Pomp but a Spiritual King in and over his Church only to order the Affairs and look after the Government thereof Learn hence That Christ as God hath an Universal Kingdom of Power and Providence even over the highest of Men and as Mediatour hath a Spiritual Kingdom in and over his Church 2. That it is a clear Evidence that Christ's Kingdom is Spiritual in as much as it is not carried on by violence and force of Arms as worldly Kingdoms are but by Spiritual means and methods If my Kingdom were of this World my Servants would fight for me but now is my Kingdom not from hence 37 Pilate therefore said unto him Art thou a king then Jesus answered Thou sayest that I am a king To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness unto the truth Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice Pilate asks him again directly and expresly Art thou a King or not Our Saviour Answers Thou sayest that I am a King and so it is indeed as thou sayest I am a King and the King of the Jews too but not a Temporal King to Rule over them after the manner of Earthly Kings with Temporal Power and Worldly Pomp and Splendour but I am a Spiritual King to Rule and Govern not only the Jews but my whole Church consisting both of Jews and Gentiles after a Spiritual manner Observe here 1. The Dominion and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ he has a Kingdom My Kingdom Observe 2. The Condition and Qualification of this Kingdom Negatively exprest My Kingdom is not of this World Observe 3. The Use and End of this Kingdom that the Truth may have place among the Children of Men for their Salvation To this end was I Born and came into the World to bear witness unto the truth Observe 4. The Subjects of Christ's Kingdom declared Every one that is of the truth heareth my Voice That is Every one who is by Divine Grace disposed to believe and love the Truth will hear and obey Christ's Doctrine 38 Pilate saith unto him What is truth And when he had said this he went out again unto the Jews and saith unto them I find in him no fault at all 39 But ye have a custom that I should release unto you one at the passover will ye therefore that I release unto you the king of the Jews 40 Then cried they all again saying Not this man but Barabbas Now Barabbas was a robber Observe here 1. The Question Pilate put to Christ What is Truth a most noble and important Question had it been put forth with an honest Heart with a Mind fairly disposed for Information and Satisfaction but it is evident Pilate's enquiry was not serious nay it is generally thought that Pilate ask'd this Question in Scorn Contempt and Derision for he stays not for our Lord's Answer but as soon as he startled this Query went oft the Bench in haste Learn hence That this Question What is Truth or how may we come to the Knowledg of the Truth is of unspeakable use and importance and a Question whereon the whole frame and Constitution of Religion depends Because Truth is claimed by all Parties of Men by all Professors of Religion Ask the different Parties from the Old Gentleman at Rome to the poorest Quaker and Muggletonian where is Truth and they will all tell you they are in the possession of it every Sect has thus much of Popery with it that the professors of it think themselves Infallible and every one cries out Here is Truth But God has given us a two-fold Light to search for Truth by Namely The Light of Reason and the Light of Scripture and Divine Revelation The former Solomon calls the Candle of the Lord set up in our Breasts by God on purpose to discover Truth unto us God allows us yea injoyns us the free and impartial use of our Understandings and Judgments in order to the finding out of Divine Truth but because Nature's Light or the Light of Natural Reason is not clear and bright enough to give us a prospect of supernatural Truths for Nature and Reason can never dictate those things which depend wholly upon God's free Grace and good Pleasure such are the Doctrine of a Saviour and Redeemer and the method of Man's Salvation by the Sufferings of the Son of God it had been Blasphemy once to have supposed such things had not God revealed them in Scripture Therefore the Second Standard of Divine Truth is the infallible Word of God The Gospel of Christ is the way and the Truth Truth came by Jesus Christ and would Men be ruled and conducted by these unalterable Standards of Truth namely Right Reason and Divine Revelation they would easily agree in their Judgments what is to be believed and all Disputes and Controversies would vanish right Reason and Inspired Scripture are the best Judges of Controversies they being the fixed Standards and Measures of Divine Truth can best Resolve Pilate's Question here and tell us What is Truth Observe 2. How unwilling how very unwilling Pilate was to be the Instrument of our Saviour's Death He came forth three several times and tells the Jews that he finds no fault in him he bids them take him and judg him according to their Law Pilate a Pagan Absolves Christ whilst the Hypocritical Jews that heard his Doctrine and saw his Miracles do Condemn him Observe 3. Pilate having absolved Christ I find no fault in him endeavours next to Release him and takes occasion from their Custom of having a Prisoner released to them at their Feast to insinuate his Desire that they should chuse Christ Ye have a custom that I release unto you one at the Passover Observe lastly How the Jews prefer Barabbas a Robber before the Holy and Innocent Jesus They all cried out saying not this Man but Barabbas Learn hence That no Persons how wicked and vile soever are so odious in the Eyes of the Enemies of God as Christ himself was and his Friends and Followers now are Christ did find it thus in his own Person when on Earth Barabbas a Robber was preferr'd before him and now he is in Heaven he suffers in his Members the filth of the World being preferred before them CHAP. XIX 1 THen Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged him Observe here 1. That as the Death of the Cross was a Roman Punishment so it was the manner of the Romans to whip their Malefactors before they Crucified them Accordingly Pilate took Jesus and scourged him Observe 2. How unwilling how very unwilling Pilate was to be the Instrument of our Saviour's Death it is very evident that he had a mind to Release him and it is concluded that Pilate was thus forward to Scourge Christ hoping that the Jews would have been satisfied with this lighter Punishment and so have dismist him From this instance we may gather That Hypocrites within the pale of the
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
with the elders and had taken counsel they gave large money unto the soldiers 13 Saying say ye His disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept 14 And if this come to the governours ears we will perswade him and secure you 15 So they took the money and did as they were taught and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day Observe here 1. How the Priests and Elders endeavour by a notorious Lie to hinder the Belief of our Lord's Resurrection they suborn and bribe the Soldiers to say that his Corps were stoln out of the Grave Lies have been an old Refuge which the Enemies of Christ have all along had Recourse unto â—â—lying is an ancient Device of Satan But Observe 2. What an improbable and unlikely Lie this was which they put into the Soldiers Mouths to vouch Say his Disciples came and stole him away while we slept If the Soldiers were asleep how could they discover the Disciples stealing away the Body If awake why did they not prevent their stealing it Besides how improbable was it that Christ's few and fearful Disciples should attempt to open the Sepulchre guarded by Soldiers And as unlikely was it that the Soldiers should be all asleep together and so fast asleep too that the great Stone at the Mouth of the Sepulchre should be rolled away and not one of the Soldiers awaked with the Noise Yet Observe farther That this incredible Falshood finds a fast and firm rooting in the Belief of the Jews to this Day Note thence That it is a Righteous Thing with God to deliver up to those strong Delusions even to the believing of notorious Lies who will not yield their Assent to Divine Truths upon the clearest Evidence and most convincing Demonstration How strange is it that such a Falshood as this should find Belief amongst the Jews to this Day But where Truth is obstinately rejected a Lie tho' never so improbable is received 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them 17 And when they saw him they worshipped him but some doubted This Meeting of our Saviour and his Apostles upon a Mountain in Galilee was an appointed and general Meeting The Mountain is supposed to be that near Capernaum where he made that famous Sermon called the Sermon on the Mount and the Meeting is supposed to be appointed as a general Rendezvous for confirming the Faith of all his Disciples in the Certainty of his Resurrection Possibly our Lord appointed this Place in Galilee so far from Jerusalem that his Disciples might without Danger come thither to see their Saviour alive again after his Crucifixion This is judged to be that famous Appearance of which St. Paul speaks 1 Cor. 15.6 When he was seen of above Five Hundred Brethren at once And those that saw him worshipped him who before had doubted Learn hence That when Faith is once satisfied and sees Christ to be God it engages the Soul to worship him Divine Worship is due to Christ upon the Account of his Divine Nature No Creature can be the Object of Divine Worship therefore they that worship Christ by praying to him and yet deny him to be God are certainly Idolaters If Christ had had an Angelick Nature that had not made him capable of Divine Worship for Adoration is founded only in Divinity and what is but Humane or Angelical is not Adorable 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them saying All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth 19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the world Amen Observe here 1. A Power asserted 2. An Authority delegated 3. A Command injoined 4. A Promise subjoined Observe 1. A Power and Authority asserted by our Saviour as belonging to himself All Power is given to me both in Heaven and in Earth 1. In Heaven which comprehends a Power of sending the Holy Ghost a Power over the Angels and all the Host of Heaven and a Power to dispose of Heaven to all that shall believe in him 2. In Earth which comprehends a Power to gather a Church out of all Nations and Authority to rule govern and defend the same against all its Enemies Learn hence That all Power and Authority concerning the Church of God was given unto Christ and conferr'd upon him upon the Account of his Meritorious Death and Triumphant Resurrection All Power is given to me That is as Mediator but this Power was inherent in him as God from all Eternity Observe 2. This Power delegated by Christ to his Apostles Go ye therefore and teach and baptize all Nations instructing them to observe all things whatsoever I command you Here is a threefold Power delegated by Christ to his Apostles 1. To congregate and gather a Church a Christian Church out of all the Heathen Nations throughout the World Before he had confined them only to Israel now they must travel from Country to Country and proselyte the Heathen Nations which before had been taught of the Devil and were led away by his Oracles and Delusions Go and disciple all Nations without any Distinction of Country Sex or Age whatsoever and make the Gospel Church as large as you can Thence Note That the Apostles and first Planters of the Gospel had a Commission from Christ to go amongst the Pagan-Gentiles without Limitation and were not to take up their settled Residence in any one Nation but to travel from Country to Country instructing them in the saving Mysteries of the Gospel The second Branch of their Power was to baptize in the Name of the whole Trinity Baptizing in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Where Observe That all adult and grown Persons are to be first taught and instructed before they be baptized But it follows not from hence that the Children of such Parents may not be baptized before they are taught for the Apostles were to baptize all Nations of which Children are a chief if not the chiefest part Besides those that were proselyted to the Jewish Religion tho' before they were circumcised themselves they were instructed in the Law of God yet when they were circumcised themselves their Children were not denied Circumcision at Eight Days old In like manner have we no Reason to deny the Children of baptized Parents who are in Covenant themselves the Sign and Seal of the Covenant which is Baptism God having assured his People that he will be the God of them and of their Seed If this Priviledge be denied the Children of Christian Parents are in a worse Condition than the Children of the Jews and consequently Infants are in a worse Condition since Christ's coming than they were before and the Priviledges
the Pharisees and of the leaven of Herod 16 And they reasoned among themselves saying It is because we have no bread 17 And when Jesus knew it he saith unto them Why reason ye because ye have no bread perceive ye not yet neither understand have ye your hearts yet hardened 18 Having eyes see ye not and having ears hear ye not and do ye not yet remember 19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand how many baskets full of fragments took ye up They say unto him Twelve 20 And when the seven amongst four thousand how many baskets full of fragments took ye up And they said Seven 21 And he said unto them How is it that you do not understand Observe here 1. How dull the Disciples of Christ were under Christ's own Teaching and how apt to put a carnal Sense upon his Words They apprehended he had spoke unto them of the Leaven of Bread what he intended of the Leaven of the Pharisees Doctrine Obs 2. The Rebuke our Saviour gives his Disciples for not understanding the Sense and Signification of what he spake Christ is much offended with his own People when he discerns Blindness and Ignorance in them after more than ordinary means of Knowledge enjoyed by them How is it that ye do not yet understand Obs 3. The Metaphor by which Christ sets forth the corrupt Doctrines of the Pharisees and Herodians He compares it to Leaven Partly for its Sowerness and partly for its Diffusiveness Now the Leaven of Herod or the Herodians is supposed to be This That because Herod was a Jew born and made King of the Jews and lived at the time when the Messiah was expected there were those that maintained the Opinion that he was the promised Messiah which Opinion Christ compares to Leaven because as that diffuseth it self into the whole Mass or Lump of Bread with which it is mixed So false Doctrine was not only evil and corrupt in it self but apt to spread its Contagion farther and farther to the infecting of others with it Learn thence That Error is as damnable as Vice and Persons erroneous in Judgment to be avoided as well as those that are wicked in Conversation and he that has a due Care of his Soul's Salvation will be as much afraid of erroneous Principles as he is of debauched Practices Obs 4. Our Saviour does not command his Disciples to separate from Communion with the Pharisees and oblige them not to hear their Doctrine but only to beware of their Errors which they mix with their Doctrine We may and ought to hold Communion with a Church though erroneous in Judgment if not fundamentally erroneous For Separation from a Church is not justifiable upon any other Grounds than that which makes a Separation betwixt God and that Church which is either Apostacy into gross Idolatry or in point of Doctrine into damnable Heresy Obs 5. The Fault observed by our Saviour in his Disciples hardness of Heart Have ye your Hearts yet hardened There may be and oft times is some degree of Hardness of Heart in sincere Christians but this is not a total Hardness but in some degree only and it is lamented and humbled or not indulged and delighted in As Christ is grieved for the Hardness of his Peoples Hearts so are they grieved also it is both bitter and burthensom to them 22 And he cometh to Bethsaida and they bring a blind man to him and besought him to touch him 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town and when he had spit on his eyes and put his hands upon him he asked him if he saw ought 24 And he looked up and said I see men as trees walking 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes and made him look up and he was restored and saw every man clearly 26 And he sent him away to his house saying Neither go into the town nor tell it to any man in the town Here we have recorded a special Miracle wrought by our Saviour at Bethsaida in curing a blind Man brought unto him Where Observe 1. What evident Proof the Pharisees had of Christ's Divine Power and Godhead He had before caused the Deaf to hear the Dumb to speak the Lame to walk now he makes the Blind to see Yet did the Pharisees obstinately resist all Means of their Conviction and continued in their Opposition to Truth to their inevitable and unutterable Condemnation Obs 2. The wonderful Humility the great Condescention of Jesus Christ towards this Blind-Man He took him by the Hand and led him himself A great Evidence of his Condescending Humility and of his Goodness and Mercy shewing how ready and willing he was to help and heal him see here a singular Pattern of Humility and condescending Grace and Mercy in our dear Redeemer in that he vouchsafed with his own hands to take and lead a poor Blind Man through the Streets of Bethsaida in the sight of all the People Let us learn of him who was thus meek and lowly in heart Obs 3. Our Lord leads the Blind Man out of the Town before he heals him not in the Town where all the People might take notice of it Thereby teaching us to avoid all shew of Ambition all Appearance of Vain-Glory in what we do Even as Christ sought not his own Glory but the Glory of him that sent him Obs 4. The manner of the Cure wrought upon this Blind Man it was gradual and by degrees not instantaneous and at once he had first a dark dim and obscure Sight afterwards a clear and a perfect Sight Christ thereby gave Evidence of his Absolute and Omnipotent Power that he was not tyed to any particular Means or Manner or Order of Working but wrought his Miracles variously as he saw to be most fit for the Glory of God and the Benefit of his People Observe Lastly The Charge given by our Saviour not to publish this Miracle in the Town of Bethsaida a Place where Christ had so often preach'd and wrought so many Miracles But the Inhabitants had obstinately and contemptuously undervalued and despised both his Doctrine and Miracles therefore we read Mat. 11.21 that our Saviour denounced a Woe against Bethsaida assuring her that it would be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for her The higher a People rise under the Means the lower they fall if they miscarry Such a People as have been nearest to Conversion being not converted shall have the greatest Condemnation when they are judged 27 And Jesus went out and his disciples into the towns of Cesarea Philippi and by the way he asked his disciples saying unto them Whom do men say that I am 28 And they answered John the Baptist but some say Elias and others One of the prophets 29 And he saith unto them But whom say ye that I am And Peter answereth and saith unto him Thou art the Christ 30 And he charged them that
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
give him because he is his friend yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth The design of our Blessed Saviour in these and the following Verses is to excite and stir up his Disciples to fervency importunity and constancy in the Duty of Prayer and to this purpose he makes use of a double Argument the one of a Friend and the other of a Father 1. He lays before them the Parable of a Friend coming to his Friend at Mid-night and by his importunity obtaining that of him which otherwise he must have gone without From whence our Lord leaves us to infer that if an impudent and bold Beggar can obtain so much from Man what cannot an humble earnest and daily Petitioner obtain from God What Friend so faithful and helpful to his dearest Friend as God is to us his Children From the whole Note 1. That a Man must be brought into a state of Friendship and Reconciliation with God if he hopes his Prayers shall be accepted 2. That when any of the Friends of God are in Necessities and Streights he allows them the liberty at all hours to call upon him and pray unto him at mid-night as well as at Mid-day God's ear is open to his Praying Friends 3. That Almighty God takes pleasure in being urged in Prayer by the Holy importunity of his Friends never is he better pleased then when his People with Holy Jacob Wrestle with him and will not let him go till he has blessed them 4. That such holy and humble importunity shall not only obtain what we desired but more then we expected only three Loaves were desired here but because of importunity he had as many as he needed more is given in the Concession than was desired in the Supplication 9 And I say unto you ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you 10 For every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Our Saviour here goes on to urge us to importunity and constancy in Prayer he bids us ask seek and knock and assures us we shall be accepted heard and answered Here Note 1. That Man is a poor indigent Creature full of wants but unable to supply them 2. As Man is an indigent and insufficient Creature so God is an All-sufficient Good able to supply the Wants and to Relieve the Necessities of his Creatures 3. That All-mighty God stands ready to supply all our Wants not Temporal only but Spiritual also affording his Grace and the assistance of his holy Spirit to them that ask it 4. If therefore we want the Grace of God and the assistance of his Holy Spirit it is our own fault and not God's it is either for want of seeking or for want of earnestness in asking for our Saviour expresly assures us that God denies it to none but every one that asketh receiveth 11 If a Son shall ask Bread of any of you that is a Father will he give him a stone or if he ask a fish will he for a fish give him a Serpent 12 Or if he ask an egg will he offer him a Scorpion 13 If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him The Second Parable which our Saviour makes use of is that of a Father to his Children Christ represents the care and kindness of God towards us by the affections which Earthly Parents bear to their natural Children who tho' they be many times Evil themselves yet are not wont to deny their Children necessary good things when they dutifully and decently beg them at their hands If ye being evil how much more shall your heavenly Father give his holy Spirit that is the continual presence and influence of his Holy Spirit to all the purposes of Guidance and Direction of Grace and Assistance of Comfort and Support in our Christian Course Learn hence That the presence and assistance of God's Holy Spirit to enable us to do what God requires shall never be wanting to those that desire it and endeavour after it But we must always remember That the Assistance of God's Holy Spirit tho' it be offered and tendered to us yet it is not forced upon us for if we beg the Holy Spirit and his assistance but refuse to make use of it or if we cry to him for his help to mortify our Lusts but do not put forth his own endeavours we forfeit the Divine Assistance and God will certainly withdraw his Holy Spirit from us 14 And Jesus was casting out a Devil and it was dumb and it came to pass when the Devil was gone out that the dumb spake and the people wondered 15 But some of them said he casteth out Devils through Beelzebub the chief of the Devils 16 And other tempting him sought of him a sight from Heaven 17 But he knowing their thoughts said unto them Every kingdom divided against it self is brought to desolation and a house divided against a house falleth 18 If Satan also be divided against himself how shall his kingdom stand because ye say that I cast out Devils thrô Belzebub 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out Devils by whom do your Sons cast them out therefore shall they be your judges 20 But if I with the Finger of God cast out Devils no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you A Relation is here given of a famous Miracle wrought by our Saviour in casting a Devil out of a possessed Man it is called a dumb Devil because of the effect upon the poor possessed Person in restraining the use of his Tongue Learn here 1. That amongst the many Calamities which Sin has rendered humane Nature liable and obnoxious to this is one to be bodily possest by Satan 2. That one Demonstration of Christ's Divine Power and a convictive Evidence of his being truly and really God was his casting out Devils by the Word of his Power Observe 3. What a sad and contrary effect this Miracle had upon the wicked Pharisees through their own blindness obstinacy and malice instead of magnifying his Divine Power they maliciously accuse him for holding a correspondency with the Devil and acting by a Power derived from him as if Satan should lend our Saviour a power against himself and that for the Destruction of his own Kingdom Lord how dangerous is a wilful opposition against the Truth it provokes the Almighty to deliver Persons up to the most unreasonable Infidelity and obstinate Obduracy Observe 4. Our Saviour knowing their Thoughts makes a just Apology for himself by shewing how improbable and unlikely how unreasonable and absurd it is once to imagine or suppose that Satan should cast out himself and any ways seek to oppose or destroy his own Kingdom Now if I have received says Christ my power from
giving in Marriage that is wholly given up to Sensuality and Debauchery and did not know that is did not consider the Flood 's coming till it swept them away thus was it before the Destruction of Jerusalem and thus will it be before the end of the World Hence we Learn That as the old World perished by Infidelity Security and Sensuality so will the same Sins be prevalling before the Destruction of this present World As it was in the days of Noah so shall it be in the days of the Son of Man 31 In that day he which shall be in the house top and his staff in the house let him not come down to take it away and he that is in the field let him likewise not turn back 32 Remember Lots wife Here our Saviour advises them that when they shall see the Judgments of God breaking out upon Jerusalem that they make all possible speed to get out of it as Lot and his Family did out of Sodom and to take heed of imitating Lott's Wife who looking back became a pillar of Salt Gen. 19. Where Observe 1. Her Offence she looked back 2. The punishment of her Offence She became a pillar of Salt her Offence in looking behind her was manifest Disobedience to the Divine Command which said Look not behind thee and proceeded either from Carelesness or from Covetousness or from Curiosity or from Compassion to those she left behind her and was undoubtedly the effect of great Infidelity she not believing the Truth of what the Angel had declared as touching the Certainty and Suddenness of Sodom's Destruction The Punishment of her Offence was Exemplary She became a pillar of Salt that is a perpetual Monument of Divine Severity for her Infidelity and Disobedience Where Note 1. The suddenness of her Punishment the Justice of God Surprizes her in the very Act of Sin with a present Revenge 2. The seeming disproportion betwixt the Punishment and the Offence her Offence was a forbidden Look From whence Carnal Reason might plead was it not sufficient for her to loose her Eyes but must she loose her Life but the Easiness and Reasonableness of the Command aggravated her Disobedience and tho' her Punishment may seem severe it was not unjust Now says our Saviour Remember Lotts Wife that is let her Example caution all of you against Unbelief Disobedience Worldly Mindedness Contempt of God's Threatnings and Lingring after the Forbidden Society of lewd and wicked Persons 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his Life shall lose it and whosoever shall lose his Life shall preserve it 34 I tell you in that night there shall be two men in one bed the one shall be taken and the other left 35 Two Women shall be grinding together the one shall be taken and the other left 36 Two men shall be in the field the one shall be taken and the other left In this Hour when Judgment is come upon Jerusalem Christ declares that whosoever shall take any unchristian Course to preserve his Life by denying him and his Holy Religion he shall loose Eternal Life but he that for Christ's sake shall loose his natural Life instead of a Mortal shall enjoy an immortal Life in Bliss and Glory Here we Learn 1. That the Love of Temporal Life is a great Temptation to tempt Men to deny Christ and his Holy Religion in a day of Tryal 2. That the surest way to attain Eternal Life is chearfully to lay down our Temporal Life when the Glory of Christ and the Honour of Religion requires it of us Christ farther adds that in this Terrible Night of Jerusalem's Calamity when Destruction comes upon her the Providence of God will remarkably distinguish between one Person and another True Believers and constant Professors shall be delivered and none else such shall escape the Danger others shall fall by it 37 And they answered and said unto him Where Lord and he said unto them Wheresoever the Body is thither will the Eagles be gathered together The Disciples hearing our Saviout speak of such Tremendous Calamities inquire where these Judgments should fall he answers them figuratively and by a Proverbial Speech That where the Carcase is there will the Eagles be gathered together signifying that Jerusalem and the obdurate Nation of the Jews was the Carcass which the Roman Armies whose Ensign was the Eagle would quickly find out and feed upon and that Judea in general and Jerusalem in particular would be the Theater and Stage of those Tragical Calamities Learn thence That the appointed Messengers of God's Wrath and the instruments of his Vengeance will suddenly gather together certainly find out and severely punish an impenitent People devoted to Destruction Where the Carcass is that is the Body of the Jewish Nation there will the Eagles that is the Roman Soldiers be gathered together CHAP. XVIII 1 AND he spake a Parable unto them to this end that men ought always to pray and not to faint 2 Saying There was in a City a Judge which feared not God neither regarded man 3 And there was a widow in that City and she came unto him saying Avenge me of mine Adversary 4 And he would not for a while But afterward he said within himself Tho I fear not God nor regard man 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me I will avenge her lest by her continual coming she weary me 6 And the Lord said Hear what the unjust Judge saith 7 And shall not God avenge his own Elect which cry day and night unto him tho' he bear long with them 8 I tell you he will avenge them speedily There is no Duty in Christianity the practice of which our Saviour presses upon us more frequently than this Duty of Prayer To encourage his Disciples and us in them to fervency importunity and perseverance in this Duty he propounds here the Parable of an unjust Judge who was overcome by an importunate Widow to do her Justice contrary to his own Inclinations from whence our Saviour argues that if Importunity will prevail with a sinful Man to grant Petitions offered to him how much more prevalent will such Importunity be with the infinitely good God to relieve the Necessities of such as devoutly implore his help And the force of the Argument lies thus the Judge in the Parable was an inferiour and subordinate Judge was an unrighteous and unjust Judge was a merciless and hard hearted Judge and yet upon her importunity he avenged her how much more will the Sovereign and Supreme Judge the Holy and Righteous Judge the Merciful and Compassionate Judge of all the Earth hear and help his Praying People and be the just Avenger of those that fear him From the whole Note 1. That Prayer or Liberty of making our Requests known to God is an inestimable Favour and Priviledge he that considers the Nature of GOD and the Nature of Man cannot question it God is a Being of infinite Fulness and Perfection a Self-sufficient and an
in the City of Jerusalem until ye be Endued with Power from on high 50 And he led them out as far as Bethany and he lift up his hands and Blessed them 51 And it came to pass while he Blessed them he was parted from them and carried up into Heaven 52 And they Worshipped him and Returned to Jerusalem with great joy 53 And were continually in the Temple Praising and Blessing God Amen Our Saviour being now about to leave his Disciples Comforts them with the Promise of his Holy Spirit which should supply the want of his Bodily Presence And bids them tarry at Jerusalem till they should at the Feast of Pentecost be made Partakers of this Invaluable Blessing Observe 2. Our Lord having Blessed his Disciples he takes his Leave of them and goes up into Heaven As he Raised himself out of his Grave so did he Ascend into Heaven by his own Power there to appear in the Presence of God for us and as our Fore-runner to give us an Assurance that in due time we shall Ascend after him Whither our Fore-runner is for us entered Heb. 6.20 Observe Lastly The Act of Homage and Adoration which the Apostles perform to the Lord Jesus now they Worshipped him that is as God the Eternal Son of God being so declared by the Resurrection from the Dead and by his Ascension into Heaven before their Eyes from whence he will certainly come at the End of the World to Judge both the Quick and the Dead For which Solemn Hour God Almighty prepare all Mankind by a Renewed Frame of Heart and a Religious Course of Life and then Come Lord Jesus to Judgment come quickly Amen The End of St. Luke's Gospel EXPOSITORY NOTES WITH PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS UPON The Holy Gospel ACCORDING TO S T. JOHN St. JOHN v. Ver. 39. Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they which testifie of me EXPOSITORY NOTES WITH PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS UPON The Holy Gospel ACCORDING TO S T. JOHN The Fourth and last of the Holy Gospels falls now under Consideration Namely That which was written by the Evangelist St. John concerning which we have Observable the Writer the Occasion the Design and Scope of this Sublime Book Obs 1. The Writer of it St. John the beloved Disciple that lay in the Bosom of Christ he that lay in Christ's Bosom reveals the Secrets of Christ's Heart John saith St. Austin drew out of the Bosom of Christ the very Heart of Christ and made it known to a lost World Obs 2. The Occasion of St John's writing this Gospel and that was the Heresie of Ebion and Cerinthus which denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ When God suffers Hereticks to vent their blasphemous Opinions he takes Occasion from thence to make a clearer Discovery of Divine Truth We had perhaps wanted St. John's Gospel if Ebion and Cerinthus had not broach'd their Heresie against Christ's Divinity Obs 3. The Design and Scope of this Gospel which is to describe the Person of Christ in his two Natures Divine and Humane as the Object of our Faith This he doth in a Sublime and Lofty Manner upon which Account he was compared by the Ancients to the Eagle that soars aloft and maketh her Nest on high and was also called John the Divine Obs lastly The Difference between this and the other Gospels The other Evangelists insist chiefly upon the Humanity of Christ and prove him to be truly Man the Son of the Virgin Mary This Evangelist proves him to be GOD as well as Man God from Eternity and Man in the fulness of Time The other three Writers Relate what Christ did St. John Reports what Christ said They Recount his Miracles he Records his Sermons and Prayers In short the profound Mysteries of our holy Religion are here unfolded by the beloved Disciple and particularly the Divinity and Incarnation of our Blessed Saviour CHAP. I. 1 IN the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God 2 The same was in the beginning with God Observe here 1. The Person spoken of Jesus Christ under the name of the Word In the beginning was the Word Because God speaks to us by him and makes known his Will to us by Christ as we make known our Minds to one another by our Words Again As our Words are the Conception and Image of our Minds so Christ is the express Image of his Father's Person and was begotten of the Father even as our Words are begotten of our Minds For these Reasons he is so often stiled the Word Obs 2. What the Evangelist here asserts concerning the Word Christ Jesus even three Particulars namely his Eternal Existence his Personal Coexistence and his Divine Essence 1. His Eternal Existence In the beginning was the Word in the beginning when all Things received their Being then the Word was and did actually subsist even from all Eternity Learn thence That Jesus Christ not only Antecedent to his Incarnation but even before all Time and the Beginning of all Things had an Actual Being and Subsistence 2. His Personal Coexistence with the Father The Word was with God that is eternally and inseparably with him in the same Essence and Nature being in the Father as well as with him so that the Father was never without him Prov. 8.22 I was by him as one brought up with him I was by his Sides says the Chaldee Interpreter Learn hence That the Son is a Person distinct from the Father but of the same Essence and Nature with the Father he is God of God very God of very God being of one Substance with the Father by whom all things were made The Word was with God 3. His Divine Essence The Word was God Here St. John declares the Divinity as he did before the Eternity of our Blessed Saviour He was with God and existed in him therefore he must be God and a Person distinct from the Father Learn hence That the Eternity the Personality and the Divinity of Christ are of necessity to be believed if we will worship him aright Christ tells us John 5.23 That we must worship the Son even as we worship the Father Now unless we acknowledge the Eternity and Divinity of Christ the Second Person as well as of God the Father the First Person we honour neither the Father nor the Son There is this Difference between Natural Things and Supernatural Natural Things are first understood and then believed but Supernatural Mysteries must be first believed and then will be better understood If we will first set Reason on work and believe no more than we can comprehend this will hinder Faith But if after we have assented to Gospel Mysteries we set Reason on work this will help Faith 3 All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made Observe here The Argument which St. John uses to prove Christ to be God it is taken from the Work of
and I must disappear like the morning Star Not that John's Light was diminished but by a greater Light obscured only As all the Stars disappear at the appearance of the Sun Yet observe what matter of Joy it was to John to see himself out-shined by Christ Let him increase tho' I decrease That Minister has true Light in himself that can Rejoyce when he is out-shined by others Who is content to be abased and obscured if he may but see Christ dignified and exalted in the Lives of his People whoever the Person is whom God honours as his Instrument in that Service The fourth Difference wherein Christ excels John and all his Ministers is in the Divine Original of his Person v. 31. He that cometh from above is above all says John Now Christ is from above his Original is from Heaven I am from the Earth tho' I had my Commission from Heaven and accordingly my Words and Actions are Earthly My Master therefore infinitely surpasseth and excels me in the Dignity of his Person and in the Sublimity of his Knowledge From the whole Note How much it is the Desire and Endeavour of every Gospel-Minister to magnifie Jesus Christ to display his glorious Excellencies and Perfections before their People that they may reverence his Person revere his Authority and respect his Laws This was the Care of the Holy Baptist here and it will be the Endeavour of every faithful Minister of Christ that succeeds John to the end of the World 32 And what he hath seen and heard that he testifieth and no man receiveth his testimony 33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true 34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him Observe 1. Another great Difference which John the Baptist teacheth his Disciples to put betwixt his Testimony and Christ's To the intent that he might remove the Prejudice which was upon his Disciples Mind against the Messiah he shews them that his own Testimony which they so much admired was by Revelation only Christ's by immediate Intuition John testified only what he had received but Christ what he had seen lying in the Bosom of the Father What he hath seen and heard that he testifieth Learn hence That it is Christ's the great Prophet of his Church peculiar Prerogative to have the knowledge of Divine Truths immediately from the Father by special Communication and that all others receive their Knowledge from him by gracious Illumination only Observe 2. How sadly and sorrowfully the holy Baptist resents it that Christ's Testimony was no better received and entertained by the World He testifieth but no Man receiveth his testimony John's Disciples murmured that all Men came unto Christ v. 26. but John mourns that there came no more and complains that none that is very few received his Testimony Thence learn That it ought and will be matter of great Regret and Sorrow to all the Friends of Jesus Christ but especially to his faithful Ministers and Servants that his Doctrine is so ill received and entertained in the World It greatly affects and grievously afflicts them that when they testifie of Christ no Man that is comparatively very few Men receive their Testimony Observe 3. The Eulogy and high Commendation given of all true Believers they receive Christ's Testimony and thereby set to their Seal that God is true that is hath subscribed to and ratified the Truth of God that God in all his Promises of the Messiah under the Old Testament is faithful and true Learn hence The great Honour that God puts upon the Faith of Believers As Unbelief defames God and makes him a Lyer so Faith gives Testimony to the Truth of God and setteth its Seal that God is true He that receiveth his Testimony hath set to his Seal that God is true Observe 4. The Illustrious Character which the Holy Baptist gives of Christ his Master he is the Person whom God hath sent and unto whom God giveth not his Spirit by measure He whom God has sent that is immediately and extraordinarily from Heaven not as the Prophets and Apostles were sent but in a way peculiar to himself Having Authority for speaking not only from God but as being God himself And accordingly it is added that God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him that is the Gifts and Graces of the Holy Spirit were poured forth upon Christ in a Measure far above and beyond all finite Creatures There being a double difference betwixt Christ's fulness of the Spirit and all other Persons whatsoever 1. In the Measure of it God did not give out the Spirit to Christ sparingly and with limitation as he did to the former Prophets and John the Baptist in proportion to what their Offices required but he was anointed more plentifully and abundantly with the Holy Spirit above and beyond his Fellows 2. In the manner of its working The holy Prophets that were filled with the Spirit according to their Measures yet could not do or declare all Things nor act upon all Occasions but sometimes the Spirit restrained them and sometimes departed from them But Christ had no limits put upon the Vigour of his Spirit but his own Will therefore could work what and when he pleased Learn from hence That Christ had an abundant fitness from God for the discharge of his Office and an abundant fulness for his People God did not measure to him a certain Quantity and Proportion of the Gifts and Graces of his Spirit but pour'd it forth upon him without Measure 35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand The Father loveth the Son from Eternity as he was his Son by eternal Generation and he loved him as Mediator by special Constitution he loves him as the Brightness of his own Glory and the express Image of his Person with an Essential Natural and Necessary Love And he loves him as Mediator for undertaking our Cause and interposing for our Peace Learn hence That God the Father had a special Love and Affection to Christ not only in regard of his Eternal Sonship but with respect to his Office of Mediatorship The Father loveth the Son It follows he hath given all things into his hand that is intrusted him with all things necessary to our Salvation Lord what a Privilege is this that our Happiness is in Christ's Hand not in our own without his Oh wonderful Goodness to put our Concerns into the sure Hands of his Son which were lost by the weak Hands of Adam 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Learn 1. That tho' all Power be given to Christ to dispense Grace here and Glory hereafter yet none must expect to enjoy it but upon Condition of believing in him and obeying of him For the Original Word
Devil the King of Saints in Heaven as well as the whole Host of Saints on Earth hath been frequently smitten and deeply wounded with reproach Christ was reproached for our sake and when we are reproached for his sake he takes our reproach as his own Moses his reproach was the reproach of Christ Heb. 11.26 And he esteemed it a Treasure which did more inrich him with its worth than press him with its weight Esteeming the Reproach of Christ greater Riches than the Treasures of Egypt Observe 3. The wonderful meekness of Christ in passing over this Reproach and Calumny without one word of Reply Guilt is commonly clamorous and impatient but Innocence is silent and regardless of misreports Our Saviour is not at the pains of a word to vindicate himself from their impotent censure but goes on with his Discourse and justifies his own Action in healing a Man on the Sabbath-day from the Jews own practice in circumcising their Children on that day if it hapned to be the Eighth day And the Argument runs thus If Circumcision may be Administred to a Child on the Sabbath-day which is a servile kind of Work and Bodily Exercise without blame or censure why must I fall under Censure for healing a Man on the Sabbath-day thoroughly and perfectly only by a word speaking Hence Learn That the Law of doing good and Relieving the miserable at all Times is a more ancient and excellent Law than either that of the Sabbath Rest or of Circumcision upon the Eighth day A Ritual Law must and ought to give place to the Lâ—w of Nature which is written in every Man's heart As if our Lord had said If you may wound a Man by Circumcision on the Sabbath-day may not I heal One if you may heal on that Day one Member of the circumcised may not I make a Man whole every whit if you be at pains to cure such a one with your hand may not I without pains cure a Man with the word of my Mouth 24 Judge not according to the appearance but judge righteous judgment From the foregoing Argument Christ draws an Inference or Conclusion that there is no making a judgment according to the first Appearance of Things and that Suddenness or Rashness Prejudice or Partiality in judging overthrows Righteous Judgment This is the general Application of what Christ had said before and the particular Application of it as to himself comes to this Judge not according to Appearance but judge Righteous Judgment As if Christ had said Lay aside your prejudices against my Person and compare these cases attentively and impartially with one another and then see whether you can justly condemn me as a Sabbath Breaker and acquit your selves Such was the perfect Innocency of our Saviour's Actions that he could and did submit them to the Reason and Judgment of his very Enemies 25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem is not this he whom they seek to kill 26 But lo he speaketh boldly and they say nothing unto him do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ 27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is but when Christ cometh no man knoweth whence he is 28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught saying Ye both know me and ye know whence I am and I am not come of my self but he that sent me is true whom ye know not 29 But I know him for I am from him and he hath sent me 30 Then they sought to take him but no man laid hands on him because his hour was not yet come 31 And many of the people believed on him and said when Christ cometh will he do mo miracles then these which this man hath done Our Blessed Saviour having vindicated both his Doctrine and Practice and appeared publickly in the Temple and speaking boldly there the People of Jerusalem knowing the hatred and enmity of the Chief Priests and Rulers against him do wonder that they did not apprehend him Learn Almighty God doth and can preserve his own in the faithful discharge of their Duty in such an admirable manner that even their Enemies themselves may wonder at it and be Astonisht with it Observe 2ly The Argument which the Jews urged against our Saviour's being Christ and the promised Messias Namely That they knew whence he was whereas when the Messias cometh no man will know whence he is now herein they Assert a manifest untruth for tho' Christ in respect of his Godhead was prefigured by Melchisedeck who was without Father or Mother without descent that is without any that the Scripture mentions yet in respect of his humane Nature the Jews might know whence he was for the Scripture plainly pointed out the Tribe the Family the Lineage and the place of his Birth Observe 3. That Christ being grieved at this impudent Cavil doth reply unto it with much boldness and Zeal he cried saying ye both know me and know whence I am but the Father that sent me ye know not That is you know me as Man where I was Born and of what Family I am but you know not my Divine Nature nor the Father from whom I am by Eternal Generation and who hath sent me into the World Observe 4. What causeless Rage appeared in these Men against Christ for declaring the Truth unto them they would have taken him by Violence had not the Power and Providence of God restrained them for the present because his time to Suffer was not yet come Hence Learn That Violence and Persecution against the Faithful Dispensers of the Truths of God have been the Lot and Portion of such in all Ages and Generations Christ experienced it let his Ministers expect it Observe 5. That altho' the Rulers at Jerusalem were Angry and enraged yet the meaner and inferiour sort of People Believed on him being convinced by the wonderful Miracles which he had wrought amongst them that he was the True and promised Messias For say they when ever the Messias come he cannot do greater and more Evident Miracles then this Man hath hath done Learn hence That altho' the Grace of God be not ensured to or entailed upon any sort of People yet ordinarily it is the meaner sort of People with whom it prevails most Many of the common People at Jerusalem were Believing when the Rulers there were Persecuting Men that live in Pleasure and at Ease see no need of dependance upon God have little inclination or desire to farther the Gospel and to encourage either the Dispensers or Professors of it nay it is well if they do not turn Persecutors ¶ 32 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him 33 Then said Jesus unto them Yet a little while am I with you and then I go unto him that sent me 34 Ye shall seek me and shall not find me and where I am thither ye cannot come 35 Then said the Jews
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
23d Verse there seems to be a contradiction in the words Christ tells them in the former part of the Verse That they shall ask him nothing in that Day and yet promises that whatever they ask shall be given them in the latter part of the Verse To resolve this know that there is a twofold asking one by way of Question the other by way of Petition The former is asking that we may know or be informed in what we doubt the latter is asking that we may receive and be supplied with what we want now when Christ saith In that day ye shall ask me nothing it is as much as if he had said at present you understand but little of the Mysteries of Religion and therefore ye put Questions about many things But in that Day when the Comforter comes ye shall be so clearly inlightned by him that ye shall not need to ask me any more Questions But when Christ saith Whatever ye ask the Father in my name he will give it The meaning is In that day when I have left the World and ascended to my Father you shall not need to address your Prayers to me but to my Father in my name But what is it to pray in the name of Christ Answer It is more than to name Christ in Prayer it is easie to name Christ in Prayer but no easie thing to pray in the name of Christ To pray in the name of Christ is 1. To look up to Christ as having purchased for us this Priviledge that we may pray for it is by the Blood of Christ that we draw near to God and that a Throne of Grace is open for us 2. To pray in the name of Christ is to pray in the strength of Christ by the assistance of his Grace and the help of his Holy Spirit 3. To pray in the name of Christ is to pray by Faith in the Virtue of Christ's Mediation and Intercession believing that what we ask on Earth he interceeds for and obtains in Heaven To pray thus is no easie matter and unless we do pray thus we do not pray at all 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name That is explicitely and expresly in my name for the Saints of God under the Old Testament and the Apostles themselves under the New had hitherto put up all their Petitions in the name of the Messiah tho' not in the name of Jesus But now he exhorts them to Eye his Mediatory Office in all their Addresses to God and promises them that whatsoever he had purchased of the Father by his Sufferings and Satisfaction they should obtain it for the sake of his prevailing Intercession Learn hence That it is a mighty encouragement to Prayer that now under the Gospel the person of the Mediatour is exhibited in our Flesh has satisfied Divine Justice in in our Nature and in that Nature interceeds as a Mediatour for whatever he purchased as our Surety Hence is the encouragement Whatever ye ask the Father in my name he will give it you 25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs the time cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs but I shall shew you plainly of the Father Here our Saviour tells his Disciples That although he had spoken many things to them in dark Parables and figurative Expressions yet now the time was approaching Namely The Comforter's coming when he would by the Holy Ghost clearly inlighten their Understandings in the Knowledg of Divine Mysteries and the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God and particularly in the Knowledge of God as his Father and their Father in him Hence learn 1. That the clearest Truths will be but Parables Proverbs and dark Mysteries even to Disciples themselves till the Holy Spirit inlightens their Understandings 2. That the clear and full manifestation of Divine Truth was reserved till the coming of the Comforter who did communicate it to the Apostles and by them to the Church or Body of Christians I by him will shew you plainly of the Father 26 At that day ye shall ask in my name and I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you 27 For the Father himself loveth you because ye have loved me and have believed that I came out from God At that day shall ye ask in my name that is after I am Ascended into Heaven and have sent down the Holy Ghost upon you ye shall put up all your Prayers and requests to God in my name And I say not that I will pray the Father for you for the Father himself loveth you That is I need not tell you tho' I shall certainly do it that I will interceed with the Father for you for he of himself is kindly disposed and affected towards you for my sake When Christ says I do not say that I will pray the Father for you the meaning is not that he will lay aside his Office as Intercessour for Believers but that they had not only his Intercession but the Father's Love upon which to ground their hope of Audience Learn hence 1. That the Christians Prayers put up in Christ's name cannot fail of Audience and Acceptance for the sake of the Mediatour's Intercession and the Father's Love 2. That in our Prayers we ought so to eye and look up to Christ's Intercession as not to over-look or forget the Father's Love but ground our hopes of Audience upon both I say not that I will pray the Father for you tho' I shall assuredly do it for the Father himself loveth you because ye have loved me 28 I came forth from the Father and am come into the world again I leave the world and go to the Father 29 His disciples said unto him Lo now speakest thou plainly and speakest no proverb 30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things and needest not that any man should ask thee by this we believe that thou camest forth from God Here Observe 1. A proof of our Saviour's God-head He came forth from the Father into the World he came out from the Father in his Incarnation and came into the World to accomplish the work of our Redemption Learn thence That Jesus Christ is true God equal with the Father for he was not only sent by him but came forth from him I came out from the Father Observe 2. That it pleased Christ out of Love to his People to leave the Father and come into the World not by being separated from the Deity but by obscuring the Deity with the vail of our Flesh in order to the finishing the great and glorious work of Redemption for us I came forth from the Father and am come into the World Observe 3. That Christ having finished his Suffering work here on Earth Ascended into Heaven and sent down the Holy Spirit to apply unto his Church the Redemption purchased by his Blood Again I leave the World and go to the Father Observe lastly How the Apostles
Our Saviour's Prayer to his Father for his Apostles before he left the World Holy Father keep them that is preserve them by thy Divine Power and Goodness for the Glory of thy Holy Name Here Note 1. The Title and Appellation given to God Holy Father Thence Learn That when we go to God in Prayer especially for Grace and Sanctification we must look upon him as an Holy Father as essentially and originally Holy as infinitely and independently Holy Note 2. The Supplication requested of God Keep through thy name those whom thou hast given me Thence Learn That the Perseverance of the Saints in a state of Grace is the sweet Effect and Fruit of Christ's Prayer Christ has begged it and it cannot be denied there being such an Harmony and sweet Consent betwixt the Will of the Father and the Will of the Son Three things concur to the Believer's Perseverance On the Father's Part there is everlasting Love and all-sufficient Power On the Son's Part there is everlasting Merit and constant Intercession On the Spirit 's Part there is a perpetual Inhabitation and continued Influence Observe 3. The End of Christ's Supplication on behalf of his People that they may be one as we are one Here Note 1. That the Heart of Christ is exceedingly set upon the Unity and Oneness of his Members 2. That the Believers Union with Christ their Head and one with another has some resemblance to that Unity that is betwixt the Father and the Son For 't is an holy and spiritual Union a close and intimate Union an indissoluble and inseparable Union 12 While I was with them in the world I kept them in thy name those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost but the son of perdition that the scripture might be fulfilled Observe here 1. That those which shall be saved are given unto Christ and committed to his Care and Trust 2. That none of those that are given unto Christ as his Charge and committed to his Care and Trust shall be finally lost Those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost It follows but the Son of Perdition A Person may be said to be a Son of Perdition two ways Actively and Passively Actively he is so who makes it his Work and Business to destroy others Passively he is a Son of Perdition who for his Wickedness in destroying others is destroyed himself Judas was a Son of Perdition in both these Senses his Heart was maliciously set upon destroying Christ and wilfully set upon his own destruction His Covetousness and Hypocrisie prompted him to betray our Saviour his Despair provoked him to destroy himself 13 And now come I to thee and these things I speak in the world that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves In these Words our Saviour declares the great Reason why he did at this time so publickly and solemnly pray for his Disciples it was to fill them with Joy and Comfort that their Joy might not be diminished by Christ's departure but rather encreased by the coming of the Comforter That they may have my Joy fulfilled in them that is the Joy which they take in me and the Joy which they have from me There is a double Care which Christ takes of his People namely a Care of their Graces and a Care of their Joy and Comfort How solicitous was he to leave his Disciples joyful before he departed from them He delights to see his People chearful and he knows of what great Use spiritual Joy is in the Christian's Course both to enable us for Doing and to fit us for Suffering Learn hence 1. That Christ is the Author and Original of the Joy of his People My Joy 2. That it is Christ's Will and Desire that his People should be full of holy Joy That my Joy may be fulfilled in them 3. That the great End of Christ's Prayer and Intercession was and is that his Peoples Hearts might be full of Joy These things I speak in the World that they might have my Joy fulfilled in themselves 14 I have given them thy word and the world hath hated them because they are not of the world even as I am not of the world I have given them thy Word partly by external Revelation and partly by internal Illumination and for thy Word sake the World hates them as also because they are not of the World Learn 1. That Christians especially Ministers to whom Christ has given his Word must expect the World's hatred Few of the Prophets or Apostles died a natural death As their Calling is Eminent so must their Sufferings be Exemplary The best Ministers and the best Men are usually most hated There is an Antipathy against the Power of Godliness or a cruel causeless implacable and irreconcilable hatred against the Saints because of their strictness in Religion and contrariety to the World 2. That it is the Honour of Believers that they are like unto Christ in being the Objects of the World's hatred The World hates them because they are not of the World as I am not of the World This Christ adds both for Information and Consolation for Information that they should look for such Hatred Misery and Trouble as they saw him grapple with and for Consolation to think that the World can never hate us so bad as it hated Christ 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil 16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world Here Observe 1. That the Wisdom of Christ sees it fit to continue his Children and People in the World notwithstanding all the Perils and Dangers of the World He has Work for them and they are of Use to him for a time in the World and till their Work be done Christ's Love will not and the World's Malice cannot remove them hence Yet Christ prays that his Father would keep them from the Evil that is from the Sins Temptations and Snares of this wicked World Thence Note That a spiritual Victory over Evil is to be preferred before a total exemption from Evil it is a far greater Mercy to be kept from sin in our Afflictions than from the Afflictions themselves 17 Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth Sanctifie them not initially for so they were sanctified already but progressively let them increase more and more in Grace and Holiness Learn hence 1. That such as are already sanctified must labour and ought to endeavour after further Measures and higher Degrees of Sanctification The most Holy may yet be more Holy 2. That the Word of God is the great Instrument in God's Hand for his Peoples Sanctification 3. That the Word of God is the Truth of God Sanctifie them through thy truth thy word is truth The Word of God is a Divine Truth an Eternal Truth an Infallible Truth an Holy Truth 18 As thou hast
but when thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy hands and another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldest not 19 This spake he signifying by what death he should glorifie God And when he had spoken this he saith unto him Follow me In these words our Saviour forewarns Peter of his future Sufferings intimating that he should prove more stout than in his former Trial when he was young and unexperienced he enjoyed his Liberty but when he was grown older in Years and stronger in Grace he should willingly stretch forth his Hands and quietly suffer himself to be bound to the Cross for Peter say some was not nailed but tied and bound to the Cross only and so as a Martyr or Witness for the Truth of Christ glorified God by his Death Learn hence 1. The Ministers of Jesus Christ when they undertake the charge of his Flock must prepare for suffering work and lot upon it Therefore is this Prediction of Peter's sufferings joined with the former injunction feed my Sheep 2. That Humane Nature in Christ's Ministers as well as in other Men reluctates Sufferings has an antipathy against a violent Death They shall carry thee whither thou wouldest not 3. From the time of Peter's sufferings when he is old Learn That the timing of the Saints Sufferings is in Christ's Hands he can and when he pleaseth doth screen them from suffering till old Age when their work is almost done for God they close their Days with suffering for him When thou art old thou shalt stretch forth thine Hands and another shall gird thee Learn lastly That the sufferings of the Saints in general and of the Ministers of Christ in particular do redound much to the Glory of God which is a consideration that ought to reconcile them to the Cross of Christ and support them under it This spake he signifying by what Death he should glorifie God 20 Then Peter turning about seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following which also leaned on his breast at supper and said Lord which is he that betrayeth thee 21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus Lord and what shall this man do 22 Jesus saith unto him If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee Follow thou me Our Saviour having foretold the manner of Peter's Death in the foregoing Verses here in these Peter is inquisitive after and very solicitous for the Knowledge of what kind of Death St. John should die Christ cheeks him for his Curiosity as meddling with that which did not concern him yet intimates to him That John should live till he came to take Vengeance on the Jews and destroy Jerusalem If I will that he tarry till I come that is till I come to execute Judgment upon Jerusalem Here we may Note There are two great Vanities in Men with reference to Knowledge the one a Neglect to know what is our Duty to know the other a Curiosity to know what doth not belong to us to know Christ tells Peter it was none of his Business to inquire what John should do But he ought rather to be preparing for what he himself should suffer If I will that he tarry what is that to thee 23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren that that disciple should not die yet Jesus said not unto him He shall not die but If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee Here Observe How strangely our Saviour's Words were mistaken and misunderstood by his own Disciples They apprehend presently that John should not die And so it passed current among them From hence we may Note How much the Wisdom of God is and ought to be admired in giving us a written Word and tying us to it when we see erroneous Traditions so soon on foot in the World and our Saviour's own Speeches so much mistaken and that by wise and holy Men themselves in the purest Times Much more may the Words of others be misreported and wrested contrary to their sense and meaning How great then is the Vanity and Uncertainty of Oral Tradition Men are naturally prone to mistake to mistake themselves and to mistake one another The more to be admired is their over-daring Ignorance who think they cannot err Such an haughty Opinion of a Man's self concludes him to be neither good nor wise 24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things and wrote these things and we know that his testimony is true The great Modesty of the holy Evangelist St. John is all along throughout his Gospel very observable he mentioneth himself hitherto under a third Person he calleth himself a Disciple a Learner who excelled the most accomplish'd Doctors of the Ages ever since Here he speaks more plainly and expresly concerning himself declaring that he was an Eye-witness and an Ear-witness of what he wrote for the greater certainty thereof And this Protestation here made by the Evangelist of the Truth of what he wrote was highly necessary lest any should think that Christ's extraordinary Love and Affection to him he being the beloved Disciple should move him to exceed as we are prone to do in writing the History of their Lives who are dear to us and we to them Learn hence That this Gospel was written by John the beloved Disciple and the Narration is of Divine Truth worthy to be embraced and received by us as a perfect Rule of Faith and Life We know that his Testimony is true 25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose that even the world it self could not contain the books that should be written Amen John being about to conclude the History of our Saviour's Life asserts that there were many other Miracles and special Deeds done by Christ both before and after his Passions which he had not recorded or set down because should all that Christ did and said be committed to Writing it would even fill the World the Volumes would be so many From hence we gather 1. The wonderful Activity Industry and Diligence of the Lord Jesus Christ that he was never Idle but that his whole Life was spent in doing Good because should all the particular Instances have been recorded it would amount to an incredible Bulk Learn 2. That it is impossible to get all said which might be said of Christ and in his Commendation such is the transcendent Excellency of his Person and the Weakness of our Apprehensions and Judgments that if all were written which might be written concerning him the World it self could not contain the Books which should be written Learn lastly That although many of Christ's Sermons Conferences Miracles and Actions be not Recorded yet it doth not follow nor can it be inferr'd from thence That any necessary Doctrine is omitted or not sufficiently confirmed There being so much written as it pleased God we should know and was necessary for us to know in