had alledged Scripture before to Satan here Satan retorts Scripture back again to Christ It is written says Christ It is written says Satan Learn thence That it is no wonder to hear Hereticks and Hypocrites quote Scripture when Satan himself durst recite them He that had prophanely toucht the Sacred Body of Christ with his Hand sticks not presumptuously to handle the Holy Scriptures of God with his Tongue Yet Observe How wretchedly the Devil wrests perverts and misapplies the Scriptures When God promises his Angels shall keep us it is in Viis non in Praecipitiis 't is in all God's Ways not in any of our own crooked Paths Note here That altho' the Children of God have the Promise of the Guardianship of Holy Angels yet then only may they expect their Protection when they are walking in the Way of their Duty 7 Jesus said unto him It is written again Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God Observe here Tho' the Devil had wrested and abused Scripture yet still Christ alledges Scripture The Abuse of the Holy Scriptures by Hereticks and Seducers is no Argument against the Use of them As Christ here compares Scripture with Scripture so should we in order to the finding out the true Sence and Meaning of it 8 Again the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them 9 And saith unto him All these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me The next Sin which Satan tempts our Saviour to is the Sin of Idolatry even to Worship the Devil himself Oh thou Impudent and Foul Spirit To desire thy Creator to Adore thee an Apostate-Creature Surely there can be no Sin so black and foul so gross and monstrous but that the Christian may be tempted to it when Christ himself was tempted to Worship the Tempter St. Matthew reads the Words If thou wilt fall down and Worship me St. Luke If thou wilt Worship before me Whence we may gather That if to Worship before the Devil be to Worship the Devil then to Worship before an Image is to Worship the Image Obs 2. The Bait which Satan makes use of to allure our Saviour to the Sin of Idolatry and that was in representing to his Eye and View all the Glories of the World in the most inviting manner and that in a Moment of Time to the intent it might affect him the more and prevail the sooner Learn thence That the Pomp and Greatness the Glory and Grandeur of this World is made use of by Satan as a dangerous Snare to draw Men to a Compliance with him in his Temptations unto Sin 10 Then saith Jesus unto him Get thee hence Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Observe here 1. With what Zeal and Indignation of Spirit our Blessed Saviour repells and beats back this Temptation of Satan Get thee hence Note thence That the greater the Sins are which the Devil tempts us to the greater our Zeal and Indignation ought to be in opposing and resisting of the Temptation to them A great Temptation must be withstood with great Resolution Observe 2. The Weapon with which he repells and beats back the Fiery Dart of Satan's Temptation and that is with the Shield of Scripture It is written Thou shalt Worship the Lord thy God Learn thence That GOD is the Sole Object of all Religious Worship it is so peculiarly the Creator's Due that to give it to any Creature is gross Idolatry and repugnant to the Scriptures 11 Then the devil leaveth him and behold angels came and ministred unto him Observe here 1. The Issue of this Combat Satan is conquered and quits the Field Then the Devil leaveth him Teaching us That nothing like a vigorous Resistance of Temptation causes the Tempter to flee from us Resist the Devil and be will flee from you Observe 2. Our Lord's Triumph over his Enemy Behold Angels came and ministred unto him Food to his hungry Body and Comfort to his tempted Soul Learn thence That those who in the Hour of Temptation do hold out in resisting Satan shall find the Power and Faithfulness of God will not be wanting to them to send in Succour and Relief in the End 12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison he departed into Galilee 13 And leaving Nazareth he came and dwelt in Capernaum which is upon the sea-coast in the borders of Zebulon and Nephthalim 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet saying 15 The land of Zabulon and the land of Nephthalim by the way of the sea beyond Jordan Galilee of the Gentiles 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up Observe here 1. Our Saviour hearing of John's Imprisonment provides for his own Safety by departing into Galilee As our Holy Lord avoided Persecution so may we Observe 2. The Place in Galilee he comes to Capernaum Christ had three Cities which he called his own Nazareth where he was Bred Bethlehem where he was Born and Capernaum where he dwelt this was a Sea-coast Town in the Borders of Zebulon and Nephthali Observe 3. The Special Providence of God in this Change of our Saviour's Habitation for by that means the Prophecy Isa 9.1 was fulfilled which declares that in that dark part of the Country the Messiah the True Light should shine forth Learn hence 1. That a People destitute of the Saving Knowledge of the Gospel are in great Darkness how great soever the Light of their Outward Comforts may be This People had Natural Light enough and Civil Light enough they had an Abundance of Wealth and Riches Peace and Plenty but they wanted the Light of Christ and his Gospel and therefore are said to sit in Darkness 2. That where-ever the Gospel is Preached amongst a People it is as a Light springing up and shining forth amongst them quickning and enlivening reviving and chearing the Souls of those that entertain it how great soever their outward Darkness and Distress may be The People that sate in Darkness saw great Light and to them which sate in the Region and Shadow of Death Light is sprung up c. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand Here our Saviour begins to enter upon his Prophetick Office and by Preaching to make known the Will of God to Mankind and Observe The Doctrine which he Preached is the same that John the Baptist did Preach namely the Doctrine of Repentance Repent ye and the Argument is the same also For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand that is now is the so much expected Time of the Appearing of the promised Messiah Learn hence That the Doctrine of Christ and his Ambassadors is alike and the same
and Benefits of it to them that are most unworthy and ill-deserving 2. To encourage the greatest Sinners to go unto Christ by Faith and seek to be ingrafted into him For as Christ by the Power of his Godhead did purifie our Nature from all the Pollution of his Ancestors so he can by the Power of his Grace and Spirit Sanctifie our Persons and Natures how foul and impure soever they either are or have been 3. Hereby our Lord gives us to understand That he came to Save the most Notorious Sinners as well as those whose Lives have been less Scandalous 4. This is recorded for the Support of such as are Illegitimate and Base-born how vile soever their Parent 's Sin has rendered them in the Eyes of Men 't is their own Sin only which exposes them to Contempt in the sight of God T is not Illegitimacy but Unregeneracy that makes us Objects of God's Wrath. 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together she was found with child of the holy Ghost This Espousal of Mary to Joseph was for the Safety of Christ and for the Credit and Reputation of the Virgin It was for our Saviour's Safety because being to fly into Egypt he has Joseph his reputed Father to take care of him and it was for the Virgin 's Reputation lest she should have been accounted unclean Learn hence What a special Regard Almighty God has to the Fame and Reputation of his Children he would have them free from the least Suspicion of Evil and Dishonesty Mary being espoused to an Husband frees her self from the Suspicion of Naughtiness and her Son from the Imputation of an Illegitimate Birth Observe farther The Miraculous Conception of the Holy Jesus the Holy Ghost overshadowed the Virgin and did miraculously cause her Conception without the help of an Human Father Thus Christ was the Son of God as well in his Human as in his Divine Nature He must needs be a perfectly Holy Person who was conceived purely by the Holy Spirit 's Operation 19 Then Joseph her husband being a just man and not willing to make her a publick example was minded to put her away privily That is being an holy Person he was unwilling to accompany with a defiled Woman and therefore minded to put her away but being kind and gentle he intended to put her away privily lest she should have been exposed and stoned to death Observe here How early our Dear Lord's Sufferings began he and his Mother are designed to be put away even when he was but an Embryo in the Womb. Observe farther From the great Clemency of Joseph toward the suspected Virgin That kind and merciful Men always presume the best and prosecute with gentleness especially where Life is concerned Meek Joseph doth resolve upon the milder course and chooses rather to put her away privily than publickly to expose her 20 But while he thought on these things behold the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream saying Joseph thou son of David fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of the holy Ghost Two things are here observable namely the Care that Almighty God takes 1. For Joseph's Satisfaction 2. For Vindicating the Virgin 's Reputation For Joseph's Satisfaction an Angel is dispatcht to give him assurance that the Virgin was not defiled by Man but overshadowed by the Holy Ghost Whence Note That Almighty God will certainly find out Ways and Means for his People's Satisfaction when they are willing and desirous above all things to come to the Knowledge and right Understanding of their Duty Observe 2. How the Angel clears the Virgin 's Innocency as well as satisfies Joseph's Doubtings by assuring that what was conceived in her was by the Holy Ghost Learn hence That God will in his own time clear the Innocency of such as suffer in their Name and Reputation for the sake of Christ tho' for the present they may ly under the Burden of Disgrace and Shame 21 And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his Name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins Observe here 1. A Prediction of our Saviour's Birth the Virgin shall bring forth a Son 2. A Precept for the Imposition of his Name Thou shalt call his Name Jesus that is a Saviour 3. The Reason why that Name was given him because he should save a People not temporally as Joshuah did the Israelites from their Enemies but spiritually and eternally from their Sins not in their Sins but from them that is from the Guilt and Punishment from the Power and Dominion of them Obs 4. The peculiar Subjects of this Priviledge His People He shall save his People from their Sins Learn 1. That Sin is the Evil of Evils or that Sin considered in it self is incomparably the greatest and the worst of Evils 2. That the great End of Christ's coming into the World was to be a Saviour from this Evil. 3. That Christ's own People do want and stand in need of a Saviour as well as others if he does not save them from their Sins they must Die in and for their Sins as well as others 22 Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying 23 Behold a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel which being interpreted is God with us Of all the Prophets of the Old Testament the Prophet Esay has the Honour to be first recited in the New Here the Evangelist quotes his Prophecy of Christ's Incarnation Behold a Virgin shall be with Child Learn thence That the great Mystery of our Saviour's wonderful Incarnation was tho' darkly revealed to the Church of God under the Old Testament Observe farther The Name given to our Saviour under the Old Testament Immanuel that is God with us God manifested in our Flesh God appearing in our Nature God reconciling Man to himself Oh Happy and Blessed Union of Two Natures in One Person Christ is God and Man united that God and Men may be reconciled 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him and took unto him his wife Joseph is no sooner assured that Mary is with Child by the Overshadowing Power of the Holy Ghost but he instantly obeys the Lord's Command and takes Mary to him without farther disputing or delaying Learn thence That a Gracious Person when once satisfied in God's Word of Command disputes no farther but instantly complies with the Will of God even in the most hazardous and difficult Duties 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her first-born son and he called his Name Jesus It is â—â—â—usly Believed tho' not positively in Scripture Asserted that the Virgin had no other Child but our Saviour it is a
wicked Parents repine because they had Children but because they had lost them Mothers have the sharpest Throws both in their Childrens Births and Burials As Children in their Births are their Mothers Benjamins so in their Burial they are their Mothers Benoni's Sons of Sorrow 19 But when Herod was dead behold an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt saying 20 Arise and take the young child and his mother and go into the land of Israel for they are dead which sought the young child's life Obs 1. Herod's Death like a Bloody Persecutor he is sent unlamented to his Grave Historians say that out of his Body issued forth such impure Streams of Blood that the Loathsomness and Pain made him attempt the killing of himself God seldom suffers Persecutors to pass in quiet to their Graves they rarely die the common Death of all Men having no other Balm at their Funeral than their own Blood Obs 2. The happy Consequent of Herod's Death Christ is now call'd Home without Danger Herod being sent to his Grave the Coast is clear for the Return of the Holy Family The Death of Persecutors is the Delivery of the Persecuted 21 And he arose and took the young child and his mother and came into the land of Israel 22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod he was afraid to go thither notwithstanding being warned of God in a dream he turned aside into the parts of Galilee Observe here 1. The just Fear that Joseph has upon his Mind that Herod's Son would be as Bloody a Tyrant as his Flagitious Father No wonder that the Children of Cruel Persecutors are suspected to tread in their Bloody Parents Steps Obs 2. How God's Warrant and Direction doth quiet Joseph's Mind resolve his Doubts and remove his Fears and makes him readily comply with the Command of God Being warned of God he removes out of Egypt into Galilee Oh how safe and satisfactory is it in all our Ways to follow the Call and Command of God! Joseph and Mary durst not move their Feet no not out of Egypt it self till God gives them a Warrant for their departure and bids them go 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet He shall be called a Nazarene A threefold Interpretation is given of these Words He shall be called a Nazarene Some read the Words 1. He shall be called a Nazarite the Nazarites were a Religious and Separate Rank of Persons among the Jews who abstained from Wine and came not near the Dead for fear of Pollution Christ was a Holy Person but no Nazarite in a strict sence for he drank Wine and touched the Dead 2. Others read the Words He shall be called Netzer a Branch in Allusion to Isa 11.1 where he is called a Branch of the Root of Jesse Christ was that True Branch of which the Prophets had so often spoken 3. Others will have the Word Nazarene referr to the City Nazareth where Christ was conceived and lived most of his time He shall be called a Nazarene because he dwelt at Nazareth hence his Disciples were called the Sect of the Nazarenes that is the Followers of him that dwelt at Nazareth and Christ himself is pleased to own the Title Act. 22.8 I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest Learn from hence The great Humility of Mind that was found in our Saviour He was Born at Bethlehem a little City he Lives at Nazareth a poor contemptible Place He aspires not after the Grandeur of the World but is meek and lowly in Spirit may the same humble Mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus CHAP. III. This Evangelist having declared our Saviour's Miraculous Conception in the First Chapter and recorded several remarkable Circumstances relating to his Birth in the Second Chapter in this Chapter before us he passes over in silence the whole Course of our Saviour's Life in private taking no notice how he spent his Minority whilst he dwelt at Nazareth which was till he was Thirty Years old at which time he entred upon his Publick Ministry having John the Baptist for his Harbinger and Forerunner at this Chapter fully informs us 1 IN those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 And saying Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand Observe here 1. The Preacher sent by God John the Baptist a Pattern of Mortification and a Preacher of Repentance Obs 2. The Place he is sent to Preach in The Wilderness of Judea not in Populous Jerusalem but in a Barren Wilderness where Inhabitants were sew and probably very ignorant and rude Learn hence That it is God's Prerogative to send forth the Preachers of the Gospel when and whither and to what People he pleases and none must Assume the Office before they be Sent. Obs 3. The Doctrine that he preaches namely the Doctrine of Repentance Repent ye This was to prepare the People for the Messias and the Grace of the Gospel Learn thence That the Preaching of the Doctrine of Repentance is absolutely necessary in order to the preparing of the Hearts of Sinners for the receiving of Christ Jesus Obs 4. The Motive which St. John uses to inforce the Exhortation to Repentance The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand that is now is the so much expected Time of the Appearing of the Messiah come the Old Testament Dispensation is now to be Abolished and the Mercy and Grace of the Gospel is now to be Revealed therefore Repent and Amend your Lives Note thence That the free and full Tenders of Grace and Mercy in the Gospel are the most alluring Arguments to move a Sinner to Repent and to Convert to God 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias saying The voice of one crying in the wilderness Prepare ye the way of the Lord make his paths straight The Papists from John Baptist's living in the Wilderness would make him the first Founder of the Order of the Hermits but very groundlesly For 1. What he did was by God's Command what they do is by the Dictates of their their own Fancy 2. He busied himself in Preaching in the Wilderness they bury themselves alive and do nothing 3. He lived in the Wilderness but for a time afterwards we find him at Court Preaching a Sermon to Herod but they bind themselves with a Vow to live and die Hermits 4 And the same John had his raiment of camels hair and a leathern girdle about his loins and his meat was locusts and wild honey The plainess of John's Habit and Diet is here declared he was habited in a plain Suit of Camels Hair much as Elijah was before him and as his Habit was plain so his Diet was ordinary feeding upon Herbs and such Things as the Wilderness affords hence it was that Nazianzen said he was all
Winnow his Corn separating it from the Chaff preserving the one and consuming the other Learn hence 1. That the Church is Christ's Floor 2. That this Floor Christ will Purge and that throughly 3. That the Word of Christ is the Fan in his Hands by and with which he will thoroughly Purge his Floor The Church is compared to a Floor upon the Account of that Mixture which is in the Church in a Floor there is Straw as well as Grain Chaff as well as Corn Tares as well as Wheat Cockle and Darnel as well as Good Seed Thus in the Church there is and will be a Mixture of Good and Bad Saints and Sinners Hypocrites and Sincere Christians But this Floor Christ will Purge Purge it but not Break it up Purge out its Corruptions but not Destroy its Essence and Existence and the Fan with which he will Purge his Floor is his Word accompanied with the Wing of Discipline The Fan detects and discovers the Chaff and the Wing dissipates and scatters it and by the help of both the Floor is Purged His Fan is in his Hand c. 13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him Here we have our Saviour's Solemn Inauguration and Publick Entrance upon his Prophetick Office by Baptism or Washing with Water according to the Manner of the Priests under the Ceremonial Law Exod. 29.4 Where we have Observable 1. The Circumstance of Time Then cometh Jesus that is after he had lain hid in Nazareth Thirty Years he comes abroad and enters upon his Publick Ministry Teaching us by his Example That when we are ripe and fit for Publick Service we should no less willingly leave our Obscurity than we took the Benefit of it for our Preparation Obs 2. The Action it self Christ is Baptized now as he was Circumcised before not because there was any Impurity in him either Filth or Foreskin which wanted either the Circumcising-Knife or the Baptismal-Water yet Purity it self condescends to be Washed Christ to be Baptized for these Reasons 1. That by this Symbol he might enter himself into the Society of Christians as by Circumcision he had done into the Society of Jews as a King condescends sometimes to be made a Freeman of a City or Corporation 2. That he might by his own Baptism Sanctifie the Ordinance of Baptism unto his Church 3. That thereby he might fulfil the Righteousness of the Ceremonial Law which required the Washing of the Priests in Water when they entred upon their Office as appears from Exod. 29.4 Obs 3. The great Dignation and Condescention of Christ in seeking and submitting to the Baptism of John Christ cometh to John not John to Christ Behold the Lord seeking to his Servant Christ will be Baptized of his Messenger Our Saviour's Design hereby no doubt was to put Honour upon the Ministry of John Oh how dare the Greatest upon Earth despise the Ministry of Man being appointed by God which Christ honoured in his own Person and graced with his own Presence 14 But John forbad him saying I have need to be baptized of thee and comest thou to me Note here 1. The Modesty of John's Refusal John forbad him and refused to admit him But why 1. In regard of Christ because he knew he needed it not such was his Majesty and Greatness that he was above it and such was his Purity and Holiness that he could not want it 2. In respect of himself he knew his own Uncleanness I have need to be Baptized of thee c. He thought it unsuitable that a Sinner should Baptize and Wash him that was no Sinner 3. With respect to the People lest they seeing Christ Baptized should apprehend him to be a Sinner and one that wanted the Baptism of Repentance as well as themselves Obs 2. As the Modesty of John's Refusal so the Reason he assigns for it I have need to be Baptized of thee As if he had said Thou art Purity I am Pollution thou art Spirit I am Flesh Thou are the Son of God I am the Son of Adam Such an humble Apprehension has this Holy Man of himself Learn That the more Holy a Person is the more sensible he is of his Unholiness where there is most Grace there is the greatest sense of the want of Grace 15 And Jesus answering said unto him Suffer it to be so now for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness Then he suffered him These Words contain our Saviour's Reason why he submitted to John's Baptism because it became him to fulfil all Righteousness that is particularly the Righteousness of the Ceremonial Law which required the Washing of the Priests in Water when they entred upon their Office Exod. 29.4 Learn hence 1. That whatever the Law required in order to perfect Righteousness that Christ fulfilled in most absolute Perfection both in his own Person and also in the Name of all Believers 2. That as it became Christ to fulfil the Righteousness of the Ceremonial Law for himself so it is our Duty and Interest to fulfil the Righteousness of the Moral Law for our selves as an Evidence of our being Righteous in God's Sight 1 Joh. 3.7 He that doth Righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous 16 And Jesus when he was baptized went up straightway out of the water and lo the heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting upon him 17 And lo a voice from heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Here we have the solemn Investing of Christ into his Office accompanied with a threefold Miracle 1. The Opening of the Heavens 2. The Descent of the Holy Ghost in the likeness of a Dove 3. God the Father's Voice concerning his Son The Heavens were opened to shew that Heaven which was closed and shut against us for our Sins is now opened to us by Christ's Undertaking for us As the First Adam shuts us out of Heaven the Second Adam lets us into it he opened Heaven to us by his Meritorious Passion and he keeps it open by his Prevailing Intercession Next the Holy Ghost descends like a Dove upon our Saviour here we have an Evidence of the Blessed Trinity the Father speaks from Heaven the Son comes out of the Water and the Holy Ghost appears in the likeness of a Dove Hence we gather That the Holy Ghost is not a Quality or an Operation but a Person and a Person really distinct from the Father and the Son But why did the Holy Spirit now descend upon Christ First For the Designation of his Person to shew that Christ was the Person set apart for the Work and Office of a Mediator Secondly For the Qualification of his Person for the Performance of the Office This was Christ's Unction Isa 61.1 when he was Anointed above his Fellows to be the King Priest and Prophet of his Church Last of all We have the audible Voice
of God the Father pronouncing 1. The Nearness of Christ's Relation to himself This is my Son 2. The Endearedness of his Person This is my Beloved Son 3. The Fruit and Benefit of this near and dear Relation unto us In him I am well pleased Note 1. That there is no possibility for any Person to please God out of Christ both our Persons and our Performances find Acceptance only for His sake 2. That in and through Christ God is well-pleased with all Believers This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased c. CHAP. IV. The former part of this Chapter acquaints us with our Blessed Saviour's Combat with and Conquest over Satan and the first Verse informs us of the Time when and Place where the Combat was fought 1 THEN was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil Observe here 1. The Time when Christ entred the Lists with Satan implied in the word Then that is First Immediately after his Baptism he is no sooner out of the Water of Baptism but he is in the Fire of Temptation Secondly Immediately after the Spirit descended upon him and the Father had by a Voice from Heaven manifested his Complacency and Satisfaction in him This is my Beloved Son c. Note thence That great Manifestations of Love from God are usually followed with great Temptations from Satan Observe 2. The Place where this Combat was fought and that is in the Wilderness Learn thence That no Place can priviledge us from Temptation or be a Sanctuary from Satan's Assaults the solitary Wilderness has a Tempter in it yea Satan sometimes makes use of Mens Solitariness to farther his Temptations a Cell a Nunnery or a Cloister are as open to Satan as the open Fields and the Persons that live in them have a Tempter without and an Enticer within as well as other Men. Obs 3. The Efficient Cause of Christ's going into the Wilderness to be Tempted by Satan He was led up of the Spirit says St. Matthew The Spirit drove him says St. Mark That is the Holy Spirit of God not Satan the Unclean Spirit for the Devil is seldom if ever called The Spirit but usually some Brand of Reproach is annexed as the Evil Spirit or the Vnclean Spirit Christ was Led by the Spirit that is he was carried by a strong Impulse of the Spirit of God into the Wilderness to be Tempted by Satan Learn hence 1. That none of the Children of God ought to expect a Freedom from Temptations seeing Christ himself in the Days of his Flesh was strongly solicited by Satan unto Sin 2. That all the Temptations wherewith the Children of God are assaulted are ordered by Divine and Special Dispensation Satan could not assault our Saviour till he was Led by the Spirit into the Wilderness for that End and he shall not assault any of his Members but by Divine Permission and special Dispensation 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights he was afterward an hungred Obs here 1. How the Divine Power upheld the Human Nature of Christ without Food What Moses did at the Giving of the Law Christ doth at the Beginning of the Gospel namely Fast Forty Days and Forty Nights Christ hereby intended our Admiration not our Imitation or if our Imitation of the Action only not of the Time Christ teaches us by Fasting and Prayer to prepare our selves for a Conflict with our Spiritual Enemies as he prepared himself by Fasting to grapple with the Tempter so should we 3 And when the tempter came to him he said If thou be the Son of God command that these stones be made bread Observe here 1. The Occasion of the Temptation 2. The Temptation it self The Occasion was our Saviour's Hunger and want of Bread Learn thence That when God suffers any of his Dear Children to fall into Want and to be streightned for Outward Things Satan takes a mighty Advantage thereupon to Tempt and Assault them But what doth he Tempt our Saviour to To the Sin of Distrust to question his Sonship If thou be the Son of God And next to distrust his Father's Providence and Care Command that these Stones be made Bread Learn hence 1. That Satan's grand Design is first to tempt the Children of God to doubt of their Adoption and next to Distrust God's Fatherly Care over them and Provision for them and last of all to use Unwarrantable Means to help themselves Thus Satan dealt with Christ and thus he deals with Christians For to work a Miracle at Satan's Direction was not a Lawful Means of providing Food for himself 4 But he answered and said It is written Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Observe here The Weapon which our Saviour made use of to repell the Temptation and to vanquish the Tempter and that is the Word of God It is written Learn That the Scriptures or the Written Word of God is the only sure Weapon wherewith to vanquish Satan and to beat back all his Fiery Temptations 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city and setteth him on a pinacle of the temple That is Satan by God's permission took up his Body and carried it in the Air and set it upon one of the Battlements of the Temple Learn hence 1. What a mighty Power Evil Spirits have over our Bodies if God permits them to execute and exercise their Power upon them 2. That it is owing to the gracious Care and watchful Providence of God over us that we are not hurried away bodily by Satan Thanks be to God tho' the Devil's Malice be infinite yet his Power is limited and bounded as he cannot do all the Mischief he would to the Bodies and Souls of Men so he shall not do all he can 6 And saith unto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy self down for it is written He shall give his angels charge concerning thee and in their hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone Here we have Observable First the Sin which Satan tempts Christ unto and next the Argument which he tempts him from The Sin tempted to is the Sin of Self-Murther Cast thy self down Whence we Learn That Self-Murther is a Sin which Christ himself was and the best of Saints may by Satan be tempted to the Commission of But forasmuch as Satan tempted Christ to murther himself but had not power to do it himself do thou cast thy self down We Learn That tho' Satan may tempt yet he cannot compel he may entice but cannot enforce any to Sin against their own Consent Obs 2. The Argument which Satan uses it is a Scripture-Argument he quotes the Promise of God He shall give his Angels charge over thee What a Marvel is here to find Satan with a Bible under his Arm and a Text of Scripture in his Mouth Christ
all Hearers 20 And they did all eat and were filled and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full 21. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men besides Women and children They did all Eat not a Crumb or a Bit but to Satiety and Fulness They did Eat and were filled yet twelve Baskets remained More is left than was at first set on So many Bellies and yet so many Baskets filled The Miracle was doubled by an Act of boundless Omnipotency It is hard to say which was the greater Miracle the miraculous Eating or the miraculous Leaving If we consider what they Eat we may justly wonder that they left any thing if what they Left that they Eat any thing Observe farther These Fragments though of Barley-Bread and Fish-bones must not be lost but by our Saviour's Command gathered up The Liberal House-keeper of the World will not allow the loss of his Orts. Oh how fearful then will the account of those be who have large and plentiful Estates to answer for as lost being spent upon their Lusts in Riot and Excess 22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship and to go before him unto the other side while he sent the multitudes away Jesus constrained them that is he commanded them to go away before him No doubt they were very loth to leave him and to go without him both out of the Love which they bear to him and themselves Such as have once tasted the sweetness of Christ are hardly drawn away from him however as desirous as the Disciples were to stay with Christ yet at his word of command they depart from him Where Christ has a Will to command his Disciples and Followers must have a Will to obey 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away he went up into a mountain apart to pray and when the evening was come he was there alone Observe here 1. Christ dismisses the Multitude and then retires to pray Teaching us by his Example when we have to do with God to dismiss the multitude of our Affairs and Imployments of our Cares and Thoughts O how unseemly is it to have our Tongues talking to God and our Thoughts taken up with the World Obs 2. The place Christ retires to for Prayer a Solitary Mountain not so much for his own need for he could be alone when he was in Company but to teach us that when we Address our selves to God in Duty we are to take all the Helps Furtherances and Advantages we can for the doing of it When we converse with God in Duty O how good is it to get upon a Mountain to get our Hearts up above the World above worldly Imployments and worldly Cogitations Obs 3. The occasion of Christ's Prayer He had sent the Disciples to Sea he foresaw the Storm arising and now he gets into a Mountain to Pray for them that their Faith might not fail them when their Troubles were upon them Learn hence That it is the singular Comfort of the Church of God that in all her Difficulties and Distresses Christ is interceeding for her when she is on the Sea conflicting with the Waves Christ is upon the Mountain praying for her Preservation 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea tossed with waves for the wind was contrary Note here The great danger the Disciples were in and the great difficulties they had to encounter with they were in the midst of the Sea they were tossed with the Waves the Wind was contrary and Christ was absent The Wisdom of God often suffers his Church to be tossed upon the Waves of Affliction and Persecution but it shall not be swallowed up by them Often is this Ark of the Church upon the Waters seldom off them but never drowned 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them walking on the sea Christ having seen the distress of his Disciples on the Shore he hastens to them on the Sea It was not a Stormy and Tempestuous Sea that could separate betwixt him and them He that waded through a Sea of Blood and through a Sea of Wrath to Save his People will walk upon a Sea of Water to Succour and Relieve them But Observe The time when Christ came to help them not till the fourth Watch a little before the Morning They had been many Hours upon the Waters conflicting with the Waves with their Fears and Dangers God oft times lengthens out the Troubles of his Children before he delivers them but when they are come to an Extremity that is the season of his Succours As God suffers his Church to be brought into extremities before he help her So he will help her in extremity In the Fourth Watch Jesus came c. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were troubled saying It is a spirit and they cryed out for fear See how the Disciples take their Deliverer to be a Destroyer Their Fears were highest when their Deliverer and Deliverance were nearest God may be coming with Salvation and Deliverance for his Church when she for the present cannot discern him 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto rhem saying Be of good cheer It is I be not afraid Observe When the Disciples were in the saddest Condition how one word from Christ revives them it is a sufficient support in all our Afflictions to hear Christ's Voice speaking to us and to enjoy his favourable Presence with us Say but Oh Saviour it is I and then let Evils do their worst That one word it is I is enough to lay all Storms and to calm all Tempests 28 And Peter answered him and said Lord if it be thou bid me come unto thee on the water 29 And he said Come And when Peter was come down out of the ship he walked on the water to go to Jesus 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous he was afraid and beginning to sink he cried saying Lord save me Observe here 1. The mixture of Peter's Faith and Distrust It was Faith that said Master it was Distrust that said If it be thou It was Faith that said Bid me come to thee It was Faith that enabled him to step down on the Watery Pavement It was Faith that said Lord save me But it was Distrust that upon the sight of a mighty Wind Feared It was Distrust that made him Sink Oh the imperfect composition of Faith and Fear in the best of Saints here on Earth Sincerity of Grace is found with the Saints on Earth Perfection of Grace with the Saints in Heaven Here the Saints look forth Fair as the Moon which has some Spots in her greatest Beauty Hereafter they shall be Clear as the Sun whose Face is all Bright and Glorious Obs 2. That whilst Peter Believes the Sea is as firm as Brass under him when he begins to Fear then he begins to Sink Two Hands upheld Peter the Hand of Christ's Power
firmly to settle and establish his Disciples in the Belief of his being the promised Messias And therefore 2. He puts the Question to them Whom do you my Disciples say that I am You that have heard the Holiness of my Doctrine and seen the Divinity of my Miracles What say you to me And what Confession do you make of me Christ expects greater Measures of Grace and Knowledge and higher Degrees of Affiance and Faith from those that have enjoyed the greatest Means of Grace and Knowledge The Disciples were Eye and Ear-Witnesses of his Doctrine and Miracles and accordingly he expects from them a full Confession of his Divinity Obs 2. The Answer return'd 1. By the Apostles in general And they said Some say that thou art John the Baptist some Elias some Jeremias 'T is no new thing it seems to find Diversity of Judgments and Opinions concerning Christ and the Affairs of his Kingdom We find that when our Saviour was amongst Men who daily both saw and heard him yet there was then a Diversity of Opinions concerning him 2. Peter in the Name of the rest and as the Mouth of all the Apostles makes a full and open Confession of his Deity Thou art Christ the Son of the living God Whence Note That the Vail of Christ's Humane Nature did not keep the Eye of his Disciples Faith from seeing him to be One in Substance with the Father Thou art Christ the Son of the living God Observe 3. How highly pleased our Saviour was with this Confession he pronounces Peter and the rest in him Blessed who had by him made this Christian Confession Blessed art thou Simon and tells him 1. What did not enable him to make that Confession Not Flesh and Blood that is not Man nor the Wisdom and Reason of Man 2. But positively God the Father by the Operation of his Spirit and the Dispensation of the Gospel has wrought this Divine Faith in you and drawn forth this Glorious Confession from you that I am indeed the Son of God Thence Learn That no Man can savingly believe that Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son of God and Saviour of the World but he in whom God himself by his Holy Spirit has wrought such a Perswasion by the Ministry of the Gospel 18 And I say also unto thee that thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it Observe here 1. As Peter confess'd Christ so Christ confesses him Peter said Thou art Christ Christ says Thou art Peter alluding to his Name which signifies a Rock He having made good that Title by the Strength Stability and Firmness of his Faith Obs 2. A double Promise made by Christ to Peter 1. For the Building 2. For the Upholding of his Church For the Building of his Church 1. Vpon this Rock will I build my Church Upon what Rock Upon Peter The Rock Confessing say the Papists But if so no more is said of Peter here than of all the Apostles elsewhere Galat. 2.9 James and John are called Pillars as well as Peter So that Peter's Superiority over the rest of the Apostles can with no shew of Reason be from hence inferr'd Upon Christ the Rock Confessed say the Protestants for Christ is the Foundation-Stone upon which his Church is built Ephes 2.20 Ye are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-Stone So then not upon Peter the Rock Confessing but upon Christ the Rock Confessed and upon the Rock of Peter's Confession that Fundamental Truth that Christ is the Son of the Living God is the Church built Vpon this Rock will I build my Church Super hanc Confessionis tuae Petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam 2. Here is our Saviour's Promise for the Vpholding as well as the Building of his Church The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it That is All the Policy and Power of the Devil and his Instruments shall neither destroy my Church nor extinguish the Light of this Divine Truth which thou hast now made Confession of namely That I am the true Messias the Son of the living God Note 1. That Jesus Christ is the Builder and will be the Upholder of his Church 2. That the Church upheld by Christ's Power and Promise shall never be vanquisht by the Devil's Policy or Strength Vpon this Rock will I build c. and the Gates c. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven Observe here 1. The Person to whom this Promise is made namely to Peter with the rest of the Apostles the Confession being made by him in the Name of the rest Elsewhere we find the same Authority and Power given to them all which is here committed unto Peter Joh. 20.23 Whose Sins soever ye remit they are remitted Altho' there might be a Priority of Order amongst the Apostles yet no Superiority of Power was founded in any one of them over and above the rest Obs 2. the Power promised I will give thee the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven that is the Key of Doctrine and the Key of Discipline or full Power and Authority to Preach the Gospel to Administer Sacraments and Execute Church-Censures The Speech is Metaphorical and alludes to Stewards and Officers in great Houses to whose Trust the Keys of the Houshold are committed Christ's Ministers are the Stewards of his House into whose Hands the Keys of his Church are committed by Christ The Pope would snatch them out of all Hands and keep them in his own he snatches at Peter's Keys but makes shipwrack of Peter's Faith arrogating Peter's Power but abrogating his Holy Profession Learn 1. That the Authority and Power which the Ministers of the Gospel do exercise and execute is from Christ I will give thee the Keys of the Kingdom 2. That this Power of the Keys Christ dispensed promiscuously to all his Apostles and never designed it as a Peculiar for St. Peter As they all made the same Profession of Faith by Peter so they all received the same Authority and Power with Peter 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ It may seem strange that our Saviour should charge his Disciples to tell no Man that he was Jesus the Christ seeing the Knowledge of it was so necessary The Reason is conceived to be 1. Because the Glory of his Godhead was not to be fully manifested till after his Resurrection and then to be published by himself and confirmed by his own Miracles 2. Lest the Knowledge of it should have hindred his Death For Had the Rulers known they would not have Crucified the Lord of Glory Learn That Christ has his own fit Times and proper Seasons in which he reveals his own
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
While the Pharisees were gathered together Jesus asked them 42 Saying What think ye of Christ whose Son is he They say unto him The Son of David 43 He saith unto them How then doth David in spirit call him Lord saying 44 The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstool 45 If David then call him Lord how is he his Son 46 And no man was able to answer him a word neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any mo questions The Pharisees had often put forth several Questions maliciously unto Christ and now Christ puts forth one Question innocently unto them Namely What they thought of the Messiah whom they expected They reply that he was to be the Son of David a Secular Prince descending from David that should deliver them from the Power of the Romans and restore them to their Civil Rights This was the Notion they had of the Messiah that he should be a Man the Son of David and nothing more Our Saviour replies Whence is it then that David calls the Messiah Lord Psal 110. v. 1. The Lord said unto my Lord How could he be both David's Lord and David's Son No Son is Lord to his Father therefore if Christ were David's Soveraign he must be more than Man more than David's Son As Man so he was David's Son as God-man so he was David's Lord. Note hence 1. That altho' Christ was truly and really Man yet he was more than a bare Man He was Lord unto and was the Salvation of his own Forefathers Note 2. That the only way to reconcile the Scriptures which speak concerning Christ is to believe and acknowledge him to be God and Man in one Person The Messiah as Man was to come forth out of David's Loins but as God-Man he was David's Soveraign and Saviour As Man he was his Father's Son as God he was Lord to his own Father CHAP. XXIII 1 THen spake Jesus to the multitude and to his disciples 2 Saying The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe that observe and do but do not ye after their works for they say and do not The Scribes and Pharisees so often mentioned in the Gospels were the great Doctors and Spiritual Guides amongst the Jews Scribe is the Name of an Office Pharisee the Name of a Sect. They were both Learned in the Law and Teachers of the Law of Moses Our Blessed Saviour in the former part of this Gospel held many Conferences with these Men and used the most perswasive Arguments to convince them both of their Errors and Wickedness But their Obstinacy and Malice being such that neither our Saviour's Ministry nor Miracles would convince them hereupon our Lord denounces in this Chapter Eight several Woes against them But first he charitably warns his Disciples and the Multitude against the Pernicious Practices of this sort of Men saying The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses Seat that is they teach and expound the Law of Moses which they were wont to do sitting Whatsoever they bid you observe that observe and do That is what they teach you consonant to the Word of God and agreeable to the Writings of Moses and the Prophets If they go not out of Moses Chair into their own unwritten Traditions follow their Doctrine and obey their Precepts But do not after their Works follow not their Example take heed of their Pride and Hypocrisie of their Ambition and Vain-Glory Obey their Doctrine wherein it is sound but follow not their Example wherein it is corrupt Learn 1. That the Personal Miscarriages of Ministers must by no Means beget a Disesteem of their Office and Ministry Charity must teach us to distinguish betwixt the Calling and the Crime 2. That the infallible Truths of God recommended to us by a vicious Teacher ought to be entertained and obeyed by us without either Scruple or Prejudice What the Pharisees themselves says Christ bid you observe that observe and do 3. That no People are obliged to follow their Teacher's Pattern and Example any farther than it is agreeable to Scripture-Rule and conformable to Christ's Example Do not after their Works who say and do not 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be born and lay them on men's shoulders but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers These heavy Burthens which the Pharisees laid upon the Peoples Shoulders were Counsels and Directions Rules and Canons Austerities and Severities which the Pharisees introduced and imposed upon their Hearers but would not undergo the least part of those Severities themselves If we do not follow our own Counsels we must not think to oblige our People to follow them No Man ought to press upon others what he is unwilling to perform himself It is very sinful to give that Counsel to others which we refuse to take our selves 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men they make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the borders of their garments 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts and the chief seats in the synagogues 7 And greetings in the markets and to be called of men Rabbi Rabbi In these Words our Blessed Saviour admonishes his Disciples and the Multitude to take heed of imitating the Pharisees in their Ostentation and Hypocrisie in their Ambition and Vain-Glory and he instances in Three Particulars wherein they express'd it 1. All their Works says Christ they do to be seen of Men. To do good Works that Men may see them is a Duty but to do all or any of our Works to be seen of Men is Hypocrisie 2. They make broad their Phylacteries and enlarge the Borders of their Garments These Phylacteries were certain Scrowls and Labels of Parchment in which were written the Ten Commandments and some Sections of the Law these they tied to their Foreheads and pinn'd upon their left Sleeve that the Law of God might be continually before their Eyes and perpetually in their Remembrance This Ceremony they judged God prescribed them Deut. 6.8 Thou shalt bind them for a Sign upon thine Hand and they shall be as frontlets between thine Eyes By enlarging the Borders of their Garments our Saviour points at the Fringes and blue Ribbonds which the Jews did wear upon their Garments in Obedience to the Command Numb 15.37 38. As the Threads in those Fringes and Ribbonds close woven together did represent the Connexion Complication and inseparable Conjunction of God's Commandments among themselves so the wearing of these Fringes was to put them in Mind of the Laws of God that which way soever they turn'd their Eyes they might meet with some pious Admonition to keep the Law of God Now the vain-glorious Pharisees that they might be thought more mindful of the Law of God than other Men did make their Phylacteries broader and their Fringes thicker and longer than other Men. 3. They fondly affected
Bloodshed Accordingly they industriously suborn false-witnesses to take away his Life not sticking at the grossest Perjury so they might destroy him The Chief Priests and Elders and all the Council sought false Witness against Jesus to put him to Death Abominable Wickedness Innocency it self cannot protect from Slander and false Accusation No Man is so innocent or good whom false Witness may not condemn Yet Observe farther Our Lord's Meekness and Patience his submissive Silence under all these wicked Suggestions and false Accusations Jesus held his Peace v. 63. Guilt is clamorous and impatient Innocency is silent and careless of mis-reports Learn hence That to bear the Revilings Contradictions and false Accusations of Men with a silent and submissive Spirit is an excellent and Christ-like Temper Our Lord stood before his unjust Judges and false Accusers as a Sheep before the Shearer dumb and not opening his Mouth Altho' a Trial for his Life was managed most maliciously and illegally against him when he was reviled he reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously Oh let the same humble Mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus 63 And the high priest answered and said unto him I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ the Son of God 64 Jesus saith unto him Thou hast said nevertheless I say unto you Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven 65 Then the high priest rent his cloaths saying He hath spoken blasphemy what further need have we of witnesses behold now ye have heard his blasphemy 66 What think ye They answered and said He is guilty of death 67 Then did they spit in his face and buffetted him and others smote him with the palms of their hands 68 Saying Prophesie unto us thou Christ who is he that smote thee We observed even now that our Saviour was silent and did make no Reply to the false Witnesses that evidenced against him at his Trial because being so manifestly contradicting they did fall to the Ground of themselves But now when the Question was solemnly put by the High Priest Art thou the Christ He said I am Thence Learn That altho' we are not obliged to answer every cavilling or ensnaring Question yet we are bound faithfully to own and freely to confess the Truth when we are solemnly called thereunto Christ who in the former Verses was silent and as a deaf Man that heard not now witnesses a good Confession Teaching us both by his Example and Command to confess and own both him and his Truth when lawfully required when our Silence will be a denying of the Truth a Dishonour to God and a Scandal to our Brethren Christ knew that his Answer would cost him his Life and yet he durst not but give it Art thou the Son of the Blessed Jesus said I am Yea farther Observe That as Christ answer'd directly and plainly at his Trial so he did not refuse to answer upon Oath I adjure thee by the living God says the Judge of the Court that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ That is I require thee to answer this Question upon Oath for adjuring a Person or requiring them to answer upon Oath was the manner of swearing among the Jews Now to this Adjuration our Saviour answer'd plainly and directly I am Mark 14.61 Hence Learn That swearing before a Magistrate upon a just and great Occasion is lawful If Christ in the Fifth of St. Matthew forbids all Oaths then here his Practice was contrary to his own Doctrine but it is evident that Christ answered the Magistrate upon Oath and so may we Observe Lastly The Sentence of Condemnation which the Council passed upon him for owning himself to be the Son of God He hath spoken Blasphemy and is worthy to die Hereupon the unruly Rabble affront him with the vilest Abuses and most horrid Indignities They Spit in his Face they Blind-fold him they Smote him with their Fists and Palms of their Hands and in a way of Contempt and Mockery they bid him Divine or Prophesie who it was that smote him Learn hence That there is no Degree of Contempt no Mark of Shame no Kind of Suffering which we ought to decline or stick at for Christ's sake who hid not his Face from Shame and Spitting upon our Account 69 Now Peter sat without in the palace and a damsel came unto him saying Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee 70 But he denied before them all saying I know not what thou sayest 71 And when he was gone out into the porch another maid saw him and said unto them that were there This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth 72 And again he denied with an oath I do not know the man 73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by and said unto Peter surely thou also art one of them for thy speech bewrayeth thee 74 Then he began to curse and to swear saying I know not the man And immediately the cock crew 75 And Peter remembred the words of Jesus which said unto him Before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice And he went out and wept bitterly This last Paragraph of the Chapter gives us an Account of the Fall and Rising of Peter of his Sin in denying Christ and of his Recovery by a speedy and severe Repentance Both must be consider'd distinctly First As touching his Sin and Fall there are Four Particulars Observable namely the Sin it self the Occasion of that Sin the Reiteration and Repetition of it and the aggravating Circumstances attending it Obs 1. The Sin it self the Denial of Christ I know not the Man a manifest Untruth Next he adds an Oath to confirm that Untruth he swore that he knew not the Man And last of all he wish'd an horrid Curse and Imprecation upon himself That is he wish'd himself excommunicated and cast out of the Church Say some he wish'd himself eternally separated from the Presence of God Say others he wish'd in effect that the Devil might take him if he were acquainted with Jesus The inordinate Love of Life and slavish Fear of Sufferings and Death may draw the best Men to commit the worst of Sins Obs 2. The Occasions of this Sin and they were Three his following Christ afar off his being in bad Company amongst Christ's Enemies and his presumptuous Confidence of his own Strength and Standing 1. His following of Christ afar off To follow Christ is the Work of Faith and Fruit of Love but to follow him afar off was the Effect of Fear and Frailty Wo unto us when a Temptation comes if we be far off from Christ's Presence and Assistance 2. His being in wicked Company amongst Christ's Enemies Oh Peter thou hadst better have been a cold by thy self alone than sitting by a Fire compassed in with the Blasphemies
Diet but both by their Habit and Diet set an Example of Gravity and Sobriety before their People being in these as well as in other things an Example unto their Flocks 7 And preached saying There cometh one mightier then I after me the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose Observe here 1. The high Opinion that the Baptist had of Christ he is mightier than I That is a Person of greater Dignity and Excellency by far than my self whence may be gathered that tho' Christ was Man he was not meer Man but more than Man even very God equal with the Father for John Baptist was the greatest of them that were born of Women Matth. 11.11 yet says he Christ is mightier or greater than I. How so but in regard of the Dignity of his Person being both God and Man in two distinct Natures and one Person Observe 2. The humble and low Estimation that the Baptist had of himself His Shoe-latchet I am not worthy to unloose A proverbial Speech implying that he was unworthy to do the basest and meanest Service for Christ Oh how well doth Humility of Mind an humble Apprehension a low Esteem and Opinion of themselves and their own Gifts and Abilities become the Messengers and Ministers of Christ John was a Man of eminent Abilities yet of Exemplary Humility he thought himself unworthy to unloose Christ's Shoe or do the meanest Office for him 8 I indeed have baptized you with water but he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost John shewed the Dignity of Christ's Person above his own in the former Verse in this he declares the Excellency of Christ's Office and the meanness of his own I wash the Body with Water but Christ cleanses the Soul by the Operation of his Holy Spirit Thence Learn That tho' the Ministers of Christ do by Christ's Command dispence the Outward Ordinance of Baptism yet it is Christ himself that by the Inward Work of his Spirit doth make it effectual to such as receive it I Baptize with Water but he with the Holy Ghost 9 And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized of John in Jordan 10 And straightway coming up out of the water he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him 11 And there came a voice from heaven saying Thou art my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased See the Note on Matth. 3.13 Observe here 1. The great Condescention of Christ in seeking and submitting to the Baptism of John Christ tho' he was John's Lord and Master yea Lord of Heaven and Earth yet cometh to hear John Preach and will be Baptized of his Messenger Thence Learn That the greatest Persons should neither think themselves too great nor too good to come unto the Ministers of God to hear the Word from his Mouth or to receive the Sacrament at his Hand Christ the Son of God was content to be Baptized of John a mean Person in Comparison of himself How dare then the greatest upon Earth despise the Ministry of Man being appointed by God Observe 2. The solemn investing of Christ into the Office of a Mediator by a threefold Miracle namely the opening of the Heavens the Descent of the Holy Ghost and God the Father's Voice or Testimony concerning his Son The Heavens were opened to shew that Heaven which was closed and shut against us for our Sins is now opened to us by Christ's undertaking for us As Christ opened Heaven by his meritorious Passion so he keeps it open by his prevailing Intercession Next The Holy Ghost descends like a Dove upon our Saviour Here we have a Proof and Evidence of the Blessed Trinity The Father speaks from Heaven the Son comes out of the Water and the Holy Ghost descends in the Likeness of a Dove But why did the Holy Ghost now descend upon Christ First For the Designation of his Person to shew that he was the Person set apart for the Work and Office of a Mediator Secondly For the Sanctification of his Person for the Performance of that Office This was Christ's Unction the Day in which he was Anointed above his Fellows to be the King Priest and Prophet of his Church Isa 61. v. 1. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me he hath anointed me c. Observe 3. The Voice of God the Father pronouncing 1. The Nearness of Christ's Relation to himself This is my Son 2. The Endearedness of his Person This is my Beloved Son 3. The Fruit and Benefit of this near and dear Relation unto us In him I am well pleased Hence Learn 1. That there is no Possibility for any Person to please God out of Christ neither our Persons nor our Performances can find Acceptance but thro' him and for his sake 2. That the Lord Jesus Christ is the Ground and Cause of all that Love which God the Father sheweth to the Sons of Men In Christ God is well pleased with us as a reconciled Father out of him a consuming Fire 12 And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness 13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan and was with the wild beasts and the Angels ministred unto him Immediately That is 1. After his Baptism Christ is no sooner out of the Water of Baptism but he is in the Fire of Temptation Such as are Baptized with Christ and entered into the Profession of Christianity they must look to be assaulted with Satan's Temptations Again Immediately that is 2. After the Father had declared his Complacency in him and being well pleased with him Learn thence That great Manifestations of Love from God are usually followed with great Temptations from Satan The Spirit driveth him That is the Holy Spirit of God For the Devil is seldom if ever called the Spirit but usually some Brand of Reproach is annexed as the evil Spirit or the unclean Spirit and the like Christ was led by the Spirit says St. Matthew 4.1 He was driven by the Spirit says St. Mark that is He was carried by a strong Impulse of the Spirit of God to be tempted by Satan and did not go of his own private Motion to enter the Lists with Satan Teaching us our Duty not to run into or rush upon Temptations without a Warrant and Call from God Observe next the Place where Satan assaulted Christ with his Temptations it was a solitary Wilderness No Place can priviledge us from Temptations or be a Sanctuary from Satan's Assaults The solitary Wilderness has a Tempter in it yea Satan oft-times makes use of Men's Solitariness to farther his Temptations and such as separate themselves from Humane Society and give themselves up to Solitude and Retirement they give great Advantage to the Tempter to tempt them Observe next the Time and Continuance of our Holy Lord's Temptations not for an Hour a Day a Week or a Month but for Forty Days
not for Souls Obs 5. The Gracious Promise which Christ gives his Apostles for their Encouragement namely to qualifie them for and to succeed them in their Office I will make you Fishers of Men. Faithfulness and Care Diligence and Endeavour is our part but the Blessing and Success is Christ's our Labour is only in the Cast Christ's Power is wholly in the Draught Some Fish cleave to the Rocks others play upon the Sands more wallow in the Mud and verily we shall labour all our Days and catch nothing if Christ doth not bring our Fish to Net and inclose them in it as well as assist us in the throwing and casting of it Obs 6. The Apostles ready Compliance with our Saviour's Call Straightway they forsook Father and Friends Ship and Nets and followed Jesus Whom Christ calls he calls effectually he draws whom he calls and works their Hearts to a ready Compliance with their Duty Obs 7. That upon their Call to the Ministry they leave off their Trade they forsake their Ship and their Nets and lye close to their Ministerial Imployment Teaching us That the Ministers of the Gospel should wholly give themselves up to their great Work and not incumber themselves with secular Affairs and worldly Business Nothing but an indispensible Necessity in providing for a Family can excuse a Minister's encumbring himself with Worldly Concerns and Business 21 And they went into Capernaum and straightway on the sabbath-day he entred into the synagogue and taught 22 And they were astonished at his doctrine for he taught them as one that had authority and not as the scribes Our Saviour having called his Disciples Peter and Andrew James and John to follow him in order to their preaching of the Gospel here we may observe how he went himself along with them teaching personally in the Synagogues where-ever he came He did not send his Apostles forth as his Curates and lye at home himself upon his Couch of Ease What shall we say to those lazy Fishermen that set others to the Drag but care only to feed themselves with the Fish Not willing to wet their Hand with the Net or take any Pains themselves Our Saviour did not thus but when he sent forth his Apostles he still preached himself he went into their Synagogues and taught Observe farther The Success of his preaching the People were astonished at his Doctrine struck with Admiration apprehending and believing him to be an extraordinary Prophet sent from God Learn thence That such is the Efficacy of Christ's Doctrine especially when accompanied with the Energy and Operation of his Holy Spirit that it makes all his Auditors Admirers causing Astonishment in their Minds and Reformation in their Manners Observe lastly The Reason of our Lord's Success in preaching He taught as one having Authority He taught in his own Name as being Lord of his Doctrine not saying with the Prophets Thus saith the Lord but I say unto you And he wrought powerful Miracles which accompanied his Doctrine As Christ was careful to preserve the Authority of his Person and Doctrine with the People so is it the Duty of his Ministers to demean themselves amongst their People that neither their Authority may be contemned nor their Persons despised but their Doctrine and themselves reverenced and obeyed 23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit and he cried out 24 Saying Let us alone what have we to do with thee thou Jesus of Nazareth Art thou come to destroy us I know thee who thou art the holy One of God 25 And Jesus rebuked him saying Hold thy peace and come out of him 26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him and cried with aloud voice he came out of him 27 And they were all amazed insomuch that they questioned among themselves saying What thing is this what new doctrine is this for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits and they do obey him St. Mark having given an Account of our Saviour's Doctrine which he preach'd v. 15. namely the Doctrine of Faith and Repentance he now acquaints us in the remaining part of this Chapter with the Miracles which he wrought for the confirming of his Doctrine and they are Three First The casting of a Devil out of one possessed v. 23. Secondly The curing of Peter 's Wife's Mother of a Fever v. 29. Thirdly The cleansing of a Leper from v. 40. to the end of the Chapter His first Miracle was the casting out of a Devil out of one possessed There was a Man with an unclean Spirit That is an unclean Spirit did enter into him and bodily possess him Amongst the many Calamities which Sin has brought upon our Bodies this is one that we are liable to be bodily possess'd by Satan The Devil has an inveterate Malice against Mankind seeking to ruin our Souls by his Suggestions and Temptations and to destroy our Bodies by some Means or other but blessed be God tho' his Malice be infinite yet his Power is limited and bounded as he cannot do all the Mischief he would so he shall not do all he can Oh how much is it our Interest as well as our Duty by Prayer to put our selves Morning and Evening under the Divine Protection that we may be preserved from the Power and Malice of evil Spirits Obs 2. The Attribute or Title given to the Devil he is called an unclean Spirit The Devils those wicked Spirits of Hell are most impure and filthy Creatures impure by Means of their original Apostacy impure by Means of their actual and daily Sins such are Murder Malice Lying and the like by which they continually pollute themselves impure by Means of their continual Desire and Endeavour to pollute Mankind with the Contagion of their own Sin Lord how foul is the Nature of Sin which makes the Devil such a foul and unclean Creature Obs 3. This unclean Spirit no sooner saw Christ but he cried out Whence Note That the Greatness of Christ's Power being the Son of God over Devils and wicked Spirits is such that it is very terrible and tormenting to them it was terrible to them in his State of Humiliation on Earth and made them then cry out but Oh how terrible will his Power be to them at the great Day when Christ shall come in flaming Fire to render Vengeance both to Men and Devils Obs 4. The Substance of the Devil's Outcry Let us alone what have we to do with thee Art thou come to destroy us Where Note 1. That tho' the Devils are now as full of Sin and Discontent as they can be yet they are not so full of Misery and Torment as they shall be Art thou come to torment us before the time Says St. Matth. 8.29 Art thou come to destroy us Says St. Mark That is to bring upon us our full and final Destruction Implying that the Devil has not yet his full Judgment and compleat Damnation Therefore there is certainly a Day of
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
with them Now this Person was so great a Cripple by reason of the Palsie that he was born of Four He could not go nor was capable of being led but was carried by Four in his Bed or Couch Obs 2. As the Grievousness of the Disease so the Greatness of their Faith The Man and his Friends had a firm Persuasion that Christ was cloath'd with a Divine Power and able to help him and they hoped in his Goodness that he was also willing to help him Accordingly the Roof of the Jewish Houses being flat they uncover some part of it and let the Bed down with the sick Man in it into the Room where Christ was Obs 3. No sooner did they exercise their Faith in believing but Christ exerts his Divine Power in healing And see the marvellous Efficacy of Faith it obtained not only what was desired but more than was expected They desired only the healing of the Body but Christ heals Body and Soul too Son be of good Cheer thy Sins are forgiven Thereby our Saviour shews them that Sin is the Original Cause of all Bodily Diseases and consequently that in Sickness the best way to find Ease and Deliverance from Pain is first to seek for Pardon The Sense of Pardon in some degree will take away the Sense of Pain Obs 4. The Exception which the Scribes took against our Saviour for pronouncing that this Man's Sins were forgiven him They accuse him of the Sin of Blasphemy urging that it is God's peculiar Prerogative to pardon Sin Their Doctrine was true but their Application false Nothing more true than that it is the highest degree of Blasphemy for any meer Man to arrogate to himself the incommunicable Prerogative of God which consists in an Absolute and Authoritative Power to forgive Sin But then their denying this Power to Christ of forgiving Sin which he had as God from all Eternity and as Mediator God and Man in one Person when here upon Earth this was Blasphemy in them the challenging of it none in him Obs â— Our Saviour gives these Scribes a twofold Demonstration of his Godhead 1. By letting them understand that he knew their Thoughts Jesus perceived in his Spirit that they reasoned within themselves To search the Hearts and to know the Thoughts and Reasonings of Men is not in the Power of Angels or Men but the Prerogative of God only 2dly By assuming to himself a Power to forgive Sin For our Saviour here by assuming to himself a Power of forgiving Sins in his own Name and by his own Authority doth give the World an undeniable Proof and convincing Evidence of his Godhead for who can forgive Sins but God only Obs 6. The Effect of this Miracle upon the Minds of the People They marvelled and were amazed but not believed They admire our Saviour for an extraordinary Man but did not believe him to be God Learn hence That the Sight of Christ's Miracles is not sufficient to work Faith in the Soul without the concurring Operation of the Holy Spirit The one may make us marvel the other must make us believe 13 And he went forth again by the sea-side and all the multitude resorted unto him and he taught them 14 And as he passed by he saw Levi the son of Alpheus sitting at the receit of custom and said unto him Follow me And he arose and followed him 15 And it came to pass that as Jesus sat at meat in his house many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples for there were many and they followed him 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicanes and sinners they said unto his disciples How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners 17 When Jesus heard it he saith unto them They that are whole have no need of the physician but they that are sick I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Obs here 1. The unwearied Pains and Diligence which our Saviour used in the Execution of his Ministerial Office and Calling No sooner had he done preaching in Capernaum and healing the sick of the Palsie but he goeth out thence to the Sea side to preach there Oh Blessed Saviour How perpetually wert thou employed in the Labours of thy Calling in the Service of thy Father and for the Good of Mankind Thou went'st about doing Good setting a Pattern for all thy Ministers to follow How doth the Example of thy laborious Diligence at once instruct and shame us Obs 2. The number of out Lord's Disciples not being fill'd up observe what a free and gracious unexpected and undeserved Choice he makes Levi that is Matthew for he had both Names a grinding Publican who gathered the Taxes for the Romans and was probably guilty as others were of the Sins of Covetousness Extortion and Oppression yet is he called to follow Christ as a special Disciple Learn thence That such is the Freeness of God's Grace that it calls and converts Sinners unto Christ when they think not of him nor seek unto him Little did Levi now think of a Saviour much less seek after him yet is he at this time called by him Matthew a Publican Zacheus an Extortioner Saul a Persecutor all these are brought home to God as Instances and Evidences of the mighty Power of converting Grace Obs 3. Matthew's ready Compliance with Christ's Call He arose and followed him When the inward Call of the Holy Spirit accompanieth the outward Call of the Word the Soul readily complies and presently yields Obedience to the Voice of Christ Christ oft-times speaks by his Word to our Ears and we hear not we stir not but when he speaks by his Spirit efficaciously to our Hearts Satan shall not hold us down the World shall not keep us back but we shall with Levi instantly arise and follow our Saviour Obs 4. Levi or Matthew to shew his Thankfulness to Christ makes him a great Feast Christ invited Matthew to a Discipleship Matthew invites Christ to a Dinner The Servant invites his Master a Sinner invites his Saviour We do not find that when Christ was invited to any Table that he ever refus'd to go if a Publican if a Pharisee invited him he constantly went not so much for the Pleasure of eating as for the Opportunity of conversing and doing Good Christ feasts us when we feast him Learn hence That new Converts are full of Affection towards Christ and very expressive of their Love unto him Matthew touch'd with a Sense of Christ's rich Love makes him a Royal Feast Obs 5. The Cavil and Exception which the Scribes and Pharisees made at our Lord 's free Conversation They censure him for conversing with Sinners he justifies himself telling them that he convers'd with them as their Physician not as their Companion They that are whole need no Physician says Christ but they that are Sick As if our Lord had said With whom should a Physician converse but
Nature was asleep yet his Divine Nature neither slumbered nor slept Learn hence That the Prevalency of Fear in a time of great and imminent Danger tho' it may argue Weakness of Faith yet is no Evidence of a total want of Faith in the midst of the Disciples Fears they believed Christ's Power Obs 4. A doable Rebuke given by our Saviour first to the Winds next to the Fears of his Disciples He rebukes the Winds and instantly they are calm When the Sea was as furious as a madman Christ with a single Word calms it Learn hence That the most raging Winds and outragious Seas cannot stand before the Rebukes of Christ Christ as God lays a Law upon the most lawless Creatures even when they seem to act most lawlesly Observe farther Christ rebukes his Disciples Fears Why are ye fearful No sooner was the Storm up but their Fears were up they forgot that the Lord high Admiral of the Ocean was on board the Ship and were as much overset with their boisterous Passions as the Vessel was with tempestuous Winds and accordingly Christ rebukes the Tempest within before the Storm without First he calms their Hearts then he quiets the Seas From this Instance of the Disciples we may gather that great Faith in the Habit may appear little in Act and exercise the Disciples Faith in forsaking all and following Christ was great Faith but in this present Act their Faith was weak thro' the Prevalency of their Fears Oh the imperfect Composition of the best of Saints Faith and Fear will take their turns and act their part whilst we are upon the Stage of this World e're long our Fears will be vanquished and our Faith swallowed up in Vision Lord set our Souls a longing for that joyful Hour CHAP. V. 1 ANd they came over unto the other side of the sea into the country of the Gadarenes 2 And when he was come out of the ship immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit 3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs and no man could bind him no not with chains 4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains and the chains had been plucked asunder by him and the fetters broken in pieces neither could any man tame him 5 And always night and day he was in the mountains and in the tombs crying and cutting himself with stones 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off he ran and worshipped him 7 And cried with a loud voice and said What have I to do with thee Jesus thou Son of the most high God I adjure thee by God that thou torment me not 8 For he said unto him Come out of the man thou unclean spirit 9 And he asked him What is thy name and he answered saying My name is Legion for we are many 10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country 11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding 12 And all the devils besought him saying Send us into the swine that we may enter into them 13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave And the unclean spirits went out and entered into the swine and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea they were about two thousand and were choked in the sea 14 And they that fed the swine fled and told it in the city and in the country And they went out to see what it was that was done 15 And they come to Jesus and see him that was possessed with the devil and had the legion sitting and clothed and in his right mind and they were afraid 16 And they that saw it told them how it befel to him that was possessed with the devil and also concerning the swine 17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts 18 And when he was come into the ship he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him 19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not but saith unto him Go home to thy friends and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee and hath had compassion on thee 20 And he departed and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him and all men did marvel This piece of History gives us a very sad Relation of a Person that was possessed with a Legion of Devils we read of few if any in the Old Testament that were thus possess'd but of many in the New Testament Our Saviour came into the World to destroy the Works of the Devil therefore he suffered Satan to enter some humane Bodies to shew his Divine Power in casting him out Note here 1. That the evil Angels by their Fall lost their Purity but not their Power for with God's Permission they have Power not only to enter into Men's Bodies and to possess them but also to distemper their Minds and drive them to Frenzy and Madness causing them to offer Violence to their own Lives and to do Hurt and Mischief to their own Bodies Thus did this possessed Person here wounding and cutting himself with Stones Note 2. That the Reason why the evil Angels do no oftner exert their Power in doing Mischief to the Bodies and Lives of Men is from the restraining Power of God The Devils cannot do all the Mischief they would and they shall not do all they can Note 3. The Place where these evil Spirits delighted to make their Abode amongst the Tombs or Graves places desolate forlorn and solitary which are apt to breed Horror of Mind and give Advantage to Temptations Learn thence That it is dangerous and very unsafe for Persons especially in whom Melancholly prevails to give themselves to Solitariness to frequent desolate and forlorn Places and to affect the being much alone it giving Advantage to Satan to set upon them with powerful Temptations It is better to frequent Humane Society and especially to delight in the Society and Communion of the Saints by means whereof we may be more and more strengthned and fortified against Satan's Temptations Note 4. That the Devils own Christ to be the Son of God and that he came into the World to be a Saviour but not a Saviour to them therefore they cry our What have we to do with thee Or thou with us Oh! what an uncomfortable Confession and Acknowledgment is this to own Christ to be a Saviour and at the same time to know that he is none of our Saviour Note 5. That tho' the Devils do own Christ to be the Son of God and do pay Homage and Worship and yeild Service and Subjection to him as his Slaves and Vassals yet it is not a free and voluntary Service but extorted father and forced from them by the Power of Christ He worshipped and cried out saying What have I to do with thee Note 6. What a Multitude of evil Spirits did enter into one Man Oh
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
could not 19 He answered him and saith O faithless generation how long shall I be with you how long shall I suffer you bring him unto me 20 And they brought him unto him and when he saw him straightway the spirit tare him and he fell on the ground and wallowed foming 21 And he asked his Father How long is it ago since that came unto him And he said of a child 22 And oft-times it hath cast him into the fire and into the waters to destroy him but if thou canst do any thing have compassion on us and help us 23 Jesus saith unto him if thou canst believe all things are possible to him that believeth 24 And straightway the Father of the child cried out with tears and said Lord I believe help thou my unbelief 25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together he rebuked the foul Spirit saying unto him Thou dumb and deaf spirit I charge thee come out of him and enter no more into him 26 And the Spirit cried and rent him sore and came out of him and he was as one dead insomuch that many said He is dead 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up and he arose 28 And when he was come into the house his Disciples asked him privately Why could not we cast him out 29 And he said unto them This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting Observe here 1. The person brought to Christ for help and healing one Bodily possest by Satan who had made him deaf and dumb from his childhood and oft-times cast him into the Fire and Water but rather to torment then to dispatch him Oh how does Satan that malicious Tyrant rejoyce in doing hurt to their Bodies as well as the soul of Mankind Lord abate his power since his malice will not be abated How great is thy goodness in preserving us from the power and malice of evil Spirits and how watchful is thy Providence over us to preserve us when Satan is seeking by all imaginable means and methods to destroy us Observe 2. The Person that represents his sad condition to our Saviour 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 he that keeps a Tongue for others Observe 3. The circumstance of time Satan had got possession of this person very young in his youth nay in his childhood and oh how hard was it to cast him out after so long possession the Disciples could not do it with all their power and prayers and when our Saviour himself by the power of his Godhead did dispossess him it was with foming and renting that he left him Thus when Satan gets possession of Persons hearts in their youth oh how hard will it be to cast him out it will put the Soul to great grief great pain great sorrow of heart Satan will endeavour to hold his own and keep the sinner his slave and vassal if all the power of Hell can keep him Lord convince young persons that it is easier to keep Satan out then it is to cast him out of the possession of their hearts Observe 4. The Physicians which this distressed Person is brought unto First to the Disciples and then to Jesus We never apply our selves importunately to the God of Power till we dispair of the Creatures help But why could not the Disciples cast him out Christ tells them because of their unbelief that is because of the weakness of their Faith not the total want of Faith Whence learn that secret unbelief may lie hid and undiscerned in the heart which neither others nor our selves may take notice of until some tryal doth discover it Observe 5. The poor man's humble Request and Christ's gracious reply If thou canst do any thing help me says the Father if thou canst believe all things are possible says our Saviour Note thence that the fault is not in Christ but in our selves if we receive not that mercy from him which we desire and need there is no deficiency in Christ's power the defect lies in our Faith Hereupon the man cries out with Tears Lord I believe help thou my unbelief if these were tears of Joy for the truth of his Faith then we gather that the lowest degree and least measure of Faith is matter of Joy unspeakable to the owner and possessor of it If these were Tears of Sorrow for the weakness of his Faith then we may collect that the Remains of Unbelief in the children of God do cost them many tears they are the burthen and sorrow of gracious Souls The Father of the child cried out with Tears Lord I believe help my unbelief Observe 6. With what facility and ease our Saviour cast out this stubborn Devil that had so long possest this poor child even with a word speaking how long soever Satan has kept possession of a Soul Christ can eject and cast them out both easily and speedily one word of Christ's mouth is sufficient to help us out of all distress both bodily and Spiritual Yet did our Lord suffer the evil Spirit to rage and rend the child before he went out of him not from any delight in the poor childs misery but that the Multitude seeing the Desperateness of the Case might the more admire the power of Christ in his Deliverance Observe 7. The Sovereign Power and absolute Authority which Christ had even here on Earth when in his State of Humiliation over the Devil and his Angels he commands him to go out and enter no more into the child and is obeyed This was a proof and demonstration of the Godhead of our Saviour that he had power and Authority over Devils to command and over-rule them to curb and restrain them at his Pleasure And whereas Christ commands the Devil not only to come out but to enter no more into the Person it implies that Satan being cast out of his hole earnestly desires to enter in again to recover his hold and to regain his possession but if Christ says enter no more Satan shall obey his voyce Observe 8. The Disciples enquiry into the Reasons why they could not cast this stubborn Devil out According to the power which he had given them to work Miracles Christ tells them it was 1. Because of their unbelief by which understand the weakness of their faith not their total want of Faith 2. Because they did not in this extraordinary case apply themselves to the use of extraordinary means Namely prayer and fasting Learn hence 1. That in extraordinary cases where the Necessities either of Soul or Body do require it Recourse must be had to the use of extraordinary means one of which is an importunate Application unto God by solemn Prayer Secondly that fasting and prayer are two special means of Christ's own Appointment for the enabling of his people Victoriously to overcome Satan and cast
and Watchfulness dropping Heavenly Advice and Counsel upon them while he yet spake Lo Judas came Our Saviour was found in the most Heavenly and Excellent Employment when his Enemies came to Apprehend him Lord How happy is it when our Sufferings finds us in God's way engaged in his Work and engaging his Assistance by fervent Supplication Thus did our Lord's Sufferings meet him may ours in like manner meet us Observe 5. The Endeavours used by the Disciples for their Master's Rescue One of them St. Matthew says it was Peter draws his Sword and cuts off the Ear of Malchus who probably was one of the forwardest to lay hands on Christ But why did not St. Peter draw upon Judas rather than Malchus because though Judas was more Faulty yet Malchus was more forward to arrest and carry off our Saviour How doth a pious Breast swell with Indignation at the sight of any open Affront offered to its Saviour Yet though St. Peter's Heart was sincere his hand was Rash good Intentions are no Warrant for irregular Actions and accordingly Christ who accepted the Affection reproves the Action Put up thy Sword for they that take the Sword shall perish by the Sword Christ will thank no Man to fight for him without a Warrant and Commission from him To resist a Lawful Magistrate in Christ's own Defence is rash Zeal and discountenanced by the Gospel Observe Lastly The effect which our Saviour's Apprehension had upon the Disciples They all forsook him and fled They that said to Christ a little before Though we should dye with thee yet will not we deny thee do all here desert and Cowardly forsake him when it came to the Tryal Learn hence That the best and holiest of men know not their own Hearts when great Temptations and Tryals are before them until such time as they come to grapple with them No Man knows his own strength till Temptation puts it to the proof 51 And there followed him a certain young Man having a Linnen Cloath cast about his naked Body and the young Man laid hold on him 52 And he left the Linnen Cloath and fled from them naked 53 And they led Jesus away to the High Priest and with him were assembled all the Chief Priests and the Elders and the Scribes 54 And Peter followed him afar off even into the Palace of the High Priests and he sat with the Servants and warmed himself at the Fire 55 And the Chief Priests and all the Council sought for Witness against Jesus to put him to death and found none 56 For many bare false Witness against him but their Witness agreed not together 57 And there arose certain and bare false Witness against him saying 58 We heard him say I will destroy this Temple that is made with hands and within three days I will build another made without hands 59 But neither so did their Witness agree together 60 And the High Priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus saying Answerest thou nothing What is it which these Witness against thee 61 But he held his peace and answered nothing Again the High Priest asked him and said unto him Art thou the Christ the Son of the Blessed 62 And Jesus said I am And ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the Right hand of Power and coming in the Clouds of Heaven 63 Then the High Priest rent his Cloaths and said What need we any farther Witnesses 64 Ye have heard the Blasphemy What think ye and they all condemned him to be Guilty of Death 65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his Face and to buffer him and to say unto him Prophecy and the Servants did strike him with the Palms of their hands Here we have the History of our Saviour's Examination before the High-priest and Council who sat up all Night to Arraign and Try the Holy and Innocent Jesus for lest his Death should look like a down-right Murther they allow him a Mock-Tryal and abuse the Law by perverting it to Injustice and Blood-shed Accordingly false Witnesses are suborned who Depose that they heard him say he would destroy their Temple and build it again in three days It is not in the power of the greatest Innocency to protect the most Innocent and Holy Person from Slander and false Accusation yea no Person is so innocent and good whom false Witness may not Condemn Observe 2. Our Lord's Meekness and Patience his Silence under all these wicked Suggestions and false Accusations Jesus held his peace and answered nothing v. 61. Guilt is naturally Clamorous and Impatient but Innocency is silent and careless of Mis-Reports Learn hence That to bear the Revilings Contradictions and false Accusations of Men with a silent and submissive Spirit is an Excellent and Christ-like Temper Our Lord stood before his unjust Judge and false Accusers even as a Sheep before the Shearer dumb and not opening his Mouth even then when a Tryal for his Life was managed and most maliciously and illegally against him When he was reviled he reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not May the same humble Mind and forgiving Spirit be in us which was also in Christ Jesus Observe 3. That although our Saviour was silent and made no Reply to the false Witnesses yet now when the question was solemnly put by the High-Priest Art thou the Christ the Son of the Blessed he answered I am Thence Learn That although we are not obliged to every insnaring Question to make Answer yet are we bound faithfully to own and freely to confess the Truth when solemnly called thereunto when our Silence will be interpreted a Denyal of the Truth a Dishonour to God a Reproach and Scandal to our Brethren it will be a great Sin to hold our Peace and we must not be silent though our Confession of the Truth hazards our Liberty yea our Life Christ knew that his Answer would cost him his Life and yet he durst not but give it Art thou the Son of the Blessed Jesus said I am Observe 4. The Crime which the High-Priest pronounces our Saviour to be Guilty of that of Blasphemy He hath spoken Blasphemy Hereupon the High-Priest rends his Cloaths it being usual with the Jews so to do both to shew their Sorrow for it and great detestation of it and indignation against it Observe 5. The vile Affronts and horrid Abuses which the Enemies of our Saviour put upon him they spit in his Face they blind fold him they smite him with their hands and in Contempt and Mockery bid him prophecy who it was that smote him Verily there is no degree of Contempt no mark of Shame no kind of Suffering which we ought to decline or stick at for Christ's sake who hid not his Face from shame and spitting upon our Account 66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace there cometh one of the maids of the high Priest 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself she looked upon him and
his History primarily for the Jews proves him to be the Son of Abraham and David for their comfort St. Luke designing the information and comfort of the Gentiles derives our Lord's Pedigree from Adam the common Parent of mankind to assure the Gentiles of their possibility of an Interest in Christ they being Sons of Adam Neither of these Evangelists are strict and accurate in enumerating every individual person which should Teach us not to be over-curious in scanning the parts of this Genealogy much less captiously to object against it because of some seeming contradictions in it For if the Evangelists were not nice and critical in composing this Genealogy why should we be so in examining of it Let us rather attend the design of the Holy Ghost in Writing of it which was Twofold 1. for the honour of our Saviour as Man shewing who were his Noble and Royal Progenitors according to the Flesh 2. For the confirmation of our Faith touching the Reality of our Saviour's Incarnation the Scripture making mention of all his Progenitors from the first man Adam to his Reputed Father Joseph we cannot reasonably doubt either of the truth of his humane Nature or of the certainty of his being the promised Messias Hence we may Learn That the wisdom of God has taken all necessary care and used all needful Means for satisfying the minds of all unprejudiced Persons touching the Reality of Christ's humane Nature and the certainty of his being the promised Messias for both these Ends is our Saviour's Genealogy Descent and Pedigree Recorded in Holy Scripture CHAP. IV. 1 AND Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness At the 22 Verse of the foregoing Chapter we find the Holy Ghost descending in a bodily Shape like a Dove upon our Saviour in this verse we find the extraordinary effects and fruits of the Holy Ghost's Descent upon our Saviour he was filled with all the Gifts and Graces of the Blessed Spirit to fit and furnish him for that ministerial Service which he was now entring upon But observable it is that before our Saviour undertook the ministerial Office he is led by the Spirit into the Wilderness and there furiously assaulted with Satan's Temptations Temptation Meditation and Prayer says Luther make a Minister great Temptations from Satan do fit us for greater Services for God And whereas it is said that Christ was led by the Spirit into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil by the Spirit we must understand the Holy Spirit of God for the Devil I think is never called the Spirit but has always a brand of Reproach annext as the evil Spirit the unclean Spirit and the like By his being led by the Spirit St. Mark says he was drove by the Spirit we must not understand any violent motion but a potent and efficacious perswasion he was carried by a strong impulse of the Spirit of God or as the Learned Lightfoot thinks Christ was bodily caught up by the Holy Spirit into the Air and carried from Jordan where he was Baptized into the Wilderness where he was tempted God had put Great honour upon Christ at his Baptism declaring him to be his well-beloved Son in whom he was pleased and the next News we hear is the Devil 's assaulting him with his Temptations Learn thence that the more any are beloved of God and dignified with more eminent Testimonies of his Favour so much the more is the Devil enraged and maliciously bent against them 2 Being forty days tempted of the Devil and in those days he did eat nothing and when they were ended he afterward hungred Obs here how the Divine Power upheld Christ's humane Nature without Food What Moses did at the giving of the Law Christ doth at the beginning of the Gospel namely Fast forty days and forty nights Christ hereby intended our Admiration rather than our imitation or if our Imitation of the Action only not of the Time From this Example of Christ we Learn that it is our Duty by fasting and Prayer to prepare our selves for a Conflict with our Spiritual Enemies as Christ prepared himself by fasting to grapple with the Tempter so should we 3 And the Devil said unto him if thou be the son of God command this stone that it be made Bread Obs here 1. The occasion of the Temptation and 2. the Temptation it self The occasion of the Temptation was our Saviour's hunger and want of Bread Learn thence That when God suffers any of his Children to fall into want and to be straightned for outward things Satan takes a mighty advantage thereupon to tempt and assault them Obs 2. What Sin it is he tempts our Saviour to it is the sin of Distrust to call in question his Sonship if thou be the Son of God and then to distrust God's Providence and care command that these Stones be made Bread It is the grand policy of Satan first to tempt the Children of God to doubt of their Adoption next to distrust God's fatherly care and provision and last of all to use unwarrantable means to help themselves Thus Satan dealt with Christ and thus he deals with Christians for to work a Miracle at Satans Direction was not a lawful means of providing food for himself 4 And Jesus answered him saying It is written that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God Note first That tho' the Devil abused Scripture yet Christ uses it Good things are never the worse for being abused by Satan and his Instruments Note Secondly the weapon which our Saviour made use of to vanquish Satan it was the word of God it is written says Christ Learn thence That the Scripture or the written word of God is the only sure Weapon wherewith to vanquish Satan and beat back all his fiery Temptations The Scripture is God's Armory out of which all our Weapons of War must be taken for managing our Conflict with Sin and Satan 5 And the Devil taking him up into an high mountain sheweth him all the Kingdoms of the world in a moment of time 6 And the Devil said unto him all this power will I give thee and the glory of them for this is delivered unto me and to whomsoever I will I give it 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me all shall be thine 8 And Jesus answered and said unto him Get thee behind me Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve The next Sin which Satan tempts our Saviour to is the Sin of Idolatry even to worship the Devil himself Oh thou impudent and foul Spirit to desire thy Creator to Worship thee an Apostate Creature Doubtless there is no sin so black and foul so horrid and monstrous but the Christian may be tempted to it when Christ himself was tempted to Worship the Tempter even the Devil himself St. Matthew reads it If thou wilt Worship
me St. Luke If thou wilt worship before me from whence we may gather that if to worship before the Devil be to worship the Devil then to worship before an Image is to worship the Image Obs 2. the Bait which Satan makes use of to allure our Saviour to the sin of Idolatry representing to his eye and view all the glories of the World in a most inviting manner and that in a moment of time that so he might affect him the more and prevail the sooner Learn thence That the Pomp and Grandeur of the World is made use of by Satan as a dangerous Snare to draw Men into a compliance with him in his Temptations unto sin He shewed him all the Kingdoms of the world and the Glory of them Observe 3. What an impudent Lyar and proud Boaster the Devil is he was a Lyar from the beginning All this will I give thee for it was delivered unto me an impudent untruth for the Dominion over the things of the World was never given to the Angels neither has the Devil any power over the Creatures but by permission from God The Devil is a most impudent Lyar he told the first Lye and by long Practice is become a perfect Master in the Art of Lying Observe also the Devil 's Boasting as well as Lying All this will I give thee when he had not one foot of Ground to dispose of Great Boasters are for the most part great Lyars and such Boasters and Lyars are like the Devil Observe 4. How our Saviour declares the true and only Object of Religious Worship namely God himself thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Religious Worship is to be given to none of the Creatures neither to Angels nor Men how excellent soever but to God alone We read but of two Creatures that ever desired in Scripture to be Worshipped with Divine Worship namely the Devil and Antichrist but the command is peremptory Thou shalt worship the Lord and him only 9 And he brought him to Jerusalem and set him upon a pinacle of the temple and said unto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy self down from hence 10 For it is written He shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee 11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone 12 And Jesus answering said unto him it is said thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God 13 And when the Devil had ended all the temptation he departed from him for a Season Observe here 1. The power which Satan by God's permission had over the Body of our Blessed Saviour He took him up and he carried his Body through the Air from the Wilderness to Jerusalem and there sets him upon one of the Pinacles of the Temple Learn hence 1. That Satan by God's permission may have a power over the Bodies of Men yea over the Bodies of the best of Men. 2. That this exercise of Satans power over the Bodies of Men is no Argument that such Persons do not belong to God Our Saviour himself who was dear to God is yet left for a time in Satans hands But tho' Satan had a power to set him upon the Pinacle of the Temple yet he had no power to cast him down tho' Satan's Malice be infinite his power is limited and bounded he cannot do all the mischief he would and he shall not do all he can Obs 2. The Sin which Satan tempts Christ to the sin of Self-murther Cast thy self down Learn that Self-murther is a sin which Christ himself was and the Best of his Children may be sollicited and tempted to yet tho' Satan sollicited Christ to the sin he could not compel him to comply with the Temptation Thence Note That how much earnestness and importunity soever Satan uses in pressing his Temptation he can only perswade he cannot compel he may entice but cannot enforce Observe 3. The Argument which Satan uses to perswade Christ to the sin of Self-murther it is a Scripture-Argument he quotes a Promise He shall give his Angels charge over thee What a wonder is here to see the Devil with a Bible under his Arm and with a Text of Scripture in his Mouth Christ had alledged Scripture before to Satan here Satan Retorts Scripture back again to Christ It is written says Christ it is written says Satan Learn That Satan knows how to abuse the most excellent and comfortable Scriptures to the most horrid and prodigious Ends and Purposes He that had Prophanely toucht the Sacred Body of Christ with his hand sticks not presumptuously to handle the Holy Scriptures with his Tongue Obs 4. The Text of Scripture which Satan makes use of Psal 91.11 12. He shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee where the Doctrine is good but the Application bad The Doctrine is true that God is pleased to imploy his Angels for the good of his Servants and particularly for their preservation in times of Danger But see how falsely the Devil perverts misapplies and wrests that Sacred Scripture When God promises that his Angels shall keep us it is in all his ways not in our own crooked paths Learn That altho' the Children of God have the promise of the Guardianship of his Holy Angels yet then only may they expect their Protection when walking in the way of their Duty He shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways Observe Lastly The issue of this Combat Satan is vanquished and departs from our Saviour St. Matthew says the Devil left him and Angels came and ministred unto him Satan is Conquered and quâ—â—s the Field Teaching us That nothing like a vigorous resistance of Temptations causes the Tempter to flee from us Satan is both a Cowardly Enemy and a Conquered Enemy resist him and he will run 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee and there went out a fame of him through all the Region round about 15 And he taught in their Synagogues being glorified of all 16 And he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custom was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath-day and stood up for to read 17 And there was delivered unto him the Book of the Prophet Esaias and when he had opened the Book he found the place where it was written 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted to preach deliverance to the Captives and Recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty them that are bruised 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the Book and gave it again to the Minister and sate down and the eyes of all them that were in the Synagogue were fastned upon him 21 And he began to say unto them This day
is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears Our Blessed Saviour being thus fitted and prepared by his Baptism and Temptations for the Execution of his Ministerial Office he now enters upon the great work of Preaching the Gospel and St. Luke here declares the first place he preacht at namely Nazareth and the first Text he preacht upon Isa 61.1 Observe 1. The place which our Saviour preacht at he bestowed his first Sermon upon Nazareth the place of his Conception and Education For tho' Christ was Born at Bethlehem yet he was bred and brought up at Nazareth there he had his poor but painful Education working on his Father's Trade that of a Carpenter This prejudiced the Jews against him who lookt for a Scepter not an Ax in the hand of him that was born King of the Jews Our Saviour's short and secret abode at Bethlehem and his long and publick living at Nazareth occasioned him to be called Jesus of Nazareth Yet some conceive it was a Nick-name fastned by the Devil upon our Saviour that he might disguise the place of Christ's Nativity and leave the Jews at the greater loss concerning their Messiah Sure it is that this Name Jesus of Nazareth stuck upon our Saviour all his Life and at his Death was fixed by Pilate on his Cross Yea after his Ascention such as believed on him were called The Sect of the Nazareens or the followers of Jesus of Nazareth Observe 2. The Text which our Saviour preacht upon at Nazareth he takes it out of the Prophet Esaias Ch. 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me and he hath Anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor that is God the Father hath poured forth his Holy Spirit without measure upon me in all the Gifts and Graces of it to sit and furnish me for the work of a Mediator and particularly to preach the Gospel to the poor in Spirit and to such as are poor in outward Condition also if meekned and humbled with the sight and sense of their sins To bind up the broken hearted that is to comfort them with the glad tidings of the Gospel To preach Deliverance to the Captives to let such Sinners know who were slaves to sin and Satan that a Deliverer is come if they be willing to be Delivered by him To preach the acceptable year of the Lord or to proclaim a Spiritual Jubilee in which God proffers pardon of Sin and Reconciliation with himself upon the Terms of the Gospel Learn hence 1. That God stirreth up none to take upon them the Office of the Ministry whom he hath not fitted and furnished with Gifts for the Regular discharge of it 2. That Christ himself did not undertake the Office of a Mediator but by the Ordination of God the Holy Spirit The Spirit of the Lord is upon me and he hath sent me to preach the Gospel 3. That no Creature Angel or Man could perform the Office of a Mediator but only Christ who was Consecrated to that Office by an Anointing from the Holy Spirit without measure The Spirit of the Lord hath anointed me 4. That the preaching of the Gospel is the great Ordinance which Christ himself made use of and recommended to his Apostles and Ministers for inlightning blind Sinners for comforting broken hearts and for Delivering Captive Souls from the slavery and dominion of sin and Satan He hath sent me to preach the Gospel to the poor to heal the broken-hearted to publish Deliverance to the Captives and Recovering of Sight to the blind What Enemies then are they to the Souls of Men who have low and mean thoughts of this high and honourable Ordinance of God the preaching of the Everlasting Gospel which is the power of God unto Salvation Observe 3. The Behaviour of our Saviour's Auditors the Men of Nazareth under his Preaching their Eyes were fixt and their minds intent upon him and upon what was spoken by him The Eyes of all that were in the Synagâ—gue were fastned upon him not closed with sleep nor gazing about upon others but fixed upon Christ the Preacher fixing of the Eye is a great help to the attention of the ear and the intention of the mind a fastned eye is a means to help us to a fixed heart as a wandring eye is both a sign and a cause of a wandring Heart O that our Hearers would imitate our Saviour's Hearers under the Word They fastned their Eyes upon him as if they meant to hear with their eyes as well as with their Ears And yet we have cause to suspect that Curiosity rather than Piety caused this their Attention seeing as you will find v. 29. That these very Persons who out of Novelty were ready to eat his words soon after out of Cruelty were ready to devour the speaker for they thrust him out of the city led him to the Brow of the Hill and would have cast him down headlong Oh blessed Saviour What wonder is it that the Persons of thy Ministers are despised and their Doctrine neglected when thou thy self the first Preacher of the Gospel and for thy first Sermon at Nazareth wert thus ignominiously treated 22 And all bare him witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth and they said is not this Joseph's son 23 And he said unto them ye will surely say unto me this Proverb Physician heal thy self Whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum do also here in thy country 24 And he said verily I say unto you no Prophet is accepted in his own country Observe here 1. The effect of our Saviour's Ministry at Nazareth it created wonder but did not produce Faith they marvelled but not believed they admire the Wisdom of his Discourses but will not own him to be the promised Messias because of the Poverty and Meanness of his Condition Is not this Joseph's Son They expect the son of a Prince not the son of a Carpenter to be their Messiah Thence Note That the Poverty and Meaness of Christ's Condition was that which Multitudes stumbled at and which kept many yea most from Believing on him None but a Spiritual Eye can discern Beauty in an humbled and abased Saviour Obs 2. Our Saviour wonders not that so few of his Country men amongst whom he had been bred and brought up and with whom he had lived most part of his time did despise his Person and reject his Doctrine He tells them No Prophet has honour in his own Country that is very seldom has Teaching us that usually the Ministers of God are most despised where they are most familiarly known sometimes the remembrance of their mean Original and Extraction sometimes the poverty of their Parents sometimes the Indecencies of their Childhood sometimes the follies of their youth sometimes the faults of their Family and Relations are ript up and made occasions of Contempt and therefore that Prophet that comes from afar and has not been much known gains the greatest Reputation amongst a
save us we perish Obs 4. A double rebuke given by our Saviour 1. to the Winds 2. to the fears of his Disciples Christ rebuked the Winds and instantly they were calm when the Sea was as furious as a Mad Man Christ with a single Word calms it Learn thence That the most raging Winds and outragious Seas cannot stand before the Rebukes of Christ Christ as God lays a Law upon the most Lawless Creatures even when they seem to act most Lawlesly Observe farther Christ Rebukes his Disciples fears and their want of Faith Why are ye fearful where is your faith No sooner was the storm up but their fears were up and their faith was down They forgot that the Lord High Admiral of the Ocean was now on Board their Ship and were as much over-set with their Boysterous Passions as the Ship was with tempestuous Winds and accordingly Christ rebukes the Tempest within before he calms the Storm without first he quickens their Faith then he quiets the Seas Note from hence that great Faith in the Habit may appear but little in Act and Exercise The Disciples Faith in forsaking all and following Christ was great Faith but in this present Act their Faith was weak thro' the prevalency of their fear Oh the imperfect composition of the best of Saints faith and fear will take their turns and act their several parts whilst we are here ere long our fears will be vanquished and our faith swallowed up in Vision our hope in fruition Then shall we obey with vigour praise with chearfulness Love without measure fear without Torment Trust without Despondency Lord strengthen our Faith in the Belief of this desirable Happiness and set our Souls a longing for the full fruition and final enjoyment of it 26 And they arrived at the Country of the Gadarens which is over-against Galilee 27 And when he went forth to Land there met him out of the city a certain man which had Devils long time and wore no cloaths neither abode in any house but in the Tombes 28 When he saw Jesus he cryed out and fell down before him and with a loud voice said What have I to do with thee Jesus thou son of God most high I beseech thee torment me not 29 For he had commanded the unclean Spirit to come out of the man for oftentimes it had caught him and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters and he brake the bands and was driven of the Devil into the Wilderness 30 And Jesus asked him saying What is thy name and he said Legion because many Devils were entered into him 31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep 32 And there was there an herd of many Swine feeding on the mountain and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them and he suffered them 33 Then went the Devils out of the man and entered into the Swine and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the Lake and were choaked 34 When they that fed them saw what was done they fled and went and told it in the city and in the country 35 Then they went out to see what was done and came to Jesus and found the man out of whom the Devils were departed sitting at the feet of Jesus cloathed and in his right mind and they were afraid 36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the Devils was healed 37 Then the whole multitude of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them for they were taken with great fear and he went up into the Ship and returned back again 38 Now the man out of whom the Devils were departed besought him that he might be with him 39 But Jesus sent him away saying Return to thine house and shew how great things God has done for thee and he went his way and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him 40 And it came to pass when Jesus was returned the people gladly received him for they were all waiting for him This piece of History gives us a very sad Relation of a Person that was possessed with a Legion of Devils we read of few if any in the Old Testament that were thus possest but of many in the New Our Saviour came into the world to destroy the Works of the Devil therefore he suffered Satan to enter some Humane Bodies to shew his Divine Power in casting him out Observe here 1. That the Evil Angels by their Fall lost their Purity but not their Power for with God's permission they have Power not only to enter Mens Bodies and to possess them but also to distemper their minds and to drive them to Frenzy and Madness such was the deplorable Case here Note 2. That the reason why the Evil Angels do no oftner exert their Power in doing mischief to the Bodies and Lives of Men is from the restraining Power of God the Devil cannot do all the mischief he would and he shall not do all he can Observe 3. The place where these Evil Spirits delighted to make their abode amongst the Tâ—mbs or Graves places desolate forlorn and solitary which are apt to breed horror of mind and to give advantage to Temptation from whence I gather That it is very dangerous and unsafe for Persons especially in whom Melancholy prevails to give themselves too much to solitariness to frequent desolate places and to affect being much alone for it gives advantage to Satan to set upon them with powerful Temptations It is much better to frequent Humane Society especially to delight in the Communion of the Saints by means whereof we may be more and more strengthned against Satans Temptations Obs 4. How the Devils own Christ to be the Son of God and pay unwillingly Worship and Homage to him yielding Subjection to him as his slaves and vassals not a free and voluntary Service They cryed out and fell down before him saying What have we to do with thee Jesus thou Son of God where by calling him Jesus they own him to be a Saviour but none of their Saviour What have we to do with thee Jesus Oh what an uncomfortable Expression is this to own Christ to be a Saviour and at the same time to know and declare that he is none of our Saviour Quid est Deus si non sit meus What is God if he be not my God What comfort in a Saviour if he be not my Saviour Observe 5. What a multitude of Evil Spirits do enter into one Man oh the extreme malice and enmity of the Devil against Mankind in that so many Evil Spirits should at once afflict and torment a single Person even a Legion many thousands of them Note likewise the unity and agreement which is amongst these Evil Spirits in doing mischief tho' there was a multitude of them in this one Person yet have they all but one Name
and Jesus rebuked the unclean Spirit and healed the child and delivered him to his Father Observe here 1. The Person brought to Christ for help and healing one Bodily possest by Satan who Rent and Tore him but rather to Torment than to Dispatch him Oh how does Satan delight to do hurt to the Bodies as well as the Souls of Mankind Lord abate his Power since his Malice will not be abated Observe 2. The Person who represented his sad Condition to our Saviour his Compassionate Father who kneeled down and cryed out Need will make a Person both humble and Eloquent every one has a Tongue to speak for himself happy he that keeps a Tongue for others Observe 3. The Physicians which this Distressed Person is brought unto first to the Disciples and then to Jesus We never apply our selves importunately to the God of power till we despair of the Creatures help But what hindered the Disciples that they could not cast this Evil Spirit out why it was their unbelief oh faithless Generation Learn thence That the great Obstacle and Obstruction of all Blessings both Spiritual and Temporal coming to us is our wretched Infidelity and Unbelief Observe 4. The Sovereign Power and absolute Authority which Christ had when on Earth over the Devil and his Angels Jesus rebuked him cast him out and charged him to return no more into him This was a Proof and Demonstration of the Godhead of our Saviour that in his own Name that is by his own Power and Authority he did and could cast the Devils out 43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did he saith unto his Disciples 44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men 45 But they understood not this saying and it was hid from them that they perceived it not and they feared to ask him of that saying Observable it is how frequently our Saviour fore-warned his Disciples of his approaching Sufferings and as the time of his Sufferings drew nearer he did more frequently warn them of his Death But all was little enough to arm them against the Scandal of the Cross and to Reconcile them to the thoughts of his Suffering Condition how an ordinary Prophet should be Delivered into the hands of Men they could easily understand but how the Messias should be so treated they could not apprehend for the Disciples had taken up the Common Opinion That the Messias was to be a Temporal Prince and should Conquer and Reign here upon Earth and how to Reconcile this with being killed they could no ways apprehend and they were afraid to be too particular in their Enquiries about it Now from Christ's so frequent warning his Disciples of his approaching Sufferings we may gather That we can never hear either too often or too much of the Doctrine of the Cross nor be too frequently instructed in our Duty to prepare for a Suffering State as Christ went from his Cross to the Crown from a State of Abasement to a State of Exaltation so must all his Disciples and Followers likewise 46 Then there arose a Reasoning among them which of them should be the greatest 47 And Jesus perceiving the thoughts of their Heart took a child and set him by him 48 And said unto them whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me for he that is least among you all the same shall be great It may justly seem a wonder that when our Blessed Saviour Discoursed so frequently with his Disciples about his Sufferings that they should at the same time be disputing amongst themselves about precedency and preheminency which of them should be the greatest the first in place and the highest in Dignity and Honour But from this Instance we may Learn That the Holiest and Best of Men are too prone to Ambition ready to catch at the Bait of Honour to affect a Precedency before and Superiority over others Here the Apostles themselves were touch'd with the Itch of Ambition to cure this our Saviour sets before them a little Child as the proper Emblem of Humility shewing that they ought to be as free from Pride and Ambition as a young Child which affects nothing of Precedency Such as are of highest Eminency in the Church ought to be singularly adorned with the Grace of Humility looking upon themselves as lying under the greatest Obligations to be most Eminently useful and serviceable for the Churches good 49 And John answered and said Master we saw one casting out Devils in thy name and we forbad him because he followeth not with us 50 And Jesus said unto him forbid him not for he that is not against us is for us Observe here 1. St. John's Relation of a matter of Fact to our Saviour namely his Forbidding one to cast out Devils in Christ's Name that did not follow Christ as they did for tho' only the Disciples which followed Christ had a Commission to work Miracles yet were there others no Enemies to Christ who in imitation of the Disciples did attempt to do the like and God was pleased for the Honour of his Son in whose Name they cast out Devils to give them sometimes Success Observe 2. The Action of the Disciples towards this Person we forbad him because he followed not with us where is Observable their Rashness in Forbidding him of their own Heads before they had consulted Christ about it and their Envy and Emulation in that they were grieved and discontented that good was done because they did not do it it is as hard a matter to look upon the Gifts of others without Envy as it is to look upon our own without Pride Observe 3. Our Saviour's Reply forbid him not Because Our Saviour knew that this Action of casting out Devils in his Name would some ways Redound to his Glory altho' he undertook the matter without Direction from Christ We ought not to censure and condemn those which do that which is good in it self tho' they fail in the manner of their doing of it 51 And it came to pass when the time was come that he should be received up he stedfastly set his Face to go to Jerusalem The time now drew on wherein our Saviour was to be Received up into Heaven and accordingly he sets his Face to go to Jerusalem that he might there Suffer and from thence Ascend Now here we have Observable 1. That altho ' Jerusalem was the Nest of his Enemies the Stage upon which his Bloody Sufferings were to be Acted the fatal place of his Death yet nothing terrified with Danger he sets his Face for Jerusalem that is come what will he will go with an invincible Courage and Resolution Learn thence That altho' Christ had a perfect and exact Knowledge of all the Bitter Sufferings he was to undergo
written in this Book 3. That Persons may know that their Names are written in that Book otherwise they could not rejoyce for no Man can rejoyce in an unknown good 4. That it is greater matter of Joy and Rejoycing to know that our Names are written in Heaven then to have a Power to cast out Devils here on Earth A Man may have Power to cast forth Devils out of others and yet at the same time the Devil may have Power in and over himself Therefore in this rejoyce not that the Devils are subject unto you But rather rejoyce that your Names are written in Heaven If you say With what spectacles shall we read that at such a Distance Who will ascend up into Heaven to see whether his Name be written there Or who can send a Messenger thither to search the Records I Answer Turn thine Eyes inward if the Name of God be written in thy Heart thy Name is certainly written in Heaven if you in your daily Actions write out a Copy of God's Book the Blessed Bible here below assure your selves the hand of God has written your Names in his Book above that is you shall certainly be saved 21 In that Hour Jesus rejoyced in Spirit and said I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes even so father for so it seemed good in thy sight 22 All things are delivered to me of my father and no man knoweth who the Son is but the Father and who the Father is but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Here we find our Saviour glorifying his Father and magnifying himself 1. He glorifies his Father for the wise and free Dispensation of his Gospel-Grace to the meanest and most ignorant Persons whilst the Great and Learned Men of the World undervalued and despised it I thank thee Father that thou hast revealed these things to Babes Learn hence 1. That till God reveals himself his Nature and Will no Man can know either what he is or what he requires Thâ—u hast revealed 2. That the wise and knowing Men of the World have in all Ages despised the Mysteries of the Gospel and have therefore been judicially blinded by God Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent When Men shut their Eyes against the clearest Light and say they will not see God closes their Eyes and says they shall not see 3. That the most ignorant if humble and desirous of spiritual Illumination are in the readiest disposition to receive and embrace the Gospel Revelation Thou hast revealed them unto Babes 4. That this is not more pleasing to Christ then it is the pleasure of his Father even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight Observe 2. our Saviour magnifies himself 1. His Authority and Commission All things are delivered unto me that is all Power is committed to me as Mediator from God the Father 2. His Office to reveal his Father's Will to a lost World No man knoweth the Father but the Son or the Son but the Father That is no Man knoweth their Essence and Nature their Will and Pleasure their Counsel and Consent their mutual Compact and Agreement betwixt themselves for saving a lost World but only themselves and those to whom they reveal it Learn thence That all saving Knowledge of God is in by and thro' Christ he as the great Prophet of his Church reveals unto us the Mind and Will of God for our Salvation None knoweth but he to whom the Son revealeth 23 And he turned him to his Disciples and said privately Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see 24 For I tell you that many Prophets and Kings have desired to see those things which ye see and have not seen them and to hear those things which ye hear and have not heard them From the very first giving out of the Promise of Christ to Adam after the Fall Gen. 3.15 There was in all good Men a longing Desire and Expectation to see that Person who should be so great a Blessing to Mankind Prophets and Kings desired to see the promised Messiah Now says our Saviour to his Disciples Blessed are you for you have seen with the Eyes of your Body what others only saw with the Eyes of their Mind with your Bodily Eye you have seen the Promised Messias coming in the Flesh and also the Miracles to confirm you that I am He have been wrought before your Eyes therefore Blessed are the eyes of your Body which have beheld me corporally and blessed also are the eyes of your Mind which have beheld me Spiritually A sight of Christ by a Believing eye much more by a glorified eye is a blessed Sight Blessed are those eyes which see Christ in his Dispensations of Grace here they shall certainly see him in his manifestations of Glory hereafter 25 And behold a certain Lawyer stood up and tempted him saying Master What shall I do to inherit eternal Life 26 He said unto him What is written in the Law How readest thou 27 And he answering said Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy strength and with all thy mind and thy neighbour as thy self 28 And he said unto him Thou hast answered right this do and thou shalt live Here we have a Lawyer that is an Interpreter and Expounder of the Law of Moses tempting our Saviour that is making tryal of him whether he would deliver any Doctrine contrary to the Law of Moses he propounds therefore a question What he should do to inherit eternal Life Where Note 1. He Believed the certainty of a future State 2. he professes his desire of an Eternal Happiness in that State 3. He declares his Readiness to do something in order to the obtaining of that Happiness Hence Learn That all Religion both Nâ—tural and Revealed teaches Men that good Works are necessary to Salvation or that something must be done by them who desire to enter into Life What shall I do to inherit eternal Life It is not talking well and professing well but doing well that entitles us to Heaven and Eternal Salvation and this the very Light of Nature teaches Observe 2. Our Saviour's Answer What is written in the Law how readest thou intimating to us that the Word and Law of God is the Rule and measure of our Duty our Guide to direct us in the way to Eternal Life The Man Replies That the Law of God requires That we love God with all our heart soul and strength and our Neighbour as our selves Where Note 1. That the fervour of all our Affections and particularly the Supremacy of our Love is Required by God as his Right and Due Love must pass thro' and possess all the Powers and Faculties of our Souls The Mind must meditate upon God the Will must choose and embrace
forsake their sins and obey his Gospel Adding farther that it would be an Heart-piercing sorrow a Soul-rending grief to them at the Great Day to see not only the Patriarchs and Prophets and other Jews but even the despised Gentiles from all Quarters and Nations whom they thought accursed admitted into the Kingdom of Heaven and themselves eternally shut out For the last shall be first and the first last that is the Gentiles who were afar off shall receive the Gospel when you for rejecting it shall be cast off From the whole Note 1. That there is a determinate time when Souls must if ever accept of the offers of Grace and Salvation which are made unto them now is the door open and Persons invited in 2. That e're long Jesus Christ who now stands at every one of our doors waiting for our complyance with his Gospel-Terms will wait no longer upon us nor strive any farther by the motions of his Spirit with us when once the master of the house is risen up and shut to the door 3. That doleful is the condition of such miserable Souls against whom the door is shut the door of Repentance the door of hope the door of Salvation all shut eternally shut and that by him who shutteth and none can open 4. That all would be saved at last all will cry for mercy when it is too late even such as now sinfully undervalue and scornfully despise it Ye shall stand without and knock at the door saying Lord Lord open to us Note 5. That it is no good plea for admittance into Heaven because we have been Church-members here on Earth no outward priviledges tho' Christ has taught in our Streets no external Acts of Communion tho' we have eaten and drunk in his presence and at his holy Table will justify our hopes of entring into Heaven when we dye if we be workers of iniquity whilst we live Lord we have eaten and drunk in thy presence but he shall say I know you not ye workers of iniquity Note 6. That as Hell will be a second Heaven to the Glorified so Heaven will be a second Hell to the Damn'd Hell will be a second Heaven to the Glorified that is it will add exceedingly to the Happiness of the Saints in Heaven to see and be sensible of that misery which they escaped and the damn'd indure and on the other hand Heaven will be a second Hell to the Damn'd that is it will encrease their Torments and add to the vexation of their Spirits to see some in Heaven whom they little expected to see there some that never saw nor heard nor enjoyed what they have done Strangers yea Heathens taken in when the Children of the Kingdom that is the Members of the visible Church are shut out They shall come from the East from the West from the North and from the South and sit down in the Kingdom of God but the children of the Kingdom shall be cast into outer darkness 31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees saying unto him Get thee out and depart hence for Herod will kill thee 32 And he said unto them Go ye and tell that Fox Behold I cast out Devils and do cures to day and to morrow and the third day I shall be perfected 33 Nevertheless I must walk to day and to morrow and the day following for it cannot be that a Prophet perish out of Jerusalem It may seem strange that the Pharisees who had no kindness for our Saviour should come here and acquaint him with a danger that he was in from Herod Get thee hence for Herod will kill thee It is probable they had a design to drive him out of the Country because his Reputation was so great among the People who were admirers of his Person hearers of his Doctrine and Witnesses of his Miracles But what intention soever they had in acquainting Christ with this Danger it is very evident that our Saviour slighted it by the Message which he sent to Herod Go and tell that Fox Where we must not suppose that our Lord did fix this Name of Fox upon Herod as an opprobrious Title thereby reflecting the least dishonour upon him as a King but it was to let him know that being about his Fathers Work he feared neither his Power nor his Policy neither his Cruelty nor his Craft and that nothing should take him off from finishing the Work of Man's Redemption Learn hence That when God calls forth any of his Servants to any special service for him all the combined Power and Policy of the Prince of Darkness and his Instruments shall never be able to hinder them till they have finished their Course and done the Service which God designed I must work to day and to morrow and the day following as if Christ had said Let Herod know that my time is not in his Hand and as to this matter I am not under his Command or Power e're long my work will be finished and then I shall be perfected 34 O Jerusalem Jerusalem that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee How often would I have gathered thy children together as an Hen doth gather her Brood under her wings and ye would not 35 Behold your house is left unto you desolate and verily I say unto you Ye shall not see me until the time come when ye shall say Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Our Lord concludes this Chapter with a Compassionate Lamentation over Jerusalem the place where he was to suffer his Ingemination or doubling of the Word Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem shews the vehemency of his affection towards them and the sincerity of his desires for their Salvation Observe 1. The Kindness and Compassion of Christ to the Jews in general and Jerusalem in particular set forth by a lively Metaphor and Similitude namely that of a Hen gathering her Chickens under her Wings As the Hen doth tenderly cherish and carefully hide and cover her young from the Eye of the Destroyer so would Christ have shrouded and sheltered this People from all those Birds of Prey and particularly from the Roman Eagle by whose Tallons they were at last destroyed Again as the Hen continueth her Call to her young ones from Morning to Night and holds out her Wings for shelter to them all the day long so did Christ wait for this Peoples Repentance and Conversion for it was more than Forty years after they had killed his Prophets and murthered himself before they met with a final Overthrow Observe 2. The amazing obstinacy and wilfulness of this People in rejecting the Grace and Favour the kindness and condescension of the Lord Jesus Christ I would have gathered you but ye would not Observe 3. The fatal issue of this obstinacy Behold your house is left unto you desolate is left that is certainly and suddenly will be left desolate the present Tense being put for the paulo post futurum
46 And when Jesus had cryed with a loud Voice he said Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit And having said thus he gave up the Ghost 47 Now when the Centurion saw what was done he Glorified God saying Certainly this was a Righteous Man 48 And all the People that came together to that sight beholding the things which were done smote their Breasts and Returned 49 And all his Acquaintance and the Women that followed him from Galilee stood afar off beholding these things Observe here 1. What Prodigies in Nature happened and fell out at the Crucifixion of our Saviour The Sun was Darkened at the Setting of the Son of Righteousness And the Veil of the Temple was Rent signifying That God was now about to Forsake his Temple that the Ceremonial Law was now Abolishing and the Partition-Wall betwixt Jew and Gentile being now pulled down all may have Access to God through the Blood of a Mediator Observe 2. The last Prayer of our Saviour before his Death Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit They are words full of Faith and Comfort fit to be the last Breathings of every Gracious Soul in this World Learn hence That Dying Believers are both Warranted and Encouraged by Christ's Example Believingly to Commend their precious Souls into the Hands of God as a Gracious Father Father into thy Hands Observe 3. What influence our Saviour's Death had upon the Centurion He Glorified God saying Verily this was a Righteous Man Here Note That Christ had a Testimony of his Innocency and Righteousness given unto him from all sorts of Persons whatsoever Pilate and Herod pronounced him Innocent Pilate's Wife proclaimed him a Righteous Person Judas the Traitor declared it was innocent Blood the Thief on the Cross affirmed he had done nothing amiss and the Centurion owned him to be a Righteous Man yea the Son of God Mark 15.39 only the Pharisees and Chief Priests which were Teachers of others not Ignorance but Obstinacy and Malice Blinded and Hardned them to their Ruine and Destruction instead of Owning and Receiving him for their Saviour they Ignominiously put him to Death as the vilest Impostor 50 And behold there was a Man Named Joseph a Counsellor and he was a good Man and a just 51 The same had not consented to the Counsel and Deed of them he was of Arimathea a City of the Jews who also himself waited for rhe Kingdom of God 52 This Man went unto Pilate and begged the Body of Jesus 53 And he took it down and wrapped it in Linnen and laid it in a Sepulchre that was hewn in Stone wherein never Man before was laid 54 And that Day was the Preparation and the Sabbath drew on 55 And the Women also which came with him from Galilee followed after and beheld the Sepulchre and how his Body was laid 56 And they Returned and prepared Spices and Oyntments and rested the Sabbath-day according to the Commandment The Circumstances of our Lord's Funeral and Honourable Interrment are here Recorded by our Evangelist such a Funeral as never was since Graves were first Digg'd Where Observe 1. Our Lord's Body must be Begg'd before it could be Bury'd The Dead Bodies of Malefactors being in the Power and at the Disposal of the Judge that Condemns them Observe 2. The Person that Begg'd this Body and bestowed a Decent and Honourable Buryal upon it Joseph of Arimathea a worthy though a close Disciple Grace doth not always make a publick and open Shew where it is But as there is much secret Riches in the Bowels of the Earth though unseen so is there much Grace in the Hearts of some Saints which the World takes little Notice of Observe 3. The Mourners that followed our Saviour's Hearse to the Grave The Women which came out of Galilee a poor Train of Mourners The Apostles who should have been most officious to bear his Holy Body to the Ground were sometime since all Scattered afraid to own their Master either Dying or Dead Funeral Pomo had been no way suitable either to the End or Manner of our Lord's Death and accordingly here is is nothing like Observe 4. The Grave or Sepulchre in which our Holy Lord lay it was in a Sepulchre Hewn out of a Rock That so his Enemies might have no occasion to say that his Disciples stole him away by secret Holes and unseen Passages under Ground It was in a New Sepulchre Wherein never Man was laid before lest his Adversaries should say it was another that was Risen who was Bury'd there before him And has Buryed in a Garden As by the Sin of the first Adam we were driven out of the Garden of Pleasure the Earthly Paradise so by the Sufferings of the Second Adam who lay Buryed in a Garden we may hope for Entrance into the Heavenly Paradise Observe 5. The manner of our Lord's Funeral it was Hasty Open and Decent Hasty because of the Preparation for the Sabbath Open that all Persons might be Spectators and none might say He was Buryed before he was Dead Decent being wrapt in fine Linnen and Perfumed with Spices Observe 6. The Reasons why our Lord was thus Buryed Seeing he was to Rise again in as short a Time as other Men lye by the Walls doubtless it was to declare the Certainty of his Death to Fulfil the Types and Prophecies which went before of him As Jonas being Three days and three nights in the Whales Belly He was also Bury'd to Compleat his Humiliation This was the lowest step to which he could Descend in his Abased State In a word Christ went into the Grave that he might Conquer Death in its own Territories and Dominions Observe 7. Of what Use our Lord's Buryal is to us his Followers it shews us the amazing Depths of his Humiliation from what and to what his Love brought him even from the Bosom of his Father to the Bosom of the Grave It may Comfort us against the fears of Death and the Terrors of the Grave The Grave could not long keep Christ it shall not always keep Christians It was a Loathsome Prison before it is a Persumed Bed now He whose Head is in Heaven need not fear to put his Feet into the Grave Awake and Sing thou that dwellest in the Dust for the Enmity of the Grave is slain by Christ CHAP. XXIV This Last Chapter of St. Luke's Gospel contains the History of our Saviour's Resurrection and gives us an Account of what he did upon Earth between the Time of his glorious Resurrection and Triumphant Ascension 1 NOW upon the first day of the Week very early in the Morning they came unto the Sepulchre bringing the Spices which they had prepared and certain others with them 2 And they found the Stone Rolled away from Sepulchre 3 And they entered in and found not the Body of our Lord Jesus 4 And it came to pass as they were much perplexed thereabout Behold Two Men stood by them in shining Garments 5 And
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
would bring him to Heaven 't is not enough that we be new-dress'd but we must be new-made that is thoroughly and universally changed the Understanding by Illumination the Will by Renovation the Affections by Sanctification the Life by Reformation or we can never come at Heaven We must be like God or we can never live with him If we be not like him in the Temper of our Minds on Earth we can never be happy in the Enjoyment of him in Heaven for Heaven which is a place of the greatest Holiness would be a place of the greatest Uneasiness to an unregenerate and unholy person 4 Nicodemus saith unto him How can a man be born when he is old can he enter the second time into his mothers womb and be born Two things are observable in this Question of Nicodemus How can a Man be born when he is old 1. His Ignorance and Weakness in propounding of such a Question So true is that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God What a gross Conception had this learned Man of the Notion of Regeneration How ignorant is Nature of the Workings of Grace 2. Yet in this Question of his there is discovered a great deal of Plainness and Simplicity He did not come as usually the Pharisees did with an insnaring Question in his Mouth but with a Mind fairly disposed for Information and Conviction with a pious desire to be instructed Whatever Ignorance we labour under it is safest and best to discover it to our Spiritual Guide that we may attain the Mercy of saving Knowledge but how many had rather carry their Ignorance to Hell with them then discover it to their Minister 5 Jesus answered Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God Nicodemus not rightly understanding Christ's meaning in the former Verse our Saviour is pleased to explain himself in this and tells him that the Birth he spake of was not Natural but Spiritual wrought in the Soul by the Spirit of God whose Working is like Water cleansing and purifying the Soul from all sinful Defilement Learn hence That the regenerating Change is wrought in the Soul by the Spirit of God which purifies it from its Natural Defilement and renews it after the Divine Likeness and Image 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit As if Christ had said As Men generate Men and Nature begets Nature so the Holy Spirit produceth Holy Inclinations Qualifications and Dispositions Learn hence That as Original Corruption is conveighed by Natural Generation so Saving Regeneration is the Effect and Product of the Holy Spirit 's Operation 7 Marvel not that I say unto thee Ye must be born again 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth so is every one that is born of the Spirit Nicodemus making an Exception against our Saviour's Notion of Regeneration from the Absurdity and Impossibility of it as he thought our Saviour therefore proceeds to clear the Matter by a Similitude taken from the Wind which at once declares the Author and describes the Manner of Spiritual Regeneration The Author of it is the Holy Spirit of God compared to the Wind first for the Quality of its Motion It blows when and where it listeth Secondly From the Sensibleness of its Effects Thou hearest the sound thereof Thirdly From the Intricacy or Mysteriousness of its Proceedings Thou knowest not whence it cometh nor whither it goeth As the Natural Wind is not under the Power of Man either to send it out or to restrain it It bloweth where it listeth for all us though not where it listeth in regard of God In like manner the Holy Spirit is as Wind in the freeness of its Motion and in the Variableness of its Motion also Learn hence That the Way and Work of the Holy Spirit of God in the Soul's Regeneration it is oft-times very secret and usually exceeding Various Various as to the time Some are wrought upon in Youth others in old Age. Various in his Methods of Working Some are wrought upon by the Corrosives of the Law others by the Lenitives of the Gospel Various in the Manner of his Working and in the Means by which he works Upon some by a powerful Ordinance upon others by an awakening Providence But though there be such Variety in the Method of the Spirit 's Working yet is the Work in all still the same There is no Variety in the Work wrought The effect produced by the Holy Spirit in the Work of Regeneration is alike and the same in all namely Likeness to God A Conformity in our Natures to the Holy Nature of God and a Conformity in our Lives to the Will of God 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him How can these things be 10 Jesus answered and said unto him Art thou a Master of Israel and knowest not these things 11 Verily verily I say unto thee We speak that we do know and testifie that we have seen and ye receive not our witness 12 If I have told you earthly things and ye believe not how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things Observe here 1. How Nicodemus consulting only with carnal Reason persists in his Apprehension concerning the Absurdity and Impossibility of our Saviour's Notion of Regeneration or being born of the Spirit Nicodemus said How can these things be Learn hence That the great Cause of Mens Ignorance in the Matters of Salvation and the Mysteries of Religion is consulting their own Natural Reason without submitting their Understandings to the Authority of Divine Revelation Till they can give a Reason for every thing they believe they cry out with Nicodemus How can these things be whereas though we cannot give a reason of all Gospel Mysteries which we believe we can give a good reason why we believe them namely Because God has revealed them No Man can be a Christian who refuses to submit his Understanding to the Authority of Divine Revelation Observe 2. How our Saviour reproves Nicodemus for and upbraids him with his Ignorance v. 10. and his Infidelity v. 12. 1. His Ignorance is reproved Art thou a Master of Israel and knowest not these things as if Christ had said Ignorance in any as to the Fundamentals of Religion is shameful tho' but a common Learner much more in a Teacher and Master and he a Teacher and Master in Israel now art thou one of them and yet knowest not these things Learn hence 1. That a Man may be very knowing himself and take upon him to teach and instruct others and yet be very ignorant of the Nature and much unacquainted with the Work of Regeneration upon his own Soul A Man may be sharp-sighted as the Eagle in the Mysteries of Art
signifies both No Faith is acceptable to Christ nor available to our Salvation but that which is the Parent and Principle of Obedience Learn 2. That final Unbelief renders a Man infallibly an Object of the Eternal Wrath of God He that believeth not the Son the wrath of God abideth on him The Unbeliever now lies under the Sentence of God's Wrath hereafter he shall lie under the full and final execution of it Lord how sad is it to be here in a state of Condemnation But how intollerable will it be in Hell to continue eternally under the Power of Condemnation To lie for ever in that mysterious Fire of Hell whose strange property it is always to torture but never to kill or always to kill but never to consume For after Millions of Years are expired still 't is a Wrath to come and tho' the Unbeliever has felt and endured never so much yet still the Wrath of God abideth on him CHAP. IV. 1 WHen therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized mo disciples then John 2 Though Jesus himself baptized not but his disciples 3 He left Judea and departed again into Galilee The former part of this Chapter acquaints us with our Saviour's removal from Judea into Galilee The occasion of it was this Christ hearing that John was cast into Prison and understanding how the Pharisees were inraged at the increasing of the Number of his Disciples to decline their Fury and to prevent Danger to himself he leaves Judea and departs into Galilee for his own Preservation Hence learn That when the faithful Ministers of Christ do meet with eminent Success in their Master's Service they must expect to meet with a mighty shock of Malice and Envy from Satan and his wicked Instruments Christ himself experienced it let his Ministers expect it and prepare for it 2. That it is neither unlawful nor unbecoming for the Ministers of Christ to flee when Persecution threatens them Their Lord and Master having fled before them And commanded also when they persecute in one City to flee into another 4 And he must needs go through Samaria 5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph 6 Now Jacobs well was there Jesus therefore being wearied with his journey sat thus on the well and it was about the sixth hour Here Observe 1. How wonderfully the Wisdom of God over-rules the Malice of Men for his own Glory and the Good of others The Malice of the Pharisees in Judea drives Christ into Galilee and in his Passage through Samaria the first Fruits of the Gentiles are called and particularly the Woman of Samaria Observe 2. How in every step of Christ's way he was doing good to the Souls of Men. In his Passage through Samaria into Galilee a poor Woman is brought to know him to be the true Messias Observe 3. Our Holy Lord in his Journeying from Place to Place did travel usually on foot and the wearkness of his Body upon travelling shews him to be truly and really Man and in all things like unto us Sin only excepted Our blessed Lord did not only take upon him our Nature but the Infirmities of our Nature also 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water Jesus saith unto her Give me to drink 8 For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him How is it that thou being a Jew askest drink of me which am a woman of Samaria for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans Observe here 1. How all our own Motions and Actions are under the Direction and Government of God and how Divine Providence doth sometimes dispose of small Matters to become Occasions of great Good This poor Woman's coming to the Well to draw Water became the means of her Conversion Observe 2. Christ speaks to and seeks after this poor Woman before she takes any Notice of him God is found of those that seek him not and makes himself manifest to them that inquire not after him Jesus said unto her Give me Drink Observe 3. The great Poverty of our Lord 's outward Condition he wanted a draught of Water for his Refreshment and a meals Meat now at Dinner-time to refresh his wearied Nature Oh! what Contempt did Christ cast upon the World when he was here in it He would not honour it so far as to keep any Part of it in his own hand Yet Observe 4. That tho' Christ had neither House nor Land nor Money of his own yet he lived not by Begging or upon meer Alms. The Disciples were now gone into the City to buy not to beg Meat For there was a Bag which required a Bearer John 12.6 and our Saviour's Friends and Followers supplied him with Money for his necessary Occasions His Disciples were gone to buy Bread Observe Lastly How bitter is the Enmity which differences in Religion and diversity of Opinions do occasion They do not only alienate Affections but even violate the Bonds of civil Society and common Conversation The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans would neither eat nor drink with them 10 Jesus answered and said unto her If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee Give me to drink thou wouldst have asked of him and he would have given thee living water The Samaritan Woman had refused Christ a draught of Water in the former Verse he offers her the Water of Life in this Verse Oh how kindly doth Christ deal with those that dealt unkindly with him If thou knewest the gift of God c. Here Observe 1. The Mercy which Christ had for and was so desirous to bestow upon this poor Woman it was the Gift of God that is himself his Holy Spirit in the sanctifying Gifts and saving Graces of it All which are compared to Water in regard of their Effects and Operations which are to purifie the Unclean and to satisfie the Thirsty Observe 2. The way and course which this Woman and every lost Sinner ought to take in order to the obtaining of this inestimable Gift and that is by asking of it Thou wouldst have asked and he would have given thee living Water Learn hence That Christ himself his Holy Spirit with all the sanctifying Graces of it must be earnestly sought of God and such as do unfeignedly seek them shall certainly obtain them Observe 3. The true Cause and Reason assigned why Sinners ask not for and seek not after Jesus Christ and the Graces of the Holy Spirit and that is Ignorance of the worth and want of them If thou knowest the gift of God thou wouldst have asked Learn thence That it is Ignorance of the worth of Christ and insensibleness of the want of him that makes Persons so indifferent in their Desires after him and so remiss in their Endeavours for the obtaining of
among themselves Whither will he go that we shall not find him will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles and teach the Gentiles 36 What manner of saying is this that he said Ye shall seek me and shall not find me and where I am thither ye cannot come Observe here 1. How enraged the Pharisees were when they heard that so many of the Common People were brought to Believe in Christ and to cleave unto Christ insomuch that they sent publick Officers Armed with Authority to Apprehend our Blessed Saviour The Pharisees and Chief Priests sent Officers to Take him Learn thence That nothing more enrages the Enemies of Religion and draws on Trouble on the Preachers and Professors of it than the success which the Gospel at any time meets with Observe 2. Our Saviour tells them that as they desired to be Rid of him so ere long they should have their desire he would leave them and go to his Father and in his Absence they would wish for his Bodily presence again but should not have it Learn The Despisers of Christ have little cause to be weary of him and to seek to put him away by Violence and Persecution for their obstinate contempt of him will cause him to depart from them and finally to forsake them Observe 3. How the Jews not understanding our Saviour's words aright Reasoned among themselves whither by Leaving of them he meant to go into some Pagan Country and Teach the Gentiles the Mysteries of the Jewish Religion which above all things they could not endure to hear Learn hence That it is the Ordinary Sin of a People priviledged with the means of Grace not to be sensible of any hazard or danger of Christ's Leaving and forsaking them Till at last he forsakes them finally and casts them off to their inevitable and unutterable Condemnation Thus did our Lord deal with the Jews here I go my way and whither I go ye cannot come 37 In the last day that great day of the feast Jesus stood and cried saying If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink The feast of Tabernacles which is the seast here meant lasted Eight days the first and last of which were to be kept Holy with Religious Assemblies and Sacrifices and it was a Custom among the Jews upon that Solemn day to offer up a Pot of Water unto God which they drew out of the Fountain of Siloam with Reference to this Custom Christ here cries with a loud Voice inviting the People to fetch and draw from him as from a Living fountain all the Sanctifying Gifts and Saving Graces of the Holy Spirit Learn hence That Jesus Christ is the Original and Fountain of all Saving Grace whom if we Thirst after Repair to and by Faith depend upon as Mediator we shall certainly Receive what influences of Grace so ever we want and stand in need of 38 He that believeth on me as the scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water Here again Christ Alludes to a Jewish Custom the Jews were wont at Fountains to Build great Vessels of Stone and in the midst or Belly of them to have Pipes through which the Water passes Now says Christ Thus shall it be with every one that Believeth on me he shall be abundantly filled with the Spirit of God in all the Sanctifying and Saving Graces of it Christ and his Holy Spirit are a Living Fountain whose Waters never fail they are not a Water-brook but a Spring of Waters we shall never miss of the Waters of Life if we seek unto and wait upon Christ for them For if we Believe on him out of our Belly shall flow Rivers of Living Waters sufficient for our selves and wherewith to refresh others 39 But this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive for the holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified These words are the Evangelist St. John's Commentary upon the foregoing promise he tells us That Christ spoke this of the Miraculous Gifts of the Spirit which did Accompany the descent of the Holy Ghost at the Feast of Pentecost For the Holy Ghost was not yet given that is not so plentifully given because that Jesus was not yet Glorified Learn hence That altho' the Spirit was in some measure given by God from the Beginning to good Men yet the more plentiful effusion of it was deferred till the Ascension and Glorification of Jesus Christ 40 ¶ Many of the people therefore when they heard this saying said Of a truth this is the prophet 41 Others said This is the Christ But some said Shall Christ come out of Galilee 42 Hath not the scripture said That Christ cometh of the seed of David and out of the town of Bethlehem where David was 43 So there was a division among the people because of him 44 And some of them would have taken him but no man laid hands on him In these Verses an Account is given of the various effects which our Lord 's foregoing Sermon had upon his Hearers hearts Some were so affected with it that they Believed him to be the great Prophet promised to Israel Deut. 18.18 Others apprehended him to be the Christ Others contradict both supposing him to be Born not at Bethlehem but in Galilee And upon this Diversity of Opinions there arose a Division amongst them And some had a mind to have apprehended him but by an over-ruling Providence they were restrained from the doing of it at present Learn hence That Diversity of Opinions in matters of Religion even concerning Christ himself have been even from the beginning Some accounted him a Prophet others the Messiah some thought him neither but a grand Impostor and Deceiver Our dear Lord when here on Earth passed through evil Report and good Report let his followers expect and prepare for the same For Innocence it self cannot protect from Slander and false Accusation 45 ¶ Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees and they said unto them Why have ye not brought him 46 The officers answered Never man spake like this man 47 Then answered them the Pharisees Are ye also deceived 48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him 49 But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed Observe here 1. How God restrained the rage and malice of Christ's Enemies till his hour was come the Officers of the Chief Priests who were sent forth with a Commission to apprehend him return without him but with this Honourable mention of him in their mouths never Man spake like this Man Such is the Power of Christ's Doctrine that even those that come unto it with prejudice and with a persecuting purpose may be surprized by it and tho' not converted yet bridled and restrained the preaching of the Gospel doth sometimes restrain the violence of the Hand when it works no change in or upon the Heart Thus it was
Crime but bids her Accusers look at home and examine their own Consciences whether they were not Guilty of the like or as great a Sin He doth not say Let her be stoned this had been against the course of his Mercy he doth not say Let her not be stoned this had been against the Law of Moses but he so Answers that both his Justice and his Mercy are intire she dismissed and they ashamed It is a false Zeal that is Eagle-eyed abroad and blind at home Such as are most wicked themselves are oftimes most ready and skilful to spie out the faults and failings of others We stand too near our selves to discern our own miscarriages The Eye that sees every thing sees not it self Observe 6. Tho' Christ abhorred the Sin yet he does not condemn the Sinner Hath no Man condemned thee Neither do I condemn thee says Christ This Christ said not to excuse the Woman or to connive at her offence but to shew that he declined the Office of a Civil Judge which was to pass Sentence on Criminals He therefore doth not say No Man ought to condemn thee but hath no Man condemned thee Christ doth not execute the Office of a Magistrate in judging her to Death but of a Minister in calling her to Repentance and Reformation How ought every one of us to keep within the bounds of our calling when our Saviour himself will not intrench upon the Office and Functions of others Observe Lastly Our Saviour's cautionary Direction to this Adulteress Go and sin no more Where Note Christ doth not say Go and commit Adultery no more but Go and sin no more It is not a partial Repentance or a turning away from this or that particular Sin that will denominate us true Penitents or intitle us to the pardoning Mercy of God but a leaving off all Sin of what kind soever Therefore says Christ Go and sin no more 12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them saying I am the light of the world he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life 13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him Thou bearest record of thy self thy record is not true 14 Jesus answered and said unto them Though I bear record of my self yet my record is true for I know whence I came and whither I go but ye cannot tell whence I come and whither I go 15 Ye judge after the flesh I judge no man 16 And yet if I judge my judgment is true for I am not alone but I and the Father that sent me 17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true 18 I am one that bear witness of my self and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me 19 Then said they unto him Where is thy Father Jesus answered Ye neither know me nor my Father if ye had known me ye should have known my Father also 20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury as he taught in the temple and no man laid hands on him for his hour was not yet come Our Blessed Saviour having baffled the design which the Pharisees had upon him and shewed a Spirit of Divine Wisdom in delivering himself from that snare which they had laid for him He returns to instruct the People in the Treasury And here Note 1. He instructs them in the nature of his Office which was to inlighten all Men with the Knowledge of Divine Truth so that they should not walk in Darkness either of Sin or Error but be led to Eternal Life Learn hence That the great End and Errand of Christ's coming into the World it was to give Light unto poor Souls that sat in Darkness Observe 2. The Exception which the Pharisees made against our Saviour's Testimony of himself Thou bearest Record of thy self thy Record is not True Indeed such is the Corrupt Nature of Man which is prone to seek it self and hunt after vain Glory that it may render a person's Testimony of himself suspected but Christ being true God that cannot Lye and coming out of the Bosom of his Father as his Ambassador his Testimony of himself is above all Exception and ought to be credited without farther proof Observe 3. How Christ challenges his Enemies the Pharisees for judging carnally of him and according to the meanness of his outward appearance whereas he judged no Man That is First No Man as they judged according to outward shew or 2dly I judge no Man that is at present My proper work is not to Condemn any but to Teach all and my present Office is that of a Prophet not of a Judge My coming now is to Instruct and Save the World my next coming will be to Judge and Condemn it Observe 4. Christ declares that he is not alone in the Testimony given of himself but that the Father did also Testifie and bear Witness of him and that according to their own Law the Testimony of Two was always accounted and esteemed valid Now says Christ If so much weight be to be laid upon the Testimony of Two Men how much more forcibly should the Testimony of the Father and of him whom the Father hath sent satisfie you that what I say of my self is True Learn hence That the Father and the Son tho' one in Essence and Operation yet are distinct persons Secondly That these distinct persons did bear joint witness concerning Christ God the Father testified of him by a Voice from Heaven and Christ as God bare witness of himself as Man and as Mediatour Surely out of the mouth of Two such Witnesses the Truth of Christ's Divine Mission is sufficiently established 21 Then said Jesus again unto them I go my way and ye shall seek me and shall die in your sins whither I go ye cannot come 22 Then said the Jews Will he kill himself because he saith Whither I go ye cannot come 23 And he said unto them Ye are from beneath I am from above ye are of this world I am not of this world 24 I said therefore unto you that ye shall die in your sins for if ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your sins Observe here A dreadful Threatning denounced by Christ against the Obstinate and Unbelieving Jews ye shall die in your sins that is in the Guilt of your Sins under the Power and undergoing the punishment of your Sins Lord what a sad word is this ye shall die in your Sins Oh better it is a Thousand times to die in a Ditch for they that die in their Sins shall rise in their Sins and stand before Christ in their Sins such as lie down in Sin in the Grave shall have Sin lie down with them in Hell to all Eternity The Sins of Believers go to the Grave before them Sin dieth while they Live But the Sins of Unbelievers go to the Grave with them While they live they are dead in Sin and by Sin they fall into
Lazarus ver 41 42. Yet as God he had a Power of himself to raise Lazarus an Almighty Power communicated with his Essence from the Father by an Eternal and ineffable Generation 23 Jesus saith unto her Thy brother shall rise again 24 Martha saith unto him I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day 25 Jesus said unto her I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die Believest thou this Here Observe 1. Christ's meek Answer to Martha's passionate Discourse he takes no notice of the forementioned failings but comforts her with a promise of her Brother's Resurrection Thy Brother shall rise again Thence learn That the Knowledge and Belief of the General Resurrection is and ought to be a sufficient support under the Loss of our endeared Friends ' who die in the Lord. Observe 2. That the Doctrine of the General Resurrection was no new Doctrine Job believed it ch 19.26 Daniel publish'd it ch 12.1 The Pharisees had a Notion of it but Martha here makes it an Article of her Faith I know he shall rise again in the Resurrection at the last Day Observe 3. How Christ particularly Instructs Martha in the cause of the Resurrection acquainting her that he himself is the Author and efficient cause of it I am the Resurrection and the Life That is I am the Author and principal efficient cause of the Resurrection And this with respect to both Natures 1. His Divine Nature is the efficient cause of the Resurrection he shall Raise our Bodies out of the Dust by the Power of his Godhead 2. His Humane Nature is the exemplary cause or pattern of the Resurrection For which Reason Christ is called the first Born from the Dead For tho' some were raised before him Yet was his Resurrection the cause of their Resurrection Hence St. Paul argues from Christ's Resurrection the certainty of the Resurrection of his Members Christ and Believers are one Mystical Body therefore is not Christ perfectly Risen till all his Members are Risen with him Indeed Christ's personal Resurrection was perfect when he arose and all Believers arose Representatively in him Yet till all Believers arise personally the Resurrection of Christ has not received its utmost perfection but there is somewhat behind of the Resurrection of Christ Most fitly then might our Saviour assert I am the Resurrection and the Life Observe 4. That Christ not only asserts himself to be the Resurrection but also the Life I am the Resurrection and the Life that is I am the cause of Life Natural Spiritual and Eternal and Whosoever Liveth and Believeth in Me shall never Die. That is eternally tho' his Body shall die because of Sin yet his Spirit shall live because of Righteousness 27 She saith unto him Yea Lord I believe that thou art the Christ the Son of God which should come into the world 28 And when she had so said she went her way and called Mary her sister secretly saying The Master is come and calleth for thee 29 Assoon as she heard that she arose quickly and came unto him 30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town but was in that place where Martha met him 31 The Jews then which were with her in the house and comforted her when they saw Mary that she rose up hastily and went out followed her saying She goeth unto the grave to weep there 32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was and saw him she fell down at his feet saying unto him Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not died Observe here 1. The full confession which Martha makes of her Faith in Christ as God Thou art the Christ the Son of God which should come into the World A confession which comes nearest to that of St. Peter Math. 16.16 of any that we meet with in Scripture Nay it seems more full than Peter's Confession for those additional words which should come into the World are not in his Confession the Summ is She believed Christ to be the very Messias who was Typified and prefigured Prophesied of and promised to the Old Testament Saints as the person that in the fulness of time should come into the World for the Redemption and Salvation of it Thou art the Christ the Son of God which should come into the World Thence Learn That Christ is never rightly believed in nor regularly depended upon for Salvation except he be owned and acknowledged to be the Eternal Son of God Martha was now fully perswaded of Christ's Divine Nature of which the best of the Disciples till after our Saviour's Resurrection had but a faint and uncertain perswasion Observe 2. How earnest and intent our Saviour was to dispatch the errand he came upon Namely to raise Lazarus from the Grave and to comfort the Two mournful Sisters he would not so much as enter the House till he had effected his work and therefore he goes strait to the Grave which probably was the place where Mary met him Lord it was thy Meat and Drink to do the Will of thy Father it was thy Meat and Drink by Day thy Rest and Repose by Night How unlike are we to thy self if we suffer either our Pleasures or our Profits to divert us from our Duty Observe 3. What haste and speed Mary makes to attend upon her Saviour she arose quickly and came unto him Mary's Love added Wings to her motion The Jews observing her hasty motion have a loving suspicion that she is gone to the Grave to weep there but their Thoughts were too low for whilst they supposed that she went to a dead Brother she was waiting upon a living Saviour And she that used to sit at Jesus feet now falls at his feet in an awful veneration the very gesture was supplicatory And her humble prostration was seconded with a doleful Lamentation Lord If thou hadst been here my Brother had not died Where Observe A mixture of Faith with humane infirmity Here was strength of Faith in ascribing so much Power to Christ that his presence could preserve from Death but here was Infirmity in supposing the necessity of Christ's presence for this purpose Certainly he that did raise him from Death being present could have preserved him from dying being absent had he pleased This was Mary's moan Lord hadst thou been here our Brother had not died full of Affection but not from frailty and infirmity However Christ takes no notice of her errors and infirmity but all the reply we hear of is a Compassionate Groan which the following Verses acquaint us with 33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping and the Jews also weeping which came with her he groned in the spirit and was troubled 34 And said Where have ye laid him They say unto him Lord come and see 35 Jesus wept 36 Then said the Jews Behold how he loved him 37
And some of them said Could not this man which opened the eyes of the blind have caused that even this man should not have died Observe here 1. The Condolency and tender Sympathy expressed by our Saviour upon this occasion He groaned in his Spirit and was troubled Or as the Original has it he troubled himself intimating that our Saviour's Passions were pure and holy not like ours muddy and mixt with sinful imperfection The Commotions of his Affections were like the shaking of pure Water in a Chrystal-glass which still remain clear and they arose and were calmed at his pleasure he was not over-powered by them but had them at his Command Learn hence That as Christ took upon him the Humane Nature so he did assume also Humane Affections thereby evidencing himself to be our Brother and near Kinsman according to the Flesh Learn 2. That the Passions and Affections which our Saviour had and exprest were always Holy and Innocent he was not without them but he was above them they did never violently and immoderately trouble him but when he pleased he troubled himself Jesus groaned in Spirit and Troubled himself Observe 2. How our Saviour manifests this Condolency and tender Sympathy with Martha and Mary by his weeping Jesus wept Partly from Compassion and partly for Example in Compassion first to humanity to see how miserably Sin had debased the Humane Nature and rendred Man like unto the Bruit Beasts that perish 2dly In Compassion to Lazarus whom he was now about to bring back into a sinful and troublesome World Thus St. Jerom Non flevit Christus Lachrymas nostras c. Christ says he did not weep our Tears he mourned over Lazarus not because dead but because now to be brought again to Life Again Christ wept for our Example to fetch Sighs and Tears from us at the sight of others miseries and especially at the Funerals of our godly Friends Learn hence That mourning and sorrow and this exprest by Tears and weeping is an Affection proper for those that go to Funerals provided it be decently kept within due bounds and is not excessive For immoderate sorrow is hurtful to the living and dishonourable to the dead neither is it an Argument of more Love but an Evidence of less Grace Note 3. How the Jews observing Christ's sorrow for admire his Love to Dead Lazarus Behold how he loved him Christ's Love to his People is admirable and Soul amazing such as see it may admire it but can never fully comprehend it Note 4. How some of the malicious Jews attempt to lessen the Reputation of our Saviour not willing to own him to be God because he did not keep Lazarus from dying as if Christ could not be the Son of God because he did not at all times and in all cases exert and put forth his Divine Power Whereas Christ acted freely and not necessarily governing his Actions by his own Wisdom as he saw most conducing to the ends and purposes of his own Glory 38 Jesus therefore again groning in himself cometh to the grave It was a cave and a stone lay upon it 39 Jesus said Take ye away the stone Martha the sister of him that was dead saith unto him Lord by this time he stinketh for he hath been dead four days 40 Jesus saith unto her Said I not unto thee that if thou wouldest believe thou shouldest see the glory of God 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid And Jesus lift up his eyes and said Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always but because of the people which stand by I said it that they may believe that thou hast sent me 43 And when he thus had spoken he cried with a loud voice Lazarus come forth 44 And he that was dead came forth bound hand and foot with grave-clothes and his face was bound about with a napkin Jesus saith unto them Loose him and let him go In these Verses we find our Lord addressing himself to the Miracle of raising Lazarus from the Grave First he commands them to take away the Stone But could not that Voice which raised the Dead remove the Stone Yes no doubt but it is always the Will of Christ that we put forth our utmost Endeavours and do what we can in order to our own Deliverance To remove the Stone and unty the Napkins was in their Power This therefore they must do but to raise the Dead was out of their Power this therefore Christ will do alone Our Hands must do their utmost before Christ will put forth his Help The Stone being thus removed his Eyes begin they are lift up to Heaven His Father's Throne from whence he expects to derive his Power His Tongue Seconds his Eye and he prays unto his Father Christ as God wrought this Miracle by his own Power Consider him as Mediatour and so he looks up to his Father by Prayer yet we hear of no Prayer but a Thanksgiving only Christ's Will was his Prayer whatever Christ willed God granted Christ and his Father having one Essence one Nature and one Will. Neither was it fit for Christ to pray vocally and audibly lest the unbelieving Jews should say he did all by entreaty nothing by Power Observe farther That as Christ when he spake to his Father lifted up his Eyes so when he spake to dead Lazarus he lifted up his Voice and cryed aloud This Christ did that the Strength of the Voice might answer the Strength of the Affection Since we vehemently utter what we earnestly desire also that the greatness of the Voice might answer to the greatness of the Work but especially that the Hearers might be Witnesses that this mighty Work was performed not by any magical Inchantments which are commonly mumbled forth with a low Voice but by an authoritative and divine Command In a word might not Christ utter a loud Voice at the raising of Lazarus that it might be a Representation of the shrill and loud Voice of the last Trumpet at the General Resurrection which shall sound into all Graves and raise all Flesh from their Bed of Dust Obs next As the manner of our Lord 's speaking with a loud Voice so the Words spoken by him Lazarus Come forth Mark Christ says not Lazarus revive but as if he suppoposed him already alive he says Lazarus Come forth to let us know that they are alive to him who are dead to us Mark also what a commanding Word this was Come forth not that it was in the power of these loud commanding Words to raise Lazarus but in the quickning power of Christ which attended these words Oh Blessed Saviour It is thy Voice which we shall ere long hear sounding into the Bottom of the Grave and raising us up from our Bed of Dust It is thy Voice that shall pierce the Rocks divide the Mountains and eccho forth throughout the Universe saying Arise
bread with me hath lift up his heel against me If the chusing spoken of here be understood of Eternal Election a chusing to everlasting Life then it affords a strong Argument to prove Christ to be God Thus he that is the Author of Eternal Election is God but Christ is such I know whom I have chosen Consider Christ as God so we are chosen by him consider him as Mediatour and so we are chosen in him If the chusing here be meant of chusing to the work of the Apostleship then our Saviour tells his Disciples that it need not seem strange to them that he chose one to be an Apostle whom he knew would prove a Traitour for hereby that Scripture Prophesie Ps 41.9 would be fulfilled He that eateth Bread with me hath lift up the heel against me which tho' it was literally spoken of Achitophel's Treachery against David yet was it Prophetically spoken of Judas his Treason against Christ and the Expression of lifting up the heel is Metaphorical taken from a fed Beast that Kicks against his Master Learn hence That Christ did and his followers do daily suffer not only from open Enemies but from bosom and familiar Friends Lord How many are there in the World who by profession lift up their Hand unto thee who yet by Treason and Rebellion lift up their Heel against thee 19 Now I tell you before it come that when it is come to pass ye may believe that I am he Here another Argument occurs to prove the Divinity of our Blessed Saviour from his fore knowledge of Judas his Treason the person who the Time when and the Place where were all known to Christ I tell you before it come to pass The Argument lies thus He that foresaw the future Actions of Men and infallibly foreknew the future Events and Issues of things is certainly God But Christ did this therefore he is really God And he tells us here that for this very Reason he foretold now the Treason of Judas Now I tell you before that when it is come to pass ye may believe that I am He. What He doth he mean What He could foretel so many things to come which did not depend upon necessary but contingent causes onely This He was not a meer Man surely for he knows not what shall be on the morrow but must be real God because he knew all things not by Revelation as the Prophets knew things to come but by immediate inspection and simple intuition so that we may say with Peter Lord Thou knowest all things and because thou knowest all things thou art God 20 Verily verily I say unto you He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me Lest his Apostles should think that for the Treachery of one of them they shoul all become odious and abominable to the whole World our Saviour encourages them with this promise and assurance that there should be those that would receive them and he would take it as kindly as if they received himself He that receiveth you receiveth me Learn hence That it is a sweet encouragement to the Ministers of Christ unto the faithful discharge of their Duty that Christ and the Father account that the respect paid to the Ministers of the Gospel is paid to themselves and on the contrary that all the contempt cast upon them reflects upon themselves He that receiveth you receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me 21 When Jesus had thus said he was troubled in spirit and testified and said Verily verily I say unto you that one of you shall betray me 22 Then the disciples looked one on another doubting of whom he spake Oh what an astonishing word was this one shall betray me one of my Disciples shall betray me yea one of you my Disciples and Apostles shall do it well might they look one upon another with sorrow and amazement to hear that their Master should die that he should die by Treason and that the Traitours should be one of themselves yet do not they censure one another but suspect themselves saying Master is it I not Master is it Judas Learn hence 1. That it is possible for secret wickedness to lurk yea for the greatest villany to lodge in the hearts of Professors in whose Conversation appeareth nothing that may give a just suspicion to others Learn 2. That it is both the duty and property of the Disciples of Christ to have so much Candour and Brotherly Love as not rashly to censure and judge one another but to hope the best of others and to fear the worst of themselves 23 Now there was leaning on Jesus bosom one of his disciples whom Jesus loved 24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake 25 He then lying on Jesus breast saith unto him Lord who is it 26 Jesus answered He it is to whom I shall give a sop when I have dipped it And when he had dipped the sop he gave it to Judas Iscariot the son of Simon 27 And after the sop Satan entred into him Then said Jesus unto him That thou doest do quickly 28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him 29 For some of them thought because Judas had the bag that Jesus had said unto him Buy those things that we have need of against the feast or that he should give something to the poor 30 He then having received the sop went immediately out and it was night Observe here 1. The Character given of St. John the beloved Disciple he leaned on Christ's Bosom that is he had most intimate converse with Christ one whom Christ treated with greater freedom and familiarity than the rest and one that knew more of his Heart than most of his Disciples We commonly call a very near Friend a Bosom Friend Learn That altho' Christ had an endeared love for all his Disciples and followers yet there were degrees in Christ's own love and he had a familiarity with some Disciples beyond others whilest he was here upon Earth even as now in Heaven tho' his Heart be towards all his Children here on Earth yet he is pleased to let out more kind Manifestations of himself and more sensible Evidences of his love towards some than towards others John was the Disciple that lay in Jesus his Bosom Observe 2. The way which our Saviour took to discover Judas to the rest of his Disciples not by naming of him but by giving him a Sop partly because he would not give Judas any provocation by mentioning of his Name and partly because this sign of eating the Sop was most agreeable to the Prophetical Prediction Ps 41.9 Mine own familiar friend who did eat of my Bread hath lift up the heel against me Observe 3. The time when Judas received the Sop and the consequent that followed upon his receiving of it it was at
my Victory and of thy Glory the hour the sad hour determined in thy decree and purpose no calamity can touch us till God's hour is come and when the sad hour is come the best remedy is Prayer and the only person to fly unto for Succour is our Heavenly Father Father the hour is come the doleful hour of my Death and Passion Glorifie thy Son Glorifie him at his Death by manifesting him to have been the Son of God Glorifie him in his Death by accepting it as the Death of thy Son for the Sins of the World Glorifie him after his Death by a speedy Resurrection from the Grave and a Triumphant Exaltation at thy Right Hand Here note How the Glory of the Father and the Son are inseparably link'd together it was the Father's design to Glorifie the Son and it was the Son's desire to have Glory from the Father for this end that he might bring Glory to the Father Glorifie thy Son that thy Son may Glorifie thee 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him Observe here 1. The Dignity which Christ was invested with Power over all flesh that is Authority to Judge and Sentence all Mankind Observe 2. How Christ came to be invested with this Power it was given him by his Father Thou hast given him power over all flesh Hence the Socinians would infer that he was not God because he received all from God but the Text speaks not of his Divine Power as God but of his Power as Mediatour and the Note is That all Mankind is under the Power and Authority of Jesus Christ as Mediatour he has a Legislative Power or a Power to give Laws to all Mankind and a Judiciary Power or a Power to execute the Laws that he hath given Observe 3. The end for which Christ was invested with this Power That he might give Eternal Life to as many as God had given him Here Note 1. That all Believers that is all sincere and serious Christians are given by God the Father unto Christ they are given to him as his Charge to Redeem Sanctifie and Save and as his Reward Isa 53.10 2. All that are given to Christ have Life from him a Life of Justification and Sanctification on Earth and a Life of Glory in Heaven 3. The Life which Christ gives to them that are given him is Eternal Life 4. That this Eternal Life is a free Gift from Christ unto his People though they do not work for wages yet they shall not work for nothing I give unto them eternal Life John 10. 3 And this is life eternal that they might know thee the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent That is This is the way and means to obtain Eternal Life Namely By the true knowledge of God the Father and of Jesus Christ the Mediatour who was commissioned and sent by his Father to accomplish the work of Redemption for a lost World Here Observe Christ calls God the Father the only true God not in opposition to the Son and Holy Ghost who being one in Essence with the Father are truly and really God as well as the Father but in opposition to Idols and false Gods there is a great difference betwixt these two Propositions the Father is the only true God and the Father only is true God Christ saith the former This is Life Eternal to know thee the only true God The Socinian saith the latter This is Life Eternal to know only thee to be the true God and that neither Jesus Christ nor the Spirit are God but the Father only But how comes Eternal Life to depend as well upon the Knowledge of Jesus Christ as of God the Father if Jesus Christ be only Man and not truly and really God For thus our Saviour affirms this is Life Eternal to know thee and Jesus Christ Whence learn 1. That the beginning encrease and perfection of Eternal Life lyeth in Holy Knowledg 2. That no Knowledg is sufficient to Eternal Life but the Knowledg of God and Jesus Christ who is also God for who can think that the Knowledg of a mere Creature should be accounted equally necessary to Salvation with the Knowledg of the Great and Mighty God Surely if our Happiness consists equally in the Knowledg of God and Christ then God and Christ are of the same Nature equal in Power and Glory The comprehensive sense of the words seems to be this That the Knowledge of the only true God and of Jesus Christ the Mediatour is the Life of Grace and the necessary way to the Life of Glory 4 I have glorified thee on the earth Learn hence That the whole Life of Christ when here on Earth it was a glorifying of his Father he glorified his Father by the Doctrine which he preach'd he glorified his Father by the Miracles which he wrought he glorified his Father by the unspotted Purity and Innocency of his Life and by his unparallel'd Sufferings at his Death 4 I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do That is I am now about to finish it he speaks of what he was resolv'd to do as already done Here Note 1. That 't is work that glorifies God 2. That every Man has his work his proper work assigned him by God 3. This work must be finished here upon Earth 4. That when we have done our proportion of work we may expect our portion of wages 5. That it is a blessed thing at the hour of Death to be able to say in sincerity and uprightness that we have glorified God in the World and have finished the work which he appointed us to do Father I have glorified thee on the Earth and have finished the work which thou gavest me to do 5 And now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was From the Connexion of this with the foregoing Verse Learn 1. That who ever expect to be glorified with God in Heaven must glorifie him first here upon Earth 2. That after we have glorified him we may expect to be glorified with him and by him I have glorified thee now O Father glorifie thou me it follows with the Glory which I had with thee before the World was Hence Note 1. That Christ as God had an Essential Glory with God the Father before the World was he had this Glory not in the purpose and decree of God only as the Socinians would have it for he doth not say Glorifie me with the Glory which thou didst purpose and prepare for me before the World was but which I had and enjoyed with thee before the World was by which words our Lord plainly asserts his own Existence and Being from Eternity and prays for a Re-exaltation to that Glory which he enjoyed with his Father before his Incarnation Note 2. That Christ as Mediatour did so far
with an unchangeable Love with an Everlasting Love so doth he Love Believers also Observe 5. That Christ would have the World know that God the Father loveth the Children of Men as well as himself Christ is not ambitious to ingross all our Love unto himself but would have the World take notice of the good Will of his Father as well as of himself to lost Mankind of the Father's Love in sending him as well as of his own Love in coming That the World may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me 24 Father I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world Our Saviour had prayed for his Disciples Sanctification before here he Prays for their Glorification 1. That they may be where he is now Christ is with them in his Ordinances in his Word and at his Table ere long they shall be with him as his Friends as his Spouse as his Companions in his Kingdom 2. That they may be with him where he is this is more than the former a Blind Man may be where the Sun is but not with the Sun because he doth not injoy the light and benefit of it To be with Christ where he is imports Union and Communion with him 3. That being with him where he is they may behold his glory that is so see it as everlastingly to possess and injoy it Learn 1. That all those that are given to Christ as his Charge and as his Reward shall certainly come to Heaven to him Father I will that they be with me because I have merited that they should be with me I will that they behold my Glory because I have purchased it at so dear a rate Learn 2. That the work and imployment of the Saints in Heaven chiefly consists in seeing and injoying Christ's Glory for it will be a possessive sight the language of every look will be This Happiness is mine this Glory is mine 3. That the top and height of the Saints happiness in Heaven consists in this That they shall there be with Christ Father I will that they may be with me to behold my Glory 25 O righteous Father the world hath not known thee but I have known thee and these have known that thou hast sent me Observe here 1. The Appellation given to God O Righteous Father This is the Sixth time that Christ in this Prayer has called God Father it being so sweet a Relation and producing all Love Delight Joy and Confidence in God by him that practically improves it But Observe That at Verse 11 When Christ prayed for his Peoples Sanctification he said Holy Father making use of that Attribute which is the cause of all Holiness in the Creature but now praying for their Glorification he says O Righteous Father Righteous in making good thy promises both to me and them Observe 2. What it is that our Saviour affirms concerning the wicked and unbelieving World that they have not known God the World hath not known thee not as if the World had not known him at all but not known him aright the unbelieving and unsanctified part of the World have no saving knowledge of God not living answerably to what they know to be their Duty Observe 3. What Christ affirms concerning himself But I have known thee and these have known thee Intimating thus much unto us That Jesus Christ alone knows God immediately and all others know him by the means of Christ Christ is the Original and fontal cause of all the saving knowledg that Believers have of God There is not the least Ray of saving Illumination that doth not descend from Christ and the Spirit of Christ I have known thee and these have known that thou didst send me 26 And I have declared unto them thy name and will declare it That is I have made known unto them thy Nature Attributes Counsels Will and Commands and I will continue the manifestation of the same to the End Learn thence That the saving knowledg of God was not attainable by natural Abilities but cometh to us by the special Revelation of Jesus Christ I have declared unto them thy name Learn 2. That they that have the Name of God his Nature and Will savingly declared to them do stand in need of farther declarations and discoveries of God's Nature and Will to be made unto them I have declared to them thy name and I will declare it 26 That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them and I in them That is That the Love which is Originally in thy self as the fountain of all Grace may be communicated and dispensed from thee to them and become inherent in them Learn hence That it is not enough for the People of God that they are beloved of him and that his Love is towards them but they must endeavour to have it in them that is experience it in the effects of it and in the sense and feeling of it in their own Souls The safety of a Christian lies in this that God loves him but the Joy the Comfort and Happiness of a Christian consists in the Knowledg in the sensible Apprehension and feeling of this Love therefore Christ closeth his Prayer for his Members with this Affectionate and Comprehensive Petition Let the Love wherewith thou hast loved me be in them and I in them CHAP. XVIII 1 VVHen Jesus had spoken these words he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron where was a garden into the which he entred and his disciples 2 And Judas also which betrayed him knew the place for Jesus oft-times resorted thither with his disciples No sooner had our dear Lord ended his Divine Prayer Recorded in the foregoing Chapter but he goes forth to meet his Sufferings with a willing chearfulness He retires with his Disciples into a Garden not to hide and shelter himself from his Enemies for if so it had been the most improper place he could have chosen it being the accustomed place where he was wont to Pray and a place well known to Judas who was now coming to seek him Judas which betrayed him knew the place for Jesus oft-times resorted thither with his Disciples So that Christ repaired to this Garden not to shun but to meet the Enemy to offer himself as a prey to the Wolves which in the Garden hunted him and laid hold upon him he also resorted to this Garden now for privacy that he might freely pour out his Soul to God Learn hence That the Lord Jesus Christ was praying to his Father in the Garden when Judas with his Bla k-Guard came to apprehend him 3 Judas then having received a band of men and Officers from the chief priests and Pharisees cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons Observe 1. What a multitude were here imployed by the
death Woman behold thy Son Where Note He calls her Woman and not Mother he doth not say Mother behold thy Son but Woman behold him Not that Christ was ashamed of or unwilling to own her for his Mother But either 1. Fearing that calling her by that name should augment and increase her Grief and Trouble Or else 2. To intimate his change of State and Condition that being ready to die and return to his Father in Heaven he was above all earthly Relations and knew no one after the Flesh no not his very Mother Yet see at the same time when he was above her and about to leave her how his Care manifested it self for her when his Soul and Body were full of Anguish to the very brim Yet all this makes him not in the least unmindful of so dear a Relation Thence learn That Christ's tender Care of his Mother even in the time of his greatest Distress is an excellent Pattern for all Children to imitate and follow to the end of the World St. John here obeyed Christ's Command and imitated his Example he took her to his own Home that is he treated her with all that dutiful Regard which a tender and indulgent Mother challenges from a pious and obedient Son No personal Trial or Trouble upon our selves doth exempt us from the performance of our Duty towards others especially towards our near and dear Relations Christ in the extremity of his Sufferings accounted it his Duty to take care of and provide for his dear Mother Teaching us by his Example That Children ought to evidence that they honour their Parents by taking care of them in their decayed and desolate Condition Again Inasmuch as St. John took care of the holy Mother after her dear Son's death That Disciple took her to his own home We Learn That the Lord never removes one Comfort and taketh away the means of subsistance from his People but he raises up another in the room of it It is very probable that Joseph her Husband was before this time dead and Jesus her Son was now dying but still God provides he raises up St. John to take care of her he takes her to his own Home and looks upon her as one of his Family But how comes St. John above the rest to have this honourable Service put upon him and this high Trust reposed in him Answer The Text tells us he was the Disciple whom Jesus loved that is in a more especial manner treating him with greater Freedom and Familiarity than the rest he also evidenced more Love unto and more Courage and Resolution for Christ than the rest of his Disciples he standing by the Cross when they got afar off Mark 15.49 Thence we learn That such as are beloved of Christ as do keep close unto him and express most Zeal and Resolution for him they shall be peculiarly honoured by him and be employed in the highest Services for him 28 ¶ After this Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled saith I thirst 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vineger and they filled a spunge with vineger and put it upon hyssop and put it to his mouth Observe here 1. The Affliction or Suffering which our Saviour complained of and that is Thirst there are two sorts of Thirst one Natural and Proper the other Spiritual and Figurative Christ felt both at this time His Body Thirsted by Reason of those Agonies which it laboured under His Soul Thirsted in vehement Desires and fervent longings to accomplish that great and difficult Work he was now about 2. The design and end of our Lord's Complaint That the Scripture might be fulfilled he saith I Thirst Our Saviour finding that all was accomplished which he was to do before his Death but only the fulfilling that one Scripture Ps 69.21 They gave me Vineger to Drink He for the accomplishment thereof Said I Thirst Whence Note That such were the Agonies and Extream Sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ upon the Cross that they drank up his very Spirits and made him cry I Thirst 2. That when Christ cried out I Thirst it was to shew that what ever was foretold by the Prophets concerning him was exactly accomplished and even to a Circumstance fulfilled in him That the Scripture might be fulfilled Jesus saith I Thirst 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vineger he said It is finished and he bowed his head and gave up the Ghost Observe here 1. Our Lord's last word It is finished 2. His last Act He bowed his Head and gave up the Ghost As to the former his last Word It is finished This might be the probable intendment of it 1. It is finished That is Now is my Father's Eternal Council concerning me accomplished and now is the Promise that he made of my becoming a Sacrifice for Sin fulfilled both my Father's Purpose and my Father's Promise are now receiving their final Accomplishment 2. It is finished that is the Scriptures are now fulfilled all the Types that did prefigure me all the Prophetical Predictions that were made of me all the Jewish Sacrifices that pointed at me have now received their final accomplishment in me and are abolished in my Death 3. It is finished that is my Sufferings are now ended my Race is Run my work is done I am now putting my last Hand to it my Death is before me I have finished the Work the whole Work which I came into the World for doing as well as dying all is upon the matter compleated it is just finishing it will be instantly finished Again 4. It is finished that is the Fury and Malice the Rage and Revenge of my Enemies is now ended they have done their worst the Chief Priests and Soldiers the Judges and Witnesses the Executioners and Tormenters have all tired out themselves with the Exercise of their own Malice but now their Spite and Spleen their Envy and Enmity is ended and the Son of God's at Rest 5. It is finished that is the Glorious work of Man's Redemption and Salvation is perfected and performed consummated and compleated the Price is paid Satisfaction is given Redemption is purchased and Salvation insured to a miserable World Woe unto us if Christ had left but one farthing of our Debt to the Justice of God unpaid we must have lain in Hell to all Eternity as being insolvend But Christ has by one offering for ever perfected them that are sanctified Learn hence That Jesus Christ hath perfected and compleatly finished the great work of Redemption committed to him by God the Father Observe 2. Our Saviour's last Act. He bowed his Head and gave up the Ghost Whence learn The spontaneity and voluntariness of Christ's Sufferings how freely he surrendred to Death his Soul was not rent from him but yeilded up to God by him Christ was a volunteer in dying tho' his Death was a violent Death yet it was a voluntary Sacrifice He bowed his
pray 29 And as he prayed the fashion of his countenance was altered and his Raiment was white as Snow and glistering 30 And behold there talked with him two men which were Moses and Elias 31 Who appeared in Glory and spake of his Decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem 32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep and when they were awake they saw his Glory and the two men that stood with him 33 And it came to pass as they departed from him Peter said unto Jesus Master it is good for us to be here let us make three Tabernacles one for thee one for Moses and one for Elias not knowing what he said 34 While he thus spake there came a cloud and over-shadowed them and they feared as they entered into the cloud 35 And there came a Voice out of the cloud saying This is my beloved Son hear him 36 And when the voice was past Jesus was found alone and and they kept it close and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen Here we have Recorded the History of our Holy Saviour's Transfiguration when he laid as it were the Garments of our frail Humanity aside for a little Season and put on the Robes of his Divine Glory to Demonstrate and Testify the Truth of his Divinity for this Divine Glory was an Evidence of his Divine Nature and also an Emblem of that Glory which he and his Disciples and all his Faithful Servants and Followers shall enjoy together in Heaven Observe then 1. The design of our Saviour in this his Transfiguration namely to confirm his Disciples Faith in the Truth of his Divine Nature he was therefore pleased to suffer the Rays of his Divinity to dart forth before their Eyes so far as they were able to bear it his Face shined with a pleasing Brightness and his Raiment with such a Glorious Lustre as did at once both delight and dazzle the Eyes of his Disciples Observe 2. The choice which our Saviour makes of the Witnesses of his Transfiguration his three Disciples Peter James and John But why Disciples why three Disciples and why these three 1. Why Disciples Because this Transfiguration was a Type of Heaven Christ vouchsafes therefore the Earnest and First-fruits of that Glory only to Saints upon Earth on whom he intended to bestow the full Crop in due time 2. Why three Disciples Because three were sufficient to Witness the Truth of this Miracle Judas was unworthy of this Favour yet lest he should murmure or be discontented others are left out as well as he 3. But why these three rather then others probably 1. Because these three were more eminent for great Zeal and Love towards Christ now the most eminent Manifestations of Glory are made to those that are most excelling in Grace 2. Because these three Disciples were to be Witnesses of Christ's Agony and Passion to prepare them for which they are here made Witnesses of his Transfiguration This Glorious Vision upon Mount Tabor fitted them to abide the Terrour of Mount Calvary Observe 3. The Glorious Attendants upon our Saviour at his Transfiguration they were Two those Two Two Men those Two Men Moses and Elias This being but a Glimpse of Heavens Glory and not a full Manifestation of it only Two of the Glorified Saints attended it and these two Attendants are not two Angels but two Men because Men were more nearly concerned then Angels in what was done But why Moses and Elias rather then any other Men 1. Because Moses was the giver of the Law and Elias the chief of the Prophets now both these attending upon Christ did shew the Consent of the Law and the Prophets with Christ and their accomplishment and fulfilling in him 2. Because these two Men were the most Laborious Servants of Christ both adventured their Lives in God's Cause and therefore were highly honoured by him for those that honour him he will honour Observe 4. The Carriage and Behaviour of the Disciples upon this great occasion 1. They supplicate Jesus they do not pray to Moses or Elias but to Christ Master it is good being here Oh what a ravishing Comfort and Satisfaction is the Communion and Fellowship of the Saints but the Presence of Christ amongst them renders their Joys Transporting 2. They proffer their Service to farther the Continuance of what they did enjoy Let us make three Tabernacles Saints will stick at no cost or pains for the Enjoyment of Christ's Presence and his Peoples Company Learn hence That a Glimpse of Heavens Glory is sufficient to wrap a Soul into Extasy and to make it out of Love with Worldly Company 2. That we are apt to desire more of Heaven upon Earth then God will allow us we would have the Heavenly Glory come down to us but are not willing by Death to go up to that Obs 5. How a Cloud was put before the Disciples Eyes when the Divine Glory was manifested to them partly to allay the Lustre and Resplendency of that Glory which they were swallowed up with the Glory of Heaven is insupportable in this imperfect State we cannot bear it unvailed and partly did this Cloud come to hinder their looking and prying farther into this Glory we must be content to behold God thro' a Cloud darkly here e're long we shall see him Face to Face Observe 6. The Testimony given out of the Cloud by God the Father concerning Jesus Christ his Son This is my beloved Son hear him Where Note 1. The Dignity of his Person he is my Son for Nature Co-essential and for Time Co-eternal with his Father 2. The endearedness of his Relation He is my beloved Son because of his Conformity to me and Compliance with me Likeness is the Cause of Love and an Union and Harmony of Wills causes a mutual endearing of Affections 3. The Authority of his Doctrine Hear ye him Not Moses and Elias who were Servants but Christ my Son whom I have authorized and appointed to be the great Prophet and Teacher of my Church therefore Adore him as my Son believe in him as your Saviour and hear him as your Law-giver The Obedient Ear honours Christ more then either the gazing Eye the adoring Knee or the applauding Tongue 37 And it came to pass that on the next day when they were come down from the Hill much people met him 38 And behold a man of the company cryed out saying Master I beseech thee look upon my Son for he is mine only child 39 And lo a Spirit taketh him and he suddenly cryeth out and it teareth him that he foameth again and bruising him hardly departeth from him 40 And I besought thy Disciples to cast him out and they could not 41 And Jesus answering said oh faithless and perverse Generation how long shall I be with you and suffer you Bring thy Son hither 42 And as he was yet a coming the Devil threw him down and tare him