reference to that ultimate End For as St. Austin saith Aug. de cat rud c. 22. Jesus Christ our Lord who is the Son of God and was made Man hath contemned the good things of this World to Teach us to contemn them suffered many Sorrows to give us Courage to endure them was Poor that we might not glory in Riches would not be made a King to teach us to be Humble suffered Hunger and Thirst to teach us Contentment In fine Dyed and Rose again that we might learn to contemn Death in hopes of a Glorious Resurrection Thus hath the Son of God given us an Example of managing our Words Actions and Sufferings and in so doing we shall be saved V. Some directions how we may read the Life of Jesus Christ with advantage The Life of Christ being intended as we have already shewed as the Universal Remedy of all the Distempers of Mans Soul deserves our daily reading and serious Meditation upon it All Arguments to perswade Men to it come far short of this very consideration That 't is the Life not of a Man but of a God so that it is in vain to propound any other All that I shall add shall be only some directions to the Reader in perusing it which may help him to make it as Beneficial as it is design'd and ought to be to us 1. One of the most Important is that we should always keep it in our minds whose Life it is we are Reading of that we may not be offended at his Infirmities and Sufferings by looking upon them as Involuntary Jesus Christ is God and by consequent Almighty and therefore nothing could befal him against his Will nor could he suffer any thing but what he would and so long as he pleased When we see him dying upon the Cross let us remember what he hath said That he lay'd down his Life of himself John 10.18 Luke 4.30 John 18.6 and no Man was able to take it from him When he falls into the hands of his Enemies let us consider that before this he had often withdrew himself Miraculously from the Fury of his Enemies and before he suffered himself to be taken he threw them down on the Earth at his Word alone If at any time the Evangelists who have undertaken to describe exactly what Jesus did as a Man here upon Earth do sometimes represent him to us under such Troubles and Passions as happen to Men involuntarily let them know that the Evangelist who hath written on purpose to prove his Divinity teaches us That all these Motions were voluntary in him and that he troubled himself But let no Man say That these Troubles and Infirmities though voluntary were unbecoming God but on the contrary let us honour him the more for them since he made choice of them who is the Wisdom and Power of the Father Let us consider the Design why he underwent our Weaknesses and Miseries and be so far from being ashamed of his Humiliation that we should admire the wonderful propriety and fitness to bring about the End Proposed which is the Salvation of Man The Mockings which the Gentiles treated him withal were a necessary Remedy to cure our Pride and our Physician was willing to take this Medicine himself that he might make it more pleasant and tolerable to the Sick whom he intended to save He sometimes acted as God and sometimes as Man but managed all his Actions both Human and Divine for our Benefit If he manifests his Glory by Miracles it is to make us believe on him and to perswade us that when he suffers 't is not out of Necessity but Love to us And if he conceal the Glory of his Divinity under the Vail of our Infirmities 't is that he may gain our Love and Service as a Guide to us teaching us by his Example what we should do and suffer If he opposes his Enemies till they are ready to stone him but yet cannot 't is that when they shall put him to Death we may be thankful for the Death which he suffered to redeem us He submitted to Death in Obedience to the Command of his Father to teach us a patient Submission to all Afflictions God shall please to lay upon us He was seized with Fear and Sorrow at the Approaches of Death which yet he endured voluntarily and had long desired and which he knew was the Cup given him to drink by his Father not that we should think that he drank it unwillingly but to comfort and instruct those that are obliged to dye either through Force or by Necessity of Nature Thus like a good Physician he subjected himself to all our Weaknesses that he might make us couragious and strong to take the wholsome but bitter Potion which he offered to us Who could have been perswaded of the necessity of suffering and bearing the Cross if Jesus Christ had not suffered and been crucified for us Who would think himself able to endure Crosses when Nature makes so strong an Opposition if Jesus Christ had not Suffered it himself Who of us would not tremble at the Efforts which we must sustain in encountring the horrible Terrors of Death had not our Spiritual Physician swet Blood and Water in the same Combat These voluntary Sufferings of Jesus Christ are our Consolation under our involuntary Afflictions teaching us that they are no sins since the Son of God was contented to endure them and shewing us the Way how to engage God's Love to us by them saying to God as his Son did Not mine Luke 22.42 but thy Will be done Thus the Infirmities of our Saviour though they seem unbecoming a God yet are evident Demonstrations of the Infinite Mercy by which he desired to save us His Humiliations are all our Honour since he was humbled for us only Let us adore his Condescension and judge with ourselves that all our Love is due to that God who abased himself suffered and dyed for our Salvation 2. Another Direction how we should read the Life of our Saviour with Advantage is to read it with a Design of conforming our selves to it All the Holiness of Men consisteth in the Imitation of Jesus Christ Rom. 8.2 for according to S. Paul's Words God hath predestinated us to be conformed to the Image of his Son 1 Cor. 15.49 And the same Apostle teaches us elswhere as we have born the Image of the Old Man by following the irregular Desires of our Flesh we must bear the Image of the New Man which is Christ Jesus by regulating our Lives by his Wherefore we ought not to be lead by mere Curiosity to the Reading of this History nor to know his Actions only but to learn by what he hath done what we ought to do He said to the Jews long since Joh. 5.35 who had heard John's Sermons with Pleasure John was a Burning and Shining Light and ye were willing for a Season to rejoyce in his Light But it is
Lamb that was eaten and to the Solemnity which began with the Sacrifice of that Lamb Whence it comes to pass that we often meet with such Expressions as these in the Gospel to Eat Sacrifice and Keep the Passover As the Bondage of Aegypt from which God delivered the Jews was a Figure of Man's Slavery to Sin from which he was about to free Men so the Lamb whose Blood saved the Israelites is a Figure of Jesus Christ who is called The True Passover because 't is by his Blood that we are truly redeemed And for this Reason it is that he would dye at the Passover to fulfil by his Sacrifice the great Mysteries which were represented by all the Jewish Ceremonies XXII Jesus sups with his Disciples This great Feast of the Passover being near Matth. 26 17-20 the Disciples asked their Master Where he would eat the Passover Jesus immediately sent Peter and John to Jerusalem and tells them That as soon as they are entred into the City they should find a Man bearing a Pitcher of Water let them follow him and where-ever he enters let them tell the Master of the House That he intends to keep the Passover at his House with his Disciples and he will shew you saith he a large upper Room furnished and prepared there prepare all Things necessary for us Peter and John did as they were commanded and in the Evening he came thither with his Twelves Apostles where at the Hour appointed they sat down to eat the Paschal Lamb. He saith then to his Disciples With much earnestness have I desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer for I say unto you That I will not eat any more thereof till it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God i. e. in Heaven where not only the Passover but also all the other Mysteries shall have a full accomplishment Then he taketh a Cup and giving Thanks said to them Take this and divide it among you for I say unto you That I will not drink any more of the Fruit of the Vine until the Kingdom of God shall come XXIII Jesus washes his Disciples Feet John 13 1-15 From this Time Jesus had his Death continually in his Thoughts which seems to have been appointed at this Feast of the Passover which signifies a Passage to put him in Mind that his Hour was come wherein he was to pass out of this World to his Father He knew that the Devil had put into the Heart of Judas Iscariot a Design to betray him but before he was delivered into the Hands of his Enemies he was desirous to give his Disciples whom he had always loved and would love unto the end a signal Testimony of his Love wherefore he riseth from the Table layeth aside his Garments takes a Towel pours Water into a Bason and knowing that his Father had given all Things into his Hands and that he was come from God and went to God he goes about to wash his Apostles Feet and to wipe them with the Towel he had about him Peter could not endure this great Debasement of his Master and says unto him in a Surprize Why wilt thou wash my Feet Lord And although Jesus answered him Thou knowest not now what I do but thou shalt know afterward yet he still asserted Thou shalt never wash my Feet But because his Master told him That if he washed him not he should have no part in him he chose rather to see him do so mean an Office than be separated from him and therefore replyed Lord not only my Feet but my Hands and my Feet Jesus said unto him He that hath been washed already hath no need to wash any part of him but his Feet and ye are clean but not all Under which Exception he marked out Judas who being his Disciple should betray him This Answer makes it credible that Jesus did wash his Apostles Feet not only to give them a signal Example of his Humility but to shew us that although we are purified by Baptism yet in this Life we have continual need to cleanse our Affections which are daily engaged in Human Affairs in the same manner as our Feet how clean soever the rest of our Body is do continually gather Soil and Filth and therefore only need washing After he had washed his Apostles Feet he took his Garments and sitting down at the Table he saith unto them Know ye what I have done unto you ye call me Lord and Master and 't is reasonable you should for so I am if I then your Lord and Master have washed your Feet ye also ought to wash one anothers Feet For I have given you an Example that ye may consider upon it and do as I have done unto you XXIV Jesus appoints the Eucharist and foretells Judas's Treachery After this they again returned to their Supper Matth. 26 26-29 Mark 14 22-25 Luke 22 19-29 1 Cor. 11 23-25 which being almost ended Jesus who having washed their Feet had as it were prepared them for the Sacrament which he intended to institute at the same Time wherefore he took Bread blessed it by giving of Thanks brake it and gave it to them saying Take eat this is my Body which is given for you do this in remembrance of me Likewise he took the Cup gave Thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of this for this is my Blood the Blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the Remission of Sins Joyn this also with the Bread in remembrance of me Matth. 26 20-25 Mar. 14 18-21 Luke 22 21-23 John 13 21-32 Jesus then suffered himself to fall into a Trouble and Discomposure of Mind either at the Prospect of the Death which he was shortly to undergo or at the Thoughts of the monstrous perfideousness of Judas and said unto the Apostles Verily verily I say unto you that one of you who sitteth at Table and eateth with me shall betray me These Words not only astonished them but grieved them all and every one began to say Is it I Lord He answered them One of you Twelve that dippeth with me in the Dish shall betray me Instead the Son of Man goeth to suffer Death according as it is appointed concerning him in Holy Scripture but wo unto that Man by whom he is betrayed it were better for that Man that he had never been born They knew not who it was of whom he spake and therefore questioned among themselves who it was Peter seeing John who was the beloved Disciple leaning upon Jesus's Breast beckened to him to ask Jesus who it was of whom he spake Jesus then answered him He it is to whom I shall give a Sop when I have dipped it Judas then boldly asked his Master Is it I Jesus said Yes And having dipped the Sop gave it to him When Judas had received the Sop the Devil entred into him to embolden him in the execution of that wicked Design which he
whence he shewed him in a moment all the Kingdoms of the World with all the Splendor and Pomp that attends them and promised him all those things if he would fall down before him and Worship him for they are given to me saith he falsly and I give them to whom I please Deut. 6.13 Then Jesus answered him Get the hence Satan for it is written Thou shalt Worship the Lord thy God and serve none but him only The Devil having thus finished all the temptation without success departed for a time and the Angels came to Jesus Christ and readily tendred themselves to minister unto him XVI St. John's Testimony concerning Jesus Christ After these things Jesus being come out of the Wilderness went to Bethabara Jo. 1 15.-18 the place where John was Preaching and Baptizing This faithful Fore-runner when he saw him could not but bare witness of him before all that heard him and therefore cryed out with a loud voice This is He of whom I spake He that cometh after me is preferred before me for he was before me he adds We have received of his Fulness a sufficiency of all Graces for the Law was given by Moses but Jesus Christ hath brought Grace and Truth to the World and that the only begotten who is in the Bosom of the Father is come to discover God to us whom no man hath ever seen Notwithstanding John spake thus honourably Jo. 1 19.-28 and plainly of the Messias the Jews took him for the Person he spake of and therefore sent certain Priests and Levites who were Pharisees and consequently much admired by the people to enquire of him Who he was And he freely confessed and denied not but owned that he was not the Christ for so the Gospel delivers the Confession of St. John and the Testimony which he gave of Jesus to these Messengers Then they asked whether he were Elias or some other Prophet And when he had answered them that he was not They said to him Who art thou then that we may give an answer to them that sent us What sayest thou of thy self I am saith he the Voice of one Crying in the Wilderness Make strait the ways of the Lord. They urged Why then Baptizest thou if thou art not the Messias nor a Prophet He replyed It is true I Baptize with Water but there is one among you whom ye know not He it is who coming after me is preferred before me whose Shoo-strings I am not worthy to unloose The next day John seeth Jesus Christ coming unto him Jo. 1 29.-34 and being unwilling to lose so good an opportunity of discovering him he saith to them that were with him Behold the Lamb of God This is He that bears and takes away the Sins of the World He adds That this was He of whom he had spoken so much already and he assures them that he saw the spirit descending and remaining upon him in the shape of a Dove and that he had been taught by Revelation that this was He that should Baptize with the Holy Ghost XVII Jesus Christ calling Disciples Jo. 1 35.-42 The next day Jesus passed again through the same place two hours before Sun-set and St. John who was there with two of his Disciples said as soon as he saw him Behold the Lamb of God The two Disciples hearing these words followed Jesus who turning himself about demanded of them Whom seek ye They answered Master where dwellest thou he saith unto them Come and see They went with him and abode with him that day One of these two Disciples named Andrew had a Brother called Simon to whom he said We have found the Messias and he brought him to Jesus who having considered him said unto him Thou art Simon the Son of Jonas thou shalt be called Peter The day following the Son of God going into Galilee Jo. 1 43.-51 found one named Philip who was of Bethsaida of which place both Andrew and Peter were and he saith unto him follow me Philip meeteth Nathanael and tells him that they had found the Messias promised by the Law and foretold by the Prophets and that Jesus of Nazareth was he Nathanael answered Can any good thing come out of Nazareth And he followed Philip who brought him to Jesus As soon as Jesus saw him Behold an Israelite indeed without guile or deceit Nathanael astonished at his words asked him Whence knowest thou me Jesus answered Before that Philip called thee when thou wast under the fig-tree I saw thee Nathanael saith Master Thou art the Son of God thou art the King of Israel Jesus answered him Dost thou believe because I said unto thee that I saw thee under the fig-tree thou shalt see greater things Verily verily I say unto thee Hereafter thou shalt see Heaven opened and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man to attend his triumphant Ascension into the Glories of his Father XVIII The first Miracle that Jesus did The third day after his departure from the River Jordan Jesus was at a Marriage in Cana of Galilee Jo. 2 1.-11 to which the Holy Virgin was also invited and his Disciples At this solemnity there being a great want of Wine the Holy Virgin pitying the unseasonable scarcity said to her Son They have no Wine But Jesus being desirous to teach us that in those Actions wherein the Service and Honour of God is concerned we ought to have no respect to Man but even our Parents themselves are to be look'd upon as Strangers saith unto his Mother What is that to you or me mine hour is not yet come The Holy Virgin was not at all disturbed or discouraged at this answer but bid them that waited to do whatsoever he commanded them Now there were six great Water-potts of Stone which were used in the Purifications which were common among the Jews The Son of God orders them to fill them with Water and when they were full he saith unto the Servants Draw out now and carry it to the Governour of the Feast Having tasted of it and perceiving it to be excellent Wine but not knowing whence it was tells the Bridegroom that he had done contrary to the Custom because he had kept the best Wine till the end of the Banquet This change of Water into VVine was the first Miracle that Jesus did and it was of great use to manifest his Glory and confirm his Disciples in their Faith in him XIX Jesus drives the Merchants out of the Temple Jo. 2.12 -25. From Cana he went with his Mother Kindred and Disciples to Caparnaum a City of the same Province of Galilee where he stayed but a little while because the Feast of the Passover being near he went up to Jerusalem Being there he found in the Temple certain Merchants who sold Oxen and Sheep and Doves and the Changers of the Mony sitting at their Tables And he immediately made a VVhip with Cords and drave them all
would accept such a piece of Service from her who was a Samaritan for the Jews abhor the Samaritans and will have no commerce with them because they being Strangers had possessed themselves of part of their Country and had changed the Laws of Moses by several Pagan Superstitions which they mixed with it This her surprize she discovered to Jesus who said unto her If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that desires drink of thee thou wouldest have asked of him thy self and he would have given thee Living Water The VVoman understood these words in the literal sense Jo. 4 12.-18 and not knowing but he would draw the Living VVater either out of that or some other VVell She replyed Master thou hast nothing to draw with and the Well is deep how then wilt thou get this Living Water Art thou greater than our Father Jacob who gave us this Well and drank of it himself and all his Family Jesus answered He that drinks of this Water shall thirst again but he that shall drink of the Water that I will give him shall never thirst but it shall become a Well in him springing up unto eternal Life which he meant either of that Grace which quenches all humane desires of Earthly and Carnal Enjoyments or else of his Celestial glory which shall perfectly satisfie all our Appetites But the Samaritan VVoman understood it of Corporeal VVater which made her to say to Jesus Christ with great earnestness Lord give me this Water that being a-thirst no more I may not be forced to come hither to draw Jesus said to her Go call thy Husband She answered that she had no Husband whereupon Jesus reply'd Thou hast good cause to say so for thou hast had five Husbands and he that thou now hast is not thy Husband in this thou hast said truly By these words she perceived that he knew how she had lived and she said unto him Jo. 4 19.-26 either to divert his discourse to a more pleasing Subject or that she might get some Advantage and Instruction from a Person so knowing Lord I am sensible that thou art a Prophet I pray resolve me this controversie Our Fathers worshipped upon this Mountain and ye say that Jerusalem is the place where Men ought to Worship VVhich of us are in the Right Jesus takes an occasion to tell this VVoman that God being a Spirit and the Truth he will be adored in Spirit and Truth and be known by those that worship him that this VVorship depends not upon Places and the time is coming when he shall be worshipped in that manner only She replyed I know that Messias will come and when he is come he will Instruct us throughly in these matters Whereupon Jesus said unto her I am the very Messias that thou speakest of In the mean time his Disciples who were gone into the City to buy Food Jo. 4 27.-34 came and wondred to see him Discourse so freely with the VVoman but the respect which they had for him hindred them from demanding the Reason of it Nevertheless she left her Pitcher there and went into the City and said to the Inhabitants Come and see the Man who hath told me all that ever I did Is not this the Christ Jesus remained still at the Well And when his Disciples earnestly desired him to eat he said unto them I have meat to eat which ye know not of and then he explains to them what sort of meat he meant in these Words My meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his Workâ— This Work was the Salvation of Man and his Meat was the Faith of those who were converted by his Preachings Soon after these things the Woman with whom Jesus had talked Jo. 4 39.-42 returned with the Inhabitants of Sychar who believing on him already because of the Womans words came to desire him to abide with them He stayed with them two days and by his Discourses much confirmed them in the Faith and increased the number of those that believed in his Name Insomuch that they said unto the Woman Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and we know that this is certainly the Christ the Saviour of the World The End of the First Book BOOK II. The History of what Jesus Christ Did and Taught in the First two Years of his Preaching I. His Preaching in Galilee WHEN the two days were expired Matt. 4 12.-17 Mar. 1.14 15. Lu. 4.14 15. Jo. 4.43 -45. Jesus went on his intended Journey into Galilee being filled with the power of the Spirit and was joyfully received by the Galileans because they had seen the Miracles which he did at Jerusalem at the Feast of the Passover Here he began to Preach the Gospel that is to say the Joyful news of the Kingdom of God which he came to publish to the World saying The time is come The Kingdom of God is at hand Repent ye and believe the Gospel And this he taught in all the Synagogues of this Province with great success for he was highly esteemed with all Men and his Fame went abroad into all that Country Jesus being again at Cana of Galilee where he made the Water VVine Jo. 4.46 -53. there came a certain Noble Man to him who desired him to go down with him to Capernaum to heal his Son who was at the Point of Death Jesus knowing the thoughts of his Heart and the Imperfections of his Faith Book II. said unto him Except ye see Signs and Wonders ye shall not believe But this Lord wheâ— was one of Herod's Courtiers being very earnesâ— with him to go down before his Child dyed he answered him Go thy way thy Son liveth And he believed Jesus's words and returning home his Sarvants met him and brought him the Newâ—s of his Sons recovery He then inquired of them what hour he began to amend and they told him yesterday about One a Clock in the Afternoon the Fever left him which was the very same hour in which Jesus said unto him Thy Son iâ— well This Miracle converted the Noble Man and all his Family and they believed on Jesus Christ II. The Calling of Four Apostles Matt. 4 18.-22 Matt. 8.24 On the East side of Galilee there was a great Lake which the Gospel calls a Sea according to thâ— usual manner of speaking among the Jews and sometimes it is called the Sea of Galilee because some part of this Province adjoyns to this Lake and sometimes the Lake or Sea of Gennesareth of Tiberias Lu. 5.1 Jo. 21.1 from a City of these two Names which stood upon the Shore of it Jesus walking by the side of this Lake saw two Fishermen casting their Nets into the Water The one of them was Simon and the other Andrew his Brother who being one of John's Disciples and hearing his Master say that Jesus was the Lamb of God followed
have Holes and the Birds of the Air have Nests but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his Head As if he had said He must be a Man more regardless of his own Interest and more couragious than can easily be imagined that will choose to follow a Man who is so far from enriching his Disciples that he hath not the least earthly Conveniences for himself Luke 9 57-62 Matth. 8.21 22. But though he thus rejected the Scribe he treated one of his Disciples after another manner for he commanded him to follow him but this Disciple desiring Leave to bury his Father first he answers him Follow me and let the Dead bury their Dead i. e. let those that seek not Life and Immortality as you do bury the Dead but as for you go and preach the Kingdom of God He teaches him by this Answer That the Preaching of the Gospel is a thing more important than paying our Respects to Men which may be performed by all sorts of Persons Those Persons whose Soul is dead in Trespasses and Sins may bury those whose Body is dead but every Man is not fit to preach the Gospel Men must be Holy to exercise that Ministry and being called by God ought to prefer it before all things S. Luke 9.61 62. Luke speaks of a Third Person who being desirous to follow Christ begged to go and bid them first adieu that were at his House and dispose of his Goods Jesus saith to him Whosoever having laid his Hand to the Plough looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God By which Answer I understand That he that will earnestly labour for Salvation ought to mind nothing else but that nor perplex himself with other things VI. Jesus Christ appeaseth a Tempest About the Evening Jesus entred into the Ship Mark 4 35-41 to pass over to the other Side of the Lake of Gennesareth He had with him his Disciples who who had sent away the Multitude but yet there were some of the Multitude that getting into some small Ships which were ready at Hand followed him As they sailed Matth. 8 24-27 there arose a great Storm of Wind and so great a Tempest that the Waves beat with Violence into the Ship where Jesus was and filled it with Water As for himself he suffered himself to fall a-sleep on purpose to try the Faith of his Disciples and therefore slept in the hinder part of the Ship upon a Pillow till his Disciples seeing themselves in great Danger went to him and awaked him Saying Master carest thou not that we perish Lord save us Luke 8 22-25 He saith unto them Why are ye so fearful O ye of little Faith Then he arose and rebuked the Winds and the Tempest and commanded the Water to be still and immediately the Wind ceased and the Lake was calm Jesus then again reproves them for having so little Faith saying to them Where is your Faith and Why are you so fearful But they as also those who were in the other Ships were filled with Fear and Astonishment and said one to another What manner of Man is this who commandeth even the Winds and the Sea and they obey him VII Jesus Christ frees Two Men possessed with Devils Matth 8 28-34 Mark 5 1-20 Luke 8 26-40 Jesus and his Disciples landed in the Country of the Gergesens or Gergashites Deut. 7.1 which lies on the East-side of the Lake which they had passed and as soon as Jesus was come out of the Ship there came to him Two Men possessed with Devils crying out What have we to do with thee Jesus thou Son of God Art thou come to torment us before our Time These Two Men had their Dwelling among the Tombs and were so exceeding fierce that no Man could pass by that way S. Mark and S. Luke speak but of one of them whose Possession they describe more exactly either because he was most tormented by the Devils or because he was the most remarkable of the Two or because his Cure was most admired and talked of for he had been possessed a long time and had neither Cloaths nor Habitation but abode Day and Night in the Mountains and in the Tombs crying and cutting himself with Stones And though he had often been loaded with Chains and had his Feet fettered yet he had always broken the Fetters and Chains And the Devils then carried him into the Wilderness insomuch that no Man could ever tame him This Man saw Jesus Christ a far off and he with his Companion ran to him and the Devil that spake by his Mouth prayed the Son of God not to torment him by commanding him as he had done to go out of the Man possessed Nevertheless Jesus commanded him to go out of the Man and at the same Time asked him his Name he answered That he was called Legion because many Devils had entred into that miserable Man And since it is one of their greatest Torments to be restrained from doing Mischief to Men they earnestly implored Jesus Christ not to command them to go into the Deep but to permit them if he cast them out of these Two Possessed to enter into an Herd of Swine which was feeding not far from that Place upon the Mountains the Son of God granted them what they desired and by delivering these Hogs into their Power he teacheth us 1. That he may dispose of all we have as he pleaseth because we have nothing but what we receive from him 2. That the Devil hath no Power neither over us nor our Goods any farther than God permitteth him 3. That such is the Hatred and Rage of the Devil against Men that he would torment them for ever either in their Persons or Estates and would do all he could to satiate his Fury did not God set Bounds to it as he pleaseth This appears evidently to us from what happened to these Swine for as soon as Jesus permitted them to enter into them they made them all run violently upon the Rocks and from thence cast themselves head-long into the Lake where about 2000 of them were drowned The Keepers of the Swine went immediately into the Cities and Towns round about to carry the News of this Accident and they brought a great Number of People to the place where Jesus was to be fully satisfied of the Truth of their Relation Here they found the Man out of whom Jesus had cast the Legion of Devils sitting at Jesus's Feet cloathed and in his right Mind and as quiet and calm as he had been furious and mad before And those who had been Eye-witnesses of it told them all the Circumstances of his Cure and they were greatly afraid Then came all the City of Gadara to Jesus and could not look upon him but with much Horror They had a great Veneration for him who had so absolute an Authority over the Devils but were afraid of the Man who had driven their Swine into
his Disciples could not cure him This Child was a Lunatick and possessed with a Devil which made him Dumb and grievously tormented him for when it seized upon him it threw him down upon the Ground cast him often into the Fire or Water and racked him with such violent Convulsions that he cryeth out fomes gnashes with his Teeth and pineth away and much bruising him hardly departeth from him The Unbelief of the Jews who did not as yet firmly believe in Jesus Christ though they had seen so many Miracles was a greater and more dangerous Disease than this of the Lunatick and was often an Impediment to the Miracles which Jesus would have done For this Reason it is that he would cure that before he drive out the Devil and therefore smartly touched that Wound that the Men afflicted with it might feel it saying O faithless and perverse Generation how long shall I be with you to convince you how long shall I suffer your Infidelity will you never believe Bring him hither to me The Child no sooner saw him but the Devil began to tear him with fierce Convulsions and threw him down where he rowled foaming Jesus asked his Father How long it was since his Son began to be vexed after this manner His Father answered him From his Childhood and added If thou canst do any thing have Pity on us and help us Jesus saith unto him If thou canst believe all things are possible to him that believeth Immediately the Father of the Child cryed out with Tears Lord I believe help thou my Vnbelief i. e. supply all the Defects of my Faith to make it worthy to obtain a Cure for my Child Then Jesus rebuked the Devil saying to him Thou Dumb and Deaf Spirit I command thee to depart out of this Child and to enter no more into him Then the Spirit cryed out and much tore and rent the Child and left him almost dead but Jesus taking him by the Hand lifted him up and delivered him to his Father perfectly cured And all that were present beheld it with Admiration and were amazed at the mighty Power of God When Jesus was come into the House his Diciples asked Why they could not cast out this Devil He answered them Because of your Vnbelief adding Luke 17 6 That if they had but one Grain of Syncere and Sound Faith they might by their mere Word remove both Trees and Mountains And then he says further That this kind of Devil goeth not out but by Prayer and Fasting The Apostles did without doubt profit by these Instructions for S. Luke teacheth us elswhere That they addressed themselves to their Master Luke 17.5 and said Lord increase our Faith XIV Jesus foretels his Death and pays Tribute While the Multitude was in Admiration of the great things Matth. 17.22 27. Mark 9 30-32 Luke 9 43-45 that Jesus did in all Places where he went his Thoughts were mainly employed in fitting his Disciples for the Disgraces and Contempt of his Death He tells them a second Time of it and desires them to hearken with Attention to him and think seriously of these Words in their Hearts The Son of Man shall be delivered into the Hands of Men who shall put him to Death and he shall rise again the Third Day But they understood not that Saying and yet this Prediction which they could not fully comprehend made them very sorry and cast them into such a Consternation that they durst not ask him to explain it to them They went through Galilee and returned to Capernaum Here the Receivers of a certain Tribute of Two Drachma's i. e. Fifteen Pence an Head asked Peter whether his Master did not pay Tribute To whom the Apostle answered That he did As soon as he came into the House Jesus prevented him by asking him Whether the Kings of the Earth exact Tribute of their own Children or of Strangers Peter answers Of Strangers Then Jesus concludes That the Children are exempted leaving it to him to infer from thence That he being the Son of God was not obliged to pay Tribute to Men Nevertheless saith he that we may not offend them Go thou and cast an Hook into the Sea and take the Fish that shall be first catched and open his Mouth and thou shalt find a Piece of Mony of Four Drachma's or half a Crown 's Value which give to them for thy self and me XV. Jesus checks the Ambition of his Disciples Matth. 18 1-14 Mar. 9 23-50 Luke 9 46-50 About the same Time it came into the mind of the Disciples of Jesus Who of them should be greatest and they disputed about it in the Way to Capernaum Jesus knowing the Thoughts of their Hearts asked them when they came into the House What they disputed about in the Way but they durst not answer him But when he had called his Twelve Disciples to him they asked him in general Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven He answered them If any Man desire to be first he shall be the last of all and Servant of all And having called a little Child to him he took him and set him by him and taking him up in his Arms he said unto them Except ye become as little Children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of God and that whosoever shall so humble himself that he makes himself small as the little Child before them he shall be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven And then adds That who so shall receive one such little Child in his Name receiveth him and he that receiveth him received him that sent him Hereupon John the Son of Zebedee saith unto him Master we saw a Man casting out Devils in thy Name and we forbad him because he would not joyn himself and associate with us But Jesus reproved this Action and told him That this Man would not readily speak ill of him in whose Name he did Miracles and that they ought not to look upon him as their Enemy since he did not engage in any thing against them Jesus then turns his Discourse to these little ones i. e. to the humble to whom he would have them make themselves like and pronounces a Wo against those who should be an occasion of Falling or Scandal to them declaring That whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in him and whose Angels continually behold the Face of God in Heaven it were better for him to be cast into the Depth of the Sea with a Milstone about his Neck He adds That the World is full of Offences which will necessarily happen but Wo unto him by whom they come That to avoid them we must lay before Men the Torments of Hell where the Worm that gnaws the damned never dies and the Fire that burns them is never quenched yea is so far from consuming them that on the contrary 't is like Salt to them which preserves them from consuming that they may be
which he left us in the Time of his Mortal Life He lived subject to our Calamities and suffered Death which is the Punishment of Sin but he was raised in a State of Glory and entred into the Possession of Eternal Felicity He was first of the same Nature with us that we might one Day be as he is If we imitate him in his Life and Death we shall be like him in his Resurrection and Glory but we must not pretend to that Happiness he now enjoys if we do not go in the same Path he did to attain it By disobeying his Laws and not imitating his Actions we not only renounce the Glory to which he invites us but bring upon our selves inexpressible as well as everlasting Torments for there are but Two Ways the one leads to Life and the other to Death and he that walks not in the first must necessarily go into the second Jesus Christ is himself the Way that leads to Heaven and we go by him when we practise those Truths which he hath taught and regulate our Lives by the Pattern of his To live otherwise than he lived is not to follow him but to wander and destroy our selves which we do not seriously enough consider of We do not examine our selves in which Way we are we go on every Day in Ignorance and when we come to the End of our Race we find our selves on a Precipice because we have followed the Multitude which securely went before us and guided us Christians therefore cannot do any thing more important and conducing to their Salvation than to meditate continually upon the Life of Jesus Christ and to look upon it as a Mirror to discover the Blemishes and Faults of their own they ought to account Jesus Christ conversing on Earth as our Guide and Light and comparing what they do with what he hath done and taught to acknowledge themselves in a lost Estate and in Darkness so long as our Conversation is not conformable to his Examples and Precepts In Heaven they ought to esteem Jesus Christ as the End to which they continually aspire and which they labour daily to attain that they may support themselves in all the Troubles and Difficulties which they met with in their Way thither by the Contemplation of the Glory which he hath promised them They should in the last Place think always upon his First and Second Coming They are instructed by his First what they must do to fit themselves for his Second and they shall be judged at his Second Coming by the Precepts which they have received at his Second They will have no Excuses to make for following the corrupt Customs and Examples and false Errors of the Ages they have lived in when they come before that Judge who hath told them that he will judge them by the Doctrin he hath taught them himself and by the Life he lived here upon Earth to be a Model of theirs That then we may appear before him with Boldness in that Great Day when he will judge all Men let us take the Advice which S. John the beloved Disciple gives us My little Children 1 John 2.28 abide in him that when he shall appear we may have Confidence before him and may not be ashamed at his Coming And that we may know what it is to abide in Jesus Christ let us meditate upon these Words of the same Apostle 1 Joh. 2.6 He that saith that he abideth in him ought himself to walk as Jesus Christ hath walked FINIS INDEX A ABraham saw Christs coming with Joy 109. the Jews boast themselves his Children 22. Abraham's Bosom what 131. Adultery forbidden by the Law 57. punished with Death 40. The Adulteress 105. he that Marrys another Woman while his Wife is alive is an Adulterer 132. Aegypt Christs flight into 18. Agony of Christ 188. Ambition Of the Disciples reproved by Christ 98. 145 179. Almsgiving The necessity of it 119. how it must be given 58 it purifies all things to us 155. Christ commends it in a poor Widow 165 St. Andrew was John's Disciple 26. Brother of Peter ibid. goes to Christ ibid. brings his Brother 36. leaves all at Christs Call 37. made an Apostle 54. Angels Watch over Men 99. foretel the Nativity of J. Baptist and Christ 2. move the Pool of Jerusalem 50. comfort Christ in his Agony 188. open the Sepulchre 201. declare his Resurrection 208. Anointing Diseases cured by it 78. Christs Feet and Head Anointed 152. Apostles What it signifies 58. Christ chose Twelve ibid. one proves a Devil 86. their Mission and Instructions given them 76. cure Diseases 77. continue with Christ in all his temptations 179 forsake him 190. believe not his Resurrection 208. receive the Holy Spirit and a power to bind and loose 212. sent into all the World to Preach 316. and for this end are enabled to work Miracles 218. Appearances of Christ 1. to Mary Magd. 208. 2d to the Women 209. 3d. to St. Peter 211. 4th to the Disciples going to Emmaus 210. 5th to all the Apostles 213. 6th to some of them going to the Lake of Gennesareth ibid. 7th to more than 500 Brethren ibid. 8th to St. James ibid. 9th his last appearance before his Ascension ibid. Augustus's Edict which he published about the Taxing 13. B BAptism of St. John with Water 21. his Baptism does not pardon Sins ibid. a figure of Christ 14. slighted by the Scribes and Pharisees 64. Jesus receives it 23. asks the Jews whether it was from Heaven 158. Baptism of Jesus Christ with Water 31. with the H. Ghost and with Fire 23. no Salvation without it 29. the Apostles sent to Baptize all Nations with it 216. Barrabbas The great Thief preferred before Jesus Christ 196. Beatitudes The Eight Beatitudes 55. Blessing Jesus Blesseth Infants 135. breaks Bread 81. the Sacrament 177. he is blessed and praised by the People of Jerusalem 151. Simeon blesseth the H. Virgin and Joseph 18. Bethany The place where Lazarus and his Sisters dwelt 140. Jesus Christ raised Lazarus there 142. Supped with Simon the Leper 149. went thither every Night in the Week of passion 156. he carryed his Apostles thither at his Ascen 218. Bethlehem The City of David 13. Jesus Chr. born there 15. Worshipped the Magi 16. the Children of Bethlehem slain 18. Bethsaida A City of Galilee of which Peter and other Apostles were 26. Cursed by Jesus 24. there he Cursed a Blind Man 18. Blasphemy Against the Holy Ghost 67. against Jesus Christ at the Crucifixion 202. he is called a Blasphemer 45. Blind-men Jesus Healed two at Capernaum 49. another at Bethsaida 91. a blind Man Possessed and Dumb 67. two at Jericho 148. several in the Temple of Jerusalem 157. spiritually blind 87. Blood Christs Blood drink indeed 85. the Blood of the Galilâ—eans mingled with their Sacrifices 121. the VVoman with a bloody-flux 48. Jesus sweat Blood 188. out of his Side came VVater and Blood 204. the Jews wish his
Blood upon them 199. the Blood of all the Righteous Men slain shall be punished upon Jerusalem 118. C Caiphas High-Priest of the Jews foretells Jesus Death 143. Condemns Christ 192. Calling of St. Peter and St. Andrew 26. the 2d time 32. of St. Philip and Nathaniel 40. of St. Matthew 46. of the 12 Apostles 54. to the great Supper 126. to the Marriage 160. to repentance 35. many called few chosen 126. Calumnies Dispersed of Jesus a Magician that cast out Devils by Belzebub 50. a friend of Publicans and Sinners 46. a Glutton and VVine bibber 64. a breaker of the Law 52. an Impostor 195. a Sinner 110. a Blasphemer and Impious 192. a Samaritan 108. a seditious Man 195. a Seducer 196. one who sought to make himself a King 195. forbad paying Tribute to Caesar ibid. Capernaum A City of Galilee scituate upon the Bank of Gennesareth 38. Jesus Christ dwelt there ibid. he reproves their hardness 65. Miracles which Jesus did there 38 39. Centurion's Faith and Care of his Servant 60. acknowledgeth Jesus the Son of God 204. Caesar Ought to have his dues 162. Christ Acknowledged to be Messias by Andrew and Philip 26. by St. Peter 92. by Martha 141. by the Centurion 204. by the Devils 39. confesseth it himself 33. the Son of David 105. Commandments of God to be preferred before the Traditions of Men 87. to be kept 136. the two great Commandments of the Law what 163. to love one another 183. he that loves God keeps his Commandments 182. Confession Of Sins at Baptism 21. of Christ by Devils 39. by all that Christ will own 77. Conversion Of a Sinner rejoyceth Heaven 128. of St. Matthew 46. of a Woman Sinner 65. of Zacchaeus 146. of S. Peter of the Thief 202. Corazin An Impenitent City 64. Covetousness to be avoided 118. of the Pharisees 131. of Judas 150. the folly of it 118. Cross We must bear the Cross 127. Jesus Christ carried his own Cross to Calvary 200. he is fixed to it 201. his Title on the Cross ibid. he entred into glory by the Cross 210. he was lifted up on the Cross as the Brazen Serpent 29. D DEbtors The Parable of the two Debtors 65. of the ungrateful Debtor 101. Dedication Feast of 122. Devils Acklowledge Jesus to be the Christ 38. he gives his Apostles power over them 76 and to 72 Disciples 113. some of them driven out only by Prayer and Fasting 97. Jesus accused of having commerce with Devils 67. Judas called a Devil 86 into whose heart he entred 173. Jesus tempted by the Devil 24. cast him out of the World 154. Prince of the VVorld Ibid. Destruction Of Jerusalem 152 153. Disciples Of John two of them become Jesus's 29. two sent to Christ by John when he was in Prison 62. fasted often 47. Disciples Of Jesus Christ their first calling 26 36. the Twelve Apostles chosen out of them 54. Seventy Two of them sent to preach 113. Devils subject to them Ibid. some forsake him 86. all leave him at his Death 190. the beloved Disciple who 178. Jesus appears to them 213. to be a Dissciple of Christ we must forsake all 127. Doctor Doctors of the Law are the Scribes 158. Doctrin Jesus 's Doctrin not his but God's 104. it was accompanied with authority 38. Pharisees Doctrin to be obeyed but their example not to be followed 164. Drachma a Tribute of Two Drachma's pay'd by Jesus 98. E ELias John Baptist said to be Elias 4. he appeared to Christ at his Transfiguration 94. Elizabeth John Baptists Mother 4. Enemies to be loved 57. Epiphany Or Christs manifestation of the Magi 15 Eucharist In it Christs Flesh and Blood are received 85. to be received by all Ibid. its effects Ibid. and institution 177. F FAith Makes Men Children of God 12. can do all things 96. power of it 157. Jesus reproves his Disciples for having little Faith 42. St. Peters faith 82. Jesus Christ is our food by Faith 84. the Apostles pray Jesus to increase their Faith 97. the Faith of the Apostles 82. of those that carryed the Man sick of the Palsey to Jesus 45. of the VVoman that had the bloody flux 48. of the Blind-men 49. of the Blind-man at Jericho 149. of the Centurion 61. of the VVoman that was a Sinnet 66. of the VVoman of Canaan 88. Jesus prays that St. Peters Faith fail not 179. requires Faith of Martha 141. Questions whether he shall find Faith on Earth at his Second coming 135. Faithful In small things 130. the commendation of a Faithful Servant 104. the unfaithful Steward put out of his Office 130. Fasting of Jesus 24. how to fast 58. Feasts St. Matthew made a Feast for Jesus 46. the Feast of Simon the Pharisee 65. Simon the Leper at Bethany 149. of Herod to his Lords 78. to sit in the lowest Room at a Feast 125. to Feast the Poor rather than the Rich 126. the Marriage feasts 160. the daily Feasts of Dives 131. Fig-tree Barren Cursed 156. Flight Of Jesus into Aegypt 18. in persecution lawful 77. of the Apostles from Jesus at his apprehension 190. G GAbriel The Angel appeared to Zachary 4. to the Holy Virgin Ibid. Galilee Joseph went into Galilee at his return out of Aegypt 19. Jesus leaving Judea went into Galilee 33. went over the First time 35. the Second time 76. the Jews would not allow a Prophet to come out of Galilee 105. Galileans Jesus Disciples called so 105. the Galileans slain by Pilate 121. Gennesareth A City of Galilee 37. the Lake of Gennesareth 36. Jesus appeas'd a Tempest in that Lake 41. went upon it and suffered Peter to come to him on it 82. the Miraculous fishing in this Lake the first 37. the second 213. Jesus Christ taught upon the Lake 37. Gentiles Called into the Church instead of the Jews 160. desire to see Jesus 153. are some of Christs Flock 112. Gerasa Or Gadar the Miracle done there 42. the People there desire Jesus to depart out of their Coasts 44. Gethsemane Where the Garden was into which Jesus often went with his Disciples 187. God Is faithful to his promises 7. his Love to Man 29. to be Worshipped in Spirit and Truth 33. alone to be Worshipped 24. to be loved with all the Heart 114. not to be tempted 24. is good only 136. never seen by any 25. he that is of God hears his Word 108. to know him is Life Eternal 186. he that doth his VVill shall inherit Eternal Life 59. he is one in Three Persons 11. he shall be seen by the pure in Heart 55. peacemakers are his Children Ibid. and so are they that love their Enemies 57. that which is highly esteemed by Men is odious to God 72. Gluttony To be avoided 169. Grace Brought by Jesus Christ 25. he grew in Grace 20. his VVords were full of Grace 74. Christs Grace compared to Living Water 33. Great Greatness who is the greatest 98. he that is Servant of all Ibid. great Men did