to clear his Innocency and to convince the Pharisees of the Unreasonableness of this their Calumny and False Accusations offers several Arguments to their Consideration 1. That it was very unlikely that Satan should lend him this Power to use it against himself As Satan has a Kingdom so he has Wit enough to preserve his Kingdom and will do nothing to weaken his own Interest Now if I have received my Power from Satan for Destroying him and his Kingdom then is Satan divided against himself 2. Our Saviour tells them they might with as much Reason attribute all Miracles to the Devil as those that were wrought by Him There were certain Jews amongst themselves who cast out Devils in the Name of the GOD of Abraham Isaac and Jacob Christ asks the Pharisees By what Power these their Children Cast them out They acknowledged that those did it by the Power of GOD and there was no Cause but their Malice why they should not acknowleledge that what he did was by the same Power If I cast out Devils by the Spirit of God then the Kingdom of God is come unto you that is the Messias is come because he wrought these Miracles to prove that he was the Messias 3. Another Argument to prove That the Miracles which Christ wrought were by the Power of God and not by the Help of Satan is this The Devil is very strong and powerful and there is no Power but God's only that is stronger than his Now says Christ if I were not assisted by a Divine Power I could never cast out this strong Man who reigns in the World as in his House It must be a stronger than the strong Man that shall bind Satan and who is he but the GOD of Strength 31 Wherefore I say unto you All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men but the blasphemy against the holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man it shall be forgiven him but whosoever speaketh against the holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world neither in the world to come Obs 1. How our Saviour makes a Difference betwixt speaking against the Son of Man and speaking against the Holy Ghost By Speaking against the Son of Man is meant all those Reproaches which were cast upon our Saviour's Person as Man without reflecting upon his Divine Power as GOD which he testified by his Miracles Such were their reproaching him with the Meaness of his Birth their censuring him for a Winebibber and a Glutton and the like But by Speaking against the Holy Ghost is meant their Blaspheming and Reproaching that Divine Power whereby he wrought his Miracles which was an immediate Reflection upon the Holy Spirit and a Blaspheming of him Observe 2. The Nature of this Sin of Speaking against the Holy Ghost It consisted in this that the Pharisees seeing our Saviour work Miracles and cast out Devils by the Spirit of God contrary to the Conviction of their own Minds they maliciously ascribe his Miracles to the Power of the Devil charging him to be a Sorcerer and Magician and to have a Familiar Spirit by whose Help he did those Mighty Works when in truth he did them by the Spirit of God Observe 3. That this Sin above all others is called Unpardonable and upon what Account it is so The Case of such Blasphemers of the Holy Spirit is not only dangerous but desperate because they resist their last Remedy and oppose the best Means for their Conviction What can God do more to convince a Man that Jesus Christ is the True Messiah than to work â—â—â—â—cles to that purpose Now if when Men see plain Miracles wrought they will say it is not God that works them but the Devil as if Satan would conspire against himself and seek the Ruin of his own Kingdom There is no way left to convince such Persons but they must and will continue in their Opposition to Truth to their inevitable Condemnation 33 Either make the tree good and his fruit good or else make the tree corrupt and his fruit corrupt for the tree is known by his fruit These Words may either referr to the Pharisees or to Christ himself If to the Pharisees the Sence is You hypocritical Pharisees shew your selves what you are by your Words and Actions even as the Fruit sheweth what the Tree is If they referr to Christ then they are an Appeal to the Pharisees themselves to judge of our Saviour and his Doctrine by the Miracles which he wrought If he wrought by the Devil his Works would be as bad as the Devil 's but if his Works were good they must own them to be wrought by the Power of God The Expression implies That a Man may be known by his Actions as a Tree may be judged by his Fruit yet not by a single Action but by a Series of Actions not by a particular Act but by our general Course 34 O generation of vipers how can ye being evil speak good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Note here 1. The Fervency and Zeal of our Saviour's Spirit in the Compellation given to the Pharisees he calls them a Generation of Vipers intimating that they were a venemous and dangerous sort of Men. Learn thence That it is not always Railing and Indiscreet Zeal to call Wicked Men by such Names as their Sin deserves Obs farther From our Saviour's Saying that Out of the Abundance of the Heart the Mouth speaketh that the Heart is the Fountain both of Words and Actions and according as the Heart is so are the Current of Mens Words and Actions either good or evil 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things Obs here A double Treasure discovered in the Heart of Man 1. An Evil Treasure of Sin and Corruption both Natural and Acquired from whence proceeds Evil Things Now this is called a Treasure not for
when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities Our Blessed Saviour having sent forth his Twelve Apostles in the foregoing Chapter to Plant and Propagate the Gospel we find him in this Chapter following them himself in that great and necessary Work He departed to Teach and to Preach in their Cities CHRIST the Great Bishop and Shepherd of Souls sent not forth the Apostles as his Curates to labour and sweat in the Vineyard whilst he took his Ease at Home but he followed them himself His Word of Command to them was Praeite Sequar Go ye before I will follow after Note 1. That Preaching of the Gospel is a great and necessary Work incumbent upon all the Ministers of Christ let their Dignity and Preheminency in the Church be what it will None of the Servants are above their Lord. 2. That if there be a Distinction betwixt Teaching and Preaching as some apprehend they are both the Work of Christ's Ministers who are obliged from their Master's Example to perform both Teaching is in order to the Conversion of Sinners and Preaching in order to the Edification of Saints 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ he sent two of his disciples 3 And said unto him Art thou he that should come or do we look for another It was not for John's Information that he sent his Disciples to Christ but for their Satisfaction that he was the true and promised Messias John was assured of it himself by a Sign from Heaven at our Saviour's Baptism Matth. 3.17 But John's Disciples out of a great Zeal to him their Master envied Christ himself and were unwilling to believe any Person greater than their Master Therefore John out of a Pious Design to confirm his Disciples in the Belief of Christ's being the true Messias sends them to our Saviour to hear the Doctrine which he taught and to see the Miracles which he wrought Learn hence What a Pious Desire there is in such as know Christ experimentally themselves to bring all that belong to them to a Saving Acquaintance with him 4 Jesus answered and said unto them Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see 5 The blind receive their sight and the lame walk the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them Observe here 1. The Way and Means which our Saviour takes for the Conviction and Satisfaction of John's Disciples that he was the true Messias he appeals to the Miracles wrought by himself and submits the Miracles wrought by him to the Judgment of their Senses Go and shew John the Miracles which you hear and see Obs 2. The Miracles themselves The Blind receive their sight the Lame walk the Deaf hear c. Christ was all this in a Literal Sence and in a Mystical Sence also he was an Eye of Understanding to the Ignorant a Foot of Power to the Weak He opened an Ear in deaf Hearts to receive the Word of Life And the Poor are Evangelized that is turned into the Spirit and Temper of the Gospel the Rich hear the Gospel but the Poor receive it that is they feel the powerful Impressions of it As we say such a one is Italianized when his Carriage is such as if he were a Natural Italian The Passive Verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 denotes Non Actum Praedicationis sed Effectum Evangelii Praedicati the Good Effect which the Gospel had upon the Hearts and Lives of the Poor transforming them into the likeness of it self Learn It is a Blessed Thing when the Preaching of the Gospel has such a powerful Influence upon the Minds of Men that the Temper of their Minds and the Actions of their Lives are a lively Transcript of the Spirit and Temper of the Holy JESUS 6 And blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me Our Saviour here by pronouncing them Blessed that are not offended in him doth intimate the Misery of those who stumble at him and to whom he is a Rock of Offence Some are offended at the Poverty of his Person others are offended at the Sublimity and Sanctity of his Doctrine Some are offended at his Cross others are offended at his Free Grace But such as instead of being Offended at CHRIST Believe in him and bottom their Expectations of Heaven and Salvation upon him are in a Happy and Blessed Condition Blessed is he that shall not be offended in me 7 And as they departed Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John What went ye out into the wilderness to see A reed shaken with with the wind 8 But what went ye out for to see A man cloathed in soft raiment behold they that wear soft cloathing are in king's houses 9 But what went ye out for to see A prophet yea I say unto you and more than a prophet 10 For this is he of whom it is written Behold I send my messenger before thy face which shall prepare thy way before thee Our Saviour having given Satisfaction to John's Disciples next enters upon a large Commendation of John himself Where Observe 1. The Persons whom he commended him before not John's own Disciples for they had too high an Opinion of their Master already and were so much addicted to John that they envied Christ for his sake See Joh. 3.26 Behold Christ Baptizeth and all Men come unto him It was a great Eye-sore that Christ had more Hearers and Followers than John therefore not before John's Disciples but before the Multitude Christ commends John For as John's Disciples had too high so the Multitude had too low an Opinion of him possibly because of his Imprisonment and Sufferings There was a time when the People had high Thoughts of John but now they undervalued him Learn thence The great uncertainty of Popular Applause the People contemn to day whom they admired yesterday he who to day is cried up to morrow is troden down The Word and the Ministers are the same but this proceeds from the Fickleness and Inconstancy of the People nothing is so mutable as the Mind of Man nothing so variable as the Opinion of the Multitude Observe 2. The Time when our Saviour thus commended John not in the time of his Prosperity and Greatness when the People flockt after him and Herod got him to Court and reverenced him but when the giddy Multitude had forsaken him and he was faln into Disgrace at Court and had Preacht himself into a Prison Now Christ vindicates his Innocency maintains his Honour proclaims his Worth and tells the People that the World was not worthy of such a Preacher as John was Learn thence That Christ will stand by and stick fast to his Faithful Ministers when all the World forsakes them Let the World slight and despise them at their pleasue yet Christ will maintain their Honour
the Preciousness of it but for the Abundance of it a little doth not make a Treasure And also for the Continuance of it tho' it be perpetually overflowing in the Life yet doth the Heart continue full this Treasure of Original Corruption in Man's Nature it may be drawn low in this Life by Sanctifying Grace but it can never be drawn dry 2. Here is a Good Treasure of Grace discovered in a Sanctified and Renewed Man which is the Source and Spring from whence all Gracious Actions do proceed and flow For as the Heart of Man by Nature is the Fountain from whence all Sin springs so the Heart renewed by Grace is the Source and Spring from whence all Gracious Actions do proceed and flow 36 But I say unto you That every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment There are Two Sorts of Words for which we must be Judged Sinful Words and Idle Words Sinful Words are Blasphemous Words Censorious Words Lying and Slandering Words Idle Words are such as favour nothing of Wisdom or Piety that have no tendency to make Men either Wiser or Better How light soever Men make of their Words now yet in GOD's Balance another Day they will be found to weigh very heavy 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Observe here The Argument which our Saviour uses to move us to Watchfulness over our Words By our Words we shall be justified not Meritoriously but Declaratively Good Words declare Goodness in our selves and we shall be declared Good to others by our Words if our Words and Actions do correspond and agree with one another Death and Life are in the Power of the Tongue That is according to the right or wrong Using of the Tongue we may judge and gather whether Men are Dead or Alive as to God and bound for Heaven or Hell 38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered saying Master we would see a sign from thee 39 But he answered and said to them An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of the prophet Jonas 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth 41 The men of Niniveh shall rise in judgment with this generation and shall condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonas and behold a greater than Jonas is here 42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it for she came from the uttermost parts of earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon and behold a greater than Solomon is here Observe here 1. The Request which the Pharisees make to Christ Master we would see a Sign from thee But had not Christ shewed them signs enough already What were all the Miracles wrought in their sight but convincing Signs that he was the true Messias but Infidelity mixt with Obstinacy is never satisfied Obs 2. Our Saviour's Answer to the Pharisees Request he tells them that they should have one Sign more to wit that of his Resurrection from the Dead For as Jonas lay buried Three Days in the Whale's Belly and was then wonderfully restored So should and did our Saviour continue in the Grave part of Three Natural Days and then rise again Obs 3. How CHRIST declares the Inexcusableness of their State who would not be convinced by the former Miracles he had wrought that he was the true Messiah nor yet be brought to Believe in him by this last Sign or Miracle of his Resurrection The Ninivites shall condemn the Pharisees They repented at the Preaching of Jonas but these would not be convinced by the Preaching and Miracles of JESUS The Queen of Sheba also who came from the South to hear and admire the Wisdom of Solomon shall rise up in Judgment against those that reject CHRIST who is the Wisdom of the Father and the Doctrine delivered by him which was the Power of God and the Wisdom of God Learn That the Sins of Infidelity and Impenitency are exceedingly heightned and their Guilt aggravated from the Means afforded by God to bring a People to Faith and Obedience The Sin of the Pharisees in Rejecting Christ's Miracles and Ministry was by far greater than that of the Ninevites had they rejected Jonas his Message and Ministry sent by God amongst them 43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man he walketh through dry places seeking rest and findeth none 44 Then he saith I will return into my house from whence I came out and when he is come he findeth it empty swept and garnished 45 Then goeth he and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself and they enter in and dwell there and the last state of that man is worse than the first Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation The Design and Scope of this Parable is to shew that the Pharisees by rejecting the Gospel and refusing to Believe in Christ were in a seven-fold worse Condition than if the Gospel had never been Preacht to them and a Saviour had never came among them because by our Saviour's Ministry Satan was in some sort cast out But for rejecting Christ and his Grace Satan had got a seven-fold stronger Possession of them now than before From this Parable Learn 1. That Satan is an Unclean Spirit he has lost his Original Purity his Holy Nature in which he was created and is become universally filthy in himself no Means being allowed him by God for the purging of his filthy and unclean Nature Nay he is a perfect Enemy to Purity and Holiness maligning all that love it and would promote it 2. That Satan is a restless and unquiet Spirit being cast out of Heaven he can rest no where when he is either gone out of a Man thro' Policy or cast out of a Man by Power he has no Content or Satisfaction till he returns into a filthy Heart where he delights to be as the Swine in miry places 3. That wicked and prophane Sinners have this unclean Spirit dwelling in them their Hearts are Satan's House and Habitation and the Lusts of Pride and Unbelief Malice and Revenge Envy and Hypocrisie these are the Garnishings of Satan's House Man's Heart was God's House by Creation 't is now Satan's by Usurpation and Judiciary Tradition 4. That Satan by the Preaching of the Gospel may seem to go out of Persons and they become sober and civilized yet may he return to his old Habitation And the last end of that Man may be worse than the beginning 46 While he yet talked to the people behold his mother and his brethren stood without desiring to speak with him 47 Then one said unto him Behold thy mother and thy brethren stand
without desiring to speak with thee 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him Who is my mother and who are my brethren 49 And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples and said Behold my mother and my brethren 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven the same is my brother and sister and mother Observe here 1. The Verity of Christ's Humane Nature he had Affinity and Consanguinity with Men Persons near in Blood to him called his Brethren that is his Cosin-Germans 2. That the Holy Virgin her self was not wholly free from Failings and Infirmities for here she does untimely and unseasonably interrupt our Saviour when Preaching to the People and imployed about his Father's Business 3. That Christ did not neglect his Holy Mother nor disregard his near Relations but shewed that he preferr'd his Father's Service before them 4. Learn How dear Believers are to Jesus Christ he preferrs his Spiritual Kindred before his Natural Alliance in Faith and Spiritual Relation to Christ is much nearer and dearer than Alliance by Blood To bear Christ in the Heart is much better than to bear him in the Womb. Blessed be God this greatest Priviledge is not denied to us even now Tho' see Christ we cannot yet love him we may his Bodily Presence cannot be enjoyed by us but his Spiritual Presence is not denied us Tho' Christ be not ours in House in Arms in Affinity in Consanguinity yet in Heart in Faith in Love and Service he is or may be Ours Verily Spiritual Regeneration brings Men into a more Honourable Relation to Christ than Natural Generation ever did Whosoever shall do the Will of my Father he is my Brother Sister and Mother CHAP. XIII 1 THE same day went Jesus out of the house and sat by the sea-side 2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him so that he went into a ship and sat and the whole multitude stood on the shoar 3 And he spake many things unto them in parables saying The foregoing Chapter gave us an Account of an Awakening Sermon preached by our Saviour to the Pharisees In this Chapter we are acquainted with the Continuance of his Preaching to the Multitude Where three things are Observable 1. Our Lord's Assiduity and unwearied Diligence in Preaching of the Gospel for this Sermon was made the same Day with that in the former Chapter Vers 1. The same Day went Jesus out and sat by the Sea-side A good Pattern for the Preachers of the Gospel to follow How ashamed may we be to Preach Once a Week when our Lord Preacht Twice a Day Obs 2. The Place our Lord Preacht in a Ship not that he declined the Temple or the Synagogue when he had the Opportunity but in the want of them Christ thought an House a Mountain a Ship no unmeet Place to Preach in It is not the Place that Sanctifies the Ordinance but the Ordinance that Sanctifies the Place Obs 3. The Manner of our Lord 's Preaching it was by Parables and Similitudes Which was an Ancient Way of Instruction among the Jews and a very Convincing Way working upon Mens Minds Memories and Affections making the Mind attentive the Memory retentive and the Auditors inquisitive after the Interpretation of the Parable Some are of Opinion that our Saviour's Parables were suited to his Hearers Employments some of whom being Husbandmen he resembles his Doctrine to Seed sown in the Field For thus he speaks 3 Behold a sower went forth to sow 4 And when he sowed some seeds fell by the way-side and the fowls came and devoured them up 5 Some fell upon stony places where they had not much earth and forthwith they sprung up because they had no deepness of earth 6 And when the sun was up they were scorched and because they had not root they withered away 7 And some fell among thorns and the thorns sprung up and choaked them 8 But other fell into good ground and brought forth fruit some an hundred fold some sixty fold some thirty fold 9 Who hath ears to hear let him hear The Scope of this Parable is to shew that there are Four several Sorts of Hearers of the Word but One Sort only that Hear to a Saving Advantage And to shew us the Cause of the different Success of the Word Preacht Here Observe 1. The Sower Christ and his Apostles he the prime and principal Sower they the secondary and subordinate Seedsmen Christ sows his own Field his Ministers sow his Field he sows his own Seed they sow his Seed Wo unto us if we sow our own Seed and not Christ's Obs 2. The Seed sown the Word of God Fabulous Legends and Unwritten Traditions which the Seeds-Men of the Church of Rome sow these are not Seed but Chaff or their own Seed not Christ's Our Lord's Field must be sown with his own Seed not with mixt Grain Learn 1. That the Word of God preacht is like Seed sown in the Furrows of the Field As Seed has a Fructifying Virtue in it by which it increases and brings forth more of it 's own kind so has the Word of God a Quickning Power to regenerate and make alive dead Souls Learn 2. That the Seed of the Word where it is most plentifully sown is not alike Fruitful As Seed doth not thrive in all Ground alike so neither doth the Word fructifie alike in the Hearts of Men There is a Difference both from the Nature of the Soil and from the Influence of the Spirit Learn 3. That the Cause of the Word's Unfruitfulness is very different and not the same in all In some 't is the Policy of Satan that Bird of Prey which follows God's Plough steals away the Precious Seed in others 't is a hard Heart of Unbelief in others the Cares of the World like Thorns choak the Word overgrow the Good Seed draw away the Moisture of the Earth and the Heart of the Soil and hinders the Influences of the Sun The far greater part of Hearers are fruitless and unprofitable Hearers Learn 4. That the best Ground doth not bring forth Fruit alike some good Ground brings forth more and some less Some thirty some sixty and some an hundred fold In like manner a Person may be a profitable Hearer of the Word altho' he doth not bring forth so great a Proportion of Fruit as others provided he brings forth as much as he can 10 And the disciples came and said unto him Why speakest thou unto them in parables 11 He answered and said unto them Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven but to them it is not given Here we have the Disciples Question and our Saviour's Answer Their Question is Why speakest thou to the People in Parables which they do not understand They cannot see the Soul of thy Meaning thro' the Body of thy Parables Christ answers To you my Disciples and such as you are who love
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
not long hold burning without a Stock of Oil to feed it so a Profession of Religion tho' never so glorious will not be lasting nor persevering without a Principle of Faith and Love in the Heart to support and maintain it Learn hence That the true Wisdom of a Christian consists in this to take care that not only the Lamp of his Life may shine by outward Profession but that the Vessel of his Heart may be furnished with the Graces of the Holy Spirit as a prevailing and abiding Principle 5 While the bridegroom tarried they all slumbered and slept That is while Christ delays his coming to Persons by Death and Judgment they are not so diligent as they ought to prepare themselves for Death and Judgment Instead of being upon their Watch and Guard they slumbered and slept Note That not only visible Professors but the holiest and best of Christians are very prone to Spiritual Slumber Whilst the Bridegroom tarried they all slumbered and slept Spiritual Slumber consists in this When Graces are not lively and kept in exercise particularly Faith Hope and Love when there is an Abatement of our Love and Zeal an Intermission of our Care and Watchfulness this is a degree of Spiritual Slumber yet the Saints Slumber is not a prevailing Slumber 't is nor an Universal Slumber 't is not in all the Faculties of the Soul if there be Deadness in the Affections yet is there not Searedness in the Conscience I sleep says the Church but my Heart awaketh Cant. 5.2 Still there is a Principle in the Soul which takes God's part and the Christian groans under the Burthen of his dull and drowsie State But the greatest Wisdom is to maintain a constant Watch that we may at no time be surprized by the Bridegroom 's coming or be in a Confusion when Death and Judgment shall overtake us Blessed are those Virgins whose Lamps always burn bright 6 And at midnight there was a cry made Behold the bridegroom cometh go ye out to meet him At Midnight that is at the most dismal and unseasonable time when all the Virgins were fast asleep and when awaked in great Affrightment could not on a sudden consider what to do Such is the Case of those who put off their Repentance and Preparation for another World till they are surprized by Death and Judgment Lord how will the Midnight Cry of the Bridegroom 's coming terrifie and amaze the unprepared Soul What a surprizing Word will this be Behold the Bridegroom cometh Learn hence That the Bridegroom will certainly come tho' at his own time and then all shall be called upon both prepared and unprepared to go forth to meet him Reason says he may come because there is a just God that will render to every one according to his Deeds and reward both Body and Soul for all the Services they have done for God The Body shall not always remain like a solitary Widow in the Dust but shall meet its old Companion the Soul again And as Reason says he may come Faith says he will come and argues from the Promise of Christ John 14.3 and from the Purchase of Christ from Christ's Affection to us and from our Affection to him Faith has seen him upon the Cross and determines she shall see him in the Clouds The Bridegroom will certainly come at his own time happy they that are ready to go forth to meet him 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps 8 And the foolish said unto the wise Give us of your oil for our lamps are gone out The Virgins arising and trimming their Lamps doth denote their actual Preparation for Christ's Coming and Appearance and their putting themselves into a Posture of Readiness to receive him Thence Learn That a believing Apprehension of the Certainty and Suddenness of our Lord 's Coming and Approach will rouze us out of our Spiritual Slumber and prepare us to meet him with Joy and Assurance Then they arose and trimmed their Lamps And the foolish said to the wise give us of your Oil for our Lamps are gone out Observe here 1. A Request made Give us of your Oil. There is a time when the Neglecters of Grace will be made sensible of the Worth of Grace by the want of it Such as now undervalue yea villifie the Grace of God will be heard to say Oh give us of your Oil. Obs 2. The Reason of the Request For our Lamps are gone out Thence Learn That the Lamp of Profession will certainly go out which has not a Stock of Grace to feed and maintain it 9 But the wise answered saying Not so lest there be not enough for us and you but go ye rather to them that sell and buy for your selves Observe here 1. The wise Virgins Denial Not so They will part with no Oil. Learn thence That it must be the Care of every one to get Grace of his own otherwise the Grace of others will do him no Good 'T is not what others have done nay not what Christ himself has done that will save us without our own Endeavours Obs 2. The Reason of their Denial Lest there be not enough for us and you Thence Note That such Christians as have most Grace or the largest Stock of Grace have none to spare none to spare in regard of their Occasions for Grace on Earth and in regard of their Expectations of Glory in Heaven Obs 3. The Advice and Counsel given Go to them that sell and buy for your selves Some take this for an Exhortation others for a mocking Derision Go to them that sell That is say some to the Shops of the Ordinances where it may be had Thence Note That such as would have Grace must have timely Recourse to the Ordinances and Means of Grace Go to them that sell Others understand the Words ironically and as spoken by way of Derision Go to them that sell If you know where to find them and either buy or borrow for your selves Learn thence That it is the greatest Folly in the World to have Oil to buy when we should have Oil to burn To have our Grace to seek when we should have it to exert and exercise It is no time to get Grace when the Bridegroom is come and the Day of Grace is past and over 10 And while they went to buy the bridegroom came and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut Observe here 1. Christ will come at the great Day to his People as a Bridegroom and to the wicked as a Judge The Relation now begun betwixt Christ and his Church shall then be publickly solemniz'd Obs 2. The Qualification of the Persons who shall enter with the Bridegroom into Heaven Such as are ready went in with him This Readiness is twofold Habitual and Actual Habitual Readiness consists in the State of the Person justified and pardoned in the Frame of the Heart sanctified and renewed and in the Course
as well as Sins of Commission Consider it 2. In its specifical Nature 't is a Sin of Unmercifulness or Want of Love to Christ and his Members Learn thence That one reigning Sin one prevailing Corruption is enough to damn a Person because it deprives a Man of the Grace of the Gospel and excludes him from all the Benefit of the Promises Note Lastly If such as do not give to Christ in his Members shall be miserable at the great Day what will the Condition of them be that take from them who strip and starve them who persecute and hate them Who imprison or banish them If the Uncharitable shall scarcely be saved yea shall certainly be damned where shall the Unmerciful and Cruel appear 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal Observe here 1. That tho' the Righteous are first judged yet the Sentence is first executed on the Wicked These shall go into everlasting Punishment Obs 2. That Men's States and Conditions in another World will be different as their Ways and Doings have been in this World 3. That everlasting Life shall be the Portion of the Godly and everlasting Punishment the Portion of the Wicked God grant that the Horrors of eternal Darkness and the dismal Thoughts of a miserable Eternity may effectually discourage every one of us from a wicked and impenitent Course of Life for who can dwell with the devouring Fire Who can dwell with everlasting Burnings CHAP. XXVI 1 AND it came to pass when Jesus had finished all these sayings he said unto his disciples 2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passeover and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified 3 Then assembled together the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people unto the palace of the high priest who was called Caiaphas 4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty and kill him 5 But they said Not on the feast day lest there be an uproar among the people Several things are here Observeable as 1. The Persons conspiring against our blessed Redeemer's Life namely the chief Priests Scribes and Elders that is the whole Sanhedrim or general Council These lay their malicious Heads together to contrive the Destruction of the innocent Jesus Learn thence That general Councils have erred and may err Here was a general Council consisting of Priests Doctors and Elders with the High Priest their President yet erring in a Point of Doctrine concerning the Messiah not believing Jesus to be the Son of God notwithstanding all the convincing Miracles which he had wrought before them Obs 2. The manner of this Conspiracy against our Saviour's Life it was clandestine secret and subtil they consulted how they might take him by Subtilty and kill him Learn thence That Satan makes use of the Subtilty of crafty Men and abuseth their Parts as well as their Power for his own Purposes Satan never sends a Fool of his Errand Obs 3. The Time when this Conspiracy was managed at the Time of the Passover Indeed at first the chief Priests did not incline to that time fearing a Tumult and Vproar among the People but Judas presenting them with a fair Opportunity to apprehend him they changed their Purpose and accordingly at the Feast of the Passover our Saviour suffered This was not without a Mystery that Christ the true Lamb of God whom the Paschal Lamb typified and represented should be offered up at the Feast of the Passover Signifying thereby that he was the true Paschal Lamb and that the Legal Shadow ought to cease in the Exhibition of him Learn hence That not only the Death of Christ in general but all the Circumstances relating to it were fore-ordained by God himself as the Place where at Jerusalem the Time when at the Feast of the Passover that Time did God devise best for this Lamb to be a Sacrifice 6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper 7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment and poured it on his head as he sat at meat This Woman St. John says was Mary the Sister of Lazarus who to shew her Love to Christ and put Honour upon him took a precious Box of Ointment and poured it upon our Saviour's Head according to the Custom of the Eastern Countries who used so to do at their Feasts and Banquets to which David alludes Psal 23.5 Learn hence 1. That where true Love to Christ prevails in the Heart nothing is adjudged too dear for Christ This Box of Ointment murmuring Judas valued at 300 Pence which reckoning the Roman Penny at Seven Pence Halfpenny makes of our Money Nine Pounds Seven Shillings and Six Pence Love we see spares for no Cost but where the Esteem of Christ is high the Affection will be strong Note 2. That where strong Love prevails towards Jesus Christ it suffers not it self to be outshined by any Examples The weakest Woman that strongly loves Jesus Christ will piously strive with the greatest Apostle to express the Fervour of her Love unto him I do not find any of the Apostles at thus much Cost to put Honour upon Christ that this poor Woman was at Love knows no Bounds no Measures 8 But when his disciples saw it they had indignation saying To what purpose is this waste 9 For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor That is when Judas and some other Disciples whom he had influenced saw this Action they murmured particularly Judas blamed this holy Woman for needless Prodigality and did tacitly reflect upon Christ himself for suffering that wasteful Expence Oh how doth a covetous Heart think every thing too good for Christ He that sees a pious Action well done and seeks to undervalue it shews himself possess'd with a Spirit of Envy Judas his invidious Spirit makes him censure an Action which Christ highly approved Learn thence That Men who know not our Hearts may thro' Ignorance or Prejudice censure and condemn those Actions which God doth commend and will graciously reward Happy for this poor Woman that she had a more righteous Judge to pass Sentence upon her Action than wicked Judas 10 When Jesus understood it he said unto them Why trouble ye the woman for she hath wrought a good work upon me 11 For ye have the poor always with you but me ye have not always 12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body she did it for my burial Observe here How readily our Lord vindicates this good Woman She says nothing for her self nor need she having such an Advocate 1. Christ rebukes Judas why trouble ye the Woman Plainly intimating that it is no small Trouble to a Gracious Spirit to find their good Works misinterpreted and misrepresented next he defends the Action calling it a good Work because done out of a Principle of Love to Christ she hath
is in it self considered a very bitter and distasteful Cup which Humane Nature abhorrs and cannot but desire and pray may pass from it 2. That yet oft-times the Wisdom of God is pleased to put this bitter Cup of Affliction into the Hands of those whom he doth most sincerely love 3. That when God doth so it is their Duty to drink it with humble Submission and chearful Resignation Not my Will but thine be done Obs 4. The manner how our Lord prayed and here we shall find it 1. A solitary Prayer he went by himself alone out of the hearing of his Disciples he said to them Tarry ye here while I go and pray yonder Mark Christ did neither desire his Disciples to pray with him or to pray for him No he must tread the Wine-press alone not but that Christ loved and delighted in his Disciples Company but there were Occasions when he thought fit to leave them and to go alone to God in Prayer Thence Learn That the Company of our best Friends is not always seasonable Peter James and John were Three good Men but Christ bids them tarry while he went aside for private Prayer There are Times and Cases when a Christian would not be willing that the dearest Friend he has in the World should be with him or understand and hear what passes betwixt him and his God 2. This Prayer of Christ was an humble Prayer that 's evident by the Postures into which he cast himself sometimes Kneeling sometimes Lying prostrate upon his Face He lyes in the very Dust lower he cannot fall and his Heart was as low as his Body And such was the Fervour of his 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 Drowsiness and Deadness What Laziness and Dulness What Stupidity and Formality is found in our Prayers How often do our Lips move and our Hearts stand still 3. It was a repeated and reiterated Prayer He prayed the first second and third time He returns upon God over and over plies him again and again resolving to take no Denial Learn thence That Christians ought not to be discouraged tho' they have sought God again and again for a particular Mercy and no Answer of Prayer has come unto them Observe also How our Lord used the same Prayer three times over saying the same Words A Person then may pray with and by a Form of Prayer and yet not pray formally but in a very acceptable manner unto God Christ both gave a Form of Prayer to his Disciples and also used one himself Observe next The Posture in which our holy Lord found his own Disciples when he was in his Agony they were sleeping when he was praying Oh wonderful that they could sleep at such a time Hence we gather That the best of Christ's Disciples may be sometimes overtaken with Infirmities with great Infirmities when the most important Duties are performing He cometh to his Disciples and finds them sleeping Observe next The gentle Reproof he gave the Disciples for sleeping What could you 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 subjoins an Exhortation Watch and pray that ye enter not into Temptation and superadds a forcible Reason For tho' 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 the Frailty of Humane Nature it is their Duty to watch and pray and thereby guard themselves against Temptations Watch and pray for tho' the Spirit is willing yet 45 Then cometh he to his disciples and saith unto them Sleep on now and take your rest behold the hour is at hand and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners 46 Rise let us be going behold he is at hand that doth betray me 47 And while he yet spake lo Judas one of the twelve came and with him a great multitude with swords and staves from the chief priests and elders of the people 48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign saying Whomsoever I shall kiss that same is he hold him fast 49 And forthwith he came to Jesus and said Hail Master and kissed him 50 And Jesus said unto him Friend wherefore art thou come Then came they and laid hands on Jesus and took him Our Saviour having pour'd out his Soul in Prayer to God in the Garden he is now ready and waits for the coming of his Enemies being first in the Field Accordingly While he yet spake came Judas one of the Twelve and under his Conduct a Band of Soldiers to apprehend him It was the Lot and Portion of our Blessed Redeemer to be betrayed into the Hands of his mortal Enemies by the Treachery of a false and dissembling Friend Observe here The Traytor the Treason the Manner how and the Time when this treasonable Design was executed Obs 1. The Betrayer Judas all the Evangelists carefully describe him by his Name Judas by his Sirname Iscariot lest he should be mistaken for Jude the Brother of James God is tender of the Names and Reputations of his upright-hearted Servants He is also described by his Office One of the Twelve The Eminence of his Place and Station was an high Aggravation of his Transgression Nay in some respect he was preferred above the rest having a peculiar Trust reposed in him he bare the Bag That is he was Almoner and Steward of Christ's Family to take Care for the necessary Accommodations of Christ and his Apostles and yet this Man thus called thus honoured thus respectfully treated by Christ for the Lucre of a little Money perfidiously betrays him Oh whither will not a bad Heart and a busie Devil carry a Man Learn hence 1. That the greatest Professors had need be jealous of their own Hearts and look well to the Grounds and Principles of their Profession A Profession begun in Hypocrisie will certainly end in Apostacy Learn 2. That Persons are never in such eminent Danger as when they meet with Temptations exactly suited to their Master-Lusts Covetousness was Judas's Master-Sin the Love of the World made him a Slave to Satan and the Devil lays a Temptation before him which suits his Temper hits his Humour and it prevails immediately Oh pray pray that ye may be kept from a strong and suitable Temptation a Temptation suited to your predominant Lust and Inclination Obs 2. As the Betrayer Judas so the Treason it self with its aggravating Circumstances he led an armed Multitude to the Place where Christ was gave them a Signal to discover him and encouraged them to lay Hands upon him and hold him
conceal and Tell it to no Man Where the great Modesty Humility and Piety of Christ is discovered together with the Care of his own Safety His Modesty in not desiring his good Deeds should be published and proclaimed His Humility in shunning vain-glorious Applause and Commendation His Piety in desiring all Honour and Glory should redound entirely to God And the Care of his own Safety appeared lest the publishing of his Miracles should create him untimely Danger from the Pharisees The second part of the Charge given to the recovered Leper was To shew himself to the Priest and offer the Gift which Moses commanded for a Testimony unto them That is to testifie to the Jews that he did not oppose the Ceremonial Law which required a Thank-Offering at his Hand and that he was the true and promised Messiah Learn thence That our Saviour would have the Ceremonial Law punctually observ'd so long as the time for its Continuance did endure tho' he came to destroy that Law yet whilst it stood he would have it punctually observ'd Observe 6. Notwithstanding our Saviour's strict Prohibition the Leper publishes the Fame of this Miracle 'T is like his Intention might be good in extolling his great Benefactor but his acting contrary to Christ's Command was a Fault and shews the Corruption of Humane Nature in being most forward to that which is most forbidden 'T is a Sin to do any thing against the Command of Christ tho' with never so good a Meaning Purpose and Intention to Exalt and Honour Christ Obs Lastly The Inconveniences which attended our Saviour upon this indiscreet Publication of the Miracle and they were Two 1. Our Saviour could no more enter into Capernaum and other Cities to preach in an open Manner as he had done by reason of the great Concourse of People after him 2. The Fame of this Miracle brought the People about him from all Quarters not so much to hear as to see not so much to hear his Holy and Heavenly Doctrine which he taught as to gratifie their Curiosity with the Sight of the Miracles which he wrought Oh how many throng'd after Christ more to have their Bodily Diseases cured than their Souls healed Christ desired not their flocking after him upon this Account therefore he retires from the Breath of popular Applause he would not openly enter into the City but was without in desert Places Oh great Humility How little did our Blessed Redeemer regard the Applause and Commendation of Men Constantly we find him as soon as his publick Preaching and working Miracles was over he withdraws himself from the Multitude into some private Place apart he doth not stay in the Crowd with his Ear open to listen how Men admire the Preacher and applaud the Sermon plainly shewing that he sought his Father's Glory not his own Praise or the People's Commendation leaving his Example as an instructive Pattern to all his Ministers and Ambassadors to take heed of Vain-Glory Not to affect Popularity or seek the Applause and Commendation of Men in what they do resolving that Man's Opinion shall be nothing with them but that the pleasing of God and doing their Duty to the Souls of their People shall always be their whole Scope CHAP. II. 1 ANd again he entered into Capernaum after some days and it was noised that he was in the house 2 And straightway many were gathered together insomuch that there was no room to receive them no not so much as about the door and he preached the word unto them In the last Verse of the foregoing Chapter we find how industriously our Blessed Saviour withdrew himself from the Concourse and Throng of People which flock'd after him from every Quarter and to shew how little he affected the Applause and Commendation of the Multitude he left the Cities and was without in desart Places Hereby giving his Ministers an instructive Example to decline Vain-Glory and to shun popular Applause But now the Words before us shew that our Saviour having entered privately it is probable into the City of Capernaum it is presently noised and reported that he was in the House and a mighty Concourse and Throng of People are after him insomuch that neither the House nor hardly the Streets could contain them Thence Learn That such as least seek after Honour and Applause from Men are oft-times most Famous and Renowned Our Saviour was so far from seeking the Peoples Praise and Commendation that he came into Capernaum without Observation and betook himself to his dwelling House there but the more he sought to lye hid the more he was taken notice of Honour flies from them that pursue it and pursues those that fly from it The way to be Honourable is to be Humble God seldom honours a proud Man by making him either eminently serviceable or successful Observe farther the People being come together our Saviour takes the Opportunity to preach And he preached the Word unto them Teaching his Ministers by his Example to embrace all Opportunities in Season and out of Season on the Lord's Day and on the Week Day to edify our People by our Ministry by our publick Exhortations by our private Instructions and prudent Admonitions and holy Example 3 And they came unto him bringing one sick of the palsie which was born of four 4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press they uncovered the roof where he was and when they had broken it up they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsie lay 5 When Jesus saw their faith he said unto the sick of the palsie Son thy sins be forgiven thee 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies who can forgive sins but God only 8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves he said unto them Why reason ye these things in your hearts 9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsie Thy sins be forgiven thee or to say Arise and take up thy bed and walk 10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins he saith to the sick of the palsie 11 I say unto thee Arise and take up thy bed and go thy way into thine house 12 And immediately he arose took up the bed and went forth before them all insomuch that they were all amazed and glorified God saying We never saw it on this fashion Here we have the Relation of our Saviour's miraculous healing of one sick of the Palsie at Capernaum Where Obs 1. The diseased and distressed Person one sick of the Palsie Which Disease being a Resolution and Weakness of the Nerves enfeebles the Joints and confines the Person to his Bed or Couch As a Demonstration of Christ's Divine Power he was pleased to single our the Palsie and Leprosie incurable Diseases to work a Cure upon such as were afflicted
and commanded to set them also before them 8 So they did eat and were filled and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets 9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand and he sent them away This Chapter begins with the Relation of a famous Miracle wrought by our Saviour Namely His feeding of Four Thousand Persons with Seven Loaves and a few Fishes And here we have observable First The tender Care which Christ took of the Bodies of Men to provide all Necessaries for their Support and Comfort He giveth us Richly all things to enjoy The great House-keeper of the World openeth his Hand and filleth all things living with Plenteousness How careful was our Saviour here that the Bodies of poor Creatures might not faint nor be over weak and weary by the way therefore he would not dismiss them without Refreshment Obs 2. The Original Source and Spring from whence this Care that Christ had of the Multitude did proceed and flow Namely from that Sympathizing Pity and Tender Compassion which the merciful Heart of Christ did bear towards Persons in Distress and Misery Learn thence That the Tender Pity and Compassion of Christ is not the Spring and Fountain of Spiritual Mercies only but of Temporal Blessings also I have Compassion on the Multitude who have nothing to eat Obs 3. How the Disciples not seeing any outward visible Means for the Peoples Support conclude it impossible for so many to be satisfied with the little Supply they had Namely Seven Loaves and a few small Fishes Learn thence That a weak Faith soon grows Thoughtful and sometimes Distrustful at the Sight of Difficulties Whence say the Disciples can these Men be satisfied with Bread Not considering that the Power of God in Blessing our Food is far above the Means of Food It is as easy for him to sustain and nourish us with a little as with much Man liveth not by Bread but by the Blessing of God upon the Bread he eats Obs 4. That although Christ could have fed these Four Thousand without the Loaves yet he takes and makes use of them seeing they might be had Learn thence That Christ did not neglect his own appointed ordinary Means nor do any thing in an extraordinary way farther than was absolutely necessary Christ was above Means and could work without them and when they failed did so But when the Means were at hand he made use of them himself to teach us never to expect That in a way of Miracle which may be come at in a way of Means Obs 5. From our Lord's Example That Religious Custom of begging a Blessing upon our Food before we set down to it and of Receiving the good Creatures of God with Thanksgiving How unworthy is he of the Crumbs that fall from his own Table who with the Swine looks not up unto and takes no thankful Notice of the Hand that feeds him Obs 6. The Certainty and Greatness of the Miracle They did all eat and were filled They did all eat not a Crust of Bread or a bit of Fish but to Satiety and Fulness All that were hungry did eat and all that did eat were satisfied And yet Seven Baskets remain more is left than was at first set on 'T is hard to say which was the greatest Miracle the miraculous Eating or miraculous Leaving If we consider what they eat we may wonder that they left any thing if what they left that they eat any thing Obs Lastly Our Lord's Command to gather up the Fragments Teaches us That we make no waste of the good Creatures of God The Fragments of Fish-Bones and broken Bread must be gathered up The Liberal House-Keeper of the World will not allow the Loss of his Orts. Frugality is a commendable Duty God hath made us Stewards but not absolute Lords of his Blessing We must be accountable to him for all the Instances of his Bounty received from him 10 And straightway he entred into a ship with his disciples and came into the parts of Dalmanutha 11 And the Pharisees came forth and began to question with him seeking of him a sign from Heaven tempting him 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said Why doth this generation seek after a sign Verily I say unto you There shall be no sign given unto this generation 13 And he left them and departed to the other side Obs Here 1. The unreasonable Practice of the wicked Pharisees in asking a Sign of Christ that is some new and extraordinary Miracle to be wrought by him to demonstrate him to be the true and promised Messias But had not our Sâ—viour shewed them Signs enough already What were all the Miracles daily wrought before their Eyes but convincing Signs of his Divine Power But Infidelity mixt with Obstinacy is never satisfied Obj. 2. Our Saviour's Carriage towards these obstinate Pharisees who persisted in their Unbelief He sighed deeply in his Spirit and mourn'd for the Hardness of their Heart Learn thence That to grieve and mourn for the Sins of others to be affected with them and deeply afflicted for them is a gracious and Christ-like Temper It is not sufficient to make an outward shew of grieving for others Sins but we ought to lay them to Heart and to be inwardly afflicted for them Jesus sighed deeply in his Spirit Obs 3. A sharp Reproof given by our Saviour to them at the same time that our Saviour did inwardly grieve for the Pharisees Wickedness he did openly reprove them for it It is not sufficient that we mourn for the Sins of others but we must prudently reprove them as Occasion is offered and our Calling requireth Obs 4. The Sin which the Pharisees are reproved for namely for seeking after a Sign That is for demanding new Miracles after he had wrought so many before their Eyes to prove the Divinity of his Person Learn thence That it is a Sin for any to require new Signs and Miracles for the Confirmation of That Doctrine which has been already sufficiently confirm'd by Miracles Yea an heinous Sin which deserveth a sharp Reproof and Censure Observe Lastly Our Saviour's peremptory Denyal of the Pharisees presumptuous Request There shall be no Sign given to this Generation That is no such Sign or Miracles as they desire and would have No Sign or Miracle shall be wrought at their Motion and Sute although after this Christ of his own Accord and at his own Pleasure wrought many Miracles before their Eyes Such as wilfully harden themselves against the Light of their own Consciences are righteously delivered up to Hardness of Heart and final Impenitency These Hypocritical Pharisees shut their Eyes against the most convictive Evidence and they are given up to their own Obstinacy Our Saviour left them and departed 14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf 15 And he charged them saying Take heed beware of the leaven of
heart towards Christ nothing is adjudged too dear for him neither will it suffer it self to be out sâ—ined by any Examples the weakest Woman that strongly Lâ—ves her Saviour will piously strive with the greatest Apostle to express the fervour of her affection towards him Observe 2 How this Action was resented and reflected upon by Judas and some other Disciples whom he had influenced they had indignation within themselves and said to what purpose is this waste Oh! how doth a covetous heart think every thing too good for Christ Happy was it for this poor Woman that she had a more righteous judge to pass sentence upon her Action then murmuring Judas Observe 3. How readily our Holy Lord vindicates this good Woman she says nothing for her selâ— nor need she having so good an Advocate First he rebukes Judas let her alone why trouble ye the Woman Next he justifies the Action she hath wrought a good Work because it flow'd from a principle oâ— Love to Christ and lastly he gives the Reason oâ— her Action she did it for my Buryal As Kings and great Persons were wont in those Eastern Countries at their Funerals to be Embalm'd with Odours and sweet Perfumes so says our Saviour This Woman to declare her Faith in me as her King and Lord doth with this Box of Ointment as it were before hand Embalm my Body for its Burial True Faith puts honour upon a Crucified as well as Glorified Saviour This holy Woman accounts Christ worthy of all honour in his Death believing it would be a sweet smelling Sacrifice unto God and the Saviour of Life unto his People Observe 4. Our Saviour doth not only justify and defend the Action of this holy Woman but magnifies and extolls it declaring that she should be rewarded for it with an honourable Memorial in all ages of the Church wherever this Gospel is preached this shall be spoken of for a Memorial of her Note hence the care which Christ takes to have the good Deeds of his Children not buried in the dust with them but had in everlasting remembrance Though sin causes men to rot above Ground to stink alive and when they are dead leaves an Ignominy upon their Graves yet will the Actions of the just smell sweet and Blossom in the Dust 10 And Judas Iscariot one of the twelve went unto the chief Priests to betray him unto them 11 And when they heard it they were glad and promised to give him money And he sought how he might conveniently betray him Observe here 1. The Person betraying our blessed Redeemer Judas Judas a Professor Judas a Preacher Judas an Apostle and one of the Twelve whom Christ had chosen out of all the world to be his dearest Friends his Family and Houshold shall we wonder to find Friends unfriendly or unfaithful to us when our Saviour had a Traitor in his own Family Obseâ—ve 2. The heinous nature of Judas his sin he betrayed Jesus Jesus his Maker Jesus his Master it is no strange or uncommon thing for the vilest of sins and most horrid impiâ—ties to be acted by such persons as make the most eminent profession of Holiness and Religion Observe 3. What was the occasion that led Judas to the commission of this sin It was his inordinate Love of Money I do not find that Judas had any particular Malice Spight or ill Will against our Saviour but a base and unworthy Spirit of Covetousness possest him and this made him sell his Master Covetousness is the root-sin an eager and insatiable Thirst after the world is the parent of the most monstrous and unnatural sins for which reason our Saviour doubles his caution Luke 12.15 Take heed and beware of Covetousness it shews us both the danger of the sin and the great care we ought to take to preserve our selves from it 12 And the first day of unleavened bread when they killed the passover his Disciples said unto him where wilt thou that we go and prepare that we may eat the passover 13 And he sendeth forth two of his Disciples and said unto them go ye into the City and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of Water follow him 14 And wheresoever he shall go in say ye to the good man of the house the Master saith where is the Guess-chamber where I shall eat the passover with my Disciples 15 And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared there make ready for us 16 And his Disciples went forth and came into the City and found as he had said unto them and they made ready the passover The time for the Celebration of the Passover being now at hand Christ sends two of his Disciples to Jerusalem to prepare things necessary in order thereunto And here we have Observable 1. An eminent proof of Christ's Divine Nature in telling them all the particulars which they should meet with in the City as a Man bearing a pitcher of Water c. 2. How readily the heart of this House-holder was disposed to receive our Saviour and his Disciples and to accommodate them with all things needful upon this occasion Our Blessed Saviour had not a Lamb of his own and peradventure no Money wherewith to buy one yet he finds as excellent Accommodation in this poor Man's House as if he had dwelt in Ahab's Ivory Palace and had the Provisions of Solomon's Table When Christ has a Passover to Celebrate he will dispose the Heart to a free Reception of himself The Room which Christ will enter into must be a large Room an upper Room a Room furnished and prepared a large Room is an enlarged Heart enlarged with Love and Thankfulness an upper Room is an Heart Exalted not puft up with Pride but lift up by Heavenly Mindedness a Room furnished is a Soul adorned with the Graces of the Holy Spirit into such an Heart and such only will Christ enter 17 And in the evening he cometh with the twelve 18 And as they sat and did eat Jesus said verily I say unto you one of you which eateth with me shall betray me 19 And they began to be sorrowful and say unto him one by one is it I and another said is it I 20 And he answered and said unto them it is one of the twelve that dippeth with me in the dish 21 The Son of man indeed goeth as it is written of him but wo to that man by whom the son of man is betrayed good were it for that man if he had never been born Observe here 1. The unexampled Boldness of this impudent Traitor Judas he presumed as soon as he had sold his Master to sit down at the Table with him and eat the Pass-over with the Disciples had the presence of Judas polluted this Ordinance to any but himself doubtless our Saviour would never have suffered him to approach unto it But hence we Learn 1. That nothing is more ordinary then for unholy persons to press in unto
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
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
2. The Name is given or at least declared at the time of the Child's Circumcising and that by its Parents His Mother said he shall be called John But how did his Mother know That when her Husband was dumb Answ 'T is like her Husband Zachary had by Writing informed his Wife concerning the whole Vision and what Name was imposed upon him by the Angel therefore she says he shall be called John and Zachary ratifies it his name is John The Nomination was originally from the Angel the Imposition of the Name is now at Circumcision from the Parents Obs 3. How Ancient a Custom it has been to give Names to Children according to the Names of their Fathers or Kindred There is none of thy Kindred of this name say they The Jews made it a part of Religion to give suitable Names to their Children and significant Names Accordingly they either gave them Names to put them in remembrance of God's Mercy to them or of their Duty to him Thus Zachary signifies the Remembrance of God which name points at God's Mercy in remembring him and his Duty in remembring God Well then is it usual and useful for Parents to give significant Names to their Children then let Children have a Holy Ambition to make good the Signification of their Names Thus John signifies the Grace of God but how will that Gracious Name rise up in Judgment against that Child that is Graceless Obs 4. How Zachary's Speech is immediately restored to him upon the naming of his Child The Angel v. 20. told him he should be dumb till the things he told him should be performed and now that they were performed his Tongue is loosed and he praises God in a most Thankful manner Obs 5. The effect which all this had upon the Neighbourhood fear came upon all that dwelt round about them that is an awful and Religious fear of God occasioned by these miraculous operations and they laid up these sayings in their hearts that is considered of them and pondered upon them It argues a very vain Spirit and temper of Mind when we pass over the Observation of God's wonderful Acts with a slight Regard The true Reason why we do so little admire the wonderful Works of God is because we consider so little of them Obs 6. The special favour vouchsafed by God to this Child John The hand of the Lord was with him that is God was in a special manner present with him to direct and assist him to protect and prosper him The hand of God in Scripture signifies the help of God the strength and assistance of God The hand of Man is a weak and impotent hand a short and ineffectual hand but the hand of God is a strong hand an Almighty hand able to assist and help able to protect and preserve The hand of the Lord was with him that is the heart of God and the help of God the Love and Favour of God to support him and the Power and Providence of God to protect and preserve him Lord let our Hearts be with thee and then thy Heart and thy helping hand will be with us 67 And his Father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophecied saying 68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people 69 And hath raised up an horn of Salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets which have been since the world began 71 That we should be saved from our Enemies and from the hand of all that hate us 72 To perform the mercy promised to our fore-fathers and to remember his holy Covenant 73 The Oath which he sware to our father Abraham 74 That he would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear 75 In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life 76 And thou child shalt be called the prophet of the Highest for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his way 77 To give knowledge of Salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins 78 Through the tender mercies of our God whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet in the way of peace Here observe 1. That no sooner was Zachary recovered and restored to his Speech but he sings the Praises of his Redeemer and offers up a Thanksgiving to God The best Return we can make to God for the use of our Tongue for the giving or restoring of our Speech is to publish our Creator's Praise to plead his Cause and vindicate his Honour Obs 2. What it is that Zachary makes the subject matter of his Song What is the particular and special Mercy which he praises and blesses God for It is not for his own particular and private Mercy namely the Recovery of his Speech tho' undoubtedly he was very thankful to God for that Mercy but he Blesses and praises God for Catholick and Universal Mercies bestowed upon his Church and People He doth not say Blessed be the Lord God of Israel that hath visited me in Mercy that hath once more loosed my Tongue and restored my Speech but Blessed be God that has visited and redeemed his people Whence Learn that it is both the Duty and Disposition of a gracious Soul to abound in Praise and Thankfulness to God more for Catholick and Universal Mercies towards the Church of God then for any particular and private Mercies how great soever towards himself Blessed be God for visiting and redeeming his people Obs 3. In this Evangelical Hymn there is a Prophetical Prediction both concerning Christ and concerning John Concerning Christ he declares that God the Father had sent him of his free mercy and rich Grace yet in performance of his Truth and Faithfulness and according to his promise and Oath which he had made to Abraham and the Fathers of the Old Testament Where Note 1. he blesses God for the Comprehensive blessing of the Messiah Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath visited his people namely in his Son's Incarnation The Lord Jesus Christ in the Fulness of Time made such a visit to this sinful World as Men and Angels admired at and will admire to all Eternity Note 2. The special fruit and benefit of this gracious and merciful Visitation and that was the Redemption of a lost World he hath visited and redeemed his People This implies that miserable Thraldom and Bondage which we were under to Sin and Satan and expresses the stupendious Love of Christ in buying our Lives with his dearest Blood and both by price and power rescuing us out of the hands of our Spiritual Enemies Note 3. The Character given of This Saviour and Redeemer he is an Horn of Salvation that is a Royal and Glorious a Strong
him because of their former vicious Course of Life it is not what we formerly were but what now we are that Christ considers it is a Glory to him to have great and notorious Sinners brought to a closure and compliance with him The Reproach is not that they have been Sinners for Christ did not give himself for a people that were pure and holy without spot or wrinkle but to make them so by his Word and Spirit Eph. 5.26 Christ is only ashamed of those that eat of his Bread and lift up the Heel against him 4 And when much people were gathered together and were come to him out of every quarter he spake by a Parable 5 A sower went out to sow his Seed and as he sowed some fell by the ways side and it was trodden down and the Fowls of the air devoured it 6 And some fell upon a Rock and as soon as it was sprung up it withered away because it lacked moysture 7 And some fell among Thorns and the Thorns sprang up and choaked it 8 And others fell upon good ground and sprang up and bear fruit aâ— hundred fâ—â—d and when he had said these thiâ—â—â— be cryed he that hath ears to hear let him hear 9 And his Disciples asked him saying What might this Parable be 10 And he said unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God but to others in Parables that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not understand The Design and Scope of this Parable is to shew what are the Causes of Mens improving or not improving under the Hearing of the Word and to let us know that there are three sorts of bad Hearers and but one good one The câ—reless and inconsiderate Hearer is like the High-way Ground where the Seed is trodden down and trampled upon Hard-hearted Sinners whom the mollifying word doth not soften These are like Stony-ground where the Seed takes no Root the word makes no impression Those whose heads and Hearts are stuft with the Cares of this World are like the Thorny-ground in which the Seed is choaked which should fructify to an holy immortality This is the Scope of the Parable Now from the Subject-matter of it Learn 1. That by the Sower you are to understand Christ and his Apostles and their Successors the Ministers of the Gospel Christ the principal Sower they the Subordinate Seeds-men Christ Sows his own Field they Sow his Field he sows his own Seed they his Seed Wo unto us if we sow our own Seed and not Christs Learn 2. The Seed sown is the Word of God Fabulous Legends and unwritten Traditions which the Seeds-men of the Church of Rome Sow these are not Seed but Chaff or if Seed for they fructify too fast in the minds of their People their own not Christ's Our Lord's Field must be all Sown with his own Seed with no mixt Grain Learn then That the Word Preach'd is like the Seed Sown in the Furrows of the Field Seed has a fructifying growing and encreasing Nature it has in it an active Principle and will spring up if not kill'd by Accidental Injuries such a quickning Power has the Word of God to regenerate and make alive dead Souls if we suffer it to take Rooting in our Hearts yet is not this Seed alike fruitful in every Soil all Ground is not alike neither doth the Word fructify alike in the Souls of Men there is a difference both from the Nature of the Soyl and the influence of the Spirit for tho' no Ground is naturally good yet some is worse then other nay even the best Ground doth not bring forth Encrease alike Some good Ground brings forth an hundred fold others but sixty and some but Thirty in like manner a Christian may be a profitable Hearer of the Word altho' he doth not bring forth so great a Proportion of Fruit as others provided he bring forth as much as he can 9 And his Disciples asked him saying What might this Parable be 10 And he said To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God but to others in Parables that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not understand Here we have the Disciples Question and our Saviour's Reply their enquiry is concerning the sense and signification of the Parable they own their Ignorance and desire better information It is no shame for the Best of Ministers yea for the best of Men to acknowledge their own ignorance in the Mysteries of Religion and to attend upon the means of instruction in order to their farther Information In our Saviour's Answer To you it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God c. Observe 1. That the Doctrine of the Gospel are great Mysteries 2. That it is an invaluable Priviledge rightly to understand and know Gospel-Mysteries 3. That this Priviledge all are not sharers in and Partakers of but only those to whom it is given 4. That it is a Righteous thing with God to give such Persons over to farther Blindness and ignorance in Spiritual Things who wilfully reject the Truth and shut their eyes against the evidence of it The Pharisees had all along shut their Eyes and said they would not see and now Christ closes their Eyes Judicially and says they shall not see 11 Now the Parable is this the seed is the word of God 12 Those by the way-side are they that hear then cometh the Devil and taketh the word out of their hearts lest they should believe and be saved 13 They on the Rock are they which hear and receive the word with joy and these have no root which for a while believe and in time of temptation fall away 14 And that which fell among Thorns are they which when they hear the word go forth and are choaked with cares and riches and pleasures of this Life and bring no fruit to perfection 15 But that on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart having heard the word keep it and bring forth fruit with patience Here our Saviour applies himself to interpret and explain the foregoing Parable to his Disciples he tells them The Seed is the Word the Sower is the Preacher the Soyl or ground is the Heart and Soul of Man some Hearers he compares to the high-way Ground in which the Seed lies uncovered for want of the Harrow of Meditation others to stâ—ny Ground in which the Word has no Root no Root in their Understandings no Root in their Memories in their Wills or in their Affections but they are instantly offended either at the depth and profoundness of the Word or at the sanctity and strictness of the Word or else at the plainness and simplicity of it Again some Hearers our Lord compares to Thorny-ground Worldly desires and inordinate cares for the things of this Life choak the Word as Thorns over-shadow the Corn draw away the Heart of the Earth from it
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
Satan for casting out of Satan then is the Devil like a Family divided within it self and divided like a Kingdom against it self which can never stand bust must be brought to Destruction Observe Lastly Our Saviour tells the Pharisee that they might with as much reason attribute all other Miracles to the Power of the Devil as those wrought by himself for there were certain Jews amongst them that casts out Devils in the Name of the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob now our Saviour asks them by what power these their Children cast them out They acknowledged that what they did was by the Power of God and there was no cause but their malice why they should not acknowledge that what he did was by the same Power If I by Beelzebub cast out Devils by whom do your sons cast them out but if I with the finger of God cast them out no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you that is the long expected Kingdom of the Messias is certainly come and I having wrought these Miracles by my own Power is a Demonstrative proof that I am the promised Messias 21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace his goods are in peace 22 But when a stronger then he shall come upon him and overcome him he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted and divideth his spoil 23 He that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth 24 When the unclean Spirit is gone out of a man he walketh thro' dry places seeking rest and finding none he saith I will return to my house whence I came out 25 And when he cometh he findeth it empty swept and garnisht 26 Then goeth he and taketh to him seven other Spirits more wicked then himself and they enter in and dwell there and the last state of that man is worse than the first Our Saviour having sufficiently shewn that he did not Work his Miracles by the Power of the Devil he next informs the Pharisees from whence he had that Power even from God himself accordingly he compares Satan to a strong Man armed with Weapons to defend his House and himself cloathed with Divine Power he compares him to one that is stronger thâ—n the strong Man so that the Argument runs thus the Devil is very strong and powerful and there is no Power but only God's that is stronger than his if then says Christ I were not assisted with a Divine Power I could never cast out this strong Man who Reigns in the Bodies and Souls of Men as in his house for it must be a stronger than the strong Man that shall bind Satan and who is he but the God of strength Learn thence That only Christ's Divine Power is superior to Satans strength he only can vanquish and over-rule him at his pleasure and drive him out of that Possession which he holds either in the Bodies or Souls of Men The strong man armed keeps the house till a stronger than he comes upon him and over-comes him When the unclean Spirit goeth out of a man he walketh thro' dry places seeking rest and findeth none Note here 1. That Satan is an unclean Spirit he hath lost his Original Purity his Holy Nature in which he was Created and is by sin become universally sinful and impure no means being allowed him by God for the purging of his filthy and impure Nature yea he is a perfect Enemy to Purity and Holiness maligning all that Love it and would promote it 2. That Satan is a restless and unquiet Spirit being cast out of Heaven he can rest no where when he is either gone out of a Man by Policy or cast out by Power he has no content or satisfaction till he returns into a filthy Heart where he delights to be as the Swine in miry places 3. That wicked and prophane sinners have this unclean Spirit dwelling in them their Hearts are Satans House and Habitation and the Lusts of Pride and Unbelief Malice and Revenge Envy and Hypocrisy these are the Garnishings and Furniture of Satans House Mans Heart was God's House by Creation 't is now Satan's by Usurpation and judiciary Tradition 4. That Satan by the Preaching of the Gospel may seem to go out of Persons and they become sober and civilized yet may he return again to his old habitation and the latter end of that Man may be worse then the beginning 27 And it came to pass as he spake these things a certain woman of the company lift up her voice and said unto him Blessed is the womb that bare thee and the paps which thou hast suckt 28 But he said Yea rather Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it Observe here 1. How ready we are to admire Persons for their external Priviledges and the favours of Divine Providence and to pronounce such Blessed Blessed is the Womb that bare thee 2. That Christ makes another judgment of Persons and pronounces them more blessed that bear him in their hearts by Faith then his own Mother who bare him in her Womb by sense The Blessedness of being an Obedient Believer is far greater than that of being the Mother of our Blessed Saviour Blessed be God this great and gracious Priviledge is not deny'd unto us now Altho' we cannot see Christ yet love him we may his bodily presence cannot be enjoyed by us but his Spiritual Gracious Presence is not denyed us Tho' Christ be not ours in house in arms by Affinity by Consanguinity yet in Heart in Faith in Love in Service he is or may be ours verily spiritual Regeneration and an obediential doing of God's Will bringeth men into a more Honourable Relation to Christ than natural Generation ever did Yea rather blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it 29 And when the people were gathered thick together he began to say this is an evil generation they seek a sign and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonas the Prophet 30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites so shall also the Son of man be to this generation 31 The Queen of the South shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them for she came from the utmost parts of the Earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon and behold a greater than Solomon is here 32 The men of Nineveh shall rise up in judgment with this generation and shall condemn it for they repented at the preaching of Jonas and behold a greater than Jonas is here The Sign which the Pharisees here desired of our Saviour was a Miracle wrought by him Now our Saviour tho' he was very ready to work Miracles to encourage and confirm his Hearers Faith yet not to satisfy the unbelieving Pharisees Curiosity And accordingly he tells them they should have no other Sign than that of his Resurrection which Jonas was a Type of Next he threatens them for
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
Olives Praying Lord What an Example of indefatigable Zeal and Diligence hast thou set before thy Ministers and Members Oh that when our Master comes we may be found Working our People Watching and both they and we waiting for the joyful Coming of our Lord and Saviour Amen CHAP. XXII 1 NOW the Feast of unleavened Bread drew nigh which is called the Passover 2 And the chief Priests and Scribes sought how they might kill him for they feared the people This Chapter gives a sad and sorrowful Relation of the Chief Priest's Conspiracy against the Life of our Blessed Saviour in which we have Three Particulars Observable 1. The Persons making this Conspiracy The Chief Priests Scribes and Elders that is the whole Jewish Sanhedrin or General Council they all lay their malicious Heads together to contrive the Destruction of the Holy and Innocent Jesus Thence Learn That General Councils have erred and may Err Fundamentally both in matters of Doctrine and Practice so did this General Council at Jerusalem consisting of Chief Priests Doctors and Elders with the High Priest their President They did not believe Jesus to be the Messias after all the Miracles wrought before their Eyes but ignominiously put him to Death Observe 2. The manner of this Conspiracy against the Life of our blessed Saviour it was Clandestine Secret and Subtle They consulted how they might take him by craft and put him to Death Learn thence That Satan makes use of the subtilty of crafty men and abuseth their Parts as well as their Power for his own Purposes and Designs the Devil never sends a Fool of his Errand Observe 3. The Circumstance of Time when this Conspiracy was managed at the Feast of the Passover It was a Custom among the Jews to Execute Malefactors at their Solemn Feasts at which time all the Jews came up to Jerusalem to Sacrifice and then they put Malefactors to Death that all Israel might see and fear and not do so wickedly Accordingly the Feast of the Passover was waited for by the Jews as a fit opportunity to put our Saviour to Death The only Objection was that it might occasion a Tumult and Uproar amongst the People there being such a mighty Concourse at that Time in Jerusalem But Judas making them a proffer they readily comply with the Motion and resolve to take the first Opportunity to put our Saviour to Death 3 Then entered Satan into Judas sirnamed Iscariot being of the number of the Twelve 4 And he went his way and communed with the chief Priests and Captains how he might betray him unto them 5 And they were glad and covenanted to give him Money 6 And he promised and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the Multitude Observe here 1. The Person Betraying our Blessed Saviour Judas Judas a Professor Judas a Preacher Judas an Apostle and one of the Twelve whom Christ had chosen out of the World to be his dearest Friend one of his Family and Houshold shall we wonder to find Friends unfriendly or unfaithful to us when our Saviour had a Traitor in his own Family 2. Observe The heinous Nature of Judas his Sin he Betrayed Jesus Jesus his Maker Jesus his Master It is no strange or uncommon thing for the vilest of sins and most horrid impieties to be acted by such Persons as make the most Eminent Profession of Holiness and Religion Observe 3. What was the occasion that led Judas to the Commission of this Sin it was his inordinate Love of Money I do not find that Judas had any particular Malice Spite or Ill will against our Saviour but a base and unworthy Spirit of Covetousness possest him and this made him sell his Master Covetousness is the Root-sin an eager and insatiable Thirst after the World is the Parent of the most monstrous and unnatural Sins for which Reason our Saviour doubles his Caution Luke 12.15 Take heed and beware of Covetousness it shews us both the great danger of the Sin and the great care that we ought to take to preserve our selves from it 7 Then came the day of unleavened Bread when the Passover was to be killed 8 And he sent Peter and John saying Go and prepare us the Passover that we may eat 9 And they said unto him Where wilt thou that we prepare 10 And he said unto them Behold when ye are entered into the city there shall a man meet you bearing a pitcher of water follow him into the House where he entereth in 11 And ye shall say unto the good man of the House the Master saith unto thee Where is the Guest-chamber where I shall eat the Passover with my Disciples 12 And he shall shew you a large upper Room furnished there make ready 13 And they went and found as he had said unto them and they made ready the Passover The time for the Celebration of the Passover being now at hand Christ sends two of his Disciples Peter and John to Jerusalem to prepare what was needful in order thereunto and here we have Observable 1. An eminent Proof and Evidence of Christ's Divinity in Fore-telling his Disciples all the particular Occurrences and Circumstances which they should meet with in the City as a man bearing a pitcher of Water c. Observe 2. How readily the Heart of the Householder was disposed to receive our Saviour and his Disciples and to accommodate them with all things needful upon this occasion Our Blessed Saviour had not a Lamb of his own and peradventure not Money wherewith to purchase one yet he finds a more agreeable Accommodation in this poor Man's House then if he had dwelt in Ahab's Ivory Palace and had the Provisions of Solomon's Table When Christ has a Passover to Celebrate he will dispose the Hearts of his Children and Servants to a free Reception of himself The Room that Christ will enter into it must be a large Room an upper Room a Room furnished and prepared a large Room is the Emblem of an enlarged Heart enlarged with Love with Joy and Thankfulness an upper Room is an Heart exalted not puft up with Pride but lifted up by Heavenly Meditations and a Room furnished is a Soul adorned with all the Graces of the Holy Spirit into such an Heart doth Christ enter and there delight to dwell Here is my rest for ever says Christ here will I dwell for I have a delight therein 14 And when the hour was come he sate down and the Twelve Apostles with him 15 And he said unto them With desire have I desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer 16 For I say unto you I will not any more eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God 17 And he took the Cup and gave Thanks and said Take this and divide it among your selves 18 For I say unto you I will not drink of the fruit of the Vine until the kingdom of God shall come 19 And he took Bread and
intimate Friend he has in the World should be with him to hear what passes in Secret betwixt him and his God Again 2. it was an humble Prayer that appears by the Postures in which he cast himself sometimes kneeling sometimes lying Prostrate upon his Face he lyes in the very Dust and lower he could not lye and his Heart was as low as his Body 3. It was a vehement fervent and importunate Prayer Such was the Fervour of his Spirit that he Prayed himself into an Agony Oh let us blush to think how unlike our Praying-frame of Spirit is to Christ's Lord What Coldness Deadness Drowsiness Formality and Laziness is found in our Prayers how often do our Lips move when our Hearts stand still Observe 4. The Posture which the Disciples were found in when our Lord was Praying in his Agony they were fast asleep Good God! Could they possibly sleep at such a time as this When Christ's Soul was exceeding sorrowful could their Eyes be thus heavy Learn thence That the very best of Christ's Disciples may be and oft-times are overtaken with great Infirmities when the most important Duties are performing Then cometh he to his Disciples and findâ— them Sleeping Observe 5. The Mild Meek and Gentle Rebuke which he gives his Disciples for their Sleeping he said unto them Why sleep ye could you not Watch with me one hour What not Watch when your Master was in such Danger Could you not Watch with me when I am going to lay down my Life for you What not one hour and that the parting Hour too Learn hence 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 and frailty of Humane Nature it is their Duty to Watch and Pray and thereby Guard themselves against Temptations Rise and pray lest ye enter into c. 47 While he yet spake Behold a Multitude and he that was called Judas one of the Twelve went before them and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him 48 But Jesus said unto him Judas Betrayest thou the Son of Man with a Kiss 49 When they which were about him saw what would follow they said unto him Lord Shall we smite with the Sword 50 And one of them smote the Servant of the High-priest and cut off his right Ear. 51 And Jesus answered and said Suffer ye thus far and he touched his ear and healed him 52 Then Jesus said unto the Chief Priests and Captains of the Temple and the Elders which were come to him Be ye come out as against a Thief with Swords and Staves 53 When I was daily with you in the Temple ye stretched forth no hands against me But this is your Hour and the Power of Darkness It was the Lot and Portion of our Blessed Redeemer here we find to be Betrayed into the hands of his Mortal Enemies by the Treachery of a false and dissembling Friend And in this sad Relation before us we have Observable The Traitor the Treason the Manner how and the Time when this Treasonable Design was Executed Observe 1. The Traitor Judas all the Evangelists carefully Describe him by his Name Judas Judas Iscariot lest he should be mistaken for Jude the Brother of James and by his Office one of the Twelve Lord How ought the greatest Professors to look well to themselves and to the Grounds and Principles of their Profession For a Profession begun in Hypocrisy will certainly end in Apostacy Observe 2. The occasion of the Treason Covetousness or the inordinate Love of Worldly Wealth and accordingly the Devil lays a Temptation before him exactly suited to his Temper and Inclination and it instantly over-came him Learn hence That Persons are never in such imminent danger of falling into Sin as when they meet with Temptations exactly suited to their Master Lusts Oh pray we That God would keep us from a Temptation suited to our predominant Lust and Corruption Observe 3. The Treason of 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 Which Treason of Judas was attended with these black and hellish Aggravations He had been a Witness of our Saviour's Miracles an Hearer of our Holy Lord's Doctrine What he did was not by Sollicitation the Chief Priests did not send to him but he went to them Lord How dangerous is it to allow our selves in any Secret Sin none can say how far that one Sin may in time lead us Should any one have told Judas that his Covetousness would at last make him deny his Master and Sell his Saviour he would have said with Hazael Is thy Servant a Dog that I should do this thing Observe 4. The Endeavours used by the Disciples for their Master's Rescue One of them St. Matthew says it was Peter drew a Sword and cut off the Ear of Malchus But why not the Ear of Judas rather Because though Judas was most Faulty yet Malchus might be most forward to Arrest and carry off our Saviour Oh how does a pious Breast boyl with Indignation at the sight of any open Affront offered to its Saviour Yet tho' St. Peter's Heart was sincere his hand was too rash good Intentions are no warrant for irregular Actions and accordingly Christ who accepted the Affection reproved the Action To resist Authority even in Christ's own Defence is rash Zeal and discountenanced by the Gospel Peter did well to ask his Master If he should smite with the Sword but he ought to have stayed his hand till Christ had given him his Answer 54 Then took they him and led him and brought him into the High-priests House and Peter followed afar off 55 And when they had kindled a Fire in the midst of the Hall and were set down together Peter sate down amongst them 56 But a certain Maid beheld him as he sate by the fire and earnestly looked upon him and said This Man was also with him 57 And he denied him saying Woman I know him not 58 And after a little while another saw him and said Thou art also of them And Peter said Man I am not 59 And about the space of an hour after Another confidently affirmed saying Of a truth that fellow also was with him 60 And Peter said Man I know not what thou sayest and immediately the Cock Crew while he yet spake 61 And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter And Peter remembred the word of the Lord how he said unto him before the Cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice 62 And Peter went out and wept bitterly This Paragraph of the Chapter gives us an account of the Fall and Rising of Peter of his Sin in denying his Master and of his Recovery by Repentance both must be considered distinctly First touching his Sin and Fall there are Four Particulars Observable relating thereunto namely the Sin it self the Occasion
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
in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father 22 Ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship for salvation is of the Jews 23 But the hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him Here we have our Saviour's Answer to the foregoing Question which consists of two Parts 1. Concerning the Place of Worship 2. Concerning the Worship it self As to the Place of Worship our Saviour tells her that though the Jews had heretofore by warrant of God's Word regularly worshipped at Jerusalem and the Samaritans superstitiously worshipped at Mount Gerizim yet the Hour was coming namely at his Death when all difference of Places for God's Worship should be taken away and therefore she need not trouble her self about the Place of God's Worship to know whether of the two Places were holier and the better to serve God in for ere long the Service of God should not be confined more to one Place than another Hence learn That since the death of Christ the Religious Difference of Places is taken away and the Worship of God not confined to any one particular Place or Nation 2. Our blessed Saviour resolves her concerning the Worship it self namely that the Ceremonial Worship which the Jews and Samaritans used should shortly be abolished and instead thereof a more spiritual Form of Worship should be established more suitable to the Spiritual Nature of the great and holy God and containing in it the Truth and Substance of all that which the Jewish Ceremonies prefigured and shadowed forth Learn hence That the True Worship of God under the Gospel doth not consist in the external Pomp of any outward Ceremonies but is Spiritual and Substantial No Worship is acceptable to him that is the Father of Spirits but that which is truly Spiritual 24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth God is a Spirit that is he has no Body nor bodily Parts He is not a bare spiritual Substance but a pure and perfect Spirit and therefore his Worshippers must worship him in Spirit and in Truth Where Spirit is opposed to the Legal Ceremonies and Truth to the Jewish Rites not to Hypocritical Services for the old Patriarchs did worship God in Spirit and in Truth As Truth is taken for Sincerity they served him with a sincere Conscience and with a single Heart But our Saviour's Business is to shew That a Worship without Legal Rites and Jewish Ceremonies is proper to the times of the Gospel In the Words Observe 1. The Nature of God declared God is a Spirit 2. The Duty of Man inferred therefore they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth From the whole Note 1. That God is a pure Spiritual Being When bodily Parts Hands and Eyes c. are ascribed to him it is only in Condescension to our weakness and to signifie those Acts in God which such Members do perform in us Note 2. That the Worship due from the Creature to God is spiritual Worship and ought to be spiritually performed The Jewish Ceremonial Worship was abolished to promote the Spirituality of Divine Worship yet must not this be so understood as if God rejected bodily Worship because he requires spiritual under the Gopsel for Jesus Christ the most spiritual Worshipper worshipped God with his Body Besides God has appointed some Parts of Worship which cannot be performed without the Body as Sacraments In a Word God has created the Body as well as the Soul Christ has redeemed the Body as well as the Soul and he will glorify the Body as well as the Soul therefore it is our Duty to worship and glorify God with our Bodies and with our Spirits which are his 25 The woman saith unto him I know that Messias cometh which is called Christ when he is come he will tell us all things 26 Jesus saith unto her I that speak unto thee am he Observe here 1. What a General Expectation there was in the Minds of all Persons at the time of our Saviour's appearing of one whom the Jews called the Messiah I know that Messiah cometh This Woman though a Samaritan yet knew that the Messiah should come and that he was now expected Observe 2. What the Work and Office of the Messias was apprehended and believed to be namely to reveal the whole Mind and Will of God to a lost World When the Messias is come he will tell us all things Learn thence That the Lord Jesus Christ the promised and true Messias being called and appointed by God to be the great Prophet of his Church hath fully and perfectly revealed all things needful to be known for our Salvation John 15.15 All things that I have heard of the Father I have made known unto you Observe Lastly How freely and fully Christ reveals himself to this poor Woman he tells her plainly that he was the Messias When the Jews asked him John 10.24 If thou be the Christ tell us plainly Christ did not in plain Terms tell them who he was Nay when John Baptist sent two of his Disciples to ask him whether he were He that should come he gave them no direct Answer Yet behold he makes himself plainly known to this poor Woman he discerning her Humility and great Simplicity that she was willing to be instructed by him and did not come to him as the Jews and Pharisees did captiously with a design to entangle and enspare him Hence learn That the Lord Jesus Christ delights to reveal himself and make known his Mind and Will to such as with an humble Mind and an honest Simplicity of heart do desire to know him and understand their Duty to him 27 ¶ And upon this came his disciples and marvelled that he talked with the woman yet no man said What seekest thou or Why talkest thou with her 28 The woman then left her water-pot and went her way into the city and saith to the men 29 Come see a man which told me all things that ever I did is not this the Christ 30 Then they went out of the city and came unto him Observe here 1. How the Providence of God so ordered and disposed of things that the Disciples did not return to Christ till he had finisht his Discourse with this poor Woman An humbled sinner may meet with such Satisfaction and sweet Refreshment in Christ's Company that the presence even of Disciples themselves the best and holiest of Saints may be lookt upon as injurious to it and an interruption of it This poor Woman had so sweet a time with Christ that an end being put to the Conference by the coming of the Disciples might be Matter of Grief and Resentment to her Yet the Providence of God so ordered that the Disciples did not come to break off the Conference till Christ had made himself known as the Messias to this
little time in the Wilderness Christ nourishes the Soul the Souls of all Believers be they Jew or Gentile Bond or Free and this not for time but for Eternity the Bread of God is he which cometh down from Heaven and giveth Life unto the World 34 Then said they unto him Lord evermore give us this bread 35 And Jesus said unto them I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst 36 But I said unto you that ye also have seen me and believe not Observe here 1. How the carnal Jews hearing the Bread which Christ had commended so highly and conceiving of it carnally desire they may partake of it constantly Lord evermore give us of this Bread The Commendation of Spiritual Things may move the Affections and quicken the Desires of Natural Persons but if their Desires be not Spiritual and Serious Diligent and Laborious Constant and Abiding they are no Evidence of the Truth of Grace Obs 2. Christ discovers another excellent Effect of this Bread of Life which he had been recommending that such as feed of it shall never hunger more that is inordinately after the perishing Satisfactions of this World but shall find an All-sufficient Fulness in him and compleat Refreshment from him for the preserving and perpetuating of their Spiritual Life He that cometh unto me shall never hunger c. Obs 3. How justly Christ upbraids the Jews for their obstinate Infidelity Ye have seen me says our Saviour yet ye believe not Ye have seen me in the Flesh you have heard my Doctrine you have seen my Miracles I have done amongst you those Works which never any Man did to convince you that I am the Messiah yet you will not own me to be such nor believe on me Oh the Strength of Infidelity and Unbelief The Devil has as great an Advantage upon Men by making them strong in Unbelief as God hath by making his People strong in Faith 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Our Blessed Saviour having lamented the obstinate Infidelity of the Jews in the foregoing Verse who though they had seen him would not believe on him he doth in this Verse comfort himself with the assured Expectation that there would be a number which should certainly and infallibly come unto him All that the Father hath given me shall come unto me c. Here observe 1. An Account of the Persons that shall come to Christ All that the Father hath given him There is a double Gift of us to Christ 1. In God's Eternal Purpose and Counsel 2. In our Effectual Vocation and Calling When our Hearts are by the Holy Spirit of God perswaded and enabled to accept of Christ as he is freely tendred to us in the Gospel Obs 2. The gracious Entertainment which Christ gives to those that come unto him He will in no wise cast them out where the Positive is included in the Negative I will not cast them out that is I will kindly receive and graciously entertain them Learn hence 1. That both God the Father and Christ his Son are unfeignedly willing and cordially desirous of the Salvation of lost Sinners That federal Transaction which was betwixt the Father and the Son from everlasting about the Salvation of lost Sinners evidently declares this Learn 2. That the merciful and compassionate Jesus will in no wise cast out or reject but kindly entertain and receive every penitent Sinner that doth believingly apply unto him for Pardon of Sin and Eternal Life I will in no wise cast out that is I will not cast them out of my Pity and Compassion out of my Love and Affection out of my Prayer and Intercession out of my Care and Protection I will not cast them out of my Covenant I will never cast them out of my Kingdom for my Nature inclines me my Promise binds me and my Office as Mediator engages me to the contrary 38 For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me 39 And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day 40 And this is the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day In these Words our Saviour gives us the Confirmation of the foregoing Promise That he will in no wise cast out those that come unto him by assuring us that it was the great End for which he came into the World His Father sent him to do his Will and not his own that is not to do his own Will without his Father's but to do his own Will and his Father's For Christ as God had a co-ordinate Will with his Father's and as Man a Will subordinate to the Will of his Father Now it was the Will both of Father and Son that such as Believe in him should be preserved from perishing and be raised up by Christ at the last Day Hence Learn 1. That the Lord Jesus Christ stands not only inclined by his own Mercy and Goodness to Save Repenting and Believing Sinners but doth also stand obliged thereunto by vertue of a Trust committed to him from the Father Therefore Christ mentions the Will of him that sent him as a Reason of his Fidelity in this matter Learn 2. That the Father's Will and good pleasure is the original Source the Fountain and first Spring from whence the Salvation of Believers doth proceed and flow It is the Fathers Will that sent me that every one that seeth the Son and Believeth on him may have Everlasting Life Learn 3. That such as are given to Christ by the Father and put as his Trust into his Keeping he looks upon them as his Charge and stands engaged for the Preservation of them This is my Father's Will that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing Yet has the Father so committed the Care of Believers to his Son as that he keeps them still in his own hand John 10.28 29. My Father which gave them to me is greater than all and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers Hand Learn 4. From those words I will Raise him up at the last Day That the Lord Jesus Christ is Truly Essentially and Really God That person who can by his own Almighty Power raise the Dead must certainly be God but this Christ had He raised others from the Dead and his own Dead Body from the Grave also by his own Power And therefore Christ says I am the Resurrection and the Life and I will raise him up at the last day Doubtless he that spake these words and made those promises knew his own Power to perform them and
they took counsel together for to put him to death 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews but went thence unto a countrey near to the wilderness into a city called Ephraim and there continued with his disciples 55 ¶ And the Jews passover was nigh at hand and many went out of the countrey up to Jerusalem before the passover to purifie themselves 56 Then sought they for Jesus and spake among themselves as they stood in the Temple What think ye that he will hot come to the feast 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment that if any man knew where he were he should shew it that they might take him Observe here 1. How baneful and destructive Evil Counsel is especially out of the Mouth of leading Men and how soon embraced and followed Caiaphas no sooner propounds the putting of Christ to Death but from that Day forward they lie in wait to take him The High-Priest had satisfied their Consciences and now they make all possible speed to put their malicious Designs and purposes in Execution Obs 2. The prudential Care and Means which our Lord used for his own Preservation to avoid their fury he withdraws himself privately into a Place called Ephraim and there continues with his Disciples Learn As Christ himself fled so is it lawful for his Servants to flee when their Life is conspired against by their bloody Enemies and the Persecution is Personal Observe 3. When the time was come that he was to expose himself when the time of the Passover drew near in which he being the true Pascal Lamb was to be slain to put an end to that Type he withdraws no more but surrenders himself to the Rage and Fury of his Enemies and dyes a shameful Death for shameful Sinners as the next Chapter more at large informs us CHAP. XII THen Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany where Lazarus was which had been dead whom he raised from the dead The latter end of the foregoing Chapter acquainted us with the prudential Care of Christ in withdrawing from the Fury of his Enemies in and about Jerusalem who were consulting his Destruction his time not being fully come he gets out of the way of his Persecutors But now the Passover being at hand which was the time that this Lamb of God was to die as a Sacrifice for the Sin of the World Our Lord comes forth first to Bethany and then to Jerusalem not fearing the Teeth of his Enemies but with a fixed Resolution to encounter Death and Danger for the Salvation of his People His Example teacheth us That altho' we are bound by all lawful Means and prudential Methods to preserve our selves from the unjust Violence of our Persecutors yet when God's time for our Sufferings is come and we evidently see that it is his Will that we suffer for his sake we ought to set our Faces very chearfully towards it and resign up our selves to the Wisdom and Will of God Thus did Christ here ch 11.54 we find he withdrew from Suffering his Hour not being then come but now when the Passover was nigh at hand which was the time when he was to suffer he sets his Face towards Jerusalem and withdraws no more 2 There they made him a supper and Martha served but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard very costly and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment 4 Then saith one of his disciples Judas Iscariot Simons son which should betray him 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor 6 This he said not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief and had the bag and bare what was put therein 7 Then said Jesus Let her alone against the day of my burying hath she kept this 8 For the poor always ye have with you but me ye have not always In these Verses an account is given of our Saviour's entertainment at Bethany after he had raised Lazarus A Supper is made for him at which Martha served and Lazarus sate with him but Mary Anoints Christ with precious Ointments Where Note 1. The Action which this Holy Woman performed she pours a Box of precious Ointment upon our Saviour's Head as he sat at Meat according to the custom of the Eastern Countries at their Feasts I do not find that any of the Apostles were at thus much charge and cost to put honour upon our Saviour as this poor Woman was From whence learn 1. That where strong Love prevails in the Heart nothing is adjudg'd too dear for Christ neither will it suffer it self to be out-shined by any Examples The weakest Woman that strongly Loves her Saviour will vye with the greatest Apostle and Piously strive to express the fervour of her Affection towards him Observe 2. How this Action was resented and reflected upon by murmuring Judas who valued this Ointment at Three hundred Pence and grudg'd the bestowing of it upon Christ He accuses this Holy Woman of needless prodigality Lord How doth a Covetous heart think every thing too good for Thee He that sees a Pious Action performed and seeks to lessen or undervalue it shews himself possessed with a Spirit of Envy Judas his invidious Spirit makes him censure an Action which Christ highly approved Hence learn That Men who know not our Hearts may thro' ignorance or prejudice censure and condemn those Actions which God doth commend and will graciously reward Happy was it for this poor Woman that she had a more Righteous Judg to pass Sentence upon her Action than wicked Judas Observe 3. How readily our Holy Lord vindicates this poor Woman she says nothing for her self nor need she having such an Advocate and gives the Reason for her Action She did it for my Burial as Kings and great Persons were wont in those Eastern Countries at their Funerals to be Embalm'd with Odours and sweet Perfumes So saith our Saviour this Woman to declare her Faith in me as her King and Lord doth with this Box of Ointment as it were before-hand Embalm my Body for its Burial True Faith will put honour upon a Crucified as well as Glorified Saviour This Holy Woman accounts Christ worthy of all honour in his Death believing it would be a sweet smelling Sacrifice unto God and the Savour of Life unto his People 9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there and they came not for Jesus sake onely but that they might see Lazarus also whom he had raised from the dead Observe here It was not zeal but curiosity which brought these persons at this time to Christ they had an itching desire to see Lazarus to enquire after the Truth of his Death and possibly after the state of the Dead and the
sufficient both for their Conviction and Condemnation The word that I have spoken the same shall judge him in the last day Observe 4. The Argument and Reason which our Saviour produces to prove that the Word of God and the Doctrine of the Gospel slighted and rejected should condemn Sinners at the great Day Namely From the Divine Authority of his Doctrine for albeit his Doctrine was his own as he was true God yet as Man and as Mediatour it was not his own but the Father's which sent him so that his Word and Doctrine being Divine and the Father 's as well as his for he did not speak of himself that is of himself alone and without the Father it is sufficient to Judge and Condemn all the rejecters and despisers of it Learn hence 1. That tho' the Doctrine of the Gospel be Christ's own as he is truly and really God yet it was not his own as meer Man exclusive of the Father who is one God with him and who gave him a Commission and Instructions as Mediatour to Preach and Publish the glad tidings of the Gospel for says he I have not spoken of my self but the Father which sent me gave me a Commandment 2. That the Doctrine which Christ delivered by command from the Father doth point out the way to Eternal Life and will bring lost Sinners thereunto if they sincerely believe it and obey it I know that his Commandment is Life everlasting 3. That therefore Sinners who reject the Doctrine of Christ contained in the Gospel do highly Dishonour Offend and Affront both the Father and Son and bring upon themselves a just and righteous judgment and expose themselves to unutterable and inevitable condemnation The word that I have spoken the same shall judge him in the last Day CHAP. XIII 1 NOW before the feast of the passover when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end 2 And supper being ended the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot Simons son to betray him 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he was come from God and went to God In this Chapter is Recorded the History of our Saviour's washing his Disciples Feet an Action full of Humility and Condescension and propounded to his followers Imitation The Circumstance of Time is here noted when this Act was done Namely At the Feast of the Passover when the time of our Saviour's departure was at hand and having constantly and immutably loved his own he expresses the permanency of his Love towards them to the end by this Action of his in washing their Feet Here Note How Christ chose the Time of the Jewish Passover to suffer in that he might prove himself to be the substance of that Type that he was the true Pascal Lamb who by the Sacrifice of his Death did attone Divine displeasure and taketh away the Sins of the World Observe 2. The means which the Wisdom of God permitted to bring the Lord of Life to his Ignominious Death And that was the Treason and perfidiousness of one of his own Disciples Judas Iscariot Where Observe 1. The person betraying Judas Judas a Professor Judas a Preacher Judas an Apostle being one of the Twelve whom Christ had chosen out of all the World to be his dearest Friend Can we wonder to find Friends unfriendly or unfaithful towards us when our Saviour had a Traytor in his own House Observe 2. The heinousness of Judas Sin in betraying Christ he betrayed Christ Jesus a Man Christ Jesus his Master Christ Jesus his Maker the first was Murther the second Treason Lord It is no strange or uncommon thing for the vilest of Sins and most horrid impieties to be acted by persons making the most eminent profession of thy holy Religion Observe 3. What hand the Devil had in the Sufferings of our Saviour He put it into Judas's heart to betray Christ that is he did suggest and inject such thoughts into his mind which Judas instantly closed with The Devil being a Spirit has a quick access to our Spirits and can instill his suggestions into them as Christ did breath upon his Disciples and they received the Holy Ghost and were filled with the Spirit so Satan breaths filthy suggestions into the Spirits of Men and fills them with all manner of wickedness even with the Spirit of Hell it self The Devil put it into Judas heart to betray him 4 He riseth from supper and laid aside his garments and took a towel and girded himself 5 After that he poureth water into a bason and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded Observe here The admirable humility and great self-denial of our Lord and Master he arises from Supper whilst his Disciples sate still and he that came in the form of a Servant performs all the offices of the meanest Servant to his Disciples he lays aside his upper Garments he girds himself with a Towel pours Water into a Bason and begins to wash and wipe their Feet which lay out behind them as they leaned at the Table all which was a most servile imployment Learn hence That the wonderful humility of Jesus Christ inclined him to do the meanest offices of Service unto his People even to become a Servant to them in the Day of his Humiliation and tho' now glorified in Heaven he retains the same Compassionate Heart towards them as when here on Earth 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter and Peter saith unto him Lord dost thou wash my feet 7 Jesus answered and said unto him What I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt know hereafter 8 Peter saith unto him Thou shalt never wash my feet Jesus answered him If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me 9 Simon Peter saith unto him Lord not my feet onely but also my hands and my head 10 Jesus saith to him He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet but is clean every whit and ye are clean but not all 11 For he knew who should betray him therefore said he ye are not all clean Observe here 1. How Simon Peter refuses to admit of such a condescending act from Christ his Lord and Master as the washing of his Feet Lord Thou shalt never wash my Feet it is a sinful humility to refuse the offered favours of Christ because we are unworthy to receive them Tho' we are not worthy of Christ and of his Love yet Christ is worthy of us and of our Faith Observe 2. Our Saviour's Reply to Peter's refusal 1. He tells him that there was more in it than the bare act of washing did at first sight import and that he should know hereafter what he did not understand now What I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt know hereafter
that time when he had with an unbelieving Heart and an unthankful Spirit been eating the Passover which was a Type of Christ Now Satan enters into him that is takes fuller possession of him and he gives up himself more freely and fully to the Devil's conduct and suggestions Satan gets possession of wicked Men gradually and by degrees not all at once the only way to be safe is to resist the beginnings of Sin for when Satan once gets footing it is hard to prevent a more full possession Observe 4. The place where Judas now was Namely at Bethany some Miles from Jerusalem and it was now Night yet so intent he was upon the Devil's work that away he trudges to Jerusalem and at that time of the Night repairs to the high Priests and sells his Saviour into their hands Oh what a warmth and zeal was here in the Devil's cause Men given over by God possest by Satan are so restless and unwearied in Sin that neither by day nor by Night can they cease from the contrivance and execution of it 31 ¶ Therefore when he was gone out Jesus said Now is the son of man glorified and God is glorified in him 32 If God be glorified in him God shall also glorifie him in himself and shall straightway glorifie him Observe here 1. Our blessed Lord calls his Death his glory Now is the Son of Man glorified That is now is the time at hand when I am to die and shall by my Death finish the work of Man's Redemption and thereby eminently glorifie God God the Father was eminently glorified in the Obedience and Sufferings of his dear and only Son It is true that the Sufferings of Christ were Ignominious in themselves yet were they the way to his own Glory and his Father 's also for by them he redeemed a lost World trampled upon Satan triumphed over Sin And the Father was exceedingly glorified by the Son 's giving Obedience to his Will and so chearfully Suffering Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him 33 Little children yet a little while I am with you Ye shall seek me and as I said unto the Jews Whither I go ye cannot come so now I say unto you Observe here An indearing compellation a sweet Title given by Christ to his Disciples Little Children intimating that tender Affection which he bare unto them tho' now upon the point of departing from them Learn thence That whatever Christ's dealings are or may be with his People in respect of his removing and withdrawing from them yet he still retains the relation of a Father to them and will in his absence from them exercise such a care over them as Parents have of their young and tender Children so much doth the Title of Little Children imply and import Observe farther The plain intimation which our Saviour gives to his Disciples of his death being very nigh for it was the very next day he tells them he was going to Heaven and whither he went they could not come that is not presently they should follow him their forerunner afterwards but at present he had a great deal of work for them to do tho' his own work was done and till they had finished their work Whither He went they could not come Learn hence That tho' it be Rest which the Saints may lawfully desire an everlasting rest with Christ in glory yet must they not refuse to labour whilest their Lord will have it so Till their work be done whither Christ is gone they cannot come Ye shall seek me but whither I go at present ye cannot come 34 A new commandment I give unto you That ye love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another Our Saviour having mentioned his departure from his Disciples in the former Verse I go away and whither I go ye cannot come In this and the following Verses he gives them a strict charge that in his absence they should love one another This he calls a new Commandment not that it was new in regard of Institution but of Restitution not new in regard of the Substance of it for it was a Branch of the Law of Nature and a known precept of the Jewish Religion But he calls it a new Commandment 1. Because purged from the old corrupt glosses of the Pharisees who had limited this duty of Love and confined it to their own Country-men whereas Christ enlarges the object and obliges his Disciples to love all mankind even their very Enemies 2. Because this Duty of Love was so greatly advanced and heightned by our Saviour as to the measures and degrees of it even to the laying down of our Lives one for another 3. It is called a new Commandment because urged from a new Motive and enforced by a new Example As I have loved you that ye also love one another never was this Duty so effectually taught so mightily encouraged so much urged and insisted upon by any Teacher as our Saviour and never was there such an Example given of it as his own 4. 'T is a new Commandment because with the rest it was never to wax old but to be always fresh in the memory and practice of Christ's Disciples to the end of the World 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another To recommend the foregoing Duty of loving one another with the greater advantage our Saviour tells us here that it will be the best Evidence of our Relation to him as sincere Disciples By this shall all Men know that ye are my Disciples Where Observe 1. Our Saviour doth not say by this Men shall conjecture and guess that you belong to me as being my Disciples but they shall certainly know it 2. He doth not say by this shall you know your selves to be my Disciples and one another to be so but by this shall all others know it as well as your selves 3. He doth not say by this shall all Men know that you look like my Disciples but that you are indeed what you pretend to be Namely By your loving one another 4. Christ doth not say by this shall the World know that you are my Disciples Namely By your assembling often together in my House of Prayer by your frequent fastings by your reading the Scriptures Daily by your hearing Sermons Weekly by your Receiving Sacraments Monthly all these put together will be no sufficient evidence of your Disciple-ship if you keep up a secret grudg in your Hearts one against another But by this shall all Men know that ye are my Disciples if ye love one another Learn hence That one of the best Proofs and Evidences we can have of our relation to Christ as his sincere Disciples is an hearty love and good will one towards another 36 ¶ Simon Peter said unto him Lord whither goest thou Jesus answered him Whither I go thou canst not follow me now but thou shalt
follow me afterwards 37 Peter said unto him Lord Why cannot I follow thee now I will lay down my life for thy sake 38 Jesus answered him Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake Verily verily I say unto thee the cock shall no crow till thou hast denied me thrice Here we find Peter reflecting upon what our Saviour had said just before v. 33. Whither I go ye cannot come he is inquisitive to know of Christ whither he went Our Lord tells him that for the present he could not follow him but should hereafter he was not as yet strong enough to suffer for him as he should and did afterwards St. Peter grieved at this rashly resolves to follow him tho' he should die for his sake Christ advises him not to be over-confident of his own strength and standing for he should deny him Thrice within the Time of Cock-crowing Observe here 1. How that fond Conceit which our Lord's Disciples had of his Temporal Kingdom here in this World did abide and continue with them to the very last for when Christ spake of leaving them by Ascending into Heaven Peter understands him of a removal that was Earthly from one place to another whereas Christ intended it of a removal from Earth to Heaven The Opinion that the Messiah was to be a Temporal Prince and that his Kingdom should be of this World was so deeply rooted in the Minds of the Jews that they stumbled at it fatally and Christ's own Disciples had so drunk in the notion that they wonder to hear Christ say that he is going from them and that whither he goes they cannot come Observe 2. That Christ's Disciples shall certainly follow their Master afterwards and be for ever with the Lord but they must wait their Lord's time and finish their Lord's work they must patiently wait for their Change and not peevishly wish for it for tho' they do not follow Christ presently to Heaven they shall follow him afterwards Observe 3. The greatness of St. Peters's self-confidence I will lay down my Life for thy sake Good Man He resolved honestly but too too much in his own strength Little Oh little did he think what a Feather he should be in the wind of Temptation if once God left him to the power and prevalency of his own fears The holiest of Men knows not his own strength till Temptation brings him to the Trial. Observe Lastly How detestable St. Peters's Presumption and Self-Confidence was to Christ and how fatal and pernicious to himself Wilt thou lay down thy Life for my sake As if Christ had said Peter Thou sayest more than thou can'st do Thine own strength will fail thee and thy Self-Confidence deceive thee I know thy Heart better than thou dost thy self and I foresee that before the Cock crows thou wilt deny me thrice Thence Learn That none are so near falling as those that are most confident of their own standing CHAP. XIV 1 LEt not your heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me 2 In my Fathers house are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also 4 And whither I go ye know and the way ye know Our blessed Saviour in the foregoing Chapter having acquainted his Disciples with his approaching Death by the Treachery of Judas their Hearts were thereupon over-whelmed with Grief and Trouble Accordingly in this Chapter by sundry Arguments he comforts his Disciples against the perplexity of their fears and sorrows 1. Observe How Christ addresses himself to his Disciples in a very endearing and Affectionate manner Let not your hearts be troubled Whence learn 1. That the Best and Holiest of God's Children and Servants whilest here in an imperfect state are subject to desponding disquieting and distrustful fears 2. That no work is more delightful to our Saviour than to comfort the troubled and perplexed Spirits of his Servants Observe 2. The Remedy which Christ prescribes for the calming their present fears and for arming them against future troubles and that is Faith in the Father and himself Ye believe in God believe also in me Here learn 1. That God is the supream object of Faith his unchangeable love and faithfulness with his infinite Power in the accomplishing of his promises is the security of Believers Learn 2. That Christ as Mediatour between God and guilty Creatures is the immediate object of our Faith Learn 3. That Christ being the true and proper object of our Faith is a proof of his being truly and really God Christ doth here assert his own Deity in the substance of the Command in making himself an object of Faith in Conjunction with God the Father Ye believe in God believe also in me Observe Next the Arguments of Consolation which Christ propounds for the support of his Disciples under the sorrow which they had conceived for his approaching departure 1. He tells them That Heaven whither he was now going was his Father's House a place of happiness not designed for himself alone but for many more to enjoy a perpetual rest and abode in as in everlasting Mansions in my Father's House are many mansions Heaven is God's House in which he will freely converse with his Domesticks his Children and Servants and they shall enjoy full glory there as in a quiet and capacious habitation A second ground of Comfort is that he assures them he will come again and receive them to himself that they may live together with him in the Heavenly Mansions This promise Christ makes good to his Saints partly at the day of their Death and perfectly at the day of Judgment when he shall make one errand for all and take up all his Children to himself and make them compleatly happy both in Soul and Body with himself Learn hence That tho' Christ has removed his Bodily presence from his Friends on Earth yet his love to them is not ceased nor will he rest satisfied till he and they meet again Eternally to solace themselves in each others Company I will come again and receive you to my self that where I am there you may be also A Third Argument for Consolation is That notwithstanding Christ was to leave them yet they knew whither he went Namely To Heaven and which was the way thither Whither I go ye know and the way ye know It contributes much to the Comfort of Believers as to know God and Heaven so to know the way that leads thither that so they may be armed against all the difficulties of that way 5 Thomas saith unto him Lord we know not whither thou goest and how can we know the way 6 Jesus saith unto him I am the way and the truth and the life no man cometh unto the Father but by me Observe here 1. How Thomas and probably
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
they have but would have had more to say in excuse or for a cover for their Sin than now they can But now they have no Cloak for their Sin That is they are totally inexcusable and have not the least colour or pretence for their obstinate unbelief Learn hence 1. That Sins of Ignorance are as it were no Sins compared with Sins committed against light and Knowledge 2. That Sins committed against Gospel-Light are of an heinous Nature and Aggravated Guilt as being committed against the very Remedy 3. That the Gospel where it is plainly preached doth take away all pretence and excuse from Sinners Now they have no Cloak for their Sin 23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also 24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did they had not had sin but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father 25 But this cometh to pass that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law they hated me without a cause These words declare the heinous Nature of the Pharisees sin in hating and persecuting Christ who had done before their Eyes such Works as no Man besides him or before him ever did he acting by his own Power Peter healed the lame Man Acts 3. but it was in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth But Christ healed the sick and raised the dead in his own Name and by a special Word of Command I say unto thee Arise Yet did the Pharisees hate him and his Father according to the Prediction Psalm 35.19 They hated me without a cause Which being spoken of David in Type received a more eminent Accomplishment in Christ the Son of David Learn hence 1. That let Men pretend to never so much Holiness or Respect to God yet if they hate Christ and despise his Gospel they are haters of God who is One in Essence and Nature with his Son He that hateth me hateth my Father also Learn 2. That no Miracles wrought by mortal Men were ever comparable with the Miracles wrought by Christ the Son of God his did surpass them all in number kind and manner of doing them by his own Authority in his own Name and not as others who obtained their Power by Prayer from God I have done amongst them the works which none other man did Learn 3. That Christ's having confirmed his Doctrine by such unparallel'd Miracles as the World was never before acquainted with doth aggravate the sin of those that are Haters of his Person Despisers of his Doctrine and Reproachers of his Miracles It being just with God when Men obstinately shut their Eyes and will not see judicially to close their Eyes and say They shall not see 26 But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testifie of me 27 And ye also shall bear witness because ye have been with me from the beginning Here our Holy Lord Comforts himself that tho' he had lain then under many Aspersions and Scandals from the World yet all these should be done away by the coming of the Holy Spirit who should testifie of him and make his Person and Doctrine to be acknowledged in the World and that they themselves should bear witness of him who had been with him from the beginning that is since he first began to exercise his Prophetick Office Observe here 1. That Father Son and Holy Spirit are Three distinct Persons in the Godhead 2. That the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Son Here the Son is said to send him and as to the Father he is said to proceed from him If the Holy Ghost doth not proceed from the Son why is he called the Spirit of the Son Gal. 4.6 Why is he said here to be sent by the Son The Comforter whom I will send unto you from the Father And if the Spirit doth not proceed from the Son what personal Relation can we conceive betwixt the Son and the Spirit Observe 3. That it is the high Dignity and Honour of the Apostles and Ministers of Christ that the Spirit beareth no Testimony unto Christ but with and according to the Testimony given by them for here it is conjoyned He shall testifie of me and ye also shall bear witness who have been with me from the beginning CHAP. XVI 1 THese things have I spoken unto you that ye should not be offended 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service 3 And these things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me 4 But these things have I told you that when the time shall come ye may remember that I told you of them And these things I said unto you at the beginning because I was with you In the close of the foregoing Chapter our blessed Saviour had acquainted his Disciples with the hatred and hard usage which they were like to meet with from the World and here he intimates to them the Reason why he did so much insist upon the Subject namely not to sadden their Hearts and grieve their Spirits before their Sufferings came but that they might not be offended discouraged or scandalized at them when they came but prepared for them and armed against them Hence Learn 1. That all Afflictions but especially Persecutions are so searching and trying that the best of Christians have need to be guarded against them that they may not be offended at them 2. That it was the great Design of Christ to Arm his Disciples against the Scandal of the Cross lest stumbling at that which they expected not they should fall from the Profession of Christianity These things have I spoken unto you that ye should not be offended Observe 2. How our Saviour instances in two particular sorts and kinds of Sufferings which his Disciples were to expect in the World and from the World namely Excommunication and Martyrdom ver 2. They shall put you out of their Synagogues that is exclude them from all their Assemblies both Civil and Religious and shall not only think it lawful but a very acceptable Service to God to put them to death Whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God service Observe 3. How Christ discovers to his dear Disciples the Cause and Ground of the World's Hatred against them and Enmity towards them namely their Ignorance of the Father and himself ver 3. These things will they do because they have not known the Father nor me From whence we may Learn That all the Persecutions of the Saints do speak in Persecutors an Ignorance both of God the Father and of Jesus Christ his Son All Persecution springs from Ignorance as well as from Malice And Men who continue ignorant of God and Christ are in danger of turning Persecutors if they have a temptation to it Observe 4. How
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
mere than the express Commandments of God Learn thence That Superstitious Men are always more Fond of and Zealous for the Traditions of Men in Divine Worship than of the express and positive Commands of God Secondly That it is the manner of such Persons to Tye others to their own Practice and Example in matters of Religious Worship and to Censure and Condemn all those who do not conform to them in the smallest matters The Pharisees here Censure the Disciples for eating with unwashed Hands because it was their Custom to wash when they did eat yet did not Christ or his Disciples refuse to wash before Meat as it was a Civil and Decent Custom but because the Pharisees made it a Religious Rite Teaching us that what is in it self indifferent and may without offence be done as a Civil Custom ought to be Discountenanced and Opposed when required of us as an Act of Religion The Jews fearing lest they should touch any Person or Thing that was unclean and so be Defiled unawares did use frequent washings as of Cups Pots Vessels Tables Beds or Couches which they lay upon when they eat Thus Pharisaical Hypocrisie puts God off with outward Cleansing instead of inward Purity regarding more the outward Cleanness of the Hand than the inward Purity of the Heart This was the Accusation of the Pharisees to which our Saviour Replies by way of Recrimination that if his Disciples did not observe the Tradition of the Elders They the Pharisees did reject and make void the Commandment of God and did Worship him in vain Teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men. Learn hence That all Service and Worship which is offered to God according to Man's Will and Ordinances and not according to the Rule of God's own Word is Vain and Unprofitable Divine Institution is the only pure Rule of Religious Worship as to the Substance of it here what God doth not Command he forbids Observe next the Instance which our Saviour produces of the Pharisees Violating an express Command of God and prefering their own Traditions before it He instances in the Fifth Commandment which requires Children to Relieve their Parents in their Necessities Now though the Pharisees did not deny this in plain Terms yet they made an exception from it which if Children pleased might render it vain void and useless For the Pharisees Taught that in case the Child of a Poor Parent that wanted Relief would give a Gift to the Temple which Gift they called Corban that is a Gift Consecrated to God and Religious Uses that then the Children of such Poor Parents were discharged from making any farther Provision for their Aged or Impotent Parents But might reply after this manner that which thou askest for thy Supply is given to God and therefore I cannot Relieve thee So that Covetous and Graceless Children lookt upon it as the most frugal way once for all to fine to the Temple rather than pay the constant Rent of Daily Relief to their Poor Parents Learn hence That the Practice of Moral Duties is required before and is more acceptable to Almighty God than the most Solemn Acts and Exercises of Instituted Worship whatsoever I will have Mercy says God rather than Sacrifice and to do Justice and Judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than Sacrifice Secondly That no Duty Gift or Offering to God is accepted where the Duty of Charity is neglected it is much more acceptable to God to refresh the Bowels of his Saints who are the Living Temples of the Holy Ghost than to Adorn Material Temples with Gold and Silver Corban is a Syriack Word signifying a Gift given to God The Pharisees applied these Gifts to the Use and Service of the Temple possibly to Repair Beautifie and Adorn it which had not been amiss if they had not taught that such Gifts to the Temple did discharge Children from the Duty of Charity to their Natural Parents These Things ought they to have done in the first place and not to leave the other undone 14 And when he had called all the people unto him he said unto them Hearken unto me every one of you and understand 15 There is nothing from without a man that entering into him can defile him but the things which come out of him those are they that defile the man 16 If any Man have ears to hear let him hear 17 And when he was entered into the house from the people his disciples asked him concerning the parable 18. And he saith unto them Are ye so without understanding also do ye not perceive that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man it cannot defile him 19 Because it entereth not into his heart but into the belly and goeth out into the draught purging all meats 20 And he said That which cometh out of the man that defileth the man 21 For from within out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts adulteries fornications murders 22 Thefts covetousness wickedness deceit lasciviousness an evil eye blasphemy pride foolishness 23 All these evil things come from within and defile the Man Our Blessed Saviour leaving the Pharisees with some dislike applies himself to the Multitude and instructs them in a very necessary and useful Doctrine Touching the true Original Cause of all Spiritual Pollution and Uncleanness Namely The Filthiness and Impurity of Man's Heart and Nature And that it is not the Meat eaten with the Mouth but the Wickedness of the Heart vented by the Mouth which Pollutes a Person in God's Account The Heart and Soul of Man alone is capable of Sinful Defilement Nothing can Defile a Person in God's Account but that which defileth the inward Man Learn hence 1. That the Heart of Man is the Sink and Seed-plot of all Sin the Source and Fountain of all Pollution 2. That all the Impiety of the Life proceeds from the Impurity and Filthiness of the Heart Mens Lives would not be so bad if their Hearts were not worse These Disciples desiring the Interpretation of the foregoing parable our Saviour gives it them but withal expostulates with them for not understanding a matter so obvious and plain Are ye yet without Vnderstanding As if he had said have you sat thus long under my Ministerial Teaching and enjoyed the Benefit of my Conversation and yet are no further Proficients in Knowledge Plainly intimating that Christ expects a Proficiency in Knowledge from us proportionable to the Opportunities and Means of Knowledge enjoyed by us Having given them this Rebuke he next acquaints them with the sense and meaning of the Parable namely That it is out of a Wicked and Sinful Heart that all Sin and Wickedness doth proceed Though the Occasions of Sin are from without yet the Source and Original of it is from within The Heart of Man is as a Cage full of Unclean Birds Hence proceed Evil Thoughts either against God or our Neighbours Adulteries or all the Sins of the Flesh Murthers that is all Cruelty and
hard Dealing towards others An Evil Eye That is an Envious Spirit which frets and grieves at the Happiness of others called an Evil Eye because Envy doth much shew and manifest it self in the outward Countenance and especially by the Eyes From the whole Note That the best way to hinder the progress of Sin in the Life is to mortifie it in the Heart to Crucifie all inordinate Motions Lusts and Corruptions in their root for the Heart is the first Seat and Subject of Sin from whence it flows forth into the Life and Conversation 24 And from thence he arose and went into the borders of Tyre and Sydon and entered into an house and would have no man know it but he could not be hid 25 For a certain woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell at his feet 26 The woman was a Greek a Syrophenician by nation and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her Daughter 27 But Jesus said unto her Let the children first be filled for it is not meet to take the childrens bread and to cast it unto the dogs 28 And she answered and said unto him Yes Lord yet the dogs under the table eat of the childrens crumbs 29 And he said unto her for this saying go thy way the devil is gone out of thy daughter 30 And when she was come to her house she found the devil gone out and her daughter laid upon the bed All along in the History of our Saviour's Life we are to take notice how he went about from place to place doing good being now come into the Borders of Tyre and Sidon he finds a poor Woman of the Race of the Canaanites who becomes first an humble Supplicant and then a Bold Beggar on the behalf of her Possessed Daughter Where Obs 1. That though all Israel could not example the Faith of this Canaanite yet was her Daughter Tormented with the Devil Learn thence That neither truth of Faith nor strength of Faith can secure against Satan's inward Temptations or outward Vexations and consequently the worst of Bodily Afflictions are no sufficient proof of Divine Displeasure Obs 2. The Daughter did not come to Christ for her self but the Mother for her Perhaps the Child was not so sensible of its own Misery but the Mother feels both the Childs sorrow and her own True Goodness teaches us to appropriate the Afflictions of others to our selves causing us to bear their Griefs and to Sympathize with them in their Sorrows Obs 3. The seeming Severity of Christ to this poor Wâ—man he calls her not a Woman but a Dog and as it were Spurns her from the Table Did ever so Severe a Word drop from those mild Lips What shall we say Is the Lamb of God turned Lion that a Woman in Distress imploring Pity should be thus rated out of Christ's Presence But hence we Learn How Christ puts the strongest Faith of his own Children upon the severest Tryal This Tryal had never been so sharp if her Faith had not been so strong Usually where God gives much Grace he tries Grace much Obser 4. The Humble Carriage of this Holy Woman her Humility grants all her Patience overcomes all she meekly desires to possess the Dogs place not to croud to the Table but to creep under it and to partake of the Crumbs of Mercy that fall from thence Indeed she shewed one of the best qualities of the Dog in keeping her hold where she had once fastned not letting go nor giving over until she had gotten what she desired But nothing is so pleasing to Christ as to see his People follow him with Faith and Importunity when he seems to withdraw himself from them 31 And again departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sydon he came unto the sea of Galilee thorow the midst of the coasts of Decapolis 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf and had an impediment in his speech and they beseech him to put his hands upon him 33 And he took him aside from the multitude and put his fingers into his ears and he spit and touched his tongue 34 And looking up to heaven he sighed and saith unto him Ephphatha that is be opened 35 And straightway his ears were opened and the string of his Tongue was loosed and he spake plain 36 And he charged them that they should tell no Man but the more he charged them so much the more a great deal they published it 37 And were beyond measure astonished saying He hath done all things well he maketh both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak See here 1. The bitter Fruits and sad Effects of Sin which has brought Deafness Dumbness and Blindness upon the Humane Nature As Death so all Diseases entred into the World by Sin Sin first brought Infirmities and Mortality into our Natures and the Wages of Sin are Diseases and Death Observe 2. That the Blessing of Bodily Health and Healing is from Christ who by his Divine Power as he was God miraculously and immediately healed them that were brought unto him Obser 3. The Actions and Gestures which our Saviour used in healing this Deaf Person He put his Fingers into his Ears he spit and touched his Tongue Not that these were Means or Natural Causes effecting the Cure for there was no healing Vertue in the Spittle but only outward Signs Testimonies and Pledges of Christ's Divine Power and Gracious Readiness to cure the Person in Distress Obser 4. How Christ withdrew the Person from the Multitude whom he was about to help and heal Teaching us in all our Good Works to avoid all Shew and Appearance of Ostentation and Vain-Glory To set God's Glory before our Eyes and not seek our own Praise Observe 5. The Effect which this Miracle had upon the Multitude it occasion'd their Astonishment and Applause They were astonished and said He hath done all things well It becomes us both to take Notice of the wonderful Works of God and also to magnify and extol the Author of them This is one way of glorifying our Creator CHAP. VIII 1 IN those days the Multitude being very great and having nothing to eat Jesus called his Disciples unto him and said unto them 2 I have compassion on the multitude because they have now been with me three days and have nothing to eat 3 And if I send them away fasting to their own Houses they will faint by the way for divers of them came from far 4 And his Disciples answered him From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread in the wilderness 5 And he asked them How many loaves have ye and they said Seven 6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground and he took the seven loaves and gave thanks and brake and gave to his Disciples to set before them and they did set them before the People 7 And they had a few small fishes and he blessed