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
in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father 22 Ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship for salvation is of the Jews 23 But the hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him Here we have our Saviour's Answer to the foregoing Question which consists of two Parts 1. Concerning the Place of Worship 2. Concerning the Worship it self As to the Place of Worship our Saviour tells her that though the Jews had heretofore by warrant of God's Word regularly worshipped at Jerusalem and the Samaritans superstitiously worshipped at Mount Gerizim yet the Hour was coming namely at his Death when all difference of Places for God's Worship should be taken away and therefore she need not trouble her self about the Place of God's Worship to know whether of the two Places were holier and the better to serve God in for ere long the Service of God should not be confined more to one Place than another Hence learn That since the death of Christ the Religious Difference of Places is taken away and the Worship of God not confined to any one particular Place or Nation 2. Our blessed Saviour resolves her concerning the Worship it self namely that the Ceremonial Worship which the Jews and Samaritans used should shortly be abolished and instead thereof a more spiritual Form of Worship should be established more suitable to the Spiritual Nature of the great and holy God and containing in it the Truth and Substance of all that which the Jewish Ceremonies prefigured and shadowed forth Learn hence That the True Worship of God under the Gospel doth not consist in the external Pomp of any outward Ceremonies but is Spiritual and Substantial No Worship is acceptable to him that is the Father of Spirits but that which is truly Spiritual 24 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth God is a Spirit that is he has no Body nor bodily Parts He is not a bare spiritual Substance but a pure and perfect Spirit and therefore his Worshippers must worship him in Spirit and in Truth Where Spirit is opposed to the Legal Ceremonies and Truth to the Jewish Rites not to Hypocritical Services for the old Patriarchs did worship God in Spirit and in Truth As Truth is taken for Sincerity they served him with a sincere Conscience and with a single Heart But our Saviour's Business is to shew That a Worship without Legal Rites and Jewish Ceremonies is proper to the times of the Gospel In the Words Observe 1. The Nature of God declared God is a Spirit 2. The Duty of Man inferred therefore they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth From the whole Note 1. That God is a pure Spiritual Being When bodily Parts Hands and Eyes c. are ascribed to him it is only in Condescension to our weakness and to signifie those Acts in God which such Members do perform in us Note 2. That the Worship due from the Creature to God is spiritual Worship and ought to be spiritually performed The Jewish Ceremonial Worship was abolished to promote the Spirituality of Divine Worship yet must not this be so understood as if God rejected bodily Worship because he requires spiritual under the Gopsel for Jesus Christ the most spiritual Worshipper worshipped God with his Body Besides God has appointed some Parts of Worship which cannot be performed without the Body as Sacraments In a Word God has created the Body as well as the Soul Christ has redeemed the Body as well as the Soul and he will glorify the Body as well as the Soul therefore it is our Duty to worship and glorify God with our Bodies and with our Spirits which are his 25 The woman saith unto him I know that Messias cometh which is called Christ when he is come he will tell us all things 26 Jesus saith unto her I that speak unto thee am he Observe here 1. What a General Expectation there was in the Minds of all Persons at the time of our Saviour's appearing of one whom the Jews called the Messiah I know that Messiah cometh This Woman though a Samaritan yet knew that the Messiah should come and that he was now expected Observe 2. What the Work and Office of the Messias was apprehended and believed to be namely to reveal the whole Mind and Will of God to a lost World When the Messias is come he will tell us all things Learn thence That the Lord Jesus Christ the promised and true Messias being called and appointed by God to be the great Prophet of his Church hath fully and perfectly revealed all things needful to be known for our Salvation John 15.15 All things that I have heard of the Father I have made known unto you Observe Lastly How freely and fully Christ reveals himself to this poor Woman he tells her plainly that he was the Messias When the Jews asked him John 10.24 If thou be the Christ tell us plainly Christ did not in plain Terms tell them who he was Nay when John Baptist sent two of his Disciples to ask him whether he were He that should come he gave them no direct Answer Yet behold he makes himself plainly known to this poor Woman he discerning her Humility and great Simplicity that she was willing to be instructed by him and did not come to him as the Jews and Pharisees did captiously with a design to entangle and enspare him Hence learn That the Lord Jesus Christ delights to reveal himself and make known his Mind and Will to such as with an humble Mind and an honest Simplicity of heart do desire to know him and understand their Duty to him 27 ¶ And upon this came his disciples and marvelled that he talked with the woman yet no man said What seekest thou or Why talkest thou with her 28 The woman then left her water-pot and went her way into the city and saith to the men 29 Come see a man which told me all things that ever I did is not this the Christ 30 Then they went out of the city and came unto him Observe here 1. How the Providence of God so ordered and disposed of things that the Disciples did not return to Christ till he had finisht his Discourse with this poor Woman An humbled sinner may meet with such Satisfaction and sweet Refreshment in Christ's Company that the presence even of Disciples themselves the best and holiest of Saints may be lookt upon as injurious to it and an interruption of it This poor Woman had so sweet a time with Christ that an end being put to the Conference by the coming of the Disciples might be Matter of Grief and Resentment to her Yet the Providence of God so ordered that the Disciples did not come to break off the Conference till Christ had made himself known as the Messias to this
all sides by Reviling Tongues Why should we expect better Treatment than the Son of GOD 25 And Jesus knew their thought and said unto them Every kingdom divided against it self is brought to desolation and every city or house divided against it self shall not stand 26 And if Satan cast out Satan he is divided against himself how shall then his kingdom stand 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils by whom do your children cast them out therefore they shall be your judges 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God is come unto you 29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house and spoil his goods except he first bind the strong man and then he will spoil his house 30 He that is not with me is against me and he rhat gathereth not with me scattereth abroad Our Blessed Saviour to clear his Innocency and to convince the Pharisees of the Unreasonableness of this their Calumny and False Accusations offers several Arguments to their Consideration 1. That it was very unlikely that Satan should lend him this Power to use it against himself As Satan has a Kingdom so he has Wit enough to preserve his Kingdom and will do nothing to weaken his own Interest Now if I have received my Power from Satan for Destroying him and his Kingdom then is Satan divided against himself 2. Our Saviour tells them they might with as much Reason attribute all Miracles to the Devil as those that were wrought by Him There were certain Jews amongst themselves who cast out Devils in the Name of the GOD of Abraham Isaac and Jacob Christ asks the Pharisees By what Power these their Children Cast them out They acknowledged that those did it by the Power of GOD and there was no Cause but their Malice why they should not acknowleledge that what he did was by the same Power If I cast out Devils by the Spirit of God then the Kingdom of God is come unto you that is the Messias is come because he wrought these Miracles to prove that he was the Messias 3. Another Argument to prove That the Miracles which Christ wrought were by the Power of God and not by the Help of Satan is this The Devil is very strong and powerful and there is no Power but God's only that is stronger than his Now says Christ if I were not assisted by a Divine Power I could never cast out this strong Man who reigns in the World as in his House It must be a stronger than the strong Man that shall bind Satan and who is he but the GOD of Strength 31 Wherefore I say unto you All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men but the blasphemy against the holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man it shall be forgiven him but whosoever speaketh against the holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world neither in the world to come Obs 1. How our Saviour makes a Difference betwixt speaking against the Son of Man and speaking against the Holy Ghost By Speaking against the Son of Man is meant all those Reproaches which were cast upon our Saviour's Person as Man without reflecting upon his Divine Power as GOD which he testified by his Miracles Such were their reproaching him with the Meaness of his Birth their censuring him for a Winebibber and a Glutton and the like But by Speaking against the Holy Ghost is meant their Blaspheming and Reproaching that Divine Power whereby he wrought his Miracles which was an immediate Reflection upon the Holy Spirit and a Blaspheming of him Observe 2. The Nature of this Sin of Speaking against the Holy Ghost It consisted in this that the Pharisees seeing our Saviour work Miracles and cast out Devils by the Spirit of God contrary to the Conviction of their own Minds they maliciously ascribe his Miracles to the Power of the Devil charging him to be a Sorcerer and Magician and to have a Familiar Spirit by whose Help he did those Mighty Works when in truth he did them by the Spirit of God Observe 3. That this Sin above all others is called Unpardonable and upon what Account it is so The Case of such Blasphemers of the Holy Spirit is not only dangerous but desperate because they resist their last Remedy and oppose the best Means for their Conviction What can God do more to convince a Man that Jesus Christ is the True Messiah than to work â—â—â—â—cles to that purpose Now if when Men see plain Miracles wrought they will say it is not God that works them but the Devil as if Satan would conspire against himself and seek the Ruin of his own Kingdom There is no way left to convince such Persons but they must and will continue in their Opposition to Truth to their inevitable Condemnation 33 Either make the tree good and his fruit good or else make the tree corrupt and his fruit corrupt for the tree is known by his fruit These Words may either referr to the Pharisees or to Christ himself If to the Pharisees the Sence is You hypocritical Pharisees shew your selves what you are by your Words and Actions even as the Fruit sheweth what the Tree is If they referr to Christ then they are an Appeal to the Pharisees themselves to judge of our Saviour and his Doctrine by the Miracles which he wrought If he wrought by the Devil his Works would be as bad as the Devil 's but if his Works were good they must own them to be wrought by the Power of God The Expression implies That a Man may be known by his Actions as a Tree may be judged by his Fruit yet not by a single Action but by a Series of Actions not by a particular Act but by our general Course 34 O generation of vipers how can ye being evil speak good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Note here 1. The Fervency and Zeal of our Saviour's Spirit in the Compellation given to the Pharisees he calls them a Generation of Vipers intimating that they were a venemous and dangerous sort of Men. Learn thence That it is not always Railing and Indiscreet Zeal to call Wicked Men by such Names as their Sin deserves Obs farther From our Saviour's Saying that Out of the Abundance of the Heart the Mouth speaketh that the Heart is the Fountain both of Words and Actions and according as the Heart is so are the Current of Mens Words and Actions either good or evil 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things Obs here A double Treasure discovered in the Heart of Man 1. An Evil Treasure of Sin and Corruption both Natural and Acquired from whence proceeds Evil Things Now this is called a Treasure not for
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
of those that live under the Gospel are streighter and narrower than those that lived under the Law Observe farther In whose Name Persons are to be baptized in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Where we have a Profession of our Belief in the holy Trinity a Dedication of the Person to the Worship and Service of the holy Trinity and a Stipulation or Covenant Promise that we will continue faithful in the Service of Father Son and holy Spirit to our Lives end The third Branch of the Power which Christ delegated to his Apostles was by their Ministry to press upon all their Converts an Universal Observance of and Obedience to all his Commands Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I command you Where Note 1. That preaching is the ordinary and instituted Means to convert Nations unto God 2. That preaching must not only go before Baptism but follow after it Obedience must be prest upon and practised by all those that enter into Covenant with God otherwise they lye under a greater Condemnation 3. That preaching the Gospel is a chief part of the Ministers Work and no Apostle thought himself above that Duty 4. As the Apostles did not so the Ministers of Christ ought not to teach any thing but what Christ commands them 5. As they are to teach what Christ commands them so are they to teach all things whatsoever Christ commands them Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I command you Lastly Observe The Promise subjoined Lo I am with you always to the end of the World That is I am and will be with you and your Successors lawfully called by my Power and Authority by the Blessing and Assistance of my holy Spirit I will be with you to uphold my own Ordinance to protect encourage and reward you and all your Successors in the faithful Discharge of your Trust and this not for a Day a Year or an Age but to the End and Consummation of all Ages Learn hence That the Ministry of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments are a standing and perpetual Ordinance to continue in the Christian Church throughout all Ages Learn 2. That all the faithful Ministers of Christ in what part of the World soever God shall cast their Lot and in what time soever they shall happen to live may comfortably expect Christ's Gracious Presence with their Persons and his Blessing upon their Endeavours Lo I am with you I am always with you and to the end of the World I will be with you Thanks be to Christ for the Gracious Promise of his Spiritual and Perpetual Presence with his Ministers to the end of the World May this Promise cause us to gird up the Loins of our Minds encrease our Diligence Zeal and Fervour accounting no Labour too great no Service too much no Sufferings too severe so that we may but finish our Course with Joy and fulfil the Ministry we are engaged in Amen Amen The End of St. MATTHEW EXPOSITORY NOTES WITH PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS UPON The Holy Gospel ACCORDING TO ST. MARK DEUT. vi Ver. 6 and 7. These Words which I command thee this Day shall be in thy Heart And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children And shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine House and when thou walkest by the Way and when thou lyest down and when thou risest up EXPOSITORY NOTES WITH PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS UPON The Holy Gospel ACCORDING TO S T. MARK St. Mark the Writer of this Compendious History of our Blessed Saviour's Life and Death was the Disciple and Companion of St. Peter and some affirm that he wrote his Gospel from St. Peter's Mouth it being Dictated by St. Peter and Indited by the Holy Ghost But since we are assured that the Spirit of God Indited the Book we need not trouble our selves to find out whose Hand it was that held the Pen. CHAP. I. 1 THE beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the son of God The Word Gospel signifies a Message of glad Tydings and intimates to us that the Doctrine of the Gospel contains the most gladsome Tydings the most joyful Message that ever was sent from God to Mankind Happy Tydings concerning our Reconciliation with God and Salvation by Jesus Christ Oh how highly should we prize how stedfastly believe how cordially embrace these good Tydings of great Joy Observe 2. This Gospel is called the Gospel of Jesus Christ because Christ as God is the Author of this Gospel and also the principal Subject and Matter of it Indeed St. John the Baptist was the first Publisher and Preacher of the Gospel Doctrine but Christ himself was the first and principal Author and likewise the chief Subject-matter of it for whatever is taught in the Gospel relates either to the Person and Offices of Christ or to the Benefits received by him or the Means of enjoying those Benefits from him Observe 3. How St. Mark stiles Christ the Son of God as St. Matthew had stiled him before the Son of David the one sets forth the Verity of his Humane Nature the other the Reality of his Divine Nature Signifying to us that the true and promised Messias was both God and Man in two distinct Natures and one Person for ever He is true and real God as well as the Father and the Holy Ghost not a meer Man but God as well as Man 2 As it is written in the Prophets Behold I send my messenger before thy face which shall prepare thy way before thee St. Mark begins his Gospel with an Account of St. John the Baptist's Preaching and Ministry and declares 1. That the Prophets of old particularly Isaiah and Malachy did long before foretel the Baptist's Message and Ministry that he should go before Christ as his Harbinger to prepare the Way for him Behold I send my Messenger to prepare thy Way Where Note 1. The Dignity and Authority of the Ministers of Christ they are his Messengers sent by him to deliver his Mind and Will unto his People This Ministerial Mission is twofold Extraordinary and Ordinary the former when God immediately by himself calls Men to the Holy Function the latter when he uses the Ministry of Man in order thereunto Observe 2. The Work and Office of the Ministers of Christ declared and that is to prepare People to receive Jesus Christ offered and tendered to them in the Gospel Behold I send my Messenger to prepare thy Way before thee Learn thence That the great Design and End of the Ministry of the Word is to prepare and fit Men for entertaining the Holy Religion of Christ in their Hearts and to oblige them to walk according to the Rules and Directions of it in their Lives 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord make his paths straight Here Note 1. The Title given to John the Baptist He is called a Voice in respect of his Ministerial Office which was to speak forth to
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
diseases and cast out many devils and suffered not the devils to speak because they knew him The Evangelist here declares sundry other Miracles wrought by our Saviour before the Door of Peter's House where he now was He healed all the Diseased that were brought unto him and cast out Devils out of them that were possessed with them But how comes it to pass that we read of so many possessed with Devils in our Saviour's time and so few either before or since Answ 1. Probably Satan perceiving that the Messiah was come in the Flesh to destroy his Kingdom did rage the more and discover greater Malice and Enmity against Mankind 2. Perhaps Almighty God permitted Satan at that time to possess so many that Christ might have Occasion to manifest his Divine Power by casting Satan out And accordingly we find our Saviour dispossessing all that were possess'd by Satan It is added That he suffered not the Devils to speak because they knew him That is Christ would not be made known to be the Son of God by the preaching of the Devil to whom it belonged not to publish the Gospel lest the World should take from thence an Occasion to think that our Saviour held a Correspondency with those wicked Spirits and that the Miracles he wrought were performed by the Devil's Assistance as being one in Combination with him possibly from the Devil 's owning Christ to be the Holy One of God the Pharisees concluded that there was a Compact and Agreement betwixt them and thereupon their Affirmation was grounded he casteth out Devils by Beelzebub c. 35 And in the morning rising up a great while before day he went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed Observe here 1. The Duty performed by our Saviour namely Prayer solitary and private Prayer He went by himself alone out of the hearing of his Disciples The Company of our best Friends is not always seasonable nor acceptable there are Times and Cases when a Christian would not be willing that his dearest Relations upon Earth should hear that Intercourse which passes betwixt him and his God Obs 2. Christ chuses the Opportunity of the Morning for Prayer He rises a great while before Day to set about this Work Teaching us that the Morning is a fit Season yea the best Season for private Duties Now our Spirits are freshest and our Minds freest before the Distractions of the Day break in upon us it is better to go from Prayer to Business than from Business to Prayer 36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him 37 And when they had found him they said unto him All men seek for thee 38 And he said unto them Let us go into the next towns that I may preach there also for therefore came I forth 39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee and cast out devils Observe here Two Things First The great End of Christ in his Incarnation and coming into the World namely as a Prophet sent from God to reveal his Will and to publish the Doctrine of the Gospel Therefore came I forth that is to preach and plant the Gospel Secondly It being Christ's Design not only to plant but propagate the Gospel he would not confine his Ministry to any particular Place no not to the great City of Capernaum but resolves to preach the Word in the smallest Towns and Villages Leaving his Ministers herein an instructive Example to be as willing to preach the Gospel in the smallest Villages as in the largest Cities if God calls them thereunto Let the Place be never so obscure and mean and the Congregation never so small and little if God sends us thither the greatest of us must not think it beneath us to go and instruct an handful of People 40 And there came a leper to him beseeching him and kneeling down to him and saying unto him If thou wilt thou canst make me clean 41 And Jesus moved with compassion put forth his hand and touched him and saith unto him I will be thou clean 42 And as soon as he had spoken immediately the leprosie departed from him and he was cleansed 43 And he straightly charged him and forthwith sent him away 44 And saith unto him See thou say nothing to any man but go thy way shew thy self to the Priest and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded for a testimony unto them 45 But he went out and began to publish it much and to blaze abroad the matter insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city but was without in desert places and they came to him from every quarter The last Miracle of our Saviour's recorded in this Chapter is his healing of a leper he came beseeching Christ to heal him Saying If thou wilt thou canst make me clean Where Obs 1. He doth not question Christ's Power but distrusts Christ's Willingness to heal him Lord if thou wilt thou canst Christ's Divine Power must be fully assented to and firmly believed by all those that expect Benefit by him and healing from him Obs 2. The great Readiness of Christ to help and heal this distressed Person Jesus touched him saying I will be thou clean By the Ceremonial Law the Leper was forbidden to be touch'd therefore Christ's touching this Leper shewed him to be above the Law and that he was the Lord of it and might dispence with it and his healing the Leper by the Word of his Mouth and Touch of his Hand shew'd him to be truly and really God Leprosie amongst the Jews was an incurable Distemper called the Finger of God a Disease of his sending and of his removing Our Saviour therefore as a Proof of his being the true Messiah tells John's Disciples Matth. 11.5 That the Lepers were cleansed and the Dead raised by him which two being joined together do imply that the cleansing of Lepers is as much an Act of Divine Power as the raising of the Dead And accordingly 2 Kin. 5.8 't is said Am I a God that this Man sends to me to cure a Man of his Leprosie Obs 3. The Certainty and Suddenness of the Cure was a Proof of Christ's Divine Power immediately his Leprosie was cleansed Christ not only cured him without Means but without the ordinary Time required for such a Cure Thus Christ shew'd both Power and Will to cure him miraculously who believed his Power but questioned his Willingness Obs 4. The Cause moving our Saviour to cure this Leper his Bowels were moved with tender Pity and Compassion towards him Christ's exercising Acts of Mercy and Compassion with such Condolency and Sympathizing Pity should by way of Example teach us to be inwardly moved with tender Compassion and Mercy towards such as are in Misery We are not only to draw out our Bread but to draw out our Soul to the Hungry Obs 5. A twofold Charge and Command given by Christ to the Leper after his Cure 1. To
to the Devil he is called the Vnclean Spirit The Devils those wicked Spirits of Hell are most impure and filthy Creatures impure by reason of their original Apostacy impure by means of their actual and daily Sins such are Murder Malice Lying and the like by which they continually pollute themselves and impure by means of their continual desire and endeavours to pollute Mankind with the Contagion of their own sins Lord how foul is the nature of Sin which makes the Devil such a foul and filthy such an impure and unclean Creature Obs 3. The Substance of the Devil's out-cry Let us alone What have we to do with thee art thou come to destroy us that is to restrain us from the exercise of our power the Devil thinks himself destroyed when he is restrained from doing Mischief Obs 4. The Title given by the Devil to our Saviour he stiles him The Holy one of God How comes this Acknowledgment out of the Devil's Mouth could an Apostle make a Profession beyond this but how comes Satan to make it for no good end and with no good intention we may be sure for the Devil never speaks Truth for Truth-sake but for advantage-sake probably 1. he might make this Profession that so he might bring the Truth profest into question hoping that a Truth which received Testimony from the Father of Lies would be suspected or 2. it might perhaps be done to make the People believe that our Saviour had some familiarity with Satan and did work Miracles by his help because he did confess him and seem to put honour upon him Hence we may Learn That it is possible for a Person to own and acknowledge Christ to be the True and Only Saviour and yet to miss of Salvation by him If a Speculative Knowledge and a verbal Profession of Christ were sufficient to Salvation the Devil himself would not miss of Happiness Obs 5. How our Saviour rebukes the Devil for this Confession and commands him Silence Jesus rebuked him saying hold thy peace But why was this Rebuke given the Devil and his Mouth stopt when he spake the Truth Answer 1. Because Christ knew that the Devil confest this Truth on purpose to Disgrace the Truth 2. Because the Devil was no fit Person to make this Profession a Testimony of Truth from the father of Lies is enough to render Truth it self suspected Yet the Devil's Evidence that Christ was the Holy One of God will rise up in Judgment against the wicked Pharisees who shut their Eyes against the Miracles and stopt their Ears against the Doctrine of the Holy One of God Observe lastly How the unclean Spirit obeys the voice of Christ but with great Reluctancy and Regret when the unclean Spirit had thrown him in the midst he came out Where Observe The Devil's spite at parting he tares the Man throws him violently from place to place shewing how loth he was to be dispossessed Where Satan has once gotten an hold and settled himself for a time how unwilling is he to be cast out of Possession Yea it is a Torment and vexation to him to be cast out It is much easier to keep Satan out then to cast him out Satan may possess the Body by God's Permission but he cannot possess our Hearts without our own Consent and Approbation it will be our Wisdom to deny him Entrance into our Souls at first by Rejecting his wicked Motions and Suggestions for when once entered he will like the strong Man Armed keep the House till a stronger then he casts him out 38 And he arose out of the Synagogue and entred into Simons house and Simons wives mother lay sick of a fever and they besought him for her 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever and it left her and immediately she arose and ministred unto them Here Observe 1. That St. Peter a Disciple yea an Apostle was a Married Person Neither the Prophets of the Old Testament nor the Apostles of the New did abhor the Marriage-Bed nor judge themselves too pure for an Institution of their Maker The Church of Rome by denying the Lawfulness of Priest's Marriage makes her self wiser then God who says Heb. 13.4 Marriage is Honourable amongst All men Observe 2. Peter tho a Good Man and his Wifes Mother probably a Gracious Woman yet is his Family visited with Sickness Strength of Grace and Dearness of Respect even from Christ himself cannot prevail against Diseases God's own Children are visited with Bodily Sickness as well as others Observe 3. The Divine Power of Christ manifested in this miraculous Cure He stood over her says St. Luke he took her by the hand and lift her up says St. Mark Here was an ordinary Distemper cured after an extraordinary manner by a touch of Christ's hand in an instant Immediately the Fever left her and she arose and ministred unto them That she could arise argued her Cure Miraculous that she could and did arise and administer to Christ and his Disciples argued her Thankfulness After Christ had healed any of us it ought to be our first care to Administer unto him that is to employ our Recovered Strength in the Service of Christ and to improve our Restored Health to the Honour and Glory of Christ 40 Now when the sun was setting all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them 41 And Devils also came out of many crying out and saying Thou art Christ the son of God and he rebuked them and suffered them not to speak for they knew that he was Christ The Evangelist here declares sundry other Cures wrought by our Saviour he healed the Sick and dispossessed the Devils In our Saviour's time we read of many possessed with Devils and but of few either before or afterward Probably 1. Because Satan perceiving the Messiah to be come in the Flesh to destroy his Kingdom did rage the more and discover greater Malice and Enmity against Mankind 2. Perhaps Almighty God suffered Satan at that time to possess so many that Christ might have occasion to manifest his Divine Power by casting Satan out And accordingly we find our Saviour dispossessing all that were possest by Satan It is added That he suffered not the Devils to speak because they knew him that is Christ would not be made known to be the Son of God by the Preaching of the Devil lest the World should from thence take occasion to think that our Saviour held a Correspondency with those wicked Spirits and that the Miracles which he wrought were performed by the Devil's Assistance as being one in Combination with him Possibly from the Devil 's owning Christ to be the Holy one of God the Pharisees concluded that there was a compact and agreement betwixt them and thereupon their Affirmation was Grounded he casteth out Devils by Belzebub the Prince of Devils 42 And when it was day he departed and went
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
as well as Sins of Commission Consider it 2. In its specifical Nature 't is a Sin of Unmercifulness or Want of Love to Christ and his Members Learn thence That one reigning Sin one prevailing Corruption is enough to damn a Person because it deprives a Man of the Grace of the Gospel and excludes him from all the Benefit of the Promises Note Lastly If such as do not give to Christ in his Members shall be miserable at the great Day what will the Condition of them be that take from them who strip and starve them who persecute and hate them Who imprison or banish them If the Uncharitable shall scarcely be saved yea shall certainly be damned where shall the Unmerciful and Cruel appear 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal Observe here 1. That tho' the Righteous are first judged yet the Sentence is first executed on the Wicked These shall go into everlasting Punishment Obs 2. That Men's States and Conditions in another World will be different as their Ways and Doings have been in this World 3. That everlasting Life shall be the Portion of the Godly and everlasting Punishment the Portion of the Wicked God grant that the Horrors of eternal Darkness and the dismal Thoughts of a miserable Eternity may effectually discourage every one of us from a wicked and impenitent Course of Life for who can dwell with the devouring Fire Who can dwell with everlasting Burnings CHAP. XXVI 1 AND it came to pass when Jesus had finished all these sayings he said unto his disciples 2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passeover and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified 3 Then assembled together the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people unto the palace of the high priest who was called Caiaphas 4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty and kill him 5 But they said Not on the feast day lest there be an uproar among the people Several things are here Observeable as 1. The Persons conspiring against our blessed Redeemer's Life namely the chief Priests Scribes and Elders that is the whole Sanhedrim or general Council These lay their malicious Heads together to contrive the Destruction of the innocent Jesus Learn thence That general Councils have erred and may err Here was a general Council consisting of Priests Doctors and Elders with the High Priest their President yet erring in a Point of Doctrine concerning the Messiah not believing Jesus to be the Son of God notwithstanding all the convincing Miracles which he had wrought before them Obs 2. The manner of this Conspiracy against our Saviour's Life it was clandestine secret and subtil they consulted how they might take him by Subtilty and kill him Learn thence That Satan makes use of the Subtilty of crafty Men and abuseth their Parts as well as their Power for his own Purposes Satan never sends a Fool of his Errand Obs 3. The Time when this Conspiracy was managed at the Time of the Passover Indeed at first the chief Priests did not incline to that time fearing a Tumult and Vproar among the People but Judas presenting them with a fair Opportunity to apprehend him they changed their Purpose and accordingly at the Feast of the Passover our Saviour suffered This was not without a Mystery that Christ the true Lamb of God whom the Paschal Lamb typified and represented should be offered up at the Feast of the Passover Signifying thereby that he was the true Paschal Lamb and that the Legal Shadow ought to cease in the Exhibition of him Learn hence That not only the Death of Christ in general but all the Circumstances relating to it were fore-ordained by God himself as the Place where at Jerusalem the Time when at the Feast of the Passover that Time did God devise best for this Lamb to be a Sacrifice 6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper 7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment and poured it on his head as he sat at meat This Woman St. John says was Mary the Sister of Lazarus who to shew her Love to Christ and put Honour upon him took a precious Box of Ointment and poured it upon our Saviour's Head according to the Custom of the Eastern Countries who used so to do at their Feasts and Banquets to which David alludes Psal 23.5 Learn hence 1. That where true Love to Christ prevails in the Heart nothing is adjudged too dear for Christ This Box of Ointment murmuring Judas valued at 300 Pence which reckoning the Roman Penny at Seven Pence Halfpenny makes of our Money Nine Pounds Seven Shillings and Six Pence Love we see spares for no Cost but where the Esteem of Christ is high the Affection will be strong Note 2. That where strong Love prevails towards Jesus Christ it suffers not it self to be outshined by any Examples The weakest Woman that strongly loves Jesus Christ will piously strive with the greatest Apostle to express the Fervour of her Love unto him I do not find any of the Apostles at thus much Cost to put Honour upon Christ that this poor Woman was at Love knows no Bounds no Measures 8 But when his disciples saw it they had indignation saying To what purpose is this waste 9 For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor That is when Judas and some other Disciples whom he had influenced saw this Action they murmured particularly Judas blamed this holy Woman for needless Prodigality and did tacitly reflect upon Christ himself for suffering that wasteful Expence Oh how doth a covetous Heart think every thing too good for Christ He that sees a pious Action well done and seeks to undervalue it shews himself possess'd with a Spirit of Envy Judas his invidious Spirit makes him censure an Action which Christ highly approved Learn thence That Men who know not our Hearts may thro' Ignorance or Prejudice censure and condemn those Actions which God doth commend and will graciously reward Happy for this poor Woman that she had a more righteous Judge to pass Sentence upon her Action than wicked Judas 10 When Jesus understood it he said unto them Why trouble ye the woman for she hath wrought a good work upon me 11 For ye have the poor always with you but me ye have not always 12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body she did it for my burial Observe here How readily our Lord vindicates this good Woman She says nothing for her self nor need she having such an Advocate 1. Christ rebukes Judas why trouble ye the Woman Plainly intimating that it is no small Trouble to a Gracious Spirit to find their good Works misinterpreted and misrepresented next he defends the Action calling it a good Work because done out of a Principle of Love to Christ she hath
wrought a good Work upon me And Lastly He gives the Reason of her Action she did it for my Burial As Kings and great Persons were wont in those Eastern Countries at their Funerals to be embalm'd with Odours and sweet Perfumes So says our Saviour this Woman to declare her Faith in me as her King and Lord doth with this Box of Ointment as it were beforehand embalm my Body for its Burial True Faith puts Honour upon a crucified as well as a glorified Saviour This holy Woman accounts Christ worthy of all honour in his Death believing it would be a sweet smelling Sacrifice unto God and the savour of Life unto his People 13 Verily I say unto you Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world there shall also this that this woman hath done be told for a memorial of her Our Saviour having defended this holy Woman from the Calumny of Judas in the foregoing Verses in this he declares that she should be rewarded with an honourable Memorial in all Ages of the Church Where ever the Gospel is preached this shall be spoken of her Oh what Care doth Christ take to have the good Deeds of his Children not buried in the Dust with them but be had in everlasting Remembrance Tho' Sin causes Men to rot above Ground to stink alive and when they are dead leaves an inglorious Memory upon their Graves yet will the Actions of the Just smell sweet and blossom in the Dust 14 Then one of the twelve called Judas Iscariot went unto the chief priests 15 And said unto them What will ye give me and I will deliver him unto you and they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver 16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him Observe here 1. The Person betraying our Blessed Redeemer Judas Judas a Professor Judas a Preacher Judas an Apostle and one of the Twelve whom Christ had chosen out of all the World to be his dearest Friends and his own Family and Houshold Shall we wonder to find Friends unfriendly or unfaithful towards us when our Saviour had a Traitor in his own House Obs 2. The Heinousness of his Sin in betraying Christ He betrayed Christ Jesus a Man Christ Jesus his Master Christ Jesus his Maker the first was Murther the second Treason Learn thence That it is no strange or uncommon thing for the vilest of Sins and most horrid Impieties to be acted by such Persons as make the most eminent Proâ—ession of Holiness and Religion Obs 3. What was the Sin occasioning and leading Judas to the committing of this horrid Sin It was Covetousness I do not find that Judas had any particular Malice against Christ's Person but a base and unworthy Spirit of Covetousness possess'd him this made him sell his Master Covetousness is the Root-Sin an inordinate Desire and Love of Riches an eager and unsatiable Thirst after the World is the Parent of the most monstrous and unnatural Sins Therefore remember we our Saviour's Caution Luke 12.15 Take heed and beware of Covetousness he doubles the Caution to shew us both the great Danger of the Sin and the great Care we ought to take to preserve our selves from it Obs 4. How small a Sum tempted the covetous Mind of Judas to betray his Master Thirty Pieces of Silver which amounted but to Three Pounds and Fifteen Shillings of our Money This was the Price of a Slave or common Servant Exod. 21. as Christ took upon him the Form of a Servant so his Life was valued at the rate of an ordinary Servant's Life It may seem a wonder that the High Priests should offer no more for the Life of our Saviour and that Judas should accept so little But the Wisdom of God over-ruled this Matter for fulfilling that Prophecy Zach. 11.12 They weighed for my Price Thirty Pieces of Silver Let not any Christian be concerned that he is despised and undervalued he can never meet with so great a Reproach so low an Abasement for Christ as Christ underwent for him Observe Lastly Judas his Folly as well as his Treachery he that might have demanded what he pleased for this Purchase he says unto the chief Priests What will ye give me As if he had said I am resolved to sell him at any rate give me what you will for him Nay farther Judas covenanted and they promised but whether it was now paid appeareth not Learn That such a Person as has a vile and base Esteem of Jesus Christ will part with him upon any Terms The bare Expectation of a few Sheckles of Silver will make such a one willing to part with the Pearl of great Price 17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus saying unto him Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover 18 And he said Go into the city to such a man and say unto him The master saith My time is at hand I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them and they made ready the passover The Time for the Celebration of the Passover being now at Hand Christ sends Two of his Disciples to Jerusalem to prepare things necessary in order thereunto Accordingly they enter the City and find the Master of an House whose Heart Christ by his Divine Power had so inclined that he willingly accommodated them upon this Occasion Our Blessed Saviour had not a Lamb of his own and possibly no Money in his Purse to buy one but he finds as excellent Accommodations in this poor Man's House as if he had dwelt in Ahab's Ivory Palace and had had the Provisions of Solomon's Table Learn hence That Christ has such an Influence upon and Command over the Spirits of Men that he can incline them to do what Service soever he pleaseth for him When Christ has a Passover to celebrate he will prepare an House and dispose the Heart to a free Reception of himself Learn 2. That Christ being under the Law observes and keeps the Law of the Passover Thus he fulfilled all Righteousness and altho' the Ceremonial Law was to receive its Abolishment in the Death of Christ yet all the time of his Life he punctually observed it 20 Now when the even was come he sat down with the twelve Observe here The Impudent Forehead of this bold Traytor Judas who presumed as soon as he had sold his Master to sit down at the Table with him and partake with the other Disciples of the solemn Ordinance of the Passover had the Presence of Judas polluted the Ordinance to any besides himself doubtless our Saviour would never have permitted his bold Intrusion Learn hence 1. That nothing is more ordinary than for unholy Persons presumptuously to rush in upon the solemn Ordinances of God which they have no Right whilst such to partake of 2. That the Presence of such Persons pollutes the Ordinances only to themselves