is an Hebrew and Christ a Greek Word and signify both of them Anointed the Jews calling him so because they expected He should be a great King consecrated to God by a special Unction of which the Anointing of their Kings and Prophets was but a Figure Four thousand Years being at last expired and spent in waiting for him the Time appointed by God and foretold by the Prophets for the Deliverance of Mankind came The Roman Empire enjoyed a profound Peace under the Reign of Augustus and the Jews were governed by Herod whom the Romans had made King over them being some Years before become subject to their Power This Government by a Foreign Prince was an Evident Sign that the Coming of the Messiah drew near according to the Prophesy of Jacob Gen. 49.10 The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his Feet until Shiloh he that is sent do come This was the Time which God from all Eternity had prefixed for the Execution of his gracious Design That Jesus Christ the Saviour both of the Jews and Gentiles should be born in Judea and by him hath he accomplish'd the great Work of Man's Salvation in such a manner as the Gospel relates and which we are about to give an account of in this History of which I shall make Four Parts containing so many Periods of our Saviour's Life and shew what passed I. From the Conception of John the Baptist to his entrance upon his Ministry II. In the first Two Years of his Preaching III. In the Third Year of his Ministry IV. From his triumphant going up to Jerusalem to his Ascension into Heaven BOOK I. An Account of what passed from the Conception of John the Baptist to the Entrance of Jesus Christ upon his Ministerial Function I. The Conception of S. John the Baptist Book I. Luke 1 5-22 THere was among the Jews a certain Priest named Zacharias who with his Wife Elizabeth kept all the Commandments of the Lord blameless They were both of them very old and God that he might at length reward their Patience and contentedness in a signal manner having given them no Child but laid upon them the Disgrace of Barrenness which at that Time was accounted a great Curse inflicted by God It came to pass as Zachary ministred in the Temple according to his Course and offered the Incense commanded by the Law to God the Angel Gabriel appeared to him and told him from God That he should have a Son whom he should call John That this his Son should be great in the Sight of God and be filled with the Holy Spirit from his Mother's Womb That he should convert many Israelites from their Sins and should go before the Lord in the Spirit and Power of Elias preparing his Ways for him and disposing p. 5 The Anunciation of the Blessed Virgin Men to receive him Zachary doubting of the Truth of these Promises answered the Angel How shall I be assured of the Truth of thy Words for I am Old and my Wife is well stricken in Years The Angel reproving his Unbelief told him That from that Moment he should be dumb and not be able to speak till the Things which he had spoken of should come to pass And in that very instant he lost his Speech and the People who could not understand him but by Signs perceived by his Silence that he had seen a Vision The Days of his Ministration being accomplish'd he returned to his own House at Hebron Luke 1 23-25 a City in the Tribe of Judah and God performed that which he had foretold by the Angel for Elizabeth conceived and hid her self Five Months that she might between God and herself raise in her Heart a more perfect Sense of his Favour in taking away from her the Reproach of Barrenness and giving her a Son of whom she might hope for so great things II. The Conception of Jesus Christ. Six Months after the Conception of Elizabeth the same Angel Luke 1 26-38 which had foretold the Birth of S. John to Zachary was sent by God into a City of Galilee called Nazareth to foretel the Nativity of Jesus Christ to her who was chosen from all Eternity to be his Mother It was an Holy Virgin of the House of David named Mary who was espoused to a Man of the same Family called Joseph and living in perfect Chastity had her Spouse for a faithful Witness and Guardian of her Purity The Angel being come to her said Hail O thou that art highly favoured the Lord is with thee blessed art thou among Women Her Modesty raised in her a great Disturbance at the unusual Appearance of the Angel and she was surprized at this kind of Salutation But the Angel bid her not be troubled telling her That she should have a Son who should be great and be called the Son of the Most High to whom God would give the Throne of his Father David i. e. an Eternal Kingdom and that she should call his Name Jesus which signifies a Saviour She reflecting upon her way of living with Holy Joseph and not understanding how she could preserve her Virginity and yet become a Mother said unto the Angel How shall this be seeing I know not a Man The Angel answered her That this Holy Child which shall be called the Son of God shall be born by the invisible Operation of the Holy Ghost and to shew her that God to whom nothing is impossible would work this great Miracle in her by his Almighty Power he tells her what had befallen her Cousin Elizabeth who having been barren for many Years was Six Months since with Child Being satisfied by this Instance that she might bear a Child and yet continue a Virgin she humbly submitted her self to the appointment of God and said to the Angel Behold the Handmaid of the Lord be it unto me according to thy Word Then the Angel departed from her but the Holy Spirit wrought this great Mystery in her for which she had been fitted and disposed a great while before by the plentiful effusion of his Graces She conceived the Son of God the Second Person of the Holy Trinity who was incarnate i. e. became Man by taking on him a Body and Soul like us in the Womb of this chast and humble Virgin III. The Visitation of the Holy Virgin As soon as Mary had heard that her Cousin was with Child she went with haste to see her Luke 1. 39-55 and entring into her House saluted her which when Elizabeth heard she felt the Infant leaping in her Womb for Joy and being filled with the Holy Ghost she spake out with a loud Voice and said Blessed art thou among Women and blessed is the Fruit of thy Womb How great a Felicity is this to me that the Mother of my Lord should come unto me And having inform'd the Virgin That her Child leaped in her Womb she added Blessed art thou because thou
only the Son because he is begotten of the Father to whom the Name of Father is given for that Reason but also the Word because he is the Thought or interior Speech of the First Person which begat him by knowing himself and that from all Eternity because he knoweth himself from all Eternity And upon this Ground it is that S. John says That in the Beginning i. e. when the World began the Word was and the Word was in or with God for the Thought is in the Mind that forms it and that he was God it being the Property of this Word as we have said to be the same thing with the Being that begets it p. 23 The Birth of JESUS CHRIST VII The Human Birth of Jesus Christ. Augustus the Roman Emperor Luke 2. 1-20 being desirous to know the Number of all his Subjects published an Edict commanding every Person to go and be registred in his Native City In Obedience to which Order Joseph went up from Galilee with the Holy Virgin to Bethlehem a City of Judah to have his Name enrolled there because he was of the House and Linage of David For this Prince was born at Bethlehem which is therefore called in the Gospel The City of David While they were there her Time came that the Holy Virgin should be delivered And she brought forth Jesus Christ wrapped him in Swaddling Cloaths and because there was no Room in the Inn laid him in a Manger Not far from thence there were certain Shepherds who kept their Flocks by Night these Men all of a sudden were encompassed with a great Light and saw an Angel which said unto them Fear not for I bring you good News which shall fill all People with great Joy which is that this Day there is born in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord and by this Sign ye shall know him ye shall find the Infant wrapped in Swaddling Cloaths and lying in a Manger As soon as they had received this Message from God they heard a great number of those blessed Spirits praising God and saying Glory be to God in the height of Heaven and on Earth Peace to the Men of his good-liking i. e. to all truly penitent Sinners and sincere new Creatures As soon as the Angels were departed the Shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem where they found Mary and Joseph with the Babe who was laid in a Manger and they acknowledged the Truth of what the Angel had said unto them Then they returned glorifying God published the Miracles which they had seen and raised an Admiration in all those that heard them But Mary seriously meditated upon all these Things in her Mind and was careful to keep a faithful Remembrance of them VIII The Circumcision of Jesus Christ. Luk. 2.21 Lev. 12.3 Gen. 17.12 By the Law of Moses every Male Child ought to be circumcised within eight Days after the Birth according to the Command which God had given to Abraham for God being about to give this Patriarch a Son of whose Posterity our Redeemer should be born and entring into a Covenant with him to be kept by all his Posterity he instituted Circumcision as a Seal and Sign of that Covenant threatning to cut off that Male Child from his People which shall not be Circumcised Abraham himself and all the Jews his Posterity did exactly observe this Law and Jesus Christ was willing to submit to it himself wherefore the Gospel observes That he was Circumcised the Eighth Day and that he was named JESVS which was the Name that the Angel had ordered to be given him before his Conception IX The Adoration of the Magi. Matth. 2 1-12 The Holy Virgin and Joseph continuing still at Bethlehem the Magi which were certain great Philosophers and Astronomers came from the East to Jerusalem and asked Where the Person was who was lately born King of the Jews saying Numb 24.17 That they had seen a Star in the East signifying his Birth and conducting them thither and were come to worship him This Question much surprized the People of Jerusalem and above all troubled Herod who was then King of the Jews Whereupon he assembled the Chief Priests and the most learned in the Law among the Jews to be informed of them Where the Messiah which they expected should be born for he believed that it was he that the Magi enquired after under the Name of the King of the Jews They answered him At Bethlehem according to the Prophecy of Micah And thou Bethlehem Mic. 5.2 in the Land of Judah art not the least among the principal Cities of that Tribe for out of thee shall come a Governour that shall rule my People Israel Herod as soon as he had received this Information sent for the Magi privately to him and enquired of them At what Time the Star they spoke of was seen by them and sending them to Bethlehem said unto them Go and search diligently for the young Child which ye desire to see and when ye have found him let me know it that I may also pay him the like Adoration Being just got into the Way to Bethlehem they saw the Star again which had appeared to them in the East and the Gospel says they were filled with exceeding great Joy for it went before them to conduct them to him and stood over the Place where Jesus Christ was They immediately entred into the House and falling down before him they worshipped him and offered to him for Gifts Gold and Frankincense and Myrrhe And thus having paid their Homage they returned into their own Country but did not go by Jerusalem because they had been admonished in a Dream not to return again to Herod X. The Presentation of Jesus Christ in the Temple The Holy Virgin and Joseph having so punctually observed the Law of Circumcision were not less exact in the performance of Two other Commandments of the Law the One of which concerned Mothers the other their First-born Children Lev. 12 2-8 The First of these obliges every Woman after her Delivery not to touch any hallowed Thing for a certain Time nor to go into the Temple for Forty Days after the Birth of a Son and Fourscore Days after the Birth of a Daughter and at the End of that Term the Mother shall go to the Temple to be purified for which end she must offer a Lamb for a Burnt-Offering and a Pigeon or a Turtle-Dove foâ— the Attonement of her Sins But if she be noâ— able to offer a Lamb she is allowed to offer â— Pigeon or a Turtle for it which being sacrificed by the Priest she is clean The Second Commandment of the Law which concerns the First-born Children enjoyns the Parents to present them to the Lord and to redeem them with Mony Exod. 13.2 15. Every First-born in Israel both of Man and Beast was consecrated to God bâ— a Command which God gave them when he slew the First-born
the Multitude That if the Devils who are Man's irreconcilable Enemies should thus cast out one another their Kingdom would not stand long that there were some Persons among the Jews who cast out Devils whom yet the Pharisees did not accuse of casting them out by the Prince of the Devils That an armed Man will not be put out of his own House but by a stronger than himself so that he did not cast out Satan but by the Power of a Spirit stronger than Satan i. e. by the Spirit of God which ought to be a convincing Proof that the Kingdom of God is come unto them that in opposing such manifest Works of the Holy Spirit as they had done they had made themselves guilty of an unpardonable Blasphemy that since we judge of a Tree by its Fruits they ought to judge of him by his Works and not condemn him as a wicked Man whenas he doth nothing but good Actions that the Calumnies which they so rashly spoke against him proceeded from the evil Treasure of their Hearts and should not escape unpunished since at the Day of Judgment we must give an account of every evil Word and be condemned for them as we are justified by good XXIV The Pharisees desire a Sign of him Matth. 12 38-46 Luke 11 29-32 Then certain of the Scribes and Pharisees said unto him Master we desire that thou wouldst shew us some Sign of thy Mission They had been Witnesses of a great Number of Miracles which they cryed down for Cheats and Impostures and as if all that he had done already were not enough to convince them that he wrought them by the Spirit of God they desired to see some new thing But Jesus gave them no other Answer but this An evil and an adulterous Generation seeketh after a Sign and no other Sign shall be given them but that of the Prophet Jonas Jonas was a Prophet who being sent by God to foretel and Threaten to the Inhabitants of Ninive the Destruction of their City within Forty Days instead of obeying this Command took Ship to go to another Place but a Tempest arising in his Voyage he confessed that it was a Punishment of his Disobedience and to appease it bid them cast him into the Sea He was immediately devoured by a great Fish which at the end of Three Days cast him upon the Shore from whence he went to Ninive and preached as God had commanded him The Ninivites believed his Words proclaimed a solemn Fast and so by their Repentance escaped the Punishment which God had threatned them Jesus propounds this Sign of Jonas to the Pharisees and makes a double Application of it the one to himself the other to them for he says That as this Prophet was Three Days in the Belly of the Fish which devoured him so should the Son of Man be Three Days in the Heart of the Earth By which he signifies That he should be buried in a Tomb and should rise from the Dead the third Day He adds for a second Reflection That as Jonas was a Sign to the Ninivites so should he be to the Pharisees which he explains in this manner The Men of Ninive shall rise up in the Judgment against this Generation and shall condemn them because they repented at the Preaching of Jonas but a Person greater than Jonas is here He says further to them That the Queen of Sheba shall also condemn them in the Day of Judgment because she came from a far Country to hear the Wisdom of Solomon which Princess they are so far from imitating that they despise his Words and Miracles who manifested more Divine Wisdom than Solomon ever did Lastly He threatens them with such Fury as the Devil exercises over those Persons from whom they have been once forced to go out but have found out a way to enter again which are therefore the more enraged Teaching us at the same Time That we ought to be always upon our Guard when we are delivered from an unclean Spirit because the Devil doth not wholly abandon us but if we are not watchful against him will return with Seven Spirits more wicked than himself and by this second Possession make the Condition of that Soul more miserable a great deal than it was by the first As Jesus was thus confuting the Pharisees Malice a certain Woman of the Company lift up her Voice and said Blessed is the Womb that bare thee and the Paps that thou hast sucked But he answered her Yea rather blessed are they that hear the Word of God and practise it At the same Time it was told him That his Mother and his Brethren Matth. 12 47-50 Mark 3.31 35. Luke 8 19-21 i. e. his Kindred stood without because they could not get at him for the Press and desired to speak with him But he answered Who is my Mother and who are my Brethren Then looking upon those that were set about him and stretching forth his Hands towards his Disciples he said Behold my Mother and my Brethren for my Mother and my Brethren are they that hear the Word of God and do it and they that do the Will of my Father which is in Heaven XXV Jesus Christ delivers many Parables Matth. 13 1-23 Luke 8.4 15. Mark 4 1-20 The same Day Jesus went out of the House and came to the end of the Lake of Gennesareth but when he saw a great Multitude of People coming unto him from the neighbouring Towns he went into a Ship and instructed the People out of it who gave great Attention to him from the Shore He delivered many excellent and saving Truths to them in Parables which was his ordinary way of Teaching Parables in the Gospel are feigned Stories or Comparisons taken from Nature Things the Application of which being something hard to find out exercises the Attention of the Mind but being discovered opens some Mystery of Religion to us or makes known some important Maxim or Precept for the Government and Direction of our Manners As for Example this is a kind of Parable which Jesus speaks of the strong Man armed who keeps his House but is expelled by a stronger than he The Application of which is this as we have seen The strong Man is the Devil whom Jesus Christ drives out of Men's Souls by the Spirit of God which is stronger than the Devil The First Parable which the Son of God propounded to the People from the Ship where he sat was this A Man went out to sow and some of his Seed fell in the High-Way and it was trodden upon and devoured with Birds Another Part fell upon a Rock and was scorched by the Sun because it had no Root for want of Moisture Other fell among Thorns which chok'd it And other fell on good Ground and brought forth Fruit in abundance Now because the Application of this Parable which our Saviour intended by it was not easy to find out he added He that hath Ears to
He foretells his Death to his Disciples Ibid XII He is Tranfigured p 93 XIII He heals a Lunatick p 95 XIV He foretells his Death and pays Tribute p 97 XV. He checks the Ambition of his Disciples p 98 XVI He gives rules for Correcting and Pardoning p 100 XVII He goes to Jerusalem at the feast of Tabernacles p 101 XVIII He heals Ten Lepers p 103 XIX He teacheth in the Temple Ibid XX. He saves the Life of an Adulteress p 106 XXI He teaches in the Temple and they go about to Stone him p 107 XXII He restores sight to a Man born blind p 109 XXIII He proves himself the good Shepherd p 112 XXIV He chuseth 72 Disciples p 113 XXV He teacheth a Lawyer how to love his Neighbour p 114 XXVI He lodges with Martha and teaches his Disciples to Pray p 115 XXVII He reproves the Pharisees and Lawyers for their faults p 116 XXVIII He gives his Disciples several Instructions p 118 XXIX He shews the necessity of Repentance p 121 XXX He heals a Crooked Woman Ibid XXXI The Jews seek to Stone him p 122 XXXII He teaches them to enter in at the straight Gate and foretells the destruction of Jerusalem p 123 XXXIII He heals a Man of a Dropsie and confounds the pride of the Pharisees p 125 XXXIV He teaches that he came to call Men to his Kingdom p 126 XXXV He tells us what we must do to be saved p 127 XXXVI He receives Sinners to Repentance p 128 XXXVII He commends Alms-giving and reproves the Pharisees covetousness p 129 XXXVIII He shews the strict conjunction of Marriage and praises Virginity p 132 XXXIX He speaks of his Kingdom and concerning the true hour to pray p 133 XL. He teaches Men to be humble p 135 XLI He blesses Infants Ibid. XLII He shews that it is hard for rich Men to be saved p 136 XLIII He teaches that the first shall be last in the Kingdom of Heaven p 138 XLIV He raiseth Lazarus p 139 XLV The Jews hold Council against him p 142 XLVI He is rejected by the Samaritans p 143 XLVII He foretells his Death a Third time p 144 XLVIII He reproves the Ambition of his Apostles p 145 XLIX He Lodges with Zacheus p 146 L. They thought he would make the Kingdom of Heaven to appear p 147 LI. He heals two blind Men. p 148 LII He Sups at Bethany p 149. BOOK IV. Containing the History of what Jesus did after his Triumphant entring Jerusalem to his Ascension I. HE goes in triumph to Jerusalem p 151 II. He laments the Destruction of Jerusalem p 152 III. He foretells his Death again p 153 IV. He curses the Fig-tree p 156 V. He drives the Traders out of the Temple Ibid. VI. His Discourse with the Priests and Lawyers p 158 VII The Parable of the Husbandmen p 159 VIII The Parable of the Marriage-feast p 160 IX He confounds the Pharisees p 162 X. He confounds the Sadducees p 163 XI He teaches which is the grrat Commandment Ibid. XII He discovers the Vices of the Scribes and Pharisees p 164 XIII He commends the Alms of a poor Widow p 165 XIV He foretells the Destruction of Jerusalem Ibid. XV. He foretels his Second coming p 167 XVI He teaches to Watch. p 168 XVII The Parable of the Ten Virgins p 169 XVIII The Parable of the Servants p 170 XIX A description of the last Judgment p 171 XX. The Jews hold Council against him p 172 XXI What was the Jews Passover p 173 XXII Jesus made a Supper p 175 XXIII He washes his Disciples Feet p 176 XXIV He appoints the Eucharist and foretels Judas Treachery p 177 XXV He foretels Peters Denial and his Apostles flight p 179 XXVI He comforts his Apostles p 181 XXVII Instructions given to his Apostles p 183 XXVIII Jesus 's Prayer to God p 186 XXIX Jesus Agony in the Garden p 187 XXX Jesus apprehension p 189 XXXI He is carryed to Caiaphas's House p 190 XXXII Peter denies Jesus Christ p 192 XXXIII Judas's despair p 193 XXXIV Jesus is accused before Pilate p 194 XXXV He is set at naught by Herod p 195 XXXVI A Thief preferred before Jesus Christ p 196 XXXVII Jesus is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns p 198 XXXVIII Pilate condemns Jesus p 199 XXXIX They Crucified Jesus p 200 XL. Jesus words on the Cross p 201 XLI Jesus 's Death p 203 XLII Jesus 's Burial p 205 XLIII Jesus 's Resurrection p 206 XLIV Jesus 's appearance to Mary Magdalen p 207 XLV His appearance to the other Women p 208 XLVI He appears to two Disciples and Peter p 209 XLVII He appears to his Apostles p 211 XLVIII The Miraculous Fishing 213 XLIX Jesus commends his Sheep to St. Peter p 214 L. He instructs his Apostles p 215 LI. The last apparition of Jesus Christ p 216 LII The Ascension of Jesus Christ p 217 LIII The Glorious Life of Jesus Christ in Heaven p 218 LIV. The Conclusion p 221 THE HISTORY OF THE LIFE Of our Saviour Jesus Christ FOR about Four thousand Years Book I. after the Creation of the World Man lay groaning under the Power and Tyranny of Satan to whom he had sold and enslaved himself by Sin The greatest part of the World was involved in Ignorance and Idolatry and the Jews only had the Knowledge of the true God and lived in the Expectation of the promised Messiah For Man had no sooner subjected himself to the Decree of Death through the seducements of the Devil but God threatned him to raise up a Child of the Woman which should maintain a continual War with that Wicked Spirit And to this end it was that he discovered himself and his Worship to a certain Number of Men from whose Posterity he designed to raise this Conqueror of the Serpent and Deliverer of Mankind Abraham was the first to whom God promised That all the Nations of the Earth should be blessed in his Seed which he repeated to Isaac the Son of Abraham and Jacob the Son of Isaac and after explained more clearly to the Jews who were the Posterity of Jacob's Twelve Sons wherein this Blessing did consist by giving them Hopes of a Saviour whose Birth Life and Death he foretold in all their Circumstances For he so contrived it that all that befel them should be a continued Figure of this Saviour He appointed them such Sacrifices as represented the great Sacrifice which should expiate and atone for the Sins of Men and for their sakes wrought such Miracles as were nothing else but Shadows and Signs of what he would do for the Salvation of the whole World So that all things did as it were foreshew this Holy Redeemer The Prophets which God sent them from time to time put them in Mind of his Coming and the Calamities which Divine Justice inflicted upon them for their Irregularities and Sins did raise their Minds to a more ardent and earnest Expectation of him as their Messiah or Christ Messiah
of a Man is Food which cannot defile the Man but that which comes out of his Heart are evil thoughts adulteries false-witness and generally all Sins And these are the things which defile a Man and not to eat with unwashen Hands which is a mere outward and Ceremonial Rite V. Jesus frees a Damsel possessed with a Devil Matt. 15.21 -28. Mark 7.24 -30. Jesus departing thence went into the Coasts of Tyre and Sidon and entring into an House endeavoured to conceal himself but an Heathen Woman which the Gospel calls a Canaanite because she came out of Phenicia the Ancient Habitation of the Canaanites discovering where he was came to him crying out and saying O Lord thou Son of David have mercy on me my Daughter is grievously vexed with a Devil He answered not a Word but when his Disciples prayed him to free them from her troublesome Importunities and Cryes by granting her desires he answered them I am not sent but to the lost Sheep of the House of Israel i. e. the Jews But she was not at all discouraged at this denial but on the contrary as if she had been emboldened by it she goes to him throws her self down at his Feet and adoreth him saying Lord help me He saith to her Let the Children be first filled for it is not fit to take the Childrens Bread and cast it unto Dogs She replyed True Lord but yet the Dogs eat the Crumbs that fall from the Childrens Bread Then said he unto her O Woman great is thy Faith be it unto thee even as thou desirest Go thy way for this saying the Devil is gone out of thy Daughter Then the Woman went home and found her Daughter layd upon the Bed and perfectly freed from the Devil VI. Jesus Cures a Man Blind and Dumb. Jesus being returned Mark 7 31-37 Matt. 15 -29. came to a place near to the Lake where they brought to him a Man Blind and Dumb beseeching him to lay hand upon him And he took him aside from the Multitude and put his fingers in his ears and some of his spittle upon his Tongue Then lifting up his Eyes to Heaven he sighed and said unto him Ephatha which in the Syriack Language signifieth Be open and Loosed And immediately the Mans Ears were opened and his Tongue was unloosed so that he heard and spake plain Jesus forbad those who had been witnesses of this Miraculous Cure to speak of it to any Person but the more he Charged them the more they published it and in their astonishment said He hath done all things well he hath made the Deaf to hear and the Dumb to speak VII Jesus Feeds Four Thousand with Seven Loaves Then Jesus went up into a Mountain Matt. 16.32 -37. Mar. 8.1 -9. and great Multitudes of People came unto him bringing with them Persons sick of all manner of Distempers whom they laid at his Feet and he healed them all insomuch that they glorified God for the Wonders which they had seen and could not but follow him who confirmed the saving Doctrin which he had Taught with so many Miracles It seems that they had forgotten to bring Food with them which Jesus knowing said One day to his Disciples I have compassion on this People because they have been with me this three days already and have nothing to eat I will not send them away fasting for fear they faint by the way for some of them have come a great way His Disciples said unto him how can we provide Bread enough to satisfie so great a Multitude in this Desert place He asked them How many Loaves have ye They said unto him Seven and a few small Fishes He commanded all the People to sit down he Blessed and distributed to them the Seven Loaves and the Fishes and Fed Four Thousand Persons so fully that they filled Seven Baskets with the Fragments that remained VIII The Pharisees desire a Sign Jesus refuses to give them any Matt. 16.1 -12. Mark 8.10 -21. Luke 12.54 -57. As soon as Jesus had sent the Multitude away he entred into a Ship with his Disciples and went into the Countrey of Dalmanutha which lyes on the East-side of the Lake of Gennesareth between Gerasa and Chorazin upon the Coasts of Magdlaa Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came to tempt him and Disputing with him asked of him again to shew them some Prodigy in the Air. But instead of doing what they required of him who were so incredulous and self-conceited that they would not be convinced by so many Miracles as they had seen him do he reproved them because they could foretell whether it would be Cold or Hot by the different alterations of the Air as also whether it will Rain or be fair Weather but could not discern that which is Right nor acknowledge by so many visible Signs that the happy time of the Messiah's coming is now arrived Then sighing deeply in his Spirit he returned them the same answer which he had given to the like question This wicked and adulterous Generation seeketh after a Sign and Prodigy but there shall no Sign be given to it but the Sign of the Prophet Jonas Then he left them and sailed back again with his Disciples to whom in their passage he said Take heed and beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees and of the Leaven of Herod The Apostles thought that he had spoken of Leaven because they had forgotten to take Bread along with them and had but one Loaf in the Ship whereupon he reproves them for their little Faith for their inconsiderateness upon all that he had done among them for the blindness of their heart which hindred them from understanding and profiting by all that he had done in their presence and Lastly for their forgetfulness of all that they had hard and seen He asked them How many Baskets full of the five Loaves with which he fed Five Thousand they took up and of the Seven Loaves wherewith he fed Four Thousand and Teaches them that instead of busying their minds as they did with the Bread that nourisheth the Body only and of providing for their Temporal Wants which he could provide for when and how he pleased they should particularly attend to the Heavenly Doctrins which he Taught under the Name and Vail of things Natural and so to conceive that the Leaven he speaks of is the corrupt Doctrin of the Pharisees and Sadducees IX Jesus heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida When they were come to Bethsaida they brought a blind Man to him and prayed him to touch him Mark 8.22 -26. And he took the blind Man by the Hand and leading him out of Town he anointed his Eyes with spittle and layd his Hands upon him and asked him if he saw any thing The blind Man answered him I see Men walking but they seem to me like Trees Jesus then put his Hands again upon his Eyes and the blind Man began to distinguish Objects better and
receive the Fruits of it But the Husband-men beat the Servant and sent him back empty Then he sent another to them whom they Wounded and a Third whom they Killed others also he sent to them and they used them after the same manner so that he resolved to send his only Son whom he loved most tenderly being perswaded that they would reverence him But on the contrary when they saw him they said one to another Lo this is the Heir let us Kill him and so get his Inheritance So they seized upon him cast him out of the Vineyard and slew him Then Jesus said When the Lord of the Vineyard cometh what will he do unto these Husband-men Some of them answered He will destroy those wicked Men according to their deserts and let out his Vineyard to other Husband-men who shall render him the Fruits in due season He approved of their answer and assured them that they should be used in that manner But others who perceived perhaps that this Parable touched them said unto him God forbid But Jesus looking upon them said What is then the meaning of this Parable of Scripture The Stone which the Builders rejected is by the Miraculous Power of God become the head Stone of the Corner And to make a full Application of this Parable to them he added For this reason it is that I have told you That the Kingdom of Heaven shall be taken from you and be given to a People that shall bring forth the Fruits of it And this indeed happened for the Jews to whom Jesus Christ had trusted his Vineyard that is to say his Law and Church and who instead of making use of these advantages had cruelly handled the Prophets who admonished them of their Duty and have Crucified the only Son of God are no longer the Lords People but his Church is now made up of Gentiles who heretofore knew not God Wherefore it is our Wisdom to profit by the misfortunes of them into whose Place we are entred bringing forth Fruits i. e. faithfully performing what God expects of us The Priests and Scribes easily perceiv'd that Jesus spake of them and would then have laid their Hands on him but the fear which they had of the People kept them from attempting it tho' they were much troubled and ashamed to see themselves thus Painted out in this other Parable VIII The Parable of the Marriage Feast Matth. 22 1-14 To the same purpose Jesus spake another Parable saying A certain King having made a great invitation to the Marriage of his Son sent his Servants when all things were ready to call them to it but because they refused to come he sent other Servants to perswade them and give them notice what great preparations were made for them But this did not make any impression upon them they went one to his Farm another to his Merchandize and some layd hold upon his Servants and slew them after they had committed many outrages against them The King having heard of these ungrateful rudenesses sent forth his Armies to slay those Murtherers and burn up their Cities and in their stead brought all that he found in the Streets to the Marriage This being done the King came in to see the Guests and there perceiving a Man who had not a Wedding Garment he asked him how he dare come thither with such a Vestment Wherefore binding him Hand and Foot he cast him into outer Darkness where there is nothing but Weeping and gnashing of Teeth Jesus made the Application of this Parable saying Many are called but few are chosen It is easy to see that the Jews were the first Invited to the Marriage of the Kings Son i. e. to the Kingdom of Heaven Preached to them by Jesus Christ that they despised his Word and put him to Death that God hath rejected them as a punishment for their Sin and instead of them hath called the Gentiles into his Church who before had never heard of him It remains only for us to see whether we have a Marriage-Garment i. e. Charity which is the White Robe which is given us in Baptism that so if we have it not we may endeavour to get it on before the King comes to examine with the great rigour of his Justice the State of all those that are in his Church to condemn them to Infernal Darkness who imagine that it is enough to be called and will not be at the pains by an Holy Life to obtain the Reward promised to the Elect. IX Jesus Christ Silenceth the Pharisees Matth. 22 15-22 Mark 12 13-17 Luke 20 20-26 The Pharisees who had as great a share-in the Application of these Parables as any other went away with a firm resolution to search out all Opportunities of destroying him who thus confounded them They believed they had found out an infallible way to do it by entangling him in his talk and therefore made no delays to make use of it Whereupon they sent some of their Disciples to him who were as much Hypocrites as themselves and counterfeiting themselves to be Righteous with the Herodians i. e. probably some of Herods Officers to ensnare him and tempt him to speak something which might bring him under the stroke of Justice These Men therefore went to him and spake thus to him Master We know that thou art upright and true and teachest the way of God in Truth without regard to any Man or thing Give us thy Opinion in this matter Is it Lawful to pay Tribute to Caesar or no It is certain their design was in this Question to make him odious to the People who never could be brought to submit themselves to the Romans but by force if he should assert that they ought to do it but if he answered that 't was unlawful to pay they would have him punished as a Rebel against the Emperour But he knowing their malicious intentions asked them to shew him a piece of the Money they pay'd Tribute withal and when he had it in his Hands he said Whose Image and Superscription hath it They answered him Caesars Then he reply'd Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods In which answer since they could find no fault they went away full of disappointment and admiration X. Jesus Christ silenceth the Sadducees As soon as these Men were gone Matth. 22 23-33 Mark 12 18-28 Deut. 25.5 Luke 20 27-38 there came to Jesus the Sadducees i. e. a Sect of the Jews that do not believe the Resurrection of the Dead and put a Question to him about the Command of the Law of Moses which obliged a Man to Marry the Widow of his Elder Brother dying without Children They then put this Case to him That there was a Woman who was Marryed according to this Law to Seven Brethren one after another and they all Dyed without Children wherefore they asked him Whose Wife of the Seven she should be after
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
he prayed for S. Peter's Faith 179. For his Apostles and all the World 186. for his Elect ibid. in the Garden to avoid Death 188. upon his Cross for the Persecutors 201. commending his Soul to God 204. his Prayer was always heard 205. he promises to pray for the Holy Spirit 181. Prodigy The Jews desire one 68. several appeared at Jesus Death 204. Prodigal The Parable of him 128. Prophet Prophecy a Prophet is without Honour in his own Countrey 75. Caiphas Prophecy concerning Christs Death 143. Prophets Explained by Christ 210. the Prophets end at John 63 who was more than a Prophet Ibid. Zachary's Prophecy 8. Publicans Instructed by St. John 22. received by Jesus 46. more just than the Pharisees 61. hated by the Jews 46. the Parable of the Pharisee and Publican 135. a Publican made an Apostle 46. and another a Child of Abraham 147. Purification Whom the Law obligeth in that case 16. the Virgins Purification 17. Q. QVeen of Sheba shall condemn the Jews 69. R REconciliation Necessary before we Sacrifice to God 56. as also before prayer 158. Redemption Jesus Christ shed his Blood for the Redemption of Souls 145. Reward Shall be great to those that suffer for Righteousness sake 56. Hypocrites receive their Reward here 57. the VVorkman is worthy of his Hire 77. Repentance Preached by St. John 21. and Jesus Christ 35. by the Apostles 76. Repentance of the Ninivites 68. in Sackcloath and Ashes 65. of a Sinner causeth Joy in Heaven 129. necessity of it 121. Baptism of Repentance 21. Fruits worthy of Repentance 22. it ought to be Preached every where 144. the Repentance of a Woman that was a sinner 66. God expects Repentance 121. Jesus Christ receives sinners upon their Repentance 128. reproves the impenitent Cities 65. Judas's false Repentance 194. Reproof Given by Jesus Christ to the Apostles 42. Pharisees 64. Scribes 16. Impenitent Cities of Galilee Ibid. Simon the Pharisee 66. Resurrection Jesus Christ hath all the Power to raise the Dead 51. he is the Resurrection and the Life 141. he will raise them that eat his Flesh 85. the Dead shall rise 163. there shall be no Marriage after the Resurrection Ibid. Christ raised from the Dead Jairus's Daughter 49. The Widows Son of Nain 62. Lazarus 142. the dead Bodies of many Saints at his own Resurrection 204. Retreat Jesus retires into the Desert where he is tempted 5. he retreated from Judaea after the Imprisonment of John 33. into a Desert to pray 39. to the Sea-side 54. into a Mountain to pray before he chose his Apostles Ibid. into the Desert after he had healed the Leper 60. after his Fame was spread in Herods Court 80. into a Mountain when they would have made him a King 82. into the Coasts of Tyre and Sidon 88. Into the City of Ephrem after the Resurrection of Lazarus 143. Riches Rich-men a Wo pronounced against them 65. the Covetous Rich-man 119. the VVicked Rich-man 131. Rich toward God Ibid. Riches Are Thorns 119. why Jesus calls Riches the Mammon of unrighteousness 130. rich Men hardly saved 136. the good use to be made of Riches 119. S SAbboth-day A day of Rest 51. Jesus Christ often accused of breaking the Law of the Sabboth because he did Miracles on it Ibid. justifies himself 52. and his Apostles Ibid. it is lawful to do well on the Sabboth-day Ibid. it is for Man Ibid. Jesus Christ is Lord also of the Sabboth Ibid. Sadducees Who they were 22. Johns saying to them Ibid. they desire a Sign of Jesus Christ 90. their Doctrin called Leaven 91. they Question with Jesus 163. he proves the Resurrection to them Ibid. Salome The Wife of Zebedee prayeth Jesus for her Children 145. stood by the Cross 203. went to the Sepulchre 206. Salomon Visited by the Queen of Sheba 69. Jesus Christ greater than he Ibid. Samaria Samaritans Enemies of the Jews 33. the Samaritan Woman converted by Jesus Christ Ibid. the Samaritans believed on him 34. they would not let him pass thro' their City 77. the Good Samaritan 114. the thankful Leper of Samaria 10. Scandal The necessity of Scandals 100. the World is full of them Ibid. Wo to the causes of them by their Faults Ibid. the Eye to be plucked out and Hand to be cut off that offend Ibid. Jesus Chtist a Scandal to the Nazarenes 74. to the Pharisees 87. Apostles 180. he is happy that is not offended in him 63. Jesus Christ slights the offence of the Pharisees 84. he pays Tribute to avoid Scandal 98. Servant We cannot serve two Masters 58. the Servant is not Greater than his Master 77. all are unprofitable Servants 120. the first among Christians must be Servant of all as Christ himself was 146. Christs Servants must follow him 187. Sidon A Heathen City 64. Simeon An Old Man full of the Spirit 17. saw and embraced Christ Ibid. his Hymn and Prophecy 18. Simon The Pharisee made a feast for Jesus Christ 65. offended at him for suffering a sinful Woman to kiss his Feet Ibid. reprov'd by Jesus 66. Simon The Leper Jesus Christ Supped at his House at Bethany 90. Simon Of Cyrene bears Jesus 's Cross before him 200. v. Sinn Sin Against the Holy Ghost 67. God only forgives Sins 45. the Church hath Power to pardon Sin 100. Servant of Sin 108. Sin forgiven to the Man sick of the Palsy 45. and Woman that was a Sinner 66. Sinner Jesus Christ called a Sinner 110. eats with Sinners 46. came down from Heaven for Sinners 128. Sodom A City punished for her Sinns 50. less Guilty than the Impenitent Cities of Galilee Ibid. Soldiers Johns Instructions to the Soldiers 22. Guard the Cross of Christ 204. the Sepulchre 206. Holy Spirit John Baptist filled with the Spirit 4. Jesus Christ Conceived by the Operation of the Holy Spirit 6 9. it proceedeth from the Father and Son 11. discovered Jesus Christ to Simeon 17. came down from Heaven upon Jesus in the form of a Dove 23. carryed him into the Desert 24. Inspired whom it pleaseth 29. to be Born of Water and of the Spirit Ibid. Baptism with the Holy Ghost and with Fire 23. Blaspheming against the Holy Ghost 67. it was given after Christ was Glorified 184. the Spirit of Truth Ibid. Condemns the World Ibid. promised to the Apostles 181. given them 212 216. Star A Miraculous Star conducted the Magi to Christ 15. Steward The unjust Steward 119. Sun Darkned at Christs passion 203. and so it shall be at Christs Coming 168. T TAbernacles The Feast of Tabernacles one of the Great Feasts of the Jews 102. why Instituted Ibid. Jesus came to Jerusalem in the midst of this Feast Ibid. Temple Christ drove the Traders out of it Twice 28 156. the House of God and of Prayer Ibid. the Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem 153. the Vail Rent from the top to the bottom 204. Temptation Of Christ by the Devil 24. by a Scribe 164. by the Pharisees 162. by the Sadducees