IV m. L*a^ -y^m.. 1hS\ Ji^SSPi^:. df ^1" m k y / ^mF. i ■^^/Cc^ ^' V, f"* A '\* * t?«B '^ f THE FAMILY EXPOSITOR; PARAPHRASE AND NOTES THE NEW TESTAMENT. Si^.^ Soldi, pin^. oh: Cooper sc- PHILIP BOE.N. JUNt . :IJ) ODBRIB GE-, B . D , .^.^^^^-^-^'^ (\"i >v vn-.-A z r \ 3Lu^/^. /^ ■# i;^^^«.^; cfe^ l/^'77i^./'y2.'>. TJIE FAMILY EXPOSITOR; OR, A PARAPHRASE AND VERSION, NEW TESTAMENT; WITH CRITICAL NOTES, A PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENT OF EACH SECTION. BY PHILIP IdODDRIDGE, D. D. STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED VERBATIM FROM THE BEST EDITION IN QUARTO, WITH A PORTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR. LONDON : PRINTED FOR WILLIAM BAYNES AND SON, PATERNOSTER-ROW, AND H. S. BAYNES, EDINBURGH. MDCCCXXV. BUNGAY . Stereotyped and Printed by J. & R. Childs. TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS OF WALES MADAM, I MOST thankfully acknowledge the condescension of your Royal Highness in allowing me the honour of laying this work at your feet, and committing it to so august a protection ; and humbly beg your favourable acceptance of it, as a most sincere though inconsiderable expression ot the profoundest duty, and most cordial esteem. /. , 1 1 j Could I lay open to your Royal Highness all the secret sentiments of my heart you would read there the most affectionate sense of that gracious Providence which conducted you hither, to mstruct and adorn Great Britain by so amiable an example, as well as to bless it with a race ot princes descended from the illustrious houses of Brunswick and Saxe-Gotha in so happy an union ! Joytully have I, long since, taken my part with thousands in congratulating ray country and your Royal High- ness on this occasion, and acknowledging that wise and paternal care his Majesty hath therein ex- pressed for the happiness of succeeding generations : but permit me, Madam, freely to add, that with regard to yourself, I rejoice not so much in this accession to your grandeur, as in the persua- sion I have, that you are possessed of a mind so superior to it, as to render it m all its remotest consequences, what greatness is not always to its possessors, safe, honourable, and advantageous. Universal report leaves me no room to doubt, that, even in this bloommg age, you are tenderly sen- sible of the shining dangers inseparable from so high a rank ; and that it appears to your princely wisdom chiefly desirable, on account of those distinguished advantages which it may give, of approv- ing yourself the faithful servant of God, and the generous friend of the public. Among the principal of these advantages, your Royal Highness will undoubtedly number the oppor- tunity which this exalted station of life affords you, of forming to early sentiments ot religion and virtue the opening minds of your royal offspring ; those dear pledges of the liberty and happiness of ages yet to come, on whose temper and character so much of public glory to our nation, so much of private felicity to yet unformed families, will depend. We adore the great Disposer of all events, who hath lodged this important trust in so wise and so pious a hand ; and it must argue a very irreligious or a very careless temper, if any neglect earnestly to pray, that He who hath so gra- ciously assigned it to you, may direct and prosper you in it. While you. Madam, during the tender years which most naturally fall under the care of a mother, are endeavouring to bless those lovely infants with an education like that which you received from the excellent princes your parents, may your Royal Highness, in a success like theirs, receive the joys you have given ! May they arise and shine on the whole Protestant world, in the lustre of every royal virtue and every christian grace, which can render them dear to God and to their country, and, to say all m a word, worthy their relation to the Prince and Princess of Wales, and to all the glorious line of remoter ancestors from which they spring ! u i r i *i I should esteem it one of the greatest blessings of my life, and should be able to relish the thought in the nearest views of death itself, if this humble present, which I here offer to your Royal Highness, might give you any assistance in these pious cares. If the kings ot Israel were required not only to read the law of Moses all the days of their lives, but to write out a copy of it with their own hand; it may reasonably be expected, that christian princes should make the far more glorious gospel of the Son of God 'their daily study, that it may be their constant gmde. And I persuade myself. Madam, that none of the fashionable amusements of the age will seem to you in any degree comparable to that rational and elevated pleasure, which you will hnd m pointing out to your happy charge, as they grow capable of such instructions, the resplendent example ot Jesus, the Prince of heaven, and the King of alory ; in tracing the marvellous and edifying circum- DEDICATION. stances of his life, as here described ; and in urging their humble and dutiful regards to that Divine yet condescending Redeemer ; to whom your Royal Highness, with all those amiable virtues which render you the delight and boast of ournation, will thankfully ascribe your own hopes of being finally accepted by God, and sharing the joys of his eternal presence. These hopes, Madam, are the grand supports of the human mind, in those views from which royalty and empire cannot shelter it. An awful Providence, which we must all long lament, did early write these admonitions to your Royal Highness in the dust of one of the best of queens. The attention with which her late Majesty studied the sacred oracles and the evidences of our holy religion, for which, even in her departing moments, she expressed so firm a regard, will, I hope, never be forgotten by any allied to her, or descended from her. Nor am I able, in all the overflowings of the most affectionate gratitude and duty which I now feel, to form a more important wish for that condescending Patroness to whom I am addressing, than (to borrow the words of the Hebrew monarch) that the testimonies of God may be her " delight and her counsellors !" And I trust. Madam, that they are so ; I trust, that conscious of a heart devoted to God, and supported by a well-grounded confidence in his favour, you are fixing your eyes on a celestial diadem, which shall sparkle with immortal glories, when the kingdoms of this earth shall be known no more, and all its pageantry shall be passed away like a dream. May you at length, in a very distant moment, have a happy accession to that never- fading crown ; and, after having long adorned the highest stations here with that amiable Prince, whose constant and endearing friendship is so much more to your Royal Highness than all the gran- deur which can result from your relation to hira, may you be both exalted to the superior glories of the heavenly kingdom ! I hope your Royal Highness will please to pardon me, that I have expressed myself with so much warmth and freedom, in a presence I so highly revere : but I should be most unworthy of the name and honour of a christian minister, if I were ever ashamed of sentiments like these ; and the assiduity with which I have lately been sitting at the feet of my Divine Master, while commenting on these authentic memoirs of his Hfe and history, hath inspired me with a veneration and ardour which it is not easy to repress. I am sensible. Madam, these are unfashionable strains on such an occasion ; and it would have been easy to have filled many more pages than these with panegyric, on what I have read of your illustrious ancestors, and what I have heard from multitudes, of the charms of your Royal Highness's person and character : but I imagined that such hints as these were more suitable to that plainness and simplicity which at all times become a servant of Christ ; and I flatter myself, that to a person of your Royal Highness's penetration, they will not seem less expressive of that undissembled esteem, and affectionate zeal, with which I am, MADAM, Your Royal Highness's Most faithful, most dutiful, And most obedient, humble servant, PHILIP DODDRIDGE. PREFACE TO THE FUiST VOLUME OF THE ORIGINAL EDITION CONTAINING THE FORMER PART OF THE HISTORY OF CHRIST. I HAVE long been convinced, that if any thing can stop that progress of infidelity and vice, which every wise man beholds with sorrow and fear ; that if any thing can allay those animosities, which (unnatural as they are) have so long inflamed us, and pained the heart of every generous christian ; in a word, that if any thing can establish the purity and order, the peace and glory of the church, or spread the triumphs of personal and domestic religion among us, it must be an attentive study of the Word of God, and especially of the New Testament ; that best of books, which, if read with impartiality and seriousness, under the influences of that blessed Spirit by whom it was inspired, would have the noblest tendency to enlighten and adorn the mind, and not only to touch, but to animate and transform the heart. The station of life in which Divine Providence has placed me, rendered it peculiarly necessary for me to make these sacred oracles my principal study ; and having, to my unspeakable delight and advantage, felt much of their energy, I long since determined, that it should be the main business of my life as an author to illustrate them, and to lead my fel- low-christialls into a due regard for them, by endeavouring, in as plain and popular a manner as I could, to display their beauty, their spirit, and their use : and I thankfully acknowledge the goodness of God to me, in giving me health and spirits to finish so considerable a part of my design, though I have so much other business daily on my hands, and have been obliged to execute this in a much more laborious manner than I at first apprehended would have been requisite. The title I have given to the work sufficiently explains its original design, which was chiefly to promote family religion, and to render the reading of the New Testament more pleasant and improving to those that wanted the benefit of a learned education, and had not opportunity or inclination to consult a variety of commentators. And I thought it proper still to retain the title of The Family Expositor, even when I had made some alteration in the plan ; because that is still the leading view of the greater part of the work. In pursuit of this, I have given a large Paraphrase on the sacred text, well knowing that this is the most agreeable and useful manner of explaining it to common readers, who hardly know how to manage annotations, especially when they are to be read to others. The chief objection against this way is, that when a whole verse, and much more when several verses are taken together, (as they frequently are,) it requires a great attention, and in some places some considerable penetration, to trace the exact correspondence between the respective clauses of the text and the paraphrase. There are some performances of this kind in our ovm language, as well as in others, in which such liberties are taken, that I freely confess that, were it not for the initial references, or opposite column, I should not be able to guess from the paraphrase itself what the scripture was which it pretended to explain. This must undoubtedly give the greatest advantage for disguise and misrepresentation ; and where those glosses are read by themselves without the scriptures, (which I know has been the case in some families,) it is really exchanging the prophets and apostles for modern divines. To prevent this intolerable evil, I have formed my paraphrase so, that it is impossible to read it without the text, having every where interwoven the words of scripture with it, and carefully distinguished them from the rest by the Italic character ; so that every one may immediately see, not only the particular clause to which any explication answers, but also what are the words of the sacred original, and what merely the sense of a fallible man, who is liable, though in the integrity of his heart, to mislead his readers, and dares not attribute to himself the singular glory of having put otF every prejudice, even while he would deliberately and knowingly allow none. I thought it might be some additional improvement of this work, and some entertainment to the more accurate reader, to give the text in a new version ; which I have accordingly done from the original, with all the care I could. There are so few places in which the general sense will appear different from our received translation, that some will perhaps think this an unnecessary trouble : but I can by no means repent it, as it has given me an opportunity of searching more ac- curately into several beauties of expression which had before escaped me, and of making some alterations, which, though they may not be very material to the edification of men's souls, may yet in some degree do a farther honour to scripture ; raising some of those ornaments which were before depressed ; and sufficiently proving that several objections urged against it were entirely of an English growth : ends which might yet more abundantly be answered by a new version of the Old Testament, which has suffered much more in our translation, as it is natural to suppose it must. I thought it might also conduce to the usefulness of this Exposition to digest the history of the four Evangehsts into one continued series, or, in other words, to throw it into the order of an harmony. By this means, each story and dis- course is exhibited with all its concurrent circumstances, as recorded by the sacred penmen ; frequent repetitions are prevented ; and a multitude of seeming oppositions are so evidently reconciled, as to supersede many objections, and render the very mention of them unnecessary. My reader will hardly imagine the pains that this part of the work has cost me, both in examining the order of the several texts, and collating the different accounts in each, in such a manner. PREFACE. that no one clause in any of the Evangehsts might be omitted, and yet the several passages to be inserted might make one connected sense, and, without any large addition, stand in a due grammatical order. I was the more sensible of this labour, as I laid it down for a maxim to myself, when I entered on this work, that I would study as much as possible to make it an original in all its parts. Accordingly, the first copy of it was drawn up with hardly any other assistance than that of the Greek Testament, which I endeavoured to harmonize, to translate, to paraphrase, and to improve, just as if none had ever attempted any thing of that nature before me. Afterwards I was obliged to compare it with what othei-s had done ; and, as may easily be supposed, I found in many instances an agreement, and in many others- a difference, betwixt them and myself. Where we differed, I endeavoured impartially to examine the reasons on both sides; and where I have perceived myself indebted to any, for leading' me into a more just and beautiful »emo;z, explication, or disposition, than I had before chosen, I have generally, and, so far as I can recollect, universally, acknowledged it ; unless where the hint came from some living friend, where such acknowledgment would not have been agreeable. There are, no doubt, many other instances in which the thoughts that seemed originally my own, night be suggested by memory, thougli I knew not from whence they came ; and a thousand more are so obvious, that one would suppose they must occur to every attentive reader, who has any genius and furniture for criticism. To have multiplied references and quotations in such a case, would have been, I think, a very useless and burdensome piece of pedantry, and might (as I fear has been the case with Pfeiffer and Wolfius) have discouraged the reader from consulting any, in so great a crowd. I could not well brook the drudgery of transcribing the works of others, and should scorn the meanness of dressing myself up in borrowed plumes ; but if any imagine me a mere compiler, I shall not be greatly concerned at their mistake, but say, with the modest and excellent Mons. Rollin, " If the things themselves are good, it signifies very little whose they are."* The Notes are, at the desire of many friends, entiiely added to my first scheme ; and when I saw so many persons of learning and rank were pleased to encourage my undertaking, I thought it would be no unacceptable expression of my gratitude to them, to insert several which I should otherwise have omitted. Some of them seemed absolutely necessary to justify the version and paraphrase, in what might seem most peculiar in it : several more refer to the m^der, and give my reasons for le^ ving the general track where I have left it, and for not leaving it much oftener, where some very learned and ingenious authors have taken a great deal of pains (though, I persuade myself, with a very good intent) to lead us out of the way : and as several of these are modern writers, the remarks are such as do not commonly occur. The rest of the notes consist, either of some observations on the beauty and force of various passages, which I do not remember to have seen elsewhere ; or of references to, and observations upon, considerable writers, whether they be or be not professed expositors of scripture, who seem in the most masterly manner to examine or to illustrate and confirm the sense I have given. These are generally but very short ; because it would have been quite foreign to my purpose, and utterly inconsistent with my scheme, to have formed them into large critical essays : but I hope they may be some guide to young students, who, if they have libraries at hand, are in great danger of being lost in a xvood, where, I am sorry to say it, they will find a multitude oi pricklij and knottT/ shrubs, and in comparison but few pleasant and fruitful trees. It has appeared to me an office of real and important friendship to gentlemen in this station of life, to endeavour to select for them the most valuable passages which occur in reading, and to remit them thither, not only for the illustration of scripture, but also for their direction in studying the evidences and contents both of natural and revealed religion. This I have done with great care and labour in a pretty large work, which perhaps may be published after my death, if surviving friends should judge it proper. To that I have generally referred those citations which relate to polemical divinity/ ; and at present only add, that, with regard to these notes, I have endeavoured to render them easy and en- tertaining, even to an English reader; and for that purpose have cautiously excluded quotations from the learned languages, even where they might have served to illustrate customs referred to, or words to be explained. That deficiency may be abundantly made up by the perusal of Eisner, Albert, Bos, Wolfius, Raphelius, Fortuita Sacra, Sfc.-\ books which I cannot but recommend to my young friends, as proper not only to ascertain the sense of a variety of words and phrases which occur in the apostolic writings, but also to form them to the most usefid method of studying the Greek classics : those great masters of solid sense, elegant expression, just lively painting, and masculine eloquence, to the neglect of which I cannot but ascribe that enervate, dissolute, and puerile manner of writing, wliich is growing so much on the present age, and will probably consign so many of its productions to speedy oblivion. The Improvement of each section is entirely of a practical nature, and generally consists of pressing exhortations and devout meditations, grounded on the general design, or on some particular passages, of the section to which they are annexed. They are all in an evangelical strain, and they could not with any propriety have been otherwise. I am well aware that this manner is not much in the present taste, and I think it at once a sad instance and cause of our degeneracy that it is not. If it be necessary that I should offer any apology, it must in short be this ; I have with all possible attention and impartiality considered first the general evidences of the truth of Christianity, and then those of the inspiration of the New Testament, which seems to me inseparably connected with the former ; and, on the whole, am in my conscience persuaded of both, and have been confirmed in that conviction by the most laboured attempts to overthrow them. It seems a necessary consequence of this conviction, (and I am astonished it should not be more gene- rally attended to,) that we are with the humblest submission of mind to form our religious notions on this plan, and to give up the most darling maxims which will not bear the test of it. I should think any impartial reader must immediately see, and every judicious critic be daily more confirmed in it, that the New Testament teaches us to conceive of Christ, not as a generous Benefactor only, who, having performed some actions of heroic virtue and benevolence, is now retired from all intercourse with our world, so that we have no more to do with liim than to preserve a grateful remembrance of his character and favours ; but that he is to be considered as an ever-living and ever-present Friend, with whom we are to maintain a daily commerce by faith and prayer, and from whom we are to derive those supplies of divine grace, whereby we may be strengthened for the duties of life, and • Que m importe d'ou il soit, pourvu qvi'il se trnuve utile. — Roll. Aftm. d'enseign. Vol. I. p. 75. + As some of the books mentioned abore are not very common among- us, it may not be improper to insert their titles : viz. Jacohi Eisner, Obseival. Sficrcp, 2 vol. 8\o. Trnject. ad Rken.n20. Albfrti Observ. Philolog. Zvgd. Sat. 1725. Lambcrli Bos Eiercitat. PItitolog. Franek. 1700. Lambert'. Bos. Animadvers. Franek. 1715. Lamberti Bos. Observat. Miscell. Leovard. 1731. Raphelii Annotat. Philol. in Nov. Teit. ti Xeno-phonle, Polybio,et Herodoto collectiyiJ7i3(y_£X ns ejmivsjis X'Jlcf. — Ei Si Tis vm r«lav /xrt axJx'^ ruv Xo^ot, vnt ^avcn ay t«v £v aSv Sixx^fim vi:ivivy^i''n. Simplic. in Epictct. Proem. Northampton, •Nov. 27, 1738. / b PREFACE TO THE SECOND VOLUME OF THE ORIGINAL EDITION CONTAIMNO THE SECOND PART OF THE HISFOllY OF CHRIsr. The publication of this Second Voliane of the FAMILY EXPOSITOR hath been delayed so long beyond my own expectation, and that of my friends, that it may perhaps seem necessary to introduce it with an apology for that delay. But it would be tedious to enumerate a variety of circumstances which have concurred to occasion it. It is generally known, that the unusual severity of the last winter laid a kind of embargo on the press ; and they that are at all acquainted with the business of printing, will easily apprehend that, under the most faithful and careful direction, a work of considerable bulk is liable to many other interruptions, even where the manuscript is entirely finished before the impression is begun. But, after all, the chief reason why this hath been published no sooner, is (what I hope my subscribers will easily excuse) the large addition I have made of more than fifty sheets to the hundred which I was by the proposals obliged to deliver. On the mention of this, I think myself obliged to renew my thanks to those, who, by honouring me with their names and encouragement on this occasion, have put it into my power to publish the work with such improvements ; and shall think myself happy if those improvements, however laborious and expensive to the author, may render it more acceptable and useful to them. The tables prefixed to the first volume are concluded in this, and represent the disposition of the harmony in so clear a view, that by comparing them together it would not be difficult to find any particular text. But a deference to the request of some of the subscribers engaged me to add another table at the end of this volume, (of the same kind with that in Mr. Bonnel's Harmony,) which will at once direct both to the section and the page where any verse may presently be found. I cannot pretend so much as to conjecture when the remainder of my undertaking will be completed. I shall however proceed in it as fast as my health and other affairs will permit. In the mean time, I think it necessary to observe, that I have by the advice of some considerate and judicious friends, deferred the index, and some other things which' I intended to have thrown into an appendix here, till I have finished what I am preparing on the Acts ; that so they may stand, as they very properly will, at the end of the historical books of the New Testament. How far the subscribers to these two volumes may think it proper to encourage the rest, must be referred to themselves. In the mean time, as that must be exceeding precarious which depends on the continuance of one man's life and health, I would desire permission here to take leave of my friends, at least for the present, with such a serious address as may be the most substantial expression of my sincere gratitude and respect. I should have thought, my honoured friends, that I had made you a very unworthy return for this public token of your regard to me, if I had offered you merely an amusement, though ever so critical and polite. It had been much better, on both sides, that the work should never have been undertaken or perused, than that these divi7ie authors should be treated like a set of profane classics ; or that the sacred and momentous transactions they relate should be handled and read like an invented tale, or a common history. I have often reminded 77)7/selfoi it, and permit me now. Sirs, solemnly to remind ;i/ou, that these are the memoirs of the holy Jesus, the Saviour of sinful men, whom to know- is life eternal, and whom to neglect is everlasting destruction. We have here the authentic records of that gospel which was intended as the great medicine for our souls ; of that character which is our pattern ; of that death which is our ransom ; of hi7n, in short, whose name we bear as we are professed christians, and before whose tribunal we are all shortly to appear, that our eternal existence may be determined, blissful, or miserable, according to our regard to what he has taught, and done, and endured. Let not the greatest therefore think it beneath their notice ; nor the meanest imagine, that, amidst all the most necessary cares and labours, they can find any excuse for neglecting, or even for postponing it. Had I not been fully convinced of the certainty and importance of Christianity, I should not have determined to devote my whole life to its service: (for, on the principles of natural religion,! know the soul to be immortal, and should expect nothing but its ruin in the ways of the most sanctified fraud :) but as I am thus convinced, I must make it my humble request to every one that enters on the perusal of these volumes, that they may, for a little while at least, be the employment of his retired hdurs ; and that as he proceeds from one section to another, he would pause and reflect, " Whose 'words do I hear ? " Whose actions do I survey ? Who?e sufferings do I contemplate ?" And as all must know they are the u-ords, the actions, and Ihe sufferings of Jesus the Son of God, our'supreme Lord, and our final Judge, let it be farther and very seriously inquired in what degree the obvious and confessed design of the glorious gospel has been practically regarded and complied with : " Can I, in ray heart, think that I am a disciple whom such a Master will approve, and whom he will chuse for his attendant in that " world of glory to which he is now gone ?" Let the plainness of this advice be forgiven ; for such is the temper and con- duct of most who call themselves christians, that if this religion be true, their cold and unafTecting knowledge of the history of Christ, and of the purposes of his appearance, will only serve to furnish out matter for eternal self-accusation and remorse: PREFACE. and he is, at best, but a learned and polite infidel who would not rather be the instrument of conducting the lowest creature, capable of reading or hearing these lines, to the saving knowledge of a crucified Redeemer, than fill the most refined nation with his own applause, while the grace of the Saviour is forgotten, or his service neglected. I have yet one farther request to add to those of my readers who are heads of families ; which is, that they would please to remember the title of the work, and consider it as chiefly intended, in its most essential parts, for a Family Expositor. I heartily rejoice in the reason which I have to hope, that, low as our religious character is fallen in these de"-enerate days, acts of domestic worship are yet performed by multitudes of christians of various denominations : yet I cannot but fear, that the scriptures are not so constantly read at such seasons as they formerly were ; an omission which must be to the great detriment both of children and servants. One would think, that those who believe the divine authority of scripture, and its infinite importance, should be easily prevailed upon to restore this useful exercise, at least for one part of the day ; and I would hope, that what I here offer them may render it more agreeable and useful. It would give me inexpressible delight to find that this is the case in those famihes with which I am most intimately acquainted ; and would be an encouragement to hope this work may be proportionably useful in places and times to which neither my observation nor intelligence can extend. I shall conclude this preface with my hearty prayers, that, weak and imperfect as these labours are, the divine bless- m^ may every where and always attend them ; and that it may rest on all who have patronized them, and on all who shall peruse them ! May every prejudice against the truth of Christianity, or against its power, be vanquished ! May the most insensible minds be awakened to attend to religion, and may the weak and languishing be animated to press on to greater attainments in it ! May those that are preparing for the service of the sanctuary, (as every part of this performance is their concern,) be by every part of it more abundantly furnished for the various duties of their important office ! And may those who are yet but babes in knowledge, through the divine blessing grow by that sincere milk of the word which is here presented, as I trust, in its genuine simplicity ! In a word, may many persons, families, and larger societies, receive devout pleasure and solid lasting improvement from it ; that the great God, of whom and through whom are all things, may in all be glorified, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who in all the sacred volumes, and especially here, is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, to whom be everlasting honour, love, and obedience ! Amen. P TO THE THIRD VOLUME OF THE ORIGINAL EDITION, CONTAINING THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 1 HE natui'e and design of this work, and the principles on which it hath been undertaken and conducted, have been so largely represented in the preceding volumes, that it is unnecessary here to enlarge upon them. But, as what I now present to the reader concludes the historical part of the New Testament, this seems a very proper place to recollect the promise which I long since made, of offering some remarks on the excellence and usefulness of that history, which may dispose the reader more frequently to review it, and to study it with the greater application. It must be universally granted, that the excellence of any perfonnance is to be estimated by considering its design, and the degree in which it is calculated to answer it. The design of the gospel-history is summed up in the words which I have placed for my inotto ; which, though they are taken from the conclusion of St. John's gospel, are applicable, not only to all the other Evangelists, but likewise to the Acts of the Apostles, that invaluable appendix to them. " These " things are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God ; and that believing, ye might have life through his name." I shall beg leave to show how admirably the history before us is calculated to answer both these ends, viz. to produce a conviction of the truth of Christianity, and to make those good impressions on the heart, which may secure the eternal life and happiness of the reader ; which no speculative conviction, even of the most sublime, comprehensive, and important truths, will itself be able to do. I apprehend that, in proportion to the degree in which these two premises can be illustrated, the excellence and value of this history will immediately appear ; for no man is so far infatuated as to dispute whether obtaining life, eternal life, be an end of the highest importance, how light soever he may in fact make of it, and how wantonly soever he may baiter it away for every trifle that strikes his imagination, or fires his passions. Obvious as the hints are which occur on these heads, I will touch a little upon them ; that we may more evidently see how much we are indebted to the divine wisdom and goodness in giving us so invaluable a treasure as these books contain, and how highly we are concerned to attend diligently to the contents of them. b 2 PREFACE. Fii'st, Every intelligent reader of this evangelical history must have seen, that it is admirably adapted to produce and support in all attentive and impartial minds a strong conviction of the truth of Christianity, and by consequence of the divine glories of Jesus the Christ, as the Son of God. It is evident, that our most material arguments for the demonstration of the truth of Christianity are drawn from miracles, from prophecies, from the character of its founders, and from the genius of the religion itself. Now, though all these receive great illustration from the epistolary parts of the New Testament, and some of them, especially the second, from the Old ; yet it is certain, that the grand basis and foundation of them all, is what we read in the History of Christ and his Apostles. There we are informed of the miracles which they wrought, of the character they maintained, and of the system of religion which they published to the world ; and the application of Old-Testament prophecies to Jesus of Nazareth, is, beyond all controversy, to be justified chiefly from what we find there. These books do in the most authentic manner, as we have demonstrated elsewhere, show us who Jesus of Nazareth was, and what he professed himself to be. They give us an account of the very high pretensions he made to an immediate mis- sion from God, and to a most intimate relation to him as his Son, in a peculiar and appropriate sense, not communicable to any other. They give us also, as in this connexion it is very fit they should, a very large and circumstantial narration of a variety of miracles which he wrought. Their number appears to be very great ; so that a late writer, who had considered them very accurately, reckons up sixty-nine relating to particular persons, besides twent\' other instances, in all of which several, and in most of them multitudes, yea, frequently great multitudes, are mentioned, not merely as the spectators, but as the objects, of his miraculous power, which must on the most moderate computation arise to many hundreds ; not to men- tion those yet more numerous miracles which were performed by his apostles in his name, wherever they came, especially after the descent of the Holy Ghost upon them ; or the variety of supernatural gifts and powers with which they wereendowed, and which in many thousands of instances they communicated toothers. It is farther to be recollected here, that these miracles were not of such a kind as to leave any room for a doubt, whether they lay within the natural efficacy of second causes or not ; since the most hopeless and inveterate diseases gave way, not merely to some trivial application of means, whether internal or external, but to a touch or a word ; and Death itself obeyed the voice of Jesus, and of his servants speaking by his authority. Now I could wish, that any one who feels himself inclined to scepticism with regard to Christianity, would sit down and read over any one of the Evangelists in this particular view : that he would take the stories of the several miracles in their succession, and after having attentively weighed them, would ask his own heart, whether, if he had seen such facts as these, he would not immediately have been convinced in his own conscience, that this was indeed tiie seal of heaven set to the commission of the person who performed them ; and, consequently, whether, if these things were really done by Jesus, and his missionaries in his name, he must not be compelled to acknowledge that Christianity is true. Let any impartial and rational man in the world judge whether, if any impostor had arisen, falsely and blasphemously arrogating to himself the high titles of the Son of God and Saviour of men, God would have honoured his lips with this wonderful power over diseases and death, or his dead body after a public execution with a resurrection : that is, in one word, whether he would have interposed to give such credit to him, as it is not pretended he hath ever given, in any other instance, to the best of men in the best of causes. Every man's heart will surely tell him, with the circumstances of such facts full in his view, that the only question is whether they be themselves credible ; and that, if this be allowed, the divine attestation to the authority of such a Teacher follows, by a connexion which can never be broken, and which probably few men living will have an inveteracy of prejudice sufficient to gainsay. The historical books of the New Testament do also admirably illustrate that argument in favour of Christianity, which is drawn from the accomplishment of prophecies ; and this in a variety of respects. Many very important passages of this kind are expressly quoted, not merely by way of allusion, but by a literal and exact application of them, according to their genuine sense, and agreeably to the connexion in which they stand. The application of some others, in themselves more dubious, will upon strict examination appear just, and may prove a key to the sense of many more, on the truest principles of analogy ; as many writers have shown, and perhaps no one, since Eusebius wrote his Demonstratio Evangelica, more judiciously than Mr. Jeffery in his controversy with Mr. Collins. Nay, the texts quoted by way of allusion and accommo- dation, of which there are such numerous instances, have consequentially tended to the establishmeatof the argument from prophecies, however under injudicious management they may seem to have perplexed it ; as they nave had their share in recommending the Jewish scriptures to the perusal of christians, and so in guarding them more surely against any possibility of corruption, if the Jews themselves could have been wicked enough to attempt it. But, besides these various views in which the citations may be considered under this head, I must farther observe, that when not this or that particular passage of the evangelical history alone, but the whole series of it, comes to be compared with correspondent representations in the Old Testament, it fixes upon the mind the strongest impression that can well be irragined, of the reference of the prophets to Jesus as the Messiah. The ingenious Earl of Rochester, whose story is so celebrated, was deeply sensible of this with regard to the 53d of Isaiah, as illustrated by all the story of our Lord's passion ; and there are many other sections of that prophet, and of several others, to which the remark may be applied ; which indeed extends to all the general representations of the Messiah's character, conduct, and circumstances. The account which the New Testament gives us of the temper and character of ou-r Divine Redeemer, is a topic of argument on this head by no means to be forgotten. We do not indeed there meet with any studied encomiums upon the subject. The authors deal not in such sort of productions ; but, which is a thousand times better, they show us the character itself. The sight of what is great and beautiful has another kind of efTect, than the most eloquent description of it. And here we behold the actions of Christ ; we attend his discourses, and have a plain and open view of his behaviour. In consequence of this, we see in him every thing venerable, every thing amiable. We see a perfection of goodness no where else in the world to be seen or to be heard ; and numberless arguments plead at once, to persuade the heart that it is absolutely impossible such a person should be engaged in a design founded in known falsehood, and tending only to mislead and ruin his followers. And though it is true the character of his apostles does not fully come up to the standard of their Master, nor is entirely free from some small blemishes, yet we see so little of that kind in them, and, on the contrary, such an assemblage of the human, divjne, and social virtues, that we cannot, if we thoroughly know them, if we form an intimate acquaintance with PREFACE. them, entertain witli patience the least suspicion that they were capable of a part so detestable as theirs must have been, if they knew Jesus to have been an impostor, and the gospel a fable; with which they must be chargeable, if Christianity were not indeed autlientic and divine. The series of sufferings which they endured, the gentle, humble patience with wliich they bore them, the steady perse- verance and invincible fortitude with which they pursued their scheme in the midst of them all, and with no earthly prospect but that of a continued hardship and persecution, till it should end in death, furnish out an important branch of this argument ; which the book of Acts, especially taken in connexion with the Epistles, does almost continually illustrate, in the most artless, and therefore the most forcible manner. To conclude this head, the history before us represents, in the most clear and convincing light, the genius of that doc- trine which Christ taught, and of the religion which he came to settle in the world. When we view it as exhibited in human writings we may mistake ; for it is too often tinctured with the channel through which it has passed. Men of bad dispositions have warped it, to make it comply with the corruption of their own hearts, and to subserve, in many instances, the schemes of their ambitious and worldly interests. Good men, insensibly influenced by a variety of prejudices, which under fair and plausible forms have insinuated themselves into their breasts, have frequently mistaken, not the essentials of Christianity (for no good man can mistake them) but the circumstantials of it ; and have propagated the various and frequently contradictory mistake, with a zeal which nothing but an apprehension that they were W^ fundamentals could have inspired ; and thus its original purity and beauty have been debased and obscured : but here we drink this water of life at its fountain-head, untainted and unmixed ; and with that peculiar spirit which at a distance from it is so apt to evaporate. Here we plainly perceive there is nothing in the scheme but what it is most worthy of God to reveal, and of his Son to publish to the world : here we see, not as in the heathen writers, some detached sentiment, finely heightened with the beauty of expression and pomp of words, like a scattered fragment, with the partial traces of impaired elegance and magnificence ; but the elevation of a complete temple, worthy of the Deity to whom it is consecrated : so harmonious a system of unmingled truth, so complete a plan of universal duty, so amiable a representation of true morality in all its parts, without redundancy, and without defect, that the more capable we are of judging; of real excellence, the more we shall be possessed in its favour : and if we have a capacity and opportunity of examining together with it the books Avhich the followers of other religions have esteemed sacred, and the systems of doctrines and manners which their re- spective founders have published to the world, we shall find how much the gospel is credited by the comparison ; shall indeed find the difference much like that of a coarse picture of sunshine, from the original beams of that celestial lumi- nary. This I have so deeply felt in mine own heart while reading these books, and especially while commenting upon them, that it has been matter of astonishment as well d& of grief to me, that there should be any mind capable of resisting evidence so various, so powerful, and so sweet. But this leads me to the other branch of the argument ; in which I shall remind my reader, Secondli/, That these books are admirably adapted to make those impressions on the heart, which may prepare it for eternal life, through the name of the Redeemer, of whose divine mission they contain such incontestable proofs. Now the most effectual demonstration of this would be, an attentive perusal of these books, not so much with a view to criticise upon them, as to give up the soul to their genuine influences, and to leave the heart to be (if I may so express myself) carried away with the torrent whither it will ; and the impulse cannot fail of being in some happy direction, and amidst all its varieties, will undoubtedly bear us forward towards that perfection of goodness and of happiness which is the great end of all our pursuits. For surely the breast of every well-disposed reader, under the influences of that blessed Spirit which guided the sacred penmen in these lively and well-chosen narrations, must by every page of them be inflamed with some devout passion ; and his progress must often be interrupted with tears of holy delight, or with warm and perhaps rapturous aspirations of soul. Surely this adorable Saviour cannot be heard, cannot be seen, without admiration and love. Surely the heart must often, as it were, go out to meet him, with its cheerful " hosannahs to him that coraeth in the name of " the Lord." Often must it rise in affectionate praises to the God and Father of all, who blessed this earth of ours with such a Visitant, who enriched it with such an unspeakable, such an inestimable gift. A thousand times must it con- gratulate, and almost envy, the happy lot of those who, dwelling on earth, though in the meanest cottages, when it was blessed with the presence of such a Teacher, of such a Friend, had daily opportunities of conversing with him ; and as often may it exult to tliink, that he is still near by his spiritual presence, carrying on the kind purposes of his appearance in mortal flesh, and waiting, by the dictates of his divine philosophy, to train up the immbrtal spirits of men for their proper and complete happiness. Under the impression of that thought, how strongly must the soul be disposed to inquire after Christ, to form an acquaintance with him, to commit itself to his discipline and guardianship, to trace his steps, and as far as possible to imbibe his Spirit. What will appear so desirable, as to secure his friendship, to be honoured with his high approbation, and enriched with the blessings of his patronage and care ? Receiving the divine oracles from his lips, what incomparable advantages have we for learning every thing truly great and lovely ? What powerful inducements diligently to labour, ardently to pray, liberally to dispense good, calmly to endure injuries, patiently to support the heaviest afflic- tions, and resolutely to meet the most dreadful death, if called out to encounter it in the way of our duty. Among many other good affections which the perusal of this history may naturally inspire, and which I have endea- voured often to suggest in the Improvements which conclude each section, I cannot forbear mentioning one more ; I mean, a generous and cordial love to our fellow christians of every rank and denomination. I never reflect upon the New Tes- tament in this view, but I find it difficult to conceive, how so much of a contrary temper should ever have prevailed among such multitudes who have professed religiously to receive it, yea, whose office hath been to interpret and enforce it. To have listed under the banner of Jesus, to have felt his love, to have espoused his interest, to labour to serve him, to aspire after the enjoyment of him, should methinks appear to every one, even on the slightest reflection, a bond of union too strong to be broken by the different apprehensions that one or another of us may entertain (perhaps, too, after diligent in- quiry) concerning the exact sense of some of the doctrines he taught, or the circumstantial forms of some of his institutions. An humble sense of our own weakness, and of the many imperfections of our character, which will never be more deeply felt than when we consider ourselves as standing before our Divine Master, will dispose us to mutual candour, will guard us against the indecency of contending in his presence, and will, as St. Paul witli admirable spirit expresses it, dispose us " to " receive one another as Christ hath received us." Yea, our hearts Will be so eagerly desirous of employing our life PREFACE. in serving him to (he best purpose we can, that we shall dread the thought of mis-spending, in our mutual animosities, accusations, and complaints, the time that was given us for ends so much nobler, and which is capable of being employed to the honour of our common Lord, and for the benefit of the church and the world. I hope I have not forgot, jn the ensuing work, this lesson which I have on every occasion been so solicitous to inculcate on others. It would have been almost impossible, on some texts which have fallen before me, especially in this third voUatic, not to have shown my sentiments on some points of discipline, in which, if they were not different from those which generally prevail, my known conduct in continuing among the Protestant Dissenters would be equally foolish and wicked. Yet, in handling these texts, I have not only conscientiously abstained from all reproaches, to which indeed I am on no occasion inclined, and which I should esteem peculiarly indecent where the religious establishment of my country is in question, and above all where a body of men would be affected, many of whom have been, and are, among the ablest advocates and brightest ornaments of our common Christianity ; but I have also been careful to adjust my expressions with as much tenderness and respect, as integrity and that reverence which an honest man would owe to the judgment of his own conscience, were it much more singular than mine, would admit. On these principles I have chosen to content my- self with giving what I take to be the true and genuine sense of the scripture in question, rather than to point out any society or body of men that seem to have mistaken it. I have also been obliged, in many of my interpretations, to differ from writers of various countries, and of various deno- minations in our own, whom I greatly esteem, and from whom, on other passages, I have received much light ; but I have in such cases been careful not to drop any severe word : as indeed I think, where we have reason to believe that a writer siiicerely intends to illustrate scripture, and to inform the world, he has so far at least a title to our candour and respect; though we may imagine him to be much mistaken in his judgment, and may think it our duty to endeavour to point out his mistake, and to guard others against it. I hope such a conduct will need no apology to the living writers with whom I have taken such a liberty ; nor shall I take it amiss to be animadverted upon by any of them with the same spirit : and, if I may by this means be led to rectify any mistakes into which I may have unwarily fallen, I hope I' shall be duly sensible of the obligation : For I esteem an endeavour to set a man right in religious opinions which we ourselves apprehend to be important, the second office of christian friendship, as that of attempting to reform his morals is undoubtedly the first. No offence will, I hope, be taken at the method I have thought myself obliged in honour and conscience to have recourse to, for solving some of the difficulties which have occurred, and which I knew not how to account for candidly any other way, than by supposing, that here and there our received reading hath varied from the original. 1 believe it will be allowed by every competent judge, that there is no one manuscript now in the world unexceptionably exact. And it is some satis- faction to me to reflect, that critics of the first character for modesty, piety, and orthodoxy, have not only made use of this expedient, but have abundantly justified it in their writings; among whom I cannot forbear mentioning those two justly celebrated critics, as well as accurate divines, Calvin and Beza ; the latter of which has expressed his sentiments on this head in so judicious, correct, and elegant a manner, that I cannot forbear inserting his own words at the bottom of the page, though I have had obvious reasons in this work for taking care not to load the margin with quotations from the learned languages.* I am sensible how much I am indebted to the public for the kind reception it was pleased to give to the two former volumes. I hope they who favoured them with their patronage and encouragement, and have an opportunity of perusing this, will find by what I now offer them, that the indulgence shown me, far from making me indolent, hath rather quick- ened my diligence. If God grant me life and health, I purpose concluding the whole in three volumes more ; in which I shall still endeavour, by the divine assistance, uprightly to illustrate what I in my conscience believe to be the true sense of the sacred writers ; and shall at the same time labour, to the utmost of that ability which God may give me, to elevate, to animate, and to unite the hearts of my fellow christians, that I may subserve the grand plan of the gospel, and give the most substantial proof that I have not studied its doctrines in vain. May I ever reap the first-fruits of the attempt in my own soul ! And if the slender and precarious thread of my life be cut short before, in the midst of so many other necessary employments, such a work can be completed, may God graciously accept a purpose with which I trust he has inspired a breast unfeignedly devoted to his service ! And may he in that case raise a much abler hand to execute a task, at the pros- pect of which, though after the preparation of more than twenty years, I feel a secret kind of terror, mingling itself with all the delight with which I am springing forward to undertake it! * Beza, ill his note on Acts vii. 14, wlien he proposes the conjectural emendation of irivlss instead of irsvls, adcjs, " Neque vero hujns erroris obser- " vatio qnenquam debet offendere, vel in diibium revocare verbi divini auctoritatera ; quum et ex HehrrFd veritale, ut diximus, emendetur, et salva " niliilominus, turn dnctrinae, turn etiani historise ipsius, fides permaneat ; et res ipsa clamat, non uno loco, temporis injuria, persecutionum acer- " bitate, adversariorum veritatis fraude, hajreticorum audacia, pastoruni denique inscitia et oscitantia, numerorum notas labefactari, et alia periou- " losiora in macros libros invebi potuisse -. Quae tainen erudili et sancti homines, turn ex aliorum locorum collatione, turn ex fidei analopia, partim " animadverterunt, et emcndarunt; partim etiani pusteris observanda, et corrigenda reliquerunt: Sic prospiciente suae ecclesise Dominu, \\t " quamvis integri non pauci libri interciderint, et errata de quibus dixi irrepserint, tamen salutis doctrinani totara his ipsis libris ccrtissime ct " verissinie comprehcnsani habeat ecclesia, et ad finem usque sa;culornm sit liabitura." Caivin on Matt, xxvii. 0. Harm. Evan. p. 354, speaking of the insertion of Jeremiah's name (as he thinks) for Zechariah's, says roundly, " Quo- " modo Hieremite nomen obrepserit, me neseire fateor, nee anxie lalioro. Certe HieremicE nnmen crrore posilum esse pro Zecha'ritl, res ipsa osten- " dit, quia nihil tale apud Hieremiam legitur, vel ctiam quod accedat." And on Acts vii. 16, where the name of Abraliam seems to be |)Ut for that of Jacob, lie says, " In nomine Abraha erratum esse palam est ; — (luare hie locus eorrigendus est." NORTHAMPTOX, December 11, 1746. POSTSCRIPT, SINCE I first published the two former volumes of the Family Expositor, I have taken the Harmony under an attentive review ; but though the publication of this volume, which has long since gone through the press to the end of tlie Chro- nological Table, has been delayed so many months beyond my expectation, yet during all this time I have not met with any convincing reasons for transposing one section of it. A variety of necessary engagements have prevented my taking the new and elaborate work of the Reverend Mr. Pilkington on this subject under that accurate examination wliich the learning, ingenuity, and candour apparent in it on the slightest review may well demand. I hope I shall soon have the pleasure of doing it, and shall receive much light and benefit from it. In the mean time, as a specimen of the readiness with which I shall make my acknowledgments on any such occasion, for farther instruction on subjects on which I tiave publicly delivered my own thoughts, I cannot but mention the great pleasure with wliich I liave traced the illustration which the account of our Lord's resurrection has received, from those very weighty and accurate observations which have been made upon it, with so much sagacity, delicacy, and candour, by Gilbert West, Esq. It is great satisfaction to me to find that we agree in several very important circumstances of the story, in which some late very ingenious writers on this subject have differed from us both ; as it likewise is to see, that several of those versions and criticisms which I had proposed and pleaded for, have the sanction of Mr. West's concurrence in them. But as this gentleman has advanced several very material things relating to this very important part of the Harmony of the Evangelists, which were wholly unthought of by me or any other commentators that I have per- used, and which also seem to carry along with them a very high degree of probability, in the happiest manner to agree with each other, and greatly to illustrate other scriptures, I shall here give my reader a brief view of Mr. West's scheme, referring to his invaluable work itself for a more particular account of it, as well as for a variety of most solid and important remarks relating to the evidences of this great fact, and of the truth of Christianity in genera], which is so inseparably connected with it. The scheme proposed there, so far as I can recollect it from an attentive penisal, is this : That during the time of our blessed Redeemer's lying in the grave, several of the pious women who had attended him from Galilee, together with some of their female friends and acqugiintance at Jerusalem, agreed to meet at his sepulchre, early on the morning of the third day, to embalm the body. Mary Magdalene, the other Mary, Salome, and Joanna, were principal persons in this appointment : The chief care of preparing, that is, pounding, mixing, and melting, the spices, was left to Joanna and her company, who were to be there about sun-rising ; whereas the two Maries, and Salome, (of whom Matthew and Mark chiefly write,) came thither tt^im, before the appointed time early in the morning, or as the day dawned, in order Saupriaai, to view the sepulchre, that they might judge whether they and their companions could be able to remove the stone which closed it, or whether it would be necessary to call in other assistance, as they then knew nothing of the guard which was set upon it. While these three women last mentioned were on their \vay, Jesus arose, when the angel had opened the sepulchre and struck the guards into amazement and consternation ; the con- sequence of which was, that some of them went to the Jewish rulers, and joined in contriving and propagating the senseless falsehood of the body's being stolen, and others went into -other parts of the city, and told the matter as it really was. In the mean time the angel disappeared, and Mary Magdalene approaching the sepulchre, discerned from some distance that the very large stone that stopped it was rolled away, and concluding from thence that the body was removed, left the other Mary and Salome to wait for Joanna and her company, while she herself ran to Peter and John to acquaint them with what she had discovered. While she was gone, these two (the other Mary and Salome) went toward the sepulchre, and entering into it, saw, to their great astonistiment, an angel, who told them that Jesus, whom he knew they sought, was not there, but was risen from the dead, and gave it them in charge to go and acquaint his disciples with it, and to let them know that he would give them a meeting in Galilee. The greatness of their consternation prevented them from saying any thing immediately to any one, even to some of thci': own company, who might pass and repass within their view at least, and so occasioned a delay which left room for some other circumstances. Just as they were on their return, Peter and John came, (perhaps passing by them at some distance,) and Mary Magdalene followed them. John at his first arrival only looked into the sepulchre ; but when Peter came and entered it, John went in too, and from the circumstances in which lie saw things, believed that Jesus was risen ; though the angel (who could appear or disappear at pleasure) did not render himself visible to either. They returned to the city, and Mary Magdalene, who was now alone, stooping down to look into the sepulchre, saw two angels : but (perhaps imagining they were young men, whom curiosity or accident might have brought thither) took little notice of them, and continued weeping in deep thought and distress, till Jesus appeared, and made himself known to her in those very remarkable words, John xx. 17. which Mr. West illustrates with some very peculiar observations.* Leaving her very suddenly, our Lord appeared to the other Mary and Salome, whom * Our autltor observes, tlmt fliis text, " I am not yet ascended," &c. comprehends in a few words a variety of most important hints, which have pot commonly been taken notice of in them ; particularly that our Lord intended by them to recall to the minds of his disciples the discourse he had with them three nif;hts before, in which he explained what he meant by going; to the Father ; (see John xvi. 2S.) and by twice using the word ascend, designed to intimate, that he was to go up to heaven, not merely in spirit, as the pious dead do, but by a corporeal motion and translation, and that it would be some time before he took his final leave of earth by this intended ascension : All which weighty expressions and predictions concur with a thousand other circumstances, to show how impossible it was that such an apprehended appearance should have merely the result of a disordered imagination ; a consideration which Mr. West illustrates at large, as he also does the mistaken apprehension of the disciples, who, when some of their companions, whose veracity they could not suspect, testified they had seen the Lord, thought his body was not risen, but that it was only his spirit that appeared to them ; which hint 1 mention as a key,,by means of which many passages in the Evangelists are explained in this work. POSTSCRIPT. he permitted to embrace his feet, comforted them under their fear, aad renewed the assurance the angel had given them, that he would meet his disciples in Galilee. While these things were passing at some distance, and the scene at the sepulchre was clear, Joanna and the women who brought the spices, (and of whom Luke only writes, ) came and en- tering into the sepulchre, at first saw no one in it, till the two angels, who a few minutes before had appeared to Mary Magdalene, made themselves visible to Joanna and her attendants, and assuring them of the resurrection of Jesus reminded them how it had been foretold by himself, with the previous circumstances of his sufferings, but gave them no charge concerning the information to be carried to the apostles ; that having been committed to the others. Yet (as it was natural to suppose they would) some of this second company ran to the city, and, by whatever accident it hap- pened, reached the eleven, and some other disciples who were with them, before the two Maries and Salome arrived telling them (which was all they could tell them) that they had seen a vision of angels, who asserted that Jesus was alive. Peter on this ran a second time to the sepulchre, (Luke xxiv. 12.) and not entering as before, but only stooping down and looking into it, he saw no angels, or any thing else, but ra oOovia KHfitva [lova, only the linen clothes lying there, on which he returned ; and just on his making that report, the two disciples who went that day to Emmaus, or some from whom they received their information, (Luke xxiv. 22 — 24.) left the place before the arrival of the two Maries and Salome ; who, retarded, as was hinted above, by some unknown accident, (perhaps by guessing wrong as to the place where they might find the largest company together,) at last, however, reached them, and made abundant satisfaction for the little delay, (for all might perhaps have passed in an hour,) by assuring them, not only that they also had seen an angel who informed them of their Lord's resurrection, but that Jesus himself had appeared .to them, and had even permitted himself to iTe touched by two of them. This is Mr. West's scheme of this important story ; and the reader will easily perceive, that it chiefly differs from mine in these two circumstances : — That it supposes the women to have made two different visits to the sepulchre, and in consequence of that, two distinct reports ; whereas mine unites them (though I do not suppose they all came together, but that they met there :) And that it also makes Peter to have run to it twice, of which I now think there can be no reasonable doubt, though I before incorporated Luke's account with that of John, relating to his running thither with John on Mary Magdalene's first report. On the whole, whatever embarrassments some may apprehend, I am fully convinced that the scheme I have offered in ray Harmony will fully acquit the Evangelists from any charge of absurdity or contradiction ; and I think it far preferable to any other method of adjusting them which I ever met with before or since the publication, till this piece of Mr. West came info my hands ; But his plan, though not altogether clear of some difficulties, (especially from the connection of the 1st and 10th verses of the xxivth of Luke with the intermediate,) yet seems on the whole to have so many advantages, that I am inclined to acquiesce in it. I doubt not but those of my readers who have not read the ingenious piece from which this extract is taken, will be glad to find it here, and will take the first opportunity of per- using the book itself, in which they will find a variety of other excellent remarks. I cannot conclude without recom- mending it to the divine blessing, and declaring my joy, that so able and worthy a defender of Christianity is risen up, in a rank of life which leaves no room for insinuating any suspicion of those secular views to which some, who may perhaps judge of others by what they know of their own low principles of action, may be ready ungenerously, and in many instances ridiculously, to impute those efl'orts, which the ministers of the gospel are so frequently making for its vindication. Since all the preceding part of this Postscript was written, the world has been blessed with another admirable pro- duction of this kind, from the pen of one of the politest of writers and worthiest of men, who is lately become the public advocate of that religion to which he has much longer been a distinguished ornament. Many of my readers will undoubtedly know, that I refer to the Observations o?i the Conversion and Apostkship of St. Paul, by the Honour- able George Lyttleton, one of the Lords of the Treasury ; a piece, if I may presume to give my opinion of it, as perfect in its kind as any our age has produced. I cannot but greatly regret, that I have not the opportunity of enriching my notes on the Acts with several of this gentleman's judicious and entertaining remarks, which I shall not fail to attempt, if a second edition should be required. In the mean time, I mention it here, that no one who has it in his power may lose the pleasure and benefit of perusing that masterly treatise ; in which he will find a most compendious yet unanswerable demonstration of Christianity, proposed in so clear, elegant, and nervous a manner, with such intermingled traces of the author's excellent heart, that he must surely be among the most perfect, or the most unteachable of mair- kind, who is not greatly instructed and edified by it. October 2S,\1A1. PREFACE TO THE FOURTH VOLUME OF THE ORIGINAL EDITION COMMENCING WITH THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS. After what I have said concerning this work, in the prefaces to the former volumes, I have little to add, but what re- lates to the manner in which I have endeavoured to conduct this part upon the Epistles ; which, 1 bless God, he has carried nae through, and thank the public they4iave so kindly encouraged. As far as I know mj'self, I have no favourite hypothesis to serve, nor a fondness for any unscriptural phrases ; in which so many have, on one side and the other, made the very being of orthodoxy to consist. 1 have been disposed to let Scripture carry me along with it, wherever it naturally leads, rather than resolve it should follow me. Instead of labour- ing to establish any particular liuman system, which has always, 1 fear, a leaven of imperfection attending it, I have en- deavoured to keep controversy as much out of sight as possible, and to represent what I verily believe to be the scripture- doctrine, in as simple a manner as I could, and divested of those particular expressions, which some, who perhaps are not averse to the main doctrine itself, are ready to rise up against. But I have not the vanity to hope I have escaped all prejudice. Where it has been manifested, may God pardon it, may my brethren excuse it, and may divine illumination, more plentifully imparted, preserve others from being led into any errors into which I may have fallen ! I hope it will be deemed no matter of just offence, that I have not always critically examined those interpretations, ■which, as seeming less natural, I have declined. It had been endless, amidst such a variety of sentiments and explications, to have done this. Some commentators have darkened these Epistles so much, that I am sensible St. Paul's writings are best explained, by keeping their glosses as much as possible out of sight. I have therefore frequently passed them over, as if I had never heard or known them. And if any should impute this to ignorance, I wish they had happened to be in the right ; as it had been the saving a great deal of important time, not to have known the manner in which these writings have been tortured, to serve and save a favourite hypothesis. It has seemed reasonable to me, when the text and context will bear two interpretations, to prefer that which gives the noblest and most extensive sense, and might make the passage in question most universally useful. And I hope this general apology will be sufficient. If I have been less sanguine than some would chuse, let it be forgiven. I wrote with fear and trembling, when I consi- dered the favourable reception which the former volumes had met with, and that these which I now publisli might probably follow them over a considerable part of the protestant world : a testimony, I hope, that they breathed a spirit of piety, rather than party ; and a reason for caution in these, that an air of authority might not mislead, or of rashness offend. I have endeavoured to guard against excessive length in the Paraphrase ; and so much the rather, as St. Paul's sentences are often so long, that I feared I should otherwise have obscured the sense, rather than illustrated it ; and have rendered one of the liveliest writers in the world (for such undoubtedly St. Paul is) tedious to the reader. To avoid this, I have often broke one sentence of the text into two or three in the Paraphrase ; and have had a great deal of work in the review, to correct the obscurity, which was the natural consequence of following one leading thought. I have aimed at making the Improvements naturally arise out of, and follow the scriptures illustrated; and by tracing the temper of the apostles, under the influence of the great truths they are inculcating, to produce correspondent affections in my own heart. I have endeavoured that the mind of the reader, more attentive perhaps at first to the critical sense, maybe led iato the practical use, which, plain as it generally is, is indeed the end of all, and, alas! the hardest of all to teach. I have preferred plain and useful reflections to those which might have been curious and surprising ; and proposed those lessons which I would be most desirous to impress upon my own heart. When this work is read in the families or closets of any who practise //-ee prai/er, I would desire them to observe, how naturally the several Improvements will furnish them with proper materials for this important and delightful exercise ; and by such a use of them, their hearts may be more powerfully impressed with the truths illustrated, and the duties recom- mended. In this view, I have in some of them suffered my thoughts, while warmed with serious and devout meditation, to breathe forth the language of prayer and praise ; which may furnish ray fellow christians with a specimen of the manner in which most of them may be converted into direct addresses to God. Upon the whole, the design of this work is not to proselyte men to human names, nor to reconcile them to this or the other discriminating phrase; which, in the mouth of one, may be truth and propriety, and in the mouth of another, false- hood and nonsense ; according as any idea or none, a just or a wrong idea, may be affixed to them. Nor is my design to influence christians to worship here or there — my design is to let into the heart the great sentiments of Christianity, and to ' convey them there as warmly and strongly as I could. And I hope God will graciously reward the faithful care with which I have consulted the honour of my sacred guide, by making it the means of spreading true religion, and nourishing many souls in fervent piety, brotherly love, and universal goodness. Amen. PHILIP DODDRIDGE. DIRECTIONS READING THE FAMILY EXPOSITOR. As to the manner of reading tliis hook in famihcs, I would advise as follows : — First let the passage of scripture he read from the common translation in the inner column, nnless the family have their Bibles before them : then read the New Version by itself, which is interwoven with the Paraphrase, but distinguished by the Italic character ; and then the Paraphrase and Improvement. As for the Notes, I should advise the person ^vho officiates, to select such as are of most general concern, and read them after the paragraph to which they belong : for it is not so agreeable to inter- rupt the sense by introducing them before it is completed. Other notes may perhaps be more fitly made matter of conversation afterwards : but this is referred to the prudence of particular persons, who will judge with a regard to the state and character of the families in question. In reading the Compound Text, it may be observed, that the words of the several Evangelists are distinguished by crotchets, thus [ ] ; and the clauses included within them are always marked with the name of the Evangelist from whom they are taken, uidess a single text only be added at the end of the verse, to which they must of course belong; or, where more texts than one are added, the crotchets which have nothing to distinguish them belong to the first. I am pleased to think with how much ease any attentive reader will distinguish the Text itself from the Paraphrase, in consequence of the extraordinary care which hath been taken to keep the work in that particular remarkably correct ; for which, I am obliged to pay my public and most thankful acknowledgments to my worthy brother and friend, the Reverend Mr. Godwin, who generously undertook the great trouble, not only of revising each sheet as it came from the press, but also of inspecting the manuscript before it went thither, and of making several important altera- tions in it, very much for the better ; of which I should have been ready to have given a more particular account, if his modesty and goodness would have permitted it. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER, BY THE EDITOR. PREFIXED TO THE SIXTH VOLUME OF THE ORIGINAL EDITION. The author of this work had written upon the title of that manuscript volume which contained the Epistle to' the Romans, the following direction : — " N. B. If I die before this work is finished, as it " is most probable I shall, I desire that it may be transcribed, as far as it goes, by Mr. Orton ; and " that he would add such notes as he shall judge most proper, from my written critical notes on the " Epistles ; and that it may be printed, by subscription, in one, two, or three volumes, as shall be "judged most convenient, and according to the progress which Providence may permit me to make " in it. Jan. 1, 174G-7." — I think it therefore incumbent upon me to inform the subscribers what progress the author had made in this work, and what has been done to it since his death, in order to remove those suspicions which often arise concerning the authenticity of posthumous works. When it pleased God to put a period to the author's life and labours, he had finished his Paraphrase and Improvement of the epistolary part of the New Testament, and of the book of the Revelation, and fairly wrote it out in short-hand ; and had added the principal notes which he intended to publish. At the end of the manuscript volume containing the Revelation, he had wrote, " Through the good " hand of God upon me, which I desire most thankfully to acknowledge, I ended the first copy *' of the Family Expositor, Dec. 31, 1748. exactly two years after I began to write upon the " Romans: having pursued it, during that time, without the interruption of one single day: such " health and such resolution did it please God to give me, amidst the various scenes of business, " danger, and amusement, through which I passed ! May his grace raise to himself a monument " of praise from this feeble etlort to explain, illustrate, and enforce his word !" And under, — " I " ended my Notes on the books I had thus paraphrased and improved, Aug. 21, 1749. having " daily pursued the work in like manner, whether at home or abroad." — He had transcribed for the press, the Paraphrase, Improvements, and Notes, of the two first volumes, as now published ; the Paraphrase and Improvements of the Epistle to the Hebrews, and the two first epistles of John. The Notes on these three Epistles, together with the Paraphrase, Improvements, and Notes, on the remaining Epistles, and the Revelation, were transcribed from his short-hand copy by my own hand, or under my inspection, by some of his pupils ; and I carefully revised the transcript several times, and compared it with his short-hand copy. — I can assure the subscribers, that the utmost caution has been used, that no one sentiment of the author should be suppressed or changed, and only such expressions varied, as to avoid tautology, and for the sake of perspicuity and accuracy, it might be presumed the author would have varied, had he transcribed this part of the work, and given it his finishing hand. In the margin of the short-hand copy, he had wrote hints of some alterations to be made in the phraseology and length of some sentences, as well as of notes he intended to add when he transcribed it for the press. I have endeavoured to follow these hints in the best manner I could ; and accordingly a few notes have been added to vindicate or illustrate his Version or Paraphrase, and references inserted to other critics ; most of which were taken from his notes, according to the direction mentioned above. On the whole, I hope the attentive reader who is acquainted with his style and sj)irit, will discover nothing in the latter part of the work unsuitable to either ; and will join with me in thankfulness to God, who spared his life till he had completed this important and useful undertaking. ADVERTISEMENT. There is one occurrence relating to it, which my own judgment, and that of many of the author's friends, forbid me to conceal, and the rather, because it has been greatly misrepresented. During the author's life, (in June 1750,) a hre, occasioned by a wax candle being left on his writing-desk, broke out in his study, and consumed many of his papers, and part of one volume of the short-hand copy of this work ; but the light of the fire being providentially discovered by an opposite neighbour, who gave an immediate alarm, it was speedily extinguished. When the author was informeil of the accident, he seemed most anxious about the preservation of this manuscript ; and when the flames were extinguished, to his great joy and surprise, it appeared that the part of this volume, and that only which was destroyed, had been transcribed, and the transcript lay in another place out of danger, and all the untranscribed pages were perfectly legible, and only the edges of them singed. Being an eye-w itness of the danger and deliverance, 1 record this account of it, partly for the satisfac- tion of the subscribers with regard to the exaggerated report, but chiefly as it seems to denote a particular care of Providence in preserving this work, and a favourable omen, that God intends it for extensive and lasting usefulness. " Whoso is wise, and will observe such things, even they shall " understand the loving-kindness of the Lord." Psal. cvii. 43. In the name of the author's family, I heartily thank the subscribers for their encouragement of this Work, and the gentlemen who have kindly superintended the press ; and I pray that it may answer those pious and benevolent ends for which it was composed and is now published. J. ORTON.. Sat.op. Nov. 21, 1735. TABLE OF THE SECTIONS IN THEIR ORDER, SHOWING THE DISPOSITION OF THE HARMONY. MATTHliW. i. 18, (id fin. i. 1-17 ii. 1—12 li. ]S,ad fin. iii. 1-rt iii. 7—12 iii. 13, (id fin. iv. 1—11 iv. 13—22 vlii. 11, 15 iv. 23, ad fin. viii. 16, 17 V. 1—1 1) V. 17-26 V. 27, ad fin. vi. 1—18' vi. IP, ad fii. vii. 1—20 vii 21, ad fin viii. 1 — 4 ix. 2—9 xii. 1—8 xii. 9—15 xii. 15—21 xi. 2—0 xi. 7—19 xi. 20, ad fin. xii. 22—32 xii. 3.!— .37 xii. 38—15 i. 1—6 i. 7, 8 i. 9—11 i. 12, i;: '•. 14, 15 i. 16—20 i. 21—31 i. 32—39 i. 40, nd fin. li. 1—14 " 2.3, ad fin. 1—7 7-12 l.i— 19. i. 1—4 i. 5—25 i. 26—38 i. 39—56 i. 57—06 i. 67, ad fin. iii. 23, ad fin. ii. 1—21 ii. 22—39 40, ad /in. . 1—6 1. 7—18 . 21—23 . 1—13 . 1 1—30 31—32 I — 11 . 33—39 . 40, ad fin. V. 12—16 V. 17—28 vi. 1—5 vi. 6—11 vi. 12—19 vi. 20—30 vi. 37, ad fin vii. 1 — 10 vii. 11—17 vii. 18—23 vii. 24—35 \ii. 30, ad fin viii. 1-3 xi. 14, 15 17—23 xi. 27,28 xi. 16, 21, 26, 29—32 JOHN. SKCT. MATTHEW. MARK. LUK!:. JOHN. 64 xii. 40, ad fui .li. 31, ad fin. xi 3.3—30 i. 1 — 14 viii. 19—21 — 65 xiii. 1-17 IV. 1—12 viii. 4—10 — 06 xiii. 18—23 iv. 13—25 viii. 11—18 — — 07 xiii. 24—30 — — — — 36—43 — 68 xiii. 31—35 IV. 20—34 — — — 44—53 — 09 viii. 18—27 IV. 35, ad fin. viii. 22 — 25 — — ix. 57, ad fin. — 70 viii. 28, ad fin. V. 1—21 viii. 26— 40 — — ix. I 71 IX. 10—17 ii. 15—22 v. 29, ad fin. 72 ix. 18—34 v. 22, ad fin. viii. 41, udfin. — -- 73 xiii. .54, ad fin. vi. 1-0 — — — IX. 35, ad fin. i. 15—18 74 i. 1—15 vi. 7— U ix. 1—5 — — 75 X. 16-28 — — — 70 x. 29, ad fin. vi. 12, 13 ix. 6 — i. 19—28 xi. 1 1. 29—42 77 xiv. 1,2,6—12 vi. 14—29 ix. 7—9 — i 43, lid fin. 78 xiv. 13—23 vi. 30—46 ix. 10—17 vi. 1—15 ii. 1 — 11 ' 79 xiv. 24, ad fin. vi. 47, ad fin — vi. 1(3—21 ii. 12, ad fin. 80 — — — vi. 22-40 iii. 1 — 10 81 — — — ^ vi. 41— .58 iii 11—21 82 — — — ' vi. 59, ad fin. ill. 22, ad fin. 83 XV. 1—9 vii. 1—13 — — — 84 XV. U»— 20 vii. 11—23 — — iv. 1-26 85 XV. 21—29 vii. 24, ad fin. — — iv. 27—42 80 XV. 30, ad fin. viii. 1—10 — — iv. 43, ad fin. 87 xvi. 1—12 viii. 11—21 — — 88 xvi. 13—20 viii. 22—30 ix. 18—21 — . 89 xvi. 21, ad fin viii. 31, ad fin. ix. 22—27 — ix. 1 90 xvii. 1—13 ix.2— 13 ix. 28—36 — 91 xvii. 14—21 ix. \4—-^9 ix. 37—43 — 92 XV li 2% ail fin ix. 30—33 ix. 43—45 — — 93 xviii. 1—9' ix. 33—37 42, ad fin. ix.46— 48 — ~ 94 xviii. 10- 2r) _ 95 X\ i li. 21, «(/./''! . — — — 9ti . — ix. 38-41 ix. 49,50 — 97 — — X. 1-10 — 98 — — — vii. 1—13 99 — vii. 14—24 KM) — — — vii, 2.5—30 V. 1—16 101 — — — vii. 37, udfui. V. 17—30 IU2 — — — viii. 1 — 11 V. 31, ad fin. 103 — — — Vlii. 12—29 1(14 — — — viii. 30—47 1(15 — — — viii. 4S, ad fin. 100 — — X. 17—24 — 107 — — X. 25 — 37 — 108 — — X. 38, ad fin. — 109 — — xi. 1—13 — 110 — — xi. 37, ad fin. — 111 — xii. 1—12 — U2 xii. 13—21 — 113 — — Xii. 22-34 — ~ 114 — xii. 35—48 — 115 — — xii. 49. ad fin. — III) — — xiii. 1-9 — 117 — xiii. 10—22 — 118 — — siii IX ad fin. — 119 — — XIV. 1—14 — 120 xiv 15—24 — — 121 — — xiv. 25, ad fin. ~~ A TABLE OF THE SECTIONS IN THl'lR ORDER, &c. SECT. MATTHEW. MARK. LUKE. JOHN. SECT. MATTHEW. MARK. LUKE. JOHN. J 22 XV. 1—10 167 xxvi. 1 — 5 xiv. 1,2,10,11 xxi. 31, ad fin. 123 XV. 11, adfin^ — 14—16 xxii. 1—6 124 — — xvi. 1—18 — lliS xxvi. 17—20 xiv. 12—17 xxii. 7—18 xiii. 1 125 — _- xvi. 19, adfin. — ii;9 — — xxii. 24—27 xiii. 2, 3—17 12f! '— xvii. 1 — 11 — 170 xxvi. 21—25 xiv. 18—21 xxii. 21—23 xiii. 2, 18—30 127 ix. 51— .56 — 28—30 xvii, 12—19 171 — — • xxii. 31—34 xiii. 3t, adfin. 128 xvii. 20,adfin. — 172 xxvi. 26—30 xiv. 22—26 xxii. 19, 20 — 12l> — — xviii. 1—14 — 173 — — xxii. 35 — 38 xiv. 1—14 130 — — — ix. 1—23 174 — — xiv. 15, adfin. l.il ix. 24—38 175 — XV. 1—11 132 — — — ix. 39, ad fill. 170 — — — XV. 12, adfin. X. 1—10 177 — — — xvi. 1—15 13.3 X. 11—21 178 xvi. 16, adfin. 134 — X. 22, adfin. 179 — — xvii. 1 — 12 13.5 xix. 1—12 X. 1 — 12 — — 180 — — — xvii. 13, adfm. 136 XIX. 13 — 15 X. 13—16 xviii. 1.5—17 — 181 xxvi. 31— .35 xiv. 27—31 xxii. 39 xviii. 1 137 xix. 16, ad fin. X. 17—31 xviii. 18—30 — 182 xxvi. 36 — 46 xiv. 32—42 xxii. 40— 46 — 138 XX. 1—16 — 183 xxvi. 47—56 xiv. 43—52 xxii. 47—53 xviii. 2—12 139 — xi. 1-16 184 xxvi. 57, 58, xiv.53, .54, 66, xxii. 64—62 XMii. 13—18, 140 — — xi. 17— 4.j 69, adfin. ad fin. 24—27 141 — — xi. 47, ad fin 185 xxvi. .59—08 xiv. 55 — 65 xxii 63, adfin. xviii. 19-23,28 142 XX. 17— :^8 X. 32—46 xviii. 31—34 — 186 xxvii. 1, 2, XV. 1—5 xxiii. 1: — 4 xviii. 28—38 143 XX. 29, ad fill. X. 40, ud fin. xviii. Soadfin. — 11 — 14 xix. 1—10 187 xxvii. 15-18, XV. 6—14 xxiii. ,5 — 23 xviii. 39,arf/rt. 144 xix. 11—28 — 20—23 145 xxvi. 6—13 xiv. 3—9 — xii. I— 11 188 xxvii. 19, XV. 15—29 xxiii. 24, 25 xix. 1—16 14(j XX i. 1—9 xi. )- 10 xix. 29—40 xii. 12— !9 24—31 147 xxi. 10—16 xi. 11 xix. 41, adfin. — 189 xxvii. 32—34, XV. 21— 23,25, xxiii. 20—34 xix. 16—18 148 xxi. 17 xi. 11 xii. 20—30 38 27, 28 149 xxi. 18, 19. xi. 12—14 xii. 37—43 190 xxvii. 35—37, XV. 24,20, xxiii. 34—43 xix. 19—24 150 xi. 15—19 xii. 44, ad fin. 39—44 29—32 151 xxi. 20—32 xi. 20, ad fin. XX. 1—9 — 191 xxvii. 45 — 54 XV. 33—3!,' . xxiii. 44—48 xix. 25—30 xii. I 192 xxvii. 55— 61 XV. 40, ad fin. ■K-s.\\\.i9,adfin. xix. 31, adfin. 152 xxi. 3.3, ad fin. xii. 1—12 XX. 9—19 — 193 xxvii. 3—10, — — 153 xxii. 1—14 — — 02, adfin 154 xxii. 1.5—22 xii. 13—17 XX. 20—26 — 194 xxviii. 1—4 xvi. I — 4 xxiv. I, 2, 12 XX. 1—17 165 xxii. 23—33 xii. 18-27 XX. 27—40 — 195 xxviii. 5 — 10 xvi. 2—5—11 xxiv. 3—11 X.X. 18 156 xxii. 34 a J fin. xii. 28—37 XX. 41— 44 — 196 xxviii. 11 — 15 xvi. 12,13 — — 157 xxiii. 1—22 xii. 38—40 XX. 45, ad fin. — 197 — — xxiv. 13—33 — 158 KV.\\\.2'3,adfin. — . — IPS — xvi. 14 xxiv. 33—43 XX. 19—23 159 — xii. 41, adfin. xxi. 1 — 1 — 199 — — — XX 24—29 160 xxiv. 1 — 14 xiii. 1 — 13 xxi. 5—19 — 200 — — — xxi. 1—14 161 xxiv. 1.5-28 xiii. 14—23 xxi. 2L>— 24 — 201 — — xxi. 1.5—24 162 xxi-v. 20—36 xiii. 2 J— 32 xxi. 25—33 — 202 xxviii. 10, ad xvi. 15— 18 xxiv. 14 — 49 Acts i. 2, 3 iU3 \xiv.37,a(/7Jfl xiii. 33, adfin. xxi. 34—36 — fin. 164 XXV. 1-13 — — 203 xvi. 19, adfin. xxiv. 50, ad XX. 30, ad fin. 165 XXV. 14—30 _ — fin. xxi. ult. 166 XXV. 31 ad fin — — Acts i. 4—12. THE FAMILY EXPOSIT THE FORMER PART OF THE HISTORY OF CHRIST, AS RECORDED BY THE EVANGELISTS. SECTION I. LUKE'S PREFACE TO HIS HISTORY, DEDICATED TO THEOPHILUS, A CHRISTIAN FRIEND, WHOSE COMFORT AND ESTABLISHMENT HE WAS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED. LUKE i. VER. 1 — 4 LcKEi. Ver. 1. Luke i. Ver. 1. Forasmuch as many WHEREAS many have undertaken'' to compose the history" of those important SECT. forth i*nor.Hf^rM''i, that I cannot think this text it all to the purpose, a severe censure on the now unknown compilers of these histories. The argument I mention, is one of those, which, like pieces of whoever they were. Euseb. Eccles. Hist. lib. iii. cap. 24. superfluous armour, encumber rather than defend ; and the more I b To compose the history.] To set forth in order a declaration, am concerned about the cc.nclusion, here or elsewhere, the more is so antiquated a phrase, that it would hardly be understood any cautious shall I always be, that I may not draw it from such where but here ; at least I am sure, none could, by reading it, so premises. , much as guess at the elegance and propriety of St. Luke's' words, g To write an orderly account of them, x^tJc^n? mi yfx-l the exact and certain truth of those things, in which know the certainty of those LUKE thou hast formerly been instructed' by those who were the happy inshtiments of initiat- beMTmsrructed" ''^^* I- ing thee into the Christian faith ; and I am persuaded, thou wilt be greatly confinned in it, by the attentive perusal of that history, with wliich I here present thee. IMPROVEMENT. Let us humbly adore the divine goodness, that facts of so great importance, as tliese now to be laid before us, vi'ere not left to the uncertainty of oral tradition ; but delivered to the church in writing, by persons who had so Ver. 2 many opportunities of learning the truth, and have given such full proof of their integrity in relating it. Let us be thankful, tliat we have not only one such history, but that several imdertook this excellent and necessary work, by whose 'united testimony the whole is confirmed ; while it is also illustrated by the variety of theii- nar- 1 rations, each inserting some considerable circumstance v/liich the rest have omitted. Let us rejoice in that provi- dential care, which hath preserved this invaluable treasure through so many succeeding ages, and some of them periods of the grossest darkness, and the hottest persecution. 3 While we study tliis orderly series of sacred story, let u^ be concerned, that our faith may be established by it, and our other graces proportionably advanced ; maintaining a continual dependence on that blessed Spirit, by whose instmction it was written, to lead us into wise and pious reflections upon it. To conclude ; fi'om tlie care which this holy Evangelist expresseth, for the editication and comfort of his friend 4 Theophilus, let us learn to regard it as one of the most important offices of friendship, to labour for the spiritual advantage of each other ; by endeavouring, not only to awaken and instruct those that are entirely unacquainted or unaifected with divine things, but also, as we have opportunity, to confirm the faith, and quicken the zeal, of the most established Christians with whom we converse. Happy the men, whose tongues, and wliose pens, are employed in so good a work : may they never, in the remotest ages, fail of some excellent Theophilus, to welcome and encourage their pious attempts ! SECT 2. JOHN i. SECTION II. St. John begins his Gospel with a very sublime and emphatical account of the deity and incarnation of Christ ; and of those glorious rind important purposes, for which he condescended to appear among us in the human nature. Jolin i. 1 — 14. John i. 1. In the beginning, before the foundation of the world, or tlie first production of any j^ ^^^ be-iLhi- w-., the created being, a glorious person existed, who (on account of the perfections of his nature, y/ord,'^ amf the"-\Vonl' was and his being in time the medium of divine manifestations to u?,) may properly be called with God, a the Word of God.^ And the Word was originally with God, the father of all ; so that to ''"« ^''^■ him the words of Solomon might justly be applied, Prov. viii. 30. " He was by him, as one brought up with Irim, and was daily his delight." Nay, by a generation v.hich none can declare, and an union which none can fully conceive, the Word was himself God,^ that is, 2 possessed of a nature truly and properly divine. I repeat it again, that the condescension of his incarnation may be more attentively considered, this divine [Word] was in the very beginning with God, and by viitue of his most intimate union with liim, was possessed and tl'.e ^Yon\ 2 The same was in the beginning with God. h O most noble J'heophilus.'] That Theophilus is the name of a particular person, eminent in the church in those early days, and not, (as Salvian thought it,) a general title applicable to every Christian as a lover of God, Dr. Whitby, after many others, hath abundantly proved. What his rank in life was, we do not indeed certainly know ; but it seems, that it was pretty consider- able, for K^xnm was then, as Excellency among us is, a title of honour and respect usual in addressing noble personages : (See Acts xxiii. 26. xxiv. .3. xxvi. 25.) And it might with some peculiar propriety be applied here, as Theophilus was so worthy the name he bore, which signifies a true lover of God. i Hast been instructed, Tsei wv xalnpcn^ns.] The word doth with great accuracy express the instructions given to those who were training up for an admission to the Christian Church ; whose name of Catechumens was, as it is well known, derived from hence, and applied, without any particular regard to the age of the persons concerned. Compare Acts xviii. 25. Rom. ii. 18. I endeavour to express this in the paraphrase, but it would be very improper to use the English word which most literally answers to the Greek, because that is now almost wholly appro- priated to children. a ne word of God.} The Greek Lo/jos is now become so familiar to an English ear, that I doubt not lj\it most ot my readers would have understood me, had I retained it in my translation ; which, on account of the singularity of the idea here signified by it, I should have done, had I not feared it might liave been unintelligible to a few at least, and so have impaired the pleasure they might find in so excellent a passage. I know that some of the Fathers render Logos, Reason, as M. Le Clerc doth ; though I apprehend they mean it in a very different sense from him, who seems to understand it only as a strong Eastern phrase, to signify the consummate wisdom of the Gospel scheme. See his Harmony, p. 44. But this will entirely enervate, and destroy the sense of ver. 14, as well as of those texts which speak of Christ's coming out from God, enjoijing glory with him before the world was, c^-c. b The Word was God.'] T know how eagerly many have con- tended, that the word God is used here in an inferior sense; the necessary consequence of which is, (as indeed some have expressly avowed it,) that this clause sliould be rendered, the Word was a God, that is, a kind of inferior deity, as governors are called gods. See .Tohn x. 34. and 1 Cor. viii. 5. But it is impossible he should here be so called merely as a governor, because he is spoken of as existing before the production of any creatures whom he could govern : and it is to me most incredible, tlmt when the Jews were so exceeding averse to idolatry, and the Gentiles so unhappily prone to it, such a plain writer as this apostle should lay so dangerous a stumbling-block on the very threshold of his work, and represent it as the Christian doctrine, that in the beginning of all things there were tivo Gods, one supreme, and the other subordinate : a difficulty which, if possible, would be farther increased, by recollecting what so many ancient v/riters assert, that tliis Gospel was written with a particular view of opposing the Corinthians and Ebionites ; (See Iren. I. i. c. 20. /. iii. c. 11. Euscb. Eccl. Hist. I. vi. c. 14.) on which account a greater accuracy of expression must have been necessary. There are so many instances in the writings of this apostle, and even in this chapter, (see ver. 6, 12, 13, 18.) where ©so; without the article is used to signify God in the highest sense of the word, that it is something surprising, such a stress should belaid on the want of that article, as a proof' that it is used only in a subordinate sense.— On the other hand, to conceive of Christ as a distinct and co-ordinate God, would be equally inconsistent with the most express declarations of Scripture, and far more irreconcileable with reason. Nothing I have said above, can by any means be justly interpreted in such a sense : and I here solemnly disclaim the least intention of insinuating one thought of that kfnd, by any thing I have ever written, here or elsewhere.— The order of the words in the original, (©£w m o Xoyo;) is such, that some have thought the clause might more exactly be translated, God was the word. But there are almost every where so many instances of such a coustvuction, as our version supposes, that I chose rather fr John. TH£ WORLD WAS RIADE BY HIM, YET KNEW HIM NOT. 3 3 All thiiig^ were made yf infiuite glory and felicity. And when it pleased God to begin his work of cix-ation, s£CT. wL'"imt li" y Twd^" ma'o/« God; of whose miraculous conception and important ministry a more particular account i= elsewhere 7 The same came for a given : but here it may be sufficient to observe in general, that though he was liimself, in 7 witness, to bear witness of ^jj inferior sense, " a burning and shinLag light :" (compare John v. 35.) yet he ca?ne only the Li'dit, tnat ail men j „ i . c ° ^ ^ a- Z Sl i L ■ n ' fj- • tiirou'^lT lilm inio-ht be- Under the character 01 a servant, and for a witness, that he m/ght lestifi concerning lieve. Christ, the true light, that all who heard his discourses, might bjj his means be engaged 8 He was not that Light, to believe and follow that divine illumination. And accordingly he most readily con- g but ?ra« s.°«; to bear wit- fegged, that he himself was not that light, but only [cajne'] to bear witness concerning 9 That was the true it. T/^e //'we //o-//^ of which he spake, ■ii'flj Christ,s even M(7!f sun of righteousness and 9 Light which lighteth every jjource of truth, which, comimr into the world, enlighteneth every man^ dispereing his man rtat cometh mto the y^^^^ ^^ j^ ^.^^^^ fj,oj^ ^j^g g^^j pf ^^g heavens to the Other, to the Gentile world, which 10 He was in the world, was iii midnight darkness, as well as to the Jews, who enjoyed but a kind of twilight. lie jq bv^him ^nd*^ the^ worfd "^^^ '" '^^ world in a human form; and though the world was made by him,'^ yet the knew him not. world knew and acknowledged him not. Yea, he came into his own [territories,'] even to follow if, than to vary from it unnecessarily, in this important thing different from our reading and version, " BdinlJ, I am ; I passage.— I am deeply sensible of the sublime and mysterious "■ ivill send my angel before thy Jface to keep thee in t lie way.'" Fnv nature of the doctrine of Christ's deity, as here declared : but it xari ufep x. t. x. rx /jL-y f.vrllx,r3 Si 9£i3t, (a remarkable distribution) would be quite foreign to my purpose to enter into a large discus- ws sroi/- 2iS, to which add. Dr. Pearson on the f Did not apprehend it, ]riv. I insert this, as a key to a great many other cularly levelled against the Gnosticks, who maintained that the passages in Philo ; and shall only mention one more : f De Agri- world was made by an evil Genius ; and that the God of the Old cult. p. 195.) Where he represents God, as "vgoverning the whole Testament, and the New, were difl'erent and contrary persons. It *' course of nature both in heaven and earth, as the great Shepherd is certain, that Irenceus, and several others of the fathers, with "and King, by wise and righteous laws; having constituted his great propriety, have urged this text against that mad notion. " unerrinsr Word, his only-begotten Son, to preside as his viceroy Eusebius exposes these wretches in a very just and lively manner, " over this holy flock :" for the illustration of which he quotes and makes use of words which, if he had been our contemporary, those remarkable words, Exod. xxiii. 23, thougli in a form some- might have seemed directly levelled at a late unhappy writer, who (scil. ■?uy3!^t£l■f Troinrixi; x»i (3afTi\ix>js) AOPOS ©EIOS, ei5 cpxrnv oux r;>.9£v liEOv, a^c /j.T,Sf)i r:cv xxr' aiiJnTiv e/xJe^j at, aXX' xum £:x;:v vvx^x'-^-v Ceov, T-c'vvo^rwva:77a^ a7rxvT:Jvo rT^EjCyrjelo?, OEyyvro^s, fj.r.Sivt5 ovtos /xt^^iou SiXTrn- U.xr.s, TOT MOXOT 0 EJnv x-\,ivSiiS afiSpVfj.vm^. Aiytrxi 7*5, AaX»:Jw ffoi a/i.9EV roy \Xx'jrr,pi^j x-^x ^£«v tu^ Suotv Xe{8?eiu* wt9' nyic^ov /xsv Eivai r.'-.v SvvxpLZ'My TOV .\OrON, etto^ov Si rov X-tXoyvTa:, EmxEXEUo^tEvov tw ?5Vioxw rx :^p9; 4 THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US. SECT, to Ihe Jewish nation, which was under such distinguished obhgations to him, and to whom ii lie came unto his o«r. 2. he had been so expressly promised as their great Messiah ; yet his own [peoplcl did 7wt ^'"* '"« own received lum receive him^ as they ought ; but on the contrary treated him in the most contemptuous JOHN and ungrateful manner. Nevertheless the detriment was theirs, and it was indeed un- i'2 Kut as many as re- '• speakably great to them ; for to as mam/ as received him, and by a firm and lively faith he'^powe™'to''become^the believed on his luxrne, \even'\ to all of the7n, without any exception of even the poorest sous of God, even to them or the vilest, he granted the glorious privilege of becoming the sons of God ; that is, that believe on his name, he adopted them into God's family, so that they became entitled to the present iimnuni- 13 ties, and the future eternal inheritance of his children. And they who thus believed on him }'^, winch were bom not > ,. ,, . ., . . i- ii • 1 ■ ; /■;/;/- of blood, nor oi the will were possessed ot these privileges, wor m. consequence or their being born of blood, ot of the flesh, nor of the their being descended from the loins of the holy patriarchs, or sharing in circiuncision, "ill of man, but of God. and the blood of tlie sacrifices ; nor could they ascribe it merely to the will of the Jlesh, or to their own superior wisdom and goodness, as if by the power of corrupted nature alone they had made themselves to ditier ; nor to the will of inan, or to the wisest advice, and > most powerful exhortations, which their fellow-creatures might address to them ; but must humbly acknowledge, that tliey were born of God^ and indebted to the etiicacious in- fluences of his regenerating grace, for all their privileges, and for all their hopes. Compare John iii. 1 — 8. Tit. iii. 3 — 7. and Jam. i. 18. 14 And in order to raise us sinful creatures to such illustrious dignity and happiness, the 14 And the Word was divine and eternal Word, that glorious person whom we mentioned above, by a most "^ns- usf^(and'*we"beheUi amazing condescension, was made Jlesh,^ that is, united himsL-lf to our interior and his glory, the glory as of miserable natiue with all its innocent infirmities; and he not only made us a transient p, ti, ""l^f^'ff"'/'^" °^ *''? visit, for an hour, or a day, but for a considerable time pitched his tabernacle among us" truth. ' '^^ ^" on earth ; and we who are now recording these things contemplated his glory, (compare 1 John i. 1.) with so strict an attention, that, from our own personal knowledge, we can bear our testimony to it, that it was in every respect such a glory as became the only- begotten of the Father : for it shone forth, not merely in that radiant appearance which invested him on the mount of transfiguration, and in the splendor of his continued miracles, but in all his temper, ministration, and conduct, through the whole series of his life, in which he appeared full of grace and truth ;° that is, as he was in himself most bene- volent and upright, so he made the amplest discoveries of pardon to sinners, which the Mosaic dispensation could not possibly do, and exhibited the most important and sub- stantial blessings,? whereas that was at best but " a shadow of good things to come." Compare Heb. x. 1. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 1 Justly hath our Redeemer said, Blessed is the man that is not offended in me: and we may , peculiarly 2 apply the words to that great and glorious doctrine of the deity of Christ, which is here before us. A thou- sand high and curious thoughts will naturally arise in our coraipt hearts, on tliis view of it ; but may divine grace subdue them all to the obedience of an humble faith -, so that, with Thomas, we may each of us fall down 3, 4 at his feet, and cry with smcere and unreserved devotion. My Lord, and my God I Let us adore him as the creator and preserver of all, the overflowing foimtain of light and life. Let us with 5 unutterable pleasure hail tliis sun of righteousness, whose rays, by the tender-mercies of the Father, have visited our benighted world, to guide our feet into the way of peace : and while we lament that the darkness hath not apprehended and received him, let us earnestly pray, that he may ere long penetrate every cloud of ignorance and mist of error, and may ditfuse among all the nations knowledge and grace, purity and joy. Let us especially pray, that he may penetrate our beclouded souls ; and that they may, in holy correspondence strangely took it into his head to call himself Tlie Moral Philo- included. Dr. Whitby, with many others, takes the ivill of Die sopher. But alas, every succeeding age has had its moral philoso- flesh to signify carnal descent, and the vill of mnn, adoption ; pbers, who have attempted to remove'that burthensome stone, the which I should jirefer to the opinion of Mess. L'Enfant and Bible, and have found it returning upon them, so as to grind them, Beausobre, who, without any reason assigned, understand by those and their schemes, and their confidence, to poivder. Xlie words in born of tlie will of man, proselytes, as opposed to native Jews; a my view are these; (Euseb. Eccles. Hist. Lib. v. cap. 28. in fin.) sense,' in which I never could 'find the phrase used. The para- AotXwi afniia^evoi tov t£ vomov kjii tous w^op/ili?, oimt^ov xxi oc6ov StUxaxxXtx;, phrase I have given, keeps the ideas distinct ; answers the frequent BT^oJiMEi xa:ji1os, Elf tax^'iov iifTi£v>.Eii! oX£9^-oy Kx'iiiu-siwm. " Some, " (who signification of flesh elsewhere ; (compare John iii. G. Rom. vii. 25. yet it seems pretended to be Christians,) " absolutely rejecting the viii. 3, 8, 12, and Gal. v. 17.) and conveys an important and edify- " law and the prophets, by a licentious and atheistical doctrine, ing sense, very agreeable to the tenor of Scripture. But I submit "which they introduced under a pretence of magnifying the it to the reader, without pretending that it is the only interpret.! - "Divine Goodness, or the Gospel," (for xwiV, Grace, may signify tion the words will bear. I hope he will always carefully distiu- either,) ^' have plunged themselves into the lowest gulf of per- guish between the text unA the paraphrase, and remember how " dition." very different a regard is owing to the one and the other. k He came into his own [territories'] yet his own [people] did not m Jf^as made flesh.] Flesh often signifies man in this infirm and receive him.] It is so difficult to express the diftirence between calamitous state. Compare Gen. vi. 12. Numb. xvi. 22. Dent. v. E7°thi'"prie*'st-s"office^ *^^^^ i'^ waiting, which was done by lot ; it so happened, that his lot was tlien to liis lot was to burn incense,' perform the most honourable service of daily ministration, that is, to burn incense on the when he went into the golden altar, which was before the Lord, contiguous to the holy of holies. (Exod. xxx. 7. temple of the Lord. ^j^ ^^ ^g.) This he accorduigly did, when he went into the temple of the Lord, 10 And the whole multi- either at the time of morning or evening sacrifice. And the whole inultitiule of pious 10 p"ayii?i! without,^'tt The J^ws assembled for divine worship, (according to the usual custom of the people at that time of incense. ' time,) were praying without, in tire courts of the temple at the time of incense,'^ to declare then- concurrence with the priest in that intercession which he was making to God on their account. Compare Rev. viii. 3, 4. 11 And there appeared ^/;^ while Zacharias was in the midst of his devotions, on a sudden there appeared 1 1 Lord *'standiu"°^on' the ^^ ^^^"' ^ person, whom, by the form and manner of his appearance, he immediately right' side of fhe altar of knew to be an angel of the Lord ; and he was standing at the right of the altar of '"i9"T d 1 7 1' ^'"ff"'''f» before which, he was then ministering. And Zac/iarias .ymw^g- [////«,] though 12 saw"/,(H!, he was troubled, he was a man of such remarkable and experienced piety, was greatly discomposed, and and fear fell upon him. an unusual terror fell upon him. 13 But the angel said ^'^^ ^^'^ angel immediately scattered his fears, and said unto him with great gentleness 13 unto him, Fear not, Za- of aspect and voice. Fear not, Zacharias ; for I come unto thee with no message of herd ^ and'^tlV'^wf/e'^^'l^sa^ terror j but, on the contrary, am sent to assure thee, that thy frequently repeated prayer- beth siiall bear thee a son, for the redemption of Israel, as well as that wlrich thou hast formerly olfered for a blessing q Turned as clay to the sea]:] This beautiful metaphor of the approved by persons of the best character. Compare Mai. ii. inspired writer seems, by a very expressive contrast, to illustrate 14— 16. and 1 Tim. iii. 2. t'le meaning of wnAxxLi, in the fifth verse. It was for want of c Were ■praying witlwut, at tlic time of Tncense.'] This was the this, the darkness did nnt apprehend, or receive the lif/ht ; did not foundation of^that elegant figure, by which prayer is so often form itself into a due correspondence to it, so as to put on its com\>3reA to fncense ; (see Psal. cxli. 2. Mai. i. 11. Rev. viii. 3, 4.) hihit, and clothe itself with the lustre of its reflected beams, and perhaps, one reason of ordaining Incense might be, to intimate How glorious and happy is that soul, on which the knowledge of the acceptableness of those pious /irr^yfrs, which were to accompany Christ hath that genuine influence ! it. And indeed, burning fragrant perfumes was, aiid in the Eastern a Moral commands, as well as ceremonial institutions.^ Some nations still is, so important a part of the entertainment of illus- Inve^hought this distinction too nice: but it is certain, the word trious families, that one might well expect it in the house of God. Sixxivix:tlx is .'■ometimes used to signify ceremonial institntions ; It is so plain that this was only an office of daily ministration, (s!e Heb. ix. 1, 10.) though it is often taken in a much more ex- and that Zacharias was one of the ordinary priests, that one can- t'-nsive sense, tt is however evident, that all expressed in the not but be siirprised, that any one should ever conclude from this ^ piraphrase must be intended in the text, since, under the Jewish circumstance of the story, that Zacharias was Sagan, or assistant dispensation, they could not have approved themselves vpriglit to the higli-prie.st, and was now perforniing his grand office on the before Cnd, without an obedient regard to the ceremonial law. dav of atonement, and so on this foundation should calculate the b Takius another wife, while .she lived.] Poly/amy, as well as birfli of John the Jiaptist, and of C/irisf, and all the other feasts Divorce, were, for the hardness of their hearts, tolerated among the which depend upon them: yet this is done in the Calendars, both Jews ; but they seem both to have been, in this age at least, dis- of the Roman and Greek church. 6 ZACHARIAS SHOULD BE DUMB TILL THE BIRTH OF HIS SON. SECT, on thine own family, is at length heard .-^ and in proof of it, I add, that Elisabeth th/ and thou s)iaU c^vll liis 3. 'wife shall ere long bear thee a son, to comfort thee in this thy declining age; and in "^''^^ John. token of the gracious regard of God to him, thou shalt call his name John,^ that is, LUKE the grace and favour of God ; to intimate, that the divine grace shall, in a very eminent -!• manner, be upon hun. And this inlimation shall be abundantly answered: for he shall . i* And thou shalt have 1 ^^ T ,■ -11 1 i ji i J/ I ij. 1 ■ i\ J. ■ joy and gladness, and many be a person of so distinguished a character, that thou shalt have joy and transport m gi/ali rejoice at his birth, him;' and many others shall also have reason to rejoice with thee, on occasion of his 15 birth. For he "shall be great, not in circumstances of outward dignity and splendor, m'tur^s'io-htl'f Ui^*^ Loni' but, what is infinitely more important, in the sight of the Lord, even Jehovah his God, and shafi drink neither whose approbation is the hisrhest glory : and in token of his being in a peculiar manner "''"e ^o^ ,f^L°^s., 'Y^^^i , \\ ,■ ■ /ii ., ° ,■ i AT -i -M ■ n \ 1 I // 1 ■ / ■•/ and he shall be hlled with separated to his service, (like the antient Nazarites, JMiun. vi. 3.) he shall drinlc ncalier ^i^g iioiy Ghost, even from tvinc, nor any other sort of intoxicating liquor ; and he shall be so early remarkable his mother's womb, for wisdom and piety, that he shall appear to be filled with the holi/ spirit, even from IG his 7nother\s womb. And thus trained up, and'animated for service, he shall, when he dren o"lsr™dJhalVhe turn appears under a public character, turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their to the Lord their God. God ; whose ways they have so generally tbrsaken, even while they are professing them- selves to be his peculiar people, and boasting in such an extraordinary relation to him. 17 And to prepare them to receive the Lord their God, appearing in the person of the . 17 And he shall go bc- ' , . 1 V ^; ;; 7 /■ 7 • -11 i. • 1, 1 • ' j? ■ J. 1 r '"''e hmi in the spirit and Messiah, he shall go before him, as an illustrious harbinger in the spirit and power of power of Elias, to turn the Elijah, that is, animated by the same sanctity, courage, and zeal for reformation, which hearts of the fathers to the appeared so remarkable in that celebrated prophet : and, according to that prediction of dient'^to«iTwisdom''on^hc Malaclii, (with which the sacred Canon concludes, Mai. iv. 6.) he shall meet with such just; to make ready a peo- glorious success in his ministry, as to convert the hearts of the fathers, with those of P'*^ prepared for the Lord. tlie children ;« that is, he shall bring many, both of the rising, and the declining age, to that real piety towards God, which will be the surest band of their mutual duty towards each other : and many of those who have hitherto been disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that is, insensible of the obligations to real religion, which is the greatest wisdom, shall lie make ready, -^s, a people prepared for the Lord, raising in their minds an expectation of the Messiah, and a disposition to welcome liim when he shall appear. 18 And Zacharias then said to the angel, by what sign shall I /enow that this desir- ^^^^^ tl'lf ai^'Lf '"vhereb** able and wonderful event shall be accomplished ? For in the course of nature it seems shall I'knowVhis! Fo^r \ most improbable: since 1 am an old man, and my wife is also considerably advanced 'i™ »" ^'ii man, and my ^ ^ ^ ^- •" wife well stricken in years. i?i years. •' 19 And the angel answering, said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in tlie pre- ing^4'id unto" hi"ram sence of God, and near the tlirone of his Majesty, as one of the chief officers in his Gabriel, that stand 'in the celestial court : of whose appearance to Daniel thou hast so frequently read : (Dan. viii. Presence of God ; and am iri-f-viNj-i-L T c n t. T ' .ti 1 ^ j-1 ■ 1.1 ■ sent to sneak unto thee, an\3ft si, which the sevenly render, xt^.Toii; children; but as he seems now to have given up all expectations m^os ts^os vm\ in which words it is quoted Ecclus.xlviii. 10. Hut St. of that kind, it is reasonable to conclude, that these words chiefly L^ike's version seems as agreeable to the Hebrew. I thought Sir relate to his prayers for the deliverance of Israel by the illessiah, Norton KnatchbulVs reason sufficient to justify my rendering it as whose appearance was then expected by pious persons, conversant I have done ; which is just as our translators have rendered the like in the sacred v.'ritings ; (Luke ii. 25, 38. xix. 11. xxiii. 51.) and phrase, .Tudith ix. 10. (5«Xov ett' «f^Jov^l, xzi arxovl^: £iri Sej^tovIi, //(£> spr- the more earnestly desired just at this time, as they suffered so rant with the prince, and the prince n-ith the servant. But, as I\Ir. many grievous Ihings, by the oppression of the Romans, and the L'Enfant ?nd others, not without some probability, render it, to tyranny of Herod, which, toward the close of his reign, grew more reconcile fathers and children, supposing it may relate to domestic and more insupportable. dissensions inseparable from the variety of religious sects then e TItou shall call his name John.] It was the office of the father amongst the Jews, I was willing to comprehend that sense in my to name the child ; compare verse 62. It is well known, that this paraphrase. — Sir Norton KnatclibuH's manner of pointing the last name, in Hebrezv pw, Johanan, (which occurs near thirty times clause of the verse appeared to me so elegant, that I could not but in the Old Testament, though the English reader is not aware that follow it. Eisner would render it nearly in the same sense, By the it is the same,) is derived from ri'^, and ^p, and properly signifies wisdom of the fust, to prepare the disobedient as a people furnished the grace and favotir of the Lord. JiVZ/rt^irt^, and many of the other /or //<# Zor.7, or formed for him. (Compare Isa. xlii. 7. Septuag.) proper names among the Hchreics, had such a kind of signification, See Eisner. Obsero. Vol. I. p. 170 — 173. and probably were given in token of their good wishes to the h From parents who had been long barren.] Zacharias being so infant that received them. pious a priest, could not but often have read the account which the f Joy and Transport.'] A'yaxxtx'ns properly answers to the word scripture gives of the birth of Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Samson, Sa- exultalion, or leaping for joy, and is far more expressive than glad- mnel. Sec. who were all descended from mothers that had been long . ness. Compare 1 Pet. i. 8. iv. 13. and Mat. v. 12. in which last barren. The resemblance in circum.stances might well have pro- places we render it, by being exceeding glad. duced a peculiar regard to them; and one would have imagined he ^ g To convert the liearts of the fathers, with those of tJic children ; must immediately have recollected the slory of the angel's appcar- Ems-^£4.ai xif5i« aa^-.^uv mi texvx.] Here is a plain allusion to Mai. iv. ance to Manoah in particular, when the same scene was acted over 6. where it is said, (as we render it,) that Elijah shall tvrn the before his own eyes, and some of the same expressions used by tha hear! of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to celestial mcsspiiger. Compare Jud^. xiii. 2—14. THE ANGEL APPEARS TO THE VIRGIN MARY. 7 •awndej-ed that he continued so long in the temple,^ beyond tlie usual time : for he sect. .siaid a while after the angel disappeared, to present before God such humiliations and 3. 22 Ana « hen he came out thanksgivings as tliis extraordinary circumstance requiied. But xohen he came out he lie coukl not speak unto j 2/ ^ i j. ±j j 1 ^i , .■ • , ■ 1 , , , them; and they perceived "^"^ ''0' '^"^^ ™ speak to them; and by the GOiis.teinahon m which he appeared, they LUKE that he had seen a vision in perceived, that he satv a visiou in the teniple ; and he himself bij signs tnti7nated\it'\ ^ on!d*'uTto'them/'and"re: ^^ *^''>" • «'"^ he^ontinucd deaf and . flumb,^ dui-ing the remainder of his stay at 2'2 niained speechless. Jerusalem ; a circumstance wisely ordered by Providence, to awaken a greater and more general expectation, as to the event of so strange an occurrence. 23 And It came to pass ^„f/ aj'tgr this appearance of the angel to him, it came to pass that token the 23 his ministration were ac- remamuig dai/s of his vumstratiou tijere fulfilled, he departed to lus own house. coniplished, he departed to And ^\ck\y after these dai/s were ended, Elisabeth his wife conceived, according 24 '24 AudTfter these days, ^° *^^^ prediction of the angel; ««r/ apprehending her condition, she concealed her- his wife Elisabeth conceiv- Self five months In an obscure retii-ement ; not only that her conception might more months sa'hi-''"^'^'^'^ ^'^'^ certainly appear, but chiefly, that she might enjoy opportunity for those extraordinary 1 ,saji „, devotions which this wonderful favour of Providence demanded: nor could she, under such^a circumstance, refrain from saying, 1 ^^i ''^•l';'^ ''^'^'- ^\f ^'""'^ The most solemn acknowledgments well become me, because the Lord himself hath 25 dealt with me, m the davs ,7 • ii-i iij ^i- ^ /^ -i- i. whcicin he looked on m'e, '''"* miraculously mterposecl, and done this great work for me, m his own good time, to take away my reproacli even in the daijs in -which he hath graciously looked down upon 7ne, to take away among men. ^^^^ reproach of barrenness among men} For barrenness was accounted a peculiar reproach among tiie Jews, who looked upon it as a singular happiness to be instrumental in multiplying the holy seed, according to the promises which God had made them relating to it. IMPROVEMENT. How amiable is the character of this pious pair, who were found walhing in all the commandments and Ver. 6 ordinances of the Lord, blameless ! May our behaviour be thus unblameable, and our obedience thus ■sincere, and universal ! Aid let those v/hose office leads them nearer to God than others, remember their peculiar obligation to imitate such an example. Let us observe with pleasure, that the prayers which such worshippers oiter, come up with acceptance 13 before God ; to whom no costly perfume is so sweet as the fragrance of a character like this. An answer of peace was here returned, when the case seemed to be most helpless. Let us learn to wait patiently for the Lord, and leave it to his owii infinite wisdom to chuse the time and manner in wliich he shall appear for us." Zacharias, accustomed as .he was to converse with the God of heaven, v/as nevertheless, as we see, tlirown into great 12 consternation, at tire appearance of his angelic messenger. Tkid may we not regard it, therefore, as an mstance of the goodness as well aj wisdom of God, .that he determines that the services which these heav^enly spirits render us should be generally invisible ? — It is delightful to observe that amiable condescension with wliich Gabriel, the courtier 13, 19 of heaven, behaved on this occasion. Let it teach us, with pleasure to pursue the humblest offices of duty and love wliich God may assign us, towards any of our fellow-servants, even in the lowest stations. Happy was the holy Baptist in being employed in tliis blessed work of preparing men's hearts to receive a Saviour, 1 7 and reducing the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. May we be inspired with some degree of zeal like his, in our proper sphere, to pursue so noble a design ! V/e see in the instance of Zacliarias, that some remainders of unbelief may be found even m a faithful heart : let us IS, 20 guard against them, as remembering they will be displeasing to God, and hurtful to ourselves. — Aid to conclude, when providence favours us with any peculiarly gracious interpositions, let us attentively remark the liand of God in 24 them ; and let religious retirement leave room for serious recollection and devout acknowledgments. SECTION IV. The a;i-gel Gabriel is sent to the Virgin Mary, to inform her of the conception of Christ by her, in which she humbly acquiesces. Luke i. 2C — 38. Luke i. 26. LurcE i. 26. i[^^x.il Ga'brie/«.aT''senl ^^ ^^'^' «-''^^' """'^''' after Elisabeth had conceived, the same angel Gabriel, who had been Slid' from God unto a city of Ga- the messenger of such good news to Zacharias, was sent from God to a small and incon- lilee, named Nazareth, siderable city of Galilee, which was called Nazareilf-; lieing cliarged with an important to I' manVhofe"nameTas coiiunissionVo 'a virgin, who was contracted, according to the Jewish method of espousals, ^"'^'^ Joseph, of the house of Da- to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the royal house of David ; which 07 i So long in the temple.'] All that is here recorded mi^ht have judgment: and so much the rather, considering- the many promises pn.ssert in a few minutes: it seems probable, therefore, that since God had made to increase the families of his obedient people, Exod. the people took notice of his continuing so much longer than or- xxxii. 13; Lev. xxvi. 9 ; Deut. vii. 13 ; and Psal. cxxvii. 3—5. J diuary in the holy place, he spent some time ia secret devotion, will here digress so far as to observe, that, considering how the where, in a mixture of holy affections rising on so great and extra- whole Jewish policy was interwoven with those acts of religion which ordinary an occasion, he might easily forget how fast the moments were to be perforra-ed by the priests ahne, it might seem wonderful passed away. that no provision at all should be made for entailing the priesthood k Deaf and dumb.'] As )t..^ eat and 32 displeasure of God. He shall be incomparably great and glorious, insomuch that he shall si,aii be called the Son of justly be called the Son of the Most High God ; and the Lord shall give him the throne ^^,^*'fH^^*;. i*"'' ^^^^ Y''* of David his father, from whom thou art descended; so that, like David, he shall be the |j"g throne*' of hi.s father Sovereign of God's chosen people, and possess that extensive empire which was promised to David. the seed of that holy patriarch : (2 Sam. vii. 12, 13 ; Psal. ii. 7, 8 ; and Psal. c.xxxii. 11, 12.) 33 And he shall inherit the kingdom; with this circumstance of superior glory, that, whereas 3.3 And he shall reign David is now sleeping with his fathers, this exalted Prince shall rule over the house ofja- "^'^'' *^|j*^ i'"'"/!^'^"!,^*^?,^*^"'^ cob, even all the true Israel of God, for ever ; and, though the most potent monarchies of there slwll be no end ° the earth will be successively dissolved, yet of his kingdom, there shall be no end, even as long as the sun and moon endure. See Psal. Ixxii. 5, 17 ; Isa. Lx. 7 ; Dan. vii. 14. 34 And Man/ replied to the angel, O thou heavenly messenger, permit me to ask. How 3-1 Then said Mary unto can this possibly he from this time, as thou hast intimated to me, since I am as yet a [,p^ scfin'^ l"know"'noVa virgin ?^ man? 35 A)id the angel, answering, said unto her. There is nothing in that objection, great as 35 And the angel answer- it may seem, for this whole atFair is to be a scene of miracle : the Holy Spirit shall come hoW Ghos't s"han com'elip! upon thee, and the power of the Most High God shall thus overshadow thee by an on thee, and the power of amazing energy, to produce an effect hitherto, from the foundation of the earth, unknown : *'* -iis'i- • ^ji ■ i ;/ -ii J i i.1 • • 1 i- ""^^ thee: therefore also and therefore that holy Offspring of thine shall, with regard to tins miraculous conception, that Holy Thing which 36 as well as another and yet greater consideration, be called the Son of God. And behold, shall be born of tiiee shall to confinTi thy faith in a declaration which might seem so incredible, I farther assure thee tliat '"'^ao'' Aml!bohoid,*th^ou- thy cousin Elisabeth also hath, by the miraculous power of God, conceived a son., though sin Elisabeth, she hath also she be now in her old age ; and this is the sixth month of pregnancy with her who hath a"e^*^anj^\v,il°?s 'the'sixth long been called barren,'^ and spoken of as one who could have no hope of being a mother, month with her who was 37 And scruple not to believe what I have told thee with regard to thyself as well as her ; for called barren ^ thou well knowest, that nothing is, or ever will be, impossible to God, whose almighty ^^iM be'lmpossible."" '"^^ power operates with equal ease in the most miraculous as in the most common productions. 38 And, strange as the message was, Mary firmly believed it,^ and said, with the most .38 And Mary said, Be- ^miable humility and piety, Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord, and would approve ''"''\ Hie handmaid of the 1,- p • 1 /■ 1 1 1 T ■/ - J ■/• L ,1 7 ( T zi ir 11 Lord, be it unto mo accorn- myselt laithtul and obedient ; 7nay it be unto me according to tliy word ! 1 thankiully ing to thy word. And the accept the honour of which I confess I am unworthy ; and humbly resign my reputation, a"gei departed from he>. and even my life,s to the divine care and providence, while I wait the accomplishment of thy prediction. Then the angel, having executed his commission, departed front her, and returned to his abode in the heavenly regions. to so low and contemptible a condition, that no good thing was ex- and rendered just as the latter. The phrase seems to signify, in the pected from thence. .lohu i. 46. language of scripture, not only that the thing shall really i*- what b She was disturbed at / j •,; ^i • n c ^? r Ghost, and prophesied, say- first spake after the birth of this extraoramary cliild, was filled with the mttuences oJ t/ie i. '"=> Holy Spirit ; and, in an exalted strain of sacred rapture, he prophesied, saying, liad herself experienced, and which till now was. probably unknown was cus'oraarj' often to give them the name of their immediate an- to her, must elevate her thoughts to a very sublime pitch, and en- cestors, Eisner has shewn on this text. kindle in her attentive, reflecting mind high expectations and glo- b A 'wri/iiifi tablet, -nixihov.'] We have so fetv diminutives in rious hopes. See Luke ii. 19, 51, and compare note b, page 9. our language, that I was not willing to lose this, which much more a As it was then customary to give it a name.] The giving the exactly answers the original than taife. child its name was no more a part of the original intent of ctrcum- c And his tongue lloased ,•] and he spake, praising God."] 1 en- cision \ha.n oi baptism ; it was an incidental circumstance which tirely agree Nvith the learned Raphelius, (^n«c;. fx Herod, pages custom had added. And I cannot forbear saying, that in adminis- 219, 220.) that Eisner's criticism ( Obscrv. Vol. I. pages 178, 179.) is tering the Christian ordinance, I think care should be taken to or- not to be admitted, which would render it, And his tongue alsa^ dertlie voice so, that it may plainly appear we only then speak to spake, praising God. It would then have been iv.yyyovtx, instead oi' the child by the nam? which hath been already given it.— That the euXo>ot; and Raphclius has given unansvccrable instances, in the father among the anticnts used to name the children, .and that it most approved writers, of a verb joined with two nouns, vhcti in 12 SECT 7. THE SONG OF ZACHARIAS, LUKE I. 70 71 72 " Blessed he Jehovah, the God of Israel, because he hath now owned the relation in " so signal a manner; for he hath graciously looked down upon his people in their dis- " tress, and wrought out an illustrious and complete redemption for them: And he hath " raised up for us a horn of salvation,"" even an honourable and powerful Saviour, who " is already conceived, and will quickly be born, according to our long expectation, in " the family of his servant David : As he hath spoken by the inspiration of liis Spirit, " and given frequent intimations to us d^/ the 7nouth of his holy prophets, u-liich have " been from the beginning of time.^ It now appears, that none of ttiose predictions are " forgotten by him, since he is preparing for us such a glorious deliverance, that we may " thus obtain salvation from the power of the most formidable of our enemies, and may " at length be rescued by his redeeming grace,, f/'o;« the hand of all that hate us :'^ And " this gracious messenger hath God now sent, that he may faithfully ;;(?r/(>rw the mercy " which he {^romisecT^ to our fathers,^ the blessed effects of which extend also to them ; " and by liim shall God appear to be mindful of his holy covenant, which hath passed 73 " through so many various dispensations, yet still in the main continues the same : It being " indeed no other than the oath which he so solemnly sware unto Abrahanf our father, 74 " (Gen. xxii. 16, 17.) According to the tenor of which, he will now grant us the favour " of an opportunity, and a heart to serve him without fear, being delivered out of the 75 " hands of our enemies ; [and to wallc] before him, under a religious sense of his presence, " all the days of our life, in the paths of the strictest holiness and righteousness."^ 76 Then turning to his new-born son, he added, " And thou, my dear child, shall have " the honour to be justly called. The prophet of the Most High God ; an illustrious pro- " phet indeed ! for thou art he who, according to the prediction of Isaiah, (Isa. xl. 3.) " shall go before the face of the Lord, even of our divine Messiah, to give notice of his 77 " approach, and to prepare his ways. It shall be thine honourable and delightful office, " not merely to bring the tidings of some temporal deliverance, but to give the knowledge " of eternal salvation to his people, in directing them how they are to obtain the forgive- 78 " ut'ss of their sins : Which, how great soever they have been, may now be obtained " through the tender compassions of our God,s whose bowels of mercy have yearned over " his backsliding children ; by virtue of which compassions, the dawning of the celestial 79 « day^ hath visited us fro?n on high: And the Sun of Righteousness is shortly arising, " to spread sacred knowledge and joy over the regions of ignorance and misery, to en- " lighten those that sit in darkness, and, as it were, in the very shadow of death' itself, " or in the most gloomy and dangerous condition, and to direct our wandering feet into " the way of peace and felicity." Thus was John the Baptist ushered into the world, and thus were his infant days graced with wonders. A/id the child grew up and became strong in spirit, giving early tokens both of an heroic genius and a pious disposition, through the work of God's Spirit upon him. (Compare Judg. xiii. 24, 25.) And, his pious parents dying while he was young, or being peculiarly directed by a divine revelation in tliis affair, he did not appear in the service of the temple, even when he came to the age nrwhich the priests began their minis- trations J but by divine dispensation and direction, was led to retire into desert places, and to continue there till the day of his being publicly manifested to Israel, and, as it were, inaugurated among them under his prophetic character ; for which the austerity and devo- tion of this solitude was a happy preparation.'' 80 68 Blcsseci be the Lord God of Israel, fur he hath visited and redeemed liis people, 09 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David ; 70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, ■which have been since the world began: 71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us : 72 To perform the mer- cy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, 7;i The oath which he sware to our father Abra- ham, 74 That he wonld grant unto us, that v/e, being; de- livered out of the liands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and right- eousness before him, all the days of our life. 76 AnA thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways ; 77 To give knowledge of salvation >mto his people, by the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercies of our Gnd ; where- by the day-spring from on high hath visited us, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death ; to guide our feet into the way of ]>eace. 80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing un- to Israel. strict propriety it can only belong to one of them. Compare 1 Cor. iii. 2 ; where the original is, VaKx v/jjct tTsrAtix, n«i ai 0f-ji/,-x. I have given you milk to drink, and not meat. a A horn of salvation.'] As a horn is often used, for the most ob- vious reasons, to express strength and dignity, it being the ornament and defence of the creature that wears it ; so it is sometimes used in the Old Testament with a peculiar reference to the Messiah. Com- pare Psalm cxxxii. 17; Ixxxix. 24; 1 Sam. ii. 10; and 2 Sam. xxii. .3. b From the beginning of time."] It cannot certainly <-be inferred from hence, as some have argued, that there was, from the beginning of the world, a series of prophets, or that every individual prophet spoke of the Messiah, which can never be proved without doing great violence to the remaining writings of some amongst them. The words of Zacharias only amount to this, that the generality of prophecies, in all ages, refer to this great event. Compare Acts X. 4,-?. c Be rescued by his redeeming grace/rom the hand of all that hate vs.] This seems to have been the mind of the Spirit as appears by the whole tenor of scripture ; but it is impo.ssibIe to say, whether Zacharias fully understood his own words, which, it is certain, the older prophets, in some cases, did not. See 1 Pet. i. 10, 11. d Perform tlie mercy {promised] to our fathers.] Hodiwi eXeo? pitla run CTxIigwv ri/Mv-) most literally signifies tn exercise mercy towards our fatticrs ; and might perhaps intimate, that the mercy extended to the pious patriarchs was owing to Chri.st, who was afterward* to appear. Compare Rom. iii. 25. I cannot recollect any other place where sroiJiiai exeo; is to perform a promise. e 77/1? oath which lie sirare vnio Abraham.] In vindication of our version hom any objection which might arise to a learned reader from the construction of that original, fimiimai (5i,rejixn!— jjxov ov c■:^i'i^i X. T. X. see Bos, Exercit. p. 35. .and Eisner, in loc. f And to walk in holiness and righteonsncss.] This, as well as de- liverance from enemies, being spoken of as the merciful grant of God, I cannot but conclude, it refers to those passages in which God promi-sed to pour out extraordinary degrees of a pious spirit on h s people under the reign of the Messiah. Compare Isa. xliv. 1— 5 ; Jer. xxxi. 31 — 34 ; aiid Ezek. xxxvi. 25 — 27. g Tender compassions of oirr God.] SuXayj;^'' f^s'i^S li's /'f>'"f/«n/" viercy : A strong Hebraism ; which, though I have not literally retained it in my version, I have expressed in the parap/irase ; and it is a method I shall often take in like cases. Compare Jer. xxxi. 18—20. h The dawning of the day.] It is true that avVIoK)! may signify, as some here render it, the rising snn : and I doubt not but here is a reference to such texts as Mai. iv. 2; and Isa. Ix. 1 — 3; and, pos- sibly, considering the known ambiguity of the //?/;rp;;' word rui), whicli also signifies a branch, there may be some allusion to Jer. xxiii. 5 ; and Zech. iii. 8. But it is strange that any should have thought Zacharias, a Jewish priest, hath here referred to the Greek version of those texts. It is well known, the word properly signifies that part of the heavens_^where the light begins to arise, and the first shining of that light. (Compare Rev. vii. 2.) The dawning of the day seemed therefore a very literal version ; and, 1 apprehend, it more beautifully d'^srribes the state of things just at this interval, than if the sun had been represented as actually risen. i The shadow of death.] Such phrases as these do, with peculiar propriety, describe the ignorant and miserable state of the Gentile world, and perhaps this former part of the verse may refer to them ; but, as Christ's preaching to the Jews in Galilee, (for it was only to the .Tews he applied. Matt. xv. 24, x. 5, 6 ; and Rom. xv. 8.) is said, Matt. iv. 14 — 16, to be an accomplishment of Isa. ix. ], 2; to which Zacharias here probably refers, I was not willing in the paraphrase to fix it to the Gentiles. The sad character and circumstances of the Jews at this time, as described by Josephus, loo well suit the representation here made. k Tliis solitude was a happy preparation.] It may further be observed, that such a retirement also contributed to his acceptance JOSEPH'S SUSPICIONS REMOVED BY AN ANGEL. - 13 IMPROVEMENT. With what sacred joy should we join in this hymn of praise ! Tlie blessings celebrated in it were not peculiar SECT, to the family of Zacharias, or to the house of Israel; but we, through the Divine goodness, have our share in them : 7. 3y?6' Lord God of Israel liath visited and redeemed us. He hath remembered his covenant with the pious- patriarchs, in favour of millions who are their seed only as heirs of the faith of Abraham. To us hath he Ver.68. accomplished the words he had spoken by his holy prophets, and through his tendei^mercies hath caused the 72, 73 &un of Righteousness to arise upon us ; upon us, who were once mdeed sitting in darkness, and in the shadow 70, 78 of death ; and whose ancestors, for many succeeding generations, were lost in ignorance, idolatry, and wickedness. 79 Let us bless the Lord, who hath given us light ; and make it our daily prayer that it may be the happy means of guiding our feet into the xvai/ of peace. Let us, with pleasure and thankfulness, receive the knov:led ion of the SOU ofjonan, the son of Eiia/ci/n, The son oi Meleah, tlie son of Mainon, the son 31 of ■'RhesaT^thicrVas'' M^^ of Mattathas, the son o/A^ff/Z/fl/?, the son o/ that celebrated king of Israel, Dao/r/, the son of z'orobabel, which man after God's own heart, Theson o/'Je^sc, the son o/'OiJet/, the son of i^oa.:, the son 32 was the son of Salatinel, ^r Salmon, the SOU o/" Noasson, The son o/' Aminadab, theson of Aram, the son 33 winch was Mf son ot Nen, • ^, ^i ^i, ^ n; ^i. r- t j / rru \i? r z "li y t 28 AV'hich was the son of of Lsrom, the son o/ F/iarez, the son o/ Judan, Ihe son o/ Jacob, tire son oj Isaac, 34 Melchi, which was Mf son vvho was, according to the promise, the son o/that honourable patriarch Abraham, the of o.lanZ^whidrwas m" SOU ofTcrah, the son ofNahor, The son ofSerug, the son o/Ragau, or i?f«, the son 35 sonofEim'odam, which was of Peleg, the son of Heber, the son 0/ Salah, The son 0/ Cainan,'^ the son 0/36 //•^ son of Er, 29 Which Arnhaxad, the son of Shcm, theson of Noah, with whom he was preserved in the ark; was Ml? son of Jose, which C ., ,, , •' ., , -»t i ,i /< t i rni z' nr ^ ; r ? was //k- son of Eliezer, winch and it was well known that JNoah was the son of Lamec/i, Ihe son 0/ Methuselah, ^q wasM^sonofJorira, which the SOU of Enoch, wlio was translated without dying, and was the son of Jared, the son whichtas^M. fon of"* Levi; ?/" Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, The son of Enos, the son ofSeth, the son of Adam, .10 Which was the son of who, being descended from no human parents, but fonned by the immediate power of Simeon, ^1"^^ ^'^s the son ^ Divine Creating Hand, might, with peculiar propriety, be called [the son'] of God, in of Josei'iii, whicli was the his Original State the heir of inniiortality and glory. son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim, 31 Wiiich was the son of Blelea, which was ihe son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, 32 Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson, 33 Wiiich was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, wiiich was the son of Esrom, wiiich was the son of Phares, which was the son of Judah, 34 AVhicli was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor, 35 Which was fie sin of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was theson of Sala, 30 Whicli was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was /he son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech, 37 Wiiich was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Euoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. IMPROVEMENT. When we survey any such series of generations, it is obvious to reflect how, like the leaves of a tree, one matt passeth axvat/ and another cometh ; yet the earth still abideth, and with it the goodness of the Lord, which I. runs on, from generation to generation, the common hope of parents and children. 1 Of those who formerly lived upon earth, and perhaps made the most conspicuous figure among the children of ct seq men, how many have there been whose names have perished with them ! and how many of whom nothing but their names are remaining ! Thus are we passing away, and thus sliall we be shortly forgotten. Happy if, while 13 we are forgotten of men, we are remembered by God, and our names are found "written in the book of life ! et seq There they will make a much brighter appearance than in the records of fame, or than they would do even in such luke a catalogue of those who were related to Christ according to the flesh ; whose memory is here preserved, when ^ Hi- that of many, who were once the wonder and terror of the mighty in the land of the living, is lost in pei-petual 24 oblivion. '^ '"'J- We observe, among these ' ancestors of Christ, some that were heathens, and others that, on different accounts, matt. were of infamous characters; and perhaps it might be the design of Providence that we should learn from it, or ^' at least should, on reading it, take occasion to reflect, that persons of all nations, and even the chief of sinners ■^' "^^ ^ amongst them, are encouraged to trust in him as their Saviour. To him therefore let us look, even from the ends of the earth, yea, from the depths of guilt and distress, and the consequence will be happy beyond all expression or conception. Adam, though originally the son of God, lost that inheritance of life and glory v.-hich, in consequence of such luke a relation, he might reasonably liave expected : but the second Adam repairs the loss which we had sustained by "i- the transgression of the first. We are now predestinated to the adoption of children hi Jesus Christ, and raised "" by him to the hope of a fairer inheritance than the terrestrial Paradise, Let it be our daily labour to secure this invaluable blessing ; that so, as we have borne the image of the earthly Adam, we may in due time bear the image of the heavenhi, and at length attain to the perfect manifestation of the sons of God. his reputed father; which would by no means prove that Christ, in either of the genealogies that Moses Rives us, (Gen. x. 24 ; and wlio was only by adoption his son, was of the seed of Abraham and xi. 12 ;) but Salah is there said to be the son of Arphaxad. Cainaa n( the /touse nf t)avid. Yet the apostle speaks of it as pifrfcn/, that must therefore have been introduced here from the translation Christ v,-as descended from Judah, Heb. vii. 14; in which, if this of the seventy interpreters, who have inserted liini in both these gospel were (as antiquity assures us,) written by the direction of places in the same order as we find him here ; and, as this /rans/f/- Paul, perhaps he may refer to this very table before Us. (See Mr. tion was then commonly used, and was more generally understood Whiston's Harmony of the Four Evangelists, Prop. xvi. p. 175, than the Hebrew, it is probable that some transcriber of this gospel et seq. J added Cainan from that version, unless we suppose that Luke him- o Joseph, who by adoption, or rather by the marriage of his self might choose, in writing this genealogy, to follow the i^i^ptua- daughter, was the son 0/ Heli.'] It is necessary to take the words gint, as he appears to do in several other passages that he has in this latitude, because the true father of Joseph appears to have quoted from the Old Testament. Nor is it, alter all, a point ot been Jacob or James, the son of Matthan. (See Matt. i. 15, 16.) any consequence, as the design of the Evangelist was only to pre- p The son of Neri.J See the latter end of note i, page 16. seiit us with the genealogy of Chrtst in its ascent to Adam, winch q The son o/' C^rinon.] There is no mention made of this Cainan is equally clear, whether we reckon Salah as the immediate C IS A GENERAL ENROLMENT OF THE JEWS. SECTION X. Christ is born at Bdhlehon, and his birth revealed by an an0 THE SHEPHERDS RETURN GLORIFYING AND PRAISING GOD. SECT and see f/iis great f/iing •which is done, even this wonderful and important event ivhich the even unto Betlilehem, and 1 0. Lord hath so graciously made hwwn unto us. And, accordingly, with one consent, they ^^^ ^^^l^'^'^l^'t^ L "d • came in haste, before the night was over, leaving their flocks to the care of Providence ; iiatii'made known unto us. LUKE and, entering into the to^vn, they followed the direction which the angel gave theni, and lo And they came with "• quickly /y?«?fi^hedY ^T the eighth day" was come,) Iris pious parents failed not, according to the Mosaic law, Ti^^urndsinl of 'the Child! under which they were placed, to circiuncise the child ; that so, though he had not any his name was called JESUsi corraptions of nature to mortify, which was in part represented by that institution, he ^';J'^g|' ^X;° he™was°cou! might nevertheless, in a regular manner, be initiated into the Jewish Church, and thereby cefved in the womb. be engaged to the duties, and entitled to the privileges, of a son of Abraham, according to that covenant. And his name was called JESUS,° that is, the Divine Saviour ; a name by which the angel had called him before he was conceived in the womb of his vu'gin mother. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 6 With what hmnble amazement should we contemplate this first appearance of our Incarnate Redeemer ! Surely 7 all the angels of heaven might justly have admired his condescension in assuming such a nature as ours, and wearing a mortal frame, though it had been attended with all the ornaments and splendours earth could have given it. Though, at his entrance into our low world, he had been bom of an imperial family, placed under a canopy of velvet and gold, or laid to repose on pillows of down, all this had been deep abasement in the eyes of those who had beheld the glories of his celestial throne, and the honours paid him by cherabims and seraphims : But, behold, the Son of God, and the Heir of all things, is not merely in the abodes of men, but in a place destined for beasts, and, while wrapped in swaddling-clothes, is laid in a manger. Yet, O blessed Jesus ! how much more venerable was that stable and manger, when graced with thy sacred 12 presence, than the most magnificent palace, or most shining throne of eartlily princes ! How ill doth it become thy disciples to seek for themselves great things in this life, or to be proud of its pomp and grandeur ! Give us, O God, the simplicity of children, and make us willing to be conformed to the biith of thy Son, as well as to his death ! Yet, mean as his birth might appear, his Heavenly Father did not leave him without witness. We see him, in 9 this wonderful account that the Evangelist hath given us, surrounded with a brighter lustre than a court or a 1 1 crown could have afforded. Angelic legions are employed as heralds to proclaim the new-bom King. And 8 to whom are they sent ? To humble pious shepherds, diligently employed in the duties of then proper calling, and watching by night for the security of their flocks. Who would not gladly have shared in theii- poverty and 10 fatigue, to have heard with them these good tidings of great joy ? 13 Let us observe with what delight these courtiers of heaven undertook the happy embassy to these lowly 14 mortals. Let us with pleasure attend to the anthem of these benevolent spirits. Far from envying the favour that was done us, they ascribe glory to God for it, and take their part in tlie joy they give. Let this love of the whole heavenly host to us, awaken our love to them, and our longing for that blessed world, where we and they shall surround our dearest Redeemer, not in such a form of abasement as that in which he here appeared, but clothed in that celestial lustre with which God hath rewarded the humiliations of the manger and the cross. In the mean time, let our more intimate concern in tlris great salvation engage us more cordially to join with 14 these blessed angels in theii- hallelujahs ; ascribing glory to God in the highest for this peace on earth, this good- m Entering into thf meaning, &c.] I apprehend Eisner has and this interview must greatly confirm and comfort the minds abundantly vindicated this sense of the word oviJ-ixWovJn:^ in his of all concerned. note on this place. o Hix name was called Jesits.'] Grotius thinks there might be n Jf/iich they had heard and seen at Bethlehem.] Joseph and an assembly of most of the remainders of David's family on this JVIary would, no doubt, upon such an occasion, give them an occasion; but surely, had there been many of them inhabitants of account of those particulars, which the sacred historians have Bethlehem, their kinswoman would not, in such circumstances, recounted above, relating to the conccirtion of this Divine Infant ; have been reduced to the necessity of lodging in a stable. SIMEON EMBRACETH CHRIST. 21 will towards men, the great fountain of our present tranquillity and futiue hope ! Above all, if Divine grace hath conquered all the foolish prejudices of oui- hearts against Christ, and taught us with humlDle faith to apply to him, let us, with the shepherds, bh-ss God for the things which have been shewn us, and make it our care to spread Ver. 20 abroad the savouj- of tiis name, that others may join with us in paying their homage and their praises to him ! 17 SECTION XI. The jnirification of Man/, and her offering in the temple ; tchere Christ is presented to God, and has a verj/ memorable tcstimonn given him bi/ Simeon and Anna. Luke ii 22 — 39. Luke ii. 22. LuKE ii. 22. fuHficruon/acct^in^'to AND, after Mary had been thus delivered of her son at Bethlehem, when the forty dai/s sect. the law of Moses, were ac- appointed ^o;' her purifieation,^ according to the time limited by the law of Moses, (Lev. 1 1. hhu'^to^ Jerusa\'eMi ^o°"°re- ^^- 2. 4.) Were fulfilled,^ Jesus was taken by his parents from the place' where he was set'it/iiVi t"the Lord. bom, and in obedience to the Divine command, they brought him to Jerusalem, there to luke 23 (As it is written in present him as a first-born son before the Lord, in the temple ; According as it is writ- H- male''tot"''ope°uetli 't7e ten in the law of the Lord, (Exod. xiii. 2; Num. viii. 16, 17.) that " evert/ frst-born 23 womb shall he called holy "male shall be called holy to the Lord, and shall be treated as devoted in a peculiar to the Lord ;) .< manner to his service." Agreeably to this precept, they now went up to redeem him,'= at the price of five shekels, which ^vas the sum appointed to be paid for every eldest son, with- 24 And to offer a sacri- out any regard to the condition of the family. (Compare Num. xviii. 15, 16.) And to 24 fs''a"r[.ftle^aw j; ihe offer a Sacrifice, according to what is. enjoined in the law of the Lord, Lev. xii. 6, 8 ; Lord,A pairof turtle-doves, where they, A\'hose circumstances were so mean as that they could not conveniently afford a or two young pigeons. ^^^^^^^ ^^^ Ordered to bring a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons ; which offering suited best the virgin's rank in life, and she did not affect on this occasion to exceed it. 25 And, behold, there was j^u^j^ behold, there was then at Jerusalem a certain man, whose name was Simeon ;^ 25 Lm^ii'as SimeonTard t°he and he \was\ One that was a singularly righteous and religious person, who was waitings same man was .just and de- with many Others at that time, for the coming of the Messiah, the great expected consola- Jolatiorof UrwiVandX' ^'"^ of Israel ;^ and the Holy Spirit of prophecy was sometimes in an extraordinary Holy Ghost was upon him. manner upon him : And among other things it was divinely revealed unto him by the 26 2(i And it was^reveal^ed //^/y 5'y;/>//, that he should not die^ before he had seen the Great Anointed of the Lord, Gho^st, that he should ndt and"^his eyes had beheld the promised ]\Iessiah. ^ _ see death before he had And he came, under the secret but powerful impulse of the Spirit, into the teinpie, 27 **^4 And^he'^caSe'^bv the i^^^ ^^ the juncture of time when \liis'] parents brought in the child Jesus into the court SpTrit into the temple"; and of Israel there, that they might do for him according to the custom which the authority when the parents brought ^j.- fjj^ divine law had required and "established in such cases. And when the pious Simeon 28 for^hfm''a'fter'^thrcus°ora had discovered him by his prophetic gift, and saw tliat well-kno\TO prophecy accomplished, of the law, (Hag. ii. 7.) that the desire of all nations should come into that second temple, he was in^hiJ''anns''°aud^ biased transported at the sight of this desirable cliild, and took him with a sacred rapture into his God, and said, ' arms, and praised God, and said, with the highest elevations of devotion and joy. Now, 29 29 Lord, now lettest thou O my Sovereign Lord and Master, I thankfully acknowledge that thou dismissest thy a Her puTiJication ; x^^a^n/iu x-J!n!.'\ The Alexandrian, and some shall only observe, that this is one of the many instances in which other manuscripts, read wrav ; and, as it must be owned, that both the order of the sacred story cannot he circumstantially determined mother and child, for a while after the birth, were looked upon as with demonstrative evidence. ceremonially unclean, it might not be improper, (with Erasmus and c They went up to redeem him.] God havingacquired a peculiar some of the most considerable expositors,) to admit this reading, right to \X\e first-born of Israel, by preserving them amidst tn<5 de- and to render it their purification, as referring to them both. For, struction brought on the firsl-bvrn of the Egyptians, though he had notwithstanding it is true' that Christ had no moral impurity from accepted of the tribe of Levi as an equivalent, yet would hare the which he needed to be cleansed, yet we may well enough suppose memory of it preserved by this little acknowledgment ot five shekels, him, as he lore our sins, to have submitted to this ordinance, as (or about twelve shillings and sixpence of our money,) which was well as circumcision : and as he came into the world, mt'ds of a the price that c\e.ry first-born child must be redeemed at : and in woman, made umler the law, he would be ready to comply with any case of an omission here, it might reasonably have been expected institution of the law, that he might thus fuird all righteousness, that the child should be cut off by some judgment. The first-born But as the law that is referred to in this place, speaks only of the therefore were redeemed by paying of this money, in such a sense woman, and of the sacrifice that wa* appointed to be offered for her as all the people were, when, at the time that they were numbered, purifying, I have retained the common reading, and hate made no each of them paid half a shekel as a ransom for their souls, that alteration in the version. " t/iere might he no plague among them : as there might otherwise b The forty days— were fulfilled.'] Mr. Whiston has supposed, have been, if that acknowledgment of the Divine Goodness had m his Harmony, (Prop. xiv. p. 1.58, etseq.) that these fortif days been omitted: Exod. xxx. 12—16. But that Wie. five shekels de- were not accomplished till their return from Egypt: But although manded for \X\^ first-born were paid to redeem them from being this may give the easiest solution to ver. .39, it crowds so many sacrificed on the altar, is one of the most false and malicious in- events into that little space, and so entirely depends on a precarious sinuations that ever came even from the most inveterate enemy of hypothesis that Christ was born about a month before the death of revelation. Herod, (which I think Mr. Manne has entirely overthrown, in his d IVhose name was Simeon.] Had Simeon been, as some sup- 7?!*«fr/a^cn on MeAi'rM a/" CV/r/s^ p. 42— 45. )'that it seems evident, pose, the president of the council, and father of the celebrated upon the whole, that the purification preceded the flight into Gamaliel, St. Luke would probably have inserted so honourable a ^■(/y;)/, as most Harmouizcrs have thought. But whether Mf/'wr/- circumstance. ficntion wasbefore or after the visit of the wise men, is not so plain : e The consolation of Israel] Tliis is a phrase that frequently is I have placed it before, chielly that I might not interrupt the used, both by the ancient and modern Jews, for a description of thread of the story; and partly because the meanness of the vir- the Messiah. ITte days of consolation is a common phrase ainong gin's sacrifice make's it probable that she had not then received the them, to signify the days of the Messiah : nor is there any tilings presents that were ofi'ercd by the wise men. Nevertheless, I ac- more usual with them, than to swear by their desire of seeing this knowledge it very possible, that the purification might happen consolation ; as Dr. Lightfoot proves by several instances, Ilor during the interval of Herod's waiting for the return of the wise Hebr. in loc. And it is easy to observe, that the same way of men ; and that the holy family might go from Jerusalem to Egypt speaking was made use of hy the prophets, who often introdiicert the very night after Jesus had been presented iu the temple ; as the promise of the Messiah's coming, io comfort the people ot God Garthwaite intimates in his excellent Harmony, (chap. xi. xii.) in their afflictions. Compare Isa. xlix. 13; liii. 9; Ixvi. 13; Jer. which is so accurately and judiciously composed, that, as far as 1 xxxi. 13; and Zech. i. 17. . t. , can judge, most of the'faults in Le Clerc, AVhiston, Wells, &c. may f That he should not die.] Our translation, that he should not sea be corrected by it. It was first printed at Cambridge, 1634, and is death, is most literal ; but I did not apprehend the antithesis be- almost entirely the same with that which was afterwards pub- tween seeing death, and seeing Christ, to be intended as at all ma- lished under tlie name of Mr. Locke's Life of Christ. After all, 1 terial, and therefore did not retain the Hebraism. 22 THE TESTIMONY OF ANNi\. SiiCT. servant to the repose of the grave in peace ;^ audi can die with pleasme, since thou hast tiiy servant depart iu peace, il. dealt with me according to the gracious engagements of thi/ xaord to me : Tor tnine ei/es according to tliy word: have at length beheld him, whom thou hast appointed as the great instrument of t/ty long seen thy'^saTvaUon^''^ ^^^^ LUKE expected salvation; Even that salvation •which thou liast prepared to set before the face 3i which tliouhastpre- "• of all people, pjs the glorious object of their faith and hope : Ordaining him to be a light lllf^^.''^°'''' ^'"^ *""^ "*'■''" 32 for the illumination of the Gentiles, to reveal the way of life to them that sit in darkness, 32 A light to lighten the and in the shadow of death, as well as giving him to be the consolation and the glorij of Gentiies.^and the glory of thy people Israel, who have the honour of being peculiarly related to him. ^ peop.e srae . 33 And^hea they heard this glorious testimony given to the infant Jesus, Joseph and his 33 And Joseph and his mother were astonished at those things tuhicli were spoken of him by so eminent a !.?°i marvelled at those . , 1 ■ 1 1,1 1 , 111. 1 -.1 .1 things winch were spoken prophet J which appeared to them so much the more remarkable, when compared with the of him. miraculous circumstances which had attended his conception and birth. 34 And Simeon, in the warn.lh of lus devotion, blessed them both, pi-aying affectionately 34 And Simeon blessed for them, that the favour of God might continually attend them ; and said to Wary his his moUier^' Behokl Um mother. Behold, this [Child'] of thine is appointed for an occasion of the fall and rising CMd is set for the fall and again of many in Israel, as he in fact shall be the means of bringing aggravated ruin upon Jg^!,"f aud'for a^^sim^'wLc'li some by their rejecting him, as well as of procuring salvation and recovery to others on shall be spoken against: their believing in him ; and liis appearance in the world shall be such, as if he was in- tended and set xxpfor a mark of contradiction and reproach,'' to be a stone of stumbling and a rock of otfence to many, while he shall bs to others for a sanctuary, (Isa. viii. 14.) 35 Yea, v/ith such cruel malice and indignity shall he be treated, that the time will come 35 (Yea, a sword shall when a dart shall (as it were) pierce through thine oivn soul,' and wound thee in the P'erce through tiiyownsoui , ., , ^ , ^, -* . -, '^^ ,1 • 1- 1 1 11 . i 1- also ; that the thoughts of most sensible manner, when thou art witness to those agonies which shall penetrate his. many hearts may be re- Bnt these strange revolutions shall be permitted, and these mysterious scenes of Providence vealed. be opened, that the secret thoughts and reasonings of many hearts may be disclosed ; or that the real characters of men may be discovered, and the sincerity of those who are approved may be made manifest ; while the hypocrisy and earthly-mindedness of those who intend only their own secular advantage, under the specious pretence of waiting for the Messiah's kingdom, shall be exposed} who will be soon offended at the obscure form of his appearance, and at the persecutions which shall attend him and his cause. 3G And there was also [o«e] Anna, a prophetess, the daughter ofP/ianuel, a person of 3G And there was one ^ some considerable note in the tribe of Asher. She was' novt very far advanced in da"ughte'^r of^'phanuel * of 'years, having lived only seven years with a husband from the time of Iter virginity : the "tribe of Aser: she'was 37 And, as her husband- died while she was very young, she had now been a widow about ^t a great age, and had liv- • ; , .- L- 7 1 i i i 1 • 1 i 1 • il i 7 J 7 J cdwiUi an husband seven eiglity-j our years y- W/7;o, whatever estate she might have m m^t cowxiX'cy, departed not years from her virginity ; from Jerusalem, but kept always so near the temple, as to be able to resort thither at the 3" ^"d she was a widow 'hours of morning and evening sacrifice : serving \(Iodr\ with ^xeq^ani fastings and yeal^^vJhrcTrdeplrLYnot prayers, in which tliis devout matron spent a considerable part of the night as well as of from the temple, but served 33 the day} And she coning in at that very time, which was the hour of prayer, joined ^'<"^w'th fastings and pray- with Simeon in what he had done, and publicly made her acknowledgments to the Lord, 33 And she, coming in that is, to Jesus,"" who was now present in the temple ; and afterwards spake concerning il'^t instant, gave thanks him to all those of her acquaintance in Jerusalem that were waiting, like her, for the s|!lkT'of''hira^'to^H't'hem promised redemption of Israel by tlie Messiah, of whose speedy appearance there was an that looked for redemption earnest expectation raised among the pious and the devout, as the appointed period of liis '" Jerusatem. coming now evidently approached." 39 And the parents of Jesus, when they had performed all things according to the law 39 And when they had of the Lord, departed from Jerusalem : and, full of admiration at the glorious testimonies P^^rformed all things ac- % ■ ji • /'>(i -1 1 7 ■ ■ ^ 1-1 1 ■ cording to the law of the tnat were given to their Liuld, they some time afterwards returned to Galilee," to their Lord, they returned into g TTiou dismissest thy servant in peace] There may perhaps be m Made her acknouledgments to the Lord, that is, to Jesus.] an allusion here to the custom of saying, especially to an inferior, AvSw/xoXoysilo t..j Kv^iw. The late English version renders it. She cx- when parting,' Go in peace. See note 1, on Luke vii. 50. sect. Ix. ' pressed her Ihanhs to the Lord, and spake of Jesus ; and it must be li A mark of contradiction and reproa,ch.] The word ■^/i^ueiov .seems acknov^ledged there are in this very section two instances, in which here to be used for a mark or butt to shoot or dart at ; which finely the relative pronoun refers to a remote, and not immediately pre- iiitimates the deliberate malice, and hellish artifice with which the ceding substantive, ver. 22 and 27. But it is so evident that Christ character and person of Christ was assaulted, while ho endured tita is often called the Lord by Luke, as well as by the other sacred contradiction of sinners against himself, Heb. xii. 3. writers, that I can see no necessity for giving this passage such a i A dart s/iall pierce through thine own sonl.'] Though go/z^Jxra turn, contrary to all the ordiuary rules of language. — And if it be seems often to signify a sword, as particularly in Rev. i. IG ; ii. 12, objected that the infant Jesus did not seem capable at that time of 10; vi. 8; yet we are assured by Grotius, it properly signifies a receiving her gratitude, as a rational- agent, 1 answer, that Anna Thracian javelin. It may perhaps (as L'Enfant observes) be a beau- might pxoperly be said to make her acknowledgments to the Lord, if tiful allusion to the preceding figure, as if it had been told her, that she addressed her.self to the Child, as Simeon had done, confessing-^, the darts levelled at her son should be reflected from his breast to him to be the Messiah. The original phrase may have a reference hers, in such a manner as to wound her very heart. Whether it be to Simeon's speech, and might be intended to intimate, that this of rendered sword or dart, it must undoubtedly refer to the part the Anna was a kmd of rcspnnse, or counterpart to his. I5ut it is also holy virgin took in all the reproaches and persecutions which Jesus very probable that slic, like Simeon, might also address some lofty- met with ; but never was it so signally fulfilled, as when she stood hymn of praise to the Cod of Israel on this great occasion : and if by the cross, and saw hira^t once so scornfully insulted and socru- any one think the word Lord is here put for Jehovah, though the elly murdered. See John xix. 25. former interpretation seems to me more just and natural, I ^lall not k Had now been a widow about eighty-four years.] I know that oppose it as an error of any importance, firotius and many others interpret this of her whole age; but I n The period of his coming now evidently approached.] Thesccp- tliiiik it most natural to suppose, that the time of her marriage is tre now appeared to be departing from Judah, tiiough it was not opposed to that other widowhood. actually gone ; Daniel's weeks were plainly near their period ; and 1 In which she spent a considerable part of the night as well as of the revival of the spirit of prophecy, joined with the memorable tile day.] This is plainly the meaning of night and day, nor can the occurrences relating to the birth of John the Baptist, and of Jesus, expression possibly signify more. Perhaps she might sometimes could not but encourage and quicken llie expectation of pious per- attend those anthems which the priests sung iu the temple during sons at this time. ilic night-watches, Vs. cxxxiv. 1, 2; to which David may also al- o They afterwards returned to Galilee.] Luke has omitted the lude, Ps. cxix. 63. account that Matthew gives us of the visit of t/ie wi^e men, and of THE WISE MEN COME TO INQUIRE AFTER CHRIST. ^ 23 Galilee, to their (iwn city, own city, Nazareth,^ wliicli was the place of their losual residence, ?,ud where (as will be SECT. Nazareth. Seen hereafter) this Blessed Infant passed the days of his chiidhood aud youth. 11. IMPROVEMENT. ^ oL "> luice Who can behold the pious Simeon thus Avtlcoming death, \vhilst he embraced liis Saviour, without wisliing to ^^• pass over the intermediate moments of life to meet so peaceful a dissolution ? May we, hke him, approve ourselves Ver. 28 the faithful servants of God ; aiid then we may hope that, when cur dismission com.es, we shall share in his serenity 29 and joy ! We may comfortably expect it, if our eyes are novv^ opened to behold with wonder and delight the great 30 salvation he has prepared for his people; and if our hearts, with oitr lips, are frequently praising hini for this 31 light which he hath given to lighten the Gentiles, as well as to be the glory of his people Israel. ' 32 As such, may Christ be universally owned and adored, both by Jews and Gentiles, In the mean time, while 34 he is set up as a mark of contradiction and contempt, let us not be ashamed of him or of liis word^s ; but rather let those indignities which are offered to him be as a sword to pierce through our own souls. Let us remem.ber 35 that the gospel, with all the, difficulties which attend it, is the great touchstone by which God will try the charac- ters of all to whom it comes. May our ready acceptance of it, and our zealous adlierence to that sacred cause, approve the humble sincerity with which we inquire into its evidence ; that Christ may not be to us a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence, but rather the means of raising us to God and happiness, even to that rcdemp- 33 tion for which they that wait shall never be ashamed ! Our circumstances in life are various. There are comparatively few who have such leisure for extraordinary devotion as was the privilege of the pious Anna : Where it is found let it be valued and improved : But how great So and how many soever our engagements and entanglements in life may be, let the care of our souls be still our chief concern. Let us be serving God, in one sense or another, night and day ; with prayers, pouring out our 37 souls before him morning and evening : and at proper seasons adding fastuig to prayer, and public solenmities to private retirements ! To conclude : let the example of these aged saints impress and animate those whose hoary heads, like theirs, 25 are a croxvn ofglort/, being found in the tvai/ vf righteousness, (Prov, xvi. 31.) Let those venerable lips, so 37 soon to be sUent in the grave, be now employed in sJiewiiig forth the praises of their Redeemer. Sure!)/ dai/s should speak, and the multitude of years should teach such -wisdom, (Job xxxii. 7.) Such fruit may they pro- duce in old age : and may they have the pleasure to see all the.se pious attempts most thankfully received by the rising generation, and most gratefully improved by them ; that they may quit the v/orld with tiie greater tran- quillity, in the view of leaving those behind them, to whom Christ shall be as precious as he hath been to them, and who will be waiting for God's salvation, while they are gone to enjoij it ! Amen. ', -^ i" ' ^'c v SECTION xn. The sages, or wise vien, come from the east, under the guidance of a star, to inquire after Christ ; and being directed rmto Bethlehem, pay him their homage, and offer him their presents there. Matt. ii. 1 — 12. Matt. ii. I. Matt. ii. 1. Now when Jesus was born NOJV after Jesus was bom in Bethlehem of Judca, even in the days of Herod the SECT. iL^da"4'ofXr°od"thfkins" ^^eat, who, at the time of Clirist's nativity, was Ling of that country, there happened 12. heboid, there came wise a memorable Occurrence, ■^A'hich gave a gTeat alarm to the Jews, and m.ade the era of ■ meu from the east to Jeru- Christ's birth very remarkable among them. For, behold, there v>-eve[certai}i'\ sages,^ matt. •' ^- that is, wise and learned men, (who, on account of Jjieir applying themselves to the study , ''• of natural philosophy, were called Magi,) thatTiacrob.served a bright and unusual luminary in the heavens, which th^y were taught to understand as an intimation that a very illus- the holy family's retiring into E^pt ; and so has taken no notice hem, had not God commanded hira to go to Nazareth, a place which of their returning any more to Bethlehem. But there is no suffi- he seems to have esteemed too contemptible to be the abode of so cient reason to conclude from hence, that these occurrences were illustrious a person. And this gentleman thinks, that when antecedent to the purification of Mary, and that the holy f^.mily' Nazareth is here called t*/ To?av a-jri:v, fheir own ci/i/, it intimates immediately returned from Jerusalem to Nazareth. For we have an attempt to settle elsewlferein J citf that was not their own. many other instances of a like kind, where events are connected a Certain sncjcs.'] It would be quite foreign to my purpose to by Luke, and the other Evangelists, which did not immediately enumerate the various conjectures of learned men relating to follow each other: of which Luke xxiv.50. is particularly memo- these Magi. I find not amongr-t them all so wild an hypothesis rable, as will be shewn in its proper place. I have expressed it as that of Tander Hard, C JS'eio Memoirs of Liter. Vol. IL p. G2, therefore with some latitude, as it seems to me probable, that ct scq.J that they were learned Jews who came from the colonies upon leaving Jerusalem they returned to Bethlehem, where they carried away by Shalnianezer and Nebu-hadnezzar, and were were visited by the wise men ; and which, as they had found it ambassadors in the name of the whole body to pay their homage to be the placeappointeri for the birth of Christ, they might sup- to the Messiah, and to congratulate their brethren on his birth, pose also to be the place designed for his education and abode, and It is most probable they were Gentile philosophers, who, by the might not chuse to remove from thence till God had ordered them divine influence on their minds, had been led to improve their to do it-. (See Ligbtfoot's' flaniioni/, Matt. ii. init. J However.if knowledge of nature, as the means of leading them to tliat of the they now returned to Nazareth, it is more than possible that one living ami true God; and it is not at all unreasonr.ble to sup- Providence might bring them afterwards to Bethlehem, upon pose, that God had favoured them with some extraordinary reve- some occasion or other, tliat v/hen the tvise men came to inquire lations of himself, as he did Melchizedek, Abimclech, Job and after Jesus, they might find him in the place to whirli they were his friends, and some others, v.'1'.o did not belong to the Abrahamic directed. See ^iv. M^ajie's first dissertation nn the hiiih o/'Christ, family, to wliich he never intended absolutely to confine his p. 41, 42. and compare note n on Matt. ii. U. in the next section. favours. — As to the title that is here given them, it is certain that p Tb their own city, AM^areth.} It has been suggested to mc the word Miyoi was not appropriated in ancient times to such as by a very learned and ingenious writer, since the publication of practised wicked arts, but frequently was used to express philoso- the preceding note, that the parents of Christ carried him back ;);^"• ,•' •,/ . ^ p • r ?• ; i j- », , -i i • rejoiced with a transport oi joy [wntcn was] exceeding greai,'" to see themselves m so re- markable a manner under the divine direction, and with such certainty conducted to the glorious person whom they came to seek. 11 And when they were And when they Were come into the house^ where Mary was lodged, being now some- 1 1 come into the house, thev thing better accommodated than at the time of her delivery, they found the young child Mary his mother, and fell with Mary his mother ; and how diiierent soever this appearance might be from what they down and worshipped him: expected," they Were not at all ofiended at its meanness j hut, foiling down on their faces their'YrealurL!'u.c7'i"r'e'^ ^^^0^^ h™. ^^^J/ P^^d him their homage: And, as it was customary in those countries to senteduntohim'gifts; gold, oft'er some present to any illustrious personage th^^Hie to visit,? they opened their trea- and frankincense, and ^nf^^^ which they had brought along with them reHRis very purpose, and presented him with the choicest produce of their country, fine gold, andfoankincensc, and myrrh."^ 12 ^nd, being warned of And, after this, they were preparing to go back to Jerusalem, as Herod had desired them ; 12 *h"* Id" "t'^'^r™ {^*H *'^Y ^"^ ^ ' ^^^"^ knew the barbarous intent of the king, interposed for the preseivation of his they departed into their Son, and for their security and comfort. So, being divinely admonished in a dream, that own country another way. tJi^y should not go back to Herod, they returned into their own country, another and more direct way,"" not at all solicitous as to the consequence of Herod's resentment. IMPROVEIMENT. Let us observe, with pleasure, this f^her honour which God did to his only-begotten Son, in ordering a new Ver. 2 star to appear, as the signal of his birth, and in calling these illustrious persons from afar, to pay their early adora- tions to liim. No doubt they thought such a discovery as brought them to the feet of their infant Saviour,^ an ample recompence for all the fatigue and expense of such a journey. They were exceedingly transported when they saw 10 the star. So let us rejoice in every thing which may be a mean of leading our souls to Christ, and of disposing us to cast ourselves down before him with humility and self-resTgnation. * Let us look upon this circumstance of the sacred story as a beautiful emblem of that more glorious state of the Christian church, when the Gentiles shall come to its light, and sages and kings to the brightness of its rising ; when the abundance of the sea shall be converted to it, and the wealth of the Gent-.les shall be consecrated to its honour. The multitude of camels shall cover it, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah ; all they fooni Sheba shall come ; they shall bring gold and incense, and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord. Isa. be. 3, 5, 6. How wonderful was the honour conferred upon so obscure a town as Bethlehem, when it was made thus illustrious 6 among the thousands of Judali ! Happy they who consecrate not only their gold and their other possessions, but also 1 1 their souls and their bodies to that Great Ruler, whose office it is to feed and govern the Israel of God ; under whose conduct and care they shall receive blessings infinitely more valuable than all the treasures of the East or the West ! But oh ! the fatal power of carnal influence on the heart ! This engaged Herod to receive the news of a Redeem- 3 1 The star, or meteor.] I say, meteor, because no star could point readily as if they liad found him in the richest palace. An ami- out not only a town, but a particular house. It is not at all strange able example of that humble ingenuous temper, which fits a man Justin Martyr and other Fathers should suppose it was a comet, con- for the reception of the gospel. sidering how little astronomy was known in their days; but one p Customary in those countries, to ofl'er some present to any 11- would not have imagined Grotius should have gone so far as in the lustrious personage they came to visit.] That this was customary least to intimate such a suspicion. appears from many passages of the Old Testament. (Gen. xliii. 11 — I m Tfiey rejoiced witk a joy ultich zvas exceeding great.] The ori- 25 ; 1 Sam. ix. 7, 8 ; x. 27 ; 1 Kings x. 2 ; Psalm Ixxii. 10 ; and ginal phrase, Exa,-r)(Tj(v x^*' iJ-iix>irth, or (as Mr. Manne supposes, n. 41.) s Such a discovery of their infant Saviour.] I take it for granted about a year after, when they had spent some considerable time at here, that they had some divine intimation or human instruction, Nazareth, and afterwards, on some unknown occasion, made a visit (which Joseph and Mary might indeed have given them,) that to Bethleliem, where they must have contracted some acquaintance. Christ was to .«nt'f his people from their sins, and was £mmaniiel, The latter supposition is undoubtedly favoured by Luke, ii. 39 ; God with us. Surely God would not have guided them in this ex- and 3Iatt. ii. 16 ; unless we say, that the s/nr appeared about the traordinary manner, merely to pay a transient compliment to Jesus, time of Christ's conception. It also suits best with all the argu- Their ^jros/ra/Zons probably expressed religious adoration aswell as ments brought to prove that Christ was born A. U. C. 747, or 749, civil respect ; and it is not unlikely, that their report might in due and that Herod died A. U. C. 750, or 751, compared with the tra- time make way foy the reception of the gospel in the country from dition of the holy family's spending two years in Egypt. (See Mun- whence they came. — And if, as early antiquity reports, (Euseb. Ec- steron Matt. ii. 14.) These reasons have a face of strong probability, cles. Hist. lib. i. cap. 13.) and both t)r. Cave (Lit. Hist. vol. i. p. 2.) but I cannot say they entirely convince me; and therefore in tlae and the learned Dr. Grabe [Spicilcg. Patr. vol. i. p. 1 — 6.) seem to paraphrase I have determined nothing either way. Compare note o think, some messages of extraordinary respect were afterwards sent and p, in the last section, on Luke ii. 39. p. 22. from Abgarus, king of Edessa in Arabia, to our Lord Jesus Christ, o From what they had expected.] Perhaps they expected this (which might be fact, though the letters now remaining should be great Prince would have been born in the family of Herod ; at least, supposed spurious,) it is very possible, the report of these sages, pre- we maybe sure it was some surprise to them to find him accomrao- served by tradition, (if they were then dead,) might add weight to dated only like a carpenter's child : but they wisely considered, that that of Christ's miracles (about thirty years after,) and dispose that such miraculous honours as the star gave him, weie far beyond any prince to take the greater notice of him. external circumstance, and therefore paid liira their homage as 26 THE INFANTS ARE SLAIN AT BETHLEHEM. SECT, er's biith with horror ; and, with execrable cruelty and vile hypocrisy, to contrive his miirder, under the specious 12. form of doing him homage. Vain and self-confounding artifice ! Let us rejoice in the thought, that there is no un- derstanding, or wisdom, or counsel against the Lord ; no scheme so artfully disguised that he cannot penetrate it, or MATT, so politically formed that he cannot v/ith infinite ease confound it. "• To what perplexity and grief might these sages have been brought, had they been made even the innocent in- 12 struments oi an assault on this Holy Child ! But God delivered them from such an alarm, and happily guided their return ; so that, through his care and favour, they carried home, in the tidings of the new-born Messiah, far richer treasures than they had left behind. Thus shall they, who in all their ways acknowledge God, by one method or another, find that he will graciously direct their paths. ;' ;',',- ■ , - . SECTION xm. Thcfwht into Egypt: the slaughter of the infants : and the settlement of the hohj family at Nazareth after Herod's death. Matt. ii. 13—23. Matt, ii, 13. Matt. ii. 13. matt II. SECT. And after the return of the wise m^^^en they had paid their homage unto Christ, and And when they were de- l'^*- were departed, hehold, the angel omK Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, with a pa'tjd, beliokl the angel of ,. , . Ti • -ji , 1 1 . , J • 1 , . , -r „ the Lord aDpeureth to Jo- message trom heaven, saying, R/se up without any delay, and take with thee the Infant seph in a 'dream, saying, and his another, and fee directly into the land of Egypt,'' and continue there till I shall Arise, and take the young give thee notice to return ; for 'Herod, alarmed by the extraordinary circumstances which fle" into tVypt^and'be thou have lately happened,'' is about to make a strict search for the young Child to destroy him, there until l' bring thee lest he in time should prove a formidable rival to his family. tire"^'ou^n- Chikf trdestro'^ 14 And Joseph, rising from his bed, immediately obeyed the heavenly vision: for he him?°"'^° "' ° ^* ™^ took the Infant and his another hy night, and withdrew, with as hasty a flight as ^4 When he arose, he their circumstances would allow, into the^land of Egypt, near the borders of which Beth- h°f mo\hM by^'iSS ami 15 lehem lay. And they continued there till after the death of Herod, which happened departed into Egypt;' not till several months after ;<= that what was spoken of the Lord by the prophet Hosea, the^dtrtVof Herod -"that on another occasion, 7night thus, as it were, be fulfilled anew ; and that in this ap- it might be fulfilled which pointment of the place where Christ should take up his abode, there might appear to be ^*'** spoken of the Lord by a manifest allusion to that saying, (Hos. xi. 1.) « Out of Egypt have I called my EOTni^ve ^'^cafl'ed "mj " Son ;"'^ Christ being in a much higher and nobler sense the Son of God than Israel, of son whom the words were originally spoken. 16 Then Herod, seeing that he was deluded,^ and that a great affront (as he imagined) my 15 Then Herod, when he was designed him by the sages, as there was now no farther prospect of their returning 'hi wisl nierv™°eMfed- to him, was exceedingly enraged ; and, in order to make the destruction of this un- ing wroth, and sent forth, known infant assure as possible, he sent forth a band of murderers, ami inhumanly tifft Ivere'^in^Bethiehr" slew all the male children^ that were in Bethlehem, and in all the confines of it, from and in airthe°coasts thereof^ a Flee into the land of Egypt.'] This circumstance doth not at Defence of Christianity, p. 294.) supposes that calling ont of Egypt all agree with the conjecture of Grotius, that this vision might is a proverbial expression for being delivered from imr>iiuent appear after their return to Nazareth ; for then (as Le Clerc justly danger ; which might have been said to have its accomplishment observes) it is much more probable that they would have been in Christ's escape, though he had fled into Syria, Arabia, or any ordered to flee into Syria, which was much nearer to Nazareth other country : But, with all due deference to so great a name, than Egypt; to which they could not have passed from tlience, I must observe, that neither Isa. x. 2G ; Deut. xxviii. 68; or without going through the very heart of Herod's dominions, unless Zach. x. 11 ; seem sufficient'to prove the use of such a phrase ; and they had taken a very large circuit, with great expense and danger. I apprehend that, if the use of such a proverb were proved, the — The great number of Jews which resided in Egypt would make passage before us would still seem a plainer reference to Hos. xi. 1, their abode there so much the more comfortable. than to such a general form of speech ; so that the difficulty would b Alarmed by the extraordinary circumstances which have still remain. — I once thought the worls \Moi^7 ift-56' ibj 'S might be lately happened.] When the wise men had come so far to pay rendered and paraphrased after this manner: " Though Israel be their homage to a new-born Prince, the several reports of what " a child, that is, wayward and troublesome like a little infant, had lately happened would, upon this occasion, be revived, and " yet I have loved him, and, in token of my tenderness to him, will the behaviour of two such celebrated persons as Simeon and Anna, " call (Jesus) my Son ont of Egypt ; having there preserved him on the presentation of Christ in the temple, which might at first " from the dangers which threatened his infancy, that he may at be only taken notice of by a few pious persons, would probably " length accomplish my great intended salvation." 1 still think he now reported to Herod, and must add to the alarm which the that this conjecture deserves some consideration, as much more pro- inquiry of the sages gave him. bable than any other solution of this kind I have ever met with.— - c Wliich happened not till several months after.] I pretend not But, on the whole, especially considering the context, I chuse to to say exactly how many, but must content myself with referring take them, as Grotius, Heinsius, and many of the best critics do, the reader for the proof of this to IWr. Manne's most elaborate and for a mere allusion ; and the rather, as I am fully convinced that the elegant Dissertation on the Birth of Christ, p. 35—39, which ad- next quotation, in ver. 17, must neccs.sarily be taken in this sense. yances very considerable arguments to prove that Christ was born e Seeing that he was deluded.] The word initxtx^n, which pro- in the spring, A. U. C. 747. Jul. Per. 4707, and that Herod died perly signifies to be played with, well expresses the view in which about the Passover, A. U. C. 750. Jul. Per. 4710, probably towards the pride of Herod taught him to regard this action, as if it were the end of lVI;irch ; though, on further examination I rather incline intended to expo.se him to the derision of his subjects, and to treat to place tlie birth of Christ in September or October, A. U. C. 749 ; him as a child, rather than a prince of so great experience and and to conclude that Herod died in March. A. U. C. 751. See Dr. renown. Lardner's Crcdih. Part I. Vol. II. p. 79G— 804, 903 ad fin. f Sent forth a band of murderers, and slew all the male chihhcn.] d Oitt of Egypt have I called my Son.] It is well known that, A very ingenious and learned friend of mine has attempted to from the time of Julian at least, the enemies of Christianity have account for Josephus's silence as to this remarkable ^ct, by a coji- been cavilling at the application here made of a prophecy to Christ, jecture, that instead of sending forth (as it was in-fhe first edition) which, in its original sense, seems to belong to the people of Israel, a detachment of soldiers., (of which, he justly urges, nothing is ex- Learned men have laboured with great solicitude to prove it pressly .said in' the text,) he might only send private orders to have literally applicable to Christ. Mr. Pierce's hypothesis, (in his Dis- the children taken oil" as secretly as po.ssible ; so that it might not sertatwn on this text, added to his paraphrase on Philippians, p. make any public noise, and come to the notice of the Jewish 103, 108.) that the prophet is pursuing two subjects together, and historian. But, in answer to this, (not to insist upon the argument alternately treating of each, which must tSierefore be read inter- from Macrobius, Saltirnal. lib. ii. cap. 4. that the Emperor An- changeably, one part referring to the people of Israel, and the gustus had heard of it at Rome,) I would observe, that it is certain otlier to Christ, (as if it were designed by God, that the prophecy nothing of such privacy in the dispatch of these children can be of Christ's being called out of J^gypt sb.oiild be obscured by such inferred from the woid xnxuv, since it is also used to express the a method,) apj)ears indeed to be very ingenious: But I fear, if crucifixion of our Lord, (Acts ii. 23 ; x. 39.) the stoning of Stephen, such liberties were to be allowed, it would render the Scripture (Acts xxii. 20.) and the beheading of James the Apostle, (Acts the most uncertain book in the world,— Bishop Chandler (in his xii. 2.) all whi»h were public executions; as well as the intended THEY COME AND DWELL AT NAZARETH, 27 from two years old and un- der, accordiug to the time whicli lie had diligently enquired of the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jere- my the proi)het, saying-, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping-, and great mourning ; Rachel weep- ing for her children, and ■>vouid not be comforted, because they are not. 19 But when Herod was aead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying-, Arise, and take the young Child and his mother, and go into tlie land of Israel ; for t'.iey ai-e dead wliich sought the young- Child's life. 21 And he arose, and took the young Child and liis mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea, in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither ; notwith- standing, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Ga- lilee : 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Na- zareth ; that it might be fulSlled which was spoken their entrance upon the second year^ and under ; as that, according to the time of sect. which he had got exact information from the sages, must include all that were bom 13. there since the appearance of the star. And then, as this cruel execution extended itself to the neighbouring places, and in par- matt. ticular to Ramali, a town of Benjamin, which lay near Bethlehem, that remarkable saying ^'• ivas {aiiherfulflted, which -was spoken hji Jeremiah the prophet, (Jer. xxxi. 15.) for this ^ ' was plainly an event, to which those words might be applied with more literal propriety than to the captivity of the Jews in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, which 'they were originally intended to describe,'' when they were first delivered by the prophet, sai/ing, "In Ramah there was a most doleful voice heard, lameiffation and weeping, and \S " abundant 7nourning, as if Rachel, that tender mother, who was buried near this place,' " had risen out of her grave, and v/as bewailing her lost children, and refusing to be " comforted, because they are not." . ■ Rut after this, when Herod was dcad,^ and an end put to all his cruelties, behold, an 19 angel of the Lord again appeareth in a dream to Joseph, while he continued to sojourn in Egypt, saying. The way is no¥/ prepared for thy return from hence, and I am sent 20 according to the intimation that was given thee before, to bring thee notice of it ; and therefore now arise, and take the_ Infant and his another, and go back to thine own abode in the la }hI of Israel ; for thou mayest safely do it, since they are dead who sought to destroy the young Child's Ufe} And Joseph had no sooner heard the message that was brought him by the angel, but 21 he immediately arose, and, cheerfully confiding in the Divinaprotection, took the young Child and his mother, according to the command he had received, and came into the land of Israel. But when, upon his coming to the borders of it, he heard that Arche- 22 laus reigned over Judea in the -room of his father Herod, knowing him to be the heii- of his cruelty," as well as of his kingdom, he was afraid to go thither to settle, or so much as to take it in his way ; but, being again divinely admonished in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, which was under the government of Herod Antipas," a prmce of a milder character ; and who v/as then on such hostile terms with Archelaus, th^ there was no danger of his giving them up to liim. And he went and dwelt in a 23 little city, on the confines of Zabulon and Issachar, v/hich was called Nazareth, where he had formerly resided before he went to Bethlehem ;^and being thus returned to his own city, Jesus was there brought up and educated in a place so very contemptible among the Jews, that it was grown into a proverb with them. That no good thing could be expected assassination of Paul by a^ band of armed men. (Act^xxiii. 15.) And if it be considered, on the one hand, how difficult it is pri- vately to murder children under two years old, as they are hardly ever left alone ; and on the other, ho\^ ill such a cautious and un- certain procedure would have agreed with the furious disposition of Herod, and the haughty rage in which these orders were gi_ven, I believe few will incline to this hypothesis. — As for the silence of Jdsephus, it is to be considered, that Bethlehem was but a small place; and therefore, in a reign of so much cruelty, the slaughter of its infants might not be taken very much notice of. Josephus was not old enough to remember it himself: and if he did not find it in the memoirs of Nicholas of Damascus, (that flattering histo- rian, of whom we know he made great use in compiling the life of Herod,) he might be unwilling-io introduce it, even if he were particularly acquainted witli it ; lest the occasion rtiight have led him to mention what, generally at least, he is solicitous to decline, I mean Christian affairs. On the whole, if we compare contempo- rary historians of every age, we shall find some material fact or another omitted by each of them ; yet that silence of one is never urged as an argument ag%^st" admitting the express testimony of tlie rest. See Dr. Lardner's Credib. Part i. Vol. u. book ii. chap. ii. sect. i. p. 746, et seq. g From iheir entrance vpon tlie second year.'] The reasons which determined me to render am Sarovs thus, may be seen in Sir Norton KnatchbuU's excellent note on this place. "It is probable that He- rod, in his passion, ordered the slaughter of the infants as soon as he perceived tliat he was disappointed in his expectation of the re- turn of the wise men, lest otherwise the child he was so jealous of might be removed ; and as his cruelty extended even to those who had entered on the second year, which is expressly said to be ac- cording to the time of which he had got exact information from the sages, it must be natural to conclude from hence, that it'Was not till some considerable time after the birth of Clirist tliat he was visited by the wise men, even though we should allow the first appearance of the star to have been (as some suppose) about the time of Christ's conception. Compare" note n on Matt. ii. 11. p. 25. — For the version of ax^igow, see note i on ver. 7. p. 24. h AVhich they were originally intended to describe.] It is very evident from the following clause, (Jer. xxxi. 17.) Tfii/ cliildre'n shall come again to their own border, that these lamented persons ^vpve not slain, but carried into captivity ; and it is well known, that Ramah was the place where they were assembled to be led away to Babylon, (Jer. xl. 1.) So that it is certain, this can only be an allusion, as it is intimated in the paraphrase. And I look upon this as a sure argument, that a passage in scripture, whether pro- phetical, historical, or poetical, may, in the language of the New Testament, be said to he fulfilled, wlien an event happens to which it may witli great propriety be accommodated. See Dr. Sykes ou the Trulh of Christianity, chap. xiii. p. 217, etseq. i Rachel, who was buried near this place.] See Gen. xxxv. 19 ; and 1 Sam. x. 2. k Jf^/ien Herod was dead.'] It is well worth while to read the particular and affecting account which Josephus has given of. the •terrible death of this inluiman tyrant, whom God lo remarkably made a terror to himself'fm well as to all about him. (See Joseph. Antiq. lib. xvii. cap. 6.[al. 8.] ? 5 ; and Bell. Jud. lib. 1. cap. 33. [al. 21.] \ .5, 6, 7.) Eusebius thought it so great an illustration of the gospel-liistory, that he has inserted it at large, Eccl. Hisl. lib. 1. cap. 8.) with asdegree of exactness, which .joins with many other in- stances of the like nature, to sliow us hov/ cheerfully we may de- pend upon the many invaluable extracts from a multitude of an- cient books now lost, which he has given us both in his Ecclesiasti- cal History and in his other writings, 'ispeciallyju his Presparatio JEvant/elica. 1 They are dead tvho sought tc destroy the yovm Child's life.] It is a_very ingenious corifecture of Mr. Maniie,^iat Antipater, the son of "Herod, who at the time when Clirist was born, was heir- a}ri>arent to his crown, and v/as a prince so cruel and ambitious, that li%had procured the death of his two elder brothei-s,''to clear his way to the succession, would very probably be an active' counsellor and instrument in seeking the destruction of the new-born Jesus, aiid in advisiug to the slaughter of the infants. And, as this Anti- pater died but five days before Herod, both might be referred to in these words of the angel, They are dead, he. SeeMannc's Dissert. p. 74, 75 ; and compare Joseph. Antiq. .Tvd. lib. xvi. cap. 8. [al. 11.] I 4. lib. xvii. cap. 1. & 8. [al. 10.] \ 1. Edit. Havercamp. m The heir of his cruelty.] Archelaus, in the very beginning of his reign, massacred three thousand Jews at once in the lemple, and was afterwards banished, in the.tenith year of his government, to Vienna in Gaul, by Augustus, on a complaint brought against him by the chief of the Jews for his various cruelties. See Joseph. Antiq. lib. xvii. cap. 9. [al. 11.] I 3. p. 851. and cap. 13. [al. 15.] \ 2. p. 866. n Galilee, — under the government of Hered Antipas] Herod the Great divided his dominions by his last will, appointing Archelaus , to succeed him as king of Judea, Herod Antipas to be Tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea, and Philip to be Tetrarch of Trachonitis and the neigh'bouring countries, (Joseph. Atitiq.lib.Kv'u. cap.S. [al. 11.] ? 1.) But Herod Antipas endeavoured to supplant his brother Ar- chelaus, wlieu application was made to the Romans to confirm the will, and went to Rome with a view of obtaining the kingdom, (which was left to him in a former will,) in which -he was supported by the interest of the whole family, who hated Archelaus, and thought his brother to be far more worthy of the kingdom ; and, though he did not carry his point, the attempt was such as could not but widen the breach there was before between them, and left no room for any future corrcspouvlenrc. See Joseph. Antiq. Ub. xvii, cap. 9. [al. 'll.] ? 4. & cap. 11. [al. 13.] \ 4. t 28 JESUS GOES UP TO THE PASSOVER, SECT, from thence; (John i. 46: vii. 52.) so that by this a way was further opened by the by the prophets, He shall 13. providence of God, that it might be fulfilled what had been spoken in effect bj/ many be called a Nazarene. of the prophets, " He shall be called a Na~araa?/,"° that is, he shall appear in mean MATT, and despicable circumstances, and be treated as the mark of public contempt and re- ''• proach. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 16 What is our fallen nature, that it can be capable of such enormities as we have now been surveying? or what imaginable circumstances of grandeur and power can free tlie mind of an ambitious creature from servitude and misery ? Who can behold Herod under the agitation of such a barbarous rage, and not see the vanity even of royal dignity, when the man that sways the sceptre over others, hath no rule over his own spirit ? Surely none of the innocent victims of Herod's wrath felt so much from the sword of their barbarous murderers, as the guilty mind of the tyrant from its own imnatural transports. The indignation which arises in our minds on the view of so much wickedness, finds a secret satisfaction in this IS thought. But how grievous is it to reflect on what the parents of these poor babes felt, while the sword that mur- dered their children in their very sight, pierced through their own bowels ! Happy, in comparison with these, were the wombs that never bare, and the paps that never gave suck ! Let parents remember, how soon their dearest hopes may be turned into lamentation, and learn to moderate their expectation from their infant offspring, and check too fond a delight in them. Let us all learn to be very thankful, that we are not under the arbitrary power of a tyrant, whose sallies of dis- tracted fury might spread desolation tlirough houses and provinces. Let us not say. Where was the great Regent of the universe, when such a horrible butchery was transacted ? His all-wise counsels knew how to bring good out of all the evil of it. The agony of a few moments transmitted these oppressed innocents to peace and joy ; while the impotent rage of Herod only heaped on his own head guilt, infamy, and horror. He conceived ?nischief, and he brought forth vanity, (Job xv. 35.) and while he studied to prevent the establishment of the Messiah's kingdom, and set himself, with impious rage, against the Lord, and against his Anointed, He that sitteth in the heavens did laugh, yea the Lord had him in derision. (Psal. ii. 2, 4.) That God, who discerns every secret purpose of his enemies, and foresees every intended assault, knows how, whenever he pleases, by a thought, by a dream, to baffle it. 1 3 The preservation of the holy child Jesus in Egypt, may be considered as a figure of God's care over his church in its gi-eatest danger. God doth not often, as he easily could, strike their persecutors with immediate destruction ; but he provides a hiding-place for his people, and, by methods not less effectual, though less pompous, preserves his chosen seed from being swept away, even when the enemy comes in like a flood. 14, 15 Egypt, that was once the seat of persecution and oppression to the Israel of God, is now a refuge to his son : and thus all places will be to us what divine Providence will be pleased to make them. When, like Joseph and Mary, we are cut off from the worship of his temple, and perhaps removed into a skange land, he can be a little sanctuary to us, and give us, in liis gracious presence, a rich equivalent for all that we have lost. 19 They continued here, till he gave the signal for their departure. Let us, in like manner, remember that it is God's part to direct, and ours to obey ; nor can we be out of the way of safety and of comfort, while we are following his directions, and steering our course by the intimations of his pleasure ! 20 Jesus survived his persecutors, and returned into the land of Israel again ; but such was his condescension, that he 23 abode at Nazareth, which seems to have been allotted him as the most humble station. Let us never be unwilling to bear reproach for him, who from his infancy endured it for us ; nor take offence at the meanness of his condition, whose removes were directed by angelic messengers, as immediate envoys from the God of heaven .' .^ ^ ^ . n , ,' ^ 5 r SECTION XIV. Jesus, at the age of twelve years, conies up to the passover at Jerusalem, and there discourses with the doctors in the temple. Luke ii. 40, to the end. Luke ii. 40. ■ .. SECT. And the Child Jesus, being returned to Nazareth, was educated in that city under the And the Child grew, and 14. care of Joseph and his mother, and there grew up and became strong in spirit, discovering waxed strong in spirit, filled early marks of a sublime and heavenly genius, and visibly appearing tohe filled with o^God'wasupon'hhn ""^^"^^ JLUKE an uncommon portion and degree of wisdom ; and it was plainly to be seen, that the II- grace of God was eminently upo(i him ; so that he made an extraordinary progress in 40 knowledge and piety betimes, and was thus looked upon as a distinguished favourite of heaven. (Compare Judg. xiii. 24, 25.) 41 Now his Tp'ious pare )its went early to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover ; as it 4i Now his parents went was usual for those families to do that were remarkably religious, though only the adult tL'^feas'TofThrpassover. ^* males were by the law obliged to appear before 'the Lord on this occasion. (Compare 1 Sam. 42 i, 3, 7, 21.) And when he was twelve years old, and so, according to tiie Jewish *^/? . '^"^ s"}!f " ),e^ „^e„t maxims, came under the yoke of the law,^ his parents, when they went up to Jerusalem, "'^'''^^^^ ° ' o He shall he called a NazaTennn.'] If the solution given in the Psal. xxii. 6, et seq. Ixix. 9 ; by Isaiah, chap. lii. and liii. and by paraphrase be not allowed, I must acquiesce in Chrysostom's Zechariah, chap. xi. 12, 13. opinion, that the passage referred to is lost: For it is very unnatu- a Came under the yoke of the law.] Though I am not satisfied ral to exjjlain this text by Samson's being appointed a Nazarite, of the truth of Grotius's assertion, that the Jewish children under Judg. xiii. 5; or the Messiah's being spoken of as A'p/iffr, //if ira/ic/;, this age were called o'3op, or little one.s, and afterwards ons33, or Isa. xi. 1; or to account for it witli Witsius, by God's being called children, (since it is certain that the word -jt^ is often used for Notzar, the preserver of men, Job viii. 20. (See Wits. Melelem. those under that age; see 1 Sam. 1. 21 ; Judg. xiii. 24-, and Hos. Diss. \ 10.) The joint sense of many scriptures is thus referred to, xi. 1, 3;) yet I think the fact asserted in the paraphrase is generally John vii. 38 ; and James iv. .5. And that the Messiah should be allowed hy learned men. See Wottons Miscel. Vol. i. p. 320; and treated in a very contemptuous manner, was foretold hy David, Liglitf. Hor. Heb, in he. AND RETURNS WITH HKS PARENTS TO NAZARETH. 29 LUKE II. ,ip to Jerusalem, after the according to the usiial custotn of the feast, thought it proper to take him with them, to SECT. custom of the feast. celebrate ' that glorious deliverance, which God had so many ages ago wrought for his 14. people when he brought them out of Egypt, the memory of which was carefully to be transmitted to every succeeding generation. (Compare Exod. xii. 26, 27.) 43 And when they had And whcu they had finished all the religious solemnities to be observed in the days of un- fulfilled the days, as they igg^yened bread, andisere returning home, the child Jesus, charmed with the sacred enter- ^"^ ta!"ied"behind''in 'jeru'sa! tainments of the temple, and eageily desirous of improving in the knowledge of his Father's lera; and Joseph and his \2i\v, staid behind them in Jerusatem ; and neither Joseph nor his inotho- were aware [of '""4]"Bur"the"y'iposing it.'] But though they saw he was not with them, yet, knowing his sociable tamper, they A4: acquaintance. companions in the journey, and with whom they concluded he had been. And, not finding 45 45 And v.hen ti'syjf'^^jj hi7n yv'iih. them, they returned immediately, and came back to Jerusalem, seeking hi?n him not, they turne a!;aiuto Jerusalem, seekin, him : 46 And it came to pas every where with great concern, and ready to suspect that some hostile assault might have been made upon him. And, three days after their setting out,'' they found him in an apartment of the tern- 46 found' Wm'in'ufe'tem'pfe^ P^^, where the teachers of the law used to lecture upon it to the people ; and where young sitting in the midst of the persons in particular were examined, and had a liberty to ask what questions they thought doctors; both hearing them pj-opgj., for their farther information.*^ Here was Jesus sitting in the midst of the doctors, and asking them questions. ^^^^^ profession it was to teach on these occasions ; for he had placed himself among others at their feet,'^ and was, with all possible diligence, both attending to them, and asking them such questions as he judged proper, for the farther illustration of what they said. 47 And all that heard him And all who heard him, considering the tenderness of his age, were in a perfect tran- 47 were astonished at his un- ,^ of admiration'' at his understanding, and at the penetration which he shev/ed, both derstandmg and answers. ^ ^^^ questions he put to them, and also "in the answers he returned to what they asktd him. 48 And when they saw j„q? y^.^g„ Jig ^as discovered by his parents, and they saw him thus employed, they 48 ind'hL''mother%aid''unto likewise Were struck with wonder: and his mother said unto him,0\-i mv son, why hast iiim, Son, why hast thou fhou dealt thus with us ? behold, this is now the third day that thy father and I have tim.s dealt with us! behold ^^^^^j^^ ^j^^^^ ^^^^ .^^^ ^^ j^g^^ ^,-ffj ^expressible anxiety and distress, th^e sorrowhig. ° And he said unto them. What is the cause that you have sought me with so much 49 49 And he said unto them, goiicem ^ and why is it you were at such a loss where you should find me ? Hid ye not meTwist ye'ottratTn^'t hnow that I Ought to be at my Father's .*f and that ^^toever I was, I should be so em- be about my Father's busi- ployal in his service as to be secure of his protection ? And they did not pertectly under- 50 stai}d the words which he spake unto them upon this occasion,^ as being expressed in some- thing of a concise and ambiguous manner. And he went down into the country with them, and came to Nazareth ; and there he 51 ... did not assume any air of superiority on accoimt of the extraordmary applause he had met NaMreUiT'a'nd'was'Tubiect with froui the people who had heard him in the temple, but still continued subject to his unto them : hut his mother ^^^^^^^^ ^nd respectful to thcm, as a most dutiful and obedient child. And his jnother kept all these sayings and occurrences in her heart, and often reflected very seriously upon them. And Jesus advanced considerably in wisdom, as well as in age and stature,^ and grew 52 fIvou™v'ithGod"n'^d m proporfionably in favour both with God and men; his behaviour being not only remark- ably religious, but so benevolent and obliging, as to gain the friendship and affection of all that were about him. ness 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down ■with them, and came to kept all these sayings her heart, 52 And Jesus increased in b Tliree days nfler their setting out.] The first day was spent in their journey homeward, the second in their return to Jerusalem, and the third in searching after Christ there. — The word tysvci-o, it came to puss, is a mere expletive : and, not imagining that the rules where it is rendered, in my Falhefs house, which it is certain they will well bear ; and so Josephus puts ev «is tu A105, for, in Jupiter's temple; contra AjiionAih A. \\?>.^. AA^. Haverc. (Compare John xix. 27 • Esther v. 10; vi. 12; vii. 9. Gr.) And, indeed, though a of the most VaifRTiiT and exact translation wou?d obhgo me always general apprehension of his being well employed might be a reason to retain it, I have frequently omitted it c For their farther information.] All these things are so well il- lustrated and confirmed by Dr. Lightfoot, in his Hor. Heh. on this place, that I cannot hut refer the reader thither. See also Drusius's excellent note on this place. d Sittinc] at their feet.] I have often thought it a great injury to the character of our blessed Redeemer to representthis story, whe (as it is intimated in the paraphrase,) against their excessive anxiety, vet it could not (as the words in this connection seem to imply,) have directed them w here to find him. It is to be remembered, this was the first visit Christ had ever made to the temple since he was a child in arras ; and it is no wonder therefore that the delight he foufid there inclined him to prolong it. They (lid not perfectly understand the words wfiich he spake unto ther in pictures or words, as if Christ, at this tender age, went up them.] It is strange Grotius should think '-uvnxav should here be ren- into the seats of the doctors, and there disputed with them. Not dered, T/iry did not attentive!!/ consider what he said, when the very one word is said of his disputing by the Evangelist, but only of his next verse assures us jl/ar>/ kept all tlicse sayings tn her heart. 1 be asking some questions, and answering others, which-was a very usual phfase only implies, that there was something more m Christ s words thing in these assemblies, and indeed the very end of them. AH was, than at first appeared. He conjectures there might be a reference to no doubt, conducted with the utmost modesty and decorum. And his being the Lord who was to come into hts temple,^ (IVIal. 111. 1.) if he were with others at the feet of these teachers, (where learners generally sat, see Luke x. 39 ; and Acts xxii. 3.) he might be said to be in the midst of them, as they sat on benches of a semicircular form, raised above their auditors and disciples. JFere in a transport of admiration.'] Every learned reader must which, if' there be, it is indeed very obscure. It seems more pro- bable, it may be an intimation that he had many other important visits to make to his Father's house ; which evidently appears by the sequel of the history. h In wisdom, as well as in age and stature.] it is well known that know that the words sJi-imvIo here and i^nrXxywx^i in the next verse, rXixn may signify either age or stature; but I think the latter is are much more forcible than our translation of them, and much meant here, because the former was too apparent to need tUe men- more literally rendered here. tion. It seems a very just and important remark of Erasmus here, f I ought to be at my Father's : ev wis ra sr^ljot /«. Jei e.vi. me.] There that all the endowments of the Man Christ Jesus were owing to is a known ambiguity in the original. I have chosen with Grotius, the Divine beneficence, and that the Deity communicated itseU in a Capellus, Fuller, kc. to follow the Syriac version of the words, gradual manner to that human nature which it had assumed. 30 JOHN THE DAPTIST ENTERS ON HIS MINISTRY. DIPROVEIVIENT. SECT. Let us, wlio :\iv heads of families, lake ooi'asion fmiu tho story befoiv us, to renew our resolulions, tliat :;•< and our 1 4. house xv'ill serve ihe Lord : and rememlxT, (hat it is a part of our ihity, not only to Ciod hut to our tlonuslii s, to i ii- sragt.^ theui with us in his public woi-ship \ tlie plt>aiaiiv of whicii will suiie!y 1h> eucix'astxl whin wo sc^etJiem, and ospo- lA'iTE cially our dear children, pining with us in attendance on our great connnon Fatlier. >'■ Lit children view the example of the holy child .K^us, witli an humble desire to copy after if. Let them love Vor. 43 tlie house and oixlinances of God, and thii-st for the instructions of his good word. Let tJieni think tJienist^hes 46 happy, if his servants in tJie ministry w ill Ix^tow a part of their important time in those, exereist^i which are espe- ci.ally suitcxl for their instruction ; and lot them not only be careful to return Ihe^iroperest luiswers they can, but at convenient times, with modesty and resj>ect, ask such questions as nwy be likelyTti" improve them in knowleiige and grace. Let those children whose gonius is most promising and most admired, Icani from the blessed Jesus, to liehave 51 tlieanselvi* in an humble and submissive manner to all their elders, and especially to their piu-enis ; for though he was t/ie Lord ofall^ yet was he subject, not only to I\Iaiy his real mother, but to Josi^ph, though only supj^Kmd to be his lather! Such children may well hope that tJie grace of God will still be upon them ; and, growing in -10, Cy2 w isdom, i\s they do in stature, tliey will also ad\-aace in favour vith God and men, and be the darlings of hea^•en, as well as of earth. ' And oh, that the greatest and wisest of us, those of the longest standing, and of the most eminent stations in tlie chureh, might Itim of tliis admii-able and divnne child ; that, always rememlxning our relation to God, and 49 ever intent on learning his will, and promoting his glory, we might, with humble acquiescence, accommodate ourselves to all the disj^)Osa!s of his providence ! How easily could he, who di.scoveretl such early marks of a sublime 47 genius and a lively w it, have relished tlie most elegant delights of science, and have eclipsed all the most celebrated poets, orators, and philosophers, of that learned and polite age ! But he laid all those \:ews aside, that he might 51 pursue the duties of Uiat humble rank of life which his heavenly Father's iutinite wisdom had assigned him : and joined, as it would seem, to assist in maintaining himself, and his parents too, by the daily labour of his hands. Let us learn from hence, that it is the truest greatness of soul to know our own place and office, and to deny our- selves tJiose amusanents of the mind,' as well as those gratifications of tlie soises^ wliich are inconsistent witli the pro}">er services of our ditierent relations and callings. ^ * f _( , 'l 'i> . ' i\ ^, ' " ;- n SECTION XV. The opening of John the Baptisfs jhinistrj/. Mark i. 1 — C. Luke iii. 1 — 6. Mali. iii. 1 — G. Mark. i. 1. Mark. i. i. i^r-CT. The heginn/ng c^f the gospe f-hhtory of Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, The bejfinnin^of tip^o;:. ^5. as it is ivcorded by the E\'angelist Mark, thus takes its rise from the fu-st opening of Jolin's ^^ ([J/""* chnst, tiie smi ministry. It was this Jolm that came under the character of -the great foremnuer of the aAs'it is written in tlie .MARK Messiah; as it is XL-ritten in the prophets, and particularly in Malachi, (chap. iii. 1.) propbets. Behold, I send '■ " Behold, I will send nit/ messenger he/ore thi/ faee, O my Anointed Son, t:7/o shall fare,"wfiTclf*sh,iM prq!are " prepare thp 'j:av before thee ; and, as the harbinger appointed to proclaim thy thy way before iliee. " coming, shall, witli remarkable solemnity, make it the business of liis ministry to intro- " duce tliy kingdom." So also it was projihesied concerning him by Isaiah, (cli. xl. 3.) 3 " There shall be heard the roicc of one eri/intr in the ■a-itdcrness,'^ and solemnly pro- ."? Tlic voire of one crj*- " claiming to this purpose in the deserts of Judea, Prepare ye yvith readiness the S-ai/ of p"fc'°y*J'\he' wav'of^the " the Lord, and 7nahe his paths straight and smooth, by removing every thing which Lord," make his paths' " might prove an obstruction to his gracious appearance," These prophecies (as it will stnnght. presently be seen) received a verj-^ signal and remarkable accomplishment in John, who, from his office, was sumaniet^ the Baptist LUKE No-^' tliis ejninent person made his first public appearance in the fifteenth year of the ^ ^ckf. iii. i. Now in the m,. ., rr<-t ■ /-I / 1 ■ ..1 1 ■ -• ■ ;■ 1 • ■ c 4^ ^ nUecn'h Tear of the reisni reign of the emperor Tiber lus Ca:sar, (reckomng tJie begmuing ot his reign irom the „f Tiberius Ca^ir, Pontius 1 time when Augustus made him his colleague in the empire,*') -.ihen, Archelaus being Pilate being governor of banished, and liis kingdom reduced into a Roman province, Pontius Pilate ■nas governor .j'e"^rch"n"/'G.""e'^and h^ or procurator of Judea ; and, as the dominions of Herod tlie Great had been divided brother Philip tetVarrh of after his deat]i,<= 7/cvW Antipas, one of his sons, 'ivas tetrarch of Galilee, or governor Tturea, and of the region of of tliat fourth pail of his dominions; and his brother Philip tetrarch o/" another fourtli tlie te'trarcii of Abilene,""' part, which was the region of Jturea and Trachonitis, (the name now given to that i Those amusements of the mind.] I liope roy younger bre- league in the empire.] Supposing Clirist was bom A. U. C. 7-17( thren in the ministry will pardon me, if I bespeak "their particular (as in note c, p. 26.) it is absolutely neces. rflri» o/*(ii/7s, they see cause in their last would thus be the thirty-fourth yc.ir of Christ's life, which is moments to adopt,tlie words of dying "Grotius, perhaps with \ plainly inconsi-irnt with" Luke iii. 2.3. (See i\Ianne"s />issfr/. p. much greater propriety thaa he could "use them : Proh .' ritam I3(i — 1-10.) But if the" birth of Christ be placed (as seems nifist prrdidi, oprro^i nihil agendo : — .Vlas! I have thrown away life in . probable) in September, A. V. 749, and Tiberius was admitted to doing nothing with a great deal of pains. a part in the empire (three years before Augustus died) in Augu.tt a The voice of oTie crying ia the wilderness.'] Most commenta- 701, the fifteenth year of Tiberius on tliis computation began in tors have imagined these words originally to refer to the procla- August 778. And if John entered on his ministry in the spring raation of deliverance from the Babylonish captivity: but there following, A. U. 77f», in the .same year of Tiberius, and after lie is no imaginable reason for supposiiig an immediate connection had preached about twelve months, baptized Jesus in the spring between the conclusion of the thirty-ninth chapter of Isaiah, and of 780, then Jesus at his bapti.sm would be hut thirty years of age the beginning of the fortieth ; nor "can I observe any thing in the and some odd month.s, which perfectly asrees with what St. Luke process of this chapter, which may not literally suit the evangcli- says, of his being at that time nhnt:t thirty years old. See Dr. cal sense here given it by Mark, as well as Matthew and Luke. L.irdner's Credih. Part I. Vol. II. p. 838, 839. b Reckoning from the time when Augustus made him his col- c Divided after his death.] See note n, on Matt. ii. 22. p. 27. AND FBEACHES THE BAPTISH OF KEFESSTASSCE, 3i tact of fand oa the otiier side Joedaa, wiuch bad fisanafy bdoa^sd to die tdbe cf isekt, HLffiamfh:) andlofxatuM wat Utrareh »f Aiiiene* a Cur dtjr of Sjin, wHmk tanto- Iv. lia leadied etnga to Ldnaoa and Damaaeni, zsA wesi f&iflkd with gieat y»ening of Irit naenrtiry, did peeadi wilh |>pEat pcww^and iapthe 3 .^ ''..i;i ::ifABK. Mh» Hd in the -^Udemeit ; and, feitsemog Ae p&s^ iodiaed to ^^wTgS^S^'ie^BA to hk trr zLont JavAbk, ^nMb^ //y aimit Jordan, and went a fcogras onr it, fiom ooe^ikce to ancfbef, fjo. bodi ades ;,,^ r - *rf ,«» *f f«s*a«^ ^ met, preaching emxj vfica:^ ac he went aJoog^ the liapf-^" -'* ■ —'^forthe '' ibtk.L4.j remiitum of sins ; eataesiif exbot6og men to iqieat of all it.- heir lire^ and to \tthaip6ttd,mUkea of dior aocen dene to be wadtef . — ....^^j. „-omfbem; and asniDg Aao^ at tfie smie tiraev AaA if Aef attoidad on tfa» indiinlioa ia a fndjr pe^ tent manner; fteyrat^oonader it as a pledge and tofcm of didrbea^forigirai bj God. Mir.ir. iii-Zr AmAstfate, And while he was dms upog hii exfaocfstiicta, and mying, 'Repent ye, he pkadai widi4 ^STf iMJTtBir TrtlrT^ *'™* * T^ "** *** inflWrtant ai|neDeitt: Fw (aand fiej /Ar loQgHacpa:ted kingdmn of heatea i» nam approaening^ and Goi if aboot to amear, in si eztssoRfiEiary marmery to dcctdi^ kingdom qwton of by Iteoifet, i^efaap, u.aC aadriL 13, 14.) agfeelacmiam of die God of hearen, which he woiM Kt op and gi«« to die Son of oiaE^ nskai^ ft mi^^ rktoaosm over all other tdnf^doiES. it is theKfere (said the BspC^) «f tte haghat ia^ poitsBioev diat 70a dioiM be die sobyedb of tfas kingjota; wiacfa, widKnt asnoeRand umreoal B^ieofanee, joa cannot poaribly be. Lii^ u>. i. M J. M '-i:.<^ And npoDthsoccason he fa&A not to napradL and to 'wmA vspsm. dot paesgeof ki^ 5 duK li he that «a* nfJUa acdjr OS it i* vpritten in the booh of dhfemtr$ef and prophadei of the pn>phet Imiah : ttltajwf^rkerm;at»i«m Jiff, this io^iesA h he who •mu ^oken ^fsoezpteedy by that na^jnter, (chap, ri, 3 — 5.) Pre^e7« tix v»f«f^ i^gL,he B tanin^, widi a manifcit wfaynfie to the MenaSiTkaigdoai, " Tbece diaS be lyjrt, *■>&« bi* pttte **'^^A the zfiice fyf one Trying alood in the vildeme*$, ** Prepare ye the "cau of the tfxi^fet: CMrtt.Ki.3^] u. jj^ ,rtih tte r t 'hariifi r^atei'??, snd cheerfbOy set yoooE^es to make his paths ** straigM~^& - ^f wfaicfa might prove an ofadiactjnQ w!sai s Ercty vatfey dMll Ixe " heooEDES on s>. . .alli^ shall ftamte iejilled op, and etery 6 ^A*tJa*^^aU'bl^^^ " ''»*«"'^"» <""' -^"'^ •**'"'^ ^ l>-.tug.U dofun bifxe&Mmf eeen the crooked roods shall hnr ; 2«1 t&e « Bxje « yjctoriow way dBll be nade fo ha goi^ and ft AaB be ppopag?^ **anigiecei^tetftrfnnseema»if tfaewhtfefaceof naftmeweremicKriondy efaanged; «and momtaBB zaA xaSiaa, and fecerts and rocks wcce to.j^KEad dKDOsmes in&o a ^ ted an fc* ifell «» ** ^paciooi pfain fadkne the meaEo^a of it ^m/ das not die faod of loael alooe, bcft «Mi*asiMB«f Gsd. « all flesh, or die whole horaan race, a* easepHoQ die nEsiatert Goitde oatioaK, shall ** see and adadse the peal salzation of Godr TiLxL in. 4. ksA t&e ^ov, dat diB talcMwliuaiy UKsea^ might XBesi. widi die gvealsr t^asd, God was 7 \ Lffunua u** hHorA Iff jOrilne:^ feaie ha»g timi^^f fet» t9trt3ceanle3»lEse«E(ec»i»ri&er i!rt»a tsziaitf^iaextrEaiUeilidF- I.Tnacassaot&erasaAif Htsod theGnaX; bntitaMavanKhaMee c«tt»B»|]Kwig^aOtaefatt«r pat<»jrk»«eetei(lewij. ^^jbabEe tint be v^» itoiamleii ftooi a ariaee of that aaoHCv «hr> h 2%#' ki»f4iim afkemgea in itp^»iti^ki»/f.1 Dr. 9iJ^if*. <■ hs £c- iad b«8agqv«irrrsr<«£^t£ia£im(Egitrf KTcnl jvsnbefare See Jwefli. c«7 «« d^ TnSk vf the daixtimm Rtiifma, ebtf. iii. has lupEtjr >«t3r tohs Tcrf extcame wrr far tint ai^ «r «1uefa be hid ipufcea is the fevned, whieb was fi» «cbaM Cert ia iiinn n^ofeet (tcnaiiLMrUwwi ptBtedoig »»iTd% thiMgh thae ereat* faegpawd aear thirW" yem •■ea«i«raeL — ted the la smks pfai:<» of •errptffi«. t&« phaet w«v« pestKvBtriy (^j^Mfei fhnse « facie aaed with the greater pc»*p«{ety, a Jofea dM iadttd the fanaer, »(d dcontes <^ «il«r;SMtsfn>fertya>edkdL The c«icat ealatioa gfOMMedBleMJ^ tfaeChriit,«r the >tefMfe< O(a«'of Cod. IMth iiv that oac was the hieh-«ri(al,aad the other hiiavn or dejpaty. JobatheB^p(irt,flbe%aadChnst,to«fc ay thicpfacMtvaad ased it «» that the title gsight, with a rerypndnaable ae»^, be ifflifd asfikey fMadtt,aadgndaally tzaigbt the Jews to afizri^ ideas ta boCfa. See ante 2, «a Jofaa xruL tl {. tM. to it, thiarfi it was a Inisis they wet? raaarioMy aawillnip to g 2W mtrd nf Cud tmme mU» JMs Ute BaplbS,J I tUafc these kora. TtSi resy 4ranad of iqteabace dhewed it was a finlmtd * " ' '' " ' UafJtm; aad Oat ■swifted —a, how iwUfe or bcw^ how Itata- ed or n»»wacd sse««r. coaU vsaribly be a f^eaaiae Betabcr of it. (they do) that Cteiit SeeMy&raMtsa AcyAKHtaw, BCo.ir.ou M»-1I7. waseraeifadia at tfteeath Tear, thea it will fsiow; thataH the i Mrrerfwumttmia»mdkiM$JMi«lmm^4imKiitS»nVmLl Ggw- eveaH^bsthofJoba'saHairtzyaadofoorloed'ii^aMMtbeRdaeel tias hew aawt th^ially JBartiatifd the lefereaeie that apytart o* withia the enanesi of oae year; wfai«h if, for leaaaw elsewhere ptualy ia this p^wigr , to the cartoai of saattag ptoaews to lerid girea, attoiy weicdiUeL To f oaf lad; that by tte hagaage the way bcfoie prncxs, whea they aie caatiae with aasMroaa at- which Lmlut itept mKt, he iatr^is to exgaew the flaie of Cfcriars teadaats: batbytfaeiaapastoftibebaeaaptfatthepcovbetatei; dcatth, tlMMtth it did ao« happea ia the suae yev, is doiae the it lipluklytobeKeatfaat tfaeamawwrfcvGod'c; thoo^Meaaie ipeatfst TiAraee JM^giaaide to the whOe paMge. Bov Maeh called to eoaear with hiaiia it; whiefc if evety wheie the seheae easier woald it be toiiairt of a little aM»e htafrfp ia tfce imter- of scriptaie,as ttceitaaly is of iiwii BBWoa. Cnfire Phit «. prrtitifaof DMLix.afcaaar«iiioatowhich»aewstohayfctilaBfcLi K, ta 32 THE PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES COME TO HEAR JOHN. SECT, pleased to send it by a person on many accounts remarkable, and especially for the same John had his raiment 15. temperance, and even the severity of his manner of living. For this John wore (as the of camel's hair, and a • ancient prophets used to do) a rough garment winch was made of camel s hair, and so loins : and his meat was MATT, indeed was but a kind of sackcloth ; and he had a leathern girdle about his waist : locusts and wild honey. "I- (compare 2 Kings i. 8 ; Zech. xiii. 4 ; Rev. vi. 12 ; and xi. 3.) And as for his food, ^^^^"^ '• ^-^ 4 it was such as the wilderness atibrded, which tons frequently nothing but a large kind of locusts,^ which the law allowed hira to eat ; (Lev. xi. 21, 22.) and wild honey, often to be found in hollow trees, or in the clefts of the rocks. (Compare 1 Sam. xiv. 26 ; Judg. xiv. 8 ; and Psal. kxxi. 16.) 5 These uncommon circumstances of his public appearance concurred with thi^ time of it, 5 Then went out to him to awaken in the people a great regard for his preaching ; for their uneasiness under the [n'[t^,e*'iaud^of]" JudTa, ai'i'd Roman yoke, wliich then bore hard upon them, raised the most impatient desire of the all the region round about Messiah's arrival j by whom they expected not only deliverance, but conquest, and uni- Jordan. [Mark i. 5.] versal monarchy. They therefore attentively listened to this proclamation of his approach ; so that tlie inhabitants of Jerusalem, and multitudes out of all the land ofjudea, and all G tlie region round about Jordan, went out to hear him, and were attentive to him} And 6 And were [all] haptized great numbers of them were brought under very serious impressions by his faitliful re- j^rd™ 'coufesing^'^their monstrances, expostulations, and warnings : and those that were awakened to repentance, sins. [Mark i. 5.] ° were all baptized by him in the river Jordan ; expressing the convictions they were under, by confessing their sins, and, by submitting to tliis rite, engaging themselves for the future to reformation and obedience. IMPROVEMENT. MARK With what pleasure should we hear the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God ! and with what reverence re- 1. 1. member the dignity of his divine nature, amidst all the condescensions of Iiis incarnate state ! MATT. It is surely matter of unspeakable thankfulness, that the kingdom of heaven should be erected among men ! that III. the great God should condescend so far as to take to himself a people from our mean and sinful world, and appoint 2 his own Son to be the governor of that kingdom ! How happy are we that it is preached among us, and we are called into it ! Let it be our great care that we be not only nominal, but real members of it. 6 For this purpose let us remember, and consider that, to become the subjects of this kingdom, we are to enter into it by the way of repentance ; humbly confessing our sins, and resolutely forsaking them, if we do indeed desire to find mercy. LUKE Let us bless God, both for the promises of pardon and for the appointment of the seals of it, particularly of ni. baptismal washing; always remembering the obligation it brings upon us to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness 3 of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Cor. vii. 1.) 4 And, being ourselves become members of Christ's kingdom, let us pray that it may be every where extended. 6 May divine Grace remove every obstruction, and make a free course for his gospel, that it may every where run and be glorified, so that all flesh may see the salvation of God !• MATT. John, v.'ith this awful severity of manners and of doctrine, was sent before Christ to prepare his way. Let us HI. learn to reflect how necessary it is that the law should thus introduce the gospel ; and let all the terrors of Moses 4 and Ellas render tlie mild and blessed Redeemer so much the more welcome to our souls ! i fx,-^ -Wv ,» \% "S 5 " SECTION XVI. ' ■ ' John the Baptist addresses suitable admonitions to those that attended his ministry, and proclaims the ap- proach of the Messiah, Matt. iii. 7—12 ; Mark i. 7, 8 ; Luke iii. 7—18. Matt. iii. 7. Matt. iii. 7. SECT. When John opened his ministry, there were two very different sects among the Jews ; that But -when he saw many 16. of the Pharisees, who were exceeding sfrict in ceremonial institutions, and in the observa- "^J"^^^ comf^to Ws ha'p- • Uon of human traditions ; and that of the Sadducees, Avho, among other very obnoxious tism, lie said unto them, o MATT, notions, denied the existence of spirits, and a fuhire state of rewards and punishments ; yet ^^^^{^''ll'^^^^l yj,P"t'o "flee ^'^' some of both these sects, out of curiosity or popular custom, or for some other unknown ^^^^ j|,g wrath to come! 7 reason, attended on the preaching of this holy man : And when he saxo among the multitudes [Luke iii. 7.] that came to be baptized by him, that many, both of the Pharisees and Sadducees,'' were coming to receive his baptism ;"" as he well knew the open profaneness of the one, and the i k A large kind of locusts.l Though it may he allowed, on the justly contends for this signification of the word axjiJEf in his ex- authority of the accurate Sandys, (see his valuable Travels, p. 18.3.) cellent Travels, p. 2.58 : where he also observes that, as the mouths and many others, that there is ui these parts a shrub called the Lo- of April and May are the time when these insects abound, it may cust-tree, the buds of which something resemble asparagus ; yet, probably be conjectured, that John began his ministry about that notwithstanding all the pains Sir Norton Knatchhuil has taken to season of the year ; wliich might also seem more convenient for re- prove it, I cannot imagine the word axfiJsr is here to be understood ceiving, and especially for baptizing so great a number of people, as referring to the product of it It is certain, the word in the than winter could have been. Septuagint and elsewhere generally signifies the animal which \ve 1 H^ent out to him.l The novelty of a prophet's appearance in call a locust, or a large, winged grasshopper, (see Rev. ix. 3, 7, 9.) Israel, the family of John, the circumstances of his birth, and the which the law allowed the Jews to eat, (Lev. xi. 21, 22.) and which extraordinary character he had no doubt maintained for strict and Plinv assures us made a considerable part ofthe food of theParthians undissembled piety, all concurred with the causes mentioned in the and Ethiopians. (See Plin. A'at. Hist. lib. xi. cap. 29. and lib. vi. cap. paraphrase, to draw such vast multitudes after him^ 30.) The matter is excellently illustrated by the learned notes of a Pharisees and Sadducees.'] The most authentic account of Heinsius.Drusius, and Eisner, on this place: but Erasmus is tedious- these sects may be seen in Joseph. Antiq. Jud. lib. xviii. cap. 1. ly prolix upon it ; and, which is strange, he is very warm too. AV'hat [al. 2] ct Bell. Jud. lib. ii. cap. 8. [al. 7.] Havercamp. All writers of , need have we to keep a guard upon our spirits, when so great and Jewish Antiquities describe them largely; but I think, on the so good-natured a man could be angry in a debate of so small fm ■ whole, none better than Dr. Prideaux, Connect. Vol. ii. p. 335 — 343. portance! — I shall add only on this point, with respect to the use b Coming to receive his baptism.] I express it in this manner, of locusts for food, what Dr. Shaw tells us, that, when sprinkled for, though some understand the words em to Px-nnt/xoc mrov, of their with salt, and fried, they taste much like the river cray-fish ; who coming to oppose his baptism, I think the reasons for that iutcrpre JOHN'S AWFUL WARNING AND ADVICE. 33 secret wickedness of the other, he did not flatter them at all in his address, but &aid unto SECT. them, as with some surprize, O j/c -abominable broods of vipers,'^ cral'ty, malignant, 16. mischievous creatures, kV/o hath taught you to put on this form of humility and repent ance, and admonished you to Jice from the trrath which is surely and speedily to come ? matt. What is it that hath moved you to it, when you Pharisees thmk yourselves so secure from ^^'• it, on account of the pretended sanctity of your lives ; and you Sadducees imagine it to be 8 Erin? forth tlier.fore no Other than a mere fable and a dream ? Let me exhort you, therefore, if you design to be 8 fruits meet for [of^worUiy baptized by me, to make it your serious and resolute care to hrin^ forth fruits -wor- 0 J rtpei) ance. . ^y^^^ of repentance, and to act like those that are penitents indeed, forsaking, as well as con- 9 And think not to say fessing, yoiiT sius : And, if you neglect this, Jo not presumptuously think it will be to any 9 Abrahaarto'oirt^^^^^^^ purpose for you ^0 sai/ xvithm i/ourselves, We have Abraham for our father ;•' relying 1 say unto you, That God is On your descent from that holy patriarch, and your being that seed of his with v.hom a able of these ston^ to raise pj-culiar covenant was made : for I solemnly sai/, and declare it unto you as a certain and ["fnVe iii. 8.J important truth, That God is able, of these very stones that are before yom- eyes,'' which ^- he can animate and sanctify whenever he sees fit, to raise up those who, thoughjioA de- scended from human parents, shall be, in a much nobler sense than you, children to Abra- ham, as being made the heirs of his faith and obedience : and he would sooner work such a miracle as this, than he would suffer his promise to fail, or admit you to the blessings of his approacliing kingdom, merely because you Irave the abused honour to descend from that peculiar favourite of heaven. 10 And now also the axe Thcse are truths of constant concern, and now particularly seasonable ; for the patience 10 is laid unto the root of the f q^ ^^,jU ^ j^ j ^ provoking a people. You think of national deli- trees : therefore, every tree r ■ i • i p t i_ i_ u j r /-< i • i ft j M-hich bringeth not forth verance, but beware oi national judgments ; tor 1 assure you that the hand oi Uod is liitea. good fruit, is hewn down ^p^ f,J^fl f]^^ ^ j-g gf £)ivine Justice is even non', as it were, applied to the verv ivot of the aad^cast into the fare. [Luke ^^,^^^ _ ^^^ therefore, cvcrj/ tree that doth not produce good fruit, (even every one that, while he professeth himself to be one of God's people, contradicts that profession by a life of v.-ickedness, or by the neglect of vital and practical religion,) is very certainly and quickly to be cut down' by death, and thrown into the fire of hell. LUifE Luke 111. 10. Upon this, many of the Pharisees and Sadducees, who expected to have been treated with in. saviii"',^'\Vhat'^shaii we'do greater respect, were so provoked, that they turned their backs upon the prophet, and refased 10 thenf to be baptized. (Compare Luke vii. 29, 30 ; and Matt. xxi. 25.) But it was otherwise with the common people, who were alarmed by what he said, and the multitudes, who were more teachable, ashed him, saj/ina; What then shall we do, that we may be prepared for the kingdom of the Messiah, and may escape this dreadful condemnation and approaching 11 lleanswerethandsaith wrath? And he answereth and saith u/ito them. Be careful not only to observe the cere- 11 "w^coaLs^et him\''rapart to nionies of religion, but to attend to the great duties of justice and of charity too, which are him that hath none; and incumbent Upon you, as well as on the great and rich : and he, for instance, that hath two do lilTe'v^sl^'' ™'^''^' ^""^ ''"'" ^'^"^■^' ^^^ ^'"" '"iP^rt one of them to him that hath none ; and he that hath plenty of food, let him do the like. 12 Then came also Pub- Then there came also some of the Publicans to be baptized: Now these Publicans were 12 licans to be baptized, -and ^ ggj ^f mk^n, whose office it was to coUect the taxes whicli the Romans had imiDOsed on the said unto him, Master, wliat ^ , ' , , , n i ,i i ■ f r i r> i i- j ii shall we do' Jews, and to pay them to others, who were called the chief of tlie Publicans ; and these peo- ple, being generally persons of an infamous character, for their injustice and oppression, ap- plied themselves to John under a strong conviction of their guilt, and said unto him. Mas- ter, what shall we do to testify the sincerity of our repentance ? i.T.\ndhesaid unto them, 4jici Ji^ said unto them. Though you are not absolutely required to quit your employ- 13 which is'^ppointed you!''^' ment, take cace that you exact nothino; more than is enjoined you by your principals, whose servants you are in collecting the public money. 14 And the" soldiers like- And the soldicrs also applied themselves to hims on the same occasion, and in like 14 wisedeniandcdof him.say- j-^^anner asked him, sai/ins. And, as for us, -what shall wc do ? And he said unto them, »ng. And what shall we do? „, .. \. ■, ^ ■ v \ ■ ■\ r -\ i j~ i i- And he said unto them, Mo lemfi/ no ma?r by a Violent overoearing conduct, nor wrong [ff«j/J by false accusation, tation not worth raentioninj; here, and refer my reader to Raphe- It is but a precarious conjecture, that the stones here referred to, lius, who has given them a larger examination than they deserve, were those set up in Gilspal. Josh. iv. 3, 20. Annof. ex Xen. p. 7 — II. f Is very certainly and quickly to be cut doiin.'] It is expressed, c O 7/1? broods of vipen.'] Some think this is to be understood in the original, in the present tense; and it may be of some ini- as if it had been said, I'c iricked children of wicked parents : but portance to observe here, that in scripture-langruag-e, that which is such a reflection on their parents is not necessarily implied. The very sure, and very near, is spoken of as if it was already done, children of pious Eli are called sons of Belial, merely with reference Thus Christ speaks of lilraself, as if he was already in possession of to their own licentious characters, as they knew no) the Lord. See his glory, while he was liere on earth, John xvii. 24; and sinners 1 Sam. ii. 12. — The word rstsusra may be used in the plural num- too are represented as condemned already, John iii. 18; and saints ber, in reference to the difierent sentiments, and, if I may be are spoken of as already glortfied, Eph. ii. C; and Heh. xii allowed the expression, (familiar enough to the Jewish doctors,) 22, 23. the different families of these sects in question. g The soldiers applied themselves to him.] There is no reason to d We hare Abraham for Dur fattier.'] Dr. AVhitby well shews how believe that these were Gentile soldiers. Grotius has excellently great the presumption of the Jews on this relation to Abraham was. proved, that the Jews in general did not scruple a military life ; Munster, on this text, quotes a remarkable passage f.oni the Tal- and a multitude of passages from Josephus might be added to the mud, in which it issaid, "That Abraham sits next the gatesof hell, same purpose ; and though most of the soldiers in Judea, which "and doth not permit anv wicked Israelite to go down into it." was now a provinre, might he Romans, yet those belonging to Ga- These Jews might perhaps pervert the promise ill Jer. xxxi. ,3.% 3f). lilee might probably be Jews. Had these been Gentiles, John to support this vain and dangerous confidence, in. opposition to such would surely have begun his instructions to them with urging the a multitude of most express and awfu! threatenings; particularly worship of the true God. Dent, xxxii. \^,etseq. h Terrify no man.] The word siMEi^iirs properly signifies "to e O/Mfsf very s/onfs that are before your eyes.] The many learn- " take a man by the collar and shake him;' and seems to have ed commentators, who refer this to God's calling the Gentiles, sup- been used proverbially for that violent manner in which persons of posing .some of them to be present here, seem to lose all the beauty this station of life arc often ready to bully those about them, whom of the expression, which I have paraphrased at large, because"! they imagine thsir inferiors in strength and spirit ; though nothing think few, if any, have set it in so stronga light as it will well bear, is au argument of a meaner spirit, or more unworthy that true D 34 REFLECTIONS ON THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. SECT, in Older to get a liberty of living upon him at free quarters ; piul be contented with your violence to no man, neither 16. legal wages, ox pay,' not raising mutinies and seditions to get it increased. accuse any falsely, and be And, its the people were in great suspense, and all were reasoning in their hearts '^""s'^'aiuI as' The^^^ifeople LUKE with much solicitude co7icerning John, debating the matter with themselves, whether he were in expectation, and '^^- were the Messiah or not, John answered all tliat put the question to hmi, in the most f" '"•-'". ™"sed in their -„,.,, ... • T ■ 1 I I ^- u! J i J. hearts of John, whether he 16 direct and positive manner, saymg, 1 indeed baptize you with water, to engage you to were the Christ or not ; the exercise of repentance, which, by submitting to that rite, you solenmly profess; but '^ J^'"' auswerecV; say- Iherc is one coming after me, even the Messiah himself, who is much 7nore powerful baptize you'wlth water [un- and considerable than I can pretend to be; (see John x. 41.) whose very shoes I am to repentance;] but one 7tot worthy so much as to carry after him, [or'] to stoop down and untie the latchet of [!Jjf 1^*"^"^ *!J^" ^, ^^"'"'^^^ \them,'\ but should esteem it as an honour to perform the humblest office of menial service not worthy to bear,] the for him. And, if you are indeed his people, he shall baptize you with a most plentiful l-it'-iiet of whose shoes I am effusion of the Holy Spirit, and with fire ; causing his Spirit to descend upon his fol- "toopTown^andi unloo^^' lowers in the appearance of a flame of fire, to represent its operating on the heart like fire. He shall baptize you with to kindle pious and devout affections, and to purify and enliven the souls of believers. I''*' ^rM^*/'— ^^/m "V^^ ,„ ^» i • ^ 1 ■• n X r J fire: [Matt. m. 11. Mark i. (Compare Acts i. 5 ; and ii. J.) 7, 8.] 17 But you are to remember, this is an awful, as well as an amiable Person, whose fan is 17 'Whose fan is in his in his hand, and he will thoroughly winnow and cleanse his church, which is, (as it hanJ.aiid he will through- were) his threshing-floor, and at present is covered with a mixture of wheat and chaff: gathe?the' wheat hito^h'is for such will be the nature of the doctrine he shall teach, as will effectually discover what gamer; but the chart' he is the real disposition of the hearts of men, and perfectly distinguish between the hypocri- quenchable Tniatt^ Hi i"'! tical and the sincere. Jnd happy will it be for those that stand the trial : for he will carefully gather them, as the wheat into his granary, and lay them up in heaven as his peculiar treasure: but as for the chajfv/hich is found among them, as for those empty vain professors that are now mingled with his people, he will then treat them as men do the sweepings and the refuse of the floor, and burn them up as worthless and unprofitable trash ; and I faitfifully warn you, that it will be with unquenchable fire :^ let this excite you therefore to escape so terrible a doom. (Compare Isa. xli. 16 ; Jer. xv. 7 ; and Ezek. xxii. 15.) IS Such was, in general, the tendency and purport of John's preachmg : And, offering 18 And many other many other exhortations to them to the same effect, he published to the people these glad ti""8's '" /"* exhortation tidings^ of the Messiah's approach, and endeavoiued to prepare them to receive him in a ,,'ic.^' '^' "^ "" ° ^'^ ^*" proper manner ; as wU be more particularly shewn hereafter. (See John i. 15, et seq. and iii. 28, et seq.) b'^^s IMPROVEMENT. MATT. What an excellent pattern of ministerial service does John exhibit in the passage before us!, Blessed is that III. gospel-preacher who, like him, seeks not his own ease and pleasure, and indulges not to luxurious and sensual ' inclinations, but cheerfully accommodates himself to the state and circumstances which Providence hath assigned him, as infinitely more intent on the success of his ministry tlian on any little interest of his own that can interfere ^Tif ^ 'with it ! — Happy the man who, imitating the impartiality of this faithful servant of God, giveth to every one IQ YA fii^ portion of meat in due season, and abhors the thoughts of flattering men in their vices, or buoying them up with delusive hopes in their birth and profession, while they are destitute of real and vital religion ! MATT. May this plain and awakening adch-ess be felt by every soul that hears it ! And, in particular, let the children UJ. of religious parents, let those that enjoy the most eminent privileges, and tliat make even the strictest profession, 9 weigh themselves in this balance of the sanctuary, lest they be found wanting in the awful decisive day. And if the warnings of the gospel have alarmed our hearts, and put us upon fleeing frotn the wrath to come, oh, let the 8 terrors of the Lord engage us, not only to confess, but to forsake our sins, and to bring forth fruits meet for repentance ! Let all to wiiom the gospel-message comes, most attentively and seriously consider, in what alarming circum- stances of danger and extremity impenitent sinners are here represented. The gospel is the last dispensation we 10 must ever expect ; the axe is at the root of the unfruitful tree, and it must ere long be cut down and burnt, bo its branches ever so diffusive, and its leaves ever so green. i,UKE Christ hath a fan in his hand to winnow us, as well as the Jews. Oh tliat we may stand tlie trial ! And oh lU. 17. that, as his wlieat, we may be laid up in the store-house of heaven, when that day cometh which shall burn us courage which constitutes so essential a part of a good military in tliis place it must be equivalent to xv*?, and signifies chaff as character. distinguished from straw : since one can hardly imagine either 1 With your legal wages or pay.-\ The word o4-mv.ok is well known that any thing so useful as straw would be made the symbol of to signify /7ro!'(SiOH ov food ; but, when applied to soldiers, it is ge- these worthless reprobates, or that it would be represented as burnt nerally used to signify the pay that was allotted for their subsist- up.— As to the phrase of burning the chaff with unquenchable fire, ence. (Compare Rora. vi. 2.3; where it is rendered wages; and Mr. Horberry has observed, with his usual accuracy of judgment, 1 Cor. ix. 7; where we translate it charges.} C Inquiry into the Duration of Future Punishment, Chap. i. No. 1, k The chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.'] There is in 2,) that it is absolutely inconsistent with all the views of the res/o- what the Baptist here declares, an evident allusion to the custom ration of the wicked ; "and that, however the phrase of being con- of burning the chaff after winnowing, that it might not be blown sumed like chaff might seem fo favour the doctrine of their back again, and so be mingled with the wheat: and, though it annihilation, (which nevertheless it is certain no punishment of may in part refer to the calamities to come upon tlie Jewish nation mind or body can of itself effect) the epithet of unquenchable given for rejecting Christ, (as Bi.shop Chandler has observed in his to this /ijif, is so far from proving it, that it cannot, by any easy Defence of Christianiti/, p. 85.) yet it seems chiefly to intend the and just interpretation, be reconciled witli it. final destruction of all sinners in hell, which alone is properly 1 Published these glad tidings.'} Evnr/tXii^tTO has plainly this opposed to the gathering the wheat into the garner : (compare Matt, import ; and as it was a very imperfect intimation, rather than a xui. 40—42,) and howsoever it be certain that the word. o:xvfisf in full discovery of the gosperUuit was given by the Baptist, it does Greek authors does generally signify all that is left of the corn when not seem so proper here to render it hy preach'ing me gospel, though the grain IS separated, including Me. s/iY/w ,• (see Raphael, Annot. ex the word has often that signification; see Matt. xi. 6 ; Luke iv, Xen. in iQc. and Gen. xxiv. 25—32, Scptuag.) yet I apprehend, that 18 ; and Acts viii. 4, &c. THE TESTIMONY THAT THE BAFflST GAVE TO CHRIST. 3; an oven, and when all that do -aickedly shall be consumed as stubbie, and be burnt un as chaff'! (Mai. SECT iv. !.)• - ' ■ IG. And to conclude : tliat we may be prepared for that final trial, let us be cr^mest in our applications to our gracious Redeemer, that as we are baptized ■with icater in his name, he would also baptize us -ivit// t/ie Holy Ver. IB Ghost and with f re ; that, by the operations of his Holy Spirit on our cold and stupid hearts, he would enkindle and quicken that divme life, that sacred love, that flaming:, yet well-governed zeal ibr his glory, which distinguishes th.e true christian from the hypocritical protessor, and is indeed the seal of God set upon the heart, to mark it for eternal happiness. SECTION XVII. The tcstimoni/ John the Baptist gave to Christ is taken notice of In/ John the Evangelist, and his o-ivn tcsti- mony added to confirm if. Jolm i. 15 — 18. John i. 15. John i. 15. John bare witness ofiiim AS the Mcssiah now was shortly to appear, and the time just at hand in which he was sect. he*^o7'wh'nn/i'%Ike!^He ^^ enter on his public ministry, the way (as we have seen) was opened for his coming by 17. that Cometh after me is John the Baptist's being sent to preach the doctrine of repentance : and when the people preferred before me, lor he came in crowds from every part to hear him, John bore his testimony of him in a public john declaration of the dignity of his person, and of the great design for which he was to come ; i- which, though it was at first expressed in general terais, yet did he aftenvards apply it in 1,5 -particular to Jesus of Nazareth, pointing him out to be the person he had spoken of ; and, with an earnestness that suited die importance of this grand occasion, he openly proclaimed him to be the promised Messiah, and cried, saying. Tins is the person that I told you of; and this teas he of whom I said before,* (Matt. iii. 11.) He that cometh after me, as to the time of his appearance in the world, and of his entrance on the stage of public life, is upon all accounts superior to me, and is deservedly preferred before me ; for, though indeed as to his human birth he is younger than jne, and did not come into the world till a little after me, yet, in a much more noble and exalted kind of being, he existed long be- fore me^ or even before the production of any creature whatsoever. 10 And of his fulness And I, John the apostle, who had tlie honour of being numbered among his most inti- 15 grace for ^rtc"'^'^'^^''' ^^^ Ta's.ie friends, would, with pleasure, m my own name, and that of m.y brethren, add my testimony to that of the Baptist,*^ as I arrd they have the greatest reason to do : for of his overflowing yw/wcj.? have we all received whatever we possess, as men, as christians, or as apostles 5 and he hath given us even grace upon grace,'^ a rich abundance and variety of favours, which will ever make his name most dear and precious to our souls, 17 For the law was given Por the law was siven by Moses, and we own it an honour to our nation to have 17 trutiycamcb'y"jefus Christ^ received it, and to that holy man to have been the messenger of it : yet to the sinner it is a dispensation of death, and passes an awful sentence of condemnation upon Iiim ; [^bui] the Redeemer whom we celebrate is worthy of much more affectionate regards ; for grace and truth came by Jesus Christ,^ who gives us an ample declaration of pardon, and an abundant effusion of the Spirit, those substantial blessings of which die Mosaic dispensation 18 No man hath seen was but a shadow. His gospel therefore should be received with the most cheerful con- 18 begoUen°^oIi™ which Is Yn ^ent ; for no man hath ever seen God, nor indeed can see him, as he is incorporeal, and the bosom of the Father, therefore an invisible Being ; but the only-begotten Son, who is always in the bosom of lie hath declared him. f/^^ Father,^ and ever favoured with the most endearing and intimate converse with hun. He hath revealed and made him known in a much clearer manner than he was before, by a lids was lie of wlioin T said.'] This probably mi^ht happen at must be considered as the words of the Evangelist. John the the time when Jesus made his first appearance among tliose that Baptist had never yet mentioned the name of Jesus ; and the ex- came to be baptized by John ; when at his offering t^ receive his pression ive nil, shews it could not be his words; for those to whom baptism, though John before had been a stranger to him, and he addressed himself, do not appear to have received grace from A:«f«; /nm no/ by any personal acquaintance with him, yet, by some Clirist. The last French version, with great propriety, includes powerful impression on his mind, he presently discerned tliat this ver. 15 in a parenthesis, and so connects this IGth verse with the was fie whom he before had taught the people to expect, and of 1-lth ; — as if it had been said, He dwelt among us— full of grace a/id whose person he had given them so high a character. For it was truth ; — and of his fulness have we all received. plainly from his knowledge of him, that John at first would have d Grace vpon grace.} This seems the most easy sense of xajiv declined baptizing him, as an honour of which he looked upon avn x^jirss, as y.n' avixv «vi5f? is grief vpon grief. (Theogn. v. 344.) himself to be unworthy. Nor is it to be doubted, but that, when Compare Ecclus. xxvi. 15, 17 : and see Blackwall's Sacred Classics, first he knew the person of whose appearance he had raised such Vol. i. p. 104. Next to tliis, I should prefer Grotius's interpreta- expectations by his preaching, he would immediately be ready to tion, who would render it, grace of mere grace ; that is, the freest acquaint his hearers, that this was he, who was intended by him ; grace imaginable. which they themselves might have been ready to conclude, from e Came by Jesus Christ.] I cannot lay so much stress on the the uncommon veneration and respect with which the Baptist word tysvsTo liere, as opposed to Eoo9n, as to suppose it, with Eras- treated him, who had been always used to treat men with the mus, to imply, that whereas Moses was only the messenger of the greatest plainness. And upon this account it may be proper, that law, Christ was the original of the grace and truth he brought into this testimony of him should be introduced (as t have placed it the world by the gospel ; since all that is intended by eymM is here) before the particular account that the other Evangelists have nothing more, thaii that it nas, or that it came by Jesus Christ, ac- given of his baptism. Compare Matt. iii. 14 ; and John i. 27, 30. cording to the sense in which the word is often used in other b He existed long before me ; crprof m< dv.] This must undoubt- places ; and ita here is used of Christ as well as of Moses : so that edly refer to that state of glory in which Christ existed before his both are represented as messengers, though of very different dis- incarnation, of which the Baptist speaks so plainly, John iii. 31, as pensations. . abundantly to justify the paraphrase ; (Compare note b on John i. f In the bosom of the Father.] Critics generally agree, this is one 30; I 21.) As for the preceding clause, t 'XTrpotitv im ytymtv, which of the places in which eu is put for £v; but had it here been ren- we render is preferred before me, I think Erasmus truly expresses dered near his Father's bosom, it might as well have answered the the sense cf it, in supposing it to refer to tliose distinguishing ho- design of the original, and would, I think, have been as expressive nours which had been paid to Christ in his infancy, by prophets, of that intimate converse and entire friendship, which the phrase sages, and angels too, which nothing that had yet occurred in the implies.— Eisner here cites a passage, from Plato, concerning the life of John could by any means equal. regard due to the authority of a Son of God when speaking of his c laddmy testiniony'tothat of the Bapti.st.] "it is rao.st evident. Father; and it is i.ndeed surprizingly apposite. Elsn. Observ. that what is said here in this verse, as Chrysostom justly observes, Vol. i. p. 296. n 2 3G CHRIST COMES TO JOHN FROM NAZARETH, AND IS BAPTIZED IN JORDAN. SECT, those discoveries cf his nature and will, which may have the most powerful tendency to 17. form us to vktue and happiness. ■ IMPROVEMENT. JOHN I- Happy are they, that, (like this beloved apostle,) wlien they hear the praises of Christ uttered by otliei-s, can echo Ver. 16 back the testimony from their own experience, as having themselves received of his fulness / May an abundance of grace be communicated from him to us ! We are not straitened m him : Oh, may we not be straitened in ourselves ; but daily renewing our application to him as our Living Head, may vital influences be continually imparted to our souls from him ! 17 With pleasure let us compare the dispensation of Jesus with that of Moses, and observe the excellency of its su- perior grace and of its brighter truth ; but let us remember, as a necessary consequence of this, iYidlif the clcspisei's of Moses's latt) died ivithout inercy, thei/ shall be thought \i:orthy of a much sorer punishment, 'xcA a more ag- gravated condemnation, roho tread under foot the 'Son of God. (Heb. x. 28, 29.) IS May we ever regard him «.? the only-begotten of the Father; and, since he hath condescended so far as to come down from his very bosom to instruct us in his nature and will, let us with all humility receive his dictates, and ear- nestly pray, that under his revelations and teacliings, we may so know God, as faithfully to serve him now, and at length eternally to enjoy him, ,j ;: ■? , , ' ' ' SECTION XVIII. Christ is baptized by John, and the Holy Spirit descends upon him in a visible form. Mark i. 9 — 1 1. Matt. iii. \^, to the end: Luke iii. 21— 23. Mark i. 9. mark i. 9. SECT. And it came to pass in those days, when great numbers of all ranks and professions ANDitcametopassmthose 18- among the Jewish people were baptized,^ that Jesus came from the town of Nazareth in "^eo^le n"'"''b"!u" dl'tf't Galilee,^ where he had lived for many years in a retired manner with his parents, to the jesus came from Nazareth .MARK j-jygj. Jordan ; and applied himself to John, that he might be baptized bi/ him :'^ and was of Galilee [unto John, to be , '• g accordingly baptized by John, in Jordan, near Bethabara ; (see John i. 28 : § 20.) bapllzed of Joim'in Jol-dTn' MATT ^^^^ ^^^^ providence of God had so ordered it, to pre\'ent all appearance of a combina- [ftlatt. iii. 13; Luke iii. 21.] HI 14 tion between tliem, that John was personally a sh-anger to Christ. (John i. 33.) But ne- . Matt. m. 14. But Job u ^''- " - , , 1-1 1 • ■• p ^ 1 , 1 ■ forbad him, saving, 1 have vertheless, as soon as he saw him, he received a secret mtimation from above, that this was need to he baptized of thee, the Messiah, upon whom the Spirit should visibly descend ; (see the note on John i. 33 ; § '^'^J eomest thou to me ? 21.) And, upon this account, such was the modesty of John, that he was ready to decline the service, and would have hindered him from doing what he proposed ; and accordingly said luito him. Thou art so much my superior, that / have need to be baptized by thee with that far nobler baptism which thou art to administer; and dost thou come to mc on such an occasion as this ? I am confounded at the thought, and cannot but consider it as too 15 high an honour for me. And Jesus, replying;, said unto him. Though it be really as thou ]^ And .Tcsns, answering, sayest, yet do not go about to hinder me, h^xi'permit [//] now ; for, however unable thou 'o'no"wf for"tiiu"Trbecom! mayest be at present to enter into the particular reasons of it, yet, in submission to the divine eth us to fulfil all righteous- appointments, it is decent for us thus to comply with all the duties of religion, and in this "^^^- Then"he sufl'ered him. manner it becomes us to fulfil all righteousness : and upon this account, as it is a part of my duty to attend this institution, it is therefore a part of thine to administer it. Then, as John knew that it became hmi not to debate the matter any farther, he permitted him to be baptized. 16 And after Jesus was baptized, as soon as he ascended out of the water to the bank of i [I-ul^e, Ijemg baptized, and iixmg his eyes upon this wonderlul sight, he saw the Spirit of God,' in a corporeal praying :] and he saw the a When all the people were baptized.'] John continued baptizing an honour to John's ministry, and to conform himself to what lie so long after this, that it is very evident the word «W must be taken appointed to his followers: for which last reason it was, that he wi+h the restriction used in the paraphrase, as it is oftentimes in drauk likewise of the sacramental cup. And this we may consider other places. as a plain argument, that baptism may be administered to those b Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee.'] The learned Dr. Thomas who are not capable of all the purposes for which it was designed Jack.son, in his elaborate examination of this context, (see his works, See Dr. Whitby's note on Matt. iii. IC. Vol. II. p. 515— 519.) supposes, that John tlie Baptist, inquiring into d Tlie heavens were immediately n/;<'»p.^.] I think it plain, (as and hearing the name of Jesus, and the place from wlience he came, Grotius and Blackwall have observed,) that what is here intended, aiiJ comparing it in his own mind with that celebrated prophecy, is to intimate, that directly on his coming up out of the water, the Isa. xi. 1, 2, concluded, that this Jesus, or Divine Saviour, as the heavens were opened: for it must certainly appear to be a circum- word may signify, (see note d, on Matt. i. 21. p. 13.) coming from stance of small importance, and very little use, for the Evangelist to Nazareth, //if /oi/)n o/ /Jo;/,'!, as the etymology of that name imports, say that Jesus went up straightway out of the water, after lie was ^ was tite Rod out of the stem of Jesse, upon whom the Spirit sliould baptized ; but, if we take it in the other way, it very fitly intro- descend, and rest like a dove on a branch. And thus he would re- duces the remarkable account of what directly followed it. There concile John's address to Christ as so extraordinary a person. Matt, seems to be such a transposition of the word £u6£:>jr, Mark i. 29 ; and iii. 14, with his declaring (John i. 31, 33.) that \\e linew him not be- xi. 2. See Blackwall's Sacred Classics, Vol. I. p. 89. fore ; but this seems a very precarious solution, considering how e yis he was praying.] It is observable that all the three voices i)"ssibleitmight be, thatinsolargea place as Nazareth, there might from heaven,hy which the Father bore witness to Christ, were pro- be several persons of the name of Jesus, or Joshua, so very common nounced while" he was praying, or very quickly after it. Compare among the Jews. It appears therefore much more reasonable to Luke ix. 29, 35 ; and John xii. 28. have recourse to the solution given in the paraphrase and note d, on f J-Ie saw the Spirit of God.] There is no question to be made t'.ie last cited text, \ 21, that he had a secret intimation given him but that this wondrous sight was seen by both of them ; for Mark who it was that came to be baptized by him ; and all that this very has so expressed it, as plainly to refer the seeing it to Clirisf, and ing^enious writer has said, to shew the various marks by which John John the Baptist Itag in another place assured us that he saw it, and might know Christ, without supposing such a particular revelation took particular notice of it as the sign he was directed to observe as as is there suggested, does but confirm me the more in the necessity the distinguishing and certain characteristic of the Messiah, John of admitting it. i. 33, 3!. And I have therefore so expressed it in the paraphrase, as c That he might be baptized by him.] By this he intended to do not directly to confine the sight of it to either. REFLECTIONS ON THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST. 37 Spirit of God descending; [Luke, in a bodily shape] like a dove, and lighting- upon him. [3Iark i. 10; Lukeiii. 21,22.] Luke iii. 22. And [lo] a voice came from heaveu, wliich said, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am «ell pleased. [Matt. iii. 17. JIark i. 11.] form,^ as a glorious and splendid appearance of fire, descending with a hovering motion SECT. lik-e a dove, and comino; upon him ; as a visible token of thos(^ secret operations of that 18. Blessed Spirit on his mind, by which, according to the intimations God had given in his 23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age. word, he was anointed in a peculiar manner, and abundantly fitted for liis public work, luke (Compare Psal. xlv. 7, and Isa. Ixi. 1.) ill. And, as a farther testimony of the Divine regard to Ciirist, and of the glorious dignity 22 of his pei-son, this was attended with a very memorable event : for, behold, a loud and awful voice came out of heaven, when it was thus opened, ichich said. Thou art mi/ beloved Son,^ in thee J am xcell pleased ; that is, I perfectly approve thy character, and acquiesce in thee as the Great Mediator, through whom I will shew myself favourable unto sinful creatures. (Compare Isa. xlii. 1.) And Jesus, at that time when he received the baptism of John, and was besinning; the 23 public exercise of {his ininistrt/,'] ivas about thirtii years old ;' at which timelie chose to quit his retiiement, being then in the full vigour of nature, and having attained the age in which the priests used to begin their ministrations m the temple. (Compare Numb, iv 3—47 ; and 1 Chron. xxiii. 3.) \ r , BIPROVEMENT. Let our Lord's submitting himself to baptism, teach us a holy exactness and care in the observance of those matt. positive institutions which owe their obligation merely to a divine command ; for thus it also bccometh us to ^"• fulfl all righteousness ; lest by breaking oni; of the least of Christ's commandments, and teaching others to ^^'"- ^^ do it, we become unworthy of a part in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. v. 19.) Jesus had no sin to confess or wash away, yet he was baptized ; and God owned that ordinance so far as to IG make it the season of pouring forth the Spirit upon him. And where can we expect this sacred effusion, but in a conscientious and humble attendance on divine appointments ? Let us remember in how distinguishing a sense Jesus is the Clirist, the anointed of God, to whom the Father hath not given the Spirit bi/ fneasure, but hath poured it out upon him in the most abundant degree. Let us trace the workings of this Spirit in Jesus, not only as a spirit of mii-aculous power, but of the richest grace and mark holiness ; earnestly praying tliat this holy unction may. Iron* Christ our head, descend upon our souls ! May his i. enlivening Spirit kindle its sacred flame there, with such vigour, that many waters may not be able to quench it, 10 nor floods of temptation and corruption to drowTi it. Behold God's beloved Son, in u-hom he is tvell pleased ! As such let us honour and love him ; and as such luke let our souls acquiesce in him, as in every respect sue.:, a Saviour as our wishes might have asked, and our "I- necessities required. 22 With wliat amazement should we reflect upon it, that the blessed Jesus, though so early ripened for the most 23 extensive service?, should live in retirement even till his thirtieth year ! That he deferred his ministry so long, should teach us not to thrust ourselves forward to public stations till we are qualified for them, and plainly dis- cover a Divine call : that he deferred it no longer, should be an engagement lo us to avoid unnecessary delays, and to gi\'e God the prime and vigour of our life. Our great Master attained not, as it seems, to the conclusion of his thirty-fiftJi year, if he so much as entered upon it ; yet what glorious achievements did he accomplish within those narrow limits of time ! Happy that servant, who with any proportionable zeal dispatches the great business of life ! so much the more happy, if his sun go down at noon j for the space that is taken from the labours of time, will be added to the rewards of eternity. " ^ . ,- a e \ , *■ . SECTION XLX. Luke iv. 1—13. Matt. 1—11. Christ's victors/ over the temptations of Satan in the wilderness. Mark i. 12, 13. Luke iv. i. Luke iv. 1. u.f Hof 'GVo^"fetiune'd '^^^^ •^''^"^ being full of the Holy Spirit, with which he had been just anointed in from Jo^danrind'^*'rMTrk, ^^ extraordinary a manner, returned fro^n Jordan, where he had been baptized; and immediately]' was led by immediateh) after this, n-as led by the strong impulse of that Spirit on his mind, into 1 s In a corporeal form.'] This is the exact English of auuanxM express the sense, it should have been nv af%i/.i£vo5 eiv«i, &c. as Epi^ Et5a: a phrase which might with propriety have been used, thousfh phanius, probably by a mistake, has quoted it.— The learned there had not been (as most understand it) any appearance in the author of the Vindication of the be^innin? of Matthew's and shape of the animal here mentioned, but only a lambent flame fall- Luke's gospel, extremely dissatisfied with all the common versions ing from heaven tutlh a hovering dove-like motion, which Dr. Scott and explications of these words, would render them. And Jesus (in Ills Cliristian Life, Vol. III. p. 66.) supposes to have been all. was obedient, or lived in subjection \_to his parents] about thirty Dr. Owen and Grotius think it was a bright flame in the shape of years : and produces several passages from approved Greek writers, a dove ; and Justin Martyr (who adds, that all Jordan shone with in which aex'-^Evot signifies subject. But in all those jjlaces it is the reflection of the light,) says, that it was £v eiJei -ifmnpxs; and used in some connection, or opposition, which determines the Jerome calls it l-^easts; [and in those days and in all those days he did eat nothing at all. |'^^ '^^ «^t nothing.] [Luke MATT. And when he had thus fasted Jbrtj/ dai/s and forty nights, as Moses tlie giver of tlie Matt. iv. 2. And when IV. law, (Exod. xxxiv. 28.) and Elias the great restorer of it, had done before him, (1 Kings •"^,''^'\ '"''^'ff ^°''*y '^-y'* 2 xLx. 8.) having been thus far miraculously borne above the appetites of nature, at length afterw^i'rc^s "an ''hungered! he felt them, and was very hungry, but was entirely unprovided with any proper food. [Luke iv. 2.] 3 And,]\.\%i at that time, the tempter coming to hinf in a visible form, (putting on a ■'^ And wiien the tempter human appearance, as one that desired to inquire farther into the evidences of his mission.) ff'"'' i*** .'j'^'c'"" ^?'$; V • ; r/- J/ i J? CT n n 1 ■ i . i- > , , X.\v>n he tlie !Son of God, said. If thou art the iSon of Crod, m such an extraordmary manner as thou hast been command tliat tliese stones declared to be, and art indeed the promised Messiah, who is expected under that character,'' l"^ ™^^'^ bread. [Luke iv. command that these stones become loaves [of bread'] to relieve thy hunger ; for in such a circunistance it will undoubtedly be done. 4 But Jesus answered, and said unto him, It is written in the sacred volume, (Deut. 4 But [Jesus] answered viii. 3.) " Man shall not live by bread only, but by every word proceeding out of the shflf^Mt 1^^''"/ "bfead " mouth of God, or by whatever he shall appoint for the preservation of his life." He alone, but by every word can therefore support me without bread, a^ he ted the Israelites in the wilderness j^ and, on tiiat proceedeth out of the the other hand, even bread itself, if these stones were turned into it, could not nourish me ™]"^ ' ° o . [ u e iv. without his blessing ; which I could not expect, were I to attempt a miracle of this kind, merely in compliance \\i\h thy suggestions, without any intimation of my Father's will. 5 jyien, as the devil found it was in vain that he had tempted Christ to a distrast of .5 Then the de^il taketh Providence, he was for trying to persuade him to presumption : and to this end, he taketh \™ ,,"f '"jty '^a^.ursetfeTh him along with him' to Jerusalem, which, being the place where God dwelt in so him on a pinnacle of tlie distinguishing a manner, was commonly called the Holy City fi and there he setteth him te'^pl*^ ; [Luke iv. 9.] on one of the battlements of the temple,^ which, in some parts of it, and particularly over the porch, was so exceeding high, that one could hardly bear to look down liora it.' G And as he stood upon the brink of this high precipice, the tempter saith unto him. If thou f> And saith unto him, art indeed the Son of God, cast thyself down courageously /row; hence, and mingie with Jast'"th \seU'^'^down°'rP''^ those that are assembled for the worship of God in yonder court. The sight of such a hence ;]^for it "il "written'! miracle will undeniably convince them of the truth of thy pretensions; and thou canst ^^^ ^'>*" S'^'^. '"» angels have no room to doubt of thy safety ; for thou well knowest it is written, (Psal. xci. 1 1, 12.) ke'ep^lheT^ "and" fnl/leh- " He shall give his angels a charge concerning thee, to keep thee ;^ and they shall bear hands they' shall bear thee " thee up in their hands, lest thou shouldst by any accident dash thy foot against a fP','*^'/, ^* f'^l *""': *''°" ,, , )> A J 1 ii o ■ f *-i 1 11 ■ , •- , '^ ^ "3sh thy foot against a stone. And surely the Son ot God may depend upon a promise which seems common stoue. [Luke iv. d, 10, 11.] to all his saints. 7 [And] Jesus [answer- 7 And Jesus answering, said unto him. It is also written, to prevent the ungrateful |"?L^^''i„""n°xi'"^' V^jt abuse of such gracious promises as these, (Deut. vi. 16.) " JVwu shall not tempt the Lord not't'e'mpt'"the Lor'd^thy thy God,'' by demanding farther evidence of what is already made sufficiently plain,' as God. [Luke iv. 12.] a Into the wilderness.'\ Christ probably intended tbis as a devout d The promised Messiah, who is expected under that character.] retirement, to which he found himself strongly inclined, that he That the Jews supposed the Messiah would be in a very cxtraordi- niight give vent to those sacred passions which the late grand nary manner the Son of G^)i}, appears from comparing Matt. xiv. occurrences of the descent of the Spirit upon him, and the mira- 33. xvi. 16. xxvi. 63. John i. 34, 49. xi. 27. xx. 31. and Acts viii. 37. culous attestation of a voice from heaven, had such a tendency to e As he fed the Israelites in the wilderness.] It is to this the inspire. It seems a very groundless conjecture of Mr. Fleming (in passage that is quoted here hath a plain reference, as it stands in his Christology, Vol. II. p. 315.) that he was carried through the the Old Testament. air to mount Sinai. Mr. Maundrel's is much more probable, that f Talceth him along with him.] This is the exact English ot it might be the wilderness near Jordan ; which, as he, who tra- m-x^xxcc/j.&xtit. (See Eisner. Observ. in he.) But whetherjie did, or veiled through it, assures us, is a miserable and horrid place, con- did not, transport him through the air, cannot, I think, he deter- ~ sisting of high barren mountains, so that it looks as if nature had mined from this passage. suffered some violent convulsions there. (See Maundrel's Trnreb, g The Holy C'it;/.'] This is a phrase that frequently, and very' p. 78.) This is the scene of the parable of the good Samaritan, properly, is used to express Jerus-alera. (Compare Neh. xi. 1. Isa. ^ (Luke X. 30.) Our Lord' probably was assaulted in the northern lii. 1. Dan. ix. 24. and Matt. xxii. 53.) The heathen writers, in like |! part of it, near the sea of Galilee, because he is said here to be manner, often call those cities holy, in which any of their deities ^ returning or going back to Nazareth, from wfieJtCe he came to be were supposed to hold their special residence, and from whence baptized, Mark i. 9. p. 36. their oracles were delivered. (See Eisner. Observ. Vol. I. p. 17, 18.) b None of them offered him the least injury.] It is strange that h One of the battlements of the temple.'] Though ;»(«nHc/f agrees any should think he was during this time hunted by the ivild beasts : very well with the etymology of the Greek word, yet, according to this is the more improbable, as such a hurry would have been in- its use among us, it leads the English reader to imagine, that he consistent with the design of God in leading him thithgr ; which stood on the point of a spire. The truth is, the roof of the temple ■was, that he might be assaulted by Satan, at first probably by was flat, and had a'kind of i«/Ki/;ff(/? round it ; (see Deut. xxii. 8.) secret suggestions, the horror of which would be increased by such and somewhere on the edge of this battlement, we may suppose that a gloomy place. The angels might be the instruments of intimi- Satan placed Christ, in his attacking him with this temptation, dating the beasts. Could Dr. Lightfoot have proved what he i Hardly bear to look down from it.] Joscphus gives us this asserts, that this happened in October or November, the cold would account of it, Antiq. Jud. lib. xv. cap. U'. [al. 14.] 5 5. p. 781. Edit, have been, as he suggests, an additional circumstance of affliction Havercamp. to our Lord : but it seems rather to have been in the beginning of k A cfiarge concerning t/iee, to keep- thee.] Many (after Jerome) sumrner ; see note b, on Luke 3. 1. p. 30. ; and note k, on Matt. iii. liave observed that Satan made his advantage of quoting scripture 4. p. 32. Vmcrely by scraps, leaving out those words, in all thy ways. The c The tempter coming to him.] Our translation, which, in its Cause of truth, and sometimes of common sense, hath suffered a rendering of these words, is not so literal as the version I have: great deal by those who have followed his example, given, seems to intimate, what is not any where asserted in tfcff> 1 By demanding farther evidence of what is already made sudi- sacredstory,thatthiswasthey(r4Y\\r^se, tempting a circumslance which can hardly be supposed. Cod, is easy to be seen from comparing Exod. xvii. 2, 7 Numb, REFLECTIONS ON THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST. 39 8 Again, the devil taketh him up iuto an excoediug high mountain, and shew- eth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, [in a momeut of time.] [Luke iv. 5.] Luke iv. 6. And the devil said unto him. All this power[AU these things] will I give thee, and the »Iory ot them ; for that is Sclivered unto me, and te whomsoever 1 will, I give it. [Matt. iv. 9.] 7 If thou therefore wilt [fall down and] worship me, air shall be thine. [IMatt. ■v. 0.] 8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, [Get thee hence,] Get thee be- liind me, Satan : for it is written. Thou shalt wor- ship the Lord thy God, and hiiii only shalt thou serve. [Matt. iv. 10.] my relation to God is, by the iniraculous aiid glorious testimony he hath so lately sect. given me. 19. Again, tht dtvil, being resolved once more to attack him by the most dangerous temptation he coiild devise, takdh him up into a mountain in those parts, which was ex- matt. cceding high ; and from thence, in a moment of time, she-weth him, in an artful vision- ^^'^• ary representation, all the most magnificent kingdoms of the world, and all the luxury, 8 pomp, and glon/ of them ; displaying to his view one of the finest prospects that the most pleasurable and triumphant scenes could furnish out."" And, with the most egregious luke impudence and falsehood, the devil said unto him. All this extensive poxoer, [a«f/] all ^• these splendid things, xuill I give thee, and ail the glori/ of them, which thou hast now 6 before thee ; (for it is all delivered to jne," who am the prince of this world, and I give it to xvhom I please.) And great as the gift is, I am so channed with that wisdom and 7 magnanimity which I have now observed in thee," that I propose to give it thee upon the easiest terms thou canst imagine; for all that I desire is, that thou shouldst pay me homage for it : if therefore thou zvilt hut fall down and worship me, upon thy making this little acknowledgment to me, all these things shall be thine. Then Jesus, moved with indignation at so blasphemous and horrid a suggestion, S answered and said unto him, with becoming resentment and abhorrence, Get thee hence, Satan,P and begone out of my sight, for I will no longer endure thee near me : for it is written, as a fundamental precept of the law, (Deut. vi, lb'.) " Thou shalt worship 'the " Lo!'d thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." It would therefore be imlawM thus to worship thee, who art no other than a mere creature, even though thou wast indeed his deputy on earth ; and how much more then must it be so, as tliou art in reality the great avowed enemy of God and man ?'' for such, under all thy disguise, I well know thee to be. And when the devil had ended all the temptation we have given an accoimt of, being 13 so baffled and confounded as not to be able to present any others which seemed more likely to succeed, he departed from him for a season ; yet secretly meditating some future assault. (Compare John xiv. 30.) iVnd, then the devil having left him, behold, a detachment of angels came and waited matt. upon him,' furnishing him with proper suppUes for his hunger, and congratulating so ^^• illustrious a victory over the prince of darlmess. 11 IMPROVEMENT. Who can read this account without amazement, when he compares the insolence and malice of tlie prince of matt darkness, with the condescension and grace of the Son of God ! I^- What was it that anmiated and emboldened Satan to imdertake such a work ? Was it the easy victory he had *^''- ^ obtained over the first Adam in Paradise ? or was it the remembrance of his own fall, from whence he arrogantly ^^ ^^1- concluded, that no heart could stand against the temptations of pride and ambition ? Could he, who afterwards proclaimed Christ to be 'he Son of the Most High God, and had perhaps but lately heard him owned as such by a voice fro?n heaven, make ny doubt of his Divinity ? Or, if he actually believed it, could he expect to vanquish him ; we may rather conclude that he did not expect it ; but, mad with rage and despair, he was determined at least to worry that Lamb of God, which he knew he could not devour ; and to vex with his hellish suggestions that innocent and holy soul, which he knew he could never seduce. Wretched degeneracy ! How art thou fallen, O Lucifer, son of the 7norning ! to be thus eagerly driving on thine own repulse and disgrace ! But, on the other hand, how highly are we obliged to our Great Deliverer, who hath brought forth meat out of the eater, and sweetness out of the strong ? Who can sufficiently adore thy condescension, O blessed Jesus ! 5, 8 who wouldst permit thyself to be thus assaulted and led from place to place by an infernal spirit, whom thou couldst in a moment have remanded back to hell, to be bound in chains of darkness, and overwhehned with i fiaminsr ruin ! 13 And when the devil had ended all the tempta- tion, he departed from him for a season. Matt. iv. 11. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels rame and ministered unto him. [Blark i. 13.] xiv. 22. Psal. Ixxviii. 18. and Psal. cvi. 14. See Limborch, Theolog. lib. V. cap. 22. \\S. ' m One of the finest prospects that the most pleasurable and tri- umphant scenes could furnish out.] ' As Christ was probably at- tacked with this temptation upon some mountain in the wilderness, this beautiful and taking prospect that was represented to him, be- ing set oft' by the horror of the place he was in, would in such a contrast appear peculiarly charming ; see note a, p. 38. n For it is all delivered to me.'] Grotius has well observed, that this contains a vile insinuation, that God had done what none that truly understands the nature of God and the creature can suppose possilde, namely, that he had parted with the government of the world out of his own hands. And we add to this, that in the text which Christ has quoted, there is enovgh to overtlirow that notion ; since God's appropriating to himself the iiors/tip of all his creatures plainly implies his universal empire and dominion over all, and the regard he has to the religious adoration and obedience of all the subjects of his kingdom. — It is remarkable, that, among other things which several heathen ^vriters learnt of the primitive Christians, this was one, to represent evil spirits as tempting men from their duty by views- of worldly riches and f/randeiir ; over which. Por- phyry in particular says, they often would pretend to much more power than they really have. See Eisner. Observ. Vol. i. p. 18, 19. o I am so charmed with that — which 1 have now observed in thee.] This seems the most plausible view in which the temptation could be introduced. — It is plain from the next verse, that this was the last temptation; but Luke makes it the second; whence it evidently appears that Luke did not confine himself exactly to ob- serve the order of time ip his story ; a remark of vast importance for settling the Harmony. See.no'te g, on Luke i. 3. p. I. p Get thee hence, Satan.] The word v-nxyt plainly expresses his a\ithority over Satan, as well as his detestation of so v'lle a sugges- tion. q The great avowed enemy of God and man.] This odious character is intimated in the name of Satan, which our Lord gives him, by which he made it to appear he knew hira, however he might seek to be disguised. If we suppose him now to have worn the form of an angel of light, (as 2 Cor. xi. 14.) it will make both this and the former temptation look more plausible : for thus he might pretend, in the former, to take the charge of Christ in his fall, as one of his celestial guards ; and in this, to resign him a pro- vince which God had committed to his administration and care. And this may be consistent with supposing, that he first appeared as a man, (it may be, as a hungry traveller, who pretended to ask the miracle of turning stones into loaves for his own supply ;) for angels under the Old Testament had often worn a human form. Compare Gen. xviii. 2. xix. 1, 10, 16. Josh. v. 13, 14. Judg. vi. 11, 12. and xiii. 3, 8, 10. r Angels came and waited upon him.^ The word Siaxmuv does often signify to wait at table : see Matt. viii. 15 ; Luke xvii. 8 ; xxu. 27 ; and John xii. 2. — .\sone celestial spiritmighthnye been abundantly sufficient for the relief of our Lord's necessities, it is reasonable to suppose, that the appearance of a number of them upon this occasion was to do him the more illustrious honour, after this horrible com- bat with Satan ; to which, for wise nnd gracious veasocs, he was pleased to condescend. AO THE JEWS INQUIRE INTO TFIE CHARACTER OF JOHN. SECT. Tlie apostle tells us why he permitted this: it was that, havins: himself suffered, being tempted, he might, by 19. this experience that lie had of Satan's subtilty, and of the strength of his temptations, contract an additional ten- • demess, and be the more inclined, as well as better able, to succour us when wc are te7?/pfed. (Ileb. ii. 18.) Let MATT, this embolden us to co?ne unto the throne of grace, to obtain merci/, and find grace to help in the time of IV- need. (Heb. iv. 16.) Let us remember and imitate the conduct of the great Captain of our salvation : and, like him, let us learn to Ver. 3 resist Satan, that he imy J?ce from us. Like Christ, let us maintain such an humble dependence on the divine blessing, as never to venture out of the way of it, be the necessity ever so urgent ; nor let us ever expose ourselves to 6 unnecessary danger, in expectation of extraordinary deliverance. Like him, let us learn to overcome the •world, and 8, 9 to despise all its pomps and vanities, when otlered at the price of our innocence. 4, 7 To furnish us for such a combat, let us take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Let us not only 10 make ourse'ives familiarly acquainted with the words of scripture, but let us study to enter into the true design and meaning of it ; that so, if Satan should attempt to draw his artillery from thence, we may be able to guard against G that most dangerous stratagem, and to answer perverted passages of holy writ, by others more justly applied. Once more ; when the suggestions of Satan grow most hon'ible, let us not conclude that we are utterly abandon- 9 cd by God, because we are proved by such a trial ; since Christ himself was tempted even to worship the infernal tyrant. But in such cases let us resolutely repel the solicitation, rather than parley with it, and say, in imitation of 10 our Lord's example, and with a dependence on his grace. Get thee behind me, Satan. 11 If our conflict be thus maintained, the shiiggle will ere long be over j and fingels who are now the spectators of the comljat, will at length congi^citulate our victory. ,-• i ' *■ , 1. t^ • I ' " ' ■ '^\ { SECTION XX. John the Baptist being examined by the great men among the Jews, acknowledges that he was not the Christ ; and. refers them to one among tliem, whom he confesses to be vastly his superior. John i. 19 — 28. John i. 19. john i. w. ^on^ vv E have already taken notice of the honourable testimonies that were given by John in a And this is the record of '^ '• more general way to the Messiah in his discourses to the people, before Jesus was baptized. ^"]^"< '^^''f " 'he Jews sent ■nr„ _u_ii J i_ _xi ii__i i:-._i_.. __.!_: I, All J _ri__ ii._i _ ; priests and Levites from Jc- We shall proceed to others that were more particular, which followed after tliat event ; and i-usaiem, to ask him Av"ho JOHN f^-g jj^^j ^g gj^g^jj j^Q^ produce is the testimony of John, when the sanhedrim, or grand art thou? ' jg council of the Jews, at Jerusalem, sent some who were reckoned among the most vene- rable and holy men of tlie nation, even some of the priests and Levites, to inquire of him, saying. Tell us plainly, who art thou, that drawest such a crowd of people after thee, and pretendest to something so uncommon ? 20 Aiid John, according to the natural plainness of his temper, presently replied to their in- 20 And he confessed, and quiry ; and with the utmost freedom, he most readily acknoxoledo-cd, and did not at all af- ^T^t ??,*" )i"'-.*-"f"i'''?ssed, /?ii 7 ii-iii 7-1 f^ ' I am not tlie Clinst. lect either to aeny or to disguise his real character -, but in the strongest terms he solemnly protested,'' I am not the Messiah, nor would I in the least pretend to arrogate to myself the honours which are due to none but him. 21 And, upon this, they farther asked him. What art thou then if thou art not the promised ■wh^t^then^^'Art tf^'^Vi'"'"! Messiah? Art thou the celebrated Elijah,^ come dovra from that abode in heaven, to And^ he'^s'aitl[, I "am I'rot'. which he was miraculously translated, (2 Kings ii. 11.) to introduce the great and terrible Art thou that prophet? And day of the Lord ? (Mai. iv. 5.) And, in reply to this, he said, with the same plainness as ''' ^inswered, No. before. Though it is true that I am come in the spirit and power of Elijah, yet I am not he. And they again inquired of him, Art thou a prophet of the former generation raised from the dead }'^ And he directly answered. No. 22 Now as it only was in negatives that he had hitherto replied, the;/ said unto him there- , .^-^Xu*^" ^fl^ ^Vl ""^° /■ . 'T II ^u 11 Mri J. ,/ A ^i\ "^ ■ J J. him.Whoarttliou] thatwe fore yet once more, leu us then plainly, irho art thou / that we may, in a more direct may "ive an answer to th cm and satisfactory manner, give an answer to them that sent us : What dost thoti say con- that sent us : What sayt-st 23 ccrning thyself? And, that they might not be mistaken in his character, and might be 2" He^saiTlamthevoice wholly left without excuse, if they regarded not the end for which he came, he said, I am of one crying in the wilder- (what I have frequently before declared myself to be) the voice of one crying here i?i the n^ss. Make straight the way wilderness,^ and saying, Make the way of the Lord clear and straight, by removing prophet Esaias. a Solemnly pro/ested.] The word £o^oXoy»i7tv is the same which is reason to restrict it to a particular prophet ; and since (as Limhorch rendered aclcnowledijed in the former clause ; but being thus re- well observes in his dispute with Orobio the Jew) that text in Deu- peated, its signification seems to be heightened, especially by its teronomy was the clearest and strongest in all the Mosaic writings opposition to m nomixn, he denied not. to enforce the necessity of submitting to the Messiah, it is probable b Art thou the celebrated Elijah ?] It is plain by this question, John would have corrected so great a mistake, if they had put tlie that they were strangers to the parentage of John the Baptist. And question to him upon this presumption. The best French versions with regard to the reply he makes to this inquiry, there is no scru- render it as I have done ; and indeed it seems to me that the word pie to be made, but that the i^r/p/Zs/ might justly deny that he was prophet in the Evnnt/elists generally signifies one of those holy men Elijah, as he indeed was not that propliet, though he came in his who were the messengers of God to Israel of old ; which especially spirit. See Luke i. 17, p. 6. appears from Mark vi. 15, where to he a prophet, and to be ns one of c Art thou a prophet of the former generation raised from the the prophets, are spoken of as distinct, which they could not be but dead?] It is necessary that this question should be understood on this interpretation : and if the a/tonw/ii'i? ri be left out, and it be with such a limitation, because John the liaptist was really a very read as it is in some manuscripts and printed copies. He is a pro- illustriousprnp/i?/, as wemay plainly see from what is said by Christ phet lilce one of the prophets, there will be a foundation for the same himself. Matt. xi. 9. And this interpretation (which is largely vin- remark, and one of the prophets must signify one of the ancient pro- dicated by Castalio) seems mucli preferable to that of Theophylact phets. and Erasmus, who, because of the article o wgo^^/i?, would render it d Tain the voice of one cri/inr; in the wilderness.'] The late Arch- as we do, that prophet ; concluding without any proof, that the bishop of Cambray beautifully illustrates the humility of this re- Jews understood Deut. xviii, 18, not of the Messiah himself, but of ply, as if this illustrious prophet had said, " Far from being the some prophet of considerable note, who was to introduce him : and " Messiah, or Elias, or one of the old prophets, I am nothing Ijut a Grotius has supposed the question that they offer to refer to Jere- " voice ; a sound that, as soon as it hath expressed the thought of miah, of whose return to life there was a mighty rumour that pre- " which it is the sign, dies into air, and is known no more." See vailed among- the Jews. (Compare Matt. xvi. I!.) But I can see no Fencl, CEuvrcs Philos. Vol. II. p. 19.3. JOHN DECLARES JESUS TO BE THE LAIVIB OF GOD. 41 every obstmction ; for he is now appearing for such gracious purposes, as demand the most sect. cheerful reception 5 as Isaiah the prophet said, in a passage which you cannot but be 20. acquainted ^vith. (Isa. xl. 3.) 24 And Uiey wl.ich were Now the 7?iesseiigers that came on this errand were of the sect of the Pharisees ; who, John sent, were ofthe Pharisees: ^g on the One hand they professed a great regard for the prophets, and believed t|iejr I- :\ existence in a future state, so on the other hand they strenuously opposed any innovations 25 And tliey asked him, in rehgion, which were not warranted by the tradition of the elders. And therefore, upon 25 and said ■■'"''' j''j™'if\'^j^y hearing this account that Jolin the Baptist gave them of himself, thc-y asked him again, be'' not^ thaT Christ, n*r aud Said unto him with some warmth, Why then dost thou take upon thee thus to bap- EHas, neither that' pro- fi-ge ^jj that appear to be awakened by thy preaching, in token of the forgiveness of their '^'"^'' sins; since, by thine own confession, thoa art neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor even a prophet of lower rank raised from the dead > 26 John answered them, y^nd John anstvered them, by repeating the testimony he had formerly borne to the 26 S'i'bSt t'lfe^re'^tandilh people, (Luke iii. 16. p. 34.) saying, I indeed baptize yon xcith water; but there is one among you whom ye one that for sometime has stood in the midst of you, and is now coming to be daily con- know not ; versant among you, xuhoin as yet you know not to be so eminent a person, who will administer a much more noble baptism, attended with such miraculous effects as will 27 He it is who, coming abundantly justify mine. And this is he, that cometh after ?nc, as to the time of his 27 fo^eLTw^iose^hoe-sTa'tcl'^et appearance in the world, whom yet I have declared to have existed long before me ; and I am not worthy to unloose, who is therefore upon all accounts deservedly preferred before me, as being one whose glorious dignity is such, as^Jhat I freely own him to be vastly my superior; of whom I am not worthy to be employed in any office as his menial servant, not even to unloose the latchet of his shoe, or to untie the string with which his sandals are bouind on. 28 Tliese things were These things passed on the other side^Jordan, at a place called Bethabara, or the 28 done in Bethabara, beyond j^ ^j. p^^gg" g which lay near that pari' of the river which was miraculously dried up, Jordan, where Jonn was • . -< r o ■,-,■' i ,. t i • i , ' ■ i^ r^ , t i baptizing. that the Israelites under the command of Joshua might pass over into Canaan, (see Josh, iii, 16, and Judges xii. 6.) which was the place where John was now baptizing. IMPROVEjNIENT. ' How remarkably were the words of our blessed Redeemer fulfilled in John, He that humbleth himself shallVex. 20 be exalted ! (Luke xviii. 14.) He declined assuining the name of any of the servants of God among the pro- 21 phets ; and yet our Lord bore testimony to him, as of a higher rank than any of the prophets, than whom there was none greater a?nong those, that had in a natural way been born of women. (Luke vii. 28.) Did John, tliis great and illustrious saint, speak of himself as unworthy to untie even the sandals of Christ ; 27 what reverence then do we owe him ? and what reason have we to admire his condescension, that he should honour us, who are so much more unworthy, with the title of his servants ? Let not any, the most distinguished of that happy number, wonder if they be unknown by the world, and 2G perhaps too, slighted and despised ; since it appears that even Jesus hunself, not only at his first appearance, stood unknown among tlie Jews, but afterwards -was rejected by them, when his claim was solemnly entered, and his miracles most publicly wrought. Vain, and worse than vain, was this message and inqftiry which, when answered, was soon overlooked and 19, &c. forgot. May Divme grace teach us to inquire as those that are in earnest in our search ! and then shall we know to saving purposes, if we thus follow on to kno-w the Lord. (Hos. vi, 3.) • < '.("■ • ^ ■ SECTION XXI, John the Baptist bears a repeated testimony to Jesus as the Lamb of God ; which proves an occasion of introducing some of his disciples into an acquaintance with him. John i. 29 — 42. .JOHN i. 29. ^ John i. 29. The next day John seeth lHE ncxt day, after John had returned this answer to the priests and Levites v:\\o SECT. Jesus coming unto him ■yi'ere sent to inquire into his character and mission, he seeth Jesus (who was now re- 21. and saith. Behold the Lamb - - - ^ - - . . ' . . . ,^ . , ... of God, which taketh away turned from his temptation in the desert) coining towards him ; and says lo them that- thesin'of the world. -neie near him. Behold, with the strictest attention and regard, that innocent and holy John Person, who may properly be called the Lamb of God ; as it is he that is the great ^■ atoning sacrifice, of which the lamb.^ that by di\ine command are daily offered in the ~ temple were intended to be types ; which expiates and takes away the sin'^ of the whole world, and is set forth to be a propitiation, not only for the Jews, for whom alone the e IVliy then dost thou Like upon thee thus to baptize /] It is not they ?n stood in absolute need of being washed from their sins ; to be certainly determined from this text, whether the bnptism of as lie before had most emphatically declared. IMatt. iii. 8, 9. p. 33. proselytes was then in use among the Jews, or not. The words a The Lamb of God, which expiates and takes away sin.'} It is well indeed will make a very strong and well-adapted sense, should they observed by the author of that excellent treatise called Christ t/ie he understood, as if it had been said, Why is it then that thou dost Mediator, that this is the only sense in which a lamb can be saiu to institute such a new rite as this ? But surely too they will be very take away sin. Many suppose this refers to the paschal lamb ; but proper in the other sense, if we should take them to" imply, AVhy that was not in its chief intention so much an expiatory, as an IS it then that thou dost take upon thee, w ithout any commission eiir/wristical sacrifice. Grotius strangely enervates the force of this from the Sanhedrim, to administer baptism 1 and that, not only text, by chusing'to explain it of that reformation of the lives of (as is usual) unto those who before this were heathens, but even to men, to which Christ did not only press them by the doctrine that tlie Jews ? And this (for reasons which it would not be proper lie taught, but gave them an example of it in his death, redeeming here to enter upon at large) I take to be the more probable sense, them (as it is said) /ram their vain conversation U'lth /ns own precious and so suppose John's use of this cercmonv in such a manner, to blood ; (1 Pet. i. 18, 10.) Whereas there is not any thing more evi- be a strong intimation that Jews as well as" Gentiles must become dent, than that the great design for which he died was to atone for proselytes to the new dispensation that was the'n opening to the sin, and to exempt us from the punishment that our iniquities de- world ; and howsoever holy they imagined themselves to be, yet served; that, having put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, we 42 TWO OF JOHN'S DISCIPLES FOLLQW CHRIST. SECT, sacrifices of the law were offeral, but for the Gentiles too, that through his name, whoso- 21. ever believeth in him, may receive remission of sins. And I now point him out, and tell you. This is he of whom I formerly have 5id followed him. And so exceedingly v.as lie trans- 42 And he brought him to Jesus: and wIkmi Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the sou of Jona ; thou shalt be called Ce- phas, (which is, by iuter- prelation, a stone.) ported with the pleasure that he found in his acquaintance with him, that he was ready John to impart the joytul news to others, to whom he knew it would be welcome ; and hasten- ^■ ing- to communicate it to his friends, as the most acceptable tidings he could bring them, 41 he first findeth his own brother Simon,^ and tells him Avith the greatest joy, ]Ve cer- tainly have found the promised Messiah ; (wliich being traiislated from the Hebrew or the Syriac tongue, is the Christ, or the Anointed One.) And, that his brother Simon might be satisfied of the truth of what he told him, he 42 brought him unto Jesus : and Jesus looking stedfastly upon him, as if he had read in his countenance tire traces of his character, and of his future service in the church, said, at his coming to him, Tliou art 8imon the son of Jonas ;' aiid thou shalt also be called Cephas ; (which in the Greek may be expressed by Peter, and signifies a rock :) a name well adapted to his character, upon account of that resolute and patient firnmess with which he should mamtain the cause of the gospel ; and which also expressed the use which should afterwards be made of him, as he should prove, in subordination to Clirist, one of the great foundations of the church. IftiPROVEMENT. Let our faith daily behold Jesus under the character of the Lamb of God, a Lamb indeed without blejnish and Ver. 29 without spot ; by whose precious blood we are redeemed, as by an infinitely more valuable ransom than silver and gold. (1 Pet. i. 18, 19.) As such let us humbly apply to him to take away our sins, and rejoice that (as the apostle John elsewhere expresses it) he is the propitiation, not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the xuliole world ; all ages and nations being interested in the benefil; of his atonement. (1 John ii. 2.) Let us consider him as anointed by the Holy Spirit, and as baptizing his church with it ; and learn, after the 33 example of John the Baptist, to bear our testimony to liim again and again, with continued steadiness and grow- et seq. ing zeal. Our satisfaction in him as the great and only Saviour, will surely grow in proportion to our acquaintance with 39 him. If Divine grace hath discovered him' to us, and taught us to repose the confidence of our souls upon him, let us, like Andrew in die passage before us, be concerned to make lum known to others; and especially to lead 41 our nearest relatives and our most intimate friends into that acquaintance with him -which is so absolutely neces- sary to their eternal happiness ! Let the condescending readiness with which our blessed Redeemer accepted, and even mvited the visit of these 39 two disciples, engage every preacher of righteousness most willingly to give his private, as well as his public labours, and Iris time (valuable as that treasure is) to the service of those who are seriously affected with the con- cerns of their souls, and are inquiring after the way to salvation. We are sufficiently honoured if, by any means, and by all, we may be instrumental in promoting that cause which employed the daily labours of God's incar- nate Son, and at length cost him his very blood ! ' SECTION XXII. John i. 43, to the end. The calling of Philip, and the interview of Christ with Nathaniel. John i. 43. John i. 43. The day following Jesus THE next day after he had met with Peter, Jesus determined to depart from thenct^ Tnd" findetli Phnip,'''aDd ^° 9"R^S;.,^^^ l'^^^ ,^0 enter Oil his public minishy; and at his coming thither he SECT. 22. drew and Peter. of Tiberias, and was also the citii of Andrew and Feter, who have already been parti- cularly mentioned ; and by his calling these disciples, he gave an intimation of his purpose of making some longer stay in that country, thanael, "aud saith unto ^"^^ FhiUp, after he was thus become a follower of Christ, findeth his pious friend 45 him, We have found him Nathaniel, who was also of Gahlee, and lived in a town of it which was called Cana, li He first findeth his own brother Simon.] This is a much more literal translation of F.u^md nuros n-^wrot xSA'pov r>v iSm Si^^-vr, than tl-.at of the new translation in 1727, which renders it. The first that he found, or happened to meet with, was Peter. — He may perhaps be called his own brother, to distinguish him from some other that belonged to the family, who possibly might be his brother-in-law, . or was related to him only in half-blood. — Peter was so remarkable a person, that it might be proper to tell us, who was the first means of bringing him acquainted with Christ ; and if John was the other . disciple that is here referred to, he might mean this as an humble intimation that Andrew's zeal was in this respect greater than his i own. — AVe may observe here by the way, that Peter was not the first of Christ's di.sciples, (in which the Papists would have been ready to have gloried,) but that another was the means of bringing him to an acquaintance with Jesus. 1 Thou art Simnn.2 Some have thought, that Christ intended an allusion here to his name Simon, which may signify a hearer, inti- mating the candour and impartiality with which he was willing to hear Christ's instructions ; (see Dr. Clarke's note.) But I did ' not express this in the paraphrase, because it is not certain. Per- haps our Lord only meant to shew, thattTrougTrTi'c'TwiT'nevcr seen JOHN I. 44 him before, he knew his name and his family. Compare ver. 48 ; and John iv. 16, 19. a Determined to depart from thence; nhxriiiv £?£X9eiv.] The force of the word fltXw seems to be something greater than our translation expresses ; and there are several other texts which may suggest the same remark. (Compare Matt. xiv. 5 ; .xix. 17 ; xx."l4 jLuke iv. 6; xxiii. 20; John iii. 8 ; v. 21, 40; rii. 17 ; viii. 44 ; xvii. 24 ; xxi. 22; and 2 Tim. iii. 12.) Perhaps it may here intimate, that our Lord on this occasion broke through the impor- tunity of some, who would rather have persuaded hira to continue at Bethabara, for the advantage of farther testimonies from the Baptist, or to have gone to Jerusalem, where they might imagine that his ministry would have been opened more honourably than in Galilee. Compare John vii. 3, 4. b Being secretly influenced by his grace.] When we consider how suddenly sonie ot Christ's disciples left their stated employ- ments to follow him, (according as we read, Matt. iv. 18 — 22 ; Luke V. 27,28; and xix. 5, G.) it seems reasonable to allow some singular kind of impression on their mind, (as there was in the calling of Eli.'iha, 1 Kings xix. 19 — 21.) which though for the present it super- seded the necessity of arguments, yet did not exclude their attend- 44 THE INTERVIEW OF CHRIST WITH NATHANIEL. SECT. (Joha xxi. 2.) and saj/s unto him. We have found him who has so long been earnestly of whom Moses in the law 22. expected by us, even that ilkistvious and extraordinary Person, whom Moses gave us an V^^ t'^"^ prophets did write, account of in the law, and whom the prophets also have described'' in such a strong of Jose°ph^''^"*'^''' ^""^ ^°° JOHN and lively manner ; and with the greatest joy I am come to tell thee, I know him who ^ 4«: ^^ ^^' [even'] Jesus the son of Joseph, who comes frojn Nazareth, aiid is undoubtedly the promised Messiah. 46 ./4/(y/ when 2SV/M««/™> Come and see. Do not suffer yourself to be bome away by a vaur popular prejudice, but co)ne and see ; converse with him yourself, and you will soon be satisfied. 47 Now when Jesus saxo Nathaniel coining towards him, (though there was no personal 47 Jesus saw Natlianael acquaintance between them,) at the first sight of him he presently discerns what was liis ^n,-"" R^l^id' ^'r'^*r'« real character, and says, concerning him, so loud that he might easily hear it, Behold i'ndeed,'inwhom'isno'|uileV here cometh one [that is] truly an Israelite, (compare Rev. iii. 9 ; and John viii. 39.) a pei-son that indeed deserves the honourable title of one of God's people, and is worthy of his descent from Jacob, his pious ancestor, as being a plain and upright man, in whom there is no deceit, either towards God or man. (See Gai. xxv. 27.) 48 Nathaniel, perfectly surprised at such an unexpected testimony, presently says, with all 48 Nathanael saith unto the natural frankness of his temper, to him. Whence dost thou know me, or how canst 1^'™- yience knowest thou thou at once thus undertake to answer for the most secret part of a stranger's character ? said un"to"him"^Before th" t Jesus replied, and said unto him, I am not so entirely a stranger to thy character as thou l'l''>'P called thee, when art ready to suppose, nor do I take it merely from uncertain report ; for before Philip called J'^e^ I'^aw thee." *''^ ^°' thee, I saw thee when thou wast alone under the fig-tree f and as I was present in spirit to observe what passed in that secret retirement, I know how well thou deservest the testimony which I have now borne to thine integrity. 49 Nathaniel was so strack with this express reterence to what he knew none could be 49 Kathanael answered witness to but God and his own conscience, that all his prejudices were at once removed ; ?h^u *ait thrson'of'^God' and he immediately replied to Christ, and says, with all that openness and candour that thou art the King of Israel! was so natural to him. Rabbi, from this one circumstance I cannot but believe all that my friend hath told me concerning thee ; and therefore I not only honour thee as a wise and holy teacher, but am convinced that thou art the Son of God ; yea, that thou art the IDroinised Messiah, whom we so earnestly have been expecting as the King of Israel ; for surely such Divine knowledge can be lodged in no meaner person.'' 50 And Jesus upon this replied, and said unto him, Dost thou believe me to be the ^^ J*^^"^ answered and promised Messiah, and the Son of God, merely because I told thee, that I saw thee under 'aid unto the™,' l^saw"thee the fig-tree? Thou, who discc^^^erest so honest and teachable a temper, shalt see much under the fig-tree, belie vest 51 greater things than these to prove it. And he accordingly proceeds and sans, not only unto *''°\i? *''"',' ^'■'''A' ^"^^ ^^'^'^^' •-, ■ , , ;- ,, ,, , ^f , .,1 1 . T^° y, '^ . , -r -^ , •' , er things than tlie.se. h/m, but unto all that were then present with him, J erily, verily, I say unto you, ^ and 5i And he saith unto solemnly declare it as a most certain truth, to be regarded with the most cliligent attention, '""?• Verily verily, I say and received as coming from the mouth of one who is truth itself, That//-owz this time shall seTheaAxif open, and you shall see such a surprising train of miracles'* wrought by me, in the whole course of the angels of God ascending my succeeding ministry, that itshall seem as if heaven was opened, and all the angels of ^"^ ot^man'""^' "^""^ *'"^ God were continually (as they appeared in vision to Jacob, Gen. xxvui. 12.) ascending and descending' [to wait] upon the Son of 7nan, and to receive and execute his orders : ing to that afterwards, which might he necessary to defend their g i'eril;/, 'rerihj, I sny unto you ; aixni, tx/i-nt, xiyu v/aii.'] Th.ere conduct-to others. is no doubt hut tliat these words are to be taken for a solemn c tV/iom Moses— and the Prophets have described : ov iy^x-i-s affirmation ; in which it is observable, that John has constantly MmM! XXI 01 a^oprflxi.l This is a very literal translation : for yex(pcj repeated the amen, while it is only mentioned once by the other frequently is used in the same sense elsewhere, and in particular Evangelists. And this we may suppose him to have done either to is justly rendered thus, Rom. x. 5. (Compare Josh, xviii. 9; excite the greater attention, or in a more emphatical and stronger Judg. viii. 14 ; and Ezra vii. 22. Septuag.) manner to assert the truth, not only of the thing affirmed, but of d A place so infamous as Nazareth.'] As Nathaniel was a native the person that affirms it. , For as amea in Hebrew signifies truth, of Galilee, it appears from hence, that the Galileans themselves had (Isa. Ixv. IG.) so Christ, as being fhe^true and faithful ivitness, is but an ill opinion of Nazareth, as worse than the rest of that called the Amen. (Rev. iii. 14.) This repeated asseveration there- country ; and indeed, by the figure its inhabitants make in the fore may be considered as an intimation to us, not only that the Evangelists, they seem to have deserved it. See Luke iv. 16, 28, saying unto which it is prefixed is. true, but that we should regard 29; and Matt. xiii. 54, <>/sP7. ' it as proceeding from the true and faithful Witness. See "Dr. e JVIien tliou wast vnder the fiq-tree.'] I see no reason at all to Lightfoot's Harmony, and Hor. Heti. in loc. think, with Ileinsius, that the conviction produced by these words h From this time you shall see a train of miracles.] Accordingly, in the mind of Nathaniel, proceeded from the allusion he per- within three dai/s one glorious miracle was performed by Christ at ceived them to bear to Zech. iii. 10. fn that day ye shall call every Cana of Galilee ; which being the town to which Nathaniel be man his neighbour, vnder the vine, and under t/ie fig-tree. It was longed, there is great reason to believe he was present with the rest Christ's saying that he saw him there, that struck his mind in so of Christ's disciples at it. Compare John ii. 2, 11. sect. 2.i. powerful a manner ; and it is very probable that he was then em- i The angels of God ascending and descending.] If Nathaniel ployed in some secret devout meditations. See Dr. Evans's Chris- was, as some have thought, the person afterwards called Bartholo- tian Temper, Vol. II. p. 34.3. mew, and made an apostle, (see Lightfoot's Hor. Hebra. on Matt.' f Such Divine knowledp can be lodged in no meaner person.] x. 3.) he must regard the vision of amiels attending Christ's Just thus the woman of Samaria argued, John iv. 29. Come, .see a ascension as a glorious accomplishment of these words; as his final man which told me all things that ever I did ; is not this the Christ ? appearance at the day o{ judqment, v-hen the Son of man shall come which plainly intimates, that they supposed the Messiah would be in his glory, and all theholi/ angels with him, will yet more eminently endowed \yith the most perfect knowledge, and have the gift of be. Compare Matt. xxvi. 64. where «7r' afri so plainly signifies here- prO|jiiecy in the highest degree. — There was a great deal of courage after, that I much question whether it might not .justly have been in Nathaniel's making such a declaration, if it was before a mixed rendered so here ; but where I am dubious, I always chuse the company ; for Christ's assuming the title of the Son of God, was more extensive seii.se, in which (as here) the more limited is gene- afterwards interpreted to be no less than blasphemy. John x. 36 ; rally comprehended. CHRIST GOES TO A MARRIAGE-FEAST AT CAN A. 45 and thus you will be furnished with a most convincing proof that, humble as the form of sect. my present appearance is/ I am indeed the illustrious Person foretold under that title, and 22. am intended for that glorious throne, around which the liighest angels shall account it their ■ JOHN II. 2 honour to appear as humble attendants, when the whole world shall be convened before it. John IIVIPROVEMENT. How cautiously should we guard against popular prejudices, which possessed so honest a heart as that of Na- Ver. 46 thaniel, and led him to suspect that the blessed Jesus liimself was an impostor, and that no good could be expected from hun, because he had been brought up at Nazareth ! But his integrity prevailed over that foolish bias, and laid him open to the conviction of evidence, which a candid iuquii-er will always be glad to admit, even when it brings the most unexpected discovery. How amiable is the character here given of Nathaniel: An Israelite indetd, in -whom there is no guile ! Al May the attainment of so excellent a character, and a resemblance to him in it, be the daily aim and emulation of all who have the honour to be called into the Israel of God ! A constant intercourse with God in secret devotion will be a happy expression of one branch of this sincerity, and 48 an effectual means of promoting the rest. Let it therefore be our care that the eye of him that sedh in secret, may often behold us in religious retirement, pouring out our souls before God, and humbly consecrating them to his ser- vice. The day will come, when those scenes of duty which were most cautiously concealed, shall be commemo- rated with public honour ; and when he who now discerns them, and is a constant witness to the most private ex- ercises of the closet, toill reward them openlij. (Matt. vi. 6.) Happy were those who saw the mii-acles performed by the Son of man while he was here on earth ! and happy 51 those favourite spirits of heaven which were ascending and descending as 7ninisters of his to do his pleasure ! But in some degree yet happier are they who, having not seen, have believed; John xx. 29. As theii- faith is pecu- Uarly acceptable, it shall ere long be turned into sight. They shall behold much greater things than ever were seen below, and more extraordinary manifestations of his glory than they can now conceive ; and, being brought with all his people to surround his tlirone, sliall join in those nobler services which attendant angels render hini above. S - 1^ ' SECTION xxm. Christ attends a marriage-feast at Cana in Galilee, and miraculously/ changes water into wine. John ii. 1 — 1 1. John ii. i. John ii. 1. And tlie third day there NOW the third daj/ after Christ's coming into Galilee, and discoursing there with Na- SECT, was a marriage in Cana of thaniel, in the manner we have related above, tho-e was a marriage at Cana, a town in 23. Gahlee; and 1;he mother of ' ,., ' , . , . . ,, , i i . ,i ^ i .^ a i ,t ^ ■ ^o \ J ht ii Jesus was there. Galilee,^ which originally belonged to the tribe ot Asher, (Josh. xlx. 28.) and Alary the jnothcr of Jesus was there ;^ it bemg the marriage of a near relation, or an intimate friend 2 And both Jesus was of her's. And Jcsus, and thoie of his disciples that were with him, (namely, the two dis- tile marTuc-e"^ disciples, to ^^^^^^ f^at had followed him from the banks of Jordan, with Peter, Philip, and Nathaniel,) itmaniage. being known to be in the neighbourhood, were invited to the marriage : and Jesus, not aifecting the austerities which became the character and ministry of John the Baptist, freely accepted of the invitation, and favoured them with his instructive presence. 3 .\nd when they wanted Now, as it was kiiown that Jesus would be present at the feast, this, in conjunction with 3 wine, the mother of Jesus ^]jq events which had lately arisen, occasioned a greater resort of company than was ex- ^o'wine.'" ^^i^y ^»^'<= pected; and when the wine provided for the entertainment of the guests >// short, the mother of Jesus, who either had seen some of his miracles in private, or received from him some hint of his intention, now<= thought proper to inform him of it, and sa?/s unto him. Son, dost thou observe the?/ have no ~wine to carry on the feast ? 4 Jesus saith unto her, But Jesus, not approving it that she should take upon her to direct him in the exercise of 4 Woman, what have I to do |-^ miraculous power, saus freely to her, with an air of serious rebuke, and in a plainness of with thee? mme hour is , . ^ , .^ -,■■.,. .-, i . ■ r\ tt^ h l j. i j. ^i. not yet come. language suited to the simplicity of those ages and countries, O no7nan,'^ what bast thou k Humble as the form of my present appearance is.] Though it — .\s Mary here is spoken of alone, it may be reasonable to conclude, be very true, as Dr. Sykes has excellently proved at large, that the that Joseph was now dead, and tliat helived not to the time when phrase 33, men of low degree, one can hardly imagiue why she should thus apply to him on this A multitude of texts as well as this before us, appear with great ad- occasion. For she could scarce suppose he had money to buy any vantage, when this remark is attended to ; though Le Clerc cannot large quantity ; nor would it have been so proper to have done it, by any means be vindicated in confining his interpretation so en- if he had, lest it should have been interpreted as an affront to the tirely to this latter view. bridegroom. But the supply tliat she expected from him, was by a Cana, a town !« Galllee.2 It lay toward the southern part of his workiug of a m(>«rfe ; and it is plain that, notwithstanding the the land of Asher, (Josh. xix. 28.) and might be called Cana in Gn- rebuke she justly met with, yet she had still a view to this, by her Wff, to distinguish it from another town of that name in Celosyria, directions to the servants afterwards, ver. 5, to do whatever he mentioned by Josephus. Anliq. Jud. lib. xv. cap. 5. [al. 6.] 5 1. p. should order them. 751. Havercamp. ; d O IFoman.'] We have no reason to conclude that there was any b The mothfr of Jesus was there.'] Some have supposed this mar- rudeness in his addressing ^;i his mother thus. For though indeed riage to be celebrated at the house of Cleopas or Alpheus, whose it is a manner of expression that is very unusual among us, to call a wife was sister to the mother of our Lord, (John xix. 25.) and one person woman, when we are speaking to her, if she be one to whom of whose sons was Simon the Canaanile, whom some have thought we think that any respect is due; yet some of the politest writers to be so called, from his beirg an inhabitant of tliis Cana. (Mark iii. of antiquity make the most well-bred and accomplished princes use J8.) And this may be considered as the more probable, as Mary it, in th.eir addressing unto ladies of the highest quality ; and even was not only present at the f^ast, but was coucerned about supply- servants too are sometimes represented as speaking to their rais- ing them with wine ; and when the feast was over, we are told at tresses in the same language. There are some instances of this re- ver. 12, that Jesus was attended, at his leaving Cana, not only with feired to in Blackwall's Sacred Classics, Vol. I. p. 206 ; to which hisowndisciples, but with his brethren, or his nearest kinsmen, who many more raigliteasily be added, probably came thither as relatious, to be present at the marriage. 46 SECT. 23. JOHN II. CHRIST TURNS THE WATER INTO WINE. to do •with me," thus to direct nie how and when my miracles are to be wrought ? Let me now say it once for all, this is a thing that does not lie within thy proper sphere j and in particular, for what is now proposed, ?ni/ time of doing it is not yet come,^ but it is best to wait a little longer, and leave it to my conduct to determine when it will be the fittest and the most convenient season for me to interpose. 5 In this his mother readily acquiesced, as conscious to herself that she had been over-hasty in the proposal ; but yet, as she inferred from his answer that he intended them some ex- traordinary supply, she sous unto the servants, with some degree of authority, as being in part concerned in managing the feast, Whatever he shall order you, see that you care- fully do \it ;] for he may have reasons for it, beyond what you imagine. G 1^0X0 there were set there, near the room in which the feast was kept, six xfatcr-pots, or jars of stone, from whence the water might be taken that was made use of by the guests to wash their hands and feet, and that was necessary for the washing of the^ cups and other vessels that were used at table, aeeording to the Jewish custom of purifying, which in some instances was grown to such a superstitious nicety ,s as to require a consider- able quantity of water to be ready upon such occasions : these jars were therefore of a con- 7 siderable bigness, containing each of them two or three measures}" And Jesus chusing, for wise reasons, to make use of these' rather than the vessels in which the wine had beibre been contained, after some convenient pause, that the failing of the wine might be the more observed, goes to the servants that were waiting, and says to them. Fill up those jars with S water. And they filled them up to the very brim. And, having presently transformed the water by his divine power into excellent wine, he says unto them. Now draw some of it out, and carry it to the president of the feast. And, in obedience to the orders Jesus gave them, they carried [if}] to him. 9 Now when the president of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it came, (though the servants that drew the water very well knew,) observing that it had a finer flavour than any they had drank before, the presi- dent of the feast calls for the bridegroom, at whose expense he reckoned that this wine had 10 been provided ; And says unto him, thou hast acted to-day in a very uncommon ii;anner : for every man that makes a feast, first sets out the good wine, and when they have drank plentifully,^ so that their taste is not so delicate as before, then brings out that which is worse ; [buf] thou hast kept the good wine until now, and towards the con- clusion of the feast surprises! us with what is much better than we have yet tasted. This naturally gave the bridegroom an opportunity of declaring that he knew nothing of this new supply ; which occasioned an examination of the servants, and so a discovery of what Clirist had done in it. li This was the beginning o/ his public miracles,^ which Jesus wrought (as we have now related) in Cana of Galilee, and thereby manifested his glory ; and that in such 5 His mother sailli unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. f) And there were set there six water-pots of stone, after the manner of tlie purifying of the Jews, containing two or tliree fir- kins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto thcnii Fill the water-pots witli water. And tliey filled them up to the brim. 8And he faith untotlieiti. Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When the nih r of the feast had tasted tlie water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was ; (but tlie servants whicli drew tlie water knew ;) the governor of the feast called" the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the bef^inning dotli set fortli good wine ; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse : hut thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested e What hast thou to do ii>ilh me .?] Some have thought, ri euoi xai (701, might be rendered. What is that to me and thee ? " What does it " signify to us, or what concern is it of ours, if they want wine V But Jesus was of so benevolent a temper, and Mary seems to be so far concerned as a relation, that it does not in this" sense appear to be so proper a reply. It seems rather to be intended as a rebuke to Mary ; and it was surely expedient she should know, that Jesus was not upon such occasions to be directed by her. And nothing is more evident, than that the phrase in other places has the mean- ing that our version gives it. See Matt. viii. 29; and Judges xi. 12 ; 2 Sam. xvi. 10 ; I Kings xvii. 18 ; 2 Kings iii. 13 ; and ix. 19. Septuag. { My time is not yet come."] Some are for adding a note of inter- rogation here, (as Gregory Nyssen does,) and so would render it, Is not my time yet come ? As if he had said, " Am 1 not old enough to " know when to work miracles ? and now that I have entered on " my public ministry, is it not time that I should be exempt from " thine authority, and should be left to govern my own actions " without any direction 1" But I conceive the sense in which it is generally taken, to be more natural and easy : and I would rather chuse to understand it of the time when he intended to perform this miracle, for which the proper moment, though very near, was not yet quite come, than to refer it in a more general way to the tirre of his doing miracles in public, or more particularly to restrain it to the /i'mf of his sufferings, which Christ indeed has elsewhere called his hour, and which M. L' Enfant supposes him here to inti- mate, that he would not anticipate by provoking the Jews too soon ; for thus it would have implied a denial of his mother's request, which it is plain, from ver. b. she did not apprehend, and which the event shows that Christ did not design. g Was grown to such a superstitious nicety.] Besides the pvri- Jications that were appointed by the law of God, there was a mul- titude of others that were then practised in compliance with the tradition of the elders. Compare Mark vii. 3, 4 ; and sec Godwin's Moses and Aaron, lib. iii. cap. 11. ^ 4. h 7'wo or three measures.] The measures of the ancients are so very uncertain, that it is hardly possible to determine the exact content of these vessels. Some have computed them to contain about two or three hogsheads ; and it is rendered so in our transla- tion as to make them contain above a hundred gallons. But it is hardly probable the vessels were so large ; and as the word ^MTfrirxs signifies no more than measures, it is much better we should leave it as we find it, unless the quantity could be determined with more certainty. It seems most probable that as the Jewish bath was the most common measure that was used in liquids, this is the quantity designed, where measures are expressed without any limitation. And as the Jewish bath is reckoned to contain four gallons and a half, the content of these vessels, if they are computed only at two measures each, will amount to no less than fifty-four gallons, which may be reckoned a sufficient quantity. See Dr. Light- foot's Harmony, in Ice. and Godwin's 3Ioses and Aaron, lib. vi. cap. 9. ad Jin. i Chusing to make use of these] Jesus might rather chuse to make use of these large vessels, thus to add to the dignity of (he m/rac/e, by the liberal quantity of !/'i«f produced, wliich we have no reason to believe was all drank that day. If the feast, as was usual, lasted several days, (Gen; xxix. 27,"28 ; and Judg. xiv. 12, 17.) a considerable expense might by this means be saved, and an equivalent given for the additional cjiarge of entertaining so many of his disciples. Not to say, that this would prevent any sus- picion that the tincture or taste of the water might be derived from any remainder of wine in the vessels; for indeed the good- ness of the wine thus made, would be sufficient to obviate such a thought. k When they have drank plentifully r\ Though fj.i'^viit often signi- fies, to drink to excess, yet it would be very unjust and absurd to suppose, that it implies here that these guests had already trans- grcssed the rules of temperance. None can seriously imagine the Evangelist so destitute of common sense, as to represent Christ as displaying his glory, by miraculously furnishing the company with wine to prolong a drunken revel, it is much more reasonable to conclude, that it signifies here (as it does in Gen. xliii. 34 ; Cant. v. J ; and Hag. i. C. Septuag.) only to drink so freely, as innocently to exhilarate the spirits. And even this perhaps might only be the case of some of them, and particularly not of those who, drawn by a~desire to converse with Jesus, might be but lately come in. 1 This beginning of his public miracles.'] This interpretation seems much preferable to that of Grotius, who only supposes that this was the7?rs/ miracle wrought at Cana, another being afterwards mentioned, (John iv. 46. | 31.) for it isplain there must have been a long series of m/rttc/fs wrought here, to justify such a manner of speaking, which doth not at all appear to have been the case. It rather seems to be here represented only as the first of his public miracles ; for it seems probable that the necessities of the family might sometimes have engaged him to have done something mira- culous for its relief in T^ri'iia^f. See note c, p. 4.3. JESUS GOES TO KEEP THE PASSOVER AT JERUSALEM. 47 jrth his glory : and his 0.11 illustrious manner that hh di^sciples believed on him more stedfastly than before a^ Ih-- SECT isciples believed on hira. fact was SO certain and SO remarkable. ^23.' forth d IMPROVEMENT. ,^„,, JOHN We have here the first of Christ's public miracles, which we find was not wrought till about his thirtieth year. ^'• How much sooner could he have glorified himself, and amazed the world by the display of his divine power ! But he waited his Fathers call, and the delay added at length to the lustre of his works. It was performed to grace a nuptial solemnity ; and who doth not see, that it was in effect a testimony borne Ver. 1 fo the honour and purity of that happy state, on which so much of the comfort of the present generation, and the existence of the future, regularly depends ? How happy were these guests while Jesus was among them ! and how condescending did he appear, in making 2 one on the occasion ! His social and obliging temper should sweeten ours, and be a lesson to his followers, that they avoid every thing sour and morose, and do not censure others for innocent liberties, at proper seasons of festivity and joy. If his mother met with so just a rebuke for attempting to direct his adminisfratiom in the days of his flesh, how .3, 4 ahsurd is it for any to address her, as if she had a right to command him on the throne of his "glory ! And how indecent for us to direct his supreme wisdom as to the time and manner in wliich lie shall appear for us in any of the exigencies of life ! Her submission and faith manifested on this occasion are truly amiable : and with this we have sureiy reason 5 to admire the benignity and generosity of Christ in this miracle before us, who consulted the pleasure and enter- tainment, as well as the necessity of his followers ; and by this abundant supply amply repaid any extraordinary expense which he might liave occasioned to the family. How easily could he, who thus turned water into wine, have transformed every entertainment of a common 7, 8 table into tire greatest delicacies, and have regaled himself daily with royal dainties ! But, far superior to such animal gratifications, he chose the severities of a much plainer life. Blessed Jesus ! who can say whether thou art greater in what thou didst, or in what thou didst not do ? May none of us thy followers be too intent on indulging our taste, or any of our other senses ; but pursuing those intellectual and devotional pleasures which 10 ^vere thy meat and thy drink on earth, may we wait for that good wine which thou resei-vest for thy people to the tist, and for those richer dainties with which thou wik feast those who shall drink it with thee in thy Father''s ingdom ! (Matt. xxA'i. 29.) » SECTION XXIV. Our Lord celclirates the first passoccr of his public tninistri/ at Jerusalem ; and vindicates the outer court of the temple from the profanation of those that boug)it and sold there. John ii. 12, to the end. .70HN ii. 12. John ii. 12. After this, he \vent down NOW, after Jesus had attended at this marriage, where he miraculously hiraed the water sect. to Caperuaura, he ami his j^jq -^vine, he and his jnother, and his brethren, (or his near relations,) and his disciples, 24. and his'disciples; and tliey who were now ready to attend him wheresoever he should go, went down from Cana to routinued there not many Capcmaum, a city that lay near the noith part of the sea of Galilee, on the south border john '*''^®" of the land of Naphtali ; and at this time the stay they made was but short, for then con- n. 13 And the Jens' pass- tinned there not many davs. And the reason of their leaving it so soon was, that the 1.3 "'enVrp%'o Salemf^''"' Va^^over of the Jews\lrew near,^ when it was ordered by the law of Moses, that all the males should appear before the Lord ; (Exod. xxiii. 17 ; and Deut. xvi. 16.) and there- fore Jesus, \\ho maintained a religious regard to the cerem.onial as well as the moral part of the law, tvent up to Jerusalem to worsliip at the temple. 14 And found in the tem- ^«r/, at his coming thither, he found in tlie oxiXex court and cloisters of the temple, 14. and sheen *lnd d°oves!'^n"d ^^"^'^^ ^^'^^' ""der a pretence of "accommodating such as came to worship there with the changers of money, proper sacrifices, Sold oxen, and sheep, aiid doves •° and he also saw there the money- *'**'"& : changers sitting at their tables, who, for a certain profit, changed any foreign coin into that which was current, and larger pieces of money info half-shekels, which were on some 15 And when he had occasions to be paid into tlie sacred treasury. (Exod. xxx. 15.) Now, at the sight of 15 made a scourge of small Ibis, Jesus was moved with a just indignation, to think that so sacred a place, honoiued ofthe^'ernpiT andtiTeshe'ep* ^^'^^'^ ^"'^^ peculiar tokens of the Divine presence, should be profaned in this audacious and the oxen'; and poured manner, and SO great an affront be put on the devout 'Gentiles, in whose court this market a The passorer of the Jews drew near.'] As the Evanrelists have contiiwed Init sixteen, months; (see Manne's second Dissertation, not expressly determined the number of passoveis which happened p. I-IG, et ser/.J so that there were but two passovers Aar'm^ the between the" baptism and death of Christ, or durinf^ the course of whole course of it. Mr. AVhiston's reasoning against this hjT>o- liis public ministry, so it is well known that learned men have thesis, in the sixth of his late Dissertations, appears to me un- been much divided in their opinions about them. By far the answerable. For he there shews that if this was true, Christ must greater part have supposed there were /o«r ; reckoning" this the have travelled on an average near ten miles a-day during the course first; the feast mentioned John v. 1. the second; the passover of his ministry. Besides, the transpositions in scripture which this vspoken of, John vi. 4. as the third ; and that at which -Clnist would introduce, seem very imwarrantable and dangerous ; and, suffered the fourth. But there are others of a different opinion. — among other difficulties, it is none of the least, that IMr. INIanne is The celebrated Sir Isaac Newton reckons /t'f ; the first, this which obliged to suppose that Christ only purged the temple at his last is now before us; the second, according to him, happened four /Ju.tjorfr, and consequently that St. "John has misplaced this story ; luonths after Christ's discourse with the woman of S?raaria, though ver. 24 of this chapter, and ver. 22, 23, 24, «f the next, John i v. 35 ; the third, a few days before the story of the disciples (sect.' 27.) afford such strong arguments to the contrary. Compare rubbing the ears of corn, Luke vi. 1 ; the fourth, a little after the note c. and note m, of this section. feeding of the five thousand ; and the last at the time of our Lord's I1 Sold oxen, and sheep, and doves."] There must have been a crucifixion. "The reasons for this the reader will find at large in grand market for these animals at such times ; for Josephus tells Sir Isaac Newton's Obsenat. on Proph. Part I. chap. 11 ; and the us that no less than 256,500 victims were offered at one passover / most considerable of them will be touched upon in their proper see Joseph, de Bell. Jud. lib. vi. cap. 9. (al. vii. 17; sect. iii. p. 399.) places. — Mr. Manne has with great learning and ingenuity at- Edit, ifsvercarap. tempted to revive a long exploded notion, that Christ's miiiistry 48 > CHRIST'S SAYING OF THE TEMPLE OF HIS BODY. ' SECT was kept ; and therefore, having made a whip of the small cords, (with which they were out the changers' money, 24. used to tie the beasts to some riugs fixed in the pavement for that purpose,) Ae drove them ^'"'i overthrew tlie tables , . all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen, which they had brought into it j and JOHX he also poured out the moneij of the exchangers, and overturned the tables at which IJ- they were sitting. And he said to them that sold doves. Take all these things aivay 16 And said unto them ^^from hence directly ; {and'\ do not, for sliame, make my Fathers house, by such scanda- tuing^ifence'rmake not my "lous practices as these, an house of public traffic, and turn it to a common market-place, Fatifer's house an liouse of or exchange. Now, by his saying thus, he openly proclaimed that God was his Father,<= merchandize, and made such a declaration of his divine mission as could not but be greatly observed by 17 the multitude. And his disciples, when they saw so meek a person in such an unusual trail- 17 And his disciples re- sport of just displeasure, remembered that it was written 4)iDa.vid,'' in words which well "^0™'^';^^" of ihi'^aious; expressed the character of Clirist on this occasion, (Psal. Ixix!"^.) " The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. hath eaten ?ne up ;" as if it were said, A regard for the honour of thy sanctuary, like a secret flame glowing in my bosom, preys upon my spirits, and would have consumed me had I not given it vent. 18 A fact so public and remarkable as this, could not but immediately come to the knov/- is Then answered the ledge of the priests and rulers of the Jews,^ whose supreme council sat in a magnificent \:^^^^ "sign^^'shewest* thou chamber belonging to the temple:' some of them, therefore, when they heard of it, an- un(o us, "seeing that thou swered and said unto him. By what authority dost thou thus take upon thee to reform doest these things ] - what is amiss here, and what sign dost thou shew us, seeing that thou dost these things to prove thy havmg a divine commission, since it is certain thou hast none from the go- 19vernment? Jesus answered and said unto them. You shall not want any convincing 19 Jesus answered and evidence that I have an authority far superior to what man can give me ; for if you demo- ^^^'.^ t",",p,p|''„''"^' j^'tl/ree lish this tetnple, I promise and assure you, I will raise it up again in three dai/sfi days r will raise it up. 20 The Jews then said unto liim, in proud derision and contempt of what they did not un- 20 Then said the Jews, derstand, r/i« temple hath been no less than six and forty years building,^ (ion it vs, tempie"in^'bufrdiVgr and now so long since Herod began to repair it,) and notwithstanding many thousand men have wilt thou rear it up in three been employed upon it, if is not yet entirely finished ; and wilt thou undertake to raise it ''^i'* • up in three days ? None certainly will be foolish enough to pull it down, to try the expe- ^ 21 riraent. l^ut they were quite mistaken in the sense of what he said; for what they un- 21 But he spake of the derstood him to have spoken of the temple of Jerusalem, he spake of the much more sacred temple of hia body. temple of his own body, in wliich the Deity dwelt, in a far nobler manner than in their holy place, (Col. ii. 9.) and he might give some intimation of it in the gesture that he used 22 in speaking. When therefore he was risen from the dead, just on the third day after his 22 When therefore he crucifixion, his disciples remembered that he had said this to them ; and they yet more |^?,^ disciides^'^emembered firmly believed the scripture, in all its prophecies concerning the Messiah's kingdom, and that he had said this unto their faith in him was confiimed by the word which Jesus had spoken ; for such a won- them: and they believed the c He openly proclaimed that God was his Father.] The most f A magnificent chamber belonging to the temple.] This fine considerable argument which Mr. Manne lias brought to prove that rotnnda was called, from its beautiful \-)a\ement, Lishcat/i-Hfigffa- this expuhinn of the merc/iants from the temple happened only in zil/i, and stood on the wall of the temple, part of it within and part our Lords last passover, and consequently that it is here transposed, of it without its sacred precincts. See Calmet's Dictionary, at the is, that such au open declaration, that the Temple was /lis Father's word Sanhedrim; LigliU'oot's Description of the Temple, chap. 9; liOuse,-V!o\x\A have put him too much into the power of his enemies, and Witsii Miscell. Sacr. lib. i. Diss. lii. \ 66. and would have been inconsistent with the prudent reserve which g Demolish this temple, and I will raise ii up in three days."] It is Christ kept on this head (See Manne's 7?(sser/. p. 179, 180, and most evident that Christ intended nothing more in these words than compare Locke's Reasonableness of C'hristianiti/, p. 91, et seq. as the paraphrase expresses, and did not mean to command them to veil as with the reflection of his brethren ; John vii. 3, et seq. the demolish the temple ; though his enemies indeed did, some years notes on which place, in \ 98, may be consulted here.)— But, in re- after, misrepresent this saying, as if he had intimated a purpose of ply to this objection, I would beg leave to observe, 1. That for Je- doing it himself Compare Mark xiv. 58. ? 185. sus to call the temple his Father's house, did not amount to an ex- h This temple hnth been six and forty years building.'] Mr. Whis- press declaration that he was the Messiah ; since the Jews in gene- ton (in his View of the Harmony, p. 143.) would render it, Forty ral spake of God as their Father, John viii. 41. (see John x. 24, 2.5, and six years hath this temple been built : but as it would have been with the note there, i 1.34.) And, 2. That though in the circura- ab.surd to argue from the time since the temple was built, to the stances that here attended it, there was an oblique intimation of time it would require to rebuild it, this sense must certainly be something extraordinary, it might not be so dangerous now as af- wrong; and Dr. Lightfoot has well shewn, that the word uhoSomi^i terwards ; because our Lord not having opened the spiritual nature may signify (as we render it) it hath been so long building. Nor. of his kingdom, or as yet rendered himself obnoxious to the Phari- Heb. in loc'— Mr. Fleming's calculation, (in his Cliristology,\o\. II. sees by su'chjust invectives as he afterwards used, thev who expected p. 306—371.) to prove that the second temple was forty-six years the Messiah to appear about this time, and longed "for his appear- building, is not only very precarious, but also very unnecessary ; lor ance, might be inclinable for a while to wait the issue of Christ's the words refer to "the time since Herod began to rebuild it, which pretensions, and so much the rather, as he now wrought some won- he first proposed to the people in the eighteenth year of his reign, derful miracles. (Compare ver. 23, and chap iii.2.) Accordingly (Joseph. Antiq. Jud. lib. xt. cap.ll. [al. 14.] ? 1. Havercamp,) and we find in the beginning of the next chapter one of the chief among though he finished what he proposed in eight or nine years, it seems the Pharisees comes privately to confer with Christ in a very re- (as Dr. Lightfoot and Dr. Lardner have judiciously observed) that spectful manner. It seems necessary to acquiesce in these solutions, the Jews still went on improving and adorning it: for long after because the conference which refers to the miracles wrought at this this, under the government of Florus, (about the year of Christ 0.5,) feast, is expressly said to have been before John the Baptist was Josephusspeaksof the temple's being finished, and the workmen dis- imprisoned. Compare John iii. 22—24. ? 27. missed : so that it seems they were at work upon it all the time of d Remembered that it was written oi \)A\\iX.'] That these words Christ's ministry and life. (Compare John viii. 59 ;? 105; John x. were originally spoken of David, and not of Christ, is plain from the 31 ; ? 134 ; and see Joseph. Antiq. Jud. lib. xx. cap. 9. [al. 8.] \ 7. p. fifth verse of the Ixixth Psalm : O God, thou knowest my foolishness, 978 ; and Lardner's eredib. Part L Vol. I. p. 534—539 ; and Vol. II. and my sins are not hid from thee ; which cannot be applied to p. 856 — 860.) — Now, as the eighteenth year of Herod's reign, from Christ. Abnndanceof other scriptures are quoted with such a beau- the death of Antigonus, began some time in A. U. C. 734, and his tiful accommodation as this. proposal to rebuild the temple might then be made to the Jews at e Rulers of the Jews.] It seems most probable that the Jews here the feast of tabernacles, it will from thence be but a few months mentioned were rulers, because we know that the great assembly more than forty-six years to the passover, A. V. C. 781. Or, since a of Jewish rulers (that is, the sanhedrim,) sat in the temple, and that year or more might probably be spent in preparing for the work be- thechief of them often attended public worship there. This action "fore he actually began it, it may thus be brought down to*. U. C. of Christ (in driving out the buyers and sellers J must undoubtedly 782 or 783, which is the lowest "time to which this passover can be come to their knowledge ; and as their office would seem to au^ referred, thorize them to call him to an account, we are sure their prejudices against him would incline them to it. NICODEMUS COME.S TO JESUS BY NIGHT. 49 scripture, ami tlic word derful event as the resurrection of Christ, cqnsidered in its connection witii tliis solemn sect. wiiich Jesus iiaJ said. prediction,' justly appeared as the fullest conceivable proof of his Divine mission. 24. 23 Now when he was in jl,id while he tvas at the passover in Jerusalem, on the feast-day, manu of the Jews- \uV^ei^siday%vllThl'- ^^'^o were then present there, seeing the miracles ■which he 'wrought,^ believed in him,^ john lieved in his p'anie, wiien and were inwardly persuaded that he was the Messiah : But Jesus did not care to trust ^^■ li'rJid'"*^'^'"''^'"^''^^"'^'*^'' ///w«e//';'o thein,"" so far as to acknowledge it expressly, that he was actually the promised 24 'V4' But Jesus did not Messiah ; and, by confessing who he was, to put himself into their power, because he rommit himself uuto them, knew them all : And had no need that anij one should testify or tell him any thing of 25 ^''arAud ne'eded not tliTt ^^6 character of any man, though ever so much a stranger to liirn : for he himself, by an > any should testify of man : immediate and unerring penetration, knc-w -what was in the heart of every man ; and for he knew what was lu consequently knew that those people had such gross notions of the Messiah's kino-dom, that tliere was no room for liim to confide in thein, or to expect them to be faithful to him. IMPROVEMENT. How powerfiil is the love of this world, when it could engage even the priests and the Pharisees to let out the Ver. 14 temple itself for a market-place ! though a professed zeal for the honour of it made so great a part of the righteous- ness of which they boasted before God. But our Lord beheld the scene with just indignation 5 as that displeasure 15, 16 is indeed just which arises from a sense of dLshonour done to God, and contempt poured on the institutions of liis worship. Happy shall we be in the warmest emotions of zeal which do not transport us beyond the rules of pra- dence and love, and make us forget those stations in life, which require the same principles to shew themselves in widely ditFerent elfects ! Methinks the state of the temple, when these traders had erected their seats and their stalls in it, and turned the courts of God's house into a market, is too just an emblem of the state of our hearts, when we appear in the sanctu- 16 ary distracted with worldly cares, to the neglect of that one thing needful, which then demands our most attentive regards. Would to God that in this sense our Father's house were not often made a house of merchandise ! Let us pray that Jesus, by his good Spirit, would assert it to himself, and drive out those intmders which break in upon our truest enjoyments, in proportion to that degree in which they entrench on our devotion ! After a thousand proofs of his divine mission, the Jews were wicked and desperate enough, with sacrilegious 19 hands to destroy the temple of Christ's body : but let us be thankful for the undoubted evidence we have, that as an everlasting monument of his power and truth, he raised it again in three days. Happy wUl it be for us, if we cordially believe a gospel so gloriously attested \ but most vain will that belief be 23, 25 which doth not penetrate and influence the heart. Let us remember, that we have to do with him that formed our nature, and is most intimately acquainted with all its recesses. He knows what is in man : may he see nothing in us which shall not be thoroughly agreeable to the profession we make, of being his faithful disciples ! To conclude : let us learn, from the caution which Jesus used, not rashly to put ourselves and our usefulness into 24 the power of others ; but to study a wise and happy medium between that imiversal prejudice and suspicion which, while it \vi'ongs the best and the most worthy characters, would deprive us of all the pleasures of an intimate friend- ship, and that undistinguishing easiness and openness of temper, which might make us the property of every hypo- critical pretender to kindness and respect. SECTION XXV. The former part of our Lord's conference with Nicodemus, in which he states the nature and necessity of regeneration. John iii. 1 — 10. John iii. i. John iii. 1. PlwHre^s,'^nam!S'\?cod'e- ^^^.' ^^'^i^^ our Lord was thus attending at Jerusalem to keep the passover, there was sECT. mus, a ruler of the Jews: ^ certain jnan of the sect of the Pharisees, whose name was Nicodemus, a 7nagistrate 25. of the Jews, and a member of the great sanhedrim, (John vii. 50.) who, being alarmed, as many of Iris brethren were, and filled with wonder at the miracles that Jesus wrouglit, john made him a visit in person, that he might more distinctly be informed of the nature ot'his in. 2 The same came to Je- doctriue, and of the true intent and purpose of his coming. But, lest any oifence should 2 him%aifbi,* ^rlnow "hit ^^ ^^'^^ ^^ ^^ conversing openly with him, he secretly came to Jesus hi/ night, in order ~' thou art a' teacher come to a private Conference with him at his own lodgings ; and, with the greatest reverence and dc?the*^e mirrdcTthartho" '^^^P*^^^' ^^ ^^''^ "'"'^ ''""'» i"^ ^is own name, as well as in the name of several of his dost, except God be with bretliren. Rabbi,'' the wonders thou hast done have been related to us ; and, having seri- hini. ously considered the account that has been given us, we know, and cannot but allow, that thou art a teacher come with a commission /}'o;« God ; for we are thoroughly convinced that none can ever do these wondrous miracles, that are in all respects so beneficial and divine, which we perceive thou dost, unless he be invested with a power from on high, and God himself be with him in an extraordinary manner. (See John ix. 30, 33.) I am i The resurrection of Christ, considered in its connection with self. Compare John i. 12. xx. 31. Psal. Ixxv. 1. Acts i. 15. and Rev. this solemn prediction.] This important thought is set in a very iii. 4. strong light by Dr. Jenkins, in his Reasonableness of Christianity, m Did not trust himself to them.} I look upon this as a demon- Vol. I. p. 25, 26. stratiou that the passover here spoken of, was not that at which k Seeing the miracles which he wrought.'] These words, as also Christ suffered ; for tlien there had been no need of such a pre- those in John iii. 2; and iv. 45, plainly refer to some miracles caution, and indeed no room for it. wrought by Christ, the particulars of which are not transmitted a Snidunto him. Rabbi.} This title cannot but appear very re- to us, markable, as given by a person of so great dignity to one who, 1 Believed in him.] It is in the original, believed in his name ; a with regard to his education and rank in secular life, made so low Ilcbraisra which it did not seem necessary "to retain. Nothing is au appearance as our blessed Lord did. more common than to put the name of a person for the person him- E 50 JESUS INFORMS fflM OF THE NECESSITY OF THE NEW BIRTH. SECT, come tlierefore to desire a more particular account'' from thine own mouth> both of the 25. doctrine which thou teachest, and of the kingdom whicli, thou declarest, God is about to erect. JOHN Jesus, knowing the prejudices he laboured under, both as a Jew and a Pharisee, 3 Jesus answered and said '!'■ judgal it necessary immediately to acquaint him with the absolute necessity of a thorough "°to i'™. Verily verily, 3 change, by divine grace, both in heart and life ; a change so great, as might appear like nlan^3"born again, h"?an- coming into a new world, and would bring the greatest and most learned men to the "pt see the kingdom of simplicity of little children. (Compare Matt, xviii. 3.) He therefore answered and said *^ unto him. Verily, vcrili/, I say tinto thee, and declare it with the utmost solenmity, as a truth of the highest importance, that whatever great privileges any may inherit by his natural birth, or how exact and strict soever he may be in ceremonial observances, unless a man be boi^n again,'^ he eannot possibly see the kingdom, of God, in such a manner as to secure an interest in its invaluable blessings. 4 Now, as this form of speech was figurative and concise, Nicodc?nus did not understand .•* Nicodemus saith unto what it meant ; and therefore sa//s unto him. How can a man be born again, xchen he ^"nl wiicu he'^is^oldT'can is old, as I now am ? Can he possibly enter a second time into his 7nothers womb, he enter the second time and ?,o be born over again? It would be perfectly absurd to think that thou intendest ind'hi'llrnT*'""^ '^ ''°"'*' this should be taken in a literal sense ; and I confess, I am at a loss to know what figu- rative interpretation is to be put upon it. 5 Then Jesus, to explain his former meaning, answered. Verily, nfrili), I say xmto thee, s Jesus answered, Verily, and again repeat it, That unless a man be born of water, and the Spirit, he cannot ^xclfpt \ mla Ue'^born'^of eyiter into the kingdom of God ; or, in plain terms, whosoever would become a regular water, and 0/ tiie Spirit, he member of it, h<^must not only be baptized, but as ever he desires to share in its spiritual caunot enter into the kiug- and eternal blessings, he must experience the renewing and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit on his soul, to cleanse it from the power of corruption, and to animate it 6 to a divine and spiritual life. For were it possible for a man to be born again, in the G That which is bom of literal sense that you have mentioned, by entering a second time into his mother's womb, ^^i^*'.'^*'''.'^ *^^^J.' > .'"''M^^* such a second birth would do no more to qualify him for the kingdom of God, than the is spirit. ^° ^ "^' ' first : for that which is born of the flesh, is only flesh ; and what proceeds and is produced from parents that are sinful and corrupt, is sinful and corrupt as they are f but that which is born of the Spirit, is fonned to a resemblance of that blessed Spirit, whose office it is to infuse a divine life into the soul, 7 Wonder not, therefore, that I said unto thee, and have declared it as a truth that you 7 Marvel not that I said are all concerned in. That you yourselves, even though you are Jews, and Pharisees, ""tp thee, y e must be bom and rulers of the people, yet must be born again ; since the degeneracy of the hiunan '' nature is of so universal an extent, as to be common to you all. Nor have you any cause to be surprized, if there be some things in this doctrine of regeneration, which are of an obscure and unsearchable nature ; for even in the natural world, many things are so : 8 The wind, for instance, bloweth where it will, sometimes one way and sometimes s The wind bloweth another, and is not subject to the direction or command of m.an ; and though thou where it listctb, and thou hearest the sound thereof and feelest its sensible and powerful effects, yet thou canst bfi't'cansV not "tell whcn*ce not exactly tell from whence it cometh, and whither it goeth ; for whatever general it rometh, and whither it principles may be laid down concerning it, when you come to account for its particular 9'^''^*''= so is every one that variations, the gi-eatest philosophers often find themselves at a loss ; and in like manner, so it is with every one that is born of the Spirit : and you are so far from being capa- ble of accounting for it, that it is easy to be seen there is a sovereign freedom in that divine agency, which makes it oftentimes impossible to say, why it is imparted to one, rather than to another ; and there is a secret in the manner of its operation on the mind, wliich it is neither necessary to know, nor possible to explain. 9 But Nicodemus, who had been accustomed to the pomp and ceremony of an external ;,„?! saicTuntrwm How can religion, answered and said unto him. How can these things be ?- for, after all this ex- these things be? b I am come to desire a more particular account, &c.] Our lime into /lis mother's womb, there was no being born in the manner Lord's answer intimates, that he either expressly made, or secretly Clirist spoke of, av.o^sv, that is, aijaiii. — AVhat is added at ver. 5, intended, such an inquiry, and it is impossible to enter into the explains what was before undetermined as to the original of this beauty of this discourse, without considering it in this view. Our hirlli. Dr. Owen with great propriety observes, " That if regerie- Lord tourhes on the following grand points, in which it was of the " ration liere mean only reformation of life, our liord, instead of i utmost importance that Nicodemus and his brethren should be " making any new discovery, has only thrown a great deal of informed : — That no external profession, nor any ceremonial ob- " oljscurity on what was before plain and obvious, and known not servances, or privileges of birth, could entitle any to the blessings " only to the Jews, but the wiser lieathens. And indeed, (says of the Messiah's kingdom ; — that an entire change of heart and " be immediately after) this is the main article in dispute between life was necessary to that purpose ; — that tliis must be acrom- " many. Some think all things in scripture are expressed in plished by a divine influence on the mind ; — that mankind was in " condescension to our capacities, so that there is still to be con- a stiite of condemnation and misery ; — that the free mercy of find " ceived in many of theui an inexpressible grandeur; while, on had given his Sou to deliver them from it, and to raise' (hem to " the other hand, others suppose that, under the pomp and gian- \ a blessed immortality, which was the great d(-sign and purpose " deur of the most hyperbolical expressions, things of a low and j of his coming I — that all mankind, that is, (icntiles as well as .lews, "ordinary sense arc to be understood." See Dr. Owen on ilie \ were toshare in the benefits of his undertaking; — that they were Spirit, p. 175. — For the full import of the phrases used in this \ to be procured by his being lifted up on tlie cross, and to be re- verse, see mv Sermons on Regeneration, IVos. iv. "ftud v. j ceived by faith in" him ; — but that if they rejerted liim, there was d Is sinful and corrupt as they arc.] The many passages in no other remedy, and their eternal aggravated condemnation would which flesh is put for a corrupt degenerate nature, enslaved to j be the certain consequence of it. — Our Lord might enlarge more animal appetites and pursuits, seemed to me to justify this inter- j copiou.sly on these heads, which it might be llie more proper to prctation : and would to God, fact and experience did not so do, as some of them were directly contrary to tlie notions cimi- plainly vindicate it! Compare Gen. vi. .3; Rom. viii. 8; Gal. v. i monly entertained by the Jews concerning the Messiah's kingdom. 17, 24 ; and Jude, ver. 23.) Indeed it .seems to me impossible to : c t/'nless a man he born again ; ixi u.^ ns ^Evvn^n txvwOev.] Some clear up either the beauty of the antithesis, or even the truth of would render av;j9£v, fro7n above ; but it is plain that Nicodemus the assertion, on any other interpretation. 'l did not take it So; for lie tliought that, without entering a second 1 JESUS GOES ON IN HIS CONFERENCE WITH NICODEMUS. 51 plication, I am still at a loss to understand what this being born of the Spirit means, and sKcr. therefore cannot conceive how it sliould be so absolutely necessary. 25. 10 Jesus answered and Jesus then answered and said unto him. How, Nicodemus I art thou a teacher of ''"'maste'r" ot^lsrad ^and ^■^''^'^^' ^^ ^o distinguished a rank and character, and dost thou not know tfie'se things .'* john knowest not these things' when SO much is every where said in the scripture, of the purifying and quickening opera- ill- tionsof the divine Spirit on men's hearts ? (Compare Jer. xxxi. 33, 34; and Ezek. xxxvi. ^^ 26, 27.) It is high time thou shouldst be better informed concerning them. IMPROVEMENT. He that hath cars to hear, let him hear with attention what the blessed Redeemer said on this great occasion. It is surely a matter of universal concern : for who would not desire to enter into the kingdom of God ? to be an acceptable member of Christ's church now, and an heir of glory beyond the grave ? — But how is this blessing to be expected and secured ? Thus saith the Lord himself. Unless a man be born again, he cannot sec the kingdom Ver. 3. of God. — Let us remember therefore, that it is not enough that a new name be given us, or that a new profession be assumed ; it is not enough that we are descended from the most pious ancestors, that we have been externally ' devoted to God by the early seal of liis covenant, or that we openly have made a solemn and express profession of our own faith and obedience, and have been born of baptismal water in our riper years ! There must be a new \ nature implanted, a new creation formed in our souls, by the almighty energy of the eternal Spirit, or it had been 1 better for us that we had never been bom at all. That which is born of thcjlesh, is flesh ; and as we all proceed from a corrupt original, we do not more evidently 6 bear the image of the eartlily Adam, in the infirmities of a mortal body, than in the degeneracy of a cornipted mind. Oh, let us earnestly entreat that, being bom of the sanctifying influences of the Spirit, we may bear the image of 8 the heavenly ! And to these influences let us with all humility and tliankfulness be ready to yield up our souls, as remembering, that they are of a free and sovereign ijature, like the wind that bloweth where it will, and does not stay for the command of the children of men. Let none of us mdulge a vain and useless curiosity with respect to the manner of the Spirit's operations, or 7, S wonder that we meet with some things that are secret and unknown, in matters of a spiritual nature ; when we see daily, there are so many things unknown in the common appearances of tlie natural world, and indeed so few that v,e can perfectly understand. May the pride of a falsely pretended reason, be subdued to the authority of faith ! And more especially, may 1 0 such as are teachers in Israel, or who ai"e designed for that important office, take their instructions with all humility, from this teacher sent from God ! For it must surely be not only their calamity, but that too of the church in 2 general, if its guides continue ignorant of those sublime and spiritual truths which Christ came down from heaven to reveal, or are so biassed by the carnal reasonings of a depraved mind, as to be indisposed and backward to receive them. SECTION XXVI. The latter part of our Lord's conference with Nicodemus, in which he opens the design of his coming into the world, and shews the absolute necessity of faith in him. John iii. 11 — 21. JoHNiii. II. John iii. 11. VERlLY.veriiy isayunto JeSUS, pursuing his discourse with Nicodemus, said, I tind that you are stiunbled at this sect thee, We speak that we do i . . *j, ° ^. i ■ i t i ^ ■ ^ i i i ' -l Ofi know, and testify that we tloctnne ot regeneration, which 1 have now been opening to you : but liowsoever it may ■^^o. have seen ; and ye receive still appeal' to be obscure and Strange, yet labour to subdue the prejudices that arise against not our witness. jj . f^^,^ verily, verily, I say unto thee. That in the doctrine we have now delivered, we John speak nothing but what we certainly know,^ and testify no other than that which we ,^ have seen,^ and can declare upon the surest grounds to be a most important truth, and to be perfectly agreeable to what we have received in commission from God himself ; and yet, the disposition of the Jewish rulers and people is generally such, that ye receive not 12 If I have told you our testimony, and are likely still to reject it : For these things which I have already told 13 ifeve Mt^'how'shall ye be- 5"*^" ^''^ ^^^^ *^^ ^''^^ principles, to make way for what is yet more marvellous. Now, if I lieve if I tell you oY hea- hitherto have told you things which have been capable of being represented to you in a venly thuigs ! familiar way, and being illustrated by obvious and well-known similitudes ; so tliat by e Art Ihou a teacher of Israel, anddost thou not know these thin/js''.'] the teachings of the Spirit, and by their own experience, while it Could it be proved that the Jewish Rabbis, so early as Christ's was known to Christ by his omniscience, and by the intimate ac- time, called a baptized person, one born again, or born of water, that quaintance that he had with all the councils of the Father. — And would stronafly illustrate the passage before us. But though Dr. others have supposed, that he includes here, with Iiimsclf. the Claget and Mr. Locke, and after them Dr. Clarke, give the words Father and the Spirit, who are expressly spoken of in other this turn, the fact did not appear to me so evident, as to allow of my passages, as bearing witness to the truth o? what he said, and as inserting it in the paraplirase. — However, it is strange to me, that agreeing with him in the testimony that he gave. (Compare John any should doubt whether proselytes were admitted into the Jewish viii. 18 : xiv. 20, 26 ; and J Jolin v. 6, 8.) — But there is no neces- ' church by baptism, that is, by washing ; when it is plain from ex- sity we should suppose him to refer to any other than himself ; • press passages in the Jewisli law, that uo Jew who had lived like a since nothing is more usual than for a person of authority to speak ^ Gentile for one single day, could be restored to the communion of of himself in the phiral number, as Christ may be observed to have their church without it. Compare Numb. xix. 1<1, 20, and many done elsewhere ; t_>Iark iv. 30.) and in the next verse he appears to other precepts relating to ceremonial pollutions ; by which the have restrained it to hTmself, where he says only in the singular Jews were rendfred incapable of appearing before God in the number. If I have told you earthly things, &c. Sec Lightfoot's tabernacle or temple, till they were waslicd t\ih.eT by bathing or Harmony, in loc. sprinkling. b And testify that which we have seen."] Christ seems here to ■A We speak what we know.'] Some have supposed that, as allude to what was mentioned in the /n^i) as qualifying a man to be a Christ speaks here in the plural number, he may refer not only to witness, that he was able to declare of what he testified, that he had the doctrine that was delivered by himself, but to the testimony seen or known it. (Levit. v. 1.) And as he therefore had a clear per- that was given to the truth of it by John the Baptist, and to the ception, and a certain knowledge of the truth of what he said, there preaching also of his own disciples, who all concurred in testifying was the highest reason to receive his testimony, and to regard him the same things ; the certainty of which they were assured of by as a true and faithful witness- 52 HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT, IS CONDEMNED ALREADY. SECT, reason of Iheii- plainness, and of the frequent references to them in the Old Testament, 26. they may be called earthly things, and ye believe not even these: //oty then •would you delieve, if I should yet go on to tell you other doctrines, which are not capable of being JOHN thus explained ; and which indeed are so much more mysterious and sublime, that, in ^^^- comparison of what has been already told you, they may be called heavenly things .*"^ (Compare Heb. vi, 1, 2 ; Psal. ciii. 11 ; and Isa. Iv. 9.) Yet even these you will have 13 And no man bath as- no just reason to suspect, when you consider whence they come, and who it is that c-eutled up to heaven, but "' 1 ., . r 1 J I 1 I L u • i. iu "e that came down from 13 reveals them to you: tor no one has ever ascended up to heaven, to search mto the heaven, eifn the Son of man secret counsels, and to obtain an intimate and perfect knowledge of the truths of God ;"* which is in heaven. unless, as you will see hereafter, he has done it, who is really descended from heaven ; [et/'cw] the Son of man who is in heaven, as there is the place of his stated abode, whither he shortly will return, and as he now is pre^nt there by Iris divine natui-e, which fills both heaven and earth. 14 And now I m.ention the Son of man, let me rectify that grand mistake of yours con- 14 And as Moses lifted ceming his kingdom, which otherwise may be attended with such fatal consequences. "P *^^"^ serpent m the wii- You expect to see him raised on a magnificent throne, and not only breaking off the Son of man be lifted up ; yoke from the Jewish nation, but leading them on to conquer and destroy the Gentiles : but I must assure you, that as Moses lifted up the brazen serpent on a pole in the wil- derness, to heal those that were dying by the venom of the fiery serpents there, (see Numb. xxi. 8, 9.) so also 7nust the Son of man be first lifted up on a cross, (compare John viii. 28 ; xii. 32, 34.) and then publicly exhibited in the preaching of the gospel, 15 that sinners may by him receive a far more noble and important cure f Even that who- '^ That whosoever be- ever believcth on him may not perish, as all in their natural state would otherwise do,^ perish, but have eternal life. 16 but may obtain so perfect a recovery, as certainly to have eternal life. For this is indeed 10 For God so loved the the summary of that important message which I bring to the children of men, that God oniv^be^otten^*^ Sot ^"^ that 50 loved the world,^ apostate and miserable as it was; yea, to such an amazing and whosoever beiieveth'in him unutterable a degree did he love it, that he gave even his only-begotten Son from his should not perish, but have embraces, that whoever believeth on him, whatever be the nation he belongs to, or ^'^^ "^ '°^ whatever his guilt be, he may not perish under the sentence of divine justice, but may 17 have everlasting life and glory. For God sent not his Son into the world, to condemn 17 For God sent not his ' the world, and to execute that vengeance upon them which their guilt might have taught demn°the^''vorld'^-'*but that them to fear ; nor did he send hmi to destroy the Gentile nations, as your Jewish pre- the world through him judiccs are ready to represent it ; but that the world of mankind, whether Jews or ™'.?lit be saved. Gentiles, might be saved by him, even all without exception who will listen to the over- ISturesof his gospel. And therefore, on the one hand, he that believeth on him, how 10 lie that believeth on great soever his sins may have been, and however unpardonable according to the tenor buThrthat beHeveth"not of the Mosaic lav/, yet shall not be finally condemned, but shall obtain a complete is condemned already, be- pardon : and on the other hand, he that believeth not, whatever his external profession f''"*? '"^ ''^''' not believed ^ . . . , , 7 , ■ ■ 1 1 r 1 ■ r 'U the name of the only. and privileges may be, is condemned already, remaining under the sentence or his tormer begotten Son of God. guilt, yea, and subjecting himself by his refusal of the only remedy to greater and more aggravated woe; because he hath not believed in the illustrious i:a7nc^ of the only- begotten Son of God, though expressly revealed to him on so glorious and important an occasion. 19 Now, through the great perverseness of mankind, I certainly foresee that this will be 19 And this is the cou- the case with multitudes ; for this is the great condemnation, the crime that fills up the eomrhito' the"'woril^\nd measiu'e ofmen's iniquities, and proves the surest cause of their final and speedy ruin, that men loved darkness rather a divine light is come into the world, and yet 7nen have loved darkness rather than V'^'j ''f''^' because their light, and have chosen to remain ignorant, rather than to submit themselves to the teach- ings of this heavenly revelation ; and the reason is plainly this, because their deeds were c Heavenly things.'] This has been understood by some, of those appointment. It v/ould be blasphemy to run a parallel between sublime and heavenly doctrines that were afterv/ards revealed, — Christ and that which gave us the deadly wound : and to talk, as of the eternal generation nfthe.Son, and of the/HZ«ess of the God- Grotius and Dr. Clarkehere do, of the resemblance between him head Jirelliny in him bodily, — and of those other mysteries of god- and tlie image of the serpent, as he was made in the Uheness of sinful liness, tl'at are above the reach of human reason, and cannot he Jle.'^h, seems in this connection to be foreign to the purpose, illustrated by earthly things: (see Lightfoot's Harmony, iri he.) f As all in their natural state would otherwise do] This is Though it would rather seem, that our Lord does more imme- strongly implied here, and yet more strongly in vrr. 18, where all diately refer to the doctrines which he mentions in tlie remaining that do not believe are said to be condemned already : and till men part of his discourse to Nicodemus, — of his descent from heaven to enter deeply into this important truth, the gospel may indeed be insiruct us in tlie things of God, and be united to the human nature their amusement, but I see not how it is like to be their joy or here below, while by his divine nature be still continued to be their cure. present above : — of the design for which he came into the world, g God so loved the world.] It is not only a very arbitrary criti- to be lifted up upon the cross, that he might save us from our cisni, by which Erasmus makes these the words ot the Evangelist, sins ; — of everlasting life and happiness to be obtained by faith in rather than of Christ, but if it were admitted, it would destroy his death; — and of the condemnation of all those that should much of the beauty and energy of that awful admonition which reject him • which may be counted as the deep Ihinys of God, which our Lord gives to Nicodemus, and by him to his brethren, in this he reveals vnto vs hy his Spirit, and which the natural man who his fiist entrance on his ministry. No doubt, many of them disregards that Spirit, receiveth not, for they are foolishness vnto attended him to learn the result of this conference, wliich to the him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually 'dis- best of his understanding we may conclude he honestly reported :\ cerned ; 1 Cor. ii. 10, 14. ~ and it is sad to think, what an aggravation it was of the unbelief ] d Ascended vp to heaven to search into — the truths of God.] and impenitence of that grand council, who afterwards treated/ The phrase of ascending into heaven is plainly used in this sensi', Christ with so much contempt and malignity. Dent. >:xx. 12; Rom. x. 6; and Prov. xxx. 4. — As for the turn h Jirlieved in the illustrious name.] Though the name of a here given to the particle u «>i, see the note on John xvii. 12 ; ? \1'J. person lie often put for the person himself, yet 1 think it is farther e A far more noble and important cure.] The grand point of intimated in that expression, that the person spoken of is great and .?/«»7//«rff here, is in the »?(««»^)- of performing the fjof, that is, by in.igiiificciit ; and therefore it is generally used to express either believing regards to something lifted up for that purpose, by a divine God tlic Fattier, or our Lord Jesus Christ. REFLECTIONS ON THE DESIGN OF CHRIST'S COMING. 53 20 Tor every one that cvU, and they have not virtue enough to resolve on a thorough reformation. For evert/ SECT, (loeth cvilhateth the light, q,i(, who \s, conscious to himself that he doeth evil, and will persist in his -wickedness, 26. lett'TisTet^ds should^ be /ictteth Jlie light, as the cause of anguish and shame to his guilty mind ; and he cometh reproved. not to the light, lest his actions should be reproved by it, and so his character exposed, JOHN 21 But he that doetli and his conscience disquieted. (Compare Eph. v. 13.) But he that practises truth ^nd "'• tru'vT\Hisma*'benfade -Y,""*"^^' sincerely endeavouring to adjust his actions according to the eternal law of righte- ^^ imiiii'tst.'^'t hat''' they are oiisiiess, or the nature and obligation of things, cowc.? to the light with confidence and wrought iu God. pleasure, and takes all opportunities of impro\'ing his knowledge, Ma/ his actions may be made manifest, as in open day ; knowing it will appear that they are •wrought in God,^ that is, that they are agreeable to the Divrae nature and will, and the consequence of that union of soul witli him, which is the highest dignity and happiness of a rational creature. Be it therefore known imto you all, that this gospel which I preach, is the great touchstone of men's true characters ; and, as nothing but a corruption of heart can oppose it, so I failMuUy warn you, that if you reject it, it is at the peril of yom- souls. This was tlie piuport of our Lord's discourse with Nicodemus ; and it appears by some following circumstances of the story, that it made a deep and lasting impression on his mind. See John vii. 50. and xix. 39. OIPROVEMENT. How happy is it for us that,, since none of the children of men ever ascended up uito heaven, to learn the Ver. 13. mysteries of Divine knowledge there, the onl.'/-begotten Son of God has been pleased to come d©wn from thence, 11 that he might instruct us ! He spake \vhat he knew, and testified what he had seen : Oh, that men were so wise as to receive his testimony, be the discoveries ever so new, or tlie doctrines ever so sulilime ! Let us with peculiar pleasure attend unto that abstract of the gospel, which he exhibited in this profitable and comprehensive discou'-se with Nicodemus. — It presents to our view Christ, and him crucified. It opens the treasures of Divine beneficence and compassion, and shews us the Father of mercies so loving a -aorld, which he might 16 justly have al^horred and destroyed, as to give his only-begotten Son to be a ransom "tor it. -Let us behold him lifted up on the cross, as the great .attractiye, to whom all were to be drawn ! In him shall 14 we find the divine cure for our souls, infected as they are~" with the poison of sin, if we behold him not merely 15 with a curious, but a believing eye. Whatever our wounds be, if in the exercise of faith we look to him, we shall not die of them ; but it is owing to our own obstinacy and impenitence if we yet perish. He might justly have appeared in a difierent form for the condenmation of sinners rather than their salvation. 17 The Son of God might have come into an apostate world, armed with thunderbolts of flaming vengeance, to punish the violation of his Father's law ; but his hands are filled with eternal blessings. As we love our own souls, let us apply to him in time for this salvation. Let us dread the aggravated con- demnation of those \\ho, when light is come into the world, prefer daikness to it, and obstinately shut their eyes 19 against it, though it be the dawniugi of an eternal day. , Mai/ integrity and uprightness preserve us ! (Psal. xxv. 21.) And, conscious of a real desire to govern our- 20, 21 selves according to the light we have, may we cheerfully lay ourselves in the way of more 5 that in the last awful day, when the sentence of Divine wrath shall be executed on all the servants of sin, and their character shall stand disclosed in the most odious colours, ours may shine out beautiful and fair, and the good deeds that we have done, being now \\TOught in God, may then not only be accepted and applauded, but, through the grace of the Redeemer, abundantly rewarded by him. ,, f-. f, , ^^ \ r- r -^ SECTION XXVII. John the Baptist's last testirnoni/ to Christ, on occasion of a dispute concerning his baptism, and that administered by our Lord's disciples. — ^John iii. 22, to the end. John iii. 22. ^ John iii. 22. After these things, came AFTER these things, Jesus and his disciples came from Jerusalem, where they had SECT, utr^land 'of *^ Judea^^ 'and '^'^P^ ^^^ passover together, into a part of the land of Judea, at some distance from the 27. there he tarried with them, capital city ; and there he continued ivith Arm, and by their ministry, though not in his and baptized. own person, baptized. (See John iv. 2.) if John 2.1 And Jolin also was j4nd John ivas also at that time baptizing at Enon, which was a place near Saliin, a ^^ Saiim,' because there wa° town on the west side of Jordan ; and he particularly chose that place, because there '^'^ much water there: and they ivas a great quantity of Water there,^ which made it very convenient for his purpose: "^"sTfot Jo'im was^no't'^yet ""^^ ''^'■'' ^^"^^ from'all parts, and were baptized by him. For the reader will observe, 24 cast into prison. that John the Baptist was not iiet thrown into prison ;'' as he was a few months after, by the injustice of Herod, in whose territories that place lay. i We that practises truth : a mim rm xXrMf/.l This phrase often J^ord, signifies there, the marrying one who is in Christ, that is, a occurs as the character of a rjnod man : (Compare Psal. cxix. 30 ; Christian. Isa. xxvi. 2; iPet. i. 22; iJohn i. (5 ; and 2 John, ver. 4.) Audit a. At Enon, — because there was a great quantity nf tvater there?), It is used with great propriety, since there is as really a truth or false- is exceeding difficult to determine the true situation of this place, hood in actions, as m words ; as Mr. Woollaston in particular has about wTHch geographical writers are not at all agreed. We may shewn at large : See Relirj. of Nature, chap. i. — Of the same kind conclude, however, from ver. 26, that it was on the west side of is the phrase i;cn;ivJ-jt;Jof, used more than once by St. John, perhaps Jordin, as Bethabara, where John had baptized before, was on the in a beautiful op/)os//(o« to this before us; and should it be rendered, other side. — But nothing surely can be more evident, than tli_at ;)rnc/iseM a /(>, that o;i/)os27(on would be more apparent ; see Rev. mwx vSartc, many waters, signifies a large quantity of water, it xxi. 27; xxii. 15. being sometimes used for the Euphrates, Jer. li. 13. Septuaqitit. k That they are wrought in God: ev e^cj ei^x-'fMvx.'] Grotius To which, I suppose, there may also be an allusion, Kev. xvfi. 1. thinks, that tv is here used for x^trx, and that it only signifies. Compare Ezek. xliii. 2; and Rev. i. 15; xiv. 2; xix. G; where the agreeable to the Divine nature : this is certainly comprehended, but voice of many waters does plainly signify the roaxilig-of .■i_high sea. it is not all it expresses. His instance of the like use of the particle, b John was not yet thrown into prison."] I think it probable from in 1 Cor. vii. .?9, seems insufP.cient; for to ir.arry ev tv Kt;ri:c, in flic honce, as well as from tradition, and many other passages in this 54 JOHN ACKNOWLEDGES THE SUPERIOR DIG^TY OF CHRIST. SECT. And there was 3honlihi& tixne, a waxm dispute [bet-wecji so)7ie] of the disciples of John 25 Then there atosc n 27. and a [certain'] Jew," who had been baptized by Christ, abotit this right oi purifying, or question between «""'* of baptism, which was administered in different parts by these two divine teachers; for notwith- Jew" abouTiHiHfyfng-. JOHN standing their commissions and administrations were so harmonious, yet some, through f'^- ignorance and weakness, were ready to oppose them to each other. 26 And such was the concern of John's disciples upon this occasion, that they came to John, 26 And they came unto and said unto him. Rabbi, we are soHcitous for thy honour in the present conjuncture of ' r" {,'(,'; ^"J,*^ That "was witli affairs : for he that was lately with thee on the other side Jordan, and to xohom thou thee beyond Jordan, to Savest such an honourable testimomi there, behold, he now baptizeth, and people from ^*''l°'^j 1'!°" t)arest witness, -V 6,, , , , ^ c • 1 xu u i- J 7- I.- I. beliold, the same baptizeth, all parts, yea even such as have beiore received thy bapusm, come unto tiim ; which, as we and all men come to him. fear, may cause thy baptism to be neglected, and tend to the injury of thy character ; since some are already making very invidious comparisons between him and thee. 27 But John replied to his disciples, with an humility and integrity agreeable to the rest of .27 John answered and his character, and said, in order to convince them farther of the superior honours due to th'in'gcxTept iTbegivenliim the blessed Jesus, Do not give way to such vain partiality and fondness for me : for a man from heaven. can indeed receive, and therefore ought to assume nothing to himself, unless it be given hi?nfrom heaven ; but we are just what God is pleased to make us, and must stand in that 28 rank which his infinite wisdom has seen fit to assign us. Nor have you any reason to be .28 Ve yourselves bear me surprised at the report you bring me, or to imagine I shall regard it as a matter of com- the' Ch! Lt '^but 'that'T am ])laint : for j/ou yourselves, in what you now have said, bear witness to 7ne,^ and cannot sent before him. but remember that, even from the very first of my appearance, I expressly said, and was on all occasions ready to repeat it, that I am not the Christ ; but that I am sent as an harbinger before him ; and therefore am so far from being in any opposite and separate 29 interest, that his success is my greatest joy. It is the bridegroom only that hath the . 29 He that hath, the bride bride ; and it is liis peculiar right to enjoy her as his own : buU?, for the intimate />/c»r/ of friend''of'thr'bTide-room'' the bridegroom, who standcth near him, and heareth him express his delight and com- which standeth and ifearcth placency in her,*^ he is so far from envying and repining at it, that, if he really deserves the '""' ""ejoiceth greatly be- C3.USC 01 tlic in'itlpcroom's name of a friend, he rather rejoiceth with exceeding great joy on account of the bride- voice. This my joj there- grooins voice. Such therefore is the friendship and the high regard I have for Jesus, that fore is fulfilled. this that you have told me is mi/ joy ; which is so far from being at all impaired, that it is heightened and completed on this happy occasion, which you should rather have been ready to congratulate, than to have made it matter of complaint. 30 I know that as to him, he daily must increase, and, like the growing moon^i appear con- 30 He must increase, but tinually more and more glorious: but I 7nust gradually wane and decline, till 1 entirely ^ '""«' decrease, disappear from hence : (for the end of my ministry is now in a great measure answered, 31 and therefore I quickly expect to be dismissed from it.) And it is fit it should be so : for 31 He that cometh from he that cometh from above, as Jesus did, is far above all the children of men, and so un- ?'^ove i^ above all; he that doubtedly is above me ; while, on the other hand, he that originally was of the carth,^ aud speakt^h of the*^ earths- being bom, like me, in a natural way, is still of the earth, mean and imperfect, and can l"^ that conutli from hca- never hope, by any refinements and improvements, to equal what is heavenly and divine ; ^ '^^ '^ above all. but what he says will correspond ^^^th his original, and being earthly in his rise, he speak- cth of the earth : the subjects of his discourse are comparatively low, or howsoever noble and sublime they be, there is a mixture of infinnity and weakness in his way of treating them ; whereas he who originally cometh from heaven, and who has shown so wonder- ful a condescension in his visiting this lower world, is still, in the midst of all his voluntary abasement, ih comparably above all that dwell upon earth, not only in the dignity and 32 glory of his pcTson, but in the spiritual and heavenly nature of his doctrnie. And I cle- .32 And what he hath seen clare it to you with the greatest confidence, that what he hath seen and heard, or what he ;',",j '^o'n^jn'^ re'ccivx-th'^his knows to the utmost degree of certainty, that docs he testify and publish to the world •, testimony. <■///<•/ 1 exceedingly lament it, that notwithstanding all that eagerness of curiosity with which the multitudes are flocking now about him, yet no jnan cordially receives his testimony ; and among all that hear him, there are very few who are duly affected with what he de- ?■>?> livers, and yield as they ought to its divine evidence and importance. But he who hath .33 He that hath rrccived indeed received his testimony, acts a most wise and happy part, and hatli, as it were, set jjjg ^^^^ th'aTGod'is'true. his seal [to it,] that God is true ; acknowledging his hand in these credentials given to his Son, and his veracity, in sending him thus furnished to fulfil his ancient promises to his 34 people. -For /^e w/«07/i Go that he shut up John "^^^ this act of wickedness to all [the rest] of his enormous crimes, that he confined and "' ^'^'^°°' 17 shut up John in prison. For Herod himself^ sent officers after him, and seized John, .^^^^^ '*''• "■ ^or Herod who had returned to prosecute his ministry in a place which lay within the territories of ]I\dTioid ""upmf John! and Galilee; and having thus got him into his power, he Sound him with chains,^ and put hound him [and put'^m] hi?n in prison ; though his confinement there wa.s not so close but that his disciples were '" P^^on- [Matt. xiv. 3.] sometimes suffered to converse with him 3 (compare Matt. xi. 2, 4. and Luke vii. 19, 22 ; sect. Ivii.) 18 And though hejnight assign other political reasons to excuse his conduct, as if his I8 For John had said un- growing popularity rendered him dangerous to the state,' yet the true reason /o/- which for'tlTee'^to'VaV'^th'^b'^"' he did it was this, that John had treated him with such a freedom as he knew not how ther's'wife" [Matt. Mv.4!] to bear, and had told Herod to his very face, It is not lawful for thee that-thou shouldst take it upon thee as thou dost, to have thy brothers wife, nor canst thou ever * 19 have any solid pexice of conscience while thou continuest to retain her. And for this ^^^ Therefore Hcrodias cause Herodias also was yet more furiously incensed against him, and with an unrelenting and touldhive^kiiiedhi™; cruelty still hung vpon him fi and not contented with what he sufiered in his imprison- but she could not. meat, would fain have put him to death, but she could not immediately compass that 20 design : For Herod, notwithstanding all his resentment, still reverenced John^ in his 20 For Herod feared heart; knowing that he was a righteous and holy tnan, of which the fideUtv of his J?'")- l^nowing- thathe was „,„ „Le ■ ■ 1 A 1 .^ "^ r ^^■ ■, ■ r. *' ,. a 1 ust man and an holv, and reproofs was a very convmcing evidence. And tlierefore calhng him to frequent audi- observed him ; and when euces, he heard him discourse with attentiojt' and pleasure : and was so far influenced lie 'i«'»''d him, he did many by it, that he did many things according to liis exhortations.'' gj^dfy' '"*^ ^'"'^ ^'^ MATT. But as John was still pressing him to dismiss Herodias, and telling him the insufficiency Matt xiv. 5. And when ^'V- of any other reformation while he continued his infamous commerce with her, and she in 1,"^ would have put him to^ 5 iU i- • J TT 1 -,1 1 ■ . ■ 7 , , , „ dcatli, he feared the niulti- the mean time weaned Herod with her importunity ; when he at length was so far tude, because tney counted wrought upon, that he would gladly hare consented to put him to death, he was so 1"™ as a propliet. apprehensive of the consequences of it, that he durst not do it, since he feared the multi- tude ; because he knew that they respected John, and looked upon him as a prophet,^ and lie did not think it safe to provoke such a factious people by an action so extremely unpopular. IMPROVEMENT. LUKE What dangerous things are grandeur and power, if Divine grace does not secure the hearts of those who pos- "I- sessthem! How unhappy are they whose fatal prerogative it is to be able to oppress with impunity, and to I J, Z\j render it hazardous even to reprove them ! mark John well deserved the veneration and esteem of Herod, wlien he thus took the freedom to perform this danger- VI. ous office of friendship, and to manifest a fidelity so seldom to be found in courts, and indeed so often wanting ^^ elsewhere. A wise prince would have courted his friendsliip, and sought his advice ; but he is at length rewarded with imprisonment and death. make one part of ««/p/«r? consistent with another, unless this be chains were added to liis confinement, as usual in such cases; ^ taken into our idea oi snvinrj faith ; as I have shewn at large in the (compare Acts xii. 6. and xxviii. 20.) so that those versions which - first of my Sermons on Snhalion by Grace through Faith. consider iansii as an expletive, lose part of the sense. a On account of Herodias— for he had married her.'] Josephus f Dang-erous to the state.] Josephus expressly says, that Herod gives us an account of this incestuous marriage, which proved the was afraid the authority of so great a man should occasion a revolt occasion of the Baptist's imprisonment and death, (Antiq. lib. ■x.\'iu. am.ong his subjects; and tiiat lie thought it better to take him off, rap. 5 [al. 7.] \ 1, 4. Havercamp.) from whence it appears, that this than to venture the danger of such a revolution as he might have Herodias wnsdaughter to Aristobulus, one of the sons of Herod the occasioned, Antiq. lib. xviii. cap. 5. \ 2, p. 884. He there adds, . Great, and consequently was niece both to Philip her former bus- that he first confined him in the castle of Macheris. 1 band, and to Herod Antipas the tetrarch, her latter. By Philip, g Herodias hung upon him.!, This seems to me the import of \ wliom Josephus also calls Herod, (asjrinces had often several the phrase sv.ivev mm, which is with peculiar propriety applied to 1 iS^f^'l^'^'^ ''*'' ^^^ daughter, whose naihe was Salome, Cil' cni/s?, though he 13.>— 130, and p. 227, compared with p. 212.) The interpretation has attempted it in his Sacred Classics, Vol. I. p. 143, 144. The given above of Matt. iii. 14. and Luke iii. 21. (p. 36, 37.) may solve particle seems to have much the sense I have here given it. Acts xx. some of the chief arguments on which he builds this singular hy- 11. and may often bp rendered, accordingly, upon that, or after X>o^^es\s. which; see Acts vii. 8. xvii. 33. xxvii. 44. and John viii. 59. Com- h Jesus himself did not chuse to baptize any with his own hands.] pare Eisner, Observ. Vol. I. p. 303. J his might be partly to avoid importunate inquiries whether he f T " ' 'iportunatc inquiries whether he f The heat, joined with the fatigue, &c.] It is well known that 58 SECT. 29. JOHN IV. JESUS DISCOURSES WITH A WOMAN OF SAMARIA, And at tliis very juncture of time, there comes a certain ■woman of Samaria to draw •water : and Jesus (on purpose to introduce a discourse by which he giaciously intended her conversion and salvation) saijs tinto her, I desii-e you would give inc [.sowc] -water to drink. For his disciples were not near to assist liini, but were gone to the neighbour- ing citi/ to buy food. 9 Then says the woman of Samaria to him. How is it that thou who art, as appears by thy habit and dialect, a Jew, askest drink of me, who am a woman of Samaria ? for the reader must observe, that Mt' /tr.y have no friendly intercourse with the Samari- tans,^ nor so much as care to receive any favour from them, looking upon them as an im- pure and accursed nation. 10 Jesus, to convince her that he was not under the power of such common prejudices, and to awaken her farther inquiries, answered and said unto her. If thou hadst known the great gift of God, which he is now bestowing upon the children ci men by his Son, and who it is that says unto thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldst not only have complied with his request, but wouldst ere tliis time surely have asked him,^ and he, without ob- jecting to thee on account of the people to whom thou belongest, would readily have given thee living water,' far better than what thou art now drawing. By which our Lord intimated his ability and readiness to communicate those influences of God's holy Spirit, which afford the noisiest refreshment to the soul, and therefore are often described by water. 1 i But the wojnan, who understood him only in a common sense of fresh spring water, says to him with greater respect than before, (as being struck both with the piety and kindness of his former reply,) Sir, thou hast no bucket,^ nor any tiling else to draw with, and the well before thee, which is the only spring hereabouts, is very deep ; whence hast thou then this living water, of which thou speakest ; or what is the extraordinary supply, 12 which thou declarest may be had from thee? Art thou greater and wiser than our father Jacob, who gave us this well, leaving it to his descendants as a legacy of im- portance ; and while he lived, he drank cf it himself, with his children, and his cattle, as the best water in tliese parts ? 13 Jesus answered and said unto her. Whoever drinkefh of this water, how much soever it may be esteemed, though it refresh the body for a little while, will quickly thirst anain ; 14 ^ut he that drinkcth of the water which I shall give him, will find it so reviving to the soul, that he will never thirst,^ or be in danger any more of perishing for want 5 but the water which I shall give him will be a never-failing source for his supply, and will be in him as a fountain of -water that will continually be springing up, and flowing on, to everlasting life : for tlrat which I shall communicate to him^ will bring him to ever- lasting composure and satisfaction of mind now, and will be the earnest and principle of eternal happiness. The woman, still ignorant of his spiritual meaning, and undei-standing him only of natural water, says unto him. Sir, I claim thy promise, and desire thou wouldst give me this extraordinary water, that I may not thirst any more, 7ior have the trouble to come hither daily, to draw it, as I now do. .Tesus, perceiving her ignorance, and willing to discover himself to her, in a manner that might more immediately touch her conscience, says unto her. Go home, and call thy 17 husband to me, and then come hither again. The woman, sensible of the way in which she lived, and tliinking to conceal her shame, ans-wered and said, I have no husband. Jesus says to her. Thou hast answered well, in that thou hast said, I have no husband: 15 For I know that thou hast had five husbands, and that he whom thou hast now with thee, as tliou hast never been lawfully married to him, is not thy husband :^ in this re- spect thou hast spoken truly and properly. 7 Tliere comctli a woman of Samari- to draw water. Jesus saiiu unto her, Give me to chink. 8 (For liis disciples were {rone away unto the city, to buy meat.) M Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, liein^a Jew, askest drink -of nip, which am a woman of Samaria 1 for the Jews have no deal- ings with the Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knew- est tlie gift of God, and w ho it is tliat saitli to tliee, Give me to drink, tliou wouldest have asked of liim, and he would have given thee liv- ini; water. 15 16 in the latitude in which Jerusalem lies, tlie weather sometimes in December is exceedingly hot at noon, even on days when the cold has been very severe in the morning. g llie Jews have no friendh/ intercourse tvilh the Samaritans.] This must be the import of myxi'^"r'*' here; for it is evident from ver. 8, that the Jews had some dealinr/s with them. It has been •"re- quently observed, that many causes concurred to occasion this in- veterate hatred of the Jews to the Samaritans ; such as — not only their foreign £xtract, and the early mixture of superstition and idolatry in their religion, (2 Kings xvii. 24, 33 — 41.) but also the injurious manner m which they treated the Jews after their return from the captivity, (Ezra iv. 1 — G. Neh. vi. 1 — 14.) — and especially their buildin.^ a /fm/j/f on mount Gerizim, which they made the centre of their worsliip, in opposititin to that at Jerusa- lem, Joseph. Antiq. lib. xi. cap. 8. — And perhaps nothing con- tributed more to expose them to the contempt and abhorrence of the Jews, than that infamous offer they made to Antiochu.s, of dedicating that temple to Jupiter, and admitting the rites of his idolatrous worship, at a time when the Jews were suffering the ut- most extremities in defence of their religion ; .see Josej)h. Antiq. lib. xii. cap. .5. [al. 7.] \ 5. Havercamp. — The reader may find several passages in Whitby, and Lightfoofs Hor. Heb. in he. that express tlie mutual aversion of tlie two nations to each other. h J'hou wouldst surely have asked him."] This seems exactly to express the force of the phnise, m av r,rmai x\irm. I He would hare given thee living water."] It is'cerlain that the phrase living uater docs in many good authors signify spring water, or running water, in oppositiu hast no bucket.'] This, as it n the inost material instru- ment for draii ing water, answers the Greek avrX'.ua; better than any single English word I recollect. And we find afterwards, upon the woman's returning in haste to the city, that she left her water-pot or pail behind her. ver. 28, which was the vessel she liad brought to draw with. — I\Ir. Maundrell tells us, that the well noiv shewn as Jacob's, is thirty-five yards deep. Maund. Journey to Jerusalem, p. 0.3. 1 inil never thirst.] Some would render » yun 3ivi.»!i)i in roi xuyx, shall not thirst for ever : but not to urge how much this .spoils the antithesis, the expression used John vi. 35, «m>) h^ln'ri -wcorE, is not liable to any such ambiguity. The force and truth of our Lord's assertion seems to lie in this, that the most impatient and restless desires of the soul being satisfied, when it is fixed on God as its supreme happiness, other thirst was not worth being mentioned ; sec John viii. 51, .52. ? 105 ; John xi. 26. \ 140 ; with the notes on those places ; and John xiii. 10. ? IfiO. m Is not thy husband."] This can inijily no les.=, than tl:af slic was AND EXPRESSLY TELLS HER HE IS THE MESSIAH. 59 19 The woman saith unto The woman, surprised at such an extraordinary instance of his knowledge, (yet desirous at SECT, him, Sir, I perceive that the same time, to turn otF the discourse from a subject so much to her confusion,) sai/s to 29. thou art a prophet. f^^^^^^ g-^,^ j pgrci'kc, by thy discovering the circumstances of my life so truly, though I am a perfect stranger to thee, that thou art a prophet ; and therefore, I would gladly take john this opportunity of being informed concerning that great question which divides the IV. Jewish and Samaritan nations." 20 Our fathers worship- It is well known from the Mosaic writings, that our fathers toorshippcd on this inoun- 20 ped in this mountaiu ; and ^^/„^o ^hich we think a circumstauce of considerable weight in our favour; lohereas you the^pface' where nieifo*ught Jews say, that the temple at Jerusalem is the gfeat place, ivhcre tvc should all present to worship. our sacrifices unto God, and ought to attend upon the duties of his worship, and whither all the tribes are to resort three times a-year. I would beg therefore to be informed by thee in this important case, which of the two I should believe, and which is really the place most acceptable unto God. 21 Jesus saith unto her, In answer to this case of conscience, Jesus says to her. Woman, hclicvc me, and at- 21 Woman, believe nie, the (gi^^i (o what I say, The hour is now co7nin apply it here ; since our Lord was e The field on which their labour has been employed.] This seems not speaking of the period of time between the prophets' sowing the signification of xoirov here, as Grotius well proves. Compare 2 and the apostles' reaping, (to whicii four -months has no analogy,) Cor. x. 1.5. ^"~-.- „ but only means to tell them, that though they reckoned yet four f Continued there two days.'] This was a proper medium between montlis to the earthly harvest, the spiritual harvest w^^s now ripe, entirely neglecting them, and giving them so mucTi of his time and So that I cliuse, as Sir Isaac Newton does, to take the words in company, as would have broken in upon the design of his journey their plainest sense, as an intimation that it was then four months into Galilee, or might have given umbrage to the Jews, to the heginuiog of harvest ; see note c, on ver. 3. p. 57. Audi g Many more hc/ieved on him.] This was the more cxtraordmary, take this passage to be of very great importance for settling the as "they not only had a national prejudice against him as a Jew, but, chronology of Christ's ministry. living near Mount Gerizim, had a particular interest in mamtam- d Gathers in the fruit unto eternal life.] T apprehend our Lord's ing the usual worship there, which must be very advantageous to thought here to have been more comprehensive than commentators the neighbourhood. Perhaps on this they would no longer worship have been aware. He seems to compare the case of a Christian mi- there, which might irritate the rest of the Samaritans, and Pi^ht nistertothatofaconsideratejrape?-, who is supported in his fatigue, in part provol?e'the ill usage that Christ afterwards met with in not only by as^is^x^j^ his own irages, but to the advantage which this country. Luke ix. 52, 53. the public receives by the harvest he gathers in. This the expression h The Saviour of the world.] They might probably collect from ewxyn xxpmi eis ^ur.v jrivvicv seems plainly to import, and so is nearly what was prophesied by Jacob of the Messiah, Gen. xlix. 10, To him parallel to Jam. v. 20, and suggests a raost forcible consideration to sliall the (jatliering of th'r people he; that the Gentile nations-were to re- diligence and zeal. — Kctpnov he're seems to be put fb'r'V-iv xtp-nov, the ceive some benefit by the Messiah's coming, and one way or another fruit, that is, thesoiiti he gathers in. to be subjected to him ; and Christ's discourse might confirm that ■\iS V>A^ V« 62 JESUS PROCEEDS ON HIS JOURNEY TO GALILEE. SECT, we believe in him, not merely on the report and testimony of others, but on our own experience ; that, having 30. tasted that the Lord is gracious, we may bear a more lively and etiectual testimony to him ! Let us watchfully observe the leadings of Providence ; and, whatever oiu- own schemes may have been, let us JOHN still adjust our conduct by the intimations of present duty ; and, especially where we have reason to believe that God ^^- is by his Spirit beginning to work on men's hearts, let us be ambitious of being workers together with him. A Ver. 40 word spoken in such a season is remarkably good, and it is a great part of Christian and ministerial prudence, to observe and improve those tender times. ' . ' ' SECTION XXXI. Chriat comes from Samaria into Galilee ; andxohile at Cana cures a nobleman's son, who lai/ at the point of death in Capernaum. Mark i. 14, 15. Matt. iv. 12. John iv. 43, to the end'. Mark i. 14. ^^^^ . SECT. ISOW after John was cast into prison, and Jesus had heard [of it'] in Judea where he Now after that John was 31. then was, he withdrew from thence, [and] came into Galilee,'^ (as was said before, John P"t in prison, [when Jesus iv. 3, sect. 29.) being willing to take the advantage of those impressions which the ministry ed'^i«rf]i.a!M'h^tofiMr^^^^^^ MARK of Jolm might have made on the minds of the people there, who had so signal an esteem pieaching'thegosperof tiie ^- for him ; an esteem which would be heightened, rather than abated, by the injurious things ^y'&dom of God; [Matt. iv. 14 which they saw him sufli^r. Jesus came therefore into that country,'' preaching the good news of the kingdom of God, which was speedily to be erected by the Messiah, whom 15 God had appointed to raise and govern it ; And saj/ing, Behold, the titne fixed by the 15 And saying, The time ancient prophets is now fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is near ; see to it therefore dom'o!''God'"'s •i'rp'"f' that you cordially ?'epent of all your sins, and believe the gospel M'hich I publish to you, repent ye, and believe tlie' ' that you may secure an interest n the blessings of it. gospel. JOHN And having been prevailed upon (as we have seen before) to stop at Sichar in his way, ^ John iv 43. '^- after he had continued there two dai/s, with the Samaritans, he departed imm thence, and yisrted thine e', [ill t'is]/roin 43 went (as has been just now said) into Galilee. And he chose to make a journey through AVc/mr,] and went into Ga- a considerable part of it, before he returned to Nazareth, that the reputation he gained else- ''''^*' where might be some balance to those prejudices wliich the inhaljitants of that place would 44 naturally entertain against him: for Jesus himself testified, that a prophet has no 44 For Jesus himself tes- honour in his own country f where those that knew him in Ms childhood and youth '"''f''' that a prophet hath , „ , 1 J i I 1 1- VI .1 1 , •' r. no honour in Ills own coitu- can tiarclly be persuaded to look upon hmi with the reverence due to a messenger from try. God. 45 When therefore he came into Galilee, the Galileans received and entertained him 45 Then, when he was with a great deal of pleasure ; (compare Luke iv. 14, 15.) for many of them had been wit- [^™^ received'him' ha'C'i'''.^ nesses to his surprising miracles, having seen all the wonderful things that he did at seen au'^the'^ things' thaVhf Jerusalem during the feast of the passover, (for theij also came to the feast,) and they f^ ^t Jerusalem at the 46 had now an expectation of seeing some of them renewed. Jesus, therefore, encouraged [^^l the°feas't!^^ ^''° ''^'^"' by this readiness of theirs to attend his ministry, pursued his journey till he came again to 46 So Jesus came again Cana of Galilee, which was the place where he before had made the water wine. 1"*" *^^r ^[Galilee, where /f / ui 1 i -J i. /-( J 7 , • 17 11 • 1 ■ TT T, '1^ made the water wine. JLna wmle ne. staid at Cana, tliere was a certain nof>leman belonging to king Herod s And there was a certain 41 comt,'^ whose son was d&ngemus\y ill at Capernaufn ; [Who] when he heard that Jesus nobleman, whose son was was come out of Judea into Galilee, went in person at least a day's journey*^ cross the ^'*4V^\ni'in hT'heard that country to him, and earnestly entreated him that he would come down to Capernaum, and Jesus was come out of Ju- cure his son, for he was given over by the physicians, and seemed just readii to die. '^*^ '",*? Galilee, he went AQ T 'J ^L r ± I ■ 1.1 1- 1 I. T "^ ■, ^ . . unto hmi, ana besougut 43 Jesus said therefore unto him, and them that were about him, I perceive that, though him that he would come the Samaritans shewed so great a regard to my word, and the report of my mii-acles, unless J^"""- and heal his son : for 1/ou see with your own eyes some remarkable and repeated signs and wonders, you will 4rTl"n L'id' Jes'is unto not believe ; thereby justly reproving him and them for that mixture of suspicion and slow- him. Except ye see signs 49 ncss of faith wliich he discerned in their minds.'' The nobleman, weak as his faidi was, bdieve"'"^''''' ^^ ''''" ""* determined nevertheless to urge the matter to the utmost ; and therefore, without any ex- Vs ^The nobleman saith apprehension : but there is no reason at all to believe, they perfectly courses in the order they lie, if there be not (from other Evauge- understood the doctrine of the calling of the idolntrgus Gentiles, lists) a plain reason for transposing them. wliich was so long a mystery even to tlic apostles themselves. c For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet has no honour in his a After John was cast into prison, Jesus withdrew and came into own country.'] ^ There is no manner of occasion here, to render yxp Galilee.'] It is strange that Mr. Whiston, and some others, should although ; for it is plain, that this is spoken as the rea.son why he represent it as an argument against the order we have followed rather chose to travel into those parts of Galilee, and not to go here, that it would liave been imprudent and inconvenient for . directly to Nazareth ; which is particularly called his own country, Christ to have gone immediately into Herod's territories, just after in distinction from Galilee, and even from Capernaum, Luke iv. 23. he had seized John ; when two of the Evangelists assure us, this d A certain nobleman belonging to king Herod's court.] Though was the very jrrtMTi of his journey. The cause of /o/in's /);i/7)i*o«- Herod was only tetrarch of Galilee, yet was he commonly dis- ment -w-AS particular; and the reasons assigned in the paraphrase tinguished by the title of king: (see Matt. xiv. 9. and Mark vi. 14. seem considerable, besides that already mentioned, John iv. 1 — 3. sect. 77.) and'as Capernaum lay in his dominions, it is probable that See note a, p. 57. this was one belonging to his court, who was a nobleman of some b Jesus came therefore into that country.] Mr. Le Clerc sup- distinction. For this is properly the signification of (3*TiMxof, which poses, (in his Harmony, p. 75.) that Jesus went from Sichar directly the Syriac and Arabic versions render a minister, or servant of the to Nazareth, and that this visit which he made to Cana (at ver. 46.) Jcing ; and many have conjectured, that the person who is here was .some time after he was expelled from Nazareth, and had dwelt spoken of was Chuza, Herod's steward, whose wife is thought to at Capernaum. But that he took a circuit elsewhere before he have been converted on this occasion, and became afterwards an went to Nazareth, is certain from John iv. 4.3, 44, compared with attendant on Christ. Luke viii. 3. Luke iv. 14 — 16. And though we cannot positively say, whether e At least a day's journey.] This may be very fairly inferred llie visit to Cana was made in this first journey, or in the other from ver. 52, as well as from the accounts the best geographers give which is mentioned afterwards, (Luke iv. 44; Matt. iv. 23 ; and of the situation of Cana and Capernaum. Mark i. 38, 39, ? 36.) yet I have introduced it here, because John f Reproving him and them for that mixture of suspicion, &c.] mentions it immediately after his coming from Sichar; and it has It is necessary to suppose some such reference to illustrate thejustice been a maxim with me in this work, to take all the stories and dis- of this reproof; for in the general it was very reasonable to expect REFLECTIONS ON THE CURE OF THE NOBLEMAN'S *0N. 63 unto him. Sir, come down plication Or apology on that head, sai/s to him. Sir, I beseech thee to co)hc down before SECT. ere my child die. ^„y child die ; for the case is so extreme, that a delay may be attended with the most tatal 31. 50 Jesus siiith unto him, consequences. Upon which Jesus, to shew that it was not necessary for him to go in ^(''^■lirman iLheVe'rthe P^'"^*^'^ '° accomphsh the cure, sai/s to him. Go tht/ xoai/ home, for I assure thee that ihi/ john word that Jesus had spoken SOU is hving, and at this instant, while I am speaking to 'thee, is recovered from his illness. ^^■ unto him, and he went his jind (Jie man, though he had never seen or heard of a parallel case,s believed the word ^^ ^^^' that Jesus spoke unto him, and went awaif without any further importunity, nohl-^down! hL "lervautl ^^"^ ^''^ day after he had taken his leave of Jesus, as he was going down to Capernaum, 5 1 niet him, and told /iim,s3,y- some of his Servants met him on the road, eager to bring him such acceptable news, a>id "^^TlRni'hiqufred he of ^"^^^ U'''"'^ sai/ing. Thy son who was so dangerously ill, is now recovered. And there- 52 them the hour when he be- fore, to compare it with the account that Jesus gave, he presently enquired of them, what n-an to amend. And they was the hour when he began to 7nend : and they said unto him. Yesterday at the the\seventirhoirr''\he fe^ver seventh hour. Or at One in "the afternoon, the frvcr left him at once, and he gi-ew well left him. On a sudden. The father therefore knew that [/^ was'] at the very hour in which 53 thauf »'ff*at thf same'li'Jfur '^'^^'^'^ SO id to him. Thy SOU IS recovered : and when he came to reflect on the astonish- in the which Jesus said unto iiig circumstances of the case, he and his whole family believed that the person by whom liim. Thy son liveth: and go Convincing and beneficent a miracle was wrought, must be not only, as he before sup- whole\'">ouse.''' ' posed, sonie great prophet, but even the Messiah himself. 54 This is again the This is again the second jniracle which Jesus performed sd Cdina.; and he wrought 54 did°'w-lie"i'hTwas'tome^out ^^ ^'''^" ^'^ ^^""^ '^"^ ^ Judea into Galilee ; a circumstance in which it agi-eed with of judea into Galilee. the fonner.'' IMPROVEMENT. How unreasonable are the passions and prejudices of mankind ; and this in particular, that a prophet should Ver. 44 have no honour in his owii country ! One would have imagined, that Jesus at least, free as he was from all the follies of childhood and youth, should have been an exception ; nay, indeed, that he should have been peculiarly honoured there, where his early wisdom and piety could not but be observed. Our Lord however intended them a visit, even at Nazareth ; and it is the duty of his ministers to bear their 43 testimony, whether men will hear, or whether they will forbear. Yet should they learn of their great Master to study as much as they can to obviate those prejudices which might prevent their usefulness, and should use the most prudent and gentle methods to vanquish them. Such was this beiiefici^l miracle of our Lord ; which may afford us many particulars worthy of our notice. With what aftection and zeal does this tender parent apply to Christ, on the sickness of his child ! .Let us not be 47 less importunate, Avheh soliciting spiritual blessings in behalf of our dear offspring : and so much the rather, as their lives are so precarious, and we know not how soon these lovely fiowers may be cut down, and all farther petitions 49 for them be for ever superseded. Our Lord, while at a distance from the patient, wrought and perfected the cure. And has he not still the same 50, 51 divine power, though he does not exert it in the same miraciilous -vt'ay ? Let not his bodily absence abate our faith, while praying for othei-s, or for ourselves. Salvation now came to this house, and blessings infinitely more valuable than noble blood, or ample possessions, 53 or royal favour, or recovered health could give; for the cure wTOught on the body of one, was a means of producing faith in the hearts of all. Blessed Jesus ! thy power was no less employed in the latter, than in the former. Oh may that power work in such a manner on our .--ouls, as that we may all be disposed cordially ta receive tliee, and cheerfully to venture our eternal all upon thee ! May we and our houses concur in so wise and happy a resolution ; and, not insisting upon evidence beyond what thy gi-acious wisdom has thought fit to give us, may we candidly 48 receive the light we have, and faithfully improve it, so as to be at length entitled to tlie blessedness of those tvho have not seen, and yet have believed ! (John xx. 29.) {jif\ . 'L . I Q SK* SECTION XXXII. Christ preaching at Nazareth, is at first admired, but immediately after rejected ; the people there making an attempt upon his life, he leaves them, and comes to Capernaum. Luke iv. 14 — 30. LUKE iv. 14. . LUKEiv. 14. And Jesus returned in the iT has already been observed, that after John the Baptist was imprisoned, and Jesus was sect. power of the Spirit into acquainted with it, he left Judea, and returned into Galilee; and from what follows it 32. Galilee, and there went out .A-, f—r-j ',, ,., i, i i-_,7 r ±i a fame of him through all Will be plainly seen, that he went thither under the guidance, and in the power of the the region rduud about. Spirit ;* for as a mighty impulse on his own mind determined him to undertake the luke journey, so an amazing divine energy attended his progress through it ; and his renown iv. was spread abroad, as soon as he arrived in Galilee, and went through all the neighbour- 14 15 And he taught in their ing region. And, ready to embrace all opportunities that offered to instruct the people, 15 svn^a^ogues, being glorified j^^ ^^^^^ ^j.^,^ pj^^^ ^^ place, and taught in their synagogues, with universal admiration , and applause.^ that Christ should work miracles in proof of lys divine mission, as h A circumstance in which it agreed with the former.] Coni- he himself does plainly intimate elsewhere ; see John xv. 24. Who pare John i. 4.3. and ii. 1. That the words must be taken with such can tell, but the very person noiT^applying to him, jiiight have a limitation, evidently appears from what John had before said of made some such declaration, that he would never hdrcve such the many miracles which Christ had already wrought elsewhere ; things, till he saw them with his own eyes ' Christ might mean see John ii. 23. and iii. 2. hy this reflection to humble him, and to shew him a specimen of a Jn the power of llie Spirit.'] It seems a very wild thouglvt of his extraordinary knowledge, as well .as power. Mr. Fleming's that this intimates Christ was transported thrnugh g Though he' had never seen or heard of a parallel case.] It is the air hither, after his temptation in the wilderness. See Flem.. plain he had heard of Christ's miracles, but this is the. first recorded Cliristol. Vol. II. p. 315. in which he cured the patient at a distance, n.nd probably was b With universal applause; ■5o|ai;o.u£vi)f vno r^iviwv.] Our iraiisla- hitherto in this respect unequalled. (j4 CHRIST READS A PASSAGE OF ISAIAH, AND SHEWS IT TO BE NOW FULFILLED IN HIM. SECT. And having thus prepared his way, /le came at length to Nazareth, xvhcre it has been i6 And he came to Naza- 32. observed before (Matt. ii. 23; and Luke ii. 51.) that he was edueatcd : and, according J'^'h, wiitic he had been Jo his custom, which he constantly observed there and elsewhere, he entered into tfie custc?ra'^was'|'he"went^n'to LUKE synagogue on the sahbath-day ; and, out of regard to the high reputation he had lately the synagogue on tiie sab- ^V- gained, being desired by the ruler of it to othciate,"^ he stood up to read the scriptures, ^^ 'ead''^' "'"^ ^'^''"'^ "^ '^^ which made a constant part of their public worship ; (see Acts xv. 2L) 17 And the booh of Isaiah the prophet was delivered to him, a paragraph of the law 17 Aud there was ddi- having been read before ; and unrolling the volume of the book,^ he found that place y'"^'^ ""i° l"m the book of 18 of it, (Isa. ki. 1— ;i.) where it was written to this etiect :«^ " The Spirit of the Lord whe.^he^';Ll^o7c^n;d'the • " /s upon 2ne in an abundant degree Jhr the important purpose to which he hath ijook, he found the place " anointed me,^ and solemnly set me apart: and important indeed it is, f /w''l he hath ^^'la''fr!'^ ^c^'^-^^'^'l,'' t 1 , , ' , , •' , ,7 ^ ' 1 ni., 1 ,;/;'-•; 7 1** I hc Spirit of the Lord sent me to preach good news to the poor and atiiicted,^ to heal those whose hearts is upon me, because he hat U " are broke?i with sorrow, to proclaim free dismission to wretched captives, even the anointed me to preadi tlie "recovery of sight to them that are blind in"'priS6n ; [cind'\ to set those at liberty frnTme^to'lfearthe broken- 19 " who are bruised with the heavy load of their fettere-.'^ In a word, to proclaim, as by hearted, to preach deiiver- " the sound of a trumpet, that welcome year of the Lotrl,' which the year of jubilee, ?ecoverin-'of*^si'^ hrto the " pleasing and grateful as it is, can but imperfectly represent, though debts are then blind, to s^et at liberty them " forgiven, and slaves released, and inheritances restored to their original owners." that are bruised, 20 And having rolled up the book, which was a long scroll of parchment, he delivered able year^ofThe Lorc"*^^ " it to the servant of the synagogue whoseproper office it was to take care of it ; and then, 20 And he closed tne according to the custom of the Jewish rabbies, sat down to preach, (see Matt. v. 1 ; xxiii. ^""'h '""^ •''? 5^^'*^ '' ?^'"" no ■ rr 1 T I ■•• r> \ ti±i n 11 ■ 1 '" '"6 minister, and sat 2, o ; XXVI. 55 ; and John vni. 2.) ana the eyes of all tn the synagogue were atten- down. And the eyes of all lively fxed upon him, as they were very curious to know what he would say on a them that were in the syna- scripture which seemed so plainly to refer to the Messiah.'^ ful"^ ''''"''' ^''"''^"''^ ""» 21 And he began to speak at large from this excellent and suitable passage; and the 21 And he began to say main tendency and purport of his discourse was to say to them. To-day this scripture I have now been reading is remarkably /w//?//f(/ in your hearing; for I am the person ears! foretold under this character, and sent with such ample powers to fulfil tliese purposes of the Divine mercy. 22 And, strong as their prejudices were against him, they all, by their very countenances, 22 And all bare him wit- (see Job xxLx. 11.) bore their testimony to him as a most excellent preacher, and were ^^^^\ ""*^ wondered at the astonished at those graceful as well as comfortable words'" which proceeded out of his ceeded out of his" mouth" viouth ; so that they could not forbear saying to each other, even while he spoke. Is And they said, is not this not this he that was brought up among us, the son of Joseph the carpenter? And if it Jost^Pli's so" "^ be, how is it possible that a man of so mean an education should be able to discourse thus excellently well ? 23 And he said to them, farther. You will undoubtedly say to me in the words of that 23 And he said unto common proverb, Physician, aire thyself; [and'] for the satisfaction of thy own rela- unT"me^thirprovrrb,''phy^ tions and neighbours, if thou art really so extraordinary a person, do also here at home, sician, heal thyself: 'what- in thine own country, those miraculous works which, as we have heard, were done at ?oe^er we have heard done ri 1 1 1 ,„ Ti . 1 • ^ > • .1 111 Capernaum, do also liere ipernautn and elsewhere.'" But to expose the vanity of this suggestion, he went on in thy country. unto them. This day is this scripture fulfilled in your Cap< tion, which has rendered it, being fjlorified of all, is indeed more h Sight to them, that are blind, and to set tho, (where the prophet spenks of repairing the waste cities, planting vineyards, &-C.J may be either meant in a spiritual sense, or literally predict the temporal prosperity of the church after the conversion of the Jews, than that Christ should mistake the true sense of the text, or build his argument on a mere allusion ; see Dr. Sykes's Vindication of Christianity, p. 259, and Jeffery's True Grounds, p. 120. 1 Astonished at those graceful words.] The phrase in the ori- ginal, >.07(iir rni >;«{)«;, literally Signifies words of grace ; which, it the Septuagint. The many old copies in which that clause, ii««ijri Tou^ ■WMrtr^i/x/^zvous rm xz^Uxv, to heal the broken-hearted, is wanting, has inclined many learned critics, with Grotius, to sup- pose it added from the Hebrew; but one would rather conclude that Christ read tl'.e passage as it was, and that these words might accidentally be dropped by some early transcriijer. t For tite purpose to ivliicli he hal'i anointed me : cu £vex;v lyQ'i ais.J It is very difficult to explain the connection of the two clauses in this passage, if we render ou m-'.iv cither because, or therefore : an;Lk. 15.) In some sense this instructive and comfortable scripture is this day fulfilled in our ears likewise. Let us also 21, 22 to Capernaum, in which those miracles were wrought which are re- the neighbourhood, and by the knowledge they had of his early corded Mark i. 21 — 34 ; and Luke iv. 33—41. (} 35, 36.) when Luke piety and exemplary behaviour. himself so plainly says that he came down from Xazareth to Caper- n The heaven was shut up for three years and six pwnths.'] This is naum, and then gives an account of those miracles, (Luke iv. 30, et again asserted by the apostle James, (chap. v. 16.) either as grounded seq.) and Matthew also introduces the history of them with saying, on our Lord's authority here, or as a circumstance established by (Matt. iv. 13.) that leaving Nazareth he came and dwelt at Caper- tradition ; for in both places it is spoken of as a thing well known : naum. — We are expressly told by John, that Jesus, after the miracle nor can we doubt but the account is very exact, though the par- which he wrought at Cana in Galilee, went with his mother and his tieular time is not determined in the Old Testament, nor is it cer- brethren and disciples to Capernaum, and continued some time, tainly deducible from it. — Lightfoot and others have observed, that though not very long there, (John ii. 12. \ 24.) and it is very possible there is somewhat here remarkable in this circumstance of time, as lie might visit it again in his passing through Galilee, (John iv. 43, it agrees with the continuance of Christ's public ministry ; that as 44, 5 31.) which if he did after the cure wrought on the nobleman's Elijah shut up heaven by his prayer, so that it rained not on the earth son there, (which undoubtedly preceded this visit to Nazareth,) he for the space of three years and six months, so from the baptism to would certainly meet with some extraordinary regard, as the cure the death of Christ, the heavens were opened for the like space of was performed at a distance, and many other miracles might then time, and his doctrine dropped as the rain, and his speech distilled as be wrought there : so that this passage may refer to these and other the dew. (Deut. xxxii. 2.) See Lightfoofs Harmony, and Grotius, miracles not particularly recorded by Luke ; as we have seen before in loc. . that John refers to others (John ii. 23; and iii. 2.) which neither he o None of them was cleansed hut Naaman the Syrian.] Of the force himself had mentioned, nor indeed any of the rest of the Evang,:- of the particle ti mi here, and in some other remarkable places, see lists. — If it be asked why Christ did not perform such miracles lure the note on John xvii. 12. ? 179. as elsewhere? we answer— that this whole discourse is intended to p Passed throuyh the midst of them anVwovni.'] Whether the nw- prove that God might dispense these extraordinary favours as he racle lav in rendering himself entirely invisible, or in putting on pleased; and they do not appear to have brought their sirk to him, some other form, or in affecting their eyes or minds in such a man- and seem to have suspected his power; (compare Matt. xiii. .58 ; and ner that they should not know him, we cannot certainly determine : Mark vi. 5. \ 73.) a suspicion, the unreasonableness of which was but it seems evident that there was something miraculous in the greatly aggravated by the credible report of what he had done ia case. Compare John Tiii.M; Luke xxiv. IG; and 2 Kings vi. IS— 20. F (56 CHRIST PREACHES AT CAPERNAUM. SECT, bear our testiniony to the gracious words of this welcome messenger, whom God hath anointed for such happy 32. purposes ! One would have imagined that while the eyes of his auditors were fixed upon him, their souls should have drank LUKE in this doctrine, as the thirsty earth sucks up the rain, and that every heart should have been open to embrace liim. l'^- But, O blessed Jesus, while thou art preaching these glad tidings of great joy, what a return dost thou find ! Thou 28, 29 art ungratefully rejected, thou art unpiously assaulted ; and had their rage and malice been able to prevail, the joyful sound would have died into empty air as soon as it began, and this thy first sermon at Nazareth had been thy last. Thus disdainfully art thou still rejected by multitudes who still hear the same message echoing from thy word. And is there not a maUgnity in the hearts of sinners which might lead those of our own days to the outrageous wickedness of these Nazarenes, were their opportunities the same, rather than they would bow their stubborn hearts to the obedience of faith ? But while they are crucifying thee afresh by their sins, and putting thee to open shame, may we honour thee as the Son of God, the Saviour of men ; and labour by the ardour of our love, and the steadiness of our obedience, in some measure to balance the ingratitude of those who, while they are opposing thee, are destroying themselves ! '"_■■- SECTION XXXIII. Christ goes to Capeniauin, and teaches in the synagogue there with great acceptance ; and calls Peter and Andrew, and Jaines and John, to a more stated attendance upon him. Matt. iv. 13 — ^22. Luke iv. 31, 32. Mark i. 16—20. Matt. iv. 13. j^^^.^^ j^, ^3 SECT. AlSlT) Jesus, leaving Nazareth, from whence he was expelled and driven out in the un- And leaving Nazareth, 33. grateful manner that was before described, ca7ne and divelt for a while at Capernaum, '^"^ '^='"^<^ ^"'^ • Kepeiit : tor the kinguom L,orci,/w he 13 now tulhllmg his ancient promises, and the kingdom of heaven is at of heaven is at hand. LUKE handfi And M?, was the doctrine which he was teaching thcm^dui'mg the time of his Luke iv. 31. And [he] IV. abode at Capernaum, and this he made the subject of his preacliing in their synagogue on taugl-.t them on the sab- 31 the sabhath-days ; not being discouraged by the ill usage that he met with at Nazareth ^''t'^-'^*)'^- 32 upon his preaching of the same doctrine there. And they were powerfully struck,^^ and 32 And they were as- very much affected with his doctrine ; for his word was attended with an air of authority h°s\vOTd"L'.s''vith''-ower*^°'^ and majesty, which incomparably exceeded that low and servile manner of preaching "^ ^''°'" ^^'^•''^^' power. a Tliat what vas said by fhe prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled.'] sprung up iu the midst of darkness; see Eisner, Observ. Vol. I. The common translation is word for word, correspondent to the p. 19. original ; but the sense, as it stands here, is so entirely the same, f From that time of his departure into Galilee.] It is but just that I was unwilling to spoil tlie structure of the paraphrase by before that Matthew speaks of Christ's departure into Galilee, (ver. crowdmg m the word saying ; nor do I think such an exactness 12.) and it is much more probable that he refers in general to this, necessary in order to render a version perfectly faithful. than to the time of his leaving Nazareth, (which he has mentioned b About those parts of Jordan.'] That cte^«» sometimes has this in ver. 13,) as it is evident from Luke iv. 14, 15 ; and .lobn iv. 43— signification, willappear by comparing Josh. xii. 1, 7; and Numb. 45, that Christ began to preach in the synagogues of Galilee before xxxii. 19. Septiiag. he went to Nazareth. And thus I might have introduced this text I c Galilee of the Gentiles.] The learned Drusius has given a as parallel to Mark i. ir>, but that I would avoid as much as possi- ' large account of the reason of this name, and concludes it was the ble breaking the thread of the narration ; compare notes b and c, upper Galilee in the land of Naphtali, wlicreas the lower lay in iu \ 31. p. 62.— The attentive reader will easily perceive that I sup- Zebulon, and Capernaum was situated on tlie confines of both, pose our Lord made only one tour about Galilee in the four or five Grotius traces the name up to Gen. xiv. 1. but most commentators last mouths preceding his second passover, of wliich Matthew gives refer it to 1 Kings ix. 11— l.-j. supposing that Solomon's giving a a general account below, Matt. iv. 23—25. ? 36. Nor can I see tliat tract of land here to Hiram, occasioned it to be filled with foreign- Sir Isaac Newton had any just reason to conclude it n second circuit ers and to be peopled with a mixture of Phceniciaus, Egyptians, quite distinct from the former. It is true indeed that our Lord is and Arabians; according to the account that Strabo gives, s.iid. Matt. iv. \3,a(teT leaving Nazareth tohave come and dwelt at Geograph. lib. xvi. p. 523. Capernaum : but if that should be allowed to imply his making (1 Ihough God had made them vile, yet he would hereafter this the place of his more stated residence so as to call it /i(S /iOm<", render them gloriou.s.] I follow Mr. Mede's just aad beautiful it is evidently intimated that he rf/rf«o/ «/(7y /o/ii? in it at first ; and version and interpretation of Isa. ix. I. See Mede's Works, p. 101, shortly after it is spoken of only as one of the cities in which he wag 102; and Jeftery's Review, p. 125, 126; where that interpretation sent to preach, Mark i. 38. Nor can I find that, after he began to is both vindicated and improved : and I see no reason to doul)t that preach, he ever continued long in any one place. It IS oriyi;m% meant of the (7/(/mi/ifl/(o/i and honour these afflicted g The kingdom of heaven is at' hand.] See note h, on Matt, countries should receive by the presence and preaching of Christ. iii. 2, p. 31. e Light has sprung up.] The heathen writers represented the h Powerfully struck.] See Luke ii. 47, 48, note c, p. 29. arrival ot some great public benefactor ia a place, as a new light REFLECTIONS ON THE REGARD DUE TO THE WORD OF CHRIST. 67 which the Scribes and Pharisees commonly used in retailing tlieir precarious traditions and sEcy. insipid comments to the people. 33. lOark i. iG. Now as [Je- And it was about this time that, as Jesus was walking by the sea of Galilee, he sus] walked by the sea of g^^ f-^Q brethren, that have been aheady mentioned,' Simon, who was also called Peter, mark threnT'sirao'ii [canned Pc- c"d Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea ; fur by their occupation they were I- ter] and Andrew his brother ^^/^er*. And after sonie circumstances, an account of which will presently be given, 17 castin^^^ji '"^l^^^"*" 'fisliers- (sect. 34.) Jes2is said to them, Come after tne, and from henceforth attend me constantly [Matt. iv. 18.] in the course of my ministry, and I will wake you to beco?ne fishers of men, and give 17 And Jesus said unto ygy such abundant success in your ministry, that the number of souls converted by you and^\vinTm! J J f whom Jesus loved. IMPROVEMENT. Such was the z6al and courage of our blessed Redeemer, that he no sooner had been persecuted and assaulted luke at Nazareth, but he went and preached at the synagogue at Capernaum. Thus may all the opposition that we meet ^ V. with in the course of our duty animate, rather than overbear, our resolution in performing it ! "^ How happy was the land of Zebulon and Naphtali'TirtHe visits of such a guest ! And may we not add too, how m-'-JT. happy is our o^vn land in being visited by the everlasting gospel, which is now much more clearly discovered to ^ - us than it was to these coasts while Christ began to open his ministry among their inhabitants. In us is this prophecy of Isaiah eminently fulfilled: We but a few ages ago sat in darkness ; and behold we ^'^ see a great light. Our country, amidst all the advantages of its soil and situation, was, in a spiritual sense, the region and the shadow of death ; but the Sun of Eighteousness is risen upon us, nor do we only behold his rising beams, but his meridia:! lustre. ]May we not be so ungrateful as obstinately to shut our eyes against it, lest the valley of vision, and Emanuel's land, should on the whole prove to us the land of destruction, and the valley of death itself ! That this may never be our case, let vp diligently attend to this divine Teacher, who speaks with such authority, luke IV. P.9. and whose words are so weighty and poM\-rfuT. May we feel the energy and authority of them ! May they call ^ us OiT from every undue attachment to the business or the pleasures of life ! And if he should ever see fit to try us, "^ as he did these his servants, with a command to forsake our nearest relations, and om- earthly all, for his service, let mark us do it with pleasure; remembering on the one hand, that he who loves father or mother, wife or children, |^ "ouses or lands, ?nore than Christ, is not worthy of him ; and on the other hand, that he who abandons these engagements for his sake, shall receive an hundred-fold now in this time, and in the world to come life eve>-- IdsltiTg:' (Matt, x. 37, and Mark x. 29, 30.) i Two brethren, that have been already mentioned.] John gives consider in the next section, and shall there give my reasons in us an account fchap. i. 40 — 42. \ 21.) that Andrew and Simon had note a, for supposing it happened at this time, and was not, as before been called to the knowledge of Christ upon the banks of Mr. Whiston would have it, the occasion of another call to these Jordan, and that the name of Peter had been then given to Simon : disciples. But I would here observe, that besides him, some who and it is probable that, from their first acquaintance with him, agree with me in this particular, yet out of regard to the supposed they followed Jesus for some time, and went with him to Caua and regvlarity of St. Luke's narration, place Mis call of the four disci- Capernaura, (John ii. 2, 12. \ 23, 24.) and afterwards to Jerusalem, pjes after the ejection of the deiil, and the cure of Petcj's mother- (John ii. 13, 17. \ 24.) and tarried with him while he continued in in-law at Capernaum, and Christ's travels through Galilee, which Judea, (John iii. 22. \ 27.) But when the Pharisees grew jealous of are recorded. Matt. viii. 14, 15; iv. 23—2.5; and Mark i. 21—39. the number of his followers, and Herod was offended at the popu- (? 3.5, 36.) See Cradock, Le Clerc, AVells, Clarke, and L'Enfant, in laritv of John, we may suppose, that Jesus at his return to Galilee their Harmonies. But they seem to have forgotten that St. Mark might think it prudent to dismiss his disciples for a time, till he expressly asserts, (chap. i. 21.) that after the calling of these four himself had gone about from place to place to preach the gospel, disciples, thei/ went inti) Capernaum, and straightway on the ensuing and had informed the people more particularly of the character of sabbath he entered into the synagogue, and there cast out the devil, his person, and the nature of his doctrine : or possibly they might Sec. and then (ver. 20.) forihwUh when they were come out of the leave him at the time when the Samaritans prevailed upon him to synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with go with them to their city, (John iv. 40. ? 30,) for after this we read James and John, and Simon's mother was cured. — Now it seems one no more of his disciples being with him till he now found them at of the most important rules for settling the harmony of the the sea of Galilee. For they no sooner were gone home but they evangelists, that where any one of them has expressly asserted that returned again to their old employment, and continued in it till he follows the order of time, we should in regard to him, transpose they were now taken off from any further regard to their worldly others who do not assert equal exactness in that particular ; (see business, and were particularly called by Christ to a constant and Jones's Vindication of Matthew, p. Ill, 112.) This is the case here; stated attendance upon him ; see Lightfoot's Harmony on Luke and therefore I have here trnnspc^ed not great work in which he intended to employ them. ^ ^ IMPROVEIMENT. How'wonderful a choice does Jesus make of those who were to be the chief ministers in his kingdom ! Surely Ver. 11 the same divine power which prevailed on these honest fishermen to leave their little all to follow him, could with equal ease have subdued the hearts of the greatest ancTvvisest of the nation, and have engaged them to have attended him in all his progress through the country, with the exactest observance and the humblest reverence : but he chose rather to preserve the humble form in which he at first appeared, that thus he might answer the schemes of Pro- vidence, and by the u-eak things of the irorld, confound them that are mighti/. (1 Cor. i. 27.) Yet we may observe that he does not go to call them that stood all the day idle ; but, on the contrary, confers 4, 5 this honour upon honest industry ; on them that had been toiling all the night in the proper duties of their station and profession in life. Let us pursue our business with vigilance and resolution ; assuring ourselves that, however mean it be, Christ will graciously accept us in it ; and let us fix our dependence on his blessing, as absolutely necessary to our success. These pious fishermen let down their nets at Christ's word, and it was not in vain. How vast was that power which brought such a multitude of fishes into it ! but how much greater and more apparently divine was the G energy which, by' the ministration of one of these illiterate men, converted at once a much greater number of souls, and turned the despisers and murderers of Christ into his adorers ! (See Acts ii. 41.) Blessed Jesus ! we would humbly bow ourselves before thee as the Lord of nature and of grace ; and, instead of saying with Peter, Depart from us, for ice are sinful men, we would rather say, " Lord, for that very reason, S " while we o\^ii ourselves most unworthy of thy presence, we most importunately entreat it : Come uiito me, " O Lord, for I am a sinful man ; and if thou stand at a distance from me, I perish ! Come, and recover my " heart from the tyranny of sin ; come, and possess and fix it for thyself ! " That secret power which these good men felt on their souls while the words of Christ were sounding in their 9, 10 ears, would, be to them a to fen for good as to the success of their ministry upon others. Surely we cannot wish any thing of greater importance for the edification of the church, tlian that the persons who are employed in its public offices may themseh-es experimentally know the power of divine grace, and be brought to a determination to follow Christ whithersoever he goeth, before they undertake to invite and persuade others to do it. '^ 5 . SECTION XXXV. Christ entering into Capernaum, teaches in the si/nngogue, and casts out a devil ; and coming into Peter's house, cures his mother-in-laxv of a fever. Mark i. 21 — 31. Prlatt. viii. 14, 15. Luke iv. 33 — 39. MARK i. 21. _„ Mark i. 21. And thcy went into Ca- W HEN Our Lord had thus called Peter and Andvuw, and James and John, the?/ all left SECT. pcrnaum: and straightway tj^g gj^g of t}^g i^Jig, and entered with him into the city of Capernaum ; and immediateli/ 35. tered into the svnao-on-uej on the sabbath-dai/,^ going, according to his custom, into the synagogue, he taught and taugiit. " , [fhem'\ the important truths which he was in so extraordinary a manner commissioned mark 22 And they were as- to vindicate, or to reveal. And they xi-ere again struck -unth amazement^ at the ^^ '■ -tonished at his doctrine; sublimity and excellency of his doctrine, for he tras continually teaching the?n in such " that had\"uthori'tv"and not ^ manner as one ivho had an immediate authority from God to dictate to them ; and as the scribes. " ' not as the scribes, their established teachers, who dealt in precarious traditions and fan- ciful allegories, — the amusement of light minds, but utterly unfit to alarm the conscience, and to captivate the heart. synagogue tliere was a man -^"^ there loas in their Synagogue a vian that had the spirit of an unclean demon,^ luke which had a spirit of an or fallen angel, possessing him, by which he was miserably distorted and agitated; and I^'- out '*^with'" '''loud** voice' ^'^' ^^^her Compelled to bear an unwilling testimony to Clirist, or desirous by malicious ^3 [Mark i. 23.] ' praises to bring him into suspicion as a confederate with those infernal spirits, cried out 34 Saying, let us alone ; ^.jf/^ ^ /g,,^ voice. Sailing, in the name of all the rest. Let us alone ; trhat hast thou'^'* ■what have we to do with , , •. 7 r\ r ,' -\t j? o j j? j 7 j 1 j • • i. tliee, t/iou Jesus of Naza- '" do With US, O Jcsus of JSazarcth ? art thou come to destroy us, by nnvmg us out reth \ Art tliou come to of oiu" abodes on earth, to the regions of darkness ? J well know thee, and, under all the whT'thou'' art^- \hT Hofv disadvantages of thy present appearance, can sufliciently discern who thou art ; and One of God.' [Mark. i. 24.] therefore dread thee as the Holy One of God, whom he hath sanctified and sent into the a And immedialeli/ on the sahhath-day.'] It is in the original j-oir c The spirit of an unclean demon.'] It is well known that a late axiSxiiv, in the phiral number ; and it is frequently expressed in the learned and inarenious writer hatli revived the notion long since same manner where it is plainly to be understood of a particular maintained by Mr. Joseph IMede and Dr. Bekker, that these sup- day, as Matt. xii. 1. xxviii. 1. Acts xiii. 14. and elsewhere. There posed demoniacs were only lunatics or epileptics : but 011 the most is no doubt but it is spokeu here of the next sabtmth, and probably impartial perusal of what "has passed between him and his learned of the very next day after lijs coming back with his disciples to antagonists, I am fully convinced that there is no sufficient reason Capernaum ; see note k, on Mark i. 18. p. 67. for departing from the received interpretation ; and 1 should think b They were again struck uiilh amazement.} It has already been this story alone a convincing proof on the side of it. It is most observed, that they were thus amazed at his first coming to preach incredible that an Evangelisf should have been left to ascribe this among them, (Liike iv. 32. \ 33.) and there seems also to have man's disorder to the spirit of an unclean demon, if it were only been something in the discourses, as well as in the miracles of lunacy or the falling-sickness; or that a physician of common this last sabbath that he spent among them aX this time, which sense should speak of it as a memorable circumstance, that such raised their wonder, and aflected thera in a peculiar manner ; as a distemper did not hurt a man by leaving him: see ver. 35. — appears from the multitude of sick people which were broua:ht to I retain the word demon, as the epithet unclean seems to have liim that evening. See Mark i. 32, 33 Luke iv. 40. aud "Matt, little force when joined with devil, being neces.oarily implied ^ viii. 10, in the nest section. in it. 70 REFLECTIONS ON CHRIST'S HEALING THE POSSESSED, &c SECT world for the destruction of my kinErdom in it : but take notice tlmt I do not be^in the , . 35 And Jesus rebuked nr 1 1 rr • ii • ■ jx ^ liini.savme.lloia tliv Peace, 35. quarrel by oftering thee any injury or afiront. andeomeoutofi.im. And But Jesus, scorning praises from so impure a mouth, rchiiked him, saying. Be sdcnt, v-hen the devil had thrown LUKE and conic out of him : cnid, upon this, the demon having throivn him violently from bis hJ"iJ'|,e'fc-,-]!;d^viUi'al^^^^^^^ '^- seat into the ?nidst of the assembly, [and] having terribly convulsed him,^ cried "ivith a voic'e.nnrfjcameoutof him, i 35 /oud voice, [and] came out of hi}?/ ; dut \\ as so restrained by the divine power and mercy, |!?'^g''"''' '""" "°'^' ^^^^''^ '• that he did him no farther harm f and the m.an immediately recovered, and was perfectly aiark i, 27. And they were 'i well. ■ !ill amazed, insomuch that MARK And they were all exceedingly amazed at so miraculous a cure, so that they inquired {hc^iseiTesf 'ray^no/wha 1- ofcach other, and said^Jrhdl an exhaoTdinavy event is this ? [and] what s. 7uiv mid i\n- thing is this? what new 27 exampled doctrine is this « for behold he does not only distinguish himself by his incom- doctrine is this ? for with parable manner of teaching, but with majestic authority and efficacious power he com- "mam"etu^ he'V-ven the'^un- mandeth even the unclean spirits, and they instantly obey him, and come out of the pos- clean spirits, and they do 28 sessed, shewing thereby that they are subject to him. And his fame was so raised by this rLtfke'i'v^'aif]*^ '^""'^ ""'^''' signal miracle, Xhaiiiwoit forth ivrmcdiately through all the region of Galilee, and 28 And immediately made way for his reception in the progress he afterwards took into even/ place of the Jv^ '"J*^*^ spread abroad .,,•'. ,^ ro ^ 1 ^ throughout all the reeion veighbouring country. round about Galilee, [into 29 And presently after this miraculous cure, Jesus going out of the synagogue with his every place of the country disciples, they came, with James and John in their company, into the house of Simon '^°29"'Aua"fo"lthwith' whin 30 and Andrew, who, being brothers, did then live together : And Sitnoiis wife's mother was they were come out W the dangrerously ill, and kept her bed'' of a violent fever ; and having seen the miracle which symigog-ue, they e^utered in- 111 1 1 1 i • i u r • iu J 7 ji u n L- r 1 j to tlie house ol Smion and he had wrought but just beiore m the synagogue, they presently tell mm oj tier, and en- Andrew, with James and 31 rrf<7/tY////;« that he would be pleased to interpose /b?' //er recovery. And coming mio^^ae John. room where she lay, and standing ?iear her, he took her by the hand, and raised her up in mothcAay sfck ofa r-'reat] her bed, and, with an air of majesty, rebuked the fever, ^ and immediately the fever left fever; and anon they tell her at once : and she was instantly restored to such a degree of strength, that she arose and Jj!"^ •?' ''er, [and besoug-ht waited tipon them ; being so far lirom needing the assistance of others, as she had done be- 31 And he came, [and stood_ '"•, lore, that she became capable of taking her part in the business of the family. over her,] and took her by the hand, and lifted her up, [and rebuked the fever ;] and immediately the fever left her, and she [arose, and] ministered unto them. [Luke iv. 39. Matt. viii. \A, 15.] IMPROVEMENT. MARK Justly may we join our astonishment with that of the inhabitants of Capernaum, and say. What manner of I- teaching is this ? and with what regard should it be received, when the devils themselves, and the most desperate 2 ' diseases, are thus apparently subject to him that uses it ? LUKE We see the malice of Satan in possessing and tormenting the bodies of men. God then permitted it, to render IV. Christ's triumph over him so much the more illustrious, and the appearance of that great Deliverer so much the 33 more welcome.'' Such diabolical operations as these are now restrained ; and it is matter of great thankfulness that they are. But would to God that malignant enemy did not, in a yet more fatal manner, possess the souls of men, and work in the children of disobedience ! Yet there can the power of Jesus prevail to bind the strong man, and spoil his goods. 34, 35 Wisely did Christ silence the suspicious praises of an unclean spirit ; and vain is all the hope which men build merely on those orthodox professions of the most important truths, in which Satan himself could vie with them. Christ returning from the synagogue, finds the mother-in-law of Peter detained from the solemn assemblies, a ^^^^ prisoner at home luider an afflictive Providence, v.'hich that circumstance of confinement probably rendered yet 29 30 ™ore afflictive to her. But the mercy which the evening brought with it was a rich equivalent for all the sorrows 3 J of the day. Jesus, their welcome guest, appears as the great Physician both of soul and body ; a touch of his hand LUKE assuages the tumult in her veins, and at his voice the distemper leaves her. Surely, as the great Lord in the kingdom IV. of Providence, he performs those cures which are now wrouglit by natural means, and is to be owned in them. 39 Must not each of us thankfully acknowled'^e how often he hath rebuked fevers and other distempers by the skill of d Having terribly convulsed liim.'] This seems to be the proper 20 ; (as also Matt. vi. 13; John xvii. 15 ; Eph. vi. IG; and 1 John meaning of the word TOij.ifSOT that is used by Mark here, which sig- ii. 13, 14; iii. 12; v. 18,19; in all which places o TOvncot seems to nifies to shake or move with violence : and to this purpose Grotius signify the tpickcd one, that is, t/ie devil, wliose powerful influence has observed, that o-nx^xyixo^ is sometimes used to signify a coi.vul- ovep men is intimated or expressed in each of them :) and it appears Bion. And it is much more natural to uhderstand it thus, than to from Wisd. ii. 24, that the Jews before Christ's time had something suppose the devil to have torn him, (according to the common trans- of this notion, and considered the wickt d in general as taking part lation,) which leads the reader to imagine that he grievously with the (/fr// .■ the v/orAs are, T/iroui//t envy of l/ie devil came deul/i wounded hint, when Luke expressly says that he hurt him not. into the world, and they that do liold of his side do find it. The in- 6 Did him nn farther harm.} This is properly the sense o[ /xnlit spired texts above shew that the expression is just ; and it was cer- .^Kecyi/xv (XV701 ; for while the convulsion continued, it must have given tainly on this account a mo.st wise and gracious dispen.sation to per some pain, and might have been attended with lasting di^-order, had mit the devil about this time to give "some unusual proofs of his not the restraining and healing power of Christ prevented. existence, power, and malice, in thus attacking men's bodies ; which f Kept her hed.\ This seems the proper meaning of the word would naturally convince them what a dangerous enemy he was to icxnxtiro. their souls, and what need they had of the patronage of Christ ; as g Rehvhed the fever.} Tliere couhl be no inconvenience in the the sensible victory nf Christ in these dispossessions ■wou]:f n/xte^s, which the common translation renders, when it was day, might as well have been rendered, as the day was coming on : for 7£yoM:v>i5 may be understood (as Grotius has observed) not onlv as expressive of the time that is already come, but as implying what is near at hand, or what is forming now, and ready to approach : (compare John xiii. 2. and the note there, \ 169.)— Some have indeed maintained that different facts are referred to in the texts of Mark and Luke before us; the former referring to Christ s rising, the latter to his going out ; but it seems that Mark connects his going out so immediately with his rising, that no stress can be laid ou such a distinction. 72 REFLECTIONS ON THE DILIGENCE OF CHRIST IN HIS WORK. SECT, providence of God calls thee now to more public service ; for all the people of the city are found lum, Uiuy said unto or- 1 1 1 1 ] 1 ■ rt ii „ 1'"". -All men seek for thee. ou. assembled yonder, and are seeking ajtcr tfiec." j^uj^g jy 42, j^^^ ti,g And what they said was immediately contirmed ; for the multitudes sought after him people sought lum, and LUKE with so much diliMnce, that they traced the steps of Peter and his companions, and while i,!™.!^^! , ?^ if stajed IV ^1 1- .< iu 1 ■ u- u ^u u 1 r 1 1 • J ii nim, that he should not de- ^*- they were speaking, came even to the place in which they had lound tiim ; and they part from them. ^^ would fain have detained him a while, and pleaded in a very importunate manner that he ^^"jj' '• ■^^- '^"'l •'« said MARK should not depart from them. But they could not prevail: and he said to them tlrdt t"he nextTonus, thatTmay I- were -his constant attendants. Let us go directly i)ito the neighdouring towns, that I preach there also; for [l 38 mai/ preach there also, without returning back to Capernaum at present ; for, though we J^^cotf to^otlier^ ciUe'^1*"^ have many friends and well-wishers there, I m?ist by all means preach the hiugdom of for therefore am I sent,] God to other cities also, as for that purpose I am sent into the world by my Father, therefore came I forth. with the most extensive designs of usefulness, landl therefore I came forth from his more Matt!?v. 23. And Jesus I immediate presence. went about all Galilee, [aud MATT. And thus Jesus took a circuit with his disciples through all Galilee, teaching in their j^n^\|""*r iyna^ooues'^'al'rd IV. si/nagogues, wherever he had an opportunity, and preaching the good news of the king- preaching the gospel of the 23 (lorn which God was about to erect: and he confirmed and illustrated what he said,'' by kingdom and healing all ,. J 7 -7 111- ;■ J I 1 J- ii I manner of sickness, and all casting out devils, and healing every disease and every malady oj the people among manner of disease amon" whom he came. the people. [Mark i. 39"; 24 And his fame went through all the neighbouring country of Syria ; and they a^And^^his fame went drought to hir7i from thence, as well as from nearer places, all, that is, great numbers of throughout all Syria; and sick people,' that were seized with a variety of distempers and most torinenting and ^\?'^ ■ j^™"S''t unto him incurable pains, even deinoniacs, and lunatics, and paralytics ;'' and he healed them, taken with divers diseases 25 not excepting those whose cases were the most deplorable and helpless. And these a"d torments ; and those miraculous cures, together with lus excellent manner of preaching, rendered him so popu- jevi'is ^^and '"thosT'^vhi'dl lar, that great multitudes of people yo/Amvrf him from all the towns of Galilee, and «ere lunatic, and those that from the region of Decapolis,^ and even from Jerusalem, and the rest of Judea,"' and !'*'', *''j P^'^y ' "'"' ''•^ all [the country'] about Jordan,'^ both on its eastern and western banks. 25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and/rom beyond Jordan. IMPROVEMENT. MARK How delightfully were the Sabbaths of Christ spent in the midst of all his fatigues ! How pleasantly did the sun I- go down upon him, when he had been imitating that heavenly luminary in his steady and constant course ; scat- 32, 33 tering a brighter light and more beneficial influences upon all about him ! 35 And when the Sabbath had been spent in these labours of piety and love, how happily were the fruits of it carried into the ensuing week ! The first morning of it, that it might be most pleasantly and most profital^ly begun, Jesus rose before it was light, that he might enjoy God and himself in religious retirement. It surely becomes us sometimes willingly to deny ourselves the gi-atihcations of sleep, tliat we may have the better opportunity for devo- tion. And it should be the peculiar care of those who are employed in God's public service, to cultivate commu- nion with him in private, lest, while they keep the vineyard of others, their own be neglected and impoverished. (Cant. i. 6.) LUKE Our Lord's retirement is interrupted by the people who came to inquire after him, and desired to have detained IV. him longer among them : and who, that has ever known the pleasure of conversing with him, would not desire 42 that it might be longer continued, and frequently renewed ? But in this instance, their request must be denied ; the great purposes of his ministry required his presence elsewhere, and he breaks through all that importunity which would have broken in upon his schemes of usefulness : a resolution which we must learn in some cases to imitate, , 43 if we would prosecute the business of life with vigour and success. Let us often reflect wherefore we were sent, MATT, and judge by that where God would have us to be ; that by the intimations of his pleasure every motion may be IV. regulated, and every abode determined. 23, 25 Wherever Christ removes, he still goes about doing good, publishing the gospel, and confirming it by the most amazing works of power and of mercy. How well were these miracles suited to awaken men's attention, and to convince their consciences of his divine mission ! Well might his fame go over the whole country : may it extend g All tlie people are seekinij after thee.'] It is very likely that cases; for the different readings are so ill supported as not to Peter and they that were witli him, warm as thev were with the deserve a particular mention. expectations of a temporal kingdom, might think this a very 1 From Decapolis.] This is well known to have been a tract of favourable opportunity of increasing Christ's popularity, on which land on the east side of the sea of Galilee, in which ten cities were those hopes were built. situated near each other, and formed into a distinct district. It h Confirmed and illustrated what he said.] It is justly and formerly belonged to the half tribe of Manasseh. beautifully observed by the author of a late /Ji'scof/rsf on M<'j1//rff- m From Jerusalem and Judea.'] Hence Sir Isaac Newton con- cles of C'/trist, that they were not only a proof, but a specimen of eludes that Christ had been at Jerusalem at his second passover ; the power he claimed as the Messiah. Thus his (jiving sight to the and that these people had attended him from thence : (see Newton 4/ind illustrated his power of enliglitening the prejudiced minds of on Prophecy, \t. '\b\.) The circuit described above might indeed men ; his Itealing their bodies shewed how able he was to heal their have been tlie employment of four months, and probably took up souls, and was a specimen of his authority to forgive sin, as it was most of that time ; but Matthew might have used this expression, in part an actual removal of its puuishmcnt; his casting out devils if persons*-who came from JerusaletlrftJllowed Christ here, though was an emblem of his final victory over Satan; and his ra^.s-jn^ he himself had never been there at all. On the whole, however in- particular persons from the dead was a convincing display of his genious and probable the hypothesis of this learned author is, it is power to accomplish a general resurrection. liable to so many objections, that, on the maturest deliberation, 1 I All, that is, great numbers of sick people.'] It would be end- durst not venture to ijuild upon it the structure of an harmony, en- less to enumerate the texts where common sense requires us to tirely different from that of all other commentators except Osiander, take the word all in this general manner, see Mark i. .37; which (if 1 mistake not) in most jilaces agrees with his maxims. ,-I Luke iii. 21; John iv. 29; xiv. 26; 1 Cor. ix. 22; and Phil, rather chuse to add an appendix, representing the order in which ii- 21. the sections are to be read according to him; which will, to the k Even demoniacs, and lunatics, and paralytics.'] Possession, more curious part of my readers, be sufficient, and will excuse me madness, and the palsy, arc justly reckoned ascases of great misery from the necessity of swelling these notes in such a manner as I and little hope; the Evangelist therefore properly instanced in must otherwise have done, these. It is an evident proof that these were thought distiu,\h5 SECTION XXXVII. Christ begins his sermon on the mount with the beatitudes and general exhortations to exemplar)/ piety. Matt. V. 1—16. Matt. v. i. And seeing the multi- tudes, he went up into a niouutain : and when he was set, his disciples came uuto him : 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying-, 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kinedoni of heaven. 4 Blc s.'ycd are they that mourn : for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek : for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed (ir .' • SECTION xxxVm. Our herd declares his jjurpose of establishing and vindicating the moral law, and enters on his divine exposi- tion of it. Matt. V. 17—26. Matt.v. 17. Matt. V. 17. Th INK not.that lam come THAT the great design of our Lord's appearance might be more fully understood by the SECT. to^de^■troy j '!^'^^j'^|j*^**^(j,^g multitudes that were now assembled around him, he proceeded in his discourse, and said, 38. to destroy, but to fulfil. Suppose not that I am come to dissolve that goodly fabric of holy precepts contained in ■ the sacred writings of the law or thd prophets ; for I solemnly assure you, That I am not matt. cotne to dissolve, but rather to vindicate and illustrate, to complete and adorn \them,^'\ both ^• P . . i ^y "^y example and discourses, as well as to answer the highest ends of the ceremonial in- 17 you, Till heaven and earth stitutions. For vcrily I say unto you. That as tlieir original is divine, their honours shall 18 pass, one jot or one tittle be perpetual ; SO that, till heaven and earth pass away, and the whole visible frame of the law tin alT be'^fulfiHe™ nature be disjointed, not one jot or one tittle shall pass or ^&f\&h. from the law,^ till all 19 Whosoerer therefore things which it requires or foretels shall be effected.'^ Whoever therefore shall himself 19 comn'^'^'^d''°"'t°^^'^T'f^l! t^'^f^^gress Or violate one of the least of these commandments which are contained therein ; teach men so, lie shall be '^'^^^ especially, whoever shall teach other men so to do, whether by liis licentious princi- called the least in the king- pies Or irregular example, he shall be accounted [one of] the least and unworthiest mem- soever" shairdo and'^teach ^^'^^ "' ^^"-^ kingdom of hccivcn, OX in the church of the Messiah ; and shall soon be entirely them, the same shall be cut oif from it, as luifit for SO holy a society ; but whosoever shall do them, and teach the ancient Bethulia, which, standing on a high hill, might easily 37.) must surely comprehend all thi». I shall only add, that be seen from the mountain on Hhicli Christ made this discourse ; Vitringa's interpretation of CTX>i^;j, who supposes it here t.r;;i?;Ti in its most extensive sense, as of those little ornamental curvatures, or flourishes, which, when compreliending what Christ hcis done to answer the end of the Hebrew is elegantly written, are generally used at the beginning ceremonial law, m well as to vindicate and enforce the moral : yet and end of a letter, and .sometimes at the corners too. — I think it by the connection, it seems tliat the /«//?;• was chiefly intended; might well have been rendered, ho/ M<'/ffas//f//pc or s/ioAr, kc. and so and this phrase, t/te lam and the prophets, is used in this sense. Matt, mucli the rather, as 70/ and tittle in English signify much tlie same, xxii. 40. It is .strange, that any should have questioned whether c Till all things vihlcU it requires or foretels shall be effected: the precepts of Moses required such spiritualiti/ of obedience as eus ay xsxnx yiyrTxi. The translation here given is most literal Mirist here demands. That great command, oi loring the Lord and comprehensive. The law has its cfl^ect, when its sanctions are (jod tcith all tlie lieari, &c. and, oi/r neijltbour as oursclf, (Matt. xxii. executed, as well as when its precepts are obeyed. 76 THE PUMSHMENT OF CAUSELESS ANGER AND REPROACH. SECT, [f^irm] with that advantage which nothing but the authority of a good example can give, called great in the king- 38. he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven, and be treated with distinguished 8 COMMON SWEARING MUST BE CAREFULLY AVOIDED. SKCT. to looks, and the very thoughts of the heart ; for w/iosoevcr shall gaze on a xvoniatv^ to That whosoever lookeiu ui. 39. lust after her, and thus cherisli and indulge the secret workings of irregular desire in his hath""conimit"ed ^'ad'im'tTy mind, has alreach/ committed that adultery with her in his hearty which this command- with her already iu bis MATT, ment was designed to forbid, and thereby rendered himself, in the sight of God, guilty iieart. ^- of the breach of it. 29 You will think me severe in requiring you so strictly to mortify all the irregular propen- 29 And if thy right cNe • ■ c ^ 1 i 11 r J -i ii '1 -u c ■ i 4- t • 4 i oftend thee, pluck it out, sities of nature, but you will nnd it, on the wnole, as much tor your interest as it is to part and cast it froAi thee: for it with a gangrened member to prevent the death of the whole body 5 yea, indeed, it is infi- is profitable for thee tiuit nitely more so. And if, therefore, thi/ right eye offend or ensnare thee,'' or any thing perisir'al™Tot*'u,a'rilI'' dear as thy right eye would be the occasion of leading thee into sin, pluck it out with whole'hody should be caU inexorable resolution, and cast it far from thee with abliorrence : for it is advantageous '"*« h^"- to thee, that one of thy members should perish, rather than thy whole body should be thrown into hell ; which yet must be the fatal consequence of indulging the most favourite 30 lust. Yea, if thy right hand offend or ensnare thee,"^ though it be so useful and neces- „?** wf ■"^'^''^t'^'f off''"' '1 sary a part, do not spare it, but immediately cut it off and cast it from thee ; for I renew cast it from thee: fur' it is the declaration. That it is highly advantageous to thee, that any one of thy 7)icmbers profitable for thee that duc should perish, rather than thy whole body should be thrown iiito hell,'' io be the com- p'erisl','?' aJur'^ior'that'^'tlly panion of thy guilty soubthere, in everlasting horror and misery, v whole' body should be cast 31 It has been said, (Dent. xxiv. 1.) JVhoever would dismiss his wife, let him give her a '"'^Ji''ft'' j,^th been sanl writing of divorce : and this precept, which was indeed intended to prevent the frequency ■\viiosoever shall ])ut away of such dismissions, by making it so solemn and irrevocable a thing, has perversely been his wife, let him give her a 32 interpreted as a warrant to have recourse to it upon every trifling occasion. But such a ^"32"}fu*t l 'sa^y'^unt'o' you, practice is directly contrary to the original design of marriage, and highly injurious to the That whosoever shall put common erood of mankind : I therefore think it necessary to restrain so dangerous a liberty, away his wife,saving for the b ^.; . 7 / // I- ■ / ■ -J- * * I ^/ J. I- '■^"^'^ '^^ fornication, caus- and sa?/ unto you, lluti whosoever shall dismiss his wife, except it be on the account of eth her to commit adultery, whoredom,^ causeth her, by a second marriage, to commit adultery, or at least exposeth »"" •^'"."s' "°f ™a^e one- the name of God is directly expressed ; and let your conversation be all plain and simple : ^ "^a'yVut'iet yo'ur commu- when you affirm, say. Yes, yes ; and when you deny, No, no : for if you conduct your- nication be, \'ea, yea. Nay, selves as you ought, this will be sufficient to gain you credit ; and you may be assured, that "j^J^'^^' [°iese''cometh'^of evn"^*^ whatever is more than these, comethfromthe evil onc,^ who artfully contrives, by the a Whosoever shall gaze on a woman : 0 iSXettwv yvvM-^a.'] There g ShriH marry her tliat is unlawfully dismissed.'] Mr. Blair (in are several other places where the /3\£tiw signifies to look on an the third volume of his Sermons, p. Ill, 112.) explains this clause, object V!ith great attention, or to Jii the eye upon it. See Matt. vii. as intended to forbid women divorced for adultery to marry, which 3; xviii. 10; Luke vii. 44; viii. 18; Acts i. 9; iii. 4 ; 1 Cor. iii. he thinks an additional punishment inflicted on persons guilty of i 10 ; X. 12 ; Phil. iii. 2 ; and Rev. xvii. 8. so enormous a crime, and a wise provision for preventing bad wo- | b Committed adultery with her in his heart.l In the first edition men from committing adultery in hopes of opening their way to i 1 had rendered it debauched her, because it is plain i/xoixi'J'iy must another more agreeable marriage. But 1 prefer the sense here given, i extend to single as well as married persons ; but, on the aniniadver- because it makes this latter clause more correspondent to the for- sion of a learned friend, 1 am convinced that the spirit of our Lord's mer, and prevents the necessity of supposing ^toixtuw to be used in j meaning is best expressed by retaining the word used in the two difl"erent senses so near together. i seventli commandment, and giving the passage such a turn as I have h Swear not at all in your common discourse with each other.] ! now given it in the paraphrase, which does not at all limit the sense. The opposition between this verse and the .37th, limits the prohi- | But to render yvvMxx a married woman, would be a limitation, I hition to this sense ; and, waving that, it would be necessary to think, not to be justified. interpret it as a restrictive, rather than an universal precept, and to ' c Offend or ensnare tAee."] It is well known that this is the force consider it as more particularly levelled at the common practice of I of the word cx.x^SjcXi^v, which most literally signifies, to be a stum- the Jews, who reckoned swearing by the creatures to be far more j bling-block in a person's way, oran occasion of his fall ; and so im- excusable than swearing by the name of God, and made but little '. plies much more than merely to displease. I mention this remark, scruple of the frequent use of it. For that all swearing is not here > obvious as it is, because the sense ofso many texts depends on attend- condemned as a thing absolutely evil, is fully evident from other I ing to it. See Rom. xi. 9; xiv. 13, 21 ; xvi. 17 ; 1 Cor. viii. 13 ; passages of scripture, and of necessity roust be allowed to vindicate ■ Gal. V. II ; and Rev. ii. 14. tlie conduct of Christ and his apostles. Compare Mark viii. 12 ; d If. thy right hand of end or ensnare thee.'] The greatest part of Matt. xxvi. 64 ; Rom. i. 9 ; ix. 1 ; Gal. i. 20 ; 2 Cor. i. 1 1 ; and Heb. i Christ's auditors were poor people who lived by their daily labour ; vi. 16. and to these the loss of a right hand would be a much greater cala- i Either by heaven.'] Though I allow, with the learned Heinsius, 1 mity than that of a right eye : so that there is a gradation and force that the words mi o^uotxi oX'.<, may be rendered, Sy nn means swear, in this passage, beyond wliat has generally been observed. cither by heaven, earth, or the like ; yet it will not follow that the ' p Rather than thy whole body should he thrown into liell.] This plain- words only forbid stvearing by creatures, since ver. 37 forbids what- ly implied the doctrine of a resurrection, though Christ had not yet ever is more than pea or nay. So that it is absolutely necessary to ' expressly taught it. have recourse to some other solution of this prohibition, as well as i I On the account of ivhorednm.] It is very evident that 5:o(Vci», as of that in Jam. v. 12, where any other oath is forbidden ; and no- here used, must have a more ambiguous and larger sense than the thing is more natural and easy than to understand it in both places ' English \coT(\ fornication, which generally answers to it; and must as a prohibition of the use of oaths in common conversation, be understood here of ac/«//(?ry. k Cometh from the evil one.] Ex th ctovc^b tj-iv will properly bear i. INJURIES TO BE ENDURED WITHOUT REVENGE. 79 habitual use of swearing even by the creatures, to lessen your reverence for the solemnity SECT, of an oath, and to lead you at length to take the name of God in vain, even by perjury 39. itself. 38 Ve liave heard that it You have heard that it has been said in the law, (Deut. xix. 21.) An cijefor an eye, matt, hath heeii said, Au eye for ^^^d ^ tooth for a tooth : and this Statute, which was only intended to direct judges as to v. tootir' ""'^ ^ *°°*'^ '""^ " the penalties to be inflicted in case of violent and barbarous assatilts, has been interpreted 38 39 But I say unto you, as encouraging a rigorous, severe revenge of every injiu-y a man might receive. But I sat/ 39 That ye resist not evil : but ^^^^^^ ^^^^ That when you meet with ill usage in tiie world, you do not immediately set on thy right cheek, turn to 2/oursclves against the injurious person^ m a postiu'e oi liostile opposition, and wiUi a him the other also. Vesolution to "return evil for evil ; but, where the damage is not great, chuse rather to pass it by, though possibly it might on that account be repeated, than to enter into a rigorous prosecution of the offender. On these principles, {'/' any man strike thee on thy right 40 And if any man will cheek, patiently turn the other to him atso."^ And if any one be resolved to sue thee 40 sue thee at the law and ^ ^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^■^j^^ awaii thy vest, permit him to take thy mantle too ;" for the loss of take away tliy coat, let nan ,, , , , . -r, ■ ^ ■ o ,^ ^- j i • i_ have rty cloak also. both would be but a trifle, in comparison ot those vexations, snares, and expenses winch 41 And whosoever shall would probably attend the continuance of the suit. And if any press thee to go with 41 compel thee to ^o a mile, j^jj^^ p,,^. „^^7^^ obliging thee and thy carriages to attend him on a public account," rather go wit 1 um wain. ^^ ^^.^^^ ^^.^^^ ^^^ more, than disturb the peace by aforcible opposition ; for in many such cases as these, it will be more for your own comfort, as well as the credit of your profes- sion, to submit, than contend. 42 Give to him that ask- ""When thou seest any one in real necessity, and hast it in the power of thine hand to do 42 eth thee; and from him u ^-e to him that asketh thee thy charity ;P and do not turn axvay, with a severe de- tliat would borrow of thee, ' 'T > . , , , , , , /.,;„,■• 111 i, turn not thou away. nial, him that xcould borrow of thee f^ lor in some cases a seasonable loan may be as valuable a kindness as a gift. 43 Ye have heard that it By such condescensions and favours, you will generally gain the friendship of those with 43 u^ve X" '"Sl^i>ouV and whom you converse; but if any should be so base as, notwithstanding all, to persist in hate thine enemy -. ' using you ill, do not indulge to^ sentiments of revenge. Iknovf you have heard that it was said to our fathers, Thoiishalt love thy neighbour ; (Lev. xix. IS.) and imm thence, though in direct contradiction to many other scriptures, (Exod. xxiii. 45 ; Lev. xix. 17 ; and Frov. xxv. 21.) some have argued, as if it had been added, Thou shall hate thine enemy ; and the precepts for destroying the Canaanites, (Deut. vii. 16, and the like,) have 44 But I say unto you, been abused to countenance such an addition.'' But instead of favourmg this pernicious 44 Love your enemies, bless niaxim, I Say unto iiou, love your enemies, and whatsoever vou may suffer by them, them that curse you, do ' y J /> J ' n .-> . ir r ii ■ good to them that hate you, while you abhor their smtul practices, shew a concern tor the true weitare 01 tneir persons; and pray for tiiera which ^/(,..j.y //;(„; //^^^ \y^ the bitterest manner curse you, (whether by profane execrations in persecute y'ou^r ^°"' ^'^^'^^ common discourse, or by unjust anathemas in their ecclesiastical assemblies,) be ready to do good to them that hate you, and pray for the conversion of them that insult 45 That ye liiay be the J/o«/ and persecute you ; That you may thus approve yourselves to be the children of 45 this version; and some roTpies reiA SixioXn, cometh from the devil. I answer the original ayYa:^?^, which is vvell known to be derived would observe, that whether this version or the common one be from the name of those officers who were commissioned for this admitted, the clause before us contains a demonstration that ver. purpose by the Persian eKJPero£s when Judea was one of their 34. is to be explained with the limitation proposed : for it is evi- provinces. See Drusius, in /ocT(C'ompare Matt, xxvii. 32.) Among ^-. dent that oa//is were in some cases not only allowed, but required the Jews, the disciples of their wise men were excused from such by the Mosaic taw ; (see Exod. xxii. 11. Lev. v. 1. Numb. v. 19, services ; but Christ advises his disciples not to insist on that ex- 21. and Deut. xxix. 12, 14.) So that if Christ's prohibition had ' emption. See Lightfoot, Hor. Heh. in loc. here referred to sioearing in solemn and judicial cases, he would in' p Give to him that askelh thee thy charity : rw aiTBvri ne JJs.] Mr. these words have charged the divine law with establishing an ira-i Blair would refer this to OTvngw, in ver. 39. and render it, Ctve to morality, which it is most absurd to suppose ; and T cannot but! tlie injiiriniis person what he asl;eth thee ; and has a very beautiful wonder'that .so obvious and decisive a thought should not have! discourse upon it in that view: but it is plainly unnecessary to been more insisted upon in this controversy. limit it ; and I think that, on this interpretation, it would too much 1 Do not set yourselves against the injurious person.'] So the coincide with ver. 44. In whatever sense it be taken, it must ad- phrase avnrnvaii rio roovjijw may exactly be rendered ; (compare 2 Tim. mit of some exceptions, or it will not only be inconsistent with iii. 8.) Had our Lord meant to intimate, that we should rather such precepts as require us to take care of our families, (as 1 Tim. suffer ourselves to be murdered, and our families to be ruined, than v. 8.) but with natural .justice and common sense. It is amazing, resist the villain that attempts it, he would have laid down so therefore, that any w'jio do not think themselves obliged, by strange a precept in the strongest terras : and it is very unreason- the literal sense of this precept, to give or lend io every idle im- ■ able to infer it from this passage, which speaks of so trifling an in- portunate creature whatever he asks, should insist on a rigorous jury as ajlap on the face, or suing a man for the value of a waistcoat interpretation of tlie preceding passage, from ver. 34 — 41. or cloak.— TTit be asked, whether we are universally forbidden to q Do not turn away him that would borrow of thee.'] Tov SeXovrx resist on these occasions ? I answer, we are ; unless we be in our ara fa oxvu-xtSxi uri acm^^xpris, is thus most literally rendered, consciences convinced that, in present circumstances, to stand on r The precepts for destroying the Canaanites have been abused, our defence will be more for the public good; and in those cases, &c.] These precepts were of a peculiar nature ; and that in par- this particular precept is superseded by the general law of univer- ticular, Deut. xxiii. 6. Jhou s/ialt not seek their peace nor their sal benevolence. But I apprehend these exjiressions intimate, that, prosperity all thy days for ever, relates to avoiding throughout all on the whole, it will generally be for the best to wave rigorous generations any association with the Moabites; which was an ever- prosecutions on such slight occasions. lasting brand of infamy set upon them, for the afl'ront which, in the m Turn the other to }iim also.] This is a proverbial phrase, to matter of Pcor, they had offered to Gcd himself, under whose con- express a meek submission to injuries and affronts. See Isa. 1. 6. duct the Israelites were. But though it forbids any national and I/am. iii. 30. alliance with them, it seems that the settlement of Ruth in Israel, n I'liy mantle too.] f'i?*;' and ;«««//<■ more exactly answer to xirwv when she embraced the Jewish religion, (Ruth i. 10.) and the per- and iM=«n!)v than coat and cloak ; (compare John xix. 23. and see mission given to the Moabites to live as tributaries under David Casaubon, in loc] and are parts of dress, under different names, still after the conquest of their country, (2 Sam. viii. 2.) were not at a?ll retained in Barljary, Egypt, and the Levant. See Dr. Shaw's inconsistent with this law. Travels, p. 289—292. The mantle being much larger than the s That insult you ; £i7rj^£«>rwv u/zar.] As this word, according to \ vest, must probably be more valuable; and as it would be natural the judgment of Erasmus, Beza, and several other able critics, is for a robber on the highway to take the outer garment first, I look derived from A^m, the name of Mars, it may perhaps strictly on this manner of expressing it as a good argument for retaining answer to dragooning in our modern language : but as it is plainly our translation of x^ienvcti, aud_ rendering it sjff thee at law, rather used by St. IMer to express abusive language, (1 Pet. iii. 16.) I than take it in a more general" way, as signifying to strive or con- chose to render it insult, which may be applied either to injurious tend: though I know'" it has sometimes this last signification, as words 01 actions. To ('radt'Cf does by no means express the force of Lud. Cappellus urges. the idea. Nor can I think, with the learned Eisner, (Vol. I. p. 30, o Press thee to go -with him, Si.c.'^ The word;) r«s seems best to 31.) that this clause is to be interpreted chiefly of malicious .^' 80 REFLECTIONS ON THE MORTIFICATION OF OUR DEAREST LUSTS. SECT, i/dur hcavenli/ Father ; for, with the most ctitTiisiye kindness and beneficence, he causeth children of your Father 39. his sun to arise on the evil and the good, amfshowereth doxvn rain on the just and which ;'* in heaven ; for he the unjust; so that his enemies share in his providential bounties, and subsist on his daily t|,p p^ji a,,^ „„ the'^'good' MATT. care. and sendeth rain on the just ^ Let it be therefore your concern to imitate this. extensive goodness : for if you only love ^"4f;°Fol"if've"fove them 46 them that love you, ichat reward have ye ? or what extraordinary praise can you ex- which love you, what re- pect ? Do not even the most infamous and scandalous sinners, such as the very publieans, ^^^"'d have ye? Do not 47 do the same? And if ye salute and embrace yo///* brethren only^ or those of the same same? ^^ " "^"'^ sect, party, and interest with yourselves, what extraordinary thing do you practise more 47 And if yesahUeyour than the rest of mankind, though your advantages are so much greater than theirs ? Do more M"H°"//yfrs*''^'Do not not even the heathens KnA publicans do so ? And will not common humanity teach even even the publicans so? the very woret of men civility to those that treat them with respect, and excite them to some sentiments of gratitude to their friends and benefactors ? 48 You who stand in so near a relation to God, as my professed disciples, should far excel them : be ye therefore, in these instances of undeserved and forfeited goodness," and in all f^ct, e>xif^as j^cmr'^Fu'ru'r other respects, as far as frail mortality will admit, perfect, even as your heavenly Father whidi is in heaven is prr- is perfect;"^ whose name you will most eti^ectually honour, and whose favour you will "''^^• most happily secure, by a care to imitate him to the utmost in all the moral perfections of his nature. (Compare Eph. iv. 31, 32. v. I.) IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 48 Alas ! how may we blush to call God our Father, while we resemble him so little ! And what reason is there, 47 on a survey of these directions of our Lord, to acknowledge our deficiencies and our faults ! Let us review the many advantages we enjoy as Christians, and the engagements we are under, in the particular circumstances in whicli Divine Providence has placed us ; and blush to tlunk, that we do so little more than others, perhaps in many in- stances falling short even of the virtues of heathens. 43 45 Let us particularly be instructed by these lessons of our Divine Master, to recompense good for evil : lessons which come with peculiar grace from his mouth, as he was himself the kindest friend to his most inveterate enemies, and bore and forgave more than any but himself could possibly do. 38 42 Let us, who are his disciples, abhor contention and revenge. Let us not prosecute every little injury to the utmost, nor govern ourselves by those false maxims of prudence and honour, which pride and self-love have intro- duced on the ruins of real Christianity. Let us not, even in the most legal methods, seek the punishment of those who have wronged us, except in circumstances in which we are in our conscience persuaded it will, on the whole, be greater charity to animadvert on the offence than to pass it by; and even then, let us act in a calm and dispasLuonate manner, pitying and loving the persons of the injurious, even while, for the sake of society, we prose- cute their crimes. 4G If this be our duty towards our enemies, how inexcusable are we, if we are cold and insensible to our friends ! and how much worse than publicans themselves, if we do not love them that love us, and do good to those from whom we have received it. Happy is that Christian, to whom the God of natiu'e hath given a heart so turned to sentiments of benevolence, that, in all these instances, love is a law unto itself! , Yet let us remember that the whole of our duty is not comprehended in these social regards. The great Author of our being, who hath endowed us with rational faculties, justly requires that we assert their empire over the 27 meaner powers of appetite and passion. We see that he forbids not on}y gross enormities, as adultery, (which, 28 though so unaccountably spared by the laws of many Christian countries, the heathens themselves have condemned as a capital crime, and which some of the most barbarous nations have esteemed infamous,) but the unchastity of the eye, and of the heart. Let us then earnestly pray that God would create in us a clean heart, and renew a right 29 spirit within us ; (Psal. li. 10.) and let us maintain a most resolute guard over our senses and our thoughts, re- membering that there is no other alternative, but that the dearest^of our lusts must be mortified and subdued, or our whole persons be cast into hell. 30 Elevate our affections, O Lord, to nobler objects than those which are suited merely to animal nature ! Teacli us to Aeep under the bod?/, and bri?tg it into subjection, (1 Cor. ix. 27.) that we may not finally be cast away from thy presence, and fall into that dreadful state where every drop of sinful pleasure will be recompensed with full vials of misery and despair ! Prosecutions in judicial courts, tlioufjli that be a sort of insult and x Perfcef, even as yovr heavenly Father is ■perfect.'] Many atttlin. ■persecution, undoubtedly comprehended among many others, and rities are produced by Eisner, in Ills note on this text, to prove, not often expressed by the Greek words here used. ' only that the heathens gave the epitlirt of reXsioi, or perfect, to i If ye salute and embrace your Iji-ethrcn only.] The word many of their gods, especially the chief ; but that some of their ajiraunifls alludes to the custom of .«o/«/(n(7 iy ffl,/,TOf/«i7, And when writers describe clemency and goodness to enemies as a virtue by Christ cautions against confining their regards to bretliren, he may whicli mortals make the nearest approach to divine perfection. — perhaps obliquely glance at those prejudices whicli diflfereiit sects These words conclude Christ's excellent vindication of the law iind against each other, and intimate that he would not have his from the corrupt glosses of the Jewish teachers. I know it has been followers imbibe that narrow spirit. Would to God the hint had objected to it, that, considering the many figurative expressions been more attended to among the unhappy suhilirisinns into which >ised in it, we might as easily trace out the duties recommended by his church has been crumbled ; and that we might at least advance the liqht of reason alone, as adjust the sense of such obscure and so far, as cordially to embrace our brethren in Christ, of whatever hyperbolical precepts. But if it were really so, (which I cannot party or denomination they are ! grant) it is tr, be remembered, that the chief design of the gospel u In these instances ofundeserved and forfeited goodness.] The is not to inform us what is justice, humanity, and charily, in nar- lovc to friends, enjoined by the scribes and Pharisees, was very im- ticular cases, (which a view of present circumstances can alone perfect : we are to labour after a more complete resemblance to discover,) but to awaken a regard to the known, though neglected, God, in loviny enemies. Our Lord therefore afterwards expressed dictates of natural religion on these heads ; and this may be most it in a ]tiim]\e] iWsconr&Q-.hy s^y'tn^, Be ye merciful, as your Father cifectually done by such animated and uprightly exhortations also is merciful, l.,nke vi. 3rt ; out it is probable? he used a greater as these, especially when considered as coTrnilg from a Person latitude of expression here, to remind us of our obligations to whose authority and love concur to demand our attention and imitate the Divine Being in all his moral perfections. obedience. CHRIST CAUTIONS fflS DISCIPLES AGAINST VAIN-GLORY. 81 SECTION XL. Our Lord having thus vindicated the Mosaic law, proceeds, in his divine discourse on the Mount, to caution his disciples against vain-glory in alms-deeds, prayer, and fasting. Pdatt. vi. 1 — 18. MATT. v. 1. ^I-^TT. Vi. 1. Take iieed titat ye do not OUR Loi'd, proceeding in his discourse fo caution them against vain-glory, said unto SECT. your alms before men, to them, Take heed, in general, that 7iou practise not your righteousness,^ or perform not 40. be seen of them ^otherwise i- ■ J ■ ^ . ,■ i r ^ i ■ -i V- c i j ye have no reward of your any reiigious actiou m an ostentatious manner before men, making it your chiet end to Father which is in heaven, le viewed and admired by them : or otherwise, if this caution be neglected, you will have matt. no reward from your heavenly Father, who knows all the secret principles of your heart, ^'I- and indispensably requires the greatest uprightness and sincerity there. 2 Therefore when tliou The caution is SO important, that I shall illustrate it in various particulars. When, 2 doest i/iine •»■"", ''^ "°*^ therefore, for instance, thou performest Uhine] alms-deeds, do not, as it were, sound a sound a trumpet beiore -^ , ^ i ■, Ti ■ n i-ii i thee, as the iiypocrites do trumpet before thee, and make proclamation to all around, to mduce them to take notice in the synagogues and in of {(- . qts it is customary for the hypocrites to do in the public assemblies^ and in the have* gimy'of men. "^{'eTuy streets, that, acting their part as on an open theatre,'^ they may be applauded of men, I say unto you, They have who are the Spectators of their liberality : verily I say unto you. That in this empty their reward. sound of human praise, they have their poor rexrard,^ and must expect no acceptance 3 But when thou doest and recompense from God. But when thou art doing \thine'] alms, use the utmost 3 kn"ow whauhy'right hand P"vacy ; and, if it be possible, let not thy kft hand know what thy right hand is doing,^ doeth : '' when it is stielehed out to these charitable purposes ; and far from publishing it with vain 4 That thine alms may affectation, conceal it, as far as may be, from thy nearest friends : That thine alms ynay 4 be '"^^^"^'■^'^■pjJ^'^jjj^'^yj.l^JJ" be performed in secret ; and thy Father who sees in secret, and knows every cii'cum- hlmsdf sh'airreVard'^thee Stance of ^ij most retired actions, will hi/nself be ready to honour and reward thee opeuiy- another day, and that openly before the assembled world. 5 And wlien thou pray- And again, when thou prayest, (as, if thou art my o.isciple indeed, Uiou often Avilt,) 5 rKocri"tewIrd'"°*for^the'^ ^^°^ ^^^^^ ^^°^ be (IS the hypocrites, v<\\o ddscovcv ovi all occasions the vanity of their love to pray standing in the hearts ; for even when performing their particular, and those that ought to be their secret, synagogues and in the devotions, they love to pray standing in the public assemblies in sight of numbers of they^ma^y Lrseeu^o^t^'ilien* people, and fixing them exactly to one constant hour, contrive to be catched, as it were. Verily 1 say unto you, just at that sacred time;*' not only in the common places' of resort, but in the corners of They have their reward. ^^^ streets, where several ways meet ; that they may thus be sure of being viewed by a great number of beholders ; but howsoever, upon this account, they may indeed be admired of men, as persons of singular piety, yet verihi I say unto yon. That in this 6 But thou, when thou admiration of those that observe them, they have all their reward. But thou, O my G prayest, enter into ^thy disciple, whoever thou art, w/ien thou prayest, and dost not intend it as social exercise shuTthy"dorr, p"ray'to thy of devotion, withdraw from the sight and intercourse of men, and enter into thy closet. Father which 'is in secret; or any Other retired apartment ;8 and having shut thy door, to prevent interruption and L"l"7et!'s\«n reward\Tiee exclude spectators, pray with a holy freedom of soul to thy Father who is with thee in openly. ' secret; and thy Father, who always sees in secret as distinctly as in the most open scene of action", will regard these addresses with peculiar pleasure, as the emotions of a pious and sincere heart ; and will another day reward thee openly for those duties, which were so entirely referred to the views of honouring and pleasing him. 7 But when ye pray, use But when you' pray, do not use a vain jnultiplicity ofwoirls,^ as it is usual for t/ie ^ a Practise not your righteousness.'] As some copies and very contends that arrs^sui'i rov juirfov *vtwv, ought to be rendered, Mfy/«M ancient versions read ^ixaioitwiv, righteousness, instead of EXE>iAio5uvriv, short of their reward : but the word ^■'nx'" is plainly used in the nlms-dceds, and several of the fathers quote it so, J^chuse, with sense in which our translators take it, Luke vi. 24; Philip, iv. 18, Beza, to follow that reading; because it prevents the appearance and Philem. ver. 15; and it is with peculiar propriety, that human of a tautology in the following words, and makes this verse a applause is here called their reward, as being that which they general and very proper introduction to the remaining part of the chuse and seek. See Beza's elegant note on the words, section, in which the caution is branched out into the particular e Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand is doing.] It is \ heads of alms, prayer, and fasting. (See Dr. Mill, in loc.J — Never- said, that the poor's chest stood on the right hand as they entered \ theless I by no means insist on the change : but if it be admitted, the synagogues, to which some suppo.se the words to allude. It is ' I cannot acquiesce in the criticism of a learned friend, who would plainly a proverbial expression of strict care to conceal an action, explain righteousness as here signifying charity, or liberality ; be- f Contrive to be catched at that sacred time.] Thus the Jate cause, though I am well aware'it has that signification sometimes, pious and eloquent Mr. Grove explains, and finely illustrates This (I think not so often as some have supjiosed,) yet admitting it here text iii TiTs jSisconrse nn Secret prayer, p. 3, 4. It is plain this would destroy that beautiful variety between this and the following custom still prevails among the Mahometans; as Pfeiffer has ob- verse, which" 1 have endeavoured to illustrate in the paraphrase, served, Thtolog. Mohammed ; Oper. p. 848, 974 ; and Bohovius, in and which makes it so proper an introduction to this part of our his Turkish Liturgy, \ 1. See a remarkable illustration of it in Lord's sermon. Mr. Addison's Freeholder, No. 59. b In the public assemblies.] It is cei4ain that the word enyiy.jYn g Enter into thy closet, or any other retired apartment.] Tar^tjsv may be taken in this extent; and though it is most probable it signifies closet, chamber, wardrobe, warehouse, or any other separate may even here refer to religious assemblies, yet we may recollect place ; and Mr. Blair piously conjectures, that Christ might use a on "this occasion, that it is a known custom in the eastern nations word of such latitude, that none might omit secret prayer for want to distribute alms when they are going to enter on public coun- of so convenient an apartment as they could wish to retire into. It sels. — The phrase of sounding a trumpet before them seems oriTy a will, I hope, be observed, that many remarks of this kind proceed figurative expression to represent their doing it in a noisy, ostenta- on a supposition, that the Spirit of God directed the apostles in tiousway; as it is certain, that to do a thing ivith the 'sound of a their writings to chuse such Greek words as most exactly corres- trumpet is sometimes used proverbially to express a public osten- ponded to tiiose in the Jewish language which Christ used, tation. See Eisner, in loc. h Do not use a vaiiTWHTipTicity of words : ix-n g^rlsJ.oyrnnrf .] 1c Acting their part as on an open theatre.] Erasmus and Beza Beza has well explained the etymology of the word; and Dr. very justly observe, that 3Eje5nv;« iu the verse before is a theatrical Hammond shews how applicable it was to the devotion of the word; ami ujro)t-;iMi is well known to signify players disguised (as Gentiles. (Compare 1 Kings xviii. 20; and Acts xix. .34.) It is the Grecian actors used to be) in masks ; not to say that the sound- plain that the Jews were running into the same fault, if we may \ ing a trumpet may allude to the music of the stage. 1 have endea- judge by their oldest Liturgies. (See Le Clerc, in loc. and Selden, voured to express this in the phrases here used in the paraphrase. de Syned. lib. i. cap. xii. p. 467, et seq.J And Dr. Wotton has A They have their reward.] Sir Norton Knatchbull earnestly illustrated the text so well, if it be considered as referring to them, G 82 THE PRAYER CHRIST TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES. SECT, heathens to do in the invocation of their deities; /or they foohshly //i////: they shall not vain repetition?, as the 40. be heard in their addresses to them /or their speaking much. Be not ye therefore in he''*''*'" ''" V*"^ ""'^ """'' this respect like them, since you are so much better instructed in the divine nature than tiie^ mudf s^lelking"'^^ '""^ MATT, they, and cannot but know that your prayers are intended to affect your own hearts, that 8 Beuotjetheretoieiike ^'- „ they may be fit to receive blessinsjs, and not to inform or work upon the heart of God : I","'" i!'^''"* *, ^"'^, ^?Vx •^''' 8 r L in^/ ■ ?xi. Ill- ^ 11 ; "'<"'' knoweth wliat things Jor your heavenly tattler is ready to bestow his blessings on you, and always knows yeliaveneed of, before ye what you really want, even before you ask him ; which therefore should teach you to ^^^ '""i- avoid whatever may look like prescribing to him, by too minute and repeated a detail of " — -' particulars. 9 T/tus therefore pray ye, or to this effect at least, and in this plain, concise, and humble 9 Afterthis manner there- manner, if not in these very words : " Our Father, who art seated on a throne of glory whlcrart m'hla"ven^''hai- " in the highest heaven ; while we bow before thine aw^ul presence with the humblest lowed he thy name " reverence, we would nevertheless approach thee wjjh a filial confidence, as our boun- " tiful and compassionate Parent ; uniting our supplications to thee, with hearts full of " brotherly love, and asking for each other the blessings we seek for ourselves. We would " so remember our relation to thee, as to be above all things concerned for thy glory : and " therefore make it our first petition. May thy illustrious name be sanctified ! May the " whole race of mankind, yea, the whole world of intelligent creatures, p^y that dutiful " veneration to thy divine majesty,' which thy matchless perfections so justly require ! 10 " And for this purpose, may that thy kingdom, which thou art now introducing among lo Thy kingdom come: " men, more perfectly come,^ may it be established with greater efficacy, be more clearly ^J^-^ ^-j'-^ heaven^ '" ^'""' " discovered, and more resolutely pursued ! May thy will, always wise and always gra- " cious, be done, as in heaven, so likewise upon earth ; and may we mortals be taught " to regard it with a resignation, acquiescence, and obedience,' resembling that of the 11 " heavenly spirits ! And as for ourselves, O Lord, we would not seek the great things " Give us this day our " of life, we would not be anxious about its distant futurities, but humbly entreat thou *" y '*^ = " wouldst open that bountiful hand on which we continually depend, and wouldst give " us this day our daily bread,"^ providing a competent supply fOr our present necessi- 12 " ties, and teaching us to refer the rest to thy continual paternal care! And though we p And forgive us our " have in many respects been disobedient and ungrateful children, yet we beseech thee, aehtoVs^^ "'^ tofgive our " O most compassionate Father, to forgive us our offences, whereby we stand charge- " able, as it were, in thy book, with debts whicfi we can never clear : yet do thou freely " forgive them all, as we also desire to forgive our debtors, even all that have in any " respect offended and injured uS: yea, such pardon may we receive from thee, our God, 13 " as we are willing to impart to them !" And do not bring us into circumstances of 13 And load us not into " pressing temptation, lest our virtue should be vanquished, and our souls endangered by froml\^TM-OT tiihie^rtho ''• them ; but if we must be thus tried, do thou graciously rescue us from the power of kingdom, and the power, " the evil one," that he may not triumph in our sin and ruin ! Tliese things we know ^"„^g,|'"^ ^''""y' *^"'' '''^'''■■ " that thou canst do for thy children, and we arehurably bold to hope thou wilt do them " for us : for thine is the kingdom of universal nature,? and the fulness of almighty " power, and the glory of infinite perfection ; and to thee be the praise of all ascribed "for ever. Amen. So may it be ! We most sincerely and earnestly desire that thou " mayst be glorified, and our petitions heard and accepted." 1 4 Let this be the model of your prayers, for these are the most important blessings you can ^ i^or if y beauty and spii'it in the interpretation which Mr. Addison gives of myself to omit it. And J hope the Igarned reader will excuse me, this petition : Spectat. Vol. III. No. 207. if, in matters of moment, 1 sometimes seem over-cautious of omit- m Our daily //read : rov ajrov num tov tmowiov.] I can sec no ting some passages which are indeed wanting in many ancient reason for changing our received translation, and cannot but ac- manuscripts, and omitted by some celebrated commentators, quiesce in Mr. Mede's remark, that tiriouti.o? signifies what is suffi- ancient as well as modern. I apprehend T shall have done my cienl for our present .•support Ani\ subsistence, as ws^iouffio? signifies part, in thus hinting at the doubt which learned men have enter- al>undant : so that this petition is nearly parallel to tliat of Agur, tained concerning them, wliere I conceive the reasons for such Prov. XXX. 8. (See Mede's Works, p. 12').) This is a most excellent doubt to be considerable.-— For the word amen, as it signifies truth, lesson to teach us, on the one hand, moderation in our desires, and see note g, on John i. 51. p. 44, when added to the conclusion of on the other, an humble dependence on Divine Providence for the our prayers, it is intended to express the sincerity and earnestness most necessary supplies, be our possessions or our abilities ever so with which we desire the blessing we ask, with some cheerliilne.<;s B''cat. * of hope as to the success of our petitions. REFLECTIONS ON THE PRACTICE OF RELIGIOUS DUTIES. 83 15 But if ye forgive not a truly religious principle : But (f^ou do not forgive men ihcir offences, but continue to SECT. men their trespasses, nei- cherish resentment, and to seek revenge, neither will that God whom you call i/our hea- 40. ther will your Fatlier for- ^ r ^t r u- ■ a- ■ i /• • a- ' i ^ i give your trespasses. venly tather own you tor his genume oiisprmg, diVia forgive you your offences ; but by — : using the petition I have now been prescribing, you will in effect bind do^vn a curse upon matt. yourselves. -......- "VI. iG Moreover, when ye I would also apply the general advice I before gave to fasting as well as to prayer; and 16 frites^ofa°s° dcouiiTenance- ^^ould again exhort you, That w/ien you keep a private fast, (as I conclude my disciples fortheydisfiguretlieir faces' will often do,) you be not like the hypocrites, going about with a dejected, melancholy that tiiey may appear unto f^^e, and putting On a dismal air ; for upon these occasions they emaciate, contract, and iTnto yout^f liey'^lmve tlfeir deform their Countenances,"^ that, by their sad and mournful looks, they may appear to rewar'd. men to fast, and may be esteemed as persons of unusual mortification and holiness : verily I say unto you. That in this notice that is taken of them by their fellow-creatures, they have 17 But thou, when tliou all their reward, and have not any to expect from God. But thou, O my disciple, when 17 ^^d^v*ash"th'" foce"*^ '^'^^''' ^^'^"' ^^^^P*^'^^ ^^^^ a fast, and comest from thy devout retirement, dress thyself just as thou 18 That tliou appear not dost at Other times ; anoint thy head with oil, and wash thy face,' instead of fouling it unto men to fast, but unto ^jfh aslies : That thou mayest not appear to men as one that fasteth, but only to thy 18 cret • and^tlX Fathtfr wliidi Father wlio is in Secret ; and thy Father, who sees in secret, and observes what passes seeth in secret, shall reward in retirement, as the surest test of men's true characters, will not fail to reward thee openly thee openly. f^j. jj^y genuine and unaffected devotion. IMPROVEMENT. Let us learn from these repeated admonitions of our blessed Redeemer, what is the only acceptable principle of Ver. 1 every religious action ; namely, a desire to approve ourselves to God in it : and let us particularly bring it into the 5, 16 instances in which it is here recommended. Our Lord takes it for granted, that his disciples would te both charitable and devout. Let us cultivate both 2, 6 these branches of the Christian temper, and avoid ostentation in both ; as remembering the day approaches, when every one of us must be made manifest in his true character before the tribunal of Christ. — And oh, what disco- veries will then be opened upon the world ! How many specious masks will be plucked off, that the hypocrite's character may appear in its native deformity ! ArfB, on the other hand, how many secret acts of piety and benevo- lence, which have been industriously concealed from human observation, will then shine forth in all their glory, celebrated and rewarded by God himself, who sees in secret, and whose eye penetrates all the recesses of our 18 houses and our hearts ! There may our praise and our portion be ! In the mean time, let us with humble pleasure obey the call of our divine Master, and be often addressing our heavenly Father in such language as he hath taught us ; entering for secret exercises of devotion into our closet, and shutting our door, excluding, as far as possible, every thought which 6 would interrupt us in these sacred and happy moments. From thence let our prayers daily come before the throne like incense, and the lifting up of our hands be as the morning and the evening sacrifice. (Psal. c.xli. 2.) Christ himself has condescended to teach us to pray. Attentive to his precepts, animated by his example, and 9 — 13 emboldened by his intercession, let us learn and practise the lesson. Shed abroad on our hearts, O Lord, thy Spirit of Adoption, which may teach us to cry, Abba, Father! to draw nigh to thee with filial reverence and confidence, and with fraternal charity for each other even for the whole family, to whom thou graciously ownest the relation ! Inspire us with that zeal for thy glory, which may render the honour of thy name, the prosperity of thy kingdom, and the accomplishment of thy will, far dearer to us tlian any interest of our own ! On thee may we main- tain a cheerful dependence for our daily bread, and having food and raiment, be therewith content ! (1 Tim. vi. 8.) most solicitously seeking the pardon of our past sins, and the influences of thy grace to preserve us from future temptations, or to secure us in them ! And may our sense of that need in which we stand of forgiveness from thee, dis- 14, 15 pose us cordially to forgive each other, especially as thou hast wisely and graciously made this the necessary means of receiving our own pardon ! Our corrupted hearts are too little disposed for these sen*iments ; but may God's al- mighty power produce and cherish them in us ! and while the comfort is ours, may all the glory be his, through Jesus Christ our Lord ! Amen. . "^•. i . - • SECTION XLL Our Lord cautions his disciples against the love of the present world, and urges a variety of lively and con- vincing arguvtents to dissuade them from anxiety about the morrow. Matt. vi. 19, to the end. Matt. vi. \o. Matt. vi. 19. Lay not up for yourselves I WOULD also take this opportunitv of cautioning you, my hearers, against tliat covetous SECT, mouri^d'JusTd'oYh'cwru'^^^^^ temper, which the Pharisees are so ready to indulge, (compare Luke xvi. 14 ; and Matt. 41. and where thieves break xxiii. 14.) and therefore add. Do not make it yoiu- great care to lay up for yourselves through and steal: treasures here on earth, where so many accidents may deprive you of them; where the matt. moth, for instance, may spoil your finest garments, and a devouring canker may consume your corn, or may corrupt the very metals you have hoarded f and where thieves may 19 q Emaciate, contract, and deform their covntenances.'\ I know r Anoiitf ftii/ head -with o\\, ind wash l/ii/ fice.'} This was usual not any word in our language which exactly answers to aprMtt^s-ri in among the Jew.s, not only at feasts, but at other times. Compare this connection. It is rendered corrupt, in ver. 20. (compare Acts Ruth iii. .3 ; 2 Sam. xiv. 2 ; and .Judith xvi. 8. On the other hand, xiii. 41 ; Heb. viii. 1.3 ; and James iv. 14.) and properly signifies to dust and ashes were often used in times of deep mourninq, or public change, spoil, and consume ; and is with peculiar elegance anplica- fasting, wliich must sa ft. *'*'^ **** "^ '^'"- I^'*''' seems to understand it so, and thinks our G 2 8i THERE IS NO SERVING GOD AND MAMMON; SECT, dig through tlie strongesl walls that you have raised about them, and may steal them 41. .away. But build your happiness on a nobler and more certain foundation, and .store up 20 But lay up loi- vom- for f/ourselves treasures in heaven, where none of these accidents can happen ; where selves treasures in iieiviu; MATT, neither moth nor canker can consume them, and where thieves cannot break in, nor rnl^*^ ,i^\7."^!L,!?,'°*'' '"T \Ti 111 li.il PI" 111 11 I lIsL UOIII COriUpi, tllHl * '• steal them away ; but the arms ot everlastmg power anu love sliail secure you from every «liere thieves do not bre;!k 20 calamity and invasion. - " threugh, nor steal. 21 The infiuence wliich this advice will. have on your whole conduct, should engage you 21 For where your trea to attend more diligently to it ; fur where tiiat which you account your chief treasure is, '"r^ is, there will your heart there wi/t i/our heart also he, and (hither \Aill the tendency and series of your actions be 22 referred. See therefore that you form a light judgment on so important an article, and do . ^2 Tlie light of the body not over- value the world and its enjoyments. For as the ej/c is the lainp of the whole thine^eyrbe 'sing'iertby bodjj ; and therefore, on the one hand, if thine eye be etcar,^' and free from any vitiating whole body shall be full <>( 23 humour, thi/ x)hole bodi/ will be full of light : But, on the other hand, if thine e//e he ''^23 'uuj jf ti,i„e e p ij.. distempered, thy whole body will be full of darkness: so it is with respect to the evil, thy whole body shall practical judgment you form as to the worth of earthly and heavenly eniovments. 7/" be full of darkness: if there. th r 41 r I J tl 4 ■ ■ j7 111 1 i ■ il i 1 I t J -c fore the lltrht that !S in thee tnerejore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness ! and if be darkness, how "rest is the maxims you lay down to yourselves arc wrong, liow very erroneous must your con- that darkness ! duct be ! 24 And do not impose upon yourselves so far as to imagine that your hearts can be equally 24 No man can serve two divided between heaven and c-arth: for as no man can serve two masters whose interests JJIft^The one "^amriovVthe and commands are directly contrary to each other ; but will quickly appear either com- other; or else he will hold paratively to hate the one, and love the other; or, by degrees at least, will grrow weary to the one, and despise the i- T 11 •. .■ . II ,■ 1 , .; I ., 1 . S other. Ye cannot serve Uod 01 SO disagreeable a situation, so as to achcre entirely to the one, and quite neglect and and Mammou. abandon the other : .so you will find t/ou cannot at the same time serve God and Mammon," that unworthy idol to which so many are devoting their hearts and their pursuits. 25 And I would charge you therefore to take heed that your affections be not engaged in 25 Therefore I say untu Take no thought for a service SO inconsistent with religion and true happiness ; and in particular, I say unto lom ut^X"^'\t\^^^ i/ou,'^ Be not distressed with anxious cares about your subsistence in life,^.what ycu shall or whatyeshalfdrink; nor eat, and what you shall drink, when your present stock of provisions is gone ; not^, with y«' j'""' y""'' ' all put on when the garments you have are worn life more ti" body, what ye respect to your body, what you shall put on when the garments you have are worn ]'ife"m'ore than meat, and out. Is not life a better and more valuable gift than food, and the body than raiment ? the body than raiment? And if it be', why should you not trust that almighty and gracious Being who formed your bodies, and inspired them with life, to maintain the work of his own hands ? 26 You may surely do it, when you reflect on his care of the inferior creatures. I^ook on 26 Behold tl-.e fowls of the birds of the air, fur instance, that are now flying around you :'' for though they are n^ftifej!' ,{0' th^^ renT "ulr gay an I cheerful to a proverb, yet do they neither sow nor reap : r or do they, like some gather into bams; yet'your other animals, gather a stock of food into hoards, to lay up for winter ; and yet the rich I'eavenly Father feedeth providence of your heavenly Father plentifully yt-er/e/^ them: and are not you his better than they P children, much more valuable in his sight than they ; as well as much better furnished with means of providing for yoiu'selves ?e Why then should you at any time siispect his 27 care ? And after all, this immoderate carefulness is useless, as well as unnecessary ; for 27 Which of yon which of you can, by [all his'] anxiety, add to his age or vigour'' so much as one cubit, cubH^u'ilto"\fis'starure? or even the smallest measure or moment beyond what God shall appoint ? Nay, it is i^y Lord here refers to clothes, grain, and gold, as the chief treasures respectively obnoxious to moth, .smut, and thieves ; which may seem the more probable, as a different word, lof, is used for rust. Jam. v. ,3. But as (3^w3it properly si^'-nifies any thing that eats into another substance, I rather cho^-e to render it canker, which has much the same ambiguity ; ana to [ ..raphrase if in a manner in- cludins both the senses. rivalion of it. There is no need therefore to say, (as Archbishop Tillotson, Vol. II .p. 255. and Dr. Clarke in his Sermons, \o\. III. p. , lie, et seq. do,) that our Lord only addressses this to his apostles, who were to cast themselves on an extraordinary providence, with out being any ways concerned themselves for their support. Mr. Blair has well proved the contrary at large in his e&^eUent Ap- ...... J, .^yi,. L.t ot.,o^o. pfnilix to bis fourth Sermon, Vol. I. p. 55, el seq. and itTs easy to b Jf thine et/e be clear, &c.] Some commentators have explained observe, that the arguments our Lord urges contain nothing pecii- tliis, as if our Lord intended here to urge the practice of liberaliti/, liar to their case, but arc built on considerations applicable to all as what would have a great influence on the whole of a man's Christimis. Compare Phil. iv. 6. and 1 Pet. v. 7. as also Luke.xxii. character and conduct; and suppose it illustrated by all those pas- 35, 36. and Acts xx. 34. from whence it appears that the aposlhs sages where an evil eye signifies a grudging temper, and a good eye themselves were not entirely to neglect a prudent care for their own a bountiful disposition, (compare Deut. 15. 9. Prov. xxiii. 6. xxviii. subsistence, in dependence' on miraculous provisions. 22. and xxii. 9. Kebr.) and also by those texts in which simplicity f 7%(/.s o/"Wpai> now flying around you.] It is not so proper^ is put for libcrnlity, (Rom. xii. 8. and 2 Cor. viii. 2. ix. 11, 13. Gr.) to render otsteiv^ fowls, as that word generally signifies the larger ) See Hammond, Whitjjy, L'Enfant, and Beausobre, /n/oc. But the kind of birds, and especially those under the care of men. — For'' sense given above appears mo.st natural, as well as most extensive. — mentioning the birds as then in their sight, see the latter part of I have rendered anrxat clear, rather than single, as less ambiguous, note o, on Matt. v. 14. p. 75. and with more evident propriety aiiplied to the eye : it is opposed g Are not you much more valuable titnn they, as well as much bet- to an eye overgrown with a. film, which would obstruct the sight. ter furnished with means of providing for yourselves ?] Otx v/jnis i c God and Mammon.'] Mammon is a Syriac word for riches, which ix-xwm JikPe^ete au,t..», may be rendered. Have not you greatly titg ad>J our Lord beautifully represents as a person whom the folly of men vantage of them ? which may refer to men's being capable of sow- liad deified. It is well known the Greeks had a fictitious god of ing, reaping, and gathering into barns, which the birds are not: and wealth ; but I cannot find that he was ever directly worshipped in though I rather prefer the former sense, I thought it not improper Syria under the name of Mammon. to hint at the other; as 1 have ^lone in many other places where d Therefore I say unto yon, is.Q.'] A late writer, who takes upon such ambiguities have occurred, him, by the strength of his own reason, to reject at pleasure what li Can add to his age.] It is well known, that this is frequently the apostles believed and taught, strangely complains of a want of tie signification of the word r,\ixiz ; there being many places connection between this and the preceding verse. But can there where it is evident that it is used for age, (as John ix. 21," 23. and be any better reason assigned against immoderate nnri'f/y than M/.?, Heb. xi, 11.) and certainly it makes tlie brst sense here: for it is '> that such a-subjection to Mammon as this expresses, is utterly in- seldom found that persons are solicitous about growing a cubit * consistent with the love and service of God? taller. — I confess a cubit of age is not a common phrase among u.s, e He not anxious about your subsistence in life.] It is certain though an inch of lime be sometimes used ; and in this view had I that the word meC'/"*^''' generally signifies an excessive anxiety ,■ rendered cubit by moment, as a learned friend who remarked on this (see Luke x. 41. xi. 11. xxi. 31. and Plul. iv. 6. and indeed almost p,",ssage advised,'it would h»ve been very justifiahlc. every other place where it is used ;) which i.' agreeable lo the de- REFLECTIONS ON THE PROHIBITION OF ANXIETY. 85 much more probaljle you should rather impair than strengthen your constitution by in- sect. duli^ing such a temper, which sometimes brings on grey hairs and death before their time. 4i. And why take yc And CIS for raiment, win/ are you arhvioux {itbout that *] Observe not only the 28 Alia wny laKt- yc jiliiu uo jui lunii^in, «./../ «. - ^...^ « l :""" ' -' . i ,- ", i thought for raiment ? Con- animal, but what is yet much lower, the vegetable part of the creation; and particularly, matt. how't^i^v'X"*' Ihey^toli considtT there the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not to prepare the VI. not, iieitiie? do they spin : materials of their covering, nor do they spin or weave them into garments : 1 et I say 29 29 And yet I say auto ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ rp/^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^t^^^ magnificent 'Solonioii, in all his royal glory, when sitting on iliThis^giol^rs not arrayed his tlirone of ivory and gold, (1 Kmgs X. 18.) was not arrayed in garments of so pure like one of tliese. a white,' and of such curious workmanship, as one of these lilies presents to your view. 30 Wherefore, if God so ji^d [f God SO clothe the (rrass of the field, and shelters and adorns the flov/er'' that 30 'r'hHofari's^and'^lo' grows wild amongst it, which is Uhurishbig'] to-day, and peihaps to-morrow is thrown morrow i"s east 'into the into the fumace OX the still,' IwUl ht^ not much more [clothe^ you, his servants and his oven, shall he not much children ' O ve of little faith ! that you should be so diffident as to distrust his care, or in more clothe you, O ye of ' -' ;' . . ■ little faith ' the least to doubt oi it ! . . 31 Therefore take no 5^? ;,oi; 7/e M<'/'rt\?ort or the vegetable, and likewise guards it from the injuries of the wea- the word v^o^iinnTccL, than which expression nothing could Have tlier. Every microscope iri which a flower is viewed, affords a been more proper; for these temporal blessings are by no nieans 1 ively comment on this te.-^ essential to the stipulations of the covenant of grace but are entirely 1 /s thrown into the furnace or the still] I apprehend that this to be refeucd to the Divine good pleasure, to add or withhold, as may be as properly the signification of the word x>^ie«mv as oven, God shall sec fit. Compare 1 Kings iii. 11 — 13. and that the rense will thus npiiearto be more easy ; for it can 86 HE ENCOURAGES THEM TO FERVENCY IN PRAYER. SECT, incorruptible treasure in heaven, in which we shall be rich and happy, when the riches of this world are consumed 41. with their owners, and the whole fashion of it is passed away. While these divine maxims are spreading their light about us, let our eye be clear to behold them, and our MATT, heart open to receive them; and let us cautiously guard against those deceitful principles of action, which would ^i- give a wrong bias to all our pursuits, and turn the light which is in us into a fatal and incurable darkness. " .f . S 5 • SECTION XLII. Our Ijord proceeds in his discourse to caution his disciples against rash judgment, and to exhort ihetn to , . inipartia/iti/, prudence, prater, and resolution ; and warns them against seducers. Matt, vii, 1 — 20 Matt. vii. 1. "V T IVI ATT vii 1 SECT. 1 OU, my disciples, live in a very censorious age, and Jhe scribes and Pharisees, who are Judge not that ye be uoi ^■^' in the highest esteem for the strictness of their lives, place a great part of their own rehgion j udged. in condemning others j"* but see' to it, that you do not Judge those about you in this rigor- *'^.7".^* ous and severe manner, nor pass such unnecessary or uncharitable censures upon them, that ' .-y you may not yourselves be judged with the like severity. For in this respect you will find, 2 For with what judff- " that according to the judgment -with "which you judge others, you shall be judged : and r"^"* y^ judge, ye shall he by that very measure that ye mete to them, it shall be measured back to you : God and niei^nre vf'mete' it shril man will make great allowances to the character of the candid and benevolent ; but they te measured to you again, must expect " judgment without mercy, who have shewed no mercy ;" nor can they deny the equity of such treatment. (Jam. ii. 13.) 3 The caution I have mentioned is more apparently necessary, considering how prone men 3 And why behoidest are to be partial to themselves : but why dost than, whoever thou art, look at that little in- thou the mote tiiat is in thy ~ firmity which is but like a mote in thy brother s eye, while thou observest not the much est not the beam that'isTii 4 greater fault, which is like a beam in thine own eye J*"^ Or how canst thou say to thy thine own eye? brother, with any appearance of justice, or any degree of assurance. Hold still, [and'] I will tothv brothe^'lV* 'me '^h take the mote out of thine eye :^ while, behold, it is much more visible that [there is] a out the mote'out of thine 5 beam iji thine own eye Y Thou partial hypocrite, begin thy reformation at home, and ^ye: and, bthokl, a beam make it ihy first care to clear out the beam from thine own eye, or to correct the errors of 5 Thou hypocrite first thy judgment, and the enormities of thy life ; and t/mi wilt thouloetter discern [how] to f^'^t out tlie beam out of ranove the mote out of thy brother's eye, and niayst attempt it with more decency, as Ih"iui°ou"ce^ciearTv1o*'as't well as greater probability of success. out the mote out of thy bro 6 I would farther remind you, that how unexceptionable soever your own characters may t'lfjr's eye. Uii • ixL liiix i ■ c >i •'6 (jive not that which is be, there is some caution to be used in attemptmg to reprove, or even to miorm otiiers ; or holy unto the dogs, neiti'.ei- you may expose your admonitions to contempt, and yourselves to abuse. Give not that ^ast ye your pearls before holy \_food] to dogs, or to such profane, furious, and persecuting wretches as deserve no them 'under thdr feet"a?id better a name ; nor cast your precious pearls of heavenly wisdom before such profligate turn again and rend you. sensualists, as resemble s-wine rather than men ; lest, as those brutal creatures might do if jewels were thrown before them, they trample them under their feet with scorn, and turning [upon you,] as if they had received an injury rather than a favour, fasten on you, and tear you :^ for so extremely sordid and malignant will you find many in these dege- nerate days. 7 Now, whether you want wisdom to guide you in these difficulties, or fortitude to animate 7 Ask, and it shall be you against such hardships: or, in a word, whatever your exigencies or necessities may ^'^T."/"!"' ■^'''■'^' ''"^ ye V P., ... ■ L ■ I •, 7 ;/ / • * I ■, ; 1 ,, •'''•3" find; knock, aud it DC, asic trie aivine assistance m prayer, and tt snuil be given you ; seek it, and you shall shall be ojiened unto you: find it : and if it be a while delayed, knock with repeated importunity at the door of mercy, ^ •'<"■ ^^'-'''y o"e that ask- 8 and it shall at length he graciously opened to you. To this you are encouraged by the s1eUrfirie\f.;\"nd\ohrm experience of every praying soul; for every one that asketh aright, receiveth : and he that knockcth it shall be that diligently seeketh,findeth : and to hint that patiendy knocketh, [the door] shall be "P""^*^- opened. 9 Or what man is there 9 And indeed^ it is no inconsiderable encouragement, which you may derive from that brp'aj"\"nT '^„.'",^/i''" ''*'!' i natural aifection to your offspring which a merciful God has infused into the hearts of stone? " a Place a ^-cat part of their own religion in condemning others.] it is as absurd for a bad man to set up for a repr/ver ot others, as it Though Christ does not so directly level his discourse against the would be for one that is almost blind himself to pretend to perform Pharisees in tiiis chapter, as in the two foregoing, he seems to glance operations on other men's eyes. ; upon them in this and other expressions which he uses in it. ']'hat d And tvrninfj [upon t/oii] tear you. I cannot blame the trai;sla-N ;' they were culpable on this head appears from such passages as tion of 1727, which follows Castalio, and renders \t, lest these {X\\it 'j Luke xviii. ()— 1-14 ; xvi. 15, 16 ; and John vii. 47, 49. (Compare is, the swine,) tnimple tliem underfoot, and those (that is, the dogs,) A Isa. Ixv. ft.) Their unjust censures of Christ are the strongest in- turn upon you and tear you. This may perhaps be our Lord's mean i stances of it that can be conceived. ing, but it did not seem necessary to alter the version, as it is possi. * b Look nl a mole in tlnj brother's eye, while thou observest not the ble that dogs might trample upon jewels, and swine might be ready ' l>eam in thine n-'n eye.] Dr. Lighlfoot (//or. ffebr.in toe.) has shewn, to wound those that disturbed them.— That the figure here supposed that this expression, as well as that in ver. 2. was a proverb among is sometimes u.ied, does indeed appear by comparing Matt, xii, 22 ) the Jews. The word xi(.j:os, which we render wo/f, is well explained 1 Cor. xi. 11; 2Cor. ii. 1.5; and Philem. ver. 5. But I think the by Hesychius, who tells us it signifies a little splinter of wood; ' order of the words, as they stand in the original, may very well be (though others understand it of a .-imall seed ; ) and thus it is op. retained in the translation of these places; for the transposition of posed to ooxov, a large beam, with great propriety. But as it is im- words, even where there is a trajection in the sense, is so dangerous possible that such a thing as a beam of wood should be lodged in a thing wlt«re sacred writers are in question, that no small advan. I the eye, I am ready to imagine, that these words mi^htBignil'y dif- tage gained in elegance or perspicuity seems suflicicnt to counter- l ferent kinds of distempers to which that tenxler part fs sub)ect ; the balance it. fornicr of which might be no more, in comparison of the latter, e And indeed.] Dr. Whitby thinks, that where the particle r, is { than a .'/';'">;, or splinter, to« beam. placed at the beginning of a sentence, it is intended merely for a c Hold still {and] I will take the mote out of thine eye.] This seems mark of interrogation ; and in this way it is that, he supposes, ^^e *" "<= the exact meaning of xf-^ exe.axv, wln'ih 1 chose to translate are to understand it here, and likewise "in Matt. xx. 15 ; and 1 Cor. thus literally, as 1 think it tlegantly intimates how ready men are xiv. ;J6. But as the sense will very fitly bear it, I conceive that in to shrink back from reproof. The-stmile here used implies, that each of these places it may be rea^eied'indeed. HE CAUTIONS THEM AGAINST SEDUaNG TEACHERS. 87 those of you that are parents ; for ivhat one man is there among you^ in all this nume- SECT. 10 Or if lie ask a fish, rous assembly, xcho, if his son should ask him fur bread, tvill give him a stone? Or if 42. will he give him a serpent! he aslc hm\ for a fish xvill give him a serpent? Can you imagine any father could be- so unnatural as to deny the necessary supplies of life to his hungry child ; and instead of matt. n If ye tiieii, being evil, these, to give him what would starve or poison him ? If therefore you, imperfect and evil ^'^ know how to g(vc good ^^ yQ^ Qy(.^ and some of you perhaps tenacious, froward, and unkuid, yet knoio hoxc to ^ ho^w niuch more^shaU your (§""" 5"°" -^yho set up for religious teachers, will in some degree increase the difficulty and danger. ID sheep s clothing, but _,,„t^ ° 7-,,i /. ;° ;, ; , -i?- inwardly they are ravening iie therefore On your guard against \h05Q false prophets, who come to you indeed m wolves : the clothing of shecp,^ in the most specious forms of humility, innocence, and piety ; but inwardly are ravening wolves, which seek nothing but to feed themselves by the 16 Ye shall know them destruction of the flock. And you will find, on a more accurate observation of their 16 by their fruits. Do men actions, that you may generally know them by their fruits,^ and discover, through all f }f'hnt one man is there amonc) you?'] This seems to be the em- 26,27.) However, therefore, I allow that persecutions are to be phasis of n; Efiv Eju^irjvivS^wTro! ; some think it also to imply the same included among other diificulties, yet I can see no reason to be- as if it had been said, Wliicli of you is there, lhoUf}li but a man ? And lieve that martyrdom was so common in the age of those to whom as what is added in the eleventh verse plainly e.vpresses this sense, Christ addressed Jiimself, as to be spoken of in such general lan- perhaps it might also be intended here. — Young preachers will, I guage as the gate leailing to life : not to insist upon it, that our hope, observe how much life and force it adds to these discourses Lord now speaks of what then was, and not what would he the case of our Lord, that they so closely are directed, through the whole of in future years; and that he mentions the gate before the way; them, as an immediate address to his hearers ; and are not loose and whereas I tliink Mr. Hallet's interpretation would have required general harangues, in the manner of those essays which are now a different order. — Vi'hen Grotius refers the .«/rn/7«i?ss o///'? fffl/^ to grown so fashionable in pulpits. If any are grown too polite to' the difficulty of virtue in itself, and the ruggedness of the way to learn true oratory from Chri.st, I wish they would at least learn it accidental oppositions, he seems to refine too much. — Wany parallel from Demosthenes, who, I doubt not, would have admired the elo- passages from heatheu writers may be seen in him and Dr. quence of this sermon. Whitby. g Being animated Mfrp/ore by his goodness.] Some would have k IV/io come to you in the clothing of sheep.] It is a very low us to consider the particle out in this passage as a mere expletive ; thought to suppose that our Lord here refers to the rough habit but there is certainly a force in the connection, beyond what most worn by false prophets of old ; for which purpose so many critics have observed. See the excellent Discourses of Bishop Atterbury quote Zech. xiii. 1 ; and, very unaccountably, Heb. xi.-37. For, and Dr. Evans upon it ; which illustrate the sense, reasonableness, not to insist on the probability there is that "those rough garments and use of this golden law, in a manner that deserves the most might be made of .'/of'<'.« or crtmW's /(rt/r, rather than woo/, (compare attentive perusal. 2 Kings i. 8; and Matt. iii. 4.) the beauty of the simile is lost by h One of the greatest ends of both.] I say one of the greatest, this interpretation. A wolf iu sheep's clothing is grown into a that this may be reconciled with our Lord's declaring the love of proverb for a wicked man that makes a great profession of religion, God to be the first and great commandment ; (Matt. xxii. 38.) and it yet cannot dissemble so well as not to be discovered by attentive is indeed a most absurd and fatal error to imagine that the regula- observation ; which was just the character of the Pharisees in our 1 tion of social life is the o^nly end of religion. I fear many good- Saviour's days ; see Matt, xxiii. 23 — 28; and Luke xi. 39 — 42. i natured deists will perish by takring this one principle for granted, 1 Vou may linoiv them by their fruits.] The characters of men j and my heart is wounded with the sad apprehension of it. are not to l>e discovered by the doctrines that the;/ teach ; and i Persecutions — will increase the difficulty.] In order to recon- therefore th.is cannot (as some have thought;) be the' meaning ot cile what is here advanced with those passages which assert Chrisrs knoiving litem, who were their teachers, by their fruits. It is more yol ; Gal. v. 16, 17; and 1 Cor ix. whose influence over the people was so injurious to the gospel, and S8 REFLECTIONS ON THE M/VXIMS CHRIST HAS TAUGHT US. SECT, their disguise, that base character Avhich kuks beneath, and which may justly render you gaiher grapes of tjioms 42. suspicious as to their doctrines: (2 Tim. iii. 5 — 9.) For do van look to gal her grapes ngsof tlnstlcs ! frotn thorns, or figs from thistles .^'" Or can it be expected by you, in a common MATT, way, that you should gather spiritual advantage, or should obtain religious Improvement, ^'^ Ironi the lessons of wicked men ? Their influence, on the whole, will be more likely to ^^ Even^ so, every k'""' 17 debauch than edify your minds; for as the fruit will be agreeable in its nature and4>.indto h\i\\.; " u*t'^ a' corrupt ''tr"e the tree that produces it, even so, ever// good tree produces" good J^ruit, hut a corrupt bringeth forth evil fruit. free produces had fruit ; and in like manner will the fruits that men produce be answer- IS abLe to the habitual frame and disposition of their hearts. Nor can it indeed be otherwise i8 A gond tree cannMt in the usual course of things ; for as a good tree cannot bear evil fruit, so neither can a jj^fif^.^ 'cJ'/'i cnmi t"tne \Q corrupt tree hear good fruit ; (compare Matt. xU. 33 — 35. sect. Ixii.) And therefore, bring forth good fruit, by the way, to prevent such false pretenders to religion from being a lasting incumbrance '^ Every tree that brinL;- and mischief, they shall assuredly be overtaken by the righteous judgment of God : and as iicwu^dowii and'cast into th'e > you see, that evert) tree which, after a competent trial, hcareth not good fruit, how fair fire, and flourishing soever it may seem, is cut down, and cast into the fre ; such too will be the end of hypocritical professors and ungodly men, which it becomes you all seriously to | 20 consider. Upon the whole, it will be found that there is now a difference in men's 20 'Wherefore by their | characters correspondent to the great difference to be made in their future (^tate ; so that ^^^^^^ 5"^ ^•"'•' "^""^^ ^''*'™- i I had reason to say that you a// «// generally tcnoxo them bif their fruits : the disguise will\ i fall oiF in an imguarded moment, and it will be your wisdom to observe and improve the i signal. IMPROVEMENT. When will the happy time come, m which Christians shall form themselves on these important maxims of their great Master ! When shall they be known to be his disciples, by the candour of their sentiments, the equity of ' their conduct, and the beneficence of their actions, as well as by the articles of their faith, and the forms of their ;' worship ! Let us all apply these charges to ourselves, in the dear and awful name of Him that gave them. ; Ver. i What can be more dreadful to us than to think of being severely judged by that God, without whose hourly ■ 2 forbearance and gracious indulgence we are all undone ? Let us then exercise that mercy which we need ; and to i' 3, 5 form our minds to this most reasonable temper, let us often be thinking of our own many infirmities, and be humbling ourselves before God on account of them. j 7, 8 Animated by the gracious invitations and the precious promises which are here given, with earnest importunity (' let us make our daily addresses to his throne ; asking, that we may receive; seeking, that we may find ; and knock- 9, 1 1 ing, that the door of mercy may be opened to us. And while any of us feel in our hearts the workings of parental '•; tenderness towards our infant offspring, let us consider it as a delightful emblem of yet greater readiness in our | heavenly Father, to pity and relieve his children. ' ; May universal righteousness and charity be practised by us in the whole of our behaviour, and may we alwaj/s exercise ourselves herein to have a conscience void of oiYence, both towards God and toxvards men ! (Acts xxiv. '■ 16.) May we avoid all manner of injustice, and guard against the sallies of a proud and overbearing temper !'j. May we be upright and benevolent in all our conduct ; and make it our constant care to govern our actions by j 12 that most equitable rule, Of doing to others as we would reasonably desire the?/ should do to us, on a change of ^ oiu- circumstances and theks ! Happy those generous souls, in whom the bias of self-love is so rectified, that they can in this instance hold the balance between themselves and others with an impartial and unwavering hand ! 20 On the whole, let us remember that we ourselves are at last to be tried by the rule by which we are here directed I ; 17, 18 to judge of others, even by the fruits which v,e produce. May God by his grace make the tree good, that the pro- ;' ductions of it may be found to his glory and the refreshment of all around us, that we may riot be cut down as j 19 cumberers of the ground, and cast into the fire ! , The way of life" which our blessed Redeemer has marked out for us in such precepts as these, may indeed to 1 13 cormpt nature appear rugged and narrow, and the gate strait through which we are to pass : but let us encourage .] 14 ourselves against all these difficulties, by considering that immortal life and glory to which they infallibly lead, j; Then shall we, doubtless, prefer the most painful way of piety and virtue, though witli yet fewer companions j, than we might reasonably expect, to all those flowery and frequented paths of vice which go down to the chambers ' .. of death. Oe^»('-i' -. ^ ' ' ' : - SECTION XLin. Our Lord concludes his sermon 07i the mount with a lively representation of the absolute necessitj/ of a practical regard to his precepts. Matt. vii. 21, to the end. Matt. vii. 21. Matt. vii.. 21. These are the precepts I thought proper to give you ; and you must govern your lives NOT every one jhat saith' by them, if ever you hope to find voiu- account in the most diligent attendance on my ""'" "V; H7'^'t3'"'^'i' ^l^llf •'..„..•' ^ •>, . , T 7 T ; 1 ■ 1 eutcr into the kinsnom of ministry: lor it is not even/ one who saith unto me. Lord, Lord, who is ready now heaven: but he that doptu yj, ■ in words to acknowledge me as his Master, or who at last with the most passionate the will of my Father which 21 and earnest cries entreats my mercy, that shall enter into the kingdom of heaven,'^ and " '" so exceeding mischievous to those who had a veneration for them, had it not in their nature to bear them, or of expecting r/ond from that our Lord found it necessary often to repeat such cautions, persons that were vicious and corrupt. Had Christ meant what has See Matt. xv. 12, 1.3, xvi. 6 ; xxiii. 2, et seq. Mark viii. 15; and commonly been supposed, he would rather have said, yon do not Lukexii. 1. find tlinrnx on n vinr, or thixtle^ on a Jirj-tree. m Do men gather grapes from t/iorns, or figs from thistles .?] These a Shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.'] Here the kingdom of words suppose the plant was Itnown to be a thorn or a thistle, and heaven must signify, that of glory above ; for calling Cluj.st, Lord, represent the folly of looking for grapes or figs from plants that is the very ciicuuistmcc which constitutes us the subjects of his SECT. 43. REFLECTIONS ON THE EXCELLENCE AND DIGNITY OF CHRIST'S DISCOURSES. 89 be admitted to the complete felicitj_ in which tlie administration I am now opening shall SECT, finally terminate ; but he only shall he entitled to that privilege, who conscientiously per- 43. forms, in the main series of his life, the holy xvillofvii/ Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say tome iu It will be yoiir wisdom to attend to these things; for though you now see me in what matt. that day, Lord, L<>rd, have j^-^j^y seem a mean and despicable form, the time will certainly come, when I shall appear ^'"• na*me '? amf ir'thv"name ^ the Universal Judge : and I now forewarn you, that mam/ will say to me in that dai/, 22 have cast out devils"! and in when their eternal state is to be determined. Lord, Lord, have we not been employed in derfuf works"" ™*"^ "*'°" distinguished offices in thy church, and been furnished for them even by miraculous en- dowments ? and in pursuance of them, have we not taught and prophesied in thy name ? and in the authority of thy name have cast out devils Y and in thy name have done inany 23 And then will I profess wonderful works ? And, nevertheless, I will then openly declare unto them, I never knexu 23 \iiito them, I never knew yo;/^ or never approved of your character,'' even when you made the most florid profes- that work tuiquit^. "' ^^ sion j*^ and therefore depart from me ye workers of iniquity :^ and whatever you that hear me may now imagine, that separation from me will be their everlasting destruction. 24 Therefore whosoever Hear therefore the conclusion of the whole matter, and seriously attend to it. Every 24 min'e""aud^'^doet1i^thera "l ''"^» whoever he be, and how great soever liis former irregularities may have been, wlio will liken him unto a w'ise heareth these 7ny words, and doeth them ; or in the main coiu^ of his life governs his man, which built his house temper and his actions by them, lays a solid foundation for present comfort, and everlasting upon a roc , security and joy : I will compare him \hexdove to a prudent man, who built his house 2a And the rain descend- upon a firm rock ; And the stormy rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds 25 theTlnlu bl'esv**^ri^*'Ca't '^^''^'' "^^^ ^^'"^ ^'^^ violence upon that house ; and it fell not, for it was founded on a upon that house j and it solid rock. And thus shall the good man's hopes be established, when they come, as all fell -not, for it was founded must come, to the strictest trial. But every one that heareth these my sayinos, and 26 "''at; Ami ''every one that '^^^eth them not, hovv constantly soever he may attend them, and whatever zeal he may heareth these sayings of profess for them, may justly be compared to a foolish man, who, without any care to ^"n h"rk'''"'i'' t ™ ""i' ^*^c''-ir^ the foundation, built his house upon the sand ; And the stonny 7-ain descended, 27 ish man, which built liis OJid the foods came, and the winds blew with a tempestuous violence, and struck di- house upnu the sand ; rectly on that house ; and it fell at once, and its ruin was great and wide, as the build- cd^andThe'^tioods'cameTnd i"S ^^^^ been : a lively emblem of the ruin which will another day overwhelm the unhappy 'the wiuiis blew, and 'beat man who trusts to an outward profession and form of godliness, when he does not sincerely upon that house ; and it ^nd practically regard it. tell, and great was the fall .^ , ■, ■' P ,1,1 , i i r ■ i 1 ,1 11 1 • » j/ ; ^„ of it. And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished ?//« K8.) will be "a suffi- cient answer to the objections which Mr. Whiston has urged against following the order of St. Matthew Iierc. See his Harmony, p. 107. and Jones's J'iniliralion, p. 112 — 121. d //a^in,7 s/r/c//// c/wrjff/ Am not to divulge the matter.] Some have supposed that fMSf'M'i'^MEWf avru implies that Christ reproved him sharply for the sin for which he had been visited with this dis- ease, and threatened him with the fatal consequence of it if he' returned to sin again : and in this case, the probability of what we' have supposed is strengthened, that this was spoken to him mpri-' rate, and was delivered in the same manner as the like caution was which Clirist afterwards gave to the impotent man. (Compare John V. 14. 5 46.) But as the word is generally used to signify the giving of a strict injiinction, or a solemn charge, (as Phavoriniis, Suidas, and Hesychius, have explained it,) I rather cliuse to under- stand it of tlie strict charge that Christ gave to the lejtcr not to' divulge the manner of his cure, which is expressly mentioned in' the following verse ; and in which sense it is evident that the samel word is used. Matt. ix. 30. \ 72. where the same charge is given to the two blind men that Clirist restored to sight. \ e See thou say iiniliing nntn any one of my having performed thisj cure.] Christ pmhably designed by this, not only to avoid the' shew of any ostentation of his miraculous power, but to prevent thei malice of the priests, who might have been unwilling to pronounce'; this leper clean, and have been ready to deny the cure, if they werei told that he was healed by one they were so strongly prejudiced; against; or might perhaps have censured Christ as having usurped, an odice that belonged to them, and taken upon him to pronounce a. leprous person clean. Christ therefore would not have him to' make known the circumstances of his cure to any, till he had firsf,^ of all been with the priest; and, upon this account, despatchea j him presently away, or sent him off in haste, that he might reaclij Jerusalem before tlie priests bail any information of this miracle ;,' as seems to be implied in the force of those words in ver. 43.i eulEos i%!&y.\ei xurov. See Grotius on Matt. viii. 4. and Lightfoot'(; Harmony, in he. CHRIST RETURNS AGiUN INTO CAPERNAUM. yi Mark i. 45. Insomuch And after some interval of time, the resort to him Mas so great, t/iat he could no longer SECT. that Jesus could no more openly enter into the citi/, without drawing a multitude of attendants after him, but was 44. bu^t°!/as^"vUhout' hrdesert obliged for a while to be chiefly without in desert places. And, to avoid tire interrup- ■ places:— tions of the crowd, //e frequently withdrew into the wilderness, and prayed ; chusing, luke d •^"''himseU" hito the'^wil" "^ these circunistances, to spend some time in more than ordinary devotion, that he migiit ^'• dLrness.'aiid prayed. engage a blessing on the truths he had so largely delivered, and obtain that success which 16 ^ this eagerness of the people seemed to promise to his gospel. " * IMPROVEMENT. Our souls are overspread with the leprosy of sin : and where should we apply for help, but to the healing Vei". 12 power and recovering grace of the great Redeemer ! Be the malady ever so deep, spreading, or inveterate, we may siuely adopt the ■v^ords of the leper before us, and say. Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And how much reason have we to hope his compassion will be moved in our favour, and his power exerted in our cure ! If we have received lliat favour, we are under the obligation of no connnand to conceal it. It is, on the con- mark trary, our duty most gratefully to publish it abroad, for the honoiu- of our Benefactor, and the advantage of those i. who may be encoui-aged to make the same application, in humble hope of the same success. 43, 44 But when will the happy time come, that men shall be as solicitous about their spiritual welfare as about the 41 health of this mortal body ! Almighty Physician, exert thine energy in this instance, as a token of farther mark favours ! Convince men of their pollution and danger, and bow their stubborn knee, that it may bend in sub- I- missive and importunate supplication. 41 Let the compassionate air with wliich this cure was wrought be considered by all spiritual physicians as a lesson luke of condescension and tenderness ; and let the modesty with which it was conducted engage us to avoid every v. appearance of ostentation and vain-glory. -^^ To conclude : since Christ himself found it proper to retire into a desert place to pray, when crowds of admirers were flocking in upon him, let it teach those who are engaged in the scenes of public business, and fill them up with the greatest applause, yet resolutely to command some seasons for retuement ; as remembering, that the more various and important our public labours are, the more evidenUy do we need to draw down succour by ardent prayer, that we may be streogtheiaed and prospered in them. SECTION XLV. Christ, returning to Capernaum, heals a man quite disabled by the palsy ; vindicates his power of forgiving sins ; and calls Matthew the publican to attend him. Mark ii. 1 — 14. Luke v. 17 — 28. Matt. Lx. 2 — 9. Mark ii. 1. Mark h. 1. ANDanainhe entered into AND after Jesus had Spent [so7ne] days'' in devout retii'ement, /;e appeared again in SECT. Caperuiiura after soOTP days; public, and entered info Capernaum ; and it was quickly taken notice of, and great num- 45. «"s iu theVou^e"^ ''^''^ ''^ bers of people soon heard that he was in the house where he formedy dwelt; and as he • had been some time abroad, and greatly increased his reputation both by his miracles and mark preaching, they flocked around him w'lih the greatest eagerness. ^'• And it happened on a certain day, while he continued here, that, as he was teaching ^ Luke V. 17. And it came LUKE to pass on a certain day, as the people, [several'\ of the Pharisees and doctors of the law were sitting by, who were werrPhrrisees°and'\Lctors ^"'"^ °^^ of every town of Galilee, and even of Jiidea, and particularly (from'\ Jerusa- j^ of the law sitting- by, whicli letn ;^ and by appomtmcnt met here to attend his doctrine and observe his miracles; at were come out of every which the governors of the Jewish chui'ch Iiegan now to be greatly alarmed. Butnot- and" Jerusa'le^m ;'"and"\1ie withstanding the malicious views with which they came, Jesus went on as usual in his powerof the Lord was ;)jr- work, and the m\v3.culous power of the Lord was \_presenf\ to heal them,'^ who then uni to heal them. applied to him for the cure of their diseases. a And after Jesus had spent some c!ai/s.'\ Mattliew has recorded after it ; thoug-h Matthew does not mention it till the next so many events between the cure of the leper and the prirali/tic, that c/iapter, and places several events between them ; while Luke, ac- I shouTd not have connected them, had not Mark so expressly cording to his frequent custom, mentions it only as happening- on a asserted that some of those events, especially t/ie dispossession of certain da;/. This therefore seems to be the proper place to intro- the legion, happened loni/ after (see Mark iv. 3.5. note a, 5 69. duce it, aiid Matthew's order may be changed for the reasons given and Mark v. 1. 5 70.) and Luke strongly intimates the same above. concerning the other story of t/ie centurion's serrant. (.See Luke b From Jerusalem.'] If this happened, as most commentators vii. 1, 2. et seq. \ 55.) Now I think the honour of the New Tes- suppose, a little before Clirisrs second passover, (John v. 1.) snoie of tament requires, — tiiat when one of the Etam/etists does expressly Uiese might be sent from the sanliedrim with a view of gaining some assert the order in which he places facts in qiiestion, and the other information concerning Jesus, to guide their resolves concernmg does not so expressly assert it, rwhich is the case with Matthew him at the ensuing feast, in which they persecuted him, and sought here,) the order of the latter, tliough an apostle and eye-witness, to slay him, John V. 16. It is very probable, that the scribes at should be changed out of regard to the former. As likewise,— that Jerusalem, hearing how expressly he had attacked their interpreta- if none of tlie tliree assert their order, that in which any two agree tion of the law, some days before, in his celebrated sermon on the to place a fact in question, should be chosen rather than that ot tlie mount, (which, so far as we can learn, was the first time he did it,) third. And on these two rules I have proceeded in many instances, might summon their brethren in the neighbouring country to meet But that the order of Matthew should be changed for that of Luke, tlie'm at Capernaum, in order to attend on the nest of Christ's public 'When neither of them as.iert any thing concerning that order, is discourses, wherever it might happen to be. what I think no inference from Luke i. 3. can .justify. (See note g, c The power of the Lord teas present to lieal them. 1 According to on that text, p. I.) Much less can it be allowable expressly to the common method of construction, this may seem to intimate, , contradict Matthew, for the sake of keeping to the order of Luke, that the healin;/ power of Christ wsls exerted on some of t/ie Pharisees: , which yet most harmonizers seem to have.done, even when be was but as they came from distant parts to attend Christ as .',fif^'^,';°/„'!;|,|i'';y^^,] him, they came unto him, bringing; a man seized with the palsy, and quite disabled sicfotihe i«lsy,' which [ly- by it, so that he was obliged, in order to his being presented to Jesus, to be laid on a ing on a hed] was home of bed, or couch, and carried by four men. And they endeavoured to bring him in and ^^r : ^ jLuke,^ CgS lay him down before him, hoping that so melancholy a sight would attect his compassionate in, and to lay him hefore ' ^ temper, and engage his assistance. 'j™g] [Matt/ix. 2. Luke ^ LUKE ' -And when they could not fnd any way to bring him in, and could not so much as ' -^^{^ ^ jg ^nd when Si V- come near enough to speak to Jesus because of the crowd, and feared a delay might lose so they could not find by what 19 precious an opportunity, they carried him r6und to a back passage by which they went ';;^'' f^^^ Z^A noT^ooZ j up to the top of the house, (compare Mark xiii. 15.) which, according to the Jewish custom, nigh] because of the muiti- 3 made flat^; (Deut. xxii. 8.) and uncovered the roof of the apartment where [Jesus] {"^^^^J-^y l^^\^lZe^^l \ s, (which was a room that had no chamber over it,) opening a way into the house by the roof where he was-, and ' was MATT. AndJcsu's, seeing their faith, and graciously excusing the iticonveniences into which seeVng'tl'leir'faithl's" id unto , IX. their affection had transported them, said to the jnan that had the palsy. Take courage, the sick of tlic palsy, Son, » 2son,aliistrade or thing he has written against Christianity ; but 1 have endeavoured, parapet-wnll, and so let down the bed with cords by the side of the in as few words as possible, to suggest an answer to the chief of his glazed and perhaps painted tiles, which might beautify the walls of oV))ections; and it may be considered as a specimen of the manner the house towards this court. Many of his quotations from the in which I shall proceed in other ca.ses of the like nature : for it ancients do, in a very agreeable manner, at once illustrate this ar- would he very improper to enter on the controversy at large here, count, and receive new light from it. See Dr. Shaw's Travels, especially after all the convincing and unanswerable treatises which p. 37.") — 380. have lately been written in defence of the Kvangelists; among f Tiike courage, son."] Tew can need to be told, that snn is a title which I apprehend none more valuable than that called The of condescension and tenderness, by which superiors addressed Miracles of Christ Vindiraled, in four parts; to which 1 with great inferiors that were not properly their children ; (compare Josh. vii. pleasure refer for a larger account of tliis story, and the others 19 ; Eccles. xii. 12 ; and 2 Tim. ii. 1.) as father was a correspondent I handled by the excellent autlior of it. title of respect. (Compare 2 Kings v. 13 ; vi. 21 ; xiii. 14.) Yet it ) e They let down the paralytic — into t/ie midst.] What is sug- seems probable, from the use of it here, that the patient was a | gestcd in the paraphra.se is the most probalJlc account of the matter, youny man, considering that Christ himself was but a little above [ it we suppose our Lord to have been in any covered room of the Hiirt'y ; and if it were so, it made the case the more pitiable. Luke ' i REFLECTIONS ON THE CURE OF THE PARALYTIC. 93 Luke V. 25. And imme- And immediatc/i/ lie was so strengthened Ijy a secret power which went along with sect. .liately he rose up before the word, that, believing the virtue and etficacy of it, /le rose up before them all, and 45. b,'!l']' whereon 'he ''lay') and taking up the coue/i OH tvh/ch he laii, though before he was utterly weak and helpless, he (Uparted to his own "house, iDcnt forth, vigorous and cheerful, to his oxen house, humbly glorifying and adoring God luke ^■"'"^Vi^tt"' ^'°-'i ^^^^^^ "' for that extraordinary cure which he had now received. ^ ■ "bo And'^Matt. when the And tvhen the multitude saw [//,] they ivcre all amazed, and with united acclamations 2G multitude saw (7,1 they were glorijied God, who had given such mighty and beneficent joomer to men, and raised up so fied^'oXcMa'tt. whfclf'tJad emment a Prophet to his people. And theii were filled with such a reverential kind of given such power unto fear and dread, under the apprehension of so marvellous a proof of the divine pr^ence men;] and^were flll^d wMth among them, that they could not forbear sai/ing on^Xo another. We have indeed 5ee« strange tilings to-day ; [AVe most extraordinary strange things to-day: and after all the wonders we have known, never saw it on this fashion.] J[> neter before saw any thing like it, nor have we heard of any such event as this in the tMarkii.i2.Matt.ix.8.] days of Our fathers. Mark ii. 13. And he went _4«f^ when the evening advanced, and the day grew cooler, he went forth again by maric forth again by the sea-side; iJi^ sea-shore ; and all the multitude who had before attended in, or about the house, ^'• sOTted'unto Tiira'^aud \fe ^nd many more who could not get near enough to see and hear what passed there, resorted ^'^ taught them. ' to him, and he cheerfully Avent on with his work, and taught them here, after all the former labours of the day. Matt ix. n. And [Luke, -A-'^d after these things, as Jesus passed out from thence, (that is, from the house in matt. _fterthe.se things,] as Jesus which the paralytic bad been cured,) and was going down to the sea-side, he saw a man, IX. K)assed torlh (rom thence, /.^yj^Q ^ygs indeed a publican," that collected the customs there,) whose name was Matthew, " le saw a man [Luke, a pub- ). ^ , ^- ". ^ . ,! i x • .; /• < / 7 ^i 1 ^u r t / lican,] named Matthew, [or [or,] as he was Otherwise called, Levi, the son of Alpheus, the brother 01 James; (compare Levi, the unit of Alpheus,] Mark iii. 18 ; Luke vi. 15 ; Actsi. 13.) and he was then sitting at the custom-house :'' '^om'^amlhe'sau'iiiintohim ^''^'^^ Calling him to be One of his disciples, he said unto him. Follow me. And immetli- •'ollow me. And he arose, atcly consigning his books and cash to some careful hand, he arose, and left all the care toUowk hfm''^rMark u''i4^ ^"^ profits of his e/nployment, and followed him, with most grateful acknowledgments of Luke V. 27, 28.] his condescension, in admitting a pei-son of his station of life into the niunber of his stated attendants, * IMPROVEMENT. It is a pleasure to reflect upon it, that Christ was attended by such vast numbers of people, and that they who luke were teachers of others, should themselves sit down to hear him. But it Ls melancholy to reflect on the perverse .^ • purpo.5es with which many of them came ; and how few did, on the whole, receive his word into their hearts, so 17 IS to bring forth fruit unto perfection. Curiosity led some, and interest others ; and some came to find occasion jf hurting him, whose whole business in life was to do good. Yet these low, these vile purposes did not prevent his mark preaching, and working miracles before them, and being ready to exert his power for their benefit. Thus courageous ^'• md resolute let us be in the discharge of our duty ; thus solicitous that we may not be overcome of evil, but may ~ which, on the whole, is always in some degree practicable,) overco?ne evil with good. (Rom. xii. 21.) *''7* How industrious were the attendants and friends of this poor paralytic, to obtain a cure for him ! What con- luke rivance, what labour did they use, to find a proper opportunity to bring him in, and lay him before Jesus ! Ought V. ve not to be as tender and zealous, in all the oihces of the truest friendship ; and to imitate, so far as suits the dif- ^^ erence of circumstances, their importunate application, and their lively faith ? Theirs had its praise, and its reward. Our Lord said to this distempered person. Thy sins are forgiven thee. matt. I -{e pardoned all his iniquities, while he healed all his diseases. (Psal. ciii. 3.) This was a blessing that would I-^- ender the cure yet incomparably more valuable; and this reviving declaration had the Son of God a power to "^ idd, and to pronounce. The scribes and Pharisees, ignorant and prejudiced as they were, considered such a ^'Af*'^ leclaration as blasphemy. Their principle indeed was right, that God alone has power to forgive sins, and it is ^ -" mpious for men to claim it ; but their application was evidently wrong. The miraculous etiect plainly shewcxl , '. , . he divine authority of the blessed Jesus. And he was still the key of David: he openeth and no man shuttcth : i.^' indshutteth and no man openeth. (Rev. iii. 7.) Almighty Saviour, may we each of us receive from thee forgive- ^uke less of our sins ; and we will not complain, though our sicknesses should not immediately be removed ! Let us y ;lorify God, who has given this power to his Son ; and thanldully acknowledge, that we are ourselves, in many 2d ■espects, the monuments both of his pardoning and healing mercy. To conclude ; let us view, with humble wonder and pleasure, this farther instance of the condescension and matt. ;race of the Redeemer, in the call of Matthew : his condescension in calling to so near an attendance, and so inti- ix. aate a friendship, a man who was a publican, infamous as that employment was; and his grace, which could *j inmediately inspire him with so fiiTn a i-esolution of cjuitting ail the profits of it, that he might reduce himself to ircumstances of life as precarious as those of his Divine Master. Many, no doubt, censured him as a rash enthu- iast, or a lunatic, rather than a sober convert ; but he is even now reaping the abundant reward ; his loss is gain, nd his contempt glory. ses the word man on the occasion ; and Clirist might possibly use that publicans and sinners are often joined together as synonimous oth; as the Apostle joins men and fathers. Acts vii. 2. and-men and terras. (Matt. ix. 11 ; xi. 19; and elsewhere.) See the "paraphrase rethren, or, literalUvnieu, bretliren^ Acts i. IG; ii. 29; xv. 7, 13 ; on Luke iii. 12. p. 33. xiii. 1 ; and"Sxvlii. 17. \\ Al the nislnm-hovse.'] So t-eXctiov properly signifies. Some have g A publican.'] This was a very mllons name among the Jews, rendered it tnlhnotli ; and I should have followed them, had I not nd their employment was attended with so much corruption and apprehended that the word might have suggested some modern lilli emptation, that there were few among them that were honest men ; idea, for which there is in the original no foundation. istJ mt they were generally persons of so infamous and vile a character, M 94 THE POOL OF BETHESDA, AT WHICH THE DISEASED WERE HEALED. SECTION XLVl. Christ 'rocs up to (I feast at Jcmsalvni, (gcncralti/ supposed to be his second passovcr,) and there cures a poor impotent man at the pool of Bcthesda. John v. 1 — 16. JOHNV. L JOH^v.l. SECT. After this, there xoas a greai feast of the Jews, even the feast of the passover f and After this tiicre was a 46. Jesus, according to his custom, tvcnf up to Jernsa/etn, Ijoth that he might pay a religious si^'*^^,"!,/!',?, "Jo Jerusalem^' regard to the ceremonial law, and that he might take an opportunity of teaching con- JOHN siderable numbers of people, assembled from distant parts and countries where he did not ^- appear in person. 2 Now, it is well known, that there is at Jerusalem, near the sheep-l^marhef],^ a pool, 2 Now there is at Jem- or great reservoir of water,'' which is called in the Hebrexo language, Bethcsda, or the ^^p™']^ whicii" 'is c.-vUcd hi' House of Mercy ; and was indeed, as the name intimates, a kind of hospital, having five the Hehiew tongue Beth-. porticos, or cloisters,'' built round it, to accommodate and shelter those who might resort ^^^'^^ liavmg five porches, to it for pleasure, convenience, or cure: for the water was highly esteemed on account of some medicinal virtues which attended it, and the benefit many had received by bathing in it j and its reputation was greatly advanced, since those miraculous circumstances had been observed which we shall presently mention. •? i th i til 3 In these cloisters were laid a great number of sick and diseased persons, such as titud" of Tmpotenr?oi'k,"of were either blind, or lame, or had any part of their body withered ; who either came, or blind, halt, withered, wait-i were brought thither, in expectation of a cure, and lay there waiting for the moving of ^"^jg^""^ "^'"^ moving ot the 4 the water. For God, to add the greater lustre to his Son's miracles, as well as to shew '4 For an angel went down] that his ancient people were not entirely forgotten by him,'' had been pleased of late to at a certain season into the! perform some supernatural cures at this place. For at a certain season,^ which returned \^^.' wt'osoTver then"firet il at some particular periods, an unusual motion was discovered in the water ; and from the after the troubling of the' marvellous effects of it, it was rightly concluded, that at that time an angel descended ''lf\lo\i^(li^\^g^oiiyeTV\Iv^ie\ into the pool, and stirred the water,^ by which a healing virtue was communicated to it ; he had. a A feast of the Jews, even the feast of the passover.] It is cer- tain from Luke vi. 1. (note b, \ 49.) that a passover happened soon after tlie facts recorded in the preceding section ; anci most critics (after the example of IrenEeus, lib. ii. cap. 39.) conclude that this was it. And indeed, as the passover was the greatest of all their feasts, it is sometimes denoted by the word so^-r», even without the article. (See Mark xv. 6 ; and Luke xxiii. 17.) Tliis chapter may, at least, be as well introduced here as any where else : and one has little temptation to recede from this order in favour of Mr. Manne's singular hypothesis; who supposes, that the feast here .spoken of was the feast of Pentecost, and that this whole chapter is transposed, and should come in at the end of the sixth. How little this is capa- ble of defence, we shall endeavour to shew in the notes on John vi. 1, and 4 : see ? 78. note b and e. b Near the sheep-market.'} I chuse to retain the conimon transla- tion of sheep-market rather than ijate ; because, if the report of the best travellers is to be credited, the place shewn for the pool of Be- thesda is much nearer the temple than the sheep-gate could be. (Compare Neh. iii. 1; and xii. 39.) , c A pool , or great reservoir of water.") The etymology of the , word mKvui-n'i^'x intimates, it was a place to swim in ; so that it seems to me to have been a kind of bath, like those ne.iv Jericho, where Aristobulus was drowned by Herod's order as he was swimming; (Joseph. Antiq. lib. xv. cap. 3. 5 3.) I do not find any satisfactory )iroof, (though many have asserted it,) that the sheep to be sacri- ficed were washed here, or that the blood of the sacrifices ran into it: yet this is the foundation of that strange conjecture of Dr. Ham- mond, which we shall presently mention. d Having five porticos, or cloisters.] It is a very pr(^able thought of Dr. Lightfoot, [in his Harmony, in loc.'] that the bason" itself" might be in the form of a pentagon, and that these cloisters might correspond to its five sides. e To add the greater lustre to his Son's miracles, &c.] These reasons are suggested, and well illustrated, in Mr, Calvin's judicious notes on this story. f At a certaiTfseason.'] Though tiocrx xxijw miglit be sometimes rendered at that time, (as Rom. v. (1.) and some have therefore thought the passover, or the feast that was mentioned just before, to be the season when tite anijel came and stirred the vialer ; yet, as the words will very justly bear the sense that has been given them in our translation, there is no reason why we should suppose it to liave only been an annual miracle, which would but necdle.ssly increase the difficulty. Indeed the expectation of the people intimates it waSirt-some particular periods, though probably they were not fixed in such a way as that they certainly could tell the stated times of their return, at least we know not what they were, nor can it be determined from this indefinite expression. And if it be thus taken to refer to a certain hour of the day, or day of the week, (perhaps the sabbath, which was the day that they were now expecting it,) xxrx xxipm will signify, at every such time, as xxr' tviwrov, every year, Heb. x. 1; and xxi' mjumt, every day, Acts ii. 40, 47. g An angel descended into the pool, and stirred the water.'] The late English v;'ision nudcrs it a messenger, agreeable to the strange hytiothisis of Dr. Hainmond ; who thinks that this water had con- tracted a natural rirtne \>y trashing the carca.scs and entrails of the sacri^ces in this pool ; and that on stirring it up, that virtue exerted itself the more ; so that a proper officer was appointed for that pur- pose : a thought so unphilosophical, as well as ungrounded in history and antiquity, that one would wonder how so learned a man, could fall upon it. — Mr. Fleming, to avoid the apparent difficulties, of the literal interpretation, concludes, that the latter part of the third, and the whole fourth verse, is a spurious addition of some ignorant monk, in the eighth or ninth century ; because that, part is wanting in Bcza's manuscript, and is written by a later liand in the margin of that in the French king's library, which Lamy in his Harmony so much extols. But I cannot acquiesce in' this omission, since the passage in question is found in all the other most celebrated manuscripts, as also in the Syriac version, and all, the rest in tliePolyglott Bible: and besides this, the seventh verse (whicli none dispute) implies, that there was a miraculous virtue in, the water after it teas troubled, which extended only to i\\e first that went, and cured his disease, whatever it were ; so that the chiel difficulties would still remain, were Mr. Fleming's criticism to be allowed, (see his Christology, Vol. I. p. 13 — 15.) — I cannot here di.scuss the matter at large ; ijut beg leave, in a few words, to hint at what seems to me the easiest solution of i\\\s greatest of difficul- ties in the history of the Evangelists, in which, of alt others, the learned answerers of Mr. Woolston have generally given me the least satisfaction, and which few commentators tnter into ; and 1 am pleased to find, long since I wrote this note, that the ingeniou: Dr. Pearce agrees with me in the most material circumstances ol this hypothesis. (See bis excellent Vindication of Christ's Mira- cles, p. C8. et seq.J — I imagine this pool might have been remark, able for some mineral virtue attending- the water; which is tlw more probable, as Jerome tells us, it was of a very high colour this, together with its being so very near the temple, where a bat) was so much needed for religious purposes, may account for tin building such stately cloisters round it, three of which remain t( this day ; (see Maundrel's Travels, \t. \{)9:) Some time before //«', passover, an extraordinary commotion was probably observed in thi water; and Providence so ordered it, that the next person whc accidentally bathed here, being under some great disorder, fonnc an immediate and unexpected cure : the like phenomenon in somi other desperate case was probably observed on a second commotion and these commotions and cures might happen periodically, per haps every .sabbath, (for that it was yearly none can prove,) forsorai weeks or months. This the Jews would naturally ascribe to som angelic power, as they did afterwards the voice front heaven, (Johi xii. 29.) though no angel appeared. And they and St. John hai reason to do it, as it was the scripture scheme that these benerolen spirits had been, and frequently arc, the invisible instruments 0 good to the children of men ; (see Psal. xxxiv. 7 ; xci. 11; Dan iii. 28; and vi. 22.) On their making so ungrateful a return t Christ for this miracle, and those wrought at the former passovei and in the intermediate space, this celestial visitant probably fron this time returned no more ; and therefore it may be observet that though the Evangelist speaks of the pool as still at Jerusalen when he wrote, yet he mentions the descent of the angetas a thini which had been, but not as still continuing, (compare ver. 2, and 4 This may account for the surprising silence of Josephus, in a stor which made so much for the honour of his nation. He was himsel not born when it happened ; and though he might have heard tli' report of it, he would perhaps (as in the modern way) oppos speculation and hypothesis to fact; and, like Dr. Wellwood in ; much plainer case, "(see his Letter relating to Maillard's cure,) hav THE JEWS PERSECUTE CHRIST FOR HEALING A MAN ON THE SABBATH. 95 and the first person therefore that went in, after the stirring of the water, was in- SECT, stantly cured,^^ whatever th-e distemper was that lie before was seized with. 46. "5 And a certain man was And it now liappenecl, that a eertain man was lying there, who had been thirtij-eight tliere, which Jj^4^^" '"''.^' years disabled by an illness which had seized his nerves, and taken away the use of all his john ""o^Vheif Jesus'^saw hini limbs. Jesus then Seeing him, .as he lay by the side of the pool, and knowing that he ^■ lie, and knew that be had fiad been now a long time \Jn this melancholy condition,'] says to him, with a view to 6 cfls"TrL'itii" uX"him! stir up Ills attention to himself, and to engage him to reflect on his own helpless state, and Wilt thou be made whole ! on the greatness of the mercy he designed him, Dost thou desire to be cured oi thine 7 Tlie impotent man an- infirmity ? The poor disabled man answered him. Sir, I cannot but earnestly desire it, 7 swcred him, Sir, I have no ]^^^^ ^ui now ready to despair of being so happy ; for I am poor as well as lame ; and / man, when tlie water is , , •' .. ^ , ? ■ t it / L j-'/ -i ■ s- j i tronl)led,toinitnieintothe have no ?nan to wait Oil me, and put me into the pool when the water ts stirred ; and pool : bnt while 1 am com- my owii motions are SO slow that, while I am coming towards it, another descends before iu|, another steppeth down j^,^^ ■ jj^^ hm&?ii of the miracle. before me. ' •'•' ,. . .„,.. i ^ ■ a ■ 8 Jesus saith unto him. Upon this, Jcsus sai/s to him, with an air ot divine majesty and authority, Arise, take 8 Rise, take up thy bed, and ^^p fj^y couch on thy shoulders, and walk away with it, to shew how perfectly thou art 9 And immediately the recovered. And such virtue attended these words, that the man immediately became 9 man was made whole, and •well ; and, leaping up ill a transport of wonder and joy, he took up his couch, and tookjip his bed, and walk- ^,,^/^.^,^/ ^way with'it to his own house, through some of "the most puljlic parts of the city. —And on the same day was Now on that day that this miraculous cure was wrought, it was the sabbath : yet the sabiiatli. Christ commanded him, even on that day, to carry his couch, both to shew his own 10 The Jews therefore authority, and to exercise the faith and obedience of his patient. The Jews thenfore, 10 said unto him that was cur- T^r]^Q ^^^ hj^ p^gs }jy j^ tijjg manner, said to him that tvas crrred. It is the sabbath-day ; uls iio't lawful tor thee'to and therefore if is not lawful for thee ihw, to carry a couch, or to bear any burthen firry % bed. whatsoever. (Compare Jer. xvii. 21, 22; and Neh. xiii. 15 — 19.) How is it then, that that niad'rntrwho'ir'-Uie ^^ou ait so-presumptuous as to profane this holy day? But he answered them, by giving 11 same said unto me, Take up ail accouiit of his cuie, and oiily added, He that miraculously healed and made mc well, thy bed, and walk. j^j^^ restored me with a word to this health and strength, even /;e' said to me. Take up thy couch, and walk away with it 5 and I could not question his authority to dispense i 12 Then asked they him, with sucli a Ceremonial precept. And upon this, dropping all mention of the cure, and 12 I AVhat maji is tiiat" which ^^ fixinff on what seemed liable to exception,"^ theii asked him then, Who is the man I said unto thee. Take up thy , , ■' -i , j, ^, • 11 ^m i // 1 1 11 -.^i ^ , t bed, and walk ! that Said uuto thee, on this sacred day, 1 ake up thy couch, and walk away witli it ? 1:! And he that was heal- jv^qw he that was healed did not at that time know who it was that had cured him ; for 13 Jesus^had Toii'veyirhim- ^^ there was a crowd of people in the place, Jesus had modestly slipped away^ among self away, a multitude be- them, as soon as he had spoken the healing word. ing in //w/ place. -g^^^ afterwards Jesus findeth him in the court of the temple, and said unto him, 14 , eth him in the temple, and Bchold, by the singular mercy of God, thou art now recovered to health and vigour ; said unto him. Behold, thou ]jut take heed that thou sin no more, lest something yet worse befal thee; for thou more?"i*est a ^worse * thin" knowest in thine own conscience, that the iniquities of thy youth brought this calamity come' unto thee. ° upon thee,™ and the deliverance thou hast now received will be a dreadful aggravation of thy future guilt. 15 The man departed, and The man then Jnformed himself of those that stood by, who it was that spoke to him; 15 told the Jews that it was ^^^ knowiiig him toTDFTIie~p5r§5ii to whom he was obliged for his cure, he went away whole. from the teipple, and told the Jews who had before examined him, that it was Jesus of Nazareth who had restored him to health : expecting, no doubt, by this discovery, to have procured him that honour and respect which was due to so much power and good- 10 And therefore did the ness. And yet the Jews were so far from paying him any just acknowledgments, that, 16 Jews persecute Jesus, and qj, ^\-^q contrary, they persecuted Jesus on this account, and endeavoured to put him to .souJZ\^^^ eerily, I sen, unto you, and do most faithfully and solemnly declare, That the Son of God, ^ • self, but what he seeth the great and glorious as he is, now acts m an avowed subjection to the authority ot the father, 19 Fatiierdo: for what^thin|s ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ jwthing of h 17)7 Self, '^ in pursuancc of any distinct schemes or separate mterest do^h the Sou 'likewise.'' "" of his Own, unless he see the Father doi7ig it,'' or perceive him intimating it as his pleasure that it should be done : for nvhatsoever are the things that he (that is, the Father,) doeth, even these likexvise doeth the Son in a most intimate conjimction with him ; at all tunes cheerfully complying with his purposes, and esteeming it his honoiur always to be em- 20 For the Father loveth ployed in liis service. For the Father loveth the Son, and that with so entire an aftec- 20 the Son, and sheweth him fj^jj^ ^^^t he shexceth hi7n all things that he hi7nself doeth,^ letting him into the secret of eth"'anf he^wii" ".e'^Wiini his councils, and teaching him in the most wonderhd and divine manner, to act in prose- greater works than these, cution of them ; a77d he xcill shev-, or point out to hi7n, far greater tvorks than these that ye may marvel. ^vhich he has hitherto perfomied ; which shall hereafter be accomplished by him, that 21 For as the Father rais- 7/ou mai/ all be filled with ■u:o7jder, though you will not be open to conviction. You 21 eth up the dead, and quick- j^^^^g j^q^^ ggg^ ^[^q cure of One who had been long disabled by a disease, but I have not lof quick'enetr whom'h: yet raised any from the dead : yet you shall quickly see that it is not for w-ant of power ; will. for as the Father, whenever he pleases, 7'aises up a77d an77nates the dead, so also you 22 For the Father judg- shall have sufficient evidence that the Son ani/nates tcho7n he tvill. Nor is it to be 22 eth DO man, but hath com- ^voudcred at, that he should have so great a power lodged in him ; for the Father now in IheSon J"''^™''"* "" his own ^QXiOW J7idges no 77/an did has given the administration of alljudg7nent to the Son, before whom all men are at last to appear, and by whom they are to be assigned to 23 That all men should their final and eternal state. And this important power God has committed to me,8 that 23 honour the Son, even as notwithstanding the humble form in which I now appear, all i7\ay be engaged to ho7iour k^^^tha^To'ouret^Lfthe ^he So77, even as they ho77our the Father himself : yiekling an unreserved homage Son, hououreth not the Fa- and obedience to him, as ^^'hat is necessary to approve their duty and tideuty to uoa : lor ther which hath sent him. j^^ ^/^^^^ -^ ^^^^y a Circumstance, and on such a discovery, ho7ioiireth not the So/:, as worthy of the highest veneration, honoiu-eth 77ot the Father that se77t hi7n ; but affronting him in the person of so dear and so great an ambassador, must expect to be treated as an enemy and a rebel. 24 Verily, verily, I say This is a truth of the uhuost consequence to your final happiness, and therefore I insist 24 unto you, He that heareth the more largely upon it : see then that none of you presume to pass it slightly over : for him''thlt''sent^'mJr"iath fe/'//y, verily, I Say 7i7itoyou, and solemnly declare it in the presence of you all. He that everlasting life, and shall hea7^cth ????/rora' with an attentive regard, and truly believeth in hi/n that sent me, hath tU)n^°but'il'° a^ssed^ftom ^rerlasti/ig life : he is aheady entitled to it, yea, it is already begun in his soul ; a7id he d'ealli unto iffe!'^*^'^ '^°™ shall shortly possess it in its full perfection, and shall not co77ie into conde777nation for any former offences; dut is passed f-o/n that state of death in which men naturally are, to a. ^ 25 Verily, verily, I say state of l/fe, security, and felicity. Think not this an incredible assertion ; for verily, 25 unto you. The hour is com- i.f/.//j^^ J gay icnto 7/OU, and iu the strongest tenus renew the important declaration,'' That S shallTar a.r vc^ce of the scason co777eth,\/id is noiv just at hand, xi-hen the dead shall hear the voice of the Son the Son of God : and they of God, and they that hear lif] shall immediately lice ; for within these few months there that hear shall live. gj^^jj ^^ ^^^^^ ^„j ^.^^j^g ^:^^ to life by the word of his power, (see Mark v. 41 ; Luke vii. 14 ; John xi. 43 ; and compare Matt, xxvii. 52, 53.) and many souls that are dead m 2G For as the Father hath sin shall, by his grace, be quickened and made spiritually alive.' For as the Father has 26 d The Son can do nothing of himself .'\ I cannot forbear mention- so nearly the same with what Christ had said in the preceding ing a remarkable note of the learned Eisner, C Observ. Vol. T. p. verse. 307. et seq.J in which he shews by a great variety of instances, that g This important power God has committed to me] Tliough our the later heathen writers seem to have ascribed to Minerva, as the Lord here speaks of him- elf in the third person, yet afterwards, la daughter of Jupiter, many things which our sacred scriptures ver. 30. et seq.he speaks in the y5rs/,- and common sense would speak of Christ, as the Son of God. teach all that heard him, that by the Son he here meant himself. e Unless he see the Father doing it.l Whether our Lord here means Now I appeal to any miprcjudiced person to judge, whether our in the general, unless he see it to be correspondent to the Father's Lord's making such a declaration as this before the Jewish rulers, schemes, or whether he refers to any peculiar divine impulse which and probably in full council, was not far more liable to exception, he sometimes felt upon his mind, leading him to exert his miracu- than merely his calling the temple his Father's house (John u. 16.) Ions power in this or that instance, I cannot certainly determine ; at his first passover; in the same manner as he long before had but rather incline to the latter, which might also be comprehended done, in calling God his Father, even when he was but twehe years in ver. 17.— The particle txt ^-n, which is exactly the same in signi- old. (Luke ii. 49.) So little is there in Mr. Manne's argument fication with fi //», is here also used in a less proper sense. See the from that text. (See note c, on John ii. 16. p. 48.)— And it is also note on John xvii. 12. ? 179, and compare John viii. 38. \ 104. to be remembered that, according to Mr. Manne's Scheme of the f Sheuelh him all things that he himself doeth.'] The editors of Harmony, he makes this to have happened about ten months before the Prussian Testament say that the word ^iixvujiv, which we have ChrisCs death, and long before many of those charges to his disci- rendered sheweth, sigTiifies here to teach or form to any thing, as a pies not to make him known ; from whence this gentleman arg"^?" master forms his scholar to do what he himself doeth, and teaches that the forecited words in John ii. 16. could not be spoken till his him the secrets of his art or profession : -but I cannot acquiesce in last passover'. this sense, as expressing the whole meaning of the phrase. It rather h Renew the important declaration.] These repetitions ot this refers to the ample and comprehensive knowledge which the Son solemn asseveration are bv no means vain, considering the vast im- has of the whole plan of the Father's councils, in all their mutual portance of the truth ; and how incredible it would appear, that he relations and dependencies; whereas the prophets and the apostles who stood before them in so humble a form, was in reality the too, had, in comparison of this, but very limited and contracted Lord of Life, and the universal Judge. See note g, on John 1. 51. views. Compare Isa. xl. 10. where it is said (as we have no room p. 44. i i • j. n to doubt) of Christ, and probably in this sense— his work is before i Some dead bodies raised to lifs, and many souls made spiritually Aim.— Dr. Whitbv refers mro; to the Son ; and understands it as if alive.] I express it thus ambiguously, because I am something it had been said, 'Whatever the Son doeth, is by the direction of the doubtful whether it may not refer to the conversion of sinners by Father : but I think the genius of the Greek language would not in Christ's ministry, rather than the resurrection of a few by his mim- that sense have allowed the repetition of aurcs, but it would rather culous power. It is well known, sinners are often repr^ented in have been said, Tinrx x otiei saxw-iv wra: not to insist upon it, that scripture as dead; (Matt. viii. 22; Eph. u. 1; v. 14 ; 1 lira. v. 6; the sense m wliich I have explained it is much nobler, and not and Jude, ver. 12.) and if the expression, oi axwaavrts, is to be taken H 98 CHRIST HAD NOT ONLY HIS OWN, BUT THE TESTIMONY OF JOHN, SECT, originally and essentially life in hbmelf, so he has also given to the Son, that he should, life in himself, so hath he 47. for these purposes of glorious and divine operation, have a principle of life in himself to s}pj^ to the Son to have be communicated unto whom he will. (See 1 Cor. xv. 45.) And he^ has given him '' 27 Amrimtli given him JOHN authority, not only to quicken men now, but also to execute final Judgment, because authority to execute juHg- ^ ^- he is the Son of man ; and as he has voluntarily humbled himself to so lowly a form, sJ)n"of'man'''^'^*"*'^ deisthe 27 (see Phil. ii. 5 — 11.) God will accomplish to him all those glorious predictions which represent liim as possessed of universal and perpetual dominion, and coming in the clouds of heaven, in that day when the judgment is set, and the books are opened. (See Dan. vii. 9—14; Phil. ii. 8, 9; and Heb. xii. 2.) 28 And therefoi-e, "wonder not at this which I have now declared concerning the resur- 28 Marvel not at this- rection of a few, shortly to be expected; for the hour is coming, in which all that are *'"'' the hour is coming-, in dead and buried now, and all that shall then be lying in the gmves, though mouldered {{^^ f^^^^^^ ^shali'Yieari'i" 29 away and consmned there, shall hear his voice. And shall come forth out of the dust, voice, theij that have done good, to the resurrection 0/ eternal life, and they that have done 29 And shall come forth ; evil, to the resurrection of 'axaS. damnation. See to it, therefore, that you shew a due re- unto the resurrection°°of gard to him, before whom you yourselves are to stand; and do not rashly condemn a '""e; and they that have 30 Person, from whose lips you are to receive your decisive sentence. Not that any corrupt reTt^rof dTmnaUon"^"'^' bias of partial resentment will be brought into the proceedings of that day, or into any of 30 I can of mine own self my conduct; for / can of myself do nothing, but now act by a delegated power as the !'°, nothing: as I hear 1 ■ • . r ■ Ui /-I J J ii r -r 1 r ■ i '^ . ^ ,. ^ judge: and my ludgment minister 01 a righteous Lrod : and therelore as 1 hear 1 judge, pronoimcmg accordmg to is just ; because i seek not the evidence of facts before me ; and upon this account it must appear that tm/ judgment ""'le own will, but the win is just ; because I seek not any distinct tvillov separate interest of jny own,'' but t)te wise sent me ^^"^''^'^ which hath and holy will of the Father who sent me; which is, that every man should be treated according to his real character, and be the object of favour or of wrath, as his temper and conduct have been upright or wicked. IMPROVEMENT. ; With what humble prostration of soul should we bow before the Lord Jesus Christ, while we read such words Ver. 12 as these ! Though he appeared under the form of a servant, and, as man and mediator, confessed a holy subjection J 20 to his Father and his God, yet is he his own, his only-begotten Son, the Son whom he loves, v/hom he honours, | 23 whom he commands all men to honour even as himself, and to whom such power and authority are committed, J 26 that he is the principle of life, and the administrator of judgment. Let us adore the wisdom of such a contrivance, ! 27 that he who humbled himself thus low, should be so highly exalted. Let us labour to secure an interest in him ; < treating him with that submission, duty, and obedience which becomes at once the divinity of his nature, and the dignity of his office. 25 May we be enabled by divine grace so to hear the voice of his gospel, that we may ari^e to a life of holy | 28 obedience ; that we may another day hear him with joy calling forth our sleeping dust, and arise to the resur- 1 rection of life ; while those that have despised and rejected him, shall find themselves the helpless prisoners of his | justice, and with reluctance and terror come forth to the resurrection of damnation ! V?> , \ { . \ jj <; s" ■. \ SECTION XLVin. Christ having declared to the Jews (and, as it seetns, to the sanhedrim,) the dignity of his person, office, < and character, goes on to rejiresent the proofs of his mission ; and concludes his discourse with proper ad^\ monitions and cautions. John v. 31, to Uie'end. John v. 31. John v. 31. ' SECT. Our Lord proceeded in his discourse to the Jews, and said, I have certainly entered a In bear witness of myself, 48. very high claim, and represented myself as a person of great dignity and authority ; nor "^ witness is not true. do I say it without sufficient proof. Indeed, Jf I bear this witness of myself alone, it JOHN must be acknowledged that my testimony is not immediately [to be admitted as"] true ;'' you have a right to insist on other evidence ; and a variety of it arises from the testimony 31 of John, from the power of my miracles, from the testimony of the Father, and from innumerable passages in your own sacred writings. 32 I would then first observe, that, besides what I have told you of myself, there is another 32 There is another that of undoubted reputation and veracity that bcareth witness of ine ; and I know that the YXnol^'^thir'ilTViu^t witness which he bearcth of me is true and credible ; and well remember, by the happiest which he witnesseth of me tokens, the great fact on which it especially turned :'' nor can you reasonably take upon is true. you to dispute it ; for the person I refer to is John the Baptist, whom your whole nation 33 agi-eed to reverence as a prophet : And you know, ihaX you yourselves sent messengers on 33 Ye seat unto John, purpose from your own court unto this John, (John i. 19 — 27. sect, xx.) and he, in the ^'"i 'i<= ^'i" witness unto most express terms, bore a faithful and honourable testimony to the truth of what I have "'*^ *'^"'^''' now attested and referred to, assuring you that he saw the Spirit in a visible form descend as we render it, with the most literal exactness, for thcij that hear, b The great fact on which it especially turned.] The propriety or they, and they alone, that so attend unto the voire of Christ as and spirit of our Lord's expression, I know that the witness which he to believe in him — it will then limit it to this sense ; which seems beareth of me is true, is much illustrated, by supposing that here is also favoured by ver. 24. where (/foM plainly signifies a sta/f 0/ sin an oblique reference to that great event, M<> descent of the Hory and condemnation. Sptriton C/irisI at his Ijaptism, on which John so expressly grounded k I seek not any distinct will or separate interest of m>/ oirn.'l the testimony he bore to Christ the very next day after their me.s- This limitation the sense evidently requires. See Heb. 3L 9, tO ; sengers came to him, who probably staid some time to make tiieir Matt. xxvi. 39, and note h, on Matt. xii. 7. ? 49- remark* on his preaching and conduct. (See John i. 29 — 34. a Is not \to.be admitted as^ true.] That this is the sense of the ? STTf And the blessed eilects of this effusion on Christ still con- word true here, is very evident ; and appears in part from com- tinued, and incessantly wrought in him. paring John viii. 13, 17. \ 103. OF fflS MIRACLES, OF HIS FATHER, AND THE SCRIPTURES, TO PROVE HIS MISSION. 99 34 But I receive not tes- upon me. J do not indeed receive the chief testimoni/ on which I rest the credit of ray sect. timouy from man : but mission, from 7)101} ; 7ieverthcless, I saj/ these t/iings to you on your ovm principles, 48. these things I say, that ye ^^^ ^^ ^ tender and compassionate concern for your conviction, t/iat you, who are now ■ might be saved. Conspiring against my hfe, 7)my be saved from^hat destruction which he foretold as the John portion of those who should reject me, and which the greatest of them shall not be able V. 35Hewasaburnin-and to escape. (Matt. iii. 10, 12. sect. xvi.) He was indeed a burning and a shining 35 a shining liglit : and ye ijaht, (Ecclus. xlviii. 1.) who, to his bright and distinct knowledge of the mysteries of Te^oice in hfs li'ht'"'''"'' ^° tlfe kingdom of heaven, joined a most fervent zeal in bearing his testimony to them ; and "^■''"'' " ■ for a while you were disposed greatli/ to rejoice in his light ;<= but you did not express 'that continued regard to his preaching, which at his first appearance you seemed to promise. 36 But I have a greater I will not therefore insist farther on this topic, but proceed to other evidence. And 36 witness than iliai of John; j /^^_,g indeed « testimony which is much greater still than [thai] of John ; for the FaUw hlti^-iverme*"?' tvorks of woudcr and mercy which the Father has assigned and given in commission to finish, tlie sam*e works that „jf,^ that according to his wise and gracious purposes, I might accomplish them among \^.^'^\^^% t^'^'t.il ^l\ you, even these miraculous works which I daily perform, are also witnesses in my behalf, that the lather j^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ convincing testimony to me, that the Father hath sent me as his Ambassador to men, with the most ample commission to reveal his will. 37 And the Father him- And indeed I may say with the greatest propriety, that by these miracles, as well as 37 self,, which hatii sent me, ^ ^t^q public testimony that he gave me at my baptism, the Father who has sent me V-e have"rei«ierhea°rd his has with the strongest evidence confirmed my mission, and has himself borne witness to voice at any time, nor seen ^,^j> _. ^qi- h^ve you any reason to dispute the testimony that he thus hath givai me, '"s s'"'P'^- I though] you have never either heard his voice, nor seen his form, as being one whom no man hath seen, nor can see ; for he has testified the same concerning me in his word, 38 And ye have not his where he has spoken of me in the clearest manner. But, notwithstanding the submission 38 word abiding in you : for profess to his authority, you will not be persuaded to receive the testimony he has SvA'ot'*''''"'' '"" ^" given ; and after all that he has said, it is still evident that^oM have not his word cordially abiding in you,^ nor do you shew a due regard even to those former revelations which you acknowledge as Divine ; for notwithstanding all the reasons that are there given to induce you to it, you do not believe him whom he hath sent with a much fuller and clearer discovery of himself than any of his former messengers have brought. 39 Search the scriptures; YoH make it youT employment and your study to peruse and search the scriptures,^ 39 for in them ye think ye ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^ inquiries concerning the contents of them ; because you very rightly ar7\herwhich testify o^f apprehend that you have the doctrine of eternal life m them, tliat they contain the rae. promises, and instruct you in the way of obtaining it ; and these now are [the very 40 And ye will not come i^-ritinas] which in numberless passages bear a most important testimony to me. And 40 to me, that, ye might have ^^^ obstinacy of your hearts is such, that, notwithstanding you profess so great a ' *■ regard for them, you will not come to me, that you may have that eternal life which they direct you to obtain in this method, but rather chuse to die under the force of your inveterate prejudices. 41 I receive not honour I speak of your coming to me : but let me remind you that it is not out of an ambitiori 41 from men. ^f drawing multitudes about me, to follow and applaud my teaching ; for the wliole of 42 But T know you, that my conduct proves, that J receive not glory from men J But I say it out of a tender 42 ye have not the love of God rec^ard for your instruction and reformation; for notwithstanding your distinguished pro- '"y""- felion of piety, and the eminent station in which you are placed, I know you, md have observed it for some time concerning you, that you have not the love oj (rod in 43 I am come in my Fa- you, that great and only principle of true religion and happmess. For I am come to 4-i ther's name, and ye receive you in my Fathers name, and with evident credentials from him •, yet you receive me me not : if another shall ^ ^ . .^h'^h, if vou had really loved him, you would undoubtedly have done : whereas rwXec:i':i" "'"'•''"" if another should come in hil own name,Ayiihout such credentials, and set up a scheme of temporal grandeur and dominion, him you would readily receive, m pursuit ot those 44 How can ve bel.eve worldly principles which, though directly contrary to the love of God, yet bear the rule whi*ch%eLiv^ h'onour "e in your corrupt hearts. But how indeed can you believe m me and fall m with sucn 4 ofanother, and seek not the ^^ humbline and self-denving scheme as that of my gospel, while, with an ambitious GodTnly*'"' "'"" emulation, you are receiving honour of each other,^ and seek not that true honour c For n while you were dhposed greatly to rejoice in his tight.-] dictions relating to the Messiah; though '* is too plain, they had Our Lord might speak thus of John though he was yet living, as an unhappy bias on their m.nds which Prevented the g"«d t-Uect^ AiW/j« was now in a great measure extin|uished by iiis impri^^on- which might have been expected [^om that inquiry had it been tnent; so that the argument from this text, for transposing thi^ impartial._It is also well known, that --f «»;'' "^^l/T learni^^^^^ chapter, seems inconclusive. Had the sanhedrim, as some have sacred writings made the most ♦«^^'0"^^''= ^""'^ ' f' .'7™!^^^ supposed, imprisoned John before he was seized by Herod, (see the among the Jews ; in comparison of which, P'^"'^^''',, '*f f "f„ ' i„ preface to the Prussian Testament, p. 244.) our Lord would hardly held in great contempt and indeed by many «[ "'^"^/^Y,''"^ " have failed to reprove them for it on so natural an occasion as this, great abhorrence ; see Joseph. Antiq Jud. (i*. xx. cap. . s . d you have not his uord abiding in you.] Some would render it, and Mr. Biscoe's Sermons, at Boy^ s i^vo^^^\^tno^^^^^^^ the following words, which express their high, opinion of the scrip- met with a much better reception from the P»"'f,7„,\7°,h'^^^^^^^ , tares, rather suited the former ; and it is exceeding probable that, did ; and I doubt not but Christ meant to include, at least, all those ' at a time when the Pharisees were so impatient of the Roman yoke, who appeared while the sanhedrim existed they would with great diligence search the sacred oracles for pre- h you are receiving honour vf each ol/tei .] 1 his has mucn more H-2 100 REFLECTIONS ON THE EVIDENCES OF CHRIST'S BUSSION. g;:CT. which [comes] from the approbation of God alone^ and from the testimony of your 48. consciences in his siglit > Nevertheless, remember this, that you will another day appear self-condemned for this 45 Do not think that I JOHN your infidelity : and do not think that, to convict you in his presence, I will accuse you, J'li'^J. ."tiiere Is'^neth^t acl V- to the Father ; it -wiW not be necessary that I should do it ; for even now, that Moses cuseth you, even Moses, in 45 in whom you trust as your great lawgiver and patron, is (as it were) your accuser whom ye trust. 46 before God,' and charges you with being regardless of him as well as of me. For if you J^^ ^°^ ''*'' ye believed had believed Moses, and really had that regard to him which you profess to have, you lie've'd'mej^for he wrote'of likewise surely would have believed me ; for he wrote concerning me, in many most me- 47 memorable passages."*^ But I will now conclude my discourse ; for if you do not believe 47 But if ye believe not 6'^; his writings, which are daily in your hands, and the divine authority^ which you so '"s writings, how^ shall ye strenuously assert, how shall I expect that, under the power of such prejudices, you shall believe my words ? When our Lord had thus spoken, he withdrew ; and they were so overawed with the majesty of his presence, and the unanswerable force of his discourse, that they did not attempt to seize or detain him. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 32 How various is the evidence of our Redeemer's mission, and with what pleasure should we trace it in the testi- 37, 39 mony which John bore, the miracles which himself wrought, the testimony of the Father to him, and the predictions which the prophets uttered and recorded ! To confirm our faith in all, let us be daily searching the scriptures, as the oracles of God, and the great fountains of life and salvation. We profess a regard to them : may 45 that regard never be our condemnation ! or the blessed penmen witness against us, as Moses against those who gloried in his writings, and yet wanted a true faith in them \ In proportion to the degree in which we are convinced of the truth of Christ's religion, let us set ourselves to 41 cultivate the temper which he exercised. He sought not glory from men, but made his Father's will the rule of his actions, and his Father's honour the end of them. Let us not greedily catch at human applause, but aim at an 44 infinitely nobler object, even the honour that coineth from God alone, the only true judge of actions and characters, because the only discerner of hearts, 42 May we have not only his word in our hands, but his love remaining in us ; that thereby our natural aversion 40 to the methods of his saving grace in the gospel may be subdued, that notwithstanding the obstinacy of our degenerate wills, we may come unto Christ, that we may have life! ^ay we receive him with the greatest 43 readiness, as coming to us in his Father's name; and not only for a season rejoice in his light, but stedfastly continue in his word, as 7nade known to all 7mtionsfor the obedience of faith ; that the advantages which we enjoy may not be found to aggravate our guilt, and to condemn us with the unbelieving Jews ! Christ shewed the tenderness of his compassion even in the severity of his rebukes, and spoke these awful and 34 awakening words, that these his unjust and inveterate enemies might be saved. May they be the power of God 38 unto our salvation ! as they will be, if we believe in him whom he hath sent. ■ ' 5 C - SECTION XLIX. Christ vindicates his disciples from the censure of the Pharisees, for rubbing the ears of corn in their hands, as they passed through the fields on a sabbath-day. Luke vi. 1 — 5; Matt. xii. I — 8; Mark ii. 23, to the end. g£(,rp Luke vi. 1. 49. After the preceding conference with the Jews, our Lord departed from JeRisalem, AXD it came^to pass, [at where he had met with such an ungrateful reception, and returned towards Galilee-;'' Anil that time,] on the second LUKE it came to pass, that about this time, on the first sabbath after the second [clay of ff^^^^ ^"^^^ "hrout h ^tlte VI. unleavened bread,^] Jesus, attended as usual by a train of followers, (who had been with coru-fieldr;"and"^hrs° disci! spirit, if we consider it as applied to the members of the sanhe- Scaliger, Lightfoot, and Whitby, produce any instance of Sivn^ drim, who had such distinguished titles of honour, than if we only ^turtgov being used for the second, or Jsurtporjirov for the third of the take it as spoken to a mixed multitude, who might happen to sur- sabbaths between the passover and pentecost, I should entirely ac ■ round Christ in the temple : the taste of the populace seldom lies quiesce in the translation here given ; which supposes, this was the \ that way. first of those seven sabbaths which followed the sfronrf (/ay 0/ an- ' i That Moses in whom you trust is your accuser.} This is one of leavened bread, from whence the Ji/ty days of pentecost were to be the most expressive passages that can be imagined, in which Moses, computed; see Lev. xxiii. 15, 16. — On the other hand, could the their great lawgiver, is represented as looking down with indigna- great Grotius, or his followers, Woltzogenius and Brenuius, have tion upon these elders who gloried in being ttie most distinguished produced an instance in which sj^iruirgwrov, or r^iroTr^vrov, occurs, there of his disciples ; and seeing how injuriously they treated Jesus the would have been reason to conclude with them, that there were great Prophet, turning himself to God with a severe accusation three prime sabbaths, which were accounted sabbaths of peculiar against them, and urging his own predictions as an aggravation of solemnity ; the first, that after the day of the passover ; the second, their inexcusable infidelity. wliiih is the day here mentioned, that after ;)f«/f<:os/ ,• and the k He wrote concerning me in many most memorable passages.] third, that after the feast of tabernacles. — For want of sufficient Christ jjiight perhaps intend to refer to what Moses had written, — authorities to support either of these interpretations. Sir Isaac New- of the seetof tlie woman ; (Gen. iii. 15.) — of the seed of Abraham, in ton, ( On Proph. p. 1.54.) after Epiphanius and Beza, has advanced which all the nations of the earth should be blessed ; {Gen. xxii. 18.) another yet less probable than either ; which is, that it was the se- — oi the Shiloh who should come to gather the people ; (Gen. xlix. 10.) cond of Ifif two great feasts of the passover; as we call Easter-day it- — and of the prophet whom God should raise up unto them from self liigh Easter, and its octave. Low Easter, or Loiv Sunday. But among their brethren : (Deut. xviii. 18.) — as well as to the many though Ihe seventh day of unleavened bread -wastohe a holy convoca- ceremonial institutions which had their final accomplishment in //o/i, yet //«■/«;« expressly allowed the Jews to (/r«.« !/(■/««/.« on it ; hira. (Exod. xii. 16.) which would have afforded so direct an answer to the a Returned towards Galilee.] We may reasonably conclude this, Pharisees' objection, that one can hardly suppose Christ would have because both Mark and Luke mention his being there quickly after failed to urge it. — On either of these two last suppositions, it must this story. Compare Mark iii. 7. and Luke vi. 12, 13. with vii. 1. be ri'iuk-red, the second prime sabbath ; but as I could not translate b The first sabbath after the second day of unleavened bread.'] So it at all, without fixing^it one way or the other, I chose the former 1 venture to render cJci/rsgoirjMov, the word used by Luke; yet not rendering, for thesPTT^ reasons: 1. Because 1 cannot find that there without much hesitation ; for it is so singular an expression, that is any divine command to observe the sabbaths which followed the (as Erasmus long since did) I despair of seeing its sense exactly day of the Mrw.9r(?a//fas ■ ^ i j j_ . . , i of the marK u. -zi. anu ne suiu jina fie Sd/ci u/uu iiiem ia.iuici uii iins ,<_aaiJ > SECTION L. Christ, on a following sabbath, cures a man whose hand was withered ; and vindicates that action from thc^ cavils of the Pharisees. Luke vi. 6 — 11. Matt. xii. 9 — 15. Mark iii 1 — 7. Luke vi. 6. t • ^ TTT ■ Luke vi. 6. WE have just mentioned an instance of the Pharisees cavilling at a very mnocent action AND it came to pass also, of the disciples ; we shall now proceed to another, in which they charged our Lord himself [when he was departed with the violation of the same sacred rest, in a yet more malicious and unreasonable man- |)ath|thlt he entTreTflviarkv ner. For it came to pass also, when he was departed from thence,^ (that is, from the ag:ain] into the synagogue, fi town in whose neierhbouring fields they had rubbed out the ears of corn,) that on another J"^ taught: and [behoUi,] O ,, ,, , ^ & . & , -^ 1 . J • J j7 ■ u ,. t'lere was a man [Mark,- sabbath he entered again, as he was used to do, into tlie synagogue, m some other city there,] whose right iiand which lay in his way through GalUee, and taught his heavenly dochine there. And was withered. [Matt, xii behold, a remarkable circumstance occurred ; for there was a tnan present whose right ' ' ^' '"" '' hand was withered, the nerves and sinews of it being so shrunk up that it was entirely useless. 7 And the scribes and Pharisees, who were there also present with him, watched him, 7 And the scribes and to observe whether he would again heal on the sabbath-day ; that they might find some ^{j"}fgr^i,e"^^f^„/^''i,Ji'''"„ new matter for an accusation against him, having succeeded so ill in the former attempt, the sabbath-day, that tiiey and plainly perceiving that his reputation grew more and more among the people. ni^lght find an accusation 8 iJ^^^ when the synagogue-worship was despatched, and our Lord's sermon was also con- ^^'^'°^ """' eluded, he, knowing the malignity and wickedness of their thoughts and views, instead of thou"ii'ts and srid^to^'the being discouraged by the design they had against him, said to the man who had the man which had tlie wither- ll SECT. 50. LUKE VI depends upon it, viz. that, according to the genius of the Hebrew language, one thing seems to he forbidden, and another commanded, when the meaning only is, that the latter is greatly to be preferred to the former. The text before us is a remarkable instance of this ; as- likewise Joel ii. 13; Matt. vi. 19, 20; John vi. 27; Luke xii. 4, 5; and Col. iii. 2. And it i-s evident, that Gen. xlv. 8; E.xod. xvi. 8; John v. 30; vii. 19. and many more passages, are to be ex- pounded in the same comparative sense. — A late ingenious writer says, "Our Lord does not compare mora/ and poi(7(V<' duties toge- " ther here, but only the commandments of men with the com- " mandments of God." But it is plain, the series of our Lord's arguments here is intended to prove, that circumstances of necessity dispense with some ceremonial obseriuinces which were in the general commanded by God, and manifestly goes upon this founda- tion, that ceremonial "institutions being the means of religion, if circumstances occurred in which they interfered with the end of it, they were suspended of course; and \vlien this is the case, the con- science of particular persons is to judge as in the sight of God. i For the Son of man is Lord, Siic.^ Tlie author of th.e new trans- lation renders it in Matthew, The subbalh is subservient to man ; though he paraphrases it as it stands in Mark, The Son of man has n pouter of dispensing with the law of the sahbalh ; which is un- doubtedly tlie true sense: for I cannot find that t/tc Son of man does, in the New Testament, signify any one but Christ; and were the words (which are exactly the same) to be translated in Mark as he has rendered them in Matthew, they would be a mere repetition of ver. 27. The sabbath was made for man, &c. — It is worthy of our notice, that Matthew introduces these words with yij, for, and Mark with w7te, tlierefore, or so that : and both connections may be justified. Yet, as it is hardly to be imagined bath were equally in- tended, I look upon this to be a considerable proof that the sacrec' writers were not always critically exact in the use of their parti cles ; a remark which I apprehend to be of great importance, botb for clearing their sense and vindicating their character. Whoeve) considers the ambiguity of many of tliose Hebrew particles whict correspond to the Greek, will find little reason to wonder at it Compare Luke xi. .36. ? 64. and note d, there. k Evenoft/te sabbath itself; xxi too cxii^tcj.l This certainly im plies, that the sabbath wa^ an institution of great and distinguishec importance ; and may perhaps also refer to that signal authority which Christ by the ministry of his apostles should exert over it, it changing it from the seventh to the first day of the week: a fV/ien he was departed from thence.'] There tan be no doub as to the connection of this story with the preceding, in which al the Evangelists agree ; and indeed, had not Luke told us it was O) another sabbath, the words of Mattl'.pw would liave led us to iraa ,gine it had been the same day. Perhaps he might spend most o the week in the town to which the fields mentioned above be longed.— Beza's favourite manuscript, now at Cambridge, as well a one of Stephen's, adds the following words in Luke, immediatel before this story : The same day seeing a certain man at tvork on Ih, sabbath, he said to him, O man, if Zhou knowest what thou dosi thou art happy ; but if thou dost not know it t/inu art cursed, and transgressor of the law. This is undoubtedly a spurious addition for had the Pharisees heard any tiling like this from Christ, thei would have followed him no farther, and observed him no more, t( find matter even o( capital accusation against him. And indeed i goes on a very false supposition, that the ceremonial law was al ready abrogated. WHOM HE HEALS, AT4D JUSTIFIES THE ACT. 103 ed hand, Rise up, and stand uithercd hand, Rise tip from thy seat, and stand hi the midst of the assembly : and he SECT, forth in'the midst. And he cheeifullyaroje and stood in the most conspicuous part of the synagogue, hoping to receive 50. ?Mrrkiii"^3l'*°'"^ *'"'"'■ ffielivHurof a cure. . Matt! xii. 10.— And they And as the Pharisees saw what Jesus intended, thei/ asked him, sai/ing. Is it then to ma_tt. asked him, saying, Is it law- ^^ taken for granted that it is hnoful to cure on sabbath-days as well as at other times? ^^^ days" uTatThey'raiS'Ic- And they put the question in that general form,'' on purpose thatthey might have an op- 10 cuse iiini, " portunity to accuse him, and not from any desire of instruction. And he said to them, 11 Wha'^man'^fianthereTe in reply to that ensnaring question. What 7nan is thereof you in all tliis assembly, who, among: y'hi that shall have if he have but' One sheep that on the sabbath-day should fall into a pit," and be in one sheep, and if it fall into jjanger of perishing there, would not lay hold of it without delay, and make no scruple ?viifhrno\'laytold oL?t; of attempting presently to raise it up from thence, though it would be a work of some and lift it out? labour and difficulty ? Now I leave it to your own consciences to reflect, how much is a 12 man beu'eAhau ""sheep'J man better than a sheep : So that you must, on your own principles, allow that it is Wherefore it is lawful to do lawful to do Well, and to perform the lovely acts of charity and mercy'' even on sabbath- well ou the sabbath-days. ^^'^^ . ^^^^ ^q^ ,T,.,yst. ^.^yn, for instance, that if a man should fall into a pit, it would be lawhil on that day to pull him out ; and consequently too, it must be lawful, if he labours under a disease, to apply any proper remedies for his cure ; much more then must it be so, to cure a person without any laborious application, merely by speaking a word. Luke vi. 9. Then said Then Jesus said farther to them. To end the controversy in a tew words, I will ask luke Jesus unto them I will ask ^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^- jj^Qj-e ; Is it lawful to do good on sabbath-days, or to do evil? to save ^^ ^rthe'sabiTafli-davs to do 'life, or to destroy [and:] even kill the innocent ? thereby secretly refeiTing to the purpose 9 ^ood, orto do evil"! to save ^f destroying his life,"' which, while they were thus scrupuTous about the observation of !•/'!'' ™a°fiii''4"f^''''''°^ the sabbath,'they were even then forming in their hearts. But they were silent; being mark Mark iii. 4. ' But they convinced m their own minds of the reasonableness of what he said, and stung with secret i"- held their peace. remorse of conscience, yet imwiUing to confess what they saw and felt. 4 5 And when he had looked And when he had looked round upon them all with a just indignation, being grieved 5 round about [Luke, u^pon ^^^. ^,,^^ hardness of their hearts, and for that condemnation and ruin which he knew it gHeved fJr'thehfrdnesTof "would bring upon them, as well as for the mischief it might occasion to others, he says to the their hearts, he saith unto j^^^^j^ ^^^^^ laboured imder the calamity which was mentioned before. Stretch forth thine ht?'"Anfh1's[rrtched7/ hand. And accordingly he stretched it out, and was not only strengthened for that par- out -. and his hand was ticular motion of which he was before incapable, but his hand was perfectly restored, and restored whole as^tM^^ . ,. ..« io ] ■ ■ ■ And the Pharisees were so incensed at tlie affront which they miagmed they had b 6 And the Pharisees went received in our Lord's neglecting their censure, and mtimating his knowledge of the evil foun^eTwittufe HlrL^ans purposes of their hearts, that they were no longer able to bear the place; but went out against him, howthey might of the synagogue, and immediately took counsel together voith the Berodtans, who, destroy him. [Matt. xii. 14.] different as their civil and religious notions were from those of the Pharisees,, joined with them in their enmity to Christ, and zealously united in a conspiracy against him, how Luke vi. 11. And they f/,^, mio-ht destroy him, either by a public prosecution or a private assassination. And luke were filled w.th madness, ^^^^^^^ ^^^^-^ ^^^^^^^ _^^.^j^ madness and rage ag-dinst him, and discoursed over, the point at ^i. himself from thence, [with ^^it/idrew himself from thence, and went with his disciples to the sea of Galilee, on " [Mark iiiPr! *" "" ""^ the shore of wliich'he frequently preaclied to the people. IMPROVEMENT. Wii.vT actions are so fair and lovely, that malice cannot turn them into reproach ? , What characters are so luke unblemished, what so exemplary, that uncharitableness cannot revile and condemn them ? While the eyes of distressed multitudes were turned to Christ as their only Physician and most valuable Friend, the eyes of the 7 Pharisees are continually upon him for evil : and they behold his wondrous mfracles, not for their own convic- b They put the question in that general form.] The word have cured a withered hnnd in these circumstances would have SfjijrsuEiv is very extensive, and properly includes all the car/", been, in a sense, destroyinr; life. Such cold and unnatural <^"ti- labour, and aliendancc which the case of any distempered or cisms hare been a great dislionour to scripture, and I persuade wounded, person can require; as I apprehend our English word mvself, the authors of them have not seen whither they tended. cure also does ; though, through the poverty of our language, we f }Fith the Herodians.'] The Herodians were a sect ot incn who, are forced to apply it to those miraculous effects which w ere so in- so far as we can judge by their name, seem to have distinguished stantaneously produced by the healing word of our blessed Re- themselves by their zeal for the family of Herod, whom they might decmer. What Syriac word they might use I know not ; but it is perhaps compliment with the title of the Messiah, though it is plain the question is put in very general terms, which best favoured plain that neither Herod himself, nor the generality of the people, their base purpose of founding an accusation on our Lord's answer, fell in with this extravagant opinion : (See Matt. ii. 1—4) However, c Jf he hnie but one sheen that should fall into a pit.l The com- from their high regard to Herod, the.se men would naturally be suits ( for the bulone sncep man, uuim uus,iimT. one onii/ /cu inio rne pir; yei lor luiijiii iiuiiuc lo luiuuiui lu mem m oi^.^.^ (,«. -.- -. - .— - ., the comparatively small value afMn/ o«^ he would not scruple to law would not allow of; and ]>articularly in the admission ot undertake the laljour of helping it out on MpsaA*aM. images, though not in the religious, or rather idolatrous use ot d To do well, and to perform the lovely acts of charity and them. Herod's attempt to set up a ^oW^"" «'.';''? over the east gate mercy.] This is the meaning of that phrase, xax« sto.e.v; 'in the of the temple is well known; (see Joseph. ^«''?- ''*■ ''^'''- '^"Py "j use of which the Evangelist might intimate an appeal to some [al. 8.] ? 1—3.) these complaisant courtiers would, no doubt, iletentl remainders of a moral sense, distinguishing the natural beauty of it: and the same temper might discover itself in many oUier sn- snch actions, which these worst of men could not totally eradicate, stances On all these accounts they were most diametrically oppo- e Secretly referring to the purpose of destroying his life.] lap- site to the Pharisees; so that the conjunction ot their counsels peal to every reader of toste^ whether there be not another kind of against Christ is a very memorable proof of the keenness ot tliat spirit in these word*, oinTTis supposition of such a reference, than malice which could thus cause them to forget so deep a quarrel witn wc could find in them by any forced attempt to prove, that not to each other. 104 HE HEALS THEM OF ALL THEIR DISEASES. SKCT. tion, but that they may, if possible, turn them into the means of his destruction. So ineffectual are the most 50. obvious and demonstrative arguments, till divine grace conquer men's natural aversion to a Redeemer's kingdom, and captivate their hearts to the obedience of faith ! MARK To have reviled and dishonoured Christ, and to have endeavoured to prevent the success of his ministry, had : ^^^- been a daring crime : but these desperate wretches conspire against his life ; and, different as their principles and , 6 interests were, form a transient friendship, to be cemented by his blood. Blessed Jesus ! well mightest thou ay, ', Many good works have I shewn you, and for which of them would you murder me ? (John x. 32.) MATT. What reasoning could be more plain and forcible than this which our Lord used ? and yet, like deaf adders, XII- they stop their ears, and harden their hearts against it. Inhimian creatures, that were more concerned for the^ 1], 12 safety of a sheep, than the happiness of a man ! Yet would to God that unworthy temper had died with them ; for surely there are those, even among professing Cliristians, who regard their cattle more than even the souls committed by providence to their care, and therefore, no doubt, more than their own too ! MARK The indignation which Christ felt on this occasion was a just and amiable passion. Happy they whose anger, III. 5. like his, is only awakened by sin, and burns only to destroy that accursed thing ! MATT. ji^g malice of the Pharisees did not restrain the benevolence of our compassionate Saviour, nor deprive -the f " ■ g poor patient of his cure. Such let our conduct be ! Let us not be overcome of evil ; let not the most unjust I VI. censures, or the most malicious opposition break our spirits, so as to prevent us from doing our duty. If others 1 1 are mad with persecuting rage, let us pity them ; and let all their fury against the cause of God be improved as • a motive to excite our most zealous and courageous endeavours for its service. 0(f}: . [ ^ , \Z 5S i I SECTION LI. Christ, retiring to the sea-side, cures great multitudes with such tnodesty and gentleness, as was agreeable i to'Tsaiah's prophetic description of his conduct. Mark iii. 7— 12. Matt. xii. 15 — 21. j Mark iii. 7. mark iii. r ' SECT. It was before observed, that Jesus retired from the synagogue, where he had cured the And a ^reat multitude ; 51. man that had a withered hand, and went with his disciples to the sea-shore: we now ^'"Tf5^!l^''f,!/»i'*?Mn'lf*'l'Jl' pursue the story,"* and add, that he was there attended by a great multitude ot people, 15.] MARK ^vtio followed 'him from Galilee, and evenfro?n Judea ; And particularly from Jeru- 8 And from Jerusalem, , ^''- salem, where that extraordinary cure lately wrought at the pool of Bethesda, and that beyond"' Jordanf'a^iid t^e™ 8 excellent defence with which it was followed, had greatly increased his popularity : nay, about Tyre and Sidou, a there were some that came yet farther from the south, and were fro7n Idumea ; the ^ad^*™rd«'i"a't*^^re!l'tth''i'n% natives of which country being long since obliged to become Je■\^'s,'' had many of them he did, cauie uuto him. seen Jesus at the feasts : and others too attended him from the eastern regions, which lay beyond Jordan : and also a great multitude from the western parts, even as far as from the neighbourhood of Tyre and Sidon, having heard what great and glorious things he did, came to hi/n. 9 Jnd he spoke to his disciples, that a little vessel should be in readiness near him, 9 And he spake unto his because of the tnultitude that was now flocking around him ; that they might not should "vvait on hin^becfuise throng in upon him in a manner which would have been very inconvenient to him, and of tlie multitude, kst they 10 would have prevented great numbers of them from seeing and hearing what passed. For *^^io 'Vor"^"!!! '"md healed lie had healed many, and [indeed] all that applied to him ; so that they eagerly 7-ushed many, [and he healed them in upon him,^ even as many as were under any remarkable scourge of God's afflicting ^li,] insomuch that they hand, that they might touch him, and so partake of that healing virtue which went out \l^^\^ him!°as many arhad 1 1 from him. And they who were possessed with impure spirits, as soon as ever they saw plagues. [Matt. xli. 15.] him, though they before were perfect strangers to him, immediately fell down before him when'^they'salr hinr"en' in a posture of submission and homage; and such a terror seized the demons that pos- down before him, and ori.d, sessed them, that they cried out, with all the appearances of horror and confusion, saying, gyj"S. Tl'ou art the Son of We know fliat thou art the Messiah, the Son of the most high God.^ 12 But our Lord preserved the usual modesty of his temper on these occasions, as well as .J^'^^jf' i'^f/''^'^'/'^||Y''^'! others ; and, being desirous to occasion as little disturbance and offence as possible, he ^^j^ 1,^^^ kjw\vn!''"[Mat*t.. charged them with strictness, and some appearance of severity,^ that they should not xii. 16.] make hitn known : for, intending to visit several of those parts himself, he was unwilling to give an unnecessary alarm to his enemies ; and he always chose to avoid every degree of ostentation. MATT. So that in him it might be evidenUy seen to be accomplished which was spoken by Matt. xii. 17. That it a We now pursue the story.] The connection of this section t/ie So:i of God: which I mention, not that I think the authority of with the preceding, both in Matthew and Mark, is express: and I that sutllcicnt to .justify a change in the received reading, but on y desire the reader would once for all observe, that when 1 give no as one remarkable instance among many others which I could 1 reason for placing the sections in the order in which they stand, it easily give, of the negligence with which that manuscript was col- \ is because I am not aware there is any difficulty or controversy lated by Dr. Mill's correspondent; since this reading, memorable 1 about them. And their following each other in the Evangelists, as it is, is omitted by the Doctor. But 1 hope the world will ere' though without any express note of exact connection, I always long be favoured with a far more exact account, not only of that reckon a good reason for continuing that order, unless there be manuscript, but of several others much more valuable than that, some weighty argument inducing us to change it. some quite omitted by Dr. Mill, and others very imperfectly col- b Obliged to become Jews.] That Hyrcanus had obliged them lated. This we are encouraged to expect from the reverend, accu- to this, about an hundred and fi//>/ years before titc birth of Christ, rate, and indefatigable Mr.Wasse of Ayno, whose obliging readiness we are assured by the account Josephus gives us, Antiqilib. xiii. to assist me in this work, I do myself tlie honour of acknowledging cap. 9. (al. 17.) \'\. with the utmost gratitude. His death, since the publication of c Rushed in upon him.'] This the phrase sumiTiniv aurv yet more the first edition of this volume, is a calamity to the learned world I strongly expresses ; which signifies, that they were ready to drive long to be lamented. * each other upon him, so that those nearer him could hardly stand, e He chanted them with strictness, and some appearance of se- being pressed forward by those behind. verity.] This we may/take to be included in the force of that ex- (i Than art the Messiah, the Son nf the most high God.] The prpssion, xoX).* EJrirtAtx wraj-. Leicester manuscript reads it, Sj su ^eo;, ui»5 rnQm { J'h'iti art God, CHRIST IS ALL NIGHT AT PRAYER ON A MOUNTAIN. 105 might be fulfilled which Isaiali the prophet,^ (Isa. xlii. 1 — 4.) saying," Behold ih& great Messiah, nn/ servant, SECT, was spoken by Esaias the « whom I have choscn for the great work of redeeming and saving my people; he is 5L ^Ts'seh^oid^my servant, " '"J/ Beloved, in xvhom wj/ very soul does entirely acquiesce, as every way qualified to whom I have chosen; my " perform it: for I will put ?ni/ Spirit upon him ; and he shall proclaim judgment, matt. we\7 Wd?l™i'li^pu't my " *'^^^ '^' *^ S^^^^ ^^^^ ^'^ religion, righteousness, and truth, even to the most d)stant of Xll. Spirit upon him, and he " the heathen nations. He shall not contend with martial violence, nor cry out in a 19 shall shew judgment to the «< clamorous and turbulent manner; nor shall any one hear his voice in the streets, as 19*' He sliall not strive, " giving a loud and disquieting alarm : But he shall manage his administration with so 20 nor cry; neither shall any " niuch gentleness and sweetness, with so much caution and tenderness, that (as it is man hear his voice in the « proverbially expressed) he shall not break even a bruised i^eed or cane, which snaps 20 A bruised reed shall he " asunder immediately when pressed with any considerable weight; nor shall he extin- not break, and smoking- flax « guish even the Smoking Jlax,^ or the wick of a lamp, which, when it is first beginning send forth judgment 'unto " fo kindle, is put out by every little ic.oUon : with such kind and condescending regards victory. " to the weakest of his people, and to the first openings and symptoms of a hopeful " character, shall he proceed, //// he send forth judgment to victory,^ or till he make 21 And in his name shall " his righteous cause gloriously triumphant over all opposition. And this gentle and 21 the Gentiles trus(. ti gracious administration shall charm mankind in so sensible and irresistible a manner, "that the Gentiles shall confide in his illustrious name;' and distant, yea barbarous " nations, shall seek their refuge and salvation in his grace ; though Israel may ungrate- " fully reject him, and therefore be justly abandoned by God." IMPROVEMENT. Surely face does not more exactly answer to face in water, than the character of Christ dra^^n by the prophet Ver. 1 7 to his temper and conduct as described by the Evangelists. How should Zion rejoice, and the daughter of Jeru- salem shout, that such a King corncth unto her, meek and having salvation ! (Zech. ix. 9.) Let us with pleasure trace his gentle administration, and with a cheerful confidence commit our souls to so kind and so faithful a hand : far from breaking, he will strengthen the bruised reed ; far from quenching the smoking flax, he will 20 rather blow it up into a flame. How well does it become the disciples of Christ, and especially, how well does it become his ministers, to imitate what was so amiable in their Lord, and not to despise the day of small things ! Let us not strive nor 19 cry, but, laying aside all unnecessary contentions and angry debates, let us receive one another as Christ hath received us, (Rom. xv. 7.) and, avoiding all vain ostentation, let us silently and meekly attend, each of us, to the discharge of his proper office. So may we hope that the cause of religion will go on successfully around us, and that righteousness will in due time be brought forth to complete victory over all opposition, and, by its own 20 genuine influences, be happily established in the earth. The Gentiles trust in a Redeemer's name, and the British isles are numbered among those that wait for his law. 21 May our souls with humble submission bow themselves to receive it, and observe it with such faithful care and obedient regards, that our example, wherever it is seen, may promote tlie reception of it among those that as yet are strangers to it ! ' ?X ' ' ''^ »■ \ ^- ^ > ^ SECTION LH. Our Lord having spent the night in prayer on a mountain, in the morning chuses the twelve apostles; and then comes down to the multitude assembled in the piain, and performs a great number of miracles among them. Luke vi. 12—19. Mark iii. 13—19. LUKE vi. 12. , Luke vi. 12. And it came to pass in AND it came to pass in those days^ of his teaching near the sea of Galilee, that Jesus, SECr. those days, that he went out seeing the general notice which was taken of his appearance, and the inclination which ^2. and continued'^a'il n'i'-hrm multitudes had to be farther informed concerning him, detennined to chuse a nmiiber of prayer to God.— [Mark iii. persons, who should assist and succeed him in his ministerial work. And as the office lo -"^^.^ '^■•' which he intended to assign them was of so great importance, even to the remotest ages, J2 previous to the choice of them he went forth to a neighbouring mountain to pray ; and his heart was so much enlarged on this momentous occasion, that, notwithstanding all the labours of the preceding day, he continued all night at his devotions, in an oratory [de- voted to the service] of God,^ where he had some opportunity of being slieltered by the trees which were planted round it. " " ^ By Isawh the prophet.'] I refer the learned reader to Grotius take a righteous and speedy vengeance on the Jews for rejecting him, and Heinsius, for the difference between the original and the quo- to verify and fulfil the truth of his predictions. — I have expressed it tation here, which chiefly lies in the clause oi sending forth jadg- in a manner which may suit either ; but I think the former much ment unto victory. preferable, since then the words describe the general character of g //I? shall not break a bruised reed, nor extinguish tlie smoking Christ's administration in all ages, and especially as it best agrees fiaz.'\ The immense pains Zegerus and some otlier commentators with the sense of the original, He shall bring forth judgment unto have taken to shew on what accounts either the Pharisees or the truth: He stiall not fail, nor be discouraged, till he have set or esUb- inultitudes, or the Jews or Gentiles, might be compared to a lished judgment in the earth : which phrases explain each other, bruised reed or smoking flax, seem very wide of tlie purpose. They and the sense of each is abridged here. seem to be only proverbial expressions, to signify a person of a most i And the Gentiles shall confide in his name.] Isaiah's saying, gentle character, (as I illustrate them above,) and something tore- chap. xlii. 4. The isles shall wait for his law, is illustrated and senible the proverb among the Spanish Jews to the same purpose. If explained by this correspondent phrase which 3Iatthew uses. such a one were to walk on a pavement of eggs, he would not break a In those clays.] There can be no doubt of the place of this Ihem : (see Pol. Synops. in loc.J To suppose, with Dr. Lightfoot, section, since this choice of the twelve apostles is mentioned both it signifies he shall not make so much noise as breaking a bruised by Mark and Luke just in this connection ; and Matthew does not reed does, or pouring water on smoking flax, sinks the idea too low. mention it at all, till he comes to speak of the mission of the twelve, a Till he send forth judgment to victory.] Isaiah says, to truth ; which is plainly a different thing, and happened some time after. and we may take the words to signify, //// he make the cause of Compare Luke'ix. 1, 2. with Matt. x. 1—5. j 74. righteousness and ^ruM completely i'if/orioK.'; ; or, /a'/ at length Af b In an oratary Idevoled lo the servite'] of God; nrr,npnuxn n 106 HAVING CALLED THE DISCIPLES, CHRIST CHOOSES HIS APOSTLES SECT. And ■when it -was dcnj, early in the morning, he called his disciples to him, \even'\ those 13 And whea it was day, 52. tL-hom he pleased, (compare John xv. 16.) and they cheerfully caine to him upon his l'<^ v^WeA unto him his summons: and out of them he chose [r/«^] constituted tuH-lve,- whom he also named tnTthtylTrTl^VT.l'm-i ' XUKE his apostles, or envoys ; a name which well expressed the office for which they were and of them he cliose [arid i ^^- designed : these he now fixed upon, that for some time the// should continually de with orJained] twelve whom also ■' 13 him, not only to attend upon his public ministry, but to eiijoy the benefit of his private t'hey*^shoiiid''b'e\vitii "lli'm* conversation ; that he might furnish them the better for the great work in which they were =""l that he might send ; to be employed ; and that, at length, after suitable preparation, he jnight with more ad- [m ™k i^Tia, 14 j P"'^'"''''^ vantage send them abroad to preach his gospel, and thereby make way for his own visits MARK to some more distant parts, where he had not yet been. And, to enable them the more Mark iii. i.i. And to III- effectually to do it, hedetennined that they should then have power to heal distempers, nesscs''°"'d ^t" '"^"'j^'^'': 15 and to cast out demons from those unhappy people who were possessed by them ; well devils! ^" " '^''^ '^^ knowing such endowments would command a regard, notwithstanding the meanness of their appearance. 16 -4«r/ the twelve persons Avho were so signally honoured by him, and whose names (ex- 10 And Simon he sir- i cepting that of Judas Iscariot) will be ever venerable in the Christian church, as being, next '14^'^ ^^^^^^ ' '^^"'"'^ ^''- '■ to Christ, the great foundations of it, (Eph. ii. 20 ; Rev. xxi. 14.) were these : Simon, whom (it has been observed before, Jolm i. 42. p. 43.) he sirnamed Peter,'^ that is, a rock, on \ account of his remarkable.steadiiiess and intrepidity of temper, (see Isa. 1. 7.) as well as the ! ■■ 17 peculiar use to be made of him : And James [the son'] of Sebedce, the fishennan; and n And James th( son of ' John the beloved disciple, who was the brother of James: and he sirnamed them Zebedec, and Jolm the bro- Boanerges, which signifies, Sons of Thunder :^ thereby intimating, with what victorious name°d them' iioaner<^es^ and resistless power they should bc'ar down all opposition, and, with divine eloquence and "ii'"^!! is, The Sons° of ii iS mighty miracles, confound the enemies of his gospel : And Andrew, and Philip, of whose '^''j's" 'And ''^Andrew ^^alid '' first acquaintance with Christ we were before informed; (John i. 40, 43.) and Bartholo- Philip and Bartholomew, mew, and Matthew, or Levi, who had lately been called from theanfamous employment ""^1 Matthew, and Thomas, of a publican ; (Matt. Lx. 9. p. 93.) and Thomas, who was also called Didymus, as having Alphens, and Thaddeus, [or a twin brother ; and James [the sg7{] of Alphcus, called James the less; (Mark xv. 40.) 3mUsihe iirotkeroi James,'\ and Lebbeus, whose sirname was Thaddeus, and who was [also called] Judas, or Jude, Sle^d Zeiote"T]-^[Luke'vi: [the brother] of James ;f and Simon the Canaanite, called also Zelotes,s or the Zealot, 14, 15, 16.1 19 as having before professed a distinguishing zeal for the law : And, worthy of being men- if» And Judas Iscariot, tioned in the last place, or rather unworthy of being mentioned at all, otherwise than with LT'"f '' l'*"/'?^ the traitor,] ., .^11 TJT-, n^-,r, „.N, wliuh also betrayed hira. — the greatest abhorrence, was Judas Iscariot, or a man of Carioth, (Josh, xv. 25.) that [Luke vi. 16.] infamous, abandoned wretch, who also was the traitor that afterwards was so ungrateful to his Lord, that he even betrayed him^ into the hands of his bloody enemies : he had professed himself, with secular and worldly views, a disciple of Cltrist ; and though our Lord well knew him, yet, as his character was free from any visible ground of suspicion, in order to accomplish what was delivered in the sacred oracles, he was pleased to invest him with this holy office, and to place him among his apostles : (Compare Jolm xiii. 18.) LUKE And, after he had acquainted these twelve persons with his design, and had given them Lukevi. 17. And he came such private instructions as he judged convenient, to render their attendance upon him dov.-n with them ; and stood 17 subservient to the execution of their important office, he came down from the mountain j," n'y'ot'^hiTdi'J^tplM :mTa with them, and stood in the neighbouring plain, and as the morning was now pretty far Kreat multitude of 'people advanced, the crowd of his disciples [gathered round him ;] and besides those that had ''J^^J^^ ''alid"'"fr'^'' "'r "'^'"" followed him for some time, and were now persuaded of his divine mission, there was also coaVr'of"Tyr'e'"aud"sidonj ©£8.] This is so singular an expression, that I cannot a^ee with reasonable to interpret this title as in the paraphrase, than to refer our translation; but rather conclude with Drusius, l^rideaux, it to any thing peculiarly (Th/w/ or fH(fl/cPH(«fl' in their manner of Whitby, Hammond, and many other good critics, that we are to address, beyond what was to lie found in the other apostles, understand it of an oratory, or proseiicliri, oT prayer-house, as Dr. f L.ebbeu.s, whose sirname was T/iaddeu.i, and w\to was also cnlted Watts (;jiuscs.to render it, (in his late ingenious Discourse on the Judas, or Jude, l/ie brother of James.'] That this person had all Holiness ofT'laces, p. 111.) and as the word seems also to be used, these names, appears from comparing the catalogues given us in Actsxvi. 13. (see Hammond, in toe.) Descriptionsofthese])lacesmay the places before us, and in, Matt. x. 2 — 4. and Acts. i. 13. Lebbeus be found in most writers of Jewish Antiquities, and in none that I being derived from si, which signifies the heart, and Thaddeus pro- know of better than in Calraet, (at the word Proseucha,) and in Pri- bably from ■??, a Syro-chaldaic word, which, as some critics tell us, deaux's Connffc/ion, Vol. I. p. 387 — 389. It is well known, they were, signifies tlie breast, seem equivalent names, and may signify the open at the top, and planted round with trees; as-TTEll as often situ-' hearty Judas, Tpex\\ax>s to distinguish him from that other judas ate by the side of seas or rivers, as was probably the case here. 1 did wWdSc faithless breast and foul heart had brought a kind of infamy not chuse, with Dr. Whitby, to render it in God's house of prayer, on tlie name ; so that neither Matthew nor Mark use it when speak- that phrase having been so peculiarly appropriated to the temple, ing of this apostle ; and John takes particular care to prevent the See 3Iatt. xxi. 13. confusion which might arise from the ambiguity of it. Jolmxiv. 22. c Constituted twelve. 1 So I chuse to render Erroinrre, rather than g Simon tlie Cannnnite, called a\f,ri Zelotes.] It is matter of some ordained; ordination to the ministry carTymii !L]ong with it an idea doubt with me, whether he was called the Canaanite, as being a by no means suiting what passed now, which was so long before native of C'ana in Galilee, as some have thought ; or whether it be y their entering on the office. The word is used elsewhere, for ap- derived, as Dr. Hammond think.s, from the Hebrew i^;p, and signi- po'inting to an office ; 1 Sam. xii. 6. Gr. and Heb. iii. 2. — It is pro- fies the same with Zelotes. But though we have many instmces of bable our Lord chose twelve apostles in reference to the twelve extraordinary zeal in Phinehas, Elijah, the Maccabees, &c. and read tribes of Israel, (see Matt. xix. 28 ; Luke xxii. .30; Rev. xxi. 12, in ancient Jewish writers of theyHf/ymen/ o/'ri?fl/ by which Stephen 14; and compare Exod. xxiv. 4; Deut. i. 23; and Josh, i v. 2, 3.) was murdered, Paul assaulted, &c. yet I cannot find any sect of and tlierefore care was taken, on the death of Judas, to chu.se men distinguished by that name, till'mentioned by Josephus, (7/(»//. another to make up the number. (Acts i. 21, 22, 26.) Which seems Jud. lib. is. cap. .3. [al. 5.] ? 9.) a little before the destruction of to have been a piece of respect paid to the Jews, previous to the .lerusalem. If Simon had the additional name of Zelotes given (■ grand ofler of the go..;ppl to them ; wliereas when they had generally him on account of his personal zeal for the law, (which is possible,) ^ rejected it, two more, Paul^and Barn_aba^, were added, without any he might probably be a Pharisee: but Mr. Fleming's conjecture.v regard to the particular number of //7f7(r. that he was the father of Judas Iscariot, who is called ///<■ .to;? o/; d He sirnamed Peter.] To sirname, here plainly signifies to /SVmon, (John xii. 4.) seems very pre cariou.s, considering how coni- give an additional name ; eweSjike tm Xi/^om nnui Utrpv. mnn the name of Simon was. "See Fleming's Christology, Vol. II. e BncneTr;cs, which sirjnifies. Sons of Tlnindcr.] hsitsinnHiSinthis p. 1^7. form, it is jjlainly a corruption of 5j-( '23. Considering the remark- h That even betrayed him.] It is plain that x*i has great force •Tble gentleness of John's temper and manner of writing, it is more here, if it be rendered even ; or else it seems a mere expletive. A REPETITION OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 107 which came to hear liim, still waiting upon him (as we observed above, Mark iii. 7, 8. p. 104.) a gnat multitude of SECT, di'slalesr ''^"'""^ ""^ "'""^ people from «// parts of Judea, and particularly from Jerusalem, and evenfro?n the shore 52. ofTi/re and Sidon, which lay on the Mediten-anean sea ; ivho came to hear him, and to 18 And they that were be healed of their diseases : And the// also t:7/o iscrc infested tiuth unclean and wicked luke vexed with janclean spirits: gpi,.jfg^i made their application to him; and they "d.-ere cured of the terrible disorders ^^• '"i9 And the whole niulti- which those malignant beings occasioned. And the whole multitude of these unhappy 18 tude sought to touch him : people endeavoured at least to toiicfiliim ; for so exhaordinary were the miracles of this 19 him 'and hwled Mm all! °* d^y, that in some instances, where our Lord did not so much as take any apparent notice of the case, 7/et there xvent a divine, though secret, virtue out of him, and v.rought so powerfully on those that touched him, that it healed them alt, how desperate soever their distempers were. BIPROVEMENT. When we consider how much the church in all ages has been indebted to the labours of the apostles, and how much we ourselves owe to them, we shall see great reason of thankfulness to our wise and gracious Master, who was pleased to assign this work to his servants, and so eminently to qualify them for it. It is observable, that mark before he sent them forth, he chose them to be with him in a more constant attendance on liis person and ministry. '^^• May all who succeed them as preachers of the gospel, be such as have intimately known Christ themselves, and 14 have been accustomed to spiritual converse with him ; that they may, with the greater abiUty, zeal, and efficacy, recommend hmi to others ! We may assure ourselves, that these, his future ministers, had no inconsiderable share in those petitions in which, luke with unabating fervour and intenseness of devotion, our Redeemer spent this memorable night. And if we have ^^• any regard for the support of religion in the rising age, let us likewise be earnestly praying, both for them that are 12 already in the ministry, and for such as are preparing for it. This surely ought to be the frequent care, not only of those who have the tremgndous charge of educating such as are, ere long, to be intrusted with the honour of the gospel, and the care of souls, but of those who are now struggling with the glorious labours and trials of that im- portant office, and even of all those private Christians who cordially love the interest of their Master, and wish the salvation of their fellow-creatures. Let us unite our cries to him, who has engaged to be always with his church, even to the end of the world, and say, " Light up, O Lord, a brighter and a stronger flame in the lamps of thy sanctuary ! Polish these arrows of thy " quiver, that they may pierce deep into the consciences of men ! Let thy priests be clothed with salvation, that thy " saints may shout aloud for joy ! And pom- forth upon them so plenteous an unction of thine Holy Spirit, that the " odours of thy grace m ay by their means be diffijsed around, throughout all thy tabernacles ; like that of the fra- " grant oil, which was pourecl on the head of Aaron, in such rich abundance, that it not only ran down on his beard, " but reached even to the skirts of his garments ! Amen, and Amen." ■'' O'c .?;./,(- SECTION LEI. Christ, in the audience of his new-chosen disciples, and of the-multitude, repeats in the plain many remarh- able passages of his sermon before delivered on the mount. Luke vi. 20 — 36. Like vi. 20. . LuKE vi. 20. Avp he lifted up his eyes AND [Jesus] lifting up his cyes on his disciples, who surrounded him, and more SECT. Blessed *'ap'^?'p*' oo'^-^^for especially directing them to his apostles whom he had lately chosen, said unto them,' 53. yours is the kingdom of Happy are you who are enriched with divine knowledge and giaco, though your circuni- *^^- stances in this world are poor and mean ; for the kingdom of God, in all its transcendent luke 2i^ Blessed are ^ ye that and eternal glories, is yours, and you are hastening on to the full possession of it. Happy ^ ' filiel Blessed arf y^ that (^rc you who are now hungry and destitvite of all the comfortable accommodations of 21 weep now : for ye shall life, if you feel that nobler appetite by which the religious soul longs after improvements '*"»''• in holiness,'' (for you shall ere long be filled with the most substantial and valuable • blessings. Happy are you who now mourn under a sense of sin, or under that wholesome discipline of affliction by which God reduces his wandering children, and trains them up to superior virtue ; for all your sorrow shall pass away like a dream, and you shall ere 22 Blessed are ye when }q jaug-h and rejoice in a complete dehverance from it. (See Matt. v. 4.) Happif arc 22 men shall hate vou, and ^ i ^ i,,t, ^ , , ; a; i 77 j r j? when they shall" separate you when men shall hate you, and persecute you ; when they shall separate you Ifrotn i Unclean spirils.'] It seems to rae an excessive refinement in the part of what he had delivered some months before to another audi- learned editors of the Prussian Testament, to distinguish fas they tory, and probably at some greater distance than just in the same do in their note on Matt. x. 1.) unclean spirifs from other re// spin'/s neighbourhood. (See note b, on Luke v. 12. p. 90. and note b, on which might possess men ; supposing the word only to signify Matt. v. 1. p. 7.3.) For it is plain from other instances, that this is such kind of spiri/s as drove men to dwell among the tomlis, by nothing more than what he often had occasion to do. (Compare which they became ceremonially unclean. How little it can be sup- Matt. ix. 32 — 34. with Matt. xii. 22—24. and xvi. 21. with xvii. 22, 23. ported from Luke iv. 33. see the note there, p. 69. It is evident and xx. 17 — 19.) And indeed, since it is certain from Matt. vii. 28, 29. vnclean and eiiV spirits are generally used as nearly synonimous'' that what that Evangelist has recorded as the sermon on the viount terms, referring to the moral impuritv and malignity of thifir na- was all delivered at once ; they who suppose fhix the very same, tures. Compare Matt. xii. 43 ; Luke xi. 24. and Rev. xvi. 13, 14. must grant, that great part of it was repeated at different times, a :' 23 whelmed with trouble and distress at such abuses and assaults, be glad in that dai/, and ,,^,^^ ^^^^^ ^^\^^^.;^ -^ ^^.^.^^ with holy alacrity even leap for joy ; for, behold, your rcxoard in heaven is great in in heaven: for in the like proportion to your sufferings on earth : 'For thus their fathers did to the prophets of old, '^^^^g^ J^:lpili\r ^'""^ who now are in seats of distinguished glory. (See Matt. v. 11, 12.) 24 But there is, generally speaking,'^ cause to denounce a woe to you who are rich ; for ^^f ,^;',V™,';"ye''iIave"re' so ensnaring are the circumstances in which you are placed, thai; it is much to be feared ceived your consolation. 7/ou have already received all your consolation, (compare Luke xvi. 25.) and will be so taken up with the transient pleasures of time, as to Toiget and forfeit everlasting blessedness. 25 There is generally reason to say. Woe unto you -who are now filed to the full, and pampered 25 VVoe unto you thai are with all the most luxurious dainties ! for you shall ere long sufer hunger, and fall into a l^^}^;^ unto^'you ti'at'iau^^h state of indigence, and misery, aggravated by all the plenty which you have enjoyed and now! for ye shall mourn and abused. Woe unto you who spend your lives in mirth and gaiety, and are so vain as now weep. to laugh off every solenm and awful thought ! for you have reason to expect a portion in those doleful regions where, without intermission and without end, you shall mourn and 26 lament. And again, I may generally say, in so corrupt an age as this, Woe unto you when ^,f^,Yshaii"spearweii o" all men speak well of you ! for such universal applause is seldom to be gained without you ! for so did their fatliers sinful compliances ; aiid 'thus did their fathers to the false prophets of old, who soothed to the false prophets, them in their idolatries and other crimes, with smooth addresses, and vain assurances of security and happiness. 27 You, my disciples, if you would approve your fidelity to God and to me, must act in a 2; But I say unto you very different manner, by which you will certainly expose yourselves to hatred and perse- U^^!^ do^'good to^'ihem cution: But J say unto you, and to all that hear me this day. Far from entertaining which hate you ; sentiments of malice and purposes of revenge, love even your enemies, and do good to 28 them that hate you : Bless them that in the malignity of their hearts revile and curse 28 Bless them tlmt curse you : awfl' cordially and fervently /^/-a^/ >r them that most spitefully harass and abuse ^,","e\ides'!)it'e?/ii/"use'v'i!r you. (See Matt. v. 44.) 29 And, aa_gver you would attain to such exalted degrees of fortitude and goodness, ac- 29 And unto him that custom youi-selves patiently to bear the common injuries of life, which a false sense of c,"eek'offel-"a*ls,rthe other** honour and interest renders so much more intolerable than they really are. If, for in- and him that taketh awlv stance, a man smite thee on the [pile'] cheek, rather than return the blow, ojfer also the tliy cloak forbid not to tak'e other to him ; and if he take away thy mantle, do not by violence attempt to hinder ^ "^"^^ '''*°- him [ from taking'] 'also thy vest. (See Ae notes on Matt. v. 39. p. 79.) 30 I would also charge it upon you to labour after a diffusive liberality, as well as exemplary ^^^^^ p'^^^ \° '^'■'f^^y """ *')^* meekness: be ready then to give to every one that askefh thee for an alms, where thou hast ti'^^ taketh'away 'thy goods reason to believe it is charity to do it ; and from him that taketh away thy possessions ask tttem not again. in an injurious manner, do not immediately demand them back in the forms of law, but 31 rather endeavour by gentler methods to reduce the offender to reason. And do not by any 3i And as ye would that .^ means imagine, that the injuries you receive from others will cancel the .bonds of common yj'abo to them li'kewi'se'. ''" i humanity to them : but as you would reasonably desire that men should do to you, do you also in like manner to them, and, by putting yourselves, as it were, in their places, endeavour to form your minds to an impartial judgment. (See note on Matt. vii. 12. p. 87.) 32 ^And indeed, if you only love them that love you, what great thanks are due to you ^,^.^,^°'", '^ ^^ '"^'^ '''^™ \ upon that account ? For there are some sentiments of gratitude common even to the worst thank have ye ?^?or siimers \ of men, which incline the most scandalous sinners to love those that love them, and to also love those that love 1 profess an affectionate regard for those by whom they have been treated with respect and t"«^™- 33 kindness. And if you do good offices only to them that are your benefactors, what 33 And if ye do good to mighty thanks are due to you for that ? For even the most infamous sinners, either from ^'hiTt Umik hiu'e^'yeVfor ' instinct, or from mere self-love, may often be observed to do the same. (Compare Matt, sinners also do even the 34 v. 46, 47. p. 80.) And if you lend only to them from whom you hope to receive, and ^^j'^,,^ jf ,,g jg^j fg them that, perhaps, with considerable advantage to yourselves, what favour do you shew in of whom ye hope to receive, that, or what extraordinary thanks are due to you on that account? For even the "hat thank have ye? for greatest sinners lend other sinners like themselves, that, when there is occasion, they toVeceive'as much again. ' may I'cceive the like assistance in return from them. 35 g^t jove vc your ene- 35 But I exhort you to love your enemies, and to do good, and lend in cases of great mies, and do good, and lend, necessity, even when you can hope for nothing again :'^ and so your reward in heaven 'lop'"? '»■■ "^.*'","°i,^^"'5Jg will be great, and you will appear to be the sons of the Most High God ; for in the great, and ye shall be the course of his daily providence he is kind to the ungrateful and evil, causing the children of the Highest: undeserved benefits of the sun and rain to descend upon them, and filling their insensible t",a„']^fui and /"theevTi.""' 36 hearts with food and gladness. (Compare Matt. v. 44,45. and Acts xiv. 17.) Be ye 36 Be ye therefore merci c Separate you from their nssemhlies.'\ Grotius's excellent note with some limitations, otherwise they would be contrary to fact in I on this clause well deserves a most attentive reading; containing some instances. i- i / n a most learned dissertation on the various kinds of excommunication e Ulien you can liope for nothing again.'] 1 cannot think (as De among the Jews. Dieu and some others have done, agreeable to the Syriac and Arabic d Generally speaking] Compare Matt. xix. 23, 24. It is most versions,) that fj.nSii a7r£Xm>r£> should be rendered, causing none to evident, that 'such expressions as these in scripture are to be taken despair ; since ueitlicr the phrase itself, nor the opixisition in which THE DANGER OF FOLLOWING BLIND AND IGNORANT TEACHERS. 109 fill, as your Father also is therefore nierc/ful, as he also whom you call i/our heavenly Father is merciful : and SECT, merciful. unto whom indeed you cannot stand related as his children, if you have no concern to 53. imitate and to obey him. (Compare Matt. v. 48. p. 80.) LUKE IIVIPROVEMENT. vi. How necessary is it that our forgetful hearts should have line upon line, and precept upon precept ! K Christ Ver. 20 did not think it improper to repeat this discourse, surely it will not be needless for us to renew our attention to it. Oh that every word of it were engraven on our hearts as with the point of a diamond, that we might learn, in spite of all the foolish v/isdom of this v/orld, to form ourselves on these maxims, as the surest guide to present and tcr eternal figjiciiy ! Our LortJ again pronounces the poor and the hungry, the mournful and the persecuted, happy ; and repre- 21 — 26 sents those as miserable, who are rich and full, joyous and applauded : not that this is universally the case, but because prosperous circumstances are so frequently a sweet poison, and affliction a healing, though bitter medicine. Let the thought reconcile us to adversity, and awaken our caution when the world smiles upon us ; when a plen- tiful table is spread before us, and our cup runneth over ; when our spirits are gay and sprightly ; or when we hear, what to corrupted nature is too harmonious music, that of our own praise from men. Oh that we may secure what is of infinitely greater importance, the praise of our heavenly Master, by a constant obedientkl regard to these his precepts ! May we be happy proficients in the art of bearing and forgiving injuries ! May we be ready to every good 27 — 34 word and work ! maintaining an eye quick to observe, a heart tender to feel, a hand open to relieve the calamities and necessities of friends, of strangers, and of enemies : giving to some ; and where, perhaps, there may be little prospect of a retuin, lending to others ; which, if it engage them to greater industry, is as real a benefit as if the loan were a gift. Qo^ the^whole, let us not presume to call God our Father, if we do'not labour to resemble him; nor dare to 35, 36 challenge the peculiar honour and privileges of Christ's disciples, if we do not distinguish ourselves from others by the charity of our tempers and the usefulness of our lives, as well as by the articles of our faith and the forms of our worship. j'')j''i-i,. ■ tj ■'"v. , ! ^ jj ^ SECTION LIV. Our Lord goes on to repeat many remarkable passages of his sermon on the mount, with some proper ad- ditions relating to the same subjects. Luke vi. 37, to the end, ^ — •- LoKE vi. 37. Luke vi. 37. Judge not, and ye shall JUDGE not Others with rigour and severity, and i/ou may hope that you shall 7iot SECT, not, ''ani'"yf''shairnot'"be yourselves be Judged with that severity which you must otherwise expect from God, and 54. condemned: forgrive, and ye which the most iunoceiit and virtuous characters would not be able to bear: Condemn shall be forgiven: «o^ Others with a rash censoriousness, fl?;r/yo;< s/^ff// ??o^ be condemned : Forgive others luke their offences ; and if you do it from a truly religious principle,^ i/ou shall also be for- ^ *• given by God those oftences against him, which are infinitely greater than any you can 37 possibly receive from your fellow-creatures. (See Matt. vii. 1. p. 86.) 39 Give, and it shall be Qj^^e liberally to those that need your assistance, and it shall be given back to you 38 mlaTure^presse^d^downfand in a rich abundance: for it will gain you so much love and respect, tJi^t God wifl^. shaken together, and 'run- influence men's hearts in your favour, that ;«eM shall, as it were, pour into your lap°^ ping over, shall men give ^.^^^ measure, bkssiftffs pressed doiviKlfnd shaken together, and even running over ; into your bosom. For with -^ . , ' ™" "o r ,,,7,7 '^ jij v7 the same measure tliat ye for it may be taKcii as a general rule, that by the same measure that you measure xvitii mete withal, it shall be 'to Others, it ivill in return be measured back to you. (See Matt. vii. 2. p. 86.) "^39 And 'h ^^ spak?a°para- He Spake also, at the same time, a parable to them, (which he afterwards repeated, 39 ble unto t;um: Can the Matt. XV. 14.') to caution them against submitting with an implicit faith to the conduct of tlley'^notVoihfril'into^'the ignorant or vicious men, who might set up for religious teachers; and said. Can the ditch ? ' blind undertake to guide the blind ? Will th-vy. not both, in such a case, be likely to fall into a pit or ditch, which may happen to lie in their way ? And, in like manner, above his'^master'^'but'ever* 7°" ^^^^^ nothing to expect from 'following such men but to perish with them. There 40 one that is perfect shau'^be is little reason to hope that, under their instruction, you should be wiser and better than as his master. they : for it is, you know, a common proverb. That the scholar is not above his teacher ; but all that can reasonably be expected is, that every one who is a finished [scholarl should come up to him that teaches him ; and it is this that he -will principally aim at, to be as his master : It is of great importance therefore that you should well consider whom you take to be your teachers ; for it is necessary that your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, if you expect a share in the kingdom of heaven. (See Matt. v. 20. and X. 24, 25.) •" And why beholdest Yet, On the Other hand, I would not have you to be forward in blaming them, or any 41 bro«ier^s™yl! but per"ce*iZ Other, while you neglect a due regulation of your own temper and conduct : for k-//// dost est not the "beam that is in thou look at the little 7note "wkich is in thy brothers eye, and observest not the much thine own eye? greater disorder which is like a beam in thine oivn eye '» Or hoxv canst thou, with any 42 \i titucr how canst tliou o --.__— 77,7 W ji i ii tiir 7T r '// +nl\ say to thy brother, Brother, decency. Or to any purpose, say to thy brother. Brother, lioki still \ana\ l wiu laKe itstauds to ver. 34, will admit such an interpretation. See Dr. them the greatest lenity and indulgence to our fellow-creatures Whitby's note here. cannot give us a claim to the promises of pardon and salvation. a If you do it from a truly religious principle.] This must be b Into your liip.'\ Here is an evident reference to the mantles supposed, to make it consiste'nt with those passages in which love to which the Jews wore, into which a considerable quantity of corn God, TiaA faith in. Clirist, z,s vieM as other branches of the Cliristian might be received. Compare Ruth iii. 15 ; 2 Kings iv. 39 ; Neh. temper, are insisted upon as so absolutely necessary, that without v. 13; Prov. xvi. 33. 110 REFLECTIONS ON THE ADMONITIONS CHRIST HAS GIVEN US. SECT out the mote which is in thine eye ; lohile thou art at the same time so blind and partial, let me pun out the mote 54. ■ that thou seed not the beam -which is in thine own eye ? Thou hypocrite, who falsely |j;«t^ IuJ-Lk behoTe'srm." pretendest that zeal for the honour of religion which, while thou art thus careless of thyselt, nie beam that is in thine LUKE thou canst not really have, first cast out the beam from thine own eye, anlThch thou own eye! Thou hypocrite! .. ,. ,, -r , J 1 J j; i ji 1 ■ ■ ^1 J ti. ',.„,.„ . „,v>;-.l, io o« cast out first the beam out >!• wilt discern [lww\ to take out the mote that ts in thy brothers eye; which is an of thine own eye, and tliea 42 office that requires greater wisdom and conduct than in thy present circumstances thou shait thou see clearly to pull J canst be supposed to have. (See the notes on Matt. vii. 3, 4. p. 86.) brother-s'"eve *'"' " '" "'^ [J 43 Till thou shalt thus refonn thyself, there is not much to be expected from thine endea- 43 por a good tree bring- vours to refonn others : for as there is no sood tree 'which produces bad fruit, so neither etli not forth corrupt fruit; 44 is there any tree bad which produces good fruit : For all the world is agreed that every ^ iT^sloXgloTfZl't. *""" tree is to be known by its proper fruit : men, for instance,'^ do not gather fgs of 44 For every tree is thorns, nor do they gather ^lus^er of grapes fro7n a bramble. (Compare Matt. vii. J^f^^ t^^, 'f^'Td^",;^; 16. p. 87.) "~ gather figs, nor of a bram- 45 And indeed, where men converse with any degree of intimacy, they may be known bie-bush gather they and judged of by their words as well as by their actions. A good man, maintaining an ^'"s'^a good man out of the habitual sense of the Divine Presence, and feeling in his own soul a spring of habitual and good treasure of his heart ■■ diflfUsive benevolence to his fellow-creatures, naturally produces that which is good, out |f "f;;*''. ^;„'a'J,''evirman ! of the good treasure «/" grace and love which is laid up in his heart : and on the other out of the evil treasure of ' hand, a bad man out of the 'bad treasure of evil principles and corrupt alfections which Jus heart bringeth forth is laid up in his heart, produces that which is bad, which often breaks out before he is ti'i'e abundance of the heart aware, and discovers his character, even contrary to his intention ;for his mouth naturally his mouth speaketh. speaks from the overflowing of the heart, and no man has so much artifice as to com- mand it entirely, so that it shall never discover itself in some unguarded moment. (Com- pare Matt. xii. 34, 35. sect. Ixii.) 46 Yet remember, it is not merely by men's words that their character will finally be 46 And "'>y f»" ye me. judged, ffwfl' their estate fixed; especially, that it will not be determined by a few pious tilings whYc'l"! sayV*^ ^''* 1 and devotional forms of speech, which in themselves are of very little worth : for why do ye call me. Lord, Lord, or what imaginable purpose does that profession serve, if in your practice you are regardless of my will, and do not the things which I say and command to all that call themselves my disciples? (Cojnpare Matt. vii. 21.) 47 This is a vanity of which I have formerly warned you : and to repeat the warning, I 47 Whosoever cometli to , will shew you, on the other hand, to whom that man is like, who comes to me, and inos,"anddoeVh tliem^l w?in hears my words, and practises agreeably to them: and, on the other hand, to whom shew you to wiiom'he \a\ 48 it is that he may be resembled, who lieare my words and doeth them not. As to the ''''/g'HejsiJkeamai wi i h former, he is like a prudent man, that built an house on the river-side ; and, considering built an house, and digged , the importance of tlie undertaking, and the difficulty of the situation, dug deep through deep, and laid the founda- • the sand, and marie, and gravel, till he came to the solid stone, and placed the foundation ti°e" flood Trose, tTie stream i of his house upon a rock : and afterwards he was abundantly repaid for all his labour beat vehemently upon that i' and expense; for when the inundation ca?ne, the current of the river with an impetuous '.'°"!.''' ^""^ could nut shake » ' , , ji , L / * ^ 1 1 -I I ? J / i ^^' tor it was toundcd upon , torrent violently broke upon that house, and yet was not able to snake it, because it a rock. ' ' was founded upon a rock : thus securely will the practical hearer stand the shock of \ 49 temptations, and the trial of death and of the judgment-day. But, on the other hand, he 49 But he that heareth, | that hears my words, and does not practise them, is like a foolish man, that built an [^^^ without 'a'^ foundaUon house on the bare surface of the ground, without any care to secure a foundation ; built an house upon the- against which the impetuous stream did violently break with the same fury, and, being ^^l^^^^' ^S-'^nst which thej', unable to withstand the shock, it presently fell down ; and the ruin of that house was and immediately it fell;! irreparably great, and its inhabitants were all crushed under it. (Compare Matt. vii. ^'^^ the ruin of that house | 24—27. sect, xliii.) ''"'' ^''''■ IMPROVEMENT. ' Ver. 37 Let a frequent reflection on our own faults teach us candour ; and let a sense of our continued dependence on the Divine liberality make us liberal towards those that need our assistance ; lest we lose the comfort so justly' 38 forfeited, and abused mercies be another day repaid with measitres of wrath, pressed down, shaken together, and', running over. We are another day to give an account of ourselves before God : let us, then, judge for ourselves in matters oi; 39 religion ; and be very careful that we do not stupidly follow blind guides, till we fall with them into destruction. " Lead us, O Lord, in the way everlasting ! Form us to a more perfect resemblance of our great Master ! Make'i 40 " us severe to ourselves, and, so far as it is real charity, indulgent to others ! Sanctify our hearts by thy grace, that 41, 44 " they may be as trees bringing forth good fruit, or as fountains pouring out wholesome streams! There may 45 " a good treasure be laid up, from whence good things may be abundantly produced ! There may those holy and " benevolent affections continually spring up, which may flow forth with unaflected freedom to refresh the souls " and animate the graces of all that are around iis ! " 1. 46 — 49 May these beautiful, striking, repeated admonitions, which our Saviour gives us of the vanity of every professiod which does not influence the practice, be attended to with reverence and fear ! We arc building for eternity il may we never grudge the time and labour of a most serious inquiry into the great fundamental principles of reliff gion ! May we discover the sure foundation, and raise upon it a noble superstructure, which shall stand fair axic glorious when hypocrites are swept away into everlasting ruin, in that awful day in which heaven and eart/f shall flee away from the face of him that sits ttpon the throne ! (Rev. xx. IL) ' ij,^' 1^^"< ^"^ in^lani^e^ This is one of those many places where the reason of something before aeetrted, but raereiv intimates a the word t%i (for) lias not its usual significdlion, of iutroducing. iUustration ofit. ' THE GREAT HUMILITY AND FAITH OF THE CENTURION. Ill SECTION LV. Christ, after preaching in the plain, goes to Capernautn, and miraculously cures, even at a distance, the centurion's servant that was sick of a palsT/. Luke vii. 1 — 10. Matt. viii. 5 — ^^13. .. , Luke vii. 1. Luke vn. 1. , Now when he had ended In the two former sectioiis we have heard the gscelleat discourse that Jesus made ; and SECT. all his sayinp iu the au^ ^^^^ vchcn he had finished all these his sayings, which, though inunediately addressed to 55. entered hlto'capernaura. '" his disciples, he had deUvered in the hearing of the people who stood round him in the ■ plain, having dismissed the assembly, he quickly after entered into Capernaum again. UIKE. 2 And a certain centu- And at that time the servant of a certain Roman officer in that city, (called a centu- ^ "• rion's servant, who was dear ,.jgjj^ fi-Q^^ his having the command of a company of soldiers consisting of a hundred men,) 2 i^^d'v to die."''^ ^"'^' ''"'^ -'^'ho was dear to his master, and greatly esteemed by him, was exceeding ill, and in great 3 'And wlienhe heard of danger of death. And hearing of Jesus, when he entered into Capernaum, where 3 ■'**d*'nto^'ca"'ernaura Vhe ^he nobleman's son was miraculously cured by him at a distance, (John iv. 46. sect, xxxi.) [canie" unto^him t"™«'''n? such was the faith of the centurion in his power to help him, that he came to hini" with first\ sent unto him the ^ ^,gj.y humble and respectful application ; which indeed he did not directly presume to riSulithe^^uWcome make in his own person, \hut firsf\ sent unto him the elders of the Jews, or some of the an'S heal his servant : [Matt, most considerable of them that dwelt in this city, in whom his generosity had procured v>"- 5-] a considerable interest ; humbly entreating him by them, that he would condescend to come and set him free from the distress that he was in, not doubting his ability to heal his ■ Matt. viii. 6. And saying, servaiit ; Ami saying. Lord, ?ny faithful and beloved servant lies at home in [w//] house matt. 1 Lord, my servant lieth at ^ ^ ^gj.y deplorable condition, being seized with the palsy ; which, though it has quite ^'"• i grievously toVmenfed!''^' disabled him from motion, yet has left him sensible of pain, with which he is so dread- 6 I fully tormented that he can take no rest. And when And such was the regard the elders of the Jews had for him, that, being come to Jesus, luice they fame to Jesus they ^f^^^^ entreated him With great importunity, saying. He in whose name we now address '^"• sa^yi""!. That™ was worthy thee, is One who is worthy of this favour}' For though he be a Gentile, and a stranger 4 for whom he should do among US, yet he is a worshipper of the true God, and greatly loves our nation ; so that 5 "'s For he loveth our na- he takes many opportunities of doing good in the neighbourhood, (compare Acts x. 2.) lion, and he hath built us a and has carried his generosity so far, that he hath built us a synagogue for public wor- syoagogue. ship, at his own expense. Matt. viii. 7. And Jesus And Jesus, willing to pay some distinguishing respect to a person of so worthy a matt saith unto him, I will come character, saith unto hitn, or sent him word by those who had petitioned for him, I will "^'"l- *° ■ ^^ "'"■ immediately come down to the centurion's house, to see the servant he is so concerned 7 about, and heal hi/n. we'iifwith'ilfera And when -^^/rf accordingly, Jcsus Went with them ; a7}d now as he was going thither, when he lui^e he was now not far from the was not a great way from the house, the centurion sent some othex friends to him, and ^'■• house, the centurion sent ^^ -^^^^ ^^^^^ himself in person, and answered the kind message which Jesus had sent him, 6 ed,Tsaying"uT;to'him','Lord; saying unto him. Lord, trouble not thyself to come any farther ; for I am not worthy trouble n'ot thyself, for I fjjat thou, who art SO holy and honom-able a person, shouldst enter under my roof; Tou'ldltTnte?' under* my Wherefore, indeed, neither did I think myself, who am an alien from this holy nation, 7 roof: [Matt viii. 8.] worthy to come immediately to thee ; but first chose to make use of the elders of the 7 Wherefore neither pj^ce,' and of these mv Other friends : and all that I would now presume to ask is. That thought I ravselt worthy to t; "■'-^' ,, , , •' , , , ,, , ;ti .lU i j 7 „// ; come unto thee; but say thou wouldst but please onUj to spcuk the word, and 1 know that my servant shall mi- ina word, [speak the word mediately be healed. For even I, [who'] am only a centurion, a man ranged under the. 8 h^\xl\el "jyat" vUi.'a]' authority of my commanding officer,^ yet as I have soldiers under myself, order and 8 For I also am'a man set govem them by the intimations of my will, whether present or absent ; and I say to one, rr^mrsoWie'Js'Tudf "a°" ^" ^° ^"^^ ^ P^^^*^' ^'"^^ he goefh ; and to another. Come hither, and he comet h ; and to u^to^SncfGoland hegoeth^ my slave,^ Do this, and he immediately doeth it: now I firmly believe thou hast yet a and to another. Come, and nwre absolute power over the strongest and most desperate diseases, and canst at pleasure se^rvanT Do' thil*^ ami Tie command them off from the afflicted, when thou art either near, or at a distance ; and doeth ;/. [Matt.'viii. 9.] I shall thankfully accept this cure in the manner that may be least inconvenient to thyself, these W/^n^ hr^'-rveHed '"^"^^ •^'^■"'■' hearing these things, admired him on account of his great humility, and 9 at^him""al!d 'turned ^lim the strength of his faith ; and, turning about, he said to the ?nultitude that followed him, about, and said unto the J^erily, I declare uiito you. That through all my \oumies and conveise, I have not found, [VeH'y,]'fsIy unTo'^yori ^^'^" ^'" ^^^ ^-^''"'''^ ^"^^^ ^^ illustrious degree of faith as now appears in this stranger, who have not found so great oi>ly sojoums among you. But I say unto you with great solemnity. That many shall ^'^"JJ"* [Miltt viTi lo"*! '" ^^''^'' ^t i^*^ '^°'"'^' ^^^ *^"^y f'"°™ *^ ne^hbouring provinces of the Roman empire, but even ^"^• ' Matt viii. 11. And I say from the remotest Gentile nations, which lie to the east and west^ of its utmost boundaries, 1 1 ^ He came to him.'] It is very plain, from Luke's larger and more c Ranged under the authority oi vay comma.nA\u% o&c.ev.'] It is circumstantial representation of the case, that the centurion did not well known, that the Roman centurions were subject to the eom- come at first in his own person, (see Luke vii. 6, 7.) but he m.ight mand of their respective tribunes; as our captams are to that ot properly be said to do that which he directed Me f/rfeis to do iu liis their colonels. • •/: ; ti ti name: and nothing is more frequent, even to this day, in our d Slave.] As the word «bXo? generally signifies n sYai'f rather than i courts of law, than to say that a person comes into the court and a hired servant, I chose to render it tlius here, as thinking it most i asks a thing, which he asks perhaps only at third hand, by the expressive of the authority to which the speech refers. \ counsel whom his solicitor has employed ih his cause. e From the east and west.] Perhaps this may be only a pro- b Worthy of this favour.] By far the greater number of copies verbial phrase to signify coming from the most distant parts. But read it as it stands in our version. Worthy for whom he should do I cannot forbear observing here, that the gospel spread much more this: yetthecoiinectionseemstointimate that the original reading to the cast anA 7i est of Jiidea, tha.n to the north and soutli ot it: was 5;a;5j|iK, Thou shouldst do this. I have chosen to render it in though it seems rather to be spoken as a general expression, as wiU such a manner as will suit either. appear by comparing it with Luke xiii. 29. and Isa. xliii. 5, o. 112 REFLECTIONS ON THE FAITH OF THE CENTURION SECT, and shall sit do-cn with yoiu: pious ancestors, Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, to share 55. with them in the dehghtful entertainments and final blessedness oithe kingdom of heaven J But many of the children of the kingdom, who were bom within the sacred inclosure, MATT, and appeared to stand fairest for all the mercies of the covenant, and indeed the bulk of ^'^^- the Jewish nation, shall be rejected with abhorrence for their unbelief, and be cast out 12 into that gloomy darkness which is without fi there shall be perpetual weeping for sor- row, and gnashing of the teeth with envy at such an enraging sight. 13 And, having uttered these words for the admonition of the Jews, and for the encourage- ment of this pious stranger and his friends, Jesus said to the centurion, who now stood hy. Go thy way home'' in peace ; and be it unto thee, and to thy servant, according to thy faith. And in that very hour that he spake these words, just at that instant, was his servant healed. And they who had been sent from the centurion as his messengers to Christ, returning with him to the house, were eye-witnesses of the cure, and /o««n the second part of his curious discourse on this text. See his most beautiful light by the masterly hand of Bishop Atterbury, in Works, Vol. II. p. 470. et sen. his Poslhvmous Sermons, Vol. I. p. 41—50. who has very judicious.v h- Without any more express deolaration from me.] Nothing abridged what is most material in the large discourse of the learned eonld be more apposite, natural, and convincing, than such an Dr. Jackson referred to in the preceding note, answer as this, which took its rise from what Christ was then doing, 1?.] This and rested on the most apparent testimony of God hiniselt in asto- John, that nishing miracles, to which they knew their master made no pre- lich might tcnces ; (see John x. 41.) miracles of so beneficent a nature, thatTo 116 CHRIST ASSURES THEM THAT JOHN WAS THE EXPECTED ELUS. SECT, of former generations:^ nevertheless, there is a sense in which he that is least i?i the greater [prophet] tlmn Jolin .58. hingdojn of heaven, not only in its final glories, but even here on earth, is greater than the ^^J'^^^l Tielltllfthe' he ; for my ministers, and people in general, shall receive superior supplies of the Spirit, kiSgdom of heaven, is LUKE and know many important truths relating to my gospel which have not been revealed to greater thm he. [Luke vii VII. John himself. ^^'^ 29 He is now laid aside from his ministry, yet I would have you to reflect upon the conse- Luke vii. 29. Anri all the quences of his preaching, and to consider the success of it : and you must needs remember {'heji^bllransju'^tified God, that when he came and preached the baptism of repentance, and publicly proclaimed that being baptized with the the Messiah was at hand, all the people in general hearing \_hi7n'] preach,^' and even the t>aptism of John. publicans themselves, just ijied God, and testified their approbation of the Divine scheme"= in sending such an ariibassador, by professing to fall in with the design of his appearance, and deing accordingly baptized with the baptis7n of John, humbly confessing their sins, 30 and declaring their fepentance. But the proud Pharisees, and doctors of the law, to 30 But the Pharisees and their own unspeakable detriment, rejected the gracious counsel of Gor/ addressed to of^'^od' TS^t themXS them, vot being baptized by him, when they saw how plainly he dealt with them and being not baptized of him.' their brethren.'' MATT. But though these great and learned men despised him, yet the good effects of his ministry RIatt. xi. 12. And from XI. on others are still apparent ; iovfrom the days of John the Baptist, or from the time in ^^e '^';yf,';f„f,°\\'J,^^f„JX' 12 which he bore his public testimony to an approaching Messiah, even to the present time,^ of heaven suffcreth" vlo- the spirits of men are so raised and animated by a desire after the hi7igdo?n of heaven, jencc, and the violent take that it is (as it were) attacked with violence, like a besieged city ; men of all sorts are ' ^ pressing to get into it, and the vioknt seize it with eagerness ;' multitudes are flocking around me, to be instructed in the nature of my kingdom ; and some of most licentious characters, who have been looked upon as little better than mffians and bravoes, seem resolutely set on securing it 3 while others of graver and fairer characters are found to neglect it. (Compare Luke xvi. 16.) 13 This is anew and very wonderful event. For [till the time of] John the Baptist, all 13 For all the prophets, the prophets prophesied : and the law of Moses, as explained by them, was the only an-ljliic^law prophes.^d uu- revelation of God's will to the people of Israel ; which, so far as it related to me, was but an obscure intimation of what men were to expect from my appearance : but John opened 14 a much more perfect dispensation, .^wr/ indeed (to speak more plainly than I have com- 14 And if ye will receive monly done) if you will hearken to my testimony, and receive \it,'\ this John is the f^'j^'j,' p^^f ''''' ^^'^'"^'^ ^^'''' Elijah who was to co)ne,s or the person whom Malachi describes under that name, g.s to 15 be sent before the coming of the day of the Lord. (Mai. iv. 5, 6.) This is so important an' j^^i_^5 He that^hat^h ears to intimation, that I must urge your most attentive regard to it : and therefore, Ife that hath ' fflr5. able to hear, let him hear [zY,] and let every one that has a mind capable of re- ' flection, reflect seriously upon it ; for to understand and regard the character and mission of John aright, will have a most happy tendency to promote your receiving Him whom John was sent to introduce.'' LUKE [And the Lord Jesus farther said,"] To what then shall I now compare the vten of Luke vii. 31. And the VII. this seneration ? and to what indeed are thci/ like ? Reflect upon yourselves, and \''\^, f.'.^- Wher-?i'nto then OT f^.,, , ,1 • X. Til- • !• 1, T ■ i^^ 1 rrii shall I liken the men of this 31 you Will surely see the justice of the comparison which I am going to make. They are generation? and to what are like a company of little children} whom you may sometimes have observed, as they they like ? [Matt, xi. 16.] a Superior to any prophet nf former generations.] The obvious f ITie kingdom of heaven is altacked with violence — and the violent sense of what is here expressed, together with the following words, seize it \\\\,\\ eagerness:— (Jm^trai, x«i ^ixTtm ajn^ajiv aurJiv.] The does plainly limit it to them (done. And it might properly be said words of the original are very strong and forcible, and the transla- that John was greater Vn?i.n any of the ancient propliets, on account tion I have given is very literal. — It seems necessary to interpret of his wonderful conception and birth ; his excellent knowledge of the latter clause as in the paraphrase, to prevent the appearance of gospel-mysteries; (see especially John iii. 27. et seq. \ 27.) his a tautology : Yet I did not venture to render giJt'rn ruffians or express testimony to the Messiah, and his remarkable success in hrnvnes ; because I think the version should be left in as great a making way for him : John was also himself the subject of ancient latitude as the original ; and I was afraid so great a variation from prophecies, and long expected by the church. what is commonly taken to be the meaning of this passage, might b All the people in general hearing him preach.'] The reader will have shocked some at the first hearing. — To suppose, as a late ingo- observe that (with Grotius) 1 take these to be the words of Christ, nious writer has done, that this refers to the first attempts made to continuing his discourse; whereas our translation seems rather desfro;/ the gospel in \\s mhncy,An(\ that a^ifx^ami signifies tear if to to intimate they are the reflection of Luke on the sentiments of pieces, does not appear natural in this connection; though the those who were now hearing Christ, I long considered them in word must be allowed sometimes to have that import, this view ; but it now seems to me so evident, from the most g This John t.? the Klijah wlio teas to come.'] Ilow little there is ancient manuscripts and versions, that the words, And the Lord said, in Mr. Collin's objection against thus fixing Malachi's prophecy of At the beginning of ver. 31. were not in the original, that I could Elijah to John the Baptist, many of his learned antagonists have not but connect and render them thus. Nevertheless I shall show .shewn; and I think none in an "easier and stronger light than I\Ir. so much regard to the common reading as to add (in note h, below) Bullock : Sec his I'indication, PreTTp. 50. the version and paraphrase in that sense and connection ; submit- h Whom John was sent to introduce.] According to the re- ting it, on the whole, to the learned reader to judge as he shall ceived reading, Luke vii. 29, 30, must be introd\Ked here, and may think proper; but must first desire him to consult Grotius, Dr. be paraphrased thus; "29 — And all the people l\at were present. Mill, and the Polyglott. " and the publicans in particular, u-Iten they heard [M/s] discourse, c Justified Cfl(/, and testified their approbation, &c.] From the " having foTsnerly been baptized with the hnplisni of John, justified o/)posi7(0« between those that yKs ,- , , am meek and lowly in necessary hardships upon you: but on such an application to me, you shall fnd that heart; and ye shall find refreshment to your souls which you in vain would seek elsewhere; that composure, rest unto your souls. d III tlie day of judgment. '\ Dr. Hammond understands this consequence of those circumstances in which his creatures are passage as referring to the temporal calamities to come on these placed, though their wills are laid under no constraint. (Compare places by the Romans, who did indeed shortly after overrun the Exod. vii. 3, 4 ; 2Sam. xii. 11, 12; xxir. 1 : and 1 Kings xxii. 22, 23.) whole country, and made dreadful ravages in some of these cities. In this sense alone could he be said to hide those tilings from the See Joseph, de Bell. Jud. lib. iii. cap. 6, 7. [al. 5, 6.] et lib. vi. cap. learned men of this age, which he revealed .so plainly, that honest 9. [al. vii. 17.] But there is no evidence that the destruction of and well-disposed per.sons, though children in understanding, might these Jewish cities was more dreadful than that of Tyre and Sidon, come to the knowledge of them. Compare Matt. x. 3-J, 35. and it was certainly less so than that of Sodom aiid Gomorrah: i Has fully instructed and empowered me, &c.] I cannot, with besides, our Lord plainly s^ieaks of a judgment that was yet to come Mr. L'Enfant, confine the sense of srjiv.-i /la ax.;£So9ri merely to the on all these places that he mentions. inStructJOTis Christ had received from the Father : his exallation In e Licentious and abandoned as that infamous city was.] It is supreme power and gnvcrnment was so near, and so sure, that our well known that those abominable cities of Sodom and Gom,orrah Lord might with great propriety intend the phrase in that mn,e had long since grown into a proverb fur wickedness and misery, extensive sense I have given it. Compare John v. 22; and IMatt. See Gen. xiii. 13; xviii. 20; Ceut. xxix. 23; xxxii. 32; Isa. i. 9, xviii. 18. 10; iii. 9; xiii. 19; Jer. xxiii. 14; xlix. 18; Lam. iv. 6; Amos k No one knows t-he Son.lut the Father.^ These words evidently iv. 11; Zeph. ii. 9; Matt. x. 15; and Rev. xi. 8. declare that there is something inexplicably mysterious in the (Jesus took occasion to satj.^ it is in the original, airoxjiiesi!, o nature anA person o( C\\r\st; which indeed appears in the most cun- Itjtovs e.TiEv; whicli our translation has literally rendered, Jesus an- vincing manner from the account elsewhere .given of his Deity in swered and said : but when the words so introduced are not a reply scripture. to any preceding speech, I apprehend the version here given ex- 1 For /am meek, coniesceniMiig, and lowh/ in heart.'] Some havi' presses the sense of them witii yet greater exactness. — The words apprehended that our Lord here intends peculiarly to recommend fat that time J seem plainly to prove that what follows is to be in- the imitation of his humility and meekness, as whit would especially troduced here, and consequently that Luke x. 21, 22. is a repetition tend, in the natural consequence of things, to promote the repn^e of it on anoUier proper occasion. and tranquillity of their minds ; and Dr. Watts, in a very beautiful g I ascribe glory-to thee, O Father .'] This is one proper mean- manner, has paraphrased the words thus in his Hymns. (Book T. ing of t?o/i!>.oyou,aari, as appears from comparing Heb. xiii. 15. and Hymn 127.) But I apprehend our Lord chiefly means to remiihl i.'^' ^^' ^' them of the general lenity of his temper, which would engage him h Thou hast hid these things from wise and understanding per- to decline all grievous impositions and unnecessary burdens, and ten- son*.] God is often .said, in scripture, to do those things which he derly to instruct them in the way to pardon and life. Compare determines to permit, and which, he foresees, will be in fact the Matt. xii. 19, 20. J 51. 29 A WOMAN WASHES CHRIST'S FEET WITH TEARS. 119 30 For my yoko is easy, satisfaction, and joy, which nothing but humiUty and meekness, with an entire subjection sect. and my burden is light. iq ^le, can give. For sucli is the, genius of my gospel, that though it will indeed bring 59. you under some restraints, they are hot'ohly tolerable, but, on the whole, desiiable ; and I • may truly say, that my yoke is easy and gentle; or, if there be a mixture of difficulty m,-\tt. attending it, such assistance and encouragements are provided, that with them my burden X'- is light and pleasant"" to those who by divine grace are engaged to submit to it. (Oom- 30 pare 1 John v. 3.) IMPROVEMENT. What can we imagine more dreadful than the guilt and condemnation of those who hear the gospel only to Ver. 21 despise it ! How can we read the doom of Ghorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, without trembling for ourselves, 22 — 24 lest we should incur the like sentence ! Such have been our religious advantages and opportunities, that, like them, we have indeed been lifted up to heaven : the Lord grant that we may not, by our misimprovement and disobe- dience, be cast down to the lotvest hell ! that Tyre and Sidon, and even Sodom and Gomorrah, may not at last rise up in judgment against us, and call down on our heads a punishment more intolerable than that which has fallen upon them, or which they must even then feel ! Our vain curiosity may perhaps be ready to ask, Why were these advantages given to them that abused them, rather than to those who would have improved them better ? But let us impose upon our minds a reverential silence ; since the great Lord of heaven and earth givefh not an account cf any of hk matters, (Job xxxiii. 13.) 26 It is so, Father ; for so it seemeth good in thy sight ! Still we see the gospel Iiid from many who are esteemed the wisest and most prudent of mankind ; and, blessed 25 be God, we still see it revealed to some who, in comparison pf^them, are but babes. Let not this otfend us; but rather, taking our notions from the word of God, let us learn to honour these babes as possessed of the truest wisdom, and adore the riches of Divine grace, if we are in their number, while many of superior capacities are left to stumble at this stone till they fall into final ruin. Whatever objections are brought against Christ and his ways, may we ever adhere to them, since all things are 27 delivered to him by the Father ! From him therefore may we seek the true knowledge of God, as ever we desire everlastmg life ! We Irave all our burdens of sin and of sorrow. While we labour imder them, let us with pleasure hear the 28 gentle and melodious voice of a Redeemer thus kindly inviting us to come unto him, that we may find rest to our 29 souls. Let us with pleasure subject oiu'selves to him, and go on in our holy course with that improvement and cheerfulness which become those who learn by their ov\'n daily experience that his commandments are not grievous, and feel that his yoke is easy and his burden is^light. \ • ■ , - . 30 SECTION LX. Jesus accepts an invitation to dine at a Pharisee's house, and vindicates the woman who anointed his feet there. Luke vii. 36, to the end. Luke vii. 36. Luke vii. 36. And one of the Pharisees AND one of the Pharisees who was present at this discourse,'" and might feel himself SECT. eat\wl^hhi,;'aud'he''«ent touched by some insinuations which it contained, under a specious pretence of respect to ^0. into the Pharisee's liouse, our Lord, though, as it seemed, with an ensnaring design, invited him to eat with him and sat down to meat. ^j^j^j ^^^^ taking care to have others of his owi^ecj, present to observe what passed. And I-uke Jesus, being willing to express his condescension and candour, accepted his invitation ; and e^2tering into the house of the Pharisee, he sat down to table, without taking any 36 notice of the omission of some usual ceremonies of respect which so great a guest might well have expected. • ^ti •*"'^j^,^'^''.y''- M '*^<'™'>n And behold there was a woman in that city who had once been a great and scan- 37 sinne^r^ when she'kiiew Uiat dalous sinner, and was still accounted infamous on account of the lewdness and debauch- Jesus sat at meat in the eries of her former life : and, when she kneiv that he sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, fn'"iabaste'r!box of "omf- ^^^ ^ook encouragement from his late gracious invitation, and determined to^ give a ment ; remarkable token of her reverence and love to so glorious and compassionate a Saviour ; 38 And stood at his feet and for this purpose she brought an alabaster -vessel M\ o/" richly perfumed ointment; behind him weeping-, and And standing by the couch on which our Lord, according to the custom of those times, 38 w" Ind'^''d\'d"'vipf J//fm lay down to "eat, waiting behind him in the posture of a servant at his feet, her very witli'the hairs of her head, heart was melted with such pious remorse, that in the presence of the whole company she and kissed his feet, and ^^,j,g unable to refrain from weeping- in such great abundance, that she began even to -anomted tliem with the , , ■ ^ . •,, , ^„ P k r ■, ■ t i ii i • j ointment. w-ater his feet with a shower of tears ;^ and, observmg how wet they were, she wiped m ATy harden is light and pleasant.] — 'E.Xx^^ii properly signifies confound tliera, and build so many remarks on that gross rais- both light and pleasant ; and x?'"'"?, pasy, may be also rendered take. * ' gentle and agreeable; and so with great propriety may express that b To writer his feet with a shower of tears.'] This is the proper true pleasure and cheerfulness which are the genuine result of a signification of the word /3jex£iv. Compare Matt. v. 45. — Vv'e are not sincere subjection to Christ's government, which is plainly the to imagine she came with a purpose thus to !(,rts/( and u-ipe the feet \ meaning of taking his yoke. (Compare Deut. xxviii. 47, 48 ; 1 Kings of Christ ; but, probably, hearing that the Pharisee who had invited xii. 4 ; and Isa. x. 27.) — It is observable that tlie word yoke is parti- Jesus to dinner had neglected the usual civility of anointing the j cularly uspd for ceremonial impositions. Acts xv. 10 ; and Gal. v. 1 ; head of his divine guest, she was willing to supply the defect ; and ' and the word burden is used in the same sense. Matt, xxiii. 4. Com- as she stood near Jesus, she was so melted with his discourse, that pare Matt. xvi. If), and note h, there, ? 88. slie shed such a fond of tears as wetted his feet, which lay bare on a One of t/ie Pharisees who -wzs present at this discourse.] Dr. the couch, liis sandals being put off, and observing this, she wiped Whitby has abundaivtly proved //(« to be a rff)7>r?H/.s/on/ from that t/iem with her ^«/r, which she now -wok flowing loose about her of Mary's anointing Christ's head a little before his death j (Matt, shoulders, as mourners commonly did ; and then, not thinking her- xxvi. 6 — 13. 5 145.) And indeed the difference is so great and so self worthy to anoint his head, poured out the liquid perfume on his plain, that it is astonishing so great a critic as Gfbtius should "?»- feet. In this view all appears natural and unaffected. v_ ' — ' 'V • ^ 120 I JESUS VINDICATES THE WOMAN IN WHAT SHE HAD DONE. SECT. " them •with the fine long tresses of her halr^ which she wore flowing loose about her 60. slioulders; and then, to shew the warmth of her affection, hissed his feet, and anointed them with the perfumed halsayn she brought with her, as not thinking herself worthy to LUKE pour it upon his head. VlT. l^io-w the Pharisee tvho had invited him, observing [this,"] which, according to the 39 Now when the Phan- 39 traditions they maintained, appeared to him a very indecent sight, was so offended, that sawT/.'h'^eMlLkl withfnii'i™ he said within himself. This man, if he were really a prophet, as he pretends to be, self, saying, This man, if he ■would certainly have known who and what kind of woman this vile creature 2* Ma< weieaprophet, would have thus familiarly toucheth him, and would immediately have driven her away with a just ner of woma" //"■s'^".?"that disdain : for she is such a scandalous and filthy sinner, that her very touch is enough toucheth him ; for she is ;i to pollute him. ^'°'^"- 40 And Jesus, in reply to these uncharitable sentiments which he discerned at their first 40 And Jcsus answering rising in his heart, said to him, Simon, I have something to say to thee on this occa- ^^]^,^ somewh'a't to^sav^uiito sion, which deserves thy regard. And, with an hypocritical profession of respect, he tliee. And he saith, Master, says, O thou great Teacher,^ I am ready to attend ; and whatsoever thou wouldst offer, ^^y ""• 4 1 say lit freely.] Then Jesus immediately delivered tliis parable as a just, yet mild reproof ^} Tliere was a certain to his host: A certain creditor had two debtors, one of whom owed him j'?i;e hundred dehtors: tiie one owed fi"e 42 denarii or Roman j5e«ce,^ and the other ovftdhmihvA. fifty : Now as they had not any hundred pence, and the thing to pay, so that neither of them could discharge any part of his debt, he freely "'Ijo'^An'/ wiien the liad forgave the7n both the whole of what they respectively owed : and upon this it may be noti'iug to jwy, he frankly reasonably expected that both would have some sense of his goodness ; say, therefore, *'"rsave them both. Tell 43 which of them do you think would love him most ? And Simon very readily replied, "hem wiluovThim most ?" and said, I suppose, so far as I can judge from the circumstances thou hast mentioned, 43 Simon answered and that he to who?n he forgave most could not but have the greatest affection for him. And ,vhom^ he'^'for^ave* molx [Jesus'] said to •fiim. Thou hast judged very rightly, and the reflection is evidently And he said unto him, Thoii suited to the case that we have here before us. *'*^^ rightly judged. 44 And turning himself to the wornan, he said to Si?non the Pharisee, Thou seest this ,''^ ^"'l he turned to the poor afflicted woman, and canst not but take notice of the extraordinary tenderness and simon,' Seest tiiou this"wo° affectionate regard to me that she has now discovered. I came into thine house as a man? l entered into thine guest, on thine own express invitation, \and\ thou didst not give me any water to [wash] ItaterVor my fte?^'but she my feet, ^ though that be so customary and necessary a refreshment on these occasions ; hatli washed my feet wUh hut she has plentifully watered my feet with her tears, and wiped them even with the {•r'"'^> f'"! Y\?'^\ "'T "''"' 45 tresses of her hair. JThoic didst not give me the usual respect of a kiss, when I first '45'^ Thou gavest me no came under thy roofj? but she, ever since she came in,^ has not ceased v/ith the l^'ss; hut this woman, since 46 greatest humility and affection, even to kiss my feet. Thou didst not so mucl/as anoint cease'd"tVkis"my"feet"' ""' 7ny head with common oil, though few entertainments fail of being attended with that 46 Mine head with oil circumstance ■} but she, as thou seest, has anointed even 7ny feet with this precious and *|'"" ^'''*.' "'?'^ anoint; but 47 fragrant ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, and openly declare it both for her my^fee'tTith ohitnfeiit." ^ vindication and for thy admonition. Her many sins, which I Avell know have been ^7 AVherefore, I say unto exceeding heinous, are ^r^cio\j&\y forgiven ; dinS. therefore, as I have been the means of n,any,a?efor°1'ven'';'fors"e bringing her to repentance and peace, she has thus testified the high regard that she has loved much "but to whom to me, and has loved me much^ as being persuaded that she never can sufficiently express j'tt'e 's^'orgiven, the same her sense of the obligation : whereas thou who art over-confident in thine own righteous- ness, lookest but slightly upon me ; as he to whom but little is forgiven, or who thinks his debt was but small, is not so much affected with the kindness of the creditor that for- gives him, and loveth him but little. 48 And, to renew the kind assurance of the pardon that before was granted to the woman, 48 And he saith unto her, hi says to her, in the presence of them all, I know the sincerity of thy repentance ; and "^''y '''"^ "^ forgiven, therefore now, for thy encouragement under this severe treatment, I solemnly declare that c Wilh the tresses of her Jiair.'] So the word 5^i?: properly sipii- with oil, or some liquid perfume, the reader may see in many other , fies; and the English word tresses might be derived from it. It is commentators, and particularly in Calmet's Account of the Jewish well known that long hair was esteemed a great ornament in the Feasts. — It is possible Simon might omit some of these civilities, lest female dress, (compare 1 Cor. xi. 1.5.) and women of pleasure used his hretliren who sat at table with him should think he paid Jesus to nourish and plait it, and to set it off with garlands and jewels, to too much respect; and, if there was any such slight intended, it render themselves agreeable to their lovers. might be an additional reason for our Lord's taking such particular d O Teacher.] So SiSxixiX'. properly signifies, and I think ex- notice of the neglect. \.i_ presses something jnnore than the English word waster, especially h Ever since she came in.] The Evangelist so ejepressly tells us,\ (b ' in the sense in whicTm is now commo'nly used. Whether this was that she heard of Christ's being at dinner witli the Pharisee before 1 mere hypocris.y, or whether it was intended as a sort of iHPfr on our she came in, (ver. ,i7.) that I make no doubt of following those) Lord, who, though he professed himself so great a teacher, would copies which read it iiin>.')u, she came in, rather than those which/ allow this woman to use such freedoms with him, I pretend not have ehux'jov, in the first person, which our tran.slation follows. certainly to say. ' i ^nojn/ my /icarfej'i/A oi?, though few entertainments fail, &cj e Five hunifred (Icn^Tu, 0T7{nm^rt pence.] It is in the original How common this circumstance was, may be judged by compariiii, Snvx^iit, which is well known to have been a Roman coin, in value Dent, xxviii. 40; Mic. vi. 15 ; Psal. xxiii. H; civ. 15; and cxii. ■'>. about seven-pence halfpenny of our money; so that five hundred k There/ore she has loved me much.] As passionately asClarias of them were nearly equivalent to fifteen of our guineas, and fifty opposes this rendering, and after all the immense pains Grotius has to one guinea and a half. — There is no reason to believe that there taken to find a sense in that which our translation follows, I cannot\ was any mystery i-ntended iu Christ's fixing on the.se sums rather but think the connection evidently requires that we should renderj than any others that had as great a difference between them. cri there/ore, rather than/or or because, how singular soever such a I f Water to wash my feet.] Drusius supposes this may be under- senseof the particle m.iy be. And so it is the Hebrew particle that stoodasif our Lord had said, "Thou did.-it not give me so much as answers it is used in Hos. ix. 15. All their ini"u?a- among them, as that of Jesus advanced, gave the most malicious and unreasonable turn This fellow [h'ath Beeize- to the matter which can be imagined ; for they said. This is so bad a \_)nan,'] and so no- ^^^! ""fiJ not cast out toriously transgresses the traditions of the elders, and the law of God,'' that he is certainly the' prince r*Luke'^'or'^the \].\msiiM possessed by Beelzebub, and does not cast out demons but only bi/ a secret com- chief] of the devils. [Mark bination with Beelzebub ; who being the prince, [or] chief of the demons,^ with a view '"• ^^- ^^^'^ ^'' ^^J to confirm his own interest, expels other inferior spirits under his command, at the word of this Jesus, who therefore deserves to be put to death as a magician, (Exod. xxii. 18.) rather than to be thus extolled as the Messiah. 25 And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, though he was not within hearing of these re- 25 And Jesus knew their flections, called them to come near him, and said to them in the iotif^wmg-parabolical them° unto t"im Wnd^a^d expressions, before all the people. How can you possibly imagine that, in such circum- unto them [in' parables, stances as these, Satan should cast out Satanfi It may surely be laid down as a maxim, ^'"'' !^*" ^^^'^ ^-^^^^^^ That evert/ kingdom, divided against itself, cannot long subsist in flourishing circum- divided against itself "[can- stances, [but~\ quickly sinks into contempt, and is brought to utter desolation ; and even/ "ot stand, i;//] is brought smaller society, if it he but a citi/, or a single /a;;?//;/, divided against itself, shall not long dtyofhou'sediVideda^ain's^ 26 stand, [but'] falleth into inevitable ruin. ^«f/ therefore, if Satan rise up against him- itselfshaii not stand, [Luke, self, as he certainly does, if he join v/ith me to confirm a doctrine so evidently opposite to |"' falleth.] [Mark m. 23— his nature, and subversive of his kingdom; and if he assist in such a cause to cast out 26 And if Satan [rise up Sfitan,^ it will be evident from hence that he is divided against himself; and how then against himself, and] cast out Satan, he is divided against himself ; how shall But, as you never then his kingdom stand ? shall his kingdom subsist ? It plainly follows that, in such a case, he cannot stand, but "" "^ ""' "^ has contributed himself to put a speedy period to his own kingdom, can suppose that such a crafty and sagacious spirit would, in so weak a manner, hasten his f '^"^ '^^"TrV'k'"^! '^"' ''""' own confusion and defeat, you, therefore, upon this account, must give up that unchari- say that I cast out devils table, inconsistent charge you have been ready to insinuate and urge against me, and must through Beelzebub.] [Mark appear to have been guilty of the most extravagant absurdity, because you scruple not to "'' ' " "^ ^'- ^°J say, that I cast out de?nons by the help of Beelzebub. 27 And if I bv Beelzebub 27 And if indeed you will be still so obstinate as to assert that I cast out defnons by the cast out devils, \>y whom do assistance of Beelzebub, you may as well say that all miracles of this kind are thus per- youi'ciiiidren cast //i^'m out? c 1 IT ^■1l(- ^1. •> J , ;-/V theretore thev shall be vour tormed; and 1 may particularly refer you to determine by whom do your own children judges. [Lu^kexi. 19.] c Then there was brought to him one possessed by a demon.'] This ped, as some tell us, under the figure of a. fly or beetle, as defending' miracle appears to have been performed on the morning of that people from these insects; though others thiiik it may allude to day on which Clirist delivered the ])arables of the sower, &c. (com- the vast multitude of flies with wliich the slaughter of their sacri- » pare Matt. xiii. 1. et seq.\ 65.) and on the evening of which he fices was infested in the heathen temples, while (as the Jews report) ] crossed the sea, stilled the tempest, and went into the country of no fly was ever seen to come upon the flesi> of any sacrifice in the / the Gadarenes, where he dispossessed the ler/ion. (See Mark iv. 35. temple at Jerusalem. (See SelJen. De J)iis Syris, Syntng. ii. cap. et seq. \ 6y.) This is the reason of introducing it here, as most 6.) But why the Jev/s should speak of him under this title as the critics do ; and no other stor}', not yet inserted, can claim a place chief of the devils, \\, is difficult to say ; unless (as Heinsius conjec- before it; therefore Matthev/ and Luke, iu their difl'erent order, tures, rather than proves.) the Hebrew word 3d<, signified a are trartsposed to agree with Mark, on that grand foundation laid deadly kind of insect, whose sting was mortal, and which was there- down in notek, on Mark i. 18, p. 67. - fore looked upon as a fit emblem of the mischievous hosts com- d TVie blind and dumb both spake and saw.] AVe have before manded by this prince of the power of. the air. — The title in the observed, that xiL-po; often signifies both deaf and dumb, (see note k, Greek is Btsx^.^aX, Eeelzebvl, which signifies Thelord of a dunriliSUf on Luke i. 22, p. 7 ) but, as it is not said tliat Clirist gave this man and seems to be a contemptuous change of the former name, by /\. -^ his heariny, it is plain lie was not (/cff/. And indeed, it appears which it was intimated, that the noblest of the heathen deities r • worthy of remark, that we hardly ever meet with entire blindness were fitter to dwell on a dunghill, than to be worshipped in a niag- \ " and deafness in tlie same person. nificent /em/)/^. e So notoriously transgresses the traditions of the elders and the g Satan should cast out Satan.] This answer of our Lord de- law of God] There is sufficient reason to conclude that the Pha- monstratively proves that Beelzebub and Satan are names for the ilsees must go on this principle in this random charge, which had same person ; and, consequently, that Satan was considered as the not the least shadow of a proof; and it was usual with them to prince of those demons who were cast out by Christ, and who are esteem a contempt of their traditions as equally criminal with the elsewhere represented as his angels ; so that it must disprove every most express contempt of the law. It is also well known, that they hypothesis inconsistent with this assertion. — It may not be impro- cha.TgeA Christhnt\\v/\th sabbath-breiikiny a.n(\ hlasphemi/. per to add here, that the Jewish rabbles call every demon by the f Beehebub, the prince or chief of the demons.] There is no name of Satan, and often use the name in the plural number. So ^ doubt but this was spoken by the Jews, not merely in a general they call Sammael, which is but another nivnie for Beelzebub, way of « prince of Hie demons, or of one of their chiefs, but in parti- o 3i:i:r b &n, the head or prince of all the Satans. See Casaubon, cularof him whom they considered as the prince of the powers of in loc. darkness: for in Mark it is rua^xovri, though Matthew and LuKe h \n swch 3. C3.\\se to cast out Satnn.] It is certain, (as many good express it \vithout the article; and the following words shew, he writers have observed,) that yie force of this argument consists in was supposed to be the same with Satan, the grand adversary, a tacit appeal to the genius and dcsinn of his doctrine ; which evi- One of the titles given him was Beelzebub, or Baal-zebub ; and a dently appeared so friendly to the interest of true religion, and so Philistine idol who had his temple at Ekron, (and is supposed by destructive to idolatry arid vice, in which the kingdom of .Satan jonie to answer to the Grecian Pluto, Jurieu, Hist, des Dog'mes, p. consisted, that he must realty be his own enemy, and rise up for the 631.) was plainly called by this name, (see 2 Kings i. 2, 3.) which is subversion of his own. cause, before he could become an associate well known to sijjnify liie lord of flies ; this idol being worship- with Jesus. See Archbishop Tillotson's JForks, Vol. III. p. 545. THE SIN AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST IS UNPARDONABLE. 123 expel them, who practise exorcisms,' and are approved and extolled by you on that SECT. ' , account, though some of them do it in my name ? Therefore they shall in this respect 61. 28 Bntifl'cast out devils be your judges, and condemn you of a most partial and unequal conduct. But if you MATT. XII. oy [the finger or] the Spirit ^nust allow that I Cast out demons by^ihejinger [or'] the power and Spirit of God, then kingdom of crod"!^ come it undoubtedly foUows that the kingdom of God is indeed come unto you, as I assert ; unto you. [Luke xi. 20.] and all the doctrmcs that I preach are proved by this to be divine, and consequently 28 worthy of your most serious and obedient regard, since it plainly shews my superiority over all the infernal powers. 29 Or else, how can one Other~icise, it is evident I could not do this: for how can any one break and enter 29 holTse.and s^tl'Tif g"'ods! "'^° ^'^^ '''""■^'^ 'if ^ strong man, and plunder his goods, while he is actually presept to except he first bind tlie guard them,'' unless he first overpower and bind the strong man, who will be sure to strong man? and *''«;" he 3o all he Can to defend them ? and then indeed he may plunder his house of whatever iii. 27.']°' "^ °"^^' ^'^ he pleases ; but without this, it will be utterly impossible to do it. And therefore it is plain, from all these instances of dispossessions, that I have power over Satan to control and bind him, and consequently that I act by a divine conjinission. ' Luke xi. 21. When a But still it is not to be thought the contest vvill be carried on without an opposition luke Cpfkce^hisToods'a'reln f™m the enemy, nor can it fail of giving some alarm: for ic-hile a strong man, com- XI. peace. ' pletely armed,^ guards his castle or palace from invasion and attack, his goods are 21 in a profound peace,'" and his prisoners, hard as their situation may be, are afraid to make any attempt to regain their liberty ; and such is the quiet which there seems to be, 22 But when a stronger while Satan reigns without any control. But when one stronger than he, or of more 22 ^/^"and overcorae"him.''he po^^^'^r than the Warrior I have mentioned, invades his garrison, and conquers him, he taketh from hiin all 'his takes away all his complete armory, in which he placed his confidence, and distributes ^raoupwhereiu he trusted, ^/.j spoils among his foUoweii: So shall you see the infernal powers yet more com- I e 1 lis spoi . pletely baifled and spoiled by me, and my faithful servants adorned by the trophies won from them. Matt. xii. 30. He that is While therefore you are animated by such views, you ought not to allow yourselves matt, and h'e'tlTat gaTere'thTot ^^^" '" ^ s*^*^ o^ neutrality and indifference: for I must tell you. That he that is not XII. with me, scattereth abroad, cordially with me as a friend, is indeed against ?ne," and will accordingly be treated as 30 [Luke xi. 23.] one/ that is an enemy to me ; and he that does not set himself according to his ability to gather subjects into my kingdom with me, is but vainly and foolishly scattering abroad, and, however otherwise employed, wastes his time and labour in what will at last turn to no solid account." Much more criminal and fatal then, must the character and conduct of those be, who, with deliberate implacable malice, oppose my cause, and are resolved at all adventures to do their utmost to bear it down, as you are attempting to do by these vile insinuations which you have now suggested, sav unto voif°rAli''si'i[s s^Jaii ^ therefore give you the most solemn and compassionate warning of your danger ; for 31 be forgiven unto the sous vou are on the brink of a most dreadful precipice. That malignity of heart which leads of men, and blasphemies, you to ascribe these works of mine to a confederacy with Satan, may incline you to pass wherewith soever they shall lu • • i .i ^ i i r n i n j^- i ■ i • . i • . blaspheme ;] but the bias- ^"6 Same mipious Sentence on the gi'eatest and fullest connrmation which is to be given to pheray against the Holy my gospel, by the effusiou of the Spirit on my followers : and therefore, to prevent, if unto men." [Ma'jk S]" Possible, such guilt and ruin, verily I say unto you. That all other sins shall be for- given to the children of men, and even [cr//] the other blasphemies with which they shall blaspheine ; but the blasphemy against the Spirit of God, in this most glorious ''■^ dispensation of it,P shall not be forgiven to those impious and incorrigible men, who 32 And whosoever speak- ^^^^ '^^'^^ ^^ iinpute to diabolical operation those glorious works of Divine power and eth a word against the Son goodness. And I add. That tchosoever speafs' a contemptuous and impious woi'd even 32 h[n°"but\vi?osoeve^"?eIk" "^"'"^^ '"'''^ '^°" of man himself, while here on earth in this obscure fomi, he may pos- eth against the Holy Ghost^ sibly be brought to repentance for it, and so it shall be forgiven him ; and consequently it shall not be forgiven him, even your Case, bad as it is, is not entirely hopeless : but whosoever shall maliciously ther in the world to come'" ^P'^'"^ any thing of this nature against the Holy Spirit, when the grand dispensation of [hath never forgiveness, but it shall Open, in those miraculous gifts and operations that will be attended with the most i By u/iom do yovr own children fj-pfZ Mem, who practise exor- Luke x. 17—20. ? 106.) evidently takes occasion, from having ' ^s ""i' b • ^"f t"^ proof of this fact, see Acts xix. 13; Mark ix. spoken of dispossessions, to turn liis discourse to that grand and . 38; Luke ix. 49 Joseph. An/ir;. Jiid. lib- viii. cap. 2. ? .5. p. 420. complete victory over Satan, of which these miracles were a speai- ^ Hayercamp, and Dr. Whitby's note ; but above all, that of Grotius men ; and these words refer, not to demoniacs, who were far from , on this passage. I do not see that there if. any need of referrina- this being in peace or quiet, but to the case of sinners, who by the arts of j to the apostles, who had not yet been sent out ; and if they had, Satan are lulled into a state of security and confidence, while in the i they toJ)e_sjiie would be involved in the same censure with C/irist. bauds of their greatest enemy, and in tlie way to final destruction. It IS more natural to suppose that the disciples of the Pharisees are n He that is not ivith me is against me."] How this is to be recon- I t^-HM -.^ ■ ^' "'"^^"t ^y "'^"' children. - ciled with Luke ix. 50 see the note there, \ 96. fc H hile he is actually present to guard them.] This the course o Wastes his time and labour in what will at last turn to no solid j ot the argument plainly supposes; and the case in question proved account.] This is a more natural sense than to take it as if our I tne P^^fC''<:s of Satan. Lord had said. He that does not gather stdifects into my kingdom, dis- I If- 'lite a strong man. Sec] The reader will observe, that Cwn- perses th^m. According to the interpretation I have given, it is a H?5Li3~^°^^ -^.y^^^I ''^*'^ 'n'rodnced in this section LukeSt. most noble maxim of Divine wisdom ; and happy is the minister, 13*=23. as -parallel toT\Iatt. xii. 22—30. and Mark iii. 22—27. The happy the man, who attends to it. j reason h, because, as there appeared to me no certain evidence that p the blasphemy against the Spirit of God in this most glorious the miracle and discourse recorded»bv Matthew were afterwards dispensation of itj After all that Archbishop Tillntson has said repeated at another time, (see note a, on Luke xi. 37. \ 110.) so I (Vol. I. Serni. iT; to prove that the sin against the Holy Ghost was wasnot willing; to insert so long a discourse twice: yet it is not Mt/ which these Pharisees committed, m ascrihlng the miracles of impossible it might occur again ; and if any, on the whole, judge it Christ to Satan,! have rather chosen to take the words in Dr. most probable it «5id, they may turn back from thence, and read Whitby's sense, and must beg leave to refer to his paraphrase on inese verses again. — I likewTSSlhought the discourse, with the ad- the places above, and to his excellent dissertation on the sub- m i^- ™ \'^^^' appeared most complete and beautiful. ject, in his Fourth Appendix to Matthew, for the reasons which in- ra His goods are in a profound peace.] Our Lord here (as also duced me to such a judgment. 124 REFLECTIONS ON THE ACCOUNT OF THE UNPARDONABLE SIN. SECT, evident demonstrations of his niighty power, it shall never be forgiven him at all, either is in danger of eternal 61. m this world, or in thai which is to co?>ie ;i dut he is obnoxious to eternal damnation, damnation.] [Mark iii. 29.] and must irrecoverably sink into it ; nor will all the grace of the gospel, in its fullest MARK display, atibrd a remedy for so aggravated a crime, or furnish him with means for his '^l- conviction and recovery. 30 This admonition he gave them with such repeated solemnity, because they had mali- ... ciously said. He hath an unclean spirit, and performs these miraculous works by the said^He 'iiatii au^mic\ean assistance of Beelzebub. spirit, IMPROVEMENT. LUKE How condescending was the conduct of the blessed Jesus, while he dwelt among us ! Though he was Lord of vni. all, he not only waved the pompous manner of subsisting by continued miracles, but likewise declined to dwell 1 — 3 vvith the rich and the great, with whom he could easily have secured to himself a constant abode."' He chose a laborious itinerant course, and subsisted chiefly on the bounty of a few pious women, whose company and friend- ship he did not despise. That subsistence was most pleasing to him which was the greatest testimony of the respect and affection of his hearers, and at the same time gave the greatest opportunity to testify his own humility and self-denial, and to pursue his schemes for public usefulness. So may his followers, and especially his ministers, ! always judge ! And may all the great things they seek for themselves, be such as lie on the other side of the grave, and are to be enjoyed in the presence of our glorified Master ! MATT. We have seen another triumph of Christ over the evil spirit, another of those glorious and delightful instances in 00 on which the great Captain of our salvation, with superior strength, bound the strong man, and spoOed his goods. ' . , May the victory still be carried on to perfection ! May his merciful alarms break that dangerous and fatal peace XI in which the slaves of Satan are for a while detained, that he may with greater advantage, and greater terror, plunge 21 22 them into final and eternal ruin ! And, in such a contest, may we abhor neutrality ! With pleasure and zeal let us list ourselves under the Redeemer's banners, that we may share his trophies ! And, while others are throwing away 23 their time, their labour, and their souls, may we, by gathering with him, secure to ourselves everlasting riches. MATT. We must surely be astonished to hear of that perverse and malignant interpretation which these wretches put on ■•^'^- such convincing miracles : and it must move our indignation to see the Son of God maliciously charged as an associate 24, 25 with Satan. If they have thus called the Master of the house Beelzebub, hoio much more those of his household? (Matt. X. 25.) Let us learn to imitate that meekness of wisdom with which the blessed Jesus pui-sues his vindica- 26 tion. Oh that his followers had ever traced it ! Yea, I had almost said, Oh that they had learned, even from the union of confederate enemies, the danger of that house or kingdom which is unnaturally divided against itself ! It is matter of great thankfulness, thus expressly to hear that every other sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven j 31, 32 but awful to think, that the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is excepted. Let those who, while they cannot deny the facts of Christianity, despise and oppose its doctrines, tremble to think how near they approach to the boundaries of this sin, which is perhaps more obscurely described, that we may more cautiously avoid all such approaches. But let not the humble soul that trembles at God's word, meditate terror to itself from such a passage ; which, when viewed in its due connexion, cannot, with any shadow of reason, be thought to belong to any who^ do not obstinately reject the gospel, and maliciously oppose .it, when made known to them with its fullest evidence. '' C^t . \ t . ', t S T • " " SECTION LXII. , Our Lord goes on to caution the Pharisees of the danger of such sinful words ; and answers to the cxcla- ?nation of the wo?nan who extolled the happiness of his mother. Matt. xii. 33 — 37. Luke xi. 27, 28. Matt. xii. 33. Matt. xii. 33. ^fio^' ^^HEN our Lord had thus faithfully warned the Pharisees of the danger they were in of Either make tiie tree •^' incurring unpardonable guilt, by blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, he proceeded to ^7se''ra"ke\he^7rc'e^c"orru T enforce the admonition in the following manner: Attentively consider what I have and his fruit corrupt; fnr ''^xn^' off^^'^d **^ yo"' ^'^^ either lay aside your vain and hypocritical pretences to religion, or iji"^. 'ree is known i.y hii quit that malignity and wickedness which render these pretences insolent and odious: '"' " 33 either make the tree good, and shew it to be so by making its fruit also good ;^ or else make, and allow, the tree to he corrupt, and its fruit also corrupt, if it in fact appear to be so: for the tree is to be known by the fruit it produces, which is an infallible proof 34 of what quality it is. (Compare Matt. vii. i?, 18. sect, xlii.) O _?/(? abominable brood of 34 o generation of vij^wr.:, vipers, ye perverse, venomous, deceitful creatures, how can you, who are so wicked your- ''°^* '^'■'" y- '^'^'"S ^vii q It shall never be forqhcn him at n\\, eilher in this world, or in r The ricli and the great, with wliom he could easily have that which is to come'.} It is okserved both by Lighlfoot and Gro- secured to himself a constant abode.] Undoubtedly, to mention tius, that through a fond imagination of the final" happiness of all no more, the centurion (who had wealth and generosity enough to the seed of Abraham, the Jews supposed there were some sins that erect a synagogue at his own charge, Luke vii. 5. p. 111.) would had not been forgiven here, thdi.v, ^^-^^^i what unspeakable delight must thy blessed mother look on so illustrious a Son ! 28 But he said. Yea, But he modestly and seriously replied, Nai/, rather kappi/ are they who hear the^.'^ hMr^the word"o7 God a^^^^^ wo;y/ of Go.'Twhich I preach, and keep it in their hearts as' a vital principle of holy keep it ' obedience ; for they will be entitled to eternal blessings, infinitely more valuable than any natural relation to me could give, or any opportunities of the most intimate converse with me, separate from such a practical regard to my instructions. IMPROVEI\IENT. Whose heart does not echo back the exclamation of this pious woman ? Yet who does not too frequently Ver. 27 forget that weighty and important answer which succeeded it ? Let us not only hear, but keep the word of Christ ; 28 and we shall thus be happy, in a nearer union with him than ever could arise from any natural relation to him, and shall ere long have opportunities of more noble and more delightful converse with him, than those with which the Virgin Mary herself v/as honoured, during the time of his abode on earth. Let us especially attend to those instructions we have here received, and judge of ourselves by our fruits ; never matt flattering ourselves that our hearts are good, if our lives are abotninable and disobedient, and to every good work ■^''• reprobate ; (Tit. i. 16.) And in particular let us remember, that not our actions only, but the fruits of our lips, 33, 36 are to be brought into the solemn account which we must give to the great Judge of all the earth ; and that the day is coming, when all our idle and unprofitable talk, which has proceeded //-o?/? the evil treasure of a depraved heart, 37 will undergo a strict examination, and w-e must answer not for our actions only, but shall be justified or condemned by our words. And, if foolish and wicked speeches are to be accounted for in the day of judgnient, let us set a toatch on the door of our lips to prevent them; and labour daily to use our tongue so, tliat it may indeed be, as it is in scripture called, oiir glo/y. (Psal. xvi. 9 ; xxx. 12.) ' For that purpose, let it be our great care to lay up a good treasure of Christian knowledge and experience in our 35 ■ hearts ; that while too many are poisoning those that are round about them with erroneous principles and vicious discourses, the opening of our lips may be of righteous things ; and we may still be ready, upon all proper occa- ; sions, with freedom, variety, and spirit, to bring forth good and profitable things from the good treasure of our hearts ; M'hicTi may be edifying unto those that hear us, and may go from one heart to another. So will the Lord himself hearken with pleasure unto what we speak, and exactly record it in the book of remembrance that is written before him ; and, producing it at last to our public honour, will own us for his, in the day when he makes up his jewels. (Mai. iii. 16, 17.) I b For evert/ unprojitahle, and much more for every pernicious the whole, are dissatisfied with the account of things here given, 1 I word.'] Though theterras inconvenient a.nd unprnjilable are some- would beg leave to ask them, whetl er vnprofitahle talk be not_» ' times applied to things capable of much worse epithets ; (compare sinful wasting of time ? and wliether that must not render a maaia I Rom. i. 28; Eph. v. 4, 11 ; Tit. iii. 9: and Heb. xiii. 17.) yet I can- some degree criminal before God? ' not think, that our Lord here uses a^ym, idle, merely to signify c Or by thy words thou shall he condemned.'] Since both the ' mischievous. AVe are certainly accountable for useless as well a.s clauses in this verse caimot belong to the same person, it is plam 1 wicked discourses, and they will be taken into that last survey that >t«i here, as the Hebrew particle T'e in many places, is put for I which is to determine our character and state ; which they, whose the alternative Or: and agreeably to this we find, that instead of I life is one continued scene of whim or sneering raillery, would do xxl, the particle -n is here inserted in many ancient copies, j *ell seriously to consider. And it was to our Lord's purpose to d ]Fhile he was speaking these things.] Luke brings in this I observe it here, as it inferred, by the strongest consequence, the story at the end of the parable of the relnpsinjj demoniac, which I danger of such vile and criminal discourses as those of the Phari- was delivered just at the conclusion of the discourse before re- I seM in this case. But discourse tending, by innocent mirth, to ex- lated. And though it is uncertain at what exact time this excla- ■hilrate the spirits, is not idle discourse; as the time spent in raation was made, yet what was now said might he a proper occa- ' necessary recreation is not idle time ; nor does a wise and gracious sion for it; or if it be a little transposed, the reader will excuse it, I God expect from men the life of angels. The Jews about Kimchi's . as it serves for a fit appendix to this short section, and likewise pre- ' time, had a proverb among them. That a scholar may be improved 1 vents the more unequal length of the following. even by the idle ipords of his master; but I think Heinsius Imd noT e tyom amidst the crowd.] ^o ex to-j ox Xou plainly sisnifics ; and reason to value himself so much as he seems to do, on his attempt it may thus, I think, be very properly connected with the words to explain these words of Christ as an allusion to that. — If any, on which follow it in the original. 126 THE NINEVITES AND THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH WILL CONDEMN THE JEWS. SECTION LXIII. Our Lord upbraids the Pharisees tvith their perverscncss in asking a farther sign ; and delivers the parable of the relapsing demoniac. Matt. xii. 38 — 45. Luke xi, 16, 24—26, 29 — 32. Matt. xii. 38. Matt. xii. 38. SECT. Then some of the scribes and Pharisees who were present, hearing how plainly Then certain of the ^3- Christ admonished, and how severely he rebuked them, ans~ivered him, by diverting the ^"^^''^' ""evhad been possessed by legions of devils, ana no rest in the deserts of heathenism, because there also the apostles wrought up to tue last degree of raadae.=s. cost them out, which drove them to return again to the Jews, and 128 CHRIST'S MOTHER AND BRETHREN SEEK TO COME AT HIM. SECT. 64. I-UKE XI. 33 34 35 36 MATT. XII. 46 MARK III. 32 MATT. XII. 47 SECTION LXIV. Our Lord declares kis resolution of persisting in his -n^ork ; urges the admission of the light he ti'as dispers- i7ig ; and declares his obedient diseiples dearer to him than the nearest relations could otherwise be. Liike xi. 33—36; viii. 19—21. Matt. xii. 46, to the end. Mark iii. 31, to the end. Luke xi. 33. ^ Luke xi. 33. Our blessed Lord, in the conclusion of this excellent discourse,^ which was occasioned No man when he hath by the perverseness of the Pharisees, who had been impiously reflecting on his miracles, ||f '^ ^^Iwet 'pia'^^i'^^fther and asking for a farther sign, assured them that he was not thus to be diverted from his under a bushel ;' but on work, but, notwithstanding all tlieir opposition to it, vet would he still go on to bear his a candlestick, tliat they . ,. . ., , .1 1 , ,r , /. 1 ■ • 1 • i en which come lu may see the testniiony to the truth ; and to engage them to a free adimssion and miprovement 01 tlie ii„i,t •' light which vi-as then shining round them, he addressed the following exhortation to them : You have indeed endeavoured to oppose me with the greatest obstinacy and perverseness, nevertheless you shall not silence me ; for no ?nan having lighted a lamp, puts it in a bye place, or under a bushel, to conceal its rays, but rather sets it on a stand, that they who come in to the house inay see the lustre that it gives : and thus, according to the charge that I gave formerly to my disciples, (Matt. v. 16. sect, xxxvii.) I too will fake all opportunities of publishing the important message tliat I bring, and making my light to shine before men ; and do you see that what I offer to you be received as it ought, and guard against those prejudices which would lead you to exclude it : For the eye is, as it . , •^.l T^'<^ •■s''* of tlie body were, the lamp of the whole body :^ if thine eye therefore be elear,'^ and free from any thine eye is single, thy vicious humour that would obstruct the sight, thy whole body also will be enlightened ; "'lole body also is full of but f [thine eye] be distempered, thy whole body also will be proportionably darkened, efii\hytody'a"ls'oTff'm of and no other part can supply the defect : and so it is with respect to the judgment, which darkness. is to the mind what the eye is to the body. See to it, therefore, lest that which is as the ^j^^o Tal^e^ lieed^ Uierefore. light in thee, be itself darkness ; which it will be, if those perverse maxims be adhered thee be not darkness.* to on which you now go, in rejecting my miracles, and the doctrine confirmed by them. (Compare Matt. vi. 22,^23. sect, xli.) It may indeed cost you some pains to reform your judgment, but the pleasure and ad- vantage ^vill be an abundant equivalent for all the labour that you take in doing it. For though the case that I but just now mentioned is so sad, yet, on the other hand, if thy wiioie^shaii be full of light, whole body,^ in consequence of a clear eye, and thy whole mind, by means of a ^f^**^*^" 11"^ 5"^'.^'^' •**'"'])"*'' rectified judgment, be enlightened, having no part remaining dark through distemper or light, prejudice, (being \_thus'] all enlightened,'^) the benefit of it will be such, that it will be as when a lamp lights thee by its sprightly lustre,^ and thou goest on with security and pleasure in those paths which would otherwise be full of uncertainty and danger. mm. xii. 46. AVhile ho And as he was yet speaking these lively and important things to the people,^ who in yet talked to the people, vast multitudes were gathered about him, behold, there came unto hi?n, yKist then, his fLuke'unurhi7i"\iis*'in"^ mother and his brethren, or near kinsmen : who, standing without, and apprehending ther and his brethren, [and the danger to which he exposed himself by such free remonstrances and admonitions as standing without, ihey sent these, sent to him to call him away from so dangerous a situation ; \_and'\ for this end, dcsi^ng^o speal wiTh'him. desired earnestly to speak with him, as about some afikirs of importance. And, as the [Mark iii. 31. Luke viii. multitude sat round about him, there was no room for his relations to get near him; "^jyjajij jjj 3, j^„j ^,,g and, notwithstanding all that they could urge of a peculiar interest in him, the people multitude sat abo-.t him, were so eager in attending to him, that none of them were willing to give place, and they [antl they could notcomr at could not come at him on account of the crowd. Therefore one of the people said viii. 19.] unto him. Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without at some distance, in- Matt. xii. 47. Then one quiring for thee, \and'\ earnestly desiring to see \_and\ speak "with thee : what therefore said unto him, Behold, thy must be done? Wilt thou go out to them, or give orders to the people to m'ake way for r^^i thou t"s°eek for' thee ^«nrf^ them to come hither to thee ? But he, to encourage those that were tnily serious in their stand desiring [Luke, to 36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the a In the conclusion of this excellent discourse.] I-ukc has in- serted here the following passages, which are delivered in words parallel to Matt. v. 15. and vi. 22, 2,3. (See the paraphrase and notes there, p. 7-5, 84.) Yet they appear in this connection to have a different sense, which I have expressed at large. b T/ie eye is llie lamp nf the whole hndy.'] Nothing is more com- mon with the finest ancient writers, than, by an obvious figure, to call the eyes Ihe lights of the body, as our Lord here has done. — I render Xuxvo; lamp, because it had been so translated in the verse before, and it did not seem necessary to change it. c If thine eye therefore be clear.2 See note b, on Matt. vi. 22. p. 84, d For if thy whole ho(Jy: liOWToau/xxaaucikm.'] This is an unusual rendering of the particle cdv, but it appeared to me necessary ; for this verse.is not introduced as an immediate consequence from the Toregoing, but both of them are collateral inferences from ver. 34. as the intelligent reader will easily observe. And if it be admitted that v*^, for, as well as wv, therefore, is sometimes used with such a latitude, as that the former may be understood to introduce a reason for, nnA the latter to introduce a consei/uence from, snmc- thing not immediately preceding, as also that they are sometimes used promiscuously, it will, I think, clear the connexion in some places, where it will otherwise give us a great deal of perplexity, and, 1 fear, after all our fine-spun reasonings, but very little satis- faction. (See Luke xx. 37, 38; Rom. i. 16. ct sej. and Heb. ii. 9. et seq. Gr. and many other places.) Compare note i, on Matt. xii. 8. p. 102. e Being thus all enlirjhtened.'] By allowing these words, (pjirsivw o>.w, to be thus included in the parenthesis, we prevent the absur- dity of supposing, as our translation would lead one to imagine, that our Lord says. If tiiy whole body be full of light, — the udiole sfmll he full of light. Else the clause should be so rendered as to shew, that the following words make a part of what our Lord asserts of the enlightened body : it shall be all as full of light as when a lamp, &c. f By its sprightly lustre.'] This seems to be the force of the word afTrpiTTn, which signifies a very strong and vivid flame, and is indeed most commonly applied to that of lightning, being here only used in the New Testament for any other flame. (See Matt. xxiv. 27 , xxviii. 3; I-uke x. 18; xvii. 24; and Rev. iv. .5; viii. 5; xi. I'l; xvi. 18.) — It may, perhaps, be an oblique hint of the celestial nri- ginal and vigorous active influence of tliat lustre which Christ dif- fused to illuminate and guide the mind. g And as hetvas yet speaking, Si-c] Matthew was so express in connecting this story with the preceding discourses, (not to insist on Mark's following the same order too,) that it is absolutely neces- sary to transpose Luke viii. 19. et seq. unless we suppose that it happened twice, and that perhaps on the same day ; for Matthew assures us that the parable of the sower (to which Luke also joiijs it) was delivered this day, Matt. xiii. 1 — 3. CHRIST PREACHES T6 THE MULTITUDE OUT OF A SHIP. 129 nd] to s eak with attendance on his preaching, answered and said to him that told him. Who do you tliialc SECT, thee. "'[Mark. m^S2. Luke IK my mother .« And who arc those whom you imagine I. considex as mi/ brethren ?^ 64. viii. 20.] ji,i(i /ookintr round on them that were sitting about him to hear liis word, and stretch- ■wid\nt":fhimtbatTo''id'l>'iS /».<>• out hil hand with an affectionate regard, especially toxuards those that were his matt. Who is my mother? And constant followers and professed disciples, he said. What kindred or relations have I that ^^'• rni" k][r .33T '''^'^'^"^*^" ■ are nearer to me, or more esteemed than these ? Behold mi/ mother and my brethren 49 49^Andiie [looked round here. For these that hear the word of God, and practise it, are considered and ac- 50 about on tlieni whicli sat knowledged by me as 7711/ mother and my brethren : nor do I thus regard these only fonlf hi^hkn^d" towanls'i'is that are now before me, but I declare the same too of all others of their character; [/or] disciples, and said, Behold u'hosocvcr shall do the wHl of God, my heavenly Father, even this very person, of Uiren'TMark u'i'^sr/ ^^''' whatever place and family and station he be, is regarded by me as my brother, or my 'so'JFor [Luke,' niy mother sistcr, or mother :' for this pious disposition will render such dearer to me, than any of and my brethren are these ^j-jg bands of natural relation, if separate from real holiness, could possibly do. which hear the word of God, and do it ; and] whosoever shall do the will of [God] ray Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and [my] sister, and motlier. [Mark lii. 35. Luke viii. 21.] IMPROVEMENT. So may it be our care to do the will of God, that we may be thus dear to our Redeemer, who ought by so Ver. 46 many tender bonds to be dear to us ; and who, by such gracious and indulgent declarations as these wliich we 47 — 50 have now been reading, is drawing us as with the cords of a man, and with the bands of love ! Still does the light of his Divine instructions shine with the brightest lustre, and diffuse itself around us ! Let luke us open the eyes of our mind with singleness and simplicity to receive it; and make it our care to act according Xl. to it. Then shall we knoxo {f we follow on to know the Ford, (Hos. vi. 3.) and tlius with cheerfulness shall we 33, 36 reap the fruit of a well informed mind and a well regulated life ! May we be delivered from all those false maxims which would darken our hearts amidst all this meridian lustre, 35 and turn our boasted light into darkness ! Woutd to God there were not renewed instances of this kind con- tinually occurring among us; and that we did not daily meet with persons whose pretended wisdom teaches them to forget or despise the gospel, and so serves only to amuse their eyes, while it leads their feet lo the chambers of death ! ; : , , ,,..i ... ■%■,■ -r-.^ y '.^ «: .. Q-r t".l' • SECTION LXV. Christ, teaching by the sea-side, delivers the parable of the soxvcr, and assigns the reason of his speaking to the multitude in parables. Matt. xiii. 1—17. Mark iv. 1 — 12. Luke viii. 4— 10. M.4TT. xiii. 1. Matt. xiii. 1. g.ii.i i.jiiu>.,..] [Mark iv. 1.] — o ^ •■ r i " i_ ; ■ 2 And great multitudes /^.,. about him, and came in crowds from almost every city round about to hear tnm, matt. Kt'elTTo^etheT'?! uke' that they began to press upon him, as they had done before in the former part of the day, >^"i- and were come to him out (see Luke viii. 19. p. 128.) so that, entering into a ship for the convenience of being 2 wenTTnt^o a'shi^ Tnd'sat Hn ^^^^^^^ "i^&SirA, and less incommoded by them, ' he sat down on tiie" se"a,] Wd'''th°e whole little distance from the shore ; and the whole multitude stood b multitude stood [by the shewing the utmost eagerness to hear whatever he should say. T'Luke v,ii''4T ^^^"'^ "'■ -4«r/, to make his instructions the more agreeable to them, and the more deeply to mark 'Mark ir.' 2. And he impress them On the minds of honest and attentive hearers, /^c i/prt-^e to them % a /?flra/5/e'' i^- [Luke spake by a parable, concerning a sower, wliich shall be now related; [and] taught them also many other 2 things hrparabWnd"s'a'ia things in parables ; and beginning with that of the sower, in the course of his teaching nnto'^thcm in his doctrine, this dav, he Said unto them: [Matt. XIII. 3. Luke viu. 4.] •' h iriio U mil mother 1 &c.] To suppose that our Lord here very ambipfuous in their significition, (see Matt, iii.l, and note e, intends to put any sliabt on his mother would be very absurd : p. 90.) I cannot apprehend any thing more determinate than this he only took the opportunity of expressing his afll-ction to his obe- of ev « r:^o.-x .xe.v^, on that day. The way in v/Uich Luke introduces aient disciples in a peculiarly endearing manner ; which could this discourse, as if it was delivered at the beginmng ot the pro- not but be a great comfort, to them, and would be to Susannah, gress .Jesus made, before the passages we have mentioned in the Joanna, Mary Magdalene, and the other pious women who sat near preceding sections, (? 61. et seq.) is not enoukrh to fix tue time him, Luke viii. 2, 3. p. 121.) a rich equivalent for all the fatigue when this discourse was made : and we have already shewn, in and exnense which their zeal for their .heavenly Master occa- several instances, that it is no unusual thing with Luke to neglect sioned. ' And as this seems to have been towards the beginning of the order of time, and sometimes only to relate a tact as happening their progress, it is observable, that our Lord appeai-s to have been on a certain day. (See Luke v. 17 ; and note a p 91 ; ana compare peculiarly concerned for their encouragement. See Luke xi. 27, Luke viii. 22 ; vi. G, 12; xi. 14 ; and xx. 1.) Matthew might know 28 p i-^-, ° the fact we ha%'e now before us more circumstantially than L.uKe,- i hfs 'very person is my brother, or my sister, or mother.^ This though the latter's account be exactly true so far as 't goes ; a possiblv might be intended as an awful intimation to some of his reflection which wc have frequent occasion to itiake with r.spcct lo near relatives to take heed how they indulged that unbelief which all the Evangelists. j. » •. r>,„ot ^Mrmnlno-v so long after prevailed in their minds : (Compare John vii. 3-5. b A parable.-] The woixl, according to its .G^-eek etjmology I 98.) For in this case the nearness of their relation unto Christ properly signifies a comparison or simile : 'n;y'"^".f'=''f^„'': '" " ," according to the flesli would be no manner of advantage to them ; here and in most other places ; though sometimes it appears to be but thos? that should be found to do his will would be preferred particularly used for an instructive apologue or table C^Lf™ ^^e in his esteem before them, and be considered as united to him in a E/ek. xvii. 2. et seq.) And, as these often were ^^P^^^.'" P"7'^^^ relation that should never be dissolved. This is one of those many language, (^see Judg. ix. 7-15.) the word ^''^^'trfZ^nn form! of places in which x;.. rcind,J is put for n, for ,• J for to be sure our fies a sublime discourse elevated beyond the common forms of ; parables to the day on which the prer happened; I say, fixes them to it ; for though the phrases, ev ntx Hub. il r.ixtf.v, on a ccrl'.ua day ; and ev ;h£ivx.! /.usptK, in l/iose dnys, be 130 THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER, AND THE REASON FOR SPEAJCING IN PARABLES. SECT. Hearken with peculiar attention to what I am now going to say, that you may thus be ^ Hearken ; belioia, there fjo. taught to hear my other discourses with improvement, and may not, through neghgence, [Luke, iiis seed:] [Matt inconstancy, or carnahty of mind, lose the benefit of my repeated instmctions.^ Behold, xiii. 3. 1.uke >iii. 5.] MARK at the spring of the year,'^ a sotver went forth to so-ui the ground with his seed. he'*so'lved,'lom™feU by ^the ^V- And, as the ground lay near a beaten patli, it happened that, while he was sowing, way side,' [Luke, and it «as 4 some of the seed was scattered, and fell hy the way-side ; and, lying there uncovered, it V'"'^'''^" down,] and the was either troddc7i under joot by passengers, or picked up by the birds of tiie o^/, who devoured it up. [Matt. presently came and devoured it. xiii. 4. Luke viii. 5.] 5 And some of it_/e// on stony soil, upon a rock that lay but just beneath the surface of the ground,'' \Tuk!;!" upon°"a ground, where it had not much earth to cover it, and immediateb/ it sprang up, and rock,] where it liad uot <5 appeared ereen, because it had no depth of earth to make its way through: Bat its "'"ch earth, and immedi- rf b ' u i 1- J f I Li I u I -i .( .1 '■''•^'y 't sprang up, because verdure was very short-lived 5 tor when the sun shone hot upon it, it was presently it had no depth of earth; scorched by the wannth of its beams, and withered away almost as soon as it was sprung [Matt. xiii. 5. L\ike viii. 6.] up, because it had no room for taking root in such a shallow bed of earth, [and'] xvanied ^p*^ it'^was"sco*rcheX" emd sufficient W?o/5/ia'e to nourish it. [Luke, as soon as it was 7 And some more of the seed I'eing thrown near the hedge, fell among the briers and sprung up ] because it had 7 1 11-1 1 i i 1.L1 1 j; j/ -J 7 •< no root, ( Luke, nna lacked thorns there, and when it began to shoot out 01 the ground, the thorns sprang up with it, moisture,] it witl-.ered away, and grew so much faster, as not to leave it either room to grow, or notirishment to support [Matt. xiii. 6. Luke viii. 6.] it ; and so they choked it, and it yielded no fruit. thorns" an™*^ tlie thm"! 8 And the rest of the seed fell on good ground, and yielded fruit, which, heing well [Luke,' sprang up with it,] rooted and nourished, o/Tio; up and increased to its full proportion; o/?r/ the ears filled, '^j** '''?''^"| 'S.?,'"']/' J.'.*-'''!,' and produced a rich and plentiful increase, so?ne of them thirty, andso?ne sixty, and even Luke viii. 7.] ' some an hundred fold, for one grain that had been sown.^ "^ ^8 And other fell on good LUKE And when he Iiad said these things, he cried out with a louder voice than before, and uia"" s'pran'- "up^'and '^in- VIIL said unto them. He that hath ears to hear these important truths, /e^ him hear and creased, and" brouglit forth 8 regard them with the most diligent attention, and seriously reflect upon that instructive 3L"ne an hundreT[foM^j moral' which is contained in the parable I have now been delivering. [Matt. xiii. 8. Luke viii. 8.]' M.\RK And when the assembly was broke up (after Christ had delivered many other simili- ^"Y-.^-'i'f' ■^'r j'^f" IV. tudes of this kind to them, which will be mentioned afterward"-,) when he had parted v/itii cHed,'[Mark,^and s"i"f unto 10 the multitude, and was alone in a retired place, the rest of his disciples,^ with the twelve them,] He thatiiath ears to who had been with him while he spake these things, ca?ne and asked him [concerning'] the x[ri'^'o''''nia™ jv'^'g 1 '■^^''"' parable of the sower, saying. We desire thou wouldst more particularly explain to us what p.iaVk iv. 10. And when ?rta?/ the meaning of the several circumstances of M«/;fir/-£f;tructive moral.] This solemn proclama- tJiey overtoolc what they see, and arc inattentive lo what they hr.n- I therefore justly leave them to their own obstinacy, and direct thee, O Isaiah, and should be converted, " to methods which I kiiow will increase it." -^~^^,^'-'^-' '^"iVb t"bl ss^^'d^a^™' u "^"^ ^^^PPH indeed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they 16 eyes, for they see ; and your hear: you have not Only greater oppoitunities of instruction than others, but greater eai-s, for they hear. integrity and seriousuess in attending to them : and I congratulate you on so happy an 17 For verily I say unto Qccasion. For verily I say unto you. That many of the most holy prophets, and most 17 you, That many prophets sjngjjfarlv rishteous ?nen, under the Jewish dispensation, have earnestly desired to see and righteous men have de- ,,^.,--''^,-, j j- 7 - ./ .i j l -i A- }■ L sired to see those things the tnings which you See, and did not see them, and to hear rne things wnicft you which ^-e see, and have not hear, and did not hear them : but only had imperfect intimations of those mysteries those thlngi* wii'i'ch \°ehea" which are now revealed with much greater clearness to you, and will, through the divine and have not heard them. ' blessing, render you singularly useful in this world, and proportionably happy in the next. (Compare Luke x. 23, 24. § cvi.) "'^ •_— — -^ irvIPROVEMENT. Let us hear, with fear and trembling, these awful declarations from the lips of the compassionate Jesus himself. Ver. 12 Here were crowds about Christ, who indulged such prejudices, and attended with such per\'erse dispositions, that in righteous judgment he took an obscurer method of preaching to them, and finally leftmany of them, under 13 darkness and impenitency, to die in their sins. Let us take heed, lest the bounties of Divine Providence should be thus abused by us, as a means of casting us 15 into a stupid insensibility of the hand and voice of the blessed God : or we may otherwise have ground to tear, lest he should leave us to our own delusions, and give us up to the lusts of our own hearts. And then the privilege of ordinances, and of the most awakening providential dispensations, will be vaia ; seeing we shall see, and not perceive ; and hearing we shall hear, and not understand. It is our peculiar happiness under the gospel, that we see and hear what prophets and princes, and saints of old, 16, 17 desired to see and hear, but were not favoured with it. Let us be thankful for Tjur privilege, and improve it well ; lest a neglected gospel by the righteous judgment of God be taken away, and our abused seasons of grace, by one method of divine pleasure or other, be brought to a speedy period. But if by grace it is given to us to know the mysteries of the idngdo7n of heaven, let us learn a thankfulness in som.e measure proportionable to the corrupt H prejudices which have been overborne, and the important blessings which are secured to us. Our translators have well eVcpressed the force of it, Gen. ii. 17 ; Jer. to the careless and captious hearer. — Consistent with all this is what iv. 10; and Zech. vi. 15. ' was said of the advantages attending this method, to those who k It is in just displeasure. &c.] A late learned writer has endea- were honest and attentive; in the paraphrase on Mark iv. 2. p. voured to prove that Christ's use of parables was not in displeasure, 129. out in tender condescension to their aversion to truths delivered in V Seeing you shall see, hut you shall not perceive.'] This is a just a less pleasing manner : but this is in effect supposing both Mark, translation of the original, both here and in Isaiah ; and is another (chap. iv. 12.) and Luke (chap. viii. 10.) to have reported vhat our considerable argument for the interpretation here given of the Lord says iu a sense directly contrary to what he intended ; for whole context. — A pious and learned friend, bv whose kind animad- they say in so many words, it was that the multitude might not versions I have been led to insert some additional notes in this perceive, nor understand ; and it also makes Matt. xiii. 12. both work, has urged several arguments to prove that this clause should foreign and opposite to the purpose for which it was spoken. We be rendered, 'seeing, i^-c. you JVILL not perceive. Lut on the ^a- must therefore submit to the difficulties which attend this natural purest review of this passage both in Isaiah and the several places interpretation ; which are mucli lessened by considering that this wliere it occurs in the New Testament, I cannot apprehend that it happened after Christ had upbraided and threatened the neigh- was spoken merely by way of complaint, but think it plain that bouring places, (from whence doubtless the greatest part of the it was intended also as a prediction ; (compare Mark iv. 12; Luke . multitude came,) which was some time before this sermon: (see viii. 10; Johnxii. 40; Acts xxviii. 26,27; Rom. xi. S.) Now in Matt. xi. 20 — 24. \ 58.) And it is not improbable, that the scribes predictions, we generally render the future form, "Sucli or such iniPhaiTisees, vihohni so\'\\e\y blaxp/iemed him this lery morning, a thing SHALL happen," though we only mean to express the (3Iatt. xii. 24. p. 122.) might with an ill purpose have gathered a certainty of the event, without denying the freedom of the moral company of their associates and creatures about Christ to insnare agents concerned in it, or detracting from it in any degree. Aim ,- which if it were the case, will fully account for such a re- ni Grown stiff with fatness.'] This is the proper ELglish of serve. — It signifies little to plead on the other side, that these para- iTrxxfy^t, and alludes to a notion the ancients had, that a great quan- iles are plain. Tlieir being so to us, is no proof they were so to tity of /a/ about the heart stupljied hoth the intellectual and seusi- these hearers : and since the apostles themselves rfiW tioV wn J^^^^ f'^, ^^^ ^H MATT. I shall however yield to your request, and shew myself on all occasions ready to instruct \iohich the sower soweth] is XI II. 18. you: hear ye therefore, according to your desire, the explication of the parable of the the word of God, [Mark iv. J.UKE sower. Now the meanm^ oi the parable is this. It is intended to represent the different iviark iv. is. And these ^ "^- success of the gospel in the world ; for the seed [which'] the sower I spoke of soweth, is are they by the way-side ; ^1 the word of God, which I am employed to preach, and which will ere long also be com- J';J',';'^f, ^yX' If J.reth the mitted to you : but too much of our labour will be lost on three bad kinds of hearers, whom word of the kingdom, and I described in the parable by different kinds of unfruitful ground. s'f '"^^^ru''^" w'i*eked' *orei MARK And, in the first place, these are they whom I described as receiving the seed by the cometh imm^liateiy, Tnd IV. way-side, where the word is no sooner sown, but the effect of it is presently lost, and their taketh away the word 15 true character may thus be represented to you: when any one hears the word of the \^l^^^^^ rirker''i"st"\hey heavenly Icinrrdom, or of the gospel of the grace of God, and through a careless inattention should '"iieiieve, and be undcrsfands'lit'l not ; then Satan, that wicked otic, who is the great enemy of God and saved:] this is he whicii ,,, . LJ , ■ T , 1 ■ ■ T _, I J J / j7 received seed bv the way- souls, flymg as eagerly as a bird to his prey, comes nnniediately, and catches away the ^j^g -j [M^tt. xiii. lo. Luke word that was soxon in his heart, lest they who have heard it should believe and be viii. 12.] saved; and as nothing is like to be long 'remembered which is not well understood, all nkewil'^'wiiidf i"^ce?veS trace of it is quickly lost out of such a mind, as grain scattered on the road : this, I say, the seed] on stony ground, ' is he that received the seed by the way-side in the parable. [Luke on the rock ;] who, .,.,., • ji J 1 -' j7 j7 7 1-11 1, • when thev have heard the 16 And in like manner, in the next place, these are they who were described as riavmg ^.^^d, immediately receive received the seed in stony soil, or on a rock under a very shallow bed of earth; such, I it with gladne.ss ; [Matt, mean, who, having heard the message of pardon, life, and glory, which the word of the '"'^'^ ^nd "tave'no'root in gospel brings, immediately receive it with a transport oi joy, and feel their natural jjas- themselves, and so [Luke, 17 sions elevated and enlarged at the report of such agreeable ne\vs ; But as they have no root \^^^^'^: "f/^v^nUl ukc'^i'n of deep conviction and real love to holiness in themselves, they have no true impression timTof ^tem\rtaUon,']"w'i'i.'n of the power of it on their hearts, and so believe it only in a notional, not a vital manner, affliction or persecution [and] endure in the profession of it but for a little while; [and] afterwards in a time immedi!aely''the7^arrof: of sharp trial, especially when any domestic oppression or public persecution arises on fended, [Luk'e, mid fall account of the word, they are presently offended, [and'] apostatize from that warm and ^^•^■'y^L^^''"- '''"• ^^- ^^^'^ eager profession which in times of less difficulty they were so forward to make. 18_ jg xr\A these are they 13 19 And, in the third place, these are they whom I described by telling you, that they re- which received seed] amon^ ceived seed among thorns; even such as hear the word, perhaps with great constancy, *voTd"VLuk'e,'L'^^vhTnthey and the appearance of serious attention ; [but] almost as soon as they have heard [it,] go have' heard,' go forth,] and out of the assembly, and, immersing themselves in secular affairs, permit the cares of this tjie cares of this world, and ,7 -J. , , , . , P J 1 .? I /• r/7 ■ -1 -1 I'-T t"^ deceitfulness of riches, world, and the artful delusion of riches,'' or perhaps t/ie pleasures of [this] animal lije, [Luke, and pleasures of M(s or the desires ofsome other things which equally tend to alienate the soul from God, to life,] and the lusts of other enter [into their minds,] and take up all their thoughts and time to such a degiee, as to |he"word?anTft becometh choke the word, and so it becomes unfruitful: [yea,] they themselves are choked, as it unfruitful; [Luke, ijea, were, with these fatal incumluances,^ and whatever purposes or faint efforts they may nr^fru'it'^''to'"ped-ect'ion1 make towards a partial reformation, they bring no fruit to perfection, but remain desti- [Matt'^^xiii. °22. Luke viii. tute of every degree of genuine and prevailing piety. 14.] ^ 20 And once more, these are they who were said to have received the seed into good ^iffch ["received' sill mJ] ground : even such as do not only hear the word with attention and simplicity of mind, good ground ; such as hear but understand what is spoken, and receive it without prejudice and opposition ; and ♦'^'^^ '7e'ir'li''ve "^ '[Lukf "'««] •wlienthey depart, areiolicitousto I'ctain [it] in an honest and good heart, b>-inging forth keep it in an hones't and the good //7. a 77ie artful delusion ofrich.es.'] This phrase, a-nxrr. tw ztXtvtov, is and straitened with such incumbrances as these, and rendered, as it I vcryijlcgant, and admirably expresses the various artifices by which were, unfit to breathe its own native air, and to delight itselt with j people in the pursuit of riches excuse themselves from day to day, celestial and eternal objects. — Choking arises from any thing which in putting off rf%/o«s C(Tre.«, and the confounding disappointment straitens the gullet, or wind-pipe, and so obstructs the passage of which often mingles itself with their labours, and even with their food or air. And thus young plants, or corn, may Projieriy be \ success. Compare Trov. xi. 28; Luke xviii. 24; 1 Tim. vi. 9, 10, said to be choked by thorns, which do not leave (heln room to , 17; 2Tim. ii. 4; and iv. 10. grow; and the word, whiih would exert its vital power and prin- i h -^They themsches are c/wlced, ^c."] So liUke expresses it, per- ciple, is represented as choked, when tliius pressed with secular | haps to intimate the uneasy situ.ition of the mind, while clogged cares prevailing in the mind. K VUl. OUR LORD DELIVERS THE PARABLE OF THE TARES IN THE FIELD. 133 Luke viii. 16. No man, a couc/t ;" l)ut sefs it upon a stand in a conspicuous place, that all the)/ -who enter in to sect. wiieu he liatli li-lited a cau- the liousc, 7nay scc tile light of it, and t;uicle their motions by it : (compare Matt. v. 15. p. 6G. s1!i!or7uufth)^H>dcrabe'h ^5; and Luke xi. 33. p. 128.) And'^can you thmk it is fit that you should waste the but settetli it no a cau- precious Oil of my instructions, which I am pouring into your minds, to render you the i-uk diestick, that tliey which )^j.,;,pj ^f ,^^y ganctuarv ? Be not then backward, as occasion otfers, to communicate to ^"' enter in niav see tlie light. ,^,-' ■ r n ±i ■ ■ ■^ ■ j. 1 ■ I ^n 17 Fornothins- is secret, otliers what you receive trom me; Jor notiunir is now said in secret among us, xihicn i / that shall not be made shall not l/c revealed ; 7ior any ihing hid -which shall not be made Inwwn and pub- lTid!thatshaT/not be known Ushed ;'^ as we are carrying on no works or counsels of darkness among us, but conceit- 3G and' come abroad. [Mark ing measures for the public instruction and reformation of mankind. ''■J"i ■ o, Tf ,„„,.„„ Jf any ?« a?? therefore hath ears to hear, let him hear; and if you have intelligent mark Mark IV. 23. If any man -^ \' . ■, ■,- . 1,1 .. ii • ■ i i. IV have ears to hear, let him powers, let it be youT peculiar care to exert them to this important pui-pose. "• liear. yi„(i he said also to then). Do you above all take heed therefore, and carefully attend 24 takehe^'ll'TthereforlVwS to "^'^'ot you hear from me, land'] how you hear it: for in this sense I may say, as [a«rf how] you hear: With fomicrly On another occasion, (Matt. vii. 2. p. 86 j and Luke vi. 38. p. 109.) the what measure ye mete, it jjieasuro "with which 7/ou mete lo Others, shall be used to you; and to you that at- shall be measured to you : . , , ^, 7, , • „ % .1 1 "1 ji- ^ • i u- l^ and unto you that hear, tentively hear, morc shall be given,^ and those who are most diligent in teaching others sliall more be given. [Luke ^\^^\\ ]jq taught most themselves. For, as I said before in this discourse, (Matt. xiii. 12.25 '"2.5'For he tliat hath, to P- 130.) to him that improves what he hath, more shall be given ; but from him that him shall be given : and he acts as 0116 who hath not, fioiii him shall be taken au-ai/ even that uhich for the present, shall be^'taken, e"e™ tl!" ^'^ ^'"^^'' ["''1 ^cemeth to have ;f but which he shall soon find was not, accurately spcak- which he liatli, [or seemeth ing, his own, and must be strictly accounted for to the real proprietor. to ha:ve.] [Luke viii. 18.] IMPROVEMENT. Let us apply to ourselves this charge of our blessed Redeemer, and take heed how we hear. Especially, let us lukr be very careful that we despise not him that now speaks to us from heaven ; and remember the authority which ^ I^'- liis exaltation there gives to the words which he spake in the days of his flesh. Let us attentively hear the parable of the sower, and its interpretation. Still is Christ, by his word and mini- matt. stei"s, sowing among us the good seed. Still is the great enemy of souls labom'ing to snatch it away. Let usXlILis. endeavour to understand, that we may retain it 5 and to retain, that we may practise it. Still do the cares of this 5^ ^^'^h world press us ; still do its pleasures solicit us; still do our lusts war in our members; and all unite their efforts ^"^ to prevent our fruitfulness in good works ; but let us remember, that, with having our fruit unto holiness, ever- ?^^^'^ lasting life is comiected as the end; and that in due season xve shall reap, if tre faint not. (Rom. xi. 22. and Gal. vi. 9.) Let us therefore be concerned that the seed may take deep root m our minds, that we may not rest in any 17 superficial impression on the passions ; but, feeling the energy of that living principle, may flourish under the circumstances which wither others, and may in due time be gathered as God's wheat into his gamer. Nor let us repine if we now go forth weeping, bearing this precious seed, while we have such a hope of coming again re- joicing, bringing our sheaves ivith us, (Psal. cxxvi. 6.) . •_ ^ ^Xfl^ . ? i^ if ' SECTION LXVIL Our Lord delivers the parable of the tares in the field ; and aftemmrds explains it at large to his disciples. Matt. xili'. 24—30, 36—43. Matt. xiii. 24. Matt. xiii. 24. Another parable put he Now, to return to the story of our Lord's leaching the multitude from tlie ship : he sect. forth unto them, sayinsr, ,, . , . •' , ,, jf,,i i-^-^iii c f- The kingdom of heaven 'is likewise at the same tmie proposed another parable to them, to intimate that persons oi o/. likened unto a man which various characters should come into the gospel profession ; but that there should be a final ■ ■ sowed good seed in his ggp^^j-j^tion between them in the other world, however they might be blended together in matY. this. And he taught them, saying, The kingdom of heaven,'' or tlie success of the gos- ^i'^- pel-dispensation, may be compared to that which happened to a fnan^ who had sown 24 ■ 25 But wliile men .slept, good seed in his ground: But one night, while the 7nen who were set to watch it slept, 25 tares araoUthe^whearand ^'^ iU-natured neighbour, who was his enemy, with a malicious view to spoil the crop, went his way. ' came and sowed a quantity of ta7'es among the wheat wliicli had just been thrown into c Covers it with a vessel, or puts it wider a conch.] Mark c.k- out supposing them to refer to that. Compare Mat. x. 26, 27. presses it as a question, and Luke as a direct negation. I have given \ 7.5. and Luke xii. 2, 3. \ 111. in which two places the same words It in both the forms, as what seemed most effectually to secure the seem, as often elsewhere, to have a difterent sense, credit of both the Evangelists: and I humbly submit it to better e To you that hear, viore shall be given.'] I know there may be judgments, whether, in some of these instances, Christ might not some room to doubt, whether these three verses in Mark, at the immediately repeat the thought a second time in nearly the same close of this section, were spoken to the disciples apart, or to the words, in order to fix some very memorable passage on the minds of multitude ; but I think these words make the former much more his hearers, who to be sure needed line upon line, and precept upon probable. precept. In this view he will appear, if less like a j?olite orator, f Seemeth to hare.] T know Sm^t e^eiv, seemeth to have, is some- yet more like a father instructing his children; and perhaps if times a pleonasm, which signifies fo hare; yet the paraphrase more of this familiar and condescending method was practised in shews it is not necessarily so here, which is also favoured by Luke :ht be less arajised, xvi. 12. } 124. (see also 1 Cor. iii. IS; Gal. vi. 3. and Jam. ). 20.) our sermons, though the delicacy of a few mighi. __ rsiaii— ;> — •. -. — the souls of the people might be more edified; and consequenTT^ However, as I confess it may possibly be a pleonasm, if any chuse the end of Christian ordinances (which is by no means the ap- to take it thus, then the last clause, which is included in a parftfr— plause of those who administer them) might be more eflectually thesis, must be left out. answered. a The kingdom of heaven.] That this is frequently to be uiider- d Nor any thing hid which shall not lie made known and pub- stood of the gospel-dispensation, has been observed before in note lished.] Though a prospect of the final discovery of the great day h, on Matt. iii. 2. p. 31. would contain a strong argument, both in compassion to others, b ^fal| he compared to that which happened to a man.] Or may and from a prudent regard to their own happiness, to engage his he illustrated by the following similitude. See note i, on Luke disciples to make a failliful report of the gospel committed to their vii. 32. p. 117. trust; yet I think the words will contain an important sense, with- 134 THE WICKED SHALL BE SEPARATED FROM THE RIGHTEOUS. SECT, the ground, and went away without being discovered. 'But afterv/ards, w/ze?? the Made 20 But when tlie blade 67. was sprung up, and produced fruit, then the tares also appeared among the ears of ^^^^/'PJ^'IS "P. ^nd brought wheat, in a manner easily to be distinguished. And the servants of the proprietor of the tareTai'so/*^" apptare MATT, the estate"^ came in a surprise, and said to him. Sir, didst thou not sow good seed of pure 27 So tlie servants of die . XIII. wheat in thy f eld? whence theji hath it these tares whicli now appear mingled with Jll^ir'hS^'i'rdr.w 'not 28 the crop? And he said unto them. Some ill-natured and malicious person in the tlum sow good 'seed in thy neighbourhood has undoubtedly done this, taking the advantage of your absence or fifltn from ^whence then negligence. And the servants, willing to make the best amends they could, said to 28 He'^Lid unto them, hnn. Wilt thou then have us go directly to root them out, and gather them up, before An enemy hath done thi.s. 29 they get any further head ? But he said. No, I do not think that proper 5 lest while you wiit'uZ\\1,uha["ve go endeavour to gather tip the tares, you should, before you are aware, root up some of and gather them im? 30 the wheat also with them : It v/ilfbe better to permit doth to s:row together till the , ^^ ?"* '"= ^'l''^' ^'^y ; 7 . 1 ■ ^L X- r ,1 1 , -r ■ ■ n i ,1 ^ ,1 lest while ve ffather up the tiarvest come ; ana in the time of the harvest 1 will say to the reapers, hat her ye tares, ye root up also the together first the tares, and bind them in bundles, that they may afterwards be burnt wheat with tliem. for fuel ; ^nd apply himself to other business: and in the mean 27 up, he knoweth ifot how. time, without his thought and care, the seed should spring up and increase, he knows 28 For the earth britjgeth not how. For the earth, by a certain curious kind of mechanism, which the greatest 28 forth fruit of herself ; first philosophers Cannot fully comprehend,^ does, as it were, spontaneously, without any afTer that'the^'fuU conr^i assistance from man, carry it through the whole progress of vegetation ; and produces the ear. frst the blade, then the ear, and afterward the full grain in the ear. But at the proper 29 brou°^tfortlf "immediately reason for it, as sooH as the fruit is ripe, he immcdiateli/ puts in the sickle, because the he putteth in the sickle, harvest is come ; and all that remains is to receive the bountiful provision which the because the harvest is great Lord of all has produced by his own power. By such insensible degrees shall the gospel gain ground in the world, and ripen to a harvest of glory : and therefore let not my faithful servants be discouraged, if the effect of their labours be not immediately so con- uD^o ^sball'Ve'1'ikeV'Yhe spicuous as they could desire;'' a future crop may spring up, and the Son of man will in kingdom of God ? or with due time appear to gather it in, what comp^arisou shall we ^„^ /,g niade a pause in his discourse, and then said, I am thinking whereunto shall 30 °Matt. xiii. 31. Another "^^^ co?npare the kingdom of God ? or with what parable shall we place it in such a parable put he forth unto point of light as farther to illustrate it ? ofTekv^Q'if'lik'rto afra™ ^fter which reflection, he proposed another parable to them, saj/ing. The kingdom of m.\tt. of mustard-seed, which a heaven, of which I am speaking, or the interest of the gospel in the world, is like a grain „,-^'^'" man took and sowed in qf ?nusta?rl-seed, which a ?nan took a?id sowed in his field tom\^ and propagate the "^ 'iviark iv. 31. Wliich [in- EJant : It is, I say, like this grain, which indeed when at iirst it is sownTn~ffre"ea)1^'rs mark deed] when It is sown in the very Small and inconsiderable, and [one o/"] the least of all the seeds that are cast in IV. seeds] that b^inThe earth'! the ground :'^ But wlicn it is sown some time in the earth, it grows up to a surprising 31, 32 [Matt. xiii. 32] degree, and becomes greater than all other herbs ; yea, I may even say, it becomes a 32 But when it is sown, fj.^^ ^„^^ shoots out prcat branches, so large and thick, that the birds of the air may it eroweth up, anil be- ,.,,,,. , ■ ■, ^ t i , i • •, > ; j r jt i i j ■'/ cometh greater than all build their nests m it, and come and lodo-e in its branclies,°- \and\ harbour under its herbs; [and becometh a shadow. Ill such a remarkable manner did our Lord intimate, that his gospel should pre- ^etti\ branches, "so'lhat the '^^^ amidst all Opposition ; and, inconsiderable as its beginnings were, should spread itself fowls of the air' mav [come abroad through the whole world, so as to afford weary and fearful souls a grateful and o°i'°mder°the^hadow'*of ^^^"^^ retreat. it. [Matt. xiii. 32.] He also spake another parable to them, to the same purpose with the former, which, matt. Matt. xiii. 33. Another like the rest, was taken from a very familiar circumstance daily occurring in life: The XIII. parable spike he unto l-i/ig;dom of heaven. Said he, or the cause of the gospel, is like a little leaven which a 33 thein: The kingdom of ' . ■', , 7 • _t; ^ ^ 7 j .1 u -^ i 1 ^ r heaven is like unto leaven, woman took and covered up in three measures of meal ; and thougii it seemecl lost tor Yet same liave been weak enough to argue from hence, that (ac- moted the signal success of the apostles, (to which he might in part cording to the Mahometan notion) the alternate extremities of refer, .John iv. 38. p. 61.) and I hope the remark may sometimes heal SiXiA cold »\\r>w\A cowst\inieW\e torment nf the damned. See Arch- be applicable to our labours, especially with respect to those who, bishop Da%ves"s Sermons on Hell, Serni. iii. p. 14. having enjoyed a religious education, and being restrained from a By a curious kind of mechanism, &c.] The word avra/xr.ryt, grosser irregularities, liave not been so far as others from the king- which is generally, jn good a.Uthoxa,.arolied to artificial mac/iines. domofGod. There can be no reason to interpret tliis (as GrotiusN. so naturally sug-gested this tliouglit, that I could not forbear hint- and Dr. Clarke have done) of Christ only; he does not go away \ ing at it. The reader may see a very elegant illustration of it iu Dr. and sleep ; and he perfectly knoivs fiow the seed sprirtfjs up : on the \ Watts's Philosophical Essays, No. ix. ? 2. other hand, every faithful minister may be said to put in his sickle, \ b Let not ray faithful servants be discouraged, &c.] It cannot as having his part in the final harvest. (See John iv. 36. p. 61.) | be the design of this parable to eucourc-je private Cliristians to c The" least of all the seeds, &c.] Or one of the least; and so ' imagine that religion will flourish in their own souls without proper small, that it was proverbially used to signify a very little thinq. cultivation ; or to lead ministers to expect that it will flourish in (Compare Matt. xvii. 20. \ 91. See Lightfoot's Hot. Hebr. on Matt, their people, while they neglect due application in private as well xiii. 32.) as public. I hope tlierefore the reader will acquiesce with me in d Come and lodge in its branches.^ The Talmud mentions a the paruphrase given above; supposing that our Lord meant to mustard-tree so large that a man might with ease sit in it; and intimate that his apostles and other ministers were not to estimate another, one of whose branches covered a te-.t ; (see Tremell. Not. their usefulness merely by their immediate and visible success, but in he. and Lightfoot's Hor. Hebr.) And it is certain we shall be might hope that, by their preaching, a seed would be left in the much mistaken, if we judge of vegetables or animals .in the eastern hearxts of many, which might afterwards produce happy fruit. On and southern countries, merely by what those of the same spends- these principles, I doubt not but our Lord's preaching greatly pro- are among us. See Raphel. Annot. ex Herodoio, p. 163. V.r.. 136 THE PARABLE OF THE NET GATHERING ALL SORTS OF FISH. SECT, a while in the mass of dough, it gecretly wrought tlirough it by a speedy, though insen- which a woman took and G8. sible fennentation, till at length the •whole was leavened. Thus shall the gospel spread '"'^. .'".'['."T,*^ measures of in the world, and influence and assimilate the temper and conduct of men. leave'ncti. MATT. All these things Jesus spake to the viultitudc in parables ; and with many other 34 au these things spake X">- such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear and receive \_it ;] JaraDle"!"[anaTith "ilniiy 34 well knowing that so many enemies were then hovering round him, that, had he declared such parables spake lie the the mysteries of his kingdom in plainer terms, he would have been in continual danger, ^^o^d unto them, as tiuv and must, without a series of repeated miracles, have been cut otF by their malice; and uluiout'a paraWe sp'ake^'iie upon this account, without a parable he spake not any thing, in all that he delivered to not unto them: [Maik iv 35 them on that day : That so it ?night be seen that passage was remarkably fulfilled in '^\^'^^-\^^^ it mjgjit t,e f„i. him,^ which~w~ds spoken by the prophet, (Psal. Ixxviii. 2.) and that he might with the filled which was spoken l^y utmost proprietv adopt those words that Asaph had delivered, saiiins:, " I will open my *'"= proiiiiet, saying, I «ill ii ■ 1 I -r -11 ■ ^ J J 1 • f 1 1 r j; ■ u- 1. 1, open my mouth in paii- " 7nouth in parables, I 'null ..,.,'. '?,, 1,^ * . , "^ ,, 7 • ,1*^ chant-man, seeking goodly the similitude of a merchant who goes about Irom one country to another, seeking the pearls: 4G largest and most beautiful pearls,^ and other fine jewels; Who finding one pearl of 46 Who when he ha.i an exceeding great value offered to him on very advantageous terms, would by no means f^V"'* 5*"*-' P^j^'' "*^ P" '/; slip the opportunity, but presently went away, and sold all that he had, and bought it ; that he had, and bought it. ' as well knowing he should be a considerable g-ainer, though he should part with all he was possessed of for it. Thus, though a resolute profession of my gospel may indeed cost you dear, yet it will, on the whole, be infinitely for your advantage, and richly repay all your losses. 47 But see to it, that you are in good earnest in your religion, and do not impose upon 4r Again, the kingdom yourselves by an empty profession : for, to add one parable more, which I shall again ^/ iieaven is like unto a net r r 1 ■ , -.1 1-1 c 11 i. Til " that was cast into the sc.i, borrow from an object with which some ot you have been very conversant, Ihe success and gathered of every kind; of the kingdom of heaven in the world is like that of a net thrown into the sea, which 48 gathered in [ fishcs~\ of all sorts ; Which, when the fishermen perceived that it was full, 48 AVhich when it was they dragged to the shore, and sitting down there, to survey the draught that they had alKl'sa^^wIraltt'^th''''' i made, gathered the good into proper vessels, but threw away the bad,^^ as not worth the good into vessels, but their regard. So mixed aiid undistinguished here are the characters of those who profess '^^^^ "^'"^ ^'"^ ''^^^y- the gospel, which, as it is preached promiscuously to all, gathers in persons of all sorts, 49 and hypocrites as well as true believers are brought into the visible church. But an exact 49 So shall it be at the survey will finally be taken of the whole ; and so it will be shewn at last, how great a si"^ii°'^c,olne"forth'; "mi'se^-r diflference there is between them, by the assignment of their state : for at the end of the the wicked from'among the world, the angels shall come forth, in the general resurrection, and separate the wicked i^^^' from among the just, with whom they often have been joined before, even in the same 50 religious society, and in the participation of the same external privileges ; And they shall 50 And shall cast i\u m cast them into a furnace of fire, the seat of the damned; where their torments shall i"to ^'l"; ,,'^''''"^'^'^.,5''^ 'i" j never end, but there shall be incessant wailing, and gnashing of teeth, for rage and guashing of teeth. ^ despair. 51 Then Jesus saith unto them. Have ye, with the key to them wliich I before gave you, 51 Jesus saith nntothnn, understood all these things ? They say unto him. Yes, Lord, we clearly understand ^^^^^ t^fin„""f "ti'icJ say 52 them. And he said to them. See therefore, that as you understand them, you make a unto him. Yea, Lord, good use of them, for your own advantage, and that of others : for every scribe who is 52 Then said he unto disciplined in the mysteries, and has attained to the knowledge of the kin'hole souls ; I that all our powers and faculties, tliat all our thoughts and passions, may be, as it were, impregnated and elevated by them. Let us remember the value of the blessings it proposes ; and regarding Christ as the pearl of great price, 44 — 46 ■ and heaven as that immense treasure, in which alone we can be for ever rich and happy, let us be willing to part with all to secure it, if we are called to such a trial. 1 It is not enough that we are nominal Christians, or possessed of the common privileges of the church : the day of 47 — 50 I final separation will come, and the angels employed in the work will not overlook us, but conduct us to the abodes j of the righteous or the wicked. Oh tliat we may not then be cast with abhorrence into the furnace of fire ! but ' now seriously realizing to ourselves this a\vful day, of which our Lord has given such repeated prospects, may j! we so judge ourselves, that Ave may not then be condemned of him ! J ^■- '-ir ! SECTION LXIX. i Our Lord having given some remarkable ans-icerjo some "who seemed disposed tofollo-w him, passes over the [ lake, and stills a mighty tempest as he -was' crossing it. Matt, viii. 18—27. Mark iv. 35, to the cud. I Luke viii. 22 — 25; Lx."57, to the end. I Mark iv. 35. ~ Mark iv. 35. i And tlie same day, when t^QW in the evening of the same day'- on which the parables that we have been re- sect. ! J«us7a'yi^oa'r"rultitud'es Mmg ^vexe Mxvexed.,-when Jesus sato great multitudes still waiting about him,^ pur- 69. i[ about hinir] [Luke, he went posing for a little while to retire from them, he came out of the house, and went into a ship, 'les-'' and'' hf'sai'd ""unto "^hich stood by the neighbouring shore, with those of his disciples with whom he had mark 1 them. Let uj'^o^over unto just been discoursing; and said unto them. Let us go over unto the other side of the IV. the other side of the lake.] /^/^.^_ j„^/ .^^./j^,^ they had dismissed the multitude, and had at length persuaded them '36 [Matt. vi.i. 18. Luke viii. ^^ ^.j^j^^jj-a^,^ f/iejj took him just as he was in the ship," without any farther provision I 36 And when tliey had for their passage. , ,-f»j, I thcv t^ook^wm e"ven*"as"'ife ^ut before Ai-g-relate the particulars of their voyage, u^g shall here take occasion to add ^^ r^ I was'ln^thc ship. two or three little occurrences, one of which happened at this time. Matt. viii. 19. And [it j„^ f^j.^^ ^t came to pass, that as they went in the way"^ from the house out of which matt. we'St in the way^Ta ceru!a he came, to the shore where he proposed to embark, a certain scribe, pleased with his VlH. 19. a Tn the evening ^)flhs same day."] Or, i/mt very dai/, when it was jection against the solution proposed in the last note ; but T think evening ; for these are the express woi:ds of the Evau-elist ; ev exeivd tlie turn given in the paraphrase may remove it. It any are not rn^iMtlx,^>Tcsyi',Q^ims: and hideed they are so express that I am satisfied with that answer, they must suppose that Christ s going amazed any critics, who do not suppose he was mistaken, cau pre- into an house, mentioned by Matthew, was son^e time after ; wliicli tend it was not the smrTe'Jaij r which yet TJi-. Clarke docs, as if the seems not so natural a sense of Matthew's words. (See Matt. xiii. I phrase meant nothing more than one day towards evening. I dare .3(5, with note f, p. 134.) But had that appeared to me the mcining * not tike so great freedom with the sacred author, and have there- of them, it would only have occasioned the alteration of a clause or 1 fore been obliged to transpose, though not contradict Matthew.— two in the paraphrase: for it would have been improper to have ' This indeed appears one of the busiest days of Christ's life, as all divided the explication of the parable ot the tares Irom the para- the events and discourses recorded from his miraculous cure of the ble itself. . , , demoniac, who was blind and dumb, {\ Gl. p. 122.) happened in it ; d As tliey went in the way.] As this and the next story are in- nevertheless, I see no absurdity in suppoiing that all these things serted by Matthew between his account of Christ s givnig corn- might pass in less than twelve hours. Compare note c, on Matt. xii. mandment to cross the lake, and his entering into the ship to do it, 22. p 100 (see Matt. viii. 18—23.) I cannot but conclude they both happened b Gre'it multitudes still waiting nhovt him.] They sometimes at this time ; and eonse^uently, that when Luke introduces it by _ staid with or near him several days together ; (compaVe Matt. xv. saving, it was as they went in the way, his meaning must be at large, , 32. ! 86.) And it seems, that now they staid a while after Christ one day as Christ and his disciples were walking, and not (as Mr / had dismissed them, perhaps with a prayer or benediction ; (Matt. Isaac Newton supposes) as they went on m that journey in wliicli xiii. 36. p. 134.) for on his coming down again to the shore, the dis- the Samaritans had refused him a lodging. The following words ciples joined with him in persuading them to disperse; which, would indeed have been proper on that occasion; but tliey Hart when t'.iev saw him determined to cross the sea, Uicy would the also an universal propriety, as Christ had no house or stated loug- more reaHilv do; for so we may conclude from what Mark says ing of bis own, and was now going over to a place where we .lo above, ver. .36. that, just as he took shipping, they (that is, Jesus not find he had any acquaintance. But if any think bt. Lukes and his disciples,) seiit them away. And this appears to me to be the expression too strong to hear this interpretation, they must it t icy easiest way to reconcile this difference more reaHilv do; for so we may conclude from what Mark says ing of bis own, and was now going over to a place wiieie we no above, ver. .36. that, just as he took shipping, they (that is, Jesus not find he had any acquaintance. But if any think bt. Lukes -- •' this appears to me to be the expression too strong to hear this interpretation, they must, it they which IS none of the least. would not impeach St. MatUiew's account of it, conclude that tins ] This may scorn an ob- little occurrence happened twice, as it is very possible it might. c They tooli him as he was in the ship.' 138 JESUS FALLS ASLEEP IN THE SHIP, AND A VIOLENT STORM ARISES. SECT, entertaining parables, and concluding from the tenor of some of them,<^ as well as from scribe came, and said unto 69. The zeal' with which the people flocked about him, that he would soon become a mighty '""'• [Lord and] iMaster, I prince, on declaring himself the Messiah, came with all the appearance of profound re- Tvel- u'ou go«t! "[Luke^x' WATT, spect, and said unio him, O thou gi-eat Lord [(ind~\ Master, who hast another kind of 57.] ^^"- authority than we scribes can pretend to, (Matt. vii. 29. p. 89.) I beseech thee to give me leave to attend thee in tiry passage ; for I am determined that I ■wiUfullow thee •whitherso- 20 ever thou gocsf, and devote myself entirely to the service of thy kingdom. And Jesus, .20 And Jesus saith unto knowing the motives which engaged Imn to this resolution, saith unto him. Do not fiat- lV,!5';i'^'f- ''?'"'? m''^*^'^?'''^' . If Mu xu i , !■ - 11 r 1 1 and the birds of the air /iflfff ter yourselt with the expectation oi any temporal advantages from such an attendance ; nests ; but the Son of man for 1 plainly tell you, that whereas (not to speak of domestic animals, which are binder the I'^'^j "°* ^yhere to lay /as care of man,) even the very foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, for '^^ ' ^ '^' ^^'^ themselves and their young j i/et the Son of man, successful as his kingdom must at length be, does now appear in such low circumstances, that he has not so much as a place "ichere he may lai/ his head ; he knows not one day where he shall find food and lodging the next ; and his followers must expect no better a condition, A declaration sufficient to deter a person wha sought nothing but his present interest and advantage. 21 ^w^/^ ««o/// <■/• of //Ma'/^tvjo/c*, who had for some time attended his discourses, /?e5ff«/, 21 And [he said unto] Follow me statedly," as tliese my servants do, that thou mayst be trained up to take thy ^rl^^Z me ■ ^t\xi^ht^^l^\Ci part v,'ith them in the ministry of the gospel. Biit he said unto him. Lord, I will most un'to"hIm,^'Lord" suffer^me gladly do it; yet I beg thou wouldst/rs/^/itr;/?//' ine to go home a?id hurij my aged J?"*- *'' S" aiid bury my "^.^fatherj to whose remains I am going to pay my last duty. But Jesus, who thought it 22'l'-ut Jesus"'sakt\into proper on this occasion to make an extraordinary trial of his faith and obedience, said '""i- Follow me, and let again unto him. Follow thou me immediately, and leave the dead to bury their dead: nlf^'tt t"^"""^ *''^''' '^''^'^,' i,i iU 1 ii I ■ ■, 11 1 1 ■ i , . ^ „ 1 -^ . , n , [ont go tnou and preach let those wno are themselves spiritually dead, {jeriorm the rites of funeral ; yea, let the dead the kingdom of God.] remain unburied, rather than disobey my word when I give thee so great a commission ; or tLuke ix. od.] than neglect it but one day when I say, as I now clo. Go thou and preach this gosptl of the kingdom of God,s which thou hast heard, and shalt farther hear from me. LUKE .^«6^ at a certain time,'' another also said. Lord, I will jiresentlv follow thee; but Luke ix. 61. And ano- ^X- permit me first to go and settle the affairs of iny family, and take my leave of them which foUow 'tbTi*^' but"'lot me 61 are at 7ny house; as Elisha was pennitted to do when called in so extraordinary a man- first go bid 'them fa^weTl 62 ner to the prophetic office. (1 Kings xLx. 20.) And Jesus said unto him. Take heed that "'''"'^■'^ ^''^ ^^ 'i°'^« ^'^ ™y no fond affection for any who may stand related to thee, nor any solicitous concern about ^"el'^And Jesus said unto if the work of ploughing the ground require that a man should look before him, and reso lutely mind what he is about, jjou may easily imagine that the duties of a gospel-minister will require a much more steady attention, and more firm resolution. ^'vn7' ^"^ "'^^^' ^ '^ ^^^ ^^^^ before, that Jesus was about to cross the lake, when he was Matt. viii. 23. And when *^'^- entered into the ship, his disciples foUoxced him; and they directly launched forth, lie was entered into a ship, 23 even as many as could conveniently get a passage in that vessel, or any others that were fuike,' alld' [hey'^launcired thereabouts j for they were all desirous to attend him ; o«rf several other little ships were fortii :] [and there were 24 also with him. And as they were sailing over the lake, Jesus kid himself down in the s\',T.sV*rMark"iv°'3r Luke ship ; and being wearied with the various labours of the day, he fell asleep : and, vi'i'K22.] behold, there came down a violent storm of wind on the lake : and on a sudden it was 21 And behold, [Luke, as so tempestuous, that there arose a great "and unusual agitation in the sea,^ insomuch tlipy sailed, he fell asleep; that the vessel was even covered with the swelling waves, which beat into the ship, so [g, eat] st'ormTf whld" on that it was now full of water, and they were in extreme danger of being cast away, t'le lake ; and] there arose And {Jesusi in the mean time, for the refreshment of his weary body, as well as for the * ^'"''' ^'";]1'?m'" u'" ^''^• +„• 1 ^t .1 • r .,1 , .,, . ,, , „ ,, i ■ ■,■' ■ 1^.1 ii'somuch that the ship was iriai 01 tneir taitli, was asleep on a pillow in the stern of the ship, being greatly fatigued covered with the waves; e Conckiding from the tenor of some of them.] Tlie parables of resembles the former, that I cliose (as St. Luke also does) to join the mustard-seed and the leaven, were both spoken before the them together. Nor do I think it any reflection on the Evangel'istsTS multitude, (Matt xiii. 31, 34. p. 1,35.) and they were both so that they did not follow the order of time, provided they do noy plain, that the disciples did not ask Christ to expound them ; as in- assert a regard to it where they vary from it. deed one can hardly imagine how any exjilication rould have made i Permit me fiTsl to settle the afl'airs of my family, and take my them more intelligible. The scribe's forsaking Clirist, on the de- have,i!.c.\ In this latitude I doubt uot but the phrase anura^x:6ai claration he made of his destitute circumstances, makes it evident toiseit tov aimv'/lov is to he taken here, though it has sooiething of a he was actuated by tliese views. different signification, Luke xiv. 33. ? 121. Intending to give up f To ffo home and bury my aged father.'] Some think that this his pos.sessi'ons, he probably designed to order linw thcij slioiild be expression only intimates, his father was 40 old that he could uot dislribiilcd among his frieni? ; as^Heinsius has very well explaided live long ; hut Christ's answer seems to take it for granted he was the passage. _ already dead. k Ao man /laviny laid his hand on the plovgh, and lookiny back, is g Go thou and preach the kingdom of God.'] As our Lord called fit for the kingdom of God.] Hesiod has given it as the character of him now to follow him, we must conclude that this commission a good ploughman, that he keeps his mind intgiit on his work, that which he gives him to preach v/as not directly to be put in execu- he may make a straight furrow, and does not allow himself to gaze tion. The circumstance was plainly extraordinary, and might turn about on his companions. (Hesiod F^y. //A. ii. ver. Gl— 63.) Our on reasons unknown to us. Clirist might, for instance, fore'^ce some Lord, on the like obvious principles, may u.se the phrase of one that particular obstruction that would have arisen from the interview looks behind him while his hand is on the plough, as a kind of pro- with his friends at his father's funeral, which w.iuld have prevented verbial expression for a careless, irresolute person, who must be Ins devoting himself to the ministry ; to which he might refer in peculiarly unfit for the Christian ministry. How happy had it been saying. Let THE DEAD bury tltelr dead. I see no reason to sup- for his church, had this lively admonition been regarded, without ' pose any regard to the priests being forbidden some usual ceremo- which it is impossible 0 Som/^eiv rov J^oyov j-is aX))5;ix!, to divide, or Dies of mourning, which some have Wiought to he intended here. rather direct, the word of truth ariglil, % Tim. ii. Ih. Sea Bos. n At a certain time.] This probably happened at another time ; Oisicrr. m/i. vi. p. 28— 32. . ■" • - - ■ ' lor it woiUd have been very improper to have asked permission to 1 A great i. jUntion in the sea.] ZtrUo; «;0«f pro;je£]^.Bignifies a go anil b...l his domestics farewell, when Christ had ju.st made such mir/hti/ aqilatkm : piobablv it was sometliiTig oTa liurricajie. an answer to the former: but tiic story is so short, and so much s REFLECTIONS ON CHRIST'S POWER OVER THE WINDS AND SEA. 1£9 [.-.nd the waves beat into v.'ith the labours of the day."" And when to all human appearance they were just sink- sect. thesliip,so that it was now ing, his clisciples came to him, and aivakcned him, saj/ing, with great surprise and 69. were''in jcopardj'!]^ [Ma% importunity, Master, Master, is it no manner of concern to thee that we are all of us in iv. 37. Luke vfii. 23.] the utmost danger, and hast thou no regard to what we are exposed to in such a terrible -M.yrk in'^th? hinder part of The extremity as this"? Lord, save us, for tse are just perishing ! And he says to them. Why IV- ship, asleep on a pillow: cire ye SO exceeding timorous, O ye of little faith ? Can you imagine that God would ^8 [and his disciples came to sutfer i\Ie to be lost in a tempest ?"^or that I would consult mv own safety in the nealect JMatt. him, and awoke U'm, sav- c ^ ir'/ • i- ti a i ; • ^ ji ^ ; ,. • < ■ ■ ' -.-iir iu°-,] Master, [Luke, Mas- ^^ yours ? \\ here IS your faith ? and how is it that you have no faith m e.xercise on ^^l'- ter,] carest thou not ? such an occasion, when you have had so many signal evidences both of my power and 26 [Man! *vi'iL "a'j'. ^Luk^viiL ™y tender care? And then rising up, with an air of Divine majesty and authority, he 2).] rebuked the winds and the raging of the water, and said to the sea, as a master mio-ht Matt, viii 20. And he [Jq to a companv of turbulent servants. Peace, be still : and he had no sooner spoken, but saith unto tliera, \V hy are ,, ■ i j. 'i j ^i ii ^ t 4 i ji „ , ., ye[so]fearful, Oyeofiittle '"^ Wind rested, and there was presently a great calm. And the men that were with 27 jaitli ! [Luke, Where is him Were greatly amazed, and struck with such a reverential awe, that they feared cxceed- that"^ ye'^'haie'"no\iTh'] ^"S^!/' ■^",'l'"g ''" ^'"^^' o^/'*"''* What a Wonderful person is this, who has not only power Then he arose and rebuked over diseases, but commaiideth even the most tumultuous elements, the winds and the the winds, [Luke, and the gea ; and amidst all their rage and confusion, then humbly obei/ him, and are imme- raginffof the water:] [and j-.i jii- '^ji ' ^ j ^ said unto t!ie sea, Peace, be diately composed at his command ! still : and the wind ceased,] and there was a great calm. [Mark iv. 39, 40. Luke viii. 24, 25.] 27 But the men marvelled, [and tbey feared exceedingly, and said one'to another,] What manner of man is this, that [Luke, commandeth] even the winds and the sea, [Liike, aud they] obey him ! [^I i. k iv. 4L Luke viii. 25.] irvIPROVEMENT. Ho^v great and glorious does our blessed Redeemer appear, as having all the elements at his command, and Ver. 27 exercising his dominion over the winds and seas ! He stills the very tempests when they roar, and makes the storm a calm. (Psal. cvii. 29.) He silences at once the noise and fury of the tumultuous waves: and, in the midst of its confusion, says to the raging sea, JJifherto shall thou come, but no further ; and here shall thy prou-d waves be stayed. (Job xxxviii. 11.) Who would not reverence and fear him? Who would not cheer- fully conmiit themselves to him ? Under such a protection, how courageously may Iris church ride through every storm, and weather every danger ! Christ is still with lier, and she is safe even while he may seem to be sleeping. 24 Blessed Jesus ! that power of thine which here commanded the tempest into a calm, can easily silence all our tumultuous passions, and reduce our so^ils to that blessed tranquillity, in which alone we can be capable of enjoy- ing thee and ourselves. May we still be applying to Christ with such importunate addresses ; and, sensible how much we need his help, may we cry out, Lord, save us, or we perish ! And may it be the language, not of suspicion and terror, but of 25 faith ; of a faith determined at all adventures to adhere to him, whatever dangers are to be encountered, or what- ever advantages are to be resigned. Did his compassion for us, and his desire of our salvation, engage him to submit to such destitute and calamitous 20 circumstances, that when the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have Jiesfs, the Son of man himself had -" not a place where he might lay that sacred head, which with infinite mutual complacency and delight he had so often reposed in the bosom of the Father ! May our zeal and love animate us cheerfully to take our part in his indigence and distress, if he calls us to it ! May no considerations of ease or interest, or even of human friendship, 21 lead us to turn a deaf ear to the calls of duty ; or suffer us, when we once have engaged in his service, to think of hjke deserting it, lest on the whole we should be judged unfit for the kingdom of God ! May thy grace, O Lord, animate IX. our souls, that nothing may prevent our faithfulness unto death, and so deprive us of that crown of Ife which thy 62 grace has promised to such a character ! (Rev. ii. 10.) SECTION LXX. Christ being arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, dispossesses two detnoniacs ; and permitting the evil spi- rits to enter into a herd of swine, is desired by the inhabitants to withdraw ; and so returns to the western side cfthe sea. Matt, vii'i. 28, to the end; Lx. 1. Mark v. 1—21. Luke viii. 26—40. MvRKv.i. Mark v. 1. And they came over unto AND after they were thus delivered fi-om tlie danger of the ^orm, they came over to the ?ECT. [Luke, and arrived al Uu? other side of the Sea of Tiberias, and arrived at the country of the Gadarenes ; a 70. 2 And when he was come Jordan, aud was afterwards called Trachonitis. ^ uL'^^ ■'^'^ *"' v''v ^^"'if' *" And.when he was landed out of the ship, he was no sooner got ashore, but there im- 2 land,] immediately there ,. , , , j ■ , • - , -, 7 7 ■ j /• jZ / / b met him [two possessed with mediately met him two mei?- possessed with demons, coming out oj trie scpulenres, m Fatigued with the labours of the day.] This we may reason- mention histories recorded by Mark, and not to be^ found in Mat-- ably conclude from a review of th-e preceding sections. See also the thew. See Mr. Jones's Vindication of St. Matthew's Gospel, chap, latter part of note a, in the beginning- of this section. vii. and ix. a There met him two iiieii.'\ Mark and Luke mention only one, b Comin(i out of tlie sepulchres.'] Grotius supposes, that the who probably was the fiercer of the two ; but this is no way incon- demons cho.se to drive the men that they possessed among the sisteut with the account that Matthew gives.— I cannot but observe tombs, to confirm some superstitious notions of the Jews relating Jiere, that Mark tells this story in all other respects so much more to the power of evil spirits over the dead. The heathens had un- ■ circumstantially than Matthew, that it abundantly proves that his doubtedly such notions: but I rather think, with Eisner, the ' gospel was not (as Mr. Whiston maintains in his Harmony) an demoniacs chose the caves of this burying-ground as a kind of abridgment of Matthew. The .same remark may arise, from com- shelter ; and he has shewn, that wretches in extremity sometimee pariQjT Mirit v. 22—43. with Matt. ix. 18—26 ; and Mark ix. 17—27. did the like. See Eisner. Ohserv. Vol. L p. 6(3—08. with Matt. xvii. 14 — 18. and some other parallel pas.sages , not to 140 CHRIST MEETS WITH TWO EXCEEDING FIERCE DEMONIACS, SECT, which were in a burying-place near the city, wliither they had fled as to a place affording derib, coming out of the 70. them some sheher, and suiting their gloomy imaginations; and they were both of them }"i"^5' exceeding fierce, so ,. ^ ' , . ,.o '^ ,, ,•' ^ ij ri 7 ^1 J J that no man might pass by ejcecaaig jierce and mischievous, so t/tat ?w one could saidy pass by t/int wa)/ : and that way;] [Luke, a.citaini MARK [^une of these was'] a certain man of the city ivith an unclean spirit, that hcui been man out of the city,] withj ^'- known to be possessed with demons for a long time; Who was so terribly outrageous whicii'Suu" devUs alongi 3 that he wore no clothes, nor would abide in any house, but had his dwelling sometimes time : [Watt. viii. 28. Luke in the burying-ground among the tombs, and sometmies in a desert, or a common, that ^"-I" ^^i-'o r^ i ,i^ lay near it ;*= and was under so strong an operation of the diabolical power, that no cne neitiier abode in o«y house|i A could confine him even with chains: For he had often been bound with fetters a«e f. 1 1 •^•,i 1 /- 1 -1 i i 1 i- , J. . ? ,. are nianv :] because iiKiny these, liave been permitted lor a while to range at large, are sometimes by divme justice devils were entered into and power remanded. (Compare Rev. xx. 1 — 3 ; 2 Pet. ii. 4. Jude, ver. 6 ; and see 'lim- [iWark v. 9.] ri „*• • 7 \ 31 And they besought _ Gl otitis, /« /OC.) _ him [much,] that he would] MARiv Now there was there within their view, at a cojisiderabie distance froin them, on the not [send them away out of ^* wo««^rtf/«.y near the sea-shore, a great herd of 7nany swine feeding on the mountain ; [{[^n °'l"''T'o''of,t "^""t "'\",'^, 1 1 for unclean as those animals were, the Jews in that country bred up great numbers of them deep. [i\iark v. lo.] out of regard to the gain of such merchandise, which they sold to the Roman soldiers, and Mark v. ii. Ts'ow there! 12 other Gentiles who were very numerous in these parts.s And all the demons which had J)^."^^ t'hem,] nf°h'unt'I7tlic! possessed this miserable creature (set upon doing all the mischief that they could, though mountains, a great herd ofc they were under such a sensible restraint, and desirous to bring an odium upon Jesus as the [ j^^j^^^ ^^ ^tiie"^mouuiain } author of mischief,) entreated him again, saying to him, Jf thou art determined, after all [Matt.' viii. .to. Luke viii we have said, that thou wilt cast us out of this man, send us, [o/-] give us leave to go away 32.] c A desert, or a common, that lay near it.] So it is said hy wretched creature; butin'what manner and order, it is impossible; Luke, ver. 29, that lie was driven into Ihc wilderness. for us to say, who know so little of invisible lieinqs. d Art l/iou come hitker to torment vs before the lime .?] Here was ~" f Tlml he mould not send them out of the cniinlri/.'} It seems fromt such a reference to the final sentence which Christ is to pa.ss upon Dan. x. 13, 20, that (liferent evil genii preside over distinct regions,- these rebel spirits in the judgment of t/ie great day, to which they by the direction of Satan their prince. These, who perhaps were are reserved, (.Jude, ver. G.) as could not be dictated by lunacy; spirits of distinguished abilities, might be appointed to reside and it is much to be questioned, whether either the person speak- liirf-.tbniits, to oppose as much as possible the bincficial designs o^ ing, or any of the hearers but Christ himself, understood the sense Christ : and havinc: Jiiade their observations on the characters audi and propriety of it. circumstances of the Tfihahitauts.thcy^miglit be capable of doingi e My name is Legion, for we are many.'] There is no need of more mischief ticre than elsewhere, "and on that account £iight^ concluding from hence, that the number of these evil spirits was desire leave to continue on the spot. exactly the same .vith that of a Roman legion, wliich was now g AVhich they sold to the Roman soldiers, and other Gentiles, upwards of six thousand. (See Pitisc. Lex. de Legione.) It was a &c ] The laws of Hyrcanus had indeed prohibited the Jews from' Sihrase that was often. made use of to express a great number ; -(^oq keeping swine, (which .shews it had been much practised amongi l-igbtf. Hor. Hcbr. on Mark v. 9.) — It is observable, that Luke them,) but these Gadarenes, who had so many Gentiles in the here adds, that many demons loere entered into him : so that it is neighbourhood, having long been under heathen government,! evident he thought it not a mere lunacy, but a real possession. (Joseph. Anliij. .hid. lib. xv. cap. 7. Tal. 11.] \ 3; et Bell. Jud. lib. i.i Probably a band of evil spirits united in the vexation of this <■(//). 20, [nl. 15.] ? 3) and living in the extreme part of the country. THE GADARENES PRAY JESUS TO DEPART FROM TttENCE. 141 12 And all the de^-iis be- to the herd of swine which is feeding yonder, that xce may enter into them ; for we have sect. sou|cht^him^,^say^ng-^[iahou no power of liurting even them without thy leave. And immediately Jesus permitted 70. suffer"us'to go ^1 way ] ^ i n to the?n to do it j partly to punish those who dealt in so infamous a commodity, and chiefly the [herd of] swine, that we to prove the reality of a diabolical agency in these cases,'' and to display the malice of mark ?i?K 3rLukl''viif.'32.''/^''"' those evil spirits : he therefore said unto them. You may go, since you desire it, and ^ 13 And forthwith Jesus Operate on those creatures as you please. And upon this the unclean spirits went di- 13 *'''to t'l"^m 'goi' A^dTl"* ^'^^^y ''"^ if ^'''^ ""^^ whom they had possessed, and entered into the herd of swine : ^ !ll!c'ieair"pirit"s went out end such was the strange etiect of their power, that, behold, the -whole herd immediately [Luke, of the man,] and grew mad, and ran violently down a preeipice into the sea,^ and were all suffocated in sw!ne^' and* [beliold,'] the ^^^ ^^"^ and perished in the waters -^ being in number about two thousand. [wiioie] herd ran violently And the swine-herds. Seeing what was done,Jled in great amazement, some one way 14 * anVwe7e choked"!" tl"^ ^^^"^ some another, and told all the story, both in the city and country ; and circum- sea^ [and perished in the stantially related what had happened to the two demoniacs, and how the demons had waters:] and t'ley ^ were been ejected from them. And when the people heard it, they were so much impressed nil"32."Luke v1h"'^330 ^^^ ^^^^'^ ^^^ report, that they went out in crowds to see what was done, and to satisfy 14 And they that fed the themselves, on the testimony of their own senses, as to the truth of so unparalleled a fact, swine, [Luke, when they ^;,f/ ■^-hen the?/ came to Jesus, and saw the demoniac (even him that had been tor- 15 saw what was done,] fled, . i i j i '^ i ■ ^ ± n i j/ j ; , ? , i i ^" i^^i ■'>' and told [every thing] in mented by the legion, and out oj whom the demons were departed,) calmly sitting at the city, and in the country, the feet of Jcsus, to receive his instructions, ajid now decently c/oMec/ r/;/^ perfectly tbrpossesse(7of the devHs'] composed, as being restored to his right mind, they were stnick with such a mixture of And tiiey went out to see astonishment and reverence, that they were afraid of conversing with so great a prophet, rMau'vTi? 33"''^ Luke'^vi'il' ^^^ dreaded the farther effects of his power. (Compare Luke v. 8. sect, xxxiv.) And they 16 34, 35.] ' also who were present, and had seen all that passed from the beginning, gave them a par- 15 And they come to ticular account of [zY,] and told them more largely than the swine-herds had done, by that'was'posses'sed witlTthe '^^at means the demoniac had been recovered; and also told them concerning the devil, and had the Legion, swiiie, how they had been so strangely destroyed by the apparent agency of these evil [out of whom the devils gpy-j^g ^„ ^^^hj^h the men had before been possessed. were departed,] sitting- [at ^ . .-i ,,,,,,., 1 . c , i i 1 ■ r- ^ -> , , the feet of Jesus,] and And behold, all the inhabitants ot the whole city of Gadara,' as the nmiour increased, matt. clothed, and in his right ca)ne out to meet Jesus ; [and'] indeed the whole multitude of the country of the '^'"^• [Luke vii'i. 35^]"^^"^^ ^ '^^' Godarencs round about flocked to see so wonderful a person : and when they saw him, 34 16 And ihey [also] that tliei/ presently besan, with ail submission, to entreat hiin that he would please to depart ™^a!^shet1la\^^sSs^ssed/f"' ^''^."' ""^ of their coasts ; pretendmg that they, who had so great a number of of the devils was healed,] Gentiles round them, were not fit to receive so great and holy a person : for they un- aud also concerning the reasonably looked on him as the author of the calamity which befel the swine, and were ^^Matt. viU. "34!" And be- sei::ed with great fear, lest he should send some farther judgments upon them, which hold, the whole city came they were Sensible the great irregularities of their behaviour well deserved :■" and he, by no aTd the Thole'^multit'^^le'^of ^'^^^^^ willing to obtrude his presence on those who were so insensible as not to desire it, the country of the Gada- Went into the ship again, and returned back to the western s!ib"re-ef the sea. rencs round about ;] and jIjj^ 'ij^hen he was come into the ship, the demoniac, out of whom the demons were MARK [began to^pra'yTiim]"that7ie ^^^^^ dcparied, fearing Icst after this (as it had been supposed of some, Matt. vii. 43 — 45. ^ • would depart [Luke, fioir. sect. Ixiij.) he might be in danger of a relapse, and, dreadins; the terrors of his former con- 13 [LiE for\hey were^taken ^^^^^°"' f^^^^reated him that he might be allowed to continue with him, to enjoy the with great fear; and he farther benefit of his instructions. . Yet Jcsus did not permit him to do it, but sent him 19 went up into the ship^ and away. Saying, Return to thine own house, \_and'\ go to thy friends and relations at home, [Mark v. 17. Luke vii?. 37'] ^^^ fell not particularly to tell them how great things the Lord God of Israel, whose Mark V. 18. And when he messenger I am, has by his almiglity power performed for thee, and how graciously "haVhad "been '^possessed ^^ ^'^'^ had conipassion OH thee in those deplorable circumstances M'liich rendered thee with the devil, [out of a spectacle of horror to them, and all that saw thee. And upon this, he went away 20 presumed to do it, scandalous and illegal as the employment was. df ive, whether it would be possible, without a miracle, for two men ' ^ See Miracles of Jesus Vindicated, p. 34, 35. to drive twenti/, and much less two thousand oi them into the water, ••h To prove the reality of a diabolical agency in these cases. The It is a pitiable thing to see a writer of such a character reduced to (cavils against this miracle are equally malicious and weak. Our so hard a shift. He seems indeed to think the common notion of Lord's permitting the evil spirits to enter into the swine, was not possessions absurd and dangerous, and certainly opposes it with a : properly sending them into those beasts ; or if he had done it, the very good design : but it is hard to say how Christ could have en- / fiunishment to the owners would have been just; or had it been couVaged that notion more than by his conduct on this occasion ; ess apparently so, his extraordinary character as a prophet, and and I doubt not but this extraordinary occurrence was permitted the proofs he gave of a divine co-operation, would have set him chiefly to prove the reality of these possessions, and will always be above our censure in an action, the full reasons of which we might effectual for the conviction of every impartial inquirer, not perfectly have known. — But though this solution is to me very k And were all siijfocated, and perished in the waters.'] The dis- satisfactory, it is not necessary to have recourse to it ; for this play of the malignity of these demons, in this instance, served to action evidently appears both wise and gracious; inasmuch as it illustrate the value of every miracle of this kind, and to display the unanswerably demonstrated at once the malice of Satan and the grace, as wpll as power of Christ in every dispossession; in w"hic!i extent of Christ's power over him. No miracles are more suspi. view this circumstance appears to have been determined with great cious than pretended dispossessions, as there is so much room for wisdom and goodness, though folly and perverseness have so collusion in them ; but it was self-evident that a herd of swine strangely disgiiised it. could not be confederates in any fraud: their death, therefore, in 1 7tie whole city of Gadara.] josephus describes it as a very this instructive and convincing circumstance, was ten thousand considerable place. It was, by the righteous judgnient of God, the times a greater blessing to mankind, than if they had been slain for first Jewish city that fell into the hands of the Romans, in the fatal food, as was intended. ^_^ war under Vespasian, and suflered great extremities. Joseph. Bell. i The whole herd ran violently down a precipice into the sea."] This" Jud. lib, iv. cap. 7. [al. v. 3.] \ 3, 4. See JFits. de Decern. Trih. cap. story is an unanswerable demonstration of the error of the hypothe- 8. ? 2. SIS advanced by the author of the late Inquiry into the Case of the ra Lest he should send some farther judgments upon them, &c.] Oemoniacs, ii.c. (Mentioned before in note c, on Luke iv. 3.3. p. 69.) Some have imagined that they thoughtChrist a magician, and That ingenious writer is forced to suppose Mfsff .s?/')Vi<'/r/j/i<««erf iy feared the effects of his art; but the cause assigned in the para- • the two mud men, and so driven down the precipice : but, not to phrase seems to me much more Recent, and, all things considered, mention the absurdity of supposing their lunacy thus to rage after morajikely. They were probabf5r"9--Jicentious sort of people, aiui Christ had spoken the healing word, one might venture to appeal to might naturally, from what they saw, fear some farther chastisement any body-that has observed what, awkward creatures swiue are to from so holy a Prophet. 142 CHRIST EATETH WITH PUBLICANS AND SINNERS AT MATTHEW'S HOUSE. bepan to publish throns:h the tohoh cihf of Gadara, in which he dwelt, \and'\ in all whom tlie devils were de- eighbouring region of Dccapolis, xo hat great and wonderful things Jesus had done {^YA't iS'hhim' '[luU im : and all men were amazed at so stupendous a miracle. viif. 38.] id Jesus, having entered into the ship, departed thence as soon as the demoniac was 19 llowbeit, Jesus suffer- ssed : and, leaving those ungrateful people who had no greater value for his presence, "lly"saying, uSurn to passed over the sea of Galilee, and shortly after came to his own eity of Capernaum, thine' own house, anil\ go MATT. And Jesus, having entered into the ship, departed thence as soon as the demoniac was 19 llowbeit, Jesus suffer- IX. dismissed : and, leaving those ungrateful people who had no greater value for his presence, "lay" saying," RSurn """* 1 he passed over the sea of Galilee, and shortly after came to his own eity of Capernaum, thine' own ho'use, and] ^ where he had dwelt after his leaymg Nazareth (See Matt. iv. 13. p. 67)^ iTrher.l^v^r'thinSf MARK And it came to pass, that when Jesus had passed over again in tlie stiip to tiie other ti.g Lord [Godj liath done 1 V. side of the lake, he was no sooner landed but a great multitude gathered to him, {and~\ for thee, and iiatli had com- | 21 the people mo&t gladli/ received him ;" for they expected his speedy return, and were aU l^g^'agY" *''''• Li^"*"^^"'-'! impatiently waiting for him : and he continued some time on the sea-coast, teaching and 20 And he departed, and ' '^1 • •'• 1 '^" becan to publish [throufih- ■ workmg miracles, ^^ ti,g „',,o,e ^.|t^_ andfux Decapolis how ^reat things Jesus had done for him ; and all men did marvel. [Luke viii. 39.] Matt. ix. \. And he entered into a ship and passed over, and came into his own city. Mark v. 21. And [it came to pass, that] when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, raucli people gathered unto him ; [and the people gladly received him ; for they were all waiting for him :] and lie was nigh unto the sea. [Luke viii. 40.1 IMPROVEMENT. Vcr. 3 From the remarkable story wliich is here before us, we must surely see the most apparent reason to adore the ] 3 good providence of God, which restrains the malignant spirits of hell from spreading those desolations among Ijeasts ' and men, which would otherwise quickly turn the earth into a wilderness, or rather into a chaos. But what mat- 12 ter of joy is it to reflect, that all their fury and rage is under a Divine control, and that they cannot hurt even the meanest animal without peirnission from above ! The unhappy creature whose state is here described in such lively colours, is an affecting emblem of those ^vlio 4, 5 are in a spiritual sense under the power of Satan. Thus do they break asunder the bonds of reason and gratitude, and sometimes of authority, and even of shame ; and, thus driven On by the frenzy of their lusts and passions, they 15 are so outrageous as to injure others, and to wound themselves. Human attempts to moderate and refonn them may be vain ; but let us remember that the Almighty Saviour has a voice which can put this worst kind of demons to flio-ht, and- restore those that have been agitated by them to their right mind, so as to place them at his feet in ' holy composure, and in calm rational attention. 7 We see here a legion of devils trembling before the Son of God, confessing his superior power, howling as it were in their chains, and entreating the delay of their torments. And can human pride stand before him, and rebellious mortals triumph over him ? Happy souls that are listed under his banners ! They shall share the vic- tories of the great Captain of their salvation, and the God of peace shall bruise Satan under their feet shortly. (Rom. xvi. 20.) 17 But oh, how stupid and how wretched were these Gadarenes, M'ho preferred their swine to their souls, and be- sought him to depart out of their coasts whose presence v/as their defence and their gfory I 'May divine grace preserve us from a temper like theirs ! And may those of us who have ourselves experienced the restoring power 18, 20 of Christ and his gospel, be engaged to adhere to our great Benefactor, and gratefully to devote those powers to his ^ service which he has rescued from dishonour, mischief, and min ! • ' ''•.. 0 . SECTION LXXI. Christ being entertained at Matthew's house,) astifes his conversing with publicans and sinners, and vindi- cates his^lisciplesfor not keeping so mamj fasts as the Pharisees and the disciples of John did. Matt, ix, 10—17. Mark ii. 15—22. Luke v. 29, to the end. Luke v. 29. ' Luke v. 29. SECT. Now, after Jesus had continued for awhile on the sea-shore, (as was observed, Mark v. And Levi made him a 71. 21.) he entered into Capernaum : and Matthew, or Levi, who^dwelt there, and who had f^;'^^''''^^^!^^'"^'^^",'^"]!,'""/^^' • some time since been called from his former office of a publican, into the number of his tha't'^ as Jesus sat at meat,] LUKE stated attendants, see sect xlv. p. 94.) desirous at once to shew hisjespects to Christ, and [behold,] a great- company ^- to give his former companions and acquaintance an opportunity of enjoying his instractive "ani'^"andr[MaX' sat°aiso 29 conversation, tnade a great entertainment for him in his own house f and it canie to togetiier with Jesus and his pass, that as Jesus sat at table there, behold, a great number of publicans, and such fj^^^l'^'^^'r there were"maTi as had the ^neral, character of sinners, being invited by Matthew, came, and sat also at |,„j^' ii,ey f„iiowed him.] the table wUhlTesns and his disciples ; and several others at that time were present ; for [Matt. ix. 10. Mark ii. 15.] there were many of the character above described in Christ's train, (compare Matt. xi. 12. and Luke xy. 1.) and they followed him with great eagerness, being charmed with tiie condescension with which he treated them, while many others shunned them with ab- horrence. 30 -B«# when the more reserved and stricter sort of people in that place, and in particular 30 But [when] their n Glndhj received /tin.'] This Grotius has observed to he the they were not both on the same day, from this consideration, (so meaning of the word {cnnJi^xTo,) and in this sense it may likewise obvious, that 1 wonder none should have mentioned it,) so many be understood, Acts xv. 4 ; and xviii. 27. , things happened before the calling of Matthew, that the day must a A ijreat eidcrtainment for him in Ids own. house.'] Nothing has be far advanced, and there could not have been time to prepare a perplexed the generality of Harmonics more, and nothing has great feast, and invite a number of guests, atleasttjUsup^er ; (see thrown tlie authors of them into greater inconsistency with the \ 45.) and so many tilings happened after nTtrftSst, (see \ 72.) that sacred writers, than their taking it for granted that Matthew made we cannot suppose them to have been crowded into the little re- this entertainment on the very day that Christ called him to attend mainder of the evening after supper ; on which account it is certain upon him. The early Harmonies of Tatian and Ammonitis very the feast was after the day of his calling, perhaps (as it .seems by the justly separated them. (See Chemnit. Jfariii. cap. 43.) And to the intermediate stories) some months after, when he had made up his many convincing arguments which Mr.Nlones has brought to prove accounts, and regularly pa.ssed his business into other hands, which, that they ought to be separated, (which sec in liis Vindication of to be sure, from'a principle of justice as well as prudence, he would Hfntlhew, p. 129 — 1.37.) I will add, that it seems tj me very evident take care to do. WHY CHRIST'S DISCIPLES DID NOT FAST AS JOHK'S DID. 143 scribes and Pli:u-isees[Miirk, their scribes and Pharisees, who pretended to be most exact and scnipulous in their con- SECT fndsiL'!!eSth!iyjmunnu°r- ^"p^' ^^'^ ^''" ^^"^ Openly converse and cat with publicans and sinners, they were 71.' linst his disciples, ottended 5 and murmured at his disciples on that account, saying. Why do you, who f y'V^'r^y^ ''° V, ^^^ ?"■'! should be examples to others, cat and drink in such scandalous company as tins > [and! luke drink, [M;irk, «nrf now is it ii; ■ \, ^l i nr i i a r ^ ^"^i- t-v'-.-^t- that [your Master] eatetii especially, hoxv /s it that your Master, wlio sets up for such an extraordmary Prophet, ^ • and driiiketh] witii publi- will allow himself to do it ? for, while our traditions teach even the students, and much 30 iii.°MarkTi"i"7' ^^^^^' '^' '"^""^ the teachers of the law, to avoid all commerce with such polluted and infamous per- sons, you see that he publicly eats and drinks with a considerable nLimber of publicans and sinners, as if there v.'ere no scandal in being accountedlheiffrierid and companion. hefrd''it','hlVukSuswe"! . ^"^^ '^'^^■^"■^' ^^^'^''"g ^'""'(l- t'^at they were so offended at lit,] answered them, say- mark ins,] sait'li unto the'in, They ing, They that are in perfect health have no need of the converse and advice of the ii. that are whole have no physician, but those that arc sick; and therefore, out of compassion to their need of 17 they that 'are's'ickTT'came '^'™» '^6 visits and couverscs with them, though it cannot otherwise be agreeable to him not to call the righteous, to do it: and I act Oil the same principles; for I am not come to call the righteous, fMatt'^ixi^al^is^Tukrv.' ^^ y°" arrogantly imagine yourselves to be, but such poor sinners as these, to re- 31, 32.] '' pentance and salvation. But, if you are olfended at it, you may go your way, and MATT. Matt. ix. 13. But go ye, would do Well to set yourselves to learn the mearnng of that instructive [scripture,'] ^^■ eth, f will have mercy|Tnd (Hos. vi. 6.) which I cited On a former occasion, (see Matt. xii. 7. p. 101.) and which you 13 not sacrifice. Pharisees are so ready to fdrget, " I require mercy and not sacrijicc." For, had you understood this saying, you would have seen that a ceremonial institution of divine authority, and much more a mere human tradition, is to give way to the great duties of humanity and charity, even where men's bodies, and much more where their souls, eae concerned. .Mark ii. 18. Andthedis- Another Occurrence which happened at the same time, and bore some resemblance to mark cji^ies of John, and of tiie ^\^Q former, was this. The disciples of John the Baptist, who had himself lived so austere H- riiarisees used to last : aiicl i.p , . i-* '' i i o n n i ^• • t •/ [the disciples of John] come a hte, and was now in a calamitous state oi conhnemenf, as well as the disciples of the 18 and say uiito him, Why do Pharisees, used to fast often, and the latter particularly twice a- week: (compare Luke andlLukp.'likewf^''///^";/)"! ^^'i"- -^2. sect. cxxix.) Now, Seeing Jesus at a publican's table on a festival occasion, c(>/«] of the Pharisees surrounded with so many of his stated followers, some of the disciples of John come and make prayers,] bufthy te- ^"'^ "."'"'' ^""' ^^'^'^"'''^ « ^^ ^^^ «'f. ^^'(^ disciples of John, and also those of the cipies fast not [lAike, but Pharisees, have frequently our days of solemn devotion, in which we fast, and make T4 |"'l*^','"i' y [i\iatt. ix. many prayers and supplications to God for ourselves and the people ? whereas thy disci- '■' pies- fast not &i all that we can perceive; but, on the contrary, efir/ and drijik iveely, though thou professest a righteousness superior to that of the scribes and Pharisees. (Matt. V. 20. sect, xxxviii.) them*crn{he"dii\'d'ren"o'f ^"^ Jesus Said unto them. Can the children of the bride-chamber, who are invited 19 the bridechamber [mourn to attend the nuptial cercmony, with any decency mourn [and] fast while the bride- tf;irf]fast, while tlie bride- o-roo/n IS yet eontinuiTiff with them ? As long; as they havei\\e pleasure of the presence groom is with them? As ^ j c ui i ■ 7 ±i ±1 i 111 , 1 , Tongas they have tiie bride, and Company ot the brulegroom among them, they ra;?HOi' reasonably be expected to groomwiththem, they ran- /a'5i', and every One would then account it to be out of season. Now my presence and Luke'^^v^'ai ]'^'^"' ^^' ^^' converse renders this a kind of festival to my disciples : for, as John taught you but a little before his confinemeiit, I am the great Bridegroom of my church :'' you cannot therefore in reason expect I should command them to fast now, or that they should do it without 29 'But the days will such a command. Jiut, I assure you, the days will quickly come, when, as your master is 20 sh'm'be'Tk'"^ bridegroom separated from you, so even I, the bridegroom, shall be taken away from them ; and then tli'em, and tiien shaH tliey ^'''^// ™"st expect to undergo a great deal of hardship, and particularly, shall be obliged fast in those days. [Matt, frequently to fast in those days ; as those whom I Imve mentioned might do if their IX. 15. Luhe V. 3o.] festival was interrupted by the removal of their beloved friend whose joys they were sharing.<= (Compare 1 Cor. iv. 11. 2 Cor. xi. 27.) Luke V. 36. And he Nor do I now think fit to lay such rigorous commands upon them, because prudence luke ! them*^, Vo ma'^rf^uttet'h'^a '"'"'^^ require me at present to accommodate their trials to their strength. And, farther V. piece [of new cloth into an to illustrate this, he spake also a parable, or proposed another similitude to them, saying, 36 tl'iel both'the new* makllh ^^" '"""' '^^'''^'^ ^^^ ^^ mending clothes, will of choice sew a piece of new cloth on an a rent, and the piece tliat ^-^i ffarment,'^ but rather chooses what is a little worn : for otherwise it will be found that vi^s taken (lut of the new, both the new, being stronger than the other, 7nakes a i^ent in the edges of it wlien it a^reetj^Vo't with the old ^omes to be fetretched ; and the piece that was [taken'] out of the new, [and] put in to [Mark,ft«/taketh away from mend the former rent and fill it up, agrees not in colour and form with the old ; and, ma(le"worscT[.'\lau 7x^ w '^^^"^ improperly put together, is of no service to the garment, [but] takes away more Markii. 21.J from the old than it adds to it ; and thus the rent is increased and tnade worse than it v/as before. new wine intoTld bottles! -^"^^ again. On the same principles, no wise ?nan puts new wine' into old bottles, where 37 ehe the new wine wiiiburst the leather is weakened, and almost worn out; (compare Josh. ix. 4, 13 ; and Psal. cxix. b I am the g-rc;it Bridegroom of my church.] Some have sup- damp all the joy of his friends, and change the scene into laraenta- posed there is in this similitude which Christ has used, a reference tion, fasting, and mourning, to the book of Canticles; and it is possible there may. (See Carp- d New clolli on an old rjnrment.'] The proper meaning of the zov. Dcfenci> of the Hebrew Bible, p. 250, 221.) There is no doubt words ^xy. V. of things, it is necessary that I should attend to them in my conduct towards my disciples ; {^^'i^ "J.'j' )reserve "'"^ni'i'i't' 38 and, as they have not been mui-ed to such severities as you and the Pharisees have long ix. 17. Mark ii. 22.] practised,'' I do not therefore choose immediately to impose them, lest otherwise, to the great detriment of the world, they should be discouraged from attending upon me. ' 39 And you cannot surely blame me for this, when you consider how difficult it is to alter 39 No man also having the ways of living to which people have been acctistomed even in less things than these drunk old wiiie,f.iva\^\\\.\vay ■ i.- ^ c ■ \ ±1 ^ 1 r T !■ • 1 I i ■ desireth new ; for he siith, now m question. As, tor instance, though some may be fond of new wine, while it is The old is Vf tter. yet fermenting in the vessel, yet those that have been used to drink another sort will have no liking to it; and no man who has generally drank good old \wine'] that is well ripened and refined, will immediateli/ choose to drink n7w ; for he sai/s. The old is better, as being both more pleasant and more wholesome. Judge then how fit it is that I should not oblige ray disciples to a new course of severities at once, but gradually form their characters to Avhat the honour of their futiu-e profession and the usefulness of their lives may requii^e. IMPROVEMENT. Vcr. 29 There is no reason to wonder that Matthew should gladly embrace so proper an opportunity of introducing other publicans and sinners into the presence of that condescending Saviour, from whom, though he once was numbered among them, he had received grace and the apostleship. Let us with pleasure observe how ready our 30 blessed Lord was to receive them. Surely, whatever offence the proud Pharisees might take on such an occasion, 31, 32 Jesus will appear peculiarly amia1)le iu such a circle as this. Compassionate Redeemer! thou didst, as the great Physician of souls, willingly converse with objects that must have been most hateful to thy pure and holy nature I May we each of us have a due sense of the malignity of sin, that fatal disease of the soul, that we may with a MATT, becoming temper apply to Christ for a cure ! May we also, like him, be willing to condescend to the meanest and >-^- vilest, if it may be the means of winning them over to true religion and happiness ! ever preferring mercy to sacri- 13 fice, and choosing rather to govern ourselves by the dictates of a benevolent heart, than by the maxims of proud and censorious men. LUKE Christ would not discourage his disciples by over rigorous institutions ; and it is unfit that his religion should V. be bmthened with them. He suits the duties of his people to their circumstances, and kindly proportions their 3u — 39 work to their strength, with a tender regard to their weakness, till by degrees they may be fitted for the more diffi- cult and humbling services. From his example, and the whole genius of his gospel, let us learn to make all proper allowances to those about us, that we may teach them, and train them up as they are able to bear it ; not crushing them under any unnecessary load, nor denying them any indulgence which true friendship will permit us to graiit them ; lest the good ways of Gcfd should be misrepresented, disgraced, and abandoned through our imprudent, though well-meaning severity : a caution- to be peculiarly observed in our conduct towards young persons ; and ', not to be forgotten with respect to those who, like the disciples here in question, are~ training up for the ministerial ' office. r >■ \. . ,s-,, « r ^ - SECTION LXXII. Christ having in the way cured a woman by_ the touch of his garment, 7-aises the daughter of Jairus from the dead, and afterwards performs some other miracles. Matt. ix. 18-:-34. Mark v. 22, ^0 the end; Luke viii. W, to the end. „- , • ^^-^TT. ix. 18. MATT. ix. 18. SECT. fyjnLE he was speaking these things to them in Matthew's house,' behold, a very While he s|):ike these "^2. remarkable circumstance happened, which opened the way to one of the most signal things unto them, behold, "~ miracles which Christ ever performed : for, though it was an uncommon thing for persons [o't^'^th"Tynagogue,''',)a"i'rus MATT, jj-j an elevated rank of life to pay any regard to him, (see John vii. 48.) there came a byname: and when lie saw certain ruler of the synagogue in that city of Capernaum, whose name was Jairus ; 'vl,o7shT p'ed "1110^ ' rr"'uke^ 18 and when he was entered into the room where Jesus was, and saw him, he fell down at and besought him', that he his feet with the profoundest humility, and worshipped him in the presence of all the would come into his house:] ■ LUKE company, and entreated him to come immediately to his house : For he had one only '■ Euke^viif. 42."For hehad ' VIII. 42. daughter about twelve years old, and, having in that bloom of life been seized with a one only daughter, about | MARK ^^'"y dangerous distemper, she then lay, to all human appearance, at the very point of {^^^flT^^^^JIJ"*"'"^''' "'"^^'''^ i V. 23. death. And he applied himself to Jesus with the utmost importunity, and earnestly '"Markv.'23. And he be- ' e As you and the Pharisees have long practised.] That the And if so, notliing cotiid have been more convincing than this - Pharisees u.sed to fast twice a week, is plain from Luke xviii. 12; reasoning. and, no doubt, their young people were trained up to it. But it a While hf^ inait s:prakhq titesf things to litem \\\'^\ni[\\tv/'s\\r>\\!ip.'\ may be objected, that John's disciples were not so trained up, and These words fix the order of this section so plainly, that it is sur- consequen'tly might have answered, that the disciples of Christ prising Mr. Le Clerc should suppose that many events happened might as well, and as soon as they, have been brought under such between the discourses recorded ,)ust above, and this application of severities and restraints. But the truth is, it was not divinely Jairus to Christ, which St. Matthew so strongly connects. 'J'hat ' required of the one or the other. Tlie character and circumstinces critic is driven to the hard expedient of paraphrasing this clause of John laid them under some engagements not common to Christ's thus : " While he discoursed with them on the same subject which disciples, as he intimates; and, considering where and how the "he had been upon the Ijeginning of the year;" which is ex- A WOMAN TOUCHING CHRIST'S GARMENT, IS HEALED OF A FLUX OF BLOOD. 145 Musji.t him greatly, saying, entreated hihi, sajying, Mt/deMjitt/e daughter Is in the last extrem/tj/, [or'] is perhaps, SECT. Myiittle daughter lieth at ^s she was just expiring when I left her, even now dead ;'' [I beseech thee} therefore 72. even^uow dea'd;f'/^^Wy i^uit thou wouldst be pleased to come and lay thine hands on her, that she may re- thee come and 'lay thine coxer ; and I doiibt not but, extreme as the case is, if thou wilt interpose in her behalf, matt. hands on her, that she may ^j^^, siiall live. {ivo.'''[!vTatt.Tx^i8'r '^'''" And Jesus' arose andfolloxoed hnn, and [so did] his disciples. Now, as he Kus going 19 Matt. ix. 10. And Jesus to the ruler's house, much people followed him to see the event; and they pressed upon and''./ rfi; 'hir^'diViSiS: /">« in such a manner that he could not walk without some difficulty. [Luke, But as he went,] And behold, among those that were crowding about him, there was a certain poor rfiARK [much people followed uQ^appv Woman who had been long afflicted with a grievous disorder, having laboured ^- '^■ hini, and tnronsred liim.J ^ rrJ „,,,., i .1 , ; a 1 \ 1 1 n- 1 j. j 1 nc [Mark v. 24. Luke viii. under a flux of blood for no less than twelve years : And she had suffered a great deal 2b 42.] A J hi wif''""^ the tnaiiy physicians she had consulted, by disagreeable medicines and uneasy a Sin 'woman [w Well restraints, as well as by the great expense she had been at in applying to them: for indeed was diseased with] an issue she had wasted all her substance, aiid spent all that she had upon them :" but her dis- ?M. fl''"*"^ oo'"'Luke^Tiii' temper was so inveterate, that she could not be healed by any ; and, on the whole, she ^3.']' • '^- - • '"• ^,^^5 „o^ gi all the better for their prescriptions, but rather grexo worse, and weaker than 2ti And had suffered before ; And, having heard of Jesus, and the extraordinary cures he had wrought, being 27 sSs,*'a.Kf had"spent'7ii ashamed publicly to mention "her case, she came in the crowd behind him, and touched [her living] that she had the fringe which, according to the divine commandment, (Numb. xv. 3S ; and Deuf. xxii. ["Caied^f ar-''lTnd°wa' 12-) he wore upon the border of his garment. For, as she knew that many had before 28 nothing 'bettered, but Ta- been healed by touching him, (see Luke vi. 19. p. 107.) she had such a firm persuasion ther grew worse; [Luke Qf the virtue that was in hun, and of his power to cure her, that she said within herself, *"27^Vhen she had heard If I may but touch any part of his clothes, I shall be recovered.^ And immediately 29 of'jesus, came in the press qq her having douc it, the fountain of Iter blood that issued from her was at once staunched theSr'^ofrhis'Srment-' and dried up, and she felt such an unusual vigour and flow of spirits, that she plainly [Matt. ix. 20. Luke viii", perceived in her body that she was healed of that wasting and dangerous distemper with '^'^'X V V, d r ti ■ ^hich she had been chastised for so long a time.^ herseif,]"'lf imay touJhbit And upon this she would have retired unobserved; but Jesus, who had secretly per- 30 his ciotlies, I shall be formed the cure by the concmring efficacy of his will, immediately knowing in himself ""'oy^AnFstraightway the t^i^t healing virtue was gone out of him, thought fit on this occasion to shew that it had fountain of her blood was not escaped his notice,^ as well as to illustrate and commend the faith of the patient ; and dried up; and she felt ^ in therefore he immediately turned himself about in the crowd, and, looking round him, healed of that ' pbgu^ Said, Who is it that has just now touched my clothes ? And all the rest that Ame near [Luke viii. 44.] ° him denying it,s Peter, and his disciples that were with him, said unto him, Sir,^ aieT tnowhi'^witliTlfira' '^^^'>^'' ■^^'^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ multitude Ore crowding around thee, and press thee on every 45 self^'thaT virUir'hatT gone sidc, and dost thou Say, Who has touched he ?■ One might rather ask, Who that has out of him, turned "him ^valked near thee has not done it ? or which way is it possible, in such a crowd as this, S* Who*''toJched' ray to avoid it ? And Jesus said, I am well aware that somebody here has touched me, not 4G olothcs! [Luke viii. 45.] merely by accident, but on some important design : for I perceive that a healing virtue deni"d!iMe^^andlhfs"di!! ^nd efficacy IS gone out of me, and am not ignorant of the particulars of the cure it has riples] that were with him, produced. MM?K said [ur.to him,] Master, j^y^^ upon this he loolccd round obout again, to see her who had done this ; and di- ^^ throng thee, and ^ess'lL^! rected his eye towards her with some particular regard. And when the woman saw that luke and ''saye.st thou. Who she was not Concealed itom hi?, all-penetrating view, knowing (as we before observed) vin. 47 touched me I [3Iarkv.31.] f o 46 And Jesus said. Somebody hath touched me : for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me about to see her that had done this thing. Luke viii. 47. calling, he would have seen this criticism as unnecessary as it is forced. b Or is perhaps — even now dead.'] It is certain from Mark's expression, t^xarw? sxsi, which is literally rendered, is in the last ei- iremity, as well as from the message relating to her death, which both he and Luke afterwards mention, that the young ladv «''?•! not LUKE VIII. 47. Mark v. 32. And he looked round And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she [knowing certain, that a tenderness in speaking of others of the faculty, is 1 any sure diagnostic of a physician's writing!». /' - I K I shallhe recoi'crrd.'] It is in the o'riginal (iw5>i«^ari, I shall be saved : and tliere are many other places in which the word is used in the same sense ; as to be sure it may with great propriety be pplied to a rescue from any imminent dluiger or pressing calainity dead when her father came out? and consequenlTy, itiTfMatthew's 'especially in an extraordinary way. Compare Mark y. 23 ; vi. 50 ; phrase, afri£T£XEum«v, (if not Luke's, aiiTTj i7i£5viiTx£v,) is to be taken Luke vii"i. 36 ; xvii. 19; xviii. 42; John xi. 12; and Acts iv. 9. m this extent. She had been <7i'i>(?n orer when her father left her, e O/Mo^rf/s/iJOT/jfr with which she had been chastised, &c.] This and actually was dead before he could return ; and he might there- being the plain meaning of f/.^iyK here, I did not think it necessary fore, when he applied to Christ for his miraculous assistance, be to render it ploriiic or scovT(]e, as I have done in some other place.s. ready to fear she was by this time dead, and might accordingly ex- f To shew that it had not escaped his notice.] And perhaps also pres.s himself in such a manner as to intimate'his apprehension of to prevent a superstitious regard to any thing ^yhlch might look It. Nor is it necessary, after all, that we should understand the like a relic of his, and from which weak people might, without any phrase in Matthew as implying she was now actually dead ; for warrant, liave expected benefit. .... «;>« does not only signify w'hat is now come to pass, but what is g yill dcnyini] H.^ The phrase not necessarily implying that just at hand, (as may be seen in Phavorinns ;) and so it may imply the tnonian herself denied it, it would be unjust to suppose she was no more than that she was considered as just dead, and that there base or foolish enough immediately to deny what she had done ; was no hope of her recovery but by a miracle. especially as the next moment we tind her owning it at large with c Spent all that she had upon them.'] The ingenious Dr. Friend all possible candour. -c r i imagines that he discovers something remarkable in the difierence h Peter and his disciples — said unto him. Sir."] Our English ofthose seemingly synonfcnous terms which Mark and Luke make word IVIaster, which we inditferently apply to almost any man to use of upon this 6ccasion?and pleads thatSccirxyn^nc-x, in the former, whom we speak, whether learned or unlearned, and wjliich modern signifies to squander an ay ; whereas CT,;o'3viXMj3!^a!, in the latter, sig- nifies a more gradual consumption of her stock, by taking a little I at a time from it : (see Dr. Friend's History of Physic, p. 37.) But, I with submission to so great a name, I am not satisfied of the jus- tice of the remark, since, on the one hand, ^anTivjti; is used in a bet- ter sense, 2 Cor. xii. 15. (and ixT.xn, in Luke xiv. 28. is the ncces- \sary expense of building, as a prudent man would compute it;) and, on the other hand, ayxXii\cii plainly signifies to destroy or con- \svme, however that destruction or consumption be accomplished. (See Luke ix. 54 ; and 2 Thess. ii. 8.) Nor docs it seem altogether usage in common converse generally appropriates to inferiors, does by no means answer either to the Greek !it'ixmi\i, which signifies teacher, and would be most literally rendered doctor, (a wore just of the same import in its original language,) or to i-ninxTX, the word here used, which denotes at least a presiding outhovty. I have therefore here oJjBSe-to render it Sir ; and should think SifixixaXi might as well be rendered Rahlii,:xs by any other word I can recollect. It is no wonder that titles of honour and respect cannot be perfectly translated from one language into another, considering the diversity of ranks and of ceremonies in different nations. 146 CHRIST COMING TO JAIRUS'S HOUSE, RAISES HIS DAUGHTER TO LIFE. SECT nvhat a marvellous woik wan •wrought in her, she came fearing and tretnbling, what was done in her,] 72. ' lest he should be displeased with this sui-reptitious method she "had taken ; and falling j^amc t^*'^;j^';}f,.,=^^"J,|^J"<^™: doxvn before him, she candidly told him all the truth ; [and] declared to him before all fore^him, she [told him all LUKE the people, without any reserve, for xvhat reason she had thus touched him, and how the truth, and] declared un- VIII. she had been immediately healed by that touch, of the grievous distemper she had been for'"wh^at'^°cause"'sir°had ^^ so many years afflicted with, which no force of medicines could remove or abate. touched him, and how she MATT. Ji^^t Jesus, having thus turned about and seen her, instead of reproving her with the '^^7^j,^''^='!j'3'^-, 'm"«'l'"tely. '■^' severity she expected, said to her, in a most gentle and condescending manner, Daughter, Mait.^'ix.' 22. But Jesus 22 take courage, and be comforted, for I am not otftnded with thee : I know the sincerity of turned him about, and ///^./fl/T'/i, 'in the regard which thou hast shewn to me, though mingled with some in- [un'tohe'i^f DaughteV^ be^^ firinity ; and it has made thee well, and fitted thee for a cure thou couldst not otherwise good comfort ;"thy' faitli i have received : and therefore go home in peace and cheerfulness ; for I dismiss thee with jjf '^p"^p''^,^j'^'i,"''^|,',',o,'g'^f," , my blessing, (see note 1, on Luke vii. 50. p. 121.) and assure thee thou shalt continue to thy'^pUgue!'] And (he wo- be free from any return of thi/ distemper. And accordingly the woman was perfectly man was made whole from 1 ©f///}'o;« i^/irti! /?o;iaik, to follow htm, save VIII- ifo/o/^^i) /^//« in, e^rcfyvHiis three most ijitimate friends, Pt^/e;-, ff/?G?./'«?«e.y, a«afJo/?», //r' jo,,^,"^' ^^^ broThe'r "'of 51 brother of James, whom he was pleased to distinguish on this, as he did afterwards on James,] and the father and other occasions ; fl;?f/ these, with the father and the mother of the deceased maiden, fj;i'a^°,^x."2x M^rk v.'':!"; were the only persons whom he permitted to be eye-witnesses of the miracle he was about 38.] 52 to perform. And, as she was an only daughter, all their relations and friends who were ^f /["'.^"rri^^'l '*"'\ 1 present wept bitterly, and lamented her : and, as soon as Jesus was entered, he saw the ^eththe^'tumuU, [ami \i'r tumult, and the crowd of people who wept and cried out aloud i'^ and there were also people] that wept ;!iid the Jlute-plaijers, as usual on such occarions,' making a mournful noise with their musical ^'JnJtfeif'^mak^ing'"ri!.n'' ] MARK instruments, to soothe the grief of the afflicted family. And when he was come in to the [Matt. ix. 2:J. Mark v. .;n 1 V- house, he says to them. Retire, and make way that I may see her ; [and] do not weep Mark v. 39. And^ m1; u 39 in this abandoned and inconsolable manner : for wht/ do you lament, and make a noise ? u„to ti,gm^ q^^,^ place, rVl;.' and where is the need of all this hurrj^ and disturbance ? The damsel, whose departure [Luke, weep not ;] why you so~bitterly bewail as if her loss'was irretrievable, /.? not finally dead, but is fallen ™^^*', ^^^ ^damsef^is Hot asleep ; and if you have a little patience you shall see her awakened ; (by which he in- dead, but sieepeth. rriitt. timated that this death should be like a transient sleep ; see John xi. 11, 13. § cxxxix.) '%o'*-j^^j''^t]',e'- ^~1^„„., ,„i 40 And th'ey, not understanding his true meaning, were so rude that they derided him, as if !,(„, to "corn, [Uikej'kVi nv- the assertion had been altogether wild and ridiculous, well knowing that she was really and ing that she was deaa.] certainly dead. But he, too wise to enter into a clamorous debate with them, desired them to ^"Vut? he uke\h"th'e' tv withdraw ; and when he had put them all out of the way, he takes the father and mother ther and the mother of the of the deceased maiden, and those three disciples that were with him, and enters in to f(,'5"^,''j|;|^^"'!,J,',\*^"^i,[gre\rin 41 the chamber where the damsel lai/ dead. And, approaching the bed on which the corpse where the damsel was ly- was laid out, //(? /oo/f /?o/f/ o/"/ie/'/;(7«f/.- fl«f/, to express his power over death itself, ra//("^ ing. [Matt. ix. 24, 25. with a loud voice, saying to her, (as if she had indeed been only asleep,) Talitha cumi ; ^ 4|*^An'd he' tool [her by a'///V'//_Syriac expression, being translated into our language, signifies Maiden, (I say the hand, and called, say- 42 unto thee,) rise up. And he had no sooner spoken these words, but presently her spirit '"g] unto her, Tahtha cumi, came back again to animate the body wliich it had deserted, and she was so perfectly Damsel,' (I say unto thee) recovered that she arose and walked ; which she was well able to Ao, for she was twelve arise. [Luke viii. .54 ] ; ^S years old. And, as the life to which she was restored was not to be supported by a con- |-]^tfke,^"her spirit^'crme \ "tinued miracle, but must have food to nourish it in a natural way, he ordered that some- again, 'and she] arose, and i fF/ty dost thou trouble the ^faster any farther ? Do not tro'ible howling is seldom used among us but in the case of brutes, or where /(//.'/.] As several persons came, one might say, IVhy Jost thou great cnntempt is designed, I rather chose to drop a little of the trouble him ? as Mark has it ; and another as Luke, Do not trouble emphasis of the word, than to shock a corupassLouate reader by so him. I am sensible the mention of both together is no ornament to harsh an expression. To lift up the voice in weeping was common the story: and perhaps it might have been as agreeable to our in the eastern countries: see Gen.xxi. 16; Judg. ii. 4; and 1 Sam. taste and manner, had both been expressed by saying, Messenfiers xxx. 4. came, who would have persuaded him not to have given Jesus the 1 The flute-players, as usual on such occasions] It is well trouble of onming. But I endeavour, in this work, to give the reader known that musical instruments were used by the Jews as well as I as exact a view as possible of the (very consistent) varieties v/ith the heathens, in their lamentations for the dead, to soothe the me- which different Evangelists record the same facts; and it seems an lancholy of surviving friends by soft and solemn notes. There end considerable enough, to excuse some little inelegances of style were persons who made it their business to perform this office, and wliich the execution of such a design must occasion. This remark to sing to their music. (See Jer. ix. 17; xlviii. 36; 2 Chron. is to be applied to many preceding and following passages. xxxv.2.5; and the notes of Drusius and Wolfius on this place.) k Cried out aloud.] A late version renders (jf^.aXx^o/TXf, howUnij ; '^Many have observed, that flutes were used especially on the deaih | which is indeed a sense that ;the original will beai-, yet it is not of children, and larger and louder instruments on the death of | always to be so translated : (see 1 Cor. xiii. 1. Or.) And as the word an adult. ■\ . REFLECTIONS ON THE RAISING OF JAIRUS'S DAUGHTER, &c. 147 walked ; for she was of the thing should be given her to eat ; which, on account of her late illness, she had not been sect. aj^ of twelve years. [Matt, ^ble to do for some time. 72. '''4f'And\Ve]'cffmmanded And her parents, and they [«//] who were present, -were exceedingly astonished, as that something should be well as filled with joy and gratitude : but [Jesus] behaved with his usual raodestY,™ and luke given her to eat. [Luke gf^if-fiy charged them, that they should tell no man the particulars of wliat -was done, "^'"J- *"Luke viii. 56. And her nor make it their business to blaze abroad an event which would of itself become more 56 parents [and they all were public than he would have desired. And indeed it soon did so -, for such numbers knew matt. aslonisilment-f' but^'^he that she was really dead, and saw her alive again, that the fame of it, as of a most il- ix. charged them [straitly] that lustrious and extraordinary miracle, xvoit abroad into nil that country; and, being 26 they should tell no man ^^^q ^[^q common subiect of discourse, greatly increased the reputation he had before ac- what was done. [Mark v. . , , , •'. -, i ,i . i i i i ^ _i ii. 42, 43.] quired Ijy so long a series of wonders that he had wrought among them. Watt. ix. 26. And the j^;^ ^5 Jesus passed on from thence out of the mler's house, t-wo blind men, who had 27 inraU thT/ianch' heard of his bemg there, and waited for his coming out, follorved him, as he went through 27 And when Jesus de- the Street, crying out, with great importunity, and saying, O thou Son of David, have parted t'lence two Diind compassion upon US in the miserable darkness that dWresses us, and restore to us that men followed him, crying, r .,',., , > . / i . i ,• r ^u i. u i rvn and saying, Thou Son of precious Sight which we have lost. And he took no notice ot them as he walked on ; 28 David, have mercy onus, j^yj^ u^hen he xi-as come into the house to which he was going, the two blind ynen, by come1n?o the*^ house, The bis pcnnission, came unto him: and Jesus says to them. Do you indeed seriously be- blind men came to him: Ueve that I am able to do this ? Theii say unto him. Yes, Lord, we have not the Bdieve"'eTiiat Um ableTo l^ast doubt of it. Then he touched their. eyes, and said. Since you have that persuasion, 29 do uhs'^'^They said unto be it unto you according to the sincerity of your faith. And immediately they both 30 him, Yea, Lord. found that "^tlieir eyes rcere' opened, and they saw strongly and distinctly. And Jesus eyes, say"ug? According to gave them a strict charge that they should not report it publicly abroad, and should your faith, be it unto yo'u. tell no man^ of the cui-ethey had received. But they were so transported at what he 31 „^»n.■^°^„!l"'TL,!^.t^^iHv had done for them, that -xhen they -were gone out, they were not able to refrain from charged them, saying, See publishing the miracle, but uiimediately began to spread his fame over all tfiat country. that no man know it. j„^/ .^^r^en he had thus cured the two blind men, just as they v:ent out of the house 32 were "deplnited7 '^°pread where Jesus was, bchold, they brought to hitn a dumb person, who had been for some abroad his fame in all that time deprived of his speech by being possessed with a de?non. And ivhen by the victo- 33 *^°3"*A^' they went out, be- "ous word of Jesus the deinon was expelled, the man who had so long been du}nb spa he hold, they brought to him readily and distinctly; and the multitudes were astonished, saying, it was never seen a dumb man, possessed with g^^ g^g^ ^jj Israel itself," though it be a people among whom God has wrought such un- ^ 33'' And when the devil paralleled woiiders. But the Pharisees continued their senseless and blasphemous charge 34 was cast out, the dumb against him as a magician ; and, not being able to deny facts that were so notorious, in ma"r\Viied,'^saying,"'Tt'"w's Order to prevent the elfect which they might have upon the people, they said. He cer- never so seen m Israel. tainly casts out these inferior demons by a wicked confederacy with Beelzebub himself, the 34 ButthcPiiarisepssaid, „,,/„^^ gf f/^g (le/nons,P wliose interest gains far more than it loses by dispossessions He casteth out the devils -f , / , , , 1 ° J r through the prince of the wrought by such a hand. IMPROVEMENT. We have here a scene of complicated wonders worthy to be had in everlasting remembrance. Any single story of this kind might justly move our admiration ; but when we are reading the life of Christ, such a constel- lation of miracles rises, that the number renders us less sensible of the lustre and glory of each. We may observe in the story of the distempered woman a mL\ture of weakness and of faith. She could not makk reasonably think to steal a cure, without the knowledge of him by whom it was wrought ; or imagine a charm in J- -^' the garment that Christ wore, which could produce so glorious an etFect, independent on his agency and will. '' ^^1- Yet she acted as if she had thought thus ; and a compassionate Redeemer commended her faith, and excused her 28 infimiity. Such candour should we exercise towards those m whom we find any thing truly valuable ; not 34 despising the day of small things, but ready to encourage and support the weak, and to commend whatever good we may discover in them. AVe have already beheld Christ frequently giving sight to the blind, and casting out evil spirits : but we have luke here a second instance of his power over death, and behold one under its dominion hearing the voice of the Son of VIH- 5), God ! In how majestic, and yet in how gentle a manner, does he address himself to this admirable work ! Damsel, y ■^'^1- I say unto thee, Arise. And immediately she heard and obeyed. Thus shall he, with equal ease, call forth 54 myriads of his saints, who now seem perished in the dust : and it may be said with regard to them also, in reference <^2 to" that day. They are not dead, but sleep. The maiden, of whom we here read, arose only to a dying life 5 a 55 life which needed the support of food, and was in no respect more noble, or more secure, than that of other mortals : but we look for a better resurrection, in which all the infinnities of the body shall be left behind in the grave : and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor cryings. (Rev. xxi. 4.) In expectation of this, let us restrain immoderate sorrow when our pious friends are taken away : let us not make iviARK too much ado on the occasion, nor allow ourselves to be thrown into a tumult of passion, even when our children ^ ■ ''^ m AVith his usual modesty] It is well worth the reader's ob- ties as these. See Mr. Pope's note on Homer's Iliad, Vol. II. servation, with what perfect (lecoruia our Lord conducted himself Book vi. ver. 66.5. . „ . on this occasion ; and how entirely he appears master of himself, o // was never seen so, even in Israel itself.] This reflection was and superior to any views of human applause. Dr. Larduer has il- perfectly just ; for no one of the prophets, that we read of in the lustrated this with a just and lively spirit of criticism. See his Old Testament, appears to have wrought so many beneficial mira- Answer to Woolston, p. 89. cles in his whole life, as our Lord did in this one afternoon. II Jesus gave them a strict charge, that they should tell no man.] Our p He casts out demons by the prince of the demons.'] Our Lord had version is more literal, but the sense is perfectly the same. I in- in an unanswerable manner confuted this base calumny before : tended the variation only as a specimen of several of the like kind, (see J 61. p. 122. el seq.) Yet they had the assurance to advance it which I think might be made in a manner which would better suit again, without any regard to that confutation. Such were the m- the genius of our language, though (perhaps through an excess of fidels of those daj's, as well as of these, tenderness) I hare not often ventured to take even such little liber- ^ 14S SECT. 72. SECT. 73. MARK VI. MATt. xin. 56 51 MARK VI. MATT. IX. 3.5 CHRIST GOES AGAIN TO NAZARETH, AND IS DESPISED .VS A CARPENTER'S SON. are stretched on the betl of death ; but believing iu Christ, and governing ourselves by liis precepts and maxims» let us in humble resignation, and submissive, though moiirnful sUence, wait the issues of his providence and grace ; - since he knows how, as in this instance, to over-Rile the calamities of our families to the good of our souls, and even to strengthen our faith by those exercises -which might seem most likely to overthrow it. 0?t -1.^ • \ k -^'"• SECTION LXXin. Christ renexDS his visit to Nazareth, where he is again rejected h?/ the inhabitants ; and thence takes a cir- cuit through the neighbouring country. Matt. xiii. 54, to the end ; Lx. 35, to the end ; Mark vi. 1 — 6. Mark vi. 1. MARKvi.i. And Jesus, when he 'went out fro?n thence,^ and was departed from Capernaum, where And lie went out from he had raised the daughter of Jairus, and perfoimed the other miracles which have just mv'li'country.'^aritUi'is'disc'i! ■ been mentioned, came again into his on^n counfn/ and town of Nazareth, and there pifs follow him. [Matt, renewed the gracious proclamations which they had several months before so ungratefully ^"2'Andwiieu the sabbath ■ rejected ; and his disciples, as usual, /b/f/oti'«/ him thither. day was come, lie began to And when the sabbath was come, he began to teach in the si/nagogue, as he had ^f^^^^^^ >" t'^e syuago^nie: formerly done, though they had then attempted in a tumultuous manner to destroy him ^" re "a^tonisiieil^'°layii'i% on the same occasion: (sect, xxxii. p. 65.) ,And jnaju/ of his townsmen, hearing him, From whence hath this man were struck iiith amazement, and said, as several had done before,'' From whence hath [^|"? ^^woTs'm ""fd wh't this man, whose birth and education we know, this wisdom which he manifests in these wiltlom is this which is excellent discourses, and the power of performing these mightv works ? And what super- S'^e" unto him, that cvru natural wisdorn is this which is given to him, that even such amazing 7nirae/es as these wroiio-hT'^jy ^ hls'^^haiuls ! are done hj/ his hands ? Is not this Jesus the man who but a while ago wrought among [Matt. xiii. 5J ] us as a carpenter,'^ and was the son (>f Joseph the carpenter ? And is not his mother, te^/''rthe'^c'iTenrr^rX'i'i'i who is called Mary, still living ? And \_are nof] our neighbours, James and Joscs, and is iiot his mother caiiiii Simon and Judas, whom v>e all know and daily converse with, his brethren, or near ^i'"'y • ami his brethren, kinsmen r"^ And are not all his sisters, or kinswomen, here at Nazareth with us ? From m^o™'aiid" Judasl] '"[M;itt'. whence then hath this man flf// ///«e extraordinary things'^ which furnish him for this xiii. 50.] illustrious character which he assumes, superior to that of the greatest teachers and princes sis^^''"' a'"e"'fi*'' ^'"1 'it of our nation? And they were offended in him, and stumbled at the poverty of his [liere]' with us? A\'hei education and family ; so that they paid very little regard to what he preached. But Jesus said unto them. This is indeed a most unreasonable treatment that I meet with from you : but it is obvious, even to a proverb. That a prophet is no where la . esteemed than in his own country, and among his nearest 7-elations, cve7i in his own ^*^"*^^'^ '° ^"™- [^I^rk ^i- family / who form their judgment of him by the mean appearance which they remember Mark vi. 4. But Jesus he made formerly in private life, and are regardless therefore of the excellence of his doc- P"' ""^". t'lf™. ^ prophet ' trine, and of the plainest evidences of his divine authority and mission. in 'his ^'^ow'u " comit'ryl^' and And this was verified in their conduct to him : for notwithstanding all that he had done among his own kin, and in in other places, they were so strongly prejudiced against him by the meanness of his out- j^'^^" " ''""^'^' I^*^''"'""- ward circumstances, that they were openly regardless of the favour of his presence, and 5 And he could there do would not come to him for help : for which reason he could not there have any oppor- !]" "ligiity. "'"!■", s;ive that i i i • 1 • i I ■ I c X r, ,■ \ , I , 1 , ■ 1 he laid his hands upon a tunity to exercise his power, or to do any miracle ot note,*? excepting only that he laid few sick folk, and healed his hands upon a few sick people, and cured them ; [buf] he did not perform juani/ them; \hvt did not many migltty works among them, on account of their unbelief And he wondered at the "I'efr'unbelilf] [Mau'v,!f continuance of their infidelity, especially considering the many additional evidences they 58.] had received of his Divine power in his late signal operations. 6 And he marvelled bo- --4«r/upon this JesusMi them," and deparfing-t^om TVazafeth, went round about io all ^'"Matt /x.''35!"'And*'jesus the neighbouring cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching went [round] about all the the good news of the kingdo?n which God was about to erect; and wherever he came, 5''''^^'*?'^ ^''.":'^'^*^ teaching he gave abundant testimonials of the truth of his doctrine, by healing every disease, and preaching the gospeT'of'the ^ And he wnt out from tliencc^ These words of Mark do plainly that his teaching in so excellent a manner must be the effect of fhow that this visit to Nazareth is to be placed here; I say, to some extraordinary divine influence on his mind. Nazareth, that being called Ids own miin/ri/, by way of distinction f yl prophet is no where less esteemed, &c.] This is plainly the sense from the rest of Galilee, and particularly from Capernaum, whence of the words, (though our translation is more literal :) for a prophet lie now went out. See Luke iv. 23. p. (14. may be, and often is, affronted at a distance from home ; as Christ h And snid, as several had done lieforc.] I^uke plainly asserts himself found by frequent experience. (Compare John iv. 44. p. 52. thatvisit to Nazareth, which he mentions, to have been before many and Luke iv. 2). p. 05.)— I have rendered the last words xai ev m occurrences which Mark tells us happened before this. It is evi- oixijr aura, even in his own famili/ ; as kii often has snch a significa- dent therefore, they are di/rereitt-visits ; nor is there any dilficulty tion, and here seems most forcible if it be so interpreted. in supposing, that 'some now present, who perhaps had not hearil g /le covld not there do am/ miracle.'] We are not to understand liim before, might repeat so natural a reflection as this. Compare these words so strictly, as if the powerof Christ was here disarmed, Luke iv. 22. p. G4. .but only, that as lliey'lirought few sick people to him for a cure, he c Wrought among us as a Carpenter.'] The Jews tell us, he m.ide /did not "judge it i ouMiiient to obtrude his miracles upon them, and rahes and yokes. Their canons required, that all parents should /.so could not honourably and properly perform them. On the sanrc teach their children some trade ; and probably the poverty of the \ principle it iS, that faith in 'some cases, though not in all, is made family engaged Christ, while he was at home with his parents, to tlie condition of receivinga cure ; (compare Mark ix. 2.'3 ; Matt. ix. work at his. See Grotius on Matt, xiii. 55. 28 ; and Acts xiv. 0.) and Christ saw it proper to make it so here ; as d His brethren or near kinsmen.] Whether they_ were the chil- he well migli't, considering what tliey .must undoubtedly have dren of Joseph by a former marriage, or the children of some bro- heard of him from other places, and what they had confessed them- ther or sister of Joseph or Mary, is not material. Every one knowSf selves but just before, of mighty works being wrouglit by his that it was common with the Jewj, to use the name of brcthre^ hands: which shews indeed that their unbelief did not so'much con- m a lai-gcr sense, and to apply it (o cousins and near kinsmen, as sist in a doubt of his miraculous power, as of his divine mission, well as to those that were brethren in the proper sense of the which, to any unprejudiced person's mind, that power so abun- ^'''"'<'- dantly proved. In tliis view therefore, it is hard to say how he e 7f7ience hath this man all Mwe extraordinary //h'/!//.? .?] This, could, witli honour .iiul decency, have lavished away his favours on like many other things which have since been objected against the so unworlliy'a people. * -~ gospel of Christ, is as much the language of stupidity as of infidcli- h Jesus le'ft them.] So far as we can learn from the g-ospel-historv, ty ; for the meanness of Christ's education was a demonstration he never aftrr this returned any more to Nazareth. « then hath this man these things ? [Mark 3.] 57 And they were II THE TWELVE APOSTLES PREPARED FOR THEIR MISSION. 149 Ivingiloni, and healing pvciy cvcri/ 7)ialadt/ (itnong the people. And beholding the multitudes -which flocked around sect. sickness and every (liscase jj^^^^ he xvas 7>ioved xvith tender eompassion for them, because they tuere faint with 73. v?."6.'f "^ *"^'''' *" tli6 iatigue of frequent journeyings, and exposed to continual danger,' r/.s sheep that had 'sii But wiieu he saw tiic jio shepherd io feed them with spiritual food, or to watch for the safety and edification matt. wut^'compassio,ron "them'! ^^ ^^^'^^^ s*^"'^- '^'"'"' ^ ^"^ intended immediately after tliis to send out his twelve apostles, »X- 3(i- because they fainted, and' he saj/s to them and his Other disciples, to quicken their devotion and zeal, 2'he harvest 37 were scattered abroad, as ^f gQ^,]g jq |jg (rathered in is indeed sreat, but the faithful labourers who assist in it are slicep having no shepherd. a i .; /- i . '. ; • ^ . ,■ ,■ _, ./ ..or, 37 Then saith he unto jcto : And therefore let me urge you to ?/?flAt' i/our importunate supplicattons to the greart 38 his disciples, The hanest Lord and Ms&iQV of the harvest, that he xvould, by the secret but powerful energy of hiimir"rs'ar"\tw'.^' ^^ ^ "^ ^I's Spirit on men's hearts, conquer their- natural disinclination to this excellent work, 38 Pray ye therefore the and SO thrust forth a Sufficient number of active and indefatigable labourers into his Lord oi the harvest, tnat he /,^/;.^y'.9/,'" bv whom it mav Successfully be carried on, to his own greater glorv, and ■will send forth labourers . ' .•' ii,/>i " o..' into his harvest. the edihcation and salvation oi souls. IMPROVEMENT. Singe the blessed Jesus vouchsafed to renew his visit to Nazareth, where they had attempted to murder him on mark his first preaching among them, let us not be weary of well-doing, nor refuse to renew om- attempts on the most "^'i- obstinate sinners, where the interests of their immoilal souls are concerned. 1 But though they were astonished at his wisdom, and could not but allow the mighty works that he liad 2 wrought, yet these ungrateful creatures went on to reject him, and in so doing were condenmed out of their own mouth : nor can we be at any loss for instances of those who in later ages have fallen under the like condem- nation. He is spoken of as the carpenter ; which intimates that he once wrought at that mean employment. What 3 amazing condescension was this in the Son of God, and the Heir of all things, bi/ tvhom also the -worlds "were made ! (Heb. i. 2.) Yet surely while the hands of Clirist were employed in these daily labom?, his soul was rising in holy contemplations and devout affections. So may we interramgle pious meditations with our secular cares, and have our convei-sation in heaven, while our dwelling is on earth ! How much did these Nazarenes lose by their obstmate prejudices against Jesus! How many diseased bodies 5 might have been cm-ed, how many lost souls might have been recovered and saved, had they given him a better reception ! May Divine Giace deliver us from that unbelief wliich does as it were disarm Chiist himself, and render him a savour of death, rather than of life, to our souls ! Still he continued his gracious labours, and, when rejected in one city, went and preached in another ; still mati'. surrounded with a crowd of admirers, whom he viewed with tender regard. Let his ministers learn of him tenderly IX. 35. to pity those who are faint and exposed to danger, and are as sheep having no shepherd. The extreme necessities 3G, 37 of his chui'ches in many places are but too apparent : let us earnestly pray, that God would behold them with compa.ssion ; that he would graciously provide for their instruction, and would thrust forth such labourers among 38 them as may be diligent and faithful in their work, and prove the happy instruments of gathering in fruit to ewrlastiug life. (John iv. 36.) ■ ,, >•-■! ^ >' " .' SECTION LXXIV Our Lord sends forth his apostles tiith a coinmission, and gives them instructions to preach the gospel. Mattx. 1— 15. Markvi. 7— ]]. Luke ix, 1—5. Matt. x. i. Matt. x. 1. ri uke 'to"\he^l'"'\'^''r"^'^ AND Jesus having called his tvelve disciples together," whom (it has Ijeen obseived SECT. bis twelve disciples, "lie b:jni\m signifies scattered, or tvandering, yet T lead any to undertake it. still chuse to render it, they were faint ; which sense of the word is a Having called lits twelve disciples together.] There ran be no sulliciently vindicated by Wolfius, [in he.) and Albert, (Observ. p. room to doubt that this is the projier place of the mission of the 76, 77.) and is established bv the use of it in other places of the apostles, considering its connexion with the preceding storiej in all New Testament. Compare Matt. xv. 32 ; Mark viii. 3 ; Gal. vi. 9 ; the Evangelists that mention it. *^~ — and Heb. xii. 3, 5. — But I think Eisner has advanced enough to b The first, Simon who is called Peter.] The reasons assigned in justify the rendering of i^^tunim, exposed to every invading the paraphrase are so apparently suHicient to account for Peter's •laiiger, as sheep are, when thrown up or abandoned by their shep- being named first, that it is strange any should have attempted to 'lerd. '— -^. ... prove from tliistext the authority of Peter over his brethren, when k Tliriist forth labourers into his harvest.] The word exgiWi so we never fintl it declared by Clirist, or claimed Ijy Peter, or owned plainly imports this, that I am sorry I retained our less emphatical by any of the rest of the a))ostles, but rather find so many scriptiiica translation in the first edition. AVhoever considers the inmiensc wliich appear to look a contrary way. See Matt, xxiii. 8 — 12; Acti dillicultics and oppositions with which every minister of Christ's x^-. 13. cl seq. 2 Cor. xii. 11 ; and Gal. ii. 11. 150 THEY ARE TO T^\K:E NOTHING V/ITH THEM FOR THEIR JOURNEY. SECT. T/iow«s called Didymus ; and Mati/iew, who had been t/ie pudlican : James [the sonl mew ■ Thoinas, ami Mat-. 74. of Alpheus ; and hthbeus, toJiose sirnamc was Thaddeus, and who was also called J!'*^^^ *'*'^ ?"'i',''^?"' •'^'"'^* Judas or Jude, the brother of James "• Simon the Canaanite, a native of Cana f and Lebbeus, wii'o'y'^ sunanie MATT. Judas Iscariot, or a man of Carioth, that wicked and miserable creature, who afterv/ards ^^^s Timddeus: X. even betrayed him, and then laid violent hands on liimself. J^ fXriscario^whS 5 These twelve disciples Jesus sent forth by two and two in pairs/ that they might be bctraved him. agreeable companions and assistants to each other in their work; and he commanded se'\ r ''ff^r, ^.^r^^*^ a]^^^\ them to go into those places which he himself purposed shortly to visit f and to preach and "commaiuied''" tbem ~ " - -- - jj^^ king- to heal tlic ,j — j-.-oi ^° "ot 'ito other miraculous powers which he had given them. And upon this occasion he made an the way of tlie Gentiles, there the gospel of the kingdom of God, or to proclaim the joyful tidings of the approach- [Luke, to preach ing kingdom of the Messiah ; ^nd, in confirmation of it, to heal the sick, and exert the siX,i°^sayin'/'Go other miraculous powers which he had given them. And upon this occasion he made an the \vay of 'tlie excellent discourse to them, saj/ing. In this circuit which I now send you, do not go into ^'"' '.'.'f° ""^ "^y the waij of the Gentiles ; for the glad tidings of the gospel are not yet sent to them ; nor [jviark vi.7. Luke ix. 2.] enter into [(tni/'\ citi/ of the Sa?)iarifans, if you should be obliged to pass through their comitry ; though I once did it, and preached among them with considerable success. C (See John iv. 40, 41. sect, xxx.) But my message is chiefly to be delivered to the Jews; c> But go rathci to the (compare Matt. xv. 24. and Rom. xv. 8.) and therefore go ye rather to them, the poor Israel!""'''' °^ *''^ ''°"'^- "^ lost sheep of the house of Israel, who are generally wandering in the paths of error and sin ; yet they shall receive this farther token of my regard, that the first notices of my 7 kingdom shall be sent to them. And as ye go from one place to another, wherever you 7 And as ye gn, preach, come, proclaim this good news, saying, with that ardour and zeal which becomes my ^^t.„'"f at hand""*'"™ of hea- heralds,' The long-expected kingdoju of heaven is approaching ; prepare yourselves 8 therefore to receive the blessings of it. And that a declaration of so great importance may 8 Heal the sick, cleanse not want suitable testimonials, and the meanness of your personal appearance may not 'a^j 'ourdevUs! freely^ye j render the truth of it suspected, (as any proper occasion offers,) heal the sick, cleanse the have received, freely give. J lepers, yea, raise the deod,^ and cast out demons : for such a power I have given to you, and see that you exert it in a manner most honourable to yourselves and me ; [and as} yon have received it freely, freely give unto others the assistance which it enables you to impart, and scorn the thought of making any gain of those for whom these works of mercy and power are performed. ' ' MARK And he commanded them that they should take nothing for [their'] joiirne7/, except Mark vi. 8. And he com- '*'• only a staff, which they had in their hands:'' and, to prevent any solicitude 'as to the ma"<'^d them, that they o i- ;u • i. / • ; J ^; T-.- J ,1 ^ 1 ?• 11 ■ should t?.ke nothing for 0 means ot their support, lie said unto them, Disburthen yourselves of all anxious cares on their journey, save a staff this occasion, -axA provide neither bread, or any other kind of -food, for your subsistence, only;' [Luke", and he said nor money to purchase provisions : neither gold, nor silver, nor brass coin, in your brerd,\io"iiioney,°IneHh°r MATT, purses.^ Nor even take so much as a scrip to cany any manner of provisions /or [j/ouj-] ,i;old, 'nor silver, nor brass X- iottrne?/ ; nor think it needful you should have two coats a piece, or any change of "' J'"","^ purses ;] [iWatt. x. -: /-. ■ i 1 i • 1 / ,-11 .-r ■ o 7 ^9. Luke IX. 3.J 10 raiment; nor what might seem more necessary still, even another pair of shoes, or any Matt. x. lo. Nor scrip stronger than ordinary, but be shod just as you are with sandals;^ nor yet idkc any '"''■■ y'"- journey, neither staves, but only those that you are used to walk with. For the labourer is surely worthy npither sii'oes, "but bT'shod of his food : and as you may freely accept the necessary supplies of life when offered by with sandals,] nor yet staves: those to whom you preach, so you may cheerfully trust the providence of God to take o7i||s''meat''™[Mirk''vr^9. care of you while engaged in so good a cause ; and he would rather support you by a Luke^ix. 3.] miracle, than suffer you to want what shall be necessary for your sustenance.' c Simon the Canaanite, a native of Cana.] The reader may see (some passages in this discourse refer to events which did not an illustration of this title, and that of Lebbeus, \ 52. p. 106. notes \iraraediately take place. See Matt. x. 18, 21, 23. in the next section. t, and g. ■ ), ^iCf;)/0)(/y a s/n/; which they had in their hands.] There is d By two and two.'] It is obvious this would'conduce to the no difficulty thus to reconcile this clause with what is said in Mat- confmning of their testimony, as in the month of two witnesses every thew, (ver. 10.) that they should not provide a staff, (as it is there word is estabVtslied, (Matt, xviii. IG.) as well as make their mission expressed in tlie original, nri^i f^&iov ;) for many copies read it in / much more comfortable than if each had been sent alone. Mr. the plural number, /xyiSe (ctCto?, nor yet slaves ; which reading is ■ Fleming has taken pains to shew, that there was great wisdom in confirmed by Luke, (ver. 3.) where it is so expressed. Nor/is there 1 joining them together in such pairs as are here intimated, on ac- any need, we should suppose, with Heinsius, that £i is put for t-a _\ count of the resembkince or contrast of their characters. The d is- herein Mark, as if they were coniraanded to take nothing with \ course is very ingenious; but the memoirs of some of the apostles them, not even sn much as a staff. For all that Christ intended was, " are so short, that much of it is uncertain conjecture, rather than that they should so entirely depend upon the providence of Gcjd, convincing argunient. See Fleming's Christol. Vol, II. p. 107. et seq. that they should set out with nothing but the staff in their hands ; e Which he himself purposed shortly to visit.] Our Lord was and that, however common it might be for those who were to travel now entering at least on Hie third year of his ministry, and there- / a long way to be provided with two staves as well as w itli two coats, fore purposed to take a larger tour than he had formerly done ; I they need not be solicitous to have another ready in case one concluding, that the fame of so many miracles would make way for ^should fail. his being heard with greater regard than before. (Compare"? 31. i In your purses."] The original word, ^jv«if, expresses the cus- p. (52. and 5 3(). p. 71, 72.) The time they had spent with him in torn they had of carrying money in a kind of folj.-.pjcicltet or purse, an immediate attendance on his ministry, since their first call to which was made in the duplicature of their girdles. SeeT5r. Shaw's the work, would no doubt conduce much to iheW fitness for it ; and Travels, p. 292. "^ ' — the notice taken of them by multitudes who had often seen them k A'nr shoes, but be shod with sandals.] I apprehend the word near Jesus would promote their acceptance in it. See Mark iii. 13, i^OTin^^ra, shoes, must here signify a kind of short boots, which they 14. p. 100. used in long journeys, that covered the whole foot and smajlpf the f Proclam—viHh that ardour and zeal which becomes my he- leg ; whereas their sandals were pieces of strong leat/icr^iir wood, raids.] This is the proper import of the word xiifuwErt, which is tied under the sole of the foot by strings, and something resembling deriveil from xiifv^, n /i^raW. Probably they were -to make tliis pro- raodernjjojrs. Sec Calmet's 7)ictionari/,\o]. II. p. 615. on the clamation with a loud voice as they passed through tl-.c streets of "^'orfT^ANDAts ; and Lightfoot's /for. I/eb. on Matt. x. 10. ' the towns they went to ; as Jonah delivered his message to Nine- 1 He wowld rather support yon by a miracle, &.C.] Our Lord iii> vch. See Jonah iii. 4. tended this mission in part, as an initiation into tlieir apostolic g natse the dead.] Though many ancient copies have not this v/ork; and it was, no doubt, an encouragement to them during all clause, and though we do iiot find that the apo.stles exerted any the remainder of life, to recollect the singular care which Provi- .<«f/i7)o;/rr whilst Christ lived; yet since the oldest versions have dcnce now took of them, though they had abandoned their fami. it, and it is certainly much easier to drop than to insert a clause by lies, and with them the means of subsistence, and went out wholly accident, I chuse, with Dr. Whitby, to retain it, though there are unfurnished for such an expedition. In this view Christ leads tlicm great authorities on the other side. It is to me very evident, that to recollect it, Luke xxii. 35. ? 173. REFLECTIONS ON THE MISSION OF THE TWELVE .\POSTLES. 151 11 And [he said unto And he farther said unto them. Go forth therefore with a holy alacrity ; and into sect. tlieni,] luto whatsoever whatever cifjf or vill(i2:e you enter, make it your first business to inquire icho in 74 fuqur/eX" irit'il w'oruly""; ^t is of a trorthy character for hospitality and piety ; for I would not liave you endanger Ind [Luke, whatsoever your own reputation, by taking up your lodgiiig in any disreputable family : And tvhal- matt. house ye enter into,] there ^.,p^ house i/ou thus enter into, continue there till you leave the place ; that you may ^• th"t*^piace./[Mar'k"%i.'To' not seem to" have too great a regard to the little circumstances of domestic accommodation, 1 1 Luke ix. 4.] which it is beneath, your character as my ministers to be very solicitous about. 12 And when ye come And, as an early intimation of the friendly intention of your visit, tvhen you first enter 12 into an house, salute it : ^-^^^^ ^^^^^ family, salute it in a courteous and religious manner, saying, according to the usual custom of friends when they enter the dwellings of each other, " Peace be upon this 13 Aud if the house be house."" And if the family be ivorlliM tjie Divine regard, your good wishes for its 13 worthy, let your peace „j,^^.^ ^^^^ prosperity shall come upon it," and I will make the blessing that vou pronounce comeupou it: but if it be r , , ', ^ ■:,, ..•', . ,, ,, i • j • u r * j u not worthy, let your peace etiectual : Out if it be not worthy, even then your Kind wishes tor its peace and happi- return to you. ugss shall not be lost, but shall return unto you in blessings on your own heads, as being the genuine workings of that pious and benevolent temper which God always approves and rewards. 14 And whosoever shall Afid xvhosoever shall not receive you, nor in an obedient manner hearken to your 14 vour'^ wordt" wi'ien°ye^*de- ti^ords ; as for such unhappy persons,' u'/^ew. you come out of that house or city m which part out of 'that house or they dwell, shake off' the very dust of your feet as a testimony against them," or as '^''^•1 d'^'t"' f''' "r'^f '"t'^for ^ token that you look upon them as devoted by God to destruction, and therefore desire .I'tStimony ae:ainst\h'era°] to Separate yourselves entirely from tliem, that you may not be partakers of their plagues. [Markvi. u. Luke ix. 5.] (Compare Rev. xviii. 4. and Acts xviii. 6.) 15 Verily I say unto you, And indeed you have reason to do it \ for verily I say unto you. That whatever profes- 15 for «\'l"laml oV°Sodora'^and ^^^n they may make of their regard to the ti'ue God, and however they may continue to Gomorrah, in the day of boast of their national privileges, it shall be more tolerable, not only for the generality judgment, than for that ^f Gentile sinners in the day of final judgment, but even for the natives of the land 01 y. [ ai • VI. .J ^^ Sodom and Gomorrah, those monsters of unnatural wickedness who were consumed with fire and brimstone from heaven, than for the inhabitants of that wretched city ; for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah never sinned against such extraordinary light, and such singular favours as they. IMPROVEMENT. What abundant reason is there for humble thankfulness, that the ambassadors of Christ v/ere thus sent forth Ver. 1 to preach the gospel, and that at length their number was increased, and their commission enlarged: so that in- stead of their being thus confined to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, their instmctive li/ie is gone out 5, 6 through all the earth, and their words have resounded even to the end of the world: (Psal. xix. 4.) May the purport of their message be seriously attended to ! since it will so certainly be a savour of life or of death, of eter- nal salvation or aggravated condemnation and ruin. Let us tremble to think that it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for 15 those by whom the gospel is rejected : and let us earnestly pray that divine grace may enable us to receive it in the love of it, and to obey the truth that we may be saved. (2 Tliess. ii. 10.) They who have the lionour in this respect to succeed the apostles as ministers of this gospel, may learn most useful instructions from this discourse of our Divine Master. Let them speak and act as the messengers of peace, 12> 1^ and the friends of mankind, who cordially wish well to all around them ; and gratefully acknowledge the kind- 10 ness which, as faithful labourerr, they have justly deserved. Let them shew a true greatness of mind, in an ap- parent superiority to temporal hiterests and present gratifications ; easy in whatever accommodations they find' where Providence leads them ; and forgetting themselves to remember their Master, and the souls he has com- mitted to their care. Let them faitlifuUy warn all around them of the importance of their eternal concerns, and of the unulterable danger of receiving the grace of God in vain, that, whether men will hear or forbear, they may be clean from their ^i ^c. blood. And, while we preserve such a temper and conduct, we may cheerfully hope, that God will be witji us in the way that we go, and,- how precarious soever our circumstances may seem, will give us food to eat and raiment to put on. May we all have this token for good, tliat God will take care of our interests ; even the consciousness of our being faitlifully engaged to promote his glory, and om- joyful readiness to spend and be spent for the ser- vice of souls ! (2 Cor. xii. 15.) m Peace be upon this house.l Tliis custom of saluting friends o Shake off the very dust of your feet, &c.] The Jews thought' after this manner is still retained'araoug the Turks and other eastern there was something of so peculiar an holiness in the land of Israel, nations ; and I thought it not improper to express it for the illus- that when they came home from any heatheu country, they stopped tration of what follows. at its borders, "and wiped the dust of it from their shoes, that the n n I'our peace shall come vpon il.'\ This is one of those many sacred inheritance might not be polluted with it ; nor would they - passages in which (as the grammarians speak) the imperative is put permit herbs to be brought to them from ihcir neighbours, lest : for tlie future ; that is. Let it come, for It shall come : (so 1 Cor. thev should bring any of the dust of their land upon them. So i fxvi. 22.) And perhaps many seeming imprecations in .the Old that the action enjoined to the apostles here was a hvely intimation \ Testament may most easily be accounted for, by such an explica- that, when the Jeiws had rejected the gospel, they were no longer \ tion as prophetic predictions of what should happen to the enemies to be regarded as the people of God, but were on a level with hea- i of God aud his people. ' theus and idolaters. See Mr. Fleming's C/trislul. \ ol. H. p. IGO. 152 CHRIST WARNS HIS APOSTLES AGAINST THE DANGERS THEY MUST BE EXPOSED TO SECTION LXXV. Our hord faithfidly "warns his apostles of the danger and opposition ihcij might expect to encounter in his 'service. Matt, x. 16—28. Matt. x. 16. ivt.,,.,, titr Matt. x. 16. shci. VVHEN our Lord had thus instructed his apostles as to their behaviour and office in Behold, i send yon forth '^- general, he went on faithfully to lay before them the difficulties and trials they were to ex- "^ ?','*^^P '" *'"' "}^'^^^ °^ pect in the execution of it ; and added, Behold,! send ^jou out as so many innocent and wiLe as'serpenU, andTiarm! '^S^^' defenceless sheep, in the midst ofsi whole multitude of fierce and ravenous ■wolves,'^ who less as doves. ■ will not fail to watch every opportunity to attack and even devour you : de 7/e therefore ^"continually on your guard against them, and labour to approve yourselves /?rHf/c7?/ as ser- pents, in avoiding unnecessary dangers ;'' but, far from imitating the malignity and re- vengeful nature of that animal, maintain at all times a holy simplicity of soul, and be harm/ess and inoifensive as doves, those gentle creatures, who are innocent and loving to 17 a proverb. But he upon i/our guard against the 7nen of the world with whom you 17 But beware of men; converse, that you do not by any inadvertency give them advantage against vou ; for then f"^"" t'"^y «'l' <'«••' ver you uj. •;/ 1 ■ r ■ i_- i- J 2 J J j; "/ 1 1 i-"^ • -'to the couucils, and tlicv ivill seek occasions ot mischiei, and betray you to the councils, and deliver you up to win scourge you iu their the sanhedrim, and other inferior courts of judicature, and will also scourge you in their synagogues: 1 8 synagogues.'' And in some cases the prosecution shall be carried yet farther ; for you is And ye shall be shall he hrought before governors and hings on my account^ for a witness to them brought before governors and to the heathen, as this will give you an opportunity of testifying my gospel more T'testimmf"'^ a'-ainst' Uiem solemnly both to Jews and Gentiles. knd the Gentife!""* 19 But when they shall accuse you with the utmost virulence, and deliver you up to ap- lo But when they deli- pear before such high personages, be not anxiously solicitous about your' defence there, ver you up, take no thought 7iow you shall answer for yourselves, or what you shall speak: but cheerfully throw fm\"shaii''bi^gtvcn ymj in yourselves upon the divine assistance, which shall be abundantly sufficient for you ; for it that same hour what ye shall he given you in that very hour what you shall speak ; proper thoughts and words ^'^'^" ^1"^*'^ shall be suggested to you, and your minds shall be maintained in that composure and dig- 20 nity which is necessary for the honour of the cause you assert.* For indeed, when you 20 For it is not ye that appear on these occasions, and are called to answer for yourselves, it is not [so 7nuch'] you speak, but the Spirit Iif your that speak, as the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you, in defence of that gospel you.'" ''*'"''' '''''''"'"' '" which it is his peculiar office to promote in the world. 21 Nevertheless, all the wisdom and justice of your apologies, though divinely inspired, 21 And the brother shall will not disarm the malice of your unreasonable enemies, which shall prevail to such a ^'='';;^'' "I? *J"= l!™,"'"^''^ ♦" J ii- L ii !->',■ ji. . , '^ . ,i„ aeath, and the tatner the degree, as even to triumph over natural aflection, and break asunaer the strictest bonds of child; and tlie children social life : for one brother shall betray another, not only to some slighter punishment, ^''='" '''^'^ "P against iheir but even to a violent and tonnenting death ; and the father shall thus become the mur- rpSt'to^deatb!"' "''™ *° derer instead of the guardian and protector of the son ; and children, on the other hand, forgetting all the obligations of filial duty and affection, shall rise up as witnesses against 22 their own parents, and cause them to he put to death. And you, my apostles, notwith- 22 And ye shall be liated standing all the humanity of your character, and the benevolent design of your office, shall "'', =*" ,™^", *"^ "jy name's 7 ii i_- i r u 1 • 1 .• .1 . •' , 11 • sake: but he that endureth l)e tlie objects ol such general aversion, censure, and persecution, that you shall in a man- to the end shall be saved, ner be hated of all men for the sake of my name ;f when your calling yourselves by it shall appear to your enemies themselves the only crime chargeable upon you : but be not ' discouraged at these trials; for he that courageously endures to the end, shall on the ■ whole he saved ; and whatever extremities he may suffer in this world, God will noTonly .. deliver him from the destruction that shall come upon the wicked, but will amply repay Ins fidelity in the next. (Compare Matt. xxiv. 13. and Rev. ii. 10.) 23 But I say not this to encourage you to rush upon inartyrdom before you have a plain 23 But when tliey perse- and lawful call to it : for, on the other hand, it will rather be your duty to prolong such ^e'fnto'anoth^r! hiierUy useful lives to the utmost limits you lawfully may, and when they persecute you in one i say unto you, Ve shall not city, io fee to another: and though this may contract the time of your abode in each, J'sJ-aef'tnuhrson of'*^^ "^ be not discouraged at that, which may, on the whole, be no inconvenience ; for verily I be come. ** °" " '"''" y a As sheep in the midst of Wnhes.'] So frankly did ouf Lord warn e For the honour of the cause you assert.] Persons of so low an I his apostles of the hardships and dangers with which they should be education as the apostles generally were, might have been much' \ surrounded. Nothing could he more fair, nothing more ^nerous. terrified at the thouglit of appearing before such great personages; h Pi iiilcnl as serpents.'] Pliny has given us some very remarkable and might have feared lest, inthe hurry of tlieir spirits, tliey stories of tlie sagacity of serpents, some of which,J_confess, have should have been betrayed into an impropriety of language or be-' the air of fables : (see Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. vii: cap. 2.?, '27.) But it haviour, by which the cause of the gospel niiglit have suffered ; so is certain there is a peculiar vivacity in tlieir eyes ; so tliat to be as that nothing could have been more suitable than the promise which -sharp-siglited ns a serpent, was a proverb botVi among the Greeks our Lord here makes them, which was sufficient to prevent a thouy and Uomans. Sec Erasm. ^rfffy. p. 580. sand anxious apprelicnsions. c Scoiinje yon in their syna/joijiies.] Compare Matt, xxiii. ,14. and f low shall he halrd of all men for the sake of mj/ name.'] They Acts xxii. 1!). This is a sort of discipline which has long since who believed Iho testimony of the'apostles,as multitudes did, could been used in their synagogues, where they kept their courts; and not but ardently love them as their fathers iu Christ : (.see Gal. iv. which the wretched Acosta tells us he I'limself underwent. See 1.5.) This therefore is plainly one of those many scriptures in , Acost. De fit. Ifiim. nd Jin ; Lunborch. Coll. p. -140 ; Wits. Vil. which the universal term all is to be taken with great restrictions. Paul/, 5 1.8 19—21. and Vitring. Ue Si/narjog. Vet. lib. iii. par. I. See John xii. 32. Phil. ii. 21. and Rom. v. 18.— As there seems in this <-'iip. II. text a peculiar emphasis in the j)hrase /or the sahe of my name, I d liefore governors and kings, &c.] Accordingly the apostles cluise in this edition to render it more literally than in the first; were, several of them, obliged to appear before princes, and were though (as I had there observed) it is a[Ti)aj'eut that the name of a |evcre_ly prosetuted by their malicious enemies before Herod, person is sometimes put for Mf/icrionTtimself. See note 1, on John .AgrT|)pa, Felix, Feslus.'Nero, Domitian, &c. as we learn from sacred li 23. p. 40. or profane history. 1 REFLECTIONS ON THE TRIALS THAT THE GOSPEL MAY EXPOSE US TO. 153 say unto you. You shall not have load time io Jiiiish [your progress through'] all the sect. id, and to preach the gospel in every place, until the Son of man shall 75. cities of Israel, comcs in a yet more aulul appearance, to fultil your prediction concerning the manifesta- tion of his kingdom, and to take vengeance on your cruel persecutors. matt. 24 The disciple is not And as for the Unkind usage I have warned you to expect, you have no reason to be ^' above his teacher, nor the surprised at it ; for, as I have fomierly observed, (Luke vi. 40. sect, liv.) The disciple is 24 servau a ove is or ; ^^^ adove his teacher, nor the servant alwve his lord : It is abundantly sufficient if the 25 It is enough for the disciple be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord ; and in such a circumstance the disciple, that he be as his disciple and the Servant have cause for thankfulness rather than complaint. If then, as 25 birhird r^f they have* call- you have already heard and found, they have called 7ne, who am the Master of the ed the JVlaster of the house famili/, Beelzcbuh, and reviled me as a magician, whom they should have received as the S'm "''v'Xthem''oM.'is '^lessikh, (see p. 122.) hoio much more will they be likely thus to abuse his domestics, household ; whose character and station are so much inferior to his ! 26 Fear them not there- Since therefore you have my example before you, and sutler in my cause, fear them 26 '^°'^-"cd"^tiiaTshaii°not"be ««/, but courageously sustain the utmost ctiorts of their rage ; and assure yourselves that revealed; and hid, that I will support you till you have finished your testimony: for there is nothiiio- now hid shall not be known. which shall not he revealed : nor has any thing passed in secret between us xi'hich shall 27 M'hat I tell you in not he Universally made hnoxcn. See to it then, that you remember to what purpose I 27 lii.) to refer it else the soul would be as properly killed as the body. Orotius nas to Christ's coming to judgment. It is rather, as Mr. Whiston ob- an cxcoUcut note here, serves, (in his Discourse nf Prophrcj, p. 63.) to be explained uf 154 WE MUST TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW CHRIST. SECT, their courage and pious zeal } and began with reminding them of the universal extent of the ground without j our 76. the divine providence ; are not t-iVo young sparrows, said he, sold for a single farthing ? Fattier. ■yet there is not one of them that by any accident shall fall to the grou/id and die, MATT, without the observation and permission of _i/our heavenly Father.^ And not only are 3o But the very liairs of ^- the more noble and vital parts of your animal frame regarded by God, but even the very ^°"/^ ^'^^^ ''"''^ "" """'■ 31 hairs of your head are all numbered by him. Fear not, therefore, that you should be .-ji Fear ye not therefore; overlooked ; for, even as men, and especially as my servants and ambassadors, you are y^ ^'^'^ "f ™ore value than of more value than many sparrows, or than the whole species of them; and therefore "'•''"y ^l'^""'"^^- may assure yourselves that Providence will watch over you. ' 32 And let it be a ^ailher encouragement to you to remember, that whatever you may now 32 AViiosoever therefore suffer for your fidelity to me, it will on the whole be most amply rewarded ; for the regard h^'m^viifTcmffesfTsne: that every one expresses to me here, shall be publicly remembered and acknowledged fore my Fatlier which is in hereafter : whosoever, therefore, shall courageously confess me before men, be he ever ''^^^en. so mean in the eyes of the world, J also will not fail to confess him in all the glories of my final appearance, not only before the assembled world* but even in the immediate presence of my Father in heaven, to whose everlasting favour all my faithful servants 33 shall be introduced: But whosoever shall renounce me before 7nen, as ashamed or 33 But whosoever slwll afraid to acknowledge his relation to me, I also will renounce him before my Father in tui'^i "L*' "/^ny hefor'e '',',!" heaven as a mean and unworthy creature, who has forfeited all claim to my patronage Father which is iuheaMu." and favour in that awful day. " _ 34 But, to prevent the mistaken expectations which the apostles might form of the imme- 34 Think not that I am ^ diate temporal prosperity of his kingdom, our Lord farther added, Do not suppose that ^°™,';. */'cam"e''nortr.rm'i I am come to send and establish peace on the land in which we dwell -.^ for, though the peace! but a sword, general purport of my gospel has so powerful a tendency to promote it, yet the prejudices and lusts of men will so oppose and pervert it, that it will rather seem, from the event of 35 it, that J came not to send peace, but a sword. For a few will indeed embrace it; 35 For I am conie to set a but they will be so cruelly persecuted even by their nearest relations, that I may say, I am ™i.'i"pr* rn'(r"t'!te''^d'uiH t'^ come to set a man at variance against his o-wn father, and the daughter against her against' her motlier," and own mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law,'^ when the circum- |he daughter-in-law aijainst 36 stances of the family were Vich, that they might otherwise have agreed. So that the '"6"And''a man'" foes shnn ties of blood shall be forgotten, and the bonds of friendship violated ; and a man's enemies, *'° they of his own iiousi-. yea oftentimes the most severe and inveterate of them, [shall be] those of his own famil//, ''°'*^' and it may be, the nearest of his relations, from whom he might justly have expected the greatest friendship. 37 Prepare yourselves then for such severe trials as these, by remembering, that he who 37 He that loveth fatii.r loves his father or mother more than me, and is induced by his regard to them to dis- notTorth^™? nil' '-''an'.rh'e obey my precepts, or to renounce my doctrine, is not worthy of me, nor shall have any that loveth son or daugiiter interest in my saving benefits : and he that loves even his son or daughter more than "J.""''' '^''='" ^'^ '^ "o' woithy me, is not worthy of an interest in tne and my friendship, though it should be an only ° ""^' 38 child that he prefers to me, and for the sake of whom he abandons my gospel. And, in 38 And he that taketii i a word, he that is so concerned for his own ease and safety that he will not suffer for my aftlr"me'^'if 'no\'\7orth"''of sake, and docs not resolutely take up his cross when providentially laid in his way, and me. ' ° '^"'^ '^ 1 follow after me,^ even to die upon it, when the honour of my name and cause requires it, and I, as the Captam of his salvation, lead him on to it, cannot be owned as my faithful disciple, and is not worthy of an interest in 7ne. (Compare Mark viii. 34. sect. Ixxxix.) 39 Be assured, however, that you shall find it to be well -^vorth your while to endure all 39 He that findeth his these extremities for my sake; for he that fads and saves his life, by deserting my cause, Ufat losethliis hf "f"'' ''^ shall lose it on the whole, as he will thus incur a sentence of final condemnation and sake shaH finTit.' *^ ""^ ""^ destruction f Tur?i'e~flfat out of faitlifulness to me loses his life, and lays it down for a Not one of tlieni shall fall to the ground, &,c.] Some have sup- contentions which the gospel has accidentally occasioned should be posed there is a reference here to the two birds, which made a urged as an argument against its divine authority, the reader may ^ part of the leper's offering: (Lev. xiv. 4 — 7.) As if the sense see in the excellent Sermonn of the present Bishop of Winchester of what our Lord expresses were, that Provideuce determines on this subject, in his Miscellaneous Tracts. In one word, the inat- which of those two insignificant animals shall live, and which be ter will issue in this; that if Christianity has occasioned more killed. Cut as the words are capable of a more extensive sense, and discord than any other religion, the only reason is, because it aui- our Lord elsewhere mentions five sparrows just to the same pur- mates its professors to greater zeal for the truth, and better proves pose, (Luke xii. 6. ? 111.) I see no reason for paraphrasing them it to be worth their while to sw/'fr/or co«ic;>nff-.«oA-i?. with any particular view to that rite. They are a full proof of the c And the danghtcr-in-lam anainst her mother-in-lam.'] The universality of the divine providence; but the singular interposi- thought seems to sink here, as it is much more usual for mothers tions of it m favour of good men, may in a much more convincing and daughters-in-law, in whatever relation, to quarrel, than natural manner be argued, from the prayers and praises offered in scripture parents and children ; but if we consider, that our Lord speaks of %vith regard to particular events, and the promises of temporal this as the first occasion of a quarrel between them, it may intima'e I blessings made to those that fear and .serve God. Nor can I think a supposition, that they were persons of a friendly temper, who, j we are much concerned to determine how far any of these are even in such a relation, might otherwise have lived together on easy j miraculous, and how far tlie result of general laws settled in an terms : a thought which seems to me to enliven the discour.se, anil / exact rongruity to the temper and conduct of every individual af- which may lead us to reflect how often bigotry entirely transforms fected by them, which an omniscient God forjsaw, and v/hich his a uatural disposition, that in itself was mild arid amiable. Compare ^ perfect schemes might easily provide for, by methods to us un- lAike xii. .5.3. noted,? 115. searchable. It is plain. Homer thought Divine Providence d Ue that does not take up his cross and follow after me.'] This interested itself in the lives of brute animals. See Iliad, lib. xv. alludes to the custom of persons carrying the cross to which they ver. 274. See also Grotius, in loc. were to be fastened ; and was a strong intimation, that he should b To send peace on the land in which we dwell.] That the word himself be crucified ; and that none could be a sincere Christian rn often signifies some particular land, and especially Judea, rather witliout a willingness to hear even tliat shameful and cruel death than the whole earth, is undeniably plain ; (compare "Matt, xxiii. 35. for his sake, if he was called to it. See Grotius, in loc. and Luke iv, 25.) And I have given it that turn here, because there e He that finds his life, shall lose it, &;c.] The sense that 1 have was no part of the world where Christianity occasioned so much dis- given in the paraphrase, as it is much more general, and more iui- sension, and none where peace was so much expected from the king- portant, appears to me much preferable to that of Dr. Hammond, dom of the Messiah. Yet how very unjust it is, that any of those v. ho interprets the tcxt^' of the Chiislians saving their lives hy REFLECTIONS ON THE ZEAL AND CHARITY THAT CHRIST REQUIRES. 155 v^' iny sake, shall find it in a far more noble state of being, which infinitely better deserves SECT. the name of life. ''o- 40 He that recciveih you, ' And as for you, my Servants, let none be afraid of shewing kindness to you, lest they rcceiveth me ; and he tiiat should share with you in your sufferings for my sake ; for he that entertains you, does matt. U.at'sent'rae'"""^*'*''''" i" effect entertain me, whose ministers you are; and he that entertains me, does also ^ entertain him that sent me, and my heavenly Father will regard it as done to himself; 40 as, on the other hand, all the slights and injuries which are otfered to you will be consi- 41 He that receiveth a dered as reflecting not only on me, but on him. And did men truly understand their 41 prophet, ill the name of a q,^,jj interest, they would rejoice to assist you in that noble work in which you are en- propl'^t's retard^ra'nd he gaging; for he that hospitably entertains a prophet,^ in the name of a prophet, or with that receivetii a righteous ^ pious regard to the office he bears, shall receive the reu-ard of a prophet himself, or "ghteous man,"''shair^e- a reward proportionable to the worth of the person he shelters and accommodates in a ceive a righteous man's re- time of danger and difficulty ; and he that entertains [fifwy] righteous man in the name ward. gffi righteous man, or with a cordial regard to the virtues of his character, shall himself 42 And whosoever shall receive the rervard of a righteous ?nan. Nor shall even the smallest and cheapest favour 42 thIse*ritUe"one""!rc°o of *° ^'^^ ^^^^ °* "^J' servants be forgotten ; for, tchosoever, being able to do no more, shall cokr«a'/f/- onlyf in the"'arae give to drink tinto one of these little ones, or to one of these my followers who makes of a disciple, verily I say "j^e meanest appearance, even so much as a cup of cold tvater only, to refresh him in the w!se losehil'^rewarll. '" "° fatigue to which he is exposed in my service, if he shall give it to him in the name of a disciple, or with a real affection to him on account of his relation to me, verily I say unto you, he shall by no means lose his proportionable re-ward, but shall find himself abundantly repaid both with present and future blessings. Matt. xi. I. And it came j[,i(i n came to pass, after this solemn and instructive charge had been delivered, that matt. mad^e'anend of commaild^ '^'^cn Jesus had made an end of giving instructions to his twelve disciples, and had XI. ing his twelve disciples, he prepared them for the service they were now to undertake, he did not lay aside the work 1 30^10 '^reaclTin their cHics hi'^s^lf, but still pursued it with an unwearied diligence and zeal, and departed thence to o pieac 1 in leirci ics. ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ .^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ doctrines of his gospel, and to preach in their cities. Mark vi. 12.^ And they jhe twelve apostles also, in pursuance of the commission they had now received, set mark [fhrough the towns!5 aTd out at the same time ; and they departed from the presence of their Master, 'and went ^ VI. preached [the gospel,] that through the towns of Galilee,' and the neighbouring places, and preached the gospel 12 men^should repent [Luke .^^.i-,gj.g^,gj. jjjey came; insisting with great earnestness upon it, that men should repent of their sins, and prepare for that glorious manifestation of his presence wliich God was 13 And they cast out about to favour them with. And, in consequence of that miraculous power with which 13 many devils, and anointed jpg^.g j^^d invested them, thcy expelled many deinons, and anointed many sick persons lick! °and™"l?eale .r* Tem -^i'ith oil, as a Signal of healing which he had been pleased to du-ect, (compare Jam. v. [every where.] [Luke ix. 14.) and perfectly culled them, whatsoever their malady was; and this they did every ^■^ ' where as they went on in their progress. IMPROVEMENT. Justly may the blessed Jesus set so high a value on himself, and on the blessings of his grace : justly may he matt. insist upon our readiness to abandon all for him, who is so ]ust_ an equivalent for all. May his grace teach us X. to love him more than the dearest of our relations, and even to be ready for his sake to sacrifice our lives ! May 37, 38 it make us willing to take up and bear any cross for him, who bore his cross and expired upon it for us ! The gospel has indeed been the occasion of much contention and persecution, not only in Judea, but elsewhere : 34, 35 yet let us not charge it upon any malig-nity, or any deficiency in that, but on the lusts and corruptions of men, 36 who have either directly opposed, or grossly perverted it. Let us'eiideavour to arm ourselves with courage to encounter, and resolution to endure, whatever persecutions or injuries our adherence to it may cost us ; ever con- fiding in that gracious Providence which extends itself even to the meanest creatures ; reposing ourselves on the 29, 30 support of divme consolations, and esteeming ourselves happy, even in losing our lives in this world, if we may 39 find them in that which is everlasting. In the mean time, may this excellent discourse of our blessed Redeemer animate us to every wort of faith, and every labour of love ! Let not the poorest be discouraged from some charitable attempt for the good of others ; since the munificence of our heavenly Master will remember even a cup of cold water, given to the least of his 42 servants under that character. Yet since there will be such a variety of rewards, proportionable to different degrees of liberality and zeal, let us indulge a generous ambition of aboundmg in the work of tlieLord, that we may shine with distinguished glory in the day of retribution, and have an abuntlant entrance into his kingdom. leaving Jerusalem in the last siege of that place by the Romans, plainly signifies to entertain in an hospitable way, as it does likewise and the Jews losing theirs by crowding into it The heauty and Heb. xi. 31 ; Jam. ii. 2.5. and elsewhere : nor can the gradation in energy of Clirisfs discourse in a parallel place, (Matt. xvi. 24— 2t). the words be understood without such an interpretation. J he ? 89.) would be quite lost by this interpretation ; and indeed many apostles were, no doubt, regarded as a kind of divinely-inspired Christians had actually lost their lives for the gospel, many years prophets; though that title, by way of distinction, was attenvards before that siege commenced. appropriated to persons of an inferior rank. 1 Cor. xii. 28; and f Hospitably entertains a propfiei.] The word SiX'>tiiios here Epli. iv. 11. 156 THE CONDUCT OF IIEROD TOWARD JOHN THE B.VPTIST. ' SECTION LXXVH. Hfivd /uars of Jesus, and suspects him to be John the Baptist, whom he had lately murdered in a manner •which is here, recounted. Matt. xiv. 1,2, 6 — 12. Mark vi. 14 — 29. Luke ix. 7 — 9. Matt. xiv. 1. i\i . ' ''„_ ■ NOAV" at that time,'' while the apostles were making their circuit about the country, At that time Lt^'i's] I'e- ' proclaiming every where the glories of their great Master, and working miracles in his ''«<^ the tctrarcli litaid of ' MATT T'"' ^'''^^''-'^'^ (^^s f^' ^■'^'■">''-l^ '^'^ mentioned above" was generally called) heard of ^'^^/^nu tit was'dline by j^.jy ' thejame of Jesus, \(iml\ was informed by many of all the marvellous thin!£s that were him n [for his name was ■ done I)?/ him and his apostles ; /o;-, by the account they gave concerning him in their I'J'^Luke'^ir 7 ^' l^^'^''*^ ^■'• mission, concuning with his own miracles and preaching, his name was every where spread abroad, and had reached many places far more distant than the court of Herod.'= 2 And immediately his own guilty conscience suggested a fear which he could not forbear 2 Ami [he] said unto his disclosing to those that were about him : and such was his surprise and terror, that he said u?r!l?}^' V"''- '** "'"''".■ "**^ J I ■ . nil ■ ■ r r .7 T. .■ , , ' T 1 , 7 - Baptist; he is riseu irum i even to /iis own servants, Ihis is John the Baptist, whom I put to death ; he is \m- the dead, aud therefore doubtedly risen from the dead, and for this reason he appears with greater honour than ["'S''ty works do shew forth ever, and these extraordinary powers now operate in him, though before he wrought no vi" uj ^*^* '" [Mark miracles. LUKE And notwithstanding Herod had imbibed the principles of the Sadducees,** which \\ere ^"^e ix. 7. And ivc was ^-^- directly opposite to such a supposition, he was exceedingly anxious" on account of the Cs s^i^fof some" that Johu 7 reports he heard; /or the notion was not merely his own, but it was said too bi/ some was risen from the dead ; others, that John was risen from the dead, and would undoubtedly use his miraculous S power to punish those who had murdered him. Jnd it was also conjectured bf/ some that ^ And of some, that Elias Elijah had appeared, according to the general expectation, as the forerunner of the t hatTnl'"orti4"o"ld moS Messiah; (compare Mai. iv. 5 ; Matt. xi. 14; and xvii. 10 — 12.) and by others, that "as risen again-, [aud others . one of the ancient prophets was risen again from the dead :, f/«c/ others also said. It is orasou^'tMi^ ^ prophet, certainly a prophet of the fonner generations, or [a person'] at least like one^of the pro- [Mark vl 15.] '^ ^^°^ ^^ phtts ;' for such miraculous works do as evidently speak a divine mission as any of theirs MARK ever did. But in the midst of this variety of opinions, when llerod heard what was ^^'-^^^ vi. I6. But when VL discoursed [of Jesus,] he was exceedingly distressed, and said with great anxiety, John I "fd^fjotm 'ifavf iTdUad! 16 have certainly beheaded, and received the strongest proofs that the execution was per- ed;'hut who is tliis, of formed ; [but who is this, of whom I hear such things ?] I would not willingly Mieve if, iV*""! \ '"^'="" s"ch things?] i I . 1 . • r : . 1 . 1 ,1 '^ , ■.^•■' T 7 , It IS John whom I behead- yet 1 cannot but suspect tliat whatsoever be the name he now assumes, it is John, that ed, he is risen from the veneralile holy man whom I beheaded, and greatly fear he is risen from the dead. And ''<^^''-. [^n-^ ■ , y.i i. , ,-/-,- ■ -rr T T. bound liini in prison, for lb m prison, on account 0/ the reproof he gave hun for his marrying Herodias ; Becauscf as Hcrodias' sake:-— ' Herod had seduced her from his brother Philip, who was still living, and had a daughter "^ F""" J"hn I'^d said,— by her, John had said to him, with a freedom that he could not bear. It is not lawful havVu.y broullr'swife"" ^ IQ for thee thus to have thy brother's wife. And yv§ had likewise added, that for this 10 Therefore Herodias— reason Herodias also was incensed against him, and would have put him to death ; but she"ioiIid'no't'''''''^ '""'' "^"^ 20 lor a long time she could not compass her design : For Herod had so great a reverence " 20 For lierod feared for John, that he would not yield to her solicitations. But we must now inform the Joiw-— watching for an opportunity 21 And when a convenient . o - _ rr J (lav was ronie. that Heiod reader, that before this time she had found a way of accomplishing her cruel purpose. 21 For as her heart was filled with malice, and she was ever watching for an oppor^^x,.., , .1 * n 1 .^1 , Ti /, the head of John the Baptist ; and that I 'of'john the^Jfeptist-'Vlatt. niay be sure the execution is done, let the head be brought and delivered to me here in a ^f'^'- 8.] charger, or large dish.° • 26 And the king was ex- And the king was e.vceedingli/ sorrj/, as well as greatly surprised, that she should prefer 26 ceeding sorry; [nevcrthe- so strange a petition ; nevertheless, as she persisted in it, for the sake of his repeated less! for liis oath s sake, and , ^ , ^ , p 1 ^ z ■ j • 1, li j ' / /j j. for their sakes which sat oaths, and out of regard to his guests, m whose presence they were made, he would not with him [at meat,] he (iV;;y Jier, [l)ut'\ granted what she asked, and ordered that it should be siven her. commanded Ifto br'given ^^^d immcdiatehi the king sent one of his guards^ as an executioner^ that very night, 27 her.-\ [:\iatt. xiv. 0.] and commanded his head to be brought into the assembly : and, as soon as the soldier ^^ 27 And immediately the ^^^ received his Orders, he presently went, and without any further warning, beheaded king sent an executioner, _ , . ,, . a i 1 i± i- 7 1 ■ ■ — 7- — j u 'j ji 1 OQ and commanded his head to John in the prison. And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the maiden : Zo be brought: and lie went and the maiden, forgetting the tenderness of her sex,'' and the dignity of her rank, with a pnit''''[Matt''xh"VoV"' s^^^t^y ^^'^Ity, agreeable to her relation to so ill a woman, brought [and] delivered it to 28 And brought his head //(■;■ jnother with her own hands. And thus, till the righteous judgment of God overtook in a charger, and gave it to ^j ]| r t^ev CTatified thcmselves in the indulgence of their lusts, and triumphed in the the damsel: and the damsel i % 1 • 1 1 1 i [brou-iit //, and] gave it to murder OI this holy prophet. her mother. [Matt. xiv. ^„^ the next day, his disciples hearing [of it,] came to the prison, and, havuig per- 29 "29 And when his disciples niission to do it, took up his corpse, and laid it with great reverence, and due lamenta- heard 0/(7, they came, and tion, in a Sepulchre belonging to some of them who were willing to pay this last act of iriii".(' 'tmnr"''Tam"''w'ent *^"^y ^^ ^^^^^^ master's memory : and then they went and told Jesus what had hap]3ened, and" told '"jes'us.]'"'[Mat't. and, remembering the repeated testimony which John had bome to hun, continued their *■'"• 12.] attendance upon him. i Wien Herod on htshirth-dny.'] Some great critics, and parti- animated ; as Mr. Blackwall has justly observed in \us Sacred cularly Grotius, Heinsius, and Reland, chuse to interpret this, of Classics, Vol. I. p. 38.3. the day of Herod's accession, rather than /lis birth, which they o Tlie liead of John tlie Baptist in a charger.'] It is well known, think woiild have been more properly expressed by 7£vs9Aiiiv than that it was, and is customary with princes in those eastern parts, to ■yiviTiiv (See Elsn. Observ. Vol. I. p. 100—102.) But it is evident, require the head of those they order to be executed to be brought the Seventy use >iM£--* V£ve-£v5 for a birUi-dav; Gen. xl. 20. to them, that thev may be assured of their death. The Grand k C7»>/'o/^cer.'( of hisarmy.] Though the word x'>-i3ri;xo? pro- Signior does it to this day. See Dr. Lardner, in the place cited in nerly signifies one who had 'the command nf a thousand men, and iiote I, p. 24, 2 j. The word iriv^e^ signifies n large dish, which the held a rank in their army nearly answering to that of the colonels antiquated word charger well expresses ; for which reason I chose in ours, there can be no reason to imagine that the entertainment to retain it. was confined just to that rank of officers: I have therefore rendered p One of his giinrds.'] fio emvouXacm^x properly signifies, or one it in a more general way. fhn iras then standing sentry. There were no executioners in those ^ J 1 Tliis instance of condescension so unusual in those days, &c.] times, whose peculiar business it was to put persons to death. ' -J Or. Laidner very justly observes, that it was very unusual for q Forgetting the tenderness of her sex.] Tliis may perhaps be ladies of a high rank to appear before the men, (Esth.'i. 10—12.) and intimated in -the repetition of the word maiden. Jerome tells us, inurhjeas-to dance at such banquets as these. See his Credibility that Herodias treated the Baptist's head in a very disdainful man- of tite Gospel History, Vol. I. part i. p. 2.3. ' ncr, pulling out the tongue which she imagined had injured her, m Sware «n/o /(fr, more than once] This may be very well con- and piercing it with a needle, eluded, becaiuse both the Evangelists use the plural o/iou;'. Matt. xiv. r Till the righteous judgment of God overtook them all.] Dr. 9. and i\Iark vi. 2G. AVhitb'y, after many others, observes, that Providence interested n Being before urged to it by her mo/her, and at length confirmed itself very^fEmartvaTJtyiiT the revenge of this murder on all con- in the resolution.] So the word sTfjiSieartsiia seems to intimate, as ceroed. "Herod's army was defeated in a war occasioned by his Beza, ffitli his usual accuracy, has observed ; and there is indeed marrying Herodias, wliich many Jews thought a judgment sent much more reas7)iri<5~wouder that she was induced to make such uponhim for the death of John": (Joseph. Aniiq.hb. ■x.y'iu.'cap. 5. a request at all, than that she made some difficulty for a while of [al. 7.] \ 1, 2.) Both he and Herodias, whose ambition occasioned presenting it, considering hovv savage it seemed," and how many liis ruin, were afterwards driven from their kins;dom with great pleasing views must he sacrificeTibiL But at last her mother's regret, and died in banishment at Lyons in Gaul: (Joseph. Ihid. remonstrances seem to have wrought her up to great emotion, Cfip.-.\A\.0.]\1.) And if any credit may be given to Xieephorus, which the Evangelist well expresses by saying, Site came in ivivjs (Hist. lib. 1. cap. 20.) Salome, theyoung lady >vho made this cruel UiiTx 'mourns immediately, and with eagerness. The whole narration request, fell into the ice as she^JSTwalking over it, whic.i, closing of Mark, which is by far the most circumstantial, is very much suddenly, cut off her head. 158 JESUS RETIRES WITH HIS DISCIPLES TO A SOLITARY PLACE. IMPROVEMENT. SKCT. How dreadful a thing is it to have a guilty and accusing conscience ! and how remarkable was the force of it, in 77. the instance before us ! Herod was a king, yet it addressed him in language of terror, and made itself heard and felt, amidst all the hurries and flatteries of a court. Vain was the power of a prince ; vain the caresses of a favourite MARK mistress basely gratified with the blood of a prophet; and vain the yet more besotting tenets of a Sadducee. In ^'l- one instance at least, a resurrection shall be believed ; and if a prophet arise in Israel, Herod shall be among the first 14, IG to say, It is John the Baptist, risen froin the dead ; and shall be ready to forebode the sad effects of his recovered life, and to prognosticate evil to himself from the mighty works he performed. Let us make it our care to preserve a conscience void of oflence, that, instead of a continual torment, it may be to us a continual feast ! 22, 23 And if we really desire to preserve it, let us take heed that we be not excessively transported with the entertain- ments of life, or rashly enter ourselves into engagements which perhaps may plunge us into some degree of guilt, ,;! whether they be performed or violated. 24 We see, in this dreadful instance of Herodias, what an implacable degree of malice may arise in the hearts of j sinners, on being reproved for the most scandalous and mischievous vices. Instead of owning the obligation to one ,1 that would have plucked her as a brand out of the burning, she thirsts insatiably for his blood ; and chuses rather to indulge her cruelty and revenge in taking away his life, than to gratify her avarice and ambition in demanding | a gift that might have been equal to the half of a kingdom. 25, 27 But how mysterious was that providence which left the life of so holy a man in such infamous hands, and per- i mitted it to be sacrificed to the malice of an abandoned harlot, to the_petulancy of a vain girl, and to the ra-shness ' of a foolish and perhaps an intoxicated prince, who made the prophet's head the reward of a dance ! The wat/s of God are unsearchable ! but we are sure he can never be at a loss to repay his servants in another world for the ' great sutferings they endure in this, and even for life itself, when given up in his cause. 27 We may reasonably conclude that death could never be an unseasonable surprise to this excellent saint. When the executioner came into the prison by night, perhaps breaking in upon his slumbers, and executed his bloody j commission almost as soon as he declared it, a soul like his might welcome the stroke as the means of liberty and glory ; assured that the transient agony of a moment would transmit it to a kingdom where the least of its in- habitants would be, in holiness, honour, and felicity, superior to John in his most prosperous and successful state on earth. 29 His enemies might a while insult over him, while his disciples were mingling their tears with his dust, and lament- ing the residue of his days cut off in the midst. His death was precious in the sight of the Lord, and the triumphing of the wicked was short. So will he ere long plead the cause of all his injured people, and give a cup of trembling and astonishment to those that have made themselves drunk with their blood. Let cruelty and tyranny do their worst, veri/tj there is a reward for the righteous ; verity there is a God thatjudgeth in the earth, (Psal. Iviii. 11.) ' • ■ ■ ^ '■ ■ -V . \ ^ S 5 ^ SECTION LXXVIII. When the apostles were returned from executing their cojnmission, our Jjord passes over the sea of Tiberias ; and finding vast niultitudcs had followed him to the place of his intended retirement, he instructs and heals tJiem ; and, having nnraculousli/ fed above five thousand, retires afterrvards to pray. Matt. xiv. 13 — 23. Mark vi. 30—46. Luke ix. 10—17. John vi. 1—15. Mark vi. 30. Mark vi. 30. ; ^s^'CT. And quickly after this awful event of the Baptist's death,' which has been just related, And the apostles [wiieii ! '*• the twelve apostles, when then were returned ivom their circuit, g-athered together unto !!"'y ■"f'"'^ returned,] ga- ; Jesus, and told him all the occurrences of their late journey ; recounting to him both unto Jesus, and told iTim all "^T^^^ "i^/ict miracles theii had done by his divine assistance, and what doctrine then had tilings, both what they had VI. JO. , 1 , J i u- r *■ (lo'iP. a"d what they had taught according to his direction. tau"-ht. [Luke ix lo] 31 And xvhen Jesus heard \of it^ and was informed (as we have just now seen) of the 3? And [when Jesusji death of John, as well as of the event of the journev which his apostles had been making, '""-"'d "f «'.] ''^ said untoj , • 1 , ,1 r< ■ / • 1 • /■/ ; 1 them, Come ye yourselves) lie said to them, Lome ye yourselves privately with me into a solitary place in the apart into a desert jilace, 1 neighbouring desert, and repose yourselves a while after the fatigue of your journey, that '""^ •'<'»* ^ while: for there; we may there indulge such meditations as are suitable to this awful dispensation. And it in''Ji,'^aml''tiiev"ha3 "no k'i- was necessary to give them this advice, for there were many continually coming and sure so nnuh as to cat., going to and from the public place in which they then were, so that they had no oppor- ['^'•''tt- xiv. 13.] tunity even to eat without interruption, and much less had they leisure for religious retirement and recollection. LUKE A)id accordingly, after these things,^ he took them with him, and retired from the Luke ix. lo. And r.jolm,; ' ^'' multitude : and thei/ departed from thence, (even from the place where they had been so '^,'^''''' ""'J"^ tlii"S-sl '''" *"",'^ , ,- , , , ,•', ' . 1 N ' 1 . ^ . , . ■'^ , , , .Si • , them and wentasi(le,fiVIark, 10 much crowded and hurried,) and settmg out in a ship privately, they withdrew into a and they departed [thenee] lonely desert belonging to the city called Bethsaida, which we have several times ''y ship] privately, into a a After this awful event of the Baptist's death.] Matthew, Mark, ing how often Christ changed his place, and came back again to and Luke are all so expre.ss in the connexion of this story with the that which he had formerly visited : nor can he urge it with any foregoing, that there can be no doubt as to the propriety and neces- consistence, because, according to his own scheme of the Harmony, ; sity of placing it here. CiirisTlTao crossed the sea to Gergasa, and dispossessed the legi/in, ,• b After these t/iin^s.'] T have before observed, (in note a. on after the cure of the nobleman's son, and long before the passing John V. 1. p. 9A.) that Mr. Manne supposes this sixth chapter of over the .sea that is here referred to, (which was plainly not to John ought to be connected with the end of the fourth ; laec his Gergasa, but to the desert of Bethsaida:) so that there is no slia- DissertaHons, \->. io7 — 1(13.) and the rather because he fancies one dow of a reason for such an unexampled transposition, which has may find a connexion between John iv. 54. and vi. 1 ; the first of no copy or version to support it. Besides that this requires ano- which texts tells us that Jesus inos in Ciililee ; and the latter, ther change in ver. 4. which is equally arbitrary, and (as we shall l/ial he vent over t/ie sea of Cnlilee, whicli is the sea of Ti- slvow in note e, of this section,) most contrary not only to the faith berias. But I c.innut see the least force in the argument, consider- of all copies, but to the reason of things. THE DISCIPLES SOLICIT CHRIST TO DISMISS THE MULTITUDE THAT FOLLOWED HIM. 159 desert place belonging to mentioned before. [And] as this desert was divided from the place they set out from^ sect. tiie city called Betiisalda; by a creek Or bay of the sea, Jesus, in passing to it, went over a part of the sea of 78. ^ver"'the"fea ''of"GalTree! O alike, xv/iick is also sometimes called UAe sea] of Tiberias," because that is^the most which is M^- sea of Tiberias.] considerable place on its shore. . mark [Matt. xiv. 13. Mark vi. 32. ^^^^^ j,,/^^,„ ^/,„ p^^opie who had been attending on his ministry saw them departing, VI. "' MarkVL^'as. And [when] ojul, though he was at some distance, luani/ of them knew him,'^ and others thereabout 33 the people saw them de- Ijeard of [it,] a great multitude followed him ; because they had seen his miracles, {;inI"'['a\irheard"^/,.Sl -^1^1 lie had just before performed on tiiem that were diseased, and, struck with the [John, a great multitude energy of them, were impatiently desirous still to hear so divine a Teacher. And, there- followed him because they j-Qj.g^ observing how he steered his course, andjgiiessing right as to the place at which he did oifthem' that wei^'dis': intended to land, they ran thither on foot, and increased their numbers out of all the . eased ;] and [they] ran cities by which they passed : and they pursued their journey with such eagerness, that XS ciUes'r an7U°tlen[ they outwent them who had taken ship, and, getting round to the shore where he was to them, and 'came together land, they came together to him, and stood ready to salute him in a large body. L"kc''i'™'ii '■Joh"'vr'^l ^'*' '^"^ Jesus, whe)i he came out of the ship, and saw such a great multitude of pople, 34 3/ And JesuJ," wiieu he who had taken so much pains to meet him there, was moved with tender compassion for came out, saw much peo- than ; because he perceived thei/ were sadly neglected by those who ought to have been ?ompass1o,rtoW '^them, their spiritual guides, and were forced to wander from place to place, as sheep having no because they were as sheep shepherd to feed and take care of them ; and with this he was struck to such a degree, not having .-i shepherd ; ^j^^ thouffh he had come thither for retirement, heCaA. not either dismiss or forsake them ; rLuke, and he received , o .,,. ., t jiii j them,] and began to teach but, on the Contrary, received them m a most condescending and indulgent manner, and them' many things, [Luke, l/cgan with renewed zeal and tm^ency to teach them many important things ; and, in kingdmn'of God*,'and [heal- particular, spake to iliem concerning tlie /cingdom cf God which he was now erecting, ed t'heir sick, eiln M] them and healed many of their side people, \_even all] those that were brought to liim, and ™att'''xirl4°^Luk1' if- /"'^ "^''^ of healing. ^ _ ^ 1,.] And, in prosecution of this desig-n, that he might be heard and seen with the greater John John vi. 3. And Jesus advantage, Jesus went up into a mountain, and there sat down with his disciples, and ^ '• ^■ rnd"*tl>ePre' he" sat^'^kh Ws the multitudes about him. And indeed it was a season of the year which admitted it 5 for 4 •: disciples. the spring was now so far advanced that the passover, a grand feast of t lie Jews, was I 4 And the passover, a „ -,„,, e ni^h. ° ** '"^' ""^^ And when tliey had thus spent the day in a delightful attendance upon him, and it luke Luke ix. 12. And when jj^.^ besan to decline, and indeed was so far spent that the evening came on, then ^^• away,t/lark?and was^ow some of his disciples, and particularly the twelve apostles, who were now round him, 12 forspent,] [and it was even- came to him, and Said, This is a solitary desert place, where there is neither food nor %ln^ *the" twelve"" cime lodging to be had, and the time of day is now far advanced; it will therefore be proper [Mark, unto him, and said, to put an end to thy discourse, and to dismiss the multitude, thai they may go into the This is a desert place, and ^(ij^;,^ and countrij-places round about us, and find conveniences to lodge there, and Te^ui tiL^'muiutudr'awIy? may have opportunity to buy themselves bread, and get other food ; for they have Uiut they may go into tHe fasted all the day, and can have nothing here to cat. 'Zui, "'.fd 'S;,- [mS Then Jesus lifted up his eyes, and seeing a great company who (as was said before) JOHN and buy themselves bread,] were come out of all the cities to him, he says to Philip, who, being a native ot liethsaida, vi. and get victuals: [Mark, ^^^s acquainted in that country, (John 1.^44. p. 43.) How and whence shall we buy 5 ea't.] "[^!at^liv. 15 Mark bread for the entertainment of all these people, that they may eat with me before we vi. 35, 36.] part > (And this he said only to try him, and to give him an o_pporhmity of observing 6 John vi. 5. When Jesus ^ ^ J ^ o , , , ., then lift up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat! 6 (And this he said to prove hira ; for he himself knew what he would do.) c Sometimes called lite sea of Tiberias.'] We have before ob- [having, as John tells us, chap. iii. 22. tarried some time with his served, that it had various names. (See note b, on Luke v. I. p. disciples in Judea, and made so many disciples there, that he 68.) It is not necessary to suppose they crossed the lake; if they alarmed the Pharisees; see John iv. ].] went through Samaria; did, it was only over the extremity of it ; or possibly they only and after having spent two days at Sichar, [and every hour in such made a coasting voyage round some creek or bay of it ; otherwise a circumstance is important,] came into Galilee, and taught in all it is hard to say how the people going on foot could have been their synagogues ; preached the sermon on the mount ; and tnen there he fore him, as it is said they were, Mark vi. 33. See Lightf. [having, as Luke tells us, chap. iv. 31. dwelt a while at Capernaum, Hor. Hebr. on Matt. xiv. 13. and Calmet, Dissert. Tom. I. part and taught them on the sabbath days,] cured Peter's raother-in- i. p. 89. law : then, having cast out Legion, cured the paralytic, called d Many knew him.] It should seem that Christ ordered the Matthew, and [after having kept them with him some time, as Tessel to be prepared at some distance from the place where the Mark and Luke intimate, \ 52. p. 106.] sent out the twelve aposlles ; multitude was ; yet not so far off but some of the company could and having on one sabbath vindicated his disciples for plucking the make a shift to distinguish who he was. ears of corn, and on another cured the man with a withered hand, e The passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.'] Almo.st all who he then goes to Nazareth, [where he spent at least one sabbath ;] have compiled Harmonies of tiie gospel, have concluded that this and, after many other miracles, and the return of tb.e twelve, goes was at least the third passover of our Lord's public ministry ; and into the desert ; [John the Baptist in the mean time having been Sir Isaac Newton reckons it the fourth. (See note a, on John ii. 13. seized, (for it is directly said he was at liberty after the first pass- p.4-.'i But Mr. Manne advances a most singular hypothesis, which over, John iii. 24.) and after frequent audiences, while Herodias IS, that it was no passover at all, but was the feast of pentecost:r^«- long waited an opportunity to destroy him, being at length be- serf. p. 163.) But he his no authority for making such an altera- headed.] All these events, except those included in crotchet.^ Mr. tion, allthe old manuscripts and versions agreeing with the re- Manne expressly mentions; (p. 166—171.) and those that are so ceived reading, which therefore should not be changed without included, the Evangelists in express words connect witu the rest, urgent necessity ; whereas there is no necessity at all for it in this Now I appeal to any unprejudiced person, whether it is possime ^ place : nor is it possible that this should be, as he supposes, the these things could happen in a month, it may rather be aouinea feast ofpentecost, following the first passover of Christ's ministry ; whether two years be sufficient lor them, and others connected with because such things are expressly said to have happened between them in t'le preceding sections. On the whole, I cannot recollect that passover a.nA this /Vasi', as could not he crowded into thenar- any instance in which a person of such distinguished learning and row compass assigned them on this scheme. For, according to Mr. abilities has been betrayed, by love to any hypothesis, into so pal- Manne's scheme, the passover happened on Aoril the 2d, the feast pable an error.— The reader will pardon my having been so large of pentecost on May the 23d, and this miracle of feeding the five in confuting a scheme so inconsistent with that laid do\rn above , , thousand at the latter end of Apri!. Now lie himself allows that, and will, I liope, perceive that it is proved, not only to be preca- afterthe first passover, [at which he .giaiil^long enough to work rious or unlikely, but even impossible. » many miracles, and to have a conference with Nicodemus,] Jesus 160 HE FEEDS FIVE THOUSAND WITH FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISHES. SECT what followed more attentively ) for he /n7ti self very well Jciicic -what lie was about to do, 7 Philip answered hire, 78. ■ and had determined how to proceed.) But P/u/ip, forgetting what had heen done of J/^^.^^^'^'irlf'SI^I^J this kind by Elijah and EUsha, prophets so far inferior to Jesus, (1 Kings xvii. 14 — 16 ^ for them, that every one of JOHiN aFd 2 Kings iv. 4—6, 42—44.) and even by Jesus himself at Cana in Galilee, (John ii. "'^™ ™^yi|,''^,'=^^ But'iesus , '^l- 6 — 1 1. sect, xxiii.) was surprised that he should mention such a thing, and ansivcrcd him, said'unto thmi/riiey need 7 T-wo hundred pennyworth of bread, or as much as could be purchased for two hundred not depart give ye them to. denarii,f which is at present all our little stock, is not sufficient for them, that every one \^^^^^ sj, "ll wc g^o TJd "'uy of them may take a /////c refreshment, and much less would it furnish them with a fuh two hundred pennyworth of meal ; it will be necessary therefore immediately to dismiss tliem, that they may have ^[f\'|;i^,Lj'^,'';,;,^^]'\,™f'^'i^,' time to shift for themselves. tiiem to eat!] ' [Mark vi. MATT. Bitt Jesus said to him, and to them that stood near him, who had liut just now made 37. Luke ix. i,i.] XiV. the same proposal. They have no need to go away fasting, nor am I willing to dismiss unto" them, How^ n,-,'„y 16 them so without any supply : and therefore let them have food for their refreshment here ; loaves have ye? go uuii and, instead of sending them away to provide for themselves, do you make ready for ^^e.^^^^ ^^ ^ ^^^^ ^^ ^_ , them, and iiive ye them \something\ to eat. And they say unto him. Shall we then go disciples, Andrew, Simnn to any neighbouring place, and buy txoo hundred pennyworth of bread {and'\ meat for all Peters brother, saith unto this multitude of people, and give [if] them to eat, that it may go as far as it can ? If "^''There is a lad here, such be thy pleasure, we shalfnot otier to dispute it, whatever be the consequence as to whicii hath five hariey 1 •' '■ loaves, and two small fishes : om-selves. , ^.^i, ,.,„ . c ^^it [Luke, we have no But, as he purposed in himself to entertain the multitude out ot the little store ot pro- more, anJ-\ what are they VI. 38. visions they had, Jesus says to them. How many loaves have you here aheady ? go and aniong 'Oj^J.^^'^y ■ [Ma«. -toHN ^ee that, and there will be no need of buying any more. Upon which one of his dis- ^^^^^^ ■^'l- c?jo/e5, namely, Andrew, who was Simon Peter's brother, went to inquire 5 and, soon _Matt. xiv. is. He said, 8 returning back with an account of what they had, he says unto him, I find there is a lad Bnng \'; J,';j''^;;^,|° J'^^^;^^ 9 hei^e that has five coarse barley loaves, and two small fishes, which he would let us the multitude to sit down have; but we have no more to offer them, either of breador_meat.; [and] what are they ['^Fji'^ th^e^ he^aid T.'l.il MATT, among so many, to satisfy the hunger of so great a company ? And he said io them, discipies!]"'[Makrthem ','11 ^^^- Do YOU be under no concern about the scantiness of your provisions; but bring thon sit down by companies.] 18 hitlier to me, for even these shall siifhce. . ^•^ras's"in^'tTe ;'iaceTi':^rk 19 And, when they were brought to him, he commanded the multitude to sit down upon vi. 39. Luke ix. u. Joim vi. theoreen grass, which at that season of the year was pretty high: and, that the distribu- '"^^^^^ .^ ^. ^^^ ^^^ tion of the food might be more orderly, and the number of persons be the better observed, ^j^ sVandmade them afl he said to his disciples. Let them be placed in order, and cause them all to sit down by sit down, [John, So the companies in rows. Now there was then much grass in the place,^ in_ which they l^,^Xds,°Ind ^ by^fiftieS might sit down with ease and pleasure. • [John, in number ai)out LUKE And his disciples would no more dispute the matter with him ; but they did so as the five ^"^^^^^^^-^^^ [Mark vj. '^- Lord had commanded them, and caused them all to sit down, though they could not see iq-j " « "'• - " '" ^'• 15 how they were to be fed. The men therefore sat down by themselves, in rows which Mark vi. 41. And wiieu there was room to -pass between, by hundreds and by fifties, in a long square, containing j^^"' 'L^vesl'l'mf Ihe" /'vo an hundred in rank, and fifty in file :'' and they were about five thousand in number, fisiies, lie looked up to hea- no^tojnentipn the women and children, ^yho were placed apart. ^^^'^' ''"f,.J^,:f"'^";J^„kg^'^'^l,el MARK ""^SmcTJcsus, taking the five loaves and the Iwo fishes, looked up to heaven with great b?essed^'[Luke, '"them] and '^'1- reverence and affection, and having given thanks to his heavenly Father for the bounties brake the loaves, and [John, 41 of his kind Providence, and the extraordinary instance of Divine favour now to be mani- aiscil!ies'°'\Luke'" to" set t fested, he, in a solemn manner, blessed them, commanding upon the provisions before him before tlie inultitiuie] ' that singular blessing by wliich they were to be multiplied in the distribution ; and then [;[;'J^'"' j^,','f dWri1ies''"Ti:] lie brake the loaves in pieces, and distributed them to his disciples, that they might set }lXt to'^he"il'lult'itnd^;] [them] before the multitude, who were set down upon the grass as he had ordered them : and [John, likewise] the an4 accordingly the disciples [gave them] round to all the multitude with believing [iTemtiut^t'U'muchl hearts and unsparing hands : and he likewise divided the two fishes among them all, tliey would.]' [Matt. xiv. and gave them by the hands of his disciples to the whole company, supplying them whh if». Luke ix. 16. John vi. as much as they would take. And so wonderfully were the provisions increased by 4^.3 ^nd they did all eat, passing under his creating hand, that they did all cat of them till they had every one and were fiUed. [Matt. ^ ? J II c \\ i- £ 1 xiv. 20. Luke IX. 17] enough, and were all iully satisfied. joi,„ yj |o. -when they JOHN And, when they were all sufficiently filled, he says to his disciples. Let there be no were filled, he said unto his VL 12. waste made of any part of the divine bounties, hni gather up the broken pieies that tliscipies, «atlier up the io ■ .1 . • ,!■ 1 , , m, 1- . 1 .; /'■IT i 1 • 1 fragments that remain, lli.it i-J remain, that so nothing may he lost. The disciples therefore, in obedience to his word, nothing be lost. ^vent through the several ranks of the whole company, and picking up the pieces that 13 Therefore they %.\- were left, they gathered them together, and filled no less than twelve baskets with the fi\Yed t«^7ve *bfsfet^\viti. very fragments of the five barley loaves, and of the two fishes, which remained over the frag;ments of the five and above to them that had eaten : a quantity vastly larger than they had at first. l^^'ey lt>"'es, [Mark, and f For two hundred denarii.] This amounts to about six pounds " by Ahasuerus in that royal feast which was intended to shew the ! five shillings of our money. The mention of that sum seems to " ric/ies of his glorious kingdom, and the honour of his excellent ma- intimate (as in the paraphrase,) that their whole stock amounted to " jesti/." See Esth. i. 4 — t. so much. - h An hundred in rank, and fifty in file.] That this is the proper ^ There was much grass in the place.] It is also said (Mark vi. import, is abundantly proved by Mr. Pierce in his Fifth Disserta- 3!)^) that the grass was green : as it was before the passover, but not tion annexed to the "Hebrews. ,T!iis was the shortest and cxactesf near the feast of pentecost, when even the corn harvest was con- way of ranginar them, and reconciles Mark's account above, with eluded. Though they sat thus on the ground, under no canopy but Luke's, who oiily speaks of Uieir sitting down by fifties. Thus dis- tlie sky, and had only barley bread, and, as it .seems, cold or dried posed, they would wait more patiently till they were served in their fishes to eat, and probably nothing but water to drink ; yet, as Mr. turns ; the number would appear at once, and they would see that Henry truly and beautifully observes on M.att. xiv. 19. "There Christ knew it " was more real grandeur displayed by the Master of this feast, than REFLECTIONS ON CHRIST S FEEDING EIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE. ICl of the fishes,] which re- Aiid yet f/ic^ zn/to had eatoi of the loaves and fishes (as by the disposition of the sliCT. maincdoyoraud above unto „jultilude in rows, the iiuaiber of them might be easUy computed,) xvere about five 78. tiiein tlidt iiuu eaten. . . j ■ j i/-/ii ^^t■i^^^^ Matt. xiv. 20. Mark vi. 43. thousand 711671, ocsides "wonien and children, who sat by themselves, and miglit aunost Luke ix. 17.] , , ., amount to an equal number. matt. that"'"iad'^eaten [of the T'//<^ ""« therefore who were present upon this occasion, and were thus miraculoiosly ^^^- 2i- loave.«] v,ere about five entertained, /^ai)/«o- ^^tvi Me w/Vtfc/e' W//c// Jt'.j/i.s ti'/'oz/o-///, after all the preceding wonders ^^^?^ men'aud 'ch"ld«n!''[Mrk "^ ^he day, were so mightily struck with it, tliat they said. Truly this is the great Pro- 14^*' vi. 44.] phet -who -was to come into the tDorld, and has so long been impatiently expected by us, John vi. 14 Then those gygQ t^g Mesaiah himself, whom God has appointed to rule, as well as to teach his people. the"inTracie that^jJs^us dTd" (Compare Deut. xviii. 18 ; and see also 1 Mac. xiv. 41.) And, concluding that the same said, This isof a truth that miiaculous power could make itself victorious over all opposition, and easily could subsist ^'io'theV*.!rUl.*''°"''^ '^""'^ ^"^ maintain an army' in the greatest extremity, they began to enter into measures of 15 When Jesus there- proclaiming his title to tlie kingdom of Israel, and fixing him on the throne of David his fore perceived tliat tliey father by force, to make hira a Je&us therefore, knotoing that they would quickly urge this proposal, and that their 15 kingr, [Mark, straightway he hearts were SO much set upon it, that thei/ were read?/ to come and seize him hy force get hito'thesliipl'anTtogo ^" "'"^'^ ''""' ^'■"'5"' "^'^ determined immaliately to part with them, lest he should give [before him] to' the otiier Umbrage to the jcalousy of the Romans, and lead the people that followed him into side, unto Bethsaida, wiiiie inconvenience and ruin : he therefore immediateh/ obliged his disciples to get into the [Matt. XIV. 22. Mark vi. ^^^ip "'' which they had come thither,'^ and to go before him to the other side of the 45.] '^ creek, to the city of Bethsaida,^ tvhile he dismissed the multitude, who upon seeing his he' had sent'^'thera away" disciples go aboard, would be more easily prevailed upon to go away. And when he mark [and tlieevenin;j was come,]' had accordingly dismissed the multitude, and sent them off as well as his disciples, and 'V. he departed [Jnhn, ag:ain,] the cvcnina was HOW comc, he aa-ain withdretv, according to his freciuent custom, \and\AQ [and went up, [John, hira- 1 1 i 1 ■ ir 1 P i ■ ■' ^\ ^ j .. i • 1 1 self alone] into a mountain asccncled up 07/ limiselj alo7ie to a 7nou7itai7i in those parts, to pray to his lieavenly to pray.] _ [Matt. xiv. 23. Father; in which delightful exercise he spent the greatest part of the night. IIVIPROVEMENT. So evidently true is it, that ma7i Uveth not by b7-ead alone, but by evei^y 700/^d that proceedeth out of the Ver. _41 mouth of God ! (Matt. iv. 4.) How wonderful did the power of Clirist appear, in thus muhiplying the food! and how amiable his compas.sion, in his afl'ectionate concern for the relief of his necessitous followers! It is to be matt. esteemed a great happiness, when the ministers of the gospel have it in their power to assist men in their temporal XIV. 1 as well as their spiritual necessities ; and it is peculiarly incumbent upon them, thus to do good and com7nunicdte; IG j for with such sacrifices from their hands God is peculiarly well pleased, and the success of their ministry may be greatly promoted by them. (Heb. xiii. 16.) The disciples received from the hand of Christ the food they delivered to the people : and so should ministers be john concerned, that they may receive from Christ what they dispense to others as the bread of life, and that they also at VI. the same time may live upon it, as the support of their own souls. How great an honour is it to be employed as 1 1 stewards of the mysteries of God ! Let not immoderate secular cares, let not the desire of worldly riches or great- ness, interrupt us in this blessed work ! Christ withdrew from those Avho would have made him king : ill there- 15 fore does it become his disciples to pui-sue earthly grandeur ; and most unworthy is it of his ministers, to act as if his kingdom were of this world. May we learn in every state to be content ! (Phil. iv. 11.) In want, may we cheer- fully trust Providence ! In plenty, may we not wantonly abuse it ! but learn, by his command of gathering up tlie 12 fragments even of this miraculous feast, a wise frugality in the use of our enjoyments : that nothing may be lost, nor a reserve be wanting, by which the streams of future liberality may be fed ! When the day had been thus employed, Christ retired to a mountain to pray. Thus must secret devotion attend matt. our public labours for the instmction and salvation of men, if we would secure that divine blessing, without which, XiV. neither the most eloquent preaching, nor the most engagmg and benevolent conduct, can command or promise 23 success. S-^rr, , ttc ^ - 'Win/^' C- - \ 'ir.rr SECTION LXXIX. As the disciples were up07i the lake, they are ove7^takcn by a storm : and Christ comes to them, walking on accj the sea, a/id stills the teinpest. Matt. xiv. 24, to the end. Mark vi. 47, to the end. John vi. 16 — 21. 79 ' ,„„„ . ,„ John vi. 16. ■ John vi. 16. _ • um And, when even was noiv iT was before observed, that, after the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, Christ or- •^fj"'^ come, his disciples went tiered his disciples to depart, and go before him to Bethsaida; and accordingly, when the ^'- ""• i Concluding that the same mirac\ilous power could subsist and it was certainly the highest prudence in Christ, considering what maintain an army.] It is certain, that an army of less than five his purposes were, to order them away, and to dismiss them and the thousand men might, under such a Leader, have accomplished the multitude, before any thing happened which could alarm or greatest events, and have obtained even universal empire, had he offend even the most jealous spies, who might perhaps herd among been pleased to exert his power to such purposes. They probably the crowd. remembered how vast an host had been defeated by Gideon with \ And l/> gn hflfnre him to the other side of the creek, to Bcthmtda.'] only Ikrcc hundred men with their trumpets and lamps ; ( Judg. vii. It was observed before, (Luke ix. 10. p. 159.) that they were ""w in 22.) not to mention Samsmi's slaying a thousand with a jaw-hone, a desert place belonging to Bethsaida ; which probably was divided (Judg. XV. 15.) and other extraordinary events of this kind recorded from it by some bay or creek that rjin into the land ; and Christ in the Old Testament. (See 2 Kings \\\. 21—24 ; 2 Chron. xx. 22— now only brdered^htSTlTsciples to pass over this creek to the city of 2-5; and compare Lev. xxvi. 8.) They also knew that the whole Bethsaida, where he miglit afterwards have joined them, when he body of the Jewish nation was then highly spirited v^ith these had sent away the people. But in their passage thither, a great sentiments, and might reasonably expect that legions of them storm arose, and they were driven by a contrary wind into the midst would .soon pour in to the standards of such a Leader. of the sea towards Capernaum. This reconciles the place before us k Oblifjcd his disciples, &c.] This phrase may intimate that they, with the beginning of the next section, where, notwithstanding the who plainly appear to have been loo fond of secular views, were direction Christ had given them to go before him to Bethsaida, we rather inclined to stay, and quitted the multitude with some re- find them going to Capernaum, which lay on the other side of th« hictance, in what they tho'jglit TO favourable a conjuncture. But lake. Compare nole a, page 10?. M .162 SECT. 79. JOHN VI. PETER ATTEMFflNG TO WALK ON THE SEA, IS READY TO SINK. MATT. XIV. 26 MARK • VI. 50 MATT. XIV. MARK VLSI evening was come. Ins disciples -went down to the sca\-side ;] And having entered into the ship which waited for them, and put off from land, they quickly met with a cross wind that changed their course, and were soon driven farther from the shore than they designed; so that, instead of getting to Bethsaida, thci/~were going to the other side of the sea towards Capernaum ;'^ a)id, night coming on, it was now dark, and the ship was in the midst of the sea, they did not exactly know where. Now Jesus was not yet come to them,^ [but was"] still where they left him, fey-htitredf alone on the land, em- ployed in secret devotion on the mountain to which he retired. In the mean time they were in circumstances of great danger and distress ; for the sea arose in a very tempestuous manner, by reason of a violent storm of wind which blew hard upon it : and the vessel was tossed by the swelling waves ; for the wind was con- trary to them, and had driven them far out of their intended course. So when the?/ had rowed about twenty-Jive or thirty furlongs, or something more than a league,"" in the beginning of the, fourth watch of the night, or about three o'clock in the morning,^ Jesus, who knew the distress they were in, perceiving that they were weary with rowing, and in vain attempted to weather the storm, came to them walking on the sea,^ by his miraculous power rendering his own body lighter than usual, or strengthening the waves to bear it : and, farther to exercise their faith and courage, he seemed, at first, as if he would have passecTSy them. And when the disciples, by that little light which the reflection of the moon on the water afforded them', saw him walk- ing on the sea, and passing near the ship, not perfectly discerning who it was, they were much terrified, saying. It is certainly an apparition, for no human body could thus be supported by the water : and they had such a dread of what might be the conse- quence, that they cried out aloud for fear. For they all saw him; and, notwithstand- ing the miraculous power that he had lately given them over evil spirits, (Matt. x. 1 . p. 149.) yet xvere they greatly troubled. And therefore, to deliver them from that anxiety, he immediately spoke to them, and said. Take courage : for it is I, your Lord and Master : be not afraid of me, who am your friend ; nor of the violent tempest, which can- not hurt you while under my protection. Then, as they knew his voice, they presently began to lay aside their fears : and Peter, whose natural temper was remarkably warm and forward, immediately answering, said unto him, Ijord, if it indeed be thou, who art walking on the sea, as I now apprehend it is, I am so far from being afraid of the tempest in thy presence, while I continue in the ship, that I am willing thou shouldst, if thou pleasest, command me to come to thee even iipon the luater, and I will immediately venture to do it. And^ Jesus, that he thus might exercise his faith, and by convincing him of his weakness, might give a check at the same time to his excessive confidence, complied with his proposal, and said to him. If thou hast faith and courage to attempt it, co7ne then, and make the trial : and Peter, being now assured it was indeed liis Master, came down from the ship, andixxWy satisfied that he was able to uphold and bear him up, walked on the water for a while, to come unto Jesus : But soon perceiving that the wind was very strong, and the sea raging with great vio- lence, he was afraid of being lost ; and his faith failing him, he presently began to sink,s and cried out in a great consternation of spirit, saying. Lord save me, or I shall be swal- lowed up in a moment. And immediately Jesus stretching out his hand, laid hold on him ; and, to remind him of his unbelief, said to him, O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt of my protection, when I was so near ; when thou hadst my commission to make the trial, and hadst in part experienced my power in supporting thee thus far on the waves ? And, taking Peter with him, he ascended to them info the bark ;'' and when they were down uuto the sea ; [Mark vi. 47.] 17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea towards Capernaum : and it was now dark, [Mark, and the ship was in tlie midst of the sea t] and Jesus was not come unto thera, [Mark, hnt lias alone on the land.] [.Matt. xiv. 24, Mark vi. 47.] 18 And the sea arose, by reason of a great wind tliat blew, [and the ship was tossed with waves ; for tlie wind was contrary] [Mark, uuto them.] [Matt. xiv. 24. Mark vi. 48.] 19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, [in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus] [Mark, saw them toiling in rowing, and cometli unto thera walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.] [Matt. xiv. 25. Mark vi. 48.] Matt. xiv. 26. And when the disciples saw him walk- ing on the sea, [John, and drawing nigh unto the ship,] tliey were [John, afraid,] saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. [Mark vi. 49. John vi. 19.] Mark vi. 50. For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, andsaith unto thera. Be of good cheer, It is I, be not afraid. [Matt, xiv. 27. John vi. 20.] Matt. xiv. 28. And Peter answered him, and said. Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 22 And he said. Come. And, when Peter was come down out of tlie ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 Cut, when he saw the wind boistero\is, he was afraid: and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Je- sus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt ? Mark vi. 51. And he a IFere going to the other side of l/te sen towards Capernaum.'] This exactly expresses what is said in the original ; njxovro irt^jtv t«s ixXmu- ar>s Eij KxTTi^xnn : and I cannot but look upon it as an argument that Bethsaida lay on the east side of tlie sea of Tiberias, (though most of our maps hav.; placed it in a different situation ;) smce Capernaum is allowed by all to have been situated on the western shore, and is here represented as lying on the opposite side to Bethsaida, from which they were driven over the sea to Capernaum. (Compare note 1, in the preceding page.) This situation of Bethsaida is like- wise confirmed by Josephus, (Jlell. Jud. lib. ii. cap. 9, [al. S.] sect. 1.) who calls it by the name of Julias ; which Pliny also speaks of, as on the eastern side of the lake of Gennesareth. See Plin. Nat. Hist, lib. V. cap. 15. and Lightfoot. Cent. Chorog. in Matt. cap. 93. b Now Jesus was not yet come to them.] It is a great imperfec- tion of our language, that we have no proper copulative particle but [and ;} which is here so much the more unhappy, as, in laying together the whole narration of the Evangelists, the use of that particle is much more frequent than it would have been in any single one. I rhuse therefore here, and in some other places, to change it for the word [noir,} which in this connection signifies almost, if not entirely, the same thing. c JVhen they had roieed about tiventij-five or thirty furlongs."] — Probably, when they found the wind so violent, they were afraid of being shipwrecked if they came near the shore : and therefore having perhaps saikd a while before the wind, they now rowed out to sea : for, as they must have been several hours at sea, one can hardly imagine, that with so brisk a gale they made no more Way in all this time than a little above a league ; unless wc impute it to their having laboured all they could to avoid crossing the sea, and to get to Bethsaida. d In the fourth luatch of the night.'] The Jewish night was di- vided into four watches, each containing about three of onr hours, especially so near the equinox. The first began at six in the even- ing, the second at nine, the third at midnight, .".nd the fourth at three in the morning. (See Godwin's Moses and Aaron, book iii. chap. 1.) j]^"» that ■L tu • X • -i^i 1 ■ • iu • 1 j; ..i ?/ "'S disciples were eoue nave another mterview with him m the morning; and, as they saw there was no other away alone: vessel there on the coast, hut that one into which his disciples entered when they departed in the evening, and knew that Jesus did not go with his disciples into the vessel, but that his disciples went away by themselves, leaving him there to spend the 23 night alone, they made no question of his being still on that side of the sea. But in the 23 (Howbeit there came morning they perceived that he was gone, and p'£sentLy determined to go after him : and, niA7un'to'\he°phice' where though there were no vessels there the night before, yet were they quickly furnished with they did eat bread, after an opportunity of following him ^ for there came other vessels very ea.r\y frofn Tiberias, [■''"* 1,*'^? ^°'^'^ ^^^'^ given and put to shore 7iigh to the place where they had eat the bread and fishes after the 24 Lord had given thanks, and commanded such a miraculous blessing upon them. The ^'' When the people tnultifude therefore, when they saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there was'^not'^thenE'' nei^ther'^lHs on that side, went also themselves immedidiielY aboard the vessels that were now arrived, disciples, they also took as many of them as could, and came to Capernaum, seekinfr for Jesus with all the 1'!'''?!"°' ''"^ came to Ca- ne /? ii ^ ■ ^ •■ A 1 1 ^1 ^ 1 t r 7 ?■ j; pernauni, seeking for Jesus. 2o appearance 01 the most eager importunity. And, when they had found liim on the 25 And when they had other side of the sea, in the synagogue of Capernaum, (see ver. 59.) as soon as the ''"ii"<"iim on the other side worship was over, and before they quitted the place, they accosted him with the greatest him,'*Rlb*bi, wL^n' earnest respect, and said unto him. Rabbi, when and how earnest thou iiither ? for, as thou *'""» hither? didst not go last night with thy disciples, we expected to have found thee on the other side of the sea, and know not when thou couldst come, or what imaginable way thou couldst have of crossing the water. 26 But Jesus, jnodestly waving the recital of those extraordinary circumstances which at- 26 Jesus answered them tended his passage","~cnverted the discourse to a *fA more important and edifying subject; sayu^t'o'vou'^'l^e' s^eek'me^ and knowing, by an intimate penetration of their very hearts, that they were governed not because' ye saw the only by carnal motives in this attendance upon him, humble and zealous as it misrht ""racies, but because ye did 1 1,1 -,1 1 1 -i 1 ■ 1 ir -I -IT , eat of the loaves, and were appear, he answered them with great solemnity, a/id said. Verily, verily, I say unto fiikd. you. You seek me, not because you have seen the miracles that I perform, and are ' convinced by them that I am a divine Teacher, but because you have eaten of the loaves, and were filed, and have from thence concluded that you shall make yourselves 27 rich and great by following me. But these are mean, and may be fatal views ; and I 27 Labour not for the would fonn you to nobler and Aviser sentim.ents : labour not therefore so much to procure forthat" meat'^'^wh'ich' en- the 7neat which perishes, and can only support the mortal part of your nature;^ but dureth unto everlasting life, rather be solicitous to obtain divine knowledge and instruction, that meat which endures ^/ve'^'^uX^"" of man shall to eternal life, and will nourish your souls to endless felicity : this is that which the Son hath God the °Fatlicr of man will most readily give you ; for him has God the gi'eat Father of all, in mercy sealed. to his creatures, sent into the world for this blessed purpose, and sealed with this mira- culous power, which he daily displays,'' as an authentic proof of his divine mission. 28 They therefore, that they might appear willing to receive his instructions as well as 28 Then said they unto ^ his bounties, said unto him. What ?nust we do that we mail so work the works of God h™. What shall we do, that . ». fltX ■ „ t« u- /• i 1 1 iv ^ •^"•fc-^ ^ ^e might work Hie works ^¥-^ as to secure his favour to eternal liie ? of God ? p9 Jesus replying, said unto them. Think not of meriting the divine favour by any ?'^ Jfsns answered and I thing you can do yourselves ; for this is the great work of God, which he requires above work" o'f* GoT'thatVe be^ { all things, and which he will be ready to accept, that you believe on him whom he has lieve on him whom he hath I sent, crediting his message, and venturing your souls upon his power and grace. ^^"'• 30 Then, though they just before had seen such an astonishing miracle, and several of 30 They said therefore them lived in the neighbourhood of CapernaiiirT, where he had" so long multiplied those csft^lioi'^then'^ that^w ^'^'^"'' wonders, yet some of them were so unreasonable, that they s^ to ///;;?, after all the see, and believe thee" wS miracles that he had wrought,'^ If tfeou wouldst have us to regard thee as invested with so ^°^^ 'i'"" ^^o''' ■ a Labour not to procure the meal uhich perishes.] Hardly any ficient to say, that to seal is a general phrase for authorizing by one can imagine our Lord intended to prohibit men's labourine; proper credentials, whatever the purpose be for which they are for the subsistence of their bodies. Most of those who attended pivcn ; or for marking a person out as wholly devoted to the service him probably had no other support than their labour : but his of him whose seal lie bears. intent was plainly to declare how much the interest of the soul c Some of them were so unreasonable, that thei/ said to him.'] was to be preferred to that of the body. (Sec note h, on Matt. The sentiments of those that speak to Christ in this discourse are xii. 7. p. 10), 102.) Efyi^EiSii (3s^Tiv is to labour to procure meat. so various, (compare ver. 34, 41, 42.) and the Evangelist so expressly b Him has God the Father sealed.] Some have ingeniously con- declares that there was a debate between some and others of them, .lectured that this may allude to a custom which princes jnighj ver. 52. that I think it would be wrong to imagine these to have have when raaking^^iwid entertainments, to give a commisSfCn been the perverse and ungrateful sentiments of tlie whole multi- niider their hand and seal, or perhaps to deliver a signet to those tude, who had followed him with so much eagerness from place to whom they appointed to preside in the management of them : place for several days, (see Eisner, Vol, L p. 311, 312) Though it may possibly be suf- u^' THE JEWS ASK A SIGN, JESUS TELLS THEM HE IS THE BREAD OF LIFE. IGo high a character, that far exceeds whatever has been claimed by any one before, tliou sect. shouldst produce some signal evidence of a superior kind to all that has been done by 80. others : xvhat, sign therefore s/iewest thou from heaven, that we may see [it,'] and ■ believe thee ? What dost thou perform more tlian others, or even equal to what Moses John 'idid, that we should treat thee with so extraordinary a regard ? Thou didst indeed ycster- ^''• 31 Our fdthors did cat; day feed some thousands of us in an extraordinary manner with barley bread: but oiirZl mauna in the desert; as itiy^,^/,^,.^^ ^v^q -^vere incomparably more numerous than that assembly, did, under the breld from heavS to eat™! conduct of Mo?e%, cat manna, afar more delicious food, in the xsitdcrness, even forty ''years; as it is written, (Psal. Ixxviii. 24.) " He gave them bread from heaven to eat ;" and, when thou shalt give us as glorious a demonstration of thy mission, we will pay thee an equal regard. 32 Then Jesus said unto Then Jesiis said to them again, Verily, verily, I say, and affirm it unto yon, how 32 them, Verily, verily, I say 5,*j.„j,„e soever it mav appear, Moses gave i/ou not that bread from heaven which best unto vou, Moses Rave vou -^"""s"- ov^^^.w j rr » > T ^i • i- ] ii i t^ ii u not that bread from heaven; deserves SO honourable a name; but this you are supplied with by 7ny Father, who, but my Father giveth you sgndino- me among you as your Instructor and Redeemer, giveth ?/ou now the true and U.e true bread from hea- ^^^^ excellent bread fron'i heaven. For that is inched'' the bread of God, and may 03 ""33 For the bread of God most justly claim the tide, which descendeth from the highest heaven,'^ whereas manna n is '>Y''"'''^\*j^™,f/^'.\*/°l7," fell only from the clouds or the inferior regions of the air; and which giveih life and ' unt™ the world" ^''"' ' '" true happiness /o the whole world of believers, whereas what Moses gave only relieved the temporal necessities of one particular nation. 34 Then said they unto The?/ therefore, when they heard him speaking of so excellent a gift, were presently 34 liim. Lord, evermore give ^esirous to obtain it; and, though as yet they did not fully understand what he intended us this bread. ^^ ^^^.^ ^^.^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^.g^^, ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^f ^j^g^^^e j^^d such a notion of its excel- lence, that they said to him. Lord, give us evermore this bread, on wliich our life depends, and let us always live upon this heavenly manna. 3.-, And Jesus said unto Then, for a farther explication of this important truth, Jesus said to them, I am indeed 35 thcra, I am the bread of life; f/^^, bread of life ;^ nor is bread so necessary to the support of your bodies, as a believing ne^'e'rhun^er-'Vud^beThat regard to me is to the life of your souls; he therefore that comes to me, and makes his believeih on me shall never application aright, shall never hunger ; and he that truly believes in me shall never *'"'^'- thirst any more ; but may depend upon .it, that he shall find the most restless desires of his soul satisfied, and, conscious" of the noblest refreshment and nourishment already received, shall grow up to a state of everlasting complete satisfaction and enjoyment 36 But I said unto you, But, valuable as these blessings of my grace are, you are little disposed to pursue and 36 that ye also have seen roe, ^^^^^^ them ; for I have already told you, {vex. 26.) that you have even seen me, and am be leve no . beheld the miracles that I perform, and yet are so perverse and obstinate that you believe not \in ?«<>,] and will not be prevailed upon to come to me for life and happiness. 37 All that the Father Nevertheless, though you reject me, yet I shall not be universally rejected, nor shall the 37 giveth me shall come to me; p^-poses of my mission be entirely frustrated ; for all that the Father has graciously l"wiii' in 1^ wise'cast out ° chosen to himself, and whom he giveth to me in consequence of a peculiar covenant, to be sanctified and saved by me, will certainly at length come to me ;' and, on the other hand, if any of you find yoiu-selves disposed to such a believing application to me, you have no reason to be terrified with any suspicion that you are excluded from hope by any secret transactions between the Father and me ; for I declare it to you as an universal tmth, and perfectly consistent with the former. That him that co7neth to me, whoever he may be, I will by no means cast out,^ nor shall he be rejected or refused on any consi- ^ 38 For I came down from deration whatsoever. And you have sutficient reason to believe this, because I came 3S wT?rburthe''wnrof'hira ^0^'" f'-om heaven into this lower world, not to do my own will, or to seek any separate that sent me. interest of my own, but to do the will, and to seek the glory of him that sent 7ne. And M 39 And this is the Father's ^j^-^ j^ ^;^^ ^.-^^ g^ f/^^ Father who Sent me. That of all the whole body of my people That^'or'aii 'v'hich'he h™tb u-hom he Iias given me, and committed to my care, I should lose none, not even the d That is indeed the bread of God, which desccndelh from heaven.-] (Sec especially John xvii. 2, 6, 9, 17, 24.) Mr Le Clerc's gloss upon It is necessary to translate o xxrx^m^, &c. in this ambiguous man- them appears to me unnatural, and Ur. VV liitby s-lnyo ous.— i ao uer, Uiat we may not supersede tlie explication which our Lord not mean in these notes to ejiter largely into any kind ot contro- . gives in ver. 3o. Dr. Clarke has .justly great iraportauce to apply it to many clear and full a paraphrase of what is exf subsequent verses would only serve to flatten the whole. — Compare . .^^„^. .,.., , „, -,1,1 - -* note c, on Mark iv. 3- p. 130 any thing more than the certainty of the event ; and I .«"uW not e Some of the wiser and better part of them.] Sec before, note c, Jead any, merely in dependence on a translation, to t>U' « •';• ^/"^ on ver. 30. argument on the word SHALL, which >t is well known has some- { 1 am the hread of life.l Though indeed it is very usual with times been done. , , v, r „;n h„ «n the sacred writers to represent divine instructions as the food of the h And him tliat comelh to me, whoever he raa^? be, 1 u '« f if '."^ soul, Psal.- and Ileb. v. 12, 14.) oul,and to compare them to delicious and nourishing diet ; (see means cast out.-] To limit this latter clause by the forrner is not on^^^ >sal.- xix. 10 ; cxix. 103 ; Prov. ix. .5 ; Job xxiii. 12 ; Jer. xv. 1.1 ; missing, but contradicting the design of Christ, f 'f ^5^f,f/<'J "7 "'?- and Ileb. v. 12, 14.) Yet I can recollect no instance in which the wise and beautiful turn of this text; than which 1 Y''"^ '^^^ '""';^ Instructor himself, as such, is called food, or any are said to eat important for stating some great doctrines of the &''fV<^' " "'IJ". "r.^ him ; much less in which, as below, they are exhorted to cat his unhappily been the foundation of much "^.^^er ami uncnar wi. c flesh, and drink bis blood: so that Dr. Cnarke's laboured and in- disnute.-Tlie expression w ^r, ^ycCxX^ 't'L ..?,^r.[,v.nf nrrorni. - genious criticism on this passage (in the xiith of his Seventeen .ind empbatical It r^^PEi^ ''"'^ "•"!'' "-'"^^^^^^^^^ Sermons,) is far from being s.itisf^ctory ; and, however clear it may into the house "f some^TT^.;^^!; other great person to cast himse^^^ be of any such design, I fear it h.as misled many to a neglect of that at bis feet, and to commit hi.nse f to .1'>VT L T.Tl,r»st out nf great doctrine of Clirisfs atonement, to which there seems in this might fear his petition- might; be •■';i'^'-*<^'\;f"f^,'^'= *'/"'„*„ °"*^^^ context so express a reference. doors: out our Lord assures him to the ''""t™ V " ^/'^.XJ^^^ g All that the Father giveth me ,oill come to me.] I have given heart arc large enough to receive, shelter, ■''>dj"^l^ ^ ^, ' "•^, ";' '.f '"^ thit sense of this celebrated and important text, which, on serious, and distressed. God only knows how many thousand souls Uav. and, I hope, impartial consideration, appeared to me most agreeable been sensibly supported by these gracious woiUs. to the words themselves, and to the general Icuor of scripture. 166 THE JEWS MURMUR AT HIS SAYING HE CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN. SECT, meanest member, but should assuredly raise it up at the last day in complete glory and given me, I should lose no- 80. happiness. Or, to express it in more general terms, even this is the -wiLl of him that ti^'"?. butsliouldrruiseit up sent me. That even/ one -who vietvs the Son tvith an attentive f?/f,' and, in consequence ''40'Andthiris tile will of JOHX of that view, cordially believes on him, receiving him by faith, and trusting in him as an ii'm that sent me, That ^''- all-sufficient Saviour, should have eternal life ; and I ivill accordingly raise him np at srn?and\tlie?eth'on\.ini! 40 the last day, and make him completely happy, both in soul and body, in the enjoyment may have everlasting life! of a glorious immortality : nor are there any secret purposes and decrees of God incon-^"^ i "■'" '''"^'^ '""^ "P »* sistent with the sincerity of such a declaration. '^ ""^ ^'^' IMPROVEMENT. Vcr. 32 How gratefully should we acknowledge the divine goodness, in giving this true bread from heaven for the life 33 of the world ; and how solicitous should we be, that by a true faith we may feed upon it ! In the midst of so ! 27 many ensnarmg circumstances, let us be strictly watchful over ourselves, that the vigour of our pursuits and labours ' may not be laid out on the meat which perishes, to the forgetfulness of that which endures to eternal life : but 40 acknowledging those authentic seals by which Clirist is marked out to that important trust, may we apply to hira as sent of God the Father to be the Author of eternal salvation, and come to him to be partakers of his saving benefits .' It must surely grieve us to observe the neglect and contempt with which he is too frequently treated ; but it may comfort us, that there yet remains a remnant according to the election of grace. (Ptom. xi. 5.) All that 37 the Father giveth him, will come to him ; and blessed be God that this appears to be no inconsiderable number ! Secret things belong to the Lord our God ; (Deut. xxix. 29.) let it therefore be our care to mahe first our call- ing, and then, by a happy consequence, our election, sure. (2 Pet. i. 10.) Whatever discouragements may arise in our way, may we^fly to cast ourselves at the foot of Christ ; and then we may be sure he will never, on any consideration, cast us out, but will receive us in the arras of his almighty compassion ; and, having sheltered and maintained us in his house on earth, will at length conduct us safely to the presence of his glory, and to the blessed abodes of complete felicity ! ■ . ( t, , ^^ r SECTION LXXXI. Christ having represented himself as the bread of life, enlarges on the necessity and benefit of feeding upon him as such. John vi. 41 — 58. John vi. 41. j ^. SECT. Thus did our Lord declare himself to be the bread of life which God had given them from The Jews then murmured heaven ; but then, as this agreed not with their worldly views, the Jews who were about ='* him, because he said, I him were so far from receiving the declaration with a becoming regard, that, on the down ft-om'heaven'."^'^ '^'""^ "" yj" contrary, they took offence and murmured at it, because he said, I am the bread which ' came down from heaven, to feed and support the divine life in the soul. And, being 42 And they said, Is not ^^ strangers to the doctrine of his miraculous conception and divine nature, they said among' this Jesus the son of Joseph, iU) T J. x7 ■ T ±1 /-r / ; n ±1 1 ,1 '^ •* ^ ^ ^ whose father and mother themselves. Is not this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we have long we know! how is it tlien Jawxvn,^ having lived many years in the neighbourhood ? How is it, therefore, that this' '.'''''■ ^^ ^^'t'',- ^ c''™'^ '^o^^" man should claim so high a character ? or how does he presunae to say, thai I came down ™™ ^e^ven? from heaven ? 43 Jesus therefore, who well knew all their secret suspicions, how artfully soever they 43 jesus therefore an might be whispered and concealed, replied and said unto them. Do not murmur among scared and said unto them, yourselves on this occasion, but rather set yourselves serioysly to reflect on your present ^'iVeT"'^ '"^' ""^°''° ^°"'^' 44 state, and your true interest. I know indeed that your prejudices against me are strong, ' 44 ivo man can come to and, witliout the influences of divine grace, will prove invincible and fatal : for such is the ™'''|^^se''t 'me^draw Ti'*^'^ moral blindness and degeneracy of human nature, that no man fa« by a saving faith cowe and\^«1il raise hhn up"at and make his application to me, unless the Father who has sent me draw him by the the last day. sweet but powerful influences of his Holy Spirit on the heart -^ and [then'] I will raise him up at the last day, and finally make him a partaker of the complete felicity and 45 blessedness of my kingdom. For so -it is written in the prophets, (Isa. liv. 13. and Jer. 45 It is written in the x.xxi. 34.) « And they shall all be taught by God,- by divine influences on their minds ;" ^uTSt^t Go7 'Every , and there are many other passages much to the same purpose : (see Isa. ii. 2 — 5. Mic. iv. man therefore tiiat hath 1—4, &c.) Therefore every one who has not only been instructed in the true nature of |h"Father''*eoraet[ruut'o God, but has both heard and learned from the Father himself by virtue of these internal me. ^ '*^'^' and efficacious teachings of his grace, co7nes unto me, and cordially receives me under the i Every one who views the Son with an attentive eye.'] Thus grounded in natural religion is' the best preparative for receiving the words nx^ 0 feojiv rov wov, should undoubtedly bo rendered, the Christian religion. IJut this, though an aL>jiamit^truth, falls There are many other places where 5£wjeiv"^ffnifies to cieiu with at- far short of tlie .sense of the passage ; especially tonsidering what is tention. Compare Matt, xxvii. 55. Luke x. 18. xxi. G. John xvii. 24. afterwards said of being taught by God, and not merely ^f him, Acts in. 16. and Heb. vii. 4. ver. 45. — The Doctor observes hef^, that when in scripture one per- a Jfliose father and. mother we have long known.] Dr. Wells son is said to draw another, the word may signify either the action argues from henee, that Joseph was yet alive; but it may signify of the person said to draw, or of the pfr.son drawn ; and unhappily only, Jf^e know who his father and mother were. It is at least certiin, produces John xii. 32; Jer. xxxi. 3; and Hos. xi. 4. all whicli lie that Joseph died_(^uickly after ; for if he had been living, Jesus, strongly against such a sense. The truth is, God's drawing does\ when dying on the~tynss, would not have consigned his mother to not exclude our consent to follow, and our activity in doing it;/ the care of John, John xix. 2G, 27. (Compare note b, on John ii. 1. but it always includes a divine agency. Compare Ju'dg. iv. 7. (See/ p. 45 and Matt. xiii. 55. p. 148.) Dr. Clarke's Sermons, Vol. III. No. 3.) b Unless the Father who lias sent me draw him.] The sense I c Tanqldtiy God; JiJ^tHroi ra ©£».] The word properly signifies, have given in the paraphrase seems so natural from a view of the they shall be the disciples or scholars of God, who shall humMy sit words themselves, and of their connection, as well as so agreeable down, as it were, at his feet, and receive instructions from him. to the whole tenor of scripture, that I wonder so many learned and This, in the latter text referred to in the paraphrase, is expressly'i ingenious men should have laboured to disguise it by other inter- distinguished from human instructions relating to the nature of) pretations. Dr. Clarke explains it as an intmiation, that to be well God. Compare 1 Thess. iv. 9. CHRIST, THE BREAD FROM HEAVEN, IS MORE EXCELLENT THAN MANNA. 167 4C Not that auy roan hath character I profes. I speak this of an inward divine teaching, and )wt to insinuate that SECT. seen tiie Father, save he (,„y o«e on earth has secH the Father, and been taught by him, as one man is bj' the con- 8L '''"''the FaUi^r'^ '' '"^ ''^^'' ^^^ of another : no one has enjoyed such an honour, except it be he who is come to men as the great Ambassador fro;« God : He indeed lieing statedly resident with him, and insepa- John rabfy united to him, has seen the Father, and conversed with him to a degree of intimacy ^''• 47 Verily, veriiv, I say and endearment which no creature can pretend to have known. In virtue then of those 47 unto you. He that be- ^^^^\^, instructions I have received from him, verily, verily, I say unto you, and testify it iiT"-'iif£°""'^ ^^ ie\er a. - ^ ^ ^^q^x sure and important truth, that this is the only method of salvation ; and that it is he, and he alone, who believes in me, and reposes himself on me, that hath everlasting 48 I am tint bread of life. Remember, therefore, that it is in this respect I tell you, I am the bread of life ; 4S life. not only as a Teacher of truth, and a Messenger from God to men, but as the Great Re- deemer, whom you must receive into your hearts, and on whom you must, as it were, feed by faith, if you indeed would have your life to be supported and secured. 49 Your fathers did eat And those who thus regard me will receive far more important blessing than Moses, of 49 '°d°"*e dead '"^ wilderness, ^|^q,jj y^^, j^^yg ^q^ ]jggj.j boasting, could possibly give. For though mA.eeA your father s, under the conduct of that illustrious prophet, did eat manna in the v:ilderness, yet it 50 This is the bread which was not sufficient to maintain their life, and they are long since dead : [Biif] this, of 50 coraeth down from heaven, -^vhich I now speak, is the true bread which comet h down from heaven, and is of such a aud'nordre"''^ "^^ ^^^"^ ' nature, that any one may eat of it, and have his life so nourished and supported by it, that he shall not die, but be assuredly delivered from the condemnation and ruin 'to which the breach of God's righteous law has subjected every oiTender. 51 I am the living bread Thus then I plainly tell you, how incredible soever you may think it. That I, who came 51 heaven •*^t"any*'raTn eaTITf down from hcaven for this gracious purpose, am the living bread, or a principle of divine this bread, he shall live for life and eternal happiness to all who shall faithfully receive me: so that if any one eat of ever ^ and the bread tbat^^l ^j^-^ bread, in spite of death and the grave, he shall live for ever. And, that you may r'wifi' gWe 'for the 'life' of more distinctly conceive this important trath, and see the propriety of this language, I add, the world. That the bread which I will give to such a one is my owa flesh, which I will give as an atoning sacrifice for the forfeited life of the whole world of Jews and Gentiles,'' of which every true believer shall partake. 62 The Jews therefore gut the Jews, whose stupidity often occasioned them to mistake, and whose perverseness 52 strove^amongst^themseives, j^^ ^j^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ j^jg ^^grds, did not. Or would not, understand him ; and therefore con- sist us //f°flesh to eat ? tended with each other, the generalii^of them saying,^ as if what he iiad said was to be taken in a literal sense. How can TJnsman possibly give us [his'] flesh to eat ?- What a monstrous and unintelligilile doctrine is this > 53 Then Jesus said unto Then Jesus replied in the same figurative language he had used before, and, without 53 "n*t™'-ou'^ExcJT''e«atthe condescending to any toh« explication, said to them. However you may censure it as 1 of the Sou of man, and unintelligible and absurd, yet verily, verily, I i flesh of the Sou of man, and unintelligible and absurd, yet verily, verily, I say Jinfo you. There is no truth more cer- drink his blood,- ye have no f^i^ jj^ itself, and more important to you: for unless, by a cordial dependence on the life in you. atonement I shall make, and by the powerful influences of divine grace upon your hearts, 1/ou eat, as it were, the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood,^ you have 7io prin- 54 AVhoso eateth my ciple of spiritual life in you, and can have no claim to eternal happiness. For this is so 54 Wood hrth eterna'l'hfe, a"^ important a part of faith in me, that, to declare the necessity of it, I may say, (with such 1 will' raise him up at the an alteration of my former words, ver. 40.) He alone that eats my flesh, and drinks my last day. blood, hath eternal life ; and I will most assuredly raise him up at the last day, and shew by his complete deliverance, how just a confidence he has reposed in me, amidst all 55 For mv flesh is meat the contempt with which you treat me. For 7m/ flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is 55 drf^k indee'd "^^^'^'^ jf drink^s and nothing deserves the name so well,' as nothing is worthy of being called life 56 He that eatetli my in comparison^ that which is hereby supported. For this feeding upon me is such, that 56 flesh, and drinketh my /le who thus eafs my flesh, and drinks my blood, abides in me by an intimate and in- l'i"n h'im"'""'" '" "^' ''""^ separable union, ff;;flf J abide in him^ by the unalienable tokens of "my favour and love '" "^' , to nourish the divine life in his soul: I say by the unalienable tokens of it; for as the 51 hath sent rae, andl live by living Father, the great source of life, has sent me into the world, and I live by the pro- the Father; so he that eat- tection dxAcdXQ oi the Father,' who is continually dwelling in me, and communicating of d Wiich I will ffi've for the life of the whole world, &c.] There many consequences which have been drawn from it in that view, seems to be a beautiful gradation in this verse, compared with ver. though some of them be authorized by very great names 31. They had insinuated, that /"fPf/Zn^ a /"?(/; MoHsi flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.] It loaves was an inconsiderable thiiig when compared with what Moses might more literally be rendered. Is truly meat, and is truly drink ; did, when he fed the whole camp of Israel ; but our Lord declares but the sense in which the word [indeed] is often used, gives a kind the purposes of his grace and bounty to be far more extensive, as of paraphrase on the words. Just in this sense, the true light, is the reaching the whole world, and giving'life, immortal life, to all that most excellent light : (John i. 9.) the true vine, is the most noble line ; should believe in him. (John xv. 1.) and the true bread, is the most excellent and nourisliing e The generality of them S(7yi«i7.] Had this heen the language of bread. See above, ver. 3-2. , r- », • i all, there could have been no contention between them, which yet h Abides in me, and I in him.] After these words, the Cambridge is expressly asserted. manuscript, and one of Stephens's, add. As the Father is m me, ami f Eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood.] This I in the Father, verih/, rerily, I say unto you, Except ye receive the phrase iiaturallv expresses a lively and habitual regard to Christ as bodi/ of the Son of man as the bread of life, ye have no life "> JO" the great support of the spirituil life. The mention of his blood Dr.' Mill (in his notes here) seems to approve the addition ; but 1 naturally leads to the thought of his atonement, as we are else- think Dr. Whitby has so fully prove-l it to be spurious, that 1 con- where told, ire have redemption through his blood, (Eph. i. 7.) and tent myself with referring the reader to hira, {see his Examen boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. (Heb. x. 19.) Mitlii, p. 49.) and to AVolfius on this text. [Cur. Pliitol. Vol. 1. p. The sacrament of the eucharist is plainly intended to afiect our 805, 866.) t ti i, minds with a sense of these important truths, and our Lord might , i I live by the protection and care of the Mtlicr.] J lie tinman probably think of that intended institution while he spoke : but and derived nature of Christ had, no doubt, the same depeiulence as this was a future thing, and utterly unknown to his hearers, it on the providence and influence of God, that other creatures have : seems to me unwarrantable to interpret this text as chiefly refer- and though Christ as Mediator has life m himself, (as it was said ring to that ordinance ; and nothing can be more precarious, than before, John v. 26. \ 47.) yet was it gneri him of the tatlicr, and it 1G3 THE DISCIPLES MURMUR AT WHAT JESUS HAD SAID. SECT, his Spirit in the richest abundance to me ; so he that thus catcth nie, even he shall live eth mc, even he shall live 81. (5iy ???r, through the Spirit which I will also communicate to him. And if you attend to ^^j!!"^, •, ti t b di these important hints tliat I have given, you may in general know what 1 meant, by say- which came ilown from ■ JOHN ing as I have done, This is the bread that came down from heaven ; and by adding, (ver. lipven : not as your fatliers . ^^- 49, 50.) that it is not in this case, as it was with rjour fathers, who did cat manna in ||[.^^ |^'j|^g u'at'catetl"of ms 58 the wilderness, and yet «re dead,^ without having found any efficacy in it to com- bread shall live for ever, municate a spiritual, or secure an eternal life ; [but^ he that eats this bread shall live for ever. cli^ ' ~ IMPROVEMENT. • ' Ver. 41 The hearers of Christ murmured, and perversely objected against his doctrine. Let not ministers now wonder, 52 if the like capricious humour sometimes prompts their hearers to seek occasion of offence, where there is none : let them learn of their great Master,"in meekness to instruct those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will 44, 45 give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, (2 Tim. ii. 25.) Our Lord expressly asserts the necessity of being taught and drawn by the Fatlrer, in order to our knowing him, and coming to him. Let us therefore humbly seek these influences ourselves, and fix our dependence upon them in all om- attempts upon others for their conversion and edification. 48, 51 Christ here gives us line upon line, and precept upon precept, to illustrate and enforce this important doctrine of 53, 54 the necessity of regarding him as the bread of life, and of feeding by faith on his flesh and blood, which he has given for the life of the world. Let us, as we desire any part in his saving blessings, most Ihankfully receive his 55 flesh as meat indeed, and his blood as drink indeed. May God bo merciful to those that call themselves Christians, 5G, 57 and yet are strangers to such a believing intercourse with Christ, and to the derivation of spiritual life from him ! If this be enthusiasm, it is the enthusiasm of scripture ; and the denial or forgetfulness of these important doctrines, is like a fatal palsy to the soul, which chills, as it were, all its nerves, and destroys at once its sensibility and vigour, its pleasure and usefulness. To represent and inculcate these great truths, our Lord afterwards instituted the sacrament of his Supper, in which we not only commemorate his sufferings, but our own concern in them. It is the language of every intelligent approach to it, that we acknowledge the life of our souls to depend on the merit of his atonement, and the com- 58 munications of his grace. This is eating his flesh, and drinking liis blood : may we be nourished by it to eternal life ! Then, though this mortal part of our nature drop into the dust, our souls will live and triumph ; nor shall our bodies finally perish, but be raised up by Christ in the great day, to take their part in the full joy of our Lord. There these intermediate ordinances shall cease, and copious uninterrupted streams of divine teachings, and divine influences, shall sweetly flow in upon our ever-improving, active, rejoicing minds ! ^<\r, _? -._. ■■.'m^ i , H 9J . SECT. ' 82. JOHN VI. 60 Gl 62 63 SECTION LXXXII. Christ having declared that the foregoing discourse was to be taken in a spiritual sense, isfoi^saken by many of his disciples ; and while the apostles assure him of their continued fidelity , he intimates the treachery of Judas. John vi. 59, to the end. John vi. 59. j>,hj, ^j 59 These things, which had been now delivered by our Lord, he spake before all sorts These things snid he in of hearers in the S7inas:op:tie, as he was teachino- at Capernaum :^ and, for wise reasons, the synagogue, as he taught , . 11 "^ ,. ,^-T ■ n ■ 1 • I • i • 1 •" Capernaum. he uivolveda part 01 his discourse in ngurative and mysterious language j as in particular, that which related to eating his flesh, ^and drinking his blood. ' Many therefore o/" those who followed him as his disciples, having heard [?'/,] said, 60 Many therefore of his This is a difficult and strange discourse; and who can hear or understand it? In its heTrd'/X's ^l!iTd" Th!s^ isTn literal sense it is plainly absurd, and we know not what other interpretation to give it. hard saying, who can hear Hut Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured about it, though they ''•, ■•yi r j^ • did not speak out their objections and scruples, said unto them. Does this which you himself, that his disciples have just now heard so much offend you ? and do you stumble at it as incredible ? murmured at it, he said un- IWhaf] then if ye shall see the Son of man ascending up into heaven where he was ^^J^""' "°*'' ""' "^"'"^ before ?^ would you then understand what was meant by the bread of life coming down 62 IF/mt and if ye shall from thence, ~ as the food of the world ? Or would you then believe that I came from see the Son of nian ascend heaven, notwithstanding the objection you have made as to the meanness of my parent- "'03 \\ ,5 the Spirit that age P*^ Thus our Lord intimated his intended ascension; and in the mean time, as a key quicUeneth, the flesh profit- to his former discour.se, he added. As in the human frame it is the indwelling Spirit that f ip"fk"unto"yorM'y"a?e quickens every part of it; and the flesh, how exactly soever organized and adorned, if spirit, and M^-y are life, separate from that, profits nothing, but is an insensible and inactive corpse ; so also the is he that qualifies Christ by his Spirit for the great work for which after the reading of the law and prayer. AVe are not to wonder at he sent him into the world : and he accordingly is elsewhere repre- the dialogue which pas.sed here ; there are many other instances of sented as upholding tiim in it. Isa. xlii. 1. Compare John viii. 29. disputes which either Christ or his apostles had with the Jews in and xvi. 32. their synagogues. See Matt. xii. 9. et seq. J 50 ; Luke xiii. 10. ct \ Not as yovr fathers did cat mannn, niulnrc dead.'] This version &cq.\\n; ^c^.s -kVu. ii. et scq. ; and xvii. 17. of the words is perfectly agreeahle to the original : b Mx^m I'pxym oi b Ascending up into heaven, witere tie irns hcfore."] A very celc- TxrEfEiT UAiwv TB nKvva. But Isliould not pfirhaps liavc takou too grcat hrated writer' thinks this refers to the Son of man appearing In a liberty, had I avoided the elliiisis in the Greek, and ventured to Daniel in the rionds nf heaven ; but his appearing to him tluis in reduce "it to a plainer form, by ren(\er\ng \i, A'nl li/ce that manna vision, was no more an argument of his being there at the time of Ji'hich yonr fatliers did eat, and are dead. So Grotius has explained that appearance, than the appearance of the symbols of the Greek this passage ; and though it does not so exactly answer to the Greek, and Uoman empires was an argument of their existence at that time, and cannot pass for a literal translation, it plainly expresses the c Would you then believe that 1 came from heaven? &c.] What sense of the place, and the words run more natural and easy. See Cliristhere says of his ascension, may he farther intended to inti- Grotius, in loc. ^' "" ' mate the necessity of taking his discourse in a figurative sense, as a As he was teaclnng at Capernaum.'] Probably (as was hinted it would so soon be evidently impossible to eat his flesh, which was above, ver. 25. p. 164.) the foregoing discourses were introduced to be received into heaven. REFLECTIONS ON THE FIRMNESS OF OUR ADHERENCE TO CHRIST. 160 04 Cut tlicre are some of vou that beliove not. For jesus kuew from tlie begin- ning.wlio they were that be- lieved not, and who should betray him. G5 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, ex- cept it were given unto him of my Father. 6(5 From tliat time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more witli him. u-ords ■which I speak unto i/ou are spirit, that is, they are to be taken in a spiritual sense, SKCT. and then you will find they are life to your souls ; whereas, to take them in a literal sense 82. would be most unprofitable and monstrous. It is indeed strange that you should think 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go awav \ 68 Then Simon Peter an- swered him, Lord, to whom shall we go ! thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure, that thou art that Christ, the Sou of the living God. Sn of it ; hut I know there are some of you who believe not, and would shelter your infi- JOHN delity under these mean and disingenuous cavils. This he plainly told them : for Jesus ^'• knctv from the beginning, tcho thci/ were tliat believed, and who did not ; and even 64 knew the very person who it was that at last should so basely betray him. And he farther said. For this reason I told you, (ver. 44.) that no man can come 65 unto me except it be given him of my Father ;'^ because I know that the prejudices of cormpt nature lie strongly against such a doctrine as I publish, and that nothing but divine grace will subdue them. From this tiine maiiy who had borne the name of his disciples, abusing and misrepre- 66 senting what he had now delivered, as if it had been either absurd or utterly unintelligible, went back, and walked no 7nore with him ; plainly perceiving that their true character was now discovered, as well as that their secular views were disappointed. Jesus therefore said unto the twelve apostles. Will you also go away ? The multi- 67 tude are gone, and will you also follow them, and leave me entirely alone ? Choose for yourselves ; for I desire not to detain you against your will. Then Simon Peter, with G^ his usual zeal, answered him. Lord, to whom should we go, if we were really disposed to quit thee ? or what advantage could we expect by it ? Thou hast the words of eternal life, and hast even now been directing us in the way to it ; and God forbid that any other hopes and views should ever be preferred by us to these ! However others may be 69 governed by their carnal prejudices, and a deluded multitude may treat thee with con- tempt, we firmly believe, and assuredly know, on the most convincing evidence, that thou art the Messiah, the Son of the living God ; in which persuasion we are deter- mined to hazard all in thy service, and to sacrifice even our lives to thee. Jesus then answered them. Such a resolution might reasonably be expected from you all ; 70 for have I not chosen you twelve to the honour of a peculiar intimacy with me, and to a station of the most distinguished eminence and importance in the church P*^ And yet I know that one of you is a devil, and, under the influence of that malignant spirit of darkness, will tiim my accuser and betrayer.' This he spa^e concerning Judas Iscariot, [the soni of Simon ; for it was he who at 71 that time began to harbour in his breast this execrable purpose, and had then thoughts of betraying him ;S though he was one of the twelve apostles, and therefore under peculiar obligations to fidelity and duty. IMPROVEMENT. We have, through the divine goodness, been made acquainted with those gospel-tmths, in their full evidence, Vcr. 60 and mutual connexion, which were more obscurely hinted to those who attended on Christ's personal ministry : may we therefore hearken to the spiritual sense of this sublime and excellent discourse ! And as the credible 63 account of his ascension into glory is now added to the rest, let us receive the whole of his doctrine with the most humble submission : earnestly intreating the influences of divine grace, that we naay not only be drawn to Christ, 62 but be so firmly attached to his interest, that whoever else forsake him, we may never go away. On the contrary, 66 may we rather collect an argument from their ingratitude and folly, more strenuously and' more affectionately 67 adhere to him ! Indeed, to whom should we go but to him ? He has the words of eternal life. From him, 6S therefore, in all lowly subjection of soul, may we learn those lessons on which our everlasting happiness depends ! May we never, like Judas, conceal a treacherous and disaffected heart under the specious appearance of piety 70 and goodness ! This would be only imposing on ourselves ; for his penetrating eye can never be deceived. May 64, 71 we approve the integrity of our souls in his sight, and repose an unlimited confidence in him, as one whom we 69 believe and know to be a Divine Saviour, Christ the Son of the living God ! 70 Jesus answered them. Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil ! 71 He spake of Judas Iscariot, i/ie son of Simon ; for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. i\ Except it be given him of my Fattier.'] To be drai^n by tlie FatUer, (ver. 11.) and to have faitli given him by the Father ,.-\xe. evi- dently syuonlmous terms; wliich plainly vindicates the interpreta- tion given aljove, and shews how far the loose and general glosses of Dr. Clarke and Dr. Clagget are from expressing the true and deter- miuate sense of our Lord's words. e Have I not chosen you twelve ? &c.] I see not the least reason, with Eisner, to expunge the note of interrogation, and render it, J have not chosen you all; which would entirely enervate the spirit of tlie following clause. f JMy accuser and betrayer.] According to Mr. Locke, our Lord intimates that this was the reason why he had not more plainly declared himself to be the Messiah, because he knew Judas would have accused him of rebellion against the Romans : (for so the word SixS.oh'ii docs sometimes signify a false accuser ; see 1 Tim. iii. 11 ; 2 Tim. iii. 3; and Tit. ii. 3.) But I can see no proof that Judns, from the beginning, intended to betray Christ. It is more proba- ble, he at first engaged with him in expectation of secular advan- tage ; aud finding those views disappointed, he miglit now begin to form that detestable scheme which he afterwards executed. If this was'ihe occasion on which he first entertained the thought, (as I think it probably might,) one would imagine, that such an inti- mation of his secret wickedness must have struck him to the heart. g Had thoughts of betraying him.] The words ^/liWn avjm na^atiJovii may properly, though not necessarily, import thus much ; aud, I think, had not this been actually the case, Christ would not have said he is a devil, but rather tliat he would be- come one. f crry] 170 THE DISCIPLES ARE BLAMEDi FOR EATING WITH UNWASHED HANDS SECT. 83. MARK VII. ' SECTION LXXXIII. Our Lord vindicates his discip/csinnefrlecti»_sr the traditions of the Pharisees, and condemns those corrupt teachers fur prejerruig such traditions to the precepts of the divine law. Matt. xv. 1—9. Mark vii. 1—13. Mark vii. 1. 1 HE miracles which Jesus wrought, and which have been mentioned above,^' being Then came together unto reported at the ensuing passover,'' gave a farther alarm to the Jews, and especially to their [Jt^sus] the Pharisees and established teachers; so that, to obviate the effect of them, and to prevent the success of [were\°f ''mrf7c^ame S his ministry, there were then gathered unto Jesus the Pharisees, and some of the Jerusalem. [Matt. .xv. Tf J scribes, who were stated inhabitants of Jerusalem, [(tnd'\ came {from thence'\ on pur- pose to watch, and, if possible, to ensnare him. And, as they looked on all his actions 2 And when they saw with a most malignant eye, they soon found an opportunity to cavil ; for seeins; some of f""*', "f '''s disciples eat his disciples eat bread with what they cox.m\edi polluted (that is, with unwashed) hand's, s^' wull unwXi^lfamk'' thei/ found fault with them among themselves. they found fault. ' 3 For this was a favourite tenet of the Pharisees, on which they laid a particular stress, 3 For Uie Pharisees, and ajul indeed^^almost all the Jews pay a csiisiderable regard to it,'= that they do not allow '"i" *-lie Jews, except they themselves iSlJ^without washina; their hands often w[th abundance of exactness/ and Lt\o1dinA'he'tradUi?a particularly just before their meals : and this they observe, not in consequence of any of the elders. express divine command, but as holdintr the tradition of the elders, who thought this '- scrupulous care a decent expression and memorial of their concern to keep themselves free 4 from whatsoever might pollute them. And especially [when they coinc] from th \ 4 And when they come ept not. market, or any other place of puljlic concourse, lest they should, without their know- [[""' 'h*^ market, exce ledge, have touched any thing unclean, theij eat not till theij have washed their hands a'J many other'^lhrngs at least, if not their whole body. And there are many other thin^rs besides the washing tl"^re be, which they have, of their hands, which theij in like manner receive and maintain by the authority of the "vaThins of'cupwnd' o's^ same tradition, [^.y] the washing; of cups and pots in which their food is put, emd oi\]\Q braseu vessels, and of taWes! hrasen vessels made use of in preparing it, and even of the very couches on which they lie at their meals. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes, after they had censured the disciples of Christ among 5 Then the Pharisees and themselves, (as was observed before,) came to Jesus, and asked him. Why do not thy ^l^^^\ ft*"" r''"''! ^^''^ disciples walk and behave themselves according to the tradition of the elders, as other cordins'to the'tradftion'of pious and regular Jews do ; hut transcrress [i/] in a very obvious and material instance, t''^ elders, but for they eat with unwashed hands ?^" Can they be so ignorant as not to know the tradi- un^^^shen^lmnd tions that forbid it ? Or are they so profane as not to regard them ? xv. 2.] ^^T^- ^"(^ ^^<^ answering, said unto them. Nay, but I may with much greater reason ask Matt. xv. 3. But he an- ^^ you. Why do you also transgress what is infinitely more sacred, even the command ^"^"^^'1 "'"i said unto them, 3 if God himself, out of regard to your own vain and superstitious tradition ? And this the'lomnfa'^ndment'of^God MARK in several instances you run to such a length, as that ,yo«. /ff/;7// make void the command H y°^" tradition! [Mark ^"' °f^f>(^^ and render it insignificant, that you may observe your Iradition ; though you "Mark vii. 9. Full well yc 9 consider not perhaps from whence it comes, or may easily know that it was derived only reject the commandment of MATT. f™»i a fallible man. I will give you one notorious instance of it, which you cannot dis- ^vn't^'uiu^on"'''^''^''^'"'"' Piite : for you well know, that God has commanded \by'\ Moses, saying, " Honour thy ° Mat"t!'xv'.*4!' For God [fcy [transgress Ijread with hands? [Matt. 20; and Deut. xxvii. 16.) Now for any one to suffer his parents to languish in want [M^rk^ii to"' of the necessary supplies of life, must certainly be a yet more aggravated wickedness than "' '' death. MARK VII. Mark vii. II. But ye say, U [Whosoever] shall say to his father or mother, // is corban, that is to say, a gift. an impious word, which may possibly escape a man's lips in a sudden transport of pas sion.'' But what you teach is contradictory to this divine command ; and an ungrateful child may justify himself in the neglect of it, in consequence of your tradition : for you 1 assert, [that] any one may say to his father or mother, [Let that bel corban, that is +n ,.„,, r„* ill 11 .11- , . . •- , .J -,-,.-, , cornan, tnat is tosay, agirt to say, let it be reckoned as a devoted thing, or bs considered as a gift dedicated to the by whatsoever thou mi|ht a Which have been mentioned above.] As both Matthew and Mark introduce the following discourse immediately after his crossing the sea to Capernaum, when he but just before had fed the five thousand, and John deternjiincs the debates in the preceding sections to that time, there caTTTTe no reasonable doubt about placing this section, and several more that are expressly connected with it, in this order. ^ b At the ensuing passover.] That a passover followed quickly after the events before related, is expressly determined, (see John VI. 4. and the note there, p. 1.59. and compare chap. vii. 2.) But the Evangelists do not exactly determine whether Christ did or did not attend it. If he did not, we may conclude be had proper reasons for not doing it: but to be sure such numerous and public miracles as he had lately performed, would be the subject of a great deal of discourse at Jerusalem. Compare John vii. 11, 12- and xi. 56. ^ c Almost all the Jews pay a considerable reirard to it,] Their ■ rabbles carried this to a most ridiculous height; one of them de- termining the nefilcct nf washing to be a (frert/er sin than wlinrednm : and another saying, it would be muck better In die than to omit it. I Many instances of this kind may be seen in Dr. Whitby and Dr. Hammond, /« /or, and in Buxtorf. Synfiy. ./h^A cff/), xi, p. 2.31!. It I IS plain (hat other nations commonly used to wash before their meals. See Athenaeus, p. 408. Edit. Casaub. 1G75. and Eisner, Observ. Vol. I. p. 73. d JVashing their hands often.'] The word avy/xi is ambiguous, being very seldom used, Theophylact's gloss would incline one to render it, as L'Enfant docs, up to the elbows ; and Beza translates it, with the fist. (See Godwyn's il/oses and Aarnn, lib. i, cap. 10. p, 39,) Not being able certainly to determine the point, I thought it suflicient to add in the paraplirase, «'///( abiiiidaiire n/ exactness. Camero and Liid, Capellus {in he.) explain it of holding up their /lands closed, while the water was poured upon them ; and I have nothing to object to the reasons they give for that interpretation. e For tliey eat with unioaslied hands.] It is in the original, eat I bread ; and I have sometimes retained the Hebraism, but did not think it necessary always to do it. Every attentive reader must '^ have observed, that food in general is called bread, in a multitude of places ; and bread is sometimes put even for the provisions of a royal table, 2 Sam. ix. 7, 10; and xii, 20. f In a sudden transport oi" passion.] Dr. Lightfoot (in his ffor. Hell, in loe.J has well observed, that it is probable a child must be in a transport of very undutiful pa.ssion, when he made the rash vow afterwards mentioned, that he would nei-our /'^ve even invalidated the word, [and,] as it were, annihilated the command of God, by 6 tradiifon, which ye have means of i/our tradition, which you have delivered as a rule of life to be observed with . di'iivered : and many such ^j^g j^-^q^j scniDulous exactness : and it Were easy to be shewn in other instances, that many like things do ye.] [MarK 7 ;•; ./• 7 ,ii 13] such like things you do. 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Yet these are the things in which you vainly pride yourselves, as proofs of your religion , 7 Esaias prophesy of you, say- ^^^^ q ^^^^^ hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophecy of such d&you, and very fitly may those |n^,^asitiswntten.j [Mar ^^^^^^ ^hich he delivers in the name of God be applied to you, where he is saying of the superstitious Jews of his own time, what may be evidently seen to aoreeto you, (as it is 8 Tliis people draweth written, Isa. xxix. 13.) " This people drawcth near to me withVicir mouth, and 8 nigh unto nie witli tlieir ,, honoureth me with their lips ; they make a pompous profession, and pretend to a great rth''j/,//rVpsrbut their " deal of devotion and piety ; but it plainly appears, that their heart is far estranged from heart is far from me. [Mark « ,,,^./' Notwithstanding all youT talk, then, of strictness in religion, yet as this appears to mark ^'iilark vii 7 Howbeit in be expressive of your real character, the doom of hypocrites belongs to you ; and God may "^^ vain do they worship nie, justly affirm of such, (as it is added there,) " In vain do they worship me, while theyl teacliing for doctrines tlie .. ^^,^^/^ (l^,ctrines OX lessons [that are'] merely human inventions and injunctions,'^ being [ftlattfxv™!]'*' "'"■ " only the precepts of men, that have no stamp of the divine authority upon them," which yet they would insist upon as necessary parts of religion, and would impose them on 8 For, laying aside the {he consciences of Others. And this (as I have said) you may be charged with, not in one 8 roinhe'^tradUion ^f^me^n^ single instance only, but in many 5 for, leaving the commandment of God, you maintain as the wasldng o"p°ots and the tradition of men, [relating to] the washing of pots and cups : and many other such cups; and many other such /i/^.^ things you do, with a zeatby no means required, and on which at best you lay a very like things ye do, ,. ^._- w l disproportionable stress. IMPROVEMENT. How miserable is the case of those who, while they earnestly contend for the forms of divine worship, are losing matt I both the improvement and reward which might be expected from a regular attendance upon it ! This is the ^V. case of all who draw near to God with their lips, while their hearts are far from him. May we abhor the vanity 9 of such hypocritical behaviour in the presence of Him who searches the heart and tries the reins of the children of men ! Let us learn from this just and severe sentence which our Lord passes on these superstitious Pharisees, to avoid the 3, 7 temper he condemns in them. It much less becomes us as Christians, and especially as Protestants, to impose on our brethren with rigorous severity those doctrinal decisions, or those ritual observances, which' have not their express foundation in the word of God, to wliich we so constantly appeal as to our common rule. Happy had it been for | the church in all ages and nations, had men exerted that zeal for the truths and the institutions of God, in the beauty and glory of their native simplicity, which has carried them on to defend and propagate their own inventions, till religion itself has almost sunk under the weight of the ornaments in which they have dressed it, and the unwieldy armour which they have hung abr.-ii * ! Let children learn from the cuuiuiu..d which Christ has vindicated, to honour their parents by a tender care of 4—6 them in their declining days ; remembering, that as no filial duty and gratitude can ever fully repay our obligations to such friends, so an aiFectionate regard to them is a proper and necessary expression of our filial piety to the great Father of our spirits. Justly may he esteem his temples profaned, rather than adorned, by the most costly gilts, which are the spoils of nature, and the trophies of inhumanity. suggested would have taken place, and would have justified the to th.e temple treasury after their death, which might in a thou connection. sand instances be made tlie cloak ot avarice and cruelty I he in- g Any one may say, [Let that he] corhan, tltat is to say, a gift.] determinate manner of speaking, it must be owned, would If-ad to So I chuse with Eisner, (Observ. Vol. I. p. 74.) to render the such a supposition.— Capellus, with mimense labour, (and, ItluuK words in Matthew, 05 av eittt,, though, I confess, not without some beyond all farther controversy,) has asserted the interpretation ot doubt. But I think it is best to leave as little as possible to be this text as given in the paraphrase ; and has produced a vast va- supplied, in order to make up the sense; and on that principle, I riety of passages from the Talmud to shew the superstitious re- should prefer the addition in our own translation of this place, he gard tlie Jews had to such rash and unnatural vows, as well as the shall be free, to that which Sir Norton KnatchbuU proposes, who ridiculous ways they sometimes took to evade them. See Lua. would render it. You say, [« man lionoiirs his parents,] if he says it is Capell. in Matt. xv. 5. .- 1 , u 1 j j co/Aff«, c^T. thus supposing the passage to imply a repetition from h Adi-antacje from, me.] Sir Norton KnatchbuU would render " the verse before. But such a construction seems to me quite un- e? hj-ov, of my siibs/anee, or possession -. but liad this been tlie exact paralleled, and very unnatural. Grotius makes )«i redundant, and rendering, it would have been ex tou ef^w, of which instances occur •noiM rentier it, Vou teach, t/tat whosoever shall say to his father or in Greek authors. . . t c mother. It is a gift, S,-c.—let liim not honour his fattier and mother : i iFhile iliey teach doctrines that are human injunctions \ So but in the way that I have rendered it, the sense is in effect the I render Ji^ar'xov.-Es Ji^aixi>ja:t inxXixxrx avg^-wir-iv. J he words seem same, and the common sense of xi. is retained. Some considerable to allude to Isa. xxix. 13. where, though the present Henrew copie.s critics, particularly Drusius rde Tribus Sectis, lib. ii. cap. 17.) and read the text agreeable to our translation of the place itieirjear GoA^Myn, C mses 'and Aaron, lib'. \\. cap. 6.) give a very elegant to me is taught by the precept of men, Grotmshas shev^n \\o\v asman turn to the following words, b>ov 0 ixv e| e^ou i-^piKr^'in;, and would variation in the original might justify the Seventy in that version suppose them to be an oath expressed in the elhptical manner, of theirs which the Evangelist here toUows, the sense ot w'liicn is which was very common among tlie Hebrews ; if so, they should be much the same with wliat we retain in that place.— 1 would onlv rendered. I swear bu corban, or the sacred treasury, t/iou shall re. observe farther, that MxnxUx in general signities any lesson and ceive no benefit from me. But as both tlie Evangelists insert the not merely (as Bishop Hopkins contends) a doctrine of fair/i'tina particle 0, whichin this construction has no force, 1 cannot wholly that the purpose to which our Lord here applies it, plainly snewg approve this version, and Uierefore did not insert it. Perhaps some that it must refer to ritual injunctions, bee bishop Hoptins s trorics, of these pretended vows of theirs amounted to no more than an obli- p. 150, 151. gation to leave some proportion of the overplus of their estates 172 CHRIST INCULCATES THE NECESSITY OF INWARD- PURITY. SECTION LXXXIV. Christ pursues his discourse against the Pharisees, and inculcates the necessity of intoard purity. Matt. XV. 10— 20. Markvii. 14— 23. M^«^ ^"- 14. ' MARK vir. M. SECT. jNjOW when our Lord had thus condemned the Pharisees to their face, for the unwar- And wlieo he had called S4. rantable stress they laid on their vain and precarious traditions, he took this opportunity to ■'''! t''^ ijcopie unto him, he : undeceive the people, and to let them see how insignificant this outvi^ard strictness was, on unto me°every"o'ue oTvou" MARK -jviiich the Pharisees insisted ; and having called all the multitude together to Itim, -ind understand. [Matt! ; ; . he pursued his discourse, and said to them. Let me charge every one of you attentively to ^'^' ^^'^ hearken to me in what I now deliver, and give all diligence, that you may understand it ; lest for want of doing it, out of regard to your admired teachers, you impose on your own 15 souls in a matter of the greatest importance. There is nothing which oiters into a inan 15 There is nothinq- from 1 from without that can really pollute him in the sight of God : it is not, I say, that which ^^ithout a man, tliat enter- 'is originally from without, and goes into the mouth, that renders him polluted f but the ["ft ti)at''rhich t^o'l^^h' hTto things which come out of a fnan are those that actually defle him, [even'] that which the mouth,] but the things \Q comes out of [his] mouth. And I would have you to observe, that much is compre- ^'''"'^'» •^""i^ out of him, hended in these few important words : remember them therefore, and think of them ; and the man^ [even that which if any one of you has ears to hear, and a heart to consider, let him hear these things, and ffmeth out of the mouth.] reflect seriously upon them. ,.,,.,.., ^TlVln/nL have ears 17 And ivhen he was come tnto the house apart /ro?w the multitude, his disciples came to hear, let him hear. to him, according to their usual custom, [and] asked him concerning the meaning of this tere'dli'f "j^'/*^",'"^ "'"^r '^"' MATT, parable, or sententious and, to them, obscure saying. And they likewise said to him at the people, his fii,sciplcs XV. the same time, Knowe^ thou, and art thou sufficiently aware of.it, that the Pharisees L<"anie,^«rf] asked himcon- 12 who heard this saying, were highly of ended at it, as what appears to strike directly xv!°i2.] ^^P"^ e; [Matt, (as they represent the matter) both at the authority of the oral and of the written law ? Matt. xv. 12. And said 13 But he answered and said. As for their displeasure, I am very little concerned about it, J","^'^ Ij'™' Jf"".^^'"''' *'"^" p nor shall I ever labour to ingratiate myself with persons of their character : for I consider offended after they he^ard , them as a set of men doomed to destruction: and indeed every plantation which my this saying? heavenly Father has not planted, and every thing in religion which, like the vain tradi- ^J^^ Every^piant whTch mv tions they advance, is not founded in divine institution, but human invention, shall sooner heavenly Father hath not 14 or later be rooted up, and cast out of the vineyard as an incumbrance to it. Let them '''i4*Lefthe '"^ [°"'*;'^, "P- alone, and do not trouble or concern yourselves about their censures; they are blind he blind leaders of the guides of the blind populace, that implicitly commit themselves to their conduct ; and it is I'.'""! i-"""]'' ^^^^^^ 'j'""! '^ad very easy to foresee the consequence ; for, if the blind shall undertake to lead the blind, iuto the d'itch. ' ^ ''^ they will both fall into a ditch together, and encumber instead of helping each other, (compare Luke vi. 39. p. 109.) and so will these perverse Pharisees and their careless fol- lowers perish together. 15 But Peter answering, said unto him. We would desire thee, however, to explain more 15 Then answered Peter, clearly to us what is the meaning of this parable which they are so much offended at ; for u.uo^us'th^srarabie^*^*''*'^^ even we ourselves are at a loss to reconcile it, not only with the Pharasaic traditions, but with the injunctions of the law of God, which hath so expressly enjoined a difference of meats. MARK -Ai'd Jesus said to them. Are you likewise still so void of understanding, as not to Mark vii. is. And [Jesus VJI. apprehend the sense of what I said ? by which you might have easUy perceived that I did ''',;)„^ yetfso S'ut^mde^r! 18 not intend immediately to supersede any precept of the law relating to the distinction of standing; Do ye not [yet] clean and unclean food ; but only to declare that it is the temper of the mind which God {hn^! f^;ni\vfthouUnt«etTi regards, and that no external accident separate from this can render a man offensive to him ; intoihe man, it cannot de- and, after all the instructions I have given you, do you not yet perceive that it must needs fi''' •'i"'' ' [Matt xv. 10, 17.] 19 be so, that whatsoever enters frojn without into a man cannot defle him ? And that, euteretirin'at th^l' mouUi*;] for this obvious reason, because whatsoever enters in at the mouth enters not into his entereth not into his heart'; heart, or mind, in which sin or holiness is seated, and which alone is capable of moral ex- '^"! [goeth] into the belly, 11 Hi- 7 i ■ , ,1 1 11 1 ■ 1 1 5 1 11. "■""1 [is cast out] into the ceilence or pollution ; out goes into the bellu, r/«r/ passmg through the bowels, by the draught, purging all meats. course of natural digestion and evacuation, is thrown off into the vault, a place which t^att. xv 17] cleanses, as it were, and carries off the grosser dregs of all the food that a man eats. „,hich comcth out of'^'tlie 20 But, said he. It is indeed that which comes out of a tnan that xeTiWy defiles a man, man, that defileth the man: and makes him sinful in the sight of God, as it originally proceeds from within : [ for] the '^'"" ♦''"'"; ^'""ss which , 7 ■ , . J /■ , ; ,7 ^ , , *>" % ; ; , , , *- j , lirocecd out of the mouth, tilings proceeding out of tlw mouth come forth from the heart ; and these are they that come forth from the heart, actually defile a man, as they may thus be tainted with a great deal of moral guilt and "'''i they defile the man.] 21 malignity. For, from within, out of the heart of men, proceed all such cormpt and evil ^ oi^Forfnmi'' within, out reasonings^^ as those of the Pharisees wliich you have now been hearing, and all those of the lieart of men, \no- self-invented sophisms which exclude wisdom at the first entrance ; and from hence also ^l^f,,^ ''^f' n'^Ttm^^s' "''"'" proceeds adulteries and fornications, and all sorts of sensuality and uncleanness; all acts dcrsJ'[Matt. xv. 19.]' a A'ot that vhich goes into the mouth, &c.] Though it is very true, render it evil reasonings, rather than merely evil Iknughts, as better a m.an may bring guilt upon himself by eating what is ])ernicious suiting both the original and the occasion, and as containing a more to his health, or by excess in the quantity of food and li(|iior ; and universal and important truth : for those thoughts only dc'file the a Jew might have done it by presumptuously eating what was for- heart which it willingly admits, and docs, as it were, liold a parley bidden by the Mosaic law, which still continued in force; yetinall and converse with. Aiid, 1 fear, there arc multitudes in the jue- these instances, the pollution would arise from (lie wickedness of the sent age, like these I'liarisees, who are contracting imniejise guilt heart, and be just propm^tj^lJlililiL.t" 't ; which is all our Lord asseits. by those corruptand sophi.stical reasonings, on the siibtilty of which b Corrupt and einT rcasonfngs~: oi '!i.rA<)yit;MCii oi xixw ] I chuse \q (hey may highly value tlicin<:elve? and (aeli other. A WOM^YN OF CANAAN BEGS HELP OF JESUS FOR HER DAUGHTER. 173 22 Thefts, covctousncss of violence and murders ; And thefts, and insatiable desires, and malevolent affections si^CT. wicluaness, [false witness,] of inhumanity and cruelty to mankind ; the injuries arising from false witnessings and S4. ev^uye, Warpbemy!^'pVid\° deceit; the vile abominations of tasciviousncss and intemperance; an evil envious foolishness-. [Matt. xv. 19.]' grudging euc, and that odious temper which discovers itself by such a look ; (compare mark Prov. xxiiiT 6 ; xxviii. 22 ; and xxii. 9.) the horrid outrage of blasphemy and pride ; ^"• and, in a word, all kind oi folly ^ wild imaginations, ungoverned passions, and many 22 23 All these evil tliiiig^ other moral irregularities. All these evils, and many more which I might mention, come 23 come from within, ami f/^Qfn tcithin ; and these are the things which do iiideed pollute a man, and render him ^eniTthe man aburto eat an object odious to the infinite purity of the divine nature ; but the bare undesigned viola- wiiu unwashen hands de- tioii of a Ceremonial precept cannot do it ; and much more evident it is, that to eat with '"'.'^ ooi'"' '^ '"^"■"' '-'^^'*"'' unwashed hands, which has no moral impurity in it, and no authority but a vain tradition to forbid it, does not, and cannot defile a man : and it must have a very bad tendency to teach people to place religion in things so entirely foreign to it IMPROVEMENT May we be all taught of God to maintain a constant watch over our own hearts, as remembering thaXfrotn matt. thence arc the issues of life, and from thence the sources of sin and death ! (Prov. iv. 23.) iVll the secret motions XV. and sentiments of tlieni are open to the divine examination and inspection. There then may we begin our cares, 18 to purify ourselves from all filthiness both of the flesh and spirit, as ever we would perfect holiness in the fear of GocL (2 Cor. vii. 1.) We see what secret abominations our Lord has here discovered and marked out. It is a matter of much la- 19 mentation, that our corrupted nature abounds with such poisonous productions : let us earnestly pray that they may be rooted out by divine grace, lest we ourselves be rooted out of God's vineyard, as at once encumbering and deforming it ! - May the blessed Spirit of God create in us a clean heart, and implant in our souls a temper opposite to all these mark enormities ! May candour and purity, integrity and tenderness, piety and generosity, humility and wisdom, prevail "^II- in our hearts, and shine in oiu- conduct ! And, in a word, whatsoever things are true and honest, just and pure, 21,22 lovely and of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any.praise, let us think on these things, and practise them ! (Phil. iv. 8.) Let those who are employed to guide others, be especially solicitous to know and pursue the right way them- matt. selves ; lest, instead of saving themselves, and those that hear them, they both of them at last perish together. ^V. We are in danger of it if, like these Pharisees, we inculcate on our hearers a zeal for the circumstantials and 14 appendages of religion, while its essentials are neglected ; and perhaps some of the greatest enormities of the mind are consecrated under an honourable name, and profanely listed under the banner of the God of holiness «^d love. ''\^xrO! . Q > lis ^r-~ SECTION LXXXV. Jesus withdraws to the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, and there expels a demon from the daughter of a Canaan- itish woman ; and afterwards, in his return to Galilee, cures a man who xoas deaf, and had an impediment in his speech. Matt. xv. 21—29 5 Mark vii. 24, to the end. Mark vii. 2i. MARK vii. 24. And from thence [Jesus] AND Jcsus arosc from thencc, and xC'ithdrew from the place where these invidious ene- SECT. re'l3or'dts^t«r'3s]"o'f mies were coutiaually lymg Ln wait for him, to the borders [or] coasts of Tyre and 85. Tyre and Sidon, and entered Sidou : and when he was come into those parts, he entered into a house as privately as into an house, and would ] ^q^jJj ^,^^ ^,g^^l^l j^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^„^, /.^^^^^ r^Y] that he was there ; but he had so mark have no man know it ; but ' /ii ji ? i i • t^ ^ ^ Vll. he could not be hid. [Matt, many eyes upon hull wherever he went, that he could not long be concealed m tnat le- ^^ XV. 21.] tirement. 2.5 For [behold, a woman Yea, an occurrence quickly happened that spread the fame of his arrival there tlirough 25 wa^tTfwLTeyoun-dauKi'i- ^'^ *^^ neighbourhood ;, /or behold, a Canaanitish woman came out of those coasts, to ter'had an unclea'n spirit, whoui, though an alien from the commonwealth of Israel, he displayed his power and heard of him, and' came, goodness in a very remarkable manner. Now this was one whose young daughter, for J^uemerc7onme!o''Zord; whom she had a most tender affection, was possessed by an unclean and malignant spirit, thou Son of David.; my which often threw her into violent agonies : and, as the fame of Jesus, and of the miracles ed"with\-i'dev1[]"'yMaTt" ^^^^^ '^^ ^^^ wrought, was known in all those parts, the afflicted mother was no sooner XV. 22.] ' ■ L • told of his arrival, but, having now an expectation of relief, from the great things she had heard of him, she ca?ne immediately to the place where he was, aiid cried unto him at some distance, with the most humble importunity, saying. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, thou Son of David,'' consider my distressed case, and extend thy compassion to me, though a stranger ; for ????/ poor unhappy daughter is grievously tormented by a cruel demon, that delights in the misery of my child ; and I well know that thou art able to cure her. 2G (The woman was a Now it is here to be observed as somewhat singular, that (as we just now hinted,) the 26 Greek, a Syrophfcnician by .^^oman was not a Jew, but a Greek, a native of Syrophoenicia,^ or of that tract of c All kind of foUy.'] I apprehend that ajtpoavm here stands pre^sion, that she was a proselyte ; but perhaps she miffht have directly opposed to aoippwm, or /sobriety of tknught and discourse; learned it from some of the Jews, (either immediately or by re- and therefore does particularly signify the wild sallies of the ima- port,) and mi2:ht use it as a title of respect without thoroughly un- gination, and extravagant passions and appetites, and consequently derstanding its meaning. must include a great many immoralities not touclied on in the b A native nf Syrophnnicia.'] This part of Phnpnicia was ao preceding enumeration. called, as it had been formerly coufjuered by the Syrians^ {/ a O Lord, thou Son of David.'] Some have argued from this ex- .. ' ^' 174 CHRIST CURES ONE THAT WAS DEAF AND ALMOST DUMB. SECT. Canaaa in which they now were : and therefore, thousrh she tlius earnestly besousht him nation;) and she besought <-,- . ,,,;;/- i J ij 1 ^1 1 -^11 him that he would cast forth 85. to cast out the demon from her daughter, and the case seemed so compassionable, our the devil out of herdaugh- Lord thought it proper not to take such immediate notice of it as he 'had^eonilTltinly" done ter. MATT, in the hke instances; But turning from her, as if he were regardless of her case, he swered'h^r'nota worV''And ^^- answered lier not a word. his disciples came, and be- 23 Aitd his disciples came to him on the occasion, and entreated him, saying. Dismiss nought hira, saying, Send her with the grant of her request ; for she is so overwhelmed with her affliction, that she after us. crieth after us wherever she sees us f and not only gives us trouble, but is like to make 24 But he answered and 24 thy abode here more public than thou wouldst have it. Bat he replying, said, I am not the^'iost'sh" ep'of \he"t.o'use sent, but to seek and recover the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and am charged with of Israel. no immediate message to the Gentile nations, to whom you all know this woman , ,f^ T'l^." J^'Tt ^'^^ t'""^ , , .^ -. 'ell at his feet,] and \ior- ^-^ belongs. ^ shipped him, saying, Lord, 25 Then, perceiving her case was the subject of their discourse, she came nearer, and fell help me. [Mark vii.25.] ' down at his feet in a most importunate manner, and -worshipped him, saying. Lord, I said mito'iier'^ Let tii^e duN beseech thee to help me, though a stranger ; for surely none evei needed thy help more, dren first be filled ; for it is MARK But Jesus said to her, (yet farther to exercise and illustrate her faith,) Let^vi Jows, JJ"* ',"'^!^'- *j*''''1 f'^ *^''''; VH. the children in God's family, first he satisfied ; for it is not proper to take the chil- unto the do'gs. [Matt. xv. 27 dren's bread, and throw it to the dogs ; and such you know that you Gentiles are com- 20.] monly deemed by otir nation, on account of those impurities and abominations that ^.^jj u"^^* himf"^[Trii?i'i','] prevail among you. Lord ; yet the dogs under 28 And she replied and said to him. True, Lord, it would not be fit to put both on a dJL*^'iTumhs''[Vhich'''i'ri level ; yet even the dogs under their master's table are allowed to cat the children's from their master's table] crumbs which fall from it :^ may I not then humbly hope, that, unworthy as I am, I t'^^"- ^^- ^J'-' rp. may also receive some fragments of that mercy which is so liberally bestowed on the Jews, ansvv'ereirand&aid unto heT and may have been in some instances wantonly abused. o woman, great is thy faith: MATT. Then Jesus answering said unto her, O woman, g-reat is thy faith ; and it was my L *''ji f'5"."^' f° ,!'^y Yv 1 • 11 11 1 ■ in " ,' ; ■ 1- 1 ■ ^'"Y' «'"»] be it unto thee ^*- design to illustrate, rather than to.Qverbear it; now theretore, /or this Uvdy saying, even as thou wilt: [the 28 which argues'st) much humility and'ptet'y, go thy way with the kindest answer thou 'j'^^jj '^ gone out of thy couldst wish, land'] be it unto thee even just as thou wilt : thy desire shall be accom- teT was*^ made^'wh^le ^from plished in all its e.Ktent, for the demon is affSaSy gone out of thy daughter,^nd I assure that very hour. [Mark vii. '. thee that he shall torment her no mora^r And a.ccoTdm":\Y her daughter wat cured from ^\-l.,,i, „•■ ,„ * 1 .1, ' , , A 7 ■ 1^ 7 7 ■ II ^ 1 c 1 1 itiark vii. 30. Auu, when MARK that very hour. And, returning back to her house, tuliy persuaded of the accomplish- she was come to her house, Sidun, and came near to the sea of Galilee, passing through several places in his way n*rom''thrcoastrof*'^Tv^^ i 29 that lay in the midst of the coasts of Decapolis, from whence his fame had formerly and Sidon,] and came mgh j brought multitudes to follow him: (see Matt. iv. 25, note 1, sect, xxxvi.) and on a certain ""*" ilrtu*^'' "1 t^'^f't^' \ day, in his journey, he went up to the top of a mountain, and sat down there, to rest coasts "of Decapolis,] and ; himself, and to teach the people, who in great multitudes resorted to him to attend upon ^^ent up into a mountain, ( bis preaching, and brought their sick to be healed by him. and sat^dowu there. [Mark , MARK And, among many other diseased persons, they brought him one xoho was very deaf, Mark vii. 32. And they ' VII. and had%o great an impediment in his speech that he was almost dumb too; and, mak- ^"'"^ unto him one that 32 ing known his case to Jesus, they besought him that he would lay his hand upon him, diment in his speech: and as he had done in many other cases, making no doubt that he would upon this be per- they beseech him toput/f/s 33 fectly restored to his hearing and speech. And, taking him aside from the multitude, '^33 And he'took him aside which was very numerous, he put his fingers into his ears, where there was a great from the multitude and put obstruction, which hindered him from hearing distinctly ; and, spitting on his finger, he {"^ fingers into his cars, and 34 touched his tongue:^ And, looking up, ?& to his Father in heaven, he groaned, in tongue- token of his earnest desire that these disorders might be removed; and then said unto 34 And looking up to 35 him,,?i.5xviih a voice of divine authority, Ephphatha ; that is. Be opened. And imme- un'trhim7Ephph'atha,\hat <•//«/(■/?/ the word had its effect; and his ears were diCeorAm^j opened, and the string is. Be opened. of his tongue, which had hindered it from moving freely, was loosed, and he spoke ^ ^^ ,'^"^ „*,'l?'5i''r.?I IVl ■/. . , '^ ' . . , • , n , • 1 • 1 1 1 1 1 in ^'^^^ were opened, and the distinctly, and m an articulate manner, which from his birth he had never done beiore. string of his tongue was 36 Aiid he charged the man himself, and them that were near, that they should tell no one loosed and he spake plain, of it; but the more he charged them to conceal it, the more they were ^harmed with ^1,3^ ji," 'thouff^'teir'no his modesty and humility, and consequently so much the more abundanfli/' did thei/ man: but the more he 37 pro^lafinlthe cure .■] And all they who heard of it were struck with exceeding astonish- "^Hff^^^XdZ tlJey put^ ment, and said. He has done all things well, and performed the moit'extraordinary lishediV; c For she crieth after us, wherever she sees us.] As Mark tells us. If any should ask. Why our Lord used these actions, when a word that Christ was entered into a house, and that the application of this alone would have been sulTicient ; and such means (if they may be woman to him prevented his being concealed as he desired to have called means) could in themselves do nothing at all to answer the been ; it should seem that she, having learned that Jesus was there, end, — I frankly confess, I cannot tell, nor am I at all concerned to watched for the disciples as they went in and out; and, having know. Yet I am ready to imagine, it might be intended to inti- cried after them some time, she at length got admittance into the mate, in a very lively manner, that we are not to pretend to enter house; and, with the profoundest respect, accosted him at first into the reasons of ail his actions ; and that, where we are sure that f mm some distance, a.nA then drew near a.nA \.\\rfw\ierse\i at Ills feet, any observance whatever is appointed bj^ liim, we are humbly to Compare Matt. xv. 25; and Mark vii. 25. submit to it, though we Cannot see why it was preferred to others d Triir, Lord, yet the dogs, cS-c.] Both Matthew and Mark use which our imagination might suggest. Had Christ's patients, like the word vai, whichwe have rendered ill the former, ycM/A, and in the Naaman, (2 Kings v. 11, 12.) been too nice in their exception^ on latter, I'es. It is sometimes a form of assenting, and sometimes of these occasions, I fear they would have lost their cure; ami 'Ik entreating. Compare Pliilem. ver. 20. and see Blackwall's Sacred indulgence of a curious, ofa petulant mind, would have bo n ■ Classics, Vol. I,, p. 143. a poor ef|uivalent for such a loss. e He put his fingers into his ears, and, spittiiit/,louc/ied his Ion jue.'] « 'L 1^71 uii-d^ Jcu! JESUS HErlLS MANY THAT ARE LAME, BLIND, &c 175 37 Audwerebeyoudmea- cures in the inost amiable and graceful manner; jnaking, in this and many other sect. Ttrdlre'all^TnS'weU: instances, both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to spca/c. 85. he raaketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak. IMPROVEMENT. '^"xv^' If there be any thing in the whole history of our Lord which might have a tendency to discourage and terrify Ver. 23 the humble penitent, it would surely be his treatment of this ppor Canaanitish woman, when she made so humble and so aflectionate an application to him ; first keeping silence; then intimating in words^. coldness, not to say 24 an aversion ; and at last representing her but as a dog in comparison of the Jews. Surely such an answer had 26 ainiost broke her heart, had it not been secretly supported by his grace, while his conduct seemed so unkind. Happy"ar5TTiey that, like her, (who, though a Gentile, did in this instance approve herself a true daughter of Abraham,) can against hope believe in hope ! (Rom. iv. 18.) Happy they who can thus extract arguments even from discoiuagements !' They will finally conquer and triumph, as this pious woman did ; and the honours of 28 their faith will be commemorated even by Clirist himself, who soon indulges tlie overflowing tenderness of his heait in the applause he bestows upon her, and the ample grant he makes her of all that she asked in its utmost extent. The story of the deaf man, whose ears were opened, and his tongue loosed, is one additional instance, among mark many more, of Christ's humility, as well as of his power. He retired from the admiring multitude ; he used means ^}^- ^' when he could easily have wrought without them ; he solemnly addressed his heavenly Father, virtually acknow- ^^ ^"1' ledging, while he looked up to heaven, that as man he derived his miraculous power from above ; and he was so '^'^' "^^ far superior to the sentiments of vanity, that he commanded men to conceal the most glorious and benevolent 36 actions. May all liis followers, and' especially his ministers, learn of him who was thus meek and lowly ! (Matt. xi. 29.) neither acting as in their own strength when they attempt a spiritual cure, nor proclaiming their own praises when they have eltected it. Then will they likewise do all things well ; and there will be that beauty in 37 the manner, which no wise man would entirely neglect, even in those actions which are in themselves most excellent and great. ' .. • ' •■ ' , " '' SECTION LXXXVI. Our Lord, after many amazing miracles, feeds above four thousand -with seven loaves and a few small fshes : and then goes over to Dalmanutha. Matt. xv. 30, to the end. filark viii. 1 — 10. MATT. XV. 30. Matt. xv. 30. And great multitudes AND while Jesus was seated on the mountain to which he went up, (Matt. xv. 29.) SECT. themtlfose1hat^Vere^!arae' ^^'■^''^ ^^'"'^ '» '''""' besides the deaf man of whom we have just been speaking, great 80. blii"d, dumb, maimed, and multitudes, having brought along with them persons who were lame, or blind, or du7nb. manv MATT. any otiiers, and cast them [-„,.-] ,fjai7ned by the loss of a limb, and many others who had different complaints ; and heaVed theT' "'*' "^ they cast them at the feet of Jf5«.?, entreating his compassion, which failed not to g^^^- 31 Insomuch that the operate on such occasions, and he healed them all. And so many and various were the rviawthrduSspe'lk! displays of his miraculous power in the cures he wrought, that the whole multitude was 31 tlie maimed to be whole' perfectly amazed when they beheld the dumh speaking forth the praises of God and of the lame to walk, and the ^j^gjj, gj.^^^ Deliverer; the maimed made whole by the recovery of hands and anus which rifled Ihe God'^of IsVaeL^ ■ they had lost, or which were grown quite useless to them;=' the lame walking with vigour and agility, and the blind seling every object distinctly, and immediately bearing, with- out any inconvenience, the full force of unaccustomed ligl\t :'' and, struck with such various and pleasing wonders, thei/ glorified the God of Israel, who had raised up so illustrious a Prophet to his people, and sent help to so "many afflicted creatures whom no human power could have restored. Mark viii. 1. In those This concourse of people continued with him much longer than could have been MARK days the muuitude being j„^a^i,^e^ and, the scasou being favourable, they were so intent on hearing Christ and VUl. very a^reat, aiitl iiavmif xio- o ? ', ^ , ,Pi .1 t • ^^ r^ \ ^ f j*i^^ 'i thins to eat, Jesus called seeing his miracles, that they lodged two nights together m the helds :^ and theretoie, in I his disciples unto him, and f/j^^^ ^^^y, f/j^ multitude 'being very great, and having spent the provision they had |uth unto them, [Matt. XV. |jj.Qygyj^ ^^^ ^■^^^ ^^g,^^^ go tliat'^now W the third day they had nothing to eat, Jesus 2 I have compassion on havino- called his disciples to him, sai/s unto them, I cannot but have compassion on 2 hrvr"now''bee^r"w?h' me ^he inultitudc of my hearers, who flock thus eagerly about me, and express such zeal in three days, and have no- their attendance, as to expose themselves thereby to many inconveniences ; /or Mey have «''ns'«««t-. [Matt. XV. 32.] continued with me noxv three days, and I well know that they have nothing left to eat: tiiera awiy fastingto their And therefore I wHl not send them away fasting to their own houses, lest, if I do, they 3 ^ f Happy are they, &c.] The pious, moderate, and eloquent there v/ere some whose Umhs had been, cut off ; and, I think, hardly Bishop Hall, has a fine contemplation on this subject, to which I any of the miracles of our Lord were more illustrious and mnazing refer the reader with pleasure; and take this opportunity of ob- than the recovery of such. ,,• i^n c r serving-, that (allowing- something for the pec^iliarities of the age b Bearing— the full force of unaccustomed light ] ^o (ar as v.e in which he lived,) I have met with no devotional writings on the can judge by all the stories of the blind restored to sight "l'"-'' historical iiart of scripture, which have generally given me so much occur in the gospels, this was universally the case j and 1 coulU not «ntertainment as his. forbear pointing out so wonderful a circumstance. a T/ie ni'ilmed made whole.'] The word xuXXoc, which we render c They lodged two nights together in the tields.J 1 liis we may maimed, does, in the strictest propriety, (as Festus observes,) signify infer from the next verse. The season of the year was pleasant, it one whose hand or arm has been cut off; (see Mark ix. 43.) but it is being, as we have observed, quickly after the passover. (}^ee \ hi. sometime.'? applied to those who only were disabled in those parts, note b, p. 170.) And, besides that the great number of cures which (See Beza and Casaub. in. he.) And though in some rare instances had been wrought but just before might animate them, perhaps it may be used to signify a lameness in the feet, (see Eisner, they might conclude that the miraculous power of Christ, which Olserv. Vol. I p. 77. and Albert. Observ. p. 109.) yet, as it is here was displayed in so many glorious instances around them, would , opposed to x'-X'wf CT£m!r^«j»r«, the lame walking, it must undoubt- either piescrvc their health from being endangered by the large f edly be limited as in the paraphrase.— It is reasonable to suppose dews which fell in the night, or restore them trom any disorder that among the many maimed who were brought on such occasions, they might contract by their eagerness to attend on his ministry. i 17G REFLECTIONS ON THE NUMBER AND VARIETY OF CHRIST'S MIRACLES. SECT, should some of them faint hy the wai/ : for our Lord knew that several of them came own houses, [lest they f,uiit] 86. from a considerable distance, and were but ill luriiLshed for procurina,- accommodations py "^'"^ ^^•'J'/ for ili vers of •^ , , 1 o them came from far. [Matt. abroad. xv. 32.] MARK A)id his disciples, not reflecting on the miracle he had lately wrought for the relief of 4 And lUs disciples an- ^^'f- the five thousand, or not imagining lie would repeat it, answered him. From xohencc can clna'^mlnTatSy't'hele men 4 an)/ one hope to satis ft/ these men ivith bread and other food here in this desert country, with bread here! [Whence if he had ever so much money to spare for the purpose ? [And'l especially whence should ^honid we have so much we, whose stock is so small, have so much bread in the wilderness as might sutnce to Jill to till so great a multitude?] so great a multitude, whose appetites are many of them sharpened by so long a fast ? [Matt. xv. 33.3 We cannot but wonder to hear thee mention such a design. How^mny7oavel''have'y"! ' 5 And he asked them. How many loaves are you provided with, or what have you at And they said, Seven, [and hand to eat? And they said. We have only sevoi loaves among us all, aiid a few little ''. '^t"' ''ttle fishes.] [Matt. 6 fishes, which is a very trifle to the present purpose. And, having ordered them to bring ' 0 And he commanded out what they had, he commanded the multitude to sit down in ranks on the ground, [t'>e multitude] to sit down that they might be served, as before, in an orderly manner •,'^ and then having taken the "he s'ev^'ii"loaves""and"^<^ave seven loaves, and solemnly given thanks to his heavenly Father, acknowledging his thanks, and brake, and gave goodness as the great Author of all mercies, when he had blessed them before them all, J^/,"V''^j!'/'^^*dd'"rM""^ he brake them into proper pieces, and gave \them'] to his disciples to set before them ; before the people. [Matt. 7 «« the whole, I am tes^i'> think, the two things mentioned in note as well as in the most sensible effects. i ^^'^ ^^ould be sufficient for the recovery of his sight. And, as he chose to work this miracle man by the hand, and led ; ■ - in private, he took hold of the blind nuni's hand, and led him out of the toxun'' in the '''™ ""' "f th"" 'own; and ! 23 most tender and condescending manner ; and having spit upon his eyes, and laid his Tyel^nd plitl'handrupon 24 hands upon hi?n, he asked him if he saw amj thing. And looking up, he said, I do him,' he asked him if he saw indeed digcern the forms of things, in an imperfect manner, and see men walking before ""I]' And he looked up and me, but it is so obscurely, as that I am hardly able to distinguish them from trees, any said, I see men as trees 25 otherwise than by their motion.'' Then he laid his hands asain upon his eyes, and '""J!''';?: ,,_ , , ° ^ '' ' 2.5 After that he put Ins might, with peculiar propriety, be sing-led out by our Lord, to to the former, was equally a demonstration of the divine power of caution his disciples against them. Sec Grotius, in loc. and note f, Christ, and therefore equally to the purpose for which it is here on Mark in. 6. p. )03. mentioned; not to urge that it was of the two the more fresh in e Hnw many baskets full of fragments did you take np .?] The tlieir memories, learned Dr. Daniel Scott, on Matt. xvi. 10. with his usual accuracy, a. And led him otit of the iovin.-] Grotius thinks it was an inti-" has observed that two different words are used in this and the pre- mation of his just displeasure against tlie inhabitants of Bethsaida, reding verse for baskets, xopivw and aiTU^-iJas. The former signifies for their ingratitude and infidelity, tliat he would not permit them larger baskets ; and tlierefore is translated panniers by the French : to be eye-witnesses of this miracle, or even suffer the person who we have borrowed the word from them ; and it seems from its ety- received the cure to go back thither to proclaim it. Compare mology first to have been given them from their being used by Matt. xi. 21. p. 117. bakers to carry about large quantities of bread. The other seem b I see men walking, as trees.-] Probably they might not be far to have been smaller baskets with handles, and such as consequently from the way-side, and tliese might be passengers who happened t"'"^^m*^^; % '^^'^"^4 °" ^^^ ="'™- It is observable, that our then to be gJing by ; for it seems by the story, that our Lord, when i-ortt aid not attect to jjafcin the circumstances of the two miracles he took him out of the town, permitted none of his company to Here mentioned. The latter, though iu some particulars inferior attend him. HE ASKS HIS DISCIPLES. WHOM DO MEN SAY THAT I AIM ? 179 hands again upon his eyes, caused him to look up a second time ; aijcl upon this he found his sight -d-as perfectly re- SECT, aud made him look up: stored, SO that he saTV ever?/ man and thmg about hiin clearly and distinctly. And he Mw el'-er^man'Sy. '""' Sent him axcay directly to his own house, which lay in some neighbouring village; and ■ 26 And he ient hira'away said uuto him, Enter not into the ungrateful touui of Bethsaida, to proclaim what has now ther tell aud made him look up: stored, SO that he saiv every man and thmg about hmi clearly and distmctly. And he 06 ' "" ""*""•' "■"' Ids o-wn house, which h.y in some neighbouring village; and , _ 0 //^e ungrateful /oi:72 of Bethsaida, to proclaim what has now mark to his^house, sayiiigs Nei- ^^^^ ^^^^ f^^. ^j^^g . ^-^clther tell the circumstances of it to any man dwelling in the toxvn, ^ '"• iuo any iuTheTown"""^ for they are unworthy the knowledge of such a miracle : but content thyself with returning '26 thy acknowledgments to God for his favour to thee ; for I assure thee, that in what I do I am animated only by a sincere regard to the glory of him that sent me, and to the rehef of afflicted creatures. 27 And Jesus went out, jl,id Jesus, ivith his disciples, went out from the city of Bethsaida, in the neighbour- 27 Tw "^ of 'cesarea' Piuu j^'i^ ^ood of which this miracle had been performed, and came into the to-wns belonging to a andfLuke,*^!! came to pass] city in the northern part of Canaan (near mount Lebanon) which had formerly been by the way, [when Jesus called Laish, but uow bore the name of Ccesarca Philippi, having lately been rebuilt by [rj^'afhe wasaTone°pray: Philip the te.trarch.^ And it came to pass by the -way, as they were on their journey, [the Son of Man] ami What notions do you find that men generally fomi of me ? Lukrix.^lo They an- And they, replying, said. Some [say that thou arf] John the Baptist risen from the luke swering, said, [Some ray dead, with'an additional power of working miracles 3 but others [sa7/']^i\2A\\\owixi Elijah ^^• tsVhli'slitZT^^s] the propFei; who "art come to prepare the way of the Messiah; and others say that thou 19 [and others, Jeremias,] and art Jcremiah ;'^ and otlicrs, in a more general way, that one of the ancient prophets is others say that one of the ^^-^g,^ agoill. [i\ian°xw 14* "Mrrk^viu: And, after they had told him what wore the thoughts of others, he then said to them, for mark 38.] ' ' the trial of their faith. But tell me truly and plainly your own sentiments ; whom do you VIII. saUh muo them; Bufwhom yourselves think and say that I am. And Simon Peter immediately answered, with his 29 say ye that I am' ? And [Si- usual zeal and forwardness, and said to him, in the name of the rest, Lord, we well know "'"t";' uuto^lTif'^Th'* 'Trt ^^^*t thou art the great expected Messiah ; and art not only the Son of Mm, the worthy the Cllr^st" [thT'son'of fhe Heir of that glorious and extensive kingdom promised to him, but art, in a proper and i^ living God.] [Matt xvi. communicable sense, the Son of the ever-living God: and we believe in thee as such, and 15, 10. Luke XI. 20.] adore thee under that divine character. Matt. xvi. 17. And Jesus 4i,fl Jesus, replyins:, said unto him. Thou hast confessed a truth, and a truth of the m.\tt. BTeysed'an'\for'sim"n "tmost importance; blessed art thou, therefore, O Simon Bar-Jonas ^or the son of XVI. Bar-Jona; for flesh and Jonas,) in being brought thus firmly to believe it. For flesh and blood tictli not re- \1 blood hath not revealed // pe^/e^ [//] to tlice, thou hast uot leamt it by human report, or the unassisted sagacity of which il'in heaven^ thine own mind ; but my Father in heaven has discovered it to thee, and wrought in thy soul this cordial assent in the n^idst of those various prejudices against it, which present 18 And I say also unto circumstances might suggest. And, as thou hast been so ready to make this acknow- 18 amfupof thu'lock f wui ledgment, I also in return say to thee. Thou art indeed Peter, (see John i. 42. p. 43.) build mv church, and the thou art, as thy name signifies, a substantial rock ; and, as thou hast shown it in this good gates of 'hell shall not pre- confession, I assure thee, that upon this rock I will build my church ;^ faith in me as the vai agains u. ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ .^^ ^^^^^ Support, and I will use thee as a glorious instrument in raising it : yea, so immovable and firm shall its foimdation be, and so secure the superstructure, that though earth and hell unite their assaults against it, and death in its most dreadful forms be armed for its destruction, the gates of hell, or the unseen world, shaU not finally prevail against it to its ruin ;f but one generation of Christians shall arise after another, even to the very end of time, to maintain this truth, and to venture their lives and their ^ souls upon it, till at length the whole body of them be redeemed from the power of the c C(vsarea Philippi, Sec] Philip the tetrarcli called the chief city Dr. Whitby, Dr. Clarke, and L'Enfant defend, and it seems to suit of this tract of land Ca;sarea, in honour of Tiberius C^sar ; and best with the connection ; (seeWhitby, in /o''.) But to be a/ownrfrt- Philip's own name was added, to distinguislfff' from that other ^(on in this sense, was not /"'s /innour alone ; his irf/Arfn shared with Caesarea so often mentioned in the Acts, (chap; viii. 40 ; ix. 30; x. him in it, (see Eph. ii. 20. and Rev. xxi. 14.) as they did also m the 1 J xii. 19 ; xxi. 8 ; xxiii. 23, 33. and xxv. 4, 13 ;) which was a fine power of binding and loosing. (See Matt, xviii. 18. and John xx. port on the Mediterranean Sea, and had been rebuilt by Herod the 23.)— On the whole, how weak the arguments are which the Papists /Great, and named in honour of Au°:ustus Cesar. — Josephus gives draw from hence, to support the supremacy of Peter m their wild I Philip so good a character, that some have thought our Lord re- sense of it, is sufficiently shewn by Bishop Burnet, On the Articles I tired into his territories for security from the insults of his enemies p. 180. Calvin, Inslitut. lib. iv. cap. 6. Dr. Barrow, On the Creed, \ elsewhere. See L'Enfant's Introduction, p. 27. Serm. xxviii. Dr. Patrick, in his Sermon on this text, and a mul- d Others say that thou art Jeremiah.'] Mr. Cradock has observed, titude more, whom I need not name.— There seems a retcTence lu that the Jews seem to have had a tradition among them, that Jere- this expression to the common custom of building citadels upon a miah the prophet would appear among them when the Messiah rock. ■ n t* - f came to recover the arh of the covenant, which-they had fancied he f The gates of hell shall not prevail against it to its ruin.] It is I had hid: 2 Mac. ii. 5. (See Cradock's Harmony, '^StT ii. p. 12.) most certain that the phrase here used otXii x'h, does generallv in ^And Dr. Whitby imagines, they might further encourage them- the Greek writers signify, the entrance into the invisible uoria; and therefore have paraphrased it with a latitude, which an in- paraphrase ; telligeiitreader will easily observe.— If our Lord altered his accent, cal jrorks, p. 110. and Dr. AVhitby's note on 'his place Grolius and l^id his hand on hisjjrga&t, it would shew that he spoke, not of also supposes it refers to the final triumph of the saints over the the pfrsonTTmT'br tTie confession, of Peter, (as most Protestant ^rat-f at the general resurrection. This does indeed imply a vic- divines have understood it,)' and meant to point out himself as the tory over the power and policy of mfernal spirits ; b"* -•.".." great Foundation. Compare 1 Cor. iii. 10, II.— But if he turned to apprehend a reference to this to be chiefly mtended ; but I cannot as it is cer- \pjfif^ J so CHRIST PLAINLY FORETELS HIS SUFFERINGS AND DEATH. SECT, grave. In the mean time, I will raise thee, O Peter, and tliy brethren, whose faith herein 19 And I «iii gUe unto 88. agrees with thine, (compare John xx. 23.) to distinguished honours in my church ; and I t'^''^ t'^^ '^'^ys of t'le king-- will give unto thee, in particular, the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and make thee the soeTef tCrs"4rt"bi,Hl'on MATT, instrument of opening it both to the Jews and Gentiles -.b yea, so fully shalt thou be in- earth, shall be bound in ^^^- strucled in my will, and in the constitution of my kingdom, that whatsoever thou shall }'i^ou''sh'alt''ioose*ou'Ta^\h'^ 19 bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven ; and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. ' shall be loosed in heaven ;^ that is, thou shalt have authority to declare what precepts of the Mosaic religion are superseded, and what are continued, and what things are allowed or forbidden to my disciples ; and I will myself confirm those decisions, whether general or personal, as made by the influences of my unerring Spirit communicated to thee and thy brethren, and will determine men's final state in a manner agreeable to them. LlJKE A7id upon this he strictly charged and commanded his disciples that they should Luke ix. 21. And be - ^X- tell no man, at present, this thing concerning him, which he had so expressly acknow- straitiy charged [his disri- 21 ledged to them, that he was Jesus the Messiah, and that he actually professed and ro'teif no'n^r'lhat'^thin'.' owned the title; because he knew it was Jijce to be interpreted in a very unjust and [Mark.ofhim,] [iii.-ithewa's unnatural manner, which might have rendered him and his followers obnoxious to the xvi"2o"MaH!'vni 30'?'""' Romans, who would unreasonably look on such a profession as a claim to regal power, and utterly inconsistent wWlhe rights of Caesar. . IMPROVEMENT. MATT. We here behold the great Foundation of our faith and hope, even Jesus, the Rock of ages, the same yesterday, XVI. to-day, and for ever, (Heb. xiii. 8.) who is Christ the Son of the living Goa. Other foundation can no man lay. 16(1 Cor. iii. 11.) On him may our souls rest, and the fiercest tempests shall rage in vain ! 18 Our Lord foretold that the gates of hell should not be able to prevail against his church as thus founded : and behold, even to this day, the accomplishment of the prediction. As Christians of one age have sunk into tlieir graves, a new harvest has sprung up in the next ; and, in spite of all the artifices of Satan to pervert young minds, and all the advantages with which he attacks them, instead of the fathers have been the children, to be accounted to the Lord for a generation. (Psal. xlv. 16 ; and xxii. 30.) 19 Let us thankfully adore the divine goodness herein ; and be very sensible how much we are indebted to that goodness in those powers communicated to the apostles, on whom, as subordinate foundations, we are built. (Eph. ii. 20.) As they received so ample a commission, and obtained gracelrom theXofcTto be faithful to it, let us pay the humblest regard to their teachings ; as well knowing, that what they have bound on earth, is bound in heaven, and what they have inculcated, was solemnly confirmed by a divine authority. 17 If we have listened_ with attention to those immortal writings of theirs, by which, being dead, they yet speak, and have found them the effectual means of revealing Christ in our hearts, in all his divine glories and saving powers ; let us remember, that we owe it not to flesh and blood, or the most excellent human instruments alone, but to the influences of our Father in heaven. MARK That efficacious grace is freely exercised, and operates in various methods ; on some, in a more instantaneous VIII. ^^ray J on others, like the power of Christ on the blind man of whom we have been reading, by more gradual 23-;-25 advances. Let us be thankful for whatever light we receive, and press on to brighter discoveries: and join with them iDioportionable degrees of gratitude to Christ, and veneration for his gospel. \^,c j . \'i, ^ '% 5 J. SECTION LXXXIX. Christ prophesies of Jiis approaching sufferings, rebukes Peter for being offended at than ; and exhorts /us disciples to self-denial, and a readiness for martyrdom in his cause. Matt. xvi. 21, ifo phe end. Mark viii. 31, ^ the ouf; ix. 1. Luke ix. 22—27. ^'^"- ''^^* 2^- ' lVIATT.XTi.21. MATT. iV OIFwhen Jesus had applauded the confession of Peter, (as recorded above, j and thereby From tiiat time forai be- ^'Vl. expressly declared to all the apostles that he was tlie Messiah, he from that time began .c^an Jesus to [teach and] 21 more plainly than ever to teach [and] show to his disciples, that he, the Son of Man, tharhl^'S'son'oI'MaDl] who was indeed the Christ of God, 7nust in a few months more go to Jerusalem ; and must go unto Jerusalem and there, instead of being owned under the royal character he bore, and submitted to by l"^''=^ "-/"ly *'""»*' ,'>"'' 1 1 . /v. ,.■'.. ,7 . 7 7 1- ~i ■ p 11 . , 7 be re ectedl ot the eiders prmces ana people, must suffer many most mjurious things, and be di.sdamfuily rejected and ciiief priests and scribes, by the elders and chief priests, and scribes of their nation, and be killed in a most cruel and be killed, and [after g- I will give unto thee the heys of the kingdom of hfaven,&.c.'] ka demn, (See TlnTfthe]. Annot. e.v fferod, TpHge 169.) and when used of stewards of great families, especially of the royal household, bore a teachers, especially in the Jewish language, it refers to their expli- key, probably a golden one, 'as tlie lords of the bedchamber do,) in cations of the law ; and thus to bind is to oblige a person to do or token of their office, the phrase of qiving a person the key naturally forbear any thing in question, or to declare a thing commanded or grew into an expression of raising him to great power: (compare forbidden; and /o /oosi? is to declare the thing to be indifi'erent, or fsa. xxii. 22; and Rev. iii. 7.) And this seems more natural and the person at liberty with respect to it. (See Lightf. Hor. Heb. certain than Bishop Burnet's supposition, that Christ refers to the in he.) — The learned 8elden has endeavoured to show that the custom of giving a key to the Jewish rabbles when they were clause before us must be interpreted in this sense, (see Seld. de admitted into their office, in token of the pow^r given them to S//«o(/. //4. ii. crt/). 7.) and many of the greatest characters for criti- expound the scripture. See Grotius on Luke xi. 52. and Bishop cism in our own country and abroad have followed him; and Burnet's Four Discourses, (p. 241, 242.) Peter's opening the kingdom among the rest the present celebrated Bishop of Winchester, in his of ^fnien, as being the/rs/ that preached it, both to tiie Jews (Acts glorious controversy on the" subject of Church authority. I have ii.) and to tlie Gentiles, (Acts x.) may be considered as an illustra- included that sense, and taken the wo.rds in a yet greater extent, as t'ton of this promise : but I apprehend it more fully explained by the learned Puffendorf also does, (/)e Habitu Relig. Christ, &c. t\te power of binding and loosing a.(ieT\\3xAs mcntxonedi. \22 — 25.) and 1 shall, \s;ith great pleasure, submit, to those eccle- h irhatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be hound in heaven, siastical rulers who shall jirove, as tjie apostles did, their ;BO«'fr to S,-c.'] A power to bind and loose may signify, in general, great explain the laws of Christ in a decisive way, and their authority aidhorily \xi a. family or state : which sense it plainly has, both in elTicaciously to niso/i'tf or co/irffmn men, according to the sense thev Josephusand Phitarch. (See Eisner, Oisfrr. Vol. L p. 80.) When give of them, applied to Judges in criminal cases, it signifies to absolve or con- WE MUST TiVKE UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW CHRIST. IS! tbree days] be raised a-aiu and outrageous manner : but he went on and added, to encourage them under this gloomy sect. the third day. [iMark viii. prospect, That after having lain part of three days under the power of death, he should S9. 31. Luke iJL. 22.] ^^, ^,^-^^^^i ^^^-^^ ^^^ ^j^^ ^/^^^.^^ ^^^^_ . IMark viii. 32. And lie And, as he now spake that sai/his; plainly and freely,^ whereas he had before only m.\rk spake that saying oiieniy. g-[ven distant and obscure hints of it, they were exceedingly surprised and troubled : and ^^" And Peter took him, and o. . , , . , , t i i i i i- i_ • i i i i i t oo tegan to rebuke him, [say- Pt'tcr, elevated With what our Lord had betore been saymg, and unable to reconcile it o^ iujr, Be it far from thee, -with what he now heard, took him [by the hand,^^ and began, with a mixture of tender- t^Thee.]'"Matt! xvf 2*2']"" "^^^ ^^^^ surprise, to chide him for this melancholy discourse, saying, God in his infinite mercy /br/5/a','= that thou, O Xo/y/, shouldst ever be thus treated ! T/iz* injury and violence, I persuade myself, shall not by any means be done unto thee. 33 But when he had turned But [.Tcsus,'] ivhen he had turned about, and looked m\in.6. him on his other disciples, 33 about and looked on his .^y]^Qsg sentiments he knew to be much the same, rebuked Peter with an unusual severity ; > [and''sa!d unto" Aim,] "^Ge^t and Said to hi?n. Get thee behind me, Satan,'^ for thou actest the part of a devil, rather Zaa\J^'~C\ thee behind me, Satan, than a friend ; and art a scandal to me, in thus endeavouring to obstruct the great end / me^HoTthous^Tourest'not of mine appearance in the world ; for by this it plainly appears, that thou dost not regard the'tiiings tliat be of God, and relish the things of God, but those ofvien,^ and losest thy zeal for the divine glory, but the t^hm|s^that be of ^^^ j|^g salvation of souls, in a mean solicitude for the enjoyments of this temporal life, men. [.a . xm. . . ^^^ ^^^ grandeurs of an earthly kingdom, of which thou art vainly dreaming. 34 'And [then] when he Then having called the multitude, with his disciples, to him, he said unto them 34: had called the people unto ^//^ YoLi must not ouly cxpcct to sce me sufFer, but to share with me in my afflictions and be's'aid'mito^ them^'cLuke^ sorrows, if ever you would hope to obtain a part in the glories of my kingdom : if any one all,] Whosoever will come therefore is willing to come after me, and to attend me as a faithful servant and disciple, after me, '"'^ '■-" •^ '• ' ...■-..- . , . « . . ,.,. self, and [Luke me ' tlfke "11" "^his^ cross' ^''^ ''"'" ^^^'''^ *° '^''"''' himself m the dearest pleasures and interests of this present life, and da'ily,] and follow habituate himself daily to take up his cross : let him submit to whatsoever trial Provi- .^ [Matt. xvi. 24. Luke Jence may lay before him, and be ready to follow me, even to crucifbcion itself; for till "*■ '"^ ■' ' he is taught a readiness to meet death, even in that dreadful form, for my sake, he has attended my other instmctions in vain. (Compare Matt. x. 38. p. 154.) 3j For whosoever will And it is well worth your while to submit even to this : for whosoever will attempt to 35 buTwhosde^^er^shlVioTe h'is ^"'^^ ^''^ ^'fi ffo™ persecution, by forsaking me and my gospel, shall find he has taken life for my sake and the the surest way to losc it ; as he will another day incur the sentence of the second death, gospel's, the same shall [find ^j^^ ^^^^ ^ f^P vom^ dreadful punishment from God, as an a]X)state, than he could have a/irf]save it. [Matt. xvi. 2o. , „ , ; , ; i 11 i 1 ■ it j^ 7 Luke ix. 24.] borue from men as my servant : but whosoever shall lose or expose lits life for my sake and the gospel's, shall find it wilh far greater advantage in the future state [and'] so shall have reason to acknowledge that he took the truest method to save it. (Compare Matt. X. 39. p. 154.) 36 For what shall it profit And therefore, on these principles, it will be certainly your highest wisdom to forego 36 wiude' world *ami fos'e" *his ''^^ greatest advantages, or to bear the utmost extremities, rather than to forsake me : for it own soul, [Luke, that is, is a kind of proverb among you. What would it profit a man, if he should gain the lose bii'self, or be cast ^^fiole world, and be punished with the loss of his life ?^ and so may I say, v.-hat would Lulie ix. 25.]'' ' ^" ^^' all that gain, added to his present security, signify, if he thereby bring a sentence of death on his soul, [and] so lose himself, or be finally cast away ? Or what shall a man give as a ransom for his life ?s -what gains would he not be willing to resign, to quit himself a Plain!)/ and freely.] So -nxf/ntt^ evidently signifies, and is often was spoken out of a singular affection to his Master, was to obstruct rendered in our version, (compare John x. 24; and xi. 14.) and in the great design for which, he came into the world, and none but this sense it is opposed to speaking in proverbs ; John xvi. 2.5, 29. Satan could desire to prevent what he was ready to submit to for ^ Christ had before given obscure /linta of this, John ii. 19 ; iii. 14; the salvation of lost sinners. — Dr. Young, (in his Sermons, Vol. IL '. vi. 51; Matt. X. 38; xii. 40; and elsewhere. p. 137.) rendering Ue-oj aoi. Favour thysetf, supposes that our Lord ^^i^V b Took him by the hand.] So I render the word ttjotxiSo/^evo!-. calls Peter, Satan, because he now fell on that advice which Satan Compare Rom. xv. 7. Or. which may help to illustrate the sense uses the most successfully of all his artifices to undo men ; that of ' of it. self-indulgence : and so makes the scripture an introduction to his c God in his infinite mercy /orAiJ.] Dr. Fuller supposes that discourse on self-denial. Ix.£i$ m should be rendered, 3Iay God have cnnipassion tipon thee ! e 77(0!/ dost not regard and relish the things of God, iS-c] To rehsk (See Fuller's Miscel. Sacr. lib. ii. cap. 2.) Heinsius, Grotius, and or savour is plainly included : but I did not think it proper to limit Le Clerc give the same interpretation ; which is also asserted at it by such a version ; for the word (Ji-TOiif often signifies to fix a large by tlie learned Mr. AVasse, (Bihliolh. Liter. \o\. I. p. 30.) governing rfi/arf/ on any thing, so as to make it the chief object of And the accurate Dr. Scott renders it, Mercy on thee! which is our pursuit; which seenis the plain sense of it here. Compare more literal than any of the rest. I think the phrase, as used by Rom. viii. 5 ; Phil. iii. 19; and Col. iii. 2. the Seventy, generally signifies God forbid ; or, as we^render it, f rf he should gain the whole world, and he punished with the loss Far be it from thee ! (See 1 Sam. xi v. 45 ; 2 Sam. xx. "20 ; 1 Kings of his life ? xxi ^iu>i'9n rr.v xI-uxky avrw.] Tliough the force of this xxi. 3; I'Chron. xi. 19; and compare 1 Mac. ii. 21.) But as the maxim, taken by itself, appears best by rendering v!-uxn», sotil, apciirate critics I have mentioned above suppose there is a par- wliich it does undoubtedly on the whole signify here ; yet as the ticular tenderness in their iuterpretation, I have endeavoured to same word had been rendered /(/<■, ver. 33. and its meaning is suffi- 1 preserve it in the paraphrase. — Some would render it. Have com- ciently plain from what follows, I thought it better to retain the I passion on thyself ; but I cannot recollect any place where it has same version here likewise ; which, taken in its connection, has (as that sense ; though 2 Sam. xxiii. 17; and Gen. '43. 23. Septuag. have Dr. Tillotson observes. Vol. IIL p. 528, 529.) an additional spirit been especially alleged as instances of it. See Eisner, Observ. which cou'^ists in the application of a proverb relating to the worth Vol. I. p. (?1. - of life ; (compare Job ii. 4.) to the soul, which is in the highest A Get thee behind me, Satan.l Compare Luke iv. 8. p. 39.— The sense Mf /(/cof the man, orM*' mnn /iimsf//. Luke ix. 25.— T>;v ^t;%riv word Satan, which is originally Hebrew, and has from thence been i;>;^iv?£i9jri does not merely signify to lose the life, which might be taken into several languages, is often used in the Old Testament to applied to a man who accidentally met death in the pursuit of gain ; signify an adversary, (See Numb. xxii. 32; 2 Sam. xix. 22; 1 Kings (as a merchant who should be lost in his vcryage ;) but it properly V. 4 ; and xi. 14.) and the expression has appeared so harsh to some, imports undergoing a capital execution, which is an idea of much as coming from the mouth of Christ to one of his apostles, that they greater terror, as well as of much stricter propriety m the present have rather chosen to translate it, O mine adversary. But as the case : And would to God it might seriously be considered in this Evangelists have both maile use of the word ^xrxiz, which must he awful view ! See Raphel. Annot. ex Herod, p. 171. owned to have a sound as odious in the Greek as it has now with us, ^ As a ransom for his life.'} So the word avrxxxxyu-x properly -\ we may conclude that it was used by Christ, or his rebulce to Peter signifies ; and in this connection leads us to reflect how willing \ would'have been otherwise expressed by some Greek word that a condemned malefactor would be to give all he had got by his , siarnifies an adversary. Nor can the word appear at all too harsh, crimes to buy his pardon, and how vain the attempt would in this when we consider that the tendency of Peter's saying, though it case be. 182 REFLECTIONS ON A READINESS TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST. SECT, of that foolish bargain by whicli he had sold it ? Yet in this case, what would be accepted 37 Or what shall a man '. 89. as an equivalent lor it? " Its redemption is precious, and it ceaseth for ever." (Psal. g'^e i" fxcliange tor liis jjj^ 3^ f f , \. soul f [Matt. XVI. 20.] MARK Now assure yourselves, that this thought may with the utmost propriety be applied to 3fi AVhosoevcr therefore ^^''- the case before us: for whosoever is ashamed of me, and ofmrj words, in this adulter- and'of^'^nir'words hi iilis 38 oics and sinful generation, shall find, to his cost, that of him also will the Son of Man adulterous and sinful Ktuc- 6e ashamed, and him will he with scorn disown, and with inexorable justice condemn, ration of him also shall the 7 7 . , . , ,^1 . • • 11 ii 1 1 ■ 1 • 1 1 son of Man be ashamed, w/un he comes m nis own glory, (that is, m all the pomp and grandeur m which he when he cometh [in his was of old represented to the prophets,) and shall appear upon his throne, invested with own glory, and] in the lark ix. 1. And he said IX. there arc some of them who stand here ■x((px\^v& that shall live to see a most awful ""lu lo'uV aTruth,] t'iat 1 emblem of this important day : for some that now hear me shall not taste of death, that there be some of them that is, they shall not die, till they have seen the kingdom of God come to be established far f^'f ^^T'^^'^'lf^ flf^s'^l J -ii J- • 1 cc ■ - r '^T 1 "'^111, ■ , taste ot death, till they and near, wall a divmely eiticacious /jon-'cr ; \and\ have beheld so emmentan appearance have seen the kingdom of of Providence to promote the triumphs of my gospel, and to avenge the cruel injuries God come with power, [««. occur together; nor will Luke xxiii. 42. be allowed as an exact 181.) I think it sufficient to say, that besides the if/ory which the parallel. 1 chuse therefore to adhere to our leceiveTl version, human nature of Christ habitually wears in heaven, some additional which may include a reference to th'j giving the Spirit, and propa- splendour shall now be given to him by the Father, when he Sends gating the' gospel, but chiefly refers to that providential appearance liim with his commission on so august an occasion as the universal of Christ for the destruction of Jerusalem, so often called the coming judgment. ^f //^^ ,«,•„„ gf j/„„^ (Matt, xx'i v. 3, 27, 30, 37.) and the day in which \ The Son of man coming in his kingdom.'] Raphelius (yfHrto/. fj; he shall he revealed. (Luke xvii. 24, 26, 30.) this sense is the Polyh. in loc.) and Albert ( Observ. p. 113, 114.) have indeed proved more natural here, especially as our I.ord's manner of speaking inti- that texoAixj is sometimes used for airE?xo^», and tv for .i? (compare mates that mo.st of the company should be dead before the event John V. 4.) and therefore they, with some other critics, would referred to ; yet his ascension happened in a few months after this. THE FAMILY EXPOSITOR. THE LATTER PART OF THE HISTORY OF CHRIST, AS RECORDED BY THE EVANGELISTS. SECTION XC. CHRIST GOES UP TO A MOUNTAIN, WHERE HE IS TRANSFIGURED, AND DISCOURSES WITH HIS DISCIPLES CONCERNING THE EXPECTATION THE JEWS HAD OF ELIJAH. MATT. Xvii. 1 13. MARK ix. 2 — 13. LUKE ix. 28—36, MARKix.2. Mark k. Ver. 2. And [Luke, it came AND it came to pass after six days, [or^ if you include the first and last, about eight SECT, rLuke^or about ci^ht dTys ^^^^^ after these discourses which were related in the two last sections, Jesus tool: "with 90. after these sayiugs,] Jesus him those three disciples whom he honoured with sometliing of a peculiar intimacy. Jame'^ "and f^,nih\shvo- (co^ipa^e Mark V. 37 ; 'and Matt. xxvi. 37.) namely, Feter and James, and his brother mark tlier,] and leadeth them up John, and brought them up privately to an high mountain apart from the people,^ ^^ into an high mountain apart whither he retired to pray ; intending;, as he often did, to spend the night in that holy ^ ty themselves, [Luke, to.,, f J ' b» »f to J pray.] [Matt. xvii. 1. Luke exercise. ix. 28.] And as he tvas praying, it came to pass that he was suddenly, in a most glorious luke Luke IX. 29. And as lie iYid.nneT, transfigured in their presence ; and the form of his countenance was chan/ing. Why then ent, a hiU^ mncii people met 91. great crowd of people met /u)fi. And, dcing co7ne to i/ie diic/p/es,''3in(i'paxt\cu\a.vly to ^^''P- , . the rest of the apostles, who, knowing their Master was on tlie hill, waited for him in the he carne'to/«s'disdples,'he MARK adjacent valley, he saw a great /nultitude around them, and, among the rest, some of tlie saw a great multitude about IX. scribes and Pharisees, who were disputing 'tvith them, and endeavoured to take tire op- HouTng'with them^"' '^''*'"" 14 porhinity of their Master's absence to expose and distress them. 15 Aud straightway nil 15 And immediately, as soon as he came near them, all the multitude seeing him, was t''^^ people, when they he- struelc into astonishment at those unusual rays of majesty and glory which yet remained amazed; and, running to -, on his countenance ;* and, running to him, they saluted him with the greatest marks of '>''"- saluted him. respect and affection: yet the scribes and Pharisees, without regarding his return, con- scribes," What qius'tfon^yc J tinned their ill-natured attack on his disciples. with them? 16 And, taking notice of the warm dispute they were engaged in, he asked the scribes, r,'' '^"'^ [^"'"'^ behold,] iir, , ■ ., °- , 11,- !;,;•' ^ ^ 1 -,1 it 1 L r, [a cfr/flin mau] of the mul- What is the point you are debating, and tDliat do you contend 'with tliem about ? titude, [kneeling down to 17 And, presently, upon his making this enquiry, '^f/^o/r/, a [certain'] man of the multi- liipi,] answered ajid [Luke, tude came, and kneeling down to him, answered the question in eti'ect ; and, crying out "iwve'"broirght^unto^tlice with a loud and eager voice, said, O thou great Teacher and Master in our Israel, I have my son, which hath a dumb brought thee my poor afflicted son, who has for a long time been possessed with a duynb sp'^t: [Matt.xvn. 14. Luke spirit ; and the malicious demon has deprived him of the use of his hearing and speech : iviatt. xvil. 15. Lord, [I MATT. And, in this moving case, O Lord, I beseech thee took upon my son, for he is mine only t>pseecli thee, look upon my X^W- child ; [and'] yet, instead of being a comfort to me, is a most melancholy spectacle of child "anrf] lwv"niercy'on 15 horror 5 let me entreat thee, therefore, to /^rtt'c cow/j(7.y5fow on [hi?n,]for he is lunatic,^ and '""h for he is lunatic, and grievously tonnented with terrible fits, which frequently seize him, and sometimes en- faUeUnnto the fire'and oft LUKE danger his life: for he often falleth into the fire, and often into the water. And, be- into the water. [Luke ix. JX. hold, wherever [tliis] spirit seizes him, he has no strength or thought to take care of '^^■^ , . ^„ . , , ----- L . -J ^ . » P , t> . . , . Luke IX. 39. And lo, ■heresoever] this spirit foams again at the mouth, and gnashes with his teeth in extremity of anguish ; and thus taketh him, he suddenly o9 himself, but suddenly cries out in a violent manner, and it convulses him so that he [wheresoever] this spirit he suddenly nd it tearetli ficulty that the malignant demon departs from him for a little while, having bruised him [and gnasheth with" his to such a degree hy violent distortions, that he is hardly able to use his Imibs in the interval ^^^^^\^ and piuetli '^^"^y ;] MATT, of these dreadful agitations. And I am persuaded there is some more than ordinary departetV from him. [MarJt ^^'^^- difficulty in the case; for I brought him to thy disciples, and spake to [fhejn] concern- '''• is.] 16 ing him, and entreated [them] in the most affectionate manner to use their utmost efforts brought him txf'tli/discil to cast him out; and they could not accomplish it, nor heal him. ples,'^[aud spake to tUrm,i 17 The)i Jesus said in reply to him, O ye incredulous and perverse generation of men; C^"''e. a|id besought them how long shall I be with you before you will learn a becoming regard to me ? ^ow long could not cure'llini." [Mark shall I endure that infidelity which you are shewing on so many occasions ? And thus '-"'• i^- ^^^^ '"■ ^o.] did he mean at once to reprove the weakness of faith in the father, and in his disciples, as [him,]^and ^aki" VfaiThL'^st well as the obstinacy and perverseness of the Jewish teachers, who were triumphing in and 'perverse 'generation, Aeir.present disappointment: and then, turning to the father of the child and his at- '^ow long shall i be with >w.o ' ^ , • 1 T> ■ J 7 ?•,; , T 1 11 1 ~- - • you? how long shall I sufler t^oants, he said. Bring thy son hither to me, and you shall see what my power can you? bring [Luke, thy son] effect. hither to me. [Mark ix. 19. MARK And n^on this they brought him that was possessed to Jesus, and presented the poor Marif'ix' 20. And they "^- creature to him. And immediately, as soon as he saw him, while he was yet coining, brought him unto him: and 20 the evil spirit, in a rage, wrought in him with such violence, that he threw him down and '!^^^^^)^^l c'omin^TstraT-'hf /^ convulsed him ; and he fell on the ground with great force, and there lay and rolled way" the spirit [threw him from one side to the other, a spectacle of horror, /b«;«/;?iT at the mouth, and sweatingjorp- f°7\', ^^'^^J '^i^e him, and j'usely, tUl nature was almost exhausted, and he seemed ready to die. ~ wallowed" foamilig ""[Luke 21 ' And, tha.t the greatness of the cure might more plainly appear, while the unhappy ix. 42.J youth lay thus before him, he asked his father, How long time is it that he hath been „,;' ^^'\}''l *'^'.'' If ''''■ 00 j/ ra- i 1 -. A 11 ■ 7 T-i ,• 7 • 7 -7 77 r A 7 1 -1 ... tlicr, How long is it ago •<^«' tlius atllicted ? And he said. Even f-om his childhood:'' And the evil spu-it is soj)ut- sinre this came unto him? l^eous, and so malicious, that it frequently, as I said, has thrown him into the fire'^and ^'^'^'^^ ^d''''f?t'^ '''«''''^'i mtb the waters, when he has happened to be near them, as if he watched for opportunities cast' him into the^'fire, 'aud to destroy him; so that I am sensible it is a most difficult, as well as dreadful case: but into the waters, to destroy if thou canst do any thing in it,'^ have compassion on us, and help us ; for surely none a,','"th^in. haveTompassiou ever needed thy pity more. on us, anil' help us. 23 And Jesus said unto him, The question is not at all concerning my power, but con- 23 Jesus said unto him, cerning the strength of thy faith; tor if thou canst firmly and cheerfully believe, the If "lou canst believe, ali a. Was struck into astonishment, &c.] It is strange that so few than cither of the other Evangelists ; which, by the way, is another"\ critics should hare said any thing concerning the reason of the most convincing proof that his gospel was not (as Mr. AVhiston snp- multitude's being thus astonished. It could not be, as Doctor poses) an abridgment of Matthew. Clarke supposes, his coming down from the mountain the day after b He is liinatic.'\ Grotius well observes, that this word (which he went up; for they were gathered round it iu expectation of his exactly answers the etymology of the original) might with great descent ; aud I do not remember that he ever continued more than propriety be used, thougli there was something preternatural in the one night in such a retirement. Nor is it easy to imagine the mul- case ; as the evil spirit would undoubtedly take advantage of those titude were under any apprehension, after he had tieen no longer disorders into which the brain and nerves of this unhappy child absent, that they never should be able to find him again. I there- were thrown by the changes of the moon. \ fore follow Dr. Whitby's natural conjecture in his paraphrase, c Fioni his childlinnd..] So the word 7r*i^i"o9t» properly signifies ; which is arreeable to what we read of Moses, that the skin of his and I tliink, witli Grotius, it is much more convenient to render face shone when, he came down from the mount. (Compare Exod. it Um'tXM'irffom' tiff: infivin/. xxxiv. 29, 30. and 2 Cor. iii. 7.) One would indeed have expected d If thou canst dn any tiling in it.] Perhaps, observing the fit tliat Luke, who has mentioned the lustre on Stephen's countenance, grow more violent on his approaching Christ, his faith might begin when pleading his cause before the sanhedrim, (Acts vi. 15.) should to fail. Tliis was a very natural manner of speaking, and yet have taken some notice of the fact here supposed: but it is ob- strongly pathetic, and obliquely interesting the lionour of Christ servablc, Mark tells the story before us far more circumstantially in the issue of the affair. See Raphcl. ex Xen. p. 73. JESUS REBUKES THE DEMON, AND EXPELS IT, 187 ji,i,i-s are possible to him deliverance will siu-ely be effected, as ali (/tings of this kind [arc'] possible to him that sect. Uiut^believetli. believeth.^ "^l' / 21 And straightway the And immediateli/ the father of the child, touched to the very heart to think that his dear ; V father of the child cried ^^^ might possibly" lose the cure through the weakness of his own faith, cried out aloud, mark Lor'dfl'beUeverhX^tl^o^ii '^'^^ ^^^^ '^''''''' ^^'^''^ ^ ^^ ^J"^^' ^'^^ ardour in his countenance, Lord, I do from my '^• 'my unbelief. ' heart believe that tliy power is unlimited ; yet such is my frailty, that when I look on this 24 the^plopiT /am"e^ mnuing spectacle of misery, my faith is ready to fail me again : help me therefore against 7ni/ iin- togetiier, he relinked tlxe belief, by mitigating the circumstances of the trial, or communicating suitable strength to [unclean] spirit, saying un- ^ soul/ deaf 'sp'irit/l"cha"^e titee, Then JcsHS Seeing that the croxcd ran together, and was continually increasing round 25 come out of him, aud enter them, rebuked the unclean Spirit wh\ch.\yd,di possessed the child, and said unto him, "x 4T'^Mltt Vvlris 3^"'"' ^^'itii an air of superior power and divine authority. Thou dumb and deaf spirit, v,ho hast 26 And i/te spirit cried so malicuSusly deprived this youth of his speech and hearing, I strictly charge and com- and rent iiira sore, and came ™n,i^ f/,g^ immediately to comc out of him, and presume to enter into him no more, out fof him ;1 and he was as ^ , . i- • , i • i i i one dead, insomuch that nor farther to disquiet liim as long as he lives. many said. He is dead. ^„^ immediately, as soon as he had spoken these words, [the evil spirit,'] having cried 26 '■^27*But"je's^us took him out with great earnestness, afid throicn him into violent distortions, came out of him : by the hand, and lifted hira and the poor youth had been so miserably handled, that he fell into a swoon, and seemed up, and he arose : ^[Luke, ^^ ^^^^ dead, SO that many who were present said. He is undoubtedly quite dead, and and deUvered''hin/again to will revive no more. But Jesus, taking hold of him by the hand, lifted him up, and 27 his father.] [And the child streno-theued him, so that he arose and stood on his feet. And when \Jie] thus had per- i"urT'''^[MaU. xviV'TI fectly restored and healed the child, he took and delivered him to his father, who i.ukeix. 42.] ' received him with an inexpressible mLxtiue of joy and amazement. And the child loas r V • 4T A d th ^'^^^ /'■'"" ^^^^^ '"^'"' hour, and these terrible symptoms returned upon him no more. • were all"" amazed at the And thcy who beheld it iDcre all astonished at the mighty po-wer of God, by which luke mighty power of God. ti^jj iUustrious miracle had been wrought. ' ■ ^^' he^wascomelnto oil house" And when he had left the multitude, and teas come into the house ^vheK he then mark his disciples [came to Jesus resided, his disciples, something mortified at the repulse they had met with in their late ^J^' ^?Y\\ ^\\} *^''ould"not''"e attempt, came to Jesus -when he was alone, and asked him privately. Why could not -we -^ cast ^im out! '^'[>iatt.''x\"ii^ prevail SO far as to cast out this demon, and expel hi7n, since we have performed many 190 cures ^vhich seemed equally difficult ? IMATT Jesis'laid^unto fhera. Be- And Jesus Said unto them, U was because of iho remainder of j/o«r unbelief : for xvu.' cause of vour unbelief' for verili/ I SO// unto you, if 1/ou had but the least degree of faith in a lively exercise, verily 1 say unto you. If ye ^^q^{„\^ j^, comparatively, was but as a srain of mustard-seed,B you anight perform the 20 mmtard'-seed,'ye shaTrsa^y greatest wonders, SO as even to say to this mountain here in the neighbourhood, Ecmove unto tliis mountain, Re- ^),(,„j ff^jg pi^^e to that, and it should accordingly remove ; and, in a word, nothing place an'd 't shairremove ■ ' toill be impossible to you. But as to the case that was lately before us, he farther 5a /f/ 21 and nothing shall be imposl unto them, T/^/s demon which possessed the child was one of a very obstinate kind, sible unto you w,■*• 3i- Matt. xvn. 22, 23.] you. (See p. 48, 126, 177.) /I^ But then were so stronsW prepossessed v.'ith the expectation of a temporal kingdom, 45 But they understood . , -^ . , . , ,1 ■ ^ ■ 1 • M j^i f i 1 I r. ^ not this savine, and it was that they understood not this saying, plain as it was, andihc sense ot it was lua from 1,;^ j-^^,^., {\\^m, that they them, so that they perceived it not ; foolishly imagining it inconsistent with what the perceived ituot: and they sacred oracles had"^declared of the glorious success of the Son of man, and the universal fjj.if,^/[^ncflUre exceeding empire he was to establish. (Dan. vii. 14.) And yet they were afraid to ask him what sorry.]' [Matt. xvii. 23 was the meaning of that saying, lest he should upbraid them as .unteachable : considering Mark ix. 32] how lately he had given them^he like warning before, and how severely he had rebuked Peter for endeavouring to dissuade him fromjt,; (sect. Ixxxix.) nevertheless, they perceived , that their Master foretold his own death ; and were exceeding sorry that a person of so f excellent and amiable a character, from whom they had entertained such glorious expec- • tations, should meet with so unworthy a return. jvT ATT. ^"'■^ soon after this, he came with his disciples to Capernaum ; and when they were Matt. xvii. 24. And [ii(j XM!. come to Capernaum, the receivers and collectors of the sacred trioute,'^ which was ^^^^ they^we"rc"ime"io 24 gathered every year through all their cities, came to Peter, and said. Does not your Capemaum, they that re- 3. For Jesus taught his dhcipUs.-\ Mark assigns this as the reason Johnxii.31; xvii. 4, 11, 24 ; Eph.ii.5,6; Heb.xii.22; and Rev. why he desired his journey shoiiUrte private, viz. tliat lie m'fg'ht xviii. 2, 4.— The explication of many other scriptures depends on have an opportunity to talk over this subject at large: which shows this obvious remark. that the continuance or abode in Galilee, nientioned by Matthew, d The collectors of the sacred trihute.l Josephus has expressly refers to tlie short stay they made in the places where they lodged ; asserted, that each of the Jews used yearly to pay a mdrachma, or and indeed he could not so conveniently speak to all the twelve half-shekel, the piece of money here mentioned, to the service of while tney were actually travelling. the temple : (See Joseph, ^ntiq. hh. xviii. cnp 9. [al 12] ? \.) A b ^pvly your ears to t/iese sayings.] This seems to me a just custom which probably took its rise from the demand ot that sum translation of inBi v/xw tn rx wra ums.v rout >.oyov; rovrm;, which is from each of the Israelites, whenever they were numbered ; Lxod. ',, literally,/^"/ t/iese sayingsf^n your ears; a phrase which our xxx. 13. And therefore, with Beza, Casaubon, Hammond, Grotius, language will hardly admit. It intimates the propensity they had and many other great critics, 1 cliuse to understand this pass;ige to withdraw and turn away their ears from such declarations as lie as referring to that, rather than to any civil tax; chieHy because was now about to make I think, notwithstanding what Salmasius says to the contrary, c Shall shortly be betrayed, S;c.-] Mark has expressed it in the (against Milton, p. 259.) our Lord's argument, ver. 2j, 2G. can present tense, and says. The Son of man is delivered ; but nothing otherwise have no force.— The reader will find an excellent note i.s more common in the sacred language than to speak of what in Grotius here, which renders it unnecessary to enlarge any should certainly and quickly be, as if it was already done. Compare farther. THE DISCIPLES CONTEND WHO OF THEM SHOULD BE GREATEST. • 189 ceived tribute money came Master, who has the character of so religious a Teacher, pay the usual tribute of the SECT. yorr^Mas'ter 'pay VributT? didrachma,* Or half-shekel, to the ser^ce of the temple ? And he says. Yes, I know that 92. [Mark ix. 33.] __ he uses to pay it, and make no doubt but he will do it now. And -when he came into \~'^ 'be was'conie7nto^the the~7mise, Jesus, who was there before, prevented him, before he could speak of the affair matt. house.Jesus prevented him, in question, and soTd to liini, What dost thou think, Simon, and what seems fit to thee X\ll. gaying.Whatthinkestthou, qq this occasion ? Of tvhom do the kings of the earth receive custom or tribute? of 25 kinS"of the eartlTtake cVs- their otvn sons or of strangers ? Peter saJ/s to him. Lord, it is evident they receive it 26 torn or tribute? of tlieir only of strangers. Jesus said to him. Then the sons, by virtue of their father's _dispen- own ^chiltk-en, or of stran- gj^^jQ^^ ^;.^ j-^gg ixom the obligation : and, on the like principle, I, as the Son of God, ^ 26 Peter saith unto him, iflight plead an exemption here, especially as I have not now the sum which is required Of strangeis. Jesus saith towards the maintenance of the temple worship. Nevertheless, lest ti-e should offend 21 cbndreQ"t"reP^*° ^"^ '^''^ thc7)i, by giving an occasion to imagine that I put any slight on the temple, or lest others 27 Not«ithstanding-, lest from my example should in far diti'erent circumstances omit this contribution, I will not tliou to"the°^a"tnd'c™ t fa debate the matter, but rather work a miracle than fail in the payment. Go therefore to hook, aad take' up the fish the Sea, and when thou comest to the neighbouring shore, throT^ in a hook, and take that first conietli up: aud f/^g fip^f; j^gfi fjjai comes up ; and ivhcn thou hast opened its mouth, thou shall there mouihVthou^shaU^'find^a find d. piece of Silver coin called a stater, which it has just swallowed;*" take that, and piece of money: ttiat take, give it to thejn that coUect the tribute, both for me and thee ; for thou knowest it will *°d fh e "°'° ''"^™ ''"^ ""^ answer their demands for both. Accordingly Peter went, and having caught a fish, he found the money in its mouth, and presently returned and paid it, according to his Lord's cominand. IMPROVEMENT. How slow and untractable were the minds of the apostles, who understood not these plain things, when thus mark inculcated again and again ! But, on the other hand, how much integrity does it shew in the historian, to record IX. what seemed so little to the honour of himself and his brethren ! In this respect, and many others, surely credit 32 rises to the gospel, even by occasion of the infirmities of those to whom it was committed, and out of weakness they are made strong. — The lenity of our blessed Lord was truly admirable, that he should bear such stupidity in his disciples with so much gentleness and patience, and should, with so much earnestness, go on to renew his luke instmctions to them. Let us, however, learn to be upon our guard against the prejudices of worldly interest, since, IX. as we see, they may take such strong hold of minds in the main upright and pious. And therefore let us earnestly 44 pray that God would give us a greater relish for spiritual and eternal blessings. It cannot surely become us to seek the grandeur and riches of this world, when our blessed Master was so poor matt. that he could not pay this little tribute without having recourse to a miracle. Yet this he chuses, rather than to XML give otfence by a refusal, how jj.istly soever he might have pleaded an exemption.from it. Let us learn from hence 27 that meekness of wisdom, which will teach us to seek the interest of others rather than our own ; and to consider 26 how we may edify others by the abundance of our good works, rather than how we may excuse ourseh-es in the omission of any. That extent of knowledge and power which our Lord displayed on this occasion, can never be at a loss for means to repay whatever we may thus sacrifice for liis sake. Vlx*,^ • H • '^ .XS *" SECTION XCIII. Christ reproves his apostles for their contention xvho should be greatest ; and recommends to them humility and mortification. ' Mark ix. 3-3 — 37, 42, to the end. Matt, xviii. 1—9. Luke ix. 46—48. Mark ix. 33. Mark ix. 33. And beinp^in tiie house, NOW when Peter was returned from the sea-side, and had paid the tribute money with sect. it^tbat'je disputed 'anion" which the fifih had Supplied him,* our Lord, from a late occurrence which he had ob- •^'^• yourselves by the way} served among his disciples, took occasion to recommend hiunility to them : and being in * the house with his apostles, that he might naturally introduce the discourse he intended, mark he asked them. About what were you disputing with each other on the way in so eager go '^^ a manner, that I could not forbear taking particular notice of it ? 31 But they held their But, instead of answering him directly, they were confounded with the question, and 34 peace: for by the way continued «Ve«/, beino; ashamed to confess the truth : ft*/- as they were travelling ow the [there arose a reasonmar , ° ,; ,- n .; ; i i j 7 j 7 ''? "'"""fi '"'h'ch (as Erasmus, would be attending Christ, and discoursing with him: but our Grotius, Raphelius, and many others observe,) properly signifies a Lord judged it proper, as he was now in the house, that all the mill-stone too large to be turned, as some were, by the hand, and twelve should hear this admonition, though they might not all requiring the force of asses to move it; as it seems those animals have been engaged in the dispute which occasioned it. were generally used by the Jews on this occasion. See Kaphel. c At itie same time.'] By these words Matthew expressly fixes Artnot. Xen. \t. 46. ' - • the connection between this story and that which concluded his g TItrown heviAXon^ into the sea.'] Casaubon and Eisner, ( Ois^rc. xviith chapter. But Clarius seems to refine too much, when he Vol. L p. 85.) not to mention others, have shewn at large, tlwt supposes that Christ's having thus miraculously provided for pay- drowning in the sea \\a.s a. punishment frequently used among the ing Peter's tribute with his own, gave umbrage to the rest : yet ancients, and that the persons condemned had sometimes heavy this precarious turn serves the church of Home as an argument for stones tied about their necks, or were rolled up in sheets of lead, the supremacy- of the Pope ; nor is it wonderful, that in so weak a It seems to have grown into a proverb for dreadful and inevitable cau.se they should catch at such a shadow. ruin. d 2-Jntertains not me a^one, but him that sent me.] Here Christ was h As I told you in my sermon on the mount.] It will, 1 hope, be interrupted by a speech of John, related Mark ix. 38—41. which is observed, that Matthew, who had before so largely recorded that paraphrased and explained below, in } 96. where I have accounted sermon, gives us again this passage of it on the present occasion ; in note a, for placing it apart. which is one proof among many others, that our Lord did not think e Shall of end one of these little ones, SiT.] To ofend a. person it improper or unnecessary, sometimes to repeat what he had, generally signifies, (as was observed before, p. 78. note c,) Un/- then said 1 (see p. 89, note e".>—AtrtI, considering the importance ■> inff a stumbling-block in his way ; so that any who should by a of these maxims, and how little many of his hearers were disposed scandalous life lead others to think ill of the Christian profession to receive and retain them, it was a valuable instance of his conipas« in general, or should by persecution discourage the weak, or by siou and wisdom. __ sophistry, bad example, or otherwise, pervert them from the way of '^ WE MUST CAST AWAY EVERY THING THAT IS LHCELY TO GIVE OFFENCE. 191 every salted \vi 50 Salt is srood : but if never shall be quenched:] qf, and cast [if] from thce, whatever pain or deformity, or other detriment might follow skct. [Markix. 43.] fVom such a loss; for it is imich better for thcc to enter maimed into eternal life, than 93. having txoo hands to go down into the prison of hell, even into that fire which shall Mark ix. 44. Where never de extinguished : JF/icre Me/r corroding and upbraiding conscience is as a woa/w, mark their worm dieth not and ,^- j^ j-^^;^ ^/^/ i ^^^. ^^^^^ unutterable anguish, still gnaws upon the heart j and where l^- the nre IS uolfiuenclied. , ^ „ , . , . , , n , . . , ,i i r ,i • j j < /i the fire of divme wrath, which shall penetrate into the very soul of the sinner, is not and 44 shall not be quenched throughout all the endless ages of eternity. 45 And if thy foot offend And again, if thy foot offend {Tiee, cut it o/f with as much resolution as thou wouldst 45 thee, cut it off: it is better p^j.^ ^^^j]^ g^ gangrened member for the preservation of thy life; for something yet more [ife "ban having uv^L't to important is here concerned, and it is better for thee to enter lame into the regions of be 'cast into hdl, iuto tlie eternal life and blessedness, though thou wast ever to continue so,'' than havins: two feet ' ^uenched • "fMatt xviii 8] ^<^ ^^^ ^"'^^ "'^^ ^^'*^ inextinguishable fire of hell; Where their tormenting worm dieth 46 ^"irwhere their worm jwt, and where the fire is not quenched, nor the violence of its heat abated through all dieth not and the fire is not ^he ages of eternity. '^"47 And'if thiue eye offend And, to repeat SO wholesome and necessary an admonition a third time. If thine eye 47 thee pluck it out, [and cast of end thee. Or would necessarily be the means of leading tliee into sin, chuse rather with fOT Ti^e^ to'eiter 'fnto' the' thine own hands to tear it out of its socket, and to cast it away from thee as an ab- kingdom of God, [or into horred thing, than, by complying with the temptation, to hazard thy far more precious life,] with one eye, [rather] squI -^jfor it IS far better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God, [or] into everlasting ' cast" into'lfeu'firer [Matt! /{/eVnd blessedness, with but one eye, even though the other were not to be restored at xviii. 9.] tiae resurrection, but the blemish were to continue for ever, than having two eyes, and all the other members of the body in the greatest perfection, to be cast into hell, where they 48 Where their worm will all be full of unutterable anguish, being tormented with everlasting fire ; In that 48 ' ^Jueuched""^*''^*^'* ''"''' dreadful prison of divine vengeance, where (as I have told you again and again) their worm dieth 72ot, and the fire is not quenched nor abated, but preys perpetually on the 49 For every one shall miserable sinner that is condemned to it. For as the flesh bvirnt on the altar has salt 49 *^ ^'^"sac -fic"^ ^h% "be '"bbed upon it, in consequence of which it burns so much the more fiercely, so every one 'Ith salt! '' ^ "^ of those unhappy creatures, the victims of divine justice, shall be (as it were) salted with fire ;' and, instead of being consumed by it, shall, in those wretched abodes, continue im- mortal in the midst of their flames ; whereas eveiy acceptable sacrifice shall be seasoned with another kind of salt,"' even that of divine grace, which purifies the soul, and pre- serves it from corruption. In allusion to this, you, my disciples, may remember, I have formerly called you the 50 the salt have lost his salt- j^ £ ^^ jj /jyjj^j^ y_ 13_ „_ 74) -^j^^j j^g Salt is a very good thing, so will you, if uess, wherewith will ve sea- , ' \ , , i ,. 1 , i 1 • , ^1 111, -c ■ „ j son it! Have salt in your- you answer that character, be mestimable blessings to the world, by purifying and pre- selves, and have peace one serving it from corruption, and ditlusing the savour of that knowledge and grace with with another. ^^j^.^j^ ^^^^ ^^^ seasoned : but, as I added then, f the salt itself be grown insipid, with what will you season it ? or what can restore you, if you are corrupted, v/ho should be the means of curing or restoring others ? See to it, therefore, that you have this excellent salt in yourselves ; and, as one instance of it, be careful to maintain peace with each other, and do not give way to those very unbecoming disputes and emulations which have been the occasion of my present discourse. i Jf^ere their conscience is as a worm which dielh not.] There the paraphrase, and the spirit of the thought is greatly increased may indeed be an allusion hereto Isa. Ixvi. 24. (compare Ecclus. by tliat interpretation. • — " vii. 17. and Judith xvi. 17.) but the expression had been just and 1 S/iatl be salted tuitli fire."] Grotius, Spanheim, Gataker, Le proper without it: and it is observable, that some of the ancients Clerc, and Dr. Mill, have abundantly answered the favourite criti- expressed the same thought by saying, that the marrow of the bark- cism of Scaliger, by which he would here read ^yfti instead of mpi, boneA\A, in a wicked man, turn into a huge and fierce serpent ; that it might be rendered, Evenj ojf'erinij mode by fire shall be thereby intimating, (by a much finer figure tlian jElian, who reports iffterf.— The learned and laborious Wolfius has proposed a multi- It, understood,) that their own thought s\\o\\\A be their torment, and tude of interpretations on this text. He and Mons. L'Enfaut think they should be unable to disarm it by those artifices which had it refers to the ficrij trial tlirough which Christians must expect to prevailed in the present life ; see ^lian. Hint. Anim. lib. i. cap. 51. pass : but this neither seems a natural sense_ of the plirase itself, and Gataker, Antonin. lib.v\\i.\ 58.— Since the first edition of this nor does it so well suit the context, by which it should seem to be a ^ work, I have met with an explication of tliese words in Dr. Rymer's reason why the infernal fire is never quenched. I know it may he Representation of Revealed Reliqion, p. 15.5, so new to me, and at answered, that it is, however, a reason why the disciples should the same time so considerable that I could not forbear mentioning practise the mortification required above; but it seems desirable, it. He supposes, ^afbofTil/if worm and the fire are meant of tlie where it can be done, to interpret the particles in their most usual iorfy, and refer to the two different ways of funeral among the an- sense, though sometimes it is necessary (as we have elsewhere cients, interment and burning. So that our Lord may seem here observed, page 102, note i.) to recede from it. To suppose, to prevent an objection against the permanent misery of the as Dr. Clarke and some others do, that here is a reference to the wickedinhell, arising from the frail constitution of the body; as if ambiguity of the Hebrew word nir:, which signifies either to be he should have said, " The body will not then be as it is at present, salted or consumed, seems very unwarrantable : since ax.jSii?£!-«i has "but will be incapable of consumption or dissolution. In its no such ambiguity ; not to say how much it would impair the force " natural state, the worms may devour the whole, and die for want of the sentence, leading to an idea the very contrary to what Christ "of nourishment; the fire m'ly consume it, and be extinguished had suggested above no less than //irf? //mfi. " for want of fuel : But there shall be perpetual food for the worm m F-rer'/ sacrifice shall be seasoned with salt.'] It is well known "that corrodes it, ppr/)i?/)ra/ /"uf/ for Mc/rf that torments it." The that the Mosaic law required this. See Lev. ii 13.— Heinsius words of the Apocryphal writer above mentioned, Judith xvi. 17. thinks, that as sail contracts and binds;, it was therefore used as an greatly illustrate this interpretation; where it is said. The Lord emblem of friendship, v.\uch he supposes our Lord afterwards to Atmghty will take vengeance on the wicked in the day of judgment, refer to; and that it was tlie foundation of i\\e figure by which a putting fire and worms into their flesli ; and they sitall feel them, and perpetual engaqement is called a covenant of salt ; Numb, xviii. 19. weep for ever. 1 should ratlier think it intended as a circunisXance of decency, tliat k Though thou wa.«t ever to continue so.] It is certain no the meat of God's table should be salft^ ; and conclude that, 1 1 it man will enter into life halt, maimed, or blind, as the bodies of the ' hadany emblematical meaning, it was to recommend to the wor- saints will be restored in the greatest perfection. I know indeed, shipper an incorrupt heart, seasoned with savoury sentiments ot that, with some latitude in the expression, he may he said to enter wisdom and piety. Sinners are elsewhere represtnted as the vic- halt OT maimed into life, whosa spirit passes from a dismembered tims of divine justice : (Isa. xxxiv. G; Jer. xii. 3; xlvi. 1(1; Ezek. body into the regions of the blessed; but it seems to me, that the xxi. 9, 10; and xxxix. 17.) And good men (as in the end of this propriety of the phrase is most exactly preserved, by taking it as iu verse) are represented in another view, with regard to their conse- ■ 0^ Wa~^ 19^2 CHRIST WILL NOT HAVE HIS LITTLE ONES DESPISED. SECT. How deeply is pride rooted in the heart of fallen man, when neither the daily instructions nor edifying example 93. of the humble Jesus could prevent it from appearing, even among the apostles themselves, in so mean and unworthy ■ a manner ! Still did worldly interest and grandeur so intoxicate their minds, that they seemed even against hope to MATT, have hoped for it, and to have found out a strange kind of method of grafting these expectations even on the very XVlll. 1. cross of Christ, which was intended to destroy them. MARK How edifying and atfecting are these lessons which the meek and lowly Redeemer gave us, with this little child IX. in liis arms, whose example we are required to copy ! Lord, give us q1'. thy regenerating grace, that we may do 36 it J that we may be converted, and become as little children, free from avarice and ambition, malice and preju- MATT. dice ! How melancholy is it to think, that many, who have by their othce been employed to read and explain XVUI. 3. this lesson to others, and who have not been children in understanding, seem to have learnt so little of it them- selves, as if it had never been at all intended for that order of men, to whom indeed it was immediately addressed ! If there be any such yet remaining in the Christian ministry, let them seriously weigh the woe denounced on that '^ ?nan by whom the offence eometh. May the infinite mercies of God be extended to all professing Christians who give themselves up to worldly pursuits and projects ; and especially to those who make the church of Christ only a kind of porch to the temple of Mammon, and the sacred office itself merely a convenient vehicle for swallowijQgJ down riches and honours ! May divine graci deliver us from such fatal snares, and form us to fliat self-denial and mortification, without which we cannot be tiie true disciples of Christ ; but, after having pierced ourselves thrOLigh with many unnecessary sorrows here, shall plunge ourselves deep into eternal perdition ! MARK May these repeated and dreadful representations of future misery, which we have now been reading, impress our '^' souls in a becoming manner ! Blessed Jesus ! thou bringest good tidings ; yet which of tlie prophets under the 43 — 48 jggal dispensation ever represented the terrors' of the Lord in so awful a light as that in which thou hast placed them ! Let none of thy ministers be afraid to imitate thee herein ! nor let any of thy followers presume to censure> them for it ! May we all be eifectually warned to flee from the wrath to come ; and, as we would not another day ^^ be salted with fire, may our hearts now be seasoned with thy gjace ! and may we, by a modest and peaceful, a benevolent and useful life, be daily l:)earing a testimony to it, and, as the salt of the earth, may we be labouring to cure the growing corruption of the world about us! 'Y'^^V . ' f " ; Sy\ (K .tyv •> SECTION XCIV. Our Lord farther enforces condescension and huinilifi/, and '*'.';'.''.y ^', '^''y ""^'i the recovery of it will give him a ?nore sensible /oj/, than the safety of the ninety-nine J"^^l lhelp,'"i\nui 'ot"'*^the 14: which had not wandered at all. (Compare Luke xv. 4, 5 ; sect, c.xxii.) Even so the ninety and nine which went love and tenderness of God for those who are regarded by him as his children is such, that '"'}'4"£'^e^; ,0 it is not tlie you may be assured it is not the will of your heavenly Father that any one of these will of your Father winch little ones should be lost, ibr want of your care in attending it, or through your nedi- '? '" '\'?i'\'^"' *''•'* °"^ °f , . .. •' o ' o J D these little ones should gence in seeking its recovery. perish. 15 And as, in order to the recovery of your weaker brethren, admonition will frequently 15 moreover, if thy bro- be necessary, let me lay down a rule which, when larger societies are formed among you, ther shall trespass against rration to God, as acceptable sacrifices. Ilom. xii. 1; xv. lO. Com- f sny, f/ie /liij/iest ; because to be/wld l/ie face 0/ Cod nwy sigiufy^ pare 1 Pet. ii. 5. ivaiting near Ids throne, and be an allusion to the office of chief a Tlicir attendant aiigch, while in Iicriren, i^r.] The fathers ministers in earthly courts, who daily converse with their princes, looked on this as an argument that each s^od man has his particular See Grotius ; and compare 2 Sam. xv'i. 19 ; 1 Kings xii. G ; fisth. i. , gucirdian angel: (see Suicer. Tliesaur. Vol. I. p. 4.3.) Ana Grotius 14 ; and Luke i. 19. also seems to allow the force of it. 1 apprehend this pas.sage rather b For the Son of man himself.] The particle/or here introduces intimates, that the angels, who sometimes attend the little ones another reason to enforce the caution not to despise these little spoken of, at other times stand in God's immediate presence; and ones, ain\ \iot that their presence may add greater weight to the admonition given, and may be nesscs every word may be Qf service, either to silence his objections, and bring him to a sense of his fault, or to pre- ^ '^ "" ■ vent disputes, and justify thy conduct, if the matter should be carried farther ; as in the mouth of two or three witnesses even/ word ma?/ be established more etfeclually than it 17 And if he shall neglect could otherwise have been. (See Deut. xix. 15.) But if he shall be stOl incorrigible in 17 to hear them, tell it unto his fault, and disregard thetn in the advice they offer him for peace, then tell it to the • gl'ect'''to'hear^the'Vhurclt ^'^^^'^ church,^'or society of worshipping Christians to which he belongs, and among :• :^' let him be unto thee as an whom he has immediate communion in gospel ordinances 5 and if they concur in any heat'hen man, and a pub- admonition to the offender, and he be so far hardened as to disregard the whole church, or society of Christians, you have then done your utmost to reclaim him ; and while he continues in this obstinate temper, you will do well to enter your protest against it, by forbearing any intimate friendship with such a person ; and let him therefore in this case be to thee even as a heathen and a publican, or other most notorious sinner,^ to whom you would perform only the common offices of humanity, but would avoid his intimate society as scandalous, and to whom you are not under those peculiar obligations wliereby Christian brethren are bound to each other. 18 Verily I say unto you, These are the maxims which you, my apostles, are to inculcate on my other followers, 18 orefrtirsh'airbe'tomld'iu ^^^^ ^^^ *^^e™ ^^^ ^^ i*' ^^^^ ^^^ "^^'^^ '^^S^'^^ Y^" 5 ^^"^ ^'^''^ ^ ^"J^ "«^^ //''«' ^OU shall I heaven -.'and whatsoever ye be furnished with such divine illumination and assistance, as shall abundantly confirm the ; shall loose on earth, shall be authority of your decisions on every case and question which may occiu: ; and fully prove (as I formerly told you) that a'/i«/so^ «rf(no«i«/uv/, and then discarded by the society, may be much J places, in a manner which could not otherwise be learned. The illustrated by this passage. AVhen such a case occurs, (as well as ' bid English editions of 1539 and 1541 render it. Tell it to tlie conjre- when an offended brother has just cause of complaint,) each par- Ijalion ; and, I think, properly enough.— The word clairch is unhap. ticular person concerned must judge as well as he can ; remember- > jily grown into a term of art, and has by different persons a variety ing he is answerable to Christ for the impartiality of such '< )f secondary ideas annexed to it ; as Dr. Watts has beautifully judgment. " ihewn in his JFssfl!/ ort Uncharitableness,-p. 7 — 10. But it signifies g If any two of you shall agree together here on earth.l The text n general an assembly, or number of people, called together on so expressly refers to ai/reeing in a petition, that I wonder the ^ \ vhatever occasion, as is well known. (Compare Acts xix. 32, 39.) learned and judicious editors of the Prussian Testament should ^ t is in the New Testament generally used, as here, for a particular render it. If any two of yon shall live on earth in a good understand- ; • issembly ; (Acts xiv. 23; lCor.iv.l7; xiv, 23; xvi. 19.) but some- ing with each otiier. Perhaps there may be a reference to the notion iraes it is used for the whole body of Christians, because they are the Jews had, that it was necessary at least ten should concur In low called out from the world, and are at last to be gathered toge- social prayer, if anv extraordinary success was expected. See her in the presence of Christ their head, (2 Thess. ii. 1.) and to Trigland. De Secta Kara^orvm. cap. x. p. 172. Iwell for ever with each other and with him. O Thess. iv. 17.) h It shall be done for them, Sfc] That this refers to a miraculous %mpare Matt. xvi. 18; Eph. i. 22; iii. 10; v. 24; arid Col. i. answer of prayer, m\y a.^\ie3.T horn comparing Matt. xxi. 21,22; 8, 24.— According to Bishop Stillingfleet's interpretation of this Mark xi'. 23, 24; John xiv. 13, 14; 1 John iii. 22; v. 14, 15; and ext (in his Iienicum, book ii. chap. .5. \ 8.) it should be rendered, James v. Ki. See Tillotson's Worlis, Vol. III. p. 307. O 194 THE PARABLE OF THE UNMERCIr-UL SERVANT. SECT, ing are the blessed spirits above, that even the greatest of them do not disdam to minista- unto the heirs ofsalva- 94. Hon : (Heb. i. 14.) Let not the wisest and greatest nien despise those whom angels honour with their guardianship and care ; especially since the Son of man, that merciful Shepherd, has come forth into this wilderness to save that MATT, -ivh/ch teas lost, and even to seek and recover us when we were gone astray, and should otherwise have wandered XVIII. on to our eternal ruin. 15, 16 What could have been more happy for the church of Christ, than the observation of this plain and easy rule,! which he has given for ending disputes among his followers ? And yet who,- that sees the conduct of the genera-; lity of Chiistians, would imagine tliey had ever heard of such a mle ? Instead of this private expostulation, which miglit often bring a debate to a speedy and amicable conclusion, — what public charges ! what passionate com-i plaints I what frequent and laboured attempts to take, if the least scandalous, yet not the least pernicious kind of revenge, by wounding the characters of those whom we imagine to have injlired us ! 17 As for church-censures, how lamentable is it that they have been so little conformable to this rule, and in many instances so contrary to it, in almost every Christian nation under heaven ! Is this the form in which ecclesiastical judgments do appear in the popish, or even in the protestant world ? Are these the maxims by which they have been, or by which they are, determined, even by those who claim the largest share in the promises made to the: apostles, and boast with the greatest confidence of the presence and authority of Christ with them, to confirm their sentences, and to sanctify, perhaps, rapine and murder ? Vain, wretched confidence ! Let us earnestly pray that this dishonour to the Christian name may every where be wiped away ; and that true religion, and even common humanity, may not with such solemn mockery be destroyed in the name of the Lord. 18 Let humble submission be alvv'ays paid to apostolical decisions in every difficulty ; and let the promises made to these leaders in the Christian church be some encouragement even to us, on whom the ends of the world arci come. None but an Omnipresent, and consequently a Divine Person, could say. Wherever ttvo or three arc. 0,0 gathered together in mi/ name, there am I in the midst of them. His power and his goodness can never be impaired : let it therefore be an encouragement to social prayer : and let the remembrance of our Redeemer's con- tinued presence and inspection, engage us to behave ourselves agreeably to the relation that we claim to him, and to those expectations from him which we profess, '';'', ^ro i ' '^ < ' I ' " SECTION XCV. Our Lord cautions his disciples against a i-evengef id spirit, and inculcates mutual forgiveness, by the affect- ing parable "of the unmerciful servant. Matt, xviii. 21, to the end. ,„^„ ^ Matt, xviii. 21. Matt. xvi„. 2, ''fjr'- 1 HEN Avhen Jesus had given tins advice for the accommodation of differences among Then came Peter to him, his disciples, Peter, ima"-inino- it misrht be abused by ill-disposed persoQs as an encourage- a°'3 said, Lorfl, liow oft , J _ /i> • ■ ■ , ^1 J / _• J .\.:i T .\ J 7 _/?!_ _j r J- ?._ shall my bioLlier sin against ment to offer injuries to others, ca>ne to him, and said. Lord, how often tntist I forgive ^^^ and I forgive him » till xvnT' '".'•' ^^'^^her, if he offend against me ? must I go on to do it until he has repeated the seven times? 21 i"J'-i'"y •'^'^■^'2 times ? • 22 And Jesus, in reply, says to him, I do not merely say to thee. Till seven times, but 22 Jesus saith unto him, even till seventy times seven : in short, the precept is_unbounded, and you must never be seTe^i "t'imes" "but^uutirse- weary of forgiving your brethren, since you are somuch more indebted to the divine venty times seven, mercy than they can be to your's. 23 For this reason, or with respect to this matter, I may properly say, that the kingdo)n 23 Therefore is the king^b of heaven, in its constitution and final process, ?«flry he likened ^, or be illustrated by, domof heaven likened untoB the instance of a certain king that ruled over a large country,* who, as he had a great ta'kJaccouut^niirVervants, number of officers under him, was determined at length to settle an account with his 34 And when he had be- 24 servants. And when he bco-an to reckon with them, there, was brought to him one who »"°,J° [,'L','1"k': ""f,.,"!?,. ,, , ,, . -^. . 1-1, 11 T 11 1^1 1-1 J21 brought unto him whicl had so abused the eminent station m which he had been placed, and trie high conndence owed him ten thousand ta which his prince had reposed in him, that he owed him a most immense sum, and stood lents: 25 accountable for ten thousand talents ;'' And as he had nothing to pay which could be j,^^ ^^^ ^^ \i^y, his lore any equivalent for the debt, or any considerable composition for it, his lord, according to commanded him" to lie .sold frequent custom in such cases, (ExodTxxii.'SV Ee^xv: 47 ; and 2 Kings iv. 1.) com- ^°^ '^jf ^I'lt t.f hidl'^'an" manded him to be sold for a slave, ««^also his wife and children, and all the goods that payment to be made. ' 26 he had, and payment to be made with the price of them, as far as it would go. The }? 7^^^ servant therefori servant therefore, falling down in helpless consternation, prostrated himself at his ifi,^^ saying'^'LorXhave pa master's /ee^, and said. Lord, I beseech ^eefo have patience with ???e for a while longer, tience with mc, and I wii 27 and I will endeavour to pay thee all. Then the lord of that unhappy servant whose ^'^|7*'Then the Lord of tha affairs were so utterly desperate, -being incite^ with compassion, graciously discharged servant was moved witl hifn ; and, knowing ho!,v vain it was to expect he should ever pay him, declared that, compassion, and loosed him on condition of his future good behaviour,'^ he frankly /"oro-^re hi/n all the debt. "' 28 But just as that servant went out from the presence of his generous and indulgent 28 But the same servan sovereign, he met with one of his fellow-servants, who owed him but a very inconsider- J)'f9"fe*i"oV servant's'! '^"hicJi able sum of money, no more than an hundred pence ;^ and laying hold of him by the owed him an I'mndret a Mat/ be likened to, or be illustrated, &c.] Soe 5 58. note i, and the remaining twelve thousand in twelve years, at a thousam p. 116, in. talents a year: (Liv. Histor.Ub. xxxvii. cap. 45. ci lib. xxxviu. cap b Owed him ten tlioiisand talents.'] According to Dr. Prideaux's .3S.) And even thus tlie sum must hare amounted to £0,750,000 computation, if these were talents of gold, this would amount to See Prid. Connect. Vol. I. Prcf. p. 20. and Vol. II. p. 138. — Ou seventy.two mUlionx sterlinij ; which is so immense a sum, that it Lord seems to have mentioned so large a sum, on purpose t seems strange Antiochus the Gie.it should be able to pay it, as intimate the number and weight of our offences against God, am Eutropius tells us he did, to purchase a peace with the Romans : our utter incapacity of making him any satisfaction. {Eulrop. tlh. iv. cap. 2.) But by Livy's account of the conditions c On condition of his future good behaviour.] This is a cirnira of peace, they were talents nf silver, of which Antiochus was to pay stance exceedingly natural, and, by the revocation of the pardoi fifteen thousan(r talents, that is, five hundred talents down, two afterwards, it seems strongly implied, thousand five hundred when the senate should ratify the jicnce, d An hnndrcd pence.'] Reckoning the Roman denarius at seven REFLECTIONS ON AN UNFORGIVING AND REVENGEFUL SPIRIT. 195 pence: aud he laid hands throat, and aliuost strangling him,* he said, in a furious and outrageous manner, Pat^ me sect. on him, and took /iim by the ^^^^ -which thou oioest me immediately, or I will detain thee as my prisoner. And his 95. thoiTowe/t'""" ^oox felloiv-servant fell down at his feet, as he had done at his lord's, and entreated him, 29 And iiis fellow-servant saying, in the very words which he himself had used but just before on the like occasion, iwatt. tlutht'hhu,tyin|!i/ave ^^^^'^ patience ■with me for a while longer, and I ■will endeavour to pay thee all. And XVTII. patience with me, and I will he •would ??o^ be prevailed upou to forbear him any longer; but •went away willi him 30 P'^y„*'l'^'^i'^,"' 11 t 1 . before a magistrate, and cast him into /jz-woTiTprotesting he should lie there till he should 30 And he would not, but ^11^ /,i- /•,? i i± went and cast him into pay even the last iarthing of the debt. prison, till he should pay And when his Other fello'w-scrvants saw what was done, they were exceedingly 31 * '31' So' when his fellow- g>'i^'"^(^ at such an instance of unexampled cruelty from a man in his circumstances, and servants saw wiiat was done, ca7ne and gave their lord the king an exact and faithful account of the whole matter,^ they were very sorry, and ^j^q .^^.^g hidily incensed at SO inhuman an action. Then his lord, having called him 32 came and told unto their ~ , ■ P •'. 7 ■ •..•,■ t ,- m/ ■ 1 7 1 i 1 '^ 1 lord all that was done. again, said mito him, with just mdignation, Ihou wicA-cd and mrmrous slave,s thou 32 Then his lord, after knowest that I frankly /oro-flDe iTiee all that vast debt which thou owedst to me, because un^,^^int'^o'thou''wicked ^'''^'^ (^^(^^i entreat my pi'ty: And shouldst not thou also have had compassion on thy 33 servant, I 'forgave thee all fellow-servant when in thy power, even as I but just before had cojnpassion on thee ? that debt, because thou de- Xhou art most inexcusable in what thou hast done, and I am determined to treat thee sireilst me : j ■ i "•>-^- 33 Shouldst net thou also accordingly. have had compassion on jijjd //is lord, being justly incensed, revoked the grant of remission he had just before 34 Iliadpitvmi^tTiee?*^^*'" ^ made, as forfeited by so vile a behaviour; and not only put him in prison, but delivered 34 And his lord was him to the tormentors there, to fetter and scourge him,'' till he should pay all that was wroth, and delivered^ h im ^^^g ^^ /^^-^^^ . -^yhich was fequivalent to condemning him to perpetual confinement and should pay all that' was due painful imprisonment during life, unto him. And Jesus concluded the discourse with saying. Thus also will my heavenly Father 35 lieaven?v ' plvther ^do also '^^^^ witli you, if you do vot every one of yon from your very hearts forgive his brother unto you, if ye from your his trespasses ; and I leave it to your own consciences to judge whether it be safe for one'^his ^b'^^tUr tr'^ir^tr "^^ ^^^ *° tempt the strictness of his inexorable justice, by the severity of your conduct passes. ' towards your offending bretlu'en. IMPROVEMENT. How unreasonable, and how odious, does a severe and uncharitable temper appear, when we view it iu the light of tliis parable ! Yet what light can be more just than this ? We are indebted to God more than ten thou- Ver. 24 sand talents ; from our infancy we begin to contract the debt, and are daily increasing it in our ripening years : justly, therefore, might he cast us into the prison of hell, till we paid the uttermost farthing. And were we to fall at his feet, with a promise of paying him all, on his patient forbearance, it must be the language of gross ignorance, 26 or of presumptuous folly, when addressed to a Being who knows our poverty, and knows that, in consequence of it, we are utterly incapable of making him any amends. But he magnifies his grace in the kind offers of a free 27 forgiveness ; and shall we who receive it, and hold ovx lives and all our hope by it, take our brethren by the throat, because they owe us a few pence ? or shall we carry along with us deep-continued resentment, glowing 28 like a hidden fire in our bosoms ? God forbid ! For surely if we do so, out of our own mouth shall we be con- 34 demned, while we acknowledge the justice of the sentence here passed against this cruel servant. Christ himself has made the application, so shall my heavenly Father deal with you, if you do not forgive 35 your brethren ; and he has instructed us elsewhere to ask forgiveness only as we grant it : (Matt. vi. 14, 15.) Let us then from this moment discharge oi\r hearts of every sentiment of rancour and revenge, nor ever allow a word, or even a wish, that savours of it. And as ever we hope our addresses to the tlirone of divine mercy should meet with a favourable audience, let us lift up holy hands, without wrath, as well as without doubting. (1 Tim. ii. 8.) ' - .^ . , rf ■ SECTION XCVI. Christ reproves John for. prohibiting one who casts out demons in his name, because he was vot of their company. Mark Lx. 38 — 41. Luke Lx. 49, 50. Mark ix. 38. Mark Lx. 38. '^^^"^m"*"^^^'^'^^'' '"'"' •^^ ^^^^ midst of the preceding discourse relating to humility and self-denial, the apostle SECT. castTn^ out devTis ^n^ thy •^'^''''^ (whether desii'ous of diverting him from a subject which he could not hear pursued 9b. name, and he foUoweth not without some consciousness of having deserved blame, or thinking it might receive some " "beca^use he fcnowtth'not *^l*'^^'^ illustration by h^ remarks upon the case that .he should mention,) interrupted our M-'^k with us.] [Luke ix. 49.] Lorc1,^~and answered Kun, when he had just been urging a readiness to receive one of the _, ' ' least of his servants in his name, (Mark ix. 37. p. 190.) by saying. Master, while we "^^ pence half penny of our money, it amounted to three pounds and apreater punishment in the eastern parts of the world than here; nalf-a-crnwn. state criminals especially, when condemned to it, are not only _ e Sy M? M7-oa<, and almost strangling^ him.] This is the proper forced to submit to a very mean and scanty allowance, but are ; import of the word invite, which yet more strongly expresses his frequently loaded v/ith clog^ or yokes of heavy wood, in which they cruelty. •' cannot either lie or sit at ease ; and, by frequent scour^ings, ancl, f Giwe their Lord an exact and faithful account.'] This is the sometimes by racking, are quickly brought to an untimely end. meaning of the word ^iemJutxv, as Albert has shewn, OJs^ri'. p.-116. (See Samedo's China, p. 225.) To this there is probably a refer- g Thou jviclced slave.'] The word Souki is not always a term of ence here. Compare ? 32. note h, p. 64. reproach, nor does it necessarily imply more than .servant. (Com- a Interrupted onr Lord.] I have inserted this story apart here, i pare Matt. xxv. 21, 23.) Yet iu this connection, T thought it would that the thread of the preceding discourse might not be broken ; i well bear the version T have given it, which may best express the that the ninety-third section might not be lengthened beyond due I' indignation with which his lord is supposed to speak. bounds; and that I might have room to illustrate and improve ; h Delivered him. to the tormentors, &c.] Imprisonment is a much this passage, which, though short, has both its difficulty and its use. 196 REFLECTIONS ON AN ENVIOUS AND CENSORIOUS TEMPER. 39 But Jesus said [unto him,] forbid liini not; for there is no man wliicU shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. [Luke ix. 50.] 40 For he that is not against us, is on our part. [Luke ix. 60.] r^ 41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of «aler to drink, in my name, because ve belong 1o Christ, verily 1 say unto you, He shall not lose his reward. SECT, wa-e in our late progress, ii.-e saw one casting out detnons in thy name^ who does not 9Q. follow us, nor coaveise with us as brethren : and we forbade Itini to do it any more, because he does not follow thee among us, and never had, as we apprehend, any regular MARK commission from thee, and so might possibly have proved an occasion of neglect or ^^- reproach to the rest of thy disciples. 39 But Jesus said unto him. Do not forbid, or go about to hinder hi7n at present ; for, by thus making use of my name, he appears to have some reverence and regard for rae, and will not therefore set himself against me; since there is no man who shall be seen to work such a miracle in mi/ name, that can quicklij, or on any slight occasion, speak evil ofine, or say any thing dislionourable of that name for which he professes such a 40 regard : And be that regard ever so imperfect, I would not discourage one who acts thus now : for, with respect to such, and in a case like this, I may use a proverb (the reverse of that which I mentioned on a difierent occasion) and say. Whosoever is not against us, is for us f and therefore I would by no means condemn a man for doing that by which the kingdom of Satan is in fact weakened, and my name glorified, though he have 41 not my immediate and express commission. I rather take it in good part, as I am willing ' to do; any flimg that looks like a token of esteem and atiection to me, be it ever so incon- siderable ; for, as I fonnerly told you, (Matt. x. 42. p. 155.) whoever shall present j/ou with a cup of cold water only in mi) name, that is, because i/ on belong to Christ, verili/ I sai/ unto 1/ou, lie shall not lose his proportionable reward. And so he went on to warn them of the danger of offending any of'The'weakest of his disciples, in the manner recounted and explained above. (See Mark ix. 42. p. 190.) And when he had concluded that discourse, he not long after quitted Galilee. Compare Matt. xix. 1 . sect, cxxxv. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 38 It is sad that the spirit which remains in so many Christians, and in this instance appeared even in the belo\'ed Saint John, should (as the apostle James expresses it) lust unto envi/ : (Jam. iv. 5.) How ill does that spirit become a disciple, and much more a minister of the benevolent Jesus ! The apostle Paul had learnt and taught a better temper, when he rejoiced that Christ xDas preached, even by those who were his personal enemies, (Phil. i. 18.) To seek our own glori/, is not glorj/ ; (Prov, xxv. 27.) and to confine religion to them that follow us, is a narrowness of spirit which we should avoid and abhor. ■39, 40 Christ here gives us a lovely example of candour and moderation ; he was willing to put the best construction on dubious cases, and to treat those as friends who were not avowed and declared enemies. Perhaps in this instance it might be a means of overcoming a remainder of prejudice, and perfecting what was wanting in the faith and obedience of the persons in question ; at least it suited the present state of things, in which men are to be judged of by their professions and actions, as their hearts cannot immediately and certainly be known. But let us judge ourselves with greater severity, remembering there is an approaching day, in which the secrets of all hearts will be 7nade manifest ; in which those who have indeed been neuters in the war between Christ and Satan will be treated as enemies, — and those other words will be fulfilled. He that is not with me, is against me ; and he that gathercth not xcith me, scattereth abroad. (Matt. xii. 30. and Luke xi. 23.) 41 In that day, may the sincerity of our hearts be discovered, and then we may rejoice in this repeated assmance, that the least of our services shail be kindly remembered, and abimdantly rewarded according to the riches of divine bounty and grace. ' ( _ ■ .. 8 , ' ■ ^ '. SECT. 97. rUKE X. 1. SECTION XCVII. Our Lord sends out the scventi/ disciples with large instructions, like those he had before given to the twelve apostles. Luke x. 1 — 16. Luke x. 1. , Ldkex. i. . After these thlnss, before he departed from Galilc-e, the Lord Jesus intending, when AFTER these things, the .1 u- r- . r, 1 1 -^ ^ 1 ■ .11 i Lord appointed other se- the approachmg tea.st ot tabernacles was over," to make one journey more over the country venty also, and sent them in the last half year he was to spend on earth, fixed upon seventy others of his disciples two and two before his face, b Casting out demons in thy name.'] Probably this was a case some- a When the approaching feast of tabernacles was over.] It srenis thing resembling- that of the sons of Sccva; (Acts xix. 13 — 16.) and to be much more reasonable to suppose that Christ sent out the God might see reason now to grant that efBcacy to their adjura- seventy before the feast of tabernacles than after it, considering tions, which he afterwards denied when the evidences of the gospel how little time he had between that and the feast of drdication, in were proposed eo much more distinctly and fully, after the descent which interval he despatched his last circuit in Galilee. To take of the Spirit. — Dr. Clarke supposes that he was one of John the from those three mouths all the period to be allowed for tbeir Baptist's disciples. . journey and return, seems inconvenient. But it is astonishing that c Tfhosoever is nut against tis, is for vs.] Our Lord had formerly Mr. Le Clerc, and some other.s, should suppose that these instruc- said, (Matt. xii. ;J0.) fie that is not with me, is against me ; thereby tions were given to them in Christ's journey to the above-mentioned giving his hearers a just and ncce.ssary admonition, that, on the feast: for, not to mention the impossjitiiity of holding a discourse whole, the war between him and Satan admitted of no neutral- with such a number of people on tlie road, about an Jtflair of such ity, and that those who were indiii'erent to him would finally importance, it is expressly said, John vii. 10. that he went up to the be treated as his enemies. (See 5 61. p. l-2.'i.) But here, in feast of tabernacles privately; which is utterly inconsistent with another view, he very consistently uses a difl'erent and seem- his being attended with such a train as seventy, or (according to ingly opposite proverb, the counterpart of the former, direct- that author,) eighty-two persons ; for Le Clerc supposes the twelve ing his follov/crs to judge of men's characters in the most candid were also with him. — I shall elsewhere give my reasons why I sup- manner, and charitably to hope, that they who did not oppose his pose the story of the Samaritans refusing liim entertainment, cause wished well to it, — a conduct peculiarly reasonable, when his (though recorded Luke ix. 51 — 56.) to have happened later than cause lay under sd many discouragements. Probably many who this. (See I 127. note a.) At present I would only observe, that now concealed tbeir regard to him, were afterwards animated the CKXiressiou, after these things, in the beginning of this chapter, courageously to profess it, though at the greatest hazard. — 1 cannot, may either refer to the stories immediately preceding, in the close with Mr. Baxtir, think an express declaration of regard to Christ to of the former, from ver. 57. to the end, or to the general scries of have been more necessary in the former case than now ; but it is events recorded above, though (as I think the Evangelist him.self most obvious, tliat Christ requires us to be more rigorous in judging strongly intimates) one little history be transposed, ourselves, than he allows us to be in judging each other. HOW THEY SHALL TREAT SUCH AS SHOULD NOT RECEIVE THEM. 197 iuto every city aii.l place also, besides the twelve apostles so frequently mentioned before, (see Luke ix. 1. et scq. SECT. wiiitlier he liims-eli would gg^t. Ixxiv.) (Did Sent them OLit before hull, tu-o ami txvo together, into eveiy city, and 97. more private place into uhich he himself intended shortly to come ; and thus, as it were, he divided the whole comitry into thirty-five lesser circuits. luke 2 TliercCoie lie said unto And at their setting out he gave them many important instructions, nearly resembling ^■ gJeat! hlxilxtruhlm^Kine ^^^^^ which he had betore addressed to the apostles ; and as it was a large and copious field 2 lew: 'piav ye iiierefnie the for scrvice Oil wliich they Were to enter, lie said therefore to thcm,^' as he had fonnerly Lord of the harvest that he done to their brethren, (Matt. ix. 37, 38. p. 149.) Theytarvest is indeed ureat, and many would send lorth labourers , , , ^x t ■ i j Ji c Ki c j j i i ^ /- into his harvest. souls are to be gathered m, out the laithtul labourers are as yet very jti;' ; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he -ivould, by his immediate access to the spirits of men, thrust forth more labourers info his harvest, though the work may prove so fatiguing and hazardous, that they are naturally averse to it.'' 3 Go your ways: behold, And as for you, go your u-ays with all the resolution and zeal you can employ in your 3 Jraong wolV/r"' '^ '"'"''' ministry, as indeed you will need it all j for behold, I send you forth as so many defence- 4 Carry neither purse, less lambs in the viidst of ravcnous and cruel ivolvcs. Yet as you go under tlie singular 4 nor scrip, nor shoes; and (^g^g ^f Djvine Provideiicc, cam/ not with you any nurse of money, nor even a scrii) for salute no man by the way. ■;,,*', *^ /' . ' . your provisions, nor any more shoes than you have now on your leet ; ?ior stay so much as to salute any jnan as you pass by him on the rcay ;^ but let it evidently appear to all who see you, that your thoughts are full of the great errand on which you go. o And Into whaLsocver And, in all the stages of your journey, carry along with you those benevolent affections 5 Teace i^^to^thfs house • ^^' '^hich are SO well suited to the design of your mission : into ~ii-hatever house therefore 7/o« shall happen to coine, at your first entrance say. Peace be upon this house, and pray G And ifthe son of peace that prosperity and happiness may attend the whole family. And if any son and heir of 6 rest upm'i i\ : i'f not^t shall pcdce, Or any truly good man who is worthy of such blessings, be there in the house, your turn to you again. prayer for peace and prosperity shall be answered, and shall rest upon it ; but if not, it shall not be entirely lost, but shall return upon you, and you shall be the better for those kind and friendly sentiments, even though the wishes they dictate be not exactly answered. 7 And in the same house " And when you are entered into any lodgings, cojitinue in the same house as long as 7 in""sucirthifigs"'as Vhey y^"-' ^^Y ^^ ^^^^ town, cheerfully and contentedly eating and drinking what you find -with give ; for the labourer is them ; for as. Oil the 0110 hand, the common labourer is xvorthy of his re-aard, and worthy ot ius lure. Go not therefore vou, who take so much pains to brincr them to the greatest blessings, have mucii from house to house. -i., ,. . '^ ,", ... °i .1° i-, more right to your entertainment ; so, on the other, it is beneath you to be very sohcitous and nice about the manner of it : and therefore do «o/fcreale an unnecessary trouble in the family where you are,;Or 0^0 /)'o?« one house to flnoMe^^j'inTiope of Better accommodations during the short stay "^'ou make in a place. 8 And into whatsoever And \ xe^diitdigdiixi. Into whatever XovfVi OX city you come, and they xecGivQ dxid en- ^ ce'iL" vou*'^eat"such tim[^s ^^''f^^" .VOU freely and cheerfully, be ready to accept their kindness to you, and without as are set before you: " any difficulty eat and drink such things as are set b fore you : And I am sure I put it 9 9 And heal the sick that jnto your power to make them an abundant recompense, when I commission you, as I do them, Thekingdora of God HOW, to heal the sick that are in it, and to say unto theni. The long-expected kingdom is come nigh unto you. of God is come near unto you, and therefore prepare yourselves thankfully to receive the blessings of it, which are thus freely offered to you by the Messiah. 10 But into whatsoever jj^^; 2«io tvhat soever cit 11 vou come and then perversely set themselves ap;ainst vou, 10 city ye enter, and they re- j , , , , . -^ -' , -' ^ '', 1 .1 t^ t r- t 1 ceivc you not, go your ways ^HQ. do not entertain you, nor regard your message, go out into the streets of it, and out into the streets of the say, in a iiiost j)ublic and solemn manner, Since you "reject so gracious and important a 1 1 "^11'' Even^th'e very dust of message, we cannot but consider you as rejected by God, and devoted to certain and in- your city, which cleaveth evitable destruction ; we therefore separate ourselves from all that belongs to you, and wipe onus, we do wipe oil against off ixom o\xx kei, ?L's, 2i {(sXlmoxiy against you, even the very dust of your city -a-hich ye sure of this, thaT the cleaves to US ;^ nevertheless know this assuredly, that the kingdom of God is come Kingdom of God is come near uiito you, and in the midst of all the calamities which are to befal you, let your coii- "'fa BiaFsay unto you sciences witn&ss that mercy hath been offered and refused. And I say unto you, as I 12 That it shall be more toler- fomierly did to your brctliren. That in that day of the final judgment it shall be more able in that day for Sodom, tolerable even for the accureed inhabitants of Sodom itself, than for that citi/, wheresoever than for that city. ■, 1 r i "• ' ./ it be lound. zin'^w'oTunto \hee 'ficth- ^^^^ while our Lord was thus mentioning to his seventy disciples the wretched case of 13 saida; for if the mighty tliose that rejected the gospel, he could not forbear reflecting that this was the condition b He said therefnrc to tfiem.'\ Luke is the only Evangelist who even any of his ministers, a decent use of the customary tokens of |ia.s given us this account of Christ's sending out the seventy ; and civil respect to others, any more than he forbids the use of shoes it is the less to be wondered at that he should do it so particularly, and purses ; onlv while iliey were employed on this particular ifthe ancient Inidition be true which Origeii and Epiphanius have message, he required the forbearance of them, that every one who mentioned, that he was himself one of the number. See Dr. .saw them pass by might perceive that their minds were full of the ■\Vhitby"s Preface to Luke, where he has shewn this to be highly most important business, and that they were earnestly; intent on the probable, and no way inconsistent with what Luke has said at the immediate despatch of it. (Compare 2 Kings iv. 29.) This was the beginning of his gospel. more' necessary, as they were so much straitened for time. Sec c That he irould lltrusl fortli more labourers, ^-0?^ As both Luke above, note a. liere, and Matthew in a parallel passaM, (Matt. ix. 38.) use the word e UHpe off tlie rerii dust of your city, SfC.} For the import of tlirs £K6j(XXri, which literally signifies to iUrtist out, I was willing to ex- solemn action, see ? 74. note o, p. 151. from whence it w'ill appear, press the force of it in the version as well as the paraphrase. (See that Dr. Edwards's singular interpretation (Edw. On Script. Vol. il. note k, on Matt. ix. 38. ? 73. p. 149.)— So many of the expressions p. 189 — 193.) is not only foreign, but contrary to our Lord's pur- used in this discourse arc to be touiid in that to the twelve, \ 74, pose. He strangely supposes it an allusion to those courts, where, 75. that it is generally sufficient to refer to the paraphrase and notes as in what we call pie-powder (or pieds poudres] courts, contro- tliere, for the explication of them here. versies were immediately decided, as it were, Ije/ore people cnulii <1 Nor stay to salute any man, as you pass/;// him on the way.'] Our wipe tlio dust off their shoes. Lord did not intend by this to forbid his disciples in general, nor 198 HIS BRETHREN URGE HIS GOING TO THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. SECT, of some of those cities where he himself had made the most frequent visits, and the long- works had been done in 97. est abode; he therefore repeated the pathetic lamentation he had before taken up for J^y^^^. ^^^^ am°"'- ^^'"'■'' them/ and said, On this account, IFoe unto t/ice, O thou obstinate Chorazin ; Woe unto they had a greatwiuie'ajjo LUKE thee, O thou incorrigible Bethsaida ! for if the wonders •which have been wrought in repented, sitting: in sack- X. 7/ou had been done in Tyre and Sidon, degenerate as they were, they would have rf- '^<^'-"'" ^'^ "^^• ^^ pented long since, sitting in sackcloth and lying down in ashes, to express the depth of 14 their humiliation and sorrow. But though vengeance has long since been executed upon 14 But it shall be niore them, God will make manifest the impartiality of his justice, and it shall be more tolerable, dol"at*\^hl7ud|ment,'tba'.i 15 ?'« the day of his tremendous /; \ " . \ '^ ^ T. SECTION XCVIIT. Christ discourses with his brethren about his goi?ig up to the feast of tabernacles, and stays some ti?ne after them. John vii. 1 — 13. John vii. 1. ToHNvii i SECT. After these things, that is, after he had miraculously fed the five thousand, walked After these things .lesus 98. on the sea to his disciples, and discoursed with the multitude concerning the bread of lifc,^ walked in Galilee T for he Jesus for some time walked, or travelled, as we before observed, in Galilee, and there in- LTauseThc Jews soiiHiT'^o "^vn'*"' sf™^*^^ his ""^is^ip^fis : (see p. 188. )/o;- //r rof>«/f/ woif then ti-'«/X- or converse familiarly 2;?. kill him! ■ J Judea,^ because the Jews, and more especially their rulers, incensed by the growing fame of his miracles, and the freedom of his discourses, sought an opportunity to slay him, either by private assassination, tumultuous assault, or legal process. 2 And a very noted /cas^ of the Jcxos was then near, which is [called'] the feast of 2 Now the .Tews- feast of tabernacles ; instituted in commemoration of their dwelling in tents in the wilderness, and ternacles was at hand, celebrated in booths erected for that purpose, with great solemnity and joy. (Sec Lev. xxiii. 34, et seq.) 3 Therefore his brethren, or near kinsmen in Galilee, said unto him. We would advise 3 His brethren theretore thee to remote from hence, and go into Judca, that thy disciples also who are there ^'^ ""'^ '^'r™- l^ff^'t may, for the confirmation of their faith in thee, behold thy miracles, and see the mighty that thydisfrpit" also may f He repeated the pathetic lamentation, &c.] Considering the are the last which had been recorded by John. See a more parti- aflfectionate tempetof our Lord, it is no v/onder that he should re- cuVar account of them, \ 78—82. ne\y his lamentation over those unhappy places wliere he had so b He would not walk in. Judea."] This may be an intimation, intimately gouyerscd ; and that he should do it in such words as either that he was not at Jerusalem the preceding; passover, or at these, so well calculated to alarm and impress all that snould hear least made no public appearance or long abode there. I am in- or read them. Ob that they might now have their due weight with clined to think the former was the case.— Undoubtedly, his omission those who might pass them over too .slightlv, when they occurred of a journey thither at some of the grc-.it feasts might be vmdicated > beloremMaU. xi. 20— 21! (See ? 59. p. 117— 1I!1.) Oh that every by iiis extraordinary character, and tho.se intimations he might impenitent creature who reads them, might know that the sentence have from his heavenly Father, of being dispensed with, for reasons "• aV,'^ condemnation is now before his ei/es .' ■ not particuUrlv known to us, who have no concern with them. See a After these t/tmgs, &c.] Those that I have mentioned here note b, 5 73. p." 170. HE FIRST REFUSES AND AFTERWARDS GOES, AND THE JEWS MURMUR AT HIM. 199 the wovks that thou 'u'orh wliick tliou pcrformcst here: For this retirement seems not at all to suit the great sect. d"cst : "^ pretensions thou art making to a public and extraordinary character ; as it is well known 9d. 4 Vox there \s\wmAn that ^j^^^ ,^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^.^y^ ^^^^ j^ ^^^,^ ^^^„^ remarkable tiling in secret, that is himself desirous, au.fhe'i"mselfseeketh'''to like thee, to be publiclT/ kiiown and talked of:'' //; therefore, thou art really the promised John he kuowu openly; if thou Messiah, sxiA pcrformest these~ things, which we so often see at home, by a divine com- ^''' «l/ to the wlfrld'''*''' ^''^■' mission, go up to Jerusalem, and there manifest th?/se(f to the great men of the world, 4 and appear in places of the most public concourse ; and thou canst not have a better opportunity of doing it than at this celebrated feast, which brings together so many, not 5 For neither did liis only from the land of Israel, but from neighbouring countries. This they said, not out 5 brethren believe in liira. ^f j^,^y j,g^l friendship and respect, but to make farther trial of him, and in some measure to upbraid him with those precautions which hp tliought proper to observe ; for, notwith- standing all the evidences he had given of his divine mission, yet neither did his brethren and kindred themselves believe in him, when they saw that "he took no such method to raise himself and his family, as they thought inseparable from the character of the Messiah, whenever he should appear.^ 0 Then Jesus said unto Then Jesus said unto them, Mj/ time, either to manifest myself, or to go up to Jeru- G ihoin, My time is not yet galem, is vot yet come ; but your time is alwaijs rcadi/, and such a circumstance in ahvaVready. ^""^ *'"'" " your case is comparatively of very little importance. Yoii have no reason to fear any in- 7 ;o ye up unto this testimony concerning n, that its deeds are evil. J Jo you, inereiore, go up lo laib . feLf for^ rav\'im"e"\s /«^««^ whenever you please, without waiting for me ; and acquiesce in what I now tell you, et fii'll come 'that I do not as [ycf] go up to this feast ;' for that which I judge ?ny most convenient time of doing it Is not yet fully come, nor do I need to be directed by you in my committed, but because, from a zeal for truth, and a desire of its reformation, I bear my 8 Go ye up unto this testimony concerning it, that its deeds are evil. Do you, therefore, go up to this S feast: 1 go ■■■* ■• * ■-'" -^ '- ■ - , ■ . . i_ ^ T i,ii this feast, not yet fill yet fully conduct on such occasions as these. !j When he had said these ^oxv when he had said these things unto them, he left them to go up alone, while 9 T/nn Gahiee!™' ''' ''''''^' h^ Continued [stilly in Galilee for a few days longer: But when his brethren ox \Q 10 But when his brethren kindred wcrc gone up, then he also himself went up to the feast, ^ not publicly, with were gone' up, then went ^ ^^^:^^ ^f attendants, as he had often done,'^ but as it were in secret, with as much he also up unto the feast, ,, not openly, hut as it were privacy as he COUld. ; i ■ • i i iu secret." j'/ig j(;tus therefore, not seeing him appear as usual, sought for him at the beginning 1 1 him a^t'\h"e*feaSTnd S of ihefeast, and said. What is become of Jesus, and where is he ? or what can have Wheie is he ? ' prevented his coming up to the feast ?' 12 And there was much And there was, in the mean time, a great murmuring among the people concern- 12 "ir"conce?uiu-"fiinr- ''for ^'^g ^^'""' ' f'^'^ ^"'"'^ ^"^^^' i^^ ^'^'^^ ^^'^^'^ ^™'" ^^^ ^''^°^^ *^^^*^^ °^ '"^ ^'^®' ^^^ "^'^O^*^ "^"^^SOn FoL'^saTd^He^is'T good to'conclude,) Surely^ he is an eminently pious and a good man -.^^but of/wrs,^ under the man: others; ■--'■• - ' "^ ' i », j-_i he deceiveth . part -- 13 Howbeit, no man jnto ruin, as soiiie other imoostors have lately done. (See Acts v. 36, 37.) Thus they 13 feai'of the'jews'" ^"'"' ^"' pnvately debated the matter ; howbeit, no one that thought favourably of him, spol.e his mind with freedom concerning him,\for fear of the rulers among the Jews, who were jealous of his growing fame, and looked with a very malignant eye on all who took any peculiar notice of Jesus. c That is Idmsclf desiroin to he pMicly known and talked of.] of his intending shortly to goto the feast, in that expression. My This seems to be a' very invidious and groimdless insinuation, as if time is not yet fnlly come.— W is a glorious testimony to the unble- he was actuated by ostentatious views: the contrary to which ap- mished integrity of our Lord's character, that so cunniug and in- peared so evidently iu the whole of his conduct,- that nothing but veterate an enemy was forced to have recourse to such mean and base envy could suggest such a charge. ridiculous methods of aspersing it. See Dr. Mill on this text, anu V d Neither did his brethren believe in turn, &c.] It is astonishing Cleric. De Arte CriticA, part iii. p. 2.32. that these near relations of Christ, who must have had so many g He also went up to tlie feast.'] Our Lord mirfij. know of sonic opportunities of seeing the glories both of his character and mira- circumstance of particular danger which jwgWThave rendered Ins cles, (which last they here expressly acknowledge,) should continue going vp at the usual time, and in company With his brethren, unsafe, in unbelief. But they unhappily laid it down as a first principle, and therefore improper. that the Messiah must be a temporal Prince; and finding this h A'os the expostulations of his brethren, yer. 3, 4. appear, contain a most awful insinuation, that these his kinsmen may imply,) there was yet an obvious reason for the surprise wUicli were persons governed entirely by carnal views, and therefore this question expresses ; for undoubtedly our Lord used generally destitute of the love of God, and all well-grounded hope from to attend on these occasions. Sec p. 170. \ 8.3. note b. , „ . him. k Surely.} It is possible, as our translators have supposed, that flJo not [yet2 go vp to this feast.} Tl;e reader may observe that the word on here may be only an expletive ; but to me it seems I inclose the word {yet,} which answers to ht.u in the original, iu probable that it may not improperly be rendered stirely or triily, crotchets; and the reason is, because I do indeed doubt whether it which is accordingly the sense that I have sometimes giyen it.— >\e was in-the oldest copies. And this doubt arises, not merely from should not, F think, unnecessarily conclude a word to be quite Porphyry's objecting against this as a falsehood, (for frequent ex- insignificant in any writer of credit and character, especially m ttio perience has taught us'how little the enemies of Christianity are sacred penmen. o t ti, « to be trusted in their representations of scripture,) but from observ- 1 No one that thought favourably of him, &c J 1 he reason alter- ing that Jerome, and the other most aucient fathers who reply to , wards given i jdcrs siicli a restriction absolutely necessary. 1 hose that objection, do not found their answer on his citing the passage that thought contemptibly of Christ might have spoken tueir wrong, but, as they justly might, on the intimation our Lord gave minds as freely 5l9-they plciised. 200 JESUS PREACHES IN THE TEMPLE, TO THE WONDER OF THE JEWS. i IMPROVEMENT SECT. We see how little the greatest external advantages can do without the divine blessing, when some of the nearest 98. relations of Christ himself, by whom he had been most intimately known, were not prevailed upon to believe in hiin. Who then can wonder if some remain incorrigible in the most regular and pious families ? How much JOHN more valuable is the union to him, which is founded on a cordial and obedient faith, than that which arose from ^'1- the bands of nature ? and how cautiously should we watch against those carnal prejudices by which even the , Ver. o bi-ethren of Christ were alienated from him ? Our Lord, we see, used a prudent care to avoid persecution and danger till his time was fully come ; and it is our duty to endeavour, by all wise and upright precautions, to secure and preserve ourselves, that we may have op- 1, 8 portunities for farther service. In the course of such service we must expect, especially if we appear under a public character, to meet with a variety of censures ; but let us remember, that Jesus himself went through evil report and good report ; by some ' 12 applauded as a good man, but by others, and those the greater part of his countrymen, condemned as deceiving the people. Let us learn of Christ patiently to endure such injurious treatment ; and endeavour to behave our- ■ selves so, that we may have a testimony in the consciences of men, and in the presence of God, that, after the example of our great Master, in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with Jleshh/ wisdom, but hi/ the grace of- God, we have our conversation in the world ; (2 Cor. i. 12.) Then will our names be had in remembrance, and the honour and reward of our faithful obedience continue, wlien the memories of those that revilfed us are perished ^^ith them. kxry,/!;. (JL^ v- 'I 5 - ' ■ ; ' SECTION XCIX. Christ, going up privately to Jerusalem at the feast of tabernacles, vindicates his conduct, and farther urges t/i/e' proofs of his divine mission. John vii. 14 — 24. John vii. 14. ^ .. ,. T^TTTTo 1. T 111 John vn. 14. SECT. 1 Hub were the Jews divided m their sentiments about our blessed Lord, and though NOAV about the midst of 99. they eagerly inquired after him, they knew not where to find him : but now in the midst f'e feast, Jesus went into ■ of the feast of tabernacles, about the third or fourth day, Jesus went up to Jerusalem, t^^ temple and taught: JOHN and entered publicly into the temple, and taught the people, who were in vast multitudes • assembled there. And the Jews who heard him were ania~ed, sayinQ-, How does this 15 And the Jews mar- 15 man understand letters ?"■ or how comes he to be so well acquainted with sacred litera- ^f,''!,'''. saying How know- . i. \ •u^ ^1. ^ 1 .1 • . 1 ^. , . ,„ . , , eth this man letters, having ture, as to be able thus to expound the scriptures, and to apply himself to us with such never learned? gracefulness and propriety, having never learned these arts of address' at any place of public education ? 16 Jesus answered them, and said. There is no such reason why you should wonder at 16 Jesus answered them, this; ioxmy doctrine, or that which I now teach you, is not mine own invention, or not nS, but^ifs"iat° sen? what 1 have learnt by any common method of inquiry; but it is entirely his that sent me. 17 mc, and I learned it by immediate inspiration from him. And if you desire rightly to 17 Ifany man will dohis enter into the evidences of it, you must make it your great care to maintain an honest and Y'"' '"^ ^''"," Y'^- "l *''f religious temper; for ifany one be resolutely determined to observe the dictates of my God,'oT;^rf/trT speak of heavenly Father, and to do his will,^ though ever so contrary to the impulse of a corrupt myself. nature, he shall then quickly understand whether my doctrine be of God, or whether I speak it of myself ; for the evidence is plain to an honest mind, and the correspondence which such a truly good man will find between the whole system of my doctrine and liis own inward experience, will be unto him instead of a thousand speculative arguments. 18 In the mean time you might observe something, even in the very manner of my teaching, }'^ ii^ that speaketh of sufficient to convince you that I am no impostor : for he that, in such ^a circumstance, gj^y'^'^utte that'seekeTh and with such pretensions, speaks of himself, without any divine commission, will govern his glory that sent him, the himself by secular views; and a sagacious observer will soon see that he is seeking his ^ "ueousness is^fn him ""' own glory and interest, even under the most self-denying forms : but he that in the whole '^'° ' '^'^"^"'^^^ "" '" ""■ of his conduct shews that he seeks the glory of God, as of him thai he declares to have sent him, gives great reason to believe that lie is true and'sincere in that declaration, and that there is no unrighteousness or imposture in hitn.'^ 19 But your character is the very reverse of this, and you cannot but know it in your own 19 Did "ot Moses give conscience : for let me upon this occasion call you to reflect on your own conduct, and J,'? " 1',',^ ^^ZlJ^u cCi u^i appeal to tnat : uatli not Moses given you the law, and do you not eagerly contend for Why go ye aiwut to kill its divine Qriginal ? and yet none of you observes the law which he has given you. If "''=• you deny the charge, let me remind you of that grand precept, " Thou shalt not kill," and then ask you. Wherefore do you go about to kill mc, though an innocent and up- right person, who am come to bring you a most important message from God ? a Hou) does this man mdcrstand letters .?] I see no reason to b Be determined to do Ids will.'] This'seems to be the import of believe that our Lord adorned liis discourses with quotations from, those word»t StXt; ro JiXri/^a aun sreitiv. (See \ 22. note a, p. 43.) orreferences to, the writers that were then most celebrated for their This important passage seems an express declaration, that learnmg, or shewed any extraordinary acquisitions in history, every upripht man to whom the gospel is proposed, will see and antiquities, &c. The Evangelists have given us no specimen of-th'is own the evidence of its divine authority j which indeed might Kind; and it is certain that foreign literature was then in great reasonably have been concluded from the awful judgment pro- contempt among the Jews.— -The words undoubtedly refer to our nounccd on those who presume to reject it. Lord s great acquaintance with the scriptures, and the jiidicious c No vnriff/iteousness or imposture in him.'] The word a^ma, in and masterly mannerin which he taught the peopil!' out oTTFem, this opposition to aXiiQuf, must signify imposture. Yet I think it the witii tar greater im^tj^and nobler eloquence than the scribes fairest way to translate the original" words in all their extent, and toum attain to by a learned education.— Compare Mark i. 22. and content myself with suggesting in the paraphrase those limitations man. vii. .9. p. 80. note g. which the particular connection requires. REFLECTIONS ON THE MEEKNESS WE SHOULD SHEW UNDER REPROACH. 201 20 The people answered Tliis Jesus said, with reference to what he knew to be the secret design of some of his sect. audsaiti, Thou hast a devil: hearers, who were even then plotting his destruction; but the multitiulc, who were not 99. wlio goetU about to kill ^^^,^^^ ^^ jf^ Ignorantly and rudely ansv;crcd and said. Surely thou art possessed and ■ distracted,"^ to talk thus ; dost thou not safely travel from place to place, and appear in John ourlmosT public assemblies, even here at Jerusalem, and ivho goes about or desires to kill ^'^• thee ? 21 Jesus answered and Jesus, referring to the design which he knew some of them had of renewing their pro- 21 said unto theni, I have doue solution against him as a sabbath-breaker, because he had commanded the disabled man one work, and ye all mar- S , t^ . i . i i i ^i ^ i / t i ■< ,^ nc- , vei. at the pool ot Bethesda to carry his bed on that day, (compare Joan v. 10. p. 95.) answered in tlie gentlest manner, and said unto them, I hace,some time ago, performed one remarkable luork,^ and you all, to this very day, -j:onder on account of it/ that I 22 Moses therefore gave should order the man that i cured to cany liis couch on the sabbath-day : Yet a little 22 becau^"iris''o™Mosrs/but reflection might convince you that your cavil is very unreasonable, even on your own of the fathers,) and ye on principles : for Moses gave you a precept, which required circumcision, (not that it is the sabbath-day circumcise originally of Moses institution, but had been formerly established by the observation of * """' Abraham, and of the c\her fathers of our nation, many ages before Moses was born, which therefore could not properly be altered by him;S) and you scruple not to circum- 23 If a man on the sab- cise a jnan-c\\\\A. on the sabbath-day, if it happen to be the eighth from his birth. Jf 23 crs?on'!'tLt'the'uw''orM™- \then;\ to prevent the violation of Moses' laxo by deferring this sacred nte, you acknow- scs should not be broken ; ledge it fit that « man should receive circumcision on the sabbath itself, [}i'hy'\ are you are ye angry at me, because jj^cf^u^^fi against mc, that, by speaking a word, I have cured a man who was entirehi I have made a man every ,.,,,,, •^ ,, , 7 , / •' T -. -i ^ .. -u -k l\ . j n whit whole on the sabbath- disabled,"" on the Sabbath ; as if it was a more servile work to heal tlian to wound ? or day? how do you imagine that I have not power, when I have thus healed him, to manifest 24 Judge not according tlie perfection of the cure, by commanding him to carry his couch ?' Judge not accord- 24 jud-eVVhteous ju"d''|raeut.' ">g i° these prejudices which the meanness of my appearance tends to produce ; but " " ° ' Judge righteous and equitable y^f/gwt;/^; which if you do, you must necessarily ac- knowledge my divine mission to be as evident and certaia as that of Moses himself, to whose precepts you profess so great a regard. IMPROVEIMENT. Let us learn of our meek and humble Master, to refer the honour of all we know and do to divine instructions Ver. 1 G communicated to us, and divine grace working in and by us ; that, seeking the glory of God, we may have the 1 8 surest evidence that we are truly his. Let us on all occasions remember, that integrity and upriglitness will be a certain security to us against dangerous mistakes in matters of religion. If the light we already have be faithfully , improved, we may humbly hope that more will be given in ; nor shall we then fail of convincing evidence that : the gospel-doctrine is of God ; for the experience of its power on our hearts will check our passions, and destroy 17 the prejudices that would prevent the truth from taking place in our minds. Let us receive his doctrine as divine, and hearken unto Christ as sent of God ; and whatsoever be the vile re- proaches we may meet with from a wicked world, and the malicious designs it may fomi against us, let us be resolute and stedfast in the practice of the duties he has taught us, that with -well-doing xve may put to silence the 19 ignorance of foolish ?nen. (1 Pet. ii. 15.) Our Lord was reviled as a demoniac and a lunatic ; but instead of rendering railing for railing, he replied in the 20 words of gentleness and sobriety. So let us endeavour to conquer the rudeness of tliose attacks we may meet with 2 1 — 23 in his cause ; that we may, if possible, remove the prejudices so fatal to those that entertain them, and form men to that equitable and impartial judgment which would soon turn all their cavils against Christ into admiration, 24 praise, and obedience. d T/to'i art possessed aoiAistt3cteOi.] So some of them express it, g Not that it is originally o/" J/osps, &c.] An excellent person, ■John X. 20. He hath a devil, and is mad : which plainly shews, as justly celebrated in the learned world, has lately suggested to me a many have observed, that they thought some of the worst kind thought on these words, (which I have not met witli elsewhere, but and degrees of l_uflaci^j)rocee(fed from the agency of some demon : have briefly hinted in the paraphrase,} as to the reason why our as many consideraiile (ireek writers plainly did. (See Bns. Exercil. Lord makes this obvious remark, that circumcision was older than p. 41 — 43.) But it can never be argued from hence that possession the time of Moses. Had Moses instituted it, he would probably and lunacy are universally synonymous terms. When joined toge- have ordered it so as to make it quadrate with his law relating to ther they seem to signify different things ; the former being put for the strict rest of the sabbath; but finding it instituted by a pre- the cause, and the latter for the e/ffc/. vious covenant, which his law could not disannul, (see Gal. iii. 17.) e / half some time ago perfnrmed one remarkable vwrk.'] It is he left it still on the same footing.— This argument will indeed plain the miracle here referred to was wrought a year and a half infer that the strict sabbatical rest was not observed in the patri- . before this feast. Compare \ 4G. note a, p. 94. archal age ; but yet it might be a day of extraordmary devotiou, f And you all wonder on account of it.} I here follow Theophy- which I apprehend to be proved from Gen. ii. 3. lact and Beza in joining the words >5i3£ raro to the end of this verse, h I have cured a man entirely:] Our translation loses much of because it is certain that in their usual signification they cannot the emphasis : the words oXw avJpirsv uyiri sTOmra literally signify, / properly introduce the next: and John xix. 11. (? 188.) may be have healed, ot made sound, a whole man. But the ambiguity in . an instance of the like kind. — The Prussian translators render it, our English word i/Zja/i? rendered such a version very improper. I Because Moses gave you circumcision, kc. a.nh the learned Eisner therefore thought it necessary a little to vary the expression, but I inclines to this versioti: (Eisner, Oiitfrw. Vol. I. p. 314,315.) But the sense is altogether the .■^ame.— But, since I published this, a though I am sensible b evcxev sometimes siffnifies because, (see Gen. very accurate critic, both in tlie Greek and English language, has ■xxxviii. 2G; Numb. x. 31; and xiv. 43. "Septuaj. and Hebr.) I suggested another version, yet more literal than this, or any of the cannot find All r«ro ever so used ; and T think, if it be retained at rest: f have made a man sound throuyhout. the beginning of the next verse, it should be rendered, As to this i That I have not power, when I have thus healed him, &c.] So natter ; which sense it may perhaps have in Matt. xiii. 52; TS^'in. our Lord himself states the argument, in a case nearly resembling 8L; and in a few other places; and so Grotius takes it her?. 'See' this, (Matt. ix. 5, 6. p. 92.) and might probably here intend to r. AVhitby on this place. insinuate it, though in an oblique manner. 1 202 HE TELLS THE JEWS HE IS GOING V/'HERE THEY SHALL NOT FIND HIM. SECTION C. The Jews pass a variety/ of censures on Christ ; and the smihedrim, alarmed by the regard "which sonic ' expressed toirards him, send ojicers to seize him ; hut Christ openly declares that their purposes should not immediately take effect. John vii. 25 — 36. John vii. 25. jo„^. ,;; .,5 SECT. Then, while our Lord was thus discoursing at the feast of tabernacles, so?ne of the Then siiia some oi" tliem 100. 1,1/ictbitants of Jerusalem, who knew more ot the designs of the sanhedrim than others "/i^on^uu^seik 'toVi'l'i ? ''^ who had spoken before, (ver. 20.) said. Is not this he whom they seek an opportunity vn"o^ to put to death ? But behold, he is not only come up hither to the feast, but speaks 20 But lo, he speakcth openly and freely in the very temple itself; and they are so far from seizing him, that t'hinV/'u,i'to\iVni? i>o the *■" they r/o not so much as say any thing to prohibit him : do the rulers then indeed know rulers know indeed, timt they were mistaken in their former censures, and are they now persuaded in their con- ^'''^ '^ ^^^^ ^'^■"y t^i'nst • 27 sciences that this is really the Messiah .* But we have sufficient reason to conclude 27 Howbeit, we know this cannot be the case ; ifor many of us know this man, from whence he is, and are sure ^ile "'chTist^confethi no that he was born of Joseph's wife ; whereas, when the Messiah comes, no man will thus man kuoweth whence he is know from whence he is ; for he is to be born in a miraculous way of a virgin.^' 28 I'hen Jesus, thoivgh they said this in a private manner to each other, and imagined .1 "^^"^'"^^ "^^f^ "^t^"^)'." that he could not haveheard them, as he was teaching them in the temple, and at some saying-, Ye both know niV, distance from them, cried out with a louder voice than before, and said. Do ye indeed and ye know whence I am . both know me, and know from whence I am ?'- Alas, it is great rashness and folly for sS buU.Tu.anent m"^s you to assert it ; and whatever you may object, yet it is most certain that I am not come true, whom ye know not. of myself, with vain and false pretences to a divine mission, nor do I want any proper evidences of it: but he who sent me is true to all his promises and predictions,*^ whom, 29 nevertheless, with all your boasts, j/c /-woa; not. But I know him in a most intimate 29 But I know him, for r manner ; for I am. spmng//-o;« him'^ by a mysterious and divine generation, in conse- gent me! '"'"''''"'' ''® ''""' quence of which I am infinitely better acquainted with him than you, or any mere crea- tures, can be; and he hath sent me among you as his Ambassador, on an errand of the highest importance. 30 Then they were so provoked by this claim of a divine original, and by the charge ad- 30 Tlien tliey sought to vanced against them, as ignorant of that God in whom they gloried as so peculiarly their Jake him: but no man laid ^, ° ., I. ° L ■.. ^ ■ I- X /^ 1 • " 1 iU • • J ■ hands on him, because his . own, that they sought an opportunity to seize nim ; yet God impressed their minds in hour was not yet come. i such a manner, that no one of them would be the first that laid hands on him : and they were kept under this visible restraint, because his appointed hour of suffering xvas not yet come, but he had farther services in life to despatch before he was delivered to them. 31 And many of th'e people were so much affected with these discourses, that they secretly 3i And many of the peo- helieved on him, and said to each other. When the Messiah comes, will it be possible he sa\a,\vhen Chrisi^coinetlf should do greater miracles than these which this [Jesus'] has done here at Jerusalem, will' he do more miracles and over the whole country ? " ^^^^^^^ !w l'^'"'"'' "''^ """* 32 This, however, could not be so privately said, but some information of it was sent to the '32 xiie Pharisees heard Pharisees, who, when they heard that the people whispered such things concerning that tlie people murmured him, were greatly displeased and alanned at it : and the Pharisees and the other mem- \^\^^. and^the'^'pharise'ef bers of the grand sanhedrim, particularly the chief priests, among whom there were and the chief priests sent ' many Sadducees, (see Acts iv. 1.) sent ojicers from the chamber in which they held their ^^^c^rs to take him. -■ council,* into the adjacent court of the temple, to seize him, as he preached there to the multitude. 33 Then Jesus said to them, as soon as they appeared, I know the design on which some 33 Tiien said Jesus unto of vou are come, but God will not permit vou inmiediately to execute it; for yet a little thein yeta little while am ; ■/ 1 -T - ■• •,; i,-,7 -1 T- . • J 7 ■ jj X J 1 ^^'th you, and Ihen I go while longer 1 am to continue with you, and \Then\ I am to ^0 again to aim that sent unto him that sent me. 34 mc. And when I am returned to him, I shall be entirely out of your reach ; so that you "^^ Ye .shall seek me, and ' shall seek me, and wish that you had me in your power again, but you shall not find where l*ara, mt/irrye can- wc ; and where I am, or where T shall then and always be, you cannot possibly come : uot come which he said, referring to his speedy exaltation to the heavenly world, and to the impo- tent malice with which they should then oppose his triumphant cause. 35 But he was not understood in that sense : the Jews therefore who were present said 35 Then said the .lews among themselves. Whither is he about to go, that we shall not find him ? Will he ^Tinfe^ShaUvelhaH*!!" leave Judea, and^o to the remainders of the holy seed who aie dispersed among the find him?' will he go unto a Ilcistobchornin amiraculous w.iy of a virpfin.] It is evident the veracity of the reply ; unless, with Beza and Camerarius, we from Matt. ii. 4, 5 that the Jews apprehended tlie Messiah was to suppose it to he spoken ironically. be born at Bethlehem ; and from a multitude of other places, that c Ts true to all his promises and prediction.^.] There seems a they knew he was to be a descendant of David: (compare ver. 42.) reference here to the accomplishment of some of the jirnplircies 1 know not how therefore to account for their saying that, when already fulfilled in him, tog-ether with a cheerful /«///; iu what was Christ came, no man would know whence he in, but by supposing, yet to come. " with Archbishop Tillotson, (Vol. II. p. 454.) that the words refer to d fam from him.] I should have chosen to render ttx^' mrv, wilh an expectation they had that he would be born of n virtjin. — As for /(/m, as I did in the first edition, to avoid a tautology; but I am the notion which Justin Martyr mentions, that the Messiah should sensible, on (^irtlier reflection,. that I want a sufficient authority for ''1 for a while i(? /((Vf, it seeuis more modi xjj ; and thev must put a such a version. I therefore acquiesce in our own: but I see no strange interpretation on Isa. liii. 8 ;' Mic. v. 2 ; and I'sal. ex. 4. to nocasion to vary any thing in the paraphrase, since iu either sense ' draw any such consequence from thein as Dr. Vfhitby and M. i t suggests so strong a reason for believing- that Christ halh the L'Enfant suppose'tliey aifl. most intimate knowledge of the Father. h I)ni/uubol/i know vie, and knnio whence T am ?'] So Bishop c From the chamber in which they heldthcir council.] See { 24. Chandler would render these words; (see his O^/ifncf, p. 334.) and note f, p. 48. it seems necessary, in order !o vindicate the propriety, and indeed CHRIST INVITES THEM TO RECEIVE THE SPIRIT FROM HIM. 203 Uie dispersea among the Qreclcs and Other nations ? and will he teach them, or the Greeks themselves/ even the SECT. rMtiles'! '^"'^ *^'^'"^'' *^''^ idolatrous Gentiles, after his being thus rejected by his own nation at home and abroad ? 100. 30 Wliat milliner of say- What [sot't of] saj/ing IS this which he has now spoken, You sliall seek me, and shall ■ ing IS tins that he said \ L ^^^f ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^j where I am, voii cannot possibly come? ihus they contmucd JOHN shall seek me, and shall not .f^. ^ '. , , ' ^ i i u- ii i ^i jj i j * vil find me; and where I am, caviUuig at his words ; yet were SO overawed by his presence, that they did not dare to *"• (hitlicr ye cannot come] olier him any violence, notwithstanding the commission with which some of them came. 36 IMPROVEMENT. . So confident is error in its own decisions, and so vain in its self-applauses ! Tliese unhappy people, every way mis- Ver. 26 I taken, censure their rulers for a supposed credulity, in seeming, as it were, to acqmesce in Christ's claim to be the 27 Messiah ; and imagined themsehes, no douljt, exceeding wise in rejecting him, while they blindly took it for oranted he was the son of Joseph, and had not patience to wait for the authentic story of his miraculous conception. Surely men had need to look well to the force of those arguments, on whicli they venture their souls by rejecting I the gospel. I Our Lord answered their secret reasoning in a manner which might justly have alarmed them, charging them 28 I with ignorance of that God whom they pretended to know, and whom, with a presumptuous confidence, they I claimed as theirs. And oh, that it may not be found at last, that many who have appeared most confident of i their interest in God, neither know him, nor are known by him ! The blessed Jesus, who is the brightness of his glori/, and the express image of his Person, has the com- 29 pletest knowledge of the Father. May we be so wise and happy as to seek instructions from him, that the eyes of i our understandings may be enlightened, and the temper of our hearts proporUonably regulated, by all the dis- i coveries of the Divine Being which he makes ! i How obstinate and desperately hardened were the hearts of those who, notwithstanding all the proofs that Jesus '■ gave of his divine mission, were yet so far from hearkening to him, as to seek opportunities to destroy him ! So 30, 32 ' dangerous and fatal is the prevalence of error in such as Bie not to retain God m their knowledge, that they will , even venture on the greatest wickedness, when once they are given over to a reprobate ?nind. (Rom. i. 28.) — May , Gcd preserve us from a spirit of delusion, and fill us with that wisdom, that we may know the things belonging to ' our peace ; and being ready to receive the truth in the Idve of it,' may we acknowledge and attend to Christ as sent of God ! j May we learn this heavenly wisdom in time, since the hour is approaching when Christ will be sought in 3-1 I vain, and all coiTespondence l3etweeu him and sinners will be finally cut off! Where he is, they cannot then i come ; and to be excluded from him, will at length appear insupportable misery, even to those who, with proud folly and fatal self-sufHciency, are now most ready to say unto him. Depart from us, for ive desire not the knoTvledge of thee or thy ways. (Job xxi. 14.) * • . 'J >~ ' > ~ " SECTION CI. C/irist invites his hearers to co?ne and imbibc^the Spirit from him ; and by these and other gracious discourses, disarms the resolution of the officer's, -who return to the sanhedrim without him; where a short debate (arises between Nicodemus and his brethren. John vii. 37, to the end. J9HN vii. 37. John vii. 37. In the last day, that great bUCH were the discourses which our Lord made to the people, in the presence of those sect. and "crkd, Ta*yins,*'"l/'any wlio Were sent by the sanhedrim to seize him ; and this happened /« Me eighth and last '■^'^• man thirst, let hi'ra come du!/, that great [f/rt?/] of the feast of tabernacles, when, according to the institution of unto me and drink. Moses, (Lev. xxiii. 34, "36; Numb. xxix. 35.) there was to be an holy convocation, •'^^^ attended with some extraordinary sacrifices. Now, on this day, when it was customary r>n for the priests to surround the altar with their palm-branches, and to pom- out water in the temple, as an expression of the general desire of the Messiah's appearance, and the pouring forth of the Spirit by him,'' Jesus stood ox\ an eminence, that he might be the better heard -and seen, and proclaimed with a loud voice, saying. If any man thirst, that is, if he ardently desire true happiness, and long for the blessings promised under the admiaistuition of theMessiali, let liini come unto me by faith, and drink his fill; for I am most ready freely to communicate every needful blessing, and particularly~Tnose'supplies of the Spirit 38 He that hclicveth on which you profess SO earnestly to desire. (Compare Isa. Iv. 1.) For he that tnily 38 rafd mif of li^i^s'benv sha'll ^clicveth on me, as the scripture hath in many places said and promised,'' shall receive flow' rivers of livin;,' water, those supplies in SO great au abundance, that he shall not only be refreshed himsei, but out f Will he qo to the dispersed amnng the Greeks, and leach the assure us. (See Reland's Anliq. FTeli. part iv. cap. 6. \ 6.) Some Greeks/] By'Greekswe are here to understand idolatrous Gen- think it was intended to supplicate the former rain; but the con- tiles, and not HeUenists, or Jews that used the Greek language ; text inclines me much rather to believe those Jewish writers, pro- \ for these were the dispersed among them. There is therefore. I ducert by Dr. Lightfoot, (in liis //or. //'•i. on this place,) who say it j think, a sting in these words beyond what commentators have was meant as a way of invoking the divine influences of the blessed observed. Tiiey insinuate, that if he was to go into foreign coun Spirit, and as a mark of their desire of having it poured out upon tries to address liimself to the Jews there, who might he supposed them. See Tremellius's excellent note on this text. not so well instructed as those that lived in Judea and at Jerusa- b As the scripture hath in many places said and promi.sed.] lem, he would not be able to make anv proselytes, even among Chrysostom, and after him many other eminent critics, refer this these; but would be constrained to api)ly himself to the ignorant to the former clause, and understand it as if he had said,//'? that and stupid Gentiles, to seek disciples among them ; whicli, to be hath that faith in me which the scripture requires : (see Castalio, Ze- sure,'~5p]5^red to these haughty scorners one of the most infamous gerus, and Jac. Cappellus, in loc.J And thus they avoid the difficulty circumstances that could he imagined, and most incompatible with which arises from our not finding the following words in scripture.— the character of the true Messiah. But it seems much more natural, with Grotius, to suppose that a When it was customary for the priests to pnur out water, &c.] here is a general reference to the several prophecies whicli refer to That there was a custom on this day of drawing- water out of the the cti'usiou of the Spirit by the Messiah under the similitude of fountain of Siloam, and pouring it out before the Lord in the pouring out water ; and accordingly I have paraphrased the words temple, at the time of evening sacrifice, and that the priest who- in that view of the connexion. See Isa. lii. 15; xliv. 3; Iviii. 11; did it stood on some eminence, the Jewish Rabbles unanimously and Joel ii. 28. 204 THE PHARISEES ARE ANGRY, BIJT NICODEMUS STANDS UP FOR HIM. SECT, of his belli/, or from within him,'= shall fow vital streams, and, as it were, rivers of living 101. •water, for the refreshment and comfort of others. Noic this, which was true in a more extensive sense, he pecdiarly spake of the Spirit^ so (But tli is spake he oi JOHN -which they who believed on him should receive, and which some of them should also be the Spirit, wliicli they tliat ^^^- enabled to communicate toothers. But it was not then generally understood ; /or the ceiveYfo"the"'Holy"Ghosi! 39 holi/ Spirit was not yet [^/re?/] in that extraordinary manner, because Jesus was not yet "as not yet given, beciiuse glorified; and it was the wise and gracious purpose of God to send him down on "the t|>a^' J'^*^"^ "-i* ""t y^t 8'°- church, after the ascension of Jesus, as a triumphant Conqueror, into his father's presence. \ (See Eph. iv. 7 — 12 ; John xvi. 7 ; and Acts ii. 33.) 40 Then many of the people, when they heard ////,? ^gracious saying, which was indeed a 40 Many of the people,.! more free declaration and profession than he commonly made, said. Surely this [man] is f!'"f°':'^'^^^I,"^.", 'q^.^ ''*"'"? 41 at least ff ;)ro/)//p)',^ and probably comes to introduce the Messiah. And others said, ISSsLy, this iTthe^prophet. this is certainly the Messiah himself; but in opposition to this, so?ne objected, and said, 4i Others said, Tliis isi Shall the Messiah, when he appears, co?ne out of Galilee, as we know this Jesus of s\\al? Christ ^comrouT'of 42 Nazareth does ? Hath not the scripture said expressly, That the Messiah is to come Galilee? - from the seed of David? and hath it not also added, that he is to arise //-o^h. the ty^f "a|Jj "xhat"' ci S. to~wn of Bethlehon-Judah, where David was [born,'] and which was the ancient seat of cometh of 'the soed of Da-' 43 his family ? (Compare Isa. xi. 1. and Mic. v. 2.) And thus thcv were divided in their ^'''' =»iid out of the town of ■ "^ ■ •' '^ •• . , ' , . J . . Bethlehem, where David; I or sentiinents, and there was a warm dissension^ among the people on his account. was ! 44 And the officers also, who had been sent to apprehend him, were at a loss what they 43 So there was a di- should do, and some of them would have seized him ; but, struck with the regard which y'*'°", ;"*"}?"" ^^^^ people ^veral of the people expressed towards him, and, above all, impressed by the dignity and 44 And some of them swwt!ies§,of his discourses, and the secret hand of heaven which wi"Ought for his deliver- would have taken him ; anCETfl^y were so far restrained, that -noman Ixttthdnffs on him. {^",J, "° ™"" '^"^ ''""•' ""^ 45 Then the officers came hac]i to the chief priests and the Pharisees, without accom- 45 Then came the offi. plishing the purpose for which they were sent : c/;7f/ when the sanhedrim perceived they p"a/is e''^ '^a"d*^'thr'''s"id had not executed their commission, thejf said unto them. Why have ye not brought him unto them, AVhy have Ve with you as your prisoner, according to the orders you received from us ? "ot brought him? 46 T/ic o^zcw.? /TjO/ry/, We could not find in our hearts to attempt it 5 for surely no man 46 The officers answered, living ever spake in so. engaging and irresistible a manner as this man doth ;s and had ^^^^ "''" ^''^''^ '''^' '^'"^ you heard him yourselves, it must have disarmed your resentment against him. 47 Then the Pharisees, far from being softened by the account they gave them, ansxcered 47 Then answered them them in a scornful and upbraiding way. What, are you also deceived by his artful and ^''* I'han^sees, Are ye also 48 popular address ? Surely you cannot be so weak as to be thus infatuated ? Pray consider 43 iiave any of the ru- the conduct of those who are most capable of judging of this point: have ant/ of the '^rs, or of the Pharisees, rulers believed on hi>n, or [«.•??/] of the Pharisees of a more private station P"" Yet you '^ "^**^ "^ """' know these are most eminent for theii' acquaintance with religion, and are the most au- 49 thentic interpreters of the sacred writings in which it is contained: But this wretched j^^^,,^."*^ *'\'^th^T'*^ ^'^'"' herd of people, who are so enchanted with him, know and regard not any thing of the cursed. ' \me meaning of the law, and, it is easy to be seen, are cursed with a judicial blindness, and given up to the most absurd and fatal mistake.' 50 Upon this, Nicodemus, whom_we before have mentioned as the person who came to ^o Nicodemus saith unto {Jesus'l by night, (see John iii. 1. ei seq. p. 49, 50.) being both a ruler and a Pharisee, "us 'bVXb'rberg one'^of and sitting in the sanhedrim as one of them, took so much courage, that he said to them, them,) 51 Doth our law, which you boast so much acquaintance with,'' judge and condemn any ^^ ^°t'i f*""".'^^^ ju'ige man before the magistrate, appointed to execute it, summon him into his presence, that au^ k'now what hedoilA'™' he may hear from him what he hath to say in his own defence, and know, from credible witnesses, what he hath done to deserve punishment? (See Deut. xvii. 8 — 11, and xix. 15. et seq.) c Out of /lis belli/, QT from v/Mun him.'] The helly is frequently him as their prisoner, or making a laboured apology for their put for the mind or heart. Compare Job xv. 35; xx. 20; and failure, only break out into a pathetic exclamation, that no man in Prov. XX. 27, 30. — It sometimes signifies, in a more general way, t/ie world ever spake like him. It is a reflection whicli, I hope, we the inward part of a thing, (1 Kings vii. 20; Matt. xii. 40.) arid often make, as we read his discourses. may perhaps have some allusion here to the prominency of that/*" h Have nny of t/ie rulers helieved on /lim, ora.ny of //le P/iarisees ^] capacious golden vase from which the water was now poured out in ' 1 cannot think, with Grotius, that this is any intimation, tliat, if large stream. I there were any of the (ireat Council who had favourable tlioughts d T/iis he spake of the Spirit.'] It is strange that, when the (, of Jesus, they were the Sadducees. The interpretation of the Evangelist has tlius plainly commented on these words of Christ, paraphrase is much easier. There is no reason to believe any of a late eminent writer shouUl venture to advance a different inter- the Sadduceps were inclined to receive the gospel; and, if the pretation, and explain them as spoken of the doctrine of Uic riospel. Pharisees had secretly suspected tliem of such an inclination, they e Siirebj this man is a prophet.] As tlie article is prefixed, it-, would hardly have affronted them by such an insinuation in this I hlJ"' ""'ffbt seem natural to render it Mfp)«p/iP/, were it not afterwards grand a.>isembly, considering the high rank in which many of that yV^V^**^ distinguished from tite Christ. On this account I conclude that sect were. ■'_ ( ' here, as also John i. 21. o.7r^5.j!nr>i! signifies only a prrt;)/(W, that is, i This people, who Icnow not the law, are cnrsed] 1 see no ground hj '■-" one of the ancient prophets revived. See \ 20. note c, p. 40. ^ to think, with Grotius, that this refers to Deut. xxvii. 20. and is \i *A' f A warm dissension.] So I apprehend the word Szitaii always . built on a supposition that the ignorance of the populace must , signifies. And thus the word S(?/«'s;n, wliich is just the same, ^w.ith always expose them to a curse. It rather intimates an apprehension, fQ ^ A ^ttJ^n^Lisli-tcrjaination,) expresses not merely nor necessarily a that 'God had given them up to a spirit of fatal infatuation.— In- ^ f O "^ separation from ?a"clTOther, but an angry debate, whether it be, or stances of their contempt of the common people may be seen in ' * * be not, attended witl\ separation. Lightfont, fHor. Hchr. in loc.J and Vitriuga, f Oliserv. Sacra, lib. S No man ever spake as this man doth.] Plutarch mentions it as iii. m;). 2. p. 498.) a memorable proof of the extraordinary eloquence of Mark Antony, k Doth our law, vi\\\q\\ you boast so much acquaintance with.] when Marius sent soldiers to kill him, that when he began zjz^ii. Soft as these words seem, there i.s a severe sting in them ; and tliey Tit-ifiiLi nt ixtxrn, to plead for Ids life, ht (i'\s3\-mcA\ ihe'ir resolution, in eft'ect amount to a charge, tiiat while they professed such a and melted them into tears, (Plutarch, Vit. p. 431.) But these knowledge of the law, and zeal for it, they either knew not, or re- officers are thus vanquished, merely by hearing Christ's gracious garded not, some of its plainest precepts, and were even vuiniindful discourses to the people, which is a circumst;ince much more re- of those which, as they were a court of judicature, were their jiecu- markable. They return in a kind of amazf, and, instead of seizing liar concern. - * . ^ UrCiLlf-t^^ . . , .1-, /".' HE GOES TO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, AND RETURNS TO THE TEMPLE. 205 52 Tliey answered and But they, without enteringjarthgr into the argument, ansxuered him only by saying, SECT. 'k'^fcriiieeT'selrch'and "^ '^ ^^'^'^ ^"^ supei-ficial manner. What, art thou thyself also of Gali/ee, thd thon 101.' fook" foV out 'o7"^Gainee favourest the pretences of this ^contemptible Galilean? Scai-ch a little fartherjjito the ■ ariseth no prophet. matter, a)ul thou wilt soon see the unreasonableness of doing it -^ for it is notorious, even JOHif to a proverb, that no prophet is raised up from Galilee,^ nor will God ever honour that ^H. conteniptible country with such a production. 52 unio itis owu"ousr° ''^'"'* ^'"^' ^^^i^S ^'^'^^ this, they would not M'ait for a reply, but immediately broke up the 53 court ; and so every one tvent away to his oivn house. IMPROVEMENT. With what delight and thankfulness should we hear this gracious proclamation of Christ, which he now made Ver. 37 in the temple, and a while after repeated from tlie throne of his glory, — If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink ; yea, -ivTiosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely ! (Rev. xxii. 17.) Blessed Jesus, had we been allowed to _^have prescribed to thee a form of words, in which thy kind purposes towards us should have been expressed, wharcould we have invented more pathetic, more condescending, or more reviving ! — May we thirst for the blessings of thy grace, and in the confidence of faith apply unto thee for them ; and particularly for 39 these communications of thy Spirit, which are so highly excellent and desirable, and indeed so necessary for us ! Supply us with them, we entreat thee, in so rich an abundance, that we, in our ditFerent spheres, may supply others, and from us there may flow rivers of living water ! 38 Well might such gracious Avords as these disarm the rage of enemies and persecutors. Let us add our testimony to theirs, and say. Never man spake as Jesus speaks. Let us hear him with calm and thankful attention, while his 46 voice still sounds in his word. Happy are those that know the joyful sound ! (Psal. Ixxxix. 15.) The Pharisees, like deaf adders, stopped their ears against the voice of the Charmer ; and, while they proudly censured the popu- 48, 49 lace as a brutal herd, and gloried in their own superior wisdom, rejected the counsel of God : rashly judging with- out serious inquiry, and weakly borne down by vulgar senseless prejudices against names and places, which is all the senate of Israel opposes to the solid argument of Nicodemus! That good man, already considerably improved 51, 52 by his interview with Jesus, was undoubtedly confirmed in his adlierence to him, by olaserving the methods of their opposition : and where magistrates arm their authority to overbear argument, they will probably, in the judgment of impartial men, produce a suspicion at least, that they know their cause to be incapable of a rational 53 defence. TU'j-y. CL 6 . ' <^ S ' SECTION cn. Christ, having spent the night in retirement, returns to the temple, where an adulteress is drought before him; but he avoids giving Judgment in her case, and turns the consciences of his enemies on themselves. John viii, 1 — 11. JoHNviii. 1. John viii. 1. Jesus went unto tlie Thus the Pharisees debated the case, whc/ in such dissension their assembly broke up; SECT. but Jesus, chusing to retire in the evening, that he might by secret converse with his 102. heavenly FatheFoe animated to all the labours and dangers before him, went up to a ■ mountain in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, which lay to tlie east of the city, on the JOHN other side of the brook Cedron, and is well known by the name of the Mount of Olives, ^''*" where he spent the night in meditation and prayer. 2 And early in the morn- £«/, that his retirement might not break in upon the opportunity of public_5£rxice 2 mg he came again into the ^^ich the present concourse of people gave him, he returned to the temple early in the temple; and all the people . '7/7,7 71 , • i 1 ,- ^ i 1 • came unto him, and he mor/iing ; and all tlie people who came to worship there, betore they returned to their sat down and tauglit them, respective haliitations in the country, (the feast being now ended,) flocked around him to receive his instructions ; and such was his courage and zeal, notwithstanding the late conspiracy which had been formed against him, that, sitting down in one of the cloisters, he instructed them as freely as he had ever done. ~~ 3 And the scribes and And, while he was ens;a2;ed in this exercise, the scribes and Pharisees brought to him 3 rnansees brought untohim ' 1 1 1 • 1 / i • 1 • . ^77, 1 • 1 i ■^ a woman taken in adultery ; «^ Woman who had just been taken in tlie commission 01 adultery,^ bavmg tseen unhappily^ and when they had set her betrayciiato it among those intemperances which too often attend public feasts ; and, as le mi s , ^j^g court of judicature before whom she should have been tried was not yet assembled, they took that opportunity of laying a snare for Jesus, by setting her before him, in the 4 They say unto him, ^^/f/i^ of the people who were attending his discourse. And, as if they were desirous of 4 • 1 No prophet is raised up from CiilUfp.'] As it is plain that Jonah, mistaken apprehension that some circumstances in the story were and jorobable that Nahum also, was a Galilean, Sir Norton Knatch- indecent, and an excessive rigour with respect to those wlio had bull and others, wlio imagine that these rulers could not be iguo- fallen into this truly detestable crime, might perl-.aps lie the occa- ' rant of that, suppose that it^apnrn! here signifies the Great Prophet, sion of this omission, if it was not accidental in some early copies. ( or Messiah. But probably, had this been their meaning, they would Erasmus conjectures it might be added by St. John, after some rather have quoted the text which mentions Bethleliem as the copies of his gospel had been taken; and Grotins, that some who birth-place of the IMessiah. The answel- must therefore be acknow- heard the storv from the apostle's mouth, recorded it with the ap- ledged to be very mean and trilling, and the abrupt manner in probation of Papias, and other eminent persons in the church. — which tlie a.ssembly was broke up, seems to intimate their conscious- The notice that Eiisebius, (EccUs. Hist. lib. iii. cap. nit.) Jerome, ness that it would not bear examination. {Adv. Pelag. lib. ii. cap. G.) and other ancient writers, have taken \ !! ^ Brought to him a woman ta/icn in adultery.'] It is well known of the dubiousness of this passage, with a few other instances of the \ I that this story is wanting in the Syriac version, as well as in the like nature, shews that critical exactness with which they examined \ ^ Alexandrian and Bodleian copies, and indeea ia most of the oldest into the genuineness of the several parts of the New Testament; ; manuscripts; which engaged Beza to question, and Le Clerc, with and so, on the whole, strengthens the evidence of Christianity, t many others, to reject its authority. But I acquiesce in the rea- which (as I have shewn at large in thejunth of my Ten ticrmoiuj \ soning of the learned Dr. Mill, to whom- 1 refer the reader for the is so inseparably connected with the genuineness and purity of the ] arguments to prove it authentic ; the critical examination of these New Testament. t] matters lying quite out of the sphere of my present design. A 206 HE BIDS THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY TO SIN NO MORE. SECT, information from him, they craftily said unto him. Master, as thou professest thyself an Master, tliis woman was 102. extraordinary Teacher, we desire thou wouldst pronounce thy judgment on this case : here *!'g'^y"^j". ^xiultery, in the is a -Looman who u-as taken in the very act of adultery : Nozv Moses in the law has 5 Now Moses in tlie law 6 Tliis tliey said tempt- ing him, tliiit tiny mijjht liave to accuse liini. — — But Jesus stooped down, and witli his finger wrote on the g-round, as tliough in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lift JOHN commanded us, that such infamous ■ivomen should be stoned,^' (Lev. xx. 10 5 and Deut. commande^d^us that such "^l"- XX. 22.) but, as thou takest upon thee eitiier to supersede many of his precepts, or to gayest thou °"'^'' " ^"^'^ 5 interpret them in a very singular manner, we would be glad to hear thy determination in 6 an atfair of so great importance ; what therefore dost tliou say ? This they said tempting him, that, which way soever he should determine, they might have an opportunity to accuse him, either to the Jewish rulers, if he acquitted such a criminal, or to the Romans, if he ventured, though on the authority of the law, to pronounce a capital sentence against her, which he had no authority from the Romans to do,'^ and which the Jewish rulers themselves had at present no power to execute. (Compare Jolon xviii. 31.) But Jesus stooping down, wrote something on the ground with his finger,'^ chuging 7 (as it were) to speak to them by that action, rather than by words. But as they, think- ing that they had him at a great advantage, continued asking him with greater importu- he heard''thein not. nity, tie raised liimself up, and, without replying directly to their demand, only said to J^f,^X\n^ tlATiZt- them. Let him of you that is wi/hout sin in this or any other respect, puisue the prose- self, and said unto them, cution, and throw\ lie first fatal stone at tier, when she is condemned :'' (compare Deut. ^'^^^J,],''''*^ " \'i\iT &\ xvii. 7.) thus prudently avoiding a decision of the case, and leading them to reflect on cast a'stonr'at her."™ 8 their own guilt. And stooping down again, he wrote on the ground, as he had done 8 And again he stooped before, and left them to their ov^'^ reflections. tonn.^'^ """' °" '^' 9 But having lieard [Iiis answer,'] and being, by a secret energy which went along with 9 And they which heard the word of Jesus, in a very awful and powerful manner convicted in their consciences of i'. I'ei'ig convicted by their . 1 •' . 1 1. , ; 1 J J 1 1 u *!,.,„ ■„ own conscience, went out their own personal and aggravated guilt, they were ashamed even to look each other in „„g ,,y „„g_ beginning at the face; and so went out one by. one, beginning from the eldest,^ whose age and office the el'dest, even unto the tended to increase their shame and remorse; and the impression passed even to tlie last, i'oVe, and theTomln stand! or the youngest and meanest of them. And Jesus was left alone by all the accusers, and the woman standing in the midst of the crowd, with wliich he had been surrounded before she was brought in. 10 And Jesus raising himself up, and seeing noiie o{iho%e vihoh2Ahee]\?,o\ic\Xing\ns, judgment, but only^c woman they had brought before him, said to her. Woman, but the woman, ''he "aid" where are those thine accusers ? Has no man condemned thee, or is there none remain- unto hei-, Woman, where 1 1 ing to bear witness against thee ? And she said. No man. Lord. And Jesus said unto ^;;th*'no'man"'conderan^ her. Neither do I take upon me, at this time, and under tliis circumstance, judicially to thee ? condemn thee, though thy crime has been undoubtedly great; go thy way, therefore, ^i, ^''^ said, No man, without any impediment from me ; but, as the Messenger of God, and Friend of souls, I j, "^'^ Neither d^o'T comlemn M'arn thee that thou sin no more fi for such enormous practices as these must subject thee thee ; go, and sin no more, to a severer judgment from God than man can pronounce or inflict, IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 1 The devout retirements of Christ, and his early renewed labours, so often come in view, that, after having 2 made some progress in hisliistory, we are ready to pass them over as things of course. But let us remember, that b Such women should be slorted.] If thty spoke accurately, this it, Jer.xvii. 13.) written in the earth, or that tliey were to attend must have been a woman who had been beiVothed to a husband, and to what was written : but I can determine nothing, and must say, had been guilty of this infamous crime before the marriage was with a great critic on these words, Nescire velle, qufp Mn'iider op- completed ; for such only are expressly condemned to be stoned, timus nescire iwi vult, erudita inscitin est : " To be willing to con- (Deut. xxii. 22, 24.) The Jewish writer's tells us, that when (as in " tinue ignorant of what our great Master has thought ^t Jo con- the case of other adulteries) only death in general was denounced, " ceal, is no inconsiderable part of Christian learning." — : without specifying the particular kind of it, strangling was to be e Let him nf you tliat is without sin, throw the first stone at tier.'] used. Custom indeed (as. Grotius observes) might have'introduced Le Clerc makes the supposed impropriety of this reply a farther s/on/n? iu all these cases; (compare Ezek. xvi. 38, 40;) yet that argument against the genuineness of this text, since the law did would not justify what they here say. But our Lord's spirit was not require the witnesses or executioners to be free from sin, in order too noble to take the advantage of such a slip, if it was a mistake : to the efficacy of such a prosecution. But it may be answered, that he had a much greater view, and silenced them in a far more ef- our Lord's certain knowledge of what the efl'ect would be, viiidi- fectual manner. catedthe wisdom of putting the matter upon this issue, by which c To accuse him—lc the Romans, if he ventured, &c.] It is very it is plain, in fact, he escaped their snare, evident that the Jewish Sanhedrim sat by licence from the Roman f irent out one liy one, beginning from the eldest.'] It is strange governor ; and though they had a right to try capital causes, it any should have interpreted this clause so rigorously, as to imagine was necessary (as it seems from passages elsewhere examined) that that every particular person went out just according to his age. It the sentence they passed should be recognized and allowed by the seems only to intimate that those elders of the people, wlio had been Romans before it could be carried into execution. (See § 186. most eager in the prosecution, appeared under the most seusible note c, on Matt, xxvii. 2. and \ 188. note h, on John xix. 10.) For confusion, and were some of the first i\\^i left the assembly. Ann Christ therefore to have undertaken the decision of this case would, in this view it is very remarkable ; especially considering that they (■pso/flc/o, have rendered him obnoxious to the Romans, as well as were now in the presence of the multitude, before whom they 'to the Sanhedrim : and had he condemned her, a new occasion of would no doubt be desirous to keep up the strictest appearance of offence must have arisen in consequence of that — to Pilate, if exe- virtue, in order to maintain their influence over them. — Though fas cution had been ordered without an application to him,— and to the Dr. Whitby shews, on yer. 7.) adultei-y prevailed much among the Jews, if Christ had directed such an application to be made. So Jews about this time, yet I see no reason to conclude that theircon- that the snare here was much the same with thai afterwards laid science convicted every one of them of this particular crime.— for him (Matt. xxii. 17—22. \ 154.) in the question about the lawful- Their partiality (as Dr. Lardner well observes) seems to appear ia ness of paying tribute. bringing only "the woman, not the man, when the law condemned d Wrote on the ground with his finger. "[ The following words both. (Lard. C;rrf/A//. part i. Vol. I. p. 79.) lj.r, ■nfoimavnivK, as though lie heard them not, or, (as I would render g Sin no more.'] Eisner, C Observ. Vol. I. p. 318.) and Suicer them,) ns not regarding them, are wauting in the most valuable C Tliesaur.\o\.\.\i.10^.) Itave shewn that the word a/xx^xmv, to manuscripts. Dr. Mill therefore, I thinli justly, omits them, as «;//, is used by the most elegant Greek classics (as the correspondent '^ ' several other printed editions of the Greek Testament do. Were word peccare is by the Latin) to signify the commission of adultery ; . tliev admitted, they would cut off most of the co«ypc/«r(?s which which strongly intimates, that even the light of nature taught many learned men have advanced as to )/'/(«; Christ wrote ; a question, of the Heathens the exceeding sinfulness of it : which is the more which it is impossible for us to determine, and which we have no worthy of notice, as not only the greatest of their men, but (ac- needatallto be solicitous about. lam inclined to think there cording to their scandalous thefllggYlthe greatest of their gods too, was a language in the action itself, either to intimate that these hy- gave it all the sanction it could have from example, pocritical Pharisees should be themselves (as the prophet expresses ^ C^ ^ [A.4i^^^-i.^ IA^'\ CHRIST Hi\D NOT ONLY HIS OVVN BUT HIS FATHER'S TESTIMONY'. 207 ill some degree they call upon us to go and do likewise ; and will another day condemn those who, while they sect call themselves his disciples, are given up to ease and luxury, and suffer every little amusement or sensual gratifica- 102. tion to lead them into an omission of their duty to God and their fellow-creatures ; an omission especially a-^-^ra- vated in those whom he has appointed to be teachers of others, and who haye therefore so many peculiar errands john to the throne of grace, and so many engagements m the tnor/ii/ig to soxv, or to prepare t/ie seed of religious VIII. instruction, aud in the evening not to wit/i/ioid their hand from dispensing it. (Eccles. xi. 6.) While Jesus is teaching, his enemies address him, not only as an instnictor, but as a judge ; and yet, by this 3, 5 specious fonn of honour and respect, they sought only to ensnare and destroy him. So unsafe would it be always 6* lo judge of men's intentions by the first appearances of their actions ! But our Lord, in his ansv/er, united, as 7 usual, the wisdom of the serpent with the innocence and gentleness of the dove; and in his conduct to this 10 11 criminal, shewed at once that tenderness and faithfulness which might have the most effectual tendency to impress and reclaim her ; if a heart capable of such infidelity and wickedness could be impressed and reclaimed at all. Go thy -ivai/, said he to this adulteress, and sin no more. Perhaps the charge may have little weight with such abandoned transgressors as she ; but let all learn to improve their escapes from danger, and the continued exercise of divine patience towards them, as an engagement to speedy and thorough reformation. Let the force of conscience, and the power of Christ over it, (both which so evidently appeared in this instance,) 9 teach us to reverence the dictates of our own minds, and to do nothing to bring them under a sense of guilt • which, through the secret energy of our Redeemer, wrought so^ powerfully on these Pharisees, that, hypocritical and vain-glorious as they were, they could not command themselves so far as even to save appearances ; 1)ut the w eldest and gravest among them were the first to confess their guilt, by withdrawing from the presence of so holy ^ a Prophet, from the temple of God, and from the criminal whom they came to prosecute. A like consciousness of being ourselves to blame, will abate the boldness and freedom of our proceedings with others for their faults, if, while we judge them, we are self-condemned ; nor will the authority of a superior age or station of life bear us out against these inward reproaches. %\^xr\3 KA^xkXx/^'L''} « \ k "J C SECTION cm. Our Lord speaks of himself as -the light of the -world, urges the concurrent testimoni/ of his Father, and gives the Jews repeated warning of the danger they would incur by persisting in their infdeliti/. John viii. 12—29. John viii. 12. John viii. 12. Then spake jesus again THEN Jesus, after the interruption that he met with while he was speaking to the people sect. "he "light 'oi- t^e world r^'i^e in the temple, by the Pharisees bringing in the adulteress, resumed the work he Mas before 103. that followetli rae, shall engaged ill, and again proceeded to instruct the people ; and observing the sun lately SmuTm\Vthe''ii-h'tTf life* '^^^'^"' ^^^ shining with great lustre and beauty, he spake unto them, saying, I am the John " ' true light of the world, in whose appearance you ought chiefly to rejoice :^ this sun VIU. arises, in a few hours to descend again, and may fail many of you before your intended 12 journey is despatched ;'' whereas he that follows me, and governs himself by the dictates of my word and Spirit, shall not be left to walk in the darkness of ignorance, error, and sin, hut shall have the light of life continually shining upon him, to ditHise over his soul knowledge, holiness, and joy, till he is guided by it to eternal happiness. ^ for? slid u^toltfra Thot Some of Me Pharisees therefore, yA\o were then present, but diiierent persons from 13 bearest record of thyself; those who had brought in the woman, enraged at the late disappointment of their bretliien, thy record is not true. said unto him. Thou dearest witness of thyself, and therefore, by thine own confession, (chap. V. 31.) thy testimony is not to be admitted as /rwe, but may rather be suspected of vain-glory ; nor can we believe such great tilings of thee, unless we have some farther proof than thine own affirmation. ~ ^ 14 Jesus answered and Jesus answered and said unto them. Though I indeed bear witness of mi/self, \ yef] 14 said unto them, Though It i r z • i i i '^ , . i . , t -^ ■ '-" . , bear record of myself, y^/ ^ ^ speak trom my own Certain knowledge, and have already shewn that I am come with my record is true; for I a divine commission, my testimony is entirely and perfectly true, and as such you ought ! thTtheT'^goVhSTe'ca"'- *° ^^^^^^ it, for I ^ve\\ know from whence I came, and whither I am going, and the I Viot tell whence I come, and niost evident demonstrations of it have been given you, both iii the nature of my doctrine, I ^'"ther I go. and in the miracles which I have wrought among you : but you are so perverse, that, as often as I have hinted or declared it, you k)iow not to this d&y frojn whence I come, ancT 1.5 Yc judge after the whither I am going : Which is not to be ascribed to the want of sufficient evidence, but 15 flesh, I judge no man. merely to the force of your own prejudices; for you Judge according to the maxims of flesh and sense, and will believe nothing in opposition to these principles wliich you have so rashly imbibed,'^ and by this means are justly liable to condemnation : but I wave that for the present, as I now judge no ?nan, but rather appear under the character of a Saviour. ^16 And yet if I judge, (Compare chap. iii. 17.) Yef if I shoxM judge, ?«?/ detenu ination and sentence is \6 Ian)''not"a[one,"'buTVand appa£entl^ i'/'Ke and right, and you would justly be condemned for not receiving my the Father that'sent rae. testimony ; for lam not alone in what I say, but I and the Father that sent me, as we are in other respects inseparably united, do evidently concur together in the testimony that 17 It is also written in I give. Audit is written in your own law, for which you profess so sacred a regard, that 17 a lam the trwQ light of the world.'] The Messiah was often re- c You judge according to the f!fsh,&!.c.'\ The same carnal preju- presented under this view. Isa. xlii. G; xlix. 6; and Mai. iv. 2. dices still prevail in the minds of the Jews,and prevent their recep- Vompare LmTe ii. 32 ; John i. 4—9 ; iii. 19 ; ix. 5 ; and xii. 4G. tion of Christ ; they laying it down as a first principle, tliat he is b Ihesunarises todescend again,andmay fail manyofyou,&c.j to be a great temportd Prince and Deliverer. And the admission of I he reader will remember this was the morning after the conclu- false principles, which are constantly taken for granted, and never sion of the feast of tabernacles, and probably might be before the examined, will, I fear, be attended with fatal consequences to tliDU- morning sacrifice: after which, no doubt, many would be setting sands more. out for their habitations in the country. ---._ 208 THEY THAT REJECT CHRIST SHALL DIE IN THEIR SINS. SECT, the testimoni/ of two m**i is to be admitted as true, and matters of the greatest conse- your law, that tlie testu 103. quence are without scruple to be determined by it. (Deut. xvii. 6 ; and xix. 15.) Now I "^^^"^^ f^^°^^^}^ J'T' «w [one] who bear this witness of mtiself, in a fact, the truth of which I cannot but witness of myself, and the JOHN certainly know ; and the Father who sent me is another, and surely a most credible Father that sent me, bear- A'UI. Person, who also bears his testimomj to me ; thereby asserting- tlie truth of every doctrine *"' ^^'*^"^*^ °' "^^• I teach, and the justice of every sentence I might pass. 19 Then said thejj to him. Where is this thi/ Father, to whom thou so frequently ap- }^ Then said they unto pealest ? mention him plainly, that we may know how far he is to be regarded, and jeJii's answered,H*e ne'ither produce him as a witness. Jesus answered, you may well ask ; for it plainly appears by know me, uor my Father: your conduct that you neither know me nor m?/ Father, ho-wever yo^i may boast an '{ >'*;'"''* known me, ye •' . , ■,, ,^ ■ 111/- / 7 •/ ■ w •' 1 J J shouhl have known my Fa- acquamtance with liim : and mdeed, /j you had knoxon me aright, and regarded me as tlier also. you ought to have done, you would also long ere this have known who and what mi/ Father is, in another manner than you now do ; for I bear his complete resemblance, and it is my great business to reveal him to those M'ho submit to my instructions. 20 These words Jesus spake with the greatest freedom, as he was teaching in the temple, 20 Tlicse words spake in a certain part of it called the treasury, where the chests stood in which the people put ta^tiHit'in'the'tempfe -"and their gifts for the service of that sacred house, (see Mark xii. 41. sect, clix.) the stores of no man laid hands on him, which were laid up in chambers over that cloister: and though he so plainly intimated that ^°'' '"^ ^"""^ ^'■'^ °"' J'^* God was his Father, and charged the Jews with being ignorant of him, in whom they boasted as so peculiarly their God, yet their spirits were kept under such a powerful, though secret restraint, that 710 one seized him ; which was the more wonderful, as it was a place from whence it would not have been easy to have escaped without a miracle, and which was much frequented by his greatest enemies : but the true reason was, because his hour was 7iot yet come in which he was, by divine permission, to be delivered into their hands. 21 Confiding therefore in the protection of Divine Providence, Jesus then said unto them 21 Then said Jesus agaia again, as he had done before, (chap. vii. 33, 34. p. 202.) I am speedily going away from ^^^ e'siTa'l/sfel'^^e Tn^d among you, and you shall seek me, and inquire after the Messiah in vain ; but, as a just shall die in yoiir%ins: punishment for yoiu' having rejected me, you shall die in this your sin, and perish for whither I go, ye cannot your unbelief by a single stroke of divine vengeance, which shall sink you into final '^°'"'^- condemnation. Remember then, that I have warned you with the greatest faithfulness, and now again I solemnly repeat the warning, that though you should be ever so desirous of admittance to me, it will be in vain j tor you cannot come to the place whither I am now going, either to molest me, or to secure yourselves. 22 The Jews then said, with a very perverse and foolish contempt. What, will he kill 22 Then said the Jews, himself, that he saiis. You cannot come whither I am goins ? We shall not desire to ^^''" l^*^ '"•!■ '"iirf![,' ^^\ „„■,'. , '^ ' to to — cause he saith. Whither I follow hira upon those terms. go, ye cannot come ? 23 And he said unto them yet more plainly. So vile and malicious an insinuation as thisi 2.3 And he said unto evidently shews that you are from beneath, the slaves of earth, and the heirs of hell; while; \ !n™'froml'bove?\e are of on the other hand, J am from above, and shall quickly return thither : you are originally this world, I am not of this of this world, and your "treasure and hearts are here ; but as I am not of this world, my "'"''*l- thoughts therefore naturally turn to that celestial abode from whence I came, and I inces- 24santly labour to conduct men thither. But as to you, I labour in vain: and therefore I -^ I said therefore unto just now said unto you, that you shall die in your sins, and it is really a great and awful your sins: tbr Kye beHeve truth, and deserves another kind of regard than you give it; so that I yet again would call "'it that I ani he, ye shall you to consider it ; for if you believe not that lam [lie'] whom I have represented myself "^ myoursms. to be,** you shall unavoidably die in your sins, and are in effect the murderers of your own souls.* 25 Then said they to him, in proud derision, Who art thou, that such great regard .25 Tlien said they unto should be paid to thee, and that it should be so fatal a thing to neglect thee ? And Jesus jj^jg g.',°j" ^„,°q" ' ^^^^ said unto them. Truly, because I am still speaking to you to this very day in so plain Kven /he snme that I said 26 and affectionate a manner, I have many things to say and judge concerning you,* and ""*^ y"" *^'^''™ *'"^ begin- justly might upbraid you with the utmost severity, and pass an immediate sentence of con- oS I have many things to demnation upon you : but, for the present, I content myself with reminding you, that he s=>y, and to judge of you: who sent me is true : and, as I speak to the world only those things which I have heard ^ ",i '/ speak^o '"he'^world fom him, he will finally verify my words, and it will be at the peril of your souls if you those things which I have continue to treat me with such perverseness and contempt. heard of him. d That / am he, he. on eyw fmi.] There is evidently an ellipsis say and judge conrermn(j yon.'] I entirely agree with the learned here, to be supplied by comparing it with ver. 12. Compare John Raphelius, f Aiuwt. ex Herod, p. 292 — 30.3.) that the difficulty o(l xiii. 19 ; Mark xiii. 6 ; and Acts xiii. 25. these words arises from a mistake in the pointing, as they stand inl e Are in effect the murderers of your own souls.] The repeti- most cojiies ; and I think hismethnd of restoring the true rcadingandf tion of the threatening here, from ver. 'Jl. is a very awful rebuke sense the easiest and justest I have ever met with. He would point to the folly of their answer, ver. 22 : as if our Lord had said, "It them thus, Triva^i^w, on xai Xaxco u^iiv tiewt ix" t^ipiv/MV XxXeiv xar "very ill becomes ynu ta trifle and amuse yourselves with such xpm.v. All that know any thing of the Greek language, know that " silly and spiteful turns, when your life, even the life of yoursouls, rnv ap^m often signifies indeed, or truly ; and so the translation I " is at stake, and to talk of my killing myself, when, hyyour iin- have given is very literal, and makes a very good sense. — Mr. Fle-i, " belief and impenitency, you are plunging yourselves intoeternal ming would render it, I am, as I said to you, Tlie Beginning, that) " death." Thus do those passages in our Lord's discourses, which is, the Person spoken of, Gen. i. 1. and elsewhere, under that title •. to a careless reader might seem flat tautologies, appear, on an at- but this, as well as our own version, is not any thing like a just tentixe review, to be animated with a most penetrating spirit, and and grammatical translation ; though tijhe suj:£ there is a sense in to be full of divine dignity. A remark which will frequently oc- which Christ may most properly be caTIetTM^ Beginning. Com. cur, especially in reading those important di.scour.ses of Christ, pare Col. i. 18; Rev. i. 8 ; xxi.ti; xxii. 13. (see Fleming's Christo- which John has, through the infinite goodness of God to his church, logy. Vol. I. p. 281.) — 1 shall only add, that some would render it, recorded after they had been omitted by the other Evangelists. The same I am speaking to you of : but the version here given is f Truly, because I am still speaking la you, I have many tilings to more agreeable to the original, and by a proper pointing would ap. J MANY BELIEVE AND ARE INCLINED TO FOLLOW HIM AS THE MESSIAH. 209 £7 They understood uot These things were very inteUigible, when compared with what he had said before ; [//t/] sect. 'I'^V't'i ^''"''^ *° ^'"^'" "'' ^'^ exceeding stupid were they, and so Winded by the prejudices of tlieh- minds, that tlwy 103. did not understand that he spake to them of God the Father as the Person who sent him. john 28 Then said Jesus unto Jesus therefore said to them, I know that, notwithstanding all I have said, you will be ^'"• u'fr'tiie^Son"ormanrthen '^'^^ ^^ obstinate as to persist in your infidelity, till you proceed even to take away my life j 28 shall ye know that I am he, but when, after all your professed desire of his appearance and kingdom, you shall have and that I do nothing of [ftcd up that glorious Person, the Son of man, from tlie earth, and have evon proceeded hi?th* t'augiit^me^'^l s^jea^k SO far as to put him to a violent death, instead of seeing his cause and interest overborne these things. by that oulrageous attempt, t/ou shall then knou\ by some new and convincing tokens, that I am [Jie,'^'] and [that'] I do nothing separately of myself but, in exact agreement 29 And he that sent me with him, speak all these things aecording as mij Father has instrueted me : And even 29 iwth not left nie"alone'?'for 1^°^^' ^'^' ^''^^ ^"^^ ""-' ^^ graciously pesent with me, to bear his testimony to the truth of I do always those things what I Say, and to support and vindicate me : and, whatsoever you may foolishly surmise, that please hira. f/^g Father has not lift me alone, nor will he ever leave me ; for I always do the things which are most pleasing to him, and faitMully and constantly pursue the important work which he has committed to my trust. IMPROVEMENT. Such may our character ever be, as we desire the supports of the Divine presence ! Whoever be displeased, may Ver. 29 we always do the things which please him : and with all diligence let us labour, whether present in the body or absent from it, to be still approved and accepted of hi7n ! (2 Cor. v. 9.) Our blessed Redeemer is the light of the world. With how much pleasure should we behold his rays ! With 1 2 how much cheerfulness should we follow, whithersoever he leads us j as well knowing that we shall not then walk in darkness : and God forbid we should ever chuse to continue in it, as the shelter and screen of wicked works ! May we, with all candour and humility, regard and submit to the testimony which the Father has borne to him 17, 18 in so express and incontestable a manner ! Dreadful would be the consequence of our refusing to do it. The doom 21, 24 of these wretched Jews would be ours, to die in our sins. And oh ! how insupportable will that guilty burthen prove in a dying hour, and before the tribunal of God ! How will it sink us into condemnation and despair ! In vain shall those who now despise him, then seek admittance to the world where he is : thither they cannot come : 2 1 and if excluded from him, must be excluded from happiness. Justly might it long since have been our case •, for surely he has many things to say of us, and to judge con- 25, 26 cerning us, should he lay judgment to the line, and righteousness to the plummet, after his having been so long ^\ith us, yea, after we have, as it were, seen him lifted up and set forth as crucifed among us ! (Gal. iii. 1.) May this faithful admonition prevail to our conviction and reformation ; that our everlasting condemnation, may 28 not farther illustrate the reasonableness, yea, the necessity of it, and the madness of hardening our hearts against it! '\■'■^o^. -..^ - . - 1^ ^ W j r^ SECTION CIV. Our Lord continues his discourse with the Jews in the treasury, the day after the feast of tabernacles ; and labours to convince them how vain their pretences to liberty and to the privileges of the children of Abraham were, while they continued to reject and persecute him. John viii. 30 — 47. John viii. 3o. John viii. 30. As he spake these words, ThUS did Jesus wam the Jews of the danger of rejecting him, and appeal to his heaven- SECT. many believed onhira. j^ pj^^j^gj. gg authorizing the whole of his administration ; and, as he was speaking these 104. words, many of his hearers were so struck with them, that they believed in him,'' and were strongly inclined to follow him as the Messiah. john 01 Then said Jesus to Then Jesus, knowing the weakness and treachery of the human heart, and the difh- .-.7^^^' ^'nfira^Tf "e'conUnuT^in ^"^^'^s which would lie in the way, if they attempted to put that inclination into practice, "^^ my word, /LVarVye^iy said to those of the Jcws who were now ready to profess that they believed in him. If disciples indee.d: you continue stedfast in your adherence to my word, and yield a constant and universal 32 And ye shall know obedience to it, [then] you are my disciples indeed, and I will find you as such. And 32 the truth, and the truth g/ /^ ^v^ ^ f/ f^.^^^/^ ^f gospel in its full compass and extent, so far as it is snail make you tree. •■' , . t-'. ^t- ,' , i ,i , ,i i ii i necessary to your salvation, or conducive to your comtort ; and the truth s/iall mal;c you free^ and fix you in that state of glorious liberty which is the privilege of my disciples alone. {ifar natural and easy, if what should be considered as one sentence tion to a temporal kingdom. It is more reasonable to believe, that lad not been separated into two parts by a wrong division, of the they felt their hearts impressed with what they heard from him in Terses. the whole preceding discourse. Yet it is observable, that in the g I'ou shall then know thnt lam he.'] This undoubtedly refers to series of it he advances no new>proof of his mission ; so that pro- the prodigies attending his death, his resurrection and ascension, bably these people were wrought upon by what they observed in the the descent of the Spirit, the amazing miracles wrought by the temper and conduct of Christ; bearing the perverseness of his apostles in his name, &c. — But I am careful not to put such words enemies witk so much patience, speaking of an ignominious and into our Lord's mouth in the paraphrase, as would have been painful death with such holy composure, and expressing so genuine unsuitable to the reserve which, on some of these heads, mudence and lively a sense of his heavenly Father's approbation, and so <)ljliged him to keep-, or such as in other instances wouRTTiave sweet a complacency in it.— And perhaps, would ministers gene- supjrseded farther enquiry into the meaning of what he said. I rally allow themselves to open with freedom the native workings of thmkit most natural to refer these to the notes, or to the para- a heart deeply impressed with the gospel, the secret chann might phrase on some following passage. subdue those whose subtilty and prejudice might be proof against a Mam/ believed in him.'] One can hardly think that the arabi- the most conclusive abstract reasoning, guitv of the expression of the Son of man's being lifted vp, (ver. 28.) h The truth shall make you free.'] Aecording to Sir Isaac Newton, eng-iged them to this, in hope th.at it might intimate some exalta- {On Proph. p. 1:39.) these words were spoken in a sabbatical year, '" P 210 THEY BOAST OF BEING ABRAHAM'S SEED, YET DO NOT HIS WORKS. SECT But some that heard him were not a little displeased at this, as an insinuation that they 33 They answered him, ■ 104.' were not already free; and, strangely forgetting the servitude of Egypt and Babylon, and ^J^^^^'^i.^'e^^i'^'^t.nSe'lo how often their nation had bean conquered by others, and even how low it was at present re- any man : how sayest thou, JOHN duced by the Roman power, theij confidently answered him. We are the seed of Abra- Ye shall be made free? VIII. ham, a person always free, and the peculiar favourite of heaven 5 and v/e have never been 33 ifi slaveri/ to any man whatever, nor do we fear that God will permit us to be so : hoiv then dost thou say to us, You shall be made frve upon becoming my disciples ? 34 Jesus, waving what he might easily have replied as to their former history, and the 34 Jesus answered them, present state of their civil affairs, that he might give no unnecessary otlence, answered them, J^'^.^l'^^vhosoeveJ To^mmit" Verily, verily, I say unto you, and recommend it to your consideration as a most im- tetli' sin, is the servant of portant Vuth, That every one who habitually practises sin,'^ and goes on in a course of «'"• it, is the slave of sin ; and that is a servitude by far meaner and more dreadful than the 35 yoke of an earthly tyrant. Now, as the servant does not always abide in the family of 35 And the servant a- his master, but is, at his Lord's pleasure, liable to be dismissed or transferred to another; ever?' wShV Son abTdeUi^ much less can you, who are the servants, not of God, but of sin, promise yourselves that ever. you shall still, on account of your descent from Abraiiam, continue in those privileges which, by undesei-ved mercy, you hitlierto enjoy ; [buf] the eldest son and heir of the family continually abides in his fatlier's house, and his power and influence \thcre'] 36 are always increasing."^ Thus do I ever continue, and have power of receiving whom I ■'''> If I'le Son therefore will into the family : if therefore I, who am the Only-begotten Son of God, and the 5,J!|,[ ^%^^ mAeed!^^' ^^ heir of all things, mahe you f-ec, you, claiming in virtue of my right and authority, loill be free indeed," and will not only be delivered from the bondage of corruption and the tyranny of Satan, but be entitled to those immunities and blessings here, and to that future inheritance of eternal glory to whicli at present you have no claim. 37 And as to what you say, that you are Abraham's seed, I know that you indeed are, in 37 I know that ye are a natural way, the posterity of Abraham,^ as Ishmael also was; but what can that avail ^elT'tTkilf'rae, because you, while you are so unlike Abraham in your temper, and are so far from being of a my word hath no' place in disposition suitable to your descent from him, that you not only deride, but seek to kill y°"- vie, because my word has no place in your hearts, and has not any weiglit or influence 38 Vi^oayou, but is of a tenor directly contrary to your prejudices and lusts. And, on the 38 I speak that which I whole, there is so great a difference between us, that it is really impossible to reconcile anryrdo"that"which'^ye your practice with my doctrine; for I speak that which I have seen with my Father, have seen with your father, and which I know to be agreeable to his mind and will ; 0-??^/ you do that which you have seen with your father, and shew a visible conformity in your works to him : by which he intimated that their works as much resembled the nature of the devil, as his doctrine answered to that of God. 39 But they replied witli some warmth, and said to him. Take heed on whom this reflec- 30 They answered and tion may fall; for Abraham is our father, and surely thou wouldst not insinuate any ouj!f!^y*g [^m. Abraham is thing to the injury of that holy patriarch's memory, who was expressly called the friend of God. Jesus says to them. If you ©«'«? indeed, and in the most important sense, the children — Jesus saith unto them, if of Abraham, you would do the works of Abraham, and would make it the great business X^ ^^'^'"'^ Abraham's chii- An c ^■I• J. ■ -1. . ■ J 11 1 T> 1 7 1 X • dren, ye would do the works 40 ot your hie to imitate so wise and so holy an example. But now you seek and contrive of Abraham. to slay me, a blameless and innocent Man, for no other reason but because I am one who .j"* !''"' ""'^ ye seek to has faithfully told you the truth, which I have heard and received in commission y/'o?w toUl'y'oH 'the "truth' whkh God : Abraham, youj boasted ancestor did not any thing like this ; but gave the readiest I have heard of God: this 41 credit, and the most joyful welcome, to all the messages which God sent him. Never- '^'41" Ye^do''tiie deeds of theless, though you are so far from doing the works of Abraham, I may well say, as I your father.— have just now intimated, (ver. 38.) that you do the works of him who is indeed your father. I Then said they to hi?n. We would have thee to know that we are not born of forni- —Then said they to him, cation ; we are not bastard Jews, who.se blood has been contar|iinated with idolatrous ^j'^f, ^*^^"" ha ve"one Father' alliances; but, by virtue of our descent from his people, and our profession of his religion, fi-i'nGod. we have all one great and common Father, [which is'] God. 42 Jesus said to them. If God were indeed your Father, as you pretend, instead of 42 Jesus said unto them, attempting to take away my life, you would honour and love me : for, to speak without ^^^ ^°nuid'^iove°nie ^''fo'^'^i any reserve on this important head, I renew the declaration. That J proceeded originally, proceeded forth, and came when at the feast of tabernacles, which was just about the begin- paraphrase and note on these words contain an excellent illustra- ning of the civil year, great numbers of servants were set at liberty, tion of them. The main scuse of what he says on this passage, is and he supposes that the answer of the Jews (ver. 33.) is to be much the same with what I have given above, (much as 1 had explained with a peculiar reference to this, and contiiins two distinct written it several years ago:) the casting out Ishmael, though a thoughts: " JVe are Abraham's seed, and consequently, had we son of Abraham liy the bondwoman, beautifully illustrates the " ever been in bondage, we should have been set at liberty at this remark and the connection. It is strange that Dr. Claget should " season, though Gentile slai^es are still detained ; and, besides that, think that Moses was f/ie servant here meant : and stranger yet, that " we never were in bondage to ani/ man at all." But the arguments Dr. Clarke should adopt so unnatural an interpretation. See his by whicli this is fixed to a sabbatical year are dubious; and the AVrmons, Vol. III. p. 4, 5. words will make a good sense, independent on this peculiar inter- ,e If the Son make you free, SfC."] Archbishop Tillotson (Vol. III. pretation; which yet seemed 'remafkaBTe enough to deserve a p. 578.) thinks that tliis alludes to a custom in some of the cities of mention here. Greece, and elsewhere, whereby the son and heir had a liberty to c W/io habitually pracZ/sM sin."] Wmv.t K/iK^ua seems a phrase adopt brethren, and give tliera the privileges of the family, of the very same import with working iniquilg : I have therefore f I know that you are the posterity of AInaham.'] It seems pro- rendered It practises sin, as that word generally signifies an habi- bable that our Lord speaks this, not to those who believed in him, tual course of action. but to some others in the company; and that the phrase, ITiey d 7%i? servant does not always ahide in the family ; but the son answered him, ver. 33. only signifies, that some of those who were abides Ithere] always.'] 1 think Dr. Guyse's ingenious and pious present made such a reply. REFLECTIONS ON THE REGARD DUE TO THE WORDS OF CHRIST. 211 from God; nciihor camo I and do comc from God,« and appear among you as his Messenger ; /«?' J cawe not of sect. of myself; but he sent me. myself, but He has sent me, and I constantly keep his commission in view. And -whi/ 104. (ler^taiid'my "peech"? f"«i do you not nndcrstond this tnij language, and acknowledge it, simple as it is, to be because ye caunot hear my indeed divine ? [/« ?7] because you cannot hear my word 'i<^ Can you pretend to say John "■'"■'^- that I decline giving you the most public and frequent instmctions, or that those insfruc- ^'''^• tions are unintelligible and obscure ? Your consciences in general know the contrary as 43 to the main series of them. 44 Ve are of your fatlier The Case indeed is sufficiently plain, nor do I fear to represent it in the most express 44 S^ur'^flti.'er"yl= wui do?he t^nns : I tell you therefore, You arcihe genuine children of your father the devil;' and was a murderer from tiie the malicious and abominable lusts of that accursed spirit, whom I justly call your i'nfh'rtnfth!' blcause'there >^'''"-' i/"" "^'^^ resolutely and obstinately persist to do ;^ and even now there is the is no truth in him." When plainest evidence of your resemblance to him, in your design to murder me, and in your he speakeih a lie, he speak- opposition to the tnith that I deliver to you; for he has always acted as the eneniv of eth of Ins own : for lie is i ■ j j 7 /• jj i ■ ■ • 1 • i^ ^ > 1 ■ ■, •'. a liar, and the father of it. mankmd, and was a murderer Jro?n the beginning, m his attempt to bring destniction on the world by sin: (compare 1 John iii. 8.) And to,accomplish his destructive purpose, as his original integrity was lost by his apostacy from God, he threw off all regard to what was right, and continued not in the truth, but, by an audacious and most pernicious he, ruined the first parents of the human race, because there was and is no truth in him: and, indeed, tvhen he speaks a lie, he speaks of his otcn, and induVes the bias of his own fraudulent and perfidious nature ; for he is himself a liar, and was 45 And because I tell the fdflier of it, or the first forger of that detestable and pernicious crime. And, as you 45 me not *'^""'' ^^ ^^''*^*'^ are of such a disposition, if I would flatter your prejudices and vices, you AA'ould hear me with pleasure \ but because I plainly and faithfully speak the truth, without desire of favour, or fear of offence, you, being under the influence of this false spirit, do not believe 4G Which of you con- me. If you take upon you to deny this, and accuse me of falsehood and prevarication in 46 rJf7t'i*'™truth!'wiiy^doVe ^"^ degree, how will you prove your charge? Which of you convinces me of that, or not believe me'i any Other sin ? But, on the other hand, if it be evident that I speak the truth, why do 47 He that is of God, yc not believe me ? He that is of God, or that is really a child of God, and a partaker 47 therefore heaVXm^ not^ ^^ '^'^ Spirit, hears with an affectionate and obedient regard, the words of God, his because ye are not of God. heavenly Father, and receives them with reverence, by whomsoever they are brought : the reason therefore, why you do not hear mine, is because, as I have often said, you are not the children of God. IMPRO\nEIMENT. May we approve ourselves the sincere disciples of Jesus, by continuing in his word, and being faithful even Ver. 31 unto death, as ever we expect a crown of life ! (Rev. ii. 10.) Without this, external privileges will turn to but 37, 38 little account. The children of Abraham may be the children of Satan ; and they are so, if they imitate the 44 temper and works of the accursed fiend, rather than of the holy patriarch. The devil was from the beginning a liar and a murderer ; and all falsehood and malice are from him. Let us earnestly pray that we may be freed from them, and from the tyranny of every other sin to which we have been enslaved ; that Christ, the Son, may 36 make us free ,of^his Father's family, and of his heavenly kingdom ! Then we shall be free indeed, and no more be reduced to bondage. May we prove that we are the children of God, by our readiness to hear and receive the words of our blessed 47 Redeemer, the words of incarnate truth, and wisdom, and love ; whom none of his enemies could ever convict of sin, nor ever accused him of it, but to their own confusion ! May we resemble him in the innocence and holi- 46 ness of his life ; that we may the more easily and gracefully imitate that courage and zeal with which he reproved the haughtiest sinners, and bore his testimony against the errors and vices ot' that degenerate age and nation in which he lived ! ' {:■.:,.. "t-. 'i . [ -■ 7 r. SECTION CV. Jesus promising immortality to his followers, and speaking of his own existence as jiiijjm to that of Abraham, the .Tews in the temple attempt to stone him ; but he ?niraculously escapes from their hands. John viii. 48, to the end. John viii. 48. John viii. 48. ' "^HEN answered the Jews, JSTOW when the Jcws heard Jesus SO expressly declaring that they were ignorant of God, SECT, not weill'diat^ thou Mt^^a ^nd were the children not of Abraham, but of the devil, they answered him therefore, with ^^5. Samaritan, and hast a de- great rage and contempt, and said unto him. Do we not well say, that thou, who speakest "^ ■ of Israelites in such language as this, art a Sa?naritan,jsdheT than one of the holy seed, "'f!"^ and art possessed by a demon, who hurries thee on to sucTi outrage and madness ?* ^g g I proceeded on^inMy, and do come from God."] This seems to word o'vwjksiv, in the preceding clause, evidently signifies /o under- lie the proper distinction between t^/iXEov and r,ya. The Seventy (as stand. Acts viii. 30. and to distinguish, John x. 14. several commentators have observed) use Mf/r.-i! of these words to i You are of your father the devil.'] The account Joseph us g-ives express the descent of children from their parents; (compare Gen. of the wickedness of the Jews about this time, abundantly vindi- XV. 4 ; XXXV. 11; and Isa. xi. 1.) The form in which the other cates this assertion of our Lord from any appearance of undue seve- stands, favours the rendering I have given, fdo come from God, J ritv. See Joseph. Bell. Jud.lib. v. cap. 10. lal. vi. 11.) ? b; cap. 13. and may intimate not only his first mission, but his exact attend, [at. 16.) ? 6. Edit. Marrrcamp, and Dr. Lardner's Credibility, part ance to every particular message. ^ i. book i. chap. 6. Vol. 1. p. 304 — 310. ""^Ts it because you cannot hear my word?'] 1 chuse to place a k You will resolutely and obstinately persist to do.] This is mark of interrogation a_gainst,this clause, Oria SwmH -xkueiv tci plainly the sense of the words, .^eXerE wo.-iv. See note a, on John i Xuyov Tov E^ov ; and, JuvyaSs (MtsElvTiiay refer either to their opportunity 43. p. 43. of hearing, which is the most common sense of the word, or to their a Pos.fessed by a demon, who hurries thee on to such outrage and capacity of understanding : I have therefore included both.— The madness] See note d, on John vii. 20. \ 99. p. 201. p 2 212 ABRAHAM DESIRED TO SEE HIS DAY, AND SAW IT, AND REJOICED. SECT. But to this insolent charge Jesus meekly answered. It is plain from the whole series of 49 Jesus answered, I have 105. my discourses and actions, that / ain not a demoniac, nor can any of you produce any ^^"i Father' Md"yi aTaIs- tiling in all that I have said or done which looks like lunacy or impiety ; but tlie truth hjuour me. JOHN is, I honour my Tathcr, by bearing a steady and consistent testimony to the doctrine he VIII. sent me to reveal to the world ;- and, because this is contrary to your corrupt prejudices 49 and passions, therefore you dishonour me by sucli opprobrious reflections, in hope of 50 discrediting my message. But as for what personally relates to me, I am little atlected ^Jjo Ami I seek^not^mitie with it, for I seek not my own glory ; nevertheless, I know there is one that scckclh, tliat seeketli anUjudgeth. aiicTwiir secure it, and who now judgeth^oi all that passes, and will at length evidently 51 shew the exact notice he has taken of it, to my honour an3 to your confusion. For God si Verily, verily, I say will not only^finally glorify mc, but will confer the highest honours and rewards on all my ry''sa^y;"^/he''shair nevc^ faithful servants; and therefore, verily, verily, I say unto you. If any one keep my word, see deatli."' he shall never sec death,^' but shall assuredly be entitled to eternal life, and shall imme- f diately be advanced to so glorious and happy a state, that the dissolution of this mortal f' / nature shall, with respect to him, hardly deserve to be called death, 52 Then the Jews, thinking he had asserted that his disciples should be exempted from the 52 Then said the Jews common lot of mortality, said again to him in a reproachful way. Now we assuredly know ",''J j'J,™; ,°Jj ^'^ ^^l'^^ that thou hast a demon dwelling in thee, which hurries thee on to this madness and Abraham is dead, and tiie pride, otherwise thou couldst never talk at this extravagant rate : for Abraham, the friend K^''^';''; Cl, mv",'S' of God, and the great founder of our nation, is dead : and all the holy prophets, whom he shall never taste of God raised up in succeeding ages, were so far from being able to bestow immortality on death. their followers, that even they themselves ai-e long since dead ; and yet thou presumptuously 53 sai/cst. If am/ one keep my word, he shall never taste of deaths- What, art thou 53 Art thou greater than greater //^«« that wnerable patriarch, our father Abraham, who is dead, ^nd\ha.n all the "^defd'^'Ltrfhe" prophets mo&i AXv&Xnov&propfnrts^viho are ?^iO dead? Whom dost thou then pretetid thyself to are dead: whom makest be, that thou shouldstthus assume such a distinguishing glory to thyself? tl'o" thyself^ 54 Jesus replied. If I only slorify mynelf, by high encomiums on my own dignity and , ^4 Jesus answered, If I ,, •' , ., 't' 1 . .1*^1 1 • L' T-i ,u 1 ■ j; • u 1 honour myself, my honour excellence, while I neglect the honour and service ot my i-ather, my glory is nothing but a jg Hotliiuj,^: it is" my Fa- mere empty~sound; {but'\ it evidently appears by all the series of my converse and Uier that honoureth me, of miracles, compared with each other, that it is my lather himself ^//fl^efFectually ,s-/or//?c.s ^'^^^^H^ ^^' "'"' ^^ " ?ne, even he of whom you confidently say, that he is your God, though in this respect you 55 pay so little regard to his testimony. And notwithstanding all your boasts, ?/c^ never- 55 Yet ye have not known .1 7 , , 1 ; ; • 1 X T 11 7 ; • ? -^ t 1 / i A u hmi, but I know him : and theless you have not truly known him ; but 1 well know him ; and if I should deny it, jf j should say, I know him and say that I know him not, or retract my pretensions to that peculiar and intimate not, i shall be a liar like knowledge of him which I have so often professed, J 5/io«/y iA\t\\, and rejoiced 'm the view.] I cannot think g Before Abraham was born.] Erasmus observes that this is ifae THE SEVENTY DISCIPLES RETURN FROM THEIR MISSION WITH JOY. 213 ?ou. Before Abraham was, a glorious existence with the Father, and I am still invariably the same, and one sect. an'- with him.'> lOJ. 69 Then took they up This appeared to them so direct a claim to the name and properties of the eternal je°u?hid hTraself, a^'wcnt Jehovaii, that, beingjRnorant of tiie divine nature of Christ, they thought it intolerable johm out of tiie temple, goiug blasphemy ; and though he was thai discoursing in so sacred a place as the temple, thei/ ^^^^- . andTo^pa'ssedw!'"'^*^'^™' immediately took z some loose stones, with which they were repairing either the pavement 59 or the building,' that thci/ ni/o-ht cast tlicm"arTiim, io destroy him : but Jesus in a miia- culous manner conceaied hiinself from their sight, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them unknown,'' and so passed on to another place till their fury was a little appeased. OIPROVEMENT. With: what patience did our blessed Redeemer bear, and with what meekness of wisdom did he answer, the Ver. 48 most virulent and opprobrious language ! When he was rudely charged with being a Samaritan, and having a 49 demon, he endured the contradiction of sinners against twnself; (Heb. xii. 3.) and being thus revi/ed, he reviled not again. (1 Pet. ii. 23.) And shall we too keenly resent the reflections which are thrown upon us! ]\Iaybut our conscience witness for us, and we need not fear all that are against us ! Clirist honoured his Father, and sought not his owti glory. So may we be careful for the honour of God, and 49, 50 cheerfully commit to him the guardianship and care of our reputation ! and we shall find there is one thatseeketh, and judgeth in our favour. It is a great and important promise which our Lord here makes. If any one keep my ivord, he shall never sec 51 death. Sense seems to plead against it ; but he is the rcsurrectioii and the life, and hath assured us he will make it good. J, et us therefore \iQ strong in faith, giving glori/ to God; (Rom. iv. 20.) Though not only Abraham and the prophets, but Peter and Paul and the other apostles, are dead, yet this word shall be gloriously 52 accomplished. Still they live to him, and shortly shall they be for ever recovered from the power of the grave ; so that death is to them comparatively as nothing. With them may our final portion be, and we may set light by the reproaches, clamours, and accusations of prejudiced, ignorant, and sinful men ! Adored be that gracious providence that determined our existence to begin in that happy day which prophets and patriarchs desired to see, and in the distant view of which Abraham rejoiced! Let it be also our joy; for 56 Jesus Christ is the same 7/esterdai/, to dan, and for ever ; nor could the heart of those holy men fully conceive 58 those things which God had prepared for them that love him, and which he has now revealed unto us by his Spirit. (1 Cor. ii. 9, 10.) ^ yjyy vtv, g". < h .^ 7 . SECTION CVI. The seventy disciples return with joy : Christ foretels the greater success of his gospel, and praises his hea- venly Father for the wise though mysterious dispensation of it. LuJcex. 17 — 24. Luke x. 17. LuKE x. 17. ^\n ^^^^■^l^'''"^^'^ "^"s'a^y""^ After these things, Jesus determined to take his last, and, as it seems, his most success- SECT. Lord, even the devils are ful circuit through Galilee;* and, before he set out upon it, Me icre«/j/ disciples, who had 106. subject uuto us through been sent before him as his harbingers, (sect, xcvii. p. 196, 197.) returned to him again^ ^ "^™^' with great joy, attended with some mixtui'e of smprise, saying. Lord, we have not only luke cured diseases, according to the power thou wast pleased to give us, (ver. 9. p. 197.) but, ^• though thy commission did not directly express so much, yet it appears that frcH the demons themselves are subject to us, when in thy jiame we command them to go out of such as they had possessed. isAndhesaiduntothcm, And he Said to them, I know that it is and must be so: for /myself .rati; Satan, the 18 Lnlroraheaveu. "'"^ g^^at prince of thedemons,/fl///;/o- lihe lightning from heaven on his first transgression, and well remember how immediate and dreadful his ruin was f and I foresee in spirit that renewed, swift, and irresistible victory, of which this present success of yoursis an earnest, which the preaching of the gospel shall shortly gain over all these rdjel po^^ers which, even in their highest strength and glory, were so incapable of opposing the arm of God. yolf ^tJ'e'r'to trefd on""'" ^^^ ^^^^* ^^^ ™^y ™*^''^ successfully pursue this conquest, behold, I now give you a 1 9 pents and scorpions, and miraculous power securely to tread upon serpents and scoipions, those venomous and meaning of •yivsTjari ; and Raphclius abundantly justifies the inter- dedication, (mentioned John x. 22. \ 134.) or between tlie months of pretation, Annnt. ei Xen. p. 13.3. - September and December.— I call it his last circuit throuarh Ga- h J am invariably the same, &c.] Compare Heb. xiii. 8. I have lilee, because it is strongly intimated, that after the conclusion of long (_with Chrysostom and many others) looked on this text as at it he returned thither no more before his crucifixion. (Sec Luke least a sTfbTTgTnnmatlon of the Deity of Christ, nearly parallel to xiii. 31 — 33. and .John x. 40 — 42.) Quickly after his resurrection, Heb. i. 12. iu oe o ayroi ei, thou art the same. — I cannot apprehend which was the next spring, we find five hundred brethren in Gali- that lyoi U/J.I is ever used for Iwi/s ; nor imagine, that if our Lord lee. (1 Cor. xv. 6.) It is probable most of them might be converted had been a mere creature, he would have ventured to express him- in this journey ; for we never find him attended by greater multi- self in a manner so nearly bordering on blasphemy, or have per- tudes, nor his'enemies more alarmed, than about this time, mitted his beloved disciple so dangerously to disguise his meaning. b The sevmt'/ disciples returned to him nf/ain.] I "presume not to i Jbok up some loose stones, n ith which they were repairing, &r.] determine where or when they met him ; but considering tln'y were See Lighttoot, Hor. Heb. on this place ; and note h, on John ii. 20. by the law obliged to attend "this fea^t at Jerusalem, it seems most p. 48. probable that was the time and place. k Going through Ihe midst of them.'] The omission of these words c / saw Salnn, Sec] I think this answer to the seventy loses in this passage, as quoted by Chrysostom and Augustin, as well as much of its beauty and propriety, unless we suppose Satan to liaie in some manuscripts, has led some to suspect they were added from been the prince of the demons "they spoke of, and also allow tlie Luke iv. 30. See J 32. note p, p. 65. reference, hinted at in the paraphrase, to the first fall of that re- — - a His last circuit through Galilee.] St. Luke has given us a bellious spirit. Compare 2 Pet. ii. 4. and Jude ver. G. — For the large account of several occurrences in it, omitted by all the other remainder of this section, and some of the following, the reader Evangelists; and I think there can be no doubt but it must come may consult the notes in the parallel passages referred to, which in here. It was despatched between the feast of tabernacles and the have been considered in their proper places above. 214 REFLECTIONS ON THE JOY ARISING FROM A TITLE TO HEAVEN. SECT^ hurtful creatures, (compare Mark xvi. 18 ; and Acts xxviii, 5.) in token of your triumph over all the power of the 106. over the infernal spirits, and overall the might q/" Satan the great cnejiiy, which he may e'>emy; and notlimg- shall set in array against you ; and\ will so effectually support you in all the trials you shall y""y""^*"^ '"' >''"■ LUKE meet with, that nothing shall hy any means be able to injure you, while you continue X. faitliful in your adherence to my service. (Compare Psal. xci. 1-3. and Gen. iii. 15.) 20 Nevertheless, rejoice not so much in this, that the evil spirits are thus subject to 20 Notwithstanding, in you, and that you are enabled miraculously to control them : but rather rejoice that t''.'s njoice "ot.. that the •^ •'.,.., 1 ,1 , ,1 II 1 ii 1 ■ c ,^ i spirits are subject unto your natnes are xvrittemn heaven, and that you stand enrolled among the heirs ot that you: but rather rejoice glorious world, as the, peculiar objects of the divine favour and love. because your names are 21 In that remarkable hour, Jesus, in a pleasing contemplation of the success that should ^^2"X"'tliarho'ur Jesus attend his gospel, though it was to be propagated by such weak instruments, exceedingly rejoiced in spirit, and said, rejoiced in his spirit, and said, in the words he had used on a former occasion,"^ (Matt. xi. J *li*"^i ^J"^^' ? /^a''th' 25,26. p. lis.) I ascribe glory to thee, O Almighty Father, the Creator and Lord hoth that thou hast "liid these of heaven and earth, that while thou hast hid these things from the wise philosopheis things from the wise and and prudenl ^pliiicam of the age, thou hast discovered them in the mean time to others thenrunto"'bab'es' 'e*venso of an inferior character, and hast graciously revealed them to the weak, the ignorant, and Father, for so it seemed the poor, who are but as infants in the eyes of the world, and in their own apprehension : S°od iu thy sight. ' be it so, O Father ! I cheerfully acquiesce in i\,^since such is thy sovereign, wise, and holy pleasure, to humble hmiian pride, and to display the glory of thy name. 22 Then likewise did Jesus repeat the declaration of his own extensive authority, and said, . 22 All things are de- (as before, p. 118.) All things in the kingdom of providence and grace are delivered to then^iiurno'ma'n knowetli me by viy Father; and no one perfectly knows who the Son is, except the Father ; nor wlio the Son is, but the ivho the Father is, except the Son, and he to whom the Son will be pleased to reveal ^^"ther; and who tlie Father \him .•] so that from me you must learn the saving knowledge of God and the way to se- whom the Son 'will reveal cure Ills favour. ^""• 53 And then turning to his disciples, he said [to thcm~\ apart. Blessed are the eyes tvhich 23 And he turned him do, or hereafter shall see the things that you see : and (I may add) the ears which do, or pri°at'dy,' Blessed ''"r/the' 24 liereafter shall hear the things that you daily and familiarly hear. In the midst of all your eyes which see the things poverty, fatigue, and danger, you have reason to think yourselves exceeding happy ; for I * 24 Wr^^V tell ou tl say unto you, and very solemnly assure you of it. That many of the most eminent prophets many prophets and 'kings lose of the Old-Testament dispensation, and even of the most pious and illustrious kings whom ^^?-)\ desired to see tl God raised up to reign over his people, desired earnestly to have seen the things which h,"ve°not "een ^7he^T; and you see, and did not see them ; and to have heard the things which you hear, and did to liear tlTose things which not hear them : remember then how much you are indebted to the divine goodness, and let ^thcm'^'^' ^^^ ''^^^ not heard it be your care to make a suitable improvement of them. (Compare Matt. xiii. 16, 17. p. 131.) • IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 23 And are not our obligations in some measure proportionable to theirs, while these glorious sights are reflected 24 to our eyes from the mirror of his word, and these glad tidings are echoed back to our ears ! Have not we also 21 reason to adore the peculiar favour of God to us, and to admire the sovereignty of his love, that he has been pleased to reveal his Son in us, and has given to such babes as we must own ourselves to be, that spiritual know- ledge of him which he has suffered to remain hidden from the great, the learned, and the wise ; Even so. Father, must we also say, /or so it seemed good in thy sight : thou hast mercy on whom thou wilt have mere//, and often exaltcst the riches of thy grace, by the meanness and unworthiness of those on whom it is bestowed. 20 Have we reason to hope that our worthless names are v/ritten in heaven ? let us often think of that glorious society amongst whom we are enrolled as members, and rejoice in the thought of those privileges which result from such a relation to it : privileges, in comparison of which, a power to heal diseases and eject demons with a word, would hardly deserve our joy. In a grateful sense of them, let us adore the grace which gave us a place in the Lamb's book of life, and be ever solicitous to behave in a manner worthy of so illustrious a hope. 18, 19 We have great encouragement to expect that he before whom Satan fell like lightning from heaven, will enable us finally to trample on his power. Let us not servilely fear that condemned criminal, already .marked with the scars of the divine vengeance ; but let us cheerfully hope that the triumph over him will be renewed by the preaching of the gospel. Quickened by that hope, let us more earnestly pray that the ruin of his gloomy king- dom may be daily more and more apparent, especially among us ; that our gracious Redeemer, who reckons the 21 interest of souls his own, may have renewed reason of joy find praise on that account. Exert, O blessed Jesus, 22 tliine own almighty arm for that great purpose ; and, as thou alone canst do it, reveal thine heavenly Father to those who, by neglecting thee, shew that they know not him ! iU-c. 4/ • /^ f_f . SECTION CVII. Christ answers the scribe who asked what he should do to inherit eternal life ; and illustrates his answer by the parable of the good Samaritan. Luke x. 25 — 37. SFCT jQ-^ ■ Luke x. 25. While our Lord was discoursing in this manner with his seventy disciples, an assembly And behold" a ceftnin law LUKE of people gathered round them ; and behold, among the rest, a certain man who was a ycr stood up,' and tempted X. 25. lawyer, or one of those scribes who made it their profession to study "and teach the law 'i''". saying, Master, what d jfnd said, in the words he had used on a former occasion.] — destined conquerors of the infernal legions, by whom thousands of I hey are here repeated with evident propriety, in the view of that the poor should be broufrht to receive the gospel. giorioiLS success wliich should attend these his despised servants, as THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN. 215 shall I do to iuhtrit eternal of Moses, and to resolve many curious, questions relating to it, rose up with a design to sect. life^ tri/ him ,■* and., to judge of the ^UToTJesus in divine matters, said, O thou great Master 107. and Teacher in Israel, tohat must I do that I maii inherit that eternal life, which • thou so frequently proposest as the main object of our pursuits, and which is indeed most luke wortliy of them. X. 26 He said unto him, And Jesus, as he knew with what design he had proposed the question, wisely returned 26 KeadlsTthouV''' ''''' ■ '^ °^ himself, and said to him. What is written in the law, which thy profession must engage thee to have made thy study ? how dost thou find the case to be determined there ? and what is it thou dost so frequently read there ?'' 27 And he answeriu?, And he repli/ing, said. It is there written as the sum of all the commandments, (Deut. 27 Lord tT^'^Gc'rwitlraU thy ^'- ^ ' ^^^- ^'•'^- ^^'^ " V^""' ^'^^^^ ^°'"^ ^'^^ ^'"'^ ^'^il ^"'^ ^'^''' ^^^ ^^"'"^' ^"'"'^^' and with - heart, a'lfd witiiallthysBul, " all thij soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thine understanding ; thou ] and with all thy strengtii, « shalt Unite all the faculties of thy soul to render him the most intelligent and sincere, ' ' and thy'neighbour aT'tliy- " ^^^ "^o^^ atlectionate and resolute service ;'= and thou shalt also love thy neighbour as self. " " sincerely and impartially as thou lovest thyself." 58 And he said unto hira, Jesus readily approved his answer ; but was desirous to convince him at the same time 28 Thou hast answered right : jjow far he was from coming up to what the law required : and, in this view, he said to ^ ' ' ■ him. Thou hast answered right : do this, and thou shalt live; do it perfectly, and thou wilt have a legal claim to life ; or cultivate this temper sincerely, and God will not leave thee finally to perish, but will give thee all necessary discoveries of his will in order to thine eternal salvation. 29 But he, willing to But he, willing to justify himself as, to the integrity of his inquiry, and to display 29 ^jfsus^ Al.d"'w'hr'is "my ^he virtue of his character, not at all doubting but he sufficiently understood his duty to neighbour! God, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour, whom by this latter precept I am obliged to love ? for I would fain know the whole of my duty, that I may practise it in all its extent. 30 And .Jesus answering. And Jesus replying. Spake the following parable, which was intended to shew, in the 30 down ^rora'^jerusaienr'to ™°^* lively manner, that every human creature, who needs our assistance, is to be con- Jericho, and fell among sidered by US as our neighbour, of whatever nation, or faith, or profession he may be : thieves, which stripped him ^nd he said, A certain man of our own covcixXxv went down from Jerusalem to Jericho ; of his raiment, and wound- , ... , ., i i i i 11 1 a ^ r it p ed /im, and departed, leav- ('»"} passing through those Wild deserts and aangerovis roads," he Jell among some^oi ing liini half dead. jthose cruel robbers -who so_often assault such as travel that way : and these ruffians, having ^^KF'plundered, stripped, and bound him, and having also wounded him in a cruel and 31 And by chance there daiigerous manner,"^ went 2^-', leaving him half dead. And it happened, that while he 31 came down a ceitaiii priest ^^^^g jj^ these deplorabTe Circumstances, a certain priest went down that wai/, who was that way; and when he . .^ ^ ' r- ■ 1 i f i i "/ 1 saw him, he passed by on gouig to Jericho, where ^ many 01 tliat protession were settled ;' and though, by virtue the other side. of his sacred office, he ought to have been a peculiar example of humanity to the afflicted, yet seeing him lie at some little distance, and being willing to avoid tlie trou- ble or expense which a more particular inquiry might have occasioned, he_^ crossed {the 32 And likewise a Levite, road^and went Oil, proceeding in his journey without any further notice. And in like ^2 came amMooked' ou''/»V)^ manner too, a Levite, going that way, when he was at the place, just came and aiid passed by on the other looked on this miserable objectjS and immediately crossed and passed by, without ^''^^' R t t ■ s ■ ^°'"d ^i^y thing at all for his relief. And thus the distressed creature might have lain and 33 tan, as he journeyed, came perished, but for « certain Samaritan,^^ who, as he was travelling the same way, C'lme where he 'was: and when to the place where he was, and seeing him in this sad condition, though he might pass^iou onlnm^^ '^^"^ '^°™ easily know, or at least guess him to be a Jew ; yet, notwithstanding the general hatred of these two nations to each other,' he was moved with very tender compassion towards a AVith a design to try hvn.'] Dr. Larrow concludes it was with .wilderness, that Jerome tells us it was called O'l;-)?, the bloody way. an intent to ensnare hirii ; the question being so determined by the Jericho is said to have been seated in a valley, and thence is the Jewish doctors, that for a different answer he might have been ac- phrase of going down to it. ^ , , cused of heresy; (see Barrow's fror/:«, Vol. I. p." 221 ;) but I see no e Wounded him in a cruel and dangerous manner.] This is certainproofof so bad an intention. , strongly implied in the expression ErX»iya:t i-t'ieiTi%, fiavinglaid on ■ b //ow rfos< //iOK so frequently reofZ there ?] Vitringa with great , wounds. pertineacy observes, that what the scribe replies, 7%ou sliali love f Where so many of that profession were settled.] See Lightfoot's the Lord thy God, &ic. was daily read in their synagogues, which Hor. Hehr. inloc. where he produces a passage from a cfiDsiderable made the answer more apparently proper. (Vitring. Sy«ff;7. p. 1060.) Jewish writer, to prove that twelve thousand priests and Levites And that this passage of scripture is still read by the whole assem- dwelt at Jericho ; which, if it had any shadow and degree of truth, bly, both in their morning and evening prayers, and is called, from vindicates the paraphrase, and shews how naturally the priest and the first word of it, the Shemah, may be seen in Pedahzur's Cere- Levite were here introduced, without any reflection on their offic e. monies of the Modern Jews, y>. 49. and 115; only it is observable, g Ccfmi? nnrf /oo/.P(/ «n this miserable object.] This is the impcrt they leave out that clause, Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself, of £X»wv xii iSo.v, as Raphelius has shewn in his AW. ex Xen. p.91. See Wotton's J/(>cfW. Vol. I. p. 171— 194. \. \\ A certain Samaritan.'] It is admirably well judged, to repre- c Thou shalt unite all the faculties of thy soul. Sec] 1 appro- sent the distress on the side of the Jew, and the mercy on that of Lend, with Archbishop Tillotson, we may acquiesce in this general the Samaritan ; for self-interest would make them see how amiable sense of the pa.ssage, without being solicitous to seek a particular such a conduct was, and lay them open to our Lord's inference, ver. distinct idea to each of the words used here. Otherwise I should .37. Had it been put the other way, prejudices might more easily think xxoSix, the heart, a general expression, illustrated by the have interposed before the heart could have been struck with these three following words; even with all thi/ soid, (■i/vy,'^s,) t\\s.\. is, with tender circumstances. . 1 4t t the warmest affection; and with all thy strength, (i^xm?,) that is, i Notwithstanding the hatred of these two nations to each other.] with the most vigorous resolution of the will; and with all thine See note g, on John iv. 9. ? 29. p. 59. Some writers tell us, this understanding, (rJuvoixs,) that is, taking care to form rational ideas hatred arose so high, that if a Jew and a Samaritan met in a nar- of him as a guide to the affections and resolutions. Accordingly row way, they were exceedingly solicitous that they might pass we may observe, that in a parallel place (Mark xii. 33.') the word without touching each other, for fear of pollution on each side. Jt onvEJi? is used instead of Ji«oi*. And this very word is justly trans- this was fact, it is a beautiful illustration of the humanity ot this lated Understanding, Eph. i. 17; iv. 18; and'l John v. 20. good" Samaritan, who would not only touch this Jew, but took so d Passing through those wild deserts and dangerous roads.]— much pains to dress his wounds, and to set him on his own beast, This circumstance is well chosen ; for so many robberies and mur- supporting him in his arms as he rode, as well as making siich ge- ders were committed on this road, which lay through a kind of nerous provision for him at the inn. 21G REFLECTIONS ON THE EXERCISE OF CHARITY AND BENEVOLENCE. SECT, him : And going to him, he bound up his wounds in the best manner he could,'' xohen, 34 And wenttoliim.and 107. as the only means he had to cure them, he had poured in some of the oil and wine I'ou'pd up his wounds, pour- which he had taken with him as part of the provisions for his journey ; (compare Gen. i/im'on°his"o\vn'be'ast!'an'd LUKE xxviii. 18 ;) and setting him on his own beast, because he was incapable of walking, he brought hinn to au inn, and ^- held him up as he rode, and with the tenderest care brought hint safely to an inn, where ^'^°^ care of him. 34 he had some acquaintance; and there took ^rther care of him, that he should be lodged 35 and accommodated in a proper manner that night. And the next ?norning as he ^5 And on the morrow departed imva the inn, he took out of his purse two denarii, or Roman ;?r?^C£',' and gave ouriwo 'pe'iicel^ anc'f gave them to the landlord of the house ; and at the same time said to him. Take all possible ttiem to the host, and said care of this poor wounded stranger, and let him want for nothing ; and whatsoever ][",!,'*. aluj'wbi't^oever tl *"' 7nore thou shall spend on his account, I will repay thee as I come back. spendest more, wlien I come 36 Now, said our Lord to the lawyer he was discoursing with, ivhich of these three per- ag:''n,i will repay thee. , sons, the priest, the Levite, or the compassionate Samaritan, dost thou think was the three, thinkestTThou,*^ was 37 neighbour of this poor man that fell among the robbers ? And he said, Undoubtedly neighbour unto iiim' that it was he that had mercy upon him, notwitlistanding he was a person of another nation '^'^37^ And'l!e said"^He'that and religion. Then said Jesus to him. If this seem ^0 amiable an example to thee, shewed mercy 'on him. Go and do thou likewise ; and if thou findest even a Sarnaritan in the like distress, con- J}^^^ Jesus said unto him, sider him as thy neighbour, and as cheerfully perform all these beneficent and friendly °'^° lotiou i ewise. offices to him : for those pretensions to religion are but vain which do not inspire men with such universal humanity and benevolence. IMPROVEMENT. Of how great importance is it that we should every one of us be in good earnest making this enquiry which the Ver. 25 scribes addressed to our Lord, What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life ? What ought we not willingly to 26 do, arid to bear, that we may secure so great a felicity ? Still will our Lord answer us from his word, that we must keep the commandments of God, while we are looking to him as the end of the law for righteousness ; (Rom. X. 4.) Happy are they that faithfully do it, that through the grace manifested in the gospel, they may have a right to eat of the tree of life ! (Rev. xxii. 14.) May this abstract and summary of the commandments be written, as it were, in golden characters, on the table 27 of each of our hearts ! May we love the Lord our God with all the united powers and faculties of our .souls, and our neighbour as sincerely and fervently as ourselves ! And may we learn, from this beautiful parable of the good Samaritan, to exercise our charity to our fellow-creatures in the most amiable manner ! 31, 32 The Jewish priest and Levite had, no doubt, the ingenuity to find out some excuse or other for passing over to the other side ; and might, perhaps, formally' thank God for their own deliverance, while they left their brother to bleed to death for want of their assistance. Is it not an emblem of many living characters, perhaps of some whose sacred oifice lays them under the strongest obligations to distinguished benevolence and generosity ? But the good 33 Samaritan acted the part of a brother to this expiring Jew. O seed of Israel, O house of Levi, and of Aaron ! will not the day come when the humane virtues of heathens shall rise up in judgment against thee ! 34, 35 Let us reflect with shame, what are the differences between one Christian and another when compared with those between a Samaritan and a Jew ! Yet here the benevolence of a good heart overcame even these ; and, ^n. the view of a wounded, dying man, forgot that he was by nation an enemy. Whose heart doe.s not burn within him, whose eyes do not overflow with tears of delight, while h"e reads such a story ? Let us gojind do likewise, 37 regarding every man as our neighbour who needs our assistance. Let us exclude every malignant sentiment of ;' bigotry and party-zeal, which would contract our hearts into an insensibility for all the human race but a little i select number, whose sentiments and practices are so much our own, that our love to them is but self-love reflected. With an honest openness of mind, let us always remember the relation between man and man, and feel and cultivate that happy instinct by which God, who has formed our hearts in many mstances alike, has, in the original constitution of our nature, strongly and graciously bound them to each other. ■ "~-- (^^eCvvJj-je^ ") . lo S' T- SECTION CVIIL Christ visits his friends at Bethany, and commends the diligence with which Mary attends his preaching, while her sister Martha was too anxious about the entertainment of her guests. Luke x. 38, to the end.^ Luke x. 38. *"foS :^^^UT this time" our Lord quitted Jerusalem, and set out with his disciples on his last Now it came to pass, as [_ journey from thence to Galileo, the feast of tabernacles (as was observed above) being fully they went, that he entered I UKE ^o"c^"'^^d- ^"'^ }^ ^^'""^ to pass, as they were on their journeij, he entered, with many a'*certrin*^vomin'° nailed ' ^ of his attendants, into a certain neighbouring village called Bethany ; (compare John xi. Martha, received him into ' '33 1. sect. cxx.Kix.) and a certain pious woman, whose name was Martha, with the mo:A_ '^" ''""*'=• cheertJil_hospitality received him into her house, thinking herself greatly honoured by such a visit. k JJoiiiiil up his V'otinih, Sicl As the Jew was stripped by the it wouhl have beeu very imprudent to cliarjje iiimself with mucli robbers, ver. 30. we may probably suppose the Samaritan used some more money than lie was like to want in his journey; which of his own <;armcnts for this purpose; which was a farther instance would be the less, as it was usual for travellers iii those parts to of wonderful goodness, jierhaps tearing them to make a more con- carry their provision with them. Compare Gen. xxviii. 18; and venient bandage. Of tlie use the anciehts made of wine and oil Josh. ix. 12, IJ. in dressing fresh wounds, sec Bos. £'xerc. p. 24. and Wolfius on .a About this time.] I express myself in this indeterminate this text. manner as to the aate of this little but very instructive story, be- 1 Two denarii, or Roman pfncf] These were in value about fif- cause I apprehend the Evangrtwthas not exactly determinnd-rt^hen teen pence of our money. It is a very probable circumstance, that it happened, which it was of no importance for us exactly to a man travelling without any attendants, and now going out to a know. It might very possibly be just at this time; at least the considerable distance from home, should not have more to spare, want of any sufiici-ent reason for transposing it, obliges me, on the especially as he was to travel through so dangerous a road ; and so rules I have laid down to myself, to introduce it here. REFLECTIONS ON THE REGARD DUE TO THE ONE THING NEEDFUL. 217 39 And she had a sister A)id s/ic had a sistci' Called Mart/, "who, being earnestly desirous to improve this happy sect. calied^Mary, "''"J|['j'''j^^jj*^"J Opportunity of advancing in divine knowledge and a religious temper, sat down at the 108. JiL v^vL *^ ' ^ ^^" fi'^i "if Jesus, as an humble disciple -^ and heard with most dihgent and pleasing at- tention his wise and gracious discourse, which, as his usual practice was, he began, as soon ixike as he came m, to address to those that were about him. X. 40 But Martha was cum- But Martha, too sohcitous about the variety and elegance of the entertainment she in- 40 and'canllTo himi'Lurslai; ^^"^^^^ ^^"^ '^^"^ ^^'^'"^'^ ^"^^* ^"^ ^^^ Company with him, was exceedingly hurried'' and Lord, liost thou not care perplexed about much serving ; and comina iu to the room where Jesus was, she, not that n)y sister hath left me without some warmth and discontent, expressed how much she was offended at her sister's therefore thalThe help m" sitting still, and said. Lord, dost thou not mind that my sister has left me to provide and serve up the entertainment alone, which is more than I can ^dl manage ; while she sits here as calmly as if she had no concern in it ? I would not take upon me to call her away from thy presence myself, but I beg that thou wouldst interpose in the matter ; speak to her therefore, that she may lend her helping; hand with mjne,^ and let her then sit down to hear thee discourse when the entertainment is over. 41 And Jesus answered And Jesus in reply said to her, O Martha, Martha, thou art over anxious and 41 Marthaf thou 'art ^careful <^''*^«'''^ff/ with restless agitation of spu-it« about many things which are not worth so and troubled about many much solicitude, and might well have been spared on such an occasion as this : But let 42 ^'*''1;?1; , n • ■ J nie tell thee, my dear friend, that there is one thing absolutely necessary,^ and of infi- fui." And Mary hath chosen Dttely greater importance than any of these domestic and secular cares ; even the care to that good part which shall have the soul instructed in the saving knowledge of the way that leads to eternal life, and not be taken away from ^ ^^^^ ^ ^Uj^ ^^ -^ . ^^^^y yyj^^,^^ :g ^^j^^j^ attending to that ; therefore, instead of reproving her, I must rather declare that she has chosen what may eminently be called the good partfS which as it shall not he finally taken awaij from her, I would not now hinder her from pursuing; but rather invite thee to join with her in her attention to it, though the circumstances of our intended meal should not be so exactly adjusted as thy fond friend- ship could desii-e. BIPROVEMENT. - So steadily and zealously did our blessed Lord pursue his work, with such unwearied diligence and constant Ver. 38 affection ! No sooner is be entered into the house of this pious friend, but he sets himself to preach the word of 39 salvation, and is the same in the parlour wWch he had been in the temple. O Mary, how delightful was thy situa- tion ! Who would not rather have sat witli thee at the feet of Jesus, to hear his wisdom, than have filled the throne of the greatest prince upon earth ! Blessed were thine eyes in what they saw, thine ears in what they heard, and thine heart, in what it received and embraced, and treasured up as food which would endure to everlasting life ! How unhappily was her good sister deprived of the entertainment of these golden moments, while hurried about 40 meats and drinks, and tables wifh their furniture, till she lost not only her opportunity, but her temper too ; as it is indeed hard to preserve it without a resolute guard, amidst the crowd and clamour of domestic cares ! Happy that mistress of a numerous family who can manage its concerns with the meekness and composure of wisdom, and adjust its affairs in such a manner, as that it may not exclude the pleasures of devotion, and cut her off from the means of religious improvement ! Happy the man who, in a pressing variety of secular business, is not so cumbered and careful as to forget that one thing which is absolutely needful ; but resolutely chuses this better part, and retains it 4I, 42 as the only secure and everlasting treasure ! Oh that this comprehensive important sentence were ever before our eyes! Oh that it were inscribed deep upon our hearts! One thing is needful. And what is this one thing but the care of the sottl ? what, but an humble attention to the voice and the gospel of Christ ? Yet, as if this were of all things the most unnecessary, for what poor trifling care is it not commonly forgot ? yea, to what worth- less vanity is it not daily sacrificed ? Let the ministers of Christ, let the fi-iends of souls in every station, exert themselves, that all about them may be awakened duly to regard tliis great interest ; accounting it their meat and their drink to promote it. Let them be always solicitous that neither they nor others may neglect it for the hurries of too busy a life, or even for the services of an over-oificious friendship. b Sat down at the feel of Jesus, as an humble disciple.] It is is no where else used in the New Testament. It seems to express well known that this was the posture in which learners attended on the restless situation of a person in a tumultuous crowd, where so their teachers, (compare Luke viii. So ; and Ads xxiii. 3.) and like- many are pressing upon him that he can hardly stand his ground ; wise grew into a proverb for humble and diligent attention. See or of water in great agitation. the authors cited by AVolfius, in loc. and especially Vitringa, Syna/j. f TAere is one t/t iny'ahso\\itely necessary : etos Se ej-; xC'"'] This lib. i. part 2. cr-p. G. is 'one of the gravest and most important apophthegms that ever c ^Frts exceedingly /H(rr!>(/.] Tlie word ai^uTKLXTO properly sig- was uttered : and one can scarce pardon the (rigid impertinence of ^ nifies to be drawn (as it were) different ways at the same time, and ThnJophylact and Basil, who explain it as if he onfy meant, One dish admirably expresses the situation of a mind surrounded with so of meaf'is enough. many objects of care, that it hardly knows which to attend to first. g The good part.] That Atscis signifies a portion, there can he no She had probably servants to whom she might have committed reasonab'.j doubt ; but that here is any allusion to the custom of these affairs ; and the humility and moderation of our blessed Re- sending the best portion of an entertainment to a guest to whom pe- . deemer would have taken up with what had been less exac^y pre- culiar lionour was intended, seems too great a refinement, and not 'Tiad so valuable and so signal afi opportu- exactly suitable to tlie occasion, though some considerable critics ind in divine knowledge. have defended it. (See AVolfius, in /oc. and Eisner, Observ. Vol. I. pared ; especially as she nity of improving her mind in divine knowled, d Lend her helping hand loith miac.~\ Tliis is the exact import of p. 225, 226.) I tliink rendering rm xyxim /xf-i'^x, the good part, is gWM-vnXaS'irai. which is also with the utmost propriely used for the more forcible, as well as more literal, than our translation ; as it assistance which the Spirit of Ood gives to the infirmities of our intimates nothing else to deserve the name of a good part when corn- frail nature. Rom. viii, 2(3. pared with this. Compare Matt. xix. 17. \ 137. e Disturbed with restless agitation of spirit.] The word nfia^A 218 HE ENCOURAGES THEM TO IMPORTUNITY m PRAYER. SECTION CIX. Christ being entreated by his disciples to teach them to pray, repeats toith sotne additions the instructims and encouragements relating to that duty which he had formerly given in his sermon un the jnouut. I,uke xi. 1—13. Luke xi. 1. t .,„ • , Luke xi. 1. SECT. Our Lord then leaving Bethany, went on his way ; dividing his time, as usual, between And it came to pass, tliat 109. the care of teaching his numerous followers and the exercises of secret devotion. And as ^^ he was praying iu a cer- he was one day praying in a certain retired place, when he had ended, one of his dis- on" fft'h'is'dTsdpies^said^nn.' LUKE ciples said to him, Lo/r/, we desire tjiou wfluIdsLifeflc/z us to pray,'dxA give us some short to iiim, Lord, teacii us to ^^' form- which may be properTor"oiir frequent use, as John also taught his disciples,^ and {J^^^'j.^j ]'°^'" "'^^ taught other leading men of the several religious sects among us have taught theirs. 2 And he said to them. When ye pray, you may use that form which I before have 2 And he said unto them, given as a comprehensive model and directory for prayer, (See Matt. vi. 9 — 13. p. 82.) and Father whiXart iriieaven"^ say in your addresses to God, "O God of the spirits of all flesh,'' who dwellest in the hallowed be thy name: thy " high and holy place, with humble reverence we bow before thee, and with a filial confi- be'Sonrastn'heavetfs^'i' " dence in thy mercy, and mutual love unto each other, we would look up to thee as to earth : ' ' " our God and Father, who with the most amazing grace and condescension art ready to " attend unto the supplications of thy children from thy throne in heaven : we adore thee " as possessed of infinite perfections ; and as our first concern is for thy glory, we offer it " as our first request, May thy name (ie every where sanctified ; may thy perfections be " displayed through the world, and be regarded with the highest veneration ! And, " that the honour of thy Majesty may be thus exalted. May thy kingdom come which " thou hast promised to establish under the Messiah ; may thy victorious grace be univer- " sally triumphant over all thine enemies, and thy people be willing in the day of thy " power ! And, as an evidence of its efficacy on the hearts of men, May thy holy will " be done, as it is constantly in heaven, so likewise upon earth ; and be as cheerfully " submitted to, as fully acquiesced in, and readily obeyed in all things, as it is possible for " us in this imperfect state to imitate those heavenly spirits who delight in doing thy 3 " commandments, and hearkening to the voice of thy word! During our continuance 3 Give us day by day our " here on earth we would not be solicitous to seek great things for ourselves, but humbly ■" ^ '^'^^ " " beg that thou wouldst give us day by day our daily bread, and wouldst supply us, as " our wants return upon us, with such a competent provision of the necessaries of life as " may enable us to serve thee acceptably, and to attend without distraction and uneasi- 4 " ness to the performance of our duty. And, though the guilt of our iniquities might . '* And forgive us our "justly separate between thee and us, and withhold good things from us, we earnestly every one that''is°ind°ehted " entreat thee to extend thy mercy to us, and to forgive us all our sins ; for even we, to us: and lead us not into " the bowels of whose mercy cannot be compared with thine, are willing to forgive \l^]^^ll^-^°' ''"' dehver us " even/ one that is indebted to us, and desire to pardon all that have injured us : " and, to prevent us for the time to come from falling into sin, bring us not into " circumstances that will expose us to the danger of temptation, nor suffer us to be " tempted above what we are able to bear ; but keep us by thy grace from all iniquity, " and rescue us from the power of the evil one, that he may never triumph in our fall, " and we may finally be saved from all the ruinous effects of sin." ^ And he said unto them, 5 And when he thus had taught them what they were to pray for, in order to excite and )};'V*i'' '^''^ V^\ ^ll''" •''''^^* ,, , v 1- ■ • i i • 7 ^i-i 4 1 i\rL ■ i\ r frrend, and shall go unto encourage thern to a beiievmg importunity in prayer, he said to tliem, tf no istiiere of you him at midnight, and say that has not observed the efficacy of importunate requests ?<= If, for instance, he s/iall Iiave "0*° ly"'. Friend, lend me a friend, and sltall go to him at midnight, axiA knock at his door, r/«/- a will he for a fish give hini fish, instead of a fish XL-ill give him a serpent ? Or if he ask him /or an egg, will be 12 a serpent ' i n ,u SO unnatural as to give hi/n a scorpion ? and in the room of what is necessary for the egg' wHl he oflTer him a Support of life, will otfer him a thing that would be useless or injurious to him. If you 13 scorpion ! then, tvho arc at least comparatively evil, and perhaps some of you inclined to a penurious kn!fw'how*'ur'^i'%'e°sood ^"^^ niorose temper, yet' /i-«oiy how to give good gifts to your children, and find your gifts unto your^children ; hearts disposed to relieve their returning necessities by a variety of daily provisions ; how how much inore shall your J)^^^^/^ jjio,,g shall \ i/our'] hecivcnlii Father, who is infinitely powerful and gracious, and heavenly Father give the , , . ,„ , ■-'' , , ., V- i- ■ i, j x u t Holy Spirit to them tliat who hmiself has wrought these dispositions in you, be ready to bestow every necessary ask him .' good, and even to give the best and the most excellent gift of all, his Holy Spirit, to them that sincerely and earnestly ask him for it, to produce and cherish in their hearts those graces which may fit them for the services of lite, and for the joys of an happy immor- tality ? (Compare Matt. vii. 9, 10, 11. p. 8G.. 87.) BIPROVEMENT. Well does this petition become every disciple of Christ, Lord, teach us to pray ! Thou hast taught us by Ver. 1 thine example, and by the precepts of thy word ; teach us also by thine Holy Spirit ! Excellent is this form of sound and divine words which our great Master here recommends. God forbid that any of his followers should censure their brethren, who think it still proper to use it, not only as a directory but as a form too, though perhaps witn some little variation from the original sense of some clauses of it."^ Let us attentively study it, that, concise and expressive as it is, our thoughts may go along with its several petitions. Let us learn to reverence and love God, and to consider ourselves as brethren in his family. Let the glory of 2, 3, 4 his name, and the prosperity of his kingdom, be much dearer to us than any separate interest of our own. Let it be our cordial desire that his will may be universally obeyed, and with the most entire consent of soul acquiesced in by all his creatures, both in heaven and on earth. Let our appetites" and passions be so moderated, that having even the plainest food and raiment, we may be therewith content : and, on the other hand, how plentiful soever our circumstances may be, let us remember, that day by day we depend on God for our daily bread. Nor do we need even the most necessary supplies of life more than we need daily pardon ; to which, therefore, we should be putting in our constant claim, heartily forgiving all our brethren, as we desire to be forgiven by God. Conscious of our own weakness, let us, as far as we can, endeavour to avoid circumstances of temptation ; and when neces- sarily led into them, let us be looking up to heaven for support ; labouring above all things to preserve our integrity, and to maintain a conscience void of offence. Depending on the certainty of these gracious promises, and encouraged by the experience of so many thou- 9, 10 sands who have on asking received, and on seeking found, let us renew our importunate addresses to the throne of divine grace ; and, remembaing the compassion of our heavenly Father, let us be emboldened, in the full as- surance of faith, to ask every necessary blessing, especially the communication of that enlightening and sanctifying Spirit, without which our corrupt hearts will find out a ready way to abuse the choicest of his providential favours, to the dishonour of his holy name, and the deeper wounding of our own miserable souls. -'£2- , ^ . 15 SS SECTION ex. Our Lord dining at the house of a Pharisee, seriously admonishes him and his brethren of their guilt and danger ; by which they are exasperated rather than reformed. Luke rA. 37, to the end. Luke xi. 37. ^f^{J- Aivm ^i''^'^ ''k ^^ tain ^OW, after our Lord had delivered these things, it happened one day, that while he was '_ Pharisee besou-^h't^hfra''to Speaking to the people about the great concerns of their eternal salvation," a certain njj^-g dine with hitn: and he Pharisee then present invited him to dine with him ; and, with whatever view he might XL37. are sometimes to be found in the most approved authors. The sense a It happened one day, that while he was speaking. Sec] The at- is not the less plain. teutive reader will easily observe that I have here omitted what d With some little variation from the original sense, &e.] Dr. occurs from the end of the 13th to the beginning of the 37th Guyse has excellently shewn, in his note on Blatt. vi. 13. that this verse. That passage is inserted, \ Gl— 64. as being exactly parallel prayer in its original sense was peculiarly suited to the dispensa- to Matt. xii. 22. et scq. -nd Mark iii. 22. et seq. Nor could I see any tion then pr»sent, as introductory to the Messiah's kingdom, and proof that the same discourse, with just the very same circurn- has given a just and expressive paraphrase of it in tliat" particular stances, happened again here; and as this seemed improbable, in view. But there is not a clause in it which will not bear a more proportion to the variety and resemblance of those circumstances, extensive sense, and express what ought to be our daily temper, I thought it was better thus to transpose Luke's story, than to take and the breathings of our heart before God. No doubt, thousands the repetition for granted.— The phrase £v Ss t:j \x\yitxi, while he of Christians have daily refreshment and edification in the use of ivas speaking, will, I think, fairly admit the turn T have given it in I it; and it is astonishing that any should venture to condemn their the paraphrase ; but if any judge otherwise, it will be easy to turn brethren for it. But I would hope there are few of any profession back to the passage as inserted before, p. 122. et seq. and all I now remaining, who have so much the spirit of oppositiou and ceu- have said above to iatroduce the section before us will be true on I soriousness. _ that supposition. 220 WOES ARE DENOUNCED AGAINST THE PHARISEES. SECT, doit, Jesus, that he might not seem morose, or insensible of a civility, accepting the offer, went in, and sat down to 110. ivent in to his house, and sat doivn to table. ™^'^'- And ■when the Pharisee who had invited him saw that he was regardless of the tradi- 38 And wnen the Pliaii- LUKE tion of the elders, and did notjrrst wash before dinner, according to the constant custom thtt hrhadnorfi"tTasiIed XI. of their sect, he wondered [(U if,] considering the character he had for an extraordinary before dinner, degree of sanctity. 39 But the Lord, perceiving his thoughts, and knowing that in some circumstances a ^^ 4"* .^he Lord said faithful reproof is the most valuable token of friendship and gratitude, said to him. As I rVseesnmke dean the out." see you are now offended at my neglecting the ceremony of washing before dinner, I can- side of tiie cup and the not but plainly tell you, that 9/ou Pharisees ^re too much like those vain people that pin'trfuiroV rr"e'niu- Md cleanse only the outside of the cup and the dish, while the inside, which is of much wickedness. ' " greater importance, is left dirty and foul ; for with regard to many of you, your inward part, even your very heart and conscience, is defiled, being /}nx, by to evi-os ^m irom-ioy xoti tas These Jewish lawyers (as our translation calls them) were the most m?oj/i5of. Matt, xxiii. 26. or that wltich is within the cup and dish, considerable species of scribes, who applied themselves peculiarly as if it had been said, "Give meat to the hungry, and drink to to stii-dy and explain the law. Probably many of them were Pha- I' the thirsty, and make a liberal distribution of those things that risees; "but it was »ajja^:s -essential to their office that they should " are within the cup and the dish." But (he last view in wliich ro be so. What touched the person here s[)eaking wa.s, that our tsu^ii had been mentioned, was, as expressing the temper of the Lord in his last looc, ver. 44. had joined the scribes with the heart, (ver. 40.) which is a strong objection against this great man's Pharisees, interpretation. THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES ENDEAVOUR TO ENSNARE HIM. 221 Mm, Master, thus si'.ying, brethren belonged, answered and said unto him. Master, in saj/ing these things, thou SECT. thou reproachest us also. rcproachest not Only the sect of the Pharisees, but us too, in a manner unbecoming the 110. dignity of our holy profession, as the depositaries of the sacred oracles. 46 And he said. Woe jBm? Jesus was SO far IVoni palliating the matter to ingratiate himself with them, that /ze luke f "^^e^'iade'^nien^wfth^buV P'^it^^y ^"^ Courageously said. Nay, it is a righteous rebuke, and I intend it for you, and ^^• dens grievous to be borne, therefore particularly repeat it for your admonition : Woe unto you also, fie professed 46 and ye yourselves touch interpreters of the law 1 for, by your rigorous decisions on the ceremonial parts of it, your finirers.'^"^ ^^' ' °°^ ° ^'^^ the human traditions which you have added to it, ijou load other men with insup- portable burdens, and unmercifully lay them, on, while j/o;< yourselves will not touch the burdens with one of your fngers,^ but sutler your lives to contradict your precepts, even in some of the most important instances. 47 Woe unto you ! for I also solemnly denounce a woe unto you all, for the malignity and cruelty of your 47 ye build the sepulchres of tgnipers under this mask of piety and devotion! for at a great expense i/ou build d^nd the prophets; and your fa- ^^ ,, , , r a l t -e i, J ■ i* *• j jx f thers killed them. adom the sepulchres of the prophets, as it you had a mighty veneration and aiiection 48 Truly ye bear wit- for them, though your fathers slew them. But as you are regardless of the instructions 48 ness that ye allow the deeds (j^^j ^j^g prophets gave, and appear in your conduct to imitate your fathers, truly you bear indeed killed theni,°and'ye witness to them, rather than against them, and in etiect approve and vindicate the works build their sepulchres. of your fathers ;^ for as they indeed slew them, and you build their sepulchres, one would imagine that you erected these monuments not so much in honour of the slaughtered prophets, as of the persecutors by whom they were so wickedly destroyed. (Compare Matt, xxiii. 29—32. sect, olviii.) 49 Therefore also said Therefore, also, the wisdom of God hath said,' and I am in his name commissioned 49 the wisdom of God, 1 will ^ declare it as his determinate purpose, I will yet send them other prophets and extraor- send them prophets and • i i i j , i n i i i i apostles, and some of them diuary messengers, particularly the apostles, who shall declare my gospel to tliem, as the they shall slay aud perse- last expedient for their recovery and salvation : but such I know to be the hardness of their hearts, that they will generally despise and reject them ; nay, [some'] of them they .50 That the blood of all will kill, and will persecute the rest : So that by filling up the measure of their sins, they 50 shed To'n'rthe 'foundation ^^i'^ ^""g such a terrible destruction upon themselves, that the blood of all the prophets of tlie world, may be ro- and martyrs which has been cruelly shed from the foundation of the world, may seem "^'ar'Vrom '""the" bTood" ' f *° ^^' ^'^^""^^^ of this generation :' Even from the blood of righteous Abel, who iii those 51 Abel, unto the blood of early ages for his distinguished piety was murdered by his inhuman brother, to the blood Zecharias, which perished of Zechariak,^ One of the last of the prophets, who was stain between the altar and the Se" verilyTsay'^unto temple. (2 Chron. xxiv. 20—22.) Yea, in the strongest terms I tell ijou, and repeat it you. It shall be required of again. The min God will bring upon you in his righteous judgment shall be so dreadful, this generation. {{jj^^ jf shall seem as if the guilt of all their blood had been laid up in store, that it might be required at the hands of this generation, and heap aggravated ruin on their heads. (Compare Matt, xxiii. 34 — 36, sect, clviii.) 52 ^^"oe unto you, law- And I will add, that the disguises thrown on scripture, and the methods used to conceal 52 awa\' the ^key ' oV^ know" ^^ ^''*^™ t'^*^ people, have done a great deal to bring on this terrible sentence : woe therefore ledge: ye entered not in unto you, interpreters of the law, on this account! for by these unrighteous practices yourselves, and them that yg^^ have as it were taken awaii the keu of divine knowledse ;^ and instead of tracins Were eiitpriii"" m vc liin- *- v/ -^ <-' o ' » _. -o dered. ° ' out a spiritual Messiah in scripture, and illustrating the testimony which the sacred oracles bear to him, you have rather abetted the popular prejudices against him ; and have been so perverse aud obstinate in your opposition to the gospel, as that you have not entered in to the kingdom of heaven yourselves, and even those that otherwise were disposed to do it, and would have entered in, you by your wicked management have hindered. 0.3 And as he said these Jiut while he Spake these severe and awful things with so much freedom to them, the 53 jcrM^s and''uie*'pharisees -^^ribes and Pharisees were so exceedingly provoked, that they began fiercely to fasten bejan to urge him vehe- upon him,"' and rudely endeavoured to urge him to speak of many things that were the pently, and to provoke j^Qg^ exceptionable topics : Thereby laying snares for him, and attempting, if possible, fr Will not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.'] Perhaps couneela of Divine wisdom had determined , and this manner of i their consciences might charge them with some private contempt speaking strongly intimates that he was so; in which view it has of the injunctions they most rigorously imposed upon others, in on this interpretation, a peculiar beauty aud propriety, ceremonial precepts, as well as moral ; or it may refer to the want k The lilood of Zecharia/i.] What reason there is to conclude the of a due tenderness for the comfort of men's lives, which tliey im- Zechariah here spoken of is that prophet of whose death we have bittered with such rigour. This seems to prove against Trigland, an account in 2 Chron. xxiv. 20. el seq. will be shewn in note g, on (de Karepis, p. 68. e/ seij.) that these lawyers were not Karaites ; MaHl. xxiii. 3.5. ? 158. for these added not traditionary burdens to the law. 1 The key of knowledge.'] Vitringa understands this of one fun- h And in effect approve and vindicate t/ie works of your fathers.'] damental truth, which would ha\e led them into the knowledge of ; Archbishop Tillotson (Vol. II. p. 195, 196.) has set this text in a the rest: [Observ. Sacr. lib. i. p. 125.) but all their endeavours to \ most strong and beautiful light, and hinted the turn which I have embarrass and bias the minds of men in their inquiries after truth, ^iyen it in the paraphrase. might be intended here ; as well as more especially their disguising — .i Therefore nlso the wisdom of God hath said.] Dr. Guyse (with the prophecies which related to the Messiah. — If a key was deli- Markius, A'xprc. p. 669.) paraphrases this clause as the words of the vered to them as the badge of their office, (p. 180. note g, and historian, and supposes him here to apply this character to Christ, Cameroon this place,) there maybe a beautiful allusion to that and to declare that Christ. Ihs wisdom of God, farther said, I will circumstance; as if he should have said, I'ou take that key, not to send them propltets, £fc. — I doubt not but Christ might with great use, but to secrete it. (See Archbishop Tillotson, Vol. I. p. 208.) — propriety be spoken of by that plirasc : but, with all due respect Eisner has well shewn on this text, that the heathen priests were to that teamed and pious interpreter, I cannot apprehend it to be called y.xn'mix'^i, key-bearers. (ObscriK Vol. I. p. 228, 229.) the sense of this passage ; not otily because the phraseology is un- m Fiercchj to fasten upon him.] So Ssivis evejjeiv properly signifies, exampled in the Evangelists, but "chiefly because our Lord'does not (See note g, on Mark vi. 19. p. 56.) — Several more of the words here say, I send tn yrni,\i\.\i io Ihem. Vet I see no reason to conclude used are metaphors taken from hunting. ATOTrou^ribf* niight beren^ (with Mr. Whiston, in his Essay for restoring the Old Testament, dered to mouth or bear down with the violence of their words, as p. 228.) that this is a quotation from any ancient writer. Christ Theophytact excellently explains it ; but the addition of -E^irXsiavi-v was empowered, without any such voucher, to declare \vhat the engageJ me rather to translate it as I have done. Grotius and Ca- 222 CHRIST ENCOURAGES HIS DISCIPLES AGAINST THE FEAR OF MEN. Ua t.4l'iAAJC «r^ SECT, to -start some unguarded word'' which they hoped might fall/ro;?2 his mouth in the |'^ira ^'^ ^P^ak of many ^^ 110. warmth of natural resentment; that they mi^ht take occasion to accuse him- for it be- 's^/Laying; wait for him, fore the Roman governor, or the Jewish sanhedrim ; but the prudence of Christ frustrated and seeking to catch some- LUKE their maUce, in tlie midst of all the plainness of his faithful rebukes. ' lllev^St accuse°hi'm ''"* xr JO IMPROVEMENT. Ver, 3 Faithful are the wounds of a friend ; and such were the reproofs of Christ on this occasion. How well had et scq. all the entertainments of the Pharisee's table been repaid, had he and his brethren heard them with candour, 51 humility, and obedience ! These men despised them to their ruin : let us often review them for our instruction, that none of these dreadful woes may come upon us. 39, 42 This discourse of our Lord is a most just and severe rebuke to every hypocritical professor who is scrupulous and exact in matters of ceremony, while he neglects morality ; and is studious to shine in the sight of men, while 43 he forgets the all-penetrating eye of God. It exposes the ostentation of those who pride themselves in empty titles 46 of honour, and eagerly affect precedence and superiority. And it evidently chastises those who press on others the duties they neglect themselves, and so are most righteously judged out of their own mouth. 44 How melancholy is it to observe, in instances like these, the hypocrisy and deceitfulness of the human heart, and 47, 49 its desperate and unfathomable wickedness ! and to see how men impose upon themselves with empty appearances, ■ like these Pharisees, who built the sepulchres of the former prophets, while they were persecuting those of their own 50, 51 day ; and, in contempt of all that was said by the messengers of God, were filling up the measure of their iniquities, till the cloud which had been so long gathering burst on their heads, and poured forth a storm of aggravated wrath and ruin ! May that God who has an immediate access to the hearts of men, deliver all Christian countries, and especially 52 all Protestant churches, from such teachers as are here described : who take away and secrete the key of knowledge instead of using it, and obshuct rather than promote men's entrance into the kingdom of heaven ! How loud will the blood of the souls they have betrayed cry against them in the awful day of accounts ! and how little will the wages of unrighteausness, and the rewards of worldly policy, be able to warn them against destruction, or to support them under it ! \'.. .. ■, ) :/,' . '^. : \ ^ '• ■■ r SECTION CXI. Christ cautions his disciples against hypocrisy, and animates them against the fear of men by the promise i of extraordinary assistance from his Spirit in their greatest trials. Luke xii. 1 — 12. Luke xii. 1. Luke xii. i. ^ff 7 TN the mean time, while Christ was thus discoursing at the Pharisee's house, many thou- iN the mean ti^nie when - ^^^- sands of people -a^ere gathered together,^ and pressed with so much eagerness to hear g'^tiier '"""an ^funumcraWe' him, that they even trampled on each other : and [Jesus'] going forth among them, he- multitude of people, iu- gan to say to his disciples in the presence of them all. See that you more especially be- ---h^^tha^t^^ u.ey ^^tro^de 1 ware, and above all things take heed to yourselves of being corrupted by t/ie leaven of g^^ t^ gay unto his dis- the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy : a vice Avhich secretly puffs up their minds, and ciples^ fir^t of^^a^l^, Beware . strangely spreads itself through their hearts and lives, so as to taint and spoil the very best |.^,a°isees'f whid" Ts hy! 2 of their duties. But seriously reflect upon the folly of it ; for you may assure yourselves, pocrisy. as I have told you formerly, (Matt. x. 26 ; Mark iv. 22 ; and Luke viji. 17.) that there is Jj^^r^ tharshan"not'bf nothing now so secretly concealed which shall not be discovered, and be openly unveiled revealed ; neither hid, that another'day ; nor any thing so artfully disguised or hid, which shall not then at least be shall not be known. made known, if God does not more immediately expose those shallow artifices which he 3 now discerns and abhors. So that whatever you have spoken with the uhnost caution, 3 Therefore whatsoever in the thickest darkness, shall then be published and heard in the clearest effulgence of y,tJ/frera''rd"in''thrught'; light : and what you have whispered in the most retired chambers and closets, shall and that which ye have then be proclaimed aloud as,/>o;« the house-tops, in the audience of all. s!^°n''bI"pHo\kiraed 'upon 4 And therefore let it be your care, not merely to save appearances, but to maintain a ^j^* ijouseitops. good conscience, though at the greatest expense : for I say unto you, jny dear friends, 4 And I say unto you, with all possible seriousness, and most tender concern for your everlasting welfare, Fear ^/J^nrthat kUl"the body, 7iot those who at the worst can only kill the body, and after that have nothing more and after that have no more which they can do, the immortal soul being entirely out of their reach as soon as it has that they can do. 5 quitted the body. But I will-point out to you tlie great Object whom you shall fear, 5 But I will forewarn i . , ^ , •' '^ . ,1 ^"^ ,1 ,Ai-ii /~.xrff!^t the mesxeuf/ers sent lo fetch away the soul ; and produces a remark- is a lively plirase, the full force of which I have endeavoured to able and w-ell known pa.ssage fi-cni Plato, to prove that Socrates express in uTTparaphrase, not being able exactly to do it in the thought this the office of a spirit superior to men. See Eisner, version. (Compare note c, on Matt. xvi. 6. p. 177.) Some old ver- Observ. Vol. I. p. 231. CHRIST CAUTIONS HIS DISCIPLES AGAINST ANXIOUS CARE. 236 then, where will all its boasted entertainments be, or xvho shall possess -xhal thou hast sect. thus laboriously provided, but shalt thyself never enjoy ? And accordingly the unhappy 1 12. creatuie died that night, and all his wealth could do no more for him than furnish out the yo your life, eat what 21 So IS he that layeth expences of his funeral. And so, or such a fool in the divine account, [«] he that heaps luke isCt ricrto"'IardTGoO.''"° "^ treasures to himself here on earth, and is not rich -with respect to God'' in acts of Xll. charity and piety, which would secure a fund of celestial treasure lodged in his almighty 2 1 hand, and therefore inviolably safe from such calamitous accidents as these. IMPROVEMENT Most prudently did our Lord decline the invidious office of an arbitrator in civil affairs j and wisdom will Ver, ]3 require his ministers g;enerally to avoid it likewise. It is more suitable to our office, like our blessed Master, to 14 endeavour to draw oft' and disengage the minds of men from covetousness, and to pluck up the root of those eager contentions which so often divide even the nearest relations, and inspire tliem with mutual aversions more invin- cible than the dars of a castle. (Prov. xviii. 19.) And, that a covetous desire of the enjoyments of the world may not create contentions, and engage us in pursuits 15 that will be fatal to our souls, let us seriously consider the true value of things, and reflect how little riches can do to make us happy, if we obtain them ; and how very uncertain that life is, on the continuance of which our possession of them does so evidently depend. But, alas ! how many are there who are now as deeply engaged in \6,etscq. their worldly schemes as this rich fool in the parable, to whom God will, in a few weeks or days, if not this very night, say, by the awful voice of his irresistible providence, Thj/ soul is required of thee! And then what will 20 all these treasures do to purchase life, or to allay the agonies "of death ? So far will they be found from being capable of this, that they will rather serve to increase and imbitter the surprise and anguish of those agonies. Let it then be our labour and care that we may be rich towards God, rich in works of piety and charity : So o 1 shall we safely consign over our treasure to the bank of heaven, and shall be enriched by it when we leave the world as naked as we entered into it, and lose all but what has been so wisely and happily spent. SECTION CXIII. Christ repeats the cautions and arguments against an anxious and covetous temper which he had formerly given in his sermon on the mount. I^uke xii. 22 — 34. Luke xii. 2% • Luke xii. 22. And lie said unto his dis- THUS Jesus cautioned his followers against setting their hearts on worldly treasures ; but sfct ciples. Therefore I say unto ,. c i^ 1.1 • , , . ■ 1 ^ ,. ■ , ' you. Take no thouglit for as most ot them were in such low circumstances as to be m greater danger of mimoderate 113. life, what ye shall solicitude about the necessary supplies of life, he proceeded to caution them against this, TeshaUpiaoif. *^°'^^' by repeating some of those admonitions which he had formerly delivered in his sennon luke on the mount.^ And accordingly he said to his disciples, For this cause, that is, con- XIL . sidering the great uncertainty of riches, I say to you, and strictly charge it upon you, 22 ~t i'hat you he not anxious about your life, -what you shall eat, or how you shall procure food to support it; v or for the body, xvhat you shall put on to cover, defend, and adorn 23 The life is more tlian it. For you must needs be sensible, the life itself, which you have received from God 23 ttian'rairaeut ^°'^^ " """" without any carc or thoughtfulness of yours,' is much more important than meat, and the body than raiment ; and well then may you hope that the great Author of your life, and the Fomier of your body, "ill maintain his own work in a proper manner, without your anxiety and solicitude about it. Especially may you expect it, when you see the care 24 which he takes of the inferior creatures ; as, for instance, consider the ravens how they are subsisted ; for they neither sow nor reap, and have neither storehouse nor barn to lay up any thing against a time of want, nay, their young ones are already deserted by their dams ; and yet, voracious as they are, God one way or other feedeth them, so that you see the species is still continued : now, how ?nuch 7norc are you better than they ? and how much rather may you hope to be supplied with the necessaries of life, than any kind of birds ? (Compare Matt. vi. 25,26. p. 84.) And moreover, as this care is unnecessary, it, will also be unprofitable: for, which of 25 you, by talcing the most solicitous thought, can add a single cubit, or the least measure or moment, either to his age or stature ? (Compare Matt. vi. 27 ; and note h, on that K?^*'^^!! I^m"' ^^, ?°' text, sect, xii.) If then you cannot do the least matter,^ as in this proverbial expression 26 able to do that thing which 4 i -^ • ? . ^1 . -c ^ 1 ij ii- 1 i • j isleast,whytake ye thought you grant, wfiy are you anxious about the rest, as it you were to hold your lite by a kmd for the rest ? of perpetual lease, and were secure against all danger of a sudden ejectment ? ho»^ fF*'"*"^^^„ .* tf ''t"^i ^^^' ^'^ pursue the argument I began before. Do but consider God's providential care 27 not, they^spn not : and yet ^^en of the Vegetable Creation : survey, for instance, the fair and beautiful lilies, and reflect I say unto you, Tliat Solo- how they grow ; they neither labour to prepare the materials of their dress, nor spin it no't" array eV'Tikl^°one'^of ^'^^^ ^hat curious form ; and yet Providence clothes them in so elegant and splendid a these. manner, that I say unto you. Even Solomon, when on some grand festival he appeared, in all his utmost jnagnifeence, was not arrayed in so beautiful a white as one of these. 28 If then God so clothe And if God SO clothe and adorn the grass of the field among which the lilies grow, 28 the grass, which is to-day though it is [^ourishing'] to-day in all its verdure, a7id by to-morrow is cut down and d Ricfi with respect to God.'] There is a force and propriety in thoughts and expressions used here occurred before \ 41. and are, I ttie phrase ii!®iot, which our language will not exactly express, hope, sufficiently explained there ; I content myself therefore with It represents God as a depositary iu whosE'hands the good man referring the rea'der to it. p. 84. has lodged his treasure ; and who has, as it were, made himself ac- b If then you cannot do the least matter.] This proves that /o arfrf countable for it in another and better world. Compare Prov. xix. 17. one cubit to ci thing was a proverbial expression for making the least 3 Repeating some of those admonitions, &c.] Most of the addition to it. Q 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap ; which neither liave storehouse nor barn ; and God feedeth them : how much more are ye better than the fowls? 2.5 And which of you, with taking thought,- can add to his stature one cu- bit ? 226 SECT. 113. LUKE XII. 30 REFLECTIONS ON THE DUTY OF CASTING ALL OUR CARE UPON GOD. Ill the field, and to-morrow is cast into the oven ; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith ! 29 And seek not ye whr.t ye shall eat, or wh.it ye shall firink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Fa- tlier knoweth th.at ye have need of these thinss. 31 32 throxon into the furnace ox_^^, (see note 1, on Malt. vi. 30 ; sect. xli. p. 85.) how much 7iiore [will he clothe] you, O ye of little faith, who thus suspect his care? And do not you then, who are acquainted with the care of Prcvidcnce, and are particu- larly interested in it, be solicitous to seek what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink ; jior be like meteors in the air, that are tossed about by every blast of wind, hurried with anxious cares, and agitated with a variety of restless and uneasy thoughts.'^ For the Gentile nations of the world, who know little of Providence or of a future state, seek after all these lower things with great solicitude; and they are more excusable in doing it : hut you are directed to much nobler objects of pursuit, and furnished with a more substantial support against such anxieties, in that paternal relation which God avows to you ; and Sl?, your heavenly Father well knows that you have need of these things, he will certainly provide them for you in a proper degree. Leave them therefore to his care, and, low as your condition is, be not uneasy and disquieted about them : hut seek ye rather the kingdo9n of God, and labour to promote its interest among men ; and then you may depend upon it, not only that you shall obtain that most important prize, but likewise that all these other necessary things shall he added to you, without your anxiety. (Compare Matt. vi. 31—33. p. 85.) I repeat the encouraging thought, Fear wo/, ve little flock, my dear property and charge, however feeble you may seem ; fear not, jsay, that you shall be lelT Hestitute of these common blessings of Divine Providence ; for it is your heavenly Father s gracious pleasure to give you what is infinitely more valuable, even the kingdofn of eternal glory': and can you possibly imagine that, while he intends to bestow that upon you, and even takes pleasure in the thought of making you so great and happy there,'' he will refuse you those earthly supplies which he liberally imparts even to strangers and enemies? Animated therefore by such a hope and confidence, instead of being solicitous to increase your possessions to the utmost, rather be prepared, when Providence shall call you, to sell what you already have, and distribute [;Y] in charity f and so 'you may provide for yourselves purses which do not grow old and wear oiit,*^ even a never-failing treasure in heaven, that region of security and immortality, where no thief approaches to plunder the riches of its inhabitants, nor doth the moth corrode and spoil the robes of glory in which, they appear. And the more careful should you be about this heavenly treasure, because it is certain, that where that which you account your chief treasure is laid up, the7'e will your heart be also fixed, and the whole tenor of your thoughts and affections vi'ill naturaily flow in that channel. (Compare Matt. vi. 20, 21. p. 84.) IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 22 Are we not all conscious to ourselves that on such topics as these we need line upon line and precept upon 29 precept, as being too deficient in our regard, though God speak once, yea twice? (Job xxxiii. 14.) We see our 27, 28 heavenly Father crowning the earth with his goodness : to this day does he clothe the grass and the Jlowcrs^\ 24 with the same profusion of ornament ; to this day does he feed the young ravens when they cry, (Psal. cxlvii. 9.) 30 nor has the meanest species of insects perished. Still does he know our necessities ; and still he addresses us in the same gracious language, and avows the same endearing paternal relation. The experience of his power, goodness, 23 and fidelity, is increasing with every succeeding generation, with every revolving day. The life that he has given is supported by his care ; and the same hand tliat formed the body, nourishes and clothes it. Let us then cast all 32 our care on him, as being persuaded that he careth for us : (1 Pet. v. 7.) Feeble as his little flock is, it is the Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdo?n ; and we are unworthy our share in so glorious a hope, if we cannot trust him for inferior blessings, and refer it to him to judge in what manner our present wants are to be supplied. 30 Let the heathens abandon themselves to these low anxieties ; but as for us, let us thank God and take courage, 33 opening our hearts wide to every sentiment of faith in God and charity to men ; and while we have this inexhaust- ible bank to draw upon, let us be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, so laying up 34 ?« store for ourselves a good foundation against the time to come, that we may lay hold on eternal life ; (1 Tim. vi. IS, 19.) the very hope and expectation of v/hich, if our heart be set upon it, will give us incomparably sweeter delight than the securest possession of this empty world, and the most ample magazines of its richest stores. 33 34 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God, and all -these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock: for it is your Father's good J)leasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell that ye have, and five alms: provide your- selves bags whicli wax not old, a treasure in the hea- vens that fnileth not, where no thief approacheth, nei- ther moth corrupteth. 34 For where your trea- sure is, there will your heart be also. c Nor he agitated with restless thoughts.'] After all the various and perplexed things which critics have said on this word ij.iriccpi. ?eij£, (of which a very large account may be seen in the learned AVolfius,) the sense I have taken is the most simple, and especially here the most natural. The authorities produced by Eisner, ( (Jh- scrv. Vol. I. p. 233, 234.) and several of those mentioned by Ra-> phelius, (Aiiiiot. ex Xen. p. 97, 98.) seem to me to favour this sense, though some of them are produced to establish another. It ap- pears from them, that any speculations and musings, in which tl'ie mind fluctuates, or is suspended in an uneasy hesitation, might well bo expressed by such a word. d Takes pleasure in the thought of making you .so great and happy there.] This is the beautiful and wonderful import of the word ivioxnut in this connexion, which generally signifies a plea- surable acquiescence. And agreeably to thi.s, it is most edifying and delightful to observe how God is represented in scripture as enjoy- ing his own prescience, as it were, with a pecvUiar relisjv in the view of those glories which he has prclfifred for Ills "^ople.— Hence those emphatical phrases o( wisdom rejoicing in t/te habitable parts of the earth, or in the prospect and idea of tlieni, before they were actually made; (Prov. viii. 31.) of God s knowing the thoughts lie thinks towards his people; (Jer. xxix. 11 ;) and of /(/s rejoicing over them vuth joy, and stlentbj resting in his love to them. (Zeph. iil. 17.) The tenderness and energy of innumerable scriptures de- pend on thi.' remark ; and many of those relating to election, pre- destination, &c. which have been as dry rods of controversy, when considered in this view, bud out into a thousand fair leaves and fragrant blossoms of hope and joy. e Sell what yon have, and distribute it in charity.'] These words "were probably as a fruitful seed in the minds of some who heard them : and the liberal sale of estates a few months after, by which so many poor Christians were subsisted, might be in a great mea- sure tlie harvest vhich sprung up from it under the cultivation of the blessed Spirit. Nothing is more probable than that some of the many myriads now attending our Lord (ver. 1.) might be in the number of the thousands then converted. See Acts ii. 41 — 45. f Purses wtiicit do not grow old and wear out.] This may be fitly taken as an allusion to the danger of losing money out of a hole worn in an old purse. Such is frequently the gain of this world, and so are its treasures hoarded up, and put into a bag with holes ; (compare Hag. i. G.) The rich men of Judea, so soon ravaged and destroyed by the Ilomans, particularly found it so. THE FAITHFUL SERV^VIvT SHALL BE GREATLY REWARDED. 227 SECTION CXIV. C/inst exhorts his disciples to "watchfulness and fidelity, in expectation of his coming, and of the final account to be given for all their advantages. Luke xii. 35 — 48. LuKK xii. 35. Luke xii. 35. Let your loins be girded QUR Lord liavine thus exhorted his disciples to a due moderation as to their worldly DOs- ^itt abr)Ut, and yoKJiiglils burn- i j , ^u • x x- .1 ■ A , > v^»«'j»j yy^^ . ..v.i. ,„„. . sessions, proceeded to press upon them a serious preparation for their final remove from 114. earth, and for the awful solemnities of death, judgment, and eternity.* He therefore went onto say, Consider youi^selves always as servants who have a Master in heaven ; and, that iatkr you may approve your diligence and fidelity to him, let your loins be still girded up in a ^J'- posture for active service, and your lamps be continually burning in readiness to receive 35 .36 And ye yourselves him :'' And be you, on the whole, like men in a waiting posture, -who, as good servants 36 like unto men that wait for left with a proper charge, attending to the work appointed them, wait for their Lord's their Lord, when he will , ^ "^ ' ■ r tr iU 1 i 1 1 ■ ^ ±1 ^ 1 1 return troni the wedding, return from a murriage-feast,'^ or any other late entertainment; that -when qy^t he eotnes that wiicn he conieth and and laiocks at the door thei/ may immediateli/ open it to him, and not be surprised in ullto h'innmmediauV''''" ^"y disorder. Happy are those servants -whom, when [their] Lord comes, he shall find 37 ,37 i$lcsseu (71V those ser- thus ■Watching for him: and happy also will you be, if this shall be your case: for verily, yanis, whom the Lord when J g^y unto you, So Condescending is your Lord and Master, that, if vou answer this cha- lic Cometh shall find watcli- , 1. -n j ■ 1 -j? <. 1 ^ 1 ing: verily, I say unto you, racter, tic Will reward you as graciously as 11 some great man, absent on such an occasion that lie shall gird himself, as I have supposed, finding his servants diligently waiting for him at his return, should ir'mea't! 'and' wiu'' come fe^^^"^ ^P ^^'^ clothes and girdjiimself, and cause them to sH down to supper, and should forth ami serve tliem. comc forth VrnxiAi and wait upon them^ And at whatever hour the time of his arrival 38 38 And if he shall come ]je^ whether he shall come early in the second watch, or come late in the third watch of come in the third watch, the night,* and find {them] thus employed, blessed ^nd happy are ^//ose faithful servants. and find ilicm so, blessed But do not think it IS enough, if you would then be happy, to make some sudden 39 "^30' Amrthis'know that if Preparation upon notice of his coining ; for the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the ihtr gor)d man of the house iiiglit ; and you know this, that there is none so negligent and stupid, where a house is had known what hour the plundered, but if the housc-keeper, who is entrusted with the care of it, had been aware have watched, and not have f'l what hour the thicf would havc coiuc, he would Undoubtedly have watched at that snilVred his house to be time, and would not have permitted his house to be broken open: he then that acts with iiiokeii through. prudence will be always on his watch, that, as he knows not when the thief will come, he 40 I5e yc therefore ready may not find him unprepared. Be you therefore also ready ; for at such a season as 40 cimeth a^l'^iourwheiTye .'Z'^" ^'''"^ "?^ 0^' ^'^^ '"^y '"^^s* ^^ ^^^ ^^F^t" it, the Son of man Cometh ;f and as the think not. day of final judgment will be a surprise to the world in general, so the day when particu- , lar persons are called out of this life, is often a sudden thing, and too frequently a fatal surpiise to the persons most intimately concerned in it. (Compare Matt. xxiv. 43, 44, sect, cbciii.) 41 Then Peter said unto Peter then Said ujito him. Lord, dost thou speak this ?mdike\\m^ parablifi to us fhine 41 this' parabie''u'ino'^*iis' "or f^postles in particular ? or is it also unto all in general, that what thou hast been saying is even to all ? ' directed ? 4-2 And the Lord said, ji^d f/ig Lord Said in reply. Though none are entirely -unconcerned, yet you my 42 and wise steward, whom ministers are more peculiarly to apply it to yourselves, and to consider me as asking each liis Lord shall make ruler of "you. Who is that faithful and prudent steward^ whom [///.?] Lord shall set over all V,rm //!^,v''porUon'o*f''miat ^^'^ Servants of his family,^ to deal out to each of his domestics the stated allowance of tn due season? food in its proper season ? As the guilt of such an officer will be greater than that of a a A serious preparation for — death, judgr.icnt, and eternity.] I tion for the destruction of Jerusalem; (see Matt. x. 23. note g, p. ^ shall give the reason of my interpreting this passage thus, a little 153.) But here I think it cannot be taken in such a sense, because below, in note f, though I am sensible the generality of readers our Lord speaks of an immediate reward to be beetowed on all would rather have e.^cpected an apology if I had gone about to iu- faifhftil servants, and an immediate punishment to be executed on terpret it otherwise. all that were unfaithful ; and expressly declares this to be a matter b Let your hins be girded tip, and your lamps burning.'] As the of universal concern : all which particulars have very little sense Ea,stcrns wore long garments, it was necessary that, when they had or propriety when applied to the destruction of Jerusalem. It must iiny thing to do which required them to exert their strength or tlierefor(5 be understood of his coming to remove them from the iigility, they should tuck them up and gird t/tem close ; a practice capacities of service here, to give up their account. And, if we to winch there are frequent references both in the Old Testament suppose it to relate to death as well as judgment, (which by a con- •, and the New. (Sec 1 Kings xviii. 46 ; 2Kingsiv. 29; Job. xxxviii. sequence at least, it undoubtedly does,) it strongly intimates his ■ 3; Jer. i. 17 ; Eph. vi. 14; and 1 Pet. i. 13.) — That the lamps having such a dominion over the invisible world, tliat every soul should be found extinguished might be an inconvenient circum- removed into it might be said to be fetched away by him. Com- stauce to the master, and would be a demonstration of the servants' pare Rev. i. 18. , idleness. The expressions taken together may intimate the care f This awakening parable.] It may signify particularly the si- we should take to inform ourselves in our duty, and the resolution railitude of M "' =<" hour wiien him asunder -^ and, notwithstanding the profession he has made, God will appoint him cutliim*'in sunder, 'aiid will his portion xoith infidels ;'" nay, in some respects his case shall be worse than theirs, appoint him his portion as his opportunities and engagements have been so much srreater. " ')i* I'' j ^I'^'l'^ ^^^x^- An A 1 J.I J. I 1 11 1 • r 1 I . • ° ,. 7 7 ■ 7 ., -77 1 47 And thatservantwhicti 4/ And that servant who, like him 1 have been speaking of, knew his lord s will by a knew his lord's will, and particular declaration of it," and, disregarding the instructions given him, did not keep prepared not hhnsei/, ne\- himself ready," nor s-at himself to do according to his will, shall have the sorest punish- ^'j^"^ si'iair*^be'^beateu°wit,h ment intlicted on him, and be beaten with many \_stripesy'\ (Compare Deut. xxv. 2, 3.) m^w^ strifes. 48 But he who, like the heathen, did not know the particulars of his duty by a clear revela- and^di^'cVmini't'tifin-rwOTl lion, «;;rf yet, sinning against that degree of light he had, committed things which dc- thy of stripes,' shall be beat- S^rved stripes, shall be beaten indeed, but with fewer and lighter [strokes"''] than the en" with few .^tripes. For other. For it is a received maxim among men, and God will make it the rule of'his final ^iven,*onirm°shr!iibe"mueli judgment, that much improvement shall be required from everif one to tihom much is required: and to whom given : and where inuch is deposited, the 7fiore will be demanded in proportion to it. J^/hj'^^'jiiev'wni'^ ask "tile (Compare Niiinb, xv. 29, 30.) more. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 35 May our souls be awakened by these awful truths ! and may we be engaged to gird up the loins of our tnind, 36 to be sober, and watch to the end ! (1 Pet. i. 13.) Great are our encouragements to diligence on the one hand, and on the other, dreadful will be the punishment of our neglect. The tune of our Lord's appearance is uncertain; let us therefore always be ready, — solicit- 40, 43 0"s that when he comes, he may find us so doing as he has required ; living not to ourselves, but to him, and employing ourselves about that particular thing, whatsoever it may be, which, all circumstances considered, we are verily persuaded may most promote the great ends of life, and the important purposes of his glory. 42, 44 How glorious are the rewards promised to such ! How justly may they awaken our emulation ! He will prefer them to stations of more honourable and important service. He will set them down at his table, and minister (as it were) himself to their delight, bringing forth the choicest dainties of heaven, and spreading before them an eternal banquet. Lord, may we through thy grace be found worthy to taste of that supper! May k If Dial servant I spoke of before, &c.] It is necessary thus to master had committed some particular charge, with suitable in- go back to ver. 42. for the explication of this; for it is most evi- structions for performing it, was most monstrous, and cousequeutly dent, from the whole tenor of scripture, that the servant who at deserved severer punishment. his Lord's coming has passed his account in an honourable manner, o Did not keep himself rendy.'] So Mons. L'Enfant renders the ■will never afterwards be in danger of incurring- his displeasure. word tm/xx'rxs, I suppose to distinguish it from the following clause ; 1 Scourge him with such severity, that he will even cut him and I follow liim, though not without some hesitation. Perhaps asunder.] Dr. Whitby has so clearly proved this to be the sen.se of both may be joined thus : Did not prepare or set himself to do ac- y Stxoroij.nm, that I am surprised that "any should since have coldly cordimj to his will. — But since I wrote this, I perceive a great em- '; rendered it, shall separate him from the rest. But this is one in- phasis in these words which I did not before observe. The sense stance of many, in which the version of 1727 has followed the rises on that of the foregoing verse; as if our Lord had said,/ Prussian Testament in some of thbSg' {Jarts'oT it which are the " Think not that I merely intend to forbid such gross immoralities least judicious. I know not on what authority it has been as- " as drunkenness, riot, oppression, &c. but be assured that sins of [ serted that the word may only signify confiscating! his estate. " omission, where there have been fair opportunities of learning i Wherever it, or any of its derivatives, occur in the Septuagint, it " your duty, will expose you to the divine correction." The op- 1 has always the signification which is here given it by our version, position here and in the next verse is between a servant who re- i and generally answers to the Hebrew ppd. See Exod. xxix. 17; ceives an express message from his master, which he contradicts; Lev. i. 8; Ezek. xxiv. 4. Scptitag. and another who, though he receive no such express message, yet tn And appoint him his portion with infidels.'] It has been sug- falls into such instancesof misbehaviour as he cannot but know to gested to me by a person ot great worth and eminence, that aninn.y he inconsistent with his duty and office in general ; by which he signifies unfaithful ; and that had infidelity, or the disbelief of the exposes himself Justly to some punishment, though, other things gospel, been referred to here, the word would have been xitoteovtov. being equal, he is less criminal than the former. But I must beg leave to observe, that aTrif-ms does in several places p Shalt be beaten with many stripes.] Scourging was a usual pu- evidently signify unbelieving: compare John xx. 27; 1 Cor. vii. nishment for negligent servants; but I cannot find that what is 12 — 15; X. 17; xiv. 22 — 24. (where there is an express opposition proi>erly called giving the bastinado was in use among the Jews, in ver. 22. between amirroi! and OTirsDotwi ;) 2 Cor. vi. 14, 15v; 1 Tim. though'some suppose it to be referred to here. Brennius thinks V. 8. And I cannot but think that the spirit of this text is much bet- tliat these words have a peculiar reference to the case of ministers, ter expressed by such a rendering; especially when the next verse is who have such singular advantages for knowing Christ's will ; so compared with it, which shews that though this wicked servant that they will certainly be in the number of the most happy or the \ shall have his portion and abode with such, (who, by the way, had most miserable of mankind. May they seriously consider it, and they not been unfaithful, would not have l>een unbelievers,) yet rejoice with trembling in those distinctions of their ofiice which will his punishment shall be more grievous ; as there may be a great draw after them such .solemn and weighty consequences! difference in the condition of criminals confined in the same prison. q Shall be beaten indeed, but with fewer strokes.] This strongly n Knew his Lord's will by a particular declaration of it.] There intimates that ignorance will not entirely excuse any who have neg- is a force and propriety in these words beyond what is usually ob- lected God's service, since they might in general have known at served. A servant, without express instruction, might know, that least tlie main branches of their duty ; as every servant may know to beat his fellow-servants, and plunge himself into debauchery, in the main what kind of conduct his master will approve, though would be offensive to his master; and he would therefore deserve some may be much more fully instructed than others as to his par- some correction: but such a conduct in a servant to whom his ticular pleasure. THE GOSPEL WOULD OCCASION VIOLENT CONTENTIONS. 229 the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne feed lis, and guide us to fountains of living tvatcr ! (Rev. SECT. vii. 17.) ' 114. On the other hand, let us seriously consider the punishments to be inflicted on the unfaithful servant. Let ministers, if such there are, who abandon themselves to a life of idleness and luxury ; who stain their sacred luke character by intemperance ; who proudly censure their brethren, and either call or wisli for the secular arm to ^''• smite their fellow-servants, perhaps more faithful than themselves — let such hear and tremble. Their Lord may 4G come in a very unexpected hour ; (as indeed, when do such expect him ?) and what are the stripes they have given others, when compared with those which they shall themselves receive ? stripes which shall cut them asunder, and pierce deep into their very souls ! How much more tolerable will it be, even for the worst of Gentile sinnei-s, than for such ! Let all who are in any measure distinguished by the gifts of the divine bounty to them, or by their stations, whether in civil or sacred offices, attentively dwell on this great truth, so solemnly repeated again and again : let them consider it with a view to their own account : To whomsoever much is given, of him ivill much be renuired. May divine grace so impress it on their hearts, that they may be distinguished by present fidelity 48 and future rewards, in proportion to the difference which Providence has aheady made in their favour ! And may they never have reason to reflect with confusion and anguish on what is now their honour and their joy ! ivXtt- • f I . / ? 5 SECTION CXV. Christ observes the evils which would be occasioned by his coming, yet declares his desire to complete his work, and waims the Jews of the great danger of neglecting the short remainder of their time of trial. Luke xii. 49, to the end. Luke xii. 49. LuKE xii. 49. I AM come to send fire on OUR Lord farther added in his discourse to his disciples and the multitude : After all SECT. irftb'J already kindled'/'^' ^hat I have said to promote humanity and charity, yet it will in fact appear that I am 115. come to send fire on the earth ; so opposite is my doctrine to the prejudices and the lusts -^— — of men, and such are the violent contentions that my gospel will occasion, through the luke wickedness of those among whom it is preached : and yet what do I wish ? that the ^''^• gospel might be suppressed ? nay, but I rather say, O that this fire, fierce as it shall be, 49 were already kindled'' by the propagation of a religion whose blessings so abundantly 50 But I have a baptism counterbalance all the accidental evils which can attend it ! But I have indeed, in the 50 to be baptized with, and jj^g^n {[me, a most dreadful baptism to be baptized with, and know that I shall shortly how am I straitened till it , , , ' ., . , , i' n , i'- ,i . i i • t ^ ^ c be accomplished ! be bathed, as it were, in blood> and plunged in tlie most overwhelming distress: yet, tar from drawing back on tliat account, how inexpressibly ain I straitened and uneasy through the earn,estness of my desire, till, terrible as it is, il he fully completed,^ and the glorious J^irjth_produced, whatever agonies may lie in the way to it ! 61 Suppose ye that I am But these benefits are to be secured in a very different manner from what some of you, 51 come^ to give peace on j-,^y disciples, imagine: for do you now suppose that 1 am come to give peace on the ^"t rather dlvisiMi"' ^ ^^ ' earth, or immediately to establish that temporal tranquillity and prosperity which you expect should attend the Messiah's kingdom ?'^ ^ay, ^ut considering how my gospel, notwitlistanding all its tendency to peace, will be opposed, and how it will be perverted, 52 For from iienceforth I may Say to you, that I am rather come to occasion the most unnatural division. For 52 tliere shall be five in one gucli are the contentious heats and animosities that will attend the publication of the gospel, two!a;!d'iwo'';J!linst?hree.^ that ere long, five in one family shall be so divided, that there shall be three against 53 The father shall be two On the One side, and two against three on the other : And this shall be the case 53 and'th "fin" a^^aVnst \Tie ^^'^''^ those families consist of persons in the nearest relations to each other : the father, I father; the mother against for instance, shall differ with the son, and the son with the father ; the fondesj mother the daughter, and the j^.///; j/,^ daughter, and the daughter with the inother ; the mother-in-law with her E'^'tL'' mo'thlr^-in-Taw '^on s wifc^ and the daughter-in-law xvifh her husband's mother ;'> and so inveterate shall agaiustthedaughter-in-law, be their hatred against all that embrace my gospel, that they shall break the bands of mfil<,vmon^evinA^w "^^"''^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^ <^f friendship, to express it. (Compare Matt. x. 34, 35 ; p. 154.) and '^rAnd ^'e^saTd'alscT'to And he said also to the people. This perverseness already shews itself in your overlook- 54 a And w/ini do Twish ? O that it were alrendi/ kindled .'] I think that it is hard to sav how airist could completely answer the cha- Sir Norton Knatchbull has abundantly established tliis version, racier of the Messiah if he should oever fjiie peace on earth ; but j Dr. Whitby (who here, as in maaivother places, transcribes from the error of the Jews lay in supposing he was immediately to ac- , GrotiusTTseems fiiHytoHiave pfovedtTiat'EismiieUntiPrhas'th'isTnrrce. complishit; whereas the prophecies of the New Testament, espe- I Compare Luke xix. 42; and Numb. xxii. 29 ; Jos!i. vii. 7; Psal. cially in the book of Revelation, shew, and those of the Old Testa- 1 Ixxxi. 13. Septitag. (Perhaps we may add Luke xxii. 42.) See meut most plajuly intimate, that this prosperous state of his king- Grotius, in loc. dom . 3bJ — 366. , , j i, ■ i ; kindof embarrassment which Christ was under, to know how faith- d The mother-in-law iiith her son's wife, and the daughter-in-law I fully to fulfil his ministry, without giving such umbrage to the with her husband's mother.'] The original words^ i^Evk^a and vu/i^n, Roman power as would have drawn persecution and death upon him are exactly expressed in this translation. The English words rao • I before the appointed time ; (see Mr. I^ocke's Reasonableness of Chris, ther-in-law and daughter-in-law are more e_xtensive, and rather, I tianily, p. 134.) but this seems to me a very foreign and unnatural though not necessarily, lead us to think of ^noverca, '^"i'"'j a I seivse.— That which I take it in is also favoured by Luke xxii. step-dame, or father's second wife, and her husbands daughter ; 15. 5 1G8: but if Grotius, whose sense I have hinted" in the para- Our Lord might mention this relation, because, in consequence of 1 phrase, judge rightly of the particular force and beauty of the the obligation which the Jewish children were under to raaintein ; word juvexom^i, it may be illustrated by John xvi. 21. U"8. their aged parents, a young man might, when he settled in the c Or immediately to establish that temporal tranquillity, &c.] world, often take his mother, if a widow, into his family, and her i There are so many prophecies of the peaceful state of the Messiah's abode in it might occasion less uneasiness than that of a mother-in- ' kingdom, (compare Psal. Ixxii. 7; Isa. ii.4; xi. G— 9 ; Ixv. 25.) law in any other sense. 230 ' REFLECTIONS ON THE REGARD WE SHOULD SHOW TO THE GOSPEL. SECT, ing so many proofs of the Messiah's appearance among you, while you discover such a the people, When ye see a iI5. sagacity in your observations with resjiect to other tilings: for ivhen you see a cloud cloud rise out of the west, — arising out of the west, or coming from the Mediterranean ■i^'A., you presently say, A heavy com'tih T^howe^r ^' and'^so Ia:kf. shoiver is coming f and it is so. And when lyoujind] the south wind blowing from it is. ^11- the desert of Arabia and other hot climates, ?/o« sci/. There wilt lie sulfri/ heat ; and so ^?, -^"'^ ^'^i" ^^ ^^^ *''^ ,, , .^ -— r---/- --'•-, ,,' . X 1 , I i- r xi • .„ south wind blow, ye say, 5G accordmgly it co?nes to pass, le hypocrites, that pretend to ask lor iarther signs, as il There will he heat ; aod it you were really desirous to know whether I be or be not a Divine TeaCl^'er'; you Icnow cometh to pass. how by such remarks as these to distinguish the face of the earth and of the heavens, discern Ui'eface'oni^e^ky' so as to foretelTfhe changes in the weather before they come ; but how is it that you do and of the earth: but how not discern and judge of the much more evident signs of this time, which are attended c^e/j^th's'ti ^je'*^" ""'^ ^^^' with such manifest and unparalleled tokens of the Messiah's coming ? (Compare Matt. 57 xvi. 2, 3 ; p. 177.) Yea, why is it you do not even of yourselves judge what is fit and 57 Yea, and why even of right,'' and gather from such obvious premises, how you ought in reason and conscience ^vh"us^r'itiit" ^^ ""' to treat so extraordinary a Person as I appear to be from the whole series of my doctrine and conduct, instead of disregarding all the proofs that shew me to be sent from God > 5S This, however you may thoughtlessly neglect it, is a matter of the utmost importance: 38 When thou goest with I must therefore enforce the exliortation I formerly gave you, (Matt. v. 25, 26 ; p. 77.) thine adversary to the ma- 1 i 1 -.1 xi ^ , II- .i , ,1 , ■ gistrate, as thou art in the and press you to endeavour, with the greatest diligence, that the controversy may im- ^ay, give diligence that mediately be made up between God and your souls. For you count it a rule of human t'lou mayest be delivered prudence, when you go to the magistrate with your adversaru who has a suit against [™J" t^'^lJe' jujie.'a'ndYlIe you, to use your utmost endeavour to make up the affair with hinfi while yo)n are yet judge deliver the<; to the on the way ; lest he force thee before the judge, and the judge, having found thee to officer, and the officer cast be indeed accQiintable, "?fi??/i!er thee to the custody of the Serjeant^ and the Serjeant 59 throw thee into prison. It will not then be in thy power to compound the matter upon so I tell thee, thou shalt gentler tenns, or to get free from thy confinement ; but I tell thee that, when he has thee hast p?id'tl!e very list m'ite" at such an advantage, thou shall not be able to come out from thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite of the debt thou owest.'^ And thus, if you are regardless of the propo- sals of God's mercy while tlie day of life and grace is continued, nothing is to be expected from the tribunal of his justice but a severe sentence, which will end in everlasting con- finement and pimishment. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 49 To what a lamentable degree is human nature corrupted, that so noble a remedy as the gospel, so well adapted to the cure of a malevolent and contentious disposition, should in so many instances only irritate the disease ! and that a scheme so full of love and goodness, and so well suited to promote peace and harmony in those who cor- dially embrace it, should be opposed with all the violence of persecution, and be the means of introducing strife and division ! 52, 53 How m.onstrous is it, that any should hate their neighbours, yea, and their nearest relatives, for that disinterested piety and regard to conscience which might recommend strangers to their esteem and affection ! Yet let not those who meet with such injurious treatment be discouraged, knowing they have a Father and a Saviour in heaven, whose love is ten thousand times more than all : nor let others be offended, as if Christianity had been the occa- sion of Kiore evil than good ; for such is the nature of eternity, that the salvation of one immortal soul will be more than an equivalent for the greatest and most lasting temporal evils which the greatest number of persons can suffer for conscience sake. 50 Let this awaken our zeal to save souls, however great and terrible the sufferings are to which it may expose us, in proportion to the rage with which the enemy is endeavouring their destruction. May we be animated in it by the example of the blessed Jesus, who, with a view to this, even longed for those sufferings which innocent na- ture could not but regard as the object of strong aversion ! 54, 56 May we at all times be so wise as to discern the evidences and to comply with the purposes of the gospel, else ( our knowledge in natural things, should it extend not only to the most common but the most curious appearances A on the face of the earth or the heavens, will turn to no other account but to shame and condemn us ! ,~^ 58 If we have any reason to fear that, througlr obstinate impenitence, the blessed God is still an adversary to us, let us make it our first and greatest care that, by an humble caibmission of soul to him in the methods of his gos- pel-grace, that strict scrutiny of his justice may be prevented, and that sentence of his wrath averted, which ^\'ould ^ otherwise plunge us into endless ruin and misery ; for when could we pretend to have paid the last farthing of the debt of ten thousand talents, which we have been daily contracting, and which is charged to our account in the book of his remembrance ! -*, e A heavy shower is coming.'] OiuS^k properly signifies a heavy But I.ukc makes use of another word [roxot] for vsury, (Luke xix. shower ; and xiuikv, in the next verse, svltry or scorching heat. 2'.i.) \ihii h I think a considerable argument for the common render- f Whij is it you do not encn of yourselves, S;c.'] The phrase «?)' ing, which is also more extensive.. — ATrnWaxSori signifies not merely MurOT does not seem here to signify, "From the like principles of any kind of deliverancc^~T5tlf~such an agreement as secures the " good sense which you use in common affairs, or in matters relat- defendant from anyjjxther danger of prosecution ; as Eisner accu- " ing to yourselves ;" but it seems an advance on that thought, as rately shews, Observ. Vol. \. p. 237. — It is well known that avniixtj if our Lord had said, " Even though I had not so exprej-sly drawn properly signifies « ^ros<'CK/or, or one who has a suitat law against " the consequence, yet, from the tenor of mv doctrine and cha- another, whether in a civil or criminal case. " racter, as well as from my miracles, you mfght have discerned h The rrry last mite of the debt thou ow est] The mite [Xivrm] " yourselves, that it must be a very wrong and very dangerous was the least valuable of their coins, (see Mark xii. 42.) containmg "thing to reject and slight me." — ^^Castalio and Grotius connect no more than half of their least kind of farthing, or of their xo^^-ajvlsf, this verse with the two following, I think without any reason. orquadrans; which was itself but the fourth part of the 17*, or g Use your utmost endeavour to make up the affair with him.'] — ^xiax^m, or of the larger farthing, mentioned Matt. x. 29 ; and Luke Theophyiacl intimates, and Salmasius, and after him La Cent, xii. 6 ; so that the mite was but little more than the third part of largely msist upon it, that <5o> t^^jifiav signifies, "Pay the interest as an English farthing, and a sparrow was reckoned worth four of " well as the principal of thy debt, in order to procure deliverance." them. CHRIST DELIVERS THE PARAELE OF THE BARREN FIG-TREE. -231 SECT. CXVI. Christ, on the mention of some calamities tvhich had befallen others, xvarns his hearers of the dans;er they ■were in ifthei/ did not repent, and illustrates it by the parable of the barren fi"-iree. Luke xiif. 1 — 9. LuKExiii. 1. Luke xiii. 1. J,S?on"'somJ'That"toW ^'^"'' '''^"^^ ^"" ^'^'"^ was ^us discoursiiig of the necessity of being at peace vvitli God, sect. - hira of theGalileans.whose ^ome irho xcerc present at that time, told him of those unhappy Galileans, the followers 116. blood Pilate had raihigled of Judas Gaulonites/ who had rendered themselves obnoxious to the Roman power bv ■ with their sacrifices. - .. - • ■ i_ r ■, . ■, i 7 >i . r^-, . , r _ j some acts or principles of resistance to it ; and whose blood Pilate the governor had in luke gfiect mingled u-ith their sacrifices, having circumvented and slain them when they were Xlll. come to worship in the temple at a public feast. 2 And Jesus answering, And Jcsus, without making any remarks on the cause in which they were engaged, en- 2 said uuto them Suppose ye deavoured, with his usual wisdom and piety, to lead the minds of his hearers into some liunerVabove'^ail^the Zllt profitable reflections upon the event ; and, in reply, said to than. Do you think that leans, because tliey suffered thtse Galileans xaere notorious^ sinners above all the rest of the Galileans, that they such^thmp ! ^^ Nay : but, *'<#^''^^'^ *"<^^' sad things as tKese, and were cut off in so miserable a manner ? If you do, 3 except ye repent, ye shall you are very unfit to judge of the conduct of providence; for, howsoever you may cen- all likewise perish. sure them, as shewn hereby to be the most enonnous sinners, I tell you. No ; you are not to conclude from hence this was the case; but, except you repent, you shall all perish thus ;^ vengeance will overtake you in your evil ways, and, in the desolating judg- ments that will shortly come on your whole nation, tlie blood of many of you shall be mingled with your sacrifice.^. 4 Or those eighteen, up- Or, to instanc^jn another unhappy case that has lately occurred, I mean that of those 4 on whom the tower in Si- eighteen men on wTwm the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them,'' do you think they loam tell, and slew them, ^ j jt 1 j? ;; j; ^1 • 1 i-, , /. -r 7 , "^ , ' "j/ think ye that they were '^'f/'c greater Offenders than all the other inhabitants of Jerusalem, tnat they were thus sinners above all men that providentially singled out for destruction ? I tell you. No ; you would judge very rashly, 5 "^T'l tell'^you', Nay; but, Jf you were in general to drav/ such conclusions; for the best of men may be involved except ye repent, ye shall with othei's in temporal Calamities; but remember what I told you before, that except you all likewise perish. repent, you shall all perish thus ; you shall be pressed under the insupportable load of the divine vengeance, and be destroyed under the ruins of that holy city in which you trust. 6 He spake also this para- And, in Order to awaken them more effectually to such deep and serious repentance, he Q fig-tre^eplanTedirhis'viL'^ '^P^'^^^. ^^'''^ Parable to them : There was a certain man who had a fg-tree planted in yard; and he came and his vineyard ; and he came, for several successive seasons, searching for fruit upon it, sought fruit tljereon, and 3^^; he found none. And at length, despairing of any better success, he said to the 7 7 Then said he unto the keeper of the vineyard. Behold, these three years together*^ I have come to look for dresser of his vineyard, fmit upon this fg-trec, and stUl I find none : cut it down therefore immediately as a forae'seekhig fn.it ITms "barren tree : for why does it thus cumber the ground, filling up the place of more profit- fig-tree, and find none : cut able plants with its usclcss bulk, and drawing away nourishment from those that grow it down, wh^y cumbereth it round it ? But such was the concern of the vine-dresser for its preservation, that he said 8 ^8^nd"liean.swering, said to bim in reply. Sir, I desire thou wouldst let it alone this year also, till I shall dig up unto him. Lord, let it alone the ground about it, and lay dung to the root of it : And then perhaps it inay bear^ d^i^bout il'Tnd*dung1"'' /'""'^ '■' ^^^ *^ ^"' ** ^^ ^'^^'' ^"'^ ^'^^^ preservest thy tree ; but if not, after this thou 9 And if' it bear fruit, shalt, if thou pleasest, cut it down, and I Vvill say nothing to prevent it. By which para- treii .-and if not, M^n after \jIq q^j Lord did plainly represent to the Jews the divine displeasm-e against them for that, thou shalt cut it down. i .; 1 r o a TbW AiH! o/Mos# fi'fl/fVfflnj, the followers of Judas Gauloniles.] fountain of Siloam, which was without the walls of Jerusalem, a Josephus has given us the story of this Judas Gaulonites at large, little stream flowed into the city, (Isa. viii. C.) which was received Antiq. lib. xviii. capA. \ I. (See also Sell. JuJ. lib. ii. cap. 8. [al. 7] into a kind of bason, which some have thought to be the same with \ 1 ; cap. 17. J 8 ; and lib. vii. cap. 8. [al. 28.] Havercamp. ) It an- the pool of Bethesda ; (see 2 Kings xx. 20 ; Neh. iii. 16 ; Isa. viii. pears he was the head of a sect who asserted God to be their only 6 ; and John v. 2 ; ix. 7.) Being near the temple, it is no wonder Sovereign, and were so utterly averse to a submission to the Roman that many frequented it for purification; but the calamity occa- power, that they accounted it unlawful to pay tribute unto Cfesat, sioned by the fall of the neighbouring tower is not, that I can find, and rather would endure the greatest torments than give any man mentioned any wliere but here ; probably it had happened at some the title of lord. This Judas is probably the person whom Gama- late feast ; and some of Christ's hearers might then have been at, ■ ."J liel refers to by the name of Judas of Galilee, Acts v. 37. — Josepiius Jerusalem. — Erasmus indeed takes this Siloam to have been Shiloh, ; / M^<-'J VJ " t- <- does not mention the slaughter of these Galileans, (which, by the the place where the taberuacle was first settled, (Josh, xviii. 1; ; / _^. / way, makes Zegerus's interpretation very improbable, that they Psal. Ixxviii. 60.) but without suflicient rea.sou ; see Drusius, zn foe. .' f^i »••< were actually slain at the altar in contempt of the temple ;) but he This last instance might seem in some respects more to the purpose ^^\*/V^ i-' records an action of Pilate that much resembles it, of the manner of _; than the former, as there was no human interposition attending the / I his treating the Samaritans ; Antiq. lib. xviii. cap'^'^ls.X. 5.] \ X^' death of these men ; so that it seemedjnore immediately provideB- . i^t^ , Ay^f^ Perhaps this story of the Galileans might now be mentioned to tial than that of tile Galileans whom Pilate had massacred. i.7^^^ ^.•■^' Christ with a design of leading him into a snare, whether he should d These three years.] Many have supposed that these words justify or condemn the persons that were slain. allude to the time of Christ's personal mimstry, which, as most have ^ J ^fc^vv* b you shall all perish thus: utxumi airoXEiiSf.] Some content computed the chronology of the New Testament, had now lasted ; ?">'*'>''^-^'^^ themselves with rendering it, Towshall all perish as uvll as they ;, 'three years: but it is certain the patience of God bore with them and possibly no more may be intended : yet the rendering I prefer , much longer than another year. Grotius therefore thinks it more appears to he more literal ; and I the rather chuse it, because (as probable it may refer to the nature of a fig-tree, which, if it bear at Grotius, Tillotson, Whitby, and many others have observed,) there all, generally begins to do it within three \"ears after it is planted ; was a remarkable resemblance between the fate of these Galileans but might, t(>i)£ suxg, be looked upon as barren, if it had disap- ' ^ and that of the whole Jewish nation ; the flower of which was slain pointed tlve eicpectation of the planter three years together after **j5' * at Jerusalem by the Roman sword while they were assembled at the time in which it should have yielded fruit, which was yet ' }J''%^^ i one of their great festivals; (see Joseph. UW/. Jvd. lib. \\.cap. 9. worse. ■" * '"' [al. vii. 17.] \ 3, 4.) and many thousands of them perished in the e Perhaps it may bear fruit : x'jiv mev mir-;?! xa^-rov.] It is in the « temple itself, and were (as their own historian represents it at large) original something of an abrupt way of speaking, of which Raphe- /, /tJ^ t^., ff^ literally buried under its ruins. Joseph. Bell. Jud. lib. \\. cap. i. 11 us has produced many examples; {Annnf. ex Xen. p. 102, 103;) ' ' t '^ [al. vii.'lO.] \ 6. et cap. 5. [al. vii. II.] ? 1, 2. but I think the way /if rendering the idiom I have here used, would c On w/ion the tower in Siloam fell, and jlew thcm.l From the suit it in most of those instances. / 7 l7^I } 232 CHRIST CUKES A CROOKED WOMAN IN THE SYNAGOGUE. SECT, having neglected the many opportunities they had enjoyed as planted in the vineyard of 1)6. God's church ; (compare Isa. v. 1, 2 ; xxvii. 2, 3;) and in an awful manner intimated, that though they had hitherto at his intercession been spared, yet, if they continued un- LUKE fmitful under the additional cultivation they were shortly to receive on the descent of the XIII. Spirit, and the proposal of the gospel in its full e.\tent and evidente,' they must e.xpect nothing but speedy, irresistible, and irrecoverable ruin. IMPROVEMENT. Vcr. 6 Which of us may not learn a lesson for himself from this instructive parable of the fig-tree ? Have we not long been planted in God's vineyard, and favoured with the cultivation of his ordinances, yea, with the dews of 7 his grace too ; and yet how little fruit have we borne in proportion to those advantages ! How long has he come seekmg it in vain, while we have frustrated the most reasonable expectations, perhaps not only tor three, but several of us for more than thirty years ! Wonderful is it that the dreadful sentence has not long since gone forth 3 against us. Cut them down ; whi/ cumber Ihey the ground ? We owe it to the intercession of our blessed Re- deemer, the Great Keeper of the garden of God, that this has not long since been our case, het us not be high- viindcd, but fear ! (Rom. xi. 20.) Let barren sinners reflect that this may be the last year, perhaps indeed the 9 last month or last day of their trial ; for even now also is the axe laid at the root of the tree ! (Matt. iii. 10.) And let them remember, that though there be hope of a tree, xahen it is cut down, that it may sprout again, (Job xiv. 7.) yet, when the doom is executed on them, their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom will go up like dust ; (Isaiah v 24.) and every tree which brings not forth good fruit will be hewn down, and cast into the fire. 2 Let such therefore meditate terror when the Judgments of God are abroad in the earth ; and, when others are overwhelmed in ruin, let them not harshly censure the sufferers, as if they were greater sinners than any others ; 3 5 but let them apply that salutary though awful admonition to their own souls, repeating it again and again, till they are pricked to the heart by it. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise jiei ish. Terrible indeed was the case of those whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices, and of those who were 4 dashed to pieces in a moment by the fall of Siloam's tower : but infinitely more dreadful will be the condition of them that fall into the hands of the living God, (Heb. x. 31.) especially of those deceivers who having sur- rounded his altars with hypocritical forms of devotion, shall themselves be made the victims of his justice, and be crushed by the resistless weight of his almighty vengeance. ,' " . , ' . : ■ ■• , I SECTION CXVIL Christ cures a crooked womgji in the synagogue, arid vindicates his doing it on the sahbath-day ; and afterwards ^repeats the" parables of the grain of mustard-seed, and of the leaven. Luke jciii. 10 — 22. Luke xiii. 10. , ... SECT. "Thus our Lord went on in his journey through Galilee for a considerable time ; and as And he was teaching in 117. he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath-day. Behold there loas one of tlie synagogues on present a poor disabled woman, who (as the Jews used commonly to express it, and was *''i,*''And '' beliohl tliere LUKE now actually the case) hadheea afflicted by a spirit of •weakness'' no less than eighteen was a woman which had xni. years, and was bowed together in so sad a manner, that from the time it first seized her, aspirit of infirmity eighteen 11 she was utterly unable to raise herself upright^ or to stand straight. gctheV.^'and could "^in no 12 And Jesus seeing her, and intimately knowing all the sad circumstances of her wise lift up Aprsf/A affliction, and the difficulty with^'^i^Tilch she was then come to attend the solemnities of ^J^^ he'iaiied"A//to'hh,7, divine worship there, called her to him, and said to her. Woman, thou art loosed from and' said unto her, Woman,' that affliction which thou hast long been under by reason of thy weakness ^nd malady. *''"?" "* loosed from thine 13 And as he was speaking these words, he laid his hands upon her, and imnieSiately she "'i^An'^ he laid his hands was strengthened, and ynade straight ; so that she stood before them all in an erect on her: and immediately posture, and moved with as much ease and freedom as if she had never been disabled : ^'Jor-ged'c'od! straight, and and, as was most reasonable, she in a very affectionate manner glorified God before the whole assembly ; praising him for so sigriaT and unexpected a favour, and de- claring how long her illness had continued, and how desperate and incurable it was thought. 14 But a ruler of the synagogue,'^ instead of joining in acknowledgments of the divine i4 And the ruler of the power and goodness displayeid in that gracious action of our Lord, was moved with in- jndi'|nft'?on,''"ijeca^ise That dignation, which he endeavoured to disguise under the form of piety and zeal ; and, as jesus had healed on the f Under the additional cultivation, &c.] The extraordinary Jinia//£vn ^vjfxuvl/xi ei? to mavre^es, seems preferable to that other which means used to bring; them to repentance after the resurrection of the words eis to vsxnihi'; mi^ht bear, " She could not lift herself vp, so Christ, by the effusion of his Spirit and the preaching of the apos- " ^sio siaxiA perfectly stiaight." (Compare Heb. vii. 25. Gr.) For ties, might, with great propriety, be exjiressed by digging round on the rendering I have given, which is equally literal, the miracle the barren tree, and applying warm compost or dung to its roots. appears much more jnvportant, than on the other. a Had hGeaa^xcicAhy aspirit of weakness.'] It is very evident c A rnler of the synagogue. 1 It is plain that there were several the Jews apprehended that all remarkable disorders of body pro- rulers of the same synagogue. (Compare Mark v. 22 ; Actsxiii. 15; ceeded from the operation of some malignant demon. Perhaps xviii. 8, 17.) And Dr. Lightfoot and Vitringa have observed that, they might draw an argument from what is said of Satan's agency in every town where there was a synagogue, there were at least ten in the atlliction of Job, (chap. i. and ii.) and from Psal. xci. G. (com- men who were obliged constantly to attend on the public worship pare Septuag.) and 1 Sam. xvi. 14. They also considered Satan as in it. Of these, three were called rulers, who presided in directing having Mf;)owiPr o/" cffn///, Heb. ii. 14. — And that, in some maladies, the worship, and .judged of such little disputes and litigations as this was indeed the case, i.s intimated by our Lord's reply here, ver. might be determined in the synagogue ; but not without a reserve 16. and by St. Paul's words, 1 Cor. v. 5. where he speaks of deliver- of appeal to the several superior courts. If of these three there was ing an offender to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. — The topic any one who had a distinguished authority, and might, by way of is very judiciously handled by that-iJiustriou^ writer Mr. Howe ; eminence, be called Me J«/fro/M<'iyna,i7fli7«*, it is strange the Jewish (sec his Works, Vol. II. p. 360, .361 ;) aiimtTer* are some curious writers omit to mention it, which, so far as I can recollect, they and entrrtajnjng remarks in Wolfius on this text. never do. See Wolfius on this text, and Vitringa, Synag. Vet. b i'tlerhj Umalilc In raise herself upright.] This vcrsinn nf //.r, p. .085. REFLECTIONS ON THE CURE OF THE CROOKED WOMAN. 233 sabbath-day ; and said un- [f he only had been angry because Jesus had healed her o« the sabbath-dai/, he an- SECT. six"dayrTa''^'which'^'^raJn Severed and said unto the people. There are six dat/s on ti'hich the common xvorlc of 117. ought to work: in them human lite 7nusi be done; on some of these therefore you may surely find time to therefore come and be ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^ healed, and should not make these applications on the sabbath-dai/, which, luke healed, and not on the sab- . .. i ^ ..i_ i c ^■ ■ ^ i i,- XllI bath-day. you know, IS appropriated to the sacred purposes ot religious rest and worship. '^" 15 The Lord then an- Then the Loi'd answered him with a just severity, and said. Thou hi/pocrite, who 15 swered him, and said Thou jj^^g niakest thv pretended zeal for the honour of divine institutions a specious cloak for hypocrite, doth not each J r ^ ir j j ^ t-> j j^ one of you on the sabbath thy mauce agauist me, art thou not selt-condemned ? Does not everi/ one of you, even loose his ox or /(is ass from the Pharisees and rulers of synagogues among the rest,'^ without any scruple or blame, toVaterin^! ^^ "maway ^^^^^, ^-^ ^^ ^^ j^^^ ass from the vianger, and lead him atvay to drink on the sabbath- dai/, as well as on any other : though the work be more servile than what I have done, 16 Aiid ought not thiswo- and the occasion far less important? Now, if you have such aj«£ardto_ the thirst of one 16 man, being a daughter of j- cattle, was it not much more apparently/?^ that this good woman, who is a be- Abraham, whom S>atan hath ■'. ' r ai l l ^r^r -T^^u j- • • • L \ j • xu- bound, lo tliese eighteen lievmg daughter oj Abraham, whom baian by the divine permission lias bound in this years, be loosed from this cruel manner, lo for these eighteen years together, should be loosed from this bond even bond on the sabbath-day ! ^_,^ ^j^^ sabbath-dai/, especially when it might be effected without any labour, by no more ^ than a word and a touch ? 17 And when he had said And when he had said these things, all hisjomoser^.'were ashamed, and perfectly con- 17 these *J"J].|*'jj^,'|'^j^gj'^'^^^''^ founded by the strength of such obvious and conchiiive reasoning : and all the multitude all the people rejoiced for who were present rejoiced in his triumph ; for they were greatly delighted with all the all the glorious things that -wonderful and slorious thinss that were done by him, in which there was so amiable a were done by him. t i r i_ • j ii i • "~^ ■' display 01 his goodness as well, as ins power. 18 Then said he. Unto Now on this Occasion, for the iarth£r_encouragement of his friends, and confusion of his 18 what IS the kingdom of Go^ enemies, our Lord thought proper to intimate the great increase of his kingdom, notwith- hke? and whereunto shall ,. , ,. , ° '^ • • -. , i i ^ " -..i i. ■ i. i. u ^ x j u \ I resemble it? standing the malignant opposition it should meet with, which he illustrated by two para- bles formerly delivered elsewhere : and he said. To what is the kingdom of God like, and what shall I compare it to ? or how is it that I shall represent the propagation of the gos- 19 It is like a grain of pel in the world ? It is like a grain of mustard-seed which a man took and sowed in 19 musurd-seed which a man j ■ „f„.f](,j^ . and fvom SO luinute a seed" it grew to a prodigious bulk,^H6? beca?ne such a took, and cast into his gar- & ' 77-, ^7 • ^ 17 r — r-£_l:j_— -r— ""^ 1 c- i. 11 den, and it grew, and waxed great tree, that the birds of the air came and lodgedirnts brandies, ho stiall my a great tree: and the fowls kingdom, which in its first beginning seems to be contemptible, diffuse itself in time over ^ branchesTf it '" the whole world, and the inhabitants of distant nations shall seek their shelter in it. (Com- pare Matt. xiii. 31, 32, and Mark iv. 30—32, p. 135.) 20 And again he said, And again he Said, To what else shall I liken the kingdom of God, of which I have 20 Whereunto shall I liken ^^^ Speaking? or how shall I describe the efficacy of its doctrine? It is like a 21 the kingdom ot (joa ! rt> ,77 5- fju 21 It is like leaven, which little quantity of leaveu which a woman took and covered up in a mass ot dougn, con- a woman took and hid in gigting of no less than three measures of meal ; and yet it insinuated and diffused thrwho*ie\"as^ea "nei ' itself throughout till the tuhole lump was leavened. So shall the gospel make its way, and, by a secret influence, shall spread its efBcacy through the hearts of men, till it has changed them into a likeness to itself. (Compare Matt. xiii. 33, p. 135.) ' 22 An4he went through And thus he went through all the principal cities and villages of Galilee, teaching 22 the cities^^^and^ villages, jj^gj^ wheresoever he came,^7?ir/ travelling on toward Jerusalem ; to which he had now toward"s^Je?usaiera?'^'"^^'"° begun to sjcer his course. as he intended to be there at the approaching feast of the dedica- tion, (John X. 22, sect, cxxxiv.) and to spend the little remainder of his time during his continuance upon earth in that city, or the neighbouring parts ; no more returning to these northern regions till he appeared here after his resurrection IMPROVEMENT. Again do we see, in a very instructive instance, the power and goodness of Christ. It wrought on a poor de- Ver. 12 spised creature ; but our Lord considered her as a daughter of Abraham, and honoured, even in her, whatever traces 16 of her lather Abraham's faith and piety his penetrating eye might discern. Her zeal and willingness to attend on public worship brought her out, though she could not stand upright, and had probably in that respect a much bet- 1 1 ter excuse for staying at home than many could make who now often absent themselves from the much nobler ser- vices of the Christian sanctuary. She met with Christ in the synagogue, and rehirned with a cure. And oh, how many, as the effect of such a 10, 13 pious zeal, though they have not been loosed from their infirmities, have at least been greatly strengthened to bear them. Our Lord says, that Satan had hound her. That malignant enemy to our bodies and souls rejoices in any 16 opportunity of "hurting either. But it is pleasing to think, tliat his power is always under the control of Christ ; and therefore shall never be exercised on his people any farther than their gracious Redeemer sees it consistent with their good, and will take care to render it subservient to it. How gravely does this raler of the synagogue instruct the people in a point of ceremony, while his heart was 14 full of enmity to Christ, and hardened against every sentiment of human compassion ! Justly was his hypocrisy 15 confounded and exposed. d Even the Pharisees and rulers of the synagogues among the - for instance, asCapernaum was,) such persons might generally be rest] Had not this been generally the case, the answer would not ..ijiosen.— Critics have collected passages from rabbinical writers, m have been sufficient for conviction in the present circumstance. whlcTi they allow it to be lawful to feed or water a bea.st on the Perhaps this ruler raiffht that very day have been performing such sabbath-day. See Lightfoot, Hor. Hebr. on this text ; where he an office for one of his cattle with his own hands : I say, with his shews they were expressly allowed even to draw water for their own hands ; for it was by no means essential to his being a ruler of beasts ; a much more laborious work than leading them to it. See the synagogue that he should be a person of wealth or dignity in also AVottou's Miscell. Vol. II. p. 41—413. common life ; though probably in large and .splendid cities, (.such, 234 MANY AT LAST SHALL CRY TO BE ADMITTED LNTO HEAVEN. SECT. We should with pleasiire see the Sun of Righteousness thus victoriously breaking through those clouds which envy 117. and malice had raised to obscure him, and dilfusing his sacred light from one end of the heavens to the other. With pleasure should we view the-^ccomplishiiient of these parables which represent the success of his gospel as LUKE so great ; and we should daily prayTwIfn increasing earnestness, that all the remaining nations and kingdoms of i^^'oi *'^'^ world may at length become the hin^doms of the Jjord and of his Christ : and sincere converts flock to him 16, 21 fj-Qjjj every side, even as doves to their ■wiiidoxvs ! (Rev. xi. 15 ; and Isa. Ix. 8.) ;^ c e T^ [ i e ^ q /u. SECT 118. LUKE XIII. them, And he said unto SECTION CXVIII. Christ -warns his hearers of the difficulty and imjwrtance of entering into the kingdom of heaven ; and is not intimidated bi/ the fear of IJerod frorn pursuing his work. Luke xiii. 23, to the end. Luke xiii. 23. Lcke xiii. 23. AND, as Jesus was proceeding in his journey towards Jerusalem, where he designed to Then said one unto him, be present at the feast of the dedication,'' being attended by several of his disciples, in a Lord are there few tliat be pretty large compass which he^toak-by the way, one of them said to him. Lord, are ^*^'^' " ' there {huC] fexo that shall be saved? Surely, if thy kingdom be so extensive as these parables intimate, (see ver. 19, 21.) the mmiber must be very considerable. But he said to them. Instead of amusing yourselves with such curious inquiries with relation to others, attend to what more nearly concerns you, and be solicitous to secure 24 your own safety : And let me urge it upon you, that you exert your utmost strength to enter in at the strait gate,^ which I formerly mentioned as leading to eternal life, (Matt. J''^^ ^unto ^oif wm'^ "'k'7' vii. 14, p. 87.) and strain, as it were, every nerve to break your way through those enter in, and shall not, be enemies who are always ready to oppose your passage: for I seriously tell you, the '*'''^- time is coming when inany 'will importunately seek to enter in,"^ and shall not be able to do it. 24 Strive to enter in at 25 25 When once tlie Master 26 And, howsoever they may now despise and trifle with the means of grace, this will hereafter be the case, even with the most stupid and negligent of mankind, as soon as ofthe house is risen up, and ever the great Lord and Master of the family shall, as it were, have risen up from his ye be"-in to stand wltiiout seat, and with his own authoritative hand shall have shut and barred the door ;^ and =""1 to knock at tlie door, i/on, among the rest, shall begin to stand without, and to laioc!:''at the door, saying, u^'iJto us -^and h'.?°sbairan- v/itlLgreaLjeamestness, Lord, Lord, we beseech thee opeii to us : but you will cry in vain, swer and say unto you, i and he who now so graciously invites and wa'its upon you, shall jj^ reply to you, I ''"f*^ y°" ""^ whence you know you not, who you are, or from whence you are come ; Mf^determine to treat you as strangers, for whom I have no friendship or regard, and who have rieWfTjeen approved by me. Some of you may perhaps then plead an intimate acquaintance and professed friendship, 20 Then shall ye begin and urge the privileges that you once enjoyed, and the conspicuous figure you made in *" say, We have eaten and his church : but if any of you can carry it so far as that you shall begin to say. Lord, uiou^bast'' touglTin our we have eaten and dj-ank in thy presence in a familiar manner,^ and thou hast thyself streets, lived among us, and offen taught in our streets and houses, so that thou canst not sure, 27 have lorgot^ us : Nevei'theless, he will persist in disowning you, and say, I tell you 27 But he shall f&y, i tell again, I know you not, and whatsoever you pretend to, I regard not ivhenee you are; you, i know you not whence all the former relation to which you refer is (as it were) blotted from my remembrance, aU^ye workXof inT<™iitT' since your hearts were still insincere, and your lives unsuitable to your fair professions ; and therefore depart from mc, all ye that habitually /);y/c/«c iniquity; for none of your character shall ever be admitted here. (Compare Matt. vii. 22, 23." p. 89.) 28 This awful word, how little soever you may now regard it, shall wound you to flie heart, and throw you into agonies of everlasting despair : and there shall be the bitterest weeping and gnashing of the teeth for madness and rage, when you shall see yourTioly alid "isaac '\ncr Jaco'b 'and ancestors, Abraham, and Isaac, and .Jacob, and all the prophets of the succeeding ages, all the prophets in the in actual possession of the kingdom of God ; and shall find yourselves cast out with 1^'"8<1"'" "( C'"''' »"*l y"u OQ i. i 1 11 , 1 1 '^ • , -T • ir 7 'i II r 1 yo«)■sf/^rs thrust out. ■<:y contempt, and tnrust back with just indignation. Yea they shall come from the most 29 And they shall mme distant heathen lands, Qve.n from the east and the west, and from the north and the from the east, and /ro;« the south, and shall sit down in joyful multitudes, to partake of the heavenly banquet with ami '/•„"„ tin-" souu"' and 28 Tliere shall be weep- ing and gnashing of teeth, your /pious ancestors in the kinp'dom of God, while you are utterly excluded from it. shall' sit down (ComparFMattrvilT 11, 12. and' note f,'p. Ill, 112.) domofOod. in the king a Where he designed to be present at the feast of the dedica- tion.] Mr. Whislon and some otliers place the following passages in a different order, and introduce them after this feast ; but it does not appear that Christ was ever in Galilee before his rcsurrec- tioiyaftcr this journey. He was indeed at EpTifaTmT^irT^prem ; TTouiT xT7 54. 5 141.) but, as that city lay on the confines of the tribe of Benjamin, at no great distance from .Terusalem, (Light- foot's Dixquisit. Choro(jT. in Johai\ cap. vii. ? 1.) the argument which Mr. Winston draws from thence in favour of his order must be very ^ inconclusive. See Whiston's Harmony, p. 385 and 403. b Exert your vtmnst strenrjth to enter in at tlie strait gate.'] The ■ original word aywu^eTSe fully expresses this. It imports the act of contending m the most ardent and resolute manner v)ith antagonists in games, or in war; and may well intimate, that the strait gate is beset with a variety of enemies, through which, if we aspire to a crown of eternal glory, we mu.-.t break and force our way ; a repre- sentation equally just and awakening ! Compare I Cor ix. 25 ; Col. 1. 29; 1 Tim. vi. 12, and 2 Tim. iv. 7. c Many will seek to enter in.'] The Prussian Version renders it, shall try, or attempt: but I apprehend from the context, that it refers to importunate entreaties when they were actually excluded, rather than to feeble attempts now ; though it is an awful truth, that these likewise will be unsuccessful. d The master of the family, ^-c] There is a majesty and pathos in this passage, as in many others, which no paraphrase can retain, in which the very words of our Lord do not make a part. e Jf^e have eaten and tirjmk^in thy presence.] Perhaps some of the nine thousand whom he had fed by miracle may at last be in this' miserable number. (Compare John vi. 2(i.) — Brennius refers it to their having eaten the sacrifices presented to God according to the Mosaic constitution. — But difterent persons may use this plea in different senses ; and they who, while their hearts were liardened in impenitence and unbelief, have profaned the Lord'-i Supper by an unworthy participation of it, will find a .sad sense pe- culiar to themselves, though it might not bo chiefly intended. CHRIST LAftlENTS OVER JERUSALEM. 235 30 And behold, there are ji„f)^ behold this shall be the case not only of a few, but of great numbets : for there SECT. Ihtl'ar'i'fiJst'whiclfk-all arc many who are now last in point of religious advantages, that shall then be first in US. be last. honour and happiness ; and there are many who now appear first, that shall then be - found last, — and, on account of their abused privileges, shall appear as the most infamous ^^^ and miserable of mankind. (Compare Matt. xix. 30; and Mark x. 31. sect, cxxxvii.) 31 The same day tiieref These things our Lord said in his journey through Galilee towards Jenisalem; making 31 came ceruin of the Pi'^ri- L-j^j^,„, pauses in liis way, that, in consequence of the shortness of his stages, he might have sees, savinff unto hira, Get -'' ,. •' ', , iii l t.i i. j \ u^ii thee oiit, and depart hence : an opportunity ot greater usetuiness. And it came to pass on that day when he uttered for Herod will kill thee. these discourses, sortie of the Pharisees came, and that they might, if possible, intimidate and drive hira to a distance, they said to him. Go forth, and depart from hence with all possible speed, into the territories of some other prince, for Herod the tetrarch, in whose dominions thou art, is at this very time determined to kill thee,^ as he did John the Bap- tist, |hy friend and associate, and seeks but an opportunity to effect it. saAndhesniduntothera, J3«/ Jesus wasloTar froni being at all alarmed at this intimation, that he said to themZ2 Behold T'cast "ou^^'dewi^, , with great steadine^. Go and tell that fox, that crafty, wicked, and voracious prince, and I do cures to-day und Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures in thy donimions to-day and to-morrow, to-raoriow and the "third and carry on my work a little while \ongex, and the third day I shall be perfected ;«■ ay s la e per ec e . ^^^ ^^^^ appointed time will quickly come when I shall finish my course, and have done all 33 Nevertheless, 1 must that I intend here. In the mean while he may well allow me a license to stay in his ter- 33 walk to-day and to-morrow, ritories SO long, at least on such kind and gracious designs; or howsoever he maybe H cannot be thatrpfophet unwilling to allow it, yet nevertheless I must go on in this leisurely progress (as I just perish out of Jerusalem. now said) to-day and to-morrow, and the third day, till the determined season comes in whicli my ministry shall be fulfilled: nor do I fear the effects of Herod's malice; /o/- it cannot be supposed that a prophet should perish, ox be put to death, any where out of I Jerusalem,'''— ihd.t unhappy city, the seat of the supreme court, challenging as it were to \/ itself the sad prerogative of being the slaughterhouse of the messengers of God. 31 o Jerusalem, Jeru- And upon this, turning in thought at least towards Jemsalem,Uhough it lay at the dis- 34 salem! which kiUest the ^ f milesj he took up a most afTectionate lamentationTover it, and said, O Je- iiropliets, and stonest them '^""^>' "' ■'^ j '■ , ' , • tt- •.-. / ^i u ^u i i u j- *•„ that are sent unto thee: rusale/n, Jernsalem,'l!hoix ^ilty and miserable city ! i:'/;(;, though thou hast been distin- how often would I have guished by divine favours beyond any place on earth, yet with the utmost ingratitude «S*'as'*a^Tea'']oJr/Xr and cmelty slayest the prophets, and stonest as the vilest malefactors those -who are sent her brood under tier wings, unto thee as the ambassadors of God! Ho~d.^ often would I have gathered thy children and ye would not ! together unto myself with all the tenderness "^of parental love, and have sheltered, com- forted, and cherished them, even as a hen \_gathcrs'] her little brood of chickens under her wings! yet you were still regardless of the offers of my grace, and would not be per- 33 Behold your house is suaded to hearken to my call, and to accept my favour. And now, alas, behold with 35 left unto you aesoiate: and awfuljlrcad, and remark the prediction and eweai, your house is left unto you desolate: Ihail'noVS mrunUl'the^ndiheRoiiris jmt at hand when your children whom I would have gathered to myself time come when ye shall shall perish, and yotir temple shall be utterly destroyed; and in the mean time I assuredly Sh fn'ure'' name'^of'The" ^«'/ ««''« '/""' That I will quickly cease my labours among you, and retire in such right- Lord. . eous displeasure, that you shall see me no more, till the time come when, taught by your calamities, you shall be ready and disposed to say. Blessed [be'] he that cometh in the name of the Lord; and shall in vain wish for the succour of him whom you now despise. (Compare Matt, xxiii. 37 — 39. sect, clviii.) DIPROVEMENT. And who v.ould not welcome such a Saviour, when he appears on so kind a design ! who would not bless him 35 that cometh in the name of the Lord, to gather our souls with the tenderest care, and to shelter us from wrath 34 and ruin ! that Saviour whose bowels yearned over us, and whose heart poured forth its blood for us ! Too many reject him, and will not hearken to the kindest calls of his compassionate voice. Unhappy creatures '. the time will con:ie when they too late will be convinced of their fatal error. Let each of us be solicitous for himself. Away with those vain curiosities which serve only to amuse and dis- 23 i Herod isjletejjuined to kill thee; ii\u ai ■rxoxriiv^ri.] For the Captain of our salvation ; as the word is used, Heb. ii. 10 ; V.-8, 9, force of this phrase compare note b, on John vii. 17. ? 99. p. 200. and 10; rii. 27, 28. u d t- * note a, on John i. 43. p. 43.— It is very probable, considering both h It cannot be supposed that a proptiet, 4-c.] John the Baptist the wicked character and suspicious temper of Herod, that fhou;.tif««,/sAn«4f;7^r- the Messiah, and, in the extremity of their distress, be ready to ) fected, may refer to Christ's finishing the work of redemption, and, entertain any one who might offer himself under that character, being by death consecrated to his ofiice as the great High Priest and Compare LuTte xvii. 22, 23. \ 128. 236 REFLECTIONS ON THE NECESSITY OF STRIVING FOR HEAVEN. SECT, tract our thoughts. Let us call and fix them down to the great concerns of our own salvation : and, if we would 118. secure it, let us prepare to encounter difficulties, and strive, as for our livus, to break through all tiie opposition ■ of our enemies, and resolutely to enter in at the strait gate. How many have sought it wiien the door has been LUKE barred ! and how soon may the great Master of the house arise and shut it for ever asaiust those who are vet XI". trifling! 26, 27 Let not hypocrites trust in vain words. The workers of iniquity shall be disowned by Christ at last, though 28, 29 they may have eaten and drank in his presence. But oh, who can express the disappointment, the rage and despair of those who fall from such towering hopes, and plunge as from the very gates of heaven, into the lowest abyss of darkness and horror! Their hearts will endeavour to harden themselves in vain ; their doleful cries shall be distinguished in that region of universal horror ! but they shall not penetrate the regions of the blessed, nor interrupt the delight with which even the dearest of their pious relatives shall sit down in the king- dom of God. 31, 33 If we through grace have more substantial hopes, let us imitate the zeal and courage of our divine Leader ; and, whatever threatenings or dangers may oppose us, let us go on day after day till our work be done, and our souls at length perfected in glory. But let us carefully distinguish between those things in which our Lord meant himself as our Pattern, and those which were peculiar to his office as a Prophet sent from God. That extraordinary office justified him in using that severity of language when speaking of wicked princes and corrupt teachers, to which we have no call ; and by which we should only bring scandal on religion and ruin on ourselves, Avhile we irritated rather than convinced or refomied tliose whom we undertook so indecently to rebuke. £lx(_. I"^ . ' i Tl"^ SECTION CXIX. Our Lord deino- invited to dine rrif/i a Pharisee, cures a man who had^ dropsy, cautions them against an affectation of precedence, and urges them to xi'orks ofchaiiti/. Luke xiv. 1 — 14. LuKB xiv. 1. . SECT. And it came to pass, that ]\j&i as our Lord was finishing his jouiney through Herod's And it came to pass as he 1 19. dominions, he ivent into the house of one of the chief Pharisees,"^ who was a magistrate wcii into the iionse of one of great distinction,'' by whom he was invited to eat bread, that is, to dine with him^o;; eat*bread"o*^ ti'^^sTh^tf" LUKE the sahhath-day ; and many of the Pharisees were present there : and, as their usual day, that they watched Xl^'- custom was, they %vere narrowly xvatching him, to make the most invidious observations '"™- on his conduct. 2 And behold there was a certain man before him that had a dropsy, who having heard ~ -^"'^ ''^liold, there was that Jesus was to dine there, had conveyed himself thither, in hope of a cure.-^ whfchTd"the dropsy.^'""' 3 And Jesus, answering to the secret reasonings which he discerned in their minds on 3 And Jesus, answering, this occasion, said to the doctors of the law and other Pharisees who were then present, ?V>=ike unto the lawyers and ■\\Ti ^ ^ XT-- 1 Til-- ■. -r \L 1 r I ± 1 1 iw i ,; r^hansees, sa\ ing-. Is it law- VVnat do you think now ot this case ? Is it lawful to lieal a distempered person on the ful to heal on the sabbatu- sahbath-day ? or can there be any thing in so benevolent an action inconsistent with the ''''y ' sacred rest which is required on that day ? 4 But they were silent ; as not being able with any face to deny the legality of the action, 4 And they held their and yet unwOling to say any thing which might seem" lo authorize or countenance those P^^^ce.— cures which Christ performed on the sabbath-day as well as at other times ; and which, m. the general, they had been known to censure. When Jesus therefore found that thty would make him no reply, he extended his com- —And he took him, and passion to the poor man ; and, taking him \by the hand,^'] he'^niraculously healed him ^^J^^^ '""'' ^'"* '''' '''™ before them all, and dismissed him perfectly well, restored at once to his full strength, and reduced in a moment to his proper shape and bulk.'' 5 And, more fully to convince them how justifiable such an action was, even upon their ^ And answered them, own principles, as he saw they were cavilling at it, he said in answer to tliem. Which of S'e a'n^sor an oxVane'l you, if he have but an ass or an ox that shall happen to fall into a pit, will not imme- into a pit, and win not diately draw him out without any scruple, even on the sabbath-day,^ though that is a much ^'™,'f''*^\^7 ,P"i' f','™ °"' more laborious action, and the life of one of those animals is so much less important tlian '' ''^ ' the health of a man ? and can you then, without the greatest injustice, condemn me for what I have now done ? n. As he vent into the house of one of fhe chief Pharisees.'] As all d Taking him by the licirtd.'] I know some have imagined tliat that follows from the beginning of this xivth chapter to chap. xvii. Christ led him aside to avoid ostentation: but the words do not 10. is placed by Luke before the account of bis journey through express this ; and, as our Lord speaks of the cure both immediately Samaria to Jerusalem ; and as I find no other event in any of the before and after it, there can be no room to imap-ine he intended Evangelists before the feast of dedication to which I conclude to conceal it. Probably the circumstance of taking him by the that journey refers, I am obliged (by the rule I laid down to my- hand is mentioned as an instance of his condescension ; and shews ; .self, of never changing the order without apparent reason,) to take/"' that there was nothing in the manner of the cure which could be ■ all these discourses and ^ter'^s just as I find them ; though I cannot 'objected to as a servile worlc. ■■■''•■.■ \ pretend positively to say llTal I,iikc, who, no doubt, has sometimes e Reduced to his proper sliape and bulk.] If any ask how this changed the order in his narration, has exactly observed it here, could be, I answer, lie tliat at once could cure the dropsy with a It is iiowever possible, that all recorded in these chapters might touch, could, if he please, annihilate the excess of water that pass within the compass of a few days, and so would be consistent caused it ; and it is reasonable to believe the cure was wrought in with interpreting chap. xiii. 32, 33. in a more literal manner than such a manner as would make the reality and perfection of it imme- is absolutely necessary. diately apparent. b A magistrate of great distinction.] If (as Dr. Whitby sup- f If hehavehwi an ass or an 01,^0.1 Our Lord had used the . poses) the person who gave the invitation was jndegd one of the same reasoning before, almost in the same word.s, when vindicating I gran^ sanhedrim, he might nevertheless have a country scat in the cure of the man whose hand was withered, (Matt. xii. 11. p. 103.) Galilee ; as the higlier courts never fail of allowing some "^fceSs to and at another time had urged an argument in effect the same with ^ their members. So that Grotius's argument for transposing this regard to the cure of the crooked woman : (Luke xiii. 15. \ 117.) story till Christ's arrival at Jerusalem seems inconclusive. AVhich may serve, among aTvafiety ot ^ther instances, to vindicate c Had conveyed himself thither, &c.] I cannot think (as some several repetitions which must be supposed, if we desire to assert suppose) that he was one of the family: because it is said that the exact and circumstantial truth of the sacred historians. — See Christ dismissed, or let him go, when he was cured ; ver. 4. Wotton's Misccl. Vol. II. p. 27. REFLECTIONS ON THE EXERCISE OF HUMILITY AND CHARITY. 237 6 And they could not And they were all so confounded at the force and evidence of what he said, tliat t/iet/ SECr. answer him again to these j^.^;.^ „o^ ^^/^ fo a/isxvcr /litn again to these things, though they had not the candour to 119. "^"'^' acknowledge themselves convinced by them. 7 And he put forth a And he spake what may in one sense of the word be called a p ^^^able, that is, a grave, luke parable to those which were concise, and memorable sentence, (see note b, p. 129.) to those ivh were invited to din- ^^^• hinv *'the'''''chos'r out '"the ner, ^»^f« he observed how thci^ chose and contended for the chief seats at the table; 7 chilf roo^ms*^; saying unto and, to reprove them for their pride, and recommend humility, he said unto them. There them, is one thing I would on this occasion address to every one in the company, namely. When 8 of'^any'uIlnZa we^lditir" t/'ou art invited bti any friend to a wedding-feast, or any other great entertainment, re- sit not down in the higiieSt member the hint which Solomon has given, (Prov. xxv. 6, 7.) and do not sit down in the ab'irnvinUianTioVb"b^d- »PP<-'rmost place, /est another of more honourable rank in life than thee should happen den of him ; to be invited by him ; And he that invited you both should come and' say to thee. Thou 9 9 And he that bad thee ,^-,^,s(- „./j^,g place to this person ; and thou shouldst then, to avoid a second disgrace of thee,'&™ve'thil''man plaice" this nature, begin with shame to take the very lowest place, as conscious how much tliou and thou begfin with sliame hast exposed thyself by so haughty and foolish a behaviour. But rather, on the contrary, 10 *%*o''Burwiren*tl"o™'art '^''^^^ ''''"'" "'^^ *^ invite'3,^oafid sit down at first in the lowest place \ho\x canst tindiS biddeu, go and sit down in that wlieu he that invited thee comes into the room, he may say to thee. My friend, go the lowest room ; that when up hi (t her : ///<:'« shall thy modesty be foUowecPwith a distinguishing regard, and ///om he *may^ia/''untr"thee; shalt\\mi have honour in the sight both of the n^ter of the tKist and o/ all them that Friend, go up" higher : then' sit at table with thee, as having assumed nothing to thyself, but rather been contented to the'* re'^nce'^of th°e?u 'that stoo^To"Thine inferiors. Fur this may be laid down as a certain maxim in life, and happy sirat^m^t with thee. is the man that attends to it. Every one who exalts himself beyond his proper rank and 11 11 For whosoever exalt- circumstances shall be proportionably humbled and mortified; but he that willingly and heX't humbfeth him- humbles himself shail be exalted and honoured, as well as beloved both by God and self shall be exalted. man. (Compare Matt, xxiii. 12. and Luke xviii. 14.) him tharbade liim Ivhen ^hcn said he also to him that invited him. If you desire to improve what you have to 12 thou niakest a dinner or a the best advantage, spend it in charity, rather than in magnificence and luxury : and supper, rail not thy frienrls, -,,/^^.,^ f/JgJ^ j„akest a dinner or a supper, invite ?zo^so^much thy rich friends, or thy thy kinsmen, nor' %'rich brethren, or thy kindred, or neighbours ;^ lest they slroulH also invite thee again, neighbours; lest they also and t\\\is a recompense be made thee, and all thou hast in return be to receive one banquet corapensebfmadrthee.'"' ^r another; which would introduce an habit of high living, at a great expense both of- 13 Bntwhen thou niakest money and time, and would occasion the disoider of your respective families. But rather, 13 a feast, call the poor, t!ie tr/;«? ///o« ■Ji'OM/c/.s^ ?««/-c ff// (V? /'er/a////«c;;i; which should tum to the surest accouQt, let it be nrumed, the lame, the ^j^-^ ^^^ im^^\, and invite to it the poor, the disabled, the lame, [««r/] the blind,' who are incapaljle of providing for themselves : let these come frequently to thy house, to receive 14 And thou Shalt be thine alms, or " send portions to them" when they cannot come: (Neh. viii. 10.) And 14 ^ blessed ; for they cannot this will atiford thee a iiiuch nobler satisfaction than banquets can give ; and, I may truly 8hXbeTecora'^en'=ed''at'the ^ay, thou shalt be happy i^tliat they are not capable of inaking thee such a requital; Ksurrect'icm ofthe'just. for their prayers shall'descend in blessings on thy head; and, besides all the pleasure a generous heart will find in the very exercise of such bounties, thou shalt be abundantly recompensed at the resurrection of the just, ^ if they proceed from a real principle of piety and faith. (Compare note a, p. 109.) IMPROVEMENT. How happy were they who had frequent opportunities of conversing with Christ, whose discourses were always so wise and so useful ; how well did he repay all the entertainments he received, in the advantages which he gave for religious improvement ! In vain might his enemies watch for occasions against him. In his tongue was the Ver. 1 lavj of wisdom as well as of kindness : (Prov. xxxi. 26.) And surely the lips of his ministers and disciples would feed many to their everlasting benefit, were, this blessed model to be more carefully traced ! (Prov. x. 21.) Let us particularly observe what heliere says concerning a rnodest and humble deportment, which is indeed the 8 — 11 surest way to be honoured and respected. And let us take great heed that that good-breeding, which consists so mucli in the expressions of humility, and a readiness to prefer others to ourselves, do not degenerate into a mere form, and prove, as it too often does, the cloak of arrogance and pride ; but that it have its foundation in a lowly opinion of ourselves, and an habitual disposition to submit even to our inferiors, when we may do it without breaking in upon the duties and decencies of life, and injuring those to whom it may be exercised, by an indulgence which they know not how to understand or improve. Let us hearken to these exhortations to charity from the mouth of our c'haritable Saviour, who gave himself for 12, 13 us. And as Christ pleased not himself, (Rom. xv. 3.) let us not allow ourselves to squander away great quan- g Sit down at first in the lowest place.] It is most probable tliat i The disnhhd, S^-c.'] AVe render aviTrr^oys the moimed ; but the Christ himself, asillustrious a person as he was, had accordingly signif.-ition of the.word is much more extensive, and indeed takes in done thus, and sat itown among them in the lowest place at the table, both the lame and the blind afterwards mentioned ; and may also h /mite not so much thi/ rich friends, — or neiy/ihours.'] Probably include those whom the infirmities of age have rendered helpless. — (as Mr. Reading well conjectures) he observed iu the Pharisees a Grotius thinks this scripture was the foundation of the aguptp, or llummuLof making ni,;gnificent feasts, (on the sabbath-days, and on love- feasts, among the primitive Christians; but it is not evident, other occasions,) and of treating great persons, chiefly out of pride, Pliny has a fine parallel passage: See Plin. Epist. lib. \:i. epist.^. ambition, and ostentation; which migiit render this advice pecu- k At tlie resurrection of the just.] It is not so evident as Dr. liarly proper, especially if he who now gave this entertainment was, Clarke supposes, that «i ».w must here signify charitable men ; it as many of his brethren certainly were, very deficient in works cf rather seems to me a strong and awakening intimation that none chanty. See Reading's Life of Christ, p. 25'6.— It is plain the word who neglect works of charity shall have their final lot among the ricA (as Grotius well observes) refers not merely to neighbours, but righteovts; which is evident from the many hundred scriptures tothekindredand the other persons that are mentioned with them; which indispensably require mercj as well as justice. (Compare for if these were in low circumstances, their being related to them Matt. i. 19. note a, p. 13.) was au argument why they should be regarded rather than neglected. 538 THE PARABLE OF THE GREAT SUPPER. SFCT. titles of money in what may gratify our own senses, or make a gaudy show in the eyes of (he vainer part of man- 1 ] 9. kind ; but let us te wilhng to spare from the luxuries and sujierfluities of life, that we may bestow it on the poor and the distressed. And indeed, whatever our circumstances and possessions be, we must expect that the stream of LUKE our bounty will soon be dried up, if it be not supplied from the fountain of a prudent fragality. This self-denial ^'^'- ma'y now in some instances be painful; but it will be amply rccojiipcnscd at the resurrection of the jicst. May 14 we then meet with many whom our liberality has fed and clothed, whom our knowledge and zeal have instructed, and vi'hom our holy examples have edified and quickened ! Here will be a foundation laid for the endearments of an eternal friendship ; when that which has been formed upon a partnership in vice or animal pleasure shall be for ever forgotten, or be remembered with mutual horror, j iltUi-.- "''a-o ■■.v\C^« - i^tt • iM- i liSS- '. J SECTION CXX. Our Lord foretells, in the parable of the great supper, the rejection of the Jetvs, and the calling of the Gentiles. Luke xiv, 15 — 24. I^UKE xiv. 15. H;i,g ^iy ,5 SECT. And while Jesus was thus discoursing, one of the guests at the Pharisee's table hearing And when one of them 120. ^//e^c useful things, and willing to keep up so good a spirit of conversation, said to him, |l"it sat at ineatjvith him Happj/ indeed is he who shall be honoured so far as to eat hread"^ in the /cingdofn of God : unto him, lilc'ssed is he LUKE blessed man, who shall live in the time of the Messiah, and share the entertainments he that shall eat bii'ad in the ^'^' will prepare for his people, when these virtues of humility, condescension, and charity '°S"^™ ° o • shall flourish in all their glory ! 16 On this natural occasion, our Lord thought it proper to remind him and the company, iG Then said he unto that many who, on mistaken notions of this kingdom, professed to desire it, were under \""V ^ '^'^'^'^^"' """""adea the force of such carnal prejudices on this head, that they would in fact slight and reject it. many : ' And to this purpose he uttered the following parable, and said to him that had expressed so 17 And sent his servant 17 high a notion of the entertainments of his kingdom, A certain man inade a great supper, ?,* supper-tmie to say to 1 ■■, J ^ 4 T 1 J. 1. I ■ J J J/ / !:• J thera that were bidden, and invited inami guests; And he sent o\A his servant at trie liour of supper to say come, for all things are to t/tose that ti-ere invited, as they delayed their coming, My master desires you would uo^ ready. cowe away as soon as possible, /«;■ all things prepared for the entertainment are noxo co^Hpnt^te^r^n to n-aVc^ex- 15 ready. And they all began with one [consent,'^ as if by mutual agreement they had all cuse. The tirst said unto contrived to put a slight on the entertainment, to excuse themselves on one pretence or '^''^' ' *"'^^'^ bougiit a piece another. The first said to him that was sent, I have just now purchased afield, and go\iid see it-. I pray thee / am under a necessity of going to sec it ; I entreat Mee therefore to make my excuse, 'lave me excused. 19 And another said, I have]\M,i bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them, th&t jj^ve bwMiT'fiveVjke'of I may see how they will draw ; I beseech thee therefore to make my excuse, and assure oxen, and" I go to prove 20 thy master that it is important business that prevents me.*^ And another said, I have very ^^^f"- I pay tliee have lately married a wife, and shall have company to entertain, and therefore you will easily 20 And another said, i perceive I cannot come (0 attend your master's feast and nedect my own.'' And that have married a wife, and 21 servant returning, told his lord all these things. Then the master of the house who *''2rL°Jth'at'Trvlnrcame had made the entertainment was very angry, as he reasonably might be, to see such an and shewed his lord these affront put upon his splendid preparations, and such an ungrateful return made for the *'""p^ . '^'"^" *.''^ master peculiar kindness and respect he had shewn in sending for these guests; and therefore he said to his servant^ Go out said to his servant. Go out directly into the streets and lanes of the city,^ and Bring quickly into the streets and in hither the poor, and the disabled, and the lame, and the blind, that they may come and in"huher the'^poor"iMid'^tho partake of the entCTtainment ; for J had rather see my house filled with such guests than maimed, and the halt, and 22 empty as it now is. And the servant quickly came back, and said. Sir, what thou didst ^^f,}'^]^^; ., , . , 1 . 1 J ' '' 22 And tliG s€VV3nt sjiki please to command is done; these poor distressed people are come in, and sat down at Lord, it is done as thou hast the table, and still there is room for more guests, and entertainment enougii provided commanded, and yet there 23 to feast many others. And the lord said to the servant. Go out then into the roads ^'' aa'And the lord said unto without the city, and, rather than fail, look for the poorest and most helpless travellers, who the servant. Go out into the are sheltering themselves under trees fl«r/ /^r(/o-p5 ;f flwr/, if importunity be necessary to such, '"giiways and hedges, and ; ^ /nil '^...r J , J ' compel them to come in, press tliemiiaX youtind there by the most earnest mvitation to come zn,s that my house that my house may be filled. ' a Shall eat bread.'] It is well known that the phrase, /o f«/ ir^orf, d T cannot come, he."} As the process of the pnrfli^i' represents signifies making a meal ; and this not merely at a common table, a wise and good man oflended with this excuse among the rest, we but sometimes at a feast wlicre the provision is very sumptuous, must suppose something in the circumstance of his receiving the I .So perhaps it might be at the table of this noble Pharisee, ver. I. message, or of appointing the time for entertaining company on j (See 2 Sara. ix. 7, 10; xii. 17, 20 ; and Prov. ix. 5.) Compare note his own marriage, which implied a rude contempt of the inviter, ' e, p. 170. * _ and made the reply indecent. It was not necessary to descend to b fVi/h one [consent;'} avt ixit!."] Of all the various methods such particulars, which learned men have taken to supply the ellipsis here, (which e Into tlie streets and lanes of tlie city.'] This seems the true dis- may be seen at large in Wolfius, Observ.\o\. I. p. 682,68.3.) it tinction between trXirtut and fu^if ; the former of which signifies seems to me most natural to understand the word r'"/""?, that is, a broad, and the latter a narrow 'vay, in which last the alleys may with one consent ; which supposition is maintained by Beza. The ' be included. variety of their excuses render fwvrir, i/jiVA on? iiofcp, less proper. ' /' f Into tlie roads and hedges.] Any gross and abandoned sinners c Ibeseech tliee make my cxnise, &.C.] It is a beautiful circum-. might be represented as in this wretched condition. (See Eph. ii. stance that our Lord here represents both these bargains as already! 12 — 17.) But it seems an excessive refinement of Brennius, to sup- made ; so that going to see the farm and to prove the oxen that* pose the hedges here mentioned refer to the ceremonial law as aj evening rather than the next morning, was merely the eflTcct ofj partition ; as it likewise is to explain the first clause as relating toj rudeness f>n the one hand, and of a foolish impatient humour on' tlie proselytes of the gate, and the .second to the idolatrous Gcn^C the other : and could never have been urged, liad they esteemed ( tiles. One might as well infer from ver. 24, that no .lews should the inviter or his entertainment. Accordingly it is commonly \be saved : and it argues a wrong taste in criticism to torture every found in fact, that men neglect the blessings and demands of the Circumstance into a fancied resemblance. gospel, not for the most important affairs in life, with which they g Pims M^m by the most earnest invitation /o com? in.] Nothing seldom interfere, but to indulge the caprice and folly of their own can be more apparently weak than to imagine, with St. Augustin tempers, and to gratify the impulse of present passions, sometimes and many others, that these words can justify the use of compul- excited on very low occasions. sion and force in religious matters ; the absurdity and iniquity of )\ WE MUST TiVKE UP OUR CROSS IF WE WILL BE HIS DISCIPLES. 239 24 Vor I say unto you, inay be Well filled. Fur I iaij unto you that none of those men "who -were invited, il' SECT that uoae of those men they sliould iiow be ever so desirous of it, s/utll be admitted so much as to taste of my 120. whicli were bidden shall „iUi„ ji j ii-niii- J J taste of my supper. Supper, smce they liave so rudely and ungratefully slighted it. And in like manner, such will the divine conduct be with regard to the gospel. God luke sends messengers in the most importunate manner to invite you Jews to come and partake ^^V. of its rich entertainment : yet you neglect it on the meanest pretences, and one is too busy and another too idle to attend to it. But he will severely resent the atiront, and (though it may seem to you a.s unaccountable a conduct as that which I have represented in this parable) will call in the poor, ignorant, and wretched Gentiles, who were wandering in the most helpless circumstances in the ways of idolatry and wickedness, and his church shall be filled with them; while you, who reject his gospel, shall in righteous judgment be ' yourselves rejected, and perish for want of those mercies which you now despise. IMPROVEIMENT. May the infinite niercy of God forbid that this should ever be our condition ! The gospel-feast, like the Ver. 24 sumptuous banquet of Ahasueras, (Est. i. 3, 4.) is of a very long standing: not only from week to week, but from age to age, God is sending to invite new guests ; and, after all the millions that have been regaled by it, and 21,22 nourished up to everlasting lite, there is yet room for more. Still are his servants sent from one time to another, with all the fervour of the most affectionate persuasion, to urge sinners to accept of these desirable blessings : (for such only is the compulsion that becomes a feast, and suits the nature of reasonable creatures.) May we not 23 receive the grace of God in vain ! May we not perish, as thousands before us have done, by making light of the gospel ! • • It has often been observed from this parable, that they were lawful occasions which these unhappy people 18 20 pleaded as their excuse for neglecting the invitation. And how many perish by what is indeed lawful ! But the care of our estates or cattle, our domestic affairs, and our dearest relatives, will be destructive to us, if they be minded as our main care, and our hearts be so attentive to them as to forget the one thing needful. Are we of the number of those who, though once bUnded, impoverished, and enfeebled bysin, are now brought 21 as welcome guests to the table which divine love has spread ? Let us adore the grace which opened the door to us, and opened our hearts to comply with the call ; by its strong and powerful, though rational and gentle influence, compelling us to come in. Let the servants employed in the message urge it with a becoming earneshiess ; as well knowing how much the heart of their great Master is in it, and how much the happiness of souls depends on their accepting it. Lord ! may we see thy table furnished with guests, and ourselves be so happy as finally to partake of those blessings to which we are now t;ommanded to invite others ! For blessed indeed are they who shall eat 15 bread in the kingdom of God ! - ■-", v « '. -' < ■, v - ■" - ;, v-v SECTION CXXI. Our Lord urges upon his disciples the necessity of considering the dijjiculties of religion before then take up a profession of it. Luke xiv. 25, to the end. Luke xiv. 25. Luke xiv. 2o. . , And there went great A]sD as great multitudes attended Christ,^ and went with him ia this his journey to- SECT. multitudes with him : and ward JeiTisalem, he turned about and said to them. You now attend me from place to 121. tl^em""^"*^ ' "" ^^" "" " place with some tokens of regard ; but seriously consider hosv much it will cost you to approve yourselves my faithful followers. luke 26 If any man come to jf a,))^ one comcs to me to be instructed in my religion, and to obtain the blessings of ^^^■ Md ''mother'^ and 'wife' aii^d ^Y kingdom, and does not prepare himself, on a proper occasion, to act as if he did even 26 children, and brethren and hate his father and mother, and his very wife and children, and brethren and sisters, li'fe'^also Y"' aiinot"be°mv •^^''' "''^^ ^'^^ ^^" ^'-^^ ^'^^'^ ^^^^^ ^' ^^ '^^ ^^ '^'^^ willing to abandon all these rather than to .disciple.' ' forsake me, he cannot really be my disciple, whatever he may pretend. And whosoever 27 27 And whosoever doth (Jq^,^ „o^ stedfastly resolve even to bear his cross and to co7ne after me, whenever he is after rap,'^cannot be*^ my called to tread the painful steps that I am taking in the way to crucifixion and death, he disciple. cannot be my disciple : and therefore, as I gave these things in charge to my apostles, : (Matt. X. 38. p. 154.) I repeat them to you as matters of universal concern, which require ,' your most attentive consideration. te^if^'to'buMd Vtowi"" -^^ ^^ necessary to dwell on the thought ; for which of you, if he be a person of 28 sitteth^not down first, and commoii prudence, and intend to build a towcr,'^ or any other edifice, does not first which I have represented at large in my Sermon on that subject, coming out from thence: but as the Evangelist does not so ex- It is certain the word iyiy>ci§;j is often used to express an imporlu- pressly connect the passages, I was not willing to assert it in tlie nily where there could be no secular terrors ; Matt. xiv. 22 ; Mark paraphrase. vi. 4.5; Gal. ii. 3,14; vi. 12. (as is likewise the word :sx^xiix^onxi, h To a.cta%'\( he A'xAey en hate hh father and mother, Si-c.l Strictly Luke xxiv. 29; and Acts xvi. 15.) and several instances are produced speaking, to hate our nearest relatives, and our own lives, would be by Eisner, in which the word signifies pre,ssing pe'suasion. ( Observ. unnatural wickedness, and equally contrary to tlie dictates of hu- ^ Vol. I. p. 244, 245.) And here, as it would bo most indecent to ima- manity and the genius of the gospel. But it is well known, tliat " - ■ gine persons forced to an entertainment, so it would have been quite one tiling is saio to be loved and another hated in scripture, when mipi-acticable for a single servant to have compelled a multitude in the former is much preferred ; and especially when, out of regard j .^. this sense. There is an ambiguity in the English word Ipress,'] to it, the latter is neglected and forsaken. Compare Gen. xxix. 31 ; Mj'tA vt" which much more exactly answers "to that in tlie original than the Deut. xxi. 15— 17 ; Mai. i. 3; Rom. ix. 13; and Matt. vi. 24. '^ V word our translators ase: and it seems to me the part of a faithful c If he intend to liuild a tower.] This phrase naturally suggests translator, especially of the sacred writings, to preserve tlie ambi- to us the idea of a more magnificent edifice than our Lord's hearers guities of the original, though a paraphrase, which speaks only a might probably think of on this occasion. It is plain that towers man"s own sentiments, may sometimes venture to determine them, were frequently run up, probably of some slight materials, to lodge a Great multitudes attended Christ.] Perhaps the cure of the those who had the care of keeping vineyards or flocks ; and they man who had the dropsy, and some expectations ,as to the event of were built pretty high in proportion to their basis, that they might Christ's visit to tliis Pharisee, might cause a crowd near his house ; command the larger pro.spect. Compme 2 Cliron. xxvi. 10 ; Mic. and wliat follows might be spoken the same sabbath, on our Lord's iv. 8 ; Isa. v. 2 ; Matt. xxi. 33 ; and Mark xii. 1. t-tX^ ^ a ^IV. should begin to deride him. Saying, in contempt. This must be surely a wise man who i|u**ti?at'beho^ld iV^bes'it' to 30 thus began to build, and was not able to finish his plan ; and here his imperfect work mock him, stands a lastina: monument of his great discretion ! •^".'''^.y ".'»,• '''•"/ "'"" ^'^': ,, J • 7 • n 1 7 ■ ,7 ) • ■ A 1 ± o'"' to build, and was nut 31 Or what wise king, 11 he was ?narehing out to another king in XDar,°- does not able to finish. first sit down and consider whether he has any such advantage as to arms, strength, 31 Oiwhat kinggoinsrto or situation, as may induce him to conclude that he is able xvith no greater force than ten lung^^ sittetb not (lown°first^ ' thousand men to meet and oppose him that cometh against him with twenty thousand ? and consulteth whether be | 32 And if he find he has not, while he that comes with this superior force against him is ^^ able with ten thousand j • ' , , , 7 7-/ /• 1 1 J • to meet hira that cometh 1 yet at a distance, lie sends an enwassy, and desires terms of pcace,^ acknowleaging against him with twenty ' his readiness to submit to some things which may be disagreeable, for the preservation of thousand 1 , ., . , , . , . . J 1 c \ ■ \e 32 Or else, while the his dominions, and perhaps 01 his hie. other is yet a great way ■ 33 So then do you consider whether you think it worth your while to adhere to me on off, lie sends an anibassage, these terms, for I assure you, I will admit you on no other ; and whosoever he be of you p"apg^'^*"^''"' '■''°'*'t'""s of ', that does not stedfastly resolve io give up all his possessions whenever he is called to it 33 So likewise, whosoever on my account,''j^exa//?;o/ be owned by me as ?ny disciple indeed. '^*^t''n°^i^M "'at forsaketh 34 And if you are not my disciples indeed, your outward profession will be very jnsignifi; not be my disc?ple.' cant ; for though salt in general is a very good thing, and my servants, as I formerly in- 34 Salt is good ; but if \imated, (Matt. v. 13. p. 74.) are the salt of the earth ; yet I must again add, if the salt I'uerewiuTsl.aTl' i^be'^ be grown insipid, with what can it be seasoned? or what can recover those whom my sonedt 35 gospel will not influence and reclaim ? And as insipid salt is such a vile and worthless ., "'■^.'^'^ ""^"^'Tf^^ l\^ thing that it is neither fit to be used of itself as manure /o/- the laud, nor even so much (Umgbi'iV; imt men cast it as fiifor a place on the dunghill, to be there mixed with other dung ; [buf] it is thrown out. He that hath ears to out of doors, and trampled under foot like mire in the streets : you also will be no less ''*'""' '"^^ '"'" ''^*'^- useless and contemptible, if, under the advantages and obligations of a Christian profession, you are destitute of a sincere principle of integrity and piety, and will be utterly aban- doned and rejected as unprofitable servants. He therefore that hath ears to hear, let him hear it attentively ; for it is a point in which not only the honour of my kingdom but the salvation of your own souls is concerned. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 33 May our most serious attention be fixed on so important a truth ; and may this plain and candid declaration of 34, 35 our Lord be duly regarded by us, as ever we desire to find the advantage of that relation to him in which we are so ready to glory ! If we would not be cast out with disdain, and trampled under foot as worthless and vile, let us be solicitous that there may be the salt of divine grace in our hearts ; and let us undertake a religious profession 28, 32 with that deliberate consideration which becomes a matter of such great importance. A hasty purpose will never bear us tlirough the difficulties we must expect to encounter ; and rash vows and thoughtless adventures in this case will only expose us to the derision of others, and the keener remorse of our own minds. 26 Nor is the nature and evidence of religion such as to have any reason to fear the severest examination. The demands of Christ are indeed high, — that the nearest relatives should be abandoned, and even life itself sacrificed for his sake ; that we be at least martyrs in resolution, and have so much of a reciprocal affection for him, as shall, 33 like his love to us, be stronger than death. Yet how reasonable is the demand ! Did he leave his Father's bosom for us, and shall we scruple to abandon our houses and our kindred for him ? Did he expire on tlie cross for us, 27 and shall not we be ready to take up our crosses and follow him ? Shall it not be delightful to us to trace his most painful steps, and by the most costly sacrifices to approve our gratitude and our duty ? Blessed Jesus, lead us ! and by thy grace we will follow thee, whatever be the path, whatever be the burden, whatever the terror of the way ; knowing that if we partake with thee in tliy sufferings, we shall at length share with thee in thy consolation and thy glory ! (2 Tim. ii. 12.) ,*' .' . ; , SECTION CXXII. Publicans and sinners flock round our Lord, and he vindicates his readiness to receive them by the parables of the lost sheep and piece of money. Luke xv. I — 10. Luke XV. 1. Luke xv. 1. Thus our Lord addressed himself to the multitude, and especially to his disciples. Then drew near unto him LUKE on the sabbath-day, as he came out from the house of the noble Pharisee with whom he a'^' the^ publicans ^anU sm- XV. 1. had dined : Now as it was then a season of leisure, and he appeared in public teaching d Or what king marching out to ancounter (tnolher king, S,-c.] Ac- and C/inritij, (whoever he be,) has given a quite different interpie-! cordin" to Sir Isaac Newton's C/ironWoiTyrtliese words were spoken tation of this passage, which, so far as I can recollect, I liave noti at our Lord's last passover, and might refer to Herod's leading his yet seen, and which I am sure deserves consideration. He explains army through Judea against Aretas, king of Arabia. But as Herod it (p. 43.) as referring to those who have not courage to fight with , did not then appear to"^ be the weaker, I cannot see that (even sup- their spiritual enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil, and . lOTsine the premises to be true) there would be any certainty of such therefore make the best terms they can with them, and sit still neg- J an intended allusion lecting Christ and religion. But if the passage be taken in this f e Desires terms of peace: E(»jra ra sr^s ei?w,v.] This represents sense, our Lord, by declaring in the next verse that he will make the feebler person as begging a peace ; a proper emblem of the hu- no abatement in his own demands, plainly intimates how necessary iiiility and resignation with wliich peace is to be sought from an it is to break through all opposition, and to determine to face all offended God, who is possessed of a strength, not (as in the case sup- the difficulties in our way, which it will be our wisdom to view posed here) merely double, but infinitely superior to ours.— The and consider, that wc may be prepared Willi proportionable rcsolu- pious and amiable author of a Lite valuable piece called OrMot/o^y tion. SECT 122. REFLECTIONS ON THE JOY IN HEAVEN OVER A PENITENT SINNER. 241 the people, all the publicans in that place, and some other notorious sinners, who niigjit sECr. not easily have been admitted into the Pharisee's house, drew near to hear him preach,^ 122. being charmed with the condescension which allowed of their access. ? And the Pbirisees and And ie?w5, moved with compassion for them, uttered some reifiarkable discourses, ad- luke Thismarr™"reu\s'm'"l; mirably calculated for their encouragement, and that of others who had lain under the XV. aud cateth with them. '' most aggravated guilt. But the proud Pharisees and scribes who were present, mur- 2 inured when they saw such a crowd around him, and said. This man, while he sets up for a religious Teacher, unaccountably gives access to the most profligate sinners, and 3 And he spake this para- sometimes eats with them, and makes no scruple to accept of invitations to their houses. ble unto them, saying, ^„ tit i ■• i /- i ^ o \ 4 What man ot you hav- (Compare Mark n. 16. p. 143.) ing an hundred sheep, if he i?; 'i j- i. -n l li x xi i_ -n ■ ■ together, saying, Rejoice her good success ; and, conciuding it Will be agreeable news to them, she says. Rejoice with me, for 1 have found >with me, my friends, /b;' J have found the piece of money which I had lost. And so 1 10 *''io'"L[ke\vi'se'' I sav 'un'to *'''.''/ unto you, that there is in like manner a peculiar j'oj/ in heaven among the angels of you, There is' joy in tlie God over One repenting sinner. Do not therefore wonder if I labour to promote their joy presence of the angels of q^ j^jjjg account, and Condescend to familiar converse with those whom you proudly despise God over one sinner that ,11 .' r ^ r repenteth. as unworthy your regard. IMPROVEMENT. How graceful and lovely does our Lord appear, while thus opening his compassionate arme and heart to these Ver. 1 wretched outcasts, for whose souls no man cared I Who can chuse but rejoice -at this jubilee which he pro- claimed among them, and at the cheerful attention which they gave to these glad tidings of great joy ; May we, who are his followers, never despise the meanest or the worst of men when they seem disposed to receive religious instruction ; but rather exert ourselves with a distinguished zeal, as knowing that the joy of the heavenly world in 10 their recovery will be in some measure proportionable to the extremity of their former danger. ' Let us often recollect the charity and goodness of those perfected spirits who look dowTi from theii' own glory 7 a All th'> publicans and sinners drew near to hear him.'] Some proper, to encourage the humble penitent, to expose the repining suppose they came by a particular appointment from all the Pharisee, or to animate all to zeal in so good a work as endeavour- neighbouring parts. But as Luke goes on in the story, without ing to promote the repentance of otliers. any intimation of a change, either in the time or the scene of it, I d Than over ninety-nine rightenus persons, i^r.] It cannot be our am inclined to think these discourses might be delivered the same Lord's meaning here, that God esteems one penitent sinner more day that Christ dined with the Pharisee, (? 119.) which being the than ninety-nine confirmed and established saints; (who are, un- sabbath-day, would give the publicans, who on other days were doubtedly, the persons spoken of as needing no repentance, or no employed in their office,_a more convenient opportunity ot attend- universal change of heart aud life, in which sense the word fxirxmx with the divine But it is plainly peculiarly rejoices when an extra va- il.) But that the chief part of this assembly were Gentile idola- " gant child is reduced to a sense of hisiluty, and oue whom he^had ters can never be proved ; and if it could, it would be no sufficient " considered as utterly ruined by his follies, aud perhaps as dead, proof of Christ's being now on the other side of Jordan. Vet I " returns with remorse and submission ; or as any other person who acknowledge it highly probable that some idolatrous Gentiles " has recovered what he had given up for gone, has a more sensible might join with the multitude, who, if they understood these para- " satisfaction in it, than iu several other things equally valuable, bles, might justly draw great encouragement from them. "but not in such danger: so' do the holy inhabitants of heaven b In the pastures of lli.e desert.'] Uncultivated ground, used " rejoice in the conversion of the most abandoned sinners, aud the merely as common or pasture, was called wilderness, or desert, by " great Father of all so readily forgives and receives them, that he I the Jews, in distinction from arable or inclosed land. Compare " may be represented as having part in the joy." — Though, by the Josh. XV. 61 ; 1 Kings ii. 34 ; 2 Kings iii. 8 ; Matt, iii, 1 ; and Mark way, when .human passions are ascribed to God, it is certain they i vi. 31. (Compare also note c, on Matt, xviii. 12. 5 94. p. 192.) are to be taken in a figurative sense, entirely exclusive of those c Greater joy U'ill be in heaven, S^-c] Alluding, says Mons. L'En- sensatioi>s which result from the commotions of animal nature fant, (a little- too coldly^) to the style of the Jews, with whom it in ourselves. was usual to represent the angels weeping for the corruption of men, e She calls her female friends [rat 5iX»t,] and neighbours together.] and rejoicing at their conversion. But it seems very unwarrantable It might seem hardly worth while to ask the congratulation of her j to suppose Christ thus asserting a thing-, merely because tlie Jews friends on so small an occasion as finding a drachma, (fur that is the ciiipioj/cu in iiieir omce, a more convenieni opportuuity or attena- universal change ot heart aufl lite, in which sense \ ing.— Some have concluded (1 cou)d never conjecture for wliat rea-- is commonly used ;) for it would be inconsistent son) that this happened in Galilee of the Gentiles beyond Jordan, wisdom, goodness, aud holiness, to suppose this. ] from whence, they say, Christ went up to Jerusalem: (Luke xvii. ' as if he had said, " Asa father peculiarly rejoices i . used thus to represent and conceive of it. — We may conclude from piece of coin here mentioned, in value not above nine-pence ;) but \ ver. 10. that, at least in some extraordinary cases, the angels are, it is represented as the tcntii part of her little stock, and the im- J ( either by immediate revelation or otherwise, informed of the con- pressible and social temper of the sex may be perhaps thought of, as f j version of sinners, which must to those benevolent spirits be an adding some propriety to the representation. ' j occasion of joy , nor could any thing have been suggested more \ R ^'. 242 THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON. SECT, with compassion on mortals wandering in the paths of the destroyer, and who sing anthems of thankfulness and 122. joy, when by divine grace they are reclaimed from them. Let every'sinner be touched with a generous desire, that he who has been in so many instances the ottence and burden of the earth, rnay become the joy of heaven by LUKK his sincere conversion. And let the solicitude with which the little possessions of this world are sought, when ^^- they are lost by any accident, engage us more earnestly to seek what is infinitely more valuable, our own salva- 4, 6, 8 tion, and that of the immortal souls of others. May we in our different stations labour successfully for their reco- 9 very : that we may another day share in that higher joy which angels and gloriiied saints shall express, when they see them not only reduced to the paths of virtue and happiness, but fixed in abodes of eternal glory ! ^^ - ! "^ SECTION CXXIII. Our Jjord farther pursues the design of the preceding parables, by deliverpig that of the prodigal son. , ^ • Luke XV. 11, ^0 the end. '\f.^^^K Luke XV. 11. lukexv.ii. -^ ^ SECT; I With the same design of vindicating himself in conversing with publicans and sinners, And he said, A cert.iiu '' 123. Qf reproving the envy of the Pharisees, and of encouraging every sincere penitent by mov- """ ''*'! t""" ^o"*- i ing representations of the divine mercy, our Lord went on to utter another most beautiful ^^•^^ and affecting parable. And he said, while this various multitude was standing round him, ■ There was a certain man in plentiful circumstances, and of a very condescending temper, 12 who >^f/f/ i't^'o .yo«i\ that were now grown up to manhood. And Die younger of them, I2 And the younger of fondly conceited of his own capacity to manage his atlairs, and weary of the restraints of 1!'!™ ^^'."^ *° {'" fat'ier, -, . -vA -,- -T ~~-, J a 1- 11. J. r ±1 T i Father, give me the portion his fathers house, said one day to his mdulgent jor/rc-wr, rather, as 1 am now come to of good.s that falieth tome. years of discretion, I desire thou wouldst give me into mine own hands that portion of Aiid he divided unto them ffoods which, according to an equitable distribution, y^Z/.y to my share. And he, tinwil- "* '^'"^' ling to make any invidious distmction in distributing his effects, divided his living between them both,^ and gave them his chief stock of money, reserving the house and estate in his own hands. " ' ~" " 13 And not many days after this division was made, the younger son gathering all his 13 A«d not many days treasure together, and pretending a design of trafficking with it, took a journey into a tl?ere'd*''all^To"lther°" a^fd' fer?/ distant country ; and there forgetting his relations at home, and living with a knot took his joume'y into a far of companions like himself, in a very riotous, debauched, and extravagant manner, he c?untry, and tiie.re wasted . 1 , ^ J , iU 1 I / / • 7 .( '"^ substance with riotous qinckly squandered away the whole of his substance. living. 14 And when he had consumed all in this wretched course, it so happened, through the 14 And when he had righteous iudgment of God upon him, that there was an extreme famine in that country spent all, there arose a where he' sojourned; and he soon began to be in want of the very necessaries of life. Zf ife^fe^u to'be Tn wa"nt! 15 And, finding no shelter or relief among those who had been the companions of his luxury, 15 And he went andjoin- and shared in the spoils of his substance, yet unable to brook the mortification of return- ti^at"™u„5f *° ^ citizen of ing home in such circumstances, he went and joined himself -as, a servant to a citizen of him into his fields to feed that place ; who, thinking such a worthless creature unfit for any better post, sent him swine, away into his grounds^ belonging to an estate in the country, where he employed him to feed swine ; to which, however mean and disagreeable the employment was,'^ this un- happy youth, who had once lived in so much plenty and splendour, was forced to submit : \Q And even then, tlirough the unkindness of his master and the extremity of the season, he is And he would fain was kept so poorly, that he had not bread, but would gladly have filled his hungi-y belli/ If^*^, ^^^^ '"s belly with .. , ,r • . •; 7 ,1 1 ■ 1 ^1 ■ J- 1 J ; 4 ji '.1.1.5* II f'e husks that the swine With the sorriest //M-yw" whicli the swine did eat ; and yet there was no man that would aid eat: and no man gave take so much pity upon him as to give unto him one morsel of food ; so sparing did "uto him. the famine make them, and so much did every one despise this foolish and scandalous prodigal. 17 And now the infamy and distress of his present situation began to lead him into serious 17 And when he came to consideration; and coming to himself, he so hr recovered his reason, which had before I'imseif, lie said, How many been dethroned and extinguished by the mad intoxication of sensual pleasure, that he said iJi'^lg rieId'''en''ou™T/arid^'to in his own mind, Alas, how many hired servants in the family of my good father have ."pare, and I perish with bread enough and to spare, while I his child, who have known^so many better days, am ''""g^""! even perishing with famine, and am not thought worth my food by this unkind master 18 to whom I have hired myself! Whatever be the consequence of it, I am resolved that I is I win arise, and go to will sit no longer in this miserable condition : but I will immediately arise and ffo \".y *''i^f,'"' ""^ ^'^^ ^^y. ""*» J. J- J I. % \\ iM4i • • . iU u • J '"111. Fatlier, I have Sinned to my father, it all my httle remaining strength can carry me such a journey ;..«««', against heaven, and before without vainly attempting an apology, I will say to him, O my dear injured father, I t'i«^e, a Divided his living lietween them both.] It is (ilain no significant .1 version of that nation for this unclean animal must render tlie em- sense can be put on tliis circumstance of the parable, as referring to ployment peculiarly odious to him; and probably this circum- the dispensations of God to his creatures. It is one of those many stance was chosen by our Lord, to represent him as reduced to the ornamental circumstances which it would be weakness over-rigor- most vile and servile state that could be imagined. ousfyTo accommodate to the general design. d With the sorriest husks.] A late translation (after Brown, Sau- b 'jf'ho — sent him into his grounds.'] That xii, in such a construe- berf, Grotius, and many others) renders «{Arn:ov, carrauiat/s, or the * tion, should be rendered in this manner, the accurate Eisner has fruit of the caruh-tree, which bore a mean, tuough sweetish kind of shown by a variety of convincing instances. Ohserv. \o\.'[. p. 9.AS. fruit, in long crooked pods, which by some is called St. John's ' c However mean and disagreeable the employment was.] It is bread; but if the account which Saubert himself gives of it be true that among the ancient Greeks, the chief swineherd was looked true, swine would hardly have been fed with any thing but the upon as an officer of no inconsiderable rank ; as evidently appears hiiski/ part of this, in a time of extreme famine. 1 therefore chl!^■e from the figure which Eumaeus makes in the Od>/ssei/ : but this to retain our version ; but take it, on tlie^wliole, to h.ive been the was an age of greater refinement ; the unhappy youth was obliged fruit of a tree sometliing of a wiliT cli"esnut kind. See Drusius, to tend the swine himself; and if he he considered as a Jew, the in loc. HIS FATHER KINDLY RECEIVES HIM, AND HIS BROTHER RESENTS IT. 243 humbly confess that J have sinned against the great God of heaven^ by a long course of sect. vice and wickedness, atul have been guilty also of the vilest behaviour before thee, in 123. 1!) And am no more wor- alDusing thy goodness, and grieving thee by my unnatural rebellion ; And, in consequence ■ n>'/kp*"m''/ nfml^n? ^^I'.v ^^ t'''^' ^ ""' "^ "'°'^^ xcorthrj to be called thy son, nor can 1 expect the favour of being luke nMh,e me as one of lity i*i*jji/'-ii* *■ ii -i^ .^^ ^ •^■%.-i hired servants. admitted into thy family on such terms again ; nevertheless, do not suffer me to perish, ^v. but rather make me as one of thine hired servants,' and I will be contented for the future ^^ - to labour and to fare as they do, so I may but live in thy sight. 20 And he arose, and And accordingly he arose at that very instant, and seFlorward on his long journey, 20 came to his tather.— passing through all the stages of it with a firm resolution, Providence taking care for his subsistence, though he was obliged to beg his way ; and at length he ca?ne to tlie neigh- bourhood of the house in which his father dwelt, f —But when he was yet But •while he "was yet at a considerable distance, his father, who happened to be then Lfv'h'imraud''had 'corapat- Jooking that Way, sa-iD him, and presently knew him, disguised as he was ; and his boxcels '' sioD, and ran, and fell on his yearned over him to see him in so wretched a condition: and immediately, as if he had neck, and kissed him. forgot the dignity of his Own character, and all the injuries he had received, he ran to his child, and fell on his necJc vi'i'ik an eager embrace, and tenderly hissed him with tears of 21 And the son said unto joy. And the son began to make his humble acknowledgments, as he before had pur- 21 a"'iiisU?eavcn aninTth'^ posed, and Said unto him, O my abused and myiiGA father, I am ashamed to appear in sigilt,\ndani'no^u]ore\vor^ thy presence; for such has been my vileness, that J have sinned against the God of thy to be called thy son. heaven and before thee, and am no more -worthy to be called and owned as thy son, or 22 But the father said to to receive any token of thy favourable regards. But, before he could make an end of the 22 the bS robe, and"plt^7on ^P^^ech he intended, the compassionate /rt^/;e/- turned, and said to his servants, who were him, and put a ring on his now gathered round them, Go immediately into The' house, and bring out the best robe hand, and shoes ou liis feet, (^at is there,s and clothe him with it, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet, fat^ted^calf^Imf kill'/" and ^^^ "^^ ^'^^^ '^^^^ ™^^ appear like himself; And let others of you nin to thestallj and 23 let us eat and be merry f" bring hither the fattecl calf that is there, and kill it^ for a festival entertainmenT; and 24 For this my son was let US eat and be cheerful : For I esteem this as one of the happiest days of my lite, and 24 wTste'^andl'^ouifd'^And ^^^e joyful than the b"irfB-day of one of my children ; since this my son, that -was so long they began to be merry. considered by me as dead, is restored to life ;' and he -who -was concluded to be irre- coverably lost, is found, so that I have renewed hope of comfort in him. And the v.'hole house was filled with joy, and, having made the entertainment ready, they began to be cheerful. 25 Now his elder son was But while the youngCF son was thus received into his father's house, his elder son -was 25 in the field: and as he came abroad in the field; and as on his return he approached the house, he heard the sound he heard miSi'cand dancing:', of music and dancing, and was surprised at the discovery of such unusual joy. And 26 26 And he called one of calling one of the S€7'va7its to come to him, he inquired of him "what was the meanintr of what rh"se"thin^" meant T*^ these^things, and what could have occasioned this extraordinary rejoicing? And he m'id'il 27 And hesaiS unto him, to him. It is because thy younger brother is come home ; and thy father is so transported ul''^father*'lia'th''kureA'the ^'*'^ J'^^ ^^ '"^ Unexpected return, that he has killed the fatted calf, and made a very fatted calf, because he hath splendid entertainment, because he has received him in good health again, and found received him safeandsouud. him happily recovered to a sense of his duty. And he was very angry at the kind re- 28 anf w^uid nol go7u f-"'^' ception of his brother, and resolved that he would not go in. —Therefore came his His father therefore hearing he was there, and being told he had discovered some un- father out, and entreated easiness, ca?ne out with great condescension, and calmly entreated him to be pacified, „ ' . , , and to join with them in the festivities of the day. 29 And he answering, -r, ^'' ■ ^ ^ c ■ ■ ■ ^ •' ■ ^ ■ , , . . rvrv said to his father, Lo, these But, instead 01 rejoicing On so happy an occasion, and runnmg to embrace his penitent 29 many years do I serve thee, brother, he was still full of envy and resentment, and replied to his father. Behold, I have any \Tme'^Thy^'^command- Served thee these many years, and even to this day am as careful of thy alfairs as if thou ment, and yet thou never wast my master rather than my father ; nor canst thou say, I have at any time departed niT"-h^t make" nierr'y^'with ^'"'^'^ ^^ ^\A-^, or transgressed thy command ; and yet thou hast 7ievcr given me so my" friends: much as a kid, thai I might make an entertainment -with a few of my select friendsj 30 But as soon as this But as soon as ever this thy favourite son was come, voho has, as much as in him lay, 30 hath devoured tby living devoured thy substance with harlots abroad, in a long course of scandalous debaucheries, with harlots, thou hast to his Own ruiu and the infamy of the family, thou hast killed for him the fattest calf, kukd for hira the fatted ^^ ^^^^^ j^j,^ ^ welcome as if he had been the most dutiful child upon earth. 31 And he said unto hira. And, though his father justly might have taken offence at his unbecoming reply, yet, 31 e Sinned against the great God of heaven.'] This was, as Dr. h The failed calf, and kill ?/.] Eisner would render the word Goodman observes, {Parable of the Prodigal, p. 207.) an acknow- fiujars, sacrifice it ; truly urging that it was customary to offer a ledginent that his/ather's yoke had been so easy, that his throwing sacrifice at the birth, and sometimes at the unexpected recovery, itofi'had been an act o£ rebellion against GridT and it showed also of a child. (See Eisner, Oliserv. p. 249, 250.) But no such sacri- that his heart was touched with a sense, not only of the folly but fice was appointed among the Jews, nor could any have been law- tlie guilt of his conduct, and that the fear of God began to take fully offered but at Jerusalem, whicli does not appear to have been hold of him. the scene of the parable ; so that I can see no just reason for such f Make me as one of thine hired servanls."] He mentions this, not a rendering, because such servants fared worse than slaves, but because he was i That was dead, is restored to life."] It is by a very common and himself an hired servant, and therefore naturally compared his owu beautiful emblem that vicious persons are represeutea as dead, condition with those of that rank in his father's family. both by sacred and profane authors; (compare 1 Tim. v. 6; Eph. g The best robe.'] It is observed by Ferrarius (de Re Vestiar. lib. ii. 1 ; v. 14 ; and Wolfius, in toe.) and the natural death of their iii. cap. 24.) that the nr^xri, or long robe, was a garment which servants children would be less grievous to pious parents, than to see them never wore; so that his father's ordering any such garment, and abandoned to such a course as this young sinner took. — But to sup- especially the best, to be brought, was declaring in the most mov- pose an allusion here to that statute (Deut. xxi. 18 — 21.) which ing manner that can be imagined, how far he was from intending condemned a disobedient and rebellious son to death on the prose- to treat him like a servant. — His mentioning the ring and shoes cution of his parents, would in this case be most unnatural, and spake the same language ; .xs many learned writers have observed, utterly spoil the tenderness and grace of this speech. See Wolfius, in he. R 2 \ } 244 REFLECTIONS ON THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON. SECT. wilb. great gentleness, /le said to him. Son, thou art ahcaijs loith me, and art every day Son, thou art ever with me, 123. receiving some token of my kindness; yea, all that I have is in a manner thine, as thou a"'' «" ">»' ' ''-"e is thine. art heir to the bulk of my estate :'' But surely, on farther consideration, thou must ac- 30 it was meet that we LUKE knowledge that it urns ft we should Jea^t and rejoice to-day : for this thy poor brother^ should make merry, and be XV. who was but lately looked upon as dead, is, as'it were, miraculously made alive again ; f^'.^^! ,igad', ali'riAlwe a° ai" 32 and he who was lost to us all, is now happily found ; and it will much better become and was iost, auci is found. ' thee to join with us in joy for his return, than thus peevishly to quarrel with my in- " \ dulgence to him. Now you who have heard this parable will easily see how mdecent this conduct was, and how ungracious a figure this elder brother makes in my story. And I will assure you, that when you Pharisees murmur at the kindne,'« shewn to the publicans, or even the Gen- tiles themselves,'" on their sincere repentance, you act with as ill a grace, and are the ob- jects of still greater blame, in proportion to the degree in which men's eternal interests are more important than those that relate merely to the present state. IMPROVEMENT. Let us here behold, with all due attention, the moving representation which our gracious Redeemer makes of the folly of sinners and the compassions of God ; compassions, which he describes as one who himself felt them, and who, in this respect, as well as others, was the express image of his Father. We have before us in this parable, a lively emblem of the character and condition of sinners in their fallen state. Ver. 12 They are thus impatient of the most necessary restraints ; thus fondly conceited of their own wisdom ; and thus, when enriched by the bounties of the great common Father, do they ungratefully run from him, and say unto 1.3 God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways: (Job xxi. 14.) Sensual pleasures are eagerly sought ; and perhaps all their earthly possessions and hopes are quickly paid as the price of them. While the 14 means of obtaining these pleasures continue, not a serious thought of God can find a place in their minds : and then, perhaps, afflictions, heavy and complicated afflictions, come upon them ; yet even under that pressure they 15, IG will often make very hard shifts before they v/ill be persuaded to think of a return ; till at length divine grace, working in concurrence with Providence, brings them to a better temper. 1 7 When they see themselves naked and indigent, enslaved and undone ; when they come to themselves, and re- cover the exercise of their reason, improving it to the only purposes for which it would have been worth while to have received it, — then they feel the pangs of penitential remorse : then they remember the blessings they have lost, IS, 19 arid attend to the misery they have incurred. And hereupon they are disposed humbly to confess their folly, and to prostrate themselves in the presence of their heavenly Father : they put the resolution immediately into practice ; they arise and go unto him. .^ 20 But oh, let us behold with wonder and pleasure the gracious reception they find from divine, injured goodness ! He sees them afar off ; he pities, he meets, and embraces them ; he interrupts their complaints and acknowledg- 21 ments with tokens of his returning favour. Is Ephraim my dear son ? is he apleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels arc troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon liim, saith the Lord. (Jer. xxxi. 20.) Thus does God welcome the humble penitent; thus does he open the arms of iiis love to embrace him, and the treasures of his bounty to enrich him. He arrays him 22 23 with the robe of a Redeemer's righteousness, dresses him in the ornaments of sanctifying grace, honours him with the tokens of adopting love, and invests him with the glorious privileges and immmiities of his children. And all this he does with unutterable delight: he rejoices over him with joy ; he rests in his love, and, as it were, re- 24 joices over him with singing, (Zeph. ui. 17.) and this is the joyful language of the song, My children that were dead are alive again ; and though they were lost, they are foimd. 25 — 32 Let lieaven and earth unite in the joy, and echo back the song. Let no elder brother murmur at the indulgence with which these prodigals are treated ; but rather welcome them back into the family, and even encowage every thing that looks like a disposition to return to it. And let those who have been thus received, wander no more : but rather let them emulate the strictest piety of those who for many years have served their heavenly Father, without having in any notorious instances transgressed his commandments. k All that I liaie is thine.'] This is a material intimation, and application to the Jews and Gentiles ; and have observed that the , suggests a strong reason against murmuring at the indulgence murmurs of the Jews against the apostles for preaching the gospel shewn to great sinners ; for as the joyful welcome that the father to the Gentiles, (see Acts xiii. 42—50; xxii. 21, 22 ; and 1 Thess. gave this younger son did not incline him to disinherit the elder ii. 16.) are represented by the conduct of the elder brother. — This ( brother, so neither will God, out of a partial fondness forjemark- was certainly a case comprehended in our Lord's design ; but he l .able penitents, raise them to a state of glory superior to Oiat of undoubtedly had something more in his intention. He meant to tTiose wFTb have on the whole made a greater progress in holiness, shew, that had the Pharisees been as eminently good as they them- j and done him more constant and faithful services. selves pretended to be, vet it had nccn very unworthy their cba- ! 1 This thy brother.'] There is a kivcly^pposition between this racter to lake offence at the kind treatment which any sincere and the 30th verse: the elder son ha^ there igjecently said, This penitent might receive. Thus does he here, and in many parallel thy son ; the father in his reply tenderly says, T/(7i tTiy lirother. texts, condemn their ciMuluct on their own principles; though And it is a moving intimation, that the best of men ought to look elsewhere, on proper occasions, he shews the falsehood of those' on the most abandoned sinners as in some respect their brethren principles, and plainly exposes their hypocrisy and guilt. Thus still; and should especially remember the relation, when there the j_udirious Calvin states the matter; and it is strange so many appears any inclination to return. learned writers should have puzzled themselves and their readers, m To the publicans, or even the Gentiles themselves. Many in so clear a case. ' commentators have considered this parable in a view of .peculiar TOE PARABLE OF THE UNJUST STEWARD 245 SEC^TION CXXIV. Christ delivers the parable of the unjust stexcard, and reproves the Pharisees for their covetousness and hypocrisy. Luke xvi. 1 — 18. LUKEXvi.l. „ I^"^ xvi- 1- And he said also unto his UUR Lord theu spake another parable, by which he intended to convince his hearers of SECT. teUi'n'ch raa*ir which had ^^^ necessity of making a right use of their worldly enjoyments ; and, having before re- 124. steward; "and'tiie same buked the Pharisees for their envious and uncharitable temper, he said also to his disciples was accused unto him, that that were about him, There icas a certain rich man -who had a steward in whom he LUKE he had wasted his goods. j^^^ ^^^^ p^j ^^^^ confidence : and he u-as at last accused to hiw, as havina: Xi^asted ^VI. 2 And he called him, and his i^oods which had been entrusted to his care. And calling him, he said unto h/m, What 2 that iTear"this"oTthee1 ^* *^''^ Strange account that I hear of thee '/< Can it be true that thou hast acted so unjust give an account of thy and base a part ? Give an immediate and exact account of thine administration and raa"st''be"no lon°er st''w" ™anag:ement in this office; for thou canst no longer be steward with any honour to aid. ^ ' thyself or satisfaction to me, while thou continuest under such imputations and suspicions as these. 3 Then the steward said And upon this, as might be well imagined, the steward was much alarmed, and said 3 l'do""for"mv'i<'rd\aketh "within himself in the. leasoiilngs of his own mind, ]Vhat shall I do in this unhappy away from me the steward- situation of my atfeirs ? for my lord is taking avoay >ny stexcardship, and with it I shall I'ara'ashamed' **'"' *° ^'^^ ^^^ "^^ subsistence. I am not able to dig, or to apply myself to any other laborious work of husbandry ;^ nor can 1 expect, under this load of infamy, to be trusted by another in the business 1 have been accustomed to ; [and'] I am utterly ashamed to beg my bread, 4 I am resolved what to after having lived so handsomely in the world thus long. And, after a pause, he added, 4 of'llre'lteward'shir'ihey ^ ^^^^ ^^ length bethought myself, and now know what I will do ; an expedient offers may receive me into their itself to my mind by which I may secure myself friends, so that when I am i^moved *'''"*'^^- from my office, they may receive me into their houses. 5 So he called every one And^ in pursuance of this scheme, having called every one of his lord's debtors to 5 him' and said unto the first, ^""^ wliom he could hope to oblige by SO fraudulent a proposal, he determined to lower How much owest thou unto the several articles in his book which stood chargeable to the account of each, and sa-id, for "g And' he said. An hun- instance, to the frst. How much o-west thou to my lord? And he said. An hundred G dred measures of 'oil. And baths of oil}' And he said to him. Take thy bill in which thou hast acknowledged bfir'->'nd "si't dt™'n^'''^t kl^ ^^^ receipt of it,<^ and sit down directly and write another, in which thou shalt acknow- and'wri'te^fifty."^" '^""' ^ l^dge the receipt of but ffty, and I will alter my book agreeable to that. Then he said! 7 Then said he to ano- to another. And how much dost thou oweT?' And he said. An hundred homers of wheat. }hou!^"lnd''h""^id'^'''An ^""^ '''' *«'/*' ^'^ ^'""' '^^"^"^ ^^'H ^'^^^ ^^^ck and write down an acknowledgment of but hundred measures of wheat, fourscorc ; and remember how easy I have made thine account. And lie said unto hira, j^^^^i yvfjgjj ^/,g master heard of it, though he could not but be sensible that it was an 8 lake thy bill, and write , n j. ■ ■ ^- . u ■ i li "• ^ , i i ■ , , ,i , fourscore. ^ct ot great injustice, yet he praised the unjust steward, as navtng done prudently how- 8 And the Lord com- ever, and found out an artful expedient for his subsistence, by making friends who might because he had''donewiseh'' ^l^^lter him for the present, and perhaps recommend him to S(?ine new trust, in hopes of for the children of this sharing again in the spoils of his dishonesty. And thus, said tiie blessed Jesus, when he ♦Z'lw '?/'"''ri ^*°?'1' i^ad concluded the parable, the children of this world are wiser in their way and tion wiser than the chil- j • i .1 x • i u i ■ , . . "^ . dren of light. gencration,'^^ that is, they generally act a more prudent part with respect to their secular interests, than even those who may be called the children of light, or than good men themselves, who are enlightened by God to see where their true happiness lies, do with respect to theirs, which are so much more important ; (compare John xii. 36 ; 1 Thess. V. 5 ; and E])h. v. S.) for they seldom appear so thoughtful and active in the great con- cerns of religion, as worldly men are in pursuit of the momentary and precarious posses- sions of this present life. Make to yourselv"" frieuds -'^'"^ ^ ^'^"^ '^^J/ ^° 3"'"» EndeavouT to make yourselves sure friends with these riches, 9 of Uie mammon of unrigiit- which may not improperly be called the unrighteous or deceiii'ul mainmon,^ (as so little a / am not able to dig, or to apply myself to— husbandry .] Ra- or about 378 gallons, of oil ; so that the obligation conferred on both phehus (Aiuwt. ei Xcn. p. 104, 105 ) and Eisner (OAsfrt-. Vol. I. p. these debtors might be equal. 2al.) have shewn that the word c-^xTffn, signifies in general lo ailli- c Ta/ie thy bill in which thou hast acknowledged the receipt of it.] vale tlie hind, and especially to prepare it for seed, which was one of This bill, probably, was somewhat equivalent to a note under his the must laborious parts ot the husbandman's work in which day- hand, acknowledging the receipt of so much oil, and promising pay- labourers were employed, aud consequently most fit to be mentioned ment for it. The alteration of this plainly sliews liow much Dr.Clarke by this steward, who, having been used to a delicate and luxurious is mistaken in supposing the steward did no wrong to his master iu way of living, would naturally think of such a change of life in the this aflair, but only gave the debtors the value of wlrat he set off out most discouraging view. The expression «x nxui', / am not able, of his own stock, he undertaking to pay his lord, (^ee Dr. Clarke's or strong enough to do it, has also a peculiar beauty in this view. Sermons, Vol. IH. p. 28.x) For, not to say how improbable it is which IS lost in our translation, and m nm.st others. that this bankrupt should hf able or willing to make such a con- b An hundred baths of oil.'] The Greek word eirms is evidently siderable present, it is plain that, if he hadlntended it, he would derived from the Hebrew o-rs, which we render baths in the Old have let the account remain unaltered. But by the exchange of lestoraent. (1 Kings vii. 20 ; 2 Chron. ii. 10; Ezra vii. 22.) Ac- bills, he cunningly made each of the debtors an accomplice with cording to Bishop Cumberland, it contained about seven gallons, him in defrauding his lord, and thereby provided against a dis- two quarts, and half a pint. Compare Joseph. Antiq. lib. viii. cap. covery. 2. } 9.— The measure 0/ wheat, xo^ous, mentioned in the next verse, is d In their ijeneralion.] It here signifies afairs, or actions ; as the -515, cor or Immer of the Hebrews, containing about eight Gen. vi. 0; xxxvii. 2. bushels and an half, Winchester measure. The word homer being e The unriqhteovs or deceitful mammon.^ Nothing can be more familiar to an English ear, I have retained it in the version. This contrary to the whole genius of the Christian religion than to ima homer contains ten ephahs or bathsTTE'ZCTr'xlv. 11, 11.) and each of giue that our Lord would exhort men to lav out their ill-gotten these latter ten omcrs. (Exod. xvi. 30) Twenty homers, which goods in works of c/irtr//'/, when jtis/iOf so evidently required they he allowed the debtor to deduct, would on this computation con- should make restitution to the utmost of their abilities.— J/nmmon, tain 170 bushels of wheat, and might be as valuable as fifty baths, or uealth, is here called unrighlcouf, or deceitful, on account of its 246 THE COVETOUS PHARISEES DERIDE HIM, AND ARE REPROVED. SECT, confidence can be reposed ia them ;) that when i/ou fail, and die out of ihisworld,' t/ie?/ eousuess; that wheu ye 124. 7/iai/ receive you into everlasting habitations, and you may for ever enjoy the reward of f'*;'- *''^y ™^y. receive you your pious charity and love, in an everlasting friendship with all those tiiily worthy per- tions. ° LUKE sons who l^ve been relieved by it. XVI. Let this exhortation be regarded, not only by those that abound in wealth, but by all lo He that is faithful in 10 others: for he who, acting on strict principles of integrity and piety, is faithful in the fufaTso'fn 'much '= 'and h'e smallest [trust,'] is, and would in fact appear to be faithful also in one of much that is unjust in the least, greater importance if it were committed to him ; and he who is unjust in the least mat- "suujust also in much, ter, is, if he can attempt it with views of impunity, unjust also in much. 11 If therefore it appears i]\?ii i/ou have not been faithful in the management of the un- n I'" therefore ye have righteous or deceitful mammon, as I before called those precarious treasures, who will ""iric^htTous ma'mmo'n who VH entrust you with the true \riches?'\ And I repeat it again, if you have not been will^commit to your 'trust faithful in what was really another's, and only was committed to your care and manage- *^'";.^'^"1^ 'j''^.''** ' i » ; ment for a little while, who do you think will give you \Jhat which shall be] your own been faithful in that wliidi ' by an unalienable right and eternal possession ?8 You cannot sure expect so high a re- '^ another man's, who shall • ward without a behaviour correspondent to it. - -^ IZr"" "''' '' ^""'" 13 But, as I fonnerly have said, I tell you now again, No domestic whatever can serve 13 No servant can serve two ditferent masters ; for he assuredly will either hate and despise the one, and love ^^Iji ^l" f'^^U ' '^°'^ '^''^'if ^ '"' the other ; or at least he will adhere to the commands of the one and neglect those of the other ; or else' he will the other : so, in like manner, j/o?« cannot faithfully serve God, and yet at the same time liold to the one, and despise be the servants of mamynon, having your hearts engrossed by worldly interests and pur- c'oll'and'tnammo'n.''' ^^^"^ suits. (Compare Matt vi. 24. p. 84.) 14 And the Pharisees also, who were extremely covetous, stood by and heard all these 14 And the Phariiiees \ things ; and they contemptuously derided him'" as a poor visionary, who did not under- heard all'thes^e^tliiu"s'^'a"nd I stand hiiinan life, or only appeared to despise the world, because (as they supposed) it was tliey derided liim. ° out of his reach. 15 And he said to them. You Pharisees are they that justify yourselves before men, lo And he said unto them, and find out a great many plausible excuses for possessing and pursuing the world as you votiSTiverifefoi-'e me'iv^bla do ; but God knows your hearts, and knows that it is not by love to him but to your- God knoweth your hearts : selves, that you are animated, even in the most specious and pompous of your actions : *^°'' *'^'^'^, whicii is highly r ii I 1 • t ■ 1 • 1 1 i J ■ ■ •• 1 ■ J.- esteemed anions? men, is jor that which is highly esteemed among men is, m many instances, an abomination abomination la the sight before God, who observes the vile purposes from which it often proceeds, and cannot be of God. imposed upon by any glittering misrepresentation or disguise. (Compare 1 Sam. xvi. 7.) 16 But a dispensation is now opening upon the world which will put you to deserved shame ; 16 Tlie law and tlie pro- for the law and the prophets [_werc'] the only divine revelation among you until John "P}^^^ tut V ""'tl "^k'"' ' the Baptist appeared; hut from that time the kingdom of God ?'.s publicly and plainly dom of God is preached^ preached, and every one forces his way into it ;^ for considerable numbers, notwithstand- -md every man presseth into ing all your sophistry, stand well disposed to receive it, and are willing to secure its ' ' 17 blessings at any rate. (Compare Matt. xi. 12, 13. p. 116.) Yet I would not be under- i7 And it is easier for stood as if I intended by what I say to put any slight on former revelations ; for I rather ['han'^one "tlttle'^of tl" ^Tlv establish and vindicate them, and again declare it to you as a most solemn truth. That it is to fail. much easier for heaven and earth to pass away, and the whole system of created nature to be destroyed, than for one tittle of the law of God to fail, or the least precept of it to be IS set aside as faulty. ' (See Matt. v. 18. p. 75.) And, far from doing any thing to lessen o-; J^ i^^''vTf"''rd ''""!^|' abate the force of it, I rather assert it in its utmost extent and spirituality ; insomuch anothe'r',^ comniitte'ti"aihil- that you know I have before declared, notwithstanding all your boasted but dangerous tery : and whosoever mar- traditions, that whosoever puts axvay his wife, and marries another, unless it be on ac- JJ.^^^ 'V"r*''husband* cmiw count of a breach of the most fundamental article of the marriage- covenant, commits mitteth adultery. adultery ; and whosoever marries her that is put away from her former husband for any less important cause, commits adultery witli her, as the first contract still continues in force, by which she is the wife of another. (Compare Matt. v. 3^. p. 78.) ' IMPROVEMENT. ^'er. 8 May the wisdom of the children of this world in their comparatively trifling concerns, excite a holy emulation^ in the children of light ! Is it not much better, worth our while to employ all the attention of our thoughts in observing opportunities for the good of our souls, and to exert all the force of our resolutions in improving them, ^ than to labour merely for the meat which perishes, — for that deceitful niammon, that treacherous friend, which will at best only amuse us for a fevi' years, and will for ever forsake us in our greatest extremity ? being so apt to fail the expectation of the owners; and in that g Tf yen have nnt been faithful imvhat was annthefs, he.'] This view, is opposed to <)i/tf r(V/(fs, ver. 11. — The mnminonofvnrighteous- is well expressed, though not exactly rendered, in the version of^> vess is plainly such a Hebraism as the steward of iinrighteoiisness, 1727. If ynu have emu-czzted what another gave you in trust, how \ ver. 8. and the judge of unrigliteousness, chap, xviii. G. Gr. which can he give you an estate in perpetuity ? It probably alludes to a our translators have with perfect fidelity changed into the unjust custom of rewarding faithful stewards, by giving them some part steward and the unjust judge ; and had they taken the same liberty of the estate they have managed. in many other places, they had made many scriptures plainer h They derided him.'] The word £?6mux1»;§i?ov might more exactly than they now appear to an English reader. — See Eisner, tUserv. be rendered,///?;/ sneered. There was a gravity and dignity in our Vol. I. p. 252. where he has shewn that aJixia signifies unfaithful- Lord's discourse, which, insolent as they were, would not permit - vess, on which account it is often opposed to truth. Compare Kom. them to laugh out ; but by some scornful air they hinted to each » i. 18 ; ii 8 ; and Dent. xix. 19 ; Mic. vi. 12. Ilebr. other theiriniutuid contempt : and they have, no doubt, seriously ;^ f 'J hilt when you fail, and die out of this world] It is witlug^uparent answered fo^^^R others of their temper and character will. .)>ro)incty that our Lord suggests the thoughts of (/w//i as an antr- i Forces his n-\y into it : eh «ur)iv (Sii^tlati.] Some think this in. dote against covetousness. Strange it is, that so many on the very tiniates that thiiSje who sliould have been readiest to open the door, borders of the grave should be so wretchedly enslavei! to that un- rather attempled\to keep them out : it certainly implies that there reasonable passion ! were strong obstacles in tb.e wa v. \ THE PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS. 247 Let us take occasion, froiu this parable, to think how soon we must part with our present possessions : how SKCT. soon we must give an account of our respective stewardships as those who must be no longer stewards. Let us 124. therefore manage them in such a manner as may most eftectually promote the great purposes of our everlasting happiness. To this end, let us remember how absolutely necessary it is that we abouud in works of charity and luke benevolence, and that we endeavour to abstract our hearts from an over-eager attachment to these lying vanities ; ^^^'''• for surely the trifles of earth are no better. Let us not imagine that our particular address can find out the secret of serving God and mammon, since Christ represents it as an impossibility and contradiction. May we be found faithful in what God has committed to us, whether it be little or much; and govern our- 10, 12 selves, not by the maxims of this vain world, but by those of the gospel ! And if the same temper that led the 14 covetous Pharisees to deride our Lord, engage the children of this world to pour contempt upon us as visionaries and enthusiasts, we have much greater reason to be grie\'ed for them than for ourselves. Their censures can be matter of but little account to us, when we consider that the things v\'iiich are highly esteemed by men are often 15, 16 an abomination in the sight of God. His law is sacred, and the constitutions of his kingdom are unalterable: 17 may the temper of our minds be so altered and disposed as may suit it ! For another day, and another world, will shew that real Christianity is the only wisdom; aad that all the refinements of human policy without it, are but specious madness and laborious ruin ! i • " , ' '. ', 'V- ■ - SECTION CXXV. Our Lord, to enforce the preceding admonitions, delivers the parable of the rich glutton and Lazarus. Luke xvi. 19, to the end. LuKExvi. 19. Luke xvi. 19. There was a certain rich THAT his hoarers might be more effectually dissuaded from addicting themselves to sECT. "ur^'ir'and finl 'ih!^n\nd worldly pursuits and carnal pleasures, Jesus added another parable, which might have 125. LTeU*^ sumptuously every been sufficient to convince the covetous Pharisees of their madness in deriding what he ■ d^y- had before said. And he addressed liimself to them in words to-this efiect: There was a luke > certain rich man -who lived in the greatest elegance and pomp ; for he tiwe robes of xvi. purple and yesis oifine linen, and daily feastccl in a very splendid and luxurious man- 23 And there was a cer- ^.y.^ ji^i^ there ivas in the Same place a certain poor man named Lazarus,"^ a person 20 rus',\v'!ri^h*was'^"aid a^^h'is indeed of eminent piety, but in the utmost indigence and distress; who being unable to gate full of sores, labour, or SO uiuch as to walk, was laid down at his gate, to beg the rich man's charity ; 21 And desiring: to be fed and all his body being /«// of sores and ulcers, he was a most miserable spectacle : And, 21 with the crumbs which fell ^ ■ ^\^^^q^i famished with hunger, he earnestly desired to he fed, if it were but with the from tlie rich man s table : o , ■ , y, ,, ^ ,i ■ ; ■, ^ ? / i • j i i_ moreover, the dogs came crumbs which fell from the rich man s table ; yea, he was in so exposed and aban- and licked his sores. doned a condition, that ^/ie very dogs came and licked his sores,^ which lay uncovered in the open air. 22 And it came to pass, jj^^^ ^y /^< .^^5^ f/ifjf j^ a little time the poor beggar, worn out with the load of so great 22 was''carried'b"thran|eis a calamity, died; ajid, being a favourite of heaven, notwithstanding all his distress on into Abraham's bosom ; the earth, he was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom, the abode of happy spirits in a buric"r" ^''"' ^^'^'^' '^"'' ""^ separate state f the rich man also died quickly after Hiiii, for all his riches were not suf- ficient to procure Ihe least continuance of his life; and he was buried with great funeral 2:i And in hell he lift up solemnity and pomp. But observe the difference of their circumstances beyond the grave. 23 hix eyes, being iu torments, "pj^j p^gj, gensual Creature was by God's righteous vengeance condemned to everlasting and seeth Abraham afar on, . r , • , , i i ^ / • " xi • 1 1 r j j. t j i n and Lazarus in his bosom, misery; and in the unseen world,"^ being m the midst ot torments, aggravated by all the indulgence and delicacy of his former life, he lified up his weeping and despairing eyes, and saw Abraham, from afar, and the poor despised Lazarus lying* in his bosom, as a newly received guest at the heavenly banquet, placed next the father of the faithful himself. a A certain poor man named Lazarus. An exceeding proper c Carried by angels into Abraitnm's bosom,'] The Jews assign name, which seems (as Lud. Capellus observes) to be derived from tiiis office to angels, (see Drusius, in toe.) and, no doubt, with the A "JMi t>\ Lo azer, and signifies a helpless person ; an etymology on utmost propriety, considering how suitable it is to tJieir benevolent < all accounts much more natural than that so generally followed, nature, and to the circumstances of a departed spirit. The Greeks which derives it from Eliezer, God is m>j helper. — Some have (as Eisner, Observ. Vol. T. p. 2.55. and many others have observed) imagined, from the name of Lazarus, and the particular detail assign guides to the souls of the dead, to conduct them to their of circumstances, that this was an history rather than a parable ; res-pective seats. It is strange any should render rov xoXnov ra A€/ixi//, . but this must be a groundless supposition, as it is plain the iuci- Abraham's bower, vr (with Jac. Capellus) Abraham's haven. Our ^ dents are parabolical. But the criticism of Lomeirus, who explains translation is in all respects much more just. It alludes to the way , • it as a mystical representation of the Jev-iish and Gentile churches, of representing the entertainments of heaven, by sharing a raag- ' is far more extravagant. — Dr. Lightfoot and others have shewn that nificent banqu^ with Abraham aad the other patriarchs : (compare the Jews in their Gem ira have a parable much to the same purpose. Matt. viii. II; and Luke xxii. 30.) And nothing can better h yea, the dijijs came, and Helped his sores.] Had the connection describe the honour and happiness of Lazarus, who had lain in so in the original been attended to, I think there could have been no wretched a condition before the glutton's gate, than telling us that debate among commentators whether this were mentioned as an he was placed next to Abraham, and so lay in his bosom. (Com- alleviation or an addition to h.is calamity. For however lenient pare John xiii. 2.1. ? 170.) Thus Casaubon and Grotius well explain and healing the tongue of a dog may be m such cases, the words it. — As for the rich man's seeing him there, M. L'Enfant thinks jhg., itxxx xxt should be rendered yea ; as Erasmus, Beza, Schmidius, Jqws borrowed this manner of speaking from th.e Greeks, who /and Calvin contend, and above all, Raphclius abundantly proves, described the seats of the blessed as separated from those of the (Annot. ex Xen. p. 106, 107.) The circumstance is surely recorded damned by a great impassable river, from the opposite banks of to shew that his ulcers lay bare, and were not (as Isaiah in another which they might converse. Many of them also expressly speak of case expresses it, chap. i. 6.) either closed, or bound tip, or mollified a great chasm interposed. See Eisner, Observ. "\ ol. I. p. 256, 257. with ointment. Some versions add, that no man gave unto him; and Grotius, (« /oc. which Grotius thinks is intimated in Uis wishing to be fcdxuiththe d In the unseen world.] This seems generally the sense of the crumbs ythich the dogs used to gather. (Matt. xv. 27.) If so, it Greek word Jt'Jnr, as was observed before in note f, on Matt. xvi. 18. was with singular propriety that he who deni(-d a frHnii is repre- p. 179. — Both the rich man and Lazarus were in Hades, though in sented as unable to obtain a f//Y)/i.,- but as it is not expressed in the different regions of it. See Grocius's learned and judicious note Greek, either here or in Abraham's reply, I did not cbg.se to insert here. it. — Giving alms will be no security to tliosc that live a sensual life.v.- 248 THE PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS, SECT. A)id calling out with the greatest earnestness and importunity, he said, O Father 24 And he cried and saui, 125. Abraham, have compassion upon me, a poor unhappy descendant of thine, and send Father Abraham, have Lazarnis, not to reach out to me any of the dainties of heaven, for I presume not to ask so zarusf thaufe inav Xp the LUKE great a favour, but only to bring me a httle water ; and if I may not have a draught of tip of his fiuger "in water, XVI. it, I should be thankful if he might be permitted to dip the tip of his finger in water to am torment^ed°u!wstome^ j:efresh mi/ tongue,'^ though it were but for a iwomeni; for I am so tormented in this Jlame, that it excites an intolerable thirst, which is continually raging and preying on my very soul. 25 'But Abraham said, with awful and inflexible severity, Son, remember the former days 25 But Abraham said, when thou and Lazams were upon earth, that thou didst then /// tlui lifetime receive thi/ Son, remember that thou in good things which thou wast so foolish as to chuse for thy portion, in the neglect of God fjood' things,'^amrHkewise and of thy soul; and likewise Lazarus then received \Jiis'] evil things, of which thou i-azarus evil things: but wast witness; but now the scene is changed, so that he in his turn is comforted, and tCu arUormented '^"^ '""* thou art justly tormented ; and neither his joy nor thine anguish can admit of any end 26 or interruption. And besides all this, as to the favour thou desirest from the hand of 20 And besides all this, Lazarus, it is a thing impossible to be granted : for between iis and you there is a ^^^^^^^\ "s and you there great chasm fixed, a vast unmeasurable void is interposed; so that they who would go thai fhe'y wliiclWvouM pass from hence to you, if any should be so compassionate as to desire to help you, cannot ; f'"?"i hence to you cannot ; neither can they who arc there come unto us ; but we are still to continue at an unap- uiit'^'^awW ''^Lmr fniln proachable distance from each othei'. thence. 27 Then the rich man, as he perceived that his own case was irretrievable, said unto 27 Then he said, I pray Abraham, There may however be a passage from you to the other world, as it is plain I^qu wouwlst' s'end h'im'to there is from thence to you -. I beseech thee therefore, O father, that thou wouldst please my father's house : 28 to send him to my father s house, on an errand of the utmost importance: For I have 28 For i have five bre- there^Te ^rc/^z-e?/, thoughtless young creatures like myself, who are now revelling on unto" them* ''esr'tL**^**'/^ those possessions which were once mine,' and are likely ere long to fall into the same come into this plac^of tor- misery with me : I earnestly entreat thee therefore that he may be sent to testify to them '"e"'- the reality and importance of this invisible world, that they may be awakened to avoid those evil courses that have been my ruin, and may not also come into this place of torment. 29 But Abraham said in reply to him. Thou knowest they have an excellent divine 29 Abraham saith unto revelation in the writings of Moses and the prophets; let them but hearken to the warn- u™' Jrople'ts? ' llr'tlfera ings and instractions that are given by them, and they have means sufficient to secure them hear them. from that danger. ' SO .^;?r/ when the poor tormented creature found this also was objected to, he pleaded still 30 And he said, Nay, fa- in their behalf, and said. Nay, father Abraham, they will slight these as I foolishly did ; wen\ tnto\rem'' from ?he but surely if one go to theyn from the dead, they cannot witlistand so awful a messenger, dead, they will repent, but will undoubtedly repent, and reform their lives. 31 jB«(t Abraham put an end to the discourse with an assurance of the fruitlessness of any 3i And he said unto him, such extraordinary means for their conviction; and he said to him. The evidences of the {[/'^"^ ro'T^et""nem°er^ wn divine revelation are such, that if they hearken not to Moses and the prophets, neither they be persuaded though will they be persuaded to a thorough repentance and reformation, though one should o"- '''"*'= ''■°'" ^'"^ '*'^=^'^- arise from the dead to visit them.s For though it might indeed alarm them for a time, the same prejudices and lusts which led them to despise those methods of instruction that God has given them, would also lead them ere long to slight and forget such an awful ap- parition as you desire they might see. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 19 Most evidently may we learn from this parable, that it is impossible to know either love or haired by any 20, 21 thing that is before us under the sun ; (Eccles. ix. 1.) Who that had seen the pomp and plenty of this rich sirii- ner, and compared it with the indigence and misery of Lazarus, would have imagined that the latter had been the child, and the former the enemy, of God ? But let us judge nothing before the time ; (1 Cor. iv. 5.) Our Lord Jesus Christ shews us the period of all the prosperity of the \vicked, and of all the calamities with which good men may be exercised. — And what availed the luxuries of life, or the magnificence of burial, to a wretch tormented in 23, 24 flames ? Surely the fiercene.ss of those flames would be .proportioaable to the luxury in which he had formerly lived, and the sense of his torment be heightened by the delicacy he had once indulged. May God awaken those unhappy persons, whatever their rank in the present life may be, who place their happiness and glory in being clothed in purple and fine linen, and faring sumptuously every day ! May they lift up their enchanted, deluded e Dij) the tip of /lis finyer in water, i^-c.} The Hebrews drank and so left hid riches to the younger children of the family, hav- Ihcir wine mingled with water; and large quantities of water, on ing no other heirs. '>ne occasion or other, were used at their feasts: (see John ii. ^.) g If they hearken not to Afoses, Sfc.} It is true Moses nowhere There seems therefore in this petition a jiroper allusion to that. — express]}/ asserts a fiitiirestate o/rewards andpunishnients ; yet the Arclibishop Tillotson observes, with his usual vivacity, that this is facts recorded by him strongly enforce the natural arguments in the only instance we meet with in scripture, of any thing that looks proof of it; and the prophets speak plainly of it in many places, like a prayer put up to a glorified saint, (Tillotson's Works, Vol. II. See Psal. xvi. 9, 10, 11 ; xvii. 1.0; xxiii. 6; xlix. 14, 15; Ixxiii. 17. p. 142.) and even here the application was in vain, and no relief was et seq ; Prov. xiv. 32 ; Eccles. iii. 17, 21 ; xi. 9; xii. 7, 13, 14 ; and the saint capable of giving. — It is observable, the rick man xpcnks Ezek. xviii. 19, 20, 21. — Bishop Atterbury has excellently sliewn as knowing Lazfifiix,a.n. should be throu'n into the sea, than that he should offend and ensnare one of these little o)ies that believe in me, so as to draw the meanest of them into sin and ruin. (See Malt, xviii. 6, 7. and the notes there, sect, xciii. p. 190.) .3 Take heed to your- Take heed to yourselves, therefore,^ that you may govern all your passions aright, and 3 ^-'srV'^ai*iist^thee"'rebu'ke P^i"^icularly your resentments, by which otherwise much sin may be occasioned both to him; and" if he repeut^ yourselves and Others. And if thy brother trespass against thee, do not lay up a secret forgive iiira. grudge against him for it, but plainly and faithfully rebuke him, endeavouring to convince him of the evil he has committed : and if he appear to repent of his fault, /or o-/re hi7n 4 And if he trespass immediately, without insisting on any rigorous satisfaction. And if he trespass against 4 a^d "v*\mrseveu" ti'raes in ^^'^'^ ^g'^va an-d again, even though he should rej^eat his fault seven times in a day, (com- a day' turn again to thee, P^re Psal. cxk. 164.) and sevcu tii/ies in a day return to thee, seriously saying, I repent foP'i'v'r'^''^"'' ^''""^'^"'^ °^. ™y ^°^^y' ^"^ ^™ heartily sorry for the injury I have done thee, — thou shall forgive orj,'ive nm. j^j^^^ ^^^^ ^1,^^^^ repeated offences. (Compare Matt, xviii. 21, 22. p. 194.) 5 And the apostles said Then the apostles said unto the Lord, Lord, we are sensible that in this instance, as well 5 unto the Lord, Increase our og jn several Others, we have need to pray thou wouldst increase our faith .-^ Oh quicken our apprehension of the reality and importance of tlie motives by which all thy commands f. And (lie Eord said. If are enforced, and of the authority by Avhich they are dictated ; that we may not scruple to nH.st','id*^^!>o,'i ''L^r^^ll'.f submit even to such precepts as these, how hard soever they may bear upon flesh and blood ! unto this sycamine-tree. Be ^"" ''"^ Liord Said, If you had ever SO mWe faith, though it were but as a gram 6 roof' amrbe'thou '7 ^''i '^f '""■'^^"''^h^^^^' Y^t (as t formerly told you) it would conquer the greatest difficulties : so in''the'"sea;'^and'k'lhouht ^'^^'^ you might, as it were, be able to say to this sycamon-tree, Be thou rooted up, and obey you. ' planted in the sea, and it i7;oz//f/ presently obey you.'' been"" *"*° ^"*^'^ *" ^PP"'t'on as is here referred to would have b Inrrense our fallh.'] ■VVpUzogenius himsglfjcknowledgcs that .. T I I J , , their applying to Christ to strengttieh ITIeTr faith, shews that thev *,.";* ■ . ■ 4- 1 3""""«'','''?] TIos contains a strong and impor- believed he had a divine influence over the spirits of men. See lant nilimation how much sin and scandal is occasioned by a severe Whitby, in he. quarrelsome temper in the disciples of Christ ; as it not only stirs c You viight snij to this sycmnore-treo, S^■c^ I do not apprehend UT ine corruptions ot those with whom Uiey contend, but leads this text to be entirely parallel to Matt. xvii. 20. p. '87. In this f ri f* ]' ™'^='"'y of a profession which has so little efficacy connection the expression seems proverbial, and to be as if he had to .sotten and sweeten the tempers of those who m.aiutain it said. As the least degree of miraculous faith will (as I said before) 250 REFLECTIONS ON TrfE UNPROFITABLENESS OF OUR SERVICE. SECT. Endeavour therefore to live in the exercise of this noble grace, and in a series of such 7 But wliich of you hav- 126. services as are the proper fruits of it : but in the midst of all, be careful to maintain the '"8^^ servant piou-iiing-, or deepest humility, as in the presence of God your heavenly Master, on whom, as you are his i,irn by and by^ whelf ii" is LUKE servants, you can have no claim of merit: for "who is there of ijoii, that if he has a ser- come from the field, Go XVil. vajit ploughing his ground or feeding his focky will sail unto him, as soon as he comes *"'^*'t ''°"'" ^o meat! 8 in from the f eld. Come in^ and sit down at the table with me ? Or will he not rather 8 And will not rather say sai/ to hi?n, if it was a part of that servant's business to do it. Make ready somewhat for ^vherewith'l may sup^*^an5 ??;j/ supper, and, when it is prepared, gird tip thy /ra/'w/e^^^ close about thee,*^ and wait gird th.yself, and serve me, upon me while I am eating and drinking ; and afterwards Thou shall sit down to eat ^'" ^ ''^^.'^ '^rf\'env'ivd*'Th '^" 9 and drink thyself? And suppose he should observe his orders with the greatest diligence, shalt eat and drink? does lie think himself obliged to thank that servant because he hath done what was com- 'J Coth he thank that manded him ? I apprehendhe does not, because he has an authority over the servant, ti,"^^" tharwere command! 10 and may justly claim his obedience as matter of debt. Now, to apply this to your ov/n ed hTm ? I trow not. services ; so likewise ye, when you have faitlifully done all that was commanded you in the , "^ *'.'' ,',''^*",'j^^ ^ 'j'. !v^''" exactest manner, yet should still say. Surely wc are worthless and unprofitable servants,^ things which are command, who cannot pretend to have merited any thing from the hand of our Master ; for we have ed you, say, AA^e are unpro. done no more than what we were, by virtue of our relation to God, and dependence upon done "^thaT^^wliicii was our him, indispensably obliged to do, as much as any purchased slave is obliged to serve his duty to do. master. And assure yourselves, that no services will be so pleasing to God as those per- formed with such an humble spirit. 11 These discourses, and those above mentioned, happened in our Lord's journey to the 11 And it came to pass, feast of the dedication ;S and as he went to Jerusale?n, to attend it,*^ he passed through the a* '^^ ^''^"t j"j/^'"^f !"e! midst of Samaria and Galilee, taking those parts of Samaria in his way which lay next to ni'i^dst' of Samaria" and Galilee. Galilee. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 1 Let us renew our guard against every thing in our conduct which might give offence to the meanest and 2 weakest ; and against every thing which might by a bad example mislead others, or furnish the enemies of religion 3, 4 with matter of reproach and accusation against it. Let us imbibe the forgiving spirit of the gospel, and, bearing in mind the numberless instances in which God has forgiven us, though we have sinned against him not only seven times, but seventy times seven, — let us arm ourselves, in some degree, with the same mind, and endeavour to forbear and forgive one another, even as God for Christ's sake has freely forgiven us. (Eph. iv. 32. and "Col. iii. 13.) ' . . . ■ 5 In a sense of the weakness of our faith, let us pray to Christ to increase it ; and then those duties will be dis- charged with ease and delight which appeared most difficult in a distant prospect. Yet when faith and patience 7 — 10 have had their most perfect work, when our Master's v/ill has been borne with the most entire submission, and done with the most zealous despatch, let us not pretend to place any merit in our own actions or sufferings ; but let us tliink of ourselves as the servants of God, yea, as unprofitable servants, whose goodness extendeth not to our great Master : and to the riches of his grace let us ascribe it, that our feeble powers are strengthened to the performance of our duty ; and that our worthless services are accepted, and the numberless deficiencies of them mercifully excused. ^ C./ ■ '"?• \ j. SS - ;'*"»'" - ' SECTION CXXVII. Christ travelling through Samaria, rebukes the intemperate zeal of James and John against those who refused SECT. to grant him entertainment ; and heals ten lepers. Luke ix. 51 — 56 ; xvii. 12 — 19. _!lL Luke ix. 51. , Luke ix. si. LUKK "^ "'^^ observed in the close of the former section, that our Lord was now on his journey .4NDit cametopas.s. when IX. 01. from Galilee, near the feast of the dedication :" and it came to pass, that as the days the tmie was come that he produce the greatest effects, so the least degree of true, sincere piety can properly come in. Most harmonizers place it just before the feast will finally bear a man above all opposition, and enable him to con- of tabernacles ; (of which we had an account in theseventh and eighth (juer the world. chapters of John, from sect, xcviii. to cv.) and cliiefly on their autho- d Come in.'] Raphelius proves that the word srirj£X9(.v has often rity, withonta critical examination, I had mentioned it in that con- this sense. Compare Luke xii. 37 ; and Acts xxiv. 7. See Raphel. nexiou in my Sermon nijaln.it Per.^ecutinn, p. .3. But I am now con- ' Annol. ex Herod, p. 2(3.'!. and especially Annot. ex Xen. p. 108. vinced that could not be the time ; not only as it would increa.se the e Gird up thy garments close about thee.] Compare Luke xii. difficulty, by supposing Luke then to say, that the time of his heing 37. p. 227. — That servants used lobe girded while waiting on their received' up 'was futfilled, though it must have been above half a masters, is well shewn by Elsuov, Observ. Vol. T. p. 2.58, 259. See year before his death, but chiefly because that was not the last note b, ou Luke xii. .35. p. 227. journey he made from Galilee to Jerusalem, and because (as we f Unprofitable servants.] The word axc='" sometimes signifies observed on John vii. 10. note h, p. 199.) he made that journey with wicked, (Rom. iii. 12; Matt. xxv. 30.) but in this connection it all possible .secrecy ; whereas here he had a train of attendants. — cannot have that sense. I entirely agree with Hcinsius, that here, No coniraentators (on our interpretation of anx\r,4^i::s) have, for the and 2 Sam. vi. 22. Septuaij. it signifies mean or inconsiderable, as obvious reason hinted above, thought of placing it higher; and the best of men certainly are. lower I think it cannot be brought -."for though I was once strongly g In our Lord's journey to the feast of the dedication.] See inclined to take the words in tlieir most literal sense, and to con- note a, on Luke xiii. 23. ? 118. and note a, on Luke xiv. 1. J 119. elude this happened when Christ was going from Galilee to Jeiii- h As lie went to Jerusalem.] As Luke has related the two little salem just before his ascension, after having manifested !;is / histories contained in tl.e next section at some distance from each resurrection by his appearance to the five hundred brethren, 1 Cor. I other, it is very diUicult fas the attentive reader will observe) to .xv. G. (compare Matt, xxviii. 7, IT — 18.1 I have been obliged to give ' place them together ^yithout some tautqlo"Y- 1 have therefore up that hypothesis, considering that he never after his resurrec- *■ inserted the introductioTffij uu(! (H'lRLui ill mi. end of this section ; tiotl appeared so publicly as in this story, (compare Acts i. 3 ; x. leaving out the word lyiyiro, it came to pass, which is a mere ex- 40, 41.)'aud that he had Hicn no difficulties to expect at Jerusah-m plelivc, or at most does only imply that what is mentioned in the against which he should stedfastly set his face. — And as for his context happened in this journey, or may refer to the discourses journey to Jerusalem just before the passover at which he suffered, Christ liad before delivered, as we have observed in the paraphrase, he went from Ephraim near the wilderness, (John xi. 54.) and a Near the feast of the dedication.] Taking it for granted that the passed through Jericho, (Luke xix. 1.) so that Samaria did not lie foUowingixvaXJivJ/jwr, refers to CAriVsaiW/ision, (the reasons for which in his way. Nor is there, that I can find, any proof that he ever I shall give below,) I think this the only place where this little story went back to Galilee, between the feast of dedication and his oo ror iiie j speak for fire to come down from heaven to destroy them, as tllou that^w^ coraman'd^fire Elijah did with regard to his enemies, (2 Kings i. 10, 12.) for surely one word in such a to come down from heaven, ^ase will do it, and the artillery of heaven will be much more ready to avenge such an clfas didY"' *'""'' ''"° '' atTront offered to thee, who art so much superior to any of the prophets ? 55 But he turned, and But \ Jesus'] turning short upon them, rebuked them with a becoming severity, and 55 rebuked them, and said, ■ / y'c know not what kind of Spirit ye are of; you neither consider the genius of \e know not what manner """"' ' ,i ,, ,i "1 i- ,i i ■' j ca ■ n t of spirit ye are of. tfie gospel, SO much moie gentle than that of the law, nor do you sufficiently know your own hearts ; and if you were more diligently to examine them, you would soon find that there is a great deal of personal resentment and ostentation mingled with all that zeal for 56 For the Son of man is me which you SO warmly express on this occasion. But I reject your motion as absolutely 56 to save '*''l'3S«- \th^m ;] and therefore will exert "his miraculous power in works of mercy and benevolence, and not of terror and vengeance. And they departed from that place, and went on till they came to another village. Luke xvii. 12. And as he And as he entered into a certain neighbouring village, there met him ten men who luke fa"-e'*' there*' meriiYr!" ten ^^''"''^ lepcrs, and who on that account were shut out from the towns to which they be- ,?-^" nieo'thatwere lepers, which longed; and as in this miserable state they could have no society with any but them- stood afar off. selves, both Jews and Samaritans Conversed promiscuously together. And standing afar \u rte/rvo'icps.an^ai'd.'jesus^ of, lest they should poUute passengers who might come too near them, they lifted up Master, have mercy'ou us. their voice, and Said with great earnestness, having heard of the fame of Christ, Jesus, 14 And when he saw Master, we beseech thee to have mercy upon us, as thou hast already extended it to stnv Voursd'vel°uuto''the Others in these deplorable circumstances. And, seeing them as they stood crying to Jiim, 14 priests. And it came to he Said unto them. Go, show yourselves to the priests ; intimating that the cure they were cleansVd^*^^ ^'^"^ ^^^^ desired should be performed by the way. And it came to pass, that as they were going 15 And oiie of them, in obedience to his word, they wei-e all miraculously cleansed by the power of Christ, when he saw that he was the efficacy of which was such as to operate at a distance as well as near. wTth a' iou"d""L^gU)'rified -4«rf one of them, perceiving he was healed, was so atiected with it, that he immediately 15 God; ° returned with an heart full of gratitude and joy, glorifying God with a loud voice, and foceaUi'is'^et'^^rv'inMiim "lade a free and Open acknowledgment of so signal a mercy. And, preseming himself 16 thanks: and he^was 1i Sa- before Jesus, he fell down on his face at his feet, giving the most affectionate thanks "•="■''»"• unto him as the immediate Author of his cure; and it is remarkable that he was a death; which I think sufTiciently accounts for the u.se of the ence to Christ's ascension, Mark xvi. 19; Acts i. 2, 11,22; 1 Tim. phrase of the days or time being fullUleJ, &c. iii. IG ; as also to that of Elijah, 2 Kings ii. 10, 11. Septuag. and h As the days were fuljilled ill wliich he should he receivedup : arcfi since in all the places referred to above, it may be rendered by nvfiTtK-n^Mixi rx$ nui^ii -rns avaXriJ-Ews iul«.] ]n all the reasonings of taking up, (see Grotius on Mark xvi. 19.) I scruple not at all, with tlie former note, 1 have taken it for granted that anxXr(i,iu? here sig- the most ancient versions, and the generality of critics, to follow nilics Christ's being taken up to heathen : and this is so generally the the usual interpretation, which refers rnxxri^n to Christ's ascension ; signification of tlie word, that I wonder any learned men should especially since no considerable difficulty would be removed by ad- li.«ve interpreted it in a different manner. — Sir Isaac Newton, merely niitting any of the preceding different interpretations. — That the to suit with his hypothesis of preserving the order of Matthew un- word days signifies no more tban-time, and is sometimes used to varied, strangely supposes that this occurrence happened in the express what passes in an instant, is very evident from 1 Kings il. first yearof Christ'spreaching, (Newton On the Prophecies, p. 150.) 1 ; and Gen. xxv 24. Srpt^iag. and interprets the passage beiore us as if aviXii-J/ii were the same with c As a pc-culiar honour to the temple there.] None of the feasts mxh-/_ri, a renewed entertainment, which would make it no exact date observed at Jerusalem could be more remarkable in this view, as at all, but might indifferently be applied to any other feast. this was kept in commemoration of the temple's being purified, Heinsius confounds it with u^^vTK, and interprets it of his being after it had been polluted by Antiochus Epiphanes, to whose idola- lifted iip on the cross: though, it is certain, the ideas of being trous impositions the .Samaritans had willingly offered to submit; lifted up to a state of suspension, and taken or received up, are ex- as was observed before in note g, on John iv. 9. p. 58. Joseplius ob- tremely different.— A learned friend, for whose judgment I have serves, {Antiq. lib. xx. cap. 6. [il. 5.] \ 1. and Hell. Jvd. lib. ii. cap. justly a great regard, observing that XriJic sometimes signifies a 12. [al. 11. T \ 3.) that the Jews, going from Galilee to Jerusalem, at sf/zurf, ingeniously conjectures that ivx/'.c^^i! may signify Christ's their public feasts, took Samaria In their way; and it might be being seized again ; imagining it may refer to a former seizure at resented as something of an affront, considering the antipathy of Nazareth, Luke iv. 29; urging farther, tliat -tvj:).«MS^v.' signifies /<> the two nations. . take again, ^nA referring (I think without sufficient evidence) to d James and John, who attended him.] That these disciples. Acts XX. 13, 14; xxili. 31. compared with ver. 10. and Eph. vi. 13. so remarkably distinaruisised bv their Lord's favour, should have compared with ver. II. in proof of it. But I beg leave, with all due some distingiiished zeal and faith, may seem less wonuerlul, than deference, to observe, that .x)j.txw is the word which Luke uses that a person of so sweet a (Uspnsition as John should make so se- for taking, in the sense this worthy person supposes, as denoting to vere a proposal. (Compare \ 9ti. Trap. p. 19G.) — The affinity which seize, (compare Acts i. 16; and Luke xxii. 54.) in which he is sup- this story has to the other with which Luke has connected it, is ported Dy the authority of Aristotle, Euripides, and the best Greek (as Grotius justly observes) a sufficient reason for his having thus classics. And therefore, since the word is plainly used with refer- transposed it. 252 THE PHARISEES INQUIRE WHEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD WILL COME. SECT. Samaritan. And Jesus observing it, anstvered and said. Were there not ten lepers 17 And Jesus answering \ 127. cleansed ? but 'where \_are^ the other nine, of whom it might have been expected, as they said, Were tlicre not ten il were Jews, that they should have expressed a greater sense of piety, and have been more J;i',e*I,'i,'ie? "^"^ "^^^^^ °'^^ LUKE ready to tliank God for their deliverance ? How is it, that of all who were cleansed, none J8 Tliere are not found XVII. ^^^ found who have returned to sive slorii to God, hut this poor stranger to the com- f'^t returned to give glory ,.1 /. T 1^ All -1 , 1 ■ A ■ ,1 ,■• • , P ^ -, 7 ■ 1° God, save tins stranger. monwealtn 01 Israel ; And tie said to nim. Arise, go thy ivay ; this thy faith m my 19 Ami he said unto liira, power has saved thee, and been happily made the means of thy cure; and from these Arise, go tliy way; thy grateful sentiments with which thy heart is filled, thou mayst conclude the cure thou hast '^""' ''*"' made thee whole, received is given thee in mercy. 1 IMPROVEMENT. 1 LUKR Who would not have imagined that the blessed Jesus should have been most cordially welcome wherever he j IX- came, when there was grace in all his words, and benevolence in all his actions ? Yet these Samaritans would ' 53 not receive him because lie was a Jew. And thus do unhappy prejudices, taken up on imaginary grounds, against men and things in-the general, sometimes injure the best of men, and prove much more hurtful to the^ persons themselves by whom they are entertained. 54 The rash disciples would have called for fire from heaven ; and let us observe how Christ treated the proposal. He treated it like himself; like the kind compassionate Friend of human nature; and also like one who well knew what was i-n man, (John ii. 25.) and how little hiunan terrors and severities can do towards producing a real con- version. Yet fire from heaven might have carried along with it some rational ground of conviction, which penal laws and sanguinary executions can never jxoduce. What then would Christ have said to these disciples if they had themselves proposed to smite with the sword, or to cast fire-brands into the fiouses of these inhospitable men ? 55 Little do they know their own spirit ; little do they understand either the true genius or the true interest of the gospel, who have recourse to such violent methods as these to extirpate heresy, and to propagate truth. Let us bless God that neither the guilt nor the misery of such a conduct is ours. Let us learn to search our own hearts, that we may form a thorough acquaintance with ourselves ; which will greatly promote both the comfort and usefulness of life. Especially let us attend to our aims and intentions, and be greatly jealous over our own hearts, lest we indulge our irregular passions under religious pretences, and set up the standards of malice an-d pride in the name of the Lord. LUKE From the story of the ten lepers let us learn importunately to seek the influences of Christ, to purge us from x^'"- that far more odious and fatal disease which sin has spread over our whole nature ; and, after the example of the 12 — 16 Samaritan, let us own the mercy we have received. Have we not reason to fear that, of the multitudes who are 17, IS indebted to the divine goodness, there is not one in ten who has a becoming sense of it ? Let us labour to impress our hearts deeply with such a sense. Let us remember what it is that God expects of us ; and let us farther con- sider, that as the exercise of gratitude towards such a Benefactor is most reasonable, so also in proportion it is most delightful to the soul : it is indeed (as one well expresses it) like the incense of the Jewish priest, which, while it did an honour to God, did likewise regale with its own fragrancy the person by whom it was offered.J^ J^ '. ■-' ' ' • : K • ' . - r . ;. ^^^ . SECTION CXXYin. Our Lord cautions the Jews against expecting a pompous kingdom of the Messiah, and warns them of the approaching ?i.ational destruction which would be the consequence of rejecting him. Luke xvii. 20, to the end. Luke xvii. 20. ... rrl LUKEXVll.20. SECT. 1 HUb our Lord went on his journev, and at length came to Jerusalem. And it was And when he was de- 128. about this time that, bcincr asked by some of the Pharisees'" when the kingdom of God, ™""ded of tlie Pharisees which he had so often mentioned as approaching, should actually come • he ansxvered shou'id conie'f he'a.islered LUKE them, and said. The kingdom of God comcth not with that external pomp and ob- ihm\, and said. The king- XVII. servation of men which you expect. Neither shall they point to this or that remark- f^""/, ohse?v"iUio'^n™'^"' '"''^ 21 able place, and say. Behold, [// is] here, or, behold \_it is] .there. For behold, and ob- "'a'l °Nei7her'shall they serve it attentively, the kingdom of God is already among you .-'' though, because it is ^p^^-^ •^''f',' "r, 'o there: an inward and spiritual kingdom," erected in the hearts of nien, and not attended with God is within you.'^'''' " outward grandeur, you overlook it as unworthy your regards. 22 And he afterwards said to the disciples apart. Though you do indeed undergo some .22 And he said unto the present difficulties in consequence of your adherence to me, yet you have so mucii greater come wh'enT'c'''sll!i'irdesi're extreinities before you, that the time will come when you shall wish to see one of these to see pne of the days of days of the Son of man, and shall not see it; and the whole Jewish nation having tl'c Son of man, and ye shall rejected Me, the true Messiah, shall yet long for the appearance of him whom they ex- 23 pect under that character, and eagerly listen to every one that preteiids to it. And ac- 23 And they shall say to cordingly they shall say to you. Behold, [he is] here, or, behold [he is] there ; {but] do y"'";^,*": '/ T',?'; '*'"" '''7V not you go out, on hearing such reports, to seek him, nor ]o'm to follow [them] in any fow M^w. ''"'^ '""' '""^ 24 of their vain delusive schemes. For he will indeed come, but in a very different manner 21 I'or as the ligliinmg from what they expect ; even to execute upon them a sudden and unavoidable destruction : o/jg*- ;J^,r/^unde""''heav!';'i' fur as the lightning which lightens from one [part] under heaven, shines in a moment shincth unto the other pur'i Willi the greatest swiftness to the other [part] under heaven : so also in as swift and ter- '""'pr heaven; so shall aUo 1 i„ 7 /; .11 • r j; c r » ■ ; • 7 1 i , ""-' Son of man be in his nbie a manner shall the coming of the Son of ?nan be zn his da?/, when he appears to day. a Heirif/ nsked by some of the P/iarisces.'] I pretend not to say language, r.eza and Raphelius, (Anno/, ex Xen. p. 109, 110.) for a wliether this was at .lerusalem or some neighhouring place ; nor is more particular vindication of it. If is certain our Lord could not it any way material to determiue it. properjy say the kingdom of God was in the Pharisees to whom he j b 77(1? kinrfihm of God is amongst you.\ So I render the words sfti*f; whose temper was entirely alienated from the nature and I svro!UM-)v, referring the re.ider to tlnise exact critics in the Greek design of it. HE FORETELLS THE DESTRUCTION OF THE UNBELIEVING JEWS. ?53 25 But first must be siif- plead the cause of that gospel which has been so generally despised. (Compare Matt. xxiv. sect. fcrniiiny things, and be re- 23, 27. sect. clxi.) Nevertheless, he must, first suffer many things, and be yet more 128. jcc e o us genera loii. opprobriously and solemnly rejected bi/ this generation of men, who shall by this public and national act of impiety and rebellion fill up the measure of their iniquities. (Compare LUiiE Lukexxiii. 18—21 ; John xix. 15 ; Acts iii. 13—15.) XVlf. 2G And as it was in the Then shall impending vengeance fall upon them at once : and as it was in the dai/s of 26 Idaysof Noc, so slmll it be JVofl/i wliich preceded the flood, so a/so shall it he in thedai/s of the Son of man, or in of man. '*^ ^''^ ° ^^ "° those days when he shall come in the manner I have now described, for the destruction of his 27 They did eat, they enemies. For, notwithstanding the express predictions of divine judgments approaching, 27 drank, they married wives, jj -^vent On with their usual couTse as if there were no danger ; they did eat, theii drank, riay-e, until the day that theif married wives, {and'\ their daughters tvere given in marriage ; and with a confi- Noe entered into tiie ark : jgi^t security they persisted in the business, entertainments, and luxuries of life, till the very strnyelf them au!"''''" *^' ^^J/ "' which Noa/i entered into the ark ; and then the deluge came with irresistible 28 Likewise also" as it fury, SO that it Overbore <7«f/ r/«^/"o?/e(i? Mf'w? o// at once. (Gen. vi. 13; \\i. 2\.) Likexvise^^ cM eat''tlfr^'d/ank*'th7 ^^^" "" '^ ""^'"^ ^^ Sodom in the da'i/s of Lot ; they did eat and drink, they bought and bought,' they sold,' they sold, they planted vineyards and built magnificent houses, and never thought themselves planted, they buiided : more securc, or their pleasant country more lilcc-to> flourish : Thus did they carelessly go on, 20 But the same day that despising every admonition of their guilt and danger : But on the very day when Lot went 29 Lot went out of Sodom, it out of Sodo?n, an horrible tempest oi fire and brimstone was rained down by the Lord fronrL^'tni^'andde^Troyed .''''■''"' heaven, and with a sudden overthrow destroyed them all. (Gen. xix. 14, 24.) them all: ' Evcn SO shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed, when he will sensibly 30 30 Even thus shall it be (display his power in the destruction of this sinful people : the Jewish nation shall be as mau'isVeveaied! ' " ° careless and confident as if there was not the least danger, indulging them^lves in all kinds of luxury and extravagance,"^ till they shall see ruin surrounding them on every side, from which it will be as impossible for them to escape as it was for the smners of the old world, or the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Compare IMatt. xxiv. 37 — 39. sect, clxiii. ) 31 In that day, he which In that day, if any one shall be taking the air on the house-fop, or be retired thither 31 top" and "m"stuff iii'"tli'e ^°'' ^^Y Other purpose, and his best dress and furniture be in the house, let him not come house, let him not come down into the house to take n"awaj/ ,•* butTSt^im flee the readiest way by those steps down to take it away: and which go down on the outside of the building: and he that is at work in the field, him likewise not return Stripped of his uppcr-gamient, let him likewise not return back, though it be but a few back. steps, to take it. (Compare Matt. xxiv. 17, 18. sect, clxi.) But remember the awful ex- 32 32 Remember Lot's wife, ^^^pj^ ^j- j^^^,^ ^-j-^,^ ^^j^j^ ^j^^ dreadful issue of her delay and looking back; (Gen. xix. 26.) and take heed, lest, like her, you perish in that sudclen vengeance which shall over- take your former abode, if you allow yourselves to linger in it, or turn back for the sake 33 AXHiosoever shall seek of any thing you have left there. For in that day, he that shall seek to preserve his life 33 f\ to save his life shall lose it : jjy retiring into some fortified city, and especially into that where it might seem he should life, shall preserve it. be safest, shall lose it ; but he that shall be thought to take the ready way to lose his life, shall preserve it ; for they who regard my admonitions, and retire, however their conduct may be censured as imprudent, shall survive the general ruin. 34- I tell you, in that / tell you, in that night, that gloomy calamitous time, the providence of God shall be 34 mfn'^n^one bed" ufe one strangely seen, in delivering some of my disciples, when others in the very same places shall be taken, and' the other and circumstances shall perish in the common calamity : there shall, for instance, be two • shall be left. persons lying in the same bed ; and the one shall be taken by the enemy,^ and the 35 Two women shall be other jlismissed. Two women shall be grinding together, at the same mill ; the one 35 fhlinSf?and'theotirer '^^'"^^ ^'^ taken, and the other (lismissed. AnA^two men shall /ie:yvorking or walking 36 left. ' together in the field ; the one sh'itlUij^ taken and the other dismissed. (Compare Matt. thffieTr°throneil«n be '^^^^^ '^*^' '*^- ^^'^^- ^'^'"-^ taken, and the other left. ^7?6? they answered and said to him. Where, Lord, and to whom shall this destruction 37 37 And they answered happen }^ And he Said to them. That common proverb is applicable to the present occa- Lm-df'Anrhe"";iirunTo siou,— Wheresoever the carcase lis,] there will the eagles be gathered together :& them, AVheresoever tjie wherever the impenitent and unbelieving Jews are, the vengeance of God will pursue them, body is tii'ther will the ^nd the Roman eagles shall (as it were) fly upon them as a helpless prey ; and so, where ther?^ ^ "^ '^"^ °^^' their numbers are the largest, there the destruction will be greatest and most terrible. (Com- pare Matt. xxiv. 28. sect, clxi.) j j c Indulging themselves in all kinds of luxury and extravagance] e T/ie one shall be taken by the enemy.] That this is the sense of It is not unseasonable for Great Britain to recollect, that when the word CT3tp*xr4)3n-rETXi, and that j($£9>W£r3(i in the latter clause should " a pompous and luxurious %vay of living lias come to its height be rendered dismissejl, or let go, I think Eisner has abundantly in many of the most considerable ancient and modern nations, proved; Oisfro. Vol. I. p. 262, 263. — He has likewise shewn there, I there has been a very sudden transition to the lowest state of how customary it was for ifomp/i to ^rZ/fii n? Me m///. See also Bos, j servitude and ruin. All histories abound with instances of this Exerc. p. 30. 1 kind ; and God grant that our own age may not add one to the f JVhere, Lord, &c.] I have seen few paraphrases which do not ■" ' number ! supersede this question : I have forbore mentioning Jerusalem ^ I d Lei him not come down into the house to take it aivay.'] This above, that I might leave room for it. { shews, beyond all controversy, that this discourse refers not to the g Wheresoever the carcase is, i'fc.'] Dr. Clarke has explained the \, final judgment, from which there can be no escape; but to the general sense of this proverb with great judgwent. (See his 1 destruction of Jerusalem, from which it is well known that many Seventeen Sermons, p. 381, et seq.) It is as if it had been said. The Christians were preserved by this caution. See Grotius, in he. — like causes will produce the like effects. But it seems to suggest so ,1 The Jewish hou.ses were built with a flat roof, and had stairs on proper an allusion to the Roman standards, and to the carnage they [the outside to ^o down from the top. Compare note e, ou Luke made of the Jews, that I could not forbear introducing the mention J v. 19, p. 92. of it. iw 9^. 254 - THE PARABLE OF THE IMPORTUNATE WIDOW. IMPROVEMENT. SECT. May our minds be formed to a true taste and relish for the kingdom of God ! and may we learn wherein it con- 128. sists ; not, like the kingdoms of this world, in external pomp and splendour, but in righteousness, peace, joy in the Holy Ghost, and that inward subjection of soul to the divine government which is the essence of religion, and the LUKE grand security and felicity of our natures ! Many are, like the Pharisees, talking of it, and expecting it, while it is XV II. 21. among them, and they know it not ; and, perhaps, despise the humble Christians in whom it resides, and most eminently triumphs. May they who think most slighdy of it never have cause to wish at last for the return of those Ver. 22 days of the Son of man, which are now their burden, rather than their pleasure, while they hear vital and inward religion in vain recommended and enforced ! • 26 — 30 What our Lord says of his coming to the destruction of Jerusalem, may be applied, as it is elsewhere, to his appearance at the tinal judgment, of which the former was a figure. Thus shall the men of that generation be immersed in business and pleasure ; and that tremendous day shall come upon them, even as a thief in the night ; so that they shall find themselves overwhelmed with irrecoverable ruin, while they cry. Peace and safety , (1 Thess. V. 2, 3.) And thus doth the awful hour of death, which consigns men over to judgment, surprise the generality of mankind, while they are thoughtless of it, and unprepared for its approach, amidst all the solemn warnings of it which they daily receive. May we be always in a prepared posture, and daily live as on the verge of eternity ! 32 And if once we are engaged in a course of serious preparation, let us rememher Lofs wife, and take heed that 31 we turn not back again. We flee as for o-ur lives ; let us not look bchi)id us. Whatever is to be left, whatever s is to be lost, it is enough if our life be given us as for a prey. 34 — 36 If we have any just hope that it will be so given us, we have a great deal of reason to own and adore the riches of divine grace to us, of that distinguishing grace which has taken us when others are left ; some, perhaps, employed in the same business, and dwelling in the same place, and, may not I add, some lying in the same bed too ! In a word, let all seriously bethink themselves, andjlee froju the wrath to co7ne. God spared not Judda, tliat favourite country, when they rejected his gospel and his Son : let usfrar, lest he also spare not us: (Rom. xi. 37 20, 2L) In this respect also, wheresoever the carcase is, there xvill the eagles be gathered together. The same] causes will produce the same effects ; and when we, in particular, of these happy but sinful nations, consider our] 17 numerous and aggravated provocations, we shall see much greater reason to wonder that the judgments of God| liave been so long delayed, than that they should at last fall upon us with an insupportable weight. ; . / n SECTION CXXIX. Christ presses his disciples to perseverance in prayer, by the parable of the importunate -widow ; and recom- mends humility by that of the Pharisee and publican. Luke xviii. 1 — 14. Luke xviii. 1. i.uke x\iii. i. SECT. Thus our Lord discoursed with his disciples of the approaching destruction of Jerusalem ^?^.,/^^7o^'j^-,\PJ"^^* 129. by the Romans ; and, for their encouragement under those hardships which they might in m'en ought always to pray, the mean time expect, from their unbelieving countrymen or others, he spake a parable to and not to faint; LUKE thou ; which was intended to inculcate upon them this great truth, that, how distressed XVIII. sQgver their circumstances might be, they ought always to pray with faith and perse- verance, and not to faint under their trials. 2 For this purpose he discoursed to them in the following manner, saying. There was a . 2 Saying, Tliere was in a Judge in a certain city, who neither feared God, nor reverenced man ; but was wicked no7 God"* neither Vegarded enough to set light by all regards to both, and to make his own humour and secular interest man : 3 the only rule of his actions. And there was a widow in that city who had sustained 3 And there was a widow > some injury from an enemy more powerful than herself; and^ having no other way to J",[o''''|,i^7faYi"4f'AvTnge obtain redress, she came to him, at a place and time when she could not be denied access, me of mine adversary. and said, I come to put myself under the protection of the law, and to demand thine as- sistance as a magistrate, to do me justice against mine adversary,^ that I may not sink 4 under his oppressive attempts. This was her case and plea ; yet as she brought no 4 And he would not for present in her hand, he would not, for a considerable ^/w/<;, take any notice of it: but, "aid within hhnIeif,Th'^ou^h as she still persevered in her petition, he afterwards said within himself. Though indeed i fear not God, nor rei,'a'rd I neither fear God 7ior reverence man, and therefore care not what becomes of this """ ; 5 cause, or who has the right or the wrong of it ; Yet, because this importunate widow 5 Yet, hecause this widow gives ?ne trouble by her continual application, I will do her justice, lest by her coming f,p7'''iett\?y'''hcrcont^iniw1 perpetually to me with this petition, she even stun and weary me out withher cries.*" coming- siio weary me. 6 And the Lord said. Hear and observe whatlhe unjust judge saith upon this remark- , o ■^V'^.^l'^ '"■""^'l ■ 'j"'' 11 • 111 1 • IP . 1 111 - ii J 1 • c Hear what the uniust judge able occasion, and how he owns himself to be prevailed on by the continual cries ot one 5.,,ith 7 whom otherwise he would not have regarded. And if the earnest importunity of a poor 7 And shall not God widow thus prevailed on an unrighteous person, shall not a righteous God much more crr^d'ay ^ and" n^ght'^'un't!'. be moved to vindicate his own elect, his chosen and dearly beloved people, that cry iiSm, though he hear long to him day and night under the cruel oppression of their insulting enemies, even though "Uh them? 8 he may seem to bear long with them, to give them space for repentance ?'^ Yes, I say 8 I tell you, that he will a Do me justice against viine adversary:] This Is the undoubted cmphatical, and signifies to stun ox heat down by violent and re- import of the phrase ii.diy.n-im //£ ; and care should have been taken peated blows on the head. Compare 1 Cor, ix. 27. in the version, to express it so as not to sii=;gest the idea of revenge. c Though he may seem to hear long with /hem, &c.] The learned b She even stun and weary me out.] The word yTrirma^r) is very Eisner supposes Aiaxjo'uiti'v, witli a small alteration in the accent, to THE PARABLE OF THE PROUD PHARISEE AND HUMBLE PUBLICAN. 255 them speedily. Ne- unto 7/ou, he toill crtaialy vindicate them ; and when he once undertakes it, he v/ill do SECT. vertiTeiess, when ^iie Sou of j^ speedily too ; and this generation of men shall see and feel it to their terror. Neve?' 129. foithon^the^earth! "^ "' t/u'less, when the Son of man, having been put in possession of his glorious kingdom, aveii: comes to appear for this important purpose, tvill be find faith in the land?^ The per- luke secution ■w^ill be so severe as almost to bear it down ; but let tlie remembrance of what I XVIII. have now spoken be a comfort to my people, and a warning to those that injure tliem. 9 And lie spike this para- He also spake this othci paradle to certain persons who, like the proud, self-justifying 9 trusted°in themseWer tha't P^iarisees, with an arrogant conceit of their own merit, trusted in themselves that they they were righteous, and were righteous, and despised others as reprobates. There were, said he, two men who 10 despised others : went up to the tcjnple to pray there, choosing to offer up theii- particular devotions at into thr'tempfe to pr;^- ; that sacrcd place ; and the one of them was a Pharisee, one of that sect so greatly the one a Phiirisee, and tlie honoured among you, and the other a publican, whom you are used to number with the "^'iT Thr^Riaiisee stood '^^'"'^^ contemptible of mankind. And the Pharisee, standing by himself at as great all and prayed thus with hira- distance as he could from the miserable sinner who had entered the temple Avith him, as if seif:God, I tiiankthee, that j^g feared being polluted by touching him, or any other person less holy than himself,^ extortioners °unjusT"aeen a favourite maxim with our Lord, since we find it '' [ argues fromhence, that deism shall prevail very much towards the repeated almost in these very words no less than Mrcf different times; ' J couf lusion of the Millennium : [Christol. Vol. lI. p. 358.) but it is not to mention a multitude of expressions in sense uearly equiva- i evident from the cciinecl ion, as stated above, that this cannot justly lent. See Matt, xxiii. 12; and Luke xiv. 11. Compare note k, \ 157. « 256 CHRIST OPENS THE EYES OF A MAN WHO WAS BORN BLIND. SECT. How instractive is this parable of the publican and Pharisee ; and how well connected with the former, to teach 129. us that humility without which repeated prayers will be repeated insults and atfronts to heaven ! Let us not trust in ourselves that we are righteous, and despise others ; but rather be severe to our own faults, and candid LUKE to theirs. xviii. Behold this arrogant Pharisee, standing apart from the publican, but as near as he could to the seat of the divine majesty ! And hear him boldly celebrating his own praises rat-her than those of his Maker ! God, I thank thee that I am not as other men. We see a man may acknowledge it is the grace of God -which makes the difierence between him and others ; and yet while he professes that humbhng doctrine of the gospel, may be blown up with 12 pride: yea, he may nourish and express that pride by the words in which he declares his faith. Mistaken crea- ture ! tliat imagined this encomium on himself was a prayer, and trusted in this detiective morality, and these cere- monies of human device, while an utter stranger to real vital religion. Happier, a thousand times happier, the poor publican, when abasing himself in the dust ; when smiting on his breast ; when owning himself a sinner, and imploring the divine mercy as his only hope ! Lord, we equally need it : may we with equal humility seek it ! 13 May we habitually maintain those views of ourselves which may promote that humility so necessary in order to the acceptance of our addresses, and therefore to the happiness of our souls. And indeed, if in our approaches to God we can place our confidaice in any righteousness o-f our own, whatever we may imagine of our own knowledge or holiness, we have need to be taught again the first principles of both, and are strangers to the essen- tials of religion, ■'/; tf -,, '■ ^ ■ :,. n ■ ^. Z '~ ^' .? .-. SECTION CXXX. Christ opens the eyes of a man v.-'ho was horn blind ; and the sanhedrim examine stricthi into the evidence of the miracle. John ix. 1 — 23. John ix. 1. John ix. i. SECT. Our Lord was now come to Jerusalem, at the feast of dedication, about the middle of And as /<>.?!/? passed by, lie 130. December f and as he was passing aton^ through the streets of that city, he saw saw a nian ^vl,ich was blind a poor man who had been blind from his birth, that sat and asked relief from those •'^x^ that went by. " ' , , - r , ' 2 And his disciples, taking notice of the poor man's case, agphedjheiT^lv^to Jesus, and 2 And his disciples askca asked him concerning it, sai/ing. Rabbi, we desire thou wouldsTteTl us who it was that [j;^"'^i^;'_> y^^-- ^^^^\^''ll^^ sinned in so extraordinary and aggravated a manner as to occasion such a judgment ? parents,' that he was boru Had this man himself been guilty of some loeinous crime, as some of our doctors suppose i>ii"d ! he might be in a pre-existent state ?'' or had his parents, before his birth, conmiitted some notorious sin ? for we apprehend that he was horn blind as a punishment to himself, or them, or both. . . ;, m • 3 But Jesus, waving the curiosity of the question, answered. It is mt because either t,,f,-|Xtf,l'f;;,'^f;i„^;^- this man or his parents have sinned in such an extraordinary manner as you suppose ; „or his paronte: but" tliat nor was the punishment of either the chief design of this dispensation of Providence ,•' but the works of God should be the intent of it was, that the miraculous works of God might be remarkably manifested in "'^'"'^ manifest m him. 4 restorin-"- him to sio-ht, as you will quickly see. For however the malice of the Jews may 4 i must work the works be irritated by it, I must perform the works of him that sent me, while it is day, and the o^f hinithat^sent^me.w^.iie^ opportunity of despatching it continues ; for I well know that the night is coming, in „hen no man can work. ' which no man can work: I see death approaching, which, as it puts a period in general 5 As long as I am in the to human labours, so will close the scene of such miracles as these, and remove me from ;;;^|,[;]; ^'" ^^"^ "s"' <" "'^ 51 the converse and society of men. But so long as I am in the world, I am the light of the e When he had thus \world ; and, as a proof of the divine illumination I am capable of giving, I have often re- ^^pol^en,^ l.e^ .s^pat^ on^^tiie stored sight to the blind, and I will do it in this instance. the spittle, and he anointed 6 Now when he had spoken thus, that he might exercise the faith and obedience of thepa- the eyes of the blind man tient, and might shew that he could command efficacy 011 whatever means he should please ""» ^A'nrsaYd'unto him, Go to use he spat on the around, and made clay with the spittle, and anointed the eyes of the wash in the pool of Siloam, 7 blind man with the clay ; And then, for a fardier trial of his je^gnatipn and subiuission ^''^ "^^^l^":^ ■ - - > . ' Mloam, ^<'/7;o- //'/f/y^'-f^tY/ j,,p^pfore_ and washed, ami he said to him^ Go wash at the pool ofHiloamf (which word from the Hebrew, signifies. Sent, and so bore semeanalogy to the character of Jesus, as came seeini a About the middle of December.] See John x. 22.and the note was afterwards sent into another body, ^^1'':"^ '!« ™!j- '^'^'UflTa haniien within the compass of two or three days at most, nay, per- -matter, to fix on something more usetnl. hapsofones "Ae day. And it seems much more probable th.t c JVnsh at the pool of Sitoam.-] Perhaps by this command, our J^lyZ [". llja^sel-] might be used here without any immediate Lord intended to make the miracle so much t^'^,"'";- taken notice agree that thii* refers to the notion the Jews had of the transmigra- Luke xiii. 4. p 231. and KeUnd. J^ale.ittue, p. fw/. tion of souls. They t-hovight that if a man behaved himself amiss, h. ; . 4 / iv vR tMvt THE RIAN TELLS THE PEOPLE HOW HE RECEIVED HIS SIGHT. 257 sent of God.) He therefore presently complied with the direction, and ivent. a-dcn/ and SKCT. v:ashed as he was ordered, and had no sooner done it, but he came from tiie pool seeing ; 130. and not only found his sight given him, but his eyes were at once so remarkaljly strength- ened, that he immediately could bear tlie light."^ joh.v 8 The neigliboi'.rs there- The neighbours therefore, and they rSlio had seen him before, and known that he '^• [uT^^rm'lZirthat'hc \vls "^"'^ always blind, said one to another. Is not this he that sat in the street, and asked S bUmi, said. Is not this he [_chariti/'] of those who passed by ? Whence is there such an astonishing alteration in tiiat satand^begged? _^ ^^ {jju;, ? "^j-^^j j^„^^, g^j^i^ j( ^^ assuredly he ; and others, It is indeed very much lihe him, 9 otJiers»a/^ ^0 ^'^^ blind ?nan, (that is, to him who had been blind, and still was spoken of by hath opened thine eyes? that title,) What saycst thou Concerning him, since he hath, as thou declarest, opened He said, He is a Prophet, thine eyes ? And he freely said. It is clear to me that he is a most illustrious Prophet ; for surely otherwise he would have been unable to perform so great a miracle. 18 But the Jews jiid not The Jews therefore of this great council, being generally displeased with his reply, 18 that he had be'eri"bnud,and ^^^'^ Y^^ Unable to invalidate it if the miracle was allowed, would not believe concerning received his sight, until him, on his own Credit, that he had formerly been blind, and had now received his iJim tiiau'!?d'receWe"d^i'i3 ^^^^'^ ' ^"* represented it as a confederacy "between him and Jesus, by an easy fraud to sight. ' get the reputation of so extraordinary a cure: and in this view they v.'ent on roimdiy to censm-e it, tj/l they had called in the parents of the man who maintained that Tie had 19 And they asked them, thus received his sight, that they might strictly examine them on this question. And they 19 yihoye say warbo"rn"blind"l <^*^'e^^ thetn. Saying, Is this indeed your son, of who?n it is reported that you say he How then dotii he now see? was bom blind ? Give us an account of the whole matter ; and particularly tell us, if vcu thPn,",mi'^!:?^' wfknni are sure that he was blind from his birth, how then doth he now see ? His parents "an- 20 LllclU, dllU >j. Compare note b, \ 8(3. p. 175.— Perhaps he with any kind of medicine, was forbidden to the Jews by the tKi- had been taught by the e.xample of Naaman not to despise\he most dition of the elders. I improbable means when prescribed in the view of a miracle. Yet g Such great and beneficial miracles.'] This seems to intimate' It isglain he did not know this was Jesirs of Nazpreth yet, and so tlrat they thought there were at least some miracles so glorious and ! had no particular faith in him, (compare ver. 12.) which shews, by\ so benev'olent, that no evil agent would have either inclination or I the way, that such a faith was not universally required as a con-, power to perform them ; and that they reckoned this in that num- / dition of receiving a cure. . ber. The tliought seems both rational and important, and is set in u' e // is like him, &c.] The circumstance of having received his very strong light by the learned Mr. Chapman, in his Eiiseh. ch. ii. sight wouW give him an air of spirit and cheerfulness, wlii<;h would h" Tlie few friends of Christ among them, &c.] If Nicodemus and render him something unlike what he was before, and might oc- Joseph of Arimathea, both members of the sanhedrrm, were now c«sion a little doubt to those who were not well acquainted witli present, tliey would naturally distinguish themselves on this occa- hini: as Bishop Hall justly observes. sion ; and Gamaliel too, on the principles he afterwards avowed, , f // was on the sabbatfi-day, 4t.] Dr. Lightfool (in his Hor. Heb. (Acts v. 38, 39.) must have been on tlieir side. 258 THE MAN THAT WAS BLIND IS AGAIN CALLED BEFORE THE SANHEDRIM. SliCT. T//C56' M//?o.$ //Ay/?<^'''f"^A' ^fl'f'V/ in this cautious manner, not that they had any doubt of 22 These words spake 130. the cure as wrought by Jesus, but because they were afraid of the Jews : fur the Jexus, '"^ parents because they . , • , • 1 ■ 1 , i ; ; / 1 , , 1 , ■,• ; ;i 1 i i 'eared the Jews: for the ■ Ul-this their highest coujt, liaa already agreed, that ij any one sliould show such regard jews had agreed already, JOHN to Jesus of Nazareth as to confess him to be Christ, he should immediately be excom- that if any man did confess IX. municated and cast out of the synagogue ;' a censure which was reckoned very infamous, silould ' be ^ii'ut out^of tile 23 and attended with many civil incapacities and penalties. Not knowing therefore but synagogue. such an interpretation mi"ht be put on their owning; the (ruth of this miracle, his parents '■^f iherefore said his pa- ,,.,..' P , i . . =• . , , , . r 1 ^ rents, He IS of age, ask hiin declined giving any particular testimony concerning it ; and rather cliose to rerer them to their son, and said. He is of age suthcient to be hearcl as an evidguce^and it will there- fore be most proper that you should ash the particulars from him. , IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 5 Oh that the zeal of our great Master might quicken us his too negligent servants ! Still is he the light of the •world, by his doctrines, precepts, and example. May our eyes by divine grace be opened to see, and our hearts 4 be disposed to love and to follow this light ! It was a governing maxim with him, and lie meant it also for our admonition, I must u-ork the iiwrks of him that sent me while it is day ; the night cometh, wherein no man ccai work. We are sent into the world on an important errand, to work out our own salvation, and that of others : may we improve the present jday ; and so much the rather, as we see the night approaching ! On some the shadows of the evening are already drawing on ; and as to others, their sun may go down at noon. Let us 2, 3 therefore, waving the curiosity of unprofitable speculations, apply ourselves seriously to the business of life, and zealously seize every opportunity of usefulness. .6, 7 — Our Lord, as it should seem, unasked, and, bj^the person on whom it was wrought, unknown, performed this important and extraordinary cure. And the maiiher in which he did it is worthy of notice : TTe anointed his eyes / with clay, and then commanded him to wash. Clay laid on the eye-lids might almost blind a man that had sight ; but what could it do towards curing blindness ? It reminds us, that God is no farther from the accomplishment of any purpose or event, when he works with, than without, means 3 and that all the creatures are only that which his almighty operation makes them. — 7 The blind man believed, and received the immediate benefit of it. Had he reasoned, like Naaman, on the im- propriety of the means, he had justly been left in darkness. Lord, may our p'roud hearts be subdued to the methods of thy recovering grace ! And may we leave it to thee to chuse how thou wilt bestow favours which it is our highest interes.t on any terms to receive ! 15, 17 It must be a satisfaction to every true Christian to observe the curiosity and exactness with which these Pharisees 18, 19 inquired into the miracles of Christ, and how thoroughly they canvassed every circumstance of them. A truth ' like this need not fear any examination. Every new witness which they heard confirmed tire case, and confounded 20, 23 the obstinacy of their unbelief:". — But surely the weakness of the parents was very pitiable, who, in the midst of the evidence and obligation of such a miracle, were more afraid of incurring a human sentence than of offending God, CyTailing to own so great a favour, and to confess the blessed Person by whom it was wrought. The fear of man bringcth a snare ; (Vxov. xxix. 25.) but they whose ej'es Christ has opened in a spiritual sense, will see a glory and excellence in him, which will animate them boldly to bear their testimony to him in defiance of all the cai- sures which men can pass, or of all the penalties by which they can enforce them, ^^o*^ ':,.y^-\,\\i^x^ 1.\ . ! ^ Ti ' SECTION CXXXI. The man who was born blind that had received his sight, is a second time examined before the Sanhedrim, who, provoked b>/ the freedom of his replies, excommunicate him; but Jesus meets him, and declares himself to be the Son of God. John ix. 24 — 38. John ix. 24. jo„j, ^^ ^^ SF.r r. Now, as the sanhedrim were not able to discover any fraud in the miracle mentioned in Then again called they 131. the precedinsr section by examining the parents, thei/ therefore called a second time for the man that was blind, and ,, r & •',,., P • ,', , ■ ^ ■' ; J /-< ; L !■ c ■ said unto Iiim, Give God ■ the man who had been band, and said to him, Uive glory to Lrod, by a tree coniession ^he praise: we know that JOHN of the fraud, if there be any collusion or artifice in this affair f or, if the cure was really this man is a sinner. ^^'04 ■^''I'ought in the manner thou affirmest, acknowledge the power, sovereignty, and goodness " of the Divine Being in working by so unworthy an instrument ; for we certainly know that this Jesus of Nazareth, the man of whom thou speakest, is a profligate sinner,'^ and deserves public punishment rather than esteem. -i a a 25 Then answered he and said. If he be a sinner, I know not any thing of it, having no w1fether^"rbe''a sinner o^ personal acquaintance with him ; but one thing I certainly know, and \yill stand Jo the no, I know not: one thing 1 // any one should confess him to he Christ, Sfc.'] Hence it ap- adjuration by the glorious name of God; (as 1 Kings xxii. 16; 2 pears, that though our Lord was cautious of professing himself to Chron. xviii. 15; and Matt. xxvi. 03.)-The words also admit ano- betheChristinexpressterms, yet many understood the intimations tlier sense, which 1 have comprehended in the paraphrase ; but 1 he gave ; and that most of his disciples by this time declared their prefer the former. , r> faith in him under that character. It also farther appears from b This man is a sinner.'] I cannot, with Mr. Locke, (i?ra.?o«ff/;/*'- hence, that the parents, and indeed the sanhedrim, knew who it was ness of Chrislianih/, p. 2«.) imagine this any proof of a tradition that opened this man's eyes, though he himself was hitherto^a among the Jews lliat the Messiah should be perfectly free from stranger to him, and was not yet acquainted with the dignity of sin ; but rather conclude, that sinner here, as in ver. 10, signihes a hi.s pursfin. Compare ver. 2."3, 36. notoriously wicked man. It was certain, from the ^nncuii£S,ot a anc glon/ to God, by a free confession of the fraud, &c.] As their sacred writings, that a person not entirely sinless might per- il is greatly for the honour of the divine omniscience and provi- form very illustrious miracles. But how severe an insult was here deuce, that persons who are guilty of crimes not fully proved on the character of our Redeemer, to be pronounced a known sran- agaiiist them should freely confess tiiem, and not presume, against dalous sinner by this lugil_£ourt.pf ju,c(Lcatur,e ! An intamy which the dictates of conscience, to maintain their owii innocence ; there has seldom, in any civilized country, fallen on any person not le- is a great propriety in the phrase taken in tliis sense: (compare gaily convicted. Josh. vii. 19. aiid Rev. xi. 13.) Vet some have taken it as a general AND IS EXCOMMUNICATED BY THE PHARISEES. 259 1 know, that whereas I was blind, now I see. 26 Then said they to him again. What did he to tliee 1. how opened he thiue eyes ? 27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear ; where- fore would ye hear it again ? will ye also be his disci- ples ? 28 Then they reviled hira, and said, Thou art his disciple ; but we are Moses' disciples. 29 We know that God spake unto Moses : as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. 30 The man answered and said unto them. Why, )ierein is a marvellousthing, that ye know not from whence he is, and ;/et he hath opened mine eyes, 31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a wor- shipper oi' God, and doth his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the world beg^n was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33 If this man were not of God, he could do no- thing. 34 They answered and said unto "him. Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. 3.5 Jesus heard that they had cast him out ; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God ? 36 He answered and said. Who is he. Lord, that I raight believe on him ? 37 And Jesus said unto Iiim, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talk- eth with thee. 38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he wor- shipped him. JOHN IX. truth of it, t/iat ■whereas I was blind, even from my birth, I now see gCTfectly wellj and SECT, owe my sight to the very person whom you condemn. 131. But they again said to him, iioping that, in some minute circumstance at least, he might contradict his former account, and give them some advantage against him. Tell us once more as particularly as thou canst, what did he unto thee ? and how did he open thine eyes ? And as the man perceived that they intended only to ensnare him, he answered them 07 eagerly, I have told you already, and you have not regarded what J said, nor would at all believe me: why would you desire to hear it again ? Would you also become his disciples, as many have lately done, and some, perhaps, on occasion of this miracle which he has performed on me ? The Pharisees then were filled with indignation, and wereso greatly exasperated at what 23 ' ,, ] appeared to them so insolent a speech, that they reviled him in very opprobrious language, "^ - ' and said, Thou art indeed this fellow's disciple, as many of the herd of ignorant people are ; but we would have thee to know that we scorn the imputation, for we are the dis- ciples of Moses," and are too firmly attached to that great and holy prophet, to regard such a deceiver as this. We well know that God spake to Moses,"^ and gave the most 29 ample evidence of sending him with a divine commission ; bid as for this vian, we know not from whence he is, nor can we perceive any satisfactory credentials of his bringing any i-i/yV\^. message from God to us. J But, not discouraged by their unjust reflections, the man replied with a becoming free- 30 dom of spirit, and said unto them. Why, in this respect it is strange that'you know not from whence he is, and yet it is plain that he has opened mine eyes. Now we all know 31 "in general that God heareth not sinners, and that persons of infamous characters and immoral lives cannot expect the divine acceptance in any common petition which they otfer, much less for the performance of a miracle ; but if any man be hxily devout, and faithfully do his will, him indeed he heareth with a favourable regard : when therefore God is found to hear a man in such an extraordinary instance as tliis, there seems the greatest reason to believe he is a person whose temper and character are approved by him. And this is plainly an extraordinary instance; for, from the beginning of the world it 32 was never heard'that any man opened the eyes of one who, like me, was born blind. It is surprising, therefore,' that you, who allow that Moses was a prophet on the authority of his miracles, should in this case judge so hardly of my deliverer, whoever he be. But 33 every unprejudiced person may easily see that if this man were not sent of God, he could do nothing of this kind. And, not being able to endure so plain and forcible a reproof, which_even stung them 34 to the heart, they answered and said to hint, with great hatred and scorn, Thou vile pre- sumptuous wretch, thou wast entirely born in sins, and didst bring into the world with thee most evident tokens of the divine Avrath and vengeance ; and dost thou insolently take upon thee to teach us, the guides of the national faith, and members of the supreme court of ecclesiastical judicature ? We shall find out a way to correct this arrogance. And im- mediately they cast him out of the sjniagogue, passing a solemn sentence of excommuni- cation upon him, though there was no shadow of proof that he had desei-ved it. ' Now Jesus quickly heard of their arbitrary proceedings, that they /if/f/ thus passed 35 sentence on the poor man, and had cast him out for his sake ; and, finding him soon after, he said to him privately, Dost thou believe on the Son of God, the great expected Messiah ? He answered and said. Sir, who is he, that I may believe on him ? I know that such 36 a glorious Person is expected ; and if he be already come, tell me but who he is, and where I may meet with him, and I am ready to express a due regard to him who shall be pointed out to me under that honourable and important character. Then Jesus, to encourage him under what he was now suffering on his account, said 37 to him, with a degree of freedom which was very unusual,"^ Thou hast no need of going far to seek him; for thou hast both already seen' him, and had experience of his power and goodness ; it was he that miraculously opened thine eyes, and indeed it is even he that is now talking with thee, who is that very Person. And, immediately yielding to that convincing argument which arose from what he had 38 himself experienced of his almighty power, he said. Lord, I most readily believe that tliou art he, and humbly prostrate myself before thee, to render thee due homage as such. And, falling down at his feet, he worshipped him. c ir'e are the disciples of Jfoses.] Hereby they craftily, but most maliciously and falsely, insinuated that there was such an opposition between Moses and Jesus, that it was impossible for tlie same persons to be the disciples of both. d ire know tliat Gnd spake to Moses.'] Their partiality here was inexcusable ; for, if they believed the mission of Moses on the evidence of miracles, credibly attested indeed, but performed two thousand years before they were born, — it was much more reason- able, on their own principles, to believe the mission of Jesus ou at least equal miracles, wrought daily among them, when they might in many instances have been eye-witnesses to the facts; and one of which, notwithstanding all their malice, they were here compel- led to own, or at least found themselves utterly unable to disprove, e With a degree of freedom very unusual.] AVe have formerly observed the wise caution of Jesus "ou this head. See \ 29. note r, p. 59.— The freedom here used may be accounted for by consider- ing the extraordinary circumstances of the case; this being the firet instance in which any one had incurred the great incoave-.. niences attending a sentence of e-ccomraunication, out of zeal for the honour of Christ. No doubt this passed privately between our Lord and this good^man, though, presently after, others joined the conversation, as we observe in tlie begiuuing of the next section. S 2 260 CHRIST DECLAliES HIMSELF TO BE THE TRUE SHEPHERD. SECT 131. JOHN IX. IMPROVEMENT. So little does truth fear repeated examinations ; and thus does it, after every trial, come forth like pure gold out of the furnace. So did this miracle of Christ appear to these subtle adversaries ; so will the Christian cause appear to all Avho will diligently search into its evidence. Who can forbear wondering at the obstinacy of these Pharisees ; and, on the same principles, at that of the pre- sent Jews, who, while they acknowledge that God spake by Moses because he wrought miracles, will not, on the evidence of yet more various and glorious miracles,' and those attested beyond all contradiction, acknowledge the --^> 29 authority of the Son of God himself ? 30 But we see this poor illiterate creature, (for such he undoubtedly was,) with the advantage of truth on his side, baffles all the sophistry of his most learned antagonists. Great is the truth, and it will prevail. Great is this truth, so fundamental to the gospel, that Jesus is the Son of God : and this also, which is so important to natural religion 31 and revealed, that God hcareth not sinners ; but if any man be a worshipper of God, and do his tvill, him he hears, and most favourably regards. May we be truly devout, and add to our devotion an obedient regard to the divine 34 will, and the eyes of the Lord -will be upon us, and his ears be open to our cry ! (Psal. xxxiv. 15.) Then, 35 being favourably owned of God, we shall have no reason to fear the censures of men. If they cast us out, Christ 37 will receive us, and perhaps reveal himself to us with more freedom, in proportion to the injuries we sustain from them. . \ '■ ; ^ '\ ",. > . SECTION cxxxn. Christ adtnonishes the Pharisees of their danger ; and represeyits himself as the door of the shecpfold, through ■which men must necessarily enter if they desire their oxvn salvation, or that of others committed to their care, John Lx. 39, to the end ; x. 1 — 10. John ix. 39. JohnIx. 39. SECT. While Jesus stood talking with the blind man wlio had received his sight, several people. And Jesus said, For.jud^- 132. who were then entering into the temple, knowing them both, and desirous to hear what "'oJjd . timt they which sU passed, gathered together about them : and Jesus said, so that they all might hear him, not, miRht see; and that JOHN You may see in this man, and in what has happened in relation to him, an ilUistration of the *'^^y f,'? '^'^ ^**' ™'S^'* ^^ IV j-r I • 1 - T f T • 1 ■ I 1 r • 1 A made blind ' ■ etiects which my appearance is to produce : tor 1 am come into this xoor id for judgment as well as mercy ; that, on the one hand, they who see not, might see, or that the ignorant souls who are willing to be instructed, might learn divine knowledge ; and, on the other hand, that they who see, may he made blind ; that such as are proudly conceited of their own science and wisdom, may either be humbled or exposed j and they who wilfully stand out, and harden their hearts against my instructions, may bring upon themselves yet greater darkness. 40 And [some'] of the Pharisees, who were then present with him, heard these things, and apprehending t'lat he glanced at them, said to him. Arc we also blind ? and dost thou mean to insinuate any thing of that kind ? If thou dost, speak plainly. Now this they said, hoping thereby to draw him into some dangerous reflection on the sanhedrim, who had lately passed their censure on the man whose eyes he had opened. 41 Jesus said to them. If you were indeed blind, and laboured under unavoidable ig- norance, you would not then have any sin in comparison of what you now have :^ but now you say. Surely we see much more clearly than the rest of mankind ; therefore your sin abides upon you with greater aggravation : and this conceit which you have of your own knowledge hinders conviction, and prevents the first entrance of instruction into your minds. JOHN Nevertheless, whether you will hear or whether you will forbear, I will for a while longer X- continue my admonitions ; and therefore, verily, verily, I say unto you who call ^ yourselves the shepherds of the people, That he who enters not by the door into the sheep- fold, but climbeth up some other private way, whatever be the character he may assume, 2 the same is to be looked upon as no better than a thief and a robber. But he that comes in at the door of the sheepfold is the tme shepherd of the sheep ; and such a one will 3 always chuse to enter in by that which is the regular appointed way. To him, as soon as he approaches, the door-keeper opens the fold,'' and the sheep themselves hear his voice with regard ; and he is well acquainted with each of them, insomuch that he calls each of 4 his own sheep by nanie,'^ and leads them out to pasture. And when he thus puts forth his 40 And some of the Pha- risees which were with him, lieard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? ^'- f More various and glorious miracles.] A beautiful parallel between the miracles of Moses and Christ is drawn by Orobio on JJie one hand, and Liraborcli on the other. Limb. Collal. cum yuteo.'^crip. iii. Quest. 4. No. '3. p. 131. el seq. and Kesp. ad Scrip, iii. p. 1.51. et scq. a If you were indeed blind, you would not have any sin, &c.] Eisner (Observ. Vol. 1. p. 32(5.) understands this of corporeal blind- ness ; as if our Lord had said, " It is a great aggravation of your " pcrverseness, that vou know by experience the ilifTerence between " blindness and siglit, which might convince you of the iniport- " ance of such a miracle, and of the divine power by which it is " wrought." — But the following words, Sul now you say, tP'e sec, suit much better with the sense given in the paraphrase. b Tlic dnor-keepcr opens the fold.]^Grotius does not attempt the accommodation of this circumstance : Mr. Cradock interprets it of the rfojy G/iifsl',' iini Dr. Whitby of God tlm Father, as giving free admission to those teachers who maintain a due regard to Christ: 41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin : but now ye say. We see ; therefore your sin remaiueth. JoiINx. 1. Verily, verily, I say unto you. He tliat entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a tliief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shep- herd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth ; and the sheep hear his voice : andhecall- eth his own sheep by name, and leadetli them out. 4 And when he putteth an interpretation which seems much more reasonable than to refer it (as some do) to ministers. — It is suggested by Sir Isaac Newton,, that, as these words were spoken near the temple, where sheep were kept in folds to be sold for sacrifices, Christ here alludes to what was peculiar in those folds ; that, as they were kept locked, tliey not only excluded the thief, but the shepherd, till the door-keeper opened" them. (See Newton on Proph. p. 148.) But I cannoti, think, whatever occasion Christ might take, from the sight of sheep, to represent his pcn)>le under that image, and himself as a Sliepherd, he would describe them like sheep shut up in a pen to be sold for sacrifice : nor does the shepherd's leading them out, &c. agree with this circumstance. In countries where there were so many .savage beasts, it might be ordinarily necessary to have the folds better secured than among us ; and the chief shepherd might often leave a servant to watch them while thus shut up, and come himself to lead them out to pasture in a morning. c Calls his own sheep by name.] Dr. Hammond justly infers REFLECTIONS ON CHRIST'S BEING THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP. 261 own sheep from the fold, he himself goes before them to guide them to good pastures, SECT, and to defend them from any danger which may occur, and the sheep cheeiiuUy follow 132. hint ; fur they well know his -coiee, being daily accustomed to it. But if a strange) come to lead them out, they will not follow him ; hut, on the contrary, they will fee John ■a.v,'a.y from him, beeausc they do not know the voice of strangers. ^• This ^mr^ parable Jesus spake unto the?n ; but they did Jiot understand what it Q was that he said to them, but were quite at a loss to conjecture his meaning ; though his intent in describing the character of the good Shepherd ^^-as plainly to shew how far the Pharisees, who assume the name, were from answering it ; and to warn the true sheep, or persons of real integrity and simplicity, of the danger of being blindly governed and guided by them. Then Jesus, to clear up what was most obscure in his former discourse, said to them 7 again. Verily, verily I say unto you, and solemnly assure you, that, however you neglect me, I am tlie door \f the sheep^^ and it is only by authority derived from me that the people of God are to be taught and fed. All that ever came before ?nc, assuming 8 the Messiah's character, or setting up i&r a despotic authority in the church, and teaching other methods of salvation than by me,'' are thieves and robbers, persons of very bad designs, who had no warrant from above for what they did ; and, whatsoever their pre- tences were, their administration has a fatal tendency to make havoc of the souls they should wUch and feed^ b?(i Vie true sheep, or those who are sincere and well-disposed persons, have not heard them, so as to relish and regard their doctrine. I therefore repeat 9 it again as a most important truth, ThatTlinyself am the door ; and if any one enter in by me, and acknowledge my authority, he shall be, like a sheep in his fold, safe from tire invasion of what might injure and destroy him ; and shall go in and out under my care and guidance, and shall ?X\\\fnd good pasture ; that is, in consequence of his re- gard to me, and the enjoyment of communion -with me, his soul shall be fed and nourished with true doctrine, and shall obtain substantial happiness. For whereas the thief only 10 comes that he may steal, and kill, and destroy, — I am come for the benefit of all my sheep, that they may have true Ufe, and that at length they may have it more abun- dantly ;'■ a most plentiful provision being made for their everlasting comfort and happiness, even far beyond what has ever been known before. IMPROVEMENT. Let us hear with an holy awe on our spirits, that tlie Lord Jesus Christ came into the world for purposes of john judgment as well as of mercy ; and make it our humble prayer that we may be enlightened by him, and not sealed ^ IX. up under aggravated darkness as a punishment for our obstinacy and impenitence \ for then all the means of 39 knowledge which we have so basely perverted, will rise up to condemn us. Let Christ be regarded by us as the door from whom all true teachers derive their authority, and to whom they John direct their administrations ; and let it be our care that we enter by this door. Let inferior shepherds Jearu their • duty, so plainly suggested here : Let them learn to know their sheep, and take as particular notice as they can of V each single person committed to their care ; and let them go before them in all the paths of duty : for what could 3 the greatest enemy to the flock do worse, than to lead them by example into the paths of destruction ? Happy souls who are entered in by this gate ! Their safety, their comfort, is secure ; they enjoy a holy liberty 9 and plenty, and going in and coming out, they find pasture. If we are strangers to that entertainment and re- freshment which arises from ordinances, (those green pastures which Christ has provided for his sheep in the wil- derness,) we have a great deal of reason to fear that we belong not to his flock. He came that his sheep might 10 have life, and that they tnight have it ?nore abundantly ; tliat greater provision might be made for their in- struction and consolation now, till they are brought to those better pastures he intends for them above. May his grace prepare us for them ! and his hand will certainly conduct us to them ; nor need we fear the darkest passage SECTION CXXXIII. Christ describes himself as the good Shepherd, who will lay down his life for the sheep. John x. 11 — 21. JOHN X. 11. ^ J«"^''^- ^^- ^ ^ 133." I .\M the good SSieplierd : OUR Lord having thus represented himself as the door of the sheep, and intimated the rogarck_to_be maintained towards hinii. particularly by those that professed themselves john teacHefs of others, now changed tHe 'similitude, and said, I may also very properly add X. ii. forth liis own sheep, he go- elli hefore them, and tlie sheep follow him ; for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow,hut w ill flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spalTe Je- sus uuto them; hut they understood not what things tliey were which he spalle unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again. Verily, verily, I s.iy unto you, I ara the door of the sheep. 8 AH that ever came he- fore me are thieves and robbers : hut tiie sheep did not hear them. 9 1 am the door : by me if any man enter in, lie shall be .saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief Cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy : I am come that they might have life, and that they might have il more abuuclantly. from hence that the eastern shepherds, at least those of Judea, gave particular names to their sheep, as most men do to their dogs and horses. — Their custom also was to lead the sheep, playing ou some musical instrument. d I am llw door,&;c.'\ It would be very inipertinent_to run a long parallel here between Christ and a door. Tlie resemblance plainly centres-in tliis one circumstance, that as a man must observe and pass through the door, in order to his making a regular and unsus- pected entrance into a sheepfold ; so he"must maintain a proper re- gard to Christ, in order to his being a true teacher in the chu'-cli, and must pass (as it were) through him, or by his authority, into his office. It is by a simile very nearly resembling' this, that Christ elsewhere calls himself M • . x. f That tliei/ may have it more abundantly.'] To refer this latter clause, at least ultimately, to the provision which Christ has made for the future and eternal happiness of all his people, seems best to suit the other parts of this discourse, as well as the genius ot the whole Christian dispensation. Perhaps the word arsfiTov may \ intimate how much this provision exceeded that made by Moses. 262 THE JEWS ARE AGAIN DIVIDED IN THEIR SENTIMENTS ABOUT HIM. SECT, that I am myself, by way of eminence, the good Shepherd,^ the Person frequently fore- the good shepherd giveth 133. told in scripture under that character, (Isa. xl. 11 • Ezek. xxxiv. 23; xxxvii. 24; and Mic. '''-' ^'^^ for the sheep. V. 4.) and I most fully answer it in all its branches, — esp_-cially in this, that as the oood JOHN shepherd on occasion tai/elh down his very life for the defence of his sheep, and will X- expose himself to any danger for their safety, (compare 1 Sam. xvii. 34, 35.) I not only expose but sacrifice my life for the good of my people. 12 The hireling indeed, who is not the true shepherd, and whose own property the sheep 12 But he that is a hire- arc not, as soon as he is apprehensive of approaching danger, and sees the xvolf, for in- ling, and not the shepherd, stance, or some other savage beast coming, immediately regarding nothing buf his awn n'^il'i''seeti7the''%volt comi"-'; safety, is only careful to secure himself, and leaves the sheep andjlees away ; and so the aud leaveth the sheep, an'd wolf, meeting with no resistance, seizes on some of them, and disperses the rest of the ^^^^\| ""'^ "'V*^°'^r^*'tl' 13 sheep. Now the hireling flees on such an occasion because he is an hireling, and is not tlie sheep.' concerned about the safety of the sheep, but takes the work upon him merely for his 13 T'le hireling flceth, own gain, and the wages he is to receive ; and thus basely will those teachers act in and''"careth ''not 'for ''the a time of danger, who undertake the office merely in regard to their own secular ad- siieep. vantage. ' 14 But J am the good Shepherd, who have a true affection for my sheep, and am above 14 I am the g-ood siiep- the influence of all such mean and selfish views : and such is the relation that there is '''"'"«'' •■""' "^"o"' '"X *'"''7'. between us, and such the love we have to one another, that I know and acknowledge vnj ""'^ ''"' *'"""'" °^ "'"''• [sheep,'] and take the kindest and most tender care of them : and I am also known, ac- 15 knowledged, and confided in bi/ mine : So that we mutually are dear unto each o'Jier ; 15 As the Fatlicr itnnw- and eve7i as the Father knoweth me, and owns his affection and regard to me by the sure ^^^'^ ™<^' even so know 1 the tokens of his presence and approbation, and I also Jaww, or acknowledge and honour the my'ufVfor 'the Ihiep. ''""" Father, in the delight with which I do his will ; so the affection is reciprocal between me and my sheep : and as it is in love tu them, as well as with an ultimate view to his ap- pointment and his glory, that I lay down my life for the sheep he has given me, so also do my sheep acknowledge and confide in me, and so do I protect and patronize them. 16 And I would farther observe to you, as a point of great importance, that I have other 16 And other sheep i sheep which are 7iot of this fold,*" (meaning thereby the elect of God among the Gen- ''Vj*' '"*',''^'' are not of this tiles;) them also must I at kngth bring in ; and 1 know that the// will hear and obey brin^, and They s'liail "liear ?}}?/ voice, notwithstanding that ignorance, vice, and misery in which they are now in- my voice ; and there shall volved ; and so, all being incorporated into one society, of which I am the Head, the i^^^d"^ ^°''^' "'"^ °°* '''"''" Governor and Guardian, there shall be one sheepfold [and] one Shepherd. 17 And for this reason more especially does the Father love me, and approves it as an 17 Therefore doth ray act of eminent duty and love to him, because I am come with this design into the world, ^"'""doin' m™*'life''ThLT i to lay down my life for the redemption of my sheep, v/ho are dear to him as well as to iS^ght^iakeTtlgain. me, that I may take it again and possess it for ever, to be employed for his glory and 18 for the happiness of my people. For though I am shortly to die by the hands of most 18 No man taketh it cruel enemies, yet no one deprives me of rny life, or takes it from me against my will ; of"™ ™ if '"I'ha've 'mveTto for I have every ntoment a power to rescue myself at pleasure,"and could even with mine Uiy^'ft^'down, in'd T'^hive expiring breath command immediate deliverance ; but I will manifestly shew that J laii it P^^^er to tike it again. down of myself and voluntarily relinquish my body, sooner than n.y soul would in a ^ecdvTo^myTa'the'r"'" ^ course of nature have been dislodged from it ;" and this in me will be a very regular, \ though wonderful act; for, as I have life in myself, (John v. 26.) I have full pjoweTmS. ■ authority thus to lay it down when I shall think fit f and I have also power to resume it at pleasure, by entering into and quickening my body again. And indeed this com- mandment I have received of my Father, and shall ere "long fulfil the charge in both its branches. 19 When our Lord uttered these remarkable expressions, there was a division therefore 19 There was a division again among the Jews, (as there had been before, chap. vii. 43. sect. ci. and ix. 16. 'sect, therefore again among the on to .-tune inm. themselves with them again, as they hadfornierly done, (John viii. 59. p. 213.) in order ' to stone him. 32 But Jesus, with his usual mildness and strength of reason, anstvcred them, I have •'Ja Jesus answered them, ' showed iiou manii pood works from mil Father ; and fur which of these works do you ero ^^'^"y got"! works have I 14^., 5 liv. T 1 uxxi-u^ei «''"wed you from my Fa- about to stone ine .^ or what have 1 ever done among you but acts 01 beneficence and tiier; for whicii of these kindness ? works do ye stone me ? 33 The Jews replj/ing, said unto him, Whatever thy other works have been, it is very P 1'''? •J^"'? answered apparent, from what has just now passed, that we do not stone thee for a good work, but ^""k ^we's^oneThee not- for the most detestable /^/cs/i/^ewj/ ; even because thou, being only a wretched, mortal, but tor blasphemy, and be- sinful man, makest thyself God ; pretending to be one with him m so extraordinary a ^"^"^ '^'^' t'tl°"« if*G"d ^ manner, tliat his omnipotence and other divnie perfections are thine. 34 Jesus, not judging it proper at that time lo bring the sublime doctrine of his deity into 34 Jesus answered tliem, farther debate, answered them. Is it not written in your law, or in those sacred books J* •* not wrkten in your which you own to be of divine original, (Psal. Ixxxii. 6.) where it is plain the persons that *"^' ^'"' ' "^ '"'^ so s . are spoken of are princes and magistrates, " I have said. Ye are gods ; and all of you are 35 « children of the Most High?" Now, //"the Psahiiist thus applied this character, and it 35 If he called them fjods, apnears he called them sods to whoin the word of God then came J merely with regard to ^^^}? ^*'''"™ the word ot ,r' 111 T*^. T ■ ■ , "^ , • 1 j; -J / ""'t came, and the scnu- tiiat omce vt'mch by divme designation tiiey bore, (and certainly t/ie scripture cannot be ture cannot be broken : broken, nor can you, with any show of reason, pretend to censure the propriety of those 36 expressions which a divinely inspired writer has used ;) How is it then that you are so 36 Say ye of liim whom offended now? 01 how do you yiretend to say concerning him whom the Father hath the Father hath sanctified, so solemnly sanctified, or set apart to this great work in his eternal councils, and whom Thou blasphemest'; because he at length has sent into the world under such an exalted character. Thou blasphemest ; I sa'd, 1 am the Son of God >. because I said I am the son of God ? when you allow there is a sense in which even oppressive magistrates may be honoured with such a title.K \ 37 And when I claim this character, and speak so highly of myself, I do not expect to be 37 If I do not the works credited merely on my own affirmation ; if I do not the works of my Father, such glo- ^^ J"Y Father, behevi 38 rious works as could not be performed by any but a divine agent, believe me not. But if 33 But if I do, thouc credited merely on my own affirmation ; if I do not the works of my Father, such glo- ^^ J"Y Father, believe me 38 But if I do, though ye it be apparent that I do such works, though you believe not me, and are regardless of my believe not me, believe the own testimony in the case, yet at least believe the mighty works that I pertbrm ; and let ""^^l beiieve't^at the^Father the evidence of these remove the prejudices you have entertained, that yc may knoxo and is in me, aud i in hira. believe that the Father [«] in me, and I in him, by such a union as abundantly justifies the expression wloich seems to give you such peculiar offence. 39 Then, though they knew not what to answer him, the Jews were so enraged against 39 Therefore they sought him, that they sought again to seize him, that they might accuse him of blasphemy be- efcaped^oiu'of their iia"d^^ fore the sanhedrim : but he withdrew himself, as he had done before, in an extraordinary manner, and so escaped out of their hands. (Compare Luke iv. 30. sect, xxxii. and John viii 59. sect, cv.) 40 And presently departing from Jemsalem, he went away again into the country beyond 40 And went again be- Jordaii, to the place called Bethabara, where (as it has been^ observed before, John i. 28. ^re*!/ John' 'aTfiVst' ^t'^. p. 41.) John was at first baptizing ; and there he abode for awhile, till the fury of the tized; and there he abode. 41 multitude was a little abated. And many of the inhabitants of that place who had been 41 And many resorted un- formerly acquainted with the Baptist, and remembered the strong and repeated testimonies to him, and said, John did which he had borne to Jesus, came to him there to attend upon his preaching, and said that John spake of this mfn among themselves, John indeed did no miracle himself, but he foretold extraordinary "ere true. ■ ■» things of another; and we now find that all the things which John said of this man were exactly true, which is a divine attestation to the mission and authority of both. 42 And many of them believed on him there, and happily improved this httle season of 42 And many believed his recess among them, as the means of their instruction and establishment in piety. ' °° '"^ *^'''^''^- c T and the Father are one.'] If we attend, not only to the obvious the Messiah, the great Sovereign of the church, who (as it is ex- raeaning of these words in comparison with other passages of scrip- pressed at the close of this Ixxxiid psalm) was to inherit all nations. ture, but to the connection of this celebrated text, it so plainly de- 13ut, not to urge that it seems improbable that such wicked magis- mor.strates the deity of our blessed Kedeemer, that I think it may trates as are there spoken of should be described as types of Christ, be left to speak for itself, without any laboured comment. — How this explication seems to imply, that every person whose oftice was widely different that sense is in which Christians are said to be one typical of the IMessiali might be called a god ; and, on the other with God, (John xvii. 21.) will sufficiently appear by considering hand, that a creature's being called by that name would intimate how flagrantly absurd and blasphemous it would be, to draw that that he was a typical person : the consequences of which, I am sure, inference from their union with God which Christdoes from his. that worthy writer would abhor. (Compare 2 Cor. iv. 4.) I think f To whom the word of God came.'] I apprehend the com/ny o/Mf myself therefore obliged to acquiesce in that plain and natural word of God to them, -viXuch \s here mentioned, refers to the mes- sense of the passage wjiich the generality of commentators, both sage then delivered to them in the name of God, rather than, in the ancient and modern, hare given. — Jesus was charged here by the general, to their receiving a commission from him : but the differ- Jews with ascribing divinity to his human nature ; and, in reply to cnce is not very material. this, he shows that calling himself the Son of God did not imply g When you allow — magistrates, Sec] A late learned and pious that; and that his works proved such a union of the human na- paraphrast apprehends, that our Lord here vindicates his claim to ture with the divine as he had before asserted, than which no supreme divinity, by pleading that the Jewish rulers are called answer could have been more wise aud pertinent, gods, not in a general regard to their office as rulers, but as types of MULTITUDES FOLLOW CHRIST, AND HE PllEACHES TO THEM. 265 IMPROVEMENT. It is worthy of remark, that we here see our Lord Jesus at a festival appointed only by human authority, in com- SECT. memoration of a national deliverance. He came from Galilee to observe it in the temple, though it was winter ; 134. and brought with him, as at all times, a heart glowing with the most ardent and amiable zeal for the honour of God and the salvation of men, even of those who were studying to ensnare and destroy him. john What prudence, mingled with spirit and sweetness, runs through his answers to them ! What inestimable ^■ blessings does he propose, to invite them to enter into his fold ! May we never forget those gracious words ! May 24, 25 we ever be entitled to all the comfort of them ! / give unto my sheep eternal life ; and they shall never perish, 28 neither shall any pluck than out of my hand. Lord, may we be found in the number of those secure and happy souls, even of those who know thee and who obey thy voice, and follow thee, whithersoever thou leadest 27 tliein, by thine example, thy providence, and thy Spirit ! Then may we look on our eternal life and happiness as inviolably secure. Saiely indeed may we trust it in his hands who could say, in so sublime and so glorious a sense, 30 I and the Father are one. The enemies of our salvation must triumph then over omnipotence itself, before they can wrest the sheep of Christ out of his hands ; nor will his fidelity to God, or his love to them, sutler them to be se- 28, 29 duced by fraud, any more than destroyed by violence. Blessed situation of thy, little flock ! O thou faithful, thou compassionate, thou Almighty Shepherd, gather thou our souls with theirs ; and never suffer us to forget bf how grir'at importance ft is that we still continue near thee, that we look up to thee for our defence and safet^, and confide, not in 'our own power and wisdom, but in (hine I Who could have imagined that any heart could have been so base as to have intended evil, or any hands so 31 criii.! as to have armed themselves with instruments of death against such a Person, while speaking such words as these ? Yet behold, these Jews do it, and that even in so sacred a place as the temple itself ; as the genuine off- 5/;/v'/?jT of those trho slew the prophet and priest of the Lord, even at. his altar. (Compare Matt, xxiii. 31, 35. 32 and Luke xi. 48, 51.) But his wise and gentle reply disarmed them for^a few months 3 and the divine care and po^^er in an extraordinary manner provided for his escape, and once more rescued him from their murderous hands. 39 Happy the inhabitants of the country about Jordan to v.hich he retired ! especially happy, in that they knew the 40 day of their visitation ! The testimony of John the Baptist is now recollected to excellent purposes, though he him- 41, 42 self was mouldering in his tomb : nor is there any thing which a faithful minister will more earnestly desire, ^ ^ than that, even while dead, he may yet speak, for the honour of Chi'ist and the salvation of souls, -.j-i^ . '^ - '^ ^S SECTION CXXXV. Christ declares against divorces, except in the case of adultery ; and adds some other particulars 7-elating to the married state. Matt. xLx. 1—12. Mark x. 1 — 12. MATT. X,X. 1. ' ^I^TT. Xi:^. .. And it came to pass, that ASD, after the instructions that were given by our Lord to his disciples at Capernaimi, SECT. when Jesiis had tinishcd ,^1^^^^ were recorded above from sect, xciii. to xcvi.) it came to pass, that -when Jesus 135 tiitfse sa^ iii^s, lie i^arose \, ,.,.., ,. _i /^ // r 7t_7.„.j.,7 ^'. /~^ ,. /,"/,, „ Tiiese saviiius, ne ;arose \ , , . , ^ ., r ;t j ^ i x' r< r I from thence, fl«(/] departed had fnished these discourses,^ he arose from thence, [and] departed Jrom V^alilee,- from Galilee, and came into -where he had dwelt SO long, and through which he had made such repeated journies. matt. yLT'VMa'k x''io ^'""' And after he had firstT)een up at Jerusalem, (as was before relatedTTohn vii. 10. p. 199.) XlX. and several other things had liappened which have already been considered in their proper ^ place, he came at length (as was observed in the last section, John x. 40.) into the borders of Jadea beyond Jordan,^ where he spent some of the winter nights, crossing the river as 2 And jrreat multitudes he saw Occasion. And his arrival was no sooner known, but great multitudes folloived 2 Jie Ksort''u"ti^"ira'ir^afn • f>^>" ^o"! ^11 the neighbouring parts 5 and particularly, the people who had seen him and as lie was won?, he formerly at Bethabara resorted to him again, (as was said, John x. 41.) and, according taught them again,] and he ^^ /^/^ ygy^l custojn, he readily embraced the opportunity of preaching to them, and healed them there. [iMark ^^^^^j^^ ^j^^^^^ ^j^^^.^ ^^^y^^^ ^ j^^ j^^^^ ^^^^ elsewhere ; and as they brought many sick per- sons to him, he healed them all there ; which could not but increase the throng. ?. The Pharisees also And the Pharisees, who always had a watchful eve on his motions, and attended him 3 htm,\nd'['asked'hrn™f s'a"^ ^vith the most malignant designs, teing now more especially irritated by the fame of his ing unto him, Is it lawful late miracles, which they had in vain endeavoured to suppress, (see John vii. 62, 47 ; and for a man to put away his j^^ jg^ 94.) came hither also to him, with the view of getting some advantage over him [Mark x°'2.]*''"^ '""""' ' by tempt ins him with what they thought a very artful and ensnaring question : and, that they might," if possible, entangle him in his talk so as to find some reason to accuse him, or to discredit him at least among the people, they asked him, saying unto him. What thinkest thou. Master : Is it la-ivful for a man to dismiss his -ivifefor every slight cause a men Je-vm had finished these d!scnurses.-\ The passages which b Bet/ond Jordan.-] Mark has expressed this with some little Matthew and Mark have mentioned immediately before they variation, ^>x rou ot.-iv roy U^ixm, by the far/her ^"'""J;"'^^"":: introduce this storv^are those discourses on humility and the for- or, as the learned Beza and some other critics cliuse w ^e";'" "• giveness of iniilnS^vhich have been considered above from sect, on the banks of Jordan ; and this may seem to be more su lame 10 xciii. to xcvi. And I have sometimes been inclined to think, that what is said of Christ's coming to tlie f™^"/ .,''"^^^,'/;''''^'' ^^^, this and the next following sections might have been introduced bounded by Jordan, and had no coasts Beyiffid it. ^"y^^R^"/ there, as previous to that feast of tabernacles which we have so from John x. 40. that Beihabara where John "' .'"^»' ^"^f;™; often mentioned. But most harmonizers, without any scruple or (John i. 28.) was the place to which our Lord remojea, ^w^\x\s^^ apologv, place them here, being determined, I suppose, by the undoubtedly beyond Jo-dan, and over against Jericlio (i^ompare close c-omiection between the passages that are here related and Josh. iii. 16. and Judg. vii. 2^) And this "fs ^o "ear *» th^ '^"fA^ those events that follow them, which happened but a very little of Judea, tiiat we might very well retain the usua version and while before Christ's deat!i.-It is of very little importance to us, take the phrase as Matthew hath expressed it; <^'I''^*^'^''y f * '^ whether these discourses were delivered now or a few months before, probable that Jesus, during 1"S "bode in these parts, mignt oiien However, he m i-ht truly be said to arise from Galilee, and come into cross the river, and pass trom Bethabara to J udea, wlm n lay o.» theseparts, though he took a considerable compass, and spent several the opposite side. weeks in the journey. Compare note o, on Luke ii. 39. p. 22, 23. 266 DIVORCES ARE PERMITTED THE JEWS FOR THE HARDNESS OF THEIR HEARTS. SECT, of dislike which may be found in her ?"= or is adultery the only just reason for a 135. divorce ? A/id he said to them in reply. Have ye not read, (Gen. i. 27.) that God, the almighty 4 And he answered and MATT, and all-wise Creator, from the very beginning of the creation, when he would not fail ^^'•' ""'? *,'!';'"' ^'"7^ J XIX. to constitute human nature in such a way as might be most conducive to its happiness, in which miAe^ tliem^, [from ^ forming the first parents of mankind, 7nade them male and female, or one man and one t''^ beginning; of the crea- 5 woman \ which would neither allow of divorce or polygamy ; And do you not remem- foi'aieTrMark x (T]'*^ """* ber,-that when the woman was at first brought to him, the man said, as taught by an 5 And said, For this extraordinary revelation concerning the ends and obligations of marriage, which therefore r?-"'^,^'/l\*" * "i'^" \^^s& A • ir * u 1 1 J J * I- A cc 1^ ii ■ * r ['"s fatlier and mother, may m eiiect be looked upon as a divine testimony," " ror this cause, or on account oi and sliaii cleave to iiis wife- " his engaging in the married state, shall a man Icavehoih his father and mother, when ^"^ t^'^y '"a'" shall be " those dear relations of parental and filial tenderness shall take place, and shall closely ad- °"* ^^ " '^ ^' '' ^'-' " here to his wife ; and they tiro shall be joined in so intimate an union as to become 6 " onejleshr (Gen. ii. 24.) ^o that it appears of persons thus joined together, that they 6 Wherefore they are no are no longer 1-wo, hut onejlesh, and should accordingly regard each other as members of !?]",''* 'j^."''''j.'"''' ""^ ^^^\' one body. What God the/before has thus closely yoked together, let not ?nan separate ; joined toe-ether let no man but let the bond of marriage be esteemed as sacred, and incapable of being dissolved by P"' asunder. [Mark x. any thing which -does not make them cease to be one flesh, by making that of the one ' common to some third person. (See Whitby, in loc.) 7 Thei/ say unto him, by way of objection against this. Why then did Moses, under ' They say unto him, divine direction and inspiration, cotn/nand " a man whose wife found no favour in his ^^j,^ to sjWe'^a wHUn'^'of " eyes, because he had discovered," as it is there expressed, " some uncleanness in her," or divorcement, and to "put (as it has been generally understood) some cause of distaste and aversion, " to give her a ''^'" ^"'^Y ■ " bill of divorce, and so to dismiss her?'' (Deut. xxiv. 1.) MARK And he replied and said unto them. How is it that you take this matter ; or iL'hat did Mark x. 3. And he an- X- vou alle2;e that Moses did co/nmand you ? Is there any thing in his writings that re- ivri** ?■",'' ^?"^ ""'^ ^^'*''",' Q •' ^11- 1 ,■ 111 • ^ "^ ° ° U hat did Moses command ^ commends divorce and separation upon light occasions ? you? 4 And upon this they said. If it may not be said that Moses does command or recom- 4 And they said, Moses mend it in itself, it is most evident from the passage we have mentioned, that he has per- ^"ff^''*^^' to write a bill of •,. ; ■ L ■. Ill r- r w • •. ■ / 1 • f ' u J divorcement, and to put milted a man, m some cases, to ivrite a bill of divorce, and to give it into his wiie s hand, her away. and dismiss her ; on which foundation thou well knowest how frequently divorces prevail among us, and how justifiable they are generally esteemed. MATT. And Jesus answe/vd and said to the/n. You state the matter now more justly than Matt. xix. 8. [And Jesus XIX. before ; for it amounts merely to a permission ; but I must observe to you, that it was o/i answered and said unto o account of the hardness of your ^lea/'ts, and the perverseneSs of your tempers,'' that Moses the hardneiroKouThcar^, 'Wrote 7/011 this precept, \and'\ save you such a permission to put axvaif i/oiir tiives ; [wrote you this precept, knowing that otherwise you might have been tempted to use them intolerab!y"ill : but, as I ZH ...f^l^L^'"! .fffJ^l* just now told you, it was not so from the beginning ; and the account which that writer the teg-inning it was not so. gives of the original constitution of things, proves it to be an irregularity, how necessary [Mark x. 5.] soever he might find it in some cases to tolerate it, or rather, by making it irrevocable, to prevent men's doing it without deep consideration. MARK And when the assembly was dismissed, and Jesus was retired from the multitude, as they Mark x. lo. And in the X. were sitting together in the house where he lodged, his disciples asked hi/n a^ain of the j^?"**^ ''J^. d'f'^ipjt-s asked 10 same matter, as not being able fully to understand it> or to reconcile it with the precept of matter. Moses. 11 And he says to them. If you are willing to receive laws from me, you must submit to ii And he saith unto a greater restraint than Moses laid on the Israelites : for J expressly tell you, (as I formerly V,\'!'"' ^^ ^1 unto you,] j-j -HIT 11 or> 1 J T 1 • -1 o 1 • \ irr; 1 II J- ■ Whosoever shall put away did. Matt. v. 32. sect, xxxix. and Luke xvi. 18. sect, c.xxiv.) h tiosoever stiall dismiss i,js ^ife, [except iV be for his wife, except [_it be"] for whoredom/ which is a fundamental breach of the main article fornication,] and [shall] of the marriage covenant, by which they are one flesh, a/id shall many another, comtnits XuL7a'^a?nstTiT:'"and adultery against her that was his former wife, and who continues still to be so in the whoso marl-ietii her which c To dismiss his wife for every cause.'] It is well known that nor could he without a revelation have known what had passed in there was a deViate between the ancient rabbies (perhaps as old as his sleep, or ever have conjectured the original of woman to have ^ our Lord's time) concerning the interpretation of the law relating been what he so plainly refers to. See Mcvclat. exam, wilh Caa- to divorce, Deut. xxiv. 1. The school of Sammai maintained that afour, Vol. I. Dis. iii. p. 28 — .33. the words -^zi ni^tf, which we render some vnrleanncss, signified e On account of tite hardness of your hearts.'] How much this adultery ; whereas the school of Hillel explained it of any matter was the character of the Jewish nation is too apparent. See Exod. of dislil;e. (See Selden, Uxor. Hcbr. lib. iii. cap. 22.) Perliaps xxxiii. 3; xxxiv. 9; Deut. ix. (i; xxxi. 27; Isii. xlviii. 4; Ezek. a medium between both would have been a juster interpretation ii. 4 ; and Acts vii, 51. — Our Lord (as Grntius well observes) strong.ly than either ; for it is certain that the phrase may with peculiar intimates, that a more tender disposition may justly be expected propriety express any blemish or disorder which "a woman might from his disciples. unjustly and foolishly conceal before m.arriage, that was afterwards i Except it be for whoredom; im wo^viia.] Though /ornjco/Zon discovered. At least 1 think it plain, from our Lord's answer, that committed before marriage, and afterwards discovered, might the disciples of Sammai were mistaken; which farther appears be supposed to justify a divorce, adultery must much more evi- from the provision the Mosaic law made for punishing adultery dently do it; and therefore it is plain the word must be taken in with death. — The interpretation of Hillel generally prevailed ; and the extent which is here given it. (See note f, on Matt. v. 32. the Pharisees, concluding Christ would, as he fiad done before, p. 78.) But it is by a dangerous latitude of interpretation, that declare against divorces for trivial cau.ses, (Matt. v. 31, 32; and Milton (Prose Works, page lOo.) would explain the word as sig- Luke xvi. !8 ) might hope to expose him to popular resentm^-it nifying any t/iinrf whic/i should he to lite husband as grievous and for retrenching a liberty which the law allowed: but our Lord intolerable as whoredom. — The case of obstinate desertion, where feared not the consequence of doing it. the husband cannot by law recover his wife, which was the cele- d May in eflect be looked upon as a divine testimony.] I think brated case of the pious Galeacius Caracciolus, and which we find the ingenious author of Revelation examined with Candour solidly to be supposed in 1 Cor. vii. \h. is quite of a different nature ; nor argues, from Adam's pronouncing concerning the obligation of a can a man under such a calamity be said to put away his wife. — child's relation to its parent, which had never then existed, that Erasmus has a remarkable note on Matt. xix. 3. which shows he he spake these words in consequence of some extraordinary divine was not far from Milton's opinion, illumination ; which justifies the turn given in the paraphrase : MARRIAGE IS OBJECTED TO, BUT ALL CANNOT LIVE SINGLE. 267 is put away, fioth commit sight of God ; and he that shall marry her u-ho is so dismissed yi'\\h.o\AdL sufficient cause, SECT, adultery.] '[Matt. xix. 9.] commits adultery. And, on the other hand, by a parity of reason, if a woman, not in- 135. put^atay {leHiuXndf and jured in the important article just now mentioned, shall put aicay her husband, or ex- • be married to another, slie tort from him a bill of divorce,= and be married to another man, she commits adulltry ; MARK comraittetii adultery. ^^^^ ^^ ^j.^^ deserves to be abhorred by men, so must she expect to be punished by God, as X. guilty of that enormous and detestable crime, if she do not from her very heart rej^ent of it. ^■^ Matt. xix. 10. His disci- Then his disciples say unto him. If this be the case bitv:ecn a man and his wife, matt. pies say unto liira, If the ^nd the bond be thus indissoluble, surely it is not expedient to marry ; since a man may ^J^- /,rwife!''rtTs'"no'r|ood'to by that means be caught in an inextricable snare, which may make him miserable all the 10 marry. rest of his life. 11 But he said unto them, J^ut he said to them, All men cannot receive this saying of yours, that it is not expe- 11 ^"•'"-"sav""//!/'^to whim '^^^"^ ^*^ marry ; but only they to whom it is given, as a peculiar gift, to conquer those it^s"|i'ven!^ '^^ ° "^ ^""^ inclinations towards that state which God, for wise reasons, has wrought into the common 12 For there are some eu- constitution of human nature. For there are '\some'\ eunuchs who were born so from their 1 2 nuchs which were so born ,„o//;e/-'« k;o?k/^, and whose natural temper and inclination is in this respect peculiar ; at2d and"ther'e'a""omeem^d,s'; there are [some'\ eunuchs who were made eunuchs by the wickedness of vien, who drive which were made eunuchs on that scandalous traffic which the luxury and etieminacy of the eastern world has ren- nuc7,s° which "ha'^^'made dered so common ■, and there are {.wme] eunuchs who have, as it were, made themselves themselves eunuchs for the eunuchs on account of the kingdom of heaven; that is, who, by a resolute guard on their kin.?.iom of heaven's sake appetites and passions, have conquered the propensities of nature, that, being free from the let him recdve ,7/"""'^ ' ' incumbrances of marriage, and devoting themselves to a life of more sublime devotion, they might promote the interest of my gospel. (Compare 1 Cor. vii. 7, 37.) He therefore, on the whole, that finds he is able to receive [this saying,'] let him receive it; or, let him that is in his own conscience persuaded that he can glorify God most by a single life, chuse it. Others may, and ought to marry ; but let none lightly rush into that state, on a supposition that the bond of it may be broken through at pleasure. IMPROVEMENT. From what we have been reading, we may justly take occasion to adore the wisdom and goodness of Divine 4 Providence in creating the human species male and female, and providing for his new-formed creature Adam so suitable and so amiable a companion, to enliven every other object ot delight, and to crown the pleasures of paradise itself. Let us also acknowledge the apparent interposition of a wise and kind providence, in maintaining such a 7 proportion between the sexes even to tliisday, which so apparently tends to the benefit of both, as well as to the support of tlie race in future ages ; as also in perpetuating in their hearts through succeeding generations that mutual tenderness for each other which the purest bosoms may feel and avow, and which is the foundation of such 5 an union of souls as no other friendship will admit. Let those who are married, considering the indissoluble bond by which God has joined them together, make it 6 their constant care to promote the comfort and happiness of each other : and let them most cautiously guard against every degree of contention, or even of distaste, which might at length occasion an alienation in their alfections, and render so close a bond proportionably grievous. Let none rashly run into these important engagements, nor determine their choice by light considerations, of a 11, 12 low and transitory nature. And if any, on the whole, prefer the freedom of a single life to that state which, with its peculiar comforts, must necessarily' have its peculiar cares and trials too, let them diligently improve that disen- gagement as an obligation to seek the kingdom of God with greater ardour, and to pursue its interest with more active zeal and application. To conclude : since it appears in tliis respect, as well as in some others, that the gospel revokes some indul- mark gences which the law of Moses gave, let us endeavour to form our hearts by divine grace to a wisdom, serious- - • ness, and spirituality which may suit this nobler dispensation ; and while we are reading the precept of the Jewish ' legislator, let us remember we have a sublimer Master, and are to do and forbear more than others. (Matt. v. 47.) £ri(^ SECTION CXXXVI. Christ blesses the little children that were brought to him, and rebukes his disciples, who would have forbid them. Matt. xLx. 13—15 ; Mark x. 13—16; Luke xviii. 15—17. MARK X. 13. IMaRK X. 13. And they brought [Luke, AND while Jesus continued here, as the inhabitants of the neighbouring country on the sr.CT. to hTnt that"hr'shouM banks of Jordan found their esteem for him continually increa^^mg on their acquaintance ^■^^- touch them, [_or put liis with him, (John x. 41, 42. p. 264.) theif brought to him, not only the sick, that they andlirkrwh^n^lSu ^'§''1^ be healed, (iMatt. xix. 2. p. 265.) but also^several infants [and] other young chil- M-^i"^ pies [iuke, saw' it, they] dren, who, though they could walk and speak, yet were not capable of understanding his ^g* ' rebuked those that brought doctrine, that he miirht touch them, [or] lay his hands upon them in a solemn manner,.,, xviii; 55'f "•''"'• ^^- ^"''^ and pray for themf not doubting but prayers so acceptable to God aTTui', would prevail both for their present and future happiness. And when his disciples, and particularly the e Ifa tvoman put away her husband.] Though it is cerUin that a Lay Uh hands upon thrm, and pray.-] This was a rite that w.is thi Jewish law did not put it into a woman's power to divorce her very early used, particularly by those who stood m anj superior 3 probably .V — _,. ~. , , „ . luixu are known to have practised it in the most scandalous manner. See been so inhuman as to prohibit them. Juv. Hat. vi. ver. 223—230. Compare 1 Sam. .'cxv. 44. and 1 Cor.vii. 13. 2fi8 CHILDREN ARE BROUGHT TO CHRIST, AND HE BLESSES THEM. SECT, apostles, who were about him, saw if, they rebuked those that brought them, as appre- 136. heading them too troublesome, and thinking it beneath the dignity of so great a Prophet to concern himself about such little creatures, who were incapable of receiving any instruc- MARK tion from him, X- But Jesus seeing it, was greatly displeased, and moved with some degree of indigna- h But when Jesus saw ;/, 14 tion against his disciples ; for he had a tender love to children, and well knew that a he was much displeased, proper notice of these might turn to some valuable account ;'' and therefore he said to the ii'ttie chi'idren to come them. Let the little children alone, and do not now, or at any other convenient time, unto me, and forbid them hinder them from coming tome : I am pleased, rather than offended, to see them near kj*,U(io^ ol gTa^ rMatt^ me : for of such is the kingdom of God ; persons of such a character are the true subjects xix. h. Lukcxviii. 16.] of my kingdom, and heirs of eternal glory, to which many little children are received ; and in token of it, the children of believing parents are to be admitted into my church by 15 baptism.'^ And verily I say unto you, as I have formerly told you, (Matt, xviii. 3, 4. 1.5 Verily i say unto you, sect, xciii.) and would now have you attend with seriousness while I repeat it. Whosoever Whosoevershaii not receive shall not be willing to receive the kingdom of God, or the gospel -dispensation and the little "iuid°'he°siiail [in^no happiness it promises, as a little child, divesting himself of those prejudices and those ^»''s^.] enter thetein. [Luke secular views which men contract in their riper years, that he may come, as it were, to the ^'""' ''-' humility and meekness, the simplicity and teachableness of a little child, compare Psal. cxxxi. 2.) he shall not in any wise, or on any terms, enter into it, be his genius ever so sublime, or his circumstances in life ever so considerable. 16 And having said this, he would no longer be detained from showing his regard unto ic And he [Luke, called these little children, but, having called them to him, and ordered the 'infants to be brought, [{JI^JJJ JJj;'!',, hi".;nn?[Ind] he took them up in his arms, tenderly embracing them with a holy complacency and put his hands upon 'them, love; and, as. a farther token of the overflowing kindness and benevolence of his heart and blessed them ; [and de- towards them, he laid his hands upon the?}i, and blessed them, recommending them ^n a 1,5. i^uke xviii. 10'] "^ golemn manner to the divine blessing and favour ; which accordingly descended upon themT" to stfehgfheh their constitutions and to sanctify their hearts. And after this he departed from thence to another place in the neighbourhood, where the young ruler attended him, as will be presently related. IMPROVEMENT. 16 Let us make a pause here, that we may more attentively review this delightful and instructive sight ; that we may see this compassionate Shepherd of Israel, thus gathering the lambs in his arms, and carrying the?n in his 14 bosom with all the tokens of tender regard, (Isa. xl. 11.) rebuking his disciples who forbade their coming, and laying his gracious hands upon them to bless them. How condescending and engaging a behaviour ! how encou- raging and amiable an image I Let his ministers view it, to teach them a becoming regard to the lambs of their flock, who should early be taken notice of and instructed, and for and with whom they should frequently pray ; remembering how often divine grace takes possession of the heart in the years of infancy, and sanctifies the children of God almost from the womb. Let every first impression made upon their tender minds be cherished ; and let not those whom Christ himself is ready to receive, be disregarded by his servants, who upon all occasions should be gentle unto all, and apt to teach. (2 Tim. ii. 24.) 13 Let parents view this sight with pleasure and thankfulness : let it encourage them to bring their children to Christ by faith, and to commit them to him in baptism, and by prayer. And if he who has the keys of death and the unseen world, (Rev. i. 18.) see fit to remove those dear creatures from us in their early days, let the remem- brance of this story comfort us, and teach us to hope, that he who so graciously received these children has not forgotten ours, but that they are sweetly fallen asleep in him, and will be the everlasting objects of his care and 14 love; for of such is the kingdom of God. Ibid. Let children especially observe this. The great and glorious Redeemer did not despise these little ones; nay, he was much displeased with those who would have prevented their being brought to him. As kindly would he, no doubt, have received you, ye dear children, who read or hear this ; as kindly will he still receive you, if you go to him in the sincerity of your hearts, and ask his blessing in humble and earnest prayer. Though you see not Christ, he sees and hears you ; he is now present with you, to receive you, to bless you, and to save you. Happy the weakest of you when lodged in the arms of Christ ! nothing can pluck you from thence, or ever hurt yoa there. 15 In a word, let us all commit ourselves to him ; and let us be disposed to become as little children, if we desire to enter into his kingdom. Let us not govern ourselves by the vain maxims of a corrupt and degenerate age. Let not pride, ambition, lust, or avarice, possess, torment, and enslave our minds ; but, with the amiable simplicity of children, let us put ourselves into the wise and kind hands of Jesus as our Guardian, and refer ourselves to his pastoral and parental care, to be clothed and fed, to be guided and disposed of, as he shall see fit. For this b Knew that a proper notice of these, Sec.] Christ's shewing his —I am obliged to Dr. Scott's late version of St. Matthew's Gos- regard in such a manner to them, not only must have been exceed- pel (which, according to the manner of the learned and ingenious ingly pleasing to the parents, but the memory of this condescension author, is exact to a "wonder) for the alteration 1 have made here, might make tender and lasting impressions on the children them- and for some^otTier changes, which I take this opportunity of ac- selves; and the sight must be very edifying and encouraging to knnwledging with due gratitude. other young persons who might happen to be present; not to say c For of such is the kingdom of God, &c.] I acknowledge these how instructive this gentleness to children may be to ministers, words will not of themselves prove infant baptism to be an institu- and how much their usefulness may, or might have been, promoted , tion of Christ ; but if that appears from other scriptures to be the \ by a due regard to it. Nicephorus tells us, that the celebrated' case, (which 1 think most probable,) there will be proportionable \ Ignatius, afterwards Bishop of Antioch, was one of these infants. — . reason to believe that 'OTIV Lor(T might here intend some reference Our Lord might r.easau3My be the more displeased with his disci- to it; and I cannot approve of rendering t-oioi>t:.v, such as resemble pies for endeavouring to prevent their being brougiit, as he had i these. Tt is the part-of a faithful translator not to limit the sense of so lately set a child among them, and insisted on the necessity of j the original, nor to fix what it leaves ambiguous, their being made conformable to it; Matt, xviii. 2, 3. ? 93. p. 19. — ' CHRIST POINTS OUT TO THE RICH YOUNG MAN THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE. 269 purpose, O God, may we be born again by thy Spirit, and formed anew by thy grace ! since by this method sect. alone we can be made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, (Col. i. 12.) and be so the 136. children of God as to be at length the children of the resurrection. >'>:;.(• ,_r " "- . 1 ^ 5'5^, SECTION CXXXVII. A rich young fnan applying himself to Christ for direction in the ivay to eternal life, and afterwards parting trith him out of regard to his possessions, gives our Lord an occasion of cautioning his disciples concerning the danger of riches. Matt. xLx. 16, to the end, Mark x. 17—31 Luke xviii 18—30. Mark x. 17. Mark x. 17. Anb when he ^vas gone AnD as he -went out from thence,^ into the way to some other place which he designed SECT fortn into tnewav, [behold,] ^ ■ ■. i i i , . iii , t, n , ^ ° t r>-> there came one" [Luke, a *o Visit, behold, a most remarkable occurrence happenea ; for there came one, even a cer- 137. certain ruleri running, and tain fnagisfrafe or ruler, who was a young person in very plentiful circumstances, runnin kneeled to liim, and asked „.;+u „„'v ,i ; *„ , „., ,„,lu i °.,_ u_f„ „ i,„ i i^~"TT-— r — r' 71 bin.! [Luke, saying-?] Good ^''^^ ^'^ ^"g*^"^ ^''^^'^'^ ^o converse with Jesus before he letttHarpTace ; and he no sooner mark Master, what [good' thing] was come near him, but, kneeling dotvn to him with the humblest respect, he asked him ^' *rit eternai'Tife^ "Iwatt' ^^^^^ ^^^^ reverence and earnestness, saying, Good Master,^ I am come to thee as a most 17 xix. 16. '^ Luke'xviii. 18.] ' '^ise and gracious Teacher, and beseech thee to answer me a question of the highest im- portance : What good thing shall I do that I may inherit eternal life ?- for nothing lies with so much weight upon my mind as this, and I am determined to secure it at any rate. 18 And Jesus said unto And Jesus, upon this, said to him. Why dost thou call ?;?e good,'^ whom thou re- 18 good r'Mfrr'i'/^none""o'^d S^^^^^^^ o^ly as a prophet sent from God, and dost not look upon to be any more than a but one, ihat is God: "[hut mere man ? Thou shouldst remember upon all occasions, that /tone is perfectly ^oof/ but if Uiou wilt enter into life one glorious and immutable Being, \_even'] the ever-blessed and eternal God ; nor can any [Matt. six. i7."Luk™xviii. "'^"^ ^^ angel deserve the title of good in any degree of comparison with him, from whom 19-] originally stream forth all those rays of goodness which are but imperfectly reflected from them. But as to the question thou hast asked ; If thou art resolutely determined to enter into life, it is absolutely necessary thou shouldst keep the divine commandments ; the perfect observance of which alone can give thee a legal claim to it, and in the wilful neglect of which thou must never on any terms expect it. 19 [He saith unto him, Then the young ruler, that he might fully understand the mind of Jesus, eagerly says 19 Uhich? Jesus said,] Thou fg him. Which are those commandments on the observation of which my eternal life KDOwest the command- j j ^ "^ ments, [Thou shall do no depends ? murder; Thou siialt not Jesus Said, T//o?< undoubtedly knowest Me co7;????fl?2('/we«^.5 which God gave to Moses, shal"not steal ;'^¥hou sh'aU ^^f'^^en On the tables of stone at Blount Sinai, among which those of the second table, not bear false witness ,] De- however neglected by the Pharisees, are by no means to be forgotten 5 such as, " Thou th?r''ard*VL!iTe°^'^l/']^n[o" "•'^'''"'''^ ^°^ ^'■^^ '^ '^'^°^'- ^^^"^^ ^^°^ commit adultery; Thou shall not steal; ther; [and. Thou Shalt love " Thou shalt not bear false witness ag-ainst thy neighbour; Thou shall not covet r\? tt^'"''''°"'^ ^s thyself.] " any part of his property, or take any methods to defraud him;"** and that which xviii. 20!]" ' "^ indeed stands m_Jhe^ fro nt_of all these, " Honour thy father and thy mother.^' These are the sLx last commandments, which I now recommend to thy consideration ; and they may all be summed up in that one comprehensive precept, " Thou shalt love thy neigh- bour as thyself." fSee Exod. xx. 12 — 17. and Lev. xix. 18.) 20 And [the young man] And the young man, not apprehending the large extent and spiritual meaning of these 20 answered and said untohira, precepts, replied, with ereat cheerfulness and confidence, and said to him. Master, I have Master, all these [things] } i 1 u* ^u , j x x xi x t 7 • x- i 7 have I observed from my D^en early taught these precepts, and may venture to say, that 1 have conscientiously oo- youth : [What lack I yet?] served all these even fro tn my infancy,^ and have abstained from each of the vices and [^^a .XIX. 20. u exviii. jinmoralities condemned in them ; xrhat then do I farther need, ia order to secure the glorious prize after which I am seeking ? 21 Then Jesus beholding And Jesus looking stedfastly upon him, loved him, and felt the emotions of com- 21 when'he htir^thele t[""'^s' P'^^ency mingled with tender compassion, in regard to so young a person, who had he] .said uiito him, [Luke^ maintained so honourable a character in such an elevated station of life, and was under yet one thing thou lackest; sucli concem abcut another world ; yet at the same time, amidst all these hopeful circum- e per cct,] gt^nces, was governed still by a secret fondness for the possessions he enjoyed in this : and, a As he uent out from thence.] Both Matthew and Luke relate " self." But the apostle Paul strongly intimates that the sense of this story of the young ruler immediately after that in the preced- that command is much more extensive, (Rora. vii. 7 ;) and as the log section ; but I\Iark' is more determinate than either of them in preceding commandments had forbid to invade the life, the bed, the connection, and more circumstantial in the narration. the property, or reputation of another, so this requires a guard on b Good JfiTs/erl Wolfius observes that this vas a title which those irregular appetites and passions which might by insensible the Jewish rabbles affected ; which, if it were indeed so, might be degrees lead men to murder, adultery, theft, or false w itness. an additional reason for our Lord's remark upon it. e / /lave observed all these even from m.v infancy.'] The phrase c ;^7(y dost thou call me good 7] It is certain that some very am noWo; may indeed be very exactly rendered, /ram my yowM ,• but ancient manuscripts read this clause, Tj at i^yms sr.fi rou xyx'.ov, Wh't/ as he was yel but a young man, it is probably liere put ("or infancy " dost tlwii asU me ivhat ijnod thing is to lie done ? But neither the or childhood. It is plainhe did not undcrsta'nd the spiritual mean- number of copies, nor the turn of our Lord's answer, will^bj;_any ing and extent of the law, according to our Lord's explication of it (nrans admit of such a reading. in his sermon on the mount ; or he would not have pleaded his ex- o" Thou shalt not defraud] As JTark seems to put t'is for the act obedience to it. But the Jews in general seem fl! have thought tenth commandment, Dr. Hammond (in he.) and Archbishop Til thaf, if they abstained from gross crimes, sacrifices might atone for lotson (see his Works, Vol. H. p. 257.) suppose it a key to the sense smaller neglects or offences. And this compound seems to have of those words, Tliou shalt not covet ; the meaning of which, they been that righteousness of their own, in which, TTTtheir final ruin, argue, is as if it had been said, " Thou shalt not be so desirous of they trusted for justification before God, in the neglect of the " thy neighbour's possessions as to be willing to injure the owner righteousness which is of God by faith. Compare Rora. x. 3 ; and " by depriving him of them, that thou raaysf secure them to thy- Phil. iii. 'j. 270 A RICH MAN SHALL HARDLY ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. SECT, as our Lord thought fit fo manifest this fondness to himself and others, "when he had heard go thy way, sell whatsoever 137. these t.hhigs which have been mentione3~above, he was pleased to call him forth to a pe- t^*^" ^'^^Ji' "I'l 8''"'^ to the culiar trial ; and therefore said unto him. Thus far it is well ; but i/et, alas, one thing u'easure" in heaven • 'and MARK thou still wantesf,' in order to prove that integrity of soul and that prevailing love to come, take up the cross, and X. God, without which none can be entitled to future blessedness : by me he now commands LukTxvfii 22']^^' '"^' ^'' 21 thee, if thou wilt be perfect, and determine to submit to all that he requires, to go thy ■way immediately and sett all thy possessions,^ valuable as they are, and to distribute the money which arises from the sale of them to the poor ; do this, and thou shall have an infinitely more excellent treasure in heaven : and, in the assured hope of this, I call thee fo come and take up the cross, and with courage and resolution to Jhlloiv ?ne as my constant attendant, though it should be even at the expense of thy life as well as thine estate. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, and saw that all his gay and delightful 22 [But when the young prosjxjcts for life must be given up in a moment, he was exceedingly concerned and "^s" sad'\nd\vent"°aw''* troubled at it, and he went away in great sorrow ; for he was very rich, [and'] had great [Luke, very sorrowful ;] for possessions, which were lately fallen into his hands : and how desirous soever he was of '""' ,f^"V' '^^^ ""y ^^^^> , _ 1 i-i- u r3— "~r ~r 1 '■! — : \ """J '"ad great possessions. V eternal hie, he could not resolve to secure it at so great an expense. [Matt. xix. 22. Lukexviii. 23 And when Jesus saw that though he was very sorrowful, yet he chose rather to go 23.] away than to part with his estate in the views of eternal happiness, he looked rouyid on all sus law"'that"he' was"vfry that were about him, and said to his disciples. Observe this instructive incident, and sorrowful,] he looked round learn to make this reflection upon it : How hardly shall they that possess the riches of cf""!' ^'h ^^'V^ '11'"*' f 'n this world enter into the kingdo?n of God ! Dwell upon the thought, and repeat it, in tliey that have riches e'nter order, if possible, to wean your hearts from these delusive vanities which often prove so ^'t" the kingdom of God! fatal to the soul : for verily I say unto you, So many snares attend such circumstances, „ rki?^man^sha"H°iard"i'v'^en- that a rich man will hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven, or be brought to such a ttr into the kingdom of jrelish for the gospel and its future blessings, as either to resign or unprove his worldly *'^Y*°- ...f-^*t'. xix. 23. possessions in such a manner as the laws of that kingdom require. 24 And the disciples were quite astonished at his words ; for they were ready to imagine 24 And the disciples were O I that, ere long, all the rich and great people of the country would appear for their Lord, and astonished at his words.— " 1 fix him on the throne of Israel. But Jesus, answering again to that surprise which he saw in their countenances, sai/s —But Jesus answcretu to them in the most condescending manner. My dear children, when you consider what a!?=j".au''sa'tli unto them, T J ,. i- 1 11 ° , 1 — ■'■ -T .„..•' .„ , , Children, how hard is it for I said more attentively, you will not so much wonder at it ; for it is manifest that the them that trust in riches to generality of rich men place their chief confidence and delight in the things of this present ^''^"j '"to the kingdom of world : and you know that true religion requires a heart abstracted from them, and placed on nobler objects: judge then for yourselves, how hard is it for them that tluis trust in 25 their riches, to enter into the kingdom of God ! ^«.'"S among themselves, salvation, and turning the means of their happiness and usefulness into the uistruments of [i\iatt. xT". 25." Lukexviii'. their destruction ? 20] 27 But Jesus, looking stedfastly upon them, saith unto them. With men it is indeed 27 And Jesus looking impossible, and the strength of 'corrupt nature alone will not be sufficient to encounter "ifem 1 with men '^rtlfis'isi such difficulties as these; but li is not impossible with God to animate their hearts against i,np"ossihle', b'ut^"not"wi'th them: forhis grace has an almighty energy, and with God all things are possible, [even] ^"ens)i,ij^^ ji^d when they had received [/Y,] instead of being satisfied with what was pro- H ceJved"i/," hey* murmured mised them, they murmured against the master of the house" who had set them to against the good man of the work, and said. Truly these last have laboured but one hour, and thou hast made them 12 '^"p^'savin-, These last equal, in the recompense they have received, to us, who have borne the whole burden, have wro"ugh"t but one hour, and gone through all the toil and heat of the day from morning to night, and thou hast made them j^^^^ j^^ calmly answered and said to one of them, who spoke in the name of the rest, 13 borne the°burdrn and helt Friend, it is most apparent that I do not in any degree injure thee, or any of thy com- of the day. panions : didst not thou agree with me to labour all the day for a penny, and hast thou of\hem"'and slXpHend"! "ot received it ? Take what is justly thine, and be gone, without pretending to dictate 14 do thee no wrong: didst to me in an atlair wherein thou hast no manner of concern ; for I will do as I see fit, and not thou agree with me for ^^..^ f^ f/^j^ ^^^f ^^^^ ^yIjq p^^j^g [^ but an hour ago, even as I do to thee.' And indeed 15 ^ 'iTxake /hat thine is, and what colour hast thou for a complaint ? Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with go thy way: I will give what is undoubtedly ???/«e 07:7/ property ?s What if 1 pleased to give it to one who had unto this last, eveu as unto ^^^^ nothing at all for it ? Is thine eye cvil,^ or dost thou fook on with an envious and 15' Is it not lawful for ms malignant countenance, because I am so good, that out of compassion to these poor men ^w'^Vuui'iti'l'exevirbT ^ ^^^^^y give them what they could not justly have claimed? cause I am good? ^*^*'' *' And thus s3.id Jesus at the conclusion of this parable: You see (as I have just been 16 16 So the last shall be telling you. Matt. xLx. 30.) there are some who seemed to be the last in privileges and man/bl "ca'lfet but '' (Z advantages, who shall be first in the reward and happiness that shall be given to them ; chosen. ' and, onthe other hand, there are many in those respects the first, who shall be last. And this is a remark peculiarly applicable to the Jewish nation,' who will murmur at the calling of the Gentiles to equal dignities and privileges with themselves, and on that account will reject the gospel, and persecute you the preachers of it : for though many are called, and the messages of salvation are sent to vast multitudes, even to all the thou- sands of Israel, yet there are but few chosen ;" a small remnant only will embrace the gospel so universally offered, and so be saved according to the election of grace, (Rom. xi. 5.) while the rest will be justly disowned by God, as a punishment for so obstinate and so envious a temper. IMPROVEMENT. ]\L\Y we by divine grace appear in the happy number of those who are not only called, but chosen too ! If we Ver. 1 6 are first in privileges and opportunities, let us be careful that our improvement be proportionable; otherwise we shall be last, and see ourselves another day exceeded, and perhaps condemned, by those who stood in a rank much below us. We are called to a course of holy labour, even to work in our Lord's vineyard, or in every station, whether 1 public or private, to do our utmost to promote the glory of God and the happiness of mankind. Let us not, with e They murmured agnind the master of the house.'] That this was sign of tliis parable, and to what daily appears to be fact, whicli the case of the Jews, upon a general notion of the Gentiles being, therefore cannot give way to any hypothesis. according to the Christian scheme, intended to be partakers with h Is thine eye evil ?] Here is an evident reference to that ma- them in the same church-privileges, is plain from a variety, of lignant aspect which is generally the attendant of a selfish and en- scriptures. See Acts xi. 2, 3; xiii. 45^50; xvii. 5, 13; xviii. 6, vious temper. 13; xxii. 21, 22; xxviii. 29; Rom. xi. 28; and 1 Thess. ii. 16. i Peculiarly applicable to the Jewish nation.] The remark itself i I will give to this last even as to thee.'] Since no murraurings can is far more extensive, as T intimate both in the paraphrase and irn- happen among the blessed, tills must refer to the unbelieving Jews ; provement. But as this was a memorable instance of it, so it is but as it is certain they will have no place in the kingdom of plainly what Christ had immediately in his view, heaven, we plainly see that it would be very absurd to pretend to k Many are called, but few are chosen.'] Grotius has a very learned draw doctrinal consequences from every incidental circumstance of and ingenious note on this text; but no genius or learning can be a parable. sufficient to prove what he seems to intend, that persons are called g And indeed, is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine the chosen of God, merely with respect to the divine complacency own ?] That the particle » maybe thus rendered, And indeed, has in them on account of some distinguished virtue and excellence, been observed before, note e, on Matt. vii. 9. p. 86. Audastowhat Compare Deut. vii.6— 8; ix. 6; John xv. 16; Acts ix. 13, 15; is here suggested, so many scriptures declare expressly, that God Rom. xi. 5, 6; and 1 John iv. 19. To understand the expression at the great day will render to ev-ery one according to his works, here, of chosen and excellent servants, (as M. Le Clerc, Dr. Wall, and intimate that there shall be an exact correspondence between and many others do,) is quite to contradict the design of the para- every man's character and the reward which (through the riches of ble. On that supposition the master must have said, "These last divine grace) shall then be bestowed, that it would be very un- " have done as much in one hour as you in many ; or I chose them, reasonable, from such a circumstance as this in the parable, to " because I knew they were men remarkable for their diligence." infer the contrary. But if any should maintain, that all the fa- This is the turn which the Talmudists have given to the parable in vours of Divine Providence and grace must now be dispensed only their insipid imitation of it, which may be seen in Dr. Lightfoot, in proportion to the wisdom and goodness of the person concerned, Hor. Heb. on Matt. xx. 1. 1 apprehend they would argue directly contrary to the whole de- 274 WHILE JESUS WAS BEYOND JORDAN HE HEARS THAT LAZARUS IS SICK. SECT. SO many calls and so many advantages, stand all the day idle ; but let us be active and patient, and cheerfully 138. willino- to bear all the burden and heat of the day in so good a cause-, knowing that ere long the evening w^ill ■ come, and that he who employs us saith, Behold I come quicldij, and mi) reward is xoith me, to give ever// ?nan MATT, according as his "work shall be. (Rev. xxii. 12.) XX- Let such as have long neglected the great business of life be encouraged with this thought, that some were called 6 at the eleventh Hour ; but let none presume on their having such a call, nor strain the parable so far as to imagine that an equal reward awaits all, without any regard to their characters or improvements ; which is most contrary to the reason of things, to the word of God, and to the great intent of that day which is to render to every ?na7i according to his deeds. (Rom. ii. 6.) 9 The Gentiles are indeed now called to equal privileges with the Jews, to which this circumstance of the parable II 12 refers: and we all see how odious a temper it was in that favourite nation to be offended with the gospel on that account, which should rather have recommended it to their more joyful acceptance. Let us be careful to avoid every degree of envy, whoever may be put on a level with us, or preferred to us. Let us acknowledge the sovereign 15 right of God to do what he -v^i-ill with his own, and let not our eye be evil because he is good. To prevent this, let us labour after that unfeigned love to the brethren which never will allow us to repine at their advance- ment to the greatest privileges, but will engage us to behold the favours that are shewn them with delight and satisfaction, and to rejoice in their honour and happiness as our own. So shall we exchange the basest and most uneasy pa^ssion of human nature, for that which is of all others the noblest and the most delightful. ■' ,- . i l ■'" i' (^ SECTION CXXXIX. Our Lord, hearing; cf the sickness of his finend Lazarus, and afterwards knowing that he xvas dead, determines to go from fhe countri/ bcTjond Jordan to Judea, though against the persuasion of his disciples. John xi. 1—16. John xi. 1. JonNxi. i. SECT Now while Jesus was on the other side Jordan, whither he had retired when he left Now a certain raan was 139.' Jerusalem, (John x. 40. sect, cxxxiv.) there was one Lazarus of Bethany, which was San" town'of Mary I also the town of Mary and Martha her sister, who was sick of a very dangerous distem- and lier sister Martlia. ' JOHN per. And, by the way. it is to be observed that it was \thaf] jVr^ry-u'Ao.aftenvards at a ,„2„/„\Vd''u;e'To7d"'with ^^' 9 public entertainment, in testimony of her high regard and veneration for him, anointed the ointment, and wiped his Jjord with a most precious ointment,'' and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother feet with her hair, whose ^ Lazarus was sick. The sisters therefore, full of concern for their diseased brother, ^'^''^-^^.Vefore ' his' "^'isteis knowin"- where Jesus was, sent to hi?n, and said, Lord,iwe beg that thou wouldst be sent unto him, saying-, Lord, pleased to favour us with a visit, whatever difficulties may tie in the wayj for behold, he ^^l'^^^^}^ ^^'"" *''°" whom thou__ so tenderly lovest, even Lazarus thy friend, is so exceedingly ill, that, without thy interposition for his deliverance, nothing but death can be expected. 4 Bat when Jesus heard [/Y,] he said. This sickness is not designed by providence to end 4 When Jesus heard that in his death, and final removal out of this world 5^ but shall serve for the remarkable I;^4"'i|,l;i;; 'l,'',;"'^^:;' "Z illu'^tration of the o-lor// of God, and is suffered to prevail, chiefly with a design that the giory of God, that the Son Son of God maij be glorified b>/ it, and his divine mission most signally confirmed. of ^God might be glorified 5 Now it was well known that Jesus loved Martha, and her sister Mary, and this their 5 j^^^ jesus loved Mar- brother Lazarus, with a peculiar affection, and had often visited them, and lodged at their tha, and her sister, aud La- house; and, in consequence of this, he was determined to order the affair in such a man- '^g"^^,,,^^ i^^ j^^^ ,,^^^j ner as he knew would be most for their final advantage, though it might for a while be an therefore that he was sick, occasion of greater affliction. , l;e abode t«^o days still in 6 When therefore he had heard that he was icic, he then, without declaring he had any ^h^"^/'""" P'"*-'^ """' "^ thouo-ht of going to him, abode yet two dai/s longer on the other side Jordan, in the same 7 Then after that, saith 7 place where he was before. And then after that, that is, on the third day, he sai/s to he t«^/";,^^^i^/g;- L-t »s his disciples. Let us now go back again to Judea." 8 ///,« disciples say unto 8 The disciples saij unto him, Uabbi, it is but just now that the Jews sought to stone bim. Master the Jews ot thee, (John x. 31. sect, cxxxiv.) and dost thou intend so soon to go thither again, as if it l^^^ sought tJ-j^^fJ-^^^jt'^Yier r~ ^^ were to tempt the danger from which thou hast so lately with such difficulty escaped ? again? ,r 9 Jesus answered. Are there not twelve hoursln the dai/ ? Now if any man take the ^f^9^-'^^„'J%^'^,7;'',tf;,s'^[,^ /) advantage of them, and walk in the day, he is prepared for all evente, and does not ^,,g ^.,y , j,- ^ny man walk stumble at any obstacle which may lie "in his way ; because the sun is then above the iu the day, he stumbktli a // was that Mary who anointed the Lord with ointm.-'nt.-] Some speaks of was named Mary, so neither have we any reason to sup- commentators have supposed that this refers to the story related by pose that the same person should anoint him twice Luke, chap. vii. 37. etseq. (? 00.) and have argued from thence b T/uS sickness is not In 7?7r*,-&c.] C^ompare Matt ix. 24; and that Mary Magdalene, whom they think to be the person there de- Mark v. 39. p. 146. Our Lord afterwards so fully explains what he scribed as a woman that was a sinner, was the same with this Mary, meant by this ambiguous speech, that nothing reasonahle can ne the sister of Lazarus. But it seems much more probable that John objected to it : but it is a remarkable instance of tlie candour and himself should mention fhe fact that he has here referred to: fidelity of the Evangelists here, and in the fore-cjt^d places, so ex- which, if he has done at all, it must be that which he relates, John actly to record the very words of Jesus, though malice might so xii. 3. f/sf?. (} 145.) where there can be no doubt but that the per-- easily cavil at them. ,. . , o -, t^ ■ -m h son who performed this instance of respect to Christ was Marv, the c ^flrr that he says to his disables, <5-c ] From comparing Matt, sister of Lazarus, who was at Bethany near Jerusalem, and there- xx. 17; Mark x. 32; and Luke xviii 31. (? 142.) many critics inter fore must be ditfereut from Mary Magdalene, who was of Magdala, that what is recorded there and in the following verses happened a town of Galilee at a considerable distance. Nor is there any during the interval of Christ's delay to go to Bethanv, alter he had ground from scripture to conclude tliat Mary Magdalene was the heard that Lazarus was sick : but I do not find that Chri.st went to person who anointed Christ in Luke, which appeal? rather to be Jerusalem now ; and if he did, it seems that those events happcnea there described as the action of a woman of Nairn, where Christ re- in his very last journey thither and consequently should not be stored the widow's son to life. (Luke vii. 37.) (Compare note b, on introduced here; especially as they break the thread ot the story, Luke viii. 2. p. 121.)— Besides, the stories are related with such out of regard to which, I think, .some small transpositions may well different circumstances, that it is strange they should be taken for be allowed ia other places, though none be needful here, the same fact ; and as Luke no where tells us that the person he REFLECTIONS ON THE SICKNESS AND DEATH OF LAZARUS. 275 not, because he seeth the hori2on, and he sees the light of this tcorld. But if any wan will rather chuse (o SECT. light of tliis world. ivalk in the ni^ht, it is no wonder at all if he stumbles then, because there is no light 139. the"i.^""it!' L^stuurbkth" «;:Lthe air around him. In like manner, I am desirous, as I lately told you, to do the will because there is no light in oTmy heavenly Father while the day, or opportunity of life, lasts, (John lx.4. sect, cxxx.) John h'ra- and I doubt not but I shall thereby approve myself in his sight, and secure his protection ^^• and favour. 11 These things said lie : These things he Said to silence their objections, and to prepare their minds for what he 1 1 and after that, he saith unto ygt concealed : and after this, as he perfectly knew what had passed at Bethany, though sleepeth "VuTi go that"l SO many miles distant from it, he sai/s to them, Our friend iMzarus is fallen asleep ; but may awaiichiiu out of sleep. J am going to him, that I maif auHiken him ; thereby referring to his death, and to that raising him from it which he intended quickly to effect. •12 Then said his disciples, His disciples therefore, not apprehending his meaning, immediately said. Lord, if he 12 Lord, It he sleep, he shall g/g^pg naturally and quietly, as thou seemest to intimate, /e tvill probably recover; and there is the less reason for thy running the hazard of going thither to heal him. 13 Howbeit, Jesus spake But Jesus spake this concerning his death, which for many apparent reasons he chose 13 of his death : but they ^q represent Under this gentle image i"^ but the// thought that he had spoken of his taking thouKht that he had spoken ,*^i- j°- / of takin"- of rest in sleep, ^'(^■'^t as a living man does in a common sleep. 14 Th°en said Jesus unto Then Jesus therefore, that he might not hold them any longer in suspense, or leave 14 dea™ ''''''°^^' ^^^^'■"^ '^ them under a mistake, said to them plainly, Lazarus is \x\6&itA dead. And, as I could 15 15 And I am glad, for not have permitted this to have happened in my presence, J am glad on your account your sakes, that I was not ^|^(^^ J j,.^.y „(j( f/ig,,^ . f/^jf ^o« ?nay more confidently believe in me, and may find your ma^^^behe^ve*)' nevertheless*^ faith confirmed by a farther remarkable display of my divine power, in some respects ex- let us go unto him. cccding any thing you have yet seen : but let us now go directly to him at Bethany. IG Then said Thomas, Then Thomas, ivho tvas also called Didymus, said to his fellow-disciples and 16 which is called 'Didymus, brethren in the apostolic ofiice. Since our dear Master will expose himself to so much dan- unto his fellow-disciples, , . . ', ■• t i / , / ^i i. m i i a; j Let us also go, that we may ger among his iniiuman enemies m Judea, let us also go, though it be only t/iat we may die with hira. ^/e ^.j(/i /,i„2 ; for whatsoever he may sutfer, it is infinitely better we should take our portion with him, even in death, than that we should desert such a friend in an article of the extreraest danger. BIPROVEMENT. How happy was this family of Lazarus in which Christ was so frequent a guest ! how happy Lazarus and his Ver. 5 sisters, who were so peculiarly beloved by him ! Yet sickness and death invaded that family ; and this excellent 1, 3, 14 man, as it should seem, in flourishing circumstances, (ver. 19.) and perhaps too in early youth, was snatched away on a sudden, by what appeared a very untimely stroke. The friends of Christ must be sick and die as well as others; and no man knoiveth either love or hatred by all that is before them under the sun : (Eccles. ix. 1.) Let us therefore /Mt/o-e 7iothing before the tit/ie : (1 Cor. iv. 5.) This sickness and death of Lazarus was for the glory of God : and "may all our personal and domestic sufferings be so ! " To this, O Lord, may our life be con- 4 " secrated, and to this may our death be subservient ! We shall not then feel our dying pangs in half their bitter- " ness, when our hearts are inflamed with a zeal for thy glory, and when we see that even those pangs are pro- " moting it." Our Lord delayed his coming to this dear friend in his extremity ; and perhaps it occasioned not only many an 6 anxious, but many a suspicious thought, both to Lazarus and his sisters ; yet the intent of this delay was both gra- cious and important. Let us not limit our divine Master as to the time or manner of his appearance for us ; let us , not censure him if it be for a while put off. It is to exercise our faith and patience, and to make the mercy more signal and more welcome. At length a resolution is formed to go into Judea, though but a little while ago the Jews had assaulted him, 7, 8, 15 even in a sacred place, with burning malice in their hearts, and the instruments of death in their hands. But when Providence called, none of these things could move our blessed Redeemer, neither counted he his life dear unto him, that he might finish his course with joy. (Acts xx. 24.) May we shew the like intrepidity of soul in his service ! walking in the day, that we may not stumble, and taking all proper opportunities of performing the du- 9, 10 ties of life while the season of it lasts ; and then, when the night of death comes, it will close our eyes in peaceful slumbers. The repose of the breathless corpse, insensible of alarms, and sorrows, and cares, will be a lovely emblem 1 1 of the sweeter repose of the soul in the arms of divine love, till ere long Christ shall come to awaken us out of our sleep, by that general resurrection of which this of Lazarus was a figure and pledge. Let these glorious thoughts and expectations animate us to all the returns of affection, duty, and zeal. Let them teach us the temper of Thomas, when he said. Let us go and die with him. " Blessed Jesus ! how much better " is it to die with and for thee, who art the resurrection and the life, than to prolong these wretched days of ab- " sence, meanness, and affliction, by forsaking thee when thou art leading us into danger!" d For many apparent reasons he chose to represent under this " back to life again :" but, avoiding all parade and ostentation, he gentle image!] Our Lord might chuse the expression of Lazarus chuses the simplest and humblest expression that can be thought sleeping, partly out of tenderness, as being least shocking, when he of. This fine remark (which Mr. Blackwall makes in his Sacred spoke of so dear a friend", 'as Homer, when he represents Antilochus Classics, Vol. L p. 297.) is admirably illustrated, in a great variety as reporting the death of Patroclus to Achilles, used the word xu'm, of particulars in the present story, by the ingenious Dr. Lardner, he is /alien, rather than /te is slain : {Iliad, lib. xviii. ver. 20.) and it in his Vindicalion of it. He has treated the subject with a candour may also farther be considered as an instance of our Lord's modesty : and rectitude of heart, equal to the accuracy of his critical skill, he does not immediately say, " He is dead, and I go by my aTTTItfTity and even equal to that malignity and baseness of soul with whii h " power to burst the bonds of the sepulchre, and to command him Woolston attacked it. t2 276 MARTHA DECLARES HER FAITH IN JESUS AS THE MESSIAH. SECTION CXL. Our Lord raises Lazarus from the dead, after he had been buried four days. John xi. 17—46. John xi. 17. John xi. 17. SECT. Then Jesus, according to the resolution he had declared to his disciples, (ver. 7, 15.) ■[/}^J^,j'jJ;^",,p''i'"j,|p^^f^ 140. departed from the country beyond Jordan, where he had continued for some time, and t\^e grave fcur days^alrMdy! went towards Bethany; and v;hen he came near the village, he found that his friend JOHN Lazarus was dead, and that he had been nowfojir daijs in the tomb. XI. No-iv Bethany, the place where Lazarus had lived, was very near to Jerusalem, being . 18 (Now Bctbany was I „ „ ^ , y /v. ,1 1 , -1 \ ii i. 1 II nijili unto Jerusalem, about IS but about fifteen J urlongs oft, (or somewhat less than two miles,; so that lie was well fifteen furlongs off.) 1 9 known in the city, and had many friends there. And 7nany of the Jetvsviho A^diihexe,'' 19 And many of the when the funeral was over, came to Martha and Mari/,^ that they might comfort them M?ry,?o"comLtther^Mn concerning the loss of their beloved brother.'^ ceming their brother. 20 And Jesus was no sooner come into the neighbourhood, but presently the news of his 20 Then Martha, as soon approach was brought to the afflicted family that had so long been impatiently desirous ^omin",Tent*andme't'hi'm! to see him. Martha therefore, as soon as she heard that Jesus was co7ning, immediately but Mary sat still in the icent out to meet him : but Mary, who was mourning with her friends in private, was house. not as yet informed of his approach, and [sfiti'] sat weeping in the housed 21 Then Martha, being told where she might meet with him, and having hastened to the ^^J'^V'"^*'^^'^^''*'^*""*'? place, said unto Jesus, Lord, we have been much surprised at thy delay, and cannot but been here, iny brother had be exceedingly troubled at it, that thou didst not immediately take notice of the message not died. ' that we sent thee; for, surely if thou hadst been here, my dear brother had not died, but would have been given back to thy prayers, which in so many instances ha^e been ' 22 successful- even for the recovery of strangers. Tiut even now I know, that whatsoever 22 But I know, that even thou shalt think fit to ask of God, it shall assuredly be granted j and I am satisfied that "g^^^'of^God' Go"wnT"iv*e'" God will give [//] thee, however great the favour be, if there be any method to repair thee° ° ' " "' ^'^'^ '' the grievous loss we have sustained. 23 Jesus, beholding her distress with a coinpassionate concern, says to her, Martha, do 2.3 Jesus saith unto her, not abandon thyself to overwhetming" grief ;"" forlTssufe thee that thy beloved brother Jafn. '"'°*''" '''''" "'^ shall rise again from the dead. 24 Then Martha, conceiving some secret and trembling hope from these words, yet de- 24 Martha saith unto siriner some farther confirmation of it, saus to him. Lord, 7 well know, and stedfastly ''.™' ' k'l?^ that he shall o^ '.y .» rise tt^iiin 111 tlie rcsurrec- believe, that he shall rise again in the general resurrection at the last day ; (compare tion at the last day. chap. V. 29 ; and Luke xiv. 14 ;) but the distance of that leaves me still under a load of sorrow. 25 Jesus then said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life ; (compare chap. v. 21 ; 25 Jesus said unto her, l and Deut. xxx. 20 ;) by me the general resurrection shall be accomplished^ and by me a ^J]^ ,||jf. h^that'^beUev^eth most glorious and happy life shall be given to all my people, and be maintained even to in me.tliough lie were dead, eternal ages : he therefore that believes in vie, though he be dead, yet he s/iall ere long y^*- ^hall he live : live again, and his reanimated body shall be again united to that soitI which in its separate state continues its dependence on my power and faithfulness ; and even at present I can loose the bonds of death, and though thy brother now is holden by it, I can recall him, 26 when I please, to life: And even/ one tliat is now living, and believes in ?nc, shall 26 And whosoever liveth, never die :' death shall be so disarmed and transformed, that it shall hardly deserve the neveJ^die!" Believ™'! thou name ; the better part of him being immediately conveyed to immortal life and glory, and this ? the body only sleeping a while in the dust, till I come to awaken it to everlasting vigour and joy. Dost thou, Martha, believe i/ns to be true ? 27 And she says to him. Yes, Lord, I firmly believe every thing thou sayest ; for I am 27 She saith unto him, fully persuaded that thou art the Messiah, the Son of God, who was to' come into the thou ^ruVe cluL'uhe So^n world, and has been so long promised, expected, and desired ; and that all power there- of God, wiiich should come fore must belong to thee. '°'° *■'>« ""'"id. 28 And Martha having said these [words,"] and testified her faith, Jesus inquired for her 28 And when she had so a Many of tlic Jems, 8ic,] It might be one reason why Jesus de- eut sense that can be made of these remarkable words, and the equi- layed his coming till the fourth day, that he might meet a great valeut passages : John v. 24 ; and viii. 51. And a very sublime and number of them, as, for wise purposes, he determined to make this important sense it is, perfectly agreeable to the height of sentiment miracle very public. and language with which Christ is said elsewhere to have abolished b Came to Martha and Mary.] The original has it rrpa txs cte^i death, and to have destroyed the devil. (2 Tim. i. 10 ; and Heb. ii. 14.) Mje 9av xjti Matgiav; but the learned Revius, in his Notes jin Valla and with wliicli Christians are said to be come to the heavenly Jeru- «o this text, has produced incontestable authorities to vindicate salem, to the aeneral assembly and church of the fir.-t-born. Sec {Heb. our version here, and to show that there is no need to render or xii. 22, 23.) and to be raised up with Christ, anil made tn sit together paraphrase it, as Beza and Wolfius would do, " That the men came in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Eph. ii. 6.) See Vitring. Observ. " to join with those female friends wlio had before attended the Sacr. lib. ii. rap. 7. \ 9 — 18. — To render the words before us, as Mr. " mourning sisters, and were now with them." The v/ord luSxim, Massey would do, {Vernac. Sacra, p. 8.) " Whoever, while lie lives, Jews, j^o besure, includes persons of both sexes. — See also Rapliel. "believer on me, shall not die for ever, or eternally," is both obscuring ^ot. ex Xcnoph. p. 137. 'and enervating their sense, and (as I have shown elsewhere, note I, c That they might comfort them, Sfc."] Many ceremonies used by on John iv. 14. p. 58. and notes b, c, on John viii. 51, 52. p: the ancient Jews in mourning for the dead, and in comforting the 212.) is grounded on a criticism wliich cannot agree with the use mourners, are collected by Dr. Lightfoot ; (in his Hor. Hebr. on this of the phrase in question in parallel pasisages. Compare Matt. xxi. place :) but the mention of them here would be tedious, rather 19. \ 149. — The opposition between this and the preceding verse, than edifying. plainly shews that the former refers to the spirits of those who I'l d Sai weeping in the house.] She probably sat on the ground, were dead, who are yet spoken of as believing in Christ; and is, I which was the posture of mourners. Compare Job ii. 8 ; Ezek. viii. think, no contemptible proof of their remaining in a state of acti- 14 ; and Matt, xxvii. (il. vity : but the doctrine IS so very plain in scripture, as not to need e That is living, and believes in me, shall never die.] The seii.se the aid of such consequential arguments. thall have given in the paraphrase appears to rae the most consist- JESUS RAISES LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD. 277 said, she went her way, and sister ; and presently s/ie went awav and called her sister Man/ as pricatelij as she could, SF.CT. called Maryjier sister se- whispering in her ear, and saying. The Master is hard bi/, and callethfur thee. And as 140. is'^'^come'^aiS caUeth^'for ^oon as shc heard \_if,'] she immediately arose, and, having left the company tliat were thee. about her, ccrwe forward with the utmost eagerness to meet him. Now Jesus was not yet jokn Mof shLirose 'quickly "and ^"^"''''^ ^"t^ the village, but Still co7itinued in the place where Martha met him, waiting ^„^^- cani'e unto him. ' there for Mary's coming. "-'^ 30 Now Jesus was not ^£/jc Jcws then who were with her in the house attempting to comfort her under her 31 was'^"i™'^that' place where sorrow, seeing that Mary arose up hastily and went out of Aoox%,fallowed her, saying, Martha met him. Sureli/ she is going to the sepulchre of her brother, that she may weep there} which will we're wi'th herln the hou'se^ '^"^^Y aggravate and renew her sorrow ; let us therefore endeavour to dissuade her from it. and comforted her, when And thus, by their going after her, they were naturally led to be eye-witnesses of all that they saw Mary, that she followed. o^t! followed her, saying, Thcu Mary, when she came to the place where Jesus was, and saw him, was so far 32 She goeth unto the grave, from being afraid to avow her regar(^o him, (compare John ix. 22. sect, cxxx.) that she *°3o''^j,*n*^^'Vien ]^iary .4^35 fell down at li is feet and embraced them ; with the greatest respect saying to him, as her conie where Jesus was, and sister had done before. Lord, if thou hadst been here sooner, surely my dear brother had saw hira, she fell down at j^^f died. And she was so overcome with grief, that sfie could utter no more. Lord,'^i'f thou hadst been Jesus therefore, when he saw her thus weeping, and the Jews also weeping that came 33 here, ray brother had not -with her, groaned with a deep concern, as feeling a strong commotion in his own spirit ; '33 When Jesus therefore «"<^ judging it proper in this instance to indulge it, (though he always had every passion saw her weeping, and the under the most entire command,) he voluntarily afflicted himself h-y opening his mind to Jews dso weeping^ which ^ set of melting and painful ideas. And looking with a tender pity on the mourning re- 34 in the spirit, and was lations of his deceased friend, /^es^/o', fr/^ere /^fli'e ?/e /a/c? ///w /^ They say unto hirn, troubled ; ^ Lord, we desire thou wouldst come and see ; wishing to bring him to the sepulchre, in have ve"iaid'*him » Tifey ^'^'^^ uncertain hope of what was afterwards done. say unto him, Lord, come And a^Jhey were going along, Jesus himself wept, at the remembrance of the dead, in 35 '"'s'^'j^' w sympathy with the living, and in compassion to the obstinate Jews, whose final impeni- o esus "■ P • tence he foresaw, and knew how much the guilt of it would be aggravated in consequence Behold how he loved him \ of their being spectators of such a miracle. 37 And some of them Xhc Jews therefore, seeing him in tears, said. Behold, how he loved him, and how his 36 wh'ich^openenhe'ey™''"!- ^eart Overflows with sorrow for his death ! But some of them, who had a secret aversion 37 the blind, have caused that to him, said. Could not this ?nan, who is said to have opened the eyes of the blind, have even this man should not caused that this man also should not have died? Could he not have come to cure him, 38 JesW therefore again Or, as it is reported in some other instances, have effected it even at a distance ? groaning in himself, Cometh Jcsus therefore, understanding this invidious insinuation, and groaning again within 38 amU stonriayVpon^it''^''' ^limself, as in great anguish of heart, comes to the sepulchre. Now it was a cave, and a 39 Jesus said. Take ye large stone was laid upon the mouth of it. Jesus says to them that stood by. Remove the 39 away the stone. Martha, .^^fo^e which stops up the entrance -.5 hut Martha, the sister of the deceased, sa?/s to hi>n, inG sister 01 iiim tii^t was T/iiiiii i? //* /t* • h '/• 7 7 dead, saith unto him, Lord, Lord, he has been dead so long, that he now smells m an onensive manner;" for tie lias by this time he stinketh : f)cen [Jiere'] no less than part of four days, this being the fourth since his interment, days.' (Compare ver. 17.) Jesus says to her. Why dost thou object against what I direct ? Did 40 40 Jesus saith unto her, I not Say unto thee, that if thou wouldst believe, thou shouldst see the glory of God fhou Vou^drt* beiiTve''^th'ou remarkably displayed in a work of signal power and mercy ? Then they took away the shouldst see the glory of stonefrom the mouth of the tomb where the deceased lay. <5o^ • ' "^ T ^ — *- ; SECTION CXLI. The sanhedrim being informed of the resurrection of Lazarus, by the advice of Caiaphas, agree that Jesus should be put to death. He retires to Ephraim, and they issue an order for apprehending him. John xi. 47, to the eiid. * John xi. 47. John xi. 47. SECT. It was before observed, (at the close of the last section,) that some who had been present Then gatiiered tiie chief 141. at the resurrection of Lazarus, instead of being duly wrought upon by the miracle, went ^o'unen""f„*said''{vVi'aVdo • away and made an invidious report of it to the Pharisees : the chief priest therefore and the we? for this man doth JOHN Pharisees, who were united in their enmity to Christ, being exceedingly alarmed at so ™!»ny miracles. ^^47 astonishing an infomiation, convened the sanhedrim, which was the great council of the ' Jewish nation, and said. What are we doing in this strange conjuncture of affairs? and why do we seem to be dreaming, when things are come to such a crisis ? It is of absolute necessity that some effectual method should immediately be taken ; for it is not to be denied that, by some means or other, this man, whom we have been so solicitous to suppress, does 48 jnany of the most surprising miracles that were ever seen or heard of: And if we suffer him 48 If we let him thus \to go o«] thus uncontrolled, a// the populace will believe on him as the promised Messiah, ^'°'J''' ^" """n J^'" bel'^ve J -11 I 11 1 • 1 Tr • !• T 1 II -111 ' on liim ; ana the Romans and will acknowledge him as the King ot Israel ; and what can we expect will be the con- shall come and take away sequence of this, but that the power of the Romans, so vastly superior to ours, will be l">th o""" P'^<^e ^^fi nation, armed against us, and their legions will come and take away both our place and 7iation ? k Went away to the Plmrisces, S,-c.'\ AVe have in this a most prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the amazing instance of incorrigible liardness of heart, and a dreadful dead. Luke xvi. 31. \ cxxv. confirmation of our Lord's remark, Jf they hear not Moses and the CAIAPHAS ADVISES THAT ONE SHOULD DIE FOR THE PEOPLE. 279 they will destroy Jerusalem, and this sacred temple where we are now assembled, and will sect. extirpate all the people who are committed to oui- guardianship and care. 141. 49 And one of them, And, while some of the council seemed apprehensive of the danger of attempting any nomft/ Cjiiapiias, being the ^f^ing against Jcsus, One of them, [eveyi] Caiap/ias, ivho, among the many sudden revolu- JOH>f sjkI "unt" them, Ye*^linow tions which happened in the government about that time, 'r:;^^ /iiu;/i-pricst that year m. ^^• nothing- at all; which Christ was crucified,^ said to them, while they were thus deliberating, You seem to knoxD nothing at o// of what the present urgency of affairs requires, or you would easily 50 Nor consider that it is find out a remedy in the death of this Jesus, who occasions such an alarm : Nor is this to 50 expedient for us, that cue ^ scrupled because he does not appear to have committed any crime which is made capital man should die for the pco- r ^ , . ■ ; tu * ii * i r ^ * ii • i-r u pie, and that the whole na- by our law ; for do you not consider that the extreme danger oi a state will justify such tion perish not. extraordinary steps as are necessary for its preservation ; and that it is undoubtedly much better for us that one innocent man should die for the security of the /? c-v^ "■ rra!''^ire!ther the possession of that kingdom which he was to inherit; and this matter was hid from X^'I"- knew they the things which the/n to SO great a degree that, after all our Lord had said, thei/ knew not the meaning 34 were spoken. ^y ^/^^ things which Were spoken. (Compare Luke ix. 44, 45. p. 188.) Matt. XX. 20. Then came Nevertheless they apprehended thus much, that whatever difficulties lay in the way, matt. to liiin the mother of Ze- ^j^gy g^ould certainly end in his triumph and glory. And upon this presumption, then, XX. sont' 'jarall'Tnd"' John!] the mother of Zebedees children came at their instigation to him, with her sons Ja?nes 20 worshipping A -m, and desir- and John, who Were geculiar favourites of our Lord ; and they all three fell down at his I ["a'yin"'Mister'"we'' wouTd ^^^^t, worshipping [///w] in a most respectful manner, and desiring a certain [favour'] of ^ tliat thou should do for us hi?n wuth great importunity, weakly sai/ing. Master, we would earnestly beg that thou whauoever we shall desire.] ghouldst give US a general promise to do for us whatsoever we shall request of thee ; Jor [Mark X. 30.] ^^ would be a very great grief to us if we should not succeed in the important petition we have to present. Mark x. 36. And he said And he Said fo her [and] to them. You cannot expect that, whatsoever kindness I have mark'\ rwh" t w?lt"thouTorl Wh"t fo'" yo"' I should at all adventures enter myself into so rash an engagement; tell me there- X. 1 would ye that" r should do fore particularly, IVhat wouldst thou have? [or] What would t/ou so earnestly desire "^^ for you I [Matt. xx. 21.] fj^^f J should do for ijou, if I wsisliilly disposed to grant your request ? 37 [She saith unto him, .S'^e says unto ' him\ I entreat thee to grant that these my two Aezxsons, to whom thou 37 Grant that these my two jj^st shown SO much regard, and who are so zealous for thy cause and interest, may be Zo u^s! that^^'m'ay s"t! preferred to stations of the highest dignity, trust, and profit ; [and] they joined with her the one 'on thy right hand] in the Same request, and said. Grant us, that when thou art established in thy glorious hand*in thy [kiu"dom a3 ^'"^'^om, which, as we apprehend, will shortly be erected in the world, we may not only glory'.-[Matt. xx. 21.] have a place there, but may be fixed near thy throne, and sit in distingviished honour and^ authority, the one at thy right hand, and the other at thy left, as thy chief ministers of state.'= wslvered^'Jd ''^T ''""^ "^"^ '^^'^"^ ^'^'^ ^'^ ^^^'" "^ ^^P^i/^ Alas ! you are under the force of such carnal preju- matt. tl"em!rYe''know^i^t wj'mt dices and mistaken views, that^'OM know not what you ask, or you would be ashamed XX. ye ask: Are ye able to drink of SO unseasonable a petition. This is not a time to think of temporal grandeur and ^-^ oVand"t'o brLVtized'^MUh authority ; but it is much more proper that I should ask you, and that you should put the the baptism that 1 am bap- question to yourselves. Are you able to drink of the bitter cup of which I am now about tizcd with f [Ana] tliey say f^ drink SO aeep,"^ and to be baptized with the baptism, and plunged into that sea of suf- [Ma"rk x."38, 39.] ^^^ ^'^'^ ferings -uth which I am shortly [to be] baptized, and, as it were, overwhelmed for a time ? And they say to him, with a self-confident assurance. Yes, Lord, we doubt not but that foi thy sake we are able to undergo all this. 23 And [Jesus] saith unto And Jesus says unto them. You shall indeed both of you drink of this 7ny cup, of 23 them. Ye shall drink indeed ;• / j ^ ^^ drink, and be baptized with the baptmn of extreme sutierings with of my cup [that I drink of,] , , - , , ,• , r in i ^ ^ ■..• r xu i f _ and "be baptized with the which I am to be baptized f for you shall endure great extremities tor the sake ot my baptism that I am baptized gospel, and hazard your lives in its defence : but as to what you have now desired, to sit hand; and on my "eftf is'lot »« ^".V right hand, and on my left, in my kingdom of glory, this is not a privilege which mine' to give, but it shall be is mine to give by partial friendship, or to the first and most importunate asker, nor can I fs"pre'ared''T.f '^"r[i "^Father' dispose of it to any but [fo those] for whom it fs prepared by my Father, who has ap- [Mark'x! 39,'4o.r^ ^ ^^' pointed that the exaltation and happiness of the other world shall be proportioned to the degrees of piety and hohness which are attained in this. 24 And when the ten And xvhen the ten other apostles heard [of it,] and were acquainted with this motion 24 much disjle?sed!'f«rf]*were ^^ich the SOUS of Zebedee had ma,de, they began to be much displeased that they moved with indignation should aspire to a Superiority to which each of them imagined he had himselt an equal against the two brethren ^laim ; [and] as they were rnoved with indignation against the two brethren James [James and John.] fiVIark , i- V ., "^ ■ , . i , ,i ^^ Vl i X. 41.] and John, they were going to expostulate the matter with some severity. 25 But Jesus called them But, to prevent the evil consequences which might arise from such an ill-judged debate, 25 them,]"' Ye ^know that"the ^"^ ^0 root out that envy and ambition which prevailed among them, Jesus called them princes of the Gentiles e.x- all to him, and said iinto them. You well know that the princes of the heathen nations^ c We may sit, Ihe one at thy right hand, and the other at thy left,"] Jews, (Acts v. 40.) and afterwards banished by Domitian into the There may perhaps be an allusion in these words to a circumstance isle of Patmos, where he speaks of himself as a companion of Christ's which the Talmudical writers relate concerning the sanhedrim: tribulation : {Mev. i. 0.) Not to mention Tertullian's tradition, that there were two officers of peculiar distinction, who sat on each that at Rome he was plunged into boiling oil ; by which, it is said, side of the Nasi, or president of the court ; the one called Ab Beth instead of being destroyed, he was sensibly refreshed; (Tertull. Din, or the father of thejusticiacj/, who sat on the right hand of the Pro-script, cap^ ,36.) nor what the pjetcnded Prochorus says of the president; the other Chachara, or the sage, who sat on the left, attempt made by some heretics to poison him; which is generally See, among many other writers on this head. Whist. Miscell. Sacr. referred to in the pictures of this apostle, where the venom is. ridi- fVol. I. lib. ii. Dissert. 3. } 46, 47. culously represented as coming out of the cup in the form of a ser- d 7'o drink of the cup, 4"f.] It was customary among the ancients pent, to signify that the poison did not take effect, to assign to each guest at a feast a particular ci/p, as'well as dish ; ( The princes of the heathen nations.] Mark expresses it by oi and by the kind and quantity of the liquor contained in it, the re- hxvv'is xpxiit rw £?vkv, which we render, they which are accounted to ^ spect of the entertainer was expressed. Hence cup came in general rule over the Gentiles , but this (with Gataker, Cinn. lib. i. cap. 3.) I to signify a portion assigned, (Psal. xvi. 5; xxiii. 5.) whether of take to be a pleonasm, and think it should be translated. They who ' pleasure or sorrow; and many instances occur in which it refers rule oner the Gentiles ; and so it coincides with the clause inserted to the latter. Compare Psal. xi. 6; Ixxiii. 10; Isa. li. 17, 22; from Matthew. (Compare 1 Cor. xi. 16; xii. 23; xiv. 37 ; and Phil. Jer. XXV. 15, 17; Zech. xii. 2; John xviii. 11; and Matt. xxri. iii. 4.Gr.) Instances are produced of the like use of the phrase iu 39, 42. the best Greek authors, by Mr. Blackwall, in his Sacred Classics, e Vou shall indeed drink of my cup, iSr.] Accordingly it is ob- Vol. I. p. 74. to which may be added, ms iox.n'/'.xs Mutii, for aiiix«yte, / servable, that this James was the first of all the apostles who suffered Polyb. lib. i. cap. 5. and ruv tv mnpoxn Joxevlav, Epictet. Enchirid. cap. \ martyrdom for Christ: (Acts xii. 2.) And John was scourged by the 30, } 11. I 282 REFLECTIONS ON CHRIST'S READINESS TO MEET HIS SUFFERINGS. SECT, lord it over them in a very imperious manner ; and their great men, in stations of sub- ercise dominiou over them 142. ordinate government, imitate their tyrannical masters, and exercise an arbitrary authority »"4 [tiieir great ones] ex- upon them tiiat are more immediately subject to their command 5 and that ambition [Ma'rk'x."42o'^ "^°" ""^™' MATT, which is so natural to the depraved heart of man, engages them eagerly to pursue such ■^^- distinguished stations, which may give them an opportunity to gratify it. But my king- 2G But it shall not be so 26dom is of another nature, and it shall not be so amonp- you; for, instead of appointing '■^'^''"syou: but whosoever iU 1 • f 1 1 11 ,1 '^ •'^, „ T i 11 1 • 1 i^ . ^ ^^'" ^'^ great among you, any one among you as the chief who should govern the rest,s I tell you plainly, that you let him be youi mfuister! are to look on each other as brethren and equals, or rather, each to esteem others as [Mark x. 4.3.J worthier of regard than himself; indulge not therefore an ambitious temper, but -whoso- ever xiould indeed be great among you, let him, instead of aiming at power and autho- rity, chuse to be your minister, and attend on the rest with all the humblest offices of 27 condescension and love. And whosoever -would be chief among you, or first in my 27 And whosoever will be esteem, and in future honour and happiness, let him be ready to behave himself on all f'"'^'^ among you let him J r -r I Z 1-- 1 j; , ^ , ^ p i . i r , "^ JO"'' servant, \yea, the occasions -ds, your servant ; [yea,] let him be the servant, not only of your little frater- servant of all.] [Mark x. nity, but of all that are about him ;'' with all humility submitting to the meanest services, 44.] by which he may promote the spiritual interest and benefit of others. MARK And wonder not that this should be required of you, when you consider how great an ex- Mark x. 4.5. For even the ^- ample you have of this temper in him who is so far vour superior ; for even the Son of?nan ^°." "l ""\" *^*'"^ ""^ *° ^^ ^r 1 • ' i,- iu 1 /• 1 11 , T ■ 1 '^ • . , • 1 > ministerecl unto, but to 40 riimselr, though a person 01 such illustrious dignity, and constituted to so glorious and last- minister, and to give his ing a kingdom, came not to be waited upon, but to serve others ; and was not sent into ''f* =* ransom for many, the world to exercise a temporal dominion, and in a lordly way to rule over men, but to '■ ^"' ^^' ^'■^ take upon him the fonn of a servant, and not only to labour but to die for their good, and ' to give his own life as a ransojn for many who had forfeited their's to the justice of an offended God. Think not, therefore, that the disciples of such a self-denying Master are to dream of secular power, dominion, and grandeur ; but rather study to mortify these very unbecoming desires alter it. 46 And, quickly after this, they came to Jericho, where two blind men were cured by 4G And they came to Je- Christ, which was soon after followed with the remarkable conversion of Zaccheus, as will richo.— be seen in the next section. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 33 Astonishing grace and compassion of the Son of God in going up to Jerusalem at this passover, when he 34 so circumstantially knew all the things v.hich were to befal him there ! not only that he should be put to death, but in what manner he should suffer, and what cruelty and what scorn should introduce the last scene of his agonies ! Yet, with so sad a prospect in his eye, he marched on with distinguished alacrity, leading the com- 32 pany, as if he longed to encounter what they could not bear to see, or even to hear of. Glorious Captain of our salvation ! give us the like alacrity in all the sufferings we are called to bear for thee ! 35 — 37 Who would not grieve to see these good apostles still so much possessed with the spirit of this world, and still dreaiirrtig of preferment in a temporal kingdom ? Who would not especially lament it, that Jiis most in- timate friends, James, and John the beloved disciple, should be the persons who should come to him with this 38 strange request ? Justly did our Lord answer them, You knoxo not what you ask. And may not the same answer often be made to us ? When, therefore, he denies us the great things that we are seeking for ourselves, let us be satisfied with the denial he sees fit to give us ; believing that it is wisdom and love, and not unkindness, that produces it. 39 Let us often ask ourselves, Can we share the suflferings which our Lord endured ? If we do not desire to do it so far as he shall appoint, we are not worthy to be called his disciples. Let us then gird up the loins of our minds, and wait our Master's signal to go forth to any suffering or service that he shall require ; ever 44, 45 ready to make ourselves the servants of all, and therein to imitate the humility of the Son of man, who came not to he ministered unto, but to ininisier : yet, after all we can do or bear for him, let our trust still be in the merits of his righteousness and blood, who gave his life a ransom for many. So shall we be fitted for those distinguished honouis in the heavenly world, in comparison with which, thrones and sceptres on earth are but empty pageants and childish toys. ~; .-, ., a^,.; t , *' t T ^ ' SECTION CXLHI. Our Lord, passing through Jericho in his way to Jerusalem, cures two blind men as he came out from thence, and converts Zaccheus the publican. Matt. xx. 29, to the end. Mark x. 46, to the end. Luke xviii. 35, to the end ; xix. 1 — 10. SECT 143/ Mark x. 46, mark x. 46 And Jesus, being come to Jericho, proceeded on his journey towards Jerusalem; and And as he went out of MARK being observed by many as be was passing through the city, they were all ready to run after Jfy^'at mu^'titudew'iowed X. 46. him: and accordingly, as he went out of Jericho with his disciples in his train, a great him.] [Matt. xx. 29.] MATT, multitude of other people followed him. XX. 30. And, behold, an occasion offered for a remarkable display of his power and grace at his Matt. xx. 30. And be^ g Instead of appointing any one among you as the chief, Sec] As h T/ie servant of alt.] There is a gradation here not commonly! the request of these two bretliren plainly showed that they did not observed. The word Sixxmos in the former verse, which, for want ofl understand our Lord's words to Peter, (Matt. xvi. 18, 19. \ 88.) as a better word, we render minister, is a name which miglit be given \ designed to invest him with any aufl(Orl/y over the rest of his bre- to any who occasionally attended others, or was statedly employed I thren, so the answer which Christ here gives them, far from inti- to render them any particular kind of service ; but SnXos, servant, \ mating any thing of that kind, concludes as strongly against any signifies one whose whole business it is to serve, and who is indeed | such avthorily as a negative argument can be s.upjxwed to do, and the property of another. The words, of all, do likewise increase y seems abundantly to justify the turn given in the paraphrase. the gradation. ^ JESUS RESTORES SIGHT TO TWO BLIND MEN. 283 hold, [Luke, it came to departure thence •, for it came to pass, that Providence so ordered it, as he was yet mg/i SECT. pass,' that as' he was come unto Jcr/c/io,'' that two blind men sat begcfiniT hif the •way-side, as beggars use to do in 143. t^\ ^n ■?«!'"!!«;■' ^Iv places that are much frequented ; [Me o«e]" of whom was well known by the name of timeus the son of Timeus, Bartimeus, that IS, the sun of I /mens :^ And hearing the noise of a great multitude matt, sat by the high-way side, paggj^g l,y^ //f., together with his companion, ai/iTf/ t:)/?o/ Ma^ unusual concourse of people ^x;- 30. Luife"xvUi. S "■ '"^' mcant%nd how it was occasioned. And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth, that ^^^ Luke xviii. 36. And celebrated Prophet, who had performed so many miracles, u-as coming bi/, and a vast gg 37' b^ lielsked what It tfot number of the people of the town were with him And when he heard that 'tw^^^J^l^l mIrk 37 And they told him of Nazareth, as he had frequently been told what remarkable cures ot this kind he had x. that Jesus of Nazareth pejfomied in Other places, he could not but look upon it as a happy circumstance, that he 47 ^Tlark x^'47. And when was now passing bj/ the very place where he sat ; and immediately he began to en/ out lie heard that it was Jesus ^yith a loud voice, and with great eagerness to sau, Jesus, thou Son of David, thou great bl-an'"o''c?y''out!'^ana'L'i^ and glorious IVIessiah, pity my sad condition, and have mercy on me, lyea, they both'] Jesus, thou Son of David! cried out. Saying, in the same manner, and with one voice, Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on me! [yea, fj iUustrious Son of David, and exert thy almighty power to deliver us from this de- t/iey hotli cried out, saying-, , , , , , i" i- ^ 1 a j t- Have mercy on us, o Lord, plorable darkness and distress ! thouSoji of David !] [Matt. jind gome of the multitude -who went before Jesus, rebuked them for their making such matt. '^Matt ''ix''^•f^'"And"' the » clamour ; and as the voice of Bartimeus distinguished itself on this occasion, many par- XX. multitude' [Luke, which ticularly charged him that he should be silent, and not be so importunate and trouble- 31 rind' ''nm^'"' d'll"-ed''him ^°™^ • '^"^ ^''"'^' knowing that if such an opportunity as this was lost it might never return, that hT'^'shouid" hold h'is regarded nothing but the success of their petition, and therefore cried out a great deal the peace;] but they cried the ;//o/-e earnestly, sai/ins, as before. Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David J and Have rae^rcy on ut' o'^LorS; Bartimeus especially repeated it again and again, saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy thou Son of David ! [Thou on me, and help me ! on"nre^f n\la''r'kx''48 Tuke -^"^ •^^'*"*» ^^ '^*^ '^^^^ advancing forwards in his way, observed how earnestly they makk xvi'i'i^.'^sa] ^^ ^' ' " * cried 5 and as they still repeated their request, he graciously stood still, and ordered them X. Mark x. 49. And Jesus ^Qt^ fo be called [rtw^] brought to hijn, that they might tell him what it was they so 49 ftren,]'io'b?iired,TLuke'! earnestly desired. And upon this the people had their expectations raised, and as they and bronght unto him :] now Concluded that they should see him work a miracle, they ran immediately to call the mL \!'a''-h,"unto'hini''Be ^^'"^^ "'^" ^^d his companion, saying to him, as also to the other. Be of good courage ^f^'good^ 'cfrnfort! ri™,' he and rise up, for he calleth thee to' him, and you may therefore hope that he intends to calleth thee. [Matt. xx. grant your request. ./4/;(/ Bartimeus joyfully "received the message, and, throwing aside 50 ^'50 And^^e"c'asti"ug away his upper garment, that it might not hinder him a moment, he arose, and came to Jesus hisgarment, rose, and came with all possible haste and eagerness; the other blind man also following ris fast as he *°5i'And [Luke, when lie^could. And when he was come near, Jesus, to try his faith, and to encourage his de- 51 was come near,] Jesus^'peiidence On his power and goodness, answered and said unto him. What is the mercy answemd and said v.Mo ^^ ^^ q^^^q^^\^ ^^^.^q^^-). q^ ^/^^t dosf fliou desire I should do for thee ? And the blind l'Thou?rdo'^unt'J,°''tl!ce1 man said unto him, Rabboni, that is, my Master and my Lord, the favour which I beg is The blind man said unto obvious from the circumstance in which thou seest me, even that I may be so happy as to receive^rav li-ht • [Tlfey recover my sight," the loss of which I cannot but lament as a great calamity to me, from sav. Lord; that our eyes which I kiiow that thou art able to deliver me. The other likewise by this time came up, ^§^32^ 3"3''^"Luke '"xWii" making the same request ; and they both joined to say. Lord, we beseech thee that our 40,41.]' eyes ytight be opened. Matt. XX. 34. So Jesus Then Jesus had compassion On themhoih, and touched their ci/cs ; rendered, as he was rome nigh vnio Jericho : but the original, ev to his importunity, which surely they would never have done it sucti \ E^ri^iv, only signifies when, or while he was near it : compare a cure as this had but just now been wrought at the other ena o! 1 Luke xix. 29;— to which may be added [in confirmation of the the same town. . , 1 rr- • wi ' justice of this remark, which has been called in question by a b The son of Timeiis?i It is very probable 1 imeus might have - writer of great eminence in the learned world,] Luke x. 9; xv. 1 ; been a person of some note in that neighbourhood, whose son, by a xviii. 40 ; Rom. xiii. 12; and the Septuagint version of Isa. 1. 8; complication of calamities, fell both into poverty and^blindness Jer. xxiii. 2.'?.— And it is necessary to understand it thus, in order c That I may recover my sight.] This the word ay^.>.Evt.-o exactly to reconcile Luke's account of this miracle with that of Matthew signifies, and seems to import that he was not iorn Mind, but lost and Mark, who both expressly sav, it was performed as he departed his sislit bv some disease or accident, which made him so much tlie or went out of Jericho. Some" have indeed fancied, that he restored more sensible of the calamity. Yet 1 acknowledge it appears Irom sight to one blind man as he entered in, and to another as became John ix. U, 18. that the word is sometimes used in a greater out, (see Lightfoot's Harmony, \ Ixix.) but this is improbable, latitude. \J}i 284 THE CONVERSION OF ZACCHEUS. SECT. And as he thiis proceeded on his journey, behold, another most remarkable occurrence 143. happened, in which the efficacy of his grace was signally displayed ; for [there was] a man in that country whose name was Zaccheiis, who was the chief a/nons the publicans, txsKK or head collector of the customs in those parts ; and, having heaped up abundance of XIX. wealth by his gainful employment, he was very rich. And the great things which 3 he had heard of Jesus made such a powerful impression on his mind, that when he was informed that he was coming by that way, he diligently sought an opportunity to see this celebrated Jesus, what sort of a person he was ; but he could not compass his design be- 4 cause of the crowd about him ; for lie himself was very tittle of stature. And running therefore before the rest of tlie company, without regarding what they might think or say of him, he got up into a sj/caniore tree, that he wight see him there distinctly; for he per- ceived he was to pass that way, and the tree stood so near the road that he must go close 5 by it. And Jesus, when he came to the place where he was, looked up and saw him ; and knowing his disposition, character, and circumstances, he immediately said to him, Zaccheus, make haste and come down ; for to-day /design thee a visit, and must abide for a while at thine house ; and fully satisfied that I shall be a welcome guest, I take the 6 liberty to jnvite myself thither. And Zaccheus was so overjoyed that Jesus should dis- tinguish him in such a manner, that he came down with all the speed he could, and gladlji entertained him at his house, thinking himself highly honoured by the presence of so excellent a Person. 7 And the Pharisees, and other self-conceited pcr-sons who saw [it,"] were very much offended at the particular regard that Jesus showed him ; and they all murmitred, saying. He is gone in to refresh himself at a man's house"^ who is certainly a notorious sinner, since he follows the scandalous employment of a publican. 8 But as Zaccheus now was quite another man than he had been before, and divine grace had changed his heart, that he might fully olsviate these reflections, and manifest the truth of his conversion, he stood forth in the face of all the company, and said to the Lord with great reverence and ai^ection. Behold, 0 Lord, I acknowledge the sins of my past life, and desire to testify my repentance for them by an entire and immediate reforma- tion ; as the first-fruits of which, I openly declare that the half of my goods I give to the poor ; and out of the remainder, if I wrongfully have taken any thing from any man by injurious charges or oppressive claims,*^ / am ready, not only to restore a fifth part more than the principal, (which is all that the law requires in such cases besides the trespass-offering. Lev. vi. 2 — 5 ; and Numb. v. 7, 8.) but even to return [liim'] four-fold J 9 And Jesus said to Zaccheus, and to them that were about him. Surely to-day is sal- vat io)i come to this house ; and it is evidently to be seen that spiritual blessings are im- parted to it, and designed for it, when such a penitent and religious temper is expressed : since, notwithstanding all the sins he has committed, it is now manifest that even this -man also is a true son of Abrahain, not only descended lineally from him,e but of a character 10 in some measure worthy of so honourable a descent. And therefore, notwithstanding all your murmurings, I rejoice in the consequences of this happy visit to him, as answering the great purposes of my life ; for the Son of man, as I have formerly declared, (Matt. xviii. 11. sect, xciv.) is come to seek and to save that which was lost ; and it is the grand design of his abode on earth to recover those who, lilce this poor Zaccheus in his un- converted state, were wandering in die way to everlasting ruin. IMPROVEMENT. Thus did our Lord Jesus Christ, wheresoever he came, scatter blessings around him, both to the souls and the Ver. 2 bodies of men. Who can wonder that Zaccheus had a curiosity to see such a person ! And how happily did that 3 curiosity end ! Christ graciously observed him, and, wjth an amiable frankness and openness of heart, invited 5 himself to be a guest at his house : chusing to accept the entertainment of a publican, and to distinguish with a particular regard, one that was so desirous to see him. And let us diligently observe how happy a change this 9 visit produced in the master of the family. O Zaccheus, well wast tliou repaid for thine hospitality when salvation came to thine house, and the Saviour himself bore witness to thee as a son of Abraham ! What cannot the grace of God effect? This publican was in the morning contriving only how he might 2 Ami, beliolil, f/iere was a man namcJ Zaccheus, wliicli was the cliicf among the publicans, und he was rich. 3 And lie sought to see Jesus who he was, and could not tor the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a syca- more-trte to see him ; for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste andjcome down ; for to-day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made i'lai'te and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying. That he was gone to be guest with a' man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacclieus stood, and said unto th.e Lord, Behold, Lord, Ure half of my goods I give to the poor; and if ] have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I re- store him four-fold. 9 And Jesus said unto him. This day is salvation come to this liouse ; forso- much as he akso is the son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man i.s come to seek and to saie that which was lost. d He is gone in to refresh himself, ^-c] The phrase xar«xuM» v!(x^x Tivi, properly signifies to bait at a person's house on a Journey, referring to the laying down their own burdens, or looseniiig them from their beasts at such times and places. See Wolfius, Vol. I. p. 7.33. e // Twronqfiilly hare taken any thing, S;r,'] The word e'tocJiot- rriia (as Heinsius has abundantly sliown) may properly signify any kind of oppression, especially under the pretence nf law. (Compare Eccles. iv. 1 ; and v. 8. Septuaq.) It seems therefore not .so proper to limit it, as our translation does, to an injury done by a false accusation, which implies something of a formal trial, and defence of the party accused; whereas many frauds and oppressions might be practised by such a tax-gatherer where nothing of this sort occurred. f I restore him four-fold.'] This was the utmost that tlie Jewish law required, even in cases of a fraudulent concealment and con- viction, (vmless where an ox had been killed or sold, and so its labour lost to the owner, and the discovery rendered more didicult ; Exod. xxii. 1 ;) for the phrase of restoring .seven-fold (Prov. vi. 31.) seeras only proverbial, to express making abundant satisfaction. But if a man not legally convicted or accused voluntarily dis- covered a fraud he had committed, besides his trespass-oflering, he was to add to the principal only a fifth part. Lev. vi. 5. Zac- cheus therefore shows the sincerity of his repentance by such an offer. — Some commentators (with Salmasius, ae F-xii.i. John xii. 1. Then Jesus, six days be- THEN Jesus came six days before the passover to Bethany, which was a village (as SECT. Bethln^ ^\w°ere' L^aris ^'''^^ ^^^^ before, John xi. IS.'sect.' cxl.) that lay in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, Ti'y^ere 145. was which bad been dead, the abode of Lazarus was udio had been dead and buried, \_and'] -uhorn he lately, by an whom be raised from the amazing miracle, had raised frotn the dead. m.a.tt. ^*Matt. xxvi. 6. Now when ^ow at this time, tvhen Jesus ivas in Bethany,^ where, by his frequently resorting ^^^ ^• Jesus was in Bethany, in thither, he was well known, and had many friends that very much rejoiced to see him, 6 "er pUrVxiv' 31° ^''^ '^' ^ ^^ ^^ "' ^^^ ^"^^'^^ '^^ Simon the leper,^ In testimony of their high respect and great John xii. 2. There they affection for him, thei/ made a ha-xidsome supper for him there, and treated him in the john made him a supper, and evening; whicli was "the usual timeTdr entertainments with the Jews, especially on the XII. ru^was ^rof t^b"em^that evening of their sabbath-days, which was tlie season when this feast was made:'' and 2 satatihe table with him. Martha, who had formerly distinguished her care on a like occasion, (Luke x. 40. sect. cviii.) having seen that all things should be rightly ordered, -waited on Christ at supper ; but Lazarus was one ofthe?n that sat at the table -with him. ala\aIter-"box,°'' fS«S° ^'^^'^ Mary, the other sister of Lazarus, being deeply affected with the many instances 3 a pound of' ointment of that Christ had given her of his love, and especially with his late mercy to her family in spikenard, very rostly ; recovering SO dear a brother from the grave, was solicitous to give some uncommon token bo " and"poured // on \\\?, of her gratitude and respect to so excellent a guest ; she therefore took an elegant alabaster head] [as he sat at Hifo/,]aud pot^ or vase, \containins\ about a pound weight of unadulterated ointment of spikenard,^ rd'wYpedtst'twithTe; \wluch\vas-]exceedu^g valuable; and, having b>:o}ce the io^o^ the vessel, ov .^oo\ih^ hair: and the liouse was perfumed balsam which was in it, that it might be the better liquified, and flow forth the oilftmen"^ *[Mrtt°'xx°vV7 ^^^ier,^ she came behind him, and poured out the greater part of it on his head as he sat Mar™xh'. 3.] " ' '"'^'' ' at fneal, and anointed the feet of Jesus with the remainder ; and, when she had done a. When Jesus was in Bethany.'] Few passages in the Harmony to live injto^ypj. nor would the Jews have come to an eutertain- have perplexed me more than this. 1 was long of opinion, with niefff at his house : but either he was once a leper, and had beeu Origen and Tbeophylact, defended by Le Clerc and Dr. Wliitby, cured by Jesus, or else the name was given to the family, as some and especially by Dr. Lightfoot [Harmon. N. Test. \ 71, 80.) and considerable person in it had been formerly a leper. Mr. "Whiston, (in his Jlew of Harmony, p. 128, 129.) that the story "clVhen this feast was made.] Though MatUiew and Mark re- recorded by IMatthew, (chap. xxvi. (j — 1.3.) and Mark (chap. xiv. 3 — late the story where they are speaking of what happened but two 9.) was different from that in John; but, on niaturer consideration, days before the passover, it is more probable (as we have just now it appears to me more probable that Matthew and Mark should shown) tliat it is placed by John iu its due order; and as the fol- ha\e introduced this story a little out of its place, — that Lazarus, lowing days appear to be sufBciently distinguished, and Christ's tn- if he made tliis entertainment, (which is not expressly said by umphant entrance into Jerusalem, which John has fixed to the next John,) should have made use of Simon's house, as more convenient day, (John xii. 12. \ 146.) m.usfeliave been on the first day of the for it, — and that Mary should have poured this ointment on Christ's week, this entertainment, tTierefore, was on the evening of the day head and bodv, as well as on bis feet, — than that within the compass before, when ttie Jewish sabbath was over. of four days Christ should have beeu twice anointed with so costly a d Unadutlerated ointment of spikenard.'] I cannot take upon me perfume, and tb.at the same fault should be found with the action, absolutely to determine whether the word mniwi signifies that the and the same value set on the ointment, and the same words used ointment was quite genuine and purr, (as Casaubon and L. Capellus in defence of the woman ; and all this in the presence of many of assert,) or whether (as Grotius and Erasmus think) it be put for the same persons : all which improbable particulars must be "ad- ffTTDtilns, and refers to the particular part of the fragrant shrub nar- mitted, if the stories be considered as different.— But, after all, I dus, of which the ointment was made. (See Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. can assert nothiccr confidently ; for there is no impossibility iu the xii. cap. 12.)— If the latter be the meaning of it, what is said of its" thing taken either way. great value must justify our calling it unadulterated. b In the house of Simon the leper.} It is not to be thought that e Having broke the top of the vessel, or shook the perfumed bal- bevids now a leper'; fur iu this case he would not have been suffered sam, &i.] Sir Norton KnatchbuU and Dr. Hammond maintain 288 CHRIST JUSTIFIES AND COMMENDS THE CONDUCT OF MARY. SECT, this, she, like the humble penitent mentioned abQYC (Luke vii. 38. p. 119.) iviped his 145. feet with the long flowing tresses of her hair ; and the whole house was filled with the fragrant and delicious odour of the ointment. MATT. But when his disciples observed it, there were some that were moved with inward Matt. xxvi. 8. But when XXVI. displeasure at what appeared to them so great an extravagance, and said with alow voice '"^ disciples saw it, [there Oil *u ir^/ ii ■ J j~ Fi ■ i J / 1 u ^j. c j.\ ■ ■'^•^■'^ some that had iiidia:. o to eacli other, n rii/ was tins waste of the ointment made, and such a quantity ot this nation within themselves, rich balsam poured out to so little purpose ? And tha/ secretly murmured against ^nd said. Why was this JOHN her,' and could hardly refrain from. rebuking her for it. One of his disciples therefore, ird'ti'munm™reda"^^ ^''l- [even'] Judas Jscariot, the son of Simon, that wretched person who was about to betray her.] [Mark xiv. 4, 50 4 him, as if he knew not how to bear such waste, expressed a peculiar emotion, and said ■''''"' ^"y*- . Ti'fn saith 5 aloud. Why was not this tine ointment sold for a great dealoi money : for it must have iscarlot,Siinoii's'^son', which been worth [even'] more than three hundred pence ;S and thus it might have served for should betray him, the relief of many, if the price of it had been given to the poor ? This would surely ment^'oid '[for rauct'«'"i] have been approved of by our Master as a much wiser and better way of disposing of it, for [Mark, more thanlti'ree 6 than thus to lavish it away on the luxurious entertainment of a few minutes. Now this \o\hl^^ om^'i'^'^l^i'ti ^''^° he said, not because he at all regarded the poor, but because he was, notwithstanding a Mark xiv. 5.] all his pretended piety and zeal, a subtile thief; and as he kept the bag which contained 6 This he said, not that their little stock, and carried what was put into it,^ he thought if so large a sum had becruse^frwa^a E ITa \ come in just before he went ofi" with it, (which he -was now preparing to do,) he should had the bag, and bare 'what thus have had a fine opportunity of enriching himself. ^^^^ P"*- "'^'''^'n- MATT. But Jesus knowing the design of Judas, and perceiving that others were secretly join- Matt. xxvi. lo. When XXVI. ing with him in this severe and uncharitable censure, without taking any notice of that vile •'^^"^ understood //, he said 10 principle from which he knew [//] proceeded in him, directed his discourse to his disciples, "lie woman ? [let h'eraio'ne! ?iViA. said to them, Why do you give such /;-0H(^/f and uneasiness to the good wo?nan, of for she iiatii wroii<;ht a good whose piety and friendship we have had so long an experience ? Let her alone in what ^'o'"^"po"."^''_] [Mark xiv. she is aliout ; for what she has now performed is a good work, and she deserves to be 11 commended for the great respect she has been showing towards me. For as to what has ii For ye have the poor been suggested now in favour of the poor, you have them always with you ; and provi- always with you,[andwhen- dence will continually so order it, that some._compassionable objects shall be still among theri"gondT] 'b\it"me ye you, that whenever you please you may have an opportunity to do them good ; but me have not always. [Mark xiv. you have not always with you ; for I am soon to leave you, and to be placed beyond the ^" ■'°''" ^"^ ^'^ JOHN reach of your kindness. And indeed my departure out of the world is so near, that with John xii. 7. Against the ^l'- 7. respect to this action of our frienxl Mary which you are ready to condemn, I may say that day of my burying hatlishe MARK she has reserved this ointment /or the day of my burial :' And not knowing whether '^Mark^xiv. 8. She hath XIV. she may have an opportunity of assisting in those last offices, she has now done what she done what she could : [for 8 could ; for in that she has poured oni this ointment on my body, she has in a man- this^ohltmenton m bodvl ner come before the time thus to anoint and to embalm my body for the burial ; so that she is come afore-hand to you may almost look upon it as a work of piety and love to"^ a dead friend, w.here a anoint my body to the bu- 9 generous heart will not be sparing. And, on the whole, though you have sucK~tiard '^^g'^'eniy^ say'imto yau, thoughts of what she has been doing, it shall not finally turn to her reproach or damage ; Wheresoever this gospel but as I graciously accept it, so I assuredly say unto you. That wheresoever this gospel o„t"tI^,e ^wro'ie'^\vorld!"/5/?s of mine is preached, ^nd.\i in time shall have its triumph orer the whole world, this also that [this woman]' hath very action also which this pious and affectionate woman has xvovi performed, shall be jj^"*-. ^''''" ^'^. spoken of inserted in the history of my life, and be spoken o/" with honour for a memorial of her riviatt. xxvi. 13.] friendship and affection to me ; so that her name shall be embalmed in such a manner as to be far more fragrant than the perfume which she has poured forth on my head and my feet. (Compare Eccles. vii. 1.) JOHN Now these things passed at a public entertainment: a great multitude of the Jews John xii. 9. Much peo- X'l- therefore, who had been dubious whether Jesus would come up to the passover or not, j^lfew '^that hr'^was'tlfen;'^^ ^ (compare John xi. 56. sect, cxli.) quickly got intelligence of it, and knew that he was and they came, not for Je- there in Bethany; and they came thither in crowds from Jerusalem, and that indeed not sus' sake only, but that they only on account of Jesus, who had been retired for some time, but also out of curiosity "'^ ' *'* azanis a so, that ffuvrjivl/a'fa does not signify thai she brake the vessel, which as instances of such a use of it ; to which he adds^pthers from Po- they think an improbable circumstance ; but only that she shook it lybiiis, Atlienaeus, and other good authors (Elsn.Uisff!'. Vol. I. so as to break the coa":ulaled parts of the rich balsam, and bring it p. 3.3.J.) But the meaning here may be, that he had not only the to such a liquidity that it might be fit to pour out. Yet I must keeping of the bag at tha^t time, but that it was his stated office to own that the original does not so naturally express this. take care of it and manage its stock ; and therefore I chuse not f And they murmvred.nqninxt her.'] Whether this relates to more to follow Eisner's version, since teiTTi^e never signifies to carry off than Judas cannot certainly be said ; since it is well known that the a part privately, which would have been expressed by evoi^iu«to, as plural number is sometimes put for the singular. See Gen. viii. 4 ; it is. Acts v. 2. ^~ ' ^ xix. 29; Judg. xii. 7; and Matt, xxvii. 44.— Some have thought i Site has reserved tins for the day of my hiirial.'] Mr. AVhiston Judas Iscariot was the son of that Simon in whose house the fin his View of the //rtnnony, p. 120.) thinks this is as if our Lord feast was made ; but the name was so common, that it cannot be had said, " She has spent but a little of this ointment now ; but lias concluded with any certainty. " reserved the main part of it to pour upon my head some days g Afore th-'n three hundred pence."] It is to be remembered that " hence, which shall be so near my death, that it may be considered these were Roman pence, and consequently amounted to nine " as a kind of embalming." But besides the general reasons against pounds, seven shillings, and sixpence; the expression only inti- believing the action repeated, which have been mentioned in note mates a general guess at the value by a round sum, (for such three a, it is unnatural to suppose that, in the transport of her love and hundred denarii were, though the correspondent value with us is gratitude, she would ji.se this little management of keeping back not so,) as if we should say on a like occasion, it must have been most that was in the vessel ; or that, if slie had, John would have worth above ten pounds. mentioned the quantity she took, which was no way to his purpose, h Carried what vas ■put into it. '\ The learned Eisner fl suppose or have taken notice of the room's being filled vvlth the odour of to avoid Uie seeming tautology) would render EgMrai^v, he took it: not to say that the prediction which Mr. AVhiston supposes our away, or carried of, that is, for his own use, what was put into the Lord to utter, is quite.^riflirig, and would seem to bespeak its own purseorbag. He refers to John xx. 15, and Matt. iii. U ; viii. 17. accomplishment in a raaiTfRrwhich he never would have stooped to. JOHN JESUS SENDS TWO OF HIS DISCIPLES FOR AN ASS'S COLT. 28D whom he had raised from that they might see Lcizarus, whom he had lately raised from the dead, who now SECT. the dead. appeared publicly with hini.'^ 145. 10 But the chief priests Hut the chief prie.il s and other members of the sanhedrim were filled on this occasion ""urLaz^rus'afso'to^d^th'f with sucli rage and envy, that, as they had already resolved on the death of Jesus, they consulted also hoxo they might find some method to kill Lazarus, either by public prose- 11 Because that hy rea- cution Or private assassination : For tliey well knew i\\dX many of the Jews desa-ted them, 11 soil of iiiiii many of the Jews ^^^j went away to Bethany on his account, and were so powerfully struck with the con- Jes'usr"^^' vincing evidence of so astonishing a miracle, that they believed on Jesus ; and while such a monument of liis power and goodness continued they were afraid lest more should revolt to him. IMPROVEMENT. We see how happily Mary improved by sitting at the feet of Jesus, and what evidence she g-ave of her having chosen the better part. (Compare Liilce x. 39, 42.) Like her, let us with humble thankfulness bestow our very Ver, 3. best on him who has given us that and every thing else. She gladly poured out her choicest ointment on him whose name is to every true believer far more fragrant than ointment poured forth. (Cant. i. 3.) How does her generous love shame those who grudge every expense in the cause of Christ ! \/When we are relieving the pious poor, we are, as it were, anointing the feet of Jesus : we are indeed performing a \ ^ service far more acceptable than any thing of this kind could in itself be. Let us remember that we have the poor 8 '' » always with us j and that they are permitted to continue among us, that we may do them good whenever we please. Far be it from us to imagine that what we^so spend is waste. Let all, who would not share in the guilt and 4 6 punishment of Judas, abhor the vile hypocrisy of making a pretended concern for the poor a cloak for an oppor- tunity of enriching themselves with their spoils; than which nothing can be more infamous, or can have a directer tendency to mingle the consuming curse of a righteous and almighty God with all that a man possesses. The Pharisees conspired to kill Lazarus. What a mixture was this of cruelty and folly ! What was his crime ? 10 or what could their hope be ? From what death could not Christ have delivered him ? or from what tomb could he not again have recalled him ? Yet something like this is the madness of all who hate and persecute others for being the trophies of the Redeemer's victory and grace. But let not his servants fear 5 their Redeemer is strong, the Lord of Hosts is his name. (Jer. 1. 34.) His work is perfect ; and the day and hour is approaching, in which his triiuHph over all his enemies shall be so complete, that his friends shall be for ever secure, not only from being destroyed, but from being alarmed I by them. ; ■ . . .- . : ~ j . SECTION CXLVI. Christ rides in triumph to Jerusalem on an ass's colt. Matt. xxi. 1 — 9; Markxi. 1 — 10; Luke xix. 29 — 40; John xii. 12—19. Matt. xxi. 1. Matt. xxi. 1. And [Luke, it came to AND after Jesus had been anointed by Mary in the manner related in the precedmg sECT. ^T\\ when"tii'cy drew nio^h scction, it came to pass on the next day, which was the first day of the week, that he pro- 139. unto Jerusalem, and were cecded on his joumey with his disciples; and when they drew nigh to Jerusalem, and — come to Betliphage [and ^^,,g come to Bethpha^e and Bethany, or to the outward boundaries of these two places,^ matt Bctlianv,] unto the Mount , „ ' ^ , /• r\i- 1 ■ 1 i c % ■ ; t 1 t-«^r ofoiives.ihen sent Jesus two at the toot ol tlie mount of Olives, which lay to the east ot the city, then Jesus, as the •^-^' [of ms]discipies,[Markxi^i. xi^^-^q appointed for his sufferings was just at hand, being jesolved that he would make a 2 S;iyrn!r unto Uicm, Go public entry into Jerusalem, sent out two of his disciples, saying to them. Go your vjay 2 [your way] into the village into the village which lies yonder over against you ; and immediately, as soon as you over against you ; and ^f^t(,y. jjjto it, 7I0U shall there find a she-ass standing tied at a door, and a young foal straiglitway [as soon as ye . , , -, X , 1 ■ 1 l 1 1 1 1 r 1 /■ 1 t • 7 • be entered into it,] ye shall tied also xoitli her. Oil •which 110 mail ever yet sat : lay hold 01 the toal, and untie him find an a^s tied, and a colt directly, without any scruple or concern about the owner's leave, and bring [/i/;«] hither ! iievlr man [Luke, yet]S°] to me : And if any man should take notice of what you are doing, and say to you. Why 3 i loose [iiim,] and bring do you offer to untie the toal, and lead [///?«] away ? you in reply shall say thus to him, [Mark xi'V^ Luke' xix ''30']' Because Jesus the Lord has need of him : and, in regard to the authority of my name and 3 And if any man say un- character, he will immediately send him hither with the dam, that I may use either of to you, I Luke, AVby do you them as I shall chuse, to ride into the city : so that vou may bring them both hither without loose uim /] ve shall say 1 • r ,_■ i 1 j o [Luke, thus unto him, Be- any apprehension 01 accusation or,_scandal, cause the Lonl liatli need of And the two disciples that were sent on this errand presumed not to debate the reason- mark win '"'send n^inf'^'hither] ^Wcness of the Orders he had given them ; hutpresently wen t their way, and found, just ashe XL [Mark xi. 3. Luke xix. 31] had Said untcTthem,^ the colt with its dam tied abroad at the door of a house, which stood 4 Mark XI. 4. And [the dis- ^^ a very Open place at the entrance of the village, where two roads met : and, as Jesus ciplfs] [Luke, that were j r i- o » sent] went their way, and found [Luke, evenuas he had said unto them,] the colt tied by the door without, in a place where two ways k Who now appeared publicly with him.] Perhaps, after so ex- were two places of the same name within a mile of each other; and traordinary a series of providences as Lazarus had passed through, it is much more natural to suppose that the limits of Bethany hemight chuse tospend some time in retireraentand extraordinary might extend to the mount of Olives, and be contiguous to the devotion ; and it is natural to suppose he would endeavour to avoid boundaries of Betliphage, which was part of the suburbs of Jeru- the impiirtunity of crowds who out of curiosity would be pressing salem, and reached from the mount of Olives to the walls of the in upon him, perhaps with some impertinent iiifjuiries. city. See ■Lightfoot, Harm. N. T. \ 72. and AVhitby 00 Mark xi. 1. a }y^cre come to Betliphage and Betliany.']' As Bethany was the b Just as he had said unto them.'] The exact knowledge which town from which our Lord set out, some have supposed there were our Lord showed of so many minute and most fortuitous particulars, two places of this name ; of which the one was fifteen furlongs from must surely impress the minds of these messengers greatly, ana Jerusalem, (as it is said, John xi. 18.) and the other that he was establish the faith of his followers. It is observable that many such now come to, joined to the mount of Olives, and was but a sabbath- things occurred a little before his death, which, considered in this day's journey, or but eight furlongs distant from the city. (Cora view, have a peculiar beauty. Compare Matt. xxvi. 31 — 35; Mark pare Luke xxiv. 50. and Acts i. 12.) But it is hardly probable there xiv. 15, IC ; and Luke xxii.lO — I.'?. U 290 THEY BRING THE COLT, AND THE PEOPLE STREW THE WAY BEFORE HIM. SECT, commanded them, they immediately began to untie the colt, that they might lead him met : and they loose Imn, 146. awaV [as Jesus commanded tUem.] But as they -were thus xmtying the colt. Providence so ordered it, effectually to prevent Luke'xix. 33."An(fastiiey LUKE any clamour or reflection,'^ that the owners of it were near at hand, with several other were loosing: tiie colt, [ler- XIX. _ persons. And some of them that stood by there, and particularly the owners of it, said Ihere.f the'ovnc'rthereof! ^"^ unto them. What are you doing tjiere? Whi/ do ye ot^'er to ipttie the colt, which you said unto them, [What do MARK j^,jo^y js none of your own? Ami tJiey said''to them, even as Jesus had ordered. We y^-3^^^Jjy5'°°'^'=>'''^'^^'^°'^- ■ g mean no injury to you, or to the colt ; but Jesus, the Messenger of the blessed God, the Mark xi. 6. And they great Lo?'J and Proprietor ofaUTT/rt,? need of him, and would borrow him for a little while said unto them, even as to ride into the city j and his character is too well known to give you any reason to fear J^^l LoJiJi hat'Jr'pce'd ^of you shall lose any thing by your readiness to accommodate him in this little instance. And him:] and they let them on this they were thoroughly satisfied, and let them go away with it."* S°' [^"1^^ xix. 34.] 7 And thus they drought the colt to Jesus, and the ass its dam went with it: and, as 7 And they brought tlie they had neither of them any saddle, they threw their loose tnantles upon the backs of colt [and the ass] to jesus, them both, that Jesus might take his choice which he would ride, and might sit the more ?hem"]\Lukefand tlley's'e't ejisily and decently on either: and as he chose the colt, though (as was just now said) it Jesus 'thereon.] [Matt. xxi. "Ead never been broke or backed before, they set Jesus t/iereon.^ '■ ^"""^ ""'■ -^^-^ 8 And manij, [ere«] a very great multitude, who now surrounded him as he sat on the 8 And many, [even a very young ass,^ \_and'\ 7vent on to the city, in token of their respect to him, spread their mantles p"^^* multitude,] [Luke, a^ in the way, that he might ride as upon one eontjniied_carpet ; and others cut down little'aVs, and} wen't^oH,']'^ ^prc"3 branches from the trees that stood by the side of the road, and gathered tiowers which grew their garments in the way : , near it, and strewed them in the way ; according to the usual custom of expressing the public bra'^nches'"^[from]'* oft'^°the 1 joy on the arrival of any illustrious prince. (Compare 1 Mac. xiii 51 ; and 2 Mac. x. 7.) trees, and strewed them in ' MATT. Now all this was done and permitted by Jesus, that what was prophesied of old con- Lu^^^'^y' oq'-'^]*^' ^-^\i\ XXI. cerning the Messiah might be fulfilled in him ; and that by this occurrence it might be Matt."xxi. 4.'"ATi""t!iis 4 literally accomplished which was spoken b)j the prophet Zechariah,s saying, (as it is was done, that it might he 5 written, Zech. ix. 9.) " Say 7je to the daughter of Z ion, rejoice greatly and shout, O by'tlIfpr'^Ji'eVsayins!''[^^ " daughter or inhabitant of Jerusalem, audi fear not any of tliine enemies : for behold, \vjth it is written,] [John xil'14.] "pleasing 'amazement, thy King, the great expected Messiah, cometh unto thee, nieelc .^ ^^rp^*^ "'*^t''.^n"%'i*i'^^j^ " and having salvation ; and, in token of the gentleness of his administration, and his strict thy king cometh unto"thee| " observance of the divine law,'' he shall make his public entrance into thy city, not as nieek, and sitting upon an " other princes affect to appear, in a proud triumphal chariot, or riding on a stately managed an'ass" John xil 15 " horse, decked with a variety of splendid ornaments, and attended with a pompous caval- " cade ; but he shall appear like one of thine ancient patriarchs or judges, in the earliest " and best ages of thy commonwealth, sitting upon an ass ; yea he shall come upon a " colt, the foal ofan ass, which, though it had never been backed before, shall in his " miraculous hands be tractable and gentle." •JOHN IV^aariTTsTcrlje observed, that his apostles and other disciples did not understand these Johnxii. I6. These things 16 things at frst,, noi recoiled the correspondence between the preceding prophecy and the "nderstood not his disciples event: but when Jesus was raised from the dead, and g/orifed &t the right hand of the ^as glorified, then\emem- Father, from whence he sent down his Spirit to instruct them in the mysteries of his word hered they that these things and kingdom, then they remembered that these things were written concerning him as Ma7 the^v"had° dou™'these the Messiah; and [that'\ they had done these things unto him without any designed things unto him. reference to the prophecy, which, at the time of its accomplishment, they did not so much as think of. c'Effectually to prevent any clamour or reflection.] Perhaps, its primary and literal sense ; but content myself with referring the had not the owners of the beasts happened to be by, and had not reader to Bishop Chandler's Defence of CItridianity, p. 102 — 107. Luke expressly mentioned them, the malice of ancient or modern and Mr. Bullock's Vindication, p. 175, 176. infidels would have found some occasion for raising an outcry on the h His strict observance of the divine law.] The learned and in- I' ambiguity of the words, 77i(? iorrf /(as Jirprfo/Zimi, Its being a weak genious Bishop Sherlock has set this fact in a mostjustand beau- and contemptible cavil would not have prevented their using it, as tiful light, in his Fourth Dissertation annexed to the last edition of ' we learn by abundant experience. h\s Discourse on Prophecy. God, that he might keep the people of d Tliey let litem go.'] If these people were not (as they possibly Israel in a more sensible dependence on himself, forl)ade the Use of might be) the acquaintance^of Christ, they might easily meet with that strong, generous, and majestic animal, the horse, (Job xxxix, him at Jerusalem, if they had a mind to inquire after the ass and 19 — 2.5.) in their armies, as also of chariots, Dent. xvii. IG. (Com- colt ; or 'they might be left, according to their direction, at some pare Josh. xi. 6 ; Judges v. 1.5.) David therefore, who rode him- house in the city, or be sent back by some of our Lord's attendants ; self on a mule, and ordered Solomon to do so on his coronation-day, though the Evangelists do not descend to such minute particulars, (1 Kings i. 33, .34.) burnt the chariots be took from the enemies, There is no appearance of Christ's intending to show his sove- and ham-strung their horses, to make them unfit for war. (2 Sara, reignty in transferring the property of tliese creatures; and though, viii. 4.) And afterwards, when Solomon (I Kings iv. 26.) and sue- no doubt, he had a power to do it, his usual prudence would pro- ceeding princes muUiplied horses, they were rebuked by the pro- bably direct him to wave it at a time when so many eyes were upon phets, and chastised by God for it. (See Isa. ii. 6, 7 ; xxxi. 1 ; and him for evil. , JHos. xiv. 3.) And the removal of them is spoken of as matter of 6 They set Jesus thereon."] As all the Evangelists but Matthew promise in the days of the Messiah, Hos. i. 7; Mic. v. 10,11; and speak expressly of his riding on the colt, what MatUiew says of Zech. ix. 10. — It is therefore with great propriety that Christ, in his bringing them both to Jesus, and putting on them their clothes, most public triumph, chose, according to the prophecy before us, and setting him thereon, (though it be spoken in the plural m;m- to ride on an ass.. — Nor are we to imagine there was any thing ber,) implies no more than setting him upon the mantles thrown mean and ridiculous in it ; for the Eastern asses are a much larger on that which he made choice of, and is no intimation of his riding and more beautiful animal than ours, and it plainly appears the pa- upon both. triarclis and judges of the Jewish nation thought it «o disgrace to f As he sat on the young ass.] John says, that Jesus, when he had ride upon tliem ; of which Abraham, (Gen. xxii. 3.) Moses, (Exod. found a young ass, sat thereon : but as the larger accounts given by iv. 20.) and Jair's family, (Judges x. 4.) are instances. Nay, magis- the other Evangelists in a great measure supersede this, I could only trates are spoken of by the general description of those that rode on bring in a part of that claitse here; though in the whole of this white asses. Judges v. 10. (Compare Numb. xxii. 21 ; 2 Sam. xvi. I work 1 am as careful as possible to omit no one circumstance that 2 ; xvii. 23; xix. 26.) So that all the ridicule which has fallen on I any of the sacred writers mention. this passage must, to speak with all poss[ble charity, be retorted on g It might he literally accomplished which was spoken, Sfc.'] I shall the ignorance of ttiose who have taKii upon tliem to censure what not enter on a particular detail of the reasons which induce me to they did not understand, believe that the prophecy of Zechariah is here quoted according to I JESUS DEFENDS IflS DISCIPLES FROM THE CENSURE OF THE PHARISEES. 291 Luke xix. 37. And when And Xi'/ien he iias come nigli to the city, \and tvasX now at the lower part of the descent SKCT. ''* ^^rth''"d'^ °'^t'' /tfe 'if^^'^ mount of Olives, which lay, as was said before, to the east of Jerusalem, and was 146. mount of Olives, but a few furlougs from it, A great multitude of people, who -were cone from Galilee and John xii. 12. Much peo- other parts to Celebrate the feast of the passover, having heard, by some who had Rin be- John ]l'astI'wh^l^ttle^^"hfasd that fore the rest of the company, that Jesus was coming in this solemn pomp to Jerusalem, Xll. Jesus was comfng to Jeru- immediately resolved to go and usher him in with all possible respect : And accordingly 13 ^"'.'^i^'rr 1 I, 1 . X\\e\ took branches of palm-trees, which were commonlv carried before those who rode 13 Took branches of . •' , ,. •' ^ j /• ^7 j ± i ■ i -jtw i -»t r^ a palm-trees, and went forth m public triumph, and Went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna ! ]\Iay God save to meet him, and cried, and prosper him !' Blessed [he'] the King oj" Israel, who comes in the natne and by the Klng-°of Israel thlt cometh authority of the Lord our God, to redeem us, and to rule over us. (Compare Psal. in the name of the Lord ! cxviii. 25, 26.) 17 The people therefore Now as he rode along in all this pomp, the people who were with him^ when he called 17 that was wiuniim^when lie J^azarus out cf his grave, and by that almighty voice raised him from the dead, among grave, and raised him from whom he had lain part of four days, testified [;>] to the strangers who were come up out the dead, bare record. of the Country, and told them what a glorious miracle they had been eye-witnesses to. 18 For this cause the [And]Jur this causc among others, and indeed with a peculiar regard to this, the people 18 that'^they heard^'hat'he' had ^^^° ''^^^ ''''"' ^T^owi the city m the manner which has been described above, because they done this miracle. heard that he had done this astonishing miracle, which, in some circumstances, ex- ceeded any which he had wrought before. Luke xix. 37. [And] the And the whole multitude of the disciples that had attended him from Bethany, both luke d^ks TthaT^vei^t*^ *before" ^^^^ *^'"^ ^''^"'^ ^''f'^'''^ ^"™' ""^ ^^^^ that followed after, in his triumphant procession, be- XIX. and that followed,] began gan greatly to rejoice, and to praise God with a loud voice for all the might)/ works and '^' to rejoice and praise God glorious miracles which they had seen performed by him on a great variety of occasions, The mighty wo^rks'^that°they ^"^^^ which they now particularly called to mind. [And] as they now were met by a vast 38 had seen :' [Matt. xxi. 9. concourse of people froui Jerusalem, they joined together in their triumphs and congratu- ^^33'' r'-i;frf cried ] savins- 1^^'0'iSj and cried with all their might, saying, " Hosanna, to the great illustrious Son of [Hosanna to the Son of " David, wlio now vouchsafes to make his public appearance among us ! Blessed be he, David !] blessed [ishe,^^*^] u ||erf//] the long-expected King and Sovereign of God's people, who now comes to us in the name of the Lord! " the name of the Lord ! May the most exalted honours be paid him ! May continued peace in heaven, and glory «' prosperity attend him! Let there he peace in heaven, and a rich variety of divine fa- 9" * Mar'lf xf 9 ] '■^^*"' ^'"' " ^"^^^ be dispensed from thence ; and, in return for them, let glory be give-.! to God in " the most exalted strains, and let all the highest orders of angels join in his praises ! Mark xi. 10. Blessed is " Bkssed and prospevoxis be the ssiCTed kingdo?n of our father David ! May it speedily mark Dav^" thaTc"*^ etli ■'^^*t'h'^ " ^^ established, and may it long flourish ; even that kingdom which is not gained by the XI. name of the Lord ; Ho- " alanns of War and gannents rolled in blood, but which comes in the natne of the Lord, ^^ sanna in the highest. « and renders itself, by that powerful influence on men's spirits which we.now feel, victo- [ a . XXI. 9.] « j.jQyg Qygj. vvhatsoever would oppose it! Hosanna, therefore, in -the highest strains! " Repeat again and again your songs and your congratulations." Thus they expressed their joyful and rapturous expectations of his assuming the royal dignity, and vindicating Israel from the Roman oppression ; and, emboldened by the display of his power in the resurrection of Lazarus, they feared not the resentment of their present masters, for declaring themselves thus openly in his favour. Luke xix. 39. And some And Some of the proud and envious Pharisees, who were among the multitude as spies LUKE of the Pharisees froni j^ther than friends, were much otFended at the high honours that were paid to Jesus, and „ XIX. among: the multitude said - -,. ■ , • , , , • . , . 1 ° , i ■ •» r , ^ ii_ .^Q unto 'him. Master, rebuke maliciously said to him. With an intent to embarrass and expose him, Master, canst thou '^^ thy disciples. be pleased with all Uiis noise ? or can it be consistent with thy great humility to sulfer it ? Why dost thou not rebuke thy disciples for such dangerous acclamations as these ? Dost thou intend to give encouragement to such seditious speeches, and to stand by the con- sequences which may follow them ? 40 And he answered and And Jesus, who was now determined to lay aside that reserve which for wise reasons he 40 timt "if thl^srshouTd'h^old h^^ formerly used, answered and said unto them, I tell you, that the reason for these their peace, the stones acclamations is SO plain, and the evidences of it so strong, that it must be great stupidity would immediately cry out. not to see, and great obstinacy not to own it: so that if these should be silent, one might almost expect that the very stones should iymnediately cry out to proclaim my kingdom : yea, God would even animate the stones on such an occasion, rather than he would suffer me to want this triumph, so evidently marked out by his prophets. John xii. 19. The Pha- The Pharisees then, turning from him with envy and rage, said to each other. Per- john thl^mVel'vIs,^°'perceivr''yf ceivc ye not that you gain no manner of advantage by all your consultations, and the Xll. how ye prevail nothing ? decrees of your sanhedrim ? Behold, the whole world is gone after him, till he has now 19 Behold, the world is gone thrown off the mask, and taken upon him to declare his pretences j' which, if the people thus "™" fall in with them, must necessarily end in our ruin, and pSHaps in that of the whole nation. IMPROVEMENT. Let us behold this meek triumph of the great Redeemer with pleasure! He entered the capital of his kingdom john riding upon an ass ; a circumstance in which he made, though by no means a ridiculous, yet to be sure a very XIL u. i Hosanna ! May God save and prosper him !] I suppose few lectin^; it afterwards, (which are the things mentioned in the readers need to be informed that the Hebrew word Hosanna, sig- preceding verse, John xii. 16.) should be the reason of what follows nifies. Save, we beseech thee. liere. It appears then from hence, (and it is very material to /) k Now the people who were with him.'] It is impossible that observe it,) that ouv [therefore] is sometimes used in a looser sense, | their not understanding the prophecy of Zechariah now, or rccol- so as to answer to and or now in our language. U 2 292 THE ENTRY OF CHRIST INTO JERUSALEM. SECT, humble figure; yea, he appeared exactly as the prophet described him, upon a colt, the foal of an ass — not yet • 146. "Town up to its best form, nor adorned with any sumptuous or elegant furniture, hut only covered with tlie mantles of his poor'altendants, and perhaps with nothing better for a bridle th'an a cord which might have tied the foal at the door. JOHN Let us imagine that we saw the Son of God, and the King of Israel, thus proceeding towards Jerusalem, and tiie XU. people meeting him, and surrounding him with their acclamations : Hosanna ! Blessed he he that cometh in ^^ the name of the Lord ! Do not our hearts spring at the sound ? Do we not, as it were in spirit, go forth with MARK them, and join in their sublime though simple song? Thus let us welcome him into our hearts! Let us echo it XI. back ! Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Jjord, with divine authority, and divine blessings in his ^ 0 hands ! And blessed be the kingdom he hath erected ! May perpetual prosperity attend it ! May the north give up a swarm of subjects to it, and may not the south keep back her swaitliy sons ! May 7iations be born at once, ixsKR and thousands together made willing in the day of his power ! Surely if these are not our affectionate wishes, the XIX. warm and zealous sentiments of our very hearts, it may almost be expected that the very stones should cry out, to ac- ^^ cuse and condemn our ungrateful stupidity. JOHN Unhappy Pharisees, who looked on these triumphs with envy and rage, and grieved that the world was gone XII. after him ! Yet less unhappy, had they not renewed their attempts against him, those fatal attempts which endal 19 in their ruin ! But who that had seen the procession, and heard the shouts of the transported multitude, could have imagined or believed, that before the end of the week they should have turned their voices against him, and instead of Hosanna, should have cried out, Crucify him ? Yet so it was : and Christ knew it would be so. Such is the uncertainty of popular applause ! Who would then purchase it at the expense of his conscience, or even of his ease ? MARK These transports were raised by the hopes of a temporal kingdom ; and when those hopes were disappointed, these XI. transports were turned into rage. Oh that there may be none, under all the engagements of a Christian, and even 10 of a ministerial profession, who proclaim Christ with great appearance of zeal, only that they may exalt themselves ; and wish prosperity to his kingdom, only as it may promote their own interest in a world from which it was the great design of his death to redeem his servants. ^ ' • ■ o, • "^ i- -j ^ ■ SECTION CXLVII. Christ having wept over Jerusalem, enters into it, and vindicates the temple a second time from the profana- tion of the traders. Matt. xxi. 10—16. Mark xi. 11. Luke xix. 41, to the end. juvi^-iL. -rvjLA. -xj., ijUKli XIX. ^I. SECT Thus our Lord went on in his triumphant progress toward Jerusalem; and when he And wiien he was come "147.' was come near it, and had now the view of it before him, (the place where he was, com- ^^^'wept ov« it. ^' ^' manding an extensive prospect of it,) beholding the city in all its present beauty and glory, ruKE and considering the calamities which would shortly be its ruin, he tenderly wept over it, XIX. Saying, Oh that thou hadst known,^ even thou unhappy city, which art now on the very ^^'J.^^f y;^»' u.^u °"t Teast ^^2 point of being devoted to final destruction ! Oh that at length, though with the greatest ;„ this'tiiy day, the things obstinacy thou hast despised the messages of all thy prophets, thou hadst but known and whkh ^ ''^'^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^y 43 seriously regarded, at least in this thy latest day and opportunity of grace, the important {^■^*'from thine'eyes!^ *"" things which belong to thy peace, and on v/hich thy final happiness depends ! But now, ^X'd.^thcy are hid from thine eyes, and God will leave thee, in his righteous judgment, to ^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^„ tliis affected ignorance and obstinate perverseness, till it end in thine utter ruin. For the come upon thee, that tliine time hastens on, and in a little while the days shall come upon thee, when thou shalt sufter ^JJ^;!;'^''^^^^^^'^^" '^^^ MZl^ all the hardships of the closest siege, and thine enemies shall draw a trench about tnee, 4,^^^ round,' and keep thee and compass thee round, and press thee in on every sidc,^' so that with all thy numerous in on every side 44 inhabitants thou neither shalt be able to resist nor to escape them : And they shall level J^*^ ^^nd the ground, and thee with the around on which thou standest, and caish thy children within thee under tiiy children within thee ; thy rums ; and shall not leave so much as one stone upon another in th^e of all thy and ^ they ^shall^ not leave splendid and sacred structures : and all these terrible calamities shall overwhelm thee l)e- anotiier -. because thou cause thou didst not know and consider ^/reappointed season of thy merciful visitation, knewest not the time of nor attend to those overtures of grace which I have so often maxie in person to thee, and have 'Xjatt.'xxi^i'o. [And Jesus still urged with so much seriousness and tenderness. entered into Jerusalem 0 MATT. And Jesus entered into Jerusalem with great solemnity, amidst the joyful acclamations -JJjd ^[t'y " ^^'n^^'er^ynj! XXI. of the people; and as he made his entrance in such a public and remarkabk way, the who is this 1 [Markxi. 11!] 10 whole citii was in a great commotion at so uncommon an appearance, saying. Who is this u And the muUiUide -^ . 1. . • ° 1 . 11-1, T • 1 1 1 i- \ A J 4l said. This is Jesus the Pro- 1 1 that comes m all this pomp, and is attended with these high congratulations ? And tlic p,,^j_ ^j Nazareth of Ga- multitude that came with him, said, This is Jesus the great Prophet, who is of Nazareth liiee.' a Oh tliat thou Itadst known.-] It is certain (as we have observed his soldiers to attempt it, they in three days surrouuded it with a elsewhere, note a, on Luke xii. .50. p. 229.) that the particle .. is wall of tW.ty-nine furlongs in circumference, with thirteen castles sometimes used to express an arde.h «,i.A, (compare 'Numb. xxii. in its circuit; and by this means «'! h^f J"^"'' f,,'-X''\2\i 29- and Josh vii. 7. SentuaQ.) and Uie connection here will very the Jews within the city should escape. (BelLJudlib.vcap.U. well bear it.-If our translation be retained, it must be acknow- [al. 13.] } I, 2.)-He also te s us, that when Titus had taken the ledo-ed that the broken manner of speaking is very emphatical : city, and, contrary to his will the temple was consumed with fire, our°Lord will then seem to pause in a silent reflection on the hanpy he caused the foundations both of the temple and the city to be dug consequences thlt would have attended their obedient regard to up and levelled with the ground leaving only tluee towers and part his invitations and addresses.-But to add the words [,7 Aarfi..« of the wall to be ^ specimen of its former strength and grandeur^ CHRIST VINDICATES THE CHILDREN IN THEIR HOSANNAS. 293 in Galilee, even he that is so celebrated all over the country for the fame of his doctrine and sect. miracles. 147. R And Jesus went into And Jesus having come into the city by the eastern gate, alighted from the colt, and tlie temple of God; and, 'o.jent directly iiito tiic temple of God, whither the people followed him: and when he matt. Sbout" 'upmf 'au'^'th'in'^s,'] had looked round about, and made his observation upon all things there,<= as he perceived ^^^ [Luke, bepan to] cast oiit those profanations were again renewed which he had formerly so solemnly chastised soon 12 all *hem tbat soid,^ and ^fjgj. j^g entered on his public ministry, he began with a holy indignation to animadvert upon in"tb'e' tenipie,'\nd over- them, as he had done three years before,'' and to drive out all them that sold and bought tbrew the tables of the mo- /;j ^j^g outer court of the temple, which was appointed for the Gentile proselytes to wor- oPthem^t*hat\"o1d^'^dov'^es! ship in, but was made use of by the Jews as if it were a common market-place; and with [Mark xi. 11. Lukexix.45.i an irresistible authority he overthrew the tables of the exchangers o/" foreign money into the current coin, which those that came from distant parts might want to offer for the service of the sanctuary, (see Exod. xxx. 13, 14.) and likewise overturned the scats of 13 And said unto them, them that sold dovcs for sacrifices. And he said to them as he turned them out, Such 13 ^and^ ZhM"hl^^cl\\eT the practices as these profane the house of God, and shamefully pervert the use for which it house'' of prayer; but ye was designed; for it is Written, (Isa. Ivi. 7.) " Mj/ house shall be called an house of have made it a den of '■'■prayer for all people, to which they shall resort for the perfonnance of religious wor- thieves. [ u e xix. .] ^^.^ _v, j^^^ ^^^ y^^.,^ turned it into an house of merchandise, and made it (as the pro- phet speaks, Jer. vii. 11.) a den of robbers," a place where traffic is carried on by per- sons of the most infamous character, who live by deceit and oppression, and practise the vilest extortion even in the house of the righteous and blessed God. (Compare John ii. 14 — 16. 'sect. xxi. and Mark xi. 15, 17. sect, cl.) 14 And the blind and the j^^^j^ jj^gj.g ^^gj-g j^any of the blind and lamc,^ who had no sooner heard of his arrival 14 tempiei'andhehelkd'them. in the city but they immediately desired to be led to the place where he was ; and they came to him in the temple, and he graciously healed them in the prsence of all the people. 15 And when the chief Jiuf when the chief priests and scribes beheld the wonders he performed, and oh- 15 v^onderfu7\hingf Umt ^lle Served how the very children were cri/ing out in the temple, and continued the song did, and the children crying which the multitude had begun, saj/ing, " Hosanna to the son of David ! with joyful in the temple, and saying', °"vorship™t the used that language, but had forsaken the idolatry of their ancestors, and devoted themselves feast : .JOHN to the God of Israel :=' These therefore came to 'Philip, who was of Bethsaida, a city 21 The same came there- ■^"<^i ^f Gaiilee,^ and asked it as a favour of him to introduce them to his Master, sai/ins, in £"',V-^'"''''f r^rl' ""'""f 21 lc \ rt- 1 , • , , . , . T ,. Vt '^ »- Bethsaida, of Galilee, and ■'^ a very respectiul manner, Str, we earnestly desire to see and hear this Jesus of Nazareth, i They hung- as it were on his lips while he spake.] This is the Judea, and to converse amon^ the Jews, thoujjh not with entire literal import of i%tv.^tu^,o x\Aa axawv. To render it, (as in a late ver- freedom. And TTTias like^vTse'Deen thought, that the regard which sioo,) The popnifice were strongly attached to his doctrine, \sidir irom Jesus shewed to such, in vindicaling the court of tlie Gentiles expressing the full sense. (where thev assembled for reIig;ious worship) from the contemptu- k House of Caiaphas in his full view.] If we may credit the best ous profanations of the Jews, (Matt. xxi. 12, 13. p. 203.) might dis- accounls of Jerusalem which remain, this was exactly the case. — I pose these pious persons to address them.ielves to him.— But their canuot forbear referring- my reader to Mr. Howe's excellent treatise, attending- at the passover leads me rather to imagine (with Arndius, entitled, The Redeemer''s Tears wept over lost Souls ; in which, as Miscel. Sac. p. G.) that they were what the rabhies now call prose- in most of his practical works, there are such sublime and pathetic /j'/p« of righteousness, that is, such as by circumcision obliged them- strokes of true, manly, and Christian eloquence, as do a great ho- selves to olwerve the whole law; (compare Acts ii. ,5; viii. 27; xiii. nour to the language and age in which they were written. 43.) Yet I will not venture confidently to affirm it. a Some Creeks— who had devoted themselves to the God of Israel.] b Bethsaida of Galilee.] This town'lay on the borders of Syro- It is strange that such learned critics as Isaac Vossius and Salmasius Phoenicia, from whence (as Grotius thinks) these Greeks might should imagine these worshippers to have been idolatrous Gentile.s. coTne"; so that they might perhaps be acquainted with Philip as a Dr. Whitby and several other considerable writers have indeed neighbour; or otherwise we cannot say why this circumstance re- thought they were such as are commonly called proselytes nf the latiug to hira is here mentioned.— The learned Reland argues that gate, that is, (as most readers well know,) persons who, having re- there were two Bethsaidas, of which this lay to the north. See nounced idolatry, and being worshippers of the God of Israel, Reland, Palestine, p. 653. might, according to the law of Moses, be permitted to dwell in JESUS HAS AGAIN THE TESTIMONY OF A VOICE FROM HEAVEN. 295 desired him, saying, Sir, we of whom We have been told such extraordinary things, and who has now been received sect. would see Jesus. iri^o thg city ^yith such uuusual regard. 148. Philip Cometh and Upon this Philip comes and tells what their request was, to Andrew, who likewise was of - '*'dreV a'nd "pifin'' ""^uJui ^^^'-^ida, and had been first acquainted with Christ ; (John i. 40, 44. sect. xxi. xxii.) and johx jraus^" *" " '** ° ' ^^^'^ Andrexv and P/iilip, having agreed upon it, went and told Jesus that some Greeks ^Ii- who were come to the feast desired admittance to him. 23 And Jesus answered '■'/^7/f//t'5?i- from heaven. 30 Jesus answered and But Jesus answered and said to his disciples, who stood near and distinctly heard it, 30 said. This voice came not j'/^/j voice from heaven came not chiefly /wr 7ny sake, who was before assured of the sa^kes"^^ ° ™^' " ""^ ^° affection of my Father, and knew the puipose he had formed to glorify himself by me ; c Jesus answered them, saying.^ The phrase here intimates the remarkable instances. For as the text does not oblige us to it, it suitableness of the following discourse to this particular occasion, does not seem natural to suppose that our Lord actually offered by attending to which/ many of the beauties of it will be disco- this petition, and then immediately retracted it again, vercd. Our Lord m^Iit perhaps enlarge on some of these hints; { Said thnt it tlinndered.'] Thunder often attended a voice from and if his hearers took'a due notice' of them, and made a proper heaven : (see £xod. xix. 16, 19; Rev. iv. 5; vi. 1 ; x. 3.) lu allu- report on their return home, it rnight prepare the way for the sion to which, perhaps, the voice itself was called by the ancient apostles, when they came by their preaching more fully to unfold Jews, Bath Kol, or the daui/hter of the voice, being ushered in with and illustrate these important doctrines. thunder, and, as it were, produced from it. — Eisner has shown that d If a ly man serve me.'] Our Lord, by this indefinite expres- the heatiiens reckoned that sudden thunder was a sign that a nrayer sion, strongly intimates that his kingdom was to be of a very then offered met with the ir.ost favourable regard. (See Eisner, extensive nature; and that not only the proselytes of righteous- Ohserv. Vol. I. p. 334, 3.3.5.)— Dr. Lightfoot observes here [Hor. rtessiliul fbose of the gate, and indee"d even the i"dolatrous Gentiles Hebr. in loc.) that Christ had thrice the testimony of a voice from themselves, might, on their believing the gospel, be admitted into it. heaven; first, when he entered on his public ministry, as the e JVhat shntl I say ? Father, save me from this hour ?~\ I sup- High-Priest of our profession, at his baptism; (Matt. iii. J7.)-and pose few need be told that the pointing of the New Testament is then a second time, when a command was given to hear him, as far less ancient than the /fj/. It is agreeable to observe how many the great Prophet of the church, at his transfiguration; (Matt, difficulties may be removed by varying it, and departing from the xvii. 5.) and now again, when he had made his public entry into common punctuation : of which I take this to be one of the most Jerusalem, as a King. ! 296 JESUS RETIRES IN THE EVENING TO BETHANY. SECT/ but it was uttered for yours, that you may not be offended at the treatment I shall meet 148. with, and quit your hope in me, and regard for me, on account of any of the sufferings which are coming upon me. This indeed is a very critical and important time : for now 31 Now is the judoment JOHN is the judgment of this world,^ which I am going to conquer and condemn, that by my of this world: now shall ^^\^ death my followers may both be taught and enabled to triumph over it, and those may be cast out*^^ "^ *''' ""'^''^ ^^ '^^ convinced of sin that believe not in me : (compare Gal. i. 4; and John xvi. 8, 9.) Yea, now *//r/// Satan, the ruler ^.nd god of this world, be cast out from that empire which he has so long usurped over the minds of men, and especially over the heatheti nations. (Com- 32 pare Eph. ii. 2 ; and 2 Cor. iv. 4.) And when I am lifted up from the earth,^^ though I 32 Ami I, if I be lifted jnay seem thereby to be made the trophy of mine enemies, yet such shall be the effect of "i' *'''?1" ^'^'^ ^'"^^^' ^^''^ "lat impojtant event, that I shall thereby draw all ?nen to me ; that is, I shall lay a ' ™''° ""^'^'-"• foundation for conquering the most stubborn hearts by so rich a display of my love ; and shall, by a secret but powerful influence on their minds, persuade multitudes of all ranks and all nations to list themselves under the banner I raise. (Compare John iii. 14, 15. p. 52.) 33 Now this he spake of his being lifted up from the earth, as signifi/ing by what death he 33 (This he said, sisnify- should die, even by crucifixion, in which the person suffering was lifted up on high, and j^g what death he should hung as it were between heaven and earth : And in general it was understood fey tlie"people 34 as implying some violent death shortly to come upon him. The multitude therefore an- 34 The people answered swered him. We have heard it taught as a certam truth out of the law, or out of the '"'"• ^'^ ''•''^'^ ha^rA out of volume of our sacred writings, that the Messiah is immortal and abides for ever ; " that for evlv';''''and'' hoV^say^elt " his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion continues unto all generations ;" thou, The Son of man must (2 Sam. vii. 16 ; Psal. Ixxxix. 29 ; ex. 4 ; Isa. ix. 7 ; Ezek. xxxvii. 25 ; Dan. ii. 44 ; vii. gon'of raan^ ' ^^''° '' *'"^ 14.) a7id how then dost thou, who now plainly professest tliyself to be the Messiah, sai/ that the Son of man must be lifted up from the earth, and die a violent death ? IFho is this Son of man f' Is he, as such language as this might seem to intimate, a different person from the Messiah, whom we have been taught to expect under the title of the Son of man ? This was said by some of the multitude who were ill-affected towards him, and desired to find something to object against him. 35 Then Jesus said to them. Do not cavil at what I now say ; but remember how short 35 Then Jesus said unto this opportunity is which, through the divine goodness, you now enjoy : yet a little while *'/'^™'. T*^' *. u*^*',*^ ^^''"^ }? is the light with you which you may derive from me, or my servants who shall come to MhHe'^ye have the 'lig-ht^ you in my name; walk therefore while you have the light ; comply with the gracious lest darkness come upon purposes of God in making these discoveries to you, and regulate your temper and conduct j^ "da/kness*^ knowrtii''not by them; that darkness may not overtake you, that you may not be deprived of the whither he goeth. gospel, and left in a night of ignorance and misery : for you know it is a most uncom- fortable thing for a traveller to be benighted in his way, as he that walks in darkness wanders from place to place, and knows not whither he goes, or into what dangers he may fall the very next step he takes ; and much more dreadful will it be for you to be deserted of God, and left to the darkness and folly of your own hearts. (Compare John xi. 9, 10. 36 sect, cxxxix.) Let me therefore once more seriously and kindly exliort you, that while 35 while ye have the you have the light thus clearly shining around you, you believe in the light, and honestly I'ght, believe m the light, follow it, that you may be the children of light, who, being now truly wise and good, a'ren of l^lrt — ^ ^^^ ^^^^' shall be the heirs of holiness, glory, and joy everlasting. These things Jesus spake, when the Greeks applied themselves to him; and as the — These thinffsspalie Jesus, unbelieving Jews were greatly irritated by the actions and discourses of the day, and would t""'' ''^ '"i m *rif '""' T*^ '^^' not be awakened to conviction, he l(ft them and departed thence to a retired place : and {he even tide'was come["he when now it was late in the evening, he privately went oiit of the city to Bethany, went] [out of the city unto with none to attend Jiim but the twelve apostles ; a^id, knowing that his enemies were ^ve've o'' fa^u^^ie" lodged watching to destroy him, and might have attempted to seize him by night if he tarried at there,] 'and did hide him. Jerusalem, he lodged there at Bethany, and concealed himself from them, to avoid the ^'^}f '^^ them. [Matt, assaults of their deliberate malice 'till his hour was come. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 20 Who can wonder at the desire these Greeks expressed to see so celebrated a Person as Jesus was ! 'iVeJiope^ 21, 23 there was something more than mere curiosity in it, and that at length they saw him with believing eyes, and, 22 according to his prediction, glorified him by a cordial acceptance of his gospel. — His disciples, we see, were ready to introduce them -. and surely every faithful minister of Christ will undertake the task with pleasure, when he sees souls awakened by divine grace, and inquiring after Jesus with affectionate concern. ' " 24 Blessed be God, it has already, in many instances, been seen that by the death of Christ an immortal seed -was sown which has multiplied in all ages, and is still multiplying : Oh that it might have a greater increase ! One g Now is the judgment of this world.'] Mr. Massey renders this, Jer. iii. 16; and compare John xiv. 3; 1 John iii. 2; and 3 John (in his Vernac. Sacra, p. 8, 9.) Now is tlie world ceme to its crisis : ver. 10. where ixvixiu may signify, w/ien I come. and Grotius and More (in his Tlieological Works, p. 207.) explain i }Vlio is this Son of man ?] A writer of great note interprets it of the redemption of the world, or its vindication from the bond- this as if they had said, " Who is this thai so absurdly, and incon- age of Satan. But this is so unusual a sense of the word, that 1 " sistently with the prophets, sneaks of himself as the Son of man, chiise, with Pr. Whitby, to understand it of the condemnation of " while he talks of being lifter) vp, and dying!" (See Dr. Sykes Me !('0)W, or of the /wz/ymra/ passed upon its wicked principles and On Christianity, \t. WO.) But the sense given in the paraphrase practices, and of the victory wliich Christians were to gain over it in appears to me more natural, and I am pleased to find it in Grotins. consequence of the death of Christ. See John iii. 18, 19; xvi. 8, 11. This was a real and important dlHTciiTly ; but it was fit some ob- h When I am lifted vp from the earth.] I think Dr. Whitby's scurity should for the present be left upon it, lest the plainness of note on this text sufficiently vindicates this version of t«v u>l/:o9w. the prediction should huve prevented its accomplishment. Our See the Greek Version of Deut. vii. 1; Judges vi. 3; xxi. 21; Lord therefore gave the discourse a useful turn, and a few days 2 Sam. vii. 12; ] Kings xiii. 31; Job vii. 4; Prov. iii. 24; iv. 12; more proclaimed tho mystery which he had before revealed to his THE JEWS ARE HARDENED, AND WILL NOT BELIEVE. 297 would thinlj. that words so gracious as these^iouldpromote that increase, and operate upon every heart to produce SECT, a love to him sufficient to conquer every danger and opposition which may be met with in his cause : behold the 148. promise which he has lett upon record ; " If any man, be he ever so mean and unworthy, will but faithfully serve • " and fol/ozi? me, whatever his fomier wanderings and rebellions may have been, -where I am, there shall also mi/ JOHN " servant be." Happy state indeed ! not only, like these Greeks, to have a transient sight of Christ, but to be for ^''• ever with him ! How admirable is the love and stedfastness of our Redeemer, who procured so great a happiness for us at so dear an expense! and even when his innocent soul was troubled in the view of his sutierings, instead of declining them, 27 met them with joy ! How shpuld it animate us to renew that general comprehensive petition, than which none can be more suitable to us with regard to all the divine dispensations: Father, glorify thine oxvn name ! Glorify -28 thyself, O Lord ! and to that great end dispose of us as thou pleasest j for we should abhor ourselves if we had any interest separate from thine ! We may be assured, as certainly as by a voice from heaven, that this great end shall be answered ; and in this we should rejoice. ^e\\o\d, the prince of this xvorld is cast out .' Satan is vanquished by Christ ! and Jesus is 31 > 32 lifted up on the cross for a standard to all the nations. Behold the attractive magnet by which all men are to be drawn, by which all chosen people shall be brought to him, and so raised up to heaven itself ! Let us look unto him fro/n the ends of the earth, and labour with our cold hearts to awaken them to that lively and ardent affection which we owe to him who was crucified for us. For ever adored be divine grace for this gospel -light which discovers to us so excellent an object ! May we use it 35, 36 to saving purposes, and so walk in it, as that we may appear to be the children of light ! Let us think of that last distri- bution of mankind, when the children and heirs of light and darkness are once for all to be separated. Let us think . of the gloom of eternal night, which will shortly overtake those by whom the gospel is now despised ; and remem- ber how much it will be aggravated by the light we have so long seen. Do thou, O God, at whose word light arose out of darkness, send forth, by thine influences on our hearts, thj/ light and thy truth, that they may lead and bring us to thine holy hill ; (Psal. xliii. 3.) and that we may have the satisfaction of knowing whither we go, even when we ■u:alk through the daxk valley of the shadoro ofdeath ! (Psal. xxiii. 4.) >■■''■ - SECTION CXLIX. Johns reflection on the infidelity of the Jexcs. As Christ "was returning the next morning to Jerusalem, he curses the barren fig-tree. John xii. 37 — 43. Matt. xxi. 18, 19. Mark xi. 12 — 14. John xii. 37. John xii. 37. '^^m**n""ui'iracies^*bd'ore -^^OTF such was the perverseness of the Jews, and such the prejudice they had conceived SECT. them.yet they believed not against our Lord, that though he had sufficiently declared himself to be the true Messiah, 149. on l""^ : and though he had done so many undeniable and glorious miracles at this and other times " before them, in their most public places and most numerous assemblies, yet the greater part JOHN of them were hardened in their infidelity, and, notwithstanding all that he had said and 07 done, they were in general so obstinate that they did not believe on him as the Messiah. 38 That the saying- of So that the Saying of Isaiah the prophet xvas plainly fulfilled and verified in thera,^ 38 be^uffiUed wWch hi Tpake' "^'^'^ch he spakc in'the name of Clirist and of his servants", referring expressly to the gospel Lord, who hath believed times, (Isa. liii. 1.) " Lord, who hath believed our report ? and to whom hath the arm our report ?^and to "'hom ii qf the Lord been so efTectually revealed or made bare'' as to conquer those strong pre- been revealed \ " judices which men have entertained against thine appointed method of salvation ?" 39 Therefore they could And /or this reason they -were now in a manner utterly incapable of believing, be- 39 Es'^ia's'^sald'^io-a^"''"'^ *'"'' ^^'"■^'' ni^ny of them having long wilfully opposed the most sufficient and proper methods "" ' of conviction, were at length given up by God to a judicial hardness and blindness; [as'] eyts "nd^h'irdened'' their ^^^ ^^'^^ prophet Isaiah says elsewhere, (Isa. vi. 10.) " Having refused to hearken to the 40 heart ; that they should not " voice of GoA, he has in righteous judgment (^//«(/e^ their eyes and hardened their see with Mf/r eyes, nor un- « keart ;" Icst they shoiild (as he adds in the name of God) see with their eyes, and under- and be converted, and I " stand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal and sslvc the7n,-wh\ch, ailev should heal them. " such obstinate perverseness, I am determined that I never will." (Compare Matt. xiii. Estias'^wheu he"Sw 'his ^4, 15. p. 131; and Acts xxviii. 27.) These things Isaiah spake when he saw his 41 glory, and spake of him. glory, '^ even the glory of Christ, who was then the medium of the divine manifestation, apostles in private, wlien he set out on his last journey to Jerusalem, is said he hardened his own heart ; (Exod. ix. 12 ; and viii. 15, 32.) (See Matt. xx. 18, 10. I 142. p. 279.) and as we ought to be very tender of ascribing to God any thing a So that the s't'/ing of Isaiah was fulfilled.'] It is apparent (as that looks like a nejiessila-tius intluSnce to impel men to sin, I ap- , the late judiciQUs INIr. Jeffery has observed in his True'^Grmrnds, prehend that all we are here to understand by God's blinding and Sfc. p. 110.) that the accomplishment of this prophecy could not hardening the.se Jews is, that he permitted them to grow more and be the end they proposed to themselves in their unbelief; and con- more prejudiced against the gospel, and, for wise reasons, acted in >.^ sequently that the expression nx rrXn.t-.Sd must be rendered as it is sucli a manner as he knew would in fact be abused by them to an I here: which may be applied to several other passages ; and shows, increase of those prejudices. The learned, by consulting the ori- by the way, how precarious that remark of Mr. Pierce is, by which ginals of the places below, may see instances of a phraseology , he would inake that phrase an argument that the scripture intro- nearly resembling and illustrating this. Compare Lev. xiii. 3; duced by it is quoted not in any instance by way of accomraoda- Ezek. xiii. 19, 22; xiv. 9; xx. 25; Gen. xii. 13; Jer. i. 10; iv. 20; tion, but always according to its original design aud literal meaning, and Acts x. 15; where a person is said to do what he permits, or b Halh the ana of tlic Lord been revealed ?] I apprehend this what he declares or foretells. The Evangelist in this quotation has phrase may allude to the hahit generally worn by the Easterns, and not confined himself exactly to the words of the prophet, but the r^ e.>!peeially by persons of rank, whichwas a long rob6'~w1tliout sense is plainly the same ; and nothing was more usual with the , sleeves ; "so that when the arm was stretched out to perform any Jews than to quote scripture in this way. See Surenhusius, De For- action which required strength, it would appear uncovered. (Cora- mvlis Allegandi, p. 367. pare Isa. lii. 10.) In this connexion it seems strongly to imply, d Jllien he saw his glory.'] These words seem so plainly to refer that whenever frue faith is produced in the mind, it is to be consi- to Christ, that I cannot but approve the argument which the deredas the effect of a divine energy. See Eph. i. 19; and Col. ii. 12. learned Bishop Pearson draws from Isa. vi. 1. to prove that Christ c He has blinded their eyes and' hardened their heart.] As God is was the Jehovah that spoke to the prophet. (Pearson OntheCreed, said to harden the heart of Pharaoh in one place, while in another it p. 125.) Dr. Clarke indeed explains it oi seeing tke Father's glory: 298 JESUS COMING FROM BETHANY, CURSES THE BARREN FIG-TREE. SECT. 149. JOHN XII. MARK XI. and spake of him and of his times in the awful words mentioned above, which had their terrible accomplishment in the men of this generation. Ntverthtltss, at this very time there were -inani/ even of the rulers themselves "who were inwardly convinced that he was the Messiah, and believed on him as such, still expecting tliat he would by some surprising providence be raised to the throne of Israel ; 42 Ijut tiicij did not think it convenient as yet to confess the convictions of their own hearts concerning [Jimi,'] un account of the declared enmity of the Pharisees against him, lest by them thej/ should be cast out of the sj/nagogue, and be exposed to the great ignominy 43 and secular detriment v/hich necess^^nly attended such a sentence. For they were such thoughtless and mean-spirited creatures, that they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God; and durst not face the contempt of their fellow mortals, even to secure the approbation of their Maker. (Compare John v. 44. p. 99.) This was the state of things at Jerusalem, and this the effect of Christ's entrance into it, as related above. But though the malice of his enemies was known to Jesus, and he was sensible they were contriving to destroy him, yet on the ?norrow-morning he again set out with his 12 disciples for Jerusalem: and when they were come from Bethany, as he returned into the city, he was very hungry ; having come out early without eating, that he might nei- 13 ther incommode his friends, nor break in upon his secret or public devotions.*^ And as he was now on the way, seeing a single fig-tree^ at a considerable distance, which had a. fine spread of leaves upon it, and therefore appeared to be one of the earlier kind, he went up to tf, [to set^ if he could find any thing upon it to satisfy his hunger j and when he came to it, he found nothing thereon but leaves only ; for there was not so much as any fruit in the bud ; by which it plainly appeared that, though it looked so beautitul, it was a barren tree. Now it is to be observed, that our Lord turned out of the way because, as it was yet but early in the summer, the time o/" gathering ^^s was not Sjjef] comejS so that had this 14 tree produced any, it might have been expected they would be growing still upon it. And Jesus, finding it to be a barren tree, that only made a promising appearance, but had pro- duced no fruit, said to it upon this occasion,^ As thou art fruitless now, continue always SO} let no man from henceforwards ever eat fruit of thee, nor any fruit hereafter ever grow upon thee. And his disciples heard [//,] and took notice of the words ; and as soon as he had spoken them, (though his disciples, as they were passing on, did not observe it at that time,) the fig-tree immediately withered away ; Christ intending by that signifi- cant action to intimate that the curse of God should thus wither and destroy the Jewish nation, which he had betbre compared to an unfruitful fig-tree. (See Luke xiii. 6 — 9. sect. cxvi. p. 231.) IMPROVEMENT. JOHN How evidently necessary is the operation of divine grace to conquer the prejudices of a sinful heart, since even XIL the preaching of Christ himself, enforced by all his stupendous miracles, could not overcome those prejudices \ cr. 37 without it ! And how cautious should sinners be, that they do not stop their ears to the joyful sound of the gospel, {ScTipL Doct. of the Tiln. p. 58.) But it is difficult to say, on that also Lev. xxiii. 15—17. compared with Exod. ix. 31, 32 ; and Ruth supposition, what the Evangelist intended by adding- tliat clause, ii. 23.) Now it is equally certain that one, and tliat tlie most deli- lana spake of liim .] and it would be quite unexampled to suppose cate kind of tigs, was ripe in Judea at the bsginningof summer ; (as that aurou has two such different significations in tlie same Ijjie, as we liave a fine sort in England which are ripe before our harvest, that the meaning should be, he saw the Father's glory, and spaKe of having put out the autumn before, and stood the whole winter:) the .Son. See Vitringaon Isa \\.\.^.U% et. seq. see Hos.ix.lO; Mich. vii. 1; Nah. iii. 12; Jer.xxiv.2; Cant. ii. e Might ueitlier mcomniode his friends, nor break in upon his 11—13; and Isa. xxviii. 4. And the fig-tree opening its leaves, devotions.] This must certainly hare been the reason of our Lord's which every body kjnows do not appear till after the fruit, is spoken hunger; for none can imagine that the hospitable and most sen- of as assign oT'approaching summer, Matt. xxiv. 32. Our Lord sibly obliged family of Lazarus would otlierwise have suffered therefore at this time might well expect to find fruit on this tree, Jesus to come out without eating; or tliat, if he had eaten that since the time of gathering even these early figs was not yet come, morning, he would have been so hungry, before he had walked two which if it had, there would have been no room for the expectation, miles, as to go out of the way to gather figs. To me there appears or tl;e curse which followed it That xxt^o; wxwv does not signify, as an inexpressible charm in this oblique hint ; it shows how little the some have fancied, a kindly season for figs, but the time of gather- Evangelists were inclined to enter into panegyrics or reflections on ing them in, I think the learned Bishop Kidder has abundantly the excellent character of their Master; and is a specimen of that proved. (See his Demonstration of the Messia/i, \ ii. p. 38, 39.)— simplicity and modesty which mi^ht, independent of other argu- " -. .. . - . ......_ . ,. , ... . . meiits, almost compel the assent of persons of a like temper, to the wonderful story which they relate in so genuine and unaffected a manner. 42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also, many believed on him ; but be- cause of the Pharisees they did not confess /lim, lest they should be put out of tlie synagogue. 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Mark xi. 12. And on the morrow [in the morning,] when they were come from Bethany, [as he returned into the city,] he was hun- gry, [Matt. xxi. 18.] 13 And seeing a fig-tree [in the way] afar of}, hav- ing leaves, lie came [to it,] if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found no- tliing [thereon] but leaves [only ;] for the time of figs was not 'jet. [Matt. xxi. 19.] 14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever: [Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward lor ever] And his disciples heard it ; [and presently the fig-tree withered away.] [Matt. xxi. 19.] f Seein/j a sini/le fig-tree.-] Though in the first edition I had only followed Mark, and rendered it, seeinij a tirj.tree, I think, upon far- Compare Matt. xxi. 34; Markxii. 2; and Numb. xiii. 23. It is true this interpretation of the story, though incomparably easier than any other I know, will require a transposition of the clause be- fore us ; as if it had been said. He came, if fiaply lie viiglit find any tiling thereon ; for the time of figs was not yet ; and when he came to . . . ., ... , , ., it, he fovnd nothing but leaves. But no interpretation whatever can ther consideration, that ffwiv mm, which is Uie expression Mattliew make the last clause, as we read it, a reason for what stands imme- uses here, (though our translators make no difference,) should have diately before it, that he found nothing but leaves ; for it is well been rendered, a single fig-tree, which I have now inserted in the known, that if our common fi^-trees have no young figs on them in ^^"^^'SS' • .r .c March or April, they can produce none that year. None can deny g Ihe time of figs was not [yet\ come] I shall not trouble the another transposition of the like kind in the same Evangelist, Mark reader with an account of all the strange solutions which have been (xvi. 3, 4. \ 194.) both of them probably being occasioned by an ac- given to the difficulty which immediately arises in the mind on cidental interlineation in the original, and a mistake of some ear- TMding this clause ; nor with the particular reasons whicli may be lier transcriber, whe did not bring in the interlined clause exactly offered against each. The best view of them all, that I can recol- in its due place. See instances of the like kind. Gen. xiii. 10; and lect, may be had by consulting 'Witsius, in his Melrlemata ; and I Josh. xxii. 22. And if with Heinsius, Knaiclibull, and Gataker, we think the best solution may be seen in Mr. Hallet's Notes and Dis. should here read « where instead of « not, and render it, where he was - courses, ^ ol. IT. p. 114—124. It is certain, as he has there proved it was the season of figs, we must admit of the same transposition, and from incontestable authority, and we have observed el.sewhere, consequently should gain no advantage at all, by a version which (note b, on Luke vi. 1. p. 100, 101.) that the climate of Judea being (as all learned men know) is very harsh, and attended with an in- abundantly warmer than ours, the passover, though never later elegancy and impropriety which this would be no proper place to than April, commonly fell at the beginning of their harvest, that is, examine. oftheir summer, which is there vehemently hot, not only in May, h And Jesus said to it upon this occasion.] It is plain that in this out m March and April ; (in which last this paspover probably fell :) place this must be the sense of that plirase, Jesus answered and said. compare Josh. in. 15; iv. 19; v. 10, 11 ; and I Chron. xii. 15. (See Compare note f, on Matt. xi. 25. p. 118. JESUS COMES TO JERUSALEM, AND AGAIN PURGES THE TEMPLE. 299 SECT. 149. JOHN XII. I and shut their eyes against its glorious light ; lest God should leave them to their own delusions, and in his righteous judgment seal them up under final blindness and impenitence! Then will they never be converted , and healed, but die with that poison in all the faculties of then- sods, which will make them for ever restless and ■ I miserable. ' Can we find words sufficient to express the madness of these Pharisees, who, while they were in their consciences ; convinced that Jesus was the Christ, would not confess that conviction, and publicly pay their homage to him, "^^ I because thfij loved the praise of men more than the praise of God? Strange infatuation of the human mind! 43 ' that it should be capable of believing there is a God, and yet of preferring the creatures before him ; and I should sometimes imagine the vain breath of jwpular applause or popular censure so considerable, as that God should be offended to please man ; and all the honours and rewards of his heavenly presence lost, to secure a little . regard from those who are perishing in their crimes, and will ere long be themselves the objects of everlasting shame , and contempt. ; May none of us ever indulge such a temper, or ever rest in an empty profession ; lest, being like the fig-tree mark j before us, which had leaves but no fruit, the curse of Christ should be pronounced upon us, which would imnie- XI. 13, 14 i diately wither us amidst all our verdure ! Let us remember that this was intended as one of those significant matt. ] actions by which the holy messengers of God frequently intimated approacliing judgments. Happy would it have ^XI. lo 1 been if some, instead of searching out objections against it, had seriously considered its design, and the sad aspect i with which it looks on those who, like them, receive the grace of God in vain ! . . of prayer! but ye have made it a den of thieves. SECTION CL. • Christ arriving at Jerusalem, visits the temple again; and, after a repeated effort to reform the continued abuses there, discourses loith the people in a manner -which farther exasperates the priests ; and in the even- i ing goes out of the citj/. Mark xi. 15 — 19. John xii. 44, to the end. MAKKxi. 15. Mark xi. 15. And they come to Jem- AND, soon after the fig-tree had been cursed, thet/ come to Jerusalem ; and Jesus ente?-- to't™ umnie^Xd be'n'aVto ^"ff' ^s he had doue the day before, into the temple, observed, as he was passing through cast out them that soTd and the court of the Gentiles, that the people who had polluted it by their traffic were seated bought in the temple, and j[-|gj.g aeain ; and being displeased to see that sacred place so sliameluUy profaned, he pre- 1 overthrew the tables ot the ,o 'i,..?- i^u j/ u j • j. ti jI i „ i i i I money-changers, and tiie sently renewed his testimony against them, and began to drive out them that sold ana I seats of them that sold bouo'ht in the limits of ihe temple,"^ and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, ■' ^"iTind would not suffer ''"^ also the Seats of them that sold doves : And he permitted not that any one, for the : that any man should carry sake of shortening his way, ^/iow/^/ cfl/v7/ fl«j/ burden or any kind of ie.55c/ M/OHO"/' the courts j any vessel through the ^f ^/^^ temple ; but Strictly insisted on a due reverence to it, as a place that was entirely i ^^T^And he taught, saying set apart to God's liimiediate service. And he taught them at large the evil of such prac- ' unto tliem, Is it" not writ'- tices ; SO I/in o- to them. Is it not "written, (as I observed but yesterday,) " My house shall edof^i^i^Xns^hl'house " be called^an house of prayer, and that not only for the Jews themselves, but (as the prophet says)/6i/- the sons of the stranger that join themselves to the Lord, or tor those pious proselytes who from all the neighbouring nations shall resort to it ?" (Isa. Ivi. 6, 7.) But you have turned it to another use, and made it in effect a den of robbers, by suffering people here to carry on their trades, and to profaneTEe place in which the Gentiles are to v/orship God, by scandalous extortion and unlawful gain. (Compare Matt. xxi. 12, 13 -, and Luke xix. 45, 46. p. 293.) John xii. 44. Jesus cried ^«f/ then, as considerable numbers of people were now gathered about him, Jesus and said, He tliat believeth ^ricd, OX proclaimed with a loud voice, saying, Be it known unto you all, that in these me, "hut on him that^ seat extraordinary steps which I take for the reformation of abuses and the vindication of God's me! house, I act by his own immediate direction and authority ; and he that cordially believes in 7nc, believeth not in me alone, but in him that sent me, and thereby does an honour 45 And hetliat seetli me, to the Father himself. And he that sees me, and regards me with a lively faith, does also 45 secth him that sent me. jn effect see him that sent me, as the perfections of the Father are displayed in me; "whereas/ he that shuts his eyes against me/ excludes the only means of being brought to the 46 I am come a light in- true kncAvledge of him. For, full of the inspiration of his blessed Spirit, J am come a light 46 to the world, that whoso- into the world, that every one who really believes in me might not any longer abide in nirabidelu'da''r'knesf ""''^ darkness,hni might attain to the knowledge of all necessary truth, and the enjoyment of 47 And if any man hear the most solid and excellent happiness. And if any one of you hear my words which I am 47 my words and beUeve^not ^q frequently and freely speaking, and will not believe in me, I do not now condemn him, cai'ne^not"™ judge °tlie Or immediately execute judgment upon him ; /or (as I formerly declared, John iii. 17. ■world, but to save the secf. xxvi.) I am not come at present to condemn the "world, or to perform any work of ^°''^^- wrath and terror, whatever ill usage I may meet with in it; but the design of my appear- a To drive out them Ihat sold and bought in the temvle.'] The time haps, be new comers) to return again to their places. And Jesus wiien this was done is fixed by Marli to the day alter Jesus made therefore seems (as Mr. Wliiston has observed) to have asserted tlie his public entry into Jerusalem; and so (as was observed before, regard tliat was due to the temple now, with more severity and note c, on Matt. xxi. 12. p. 29,3.) this must have been a different fact exactness than he had done the day before, not suffering any one from that related by Matthew, whicli he has introduced on the pre- so much as to carry a vessel through the temple ; which is a cir- cedingday, before the shoutings of the children. We have sup- cumstance not mentioned either by Matthew or Lul * ^ 1 u J tli6rciorp cv'^n as tlic rJi- means vary in a matter of so much importance ; but whatever I say unto you, I speak ther said unto me, so I ■ \t just as the Father has given it me in charge, and alter nothing in the message he has speak, sent me to deliver. So that the doctrine which I preach should be received as coming from \ the Father, and by rejecting it you will be guilty of despising his authority. ' MARK Thus did our Lord continue to reform abuses, and to teach the people with the utmost Mark xi. 18. And the XI. seriousness and earnestness, on the second day of that week in which he suffered. And scnix-s and chief priests 18 the scribes and chief priests were much offended when they heard'[of it,] and dili- they might dest'roy himi gently sought how they might find out some expedient to destroy hi>n,for they not only for tliey feared him, be- envied hut dreaded him, because all the people were visibly struck into attention and astonished at hirdoctHne^^ wonder at his doctrine, and seemed disposed to receive it with a respect proportionable to its importance and solemnity. 19 And, that he might give them no unseasonable advantages against him, when the even- 19 And when even was ing wac come, he went out of the city, and spent the night, as he had done before, in a *^?""^' '** "'^"'^ out of the retired place with his disciples. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. How hard is it to purge a carnal heart, and disentangle it from the snares of a deceitful world ! No sooner 15, 17 were these traders driven from the temple but they return to it again, and are as busy the next day in the pursuit of their unlawful gain as they had been before. -Andtlxus how often are convictions stifled by the love of this world ! And if the voice of conscience, or the woraSfGod, may interrupt us for a while in our unlawful courses, yet where it may affect our worldly interest, how ready are we to return to them again : and with what difficulty are we brought so far to lay aside our earthly projects, as not to take them with us into the house of God ! Purge us, O Lord, from every irregular desire ; pursue and perfect thine own work ; and incline our hearts unto thy testimonies, and not unto covetousness .' (Psal. cxix. 36.) JOHN Most important is that proclamation which our Lord made in the temple, and is still making to us in his word : AA^A'i ^^^isving in him, we believe in the Father; and seeing him, we see the Father. Let us be ready therefore to » receive hijn out of regard to his divine authority, as well as with a view to our own happiness ; for without him we can have no access unto the Father, nor can we ever see him as a reconciled God. The sacred light which he diffuses around him is not intended merely to amuse our eyes with pleasing speculations, but to animate our hearts with holy affections, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke i. 79.) If we desire therefore to escape an abode in eternal darkness, and to see light everlasting, let us faithfully follow him : otherwise we are condemned already, and that word which he spake will become to us a savour of death unto death, (2 Cor. ii. 16.) and will judge us in the last solemn and dreadful day, when it shall sentence those who would not be saved by it. Let us now make that word the rule of our life, which shall then be the rule of our judgment. We may most comfortably venture our eternal all On the exact veracity of it. Christ has perfectly fulfilled the commission he 49, 50 received from his Father, as one that was faithful to him that appointed him ; and stands so completely approved in his sight, that our only hope is, that we also may be accepted in him, and find mercy and grace for his sake. SECTION CLL Jesus reluming to the city in the 7norning, his disciples observe that the fig-tree was withered away : hein^ come into the temple, he confounds themejnbers of the sanhedrim, who questioned his authority, and reproves than by the parable of the complaisant but disobedient son. Matt. xxi. 20 — 32. Mark xi. 20, to the e»d; xii. 1. Luke XX. 1 — 9. SECT. ,^ . ^„ 151. ,. ^^^ , . , , Mark xi. 20. Mark xi. 20. i\ OW Jesus, having spent the night with his disciples in a retired place without the city. And in the MARK returned again to Jerusalem on the third day of the week in which he suffered ; and in the J.'."^!: ^''^^f'^ ^y^ [wheir'the XI. 20. morning, as they were passing by the spot of ground where he had cursed the barren fig- driccf up from 'the f ooTs! b That very word shall judge him, S{c. o xoyor ov EXseXura, skeiw; him ; as if he had said, " Thoiigli it is not my present business to xoivei arurov.] Our Lord by tliis manner of speaking, represents ///.? " do it, yet I have a commission from my Father, which is here- woiv/asa pcrso/i that should sit in judgment upon unbelievers at " after to take jilace when I shall appear worthy of that £;reat the last day. (Compare Heb. iv. 12.) But I can see no ground for " name." I dQ_not recollect that our Lord had given himself the Mr. Fleming's interpretation, (Chrislology, Vol. I. p. l.ia) who title of Logos inlny'omtfaiscourses with the Jews; and therefore would render it, The Logos, whicli J have spoken of, shall judge can see no reason to .suppose such a reference to it. CHRIST COMES AGAIN TO JERUSALEM, AND PREACHES IN THE TEMPLE. 301 rihcy marvelled, saying, tree on the day before, when the disciples saw the fig'tre ,, ^ i ? ^ ■ j j.i ■ ^ 1.1 j> . 1,1 only do this which is done to Stand by you, you s/iall not only do such miracles as t/its oj the jig-tree, but also to the fig-tree ; but also] shalT^erforni far greater things ; yea, whosoever, under such an impulse, and with such a thirm'omitalnl'BeTifou re- believing temper, shall attempt any thing as difficult and extraordinary as if he were to moved, and be thou cast say to this jnountain which we are now crossing. Be thou removed from hence, and d°ubt'^irhis''"hea'rT'' but ^^'^'o^'-'^ '>^to the ^ia^Tca rdhdshall'not at all doubt in his mind, but stedfastly be- shall believe that 'those licve that ivhat he says shall come to pass, it shall accordingly be done, [and'\ shall be things which he saith shall fg himjust OS he says. And for this reason, to encourage you boldly to act as God 24 donet a/i^]*\'e sha^li^have ^hall diicct and instigate you, I say unto you. That whatsoever things you shall desire whatsoever he siith. [Matt. \_and'\ aslc of God ill prayer, io make it manifest that you are sent of him, and to confirm *^''i"r'\ndi therefore I sa y°'^ doctrine ; if you believe that you shall actually receive them, however difficult the un'to you, What tilings "so- things may be that you request, yet in such circumstance they shall certainly be done. ; everyedtsire,[f/n(/ shall ask and you shall have them. i in prayer,] believe that ye t,-. ..,, -, ,-, , • . 1 receive them, and ye shall But still I WOuld SUbjOlt: ye siiau j-^^j.- onii ^ >;jiujii ,3yL'4oia-,one caution; that if you expect your prayers should pre- 25 haveMrm. [Matt. xxi . 22.] vail with Go37 you must take care to ofler them in love as well as in faith; and when \ prayii'wor^lv^e^if ve^have H^^'' stand praying,'^ in the presence of that Majesty of heaven whom you have ofiended I ought "against 'any: that by SO many provocations, you should forgive^ if you have any matter of complaint j your Father also which (Sin asainst anu ; that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But 26 I lieaven may forgive vou .C; ; ^ /■ - 1 1 • ^ 1 i_ £c j- v ! your trespasses. . if you do not jorgive even your most cruel enemies, and much more your oiiending bre- I 2G But if ye do not for- thren, neither will your Father in heaven forgive you your trespasses : (compare Slatt. I lier'w°hich" in heaven fo?I ^»- ^4, 15 ; xvui. 35.) And if your trespasses be not forgiven, you have Uttie reason to I give your trespasses. hope for such extraordinary interpositions in answer to your prayers ; or if those interpo- 27 And they come again gitions were to be granted, you would receive no manner of advantage from them, while, he was come into the tem- amidst all the glory of \vorking the most amazing miracles, you lay under the load of guilt pie,] [Luke, it came to pass, and condemnation. ^~^ rLuke''*as'he^'^Tau^ht 'tlfe -^"^ ^^^^ Jesus had been thus discoursing with his disciples by the way, they come 27 people', and preached tlie again to Jerusalem ; and when he was come into the temple, it came to pass that as gospel,] there [Luke, carne jjf, ^^^^ walking there,'^ while he taught the people who flocked around him, and zea- and tiie scribes, and the lously preached the gospel of the kingdom to all that were desirous to be instructed in it, elders [of the people :] the chief pricsts, and the scribes, and the elders of the people,^ who were contriving Luke" XX. 2. And 'spake ^^^ destruction, camc upon him in a body, with a strong desire to confound and over- unto hira, saying. Tell us bear him : And they spake to him in such a manner as to express their high displeasure luke bywhatauthoritydostthou ^t what had lately passed, say ins. Thou hast here taken upon thee to reform the temple, X^- these things? or who is he ... . ■'• "^ 1 ' 'T 1 , • . 1 i • ,1 1 f i O that gave thee this autho- which IS our provmce alone, and hast in a tumultuous manner driven out those who had " rity [.Mark, to do these our permission to traffic in the outer court ; we insist upon it, therefore, that thou tell us a. JVhen the disciples saw theflg-tree.'\ Matthew relates this story editors have frequently done, but that I do not chuse to multiply of the fig-tree, as if the notice that the disciples took of it, and the exJTtetives in the sacred writings. account that Jesus gave them of the power of faith, followed ira- d // came to pass, that as he was walking.'] Luke, who tells this, as I mediately upon his cursing it. But Mark has so expressly referred he does several other stories^ in a less circumstantial manner, sajs j these circumstances to the next morning, and so particularly men- it was on one of those eTSyS"; but the insertion of that clause here I tions Peter's recollecting what had passed before, that it is plain would have been improper, considering how particularly the date I his order must he followed here, which Matthew has neglected, that 'of this fact is fixed by Ma'rk. If the reader should happen else- ' he might give us the whole of the story together. where to meet witli the omission of a word or two in any of the I b Have fuilh in God, &c.] It is^certaki that the attempt ofner- Evangelists, (which he very seldom will,) I hope he will not con- forming miracles in public, was a remarkable instance of faitliTnthe demn it, till he reflect whether it may not be accounted for in the divine power and fidelity; for they were generally introduced ty same manner. some solemn declaration of what was intended, which was in effect a e The chief priests — and the elders of the people.] These are titles prediction of immediate success: (so Peter says. Acts iii. 6. In the that frequently occur, but it is not easy to fix a determinate idea name of Jesus Christ, Rise up and walk : \x. 34. JEneas, Jesus Christ to them. — By the chief priests, I think we may understand any maketh thee whole: and again, ver. 40. Tabitha, Arise.) And in peculiar distinction in the Aaronic family : so that it may include j pronouncing this, the person speaking .gawued. all his credit as a the high priest, his deputy or^agan, any of the heads of the twenty- I messenger from God, and consequently all tlie lionour and useful- four courses of priests who mT»ht happen to be in waiting, and j ness of his future life,^n the immediate miraculous energy to at- likewise any of those whom the Talraudlsts called Catholicin, I tend his words, and tone visibly exerted on his uttering them. Amarcalin, and Memunniin, who (if their testimony may be cre- ' And hence it is that such a firm courageous faith is so often urged dited) were appointed to preside over the other priests and Levites, on those to whom such miraculous powers were given. — But what and to regulate the watch, the singers, &c. A summary account of kind of intimation of God's intended miraculous interposition the them may be seen in Reland, Antiq. Heh. part ii. cap. iii. \ 4, 5. — »l)ostles in such cases felt on their minds, it is impossible for any,l By the elders of the people, some would understand tho.se represen- without having experienced it, to know. It is therefore an instance^ tatives who were called Viri Stationarii, that were appointed to at- of their wisdom, that they never pretend to describe it, since no tend in their courses at the hours of morning and evening sacrifice words could have conveyed the idea. in the name of the whole Israelitish nation ; but I rather suppose c When you stand praying.] There is no room to doubt that it may signify the members of the grand sanhedrirn, to whom that standing was their usual posture when they prayed ; as Dr. Light- title most eminently and properly belonged ; which is the more foot observes with respect to the Jews, {Hor. Hehr. on Matt. vi. -5.) probable, as they were the persons under whose cognizance the late and the learned author of the Inquiry into the Worship of the Pri- action of Christ in purging the temple would most naturally fall. mitive Cliurcli, (chap. ii. 5 1.) has shewn it to be the practice of the These, with the persons aljove-mentioned, probably appearetl in a first ages of the Christian church. (Compare Matt. vi. 5 ; and Luke considerable company, on purpose to daunt him, and to bear an xviii. 11.) But as the word [s/anrf] has no particular significancy united testimony against him, if any thing exceptionable should here, 1 might have omitted it in the translation, as the Prussiaa fall from him ou this occasion. 302 PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS BID TO GO AND WORK IN THE VINEYARD. SECT. XQundly and plainly by tffhat authority thou dost all these extraordinary thhigs ? and things ?] [Matt. x.xi. 23. 151. "icho he is that gave thee this authority po. which thou presumest to do them '^ iviark xi. 28.] And Jesus, that he might at once reprove the impropriety of the question in those cir- 3 And [j«sus] answered LUKE cumstances, and in eifect return an unexceptionable, thoufrh oblique, answer to it, said to "^^ ''^'f ""'" ',t™',^ ^'^'" vv ,; / r ~'77 / ; 1 • J- ii ■• ; "'*° '^^'^ >'<>" [Mark, one ^^- them in reply, 1 will also ask you one plain question on this occasion : and pray an- question,] and answer me, 3 siL-er me this one thing, which if you tell me, I will likewise give you all the satislaction ['"J'^'n "ne tiling;, v ' ■ " you can desire, and directly tell you, if ye do yet indeed need to be told, by what tell you by' what which if ye ewise will V ; ; • " " " " • ; ~ •" •' 1 authority 4 authority I do these things. You all remember the Baptism of John, which was at- I do these things.] Matt, tended by such multitudes of people, and even by many of your leading men : (compare ^^\' ?A:^}^'^\-^^- ^^;^, , ■ -- T ij 1 11 1 "^ L / .1 • 1 r •.. • • 1 r' ^ ihe baptism of John, / 1 would gladly know what you thmk. 01 its original : }7^MlTk not yet expressly determined. xi. 33.] \, 8 And Jesus immediately replied and said unto them. Neither do J.think it at all neces- 8 And Jesus [Mark, an- ; . sary to tell you by what authority J do these things ; for the other questToiTTiafurally ^I'^j'i""-'. t^'J^ "'"? *'"!™' j ' • i u J .1 • J .G t f j 1 ii ■ 1 4 J 1 *ut 1 '^<^'"'er tell i you by what requires to be detennmed first,' and when you think proper to decide that, you may easily authority i do these thino-s. ■ - perceive that the same answer will serve for both.s [Matt. xxi. 27. Mark xi. 33.] ! MARK And having thus silenced the members of the great council, who had taken upon them Mark xii. 1. And he be- ^^^- to examine him for his late proceedings, he began to speak unto them, \and^ to the people fwio the*i)eop\el'bvpara^ who were now assembled, by several parables, of which we shall give a more particular hies. [Luke xx. 9. ■ account. "^ ' I MATT. And first, he said to the scribes and Pharisees with whom he had been discoursing. You Matt. xxi. 28. But what xxr. }jave evaded a direct answer to my question, but what think you of your own conduct in u,',''/'^,/'^ ' ^ <^''''«n man r>o iU • ^ J I- 11 ..1 1^- L c ■ 1 f X J had two sons, and he came 28 these circumstances, and 01 all the high professions you make 01 an extraordinary rever- to tlie first, and said, Son, ence for God, and zeal in his service ? I will plainly tell you my thoughts of it, which are S" work to-day iu my vine- very naturally connected with the present subject. There was a man who had two sons ; and coming to the first, he said. Son, go di- .rectlyaway and work to-day in my vineyard, where, thou knowest, there is business fo 29 domatTequires thine attendance. And he answered in a very rude and undutiful man- 29 He answered and said, ner, and said, I will not: but afterwards considetino; httier oTit, he repented thai he ?,7ii', "''.'•,''"*/"'' '"'"'''^ 11 11,1 11 7 , ■ 1 1 . i'' 1 ,1 , , ■ 1 ■ lie repented and went. had used his father so ill 5 and, to make the best amends he could, he went into the vine- 30 yard, and laboured diligently there. And when the first had given so undutiful an an- so And he came to the swer to his father, he came to the second, and said to him in the same mamier as he a^''^'!'^' "'"', *"j^ 'I^'^^m^t had done to his brother: and he, being ^smoQth,__plausibleJad^<7«ra'er6Y/ with great ^^o. Sir; and went not. ' submission and readiness, and said. Sir, \_I am going] this moment to obey your com- mands ■}^ and yet, after all, he went not to the vineyard, but spent the whole day else- where. 31 Now I would leave it to yourselves to judge which of the two youths I have been 3i Whether of them speaking of did the will of [his'] father, and with which of them he would, on the whole, ^",^j" ^}^ ">^ y'" <^^ .^"'^ be best pleased. And without hesitation they say to /^/w, Undoubtedly the first of TliefiVst:— ^^^ ""'" ""'' them. Then Jesus, upon this, says to them. The application of this parable is very easy ; for — Jesus saith unto them, thus it is, that notwithstanding your professions of a regard to God, yet in your practice '^'^niyi say unto vou, That ,. L 1- 4. uij J • i 1 • 1 J -IT J rriL ± t'"^ publicans and the har- you are aisot)eaient children, and reject his gosiDel ; and verily 1 say unto you, 1 fiat lots go into the kingdom of even tlie most abandoned sinners of the age, such as the publicans and cominon prosti- God before you. tutcs, are much more open to conviction, and more likely to be wrought upon than you ; and so many of them have already been awakened to repentance, that their example might lead you the way into the kingdom of God ; but, with all your pretences to 32 sanctity, you will not follow them. For, though you have not integrity enough freely to 32 For John came unto own it, you know in your own consciences that John came not unto you in a suspicious you in the way of right- f The other question naturally requires to be determined first.] that of John was allowed, (since, according to a Jewish maxim, Tliat singular turn which the reader will observe to be given to this 7'lie Icslimony of one prophet ivas sufficient to confirm the avthority of answer of our Lord in the paraphrase, by which I think the pro- anollier :) so Christ had spoken in such an honourable manner of priety of it to be much illustrated, I owe to that very accurate and John, that to condemn John as an impostor, would imply a like learned friend who suggested the substance of note g, on John vii. censure on the character of Jesus. 22. p. 201. h Sir, I am gcing.'] This was a proper emblem of the hypocrisy of g The same answer will serve for both.] This was plainly the the scribes and Pharisees,whoaddressed(iod under the most honour- case; for as, on the one hand, tlie express testimony which John able titles, and professed the greatest readiness and zeal in his service bore to Christ must be a sufficient proof of liis divine mission, if while their *Tiole lives were a series of disobedience and rebellion. THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD LET TO WICKED HUSBANDMEN. 303 eousness, and ye believed manner, hut in t/ie waj/ of 7-ig/iteous)iess ; rtwr/difl, in all liis ministry, maintain the"uni- siiCT. him not : but the publicans fQ^;^^ character of an upright and pious man, as well as of a plain and awakening preacher, 151. and the harlots believed ___^ /../.■.„. j ;..•.., ^..°. . i..^ ii. /./.„!. , 7...;...^ .i- _..i, i 1.° '/.„/; ', h?m And "ye" when ye y<2t '/OM believed liiiH not; but the publicans and harlots, of whom I spake, believed- had seen //, repented not hiui : «»<-/ ?/yM Were still SO obstinate, that even a>/ie,'M 7yo?< SAW [i/,] and perceived a grow- matt. after\yai^s that ye might ^^^ reformation among the most abandoned of mankind, yet you did not afterwards re- o^?^'' pent [so as'] to believe him. (Compare Luke vii. 29, 30. p. IIG.) And therefore I '^^ L solemnly warn you, that your condition will another day be worse than theirs ; and that fe^; you shall see those whom you now despise and aElTor, entering into the glory from which F you shall be excluded. \ IMPROVEMENT. How little do the most specious pretences of piety signify, if they are not animated by the heart, and confirmed Ver. 28 by the life ! How vain are all the complimentaL forms of religion, when addressed to that God who penetrates all the secrets of the soul, and can have complacency in nothing but real and solid goodness ! Yet how many are there 29 — 31 who are free of their promises both to God and man, but always fail when the time of performance comes ! And how many, with these unhappy rulers in Israel, go on to pride themselves in a kind of external nearness to God, 32 and perhaps in a boasted commission from him, Vvho are themselves so far from his kingdom, that even publicans and harlots, who did not pretend to any religion, are more like to be brought into it than they, as being more open to a conviction of their sin and danger, and so more ready to embrace an offered Saviour ! Let us dread the guilt of receiving the grace of God in vain, lest, by rejecting the calls of the gospel, and abusing the privileges we enjoy, our hearts be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, so as to perish in impenitence and unbelief. In vain do we, like these Pharisees, inquire into the evidences of Christ's authority, if we are not heartily resolved 23 to submit to it. Yet with such cavillers and hypocrites must his ministers expect to meet. May they learn, by the example of their great Master, to answer them with the meekness of wisdom, and to join the sagacity of the 24 — 27 serpent with the gentleness and innocence of the dove ! The promises which are made to a miraculous faith in prayer, are not indeed our immediate concern ; but we mark may truly infer from them some encouragement in favour of the prayer of faith, on whatever account and in wha-t- „^'- ever circumstances it be offered: At least we may infer the necessity of forgiving injuries, if we desire that our '^'^» '^'* petitions should be received with favour. Let us remember it, and labour to approach the throne of a forgiving God with hearts not only clear of every malignant passion, but full of that cordial and universal benevolence which may engage us to pray for all men, and particularly for those who have least deserved our kindness, and seem least '^^' '^^ disposed to requite it. ^ 9.\^ t^^r^.■\^^ I 7 v ] ^ \ (: - SECTION CLH Christ utters the parable of the vineyard let out to unfaithful husbandmen ; from which he takes occasion plainly to admonish the" Jewish rulers of the danger and ruin they would incur by the schemes they were formmg against him. Matt. xxi. 33, to the end. Mark xii. 1 — 12. Luke xx. 9—19. MATT. xrJ. 33. I^i^TT. xxi. 33. Hear another parable: OUR Lord having thus reproved the priests and elders in the temple who had been SECT. hlliXV' which' Splinted '^a questioning his authority, and shown how inexcusable they were in not believing John, 152. vineyard, and hedged it though they could not deny him to be sent of God, continued his discourse, and said to round about, and digg:ed a *Upj^ ^j-,^ j.q ^jjg people. Hear now another parable, in which you are very nearly con- matt. wine-press in it, [or a place _ r r ' _ . ■ , 1 . 11 rm t ■ XXI /ortliewine fat,] and built cemed, as your own consciences must quickly tell you: I here xvas a certain man, a ^^-'■'• a tower, and let it out to master of a considerable ya;«i/j/ and estate, who planted a vineyard, and spared no cost intf a" fa"rcountr'y'* [lX! to render it fruitful \ for he ?nade a strong hedge round it, to preserve it from the incursion for a long time.] [Mark of men Or beasts, and digged [a place for'] a wine-press in it, [or] a large cavity which xii. ]. Luke xx. 9.] might Serve as a fat for the wine, to receive the liquor when pressed from the grapes -^ 34 a d rat the season 1 ''"^^ *^^ ^'^° built a tower in it for the accommodation and defence of the labourers; and when the time orthrfruit then he let it out to husbandmen, who were to pay him a certain acknowledgment out of drew near, he sent his ser- the produce of it ; and he himself departed thence, and took a journey for a long time vants to the husbandmen, •,;•_,,, that they might receive Z"^" « distant country. , ^ . 7 j j [from the husbandmen of And at the proper Season, when the time of gathering in the fruit approached, and a 34 the fruit of the vineyard.] return was to be made him from the profits of it, he sent his servants to the husbandmen [Mark xii. 2. Luke xx. 10] , , , „ , . , , . , ^ . ^,777 7 ii_ i »■ y- ^7 35 And the husbandmen Avho had farmed it, that he might receive from the husbandmen that proportion of tfie f caught] his servants, and fi-^it of the vineyard which was due to him for the rent. And the husbandmen, wickedly 35 awaV "empty,] and" killed 'conspiring to keep the vineyard to themselves, instead of receiving them with due respect, another, and stoned ano- and returning the appointed payment, seized his servants, and beat one of the chief of XX "^io ]'^'"^'*' "''■ ^' ■^"'"^ ^'^°^2 ^^'^° arrived first, and sent him empty away ; and as the demand grew more pressing, 3G [And] again he sent they took up the weapons with which their lord himself had furnished them for very [unto them] other servants ditferont purposes, and slew another, and stoned another till they had driven him away, they did "unto them like- And when their lord heard the report of this their injustice, he did not immediately arm 36 wise: and at him wlio was himself against them, but seid again other sei-vants to treat with them, more in number ltVwounde7/«mSf"tS ^nd higher in office than the first : but, still persisting in their wickedness, they did the head, and sent him away same unto them ; and particularly, at him [who was the chief] person employed to ac- and"em It"^ 1 """rMtlk xir^*" '^^""^ ^'^'^ ^^®'"' ^^'^■^ ^^"'^'^ stoncs, and wounded him dangerously in the head, and sent Luke XX. ^1] *' ^"' ' him away not only empty, but very dishonourably and shamefully treated. a A fat for the wine.'\ Matthew uses the word Xnvw, and Mark pressed from the grapes. The one of these naturally implies the VTt»\rnm. The former signifies the ivine-press, the other the cavity other ; but our Lord raiglit without any impropriety mention under it, in which the vessel was fixed which received the liquor both. 304 THE WICKEDNESS AND FINAL DESTRUCTION OF THE HUSBANDMEN. SECT. And again the third [//wr] he sent another of his principal servants; and him also they Mark xii. 5. And a^ain 152. xvounded, as they had done the former, and even were so outrageous, that they cast him ''.e sent another ;t!ie tliird out of the vineyard, [and] killed him : and in hke manner they assaulted inani/ others [woVmlcd "aiso,'"'and ^^llt M.A.RK who came with or alter him on the same errand, beating some of them, and killing others him out, and] killed : and XII. 5. outri<^ht many otliers, beating- some, LUKE Then the lord of the vineyard, being still unwilling to proceed to the last extremity ^-. lo] '"° ^i^- with them, though they had been so very wicked and ungrateful in the treatment of his Luke xx. 13. Then said 13 servants, said to them that were about him, What shall I do farther to reclaim them ? I *wh;a''jl,a'i[ I'doi'T^wiii ivill send my own son to them."^ Having yet therefore one son, who was his well-be- send luy— sou. [I\lark, loved, and the heir of the family, he sent him last of all to them, as the only gentle "^'■'?? yet therefore onei ,.,,,, . J • V) 7 .7 -77 1 li ^°"' '"s well-beloved, he I expedient that remamed, saying, rerhaps they will reverence my son when they see sent him also last [of all] him :" for surely they must needs have some respect for him, and will not presume to offer ""to them, sayinsr,] It may MATT, him any injury. But when the husbandmen saw the son come into the vineyard, instead sonVwiirn''they''^see^hrm^ XXI. of paying any due regard to him, they grew yet more outrageous in their wickedness, and [Matt. xxi. 37. Mark "^^ reasoned among themselves, saying. This is the only heir of the whole estate ; come, let '"J^jl^jl ^^j ^ But when us kill him, and seize on his inheritance,^ that [//] may be ours from generation the husbandmen saw the to generation, and no descendants of our master may remain to give any disturbance '*o"> [Luke, they reasoned 39 to us or our children in the possession of it. And witli malignant hearts and cruel hands xhiTE the"ifeirrcome,''fet they fell upon their master's son, and seized him ; and, fearing neither God nor man, they us kill him, and let us seize cast him out of the vineyard, and slexo him,^ exposing his dead body in a most con- that'iV ma'-'be^ur.s'i '"n>Lirk temptuous and insolent, as well as inhuman manner. xii. 7. Luke xx. 1.5.] 40 ]Vhen therefore the Lord of the vineyard himself cometh, armed with a power which ■'^ '^"'^ t''?y caught him, they will be utterly unable to resist, what will he do, think you, to those treacherous and vineyard, and slew him. cruel husbandmen, when he has them entirely at his disposal ? [Mark xii. 8. Lukexx. 15.] 41 And, as the Jewish rulers did not understand that they themselves were these unfaithful for^of the vineya'^^a'cometi^ husbandmen, they say unto him. There is no doubt but he will wretchedly destroy those wiiat will he do unto those' wicked and incorrigible wretches, nor is the most tormenting death too severe for them to 'lusbaudracn 1 [Mark n. 9. expect ; and he will then let out the vineyard' to other husbandmen, who s/^a// faithfully 4i^They^say unto him, render him the fruits of it in their proper seasons.- He will miserably destroy LUKE Thus did they, before they were aware, condemn themselves ; and [Jesus added,] You {'rouW^f vhleya^d'^unto XX. have answered right : he shall indeed quickly come and destroy these husbandmen of other husbandmen, which 16 whom I speak, whoever they shall appear to be, with terrible severity, and will give the ?''^'' ':«'"''^'' '"•« the fruits vineyard to others. Now all this was as if he had said. Consider your own concern in Luke xx. ig. [jesus said,'] what you have heard : God has planted a church among you, and given you an excellent He shall come and destroy revelation of his will ; abundant provision has been made, both for your protection and \\^^\\ o-(ve \he"vTnevard"to your improvement too : but you have ungratefully refused the fruits of obedience which others? [Mark xii. l).] were so justly his due; and when he has frequently sent his servants the prophets, with one message and demand after another, you, the rulers and teachers of Israel, to whom the cultivation of the vineyard has been committed, have treated them in a most ungrateful and barbarous manner ; and now at last he has sent his Son, and you are going to seize on him, and to add that murder which you are now contriving to the guilt of all your other crimes. MA.TT. I leave it therefore to your own consciences to judge what the event must be. And /or Matt. .xxi. 43. Therefore XXI. this reason now I say unto you plainly. That the kingdom of God, which you have ^^y ' "J"*? fT'li'^b'' t^'k^" 43 thus vilely and ungratefully abused, shall be taken away from you, and given to a nation from you, and given to a which shall bring forth the fruits thereof; that is, his gospel shall be taken from you, "ation briuffing forth the and be carried to the Gentiles, who will have more regard to the favour shown them, and "^ Luke xx^°i6 And when improve it much better than you have done. they heard it, they said, LUKE -^"^^ when they heard this sad denunciation with which the parable concluded, and ^"^ *^°a"h ' rjesusi beheld XX. found that [/if] was aimed at them, they said, God forbid that this should be the case them and said [unto them,] 16 with regard to us, nor can we ever believe that it will. What is this then that is 17 And Jesus looked upon them with great seriousness and solemnity in his countenance, Jp"^ Trviark, 'this]*in"^the and said unto them. What is this then that is written ? (Psal. cxviii. 22, 23.) T) id yon scrii>tures,]The stone which never read, or never reflect upon this remarkable passage in the scriptures, " The stone *'''^ buiUlers rejected, the ,.,,',.,, " , . , 777 /• ,7 .■ n-ii ■ ■ same is become the head wiiieli tile builders rejused, the same is become the y?eaa-stone of the corner r I his is of the comer: [This is the b / 77' (7/ sctid mtj son.'] The question is not here how prudent it and Luke express it ; but Mark has changed the order of the words, would have been in a human father to venture his son in such a and says, The;/ killed him and cast him out of the vineyard ; if we case as this; for the power which God had of raising Christ from may not render that clause, They both slew him and cast him out, the dead, and makiug all his sufferings redound to his glory and so as not to determine which was aoue first. One cannot suppose happiness, quite alters the gase. The design is to show the patience / Clirist uttered it both these ways; so that, if there be no acci- of God, and the wickedness of the Jews, by this emblem, than I dental transposition in Mark, he probably meant thereby to inti- which nothing could be more expressive. I mate what is hinted in the paraphrase, the exposing his dead body c Perhaps they will reverence my son, Sfc."] Numberless predic- I in a most daring defiance of public justice. Those that explain (ions in the Old and New Testament plainly show that God fore- Uhe casliny him. out of the vineyard, of excommunication, which saw Christ's death as a certain event. This therefore, like many preceded or atteuded the execution of a capital sentence, do not others, is merely an ornamental circumstance, which cannot with- observe the proper import of the vineyard. See below, note i. out absurdity be a pjTlTenrrrtTe interpretation of the parable. f The head-iione of the corner.] This I take to be the meaning of d Come, let ns kill him, iSj-c] If such a proposal would have been the words xi^xxm ywiis, rather than t/ie chief cor>icr-stone,^\t dees the height of folly as well as wickedness in these hushandipen, not appear exactly to answer to axiM/wviatiov, (Eph. ii. 20; aiW 1 Pet. it was so much the more proper to represent the part the Jewish ii. 6.) which, ^as>he connection in those places shows, (<;s_ well as__ rulers acted in the murder of Christ, which they were now pro- the use of it in other authors,) .signifies that great corner-stone jecting, and which they accomplished within three days. The which lay at the bottom of the building as its support. What admonition was most graeiou.sly given; but served only in an is mentioned afterwards of this head-stone falling on a person, astonishing manner to illustrate that degree of Iiardness to which seems not to suit with the supposition of its being laid on or under a sinful heart is capable of arriving. the ground. Compare Zech. iv. 7. e ylnd cast him out of tlie vineyard, and slew him.'] So Matthew REFLECTIONS ON THE PARABLE OF THE UNFAITHFUL HUSBANDMEN. 305 Lord's doiug, and it is " the Lord's doing, and it is ■wonderful in our eyes ?" Words which, though they SECT. marvellous in' our eyes'] mio-ht seem to be accomplished in tlie exaltation of David to the Jewish throne, are in 152. [Mau. xxl. 42. Mark xii. ^j_^^Eec)iiess. The7i the king, being justly incensed at so great an afiront, resolved to punish it by a 153. the'^ servants',' Bind'"him severe imprisonment: and therefore said to [///*■] servants. Bind his hands and feet, and — - hand and foot, and take take hiin away hence from all the joy and splendor of the guest-chamber, and cast him matt. into oute/'daTLsT-^'there ^"*^ '"^^ ^^^'^ darkness which is without ;'' and there, instead of the mirth and delight of ^Xir. shall"" be ueeping and my banquet, there shall be nothing but xveeping and gnashing of the teeth for anguish ^"^ gnashinn- of teeth. and despair. (Compare Matt. viii. 12. p. 112.) 14 For many are called, Nor imagine, said Our Lord in the conclusion and improvement of the parable, that this 14 t few are chosen. will be the case of one alone ; for though it be a dreadful truth, yet I must say, that even the greatest part of those to whom the gospel is offered, will either openly reject or secretly disobey it ; and while mani/ indeed are called to the gospel-feast, it will be manifest, by their disregarding it, there are but few chosen in such a sense as finally to partake of its blessings. (Compare Matt. xx. 16. p. 273.) Thus did he strongly intimate to the Jews, that since they despised the rich provisions of his gospel-grace, incomparably more valuable than those of a royal feast, and since they used the messengers whom God had sent to them in so ungrateful and barbarous a luanner, they must expect to be cut off and destroyed by those hostile armies which Divine Provi- dence would speedily bring upon them ; but that the gospel should be embraced by the Gentiles, and vast numbers of them be converted and saved by it. And he farther in- tended to insinuate, by the circumstance of the wedding-garment, that as God had made provision in his gospel for the sanctification of men's hearts, and the reformation of their lives, he expected true holiness and cordial obedience from all who professed to embrace it ; and would another day take a strict review of all its professors, that he might separate habitual sinners from the number and the blessings of his people, and deliver them over to perpetual darkness and misery. IMPROVEMENT. How rich are the provisions of the gospel ! a feast indeed becoming the bounty and majesty of the King of Ver. 2 heaven , and proportionable even to the love which he bears to his own Son, in honour of whom it is made ! How wonderful is the grace which calls us to the participation of these provisions ; us, who were originally sin- 9, 10 Iters of the Gentiles, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenant of promise I (Eph. ii. 12.) Yet has he graciously sent his messengers to us, and invited us to his house, yea, to his table, with the additional hope of yet nobler entertainments in reserve. May none of us reject so condescending a call, lest 4—6 we turn his goodness into righteous indignation, and treasure up to ourselves wrath against the daij of wrath ! (Rom. ii. 5.) Let us also remember, that it is not every one who professes to accept the entertainment, not every one who talks of gospel-blessings, and seems to desire a share in them, that will be admitted to it. No : in order to our partaking of an inheritance among the saints in light, it is necessary that we be made meet for it by the holiness both of our hearts and lives. (Col. i. 12.) This is the wedding-garment, wrought by the Spirit of God himself, and 11 offered to us by the freedom of his grace. And it is so necessary, that without it we must be separated from the number of his guests and friends, and even, though we had eaten and drank in his presence, must be cast out 13 into outer darkness. (Luke xiii. 26.) Frequently let us think of that awful day when the King will come in to see his guests ; when God will take a most exact survey of every soul under a Christian profession. Let us think of that speechless confusion which will 12 seize such as have not on" the wedding-garment, and of that inexorable severity with which they will be consigned to weeping and gnashing of teeth. To have seen for a while the light of the gospel, and the fair beamings of ; an eternal hope, will add deeper and more sensible horror to those gloomy caverns ; to have heard those glad tidings ' of great joy, and to hear them, as it were, echoed back in accents of final despair, how will it wound the ear, and I pierce the very heart ! May God prevent it, hy fulfilling in us all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the \ work of faith with power ; that the na?ne of our Lord Jesus Christ mari be glorified in us, and we in him, (2 Thess!^ i. 11, 12.) when the marriage-supper of the Lamb shall be celebrated, and all the harmony, pomp, and beauty of heaven shall aid its solemnity, its magnificence, and its joy ! ->- ^4^.\*. • I "J . / ^ 5"^ . SECTION CLIV. Our Lord confounds the Pharisees and Herodians, when they hoped to have ensnared him by their question relating to'^the lawfulness of paying the Roman tribute. "Matt. xxii. 15—22. Mark xii. 13—17. Luke xx, 20—26. M.™,... ■ ,r Matt, xxii* 15. Matt. xxh. is. SECT Then went the Pharisees, J'ij£y[ fj^e Pharisees, stung with the severe but just rebukes he had been giving them in " 154/ mighrentanlLhirint^ the foregoing parables, tt..«^ out from his presence, and retiring, took counselio^eihex how talk. thei/ might ensnare him in [his'] discourse, and find something on which they miglit ^att. wai"h\V/,l;«,"and^entfortJ; ground an accusation or complaLit against him. A7id they narrowly watched him in xxii. because the word ss.u<.9r, is in the passive form, and is very ex- insist on this, which is of little moment, it is well known that ^"x:ll:u;inZ'i2,Ldt^^^^^^^^^ The mention ,2. p'. 112.) And considering how spl^^^^^^ of this circumstance in this connection would incline one to thmk entertainments of the Eastern princes "'^^f- * [^°7,;i^''''X,d^ pither tint the word aoiTrov fin ver 4 ) may siffn fy svpper as wel an unnatural circumstance, that such an ^tliont as tins, onerMi lo : ' :^»»' V cirsome'critlc^'ave ttu J,t,f or ^hatThe king is the king his son, 'jiV'^^^'^.^V" i^lnt a'dvmTr' represented as visiting the guests in the evening. But, not to punished with such bonds, and thrown into a dunj,eon. 308 CHRIST ANSWERS THE QUESTION CONCERNING THE TRIBUTE MONEY. SECT, all his motions that day, and sent out spies to try if they could take hi7n at an advantage, [unto him] spies, which 154. who should pretend themselves to be rio-hteous men, that were come, for the ease of their ?lio"ld f«^'g" themselves '. 1.1- rr ■ c X • i TVT ,1 XI , I'lst men, [Mark, ex-en cer- • consciences, to propose a scruple to him on an atfair of great importance. Now those that tain [disciples] or the Pha- LUKE were sent on this errand were persons of opposite sects ; \cven'\ some of the disciples o/"the riseesandofthe Herodians,] -^'^' leading men among the Pharisees, who were very solicitous for the freedom of their country of^'his' wor'ds^'tLa'so th'ev ^^ from every mark of slavery ; and [so7ne'] of the sect of the Herodians, a party of men (as might deliver him unto was before observed) peculiarly attached to the family of Herod, and consequently zealous in J{'*^ i)ower and .-inihority of the interest of the Roman government, which was the main support of the dignity and la ^Ma7k xii. [s.] """^ royalty of that family. (See note f, on Mark iii. 6. p. 103.) And these, different as their principles were, combined together in an attempt upon Jesus, that, if an opportunity offered, thei/ tnight lai/ hold on his ivords,^ either to render him obnoxious to the people as an enemy to their liberties, or to deliver him up as a seditious person to the power and authority of Pontius Pilate, who was then the Roftian governor of that province. 21 And when they were coine to him, in order to accomplish their design, Mcv/ craftily 21 And [Mark, when they accosted him with an air of great respect, and with flatferinar expressions of the highest T*""® come,] they asked , 1 ; J / ■ • 71 r J 7 1 11 .■ f -\ ,1 , ,1 , hira, saymo-, fliaster, we esteem; and ashced li/m, saying. Master, we know and are well satisned that thou art know that tiiou [art true, true and upright, and as thou comest as a messenger from God, so, after the example of and] sayest and teachest, those faithful and courageous prophets who were in Israel in its better ages, thou sayest "{fo^^^ov any' manT for'^thou < and teachest rightly, and art impartial and sincere in every thing that thou declares! ; regardest not tiie person oft neither carest thou for the censure or applause of ami man ; for thou resardest not 'V'^"'] ^^^^J^; '^".'^ teachest 1 ,7 /. X 1 • n 1 1 1 • * n '^- , • the way of God in truth:] ' tlic person oj men, so as to be mtluenced by complaisance or tear, or any private views [Matt. xxii. 10. Mark xii. wliatever, to deviate from the strictest integrity and veracity ; but plainly teachest the 14.] MATT, xvay of God and the path of duty in truth. We are come therefore to propose a ques- Matt. xxii. n. Tell us ^^^^- tion to thee, about which thou knowest that we PhaHsees and Herodians are divided, and therefore. What thinkest ^ ' to which an interested man who was governed by principles of human policy might, for us] to^'ive^^fbut'e'unto perhaps, be unwilling to answer : tell us, we pray thee, (for we have detennined to Caesar, or not 1 [Mark xii. submit our judgment and practice to thy sentiments in the matter,) What thinkest thou ? ^*- ^"''^ ""• ^^-^ 1 Js it lauful for us Jews, who are the peculiar people of God, and are many of us in conscience tender of acknowledging any king but him, or one of our. brethren appointed by his immediate delegation,'' to pay the usual tribute to Cwsar, the Roman emperor, MARK or not ? What dost thou advise in this case as right for us to do ? Shall we give it to the Mark xii. 15. Shall we XII. collectors, or shall we not give it ? We must beg an immediate answer, for the tribute is give, or shall we not give ?— l^iSven now demanded of us. And here they ceased, as thinking they had him in an inex- tricable snare, and that he could return no answer which would not expose him to the —But [Jesus,] knowing severe resentment either of the Jewish people or of the Roman officers. *'"^"' • lYR?*^"^"*^' l}'^^^', T> J. r I • i7_; u-u jjiu- •• 1 i perceived their crattinessj ^ question, and seek to draw me into danger and destruction by it? Is this a Matt. xxii. 19. Show me MATT, proof of your regard and friendship to a faithful and impartial Teacher ? But, that I ^^^ a'pennyTia?! ma^y sef ^^'i'q ™^^ return a proper answer to your question, whatever be the view that you may have it.'] [Mark 'xii. 15. Luke 19 in asking it, show me the tribute money which is demanded of you; and bring me '''^^.^y •• MARK hither a penny or denarius, that I may see it. And they brought him a Roman brou»lit[un'tohima"penny.^ XII. penny. And, looking upon it, he says to them. Whose is this image which is struck And he saith unto them, 16 upon the coin, and whose inscription and title is this [which'] it has round it ><" And y';'!'?.!.,!L,*!'!%i",'l'/ fw tliey, without perceiving his design, immediately answered and said to him. It is ithatli?] And they [Luke, Cmsar's : thereby in effect acknowledging that they were under his dominion, by their ai'S'^^ered and] said unto 17 admitting his coin as current among them. And Jesus answering, said unto them, 191^21. * Luke xx.''24'.]''^"" Render therefore to Cwsar the things which are Ca'sar's, and to God the things which P And Jesus answering, are God's ;'^ ' and labour so to adjust your regards and duties to both, that you may not, on ['jjferefol-e'] Z''"cxSv"thl the one hand, under pretence of religion, do any injury to Csesar, nor, on the other hand, tii'ings tiiat are Casar's, and under pretence of duty to Caesar, violate any of the commands of God, or fail of that respect [','9,°'' *^4/'A' "°^ *'•■"' ,? to him which he requires : whereby he plainly intimated that tribute was to be paid to Lukl xx. 25"] ' '''"'' a That thei/miij/a lay hold on liis words.-] They hoped to have en- them so vigorously to oppose the Chaldeans, and to refuse sub- snared Uini by tlie question they came to propose, whatever answer mitting to their government till Jerusalem was destroyed. See lie could have returned. If lie asserted, on the one hand, that note a, on Luke xiii. 1. p. 231. tribute was to he paid to Cssar, the Pharisees, who generally c Trtiose is this image and inscription ?] Dr. Lightfoot tells us maintained (as Judas Gaulomtes had done) that such a subjectioli (in his Hnr. Hebr. on Matt. xxii. 20.) that the Jews have a tradition to a foreign power was inconsistent with the privileges of God's among them, that to admit of the title of any prince on their peculiar people, would have endeavoured to expose him to popular current coin, was an acknowledgment of subjection to him. It is resentment as betraying the liberties of his country. On the other certain their not daring to refuse this coin, when offered them in nanc bad he denied the lawtulncss ot this tribute, the Herodians payment, was in effect a confession that they were conquered bv would have had a very plausible pretence of accusing him to the the Romans, and consequently that the empeior had a right to Koman power as a seditious person, which his persecutors had their tribute. ■' , ' afterwards the assurance to do: Luke xxiii. 2. \ 18G. (Compar-- d And to God the things which are God's.] Diodate, Raphelius,, Acts XVII. 7.) Nay, perhaps the very circumstance of taking upon and some other commentators, iuterpret this as a caution against Mim to determine such a question might, by these invidious in- omitting the sacred tribute, on pretence of answering the demands quirers, be construed as a i)retence to sovereignty. See Voss. of Cssar, wlio (they say) had claimed it to himself. But I appre- llarnwn. J^vang p. 54, 55. hend our Lord ha'd a more extensive view ; and that, as he cau- IJ yneol our brethren, kc] We are told that the grand argu- tions the Pharisees against using religion as a pretence to justify ment which the followers of Judas Gaulonites, and others inclined sedition, so he also warns the Herodians tliat they should not, as to their party urged as decisive against the authority of the they were too inclinable to do, make a compliment of their reli- iso.nans, was that text which prohibited their selling a stranger gion to the Romans, by complying with those things which were ro !>e King oyer litem, Deut. xvii. 15. And Grotius (in his note on forbidden by the divine law, that they niiglit ingratiate themselves itiati. xxii. 16.) seems to think it was 4his that formerly engaged with CcEsar's party. See Prideaux's Connection, Vol. n.p.3G6— 368. THE PHARISEES URGE A DIFFICULTY AGAINST THE RESURRECTIOiV. 30^ Caesar as due to his government ; yet did it in such a manner, and with such restrictions, as SECT. prevented the inconvenience of a more express declaration. , 154. Luke XV. 2ti. Aisil [wiieii And ivlicn t/icT/ had heard [Iiis] wise and unexceptionable [anstvcr^ they plainly found they had liear(i^M«.i]; and Jfline'rval, Itb.iv.cap.U.) Grotius suppose) on the calamitous circumstances in which these But this is questioned by Drusins,Z>f yr/ii/s/SVc//*, ra. iii. cffp. 9.) patriarchs often were; but would have held good, had all their and Reland, [Antiq. Heb. part {\. cap. 11.) and Scaliger maintains lives been as prosperous and glorious as that of Abraham seems tlie coutrary, and shows that the passage from Josephus (^/(//^.//i. generally, notwithstanding his peregrinations, to have been.— I xiii. cap. 10. [al. 18.] \ 6.) which is commonly alleged in defence of cannot, as some modern writers of nolo do, fall in with Mr. Mede's that opinion, only relates to their rejecting all traditions. (Klench. notion, (in his IVorlis, p. 801, 802.) that our Lord refers to the nc- Triho'res, cap.16.) And indeed, as it appears from the Talmud cessity of Abr.ah.am's being raised from the dead to inherit Canaan, ♦ hat other parts of the Old Testament were often quoted by the in order to the accomplishment of God's promise to give it toliiiti; Sadducees, and arguments were brought from thence against them both because I can see no such necessity, and because then I think by the Pharisees to prove the resurrection, wliich they endeavoured it WMild have been much more to our Lord's purpose to have only to evade without disputing the authority of texts, though they quoted the promise of the land of Canaan, than these general w ere not taken from the law of Moses, it is more reasonable to be- words. REFLECTIONS ON THE CERT/UNTY OF THE RESURRECTION. 311 God] of tiie living-; for all them exposed to SO many trials and calamities, which multitudes escape of whom he has sect. live unto him: [Mark, Ye never spoken in such lanmjaee : so that those eood men must be considered as still in 155. therefore do greatly err.] _..:^.,..,_„ _.,,i ^i c__. ° ..„.. i i..j „i i,.. . „i ......... .c 4U..i- „// rMatt''xjiii "a-f "^Mark'^xii. existence ; and therefore it may be concluded, by a strong train of consequences, that all ■ 27.] the faithful live unto him ;e for he, on the foot of Abraham's covenant, owns himself the lufvI': God of all sucli ; and consequently he must be an everlasting patron and fiiend to '^^■ them, even to their whole persons, so as to recover their mortal part from the ruin and 38 desolation of the grave. And therefore, on the whole, i/ou greatly err in denying this doctrine ; and your error tends to bring a disgrace on the whole series of divine revela- tion, and to weaken one of the strongest motives to a life of holiness and obedience. 39 Then certain of the Then some of the scribes who were present being of the sect of the Pharisees, were 39 Mribcs answering, said, pleased to hear a doctrine of theii' own so judiciously defended, and said in reply, Mas- as ei, lou las wc sai . ^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ spoken SO iDell upon this subject, that nothing solid can be objected to thy Matt. xxii. 33. And when discourse. And indeed lohen all the multitude that was present in the temple at that time, matt. tllV'^veri^astLiS^attis ^"■'^''^1' [''''"1 unthouglit-of yet convincmg argument, together with so clear an answer to a XXll. doctrine. cavil in which the Sadducees used to triumph eis invincible, they iuere gi'eatly astonished 33 at his doctrine, and plainly testified the admiration and delight with which they had at- luke Luke XX. 40. And after tended his discourse. And as the Sadducees had nothing to reply, they were ashamed and ^X. that, they durst not ask disappointed ; and after that they durst not any more presume to ask him any thing "^^ at all,^^ but retired in silence and confusion. IMPROVEMENT. With what satisfaction should we read this vindication of so important an article of our faith and hope ! Easily was this boasted argument of the Sadducees unravelled and exposed, and all the pride of those bold wits, who matt. valued thtmselves so much on that imaginary penetration which laid men almost on a level with brutes, covered ^^o^'io with just confusion. Indeed, objections against the resurrection, much more plausible than this of theirs, may be '^ answered in that one saying of our Lord's, Ye know not the scriptures nor the power of God. Were the scrip- 29 ture-doctrine of the resurrection considered on the one hand, and the omnipotence of the Creator on the other, it could not seem incredible to any, that God should raise the dead. (Acts xxvi. S.) How sublime an idea does our Lord give us of the happiness of those who shall be thought worthy to attain it ! luke They shall he equal to the angels ! Adored be the riches of that grace which redeems us from this degenerate ^^' and miserable state, in which we had made ourselves so much like the beasts that perish, (Psal. xlix. 12.) to raise 35, 36 us to so higli a dignity, and marshal us with the armies of heaven ! Let us esteem so glorious a hope aright, and with the greatest intenseness of soul pursue and insure it. And as 34 for those enjoyments of this present world which are suited only to the mortality and imperfection of it, let us moderate our regards to them, and cultivate those higher entertainments with the most solicitous care, which will be transplanted into the paradise of God, and ever flourish for the delight of his immortal children. Christ, we see, argues a very important point of doctrine from premises in which, perhaps, we might not have 37 been able to have discovered it without such a hint. Let us learn to judge of scripture arguments not merely by the sound, but by the sense of the words. And as our Lord chose a passage from the Pentateuch, rather than from the prophets, for the conviction of the Sadducees, let us be engaged to study the tempers and even the prejudices of those with whom we converse ; that we may.^ if possible, let in the light of divine truth on their hearts, on tliat side by which they seem most capable of receiving it. In a word, let us with pleasure think of the blessed God under that gracious title by which he manifested him- mark self to Moses at the bush. Still he is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob ; the God XIl. of our pious ancestors, the God of all our departed friends who are now sleeping in Jesus : for all their souls now 26 live unto him, and their bodies shall ere long be awakened by him. In like nranner, if we 3.re followers ofthetn luke who through faith and patience are now inheriting the promises, when we are gathered to our fathers, and our XX. names, perhaps, forgotten among succeeding generations, he will still be our God. He will show us, by the blessed 38 experience of eternity, that when he treated with us by that title, and admitted us into the covenant by which he bears it, he intended for us something far nobler and better than the transient scenes of earth and of time could admit. ■. • -'^ , ' - " '• , SECTION CLVI. Christ discourses of the first and great command of the law, and confounds the Pharisees with a t/uestion relating to David's calling the Messiah his Lord. Matt. xxii. 34, to the end. Mark xii. 28 — 37. Luke XX. 41 — 44. Matt. xxii. 34. Matt. xxii. 34. j^UT when the Pharisees THUS Jesus defended the great doctrine of the resurrection from the vain cavils which sect. the Sadducel^s' to 'sutifc"! '"'^'"^ brought against it. But the debates of the day ended not here ; for when the 156. they were gathered toge- Pharisees heard that he had thus silenced and confounded the Sadducees, they were soon gathered together again, with a malicious view of carrying on the same design, to matt. try if they could any way expose him to the people, and to make their remarks upon what xxjLai. he might say. S So that all the faithful live unto him.'] It is evident that yx^ piuess in a future state, as much as Abraham's, And as the body must here have the force of an illative particle, and may be ven-- as well as thp soul makes an essential part oT man, it will prove dered [therefore,'] or [so that ;] for what it introduces is plainly the both his resurrection and theirs, and entirely overthrow the whole mam proposition to be proved, and not an argument for what ini- Sadducean doctrine on this head. mediately went before. In this connexion the consequence is h After that they diir.it not asic him any thing at all.] It is evident apparently just: for as all the faithful arc the children of Abraham, that this is meant of the Sadducees, and must be understood as and the divine promise, of being a God to him and his seed, is ert- limited to them ; because in the very next section we read of a tailed upon them, it will prove their continued existence and hap- question which one of the scribes put to him. 312 JESUS ASKS HOW THE MESSIAH IS TEE SON AND YET THE LORD OF DAVID. SECT. And one of the learned scribes, \xoho •was'\ also a doctor of the /aw, came with the 35 Then one [of the ' 156. rest; and having attended to the discourse between Jesus and the Sadducees, and heard y'j" ^[came'"^ anT* having fhcfn reasoning together, perceixiing that he had answered them well, asked him a heard them reasoning tcge- MATT, farther question, intending to make another trial of him as to his understanding in the he'',^;/ansJ^%j''t,';enfweli!] ^^''- sacred books ; and said to him. Master, I desire thou wouldst inform me which is asked [him] a question, 36 the first \_and'\ great commandment of all that are contained in the whole law ?^ Is f^'j'^Pj^'"?. ''"'"• '""^ "ying, it 'a ceremosial or a moral precept that is the most important, and deserves the prefer- 3t[ n^aster, which [is] the ence ? [first unrf] great cnnimand- MARK And Jesus answered him. The question thou hast put may easily be resolved; for "^aJi/xfi 28]'" "'" '""'' ^!I- siirehj the first, tliat is, the most comprehensive and important of all the coinmandnunts Mark xii. 29. And .lesus 29 of the law, \is] that which is contained in Deut. vi. 4, 5 ; x. 12. " Hear, 0 Israel! ans^vered him, The first of , , ^ , > ■- v^ , ■ , , 1 1 T ; ^ / 1' ji 1 u ^" the commandments ts, 30 " Jehovah our God is the one great and only Ijord : And upon ah occasions thou stialt jig^r, o Israel ! the Lord " regard and honour him as such, and /ore the Lord thij God with all thine heart, and our God is one Lord: [Matt. " with all thj soul, and with all thy mind, and with 'all thy strength ;" that is, thou ^^^^ f-^^ ^^^^^ ^1^.^,^ j^^^ shalt consecrate to him all the united powers and faculties of thy nature ; and thy under- the Lord tliy God with all standing and will, thine aftections and executive powers, shall be all in the most vigorous tliy heart, and with all thy ° , , . , • • r. ■< " " T 1 r\rr mr \ rrii ■ ■ ,1 n , souI, and With all thy miud, manner employed in his service, (bee note c, on Luke x. 27. p. 215.) Ihis is t tie first and with all thy strength: and great commandment, the principal and lUiKlanuntal precept of the law, and there is this is the first [and great] no other which may not be considered in.it, dL-ree as subordinate to this, and reducible 37|"3™'"'"'^"*- C'^^''". xxn. 31 to it. And the second, in its sublime and comprehensive nature, [/.?] much like unto if, 31 And the second isiike as well as given by the same authority," [even-] this contained in Lev. xix. 18. " Thou ^i;;;{° j'v^^^i'jf ^; JVJ'iJo^^^g " shalt love thy neighbour as thyself:"" For all the duties you owe to your fellow- tiiyseif: there is none other creatures may be reduced to this; and where this undissembled and generous principle of commandment greater than love is, the rest will easily and naturally follow. On the whole, therefore, there is no Matt.^^ii"40.'" of these MATT, other commandment greater than these. And indeed I may say, that all the law and two commandments hang XX!!. f/ie prophets depend upon these two commandments ; that is, it is the design of the whole ''"jv^^rk'' xu'^'a""' And''the 40 revelation, in its diiTerent periods and circumstances, to promote that virtuous and holy scribe said unto 'him, Well, temper which may be expressed by the love of God and our neighbour. Master, thou hast said the MARK And the scribe, who had proposed the question with a design to try him, was stmck and' there'is noneVther but XH- with the solidity and spirit of his answer, and said to him. Truly thou deservest to be he : 32 owned as a Master in Israel; for thou hast spoken.Xo this important question excellently aii^the'heaV°t,'and'wTtirall 33 well:" for there is indeed one God, and there is no other besides him: And to love the understanding, and with ///'w, as thou hast said, with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all all the soul, and with all the the soul, and with all the strength, to consecrate all the intellectual and active powers of neigifbour^'as lUm^rf, 'is our whole nature to him ; and for a man to love {Ids'] neighbour as himself, from a sense more than all whole bumt- of piety to God as well as benevolence to man,?* far more important than all the burnt- ""^V'A^n^flvif^f/'ifelf; „,.- offerings and sacrifices which the greatest prince could present at his altar; nor could that he answered discreetly, the most exact and pompous ritual observances be acceptable without such virtues and 'le sajd unto him. Thou art ,, ' '^ ^ not far from the kmgdom graces as these. of God. 34 And Jesus, seeing that he answered thus wisely, said unto him. It appears from these Matt. xxii. -ii. [And] just sentiments of thine on this important head, that thou art not far from the kingdom ga}bered%cjether'[ while of God; and such views of religion as these may be the happy means of preparing thee he taught iS the temple,] to receive the gospel in that fuller manifestation of it which is now approaching. J<^sus asked tiiem saying, MATT. And while the Pharisees were gathered together during this conference, expecting to christ']sthe*So "of David? XXU. ijave found an opportunity to ensnare him, as he was still teaching the people in the tern- [Mark xii. 35. Luke xx. 4i.] 41 pie, Jesus turned to the scribes and doctors of the law who were present, and asked them, chr1stTwh''ose''''son Is hf\ saying. How say the scribes so commonly as they do, that the Messiah is the Son of They say unto him, The 42 David? Let me ask vou of that profession who are now here, What think ye concern- ^"""{P'^'^'^!]: ^ ,, ■ . 7 T r ■ J • .1 • . . it'j rt • 7 n mi 1 1 ■ -Kj i\ ■ 43 He sailh unto them, ing the Messiah in this respect ? n hose Son is he ? They say unto him. Nothing can Howthendoth David [him- l;e plainer than what thou representest as the general opinion ; he is undoubtedly to be self,] in spirit [or by the 43 {the Son'] of David. He saith unto them. How then does David himself, speaking by J/^-j)^ of' plaims,f cairhim the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in the book of Psalms, acknowledge him to be Lord, saying, [Mark xii. 3(5. superior to himself, and call him Lord ?'^ for you cannot but know tliat there is a passage Luke xx. 42.] '^ I , • T-. 1 T N 1 • 1 11 11 i- _f _ i., ii TV! • u 44 The Xjord said unto expressly to this pui 44 in which you find " right hand in exancu pjvvei tiuu giuiy, wiui mi mc majcsiy aii'j nvjinjLii \>\ a. iviuij, tK-K |-jyj^ "■^ I make all thine enemies thy footstool, and cause thee to trample upon them at 42,43.] a Which is the firsi and great commandment, Sec.'] This was a law would excuse the transgression of many others. It is certain point Uiat often was disputed by the Jewish doctors ; some con- the Pharisees were ready to magnify duties of the first table, to the tending for the law of circumcision, others for that of sacrifices, neglect of those of the second ; on which account it was exceed- and others for that of the phylacteries. And though it was a rule inglv proper to use such language as Ihis. among them, that the law of the sabbath was to give place to c Excellently h'W/.] It is in the original x^tXwr, ftraM^/(/W»/, or ./Snrty, that of circumcision, yet they were not agreed as to the^rest, which which expresses his high satisfaction in the reply much more was the principal and most important precept ; only in general strongly than the word well. e • •, t n r> they were inclined to give the preference to the ceremonial part.— d How then does David himself I'!/ the Hoiij Spirit, CSfC] Our Dr. Lightfoot remarks, (in his Hor. Hcb. on Mark xii. 28.) that Lord, we see, always takes it for granted in his arguments with the Christ answers the scribe out of a sentence which was written in the .Tews, that the writers of the Old Testament were under surli an phylacteries, in which he avoided all occasion of offence, and plainly extraordinary gnidiuice of Uio Holy Spirit, as to express themselves showed (as ti e scribe afterwards observes, Mark xii. 3.5.) that tlie with the «U:Htcst inopri.tty on all occasions. (Compare ,Iohn x. observance of the moral law was more acceptable to God thau all 35. \ 134.) And I look on this as no contemptible argument (or tlie sacrifices they could offer to him. the inspiration of the New Testament ; for we can never think tlie b The second is tike unto it.] By quoting this with the former, apostles of Christ to have been le.ss assisted by the Divine Spirit in he sufficiently guarded against a foolish notion which some say the tlieir writings, when they were in other respects so mucli niori^ Pharisees had, that the observation of one excellent precept of the powerfully endowed with it. REFLECTIONS ON THE COMMAND TO LOVE GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOUR. 313 45' If David [himself] "pleasure." If Dcivid /u'mself t/iereforc caU /lim Lord, and speak oi h'm\ a?,his Superior, SECT. •''he rLukc''thenl°Ws' s'onl ^^ ^°^ ^^ '^^ ^°^'^' '''""'*'' " ^'^ ^'''"' ^''^ '^'"^ •*"" ^^^" [And the common ''peci'pie Now as the sciibes and Pharisees were ignorant of the great doctrine of the divine nature heard him gladly.} [Mark of the Messiah, with respect to which, even before his incarnation, he was tlie Lord of matt. '"'i6''And"n'eo/?/e that was about him, //efif/r/ ^i?« ti-v'/f/i great /j/efl.si/re. And 46 neitlier durst any man ^i\ jjjg adversaries were at such a loss, that no man could anawcr him so much as<7 tDord ; liim any more questions, neither did any One presume, from tliat d a ij forward, to ask him any more such en- [Mark xii. 34.] Snaring questions^ as those by which they had now contrived to assault, and, if possible, to confound him. V IMPROVEMENT. Whatever might be the design of the scribe in putting this quesiion to Christ again, (which was in eiiect the mark same with .what another had proposed before, Luke x. 25. sect, cvii.) v^'e have reason to rejoice in the repetition of XII. so important an answer. Oh, that it might be inscribed on our hearts as with the point ot a diamond ! 28 The first and great commandment requires us to loxie the Lord our God with all our heart, and soul, and fnind, 29 and strength ; and the second, which is like unto it, to love our neighbour as ourselves. But alas, what reason have we to complain of our own deficiency on both these heads ! and how much need of being taught again even these frst principles of the oracles of God ! (Heb. v. 12.) Can we say, with regard to the first, that the blessed .,,---.• •'■. ■■-■\ Id , \%'^^y SECTION CLVn. Christ discourses with the Pharisees in the temple, repeating the charges and cautions which he had formerly advanced at the house of one of that sect. Matt, xxiii. 1 — 22. Mark xii. 38 — 40. Luke xx. 45, to the end. Matt, xxiii. 1. Matt, xxiii. 1. doctrine,] [Luke, in the ■* HEN Jesus, in the progress of his doctrine and discourse, spake to his disciples in the sECT. audience of all the people, audience of all the people who were present, and took occasion (as he had done formerly, 157. xi'rsa" Luke''xx.'^45.^'"'' ^"^^ ^'- ^^- '-'^ ^^^J- ^^^^- ^'^•^ ^^ cxpose and caution them against' the pride and hypocrisy 2 Sayii'ig-, The scribes of the scribes and Pharisees, Saying openly and freely to them. The scribes and the matt. anA the Pharisees sit in p/iarisccs sit in the chair of Moses,"" and are the public teachers and expounders of his XXHI. 3 All, therefore, whatso- l^iw : All, therefore, whatsoever they shall charge you to observe in virtue of that law,*^ 3 ever they bid you observe, pay a becoming deference and regard to, and be ready to observe and do accordingly ; no"' yc^'^after "their' work's" but practise not by any means according to their works ; for they say well in many for they saj', and do not. instances, but do not themselves /?rac//.?e according to what they teach. e If David himself ihcTefore cell him Lord, how is he then his a Sit in the chair 0/ Moses.'] Some think here is an allusion to Son ?] This implies both the ej^istence of David in a future stste, those pulpits which Ezra made for the expounders of the law ; and the authority of the Messiah over that invisible world into (Neh. viii. 4.) and which were afterwards confinued in the syna- which tliat prince was removed by death : El.se, how great a ffogue, from whence the rabbles delivered their discourses sitting. Monarch soever the Messiah might nave been, he could not have It is probably called Moses" chair, becr.use it was that from whence been properly called David's Lord, any more than Julius Cssar the books of'Moses were read and explained ; so that he seemed to could have been called the Eord of Komulus, because he reigned dictate from thence. It is strange that Lightfoot {Hor. Heh. in in Rome 700 years after his death, and v-istly extended the bounds lor.) and Gussatus^should explain this of a legislative authority ; of that empire which llomulus founded. — !VIunster's Note on this since tlie s'crnjes and Pharisees, as such, had no peculiar authority text shows, in a very forcible manner, the wretched expedients of of that kind. some modern Jews to evade the force of that interpretation of the b In virtue of that law.] If this limitation be not supposed, cxth Psalm v.'liich refers it to the Messiah. this passage will be inconsistent with all those in which he con- f Presume from thai day forward to ask him any more questions.'] demns the doctrines of the scribes and Pharisees. Had he meant The plain meaning is, they asked him no more such captious (as Orobio and some Popish writers have unaccountably pretended) questions; for the memory of this confusion impressed their minds to a.ssert their infallibility, and to require an absolute submission during the short remainder of Christ's continuance among them ; to their dictates, he miist have condemned himself, as it was and he was soon removed from them, so that they had uo oppor- known he was rejected by them. See Limborch, Collat. Aviic. p. luiiilies of doing it v.hen that impression wore ofl". 58, Ifl. 314 CHRIST REPROVES THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES FOR THEIR PRIDE. SECT. I therefore repeat it again, Beware of imitating the hypocrisy and following the example 157. of the scribes f For, by virtue of the traditions which in conjiinclion with the Pharisees they have added to the law, thei/ bind together grievous and insupportable burdeiis, and MATT, without the least remorse lat/ them on ineiCs shoulders, urging tliem by the heaviest XXIII. penalties to conform to all their injunctions ; but they dispense with [themselves] in the '^ neglect of many of them, and ivill ?iot so much as 7nove them ivith a finger of theirs. (Compare Luke xi. 46. sect, ex.) 5 And even when they do conform in other instances to their own rules, it is generally from a bad principle ; for there is none of all their works but what thei/ chiefly do with a design to be viewed and taken notice of bi/ jncn, as examples of extraordinary piety. For this purpose, in particular, thct/ make their plu/lacterics remarkably broad,^ that it may be thought they write more of the law on those scrolls of parchment than others do, or desire to be more frequently reminded of divine things by the size of them ; and, for the same reason likewise, they make the fringes and tassels which the law requires them to wear on the borders of their gar?nents, as large as may be, that they may seem pecu-= liarly desirous to remember the divine commandments, whenever they look upon them. (Compare Numb. xv. 38 — 40.) LUKE These are the self-conceited and vain-glorious men xvho affect to walk in long garments, XX. 40. that they may appear with an air of distinguished gravity and slateliness ; And love the MATT, uppermost places at feasts, where guests of the first quality are used to sit ; and are am- ■^' bitiousto secure the highest seats even in the very synagogues,'^ where they should meet 7 to prostrate themselves in the divine presence with the lowest abasement of soul : And, on the same principle of vain-glory and ostentation, they desire to receive salutations in the markets and other places of common concourse, (compare Luke xi. 43. sect, ex.) and to be called by men. Rabbi, rabbi ;' a title of honour which they are fond of having repeated in every sentence, and almost at every word. 8 But as for you, my disciples, be tiot you called Rabbi, nor value yourselves on the name, if it should ever happen to be given you ; for one is your Master, [eveii] Christ ; and yc are all brethren,^ and as such should treat each other with a loving freedom and 9 familiarity. And call not [any one] on earth your father,^ nor be fond of receiving this title from men who may be ready to speak of themselves as but children in comparison of you, and implicitly to follow all your dictates 5 for one is your Father, and that of the whole family, [even] he who dwells in the highest heaven, and before whom all the most distinguished honours of the children of men disappear, as less than nothing and vanity. 10 Neither be ye called masters and guides ; for one is your great Master and Instructor, [even] Christ,^ whose dictates you are ever to receive, and in whose name and authority 11 alone you are to teach othei-s. But, on the contrary, he that is, and would appear in the eyes of God to be the greatest atnong you, shall be most eminent for condescension and humility, and will be ready to wait on the rest, and to behave himself on all occasions 12 as your servant. (Compare Matt. xx. 26, 27. p. 282.) And what I have often told you will assuredly be found to be a certain truth. That whosoever shall attempt in an ambitious way to exalt himself, shall, sooner or later, by one method or another, be abased ; and •whosoever, on the other hand, shall humble himself, shall be exalted to the highest honour.'' Mark xii. 38. Bewure of the scrilies: [Luke xx. 46.] Matt, xxiii. 4. Tor tlicy bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, and lay tlicm on men's shoul- ders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men : they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments. Luke XX. 40. Which desire to walk in long robes ;— [Mark xii. 38.] Matt, xxiii. 6. And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the [Luke, highest] seats in the syna- gogues; [Mark xii. " 39. Luke XX. 40.] 7 And [salutation.s] in the markets, and to be called of meu. Rabbi, rabbi. [Mark xii. 38. Luke XX. iO] 8 But be not ye called Rabbi : for one is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is great- est among you, shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself, shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself, shall be exalted. c Beware of the scribes.'] The word scribe in general signifies any one conversant about books and writings; and is sometimes put for a civil officer, whose business probably resembled that of a. Secretary of stale ■■ (2 Sara. viii. 17 ; 1 Kings iv. 3; 2 Kings xix. 2.) at other times it is used at.J/^'"- them that are entering, to ^^^f ^^^-^f^^^, ^^ -^ yourselves, nor permit them that are awakened to a desire of entering, ^'^ to cro in ; and thus you make yourselves in some degree chargeable with their destruction as well as with your own, by the false notions you instil into their minds, and the preju- dices you raise against me and my doctrine. (Compare Luke xi. 52. sect, ex.) 14 Woe unto you, scribes Woe unto you, ye scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, that impose upon men by specious 14 and Pimrisees, hypocrites ! forj^s of devotion ] but these fomis cannot impose upon God, nor prevent his vengeance [;ou.erand'for"''a pret^eTce from falling heavy upon you: for, by your cruel extortions, you devour the houses of make ions prayers ; there- xi-idoxi's and Orphans, whose helpless circumstances, if you had any remains ot humanity fore ye shall receive the ^^^ generosity, might rather engage you to protect and vindicate them; and it is on\y for Vifio. lX''x^x."47.] "' a pretence to cover these crying immoralities, that you ma/ce such /ong and seemingly earnest yy?-ffj/(7-^, hoping thereby to engage the esteem a-nd confidence of others, that you may have the greater opportunity to injure and defraud them : but this complicated wickedness shall cost you dear ; for therefore shall you receive greater and more dreadful damnation than if you had never prayed* at all, nor' made any pretences to religion. 1.5 Woe unto you, scrihes ]],'-q(, njjto you, ye scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ■as. you are!, /or with indefatigable 15 f:r\r;t^,SseKund industry .yo« do, as' It were, compass the sea and the land to make one proselyte to your to make one proselyte, and own particular sect and party; and xohen he is become \_so,\ you oiten 7nake liim even when he is made, ye make ^(,;<^/y more a child of hell than you yourselves are ; while, in order to approve the sm- of'heu' than yourselves " cerity of his conversion to you, he IS obliged to vie with you in all the excesses of your superstition and bigotry. If, Woe unto you, ye blind Woe unto you, ye blind guides, v.'ho have invented so many nice distinctions to make 16 guides! which say, Whoso- ^^^^^ ^ in 'their sius, and Subservient to your secular interests ! ■who say, for instance, tJmplS ir.mt'hinj; but Whosoever shall s-wear only by the temple, it is nothing;^- but xvhoever shall swear whosoever shall swear by ^„ f/,(; o-pld of the temple, whether by that with which a part of it is overlaid, or by that is a Oeblof '''*" ^'"'''''' '" which is laid'up in its ti-easures, he is obliged by it. Ye foolish and blind \c.reatures,-]\i 17 '%7 Ve fools, and blind: not the stupid sophistry of this distinction apparent to the weakest understanding ? ,/y/- for whether is greater the ^,/,/^/; of tliese is greater, the gold, or the temple thatsanctifes the gold, which without l,°lcUfiTth the go"id ! '^ its relation to the temple would have nothing in it more sacred than any common metal ? 18 And whosoever shall ^,,^/ ye al'O say, iiist with the same degree of sense and piety as before. Whosoever shall IS ZZJ^' but 'Ivtosoevir su c ar ovAy by the altar of God, it is nothing; but whoever shall srvear by the gift swcareth by the gift that -which is upun it, he is obliged to the pertormance of his oath, le foolish and blind 19 isupon it,^rie^isguatv.^^^^ y^retches,\ what an idle and senseless distinction is this! for which can you suppose is for^wl.ether" fs g?eater!uie greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift, which, before it was brought gilt or the altar that sancti- thither, was Only a common thing, and might be used to any of the ordinary purposes of ^''20 WhfsoViierefore shall human We ? The truth of the case is therefore plain and obvious ; he that swears by the 20 swear by the altar, sweareth altar, swears in cfiect by it, and by all the things that are offered upon it to him whose thereon*"'^ ^^ ""'' """°* altar it is : An^ he that swears by^the temple, swears by it, and by him also that dwells 2\ '2r'And whoso sball swear in it,even the eternal and ever-blessed Jehovah, who honours it in a special manner with by the temple, sweareth by ^^Q tokens of his presence : And he that swears by heaven, which some of you are foolish 22 'theV^^'^ '"" *'* ' enough to think a little oath, swears by the throne of the most high God, and by him who 22 And he that shall sjfs upon if, and fills all the train of attendant angels with the humblest reverence and pros- bT?lL''tLonr'o"f God'^'and t^tion ofmind. Now, did you and your discijales consider thLs that every oath by a by him that sitteth thereon, creature is an implicit appeal to God, you could not surely talk of such expressions in so light and dangerous a manner as you commonly do. EMPROVEMENT. As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. (Prov. Ver. 1 XXV. 12.) Christ was indeed a wise and faithful Reprover ; but the ears of these Pharisees were disobedient and et seq. uncircumcised. Let us, however, who are his disciples, attend to these instmctions of our heavenly Master, and avoid every thing which has the remotest tendency to what he here condemns with so just a severity. Let not our zeal spend itself upon the externals of religion. Let us not impose heavy burdens upon each other ; 5, 4 nor lay down rules for tbs conduct of others, by which we do not in like circumstances think fit to govern our- selves. Let us not impose our own decisions in a magisterial manner on our fellow Christians, nor atfect to be called fathers, masters, and teachers ; remembering that Christ alone is our Master, and God our Father, and that S—l^ it is a dangerous presumption and folly to set ourselves in the place of either. Let us be upon our guard against that b, 7 vain ostentation that would lead us to place any part of our happiness in precedence, and to value ourseh'es upon our rank, or upon any airy titles of honour by which, perhaps rather by accident than merit, we are distinguished 7 ■ only for those who were to be teachers of others,, but for all his dis mjfhosoever s/,a!l .^wear by the '^'^"/'f^^/f./^J^f/;^!-?*-',,^^'^,!™,^ I ciples i \ tion, \ Matt. X.VIII. 'i ; XX.. ,iU, i^ ; .XXm. HJ, l 1 i l»iai rx i.-*.. ul* , a. t»o, -a-i , fill VI tfj ...■..*,. ...^ — , -- , '. „ 1 __„.,, 1,', 1... .. ..;i^iu ^ Luke xiv. 11 ; xviii. 14 ; xxii. 20 ; and John xiii. 14. common sense or decency, tUey were mfluenoHl me. ely by a wew I Hypocrites?, Dr. More with grtat propriety observes, that the to their own mte^rcst ; and therefore represented these to the peo- word %;ofr!-to, ["1^'Xf'"',] '» its most exact application, signifies plo as things ot more cmment sanctity than even the temple ;i/rti/frs, who, according to the unnatural cu.stom of the aacieuts, or altar itself, acted a part under a mask. More's Tlieohg. fl'orkf, p. 293. 316 THE PHARISEES REPROVED FOR THEHl HYPOCRISY. SECT, from others; and %\hicli to a truly wise man, and especially to an humble follower of Jesus, will appear to be a 157. very little matter. Let us desire that honour which arises from condescending to others, and serving them in lovej that honour which springs from the divine approbation, which it will be impossible to secure without unaffected MATT, piety. (John v. 44.) XXiii. (JqJ ibrbid that our devotions should ever be intended as a cloak of maliciousness, or as the instrument of serving 14 any mean and vile purpose! Such prayers would retuin in curses on our own heads, and draw down on them ICj aggravated damnation. God forbid that we should spend that time, and that ardency of spirit, in making prose- lytes to our own peculiar notions and party, which ought to belaid out in making them the servants of God through IG Christ ! God forbid that we should delude ourselves or others by such idle distinctions in matters of conscience, as these which our blessed Redeemer has with so much reason and spirit exposed ! 17 — 22 Let us retain the greatest reverence for an oath, and not accustom ourselves to trifle with any thing which looks Jilie it. Let us consider heaven as the throne of God, and often think of the majesty and glory of that illustrious Being that sits thereon ; Sor a sense of his continual presence will form us to a better temper, and engage uSj'wilTi'a righteousness far exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees, to,,walk before him in all his commandments and ordi- nances blameless. ''Ar<, ■-. ^■^■' * . ' ■'. C->' luj > - - <- ■ -, .;■ jj ' SECTION CLVIII. Christ continues his discourse with the Pharisees, reproving them for their hypocrisy, and threatening them with approaching judgments. Matt, xxiii. 23, to the end. Matt, xxiii. 23. Matt, xxiii. 2.i. ^^^o' C)UR Lord farther proceeded in his discourse, and said. Woe unto you, ye scribes a)id Woe unto you, sciibes and 108. Pharisees, hypocrites ! you may justly expect the severest vengeance; /0/' j/(- are careful Pluirisees, hypocrites! for to tithe 7nint, and anise, and cummin, and every other common herb which grows in j'li'list^^^aud'^'^cummi'ii,''' and \\nT' y^*-"^ gardens, and yet have wholly neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice, have omitted the weiglitier ■ and mercy, and fidelity ;^ these should chiefly have been regarded by you as what ye "]efu '^nie'rc*'"^aud^'tau'^' 28 ought more especially to have practised, a/?f/ indeed not to have omitted the other, as a these' ought ye to )iave reverent observance is due even to the least of God's commandments. (Compare Luke xi. (lo'ie, and not leave the 24 42. sect, ex.) Ye blind guides of blind and wretched followers, who do (as it is pro- ° 2r^Ve™biiud guides, verbially said) carefully strain out a gnat from the liquor you are going to drink, and yet which strain at a gnat, and can sxvallow down a camel ;^ you affect to scruple little things, and disregard those of the ^^^2" "^vo'euuto' ou scribes greatest moment. ' '" ' and Pharisees, hypocrites! 25 Woe unto you, ye scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! for ye cleanse the outside of the *!''" ye 11:11:6 clean the out- cup and of the dish, and are mighty exact in the observance of external rites and washings patter, but w'ifiiin tiiey are of the body, but are regardless of the inner parts, and unconcerned about your hearts and mil of extortion and excess, consciences, which ff;-t'_/'«//o/'uncleanness, and of all kinds of r.<'v signifie's n large insect, 1 should 160.) and Haphelius (^««o/. ^•j Xen. p. 48.) show, was a piece of with grea^ pleasure follow the translation of 1727, in rendering the respect which most nations b.ave paid to persons of distinguished latfTet'eTause, swallow a beetle. merit, especially to those who fell in a good cause. What A itringa ' c Whilcd sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful without.] — (/^('S^Bny. p. 221.) tells us of the extraordinary honours paid to tlie Though the first intention of whitening sepulchres might be only sepulchre of Mordecai, is an agreeable illustration of these words. to niark them out, that they might be avoided; and so (as some Josephus also, from iWcofai/s TTamoJrP;?!/*, mentions Herod's repair- Jewish writers, and particularly Maimonides, have observed) a ing in a very splendid manner the sepulchre of David, (Joseph, heap of hme laid upon the grave might answer the end; it is evi- Antiq.lib. Kvi. cap. 7. [al. 11.] { I.) Compare Acts ii. 29.— Grotius dent they were sometimes adorned, (ver. 29.) probably not only is certainly right in saying, tliat the four verses in this paragraph with plastering and whitewashing, but with marble and other stone are to be considered as one sentence ; of which perhaps ver. 31. may monuments : and, notwithstanding all the applause which Vitringa be a parenthesis. CHRIST LAMENTS THE UNHAPPY CASE OF JERUSALEM. 317 been partakers with them ner than oiir fathers did. So that you really hear ivUness to i/ourselves, that you are sect in the blood of the pro- the SOUS of those that murdered the prophets; and indeed your present temper and 108. ''''liNvherefore be ye wit- conduct niore certainly speaks you to be their genuine otispring, and to be full of that very nesses unto yourselves, that malignity which you pretend to condemn in them. (Compare Luke xi. 47, 48. sect, ex.) matt. ye are the children of them j ^ / \thei{\ fill up, as soon as vou think fit, what yet remains to be completed of >'>^in- winch killed the prophets. ,, ■y ^ J./ '' . •' .' ., , ' . 32 Fill ye up then the the measure of your fathers sms, that wratn may come upon this guilty land to the 32 measure ot your fathers. uttermost. 33 Ye serpents, ye gene- Ye painted and deceitful serpents, ye 3raor/ of specious but venomous and mischievous 33 ration of vipers, how can ye r)iners. how artfuUv soever vou may evade human censures, how can you so much as hope escape the damnation ot , ^ „ , ■'■ , . i i ■ • c * i j ir i ii ^ • i_i hell » by any of these vain pretences to escape what is inhnitely more dreadtui, that righteous sentence of the unerring Judge which will consign you over to the damnation of hell ?-" (Compare Matt. iii. 7. p. 32.) 34 Wherefore, behold, I Therefore,^ behold I send unto you prophets and wise men, and scribes instructed to 34 wi'se 'men and^crfbes^^'and ^^^^ kingdom of heaven, to try you once more, and to give you the last call to repentance and . some of them ye shall kill reformation which you must ever expect : but I know that this last attempt will, with ^ and crucify, and some of j-ggard to the generality of you, be entirely in vain j and that [some'] of them ye will kill, you? synagogL-s'In'J'pe " "''^^ ''^'"''y y^""^ malice SO far as to crucify them like common slaves : and when ye can- t secute them from city to uot effect t\mt, {jSomel of them ye will scourge in your Synagogues, and persecute [them'] ' "^'ao'That upon you may Z'"'^'" ^'('/ ^° ^%- ^^"^ ^^"^ ^•^' ^°^ ^^ righteous jud-gment permit veto act, that ye 35 con^e all the righteous blood may become the distinguished trophies of his displeasure, as if he were reoTOriing with you 1'"hi"'^i'°f'''"oi*^'^'''' A"i°T ^'^^' ^^^^ S"'^^ °^ ^^^ former ages; so that upon you may seem to come the vengeance due untoth'e'b^oodVfZacharias' for all the righteous blood which has been poured forth on the earth from the begin- son of Barachias, whom ye ning of the world ; even from the blood of Abel, that eminently ris;hteous man, whom and ul'e'dTar" "'^ *'™^'' t^'s brother Cain then slew, to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Barachiah, one of the last of the prophets, whom ye murdered while he was ministering between the temple and the altar ;S impiously presuming to intrude into the court of the priests, to perpetrate 36 Verily I say unto you, that most horrible murder as near as possible to God's most immediate presence, l^erily 36 All these things shall come j ^^^^ ^^^^f^ ^^^^ That even the guilt of all this righteous blood, and all these things that upon iisgtaera ion. ^^^ included in the woes I have denounced, shall come on this generation of men; so dreadful are the calamities which God will shortly bring upon it. (Compare Luke xi. 49, 50, 51. sect, ex.) 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusa- O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that kilkst the prophets; and stonest them that 37 lem, thou that killest the are sent unto thee by God for thy conversion and salvation ; thou unhappy city, who w^hch''a;e''"en't'°unto the™ hast SO often been stained with the blood of the martyrs, that it is grown int6 a proverb, how often would I have That a prophet Can hardly perish any where else, (Liike xiii. 33.) how often would I have gathered thy children toge- gatJi^j.^^d thy children together unto me, even with as much tenderness as a hen gather- eth her chickens under tier eth her chickens together under her wi?/gs to protect them from the assaults of any bird wings, and ye would not ! of prey, or whatever else might threaten their safety ; and yet ye would not hearken to my compassionate calls, but have hardened your hearts against my love, and repaid me 38 Behold, your house with contempt, hatred, and persecution ! Behold, the time is coming when you will see 38 is left unto you desolate. yQ^. fQ^y though too late ; for your sacred house, in M'hich you vainly trust, even this magniticent temple in which you now stand,/* so near being utterly destroyed, that it may be said to be even already left desolate to you, so that the few who survive the general 39 For I say unto you. Ye carnage shall be forced to sit down and weep over its ruins. For I am now making my 39 shall not see me heiiceforth, i^gt visit here ; and I say unto you. That henceforth, since you treat me so ill, ye shall not he tiia/c!mieth^in tlfe n^am'e ^^e me any more till even yf: shall say, as the multitudes lately did, but with sublimer of the Lord! passions and nobler views, Blessed is [he] that cometh in the name of the Lord !^ that Ie flnu: ran you hope by any of those vain pretences to escape attempted so flagitious an act. — Though Theophylact understards that sentence, Sec] Raphelius has abundantly proved that xmfuyni the text of Zacharias the father of John the Baptist, on the credit x^i.tu! (which is the same iu sense with the original) properly signifies of an idle tale of Origen's, confuted by Jerome, in which he tells to evade conviction in a court of judicature, whicli is often done by us that this good man was murdered in the temple, (see Erasmus, . the artifice of the criminal. /Snnof. ex Xen.\>. ^0, ^\. in loc.)he has had few followei-s ; and indeed the story seems to f Therefore.] Though Oliirius here would render Six run, in. tlie have been made on the niistakeu authority of the text in question. nean time, the version is so uiiexampled thst I cannot acquiesce in Yet after all, it seems still more unreasonable, with Archbishop Til- it; and if the connexion, as it stands, could not be accounted for, lotson, (A'ol. I. p. 197, 198.) to understand these words as a prophecy I should think it better to connect this phrase with the close of the of that Zechariah, the son of Baruch, who, as Josephus says, (Bell. preceding verse. How can ye escape the damnation of liell for this ? Jiid. lib. iv. cap. .'>. [al. v. 1.] ? 4.) was assassinated in the middle of or avoid the judgment of God for this mixture of injustice, cruelty, the temple, just before the Romans besieged the city. Had we and hypocrisy ! more evidence of his heing a righteous man, it would be harsh to g To the hiood of Zechariah, the son of Barachiah, &c.] Though suppose Christ, in such a connexion, to speak of a future fact as very learned men have interpreted this of four different persons, I what was already done ; or to charge that deed on the iniole Jewish donot, \vithjheleaTned andcandid Witsiiis, (iJ/isce/. Vol. I. p. 209.) nation which was done, contrary to the decree of the STiiliedrim, think itTrrmexj5t7ca&fe-^Tffirt]Tfy~wht¥ll-«'' "^'"§- [i^"ke xxi. 4.] her living ; not knowing where she should get the next mite for herself, to furnish out the necessary supports for her humble and indigent life. IMPROVEMENT. 41 Our Lord Jesus Christ had his eye on those who were bringing their gifts into the sacred treasury. Let us re- member his eye is also upon us, to observe in what degree we are ready, on proper occasions, to contribute for the! glory of God and the good of mankind ; and in what proportion to the ability which God has given us. Lelji 42 not the poorest be discouraged from doing something for these good purposes, however little they may have it in! their powei-^ to perform ; since Christ may acknowledge the noblest charity in the smallest gift, as wherever) there is a willing mind, it is accepted accordin": to what a man hath, and not according to what he hath 7wt\ (2 Cor. viii. lo.)"" 43 Let us imitate the candour of our blessed Redeemer, and be ready to be pleased with little services. The cirj cumstances of mankind are such, that few have it in tlieir power to do great matters frequently for the service of " l"?'l*P '^"'^ power, that the proudest of you all shall have reason to a The treasury.'] This treasury received the voluntary contn'bu' ^^ wish you had cordially joined in those Hosannas which you lately tions of the worshippers who came up to the feasts ; and the mone' { rebuked. ' This interpretation, could the version be justified, I thrown into it was employed to buy wood for the altar, sail, ani! slioulil vasUy prefer to any other. other necessaries not provided for in any other way. L JESUS FORETELLS THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE, 319 others: but the desire of a man is his kindness ; (Prov. xix. 22.) the principles and circumstances of an action SECT. recommend it more than the appearance it may make ; and a multipUcity of Httle kind offices, in persons frequently 159. conversant with each other, are the bands of society and friendship. We ought therefore to preserve an habitual tenderness and generosity of mind, and be mutually willing to oblige and to be obliged by them. *'vii'^ To conclude : let us not despise the poor, since there are many of them who will, in Christ's computation, be .r' / found eminently rich in good works ; many whose mite will, in the treasury of God, have the value of a talent, ^-^ and will condemn the sordid parsimony with which many of the rich and great have cast their.presents into it ; while what the latter part with out of their abundance bears no proportion, in the account of God, to what the former freely spare from their necessity. Happy is it for every ti'uly pious and benevolent mind, that it is to give up its final account to him who searches the heart, and who is witness to those devout and charitable purposes which will always stretch thcmseh es out beyond the limit of actions, and engage the charitable soul to wish more good than the power and revenues even of kingdoms could effect. i^a\u< ctv-, t'b ^) i ' SECTION CLX. Our Lord foretells the approaching destruction of Jerusale?n, and here insists on the remoter signs of its ap- proach. Matt. xxiv. 1 — 14. Mark xiii, I — 13. Luke xxi. 5 — 19. MATT. xxiv. 1. Matt, x.xiv. 1. And Jesus went out, and AND wlien JcsHS had tlius confounded his adversaries, and had foretold the desolation sect. departed from the temple^ that their aggravated siiis would shortly bring both on the city and the temple, (Matt. 160. A/m for to'^sl'iow^ ^rm^iie xxiii. 38. p. 317.) he left the place; and going out from thence, departed from the tern = — — buildings of the temple; ^/^^ where he had been discoursing to them. And as he was going away, his disciples matt. ho"v'"it vis adored 'with came to [Iiim,'\ and took that occasion to show him the splendid buildings and magnifi- XXIV. goodly stones and gifts,] cent decorations of the temple : and some, observing what a noble structure it was, and ^ ^neof rt^'msaith unto^M^m^ speaking how it was adorned with beautiful stones of a prodigious size," and with costly of^ston'es.'^and what build- gifts, which many persons, in accomplishment of their vows for deliverances received, ia^ are here.'] [Mark xiii. I. had hung up on the walls and pillars of it, besides what was laid up in its treasuries -^ 07ie Luke XXI. 5.] ^^ \_the7n'] sai/s unto him, Master, behold what vastly large and curious stones, and what saiVunto"'thenPr"Luke"Ss s^^^^'Y cdifces [arc these.'] /o" these thfng's which ye And Jesus !Tpli/ing, Said unto them, [As fori ihese things which ye behold with so 2 behold,] See ye not all these much admiration, do you not see the splendour and magnificence of all these great and sfr mit^ You^Vl.uker Uic pompous buildings, which are the pride of the Jewish nation, and the wonder of all the dayswiiicome'irithewhicii] rest of mankind? Yet, notwithstanding all the present grandeur of this stately temple, there shall not be left here ^g^ili) I sai/ xpito you. That the days t;v7/ quickly cowc m t:'/«'r/2 a victorious enemy that sluili^ not be thrown shall profane its sanctity and deface its beauty, insomuch that there shall not be left one down. [Mark xiii. 2. single stone upon another here, that shall not be entirely de7nolished,'^ till no remains of ''"'^Andas'^he sat upon the any part of it shall be preserved. mount of Olives, [over And when he was retired from the city, as he sat down upon the mount of Olives, 3 against^ the temple] the -^hjch was ovcr aga/nst the temple, and commanded the finest prospect of it from the and Joii'n, and' Andrew J east, the disciples, Peter, and James, and John, and Andrexs, who were favoured with came unto him privately, a peculiar share of his intimacy and confidence, came to him privately, saying. Master, us! when^shaH these^things '^^'e entreat thee that thou wouldst tell tis when these awful things shall happen ? and be'i and what shall he the xchat [shall 3c] the sigu of thy second coming, when thou wilt execute thy vengeance sign of thy coramg-, and ot ^^ ^j^^^g thine enemies : and of the end of the present age and dispensation,"* when all all these things shall be these things shall be accomplished, to make way for the brighter glorits of that kingdom a Beautiful stones of a prodigious size.] Josephus says that some Eph. ii. 2, 7 ; Heb. vi. 5 ; ix. 26. in all wliioh places au-t may be of them were forty-five cubits long five high, and six broad: IBrll. rendered age. — Archbishop Tillolson and many other excellent Jttd. lib. V. cap. 5. [al. vi. 6.] ? 6.) See his large and beautiful writers would retain our translation, and suppose here are two description of the whole temple in that chapter, wTiicTi' is one of distinct questions; Jf'hat should be the siffii nf his comiiir/ to punifiln the uiost entertaining passages of such a kind I ever met with. the ungrateful inhabitants of Jerusalem ! and Tf^hat the sign of his b Costl^T^s, &'c.7 Hiii^ixig u'p such a'/xin/j.'rrx, or consecrated final appearance to the universal judgment? And that Christ ?!'/"/,«, was common in most of the ancient temples. — Tacitus speaks answers the first question in the former, and the second in the of the immense opulence of the temple at Jerusalem ; (Histor. lib. latter part of the chapter: though where the transition is made, V. \ 8.) Amongst others of its treasures, there was a golden table has been, among those that embrace this interpretation, matter of given by Pompey, and several golden vines, of exquisite workman- much debate. — Others have supposed the apostles took it for ship, as well as immense size ; (for Josephus tells us, in the chap- granted that the world was to be at an end when Jerusalem was ter cited above, \ 4. tliat they had clusters [otS^o^ujixei!] as tall as a destroyed ; and that Christ was not solicitous to undeceive them, man;) which some have thought referred to God's representing as their error might make them so much the more watchful ; and the Jewish nation under the emblem of a vine ; Isa. v. 1, 7; Psal. therefoi-e answers in ambiguous terms, which might suit either Ixxx. 8; Ezek. xv. 2, 6. — And Josephus likewise asserts, (ibid. \ 6.) of these events. — But it seems much more natural to conclude, that the marble of the temple was so white, that it appeared to that they expected the wicked persecutors of Christ (in which one at a distance like a mountain of snow ; and the gilding of number most of the magistrates and priests were) would by some several of its external parts, which he there mentions, must, espe- signal judgment be destroyed ; and that hereupon he would erect cially when the sun shone upon it, render it a most splendid and a most illustrious kingdom, and probably a more magnificent beautiful spectacle. temple, which they might think described in Ezekiel : an cxpecta- c There shall not be left one stone upon another here, Sfc."] It tion which they did not entirely ^uit^vcn to the day of his asceu- - seemed exceedingly improbable that this should happen in that sion. (See Acts i. 6.) Our Lord," with perfect integrity and .. age, considering the peace of the Jews with the Romans, and the consummate wisdom, gives them an account of the prognosticating strength of their citattel, "which forced Titus himself to acknow- and concomitant signs of the destruction of Jerusalem ; and then, ledge that it was the singular hand of God which comjielled them without saying one word of any temporal kingdom to be erected, to relinquish fortifications which no human power could have raises their thoughts to the final judgment, (to which the figure."! conquered. (Joseph. Bell. Jud. lib. vi. cap. 9. [al. vii. Hi.] ? 1.) used in tlie former description might many of them be literally (Compare note b, on Luke xix. 4,3. p. 292,)— Bishop Chandler applied,) and sets before them an heavenly kingdom, and eternal justly observes, that no impostor would have foretold an event so life, as the great object of their pursuit. Matt. xxv. .34, 46. — This unlikely, and so disagreeable. Defence of Christianity, p. 472, I take to be the key to this whole discourse; the particular parts 473. of which have been admirably illustrated by many learned com- d Tlie end of the present age.'] So nxiiriXii-x tov aiMve; maj' well be mentators ; but the whole scope and connexion of it, so far as I can rendered. Compare Matt. xii. 32; Rora. xii. 2; 1 Cor. x. 11; recollect, fully explained by none. 320 AND THE SUFFERINGS OF HIS DISCIPLES. SECT, which thou wilt establish when all thy sufferings are over, and every thing which opposes fulfilled >] [Mark xiii. 3, 160. thy triumph subdued ? 4. Lukexxi.7.] And Jesus aiisii'tri/ig thtm, began to say, with an air of solemnity agreeable to the 4 And Jesus [answering MATT, importance of the subject on which he was going to discoiu'se, As to the event concerning- Uiem, began to say,] Take XXIV. -vvhich you now enquire, let me in the first place caution you, that you see [to if] in the 'q^ [Mark"xiit"5 "^Luke 4 most solicitous manner, that no man deceive you with false pretences to a divine revela- xxi. 8.] 5 lion and commission. Vor many shall come in my name, and with the title peculiar to 5 For many shall come me, saying, I am the Messiah ;" and the time of deliverance, so long promised and so ci™Jt ""rLuke^'afi'd' the long expected by the Jewish people, is now come,' when the yoke is to be broken off from time drawctii near 0 and their neck, and their enemies are to be subdued under them : and by these plausible pre- shall deceive many : [Luke, ., I II 1 ■ u i J i J I r yj -1/ I' 11 A • K" y^ ""t tlierelore after fences tliey shall deceive many ; but do not ye therefore go after iliem ; tor aU tneir them.] [Mark xiii. o. Luke promises and Jiopes will be in vain, and sudden destruction will overtake them and their xxi. 8.] followers. 6 But -when ye shall hear of wars, and rumours of wars, among the Jews, and seditions 6 [Luke, But when] ye raised by theiii in several places against the Romans, see that you he not troubled, \and] ^''"''^ ^^^^' "*" "'^^/' ■'"'' ''": J ro ' ,/ 'L^j niours Oi wars rijukp siid terrified, as if the great event that I have now foretold would immediately happen ; for conmiotions,] 'see tlia't ye all these things 7nust first come to pass, and be the gradual openings of it ; but the end of be not troubled [Luke, and them, in the utter destruction of the Jewish state, is not yet : nay, some of you, my dis- ^^"gf, thiii<'s]"^must [Luke' ciples, will have several important services to perform here after these alarms are begun j first] come to pass ; but services which, even by means of these alarms, you may pursue with some peculiar ad- ^fj^^"^ LuTe' xxi 9 1'^^'"^'' vantages. 7 And then he further added and said to the?n, Judea shall not be tiie only seat of war at 7 [Luke, Tlien said he that time : for in the neighbouring; countries .nation shall rise up against nation, and ".°*-° t'"^!"-] Nation shall 7 • ; ■ i 7 • "; „ ; .1 .11 i- ii 1 •■'*« against nation, aud langdom against Kingdom :^ and, partly as the consequence 01 these ravages and kingdom against kingdom: slaughters, and partly by the immediate hand of Providence on sinful men who have re- ant* tiiere siiall be famines, jecttd the gospel, as also to exercise the faith and charity of its professors, there shall be grlr/ea'ruIquakes'iJd'iveS severe famines and mortal pestilences ; and there shall also happen great and terrible places, [and troubles:]- earthquakes in various places, and troubles and anguish of mind in tlie apprehension of '-^V'*^' ''°djearful sights, yet greater calamities. Heieaihome there shall also be dreadfiul sights, and great signs be from heaven.] [Mark Jrom heaven, particularly a comet like a flaming sword waving over Jerasalem, and the xiii. 8. Luke xxi. 10, n.] 8 appearance of contending armies in the air." But all these things [orr] only the be- [beo-innin^sV^o'f "sottows ginnings o/" those sorrows and alarms that will issue in the destruction of Jerusalem. [Mark xiiT. 8] MARK But take ye heed to yourselves, and be cautious how you behave ; and though you Mark xiii. 9. But take XIIL meet with the severest persecutions, be not discouraged from persisting in the truth, and ^r^\ *", yo'^selves : for ^ from continuing faithful in your regards to me : for before all these things shall happen, they ['Luke, shall lay Uielr they shall lay their v'\o\ent hands upon you, and persecute you with the greatest cruelty hands on you, and perse- and rage •, [andTsKall deliver some of you up to the greater councils, [and] cite others of yo[rupto''councnsI [Luk" you to appear before the inferior courts in the synagogues, and shall cast some of you into hud to the synagog'ues, and prisons, to be severely scourged, [and] otherwise aj/lictcdhy confinement and a variety of r"' j^flf"'}^'-! ^^'^^'^■l ^]Tl^u hardships there ;' and indeed they shall go so far as to kill some of you in a few years ; you:] and ye [shall be and as for the rest, ?/e shall be generally hated, not only'by the Jews here at home, but by ''■■'t<"d of all nations, and] those abroad, and by all the Gentile nations to whom you go ; [and] shall be brought 'uiers '^nd'^'kinls' fo'j-'' my before rulers and kings for my name's sake, andy6»r a testimony against them that the [name's] sake, for a testi- gospel has been offered to them in the most public manner, even to the greatest of men, .to ^'^j"yo^''^*v*'"^™- f.^^.''"^- whom you might otherwise have had no access: (compare Matt. x. 17, 18. sect, bcxv.) LUKE And it shall aho turn to you for a public and honourable testimony of the innocence Luke xxi. 13. And it XXL 1-2. of your cause, however it may be misrepresented, and of the integrity and uprightness ^?''*" t"r» t" you for a tes- of your conduct. " y- > ylw(f indeed, notwithstanding this early and violent opposition, yet before the destruction Mark xiii. 10. And the MARK XIII. 10, e Man!/ shall come in my name, occ] See Joseph. Sell. Jud. lib. g Nation sfiall rise up against nation, xi may signify either the stantial, is recorded, — that Matthew iind Mark were iiicontest^ibly ; approach or arrival of the time, and may with great propriety dead before the event, as Luke also probably might be ; and as for | express the /frs< opening of a scene to be "gradually disclosed ; in John, the only Evangelist who survived it, it is remarkable that j which sense it is applied to Christ's kingdom, as preached by him- he says nothing of it, lest any should .say the prophecy w.is forged , self and his aiiostlcs during the time of his personal ministry. — after the event happened. — See West, On the Resurrection oft Suen pretended Messiahs did indeed arise towards the close of the Christ p. .393. ■'■ •lewish state. (See 1 John iv. 1 ; Acts v. 36, 37. and Joseph. Anliq. i Shall deliver you up to the councils, &c.] All this was exactly , lib. XX. cap. 8. [al. 6, 7.] \ 6, 10.) — The Rhemish Jesuits, ;;s.jnuch accomplished : for Peter and John were called before tlie .sanhe- as they triumph in their infallible guide to the interpretation of drim, (Acts iv. (i, 7;) James and Peter before Herod, (Acts xii. scripture, ridiculously explain this as a prophecy of Luther and 2,3;) and Paul before Nero the Emperor, as well as before the Calvin ; which I mention only as one instance, among many more, Roman governors, Callio, Felix, and leslus. (Acts xviii. 12; xxi'. . of their contemptible ignorance or wicked prevarication. xxv. xxviii.) J THE DISCIPLES ARE EXHORTED TO POSSESS THEIR SOULS m PATIENCE. 321 jrospel must first be pub- of Jerusalem i/ie gospel ?mat first be preached among all the heathen nations which are SECT. Rslied among all nations, subjected to the Roman empire, (see note n,) and there also you will be followed with 160. n But when they shall the like assaults and persecutions. But when thei/ shall bring you before governors and' whatsoever shall be given cate yourselves and your religion from the unrighteous charges and aspersions of your ene- youin thathouMhat^speak j^j^jg^ . [)ut -a-hatsoever shall be ^ivcn in toj/o^.and be strongly suggested to your minds ^neak,"but the Holy GhoA. in that hour, that speak boldTyliiiTTesolutely ; for it is not you that speak, but the [Luke xxi. 14.] jj^i^^ Spirit himself, who shall assist and dictate to you. (Compare Matt. x. 19, 20. sect. Luke xxi. 15. For 1 will Ixxv. and Luke xii. 11, 12. sect, cxi.) For it is really my cause in which you are engaged ; luke fom ^vviIilhTll'vour'adv'^r- and therefore, though you are ignorant and unlearned men, and so may ba apprehensive , i^^'- earie's shall not be able to you shall be confounded in the presence of pei-sons who are in rank and education so much gainsay nor resist. y^^. superiors, yet depend upon it, that I will gii-e t/ou a mouth to plead, and -wisdom to answer whatever they allege against you, which all your adversaries shall not be able to contradict or withstand, but shall be even astonished at the freedom and propriety with V. hich you shall express yourselves, according to the various occasions wliich arise. (Compare Acts iv. 13, 14.) 3latt. xxiv. 10. And then And vuini/ that have owned themselves my followers shall then be fended, and give matt. shall many be offended and ^p ^jj regard to the gospel, when they see the profession of it must cost them so dear; and XXIV. and 'slIriiTiate^oTie another', having proved apostates, they shall become persecutors too, and shall betray one another, ^^ and hate one another, as being in their consciences secretly galled at the greater fidelity of Blark xiii. 12. Now the their companions. J ;?.-2' this wretched temper shall rise to such a height as to break through mark bTller to'^death'au^ the blithe bonds of nature, insomuch that one brother shall betray another,notonlY to impri- ■■. 264.) th^t they hid any pecu- the import of this proverbial expression. See 1 Sara. xiv. 45; liar aversion to the name ojF Christ. The learned Dr. AVarburton 2 Sam. xiv. 11 ; 1 Kings i. 52; and Acts xxvii. 34. has shown, beyond all contradiction, in his masterly manner, that m In your patience possess ye your souls.] Though the word the true reason of this opposition was, that while the different xraieii does often signiiv '0 acquire or procure, (see Matt, x.9; pagan religions, like the confederated demons honoured by them, Acts i. 18; viii. 20 ; xxii. 28.) yet I cannot suppose, with Brejinius, sociably agreed with each other, the gospel taught christians, not that our Lord intends here chiefly to jntimate that fortitude and I only, Tike the Jei them all, but also tion of them as a pc the most tremendous penamtB, 11. ucucvc 1.. w.i.oi, a,,^ .u <.i. .....i., i..- ».,v-^ , = >^ . « - '• things to submit themselves to his authority: (see Dr. Warbur- that excellent piece of Christian philosophy, his i?iscoi/riPo« ^i-//- ton's Divine Legation of Moses, Vol. I. book ii. \ Q. p. 278—295.) Possession (p. 4, 5.) is much more natural, as well as more noble; A demand which bore so hard, especially on the pride and licen- as if our Lord had said, " By keeping the government of your own tiousness of their princes and the secular interests of their priests, "spirits in these awful sctnes, which will bear down so many that it is no wonder tliey raised so violent a storm against it ; which, " others, you will secure the most valuable self-enjoyraent, as well Y ■\ 322 ■ HE DESCRIBES THE NEARER SIGNS OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM, SECT. And know,, for your farthei; encouragement, that all their rage shall not be able to i4 And this gospel of the 160. destroy the interest in which you are embarked, and to wliich you sacrifice so much; for I H'n.^'lom •■^nail be preached assure you, that i/u's glorious gospel oft/re"'kingdo7)i of heaven shall first be prtached in n".ss unto au"^ nations'; and MATT, all the -xorkUfor a witness to «// its most distant nations ;" and then shal{ the c«f/of the then sUidl tlie cud come. XXIV. Jewish state co?nc, and God, having thus gathered for himself a people from among the ^'^ Gentiles, shall destroy even this temple itself, in wliich they have trusted so much, and which tliey have foolishly looked upon as an inviolable pledge of his favour. IMPROVEMENT. The whole of this prophecy most evidently shows us how vain and dangerous it is to trust in external privileges, and to cry out, as these foolish and wretched Jews did, The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the Ver. 2 temple of the Lord, are these buildings; wlien of this stately and magnificent structure, within less than half a century after it v/as finished, 7iot one stone was left on another undemolished. So particular a prediction, when compared witii the event, must surely confirm our faith in Christ, as the great Prophet which was to come into the world. And we shall see reason to admire the wisdom and goodness of Divine Providence in giving us, almost by a miraculous preservation of the author, such a commentary on this prophecy ajs is delivered down to us in the works of Josephus, the Jewish historian, which throvt' a much stronger light upon it than if they had been written by a christian on purpose to illustrate it. LUKE ^^^ ^^ h\es>s, God that our own eyes have not seen such desolations and ruins, such commotions in the natural xxr. and moral world, such dissensions in civil life, such persecutions and hatreds amongst the nearest relatives, under 10, 11 the pretence of propagating religion : which, however propagated, is nothing without that love which is so often made the first victim to it. MATT. Yet too plainly do we see, in one form or another, iniquity abounding, and the love of tnany waxing cold. XXIV. Let us endeavour to revive on- our ovm hearts a deep and lasting impression of divine things; and remember, 13 whenever we are tempted to let go our integrity, that it is he alone who endures to the end that shall be saved. LUKE Whatever our trials are, let us cheerfully confide in the protection of Divine Providence ; nor let us despair of XXI. 14 those continued influences of the blessed Spirit which may animate us to the most difficult services, and support us 1 8, 1 9 under the most painful suflferings. Let us therefore in patience possess our own souls, and maintain that compo- sure and steadiness of spirit, as those that know how much more valuable it is than any enjoyment which can be taken away, or any temporal interest which can be brought into question. ^V '>->./^'' •"; T . ' r ''- ^, SECTION CLXI. Our Lord proceeds to describe the nearer prognostications of the destruction of Jerusalem, and the extreme severity of those calamities which should then fall on the Jewish nation. Matt. xxiv. 15 — 28. Mark xiii. 14—23. Luke xxi. 20— 24. ' ' _ , Luke xxi. 20. like xxi 20 SECT. Our Lord having proceeded thus far in his discourse, added some more immediate signs And when ye shall see 161. by which the near approach of this terrible destruction might be determined ; and said, Jerusalem coinpassed with When j/ou shall see Jerusalem encompassed on every side with the Roman arniics, [and^ i™n'of\iSoiation s^Ten'of LUKE the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, (Dwci. \x. 21.) standing by Daniel the prophet,] XXI- where it ought not, and displayed in an holy place ; that is, when the standards of their ou^.^iit'^on'^nf the^^u./'^ "^ desolating legions, on which they bear the detestable images of their idols, are planted on pia^ce, (whoso readeth, u"t holy ground -.^ then know that the desolation thereof is just approaching. And by the j"'™ understand)] thru way, now I mention that remarkable prophecy, let every one that reads it pause seriously thereof is ni^h'.'^[l\iatt'. xxiv! upon it, that he may understand its meaning ; for it contains one of the most eminent pre- 15. Mark. xtii. i-i.] dictions which can any where be found, of the time, purposes, and consequences of my 21 appearing; and the whole context is of great importance.*' Now I say, when you see 21 Then let them whiih iius, %\^n?\, then let thein that are in Judeaflee, as fast as they can, from the fortified ^^^ in Judea flee to the cities and populous towns, to the mountains and the wilderness, where they will be secure ; which are 'in tlie midst of and especially, let them that are in the midst of it, where Jerusalem stands, depart \m\n&- it, depart out; and let not diately out of it, before their retreat is cut ofl'by the union of the enemy's forces near that ^''*'" ""^* '"'^ '" ^''"^ ^°""' " as be able most prudently to guard against the dangers which will cial providence of God, after the Romans under Cestius Gallns " surround you." made their first advance towards Jerusalem, they suddenly with- n This gospel — shall he preached in all the world, SfC."] The ac- drew again, in a most unexpected and indeed impolitic manner; at complishment of this extraordinary prophecy is admirably illus- which Josephus testifies his surprise, since the city might then have tratcd by Dr. Arthur Young, On Idolatry, Vol. II. p. 216 — 234. It hcen easily taken. By this means they gave as it were a signal to appears from the most credible records, that the gospel was preach- the christians to retire ; which, in regard to this admonition, they ed in Idumea, Syria, and Mesopotamia, by Jude ; in Egypt, Mar- did, some to Pella, and others to Mount I.ibauus, and thereby prc- morica, Mauritania, and otlier parts of Africa, by Mark, Simon, and served their lives. See Joseph. Bell. Jiid. lib. ii. cap. 19. [al. 24.] \ 7 ; Jude; iu Ethiopia, by Candace's Eunuch, and Rlatthias; in Pontus, and Euseb. Hist. Eccles. lib. iii. cap. 5. Of the idolatrous standards Galatia, and the neighbouring parts of Asia, by Peter ; in the ter- in the Roman armies, see Grotius's excellent note on Matt. xxiv. 1.5. ritorics of the Seven Asiatic churches, by John ; in Parthia, by b The whole context is of great im;-ortance.] If any wonder Matthew ; in Scythia, by Philip and Andrew ; in the northern and that so important a prophecy is not more frequently insisted upon western parts of Asia, by Bartholomew ; in Persia, by Simon and in the New Testament, I think we may justly answer, that it was Jude ; in Media, Carmania, and several eastern parts.'by Thomas ; not proper for the apostles to urge it, as the exact commencement through the vast tract from Jerusalem round about unto lUyricum, and termination of the seventy weeks was a nice controversy out of by Paul; as also in Italy, and probably in Spain, Gaul, and Bri- their way, and not capable of "being fully cleared up to the popu- tain : in most of which places christian churches were planted in lace, with whom they were chiefly concerned ; and as several of less than thirty years after the death of Christ, which was before the events referred to in it had not their complete accomplishmcut the destruction of Jerusalem. till some years after most of their writings were published. But a Planted on holy ground.] Not only the temple, and the that the period is long since elapsed is certain, however it mig-ht ': mountain on which it stood, but the whole city of Jerusalem, and he reckoned ; as Dr. Bullock has excellently shown. See his Vin- several furlongs of land round about it, were accounted holy. (See dication, book ii. chap. 4. \ G. p. 216—218; and Dr. Sykes' Of Cliris- note g, on Matt. iv. 5. p. 38.) It is remarkable, that, by the spe- tianity, chap. 16. [). 2'J7— 301. AND DECL^iRES THE CALAJNIITIES WHICH SHOULD i-ALL ON THE JEWISH NATION. 323 ♦ v« enter the-einto Centre : and let not them that are in the adjacent countries, by any means attempt to SECT. [Matt. xxiv. 16. Mark xiii! enter into it as a place of safety ; for all its strength, and all its sanctity, will not secure its 151. 14.] ... Adit inhabitants. Let every one therefore retreat as fast as possible, and let not him that is him'Ihat'"is'o.. the house- taking the air on the battlements at the top of the house, go doxvn into the house, nor enter bi^vrk top, not go down into the ^///o it to tdlce ats:au any thing, though ever so precious, out of his house ; but let him in"to t"ke'any u>h" oufo'f go down by the outer stairs, as the shortest way, lest he should'linger to his own destruc- 15 his house. [Matt.xxiv. 17.] tion. And let not him that is at work in the field, and hath laid aside his upper garment lb iG And let >"™ "■'^''t^^^;^ ^s au incumljrance, go back, so much as a few steps, to take his clothes,'^ lest the enemy again for to take up his gar- should Surprise him before he can recover them. (Compare Luke xvu. 31. p. 253.) In a luke ment. [Matt. xxiv. 18.] word, let every one flee for his life, and reckon himself sufSciently happy if he can escape -''-'^■• be^t;' days^.^ ve^ngeance! with 'it, though in the most naked and destitute circumstances: >;• Mcse are dai/sof22 that all tilings whfch are most terrible vengeance, to which most of the threatenings of the prophets, even from the written may be fulfilled. ,^ ^^ Moses, do ultimately refer ; and they shall be so full of distress and misery, that all the most dreadftil things xi^hich are ivritlen in them maij then be said^to be completely fulfilkd.^ , i ..,, J Mark xiii. 17. But woe But more especially there will be xvoe and terror to them that are with child, and to mark to them wiiich are with ^^^„j fj^^i o/i'e suck in tliose days; as their incumbrances will be peculiarly great, and XIil. Ki^e'^'sucif in\w daS they that are with them will be' driven in a wild consternation to consult their ovm 17 [Matt.xxiv. ly. Luke xxi. safety, to the neglect of those whom common humanity might teach them to guard and ^^■' assist. J 'Q 18 And pray ye that your And therefore pray that no additional circumstances of difficulty may attend you ; as, 18 flight be not in the winter, f^^, j^stance, that this vour precipitate /?/«■/;/ may not be in tvinter, when the roads are ^ay ] [Ma?t xxiv.'^oo f bad, and the days short and dark ; nor foil out on a sabbath-day ; for a short journey may not be sufficient ; and the regard which most of the christians in tliese parts will have for 'that day, may make them scrupulous of violating a rest they think so sacred, by a longer march, even in a case of so much extremity. 19 For in those days And a case of extremity it will indeed be ; for in those days there shall be a scene of 19 [Luke there shall be great] ^^,_^^^ tribulation Wind] distress in the land of Judea, and of dreadful ivrath from hea- tre^Tn thrkni^and wraih" ven upon.3.\\ this people, such US the like has not been known before, either hem or else- upon this people,] such as where even from the beo-innino- of the creation which God has made, unto this time ; Tthf creaii^'il'foh Go! nor ever shall the like ^e heard of any more :- as no people ever have been, or ever shall created, unto tins time, [no, be, guilty of SO aggravated a crime, and so inexcusable a series of impenitence and mn- nor ever shall be.] [Matt. ^j^jj. ,_ ^^^ therefore they shall fall by the edge of the sword in'nVuI!iades,"both with- LUKE ^'^Luke xxi^oI'^And'they in and without the city ; and the "consequence of all shall be, that the miserable remnant ^lXI. shall fall by the edge of the which survives the o-eneral carnage shall be carried away captive into all the most dis- 24 trawTy inlo au'naUon^; tant nations of the^world.f and continue for many ages under great infamy, calamity, and and Jerusalem shall be trod- oppression. And, in the mean time, Jerusalem itseli shall be trampled down and kept den down of the Gentiles, -^ possession by the Gentiks,? till the times appointed for these triumphs and insults of X be fulfilled! the Gentiles shall be fulfilled, and the day come when God shall remember his ancient people in mercy.'' c Go had: to take Ids clothes.] These are as strong expressions as without the circuit of the former, when the foundations of the oW one can imagine to urge the speediest retreat. It is indeed observ- were ploughed up. A heathen temple was afterwards buiit where able, that this whole discourse abounds witli very lively figures of that of God had stood ; and a Turkish m.-isque pollutes it to this oratorv, and is heightened with the noblest beauties of description, very day : so remarkably was the hand of God upon thena. And Were "it necessary to oroduce authorities to prove that husbandmen it is well known, by the testimony of a heathen writer, (who ricli- laidaside their upper garment when at work, they might be found culously ascribes it to a fatal resistance m the element,) that in Eisner, [Observ. Vol. I. p. 109, 110.) but that learned critic has Julian's impious attempt to rebuild their temple, and settle them impaired the beauty of the text, by interpreting u as a caution in Jerusalem again, in professed contempt of this prophecy was not to go home to fetch them. Not to turn bach; implies fleeing several times miraculously defeated by the irruption ot balls ol directly without going bach (as we speak in the country) so much as fire, wliich consumed the workmen. See Ammian. Marcel, lit). a /fl«f/'.s/(?n5M to take them up: and so it rises on the former verse, xxiii. r^/). 1. p. 286. d Mai/ then be said to be completely /«//(7/erf.] Arao.ng many h Till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled:] It is much easier to admirable things to be found in that great original. Dr. Jackson's vindicate the authority of the words xaijoi £5v!ov from the objection Credibility of tlce Scriptures, I canT^of ^ut reckon that part of it in of Dr. Mill, (Proleg. p. 133.) chiefly founded on their being- omitted which he shows how exactly the prophecies of Moses were accom-. in theCambridge Manuscript, than to determine the signification plished in the slaughter and dispersion of the Jews in, and quickly of them. I cannot suppose, with Messrs. Le Clerc and L Enfant, after, this fatal war with the Romans. See the passages quoted be- that bv the acconjplishment of the times of the Gentiles, we are to low, in note m, p. 324. unders'tand the time when Constantine put an end to t.ie Gentile e Such as tlie like lias not been— nor ever shall be.] This Josephus idolatry in Jerusalem, and established the christian worship there, expressly asserts to have been the fact; and whoever reads his ac- (Euseb. Vit. Const, lib. iii. cap. 20.) It seems reasonable to suppose count, or even that judicious abstract from him which Eusebius that here, as in most other places, the Gentiles are opposed to the has given us, (Hisf. Eccles. lib. iii. cap. 5, 6.) will see a sad illustra- Jews ; and, consequently, that ail the periBd between the destruc- tion of all this; and, criminal and detestable as the Jewish nation tion of Jerusalem and the restoration of the Jews to their own laud, DOW was, will hardly be able to forbear weeping over tho.'^e compli- so expressly foretold in scripture, is here intended. (See Isa. xxvn. cated miseries brought upon them by plagues, and famine, and fires 12, 13 ; Ezek. xi. 17 ; xx. 40, 42 ; xxxiv. 13; xxxvi. 24, 28 ; x^xvii. occasioned by the siege, and by the carnage mad.p, not only bv the 21— 2S ; xxxix. 28, 29; Hos. iii. 5; Amos ix. 14. lo; and Zecn. Romans, but by the yet greater cruelties of the seditious and" zea- xiv. 10, II.) With this indeed is connected the bnnging m what lots within the city, who really acted the part of so many incarnate St. Paul calls tlie fulness of tlie Gentiles, Rom xi. 2o, 2t, «ut un- fiends rather than of men. less it could be proved (which I do not recollect) that the inliabit- f They shall full by the edge of the SM'ord, and shall be carried ants of Palestine shall then peaceably surrender it to the returning captive, 4-c.] It apnears from' Josephus that eleven hundred thou- Jews, it seems most natural to suppose the time of ttie t.entites here sand Jews were destroyed in this war, and near an hundred thousand signifies the time when they shall be visited AnA pumstied ; "I'leh taken prisoners, and (according to Deut. xxviii. 68.) sold for slaves is the sense in which this very phrase, and others nearly parallel to at the vilest prices. See Joseph. Bell. Jud. lib. vi. cup. 9. [al. vii. it, frequently occur in the Old Testament; as Brennius justly 17.]? 3. observes. (Compare Ezek. xxx. 3 ; as also Jer. xxvii. 7; 1. 2/ ; g Jerusalem shall be trampled down bi/ the Gentiles.] Their land Ezek. xxi. 2.5, 29 ; xxii. 3, 4.) And, if this he the sense of it, it was sold, and no Jew was allowed to inhabit there, (a rigour never seems an intimation that the Turks, or some other anti-christiau used, that I know of, towards any other people conquered by the power, may continue possessed of the holy land till the restoration Romans :) nay, they might not come within sight of Jerusalem, or of the Jews : for one can hardly suppose their way into it should rather of Elia, the name given to the new c iftlicyslii'". say unto 1 , 1 . 1 1 ■■ riM ,- ■ ^ , I I II ± -n L ij 1 yoi'i Behold he is in the ."i/iATT. have a tendency to shake it. 2herefore, if they shall say unto you. Behold, we have desert, go not forth: Be- ^XIV. found tlie expected Messiah, and he is now gathering his torces about him in the wilder- hold, lie is in the secret 26 ness for the deliverance of his people, do not go forth to join yourselves to his followers ; '''^"^^ers, bel.eve itnoi. \or'] if they shall say. Behold, \_he w] in the secret apartments of some particular friend, where he is waiting to give satisfaction to those that desire it, do not believe [//,] nor give 27 yourselves the trouble so much as to inquire into the afl^air. For you know there is and 27 For as the lightning can be no other Messiah but me ; and when I ajjpear, it will be in a sudden, amazing, and shhieiii even°unto the west irresistible manner; and as the lightning b>-ea/cs forth from the east, and shines in a so shall also tiie coming of moment even to the west part of the horizon, so sudden and conspicuous also shall the '^'"^ ^°" '^^ ™*" '^'-'■ coining of the Son of man be, both in his appearance to the destruction of Jerusalem, 28 and to the final judgment. (Compare Luke xvii. 24. p. 252.) And very e.Ktensive also *28 For wheresoever the v.'ill the desolation be ; for, as I formerly told you, (Luke xvii. 37. p. 253.) wheresoever eao'ies be'^athered to^eUie^i^ the dead carcase is, there will the eagles naturally be gathered together ; and wherever the obstinate enemies of my kingdom are, they shall be sought out and destroyed ; and here in particular I will send the Roman eagles against them, who shall consume and de- vour them as a helpless prey, not only at Jerusalem, but over the face of the v/hole coun- try ; and afterwards in some more distant regions, where the greatest numbers of Jews are settled."" IMPROVEMENT. l'"'^ If our Lord urges his disciples, with such speedy and solicitous haste to flee from the sword of God's temporal j^^p^^' judgments, how much greater diligence should we give \o flee from the wrath to come ! What are any of the XIII. '^^^''^ interests of life, that out of regard to them we should be willing to continue one moment longer exposed to 15, 16 a danger which may sink us into everlasting perdition and despair ! P/TATT. We have here a lively description of that aggravated ruin which was brought upon the Jews for neglecting' XXIV.21 Christ, — even great tribulation, such as had never, from the very beginning of the world, fallen upon any other i Except the Lord had shortened /hose days, no flesh could be saved, them to be real miracles, yet they are supposed to be wrought at a &c.] Such were the quarrels that prevailed among the Jews, that time when there were in the christian church teachers subsisting numbers of them were destroyed by one another; and the whole with superior miraculous powers. But it can never be inferred from country was become a scene ot such desolation and bloodshed, that such a supposition in that case, that God will suffer miracles to be not only those who were shut up in Jerusalem, but the whole Jew- wrought in proof of falsehood, when there are none of his servants ish nation, would have suffered much iiiore by the longer continu- to perform greater miracles on the side of truth. And when such ance of the siege, considering- how much the same spirit prevailed superior miracles on the side of truth do exist, the opposite mira- among them in other places.— Mr. Reading, in his Life of Christ, cles at most can only prove that some invisible beings of great p. 309, understands the days being shortened for ttie elect's snlie, of the power, who are the abeiters of fa Isehood, are strongly engaged to preservation of the christians at Pella, whose safety he supposes to support the contrary doctrine; the consideration of which must have depended on the shortening of tlie siege, and whom he takes excite all wise and good men to receive a truth so opposed with t"^^ t'le elect intended here. (See Dr. Whitby, on Mark xiii. 20.) greater readiness, and to endeavour to promote it with greater zeal , —Of the special providences by which the siege was shortened, see as they may be sure the excellence and importance of it is propor- Grotuis, on Matt. xxiv. 22. tionahle to the solicitude of these malignant spirits to prevent its k J heir continuing a distinct people, a means of confirming the progress, faith of christians, &c.] This I have shown at large in my I'en m In some more distant regions, &.C.] There may perhaps be an ^crmons, gcr. x. p. 277—279; and the reader may see the remark oblique intimation in this passage, of the slaughtei- afterwards tarUicr illustrated by Mr. Addison, Special. Vol. VII. No. 49.5 ; made on the Jews elsewhere, and particularfN~infTer'Adrian and and III Bishop Burnet's Four Discourses, p. 8—10. TYafan ; when what had been foretold by Moses (Dent, xxviii. 49. 1 False prophets shall arise, and show great signs and prodigies.] el s'eq.) was remarkably fulfilled, and as an eagle flies upon its prev, This is not a mere repetition of what was said before. Matt. xxiv. .'•,. their enemies pursued them to destruction: and the calamities (p. .320.) but relates to those impostors who appeared during the they underwent were such, that 'as Uio Cassius informs us. Hist. time of the siege ; of which see Joseph. Bell. Jud. lib. vi. cap. .5. [al. lib.'m.) 50,000 were slain, 600 of ihSir fortresses were demojjslied, vii. 1 1.] 5 2. and Euscb. /list. Eccles. lib. iv. cap. 6. See also Grotius, and 900 of Uieir chief towns in Egypt, Crete, &c. were plundered on iVIatt. xxiv. 24.— As for the objection which is urged from this and burnt to the ground : not to mention the terrible things they text, against admitting miracles as a proof of doctrincr., I would afterwards suff'crcd in France, Italy, Spain, and other parts of Eu- * Here transiently observe two things : 1. That it cannot certainly be ropr, in the decline of the Roman empire ; a£-all which, see Dr. ' proved that the works here referred to were true miracles ; they Jackson's Eternal truth of the Scriptures, book i. part 2. sect. 3. might be hke the lying powers, signs, and wonders, mentioned 2 chap, (i, 10—1.3. 1 hess. 11.-9. Or, 2. That if we should, .''or argument's sake, grant JESUS DESCRIBES THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS. 32,5 nation, nor shall ever be equalled. Thus was /us blood upon them and their children. (Matt, xxvii. 25.) May sect. we never know what it is to have this blood crying against us, for trampling it under foot as an unholy thing ! 161. (Heb. X. 29.) For surely to the Jews, who thus rejected the counsel of God against themselves, all these things which they sutiered were but the beginning of sorrows ; and the famine and sedition, pestilence and slaugh- watt. ■ ter, by which so many thousands perished, served only to consign them over to infinitely more terrible indignation X-iv. andu-rath, tribulation and anguish, which will at last fall on everi/ soul of man that doth evil, whether Jew or 7, ti Gentile. (Rom. ii. 8, 9.) These unhappy creatures eagerly listened to the very name of a Messiah, by whomsoever it was assumed, while mark they rejected him whom God had sent them, and who had so long, and with so much importunity, been renewing r,?^"'; to them the offers of life and salvation. May none of us ever know the sad impatience with which condemned ^ '■ "~~ sinners will wish, and wish in vain, for those overtures and messages of grace v/hich they now despise ! In that biatt sense wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together : wherever there is the like unbelief X.viV. and impenitence, there will be in its degree the like ruin. Christ has graciously told us these thinj^s before : may 28 we humbly attend to the warning, that none of this terror and destruction may ever come upon us'! ^ - , ■ 2, O i '\ §" S" £> SECTION CLXII. Christ describes the total destruction of the Jewish state bi/ strong Jigures, man?/ of them literalli/ suiting the day of judoment ; to the mention of which he proceeds, declaring the particular time of it unkno-wn. Matt. xxiv."29— 36. Mark xiii. 24—32. " Luke xxi. 25—33. r„i„ ■ o- Luke xxi. 25. LUKB XXI. 'i.J. And tiiere shall be signs OUR Lord proceeded in the awful representation of the judgments that were coming on Si'.CT. -in the sun, ;ind in the moon, Jerusalem, and said. Before this desolation shall be completely come, there shall be (as I lLi2. and in the stiiis ; and upon ,,, ,,, . ,. ■ -,/ j ■ j/ } ■ j/ the earth distress of nations, told you, ver. 11.) some extraordinary signs in the sun, ana in the moon, and in the with perplexity, tiie sea stars — eclipses, comets, and surprising meteors; and on the earth there shall be anguish L':'cs and the waves ruaring: ^^^^j fjjgfj,^gg of nations.; the sca and the groud waves thereof roaring, and breaking in ^^l- 26 Men's hearts failing upon the land with an irresistible inundation ; While men shall be almost expiring with 26 ^^^ff'^Hl}f^^\f"^^°^}'^-^^' fear'^,and overwhelmed with the sad expectation of those calamitous things which are whieii are coming- on the coming upon the land : for this shall not be like former invasions or captivities, which only eariii.— produced some transient disorders in the state, or, at most, an interruption in the govern- Matt. xxiv. 29. Imme- ment for a few years ; but it shall be attended with such a total subversion of it, and with onhoL^days^1/aU^hfsu" such vast, extensive, and lasting ruin, that it shall be a most lively emblem of the desolation be darkened, and the moon of the whole WOrld at the last day. shall not give her light; p^j.^ immediately after the aJfUetion of those days which I have now been describing,'' matt. iieaven, and the powers of the sun shall as it were be darkened, and the moon shall 7iot seem to give her usual XXIV. the heavens shall be shaken, light; and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens, all the 29 x\\^'>n ]"'" ^^' ^^ ' " '*^ niig^^^y machines and gtrong movements above, shall be shaken and broken in pieces -S that 30 And then shall ap. is, accoi'cling to the Sublimity of that prophetic language to which you have been accus- pearthe signof the Son of tomed, the wliole civil and ecclesiastical constitution of the nation shall not only be shall all the tribes of the shocked^ but totally dissolved. And then shall there evidently appear such a remarkable 30 eartli mourn, and they shall hand of Providence in avenging my quarrel upon this sinful people, that it shall be like the hi the c'i'omls^oT heaveif •^%" of the Son of man in heaven at the last day ; and all the tribes of the land shall w ith power and great glory, then moum, and they shall see the Son of man coming as it were in the clouds of heaven,"^ [Mark. xii. 26; Luke xxi. ^,y^/^ power and great glory ; for that celestial army which shall appear in the aii- mar- in And [then] he shall shalled round the city, shall be a sure token to them that the angels of God, and the great send his angels, with a great Lord of those heavenly hosfs, are set as it were in array against them. And to pursue tlie 3 i they shall aatiier'togetlier ahusion — as at the great day the angels shall in a literal sense assemble all his saints toge- his elect from the four tiler, SO also he shall then send forth his messengers^ with the great sound of his gospel vento tlirothe'r'Som the" ^^ »/« loud trumpet, and they shall assemble his elect from the four winds, even from uttermost part of the earth one end of the heavens to the other, ov frojn the uttermost part of the earth one way, to to the iitterniost part of those climatcs which lie under the uttermost part of heaven the other way ; and niulti- tudes of all nations shall obey the summons, though the Jews have urjgratefully ,P'ia fool- a Expiring ivitli fear."] This is the literal rendering of ais-J/u- ruin of slates and kingdoms, not only in general bj- an imivrasal xovrwv am fofew. Tlie signs here spoken of seem to be some of the darkness, but also by such strong figures as those here used, which latest of those mentioned in the writers referred to above, in notes all have their foundation in that way of speaking. Compare Isa. gand h, on ver 10, 11. p. .T20. xiii. 10; xxxiv. 4, 10; Ix. 20; Jer. xv. 9; Ezek. xxxii. 7, 8; Joel b ImmedicUely after the affliction of those days."] Archbishop Til- ii. 30, 31 ; iii. 15; and Amos viii. 9. lotson and Brcnnius, with many other learned interpreters, imagine d Coming in the clouds of heaven.'] Sudden and irresistible de- that our Lord here makes the transition from the destruction of struction, in which jguch oi the hand of God evidently appears, is Jerusalem, which had been the subject of his discourse thus far, (as Dr. AV'hitby justly observes) often e.xjiressed by God's coming to tlie general judgment : but I tiiink, as it would, on the one in the clouds: (compare Psal. xviii. 9 ; 1. 3, 4 ; xcvii. 2, 3; civ. .3; hand, be very harsh to suppose all the sufl'erings of the Jewish Lsa. xix. 1 ; xxvi. 21 ; Ixvi. 15.) But 1 think the celestial appear- natiou in all ages, to be called the tribulation of those days, so ances described by josephus, (as above, note h, on Luke xxi. 11 It would, on the other hand, be equally so to say that the ge- p. 320.) lead us into the exactest interpretation of this text, ana neral judgment,which probably will not" commence till at least a greatly illustrate the propriety of these expressions here, thousand years after their restoration, will happen immediately e Send fort'u his messengers.] Most translatiou.s, as well as our after tlieirsuiferings ; nor can I find anyone instance in which own, greatly obscure this text, by rendering the word avi'EXous, £u'£!os is used in such a strange latitude. What is said below, (in angels; for though it generally signifies those cf/«^/(// i/jfVi'/i who Matt. xxiv. 34 ; Mark xiii. 30 ; and Luke xxi. 32. p. 326.) seems are on great occasions the messengers of God to our world, it is well also an unanswerable objection against such an interpretation. I am known that the word refers not to their nature but to their ogice ; obliged therefore to explain this section as in the paraphrase; and it is often applied to men, and rendered )nfi'S(?«9frs. See Mark though, 1 acknowledge, many of the figures used may with more i. 2; Luke vii. 24, 47; ix. 52; 2 Cor. viii. 23; Phil. ii. 25; and literal propriety be applied to the last day, to which there may be Jam. ii. 25 : In some of which places it signifies, as here, preachers a remote, though not an immediate reference. of the gospel, who were sent forth to carry on God's great design c^ c The sun shall he darkened, S;c.] It was customary with the uniting all his chosen people in one society under Christ as their prophets, as it still is with the Eastern writers, to describe the utter common head. Eph. i. 10. 32G THAT GENERATION SHOULD NOT PASS TILL THIS WAS FULFILLED. 8ECT. ishly despised it j and the Son of-man shall be honoured and trusted by millions now 162. unborn, when this wicked and perverse nation has perished in (heir rebellion and infidelity. And when these things begin to eomc to pass, be not you' terrified and dismayed, but Lukexxi.28. And when LUKE rather cheerfully look upwards,' and lift up your heads with joy and assurance ; for, J'"'"' ^'"r'^' \^^\" '" """'^^ Yvr t- i I, 11 1^ ^ 1 ^ ., •' r. , ^ , '° P"ss, then look up, and A.\j. ^ ^-hatever happens, you Will be secure ; and as soon as you see the first appearance of these lift np your Leads; for ■^^ signs, you may comfortably conclude that jjour complete redemption and deliverance >?"'' redKinption drawetli draws nigh .-s for many of you will be safely brought home to the haven of eternal peace '"°''' before these storms are ended, and the rest of you will not long survive them. 29 And, hirther to illustrate what he had been saying, he spake to them a very easy and 29 And he sp:ike to them familiar parable, saying. Behold now, land] learn a parable from the example of the fie- ^„^V?^'^'' '' '^^Ti"' ''n'."i''' on-/ 7 II J I ^1 , ji 1 1 ,1 ■ 1 ■ . • Ti^/ ,1^ ' ^ [«na learn a parable oil llie 30 free, and all the other trees that drop their leaves m the M'mter : TK/;e,v buds appear upon fi§:-tree, and all Uic trees: the fig-tree, and its branch is noxo become tender, and the sap rising in the other trees, riW'itt- xxiv. 32. Mark xiii they shoot forth tiiek young leaves, and begin to open and spread, ^om iee and know of 30 Aviien [his brjiuh is your own selves, by the observation you have often made, that summer is now near at yet tender, and] they now 31 hand, as these are certain prognostications of it : So likewise you, when you shall see all ^'j^^'^/'^I^.'^'' O^^^^-s] ye see these things come to pass, may assuredly knoxu that the destruction of the Jewish state, and selves, that summer is now the advancement of the kingdom of God in all its glory, is just at hand, levcn] at the "ig'' at hand: [Matt. xxiv. ' L -1 OQ ]\Iirk viii 9S 1 doors ; or that the time is coming when the desolation I have been speaking of shall come "31 ^'^ likewise ye, when upon Jerusalein, and the gospel shall be propagated ail abroad, and take such root in the ye [shall] see [all]' the^e world, that vou may assure yourselves it shall never be destroyed. !.'i'I'p^ ff'T •*" J"'*'^' ^ J'P^, A \ -I -r 111 -1 ye that the Kingdom of God 32 And verily 1 say. unto you, and urge you to observe it, as absolutely necessary m order is nigii at hand, icicn at the to understand what I have been saying. That this generation of men now living, shall ^','°"] ..J'^''"**- '"''^- 33. 7iot pass away until all these things be fulfilled i*^ for what I have foretold concerning ^'32'Yer'ily I say untoyou, the destruction of the Jewish state is so near at hand, that some of you shall live to see it all ' This generation shall not 33 accomplished with a dreadful exactness: And the rest may die in the assurance of it; for thhv>s]*beVnifi\led' milt another and yet more awful day shall come, when, in a literal sense, heaven and earth shall xxi " .•34, Mark xiii. 30.] pass away, and the whole fabric of this visible world shall be dissolved before my majestic " -^•'^ Heaven and earth shall presence : but my words shall not pass away till they are perfectly fulfilled, and the effi- shall not pass awa'y.^ [lllatt! cacy of them shall remain in the eternal world which shall succeed these transitory scenes, "xiv. 3.5. Mark xiii. 31.] MAi:i<: But though Jerusalem shall be destroyed before this generation disappear, yehof that Mark xiii. 32. But of that XH!. great decisive r/c/y which is appointed for the dissolution and the judgment of the world, tt»y amW/(ff< hour Unoweth 32 and of the hour or season when it shall open upon men, and shall bring on their final which'are°'in"heavenT'nei! sentence, there is no one who knows the precise time,' neither the angels in heaven, nor flier the Son, [but my Fa- even the Son of man himself,'^ with respect to his human nature, or as a part of what he is '^ on'yO [Watt. xxiv. 30.] commissioned to reveal ; for though it be determined by the divine decree, it is not known to any but tny Father alone, or the indwelling Godhead from wliom nothing can be con- cealed ; and as he does not think fit to disclose if, let it be your care to improve this uncer- tainty as an engagement to the most diligent and constant preparation for its coming. IMPROVEMENT. Let us now raise our contemplations to that awful day, when all that was figuratively spoken of the destracfion of Jerusalem shall be literally accomplished ; and let us consider our own intimate concern in it. Where will our A1ATT. hope and comfort, our light and our safety be, when the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her XXiy. light, when the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken ? where, in-: eed, ^9 unless the almighty God, the everlasting Jehovah, by whose voice they were created, and by whose hand they shall LUiCE bedashed in pieces again, shall condescend to be our light and our salvation? (Psal. xxvii. 1.) And if he ' ■ o indeed be so, then we may lift up our heads with joy, as knowing that our complete redemption draweth nigh, even that long-expected day, which, with all its solemn horrors, has still been the brightest object of our faith and our hopes. Then shall the Son of man indeed come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and send his i Lonk np wards : a^,x'v-i,xTi.'\ This is an exprcs.«ion whieh ad- liere wliich sfiall not ta^te nf death till Iheij see the Son of man coming f mirably suits the load of labour and sufferings under which the in Ids Icinijdom. 8ee note i, on that text, p. 182. } apostles w^ould Vij£. depressed in this afflicted state. See Raphel. i Of tliat chiy and hour no one /cnoirs.] I cannot agree with Dr V Annot. cxllerod. p. 270. Clarke in referring tliis verse to the destruction of Jerusalem, the g Your redemption drawl nigh."] As the resurrection is the time particular day of which was not a matter of great im])ortance ; when we shall in fact be fully redeemed, or delivered from all the and as for the season of it, I see not how it could properly be s;iid sad consequences of sin, and therefore is called the redemption of to be entirely unknown, after such an express declaration, that is ovr bodies: (Rom. viii. 23; compare Eph. iv. 30; and Hos. xiii. i\\r,\.\\<\ hem that generation, a.ni\ yet at some considerable distance 7\ 14.) so, in a less proper sense, the deliverance from the toils and for otherwise there would not have been room for the gradual acv' .sorrows, temptations and infirmities, of this sinful and calamitous complishment of the many predictions uttered above. It seems life, may, on the like principles, be called redemption. And if we therefore much fitter, with "Dr. Whitby, (after Grotius,) to explain » iTiay judge of the length of the apostles' lives by the extent of their it of the last day, when heaven and eartji shall pass away, which is ■ labours, though we know not the time when many of them died, sometimes called //(i7< rfay with a peculiar emphasis ; a phrase an- ; there is reason to conjecture it was not till about this period; sv/ering to t/te great or remarkable day. Compare 2 Tim. i. 12, 18; which, by the way, would be an argument they were now most of and iv. 8. them young men. k AW even the Son of man himself.] There is not any thing in h This generation shall not pass av;ay until all these things be fill- this a.ssertion of our Lord, if we consider the two natures in him, filled.'] Though Brennius and Mede (in his Works, p. 752.) have that is inconsistent with his true divinity. For what is applicable here the honour to be followed by so grcnt nn authority as Dr. only to one nature is frequently expressed in terms inclusive of his Sykes, ( 0/ Christianity, p. 60.) yet I must heg leave to say, that I whole person. Thus, as the endowments of his human nature were. cannot think the texts they collect sufficient to prove, that by thif communicated in a gradual manner to him, Jesus is said to have generation \n yitia ')ivr-ri]vfe 9.rc\\cxe to wni^nstsxiA tlie Jewish nation inrrrased in wisdom; (T-uke ii. 52.) and even while he was on \ Ihr-^ugh all ages ; as if our I>ord intended to say, they should eon- earlh, as he was present every where with respect to his divine na- , tinue a distinct people to the juriginont-day. What I have ex- ture, he speaks of himself as the Son of man who is in heaven, pressed in the paraphrase, is plainly the most'obvious sense of the (John iii. 13.) Nor is it at all more strange that he should here be w'ords, and seems to me an evident key to the whole context, espe- said not to know the day appointed for the final judgmeot, than rially when compared with Mntt. xvi. 23. T/ure be some standing that it should be elsewhere said that the Lord of glory was cruci- OUR LORD URGES HIS DISCIPLES TO CONSTANT WATCHFULNESS, 327 angels to summon his elect, and to assemljle them from one end of heaven to the other: for the Lord himself sect. shall descend from heaven 'with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, andtoith the trump of God. (1 Ihess. Ib^. iv 16 ) Mav we hear the summons with joy, and stand in our lot among his chosen ones! What though tiie day and season be unknown ? It is enouo h for us that we know that all these interposing days and years, be they mark ever so numerous, will at length be past ; tor the promise of the great Redeemer is our security, and he will hasten ^- ■ it in its time ? (l&a. \x. 22.) ., , n u j . f * i ^ t'-ri These visible heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll, and the earth shall be removed out ot its place; but 61 the sure word of his promise shall never pass away ; even that promise which is engaged for the salvation of his people. Let us often review it; let us firmly realize it to our souls; and, seeing we look for such things, let us seriously consider what 7nanncr of persons we ought to be in all holy^ conversation and godliness. (2 Pet. iii. 11, 14.) ^-- ■- -.r - .. •1.--' ,\^S'^' SECTION CLXIIL Our Lord urges the suddenness of his appearance as an engagement to constant watchfulness : repeating several things which he had former li/ said on that subject. Matt. xxiv. 37, to the end. Mark xui. 33, to the ejid. Liake xxi. 34 — 36. Matt. xxiv. 37. Ru/artl^^divs^f Noe OUR Lord having told them in the preceding words, that though the time of his appear- sect. trtre, so shall also the com- ancs to the general judgment was uncertain, yet the destruction of Jerusalem should happen IM. iiig of the Son of man be. i^gfoj-g that o-eneration of men was passed away, Avent on with his discourse, and added. But this I will in general inform you, that, as sudden and unthought-of as the deluge was which matt. came upon the world in the days of Noah, so unexpected and surprising also shall the coming -^^-' ^• ,^8 For a. in the days that of the Son of 7nan, to execute his vengeance, be. For as in the daijs which were before 38 were before the flood, they fJi^ universal deluge, they were so inconsiderate and secure, that they went on with all »vere eating and driukin"^ '^ " ■ ■' > i • ? • marrying- and niarriaije, unt.. — — j ,,i, v,^ „,.„. j^., „..j, ^ <-, . ^ ^ - -- i tliat Noe entered into the ^^^ future settlements in the world f and went on thus in contempt of every serious ad- ark, 39 And knew not "*oWin-'"n; their usual business, and spent their time in entertainments, eating and drinking, marri/ing il" the" day wives and giving their daughters in ?narriagc, thinking of nothing but present indulgence ' ' ■ * "'*' and future settlements in the world ;^ and went on thus in contempt of every senous ad- ,., monition, even until the very dai/ that Noah entered into the ark ; And knew not nor 39 it, yet multitudes shall be surprised in an unprepared state. (Compare Luke xvu. 2b, 21. p. 253.) , ^ .- . I formerly told you, with relation to the temporal desolation of your country, and 1 now 40 thf fi'hrtlt one J?,an be repeat it. That of txoo men who shall then be at work together in the field, the one shall taken, nnd the other left: ^^ sei~ed and the othcr dismissed;^ And of two women who shall be grinding corn ai ..•fndin ""at TTJfL the same mill, the one shall be seized and the other dismissed : (compare Luke xvii. 35 one shafi be taken, and the 36. p. 253.) And I may say the like with respect to that important event ot the tmat "ther left. iudo-ment • many who have been engaged in the same station and employments, and who were intimately conversant with each other, shall then be found exceedingly diherent in their characters and states ; and some of them shall be made the prisoners ot divme justice, Luke xxi. 34. And take ^}-,i|g q^^q^^ shall not Only be spared, but be signally favoured by God. ' a.w'^ t°,r7oar''heal?s' be And therefore, that no calamities of life or solemnities of judgment may be areadful to luke overcharg-ed with surfeit- you take heed to vourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overtoaded," and youi ^; ' • "^^^ttr^'^n rational powers depressed and stupifie' ' ' ' ' '' ' '■—'"' ""^^ '^^ that day come upon you worldly and secular cares ; and by ra?-;,-;-!" t-hr-"'ii'fe"'a,ui''so ^tional powers depressed and stupified by ^gluttony and drunkenness, or distracted with -^^ ,e upon you worldlv and secular cares ; and by this means that awful and important r% of which I unawares. l^^vg l^ggn speaking, should come unexpected upon you. For the character of the g'ene- 35 ome on'airXm liial raUty of mankind at that time will be such, that it shall come on the greatest part of all •yj/zE.Teii is often used in a very criminal sense. But how great their temper and conduct, which would be a preparative against reason soever there mav be to believe that the Antediluvian sin- natior.al judgments, and entitle them to the special protection ot ners did so, these words" may be intended to express no more than Providence in them, would also secure them from any unwelcome the security and gaiety with which they pursued the usual employ- surprise by a call to the tribunal of God. » mentsand amusements of life, when they were on the very b'rink c I'our hearts be overlnaded.'] The word ;3apyv?<..Jiv properly sig- of utter destruction nifies burdened, or pressed down ; and so very elegantly ana b Two men shall then be in the field, (^c] Though in the para- stronsly expresses the hateful consequences of intemperance, aiiU phrase, for it.s better connection, I have introduced these words the load which it brings on those rational faculties wliicli are uie incidentally, and hir-ted how thev may allusively be accommo- glory of the human nature.— The reader will observe, tliat i.uKe s dated to the day of judgment, yet 1 doubt not they originally refer account of this discourse is very short, in comparison witn tiiat 01 to the destruction of Jerusalem, to which alone they are properly Matthew and Mark, for this obvious reason, that Jie hart giveji tli^e appli that ; day can the divided, and so generally nii.^ian.uii, 10 ..l..^.t i..wv,..-v.. , ...i.,> ,,,.,..,v, ^„ — >,,. ^ , - — . ,„„„t„ t«o verses.— Our Lord, in the following verses of Matthew and inserted on either of tho.se occasions ; as John, who piobably «rote Mark, directs their thoughts to tliat final solemnity in which they after the accomidishmenl of this prophecy, entirely omits u, as are so highly concerned,' by reptatiug, almost in the same words, already so largely recorded by the former three; from whom, the cautions and advices he had formerly given, Luke xii. 35. et considering the circumstance of time it came with infinitely better teq. \ 114 in which whole context (as I there observed, note f, p. z^ace. than it could afterwards have done from lum. 328 BECAUSE THEY KNOW NOT THE DAY OF HIS COMING. SECT, tliem that dxi-ell on the face of the tvhole earth,^ as a snare upon a thoughtless bird dwell on the face of tlie 163. which, in the midst of its security, finds itself inextricably taken. (Compare Eccles. Lx. 12.) ■'^'"o'e eanii. Let me tlierefore address this most serious exhortation to you with an earnestness propor- 36 Watch ye therefore. LUKE tionable to its importance : Watch ye against every temptation to negligence and sin ; [Mark, take yc heed,] ami ^^'- take heed of every thing which might lull you into a dangerous security, and pray alxoays, br^ac'muuVd^' worthy"^ to "^^ with the most fervent importunity, that through divine grace yoit may be accounted escape all tliese things tiiat worthy to escape all these calamitous and destructive thing;s ii^h'teh shall assuredly co)ne sl!f^Ji'^?'"fr *° ij''^*'' ^""' ^^ /(?/; 'the care to be provided for him, would not have suffered his house to be broken open, or have thief would come, he would 44 left the thief to make his advantage by coming at an unexpected time. And therefore, as ^'"T^ watched, and would .. . ~ , , '' ,, ■ ° ■ ,1 F ,111 V • not have suffered his house it IS 01 SO much greater consequence on this occasion that you should be prepared against to he broken up. an unseasonable surprise, be yc also ready, and learn, from such a common occurrence, to ^4 Therefore be ye also be upon your guard: for I tell you again. That at an hour when you think not of it,. arymuh]nk"not,^the Sonof the Son of man cometh ; and multitudes of people will be as much surprised as if they had man cometh. never heard in their whole lives that he would come at all. (Compare .Luke xii. 39, 40. p. 227.) MARK [For the Son of man is"] in this respect as a man travelling to a distant country, who, Mark xiil. 34. Far the ^ill' as he was leaving his house, gave authority to his head-servants to direct and oversee hi''t^'a""fa'r'iournev wi'i" Teft '^'^ the rest in their business, and assigned to every tnan in the family his proper work, and his house, and gave autho- particularly commanded the porter to watch, and to see to it that the doors were properly ■'"'y t° •''* servants, anxl to ' iiiii liiiii sr r J every man his work, and secured, and ready to be opened to him at his return. comiiianded the porter to MATT. And who now do you, my apostles, suppose is the faithful and prudent servant, of watch. XXIV. who7n his lord has so good an opinion as to have appointed him ruler over the rest of his then^ls a ^a^i thfuf ^and wise ^^ household, to give tluni [their'] proper portion oi food in due season ? You must easily servant, whom his lord apprehend that the expression may with the utmost propriety be applied to that high office j^"''' ™',"}'' .''"'';'^. "^'^r, '^'^ with which you are invested, and to the confidence placed in your integrity and wisdom, meat in due season? 46 And, to excite you to discharge this office with the greatest fidelity, let me add, Happy 46 Blessed /.? that servant indeed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find thus employed in the w'""", '''f l""!. "l""", ''o ],. PI-- ii/T- Tiii- i 11- i- • ' ■' Cometh, shall find so doing. proper duties ot his important omce, distributing to each his portion in a proper manner.' 47 Verily I say unto you again, as I formerly did. That he will prefer him as highly as if a 47 Verily i say unto you, man should make his domestic steward, who had served him. faithfully, ruler or director That lie shall make him of all his estate, as a reward for his care in the due management of his office. (Compare ' "" ^°° *" Luke xii. 42—44. p. 227, 228.) 48 But, on the other hand, the faithless wretch that is dishonest in the execution of so high 43 But and if that evil a charge shall be severely punished : and if that wicked servant shall \:)'cesume to sa?/ in his servant shall say in his 49 heart. My lord delays his coming ; And shall on that presumption begin to beat and l^ff^JS /"'* ''«'^y'^^'' abuse those of Jiis fellow-servants who are more faithful than himself, and to eat and drink 49 And 'shall besjin to in a riotous and extravagant manner with the debauched and drunken part of them, or ^""j'^ ''"'* fellow-servaiits, 50 with other dissolute persons ; he will do it at his peril : For the lord of that servant shall [i^p drunken •. certainly come in a day when he does not expect [hi?n,'] and in an hour when he is not at 5o The lord of that scr- all aware, and cannot have time to put on a face of better order, or to provide and invent ,v?i"eV'he' iooketh'"not "^f^ir 51 artful excuses ; And, seeing him in the midst of his revels and usurpations, he shall scourge him, and in an hour that him so severely, that he shall even cut him asunder,^ and appoint [him'] his portion wifh ^^""^ ""* aware of; hypocrites, the most odious kind of sinners in the sight of God :'' with these shall this false asunder, apd appoint /u'm creature be righteously doomed to dwell for ever in those doleful regions where there shall h'? portion with the hypo- be nothing but weeping , and gnashing of teeth, proportionable to his former indulgence [,"'a^,H/l'nashi!rc-'o'f^treTh!' and luxury, and to the importance of that trust which he so wickedly betrayed. (Compare MARK Ltike xii. 45, 46. p. 22£.) Xlil. 35. .Let me theii caution you, O my apostles and ministers, never to sufl^er this important Mark xiil. 35. Watch yc d It shrtU come on all them that dwell, Sfc.1 The exhortations seems plainly to refer to a debauched and persecuting- clergy, that are connected with this claiise limit the extent of the word hypocritically preteiidiug to a distinguished zeal for christian [all] to a considerable number ; for were it to be taken otherwise, forms and institutions, there could have been no room to offer them. ^ g Shall cvl him asunder. 1 That tearing and cutting persons into e To stand before the Son nf man.'] T do not apprehend that this several pieces was a cruel puiii.shment used among the ancients, is merely the counterpart of escaping the things spoken of before, none acquainted with antiquity can doubt ; and AVolfius on this There were thousands of the Jews that, by one providence or te.Kt has demonstrated it more copiously thau any other critic I another, escaped temporal destruct'i-on, who could with no pro- have seen. Yet, as the criminal is here represented as surviving friety he suTil to .^fand before the Son of vian oi hi.<: cominr). I have this punishment, and consigned over to wailinij and (juasliinr) of therefore paraphrased tliis latter clause as an advance upon the ?<>?//( after it had been inflicted, I therefore, as before, (Luke xii. 40.) former, which gives this context a greater connexion and juster must understand it of being severely scourged, after which idle distinction, thau the order in which most Harmonies place these slaves were often thrown into a prison, where thev lived miserably verses. in every respect. To this our Lord alludes witd a most obvious f Ifappy is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh, iS'c] As propriety. See \ 114. p 228. note 1. no peculiar rewards were conferred on any of the a|)ostles, or other h His portion with hypor-rites.] Mahomet in his Alcoran men- faithful ministers, at the time of Christ's coming to destroy Jern- tions Seven Caverns in Hell, the deepest and most wretched of saleni, this clause sufficiently proves a reference to the final judg- which is to be inhabited by hypocrites. (Siir. iv. v. 144.) Eisner, ment ; and will not permit ur,, with Dr. Hammond, to understand who takes this for a Jewish notion, by a very singular criticism, the Gnostics, or, with Dr. Whitby, the apostate Jews, as particu- supposes it, or something analogous to it, referred to here, and larly intended by the wicked servant mentioned afterwards; which Rev. xxi. 8. where he thinks liars are the same with hypocrites: PARABLE OF THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS. 329 therefore, for ye know not exhortation which I have now been. giving yoii, to be forgot in any ciirumstance of life; SECT. wlieii the master of the \^^i wafc/i lie therefore continually, for ye know not when the master of the house 163. house conit'th : fat eveu, or .,/ u ii • "1/ ■ . L ' i ■ 7 • ;i j j/ i ' ■ atmidni-'lit, orattlio cock cowcth, whethei in tite etening-\va.icn, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in crowing-, or iu the morn- the momiug : Early and late hold yourselves in a prepared posture, lest coming sucldenli/, mark "le'Lest coming suddenly, ''"' f"^ .^''" sleeping and negligent of your proper duty. And what I sai/ to you ni ^m- he find you sleeping. ' public characters, J saij to all my disciples, in every station of life and in every age, 37 37 And what I say unto Watch ; for in every asre and station you will have need to do it, and securitv may be at- vou, I say unto all, AVatch. . i j -.i ., -l <- ^ i J J ' tended with the most latal consequences. IMPROVEMENT. WH.A.T slothful hearts must we have if these repeated admonitions do not awaken us, — even line upon line, and luke precept upon precept I The patience of God is waiting upon us, as it did on the old world, wliile the ark was XXI. 36. preparing: (1 Pet. iii. 20.) May we take the warning, and seek shelter before the door be shut against us ! Let las matt. therefore take heed, lest sensuality and secular cares overcharge and depress our hearts, and amuse us with vain XXIV.49 delusions, till sudden and unavoidable destruction come upon us. (1 Thess. v. 3.) We are by profession the domestics of Christ : Let us attend to the offices he has assigned us, though he seem mark at a distance. Let us diligently wait his coming, at whatever season. Let his ministers especially wait it ; and be ^'"- •^■*- solicitous that they may be found so doing, conducting themselves like wise stewards of tlie mysteries of God, vxTy' dispensing to every one his portion of food in due season. Then will our account be honourable, and our reward ^^_ ^'y glorious. Slay God deliver us from the guilt and condemnation of the cruel, the imperious, and the luxurious servant, 48, 49 who began to beat his fellows, and to eat and drink with the drunken, since we are expressly told his dreadful doom ! " Justly does our Lord declare that to such a one he will appoint a portion with hypocrites, terrible as their 51 portion must be ; for no hypocrisy can be baser than to call ourselves the servants and ministers of Christ, while we are the slaves of ambition, avarice, and intemperance. Wherever such are found, under whatever mask and fomi, may he reform them by his grace, or disarm them of that power and influence which they continually abuse to his dishonour, and to their own aggravated damnation ! Let us in the mean time be exhorting each other dailp, while it is called to-day, lest any by insensible degrees be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin ; (Heb. iii. 13.) and let us always remember, that every exhortation which we give to others returns with redoubled weight upon' ourselves. '• ^^v '': '■■ ' ,. - ^ SECTION CLXIV. Christ enforces his exhortation to -watchfulness, by the parable of the ten virgins. Matt. xxv. 1 — 13. Matt. xxv. 1. Matt. xxv. 1. Then siiall the kingdom OUR Lord, in order to impress upon the minds of his heiirers a concern about the great SECT. ?en''T'r'ins? whTch"^ took 3"^ awful day of future judgment, to which the latter part of his preceding discourse had 164. their lamps,' and went forth SO plainly referred, went on to represent it under a variety of most lively figures, and par- to meet the bridegroom. ticularly "by the following parable; saying. Then, or in that day of final account when matt. the faithful servant shall be rewarded and the treacherous hypocrite so severely punished, ^^^'• shall the kingdom of hectven, or the state of things under the gospel-dispensation, appear 1 to be like the case of ten virgins,"^ who, being invited to a marriage-feast, (which, ac- cording to the custom of this country, was to be celebrated in the night,) took their lamps tas soon as it began to grow dark, and went out together to meet the bridegroom, and to light him to the house where the banquet was to be kept. 2 And five of them were And it appeared by their conduct that /?re of them were prudent persons, and five of 2 wise, and five were foolish. ^^^-^^ were foolish and inconsiderate, who made no provision against an accident which 3 They that were foolish might very naturally happen. They that were foolish, when thry took their lamps, 3 took their lamps, and took ^ent forth with them lighted, but did not take any oil with them beside that which was "V'But'thV w^se took oil at first poured in : Wlureas the prudent maidens,"^considering that they might perhaps be 4 in their vessels with their obliged to wait some hours, took a reserve of oil with them in their vessels which they '*™1'*- carried with their lamps, to feed the flame when the former stock should be wasted. 5 "While the bridegroom BiH while the brideoroom for a long time delayed his coming, as they were sitting near 5 Ind sle' t'"^ ''^^ slumbered ^^^ ^j.^^^ f^.^^^^ whence' they expected him to come, they all of them slumbered, and at 6 AnVat midnight tliere length /f// fast asleep. And in the very middle of \he night, ^ there was a loud cry 6 wa-sa cry made, Heboid, the „,^^/(, j^ ^^g street. Behold, the bridegroom is coming! go \e out immediately to meet briaesrroom cometh, go ye , . i ■ , . i ,i ■ j- i i oiittonieethim. him, and arise to attend the procession according to order. 7 Then all those virgins Then all tkosc virgins presently arose, and, to prepare for his reception, dressed their 7 hraps ''"'* *'■'"""«'' t'>"^'"" lamps, that they might shine as bright and appear as clean as possible. And the foolish 8 8 And the foolish said damsels in great surprise said to the prudent. Give us some of your oil, for you seem to and observes very precariously, that, taking the fearful and un- who were directly -invited, thought it worth their while to pay believing, or those that through cowardice apostatize, for the first their respect to the new married couple, it was esteemed a decent sort of criminals, liars are the seventh class. piece of civility to admit them to a sl.are in the bridal feast, it they a Ten viryins.] This whole parable contains a plain reference made their appearance at a proper time. , ■ i i to the custom which prevailed among the Jews then, and still pre- b In the middle of the nioht.] Perhaps the tradition which Jerome vails among many Eastern nations-, (see The Cnsloms of the Jeivs mentions, that assorted Christ would come to judgment at mid- and Indians Compared, p. 4V. et seq.) The bridegroom used to night, might be borrowed from hence; though to be sure it is a conduct his bride home in the evening by the light of lamps, which very absurd one, since that can be the case only under one men- were used (as Elsuer shows, Oljseri'. \o\. I. p. 114, ll-'i.) by the dian at a time.— A celebrated commentator has clouded this parable Jews and Roman;; on the like occasion: they were carried by bride- exceediiiglv, bv attempting to explain it of the diflerent effects maids, who used afterwards to sup with them; and some tell us Christ's admonition concerning the destruction of Jeriisalem would their number must at least be ten. — It seems, from the circum- have on different persons, stances of this parable, that if any of the neighbours beoides those 330 CHRIST REPEATS THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS. SECT, have a great stock with you ; whereas our lamps are gone out, and all our oil is spent, unto the wise, Give us of 164. But the prudent replied, [}Ve cannot do it,'] lest t/iere should not be enough for us and y"Uf oil. for o"'' I'l'nps are -7/ou, and so we should all be left on a sudden without light, and the bridegroom be dis- ^"g^But the wise answered MATT, appointed and attronted; but rather go ye to them that sell oil in the neighbourhood, saying:, Nat so: lest there XXV. f,„c/ hiijj some for yourselves as soon as possible, that ye may follow and join the pro- you "'butEf 've'^"nitlier''"to cession.'' ^ tliem that sell, and buy for 10 And ■while they went to buy it at that inconvenient time of night, the bridegroom and yourselves. his retinue came, and those maidens that were ready to receive hiui, joined the company ; t„ |^yy| jj," *^brid%room and when they came to the bridal-house, they went in with him to the marriage-feast ; came; and tiiey tiiat were ««./, to prevent disturbance, ^//f ^oorr:;^^ 5//«^ and fastened. tT,™Se%'nd^^^^^^^ 11 And so?ne time after, the other virgins also came, and, knocking at the door, called was shut. with great importunity, saying. Sir, Sir, we desire you would open to us, who are also ^, '• Afterward came also r - "ii 1 I r \ , ■^ , iiii .. 1 j the Other virams, saYUic;, some 01 your guests, tnougli by an untortunate accident we are come a little too late, ^or^^ Lord, open to-us. 12 But /ir, being unwilling to be disturbed in the feast, and to open the door again, answered 12 But he answered and them, saying, Truly I say unto you, I know you not whence you are f my house is f j^no^y'^yoi^ \ll^ ""'" ^""^ already furnished with guests, and I will admit no more. Thus these thoughtless creatures entirely lost both their labour and expense, meeting with nothing but disappointment and shame. And such will be your case if you content yourselves with a mere empty pro- fession of religion, while you sink into a careless and negligent conduct, and remain desti- tute of that principle of real piety which ought to give lustre and vigour to it. 13 See to it, therefore, that you maintain a constant watch, not presuming on preparations 1,3 Watch, therefore, for to be made hereafter ; for your removal may be much more sudden than you are aware, >'<^ H''°^^ neither tlie day , 7 V7J77 ji 1 ■ 1 ■ 1 Li CI n J- 1 A- ■ "Or the hour whercm the and ?/£■ Icnow ncitlier tlie day nor the tiour in which the Son of man comet/i to receive Sonof mancometli. his prepared people to himself, and for ever to exclude the hypocrite and the sinner from the entertainments of his heavenly kingdom. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 1 Let us apply our hearts to the obvious instructions which this well-known parable so naturally suggests. We are under a religious profession : our lamps are in our hands, and we go forth as those that expect to meet Christ ; as those that desire and hope to be admitted to the marriage-supper of the Lamb. But, alas, how few are there that are truly prepared for such a blessedness ! WouU to God there were reason to hope that the christian 2, 3, 4 church were so equally divided, that five of ten in it had the oil of divine grace in their hearts, to render them burning and shining lights ! 5 Let even such as have it be upon their guard ; for our Lord intimates that tlie wise as well as the foolish virgins are too apt to slumber and sleep, and carelessly to intermit that watch which they ought constantly to maintain. 6 There may be, at an unexpected time, a midnight cry. Happy the souls that can hear it with pleasure ; being not only habitually, but actually, ready to obey the summons ! Happy they that have their loins girded and their lamps burning! (Luke xii. 35.) 8, 9 The foolish virgins saw their error too late : they applied to the wise ; but their application was vain. And as vain will the hope of those be who trust to tlie intercession of departed saints, or any supposed redundancy d" 10 — 12 merit in them, while they are themselves strangers to a holy temper and life. In vain will they cry, Lore/, Lord, open to us. The door of mercy will he shut for ever, and the workers of iniquity utterly disowned. The day of grace has its limits •, and for those that have trifled it away, there remaineth nothing but the blackness of darkness for ever. (Jude, ver. 13.) -. ,f SECTION CLXV. Christ repeats the parable of the talents, in a fofm something different f-om that in which he had before delivered it. Matt xxv.' 14— 30. Matt. xxv. 14. n,.^^ ,. j^ Matt. xxv. 14. SECT. JESUS having delivered the preceding parable of the virgins, went on farther to illustrate Vov^.thekingclom oflieaven 165. the subject by the repetition of a parable resembling one which he had used some time " as a man traveiirng- into before; (Luke xix. 12—27. sect, cxliv.) aiid said, Let me again remind you of the great his*^"owirservants!''amT'd'e! MATT, importance of preparing for my coming by a diligent improvement of your gifts ;/<;/• the livered unto them his ■time when \JJie Son of man'] shall come, and the grand administration of judgment at- soods: , fending it, [_xvill be] as the proceedings of a 7nan [wlio,] going a ]ong journc?/, called 15 his servants together, and delivered his efects to them. And to one of them he '^ And unto one he gave ; gave five talents,'' and to another two, and to another one; to every 7nan according t^^llolnMKlmlfiJevny] to his respective capacity to manage the sum, and to the prospect there might reason- man according- to'his scve-. ably be of his improving it : and immediately he went away, and set forward on his r»J^jiY''-V' '^"^'^.^'''"^''''•"'■'y ! journey. " ■ ' c Buy for yovrselves.] Tliis seems merely an ornJimcntal cir- culation, if these were talents of gold, tlie value of the five must cumstance ; and it is strange that any Popish writers should con- have been 3(i,000 pounds sterling, and if silver, 2,230 pounds. (.See sider it as favouring their doctrine of a stock of merits in the i\\c. Preface to Ins Connexion, p. 20.) And perhaps tli is great sum church, founded on works of supererogation ; since, if it referred to was chosen, to intimate the value and importance of those ca)ia- them atall, (which there is no reason to imagine,) it would rather cities and opportunities conunitted to every reasonable creature,; expose than encourage any dependence upon them. and especially to every professing Christian, l^ut 1 do not lay any ' d I Icnoiv you not.'] This circumstance in the parable is not ab- very great stress on this remark, Iiecause it is plain, that as Homer, surd; for nothing intimated a personal acquaintance with tliem, uses the word rj(X«v1ov for a sum, or perhaps a small wedge of gold, of! and guests asking admittance with such a pretence might have considerably less value than the price of two fat oxen, {//iail, ■i/.i been multiplied beyond all reason and convenience. At least, its ver. 750, 751.) so the signification of it among nmch later writers; significancy in the application is very apparent and important. ia very indeterminate, a To one fie gave five talents.] According to Dr. Tridcaux's cal- THE DIFFERENT CONDUCT AND REWARDS OF THE SERVANTS. 331 Ki Then he that liad re- And he tvho had received the five talents, -went and engaged in business, and traded sect •u/d UadetAvlt^f tul%an,e! ^''''''' ^''"'^ ^" ^^ diligent a manner during the absence of liis master, that he doubled the 165. .ind made Mm other five sum, and produeed five talents ?nore. And in like ?na?!ner he who \_iiad received] the '''iT And likewise he that ^^'^ ^^ ^° industrious in employing them to the best advantage, that he also gained t'wo matt. had received two, he also '"Ore. But he tvho had received but one talent, being displeased that Ik had been in- ^^"^'• gained oth.r two. trusted with no more, was seized with sullen indolence and servile fear, and xi-cnt aiuay 18 ceived^o"!e,'5vent'and dit/«l ^^'^ectly, and attempted no improvement of it, but privately digged \_a hole] in the earth, in the earth, and hidliis and hid his master's money in it till he should return home. '"lo^ATterTlon time th '^'^"^ *^^ matter passed otFfor a while ; but after some considerable time, the master 19 lord of those servants com- of those servants co7nes home and viakcs up his accounts with them, demanding from eth and reckoneth with each the sum with which he had been intrusted, and inquiring what was the interest he 'aT'Andso hethat had 'l=^^^ga;nfdbyit ^ . , , ^ , . received five talents, came And he who had received the five talents came near and brought other five talents 20 trients'Tl!)- Lor,7 thou ^''^'^ *'^'^™' *"3'"'j2"» ^'^^ thou was pleased so far to intnist n'le that ''thou didst deliver to deiiver'edst uato me five me five talents when setting out on thy journey ; and such is the improvement I have talents behold, I have gain- made of them, that behold, I have doubled the sum, and gained to them five talents cd^besidesthera five talents ,^,^^^_ j^,^^ /^-^ master said tinto him. Well done, thou good and faithful servant,^ 21 21 His lord said unto thou hast been faithful in the management of a few things ; and, having proved thee to and V)ithiul7e%anr thou ^^ ^° ^ this lo'wer trust, I av7/ prefer thee to a "higher, and set thee qver many more hast i)een faithful over a valuable ^///wo-.? than these : in the mean titne enter thou into the joy of thy master, and few things, I will make thee share with me in the banquet prepared for myself and my friends on this happy occasion ruler over many things • „<■ j i ir i j j rrj enter thou into the jcy^of ^^ ^Y return. thy Lord. He also who had received the two talents ca?nc forward and said. Sir, thou wert so 22 ecfvl"^wrrtaients''''came indulgent that thou didst deliver to me at thy going hence two talents, which I have and said. Lord, thou deli- endeavoured to employ as carefully as I could -. and behold, by tratficking with them, I knu -^behold Ur *'*^° * d ^'"^'^ ff^''"^'^^ ^^'° o'^""'" talents to them. And his master said unto him, as lie had done 23 tw''o^oth'er"taleuty*'bes'ides ^^ ^^^^ former. Well done, thou good and faithful servant, thy care and diligence is as tliem. agreeable to me as if thy trust had been greater ; thou hast been evidently fiiihful in him! Well Iri'gifod'and '^ -^""^ things, and I will in like manner prefer thee to a higher trust, and set thee over faithful servant;' thou hast matiy more valuable things than these ; in the mean time, come to the entertainment now tr "o/^l'''i/ii "^'^k '^ ti^"" P^^P^^^d' ^"irrht at least have received whh usury.'''"^ """" ""'" ^"'"^ °'^" ""^''^^ ^'^^ common inierest. And then, turning to the attendants, he said. Take 28 28 Take therefore the i/e therefore the talent which he has thus abused from him, and give it to him that talent from him and give /ics ten talents, as a farther token of my acceptance 'and favour. Fori would have all my 29 It unto bun which hath ten . i ^i i t i n ^ .i i ,i • • • i i • m, . , "^ talents. - Servants observe, that J shall constantly make this a maxim m my behaviour, That to every 't i'^'"^ ""*" "^vcry one one that hath, and diligently improves what he hath, more shall be given, and he shall and h'e*"si,al'i'"have Tbun' ^^ve abundance ; but from him that hath not improved it to any valuable purpose, ' ■ ' ■ " '" " ' ■ Matt. xiii. 12; Mark iv. 25 ; Luke ct to be stripped of all, and not imagine that I will perpetually sutler my trusts to be abused, and my business to be 30 And cast ye the un- neglected. And, to deter others from such an idle and unfaithful conduct, east ye the 30 ;ia?kntl^'Z'rf 'shal7 be unprofitable Servant, wlio has so wickedly abused my goodness, into the dreadful dark- weeping and gnashing of ncss which is without ; and there, instead of the delight and joy to which my faithful ^*^^"'- servants shall be introduced, there shall be nothing but weeping and gnashing of the b tf^cll done, thou (jood and faithful servant.'] The original word intrusted ; but it cannot imply that they who have received much :u Das a peculiar force and energy, far beyond what I can exactly will ordinarily pass their account best ; "for it is too plain, in fact, -xprps Ml English. It was used by auditors or spectators in any that most of those whose dignity, wealth, and genius give them fubhc exercise, to express the highe.st applause when any part had the greatest opportunities of'service, seem to forget they have any wen excellently performed. Bravely done I comes something near Master in heaven to serve, or any future reckoning to expect; ard t, biU IS not eqiially elegant or forcible. , many of them render tlTemselves much more criminal than this c Jle who Itad received the one talent.] This may intimate ttrat wicliedand slothful servant who Ind his talent in the earth. ve are accountable for the smallest advantages with which we are " ' . and he shall have abun- ''"^"^ """'"'"'"'^ . oui jrom mm mat nam nor inipro •l^'.nre: but from bira that even whut he hath shall be taken atvai/ : (compare M '';'*'' ""'■ '''';''' "^f. I^i'^f" viii. 18; xix. 26.) Such unfaithful creatures must expec aMay even that which he • ■ ^i ^ t ii .. n ,i- , i hath. imagine that I will perpetually sutler my trusts to be p 332 A DESCRIPTION OF THE JUDGMENT-DAY. SECT, teeth. Now this horrible darkness to which my parable refers, is no other than the 165. dungeon of hell, to which every unfaithful servant must expect to be condemned in that ■ approaching day of general account : fail not therefore lo observe and report what I now MATT, say, that it may give the alarm to all who need it. XXV. IMPROVEMENT. What can excite us to a becoming care and activity in the duties of life, if we are deaf to those various and im- portant motives whicli this excellent parable suggests ? We have each of us received our talents, whether five, or Ver. 15 two, or one ; and if we be faithful, it matters not much under whicli of these classes we fall. Our acceptance and reward will be proportionable to our diligence j nor will any be blamed because he has not received five, though many will be condemned for neglecting one. 19 Yet a little while and our Lord comes to reckon with us, and even now his eye is continually upon us. Let us ask our own souls, with what temper, with what courage, with what cheerfulness, shall we appear before him ! Let us 24 think of that appearance with awe, but not with terror. Away with every unjust thought and reasoning, (with what- ever artifice it be excused, with whatever honourable name it be dignified,) that would represent him as a rigorous and severe Master, and produce a servile dread, which would cut the sinews of industry, and sink the soul into a sullen, negligent despair. 30 Whatever our particular snares in life may be, let us think of the doom of the slothful servant, to awakfea our souls, and to deter us from every degree of unfaitlifulness. And, on the other hand, let us often reflect on that unutterable transport which will overflow the breast of every real christian, when his gracious Master shall con- ) descend, in so honourable a manner, to commemorate his honest though feeble attempts of service ; and shall say, 21,23 Well done, thou good and faithful servant : thou hast been faith ful in a few things, I will make thee ruler over want/ things: enter thou into the Jo?/ of thy Lord ! May that joy be the great object of our hopes and pursuits ! and may our daily care in the improvement of every talent lodged in our hands, be a token to us that it will be sure and great .' ..-.,. ': - -* . j— ' '-^ — — SECTION CLXVI. Christ concludes this important discourse -with a plain and affecting description of the last judgment, and of the different sentences then to be passed and executed on the righteous and the wicked. Matt, xxv, 31, ^o ' the end. Matt. xxv. 31. ^-^ Matt. xxv. 31. SECT. UUR Lord having hitherto described his last coming in a parabolical manner, tl\ought When tlie Son of man 166. it proper to conclude his discourse with a plainer account of it, which might serve as a key «''''" come in iiis glory, and' • to many preceding passages ; and he added. When that great and illustrious Person, whom ",;„,_ then siKill^iie sit immi MATT, you have so often heard of and so well known by the title of the Son of ma?!, shall come in the tluone of iiis glory : ■^^^^, all his final glory, ^ in the most public honours of his mediatorial kingdom, to which \ all things shall then be completely subjected ; (1 Cor. xv. 25, 28.) and all the holy angels ' who have long been subjected to him as liis ministering servants, shall come xvifh him ; then shall he sit upon his glorious and majestic throne, conspicuous in the eyes of the 32 whole world, as the universal Judge. And all the nations of men who have lived on earth 32 And before liim sliali from the remotest ages of time, shall be assembled before him ;'° and he shall separate n^^,i?f'*f,!!'if ,i',!.'.J!!'!r'r' 'them jrom each other according to their dmerent characters, which he most periectly one from anotlier.asashep- knows, with as much ease as a shepherd separates the sheep which belong to his flock, J."^'''' ,,'''^j.''.'^f'' '"' ^'"^'^1* from the goats which may be mingled with tliem, and places them in distinct companies. ° 33 And he shall set the sheep, that is, the righteous, whom he will own as such, and whose 33 And he shall set the characters resemble the innocence, meekness, and usefulness of that animal, on his right buTtIie°"oats^on'uie left" ' hand, in token of his favour to them, and of the farther honovtrs he Avill bestow upon them : but the goats, that is, the wicked, who are so offensive to him that they may justly be represented by goats, he shall place on [las'] left, to intimate his displeasure against them, and their final removal from amongst his people ; nor shall the haughtiest and mightiest sinner be able to resist that appointment by which he is placed in this situation, to await his sentence.'^ (Compare Ezek. xxxiv. 17, 18.) 34 Then, when, by the ministry of the angelic attendants, they are thus separated from 3i Then shall the !.: in- each otlier, the great King of glory and of grace, who presides over this grand solemnity, i,;uKl,'a)nie,"ye''biesse!i" ..i shall, with tlie most condescending endearment, say to them on his right hand. Come, my Father, inherit tiic ye blessed and favourite people of jny Father, approach yet nearer to me, that, having been from'^the tuunda't^oQ'ofViI'e assessors with me in what yet remains of this day's awful proceedings, (1 Cor. vi. 2, 3.) you world: may go in with me to inherit the kingdom of holiness, glory, and joy, appointed for your portion in the divine purpose and decree, and prepared for you from the foundation of a WIten the Son of man shall come in his glory .1, If we observe b All the nations shall be assembled be/ore him.'] Kad thenoii.r'i the correspondence ijetween these words and those in c-hap. xxiv. which prevailed among- some later Jews, that the Gentiles slioiild 30, 31. p. 325. it may seem probable that Christ intended to teach have no part in the resurrection, been as old as our Lord's time, it is his disciples to conceive of \\\s first coming to the destruction of easy to see these words might have been understood as a diici t Jerusalem as a kind of emblem of his Ann/ appearance to judgment ; intended opposition to it. and consequently it will authorize us to use some of the texts in the c Nor shall the haughtiest sinner, &c.] I can imagine no more former chapter when discoursing of that great and important day. magnificent image than this: the assembled world distingui-lnil — I hope every reader will observe with what majesty and grandeur with such unerring penetration, and distributed into two grind our [jord speaks of himself in this section, which is one of the classes, with as much ease as sheep and goats are ranged by a shep- noblest instances of tlie true sublime that I have any where read ; herd in different conpanicr.. — The propriety with wiiich our Lord and indeed few passages, even in the sacred writings themselves, speaks of himi.elf in the following words by the title of the King, seem to equal it. Methinks we can hardly read it without iraagiu- is very observable ; and it adds unutterable beauty to the coiide- mg ourselves before the awful tribunal it describes. sceading words he is represented as speaking on this great occasion. WHAT IS DONE TO THE BRETHREN, HE REGARDS AS DONE TO HIMSELF. 333 « 35 Fori was an hunger- the world. And I am now descended to receive you to this kingdom with all these public SECT. I ed, and ye gave me meat: marks of approbation and honour; _/()?• I well remember your good deeds in the days of 166. me cfrink"^*? wa"a strlu^A\% your flesh, and felt my own bowels refreshed by them, when I -was hungrij, and ye gave ■ and ye took me in : r/ie Ifuod] to eat ; when I-tvas thirsty, and ye caused me to drink ; when I was a matt. > 36 Naked, and ye clothed stranger, and ye took me in like one of your own families ; When [J u-as"] naked, and ye „?-^^* me: 1 was sick, and ye vi- clothed fne ; when / was sick, and ye looked after me ;^ when I was shut up in the "^ ' and ye"came unto me"/'^""' solitude, confinement, and affliction ot: a prison, and ye came kindly to condole with me in my sufferings, and to relieve my necessities there. 37 Then shall the right- Then shall the righteous, in humble amazement, be ready to answer him, and say, 37 ' Lord ''whe^saw we thee"a'n J-'Or^h what service were we ever capable of doing thee, that can deserve such notice ! hungered, and fed thee ? or from thee ? When did we ever see thee hungry, and fed [thee ?~\ or thirsty, and caused 38 ■ thirsty, aud gave thee [f/iee'] to drink? Or when did We ewcx sce thee 'u\ (We Ae%{\\.vAe condxiion o{ a stranger, i 38 When saw we thee a and took [thee'] in ? or naked, and clothed [thee ?'] Or when did we ever see thee sick, or 39 ' stranger, aud took thee in? in prison, and came to thee for thy relief? We never saw thee, blessed Lord, in such ' "39*Or''whe^n*'saw we'ufee circumstances of distress, nor ever had an opportunity of showing any such kindness to . sick, or in prison, and came thee, that thou shouldst now distinguish us ill such a manner, and speak so honourably of unto thee ! ^j^g service we have done thee. 40 And the king- shall And the King, answering with renewed condescension from his exalted throne, shall 40 ' VeTii"i's^y untoTou'lnTs ^^^^ disdain to Say unto them, I well know that ye abounded in such kind and compas- . much" as ye have done it sionate actions to the necessitous and afflicted saints around you : and verily I say unto j unto one of the least of j^g^^ j,j^ ^^ niuch as t/c did [if] unto One of the least and poorest of these wj/dear brethren I do"u^'^™unto^mT"'^* '^^"^ \vho now stand v/ith you in this happy company, ye in effect did [if\ to me:"- and I \ declare it in the face of all the world. That I take and reward it as if 1 had been relieved in person, and joyfully welcome you to that blessed world where you shall be for ever reaping the harvest of these labours of love. 41 Then shall he say also Then, when his faithful servants are thus acquitted and honoured, he shall turn and say 41 , ""'»"'<''"<'» •'"''^^ft hand, ^j^^ ^^ them on the left hand. Depart from me, ye cursed and detestable creatures, into ■ into^everi'asti'ng ¥re," pre- the agonies ofthat everlasting and unquenchable _/?re which was origmaWy prepared for j pared for the devil and his f/i^ (fdjl and his angcls,^ whose companions you must for ever be in the regions of horror j ""f-a For I was an hungered, ^"^^ despair. And ye cannot but know in your own consciences that ye well deserve it ; 42 I and ye gave me no m'eat: I for I was hungry, and ye did not give jne so much as bread to eat ; I xvas thirsty, and '■ ^^^-.^^"^l^' ^^^ - "^ °*'^ ™® 1/e did not give me so much as water to drink ; I was wandering among you as a poor 43 I 43 I was a stranger, and helpless stranger, and ye did not take me in among your domestics and guests ; I was j yctook me not in: naked, tiaked, and lie did not clothe me ; I was sick, and in prison, and ye did not look after and ve clothed me not: I'iUtiir if I sick and in prison, and ye me. Or do any thing at all for my relief. i visited me not. Then shall they also answer and say unto him, Lord,^ we are surprised at so strange a 44 1 44 Then shall they also ghji-ofe, and cannot apprehend ourselves liable to it ; for wh-en did we ever see thee hiingr?/, I answer him, saying, Lord, p. ' ri , , . , . ' . i ?■ j , ^ ^.^ -l j. r when saw we thee an hun- Or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did nor, to the best ot our gered, orathirst, orastran- abilities, w/ww^er to thee? If we had ever seen thee in distress, Ave would not have I fn Vison. and "did not mi neglected to relieve thee ; but we had never any opportunity of doing it. ' nister unto thee? And then shall he answer them, saying. Verily I say unto you, and declare it in the 45 them.^savin^-, v'trUy'^r'say "^^^^ solemn manner. That in as much as 'ye did [if] not to one of the least of these once unto 'you. In Ls much as ye necessitous though now triumphant saints, who dwelt among you on earth, and needed your did (/not to one of the laast assistance, j/e did [it] not to me ; and I justly thought myself neglected and injured when lese, je i i no o m.. ygy gj^^j yp ^]jg jjQ„,gls of yQ^. compassion towards them. 46 And these shall go And SO, to conclude all, these miserable wretches, notwithstanding all the excuses they 4G Lhnient:Vut^theVi"lteou3 can urge, 5//fl//go atoay into a most dreadful state of ei'e/'/ff.?///;^- punishment ; but the into life eternal. " righteous, through the abundant grace of God manifested by his Son, shall enter into everlasting life-^ and thus the great scene shall close in the eternal happiness or misery of every human creature who has ever lived on the face of this earth. ^ IMPROVEMENT. Let us now behold, with an attentive eye and a solicitous heart, the end of all the living ; that awful scene in which the various dispensations of God to mankind shall terminate in the solemn day, when the Son of man shall Ver. 31 come in his glory, and sit on his magnificent throne. All nations and people shall be assembled before him, and 32 »we must make np a part of the assembly. The sheep and the goats must then be separated : and, O my soul, amongst which wilt thou then be numbered ? Is there an enquiry, is there a care, of greater, of equal, of compar- able importance ? d / was sick, and ye looked after me.'] This seems the exactest the kingdom is said to have heeu prepared for the riqhleovs frorti sense of £7r£Tx£vJ/x79£ /:i?, which in general signifies to /(?/><■ the over- the foundalioa of tlie world; whereas here the everlasting fire is tight and care of any thing that requires diligent insi)ection and not said to have been prepared for the wicked, but /or the deiil and attendance: (compare Jam. i. 27; and Llsner, Observ. Vol. I. his anijels. Compare Rom. ix. 22, 23. . . p. 117) and it stronslv intimates, that such an attendance on the g TXfn s//aW //if y n/so,3/!5K.YT, tVc] .Perhaps it may only intimate poor in their illness is'a very acceptable charity : and this is what tliis shall be the language of their hearts, which Christ perceiving, many may have an opportunity of doing who have very little money will reply to it. I "see no necessity for supposing they shall ac- to spare. ■ '" ' t„aliy plead thus. Multitudes will no doubt remember they have e Ve did it to me.'] That alms-deeds should be remembered with often heard what reply will be made to such a plea : God grant peculiar regard in the day of judgment, was a notion that early that none who read it here may be in the number of those to whom prevailedamong the Jews, as appears by tlie Chaldee Paraphrase on it will be made ! , ■ > vr n . n, ■ • i Eccles. ix. 7. which bears a remarkable resemblance to these words h Everlasting punishment,— everlasting life.] As the original of Cluist, and might perhaps be an imitation of them. See Mede's word aiioviov is tlie same in both places, I thought it proper to use TTorks, p. 81. the same word in the translation of both ; and miserable are they f Prepared for the devil and kis angels.] There is a remarkable that dare venture their souls on its signifying a limited duration difference between our Lord's expression here and in ver. 34. There in either. 334 REFLECTIONS ON THE JUDGMENT HE V/ILL PASS OX THE WICKED AND THE RIGHTEOUS. SECT Let us view the sentence we must shortly hear, as he who will himself pronounce it has been pleased to give us a 166. copy of it. Can we conceive any thing more dreadful than that which shall be passed on those on the left hand ? '__ Xo be driven from the presence of Christ as accursed, and to be consigned over to a devouring fire ! and this not MATT, only to the tortures of a moment or an hour, (as in some painful executions that have been known here,) but to XXV .' everlasting fire, yea, to fire prepared for the devil and his angels, where they will be perpetual companions and 41 perpetuaUormentors! Should not the thought that he is in danger, in hourly danger, of being sealed up under this 42, 43 sentence, awaken the most stupid sinner, and engage him eagerly to cry out, U7iai shall I do to be saved'/ — And on whom is this sentence passed ? Let us attentively observe it : Not merely on the most gross and almndoned sinners, but on those who have lived in an habitual neglect of their duty : not merely on those who have ravaged and persecuted the saints, (though surely their furnace will be heated seven times hotter than that of others,) but even on those who have neglected to relieve them. On the other hand, let us seriously reflect what it will be to be owned by Christ before the assembled world, and 34 to hear him saying, with a sweet smile, and with a voice of harmony and love. Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you froyn the foundation of the world. How infinite is the love that prepared that kingdom for us before we had a being ! how "rich the blood that purchased it ! how overflowing the grace that bestows it on such mean, such undeserving creatures! Bless the Lord, O our souls! in the prospect of it. Let 7nen eurse, O Lord, lUhou wilt thus bless: (Psal. cix. 28.) Let them load our names v/ith infamy, if thou wilt adorn them with such glory : let all the kingdoms of the earth, and all the pomp of them, be despised and trdiu- pled under foot, when offered as an equivalent for this infinitely more glorious kingdom. 35, 36 Let us attentively observe the character of those who are to receive it. They are the useful and the benevolent souls : such as have loved the Lord Jesus Christ, not only in his name, and ordinances, and promises, but have loved him in his laws and in his people too ; and have known him in those humble forms in which he has been 40 pleased, as it were by proxy, to appear among us. I was hungry, and ye fed me ; thirsty, and ye gate me drink, &c. ; for in as jnuch as ye did it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me. Amazing words ! that the meanest saint should be owned by the King of glory as one of his brethren ! Irresistible argument to those that do indeed believe these words, to stir them up to abound in every good word and work ! Under this impression, methinks, instead of hiding ourselves from those who should be to us as our own flesh by virtue of our common union to him, we should not only hearken to their entreaties, but even search them out in those corners to which modest want may sometimes retire, and cast about in our thoughts how we may secure any happy opportu- nity of relieving some poor saint, for their sakes, and for their Master's, and even for our own. What if Christ came to us in person, as a poor helpless stranger ? What if we saw him destitute of food and raiment, or in want of any other necessaries of life ? Should we not contend for it as an honour which of us should receive him into our houses, which of us should entertain him at our table, which of us should even strip ourselves of oar clothing to give it to him ? And yet he tells us, that he is in etfect with us in his poor members ; and we invent a thousand cold excuses for neglecting to assist him, and send our compassionate Saviour away empty. Is this the tenipei' of a christian ? Is this the temper in which we should wish to be found at the judgment-day ? 44 45 But we know not Christ in this disguise. Neither did these unhappy creatures on the left hand know him : they are surprised to be told of such a thing ; and yet are represented as perishing for it. Away therefore with all those religious hopes (vainly so called) which leave the heart hardened, and the hand contracted from good works! If we shut up the bowels of compassion from our brethren, how dwelleth the love of God in us? (1 John iii. 17.) Or to what doth the love of Christ constrain us, if it be not to the exercise of gratitude to hiiu, and tiie offices of cheerful and active friendship to those whom he now owns as his brethren, and whom he will not be ashamed to call so in the midst of his highest triumph ? Blessed Jesus, how munificent art thou ! and what a fund of charity didst thou lay up in the very words which are now before us! In all ages since they were spoken, how many hungry hast thou fed, how many naked hast thou clothed, how many calamitous creatures hast thou relieved by them ! May they be written deep in our hearts, that the joy with which we shall finally meet thee, may bj increased by the happy effect of this day's meditation ! . ' :-, , SECTION CLXVII. The .Jewish riders consult how they might take Christ, and Judas agrees xvith them to deliver him privately into their hands. Matt. xxvi. 1—5, 14 — 16. Mark xiv. 1, 2, 10, 11. Lukexxi. 37, to the end; xxii. 1—6. Luke xxi. 37. Luke xxi. 37. sr.r-r. THUS our Lord ended his discourses on this subject on the third day of ihe week in "^^P ''},i|,'^''i|f"(';g'||.','', ]r 167. which he suffered \ and thus he was generally employed, from the time of his public entry ^^^l af ^.i'n'iu'he w.ni"'m'in into Jerusalem to his last passover : he was teaching by day in the temple, and at night and abode in the iiioiu.r LUKE he went out of the city, and lodged at the mount' ealled'\the mounf\ of Olives, in' the g''!*;^ called M. mu,..i ut XXI. aeighbourhood of which Bethany lay ; in the retirements of which, particularly in the '^' garden of Geths mane, he often spent a considerable part of the night ; being desirous to secure that only season of solitude, that he might prepare himself for his approaching 38 sufFerinss by a proper series of extraordinary' devotion. And as soon as it was light, he 38 Ami ;iii tlie inouie 00 " • ^t)Jll , 11 ., 7 "^ I ■ ii ■ , 1 ■ ■ ii J I came early 111 the niniiiiii;' returned to the city j and alt the people came early in the ?norning to him in the temple, ,„ i,|„, j„^||^ iep.ii>u-, 1..1 to that they might thus lay hold of every opportunity to hear him ; and he was solicitous hear him. not to lose any time that might be improved for so profitable a purpose. Luke xxii. 1. vNow the a Tuio days after.'] I apprehend that the precedinnj discourses ingr, which was just two days before the pascl-.al Inmh was eaten. I (from { 151.) were delivered on the Tuesday of the week in which do not find that any of the transactions of the Wednesday are ro- ne suffered J and he probably uttered the following words that even- corded, besides the general account y^iveii above. JUDAS AGREES WITH THE JEWISH RULERS TO BETRAY CHRIST 335 Matt. xxvi. 1. And it A/Id if. came to pass, that when Jesus had finished all these discourses, and the ap- SECT. ',ad fitli^i,e(rairthe"e"'say! po^i^ted hour for his sufferings was now at hmA, he said to his disciples. Ye hwxv that 167. ings, he said unto his dis- after t'iVO dat/s the passover cometh ; and in the plainest terms I now assure you the Son ''2' y' k ow that after two ^^ "''^" " '^'^'^ ^° ^^ betraijed to his inveterate enemies, that, according to what I have matt. \ days is^M'^/r^s/o/Uie pals- often told you, (Malt. xvi. 21 ; and xx. 18, 19.) he may be put into the hands of sinlhl ^-'^'^''• I over, and tiie Son of man men to be crucified : prepare yourselves therefore for that trying season, that you may 2 j is betrayed to be crucified. ^^^ ^^ hurried into any thing which you may afterwards have reason to repent. I 3 Then assembled toge- Then, that Very ev'ening, the chief priests of every class, and others employed in dis- 3 ' tl'*^crtbcs''fnrthe elde'r^ tinguislied services in the temple, together with the scribes and the other elders of the orth"peopie,"unto*the pi- people, who were members of the grand sanhedrim, assetnbled tosether, not indeed in laceoftlie higli-priest, who the temple, where they usually met, but at the palace of the high-priest, -who tvas then xrv.""Luke'xxir2.?^''^'' ^«^/''^^ Caiaphas ; (as was observed before, John xi. 49: p. 219.) And there thei/ entered 4 4 And consulted [how] into a secret conspiracy, and consulted hotv they might privately take Jesus by some tbey iniglit take Jesus by artifice, without giving an alarm to his friends, and might put him to death as soon as subtilty, [and put him to '., , i • > ° ° .> ,, i , • i° i n ^ , ; ■ i , ,. death.] [Markxiv. 1. Luke possible, which. One way or ottier, they were determmcd to do. Jiut they had such an 5 xxii. 2.] apprehension of his interest in the people, that some of them were rather for delaying it, tlie fcast-VJJ, lest 'there be ^""^ ^'^^'^^^ ^'^ '^^'^ ''^ ™ore advisable to wait till after the passover, and not to attempt to an uproar among the peo- seize him at the f east, while there is such a concourse in the city from all parts ; lest the tl'r >nVl]e VnMarii xtr^o^ design that we have formed against him should be discovered, and, considering how Luke xxii. 2.] "' popular he is, there should be a tumult raised among the people, either to -rescue him from our hands, or to revenge his death. Such were the cautious sentiments of some among them ; for they feared the people ; but others pushed the matter on with greater forwardness and zeal, and were by no means for deferring it ; to which at length the rest agreed, upon finding a more favourable opportunity than tbey expected ottering itself through the treachery of Judas. Luke xxii. 3. Then en- For then, just at that Very juncture of time, Satan, by divine permission, entered into LUKE nt™tuVca"iorbfi\\?[o'^^^^^ '^"'^'^*' "^'^^ ^'"* ^^^° ^^^^''^ Iscariot, and ti-as (as we observed before) one of the num- XXII. ofthe number of the twelve: ber of the twelve apostlcs who Were chosen by our Lord from the rest of his disciples- to 3 [Matt. xxvi. 14. Mark xiv. the most honourable trust as well as the most endearing intimacy :'' and as this malignant spirit had before suggested to him the horrid design of betraying his Master, he now strongly impressed his mind, that during his retirement he might easily find a convenient time for executing it, and might be sure of being well rewarded for it by the rulers of the 4 And he went his way, Jews. Arid, under this impression, he immediately went away from Christ and his com- 4 chief '^pHest""andTaptains! P^^Y ^^ ^^^6 house of Caiaphas, whom he knew to be a most inveterate enemy to his how he might betray him Master ; and having found means of introducing himself and comniunicatipg his general nntothem: [Matt. xxvi. 14. design, he conversed with the chief priests and captains of the temple, who were not yet gone away, and deliberated how he might with the greatest convenience and security Matt. xxvi. 1.5. And said betray him unto them. And as the sordid wretch proposed it with a covetous view, be- matt. Kn/oM^m \\ hatwiii yeo-ive f^j-g jjg would come to any agreement with them, he said, without the least appearance of x^'^'- me, and 1 will deliver him ,,,, , ■> ° .,,. , . ' , t n i _i i * //• / i - nnto you ? shame or remorse, \y hat are you willing to give me, and I will undertake to deliver turn lo to you at a time and place in which you may etfectually secure him witliout the danger of giving any alarm to the people ? iNiark xiv. 11. And when And when they heard his proposal, they thought [it"] very practicable ; and they were m.ar'c *'l'ad a'ld"^- raised'^to ^^[v^ S^'^^ ^^ ^^ unexpected an offer from one of his own disciples to facilitate their measures, X'^'- him' money. [And they c^d therefore readily promised in general to give him a sum of money as a reward for 11 covenanted with him for that service ; and at last they expressly agreed with him for thirti/ pieces of silver,'^ [Matt. ^xvi^i5.°LukexxU. wh'ch was the price to be paid for a slave who had been slain : (see Exod. xxi. 32.) and 5.] as they proposed it to express their contempt of Jesus, so God permitted Judas, covetous as he was, to acquiesce in that mean and trifling sum, (though he might easily have raised it higher,) that thus the prophecy might be fulfiUe-d in which it had been particularly Luke xxii. 6. And he specified. (See Zech. xi. 12, 13.) time]'"soiigb't opportuni'tv And he promised to take a punctual care in the affair ; and accordingly />-o;« that time luke to betray him unto them in he diligently 5o?/o-//^ a proper opportunity to betray him unto ///e?rt, that they might X^^^- tude^^TMatt xLvV'iG^Iark ^°™'^ "P'-*^ ^^"^ privately, and apprehend him in the absence of the multitude : nor was 6 xiv. II.] it long before this happened, as we shall quickly relate in its place. IMPROVEMENT. We see with what unremitting vigour the great Author and Finisher of our faith pressed forward towards the luke mark, and how he quickened his pace as ho saw the day approaching ; spending in devotion the greatest part of xxt. the night which succeeded to his most laborious days, and resuming his work early in the morning! How much 37 happier were his disciples in these early lectures, than the slumbers of the morning could have made them on 33 their beds ! Let us not scruple to deny ourselves the indulgence of unnecessary sleep, that we may come morning after morning to place ourselves at his feet, and lose no opportunity of receiving the instructions of his word, and seeking those of his Spirit. matt. But while his gracious heart was thus intent on doing good, the chief priests and rulers of the people were no xxiv. less intent on mischief and murder. They took counsel together how they might put him to death : They set 3, 4 c Thirty pieces of silver.'] A slave was rated by the law at thirty 336 PETER AND JOHN MAKE READY THE PASSOVER AS CHRIST APPOINTED SECT Upon his head the price of a slave, and find an apostle base enough to accept it ! Blush, O ye heavens, to have been 167. witness to this ; and be ashamed, O earth, to ha.'e supported so infamous a creature ! Yet this was the man who, L but a few days before, was the foremost to appear as an advocate for the poor, and to censure the pious zeal of LUKE Mary, which our Lord vindicated and applauded. (Jolui xii. 4—8. p. 28S.) Let the fatal truits of his covetous XXII. disposition, instigated by Satan, be marked with abhorrence and terror ; and if we see this base principle har- 3, 4, 6 boured in the breasts of those who call themselves the disciples and ministers of Christ, let us not wonder if, by God's righteous judgment, they are given up to those excesses of it which bring upon them lasting infamy and endless perdition. ^ • ' SECTION CLXVm. Christ having directed his disciples tohere to prepare the passover for him, comes to Jerusalem for the last time before his death, and sits down with them to the celebration of it. Matt. xxvi. 17—20. Mark xiv. 12 — 17. Luke xxu. 7 — 18. John xiii. 1. Luke xxii. 7. Luke xxii. 7. SEcr Now after this infamous bargain which Judas made with the chief priests to betray THEN came the [first] day 168. into their hands his innocent and divine Master, on the fifth day of the week, before the the"paS!.v'rmurbekU^ • —evening when the first day of unleavened bread came,^ in tiV^/c//, according to the pre- [Matt. xxvi. 17. Mark xiv. LUKE cept of the law, which had expressly limited the time of it, the passover jnust be killed, i-^ ^^^ i,e sent [two ofhis XXII. oj. tii^ paschal lamb be slain, in commemoration of the Israelites' being preserved from aiscipiesj'Veier and Joiin^ 7 the destroying angel, and delivered out of Egypt, Jesus determined to keep the passover saying-, Go and prepare us 8 with his disciples. And, that he might in a due manner celebrate it with them, he el\''/[Marrxiv i3o"^ '"''^ sent txco of his disciples, Peter and John, from the place where he had spent the night 9 kad they said unto bint, before in retirement with them, and said, Go to Jerusalem and prepare the passover for ^y.^'T'^ ''''' jJ'"" *i'.tVfi,t us, that -we maij once more eat \}t\ together. tliee to eat tlie passover?] y And they said unto him. Lord, we are ready to perform the charge ; and, that we [Matt. xxvi. 17. Aiark xiv may be under no uncertainty as to the place, only desire thou wouldst paiticularly tell us '^10 And lie said unto them, xvhere, or at what house, wilt tiiou have us go and prepare for thy eating the [Go into tlie city to such a passover V^li\lXX%. ' " aT'eX^ed'l'nlJthe dtl' 10 And he said unto them, I will give you a sign which shall put the matter out of doubt : there shall a man meet you, Go directly into the city to such a one as I will point out to you : [and'] behold, as soon bM""^ a pitcher of wa'ter; 1 as ever you are entered into the city, a man -will meet you in the street carrying a ,vhe°rehecntcre'tliiii![Mau! pitcher of water in his hand ; follow him immediately into the house where he enters ; xxvi. 18. Mark xiv. 13.] ' i 1 for I know it will be a place very fit for our accommodation.'' And ■wheresoever he goes ^^^J; [^"^^^'jfgj^,', ^^ye^f.a'Jf in, you shall say to the master of the family. We are come to thee with a message from say unto tlie j,'ood-nian' of Jesus the Teacher ; and he says to thee by us. My time is now very near," and before tlieliouse, The Master saitli I make my last remove, I ■will celebrate the passover at thy house: where then is the {["„j,_ I'tvui kelp'uie pas's- : dining-room ? or what convenient chamber hast thou to spare, where I may come and over at thy house :] where eat the passover with my disciples, and be secure from the interruption of any other com- i\'|]^'|fe;ft1h'i with me ; intimating thereby, that if he were not cleansed from sin by his blood and Spirit, he could never partake of the happiness of his people ; and that, in the mean time, it became him to sub- 9 mit in this instance to his direction. Upon which, Simon Peter, struck with so awful 9 Simon Peter saitli unto an admonition, immediately says to him, with that eager affection so natural to his temper, '"™' ^°"'' "*'' '"y ^^^^ a Supper beinq come.'] The reasons brought by Bishop Kidder, (in his Demonslratinn of the Messiah, part iii. chap. 3. p. 60, 61.) by I)r. Lightfoot, [Hot. Heh. on Matt. xxvi. 6.) and since by Dr. Whitby, (in his notes on this place,) to prove that this supper was not the passover, but another supper at Bethany a night or two before, I have briefly obviated in the paraphrase or notes on the places on which t\\ey are grounded, and therefore cannot think it material to trouble the reader witli a particular detail of them. The chief reasons which determine me to the contrary opinion (besides some others, of whicli a good summary is given in Dr. Guyse's valuable note on this place) are these : Sucli a disposition of the story best suits several of the circumstances of the paschal supper, (particularly the contention about superiority, and the inquiry about Judas, both which must, on tlie other hypothesis, have been superseded,) and the propriety of it is especially evinced from John xiii. 38. wliere our Lord says to Peter, The cock shall not crow till thou hast denied me thrice ; which must be spoken the very night Jesus was betrayed, and yet is so connected with this story of washing the disciples' feet, by ver. 21. and ver. 31. that they cannot without great violence be separated : and it is certain, John xiii. 1. will have a peculiar energy according to this plan; which therefore most critics have followed. — The reader will ob- serve here, that I have rendered lumcv yiio/xiyou, supper being come, which is the sense in which tlie word is often used elsewhere : thus, John xxi. 4. n^-^ix; yeK/xtw, is, u^hen morning was come : Acts xii. 18; xvi. 35. i/iEjxt yiwjuim!, when day was come ; and Acts xxi. 40. •Tiyjif yivofiivn!, when silence was made : in all which places, and in many more that might easily be collected from the Greek writer.s, it would be absurd to translate the word ended. Nay, Luke iv. 42. y£vo//6v>K n/yit^x;, signifies, lohen the day was coming on. (Compare Mark i. 35. note f, p. 71.) It is indeed an ambiguous term; but the rendering above is here to be preferred, 1. Because it was much more natural to wash the feet of guests before than after supper : 2. Because it is expressly said in ver. 1. to have been done before the paiisover ; which, if the preceding reason be admitted, determines the point : 3. Because part of the discourse, which John mentions as happening after the feet were washed, is men- tioned by the other Evangelists as passing at supper; nay, John himself, when he speaks, in ver. 26. of Christ's dipping the sop, and giving it to Judas after this, plainly shows that supper was not ended. — As the latter part of this 2d verse comes in by way of parenthesis, I have transposed that clause, and inserted it after- wards in ver. 21. to introduce what relates to Judas in the next section ; a freedom which will, I hope, be easily excused. b Tliere was a contention among them.'] If the reasoning above be allowed, we must certainly transpose Luke's account of this contention about superiority ; for none can imagine it should follow immediately after Christ had been giving them so aflecting a lesson of humility. But Luke seems less exact in the order of this story than the other Evangelists; and particularly relates what passed concerning the person that was to betray him after the Eucharist, though bolh Matthew and Mark place it before. c He risetli from supper.] As it is here asserted that Clirist rose from Slipper, we must allow that, in some sense, supper was begun, that is, as I suppose, the antepast had been taken, which is men- tioned by the Jews as preceding the paschal lamb : (see Ainsworth's note, quoted above, note e, p. 432.) They tell us that it was then usual for the master of the family to wash his hands ; and, if I am rightly informed, the Jews continue the custom still. — This seems a more natural manner of explaining the clause before us, than to suppose, with Grotius, or Vossius, (Harm. Evan. lib. i. cap. 14. sect. I.) or Dr. Edwards, (Exercit. on Luke xxii. 21.) that after the ])aschal lamb they ate another distinct supper, and that this wash- ing happened in the interval between them. Though Vossius is pleased to call this a very little lamb, (unus Agnicnlus,) I cannot but think (especially considering how early the ewes yean in Judea) that it might be big enough plentifully to sup thirteen people; and as all which remained uneaten till morning was to be burnt, (Exod. xii. 10.) one cannot suppose that our Lord would be in- clined to multiply dishes on this occasion, especially as the former part of the night was to be spent in watching and prayer. HE EXPLAINS HIS DESIGN, AND CAUTIONS THEM AGAINST A?JBITION. 339 only, but also my hands and Lord, if this washing is to be a token of my interest in thee, I most gladly acquiesce in it, stCT. fwy head. and am heartily desirous that thou shouldst wash, not my feet only, but also my /lands 1G9. and m?/ /lead too ; for I desire that all my intellectual arid all my executive powers may > be sanctified by thy grace, and be entirely devoted to thy service. john 10 Jesus saith to him, Then Jesus, willing to lay hold on a hint which gave him an opportunity of pursuing ?^I1T. He tliat is washed, needeth so useful a thought, sa?/s further to him. He that is washed already, or that has just been ^^ but 'i^ cleL'^'everv ' whlf- bathing,^ needs only^to wash his feet, which may indeed easily be soiled by the shortest and ye are clean, "but not walk, andvihsn that is done, he is entirely clean ; as if he should have said. The tnily all. good man needs not that deep repentance and universal change which is absolutely neces- sary to others, though he should, by renewed acts of penitence and faith, be cleansing him- self from smaller pollutions, which are in some degree inseparable from the infirmity of human nature : and, in this sense, [ know that you, my apostles, are clean : but yet I n For he knew who must add, you are not all so. For as he was acquainted with the secret dispositions of 11 should betray him; there- {i^gij. hearts, SO he knew who would betray him; (compare John vi. 64. p. 169.) and fore^said he. Ye are not all f/^^^.^j?^^,^ ^^ g^jj^ y^^^ „j.e not all clcaii,^ because he knew the heart of Judas was polluted with reigning sin, and was so far enslaved under the power of the devil as to have consented to the perpetration of the vilest wickedness. 12 So after he had wash- When therefore he hadihvs, washed their feet, and had taken his UTpper-garmcnts 12 h?s' garmenV'alid^vas ""se" ^^d put them on, hc sat down at the table again, and said to them. Do you know the down again, he said unto meaning and design of what I have now been doing to you in the form of a servant ? them, Know ye what I have j^^,^^ ^^y explain the matter, he said to them, I must again remind you of what 1 formerly LUKE "lluke xxH. 25. And he told you, but what you seem so ready to forget, (see Matt. xx. 25, 26 5 and Mark x. 42, J^^^' said unto them. The kings 43. p. 282, 283.) The kings of the Gentiles do indeed lord it over them ; and they that '^^ "ordshfp over''therarand ^^^ercisc the most magisterial and arbitrary authority upon them, have a set of flatterers they that exercise a'utho- about them who encourage them in it, as an instance of true greatness of mind, and give b\'te"!cTo s"-"^™ ^^'^ '''"'^'^ ^^^^ ^^'^ ^^™ ^^^^'^ ^f gf^^^ benefactors to nations and men.' But you, my disciples, 26 ^'s But° Wia// not i(^ so : [shall'\ not [do'] tlius ; for you are to show yourselves the friends of the world, not by ^^i\% 1 M • * trust and influence, \let him he'] as humble and condescending as a servant. Of this I 27 he that sitteth at meat, or have now been giving you an instance, whicn surely you cannot quickly iorget : jor he that ser\ that sitteth am anion servcth rest j and you have just now seen me putting on the form of a servant, and performing to you, while you sat at the table, one of the lowest ofHces of menial attendants,'' in the very John xiii. 13. Ye call garb and posture in which any of the least of them could appear. You call me indeed john me master and Lord: and yQ^^^ Teacher and Lord ; and iheveiw you say well; for [so] 1 <7W, and such authority Xlll. ^'iT'iri tLn,'/.VrTord have I received of my Father. If therefore I, who'am [your] Lord and Master, and 14 and iMaster, have washed whom you know to be a divinely inspired Teacher, have condescended to so mean an wash one anothe'r's feft^' *° office, and have thus washed your feet, and in all other instances have shown my readi- ness in love to serve you, surely j/om also ought to wash one tf??o///cr'6-/fe/, and should be 15 For I have given you ready to submit to all the humblest offices of mutual friendship. For I have in this 15 an example that ye should instance given you an exatnple, that as I have done to you, you also should do, on all 16 Verily, verily, ■^Tsay proper occasions, to One another.' And to engage you to the like humanity. Verily, 16 unto you. The servant is not verily, I say unto you, as I have fonnerly said, (Luke vi. 40 ; and Matt. x. 24. p. 109, the?Te thTis'sentTreat'er 153.) The Servant is not greater than his Lord, nor is the messenger greater than he than he tliat sent him. that sent him ; it will therefore very ill become you to disdain any thing which I have not 17 If ye know these ^jjg^jj^jjjgj^ These are plain instructions, but remember they are Capable of being improved 17 do them '"'^ "^ ^° ' ^'^ to the noblest practicarprirposes; and /f indeed 3^om know these things, and form a right d He that has been balliing.'] This rendering of the word XeXou- vswneo?, U'e youngest, I render it eldest, as it is rendered Rom. ix. 12. /iEvof is confirmed by Eisner, ( Observ. Vol. I. p. :i37, 3.3S.) and gives See Gen. xxv. 23 ; 1 Sam. xvii. 14 ; Septuag. and compare 1 Kings as it were a compendious pariphrase upon it. Clarius has well ob- ii. 22. served, that as the amSvn^m, or room in which they dressed them- h Performing one of the lowest offices, &c.] This was so to a selves after bathing, was different from that, in whiih they bathed, proverb. See 1 Sam. xxv. 41. and Grotius, in loc.—T)r. Evans well the feet might be so soiled in walking from one to the other, as to observes (C/ii/*//a« Temper, Vol. I p. 81.) that our Lord chose this make it necessary immediately to wash tliem again. kind office, though not absolutely necessary in itself, more strongly e You are not all clean.'] Some have observed that Judas did not to impress the minds of his disciples, and to show that they ought decline the honour of having his feet washed by Christ, though to regard, not only the necessary preservation, but the mutual coin., Peter did ; and have considered it as an instance oif his pride. But fort, of each other. if the discourse between Christ and Peter liappened before he came i I Itave given you an example, S(C.'] Some have understood these to Judas, it liad been indecent for Jiulas to renew an objection words as ordaining this to be a continued rite among christians; ■which had just bei:n thus' ove'r^rured: and if Clirist came to Jiidas be- and Barclay insists, in his Apology, (p. 4G7— 470.) that this cere- fore Peter, he miglit be unwilling to be the first to dispute the inony of washing the feet has as much to recommend it for a toint, lest Christ should confound him, by inquiring whether he standing ordinance of the gospel, as either baptism or the breaking declined it from a consciousness of any peculiar unworthiness. .of bread. But though some anciently conceived the practice of it Guilt naturally suggests such suspicions and precautions. fer4»©-thus enjoined, (see Dr. Cave's Primitive C/instianily, hook f Have the title of benefactors.] It is indeed possible that our ii. chap. 14.) and the Moravian churches still retain it; yet as no. Lord may here refer to the title of Ewf^Erii, given to some of the such rite as this has ever generally prevailed in the christian world, ) Ptolemies and Seleucidae, or to the ambiguity of the Hebrew word and as in many places and circumstances it would be an incon- O'S'-?!, which (as Beza has observed) signifies botti princes and bene- venience rather than a kindness to do it for our friends, I cannot factors : but the general sense given in tlie paraphrase seems to me think tliese words of our Lord, so plainly capable of another sense, much more probable, especially on comparing it with the Syriac are to be interpreted with so much strictness. See Itigii Dis.$ert. Version, where there is no such ambiguity, though one would most de Pedilavio, iSc.— l"to what a farce this is turned at Rome on some of all have expected it. occasions, may be seen in the Religious Ceremonies of all Nations, S Who is eldest among you, Sfc] As ^ei^ijv is here opposed to Vol. I. p. 417 z 2 ^40 CHRIST COMMENDS HIS DISCIPLES FOR THEIR FAITHFULNESS TO HIM. SECT, conception of them, j/ou are happy {f you practise them ; for nothing will conduce mora 169. to your honour and comfort than an obedient regard to my instructions and example, especially in all the instances of humility and condescension 5 but if you neglect to act JOHN agreeably to them, your seeing them, and hearing them, will be worse than in vain XIII. IMPROVEMENT. What a mournful reflection is it, that corrupt nature should still prevail so far, even in the hearts of such pious LUKE ^^'^^ ^^ '^'^ apostles in the main were, that after so long a converse with Christ they should still be so unlike him, XXH^ find bring their eager contentions about superiority, in a state of temporal grandeur they were never to sec, into the 24 last hours they spent with their Master, and even to one of the most holy and solemn ordinances of religion! Such are the vain dreams of ambition, and with such empty shadows does it amuse the deluded mind ! JOHN But let us turn our eyes to him whom we justly call our Teacher and our Lord ; for surely, if any thing can effect Xlii. a cure, it must be actions and words like these. The great Heir of all things, invested with universal dominion, and ^3, 14 just returning to his heavenly Father to undertake the administration of it — in what a habit, in what an attitude, 4,5 do we see him ! Whom would a stranger have taken for the lowest of the company, but him who was high over all created nature ? Blessed Jesus, it was not so much any personal attachment to these thy servants, as a regard to the edification of thy whole church, which engaged thee to this astonishing action ; that all thy ministers, that all thy 15 people, in conformity to thy example, might learn a readiness to serve each other in love ! But why are we so slow to receive this lesson ! And why is our practice often so contrary to it ! Surely to cleanse 8 us from these dregs of pride and carnality, we need in a spiritual sense to be waslied by him. Let us gladly submit to that washing, if we desire to secure any part in him. Which of us in this view may not see reason to cry out 9 with Peter, Lord, not omfcct only, hut also our hands and our head! May our whole nature be thus purified! 10 and, warmly emulous of conforming to so bright an example, may we ever be maintaining a watchfulness over our own spirits ; correcting the first appearances of irregularity, and washing away every lightest stain which our feet LUKE may contract in this various journey ! So shall we be great in the sight and favour of our Master ; and, numbering XXII. ourselves among the least of his servants, shall be distinguished by peculiar honours, in proportion to the degree in 26 which we think ourselves most unworthy of them. \ k> ' SECTION CLXX. Christ, while they are eating thepasehal lamh, declares that one of his apostles should betray him, and at length marks out Judas as the person, who upon this retires with a resentment which confirmed him in that fatal purpose. Matt. xxvi. 21—25. Mark xiv. 18—21. Luke xxii. 21—23, 28—30. John xiii. 2, 18—30. Luke xxii. 28. ^ LcKExxii. 28. ■SECT. THEN Jesus went on, as he was eating the passover, to instruct, admonish, and comfort Ye are they wiiich have 1''0. his disciples, by a series of most wise and pious discourse ; and said. Depend upon it, you temptaUons^'*^'^ ™^ '" "^^ \ will find that humble and benevolent temper which I have recommended to you the way lAJKE to the highest honours, if you have patience to wait the proper time ; for as ye are they - ^ ■ who have continued faithfully and affectionately with me in all my trials and afflictions ; 29 So by a sacred and inviolable covenant J appoint unto you a kingdojn,^ and solemnly 29 And T apiioini unto engage myself to bestow it upon vou, even as my Father has appointed a kingdom unto you a kingdom, as my Fa- orv ° ° , .-' . , , 1 . . '■ ■ , ., -^T "^ ,-, 1, 1 1 , . , T . ,, .. ti'Pr iiath appointed unto 30 me, and is quickly about to raise me to it. Now the exalted honours which I shall there me ; receive are incomparably beyond those about which you seem so solicitous ; let me there- so That ye may eat and fore awaken a nobler ambition in your minds, while I assure you that you may expect to kin^donU'ndsi^onu'roneJ, eat and drink at my table in that my kingdom, o\ to be' treated as my distinguished judging the twelve tribes of favourites and most intimate friends ; yea, and ni my final and most triumphant appearance, *^™"^'- when I shall sit on the throne of my glory, you may expect to be assessors with me on that grand occasion, and to sit upon thrones, as I formerly promised you, (Matt. xix. 28.) judging the tivclve tribes of Israel,^ and condemning the whole impenitent world for their contempt of that gospel which you, as the chief ministers of my kingdom, are to offer and unfold to them. JOHN ^^^ -when I speak in this manner of your final honour and happiness, I speak not of John xiii. is. i speak not XIII. ^/ou all: I know the real character, and all the most secret views and transactions of those ha« cil'inVburthatthe IdiWhom I have chosen ; and could long ago have fixed a mark of infamy on the traitor, snipture may i)c fulfilled, and have put it out of his power to execute his wicked purpose ; but, as I chose him to be "'^ ^l^L^^fa^' ^'^T^ V'"} r • Ti i-j ,1 , ,1 ■ , 7^1/.,,, ... nie, natn lilt up his heel one of my companions, I leave him to go on, that the scripture may be fulfilled, which against mo. says, (Psal. xli. 9.) " lie that eatcth bread with me, and has been nourished by my " care and favour, hath lift up his heel against me, like an ungrateful brute that kicks at a I appoint unto you a kincjdom.l It is well known that the word 1. .5, 6. And for tho-ise on the part of the Father, sec Ileb. x. 5 , JiiriiJE^Sjd properly signifies /o mrtfn^w/, or, to l}Cstow in virtue of a Isa.xi.2,3; 1.8,9; lii. 13,15; liii. 10—12; Iv. 4, ,5; xlix. 1— lOj covenant ; and therefore the last clause of this verse may probably Luke ii. 31, 32 ; xxii. 20; 2 Cor. vi. 2; Rev' vii. I'o, 17. refer to what divines commonly call the covenant of red'empllon, to b Judfjinq the twelve iribes of Ixrael.] The interpretation given which there are so many references in scripture, and coneeruing of this promise here, (and before on Matt. xix. 28. ? 137. p. , Uie rcalitj of which we could have no doubt, if the references 271.) appears tome preferable to that which refers it only or chiefly were not so express ; considering, on the one hand, the great im- to the power which the apostles had in the christian church, as the portauceot that undertaking of our Lord's to which it refers: and, authorized ambassadors of Christ. It by no means implies that on the other, the plain declaratious of those prophecies which his Paul and Rarnabas, the apostles of the Gentiles, sliall be excluded ?^l>irit sugo;ested, and the confidence with wliich he has iiromiscd from the honour of being assessors with Christ in his kingdom; uiose blessings, which, as Mediator, it empowers him to bestow. It (compare 1 Cor. vi. 2, 3 ; Uev. ii. 26, 27 ; iii. 21.) but seems plainly p ovJi!^*^ "i- "^'tonishing that any should treat it as the creature of to allude to Uie courts of .judicature among the Jews, wliere the P«^i ^^^ r o 'u 1 ^ engagements in it on Christ's part, sec inferior judges sat in a semicircle round the chief judge, who had 1 sdi. XI. 0—9 ; Hel). X. G— 0 ; Isa. Ixi. 1—3 ; Luke iv. 18, 19; Isa. his scat in'thc middle point of it. Compare Rev. iv. 4 ; xxi. 14. CHRIST POINTS OUT JUDAS AS THE PERSON WHO WOULD BETRAY HIM. 341 " the kind master who feeds him."'= Such treatment David met with from those whom sect. he trusted ; and such I know that I am to expect. 170. 19 Now I tell you beforo And this I tdl 1/ou now before it comes to pass, that -when it comes to be accom- it come, that when it is piisjied, r/oLi may iae so far from doubting of the truth of my mission upon that account, John ?re"^'ti"atTa%r^. "*^ '''' that, on 'the contrary, you may more firmly believe that I am [/;e] that I told you I was, Xlir. 20 Verily, verily, I say even the true Messiah. And, whatsoever therefore I shall suifer, let not your zeal to carry 20 "i''" ^soe'v^r'^/seud'^reccfv- ^^ ^Y ^^"^" ^^ lessened, but stedfastly persist in your adherence to it, with a firm per- TthTeran'diie'tiiatrec'eiv- suasion that 1 wiU support you in it; for in this view I look upon your interest as my etii me, receiveth him that q.^,,jj^ ^nd, as I formerly declared, (Matt. X. 40. sect. Ixxvi. and Luke x. 16. sect, xcvii.) **"'^ ™'^' so now I most assuredli/ say unto ijou. Whoever entertains and shows regard to you, or any of my other messengers, as coming in my name, entertains me; and 'whoever en- tertains me, entertains him that sent me ; as, on the other hand, when you or they are slighted, the atfront redounds to me and to my Father. 21 Whea Jesus had thus Now ivhen Jesus had thus Said, he made a solemn pause : (The devil, as was observed 21 said, [—2 The devil having before, having already, by his vile and pernicious insinuations, put it into the heart of "r Judas 'isca"iot, Simon^s Jtidas Iscarwt, [Me"'50H] of Si/uon,'^ to betray him into the hands of his murderous son, to betray him,—] he enemies.) And, as our Lord well knew that Judas was then watching for an opportunity TMai'k"" s'they"saTaud did to accomplish his horrid purpose, which he would execute that very night, he -d-as much eat, .iesus] testified and troubled in spirit to think of so ungrateful and impious a design in one so near him, and said, Verily, verily, I say niuch obliged to him : and as they sat together, and u-ere eating the paschal supper, unto you, J hat one of you ^ , °, ,■ ^ , i • i -^i i ■ ^ rr -i i r j rh/ s [iviark, which eateth with Jesus Openly testifed and said with a deep sigh. Verily, venly, 1 say unto you, 1 liat, mo] shall betray me ; ^Q^y incredible soever the hint I just now gave you may seem, one of you who is eating -with o!' hm\";Vitta^'y'eth'S ^le in this friendly and intimate manner will quicUy betray me to those that thirst for IS with me on the table.] my blood ; [and'] behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me [m] now with me on the [Matt,, xxvi. 21. Mark xiv. ^^H^ xiii. 2.]' '^ ^''"' ' ° '" Then the disciples were exceedingly grieved to hear of Iris being betrayed at all, and 22 22 Then the disciides niuch moie to be told that it should be' by one of their own number, while, no one being andr l'.mked'°fne'"or a^n': singled out from the rest, the suspicion lay in common among them ; and they loohed other, doubting of whom he stcdfastly on each other for some time in silence, doubting of whom he spake, and be^an' to^hI"^nire"'^amou- studious to observe in whose countenance they might read any peculiar confusion which thfmselJes,'w1iich of them might look like an indication of guilt : and, as they none of them knew where to fix it it was that should do this ]3^t jj^g yjjg wretch himself, they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it on'e""oP them "to" s^y "un to could be that was about to do this thing ; and, earnestly desirous to be freed from the him, [Mark, one by one,] suspicion of such hcinous wickcdncss, they applied themselves to Christ, and began every 2^°"^Mlrk'xiv'"^i9"'Luke otic of them to say to him, one by one. Lord, is it J that am this guilty creature t" Thou xxii. 23.] ' ' ' knowest that my very heart abhors the thought, and 1 hope I shall never be capable of entertaining it. 2,3 Now there was leaning ^^j^ o//e of his disciplcs, namely John, -whom Jesus loved with a peculiar tenderness, 23 Suciples'whom JeTuslove^ and honoured with the most intimate friendship, sat next him at the table, on his right hand ; and as they were all in a reclining posttue, each of them restin^;^ on his left elbow, 24 Simon Peter therefore so, in the place where John was seated, he was leaning on the bosom of Jesus. And as 24 "houldaskwho^it'shouid be ^^^ question w^as almost gone round, and Jesus made no answer to it, but rather seemed of "whom hrs'pake!^"" ^ to be swallowed up in mournful contemplation, Simon Peter therefore looked upon John, 2.3 He then lying on Je- ^nd beckoned to him with a motion of his head,f by which he intimated his desire that Lord'^who'islt'i' ""**' ^"™' ^'e should privately ask him who it might be of whom he spake. He then lying down 25 26 Jesus answered, He it closer on tif breast of Jesus, that he might put the question without being heard by is to whom I shall give a ^j ^ j- ^j company. Secretly whispered and said to him. Lord, who is it ? And Je- 26 sop, when I have dipped it. , , . ^ . ,■' , "^ ■ -F, • i , i t i ii ■ j.i ■ l T 7 And when he bad dipped sus answered him With a low voice. It is he to whom 1 shall give this sop, wlien 1 nave thesop.hegaveit to Judas dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop in a thick kind of sauce made of dates, '' Mau^xxv-r 2.3.*^ ^And"iie raisins, and other ingredients beaten together, and properly diluted.s he gave it to Judas auswered and said [unto Jscariot, [the son] of Simon, putting it towards that part of the dish which was nearest twXe file that d'ippeth him, and directing it towards him. Upon which Judas put forth his hand to take it : and matt his hand with me in the while lie was just in this postiTO, otlicrs Continuing the satuc question to Jesus, /if' «/?.5U'cm/ ^^^ '• dish, the same shall betray ^^^^ said to them, {It is] One of the twelve : [even} he that now dippeth his hand with 23 ""24 The Son'^of man [in- me in the dlsh, this very person shall betray me.'' And let him not vainly hope that 1 24 c He that eateth bread with me, &c.] When these words are so happen a night or two before ; for if Christ had then privately plainly to be found, Psal. xli. 9. it seems very unnatural, with Mr. marked out Judas to John and Peter as the traitor, the informa- Jeflery, (in his Review, p. 187.) to imagine they refer to Psal. Iv. tiou must surely have reached the rest of the company by this 12, 13. because something like the sense of them occurs there. Nor time. rri • • » • T is it necessary, with Mr. Pierce, ( Dissert, iii.) to suppose a trajec- f Beckoned to /dm with a motion of his head.] This is certainly tion in these two verses, and render them, r speak not of you all ; I the import of the word veuei, which might more exactly be rendered know wlinm r linvc chosen ; but I tell tinii tliis before-liand, tliat when nodded. it shall come to pass that the scripture shall be fulfilled, " One tliat g In a thick kind of sauce made of dates, &c.] The Jews still " eateth of my bread liath lift up his heel against me," ye may believe retain such a sauce, which they call charaseth, made of such kind tliatlainhc. I rather think, with Brennius, that it is an accomrao- of ingredients, about the consistence of mortar, to represent the dation, and that the sense and connexion arc to be explained ac- clay in which their forefathers wrought while they were under cordingly, as in the paraphrase. bondage to the Egyptians. See Buxt. Synag. Jiid. cap. 18. aud the d The dciil having already put it into the heart of Judas, ^•c.'] Religious Ceremo'nicsof all Nations, '^ >?'• I- Pjr'j^:, That Satan entered into Judas before he went to the chief priests I ., .. . .■ .. / •- i i ....,;....„,„/ .„ and agreed to betray his Master to them, had been observed before, ge _ , Luke xxii. 3. p. 335 ; and that this clause of John xiii. 2. would be was one who sat on the same side of I inserted here, was intimated in the close of note a, { 169. p. 338. out of the same dish : and, if it were so, there might seem a ^ra- wherel accounted for this transposition. dation in the discovery not observablejin any oUier interpretation e To say to hin. ' - . . .. ... ... „ ^ .^^ .i.-x n,. i u „.i,.„u ..,..„ *„ k„ ..^-..t^, strong proof that h f/c Ihat dippeth his hand with me in the dish.'] Some very in- nious persons imagine that Ciirist by this phrase only declares it IS one who sat on the same side of the table with him, aud so eat To say to him, one by one, lord, is it /.'] I look on this as a But (not t<) insist upoii it) that the lamb, which was to be roasted the facts raentieucd John xiii. 23—26. did not whole, Exod. xii. 0. was also to be served up in one dish, I cannot 349 JUDAS GOES AWAY TO EXECUTE HIS PURPOSE. SECT, shall exert my miraculous power to rescue myself from the hands of mine enemies, after 170. he has delivered me to them, and secured to himself the wages of unrighteousness ; for the Hon of man, great and powerful as he will finally appear, is indeed going to suifer- deed] goeth, as it is written [Luke, and determined] of liim : but woe vinto that mail by wliom tlie Son of man is betrayed : it liad been good for that man if he had not been born. [Mark xiv. 21. Luke xxii. 22 ] JOHN Xlll. MATT, ings and death,' as it is written in the scriptures, [and'] determined in the divine coun- XXVL 5g]g^ concerning him :^ but as those prophecies and counsels have no influence to destroy 24 the free agency of the persons concerned in his death, so there will be a most terrible tooe to that 7nan bi/ "xhom the Son of man is so perfidiously betrai/ed, and who presumes to set a price on his royal and sacred blood : it had been -well for that 7na7i if he had never been born ; for a speedy and most dreadful vengeance awaits him, which will make the immortality of his being his everlasting curse. 25 Then Judas, tvho was indeed the person that betrai/ed him, answered in some confu- sion, lest by his silence he shoyld seem to confess his guilt, and said. Master, is it I that shall do this thing, and to whom thou referrest in these severe words ? And he said to him. Thou hast said \right ;] thou art the very person, and I will conceal it no longer.' And after he was thus expressly marked out, not only by the sop which Jesus gave him,"' but also by the answer which he had returned to his question, Satan entered into 27 him with greater violence, and stirred up in his bosom such indignation and rage at the disgrace he had met with, that he could bear the place no longer, but prepared abruptly to leave it before the table was dismissed. Then Jesus said to him. What you are going to do, do quickbi ; farther intimating to him his perfect knowledge of the appointment he had made with the chief priests and elders, and admonishing him, at it were, not to lose 28 the opportunity by over-staying his time. Jiut the reference being thus partictilar to what none of the company but himself was privy to, no man at the table knew what was his 29 meaning, or for what purpose he spake this to him. For some \_of them'] thought, be- cause Judas had the keeping of the common purse on which they were to subsist during their stay at Jerusalem, that it was as if Jesus had said to hi?n. Take the first opportunity to buj/ those sacrifices, and other things, which we shall need for the feast to-morrow, and on the following days ;" or that perhaps he intended he should give something to the poor, which Christ used to do, though their stock was so small ; but always did it in a very private manner, which made it the more probable that he should only give such an oblique hint of that intention. Of this they thought, rather than of any bad design of Judas ; for they did not imagine that, if he was to prove the traitor, his wickedness could immediately take place ; or that he was so utterly abandoned as to go away to accom- plish it with those awful words of his master sounding, as it were, in his ears. 30 But he was capable of committing the crime, even with this aggravation ; and there- fore having, as was said, received the sop, he immediateli/ went out without any farther reply; and as it was night, which was the time he had appointed to meet those who were consulting the death of Jesus, under the covert of it he \vent to them, and fulfilled iris en- gagements, in a few hours after, by delivering his Master into their hands. IMPROVEMENT. LUKE Who would not gladly continue vt^ith Christ in the strictest fidelity, amidst all the trials which can arise, when he XXlL observes how liberally he repays his servants, and how graciously he seems to relish his own honours the more, in 28 proportion to the degree in wliich those honours are shared with them, — appointing them a glorious kingdom, and 29, 30 erecting thrones tor each of them ! And surely, though the apostles of the Lamb are to have their peculiar dignity in the great day of his triumph, there is a sense in which he will perform to fevery one that overcometh, that yet but conclude t'lat, if this had been our Lord's meaning, on his say- case, nothing could be more unjust (on the principles of these au- IDg here, (as Mark relates it,) in the same breath, eis ek rut Si^nx, thorsj than to foretell punishments to be inflicted for such actions; one of the livelve, he would have added 6k ek twv iixix-nro^iKjt, one of which is plainly the case here, and indeed in most other places those thai dip, rather than o E/^eatTilo^iEvo?, which plainly signifies, the where evil actions are foretold. very person that dippelh. 1 Thou hast^aid right.'] This is plainly the import of the origi- i The San af man is indeed going.] As we often, in common nal phrase, /t is as t/iou hast spoken. (See Matt. xxvi. 6.3—65; speech, say a person is going or gone, to intimate that he is dying Mark xiv. 61, 62; Luke xxii. 70; John xviii. 37.) Thus, Now you or dead, so Eisner shows ( OAi^rti. Vol. L p. 11, : > SECTION CLXXI. Christ having exhorted his disciples to mutuallove, forewarns them of their approaching trial, and foretells Peter's fall, immediately before the eucharist. Luke xxii. 31 — 34. John xiii. 31, to the end. JoHNxiii. 31. John xiii. 31. Therefore when he IT was observed in the preceding section, how Judas, being marked out both by Christ's SECT. Nowfs the'son of'raan^^io' ^^tions and his words, quitted the place in a mixture of rage and confusion : when there- 171- rifled, and God is glorified fore he was thus gone out,"^ Jesus said to tlie rest of his disciples as they sat at the table — i" him. .yvith him. Now is the Son of man just on the point of being glorified far more remark- John ably than ever ; and God in a most illustrious manner is to be glorified in him, by the ^'''• 32 If God be glorified in signal and extraordinary circumstances of his abasement and exaltation. And you may 32 him in°hi'm^elf!'a°nl'shafl ^"'"^ Ypurselves, that if God be glorified in him, God will also glorify him in and with straightway glorify hira. himself in such a degree as shall in the most convincing manner declare his intimate relation to him ; and the time will presently come when he will eminently glorif/ him : for the Son of man is very shortly to enter on the honours of his celestial and universal king- dom, and, in the mean time, some rays of divine glory, shall shine through all that cloud of ignominy, reproach, and distress which shall surround him. 33 Little children, yet a My dear little children, whom I love even with parental tenderness, and whom my 33 Ye'shall's^eeV me";''an5"as '^^^''^ P^^i^ ""^^^"^ ^!' J'^"'' ^^^^^'^ ^"^ sorrows, it is yet but a Very little -while longer tlmt I said unto the Jews, Whi- I am to continue with you ; a few hours more will part us : and when I am gone, j/c sha'll ther I go, ye cannot come; geek fne, and wisli for my presence and converse : but, as I said to the Jews, that whither so now I say to you. 7- , /i 1 ■• .-,., i ■•■ A-i r,^-, ^/^n \ t ^ 1 go, ye cannot come, (John vu. 34 ; and vui. 21. p. 202, 208.) so now I say to you, 34 A new commandment Ye cannot come to the place whither I am going. But observe my parting words, and let 34 I give unto you, That ye them be written on your very hearts 3 for I give \i you as a ntw commandment,^ and a When therefore he was gone out.'] The reader will observe, that gard to truth, when falsehood might cast a slur on Christianity. — if the former reasoning relating to the order of this part of the Dr. Clarke well observes, that our Lord seems to have laid this pccu- story be just, Judas certainly went out before the eucharist was liar stress on charity, as foreseeing that general corruption and de- instituted And indeed one cannot reasonably suppose Christ struction of true Christianity, which the want of it would cause would have commanded him to drink of the cup, as the blood shed among those that should call themselves his church. (Clarke's Ser- for him for the remission of his sins, when he had ju^t before been vions. Vol. III. p.297.)— Raphelius {Annot. ex Xen. p. 137—139.) has deilaring in effect, that his sins should never be forgiven. the best note I ever saw on the passaire, though I think it hardly b A new commandment.'] I apprehend this expression signifies reaches the full spirit of it; in which he shows that Xenophori rrmc\\ more ([\3.Vi 'merely a renewed command. (Compare 1 John ii. calls the laws of I.ycuvgus xaMrxroi nnii, very nrtc /flits, several 7, 8; and 2 John, ver. 5.) It seems a strong and lively intimation hundred years after they were made ; because, though they had that the engagements to mutual love peculiar to the christian been commended by other nations, they had not been practised by dispensation, are so singular and so cogent, that all other men, them. — Perhaps our Lord may here insinuate a reflection, not only when compared with its votarie.s, may seem uninstructed in the on that party spirit which prevailed so much in the Jews, but school of friendship, and Jesus may appear, as it were, the first pro- likewise on the emulations and contentions among the apostles fessor of that divine science. Jamblicus {fit. Pythag. cap. 33.) themselves, which mutual love would easily have cured. In this seems very injuriously to have preferred the Pythagoreans to all sense it is still a new commandment to U"!, who generally act as if other men on that account ; but it may be observed, that both he we had not yet got time to learn or even to read it. and Eunapius, like many moderns, seera to have had very little re- 344 JESUS FORETELLS THE FALL OF PETER NOTWITHSTANDING HIS CONFIDENCE. SECT, press you by new motives and a new example to a duty which hitherto, alas, has been too love one another ; as i have 171. little regarded ; and from henceforth would have you to consider it as confirmed by a new '°*''''* >'""- ^^^^ y^ *'so love sanction, and to keep it ever fresh in your memories, T/iat ye love one another with a °"^ ^°° ^"' 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disci- 'es, if ye have love one to ther. 36 Simon Peter sairt unto JOHN most sincere and ardent affection, such as mankind have never known before ; yea, I would XIII. now enjoin you, even as J have loved you, that ye also would love one another with a friendship which may carry you through such difficulties and sufTerings as I am going to 35 endure for you all. This will be the most acceptable and the most ornamental token of your relation to me ; and I recommend it to you as the noblest badge of your profession :"= ''"° for 1)1/ this shall all men know that you are ?ny disciples indeed, if they see you have anoi that lively and generous love for each other which nothing but my gospel can be suffi- cient to inspire. 36 On this Jesus paused, that they might have an opportunity to reflect seriously on the important charge he had given them. And 57wo« Pf/er, touched with what he had said [V^'.H"'^''' ^^'''tl'f^"" g'^'^^t „K, . , . °,^ 1-1 ii ji , ■ , , 7 ■ -r 1 ■ t''"" ' Jesus answered him, 01 his bemg ready to go whither they could not come, said to nun, Lord, permit us to AVhither I go, thou canst enquire, xihither art thou going ? Jesus answered hi/n, I tell thee, Peter, \l 'hither I am ""* ''""ow mc now ; but going thou canst not directly folloxv we noxv ; for thou art intended for service in my wards! '^ ° "^^^ me =» er- church for many future years : bi(t let it suffice thee, that thou shall follow me afterwards 37 in the same way,*^ and dwell perpetually with me. Peter said to him in a transport of 37 Peter said unto him, eager and tender affection, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now ? Whatever difficulties u^Je'^'nowT i ^viH^aVdow^ and dangers may be in the way, the prospect of them does not discourage me ; for J idHI my life for thy sake. most willingly lay down my life for thy sake, and had much rather die than part with thee. 38 But Jesus answered him. Wilt thou indeed so readily lay down thy life for my 38 Jesus answered him, sahe ? Alas, thou knowest not thine own weakness, or thou wouldst never talk thus con- i^e'for^rnv'sake ?^"^" ^''^ fidently. ^ ' And the Lord added with great earnestness, and said, O Sitnon, Simon, I must tell thee LUKE XXII. Ldke xxii. 31. And the » 4. J, that an hour of terrible trial is just at hand, which will press harder than thou art aware, on \''^^^. ?^]^'. ^'""o"' ^'""°"j ^^ thee and all thy companions here: for behold Satan, as in the case of Job, (Job ii. 4, 5.) to have "ym'i,"that'he*^lnay has requested of God a permission [to assault'] you all by furious and violent temptations, sift you as wheat-. that he may toss you up and down, and sft [you'] like wheat in a sieve : (compare 32 Amos ix. 9.) But I, foreseeing the danger to which thou, Peter, wilt peculiarly be ex- 32 But I have prayed for posed, have graciously prevented thee with the tokens of my friendly care, and have ^^n^whln^tllouarVcmy^^^ prayed to my Father j^o?- thee, that he would communicate to thee such supplies of grace, ed, strengthen thy brethren, that thy faith may not uiterly fail and sink under the violent shock it is to receive : and let me now exhort thee, that when thou art returned fwm those wanderings into which I know thou wilt fall, to the paths of wisdom and duty,^ thou wouldst be sure to make it thine immediate care to strengthen thy brethren, and do thine utmost, all the remainder of thy clays, to engage all over whom thou hast any influence, to a steady adherence to my cause in the midst of the greatest difficulties.*^ 33 _4« J/oof/, and that Christ commanded his disciples to drink and and other rabbies tell us that it was a rule among the Jews, at the swallow the cup ; I cannot but be astonished at the inference they end of the supper, to take a piece of the lamb for the last thin^ would deduce from hence. Had Irena;us or Epiphanius reported they eat that night. (See Ainsworth, as quoted before, note e, p. 337?) such a thing-of any sect of ancient heretics now extinct, one would If this custom was as old as Christ's time, it would make this action have been so candid to human nature as to suppose the his- somuch the more remarkable. It would plainly show that the bread torian misinformed. As it is, one is almost tempted to suspect it here distributed was a very distinct thing from the meal they had to be Uie effect of arrogance rather than error, and to consider it as been making together; and might be, in the first opening of the a mere insolent attempt to show the world, in the strongest instance action, a kind of symbolical intimation that the Jewish passover they could invent, what monstrous things the clergy should dare was to give way to another and nobler divine institution. to say, which the wretched laity should not dare to contradict, b Blessed it'.'] It is not expressly said in the original that Christ nay, which they should be forced to pretend they believed, la blessed iY, that is, M? 6)W(/ ,- fnor indeed that he brake iV,) but this view the thought is admirable, and worthy the most malicious it is very reasonable to imagine that this thanksgiving was at- wit that ever lorded it over the heritage of God. But it may de- tended with a prayer that the divine blessing miglit accompany serve some serious reflection, whether it be not -Ax instance of infa- the bread. And it is so very plain, from 1 Cor. x. 10. that the apos- tuation to which God has given them up, that it may be a plain ties taught christians to bless the cup, that I cannot hut wonder mark to all that will use common sense, of the grossest error in a that one of the most accurate and penetrating writers of our age church which claims infallibility ; and may not be intended by should scruple to allow that Christ blessed the sacramental elements. Providence as a kind of antidote against the rest of its poison. The same word is used in Matt. xiv. 19 ; Mark vi. 41 ; viii. 7 ; and d After they had supped, he also took the cup.] A learned diviue Luke ix, 16. where it is certain an extraordinary blessing attended of the Establishment, who has favoured me with many sheets ot ac- the bread anifishes in answer to his pravers. (See also Mark x. 16 ; curate remarks on this work, (which were of so great use to me m Luke ii. 34 ; and Gen. ii. 3, Septuag.) "It would indeed be absurd correcting it for the second edition, as to demand my public ac- to interpret this of his conferring a virtue on bread so set apart, to knowledgraents,) has objected to the supposition here made o' >** Work as a charm either on men's bodies or souls ; but I hope few being n/ioMcr c(//), which I have asserted in the paniphra.se. iJut, christians are so ill-instructed as to imagine this to be the casein with all due deference to his penetration, (which is indeed very the Eucharist; and all wise and faithful ministers will, no doubt, great,) I must beg leave to observe, that it still appears most pro- be solicitous to preserve them from so wild and mischievous a bable to me that it was as I there represent it ; not merely because notion. Luke mentions a cup taken before the bread, (Luke xxii. 17. p. 337.) c This is my body.] When I consider that, fas a thousand but because, in the passage before us, (vcr. 20.) he adds to that the writers have observed, 1 on the .same foundation on which the Papists mention of a cup after it. It is well known the Jews used several argue for transubstantiation from these words, they might prove, cups of wine at the passover, and one of them with the antep;.st, at from Ezek. v. 1—5. that the prophet's hair was the city of Jerusa- the very beginning of the feast. (See note e, on Mark xiv. 17. p. 336, lem ; from John x. 9 ; and xv. 1. that Christ was literally a door and 337.) I know not how far so accurate a writer as St. Luke might a line ; and from Matt. xxvi. 27, 28 ; and 1 Cor. xi. 25. "that the eup farther intimate this distinction, by using the word Si^xnivos (ver. 17.) 346 HIS BLOOD IS SHED FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. SECT, and when he had given thanks to his heavenly Father, and implored his blessing upon it after supper,] and gave 172. as a solemn sacramental sign, he gave {if] to them, and said. Drink i/e all of it, that is, of tiianks, and g^veiao them, the wine which it contains : and accordingly thei/ all drank some of it. For, said he to [and^fhevTi'i irank of i't.] MATT, them as he delivered it into their hands, This cup of wine is a representation of 7n7/ blood, [Mark xiv. 23. Luke xxii. XXVI. \even^oi that h\oodvi\nch is ihe sxe^X.hd&\s, of the new covenant, \or'\ 1% itself the seal of ^"-^a p„, r,„ .,;,i „„*.. '^^ the new covenant^ established in my blood, which is shed for you \_and]for many more, them,] This [Luke, cup] is as the great ransom to be paid /or theforgiveness of sins :' receive it therefore with a firm '"y blood of the new testa- resolution to comply with the engagements of that covenant, and with a cheerful hope of tament in my'biood,'] which its invaluable blessings; and do this as often as ye drink it, in a thankful commemoration >s shed [Luke, for ^owanii of me, and with a proper care to distinguish between this and a common meal, appropriat- ^°^ "ins^' 'rMark' x'i'v^^ijT ing what you do in this ordinance entirely to a religious purpose. (Compare 1 Cor. xi. Luke xxii. 20.] 29 25.) And then our Lord repeated what he had said as they were sitting down to supper, 29 But [verily] I say un- (Lukexxii. 18. p. 337.) Verily I say unto you. That from this time I will drink no d°i/k"hencefortirof"'th« more of this produce of the vine,s until that day when I shall drink it new with you in fruit of the vine, until that the kingdom of God 7ny Father: that is, till, being risen from the dead, I have received my day when I drink it new mediatorial kingdom, and we shall share together in much nobler entertainments than earth rGodi°my"FaTlier"° [Mark can afford, even in its highest religious solemnities, which shall then be happily superseded. xiv. 25.] 30 And when, according to the usual custom at the close of the passover, they had sung 30 And when they had an hymn of praise to God at the conclusion of the eucharist,*" and had passed some remain- ^ung an hymn, they went ing time in those discourses and in that prayer which will be the subject of the following olives. \Mark xiv. 2G.] sections, they went out to the mount of Olives, where our Lord had determined to spend some time in devotion, though he knew that Judas and his enemies would come thither to seize him, IMPROVEMENT. MATT. Let us now review, with most thankful acknowledgment, this gracious legacy of our dying Redeemer, this XXVI. reviving and nourishing ordinance, which he instituted for the benefit of his church the same night in which he 26 was betrayed: {I Cor. xi. 23.) So tenderly did his love for them prevail, when his heart was full of his own sorrows ! May we always consider to what purposes this holy rite was ordained ; and as we shall see the wisdom of the appointment, so we shall also be both awakened to attend to it, and assisted in that attendance ! LUKE It is the memorial of the death of Christ, by which we represent it to others, and to ourselves. May we be ever XXII. ready to give this most regxilar and acceptable token, that we are not ashamed to fight under the banner of a cruci- 19,20 fied Redeemer! — It is also the seal of the new covenant in his blood. Let us adore the grace that formed and ratified that everlasting covenant, so well ordered in all things, and so sure: (2 Sam. xxiii. 5.) And whenever we approach to this sealing ordinance, may we renew our consent to the demands of that covenant, and our expec- MARK tation of those blessings which are conveyed by it ! a consent and expectation so well suited to the circumstances of XIV. its being ratified by the blood of Jesus. Thus may every attendance nourish our souls in grace, and ripen them for 25 glory ; that at length all may be fulfilled and perfected in the kingdom of God. In the mean time, may God, by the influences of his Spirit, give to all professing christians right notions of this ordinance, and a due regard for it ; that, on the one hand, none may, under the specious pretence of honouring it, live in the habitual neglect of so plain and important a duty ; and that, on the other, it may never be profanely invaded by those who have no concern about the blessings of that covenant it ratifies, and impiously prostitute it to tliose secular views, above which it was intended to raise them ! And may none that honour the great Author of it, encourage such an abuse, lest they seem to lay the very cross of Christ as the threshold to the temple of tliose various idols to which ambitious and interested men are bowing down their souls ! with re.epect to the first cup, which strictly expresses receiving stitution continues in the church, (as it will undoubtedly do to the it from the hand of another, probably of the servant who waited at end of the world,) it will be impossible to root that doctrine out of the table, whereas \-xiui {talking) is the word used, ver. 19. of which the minds of plain, humble christians by all the little artifices of srornfiov here in ver. 20. is governed ; which might have been equally such forced and unnatural criticisms as those are by which it has proper, if the cup stood on the table before him, as the bread used been attacked. Unprejudiced and honest simplicity will always in the eucharist probably did. .see the analogy this ordinance has to eating the flesh of the Son of e The seal of t)ie neio covenant.l It seems very evident, that when God, and drinking his blood ; and will be taught by it to feed on the sacramental cup, here and in 1 Cor, xi. 2.5. is called the new co- him as the Lamb that was slain by the gracious appointment of venant, it must signify the seal of it ; just as when circumcision is God, to take away the sin of the world. The enemies of this heart- called God's covenant, Gen. xvii. 10. and it is there said, ver. 1.3. reviving truth might as well hope to pierce through a coat of mail My covenant shall be in your flesh, we must understand the seat of with a straw, as to reach such a truth, defended by such an oidi- it : and if by the seal of the covenant be meant, as 1 here explain it, nance as this, by any of their trifling sophistries, and as most take it, " an appointed token of our accepting that co- g I will drink no more of this produce of the vine.l This may " venant, and of God's favour to us on supposition of the sincerity seem an intimation, that though Christ drank with them after his " of that acceptance;" it is so ])lain that the eucharist, as well as resurrection, (Acts x. 41.) he did not make u.se of wine. Perhaps baptism, is such a seal, that they who disapprove the word deny their poverty might not allow them often to drink it ; and we do not the thing. (See The Plain Account of the Lord's Supper, p. not find that he was ever present at any feast; at least we are sure 168, l(i9.) I have rendered the word lixSnxn, covenant, ruiUer than he never celebrated anothei^passover with them. Nor does it ap- tc.stainent riT will, because it is evidently the more usual significa- pear that he partook of the eucharist with them, or ever admiuis- tion of the word ; and because the old covenant, to which the new tcred it, but at tliis time of its institution. is opposed, cannot with any propriety be called a testament, with h An /ii/mn of praise to God.] The hymn that was usually .sung reference to the death of any testator, which is the idea chiefly in- by the Jews at the passover, is what they call the Hallel,"whicti sisted on by those who would retain our common version here, began at Psal. cxiii. and ended with Psal. cxviii. some of which And, by the way, it appears, on this principle, that the title of our Psalms might be used by our Lord at the close of the eucharist, as Bible is improperly and obscurely rendered, by a piece of com- very suitable to this occasion ; though it is uncertain whether (.as plaisance to the old Latin versions, of which they were by no means Grotius and some others think) it might not be some other hymn worthy, and which they cannot at all the better deserve for that more closely adapted to the celebration of the eucharist. I thought sanction which the papal authority has given to one of them, it proper here to conclude the story of the passover, and to men- tliough it seems thereby to have been preferred to the original. tion their going out, though that did not immediately follow on { In my blood, which IS shed — as the great ransom to be paid /or theif singing the hymn. Some such little anticipations seem the forgiveness of sins.'] I apprehend this ordinance of the eucha- to me an advantage rather than an impropriety in any Harmony, rist to have so plain a reference to the atonement or satisfaction of especially when attended with a paraphrase or notes, and divided Christ, and to do so solemn an honour to that fundamental doctrine into such short sections as those must be which are intended for the of tlie gospel, that I cannot but believe, that while this sacred in- use of families. CHRIST COMFORTS HIS DISCIPLES WITH A PROSPECT OF THEIR FUTURE HAPPINESS. 347 SECTION CLXXIII. Christ having "warned his apostles of the danger to ivhich they xvould be exposed, comforts them -with the •ciexvs of future happiness, and nith the assurance of his ov:n gracious presence, and that of his Father, in the x:ay to it. Luke xxii. 35 — 38. John xiv. 1 — 14. Luke xxii. 35. LrKE XXII. 3a. _i r- /-\i <• 1 L 1 ■ • And he said unto tiiem, 1 HOUGH we mentioned Christ's going out to the mount of Ohves after he had msti- sect. When 1 sent you out with- tuted the eucharist, it is very material to observe, that before he quitted the guest-chamber 1'73. ahoesriacked y'l any'thingl JQ which he had supped, lie entertained his disciples with some large and atiectionate dis- and they said, Nothing. ° courses, and put up an excellent prayer with them, which we shall now relate. And, to luke introduce these discourses, he said to them. When I sent you, my apostles, out on your ^Xll. important embassy some time ago, icithout either pursx; to supply you with money, ffr 35 scrip to take provisions with you, or shoes besides those on your feet, (Matt. x. 9, 10. p. 150.) did you irant any thing necessary for the support of life ? And they said. No, Lord : we very well reinember that the care of providence over us was such that we wanted nothing ; but wherever we came we found the hearts of strangers opened even witii surprising freedom to assist and relieve us. 36 Then said he unto Then he said to them. This was indeed the case in your former mission ; but now you 36 them, But now he that hath j^^^^ expect much harder usasre than before, and will be exposed to greater sufferings and a purse let him take it, and , K , ,. ,,° ... j ..i_ r ; j ; ■ J/ .< i .< 7 likewise /lis serin: and he dangers m the prosecution ot your muiistry ; and therefore tet him that has a purse take that hath no sword, let hira j"//^] ajjd also a Scrip, if he has one; and let him that has no su'ord be ready even to se^n his garment, and buy ^^^^^ ^-^ garment and buy one with the price of it ; so long a journey and so sharp a 37 For I say unto you, conflict js before you, that you had need be well armed and furnished for it. For I as- 37 ''"''^t "'rb^'""^ '^ T'?*"!} ^^^''^ you. That my enemies are now about to apprehend me as a malefactor, and, after inme^ And*hrwa™r^ckon- all the love that I have shown to an ungrateful world, this remarkable prophecy ivhich ed among the transgressors: {g written concerning me, (Isa. liii. 12.) must yet be accomplished in me, " And he was me have anend.""""""^ " numbered liith the transgressors :" for indeed all the things which are written concern- ing me in the scripture prophecies must quickly have an end, and receive their accom- plishment in my sutlerings and death. Now you may easily guess at the reception you are like to meet with when you come to preach in the name and authority of one who has suiftred as a malefactor, and yet demands faith and obedience as an ahnighty Saviour. 38 And they said. Lord, And they Said, Lord, behold here are txvo swords that we are furnished with already," 38 A';Jd''\'!;'''aTd"unlrthrm?u ^hich we are resolved, in case of any violent assault, to use in thy defence. And he is enough. ' Said to them. It is enough for weapons of this sort : ray chief intent is to direct you to John xi /. 1. Let not your another kind of defence, even that which arises from piety and faith.*" Let not your heart John fieve in' God,''be'lie^^ a^so therefore dc troubled, though I am going to leave you in a world where you will seem ^^^^• ID me. ' likely to become an helpless prey to the rage and power of your enemies : believe in God, 1 the almighty Guardian of his faithful servants, who has made such glorious promises to prosper and succeed the cause in which you are engaged ; and believe also in me as the promised Messiah, who, whether present or absent in body, shall always be mindful of your concerns, as well as ever able to help you.'^ And, to establish your faith and comfort, accustom yourselves often to look forward to 2 the heavenly world, as those who are well assured that in my Fathers house, from wlience I came, and whither I am going to take up my residence, there are many man- sions ;^ and it is really a spacious and glorious abode, where there will be ample room to receive you, and every thing to accommodate you in the most deltghttul manner : and indeed if it were not so, as I know you have still acted with regard to the happiness of a future world, though too much mingled with inferior views, / would before this time have told you so expressly, and not have permitted you to impose upon yourselves by an airy dream f much less would I have said so much as [ have done to confirm that expectation : but as it is in itself a glorious reality, so I am now going, not only to receive my own reward, but to prepare a place for you there / or to make room for your coming a Here arc two swords.'] Probably (as Mr. Cradock conjectures vast dumber of persons lodged there. Momi signifies ^UiWan*/ coo- in his Harmony, part ii. p. 209.) some of the apostles brought these tinued abodes, and therefore seems happily expressed by our English swords along with them, in their journey from Galilee and Peraea, word mansions, the etymology and exact import of which is just to defend them against robbers. It afterwards appears that one of the same. them was Peter's. See John x\ iii. 10. ? 183. e And if not, I would have told you.'] Heinsius's version of these t) My chief intent is to direct you to another kind of defence, &c.] words seem much less natural : he would connect and render thein. This is" strongly intimated by his saying, Two swords were enough ; [n St nn, imo-t xt vnn, aaivjofjixt, kc] as if our Lord had said, " Had it for they could not be sufficient to arm eleven men. " not been so, I would have spoken in another manner, and have c Believe in God, believe also in me : Ui^tvi'a £:? rw ©tw, xii us ifie " told you, I am going to prepare a place for you ; but now I have wifevEli.] These words are so very ambiguous, that fas Erasmus ob- " no reason to say that, the place being already prepared. " But it serves) they may be rendered as here, or as in our English transla- is hard to say wliat sense can be made of ver. 3. on tliis interpreta- tion ; or, Ye believe in God, and ye believe in me ; or, Befieve in tion. — That the pious Jews considered all the glories of the Mes- God, and ye believe in me ; and different commentators liave taken slab's kingdom as introductory to the happiness of a future state them in all these very different senses. But it appears most natural of eternal glory, appears from a variety of scriptures ; and indeed to render srifivslt alike in both places; and it is certain, an exhorta- it is difficult to say how they could think otherwise, considering tion to faith in God, and in Christ, would be very seasonable, coo- how much this had been insisted on; or how they could have been sidcring how weak and defective their faith was. (See ver. 9.) — good and pious, had not this been their chief aim. Compare Matt. The transition from the passage in Luke to this in John, appears iii. 12; v. 8, 12; vi. 20 ; vii. 21 ; xiii.43; xix. 16 ; xxii. 30. Luke so easy, placing tlie paragraphs in this order, that I wonder no'' xiv. 14 ; xvi. 9. John iii. 15, 36; vi. 54, 68; xi. 24—27. Harmonizer should have observed it before. f f am going to prepare a place for you.] When the glory of d In my Father's house are many mansions.] M. Le Moyne thinks heaven is spoken of as prepared before the foundation of the world, Christ alludes to the various apartments in the temple, and the (Matt. xxv. 34.) this only refers to the divine purpose : but as that 2 In my Father's house are many mansions ; if it were not so, I would have told you : I go to prepare a place for you. 1 348 CHRIST IS IN THE FATHER, AND THE FATHER IN HIM. SECT, thither, and to dispose every thing for your most honourable and comfortable reception. 173. And if I thus go and prepare a place for you, you may depend upon it that this pre- 3 And if l go and piepm-e parafion shall not be in vain, but that I xoili certainly act so consistent a part as to co7ne \^^^^\^a T^lll^^^^l,'^,^^ JOHN again and receive you to niysclj fi that, as we are now united in so dear a iriendsnip, myself; that where i am, XIV- you also, after a short separation, 7nay he xchcre I am, and may dwell for ever with there ye may be also. 4 me. And surely I may say in the general, after all the instructions I have given you, 4 And whiUicr i go ye that you know -whither I a?n going; and you know the way that leads thither, and ^now.audthe way yek.iow. by which you may safely follow me ; which I exhort you, therefore, that you would reso- lutely keep. 5 But sucli was still the expectation that his disciples had of his erecting a temporal king- 5 Thomas saith unto iiim, dom, that Thomas, upon hearing: this, says to him. Lord, thou hast never yet informed L^"'- we know not whither ' ^, 1 1 ' J ° , '1 ; • , ; , ; j ' • u 1 1 m\ tliou goest, and how can we us ot the place, and we know not so much as wndhcr thou art going,^ ana now tlien know the way? G can we possibly know the way thither? Jesus says to him, I have already intimated to c Jesus saith unto him, you I am o-oinsr to the Father : and did vou but consider this, you would soon see that I J,, ^"\ ^''*-' '^y,"!''/"^ "'^ ic ; iTr J I rr, 7 j ( T w. 1 T • 1 • j l J 1 rutli, aiid the Lite : no am myseli the Way, and the I ruth, and the Lfe;' that 1 am to guide, instruct, and nian cometh unto the Fa- animate my followers in their passage to eternal glory, and that their progress will be sure ther but by me. and vigorous in proportion to the steadiness of their faith in me, and the constancy of their regards to me : and this indeed is the true and only way you can take ; for no inan cometh to the knowledge and enjoyment of the Father, to whom I am returning, but by means of me, whose proper office it is to introduce sinful creatures to his presence and fa- 7 vour. If, therefore, you had knoxon me aright, you would surely have known my Fa- 7 If ye liad known me, ther also,^ in whose glory my ministrations so evidently centre; and such indeed are the pfither also-'and fromhc\ic^^^ discoveries that I have made of him, and such the manifestations of the divine perfections forth yc know him,aud have * which you have seen in me, that in effect it may be said. That from henceforth you see" liim. know him, and have, as it were, already seen him. 8 Then Philip, one of the apostles, hearing these words, says to hun, with a pious aidour 8 Philip saith unto him, becoming his character, Lord, do but show us the Father, and bring usTo the sIghTand ^,dttlufficeth is." *"""'""' enjoyment of him,'' and it is happiness enough for us ; we desire no more, and resign 9 every other hope in comparison of this. Jesus says to him. Have I been with you tlien o Jesus saith unto him, so long a titne, and conversed among you in so familiar a manner for successive years, wi^iryou'Tud Tet'l'iast ti'ou and hast thou 7iot yet known me, Philip ? if thou hadst well considered who I am, thou not known me, Philip? He mightest have better understood what I have now been saying ; for he that has seen me, *''=>' '.'*"' ^I^^" ""^' ''■■''■'* has in effi^ct seen the Father, as I am the brightness of his glory, and the express image savest thou Ikln Show"us of his person: (Heb. i. 3.) And how \then'\ dost thou say, after all that has passed be- the Father? tween us, Show us the Father, 10 Dost thou not then believe, though I have before affirmed it so expressly, (John x. 38. lo Beiievcst thou not that p. 264.) that I [ow;] in the Father, and the Father is in me, by so intimate an union Lttbel^n me f'The'' words as to warrant such language as this ?'" The words which I speak to you from time to that I speak unto you, I time, in which I discover and inculcate this important truth, I speak not merely of my- ^j"^'''^ "°t of myself: but ,y / , •■ • u J/ T' ji 1 1 II ■ 4U i • • i f l\ I the lather that dwelleth in scl^t ; but it is really the bather who dwells in me that gives me my instructions thus to me, he doth the works, speak ; and it is he that operates together with me, and performs the miraculous works that you have so often seen, which are sufficient to demonstrate the truth of this assertion, 11 mysterious as it is, and incredible as it might otherwise seem. Believe 7ne therefore in u P.eiieve me that I am. what I have said, that I \a/n\ dius in the Father, and the Father is in 7ne ; or, if ;» "i? Father, and the Pa- , , , 11/- 11/ 1 -i -11 i ther in me ; or else believe what you have so long known 01 my general character and veracity will not engage you nie for the very works' sake, to take it merely on my single testimony, cit least believe 7ne on account of those ivorks in which you have so frequently beheld the Father acting with me, and which indeed af- ford so obvious an argument of it, that one might imagine the sight of a few of them might convince one that was before a stranger to me. 12 And yet verily, verily, I say unto yov.. That you shall have, if possible, a yet stronger 12 Verily, verily, I say was founded in Christ's medialorial nndcrtaking, (Eph. i. 4 — 6.) it liira home ; whereas Satan is spoken of as having- naturally the inig;ht properly he said, that when Christ went into heaven as our power of death, Heb. ii. 11. ^ Higli-pricsl, to i>resent (as it were) his own blood before the Father h We know not trhither titou art going.'] It is probable Thomas ^ on our account, and as our Forerunner to take posse.ssion of it, he might think that Christ intended to remove to some splendid jia- did thereby jirepare a place for us ; which the apostle expresses lace on earth, to set up his court there for a while, before he re- (Hcb. ix. 23,24.) Ijy hispurifyingor consecrating the heavenly places ceived hi.s people to the celestial glory. in which we are to dwell, which would have been considered as i lam the IF(ii/,\c.] Our Lord had so lately delivered the same polluted by the entrance of such sinful creatures into them, — as sentiment in language much like this, (John x. 0. p. 2()1.) that it the tabernacle, when new-made, was, by having passed through the might well have been expected they should have understood him liands of sinners, en which account an atonement for the altar itself, now. which was considered as most holy, was the first act performed in , k 7/ i/oii had known me, t/ou would have known my Father also.'] it wlien it was opened. (Exod. xxix. 36, 37.) And an atonement This is a most important truth ; but it docs not determine to what for the whole tabernacle, as polluted by the access of sinners to it, degree ho must be explicitly kuown, in order to receive saving be- was to be repeated annually. Lev. xvi. 1(1. — It may not however nefits by him. be improper to observe, that the word touo; is often translated room ; I Lonl, shorn us the Father.] The explication given in the para- (Luke ii. 7; xiv. 10, 22; 1 Cor. xiv. 16.) and thus the signification phrase seems to be a more probable sense than that in which Mr. here may be, that Christ went to heaven to make room for them, or l-'lcming understands it, as if Philip had said, " Let us have a vision to remove those things out of the way which obstructed their en- " of the Father in a corporeal form, to testify the necessity of thy trance. This must at least be included, though the word eloi/xiiai " uimoval from us." (.See Fleming's Christotogt/, Vol. II. p. 202.) may perhaps express still more. I cannot apprehend that the aposths thought tlie Father visible. g / will come again, Sic] This coming ultimately refers to m T am in the Father, and the Father is in me.] It is remarkable Christ's solemn appearance at the last day to receive all liis servants that Pliilo, speaking of^ the Xoyos, has this expression, thai he is to glory ; yet, (as was liintcd before on note f, on Luke xii. 40. p. Ilil^ot oixos tv u !)ix{\k!]xi, the Father's house in which he dwells ; which 227.) it is a beautiful circumstance, that the death of every parti- is nearly parallel to what the apostle .says of Christ, Col. ii. !). that cular believer, considering the universal power and providence of in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodihj. See Dr. Scott's Christ, (Ucv. i. 18.) may be regarded as Christ's coming to fetch Christian's Life, Vol. HI. p. 559. note 2. WHATEVER THEY ASK IN HIS NAME, CHRIST WILL DO IT. 349 unto you he that h.iieveth evidence than what you have already received : for he that believes in me," that is, many sect. on me, the works that 1 do, of ^y disciples in tliese early ages, and each of you m particular, shall receive such an i /o. :!!;'!,;A^thatthe:e1hlu h^ abundant communicairon'of the Spirit, that the miraculous ^orh ^^ifJP'/f"/"^^^^^^^ -^^^ do: because 1 go unto my shall perform also; yea, works in some respect greater than these shall he perjonn. John Father. beeause I go to my'Tathcr, who has thought fit to reserve the most amazing gitts ot the ^^'^''• Spirit to honour my return into glory ; in consequence of which, you shall be enabled to speak with all foreign tongues, to give the Spirit by the imposition of your hands, and to propagate the gospel with such amazing success, as to make more converts in one day than I have done in the whole course of my ministry. 13 And whatsoever ye And, in a word, you may depend upon it, \\\dX.xi^hatsoever you shall ask in my name, 13 'shall ask in my name, that ^^^^^^ ^lip influence of that Spirit, and subservient to the great end of your life and minis- Til LMfied'ln the Son' try," J 7.77/ certainly do it, that so the Father may still be glorified in the Son; who, when he is ascended up to heaven, will from thence be able to hear and answer prayer, and, even in his most-exalted state, will continue to act with that faithful regard to his Father's u If ye shall ask any honour which he has shown in his humiliation on earth. And in this confidence, I repeat 14 thing in ray name, I will j^ a"ain, for the encouragement of your faith and hope, that I will be as attectionate and ''*' "■ constant a Friend to you in heaven as I have ever been upon earth ; and if you shall ask any thing in my name, I will not fail to do [it.'] IMPROVEMENT. As we see, in the beginning of this section, that care of Christ over his servants which may engage us cheerfully luke to trust him for providential supplies when employed in his work, so we gee, in the remainder of this, and in the xxil. following discourses, the most affectionate discoveries of the very heart of our blessed Redeemer, overflowing in S5, d8 every sentence with the kindest concern, not only for the safety but the comfort of his people. We see a lively image of that tenderness with which he will another day wipe aivat/ all tears from their eyes : (Rev. vii. 17.) John Surely when he uttered these words he was also solicitous that our hearts might not be troubled; and therefore has ^ ■^'^• provided a noble cordial, the strength of which shall continue to the remotest ages, even faith in his Father and m him. O may that blessed principle be confirmed by what we have now been reading ! Let us observe with what a. holy familiarity our Lord speaks of the regions of glory ; not, as his servants do, like one dazzled and overwhelmed with the brightness of the idea, but as accustomed and familiarized to it by his high birth.P In my Father's house arc mam/ mansions, (delightful and reviving thought !) and many inhabitants in 2 them, who, we hope, through grace wilfbe our companions there, and every one of them increase and multiply the joy. It was not for the apostles alone that Christ went to prepare a place : he is entered into heaven as our Forerunner ; (Heb. vi. 20.) and we, if we are believers indeed, may be said, by virtue of our union with him, to 5^^ together in fieavenli/ places in him. (Eph. ii. 6.) Let us continually be tending thither, in more affectionate desires and more ardent pursuits. We know the war/ ; we hear the truth ; oh may we also feel the life I By Christ, as the 4, 6 true and living wav, may we come to the Father ; that we may have eternal life, in knowing him, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent ! (John xvii. 3.) In Christ may we see him, and have our eyes and our 9 hearts open to those beams of the divine glory which are reflected from the face of his only-begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth ! (John i. 1 4.) Has he been thus discovered to us, as our Father and our God ? let it suffice 8 us: let it diffuse a sacred and lasting pleasure over our souls, though other desirable objects may be veiled or "removed ; and engage us to maintain a conimv&X fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John i. 3.) To this we are invited by every declaration of his readiness to hear and answer our prayers: and though those 13, 14 miraculous powers of the Spirit are ceased, whereby the apostles were enabled to equal, or even to exceed the works t2 of their Master, yet as we have so many important errands to the throne of grace, in which the glory of God and ' the salvation of our souls is concerned, let us come with a holy boldness to it, in dependence on Jesus, that greal High-priest over the house of God, who is passed into the heavens, and amidst all the grandeur of that exa ted state, regards his humble followers on earth, and ever appears under the character of their Advocate and their Friend. ' ___^ SECTION CLXXIV. " Christ proceeds in his discourse with his disciples, recommending a regard to his commandments as the best proof of their love to him ; promising his Spirit, and declaring his readiness to meet his approaching suffer- ings. John xiv. 15, to the end. SECT joHNxiv.15. John xiv. 15. . , . ^^'*- If ye love me, keep my OUR Lord went on with his discourse to his apostles on this solemn occasion ; and ob- commandments. Serving the lively flow of their affection to him in this tender conjuncture of circumstances, jqhn he added, If you do indeed love me, express that love by a constant care to keep my com- xiv. is n He that believes in me.-] U is most evident, in fact, that though and is much illustrated by observing how the apostles ^^hen de- this promise he expressed in such indefinite language, it must be scribing the heavenly state em pby the most pompous ami energetic i; •. 1 • 11 1 CO l^noiiairn and sppm iiiilepd to laDOUT for wor( s, anil to be almost hraited as in the paraphrase. language, ana seem inotea lo iduuLii ■ . " ' . ,, „,-„,„ „„., 0 Whatsoever ye dall ask in my name, under the influence, &c.] dazzled with the lustre and oppressed with the weight ot the sub- As reason in general requires some such limitation as is here given ject : (compare Rom. vui. 18, 19 ; 1 Cor. u. J ; xv. ^i . eiseq. ^y.oi. in tlie paraphrase, so the conclusion of the ver.« plainly implies it; iv. 17, 18: v. 1-9; xii. 2-4; and ^ Jo'''^'"' 2-) 1*''* ^hrist for it was only by the grant of such petitions tnat the Father could speaks of it with a familiar ease and freedom ; just as a pr nee who be "lonfied iii the Son had been educated in a splendid court, would speak with ease of p" With what a holy 'familiarity our Lord speaks of the regions of many magnificent things, at the sudden view ot «'h'^li a Pleasant glory, &c.] This is the remark of the pious Archbishop of Cambray, would be swallowed up in astonishment, and would find h. rase f in his incomparable Dialogues on Eloquence, (which may God put greatly embarrassed, in an attempt to explain them to his equals it into the hearts of our preachers often and attentively to read !) at liome. 350 HE THAT LOVETH CHRIST KEEPETH HIS COMMANDS, SECT, mandments ; for that will be a surer test and more acceptable expression of your regard to 174. me, than all your trouble and concern at parting with me. And thus you may depend on 16 And I will pray the the correspondent expressions of my friendship to you -^ and particularly, that I unll ask yo^^^^'^t^er ComroHer^iiat JOHiv the Father, and he triU give you another Comforter,^ that he may more than supply the he may abide with you for ^iv. -want of my bodily presence, and abide -with you, not for a season only, as I have done, ever; 11 hixt for ever ; \Even'] ///e blessed Spirit of truth and grace, w//o;« the world cannot ^ ^J Even the Spirit of • ' , . •- A /. , '^ -,'■,/ ;• 7 /■ u • u truth, whom the world can- possibly 7'eceive as a Comlorter, because it neither sees linn nor Icnoxos liim, bemg altoge- „ot receive, because itseeth ther destitute of his sanctifying influences, and refusing to admit his testimony to me; but him not, neiUier knoweth you knoxv him in some measure, even now, by his powerfitl operations in you and by you ; he"dweUetrwi"tryo"and for he already dwells with you in part, and shall quickly be more abundantly in you, by shall be in you. a much ampler communication both of his gifts and graces. 18 Encouraee yourselves therefore with the pleasing expectation, and be assured that I will '8 ' will not leave you , * •' , . 1 , , ^ -1 ,., 1 I ^ 1 \ Z i- ■ J 1- comfortless; I will come to jiot leave you neglected, like a family of helpless oi-phans who have no triena or guardian you surviving ';'' but / will come to you by my spiritual presence, and visit you by the most 19 valuable tokens of my constant care. For it is but ye^ a little while and the world seeth 19 Yet a little while and 7ne no more, as it has done for some time past, though it knows me not •, but after I have J^oi-f,'' "but y^l^e me-, be" done conversing with the world, I will appear again to you, and you shall see me in such cause' I live, ye shall live a manner as to feel the blessed etfects of my distinguishing regard to you ; for because I ^^^°- live, you also shall live by means of those divine influences you shall derive from me, to cherish the workings of grace in your hearts, and to train you up to a growing meetness 20 for sharing with me in eternal life. (Compare 2 Cor. iv. ] 0, 1 1.) And in that day when ^Jl^'^u ^''t* ^1="^ /f.^'^'^i^ ^ . Ill • n 7 I ii i. • 1 J. J ■ iviiuw mat 1 um in my ra- I fulfil this promise to you, you shall experimentally know, by the most evident and reviv- ther. and you in me, and I ing tokens, that /[«?«] indeed in my Father, and that j/om also are in me, and I in you, in you- 21 by a most intimate and inseparable" union. But this will only be the privilege of such 21 He that hath my as evidence their love to me by an obedience to my word; for he that has my com- etrThenrhe' u"1s ""that mandments discovered to him, and diligently keeps them, he it is that loveth vie ; but loveth me: and he that none besides have any title to this character, whatever specious pretences they may make l*'y,''p'^,\"* '''^^'! \^ '"n*^!^ "^ , , ,,,•', ,1 . , 7 ,; lull J I 1^ ii J T -11 my Father, and I will love to it : and he that thus shows that he loveth me, shall be loved by my vatiier, and 1 will him, and will manifest my- also love him, and in a most condescending and endearing manner will manifest myself self to him. to him. 22 Judas was very much surprised at this : not Judas Iscariot ; for he, as it was said before, , ~ Judas saith unto him, - •{ , T "^i , .II- /I ••• oi i. 1 • \ J u 1 (not Ifcariot.) Lord, how is vvas gone out before the Lord began this discourse: (chap. xiu. -Jl. sect, clxxi.) and had jt that thou wilt manifest he been there, he was always too much on his guard to have dropped any hint of his view thyself unto us, and not un- to Christ's temporal kingdom f but another apostle of that name, who was also called ^° "'^ ^''°^^^ ■ Thaddeus and Lebbeus, the son of Alpheus, and the brother of James, (see note f, on Mark iii. 18. p. 106.) a near relation to our Lord himself-.^ ~this Judas, upon hearing Christ express himself in such a way, says to him. Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not to the world 'f Dost thou not then intend to make a public appearance, which will be obvious to the eyes of all ? 23 Jesus answered and said to him. As to that it may be sufficient to tell you, that, as I 23 Jesus answered and said before, (ver. 21.) Jf any man sincerely love me, he will in an humble and obedient f^f^ re'^he^wiirLep^r^y manner keep and observe my word ; and if he shall be found to do so, my Father, who words: and my Father will at all times has a tender regard to my honour and interest, w/// undoubtedly love him ; and ^°\^ '',""• "'"^ Y ^^'1' '^'""® .,,,,,„ , 1 ■ ^ A r 1 1 J 1 c J ■// 1 ""t" """' 3"° make our we will both of us come to him by the favourable tokens of our presence, and witt make abode with him. \oui-\ constant abode with him : you are therefore to understand what I said of manifesting myself to him that loves me, not of any corporeal and sensible appearance, but of such a spiritual and intimate correspondence as the invisible Father of glory and grace maintains 24 M'ith his people through me. But, on the contrary, he that does not really love me, does 24 He that loveth me not, < not observe and keep my words with any constancy and resolution ; and therefore must and"* the "word'^which'^ye expect no such spiritual and eternal benefits, whatever outward privileges he may enjoy : hear, is not mine, but the see to it therefore, that you diligently hearken and attend to what 1 say ; for the word Father's which sent me. which you hear me speak is not originally or merely mine, but it is [//;e worcf] of the a Thus you may depend on the correspondent expressions of my . the hope of prefermeut and gain in it was the chief consideration , friendship to you.] The connexion may po.ssibly intimate, that; which engaged liim to follow our Lord. Let the reader Midul^j "^ " '^' " b °, ^t ^ .li /-^ j j 1 11 cth, give I unto you. Let 7/ou ; such a peace as none but I can impart ; a peace with God and yourselves, as well as not your heart be troubled, '^jf^ your fellow-creatures, whlch will be the spring of solid and lasting happiness : and it is neither let it be afraid. ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ world often gives and wishes peace, in an empty form of inetiectual, and often, perhaps, unmeaning compliment, that I give it unto you ; but, as I most sincerely wish it, I will most certainly secure it to you. Let not your heart therefore be troubled at the thoughts of my departure, neither let it be afraid of what may befal you when I am gone ; for I will help you to possess your souls in quietness and peace, and will establish it upon the firmest basis. 28 Ye have heard how I You need not then to be discouraged at the separation that will now be raade between 28 said unto you, I go away, f^j. ^^g y„ /;^^,g ft^ard how I Said to i/ou, that I go away, so also you have been and come again unto you. . ' , ■' , , , /i ^ t 1 1 1 j t ' 11 r i ^ Jf ye loved me, ye would informed of ray intention in it, andknovf that I have added, I will come [again] to you : rejoice, because I said, I go and surely if you loved me with a wise and rational affection, it would allay your sorrows Father'ir^'re^iteft'iian 1.°'^ JQ the raean t'irae, and howsoever you might have a mournful seiase of your" own loss, you would rejoice on my account, because I said, I go to the Father ; for my Father, whose servant t am as Mediator, is in this respect greater than me, and consequently it must be ray honour and happiness to be in a state of greater nearness to him than the present world 29 And now I have told will adrait. And now I have told you this that I have been discoursing to you, concern- 29 you before it come to pass, j ^ reraoval, my retum to the Father, and the descent of the Spirit upon you, be- that when it is come to pass, - ° .•' •', , . 7 •. , . ^ 1 7 /• ye might believe. fore it comes to pass ; that when it does come 10 pass, you may more nrmiy believe, not only on account of the extraordinary nature of the events themselves, but also on account of their exact and evident correspondence with these predictions of mine.' 30 Hereafter I will not It will be your wisdom the rather to observe and review these things, as I shall not 30 the' ^["nc^e of"tlm"worl'd hereafter have time to discourse much more with you about them ; /yr Satan, the prince Cometh, and hath nothing of this apostate world, IS coming to encounter me, and is raising a storm against me which "• ™'^- will quickly separate us : nevertheless I have this comfort, that he has nothing in me, no guilt of mine to give him power over me, nor any inward conuption to take part with 31 But that the world his temptation. Bat he is permitted thus to attack me, and I contentedly submit to my 31 Fa^ther"Tnd'as*thi°Father approaching Sufferings, that the world may see and know, on the most substantial gave me commandment, evidence, that I love the Father so well as to refuse nothing whereby his glory may be griieTce '^°' ^"^^' '^' "^ advanced; and even as the Father has commanded me, so I do, how painful or expen- sive soever that obedience may be. And therefore, that we may be prepared for this hour of temptation that is coming upon us, arise, let us go from hence, ^ and retire to a place where we may more conveniently attend our devotions ; and where I raay be ready, when my cruel enemies shall come to apprehend me, to yield myself into their hands, and to submit to what my Father has appointed for me. IMPROVEMENT, Surely, if we are not entirely strangers to the divine life, we cannot read such discourses as these without Ver. 15 feeling some warm emotions of love to Christ : and if indeed we feel them, let us consider how they are to be 21 expressed. Our Lord directs us to do it in the most solid and the raost acceptable manner, by a constant care to keep his commandments ; and sure such commandments as his cannot be grievous to a soul that truly loves him : (1 John V. 3.) The more we live in the practice of them, the more cheerfully raay we expect the abundant com- 16, 17 munications of his Spirit to animate and strengthen us. If we are christians indeed, let us not, in any circumstance of life, look on ourselves as helpless and abandoned ] 8 orphans. Human friends may forsake us; but Christ will come to us : he will raanifest himself to the eye of 21, 23 faith, though to the eye of sense he is invisible ; and his heavenly Father will love us, and watch over us for good : yea, he will come and dwell in the obedient soul by the gracious tokens of his intimate and inseparable presence. And do we any of us experience this ? We have surely reason to say that by way of admiration which the apostle said by way of inquiry, hord, how and whence is it that thou wilt manifest thyself to us, 22 and not to the world ! What have we done to deserve these gracious and distinguishing manifestations ! Nay, how much have we done to forfeit thera ! even more than many from whom they are withheld ! With unutterable joy let us review this rich legacy of our dying Lord : peac4; I leave with you : my peace 1 21 give unto you. Lord, evermore give us this peace with God and with our own consciences ! for if thou wilt give quietness, who can make trouble ? (Job xxxiv. 29.) How serenely may we then pass through the most turbulent scenes of life, when all is quiet and harmonious within ! Thou hast made peace through the blood of j f You may more firmly believe, not only on account, &c.] It is plishment of prophecies, the degree of evidence arising from them ( very judiciously observed by Dr. Jenkin, (in his excellent Defence is the greatest that can possibly be conceived. I of Christianity,) that when miraculous events are also the accom- g Arise, let us go hence.'} See note a, in the next section. — That 352 CHRIST REPRESENTS HIMSELF AS THE TRUE VINE. SECT, thy cross ; (Col. i. 20.) may we preserve the precious purchase and inestimable gift inviolate, till it issue in ever- 174. lasting peace ! In this let our hearts be encouraged ; in this let them rejoice : and not in our own happiness alone, but also in that of our now glorified and exalted Redeemer. As the members of his body, we ought certainly JOHN to maintain a pleasing sympathy with our Head, and to triumph in his honour and felicity as our own. If we ^^^- love Christ, we should rejoice because he is gone to the Father. And the same consideration may in its degree comfort us when our pious friends are removed : if we love them with a rational and generous friendship, and are not too much influenced by selfish affections under that specious name, our joy for their exaltation will greatly temper the sorrow which our own loss must give us. 30 Our Lord uttered these words in the near views of a grievous assault from the prince of this world, who is the prince of darkness ; but there was no corruption in him to take part with the enemy. Too much, alas, does he find in us to abet his temptations : let us earnestly pray that the grace of Christ may be sufficient for us : and that as 31 his love to the Father engaged him to go through this painful conflict with the tempter, his love to us may make us partakers of his victory. In his name let us set up our banners, and the powers of hell shall flee before us., SECTION CLXXV. Christ represents himself under the emb!e?n of a vine, and exhorts his disciples to faith and persevering obedience. John xv. 1 — 11. JOH^'^^-I- Joimxv... SECT. Some accident occasioning a little delay before they left the guest-chamber in which they I am the true vine, and I'^S. had eaten the passover, our Lord improved the precious moments in addressing his dis- my Fatlier is the husband- ciples to the following purpose :* J a?n, said he, the true and most excellent vine,^ by its ^ JOHN union with whom my church is nourished ; and my Father is the husbandman who has ^^' planted this vine, and by whom it is cultivated, that it may produce delightful clusters for 2 his service. And everi/ branch that is in we by an external profession, which yet is found 2 Every branch in me to be a bairen branch, and bears no fruit, he taketh quite awai/ ; that is, he cuts it off that beareth not fruit, he : , . . , . , . ,.■■,• i -i /• i_ ■/ r7 1-1 I • 1 taketh away: and every m his righteous judgment, and entirely separates it from me: but ever)/ [branc/i^ whicfi branch that beareth fruit, brino-s forth fruit, he purgefh ; that is, he prunes and dresses it, and, on the whole, ex- he purgeth it, that it may ercises such wise and kind discipline towards it (though that discipline may sometimes '"''"^ f"'"''^* '"°''^ '^'''*'*- seem severe) as may best answer the great end of its production, that it may bring forth yet more fruit, than which there can be nothing more desirable.'^ 3 And thus it is with you ; for, now the traitor is gone out, I may affirm, without the ex- 3 Now ye are clean, ception that I made before, (compare John xiii. 10, 11. sect, clxxi.) that you are all thus through the word which I 1- L ii7 7 r' J.I 1 1 ■ V T 1 7 bave spoken unto you. purged, in such a manner as to be clean, by means of tiie word winch 1 liave spoken 4 to you, whose sanctifying influence has operated on your hearts. Continue therefore in 4 Abide in me, and I in 7ne, by the renewed exercise of humble faith and love ; and I will be in you, to nourish you. As the branch cannot and supply you, as from a living root, with every necessary grace : for as, in the natural n'^'^abkie 'in^l'lr viii7"no world, the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, but must presently wither, unless it con- more can ye, except ye tinue in a state of union with the vine, and be nourished by sap from thence ; so neither ^'^"^^ "^ "^'^• ca7i you be able to produce the fruits of genuine and acceptable obedience, unless you continue in me, and have the life of grace maintained within you by a vital union with me. 5 I repeat it again, as a matter of the utmost moment. That I am. the vine, and^e [are] ,,^^P-™ ^\^ ^'°fi ^^J^i the branches, in the sense I have already explained. He therefore that abides in vie by ab?dethTn 'me, and I in such an intimate and vital union, and in whom also I abide by the operations of my him, the same brinseth Holy Spirit in him, he, and he only, bringeth forth much fruit, to the honour of his pro- ou\*n™ye'can"dVu*'othTnl'!" fession, and the comfort of his own soul : but the glory of it is still to be referred to me ; ' " °' for separate from me you can do nothing, though you stand in the foremost rank of my 6 followers, and have already made some considerable attainments. And // any one that 6 [f a man abide not in calls himself my disciple, does not maintain such a regard to me as that he may be said J^i''' •|<^ is cast forth as a to abide in ?nc,^ he is rejected and cast out with disdain and abhorrence, as a fruitless a,„^ ,-nen' gather th'cm, and branch lopped off from the vine, and by consequence is presenUy withered ; and as [?nen'] cast t/iem into the fire, and gather up such dry sticks, and throw them into the fire, and there they are burnt, as ^''^^ ^^'^ burned, a worthless kind of wood fit for nothing but fuel, (see Ezek. xv. 2 — 4.) so, in lika manner, such will be the end of those unhappy creatures ; they shall be gathered as fit fuel for x3ti sometimes signifies though, or nevertheless, as I have rendered it, Annot. ex Xen. p. Ml.) — His having lately drunk with his disciples ver. 30. see note e, on John xvii. 25. \ 180. of the fruit of the vine, and having afterwards declared that he a Some accident occasioning a little delay, &c.] This may be would drink no viore of it till he draitk it new in the kinr/dom of God, gathered from the conclusion of the foregoing chapter, where our (Mark xiv. 25. p. 316.) might possibly occasion Ciirist's alluding Lord had said, Arise, let us go hence : for it seems very unreason- toil : (see Grotius, in toe.) Or perhaps they might now be stand- able to imagine that our Lord would address so important a dis- ing near a window, or in some court by the side of tlie house, where course as this to eleven persons as they were walking, especially in the sight of a vine might suggest this beautiful simile. (Compare the streets of Jerusalem, at this public time; much less would he Psal. cxxviii. 3.) That circumstance was, no doubt, common in^ pour out so solemn a prayer as that in chap. xvii. in such a circum- Judea, which abounded with the finest grapes. See Gen. xlix. 1), stance: yet John xviii. 1. (? 181.) Strongly implies that all that 12; Numb. xiii. 23 ; and Deut. viii. 8. follows between this and that, happened before he went forth from c That it may bring forth more fruit.'] This strongly suggests a Jerusalem. I conclude, therefore, that all this passed before they very sublime and important thought, viz. that one of the noblest quitted the house where the passover was eaten, though they pro- rewards God can bestow on former acts of obedience, is to make bably rose from the table ap soon as those words. Arise, let us go the soul yet more holy, and fit for farther and more eminent ser- hence, were spoken. A short delay might leave room for this; for vice, though it should bo by such painful afflictions as resemble any one who will make the trial, will find that these three chapters the pruning of a vine. may be deliberately read over in a quarter of an hour, and there- d If any one does not abide in me.'] It is strange that any should fore might be spoken in that small interval of time. think this text a conclusive argument against the doctrine of per- b 7%^ /iHf and most excellent t'iftc] So M , -r^ , t ■> i t i ±' ' i ' j kept my Father's command- even as I have always kept my Fathers commandments, and so continue in Ins love; meiits, and abide in his love. fgj. ^[^{5 jg (^g ^^ost solid evidence of it, which I give to my Father, and require from you. 11 These things have I These thinss I have spolcen to you, not to grieve you by any intimation that I suspect 11 jov''raVd\'r remain *inVol^ the sincerity oi your regards to me ; but that you may be so fortified and animated against anVjMJ your joy might be the temptations of life, that ?ny joy and complacency in you, as my faithful friends, 7«/o/r^ '""• still continue ; and Ithaf] your joy in me may be maintained in its full height, and may greatly increase, as it certainly will,' in proportion to the advancement of your resolution and zeal in my service. IMPROVEMENT. How desirable is it that we may learn from this discourse to regard Christ at all times as the spiritual Head, Ver. 1 from wliom life and vigour are to be derived to all his people ! Let us, by the exercise of an unfeigned faith, abide in him as the true vine; as being always sensible that without him we can do nothing ; and that if we are in him 4,5 only by an external profession, we are not only in danger of being cut off and taken away, but shall, in the end, 6 be cast into the fire. May we rather be purged and pruned, though it should be with the most painful dispensa- 2 tions of providence, if by this means our fruitfulness may be promoted, to the glory of God and to the benefit of the 8 world ! May his word operate daily upon us, to cleanse us trom remaining pollutions ! and if we thus desire to be 3 clean, let us talce heed to our wai/, according to the tenor of that word. (Psal. cxix. 9.) We see our encouragement to "pray ; let us take it from Christ, and not be dismayed, nor yield to unbelieving 7 suspicions. As the Father has loved Christ, so does he also love his people : Let us preserve and cultivate this 9 sacred friendship ; and, whatever it may cost us, let us endeavour to continue in his love, and to avoid whatever would forfeit it ; making it above all things our care to keep his commandments. Christ always observing those 10 of his heavenly Father, cannot but always and invariably continue the object of his love and delight : may our conduct be such as that he may see reason to rejoice in us ! and then we shall also have the surest foundation for a 1 1 sublime and solid joy. SECTION CLXXVI. Christ renews his exhortation to mutual love, and declares the Jews inexcusable in their unbelief John XV. 12, to the end. JOHN XV. 12. ^OHN XV. 12. This is my command- OUR Lord, in order to impress the principles of mutual friendship and benevolence on s£ct. Ealum^elovtd'vou'''' the uiinds of his disciples in the most powerful manner, recommended it to them at large 176. t- ' " ' on this tender occasion, and proceeded in his discourse to the following purpose : This is K in a peculiar manner tny co/nniandmcnt to you, which, by all the obligations you are jqhn K - under to iiie, I charge and conjure you to observe. That ye all do most cordially and XV. H' constantly love one another, even if it be possible, with as great an ardour as that with 12 which I 'have loved you; so as to be ready to sacrifice your lives for each other, as I 13 Greater love hath no expose and resign mine for you. (Compare John xiii. 34; and 1 John iii. 16.) And 13 man than this, that a man surely I can give no more solid and important evidence of my affection to you ; for no man frLdT'" lifis ever manifested, or can indeed imagine, greater and more disinterested love than this, that a man should be willing, not only on some sudden alarm to hazard, but on the coolest deliberation to submit to lay down his life for the preservation and happiness of II Ye are my friends, if his friends. Now as I am about fo give you this grand demonstration of my love, so I 14 manlr vou^''°'"'" ' "'"' assure you that i/ou are and shall be acknowledged as my friends, and shall certainly share ( ' in the blessings of my death and life, if you practically acknowledge my authority, and I 1.5 Henceforth I call you are SO influenced by my love as to do whatsoever I command you. I do not any longer 15 not servants; ,for the ser- ^^// ^.^^ servants, though I have Sometimes used the phrase, and formerly have seen it yant knowetli not what his ^ . • ^ ^ ^ ^ -xi ^ ti „„„>,„„/ \^ nrxt \cA -m^n fVio lord doth : but I have call necessary m some points to treat you with reserve ; for the ser^ ant is not let mio me ' secrets of his master, and knoweth not particularly what his lord doth ;* but I have not I a I do not any longer crtll you servants; for the servant knoweth bein? the Messiah ; some instances of which have been already not, &c.] Mr. Locke (in his" Reasonableness of Christianity, p. 105.) pointed out. See note r, on John iv. 26. p. 59. refers this to the caution with which our Lord had spoken of his 2a 354 THE WORLD WOULD HATE THEM AS IT HATED HIM. JOHN endearing manner, as you very well know. ^^'-.Q Remember that ?/oit have not first ohoscn me, but I, by my sovereign and effectual le Ve hiive Dot clioscr. grace, have chosen you to the honourable office ot my apostles and ambassadors ; and have "^' •"'' i.i'''V'^ chosen you, appointed and ordained i/ou that you should go and publish what you have heard from should go''aiVbrVng"fOT^^^^ me to all the world, and be so qualified and assisted, that you may Zi(Y?r abundant //■«// in fmii, and iiwt your fruit the most distant countries, and Ithaf] the blessed etiect oi your fruit should continue even ^Jjp"^'^ vT^hall ?sk*of'the to the remotest generations :'' yea, I have also raised you to such a happy circumstance, Fatherinmy uame, he may and made you so eminently the favourites of heaven, that, as I lately told you, (ver. 7.) 8'*'^ " y°"- whatever you shall ask the Father in my name, he may perform it for you; and you may certamly depend upon it, he will give it you. 17 But then again I would remind you, that if you would continue thus the objects of " These things I com- these his gracious regards, you must carefully practise your duty to each other as well as to Mother""' ^''"'^ ^^ '°'^*' ""^ him; for these things I command you, that ye love one another ; and this you should 18 the rather do, as you will be the mark of cominon hatred and persecution. Yet //'you find 18 If the world hate you, the -world hate-AXxA injure _yoM, you have no reason to be offended or surprised at this; for Tf''^''^/*''/^ "' ''^'"^'^ ™° you know, that mild and benevolent as my conduct has always been, yet it has hated me '^ ""^"^ ' '" ^ '°"' 19 your Chief and Lord,'' (5r/brc it disciiarged its venom and malignity on /yow. Indeed, if 19 if ye were of tlie you were like the rest of the world, and your doctrines and practice were conformable to wurUl, the world would love Its customs and maxims, the world is so generally under the power of selfish prejudices, ^H ,"ot"of tire\v''o'r!d"but^l that it undoubtedly would love its own, and you miglit expect much better treatment irom iiave chosen you out'of the it:'= hut because this is not your character, and you are not thus of the world, but J have ,'™7'",' tl'^reiore the world chosen you out oj the world, not only to separate from, but to oppose its vices and enor- mities, and even to be leaders in that holy and necessary opposition, it is no wonder that upon this account the world hateth you, though the cause in which you are engaged be indeed so honourable, and your lives so useful and beneficent. 20 Ronember and recollect upon this occasion, the word which I spake to you some time 20 Remember the word ago, (Matt. X. 24 ; and Luke vi. 40.) and which I have but lately repeated, (John xiii. 16.) t'"'* ^ ^^'^ ""^o y°^< The The servant is not greater than his lord, nor the messenger greater than him that sent i,Ts7o'!-d.'' inhfyT.l'v'e per° him : //"therefore they have persecuted mc, and Providence has permitted them to do it, you secuted me, they win also may reasonably conclude then will also persecute you, and you cannot justlv complain if P'''secuteyou: if they have u 1 r n^ • 1 ■,• , ^ , •',7 , '' •',,," Kent my saving-, thev will you have your share of sunenngs ; and {f you have seen that they have generally kept my keep vours also. 21 saying, I will give you leave to suppose they will also keep yours} But when you see, 21 IJut all these things as you very quickly will, not only my doctrine rejected, but my person assaulted, abused, ^viu they do unto you for and murdered, it must be a sensible warning to you to prepare for the like usage ; and all I?^' ". "'^'^ ^^l^'^i .^^^'If^^^ 4^1, „ j^/ ■ ^ jL •// ■ 1- i I ± ,' ,77 ,; P ' , , tl'^y know not him that these things they will iniact do to you for my na?nes sake, because they do not know sent me. him that sent me ; for their ignorance of that God to whom they boast so near a relation, 22 does indeed lie at the bottom of their opposition to me. And a dreadful account they 22 If I had not coitie, and will have to give for it; for if I had not come and spoken thus plainly to them, they spoken unto them, they had ■would comparatively have had no sin;B but now they have no excuse or pretence >a- ^te'no cloVk^for theVsi^ their sin, but, being committed against so clear and strong a light, it stands exposed in its " ' 23 most odious colours : Yea, it appears rebellion against God, as well as ingratitude to me ; 2.3 He that hateth me, for he that hateth and opposeth me, hateth and opposeth my Father also, whose com- ''"^^"^ "y Va.\}aeT also, mission I bear ;'' and this is what they have done, after all reasonable methods have been b All tilings that I liaveheard from my Father I have declared to tion are not so peculiar to the first ages, or to christians living in you.'] Our Lord had, no doubt, the fullest view of the scheme of idolatrous countries, as some have supposed. Would to God the redemption undertaken by him; but the apostles not being yet malignity to be found in some of us against our brethren, did not able to bear many things, (compare chap. xvi. 12. \ 177.) especially too jilainly illustrate this remark ! Wen will probably experience relating to the calling of the Gentiles, and the abolition of the Mo- the truth of it, in proportion to the degeneracy of those around saic law, he wisely deferred the discovery of them : so that these them, and to the vigour and resolution with which they bear their words must be taken with the limitation mentioned in tl;e para- testimony against prevailing errors and vices. Yet it is certain phrase, and signify that he had done it so far as was convenient. that the imprudence and bigotry of some very good men has some- c That you should go and bear fruit, Sfc.'] This was a security to times made matters worse than they would otherwise have been, them that they should be preserved from immediate dangers, and and perhaps has irritated the vices of their enemies, so as in part that their life should be guarded by Providence till some consider- to have been accessary to their own damage, and the much greater abie services had been accomplished by their means. When our mischief of those that have injured them. Lord adds, that your fruit should continue, he may allude to the f If they hare kept my sayiny, L^r.] I am surprised that such custom of keeping rich and generous wines a great many years, so a multitude of learned commentators, and among the rest Gataker that in some cases (which w.is especially applicable to the sweet and Knatchbul!, should contend that mgsiv X070V should here be un- Eastern wines) they might prove a cordial to those who were unborn derstood of observing a person's.discourse with a malignant design when the grapes were produced. In this view there is a beautiful to carp at it. (See AVolfius, in loc.) na;irv;^-£iv has indeed that sense, propriety in the representation, which I hope will be particularly Mark iii. 2; Luke vi. 7; xiv. 1; xx. 20: But no certain argu- felt when these reviving chapters are read. ment can be drawn from hence, especially considering bow con- d It lias hated me yjouxCUiei.'] The words in the original, (eaie stantlv the phrase before us is taken in a good sense, for an obedient srjoirov u^vv /j.iij.myti,) which we render, // hated mc liefore it hated regard, in tliis very discourse, in which it often occurs. See John you, may (as Dr. Lardner well observes) be more literally rendered, xiv. 1,5, 21, 23 ; xv. 10; xvii. 6. It hated me your Chief ; which makes the expression more lively, g They would hare had no sin.] It is .so evident from the word of and exactly parallel to Matt. x. 24, 25. I 75. (See Lard. Credib. God, (see Rom. i. 20, 21 ; and ii. 12—13.) as well as from the reason part i. Vol. II. p. 693.) Thus wv zj^mos uu-i tyu, 1 Tim. i. 15. is well of things, that sin may be imputed to those who have no revelation, translated, of whom lam chief. that it is most evident this is only a Hebraism ; as when, according e If you were of the world, the world would love its own.] This to the pathetic manner of speaking especially in use among the seems to me a strong intimation, that even in nations which profess Eastern nations, that is said to be nothing at all, which, when com- Christianity, if true religion fall, as it very possibly may, to a very pared with something else, is inconsiderably small. See Psal. low ebb, they that exert themselves remarkably for the revival of xxxix.5; Isa. xl. 17; lCor.i.28; iii. 7; and comjiare John ix. 41. It, must, on the \:ery principle here laid down, expect hatred and h Hateth my Father also.] How much is it to be wished that opposition ; and that the passages in scripture relating to persecu- those who make light of Christ, while they pretend a great venera- REFLECTIONS ON THE WORLD'S HATRED OF CHRIST, &c. 355 24 If I liiitl not done taken for their conviction. If I had wrought no miracle at all, nay, if I had not done SECT, among them ^ the ^orks among tlicm sucli extraordinary v;orks as no other man ever did, not even their prophets, 176. tiiey )iad"not had s7n" but ^r Rloses himself, thei/ had not had any degree of sin comparable to that which they are now have they both seen now under ; but noiv, as they have rejected my superior miracles, which they have seen John and hati " '" "■ . . . . -... Father. and hated both nie and ray ^^,jjj^ ^j^^-j, ^.^^,^ g^^g^ ^^ ^{^g ^^^-^^ jj^^^g jj^^^j ^j^gy ^^^.J^ ^^^ evidence of those which Moses ^^ wrought, of which they have heard only by distant report, tliey manifest such an obstinate 24 perverseness of temper, that I may truly say, thci/ have both seen and hated both 7ne and niij Father ; and God himself will justly resent and punish it as an indignity that 2o But this r.impf/,/o pass, sliows their enmity to hira. Bat [this is all permitted,'] that the -a-ord uhich is writ- 25 fi\kVthari's\trTt'uu\n their ^'^" ^" ^^^^"' ^'^^'' ^"^ ^"^ ^^^'"^ ^"^'"^'^ volume, concerning David, (Psal. xxxv. 19.) might law, They hated me without eminently be fulfilled in me, as many ancient prophecies foretold that it should, " Ssurcly a cause. « ili(.y imve hated me "without a cause.'"^ 26 But when the Com- But when the Comforter is come, whom, as I told you, (chap. xiv. 26.) I will shortly 26 foner is come, whom I will j^^^^ to you from tlw Fathei', Icveji] the Spirit of truth, who proceeds fro?n the Father, Fat'lie "' f rf«^ the Sphit of ^^d is to reside in my church, he shall bear a convincing testimony to me, to vindicate truth, which proceedeth my character from all the infamy they are maliciously attempting to throw upon it. tesUtV of m^ ' ^'"''' -^i^d you also, weak as you now appear, shall by his powerful assistance bear a courage- 27 27 "And ye also shall bear ous and Convincing testimony to me, because you have been with me from the bcgin- vituess, because ye have „/„^ of my ministry, and therefore are the best qualified to give an account of my whole beginning. ' conduct, v/hich, the better it is known, the more it will justify my cause, and expose the wickedness of those that rise up against me. BIPROVEMENT. The Son of God condescends to speak under the character of a Friend ; and with what humble gratitude should Ver. 15 we attend to his words ! He lays aside the majesty of a sovereign to assume this more tender relation ; and surely our overflowing hearts must inquire. Blessed Jesus, what shall we do to express the friendship on our side ? Let us observe what he has here declared, Yc are my friends indeed, f ye do whatever I command you. Lord, 14 we will run the toai/ o/ these thy commandments, when on this noblest principle thou shall enlarge our hearts! (Psal. cxLx. 32.) "^ ■ He has loved us with an unexampled affection, which has approved itself stronger than death ; and in return, ] 2, 13 he requires us to love one another. How gracious a command ! How merciful to our fellow-creatures and to our- selves, who should infallibly feel the benefit of the practice of it, both in the delight inseparable from benevolent affections, and in the circulation of kind and friendly ofiices, which, degenerate as human nature is, few are so abandoned as not to endeavour to repay ! Who would not imagine that the whole world should feel and obey the chann ? And yet, instead of this, behold, they hate Christ, and his servants for his sake, though without a cause, 18,25 and against the strongest engagements. Miserable creatures ! who by a necessary consequence, whatever they may fondly imagine, hate the Father also, and stand daily and hourly exposed to all the dreadful terrors of an almighty 23, 24 enemy. Let us not wonder if the world hate us ; nor greatly regard if it injure us. We are not of the world, nor is 19,20 the servant greater than his lord: but surely the opposition which the gospel brings along with it, is nothmg, •when compared with those blessings which it entails on all who faithfully embrace it. Were the sutlerings and difficulties a thousand times greater than they are, we ought to esteem the Pearl of price, the most happy purchase at any rate ; and to he daily returning our most thankful acknowledgments, that Christ sent forth his apostles, qualified with such a knowledge of himself, and assisted by such power from his Spirit, appointing them to go and bring forth fruit, even fruit which should remain to the remotest ages. Through his guardian care, it still re- 26 mains in the world : Oh may it flO'Urish more abundantly among us ! and may its efficacy on our hearts and lives be more apparent ! And may divine grace convince those who now reject and oppose it, that in the midst of such 22 various evidence of his having come and spoken to them, they have no cloak for their sin ! but with whatever fond excuses they may amuse themselves and others, it will quickly appear that the bed is too short to stretch , themselves on it, and the covering too narrow to wrap themselves in. (Isa. xxviii. 20.) - - ■■ ' "■ 1 v r r- SECTION CLXXVn. Christ warns his disciples of the sufferings they must expect, and laboiirs to reconcile them to the thoughts of his remove, as what would on the whole be advantageous to them, as the occasion of sending the Spirit, wIucJT'would be so great a support to them and their cause. John xvi. 1 — 15. JoHNxvi.i. ^ John xvi. 1. These things have t spo- Christ farther added, in his discourse to his disciples. These things I have spoken to SECT. ken unto yoiuhat ye should ^p,^ concerning the Opposition which you are to expect from the world, and the propor- 177. tionable supports you will receive from the Spirit, that when the storm arises, you may ^ not be offended and discouraged, and much less be drawn to renounce your profession in john of "the synagogues" ye" the oi'der to avoid the danger. They shall indeed excommunicate, or cast you out of the ^vi. time Cometh, that whoso- synagogues ; yea, that is not all, for the hour is shortly coming, that whosoever kill- 2 • tion for the Father, would seriously attend to this weighty admo- we can find, he alone) had a power of working miracles whenever nitioD, lest haply they be found even to fight against God ! (Acts he pleased. Nevertheless, tlut the enemies of the Me.ssiah should ^•39-) hate him without a cause, was expressly foretold, (Isa. liii. 3 — 9; i T/tey have hated me wilhoiit a cause.] It appears to me very Dan. ix. 2fi ; and Zecli. xii. 10.) not to mention the argument aris- cvident that Psal. xxxv. cannot be, strictly speaking, a prophecy ing from comparing all the places in which his innocence and holi- concerning the Messiah, especially from ver. 1.3, 14. which repre- ncss are described, with those which refer to his sufferings. So sent a person incapable of helping others in their sickness, other- that I apprehend the turn given in the paraphrase sufficiently wise than by fasting and prayer; whereas Christ rand, so far as justified. 2 a2 35^ THE SPIRir WILL CONVINCE OF SIN, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND JUDGMENT. SECT, eth you,^ shall think that he offers [an acceptable'] service to God :^ to so mad a rage ever killethyou, will think 177, shall their zeal arise, and so thick is the darkness with which their minds are veiled. And '''3*l\'id^f|',es^°tiihi"s'Tv-,ii all these cruel things they xvill do unto you, because they have not knoxvn either the they do uuto vnu, because JOHN Father or me ; which if they had done, instead of injuring me, and exercising such in- p^'jl^^'^''^'^ known the XVI. humanities towards you my apostles, they would have received us with the greatest plea- ' 4 sure and thankfuhiess. But I have spoken these things plainly to you, and forewarned 4 But these things have I you of them, that when the season comes in which they shall happen, you may re- ti*raeshau'come,yemav*rr- member that I told you of them, and so may turn what has so discouragmg an aspect niember that I told you of into a farther confirmation of your faith. And I did not indeed sau t/iese things to *'\'^™- , -^"^ ^^^^^ wk^ ^ ,,,,■■ n ^ ■ -^ 7 r zi m; j 111 said not unto yrfu at tht-be- you at the beginning ot my ministry, because 1 was then with you, and could easily ^inniug, because I was with 5 suggest proper instructions and consolations as new circumstances of difficulty arose : But >°"- 7tow I speak them, because I am departing from you for a while, and am going away to ^g jjj^ ^^°^l ^J^^ ™J ^l^^ him that sent meintothewoM; and yet noneoj'youasketh me, ]Vhithcr dost thou go ? none of you asketh rae, nor is concerned to make those inquiries about "that better world where we are to dvvell Whither goest thou? 6 together, which surely might well become you in such a circumstance. But because I ^,^ But because i have said ; ' ; _i; j/ • j i ^ ii i r i "■ r i- i 1 these things unto you, sor- have spoken these things unto you, and talked or leaving you tor a time, your natural j-ow hath filled your heart, affections have been greatly moved, and sorrow has filled and pierced j/ow/- very hearts, so that you seem almost stupified with it. 7 But I tell you the exact truth of the case, when I say that it is on the whole advan- 7 Nevertheless, l tell you tageous to you, as well as proper for me, that I should go away, considering the agree- for*^yo'^^^\V'it'l"o away -'for - ment made between the Father and me in the council of peace between us ; for if I do if i go not away, the Cora- not rro awaii, and appear in heaven under the character of the great High-Priest, the forter will not come unto ^ ' /■ , ' ■/; .'■^ . ■ .1 iv r xu o ■ •* • *i i u f V, yo" ; but if Idenart, I v.ill Lomfurter will not come to you, since the gitt ot the hpirit is the iruit oi my purchase, send him unto you. and is appointed to be consequent upon my being glorified; (John vii. 39. sect, ci.) but S when I go from hence, I will not fail to send him to you. And when he comes, he 8 And when he is come, t:^/// abundantly display the efficacy of his grace, not only in the comforts he will give sin,''and'of'7igiUeous',fe£ you under all your troubles, but in the wonderful success with which he will enable you and of judgmeift: to carry on my cause ; and will etfectually convince the world, by your ministry,'^ of sin, 9 and of righteousness, and of judgment. He will convince the world of that aggravated 9 Of sin, because they sin which they are guilty of because they do not believe in ?ne ; to the truth of whose '^ '<=^'-' '"^t-on me: mission he will bear an unanswerable testimony by his enlightening influences and mira- 10 culous operations : He will convince them of my righteousness and innocence, because lo Of righteousness, be- lt will evidently appear that I go to my Father, and am accepted of him, when I send '^^",^' ^ ^° ^" "*y Father, , ,^ . . , •', . '^'. , . ° ^ A ■■ 1 T-> • \ I ^QU ys see rae no more: the Spirit trom him in so glorious a manner ; (compare Acts ii. 6o ; and Kom. i. 4.) and that my righteousness may therefore be relied on for the justification and acceptance of ray people, since you see me no more appearing among you in the form of a servant, but are assured that, having finished what I was to do on earth, I am taken up to heaven, and ] 1 received into glory : And he will convince them of my being invested with the power of h Of judgment, because executing.;«r/gw/c«if, because the prince of this world, the great head of the apostasy, is juaged."" °^ *'''^ ""'"'^ '^ now as it were already judged and condemned, and shall then be triumphed over in a very remarkable manner, when his oracles are silenced, and he is cast out liom many per- sons, and countries too, which he before possessed: (compare John xii. 31. sect, cxlviii.) And Satan being thus di\'ested of his power, my gospel shall be propagated through the world, and a full proof at length be given of my sovereign authority, in my coming to execute judgment upon all ungodly sinners. 12 I have yet many other things to say to you with relation to matters of considerable 12 I have yet many things moment in the settlement of my church : but I wave them at present, because I know that cannot bear"tiyem'no^w' ^''' \3 you are not able to bear [them'] new, and are not yet prepared to receive them.'* But 13 Howbeit, wheuhc, the when he, [even] the Spirit of truth, is co;»e, according to the promise I have given you, Spn-it of truth, is come, he he, as a faithful Guide, will lead you into all necessary truth : for he will not exceed his truth : for lie shaH not a Whosoever kiUeth you.'] 'Ag.the lower kinds of excpmmunica- b Shall think that he offers \an acceptabW] service to God.] The tion among the Jews were attended only with separation from words Xil^tiav w^oj^ieeiv tw ©£w, might (as Abp. Leighton observes) be synagofjue worship, and from familiar converse, (Luke vi, 22.) or, in rendered, offers an oblation or sacrifice to God. This intimates, as cases of greater guilt, with confiscation of goods and forfeiture of that excellent man glosses on the text, {Serin, xvii. p. 302.) that all their substance, (Ezra x. 8.) tlie highest kind of it was a capital " the servants of Christ should be considered not only as sheep for sentence, (Lev. xxvii. 29.) the execution of which, when regularly " the slaughter, but as sheep for the altar too." The ra^e of per- pronounced, was indeed an act of duty and obedience to God, while sccuting enemies, and, beyond all comparison, the murders cora- they had the power of life and death in their hands: but after it mitted by papal cruelty in the name of the Lord, in their lieca- was wrested from them, some might perhaps think it an act of very tombs of whole burnt-offerings, (if I may he allowed an expression acceptable piety and zeal, to attempt such executions, though at which falls so far short of the dreadful truth,) too justly illustrate the hazard of their own lives; (of which the forty conspirators the remark. But how God will resent the murder of his children against Paul do therefore so boldly avow a design, even to the upon his altar, the day when he makes inquisition for blood will high-priest, as if it were meritorious rather than criminal; Acts declare. xxiii. 14, 15.) And to sneh sort of facts these words of our Lord c ffe will convince the world.] So the word iXiy^a properly sig- may peculiarly relate. — Permit mo to digress so far as to add, that nifies. Compare John viii. 9, 46; I Cor. xiv. 24; Tit. i. 9; and I apprehend, in other cases, after they were thus disarmed of the Jam. ii. 9. — For the illustration of this and the following verses, power of life and death, tliey had (as T may elsewhere prove) a sec Archbishop Tillotson's irorks, Vol.111, p. 2H7 — 289. dependence upon the interposition of Providence to add that eflicacy d But you are not able to bear them now.] Those other things to to their censures, which their power, infringed as it w.is, could not which our Lord refets, might probably relate to the abrogation of give: in reference to which, this highest sentence of excommunica- the ceremonial law, to the doctrine of justification by faith, the tion was in the decline of their state called, ^naMema J/ara/i-aMfl, rejection of the Jews, the calling of the Gentiles, and the like; or a sentence which the I^ord would remarkably come to execute, wiiich might have given some offence to the disciples, till their though they themselves could not carry it ini:o effect. St. Paul remaining prejudices were removed. However, tlie prudence of therefore, with a peculiar beauty and propriety, (but never, so far' Clirist in this respect is an excellent pattern for ministers; and we as T can find, fully explained,) applies it to a crime not capable of had need to pray earnestly for the instructions and assistances of conviction before any human judges; even the want of a sincere love the Spirit of Gocl, that we may neither forget nor abuse it. to Christ, though under a christian profession. Sec 1 Cor. xvi. 22. REFLECTIONS ON THE ENDS FOR WHICH THE SPIRIT SHOULD BE SENT. 357 speak of himself: but what- commission, and, like a careless or unfaithful messenger, speak merely of himself; but, SECT. soever lie shall hear, that like a wise and good ambassador, whatsoever he shall hear and receive in c\va.xge,\that] 177. show you'tii'i^gsTo'^corae.''' "^"'H' ''"' W^^'^ ' ^'"'^ ^'^ ^^'"'^ ^'^"'^^ J'-'"" l^'».S'^ to come, as far as may be necessary to pre- pare and qualify you for the great work you shall be called to ; and will acquaint you with John future events, the prediction of which, as delivered by you, may be a lasting testimony ^^ '• 14 He shall glorify rae : to the truth of my gospel. And he shall indeed s:lorifi/ me in the most signal manner ; for ''^p'jfg',/^"''^ „°[J",'°„' for he •will take of mine, or of those doctrines which relate to me, and those benefits which *" ^^'^ ^ I procure and bestow, and icill reveal and shoxo [//] to ijou in the most clear and attractive 15 AH things that the light. And indeed all thins:s •whatsoever the Father hath are mine ; and therefore, to 15 Father hath are mine: express the wliolc system of evangelical truth, I said unto you, tliat he -will take of mine, IhaiT^take ^''of minef'and ^"^^ will show [//] to 7/ou ; since whatsoever he reveals to you in the name of God, may be shall show it unto you. called mine, as all truth proceeds from me, and all real goodness is my cause and interest in ^ the world. IMPROVEMENT. How great is the ignorance and folly of them that persecute their brethren in the name of the Lord, and kill his Ver. 2 dear children under the pretence of offering him an acceptable sacrifice ! Thus were the apostles treated by those that knew not the God for whom they professed all this burning zeal. Let us bless God that we are providentially 3 sheltered from those eliects of it which might otherwise bear so hard upon us ; and let us diligently watch over our hearts, that no irregular affections may work there, and no uncharitable sentiments be harboured. When, like the apostles, our hearts are filled with sorrow, let us be cautious that they may not be stupified by it, so that any call of 5, 6 duty should pass unheard, or any opportunity of religious advancement unimproved ; and let us not be indolent in our inquiries into the meaning of those dispensations wliich we do not understand ; but seriously consider whether we are not sorrowful" for that which is indeed designed for our advantage, and in the issue will be matter of re- 7 joicing to us. We hear to what purposes the Comforter was s-ent. His coming was designed in a peculiar manner for the ad- vantage of the apostles, and was of greater service to them than the continuance of Christ's presence with them in the body would have been, not only to support and comfort them under all their trials, but to acquaint them, with all necessary truth, and fully to instruct them in the mysteries of godliness. And he came also for the conviction 8 of an apostate world ; for the important errand he was sent upon was to awaken men's minds, and to convince 9 them of their own guilt, and of Christ's righteousness, and of that awful judgment which should be executed on the 10, 11 most inveterate of his enemies. Let us often think of the force of the Spirit's testimony to the truth of Christianity, and endeavour to understand it in all its extent. Let us bless God that the gospel and the character of his Son were thus vindicated ; and rejoice in the views of that complete conquest to which Satan is already adjudged. In the mean time, let us earnestly pray that the influences- of the Holy Spirit may be communicated to us in such 13 a manner that Christ may be glorified in us, and we in him <, and that the things of Christ may be taken and shown 14, 15 to us by that Spirit ; for it caa only be done by means of his influence and operations. -" ■ . ' .. SECTION CLXXVin. Our hord concludes his discourse laith assuring his disciples that his separation from them •would not be final, but that he -would still act in their favour as their Guardian, and make them finally victorious. John xvi. 16, to the end. John xvi. 16. A LITTLE while and ye OUR Lord continued and concluded this excellent discourse to his apostles, in words sECT. shall not see me ; and again, to the following purpose : It is yet but a little •while and you shall not see me any more 178. see'me! beciuse"f go^o'the Conversing with you upon earth, as I have hitherto done : and yet again, for your en , Father! couragement and comfort, I assure you that it is but a little •while longer, and you shall john jce ?/K^ again on terms of much greater advantage, because I go to the Father: plainly XVL intimating thereby, that he would be so mindful of their interest with the Father, as ere 16 , . , J. . . long to bring them to an eternal abode with him.'' disc'ipiesaraon^ themselves, But their thoughts were SO taken up alDout other things, and they had still such ex- 17 What is this that he saith pectations of his establishing an earthly kingdom, that, notwithstanding what he now had ye^shau 'not^sel ^met and ^aid was far from being obscure, they did not at first penetrate into the meaning of it : again, a little while and ye [some'] of his disciples therefore said one to another. What is this that he says to us ? A l'"o't*'^th™V i!"''',^**^^"^^ little -while and ye shall not see me ; and again, a little •while and ye shall see ine ; and Is They said therefore, why does he add, 'Bfcc/M^e J o-o to the Father ?^ They said therefore among themselves, 18 a Intimating — he would bring them to an eternal abode, &c.] understand him here. Perhaps it is recorded on purpose to show As this sense is evidently much more important, .so it appears to me what an alteration the Spirit afterwards made in them.— It is indeed more natural and easy than that of l\Ions. Le Clerc, who under- difficult to imagine what could perplex them, unless it were tliat stands it as if Christ had said, " Though I am quickly to disappear they suspected the words, A little while and ye shnll not see me ; and " from you, and be lodged in the grave, I shall soon come again, again, a little irhile ami ye sliall see me, i^'C. might intimate, that " and make you another visit of some length, before I return to after he had gone to the Father, and made a short stay there, he " heaven Vjy ray ascension." His going to the Father was no proof would come again, and settle an earthly kingdom ; and they might of this, though it strongly proved his ability to introduce them to desire an explication in this view. Accordingly, after having told the heavenly world. I apprehend that the whole joy which them, that though they were sorrowful, he would come and see Christ's resurrection and ascension, as connected with each other, them again after his resurrection, (ver. 20, 22.) and would introduce gave them, is referred to in the following discourse, which, there- them to a slate of comfortable converse with God by prayer, and a fore, is so paraphrased as to include all that is pertinent and joy of which none should deprive them, (ver. 23 — 27.) he adds, material in the explication above. (ver. 28.) that he was quickly leaving the world to go and reside with b ir/iat is tfiis that he says, S(c.] Tliere are so many passages in the Father, from whom he came ; thereby gently intimating that no the preceding parts of this discourse which relate to Christ's going temporal reign was to be expected. And if we suppose him thus to his Father, (chap. xiv. 2, 12, 28; xv. 26; xvi. 10.) that it is a. to have glanced obliquely at the most secret sentiments of their strange inst.ance of the dulness of the apostles, that they did not hearts, it will account for that confession of his omniscience which 358 WHATEVER THEY ASK IN HIS NAME, THE FATHER WILL GIVE IT. SECT W/iat is this little •whik of -which he speaks ? xce knoxv not what he says, and cannot Wl-.at is this that lie saith, . inn ' i_ J 1 * !,„ «,^r,v,o K,- if A little whilel we cannot 178. apprehend what he means b> It. , ,. . , „ , .i tell what he saith Now Jesus, as the secret workings of their hearts were open to his view, loiew tliat tliey 19 nqw jesus knew that U A little while ami ye shall not see me ; ana again,auwe -^;'— — - — ^.^;^.;;"- Surely, if you reflect a Httle, it cannot be very dithcult mtie while and ye shall see that. Verili/,vcrili/, I sai/ unto ?/ou, that ye shall shortly n^e} - ^ ^ \ • ' , 1 c c 1 ■ 20 Venlv, verily, I say lie on account of my being taken away h'om you,= and in „„(„ you, that ye shall JOHN were desirous to ask him for some farther explication of what he had been saying, and yet they ^l^^ ^^^^'''^'^l^ ^°^^l^ XVI. that tliey were afraid of being upbraided for the slowness of their apprehensions ; and there- ^"'' ^^^^ Itiqui"" "am'oITo' 19 fore kindly prevented then- confusion, a«f/*a;f/ to them. Do you enquire of one another yourselves of that 1 said concerning this which I said, A little while and ye shall not see me ; and again, a Httle H^'H^J^^l}^ l'^^ ^^J^fl while and ye shall see ?ne ? 20 to understand the meaning of weep and lament for a while . ^ . - - ^ -, ^ the mean time the world shall rejoice as if it had prevailed against me; and you shall be wee]) and lament, but t!:e sorrowful at the loss of my presence ; but then you have this to comfort you in that interval ^^j'^'/iVe sorr3u'l!iau"lur 21 of distress, that 7/our sorrow shall quickly be turned into joy. Just as a woman, when sorrow shall be tiuiied"into she is in labour, has great anxiety and sorrow because her hour of distress and agony J"^ ^ ^^^^^^ when she is is come ; but when she has brought fort !i a child, she forgets the pangs she endured, in travail, hath' sorrow, be- and re?nembereth [her'] tribulation no 7nore, for Jo// that a ?nan is born into the world, cause her hour is come: 22 and added to her family for its future honour and support. And so it is that you indeed .^"red'ofThe d,Hd! ''he rel have sorrow now, in expectation of the melancholy scene which is approaching ; and membcreth no more the it will very much increase your (roubk; to see me in a few hours more torrl away from yoWv^J'g^;^ j',,*j"J^|;'y^J'^Jfj^ ™'" with inhuman violence, hung as a malefactor on the cross, and buried in the grave : but 22 And ye now therefore when your hopes are at the lowest ebb, I will quickly see you again after my resurrection, liave^^soj-row^.^^but^i^iiu^ec and your hearts shall rejoice : and afterwards, though I am absent from you in the body, ^h"nTej'oiceTanryour jo^y yet i will fill you with such consolation by my Spirit, that no one shall, by any means no man taketh from you. whatever, (/<7J/7t'e ?/(?« of your joy, which shall sweetly mingle itself even with your heaviest afflictions.'^ 23 And in that day when I have sent the Comforter, ?/o?< shall not enquire any thing of 23 And in that day ye 7ne,^ nor be puzzled with much greater difficulties than those which I have now been ex- Ye",y/';'^ri!yri say'un^o plaining ; but divine illuminations shall be poured in upon you in the richest abundance, you, "vVlmtsoeVer \e. shall and with it the spirit of earnest and successful prayer ; for -eerily, -eerily, I say unto you, ^^^^^-^^ l\i^e" '"u"^ "'""^' and repeat the important assurance which I before gave you, (chap. xiv. 13, 14 ; and xv. '^ "' °'^^ ' ^"^■ 16.) JViat whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give [it'] you. 94 Hitherto ye have not been used to regard me under the character of a Mediator between 24 Hitherto h.ave ye God and man, and therefore have ash-d nothing in my name; but then, having received 'sk^nd yl"^sl,al? «ceWc', a fuller revelation of the doctrine of my intercession, you may come with a cheerful bold- that yom- joy may be full.' ness to the throne of grace, and freely asic whatever shall be necessary for you ; and depend upon it you shall receive such a liberal supply, that in the midst of all your temporal dis- couragements, your joy in God may still be maintained in its full height. 25 These weighty aiid important things I have often spoken to you in the obscurity of 2.5 These things have I jOflr«(^/«,whichhave appeared dark and mysterious to you; but the hour or time is co?ning ^J'J^l'^ the° tm," conleth when I will speak no more to you in parables or dark sayings, but I will tell you what when I shall no more ^^eaV. 2G relates to the Father with all openness and plainness of speech. In that clay you shall ^"j»^t|J ^show ^''o'^^'piainiv'U ask in my name, and shall present your supplications to the Father with an express ti,e Father. ^ ^- ^ acknowledgment of your dependence upon me for the success of your petitions ; and I do 2C At tliat day ye shall not merely say to you, that I will ask the Father on your account, and plead with him ^^^Jj \"nTo^yourthat I wiM for the acceptance "of your prayers, though you may assure yourselves that I shall always pray the Father for you-. 27 be ready to do it ; But I represent it not to you in such a view as if every favour were ob- 27 For the Father him- tained, and as it were extorted, merely by my importunity, from one who has himself no f if lf>^et'> yo"- because ye , „ , - . ^ ■' , , T ii i J ; T-' J/ 7 ■ !jr have loved me, ana have bc- regard for your happiness ; /yr, on the contrary, I assure you that ilic Jtat/ier himself neved that I came out from most tenderly loves you, and therefore will be ready to grant your requests, and to watch God. over you with paternal aflfection and care, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God, as the messenger of his grace to men ; and have accordingly relied upon me with such stedfastness, that yoit have ventured your all upon that belief. 28 And you have therein acted a very prudent and happy part ; for I indeed came out from 2S I came forth from (he the Father, and am come into the world to scatter a divine light upon if, and to conduct fi;'*'\"Vhr' aslilTrieaie men into the paths of life and peace : and now again, having despatched my errand, I am the world, ami go to the leaving the world, and am going back to the Father, where I shall keep my stated abode. Father. and whither I will shortly conduct you to a more glorious kingdom than you ever expected here. This is the sum of what I have been telling you, and was particularly my meaning immediately follows this 2Sth verse ; (ver. 29, 30.) the reason of attests his experience of its truth, when he says, As snrrovful, yd which would not appear merely from his discovery that they always rejoicing, (2 Cor. vi. 10.) and mentions his share in the doubted about something, which their countenances and whispers joy of christians as a most, important and sacred oath. (I Cor. might show. xv. 31.) c Ve shall weep and lament, &c.] AVhatever immediate refer- e I'ou sliall not inquire any ttiing of otp.] We render it ask ; once this may have to the sorrows of the apostles immediately on hut I thought it proper to make some distinction between ifuraa, the death of Christ, before his resurrectioM, I question not but it which properly signifies, to malce an inquiry, and airro, which is, /o includes all their subsequent aflliclions in the days of fasting, when present n request. See Dr. Calamy, On llie Trinity, \>. \bi. Yel the bridegroom was taken away from them, as it is elsewhere ex- I confe.ss the former is sometimes used almost in the same sense pressed in a parallel phrase, (Matt. ix. 15.) which must express with the latter ; (see Matt. xvi. 1.) and the word seems to have the much more than the abstinence of the one day he lay in the grave, same ambiguity with demand in English.— The argument some supposing (which is very possible) they had then but little relish have drawn from hence against praying to Christ, on the preceding to their food. Seep. 143. criticism, has no appearance of weight; and did ipvrxu signify /-» d Nn one shall deprive yon of your joi/.'] As this promise will be pray, would prove (if it proved any thing) that Paul lived, and for ever accomplished to all Christ's faithful servants, so it is Stephen died, in a very unwarrantable, and perhaps an idolatrous, observable how the apostle Paul, iu his more abundant afflictions, practice. HIS DISCIPLES WILL LEAVE HIM, BUT THE FATHER IS VVlTli HIM. 359 iQ what I said before, (ver. 16.) " Yet a little while and ye shall see me again, because I go sect. " to the Father." ~ - I'^S- 29 His disciples said uii- And his disciples, struck with the correspondence of what he said to what was secretly to iiim, Lo, now speakest passing in their own minds, said to him. Lord, behold, now thou speakest very plainly to john *''"" overb'^' ''"'^ *I'^^'"'^' US, and usest no parable or obscure form of expression ; so that we clearly understand thy X^'I- "°3rNow are we sure that meaning, and rejoice in it. And noxo -we hioxv by this farther token, even thy discernmg 30 thou 'knowest all things, our inmost doubts on this head, that thou knov:<;st all things, and hast no need that amj '"a^n should a°k th« ■ "by o"c should ask tliec any particular questions, to inform thee of those scruples which thou th!" «!f believe that thou seest when first rising in the mind : on this account therefore -ice firmly believe that thou earnest forth from God. earnest out from God. 31 Jesus answered them, Jtsus aiisuered them, Do you noto at length believe? and do you apprehend your 31 Do ve now believe \ f^jjj^ ^^ ^g g^ ^^^^ ^\^^^ nothing shall be able any more to shake it ? Let me advise you not to be too confident ; for 1 assure you, that m a very little time you will be found to act as if you had not any faith in me : pray, therefore, that God would fortify you against 32 Behold, the hour those trials of which I have warned you once and again. For behold, the hour is coming, 32 Cometh, yea, is now come, ^^^^^ jg g^ j^gj^j. j^^ hand that I may even say it is now come, that you shall all be scattered ever/'man\o his 'o«"! and and dispersed, and ever// one of you return to your own habitations and employments, or shall leave me alone :' and otherwise shift for yourselves as well as you can; audio consult your own security, you JhekTherfswmrme""'' ^/^fl// flee away ^.nd leave me alone ; hxA yet I am ;/o/, properly speaking, alone, for the Father is with 7ne, and he will comfort and support me in the absence of all humaa friends. . . „„ 33 These things I have These things have I spoken thus largely to you, that whatever difficulties may arise in 33 *rmt"luha%^e''"M«''*lnt'he life, having been thus warned, and furnished with such consolations as these, you might woddVe shaU have'^tribuir. have lasting peace and serenity of soul by the exercise of your faith in me. In the world tion: but be of good cheer, indeed nou sltall have and must expect a^ict ion ; but be co^^rfl^g-eo^w and cheerful m I have overcome the world, y^^, gQ^ibat, for I have myself overcome the world; and, being possessed of a power infinitely superior to it, I will make you partakers in my victory over all its terrors and its snares. IMPROVEMENT. We are, perhaps, often regretting the absence of Christ, and looking back with emulation on the happier lot of Ver. 16 those who conversed with him on earth in the days of his flesh : but if we are true believers in an unseen Jesus, it is but a little while and we shall also see him ; for he is gone to the Father, and wiM so successfully negotiate our afiairs there, that whatever our present difficulties and sorrows are, they shall end more happily than those of a woman who, after all the pangs and throes of her labour, through the merciful interposition of Divine Providence, is 21 made the joyful mother of a living child. In the mean time, we have surely no reason to envy the world its joys and triumphs : alas, its season of weeping 20 will quickly come ! But our lamentations are soon to be turned into songs of praise, and our hearts to be filled with 22 that solid, sacred, and peculiar joy, which, being the gift of Christ, can never be taken away. While we are in this state of distance and darkness, let us rejoice that we have access to the throne of grace 23 through the prevailing name of Christ. Let us come hither with holy courage and confidence, and ask that we may 24 receive, and so our joy may be full. With what pleasure may we daily renew our visits to that throne before which 26, 27 Jesus stands as an intercessor; to that throne which is possessed by the Father, who himself loveth us, and answers with readiness and delight those petitions which are thus recommended ! May our faith in Christ, and our love to him, be still on the increasing hand ; and our supplications will be more and more acceptable to him whose loving- kindntss is better than life! (Psal Ixiii. 3.) Surely we diall be frequently reviewing these gracious discourses which Christ has bequeathed us as an invaluable 33 legacy. May they dwell with us in all our solitude, and comfort us in every distress ! We shall have no reason to wonder if human triendshio be sometimes false, and always precarious ; the disciples of Christ were scattered in the 32 day of his extremity, and 'left him alone, when they were under the highest obligations to have adhered to him with the most inviolable fidelity. jMay we but be able like him to say, that our Father is with us ; and that delight- ful converse with God which we may enjoy in our most solitary moments, will be a thousand times more than an 33 equivalent for whatsoever we lose in the creatures. In the world we must indeed have tribulation ; and he that has appointed it for us knows that it is fit we should; but since Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, who was made perfect through sutferings, has overcome the world, and disarmed it, let us seek that peace which he has esta- blished, and press on with a cheerful assurance that the least of his followers shall share in the honours and benefits of his victory. SECTION CLXXIX. Christ offers up a so'cmn prayer to the Father, that he himself might he glorified, and that those who were given him might be kept through his name. John xvii. 1 — 12. JoHNxvii. 1. John xvii. 1. These words spake Jesus; QUR Lord Jesus spake these words which are recorded in the preceding chapters, and SECT. ven 'and'^sah'f Se°r '\he then lifted up his eyes to heaven, and poured out a most atiectionate and important prayer 179. hour is come; glorify thy to his Father ; an excellent model of his intercession in heaven, and a most comfortable and edifying representation of his temper, both towards God and his people. And, that it JOHX might more effectually answer these great ends, he uttered it with an audible voice, and A.\n. said, O my heavenly Father, the appointed and expected hour is come in which I am to enter on my sufferings, and to complete the work for which I came into the world ; and 360 CHRIST PRAYS TO THE FATHER FOR THOSE WHOM HE HAS GIVEN HIM. . SECT, therefore I pray that thou wouldst glorify me thi/ Son, in those signal appearances for my Son, that tliy Son may also 179. honour and support in death, in my recovery from the grave, and mine ascension into hea- s'^'iy thee • ven, wJiich thou hast promised to me, and which I know tiiat thou wilt punctually fulfil ;* jOHiv that thy Son also, in the whole series of his conduct, both in this world, and in that to •• XVII. which he is now returning, ma>/ successfully g'/or//)/ thcc, and accomplish the purposes of 2 thy saving love; According an thou hast, hy i\ie engagements of thy covenant, given 2 As thou hast given him him that poivcr over all Jlcsh, that absolute dominion overall the human race, which he po^^er over all iicsh, tliat he will ere long receive and exert ; that he may give eternal life to all that thou hast given as many as thou liast --iven 3 him by that covenant to be redeemed and saved. And this is the sure way to tliat eternal '"!>'• life ;^ even that they may know thee, who art the only living and true God, in opposition ^x\ti they m'iVht know thee to the idols they have ignorantly worshipped ; and may know also and believe in Jesus tiie only true God, and Je- Christ, ivhom thou hast sod into the world as the only Saviour : and to this therefore thou '^"^^'"''st wliom thou liast wilt bring them, and wilt make use of what I have already done, and shall yet farther do, as the nieans of effecting it. 4 It is with unutterable pleasure that I now reflect upon it, O my Father and my God, that 4 I have glorified thee on I have eminently glorified thee on earth during the who e of my abode here ; that I have ^'Z*^ earth: I have finished 1 /■ • 1 f 1 1 1 1 ■ • 11 1 T 1 -1 1 1 1 tlie work which thou gavest been laitliiul to the trust that was reposed ra mo, in all that 1 have said and done through the me to do. course of my ministry ; and greatly do I rejoice that I have now gone so far as to be just upon the point of having _y?«/6'//rf/, by my sufferings and death, the important work which 5 thou gavest me to do. And now therefore, O my heavenly Father, do thou glorify in-c h And now, o Father, with thine own self, with the original .o'/or?/ which 1 had with thee before' the' world f|"/,''^eu''wi'tir tl'*'' 'k'"''" was created,*^ and which for the salvation of thy people I have for a while laid aside, that I which ^ had wi'th thee Zl- might clothe myself in this humble form. fore ti>e world was. 6 / have manifested thy name, and revealed the glory of thy power and grace, to the c I have manifested thv men whom thou gavest vie out of the world : they were originally thine, the creatures of 'i*™^ ""'° ""^ "i^" whicfi thine hand, and the happy objects of thy sovereign choice f and in consequence of thy wo^ndf th^neThey were and gracious purposes thou gavest them to ?«e, that they might be instructed and sanctified, thou gavest them me;' and and formed for the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world : and&nch *''*'y ''''^^ *""''* *^''y ^^°'''^- accordingly has been the influence of my doctrine upon their hearts, that they have readily 7 embraced it, and hitherto have resolutely kept and retained thy word and gospel. And, 7 Now they have known notwithstanding the mean appearance I have made to an eye of sense, their faith has owned *|j''* "." *'"■?&« whatsoever me through this dark cloud : and even 7iow, in this my humble state, they have perceived thee. '^' ^^^ " and known that all things whatsoever which I have said and done, and all the credentials which thou hast in fact given me, and which so many overlook, are indeed of thee ; and that I am truly what I profess myself to be, a Divine Messenger to the children of men, and 8 the Saviour that was promised to come into the world. This plainly appears to be their 8 For I have given unto firm persuasion ; for the words which thou gavest to me, I have given to them, I have iavest'mr°and"tlie'' h^v" revealed already much of my gospel to them, and begun to deposit it in their hands ; and in received them, and have the midst of great discouragement and opposition, giving attention to the words I spake, know_n surely that I came fhey have received [them'] with faith and love, aiut made it manifest, by their embracing ".ave ™eiieveT' that tl'ou and adhering to my doctrine, that they have known in truth the divinity of my mission, so didst send me. as to be fully satisfied in their own minds that I came out from thee with a commission to reveal thy will ; (compare John xvi. 27, 30.) and while I have been rejected by an ungrateful world, they have regarded me as the true Messiah, and have shown they have 9 believed that thou didst indeed send tne on the great errand of their salvation. / therefore 9 I pray for them ; I pray pray for them who have attended me as my apostles, and for all those who are, or shall be, ",°* *^"'', W'^ world, but for brought to the same faith and the same temper, that thou wouldst support them under every me, tor they a"e thiue.^'^*" trial, and wouldst regard them in a peculiar manner as the objects of thy care ; I pray not thus/y?" the unbelieving world, but for those whom thou hast graciously g-Zre?? w/r, and I am confident that my prayer for them shall not be in vain ; for they are not only mine, 10 but thine too, chosen by thy grace, and devoted to thy service. And indeed all mine lo And all mine are thine, interests and my people are thine, and thine are also ^nine ; and while thy glory is ^^^ J;}""^ ^''? ""'"^' '""' ^ advanced by their establishment, / likewise am, and finally shall be, glorified in them .-so ' ■ near and intimate is our relation to each other ; so sincere and active thy paternal afiection to me, O my heavenly Father, and my filial duty to thee. 11 And noxo I am io QQXiWxmQ. no longer in the world: but these my faithful servants are n And now i am no more yet in the world, and some of them are to remain a considerable time in it, exposed to '" *'"^ world, but these arc various hardships and dangers : whereas I (delightful thought !) shall soon have done with a C'lorifij till/ Son.'] All the circumstances of glory attending the to remind Ills apostles of the importance of their office; as they sufteriugs of Christ ; as, the appeaianre of the angel to him in the were sent to spread that knowledge which he here calls eternal life, garden, his striking down to the ground those that came to appre- because the eternal happiness of men depends upon it. hend him, his curing the ear of Malchus, his good confession before c The gtoTtj whicli I liad loHh thee before the world was.} To .sup- Pilate, his extorting from that unj-Jst judge a testimony of his in- pose, wjtii the Socinians, that this refers only to that glory which nocence, the dream of Pilate's wife, the conversion of the penitent God intended for him in his decrees ; or, with Mr. Fleming, that robber, the astonishing constellation of virtues and graces which it refers only, or chiefly, to his being clothed with the shekinah, shone so bright in Christ's dying behaviour, the supernatural dark- seems to sink and contract the sense far short of its genuine pur- ness, and all the other prodigies that attended his death; as well pose. 8ee Fleming's Chrislology, Vol. II. p. liT ; and Whitby, iiiloc. as his resurrection and ascension, and exaltation at (Jod's right d They were originally thine.'] There can surely be no reason to hand, and the mission of the Holy Spirit, and the consequent imagine from the sacred story, that the apostles were chosen to .success of the gospel, are all to be looked upon as an answer to this their great office on account of any extraordinary degrees of piety l>iayer. and virtue, previous to their being called to follow Christ. So that b Tins is eternal life.'] Christ might insert this clause (though I can see no natural sense of these words but what I have e.xprcsseil neither a petition, plea, nor any other part of prayer,) on purpose in the paraphrase. Compare John xv. 16. p. 35'!. REFLECTIONS ON CHRIST'S PRAYER TO THE FATHEIl. 301 io tbe wortd, ami I come to this weaiy wilderness, and am coming to thee, who art the centre of my soul, and the SECT, thee. Hniv Fatiier, keep supreme oljiect of my complacency and desire.'^ But while I am separated from these my 179. Ihrwhom'u'our.sVgre.'i servaut-s, so dear to thee and to me, vouchsafe, O hah, Father, to keep these whom thou rae, that they may be one, /last thyself trivcii me, and let tlieiu be preserved through thif name ; let them be kept in John as »■« "'■<'• safety by thy mighty power, and be established in the faith "by a constant regard to thee, ^^"• and a sense of thy presence impressed on their hearts ■, that they may still continue united to 1 1 12 While I was with tliem us, and to each other, in cordial atfection, and may he one even as we [ari^ one. Do not, 12 in th*' 'naufe ■' tho'.Vthat ^ gracious Father, forget these my friends, in whose cause I have so affectionately engaged; thou'Vvest me^T have for tliou art witness, that xohile I was with them_ in the "^orld,! kept them in thy name. e.xcepti , . , . . _ . in a lower sense was indeed given to me, but never, like the rest, was taken under my special care, but is left to fall into deserved ruin.s that the scripture might be fulfilled which foretold it as the dreadful consequence of his treachery, (See Psal. cix. 8. et seq. compared with Acts i. 20.) IMPROVEMENT. With pleasure let us behold our gracious Redeemer in this posture of humble adoration, lifting up his eyes to Ver. 1 God with solemn devotion, and pouring out his pious and benevolent spirit in those divine breathings which are here recorded. From his example, let us learn to pray ; and from his intercession, to hope. We know that the Father hearith him always; (John xi. 42.) and singularly did he manifest that he heard him now, by all that bright assemblage of glories which shone around him in the concluding scenes of his abode on earth, and in those that attended his removal from it : and in all this too did the blessed Jesus manifest his zeal for the glory of the Father. May we emulate that holy temper ! and when we pray even for our own consummate happiness in the heavenly world, may we consider it as ultimately centring in the honour and service of God ! Well may we be encouraged to hope for that happiness, since Christ has an universal power over all flesh, and 2* over spirits superior to those that dwell in flesh ; with which he is invested on purpose that he may accomplish the salvation of those whom the Father has given him, even of every true believer. We see the certain way to 3 this life, even the knowledge of God in Christ : let us bless God that we enjoy so many opporhmities of obtain- ing it : and earnestly pray that he who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, would by his divine rays shine forth on our benighted souls ; and so animate us in his service, from the noblest principles of gratitude and love, that we may be able to say, even in our dying moments, with somewhat of the same spirit which our Lord expressed. Father, we have glorified thee on earth, and finished the work which thou gavcst us to do; 4 and therefore, being no more in the world, we come unto thee. Then may we hope, in our humble degree, to 1 1 partake of that glory to which he is returned, and to sit down with him on his victorious throne. In the mean time, may our faith see and our zeal confess Christ ! May we acknowledge his divine authority, as 7, 8 having come out from the Father ! May we be united in love to him, and to each other ; and be kept by that divine M-ord which is the security of his people, that none of them shall be lost ! Let the son of perdition, who 12 perished even from among the apostles, teach us an humble jealousy over our own hearts, whatever external privileges we enjoy; and engage us to maintain a continual regard to hi/n who is a hie to keep us from. falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy ! (Jude, ver. 24.) SECTION CLXXX. Our Lord concludes his prayer, recommending his apostles, and succeeding christians in every future age, to the favourable regards of his Father; and praying for their union on earth and glory in heaven. John xvii. 13, to the end. JoHNxvii. 13. John xvii. 13. And now come I to thee, OUR Lord proceeded in that excellent address to God which he had begun in the former and these thmgs I speak in sg^tion, in such words as these: And now, O my heavenly Father, I come unto thee jq^n with unutterable pleasure ; and these {words'] of this prayer I speak thus openly in the xvil.i3. e And I am coming to thee.'] It is very plain that this clause trees ; and Rev. xxi. 27. that there are some of tlie most abomi- could not be intended as an additional argument to introduce the nable of mankind whose names are written in the book of hfe. See following petition ; for Christ's coming to the Father was the great also Matt. v. 13 ; xii. 4 ; 1 Cor. vii. 5 ; 2 Cor. xii. 13. In all winch security of his people : but it seems rather to be a short reflection places, as well as the preceding, it is plain that si ^n is not used on that dear subject, so familiar to his mind, with which he for a strictly as an exceptive particle ; and that if it has any thing like moment refreshed himself in the course of this humble and pa- that force, it is only to intimate that what it introduces may, in a thctic address. This I have endeavoured to represent in the para- less proper sense, be reduced to the number of things mentioned phrase. before it. And this I take to be its precise sense in this text ; for f Unless it he tlie son of perdition.'] I am surprised that so many which reason I render it [unless it be,] though in some of the for- very learned divines, and amongst the rest, even Bishop Burnet him- mer instances it has not so much signification as that, but is used self, (whom I cannot mention but with the greatest honour,) should with as great a liberty as [except] by Milton, when he says of Satan, so roundly infer from these words, that the giving to Christ, in the preceding clauses, cannot imply an election to glory, since it is God and his Son frrf;);", here intimated that Judas, who perished, was given as weli as the Created thing nought valued he nor shunn d. rest. (See Burnet, On the Articles, p. 160.) The objection to a •■ t i a TV, mere English reader might appear unanswerable: iiut those so Thus likewise tav mh is used. Gal. ii. 1(5; John v. 19; xv. 4.— -Ine conversant in the original might easily have observed, that if this words before us might indeed refer to the apostles, (compare Johu text will prove that Judas was in the number of those given to xviii. 8, 9. ? 183.) but I do not see any necessity of confining them Christ, in the same manner, Luke iv. 26, 27. will prove, directly to Christ's care for their preservation, for the reason given contrary to plain fact and the whole tenor of the argument, that above. the woman of Sarepta was a widow in Israel, and Naaman the Sy- g Is left to fall into deserved rum.] The son of perdition signifies riau a leper in Israel too ; John iii. 13. that Christ ascended into one who deseriedhj perishes ; as a .mn of death, (2 Sam. xii. 5.) chil- heaven before he began his ministry ; Rev. ix. 4. that the men who dren of licit, (Matt, xxiii. 15.) and children of irrath, (Eph. ii. 3.) sig- had not the seal of God in their foreheads, were either grass or nify persons /i/s/Zy obnoxious to death, licll, and wrath. SECT. 180. 362 " CHRIST PRAYS FOR HIS APOSTLES AND ALL BELIEVERS. SECT, hearing of my disciples, while I as yet am with them in the world, that they who now ihe world, that they might 180. hear nie, and those too for whose benefit it may be aftenvards recorded, ?;/(?^ /zai'e ?«?/yoj/, J"";'^ my joy fulfilled Id even that holy consolation of which I am the Author and Support, abundantly /M//?//ff/ in JOHN them. And it indeed becomes me to be thus solicitous for their comfort and happiness ; ^^^ have given them thy XVII. for / have given them thy word, which they have faithfully received : and in consequence hated' them, because they 14 of this, though they are indeed the greatest friends and benefactors of mankind, yet the are not of the world, even world has ungratefully hated them, and will be sure to persecute them with the utmost 'is I am not of the world, violence, because they are not of the same spirit with the world, even as I myself, in whose cause they are engaged, am not of the world, so as to confonn to it in my temper 15 and conduct. Since therefore for my sake they stand thus exposed to hatred, injury, and '^■V^''^^ "°* '^"^ '''"" oppression, I most affectionately bear them on my heart before thee, O my heavenly Fa- the"woiid* hut *that° thou ther I yet I do not pray that thou shouldst take them immediately out of the world, shouldst keep them from bad as it is ; since I know the purposes of thy glory, and their own improvement and ^'"^ '^*''- usefulness, will require their longer continuance in it; but I pray that thou wouldst pre- serve them from being either corrupted or overwhelmed by the evil which perpetually ^ 16 surrounds them, and that the subtlety and malice of the evil one may never overpower lo They are not of the them. For I well know that they will meet with many trials which will bear hard upon t^e world. them, because (as I have said) they are not of a temper suited to the commi)n sentiments and practice of the world, even as I, their Lord and Master, am not of the world. 17 To arm them therefore against so formidable an attack, and to maintain and cultivate 17 Sanctify them through this holy temper in them, I would entreat thee to complete the work that is so happily }l.\[tii!'""' ' "'^ ^""'^ ** begun, and to sanctify them more and more through thy truth f and as thy word and gospel which they are to preach is the great system of sanctifying truth, whereby real holiness is to be for ever promoted, may these thy servants feel more and more of its vital 18 energy on their own souls, to qualify them for the office of dispensing it to others ! For . '« As thou hast sent me . as thou hast sent me into the world to be the messenger of this grace, I also have sent i"a°s<)' sent' th'em*^'iaW the thejn into the world on. the same errand, to publish and proclaim what they have learned world. 19 of me. And it is in some measure for their sakes, as well as for the salvation of all my is And for their sakes people, that / now sanctify myself, or set myself apart as an offering holy to thee 5 that Jiso^'^nn^rht^tTe'^'sauctifieS they also, taught by my example, and animated by my dying love, 7nay be truly sancti- through Uie truth. ! fied through the truth, and completely fitted for their important office. 20 And in presenting these petitions for them, I am not chiefly influenced by the personal 20 Neitl-.er pray I for , attachment of private friendship, but I consider them under their public character ; nor do aiso^whicirshall'be'Heve^on I pray for e//o/f/ and contemplate, with everlasting, delightful ad- sect. the world. miration, nn/ glory ivhich thou hast by thy sure appointment given 77ie,^ and art just 180. ready to bestow; for thou hast loved me before the foundation of the ivorld, and didst- then decree for me that mediatorial kingdom with which thou art now about to invest me. joiin 25 O righteous Father, And herein thou wilt not only be merciiul, but faithful and just too, as it is congruous XVII. the world hath not known ^^ {[jQgg essential perfections of tiiy nature, O most rio-hteous Fa liter, thus to di'siinguish ^5 thee; but I have known i- ii mu r i /■ 1 t)Oth by my word and by my Spirit : that their graces and services may be loved nie may be in them, more eminent; that even the love with which thou hast loved me may be dwelling in *" '" "^'"' them ; and that J also may take up my constant residence in them, by m>y spiritual presence, when my bodily presence is removed, as it will quickly be. IMPROVEMENT. We have indeed perpetual reason of thankfulness that our gracious Redeemer spake these words in the world, Ver. 13 and recalled them thus exactly to the memory of his beloved disciples so many years after, that we in the most distant ages of his church might, by reviewing them, have his joy fulfilled in us. Let us with pleasure recollect that those petitions which Christ offered for his apostles were expressly declared not to be intended for them alone, but, so far as circumstances should agree, for all that should believe on him through their word, and there- 20 fore for us, if v/e are real and not merely nominal believers. For us doth he still pray, not that God would imme- diately take us out of the world, though for his sake v/e may be continually liated and injured in it, but that he 14, 15 would keep us from the evil to which we are here exposed. For our sakes did he also sanctify himself as a pro- pitiation for our sins, that we might also be sanctified through the truth ; for he gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 19 (Tit. ii. 14.; May these wise and gracious purposes of his love be fulfilled in us ! May we be one with each other, and with 21 him ! May that piety and charity appear in the whole series of our temper and behaviour, which may evidently show the force of our religion, and reflect a conspicuous honour upon the great Founder of it ! And may all concur to train us up for that complete felicity above, in which all the purposes of his love centre .' It is the declared will of Christ, and let us never forget it, that his people should be with him where he is, that they may behold his glory which the Father has given him. And there is apparent congruity, as well as mercy, in the appointment, 24 that where he is, there also should his servants and members be. The blessed angels do undoubtedly behold the glory of Christ with perpetual congratulation and delight ; but how much more reason shall we have to rejoice and triumph in it, when we consider it as the glory of one in our own nature, the glory of our Redeemer and our Friend, and the pledge and security of our own everlasting happiness ! Let us often be lifting up the eyes of our faith towards it, and let us breathe after heaven in this view ! in the mean time,- with all due zeal, and love, and 25 duty, acknowledging the Father and the Son, that the joys of heaven may be anticipated in our souls, while the love of God is shed abroad there by his Spirit, which is given unto us : even something of that love wherewith 26 he has loved Jesus our incarnate Head. T t i -. f C r i »>> -t/t) ojf. av>i > 7 ■ i.c <> o ' SECTION CLXXXI. Jesus retires from the guest-chamber to the garden' of Gethsemane, and in his way thither renews the caution which he had given to Peter and the rest of the apostles. Matt. xxvi. 31 — 35. Mark xiv. 27 — 31. Luke xxii. 39. John xviii. 1. John xviii. 1. John xviii. !. [AnD] when Jesus had y4 .iVD Ki//fw .7f5?<.? /if?^ .s/wXe/i Mcse u'orr/s that are mentioned above, and had Concluded SECT. rcaml°out"?nd] w'enUortlf '"^ discourse with this excellent prayer to his heavenly Father, he came out from the guest- 181. [as he was wont,] with his chamber where he had Celebrated the passover, ««("/, «fcorr///?g /'o his usual c«5^;/7 every night, disciples over the brook xoent forth with his disciplcs ont of the city, and crossing'orer the brook Kcdron, which JOHN Olive's,'] where%™''a"^ar- l^Y ^^ the east side of Jerusalem, he came to the foot of the inount of Olives, where there X\HI. den, into the whirh^ he was a garden belonging to one of his friends, into which he had often been used to re- [al*s"foiiJwcd ilim.] ' [Luke ^^''^ '■> ^°^ though he knew his enemies would come this very night to seize him there, yet xxii. 39.] he entered into it,^ and his disciples also followed him. Matt. xxvi. 31. Then Then, as they were on the way thither, Jesus sai/s to them. Notwithstanding all the matt. ye''shaT'hroffended bel ^^'t^ YOU have professed in me, and all the affection which I know you bear me, yet not XXVI. cause of me this night: for only One or another, but all of you, shall be offended because of ine this very night ; 31 and the hour is just at hand, when you will be so terrified by the distress befalling me in your presence, that it shall prove the sad occasion of your falling into sin, by your forsaking d My glory which thou hast given me.'\ This may express the a A gnrden into which he entered.'] Christ probably retired into 1-ustre and beauty of Christ's personal appearance, the adoration such a private place, not only for the advantage of secret devotion, paid him by the inhabitants of flie upper world, and the adminis- which perhaps he might not so well have enjoyed in the city at tration of the affairs of that providential kingdom which it is his so public a time, but also that the people might not be alarmed at high office to preside over. his being apprehended, nor in the first sallies of their zeal and e Though the world has not known thee.'] That xj:i here signifies rage, attempt to rescue him in a tumultuous manner. — Kedron was, though, the connexion plainly demonstrates; and Eisner produces as its name signifies, a diirk shady vale between Jerusalem and the many instances of it : ( Oliserv. Vol. I. p. 334.) To which the follow- mount of Olives, through which a little brook ran, which took its ing instances from the sacred writers may be added, among many name from the place. (Compare 2 Sam. xv. 23.) others: Luke xviii. 7; John xiv, 30; Acts vii. 5; and Heb. iii. 6. 364 REFLECTIONS ON A RESOLUTION TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST. SECT, me, your Master and Friend, and leaving me in the hands of the enemy : for it is •written, it is written, I will smite 181. (Zech. xiii. 7.) " I unit smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scat- [,f^,fefl'''k""i'"llVT**''^'"'' " tered :" I am that Shepherd, and you the timorous sheep, to be dispersed by the assault "d abroad. ^[Mark'^xTv! 2"] MATT, made on your Keeper. But, as it is afterwards added there by way of encouragement, 32 But after [that] i am XXVI. « J ^[\\ turn my hand upon the little ones," to reduce and recover them from this dissi- J^^^g" *you' Lto" Galilee" '^^ pated state ; so likewise I assure you for your comfort, that after I am risen from the dead, [Mark xiv. 28.] as I shall soon be, I will go before you into Galilee, and there give, not only you my apostles, but all my disciples, the amplest demonstration both of my resurrection and my love, whereby your hearts shall be established in the firmest adherence to me : and upon this he named the particular place where he would meet them.'' .33 Hut Peter was so grieved to hear him say that they should all be offended, and be scat- 33 [But] I'eter answered tered from him, that, with a confident assurance of his own stedfastness, he answered and ■''!"• ^^'"^ ""^o him, Tliough said to him, My dearest Lord, there is no trial can surmount the love I bear thee! and because of 'thee, *[yeti"wni whatsoever danger or distress may be at hand, I am absolutely resolved and determined I never be oflVudedl. [Mark upon it, that though every one besides, and even all the rest of these my brethren, should "'*' ^^■-' he offended because of the calamities that are coming on thee, and upon this account should be induced to forsake thee, i/et will I never be offended, but will follow thee even to the last. 34 Jesus said to him, Peter, this confidence does not at all become thee, especially after 34 Jesus said unto him, the warning I gave thee at supper f but I repeat it again, and verihi I say unto thee, ^«;''i'y| say unto thee, That That to-day, yea, \exen'\ this very night which is now begun, before the eock crow night, before the cock crow twice, thou shall repeatedly deny me in the most shameful manner ; for after thou hast [twice,] thou slialt deny heard it once, thou shaft not be adinonished, but before it crow a second time, thou shalt '"'^ ""■'^' '- ^^ ^'^' ■'"-' repeat the fault 5 nay, thou shalt do it thrice, and every time with new aggravations. 35 But Peter upon this, instead of being awakened to a humble sense of his own weak- 3.5 [But] Peter [spake ness, spake the more easerlii, \and?i with a mixture of grief and indignation at the "'-j """l*^ veheniently, audi tliought, said to him. Lord, no danger whatsoever can induce me to be guilty of such should die with thee, yet baseness; for such is the sincerity and strength of my affection to thee, that though I ^*|" I not deny thee [in any should die with thee on the place, yet I will not deny thee in any jnanner or degree,'' alT the, dis'cTpks '^ ^M^rk but woutd a thousand times rather fall by thy side in a brave and resolute defence, than so xiv. 31.] much as seem to neglect thee, or in any respect to fail of the strictest and most affectionate fidelity. Likewise also said all the disciples, with equal sincerity of present intention, though neitlier be nor they had courage enough to abide by that resolution. Jesus there- fore insisted no farther on the matter, but left them to be taught by the event. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 31 So feeble is the heart of man, and yet so ready to trust to its own strength ! So gracious is the Lord Jesus 32 Christ, that great Shepherd and Bishop of souls, who gave himself to be smitten for his flock when they had for- saken liim ; and then returning, sought them out again, and fed them in richer pas^tures than before ! How reasonable is it that our hearts should be fixed in the most inflexible rcsolulion for his service ! How fit 35 that we should every one of us say, with the utmost determination of soul, Lord, though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee ! For how could death wear a more graceful or a more pleasing form, than when it met us close by our Saviour's side, and came as the seal of our fidelity to him ? Surely this is the language of many of our hearts before him, especially when warmed and animated by a sense of his dying love to us. Yet let us not be high-minded ; for Peter, after this declaration, denied his Master ; and 34, 35 the same night in which they had protested they would never leave him, all the disciples forsocJc him and fed. (Matt. xxvi. 56.) Nor, on the other hand, let the view of that frailty discourage, though it ought to caution, us; for the time came when each of them behaved as they here spoke ; and they who in his very presence acted so weak a part, through the influences of his strengthening Spirit, resisted unto blood, and loved not their lives unto the death, for the testimony of Jesus. (Rev. xii. 11.) b lie named the particular place where he would meet them.] find any way of forming them all harmoniously into one compound An appointment to meet in so large a region as Galilee would with- text, without such a supposition. out this have been of very little use ; and Matt, xxviii. 10. (5 202.) d Spake the more eagerly, — I icill not deny thee in any manner or expressly declares such an appointment. We do not know the degree,] Ex irepMiov ixiyt iU(x\>.sv,—(iv /un ai a-na^vn^e/j-ctt. I think the exact place, but we there learn from Matthew, it was a certain energy of these original expressions cannot be reached in a version : mountain: probably it might be near the sea of Tiberias ; not only I have therefore attempted it in the paraphrase: and must ob- because we find Christ on the borders of that sea after his resur- serve, tliat if Mark's gospel was reviewed by Peter, as the ancients rection, (John xxi. 1. 5 200.) but also because, as he had resided say, (and particularly Clemens Alexandrinus, as quoted by Euse- there longer than any where else, he had, no doubt, the greatest biiis, Hist. Kccles. 'lili. ii. cap. 15. on which see Dr. Lardner's number of his disciples thereabouts; and it lay pretty near the Credihility, part ii. Vol. II. chap. 22. \ h.) it is peculiarly worth centre of his chief circuits, and therefore must be most convenient, our notice, that the aggravations attending Peter's denial of our especially for those beyond Jordan, where many had of late be- Lord should be more strongly represented by Mark than by any lieved in him. See John x. 10-42. ? 1.34. other Evangelist ; which, in that case, probably was clone by his c After the warning I gave thee at supper.] See Luke xxii. 34; own particular direction, and may be regarded as a genuine proof and John xiii. 38. p. 344. I persuade myself that an attentive of his deep humiliation and penitence. Compare Mark xiv. G6— 72. comparison of those texts with these before us in Matthew and with Matt. xxvi. 6i>— 75; Luke xxii. 54—62; and John xviii, Mark, will convince the reader that these admonitions were first 25 — 27. \ 184. given at the table, and now repeated as they went out: nor can I CHRIST'S AGONY IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE. 365 SECTION CLXXXII. Jesus enters into the garden of Gethsernane, and falls into his agoni/ there; during which his disciples fall asleep, fur which he gently reproves them, and -warns them of the enemies" approach. Matt. xxvi. 3G — 46. Mark xvi. 32—42. Luke xxii. 40—46. MATT. xxvi. 36. Matt. xxvi. 36. THEXcoraeih Jesus will) ThEN, after this discouise with his disciples, Jesus comes with them to the place we sECT. tiiem unto a place called j^g^tioned above, which was called Qethsemane, as being a very pleasant and fertile 182. Getlisemane ; ami llukc, ,77 ■ 1 • , , ^i » • 1 j; / uii u wlu'ii he was at the place, garden,* and when he was arrived just at the entrance into the place whither he was he] saiih unto [his] disci- ^,gg^ ^q retire, he saj/s to eight of his disciples. Sit t/e down here a while, and obser\'e m.\tt. glTandpray yonder,^'^[Mark what passes abroad, while I go and praij in yonder retirement. XXM. xiv. 32. L'uke xxii. 40.] _^;j^ as this was a very extraordinary passage of his life, he took along with him Peter, 37 Peur^and''thetwo'io.'s'^f ««^ i'i<^ ^^'o ^^ns of Zcbedcc, Jamcs and John, who had been witnesses of his transfigur- Zebed'ee, [James and John,] ation, and were now chosen by him to be witnesses of his agony. And as he went on and began to he sorrowful, ^-^^ fj^g^., towards a more retired part of the garden, he began to be in a very great and heavy-'^'r^'^^r'^x'^v'-sar'^^ visihh de/ection, a?na.:e?nent, and anguish of mind, ^ on account of some painful and dreadful sensations which were then impressed upon his soul by the immediate hand of 38 Then saith he unto God. Then turning to his three disciples, he says to them. My friends, you never saw 38 them.^Mv souUs exceeding ^^^ j^ g^ gj.g^j. distress as now ; for my soul is surrounded on all sides with an extremity tarryVe'l'"","and watc'li of anguish and sorrow, which tortures me even almost unto death ; and I know that the witiinie; [Luke, ff«f/ pray, infirmity of human nature must quickly sink under it, without some extraordinary relief tation.r°\'>l"°k'"xiv*''34". from God 5 to him therefore I will apply with the greatest earnestness: and do you in the Luke xxii. 40.] mean time continue here and watch with me," considering how liable we are to be sur- prised ; landl let me remind you also to pray for yourselves, that you may not enter into that dangerous temptation of which I have just been giving you notice, or may be kept from falling by it. See Matt. xxvi. 31. sect, cl.xxxi. ]\lark xiv. 35. And he And going; on a little way from thence into a more retired part of the garden, when mark ''^d^waTwilhdra^n!"^^^ he was uow' withdrawn about a stones throxv from the place where he Mt them, he XIV. them"a^bo"t' a' stone's cast, first humbly knelt down, and then, as the ardour of his devotion increased, he prostrated 35 and kneeled down,] and fell Jii,),sclf on his face to the ground, and prayed. That if it were possible, that dread- ind Jrav^e'd.^t'ilIt'Tf Twcre ful Season of so'rrow, with which he was then almost overwhelmed, m/ght be shortened possible, the hour might and pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, I know that all things proper to be 36 ''xvi .3^"! uke'^xii 4^n"' ^^ne are 'possible to thee ; and, O my Father, if it be so far possible as to consist with ""36 And he said, ' Abba, what thy wisdom has appointed for the advancement of thy glory, and the salvation of Father, all things are \ns- jj^y people, I earnestly beseech thee that thou immediately wouldst take away this cup of tiller! if'iTbe pVssibieytake bitterness and terror f lyea,'\ let [if] now pass from me, and let comfort and peace re- away this cup, [and' let it tum to my soul : nevei-thcless, if thou seest it necessary to continue it, or to add yet more pass] from me: Mvertiie- grievous ingredients to it, I am here ready to receive it in submission to thy will, and reso- less, not what 1 wiu, but p & , , , , ^» -r -i, 1 . ,i •/, z- ii_ u i 1. what thou wilt [Matt, lutely say upon the whole, iSoif as I will, but as thou wilt ; lor though nature cannot xxvi. 39. but shrink back from these suflerings, it is the determinate purpose of my soul to bear whatsoever thine infinite wisdom shall see fit to appoint. 37 And he coraeth [unto And upon this, rising up from the ground on which he had lain prostrate, he comes 37 Ihem^'sieepini rand"^aith again to the three disciples, and, notwithstanding the distress that he was in, and the unto Peter, Smion, sieei)est command that he had given them to watch, he finds them all asleep ; and he particu- thou ? couidst not thou ]^^.]y y^^^y ^Q Peter, (who had but lately made such solemn protestations of his peculiar witch on* hour . [ .\ hat, ^^^j ^^ - fidelity,) What, Simon, dost thou sleep at such a time as this ? and after thou had&t just declared thy resolution to die with me, couidst thou so soon forget thy pro- mise to stand by me, and not so much as watch or keep awake but for one hour, when 1 a Called Ge/hsemanc, as beinij- a very pleasant and fertile garden.] not. He rather thinks it might arise from a deep apprehension of ' Tt is well known that oo>?D l^'j" signifies //le galley of fatness. The the malignity of sin, and the misery brought upon the world by it. ' garden probably had its name from its sou arid situation, and lay But considering how much the mind of Christ was wounded and in some little valley between two of those many hills, the range of broken with what he now endured, so as to give some greater ex- which constitutes the mount of Olives; and it'is with some pecu- ternal signs of distress than in any other circumstance of his suf- liar reference to this situation, that some have rendered it torcular ferings, there is reason to conclude there was something extraor- olei, or n fat of oil. dinary in the degree of the impression : and it surely comes much b He b?rf(m to he in great dejection, amazement, and anguish of to the same, whether we say that God, by his own immediate mind.'] The words which our translators use here, are very flat, agency, impressed some uncommon horrors on his mind, or that and fall vastly short of the emphasis of those terms in wRich'flie the strength of his spirits, and perhaps the tone of his nerves, were Evangelists describe this awful scene: for KuirEiiSai signifies /o be so impaired, that the view he had of these things should affect him penetrated loilh the most lively and piercing sorrow ; and xSr,u.cnuv to a degree of exquisite and uncommon sensibility. to be quite depressed and almost overwhelmed with the load. c IVatch ivit/i me.] Had they done this carefully, they would Mark expresses it, if possible, in a more forcible and stronger man- soon have found a rich equivalent for their watchful care, "1."'^ ner; for £x5«u€£ii6ii imports the most shocking mixture of terror eminent improvement of their graces by this wonderful and edity- znA amazement : and 7;Ea>.unof, in the next verse, intimates that he iug sight. was surrounded wil/i sorrow on every side, so that it broke in upon d Take away this cup.] Nothing is more common than to ex- him with such violence, that, humanly speaking, there was no way press a portiouofjomfort or distress by a cup, alluding to the cus- of escape. I have endeavoured, as well as I could, to express each torn on[Ti'e"'faIher'of a family, oiMiiaster of a feast, to send to his of these ideas in the paraphra.se.— Dr. More truly observes, that children or guests a cup of "such liquor as he designed for them. Christ's continued resolution, in the midst of these agonies and See note d, on Matt. xx. 22. p. 281 : and with the texts which are supernatural horrors, was the most heroic that can be imagined, referred to at the end of that note, compare P^l.xvi. 5; xxiii. 5; and far superior to valour in single combat, or in battle ; where, in Ixxv. 8; Jer. xvi. 7; xlix. 12; Lara. iv. 21 ; Ezek. xxiii. 32, 33; one case, the spirit is raised by natural indignation, and in the Hab. ii. 16; and Rev. xiv. 10; xvi. 19. In some of which texts other, by the pomp of war, the sound of martial music, the example there may, perhaps, be a reference to the way ot executing some of fellow-soldiers, &c. See More's Theolog. Worlis, p. 28.— Dr. criminals by sending them a cup of poison ; w.iich is well known Whitby will not allow that these agonies arose from the immediate to have been an Eastern, though not (so far as I can learn) a Jewish hand o? God upon him, which he thinks not to be the case even of custom. , the damned in hell. But it seems impossible to prove that it is 366 AN ANGEL APPEARS TO STRENGTHEN HIM IN HIS AGONY. SECT. I was in such an agony ? And you that were so ready to join with him in the same pro- could not ye watch with m« 182. fession, could neither of you be mindful of me: and in this time of my extreme distress, "]]'; '"'"''■'] [Matt, x.wi •were ye all so unable to perform your resolution as not to -ivafch one single hour -with MARK me ? I must again exhort you to -watch and pray with the greatest earnestness, that ye 33 Watch ye, and pray, XIV. ijicty not enter into and fall by that dangerous temptation which is now approaching f lest ye enter into temptii- 38 the spirit indeed is forivard, and ready to express the dutiful regard that you have for [wiUin■ great multitude with scrihes, and elders of the people ; and, more etfectually to execute their orders, they were 'nreVpriel'Ses"c"ibes': armed with swords and staves, to seize him by violence, if any resistance should be made to and the elders [of the peo-' the attempt 5 and there were also with them some persons of superior rank and quality, who, l^J^'jj^ |^j'"- ^'''■'- ^'- ^'''^^ full of impatient and malicious zeal, could not forbear mingling themselves with the dregs 44 of the people upon this infamous occasion. (See Luke xxii. 52. p. 369.) Now he that ^^.44 And^he tbat^betrayed betrayed him went a little before the rest of them ; land] that they might not be mistaken them, ««i]'"had'|rveu Them in the person, he had given them a signal by which they might distinguish Jesus from a token, sjiying, Wliomso- any others who might chance to be with him," saying. He whom I shall kiss at my first ^^^^^^^ ■t!,ki^S [Vk>w h"m entering into the garden, is the person you are commissioned to take f be sure therefore to fast,]' and lead'/»m away /ay hold of him immediately, and lead him away safely ; ibr he has sometimes made L^^^Jf^^jf'*]:)"- ''''"■ ''^• strange escapes from those that have attempted to take him, and if he get away tium you 45 after this signal, it will be your fault, and not mine.'i And accordingly, being come into 45 And as soon as he was the garden, he drew near to Jesus to kiss him, as a signal to the company to seize him-, J'.X Jesus to''' kisr him; [and] going directly to him, with an air of the greatest respect, as if he had been impatient and] gnctii straightway to of his absence during those lew hours which had passed since he saw him last, and was J'^" Master i'lndSdh^im' quite transported with joy to meet him again, /ic said, with the fairest appearances of duty [M'att.'xxvi.W Luke xxii! and friendship. Hail to "thee, Babbi, Rabbi! May the greatest pleasure and happiness 47.] MATT continually attend thee! And upon this he kissed him. But Jesus, well understanding Matt. xxvi. so. [But] XXVI. the perfidious purposes concealed under this fond address, answered with great mildness, ,vherXV'rrt%hou come* 50 yet with becoming spirit, and said to him. Friend, wherefore art thou come ? and whence [Judas, betrayest thou the is all this ceremony and transport ? Think of W, Judas I Is this the friendship thou hast f£'^kfxxir.i8]"' "^ ''''''■' so often boasted ? Alas, dost thou betray him whom thou canst not but know to be the Son of man, with such a treacherous kiss '^ And dost thou think that he can be imposed upon by this poor artifice ? or that God, who has promised him so glorious and triumphant a kingdom, will not punish such baseness and cruelty to him } JOHN Then Jesus, though he fully understood what was to follow this perfidious salutation, as Johnxviii. 4. Jesus there- XVIII. knoxving all the dreadful things that were coming upon 1um,' yet did not attempt to [^t'sh'^^u'ld'come^upon him 4 escape, or to withdraw himself out of the power of his enemies : nevertheless he determined went forth, and said unto to show them that he could easily have done it ; and therefore, as they now upon the sig- them, Whom seek ye? nal that was given them, were drawing near to seize him, he went forth towards his ene- mies, and said to them, with the greatest composure of mind. Whom do you come to seek 5 here ? And the?/ were so confounded at the air of majesty and intrepidity with which he 5 They answered liim, appeared, that without saying they were come for him, they only aiiswered him. We are sa?th\uUo^them'''i a.nX come to seek Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus says to them. You have the person then before ind Judas also 'whioii he. you; I am [he.] And Judas also who betrayed him, then stood with them; and he trayed him, stood with who formerly had followed Christ as one of his disciples, now sorted with his open and '""'• 6 avowed enemies. Then as soon as lie had said to them, I am [he,] there went forth such 6 As soon tlien as lie had a secret energy of divine power with those words, that all their united force was utterly ^^^f "!^!"t ^bark'v.ard'\u,d unable to resist it, so that the>/ presently drew back, as afraid to approach him, though feii to the ground'.' unarmed and unguarded, and fell at once to the ground,^ as if they had been struck witli ^ 7i„''\y|,;''J'^^p5|'% *'^''"] 7 lightning. Yet a few moments after, recovering from this consternation, they arose and they said,JesusTf Nazareth, rallied again ; and then as they came up the second time, he asked them again. Whom do 8 Jesus answered, i have 8 ye seek > And they said to him as before, Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus answered them, ^^^^J^^l ye'*seek"me' let 'I have already told you that I am [he:] If therefore you seek me alone, you may let these go their way: b Had ijii'cn them a signal.'] As those that came to apprehend ings: which accordingly he largely foretold, (see Matt. xx. 18, 19. him were strangers to Jesus, and it was now night, and there were and the parallel places, p. 280.) though many of these circum- twelve persons together, probably dressed much alike, such a signal stances were as contingent as can well be imagined. It is impossi- might be thought more necessary. hie to enter aright into the heroic behaviour of our Lord Jesus c He whom I shall lihs is f/te person."] It is indeed probable, as Christ, without carrying this circumstance along with us. The Dr. Guyse and others observe, that our Lord, in great condesceu- critics are in raptures at the gallantry of Achilles in going to the sion, had used (according to the Jewish custom) to permit his dis- Trojan war, when he knew (according to Homer) that he should ciples thus to salute him, when they returned to him after having fall there : but he must have a very low way of thinking, who docs been any time absent. not see infinitely more fortitude in our Lord's conduct on this great d Lead him away safely ; for he has sometimes made strange occasion, when this circumstance, so judiciously tliongh so modestly escapes, &c.] Compare Luke i v. 30; John viii. 59; x. 39. lam suggested by St. John, is duly attended to. ready to imagine from this preeautioji, that Judas might suspect g The;/ d-retv hack, and fell to Ihe grnvnd.] As there were scribes that Christ would on this occasion renew the miracles he had for- and priests among tiiem, they must have read of the destruction of merly wrought for his own deliverance, though he had so expressly those cempanies which came to sei' You only look at second causes, and have but an imperfect view john of things ; but I consider all the sufferings I am now to meet as under a divine direction and XVIIL appointment, and regard them as the cup which my Father has given me; and, when considered in that view, shall I not willingly submit to drink it ? Shall I not acqmesce in what I know to be his will ? or would it be the part of a dutiful .and affectionate Son to dispute the determinations of his paternal wisdom and love ? , r, , i„ Then, without any opposition, he surrendered himself into the hands of those that came 12 to apprehend him : and all uniting in their enmity against him, the band of Roman soldiers, with the captain at their head, and the Jewish officers that came with them, seized Jesus as a malefactor, and presently bound him to prevent his escape. But as they were binding hira, Jesus answered and said. Suffer ye at least that I may have my hands at liberty thus far, and stay but for a moment while I add one act of power and compassion to those I have already done : and calling Malchus to him, he touched his ear, and immediately healed him.^ . ,- ,? r-, Then Jesus said in that same hour to the chief priests, and to the captains oj t/ie 52 temple guard," and to the elders of the people, or to those members of the sanhedrma who LUKE XXII. 51 h Lei these go their way.'] What tenderness was here towards those who had so lately neglected him, (sleeping while he was in such an extreme agony,) that yet he would not sutler them to be terrified by so much as a short imprisonment! and tlie words also intimate that he intended presently to dismiss them, as probably not thinking it convenient to appear before his judges with such an attendance. His disciples, perhaps, might consider this speech as an excuse for their forsaking him ; but had they viev/ed it in a just light, it would rather have appeared a strong engagement upon them to have waited''for that fair dismission which our Lord seemed about to give them. i / hate lout none.'] Jansenius justly observes that it was a remarkable instance of the power of" Christ over the spirits of men, that they so far obeyed his word as not to seize Peter when he had cut off the ear of Malchus, or John, while he stood by the cross, though they must know them to have been of the uurhber of his most intimate associates. k Eieii Simon Peter.] None of the Evangelists but John men- lions the name of Peter on this occasion ; which, perhaps, the others omitted lest it should expose him to any prosecution ; but John, writing long after his death, needed no such precaution. 1 Smote a servant of the hlijh-priesf, &:r..] One would have thought, as Rishop Hall observes, he should rather have struck Judas ; but the traitor, perhaps, on giving the signal, bad mingled himself with the crowd ; or Peter might not understand the treacherous design of his kiss ; or seeing Malchus more eager than the rest in his attack on Christ, he might postpone all other resent- ments to indulge the present sally of his indignation. — Though this might seem a courageous action, it was really very imprudent ; and had not Christ, by some .secret influence, overawed their spirits, it is very probable (as the pious Sir ftlatthcw Hale observes) that not only Peter, but the rest of the apostle.s, would have been cut to pieces. (Hale's Contemplations, p. 254.) m More than twelve leqions of angels.] The Roman armies were composed of legions, which did not always consist of the same number of men, but are computed at this time to have contamed above six thousand ; and twelve legions were more than were com- monly intrusted with their greatest generals. (See note e, on Luke viii 30. p. 140.) How dreadfully irresistible would such an array of angels have been, when one of these celestial spirits was able to destroy 185,000 Assyrians at one stroke ! 2 Kings xix. 35. u He touched his ear, and healed him.] As this was an act of great compassion, so likewise it was an instance of singular wisdom ; for it would effectually prevent those reflections and censures on Jesus which the rashness of Peter's attack might otherwise have occasioned. , . t. j o The captains of the temple.] There was indeed a Roman guard and commanding officer which attended near the temple during the time of the great feasts, in order to prevent any sedition ot the Jews: (see Joseph. Antiq. lib. xviii. cap. 4. [al. 6.] 5 3; and JJell. Jud. lib. V. cap. 5. [al. vi. C] \ 8.) And this appears to be the band and captain mentioned here by John, ver. 12. where the word m the original is jiiXi^ex'^ which plainly shows it was a Roman officer, mano toni; the feasts, and po.,.^ - , , ■ . a- ■ i i any tumults among the people, when such great numbers flocked together —But for these captains of the temple spoken ot by Luke, there is no doubt but they were Jewish officers, who are said by John to have attended with the former ; of whom it is to be ob- served that as the priests kept watch in three places of the temple, 2 B 370 REFLECTIONS ON CHRIST'S BEING BETRAYED AND APPREHENDED. SECT, (as was said before, p. 367.) were so forgetful of the dignity of their character as to cojjie to chief priests, and captains 183. him themselves with the dregs of the populace, at this unseasonable time, and on this in- "^ ti"^ temple, and the famous occasion : to these he said, [and] to the rmdtitude that now surrounded him, For him.'cal'/to tireYnuuTude ] LUKE what imaginable reason are you come out against me, an against a robber tliat would Be j^e come out as against XXII. ,;,^ake a desperate resistance, armed in this way, xuith swords 'and staves, as if you came staves'^'^'rf^'*'t ^t'*k''^ ""^ ^'^ to seize me at the hazard of your lives ? When I -was with you every day, as I have been [Matt, xxvi.'^ 55. "^ Mark for some time past, [and'] publicly sat teaching in the temple, you had opportunities '''^- ^s.]^ enough to have secured me, if there was any crime with which you could have charged withyou,')v/"rfsat"eaciting^ me; yet then vo?< did not apprc/icnd me, [or] oiler to stretch out [your] hands against '" the temple, ye [Mark, me. But I know the reason better than you yourselves do : vou have hitherto been kept \T'}. ""^ ll?''i""'^ stretriied J i. ii i_i-- 1 i.j--' 7 • ,•,^1,'^ forth no hiinds aeamst nie : under a secret restramt, which is now removed ; and this is your hour m which God has but this is your iiour, and let you loose against me, and the poxver of darkness is now permitted to rage with peculiar ff?^ i"^"*^": 'jf 'larkness. violence; for it is under the instigation of Satan and his infernal powers that you now act, 40']^*" '"'*'■ ^^' ■^"''^'^• MATT, with whatever pious names you may atFect to consecrate the deed. And in ail this, I know Matt. xxvi. 56. But .wvi. that both you and they are secretly over-ruled by Divine Providence, to accomplish events a" .this was done tiiat the 56 most contrary to your own schemes ; and it is done that what is v/ritten concerning me in m[g\'it"brfuifined JT^P'"'*' the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled ?^ I therefore resign myself into your hands, though I have given you abundant evidence that I am not destitute of the means of deliverance, if I was inclined to use them. Then all the disciples, who but a little while before had solemnly protested that they —Then all the disciples would never leave him, when they now saw him bound in the hands of his enemies, ac- fMark\iv"49' so^t"' cording to his repeated predictions, _/on?oo^- hijn andjled;'^ each of them shifting for his ^' '"^' ' own safety as well as he could, and seeking to shelter himself either among friends or strangers, MARK And a certain youth who lodged in a house near the garden, and was waked by Mark xi v. 51. And there XVI. the noise of this tumult, having an atiection for Jesus, and apprehendinst him in danger, '^""""'cft him a certain «;i 1 f 1 1 -i^i. ii_- 1 i T 1,1- 1-11 , ^ 7 ° 7 ; ■ ", , youne man, having a linen ^J arose out ot bed with nothing but a linen cloth m which he lay, thrown about his naked rir.ti. cast about lus naked body ; and he followed him a little way after the rest of his disciples were gone, transported ''"'•y ; ^^^ the young men into a forgetfuiuess of his own dress, by his concern for Jesus : and the young men that ''"'' ''°''^ "" '"""' made a part of the guard, suspecting he was one that belonged to Jesus, laid hold on him. 52 Jiut he, leaving the sheet which was wrapped about him in their hands, ^«/ awaz/ 52 And he left the linen from them naked, in the utmost consternation. After which Jesus was led to the palace of ^^''^\ ""'^ ^^^ '^'■"^ ^•'^"' the high-priest, and condemned there in the manner which will presently be related. "* ^ ' IMPROVEMENT. The heroic behaviour of the blessed Jesus, in the whole period of his sufferings, will easily make itself observed by every attentive eye, though the sacred historians, according to their usual but wonderful simplicity, make no JOHN encomiums upon it. With what composure does he go forth to meet the traitor ! With wliat calmness does he xvni. recei\'e that malignant kiss ! With what dignity does he deliver himself into the hands of his enemies, yet plainly 4 showing his superiority over them, and leading, as it were, even then, captivity captive ! S, 9 We see him generously capitulating for the safety of his friends, while he neglected his own ; and afterwards, not 1 1 only forbidding all the defence they attempted to make, but curing that wound which one of his enemies had LUKE received in this assault on him. With what meek majesty did he say, Suffer ye at least thus far ! And he touched XXll. his ear, and healed him. We hear his words, we behold his actions, with astonishment: but surely our indigna- 51 tion must rise within us when we see so amiable and excellent a Person thus injured and abused ; when we see the 47, 48 ^on of man betrayed with a kiss : betrayed by his intimate friend, who had eaten of his bread, and yet lifted MATT. '^'■P his heel against hwi ; (John xiii. 18.) and at the same time forsaken by all his disciples, even by him whom XX\T. he most tenderly loved, and who had so often leant on his bosom. Let us not wonder if some of our friends prove ^^ false, and others seem to forget us, when we have the greatest need of their assistance. When we deserve so much less friendship than Christ did, let us not think it strange if we find but little more. Nor can we reasonably be so JOHN "iuch amazed as we might otherwise have been, to see sinners going on under the most awful rebukes of Provi- XVlli. dence ; when we consider that these wretches who had been struck down to the ground by one word of Christ's 6 mouth, should immediately rise up and stretch forth their impious hands against him, to seize and bind him ; 12 though they might well have known that they lived only by his indulgence and forbearance, and that the same word that struck them down to the ground could have laid them dead there. Touch our hearts, O Lord, by tliy MATT S*"^^^' ^^" '*^ ^^^'1 ^^ *" ^^'" that we are smitten with thy rod ! XXVI.' ^"^ '^ ^^'^ remainder of this story, let us remember that Jesus voluntarily gave himself up to sufferings which he 53 circumstantially foreknew, — even though he could have commanded to his assistance whole legions of angels. His and the l.evrtes in twonty-onc, so their leaders were called ur^amyoi might bring their lives into danger. But whatever they appre- rai 1550U, or captains nf the lemple ; and Josephus more than once heiided, their precipitate flight in these circumstances was the .speaks of one of the JcwLsh priests by this title. (Anliq. lib. xx. basest cowardice and ingratitude; considering not only how lately cap. e. [al. .5] \ 2. cap. 9. [al. 8.] \ 3 ; and Bell. Jiid. lib. li. cap. 17. they had been warned of their danger, and what solemn promise? ? 2.) (See Dr. Whitby, in loc. and Dr. Lardner's Credib. part i. they had made of a courageous adherence to Christ, but also what Vol. I. book i. chap. ii. j 1.5.) an agony they liad just seen him in, what zeal he had a few moments p That the scriptures of the prophets might he ftil/illed.] This before showed in their defence, and what amazing power he had was a consideration which, if duly applied, might have prevented exerted to terrify his enemies into a compliance with that part of liis disciples from being offended at his sufferings : and it strongly his demand whicVi related to the safety of his friends, He had also intimates that he still kept up the claim which he had formerly at the same lime intimated his purpose of giving them a speedy made of being the Messiah ; and that what lis was now to go and kind dismission ; so that It was very indecent thus to run through, was so far from being at all inconsistent with that claim, away without it, especially as Christ's prophecy of their continued that, on the whole, it was absolutely necessary in order to make it usefulness in his church was equivalent to a promi.se of their prc- out to full satisfaction. .servatlon, whatever danger they might now meet with. But our q ylil the disciples forsook him and fled.] Perhaps they were Ixird probably permitted it, that, we miglit learn not to depend afraid that the action of Peter should be imputed to them all, and too confidently even on the friendship of tlie very best of men. CHRIST IS LED AWAY TO ANiNAS, WHO SENDS HIM TO CAIAPHAS. 371 Father's will, was an answer to all that nature could plead in its own cause ; and the good hand from which this sect. cup of his severest sufferings came, reconcilal him to all the bitterest ingredients it contained. How reasonable, 183. then is it that we, who, having had fathers of our flesh that corrected us, submitted to the rod and gave them reverence, should much rather, after the example of our innocent and holy Redeemer, be in subjection to the john Father of our spirits, and live! (Heb. xii. 9.) XV HI. SECTION CLXXXIV. Jesus is conducted to the palace ofCaiaphas ; Peter follows him thither, and denies him thrice. Matt. xxvi. .'57, 58, G9, to the end. Mark xiv. 53, 54, 66, to the end. Luke xxii. 54 — 62. John xviii, 13 — 18, 24 — 27. JOHN xviii. 13. John xviii. 13. ANDMfy led him away to THE officers flwt/ people having thus apprehended Jesus in the manner described above, sect. Annas first, (for ''S.J^^^j^^'^- fJiey led him away from the garden of Getlisemane to those who had employed them, and 184. which w^aT the high-p*riest brought him first to the house of Annas ; for he was father-in-law to Caiapftas, who that same year.) .^^^ hia-h-priest that year,'' or bore the office at that time; And Annas sent him bound JOHX bout.d^unt'^""(Srpi.as''the to Caiaphas the high-priest, as judging it most proper that the rest of the council should ^'^'"l- high-priest.) upon this occasiou he convened at his palace. Now this Caiaphas was he whom we men- 14 wWdr^KTve^counri to'the tioned above, (John xi. 49—51, sect, cxli.) who gave it as his advice to the Jews, that it Jews, tut it was expedient was fit that one man, though innocent, shoukl die for the preservation of the people ; in tliat one man sh.ould die for ^j^jch words he uttered a kind of oracle, which (as we there observed) contained a far *''Matt'^xxvi 57 And they noblcr and sublimer sense than he himself intended or understood. that had laid'hold on Jesus, And they who apprehended Jesus, took and led him away from Annas like a criminal matt. TLuke, took him and] led j^j \^q^^^^ and, according to the directions which Annas had given them, brought him to ^^^^ '• brougirhim into"he'ho'use the palace of Caiaphas the high-priest ; where, though it was now the dead time of the ^^. oq "caiaphas the high- night, all the chief-pricsts, and the scribes, and the elders, or the chief persons of the priestL.'^and] '■\he''scribesi Sanhedrim, with their proper officers, met together on a summons from Caiaphas, and were and the elders, were assera- assembled with him, waiting foi Jesus to be brought before them. bled [with hira.]^ [Mark ^^^^ though Simon Peter had at first forsaken Christ, and shifted for himself, as the rest JOHN '"john xvlii^iT'AndSi. of his Companions did, yet afterward he and another disciple, even the Evangelist John, ,^"^'"^- mon Peter followed Jesus bethought themselves, and determined to rctum ; and accordingly ihe.^ followed Jesus a far ^^ Sscipie^ That dislfpTe was #," desiring to See what would become of him : and as that other disciple was known to known unto the high-priest, the high-priest," he was admitted without any objection or impediment, and went into and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high-priest with Jesus and the guard that attended him. But Peter, 16 priest.* ^[Matt. xxvi. '^^s' who had no interest or acquaintance there, stood waiting without at the door : That other Mark xiv. 54. Luke xxii. disciple, therefore, who was known to the high-priest went out of the inner room into ^Ve But Peter stood at the which Jesus w'as then carried in order to his examination, and spake to her that kept the door without. Then went door to open it ; and SO by her consent brought in Peter. And when they had kindled luke out that other disciple ^ • ^ ^^ 7«i,/^^ of the large hall, and were set down together, Peter, hoping to pass ^>^"l- which was knosvn unto the -^ ,. , , . - , . V, .1 .^ r xu T 7 tl -ji ji 5fi high-priest, and spake unto undiscovered by mingling With the rest of the company, sat down among them with the ^"^ 118° that kept the door, and servants, that he might be at hand to see the end of this atfair, and warmed himself at ^"^ufke^xxirs^And when the fire, while they were examining Jesus with circumstances which we shall afterwards they had kindled a *ire in mention.*^ the midst of the hall, a^d j^^^^ during the time th?it this important event was depending, as Peter was sitting mark te"sat down among them, among the Servants without the room where Jesus was examined, and thought to have .^'V. [with the servants to see the continued unsuspected in the hall below, there came to him one of the maidservants "'^ Wmseitluhe fire.]'7]viStt belonging to the family of the high-priest, who was indeed the same damsel that^ (as we xxvi. 58. Mark xiv. 54.] just now Said) had kept the door : And seeing Peter as he sat warming himself by the 67 PeteVfsarwithmitl beneatli ^'''^' she fixed her cyes earnestly upon him, a«fi? observing in his countenance die appear- in the palace, there cometh aucc of great coucem, she Said to some that stood near her, I cannot but think that this , [unto him] one of the maids ^j^^n is a foUower of Jcsus, and was also one that used to be with him:^ and upon this of the high-priest, [John, the damsel that keot the door.] [Matt. xxvi. 69. John xviii. 17.] 67 And when she saw Peter, [Luke, as he sat by the fire] warming himself, she looked [Luke, earnestlj] upon him, and said, [Luke, This man was also witli him :] [John, Art not a Led him away, first to Annas, Sfc.'\ It appears from Josephus, and John recovered themselves quickly after their flight, or else (Antiq. lib. xviii. cap. 2. [al. 3] \ 2. p. 873. Havercamp.) that Annas, they could not have followed him at some distance, and yet be so whom he calls .\nauus, had been high-priest before his son-in-law near as to be ready to go into Caiaphas's house with him. Caiaphas; and it seems to have tieen by his interest, that first c That disciple was known to tite higli-priest.'] We cannot imagine Eleazar his own son, and then Caiaphas, wlio married his daughter, the acquaintance was very intimate, considering the great diver- and probably had been his deputy, obtained that dignity : so that sity of their rank and station in life; but a thousand occurrences though he had resigned that office himself, yet the people paid so occasion some knowledge of each other, between persons whose much regard to his experience, that they brought Jesus first to conditions are as unequal. him, who, no doubt, took all necessary care to prepare Caiaphas for d And warmed himself at the fire, while they were examining receiving him, as he could not but know that this was a most cri- Jesus, Sec] It is remarkable that all the Evangelists record the tical juncture. We do not read of any thing remarkable which fall of Peter, and none with circumstances of greater aggravation passed at the house of Annas ; for which reason his being carried than Mark, whose gospel is said to have been reviewed by Peter thither is omitted by the other Evangelists. Cyril adds, xn himself, and indeed written from his preaching. (See note d, on emenu\tv aynv^t^E^Ewv 5r,->5 Kcm^jtv rov AjxitjiJt, and they sent hint Mark xiv. 31. p. 359.) Though Christ's examination liappened bound to Caiaphas the hii/h-priest ; which addition Erasmus, Beza, during this interval, (which occasions Matthew, Mark, and John to and many others have thought it necessarv to admit, both to ac- interrupt this story to recount that,) I rather chose, as Luke has count for the word :s(uirm, first, in the preceding clause, and to re- done, to take the whole of it together, as best suiting the design toncile John with tlie other Evangelists, who all agree that the of this work. scene of Peter's fall was the palace of Caiajihas, not of Annas. Yet e This man was also with him.] Her sex, and perhaps we may as almost the same words occur in ver. 24. it is sufficient to trans- add, her office, will not permit us to suppose that she had been in pose that verse, and intrflduce it here; which is intimated in the the garden with the multitude that apprehended Jcsus: she there- margin of some of our Bit)les. For the phrase of being high-priest fore must guess by Peter's countenance, tliat he was one of his that vear, see note a, on John xi. 49. p. 279. friends ; unless possibly she had seen thera together in the temple b Fbllowed Jesus afar off.] It appears from hence, that Peter or elsewhere. 2 b2 372 PETER THRICE DENIES HIS KNOWING CHRIST. SECT. presumplioM, she charged him directly with it, and said. Tell us truly, Aii not thou thyself thou also one of this man's 1 84. also [o«t ] of this fnaii's disciples ?' There is a great deal of room to think it ; yea, I am fully disciples ?j Awl thou also satisfied that thou wast also with him, even with this Jesus the Nazarcnc of Galilee, [r/Ga'iiiee^{"^[Matt^^xxvi' LUKE who is now on his trial. And Peter was so surprised at this unexpected discovery, that 69. Luke xxii. so. John XXII. /ic roundly and confidently denied him before them all,^ and said. Woman, I profess that "^tu'te^xxii 57 Aud 1 ^^ / am not his disciple ; nay, that I do not so much as know him ;^ nor do I understand denied him fbefore Ihem what thou meanest in chara;in"; me with beina; one of his associates : for I am sure tiiou jii] saying, Woman, [John, . , . . 11 i_ r! 1 ii • ii i I ii ■ i. • ' 'I™ not;] 1 know him not. MARK mightest as well have nxed on any other person m the company. And upon tins, turning [Mark, ueit'ner understand XIV. C8 away as one who was affronted at the charge, he went out into the portieo ;' and while he I w'lat thou sayest.] [Matt. was there the coeJc crex,.^ , ^^,^1; J";, ^^^'^ ^''- «»• JOHN And the servants and officers who had brought Jesus thither, and were now waiting Mark xiv. m. And he XVIII. for the Issue of his trial, still stood there in the hall, having (as we before observed) made a^fj *t,,^"ock''crew^ '""'"'' 18 a large_y?/'/. Surely this is [oni^ of them that have ' endeivoured to iT^^ [i4in,tand'-siM^^^^^ bring all the nation into confusion, and while he would pass for a friend, is crept in them that were there. This JOHN hither as a spy. They therefore, taking notice of what both these women had spoken, /'!''«"' was also with Jesus XVIII. Ijegan to tax him with it, and said to him. What, have we a rebel so near us ? Let us g^n to''say' to "henV^that 25 know plainly who thou art : art not thou also, who pretendest to enter these doors as a stood by,' Tiiis is one of LUKK friend, [one'] of his disciples who has been doing so much mischief? And as he seemed Lukexxii'"'58l'' ^'^ ^^ XXII. in great confusion, another man that stood by saw him perplexed, and therefore charged it John xviii. 25. They said 53 home upon him, and said. It is certainly so; thou art also [owe] of them, and deservest therefore unto him. Ait MATT, to suifer with thy Master. And Peter, as he could not bear his being taxed so closely ciples? XXVI. with it, that he might take oflf all suspicion of his belonging unto Jesus, again denied [him] Luke xxii. 58. And ano- ■72 in the strongest manner, even with an oath,'^ and said, Man, why dost thou talk thus? I arfalsTof th^m.'^''"'''^''"" solemnly assure thee, and call God to witness to it, that I am not one of them ; and that niatt. xxvi.' 72. And indeed I do not so much as know the 7nan, but came in hither out of mere curiosity to f^^/"''^'^'. p''^''^ ='e^i" denied learn the occasion of this public alarm, without the least interest in him, or any concern at ami Mid,]'"[Luke',' ivian,'"i all on his account, whatever may become of him. am not ;] 1 do not know the LUiCE -^"d as he still continued there, imagining that he should now be safe from any farther "";"; ia^^Joii^,' xv^i?i. 25"]*"^ XXII. challenge, after a while, "about the space of one hour after he had tiius denied him, ano- Luke xxii. 5&. And [after 59 ther man in the company confidently affirmed that the former charge was iust, saying. Of ^ while,] about the space of , ,, ,,. ^ ■' 1 '-,7 ;• 1 ■ r 11 CiU- T J- -i ■ ' 1 • 7 one hour after, another con- 1 a truth this man was also with him, and is a loiiower ot this Jesus; jor it is plain he fidentiy affirmed, saying, also is a Galilean, and every one knows that most of his disciples are of that country. Of a truth this fallow also MARK And w^on this they that stood by came to him, and said to Peter again. Surely it is as caiikin! '[Matt*^"xxW. ' 73* XIV. this man asserts; and, notv/ithstanding thy denying it, there is no room to doubt but //?o?< Mark xiv. -0.] '70 art also [one] of them, for thou art certainly a Galilean : and I know it, said one that that^l^ood J^Vcame ^'"t^ was there, by tliy speech : for such I have observed to be thy dialect and accent as agrees ^u-n, ^and] said Tgain "to [to that] country, [and] p\a\n\y discovers thee to be of Galilee, as most of this man's sedi- Peter, Surely thou [also] JOHN tio"s followers are. And one of the domestic servants of the high-priest, being a relation ^^[ ""f clineau" ' ^ad ^\hj XVIII. of his whose ear Peter had cut of, pressed the charge home upon him, and said. How speecli agreeth Jtowo, [anrf 26 can you have the assurance to deny it ? Take heed what you say : did not I myself see ^^^''f^^g'^ *'^^'^"^ [Matt. MATT, thee in the garden with him? r/^f« Frfer, being terrified to the last degree to think of joiiu 'xviii. 20. One of XXVI 7*4 the danger to which he should be exposed if he was discovered to be the person that made the servants of tlie high- ° ' priest (being- his kinsman whose eai Peter cut oft',) saith. Did not I see thee in the garden with him 1 Matt, x:;vi. 74. Then [John, Peter de.iied agaiu, f Art not thou also one of this man's disciples .'] One would ima- people allow themselves to transgress the bounds of truth, it was gine, from the word [also,'] when it is read in the connexion John more like to entangle and discover him than to clear him. has placed it in, that in this question she referred to John ; as if she i He want out into the •portico.'] 1 apiu-ehcnd that the word had said, Art not thou one as well as tliy companion'! And if this n^owKwv most exactly answers to the Latin word i«7/4(//i/ot, l>y which were admitted, it would be a plain intimation that John acknow- many good interpreters Tender il And considering the nmgnifi- ledged himself a disciple of Christ. l!ut it must be owned that the cence of the Jewish huildings at this time, it is reasonable to con- other Evangelists use the .same word [rt/io,] though they say nothing elude that this, which belonged to the high-priest's palace, was of John's being with Peter. some stately piazza or colonnade ; and therefore I chose rather to g He denied him before litem nil.] How must these people he render it portico than porch, a word equally applicable to the surprised when they saw (as, no doubt, some of them did) this meanest buildings of that kind. timorous disciple, within the compass of a few week.s, when he was k The code crew.] It is strange this circumstance did not remind brought with John before the irouncil, not only maintaining tlie him of our Lord's prediction, and bring him to some sense of his cause and honour of Jesus, but boldly charging the murder of this sin : perhaps it did ; and he might return persuaded that he should Pr.ince of life on the chief men of the nation, and solemnly warning bn more courageous if he met with a second attack, them of their guilt and danger in consequence of it. Acts iv. 5 — 12. 1 For it was cold.] It is well known that the coldness of the nights Perhaps, when it is said there, (ver. 13.) that //;<■;/ are 2 Sim. o And Peter went out.] It is observable that Luke in two or xv. .30; Esth. vi. 12; and Jer. xiv. 3, 4.)— As for our version, [when three lines here calls him three times by the name nf Peter; that he thouglit thereon,'] 1 can find no passage in anliquitv in which the memorable name which Christ had given him with a particular word has such a signification; though to be sure that phrase qx- view to that fortitude and resolution with which he wac to defend presses what was truly the case. I have therefore iiiserlcd it in the the gospel : perhaps thereby intending to intimate, how low iliis paraphrase, as I would take every opportunity ol paying all due re- courageous hero was now fallen, and yet to what a height of holy spect to so valuable a translation as ours is in the main. XVIII. lo, 16 374 FALSE WITNESSES ABE SOUGHT, BUT NO TWO ARE FOUND WHOSE TESTIMONY AGREE. SECT. 185. JOHN XVIII. 20 22 23 SECTION CLXXXV. Jcsiis is tiamincd at the high-priest" s hall, and afterwards condemned hy the sanhcdriyn on confessing hitnsclf to he the Messiah. Matt. xxvi. 59 — 68. Mark xiv. 55 — 65. Liike xxii. 63, to the end. John xviii. 19—23, 28. „^ John xviii. 19. John xviii. 19. We now return to the examination of Jesus before the council, the thread of the story The higli-jiriest then ask- having been a little interrupted on the sad occasion of Peter's fall. The high-priest «'d Jesus ofiils disciples, and therefore asked Jisus, as he stood before him, co)teerning his disciples, and concerning his doctrine : what it was that he taught, and with what view he had gathered so many followers. Jesus answered him, and said, What I have taught has been delivered in the most 20 Jesus answered him, public manner, and / have spoke it openli/ and fireely to the world ; I have alwai/s, as 1 eTeAau'^ht'in t'he^syua- I had proper opportunity, taught in the si/nagogue, and in the tanple, whither the gogue, and in the temple, Jews continuallij resort in the greatest number's ; and have said nothing in secret, even '^'^i'"^'"^'' t'^P .Tews always to my most intimate friends, but what has been perfectly agreeable to the tenor of my said nothing-. 21 public discourses. Whif dost thou therefore ask vie, whose testimony in my own cause 21 Whya.skestthoume? will not, to be sure, be much regarded in such a circumstance as this, when I am standing what I'have said" unto them I as on a trial for my life ? Ask those that heard me, what I have spoken to them in behold, they know what I the whole series of my ministry ; for behold tliey know if, and I am willing to appeal to *'''"'• any impartial person among them, as to the innocence, propriety, and usefulness of what I have said. Such was the calm and rational reply which Jesus made to those that examined him. 22 And when he had thus But when he had spoken these things, one of the officers belonging to the court, who ^^je'i^'stood by, struck Je- then stood by, rudely gave Jesus a blow^ saying. Dost thou presume to answer the high- sus Avith the palm of his priest thus, by sending him to others for a reply to his question ? thou'thrfiiffl'-priest s^f' And Jesus, with his usual mildness, answered him. If ihou hast been one of my hearers, 23 Jesus answered him, and canst say that / at any time have spoken evil, either of God or man, in the course of ^f I have spoken evil, bear my preaching, thou wilt do well to bear thy testimony co?icerning that evil :^ but if \ well why smitest thou me? have spoken well, why dost thou strike me ? Can reason be answered by blows? or can such a sober appeal to it deserve them ? MATT. liow the chief priests and the elders of the people, and the whole sanhedrim, with XXVI. all its oflicers, not being able to make out a sufficient accusation against Jesus from such an- 59 swers as these, maliciously endeavoured by the vilest means to have something criminal false witness against Jesus'', alleged against him ; and as tliey were determined to condemn him, that they might to 1'"* •''"• *^° death. [Mark colour over their proceedings with some form of law, they sought for false evidence against Jesus, that the?/ inight put him to death ; and managed the trial in so partial and unjust a manner, that they did in effect invite any of the most infamous of mankind go But found none : [for] 60 to come and depose against him, with the assurance of being favourably heard : But they though manyfalse witnesses found none that fully answered their purpose f for though many false witnesses eanie np^a'iaiusthlmiveTfound \and'\ falsely testified against him, yet they found none sufficient j [^0''] the testimo- they none; [for their wit- nies they gave did not so far agree together as that a capital sentence could be passed °eM agreed not together^] upon him on that evidence ; since such a case required, at least, the concurrent oath of two false witnesses, iwlw two persons. (See Deut. Xvii. 6 ; Xix. 15.) arose, jind bare false wit- 61 At last there cainc txvo false witnesses, \xcho^m2\ic\o\B\'^ \vxe&img?,oxnG\\'ord%\\e\\2LA ^^ ^^^^ '""-' '■ formerly spoken relating to his own death and resurrection, rose up, and falsely testified tu And said. This feiloir against him. Saying, upon their oaths. This fellow said, in our hearing, I am able to !i"''vJ ^I'e of* God 'Ifnd'to destroy the temple of God, and to build it up again zn three days : and would any one build it in three days, talk of destroying it, unless he was an enemy to that holy place ? or think of building it lMarkxiv.58. AVe heard MARK again so soon, unless he was in league with JBeelzebub ? \_Yea,'] one of them, designing to teni,iie^ that' is imde^with XIV. aggravate the matter, confidently affirmed,*^ We heard him say, I will destroy this tem- hands, and within three 5% pie that is made with hands, and in three days' time I will build m anSthcr vf\\\c\i •^''>J ^ .";i" b"";' another '^, ,, , , . , 1 1 1 A , , . IT 1-17- ■ ; made Without hands. 59 shall be made wnliout the help ot hands, m obedience to my command, x et neither 59 But neither so did Matt. xxvi. 59. Now the chief priests and elders, and all the council, sought [for] a Gave Jcxus a llow.l As the v/ord ^xri'ru.x is supposed by many etymologists to be derived from ^xihs, a staf or sticK, Beza would therefore render it, he smote him unth a staff ; but the word is ap- parently used for any blotv ; and to limit it, as our translators do, to what we commonly call a slap on the face, does not .seem reason- able ; though Suidas explains it so, and Matt. v. 39. intimates it may have that sense. priest, I have not followed Mr. Bonnel in my paraphrase on the preceding verse. See Bonnel's Horinont/, p. 362 c Sought for false evidence, — Ijut found none.'} As this was a great proof of Christ's innocence, (for otherwise his confederates might have been glad to purchase their own security by impeaching him,) so it is a singular instance of the power of God over men's minds, that for all the rewards these great men could ofl'er, no two con- h If r have spoken evil, either of God or man, in the course of sistent witnesses could be procured to charge him with any gross my preaching, &r.] The pious and ingenious Mr. Bonnel (whose crime. Possibly the exertion of his miraculous power in striking exemplary life deserves frequent reading, and whose Harmony is to the ground those that were most forward to seize him, might in the main very judicious,) is the only writer 1 have met with, intimidate the spirits of some who might otherwise have been pre- who seems to give the true sense of this clause. He urges the use vailed upon. of the word Axxriia for Christ's teaching, (ver, 20, 21.) and observes, d Designing to aggravate the matter, &c.] This is one instance, that bearing witness could not refer to the answer he had Just made among many others, in which the bow of malice has been broke by to the high-priest, but might properly be used as to the course of his preaching, which the liigh-priest had not heard. He also sup- poses, that in Christ's appeal to his hearers, the person who smote Christ was singled out hy his eye, among others, as one who had been his auditor; and that the language of the blow was in effect as if he had said, " This is what I think your preaching deserves." But as he himself seems to assign another reason for this blow, even the pretended rudeness of the .answer Christ had made to the high overstraining it, and innocence cleared up by the very extravagance of those ch.irgcs which have been advanced against it. — It isoljserv- ahle, that the words which they thus misrepresented were spoken by Christ at least three years before. (Compare John ii. 19. p. 48.) Their going back to find matter for the charge they brought, was a glorious though silent attestation of the unexceptionable manner In which our I^ord had behaved himself during all the course of his ]iublic ministry. THE SANHEDRIM CONDEMNS JESUS TO DEATH. • ' . 376 tlieir witness agree toge- thus did their testimony exactly agree, nor was sufficient to convict him ; as evidently sect. tlier- appears from comparing the different words in which it was expressed: and as this differ- 1S5. ence was observed in court, they could not for shame proceed upon the evidence so as to - condemn Jesus to death for words which no two persons could pretend to ascertain ; nor mariv would they indeed have amounted to a capital crime, if they had jointly been charged ^^^'- ^'' upon him. Luke xxii. 66. And as However, they resolved to try him in full council, even on this slender evidence, lukf. .■.noil iis it was day, tiie elders hoping that some further discovery would arise in the process of the examination. And xxil. .it tlie people, and tlie cluet ^ ?. , •, j ' c^ i x j? ;» ,- , / i i rr pi iests and the scribes, came accordingly, OS soon OS it icas daij, alter a Very short lecess, tlie elders of the people, and ^^ to'^eWKv, and led [Jesus the chief priests, and the scribes, who made up the sanhedrim, assembled together ; and iounciK''[Toli'n xvU° w.}' ^^^^^ ^^^ -^^^"-^ '^'^'^^ /''"'" ^^^^^ ''"'"^^ °^^ Caiaphas the high-priest, to their ^council, or to that magnificent chamber where their court used to sit for the despatch of public business. Mark xiv. CO. And the j[nd, producing what imperfect evidence they had, to give some colour to their proceed- mark mulsir'and asked'' Jesus! i^gs, while no regard was shown by Jesus to such false and frivolous accusations, the high- Xl\'. saying, Answerest thou uo- priest stood lip in the midst of the council, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou 60 tllisfwilnes'l^ilinst'thee'? ^^'^thing? What IS it that these men test if i/ against thee? Is it true or false? But Ql [Matt. xxvi. 620 Jesus, knowing how vain it would be to plead for himself in so unrighteous a court, whose 61 But [Jesus] held his members came determined to condemn him, tvas silent, and made no reply. thfng! [Matt.^'xxvi^ei] ""' ^"^ ^^'C'/ *«"^ ^0 him, Why art thou so much upon the reserve ? Dost thou give up the luke Luke xxii. 67. [And they pretensions thou hast foi'inerly made, or dost thou still maintain them ? If thou art indeed xxil. said,] Art thou the Christ ? ^/^^ Messiah, tell us plainly, and it will bring matters to a short issue.*' And he said to 67 tell us. And lie said unto » ,, '■ , • i t i i ^ •;; ± i i- j j /^ t ? i /^n them, If 1 tell you, you will them. If I tell ijou ever so plainly, 1 know that^o?< 1:7// not believe: And ij 1 also ask 08 not believe. ' r yQui wherefore it is that you persist in this unreasonable infidelity, you will only over- 68 And if I also ask vow, t -..i j ■ 1 J // ■.«/ J- you will not answer me, nor bear me With renewed violence, and will neither answer nor dismiss me. letmfgo. ' And again the high-priest answered and said to him. Think not that such evasions matt. [a^fn]' the" "i-'h-priest'^an^ '^^^^^ Suffice in an affair of such importance as this : thou knowest I have a way of coming '^■^^'• sw^ered and said unto him, I at the certain truth, and therefore I adjure thee in the most solemn manner, by the name ""^ adjure thee by the living ^nd authority oi the living God, whose high-priest I am, and to whom he has committed ther' thou "be the^ciirist ^^'^ power of administering this oath,' that thou tell us directly, in the plainest terms, the Son of [the blessed] whether thou be the Messiah, the Son of the ever-blessed God, or not? ^4'[And]Ve7us^saith un- ^"^ Jesus boldly Said to him. Thou hast said [right,] and mentioned me by my true 61 to him, Thou hast said : [I and proper title f for I am indeed the Messiah, nor will I ever recede from that claim : and am :] nevertheless, I say moreover, though you may now condemn me to death for asserting it, yet I solemnly see°u^rson'o7^raan^sHtin^ declare to you all, That hereafter the day will come when you shall see the Son of man," on the right hand [Luke, o'f who iiow stands in this despised and lowly form at your tribunal, exalted to all the dignity coLin' ^^ ^^H ^'S*^*' "^^^ "^^^ be assuied that I am. blasphemy! what further Then the high-priest, \\\i\\ oW the hypocritical forms of pious indignation, rent his matt. need have we of witnesses] clothes, 2& in grief for the great dishonour done to God by so false an oath,' and so pre- xxvi. li is blasphemy.*^ [Ma'rk^xiv sumptuous a claim as he pretended this to be ; and he said. He has now spoken the most "'5 63, 64.] direct blasphemy, in professing himself to be the Son of thomost high God ; What further ans isweTed^'amr.^aJd' ' He ^-^ "^^^^ ^^^'"^ ^"^ of witnesses ? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy with your own liity of death: '[Luke, ears: IF/^a/ ;'///«^?/e therefore as to the punishment he deserves ? They answered and said. What ueed we any further jje is guilty of the most notorious of all Crimes, and deserves immediately to be put to death ;*■ luue'^^eard'^ oT hi's'^^'^own ''^hat)ieed have we indeed of any other testimony ? for we ourselves have heard \_if\ from mouth.] And they all con- his owu mouth. And i\\v& they all Condemned him as guilty of u capital crime ; and ^i^v^^^ '"[i\ia°rk "^ liv''^64'^ accordingly sentence was passed upon him, no witness appearing in his defence, and none Luke xxii. 71.] ' daring to plead his cause j' though some of the council who had a friendship for him, and e If thou art the Messiah, tell us.] Probably these wretches hoped his clothes in some cases, when others were allowed to dp it, { Lev. xxi. to gain a great advantage against Jesus either way ; if he confessed 10.) yet iu case of blasphemy, or any public calamity, it was thought it, they would condemn him on that confession ; and if he denied allowable. (See I Mac. xi. 71. and Joseph. Bell. Jud. lib. ii. 15. \ 2, it, they would expose him on that denial, as afraid to maintain the 4.) Caiaphas therefore by this action expressed in the strongest pretensions he had made. and most artful manner, his horror at hearing so vile a wretch, as f To whom he has committed the power of administering this he pretended Jesus was, thus claiming the sovereignly over Israel, oath.] That the Jewish high-priests had indeed such a power, and a seat at the right hand of God ; and this when adjured upon may appear from comparing Exod. xxii. 11; Lev. v. 1 ; and Prov. oatli on .so solemn an occasion. xxix. 24 ; XXX. 9. • k They answered and said. He is guilty of death.'] A man who g Thou ha<:t said right.] See note 1, Matt. xxvi. 25. J 170. did not know the mighty influence of attachment to an hypothesis h Vou shall see the Son of man, &c.] There seems a plain refer- hy frequent observation, would be astonished that any learned, ac ence here to the view in which the Son of man is represented, Dan. curate, and candid writer should not be able to .see the mark of vii. 13, II. where he is said to come with the clouds of heaven to a judicial process and sentence here ; and yet should see them in receive a dominion, &.c. or to ajipear as God did on Mount Sinai, in the case of Stephen : Vet this is really the case, a chariot of clouds, attended by angelic hosts. Our Lord looked 1 No witness appearing in his defence, &c.] Dr. Samuel Harris, very unlike that person now; but nothing could be more awful, in h\s Observations on the Old Testament, (p. lOy. f/ 5^7. quart, edit.) majestic, and becoming, than such an admonition in these circum- has with much greater learning and ingenuity than solidity, endea- .stances. Dr. Wliitby excellently proves, in his note on Matt. xxvi. vonred to prove this circumstance referred to in Isaiah's words, di. thai the right hand of j}owcr is a phrase equivalent to Mf ni/A/ chap. liii. 8. Jf'ho shall declare his generation .^ and his first and hand of God. second Dissertation prefixed to his Essay, chiefly centre in this i Rent his clothes.] Though the high-priest was forbidden to rend point. CG 376 • JESUS IS BOUND AND BROUGHT BEFORE PILATE. SECT, particularly Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, disapproving these unrighteous proceed- 185. ings, either absented themselves or withdrew. (Compare Luke xxiii. 50, 51 ; and John XIX. 38. sect, cxcii.) n.^'^L^'^ih 'I;'';,,, ^T."!»; tUKE iV/c/i the men that attended the court, and had Jesus in custoclj/, finding he was con- mocked iihi'i, [Mark, Hud XXII. demned by the sanhedrim, insulted him with renewed injuries and affronts, and carried ^^'""^ '"^f ''"i\r *" ^'''^ '" "'^ that insolent usage yet further than they had done before ;'" for some of them, with rude buti'et"initi :] a'nd' [others] indignity, hegan even to spit in his face, and to buffet him; and others scornfully smote him. [Matt. xxvi. 67. 64 abused and heat him : And, in derision of his title to the character he claimed, having ^^r ? a'.'^' ^'V *i . ■ II- ^1 rr- 1 7 ; ■ in ■ i i i n : ^ '^ ^" ' ^*^"'!i they had covered his eyes, the ojficers and servants struclc him on the face with the palms of their biindt'ulded him, [Maik.the hands, and on the head with staves : and, in a scoffing and contemptuous manner, asked servants] struck him on the 65 /i/w/,A'rtj//«£r, Now show us how thou canst divine; and if thou art indeed the true Messiah, hlindsj' and^'nsked h'im"^ prophesy to us, O \_lhou'] Christ, rvho is he that smote thee ? Such were the vile indignities s^iy'ng^. Propiiesy [unto us[ they oliered him ; and many other things they hlasphemously spake against him ;" so 8m"ote*^theeH^ ^Matt 'Lxv'i' that, on the whole, had he been the vilest malefactor, they could not have used him worse 5 67, C8. Mark xiv. 65.] and csmmon humanity, even in that case, would not have allowed of such barbarous ^s And many other things 1. •' blasphemously spake they insults. against hira. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. Thus was the patient Lamb of God surrounded by his blood thirsty enemies : Thus did the dogs encompass 63 — 65 him, and the strong hulls ofBashan beset him on every side: (Psal. xxii. 12, 16.) Thus was he brought as a MARK lamb to the slaughter ; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth : (Isa. liii. 7, 8.) XIV. ffe was taken from judgment, and sufiered the worst kind of murder, even that which had the appearance of 60, 61 being legal. But those gentle words which he dropped in the midst of all the injuries which were offered him, are JOHN surely worthy ever to be recorded and remembered. It had always been his care io provide things honest in the XVUI. sight of all 7nen : and as he answered with a most graceful and -courageous appeal to all that heard him, as to the 23 innocence and usefulness of his doctrine, — so it is well worthy our observation and reflection, that God so far MATT, restrained the rage and malice of hell, that no such false witnesses arose against him as could on the whole asperse XXVI. his character, or bring it under any brand of public infamy ; though Judas, as well as others, might have sought a 59, 60 reward, or at least an indemnity, for their own villany in accusing him. And indeed it is no inconsiderable instance of God's providential governmentof the world, that wicked men are restrained by this one remainder of reverence for the divine omniscience, and dread of his vengeance, from destroying the reputations and lives of his children ; especially in countries where (as in our own) the punishment which human laws inflict on perjury is so much below its desert. 63, 64 When Jesus was examined on oath he witnessed a good confession, and cited those that were nov*' his judges to appear at his bar. Nor was it a vain boast ! The Son of man is now sitting at the right hand of power, and will ere long come in the clouds of heaven : and then they that condemned, and insulted, and pierced him, shall ?nourn fiecause of him. (Rev. i. 7.) May wo be now so wise as to kiss the Son in token of our humble allegiance to him, lest he be then justly angry with us : yea, lest wc immediately /^ms/i from the xaay, when his wrath is but beginning to be kindled! (Psal. ii. 12.) SECTION CLXXXVI. Jesus is brought before Pilate. The Jews de7nand judgment against him, and Pilate examines him. Matt, xxvii. 1, 2, 11 — 14. Mark XV. 1 — 5. Luke xxiii. 1 — 4. John xviii. 28 — 38. Matt, xxvii. 1. Matt, xxvii. 1. SECT. Such were the vile proceedings of this horrid and malignant night, and thus was Jesus ['^ND straightway] when 186. condemned and treated as a malefactor by the Jewish rulers. And as soon as morning thec™ieV'prif>srs^[^heid"a''ctm- was come, all the chief priests, having put Jesus out of the room where the sanhedrim met, suitation with the] elders of MATT, consulted with the elders of the people, and the scribes, and the whole sanhedrim,"" ^''^^ ^The' whuir^ councin ^"*''^"- what method they should take to execute this sentence they had passed against Jesus, and against Je.sus, to imt him to how they might contrive to put him to death in the most severe and contemptuous t^eath. [Markxv. 1.] manner. 2 And after he had been insulted by the servants at the council-chamba-, when, for the 2 And wiicn (liey iiad greater security, they had bound him again,'' the whole multitude of them arose, and led J'Xou' niuiri'tu(fc''of''thom him away from thence to theprwtorium, (as it was properly called,) or to the judgment- arose, and] they led him hall, in which the Roman magistrate was used to sit for the despatch of public business : away[John, unto the hall of for the Jev/s being now a conquered people, and not having the power of life and death in m Carried that insolent u.sage yet further than they had done be- is something very remarkable in this expression. They charged fore.] Luke mentions these indignities before his being led to the him with blasphemy in asserting himself to be the Son of (iod ; but council, in which he tells us he was cxamine4 on oatii as above: the Evangelist fixes that charge on them because he really was so. but Matthew and Mark mention them as immediately succeeding a All the chief priests consnlteil, S(0.'] Many critics explain this his lieing condemned as guilty of blasphemy, in the answer he of their adjourning to consult together, from the house of Caiaphas, made when adjured by the high-priest ; and do not so particularly to the place where the sanhedrim used to meet : but it appears as Luke distinguish what hajipened in his examination at the hou.se from Luke, this was the place where they had before assembled of Caiaphas from other subsequent circumstances. The attentive and passed sentence upon Jesus, after his first examination in the reader will observe how they are formed in our compound text into house of Caiaphas ; and his account of this matter is so circumstan- one consistent narration. I do not see it necessary to suppose that tial, that I think it more reasonable to take these words in the order Christ answered to two adjurations, the one sotiie hours after the in which they are explained in the paraphrase. Compare Luke other. Matthew and Mark naturally enough relate the whole of xxii. 66. page 375. his examination together, though carried on in two difl'erent places ; b JVlien they had bound him again.] They bound him when he nnd it is probable some insults preceded, and otliers, yet more vio- was first" apprehended, but had, perhaps, loosed him while lie was lent, followed,his being thus solemnly condemned by the sanhedrim under examination : or else they now made his bonds stricter than as guilly of death. before, that so they might secure him from any danger of a rescue u Many oilier things they hhuphcmously spake against him.'}. There or escape, as he passed through the streets of Jerusalem. XXVII AND IS ACCUSED OF SEDITION. 377 iudgraent,] and ddivoml their hands, they could not execute Jesus without a warrant from the Romans j'^ owf/ there- sect. liim to l>outiiis Pilate tl.e fore t^ procure their order for his death, as well as to render it the more ignominious and ibo. fX"xxiii i'^Jo^hn''xviiV painful, they determined immediately to carry him to them; and to ask, not a confinna- 28.] ' tion of the sentence which they had passed upon him as a blasphemer, but a new sentence ^^'^J- of crucifixion against him as a seditious enemy to Csesar's government. Accordmgly, ^^^ • having conducted him to the proetorium, they in a solemn way delivered him, as a state prisoner of considerable importance, to Pontius Filate the procurator ox governor, whom Tiberius Czesar had some years before this sent among them. Jolin xviii. 28. And it And though by this time it was broad day-light, yet it was very early in the morning, John was caiiy, and tliey tbem- ^^^^^ much sooner than the governor used to appear : he was therefore called up on this ^v in. judi^n.eMt'i>'air\est'"ti'iey extraordinary occasion, but the?/ themselves -a-ent not into the palaco, of which thcjudg- ^^ sliouUl be defiled; but that inent-hall was a part, because it was the house of a Gentile, and they were apprehensive they migiit cat the pass- ^^^^ ^y^^,^^ should be polluted, and so prevented from eating those sacrifices which were *'^*'' • offered on this first day of unleavened bread, and were looked upon as a very considerable part of the passover, of which the paschal lamb, which they had eaten the evening before, was only the beginning. 29 Pilate then went out Pilate therefore, willing in this instance to oblige the heads of the nation he governed, 29 unto theit., and said, What complied SO far with their religious scruples, that, leaving the praetorium, he eame out of tWs'miu" ^""'" ^^ "^'^'"'* his house to them ; and finding it was an affair of solemnity, he erected his tribunal in an open place adjoining to it, as the Roman magistrates often did : and when Jesus was pre- sented as a prisoner before him, Pilate said to them, What accusation do you bring against this ?nan ? 30 They answered and They answered and said to him, with some indecent smartness m the expression, (the 30 said unto iiini. If he were consequence of a sccret indignation to find themselves curbed by a superior power,) We nol have'delfvered 'him up could not but have hoped you were so well acquainted with the sanctity of our court, and unto thee. ' the integrity of our character, as to conclude, that if this man were not a notorious offender,'^ \ce would not have brought and delivered him to thee ; for as we would be far from any thought of punishing an innocent man, so, if his crime had not been very great, we might have dealt with hun ourselves without thy concurrence. 31 Then said Piiate unto Then Pilate said to them. Take ye him back to your own court again, and judge him 31 them, Take ye hhu, and f,ccording to your4aw ; for I am by no means desirous of interfering with you in the youHaw'.^' "''"" '"^ ° regular exercise of your judicial power. And this he said with a view of shifting off'from himself an affair to which in the general he could be no stranger -^ and which he easily saw would be attended with many perplexing circumstances. —The Jews therefore Then the Jcxvs Said to him again. You well know that it is not now lawful for us to lawful'"for us"to mu a"i°y P«^ ""¥ ""^" ^^ '^^^"^^^ without your concurrence; (compare Matt, xxvii. 2."above.) but mL to d° ath. it is a capital crime of which the prisoner here before you is convicted ; and as, after a fair trial, he has received such a sentence in the sanhedrim, we only wait your wanant to proceed to execution. Luke xxiii. 2 And they And as Pilate could not but enquire of what crime he had been convicted, they resolved u:kk beg:an to accuse iiim, say- ^ mention that charge which mischt render him most obnoxious to the Roman power, and _XXIII. p"?Velui.g°ti',e'^m!tio.f and to represent the matter in its most^'malignant view ; and accordingly they began with great ~ forbidding to give tribute violence to accusc him, sa!/ing,,lt is not merely on a religious account that we have {ir^eTi^'Slfaking.'" brought him before you, but we have ^ho found this seditious Ifi-lloz^ pervnding the whole Jewish nation, from one end of the country to the other, and in eiiecijorbidding to pay tribute to Cwsar, by saying, that he himself is Messiah, a King whom many of the Jews have expected to rescue'them from all subjection to a foreign power ; and this claim he has had the assurance to avow in open court ; so that it is but a necessary piece of respect to thee, and to the emperor, whose lieutenant thou art, to bring him hitlier to be cNot having the power of life and death in their hands, &c.] 57, 58; xil. 2; xxii. 4, 5; xxiii. 27; xxlv. 6; xxvi. TO.) are cither That the Jewisli sanhedrim liad a power of trying and condemning directly answered in the notes, or obviated in the paraphrase, on men for crimes whicli the Jewish law made capital, cannot I think those places. be doubted, and has all along been taken for granted in this work, d A no/orioiis ofriidcr.'] So I render xixorao? in this connexion, and since the publication of the first edition, it has been abundantly because they had still the power of inflicting slighter punishments; confirmed by Mr. Biscoe's learned and elaborate di.ssertation on (he so that their bringing him to Pilate was a proof that they judged subject, in bis Sermons at Boyle's Lecture, chap. vi. part. i. p. 23, him to have incurred a capital sentence. The word vudcfaclor has et sen. ' But that they had at this time a po>ver of executing such much the same sense in our ordinary speech. sentences without Uie express consent of the Roman governor, e With a view of shifting off from himself, &c.] Pilate could neither Mr. Maune's remarks, {Essay i. p. 13—19.) nor Mr. Biscoe's not be entirely ignorant of the case before him; for he began his much laro-er argumentation, seem to me satisfactorily to prove, government at Jerusalem before Jesus entered on his public 1 still think what Dr. Lardner has written on the other side of the ministry ; and, besides many other extraordinary things whicli he question unanswerable ; and indeed wonder tliat any can doubt of must formerly have heard concerning him, he bad, no doubt, been the matter after reading this story. For surely notu'ing but a sense informed at large of his public entrance into Jerusalem, the begin- of necessity could, on the whole, have brought the Jewish rulers to ning of the week; and also of his apprehension, in which the Pilate on this occasion; since the rendering the execution itself Jewish rulers were assisted by a Roman cohort, winch could precarious, would have balanced the argument their cruelty might hardly be engaged in that service without the governor's express find in the contin'^ency of its being more painful, if it should in permission. It plainly appears by his whole conduct, how un- facl'be obtained. Compare John xviii. 3). above. (See Kr. Lard- willing he was to engage in this cause ; he seems therefore cautious ner's Credili part i book, i chap. 2. sect. 5, 0. Vol. I. p. G.^j— lOG. not to enter into the full sense of what the Jewi.sb rulers intended and Joseph Aniia Jud. lib. xx. cap. 9. [al. 8] ?. I.) And indeed - when they called him a malefactor; and answers them m am- the Jewish writers own that no such power was exercised by the biguous language, which they might have interpreted as a warr.ant sanhedrim for forty years before the destruction of the temple, as to execute Christ, if they found it necessary, and yet, which Dr Lin-htfoot shows "by several quotations from the Talmud, (Hor. would have left them liable to be questioned for douig it, and Hebr on Matt xxvi. ;{. and John xviii. 31.) though he supposes it might have given him some advantage against Uicm ; which a was only lost by their disuse of it, and was not taken from them man of his character might have wished. I'heir reply shows they l.y the Romans.— The chief arguments for their having such a were more aware of this artifice than commentators have generally power, (from Matt. xxvi. GC ; Jolinviii 33; xviii. 31 ; Acts vii. been. 378 JESUS IS EXAMINED BY PILATE. SECT, condemned, and indeed to leave him to be executed by you. And though tiioy aimed jolm xyiii. 32. 'I'hat iiic 186. at nothing more by this, than to make sure of their murderous designs, and to add new fy^,^"j|j"'„f,f^[J'' "" "s'mkT circumstances of shame and agony to the execution, yet Providence was pleased to over- signifying what (Uatu he JOHN rule it with a wise intent, that the saying of Jesus might thus be fulfilled, which he should die. XVIII. spake more than once, (see John iii. 14; xii. 32, 33j and Matt. xx. 19.) signifying or "^2 implying by -what kind of death he should die, even by being lifted up from the earth, or by crucifixion, which was a Roman punishment j whereas, according to the Jewish law, ; (Lev. xxiv. 16.) he would have been stoned, (as his servant Stephen afterwards was,) having been impiously adjudged by them to have deserved death as a blasphemer. (Com- pare Matt. xxvi. 63, 66 ; and Mark xiv. 64. p. 375.) MATt. And when he was thus accused by the chief priests and elders,' who aggravated the Matt, xxvii. 12. And XX \ ir. matter by the addition of many other things either entirely false or grossly misrepresented ; ^'jj|^',' ' p,.7e'sts'"'*and'' eMe'ls 12 reproaching him as a blasphemer, a sabbath-breaker, and a magician ; and, in a word, [of many things,] he an- omilting nothing which they thought might blacken his character, he made them W) ^^^^^\ notliing. [Mark 13 answer at all. Then Pilate said to him. Dost thou aiiswer Jiothing to all this ? Hearest ' J3 ' xhen saith Pilate thou not the several charges they produce against thee, or hast thou no concern to vindi- unto him, [Aiiswercst thou cate thyself from what they have alleged ? Behold, and consider, how many and how not'r'cBihold.f how many 14 great things they xcitness against thee. But still, as Jesus knew how little all his things they witness against apologies would signify, he continued silent, and did not answer him to any one word ; ^iiee. [Mark xv. 4.] ro DJ' 1,-71 11 ii i i c '4 And [Jesus yet] an- so that Pilate the governor was greatly astonished, and knew not how to account lor swered him to never a so uncommon a behaviour. """'. insomuch that [Pi- JOHN But yet, as the governor had heard an honourable report of Jesus, and observed in this lej^gJelTtlfl^^tMark xv"!] 'XVIII. silence an air of meek majesty and greatness of spirit, rather than tiny consciousness of guilt, Jolin xviii. 33. Tiien 33 or any indication of a fierce contempt, he was willing to discourse with him more privately j^^^tmenT-lmii'^aiai'n and before he proceeded farther. Pilate therefore entered again into the pratorium,w\\iQ\\ called Jesus : [and 'jesus he had quitted to oblige the Jews, (ver. 29. p. 377.) aitd called Jesus in : and [els'] Jesus stood before the go^■el■nor,] stood before the governor there, Pilate asked him, saying. Art thou indeed the king of iii^_ siytng,] Art thoirthe the Jews, and dost thou really pretend to any right to govern them ? king of tiie Jews? [Matt. 34 Jesus answered him. Dost thou say this of thyself, from the knowledge of any se- xxiYi'"] '^'"^'''^^' ^' ^"'^'^ ditious practices which thou hast ever observed in me? or is it only what thou hast 34jesus answered him, gathered from the present clamour made against me, and have others told it thee concern- Sayest thou this thing of V „ r o ' thyself, or did others tell it ingme? thee of me! 35 Pilate immediately replied. Am J a Jew ? or do I know any thing of your peculiari- 35 Pilate answered, Am ties, further than I am informed by others ? I do not at all pretend to it : but thou know- {^J^^J chief prrestrbave est that thine own nation, and those who are esteemed the most sacred persons in it, even delivered thee unto' me: the chief priests themselves, have delivered thee to me as a malefactor, and have charged What hast thou done? thee, among other crimes, with treason against Caesar, in setting up for king of the country : tell me therefore freely, what hast thou done to deserve such a charge ? for the more frank thou art in thine acknowledgment, the greater favour mayst thou expect. 35 Jesus answered him. My kingdom is not of this world, nor is it my business or design 36 Jesus answered. My to erect a temporal dominion, and to establish any claim which should at all mterfere with J'^^rfd " Tf n!y kmgaom were that cf Caesar, or of which any prince has reason to be jealous. Indeed, if I would have of this world, then would my entertained such views, I might have found support and encouragement from the very servants fight, that i should ' ° iz-Tii iiii_i /• 7 r jl ii"t be delivered to the persons who are now my accusers: and if I had asserted that w?/ kingdo7n was of tins jg^^^. tut now is my king- world, and had favoured such methods of defence, my servants, who professed of late so dom not from hence, great and public a regard to me, wotild resolutely have fought that I might not have been delivered to the Jews,s or would atteinpt even now to rescue me out of their hands : but now my kingdom is not from hence, not to be erected here ; and therefore I have been so far froni armuig my followers with secular weapons, that the guard who came to ap- prehend me know I forbade their making use of those thev had. 37 Pilate therefore said to Mm, Thou speakest however of thy kingdom and thy sub- ^^^^ ,^1'^^'^^^ ulou" a kmg jects : art thou then really a king ? then ?— ' And Jesus answered him and said, therein courageously witnessing a good confession, -I'^'f) -icsus answered (1 Tim. vi. 13.) Thou sayest [ng^t ;] I a?n indeed, as thou hast said, a King ; the King Lyest that T aSa king- of the Jews, and the appointed Head and Governor of the whole Israel of God ; nor will I To this end was i nom. and ever basely seek my safety by renouncing my divine claim to the most excellent majesty f'^'^^^ 'torlT'^tnatT should and extensive dominion : nay, for this purpose was I born, and for this end I came into |,car witness unto the truth- the world from another and much better abode, that I might bear witness to the cause Every j^^'^'j.^jjj'''^^^^''' ""^Jl'l of truth in general, and in particular to this great and fundamental branch of it : and ^J^U^ '^^v^ii.' u^ Mark I have given such ample proof of this, that eveiy honest and well-disposed person who xv. 2. Luke xxiii. 3.1 zs indeed a friend of the truth, heareih my voice, and pays an entire deference to my instructions.'' ' f And when he was thus acctiml, SfC.1 The reader may perhaps Lardner with his usual good sense observes) the populace appeared ooserve that I have transposed Matt, xxvii. U. and Mark xv. 2. zealously on Christ's side but a few days before; and the reason Butitisonly because I think the other Evang-elists relate the story of their turning against him was his not assuming a tempoial insuchanorder as to show the propriety of this little transposition, kingdom, as they certainly expected he would have done, (hee g My sprvnnfs would have foiiijht, <§•(;'.] Though our translation I,ardn. Credih. part i. book i. chap. 5. Vol. 1. p. 301.) Amt we ot nyic-v.^ovro may be more literal, yet, considering that our Lord may farther add, that a very small body of forces under a leader was now actually in the hands of his enemies, I think it plain that endowed with such miraculous power as Jesus lately exercised, it is to be taken in such an extent. It may be objected, that the might have been sufficient to vanquish all the llonian legions, number of Christ's disciples, had all the five hundred been assem- Compare note i, on John vi. 14. p. ICl. . . bled in arms, j;ould have been no match for the Jewish and Roman h A>crv person who is a friend of the Irii/h heareih my voice.] wower at Jerusalem. But it is to be remembered, that (as Dr. What our Lord here Bays incidentally, is to he regarded as an uni- REFLECTIONS ON CHRIST'S EXAMINATION BY PILATE. 379 is Pilate salih unto him, Pilate sai/s to liim, What is the truth which thou referrest to, and speakest of as thy SECT. M ii;it is truth? And when business to attest ? And when he had said this, as Jesus made a pause, and did not imme- 186. '^'it'r"1iin'*'uru'o^tlir Jew's' diately make him any answer, his hurry would not allow him to wait for it: so he ivcnt ami liith [to the cliief Old again to the Jeii'S, and said to the chief priests, and the people assembled with JOHN priests, and to the people,] them "abroad, I have examined the prisoner you brought me in private ; and I must freely XVIIJ. niau/i'"[Luke xxlii. 4°] '* declare that Ifnd no fault at all in this man, nor can I perceive that he is any enemy 38 either to the rights of Caesar, or the tranquillity and happiness of the Jews ; and there- fore do not see how I can with any ji'.stice condemn him to die. But his accusers refused to acquiesce in this, and advanced a more circumstantial charge against him, which gave occasion to that examination before Herod which will be related in the next section. IMPROVEMENT. How much exactness in the ceremonials of religion may be found in those who have even the most outrageous contempt for its vital principles and essential duties I Yea, how much of that exactness may be made subservient to the most mischievous and diabolical purposes ! These wolves in sheep's clothing would not enter into the house Vor. 28 of a heathen, lest they should be polluted, and become unfit to eat the pas.sover ; yet they contrive and urge an impious murder, which that very heathen, though he had much less evidence of Christ's innocence than they, could not be brought to permit without strong reluctance, and a solemn, though vain, transferring of the guilt from him- self to them. Justly might our Lord say, in the words of David, They laid to my charge things that I knew not. (Psal. luke XXXV. n.) But what can defend the most innocent and excellent against malicious slanders and defamations ! Or xxin.2. who can expect, or even wish, wholly to escape, when such accusations are brought against Christ, even by the matt. rulers of his nation, who should have been men of distinguishal generosity and honour ! But instead of this, they XXVll. were all an assembly of murderers, and lay in wait for their prey like so many devouring lions. 12 Pilate would renew the examination of the cause ; and so far he acted a cautious and an honourable part. Yet, John alas, how many that set out on such maxims want courage and resolution to pursue them ! But the courage of * Christ never failed. He witnessed before Pontius Pilate the good confession we have now been reading, ^^ ^"J (1 Tim. vi. 13.) and owned himself a King, though at the same time he declared (what it were to be wished all <^J his followers Irad duly regarded) that his f^ingdom is not of this world. Greatly do we debase it if we imagine ^o it is ; and most unworthy is it of those that call themselves the ministers of his kingdom, to act as if they thought it was. Yet such is the wickedness of some, and such the blindness of others in the Roman church, that though, of all the churches in the world, it is manifestly the most secular kingdom,' it arrogates to itself the name, not only of a part, but of the whole, of Christ's kingdom here below. Christ came to bear witness to the truth ; and a careful attendance to his testimony will be the best proof we 37 can give that we love the truth, and the best method we can take to make ourselves acquainted with it. And of so great importance is the truth, that it surely deserves the attentive inquiry and the zealous patronage of the greatest and the busiest of mankind. Let us not therefore, when we begin to ask v.'hat it is, like Pilate, hurry on 38 to some other care before we can receive a satisfactory answer ; but joyfully open our minds to the first dawnings of that celestial day, till it shine more and more, to irradiate and adorn all our souls. On the whole, imperfect as luke the character of this unhappy governor was, let us learn from him candidly to confess the truth, so far as XXIIL we have discovered it : let us learn, more steadily than he, to vindicate the innocent and worthy, and on 4 no terms permit ourselves, in any degree, to do hann to those in whom, on a strict and impartial inquiry, we can find no fault. SECTION CLXXXVn. ~ Pilate sends Jesus to Herod, who having treated hun with great contempt, sends him back again. Pilate in vain endeavours to persuade the Jews to consent to his release, who impiously prefer Bnrabhas, and per- sist in their demands of a sentence of crucijixion against Jesus. Matt, xxvii. 15 — 18, 20 — 23. Mark xv. 6 — 14. Luke xxiii, 5 — 23. John xviii. 39, to the end. ^ J ... , Luke xxiii. 5. Luke xxm. o. -^ r 1 1 i. And thev were tiie more IT was observed in the preceding section, that when Pilate came out of the palace he SECT, fierce, saying. He stirreth bore an Open testimony to the innocence of Jesus, and declared to the priests in the pre- 187. XongLurril Jewy be*: sence of the people, that " he found no fault at all in him :" but they not only continued — ginning: from Galilee to strongly to urge their accusation, but tt'tre ???orf t'/o/fwif than before, sr////;?o-, We assuredly J^^.^ *'"^ P}'"^^- know that he stirs up all the people, teaching the most dangerous and seditious doctrines ^^' • throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, that factious country, M'here he has 5 been most busy, and from thence making a progress even to this place, and gathering up followers every where by the way, to the apparent danger and damage of the state. 6 When Pilate heard of And when Pilate heard them speak of Galilee, he presently inquired if the man 6 Galilee, lie askeu whether whom they had brought before him was a Galilean. And findina: that he was of that 7 7 Anrt as soon as lie knew country, and therefore that he properly belonged to He'rod's jurisdiction, who was that he belonged unto He- tetrarch of Galilee, he willingly embraced this opportunity to clear himself of so per- rod-s lurisdiction, he sent piexing an affair, and immediately sent him away to Herod,^ who being himself a versal maxim, all sincere lovers of the trvlh will hear him: and Dublin has finely illustrated in his most ingenious discourse on accordingly St. John, with all simplicity, depending on the evi- these words. dences which he and his brethren had given of their mission from a He sent him to Herod.'] It may not be improper, for the sake Ciirist, lays down the same test, 1 John iv. C. We are of God ; he of those who are less acquainted w ith the Jewisli history, to observe, that knowelh God hearclh us. that this was Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, by whom John I It is manifestly the most secular kingdom] This Mr. Bovse of the Baptist had been beheaded, and whom Chriet had justly re- 380 SECT. 187. LUKE XX 11 1. 8 HEROD TREATS HIM WITH CONTEMPT, AND SENDS HIM BACK TO PILATE. cas also at Jerusalem in t/iosc dai/s, having come up to celebrate the passover him to iieioJ, who himscii also at Jerusalem at 10 II Jew, there. that time And -j.'hen Herod saw Jesus, he rejoiced exceedingly ; fur Ite had a long time been g Ami when Herod saw very desirous to sec him, because he had heard much concerning him in GaHlee, (com- Jesus, he was exceeding pare Luke ix. 7, 9. sect. Ixxvii.) and he now hoped that he shoukl have an opportunity so fee'hin'i' o'^ rhm^-^'sciso^ tar to satisfy his curiosity as to see some miracle done hi/ him, and might be able also to because he had heard many determine whether he was, as he had once suspected, John the Baptist risen from the dead, things of him; and he huiioH ,/-( T\/r ii • r. T rn \ A 7 1 ■ 1 1 ■ ■ ] ■ l" have seen some miniclo (Compare Matt. xiv. 2. p. 135.) Ana he examined him in manji •words, concerning a dojie by him. variety of particulars both as to his pretensions and the proof of his mission, as well as the ? 1 1'^n iie qucstimud tenor of his doctrine : hut as Jesus knew this was not a proper "time and circumstance to buMi'"™Dswercd"\inT no- enter into those questions, of which Herod might long ago have been sufficiently informed, thing. he made no answer. And the chief priests and scribes, whose malice had prompted them to attend him lo And the chief priests thither, stood in the presence of the king, eagerly accusing him of the same crimes which ^^^ scribes stood and vehe- they had before charged him with in their application to PHate. And Herod, -with those of his soldiers who now attended him as his life-guard, looked I mently accused him. 72 And the same day Pilate and Ilerod were ma^le friends together; for before they were at enmity MARK W.G ^ 11 And Herod with his upon Jesus with disdain, and treated him in a very contemptuous nuinncr, like a poor ™'^° ,"/ **'*,'"' *'^', 'j'™, ^'■ ■ 111 . 1 %.-,•' ,111 1 c 1 ■ . 1 nought, and mocked Ittm, inconsiderable creature who no way answered the account they had heard of him, neither and arrayed him in agor- saying nor doing any thing to gratify their curiosity ; and having derided [/;/«?] for pre- S'^"^^ ""o*^!^' ^"'' sent iiim tending to be a king, (as it was urged by his accusers he had done,) in public contempt of "^^^'^ ° ' "* '^^ that claim, whatever it was, Ilerod clothed him with a splendid robe^ and sent him back to Pilate, thereby intimating that he left him to do what he pleased with his prisoner, but that for his own part he apprehended his pretensions to royalty worthy of derision rather than serious resentment. And, whatever Pilate's real intentions were, the compliment of sending Jesus to be ex- amined by him, was so well taken by Herod, and Herod's sending him back to the Roman governor was, on the other hand, such a public instance of regard to him, that the same day Pilate and Herod became friends, and were reconciled to each other : for before Ijctweeu themselves, this, they were at enmity between themselves.^ And Pilate, having received an account of what had passed before Herod, called to- ■ 13 And Pilate, when he "•ether the chief priests, and the rulers, and with them the rest of the people who had ''^ll c^'.'^d together the '^ , ■ -, f- ,. A 1 •7j j7 t / 7 7^ ' ,/■ chief priests, and the rulers, appeared agamst him as his accusers, And said to tliem, 1 ou have brought me this man, and the people, Jesus of Nazareth, as one that has perverted the people, and taught doctrines injurious '^ ^^''* ""i". tliem, Ye to your religion, and also to the civil peace and the Roman government; and be- i^^J,\smie"that'ycrvert"th hold, I have examined [/^/w^] both in your presence Riid in private, and heard all that the people: and behold, I could be alleged against him : but I must solemnly declare that I have found no crime in '"^^'''S examined Inm be- ,, . i Ai^ ,1- ,7 , ; 7 7-^ 7- ,7 T ■ • ■'''"•' y°"' "^'"^ found no tills man as to t/ie tilings that you have charged him with ; nor can 1 in my conscience fault in this man touching think that you have made good any of the accusations you have brought against him : *>'"^'= things whereof ye Nor yet has Herod been able to make any such discovery; for I sent you to him with the '''^i5*'No,"nor yet llemd : prisoner, that you might do your utmost to convict him before that prince, who being a for I sent you to him, ami person of your own religion, and well acquainted with your laws and customs, might '" ^""/e'uiiioTi'm'^ "' '''^"'^'' have known more of the matter than myself; and yet behold, it appears to have been Herod's judgment, that nothing worthy of death has been done by him ;'^ for, instead 10 of sending him back like one who deserves a capital sentence, he has treated him like an idiot rather than a traitor, so as plainly to show that he thinks him merely the object of ridicule, or to deserve at most but some slight punishment. And therefore, when I have jo i will therefore chas. chastised him hy scourging, which will be an admonition to him for the future not to tise him, and release Aim. use those wild, enthusiastical expressions which have given so much umbrage and suspicion, / will let [/;/?«] go : and I believe you may depend upon it that he will give us no farther trouble ; nor would he have interest enough to do it, if he were inclined to the attempt. Now it was usual at the feast of the passover, [andl even was grown by custom in a 15 Mark xv. 0. Now at that »/• 7T-. ' i"" r i-i" " 111/' feast [the governor was maniaei 7ieecssary,'' jor the Roman i>-occrHor, when such multitudes were assembled from wont,] [Luke, nHrf of neces- prescnted as a fox. (Luke xiii. 32. p. 235.) lie was son to Herod to sacrifice at Jerusalem. (See Luke xii. 1. ? 110.) But M. Saurin the Great, under whom Christ was born; and uncle to Ilerod truly obL-jrves, that, considering on the one hand the jealousy of Agrippa, (by whom James was beheaded and Peter imprisoned,) the jews where any foreign power was concerned, and on the other who was ecileii by ivorms ; (Acts xii. 2, 3, 23.) and great-uncle to the oppressive measures generally taken by those who are invested that Agrippa who was by Paul's discourse almost ■persuaded to Ijccome with commissions, like tliis which Pilate bore, over conquered coun- n c/iristian. (Acts xxvi. 28.) — Christ's arraignment before him, when tries, and especially the accounts we have of his own bad character he was sent back uncondemned, was a great additional proof of the and conduct, their reconciliation is much more wonderful than falsehood of those accusations which the Jews had brought against their enmity. See Saur. Scrm. Vol. X. p. 246, 2J7. him as a seditious person, and particularly as one who had stirred d Nottting worthy of death has lieen done liy hiin.J The phrase up the people in Galilee. mv^xy/xim aulv, miist here have this signification, as the margin of b A splendid rnlie.'] This expression, EffM* >jf//ir;3v, docs not so our Rible renders it: for though this is something of an unusual prr.perly signify, (.is Le Clerc renders it,) a white robe ; nor was it, construction, yet as Raphelius (Annot. ex'ToTyb. \y-2^0.) has pro- as he supposes, intended as a declaration of his innocence. It was diircd many instances of the like nature, it would he much harshc!- rather some gorgeous garment which belonged to Herod or .some of to suppose that a capital sentence, or any treatment from Hirod his officers, and was, perhaps, grown old, and Ihey clothed him with which sl«ould intimate he thought Jesus deserved it, should he it in derision of liis having pretended to be a king. This usage was exceedingly insolent: perliaps the remorse of conscience wliicli Herod had felt on account of the murder of John the Baptist, might render him cautious how he joined in any attempt on the life of Jesus, which we do not find that he did. c They were at enmity between themselves.'] The cause of this enmity ran only be conjectured : perhaps it might he the slaughter which Pilate had made of some of the Galileans who liad come up called, a^iov Sivato, something worthy of death. e Usual — and in a manner necessary.l There was no law to oblige him to this; but as acts of grace are generally popular things, this seems to have been first freely used by the Komans to please their tributaries, and now by custom was in a manner estab- lished. I find no substantial reason to believe there was in the original of this custom any reference to the deliverance of Israel from the Egyptian bondage at this time. THE JEWS PREFER BAR ABB AS TO CHRIST. 3S1 sity he must] [release unto all parts, to release to the people ^\y^ one prisoner whoin they desired to be set at liborty, SECT, the people] one prisoner, whatever Crime it was that he was charged with. And there was then in Pilate's custody, 1S7. rM'atT°xx"vii.*''i5. '**^Luke « very iafamous and noted prisoner, -whose name was Barabbas, that lay bound with xxiii. 17.] sojnebthex ruffians who had made an insurreetion in the city in conjunction with him, makk uotable'^ ^'ds'oae7l named ^^'^ ^'''"^ ^"^ ^^*° committed murder in the insurrection ; and, besides the part he had ^'^• Barabbasf'Xcriay bound actal in this Seditious riot, he was a fellow of a most abandoned character, and known to with them that had made ijg ^ robber who had infested the highways with his villany ; so that it was genei-ally con- [Li'ke!'urthe 'city,] wi™ cluded he would receive sentence of death, and would be executed that day. And as the S , had committed murder in power of reversing or executing such sentences then jay in the Romans, the people there- wa's'aiobbe''r rrMau'x^^^^^^ f'^''''^ '^^'''''■" ^^'^H ''''''"'' .gathered together about the tribunal, began with a great noise and 10*.^ "'Luke'^xxiii. U). ' ^j'o'hli 'clamour to demand of Pilate [that ^he would do'\ at this passover as he had always done to xviii. 10.] f/if.,,1 i,poi-i the like occasions, and would discharge a prisoner. Itiurefwe, wh'en u,ey were And Pilate, hoping that he might preserve the life of Jesus, whose innocence he so 9 gathered togetiier,] crying clearly saw, determined to attempt it lay this method ; and accordingly, that he might alomi, 'j'-gT'iu to ''f '■;«=/"'" induce them to chuse him, he proposed no other alternative than that scandalous and out- 10 i.o as UQ iiaa ever iioiie ...i i • , j*i i i ±] t" unto them. [Matt, xxvii. rageous cnnunal whom we have just now mentioned, and answered tliem, saying, 1 ou 17;] X, p., , J have indeed a custom, that I should release to you one at the passover, and I am ready them, 'saying! IjohnT^Ye now to oblige you in this atFair: whom will you therefore chuse that I release unto have a custom, that! should you? Barabbas, that seditious and murderous robber? or this Jesus, who is called pasto^Tr 0 ^\Cm]^wii've ^Cliri^t, who, in 1 know not what strange sense, is pretended to be the king of the Jews, [Joim, ti'iereiore] that I re- and whom you seebelore vou in the fine robe in which Herod has thought fit to array him ? lease unt.T ynu ! [Barab- for he knew that the chief priests dLud rulers had not delivered him up into his hands 10 caUed Christ!]' the" king of ^om a regard to justice, but merely out ofe/jijj^^t his popularity^ and therefore he was the Jews? '[.Matt, xxvii. willin->- to make the proposal to the people in such atorai as iiiight be most likely to 17. Jolm xviii. 39.] ^,- ,f - 10 (For he knew that the SeCUie niS Ule. ,.,,.. , , . • xt ■ j n chief-priests had delivered But the chief pricsts and elders, vmo were exceedingly solicitous to obtain their end, 11 him for euvy.) [Matt, i^^gj. jj^jg artifice of the governor should defeat all their laboured scheme, ejeited the most ^"uBut the chief piiests forward of the people, [and] effectually persuaded the mob they had brought with them, I [and elders] moved [and f/j^f fJi^y should ask the governor, with a continual noise and clamour, that he would ^'erStl^^^t\l^i^'\^ rather release Barabbas to them ; that by this means the point they had in view might I should rather release Barab- be secured, and they might be sure to destroy Jesus. And therefore, when the governor matt. i J^s "TrMau' xxvif "^^oT ""■^"^'^'^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ *h^s manner, and said to 'them again. Take notice that your choice lies ^^'^'"• ; ^Matt xx\^ii.'2i!^'Thego- only between these, and therefore now determine for yourselves, which of the two do you ^^ vcruor answered and said desire I should release untoyou? Then, as their principals had prompted them, they luke twai'u*w^TvlVhat^"rd^^^^^ all cried out again with one consent, in the same noisy and tumultuous way as before, XXIII. unto you?— , saying. We will not have this l?nan,'] but Barabbas : away with tltis [jnan,'] and release 18 rJ.Mui th'ln'fthe^' rJAon, as au have inflicted such a punishment as this on any free Jew, would elegaut expletive, especially to introduce a question, probably liave been sufficient to have thrown the whole city and 382 JESUS IS SCOURGKD AND CROWNED WITH THORNS SECT, that, whatever was the consequence of it, y^e might be crucified: and on the whole, be might be crucified: and 187. notwithstanding the .farther remonstrance of Pilate on the admonition of his wife, (which J}"^ voices of them, and of will be mentioned in tlienext section,) their voices, and [those'] of the chief priests, (who, LMatt.'xx'Ti'.'as^. 'ftfcirkxv. LUKK to encourage the cry, had so little sense of common decency as themselves to join in it,) 14.] XXIII. prevailed with the governor, though contrary to the convictions of his own conscience, to 23 comply with their request. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. Behold how all imaginable circumstances seem to conspire to increase the infamy thrown on that sacred head 7 — 10 which now most worthily wears a crown of eternal glory ! Of a truth, O Lord, against the holy Child Jesus, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the chief priests, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel had determined before to be done. (Acts iv. 27, 28.) The I 1 1 wisest person on earth was by Herod and his soldiers derided as a fool ; the most deserving was condemned by I the chief priests ; and the most innocent was treated as a criminal by Pilate, and furiously demanded as a public victim by the Jews. All the proofs of his innocence are overborne by a loud and a senseless cry ; and those 21, 23 hosannas with which the streete and temple were so lately echoing, are exchanged into, Crucify him, crucify him ! So uncertain is human applause, and so unrighteous may human judgments be ! But in the midst of all, the blessed Jesus stands collected in himself. Firm as a rock, he bears the violence of the 18, 19 storm, and is not moved by all the furious waves that beat upon him ; and when he saw a robber and a murderer MARK preferred before him, and a sentence of the most cruel death clamorously called for and demanded against him, he •^V. silently connnits himself to him that judgefh righteously, who ere long brought forth his righteousness as 13, 14 brightness, and his salvation as a lamp that burneth. (Compare 1 Pet. ii. 23 ; and Isa. Ixii. 1.) Lord, if thou callest us out to share in thy sufferings, may the Spirit of God and of glory thus rest on us ! And may neither the scorn nor the rage of our enemies separate us from thee, who did so courageously bear all this for us ; nor may they ever sink us into any weakness of behaviour unworthy of those who have the honour to call themselves thy followers ! > t ': ^ ^ -xk: ■ '3 v:r -'n M - \ "fe Tt v SECTION CLXXXVin. Pilate having again and again renewed his efforts to persuade the Jews to consent that Jesus should be released, at length yields to their importunity, and delivers him up to be crucified. Matt, xxvii. 19, 24 — 31. Mark xv. 15—20. Luke xxiii. 24, 25. John xix. 1—16. John xix. 1. ,^„„ . , rri 1111 John xix. 1. SECT, i HEN, as the priests and people of the Jews continued their clamorous demand that Then Pilate therefore l*^-^- Jesus sl'ould be crucified, Pi7(7^t' thought it most advisable to seem at least to consent to it, took Jesus aud scourged and therefore took Jesus and scourged him ; hoping that, after he had been severely '""' JOHN scourged, the rage of the populace would be something abated, and they might at last be ■ prevailed upon to consent that he should be dismissed. MATT. Then the soldiers of the g-ouer«o/-,^ knowing that it was the Roman custom to scourge Matt, xxvii. 27. Then XXVII. prisoners just before "they were put to deatii, interpreted Pilate's order on this head as a toQu''j''',^''*°*^*^j'^rf°y'^P°'" ^^ declaration that he was immediately to be cmcified : and therefore they took Jesus, [and'] a«°ayi Into "he comrao™ led hi?)i away into the conunon-hall in Pilate's palace, which was called the pra'tor'ium, hall [called Prsetoriumj (as being the place where the prastor, a Roman magistrate, used to keep his court,) and t"ifoi?'band' "o/° MWi*«^ there they gathered to him the whole band or cohort, to insult and torment him, not being [Mark xv. le.i concerned to keep any measures with a person whom they looked upon as entirely aban- 28 doned to their will. And having stripped him of that splendid garment in which Herod [,i^"_ and [clothTd hfm'^ith had contemptuously dressed him, in order to vary the mockery and aftront, they wantonly purple, and] put on him a clothed him in a vest of imperial purple, [and] put on him a scarlet robe over it, that in j''o,^,\'"'!^|'^''.2 ; '^'^'"''^ ^^- ^^' 29 this gaudy dress he might have something of a mock resemblance to a prince : And, farther 29 And wheu [John, the to ridicule his pretensions to royalty, which they considered as an affront to their nation soldiers] had platted a and emperor, the soldiers having maliciously platted a crown of thorns, put it upon "t°upon his°'^he'ad,'Ynd "a his head,^' and put a large reed or cane into his right hand, to represent a sceptre: and reed in his right hand: and they began in a ludicrous manner to pay their homage and salutations to him as to a ^^^^l bo'lfed\ii° kneeliefoTe new-created prince on his coronation-day; [and] bowing the knee before him, they did him, {««', I am innocent of the blood of this just person: I see ye to it. 25 Then answered all the i people, and said. His blood he on us, and on our chil- :drcn. ' Luke xxiii. 24. And Fi- liate, [willing to content the {people,] gave sentence that lit should be as they re- iquired. [Mark xv. 15.] i 25 And he released to them [Barabbas,] that for isedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they ihad desired ; [and when he had scourged Jesus,] he de- livered him to their will to |be crucified. [Matt, xxvii. 26. Mark xv. 15. John xlx. |16.] Matt, xxvii. 31. And after that they had mocked him, Ithey took the [purple] robe oflF from him, and put his lown raiment on him, and led liim away to crucify him. [Mark xv. 20.] PILATE CONDEMNS JESUS, AND DELIVERS HIM TO BE CRUCIFIED. have execution done, as usual, before noon. And Pilate, finding he must, after all, yield to the people, and consent to the death of Jesus, lest his fonner struggle slrould be misre- presented at Rome, was resolved to manage this incident so as to procure from the Jews a public acknowledgment of Caesar's authority : and therefore, pointing to Jesus as he now appeared in this mock pomp of royalty, /le sai/s to the Jcics, who were present in vast numbers. Behold your king, if you think fit to own him, as it is said many of you have done. But //ze?/ again cried out with indignation and disdain, Airaj/ tvith [hini^ a-way with \liim ,•] we are so far from owning him, that we desire thee to crucify him. Pilate says to them. What, shall I crucify j/onr king ? How strange and how extravagant a demand is this! And the chief priests ansxocrcd, in the name of all the people. We have no king but the emperor Tiberius Casar, whose royal authority we aJl of us acknow- ledge, and will always maintain. And Pilate, seeing that it signified nothing any longer to oppose the popular torrent, but that they rather grew more tuinultuous by the delay, was determined however to do all he could to make his own conscience easy in complying with this their unjust re- quest ; and therefore he took water and washed his hands in the presence of the multi- tude," saying, I call heaven and earth to witness that I am innocent of the blood of this 7-ii73ri.] As liis former administration had given them a great deal of disgust, he might very probably think it absolutely necessary thus to appease them : yet they afterwards followed him with their accusations to his ruin ; and thus, by the righteous judgment of God, he lost all the advan- tage which he hoped to gain by this base compliance, as Felix did, when he afterward* injured Paul on the same unworthy principles. Acts xxiy. 27. q Having already scourged Jesus : JJ^xyeWwa!,] IMany critics, and among the restElsner, ( Observ. Vol. I. p. 125.) have shewn that scourging used to precede crucifixion; but as John, who is most exact in his account of this part of the story, mentions his having been scourged before, and says no'thing of the repetition of it, (which, considering Pilate's coiiviction of his innocence, he would probably spare,) I chuse to interpret tJie word in this manner, which the original will very well bear. r Th.ey took the purple robe of from him.'] It is observable, as we have seen above, p. 382. that Matthew (chap, xxvii. 28.) mentions a scarlet robe, xixxivw x'^*-""'^. and Mark (chap. xv. 17. as well as here,) a purple garment, Tr,t Trofpyejtv. I take not upon me to deter- mine whether either of these words be used for the other, waving, as in some other cases, the most exact signification ; or whether there were two garments used, a purple vest, and over that a scarlet Tobe. However, it is probable, whatever they were, Pilate, or any of his chief officers, would not cover his bleeding body with any- thing better than an old and perhaps tatlered habit, which answer- ed their contemptuous purpose much better than the best which the governor's wardrobe could have afforded 2 c 386 • CHRIST, BEARING HIS CROSS, IS LED AWAY TO BE CRUCIFIED. IMPROVEMENT. . ■ SECT. Let us now, by a lively act of faith, bring forth the blessed Jesus to our imagination, as Pilate brought him 1 88. forth to the people. Let us with affectionate sympathy survey the indignities which were offered him when he gave his back to the s?)iiters, and his cheeks to them tliat plucked off the hair ; and hid not his face from JOHN shame and spitting. (Isa. 1. 6.) Behold the man wearing his purple robe and thorny crown, and bearing the XIX. I reed which smote him, in his right hand for a sceptre ! Behold, not merely the man, but the Son of God, thus ^ vilely degraded, thus infamously abused ! Shall we, as it were, increase his sufferings, and, while we condemn the fury and cruelty of the Jews, sliall we crucij}/ him to ourselves afresh, and put him to an open shame ? (Heb. vi. 6.) Or, shall we overlook him with slight and contempt, and Iiide our faces from him, who for our sake thus exposed his own ? (Isa. liii. 3.) 7, 8 Let the caution even of this heathen judge, who feared when he heard he so much as pretended to be the Son of God, engage us to reverence him, especially considering in how powerful a manner he has since been declared MATT, to be so. (Rom. i. 4.) Let us in this sense have nothing to do with the blood of this just Person. Let his ex- xxvir. ample teach us patiently to submit to those sufferings which God shall appoint for us, remembering that no ene- 1 0 mies and no calamities we meet with could have any power against us, except it were given them from above. 24, 26 How wisely was it ordered by divine Providence, that Pilate should be obliged thus to acquit Christ, even while he condemned him ; and to speak of him as a righteous Person, in the same breath with which he doomed him to the death of the most flagitious malefactor ! And how lamentably does the power of worldly interest over conscience appear, when, after all the convictions of his own mind, as well as the admonitions of LUKE his wife, he yet gave him up to popular fury ! O Pilate, how gloriously hadst thou fallen in the defence of the xxiu. Son of God ! and how justly did God afterwards leave thee to perish by the resentment of that people whom thou 24, 25 wast now so studious to oblige ."* MATT. Who can without trembling read that dreadful imprecation, Mai/ his blood be on us, and on our children ! XXVn. Words which, even to this day, have their remarkable and terrible accomplishment in that curse which has pursued 25 the Jews through seventeen hundred years. Lord, may it at length be averted, and even turned into a blessing ! May they look on him -whom they have pierced, and mourn, till all the obstinacy of their hearts be subdued ! till they bow down in glad submission to that King whom God has set on his holy hill, and thus are brought themselves to reign with him in everlasting honour and joy ! SECTION CLXXXLX. Jesus, being delivered up bi/ Pilate to the rage of the people, bears his cross to Calvnn/, and is there nailed to it. Matt, xxvii. 32— 34, .38. Mark xv. 21— 23, 25, 27, 28. Luke xxiii. 26— 34. ' John xix. 16— 18. •JO"^' Xix- 16- JOHN Xix. 10. SECT. ]\0W after Pilate had passed sentence upon Jeiiis, to satisfy the restless clamour of the And they took Jesus, and 18J. Jews, and had delivered him to the soldiers to be crucitied, his prosecutors, having gained '^"^ '"" away, their point, hastened his execution ; and having insulted and abused hiin, (as was said xnf^fi before,) they took Jesus and led him away to that terrible punishment.* j^^^gg And, to expose him to the greater ignominy and reproach, and to prejudice the people Liikexxiii.32. And there XXTII more strongly against him, there were also two other \jnen, who were] condemned to die "''^■'e also two other maie- rl;^ i\ F uu J 111 t u * i^\ ii . / I factors led with him, to be 32 upon the cross tor a robbery, and were well known to be great malefactors, that were led put to death. out of Jerusalem with him, to be executed at the satne time j that in such company he might be thought to suffer for the worst of crimes. JOHN And Jesus, thus attended as a criminal, was led through the city, carrying a heavy John xix. I7. And he, XIX. part of his cross on his shoulders, according to the custom of those who were to be cru- ijeanng: ins cross, went forth 17 cified : and in this manner he went out of the city to a place which lay on the western ofa skull, whiclM'scal/ed in side of Jerusalem, but a little without the boundaries of it,'' which was called in the He- the Hebrew, Golgotha. brew language, Golgotha, [or'] the place of a skull ; because the bodies of many criminals, having been executed on that little eminence, were buried there. LUKE And as they led him on, Jesus was now so faint with the loss of blood, so very sore Luke xxiii. 26. And as XXIII. ^vith the lashes and bruises he had received, and so fatigued with the load of such a large they led iiim away, [they 26 piece of timber, that he was not able to proceed so fast as they desired, especially consider- ^^ by "name,] ivrarkf'the ing. how little time they had before them to finish their work. And as he was advancing slowly to the place of execution, they met on the road a poor African, who was a native s Leave thee to perish, &c.] Josephus (Antiq. lib. xviii. cap. 4. relates the tragical end of Judas ; but I hope I shall be indulged in [al. 5.] \ 1, 2.) expressly assures us, that Pilate, having slain a con- transposing it, partly that I may preserve a better proportion in the siderable number nf seditious Samaritans, was deposed from his length of the sections, and chiefly that 1 may not interrupt the im- government by Vitellius, and sent to Tiberius at Rome, who died portant story of Christ's passion : and I more easily allow mjself to before he arrived there. And Eusebius tells us, [Hisl. Ecctes. lib. do it, because probably the very same consideratioin-ngaged Mat- ii. cap. 7.) that quickly after, (having, as others say, been banished thew a little to anticipate it. Let it only here be oliserved, that the to Vienne in Gaul,) he laid violent hands upon himself, falling on death of this traitor seems to have happened before that of his his own sword. Agrippa, who was an eye-witness to many of his Master -. so speedily did the divine vengeance pursue his ag;gravated enormities, speaks of him in his oration to Caius Caesar, as one who crime. had been a man of a most infamous character ; ( Philo. Jtid. in Leg. b Carrying a heavy part of his cross, went out of the city, SfC."] ^ p. 1034.) and by that manner of speaking, as Velesius well observes. Dr. Lardner has abundantly proved from many quotations that it it is plainly intimated he was tnen dead. Probably the accnsa- was customary, not only for the Jews, (Nimib. xv. 3.5; iKingsxxi. lions of other Jews following him, had before that proved his 13; Acts vii. 58.) but aUo for the Sicilians, Ephesians, and Romans, destruction. to execute their malefactors wjthout the gates of their cities. (See a T/iey took Jesus and led him away.] It is evident this text is his Credibility, part i. Vol. I. p. 354, 355.) — AVhat our Lord carried parallel to Matt, xxvii. 3t. and Mark xv. 20. But I have here, as in was not the whole cross, but only that transverse piece of wood to some other instances of two or more parallel passages, put one at which his arms were afterwards fastened ; and which was called the conclusion of a former section, and the other at the beginning antenntp, or fiirca, going across the stipes or upright beam,\\\\'\c\\ was of the next, for a better connexion. — I may also add, that this seems fixed in the earth. Tliis the criminal used to carry, and therefore to me the exact place of Matt, xxvii. 3—10. in which the Evangelist was called furcifer. See Bishop Pearson, On the Creed, p. 203, 204. THEY GAVE HIM VINEGAR TO DRINK MINGLED WITH GALL. 387 father of AlcxaiiJor aud Rufus, who passed by, coming-out of the country, aad] they laid hold ou him ; 1 [and him they compelled 1 to bear his cross :] and on bira they laid the cross, that he might besr it after Jesus. ! [Matt, xxvii. 32. Mark xv. 21.] ■27 .\Dd there followed hi in a great company of l)eoplc, and of women, : which also bewailed and ! lamented him, I 28 But Jesus turning un- ■ to them, said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. 29 For behold the days arc [ coming, in tlie which they i .shall say, Blessed nrc the . barren, and the wombs that 1 never bare, aud the paps 1 which never gave suck. 30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us ; and to the hill.«, Cover us. 31 For if they do these tilings in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry ? Matt, xxvii. 33. And when they were come to [the] place called Golgotha, that is to say, [the] place of a skull, [Luke, or Cal- vary ;] [Mark xv. 22. Luke xxili. 33.] : 34 They gave him vinegar to drink, mingled with gall : and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. Mark xv. 23. And they [aho'] gave him to drink, wine luingled with myrrh ; but he received it not. of Cyrene, named Simon , the father of Alexander and Rufus, who afterwards became SECT. christians, and were of some note in the clim-ch : this Simon at that time was passing bif 189. as he came out of the coHnt>y to Jerusalem ; land~\ the// immediately /aid hold on [/i/w] as one fit for their purpose, finding him a strong man, and it may be, suspecting that he was luke a favourer of Jesus ; [_and] pretending that the authority of the Roman governor empowered Jj^^^^' them to press any they met for this service, they compelled hiin to carry at least one end of his cross; and accordingly on him they laid the cross, that he might carry it after Jesus. And a great multitude of people crowded after him to see the crucifi.xion ; and particii- 27 larly, a considerable number ofxoomcn who had attended his ministry with great delight, fjlloxi-ed him on this sad occasion; who were so tenderly affected with the moving sight, that they not only pitied him in their hearts, but also vented their concern in tears, and bc-Lvdiled and lamented him in a very affectionate manner. But Jesus turning to them, 28 said, Alas, ye daughters of Jerusalem, UK'ep not for me, who am v/illing to submit to all the sufferings appointed for me, as what I know will issue in the salvation of my people, and in my exaltation to the highest glory ; but rather xveep for yourselves and for your children, in consideration of the dreadful judgments that these crimes will quickly bring upon this wretched people, whose calamities will be of much longer duration than mine. Foi; let it be remembered by you as my dying words, behold the days arc surely and 29 quickly coming, and some of you may live to see them, in which the innocent blood which this people ha\e imprecated upon themselves, shall come down upon their heads in so terrible a manner, that tlieii shall have reason to say, Happy [«;■(•] the barren women, and the -wombs which ne-ar Zi«/-f children, and the breasts that never suckled them : for as relations are multiplied, sorrow shall be multiplied with them, and parents shall see their children subject to all the miseries which famine, and pestilence, and sword, and captivity, can bring upon them. Then shall they who are now triumphing in my death, be 30 trembling with horror in expectation of their own ; and, considering present calamities as the forerunners of future, yet more intolerable miserieJi, shall begin, in despair of the divine mercy, to say to the mountains. Fall on us; and to the hills. Cover z^i- from the more dreadful pressure of God's wrath, which is kindled against us. For fthey do these things 31 in the green wood, what shall be done in the dry ? If such agonies as these fall upon me, who am not only an innocent person, but God's own Son, when I put myself in the stead of sinners, what will become of those wretches who can feel none of my supports and con- solations, and whose personal guilt makes them as proper fuel for the divine vengeance as dry wood is to the consuming fire ? At length they arrived at the place of e.xccution : and when they were come thither, matt. even to the place which (we before ob.«erved) was called in Hebrew Golgotha, that is to XXVU. say, the place of a skull, a little without the city [on'] Mount Calvary, (which was the ^3 usual place for executing criminals, and seemed a proper spot of ground for tlie purpose, as on account of its eminence the malefactors crucified there might be seen at a considerable distance, and By^' great number of spectators j) IV/fv proceeded to the fatal purpose for 34 which they came: and as it was customary to give to dying criminals a potion of strong wine mmgled with spices, to cheer their spirits, and render them less sensible of their suf- ferings, the soldiers who attended him gave him nothing better to drink than vinegar mingled with gall, by that odious mi.Kture farther expressing their cruelty and contempt : and when he had tasted [of ii,\ that he might submit to every distasteful circumstance which Providence allotted to him, he would not drink any large draught of it, as know- ing it would answer no valualjle end to do it. And, as some of his friends had on that mark occasion provided a cofdiaTcup, th7y gave him [also] a draught of generous wine to XV. drink, iningled with myrrh and other spices, which they thought proper on that sad oc- ^3 casion f hut he did nut receive [it,] determining to bear Ihe full force of his pains unal- layed by any such preparation, and to maintain his thoughts in the most vigorous exercise. > A)id it was now the third Iiour of the day, or nine o'clock in the morning,'' when 25 they thus brought him to Mount Calvary ; and there, when all things were made ready, they nailed his hands and his feet to the cross, Sind cruc/fed him. And they also crucifed21 with him the two malefactors, [or] robbers, that were mentioned before, the one on his right ha)id, and the other on his left ; and they placed Jesus in the midst, as a mark of 2.5 And it waa the third hour, and [there] they cru- cified him : [Luke xxiii. 33. John xix. 18,] 27 And with him they crucify [Luke, the malefac- toi-s, or,] two thieves, the one on his right hand, and the other ou his left,] c Tliey gave him also wine to drink, mingled ivith myrrh.'] Some think this was sour wine, called vinegar by Matthew ; but I appre- hend the reasons which Dr. Edwards has produced (Exercit. part li. No. 2. p. 178—188.) surti-ciently prove that this wine mingled with myrrh was a different mixture from the vinegar and gall which he received so far as to taste it. Probably those pious women, some of them (as the story shows) persons in plentiful circumstances, whose zeal engagwrtheni to follow him to Calvary, an3 afterwards .so liberally to prepare unguents and aromatic drugs for his em- balming, had provided on this sad occasion some rich wine temper- for departing from the authority of all the best co- nt versions : (See Dr. Mill, in loc.) Nor can 1 think, 'ith choice spices, which with perfect propriet^ie refused to taste, lest malice should insiniiafe Tie ThTended'tllereby to himself insensible of the terrors of death. eby to render d It was now /he third hour of the day, or nine o'clock in the morning.] I can by no means agree with Vossius ar.d some other critics, to read it here the sixth hour, for there ought to be very cogent reasons for pies and ancient with Heinsius, that these words in INIark refer not to the hour of the day in which Christ was crucified, but to the length of time he had been upon the cross when hi< garments were divided, which Mark had spoken of just before, in ver, 24. For as Mark mentions the sixth and the ninth hour, (ver. 33.) this interpretation would oblige us to conclude, either that Mark used two very different ways of computation within the compass of a few verses, or else that Christ did not expire till he had been nine hours on the cross. And as these objections equally lie against Godwyn's hypothesis, {Moses and Aaron, book iii. chap, i,) that we are here to distinguish between the four larger and twelve smaller hours into wbicli the day was divided, T do not think it necessary more particularly to consider it, though the learned Gerhardus in his Harmony, prefers it to all otiiers. Compare note ra, on John xix. Jl, ? 188. p, .'J84. 2c 2 liS8 ' REFLECTIONS ON CHRIST'S CRUCIFIXION AND PRAYER. SECT, the greatest indignity, to prejudice the multitude the more against him, and to induce them [JohD, and Jesus in the 189. to regard him as the most infamous criminal of the three. And thus t/ie scripture was ^'k*'^ f.')^-''"- '"']'''• ^- remarkably fulfilled, (Isa. liii. 12.) ia 'which the prophet Isaiah, speaking with an amazing ig.] ' ■ • ° " ^'x- MARK plainness of the suiferings of the Messiah, saith, "And he was numbered with the 28 And the scripture XV. ^^ transo:ressorsr^ was fulfilled, ^vt,ich saith, . i*^, , r ■ I • 1 11 1 And he was numbered With LUKE And Jesus made no manner of resistance to this cruel violence, nor did he revue them the trans^rressors. XXIII- even when they were distorting his limbs as on a rack, and nailing his hands and his feet Ji^^J^ ^''F'ti'^^' f '^'■'^" on the full stretch to the acQursed tree; but, in the midst of his anguish, he breathed out them, 7oT'they"^k'uow^not his soul in a compassionate prayer for his murderers : and pleading the only excuse which what they do. ■:the most extensive charity could suggest, he said. Father, forgive them, for they k?iow not what thei/ are doing :' The Roman soldiers, who were the immediate instruments of his death, having indeed but little knowledge of him ; and the Jews, v/ho were the authors of it, through their obstinate prejudices not apprehending who he was: "for if they had " known him, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (1 Cor. ii. 8.) IMPROVEMENT. Here let us pause a while, and make a few serious reflections on this amazing story, which the Evangelists JOHN relate with so much simplicity. Behold the Son of God bearing his cross, fainting under the load of it, and at XIX. length extended upon it and nailed to it ! Him they took, and with wicked hands crucified and slew him. (Acts 1 /, lo ji_ 23.) Blessed Jesus, was it for this that thou didst honour our nature by an union to thine ov/n, and come from thy throne of glory to visit these abodes of misery and guilt ! Was it for this that so many gracious discourses were MARK delivered, and so many works of love and power performed ! for this, that thou mightest be treated as the worst of XV. criminals, and suspended on a cross in the air, as if unworthy of a place on earth even to die upon ! Amazing and Z I, za lamentable sight ! Justly, O sun, mightest thou blush to see it ! justly, O earth, mightest thou tremble to support it ! LUKE Lord, like these pious women who had the zeal and fortitude to attend thee when thine own apostles forsook xxm. thee and fled, we would follow thee weeping : yet not for thee, but for ourselves, — that our guilt had brought us 27, 28 under a condemnation from which we could be redeemed by nothing less than the precious blood of the Son of God, that Lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Pet. i. 19.) — We would behold herein the goodness and the severity of God : (Rom. xi. 22.) for while the riches of his goodness are displayed in his providing a ransom for the redemption of lost sinners, an awful proof is given of the severity of his justice in his not sparing his own • Son, nor exempting him from the sorrows and sufferiiigs due to sin, when he came to put himself in the stead of sinners: and may we not in such a view tremble for fear of him, and be afraid of his judgments ? (Psalm cxix. 120.) Who can support the weight of his indignation, especially when it shall come aggravated by the 31 abuse of so much love ! Jf these things be done in the green wood, what shall be done in the dry ? And if such suiferings be inflicted, where there was not any personal guilt to kindle the flame, on one who only answered for the sins of others, what then will be the end of those who, by their own iniquities, are become as fuel prepared for the fire, and are as vessels of wrath fitted to destruction ? 33 How sliocking is it to behold the vile indignities that were put upon a suffering Jesus, and to reflect upon the cruel treatment that he met with from his insulting enemies ! Yet have not we been verily guilty concerning this matter ? (Gen. xlii. 21.) Are not we chargeable with despising Christ ? and have we not crucified the Son of God 34 afresh, and put him to an open shame ? (Heb. vi. 6.) O may that apology be heard in our favour, — Fatiier, I forgive them, for they know not what they do ! For surely sinners do not know what they do, when they pierce Christ by their sins, and turn away their faces from liim. But under all his sufferings, how amazing was his meek- ness ! and how compassionate the concern which he expressed for his most cruel persecutors ! May we learn patience, and love to our enemies, from so bright an example of it ! May we like him, bless them that curse us, and pray for them that despitefully use us and persecute us! (Matt. v. 44.) Instead of being ingenious to aggra- vate their faults, and to paint them in the most shocking colours, let us rather seek for the best excuses which even the worst of causes will fairly bear ; influenced by that charity which, unconstrained, believes no evil, and hopeth all things even against hope. (1 Cor. xiii. 5, 7.) Ibid. Gracious Saviour ! thy dying prayer, and thy dying blood, were not like water spilt upon the ground ; they came up in remembrance before God when thy gospel began to be preached at Jerusalem : and multitudes who were now consenting to thy A&xih, gladly received thy word, and were baptized : (Acts h. 41.) and they are now in glory, celebrating that grace which has taken out the scarlet and crimson dye of their sins, and turned tiiat blood which they so impiously shed, into the balm of their wounds, and the life of their souls. \j sj^ .'i. f; . \ & ^ 5 • SECTION CXC. Christ's garments are divided by lot ; and while he is himself insulted on the cross, he shows his merci/ to the penitent thief. Matt, xxvii. 35—37, 39—44. Mark xv, 24, 26, 29—32. Luke xxiii. 34—43. John SECT. xiv iq 94 190. '''''• ^^ ^^- , . ^, John xix. 23. John xix. 23. JOHN T^HF. soldiers therefore, when they had thus crucified Jesus, took his garments, which J^^'j'.d"^ ^"''I'^'j*' j^^"' XIX. according to custom they had stripped off, that the shame of suffering naked might be took his garments, '^anii e And he was nvmbered with the transgressors.'] I chuse, in quo- f Father, forgive them^^-c.] This is one of the most striking talions from the Old Testament, to keep as close to our English passages in the world. While they are actually nailing- him to the version of the passage quoted as tiie Greek will allow me, that the cross, he seems to feel the injury these poor creatures did to their memory of the hearer may assist him in distinguishing the text ; own souls, more than the wounds they gave him ; and, as it were, to else I should have rendered m^ij.:oi, criminals, as the word O'SDS, forget his own anguish in a concern tor their salvation. I render n which Isaiah uses, seems also to signify. The least offence is a ktoiouti, what they arc doing, as thinking that version most ex- transgression of the law of God, or a stepping over the boundaries pressive of the present circumstance; and indeed- it is the exact he has prescribed ; but this imports much more. import of what grammarians call the present tense. THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND RULERS MOCK AND DERIDE CHRIST. 389 nfade four parts, to every added to all the agony of the cross ; nnd as it v/as usual for the executioners to have the sect. soldier a part; [Mark, cast- garments of the Criminal whom they put to death, they rnade four parts of his clothes, 190. every' nia"f ''shouw''take^] assigning to each soldier of the quaternion employed on that occasion a part, and casting and also his coat: now tiie lots upon them, "which of the four each man should take'; and they took also the vest, or John ^"oven^^^fron^'^^the ""^'top inner-garment : now the vest had tliis curious circumstance attending it, that it was without X'^'- throughout. [Matt, xxvii! any seain at all, heing rcoven fro?n the top throughout in one whole piece.* And as 24 35. Mark xv. 24. Luke ^j^jg y^^g^ considered by them as more valuable than ordinary, the?/ said therefore one to ^"24 They said therefore another. Let US not spoil this coat, as we must do if we go about to tear it into four parts, among themselves, i,et us hut let US cast lots for it, whose the whole of it shall he : and accordingly they did fo"r' u "whose Yt*shaU b'e*! ^0, that the Scripture spoken by the prophet David in the person of the Messiah 7night that tiie scripture [spokeii thus <5fi literally /"w/;?//fr/, which saith, (Psal. xxii. 18.) "They divided jny garments J?y "'*^l"'"P''«y 'u^Ti ^^ " ^"'("^S them, and cast lots for my vesture:"" These things t'herefore the soldiers did, parted my "aiment 'among though with the utmost freedom as to themselves, yet by the secret disposal of Providence, them, anil for my vesture which, by an undiscemed influence on their minds, led them to act in a remarkable cor- ti'imgs''i'hereforethesoklicrs respondence to the divine orack. And having done this, they sat down near the cross, matt. did. [Matt, xxvii. 35.] and guarded him and the other two who were crucified with him, that none might come ,^^ "• Matt, xxvii 36. And fjj^j,^ ^q rcscue them before they were quite dead.*" ^^ silting down, they watched 1 1 ^^ 1 i.i- j • c n ■ si j. ^i, i ■ n^ him there : And, as the usual method was m cases 01 crucifixion, they put upon the cross, over his 37 37 And set up over his Jicad, a superscription in capital letters,*^ containing the substance of his pretended crime, \^ ^accu"a'tfou"'''wri°te2 "i^'ritten in these remarkable words, THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE THIS IS JESUS [John! KING OF THE JEWS. And indeed it was Pilate who wrote [this'] title, and johx Ki^VG ^OF^TH^'''jK\vs Ordered them to put it on the cross ; which, howsoever it was designed as a reproach to ^'^• [Mark xv. 20. Luke xxiii! Jesus, was in effect a declaration of his real character ; and, by the secret providence of ^^ 38. Joini xix. 19.] God, was Overruled in a remarkable and public manner to proclaim the kingdom of wrote "the']' tuie,lnd put* t Christ, while it was only meant to expose and ridicule his title to it. Many of the Jews 20 on the cros?. ' therefore that came up to the feast of the passover, read this inscription ; because the 20 This title then read ^/^^^ where Jesus was crucified was near to the city, and lay but just without the gates : ]!iace where Jesus was rru- and, that the inscription might be generally understood, it was expressed, by Pilate's order, citi.-d was nigh to the city: j^ three languages, and written both in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin letters, so t 'is ^^o^^ Hebrew,'" [audi ^^^^ '^ might easily be read by Jews, Romans, and most other foreigners."" (■I. ek, [aiul] Latin.' [Luke Now when the inscription was drawn up, the chief priests of the Jews were very much 21 ^^'M Then said the chief offended at the form in which it was expressed, and therefore objected against it, and said pi usts of the Jews to Pi- to Pilate, Do not write. The king of the Jews ; for we entirely disown him under that lat.^ Write not, The king character, as thou v.-ell knowest ; but rather write that he said, I am the king of the Jews. sail/, 'fanrkfm'o" the' Jew's*^ But Pilate, who was very much displeased at the importunity by which, contrary to his 22 22 Pilate answered, wiiat inclination and judgment, they had extorted from him the sentence of death he had passed vvritt'en "'^'"'^°' ' ''*^^ upon Jcsus, answered with some warmth. What I have written, I have written ; and. Matt, xxvii. 39. And whoever may object against it, I am determined it shall stand as it is. [Luke, the people stood be- When therefore they were unable to procure any alteration, they v/ere determined pub- matt . passed" bv!" reviled^ him' 'icly to tum it iuto ajest , and therefore some of them went in person to Calvary, to insult XXVli wagging their heads, [Mark and scoff' at Jesus, even in his last moments. And the common people that stood behold- "9 XV. 29. Luke xxiii. 35.] . - _ 40 And" sayfng,' [Ah,] "'o ^he execution, reviled him ; and even they that passed by on the road blasphemed thou that destroy'est the him, shaking their heads at him, in an upbraiding, scornful manner; And saying, Ah, 40 temple and buildest ;/ in f/ig^^ yJ^jQ boaster, that wouldst destroy the temple, and build it again in three days ! let three days, save thyself: r .1 . ,; if 1 ■ n Ji ^ • 1 1 j 7 c< j' r~i j ■ [and] if thou be the Son of US uow see if thou canst save thyself, and ij thou art indeed the iion oj God, give us a God, come down from the proof of thy power UOW, and come down from the cross ; for in thy present circumstances "^Ti^Likew^sf also Uie d\ief that will be the most proper miracle thou canst work in confirmation of thy pretended mis- priests, [Luke, and the sion. And in like manner also, the chief priests, together with the scribes and ciders, 4] rilipd f!im a!ut\ fraockin^' °"^ ^^"^ rulers also thcmselvcs, the malice of whose hearts had made them to forget the sa'i.r amoiig" the'mseivesj dignity of their characters, and to attend among the mob upon this base and barbarous with the scribes and elders, occasion, joined with them in their scofTs, and with a scornful sneer derided him ; [and'\ giark XV. 31. Luke xxiii. j,jgc].jn„^ g^i^i p„g fg another. Ay, this \i he that saved others, and undertook to give them_ 42 42 He saved others, him- perfect deliverance and everlasting happiness; [huf] now you see he cannot save himself be^[Luk?"chHsrthe'ch^o! ^^"^ ^^^^ "^°^^ infamous execution : if he be really the true Messiah, the Elect of God, and, a JFoven from the top throughout in one whole piece.] Perhaps c That none might come to rescue them, &c.] This was the this curious garment might be the work and present of some of the more necessary in this kind of execution, because the wounds pious women who attended him, and ministered to him of their given in crucifixion were not generally mortal. The person cru- substance. (Luke viii. 3.) The hint here given of its make, has cified died partly by the loss of blood, if any large vessel was set some mechanical heads to work to contrive a frame for weaving pierced by the nails, when nails (as here) were used; but chiefly such a vest ; amTT^gocicr cut of it may be seen in Calmet's Die- by the violent distortion of the limbs, which were stretched fortli /lonarv, on the word Vestments. Vol." Ill, p. 119. as on a rack: a circumstance which must, no doubt, occasion b Tliey divideilmy garments amon^j them, {If c.'] We are no w4i ere exquisite anguish, told that David's goods were thus divided ; aud there are several d They put over his head a superscription.'] This Bishop Pearson other passage' in the xxiid psalm, particularly that in which (On the Creed, ^. 205.) and Dr. Lardner, [Credibility,\t3.vii.hook mention is made of piercing his hands arid his feet, to which no i. chap. 7. \ 10. Vol. I. p. 347,) have abundantly proved to be usual circumstance of David's personal sufferings seems to have borne in cases of any extraordinary punishment. any resemblance. It therefore seems to me exceedins probable, e In Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin letters.] It was written in that in this scripture and some others, the mind of the prophet Latin, for the majesty of the Roman empire; in Greek, for the was thrown into a preternatural ecstasy, in which, on some secret information of the vast numbers of Hellenists wlio made use jjf intimatijon given to liim that he therein personated the Messiah, he that language, as indeed most provinces of the Roman empire did ; wrote expresslv what the Spirit dictated, v/ithout any particular re- (see Brerewood's Inquiries, chap, i.— iv,) and in Hebrew, as it was gard to himself; so that David might, for any thing I can find, with the yulgar language of the place.— Tiius the inscription set up in , ■ equal propriety have written such a psalm, if his whole life had the femple, to prohibit strangers from coming within those sacrea^ I been as prosperous and peaceable as the reign of Solomon his son. limits, was written in all these three languages. See Joseph. Bell. (Compare 1 Pet. i. 10—12.) Jud. lib. vi. cap. 2. [al, vii. 4.] } 4. 390 THE DIFFERENT CONDUCT OF THE TWO MALEFACTORS. SECT, in consequence of that divine choice, be the king of Israel, as he has so often pretended, sen of God,] the king of 190. let him now come down from the cross [(ntd'\ save himself (I'om death, t/nit -we may see ''*"'^'' ''^'- '""' now come a demonstration of his saving power, and we will then believe himJ Nay, they were at aJi'^save iiimseif°i^^['tiia"w^e said, I am the Son of God: the priests themselves not observing that this was the very ''i™ ,''^\'y?''. i"ny^"J^> 'f .''e language which the murderers of the Messiah are there described as using. i am tUe^Son of God. ' ' i.UKE And the soldiers also who kept guard at that time, joined with tlie rest of the spectators, Luke xxiii. 36. And the XXIli. and mocked him ; coming to him, and offering him vinegar to drink in the midst of soldiers also mocked him, 37 his agonies; (compare John xix. 29. p. 392.) And saying^as the rulers and people had J^i^^him Ihie-™';'""' "''*'' done. If thou art really, as thou hast frequently pretended, the king of the Jews,^ before 37 And saying, If thou thou undertakest to deliver them, save thyself imm our power, and so begin to assert thy ^^ t''*^ •''"p "^ ^'"= ■^«**' claim to a supreme authority. '''^"^ '^^"^ 39 And one of the tnalefactors also,^ who hung on the cross with him, regardless of that 39 And one of the male- innocence and dignity which Jesus manifested under all his sufferings, and unaffected with f^ftors [also] whicli were a sense of his own aggravated guilt, upbraided him with the same [i-eproach, and'\ scorn- iIfra°"Lt''th"samr^in^^'i'is fully blasphemed him as an impostor, saying. If thou art the Messiah, why dost thou not teeth, and] railed on him, 40 save thyself and us, who are now dying with thee ? But the other, awakened to a sense gij^"\f; .'gif and ^s ™ati' of his sin, and convinced in his heart that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah, answei^ed xxvii. 44. iWark xv. 32.] his companion, and rebuked him, saying, Dost thou not fear God, even now w-hen thou . ^t* ^^^ the other answcr- thyself art in the same condemnation ? In such an awful circumstance as this, dost thou Cosi'^iiot thou"fear^o3! dare to increase thy crimes with thy dying breath, and to behave thysetf so insolently in seeing thou art in the same 41 the immediate view of God's righteous tribunal? And we indeed are justly thus con- •^"n«'e"i"»*icn^ J I /- • tu I i ■ J r 1^1 i ■ -^ ■ 1 ■*' Andwe indeedjustly; demned 5 jor we receive no more than wliat is due Jor tlie notorious crimes we have for we receive the due xit- commilted : but this [jnan'] has done nothing by any means amiss, nor is there the least "■'"■'^ of our deeds.- but this insolence or absurdity in that high claim which he has made, though appearances be for ^'J|!;s " ^ "^"'"^ °° ""^ 42 the present so much against it. And having thus rebuked his companion, and testified his 42 And he said unto Je- fuU persuasion of the innocence of Jesus, //e then directed his discourse to him, and said to *",'' ^,""'' '''^"^^"^l"?'' "i^ Til- 1 • ,1 ,1 1 1 1 . 1 .1 . , •, IT., , when thou coraest uito thy Jesus, looking upon him with the humblest and the most contrite regard, Ijord, though kingdom, this wretch derides thy mission, I firmly believe it ; and I beg that thou wouldst graciously remember me when thou comcst info that thy kingdom, to which I doubt not but God 43 will raise thee in spite of death and hell.' And Jesus, turning towards him, said to him, 43 And Jesus said unto with a mixture of the greatest dignity and mercy, Ferity I say unto thee, and solemnly !p''"j^'^^''^i/fi'^ "'h° w'ftu assure thee of it as a most certain truth, that this very day thou shall be with me in para- me in paradise. disc, sharing the entertainments of that garden of God, the abode of happy spirits when separate from the body ^^ and there shall thy departing soul, as soon as thou hast breathed thy last, immediately begin to reap the fruits of that faith which breaks through so dark a cloud, and honours me in the midst of this infamy and distress. IMPROVEMENT. JOHN How great and glorious does the Lord Jesus Christ appear in the midst of all those dishonours which his enemies XIX. were now heaping upon him ! While these rapacious soldiers were dividing the spoils, parting his raiment among 23, 24 them, and casting lots for his vesture, God was working in all, to crown him with a glory which none could take from him, and to make the lustre of it so much the more conspicuous by that dark cloud which now sur- rounded him, MATT. His enemies upbraided him as an abandoned miscreant, deserted both by God and man ; but he (though able XXVII. to have come down from the cross in a moment, or by one word from thence to have struck these insolent wretches 39 — 43 dead on the place, and to have sent their guilty spirits to accompany the fiends under whose influence they were) f He saved others, Sfc.'] Nothing could he baser than thus to hence, that this malefactor had learnt something of Christ m upbraid him with this saving power, which was not a vain pre- prison, and have urged the possibility of his having- exercised, tence, but had produced so many noble and stupendous effects, perhaps, a long and deep repentance there, against tlie supposition And it was equally unreasonable to put the credit of his mission of the sudden change that most have supposed in this case. But on his coming down from the cross: a vigorous spring might Christ's kingdom was now the subject of so much discourse, that possibly have forced the nails from the hands and feet of a crucified he might, on that day, and indeed in a few minutes of it, have learnt person, so that he might have leaped from the cross. What Christ all that was necessary as the foundation of this petition. I cannot had so lately done before their eyes, and in part on themselves in therefore but look on this happy man, (for such, amidst all the the garden, was a far more convincing display of a divine power, ignominy and tortures of the cross, he surely was,) as a glorious than merely to have descended now, could have been. And though instance of the power as well as sovereignty of divine grace, which, they promise upon this to believe him, there is no room to think (as many have observed,) perhaps, taking the first occasion from they would have yielded to conviction; but all they meant was the preternatural darkness, wrought so powerfully as to produce, to insult him by it, as thinking it impossible he should escape out by a sudden and astonishing growth in his last moments, all the of their hands. virtues which could be crowded into so small a si)ace, and which g If thou art the king of the Jews.] As this claim seemed to were eminently manifested in his confessing his own guilt, in his them the most derogatory to the Roman authority, it is no wonder admonishing his companion for a crime which he feared would that the soldiers grounded their insults on this, rather than on his prove fatal to him, in his vindicating the character of Christ, and professing himself the Son of God. reposing his confidence in him, as the Lord of a kingdom beyond h One of the malefactors also.] We are told indeed by Matthew, the grave, when his enemies were triumphing over him, and he in the plural number, that Me MiVi-fs cast the same in his teeth ; himself, abandoned by most of his friends, was expiring on a and Mark also says, that they that were crucified with him reviled cross. The modesty as well as the faith of his petition, may also him ; and hence some infer, that he who afterwards proved peni- deserve our attentive remark. tent, at first joined in the blasphemy : but had that been the case, k IViou she/It lie with me in paradise.'] Bos has shown (in his surely Luke, in so particular a narrative as his, would not have Fzercit. Philnl. p. 49, 50.) tliat this expression, ixn' iixaj e'k, V™.'*-*^'' •*-. ' therefore rather conclude, with most critics, that thon shall be with me, was the language used when inviting guests it is what is commonly called an enallage of numbers, the plural to an entertainment; and the word /)rtr«(//.9f originally signified being (as elsewhere) put for the singular. (See note f, on Mark a garden of pleasure, such as those in which the Eastern monarchs "■y- M 145. p. 288. and note a, on Mark i. 21. \ .35. p. (in.) made their magnificent banquets. See Raphel. Annot. ex Xe« I W/ien thou earnest into thy lUngdom.] Some have inferred from iwph. p. 119. JESUS RECOMMENDS HIS MOTHER TO THE CARE OF JOHN. 391 yet patiently endured all, and was as a deaf man who heard not their reproaches, and as a dumb man that open- siiCT. eth not his mouth. (Psal. xxxviii. 13.) But as soon as the penitent thief addressed him with that humble sup- 190. plication, the language of repentance, faith, and hope, "Lord rcmcmha- vie trhen thou earnest into thy kingdom, he immediately hears and answers him : and in how gracious and remarkable a phrase ! This day shalt thou be luke •with me in paradise ! What a triumph was here, not only of mercy to the dying penitent, but of the strongest X'^IH- faith in God, that when to an eye of sense he seemed to be the most deserted and forgotten by him, and was on 42, 43 every side beset with the scorn of them that were at ease, and with the contempt of the proud, he should speak from the cross as from a throne, and undertake from thence, not only tq dispense pardons, but to dispose of seats in paradise ! Most ungrateful and most foolish is the conduct of those who take encouragement from hence, to put off their repentance perhaps to a dying moment : most ungrateful, in pen^erting the grace of the Redeemer into an occasion of renewing their provocations against him, and hardening their hearts in their impieties : and most foolish, to imagine that what our Lord did in so singular a circumstance, is to be drawn into an ordinary precedent. This criminal had, perhaps, never heard of the gospel before : and now how cordially does he embrace it ! Probably there are few saints in glory who ever honoured Christ more illustriously than this dying sinner, acknowledging him to be the Lord of life, whom he saw in the agonies of death ; and pleading his cause when his friends and brethren forsook him and stood afar off. (Compare Matt. xxvi. 56. and Luke xxiii. 49.) But such is the corruption of men's hearts, and such the artifice of Satan, that all other views of him are over- looked, and nothing remembered but that he was a notorious offender, who obtained mercy in his departing mo- ments. The Lord grant that none who read this .story here, may be added to the list of those who, despising the forbearance and long-suiiering of God, and not knowing that his goodness leads to repentance, have been embold- ened to abuse this scripture, so as to perish, either without crying for mercy at all, or crying for it in vain, after having treasured up an inexliaustible store of wrath, misery, and despair ! (Rom. ii. 4, 5.)'- ■' , '': - . ' ; ; : SECTION CXCL Jesus, having recommended his mother to the care of John, and suffered many agonies and indignities on the cross, expires. Amazing prodigies attending his death, and alarming the consciences of the spectators. Matt, xxvii. 45—54. Mark xv. 33—39. Luke xxiii. 44—48. John xix. 25—30. John xix. 25. ' And while he suffered all these insults and sorrows, there stood near the cross of Je- SECT. sus, Mary his mother,^ and his 7nother's sister, (whose name was^also jV.fgry,j.,who was [the xvife'] of Cleopas,^ and Mary Magdalene ; ~anH~with them also John, his intimate friend, the relator of this story. ^ ^~Jesus therefore seeing his mother, and John the disciple whom he peculiarly loved, standing near, his affectionate care and regard to both so wrought in his heart in the 26 midst of all his agonies, that he said to his another, Woman,'^ behold thy son : consider that dear friend of mine as thy own child, and treat him with the same affection and care which thou wouldst show to me under that near relation.'' And then he said to that 27 disciple. Behold thy mother, and aitertain towards her that reverence and love which a child owes to a worthy parent ; for I now solemnly with my dying breath bequeath her to thy care. Andrfrbm that hour that disciple took her home to his own [house^ and maintained her most cheerfully and respectfully, as if she had indeed been his own mother. And Jesus having hung upon the cross about three hours, it was now near noon, or, matt. according to the Jewish manner of expressing the time, it was about the sixth hour ; and XXVII, from the sixth hour, there was an amazing and supernatural darkness over the whole 45 land of Judea till the ninth hour,^ or till three o'clock in the afternoon : during which John xix. 25. NOAV there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdaleue. 26 AVhen Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standinj; by wliora he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son. 27 Then saith he to the disciple,Behold thy mother. And from that hour tl.at disciple took her unto his own home. Matt, xxvii. 45. Now [Luke, it was about the sixth hour, and] from the ■ sixth hour there was dark- ness over all the land unto 191. JOHN XIX. a His mother.'] Neither her own danger, nor the sadness of the spectacle, nor the reproaches and insults of the people, could re- strain her from performing the last office of duty and tenderness to her Divine Son on the cross. Grotius justly observes, that it was a noble instance of fortitude and zeal. Now a sword (according to\ Simeon's prophecy, Luke ii. 35.) struck through lier tender heart, ' and pierced her very soul ; and perhaps the extremity of her sor- rows might so overwhelm lier spirits, as to render her incapable of attending the sepulchre, whicli we do not find that she did ; nor do we indeed meet with any thing after this concerning her in the sacred story, or in early antiquity ; except that she continued among the disciples after our Lord's ascension, which Luke ob- serves. Acts i. 14. Andreas Cretensis, a writer of the seventh ceo- tury, does indeed tell us, she died with John at Ephesus, many years after this, in an extremeoU age ; and itTlppears from a letter of the council of Ephesus in the fifth century, that it was then be- lieved she was buried there. But tliey pretend to shew her sepul- chre at Jerusalem, and many ridiculous tales are forged concerning her death and assumption, or being taken up into heaven, of which the best Popisl\ autliors themselves appear lieartily ashamed. See Calmet's Dictionary, Vol. II. p. 141. b His mother's sister, Ulary \JJie u4/e] nf Cleopas.'] It is not determined in the original whether she was the wife, or mother, or daughter of C'lcopa?; but critics generally suppose she was his wife, and that he was jlso^caUed Alpheivs, and was the father, as this Mary was the Mother, itf James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas, who are therefore called our Lord's bretlireu or kinsmen. (Matt. xiii. 55.) See note e, on John xiv. 22. p. 350.)— Grotius in^ coed thinks that Cleopas was her father, and Alphens her bus-' band. After all we cannot certainly determine it : but. like most other undeterminable points, it is a matter of no great importance. I know none who has set it in a plainer and juster light than Dr. Edwards, Exercit. part ii. No. 1. p. le.'?. et seq. c Said to his mother, Jfoman.] We have observed elsewhere, that Joseph probably was dead some time before ; (compare note b, on John ii. 1. p. 45. and note a, on John vi. 42. p. 166.) and as Jesus now shewed the tender concern he had for his mother, in commit- ting her to the care of John, so this concern that he expressed for her support, must have affected her no less than if he had called her, Mother ; which some have thought he might not chuse to do, to avoid exposing her to the abuses of the populace, by a discovery of her near relation to him. But woman was a title he before had used in speaking to bis mother, where no such caution was neces- sary ; and it was frequently applied in ancient times, even to per- sons that were the most respected. See note d, on John ii. 4. p. 45. d Behold thy Son.'] Some have explained these words as if they only signified, " Behold a person who will carry it to thee as thy " son, and will take care of thee." But as the tenderness of Jesus , for his mother is expressed in the next verse, in the direction that s he gives to John to treat her as his mother,— it seems more natural \ to understand this former exhortation as expressive of his kindness 1 for John, and so to take it as a direction given to his mother to re- | gard him as her son with all the affection of a tender parent. e There iras darkness over the whole land.] There are so many places in which yn signifies a particular country, and not the whole earth, I have chosen here to follow our translation ; and the rather, because the further we suppose this darkness to extend, the more unaccountable it is that no Heathen writers should have mentioned it except I'hlegon ; if he is indeed to be excepted. A darkness (iver the whole c'arftrTrTouce, must have been preternatural at any time; 392 IN HIS THIRST, THEY GIVE HIM VINEGAR TO DRINK. SECT, time, it was as daik as if there had been a total eclipse of the sun, though in a natural way it the ninth iiour. [Mark xv. 191. was impossible, as it was now full moon.^ And this darkness, with which the face of na- ^^- ^^^'^ ^'""- ^'J turo seemed overspread, was a lively emblem of the darkness and distress of spirit with 46 And about the ninth M XX 1ATT. which the Lord of nature was then overwhelmed, and with which he struggled in the '\°i" e'^'sayln-'^r^Eioi'' Eio^ tXVlI. solemn silence and unutterable bitterness of his soul. But about the ninth hour, Jtsus cried i.iiiia'siibacUmni! that is to 46 wiVia loud voice, sai/ing, in the Hebrew, or rather in the Syriac language, E/oi, Eloi, say [being interpreted,] lama sabachthani ?^ that is, being interpreted into other words. My God, my God, tiiou'for'sa^ln meT '[Mark iDhy hast thou forsaken me? which was as if he had said, O my heavenly Father, xv. 31.] wherefore dost thou add to all my other sufferings those which arise from the N^'ant of a comfortable sense of thy presence ? Wherefore dost thou thus leave me alone in the com- bat, destitute of those sacred consolations which thou couldst easily shed abroad upon my soul, and which, thou knowest, I have done nothing to forfeit P"^ 47 Jesus, by the use of these words, borrowed from the beginning of the twenty-second -17 [And] some of tliem Psalm, gave the spectators a useful hint that the whole of it referred to him; and it might u!fy1i'i!^ud^/^(L"'s"i'ti,'['Be" well have led thera to observe how many passages of it had then a literal accomplishment iiold,] this man'caiietii for in him: but if this was any part of the design, it was not apprehended by them; for the ^''"*- [W»rk xv. 35.] Jews took them in a diiferent sense, and some of them that stood bi/ there, hearing [///«/!] sound of Eli, said in a scornful and insulting manner, Behold, this [?«««,] who has been used to talk as if he had earth and heaven at command, resolves to keep up the air of the Messiah to the last, and therefore calls Jor Eli/ah his forerunner, as if he had any autho- rity to bring that great prophet down from paradise to his assistance.' JOHN Immediately after this doleful cry, Jesus, knowing that all the grievous and terrible John xix. 28. After this, XIX. thinss he had to suffer in the way to death, ivere now upon the point of being perfectly •'.'^^"^ knowing that all „„ f ,. , , , ,^ 1- 1 • ir 1 1 -,1 -1,1 , . .,1 c thinsrs were now accom- 28 accomplished, and nndmg hnnseli parched witli a violent drought, as the consequence 01 piisiied, that the scripture what he ha-d so long endured both in mind and body, that the scripture might beful- might be fulfilled, saith, l filled. (Psal. xxii. 15, and Ixix. 21.) where the Messiah is described as crying out, " My """'• " tongue cleaveth to my jaws, and in ray thirst they gave me vinegar to drink," to show that he endured all that had been foretold concerning him, said, I thirst. 29 Now there was set, as usual on such occasions, a vessel full of vinegar near the cross -^ 29 Now there was set a a7id immediately upon his mentioning his thirst, one of them ran and took a spuugc, and stratehtway one"ot^thenPraii filed [if] "with this vinegar ; and putting it round [a stalk of] hi/ssop, which they had and fook a spunge, and filled fastened on the top of a kind of cane or large reed, they put it up to his -mouth, and in a '' "''•'' ^'""^s»''.] a"'^ put it MATT, contemptuous manner gave it him to drink. But the rest of them tluit stood by, said, and put it to his mouth, XXVII. J^et \Jii))i'] alone, and let us see whether Elijah, whom he has just been calling upon, [^'"l g^^'' .'.''m ^'i/'''^"'''^ 49 1^'ill come and save him from the cross ; [^and] indeed he must take him down quickly, if [jg j ' ''^^"• at all. So little were their hearts affected with this preternatural darkness, which had con- Matt, xxvii. 49. The rest tinned now three hours ; and thus cruellv did thev insult him, even in his expiring mo- «»•Iark has given us the word exactly, and Matthew a kind water (which mixture was called jiosca) was the comraoii drink of of contraction of it. See Edward's Exercit. p. 193— 19e;. the Roman soldiers : perhaps, therefofe, this vinegar was set here ii. tfhy hast thou forsaken me ?'\ Ttie-^^ktus-aud-j-ii^ieMius Lord for their use, or for thatof the crucified persons, whose tbrture would Chief Justice Hale, has a strange reflection ou these woids : " We naturally make them thirsty. JESUS DISMISSES HIS SPIRIT, AND MANY OF THE DEAD ARISE. 393 with a loud voice,] he said, him, he said, with a Uvely faith and holy joy. Father, for so I will still call thee, tliough SECT. Father, into thy bauds I that claim is thus derided by mine enemies, I am now coming to thee, and into thi/ hands 1^1 . 52 And the graves were haw"s"aid"tLs,''hiVjoh"u'l I commit mi/ departing spirit, depositing it with thee as a sacred trust, which I am confi- bowed his head,' and gave dent thou wilt receive and keep. And when he had said thus, declining his head, he luke 50 %\?k*'xv''3?'john xVx voluntarily dismissedov delivered up hts spirit, and expired.' ^^"^• 3o!] " ^^ ° ^■x-i-x- And behold, God, by a very awful and miraculous interposition, avowed the relation matt. Matt, xxvii. 51. And which his Son claimed, and evidently appeared to take the charge of that dear and excel- XXVll. sun was d'ai^keued," the veil lent spirit which Jesus so solemnly recommended to him : for immediately upon his death, 51 of tlie temple was rent in [xi'hile'] the Sim zi'as still darkened, as was deserved before, (ver. 45.) the veil of the tem- twain, [Luiie, in tlie midst,] pjg -^yhjch separated between the holy and the most holy place, though made of the richest from the toj) to tlie bottom : ^ » f . J .J r ■ , ,° ,- j/ ., j j/ and the earth did quake, aod Strongest tapestry, was miraculously rent in two in tlie midst, from trie top to tlic and the rocks rent ; [Rlark yery botMn ; SO that while the priest was ministering at the golden altar, it being the time XV. 38. Luke xxiu. 45.] ^j. gyg,-^j[^g sacritice, the sacred oracle was laid open to full view :'" God thereby declaring, as it were, the abolition of the whole Mosaic ritual, which depended on a distinction between those two parts of the temple ; and intimating that a passage was opened into llie~ '' most holy place by the blood of Jesiis, which was now poured out on Mount Calvary. And at the same time, to increase the terror, the earth trembled, even to the very spot of ground on which the temple stood, and several of the rocks in the neighbouring parts were ojieiM), and maliy bodies of /o/-« asunder:" And some of the tombs there were opened by the earthquake: and, 52 Uiesaiiits which slept arose, which was much morc astouishiug, a little while after, while the inonuments continued ravef 'after"ii^is°resurrec'^ uiiclosed, man]/ bodies of ihose holy men who were sleeping there, were raised from the tion, and went into the holy "dusFoTdeath," And came out of the tombs after the resurrection oflJesus,'] and entered 53 city, and appeared unto j^^fg Jerusalem, the holy city, and appeared unto many i"^ attesting the truth of that '"iWark XV. 39. And when important fact, and declaring their own rescue from the grave, as a kind of first-fruits of his the centurion which stood power Over death, which should at length accomplish a general resurrection. re7ocded\mt'"ndga''ve'up And when the Roman centurion, who stood over against him and guarded the execu- mark the ghost, [Luke, and saw tion, saiv that he SO cried out with such strength of voice, and such firm confidence in XV. God' T^in^"certaa!r't'ri*^ ^°^' "^^^^^ ^^ ^'^^ moment when he expired; [and] also saw what was Uheni done in so 39 was a Hghtfous raa^u':] uuiy miraculous a manner, in those amazing prodigies that attended his death ; he glorified this juan was the Son of Qod by a free confession of his persuasion of the innocence of Jesus, saying. Certainly this Lukexx'ii^L'"?.]'"""' ^^' '^«*" « righteous ?nan ; [yea,'] notwithstanding all the vile reproaches which have been Matt, xxvii. 54. Aiidthey cast uponhim, truly this man was what he declared himself to be, even the Son of God matt. that were w^ith iiini ^^atch- himself.'' And the soldiers also that attended the centurion, even they that were with him ^^^^^' q'lEkel^'amr'thosr fhi'^ngs guarding Jesus on the cro£s, seeing the earthquake, and those other things which were ^^ I He dismissed or delivered up his spirit, aai expired.] The tures, thinks that these were some of the most eminent saints meu- Evangelisls use different words in expressing our Lord's death, tioned in the Old Testament ; and that they appeared in some ex- whieh I a little wouder that our translators render mi the same man- traordin.iry splendour, and were known by revelation as Eve's ori- aer, he yielded or ycive up the ghost. Mark and Luke say, eIetivevte, ginal and relation was to Adam, or Moses and Elijah to the disci- he expired; 3o\m,-s!x^i^iMi. n mwij.cc, he yielded vp his spirit ; ¥ut pies at the transfiguration. He ventures particularly to conjecture Matthew's language is yet more singular, 'd his spirit : (as the same word, apm/zi, is used Matt. xiii. 30; (Fleming, On the first Resurrection, p. 29 — 38.) But Mr. Pierce BTarkiv. 3fi; xi. 0. and elsewhere.) Now this expression seems ad- (On Co/os. p. 68.) maintains, that it is very improbable that, had miral)ly to suit our Lord's words, John x. IS. IVo man taketh mt/ other saints of former ages risen, David should have been excluded ; ///' from me, but I lay it down of myself, S)-c. (see the paraphrase and smce Acts li. 34. proves that he did not now rise, he concludes ami note there, p. '2Gi.) showing, as the strong cry which so much that the samts who rose were some who died but a little before, impressed the centurion did, that he died by the voluntary act of perhaps such as had believed in Christ, and were well known to the liis own mind, according to the power received from the Father, surviving disciples. It was to be sure a most surprising event ; and and in a way peculiar to himself, by which he alone, of all men Dr. Whitby supposes John v. 25. was a prophecy relating to it. that ever existed, could have coutinued alive, even in the greatest p .^nd came out of the tombs after the resurrection of Jesus, t^'c] tortures, as long as he pleased, or have retired from the body when- Consequently it seems that the tombs stood open all the sabbath, ever he thought fit. AVhich view of the case, by the way, suggests when the law would not allow any attempt to close them. What an illustration of the love of Christ, manifested in his death, be- an astonishing spectacle ! especially if their resurrection was not in- yond what is commonly observed ; inasmuch as he did not use this stantaneously accomplished, but by such slow degrees as that repre- power to quit his body as-soon as ever it was fastened to the cross, sented in Ezekiel's vision : (Ezek. xxxvii.) Yet I do not take upon leaving only an insensible corpse to the cruelty of his murderers, me to say that it was so; for it is unprofitable toa particularly to but continued his abode in it with a steady resolution as long as it con|ecture on such circumstances, which are not recorded. For was proper, and then retired from it with a majesty and dignity this reason also I. pretend not to say what became of these persons; never known, or to be known, in any other death; dying, if 1 may though, as one can hardly imagine they either immediately re- so express it, like the Prince of life. ' turned to their graves, or that they continued to live on earth, (be- i m AVhile the priest was ministering at the golden altar, itc^ cause it is only said, they appeared to many,) it seems most natural i " This being so high a day, it is probable that Caiaphas himself mightj to imagine they ascended into heaven with, or after, our Lord; ' now be performing the solemn act of burning incense jtlst before/ perhaps from some solitude, to which they might be directed to the veil ; which if he did, it is inexpressibly astonishing that his retire during the intermediate days, and to wait in devout exercises obdurate heart should not be impressed witli so awful and signifii^ for their cliange ; for surely, had they ascended in the view of cant a phenomenon. There is no room to doubt but many of thef others, the memory of such a fact could not have been lost, other priests who had a hand in Christ's death, saw the pieces of; q Certainly this was a righteous man, &c.] The most learned Mr. the veil ; which, considering its texture, and the other circum- Wasse of Aynho, (whose death, since the publication of my first stances, must as fully convince them of the reality of this extraor- votnme, is an nreparable loss to the commonwealth of letters,) has diuary fact, as if they had actually been present when it was rent. a dissertation on these words of the centurion in the first number n The rocks were torn asunder.^ Mr. Fleming tells us, (in his of the Bibliotheca Literaria, to which I am indebted for several Chrisloloyy, Vol.. IL p. 97, 98.) that a deist lately travelling through hints in the paraphrase on these verses ; but I have venturedjo de- Palestine was converted by viewing one of these rocks, which still part from him, in not entirely incorporating Matt. xxvu. 54. with remains torn asunder, not in the weakest place, but n:oss the veins ; Mark xv. 39. and Luke xxiii. 47. as the two latter only mention the a plain proof that it was done in a supernatural mafttrerf Sandys, effect of this surprising sight on the centurion, while Matthew gives in his excellent Travels, ji. 104. has given an accurate description us also an account of the effect it had upon the soldiers, who very and delineation of this fis,sure ; and Mr. Maundrel, in Xun Journey probably might repeat the words their officer had spoke but just from Ale/ipo to Jerusalem, p. 73, 74. tells us, that it is about a span before, in expressing their sentiments on this occasion. I shall only wide at Uie upjier part, and two spans deep; after which it closes, add, that Eisner, in a very learned note on this place, has shown but opens again below, (as may be seen in another chapel below, that some of the heathens had a notion among them, that prodi- conliguous to the side of Calvary,) and runs down to an unknown gies, especially storms and earthquakes, sometimes attended tlie depth in the earth. He adds, that every man's sense and reason death of extraordinary persons peculiarly dear to the gods; and must convince him that this is a natural and genuine breach. among other passages, mentions that of Plutarch, in which he tells o Many bodies of holy men were raised.] That ingenious writer us, that when Ptolemy had crucified Cleomenes, while the body Mr. Fleming, who abounds with a vast number of peculiar conjee- hung dead on the cross, a large serpent wound itself round his face. 394 REFLECTIONS ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF CHRIST'S DEATH. SECT, now done, feared greatly, and said in like manner, Tntlj/ this Jesus of Nazareth, whom tlmt were done; andih^v 191. we have been thus insulting aud murdering, li^ai' t/tc So)i of God ;^and his heavenly feared greatly, saying, •Father will certainly avenge his quarrel very terribly on us, and on the whole nation of the J^^^ *'"^ *''* "^^ *'°" °'" LUKE Jews, who have delivered him to us. XXIII. ji,ifi all the multitude^ that were come together on this remarkable occasion, ^o see Luke xxiii. 48. And all '*" this doleful spectacle, even some of those who but a little before had been insulting him in tiic people that carne toge- his dying agonies, -ivhen they saw the thiiigs -which "were done, returned, beating their ^,','"11,° 0?in, 127. r All the multiltide.'\ That is, great multitudes; for it is no way necessary to suppose that every individual person present was thus impressed. The conviction produced by these prodigies undoubt- edly made way for the conversion of such a multitude by the preach- ing of the apostles, on tlie descent of the Spirit, wh'ich was but seven weeks after, when these things were fresh in their memories. Acts ii. 4L a Many pious women.'] I hope I shall give no offence by saying, what I am sure I say very seriously, that the frequent meiitinn which is made in the Evangelists of the generous and coura-geous zeal of some pious women in the service of Christ, and especially of the faithful and resolute constancy with which they attended him in these last scenes of his sufl'ering, might very possibly be intended to obviate that haughty and senseless contempt which the pride of^ men, often irritated by those vexations to which their own irregular passions have exposed them, has in all ages afl'ected to throw on that sex, which probably, in the sight of God, constitute by far the bet- ter half of mankind -. and to whose care and tenderness, the wi.sest and best of men generally owe and ascribe much of the daily com- j fort and enjoyment of their lives. b And the mother of the sons of Zehedce.l Though the con structiou of the original be dubious, yet I think it very rational to conclude that this mother of the sons of Zebedee, or of James the greater and John, was a different person from^the mother o( James the less and Joses: both as the sons of Zebedee, tliough such distin- guished friendsof Christ, are never called his brethren, as James and Joses are, (Matt. xiii. .55. and iMark vi, 3. p. I4S.) and as some scrip- tures plaiuly intimate that no more than two of the apostles were the sons of Zebedee. See Matt. x. 2 ; xxvi. 37 ; Mark iii. 17. THESE THINGS WERE DONE THAT THE SCRIPTURE MGHT BE FULFILLED. 395 Zebedee's cliildreii, [and and Sdlome also,*^ and many other zealous and affectionate "women who came up with sect. Salome, and many other Jii„i fg this passover at Jerusak'7n, and who had the courage to attend him, even when 192. rtrhimt'to^eTurien"^ his apostles themselves had forsaken him and fled [Mark XV. 40, 41.] Then, as the day was drawing to a close, the Jews were very solicitous, because it was John John xi.x. 31. The Jews ^ ^/^^ preparation for the sabbath, that the bodies misht not rc7nain all night upon .,?^'^- therefore, because it was the , ',.,,■ i ^ r i j ,t\ i -m-. r^o , j • n oi. preparatioji, that the bodies the cross, which their law axpressly forbade; (Deut. xxi. 22, 23.) and more especially, should not remain upon the they were concerned that this profanation might not happen on the sabbath-day, (for {"fof that I'albrth'^day'tas that Sabbath, being the first which foUowed the passover, was a great day of peculiar an high day,) besought solemnity ■^) they went therefore and entreated Pilate that he would send an order to Pilate that their le^s might ^^^ soldiers who Were watching the crucified persons, that their legs might be broken, the nfighuie "alfe'n away. "^^ more efFectually to despatch them iflHey were not quite dead, and [that^ they might then 32 Then came the sol- be taken away.^ And Pilate upon this gave orders that it should accordingly be done : 32 th^'fi""'* ^"'"^ "i<= '*'g^ "^f the soldiers, therefore, who guarded the execution, came and brake the legs of the first whicir was" crucified "with malefactor. Or of him that hung nearest the place where they had been sitting : and then liim. passing by Jesus, who hung in the middle, they went and brake the legs of the other who 33 But when they came was crucified with hi?n. But co?niug afterwards to Jesus, they did not break his legs, 33 to Jesus, and saw that he ^^ f/jg^ g^^ it was needless, since it was plain he was already dead ; and they were now bra\e not^his^iefs*^^' ^ '^^ impressed with some degree of reverence even to his corpse, by the amazing prodigies which - 34 Bui one oahe soldiers they had just now seen. But yet one of the soldiers had so much boldness and inhu- 34 with a spear pierced his nianity, that he pierced his side with a long lance or spear which he had in his hand ; tifer'e oufbfood and waTer' amVtmmcdiately there came out of the wound both bloody and water mingled with it ;' which made it plainly appear that, had he been living, the wound would have been mortal, having reached his very heart ; and consequently put it out of all doubt that he was really dead before he was taken down from the cross. .35 And he that saw it And as Ihis was so important, and indeed so fundamental a point,s it may not be im- 35 , bare record, and his record proper to add, that it was one who saw [if] who has borne [this'] testimony, and recorded i that'h'e' sailh true, tharye SO remarkable a circumstance ; and therefore his witness is undoubtedly true ; and now ' might believe. ' he is Writing this, he solemnly declares that he knows, by the most certain testimony of his senses, that what he saith is true; and he makes this declaration, that you, whoever you are, into whose hands this history may come sooner or later, may believe, and may i be confirmed in your adherence to that gospel which is established on the death and resur- rection of Christ. 3i; For tiiese th'ings were For, however inconsiderable these things may appear, they were permitted in the 36 "^i^Ti ^h^\ ifi'it d^A'!!""^*^ course of Divine Providence to be done, that thus the scripture might be remarkably /e//- ot'ilira shali'not^be broken! filled in what it says concerning the pasclial Iamb, which did in so many circumstances resemble Christ, (Exod. xii. 46 ; and Numb. be. 12.) " Not a bone of it shall be broken .-"'^ ' scriptifre'larth'!'The7''sh!rn ^ precept which, among many others, was given on purpose to lead the minds of believers look on him 'whom they to reflect On the harmony and unity of design carried on (though by such a variety of '''wark XV 4-' And now P^^isons, in no concert with each other) under" the Old Testament, and under the New. [Jolm, after th^s,] wlieiuh'e And again, there is another scripture which says concerning the Jews, when they are to 37 even was come, (because be converted to the Messiah in the latter days, "■"They shall look on him whom they have LVthVda/beforfthe lab' " pic^ccd ;" (Zech. xii. 10.) for which reason God pemiitted them not only to pierce the bath;) [Matt, xxvii. 67. hands and the feet of Jesus with nails, but also to open his side by that deep and large John XIX. 38.] wound which we have now been mentioning. Luke xxiii. 50. Behold, ji^d quickly after these things, as it was near sun-set, and the evening was now come, mark Arimat"e"] [Luke ""city because (as we have observed) it was the preparation, or the close of the day before the XV. of the Jews,]'nanied Jo- sabbath, (John xLx. 31.) for it was Friday evening, and the sabbath, which would begin 42 i seph, [Mark, an honourable ^^ gj^^ o'clock, was near at hand, in which no work could lawfully be done ; Behold, there luke Counsellor,] and he was a , ., . i , ■ • 7 rA-jL^tj:'4^l,T„ -i-vni good man, and a just: came to the govemor s palace a certain rich 7nan of Anmatnea, (a city 0/ the Jeus, \\u\. [Matt, xxvii. 57. Mark xv. anciently called Ramoth, which lay in the tribe of Ephraim, and was the city of Samuel, 50 43. Luke xxiii. 51.] ^j^^ celebrated prophet,) and he was named Joseph, and was a person of considerable note, 'being an honourable counsellor, or member of the sanhedrim, who had a general 51 The same had not con- reputation as a benevolent and upright man. The srt;«e was not concerned with the 51 rest of his fellow-senators in putting Jesus to death, and had not given the concurrence c And Salome.'] This Salome, who is mentioned here by Mark, dium, in which the heart swims ; or whether the cruor was now is commonly supposed to be the mother of Zebedee's children almost coagulated, and separated from the serum : either way, it mentioned by Matthew : but as it is expressly Said there were was a certain proof of Christ's death ; for he could not have sur- many other women present, she might possibly be some other dis- vived such a wound, had it been given him in perfect health. * ciple, and there is no sufficient reason to conclude they were the g So important and fundamental a point.] The grand evidence same. (Compare Mark xvi. 1.) of Christ's mission in his resurrection, which implies the certamty d For that sabbath was a great day.} It was (as Dr. Whitby in of his death : and thus crucifixion might have seemed, on a slight his paraphrase has well observed) not only a sabbath, but the view, a less proper execution than some others, such as beheadinj, second day of the feast of unleavened bread, from whence they burning, and the like; but this wound would effectually excliirte reckoned the weeks to pentecost; and also the day for presenting all pretences of his having been taken down alive by his friends ; and oflFcring the sheaf of new corn: so that it was indeed a treble and accordingly that is an evasion which, false and malicious as solemnity.— (See note b, on Luke vi. 1. p. 100.) his enemies were, we do not find they ever had recourse to. e Might be taken away.] It was customary, as Bishop Pearson h Not a bone of it shall bs broken.'] Dr. Arthur Young (in his ( On the Creed, p. 218.) has abundantly proved, to let the bodies of Historical Dissertation on Revelation, designed to prevent i>upersti- persons who had been executed, continue on the crosses or stakes, tion, Vol. I. p. 196, 203, 204.) has a particular thought on the till they were eaten up by birds of prey ; but as this was forbidden reason of this prohibition, that it was intended to oppose the man- to the Jews, the Roman governors probably used to oblige them Tier in which the Egyptian sacrifices were sometime^ pulled to by permitting such bodies as belonged to them to be buried. pieces-, but I think the reason suggested in the paraphrase much f T/iere came out blood and water.] I do not pretend to deter- more certain and important. It is very well illustrated m An. niine whether this was, as Dr. Drake supposes, (in his Anatomy, Essay on the several Dispensations of God, ^c. Pref. p. xxii. Vol. I. p. 100.) the small quantity ot water inclosed in the pericar- tt seq. 396 JOSEPH TAKES DOWN AND- BURIES THE BODY OF JESUS. i SKCT of /lis vote to the counsel and action of them that condemned him ; \hnt was one'\ ivho sentcd to the counsel and '192.' also himself \mmh\^ and atiectionately waited for the kingdom of God, being indeed a f^'oa^s^^'himseltwritecTfol ■ disciple of Jesus, though secretlt/ ; because he durst not openly profess his behef in him thekingdomof God, [John, T.UKR for fear of the Jews and their rulers, who were so strongly prejudiced against hini. This heing a disciple of Jesus, XXill. \„f„^ awakened by the prodigies attending his death to greater courage than he had before, je!vs']"Satt°'xx"i i°' st*! 52 though he knew it must necessarily draw upon him the hatred and contempt of his Maik xv. 43. John xix! bretliren, yet went in boldly to the presence of Pilate,' and begged his permission that he ^^-^^ ^^^.^ ^^^^ ^^_^^^^ ^^^^ ?night take atoay the body of Jesus, to preserve it from farther insults, and bury it in a in boldly unto Pilate, ami decent and respectful manner. ^'^if ''. J-'"''"' *j'^* ''<= MARK And when Pilate heard his request, considering how lingering an execution that of the JJf''''jes,Js"f ""]\hiit."^xxviK XV. cross was, he Mo? .1 . ,,;/>, 1 ■ • c \^- 1-1 ■ • • 1 J r L '^uJ wrapped [it m a clean ■^y and xoho was he that, at the first beginning of his public ministry, came to Jesus by linen cloth.] [Matt, xxvii. night ; (John iii. 1, 2.) and, as he was now grown more courageous than before, to testify 59, Luke xxiii. 53. John his great regard for Jesus, he brought with him a jnixture of myrrh and aloes, {that "'jofjn ^ix. 39. And there AS)weighe(l'\ about an hundred pounds. To prepare then for his interment, they took the came also Nicodemus, body of Jesus, without regarding the reproach to which it might expose them, and y^'"*;'' at the first came to sxvathed it tip /« a^eat many folds of linen,^ together with the spices, (according to the brought ^^ a "mixture ""oV Jewish custom ojF buri/ing,) intending to embalm it in a more exact manner as soon as myrrii and aloes, aimut the sabbath was over f and hoping that in the mean time the spicesTying near the body ^"40 "xhe'if took'they ' the might preserve it from the least taint of corruption. tody of Jesus, and wound 41 Now it happened very commodiously for his immediate interment, that in the very spi"el'"s"the°mrnner'of the neighbourhood of the place where he i^as crucified, there was a ga?'den, and in the Jews is to bury. 42gf>"den a new sepulchre belonging to Joseph. There laid they Jesus therefore in 4i Now in the place [Joseph's'] own new tomb, which he had lately ordered to be hewn in stone out of a solid ti,ere was a garden, and rock : to which therefore there could be no passage but by the door, and in which no man m the garden a new sepul- /1 was ever yet laid, so that there could be no room to imagine any other person rose from "^'^I'-phpre laid thev Jesus I thence. And this they did without first carrying the body into any house to embalm it ; therefore [in Joseph's own because (as we have said before) it was the Jewish preparation-day, and the sabbath "^^'' *°"|'j' ^^''"^'l ^^ l'^"! drew on, which did not allow their undertaking a work of so much labour and time : to be [Mark,outofa^'rock',] [John, ready therefore for the rest commanded on the sabbath-day, they used no farther ceremony wherein was never man yet in interring him, and chose a most convenient place to do it with despatch, /o/- the sepul- Ji'J^ \ias^"e] Jew"'' ['Luke! MATT, (^hrt was very near at hand. And Joseph, having thus interred him in his own tomb, and preparation, and the sab- XXVII. so (as it was prophesied concerning the Messiah, Isa. liii. 9.) " made his grave with the rich ^'-''tii drew on ;] for the fci ., ■ , ■ ^ 1 >,i 1 ,1 .1 11 .1 • 7 ; ■ // J J i sepulchre was nigh at hand. oU " m his death, ' he took care to make all things secure ; and having rolled a great stone [Matt, xxvii. 60 Mark xv. to the door of the sepulchre iohlocku'p iheexAxa.xiQe, he xvent away {.ohhovinhome. 46. Luke xxiii. 53,54. LUKE '^>>fl when Joseph and Nicodemus came and took down Jesus from the cross, Mary "^^Matt xxN^ii!"'60. And be XXllL Magdalene, and the other Mary, who (as was said before) was the mother o/" James the rolled a great stone to the 55 less and Joses, (Matt, xxvii. 56.'p. 394, 395.) and the rest of the women also who came ^,'>'>^ of the sepulchre and .,, , . ^ ^ .^ ,., 1 1 „, . , , 111- .1 i- c ^ ■ -ji ■ departed. [Mark xv. 4b.] With him from Gfl/z/ee, and jo_anectionately attended during the time ot his crucihxion, ^ute xxiii. 55. [And were now desirous to see how they'disposed of him ; and therefore, when tliey carried off Mary Magdalene, and ihe the corpse, these pio^us women folloxved after them, a?id sitting over against the sepul- '^^^^[^gj. orj'oses,] Ynd tlie chre, into which they saw them enter, beheld withj^igent observation where and how his women also which came 56 hody was laid. And perceiving that they did not embalm him, but only wound him up in Jowed"afte™"\nd''[shting linen with the dry spices, they resolved to perform this last office of duty and affection to liim over against the sepulchre,] beheld [Mark, where] and how his body was laid. [Matt, xxvii. GI. Mark xv. 47.] 56 And they returned i Went in holdly to Pilate.'] It was indeed a courageous act for li.shcd, may he new to many, as it was to me. Observing that the this rich and noble senator thus publicly to own his friendship to word B'Stimay be llie iluaf number, and that I'OB is the singular, be Jesus in the mid^t of his greatest infamy ; and a person of such would suppose a kind of beiidiadys in the construction, and render sagacity could not but know that, if a resurrection should happen, it, " f/is death and hiirinl s/iall be loith two criminals and with one \ nothing would h^ve been more natural than that he should have " ricti man : that is, after having expired between two malefactors, I beei, brought into question as a confederate in the pretended fraud " a rich man (that is, Joseph of Arimalhea) shall undertake the ' of conveying him away. " care of his funeral."— But I must acknowledge that no version 1 k Swatlieditvp inUnen.'] This I take to be the most literal tran- of the words pleases me so well on the whole as that of Dr. '1 slation of the words Er5nTavauroo9ovioit; for o'ovu were a kind of //Ai'rt Sykes, which I read since I wrote the paraphrase above: p-i, rW/cr.?, in which, as Eisner has shown, (Observ.\o\. I. p. 347.) the Nevertheless lie shall avenge or recompense /«s Jrrt^•f !//Jon the ' Easterns swathed up their dead. It was, no doubt, by miracle, that wicked, and /tis death upon the rich: or, which is equivalent to > wTShXhrist arose, he disentangled himself from these swathes. the former, but perhaps more exact. He shall avenge his grave 1 Made his grave with the rich in his death.] Let me here be (that is, his death, which brings him down to it) on the wicked, and permitted to mention the criticism of a celebrated divine on this on ttte rich when he dies, ^-pp3. See Dr. Sykes on the Tnifli 0/ passage of Isaiah, which having never (that 1 know of) been pub- C'lristianity, p. 256. REFLECTIONS ON THE REGARD SHEWN TO THE BODY OF JESUS. 397 find prepared spices and in the conipletest and most respectful manner they could ; and therefore thci/ immediately sect. ointments; and rested^ the returned into the city, and, before the day of preparation was quite finished, \h'e.'j provided 192. the commandnient '"° " ^ great quantity of spices and balms for that purpose, that nothing might prevent them from eng-aging in it as soon as the first day of the week should open ; and, in the mean i-uke time, they rested on the sabbath-day, according to the divine commandment, which xxm. they would not violate even on so solemn an occasion as this. ^^ IMPROVEMENT. We have seen the sorrows of our expiring Lord : let us now, like these pious women, raise our eyes to him with matt. an holy and unfeigned affection, and behold him pale and breathless on the accursed tree. Let us view him by XXVli. faith, till the eye affects the heart, and till we learn to glory in nothing but his cross, whereby the world may be 55, 56. crucified to us, and z:''emay be crucified to the world. (Gal. vi. 14.) How wonderfully does the providence of God appear to have regarded the body of Jesus, which had so long john beeii the temple of the indwelling Deity, even when it was deserted of that spirit which had lately animated it, and -'^i-^- while it hung (amazing thought, that it ever should have hung !) between the bodies of two thieves on a cross, 31, 32 without the gates of Jerusalem ! He who has all hearts in liis hand, interposed by a secret but powerful influence 33, 36 on the soldiers, who brake the legs of the malefactors to spare those of Christ ; that so nothing which looked like a prophecy of him, should want its proper accomplishment. But his side was pierced; and how deep was the .''4 wound, ^^■hen immediately there came out of it blood and water I Happy emblem of the blessed effect of his 35 death! lie came both by -water and blood, (as /^^ who saw and testified this important fact leads us to improve it, 1 John V. 6.) and by tliis means atones the injured justice of God, and purifies the souls of them that believe in him. Our indignation rises against the man that could, by such an outrage as this, abuse the dead body of our Re- deemer ; but oh, let us seriously remember the hand which our sins had in all that was now done ! He was wounded for our transgressions ; he was bruised for our iniquities : (Isa. Uii. 5.) And therefore it is said con- cerning those on whom the ends of the world are to come, that they shall look on him whom they have pierced, and }?iourn. (Zech. xii. 10.) May we mourn over him with a genuine, evangelical sorrow, when we consider 37 whom we have pierced, and how deep and how often we have pierced him, and upon what slight temptations ; and under how many engagements rather to have bathed his wounds with oui' tears, and even to have exposed our own hearts to the sharpest weapon by which the madness of sinners might have attempted to injure him. The boldness of Joseph, and even of Nicodemus himself, deserves our notice on such an occasion. They are not mark ashamed of the infamy of his cross, but come with all holy reverence and affection to take down those sacred remains XV. 43 of Jesus ; nor did they think the finest linen, or the choicest spices, too valuable on such an occasion. But who 46 can describe their consternation and distress, when they saw him whom they trusted should have delivered Israel, a john cold and bloody corpse in their arms ; and left him in the sepulchre of Joseph, whom they expected to have seen XIX. 4o on the throne of David ! — We leave for the present hrs enemies in triumph, and his friends in tears, till his resur- matt. rection, which soon confounded the rage of the former, and revived the hopes of the latter ; hopes which must XXVII. otherwise have been for ever entombed under that stone with which they now covered him. But happy and com- 60 fortable is ths thought, that this his transient visit to the grave has (as it were) left a perfume in the bed of dust, and reconciled the believer to dwelling a while in the place where the Lord lay. i--2fl>vU i^OvtXa^if \ iS^ SECTION cxcm. Judas confessing' his guilt, returns the money he had received from the chief priests, and then hangs himself. The Jews the next day demand and procure a guard to be set on Christ's sepulchre. Matt, xxvii. 3 — 10 ; 62, to the end. Matt, xxvii. 3. Matt. xxvii. 3. Then Judas which haa HAVING thus finished the account of the death of Jesus, it may be convenient here to SECT. thauL'tas TAndemnecVre- mention the miserable end of that perfidious disciple by whom he was betrayed into the hands 1 93. pented himself, and brought of his enemies. The Jewish rulers having delivered Jesus to the Roman governor, and hav- agam the thirty pieces of jj,g, prevailed upon him to give orders for his axecution, then Judas who had betrayed matt. silver to the chief priests , .° ^ , , "^ ^ , . ■ ,/ , ; 7 ; 1 n-i i \ l\ 1. i\ XXVII and elders, him, when he saw to his surprise that he was coidemned by rilate, and that they were ^-^'■"• leading him forth to die upon the cross, to which he seemed determined to submit, though 3 he could so easily have rescued himself from it,^ was seized with great terror and agony of conscience ; and, repenting of the fatal bargain he had made, whereby he had brought such a load of guilt on his own soul, he carried back the thirty pieces of silver which they had given him, to the chief priests and the elders, while they were together in the temple that morning : for they resorted thither with a specious appearance of piety, before • 4 Saying-, I have i:inned, t^gy followed the multitude to Calvary to see the execution. And coming in among 4 iMXl'S'^'^'Aad^hey ^liem in a wild disorder, he 5a/./ to them, O Sirs! / have 5/«»erf in a most, desperate said, What is (hat to us'? manner, in that I have betrayed innocent blood to you ; for I am well convinced that see thou to that. 3e%\ii my Master has done nothing to deserve this punishment to which you have delivered him, and I am not able to bear the thought of the concern I have had in it. And they a Then. Judas, i5r.] For the proper place of this story, which is affected him than the Jews' passing sentence on him, who had not Iiere inserted out of its order, see note a, on John xix. 10. p. 386. then the power of putting any one to death —The word rore, then, Matthew has introduced it immediately after the Jews had deliver- with which the Evangelist begins this story, may be taken in some ed Jesus to Pilate; but after this the Jews were so intent on per- latitude to introduce the mention of an occurrence which liappened suading Pilate to consent to his death, that there was hardly time about that time, whether a little before or after, and need not be for the sanhedrim's adjourning to the temple, wherfe this occurrence interpreted with so much rigour as to determine it to an assertion happened, before they had prevailed with Pilate to condemn him: of observing the exactest order iu all circumstances. See note a, on ami as ,fudas must have often heard his Master say he should be Matt, xsvii. 27. p. 382. crucified, Pilate's order for his execution must have more sensibly 398 THE DEATH OF JUDAS, AND PURCHASE OF THE POTTER'S FIELD. SECT, answered with the steady coolness of those who knew no shame or remorse for their 193. wickedness, What \js that] to us, whether thou thinkest him innocent or not? See thou ■ [to that ;] it is sufficient for us that we know he is guilty, whether such a wretch as thou MATT, art approvest or condemnesl our sentence. And throwing down the pieces of silver xxvii. money in the temple, in their very presence, with all the marks of agony and distress, he Pj'-^ccs «j''^''^'«'' '" 5 And he cast down the the tem- 5 xcithdrew ; and going away to the brow of a hill, in some retired and melancholy place, aua i',ang"pa'himserf" he there hanged himself; but the rope breaking by the force with which he threw himself off, he fell down the precipice, and burst asunder with the force of his fall, so that all his bowels gushed out -^ and he lay expiring, in a most painful and terrible manner, a spec- tacle of horror to all that beheld him alive or dead, as a multitude of spectators did. (Compare Actsi. 18, 19.) 6 And the chief priests, taking up the pieces of silver, were at some loss how they o And the chief priests should dispose of them : for they said. It is not lawful for us to put them into the chest ^^^ \'ris*'no7iawfurfor"to which is called Corban, or the sacred treasury, because it is the price of blood, and put them into the treasury, would in effect be offering to God the life of a man. And these hypocrites scrupled such because it is tiie price of a point of ceremony, while they still persisted in their resolution to destroy Jesus, which, if 7 they had desired it, they might yet have prevented. Jiut afterwards, when they met in a 7 And they took couusei, body about some other business, having consulted together what they should do v/ith ^j"^^ po*ttei^-s'field?'to bur"y those pieces of money, they bought with them that close in the neighbourhood of Jeru- strangers in. salem which is called, The potter s field f^ for a burymg-place of foreigners who had no sepulchres of their own, and whose bodies they scrupled to lay with those of their own S holy nation. And therefore,^ the way, that field was called in the Syriac language, 8 Wlierefore that field Aceldama, that is. The field of bldhd;' {Acts i. 19.) and it bears that name even to this JJiifod' ulfto thTi'day.'"'' "'' day, because it was purchased with that money which was the price paid for the blood of ' Jesus, and was in effect the purchase of the blood of Judas too. 9 Then was that fulfilled, in a very remarkable manner, which was spoken by the pro- 9 (Then was fulfilled that phet,"^ (Zech. xi. 13.) saying, " And I took the thirty pieces of silver;' (which sum, the my'^thrVSi^et, ''sajhig, reader will observe, was the usual price of one who was sold for a slave, or of one whom And they took tiie th'nt^y the children of Israel did sell, being esteemed among them, on an average, but the piecesof silver, the price of ., , , ■ n u ] u ii- ■ r iu ui J r ii o r r-i J 1 • him that was valued, whom equitable price oi such a one : and was here the price oi the blood ot the bon or Liod hmi- they (,f the children of Is- 10 self, that infinitely valuable Person.*^) " And they were given fo)- the potter's field, as rael did value : " (saith the prophet,) the Lord commanded me in vision, in token of his just displeasure pottei^"'fieTd^''as'^tlie*^°Lord " against those who had put such an affront on his pastoral care.''^ appointed me.) G2 But to return now to the main story. When, notwithstanding the confession of Judas, 62 Now the next day the Jews had crucified Christ, and his friends had taken down his body from the cross, and t^'^*- followed the day ot b And going away, he hanged hiiaself ; but the rope breaking, (even their own Messiah,) tidwm the very children of Israel s/old at &c.] This method, which M. Le Clerc, [Harm. p. 527.) and seve- this shameful price. And I think either of these versions would ral other learned critics have taken, of reconciling Matthew with suit the original, and convey a lively and proper sense: 1 have what is afterwards said of this fact, (Acts i. 18.) that falling head- therefore suggested both in the paraphrase, though in the version, long, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out, wliich could not well be equally ambiguous, I have preferred the appears to me much preferable to that of those who would render former. Knxy^xTo, he was stifled, or suffocated with excess of grief ; (see La f And they were given for the potter's field, as the Lord command- Motte, Of Jnspir. p. 155.) a version which none of the authorities I ed me.] It is plain these words are not exactly quoted, either from \ have seen, seem sufficient to justify. Nor is it necessary to suppose, the Hebrew or the Septuagint ; yet I cannot think tlie difference with Dr. Lightfoot, (Hor. Hebr. on Matt, xxvii 5. and Acts i. 18.) so great as it at first appears, since those words in the parenthesis, that Judas was carried away by tlie devil, and strangled in the air, (niv n/ziv tou rin/ji.-n//.itou, ov £ri//»ffj£vrs xm uiwv Itrganx,) whicli are not in and being thrown from thence in the sight of all the city, was either, may be considered as the words of the Evangelist himself, diished in pieces by the violence of the fall. (to which lie was natui'ally led by those of the prophet, A goudli/ c The potter's f eld.] Thirty pieces of silver may seem a very pricethat I was prized ftt of them ;) and if, •wh\c\\m\ghi'ia.s\\y hap- inconsiderable price for a field so near Jerusalem : but, as Grotius pen, tiwu^tv be written for iS:oxx, as iXaCov is ambiguous, it may Ije well observes, the ground was probably much spoiled by digging rendered yet nearer to the original, I took — and gave them, Jffc. — As it up for earth to make potters' vessels, so that it was now unfit for the general propriety of applying these words to this occasion, for tillage or pasture, and consequently of small value. I think it may well be vindicated; for the connexion and sense of d WItich luas spoken by the jirophet.l Most copies read it, iy the prophecy m the Old Testament seems to be this. In order to Jeremiah the prophet ; yet it is universally known that these words represent to Zechariah the contempt which Israel put upon their are found no where in Jeremiah, but in Zechariah. (Chap. xi. 1.3.) God, he had a vision to the following purpose: He thought God It appears to me very unnatural to say, with Dr. Lightfoot, {Hor. first appointed him to appear among them as a shepherd ; (making Hebr. in loc.) that all the prophetic writings might be called the him by that emblem a representation of himself:) after some time, book of Jeremiah ; because in ancient times the pro])heey of Jere- he directs him to go to the rulers of Israel, and ask them, What miah was put at the beginning ot tne volume of the prophets: nor they thought he deserved for his labour in that office? They gave would the granting this fact account for the expression of its being him the price of a slave, thirty pieces of silver ; and this in the spoke by hmi. Nor am I at all convinced by Mr. Joseph Mede's house of the Lord, where the court sat. On this, God, as resenting, reasonings, (see his Works, p. 963.) that these words, though re- this indignity offered to him in the person of his prophet, orders\^ corded by Zechariah, or rather found in his book, wei-e originally him to throw it down with disdain before the first poor labourer he', 3 .spoken by Jeremiah, and by some accident displaced : a principle met, who happened to be a potter at work by the temple gates, as a! on which the whole credit of the prophecies might be destroyed, fitter price for a little of his paltry ware, than a suitable acknow. ' It would be a much less dishonour to the sacred writings, to sup- ledgment of the favours they had received from God. Now surely, pose a small error in the pen of some early transcriber, who might, if there was ever any circumstance in which the children of Isr.iel (as Bi.shop Hall .prettily conjectures,) by the mistake of one letter behaved themselves so as to answer this visionary representation, only, (supposing the word to l)e contracted,) write I^iou for Z^iou. it must be when they gave this very sum of thirty pieces of silver And tiiough it is certain that Jeremiah was the received reading as as a price for the very life of that Person whom God had appainted early as Origen's time, yet there is room to doubt whether any their great Shepherd. And, in order to point out the correspond- prophet was named in the first copies, as the Syriac version, which cnce the more sensibly. Providence so ordered it that the person to is allowed to be made in the most early times, says only, It iras whom this money went should be a potter, though the, prophecy .•:poken by the prophet, without mentioning by whom. On the would have been answered if he had been a fuller, or of any other whole, I think it more respectful to the Evangelist, to suppo.se that profession. It may also be farther observed, that God's ceasing to some officious transcriber might either insert or change the pro- be the Shepherd, of Israel, which was represented by the prophet's phet's name, than to impute it, as Dr. Mill seems to do, to a slip in breaking his pastoral staves, was never fully answered till their the author's memory. final rejection after the death of Christ; which may farther lead e The price of one who was sold, &c.] AVe may either render the us to refer the affront of their giving tlie pieces of silver to this words Tou rEriAi»i;U£vcw, ov ETiMi'avro aTO wwv I^^xnX, of one who ivas sold, event. — I do not remember ever to have seen this matter set in ( even of one whom the children of Israel did sell, and so consider what seems to me its just and most natural light ; but Grotius has ! them as expressive of the common price a slave was rated at among some valuable hints upon it, which I wonder he did not pursue them : or we may render them, of him (hat was sold or valued, farther. REFLECTI(5tfS ON THE MISERABLE END OF JUDAS. 399 the preparation, the chief laid it in Joseph's tomb on the evening of the sixth day of the week, on the morrow, or sect. priests and Pharisees came on the Sabbath itself, "which followed the day of preparation, the chief priests, and other 193. togetiier uuto Pilate, p/iarisces who belonged to the grand sanhedrim, assembled together in a body to Avait 63 ■ ' '' '' ' ' ' " '^' "' t...-ii..i f After tliree days I will rise to have practised many . _ . . . _ again. After three days I will rise again from the dead ;B We desire therefore, that since his G4 that\heTp™idue*bT.m.ie f"ends have been entrusted with the care of interrmg hmi, thou wouldst order that the sure until the third day, sepulchre where he is laid may be stricUy guarded and secured till the third day is past, ifst his disciples come by j ^ j ■ ijj^^f.j„[^.s ghould come bii nisht and steal him away, and upon this should tell the iiinht, and steal him away, <.<^.'n-j^"S''^ fweet spices, that XVI n T ■ I t ■ 111 lie 1 7 ; • i • they might come and anoint • tied with the preparation they had made betore, they bought more spices and ointments,'^ him. [Matt, xxviii. i.] that, after a short repose, as soon as ever they could see to do it, thei/ might go and anoint him with them, and pay him all the respect of an honourable interment. 2 Now Mary Magdalene, with the other Mary and Salome, were ready before it was day ; 2 And very early in the cf;/''''d ; and certain J- . , . , jj ji i ■ 4 ent, (and have likewise explained the word cxflourai in the same maimer in the first verse of this section,) whicli agrees better with the order of the story, and is frequently the sense in which our translators have rendered it elsewhere. See Matt. xii. !); xiii. 30; xiv. 12; Mark iii. 19; Luke ii. 44, xiv. I; John iv. 45, VI. 17; Acts iv. 23, xxviii. 14. The true import of the word Oiwjr.jjii is to take a view ; and thus implies their going to see if all things were in the same condition as before, when they had seen the body laid in the sepulclire. (Luke xxiii. 5.5. p. 39(5.) J think Maijus and Eisner justly observe that the xxiiid chapter of Luke should not have ended at the place it does; for here, as in several other places, a sentence is divided — [To fat axiixrov ri-:vxx'^y — tv Se ixix ruiaxiSxni — riKhov, &c.] Such divisions are great insta.nce3 of negligence in the person by whom they were first made ; but in a work like this Harmony, they are less material, and hardly in some cases avoidable. f Some others of their female friends went also with them.] It was indeed a circumstance of decency, considering the office they were intending to perforin, that the men and the women should perform their respective parts in it by themselves; which accord- ingly the Evangelists plainly intimate they did. Their setting out alone was a remarkable instance of their zeal and courage: perhaps some appointment might be made with I'eter and John, (who were cai'lxup, as it ^houjd seem, on this occasion,) either to meet them or come after tltPtfiT to assist in removing the stone, though not in emhalming the body. MARY FINDING THE SEPULCHRE OPEN RUNS TO TELL PETER AND JOHN. 401 of tlie Lord acscended from would BSUirallY awakcii tlie guards, if any one of them had fallen asleep,) and very awful SECT, lieaveii, and came and roll- and astomsliing were the circumstances that attended it; for an angel of the Lord de- 194. Iwi' Ind sat^upon it'."" ^'"^ sccndingfrom heaven, had approached in siglit of the guards, and rolled 'aicay the stone from tlie door, and sat dutsn upon it. And at the wiy same time, Jesus, like a sleeping m.'VTT. conqueror awaking on a sudden, burst asunder the bands of death, and sprung up to a new ^^^ ^"• 3 His countenance was and immortal life. But none of the guards saw him rise, being struck into the utmost con- 3 ^i!'^ t white af'snow-'"^ "'' ^tcrnation at the sight of the angel, who appeared to remove the stone : and well indeed they might be so ; for his countenance was like the brightness of lightning, and his long flowing garment was as u-hite as snow, glittering with extraordinary lustre beyond what 4 And for fear of him the their eyes could bear. And the guards, though Romans and soldiers, trembled for fear 4 keepers did shake,-nnd be- ^t the siglit of him, and became like so many dead men, falling down on their faces in a came as dead men. ^_^^^^^ hefpless condition. But quickly after, presuming to lift up their eyes, and finding he had disappeared, and had left the sepulchre open, they fled to some distant place, to consult their own safety in so surprising an occurrence.^' John XX. 1. And Mary At this time the women, who had set out as it began to dawn, were near the place ; and jows Magdalene see^tli^the^stoj^e jy/^,,,^ Magdalene, transported with the distinguishing ardour of her affection, advanced a ^X- puichrr*^*^ '^'"" little'before the rest ; and, it being now ligHt enough to discern objects, she looked forward, ^ and saxv, to her great surprise, that the stone was already taken awai/ from the sepulchre,^^ Lukexxiv. 2. And [wiien and that the tomb was open. And she was greatly astonished and alarmed at the sight, luke tliey also looked.] thej j^^icl presently concluded that the body was removed. She therefore stepped back and xxiv. frmn\hrsrpX-hrcI*^'[Matt^ informed her companions of this circumstance ; upon which theij [_a~lso^ lookccf, and 2 x\i. 4] plainly found that it was as she represented, and that the stone was indeed rolled awaij from the entrance of the sepulchre. John XX. 2. Then she And, not reflecting on the assurance Jesus had given them of his rising again from the john nwn^Peter"and°to''thVother ^^^^' ^^^^' '^"'^^^ "°^ ^^*^^^' '° ^ccount for the removal of the stone 5 but Mary Magdalene XX. disciple whom Jesus loved, and her companions having consulted a little together as well as the confusion they were in 2 and saith unto tiiem, They would admit, it was thought best that some of the disciples should be immediately acquainted out'^of'the" s^JpXhre,^°nd with it : she therefore runs back to the city with all possible despatch,' and knowing we know not where 'they where they lodged, i\iQ comes to Simon Peter and to John, that other disciple whom have laid hira. Jesus peculiarly loved, (by whom this part of the story is most exactly and circumstan- tially recorded,) and finding them already up, and full of solicitude about the event of this important day, she sat/s to ttiem, O my friends, the sepulchre is broke open, and some or -pther must have been there, who have removed the stone ; nor is there any room to doubt but they have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him :'' so tliat I and my companions, whom I have left behind me, cannot find any method of performing that last office of respect and atfection which you know we intended. " luke Luke xxiv. 12. Then jind upon hearing this, without so much as staying to make any reply, Peter, whose XXIV. arose Peter [an^i went forth, j^gj^j.^ ^^^5 struck with such a circumstance, arose in a transport of various passions,' and 12 g They fled to some distant place, &c.] As nothing is said of mentioned only Mary Magdalene as running with the news, her any interview between them and the friends of Christ, there is great companions in the mean while might stay at some distance till Peter reas'fW»-to'1)elieve that this was the case, as indeed it is on other ac. and John came, and had viewed tlie sepulchre; and might hejoined counts probable it should be. there by the otlier women who were to bring tlie spices, upon whose h Mary Magdalene saw that the stone tvas taken airay, ^•c.'] — coming they might go into the sepulchre. (Compare Mark xvi. 2; Every attentive reader may have observed how difficult it is to form and Luke xxiv. 3. in the beginning of the next section.) — John the Evangelists into one coherent story here, and to reconcile some hints nothing at all of Mary's having looked into the sepulchre seeming contrarieties in their accounts: nevertheless 1 hope, on a before she ran back to him ; and his narration being the last and careful examination of this and the following sections, it will be most circumstantial, must guide us in adjusting what is ambiguous foBnd not impracticable. 1 shall not mention the very different in the rest. schemes other critics have taken, nor the particular objections k Tliey have taken auHiy the Lord, SfC."] It is difficult to suppose, against them ; but would only add a word or two concerning that of with Dr. Clarke, Dr. Guyse, and many other critics, that she would Dr. Guy.se, wliich is both new and ingenious, yet not to me satis, have spoken thus, if the angels hadbefore this expressly assured factory. He supposes (in his note on John xx. 2.) that there were her of Christ's resurrection, anrhsent her away with such a message two appearances of the angels to the women ; and that Mark and as they did to the disciples. Compare note p, on ver. 13. Luke speak only of the first, and Matthew and John of the second ; 1 And Peter arose.] These words in Luke come in after the that is, in other words, (as I understand it,) That as soon as it was account given by the women to the eleven, and all the rest of the light, these good women came to the sepulchre, and saw an angel, disciples, (Luke xxiv. 9.) or thcangels' appearing to them, &c. and who tokl tliem, "He knew they souglit Jesus, but that he was so make the chief objection against the scheme here offered to " risen ;" and inviting them " to come and see the place where he the reader : but the word then, with wliich this verse is introduced " was laid," charged them " to gn and tell his disciples that he would by our translators, does not well answer fo ft in the original ; and, " go hefore them into Galilee." Upon this they go immediately and as we have often showed before that Luke is not always so exact in tell the disci))les, (without saying any thing, tliat we find, of the his order as not to admit of some transposition, so it will run us into vision,) " tliat some unknown person bad taken away the Lord, and greater difficulties not to allow it in the present case, in which it is " laid him they knew not where :" and then returning again to the apparently reasonable to follow John's order, who was an eye-wit- sepulchre in less than an hour, they see another, or the same angel ness, and who gives the last and largest account. And indeed, if as before, who, as if it were perfectly unknown by any former de- no transposition may be allowed, it is absolutely impossible in claration, tells them just in the same words, "He kneiv they sought many passages of the gospel history to make any consistent Har- " Jesus, hut he was risen ;" and, inviting them again '^ to come and mony of the Evangelists at all ; as every attentive reader must have " see the place where he had lain," charges them.igain " to go and tell often observed. This was the view in which I formerly considered " his disciples that he loent hefore them into Galilee." Ttiis is such the account that Luke has given (ver. 12.) of Peter's visit to the a similarity of words and actions immediately succeeding eacli sepulchre, which I have incorporated here with that of John, who other, as I believe can no where be paralleled. "The scheme I offer at large relates their going there together, as soon as they received here (which is that which twice, at the distance of several years, the first report from Mary Magdalene of the sepulchre being open, presented itself to me on a view of the Evangelists alone) is encura- and the body gone: and, as Luke does not mention Peter's visit till bered with no such difficulty, nor indeed with any worth naming, after the report; the women who had seen the angels made to the except what arises from the transposition of Mark xvi. 2. and Luke disciples, it could not any way agree with that of John, without xxiv. 12. on which see note l,in this section, and note a, in the next, allowing the necessity of a transposition. But, on considering the i She therefore runs back to the city, &c.] It is not expressly observations made by Mr. West, I am now satisfied that Luke re- said, whethei- the women with whom she came thither «taid any fers, not to the visit which Peter made with John, but to a second where near the sepulchre, or whether they returned to the city visit which he made afterwards upon the women's coming with the with her ; but considering that John, who was an eye-witness, has report that they had seen two angels who had assured them Jesus 2d 402 JESUS APPEARS UNTO MARY. SECT, that oilier diaciplc whom we mentioned before, [and] went d\v(xX\y out, and^nvcx stopped 194. till they ca/iic to the sepulchre. And, not contented with the swiftest pace with which ■ tliey could walk, they both ran together ; and as that other diseiple was the younger JOHN ijiau, he out-ran Peter, who had the start of him at the beginning, and eame [first to the XX. ^ sepulehre : And stooping down [to took info it,] he saw the linen clothes, or rollers, in '^ which the corpse had been wrapped up, lijing there by themselves ; hut he did not at first 6 enter in to the sepulchre. Then came Simon Peter very quickly following him, and having stooped down to look into the sepulchre, as John had done before, he was not satis- tied with this ; but, that he might examine this important afl'air with such exactness as it deserved, he went into the sepulehre, and found the body Avas gone, but saw the linen clothes, with which it had been covered, laid by themselves, as John had observed from 7 without. And he discovered another material circumstance which had not been remarked before, namely, that the napkin which was about his head was not laid with the linen clothes, but was folded up in a place bi/ itself,"' in such an orderly manner as plainly '. showed that the body was not hastily husried away, either by friend or enemy ; but made the sepulchre appear rather like a bal-chamljcr, which a person on his awaking in the morn- Sing had leisurely quitted. Then that other disciple who ca7ne first to the sepulchre, and, being Jess_ adyenturQus, than Peter, stood hitherto without, went in also to view it 5 and when he saw the several parts of the fiincral dress in this situation, he was immediately convinced, and believed it now to he at least very probable that his dear Master was indeed 9 revived." For hitherto they did not hnow the full meaning of those various intimations of scripture, to which Jesus had so often referred to convince them that he must certainly rise from the dead, (compare Matt. xvi. 21. p. 180, 181 ; and Luke xviii. 31— 34. p. 280.) which if they had considered, they would cheerfully have expected the sure accomplish' ment of them, and would not have been so much surprised at the news which Mary brought them. 10 Then both the disciples went away again to their co?npanions in the city," [Peter'] not being so thoroughly satisfied as John was, yet greatly xvojidcring in himself at what had happened, and very much concerned as to the event of so surprising a beginning. 1 1 But Mai-y, who was now returned, stood near the sepulchre after Peter and John were gone from it, not indeed going into it as they had done, but weeping without, in great per- plexity at her not knowing what was become of Jesus : and as she wept, she also stooped 12 down, [and loolied].^ery wishfully into the sepulchre ; And there she saw ^ith great sur- firise two angels in the form of men, clothed in white habits, sifting one at the head, and hevfher at the feet, of that niche in the sepulchre xohere the body of Jesus had been 13 laid. And they said to her, with a tender regard. Woman, why dost thou xueep thus ? And she said to them, Alas, I have reason enough to weep ; it is because they have taken away the body of Jesus my dear Lord, and I know not where they have laid him, or how the sacred corpse may be neglected or abused.'' 14 And ]ust as she had said this, hearing.a sudden noise behind her, she turned back, before the angels could give her any answer ; and she saw Jesus himself standing near her : and she knew not at first that it was Jesus, his habit being changed, her eyes also over- flowing with tears, and her mind being so far from any expectation of his appearance, and so much distressed, that she did not so much as look up to the face of the person who appeared. 15 Then Jesus said to her, with a gentle voice, IVoman, why dost thou weep thus ? and whom dost thou seek ? And she, supposing him to be the gardener,'^ said to him. Sir, if and that other Jisciple, ami came to the sepulchre. i [John XX. 3.] John XX. 4. So they lan both together: and the other disciple did out-run Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. a And he, stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and [stooping down, he] went into the sepulchre, and seeth the hnen clothes [laid byi themselves;] [Luke xxJv. 12.] 7 And the napkin that was about his head, not ly- ing with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 Then went in also that other disciple which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9 For as yet they knev/ not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home, [Peter wonder- ing iu himself at that which was come to jiass.] [Luke xxiv. 12.] 11 ButMary stood without at the sepulchre, weeping : and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulclire : 12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And tliey say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou! She saith unto them. Be- cause they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14 And when she had thus said, she turned her- self back, and saw Jcsns standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou! whom seekest tl>ou! she, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, was risen. These women Mr. West supposes to have been Joanna and the other women who came with the spices; upon who.se com- ing to the disciples before the arrival of th.e two Marys and Salome, and telling them that they had seen two angels at the sepulchre, who had informed them Jesus was alive, Peter, willing to see if the angels were there, immediately arose and ran again to the .sepulchre, and, without entering in, (as lie had doi»c liefore,) but only stooping down and looking into it, as he couhl see no angels there, hut only the linen clothes hjing, (for so it is that the words ret o'^cvix xtiutu uaix j should be rendered,) came hack again in great astonishment. (See/ West's Oliserv. p. 52. el ser/.) This I now think to be the best so-/ lution of this dilllculty, and there is thus no need of any transposi^ tion ; of which I coulil not but inform the reader, as it"is the prin-^ cipal circumstance iu which the scheme that Mr. West has given differs from mine, though I have left the harmony to stand as be- fore, that it may still be seen what I had offered,' as it will either way be found sufficient to acipiit the Evangelists from any charge of absurdity or contradiction. ra But folded np in a place l>y itself .'\ Perhaps our Lord himself folded up the napkin ; and this remarkable circumstance might he intended to signify the perfect calmness and composure with which he arose, transported with no rapture or surprise at his awaking out of this long sleep. It wouhl he very impertinent to inquire whence he had his clothes ; the angels no doubt furnished him with them ; and perhaps the diversity of fTfcircolour or form, might prevent his being known by his friends at first sight. u He saw, and helieved.'] Many interpreters explain this only of his believing thatthe body was not there ; but that he must have believed before, on looking into the sepulchre. I rather understand it as a modest intimation that he, first indeed of all others, believed the truth of Christ's resurrection, inferring it, as he reasonably might, from the order in which he found the sepulchre. These words have ;ji .force and a grace, on this interjiretation, which I think no other tan give them. Much of the beauty of John's manner of writing consists in such hints as these, which show the temper of that cxtiilient man ; and, were he to be considered merely as a hu- man liistorian, adil great weight to his testimony. See note d, on John xxi. 20. } 201. o fCent aivuy again to their companions.'] So ir^or avm seems evidently to signify: (compare Eisner, Observ. Vol. L p. 348.) Accordingly soon after this the women found the eleven and the rest together. (Ijukc xxiv. 9.) — ATTEXfltiv x-fot ejcji-cv, never, that 1 know of, signifies to come to one's self, or to the exercise or possession of one's own mind, as some have strangely interpreted these words. Luke's e.^pression in that case is different, Luke xv. 17. where he says of the prodigal, ti? tiurov £>Avv, lohen he came to himself. — It was very prudent in Peter and John to retire immediately, lest they shonld have been questioned by the rulers if found ncartlie se- pulchre. p They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 1 This expression may very easily be accounted for, in our manner of ranging this story ; but it is very harsh to suppose she should speak in this manner, if one of the angels had a few mi- nntes before told her that Jesus was risen. She perhaps thought they came to do a kind of homage to the place where he had lain, if she apprehended them to be angels; which wliether she did or did not, we do not certainly know. q Supposing him to he the gardener.] It is very probable that Jesus might speak low, or in a different way from what he usually did ; antf her taking him for the gardener, seems to intimate there was nothing very splendid in his dress ; accordingly, when he ap- peared to the two disciples in their way to Emmaus, they seem to REFLECTIONS ON THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. 40-3 Sir, if thoiiliave bonie him thou fuist for any unknown reason borne him away from hence, where the master of the SECT, hciice, tell mc wiierc tiiou sepulchre saw fit so honouralily to lay him but a few hours ago/ I earnestly beg thou. 194. lake llira away' '""^ ^ '"" wouklst immediately tell mc xchcre thou hast put him, and I xviir remove him, and take effectual care that his corpse shall be decently interred elsewhere, without giving any John farther trouble here. 16 .Tesus saith unto iiei-, Jesits, on this, said to her, with a loud and distinct voice, in his usual affectionate 16 Mary, siie turnpd lierscif, y.y^y^ Mary, dost tliou not kuow me? \And'\ Mary thereupon taming directly towards C!ir'whic'ii'°is'"to'lay^ him, and "eagerly fixing her eyes upon him, immediately discovered who it was; and, MasUT. ' transported with a mixture of unutterable passions, she said to him, Jlahboni ; that is to say, [AT?/ great] Master and Teacher ! and so much was her heart affected, that she could say no more, but immediately prostrated herself at his feet to embrace them. 17 Jesus saith unto her, But Jcsus said to her. Do not stay here to embrace mc [noxi\'] either to pay thine homage 1 7 Touch me not: for 1 am ^q j^g^ ^j. jq confirm thy faith ; both which thou wilt have other opportunities of doing : Father*^, but'' go to my br7- for I am not yet withdrawn from your world, and ascended to the heavenly court of niy thren, and say unto them, ^ Pathcr, as you may imagine I should presently do;"" but I shall yet continue for a little La youl Fatfrer^nd ^^my while upon earth, and give you further opportunities of seeing me again : let nothing there- God and your God. fore now detain thee any longer, but go immediately to my dear brethren, for whom I have still the same affectionate regard as ever, and say unto them, I am risen from the dead, and after I have paid some visits to you, am shortly indeed to ascend into heaven, from whence I came : yet grieve not at that separation, but remember, that as I am going to him who is in a very peculiar sense jny Father, so I shall still be mindful of your interest, and am also going to your Father, and [to] my God and your God ; for such he is now become, through that covenant which he has established \\n\h you in me ■} on the whole, therefore, you have infinitely greater reason to rejoice than to mourn. And upon saying this he immediately disappeared for the present ; and the other women advancing to the sepulchre, where the angels continued, received the news of his resurrec- tion fionf them, and were directed, as Mary Magdalene also was, to report it to the disciples, with a variety of additional circumstances which will be mentioned in the following section. IMPROVEMENT. How fit is it that we should sing unto the Lord a new song ! and with what thankful hearts should we join, on <" . tt- his own day, and on every day, to congratulate the triumph of his rising from the dead, and to rejoice in this birth- ^>>- vU'- day of our hopes ! Now is the justice of God amply satisfied, or the prisoner had never been released. Now is 1—4 the reproach of the cross ceased, and turned into proportionable glory. That reproach was rolled away at once by the descending angel, who appeared, not to awaken Christ from his sleep, or to bring him a new life, for he had him- self a power, whenever he pleased, to resume that which he had voluntarily resigned ; (John x. 18.) but he came to add a solemn pomp to his revival, and to strike the guards with such a terror as would effectually prevent any mad attempt on this glorious Conqueror when he was bursting the bonds in which he had for a while been held. O Lord, we acknowledge the truth of thy promise. Thou didst not leave his soul in hell, neither didst thou suffer the flesh of thine Holy One to see corruption : (Psal. xvi. 10.) Notv is Christ indeed risen from the have taken him for a person of a rank not much superior to tli,elr assured her that he was not yet quitting this world, and plainly own. Her eyesmisjht also be withheld at first from knowing Jesus intimated his intention of seeing her and his disciples again, and by some supernatural restraint, as theirs were. Luke xxiv. 16. paying frequent visits to them before his final departure, when r Sir, if tlinu hast home him hence.'] It is observable that she what he had lately said to his disciples of his going to the Father, accosts this stranger in respectful language, even when she took (John xvi. 28.) should be fulfilled by his ascension into heaven, him for a servant, ffor wnovpi cannot, I think, signify the otvner of (See AVesl's Ohserv. p. 167. et seq.)—T\\e sense is obvious and easy Mf (^arrffn,) prudently reflecting, that an error on that liand would in this view, and Dr. Whitby, (in his note on this place,) Mr. be more excusable than on the other, supposing he should have Fleming, (Christol. Vol. III. p. 502.) Mr. Cradock, and others, proved one of superior rank^in a plain dress-, and also, that she interpret these words as I have done in the paraphrase; and it is does not name Jesus, but speaks in indefinite terms, ;/ thou hast strange that Mr. AVhiston should think this text inexplicable, home him hence ; intimating that he was the one person of whom unless we suppose " that Clirist was immediately to ascend to his her own thoughts and heart were so full, that she took it for " Father, before he could at all converse with any ot them, or granted every one must know who she meant. Such language in "receive the expressions of tlicir homage to him (hee tlie such a circumstance was perfectly natural.— If there was any kedge Appendix to his Sermons at Boyle's Led. p. 298— 300.) It there oc arbour near the sepulchre, so that while she spake to Jesus she had been any necessity for his ascending immediately, lie surely was not visible to hep companions; or if this avenug was such, th.it would not first have appeared to Mary, and then to the other while they came up to it, the sepulchre was bett^n her and them ; women ou their way to the city. The interpretation here given or if they were now waiting at some distance, or coming up with suits the words as well, and other scriptures much better !5he a slower pace, being charged with the weight of the materials for probably thought, that if he was risen, lie was also returned back embalming, (any one of which might very possibly he the case,) to his heavenly Father to keep up his stated abode with hira again, a difficulty with respect to tlie time of their coming to the sepul- as he quickly after did : to assure her therefore of the contrary, cbre, wliich mav offer itself to the sagacious reader in tlie disposi- was exceeding proper, and the best reason that could be given to lion of the following section, when compared with this, will persuade her to wave any farther discourse now, with winch. li>.. disappear at once. be sure she must otherwise have been earnestly desirous to detain s Do not cmhrnce me now, for Tarn not yet ascended to my Father:] her dear Lord.— To suppose, with Messrs. L'Eufant and Beausobrc Mr. Chandler, in his Answer to the Considerations on the Trial of that she meant this adoration as homage to a temporal prince, anU the Witnesses, has given such convincing reasons in the present that our Lord's answer was chiefly intended as a decl.iration that ca.se for rendering the word ^mov, embrace, (which I before appre- he must ascend to his Father be/ore he received /us Itingagm, bended to be tlie sense of it,) that I think myself warranted in appears to me very unnatural. ,• • , i • u ii, changing the version. We find indeed in the next section, Uiat t Go to my brethren, &c.] By calling the disciples Ins brethren, presently after t fleeing from the (compare Matt accounted for by minds, and to remove tlie terror they vvere under; while Mary, ._,t,,„.,^,i.., •,,, - „ --- - .,, ,,.•,- i ■ n • « wtfo was uuder no such terror, had her grief dispersed at once, and reply to what his penitent child had said of Ins unwortniness to ^ was immediately convinced that it was Christ, upon his calling her he called his son.— These exquisite touches, which every where > :>y her name. And, to induce her not to wait for any thing more abound in tlie evangelical writings, give inexpressible delight to at present, it was a very proper consideration that our Lord sub- a well-turned heart, and show how perfectly Christ knew our joins. For lam not yet ascended to my Father ; in which be at once frame 2 D 2 404 I'WO ANGELS APPEAR AND TELL THEM JESUS IS RISEN. SECT, dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept ; ( 1 Cor. xv. 20.) may we, in conformity to his holy example, 194. be dead to sin and to the world ; that like as Christ xcas raised up from the dead bij the ^lori/ of the Father, ■ even so xve also may tvallc in newness of life ! (Rom. vi. 4.) Then will he that raised up Christ from the dead. JOHN erelong quicken our mortal bodies by his Spirit that divelleth in us. (Rom. viii. IL) XX. Let the faith of what has been done with regard to our glorified Head, and shall at length be accomplished with ■''^ respect to all his members, daily gladden our hearts. When our eyes are weeping, and our souls sinking within us, 17 let us raise our thoughts to Jesus, our risen and now ascended Redeemer ; who says to all his brethren these gracious words, (which may justly be received with transports of astonishment, and fill our hearts, at tiie same time, M'lth joy unspeakable and full of glory,) " I ascend to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God-i'" The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is now, through the death and resurrection of his dear Son, (whom, by raising him from the dead, he has so solemnly owned under that relation,) become our Father and our God. As such let us honour him, love him, and rejoice in him ; and when we must leave this world, which Chi'ist has long since left, let it delight om- souls to think that we shall likewise ascend after him, and dwell with him in this pro- pitious divine presence. In the mean time, if we are risen with Christ, let us seek those things which are above, where Christ now siiteth at the right hand of God ; (Col. iii. 1.) and let us be willing, in whatever sense God shall appoint, to be ?nade conformable to his death, that we may also be partakers of his resurrection and glory. (Phil. iii. 10, 11.) ft' .'' • .^ -■:-. '"Vtu/w £. »: ^ SECTION CXCV. Christ having appeared to Mary, the other wo?nen come to the sepulchre, and are informed of his resur- rection by the angels. He appears to the wo>nen as they return to the city : but neither their testimony nor that of Man/ is received by the disciples. Matt, xxviii. 5 — 10. Mark xvi. 2, 5 — 11. LiJce xxiv. 3 — 11. Johii XX. 18. Mark xvi. 9. Mark xvi. o. SECT. ^VE have just now seen in the preceding section, that when [Jesus'] was risen from the Now wiicn Jesus was 195.' dead, very early on the first day of the week, (which day was afterwvirds observed by his jj'"'^.eek\^i,e ai^el^rJa'^firn followers in commemoration of this important fact,) he made his first appearance to Mary to Mary Magciaiene, out of MARK Magdalene, out of whom (as was formerly said) he had some time before ejected no less ^*'''°'" ''^ ''^"^ ^^^^ st\eii XVI. than seven demons, who by an awful providence, were permitted to join together in ^afflicting her. (Compare Luke viii. 2. p. 121.) 2 But it is now time to return to the women her companions, from whom she had parted 2— And they [/. e. ihe when she went to inform Peter and John that the sepulchre was open : (John xx. 2. p. "therwomcn^ came uiit« the , ^ mi ■ . ■ I 7 T 1 1 T 1 1 ,1 . 1 sepulchre at tlie rismi'' or 401.) These were now jomed by \the other women] who had brought the spices, and, tlie sun. while Mary was engaged in this interview with Christ, catne up together to the sepulchre : tAJKK a.nd it -wsi?, now about ihtiime of the rising of ihe sun. ^ ^«r/ /?r/tv'«o- found the passage Luke xxiv. 3. Audihey XXIV. open without any obstruction in the way, and observed, as they stood at a distance, that ^jfre'i^^-„,d'\v^uiKl''^uot' 'the ^ Peter and John had done the like, they entered into the sepulchi'e themselves.; but, as body oi" the""Lord"*Jesu's! they had before suspected on seeing it open, they found not the body of the Lord Jesus. [Mark xvi. 5.] 4 And it came to pass, that as they were in great perplexity on this account, and knew 4 And it came to pass, not what to think was become of the body, behold, to tlieir inexpressible astonishment, p^exed^thrr^fbour behold they saw the two angels whom Mary had .seen but a little before, (who had disappeareH [tuey saw] two men [w/w] upon their coming to the sepulchre, but now rendered themselves visible at once,) in the stood by them iu shining form of >ncn arrayed in splendid habits, [who] came and 5^00^/ by them, the women being |omig"nian, »"L /(niXfa unable to discover how they came in : and [one of them] appeared like a young man, sitting on the right side, with a beautiful and cheerful aspect, clothed in a long white robe, glittering with lustre g|;;meut.]'\Marklvil'.5.'i'' like the purest snow : and this was the angel who appeared at first to the guards, and [who 5 And [tliey were af- had been] afterwards seen by Mary sitting on the right side of the entrance into the /')^j,f'''f[;}g5"t„'''(,jg'^j'°.i^" 5 sepulchre. A)ul they were greatly terrified at this extraordinary and surprising sight ; [Mark xvi. 5.] and stepping back to the very door,'' they bowed their faces to the ground, and fixed xxviii 5 And tlie their eyes upon it, in token of the profoundest respect.'^ angel answered and said MATT. But the angel, in a most mild and condescending manner, answered and said unto unto the women [Be not XXVIII. the xcomen,^ Do not be terrified at what you see; /or we appear to comfort rather than yfjfek jL'L'^[of Na^TretiJ!] 5 afflict you, and have the best tidings to bring you that ever you heard : I know, that in which was crucified: [Luke, the strength of your affection you are come to seek that holy and excellent Person, Jesiis of ^^hy seek j'e the living A- ri L \c 1 j.\^ 4.1 J J u- • 3 T, u i 7 ; It ]■ ■ among the dead?] [Mark iVa.:r/rcr/?, a^Ao u'CJ cz-wcv^t^rt the other day, and buried here : mt wliy seek ye tlie living xvi. 6 Luke xxiv. 5.] I UKE ^"^°"S ^^^ dead ? and why are ye come hither with materials for embalming one who Luke xxiv. 6. lie is not XXIV. is possessed of an immortal life ? He is not here, but is risen this morning, as he said g^"[;-] [M^rk, beliold where 6 that he should : behold the tomb where they laid him ; the body is not here : come in, they' laid him ;] [come see a About the rising of Ihe si/n.] AVe have seen before, that Mary c Tlicy bowed their faces to the ground, and fixed their eyes Macdalene, with the other Mary and Salome, set out while it was upon it, &c.] The words xXivomwv n w^otwrrov m rm ym, do not inti- yet'dark, and came within sight of the sepulchre for the first time, mate their proslra/ing themselves before the angpls, but a respectful just as it grew light enough to discern that it was opened ; (com- and reverential declining their heads, and looking downward, that pare Matt, xxviii. 1 ; and John xxi. 1. p. 400.) but by that time they might not appear to gaze ; which is well known to have been Mary had called Peter and John, and they had viewed the sepul- forbidden to the Jews upon the sight of a celestial vision : (see chre, and Joanna was come, with the other women who were to Exod. xix. 21; and compare Jiidg. xiii. 20.) And it was also con- bring the spices, which might all pass in less than an hour, the sun sidered as dangerous by the heathen, when their deities, or any was up. These circums-tances well agree with each other, and are celestial messengers from them, were supposed to make themselves presumptions in favour of the order which we have laid down. visible; as Eisner has finely shown in his learned and entertaining b Stepping back to the very door.] This it was natural for note here. Elsn. Observ. Vol. J. p. '.284. them to do; and from the angel's afterwards inviting them to d But the angfl answered, S.-c.'] I entirely agree with Mr. West, come in and view the sepulchre, we may infer that they were now that the particle Si should here be rendered But. See Wests precisely in this attitude. Observ. p. 23. JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN AND BIDS THEM GO AND TELL HIS BRETHREN. 405 «lie place where the Lord and satisfy yourselves by the strictest inquiry ; and view, with all the niLxtiire of holy SECT, lay:] remember how he aHections which are Suitable to such a circumstance, ///c yw/flce ti/zc/'e Me Lo/y/ of life and 195. w^'' ye't'h? tJaHierA^latt glory, the Prince of angels and men, % for a while a breathless corpse : but he has now xxviii. c. Mark xvi.'ti.j triumphed over the grave; and you have no reason to be surprised to hear it: for it not l,ukk only was most probable in itself that this would be the case, but he also often foretold it. XXI v. Remember particularly hoiv he spake tinto ijou, -when he -was yet in Galilee with you, 7 Saying, The Son of raaa where I know With what icindness you attended and ministered to him :^ Recollect 7 riuist be delivered into the ^hat remarkable sai/iiig of his which v/as so often repeated. The Son of man jnust be de- crucilied, and the third day Hverecl into the hands of sinners, and be crncijied, and the third dai/ he shall rise rise ag.iiii. again ; (see Matt. xvi. 21. "p. 180, 181 ; xvii. 22, 23. p. 188 ; and xx. 18, 19. p. 280.) now this, as you well know, is the third day ; and what he said is most exactly verified. 8 And they remembered And, while the angel spake thus, thcj/ called to mind what they had heard from Jesus, 8 hiswuids. and verkctly remez/ibercd his xvords. But go nuickh/, added he, and communicate to matt. Hiatt. xxviii. 7. [But] ffo ,. . i ., - i ■ i r i f^ J ■■' ,, , ■ . ... 7 vvvm [your way] quickly, and your tnends the joy which you now leel; yea, go and tell tits mourning disciples, and a.-s-^i-i. tell his discipies [and Peter] particularly tell Peter, who is so overwhelmed with his peculiar sorrows, that he is risen 7 dead/'Ld\elfo"d,'heloeth f''o»' the dead; and ^ccj^uaint them also, in further conhmiation of the truth of it. Behold, before you into (Jaiilee, he is shortly going before you into Galilee / for I am commissioned to assure you that there shall ye sec him, [as fjig^g yg shall all See him, OS he Said to i/ou that he would meet you there; (compare iwve'told'you.^^Mark xvi. Matt. kxvi. 32 ; and Mark xiv. 28. p. 364.) Lu, I, who am one of the angels that stand 7.] in the presence of God, Jiave told you tliis, and niy associate is here ready to attest it ; and therefore, important and wonderful as the message is, you need not at all scruple to report it. Mark xvi. 8. And they And upon this, instead of making any farther scrutiny, they tvent out quickly,^ and mark. 7rora "t'lfe '^ se" uVchre*^ ^foJ /'"^ f''"'" ^^'^ Sepulchre as fast as possible ; for they trembled, and were amazed at this XVI. th^ey tremWed," and 'were angelic visioa ; and, whoever they met by the way, they said nothing to any one of S amazed: neither said they them,yb/- thcy Were very much affrighted ; \_but,'\ with hearts full of fear at what they they werfafraid7[a"nd"Vuh had seen, and with a mixture also of" over// Joy at this happy news which they had re- fear and great joy did ran ceived in SO awful a manner,'' they ran with all the speed tliey could to bring his disci- to bring his disciples word.] j./,^.. yrnrd Matt, xxviii. 9. And as And OS they were going on their way to tell his disciples,' behold Jesus himself /net m.vtt. they went to tell his dis- //(e,/,,^ ^^/^/^o-, in the usual form of congratulatory salutations, //a//, my friends ! I give you XXV 11 1. thera%a'^''hi?,''AUhai'f! .And pv of the day. And upon this, beginning to reco\er from their fear, as they saw it was 9 they canie, and held him by Ji^as, fhei/ drew near in the most respectful manner, and, prostrating themselves before him ^''^^' ^°^ ^''"'•^''iPP^'l him, tpoic hold of his feet and embraced them, and paid their homage to him on this joyful occasion. 10 Then said Jesus unto "'ThenJcsus, as he saw that they were still in a_great deal of confusion, did not long 10 them. Be not afraid; go tell permit them to continue in that posture, but comforted and dismissed them, (as he had inv brethren, that thev go •, , „ . , , , nr \ > ■ 1 , 17 n , r ■ 1 c into Galilee, and there shall doiie before With respect to Mary ;) and said to them. Be not any more afraid, tor you they see me. have indeed no reason for it ; [^buf,'] as you have the fullest proof that I am actually risen from the dead, go ye therefore and tell my dear brethren, whoever of them you may meet here in the city,' that thcy go away into Galilee, to the place I formerly appointed-, (see note b, on Matt. xxvi. 32. p. 364.) and when a proper number of them is met there, 0 Remember how he spake vnto you, when he was yel in Galilee.] Christ to the women, such a connexion as this would have been This familiar manner in which the angel speaks of what passed be- verv unnatural. Matthew would, on that hypothesis, rather have ' tueen Jesus and them in Galilee, seems to intimate, tliat he had sd\d. And when tliey had told his disciples, [and /hey believed them. then been present, though invisible, and heard what Jesus said, not,] Jesus met them, i!jc. — But Mr. West, who apprehends that The hint suggests many agreeable reflections, wliich the pious there were sevcaUistinct appearances of angels, and two distinct reader will dwell upon at leisure. — The mention which he after- appearances of Christ to the women, (the first to 3Iary Magdalene, wards makes of Peter, whether it were or were not by a particular and the second to the other Mary and Salome, when the other charge from Clirist, is also observable in the same view. women were not present,) concludes that these several facts f fie is going before you into Galilee.]- When we consider this were reported to the apostles at different times, and by different expression of the angel to the women, as Mark has related it, [tiTsx,i women ; and that Joanna and the other women, who had only seen — on uitzya um^t, &c.] the construction shews, as the learned Bos ob- the angels after the two Marys and Salome were gone from the serves, [Eiercit. p. 23.) that these words are the Message which the sepulchre, made their report to the apostles before the arrival of angel puts into the mouth of these women, to be delivered by them the two Marys and Salome ; and by thus representing the story in to the apostles. But what is added, [there shall ye see him,] may, a dift'erent order, he obviates the difficulty arising from the account consistent with this criticism, be understood as in the paraphrase, which the two disciples that were going to Emmaus give of the wliich makes the sense more complete, by adding a very material, repoi-t they had heard from the women. Luke x.\iv. 22 — 24. (See and, to them who so tenderly loved Jesus, a very delightful cir- West's Observ. p. 77, 86. et set/.) curastance, namely, that they should see him Ihemsehes, and not k Jesus himself melthem.] 1 cannot think, with Dr. Lightfoot, merely receive the most credible assurances of his resurrection from [Hor. Heb. in loc.) that this relates to his interview with Mary others. Magdalene described before ; for though an euallage or exchange g They went out guickly.] This is the exact import of the word of numbers be sometimes used, (see note h, on Luke xxiii. 30. p. t%i-K-'Mixi, which islhe same in both the Evangelists, but is impro- 390.) yet it is not to be admitted without necessity. Now, it is perly rendered here in Matthew, they departed. (See West's Observ. certain Blary was alone when Christ appeared to her ; and that ap- p. 36.) pearanee was at the sepulchre, this between that and the city, and h Jrith fear and joy.] It was so natural for such a mixture of probably after they despatched some considerable part of the way passions to arise on this grand occasion, that I think very little stress in their flight. The words [as they went to (ell his disciples] are iu- isto be laid on Mark's mentioning their fear alone, and Matthew's deed wanting in many ancient versions and manuscripts, as Dr. mentioning their joy with it, to prove they relate different stories. Mill has shewn in his note on this place ; but Dr. Whitby, with — I have since the pleasure to find, that this is represented in the considerable reason, contends that they are genuine ; (see his same light by Mr. West, who has clearly shewn that both these h'xamen Milli, p. 91.) and the sense of them seems implied in the sacred writers speak of the same fact. (See West's Observ. p. close of the preceding verse, 37—40.] 1 .Vy brel/iren] The reader will observe our Lord speaks the i And as they were going on their way to tell his disciples.] Ad- same language here which he had used John xx. 17. (See note t, mitting what is here suppa-ied, that there was but one vision of on that text, p. 403.) No doubt, these aflectionate friends of angels, (besides that to Mary Magdalene,) and one message sent by Christ were exact in reporting this circumstance, that their in. them, this will, I think, establish the order in which we have jured Lord called them his brethren still. And both Matthev/ ranged this story. For if (as Dr. Clarke and many other critics and John, to whom the glad tidings were immediately brouglif, strangely suppose) Mary's interview witli the apostles (John xx. 2.) felt it strike so powerfully on their hearts, that they could not but had happened between the angelic vision and this appearance of record it. 406 REFLECTIONS ON CHRIST'S CARE TO COMFORT HIS DISCIPLES. SECT, they shall see me appear publicly among them, to remove all the remaining doubts 195. which any of them may entertain as to the certainty of my resurrection. Now after Jesus had spoken these words, he immediately dis;ipj)eared ; and tlie women Lukexxiv.o. And [tliey] LUKE ran on to carry the news: and tchen theij ivcre returned from the sepulehre to Jerusa- ci,'"™a''j/T7a 'afi ^ti'"'" '^^- ]em, thci/ told all these things to the eleven apostles, and to all the rest of the disciples Uifnostlnto the eleven, aiu*! 9 whom Ihey met with then or on the following days,"' having it much at heart to deliver to alt the rest, this important message in the most jxmctual and etFectual manner. 10 A?id the// were Manj Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary {the mother'] of James, lo It was Ulury MaRdalenc, and Joses, and Salome," r/wr/ the other xcomen that had gone "xith them to the sepulchre, ^juLi^Tk^'os I^aIau^ as above, with an intent to embalm Christ's body, (p. 400.) who were the persons that women M«/ wrrf with them, were thus honoured with this message from the angels, and from Christ himself-, and who J^^,'^'' told these things un- accordingly came and told these things to the apostles, who had none of them as yet ^° *^"^ ='P°^ties. seen any thing more themselves than that the sepulchre was empty, and the linen clothes MARiv laid in order. And Man/ Magdalene in particular Kent with the other women, and told Mark xvi. lo. And [Mary ^^ J- the disciples that had Seen so constantly with him, as they were mourning and weeping fl^ftlc%\ZT\\"n!t had 10 for the loss of their dear Master, that she also had seen the Lord ; and that indeed he been with him, as they had appeared to her the first of all the company, and had spoken these gracious things X^had'Len UirL'oi'd''al!d unto her as well as to them, relating to his resurrection from the dead, and had expressly that'he^had spoken these ordered her to acquaint them with his purpose of ascending ere long to his Father and things unto her.] [John their Father, and to his God and their God. (Compare John xx. ] 7. p. 403.) '"'• ^^'^ 1 1 But such were the prevailing prejudices that had possessed the minds of the disciples, n And they, when they and so entirely were their spirits dejected and their hopes blasted by the death of their ^^l\ ha'd "beea*^ semi' of'hir' Lord, that though they could not think this was related with a design to impose upon ijelieved not: [and their them, yet they were ready to impute it to the power of imagination ; and even when they ^^^^ds seemed to them as heard that he was actually alive, and had been seen by her, and by the other women ' ^ * *^ who also testified the same, they did not in general believe it; but their words seemed to WiOA of them as an idle tale, and they determined to suspend their belief of so import- ant a fact, till they were satisfied of it by the testimony of their own senses ; which, through the great condescension of their Lord, several of them were before the end of that day, as we shall quickly relate. IMPROVEMENT. MATT. We are now again called, as by the angel's voice, to come and see the place where the Lord lay, and to take XX\ 111. an affectionate survey of that sepulchre which our rising Saviour had left, and where he had laid aside the dress G of death, as a token that he should return to it no more. How wonderful tliat he should ever have Iain there ! that the Lord of life should have dwelt among the dead, and from the glory of the throne of God, should have sunk down to the abasement of the grave ! — But he has burst its prison doors, and has abolished death, and him who had the power of it ; abolished it for himself and us. How are all its terrors now disarmed ! O death, where is thy sting ! O grave, where is thy vietory I (I Cor. xv. 55.) 7, 8 With what pleasure did the angels deliver this gracious message of their Lord, as well as ours ! and with what transport did the pious women receive it ! Behold the tender care of Christ ON'er his people ! Angels have it imme 10 diately in charge to send the glad tidings to his disciples; and Jesus repeats and confirms them. Go tell my bre- thren, I am risen from the dead. Lord, is this thy language concerning those who but a few hours before had forsaken thee ! and one of them, with such dreadful imprecations, denied thee ! Yet even that disciple is not MARK excluded; nay, to him is it peculiarly addressed : Go tell thy brethren, and in particular tell Peter, that he, poor XM. 7. .jiipurner, may especially be comforted. Compassionate Redeemer! thou hast brought up from the tomb with thee that tenderness and goodness which laid thee there ! 9 Such is the freedom and glory of thy grace, that thou sometimes dost first manifest thyself to those who were once in the most miserable bondage to Satan. Whenever this is the case, may the peculiar obligation 10 be remembered ! May every remainder of unbelief be subdued in our souls ! and may we joyfully communicate to all around us the tidings of a risen Saviour, and the merciful discoveries of his presence to us. \\\_ y^^^ Jl,^ % SECTION CXCVI. The guards, returning to Jerusalem, make their report to the chief priests ; and are bribed to say, that the disciples stole the body of Christ while they slept. Christ appears to Peter, and then to two other disciples. Matt.xxviii.il — 15. Mark xvi. 12, 'l 3. MATT.xxviii.il. M...,.^ ••„ -Kj . MATT, xxviii. 11. SECT. iVOirw/i//f these extraordinary things were transactiiig, and [the women'] were going to Now when they werego- 196. tell the disciples what they had heard and seen, behold, some of the guards, who had fled >"?• l>c^liold, some of the from the sepalchie in great consternation, began a little to recollect themselves as to the rnVsiie*\v™f n'lito ti'e chief MATT. e.x.cuse they should make for its being broke open, and the bodjHreing gone, as it would priests ail the things that XXMIl. gQQj^ -^^ known that it was : they came therefore into the city, and told the chief priests, ^^'^'"'^ ''""'^■ 1 1 from whom they had received their immediate charge, all that had happened : and urged how impossible it was for them to make any opposition in the presence of the angel, 'A who shook the very earth with the terror of his appearance, and therefore might be easily m And lo all l/ie rest.} This, I think, refers not only to one report, such a manner as is necessary for reconciling: it with tjie se puzzled to account for this strange event; and, lay- else he would never have come back so soon. (See IJghtfoot, Hor. iog it down as a first principle, " that Jesus must be an impostorj" Hcbr. on Mark xvi. 13 ; and Luke xxiv. 34.) But, had Peter been they would, of course, incline to impute his resurrection, as they one of these two disciples, it is no way probable that, in the large had ascribed his miracles, to some diabolical operation. It is how- account which Luke has given of tliis rnatter, (cbap.^xxiv. 13._f< ever probable, that such artful men might speak of it in such loose terms as the paraphrase represents, though they could not seriously endeavour to persuade the guards they were in a dream. d .j4nd.statc him away while we slept.'] It was ridiculous to pre- tend to say wiUi ar|y certainty what passed ichile they were asleep seq.) his name would not have been mentioned as well as that of Cleopas ; or that a person of his forwardness would have continued silent, and have left Cleopas to carry on the conversation as the chief speaker ; nor docs it suit with the circnmslances of the story, that after Peter's going to the sepulchre had been related just be- so that thi's was in effect only hiring' them to say that they knew fore, it should be only spoken of in this conversation (verse 2t.) nothing of the matter, and did not observe any thing more than or- as what was done, not by one of themselves, but by certain of them dinary had passed that night. How absurd this pretence wa.s, a that were with them; or that it should be said, when they re- thousand circumstances foiicur to show ; as most writers in defence turned to Jerusalem, (verse 33.) that they found the eleven gathered of Christianity have demonstrated, and perhaps none, in few words, together, if one of those that returned belonged to that nimiber, better than Bishop Burnet, On the Articles, p. 04. and was one of these eleven. (Con>i)arc note b, on Luke xxiv. V Reported among the Jews cvcnjo (his day.] This seems to inti- 34. ? 198 ", 408 REFLECTIONS ON THE DISBELIEF OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION. SECT, appeared to tu-o of them, though in another form, or in a different habit from what he he appeared in anotiier 196. ordinarily wore,s as they iiere xcat/dng on the way, and going into the counfn/ to Em- ^""^ ""*" t"" "f ^liem, as . maiis/a neighbouring village." And ^thcj -went back directly, and told it to the rest of lue c "i.ntry """" '"'" MARK their companions; i/et they did not all immediately believe them, till at length he ap- I3 And they went and XVI. peared to all his apostles together once and again, and gave them such convincing evidence n°'ithe'r be"lievcd thmUcn/ 13 as they could not withstand. But these facts are of so great importance, that we shall give a particular narration of each, and fast of that which happened on the way to Emmaus, in the next section. IMPROVEMENT. Surrey there is nothing in the whole sacred story which does in a more affecting manner illustrate the deplor- able hardness of the human heart in this degenerate state, than the portion of it which is now before us. What but MATT, the testimony of an apostle could have been sufficient to persuade us, that men who had been but a few hours XXVIII. before the witnesses of such an awful scene, who had beheld the angel descending, had felt the earth trembling, 11 — 15 had seen the sepulchre bursting open by a divine power, and had fallen down in helpless astonishment and confu- sion, perhaps expecting every moment to be themselves destroyed, should, that very day, yea that very morning, sufiijr themselves to be hired by a' sum of money to do their utmost to asperse the character of Christ, and to invalidate the evidence of his resuirection, of which they were in efJect eye-witnesses ? 12 Nay, how astonishing is it that the chief priests themselves, the public ministers of the Lord of hosts, could act such a part as this ! They hear this full evidence that he, that Jesus whom they had murdered, was risen from the dead ; and they well knew and remembered that he had himself put the proof of his mission on this very fact ; a I fact to which the prodigies at his death, which they themselves had seen and felt, added jin^iaexpressibleweigljdLof ..probability. Who would not have expected that they should have been alarmed, convinced, an J humbled ? that they sEould have turned the remaining days of the passover into a public fast, and have solicitously sought out hiiu who was so powerfully declared to be the Son of God, to cast themselves at his feet, and entreat his pardon and grace ? But instead of this, with invincible and growing malice they set themselves to oppose him, and bribe the 13 soldiers to testify a lie, the most to his dishonour of any that hell could invent. And surely, had not Christ been kept out of their sight and power, they would, notwithstanding all this, have endeavoured to bring him down to the tomb again, on the very same principles on which they would have slain Lazarus after his resurrection. (John xii. 10.) So true does it appear, in this renewed and unequalled instance, that {/ men hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they he jjersuaded though one rose from the dead. (Luke xvi. 31.) No question but these very men, when pressed with the evidences of Christ's resurrection, answered, as succeeding infidels have presumptuously done, " that he should have appeared to them, if he expected they should believe " he tvas risen.'" But what assurance can we have, that the same prejudices which .overbore the testimony of tlie soldiers, might not also have resisted even the appearance of Christ himself ? Or rather, that the obstinacy which led them to...QV£rhear conscience in one instance, might not have done it in the other ? Justly therefore did God deny what wantonness, and not reason, might lead them to demand : justly did he give them up to dishonour their own 15 understandings, as v/ell as their moral character, by this mean and ridiculous tale, which brought men to testify what was done while they were asleep. The most that common sense could make of their report, had they deserved the character of honest men, would have been, that they knew nothing of the matter. And we have a thousand times more reason to adunre the coa- I descension of God in sending his apostles to these wicked rulers, with such additional proofs and messages, than to censure his providence in preventing Christ's public appearance. May he deliver us from the treachery and cor- ' ruption of our own hearts ' May he give us a holy tenderness and integrity of soul, that we may see truth whereso- ever it is, and may follow it whithersoever it leads us ; lest God should chuse ourjielusiong, and give us up, in his righteous judgment, to believe a lie, and to think ourselves wise in that~ai3uIousTnfidelity which is destroying its ten thousands amongst us. ^/.v <■• /•. _ W 'Ct. , \ x *■, ^ • SECTION CXCVII. Christ appears to the two dcsciples on their way to Emmaus, and having opened the seriptures to them, males himself known in breaking of bread. Luke xxiv. 13 — 33. Luke xxiv. 13. Luke xxiv. 13. SIXT. We are now to sive some farther account of that fact which was hinted at in the close of And behold, t«o oftlum - ri-) It- T ,■ r- IT, • i i /-!_■ J- • I • 7 »i „ went tlieit same day to a i97. the preceding section, of our Lords appearing to two ot his disciples on a journey : <7//c/ the ^1,,.,^^ cx\\wa Emmaus, case was this : Behold, (for it is a very observable story,) two of them were travelling that wliich was from Jerusalem i/JKE very day on which Jesus rose from the dead, to a village called Emmaus, which was «i««/tlueeseore furlongs. XXIV. about sixty furlongs, or somewhat more than seven miles, fro)n Jerusalem. And asthey 14 And tiiey talked togc- 1"^ walked along, they discoursed together of all these :y.'<:ixidedu\ and important things Vhfch had happeiicd'^ ""°^ which had lately happened, and which could not but lie with great weight on their spirits. j^ ^^^^^ ;j ^^^^ ^^ ^.^^ 1 3 And it came to pass, that as they talked about the sufferings and death of theii' beloved that while they communed g He appeared to two of them, &e.] The only reason which pany were variously impressed ; and that some of those to whom Masius has for suspecting (Siipplcm. Critic. Vol. II. p. 1788.) tliat the travellers from Emmaus came, had, even after their story was this a])pearance was different from tliat which Luke describes as told, some remaining doubts, appears from Luke himself. See Luke made to the two disciples that were on their journey to Emmaus, xxiv. 37, 4). \ 108; and note a, on IMatt. xxviii. 17. \ 202. (chap. xxiv. 13. et seq.) is this ; The companions of these two disci- h Into the country to Emmaus, &c.] Emmaus was a village about pies are represented here by Mark as not believing the resuirection sixty furlongs distant from Jerusalem, as we are told by Luke ; of Christ when attested by them ; whereas when'the two disciples (chap. xxiv. 13.) and Josephus gives the same account of its situa- from Emmaus came to make this report, the rest, before they could tion, Bell. Jinl. lib. 7. cup. 0. [al. 20 ] ? fi. And therefore, tlioiigh tell their story, saluted them with that joyful declaration, The they have been frequently confounded, this must have been a dif- Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared 'to'Simon. (Luke xxiv. feient place from that which was afterwards called Nicopolis, which 3-t.) But I apprehend these seemingly different account.s may lay near the lake of Gennesareth, at a much greater distance from be reconciled by observiiig, that various persons ill the same com- Jciusalera. See Reland, Palestine, lib. ii. cap. vi. p. 427. cljeq. JESUS APPEARS TO TWO OF HIS DISCIPLES ON THE WAY TO EMMAUS. 409 together, and reasoned, Je- Lord, and the report which had been spread that morning of his resurrection, and argued sec r. susliiniseif drew near, and the point together with visible marks of the greatest concern,^ Jesus also /imiself dny 197. went with them. ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^ Jerusalem who was going the same way, and travelled on with tilt 16 But their ej'es were 17 And lie said unto them, 10 liiu uieir eyes were But, that they might not presently discover who he was, and be prevented by this means ,p^'^ • holden, tliat they should from expressing their own thoughls with freedom, he appeared to them in something of a ^" not know him. different form and habit from what he usually wore ; (compare Mark xvi. 12. p. 407.) and besides what there might be of an uncommon vigour and majesty in his countenance, their ei/es ivere so affected and restrained by a secret but powerful influence on them, that they did not look upon him with that attention and recollection which might have been expected ; so that, on the whole, though they were some considerable time in his company, yet they did not knoxo him}" And /^t' joined himself to them as it were by accident, and, after the usual salutation, 17 What manner of conimuni- g^i^ fg t/icm, May I enquire 'ri'y^(7/^ are these matters ivhieh you are eonferring upon havroneTo Inother,'as ye between j/ourselves OS you walk, and about which you seem' to be so much concerned ? ■walk, and are sad ! ' for I perceive you to be very earnest in discourse, and see that you appear with a sorrowful countenance. 18 And Uie one of them, And one [of the two,'] whose nayne was Cleopas," answered and said to him. You 18 whose name was Cleopas, ^^^^ ^^ j^g cdmi from Jerusalem ; and though you may perhaps be no more than a stranger ATthou'oniy a strangerTn there, yet is it possible that you should be at any loss to know what is the subject of our .lerusalem, and hasf not conversation, and what it is that gives us such concern ? Are you the only person that '^,'l'''come''to Shrre^'in sojoums in Jerusalem, and is unacquainted with the extraordinary things^ which have been done there in so public a manner within these few dai/s, that they engross the con- versation of the whole city ? And he said to them. What are those things that you refer to? And they said IQ a unio mm i^on ^'^ ^^'"' 'i'^'ose that relate to Jesus, who was called the Nazarenc : a man who was a cernuig 'Je^us^of'NTza^'th' prophet of the most illustrious character, and greatly;7or'f/;/«/ both in actions and in words ; whichwas a prophet mighty fg^ j^g wrought the most astonishing miracles, and taught the most instructive and excellent Godt'and alftirpeopk-*"' doctrine, which raised him to the highest honour before God and all the people of Israel, 20 And how the ciiief amon"" whom he publicly appeared for several months and years. And have you not then 20 ?ered htra\o be eondemned heard how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to the Roman governor, and to death, and have crucified compelled him by their importunity to pass a sentence of death upon him, and so cruci- liini- , f rt 1 f /'"' ^'"' t)etween two robbers? And this must needs be an unspeakable afBictibn to us, 21 itlmdbeLXe which should who are two of his disciples: for we not only thought him a Rlessenger from God, as the have redeemed Israel; and old prophets were, but we verily hoped that he had been the Messiah himself, even the third'da?s!nce\Lte^thin.^s vevy person who should have delivered Israel from the power of their enemies, and have were done'! " established the long-expected kingdom of God among us : but now we are ready to give up all our hopes ; for we have seen hjm on a cross instead of a throne : and besides all these me\a.uc\iqb^occurre}ices,'] though he had given us intimations of his rising again on the 22 Vea, and certain wo- tti'ircr dav, yet this is now the third day since these things were done, or since he was men also of our company condemned and crucified, and we have not yet received any convincing evidence of his were e"arly*at' the sep"l ^^ing risen from the dead. It is true indeed, some women among us, of our society, have 22 ire: (rreatly surprised us with an account they brought this morning ; who tell us they were ,I''hts" bo'Ily "the7 [^Zt very early at the sepulchre in which he was laid, with an intent to embalm him ; And, 23 ying-, that they had also not having found his body there, they came away in haste to acquaint us with it ; and besides this,"they say that they saw also a vision or apparition of angels,^ who ajinncd him to be alive again, with"^some other strange and extraordinary circumstances. Nay, a Argued the point /o(7i?Mfr.] The word v (as Mr. West one of the aposllcs, but might possibly be one of the number of these days? 19 And he sai^ unto them, What things! And they said unto him, Con- chre : 2 not s»y -- seen a vision of angels which said that he was alive. observes) signifies to discuss, examine, or inquire together ; and it appears from the connexion, that as they were discoursing on the suflerings, and death, and resurrection of Jesus, the scope of their inquiry was, how to reconcile these events with what had been foretold concerning the Messiah, which, by the message that the women had but just before brought from the angels, they were particularly called to remember. (Compare Luke xxiv. 6, 7. p. 405 ; and xviii. 31 — 33. p. 280.) Accordingly, when Jesus had the seventy whose name is uncertain. d Are you the onh/ person that sojourns in Jerusnlew, and is unacquainted, ^-c] This is the eraphatical import of the original, cv fjLCyos TTarpoixa? — axt ovx eyvw?, &c. e And say that they also saw a vision of angels.'] According to the order in which tlie story is digested in the preceding section, the women did not come to the disciples with the report of what they had seen between the appearance of the angels and that of inquired, ver. 17. fF/int arguments are these that ye are debating Christ to them ; but had first seen both, and therefore must un one with another? (for so Mr. West would render it,) this is the doubtedly have mentioned both: it may however be concluded, point he took occasion to illustrate and explain, (ver. 20, 27.) by that (as Luke says, on their relating what they had seen, y^ 11. sliowing them it was nece.ssjry, in accomplishment of what was their words seemed to them as an idle tale, and they believed them foretold, that the Messiah should suffer these things, and so should not) these travellers miglit apprehend that what the women took enter into his glory : and with this view Ite expounded to tliem in for an appearance of Clirist, was at most but a vision of angels; (as all the scriptures,' the things concerning himself. (See AVest's Ob- some imagined with respect to Peter, Acts xii. 15.) and what is serv. p. 69—73.) added in the next verse, with relation to the men there spoken of, b They did not know /iim.] A different habit, and their having [but him they did not see,] may perhaps imply that the women pre- no expectation of seeinar him, might in part prevent their knowing tended also to have seen Jesus himself. — But I am now inchned him: yet as it is said, i/ieir eyes were restrained from knowing him, to acquiesce in Mr. West's solution of this difficulty, who supposes I am ready to tljink there was something more than this, even some it was Joanna, and the other women with her, who only saw tlie partic'iilar agency of God to divert their eyes from looking sted- angels and did not see Jesus, Unit came with this report to the fastiv uponliim,"or so to affect their memories as to render them disciples; who, though the appearance of the angels to them at incapable of recollecting who he was. Compare Gen. xxi. 19; tlie sepulchre was ai'ter the two Marys and Salome were gone Numb. xxii. 31 ; and 2- Kings vi. 17, 18. from thence, vet brought the news of it to the disciples, before c Oneof the two, whose name was Cleopas.'] It has already been Mary Magdalene and those to whom Jesus appeared, arrived observed, that Cleopas was the same with Alpheus, the father with Uie account that they had seen the Lord. For, notwiUi- of James the less and Judas, who were two of the apostles. (Luke standing it is certain that Mary Magdalene, on Christ s appear- vi. 15, 16.) See note e, on John xiv. 22. p. 3-50. and note b, on ing to her, went and acquainted the disciples with it, (Mark John xix. 25. p. 391. Some suppose that the other was Luke, but xvi. 10; and John xx. 18.) yet, as they might be now assembled Dr. Lightfoot endeavours to Drove it was Peter: (See note f, on together bv Peter and John at a different place from that wliere Watt, xxviii. 15. p. 407.) It seems more probable that he was not she met with Peter before, it is no way improbable, that by Mary's 410 CHRIST EXPOUNDS THE SCRIPTURES CONCERNING HIMSELF. SECT. a7id so?ne mc7i, too, "w/to ivcrc with us, of our own company, woii themselves to the scpul- 24 Aiul certain of Uu-m 197. chre, and found [//] to be even so as the woinen had said, that is, that the body was gone, wl''ch were with us, went and saw the funeral linen laid in order there ; but him they did not see : though we are in- *" cven'^o'a'ruic" women LUKE formed that, since we left the company, some women have come to them, who affirm that imd said; but him they XXIV. he has actually appeared to them himself, and declared that he was risen, and would show ^"^* "''^■ 24 himself to his disciples : but still we have received no certain proof of it ourselves, so that as yet we know not what to think of it, and cannot but be under great concern about it. 25 And upon this our Lord, without discovering who he was, said to them with some 25 Thou he said unto warmth, O ye thoughtless [creatures,'] muLsIim- of heart to delieve allihethmgs that hearUo'beUet^^alUh^^^^^^^ 2G The /prophets have so frequently and clearly spoken ;^ which, if you had attentively con-, ))rophets have spoken! sidered and believed them, would have prevented this surprise! Was it not neccssari/, in 20 Ought not Christ to order to accomplish those sacred oracles, " which testify before-hand the sufferings of Christ, ^^l""^. surtered these th'ugs. " and the glory that should follow," (1 Pet. i. 11.) that the Messiah should suffer all ' 'Ss^fy these things at which you are so much stumbled, and [so,] by his rising from the dead, should enter into his glorj/ ? 27 And hereupon, beginning from the writings of Moses, and supporting his discourse 27 And beginninp: at with the authority of all the^prophets,s he interpreted to them, in a much clearer light jre'''cxVonnd«/'unC't^^^^^^^^^ than they had ever seen them in before, the principal thijigs which either had been typified in ail tlie scriptures, the or were foretold concerning him in all the scriptures. things concerning liimself. 28 And by this time thei/ drexv near to the village whither they were travelling ; and 2S And tlicy drew nigh when they came to the house where they designed to tarry, Jesus, like one that was a '^^^" went"'aiid'^'hr'""d'^ stranger, began to take his leave ; and making no offer lo.turnJii with them, he seemed as if as though he would have he xcere going farther, intending indeed to do it, if he were not prevented by their request, soue farther. 29 But the// even co?npelled him by their friendly importunity to go in with them,'" saying, 20 But they constrained Let us prevail upon you to continue this night with us, where we assure you of a most j,""'. saying, Abide with us; hearty welcome : and as indeed we are so greatly delighted and edified with your company, ami 'the'* day^L ^far'^speuf! that we cannot part with you, it may also be inconvenient for you to travel much farther ; And he went in to tarry for it is now towards evening, and the day declines apace. And he complied with their ''" them. , request, and went in to continue with them, 30 And it ca?ne to pass, as he sat down to table with them, he took a cake oi bread ; and 30 And it came to pass, though he only appeared as a guest there, he assumed the office of the head of the family, ^,e' tg'^^*^ breTd^^and 'bles's^d and looking up to heaven blessed or gave thanks over it, and then brake it and gave it, and brake,' and gave to [if] to them, just in the manner he had formerly been used to. *''f™- -■' 31 And they were so surprised at this circumstance, that they now looked upon him more 31 And their eyes were intently than thev had done before : and their ei/cs were then opened,' and, to their un- {'P'^'"='^> ""<1 they .. , 1 . ■ , , 1 • ,7 7 ; • ' 111 .1 ! •■ 1 .1 . liim : and he vanishc knew \ utterable astonishment and joy, they knew him, and plainly saw that it was Jesus their of their sight. ^ dear Master ! and as they were preparing to acknowledge him as such, he suddenly became invisible, and withdrew himself from before them in a moment."^ 32 And they said one to another. How strange is it that we should discover him no sooner ! another',"Did"iiorour°lieart Sure we might easily have known him even by that inimitable spirit and energy in his burn w'itiiin us, while he discourses so peculiar to himself; for, did not our very hearts p-low and burn within us^ talked with us by the way, ,. , './/,, I A 1 1 1 I 4/ ■ t 4 Q and while he opened to us while he was talking to us by the way, and w/iile lie was opening trie scriptures to us f the scriptures? going to Peter's lodgings, wlio was now gone to meet the disciples propliets carry on : and if, v/hen all their testimonies are taken elsewhere, or by some other accident unknown to us, Joanna and togetlitr, all these events are expre.ssed by some one or other of those with her might get thither first with the report of their liav- them. It was very unbecoming tlie character of an honest writer, ing seen a vision of augels, who had declared tliat Jesus was alive, to represent our Lord as here attempting to prove his resurrection Immediately on liearing which, some men (of whom it is probable from scriptme: which Mr. Collins pretends to have been the case. Peter might be the first) went away to the .sepulchre, and found The precise point in view plainly was, to convince them that there things in the same order as the women said, but had no sight of was no reason to be scandalized at tlie death of one whom they Jesus. On whose return, these two disciples that were going to took to be the Messia.h ; nor in general to look on the report of his Emmaus left the company; and though, as they were setting out, resurrection as a monstrous and incredible tale. But tliat he was some might inform them that a report was brought by Mary Mag- actually risen, was to be proved another way, which accordingly dalene and some other women that they had seen the Lord, they our Lord immediately used, by discovering himself to them, might be as backward to believe it, and as ready to impute it to h Thexj compelled him, &c.] It might be rendered, they pressed the power of imagination, as those in whose presence the report him: (see note g, on Luke xiv. 2.3. p. 238, 239.) Every body easily was made. — I am obliged to Mr. West for this view of the matter, sees how little room there was for any proper compulsion in such which represents it in a clearer light than any other scheme pro- a case as this. Prot>ably one of them dwelt at Emmaus, or they posed before. (See AVest's Ohserv. p. 100, 107.) were going to an inn, ur to some friend's house, where they could f O tlioiightless creatures, &;c.~\ Tlie word avOTroi is by no means use the freedom t6' introduce this unknown stranger, for whom of so bad a sound as that of fools, by which we translate it: (see they had so high a veneration. ■ note m, on Matt. v. 22. p. 76.) Yet, as Dr. Bullock justly ob- i Their eyes were opened.'] I see no reason to conclude (with serves, (in his Vindication of Christ's Jlesiirrection, p. 174.) if the Cradock and Brennius) that liis undertaking this oflice of breaking prophecies of tlie Old Testament had been (as Mr. Collins pretends) bread, or (with others) that some peculiar action or gesture in only allegorical, there could not have been room for such a heavy performing it, was the thing that made the discovery. (See note charge of stupidity against these disciples for not understanding- b, on ver. Hi.) The Evangelist strongly intimates that the mira- tliem. It is, by the way, very weak in Mr. Collins, and some other culous influence, which before prevented their knowing him, was deists, to urge the slowness of C/rrfsl's friends to believe his rcsiir- removed, though the other circumstances mentioned might awaken rection, as an argument that the proofs of it were defective On them to more attentive observation. the contrary, as Bishop Chandler well replies, (in his Vindication k Became invisible, and withdrew himself from before them.'] of Christianity, p. 45, 40.) their believing afterwards carries tlie Erasmus justly observes, that the word vanished leads the mind greater weight ; for it removes all suspicion of a collusion between tn think of the person vanishing as a mere spectre; he would Christ and them in his lifetime; and also implies an impartial therefore render ajiivrof lyturo as we have done. Bcza also ob- examination of the fact, and the strength of those proofs that serves, that ■ur' wrwv is more expressive than ttutois, and signifies vanquished this incredulity. _ our Lord's being separated from them by a swift and sudden g Beginning from Moses, and all the prophets.] It is no way motion, necessary (with Mr. Mode, in liis ingenious discourse on these 1 Did not our hearts hum vithin us ?] This reading is far more words) to suppose that Christ's sufferings, resurrection, and e.xal- expressive, as well as far more authentic, than that of some copies, tation, are each of them distinctly foretold in each of those parts which, instead of xjtu^cvrj here, have x£x*xu//>^ev»i, Was not our heart ?■ the sacred writings which are mentioned here. It is enough veiled? 4c.— Compare Psal. xxxix. 3; and Jer. xx. !). if Moses give some intimations concerning him, which succeeding REFLECTIONS ON CHRIST'S INTERVIEW WITH THE TWO DISCIPLES. 41 L : i And tticy rose up the A>id they were not able to conceal such good news, or to defer the publication of that SKCT. ', rsa'icm'— "* '*^*"'^"'^'' '" which would give their brethren such a holy transport as they felt in their own breasts; 197. and therefore, late as it was, t/iei/ presently ro.se up from their unfinished meal that ve/y *! ,huur, andwWh cheerful speed returned to Jcrusa/cf/i, and told it to the rest of their com- lkke pahTons ; (compare Mark xvi. 13. p. 408.) among whom they had soon after the pleasure .-'J^^^^- of seeing their Lord again, in the manner related in the next section. ^'^ IMPROVEMENT. How delightful the close of so melancholy a day to these pious travellers! A day surely long to be remem- Ver. 13 1 Lied by them and by us! They were on a journey ; but they did not amuse themselves on it with any trifling 14 subject of discourse. Their hearts were set upon ChiLst, and therefore their tongues were employed in speaking of him. And behold, Christ himself, the dear theme of their discourse, makes one among them ; he enlightens 15 their eyes and warms their hearts, and at length makes himself kno~iVn to them in the breaking of bread. 30, 31 So may we often be speaking of Christ, from the fulness of our hearts, when we go out, and when we come \ in ! So may he still, in some degree, join himself with us in spirit, guiding our souls into divine knowledge, and ^ animating them with holy love ! They bear an honourable and a just testimony to that great Prophet whom God had raised up for them, as 19 rnighty before him both in word and deed. But they knew not how to see through so dark a cloud : their hopes were almost extinguished, and they could only say, We trusted this had been he that should have rcdeemedlX Israel. Pitiable weakness ! Yet too just an emblem of the temper which often prevails in the pious mind, when llie christian is ready to give up all, if deliverance does not proceed just in the method he expected. Yet was riirist even then delivering Israel in the most glorious and effectual manner, by those very sufferings which gave them such distress. Veril)/ thou art the God of Israel, and the Saviour, when thou art a God that hidest ^'■rselffrom us. (Isa. xlv. 15.) hiN|aithful friendship, and with a plainness well becoming his office, the compassionate Redeemer upbraids 25 ii.Lni wittijheir^slowness of heart to believe these things, when they~Rad received line tipon line, precept upon precept, concerning them. How justly do we fall under such a rebuke in many instances ! Let us then humbly say. Lord, increase our faith ! (Luke xvii. 5.) We should reasonably have thought ourselves happy in an opportunity of hearing or reading this discourse of 26, 27 Jesus, in which he threw such lustre on the prophecies of the Old Testament, and proved that, according to the tenor of them, it was necessary that the Messiah should thus suffer, and so enter into his glory. As Providence has denied us this satisfaction, let us, however, improve this general and very important hint, that Moses and all the prophets speak of these things. Let us delight to trace the heavenly beam from its earliest dawn, and to observe how it grew brighter and brighter unto the perfect day . May the blessed Spirit, by whom those mysterious predictions were inspired, so direct our inquiries, that every veil may be taken off from our eyes, that we may see Jesus in the Old Testament as well as in the New ; and see him in both with that lively fervour of holy affection which may cause our hearts to bum within us ! And oh that we may especially find that, wlien we surround his table, he jnakes himself knoii-n to us in the breaking of bread, in such a mannei" as to fill our souls xcith a// 30, 31 joi/ as well as, peace in believing I (Rom. xv. 13.) \",\^. , .\. '^. f' > - l^. SECTION CXC\Tn. The two disciples return to make their report to the apostles ; and -while they are together, Jesus appears to them the evening after his resurrection. Mark xvi. 14. Luke xxiv. 33 — 43. John xx. 19 — 23. Luke xxiv. 33. LuKE xxiv. 33. ^\e^n -aheJed'^^to^tli^e'/ ^^ ^^^ obser\'ed before, concerning Cleopas and the other disciple to whom Jesus dis- SECT. and 'them that werf*^wTth Covered himself at Emmaus, that they immediately arose and returned to Jerusalem, to l^S. them, communicate the joyful news to their brethren there. And now when they came thither. thei/ found the eleven apostles asse?nbled,^ and others with them, who, before these LUKE two could begin their story, were eager on their part to inform the travellers of the satis- ^-^i"^'- .34 Sayinfr the Lord is faction they had received since they went out : So that, as soon as they appeared, they 34 pl\?ed'to Simon.'^ '"'*'' ^^' ^eard several of the company sai/ing, as with one voice, O brethren, here are good tid- ings, which will make your hearts leap within you! for the Lord is risen indeed, and has himself appeared to Simon Peter, who is here present to testify the truth of it.'' 3r, And they told what And the two travellers declared how easily the?/ could believe it, and i-ecounfed the 35 audi;r he'wL'VntHf ^^""^^* f'^". ^«^^ happened,-] \o them in the way to Emmaus; and how, after many them in breaking of bread. Wise and affectionate discourses, he was at last known by them in the breaking of bread, as they M-ere sitting down to supper. But notwithstanding these repeated testinionies of the resurrection of Christ, yet there were some in the company whose prejudices were so strong, and their faith so weak, that they did not believe either Peter or them,"^ (compare a Tliey fnunil the eleven apostles nssemhled.] As Paul (1 Cor. xr. the paschal supper, till Jesus arose ; on whicli account our Lord 6.) calls the company of the apostles t/ie twelve, though Judas, the appeared first to hira. ^•one of the apostles seem to have had such twelfth person, was dead ; so I>uke here calls them the eleven, a firm expectation of Christ's resurrection as must have been the though Thomas, the eleventh person, was absent, as evidently ap- foundation of such a vow; and the order in which Taul mentions pears from John XX. 24. in the next section. his appearance to James, does very ill suit with this story.— b ^nd has apjycnred to Simon Peter.] None of the Evangelists Probably Peter was the first man, as Mary Magdalene was the "first mention any thuig of the circumstances of this appearance to woman, that was favoured with the view of our risen Saviour. Peter ; but it has been observed before, (note f, \ 106. p. 407.) that c Some— did not believe, &c.] Mark expresses it in a general the apostle Paul expressly refers to it, 1 Cor. xv. 5.— The same apos- way, (chap. xvi. 13.) that thei/ went and told it unto the residue ; tie likewise mentioiis an appearance of Christ to James ; {ibid. ver. neither believed they them : hut we are undoubtedly to understand 7.) ) et, as nothing is said of his having seen hira that day, it much these words with siirh a limitation as in the paraphrase. See note diminishes the credit of the story which Jerome gives us from the g, on Mark xvi. 12. p. 408; and note a, o'n .Matt, xxviii. 17. } gospel of the Nazarenes, that James had vowed to eat nothing ; " 412 JESUS EATS WITH THE APOSTLES, AND UPBRAIDS THEM WITH UNBELIEF. SECT. Mark xvi. 13. p. 408.) though most of them were convinced fas they had just declared) 198. that the Lord was risen indeed. — ■ yi/id quickly aftericards, as they "were speaking of these things among themselves Mark xvi. i4. [Ami] af- MARK -ichi/e they xoere sitting at supper, \Jesus\ himself appeared to "the eleven, who were LTl''^''^' '^"''* ''"^^i "'l'^ Vvr iu 11 i iU P e A A 1 .1 • ..11 -.i spakej lie .ippearccl uiiU; ^*'- then all together except one oi them. And this appearance was attended with some re- tiie eleven as they sat at 14 markable circumstances, which shall be now related. ™*^'''-. [Luke xxiv. 30.] JOHN It was then on the evening of. the sa?ne day on which he rose from the dead, [which John xx. in. Then the ^X. was,'] as we have before observed, the first [da}/'] of the xcevk, even when the doors of the same day at evening, being 19 room where the disciples were gathered together, were shut, and fastened on the inside, when The' doo°s I'c're^^s^mt for fear of the Jews ; as they did not know but some officers of the high-priest might wiiere the disciples were come to apprehend them on the scandalous pretence that they had stolen away the body, j^ew^^me Jesus (himseVn which was now publicly laid to their charge : it was, I say, at this time and place, that and stood in the midsT[of Jesus himself on a sudden ca/ne in, opening the locks or bolts by a miraculous power j'^ tlieni,]andsaith unto them, a?id he stood in the tnidst of them in his usual form, and said to them, with a mild xx^v.'^aoV'" """"' '" ^ voice and a gracious aspect. All peace and happiness be unto i/ou ! thereby graciously intimating that he forgave their former cowardice, and would still continue to treat them as his friends, though they knew in their own consciences they had of late behaved them- selves in a manner unworthy of that character and relation. LUKE But they were greatly amazed and terrified at this sudden, unexpected appearance ; Luke xxiv. .37. rsut they XXIV. ct,j(i as they knew the doors of the room were shut, and in the present hurry of their '■'^^^'^ teiriiied and aiivight- 37 thoughts did not immediately reflect upon the proofs he had so often given of his divine had^'sTen "''spirit'^ ^'"'^ ""^ power, or on the evidences they had but just before received of his resurrection, some of them suspected that what they saw was only a spirit, or a mere airy phantom, and not a real body. 38 And he said to thc?n. Why are you thus perplexed and troubled at the sight of me, .38 And he said unio and why do these doubtful and xix\xe?i.?,ondh\e suspicions arise in your hearts, as if it only them, ',A'iiy are yet i*r''^' ««f/ «'e whether this be not really a solid and substantial body : ybr you know that a spirit liati'i not flesh .md mere spirit or phantom hath not flesh and bones as you see me have, but is only an i^"d>^*. ^^ ye see me have, empty form presenting itself to the eye, yet eluding the grasp of any hand. 40 And saying this, he shewed them his hands and his feet, and even the mark which 40 And when he had the spear had left in his side, which appeared like a large wound, newly, though perfectly H'"^ /.i'"'"^",' '"\ shewed v 1 J e 1 1 i- .1 1 ,, . T 1 .1 1 1 1 •' , ^, ^ r them /;(4 hands and /(/s feet, tiealed f and several ot them, and among the rest John the beloved apostle, who records [and hisside.j [John xx.-ioj this circumstance, had the curiosity particularly to examine it. (Compare 1 John i. 1.) JOHN And the disciples therefore were exceeding glad, as it might reasonably be expected they John xx. 20. Then were ^^'- should be, when they thus saw the Lord, and learnt by such infallible tokens that he was *'"= disoijdes glad wiien 20 really alive. they saw the Lord. LUKE And t'ov their further satisfaction, when [-some of them"] were so transported that they Luke xxiv. 41. And while XXIV. as yet believed not their own eyes /or 70?/, and were so astonished that they hardly joyf and w'^.,';!d7red hfslui 41 knew where they were, he said to than. Have you any food here left, that I may eat mito them, Have 'ye here 42 with you ? And they gave him such as they had, even part 43 an honey-comb, on which they had been supping just before. And taking [it,] he ate piece ^""a^bfoiifd^ LI of a broiled fish, and o/'"»y™f '■„ A li 1- 'rt-\ I J 42 And they .gave And tak/ng [/t,] he ate piece of a broiled ti him and before them, that thus they might be fully satisfied that he was actually alive, and had a "'"an honey-comU. true and real body. (Compare Acts x. 41 .) difeatbefwe Ihem.''' ""'* MARK Andv/hen he had for a while gently upbraided and reproved the77i for their unbelief, Mark xvi. 14. And [he] ' >^^ '• and for the hardness of their hearts, that they had not believed theVepeated testimony «pb".icleJ tli<^^f" with their 14 of those who had already seen him since he was risen from the dead, and that, even after heart, because they'be- his own appearance to them, they should be capable of entertaining any further doubts : lieved not tliem whicii had JOHN Then, that they might be satisfied that he had graciously forgiven them, Jesus said to them ^'' john™ x.^21.'' Vh?n"said XX. again. Peace be unto you : may all prosperity and happiness attend you! As [tny] Fa- Jesus to them again, Peace 21 thcr sent me, and gave me authority to act in his name, so also I send you to act as my ("^/J"'" j^'""' ** "'-^ Father apostles, under the important character of my ambassadors to the children of men. you. ' .22 And saying this, he in a solemn manner breathed upon [them,] and said to them as 22 And when he had said one that had divine authority. Receive ye the Holy Spirit, and take this as an earnest of i',;;^' l!,'id*'unlo'them,'Ke: what you shall further receive not many days hence : for thus will I shortly breathe out ceive ye the Holy Ghost. the miraculous influences of my Spirit upon you, in a greater abundance than you have 23 AVhose soever .sins ye 23 ever yet received them, to qualify and furnish you for this important office ; In consequence remit, they are remitted of which, whose soever sins you siiali remit, or shall declare to be forgiven, then are remit- ""'*' '!"""' ' '""'■ w'\°s'-' "<>- , 1 t c „ , ,1 r 1-1 / r • T 1 11 , ° , Vi ever s;«s ye retain, they are tect and torgiveti to them ; [and] whose soever [sins] you shall retain, or shall pronounce retained. d Jesus himself came in, opening- the locks or bolts by a miracu- attending the appearance of their deities, or other extraordinary loiis power.] Dr. Wallis(0« the Sabhath, p. 25.) thinks the ex- persons, among them. — Tlie argument which the Papists bring pression of the donrs being shut, intends no more tlian that what from hence, to prove that two Ijodies may be in the same place at follows happened in the eveniiii;, wlicii the doors are used to be shut the same time, and consequently one in diflereiit places, is so evi- !vj'. But as the doors are said to have been shut for fear of the dently built upon an absurd interpretation of the clause under Jews, it strongly implies they were fastened within ; and all that consideration, as not to deserve any farther notice, was herein miraculous, was the causing them, as of themselves, e He shewed them his hands and Itts feet, S^-cPf, Probably these to fly open, and shut again very suddenly. — Eisner has shewn, marks were retained in his body when raised from the dead, on pur- ( Observ. Vol. L p. 3.31.) that this is sometimes spoken cf by some pose to give the greater satisfaction to the disciples of the truth of of the pagan writers, especially thosf who maybe suspected of liis resurrection ; though indeed, without that additional circum- cupying from the Evangcli»ls, as the effect of a supernatural power stance, the evidence might have been very satisfactory. THOMAS'S UNBELIEF OVERCOME. 413 to be unpardoned, they are assuredly retained, and their guilt lies upon them : for you srcT. shall have a power, not only of declaring what is lawful or unlawful under the gospel-dis- 193. pensation, but also of sending or removing miraculous punishments, and of discerning the spirits of men in such perfection as to be able with certainty to declare to particular persons Joiin in question, whether they be, or be not, in a state of pardon and acceptance with God. ^^-23- (See note h, on Matt. xvi. 19. p. 180.) And after this discourse with his disciples at his first appearance to them, Jesus departed from them for that time, and left them to spend the rest of the evening in those delightful exercises of devotion, which this great occasion had so natural a tendency to inspire. IMPROVEMENT. With pleasure let us echo back the words of the apostles, and join in that glad anthem which so well suits a luke resurrection-day. The Lord is risen, he is risen indeed. We owe our daily praises to God for the abundant xxiv. demonstration he has given us of so important a fact, for every appearance of Christ to his disciples, and for all "* the infallible tokens by which he showed himself {o be alive after his passion. (Acts i. 3.) He came with peace and blessings in his mouth; he came to disperse their fears, and to assure them of his 36 — 41 forgiving love. How strong were those prejudices which so hardly yielded to such convincing proofs ! And how rich was that grace which condescended to overcome them. Christ breathed on the apostles, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. May he also breathe on our souls, and john fill us with that glorious and divine gift, which, if it qualitied the apostles for their extraordinary office, may much x\. more furnish us for the common duties of life ! May we try our state by the characters which they have laid down in 22 their inspired writings ; in which sense, among others, we may assure ourselves, that if they have declared our sins to be remitted, they are remitted : and if indeed they are so, we need not be much concerned by whom they are 23 retained. Vain and arrogant men may claim a despotic power which God never gave, and which these words are far from implying. But whatsoever be the sentence they may pass, thejj tvhojn God blesseth are blessed indeed. (1 Chron. xvii. 27.) May we always esteem it a very small thing to he judtred of >nans judgment, (1 Cc. iv. 3.) pitying rather than resenting the rashness of those, who claim any such discretionary sacerdotal power as can give the real penitent any alarm, or the impenitent any encouragement to continue in sin ! %VA\^ii\. ^ . I SS^- SECTION CXCIX. Christ appears to the eleven a second time, a week after the former; particularly offering to TJiomas, who had before been absent, the most sensible proofs of his resurrection. John xx. 24 — 29. John xx. 24. John xx. 24. But Thomas, one of tlie WE mentioned in the last section Christ's appearing to his disciples on the evening of that SECT, was' n'<;t "itlf th?m ^when clay on'which he arose : but it is iarther to be observed, that Thomas, one of the twelve, 199. Jesus came. who was also called Didymus, or the twin-brother, was not with them at that time when ' 25 Tiie other disciples j^sus came. The other disciples therefore, as soon 3.?, they met with h\m, told hi?n, ma. John therefore said unto him, , „ . .rr . j; t j iU ' i ii i X\. We have seen the Lord, transport of joy, Ive have seen the Lord with our own eyes, and consequently can have g^ But he said unto them, Ex- no further doubt of the truth of his resurrection ; for he has condescended to show us the the\lint"of'"tVe"iaiiSnd very marks of those wounds he received on the cross. But he said to them. This is a put my finger into thepiint matter of too great importance for me to believe on any report, even on yours ; and more is of the nails, and thrust my necessarv to convince me of the truth of it, than merely a transient sight of mine own eyes; hand into his side, I will not '^ 7'^ t ; // • i ^i • ?■ 7 j \ 1 .,; . ; /^/ believe. for, unless I shall evidently see in his hands, as you say you have done, the maric of the nails, and, more than that, shall put my finger upon the very individual mark of the nails,'' and put my hand upon the very scar made by the spear in his side,^^ I will not by any means, or on any testimony whatsoever, believe his resurrection. 26 And after eight days ^And, as there was a great degree of faulty obstinacy in such a resolution, our Lord left 26 tv^iiiiln 'and "^Thomas wUh '^i"'' ^ whole week under the perplexity which it must necessarily give him : but after eight them: 'Men came .I'esus, the dat/s, OX on that day seven-night from our Lord's rising, his disciples xcere again within doors being shut, and stood ^qq^^ as before, and Thomas was with them ; [a/u/] Jesus came to them again, the doors Peacelif unto you" ^^ ' /^e/«^ 5/^ z well knowing that it was the Lord, though he conversed with them of the disciples durst ask : , . „ ,. . '^ 1 x 1 r^ 1 • ^ ^ ■ ^L■ ■ 1 ■ Xt him. Who art thou ? know- in something of a distant manner ; but lett him to proceed in his own way, as judging it ing that it was the Lord, most respectful to leave it to him to direct the discourse to more intimate and particular subjects, in such a manner and by such degrees as he should think fit ; which he presently 13 Jesus then cometh, after did. and taketh bread and gi^v- j^^gng therefore came and took bread, as the master of the feast, and having blessed 13 ^'14 'rhi's^is now'the^Wni it, as he used to do, gave [if] to each of them ; and likewise gave them some of the time that Jesus showed broiled fisk. after u'lat'helias rfsenTrom -^^^ ^^'^ ^'"^ "«^" ^'''^ ^^"'^^ ^'""^ ^^^^ •^^^'^ showed himself to such a number of his 14 the dead. " disciples ?Li once,^ after he was risen from the dead ; and it was attended with some very , A I will 170 a-fisliing.'] It appears from this story, that several h ne third time Jesus showed himself to such a number, &c.] ?'" of the apostles were now returned to Galilee, where Christ had Grotius explains this of the third day of his appearance ; for he npointed to meet them ; which shows that the discourse (Luke had first appeared to several on the day of his resurrection : theu,^ xiv. 49. \ •202.) in which our Lord commanded them to continue after eight days, he came to his disciples, when Thomas was pre- ■il Jerusalem till the Holy Ghnst fell upon tliem, must come in after sent, and now again he showed )iiraself at the sea of Tiberias. ;, this chapter, and not before it, as it is placed in many Harmonies. And it is plainly^ necessary that the words sliould be understood '» e 7%fy !f erf HO/ ni/f /o-(Zrff(r i7 up into the ship again, &c.] This with some such limitation, to make them consistent with the was not merely a demonstration of the power of our Lord, but a accounts given by the other Evangelists and St. Paul ; which, when kind providential supply for them and tlieir families, which might laid together, will prove that this was indeed at least the seventh be of service to them when they waited afterwards in Jerusalem appearance that Jesus had made since his resurrection. For he according to his order: and it was likewise a sort of emblematical appeared first to Mary r.Iagdalf-ne, (Mark xvi. 9.) and then to the representation of the great success which should attend their at- women as they returned from the sepulchre, (Matt, xxviii. 9.) after tempts to catch men in the net of the gospel. Compare Luke v. this he was seen of Peter, (1 Cor. xv. 5.) and then the same day 9, 10. p. G8. by the two disciples that were going to Enimaus, (Luke xxiv. f In a manner naked, having nothing on but his inner garment.] 13 — 31.) and again the same evening ne appeared to the disciples It is of great importance, in order to vindicate several stories in when Thomas was absent ; (John xx. 19.) on that day seven-night scripture which the ignorance or malice of some modern writers he appeared to the eleven when Thomas was with them, (John xx. has charged with indecency, to observe, that among the Jews, (as 26.) and now after these things he showed, himself a seventh time Grotius and many others have shown,) they were said to be naked to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias, (John xxi. i:) — But, as John who had only an undergarment on. Compare 1 Sara. xix. 24 ; had particularly mentioned before the two appearances which Jesus 2 Sam. vi. 20; Isa. xs. 2, 3; and Acts xix. Ifi. made to his disciples when they were together, (John xx. 19, 26.) g Come and refresh yourselves.'] So I chuse to render the word it seems most reasonable to conclude that he reckons this the third ajurnixTi, rather than dine ; as Homer sometimes uses a.i^itjv, to as referring to these. signify a morning's meal. 416 CHRIST INTERROGATES PETER CONCERNING HIS LOVE TO HIM. SECT, remarkable and instructive circumstances, which Vr'ill be particularly mentioned in the next '200. section. JOHN XXI. IMPROVEMENT. Christ first called these disciples when they were employed in the duties of their^OToper^rofessionJn life, and 1 — 3 he now manifests, himself to them while they were so engaged ; perhaps particularly intending thereby to eiicburage an honest industry, in which indeed we are far more likely to enjoy his presence, and to converse with him, than when we throw away our time in idleness and inactivity. 3 — G ^ while he leaves them to labour in vain, that when the plentiful draught of fishes came, it might be more re- i marfcable. Sometimes he may deal thus witn his ministers, in their endeavours to catch men ; that we may be convinced thereby to whose power we owe our success, and may not sacrifice to our own net, or burn incense to our own draa;. (Hab. i. 16.) 7 All the disciples rejoiced at his appearance; but Peter was the foremost to cast himself at his feet. Conscious that so jnucii had been forgiven hiniy he is solicitous to show that' he loves mucli. (Luke vii. 47.) So may the remembrance of our miscarriages work upon us, to make us more vigorous in Christ's service, and to inspire us with such zeal and aifection as manr/ waters may not he able to quench, nor the Jloods to drown! (Cant, viii. 7.) 1] 13 Let us not imagine this miracle was merely intended for a demonstration of Christ's divine power over all that passelh through the paths of the sea ; (Psal. viii. 8.) it was also the work of wisdom and bounty. By the sale of so many large and fine fishes, a seasonable provision was made foi' the subsistence of his disciples at Jerusalem, while they were there waiting for the descent of the Spirit. (Luke xxiv. 49.) Let every circumstance of this kind encourage us to trust him as the Lord of nature and of grace, who will withhold from us no necessary supply of either, while we are making it our humble and faithful care to promote his glory. 'iHcut'^vS - ! S 5 6, JOHN XXI. 15 SECTION CCI. Christ discourses with Peter at the sea of Tiberias, and gives a remarkable propheci/ concerning the death of that apostle. John xxi. 15 — 24. John xxi. 15. john xxi. is. SECT. When therefore thei/ had made a plentiful 7neal on this kind provision which Jesus So when they had dined, 201. had supplied them with, there happened some circumstances in his succeeding discourse sfm"oV'Tn of j'™"" ii^^'^'^t with his disciples which may be worthy of more distinct notice; and particularly this: thou me more than 'tliese? Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, [son'] of Jonas, dost thou love me more than these l''^.f^'\'' "'?*" ''''"' y''^^' do }^ Or wilt thou now maintain tliat thou hast such a zealous regard for me above any love Vhee." H^^saUh unto of thy brethren as thou once didst profess when thou saidst, that though all should forsake li'm, Feed my lambs. me, thou wouldst not do it ? (Matt. xxvi. 33. p. 364.) He saith unto him. Yea, Lo/-d, thou knowest that J love thee sincerely, though I presume not to say more than any of my brethren. [Jesus'] said to him. If so,_feed mji lambs •" and as I shall favour thee so far as to commit my church, in part, to thy apostolic care, remember that the most ac- ceptable way of expressing thy love to me, will be by taking care even of the weakest and feeblest of my flock. 16 And, to impress this with the greater force upon his mind, he says to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, dost thou indeed love me? He answers him as he had done before. Yea, Lord, I appeal to thee for the sincerity of that regard which I have He saith unto him, Yea, to thee: thou knowest that J truly love thee. [Jesus] saj/s to him again. Feed then mi/ Lord; thou Vnowest that sheep with tenderness and care, and thereby demonstrate the truth of thine affection to me. hi'in^^Veeriny^heep'^ ""'" 17 And, that it might never be forgot by him or any that were present, he says to him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jona3, wilt thou abide by what thou hast said > 'Dost thou 17 He saith unto him truly love me, and will that love of thine bear the severest trial ? Peter was exceedingly ^^'^^^"^ i'™% Tl'o""' *"'» grieved that he said to him the third time. Dost thou love me ? And he said to him peter was srieVed, because with great earnestness. My dear Lord, thou knowest all things ; thou seest the very hearts ''.<^ said unto him tiie third of men, and, seeing mineTX^oe^ knowest that I do indeed love thee; though my late ii'iT^said^^unto 'hi'i™*Lord lamentable fall might justly bring it into question, and my repeated denial of thee renders thou knowest all thinss ;' me worthy of such a rebuke as this repeated enquiry implies. Jesus says to him. Well, Ij'°" '"''i^^^cst ii,alk about without control, whithersoever tliou wouldst ; but ivhcii thou art gro-wn slreta^fort'l,''' ul^hamii! «^^'' '^^^^ ^'^«^^ ^^''^^'^'^ '^"^ ^^''"^' '^'''"^^' ""'^ another shall gird thee as a helpless pri- and another shall gird thee! soner, and at length shall carry \thee'] whitjier thou wouldst not naturally incline to go, and carry thee whitlwr thou g^,^^ ^^ {Yioie suflerings to which flesh and blood have the strongest aversion : yet I wou St not. know that, notwithstanding thy late miscarriage, thy love to me will bear thee through all. 19 This spake he, signify- And this he said, signifying and intimating by what kind of death he should glorify 19 ing by what death lie should Q^j . namely, that he should suffer martyrdom, and die with his hands stretched out on eloritv God. And when he ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ having Said this, yet farther to illustrate and explain it, he says to him. Follow me then, as I now walk along, and show tliat thou art willing to conform to ray example, and to follow me even to the death of the cross. And Peter did so with great alacrity; but turning about, he saw that other disciple 20 wh'om'Jesus loved, silently following' him, in humble token of his readiness likewise to sutler the greatest extremities in the service of so dear a Master.'^ Now, by the way,jt glorify had spoken this, he saitl unto him. Follow me. 20 Then Peter turning about, seelh the disciple whom Jesus loved, follow- ing ; which also leaned on liis breast said, Lord betraveth 21 Peter seeing him, saith /le t/iat Will betray to Jesus, Lord and what jigciple, and Seeing hitn follow Jesus in the same manner as he did himself, though he shall this man do . ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ .^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^ j^^^^^^ ^^^^,^ ^,^^^^^ IshaW] this ?nan [do,] and what is to become of him ? Must he, who is now following with me, partake of the like sufferings, and in like manner testify his love by dying for thee ? 22 Jesus saith unto him, Jesus sai/s to hivi, Is that any immedjate concern of thine, Peter ? If I will that he 22 If I will that he tarry till I fayr,, or continue alive, till I co/zzcTiTpower and great glory to execute the judgment I FoUow'ttV me."' *" "'* have threatened on mine enemies, t^/^«^ [« that-] /o Mee, or to any^one else ? Follow thou me : mind thou thine own duty, and endeavour to prepare for thine own sufferings ; and pry not with a vain curiosity into secret events which may Ijefal him, or any other of thy brethren. 23 Then went this say- Now as this answer was not rightly understood, this saying therefore went abroad 23 ing abroad among the hie- ^„jo,icr the brethren. Or the Other followers of Christ, that this disciple should not die ;^ llumid nofdiefyet Jelus and the advanced age to which he lived gave some farther colour for it: but it was said not unto him. He sh.id entirely built upon a mistake; for Jesus did not say to him, or of him, that he should hftarry'tililcome7whal"^ not die; but Only, as it was e.xpressed before, If I will that he tarry, or continue alive, thnl to thee I till I come, what [is that] to thee . And this is the disciple who testifies concerning these things, and hath written them 24 24 This 19 the uisciplc -2 ^ ^ which testifieth of these ^g above : and since he was an eye-witness to them, and has not failed, in a proper man- Ihinp': ami wrklimv that ner, to producc in the churches the credentials necessary to prove the veracity and ex- iiis testimony is true. actnoss of his writings, we certainly know that his testimony is true, and doubt not but every candid reader will receive it accordingly.' EMPROVEMENT. What if our Lord Jesus Christ should put the same question to us that he did to Peter in this remarkable pas- Ver. sage, and should thus repeat it again and again ? Are there none of us who should be at a loss for an answer ? 15 1 None of us to whom he might ?,z.y,Iknow that you have not the love ofChristin you .»— Or are there none of us who apprehend that, if we had ourselves beeii thus pressed, we could, at the very best, only have said. Lord, thou that knowest all things, knowest that I cannot tell whether I love thee or not :?— Blush, and be con- founded, O my soul, if thou must reply with such uncertainty to a question of so great importance, and in a case where all the ardour of the heart might be so justly expected ! But are there ndt-§till some of us who through divine grace could reply with pleasure, Lord, thou knowest all 17 c Wten thou art grown old."] Peter's crucifixion is said to have happened about forty years after this ; but the time is not exactly and certainly kiioWu. d Silently following him, in humble token of his readiness, &c.] There is a spirit and tenderness in thisjlain passage, which I can never read without the most sensible ernotion. Christ orders Peter to foUitw him, in token ol I'ils readiness to be crucified in his cause : John stays not for the call : he rises, and follows too ; but he says not one word of his love and his zeal. He chose that the action only should speak that ; and when he records this circumstance, he tells us not what that action meant ; but with great simplicity relates the fact ouly. If liere and there a generous heart that, like his own, glows with love to Christ, sees and emulates it, be it so ; but he is not so- licitous men should admire it. It *as addressed to his Master ; and it was enough that he understood it.j-And can any one be himself base enough to imagine that such a ma|i could spend his life in promoting a pernicious falsehood, (for such, in the second edition of the ninth of my Ten Sermons, I largely prove the apostolic testimony to be, if it were a falsehood,) and at last, in his old age, when liis relish for every thing but goodness and immortality was gone, would so so- lemnly attest it as he does in the conclusion of his gospel ? May God deliver every one that reads this from a head so fatally be- T:louded by the corruptions of the heart ! , . „ o t e This saying there/ore went abroad among the brel/ircn, HiC.] That there was such a notion and tradition among il_ie ancients, Fabricius has particularly shewn. Cod. Apoc. Nov. Test. Vol, 11. ^' f m know that his testimony is true.-] Grotius would argue, from the plural number in these words, {Annot. in John xx. 30.) that this last chapter was not written by John himself, but was added to his gospel by some other hands. (See note a on John xx>. 1. p. 414.) But it is plainly .said in the beginning of this verse that it was he who testified and wrote these things ; and, besides that wc have frequent instances of the like change of nurabei^, (see Rom. vii 14- and 1 Thess. ii. 18.) it is evident Irom the words, I suppose, in the next verse, that only one person speaks. So that no more ap- pears to be intended here than if he had said, " We universally allow " that what is testified by a credible eye-witness, and asserted by " him under his hand, must be admitted an a valid testimony, and "pass for unexceptionable evidence: this is the case here; and " therefore regard it accordingly." 2e 418 JESUS .APPEARS TO FIVE HUIn^DRED BRETHREN IN GiUJLEE. SECT, ihlngs, thou Icnotoest that, notwithstanding all tlie unallowed and lamented infirmities of our lives, we do indeed 201. lo-ce thee ? — And, if we are thus really conscious to ourselves of such an unfeio:ned affection, let it be our daily joy, that he who implanted this divine principle in our hearts, discerns and sees it there ; and, hiowing all things, he JOHN pericctly knows this, however we may be suspected, however we may be censured. ^^^- Let us learn also by what method we are to express our love, according to our ability and opportunity ; even 16 by feeding his sheep, and promoting the interest and edification of his church. Let ministers especially do it; 15 and let thern not forget those .dear creatures, the lambs of the flock. Jesus the compassionate Shepherd, as we see, did not forget them ; but taughTHis servants with tlie greatest tenderness, both by his precepts and by his example, to gather them in their arms, and earn/ them in their bosom. (Isa. xl. 11.) 21 Happy are those ministers who, instead of indulging a vain curiosity in things wherein they are not at all, or but very little, coacernal, are spending their lives in such faithful services: feeding thefoch of God, and taking the oversight of it, not Inj constraint, but -willingly ; not for filthy luerc, but of a ready mind : that when the chief Shepherd shall appear, they may receive an unfading crown of glory : (1 Pet. v. 2, 4.) A crown which will infinitely more than repay not only their labours, but their sutJ'eri'iigs too. 18 4i^Py Pe^' ^^'ho, having worn out his better years in the service of Christ, courageously stretched out his aged arnis~T!Ti7Clx)mid, and, being borne away to tortures and death, shcxl the, last slow ebb of his blood as a martyr 30—23 for him who had loved h/?n and given himself for him. — And not le-s happy the beloved disciple, so willing to hazaid his life in the same cause ; though he was not in fact called to lay it down as a martyr ! Our gracious Lord, y/ho sees every purpose and every aifection as it rises in the heart, favourably accepts of the willing mind, ami will, through the riches of his grace, entitle them to the reward of equal suttering who have waited with a like rcadiuess, though they have not been called out to the severity of the like trial. 'VVlAa.xW <^. \&S' $, SECTION ecu. Christ appears to the whole body of the disciples ai the appointed mountain in Galilee ; and aflei'wards meets the apostles several times at Jerusalon, and discourses with them concerning the a/fairs of his kingdom. Matt, xxviii. 16, to the end. Mark xvi. 15 — 18. Luke xxiv. 44 — 49. Acts i. 2, 3. Matt, xxviii. 16. ,, .. SECT. iVO Pr,._quickly after the late interview which Jesus had with his disciples at Jerusalem, Then the'eleven disciples ^'^'^' the eleven disciples went into Galilee-, to a certain mountain not far from the sea of "•'"' ^"''V '?'° Galilee, in- Tiberias, where Jesus had appointed to meet them. " And he appeared to them and j.la '.^.■ointed thlm! ■'^'"' MATT. « above five hundred brethren at once, who came together from all parts of the country " on that important occasion." And having seen him, they bowed down and worship- n Ami when thev saw \1 ped him ; and though some of the company had doubled ?i{ first, yet they were after- buT;*n'e^doubtlT ' ' wards fully convinced.^ " And the greater part of them continued alive, as witnesses of ' ^ " the truth of his resurrection, for several years after -^ though others of them died in a " short time, and went to their glorified and triumphant Lord in heaven." See 1 Cor. xv. 6. Thus did he manifest himself in Galilee to a considerable number of his disciples at once ; " and after that, he appeared to James,'' and then (as we shall see hereafter) to all " the apostles." See 1 Cor. xv. 7. But though he shev/ed himself thus openly to his disciples, " he did not publicly appear " at any lime to all the people ; nor indeed did he show himself, in any other instance, to " so large an assembly even of his own disciples : but in the several appearances he made, " he chiefly conversed with the aposdes, and confined his visits to those witnesses that " were chosen before by God to attest the truth of his resurrection ; who had frequent " opportunities of a free conversation with him, and, as we have seen iaefore, (Luke xxiv. " 30, 42, 43 ; and John xxi. 12, 13.) did eat and drink with him after he rose from the " dead." See Actsx. 41. ACTS And at these times of his conversing with them,'' he more particularly opened to them Acts i. 2. lAnd} tluongU I. what was the nature and design of their office ; [and'] through the Holy Spirit, which the Holy Ghost, [he gav%] 2 was given not by measure to himself, and which he had lately breathed into them, he gave H'^^fZhom "he" had commandments and instructions to the apostles who?n he had chosen, how they were to chosen ; 3 act: To whom also he gave abundant evidences of the truth of his resurrection, and 3 To whom abo he shew- showed himself to be alive after he had suffered death, by many infallible proofs ed himself alive after his a 7%ough some nf the company had douhted at first, &c.] There tinue their lives so Ion?, as each of them, wherever Providence led IS no room to tliiiik that this refers to some of the apostles, when them, would he an authentic witness of that important fact, the Christ had so lately satisfied the most incredulous among them ; resurrection of our Lord, the great fundamental of the christian but we are certainly to understand it (as Mr. AVcst has fully shewn) faith. of some that were iu company with them, though Matthew has not c After that he appeared to James.] It is probable this was mentioned them. (See West's Ohserv. p. 2.5, 20.) Yet still it is James the son of Alplieus, who was still living when the apo.stlc not easy to imagine how any of the rest of tliis company could con- Paul wrote his First Epistle to the Corinthians, whereas the other tinue to doubt of the truth of Christ's resurrection, when they Janus, the son of Zebedee, had suffered martyrdom some vears actually saw him, and that in the presence of so many others; a before. (Acts xii. 2.) But the circumstances of tliis appearance circumstance incomparably more convincing to each, thau if he had are nowhere recorded, nor liave we any credible account where or appeared to any one alone. 1 therfefore cliusc to render and para- when it happened ; only we learn, from the order in which it is phrase the words 01 ot t.Twrajxv, as above. Those learned critics, priced by the apostle Paul, that it was after Christ's appearance to Albert, {Observ. p. 163, 104.) and Bos, [Excrcit. p. 23.) have pro- the fiv6 luindred brethren. See note b, on Luke xxiv. 3-L p. 411. auced many instances in which 01 is put for rm;. And all the diffi- d And at these times of his conversing with them.] As I have culty 1? jcsraoved, if we allow a small change in the tense, and take inserted in the first paragraph of this section what is said in the the renAjHftg of the Prussian Testament, Even Iheij ulw /tad before First Epistle to the Corinthians, of our Lord's appearance to the donbfed %)r, which is mndi the same, t/toug/t some had doubted. five hundred brethren, and to James, so 1 have thought it proper to b Several years after.] It is generally granted that the First introduce in this and Uie next section what relates to this story in IjPisUe to the Corintliians was written at least twenty years after the beginning of the Acts, (chap. i. 2—12.) which renders the »-.lirist's resurrection ; and Paul Uicre tells us, that the greater part narration more complete, and finishes the account which the sacred 01 itiese live hundred then continued alive. And by the way, it writers give us of the history of our Lord to the time of his was a wrse and gracious disp^riia.itiou of Divine Providence, to con- ascension. HE BIDS THEM TARRY AT JERUSALEM TILL THEY RECEIVE THE SPIRIT. 419 iviioi), by many infallible and tokcus ; being seen of them at various times for the space of jvrty dai/s after his SECT. roofs, being seen of Uiem resurrection, a?id sneaking to them of the things -which related to ine Idnadom of 202. irly days, and speakin;^ ot /-< i ^ J •m: things pertaining to the ^^0(1. doniofGod. "^ And these his last interviews with them were chiefly at Jerusalem, to which they lukk ■ ""camranO^tpake^unt'o returned soon after his appearance to them on the mountain in Galilee; and Jesus also .-^^'V. nam.' saying,] These are fo'we' thither, tfn^ made them repeated visits: and on one of those occasions he 5jP«/ir ?<;?/<; ■^"' I,:.; words vvhich 1 spake f/^^.,,, sai/incrJ'- These {are'l the n-ords xvhich I spake to you, and tliese the intimations 11:1:0 you, while I was yet , -J r' > 1 t j j u- ^/ ^ 11 ±! ±1 ■ , 1 \wiii yon, that all things that I often gave you white I was yet dwelling among you, that all the things must be , iiiu-t "be fulfilled which exactly fulfilled -which are written in the scriptures concerning me, both in the Pentateucn, Ai'o^esTandTn the'^rophet^s^ that is calfed the law of Moses, and in the books of the succeeding prophets, and .in the and (rt'the Psalms, eoiicernl Psalms, and other poetical books of the Old Testament. '"?."'™ C'^'*'*- ^YJ" .'i**'^ And at the same time he not only in words expounded to them the sense of the sacred A'^ 4. J Then opened he their . , , , . .■•' ii ■ • • n 1 1 r u- ^ ai • 1 nnderstaniiinV, that they Writers, but also, by a sccrct Operation on their intellectual taculties, opened their minds, inisht understand the scrip- that they might understand the scriptures in their reference to him. And in a most 4 G '"46 And said unto them. Convincing manner he enlarged upon the important subject, and said to them. When you Thus it is written, and thus consider all these things, you must certainly perceive that thus it was written, and thus it behoved Christ to sufler, y ncccssan/, in conformitv to the council of God, and for the manifestation of his and to rise trora tlie dead , , , -'v ■ , , , , ,y 1 1 i 1 ■ ■ r xi 1 i it the third day: glory, that the Messiah should suffer, and should rise again from the dead, as I have 47 And that repentance done, on the third day ; And that, in consequence of this, and on this great foundation, 47 and remission of sins should the important doctrines of rc;7f«/a«ce and forgiveness of sins ihxoMglx faith in him should among "ll*^ iiaUons," bc'^n- be preached in his name, and by his authority, to all the nations of the earth, beginning ning at Jerusalem. " first fjf Jerusalem itself, though polluted with the blood of the Prince of life.^ Matt, xxviii. 18. All You know indeed (added he) how cruelly the Jews have treated me, and how ungrate- :■■• vtt Fir7e'uaiui'in"e"r'th" ^'^ '" ^"'^Y ^^^Y have rejected me; but their outrageous malice has now done its utmost, and my XXVIIF. heavenly Father has not only rescued me from their hands, but is exalting me to all that ' ^ height of dignity and glory which the sacred oracles have so pathetically described : for all authority /.?now given unto w^eboth in heaven and on earth ; and, in accomplishment of what was promised to the Messiah, I am raised to a kingdom which comprehends both the upper and lower worlds, and entitles me to the homage of angels as well as of men. Luke xxiv. 48. And ye And yet, though I could so easily command the ministry of those more glorious creatures, ^^ukr are witnesses of these j^, ^y^jg i^^^ ^^^t^^ ^j^g scheme of my gospel to make use oi you, who shall accordingly be xxiv, "°^' witnesses of all these things, by publishing the certain knowledge that you have of the 48 important truths of my death and resurrection f and who are therefore to look upon it as • 49 And heboid, I send the the great business of your lives to spread the notices and evidences of these facts. And, that 49 promise of my Father upon ygu i^i^ay be fully qualified for so high an office, behold, I am shortly to send upon you, crtyof'jerusaiLrunii/y-e l^e great promise of my Father vemng to the miraculous effusion of the Holy Spirit beendued with power from upon you. (Compare Joel ii. 28 ; and Acts ii. 16, 17.) And as the divine wisdom sees "" '''=''• fit to honour this place, sinful as it is, with the first view of this surprising appearance, I charge you not to go from hence before you have received those gifts and graces you shall be furnished with for the discharge of your ministry ; but do you continue here in the city of Jerusalem fill you are invested with this power frojn on high;^ whereby you will be enaljled to bear your testimony in so advantageous and convincing a manner, that no false- hood or sophistry will be able finally to stand before you. Mark xvi 15. And he said j„^ further, hc Said to them. When you shall thus be furnished with the extraordinary mark turwoHd^'and preach" the gifts of the ^^ixi'i, go forth into all parts oifhe world, and preach the gospel to every , '^'''• gospel to every creature. human creature Under heaven to whom Providence may lead you, whether Jew or Gen- 16 He thatbelieveth, and tile; And take carc that you deliver it with becoming seriousness, and let them see to it that IG IS baptized, shall be saved . ^j^^^ receive it witii proportionable regard ; for it is a matter of infinite importance. And accordingly I now solemnly declare, That he who sincerely believes your testimony, and, in token Vf that cordial faith, is baptized in my name, and continues to maintain a tem- per and conduct suitable to that engagement, shall certainly be saved with a complete and everlasting salvation ; but he who believeth not this my gospel, when opened with such e On one of these occasions lie spnke, ^r.] I we this indeter- Sliseellanea Sacra, (Essay iii. p. 17—23.) ha3 taken peat pains to niinate form of expression, hecau.se I see no mark by which we can show how the title of witnesses and the office of testifying is in the particularly a.sccrtain the time when the followinfj discourse was sacred writings appropriated to the apostles. Rut after all, though delivered j'onlv, I think it very plain It must be after their return it was indeed essential to the apostolic office that they who bore it to .Jerusalem, (see Luke xxiv. 49.1 and consequently a very few should be able to testify the facts as of their own personal know- days before our Lord's ascension. I have thrown all that the three ledge, yet it istertain that a great many others who were not apos- Evan?elists sav of these discourses into one continued discourse, ties, were able to testify the same: and it was their duty, and no thougli perhaps some of them might be delivered at different times, doubt their care, to do it, as Providence gave them an opportunity : f ncf;inning at Jerusalem.] As for the giaramatioal construction and the apostles had many other duties incumbent upon them for cf the Greek word i/)|t«Evo«, it would be foreign from the design of the edification of the church, and, in order to the periormance of these notes to enter into it farther than to refer the learned reader them, were furnished with extraordinary gifts and powers, for which to Eisner, ( Oliserv. Vol. L p. 288.) and Raphelius^fy/nno^ ex Herod, they would have had little occasion had it been their only business p. 276, 277.) and to the original of Luke xxiii. .5; xxiv. 27; and to testify these facts. Acts X. ;i7. It was both graciously and wisely appointed by our h Continue in the city of Jerusalem ttll you are invested dfc.^ Lord, th.it the gospel should begin to be preached at Jerusalem ; This passage utterly overthrows Mr. Whiston's assertion, that all iiracioiisly, as it encouraged the repentance'of the greatest sinners, this discourse was delivered on the night Christ rose from the tizins-tlieni in the faith and obedience of my gospel,' baptizing them in the awtui and venerable name oj name of the Father, and of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Hob/ Spirit ;'" that by this solemn initiatory the Son, and of the Holy ordinance they may profess their subjection to each of these divine persons, and maintain- '"'' ' ing suitable regards to each, may receive from each correspondent blessings. And see that 20 Tearhing them to ob- you instruct the converts whom vou so baptize, teaching them to keep and observe all ■^''"'^ ''" tl""gs whatsoever •> , . , -. ■',. I ,'^. iU*TiiT] 1' ''^^'*^ commanded you: things whatsoever I have commanded i/ou ; as rememl)enng that 1 am tlieir Lord, and and lo, i am with yoii al- you only the messengers of my will. And, while you act in pursuance of these directions, though numberless difficulties will appear in your way, yet be mA discouraged at them ; for behold, I am ahvai/s with you, to support and comfort you, and in some measure at least to succeed your labours ; and I will to such purposes as these be with all my faithful ministers who shall succeed you in the work, even to the end of the world.^ Amen I O blessed Jesus, so may it indeed be ! And may this important promise be fulfilled to us, and to our successors to the remotest ages, in its full extent 1° And he yet farther added. So far as it is necessary and expedient for the confirmation of my gospel, and the establishment of my cause and interest in the world, a miraculous power f'^.'j'^^p'J''? '"""''^ ^''^'"^p'",, shall attend you, and others who shall join with you or succeed you in the first plantation thev ca.st out devils, they of my cluuch : and in particular, these signs, and others no less wonderful, shall ^^''^h speak with new follow them that believe, and be performed by those who in a lively manner exercise ""c"'^'' ' their faith in God, when he is inwardly exciting them to such operations :'' in my name shall they cast out the most obstinate and mischievous demons who may have possessed the bodies of men ; they shall, by an extraordinary and hitherto unknown effusion of my Spirit, be enabled with the greatest fluency and propriety to speak in. various 7ieto lan- guages wliich they have never learnt : They shall take up serpents without being bitten is They siiaii take up or endangered by them;'i and if, by some secret or open attempt made to destroy them, ^''''P*=nts, and if they drink they drink any deadly ^nd.\wd\\^xi^\\i poison, it shall not hurt them ;^ [rtr«^] when they not luirt'themT't^icv shall shall lay [theii-] hands on the sick and infirm, it shall be attended with a healing virtue, lay hands on the sick, and and they shall immediately recover without the use of any farther means. So that, in ""^^ ^'^*" recover, consequence of this extraordinary confirmation, my gospel shall meet with a very general i When opened with such convincing evidence.] This is by no tism we read in the Acts, than is there recorded, before tliey were aa means a proper place to inquire into the proportion between the mittcd to it. The christian church in succeeding ages hag acted a evidence which was peculiar to the days ot the apostles, and that wise and safe part in retaining these words; and Ihey contain .so wliich is common to our own. But 1 hope it will be considered, on strong an intimation that each of these persons is properly God, and the one hand, how irapi-obable it is that a divine revelation, intro- that worship is to be paid and glory ascribed to each, that 1 cannot duced as the gospel was, should ever be left so destitute of proofs in but hope they will be a means of maintaining the belief of the one, after ages, that an honest man, after impartial consideration, might and the practice of the other, among the generality of christians to reject it ; and on the other, how fit it was that the danger of neglect- the end of the world. ing it should be strongly declared, lest it should seem itself to have n lam always with you, even to the end of the ivorhl.'] As Christ's left men at liberty to trifle with it. presence with his surviving apostles and other ministers was as k Shall be conHemned, &c.] As for the objection which has been necessary after the destruction of Jerusalem as before it, iiotlnng urged against the truth of Christianity, from the damnatory sen- seems more unreasonable than to limit these words, by such an in fence which it here and elsewhere pronounces on those that reject terpretation, as to refer them only to that period : nor does it indeed it, I have considered it at large since the former publication of this appear that the end of the world is ever used in any other than the volume, and attempted to show that it is so far from being conclu- most extensive sense. sive, that it would rather have been a great difficulty in the o Amen ! — so may it indeed be !] Though the word Amen, with scheme of Christianity if it had contained no such sentence. See my which each of the gospels ends, seems chiefly to have been intended Second Letter to the Author of Christianity not founded on Argu- as an intimationof the conclusion of the book, and as an asseveration ment, p. 28 — 47. And I must earnestly entreat any reader who of the certain truth of the things contained in it, yet I think the fancies there is any force in what the deists urge on this head, at- turn here given to it in Matthew very natural, considering its con- tentively to consider what is there offered, before he presume on the nexion with that promise, which was undoubtedly the greatest contrary sentiment, which may perhaps be an error as fatal as it strength and joy of tiiat good man's heart. St. John uses the like is absurd. turn in more express language in the last verse but one of the 1 Proselyte aU the nations of t\\e earth.] The whole tenor of the Revelation. Surely I come quickly. Amen 1 Even so come, Lord succeeding books of the New Testament shows that Christ designed Jesus ! by this commission that the gospel should be preached to all man- p These signs shall follow tliem that believe, &c.] It is exceeding kind without exception, not only to the Jews, but to all the idola- evident that the word believe, in this place, must signify something trous Geiitiles : but the prejudices of the apostles led them at first difl'erent from that faith which had, in the preceding verse of to mi.slake the sense, and to imagine that it referred only to their Mark, been required as indispensably necessary to salvation ; and going to preach the gospel to the Jews among all nations, or to those can have no other rational interpretation than what is here wlifi should be willing to become Jews. 1 render the word ij.%f>i-. given. Tiviocn proselyte, that it may be duly distinguished fmni 5iiUi»icvre0 of liills, as far as to the boundaries of Bethany.^ a As fur as /o tlie houndaries of liclhany.-] Tliis at Irast must Jerusalem, (Acts i. 12.) So that, to reconcile what Luke here tells he tlie impoitof the word £wf ; but what is said elsewhere, will iis in liis go.spel, with the account he gives of our Lords ascen- not allow us to extend it to the town itself: for the town of Be- sion in the Acts, we must conclude that he conducted his disciples thany was about fifteen furlongs from Jerusalem, Molm xi. 18.) only to the boundaries of Bethany, which came much nearer to whereas the place from which our Lord ascended, on Mount Olivet, Jerusalem, and took in part of the mount of Olives. (See note a, was but a sabbath-day's journey, or about half that distance from on Matt. xxi. 1. p. 28f>.)— It is indeed possible that our Lord might 422 CHRIST'S ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN. SECT. W/un f/ierefurc fl'ej/ were cotne toget/ier with such peculiar solemnity, an\ J^sus had Acts i. o. When they 203. thus assembled them in a body, (as tliey apprehended, on some extraordinary occasion,) {jj^j;'''^,''^^ '""kHC^'f \"^*' t/iei/ asked kirn, savinfr. Lord, wilt thou at this time, when they have just been guilty of saying-, Tlidf wUt*tliou ™t ACTS such aijeravated wickedness, restore the kingdom to Israel ? And wilt thou now in such a tiiis time restore a-aiu the I- manne"r"show thy favour to a nation which so well deserves to be destroyed, that Israel shall '"°S''"'" to Israel ? ^ at this time be raided from its servitude, to that extensive empire which ancient prophecies have led us to expect under the government of the Messiah ? 7 But, as Jesus was not willing to enter on a subject concerning which the Spirit would 7 And he said unto them, soon rectify their notions, he chose to check their curiosity, and said to them. Whatever the%imes*''or^t'he*Bcason" the schemes of Providence may be, it is not for you to know, and therefore is not proper for which the Father hath put you to enquire, what are *hose times or seasons which the Father has placed under his '° '"sown power. own authoriti/ : the Messiah's kingdom shall indeed be triumphant, and the Israel of God shall reign with him ; but where, or when, or how this shall be, it is not your present busi- 8 ness to enquire. And therefore now let not these secret things engage and take up your ^^^^^^^ ^■'^tr''t''ti ^^u^T- attention ; but let me rather exhort you to mind your present duty, and to leave the event f^^ost Is come'' upon you^i of thin"-s to God : and, to prepare you for the important service you are called to, you shall and ye sliail be' witnesses indeed, as I before have told you, receive the power of the Hobj Spirit coming upon ^^^JZ'mM'^ldr^^A you; andhy this mesinsyoushall he qu^liAedtohe7n)/ witnesses, doth in Jerusalem and in Samaria, and unto the in all Judea, and in Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth : and you shall gather J^^^'^,^"'°'' T^'"^ "^ *''<= in subjects to mv kingdom in the remotest regions, and subdue multitudes to the obedience of faith. lUKE And then lifting up his hands in a most solemn and devout manner, he blessed them, uf^^l^^^^ll'j^l^^A^^^J^ XXIV. as one that had authority, not only to desire, but to command, a blessing on them ; and ^^ theni.'^ '^° ^' "" ^^ recommended them to the guardianship and care of his heavenly Father, to whom, after so long an abode on earth, he was now returning. 5 1 A7id it came to pass, after the Lord had sjwken these things unto them, and had with si And it came to pass, great affection and solemnity discoursed with his disciples of the work they were to do, and ^^H^l^ "the^e"' thhigsfunt" of the povver they should have to qualify them for it, even while he was blessing them, he tiiem'] wiiiie he° blessed ACTS was miraculously separated from them. And while they stedlastly beheld him, and fixed |[j^|J|' 'f^j^^^j^ xvi'^'iu aT I- their eyes upon hiai with the strictest observation, he was taken up from the ground on j. g.]' 9 which he stood, and gradually carried up into heaven,^ as it seemed by the ministry Acts i. 9. And while of attending angels, (though he could certainly have ascended merely by his own power:) up7[Luke!''H.i'(r c'arried''up arid while he hovered in the air at some distance from them, a bright cloud appeared, as a into heaven,] and a cloud kind of triumphant chariot which God had prepared on this great occasion, and received sf"t*''r!,n^"/,p°s.'j."^ ^'ih'^ him out of their sight : and, passing through clouds of adoring angels, he ascended to a riglit'ha'ndof Goil.] [Mark throne highly exalted above all theirs, and sat down, even at the right hand of God, on xvi. id. Luke xxiv. 5i.] a seat of the highest dignity and authority, there to reign, in the glories of his mediatorial kingdom, till all things shall be put under his feet. (See 1 Cor. xv. 25, 27.) 10 And as they were stedfastly looking up to heaven, while he went on in his amazing lo And while they looked and triumphant progress, behold, two angels, in the form of men, in white and shining stedfasiiy toward heaven, raiment, being of the number of those whose ministration God was pleased to make use of n,^n stood by 'thcinTn white 1 i in this illustrious event, came and stood near them ; Who also spake to them, and said. Ye apparel ; ynen of Galilee, why do ye stnnd gazing up to heaven with such great astonishment ? Is ^^l\ ^^ Ga'iUeel^why'i'tald it not what your Lord himself has often told you, that he was soon to return to the glory ye gazing up into lieaven ? from which he came? And we are now sent hither to assure you that this Jesus, who is ''l'* ^^"^"^ Jtsus which is ,, ,, ^ •,; i;/ -J/ taken up from you into thus taken up from you info heaven, shall so come again in the very same manner as heaven, shall so come in you have now beheld him go into heaven: for the great day shall surely come, when like manner as ye have he will visibly descend from heaven in a cloud of glory, attended as now with a guard of ^^'^^ ^"'" S" '"'° heaven, angels, to dispense their final judgment to all the inhabitants of the world ; but in the mean time, the heavens must receive him, and you must no more expect his company on earth. j.UKE And his disciples were so fully satisfied of his divine power and glory, that they wor- Luke xxiv. 52. And XXIV. shipped him with the humblest reverence, though he was now become invisible to them ; t'',ey worshipped him, and 52 and then (as he had ordered them) returned to Jerusalem with great joj/, from the [em with "g-reat joy [from mount called Olivet, where he was parted from them ; which is but a sabbath-day's the mount called Olivet, journey, or about a mile distant from Jerusalem ■.'^ and it exceedingly rejoiced their a^''s!,ili,au/da"^s "Ip''"*'''''^'^ hearts to think that Jesus their Lord was in this singular manner honoured by his hea- [Arts i. 12.] '' make liis last visit on earth to Lazarus and his pious sisters ; but it c Which is n sabliath-dny's jofirney from Jcrusnlem.'] A sabbath- is manifest he did not ascend from the town of Bethany, where day's journey is generally reckoned by the .lews to be two thou- mauy others must have seen him, but from the mount of Olives, sand cubits, which was the distance between the ark and the wliere none beheld him but his own disciples ; nor is there any camp, when they marched ; (Josh. iii. 4.) and ])robably the same intimation in the words of the Evangelist, that he came from proportion was observed when they rested. This is usually corn- Bethany to the mount of Olives on the day of his ascension, but puled at about eight furlongs, or a mile. But as the camp took rather that he went directly from Jerusalem thither. in a large extent of ground, and this was only tlie distance of tliosc b Wliilo they beheld, he was taken up, &<; ] It will, I hope, be that encamped nearest to the ark, .so it is evident, th;il as all the remembered, that it was for majesty, and not of necessity, that our people were to repair on the sabbath-day to the place of God's pub- Lord used the ministration of angels in carrying iiim.self to heaven, lie worship, a sabbath-day's journey was more than two thousand — Dr. Jennings has observed, with his usual sagacity and propriety, cubits to those whos" station in the cam(> was more remote from (Sfrai. a/ Bercy-s/rff/, Vol. I. p. 373.) that it was much more proper the ark: yet when they were afterwards settled iti towns, they our Lord should ascend to heaven in the sight of his apostles, than allowed no more than two thousand cubits for a sabbath-day's that he should rise from the dead in their sight: for liis resurrcc- journey. (See Selden, Dc Jiir. Nat. el Cent. Uh. iii. cap. !». and tion was proved when tliey .saw him alive after liis passion; bnt Lightfoot, Hot. HeSr. on Luke xxiv. ,50; and Acts i. 12.) Coui- they could not see him in lieaven while they continued upon cartli. p:t!o note a, in this section, on Luke xxiv. 50. THESE THINGS ARE WRITTEN THAT WE MAY BiiLIEVE. 423 venly Father, and receival up into a slate of everlasting felicity and glory, in which he sect. would be able to protect all his followers, and to provide in the most eliectual manner 203. .! And weic continually for their present and eternal happiness. And they -were always in the temple, that is, ,iic- tcm|>ie, i.raisiiig and faoy constantly attended there at proper times, and were daily present at the hours of luke sinL'God. Amen. •' ,, .•'. in- /^ ? u *i ■ i • i i „i ■ x- ^ vviv prayer," praising and blessing uod, botli in Ins house and m tlieir own retirements. a-^»^- Amen I May God always be praised by us, and by all wlio receive his gospel, for the 53 discoveries and attestations of it given to these his servants, and by them to us ! i.ak xvi. 20. And they And iu a few days after this, (as will be shewn more largely in the following history,) mark "^ *^",vi''' "'"^.,'"'^'[^'"^4 their ascended Lord, in remembrance of his promise to them, sent down as a royal dona- '^^'' i^inff with tiiera, and tive the extraordinary influences of his Spirit upon them, fully to quality them for that 20 liiniiiig the word with important office to which they were designed. And going forth with tiiis fbrniturc, they IS 0 owing-, men. preached the gospel every ti-herc throughout the whole Roman empire, and even among the barbarous nations, with amazing success, the Lord, according to his promise, •work- ing with them, and conjinning the word of his grace by the signs and miracles which followed it ; which were at once tlie most solid, as well as the most obvious and popular, demonstrations of those divine truths v.hich they delivered. Amen .' So may the pre- sence of the Lord be always with his faithful ministers ! and may his gcsi^ei be attended every where with efficacy and success, as well as with convincing evidences of its divine authority ! Jolm XXI. '25. And there ji/^^ jj^us ^o j^ave given a summary account of the most remarkable passages of the joiin whiih" Jesus d'ld; "and hfe of Christ during the time of his abode on earth: but after all, it must be considered ^^J- many other signs truly did only as a specimen, rather than a full narration: for there are also many other things 25 df^"i!>k's!'' wh^clf" are"* not ^^'"^ •^'^'^"^ said and did, and indeed manij other signs and miracles that ^ Jesus wrought, written in this book ;] the both before and after his resurrection, in the presence of his disciples, which are not which, if ti'.cy should be ^^yliii,^i m fhis hook of the four Evangelists, which is here completed ; and tvhich indeed written every one, I suppose ,1 ^ •,- r i? j ; -1 / 7 7 7 7 j ■ 11 * ■ that even the world itself are SO numerous, that ij every one [itf thcmj should be recorded m ail its circumstances, lould not contain the books J am persuaded the work would amount to so vast a bulk, that the world itself would not rJohn xx'.Vo.T ^ "'^' '^"' ^^ ^'^^fi ^^ receive the books that should he written, but the very size of the volumes would necessarily prevent the generality of mankind from procuring or reading them.* John XX. .31. But these But these most necessaiy and important things arc written in this plain way, and in this John beiieve'*that"jes?'' is'fh* portable volume, not merely that tlie reader may be amused by so curious a story, but ^^• Christ, the s^on of God, and that the faith, the hope, and the piety of christians may be confirmed j and especially 31 that belie.ving ye might that yoii may niorc timily and assuredly believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of [Araeii.]^ [John xxK 250*^ God, partaldng of the same divine glory with the Father, and the sure object of his peo- jjle's confidence; and that, believing it, you may be so influenced by his instructive discourses, his complete example, and his dying love, that you may have eternal lije through his name. And may God grant that, as it is all most certainly and circum- stantially true, so it may have that happy effect upon all those by whom this hLstcry is perused from age to age 1 Amen, IMPROVEMENT. Thus did our victorious Saviour ascend on Jiigh, and lead captivity captive : the chariots of God which luke attended him were twenty thousand, even thousands of angels! (Psal. Ixviii. 17, 18.) and being gone into XXIV.61 heaven, he is there seated on the rigln' hand of God ; angels, and authorities, and powers being made subject acts to him. (1 Pet. hi. 22.) Let us his humble followers look after him with holy joy and pleasing expectation ; 1- 9. '« congratulating his triumphs, and trusting, through his grace, to share them. Like the apostles, let us bow down and woi-ship him ; and while we continue here below, let us make it our lukr daily labour and care to seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God: XXIV. (Col. iii. 1.) And instead of amusing ourselves with the vain dreams of temporal grandeur and felicity, or with 52 curious inquiries after those times and seasons which the Father hath reserved in his^ own power, let us apply act^ with vigour and zeal to that business which he has assigned us, labouring to the utmost to promote his gospel, I- 7 and, by a diligent improvement of our time and opportunities, to prepare for his final appearance, when the Lord 1 1 himself shall descend from heaven wifli more public splendour than he returned thither, and shall come in flic glory of his Father, and his own glory, with a majestic pomp which every eye shall see, and with the sound of a trumpet, which even all the nations of the dead shall hear. MARif In the mean time, let us thankfully own his gracious presence with his disciples, whom he left behind XVI. 20 d And theij were always in the Icmple.'] Some have imagined (by xii. 10.) But I think the sense given in the paraphrase easier, and comparing this with Actsi. l.'i, 14.) that the apostles dwelt for some more suited to the remarkable plainne.ss of St. John's style. Eisner time afterwards in an upper chamber of the temple ; but they had explains this passage as if the Evangelist had said, " If they were no such interest with the priests as to allow us to suppose they "all to be particularly written, the unbelieving world woiild not would permit them to lodge in an apartment of the temple. It is " admit them, so as to be moved by them to faitli ami obedience." KUllicient that they were always there at the proper seasons ; for it And he produces instances in whicli x"?"' has such a signification. is well known, that by night the temple -vas shut up. (Compare But, as John knew the unbelieving world would reject even what Luke ii. 22. p. 2-1. and "John xviii. 20. p. 374.) They probably joined he had writ, this could be no reason for his writing no more.— Per- llieir voices with the ciiorus of the Lcvites, as no doubt other pious haps it may be a most delightful part of the entertainment of the Israelites did ; and must surely, from what they had already seen heavenly world, to learn from our blessed Lord himself, or from ;'.nd known, have learnt to use many of the psalms sung by them in these who conversed with him on earth, a multitude of such par- a much sublimer sense than the generality of the people could. ticularsof his life as will be well worthy our everlasting admiration. e T/ie world itself would not be able to receive tlie hoo/cs, ^■c.'] In the mean time, the pious and attentive study of what is here re- There would be no great inconvenience in allowing an hyperbole corded, may most happily prepare us for such discoveries and add here, as most Expositors do, of which we meet with other instances an unutterable relish to them. Amen ! So may it be to the author in scripture : (see Gen. xi. 4 ; Numb. xiii. 33 ; and compare John of this Exposition, and to all those who do or may peruse it ' 424 REFLECTIONS ON TIIE GREAT DESIGN OF THE GOSPEL. SECT, him ; and with admiring gratitude reflect upon the happy consequences of that presence iu the establishment 203. of the gospel in the world, and the transnarission of it even unto us, in so remote an age and country. Let us especially praise him for these sacred records, which contain such an authentic and exact account of JOHN those important facts in which we are all so nearly concerned ; records incomparably more valuable than the XIX, writings of our private estates, or the charters of our public liberties. Let us earnestly pray that their great 25 design may be answered in us ; and make it our importunate request to Him who is the Giver of all grace, that, through the operations of that Holy Spirit, without the influence of which, even scripture itself, with all our advantages for understanding and improving it, will be but a sealed book, or a dead letter, our faith may be JOHN nourished and confirmed by every portion of it which we read ; and that our hearts may be so delivered into XX. the mould of his word, that believing on Christ, under all the characters he bears, we may have life through 31 his name : and may at length receive the end of our faith, in the complete salvation of our souls through him : to whom, with the Father and the eternal Spirit, be undivided honours and everlasting praises* Amen, and Amen. THE FAMILY EXPOSITOR. THE ACTS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES, WRlTTE^ BY ST. LUKE. SECTION L ST. LUKE CONNECTS THIS HISTORY WITH HIS GOSPEL, BY A MORE ASCENSION OF CHRIST THAN HE HAD THERE GlVExV. PARTICULAR ACCOUNT ACTS i. 1—12. Acts. i. Ver. 1. The former treatise have 1 made, O Theoptiilus, of all that Jesus bcgau both to do and teacli. Acts i. Ver. L The former tr'catise which J lately co^tiposed,'' and inscribed to thee, O Theophilus, SECT. contained a faithful narrative, as far as might be nccessarj' for tiie confimiation of a christian 1. convert, coijccriiing all the most considerable things which Jesus began both to do and to tcach^ and gave an account of the manner in which Christ opened the gospel, and in acts which he confinned it, from his first appearance on earth to the last period of his abode ^■ upon it ; Even to the very dai/ in ivhieh he teas taken up into heaven again, after he'2, had, by the influence and assistance of the Holy Spirit,'^ with which he himself was so abundantly anointed, given a proper charge to the apostles, tohom he had chosen to be the prime ministers of liis kingdom, and the great instruments of extending it in the world : To -whom also, in order to fit them more completely for the discharge of their important 3 office, he presented hiinself alive after his suffering, with many most evident testimo- nials of the truth of his resurrection j while, though he declined appearing publicly among the Jews, he often showed himself to his disciples, being seen by them at various times ybr no \'s&'s>'C(\?ca. forty days, and speaking to them of the things concerning the kingdom of God, which was then shortly to be erected by their means. And, on the fortieth day after his resurrection, having a-sseinbled them together with 4 2 Until the clay in which he was taken up, after that he,thrniigh the Holy Ghost, hatl given commanilmeiits unto the apostles whom he hail chosen : 3 To whom also he show- ed himself alive after his passion, by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God : 4 And, being assembled a The formcT treatise 1 composed.'] This former treatise is un- doubtedly the Gospel which was written by St. Luke, and dedi- cated by hira to Theophilus: and, as this history of tlie Acts was written by the same person, it is allowed by all antiquity, the au- thor of it was St. Luke, whom the apostle Paul styles the beloved physician, (Col. iv. 14.) and speaks of as his fellow-labaurcr, (Philem. ver. 24.) who was with hira at Rome when he wrote his Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon, and again afterwards when he wrote his Second Epistle to Timothy ; (2 Tim. iv. 11.) and so continued an associate and companion to'the apostle Paul ; as it is evident, from his manner of expression, the penman of the Acts had been, in several of his travels, and in his dangerous voyage when he went first to Rome. This book is generally thought to have been written about the year of our Lord 6."?, at which time the his- tory ends, which, it is reasonable to suppose, would have proceeded furtl\er, if it had been written later; and probably, as Mr. L'En- fant and others have observed, it made, as it were, a second part of St. Luke's Gospel, which in all copies has the author's name pre- fixed, wliile this is left without a title in the oldest manuscripts; though in the Syriac Version it is expres.sly ascribed to I>uke, whom the translator seems to call his master. Not to mention the sup- pn.sed allusions to this book in Barnabas, Clemens Romanus, Hermas, Ignatius, and Polycarp, it is certain that Irenajus, Clemens Alexandrinus, TertuUian, Origen, and Eusebius, bear the most ex- press testimonies to the genuineness of it, in a multitude of pas- sages which I need not here insert, as they are produced at large by Dr. Benson, in the first part of the Appendix to his History of tile Plantation of Christiiinity, Vol. II. p. 295 — 310 ; and since the pub- lication of that by Mr. Riscoe, in bis learned Discourses at Boyle's Lectures, chap. xiv. xv. where he has shown, in a most convincing manner, how capable these ancient writers were of judging in this matter, and how universally it was owned by the christians of the hrst ages asa sacred book. How incontestahly it (demonstrates the truth of Christianity, is shown at large in both these useful treatises, and every attentive reader must needs observe it for himself. b Jiegan both to do and to teach.'] To begin to do a thing, as Hciusius and many other critics have observed, is a common Greek idiom for doing or undertaking a tiling. Compare Matt. xii. 1. with Luke vi. 1 ; and Mark vi. 2. with Matt. xiii. 54. See also Gen. ii. 3. Heptitag. Num. xxv. 1; Judg. xiii. 5; xx. 31 ; Luke iii. 8; xxi. 28 ; and Acts ii. 4. Yet in most of these places it refers to some of the first actions or events of the kind. Accordingly I apprehend, with Chrysostom, that the phrase here refers to the account which Luke had given of Christ's ministry, from the beginning and first rise of it, (as he speaks, Lukei. 2, 3 ) to the ascension, with which lie concludes his Gospel. c Hy the Holy Spirit.] It is certainly much more agreeable to the order and construction of the words In the original, to connect and explain them as above, than to refer them, as the Syriac and Ethiopic Versions do, to his choosing the apostles by the 'Spirit, or with Eisner, ( Observ. Vol. I. p. 353.) to hrs being taken xip by it. It is no wonder, considering how short a history we have of what jiassed between Christ's resurrection and ascension, that this should be the only place which speaks of his acting by the Spirit after he rose from tlie dead: nor can I, with a late learned and ingenious writer, tliink that a sufficient reason for adhering to the versions mentioned above. (See Benson's Plantation of Christianity, Vol. I. p. 14, 15.) His breathing on the apostles, and saying, Heceive ye the Holy Spirit, (.John xx. 22.) seems also to agree very well with this inter- pretation. To render it, the orders they were to execute by the Holy Spirit, (as in the translation of 1727,) is altogether arbitrary, and Is euhslituting a quite diflerent truth instead of what was written by Luke. I have before inserted the remaining verses of this section in I 102, 103. to complete the History of our Lord to the time of his ascension. (See note d. ? 202.) But, notwithstanding this, it will be easily excused that I have not omitted them here in their proper 426 HE CHECKS THEIR CURIOSITY ABOUT A TEMPORAL KINGDOM. iECT. peculiar solemnity,'^ /le charged them not to depart from Jerusalem directly,* though he togctlier with them, en '• me. (See John xiv. 26 ^ xv. 26 ; xvi, 7 ; and Luke xxiv. 49.) ¥or John indeed ^'ear^o/me''' '"'' ^" '""^ ^ baptized with water only, when he was sent to call men to repentance ; dut, as he then 5 For Joim truly b^ii). declared, (Matt. iii. IL) there is a nobler baptism you may expect tiom lae ; and to pre- J'^'^^ "''■'' "'fiffi''; .ijut ve pare and furnish you for the great work, to which I have commissioned you, of preaching ijoiy Ghortlliormruy'dlvs repentance and remission of sins in my name, 7/011 shall he baptized ■with an abundant hence, effusion of the Holy Spirit, far beyond what you have ever yet received : And this, I assure you, shall be done within these few dai/s ; which proved by the event to be but ten. 6 But now, as the appointed time was come for his returning to the Father, Jesus with- 0 v.'licn tiiey tiicrefore drew with his apostles from the city, and led them out, as was observed before, unto the .?.t'L '^r'l";"'!..'"?!''."''^'!*^'^''? mount 01 Olives, as tar as to the boundaries of Bethany. (See Luke xxiv. 50. note a, p. wilt thou at this time re-' 42 L) Thej/ therefore being come together, full of expectation that he had brought them jl-ri^rP'" ""^ ■''"S^o™ '" thither with a view to some remarkable transaction, asked him, sai/ing. Lord, wilt thou at this time break the Roman yoke from our necks, and after all this confusion restore the 1 kingdom to the ungrateful people of Israel,^ who have been thus shamefully abusing and crucifying thee ? Is the empire of the Messiah immediately to be erected? and wilt thou begin it from Jerusalem, a place that, of all upon the face of the earth, seems to be the least worthy of such a distinguished honour? 7 liuf he, waving a direct answer to this curious question, and leaving it to the Spirit, ''. And iio said unto tliem, which was shortly to be given, to rectify the mistaken notions on which they proceeded in thc''ti\uL'"or^The'^seasons' it, only said to them. Cease your inquiries at present on this head; since it is not conve- y.\\\cU tlio Father hath put nient_/i'/' you now to know those times or seasons in which many remarkable prophecies '" ''is own i>ower. concerning my kingdom shall be fulfilled : For the Father hath reserved them in his own power, under his own direction and disposal, and hath not expressly determined them in those predictions which certify the events themselves. And he hath taken this precaution on purpose that the minds of his people might be kept in an humble, dependent, resigned frame. It will therefore be your wisdom always to cultivate such a temper, applying your- selves diligently to the duties of your office, and leaving all events to be determined by his ■ 8 infinite wisdom and goodness. But for the present let it suffice you to be told, that ere 8 But ye shall receive lon^-, though I say not exactly when, 7/021 shall receive an extraordinary power of the P,?"'"' '^^^^^' '''"* ''"* ^"'y ttT V ■% J • fa t 7 77 u 1 1 ti ic 1 trliost IS come upon you ; Holi/ Spirit coming upon you; and, in consequence ot that, shall be abundantly qualmed ami ye siiail he witnesses to be my witnesses both in the city of Jerusalem, and in all the land of Judea ; and not .""t''.™.''!,'"|'''i'," •'"us.iiem, only so, but in Samaria too, though you have never yet addressed yourselves to the Sama- mari'", ami imt'o u'e utter" ritans in any former mission, (see Matt. x. 3. and compare Acts viii. 5, 14, 25.) and even most part of the earth. to the remotest parts of the earth ; the barbarous nations of which you shall visit with a success which shall gloriously illustrate my Father's promise, of " giving me the heathen " for mine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for my possession." (See Psal. ii. 8.) y And having said these things, he lifted up his hands and blessed them; (Luke xxiv. 9 Am! when he had 50.) and while tJiey beheld him with great earnestness, and high expectation of some ?P*!'^^," ^'''-'^'^ i""'ss. while / J. .-^ , .. • '^ 1 i- 7 ir, 1 c I- they bel:e!d, he was taken extraordinary event consequent on this solemn preparation, he was lifted up ircnn tue up, and a cloud received ground in a miraculous manner, and rose gradually higher and higher, till at length « him out of their sight, briglit cloud, conducted by the ministry of angels, who joyfully attended their returning Lord, received him out of their sight, and they saw him no more. 10 This marvellous event was so astonishing to the apostles, that they continued with their 10 Ami while they looked eyes fixed the way that he was srone : And while they were stedfastly lookii/tr up to f'«'"^^'*''y toward heaven, as I r. 1 • z. J -^ , • . ■ I i r I 7 ,, . • 1 • ii f "'^ ^^'^"^ "!'' hehold, two ticaven alter him as he went on m nis triumphant ascent, behold, two angels in the iorm men stood by them in white 11 of men, in white and shining raiment, came and stood near them: Who also spake to "Pi«rei; them, and said. Ye men of Galilee, why do ye stand thus gazing up to heaven with so ,„e„ of Galilee, why's'sand much surprise and amazement ? TItis Jesus, who is now taken up from you into heaven, ye gazing up into heaven l is gone to that world from whence he came, and in v/hich he is to make his final abode: t^keu uTfrom y ou In^ Nevertheless there will be a time when lie shall visit your earth once more, and so come ven, shall so come in like jvlace, that the whole History of the Acts might stand together, and Luke v. 14; Acts xvii. 3; xxiii. 22; Gen. xxvi. 7; Deut. ii. 13. the work be kept entire. See also Psal. ii. .3, 6; and xci. 14. And I the rather mention it, as d Ilriting asseinhled them together.'] Tliough sonic considerable it may account for many prophecies of Christ in the Old Testa- ancient as well as modern critics, and particularly Clirysostom and ment, where he is introduced as speaking on a sudden, in an abrupt 'J'heophylact, understand the word uyv3!Xi^o/.t;vo! as expi'essivc of manner; which is not so usual, especially in modern and Western Christ's eating with the apostles during the fortg days spoken of writers. above ; the '.intes of Eisner, ( Oliscrv. Vol. 1. p. SOi.) and Raphelius, g Restore the kingilom to Israel.'] They seem to have expected, [ex Xen. p. 14(i. ct Herod, p. 320. ctscq.) seem abundantly sufficient that when the Spirit was in so extraordinary a manner poured out, to justify the version here given. and the world, according to Christ's prediction, (John xvi. I.'l con- o Not to depart from Jeriisulem.'] This seems a plain intimation tinced of sin, of righteousness, and of jtidgment, i\\c \\\\o\e nation of that, after our Lord had met his disciples in Galilee, he appointed the Jews would own him for the Messiah, and so not ouly sliake off the apostles to meet him at Jerusalem, or jn-rhaps acconijianicd its subjection to the Romans, but itself rise to very extensive and them thither, and spent his last days on earth there ; doing this last perhaps universal dominion. The word am-ax'imxvus intimates the honour to the plaje where God hacl chosen to dwell, and where the shattered aus} weakened stale in which Israel now was. And I can- most solemn ordinances of his worship were administered. not but think our Lord's answer may intimate it should at length f Stiiil he.] These words, though omitted in the original, are be restored, though not immediately, or with all the circumstances plainly implied. Raphelius (ex Xen. p. 146, 147.) has produced they imagined ; wliich concession seems the most satisfactory answer many examples of such a change in the person speaking in the best to Rabbi Isaac's objection against Christianity, from his mistaken Greek writers. Many others occur in the sacred authors. 'Compare sense of these words. Chissuck Emunah, Part" II. p. 50. THE .\POSTLES AND OTHER DISCIPLES MEET IN AN UPPER ROO?.I. 427 niauaeias ye liavdt-eeii him in a visible fomi, ridisg on a cloud as his triumpliant cliariot, aad attended by angelic sect. go into heaven. guards, ill the same 7/unnier iis i/ou have now beheld him going into heaven. Depart 1. therefore in peace, and pursue the interest of his kingdom, witli a firm assurance that his cause shall prosper amidst all opposition, and that while you are engaged in the service ac;ts of this ascended, triumphant Lord, you can never be losers by your fidelity and your '• zeal. 12 Then returned they Then were the hearts of the apostles filled with joy by what they had seen and heard; 12 mounSd V)UV5 'ind having worshipped their ascended Lord, vLuke xxiv. 52.) thei/ returned to Jevusa- is from Jerusalem' a sab- lent from the tjiotuit called Olivet ; ivhich is but a sabbath-dai/ s journc?/, or about a bath-day's journey. j^^j[g distant from Jerusalem.^ And there they employed themselves in a daily course of public and private devotion, rejoicing in what they had seen, and firmly believing some extraordinary event was at hand, whereby they should be more fully qualified for the great work assigned them ; which, whatever the hazard of it might be, they were firmly deter- nrined to undertake and prosecute. IMPROVEMENT. If we have ever seriously considered the contents of this excellent history on which we are now entering, we Ver. 1 must surely see abundant reasori to adore that gracious Providence which hath transmitted it to us, to confirm our faith, and animate our hope in the gospel. The account of our Lord's ascension, with which it begins, relates to 2, 9 a i'act of so great importance, that we may well bear the repetition of what we have read concerning it in the lormer history. We see the apostles still dreaming of a temporal kingdom to be restored to Israel. So hard is it for the best of 6 men to be entirely crucified to the world, even Zy the cross of Christ ! (Gal. vi. 24.) Our Lord does not set 7 himself at large to combat that erinsr ; nor is it necessary that we should be eagerly solicitous on the like occa- sions, where mistakes do not aflect men's characters or their eternal state. Prudently does he direct them to wave the indulgence of their curiosity. Let us learn to moderate ours, and refer times and seasons to him who hath re:;erved them in his own power. Let a sense of the perfect wisdom and goodness of the Divine Being silence and comi^ose us amidst all the darkness which veils our prospects of futurity. ^yith the apostles, let us look up after an ascending Saviour, and send our wishes and our souls to heaven, 10 vviiere he now is, and v.iiere he must remain till that important day in which he shall descend to the final judg- ment. Behold, he then coineth in the clouds, and cveiy eye shall see him ! (Rev. i. 7.) May we view him to II our joy and not to our terror ! and lift up our heads with a serenity and cheerfulness becoming those who see the approach of their complete redemption ! (Luke xxi. 28.) In the mean time, may his cause and service be ever 12 dear to us! and while he is attending to our concerns in the world above, may we, with grateful and joyful alacrity, pursue that which he graciously condescends to own as his interest here upon earth ! SECTION n. The apostles being returned to Jerusalem, and assembled xi-ith the rest of the disciples, Matthias is chosen to , .succeed Judas in the apostolic ojjice. Acts i. 13, to the end. Acts i. 13. Acts i. 13. And when they were come iVOTFthe aposlles being returned from the mount of Olives to Jerusalem, immediately SEC'l. u%)erToonil'\vhcre''abode after the asceusion of Christ, (as was observed in the conclusion of the former section,) 2. bntli Peter and James, and when they Were entered [into the city,^ they presently retired for devotion, and went ?ip ■ John, and Anorew, piuhp ■ f upper room^ where they usually held their assemblies. And as this was the place acts and Tliomas, Bart'.iulomew '' i/;iiii 71-, >r 1 and Matthew, James //(f so/i t:v/i'>-c tlie aposties commonly abode, all the eleven were there, both Feter and Ja?nes, •• of Alpi.eus and Simon Ze- and John, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James [the 13 of James. ' *""] of Alpheus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas, or Jude, \_the brother'\ vf James^ But Judas the traitor was now dead, as was observed towards tiie close of the preceding history ; (sect, cxciii.) and the vacancy occasioned by his death gave rise to that important business to which thsy quickly proceeded. 14 Tliese all continued These all Unanimously persevered in prayer and supplication, with great intenseness 14 wiiu one accord '^'J,V'^^y|^^ and ardour of soul, together with the pious women who were formerly mentioned as attend- womeu, and Mary tlie mo- ing the cross of their Loid, and particularly Mary, so celc^brated as the mother of Jesus ; therof Jesus, and with his (md also with his brethren and near kinsmen after the flesh, of whom thei'e were some ^^ "'^"' others besides the apostles, whose prejudices, though once strong, were now happily worn off. Compare John vii. 5. i.i And In tliose days Pe- And in these days, while they were waiting for the promise of the Spirit, Peter, rising 15 tl"drip'les,"and'sa"id!'(tl?I "/^ ^'« ^^"? '"'^^st of'a full assembly of the disciples, spake as follows. Now the number number of the names toge- of persons'^ that were met together in that place was about an hundred and twenty ; ^ A sahhalh-dnti's journey front Jflriisnlem.'] For the extent of a tliat a christian church was afterwards erected on the spot of sabbath-day'sjouiney, see Luke xxiv. 62. note c. The easiest man- ground on which it stood (See Hammond, !rt /oc.) Perhaps they ner of rceoucihns: this text with Luke xxiv. 50 ; and John xi. 18. miffht the rather cluise it, as Sfiving some advanta-re for looking to may be seen in tlie note on the former of those passages \ 203. note tlie temple. But it is plain from many other passages, that upper a. And it is v/ith pleasure that I see it confirmed and illustrated rooms were often large, and fit for containing a considerable num- by the learned Mr. Biscoc, in his Sermons at Jini/lc's Lccturc^\i, 391— her of person.s. (Compare Mark xiv. 15 ; and Acts sx. 8.) See Bos, 3!I4. An elaborate and valuable work ; by referring to which I shall Exercil. p. CA. et serj. have an opportunity of saving myself and the reader a great deal of b Tlic hrnlher of James,'] The expression in tlie original is am- troublein these notes; for which'! therefore, I gladly take thisoppor- biguous, and may signify either sort or brother. But jiido himself tiuiity of making my acknowledgment to the worthy author. expressly determines it that he was liis brother, in ver. 1. of his a Into an vpper room.'] I can sec no sudicieut room for saying, Epistle, as inany have done, that this was in the temple, (Compare note d, c Number of persons.] It is literally t/ie number of names ; but on Luke xxiv. 53) Epiphanius says it was on Mount Siou, and it is well known that ovo.tiaM often signifies perstins ; (SeeRev. iii. 428 PETER ADVISES TO CHOOSE AN AI'OSTLE IN JUDAS'S STE^ID. SECT, the greater part of the five hundred to whom Clirist had appeared (1 Cor. xv. 6.) con- ther were about .lulum.ii. 2. tinning in Gahlee during this interval between the feast of the passover and that of ""d twenty,) Pentecost. And he said. ACTS O ye men that hear me this day, [v«r/] whom I regard as my brethren in tlie bonds lo Men rt«'(/bretiircn, this '• of religion as well as of friendship ! it was necessan/, in the righteous iudgment of God, ■"''''7'',.'?,""^ "?''', '"',"= -, r lu L J/^ f 1 c ■ ± 1 ) I ? /» iNji , 7 ■ I .t Tr , "^, • . , ueeii lulnllcij, which Hie 10 that this awWA passage of scripture should be fulfilUd ivhich the Holy Spirit spake. Holy Gliost by the momli long bifore the event, by the viouth of David,'^ and which God intended with a par- °'' ^^^^''^ *'P*'*'" '"■f;""'^' <■""■ ticular regard to Judas, who was so wicked a wretch that, in contempt of all the most giur^'uKm 'ua\''^ solemn and endearing obligations to distinguishing duty and fidelity to his divine Master, Jesus, he became the guide of those that seized on the blessed Jesus, and marked him out to 17 them by a traitorous kiss. (Matt. xxvi. 47, 48.) And indeed he well deserved to be n For he was nuinbcrcd made a monument of vengeance to succeeding ages, considering the near relation in "''"' "'••"'<' ''¥' "btainiJ which he stood to Christ and to us; for he was once juunbered with us his apostles, P^''"*^ thismnustry. and for a while had obtained part of this ministry, with which our Lord was pleased to 18 honour us as the principal officers iii his kingdom.' The calamitous end of this unhappy is N"w ihis man pur- ?nan is therefore fresh in your memories ; and it is known to all of you, that instead of wanr'nim u'i "''''lud' tHi'i enriching himself by his crimes, and securing those worldly advantages he so eagerly pur- in|r" headi''n|,'/ "he" burst sued, he only purchased (that is, was the occasion of purchasing) a field" with tliat money ^!':"".''^r '" ''"-' '"'"^f< "'"' which was the reward of his iniquity: For his conscience would'not suffer him to keep '"^ howels gushed out. it ; but he threw it down, as you know, in the temple, and then going away, he hanged "-^ himself. (Mat. xxvii. 5.) But that which should have supported the weight of his body . ^-v / breaking, he could not fully execute his horrid design ; and falling down on his face, he burst asunder in the middle,^ and all his bowels were in a miserable manner /70?ing into the place of Judas. That ifiov romv signi- so peculiar aa act of God was expected, fits, a place proper and suitable fcr such a wretch, and therefore 430 THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY GHOST UPON THE /VPOSTLES. SECTION III. The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles on the day of Peyitecost, with the former part of the sjjcech ■which Peter made to the multitude on that great occasion. Acts ii. 1 — 21. Acts ii. 1. ACTS II 1 SECT. The disciples of Jesus, after the choice of Matthias, employed their time in devotion. And wiieu the day of "• and continued the same course of rehgious exercise as before, for several succeeding days. I'enipcost was fully come, And when the day of Pentecost^ was completely arrived,^' that is, when the morning ''i![^(Ii",'^oT>e'nlace*''-°"'^ ''^' ACTS Qf ^\^Q fiftieth day after the passover was come, it being then the first day of the week, the ■ 1 apostles, with ihe rest of the hundred and twenty disciples, were togetiier ; and they were all assembled with the most wianimous affection in the same place, in the upper room which 2 was mentioned before, where they had used to meet. And on a sudden there was a very 2 And suddenly there extraordinary and surprising som«<^/)-o;« heax>en, as of a rushing violent wind, which c-ime a sound from heaven, shook the very place, and came withi such a mighty force, that it filled all the house where wind, am/it^ filled 'ai'f the 3 they were sitting. And there appeared to them at the same time a number of divided li"use where they were \ tongues, made as it were of fire," i. e. bright flames in a pyramidical form, which were so ''""'And there appeared parted as to terminate in several points, and thereby to afford a proper emblem of the mar- unto them cloven tongues, ■ vellous effect attending the appearance, by which they were endowed with a miraculous ''''^ "^ ^,^ ^.''^' "''^ " ^^'• diversity of languages : and it was ordered so, that one of these tongues rested upon each 4 of them,^ who were then present in the room. And as soon as ever these lambent flames 4 And they were all tilled appeared to touch them, they were all in a most sensible and extraordinary manner filled T'*^'' "''^ '*°'X *^'.'"s*- a"-*^''t'" this various assembly heard one or another of them, as they addressed themselves by turns ''7" A'nd"\hey «"?" *an 7 to people of a different language, speaking to each of them in his own proper dialect. And "'"azed, ^ and marvelled, they were all astonished &t it beyond measure, and wondered at this marvellous event, [fo^d'^ Tre^ m.^'^'air'^these saying one to another. Behold, how unaccountable is this ! Are not all these that speak which speak, Galileans? a The day nf Pentecost.'] It has often been observed, that as our of the mitres worn by bishops (according to the Koraan ritual) Lord was crucified at one of the gieat Jewish feasts, it was fit that bears some allusion to the supposed form of these cloven tongues.. he should be glorified at another. And this of Pentecost was It is observed by Dr. Lightfont and others, that as the divi- , chosen with peculiar propriety, as next succeeding that of the sion of tongues at Babel once introduced confusion, and was the passover at which Christ suffered : and also, as it was celebrated means of casting off the Gentiles from the knowledge of the true lu commemoration of the giving the law from Mount Sinai on that God, so now there was a remedy provided by the gift of tongues at day, (Exod. xix. 1, 11.) and as the first-fruits were then offered and Zion, to bring the Gentiles out of darl;ness into light, ancl to destroy anointed. (lixod. xxiii. 16 ; and Lev. xxiii. 17.) To these answered the veil which had been spread over all nations, (Isa. .xxv. 7.) See the fuller discovery of the gospel on this occasion, and the anoint- Lightfoot, Hor. Hebr. and Grotins, in toe. ing the first-fruits of the christian church by the effusion of the d Upon each of them.'] I agree with the learned Dr. Benson, Spirit, as Brennius has well observed. (See 'also Miscell. Sacra, (P/a/i;. o/ C^ru^wnj'/y. p. 28, 29.) who thinks fas Jerome and Chry- - Essay 1. p. 11.3 — 115.) The solemnity of the feast, the general sostom did) that it is probable each of the hundred and twenty expectation of the Messiah tliat prevailed among them, and the shared in this miraculous donation. (See also Miscell. Sacra, length of tlie days, as it was about the middle of summer, would, £ssay I. p. 101, 102.) The hunc'rcd and twenty mentioned chap, no doubt, bring great numbers to Jerusalem at that time ; who, i. 15. are plainly referred to, ver. 1. as the persons here assembled, when they returned home and reported this great event, would And as this would best illustrate the pouring forth of the Spirit on naturally "make way for greater regard to the apostles when they the handmaids as well as on the servants of God, (ver. 18.) so it is came to the places where these people dwelt. certain that the manuscripts which would confine this efli'usion to b Was completely arrived.] The first day of unleavened bread, the apostles are of very small authority. Nor do Reza's arguments that is, tlie fifteenth of Nisan, began this j'ear on Friday evening ; on the other side of the question appear to me by any means con- and this was the day on which they were to offer the wave-sheaf; elusive. Compare Acts x. 44 — 46; and xi. 15 — 17. and from the morrow after that day, th.it is, from the Saturday e From every nation under heaven.] Should this be taken for evening, they were to count seven weeks, or forty-nine days, which an hyperbole, we have other instances in scripture of the like way would bring the fiftieth, that is, the day of Pentecost, theii to bcg'in of speaking j as where we read of cities wnV.r'd up to heaven, (Deut. on Saturday evening; so that on the Lord's-day morning it might i. 28; ix. l.) and of the dread of the Jews falling upon every nation. properly be said to be fully come. See Lev.' xxiii. 15, IG. The under Ihe whole heaven. (Deut. ii. 25.) See al«o Gen. xi. 4 ; Judg. word (iJ«i7A.r)^oui8jfi cannot signify, that the day was ended, but that x\. 16; and Psal. cvii. 26. But, not to insist upon it that the It was fully come. Compare Luke i. 57; li. 21. and see Beza, Jews were then so numerous as to have sprr.-d through every in toe. _ country, so that, as Agripna in Joscphus fays, " There was not a c Divided tongues as ef fire.] This wonderful appearance in the " people upon earth who had not Jews inhabiting among them:" form of fire might be intended to signify the quickening and puri- (Sell. Jud. lib. ii. cap. 16. 5 1. p. 101. Havercanip.) the expression fying influences of the Spirit, as well as to illustrate John the liere can signify no more than tliat there were some at Jerusalem Baptist's prediction, that Christ should icf/Ji'/rf W(7/i Mf //b/y C/ws/ at that time from all the several nations among whom I'he Jews and with. fire. (Matt. iii. II ; and Luke iii. 16.) But I will not were dispersed. (See Lightfont and Whitby, in loc.) It would be venture to alTirm, with Mr. Fleming [Christol. Vol. I. p. 324.) and very absurd to argue from hence that there must be natives of Eisner, [Observ. Vol. 1. p. .164.) that it was to signify that the Britain and America at Jerusalem when this great event happened. Shekiuah (which appeared in a glorious flame surrounded v/ith a And many arguments, drawn from such universal phrases else- cloud) was now passed from the Jews to the disciples of Jesus, where, seem as weak as this would be. The Jews (as Wolfius tells us) have a tale among them relating to I f Jf'h^n this report came abroad.] De Dieil concludes this must • the appearance of some flashes of fire which fell on an assembly! .signify thunder ; which, he too confidently says, is always the \ of their doctors while they were studying the law; which pro- 1 import of iip and fi.jv»i in the Hellenistic language, and argues from bably was invented to slur or imitate this important histnry. hence that the rushing wind (ver. 2.) was attended with thunder. Bcs {ICxercil. j). 67.) thinks each tongue appeared complete, and But the following clause, which refers the assembly to the dilferent that they are said to be divided on account of the :!istributioii tliat languages spoken by those on whom the Holy Spirit fell, i)lainly was made of one to each person. But it seems that the division shows that it was not thunder which brought them together; of each might aptly represent the variety of languages with which which, indeed, could hardly occasion their assembling in one each person was endowed ; and some have thought'' that the form place. THE DISCIPLES ARE DERIDED AS IF THEY WERE DRUNK. 431 ■A And how hear we every by birth and couiitiy Galileans ? And how then do tue even/ one of us //ear tliem, as sect. i 111 hi our own tongue, they direct their speech to so many ditikent people, who are here come together out 3. •'rpai^hLTs^'an'd Metles, 0^ SO many nations, spealcing to each of us in his axon native language ? For while there ■ imi Eiamites, and the are among US Parthians, and Medcs, and Elainites or Persians, and those that inhabit acts ,hv jiiers in Mesopotamia, Mesopotamia,^ and those that dwell too in Judea, where the dialect is so ditierent from that "■ and in Judea, and Cappa- ' , i , • ^i ,.■ l- n j ■ j ri , ; c ^- • Q ducia, in Poiitus, and Asia, of Galilee ; and likevv^ise the natives ot Lappadocia and fonlus, and ot tne country .more ^ properly cailcd the proconsular Asia, as well as the inhabitants ot the neighbouring pro- 111 riiryt;!a, and Pani- viTiccs oi Fliri/gia and Pantphi/Ua, oi Egi/pt and the parts of Afriea "which are about \0 |.!iyiia, hi i:sypt,aiidin the Qi/rene, and the many sojourners in this city [zoho r/r<'] Romans, some of us native I'nf' "aiiil'"^stran^ers of Jetvs, and Others of us proselytes to the Mosaic religion ;'' Together with those of botii 11 Hniilc, Jews and proselytes, tliesc sorts who use the language of Crete, and those who are Arabians ; 'ic-c do every one 11 Cretes and Arabians, Qf ^g /^^,^^. iligm soeakino; in our own native to>iQ-ues^ the xoonderful works of God, m we do hear them speak in / . ^, , . , . ~ „ » i ' i i ' ■ r- i our toiifiues Uie woiideriul the surprising testimonies lie has given to tne mission ot Jesus wlio was lately crucined, not works of Cod. Qjj]y j^y ^jjg miracles he wrought, but by his resurrection and ascension. And while they - are discoursing of these marvellous events, they run through such a great variety of lan- guages, which no one can suspect they have ever been taught, with so much readiness and propriety, as among the most learned of mankind is periectly unequalled. 12 And they were all And thei/ were all in a mixture of ainazeincnt and perplexity, and said one to aiio- \'2 amazed, aud>were in doubt, ther. What can this unaccountable appeajxwce possibly wfffw.'^ or what can it be de- meaneth thi's™"'"'^^''''' ^ig"^"^^ t° ^^^^^^ ^'^^ "^^''"'^ °f ^'"^™' ^"'^^ paiticulaily those who were native Jews, and 13 \3 Others mocking said, understood none of these foreign languages, hearing the sound of their words as a kind of These men are full of new [jarbarous jargon, derided them, and in a mocking and contemptuous manner said. Surely tliesc ?nen have begun the festival betimes, and are undoubtedly j?//fc/ with sweet ^to^- sating wine,^ and therefore make this unintelligible noise, 14 But Peter, standing j^i^f Peter, standing up with the eleven, who were then in company with hiin, and 14 hfs 'voiee!"and^ said "unto who had each of them before been speaking in different languages, raised his voice so loud them. Ye men of Judea, that those who had been reproaching them might hear it, and said to than, in the tongue and all ye that dwell at Je- i^^ ^ ^ conimoiily used among them, O ye men of Judea, and especially all you that . rusiueni, be this known un- .,,.,- , ^ , , ° , > , ,• •, ■ A n l \ ^ ■' c i ' to you, and hearken to my inhabit Jerusalem, whom I woulu be solicitous in the nrsi place to inform and convince, words: i(;f iJijg i)(> l-noxvn unto you as to the cause of this extraordinary appearance, ^;?r/ listen to my words with an attention becoming the importance of the occasion on which I speak : 15 For tliese are not For these men arc not drunk, as you, who do not understand them, rashly suppose ; and 15 drunken as ye suppose, jj- jg indeed Very Uncharitable for you to imagine it, considering that it is now but the hour^of the day. *" ^ third hour of the day,' that is, about nine o'clock in tlie morning, the hour of morning sacrifice ; before which, you know, none who have any regard for their character will allow themselves so much as to taste wine, and much less to drink any large quantity of it, 16 But this is that which whereby they would be rendered incapable of attending the service of the temple on such was^ spoken by the prophet ^ golemu festival as this. But this which has occasioned so much admiration, and which 16 17 And it shall come to you know not how to accouiit for, IS that great event which was spoken of by the prophet pass in the last days, (saitli Joel,"^ chap. ii. 28 — 32. where it is written, "And it shall co?ne to pass in the last 17 SpiHtVpoiVrirfl^slVj^'ncl " ^^'^.^ or in the times of the Messiah, saiili the ever-blessed God, I will pour out an ex- your sons and your daugh- " traordinary efFusion of my Spirit upon all jlcsh, that is, upon some of all ranks and ters shall prophesy and « orders, of all ages and nations of men : And as tlie wonderful effect of it, your sons and your yonns men shall see , , , ^ , ,? ; „ 7 77; 1 i- • • visions, and your old meu " your daughters shall prophesy," and your young men s/iali see prophetic visions, shall dream dreams : « "^z,^/ j^^^cr old men shall dream significant and divinely inspired dreams. Yea, in those 18 amfon^mvhamfma'idens!*! " (^".V'^ I "^'M i"^ a most extraordinary manner /w«;' out the gifts of my Spirit upon my will pour out in those days " Servants, and even upon my handmaids ; and they shall aho prophesy, and shall not *'ro'"hes'''''''^"'^'''''^^**''^" " °"'y Publish and proclaim the riches of my grace,'but shall foretell the judgments that 19 And I will show won- " are coming upon those who shall continue hardened in their sins. And this effusion of 19 g Eiamites, and those tfiat inhahil 3Tesopotamia.'] Bishop Cum- Haverc.) which, if it were fact, would (as Grotius observes) render berland takes these to be the remainder oi" the Jews who had been this calumny the more incredible. — As to the computation of the carried captive into Assyria, first by Tig;latli-pileser, (3 Kings xv. Jewish hours, see } 6. note b, on Acts iii. 1. 29.) and afterwards hy Sbalinaucser, and placed in the cities of the m Bij tlic propliel Joel.'] Some have explained this prophecy as Medes. (2 Kingsxvii. 6.) See Cuinb. Grig. Gent. ]>. 225. referring, in its original sense, to the pouring; forth the Sjiirit on h Romans^ Jews, and proselytes.'] It ajipears from Joscphus, the Jews at their last general conversion ; and think Peter's argu- Suetonius, Tacitus, the Roman satirists, and other writers of this meut is as if lie had said, " You need not wonder at such an event age, in a variety of passages well known to the learned, that great " as this, since so much more is at length to be expected." (See numbers of Jews dwelt at Rome about this time, and made many Jeffery's True Grounds, \>. 120.) But, from attending to the con- proselytes to their religion. See Mr. Biscoe, At Boyle's Lee- text, I am led to conclude, for reasons too lorm- to be here stated, /;«■<>, p. 8.5. that the prophecy is here applied in its mosntn-ect sense, and that i JV'e hear them speaking in our own tongues.] Cyprian and Eras- the event of this great day, and the destruction of the Jews for re- mus, and some later critics, have thought (particularly from ver. 8.) jecting a gospel so confirmed, were originally referred to in it. tliat the miracle was not in tlie spo;ikers, but the hearers; so that, n In l/ie lust da;/s.] Every one knows that t/te last days was a while the apostle spake his own native Syriac, it would appear phrase commonly used to denote //(^ /i'mfs 0/ Me J/"«'V"'', when the Latin to one, and Greek to another, &c. But this must be a mis- gospel should be published, which is the last dispensation of divine take ; for we read of their speaking with tongues, ver. 4. before any grace ; but here it seems to have a more paiticular view to the days foreigners came in upon them. (Compare chap. x. 46 ; and 1 Cor. immediately preceding the destruction of the Jewish nation, or the xiv. 2.) Nor could what they said, on this supposition, have ap- last d.igs of t/iat people, when the extraordinary means wliic > were peared a jargon to any; which yet we find to have been the case, in vain employed for their conviction, would fully justify God in ver. 13. See Castalio, on ver. 4. the severest vengeance he .should execute upon that hardened k Filled wi/h sweet wine.] There was no new wine, ov must, at the people, feast of Pentecost, as Bc?,a and many others observe ; but ^KEUxof o your sons and daughters shall prop/test/.] Compare Acts xxi. properly signifies sweet wine. We are informed by Plutarch, that 9. If this miracle had not been foretold, the argument for the truth the ancients had ways of preserving' their wine sweet a great while ; of Christianity from it would, no doubt, have been conclusive : but and such, wines are Known to be very intoxicating. as it was referred to in tlie Old Testament, it might dispo.ee the I T/te third ttour of the day.] Josephus tells us, that on' feast-davs minds of the Jews still more readily to regard it, as it was indeed the Jev.s seldom eat or drink till noon ; I^Dc VitA Sui), i hi. p. 26. the more remarkable. 432 REFLECTIONS ON THE DESCENT OF THE SPIRIT, AND THE GIFT OF TONGUES. SECT. " my Spirit shall be followed with a most awful revolution; hr I 'will give you to see ders in heaven above, aud 3. " vi'odi tries in heaven abot>e, and simis tipon the earth beneath :V And such destructive fgas '" the ea.rth beneath; J ■-; ,, _ . . ^ ^ f„_ »i :„i.„j., „_ „f 4V,„„„ .,,1 ;,-,„* tu„ ™„„„,, T ^rt'™ biyod, and fire, and vapour " wars shall arise, as a painishment for the wickedness of those who reject the mercy I offer, of smoke ACTS " that there shall be blood shed in abundance, and fire scattered abroad to consume your "• " cities and villages, so that a cloud of smoke shall ascend from the ruins of them. Yea, 20 The sun shall be turn- ^^ " there shall be such confusion and misery, and all regular government both in church and ^d '"to darkness, and the " state shall be so entirely dissolved, that the sun shall as it were be turned into darkness, that'yre'ut °and '^otabie'^d^ay " and the ?noon into blood, before that great and illustrious day of the Lord shall fully of the Lord come : 21 " come, in which he will take ample vengeance on every unbeliever. And it shall come to 21 And it shall come to " pass that whoever shall, with humble submission to my method of saving grace in my P^j'j'' o„"ti,^e''namrof *'th" " Son, invoke the name of the Lord, shall be saved'^ from this terrible destruction, and Lord shall be saved. " brought into a state of security and happiness." These premises the apostle Peter afterwards applied to the conviction of those who had rejected and slain our Lord ; and the argument wrought most powerfully upon them. But the prosecution and success of this address must be referred to the following sections. IIVIPROVEMENT. With" how much attention and delight should we read the history of this glorious event, so frequently referred to in the predictions of our Lord, and of so great importance to the christian cause, — the miraculous descent of the Ver. 2 Holy Spirit ! He came down as a mighty rushing wind, to signify the powerful energy of his operations, whereby 8 the whole world was to be shaken. He fell upon them in tongues of fire, cloven or divided into several parts, to denote the most celebrated etFect to be immediately produced, in causing them to speak, with the utmost readiness 4 and propriety, languages they had never learnt. An astonishing miracle! which was intended, not for pomp and S — 11 ostentation, but to render them capable of propagating the gospel to the most distant nations, to which the grace of God had determined to send it. 1 It is observable that this divine gift fell upon them while they were unanimously gathered together ; perhaps to intimate, that the influences of the Spirit are most to be expected where there is the greatest unanimity and the greatest devotion. Thus did the blessed Jesus accomplish what had been foretold concerning him, (Matt. iii. 11.) that he should baptize his disciples -with the Holij Ghost andtoith fire. And surely the sacred flame did not only illuminate their minds with celestial brightness, but did also cause their whole hearts to glow with love to God and zeal for his gospel. To this purpose may he still be imparted to us, whether we hold public or private stations in the church ; and may our regards to him be ever most dutifully maintained ! Especially may he be poured out upon 1 1 the ministers of it, to direct them how they should speak the wonderful things of God, and may their hearers, under his gracious energy, gladly receive the word ! Let us not wonder if the more common operations of the Spirit on men's minds be derided by profane ignorance and folly, when there were some, even on this glorious day, who were stupid or malicious enough to ascribe the 13 amazing event we have been surveying, to the supposed intoxication of the apostles, and to say they were full of 14, 15 sweet wine. But let us observe hov/ well Peter vindicated himself and his brethren with words, not of satire and reproach, but of meekness and sobriety, as well as of truth ; showing at once the most perfect command both of his IG — 18 reason and of his temper. Justly did he apply on this occasion that celebrated prophecy of Joel, in which this grand event is so exactly described. Let us adore the divine goodness, which has poured forth the Spirit like a refreshing dew upon his church. Let us pray that we may all receive it in such degrees as may suit the present state of things : and let us deprecate those judgments which the contempt of the Spirit has too evident a tendency to produce. 9, ?0 Justly might God have made our land gloomy and horrible with blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke: Justly might he haVe turned our sun into darkness and our moon into blood. Let us adore his patience that these national judgments, which are so well deserved, have been thus long withheld. But let us also remember that the great ' and notable day is approaching, in which the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven in faming fire, taking vengeance on them that knoxo vol God, and that obey not a gospel so gloriously attested. (2 Thess. i. 7, 8.) Then shall these figurative expressions be literally fulfilled : Then shall the heavenly luminaries be quenched in their orbs; the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth and all that is therein shall be burnt up: 21 (2 Pet. 3, 10.) But even then, all those that have believed in Christ, and with obedient love have called upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved with an evedasting salvation. May that be through grace our happy portion ; and may its prospects be daily brightening upon us, till it shall open in its full lustre, and shine beautiful and glorious amidst the flames of a dissolving world ! 11 Prodigies in heaven above, and signs upon the ear/h beneath.}— history of his, the truth of which the Emperor Titus attested under This doubtless refers to the prodigies and signs which preceded his own hand. (See Joseph, f'i/. \ 65 p. 33. Haverc.) And accord- the destruction of Jerusalem : (such as, the flaming sword hanging ingly the greatest part of the.se circumstances are mserted in Ta- over the city, and the fiery comet pointing down ypon it for a year ; citus, (///.«/. til>. v. ctp. 13.) and happily preserved, though most of the light that shone upon" the temple and the altar in the night, as his account of tlie siege and destruction of Jerusalem be lost, if it had been noon-day ; the opening of the great and heavy gate q Wiosorver shall invoke the name of the Lord, &;€.'] This context of the temple without hands ; the voice heard from the most holy being quoted thus, was a strong intimation that nothing but their place, .if/ us depart from hence : the admonition of Jesus the son acceptance of the gospel could secure them from impendent ruin, of Ananus, crying for seven years togeiher, fi^oe, i/'oe, woe .' the vision Brennius has proved by an ample collection of texts, (in his note on of contending armies in the air, and of intrenchments thrown up this place,) that calling on /he name of the Lord is often put for the against a city there represented; the terrible thunderings and whole of religion : And if it do not here directly signify invoking lightnings, and the dreadful earthquakes, which every one consi- Christ, which is sometimes used to express the whole christian cha- dered as portending some approaching evil:) All which, by the racter, (compare Acts ix. 14, 21; xxJi Ifi ; Rom. x. 12, 13; and singular providence of (iod, are recorded by Joseplms, {Bell. Jiid. 1 Cor. i. 2.) it must imply, that it is impossible for any who reject lib \\ cap 5 [al vii 12.] 5 .3. f/ W. iv. «/;>. ■». [al. 7.] ? -5.) in that him to pray in an acceptable manner. How awful a reflection ! ( PETER SHOWS THAT THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST WAS FORETOLD BY DAVID. 433 SECTION IV. Peter continues his discourse to the people just after the descent of the Holy Spirit, and shows that Jesus, •who?n they crucified^ -was risen from the dead, and was the true Messiah. A^cts ii. 22 — 36. .. „ Acts ii. 22. Acts ii 22. Ye men of Israel, hear WhEN Peter had quoted the passage in Joel mentioned above, as referring to the days sECT. these words ; Jesus of Naza- Qf {[^g Mcsslah, he added, Ye 7/ien of Israel, let me charge it upon you that ye hear 4. God' among yo"'!''b7mira- tlicsc Words with an attention proportionable to the importance of them : You cannot but cles and wonders', and signs, remember that there hatli lately appeared amongst you a celebrated person, called Jesus acts Uil''^raidst'^ of ** ou '"as" 'e ^^"^ Na.zarcne ; a /nan who was approved and reeomjnended to you"" by God himself, 1 1. yourselves also know:' by those powerful operations, and wonders, and si!"1 "f God exalted, being exalted therefore to supreme majesty and glory at the right hand of God, and Fathrrthe lirom^s^ of tile having, as the great anointed of the Lord, received the promise ofthelloh/ Spirit from Holy ciiost, he hath shed the Father, he hath, agreeably to the notices he gave us before his ascension, which hap- and^^'j^*'^'^' *''"<^h ye now see pened but ten days ago, shed forth this miraculous effusion of it, which has produced the wonderful effects that yoic now see and hear, and which is given us as an holy unction from above, by which he constitutes us ministers in his church below. 34 And indeed it appears from other passages of his writings, that the great patriarch whom 34 For David is not as- I mentioned before, had some views to this kingdom of the Messiah ; for David, who has "tended into the heavens : never yet been raised from the dead, is not himself ascended into heaven in the body, to Lord'sai^d" nnto^my Lonf be advanced there to the highest dignity and power ; but plainly intimates that this be- Sit thou on my right hand,' longed to one superior to himself, when he sai/s, (Psal. ex. 1.) " The Lord Jehovah said " unto my Lord, that is, God the Father said unto the Messiah, (whom, though in one " sense he is to be my son, I honour as my Lord,) Sit thou exalted on a throne at my 35 " right hand. Until I make all that are so presumptuous as to go on to be thine enemies 35 Until I make thy foes " thy footstool,^ and lay them prostrate at thy feet, so that thou mayst trample upon *''y *"oftstoo'- " them at pleasure, as entirely subdued." 36 Therefore upon the whole, from this concurrent evidence both of prophecy and mira- 36 Therefore let all the cle, and from the testimony God has given to that Jesus whom we prga»h, not only by ^""'j^, "*' ^j""-""^' c^r\ ^^' his resurrection from the dead, but by the effusion of the Holy Spirit on his followers, let made t^i'at same Jes'us whorn all the house of Israel assuredly know, how contrary soever it may be to their former ye ■'•''^e crucified, both apprehensions and rooted prejudices, that God hath made this Jesus xvhom you rejected '^ ""'' Christ. and crucified, that Lord and that Messiah whose kingdom you profess so eagerly to de- sire, and who will surely come to execute his wrath upon you, if you are still so obstinate as to continue in your sins. Thus Peter concluded his discourse : and God blessed it as the means of awakening and converting thousands, as we shall see in the following section. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 23 Lkt us firmly believe the wisdom of the divine counsels, and humbly adore the depth of them ; according to which, without the least violation of that human freedom on which the morality of our actions depends, those events happen which the wickedness of men as really effects as if Providence were wholly unconcerned in them. 24 Let us thankfully own the riches of that grace which gave our Lord Jesus Christ to be a sacrifice for us, and then raised him triumphant from the grave, to reign at the right hand of the Majesty on high, far above all principality, and power, and might. (Heb. i. 3. and Eph". i, 21.) In him the prophecies are accomplished: 3lfJis soul was 7iot left in hell, nor did he so much as see corruption in the grave. And we may consider his resurrection as a pledge given us for our assurance that God will not abandon us in that ruinous state to which his 28 righteous sentence for a while brings our bodies. He will at length redeem. the?n from, the power of the grave : h fit's sepulchre is among us tin/o /his day.'] Jerome mentions the Christ ; and so rnay be an intimation, Ihat it was only with respect remains of David's sepulchre as extant in his time; (Hier. Ejiist. xvi. to his human nature that the Messiali should descent! from David, ml Marc.ell.) and a large account of other testimonies concerning it vvliile there was still a higher nature in which he was superior to may be seen in Fabricius. {Cod. Apoc. Vet. Test. p. 1003—1070.) him, and was indeed to be regarded as the Son of God. (Compare It is strange that this sepulclire should have survived so much Rom. i. 3, 4 ) It was with a view to this, that Clarius and some barbarous rage as we know Jerusalem was often subjected to ; but others suppose these words to be inserted here by the apostle : and perhaps it was rebuilt in later days. As for the treasures which I have therefore so disposed them in the version as to leave no room Josephus 90 often mentions as found in this sepulchre by Hyrcanus for any ambiguity. and Herod, (Antiq. lib. vii. cap. 15. [al. 12.] \ 3;— lib. xiii. cap. 8. k Uutil I make thine enemies thj footstool.'] This text is qiioted [al. 16.] \ 4 ; — lib. xvi. cap. 7. [al. 11.] \ 1 ; — ct Bell. Jud. lib. i. cap. on iliis occasion with the happiest address, ns suggesting, in the 2. 5 5. Haverc.) 1 think, with IJeza, the etories have an air of fable, words of David, their great prophetic monarch, how certain their 1 According to tliejlcsli.] This is expressed in the original in such own ruin must be, if they went ou to oppose Christ.- Eisner has anianner, with an article prefixed, (to xa;r:t (TiXijKx av«jr>iT£iv Tov Xci5Mv,) a fine collection of ancient passages, referring to the custom of as seems to refer these worib, not to the loins of David, but to trampling upon the vanquished dead or alive. GREAT NUMBERS ARE AWAKENED BY PETER'S DISCOURSE. 435 (Hosea. xiii. 14.) He will show ua also tlie path of life which our Redeemer hath trodden, and, by treading, has sect. marked out for us ; and will conduct us to his right hand, where Jesus reigns, and with liim everlasting pleasure. 4. In him therefore let our heart be glad, and in him let our tongue rejoice ; and when it is thus employed, it will in- - deed be the glory of our frame. (Psal. xvi. 9.) In this hope let our flesh rest ; nor let our faith stagger at the acts promise of God, as if any thing could be hard to Omnipotence. (Rom. iv. 20, 21.) ii- In the mean time, beholding this wonderful effusion of the Spirit as the blessed consequence of the ascension and 33 exaltation of Christ, let us, with that affection which becomes his disciples, take our part in his glory and joy. Let us triumph in the thought that God hath now said unto him. Sit thou at mi/ right hand, till I make thine enemies 34, 35 thy footstool. And while we rejoice in the security which we have as his friends, let us pray that the blessed time may come when every opposing power shall be brought down, and when ue shall see that sight for which our eyes so long have been waiting, even all things put under his feet. (1 Cor. xv. 25, 27.) Hasten, O Lord, that glorious day ; and whatever our station or furniture is, may we be honoured as the happy instruments of doing something, whether by life or by death, in subserviency to this great design ! SECTION V. Great numbers are converted by Peter's discourse, and being immediately baptized, signalize themselves by their piety and mutual affection, which produces a farther increase in the church. Acts ii. 37, to the end. ACTS ii. 37. Acts ii. 37, Now when^^they^^heard THUS Peter addressed himself to the Jews on the day of Pentecost : arguing from the SECT. theiV iieart"*ami''s:iUl'^unto miraculous communication of the Spirit, that Jesus, being risen from the dead, was declared 5. I'oier, and to tiie rest of by God to be the promised IMessiah, and charging them, on this incontestable evidence. tlircn'''wtiu?kull\ve''doV '^" ^'^'^^ ^^^ aggravated guilt of being his betrayers and murderers. Now when they heard acts [these things,'] they were pierced to the heart with deep and lively sorrow, and felt such ^'• a conviction of their enormous guilt, in the injuries and indignities which they had ofTered ^ to this glorious, this divine Person, that with the utmost eagerness and solicitude they cried out, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles. Men [and'] brethren, what shall we do to free ourselves from that guilt and danger which ouv ov/n folly and wickedness have brought upon us ? .3S Then Peter said mrIo And Peter said unto them. Through the divine goodness still continued to you, your 38 tizc'd'e'ver"o'ne"of v'ou''fn ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ '^^^ desperate : Repent therefore of this aggravated crime, and, in token of your tlie name "of Jesus ciirist, desire to be washed from the guilt of that blood which you have so rashly imprecated upon for the remission of sins, yourselves and your children, (Matt, xxvii. 25.) be each of you baptized'' in the name g^ft oFthc Holy Ghost. of \}i\Q Lord Jesus Christ,^ in order to the forgiveness ofihaX and all [your'] other sins ; and you not only shall obtain the free and full remission of them all, but also shall receive the gift of t/te Holy Spirit, by which he will own the work of his grace upon your hearts, 3D For tlie promise is and qualify you for serving that Lord whom you have crucified. For the promise of the 39 dre^n ^and^'to aii^u'Iat*^ are ^P^'"'' ^^ made, as you sec in the forecited passage from Joel, (ver. 17, 18.) to you, and to afar otj; even as'niany as the your children,'^ whom God is ready 'to admit to the same privilege with you: and not Lord our God shall call. only SO, but it extends to the remotest nations, to all that are (far off,^ as well as to them that are near, even to as many as the Lord out God shall call by the preacliing of his gospel ; which shall be propagated to the ends of the earth, and receive glorious attestations every where, by the effusion of the like miraculous gifts as we have received, on many, and by the communication of the inward graces of the Spirit unto all who shall become obedi- ent to the faith. 40 And with many other Thus Peter addressed himself to the multitude, and with many other words he bore his 40 Txhort ''.savin"" 'save^'oiirl testimony to these important truths, and earnestly exhorted them to an immediate con- selves 'from this" unto"ward sideration of the danger of persisting in their infidelity ; saying, in the conclusion of all, generation. See that you lay these things to heart, receiving them with such regard as the importance of the case requires ; renounce that obstinate unbelief, in which you joined with those who crucified Christ, and be ye saved frotn that ruin which will quickly come upon this per- verse and depraved generation. And the exhortation was not in vainj for many were awakened and wrought upon 41 Then they that gladly by it. bapTiJii^d • '^'and^^°the same They therefore who received his word with readiness, were baptized : thereby taking 41 day there were added tin/o upon them the public profession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah: And there were added i licpenf, and be each of you baptised."} They are not only giftof theSpirithadbeen mentioned.just before, itseemsmostnatn- called hereto repent, but a submission also to the ordinance of ral to interpret this as a reference to that passage in .loel which had baptism is required of them, in order to the forgiveness of their been so largely recited above, (ver. 17. et scq.) where God promises sins: for though, on their repenting and believing, they were, (lie ejf'iisinn nf the Spirit on their sons and their dnnqhiers : And according to the tenor of the gospel- covenant, entitled to the accordingly I have paraphrased the latter clause of this verse as remission of their sins; yet as Christ had for wise reasons ap- referring to its extraordinary gifts; and the rather, as the sancti- pointed this solemn rite as a token of their taking up the christian fying influences of the Spirit must already have been received, to profession in a public manner, there could have been no sufficient prepare them for entering into the church by baptism. But if the evidence of the truth of their repentance and faith, if this precept promise he interpreted as referring to a remoter clause, the forgive- had not been obeyed. ness of their sins, this whole verse must be taken in a greater b In the name of Jesus Christ.'] The learned Vitringa has latitude, as referring to the encouragement which all futiire con- tajten a great deal of pains to show that the phrases, S*tmJsTexi £is verts and their children had to expect the benefits of the gospel. Xftfrov, u! ow/xx X^i-fToi, £v ovci/iiri X^i-frov, an-^ im oKntrt X^iirou, have In which view, I think, it would much favour infant baptism, as , different significations; and labours to prove that the last phrase many writers on the subject have largely shown. ' (which is here used) signifies, not only (as Le Clerc understands It) d To nil thnt are afar of.'] Since Peter knew nothing as yet of beinq numbered among those who are called by his name, but pro- the intended calling of the Gentiles, he could only mean by this, • fessing to devote themselves to the glory of it. See Vitri.ng. Ohserv. that the gospel should be preached to all the dispersed of Israel in ^^'^S^ continued stedfast in their attendance on the word which the apostles ^^ preached, and resolutely adhered to their doctrincJ And though many of them that be- 42 And they continued lieved were such as had come thither out of foreign countries, who would otherwise have jot/"*^'^ -"d^'f i"''"^*'^'*' returned home immediately after the feast, they staid a considerable time longer at Jerusa- and Vn"'brea'king'of''brea§; lem, to be more thoroughly instructed in the christian faith ; and they all lived in the most ""^i '" prayers. "^ endennxx^ fellowship and intimate friendship with each other, and particularly expressed their mutual affection in breaking of bread together.^ (Twr/ joining in the exercise of social A'3 prayer. And many others who were not converted, when they took notice of this won- 43 And fear came upon derful effect of the apostles' preaching, were mightily struck and impressed with the thought ^'^''^ "'J"'-' ^""^ "^"J ""i"' ^f ■. .7 , 1- 1 5- 1 • 111/-// " I , , •'',, ders and signs were done by ot it; so that a reverential /t-rtr and mward dread / ^ should be saved. the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom they had given up their names, added daily to the church considerable numbers of those happy souls who by this means were saved from the general destruction which was approaching, and from the future punishment to which they would otherwise have been transmitted by it IMPROVEMENT. Faithful are the wounds of a friend ; and far more beautiful than a jewel of gold, or an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprover on an obedient ear. (Prov. xxvii. 6 ; xxv. 12.) Happy are they who feel such an holy Ver. 37 compunction of soul as these penitents did! Salvation is co?ne to their house, and though they sow in tears, they c ner/; were added — that very day about three thousand souls.'] h In the same place.) Dr. Whitby pleads that, as they were It is commonly said that all these were converted by one sermon, at least three thousand one hundred ;'nd twenty, they could not But it is probable, that while Peter was preaching in the Syriac be in the same place, and therefore would understand it of com- languagc, the other apostles were preaching at some small distance, munion in tlie same action. He would rather render it, (as our much to the same purpose, in other languages ; and it is not surely translation does,) they were together ; and produces several places to be imagined that none of them but Peter should be blessed as from tha Septuagint to this purpose, as Ezra iv. .3; Psal. xlix. 2; the means of converting any soul ; not to insist upon it that he Isa. Ixvi. 17; Jer. vi. 12. &c. I?ut, as it generally signifies, an himself might deliver several discourses this day to different assembly in the same place, and many larger assemblies than of auditories, when the concourse of people was so great, and their three or four thousana people are held, it seemed best to render languages so various. — It will not be improper to add, that ir^oTsrE- it thus, only qualifying it as in the paraphrase, especially as ett* to 6»«y ernphatically signifies, to pass over to a body of men, as Bos, avro has plainly this sense, ver. 1. Raphelius, and £lsner have shown ; and that Eisner has shown i Had all things tn common."] Peculiar reasons made this com- at large, in a very curious note on this clause, not only (as Gataker, munity of goods eligible at tliis time : not only as so many so- Raphelius, and many others have,) that sou/.? often signifies ;)frsons journers, wlio had come from other parts, would justly be desirous in the Greek and Latin classics, but also that Jamblicu.s, in his to continue at Jerusalem much longer than they intended when Life of Pythagoras, has exactly imitated this passage, in the ac- they came up to the feast, that thev might get a"thorough know, count he gives of that philosopher's success in Italy, as proselyting ledge of the gospel, but as the prospect liltewise of the Roman two thousand by one discourse, engaging them to continue with conquests, which, according to Christ's known prediction, were him, frequently worshipping in tlie temples, and sharing their soon to swallow vip all .Jewish property, would of course dispose goods in common, as these primitive christians did: Facts of (nany more readily to sell their lands. But the New Testament which we have no manner of convincing evidence^and which were abounds with passages which plainly show this was never intended probably intended to slur,christianity liy an invidious comparison, for a general practice. None can reasonal)ly imagine that the (Elsn. Observ. Vol. I/|). ."575, .370.) Compare J f)0. note c. number of christian converts, even then at Jerusalem, is to be f They continued stedfast in the apostles' doctrine.] This may accounted for by a desire to share in these divided goods: For it intimate, on the one hand, that many efforts were made to shake is evident, that as the portion each could have would be very small, their resolution; and on the other, that upon fuller inquiry, they so the hardships to be endured for a christian profession would found all things as the apostles had represented. soon counterbalance such advantages : and accordingly we find the g In breaking of bread.] Though we have great reason to be- converts at Jerusalem were .soon reduced to such necessitous cli-- lieve that the Eucharist was often celebrated among these primi- cumstanccs, as to need relief by the contributions of their Gentile live converts, perhaps much oftener than every Lord's day, yet I brethren. Candour would rather lead men to argue the incon- oannot see reason to conclude, with Suicer, (Tlicsaur. Ecrlcs. Vol. testable evidence of the gospel, from -its prevailing on the profes- II. p. 10.5.) Lightfoot, Pearson, and many others, that this phrase sors of it to part with their estates to relieve pc.-sons who, excepting must here refer to it, since it may undoubtedly signify common the community of their faith, had no particular claim to their rneals, as Casaubon, Grotius, Wolfius, and several others have regards. If such instances were numerous, this argument is shown ; and in this sense the phrase is used, Luke xxiv. 35. where strengthened in proportion; and if they be supposed few, the it IS plain the Eucharist could not be intended. objection is proportionably weakened. PETER AND JOHN GO UP TO THE TEMPLE AT THE HOUR OF PRAYER. 437 shall reap in joy. (Psal. cxxvi. 5.) What reason have we for thankfulness, that when we are crying out, What shall sect. we do ? the gospel gives us so ready an answer, and directs us to faith and repentance as the sure way by which we 5. may obtain the remission of our sins, and at length rise to an inheritance among them that are sanctified. Let ^ us rejoice that the promise is to us and to our seed, and that the important blessings of it will run down from ac:ts generation to generation. And let all the ardour of our souls be awakened to secure these blessings, and to be '"• saved from that ruin in which we shall otherwise be involved with the crooked and perverse generation among which we live. Glorious etlect of this convincing and excellent discourse, when three thousand were in one day added to the 41 church ! three thousand, who not only expressed some present good impressions and resolutions, but continued stedfast in the religion they had embraced, and sacrificed all their worldly interests to it. How glorious an earnest 42 of the future success of the gospel ! How great an encouragement to-the apostles in all the difficulties they were to encounter ; and bow convincing a proof to all ages of its truth ! since all these proselytes were made upon the spot, where, if it had been false, it is impossible it should have been believed by any one rational enquirer, how mean soever his capacity, or how low soever his rank in life had been. Let us reflect with pleasure on the happy change produced in the character and state of these converts : — Bitter as the first pangs of their convictions were, anguish soon yielded to delight : Pardon of sin, and the hope of glory, 46 added a relish, before unknown, to the supports of nature, the accommodations of life, and the endearments of friend- ship. Whilst their hearts were opened in sentiments of gratitude to God, who had provided a laver for their crim- 47 son sins, which rendered them like wool and like snow ; and to that Redeemer who had saved them by that blood which they had cruelly and impiously shed, — they were also dilated in liberality and bounty ; and they un- 44 doubtedly found a rich equivalent for all the worldly possessions which they resigned, in that holy joy which sprang 45 up in their souls when the treasures of the gospel were opened to them, and dealt out with so generous a hand. So may the kingdom of Christ spread and flourish in the souls of men ! So may that blessed time come when, through the operation of the same Spirit, (for that Spirit is for ever the same,) nations shall be born in a day ! Let 47 U6 not despair: the 7/ion/ing was cr/orious, and in the even-tide it shall be light. (Zech. xiv. 7.) In the mean time, let us thankfully own whatever progress Christianity may be making amongst us or others, though by slow degrees ; and acknowledge that it is the great Lord of the church who, by his secret but powerful influence, adds unto its respective societies such as shall be saved. May the additions every where be numerous, and may the great Author of all good be more thankfully owned in them all ! SECTION VI. Peter and John, quickly after the feast of Pentecost, cure a man who hdd been lame from his birth, at the temple gate, -which occasions a great concourse of admiring spectators. Acts iii. 1 — IL Acts iii. i. Acts iii. L went^in'^toKe'therinto "the ^OW while the church was in the flourishing state described above, an extraordinary cir- SECT. temple, at the liour of pray- cumstauce happened which tended still more to increase its numbers and reputation : For 6. er, bcini/ the niuth /lour. on a Certain day about that timc,^ Peter and John went up to the temple at the hour of prayer, [being] the ninth hour, that is, about three o'clock in the afternoon -^ which was acts the usual time of day when great numbers attended the evening sacrifice, and joined their I"- prayers with those of the priest who was burning incense before the Lord. (Compare ^ Luke i. 10. 2 And a certain man, And a Certain man, well known among them that frequented the place, who had been 2 wo"mb,'wis ra"rie(r'whom ^"""^ f''oni his mothers womb, by a weakness in his ankles, which rendered him incapable they laid daily at the gate of walking, was c«;v7tY/ thither by the help of others; whom theii daily brought and laid cllied" Be m'tifiil "'to ''ask ^*^^^" "^ ^^'^' ^'^^^'^™ ■^'"^'^ '^f ^^'^ temple, which is called the Beautiful gate,'^ being made of alms (if tlVein that entered Corinthiau brass, and richly adorned with the most curious workmanship : and here he lay, into the temple : to ask alms of those that entered into the temple to pay their devotion there, as such cha- ritable actions seemed peculiarly suitable when men were going to make their supplications to the God of mercy ; and the relief that he obtained there was the only means he had for 3 Who seeing Peter and his subsistence. Such was the case of this poor cripple, who, seeing Peter and John about 3 temple, aske'dali'aims*. "'*^ ^'^ S'^ '"^'^ ^^^ temple, applied himself to them among the rest, and begged to j^eceive an 4 And Peter fastening alms of them. J3«^ Peto", being then (as was observed before) with J'o^?^ the beloved 4 John ^'^'■d"l*o" k'"*"' •^*'"' *^'^<^'pl^» ^^^ ^^ 'hat time a strong emotion of soul, which intimated to him that the divine ' ' ' energy was then to be displayed in an illustrious miracle to be wrought by his means : and them^'c^xpec^i'ng to "rec" i!e t"ming therefore to the poor man, and looking stedfastly upon him, he said. Look upon something of tliem. US. And accordingly he fixed his eyes upon than, as expecting to receive something 5 ^ About that lime.'] Thus 1 would chuse, with Grotius, to render to be understood to speak with tlie utmost exaetnesg. The third the words ctji to auro, at the beginning of this chapter, as it does not hour was the middle space between sun-risiug and noon, which, if seem to syit so well with the original, to take them to imply no the sun rose at five, was half an hour after eight, if at seven, was more than that Peter and John went up together to the temple, half an hour after nine, &c. The chief hours of prayer were 1 see no reason to suppose, with Dr. Lightfoot, that this happened the third and the ninth ; at which seasons the morning and evening the same day on which the Spirit was miraculously poured out, or sacrifices were offered, and incense, as a kind of emblem represent- to conclude, with others, that it was not till the next year, or ing prayer, burnt on the golden altar. Hee iose\>\\. Antiq. Jud. lib. at least several months after. The time is no where determined , xiv. cap. 4. [al 8] \ 3. but it appears most probable that it was soon after the feast of c Called the Jieauliful gate.] This gate, which was added by Pentecost. Compare note c, on Acts iv. -1. 5 8. Herod to the co\irt of the Gentiles, was thirty cubits high, and b At the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.'] It may suffice fifteen broad, and made of Corinthian brass, more pompous in its once for all to observe, that the Jews divided the time, from the workmanship and splendour than those that were covered with rising to the setting of the sun, into twelve hours, which were silver and gold. (Joseph. Bell. Jud. lib. v. cap. .5. [al. vi. 6.] { 3.) consequently, at different times of the year, of unequal length, as Josephus, as our present copies stand, says it was the outer gate , the days were longer or shorter. When we say, therefore, (as we but I.ud. Capellus thinks this reading is wrong, and that it was often do in this work,) that the third hour was about nine in the the inner gate between the court of the Gentiles and that of Israel ; morning, the ninth about three in the afternoon, &c. we are not and Grotius allows of his reasoning. See Grotius, in loc. 43S REFLECTIONS ON THE CURE OF THE LAME MAN. SECT, from them for the relief of his necessities. JBwi Peter, under the divine impulse, intended a Then Peter said, silver 6, "him a far more important favour ; and therefore said. As for silver and gold, I have none aD ., i, / ii i r~i i i \ ■^• whereof we are witnesses, person who liad power to conduct you to itj" whom neverdieless Gorf /; as amply \mdi- cated, having i-aised him up//'o;« the dead; of which we his apostles are witnesses, upon a repeated testimony of our own senses, in circumstances in which it was impossible that 16 And his name, through they should be deceived. And God is still continuing to heap new honours upon him, 16 faith in his uame.^^^hath ^yj^Q^^ yQ^ h^ve treated with SO much infamy ; for be it known unto you, it is by faith in whom ye ^ee^and kuo"w i his name that he hath strengthened this poor man," whom you see here before you, and vea, the faith which is by whom you knoxo lo have been unable from his birth to walk : \Yea^ I repeat it again, as p;"ec'''tfXss''rn 'the what higlily concems you all to know and regard. It is his name, and the faith which is presence of you all. centred in ///w/, and which derives its efficacy from his power, that has given him this perfect strength and soundness v/hich he now manifests before you all. 17 And now, brethren, I And now, brethren, while I am urging this for your conviction, that I may lead you to 17 wot that through ignorance repent of your great wickedness in crucifying so excellent and so divine a Person, I would ^Ixtts. ''' ^^ ''"^ ''''° ^"^""^ not aggravate the crime you have been guilty of beyond due bounds, so as to drive you to despair; as I know that it was thi-ough ignoraiwe of his true character thaiyou did [it,] as [did] also your rulers,^ by whom you were led on and prompted to it : For surely if the dignity and greatness of his person, and his divine authority and mission, had been known, both you and they must have treated him in a very different manner. (Compare I Cor. > 18 But those things ii 8) Bm^ Go6? permitted this that you have done, and overruled it for wise and gracious 18 S\lbttLmou[hof':n purposes; and hath thus fulfilled those things which he ^o ^\am\y had foretold by the his prophets, that Christ vwuth of all his provhefs in thev&nov&diges oi thewoxXd.: event hat Christ should suffer fllifii'ied'"'*'"'' ''^ ''''"' '° as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of his people. (Compare Acts xiii. 27.) "19 Repent ye, therefore. See to it therefore that it be your immediate care to secure an interest in the benefits 19 and be converted, that your purchased by his death : And to this purpose let us exhort vou to repent of your iniquities, when"the times o"refres'h- and, with a sense of what you have done amiss, to turn to God in the way of sincere and ing shall come from the universal obedience, that so vour sins may be blotted out, atid you may be delivered from presence of the Lord. ^j^^ [^^j^^y burden of your guift ; that seasons o/'sacred refreshnent and delight may come 20 And he shall send Je- upon you from the presence of the Lord :^ And that, in consequence of j'our complying 20 a Tlie God of our Fat/ters.J This was wisely introduced here in ingly perplexed, that Heinsius's manner of pointing seems greatly the beginning of his discoursse, that it might appear they taught to be preferred. He places a period after im^iMi, referring that no new relig.ion inconsistent with the Mosaic, and were far from verb to 0 (?ios, in the preceding verse, and T» iixn^'yfxiw\/,t>c/'ore preached, 1 xxiii. 3 — 5.) nothing can he more unnecessary, and hardly anv here follow lieza in reading ■7i59)(tX''S"/"Evov, as Tei-tullian and se- thing more unnatural, than to draw an argument from this passage veral of the fathers quote it, and the Alexandrian and several other to support the notion of Samuel's being the author of the Penta- valuable manuscripts, and ancient versions likewise, have it : and tench, which many texts in the Old and New Testament seem most then Ujutv must (as ia this version) be referred to a-noaniK-n, shall directly to contradict. (See Lord Barrington's £'si«y on J7ir. Vis- send to you, i^c. pensal. Appendix, No. ii.) It would be trifling to argue from this g 77ie regulation of all things.] This' am^xromifi! may so well expressionatf all the prophets, that every one of them, and particu- lie explained of regulating the present disorders in the moral world, larly Jonal^and Obadiah, must have said somewhat of the Mes- and the seeming inequalities of providential dispensations, that it is siali. It is abundantly sulficient that it is true of the prophets in surprising to find Dr. Thomas Burnet, Mr. Whiston, and other general. learned writers, urging it for such a restoration of the paradisaical m To you first.'] Accordingly the gospel was (hy the astonishing state of the earth as tiiey on their different hypotheses have ven- grace of our blessed Redeemer) every where offered first to the tured to assert, without any clear warrant from Scripture, and Jews. Had it been otherwise, humanly speaking, many who were amidst a thousand diflieulties which clog our conceptions of it. converted in this method might have been exasperated and lost. (Compare note k, on Matt. xvii. 11. p. 184.) n Everyone of you tfrrning from your iniquities.] That is. All Ii JtYomtheheginning of time.] Se note b, on Lulic i. 70. those of you that turn from sin shall be entitled to bis blessing. i Moses said to the fathers.] Tiiis quotation from Deut. xviii. This, which is just equivalent to Beza's, seems a natural version of l.'j. et seq. does in its primary sense refer to the Messiah, as Dr. Bui- the words tv ro aro-rrpt^eiv tit^Trov, &c. And I chuse it, because it is lock and Mr. Jeffery have excellently shown ; he being, like Moses, plain (as Orobio, with his usual sagacity, objects to Limborcli) that not only a prophet, but a Saviour and a Lawgiver too. On this Christ did not in fact turn every one of them from their iniquities, scripture does Limborch chiefly build, in that noble controversy though it must be allowed that he took such ste])s as were very pro- of bis with Orobio, most justly called Amica Collalio cum erudito per for that purpose : and the version seems farther preferable, as Judcco, which not only contains a variety of beautiful, and some of the apostle knew that the Jews would in fact reject the gospel, and thorn very uneommcn, arguments, but i.s also on bolh sides so fine a bring destruction on themselves as a nation by that means, THE PRIESTS AND SADDUCEES LAY HOLD ON PETER AND JOHN. 441 IMPROVEMENT. Happy the minister whose heart is thus intent upon all opportunities of doing good, as these holy apostles were! sect. Happy tliat faithful servant who, like them, arrogates nothing to himself, but centres the praise of all in him who is 7. the great Source from whom every good and perfect gift proceeds ! Happy the man who is himself willing to be for- gotten and overlooked, that God may be remembered and owned ! He, like this wise master-builder, will lay this acts foundation deep in a sense of sin, and will charge it with all its aggravations on the sinner, that he may thereby 'H- render the tidings of a Saviour welcome ; which they can never be till this burden has been felt. Yet will he, like Ver. 1 7 Peter, conduct the charge with tenderness and respect, and be cautious not to overload even the greatest otiender. We see the absolute necessity of repentance, which therefore is to be solemnly charged upon the consciences of all 19 who desire that their sins may be blotted out of the book of God's remembrance, and that they may share in that refreshment which nothing but the sense of his pardoning love can afford. Blessed souls are they who have expe- rienced it! for they may look upon all their present comforts as the dawning of eternal glory; and having seen Christ with an eye of faith, and received that important cure which nothing but his powerful and gracious name can 20, 21 effect, may be assured that God will send him again to complete the work he has so graciously begun, and to reduce the seeming irregularities of the present state into everlasting harmony, order, and beauty. In the mean time, let us adore the wisdom of his providence and the fidelity of his grace, which has overruled the 18 folly and wickedness of men to subserve his own holy purposes, and has accomplished the promises so long since made, of a prophet to be raised up to Israel like Moses, and indeed gloriously superior to him, both in the dignity 22 of his character and office, and in the great salvation he was sent to procure. — This salvation was first offered 26 to Israel, which had rendered itself so peculiarly unworthy by killing the Prince of life. Let us rejoice that it is ]5 now published to us, and that God has condescended to send his Son to bless us sinners of the Gentiles, in turning us from our iniquities. Let us view this salvation in its true light, and remember that if we are not willing to turn from iniquity, from all iniquity, from those iniquities that have been peculiarly our own, it is impossible we shoukl have any share in it. SECTION vin. T/ie two apostles being seized hy order of the Sanhedrim, and eimnined by them, coiirageoush/ declare their resolution of going on to preach in the name of Jesus, notwithstanding their severest threatenin"i^^"^">' ■ ^", as the priests (though statedly resident in Egypt) will prove that this was not and magistrates were ; but they import no want of natural good properly the Sanhedrim, but an extraordinary council occasionally sense, or any ignorance of what was then the subject of debate > called, consisting of some who were, and others who were not, of so that our translation seems very unhappy here, that court. It is very evident they act with authority as a court k Thei/ knew them that they had been with .Tesvs, particularly the of judicature here, and the council, expressly called S-Jva^-iov again night tliat lie was taken, &.C.] See note g, on Luke xxii. 57. p. and again in the .5th chapter, (ver. 21, 27, 3^, 41.) refer to the acts 372. Grotius justly observes also, that the rulers were often of this assembly as their own : (Compare chap. v. ver. 27, 28.) And present when Chri.st taught publicly, and so might have seen Peter the same word IS likewise used liere in this chapter, ver. 15. and John near him at other times, as well as on the occasion g IFIwm. God iMth raised from tlic dead.] They knew in tlieir mentioned in the paraphrase. THE APOSTLES DECLARE THEY CANNOT DESIST, AND ARE LET GO. 443 14 And beholding the xviii. 15, 16.) A/id they would gladly have done their utmost to confound a testimony sect. mau "^'licii was Leaied -^vhich bore SO hard upon themselves. But seeing the man that was cured, whom they 8. couldso'nothing'aga'insUt knew to have been so long lame, now standing u-ith thcyn perfectly recovered, tliei/ had ■ nothing to say against the fact, though they were most unwilling to own a doctrine acts which \_it'] tended so shrongly to prove. ^^'• 15 But when they had ^"^ ^s they did not chuse the apostles should perceive they knew not what to say, 15 coratnanded them to go having ordered them to "withdraw for a while out of the room where the council was asiAe out of the council, gittinsr, theu privately conferred among themselves, Sai/ins, What shall we .do with 16 they couterreaamoiigthem- . ° •^o t i i i ■ i i i /- • i i - / • selves, these men ?- it would be neither reasonable nor sate to punish them now ; for that in- 16 Saying, What shall we d^^d a very surprising and signal miracle hath been wrought hy them, is clearly mani- inde'edT'^iiotable miracle ^^^^^ 1° ^^^ ^^e inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we ourselves cannot possibly deny [//.] hath been done by them, is Nevertheless^ ou the other hand, it is equally plain that both our credit and our interest 17 dwel'uu' Jerusaiem*^and'we ^'^Quire US to Suppress the rumour of it as much as we can; and therefore, that it may not cannot deny it. ' any farther spread among the people, and be a means of raising discontent, and perliaps 17 But tiiaMt spread no Qf occasioning some dangerous insurrection among them, which may throw the city and kt us " straitly threaten nation into confusion, let us severely threaten them with the most rigorous punishment, them, that they speak in case they persist in such bold discourses as those we have now been hearing, that so this*^name ' *" ""^ '""" '" ^^^-^ ^^Y '^*^'- ^^'"'^ ^° preach as they have done, and from henceforth may speak no more to any man in this obnoxious name. 18 And thev called them, ^«^ the wliole couucil, having agreed to this as the most proper method they could 13 and comraaniied them not at present take with the apostles, they called them in again ; and telling them how xnuch the utme^'oUesus' '^'''''' '" they were offended at the liberty they took, they charged them in a very strict and severe manner, that, upon pain of their highest displeasure, and as they regarded their own safety, and even their lives, they should not presume on any account whatever to speak any more, or to teach the people in the name of Jesus ;™ if they would not be looked upon as seditious persons, and be dealt with as incendiaries and rebels, as their Master had been ; whom they still asserted to have deserved the punishment that he had sutTered. 19 But Peter and John But Peter and John felt themselves animated in this arduous circumstance with a 19 answered and said unto couragcous zeal which would not permit them to be silent, lest that silence should be in- in the si^iit of God," to terpreted as a promise to quit their ministry; and therefore, answering them with an hearken unto vou more than undaunted freedom, they said before them all. Whether it be a fit or a righteous thing unto Go , judge ye. j^^ ^j^^ sight of God, to whom we are all accountable, to obey you rather than God, Judge 7/c." You cannot but know in your own consciences on which side the superior 20 For we cannot but obligation lies; and you must therefore expect, that we shall act accordingly. For 20 speak the tlungs which we though we respect you as our civil rulers, and are heartily willing to yield all subjection to you so far as we lawfully can, yet since God hath charged us with the publication of this important message, on whicli, as we have already testified, the eternal salvation of men depends, we dare not to be silent in a case of such importance, and are free to tell you that we cannot but speak the things which we have so oittn seen and heard, and which God hath so miraculously empowered us to declare, not only in this city, but throughout all the earth. 21 So when they had fur- . -4>'d though the apostles spake with such great freedom, the council were so confounded 21 ther tiireatened tiiera, they by the force of truth, that they did not think fit to proceed to any farther exhremities at how 'The^°' iHig'hf "punisi^ that time ; but having threatened them again in severer terms than before, they dis- them, because of the peo- Jn/ssed them ; fnding 7iothing done by them for which they might with any show of ^d f^r that™ w\ifch"was ^^^^^"^ punish them, and not daring to proceed in so arbitrary a manner as they would done. otlierwise have done, because of the people, whose resentment they feared : for such was the impression that was made upon the people by the cure of the lame man, that they had all an high esteem and mighty veneration for the apostles, who were publicly known to be the instruments of working it, and all glorified God in raptures of astonishment for that 22 Fortlieman was above which was done. And indeed they well might be atfected with it, for the man on who?n 22 forty years old, on whom f/iis 7niracle of healing was wroug-ht, was more than fortii years old : so that hardly this miracle of healing was .i • ij , '^ j ^ T • i ^ ^ "i "^ -^ i , , "^ shewed. ''"Y thmg could have appeared to human judgment to be a more desperate case than so inveterate and confirmed a lameness : and yet he was (as we have already related) in one moment completely cured by the word of the apostles, and the power of their Divine Master operating with it. ■* IMPROVEMENT. We see, in the instance before us, the natural but detestable efFects of a proud, bigoted, overbearing temper, Ver. even where it seems least excusable. The Sadducees themselves, though they believed no future state of retribu- 1 — 3 I Neverlheless.'] Instances in which awa signifies nevertheless, yc.'\ As they professed to believe the being and infinite per- are numerous in the New Testament ; and it is often rendered so by fections of God, they must, on their'own principles, easily see the our translators. See Mark xiv. .30; John xi. 15; Rom. v. 14; absurdity of expecting obedience to their commands friim good 2 Lor. xii. l(i; Gal. iv. 30; 2 Tim. i. 12. And many instanc3S from men who believed themselves divinely commissioned. There is a protane writers are brought by Eisner in his note liere. passage which bears some resemblance to this, in the apology of m Tftey charged them that they slwidd not speak any more in the Socrates as recorded by Plato, [ Oper. p. 23.] which appears to me name of Jesus.] The very thing that men conscious of the truth of among the tiuest of antiquity. When they were condemning him the apostles' testimony, and self-condemned, would do ; attempt- to death for teaching the people, he said, " O ve Athenians, 1 em- ing by violence to stop their mouths, as they knew they could not " brace and love you ; but / will obey Cod rather than you ; [to-ou^i answer them any other way. " f.i t(j Qm ^rwn n u^iv.] and : f you would dismiss me and spare my II IVhelher it be righteous to obey you rather than God, judge " life, on condition that I should cease to teach ray fellow-citizens, 444 ALL THE DISCIPLES UNITE IN AN INSPIRED PRAYER TO GOD. SECT, tion, yet persecuted the apostles as eagerly as if they, like some other Jews, had expected to merit heaven by their 8. severity to them. (Compare John xvi. 2.) On the otlier side, it is delightful to observe the zeal and courage with which Peter and John defended the ACTS cause of their crucified Redeemer, even in the presence of those by whom he had so lately been condemned. •'^- Thus can God give power to the feeble, and increase the strength of them that have no might. (Isa. xl. 29.) Ver. 12 The testimony they bore is well worth our regarding. There is salvation in no other, neither is there any other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must he saved. Oh that the ends of the earth might hear and reverence that name ! Oh that thousands to whom it is yet unknown, may learn to build all their hopes of salvation upon it! and may we never be ashamed to own it, never afraid to adhere to it ! May we speak of it 13 with such a savour, may we defend it with such a zeal, that they who are round about us may take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus, and trace the genuine effects of our intimate acquaintance with him ! \G — 18 Never was there an instance of a more memorable combat between the force of evidence and of prejudice; never a more impudent attempt to bear down the cause of unquestionable truth by brutal violence. But great is the truth and it will prevail. May the ministers of the gospel never want tliat courage in the defence of it 19 which these holy men expressed ; always judging it infinitely more reasonable, more safe, and more necessary, to obey God than man ! Never may we be ashamed to profess our reverence and love to him who is our supreme Ruler and our most bountiful Friend ; and may he give us such an inward and heart-intluencing sense of the worth and sweetness of his gospel, as may eflectually prevent our betraying or neglecting it ! SECTION IX. Peter and John return to their company ; and having told them what had passed, they all unite in an inspired prayer, which is attended with a renewed effusion of the Spirit, in consequence of which they all preach the gospel with new vigour and wonderful success. The number of converts, and the sales of estates, are greatly increased. Acts iv, 23 — 35. Acts iv. 23. , . „^ T) , . . . , . . , _ Acts iv. 23. SECT, r ETER and John being dismissed from their examination by the Sanhedrim, v/ith a And being let go, they 9- strict charge that they should preach no more in the name of Jesus, no sooner were at wentto their own comiwny, ' liberty but they came to their own company, and related all that the chief priests and chL/pTU;sts and elders hud ACTS elders had said to them, and how severely they had threatened them. said unto them. nA ^'^^^ when they heard [//,] a divine inspiration came upon all that were present in an 24 And when they heard extraordinary manner, so that the?/ immediately lifted up their voice with one accord '/"'/. Hiey lift up their voice J ri i-i ■ iU e u ■ u- 1 ii- ■ i J 1- .11 Ti 1 to God with one accord, and to Crod'' in the loUowmg prayer, which upon this occasion was suggested by the Holy said, Lord, thou mi God Spirit to every one in the assembly ; and they said, O thou supreme Lord oi universal which hast made heaven and nature, we humbly acknowledge thou art the God who didst make heaven and earth, ti^aUn ufem'it:^^''' ""'^ "" 25 and the sea, and all things that are in them ; Who didst by thine Holy Spirit say by 25 Who by tiie mouth of the mouth of thy servant David, (Psal. ii. 1,2.) " W/w did the heathen nations rage, thy servant David hast said, 1 . 1 ~^ I ■ ■ ■ ji ■ r ■ ■ 1 1-1 . -1 1*^. Why did the heathen niffp, "and tlie people imagine vain things, lorming projects which must certainly end in and the people imagine vain 26 " their own disappointment and ruin ? Why did the kings of the earth enter into a things. " confederacy to set themselves as it were in hostile array, and why were the rulers ^^^l^^ ^p an?l^°the"^ruYe'rs " of it, forgetting their mutual differences, combined together in one association against were gathered together " the Lord, and against his Messiah, whom he hath anointed to be the great Ruler of ''»*!"Jj '''^i .L"'''', and 27 " all ?" We, O God, have now seen the literal accomplishment of these words ; for of ' "27 For of a truth against a truth here has been a most audacious conspiracy in this city of Jerusalem, where we thy Holy Child Jesus,whom now are, against thee, and against thine Holy Child Jesus, whom thou hast so visibly Herod 'and P'ontius'pii'atc anointed with the Holy Ghost, and with power to accomplish the glorious work of erect with the Gentiles and tlie ing thy kingdom among men; and both Herod the tetrarch, a7id Pontius Pilate the ther*ed 10*^6!, her'' "'^'^^ °*' Roman governor, with the heathen and the people of Israel, have co?nbincd in the 28 impious attempt. But it is our unspeakable comfort to think, that by their utmost rage 28 For to do wliatsoevcr they cannot break in upon thy schemes, or prevent the efficacy of any of thy purposes; *^''y hand and thy counsel for we know that, in the midst of all this impious fury they have shown against thy Son, ''ioDe. they have only been able to do what thine hand had pointed out before, and what thy unerring counsel, to which all future events are obvious, had before determined that, for 29 wise reasons, thou wouldst permit to be done.'" And as to what now remains to accom- 29 And now, Lord, be- " T would rather die a thousand times than accept the proposal." ed(o do ivhat thine linnd and thy counsel had determined, Si-c. But this What are ten thousand subtilties of the ancient philosophers, when transposition is arbitrary ; and it is. so expressly said elsewhere by compared with a sentiment like this ! I^uke, when he was entering- on his sufferings, that the Son of man a If'hen they heard lit,'] they immediately lifted up their voice, went as it was determined concerning liim, (Luke xxii. 22.) and it so i^-i;.] It is strange any should have imagined this was a prc-com- plainly appears in fact that these circumstances were expressly deter- posed form, since, besides all the other absurdities of such a sup- mined or marked out in the prophecies of the Old Testament, that I position, It so expressly refers to the threatenings of the Sanhedrim, see not what end the admission of such a transposition would answer, (ver. 29.) of which they had been but just then informed : and the It is niuch more rational (as we observed in note i, on that text words, axaiiix-/Tts o/j.o^-v,ux^ov *!,;« ipwvnv, will not allow us to imagine in Luke, p. ,342.) to explain this determination in such a manner as to any interval between the report of Peter and John, and this prayer, make it consistent with the free agency of the persons concerneiL I conclude it therefore probable, that all their voices might join by AVhen God's hand and his counsel are said to have determined these immediate in.spiration ; which seems a circumstance graciously things, it may signify God's having pointed out this great event sn adapted for the encouragement of them all to suffer the greatest wi.sely concerted in his eternal counsels, and marked bcfore-handas extremities in this cause, and answers the phrase here used much it were all the boundaries of it, (as the word tt^o^j^-ue may well signi- better than if we were to suppose one only to have spoken, and fy,) in the prophetic writings. This seems mure natural than to the rest to have put their cordial Amen to it; which yet would be suppose (as Bishop Pearson and Dr. Hammond do) that it alludes a much more tolerable account of the matter than that which I first to the designation of the Lord's goat on the day of expiation, which ' mentioned. was by lifting up the lot on high, and then laying it on the head of » ,,{ "' '^'""^'"^'l to do, IfC.'] Limborch ( Theolog. lib. ii. cap. ,30. the animal to be sacrificed. See Pearson, On tlie Creed, p. 185. and ? 17.) contends strongly for a tninsposition of the words thus: They namnioud, in loc. have combined against thine Holy Child Jesus, wliom t/iou hast anoint- THEY SELL THEIR ESTATES AND HAVE ALL THINGS IN COMMON. 445 hold their threatenings : plish tliis important scheme of raising thy church on the sure foiuidation of his cross, we sect. and grant unto thy servants, besecch thee, O Lord, to rcffard these t/ic/>- hauehty threatcninirs, with which they are 9. that with all boldness they , ■ . i- xi i ■. ?i • i.- j^ • j it may speak thy word, endeavouring to discourage the chosen witnesses ot Ins resurrection ; and to give unto these t/n/ servants, and to all others that are to join their testimony, to speak thy word with all acts 30 By stretching forth freedom and resolution,"^ in the midst of the most violent opposition that can arise : Espe- S^- thine hand to heal; and cjally whilst thou art animating them by the performance of such works of power and "^^ be doif "^bv^ the nam™ot' mercy, and art stretching out thine own almighty hand for healing the most incurable thy Holy Ciiild Jesus. distempers; rt«r/ while such astonishing signs and wonders as these arc done hi/ the iia?ne of thine JIoli/ Child Jesus ; which we hope thou wilt still continue to perform, however the rage of the enemy may be excited by them. 31 And when they had And while they Were thus praying, God was pleased miraculously to declare his gra- 31 prayed, the place was cJqus acceptance of their petitions; for the place in which they were assembled was seniWed^o^'etiie'r; and they .?/?rt'/te'« as the Upper room had been on the day of Pentecost, (Acts ii. 2.) and they were were all filled with the all filed with the Holy Spirit;'^ and, being animated by that strong impulse which thelwd^ofGod wTth'lold- through his operation they felt upon their hearts, they spake the word of God wherever ness. they came with all courageous_//-ccf/ow, and renewed their public testimony without any appearance of fear, on the very day on which they had been so solemnly forbidden by the Sanhedrim to preach any more in the name of Jesus. 32 And the multitude of And that sacred Agent wrought upon their souls not only as the Spirit of zeal and cou- 32 them that believed were of j-ggg^ l^^t of love, SO that the vevy heart and soul of the whole 7nulfifude of believers, rieftheTliTd' anyT/- 7to)i HumeroLis as they were, was vM one ; Nor did any [of them] call any of his possessions that ought of the' things his own ; but all things were common amongst them,'' and eachvt'as as welcome to par- owT'' 'but'Thr'^'*har aH ticipate of thai^ as the original proprietor could be, being in these new bonds of christian things common!^^ fellowship as dear to him as himself. And with great power, that is, with a divine force 33 33 And with great power of eloquencc and of miracles, did the apostles give forth their important testimony of §?eresurrectfol'ofThrLord the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all,' so that the Jesus : and great grace was energy and sweetness of the gospel was felt by the inward experience both of speakers and upon them all. hearers, beyond what it was possible for words to express. 34 Neither was there any Neither loas there any one indigent person among them, though many of them were 34 among them that lacked: f^^j. f ^^ ^j^^j^ habitations, and many others in low circumstances of life : for as maiu/ as for as many as were pos- „, , , ■' i , , , c ^ ^i u ^ i ^ i sessors of lands or houses. Were proprietors of lands or houses, sold them as last as they could nnd any to purchase sold them, and brought the them, and brought the price of the things thei/ had sold, whether it were more or we'rTsold,*''^ '^'°°' *''''' less, And laid [if] down at 'the feet of the apostles, to be disposed of as they 35 35 And' laid t/iem down should direct; who discharged their trust with the strictest fidelity, and took care that at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made to every one accordincr as any had need for his present relief: distribution was made unto ^ , .. ., v m,^ .1 . • .^ 1 rr^ ■ ,1 1 11 every man according as he (Compare chap. n. 45.) The apostles esteeming themselves sufhciently happy while had need. hving in the same plain manner with their brethren, in the opportunity which the divine goodness gave them of being so helpful to others both in temporals and spirituals. IMPROVEMENT. This was indeed the golden age of the church : and it is impossible to trace the memoirs of it, if we love Sion, without a secret complacency and exultation of mind. How amiable and how venerable do the apostles and primi- Ver. 31 live converts appear in this native simplicity of the christian character ! and what a glory did the grace and Spirit of God put upon them, far beyond all that human establishments, splendid dignities, or ample revenues, could ever give to those that have succeeded them ! While the multitude of them had one heart and one soul, and each was 32 ready to impart to his brethren whatever he himself possessed, how high a relish of pleasure did they receive, and how were their joys muUiplied by each of their number! Thus does divine grace, when it powerfully enters into the heart, open it in sentiments of generosity and love. 33 — 35 Thus does it conquer that selfish temper which reigns so frequently in the minds of sinful men, and makes them like wild beasts rather than like brethren to each other. Providence does not indeed call us entirely to give up our pos- sessions, or to introduce a community of goods among christians, in circumstances so ditierent from those which we have now been surveying : Yet surely it is always our duty, and will be our highest interest, to remember that we are not original proprietors of what we possess, but stewards, who are to manage what is intrusted to our care for the honour of our great Master, and the good of his family here on earth ; continually ready to resign any part, or even the whole of it, whenever these important ends shall require such a resignation. In the mean time, let us frequently lift up our hearts to the great and ever-blessed God who hath made heaven, 24 and e^rth, and the sea, and all that is in them, that he would support and extend the progress of that gospel in the world which he hath so graciously begun to plant. Kings may still set themselves, and rulere take counsel, against 25, 26 it; but he knows how to turn their counsels into foolishness, and their rage into shame. He hatli anointed Jesus his Holy Child with the oil of gladness, and placed him on his throne in heaven ; and all the united malice and fury of his enemies can do no more than what shall make part of his wise and gracious scheme for the government of his 29 people. Let us pray tliat he would give freedom of speech to all employed in pleading his cause ; and that he will plentifully anoint them with the efi'usion of his Spirit : And let the signs and wonders which were done by the c Give iinio tlii/ servants to speak ttiy word with all freedom..]— e All things vwre common amongst them.'] See note i, on chap. ii. Eisner has slio^vn' here, by some very happy quotations, that several 44. p. 4.3fi.— Tb hare one heart and soul is a proverbial expression for of the heathens acknowledged the [7:s(ff>i-riaj freedom of speech, the most intimate and endearing friendship, as Eisner and others on great and pressing occasions, to be a divine gift Compare have shown. Prov. xvi. 1. f Great grace was vpon them all.'] Casaubon, Grotiup, and some d Thetj were all filled with the Holy Spirit.] I will not assert others, understand this of the favour they bad among the people that cloven tongues fell upon them again ; but I think it probable, on account of tlieir charity and gOQd conduct ; But this is by no with Dr. Benson, that some visible symbol of the Spirit's descent means the natural import of this plirase, which is very different might now be given. from that used, Acts ii. 47. 446 ANANIAS SELLS HIS ESTATE, AND KEEPS BACK PART OF THE PRICE. SECT, name of Jesus in former ages, encourage us to hope that he will never totally desert a scheme which he once so 9. illustriously interposed to establish ; and consequently let them animate us to exert ourselves in its service, whatever labours, threatenings, or dangers may meet us in our way. SECTION X. The sale of estates proceeding, Ananias and Sapphira at te7npt fraudulent li/ to impose tipon the apostles, and are immedialeln struck dead. That event, together with numij other exlraordinarij miracles wrought about the same time, promotes the increase of the church still more and more. Acts iv. 36, to the end; v. 1 — 16. Acts iv. 36. acts iv. ,36. SECT. A MONO the rest of those primitive converts who so generously contribvited of their sub- And joses, wim by the 10- stance for the relief awr/ subsistence of the poor believers in so extraordinary a circumstance, "I'Jha^sTwh'ich^ir"' ^" there was one Joses, -who, on account of his great benevolence and usefulness, was much terpreted, Tlie smrof^con- ACTS respected in the church, and bi/ the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, which, being inter- solation,) a Levitc, and of ^^'op preted from the Syriac language, signifes, A son of consolation."" He was a Lcvite, ^' (^ou'itry o Cyprus, who was so far from being prejudiced against this new religion, as it might seem to oppose his temporal interest, that he gladly devoted himself to its service : [and'\ was a native of 37 another country, being bj/ birth a Cyprian : And having an estate, which was capable 37 Having land, sold ;/, of being alienated without any transgression of the law,** he sold it, and brought the ^j^^ ia'|d°it"at th^*^ "'°'Y^'! money, as others had done, and laid it doxon at the feet of the apostles,'^ desiring they feet. ' " "^ ^'^^ would dispose of it in such a manner as might be most serviceable to the necessities of the saints. And the addition which it made to the public stock was so considerable, that it seemed to deserve this particular mention. Ac'TS But it is in a very different point of light, and on a very melancholy occasion, that we Acts v. i. But a certain ^- , are oblieed to mention another person before we leave this story. There was also among """ """^^d Ananias, with 1 , s „ p,, ', , • 1 A '■ 1 J/ it- oappnira lus wife, sold a these early professors of the gospel, a certain w.an named Ananias, who, with the concur- possession, rence of Sapphira his wife, sold an estate ; And fraudulently secreted part of the price, 2 And kept back part of 2 his wife also being conscious [of it ;] and bringing only a certain part of it, he laid it the price, his wife also being^ down at the feet of the apostles, as the rest did, pretending that it was the whole of the certain''part,''and'^la)d^!7*^at purchase-money ; and consequently intimating, that, having deposited his all in their hands, the apostles' feet. he should hope for the future to be taken care of among the rest of the brethren. 3 But upon this, the Holy Spirit, under whose direction the apostle Pt'/e/- acted, imme- 3 But Peter said, Ananias, diately suggested to him the fraud, and the awful manner in which the Divine Wisdom saw why 'lath Satan filled thine fit to animadvert upon it. In consequence of which inward suggestion, looking sternly cilost, and'^to'^keep bacic upon him, he said, O Ananias, why hath Satan, through thine owu wickedness in yielding ;>«'■' of the price of the to his, tempis.tions, filed thine heart with such a degree of covetousness, falsehood, folly, and presumption, [that thou shouldst audaciously attempt'] to impose on tJie Holy .Syj/zvY himself,'^ under whose special direction we are; and to secrete part of the price of 4 the land thou hast sold, when thou pretendest to have brought the whole? While it re- 4 Whiles it remained, maincd unsold, did it not continue tlmie, notwithstanding thy profession of faidi in Jesus? rfter\H"vLsoid^ wm i\ not And when it was sold, was it not still in tJiine own power" to have given or not given the in thine own power? Why whole, or any part of it, into the treasury of the church, as thou shouldst think proper ? j'"?*^ '^!^"" conceived this Why then hast thou admitted this thing into thine heart, so meanly and so profanely to hast no"iied'unto'^men,but dissemble on this solemn occasion ? Thou hast 7iot lied to men alone, to us, or to the ""to God. church, whose treasurers we are ; but hast lied to the blessed God himself, who, residing in us by his Divine Spirit, is detemiined to make thee a terrible example of his displeasure, for an affront so directly levelled at himself, in the midst of this astonishing train of his extra- ordinary operations. 5 And Ananias, hearing ^^e5c t:'or^5, while the sound of them was yet in his es.rs, fell these^"for^s"^feircio'wn'ani down and expired ;^ that by his sad example all might learn how dangerous it was to gave up the ghost: aud a Joses — snrnamcd Bnnahas—a son nf consolation.'] Considering falsifying such a trust as this for the sake of a little money. Their how common the names of Joses and .Joseph were, there seems no miraculous powers were joined with a thousand marks of probity just reason to conclude, as some have done, that this was the Jo- in their daily cotuluct to warrant such a confidence, whicli was but seph mentioned, ch.ap. i. 23. as a candidate for the office of an apos- a natural tolicn of due respect. AVe see in chap. vi. 2, 3, 4. how tie. (Compare note i, on that text, p. 429.) Nor can I see any rea- ready they were soon to transfer the management of this afi'air to son to conclude, with Aiib. Wake, {Apost. Fatlicrs, Introd. p. 62.) otiier haniis; and the following story furnishes us with an addi- that this Joses was called, son of consolation, to express the great tional answer to this cavil, which is beyond all exception. consolation the brethren received from the sale of his estate. The d Fi//cd thine heart to impose on Itie Hob/ Spirit.'] The Ue- name seems rather to refer to his extraordinary abilities for the brews express a person's being emboldened to a thing, by the phrase ministerial work, and to those gifts of the Spirit whereby he was c^{ his lieart being filled : (Compare Esth. vii. 5 ; andEccles.viii.il.) enabled both to comfort and to exhort, as the word also .<;ignifies. — And Dos has abundantly shown that -^ivix-iliai ni% signifies to lie Mr. Fleming makes it a most honourable title indeed, as signifying, to a person, or to impose upon liim, (Bos. Exercit. p. 73, 74. but I a son of the operation of Die Paraclete, that is, of the Holy Ghost cannot recollect that it ever signifies to belie a person, as Dr. Beq. b An estate, which was capable of being alienated, &c.] He son would here render it. Ifist. of Christianity, \o\.\.\>.\m. could not have sold that which was his paternal inheritance as a e When it tras sold, teas it not in thine own power .'] It evidently Levite ; but this might perhaps be some legacy or purchase of land appears from hence that no christian converts were obliged to sell in Judea, to which he might have a title till the next jubilee, or their estates. An answer to the Popish argument from hence, in fa- perhaps some land in Cyprus ; and we may suppose it mentioned, vour of works of supererogation, may be collected from our para- cither as the first foreign estate sold, or as of some extraordinary phrase on Matt. xix. 12. p. 207. value. _ _ (Ananias — fell down and erpired.} This severity was not only c Laid_ it down at the feet of tlie apostles.'] Orobio insinuates, righteous, considering that complication of vain-glory and covet- Apvd Limborch, Collat. p. 134. (and it is one of the weakest and ousness, of fraud and impiety, which, as Limborcli and Mr. Biscoe meanest things I remember in his writings,) that it was no small (p. fi.jO — 6G1.) have well proved, the action contained ; but also, on advantage to poor fishermen to be treasurers of so considerable a the whole, was wise and gracious, both as it served to vindicate bank. But nothing can be more unjust and unnatural, than to sus- the honour of the blessed Spirit, so notoriously affronted by this jiect that men who were so ready to sacrifice their lives to the attempt to impose on those wlio had been so lately and eminently cause ol truth and the happiness of mankind, should be capable of anointed by his extraordinary effusion, and farllicr, as it tendeil HE AND SAPPHIRA HIS WIFE ARE STRUCK DEAD. 447 y.eat fear came on all them affront that Divine Spirit under whose influence the apostles acted. And it answered its SECT. I hilt heard these things. gjjd, for great fear ca?)ie not only on the immediate spectators, but on all that heard the 10. c, And the young men report of these things. Then some of tlie yoicng and able-bodied men in the assembly :i)ch have huried thy be a fatal experiment to you both; for behold, the feet of those xvho have ]u&\. been bury- 'd^'slwU c"arry''thee oift?""^' ^^^S ^k'J husband, whom divine vengeance has already struck dead on this occasion, are wound him up, and arose, and perceiving there was no room to hope for the recovery of one who was struck acts ,ed /»« out, and buned ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ immediate act of the divine power, they bound him up in his mantle, V. without any further circumstance of mourning or delay, and carrying \_hivf\ out they " buried [/z/w.] And it was about the And after the interval of about three hours, his wife Sapphira also, who was absent 7 "whcin'ii^swurn'ot"kMwinff ^^^^ this happened, not lino-wing xvhat -was done, came in to tlie place in which they ■ wliatw.is done, came in. were assembled. And Peter, upon this occasion, said /y /^tr before them all. Tell me S 8 And Peter answered freely, Sapphira, with that uprightness which becomes a disciple of Jesus, ivhether you in- ye'^soid"^' the lanV^for so deed sold the land onXy for so much money as you kix)w your husband brought hither, much. And she said, Yea, naming the sum. And she said. Yes, it was sold exactly_/yr so much. Tlien Peter, by 0 '°9^Thln*^ Peter said unto ^° immediate impulse of the same Spirit which had before so awfully interposed, said unto her, How is it that ye have her again, Jfow is it that you have thus wickedly conspired together to tempt the Spirit agreed together to tempt of the Lord, as if vou had really suspected whether he were capable of discemintr the affair the Spirit of the Lord! "^ , ' •' , i , i ■ i. . i ■ i . ai u i ^ -ii Behold, the feet of them Or not, and were resolved to bring it to a trial t Alas, unhappy woman ! it will appear to which 1 husband """" even now at the door upon their return, arid they shall forthwith carry thee out, and lay thee by him in the grave. 10 Then fell she down And immediately upon this, she aho fell dotvn at his feet and expired :^ And the 10 straiglitway at his feet, and young men, wlio were just then coming in, found her quite dead in a moment; and IJ fht young m'cn^came Tn, accordingly they carried her out, and buried her by Ananias her husband. And great 11 1 and "lound iier dead, and y^,^,. came upon all the assembly, who were eye-witnesses of what had passed, and upon , A^w'by"^er'iuJband. ''"""'^ '?''/ Others that heard the report, which was soon spread abroad, of these things ; who j 11 And great fear came could not but acknowledge that it was the immediate hand of God by which they both j upon all the church and ^j^ ^ ^l ^ j^ ■ ^ in this awful dispensation. upon as many as heard "'^"J ""^ "'""• ^ J . r ? • ,i ir> ti'rse things. And many other stupendous s/gns and wonders were done ainong the people m the 12 VI And by the hands of j^^Qg^ public manner, by the hands of the apostles: And they continued in the strictest I signs and'wondere' wr "igh't fellowship and union with the whole company of believers, and were frequently all unani- I among the people ; (and mously together in that spacious building which we have already mentioned by the name cora in'"solomon's'\°r°h ^'^' '^'^ Salomon's portico, conversing together with the most affectionate expressions of mutual '^"i3 And' o"\Te'rest Vurst endearment. And none of the rest, who were not really converted to Christianity, pre- 13 no man join himself to sumcd to join himsclf to tkem^^ as some mean-spirited creatures might possibly otherwise ni'ried' thera!'"^ ^''"^'^ ™^^" have done for a while, in a low view of some transient advantage by a share in the distribu- tions that were made. But all the people had a mighty veneration for the apostles, and magnified them, with the highest expressions of reverence and respect, as persons who M And believers were were Owned by God in the most signal manner. And though the death of these two 14 the more added to the Lord, unhappy offenders terrified any from hypocritically joining their company, yet. the suc- Td women.) '"''" cess of the gospel was promoted rather than hindered by it, so that great multitudes both of men and women, believing their testimony, were so much the more \willingly'\ added in a solemn manner to the church of the Lord, and made an open profession of their faith ; wisely inferring from what had happened, how dangerous it would be to oppose or sup- is Insomuch that they press the inward convictions of their minds in a matter of so great importance, brought Vortli the sick into And they were farther animated to boldness in their profession by the many gracious 15 the streets, and^ kul rtfm injrp_cles which succeeded to this work of terror ; insomuch that, all along the most public at the least the^shadow'of Streets, they brought out the sick, and laid [if/ze;;?] at their doors on beds and couches, Peter passing by might when they were not able to walk; that at least the shadow of Peter, as he was coming "T^There'Tamf alT'a h> ^ight ovcrshadow somc or Other of them. And this extraordinaty faith was rewarded multitude out of the cities by the healing of many in that circumstance. l°m"'^b?h^"in"""ick"^ fo'ikt ^'"^ ^^ ^^^ f^"^^ °^ ^^^^ wonderful works spread abroad, multitudes also \ou{] of the 16 and them whifh were vexed cities round about came together to Jerusale7n, bringing the sick and those that were most effectually to deter any dishonest persons from joining the h None of the rest presumed to join himself to tliem.l Dr. Light- christians merely for the sake of a present alms, to which, by a foot explains this of the rest of the hundred and twenty, that they fraud like this, many might, on easy terras, have purchased a pre- durst not join to the twelve, or equal themselves to the apostles in tence, who would also, no doubt, have proved a great scandal to ofKce or dignity: (Lightf. Comment, in. lor.) But as there is no a profession taken up on such infamous motives. (Compare ver. 13.) mention of that number in this chapter, so (as Dr. Wliitby ob- This likewise was a very convincing attestation of the apostles' serves) they never joined themselves before to the apostles in this most upright conduct in the management of the sums with which sense; nor is this any where the meaning of the word xo>,x*i$«i, they were entrusted, and indeed, in general, of their divine which signifies, to associate or unite with, to adhere or cleave to mission; for none can imagine that Peter would have had the any, (Compare Acts ix. 26; x. 28; xvii. 34.) Beza would assurance to pronounce, and much less the power to execute, such a have it, that xi\\%t9ii signifies here, io attack or /ohcA, and that sentence as this, if he had been at the same time guilty of a much Xoijiwv, the rest, refers to their powerful enemies, as distinguished baser fraud of the like kind, or had been belying the Holy Ghost from the people: But that signification of xoxxaiJii is, as he ac- in the whole of his pretensions to be under his miraculou? influence knowledges, very unusual, and is here quite unnecessary. L'Enfant and direction. See Cradock's Apost. Hist. p. 27. and Reynolds' thinks the meaning is, that persons of distinction had not the re- Lett'r to a Deist, p. 245. solution to join them, whatever inward conviction tlit-y might g Slie also fell down—and erpifed.l To what is said before in have as to tlie truth of their doctrine. But after all, it is most vindication of tliis seeming severity in note f, we may add, that natural to understand it as if it had been said, " The people held such exemplary punishment of so heinous a crime was the more " them in distant admiration, and presumed not on any false pre- expcdient, as Christianity was now in its first rise. So, just at the "tence to join them, if not truly converted to their religion;" opening of the Mosaic institution, Nadab and Abihu were struck which, yet (as it appears by the next verse) many were who readily dead with lightning for a fault fas it seems) of much less aggra- came into a full and solemn profession of it, as indeed the late vated guilt : (Lev. s. 1, 2.) and the wisest human governments miracle was a glorious, though dreadful, demonstration of its generally act on the like principle. truth. 448 THE APOSTLES ARE IMPRISONED FOR PREACHING TO THE PEOPLE. SECT, troubled with unclean spirits ; who, by the divine power of Jesus working in his humble with unclean splits ; and 10. disciples, were all healed; as persons in the like circumstances had often been by Christ they were healed every oue. himself in the days of his flesh. So that the alarm which this gave to the enemies of the ACTS gospel, grew continually more and more painful to them, and occasioned some remarkable V- proceedings against the apostles, which will be related in the following section. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 5 Let us behold, with humble reverence, this awful instance of the divine severity, so well calculated to impress 1 1 the minds of these new converts, and to prevent any of those frauds which the charity of those who were most zealous in their profession might have occasioned in some otliers. Let us learn how hateful falsehood is to the God 4 of truth, and make it our care to avoid it ; and not only shun a direct lie, but the taking undue advantage from 5, 10 any ambiguities of expression, and, in a word, all recourse to the arts of equivocation. God only knows how soon such treacherous lips may be sealed up in eternal silence. 3 How does Satan delude the heart which he fills ! And how peculiarly fatal is the delusion, when he leads men to sins which especially affront the Holy Spirit of God : That Spirit rested on the apostles, and taught them to discover 9 the hidden things of darkness, so that tliey who tempted it fell in the attempt, and became a sign. May integrity and uprightness ever preserve us ! (Psal. xxv. 21.) And, while we avoid all the kinds and arts of dissimulation, let us peculiarly detest those which would offer a double insult to the God of heaven, by taking their dress from the religion which his own Son has planted. 13 The church is never happier than when the sons of falsehood are deterred from intruding into it. If its members are less numerous, it is a sufficient balance, that it is more pure. We see what singular miracles were done by the 15, 16 apostles; miracles equal, and in some respects, as it seans by these instances, superior to those which Christ per- formed in the days of his ministration here below. When will the happy time come in which men shall express as great a concern for their souls as they here did for their bodies ? When shall the streets and assemblies be filled with those who, from a sense of their spiritual maladies, shall apply to the ministers of Christ for healing ? Let it always be remembered, that M'hatever they do for this happy purpose, it is indeed their Master that does it by them ; and that all their most assiduous applications, separate from his blessing, can effect no more tlian the shadow of Peter could have done, if the power of Christ had not wrought on those over whom it passed. SECTION XI. The apostles continuing to preach to the people, are apprehended and ifnprisoned, and, after a tniraeulous deliverance, are drought before the Sanhedrim the next day, and scourged ; Gamaliel's advice prevailing to prevent any further extremities. Acts v. 17, to the end. Acts V. 17. acts v. n. Sii:cT. It was observed in the preceding section what extraordinary miracles were done by the THEN.the high-priest rose IL apostles in the name of Jesus, whom still, notwithstanding all the menaces of their rulers, "p. a"''."" """y ^}^^\ "''•'■e , , „ , ^ ,, . , 1, ,, 1 r- 1 • .■ r .1 "'th him, (wliicli IS tlie they contmued faithfully to preach, and to assure the people oi his resurrection from the sect of tiie Sadducees,) and ACTS dead, and of eternal life to be obtained through him. But this, as it might reasonably be were filled with indigna- ^- _ expected, drew another storm upon them : For the high-priest arising, as it were, with *'°° ' awakened and renewed fury, and all they that were with him, which was the sect of the Sadducees,^ who were especially devoted to his interest, and most offended at the doctrine of the resurrection, were filled with zeal and indignation against these men, who, as their enemies atfected to represent it, made so dangerous an attack both on their religious 18 and political establishmciit. And, in support of these unjust charges, they were de- is And laid their hands termincd to bring them to another trial before the Sanhedrim, and for that purpose laid J',"era"in 7i.'f common pri- their hands on the apostles, and put them into the common prison, where the vilest of son. malefactors were lodged.'' 19 But, that God might evidently show how impotent all their rage was against those whom i9 But the angel of tiie he determined to support, and that they might be emboldened with a becoming confidence J;Yson^^iooS'L.T'hrought to bear their testimony in the midst of oppositions and dangers, an angel of the Lord was them forth/and said, sent to them, who appearing in the midst of them by night, opened the doors of the prison, and, without giving any alarm to the keepers, or any of the other prisoners, bringing than out of tliat place of confinement, said. As God hath thus miraculously interposed for your 20 deliverance, neither flee nor fear ; but go, as soon as the gates are opened, and, presenting 20 Go, stand and speak yourselves boldly in the te?nple,s.s you did before you were seized, (however disagreeable an^'jfe words^of this hfer'*"' "the doctrine that you preach may be to those who believe nothing of a future state,) speak to the people assembled there at the hour of morning sacrifice, all the words of this glo- rious gospel with which you are charged, on which the eternal life of men so evidently depends, and by which alone their final happiness can be secured. 21 And the apostles hearing [this'] divine command, made no scruple immediately to obey 21 And when they heard it, and were so far from being discouraged by the fear of persecution, that, with au earnest (empk ear*iy\''irtiie"raorn! zeal to carry on the work they were engaged in, they went very early into the temple, ing, and taught.— a Tiie sect of the Sndducees.'] There is no .ie, and teaching the assembled there with 35 much freedom and confidence as ever ; which indeed does not ^''°'' *^' look like a clandestine escape, which could only have been made with a view of flight and concealment. 26 Then went the cap- Then the captain of the temple wod with the officers by the direction of the Sanhe- 26 tain with the officer, and drim, and having found the apostles in the temple, brought the?n away, but not by vio- &fU'r^T,cy 'feared \he lence,for they feared the people, lest, if they had ottered any violence in their presence, ■people, lesi; tliey should it might have SO provoked them that they should be stoned :'= For the people were so have been stoned.) f^jjy persuaded of a divine power engaged with the apostles, that they held their persons sacred, and would not have borne any open attack upon them. The apostles, on the other hand, were ready cheerfully to obey the summons, that they might repeat their tes- 27 And when- they had timony to their Divine Master. And accordingly the captain and those that attended him, 27 brought Uiem, they set MfBi -when they had brought them to the place where the council was sitting, made a report thrhigh-pHest asked thtS of what they had done, and set them before the Sanhedrim. And as soon as they ap- peared, the high-priest, singling out Peter and John, who liad so lately been examined 28 Saying, Did not we before them, asked them. Saying, Did we not strictly charge you two in particular but 28 strictly cnmraand you, that ^ very little while ago, and so in efTect all the rest of your company, that you should not, nanie'rAndhehold,ye"iiave on pain of our highest displeasure and the utmost rigour of the law, teach any more i>i. filled Jerusalem w'itii your this name of Jesus of Nazareth ? And behold, instead of regarding our admonition, or brhig "his mali-s'iblood up*^ showing any sense of the great lenity with which the court then treated you, you have on us. ' been more busy and more daring than before in your seditious practices, so that you have filed Jerusalem with your doctrine ; and it all centres in this, that you would bring the odium of this man's blood upon us, and would incense the populace against us, as if he were an innocent person whom we had murdered : So that it is no thanks to you, if we are not stoned or torn in pieces by them, for that act of necessary justice, for such it was, which we were obliged to do upon him. 20 Then Peter and the But Peter and [the rest of] the apostles, who were now all before them, answered 29 oMfi- apostles answered and ^^^^^ ^ -j O ve senate of Israel, von cannot but in your own consciences know, as we said, We ought to obey God , . , , , ■' , , ^ , . Z, , ■ 1 ,, 1 c j ^ / 1 rather than men. plamly declared Ijefore this assembly when we received the charge now reterred to, (chap, iv. 19.) that it is absolutely fit and necessary to obey the almighty and ever-blessed God 30 The God of our fathers rather than ?ncn, be they ever so great and powerful. We assuredly know^ and we 30 skwan7iia'',f'ed ona'tTee!'' testify it to you as we have been testifying to the people, that the God of our fathers " ' hath raised up Jesus his Son, whom ye slew in the most infamous manner that ye could invent, hanging him crucified on a tree, as if he had been the meanest of slaves and the 31 Him hath God exalted vilest of malefactors. But this very Person, notwithstanding aH the outrage with which you 31 ,Tri'ncI'imii^l^.fnn; 'for'fo trcatcd him, hath God exalted at his own right hand, [to bel a Prince and Saviour to give repentance to Israel, his people, to give repentance, or to send terms of peace and reconciliation by nim, even and forgiveness of sins. ,<„/(, Israel,"^ by whom he hath been so ungratefully insulted and abused, and to bestow 32 And we are his wit- on those that shall repent, the free and full retnission o/all their aggravated sins. And 32 c Tliey f tared the people, lest they should he stoned.} This may d To give repentance unto Israel.'] As repentance was not actually seem a surprising change in the people, considering the eagerness wrought in Israel by the efficacious grace of Christ, 1 think it cvi- with which they demanded that Christ should he crucified. But dent that ■5ouv3ti nirx^oixi here signifies lo ffivc place or room for re- it is exceeding probable, that seeing the mighty power which ;)f«/(7)if^, just as the same phrase does in Josephui, {Antiq. lih. xx. %vrought in the apostles, Uiey might entertain some hope of obtain- cap. 8. [al. 6.] ? 7.) where he says, that the Jews rising up at Ctesa- ing temporal deliverance by their means, (compare Acts i. G.) of rea in a tumultuous manner, the wiser people among them went to which they were so exceeding fond, and a disappointment in their intercede with the governor, 5ot««i ixirxmxt eki nu i:iT!^ayiii'e about to do to these men: For you cannot but know that several remarkable oc- so Tor before these days currences have lately happened which have awakened a great degree of public expectation [,"^seif t'o'i)e"so^mebwr"to > and regard ; and it may not be improper to recollect some of them at this crisis. You whom a number of men, particularly remember, that soine time aero one Theudas arosc,s pretendin"; himself to ^'^""' f""'' '"undred, joined / i 1- J I 1 J' ,.■ P 1 ± I- tlieniselves : who was slain, be some extraordinary person, to wliom a number of men, amounting to about four and all, as many as obeyed hundred, adhered; who, notwithstanding this, was himself quickly slain by the Roman '"'", ^vere scattered, and forces, and all who liearkened to him were scattered, and, alter all the boasting promises ''■'''"S''''- *° "ought. 3 7 of their leader, came to nothing. After him^ Judas the Galilean arose,' in the days of the 37 After this man rose up late enrolment, «/?f/ endeavouring, on the principles of sacred liberty, to dissuade the Jews j''''^^?,*^ Galilee, in the ,. ■ ,, ., .. /;. .1 1-, ■ ,1 , - , , , •' ,.-,, ^ , daysof the taxing;, and drew irom owning the authority ot the Romans in that instance, he drew a multitude of people away much people after after him ; and the consequence was, that he also himself was quickly destroyed, and '"'" = '"^ ='''*'' perished, and 38 all who had hearkened to him were dispersed.^ And therefore, with regard to the him! were'd"pe,Ud."^'^'''* present affair, I say unto you, and give it as my most serious and deliberate advice now 38 And now i say unto in the present crisis. Refrain from these men, and let them alone to go on as they can, 1^^^ and'^'ie" the°m alwir. neither siding with them nor violently opposing them; for if this counsel which they For 'if''/his'counsd or This are taking, or this^ xoork which they have performed, be of men, if it he merely a human ^''"'"'^ '^^ of^ men, it will contrivance and deceit, which we are not capable of proving that it is, it will soon sink and """^^ *^° nought.- e The Holy Spirit also, whom God hath given to them who submit, survivors might talk much of him, and Gamaliel might have been &c.] The testimony arisiug from this miraculous communication particularly mformed of his history, though Joscphus only men- ofthe Spirit to christians at that time, entirely removes the olijection tions it in general. Dr. Lardner, in his judicious remarks ou this from Christ's not appearing in public after his resurrection : for, had subject, has shewn that there were many persons of the same name there been any imposture, it had been easier of the two to have per- whose histories greatly resembled each other. See Lardner's Crcdib. suaded people at a distance that he had so appeared to the Jewish of Gosp. Hist. Part. I. Book. ii. chap. 7. rulers, or even to the multitude, and yet had been rejected, than that ' h After him.'] Bos has taken great pains, in his note on this text, he had given his servants such extraordinary powers ; since, had this (Excrc. Sacr. p. 75—78.) to shew that Actra rourov may signify besides assertion been false, every one might have been a witness to the him, and even before him, in this connexion with i;;o rouricv n^iE^v, falsehood of such a pretence, without the trouble and expense of a which he would fender, of late days. (Compare Acts xxi. 38.) This Journey to Jerusalem, or any other distant place. he observes in favour of his interpretation of ver. 36. which he^sup- f Gamaliel.'] This was the elder of that name, a man in so great poses to refer to the Theudas of Josephus, whose insurrection he honour among them, that Onkelos, the auWior of the Targum, is thinks must have happened before this speech of Gamaliel. — But as .said to have burnt seventy pound weight of perfumes at his fune- Beza and many others have abundantly proved that this wouM ral : Nay, it is said the honour of the law failed with him. If he quite overturn the chronology either ofSt. Luke or of Josephus, I were really, as he is reported to have been, the author of those conclude that the very indeterminate expression, 1155 rourwvu^isfwv, in prayers against christians so long used iu the Jewish synagogues, the preceding verse, is most safely rendered, some time ago, which, he must have lost that moderation of temper v.hich he manifested especially in an assembly of aged men, (as no doubt many of this here; perhaps exasperated at the growth of the new sect, and the council were,) might well be used in reference to an affair which, testimony so boldly borne by the apostles. He was Paul's master, though it happened more than 20 years before, must be fresh in (Acts xxii. 3.) and no doubt he informed that headstrong youth most of their memories. (See Dr. Lardner's Credibility, Part. I. (for such he then was) of what now passed, and of many "other Book ii. chap. 7.) And as Judas might arise after Theudas, though things which rendered his sin in persecuting tiie christians so much the same enrolment might (as is supposed in the preceding note) the more aggravated. See M'its. Meletem. cap. 1. \ 1.3. p. 12, 13. occasion the insurrection of both, I see no need of departing from and Mr. Biscoe, At Boyle's Led. chap. iii. \ 0. p. 77, 78. the usual rendering of the preposition u-ira. in this construction, g One Theudas arose.] As the Theudas mentioned by Josephus which every body knows is generally used to signify after.— To {Aiitiq. lib. XX. cap. .y [al. 2.] ? 1.) under the character of a false connect fyLirx rourov with the preceding verse, (a.s some propose,) is proptiet, (who drew a great number of people after hiin, with a quite unnatural in grammar, as well as disagreeable to fact, promise of dividing Jordan before them, but was defeated and be- i Judas the Galilean arose.] Josephus's account of this Judas headed, most of his followers being also slain or imprisoned,) ap- Gaulonites, as he is generally called, may be seen in the beginning peared when Fadus was procurator of Judea, that is, according to of the xviiith Bool', of his Antiquities. Capellus, seven, 01 according to Dr. Whitby, at least ten years afler k All who had hearkened to him were dispersed.] Dr. Lardner this was spoken, there can be no reference to him here. I am justly observes this does not imply they were dcslroyed, and ima- therefore ready to conclude, with Dr. Lightfoot and Basnage, gines, that though Gamaliel would not directly assert it, yet he in- (whose opinion Dr. Lardner has so learnedly defended,) that among sinuatcs, (agreeably to his principles as a Pharisee,) thiit perhaps the many leaders who, as Josephus assures us, {Antiq. lib. svii. cap. Judas the Galilean, as well as the apostles, might be actuated by 10. [al. 11.] ?• 4 — 8.) took ui> arms in defence of the public liberties, some divine impulse, and that in one instance as well as the other, when the grand enrolment and taxation were made by Cyrenius in the doctrine might survive when the teachers were taken oil". (See *^"f "^ys of Archelaus, (see note b, on Luke ii. 2. p. 18.) there was one Lardner's Credibility, Part \. Book ii. chap. I. \ 3.) But the argu- called Theudas, which (as Grotius observes) was a very common ment will be good on the common interpretation ; and, .as the word name among the Jews. — He seems to have been supported by here used, ^iETxoji;i59j!f«v, especially in this connexion, most naturally smaller numbers than the second of the name, and (as the second implies a calamitous and di.iappointing dispersion, I apprehend that, aiierwarrts did) perished in the attempt: but, as his followers were had it been intended in the sense my learned and much esteemed nuperscit and not slaughtered like those of the second Theudas, friend ^uppo.see, the present tense would rather have been used. THEY ARE DISIVIISSED, hVT CONTINUE TO PREACH JESUS CHRIST. 451 come to nothing of itself ; some incident will arise to discredit it, and the whole interest of sect. this Jesus xi'/ll mou/der cnvaj/, as that of TheuJas and of Judas did, which seemed to be 11. 39 Butifitbeof Ood, ye much more strongly supported by human force. But, on the other hand, if it he really' miot overthrow it ; lest w^^ cause of God, which docs not appear to me impossible, 3^0?^ cannot with all your power acts li 'ni^a^aiust God.*^ ""''" '° and policy dissolve it; but, even though these particular instruments should be taken off, v. '" ' "' ' he will undoubtedly raise i:p others: And it will certainly become you, in regard to your 39 own safety, to be particularly cautious, [and take heed] lest you not only lose the benefit of any deliverance which may be intended for Israel, but also be youi-selves found even ficrhters as;ainst the power and providence of Almighty God ; an undertaking which must prove infinitely fatal to all who are so rash and unhappy as to attempt it. 40 And to liim they And as the council were unable to elude the force of what Gamaliel said, the?/ ijielded 40 . agreed: And when they hucl fg him, acknowledging that his advice was safe and wise: And having called in the hellen Mfm,"''they^' com- apostlcs, and Ordered them to be scourged and beaten with rods in their presence, that in roanded that they should some measure they might vent their indignation, and might expose them to disgrace and not speak in the^iainc i>f gjj^^jj^g^ fj^(,y strictly charged them, as they had done befor6, (chap. iv. 18.) not to speak Jesus, an e icra go. ^^^ ^^^^ ^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^ of Jcsiis, if they would not incur yet severer punishment; and^ having threatened them with what they must expect if ever they were brought before them for the same crime again, they distnissed them for that time. 41 And they departed Thus were the apostles sent away: and, far from being terrified by all the cruel usage 41 from the presence of the they had met with, or by the threatenings of their adversaries, they departed from the pre- councii, rejoicing^thaniiey ^^^^^^^ of the sanhedrim, rejoicing that they were so honoured in the course of Divine TuX Ji'ilniVfor irna'rac/' Providence as to be counted worthy to suffer for Christ, and to be exposed to infamy for the sake of his venerable and sacred name ; rightly judging that a punishment of this kind, . _ though generally shameful, becanie a glory to them, when borne in so excellent a cause, ■ and for the sake of him who, though so divinely great and so perfectly happy, had submit- 42 And daily in the tern- ted not only to stripes, but to death for them. Instead therefore of obeying the order of 42 pie, and in every house, |^]^g rulers, they grew SO much the more courageous and diligent in spreading the gospel : anZ.re^l'cifjesu's Chri^T'' And every day, from morning to night, they ceased not to pursue this great work, but took all opportunities to preach in the temple, though within sight of the sanhedrim, and among many of its chief members, who being obliged by their office often to resort thither, must frequently see and hear them; and^X other times, between the seasons of public wor- ship, they were engaged privately //w?/ hotisc to house ; and on the whole, one way or another, it was their constant business to teach and to preach Jesus as the Messiah, and to proclaim with unspeakable pleasure the good news of life and salvation given to sinners by him : The sanhedrim, in the mean time, by the special providence of God, suffering them to go on, and affecting to overlook them as beneath their notice, though still with a secret rancour, which at length broke out into the extremest violence. IMPROVEMENT. Which shall we survey with the greater surprise, the continued courage of the apostles, or the continued malice Ver. of their persecutors? Again they seize them, again they imprison them; but how vainly do these feeble wonns, 17, 18 amidst all the pride of dignity and power, oppose the counsels of Omnipotence! The angel of the Lord opens the door of their prison, and leads forth his faithful servants to renewed liberty : An 19 office which this celestial spirit could not but perform with delight ; and it was, no doubt, with unutterable plea- sure that he gave them their errand, to go and publish with undaunted freeflom and zeal the words of this life, of 20 this gospel, which enlivens dead souls, and points out tlie road to an happy immortality. Oh that the folly of those who have heard it, had never converted it into a savour of death ! Yet behold, the council renewed the attack ! The same madness which instigated the Jews to seize Jesus when21— 2G they had been struck to the ground ]jy his miraculous power, (John xviii. 6.) animated these wretches to contrive the destruction of persons whom God himself had just before rescued from their hands ; as they had formerly plotted that of Lazarus, (John xii. 10.) who had, by a yet more astonishing wonder, been recaJled from the gi'ave. To what fatal extravagances will not prejudice hurry the mind! Against what convincing evidence will it not harden it! Ye shall, says our Lord, be brought before councils for my sake ; and it shall be for a testimony against them. (Matt. x. 18.) And such was tliis repeated admonition vvhich these holy prisoners then at the bar gave to the 29 judges of Israel : Still they urge the divine authority of their mission, still they proclaim him as head of the church and world, whom these very men had so lately crucified in so outrageous and contemptuous a manner. They point 30, 31 to him whom these priests and rulers had insulted on the cross, as now exalted at the right hand of God, and urge them to seek repentance and remission of sin from him to whom they had denied the common justice due to the 'meanest of men, the common humanity due to the vilest of criminals in their dying moments, giving him in the thirst of his last agonies vinegar mingled with gall. (Matt, xxvii. 34.) Thousands of the people had fallen under this charge, and Jesus the Prince had taken them under his protection, Jesus the Saviour had washed them in his blood. But, by what is too frequently the fatal prerogative of greatness, these princes of Israel had hearts too high for the discipline of wisdom, and were enraged against these humble 33 ministers of the Son of God; who nevertheless addressed them with all the respect which fidelity would allow, and could gladly have poured forth their blood for the salvation of those who so cruelly thirsted for it. They gnashed on these faitliful ambassadors with their teeth, as if they would have devoured them alive ; and justly will gnashing of teeth be the eternal portion of those who thus 'outrageously reject the counsel of God against themselves. (Lukevii.-30.) But God raised up a guardian for the apostles where perhaps they least expected it, and the prudence of Gamaliel 34 for a while checked the fury of his Isrethren : So does God sometimes use the natural good sense and temper of those 2g2 452 THE TWELVE INSTRUCT THE L»1SCIPLES TO CHOOSE SEVEN DEACONS. SECT, who do not themselves receive tlie gospel, for the protection of those who are faithfully devoted to its service. Ga- 11. maliel had attentively observed former events ; which is indeed the way to learn the surest lessons of wisdom, which are to be learnt any where but from the word of God. He had seen some ruined by theii- seditious zeal ; and ACTS let those who call themselves christians, take heed how they rashly rise up against legal authority, lest, taking the V- sword, they perish by it. (Matt. xxvi. 52.) Judiciously does he admonish the council to take heed lest they he '^'^ found fighters against God. May divine grace ever guard us from that fatal error into which all who oppose the "gospel, whatever'^they may imagine, assuredly fall ! They cannot indeed dissolve it, but they dash themselves in pieces against it. Br wise therefore, O ye kings ! he instructed, ye judges of the earth ! (Psal. ii. 10.) 40 For reasons of state the apostles were to be scourged, though their judges were inwardly convinced that it was at least possible their message might be divine. Deliver us, O Lord, from that policy which shall lead us to imagine any evil so great as that which may offend thee ! The punishment which these excellent men suifered was infamous, but the cause in which they endured it rendered it glorious : nor could those stripes be half so painful to their flesh, as an opportunity of thus approving their fidelity to their Lord was delightful to their pious souls : Well might they triumph in bearing the scourge for him who bore the cross, and died on it for them. Let us arm ourselves with the same mind, if in a severer sense than this we should be called for his sake to resist unto blood. SECTION XIL The choice of the seven deacons. Stephen preaches Christ, and, after disputing with some of the Jewish Societies, is hrought heforc the Sanhedrim. Acts vi. 1 — 12. Acts vi. 1. acts vi. i. SECT. Now in those daijs of which we have been speaking, and some time after the fact last And in those days, wlicn 12. recorded had fallen out, the number of the disciples heing multiplied, there arose a mur- '^:j'^^Z{(L\\t'":''^o.l muring of the Hellenists or Grecians, that is, of those converts to the gospel who, being a murmuring of the Gre- ^f;"^^ foreign Jews, and coming from the western countries, used the Greek language in their sy- cnji^s^agamsUlie^Hebr^v^^^^ ^ '■ •] nagogues and in their conversation,^ against the Hebrews, who were natives of Judea, and .leglecfed 'hi"^ the A^yiymt used the Hebrew or the Syriac tongue ; because, as they were strangers at Jerusalem, and nistration. had not so much interest as the natives, some of their necessitous widows were in some degree at least neglected^ in the daily ministration of the charities that were distributed to the poor members of the church. And as the apostles were concerned, though not alone, in that distribution, (the money raised as above by the sale of estates having been brought to them,) they were solicitous to obviate all those reflections which might fall upon them on this occasion, as they might otherwise in some measure have affected their usefulness. 2 ylnd the twelve apostles having called the multitude of the disciples together,'^ com- 2 Then the twelve called municated to them, and said. It is by no means proper or agreeable that we, who have an j,\'^,""„t^'"','^c,';,''^ and'^sa'd^ office to discharge of so much greater weight and consequence, should leave the important Jt is not reason that we care of dispensing the word of God, to attend the tables of the poor, and see who are ^^T^d serve HbleT'^'' "' served there ; and yet this we must do in order to prevent these complaints, unless some ° ' '"^ ^'^''^'^ '^ '^ further measures be taken by common consent. Therefore, brethren, as you easily see 3 AVherefore, brethren, how inconvenient it would be to suffer this care to lie upon us, and how inevitably it {^^^^^l^""^) ^^e's! Report' would render us incapaljle of attending to the proper duties of our office, it is our united full of the Holy Ghost and request to you, that you looh outfrG7n atnong yourselves seven 7ncn^ of an attested cha- wisdom, ^*'^^™^''^^"^y "P' racter, full of the Holy Spirit and of approved wisdom, whom we may by common '^""^ "^^"^ ' '^" *^' consent and approbation set over this affair,'' and who may make it their particular busi- 4 ness to attend to the management of it. And we, in the mean time, being freed from this 4 But we will g;ive our- great incumbrance, -loill constantly attend to prayer and to the ministry of the word, fJa?o''the' m'ulstry''o7\he which is our grand busmess, and which we could be glad to prosecute without interruption, word. a Grecians, that is, foreign Jews, &c.] This, for reasons understand, not (as Dr. Lightfoot imagined) the rest of the hun- vvhicli may be seen at large in Dr. Benson's History, appears to nie dred and twenty, but the whole body of christian converts, they by far the most probable of the seven opinions mentioned by Fa- being the persons to whom satisfaction was then due. briciiis, (in his Bibliotli. Grtsc. lib. iv. cap. 5. note fj, Vol. ]"ll. p. d Seven men.'] Mr. Mede tliiuks this an allusion to the seven 220.) as well as that which is generally allowed by all the best com- archangels, whom he supposes the great courtiers of heaven ; and menlators. (See Critic. Mtign. in loc.) That of iVIons. Fourmont, many other texts produced in support of Uiat rabbinical opinion. Hist. Acad. Hoy. Vol. 111. p. lo:j.) that they were Syrians, depends seem almost as little to the purpose as this. on uncertain and innprobable conjectures, either that the Acts were e Whom we may set over this affair.'] I apprehend the apostles written in Syriac, or tXXnvitTxi road for bXwt'xi, persons belonging to speak here of what was to be the joint act of themselves and the Helena, Queen of the Adiabeni. (See Wolf. !/i /oc.) As there v^ere whole church, as, to be sure, after they had exercised the trust for so many Jews who used the Greek translation of the Bible, who a while, it would have been most indecent to have devolved it on miglit therefore very properly be denoted by this word, it is ex- any but such as they should have approved.— It is a maxim with me tremely probable their united interest should be in question on in this work, to meddle as little as possible with controversies about such an occasion, and not merely that of those who came from church-order and government, or any other circumstantial points Syria. Ccza interprets the word as denoting only circumcised that have unhappily divided the Protestant world. Yet I hope I ■prnselytes ; but 1 think without any reason. See Drus. jn /oc. sliall give no oirence by observing, that no just argument can be b Their widows were neglected.] The apostles undoubtedly drawn from the actions of the apostles, with their extraordinary acted a very faithful part in the distribution of money raised by powers and credentials, to the rights of succeeding ministers desti- the sale of lands : (See note c, on chap. iv. 37. \ 10. p. 440. ( But, as tute of such powers and credentials. It would however have been Lord Barrington well observes, {Miscell. Sacr. Abstract, p. 11.) they happy for the church in every age, had its ordinary ministers taken could not do all things. Perhaps they intrusted some who had the same care to act in concert with the people committed to tlieir been proprietors of the estates sold, who would naturally have some charge, and to pay all due deference to their natural rights, which peculiar regard to the necessity of their neighbours as being best the apostles themselves, extraordinary as their commission and acquainted with them ; and, if any suspicious arose as to the sin- office was, did on this and other occasions. — —The three grand ca- ccnty of their character, and the reasonableness of their preten- nons, that all things should be done dfcfn^/y, j'n c/inr%, and /o ff(///f- sions, these strangers would [cateris paribus) bo least capable of cation, duly attended to, would supersede the necessity of ten giving satisfaction. thousand which have been made since, and perhaps, if rightly 0 Having called the multitude of the disciples together.] Dr. weighed, would be found absolutely to vacate a great part of Whitby has solidly proved on this head, that by these we are to them, SEVEN DEACONS ARE CHOSEN AND ORDAINED. 453 5 And tlic saying \)lcase(l Wie w hole niultituile ; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of tlie Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Pro- cliorus, and Nicanor, and Tinion, and Parmeuas, and Nicolas a piuselyto of Autioch : Ct Whom they set before the ai)ostlcs : and when they had prayed, they laid i/ictr hands ou them. 7 And the word of God increased ; and the number of the disciples multiplied ill Jerusalem greatly ; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. s And Stephen, full of iUi and power, did great 'i^Klersand miracles among ■ people. And the speech the apostles made xoas pleasing to all the muUdadc who were called sect. together upou this occasion ; and having deliberated a little upon the choice that was to be 12. made, they elected seven to be set apart to the office of deacons, whose names were as fol lows: There was Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holi/ Spirit,' of whose heroic acts character and glorious end we shall presently have occasion to speak; and Philip, who ^ ^^ long continued an ornament and blessmg to the church, being at length raised to a yet ^ higher character ; a}id Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, who was not a Jew born, but a proselyte of Antioch^^ whona they were more willing to fix in this office, as his peculiar relation to the Grecians would make him especi- ally careful to remedy any neglect of them which might insensibly have prevailed. These G were the persons in whom they chose to repose this confidence ; and accordingly they pre- sented them before the apostles. And thei/ having prayed that a divine blessing might attend all their ministrations and care, laid [fheir"\ hands upon them, that so (hey might not only express their solemn designation to the office, but might confer upon them suclt extraordinary gifts as would qualify them yet more abundantly for the full discharge of it. And the consequence was, that the matter of complaint being thus removed, and the 7 apostles more entirely at leisure to attend to the great and peculiar duties of their office, the word of God grew, and the number of disciples in and about Jerusalem, was greatly 7nultiplied; and m particular, what might seem very surprising, a great multitude of priests became obedient to the faith ^^ notwithstanding all those prejudices which they had imbilDed against this new doctrine, from the scorn with which the great and the noble generally treated it, and the loss of those temporal advantages which they might be called to resign out of regard to it. And Stephen, having for some time discharged the office of a deacon with great honour j and fidelity, was raised by Divine Providence and grace to the superior honours of an Evangelist and a martyr,' and was enabled in a very extraordinary manner to confirm the doctrine he taught ; for, being full of grace and ofpower,^ and eminently qualified for the performance of wonderful things, he wrought many extraordinary miracles and great signs among the people. But, notwithstanding all the miracles that were done by him, there arose some of the 0 synagogue which is called {^thatl of the Libertines, as having been the children of freed- men, that is, of emancipated captives or slaves,' and \^somc~\ of the Cyi-enians and Alex- andrians, and of them who were natives of Cilicia and Asia, who endeavoured to prevent the success of his preaching, by disputing with Stephen,^ and arguing with him concern- ing his doctrine. And though they had an high opinion of their own sufficiency to manage 10 the dispute, yet such was the force of his reasoning, that they were not able to stand against the wisdo7n and spirit with which he spake, the Divine Spirit itself guiding his thoughts and animating his expressions, which raised him far above the strength of his •1 Then there arose cer- (liri ciC I he synagogue which i^ called the syndgogue of (lie Libertines, and Cyre- iiians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia, and ol Asia, disputing with Strphen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom ami the spirit by which he ■^IKike. f Stephen, a man full of faith, c^r.] Mr. Fleming (in his Cfiris- tology. Vol. II. p. 16li.) endeavours to prove that Stephen was one of the Seventy, but it seems quite a precarious conjecture. The termination of most of these names makes it probable they were Hellenists; a supposition which also agrees very well with the occasion of their election. g Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch.'] Some ancient writers tell us that he fell into error in the decline of life, and became the founder of the sect of the Nicolaitans, mentioned. Rev. ii. 6, 15. (See Euseb. Ecclcs. Hist. lib. iii. cap. 29; and Iren. lib. i. cap. 26.) But it seems much more probable that the founder of this sect, considering how common the name was, might be some other person so called, or else (as M. L'Enfant conjectures) that some of his words or actions, being misinterpreted, might be the occa- sion of seduction under the authority of so venerable a name as his. We may observe by the way, that it is evident the word proselyte here signifies one who by circumcision had entered himself into the body of the Jewisu people ; for none imagine Nicolas to have been what is commonly called a proselyte of the gate, no uncircumcised persons being yet admitted into the chris- tian church. h A great multitude of priests, S)-c.'] We learn from Ezra, chap, iii. .30 — 39. that four thousand two hundred and eighty-nine priests returned from the captivity, the number of which was now pro- bably much increased. 1 see no foundation in the authority of any ancient copies, for reading, with Casaubon, xn t-wv u^tm, and explaining it as if it were, xoti nvts n.i ie^ekv, and some of the priests. It is indeed wonderful that a great multitude of them should em- brace the gospel, considering what peculiar resentments they must expect from their unbelieving brethren, and the great losses to which they must be exposed in consequence of being cast out of their office : (as it is not to he imagined, that when christians were cast out of the synagogues, they would be retained as temple- ministers :) But the grace of God was able to animate and support them against all. And it is very probable, the miracle of rending the veil of the temple, and the testimony of the guards to the truth of the resurrection, (which some of the chief of that order heard, and might perhaps he whispered to some others,) might cnnlribute considerably toward their conversion, in concurrence with the miraculous gifts and powers of the apostles, the most convincing proofs of which they saw before their eyes in their own temple. Some would render toXu? o%X5f, a numerous body, as if it intimated, that, after nuilual conferences with each other, I hey agreed to come over in n bodij ; whirh might be the case: but as the original does not determine that positively, I have kept to what seemed a more literal version: For which reason also 1 cannot, with Ileinsius, render oxXos iejedv, many priests of the lower rank. i The superior honours of an Evangelist, &c.] It plainly ap- pears from the foregoing history of the institution of the ollice. that it was not as a deacon that he preached ; but the extraordi- nary gifts of the Spirit he received, eminently qualified him for that work : And no doubt, many christians not statedly devoted to the ministry, and whose furniture was far inferior to his, would be capable of declaring Christ and his gospel to strangers in an edify- ing and u.seful manner, and would not fail accordingly to do it, as Providence gave them a call and opportunity. k Full of grace and of power.'] So many valuable copies read X=(i-ircs instead of Tritnus, that I thought myself obliged to follow them. See Dr. Mill, in loc. I Libertines, as having been the children of freedmen, &c.] Grotius, Salmatius, Basnage, Vitringa, and many oUier illustrious writers, generally agree in the interpretation given in the para- phrase; for the illustration of which, most of them remind us that great numbers of Jews taken captive by Pompey, and carried into Italy, were (as Philo tells us, Oper. p. 1014.) set at liberty, and obtained their freedom from their masters. Their children, there- fore, would be libertini, in the proper sense of that word : agree- ably to this, the Jews banished from Rome by Tiberius (who arc mentioned both by Josephus, Antiq. lib. xviii. cap. 3. [al. 5.] ? 5. and Suetonius, Tiber, cup. 36.) are spoken of by Tacitus, Annat. lib. ii. cap. 85. as of the libertine race, who might easily constitute one of the 480 synagogues said to have been at Jerusalem. (Sec Dr. Lardner's Credibility, Pari I. Book i. chap. 3. \ 4.) When so natural a solution offers, it is hardly worth while to inquire after Altingius's Nethinim, or Cademan's it^suJ, that is, persons speaking Hebrew, or the Libcrtinus, whom Mains (agreeably indeed to the Syriac) supposes to have built this synagogue. But the curious reader may, if he pleases, see a farther account of their opinions, and that of some others, in Wolfius's notes on this verse. —Dr. Hammond and Mr. Biscoc (chap. iv. \ 4. p. 103.) take them to have been such Jews as were free citizens of Rome : but 1 do not remember to have seen the word libertini used in that sense. m Disputing vnth Stephen."] As the most considerable syna- gogues in Jerusalem had each a kind of academy or college of young students belonging to it, instructed under some celebrated rabbi, it is no wonder such nurseries should afford di-^puhints like these spoken ol here- 454 REFLECTIONS ON THE CHOICE OF DEACONS AND THE DUTY OF MINISTERS. SECT, natural genius, and made him indeed a wonder to all that heard him. (Compare Matt. x. 12. 20 ; and Luke xxi. 15.) T/ien, as they found they were incapable of defending themselves by fair argument, tliey ii Then they suborned A ACTS had recourse to a most mean and dishonest fraud ; for t/ie?/ suborned men ^o depose and |^;';;j/{;!^l' snefk Yi'ii,?- '^ VI- sail. We heard him, even this very Stephen, spcalc blasphemous words against Moses, ^ous words against Moses, ^ ^ and [eigainst] God himself," the great Author of that religion which Moses taught us by and against GOd. command from him. 12 And as the law required that a blasphemer should be stoned, (Lev. xxiv. 16.) they stirred 12 And they stirred up 7ip the people, and the elders, and the scribes, especially those who were in stations of aild 'Ih^laM^bll V^'d'clm'.; authority, against him; and setting Jipon [/^/?«,] they violently seized and dragged him upon /«/m, and caught him, axvay with them, and brought l^liim'] to the sanhedri7n,\vh\chv{d&i\\ensAimgyQXiAi\\exe^ »'"! brought him to tne in presence of their liighest court of judicature, they prosecuted the atlair to an issue which "^^""^^ • will be described in the following sections. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 1 We see how diflficult it is, even for the wisest and best of men, to manage a great multitude of affairs without ia- 2 4 convenience and without reflection. It will therefore be our prudence not to engross too much business into our own hands, but to be willing to divide it with our brethren, with our inferiors, allotting to each their proper province, that the whole may proceed with harmony and order. 1 Let us be solicitous that nothing may be done through partiality ; especially let those avoid it who are entrusted with the distribution of charities. It is a solemn trust, for M'hich theij- characters at least are to answer to the world now, and they themselves must ere long account for it to God. Let them therefore be willing to be informed of the truth of particular cases, willing to compare a variety of them, and then select such as in their consciences they are persuaded it is the will of God they should in present circumstances regard, and in such or sucli proportion prefer to the rest. 3 In religious societies it may be highly proper that, after the example here given in the apostolic age, deacons, or persons to perform this office, should be elected by the society, in concurrence with their ministers. It is their business to serve tables. Happy those societies who make choice of men of an attested character, and of those who appear, by the virtues and graces of the christian temper, to be in that sense full of the Holy Spirit. While these good men are dealing forth their liberal contributions, (by which, while Christ has any poor mem- 4 bers remaining, we are still to testify our love to him,) let ministers devote themselves with all attention to prayer and to the ministry of the word. Let those who would administer the word with comfort and success, remember of how great importance it is that it be watered with prayer, falling upon it as the fonner and as the latter rain ; and especi- ally see to it, that, by the constant exercise of lively devotion in secret, in their families, and on other proper social occasions, they keep their graces vigorous and active ; that, living continually in such a state of nearness to God, they may be qualified to speak in his name with that dignity, tenderness, and authority which nothing but true and elevated devotion can naturally express, or can long retain. 7 Let us adore that efficacy of divine grace whereby a multitude of the Jewish priests were made obedient to the faith ! and let us heartily pray, that if there are any who claim a sacred character, and yet, out of regard to M'orldly honour or interest, oppose the power and purity of the gospel, they may be convinced by the influence of the lilessed Spirit, that they can have no interest in contradiction to the truth, and that they are happy in purchasing, at the highest price, that gospel which may enrich them for ever. 9 In whatsoever station we are fixed, whether in the world or the ghurch, let us always remember our obligation to plead the cause of the gospel, and to render a reason for the hope that is in us. If this engage us in disputation with men of corrupt minds, we must still holdfast the profession of our faith without wavering, knowing that he is faithful that has promised. (Heb. x. 23.) 1 1 The vilest charge may, as in this instance, be fixed upon the most worthy men ; piety may be defamed as blas- phemy, and that which is the true love of our country, as treason against it : But there is one Supreme Lawgiver and Judge, who will not fail, sooner or later, to plead the cause of injured innocence. And when we read of this vile attack tliat was made by perjury on the character and life of Stephen, we may take occasion to adore that wise and powerful Providence which so remarkably exerts itself to defend our reputation and our lives froift those false and venomous tongues which, were it not for that secret, invisible restraint, might, like a two-edged sword, so quickly destroy both. SECTION xm. Stephen, being accused before the sanhedrim of blasphemy, begins his vindication of himself from that charge. Acts vi. 13, to the end; vii. 1 — 14. Acts vi. 13. Acts vi. 13. SECT. It was observed in the last section, that those Jews who had been confounded by the force And set up false \vitncs.ses, 13: and spirit of Stephen's argument and address, had brought him before the sanhedrim •, and ''l^l''''^2t'io Ipcak"biasp*'he- while he stood before them as a prisoner, they set up certain /(7/.?e witnesses who said. This p,o„s words' again.st tliis .■ CTS cletestable man is incessautli/ speaking blasphemous words against this holy place in holy place, and the law. which we now are, that is, against Jerusalem and the temple, and likewise against the VI. 14 divinely-inspired /rtw, as one that has no reverence at all for its authority. J^o/- we ourselves h For we have hoard have heard him saying, that this same Jesus of Nazareth, whom he celebrates so much 'j^j'^^^J^y,; t'l'^i/dcstro'yth"! upon every occasion as the long-expected and desired Messiah, having been rejected and pjac'e, and shall change the crucified by your authority, in concurrence with that of the whole Jewish people, shall customs which Moses de- nevertheless destroy this city and this holy place ; and, in consequence of that, shall n Blasphemous uords against Moses and agninet God] See note a, on clmp. vi. 1 ). in tlu- next page. STEPHEN BEGINS HIS VINDICATION BEFORE THE SANHEDRIM. 455 entirely change the rites and customs which Moses delivered to ms,* and put an end to SECT. the whole authority of his law. 13. )6 And all tlmt siit in the A/id, at the very instant that this heinous charge was advanced against Stephen, all council, looking stedfastly f/idf ^vere sitting ill the sau/icdri/ii as his judges, fixi/iff their eyes upon him, saw a acts on liim, SoW his nice as it . . ,. '^ / • , .1 ^ ■» j ;•; ji j /^ -sm had been the lace of an surprising radiancy upon /US countenance, so tiiat it appeared tike the countenance of an * i- angel. angel -^^ God being pleased to crown the natural benignity, sweetness, and composure of 15 Ij his aspect, with a refulgent lustre, like what those celestial spirits have sometimes worn when they have appeared as messengers to men. Acts vii. 1. Then said Nevertheless, the council proceeded against him, and the high-priest, without any par- acts tliiii"'s'so i'" '^'^^' ^^^ *^'"^*'^ ticular notice of it, said with an affected calmness, as to a common criminal on his trial, Are VII. ° ' these things indeed thus as these witnesses have deposed ? Thou art permitted to make thy 1 defence, and this is thy time to speak ; if therefore thou hast any thing to offer in thine own vindication from tliis charge of blasphemy, v/hich the witnesses have so expressly advanced against thee, plead it, and the court will patiently attend to what thou hast to say, before it proceeds to sentence. 2 And he said, Men, bre- And upon this Stephen began a large discourse,<= in which, in the softest and most in- 2 thren.aiid faUiers, hearken : offensive manner, he Solemnly declared his firm persuasion of the divine authority of that nnto our \t1ier Vbra^iara, law which he was charged with blaspheming; and proved to them from their own when he was in Mesopota- scriptures, that God's gracious regards to his people were not limited within the bound- Charra'n^*^"'^'^ '''^ '^"'^" '" ^"^^^^ of that land, nor appropriated to those who were subjected to the Rlosaic ritual ; at the same time reminding them of some instances in which they had ungratefully rejected those whom God had appointed for their deliverers, that they might be cautioned against repeating the fault in this instance to their final ruin, he therefore traced the matter to its original, and said. Men, brethren, and fathers, I beseech you all, whether old or young, whether of greater or lower rank, to hearken to me while I offer these things,- which may not only serve for my own vindication from this unjust charge, but may likewise remind you of some important particulars which it is your highest interest in present circum- stances seriously to consider. It is well known to all of you, that long before our law was given, or the place in wliich we stand had any peculiar sanctity, the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, by some resplendent and majestic symbol of his pre- sence, while he was yet with his idolatrous ancestors in Mesopotamia, (Gen. xi. 31.) be- fore he dwelt in Charran, which for a while lie did, after he had removed his abode from 3 And said unto him, Get Ur of the Chaldeans, which was the land of his nativity. In this idolatrous land it was 3 tiieeoutof thy country, and that God appeared and said to him. Depart from this thii native country, and from thy from thy kindred, and come , ■ , , S' ,. , ^ c ^ ■ 1 c .1-11 i • l into the land which I shall Kindred, who are now alienated from my worship, and come away from this land, which shew thee. for SO long a time has been the seat of thy family, into a pleasant and excellent land which I xuill show thee, and to which, by my extraordinary interposition, I will guide 4 Then came he out of thee, though thou at present dost not know either its situation or its product. Then 4 and dn"eu°in Cha^ran'^-'^and Abraham, Strange as this command might seem, with all submission readily obeyed it ; from thence, , when his' fa- and departing from Ur in the land of the Chaldeans, he dwelt for several years in ther was dead, he removed Charran, having been led by divine conduct hither, and not immediately receiving a ye"now'dwel'l. ' signal to proceed any farther : But, by another call from God, he was directed to depart from Charran ; and accordingly /5'o;« thence, after his father died,^ he, (that is, God,) a Shall change tJie customs witicli Moses delivered to us.] I see no it, and shew the propriety of the circumstances introduced. Dr. reason to believe that Stephen knew the mystery of tlie abolition Benson has illustrated it in a large and very judicious manner, iiK of the 3Iosaic law, which the apostles do not seem immediately to his History, Vol. I. p. 123 — 135. which I shall leave the curious have understood; and it is much less probabVe that he openly reader to consult. I only add, that had not Stephen been interrupted taught what Paul himself many years after insinuated with so by their fury, it is probable he would have added some other ar- rauch caution. (Compare Gal. ii. 2.) This therefore seems to hare tides, and have summed up the discourse in sucti a manner as to been the inference they drew from what he taught of the destruction shew that the main design of it was to humble that haughtiness of he denounced on the jews if they continued in their unbelief. But spirit which occasioned their rejecting Jesus and his gospel. it was a very precarious inference, as the city and temple had been d After his father died.'] iVIany passages in Stephen's speech destroyed before without any repeal of the law, and therefore they have been objected to, as contradictory to the account given of the were false witnesses. same facts in the Old Testament. I can by no means acquiesce in b Like tlie countenance of an annel.'] Grotius, Brennius, L'Enfant, the answer which some have given, that Luke's inspiration only and some others, interpret this as a proverbial expression of the secured to us an exact account of what Stephen said : for it seems majesty and beauty of his countenance, arising from a transport of very unreasonable to suppose, that on so extraordinary an occasioi\ inward joy, in the consciousness of innocence and expectation of the Spirit so expressly promised in such circumstances, (even to the glory, though he had so cruel a sentence and execution in view: Seventy as well as to the apostles,) should leave him to frequent (Compare Gen. xxxiii. 10 ; 1 Sam. xxix. 9; Eccles. viii. I ; and and palpable slips of memory, into which it is not probable any in- Esth. [.Apoc] XV. 13.) And upon this the translation of 1727 takes telligent christian minister would now fall in a like circumstance, the .strange liberty of rendering it. They saw an air of mnjestij in It seems therefore much more honourable to Christianity to sup- his aspect. But, with Dr. Hammond and Benson, I rather think pose, that if there are any passages here which cannot be reconciled there was a supernatural splendour, as on the countenance of Moses, with the passages of the Old Testament to which they refer, (which Exod. xxxiv. 29. It was indeed a most astonishing instance of most that have been objected to certainly may,) it is owing to some the incorrigible hardness and wickedness of their hearts, that they error of transcribers, from which, as it is plain from various read- could murder a man on whom God put such a visible glory, similar ings, even £he copies of the sacred books have not always been se- to that of their great legislator : but perhaps they might ascribe it cure, as without a continued miracle it is impossible they should. to magic ; and we know how little they made »if other miracles, But as for what is here urged, as if it were inconsistent with the truth of which they were compelled to acknowledge. Compare Gen. .Ki. 26, 32 ; xii. 4. from whence it is argued, that as Terah was Acts iv. 16. but 70 years old when Abraham was horn, and Abraham but 75 c Stephen began a large discourse.] Le Clcrc, with a mixture of when he departed from Haran, these make no more than 145 years; rashness and w^eakness, into which he frequently falls in his re- but Terah lived to l>e 205, and so must have lived 60 years after flections on scripture, not understanding the true scope of this Abraham left Haran : whereas Stephen affirms that Abraharn went excellent discourse, presumes to censure it as containing many not from thence till rt/Vfr his father died : In answer to this, it is things not to the purpose, as well as many slips of memory, though well observed by Mr. Biscoe, (chap, xriii. p. 595—600.) that this it is expressly said, (ver. .55.) that Stephen was full of the Holy objection is built upon an unproved supposition that Abraham Spirit when he delivered it. I am persuaded that it will be ad- was Terah's eldest son, or that he was born in his 70th year ; not to mired by all that well understand it, and hope the hints 1 have insist on the solution which is offered to this difficulty by Le Clerc, given in tiie paraphrase will lead the reader into the true design of Knatchbull, Capellus, and others, that, according to the Samaritan 456 JOSEPH BEING SOLD BY HIS BRETHREN, GOD ADVANCES HIM. SECT, by the singular interposition of his providence, caused him to remove his habitation into 13. this land in ivhich you noto dtvell. And yet upon his coming into Canaan, he gave him 5 And he gave iiim none no present inheritance in it, not so much as the dimension of his foot, or a piece of land inheritance in it, no not so ACTS which he might cover with the sole of it ; for the little portion of it that he could call his "ef he* Jromled tiut^he ^^^- own, he held by purchase, and not as by any claim of divine donation: Nevertheless would give it to him for a 5 he promised to give it for a \d&\.m^ possession to him, even to his seed after him,^ token P'?^*"^ss',on. and to ins seed | [as 7/et,'\ by the way, he had no child, and, humanly speaking, it was not likely he ever had no child. ^'^ should have one : but the faitli of our pious ancestor triumphed over all these seeming difficulties, and joyfully embraced the divine revelation and promise. 6 And when God had brought Abraham into this country, he did not keep him and his 0 And God spake on this posterity here till the time they were to enter upon the possession of it in consequence of ^^i^*- ^^^^}- '■''* ^'^^^ should this divine grant, but, on the contrary, God spake [to hi?n'] thus in a vision, (Gen. xv. aud"that"tiieythoufd bri'u"' 13, 14.) " That his seed should sojourn and be strangers in a foreign land, and they f'em into bondage, and en- " among whom they sojourn shall enslave and abuse them ; and these events, with the yeTrs ''''"" *^^'' four hundred " circumstances preparatory to them, shall extend themselves to the full period of four 7 " hundred years/ And the nation to which they shall be enslaved,'" said God in the 7 And the nation to whom same oracle, " I will assuredly Judge, and punish with a righteous and tremendous seve- tiiey shall be in bondage, " rity : And afterwards they shall come out of that land, and serve me in this place, I7icrVha't°slian'\l?e°y come " inhabiting this land in whicii thou now dwellest, and erecting a temple for the perform- forth, and serve me in this 8 " ance of my worship here." This was God's promise to him while he was vet uncir- l^'o'^';' , , . • „ • J 7 • a I- c 1. 1 1 ■ 11 1 xi j^ r ^ A"" "^ S^"^^ him the cumcisea ; and in connrmation ot it he gave nun, as you well know, the covenant of covenant of circumcision: circumcision, a sacred rite, which, far from blaspheming, I revere as the solemn seal of this =>"'! ^° Mruham begat Isaac, contract between God and Abraham : And so being circumcised himself as soon as God cWhth'day'-^and Ismc 6ft required it, (Gen. xvii. 23, 24.) he quickly after begat Isaac, and circtimciscd him also 3"t Jacob, and Jacob hegat on the eighth day, according to the divine appointment ; and Isaac [begaf] Jacob, and ^'"^ twelve patriarchs. Jacob [begaf] the twelve patriarchs, wlio were the respective heads of our twelve tribes of Israel. 9 And in those days the providence of God began to work for the accomplishment of that 9 And the patriarchs, surprising prediction which I mentioned but now : For the rest of the patriarchs, though '""^'et} with envy, sold Jo- their relation to such holy ancestors might have taught them a much better lesson, being was with'liin^,'*^^* ' "'^ ° moved with envys at the superior regard which Jacob showed to his favourite son, most inhumanly sold Joseph their brother into Egypt, where he became a slave, and went through a great variety of calamities : Nevertheless God -was xvith him there, though no longer in the promised land, and made that country a scene of very glorious providence 10 towards him. And he there delivered him out of all his afflictions which his integrity lo And delivered him mt and piety had brought upon him, and gave him favour and high veneration, on account °[ ^", ^'"^ afflictions and of that distinguished wisdom which appeared to be in him, in the sight of Pharaoh, Jang dom in the sig\?t of Pharaoh, of Esypt ; and he constituted him ruler over the land o{ Egypt, and in particular over '''ngof£gypt;andhemadc all his royal house, committing all things in the palace, as well as elsewhere, to his di- ind afrhiThouse!" ^"^^^' rection and management, even to the management of this despised Joseph, whom his bre- thren (then the whole house of Israel) had most outrageously insulted and abused, and even sold for a slave. 11 ^«^, according to the predictions of Joseph, which had awakened so great an attention, 11 Now there came a when seven years of plenty were past, a famine came upon all the land of Egypt, and '^1^}^ "anlj ^ Canaan'"ainl extended itself over Crt«af7« too ; fl«r/ this calamity reduced them to such ^r(;'fl'/"fl/^//f//o« great affliction"; and our and distress, that they knew not how to subsist, and even in tliis fruitful land our fathers f^fiers found no sustenance. 12 did not find sufficient sustenance to support themselves and their families. Hut Jacob, 12 But when Jacob heard hearing that there was corn in Egypt, ordered his sons to go and fetch them a supply that there was corn in from thence, and sent our fathers, the ten patriarchs, thitlier _y?/-.?/, keeping Benjamin titer ''first-^'^"' out our fa- 13 with him at home. A7id the second time that they went, when, sorely against his 13 And at the second good father's will, Benjamin accompanied them, Joseph was made known to his bre- '^'""^ Joseph was made thren : and as the matter was immetliately made public, the family and descent 0/ j"sepiVs\in(] red wa" made Joseph was discovered to Pharaoh, of which he had not been particularly informed known unto Piiaraob. before. 14 ^«c/ upon this, with the full consent of that generous prince, /oifyV^ «•«/ r7/;r/ »jD/VtY/ 11 Then sent Joseph, copy, Terah lived but 115 years.^ Cladcnius's solution, built on in the text quoted from Exodus, refers to the whole period of the the distinction between xiroixEiv, so/oKrni'ni/, and ij.froi)iui, fixing his sojourning of Abraham and his family in Canaan and Egypt, as abode there by the purchase of a sepulchre, seems too mean a sub- strangers in those lands ; whereas this promise being made but a tcrfuge to be particularly discussed. little before Isaac's birth, and the prediction taking place from that e i:ver). to his seed.'] The particle xtti so often signifies even, that event, must include only J05 years, which might in a round sum I think it much more natural to render it thus, and to consider this be yet more easily and properly called four hundred. See Bishop clause as explaining- the former, in order to avoid that express con- Patrick on Gen. xv. 13. and Dr. Whitby, in loc. tradiction which seems to arise from translating it as we do. g Being moved with envy.'] From wliat Stephen mentions of the f Four hundred years.'] Many good critics suppose that this is story of Joseph, it was obvious to infer, (as many good writers have raeniioned here, as well as in the text from which it is quoted, (Gen. observed,) that the greatest favourites of heaven might suffer by XV. 13.) as a round sum, without taking notice of the broken nmn- the envy of those who were called the Israel of God, and might be her, the exact time being four hundred and thirty years, as IMoses exalted by him after having been rejected by them : A thought determines it, Exod. xii. 40. with whom the apostle Paul agrees, worthy of tlieir consideration with respect to Jesus; but it would Gal. iii. 17. For Abraham was 75 years old when he came into not have been proper directly to insert such a reference in the Canaan, (Gen. xii. 4.) which being considered as the beginning of paraphrase, as prudence would not allow Stephen, in the beginning the period, from thence to the birth of Isaaj; was 25 years; and of this finely-adjusted defence, to say expressly what they could Isaac was sixty years old when he begat Jacob', who went to Egypt not have borne to hear, as appears by the manner in which they at 130 ; which numbers added together make 215 years : and from relented his application of these premises when he was drawing to- thence to the time of Israel's departure from Egypt was 215 years wards a conclusion, more. (See Joseph. Antiq. lib. ii. caji. 15. [al. C ] i 2.) But Moses, REFLECTIONS ON THE REMARKABLE FACTS MENTIONED BY STEPHEN. 457 and called his father Jacob /lis aged fat/icr Jcicob, and all /us kindred, to /^/w, into Egypt 5 who accordingly went siiCT. to /((HI, ami all his kindred, (Jown thither in a company, anwitnting, in the whole, together with their wives, to seven- 13. tj/-Jive souls,'' without reckoning Jacob himself, and Joseph's family already there. And thus their sojourning in that land began, during which they were still under the care of acts Divine Providence, till the time of their return to Canaan approached, of which I shall ^ '^J- presently speak. IMPROVEMENT. Thus loud may the clamour of malice and falsehood rise against innocence and truth. Incessant blasphemy is acts charged on one of the most pious of men ; and we wonder at it the less, since it was charged upon Jesus himself; ^ '■ and, iftlunj called the viastcr of the house Beelzebub, ho-w much marc those of his household ! (Matt. x. 25.) ^^' ^'^ His disciple learns of him not to render evil for evil, but answers in the language of calm reason, and of meek wi.'i though powerful conviction. While Stephen leads back our contemplation to so many remarkable facts of the Old Testament, let us reflect upon them with those devout affections which become the Israel of God. Let us adore the God of glory that appeared to Ver. Abraham, and called him forth to be so bright an example of faith and piety, in leaving his country and kmdred, to 2 — 5 follow the leadings of Providence, when he knew not in what settlement they should end. Let us, in imitation of him, whose children, if true believers, we also are, sit loose to every thing in this world, that we may be ready to leave it when God shall, by one providence or another, give the signal for our remove. If the next step of duty lies plain before us, let us trust our Leader to mark out all that follow, in such an order and to such an end as he shall think fit ; secure of this, that while we follow Infinite Wisdom, we cannot wander out of the way to true happiness, and that all the divine promises shall certainly be accomplished, whatever cross event may seem to inter- pose and obstruct. When God appointed that the seed of Abraham should sojourn and suffer in a strange land, the pious patriarch 6, 7 acquiesced in it : nor let us be over-anxious about the difficulties into which our posterity may be led. Let us adore the divine goodness, that he has established his covenant with us, and with our seed after us ; and while we, 8 in imitation of Abraham, bring our infant offspring to receive the same solemn seal of that covenant, let us remember our engagements to instruct them, as they grow up, in the tenor of it, and labour to the utmost to engage their own personal consent to it; and then they will be tiuly rich and free, though in the penury of a famished land, or under 11,12 the rod of an Egyptian tyrant. The mysterious conduct of Divine Providence with regard to the pious Joseph, who became a slave that he might 9, 10 be made a prince, and who was trained up for the golden chain in the discipline of iron fettei-s, may surely be suffi- cient to teach us to judge nothing before the time, and to wait the end of the Lord, before we arraign the seeming severity of a part of his conduct towards those whom we might imagine the most proper objects of his regard. And surely it will appear none of the least considerable of those rewards which Providence bestowed on the approved and distinguished virtue of Joseph, that he had an opportunity of nourishing his pious father in his declining days, of 13, 14 spreading a mild and pleasant ray over the evening of a life which had been so often beclouded with storms, and of sheltering (as it were) under his princely robe, that hoary head which had once been turned into a fountain of tears over the bloody fragments of the many-coloured coat. SECTION XIV. Stephen proceeds, in his discourse before the Sanhedrim, to cmancrate several other facts in the Jewish history, all tending to the purpose of his own vindication and their conviction. Acts vu. 15 — 36. ACTS vii. 15. Acts vfi. 15. So Jacob went down into STEPHEN, while he stood before the council with the radiancy of countenance taken sect. Egypt, and died, he and j-^Q^j(.g Qf above, proceeded in his discourse, and said, I have observed to you, brethren I'l- our d lers. >abbath. b This is he who was in tlie assembly in the wilde^-ness.l When which was among the heathens Saturn's day; have said inany ex- this clause is quoted, as it has been by some very great men, to itravagant and ridiculous things in honour of that P ='n^.t; A'"'' ■ prove that Christ was the person who brought Israel out of Egypt, ' CapcUuS hints at this interpretation too. But the words ol the pro- eave Uiem the law, conducted them through the wilderness, &c. phet, and of Stephen, so plainly express the making ot images, ami the argument from thence is certainly inconclusive : for ou7o? here the pomp of their superstitious processions, (see Young, Un juol'.i- evidently answers to ourot, ver. 36. and to ourot » M. that he might have the honour to Jind a more stable and splendid dwelling for the God of Jacob; and with this view he consecrated a considerable part of the spoils which he 47 had taken from the enemy towards erecting it. But as he was a man of war, and had 47 But S'°„"^' u'ey'^lfa^'c slew those that spake before, and published the glad tidings of the coming of that slain them which shewed Righteous One,^ of whom you should have heard with delight, and whom you ought to before of the coming- of the , f' . , .,,- , *^, ,, ■,r\^t.^c\ -4 J Just 0-ne, of whom ye have have received with the most humble reverence and joyful consent ; but of whom, instead i,gg,j ^^^^ ^1,^ betrayers and of protecting and honouring him, you have now become the perfidious betrayers and the murderers: cruel murderers ;' For by you his death was contrived, by you he was condemned, by yovi the sentence was evtorted against him, and execution urged and obtained : Whicii i Beyond Babylon, into countries more distant, &c.] Thus Dr. J Which of the prophets did not your falhers pnsncule ?'\ I .see no Prideaux, Connect. Vol. I. p. l.'i. reconciles Stephen's quotatiim with reason to conclu(le from hence, that many scriptures containing- the ^ .the original in Amos, where it is said, beyond Damascus; and 1 find history of these persecutions are destroyed by the Jews, as Mr no solution more natural. But Beza, observing these words to be AVhiston maintains: (t^ssai/ for Restonni;, S;c.p. ^3H.) It is natural quoted in Justin Martyr according to the Hebrew, thinks the to understand this in a limited sense, only as intimating tliat most original reading here accidentally changed. of them suffered such unworthy usage ; and we know that atlempls g The tabernacle of vitness.'] As Stephen had been accused of were sometimes made to cut off all t!ie prophets of .Jehovah at blaspheming the temple, he with great propriety takes occasion to once: 1 Kings xix. 10, II. Compare 2Cbron. ^xvi. 16. speak of their sacred places with due reverence, as raised by spc- k That Righteous One.'] Christ was by way of eminence callc- , , , . f 11 f -B"' '''«' icing full of tke Jl&iif Spirit, was by no means terrified with the evil which 55 the Ho"y Ghost.'looked up seemed to be determined against him ; but looking up stedfastly totvards heaven, he saw, stedfasiiy into heaven, and f^ a most dcliglitful visionary representation, even while he stood in {heir court, a bright Sesus sLfS on t'^^e'^dg^ symbol of tJe glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And being 56 hand of God: unable fo contain his joy, he cried out in a sacred transport, and said. Behold, even now ,-, 56 Andsaid, Behold I see j^^^ ^f^^ heavens opened,"^ and the Son of man, that glorious Sovereign whom you con- Son o7ma'nstandin'-j on the dcmned and murdered, stand at the right hand of God,'^ where he shall ever reigu to save right hand of God. hjg people, and at length to execute full vengeance upon his enemies ; as he himselt solemnly warned you, when, like me, he was your prisoner. (Matt. xxvi. 64.) 1 iu Then they cried nut And this declaration and reference provoked them to such a degree, that cri/ing out with 57 ' with a inud voice, aud slop- f ^ voice, that they mis;ht drown that of Stephen, the?/ stopped their own ears, as if i^ctl tiicir curs snu r3n upon *^'- ? jo i ' ^ j i ' liira with one' accord, they could not bear to hear such blasphemy as they conceived he had spoken, and furiously 58 And cast him out of rushed tipou him with one accord: Ancl casting him out of the city by a gate which 58 the city, and stoned him : yf^^ J^gJ^f \^q place where the sanhedrim sat,^s soon as they had got wilhotrt the boundaries their 'clothe"a\^ a' younfj of that sacred place, which they judged it Ti' profanation to stain with human blood, they man's feet, whose name was stoned him ;P and the two witnesses whose hands were first upon him to put him to death, ^^"'- (Deut. xvii. 7.) laid down their upper garments at the feet of a young man whose name was Saul, who willingly took the charge of them, to show how heartily he concurred with them in the execution. 59 And they stoned Ste- And thus they stoned Stephen, who during this furious assault continued with his eyes 59 phen, calling upon Gtid, fixed ou that glorious vision, /wDoAvV/g- his great Lord, ffwrf *r/y/«o', Lor had said this, he fell asleep, j^iows, tjsing, as well as he could, into a praying posture, and bending his knee^he cried ■ out with a loud though expiring voice, O Lord, charge Jiot this sin to their account with strict severity proportionable to the weight of the offence ^ but graciously forgive them, as I lo from ray very heart! And when he had said this, he calmly resigned his-soul into his ra ViTongh ranks nf nngch.l It seems evident from Heb. ii. 2 ; rally represented sitting, but now as slandiRg at God's right hand ; and Gal. iii. 19. that God made trse of angels as the instraments of that is, as risen up from the throne of his glory to afford help to his forminsr the voice heard from Mount Sinai. And, so far as I can distressed servant, and ready to receive him. judge of the~^e»med Eisner's arguments, in his dissertation against p They stoned him.'] This seen.-5 (like the stoning Paul at Lystra, Cocceius on this head, from Wolfius's ab.stracl of them, he seems to chap. xiv. 19.1 to have been an act of popular fury, and exceedmg have the advantage ; but this text is so properly rendered ?^ro!/j/i the power which the Jews regularly had ; which, though it .might ranks of angels, ^in Sixrxyx; xyri\-,:y,) that I apprehe'^d nothing can have extended to passing a capital sentence, (which yet we read no- be argued from hence but that they gxaced the solemnity with thing of here,) was not sufficient (so far as I can find on the mpst their presence. Grotius explains it thus, justly observing that it is careful renewed examination of all Mr. Biscoe has urged) for car- a military word. Heinsius has taken great pains to prove what Va- rying it into execution without the consent of the Romans. The tablus hints, that the word ayytx^.-^ here, as well as in the places Jews were more than once ready to stone Christ, not only when, by quoted above, signifies messengers, that \s,prophefs, and that Si-xrxyxs their own confession, they had not power to put any one to death, is to be traced to a Chaldee etymology from i^jijo-i, a copy or ex- (John xviii. 31.) but when noth.iiig had passed which had the sha- plication, as if it had been said, " The law has been copied out dow of a legal trial. (Compare John viii. 59; x. 31. et sei;.) How " and expounded to you by a series of prophets." But had this far they now might have formed those express notions of what the learned critic seen how easily these expressions, as here translated, rabbles call the judgment of zeal, I know not ; but it is certain may be reconciled with the supposition that Christ, as the great they acted on that principle, and as'if they had thought every pri- angel of God's presence, presided while troops of angels assisted, vate Israelite had, like Phinehas, who is pleaded as an exanaple of (as, independent on these texts in the New Testament, it is certain it, a right to put another to death on the spot, if he found him in a they did, see Psalm Ixviii. 17.) he would cot have had recourse to so capital breach of the divine law ; a notion, by the way, directly con • forced an interpretation. trarv to Deut. xvii. 6. which requires at least two witnesses lu ca- n I sec the heavens opened.] Witsius declares it as his opinion, pital cases where there is a legal process. See Dr. Lardner's Cre- (MisceU. lib. i. cap. xxi. } 6.) that the heavens were really divided, dib. Part I. Book i. chap. 2. Vol. I. edit. 3. p. 112—120. Dr Ben- JJX^ rendered transparent, so that the throne of Christ's glory there son suggests some probable reasons which might induce 1 ilate became visible. But, not to insist on many other improbable circum- (who probably still continued procurator of Judea) to connive at stances attending this hypothesis, it would then have been a miracle this great irregularity and outrage. Hist, of Chrislianitij, p. 137. if all that were present liad not seen it; for on such a declaration q Invoking and saying, &;c.] This is the literal version of th.c they would naturally look up. It is much more reasonable to sup- words cnixxxwu.it'yt xn y.iyMTx, the name of God not being in the pose he saw a visionary representation, God miraculously operating original. Nevertheless such a solemn prayer to Christ, in which a on his imagination, as on Ezekiel's when he sat in his house at Ba- departing soul is thus solemnly committed into his hands, is such an bylon among the elders of Judah, and saw Jerusalem, and seemed act of worship as we cannot believe any good man would have paid to himself transported thither: (Ezek. viii. 1—4.) I say miracu- to a mere creature. Bp. Burnet ( On the Articles, p. 48.) justly lously operating ; for the imagination is not itself capable of per- observes, that Stephen here worships Christ in the very same man- forming any such wonders, whatever some very ignorant of human ner in which Christ had but a little while before worshipped the la- nature, or disingenuous enough knowingly to misrepresent it, may ther on the cross. i ■ i • • i fancy. 1 am very ready to conclude, with Mr._ Addison, that r Charge not this sin to their account.'] The words in the original, other martyrs, when called to suffer the last extremities, had extra- ju»i tr-mr,; xv-rot; r>iv «/x«e"** Txvrr.t, seem to have an emphasis which, ordinary assistances of some similar kind, or frail roortality could though I have hinted in the paraphrase, (as well as I could without not surely have endured the torments under which they rejoiced, multiplying words to a degree that in this circumstance would and some'times preached Christ to the conversion of spectators, and, have been very improper,) I could not exactly a»4-naturally ex- in some instances, of their guards and tormentors too. See Addison, press in the version. U is literally, Weigh not out to ihem tins sin; ■ Of C/iristianity, chap. vii. ? 5. that is, a punishment proportionable to it ; alluding (as Eisner well o Standing at the right/iand of God.] Mr. N. Taylor (in his ex- observes,) to passages of Scripture where God is represented as eel lent Discourse of 'Deism, p.' G9.) observes, tliat Christ is gene- weighing men's characters and actions in the dispensations of his >.. a^,f^^ ^^^— • ^ ^"-^ y '-A.|-#^ 464 REFLECTIONS ON THE CLOSE OF STEPHENS SPEECH, AND HIS DEATH. SECT. Saviour's hand, and, with a sacred serenity in the midst of this furious assauU, he sweetly 15. fell asleep', and left the traces of gentle composure rather than of horror, upon his breathless • corpse. ACTS J/id Saul, the young man mentioned above, at whose feet the witnesses laid down their Acts viii. i.— And Saul V'"- clothes, was so far from being shocked at this cruel scene, that, on the contrary, he was «'''■''' '■""*^"^'"S ""*" '"' ^ well pleased with his slaughter; being so full of rage and malice against the christian "'^ '"" name, that he thought no severities could be too great for those who tnus zealously endea- voured to propagate it. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 37 Thankfully must we own the divine goodness in having fulfilled this important promise of raising up a pro- phet like Moses, a prophet indeed far superior to him whom God's Israel is, oh^ the highest penalties, required to hear. May we be all taught by him, and ever own that divine authority which attends all his doctrines and all his 38 commands ! By him God has given us lively oracles indeed, that may well penetrate deep into our souls, as being well contrived to animate them, and to secure their eternal life. But O, how many of those who have heard of him, and been baptized into his name in a more exj^ress man- 39 ner than Israel was baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, (1 Cor. x. 2.) refuse to hearken to him, and in their hearts turn back into Egypt ; being guilty of practices as notoriously opposite to his precepts as 40, 41 the idolatry of the golden calf to those of Moses! Long did the patience of God bear with Israel in succeeding ages, 42, 43 while the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of Remphan diverted their regards from the worship of their living Je- hovah : but at length he gave them up to captivity. Well liave we deserved, by our apostasy from God, to be made 44 proportionable monuments of his wrath ; yet still he continues graciously to dwell among us : and while the Jewish 47 tabernacle, formed so exactly after the divine model in tlie mount, is no more, and while the more splendid temple 48, 49 which Solomon raised is long since laid in desolation, the Most High God, superior to all temples made with hands, infinitely superior even to heaven itself, continues still to favour us with his presence, and condescends to own us for 52 his people, and to call himself our God. Let us take the most diligent heed that we be not uncircumcised in heart and in ears, and that we do not, after so fatal an example, resist the Holy Spirit, and, by rejecting Christ, incur a 53 guilt greater than that of the Jews, who violated the law received through ranks of attendant angels ; for that milder and gentler form, in which this divine Lawgiver has appeared to us, will render the ingratitude and guilt of our rebel- lion far more aggravated than theirs. The reproofs of the holy martyr Stephen were indeed plain and faithful, and therefore they were so much the 57 more kind ; but instead of attending to so just and so wise a remonstrance, those sinners against tlieir own souls stopped their ears, Jift up an outrageous cry, and, like so many savage beasts, rush upon him to destroy him; over- 50 whelming that head with stones which shona like an angel of God : Fatal ins-tance of prejudice and of rage ! But how were all the terrors of this murderous crew, when armed with the instruments of immediate death, dispelled by 59 the glorious vision of Christ at the right hand of God ! Well might he then remain intrepid, well might he com- mend his departing spirit into the hands of his Divine Saviour, as able to keep what he committed to him until that day. (2 Tim. i. 12.) Let us with holy pleasure behold this bright image of our Redeemer, this first martyr, who following so closely his recent steps, (as he suffered so near the place that had been the scene of his agonies,) appears to have imbibed so much of the same spirit. Having thus solemnly consigned his soul to Christ, all that remained was, like Christ, to CO pray for his murderers ; full of compassion for their souls while dying by their hands, he only said, Jjord, lay not this sin to their charge ! and then gently falling asleep, expired in holy composure and serenity of soul, and slept sweetly in the^ soft bosom of his Saviour. 58 "0 Saul, couldst thou have believed, if one had told thee while thou wast urging on the cruel multitude, while thou wast glorying over his venerable corpse, that the time should come when thou thyself shouldst be twice stoned in the cause in which he died, and triumph in having committed thy soul likewise to that Jesus whom thou wast now blaspheming ! In this instance his dying prayer was illustriously answered : In this instance the lion lic-s down with the lamb, and the leopard with the kid; (Isa. xi. 6.) and it is most delightful to think that the martyr Ste- phen, and Saul, that barbarous perseciitor, (afterwards his brother both in faith and in martyrdom,) are now joined in bonds of everlasting friendship, and dwell together in the happy company of tliose who have washed their \ robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev. vii. 14.) May we at length be joined with them, \ and in the mean time let us glorify God in "both ! , '. : , ' i- : SECTION XVI. The christian converts, being dispersed by persecution, go into other parts and preach the word. Philip the deaco7i goes to Sa?naria, where many embrace the gospel, as Siiuon the sorcerer also professes to do, and u?/. that profession is baptized. Acts viii. 1 — 13. Acts viii. 1. acts viii. i. SECT. -^^D in that very day in which this inhuman murder Avas committed on Stephen, who And at timt time tiipie 16. led the van in the glorious army of martyrs, there was a great pct\m -, and tiicy ACTS rity with which ^/iC7/ we/r pursued by their malicious enemies, that rr// the principal mem- ^^cre all Maiteied abuud • ■.,. 1 £- lU I 1- 7- 111 1 ii ■ /• -r 7 1 CI ■ ■, 1 throiiE^liout tlie rpffions ot VIII. Iiers ot the cliurch were dispersed through tlic regions of Judea and hamaria^ except judea" and Samaria" except 1 the apostles, who with undaunted resolution were determined to continue at Jerusalem, tiic apostles. I . justice and providence. Compare 1 Sam. ii. .3 ; Jobxxxi.O; Prov. went to Damascus, chap. ix. 10. wliile otliers, after tliey )iad M ' xvi. 2; Isa. xxvi. 7; Dan. v. 27. See Eisner, Ohserv. Vol. I. preached the gospel in the nciKlibouring parl,s, travelled on lo p. .■S).1, 39G. i'hccnicia, and Cyprus, and Autioch, chap. xi. 19. a Tlicrj were all dispersed, S(c.'] Perhaps it was then that Ananias PHILIP GOES DOWN TO SAMARIA AND PREACHES CHRIST UNTO THEM. 4G0 how extreme soever their danger might prove, that they might there be ready to serve the sect. interest of the church as there should bo occasion. IC. 2 And devout men carried A/id Stephen was no sooncr left for dead, but certain devout men^ had the courage to Stephen lo his bvrial, and gi^Qw themselves Openly as the friends of that holy and excellent man, vi'hose blood had acts "er him.'^"' '''""""''''°" been so unrighteously shed ; and accordingly gathering round the corpse while it lay ex- Vill. posed to public infamy and abuse, they carried Stephen furih [to his 6iirial'\ with solemn ^ funeral procession, and made great lamentation for him, mourning that the church had lost so excellent an instrument of usefulness, though he himself was so much a gainer by it as to be the object of congratulation rather than condolence. 3 As for Saul, lie made But Saul, whom we mentioned before, like some furious beast of prey, made havoc of 3 havoc ot the churcli, enter- ^y^^ church without mercy,*^ not only breaking in upon public assemblies, but entering luilin's ''nien and women, into houses, and dragging from them, without any respect either to age or sex, 7nen and committed tliem to prison, women, \yvhom'] he committed to prison for no protended crime but that of having em- braced the gospel. 4 Therefore they that Nevertheless God overruled all this cruelty and rage to subserve his own wise and 4 ■were scattered abroad ,^weiit gja^jQ^g purposes: for thei/ xvho Were dispersed went about into several ^dLii?,, preaching every w itre p >ic i )„ ^^^^ xvord'^ wlierevcr they came; and in many places they were remarkably successful, to which the consideration of their being persecuted for conscience-sake might in some measure help to contribute. 5 Then Philip went down And we have particularly one instance of it in Philip the deacon f who, after the death 5 to the cityof Samaria, and of his beloved brother and associate Stephen, came to the citi/ of Samaria ;' and know- preached Christ unto them. .^^ ^^^^^ ^jj ^jjstjjj^^tio^ between the people of that country and the Jews was now removed, c And the people with {vecXy preached Christ unto them, and proclaimed hhn as the promised Messiah. And the G one accord gave heed unto ^ j^ inhabited that city, notwithstanding their natural prejudices against the Jews, those thinffs which 1 hihp " i ,i ,, ■ ,j, ? j n; ■/• j/ i i spaUe, hearius and seeing unanimously attended to the things that -were spoken by ifhiiip; as they not only the miracles which he did. /leard the rational, convincing, and pathetic words which he spake, but were eye-witnesses crying °with"aTo'ud*voice| of what he wrought in Confirmation of his doctrine, and saw the astonishing miracles came out of many that were which he performed. For unclean spirits, which had possessed many, crying -with a 7 many ' taken 'titif''Vals'ies'! ^°"''^ ■voicc, came Old of them at Philip's command ; and many others who were paralytic and that were lame,' were and lame, and laboured under the most obstinate disorders, were immediately healed. And 8 •>f^a'ed. ^ f/i^j,g ^^^y a-rcatjoy in that city on account of those benevolent miracles which were per- joy in "hat Itly. ^""^ °"^'^* Cormed by Philip in it, and of that excellent doctrine which he preached among them, con- 9 But there was a certain taining sucli welcome tidings of pardon and eternal salvation. before4ime in the sira'i'cuj -^"^ at the time in which the gospel was thus brought by Philip to them, a certain man 9 used sorcery, and bewitcii- named Simon, was before in that city, who had made himself very remarkable by using ed the people of Samaria, jj^g unlawful arts of 7nasic,^ bv means of which he had performed such things as were giving out tliat himself ,. ,, i , ■ i ■ . ji ii ±- r a • j r i ■ was some great one : excecdmg marvellous and astonishing to tne whole nation of Samaria, pretending liim- 10 To whom they all 5^//" /o (5c sowe t?.r^/-rtorrfz>?rt;'y ;.;cr*o«,'' possessed of supernatural powers : To whom they 10 b Devout men.'] Dr. Benson thinks, (as Dr. Hammond, in he. tans, and the differences between them and the .Tews, see note g, and Mr. Baxter, Vol. IV. p. 8(34. also did,) that these were prose- on John iv. 9. p. 54. It is certain they were better prepared to lytes, as he also imagines Steplien to have been ; but I can find no receive tlie gospel than most of the Gentile nations, as they wor- proof of either. Such a token of respect to one who had been shipped the true GoD, and acknowledged the autliority of the P^n- publicly e.xecuted as a blasphemer, was an expression of zeal and talruch ; and as we do not find that they had either such notions piety wliicli might justly entitle them to this honourable character, of the Messiah's temporal reign as the Jews, or had received the Thus Luke calls Joseph of Arimathea a benevolent and upright Sadducean principles, which were both very strong prejudices man, when he speaks of the generous and courageous regard he against the christian scheme. (See Dr. Benson's Hislory, Vol. I. showed to the body of Jesus. (Luke xxiii. 50.) It Is possible the p. 153.) It is not improbable that the city lierc spoken of wa.s manner in whicli these devout men celebrated the funeral of Sychem, where Christ himself had preached in tlie beginning of Stephen, might be urged by the enemies of Christianity as an his ministry, (John iv. 5, 40. et serj.) which was for many years excuse for farther severities. tlie capital of that country. See Joseph. An/iij. lib. xi. cap. 8. 5 6. c Like some furious beast of prey, JWf?;/." Iiavoc nf the cfiiirch.'] g K«('nf/ the unlawful arts of ?n(7(7iV.] Dr. Benson thinks /x^yEu^v Wolfius observes, [Cur. Phiinl. in Inc.') that this is tlie most proper to be entirely of the same signification with Mayos, and intended signification of EXy^cxmro, which is often applied to the savages of to tell us that this Simon was one of the sect of the Magi, for whose tlie desert. principles and history, see Dr. Prideaux, Connect. Vol. I. p. 174. d Preachinri tlie word.'] There is no room to inquire where et seq. It is indeed possible he might profess himself of that sect; these poor refugees had their orders: They were endowed with but I think the word u.x'yivut imports much more, and amounts to miraculous gifts; and if they had not been so, the extraordinary the same with one who used enchantments, pretending, in conse- call they hatf to spread the knowledge of Clirist, wherever they quence of them, to exert some supernatural powers ; whereas the came, among those who were ignorant of him, would abundantly word Magus (at least about Christ's tlin,e) seems to have signified justify them in what they did. much the same with our English word Saje, and to denote a pro- e Philip the deacon.] We are sure it was not Philip the apostle, ficient in learning, and especially in astronomy and other branches both as he continued at Jerusalem, and as this Philip had not the of natural philo.sophy to which the Persian Magi addicted tliem- power of communicating the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit selves, and so gave name to many who were far from holding the by laying on of hands. (Compare ver. 14, 15, 17.) It must there- peculiarities of that sect. (Compare note a, on Matt. ii. 1. p. 2.3.) fore be the deacon, no other of that name beside the apostle liav- Vet as many natural philosophers pretended also to be magicians ing been mentioned in this history. Some tliink that, for his fide- in the common sense of the word among us, and might make their lity and diligence in his inferior ofiice, he was raised to the work natural knowledge subservient to that pretence, when it was mere of an Evangelist. (Compare chap. xxi. 8; and 1 Tim. iii. 13.) But imposture, it is not improbable that they generally called them- to infer from hence, that they who are ordained to the office of selves Magi ; and so the verb ij.xywi;v might come to signify the deacons have, by virtue of that, a right to preach publicly, is not making vse of unlawful arts, (as it plainly does here,) while the only ungrounded, but seems contrary to the reason assigned by noun from whence it was derived might still retain a more exteu- Pcter for chusing deacons, chap. vi. 2 — 4. Besides, ApoUos preach- sive and innocent signification. cd before he was baptized ; therefore much less can we imagine h Some extraordinary person.] Irenreus tells us, {lih. i. cap. 20.) he was ordained. (See Acts xviii. 24, 25.) And Grotius justly that Simon boasted he had appeared to the Samaritans as the observe-s, that in circumstances like these, any private person inight Father, to the Jews as the Son, and to the Gentiles as the Holy do it. (Compare chap. xi. 20. and see Owen, Of Ordination, p. 63.) Spirit ; and Justin Martyr, that he asserted all the names of God As for Dr. Hammond's criticism on the words x«?t>7tr£iv and tMX'yyiXi- were to be ascribed to him, and that he was God above all princi- (.ii/an is surely the gave heed, from tho least _ _ great power of God, the long-expected Messiah, and (if we niay so speak) Omnipotence J°,'i'^|'t^f,'f .Vat^po^;^ of itself incarnate, or he could never do such wonderful things. And they paid this regard to God. ° ACTS him, not on seeing one or two extraordinary facts, but because he had for a long time h And to him they had VIII. astonished them with the lying wonders that he wrought by Sjiis'l enchantments. [hfe he"i"ad bewTtched 12 But when they gave credit to Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdo?n them with sorceries. of God, and the important truths connected with"^/ic 72ame of Jesus Christ, they em- lij^^^d" Philip!" p'reaclii'^n- braced the gospel in great numbers, and were baptized both men and wotnen. the things concerning- the 13 And Simon hirnself also believed the truth of that doctrine which this divine messenger J^^"|g''°"^j"5yf c'l'^fj"^.,*'"'' taught,' though his heart was not savingly transformed by its power; and being baptized '^p'JJf baptized both' men on a profession of that faith, he always kept near to Philip, beholding with amazement and women. the great and powerful miracles which were wrought by him," with which he was hun- belfevld^^lsf -"and "when self as much transported as the Samaritans had formerly been at the sight of his magical he was baptized, he con- DPrformances. tinued with I'hilip, and periormduceb. wondered, behold inc- the wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 2 ^"^ '^'^^ honourably and well done of these devout men, to pay this last token of respect to the remains of this first martyr in the christian cause, by carrying him to his funeral with solemn pomp and public lamentation, though he died like an infamous criminal. Our ever-living and victorious Lord, no doubt, took it well at their hands, and they will be recompensed at the resurrection of the just, when that mangled body which they deposited in the grave shall be transformed into the glorious image of him for whom he gave it up to destruction, and to whose immediate and faithful care he committed the far nobler and more important part. The wrath of man, O Lord, shall praise thee ! (Psal. Ixxvi. 10.) It was particularly made to praise thee in this 1 instance by sending out the gospel-missionaries, who, during the short repose of the church, had been qualifying for their work, and dispersing them through all the neighbouring countries. Had the calm continued longer, while they were so happy in the love and fellowship of each other, they might have been too much inclinable to build their tabernacles at Jerusalem, and to say. It is good for us to be here : (Matt. xvii. 4.) such delightful mutual 4 converse might have engaged them to prolong their abode there to future months, and perhaps years. In mercy to the churches therefore, and even to themselves, whose truest happiness was connected with their usefulness, M'ere they, like so many clouds big with the rain of heaven, driven different ways by the wind of persecution, that so they might empty themselves in fruitful showers on the several tracts of land through which they went preaching the gospel. But the remainder of the wrath of this cruel Saul and the rest of the persecutors, was so restrained in the midst of 1 its career, that the apostles, who of all others seemed the most obnoxious persons, were for the present secure in Jerusalem ; the power of Christ wrought secretly for their defence, and, by soine unknown operation, either softened or awed the minds of those who (humanly speaking) had it in their power to add their blood to that of Stephen. Thus was our Lord's prediction fulfilled with regard to them in some of the most pressing dangers that could be imagined, that not a hair of their head should perish ; (Luke xxi. 18.) and thus was their fidelity and courage ap- proved, by their continued residence even in this hazardous situation, till Providence gave a farther signal for tlieir removal. In this, and in that, they were no doubt directed by supernatural influence ; and we may admire their dutiful obedience to those commands the particular reasons of which we cannot now fully trace. 3 The continued outrages and cruelties of Saul serve more and more to illustrate the sovereignty and freedom of divine grace in that conversion which we are hereafter to survey ; and give us a view of a very delightful contrast between the warmth of those efforts which he made first to destroy, and then with proportionable zeal to save. 5 It is also pleasant to observe how the gospel mutually conquered the prejudices between the Jews and- the Samaritans, teaching the Jews to communicate and the Samaritans to receive it with pleasure. It was a wonderful 9 1 1 providence which had permitted the enchantments of Simon to be so successful before ; but at length Simon also be- ' 13 lieved and was baptized. We see in this, as in a thousand nearer instances, that there may be speculative faith in the gospel where there is no true piety : and if such persons, on the profession of that faith, where nothing appears contrary to it, be admitted to those ordinances by which christians are distinguished from the rest of mankind, it is an evil in the present state of things unavoidable ; and the conduct of christian ministers and societies in admitting such, will be less displeasing to God than a rigorous severity. May God give us wisdom to guide our way, that we may obtain the happy medium between prostituting divine ordinances by a foolish credulity, and defrauding the children of the household of their bread, because they have not reached such a stature, or do not seek it in those forms or gestures which our mistaken caution may sometimes be ready to demand ! SECTION xvn. Peter going down to Samaria to impart spiritual gifts to the converts there, discovers and censures the SECT. hypocrisy of Simon. Acts viii. 14 — 25. '__ Acts viii. 14. acts viii. u. ACTS ■N'OIF when the apostles, who, as we observed before, were still at .Jerusalem, heard Now when the apostles VIII. that Samaria had received the word of God by the preaching of Philip the Evangelist, as ^''h'^" ^^«'<= "t Jerusalem, uiy.x\n, the plenipotentiary of God; but that is far from expressing elegance and propriety, that the same word which had been used the emphasis of the phrase. to express the manner in which the Samaritans were affected with i Simon himself also believed.-] Perhaps, as M. L'Enfant and Simon's enchantments, (ver. 0, II.) is here used to describe the Limborch conjecture, he might think Philip an abler magician impression which Philip's miracles made on him, it being there than himself, and hope, by pretending to be his disciple, he might expressed by s^wrw and eIe^mkehi, and here by eJwmj-o. ]t s^cms have an opportunity of learning his superior arts. therefore quite wrong to translate the former mfaluated, and the lat- k Beholding with amazement, ^-c] It seems with particular ter/rans;jor/«'rf,astheauthorof thcabove-mentionedvcrsionhasdonc. SIMON OFFERING MONEY FOR THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT, IS REPROVED BY PETER. 467 heard that Samaria bad re- was related above, they were desirous that these new converts might be farther settled in sect. reived ilie word of God, th^ir christian profession, by those spiritual gifts wliich no inferior teacher or officer in 17. Ind^JohM :""'° """" ^^'" the church could bestow -, and accordingly sent to them two of the most considerable of their own number, namely, Peter and John, who had been so remarkable for the mira- acts cle they had performed, and the courageous manner in which they had borne their tes- ^''I'- 15 Who, when iliey were tiniony to tlie gospel , n 7/0, though once strongly prejudiced against the Samaritans,* 15 tl°at'thr\"iK*Ccce'ive The "°^ cheerfully undertook the province; and ^o/«if do-wn thither, prayed for than that Holy Ghost." , thej/ 7nio-ht receive the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit,^ and so be openly put on a level with the believing Jews, and be shown to be equally owned by God as his people. 16 (For as yet he was For though tlie supernatural influences of the Spirit were displayed among them in the 16 onW^tlR^wLTe^haptizeinn Surprising miracles which Philip had performed, these extraordinary powers were not the'uarae of the Lord Je- communicated to them, and he was not yet fallen on any of them, only they were lap- *"i'7 Ti d thciT ^'~'^^> ^^ ^^ ^^^^ before, in the name of the Lord Jesus. But after the apostles had 17 bands o'n"uio'm, and they been praying for them, God was then pleased, in a visible and extraordinary manner, to received the Holy Ghost, answer their request ; for they had no sooner laid \their'\ hands on these Samaritan converts, and recommended them to the divine favour, but it was followed with a won- derful effect, and they immediately received the Holy Spirit, and spake with tongues, and performed other extraordinary works. 18 And when Simon saw Now when Simon the magician, of whom we spake before, saw with astonishment that IS the apoJues' han^s"the'Horv ^^^ ^^^^ Spirit in his extraordinary operations was thus apparently given by the im- Ghost was Riven, he offered position of the apostles' hands, as he imagined with himself, that if he could perform the them money ; \^q^ ]^ might tum Considerably to his own honour and advantage, especially if by this means he could form persons to the knowledge of languages which they had never been at the trouble of learning in a natural way, he went to the apostles, and offered them a 10 Sayinj,', Give me also considerable sum of money ; Saying, Let me prevail with you by this reward to give me 19 this power that on whomso- ^/^^ ^/^^-^ power which I have seen you exercise with so much ease, that on whoinsoevcr I ceivc the Holy Ghost. shall lay my hands, he may receive this extraordinary communication of the Holy Spirit. 20 But Peter said unto J^ut when Peter heard so infamous an olfer, he was not able to conceal his indignation, 20 ll':?h 7i!^^ raowey pensh ^nd therefore said to him, in his own name and that of John, Let thy ?none?/ (ro with with thee, because thou ,, .,r. -..i-i, ^p ■, ■ ■ i ^i t ^ i hast thoufrht that the gift Inee to the destruction^ to which thou art thyselt hastening, since thou hast thought so of God may be purchased vilely of the free and invaluable gift of the blessed God, as to imagine it might he pur- 2i'Thou^iast neither part chased With money. It is very evident, from such a detestable proposal, that notwith- 21 nor lot in this matter; for standing the profession thou hast made, thou art indeed an utter stranger to the efficacy of siclit oTgoV*^"^'"'^'"'""^ '^*^ gospel, and hast no part nor lot in this matter, nor any interest in the important spiritual blessings to which all these extraordinary gifts are subservient.; for thine heart is not upright in the sight of God,"^ otherwise thou wouldst think far more honourably of this Spirit of his, than to form a mercenary scheme to traffi-c; in it in this scandalous 22 Repent therefore of manner. Repent therefore unmediately of this thy enormous wickedness,^ and beg of 22 pray GL,"'if ''perhaps *the ^"'^ ^^^^ the deepest humiliation and the most fervent prayer, if perhaps his infinite ■ thought of thine heart may mercy may yet be extended to such a wretch, and the blasphemous thought of thy cor- ''Va'^For'i '^crceive that '^^P'' '^^'^''^ '""3' be forgiven thee : For though thou wast so lately washed with the water 23 thou art in the gall of bit- of baptism, I plainly perceive that thou art still in the very gall of bitterness and bond of terness, and in the bond of iniquity / plunged in that hateful pollution which must be bitterness and poison in the iniqui y. latter end, and held in the chains of thine own covetousness and carnality, and consequently in a servitude utterly inconsistent with that state of glorious liberty into which the chil- dren of God are brought ; so that thou art on the borders of dreadful and aggravated destruction, if inmiediate repentance does not prevent. a Though once strongly prejudiced against the Samaritans.] John universal power of discerning the hearts and characters of all they was one of those who, provoked at their inhospitable treatment of conversed with, than there is to believe he gave any of them a Christ, (perhaps in proportion to the degree in which he honoured power of healing all the sick they came near, which we are sure and loved his divine Master,) had asked a permission to briny down that Paul (though he was not inferior to the chief of the apostles, fire from heaven to consume them : (Luke ix. 54.) But he now under- 2 Cor. .xi. 5 ; xii. 11.) had not, otherwise he would not have suffered stood the genms of the gospel much better. It is observed by the illness of Epiphroditus to have brought him so near to death, Dr. Whitby and others, that as Peter was sent with John on this Phil. ii. 25—27. nor have left so useful a fellow-labourer as Trophi- errand by the other apostles, they had no notion of his being their mus sick at Miletum, 2 Tim. iv. 20. u*^-^/ superior. e Repent therefore, &c.] Here is so incontestable an evidence of b That they might receive the Holy Spirit.} We shall not enter an unconverted" sinner being exhorted to repentance and prayer Into any controversy as to the foundation this has been sui)posed to while he was known to be in that state, that it is astonishing it lay for the rite of confirmation, as now practised in some christian should ever have been disputed ; and one would think none could and Protestant churches. It may be sufficient to observe, that here be so wild as to imagine faith in Christ was not inckided in that were extraordinary gifts evidently conferred by extraordinary repentance and prayer which an apostle preaches to a baptized officers; and how suitably this was done in the present case, is person as the way of obtaining- forgiveness. The dubious manner hinted in the paraphrase, and more largely shewn by Dr. Benson, in which he speaks of his being forgiven, intimates, not that his {Hist. Vol. L p. 157, 158.) sincere repentance might ))i)ssibly fail of acceptance, for that is c Let thy money go with thee to destruction.'] This is not an im- contrary to the whole tenor of the gospel, but that, after the cora- precation, but a strong way of admonishing Simon of his danger, mission of a sin so nearly approaching blasphemy against the and of expressing how much rather the apostle would see the Holv Ghost, there was little reason to hope he would ever be greatest sum of mo.'.ey lost and cast away, than receive any part of brought truly to repent '' T^'^^ shameful terms. f /„ the gall of bitterness, Sfc.] The gall of bitterness is the bit- a Tliiiie heart is rtot upright in the sight of God.'\ This is no in- terest gall ; and the whole sentence expresses, in Peter's strong stance of Peter's miraculouslv discerning spirits, for every common manner of speaking, how odious and wretched a creature Simon minister or christian might have made the inference in such cir- now appeared to him: how much more odious in the eyes of an cumstanccs. But, on the other side, this story will by no means holy God must such a sinner be ! Compare Deut. xxix. 18 ; xxxii. prove Peter to have been destitute of this gift. He might (like 32 ; and Isa. Iviii. 6.— Albertus, Ohserv. p. 236. and De Dieu, would Christ in the case of Judas) have discerned Simon's hypocrisy long render it, " I see thee as the very gall of bitterness, and a bundle before he thought fit to discover it openly, or he might have the " of iniquity." Compare Matt. xix. 5 ; 2 Cor. vi. 18 ; Heb. viii. 10. gitt really m some instances, though not in this; for there is no in which places the former thinks it is u.sed in the same sense as more reason to suppose that Christ ever gave any of his servants an here. See Beza's beautiful illustration of this text. 2 h2 468 REFLECTIONS ON THE INFAMOUS PROPOSAL MADE BY SIMON. SECT. And Sh)ion, as he coulcJ not but be very much alarmed by such a solemn admonition, 21 Then answered Simon, 17. answered and said to the apostles. If you indeed conceive my case to be so bad, at least ""'^ ^^'''> ^^y ye to the extend your charity so far as to make your supplications to the Lord on my account fi thai tia^se thhiS'^wlii'ch ye"liav'e ACTS none of these terrible things, which ye have often spoken of '' as the fatal consequence of spoken come upon me. ^''o/i ^'"' "'"^ come upon me : For I am far from disbelieving the truth of the gospel, how ^^ improper soever my proposal might be, or however derogatory from the honour of it. 25 Thus did the two apostles, Peter and John, perform the errand they were sent upon, and 2.5 And tliey, wlien tliey executed their commission : tvhcn tiiereforc they had borne their tcsti?nony to the truth ['|']g ^'lo*,!^'' ol- tile iT.r'd''''"^ of the gospel,' and had spoken the word of the Lord Jesus Christ to many who had not turned to Jerusalem, 'and received it from the mouth of Philip, they returned to the other ten at Jerusalem : and V'^e^cheA jhe gospel in as they went along, W\ey preached the gospel in many other towns and villages of the wtaiis.^' ^°*^*° ^* ^'^'*" Samaritans which lay in their way. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 14 Let us observe this peculiar honour by which the apostles were distinguished, that the Holy Spirit was given 15 — 17 by the imposition of their hands. Thus did Christ bear his testimony to them as the authorized teachers of his church ; and it evidently^ppears that we may with great safety and pleasure submit ourselves to their instruction ; for these extraordinary gifts were intended in some measure for our benefit ; that by an entire resignation to their authority thus attested, we might be made partakers of those graces in comparison of which the tongues of men and of angels would be but as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. (1 Cor. xiii. 1.) is, 19 Who can read without horror the infamous proposal which Simon made, when he thought of purchasing tlie gift of God with money ? With somewhat of the same liorror must we look on all those by wliom sacred things 20 are either bought or sold ; it is an infamous traffic, about which an upright man cannot deliberate a moment, but will reject it at once with an honest scorn and indignation, like that of Peter in the present instance. God grant that none of the ordinances of Christ may ever be prostituted to secular ends, which seems a crime almost equally enormous ! In vain is it for men to profess themselves christians, in vain to submit like Simon to baptism, or like 21 him to adhere constandy to the ministers of the gospel, if their heart be not right with God ; an hypocritical con- ~3 duct like this will proclaim it aloud, that they are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. Wash us, O God, from this odious and polluting gall, which naturally overspreads us ; and loosen' these bonds of sin with which Satan may sometimes bind those who have a name and a place in thy church, and in which he con- veys them to final and everlasting destruction ! ~2 Yet let us not utterly despair even of the worst of men, but direct them to that great universal remedy, a deep and serious repentance of their sins, and an earnest address to God by prayer ; to him who can wash us from 24 crimson stains, and break in pieces fetters of iron. It is some token for good when sinners seem to fall under re- proof, and desire the prayers of those who are more upright than themselves. But if men are animated in such requests and submissions- by no more noble and generous a principle than a fear of destruction from God, there is great reason to suspect the sincerity of that repentance which they profess, and to apprehend that, like Simon, they will unsay all their confession, and perhaps, like him, (if we may credit the most authentic uninspired histories of the church,"*) become open enemies to that gospel which they pretended for a while to believe and reverence. * SECTION XVIII. Philip, by divine direction, instructs an Ethiopian eunuch in the faith of Christ; and having baptized him, goes and preaches the gospel in the neighbouring coasts of the Mediterranean sea. Acts viii. 26, to the end. Acts viii. 26. ' acts viii. 26. .SEC r. WHEN these important affairs at Samaria were despatched, and the church there was And the ansei of the Lord ^ ^- in so flourishing and happy a state, an angel of the Lord spake to Philip the Evangelist,^ ^»^e unto J^''''^1^'^^^']>''J]S% who had been so successful in his laliours amongst them, saying. Arise and go towards south, unto*' the way that ^^'■'^'^ the south, by the way that goeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza, which is through the goeth down from Jeriisalem ^'"- desert or wilderness of Judea;" for there in that retired solitude thou shalt meet with a «°t° ^aza, which .s desert. 26 person whom I will mark out to thee, with whom thou art to have a conversation of great moment. 27 And without presuming more particularly to inquire into the design of the errand on 27 And he arose and went: g Make your supplications to the Lord on my account.'] It is much idea of the gospel, to see tlie ministers of it receiving such imme- to be feared this pretence of conviction and humiliation was only diale direction from celestial spirits in the particular discharge of to prevent Peter and John from disgracing him among the body of their office. christians: for it is reasonable to s\ippose this conversation passed h Which is desert.] The construction of the Greek, leaves it in private between them; and perhaps Simon misjht have some dubious whether this clause refers to Gaza, or to the way that led bope that, if the secret were kept, he might reduce the people, to it. Dr. Benson, with Grotius, Drusius, and other considerable when Peter was gone, to their former subjection to liini, notwith- writers, concludes that Gaza,' (a city of the Philistines often men- standing their conversion to Christianity. tioned in the Old Testament, Judg. xvi. 1, 21 ; Zeph. ii. 4 ; Zech. h These Ihinfjs which ye liave spolcen.] As the plural number is ix. 5.) after having been conquered by Pliaraoh, king of Egypt, here used, (if it be not, as I think it sometimes is, put for the dual,) (Jer. xlvii. I.) was ruined by Alexander the Great, and afterwards since one cannot imagine, as I hinted above, that the proposal was rebuilt with great magnificence, (Arrian. Be Exped. Alex. lih. iv. publicly made, it seems most natural to refer this to the awful cap. 2; Strab. Geoijraph. lib. xvi. p. 522; Joseph. Antiq. lib. xi. things he had heard, in the course of christian preaching, concern- cap. 8. \ 4. et lib. xiii. cap. l."!. [al. 21.] \ 3.) the new city was built ing the terrible effects of the divine displeasure against impenitent at some distance from the old, which was left in ruins, and there- sinners in the future world. ' fore called, Gaza the Desert. But, as this last fact is not sufficiently i Borne tlicir testimony.'] See note g, on Luke xxiv. 48. p. 419. attested, I rather think, with Beza and Casaubon, that Philip is k Histories of the church.] See Euseb. Eccles. Nisi. lib. ii. cap. here directed to take that rop.d to Gaza which lay through the wil- 14 ; Theodoret, Haret. Fab. lib. i. cap. 1 ; and compare note h, derncss, which (though perhaps it might not be the shortest) was } 16. p. 4G.5. chosen by the eunuch as the more retired ; and I think the Greek a An an'jcl of the Lord spake to Philip.] It gives us a very high idiom favours this interpretation, as it is not ri, but aura tJrtv i^r./^o;. PHILIP HEARS THE EUNUCH READING THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 469 and behold, a man of Etl.i- which he was sent, he arose and took hhjourncij as the angel had directed him : And SECT, opia, an tunucli of prcat lehold CI certain Ethiopian ennitch,'-' a grandee in the court of Candace the Jluccn oj IS. Queen' o^f uI'/'riMopiaMs' the Ethiopians,'^ -who was the person that presided over ail her trcasurt, was traveUing vl.o had the charge of all that way ; who, as he was entirely proselyted to tlie Jewish religion, had lately conic to acts her treasure, and had come ^i^j.^/iip at Jcrusatefn at One of the great feasts : This man -was then returning home ; and ^ v'- **'28''was™etuming! aird his mind being deeply impressed with devout and religious sentiments in consequence of ^^ sitting- in his chariot, read ^^Qsg solemnities which had passed in that sacred place, as he pursued his journey, while he Esaiis the prophet. ^^^ .^ j^-^ chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah f that he might thus fill up that vacant space of time which his journey allowed him, to some valuable purpose, and so miiiht be better prepared to pass with safety through those busy scenes which would lie 29 Then the Spirit said betbre him when he arrived at home. And the Spirit, by that secret suggestion which 29 unto I'liiiip, Go near, and inspired men could certainly distinguish as a divine revelation, said to Philip, Approach join thyself to this ciiaiiot. ^^^^j j^^^ thyself to this chariot, and enter into conversation with the person who sitteth in \i, without fear of offending him, or exposing thyself to any inconvenience, .•50 And Philip ran thither ^^id Philip, running up to the chariot, heard him rending the scriptures ; for he read 30 the""i'ro"het'"Klihs" "^^Ind aloud, that his own mind might be more deeply impressed with it, and that his servants saTd, '"um'lerstandl^^'t ' thou who were near it might receive some benefit by it. And Philip, being well acrjuainted whut thou readest? ^jjj^ jj^^ j-^Qjy scriptures, easily perceived that it was the book oithe prophet Isaiah, which was then before him, and that the passage would give him a very proper opportunity for . entering into discourse with him concerning Christ, and delivering to him that evangelical message with which he was charged. He therefore took occasion to begin the conversation from this circumstance, and said ioih.Q eunuch, Dost thou understand the true sense of those sublime and important things which thou art reading ? .31 And he said. How can And the eunuch was so far from being offended at the freedom he took, that he mildly 31 Jewish affairs, must necessarily want ? And concluding from the question he put, besides what he might conjecture from his habit, that he was better acquainted with these things than himself, he requested Philip that he would come tip and sit with him in the chariot, where there was room conveniently to receive him, that so he might be farther informed in matters of so great importance. Now the period ox passage of scripture which he was 32 reading at that time was this :. (Isa. liii. 7, 8.) "He was drought to the slaughter as a " sheep: and as a lamb before its shearer [«] dmnb, so he opened not his mouth : In 33 " his deep hiimiLiation his judgment was taken away / and who shall declare or 'describe his generation ?° /or, innocent as he was, his life is ^cut off from Jhe 32 The place of the Scrip- ture which he read was this. He was led like a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb diinib before the shearer, so opened he not . bis mouth : 33 In his humiliation his ind'^who'shau'dedare'llis " carthr-k plssage expressly referring to the meekness with" which the blessed Jesus generation? for his life is should endure all his sutikings, while ungrateful sinners, in contempt of all laws both taken from the earth. \,yy,^^.^^ and divine, persecuted him even to the death. 34 And the eunuch an- ... ', "^ ■ . x^i •/• • > t 7 swcred Philip, and said, I c A cerluin Kthiopian eiin word O'TDj which answers to euvwxos perly rendered an officer : (See G( viii. 6; 1 Chrou. xxviii. 1.) And the learned Heinsius takes pains to establish an etymology of tuvouxot, which should make it an intima- tion of the good disposition of the person to wliom it was given. But in what sense it is used here, is an inquiry of no manner of im- portance ; and 1 think any curious discussion of such kind of ques- tions would by no means suit a Family Expositor. — I only add, with Beza, that it seems quite ridiculous to imagine that avng was in- tended to signify anything more than ns ; I have therefore ren- dered it accordingly And the eunuch, answering to Philip, said, I beseech thee to inform me of whom doth nch ] It is certain that the Hebrew the connexion as it stands in Tsaiah. It seems rather to mean, if wxos, an eunuch, is sometimes very pro- the Greek version be here admitted, " Jesus appeared in so humble ;ee Gen xxxvii 3G ■ xxxix. 1 ; 2 Kings " a form, that though Pilate was convinced of his innocence, he " seemed a person of so little importance, that it would not be worth " while to hazard any thing to preserve him." Le Clerc (in \\\s Supplement to Dr. Hammond,) intimates this interpretation, with a small and fso far as I can judge) unnecessary and unwarranf.abh; change in the version, In his humiliation he urns judged, he was taken aioay. But our translation is far more literal ; and to take away a person's judgment is a known proverb for oppressing him. See Job xxvii. 2. g Ww shall declare or describe his generation .?] This is one of A A qrandee in'the court of Candace the Queen of the Ethi- the many passages of the Old-Testament prophecies in which it is avians ] It appears that Candace was a name common to several of not so difficult to find a sense fairly applicable to Christ, as to know the queens who reigned in Meroe, a part of Ethiopia to the south of which to prefer of several that are so. Many aueient as well as E°-vi)t • (Compare Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. vi. cap. 29 ; and Alexand. modern writers, have referred it to the mystery ot his incarnation ; Geniel. Dier. lib. i. cap. 2.') So that it is very uncertain whether but Calvin and Beza say this was owing to their ignorance of the this princess be the person mentioned by Dio Cassius and Strabo, Hebrew, the word in not admitting such a sense ; and it is certain as at war with the Romans in the time of Augustus.— I know not it very ill suits the connexion with the following clause. Dr. hamiiel how far we are to regard the authority on which Dc Dieu tells us Harris has a long discourse, which yeems only a fine-spun cobweo, that the name of this eunuch was Judith, and that of the aupen, by to prove that it refers to his not having any witnesses to appear which she was distinguished from others, Lacasa. for him and give an account of his life and character, as lie takes e Sat in his chariot reading, 4r.] Probably this chariot was lis in the former clause to signify his having no advocate to plead something in the form of our chaises with four wheels; for though his cause. See his Second Discourse, ft. G.5. etseq.; and his Assaij, the eunuch did not guide it himself, there was room for another p. 143—140. Others, with Calvin and Beza, think 't is as it tlie pro- person to come and sit with him, (ver. 31.) the charioteer therefore phet had said, " Who can declare how long he shall live anil reign, seems to have sat on a .seat by himself. " or count the numerous oflspring that shall descend from liim ! f /« his humiliation his judgment was taken away."] The present But, not to say that this idea is much more clearly expresseil by reading of the Hebrew clause answering to this, is much more the prophet in verse 10. which on this interpretation is a tautology, agreeable to our translation of Isa. liii. 8. He was taken from prison I cannot find thatsn and s-i' arc used as synonymous terras, i lie sense equivalent to it : for I cannot think, as Beza and many other Luke. See Luke xi. 30, 50; xvii. 2-5; Acts 11. 40 ; xiii. 3b. And commentators do, that it refers to Christ's being taken by his resur- therefore I suppose, with Dr. Hammond, the sense to be, " Who rcction from his confinement in the grave, and from the judgment " can describe the obstinate infidelity and barbarous injustice of or sentence which had been executed upon him ; agreeably to " that generation of men among whom h". appeared, and from which M. L'Enfant renders it. His condemnation 7oas taken away " whom he suffered such things?" But as it did not seem proper hg his very abasement : that i.s, his stoojihig to death gave occasion to determine this by rendering it, as in the version of 1727, AV ho to his triumph; a .sense neither natural in itself, nor favoured by can describe the niea of his time' (because a translator ot Scrip, 470 PHILIP PREACHES CHRIST TO THE EUNUCH, AND BAPTIZES HIM. SECT, the prophet sell/ this? of himself, or so7ne other person ? Was Isaiah thus inhumanly put pray tlieo of whom speaketh 18, to death by the Jews ? or did he foretell the sufferings of some future and greater person ? '^'''l P'^phct this! of iiim- IVicn Fhii/'p, secretly adoring the Divine Providence in giving him so fair an opportu- '^s.i^Theirphihp'^opJnod ACTS nity, opened his 7noiUh^ with an air of solemnity proportionable to the importance of what '"'*= mnuth, and began at Uio vni. he had to say ; and beginning: from this very scripture, in which he was so plainly deli- Tuut"him Jesl"*^ '"''""'' neated, preached to him the glad tidings of that Jesus' of whom not Isaiah alone, but so many of the other prophets, spoke : And after he had laid before him the predictions recorded in scripture concerning him, he bore witness to the glorious accomplislnnent of them, and gave him the history of those extraordinary facts which had lately happened in confirma- tion of that gospel he taught. 36 His noble hearer, in the mean time, listened attentively ; and though he saw no miracle 36 And as they went on performed in evidence of the truth of Philip's doctrine, he found such a light breaking in /t,eir way, they came unto a upon his mind from the view of the prophecies, and such an inward conviction wrought nuch'sViif "seeT^r hwl'. in his spirit by the divine influence, that he became a sincere convert to the gospel. And ter; what doth iiinder me having for some time discoursed together of the person and the sufferings of Christ, and of .^^ ^° I'^pt'zed^ the method of salvation by him, as they went by the way they came to a certain water, there being in that place some pool or stream adjoining to the road ; and the eunuch, hav- ing learnt what was the rite of initiation which the great Prophet and Sovereign of the church had appointed, was willing to embrace the first opportunity that Providence offered of making a surrender of himself to Christ, and being received into the number of his peo- ple ; upon which he said unto Philip, Behold, \_here w] water ; xvhat should hinder my Aeinsr baptized, and becoming from this hour one of your body ? 37 And Philip said unto him. If thou belicvest with all thine heart this gospel which I 37 And Philip snid, if have taught thee, so as cordially "to subject thy soul to it, then it may lawfully and regularly tli"u beiievest with all thine be done without any further delay. A7id he answering, said, J firmly and undoubtedly answered''andsai'il,i believe believe that Jesus Christ, whom thou hast now been preaching to me, is really the Son that .Jesus Christ is the Son of God,^ and own him for the promised Messiah who was sent into the world for the salva- ° " ' tion of lost sinners ; and I desire with all my heart and soul to give myself up to him, that he may save me in his own way. 38 And upon Philip's declaring his satisfaction in this profession of his faith in Christ and as And he commanded subjection to him, and readily consenting to receive him as a fellow-christian, he ordered ti'e chariot to stand still-. the chariot to stop : and they both went down to the wateri both Philip and the cu- ^"to tiie^vaitr, boUi Phinn nuch, and XheK he baptized hi7n. and tlie eunuch; and he 39 And when they were come zip out of the wafer, the Spirit of the Lord, which fell '^'^y' Aml'wiien thev were upon the eunuch,'" immediately snatched away Philip'' in. a miraculous manner, and the come up out of the water, eunuch saw /?/;« no more ; for as it thus appeared that Providence designed they should *',"^ ,^P''''*, °^>/''v ^h^* be separated, he did not attempt to search for him in the neighbouring parts, or to go any lile^e'uuucii'^saw" lum lio where to follow him, how much soever he esteemed his conversation ; but getting up again more: and he went on his into his chariot, /^t' went on his way rejoicing — with an heart full of thankfulness that he ^"^^ rejoicing. had been favoured with the privilege of so important an interview with him ; and that after having received the gospel from his lips, he had seen such a miraculous confirmation of its truth in the sudden manner in which this divinely-corpmissioned teacher was removed from his sight, to which all his attendants were witnesses. 40 But Philip, quickly after he was separated from the eunuch, was found at Azotus; or 40 But Philip was found Ashdod, a city that was more than thirty miles from Gaza, in the southern part of the coun- ti*,,,^^^",*"^^ ^each 5^-*^'"n try which had been formerly one of the five governments belonging to the Philistines ; the cities till he came \o (1 Sam. vi. 17.) and going on from thence, he preached the gospel with great success in Ca.sarca. Joppa, Lydda, Saron, and all the other cities along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, till he eajnc to Ca'sa/ra," where Providence directed him to settle for a considerable time. (See Acts xxi. 8, 9.) ture should leave ambiguous expressions as he finds them,) so I sec no proof that it was essential to the institution. It would be thought it would he best to insert the paraphrase on both these very unnatural to suppose that they went down to the water, merely clauses in the notes, that I might leave room for the eunuch's that Philip might take up a little water in his hand to pour on the question in the next verse, which otherwise must have been su- eunuch. A person of his dignity had, no doubt, many vessels in ])crsedcd. his baggage, on such a journey through so desert a country, a pre- h Pliitip opened Ins mouth.'} Sec note c, on Matt. v. 2. p. 73. caution alisolutcly necessary for travellers in those parts, aud never i Preached to him Jesus.'] Limborch very largely shows, in his omitted by them. See Dr. Shaw's T^rocf/s, /*/•?/. p. 4. commentary on this passage, how shamefully the Jews pervert the m The Spirit of the Lord, which fell upon the eunuch.] The ■whole 53d of Isaiah, in expounding it of the afllictioiis of Israel; Alexandrian manuscript, and several other old copies, read it, and I ;tm surprised to find that I)r. Hammond intimates it might Tiyw/j.x aymmt-tt etti tcv euvb^ov, ayyiXa; He Kv^iov ri^-nem, x. r. X. that is, be accomplished in some one who lived quickly after Isaiah's The Holy Spirit fell vpnn the eunuch, but an angel of /he Lord time. See all that Mr. Collins has urged on that head (Literal snatched awn;/ Philip. And therefore, considering also how ex- Scheme, chap. v. \ 12. p. 208 — 220.) abundantly confuted by Dr. ceeding probable it is that a person of his rank, going into a coun- HuUock, Vindic. p. 147 — 15(5. Compare IJishop Chandler, Of try where tlie gospel was entirely unknown, should he furnished Chri.ftianiti/, p. 174—178. for the great work of preaching it there, by the extraordinary gifts k I believe thai .Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'] It is surprising of the Holy Spirit, I thought fit to insert it in the paraphrase, to see in how many ancient copies and versions this verse is omitted. (See Dr. Benson's /?/.s/ory, Vol. I. p. 103.) I may here add, that (See Dr. Mill, in' he. and the version of 1727.) "Nevertheless," Eusebius assures us [Eccles. Hist lib. ii. cnp. 1.) this new convert says Bcza, " God forbid 1 should think it ought to be expunged, planted a flourishing church in Ethiopia ; and it is a fact io which " since it contains such a confession of faith as was in the apostolic all the most ancient histories of Ethiopia agree. " times required of the adult, in order to their being admitted to n Snatched awat/ Philip.'] Probably he transported him part of " baptism." Allowing it to be genuine, it fully proves that Philip the way through the air, a thing which seems to have happened had opened to the emiurh thedoctrineof Christ's divinity ; and in- with respect to some of the prophets. Compare 1 Kings xviii. 12; deed, if he had not done it, he must have given him a very imper- 2Kingsii.lG; Ezek. iii. 14. The spacious plain which was proba- fect arcount of the gospel. biy the scene of this miracle, would make it so much the more con- 1 Theij both went down to the water.] Considering how frequently sp'icuous , and it would no doubt prove a great confirmation of the bathing was used in those hot countries, it is not to be wondered eunuch's faith, that baptism was generally administered by immersion, though I o Ta Ccesarca.'] This was a city on the coast of the Mediterra- REFLECTIONS ON PHILIPS CONVERTING THE EUNUCH. 471 IMPROVEMENT. There is great reason to adore the gracious counsels and purposes of God with respect to this Ethiopian eunuch j sect he was a chosen vessel — and desiring to improve that weak light which he had, God took effectual methods to 18. impart to him more. Thus shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord. (Hos. vi. 3.) An angel of the Lord is sent to give directions to an Evangelist to meet him in a desert, and to instruct him there in what he had acts not learnt in his attendance at Jerusalem : And Philip, in obedience to the divine command, immediately retires ^ ''^• from the more public service he had been engaged in at Samaria, to execute whatever God should please to call him to, though he should order him to go into a wilderness, as he could open even there a door of opportunity to make him useful : and while, like Philip, we govern ourselves by the intimations of his will, we shall not run in vain, nor labour in vain. (Phil. ii. 16.) It was a prudent and exemplary care, especially in a person engaged in such a variety of public business as the 23 eunuch was, to improve that vacant space of time which a journey allowed him, in reading what might edify and instruct him even as he sat in his chariot! He chose the sacred oracles, and, while perusing them, was in an extra- ordinary manner tauglit of God. The question which Philip put to him, we should often put to omselves, — TJndcrstandest thou xvhat thou rcadest .* Let us chuse those writings which may be worth our study, and then let us 30 labour to digest them, and not rest in the empty amusement which a few wandering, unconnected, and undistinguished ideas may give us, while they pass through our minds like so many images over a mirror, leaving no impression at all behind them. The Scripture especially will be worthy of our study, that we may understand it ; and we should earnestly pray that this study may be successful. For this purpose let us be willing to make use of proper guides, though it must be confessed that none we are like to meet with at present can have a claim to that authority with which Philip taught. It is pleasant, nevertlieless, with a becoming humility to offer what assistance we can to our fellow-travellers on such an occasion as this \ and God grant that we who do it, especially in that way wliich is most extensive and lasting, may neither be deceived in Scripture ourselves, nor deceive others by misrepresent- ing its sense. If we enter into the true sense of the ancient prophecies, we must undoubtedly see Christ in them, and particularly 32, 33 in that excellent chapter of Isaiah which the pious eunuch was now reading. Let us often view our Divine Master in that amiable and affecting light in which he is here represented: let us view him, though the Son of God by a generation which none can fully declare, yet brought to the slaughter as a lamb, and dumb as a sheep before its shearers : And let us learn patiently to suffer with him, if called to it, in humble hope of reigning with him, (2 Tim. ii. 12.) even though, like liis, our judgment also should be taken away, and we be cut off from the land of the living. Let those who firmly believe in him as the Son of God, enter themselves into his church by those distinguishing 36 — 33 solemnities which he has appointed for that purpose, to which the greatest should not think themselves above sub- mitting: Let the ministers of Christ readily admit those that make a credible profession of their faith in Jesus, and of their resolution to be subject to him, to such ordinances, not clogging them with any arbitrary impositions or demands. And when men are come to a point thus solemnly to give themselves up to the Lord, and have done it in his appointed method, let them go on their way rejoicing, even though Providence should separate from them those 39 spiritual guides who have been owned as the happy instruments of their conversion and their edification. The servants of Christ are called to glorify him in different scenes and stations of life ; ha^^py if in one state and 40 country or another they may spread the savour of his name, and gather in converts to him, whether from among the sons of Israel or of Ethiopia. SECTION XIX. Saul setting out for Damascus tvith an intent to persecute the church there, is miraculously converted bi/ our Lord's appearance to him on the xcay. Acts. ix. 1 — 9. ACTS ix. 1. _„ Af^TS ix. 1. And Saul, yet breath- WE have observed in the preceding history, that the persecution against the disciples of SECT, 'i".^ °i"t*^ *''J''^'Tn°^d>"^ Jesus was very violent and severe after the death of Stephen;'' and particularly, that the 19- ples'of the' Lord, went unto youth who was Called Saul distinguished himself by his forwardness in it; insomuch that tUe liigh-priest, all the principal members of the church were driven away from Jerusalem except the apos- acts ties. (Sect. xvi. Acts viii. 1, 3.) liut Saul was so exceedingly outrageous in his zeal against ^-^ the gospel, that he could not be satisfied witli this ; his very heart was set upon extirpating the followers of Jesus, and, like some ravenous and savage beast, he was still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord ;^ In every word he spoke he menaced their destruction, and, as if all the hardships of exile and imprisonment were too little, with a most cruel eagerness he thii-sted for their blood. With tliis intent he came to 2 And desired of him the high-priest,'^ whovQ. he 'kxv'S.w to be much exasperated against them, And petitioned ncan Sea, which was anciently called Stratonice, or Straton's ing emphatical expression, as Eisner has well shown in his illustra- Tower: See Joseph. ^n<(7. W;. xiii. cap. II. [al. 19.] ? 2 ; et Bell, tion of it: but it will not prove that he was able to accomplish Jud. lib. i. cap. 3. ? 1, 5. It was far distant from Caesarea PJiilippi, the death of many of tlie christians, thoug^h he might threaten it (of which we read, Matt. xvi. 13.) which was situate to the north, in with almost every breath. It must increase his ragre to hear that the tribe of Naphthali, and near the sources of Jordan. See note c, those whom he had been instrumental in driving from Jerusalem, on Mark viii. 27. p. 179. were so successful in spreading the religion he was so eager to a After the death of Stephen.] There are many disputes as to root out. the time of Paul's conversion. The learned Spaulieim advances c Cmne lo Ihe liigh-priesl.'] The person now in that office seems several arguments to prove that it happened six or seven years to have been Caiaphas the inveterate enemy of Christ, who had after Christ's death, about the fourth year of Caligula, A. D. 40. so great a hand in his death. lie would therefore gladly employ I rather think, with Dr. Bcuson, (agreeably to Bishop Pearson's so active and bigoted a zealot as Saul : and it i.< well known that Chronology,) that it was a pretty deal sooner, but that the exact the sanhedrim, however its capital power might be abridged by time cannot be fixed from any circumstances transmitted to us. the Romans, was the supreme Jewish court, and had great influence b Breathing out threatenings and slaughter.] This is an exceed- and authority among their synagogues abroad. 472 JESUS APPEARS TO SAUL ON HIS WAY TO DAMASCUS. SECT, for hitcrs from him in the name of the whole sanhedrhii, (chap, xxii. 5 ; xxvi. 12.) di- letters to Damascus, to the 19. rected to the rulers of the Jewish st/nagognes at Damaxcus, whither (as he had been syuatjo-ues, that if he found informed) some of those distressed refugees had fled, that f he found amj of that ivaij ^h^y^tere'me'wlr women! ACTS there, nrhdhtr they xvcre men or iiiomeii, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem, to he miglu bring them bound '^- be proceeded against in the severest manner by the sanhedrim. ""'° Jerusalem. 3 And as he was proceeding on his journey, and xvas now come near to Datnascus,^ it 3 And as be journeyed, being just about the middle of the day, a wonderful event happened, which threw the ^LTu"dLniy\i?^rTshi'ned whole course of his life into a different channel, and was attended with the most important round about him a light consequence both to him and the church ; for o« a sudden a great light fro7n heaven from iieaven. shone around him,'' exceeding the lustre of the meridian sun : (chap. xxii. 6; xxvi. 13.) 4 And such was the elftct this wonderful appearance had upon him, that he fell to the 4 And lie fell to the ■ground, being struck from the beast on which he rode, as all that travelled with hiin like- L^inguntoh'im'saul, SauT wise were, (chap. xxvi. 14.) o«f/ to his great astonishment he heard a loud and distinct why peisecutesi'thoumei' voice, saying unto him in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, udiy dost thou persecute 5 me ? And as he saw at the same time the bright appearance of some glorious person in a 5 And be said, Who art human form, he was possessed with awe and reverence, and said. Who art thou. Lord? t''.°"' Loid ? And the Lord and what is it that I have done against thee ? And the Lord Jesus (for it was he who had ^^,ou persccutestT///rh'ar'd condescended to appear to him on this occasion) said, I am that Jesus [the Nazarene,Y for thee to kick agaiust the whom, by the opposition thou art making to my gospel, and by thy cruelty to my disciples, P"*^^*^ thou n\^d\y persecutest : (chap. xxii. 8.) but remember, \_it is'] hard for thee to Icicle against the goads,s and all thy fury can only wound thyself, without being able to do me or my cause any real injury. 6 And when Saul heard and saw that he who had so often been afFronted and despised by c, And he, trembling and him, even that Jesus of Nazareth whom he had so blasphemously and virulently opposed, astonished said, Lord, what ' , , . , ,. , , , r 1 A 1 . , .-' S^ ,.' wilt thou have me to dol was such a glorious and powerlul person, and yet that, instead ot destroying him immedi- And the Lord said unto ately, as he might with case have done, he had condescended thus compassionately to h.'""- Arise, and go into the expostulate with him, his mind was almost overborne with an unutterable mixture of con- HJ^ ,yi','^t thou'must'^do!' tending passions 5 so that trembling at the thought of what he had done, and amazed at the glorious appearance of Jesus, he said. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? For in- . stead of carrying my mad opposition any farther, I with all humility resign myself entirely to thy disposal, and humbly wait the intimations of thy sacred pleasure, determined to sub- mit to whatsoever thou shalt order me. And the Juord said unio him. Arise and stand upon thy feet, and go into the city, and I will take care that it shall there be told thee what ^ ^eareTunt!f thee for' this thou must do, and thou shall be instructed in all things which I have appointed concerning purpose, to make thee a ACTS thee : (chap. xxii. 10 ; xxvi. 1 G.) " For I have thus appeared unto thee for this purpose, minister and a witness both XXVL « to constitute and ordain thee a mintster and servant to me in the great work of pro- bast'*secn,''';uiV*^of'^\hose 16 " pagating my gospel, and to appoint thee a witness both of these things which thou hast things in the which 1 will 17 " 'low seen, and of those things in which I will hereafter manifest myself unto thee : ^'Y7^'*i)"iiv'r'iii^>-*^thee from " And in the testimony thou shalt give, I will be with thee to protect thee by my power the peopiel^ aifd from the " and providence, delivering thee in the midst of a thousand dangers, _/}-o?/2 the malice of Gentiles, unto whom now " the Jewish people, and of the Gentiles ; to whom, as the one or the other may come in Ys To"'o'pen their eyes, 18 " thy way, I now send thee. That I may make thee instrumental to open their blind eyes, and to turn il^em from dark- " and to turn [them] from darkness to light, and from the power qf Satan unto God ; "o^,ve'^"of^slta"*'i'^to'G^d^ " that they may thus receive the free and (uW forgiveness of all their most aggravated tiiatthey may receive fori " sins, and may have a?i inheritance amon"; them that arc sanctified by means of that S'veness of sins, and inhe- ,. /. • , ; 7 • 7 • • „ "^ o ^ ritance among them whiih "fadh which is in me. _ „e sanctified by faith that ACTS And the men who travelled with him, upon their rising from the ground, to which they is in me. IX. had been struck upon the first appearance of the light from heaven, stood in a fixed posture ,-n^n'^*vhidi io'ume^ed wVth '5' perfectly astonished^ and seemed for a while to be turned (as it were) into statues : And him stood speechless, hear- d Come near to Damascus.'] Witsius lias given us a large and g Tt is liard for thee to kick against the gonds.l Dr. Hammond entertaining account of this city in his /,(/> q/"Pfli;/, (V7;j.ii. sect. 2. truly observes," that this is a proverbial expression of impotent It was the capital city of Syria, {Isa. vii. 8.) aiid abounded so much rage which hurts one's self, and not that against which it was with Jews, that Josephus assures us ten thousand of them were levelled, — It is no great matter wlulher the latter part of this verse massacred there in one hour, and at another time eighteen thou- and the beginning of the next (which clause is omitted in many sand, with their wives and cliildren. Joseph. Bell. Jitd. lib. ii. ancient copies and versions) were originally here, or whether (as cap. 20. [al. 25.] 12; et lib. vii. cap. 8. [al. 28.] ? 7. Dr. Mill supposes) it were not, since it certainly is found in tlxe e A ligld from licavcn shone around liim.'] This was occasioned parallel passages, chap. xxii. 8; xxvi. 14. Hut 1 think it most by the rays of glory which darted from the body of our Lord, probable it was accidentally omitted in some very old copy, whence Some have thought that Saul, being a learned Jew, would easily the rest were taken, and tliat the omission was occasioned by the know this to be the shckinah, or visible token and symbol of the transcriber mistaking the words o xu^io?, ver. 6. for the like words divine presence, and that he therefore cries, Wlio art iliou, Lord? in ver 5. a thing which might easily happen in tranecribing. — I though he saw no human form. See Lord Barrington's Miscell. hope I need make no apology for giving the reader, in the first Sacra, Essay iii. p. 5. But I think the question implies, be did view of this wonderful and delightful story, a full account of it not know who or what he was, and that it is plain from chap. xxii. in a kind of compound text, in which all the circumstances, added 14. and other texts, that he did see, amidst this glory, a human by I'aiil himself elsewhere, are inserted in one conlinued narration. form,,wliich yet lie might not at first imagine to be that of Jesus, Bill I reserve the notes on the passages so brought in, till we come though Stephen bad, probably in liis hearing, declared that he saw to the chapters to which they belong. « a vision of this kind, chap. vii. 5.5, 56. Eisner supposes, with De h Stood ]WTfeci\y astonished.] To stand astonished does indeed Dieu, that this was lightning, and the voice thunder, and is large sometimes signify "merely to be astonished, without any reference in showing how generally tlie heathens thought such phenomena to the particular posture, as Beza, L'Enfaiit, and others have to attend the appearance of their deities. olwerved. So in our English phrase, to stand in jeopardy is to be { I am Jesus tlie Nazarene.'] So it is that the words are related, in jeopardy, 1 Cor. xv. ."50; and to stand in doubt is to be in doubt, (chap. xxii. 8.) aud there seems something peculiarly pointed in Gal. iv. 20. (Compare Matt. xii. 4(5; Mark ix. 1 ; John i. 2C; Acts this expression. A pretended Messiah from Nazaieth had, no iv, 10; and many other places.) But the expression here may he doubt, often been the subject of his blasphemous derision ; our literally true, uiid in that interpretation seems to convey the more Lord therefore Uses that title more effectually to humble and livclv idea, mortify him. I REFLECTIONS ON THE MIRACULOUS CONVERSION OF SAUL. 473 inpr a voice, but etcing no they Were SO confounded, that they uttered not a word, hearing indeed the sound of that sect. nwn. voice which had spoken to Saul,' without distinctly understanding the sense of what was 19. said, (chap, xxii.) but seeing no onc,^ nor perceiving who it was that had been speaking to him. ACTS 8 And Saul arose from the But Sciul, when hc had seen this heavenly vision, arose from the earth ; and though ^X. earth; and ^^'le" '^'s eyes /^jg ^y^,f. ~^^,f,.(. open, he was incapable of discerning objects, and saw no one 7nan of 8 man: bul tiiey led iiim by those who stood near him ; for his nerves were so affected with the glory of that light the iiaiid, and brought him which had shone from the body of Jesus, that he had lost the power of sight : (chap. xxii. into Damascus. j ^-^ j^^^^ ^/^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^-^j^ j^j^^ ^^,^y ^^-^^^ ^^ ^/^^ /^^^^^^^ ^^^ j^ would not be Safe for hira 9 And he was three days to ride in such a condition, and brought him to Da?nascus. And he was at his lodg- 9 without sight, and neither j,^gg there three days without sight,'' and during all that time he neither ate nor dranJc,^ but lay for a considerable part of it as in a trance, in which he saw some extraordinary visions, particularly of Ananias who was to visit him, (compare ver. 12.) and the remain- der of it he employed in such deep humiliation and humble, earnest prayer, as suited his past guilt and his present astonishing circumstances. IMPROVEMENT. Let us pause a little on this most amazing instance of the power and sovereignty of divine grace in our blessed Redeemer, and adore and rejoice in its illustrious triumph. Who, of all the enemies of Christ, and of his church, seemed ripest for tenfold vengeance ? Whose name will be transmitted to posterity as the name of the person who most barbarously ravaged the innocent sheep and lambs of Christ's flock, and, like the ravenous wolf, most insatiably thirsted for their blood ? Whose very breath was threatenings and slaughter against them, and the Ver. 1 business of his life their calamity and destruction ? Who but Saul : the very man for whom, under another name and character, we have contracted (if I may be allowed the expression) that tenderness of holy friendship, that, next to that of his divine Master, his name is written on our very hearts ; and whom, though once the chiefest of sinners, we reverence as the greatest of the apostles, and love as the dearest of saints. Thi/ thoughts, O Lord, are not as our thoughts, nor thy ways as our ways. (Isa. Iv. 8.) He had Damas- 3 cus in view, which was to be the scene of new oppressions and cruelties ; he was, it may be, that very moment anticipating in thought the havoc he should there make, when, behold, the light of the Lord breaks in upon them, and Jesus the Son of God condescends in person to appear to him, to expostulate with him ! And how tender the expostulation ! Siaul, Saul, why persccutest thou me ? Tender to Saul, tender to all his people ; for it expresses 4 his union with them, his participation in their interests ; so that he looks upon himself as injured by those that injure them, as wounded by those that wound them. Who, in this view, does not see at once the guilt and madness and misery of persecutors ? They have under- taken a dreadful task indeed, and will find it hard to kick against the pricks ; they will surely find it so when 5 Jesus appears to them in that vengeance which he here laid aside ; when he sits on his awful tribunal to make inquisition for blood, and to visit upon them all their inhumanities and all their impieties. But here our merciful Redeemer chose to display the triumphs of his grace rather than the terrors of his wrath ; and, behold, how sudden a transformation it wrought ! Behold Saul, who had so insolently assaulted his throne, now prostrate at his feet ! surrendering, as it were, at discretion : presenting a blank, that Jesus might write his 6 own terms, and saying, as every one who is indeed the trophy of divine grace will say. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? As ready to employ all his powers for the service of Christ as he had ever before been to arm Ihem for the destruction of his church. What must the attendants of his journey think on such an occasion ? If they were also converted, here were 1 farther witnesses added to Christianity, and more monuments of divine grace erected ; but if they were not con- verted, what an instance was this of their hardness and obstinacy ! and even though their bodily sight was con- tinued, how much was their blindness worse than his ! Let us pray that we may all be taught of God ; and if 8 we are brought to resign ourselves to God in sincerity and truth, let us acknowledge the internal operations of his grace as that to which the victory is owing, even where external circumstances have been most remarkable. The situation in which Saul lay, seems indeed to have been very melancholy, his sight lost, his appetite for food 9 gone, and all his soul wrapt up in deep astonishment, or melted in deep contrition and remorse ; but though he might sow in tears, he reaped in joy. (Psal. cxxvi. 5.) It appears that light and gladness were sown for him. He came refined out of the furnace, and these three dark and dismal days are, no doubt, recollected by him in the heavenly world, as the era from whence he dates the first beamings of that divine light in which he now dwells. Let us never be afraid of the pangs of that godly sorrow, which, working repentance to salvation not to be repented of, will soon be ten thousand times overbalanced by that exceeding weight of glory, and those full transports of eternal joy, for which it will prepare the soul. i HenriiK; the voice.'] Beza, Vatablus, and Clarius think they him also with a deeper sense of the almighty power of Christ, and heard Saul's voice, hut not ttiat of Christ; Dr. Hammond, that to turn his thoughts inward, while he was rendered less capable of they heard the thunder, not the articulate sound which attended conversing with external objects. This woukt also be a manifest it; Dr. Benson, as axoueiv often signifies, to understand, supposes token to others of what bad happened to him in his journey, and tliose attendants were Hellenist Jews, who did not understand the ought to have been very convincing and humbling to those bigoted Hebrew, wliich was the languacfe in which Christ spake. But I Jews to whom, as the most prohable associates in the cruel work lie think, with Dr. Whitby, that tlie most probable way of reconcil- intended, the sanhedrim had directed those letters, which .Saul in£r this with chap. xxii. 9. is that which is expressed in the para- would no doubt destroy as soon as possible. pli'rase, and tliat it is confirmed by John xii. 20. when some present m Neitlier ate nor drank.] Grotius and some later writers think at the voice from heaven which came to Christ, took it for thunder, this was a voluntary fast, in token of his deep humiliation for the See Mr. Biscoe, At Boyle's Led. p. 60.5, 666. guilt be had contracted by opposing the gospel ; but it might very k Bnt seeing no one.] ' So it was with the men who were with possibly be tlie result of tliat bodily disorder into which he was Daniel when he saw the vision. (Dan. x. 7.) And the Heathens, thrown by the vision, and of the attachment of his mind to those however they came by the notion, tliought their deities often ren- new and astonishing divine revelations with wliich during this time dered themselves visible to one only, in a company consisting of he seems to have been favoured.— Whether those discoveries men- many. See Eisner, Observ. Vol. I. p. 403—405. tioned, 2 Cor. xii. 1. et seq. and Gal. i. 11. et seq. were made at this 1 jnthoul sight.] Scales grew over his eyes, not only to intimate time, is matter of some debate, and may be examined in a more to him the blindness of the state he had been in, hut to impress proper place. 474 ANANIAS IS SENT TO CURE SAUL OF HIS BLINDNESS. SECTION XX. Clirisc sends Ananias to Saul, to restore his sight : Saul is baptized, and having preached the gospel at Df:niascus and Jerusale?n, to avoid the rage of the Jews, is sent by the disciples to Tarsus. Acts ix. 10— 3 L AT .. , Acts ix. 10. acts ix lo. si'.ci. iVOlF while Saul lay blind at Damascus, in those melancholy circumstances which have And there was a certain 20. been just described, it pleased the Lord, on the third day, to provide for his comfort aird disciple at Damascus,iiamed instruction: for there was a certain disciple at Damascus whose name was Ananias,"^ tlie'Lord'in a vision^ Ana- ^i\^ and he was a pious man according to the strictest precepts of the law, and had an ho- nias. And lie said, BeUold nourable character among all the Jews who dwelt in the city, as well as among the disci- ^ "'" ''^'^' ^°'^^- 10 pies of Jesos, to whom he was allied in the strictest bonds: (chap. xxii. 12.) And the Lord appeared and said to him in a vision, Ananias : And he said, Hchold, I [atn Where,'] Lord, ready to receive and execute thy commands. And upon this the Lord n And the Lord iOKiun- [saul] to him. Arise aiid go to that which is called the Straight Street, and inquire in u,e''st?;ef 'which'\s^caned the house of Judas for a ?nan of Tarsus whose name is Saul ; for behold, he is now Straight, and inijuire in the praying with great earnestness and affection, and I have compassion upon him, and am j^|""se of Judas for o/ip called 12 determined to send him immediate relief: And accordingly he hath just now seen thee ii'e prayeth -, ' ' in a vision,^ as a man whose name it has been intimated to him is Ananias ; and this . 1.2 And hath seen in a person has been miraculously represented to him as coming in and lar/ing; his hand upon niaa'comin^^hi "n'd'putti'iiff him, that he might recover his sight, which by a very extraordinary occurrence he has his iiand oii him, that he for the present lost, ™'S'»^ receive his sight. 13 And Ananias, astonished to hear such a name mentioned in such a connexion, a/?- 13 Then Ananias answcr- swercd. Lord, is it possible thou shouldst send me on any message of favour to Saul of ^^^ ^otA, I have heard by Tarsus ? I have heard of many concerning this man, even at this distance, how violent much e'vii he^haTh d'one'to a, persecutor he has been, and how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem : thy saints at Jerusalem ; 14 A?id I am credibly informed that he-is now come hither to Damascus with an intent to H And here he hath persecute thy people here, and that he has authority from the chief priests to bind all ^"[5^5''/ t'''T ,|'l? f'"'j[ //irt^ 2«oo/e ///J/ H(rw?c, and to carry them prisoners to Jerusalem to be tried there. on thy name" 15 But the Lord said unto hiin, Ananias, thou canst not imagine that I am ignorant of 15 But the Lord said un- any of these things, or that it is for thee to debate my sovereign determinations: Go to him. Go thy way : for he thy way, and execute immediately that message of mercy with which I have charged thee ; tobear'inyVame^beforMhe for, how great and aggravated soever his former transgressions may have been, I assure Gentiles, and kings, and the thee that this very man is to me a chosen vessel,'^ whom I have by my free and sovereign '^'"''*''«" °f l^r^^' = grace ordained to bear my }iame as an apostle, and to preach my gospel, the truth of which he shall maintain with the greatest fidelity and courage before the Gentile natio7is and their kings,"^ and before the children of Israel, and shall be made an instrument of 16 eminent service : For I will immediately introduce him into a scene of action quite dif- 16 For I will show him ferent from what he hath hitherto known, and will show him how many thintrs he, who ''°J ST^at things he must !,„ J 1 i 1 ■ • ,, 1 ,,/>•/. '^ „ suiter for my name s sake. nas clone so mucli to oppose and mjure my cause, must at length suffer for my name ;'^ and he shall undergo them with such cheerfulness, as shall render him an example to my saints in all the remotest ages of my church. 17 And upon this Ananias presumed not to object any farther, but with all readiness and ^^J^ ^nd eXe'd hftoShc joy undertook the message : He wetit, therefore, and entered into the house to which house ; and putting his he had been so particularly directed; and being introduced to the person whom he s^,lf\he Lord^^"''^"''^^^'" was sent to visit, and laying his hands upon him, he said. My dear brotlier Saul, for I tiiat'appeared'unto"thee"in most readily own thee under that relation, the Lord, [even'] Jesus who appeared to thee the wzy as thou earnest. on the way as thou earnest hither to Damascus, hath sent we that thou miglitest m1gi,tesT*rcc"i''ve^thy sight! receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit, which shall be poured out upon and be filled with the Holy ACTS thee in a miraculous way before I leave this place. " For the God of our fathers *^''5'*''- ^.^ XXIL 14 « hath, in his secret and mysterious counsels, fore-ordained thee to know his will, of our Miers hath diosea a TFIiose name was Ananias.'] As we read of Ananias only in this larly valuable person : (Compare 1 Tim. i. 13—15.) Yet this has been story, it is difficult to determine who he was. Dr. Benson thinks hinted of late, though the apostle speaks of himself as separated him to have been a native of Jerusalem, and one who had carried from his mother's womb. Gal. i. 15. which, in concurrence with the gospel from thence to Damascus. [Hist. Vo\.\.\>. 168.) Some many other scriptures, shows how much more natural and reason- of the ancients say he was one of the seventy disciples. Others, able it is to acquiesce in the obvious and common interpretation we from bis being called a devout man according to the law, (chap, have given. xxii. 12.) have thought he was a proselyte of righteousness, as it is d Before the Gentile nations, Sfc.] Ananias could not infer from usual now to speak. Perhaps he was a native of Damascus con- hence that the gospel was to be preached to the Gentiles while they verted at the first Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended, and continued uucircumcised, and so aliens from tlie commonwealth of honoured with this embassy to Saul as a christian of the oldest Israel, &c. (a mystery which Peter did not yet know:) for Christ standing in that place, and so, very probably, an officer of the might have used these expressions, had Paul been brought before church there; which the commission to baptize him may farther heathen kings for preaching him as the Messiah to the Jews and intimate. proselytes. b And III; hath seen, Sfc.'] M. L'Enfanl and several others think e / will show him how mam/ things he must suffer, tSr,] If (as these are the words of the historian, and therefore should be in- Grotius seems to think) this intimates that Saul should presently eluded in a parenthesis, and rendered. And he, i. e. Saul saw a man, have a revelation, and perhaps a visionary representation of all his &:c. But then I should think his name would have been expressed, suft'erings among Jews and Gentiles by land and sea, in tumults and Kai 0 XxvXtK eiJev, x. r. X. imprisonments, of which this book and his Epistles give so large a c A chosen vessel.'] Beza justly ohserves, that an instrument of description, it must appear a most heroic instance of courage and building, agriculture, &c. is often in Greek called hxeuos— and the zeal, that with such a view he should offer himself to baptism, and word may very probably have that signification here. One would go on so steadily in his ministerial work. Never sure was there, on Uiuik none who knew Saul's character before his conversion, could that supposition, an exacter image of Jesus, who so resolutely pei- imagine there was so much merit and excellence in it, as that he severed in his work, though he knew all things that were to come Should on this account be spoken of by Christ as a choice or singu- upon him. SAUL IS BAPTIZED AND PREACHES CHRIST. 475 theo, tliat tliou fhouldost " and fo sce t/iat )-ig/ifcous persoii vfhomoivc xm^aieM nSitiQn hsith cruci^ed, a}id to hear sect. know his will and see tiint « ^g (j^q^ i,ast ^qxiq f/ic voiccfrom liis own moutli, though he be now returned to tlie celestial 20. the voi"ce of Ills mouUi. " g'^^O' • ^^'^ ^''"'" shall be his faithful and successful tvilncss, and shall be employed to 15 For tliou slialt be his " testify unlo all men the truth of those things xchich thou hast already seen and heard, acts ;uiorifasTll°en'!.™d'wd'''' " '^"^ of thosc which he shall hereafter revearunto thee. And noxo, tvhy dost thou detail >f >^"- ; 10 And now why tarriest " a moment longer? Arise and be baptized, and thereby express thy desire to wash *!""•' ^^'^"^ si"** w "^ ■ 'uf " " ^'^'"^ thi/ sins, invoking the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that illustrious and divine sins, ca?nns ou\he"name o^ " name which thou hast formerly opposed and blasphemed." the Lord. And iimnediatelj/, as soon as Ananias had entered the place and laid his hands upon acts atily u'i'^re\u°'\r™m his ^im, there fell from his ei/cs [something'] like scales;^ and he present lif recovered his VS.. eyes as it had been scales; sight, and upoQ this arose and -was baptized. And presently after this, he received 18 with'''^Ind'''Irose''and°was ^^^ extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit,s by which he was much more particularly baptized. ' ' instructed in the contents of the gospel, and fitted to communicate it with the greatest ad- 19 And when he had re- vantage to others. And having received food after a long abstinence, he was quickly 19 ceived meat, he was strengthened, and recovered his former health and vigour, which it was his immediate strengthened. ^^^^ ^^ employ in the service of his new Master. —Then was Saul certain And as things now appeared to Saul in quite another light than they had done before, winch were at^Danfascis.'*^' ^^ disposition was entirely changed ; and he associated with those whom he had come to 20 And straightway he persecute, and xvasfor several days with the disciples at Damascus. And immediateh) 20 '^'^^i^'^j"','^ ti^"V '^ll'^c^' after his conversion, he preached Christ in the synagogues^ with great freedom and zeal, o'fl^fd.*^ ' ^ ^ ' '^ °" and proved by incontestable arguments that he is the Son of God. And all that heard 21 21 But all that heard /(i'm hi/n were astonished, and said. Is not this he who in Jerusalem was so exceeding zealous Mt'^this^'^heUiiu'destroved ^" ^'^ Opposition to this way, as to spread desolation a?no>2g them who called on this them which called on this Very name ?■ fl«^who came hither also to this end, that he might seize on all thefollow- iiame in Jerusalem, and ers of Jesus whom he could find, and carry them bound to the chief priests ? Whence, tiiat he might bring tiiem then, proceeds such an unaccountable change ? But Saul, perceiving there was such parti- 22 bound unto the chief cular notice taken of the matter, and hoping that his testimony might have so much the *'T2' But Saul increased the more weight in consequence of the knowledge which they had of his former character, ky/j more in strength, and con- strengthened and animated so much the more in his zeal and activity, and confounded the founded the Jews which unbelieving Jews that dwelt at Da?nascus, confirming and evincing with the fullest evi- dwelt at Damascus, proYing , ,;,,;■ t ptvt .1-1 i , 1 -nr ■ i that this is very Christ. dence, that this Jesus 01 JNazarcth IS indeed the Messiah. 23 And after that many And whcn 7nany days were fulfilled, in which several events happened which are else- 23 took counsel to ki'll^biraT* where hinted at; and particularly, after he had made an excursion into Arabia to spread the gospel there, and returned to Damascus again, (Gal. i. 16 — 18.) the Jews, finding it was impossible to answer his arguments or to damp his zeal, resolved to attempt another way to silence him, and, that they might effectually accomplish it, conspired to kill him} 24 But their laying await Bm/ Providence so ordered it that their design was happily discovered and inade known2^ tie watchcd°t*l ^^"V d"** ^^ Saul, who therefore kept himself concealed, and would not give them any opportunity and night to kill hfm.'^^ '' to e.KCCute their purpose ; and though they watched 2X[ the gates of the city continually," and some assassin or other was waiting at each of them day and night, to attack and 7nur- der him if he should offer to retire from thence, yet they could not compass their cruel 25 Then the disciples design. But as his present situation was still judged unsafe, and it was no way proper he 25 ;"v.V"I" '1'^, 'Ii^*'*' n"*- '^! should be thus confined, the other disciples of Jesus, anxious to preserve a life of so much 'jim rtown by the wall in a , , , 7 ■ , • ; , , 7 , / ■ 7 7 ^i ■ i i- ,7 '^ 77 • 77, 1 basket. value, took him by night, and let him down by the side of the wall in a basket, and so dismissed him ; heartily committing him to the divine protection, by the assistance of which he escaped the hands of those blood-thirsty Jews that were lurking about the gates. (2 Cor. xi. 32, 33.) f Something like scales.^ Perhaps the outward coat of his eyes go any where abroad, he retired into the desert of Arabia, where he might be scorched with the lightning, and what fell from tliem supposes him to have been favoured witli the full revelation of might have some resemblance to the small scales of fishes. Gro- Christianity, and to have spent some considerable time in devotion, tins thinks this was an emblem of the darkness and prejudice which after which he returned to Damascus, and preached; which he before veiled his eyes; and their falling off intimated the clearer argues from Gal. i. 16, 17. But that seems inconsistent with what views of divine things which he should for the future enj-oy. is here said of his preaching immediately. I therefore imagine his g He received the Holy Spirit.] AVe are sure from ver. 12. that going into Arabia, fto which Damascus now belonged,) was his the laying on of Ananias's hands was introductory to Saul's recciv- making excursions from that city into the neighbouring parts of ing his sight; and as this is connected with his receiving the Holy the country, and perhaps taking a large circuit about it, which Spirit in ver. 17. it is reasonable to conclude that they were both might be his employment between the time in which he began to conferred at this time. Yet it seems evident that the recovery of preach in Damascus, and his quitting it after repeated labours there his sight preceded, and the effusion of the Spirit followed, his bap- to go to Jerusalem. tism ; so that Ananias must have laid hands on him twice, if that i T/ie Jews conspired to kill him.'] AMiat an amazing instance is action of his attended the descent of the Spirit on Saul; and it is this of the malignity of these wretched creatures, tliat when so the more probable it did not, as we do not elsewhere find that any great a persecutor was by a voice and appearance from heaven but tlie apostles had the power of conferring it: Sec chap. viii. 16, converted to Christianity, they should be so far from following his 17. Dr. iienson has illustrated this by a variety of ingenious argu- example, that they should attempt to take away his life! In this ments, and is particular in his conjectures (perhaps too minutely design th ey were assisted by the governor of the city under Aretns, pursued) as to the several gifts which were now communicated. — king of Arabia, (2 Cor. xi. 32, 33.) by whatever revolution it had (Hist. Vol. I. p. 171 — 180.) SVe are sure he had an ample revela- come into his hands, after having been conquered by the Romans tiou of the christian scheme, otherwise he could not have been under Pompey. Jos. Antiq. lib. xiv. cap. 2. [al. 4.] } 3. See Dr. qualified to preach it as he did: (Compare Gal. i. 12; 1 Cor. xi. 23; Benson's Hisf. Vol I. p. 196. XV. 3.) And we particularly find he was enlightened in the sense of k They watched all Ihe gates of the city.] This shows there were the Old-Testament prophecies. He had also, no doubt, many other great numbers eniraged in this bloody design ; for Damascus was a miraculous gifts and powers besides that of speaking with tongues : large city, and had many gates. It seems that the Jews had not But whether these were given (so far as they were statedly resident Dow so much power there as they had when Saul was despatched in him) instantaneously or gradually, I think we cannot certainly from the sanhedrim, otherwise he might have been seized and car- determine. Some miraculous effects did, beyond all doubt, imme- ried to Jerusalem, by some such commission as he himself had diately appear. " borne. But they had some interest in Aretas' deputy, and there- h Immediately he preached Christ, Sec."] Dr. WaWs, Script. Geog. fore endeavoured to compass his death by this indirect method. Vol. Ill, p. 375. et in loc. says, that as soou as Saul had strength to Sec Miscell. Sacra, Vol. I. Abstract, p. 15. 476 HE COMES TO JERUSALEM, AND JOINS THE DISCIPLES. SECT Aiidv'hc7i Saul was co7ne from Damascus to Jcncsaktn,^ he immediately attempted to 2Q And wlicu Saul was 20.' associate TV Ith the disciples; but they all feared him, not believing that he, who bad ^^^d to jofnrmsdf to th^e sio-nalized himself so much by his rage against the church, was indeed a disciple ; but sus- disciples : but they were all .-?_i;_„ tu^f +V,^ ^^.r,„„^ ViQ r^rr,foc:corl H;ac Qr. Qrfifii-o it\ wnrk himsplf itlto tlieif COnfidence.™ afraid of him, and 1: ACTS pecting that the change he professed was an artifice to work himself into their confidence,™ ^^'t'ttdhnas"" disciple JX. and by that means to have it in his power to detect and ruin a greater number of persons. 27 But Barnabas, whose information had been more express and particular, taking him by 3,fJ,^^'J;^;Y);'',|;'^'^\°;'^\^"™ tiie hand with an endearing friendship," brought him to the apostles Peter and James, the ues,ai.d"dcclarcduuto K rest being then absent from Jerusalem j" and he related to them how he had seen the how he had seen the Lord in Lord Jesus Christ in the way to Damascus, and that he had spoken to him in a manner ^^l^^^^ \vlXl hoJ'he which had sweetly conquered all his former prejudices against the gospel; and how, in had preached boldly at Da- consequence of that change which was then made in his views and in his heart, he had ™^^^^^^"^ '" ^''"^ "^'-''^ of preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus, even at the apparent hazard of '-"^"^• his life. 28 On this they gladly received him into their number, and into their most intimate friend- 28 And he was with them ship, arid he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusale?n, for a little more than a ^erusnfeni "'"' °'""^ ""''*' fortnight ; (Gal. i. 18.) and with the greatest freedom he there bore his testimony to tlie gos- pel, preaching as boldly and as publicly in the na?ne of the Lord Jesus as he had done before at Damascus. 29 Jnd he spake and disputed, not only with the natives of Judea, but also with the Hcl- 29 And he spake boldly Icnists, or with those foreign Jews who used the Greek language.P and came out of other :,-;,:,';',^^';jf,,°;j^,g.^;^[,t parts to worship at Jerusalem, as being earnestly desirous that they might carry along with ,i,e Grecians : but they them the knowledge of Christ into their own lands : But some of them were so enraged at went about to slay him. this unexpected opposition from one on whom they had so great a dependence, that they 30 attempted to kill him. And the brethren being irformed [of it,'] judged it necessary to 30 WIdch when the breth- consult his safety without any delay ; and therefore several of them c(;//6'»c/«////;« to Cw- ;,;"„l:;'^"'c*J:,sLlr amf seTt sarca'^ with such despatch, that he had not an opportunity of enjoymg any mterview with iiim forth to Tarsus. the churches in Judea which lay in his way, (Gal. i. 22.) and from thence they se7it him away with proper recommendations to Tarsus, the noble capital of Cilicia, and his native place, where they apprehended he might meet with some support from his relations, and pursue the work of God with some considerable advantage ; which he accordingly did. 31 Then the several churches that were formed through all Judea, and those mofe lately 31 Then had the churches planted in Galilee and Samaria, being greatly edified' by the seals that were set to the '^^l GahrJl'^nVsamaS truth of the gospel, and by the confirmation of the news of Saul's conversion, (though they and were edified, and walk- could not enjoy the benefit of his personal labours,) not only advanced in christian know- ^»s^ 'i'/'/^e'^^corafort^of The ledge and holiness, but had also an happy interval of external rest,'' as several circumstances Hoiy " Gliost,'"Vere °mul! in the civil state of the Jews at that time concurred either to appease their enemies, or to tiphed. engage them to attend to what immediately concerned themselves. Jnd as the followers of Jesus were not corrupted by this respite, but continued with exemplary devotion and zeal walking in the fear of the Lord, aw^ evidently appeared to be in an extraordinary manner supported by the aids, and animated by the consolation, of the Holy Spirit,^ they 1 tf/ien Saul was come to Jerusalem.'] This is the journey of If they told such an idltJ story, it must however imply that they which he speaks. Gal. i. 18. in which he formed his first acquaintance thought Saul a person of some rank, to have been cajjable of forni- with Peter, the great apostle of the circumcision : But it is plain, as ing any such pretension. Mr. Cradock well observes in his excellent Apost. Hist. p. 55. he q Conducted him to Ceesarea.'] I should have concluded this had went not to acknowledge his supremacy, but [nro^-rjiai] to see and been the celebrated city of that name on the Mediterranean Sea, so converse with him as a brother and fellow-labourer: and it seems often mentioned afterwards, and from whence he might so easily by the expression, nufxiHx -n^os wrov, that he lodged with him. have passed by ship to Tarsus, had not Paul himself told us he went ra Suspecting that the change he professed was an artifice, &c.] through the regions of Syria and Cilicia, (Gal. i. 21.) which inti- It may seem strange that so remarkable an event as Saul's couver- mates that he went by land, and makes it probable that it was Cas- sion should be concealed so long from the christians at Jerusa- sarea Philippi, near the borders of Syria, which is here spoken of. lem : But it is to be considered that there were not then such con- Compare note o, on Acts viii. 40. p. 470, 471. veniences of correspondence between one place and another as we r Being edified.'] I follow Beza's construction of this intricate now have; and the war now subsisting between Herod Antipas verse, as most agreeable to the Greek idiom, and refer the reader to and Aretas, (Joseph. Antiq. lib. xviii. cap. 3. [al. 7.] \ 1.) might Dr. Hammond's learned note on the word oixoJo^oupiEvai, edified, for have interrupted that between Damascus and Jerusalem : not to an account of that figurative expression, which is properly a term urge that the unbelieving Jews, in order to prevent the argument of architecture. which the christians might draw from Saul's conversion, might s Had rest.] This is by no means to be ascribed merely or very probably affect to give themselves mysterious airs, as if he chiefly to Saul's conversion, who, though a great zealot, was but one was only acting a concerted part; sure to find their account in young man, and whose personal danger proves the persecution, in such a pretence, by mortifying the disciples, and bringing Saul in- some measure, to have continued at least three years after it. I to suspicion. conclude, therefore, the period spoken of istjiat which commenced n Barnabas taking him, kc] Some have said, I know not on at or quickly after his setting out for Cilicia, and entirely acqui- what evidence, that Barnabas was an old acquaintance of Saul, and esce in Dr. Lardner's most judicious observation, (C'rcdib. Book 1. had been formerly his fellow-student under Gamaliel. See Read- chap. 2. \ 12. Vol. I. p. 203—210.) that this repose of the chris- ing's Life of Chr'ist, p. 56.5. Perhaps he might have seen Ananias, tians might be occasioned by the general alarm which was given to or some other witness of peculiar credit, on whose testimony he in- the Jews, [about A. D. 40.] when Petronius, by the order of Cali- troduced him. It is evident a most faithful and tender friendship gula, (incensed by some affront said to have been offered him by was established between them from this time. the Alexandrian Jews,) attempted to bring the statue of that em- o To t/ie apostles Peter anA James, Sec] Paul himself tells us, peror among them, and to set it up in the holy of holies; a horrid that on his going up to Jerusalem he saw no other of the apostles, profanation, which the whole people deprecated with the greate.st Gal. i. 19. Beza well observes, we are quite uncertain on what oc concern, in the most solicitous and affectionate manner. (.See Jo- casion the rest were then absent from Jerusalem. Had they been seph. Bell. Jud. lib. ii. cap. 10. [al. 9] Antiij. lib. xviii. cap. 8. [al. 11.] there, though Saul staid but about a fortnight, he would nodoubt Philo de Legal, ad Cai. p. 1024. and the large account given of the have seen them. state of the Jews at this time by Dr. Benson. {Itist. Vol. I. p. p Jews who used the Greek language.] So the Syriac version 201 — 210.) How long this rest continued we do not certainly with great propriety explains the word, Hellenists; of whom .see know, probably till Herod interrupted it, as we shall see hereafter, note a, on Acts vi. 1. \ 12. p. 452. I know not on what authority chap. xii. init. Epiphanius, as quoted by Beza on tliis text, asserts that these Hef- t The ronsolalion of the Holy Spirit.] Some think nt^xiixn^ii sig- Icnists endeavoured to revenge themselves on Saul, by reporting nifies in the general pa/roHa//.? and assistance, 3lS it well may: and every where, that his conversion to Christianity was the result of a therefore in the paraphrase I have expressed both. De Dieu disappointment in his addresses to the daughter of Caiaphas the lakes great pains to prove that Tro^suoAtEvii ru p)€« — tTiXneuvovDi signifies ''ig'i-pritst as her father would not accept hiiii for a son-in-law. that ihey advanced more and more in Tcligion, Sfc. But it seems PETER CURES MNEAS OF THE PALSY. 477 ■were considerably 7>mHiplied by a new accession of members, whereby the damage sus- sect. tained in the late persecution was abundantly repaired. ?0. IMPROVEMENT. ^^,^^ How admirable was the condescension and care of our blessed Redeemer, in sending good Ananias thus early as '''^• a messenger of comfort and peace to Saul in his darkness and distress ! We cannot wonder at the objections which 10 — 12 ■were at first ready to rise in his mind, but must surely yield to the great authority by which they were overborne, 13, 14 Go tht/ xvaj/, he is a chosen vessel. "Thus does it become us to acquiesce in all our Lord appoints in pursuance of 15 the schemes of his electing love ; and thus should we, with brotherly affection like that of this holy man, be ready 17 to embrace even the greatest of sinners, when they are brought in humility to a Saviour's feet. But when he is thus glorifying his power and his grace, what gratitude and love may he justly expect from those that are happy objects of it ! When the scales are fallen from their eyes, when they have given themselves up to 18 him in the solemn seals of his covenant, when they have received the communications of his Holy Spirit, how solicitous should they be to love much, in proportion to the degree in which they had been forgiven ! (Luke vii. 47.) And with what zeal and readiness should they immediately apply themselves, from a principle of gratitude to 19, 20 Christ and of compassion to sinners, to declare that way of salvation into which they have been directed ! and, so far as they have opportunity, whether under a more public or private character, to lead others unto that Jesu3 on whom they have themselves believed. And now let us with sacred pleasure behold the progress of grace in the heart of Saul : Let us view him rising 22 from his bed of languishing with a soul inflamed with love and zeal, testifying the gospel of Christ, and confound- ing tlie Jews that dwelt at Damascus : Let us behold him running the hazard of his life there, while their obstinate 23 — 25 hearts refused to receive or endure such a testimony ; and then returning to Jerusalem, desiring to join himself to the 2G company of those whom he had once despised and persecuted ; and on that most public theatre, under the very eyes of that sanhedrim from which he had received his bloody commission, openly bearing his testimony to that gospel 28, 29 which he had so eagerly attempted to tear up by the roots. Thence let us view him travelling to Tarsus, and 30 visiting his native country, with a most earnest desire to fill Cilicia, as well as Judea and Damascus, with that doctrine which his Divine Master had condescended to teach him, and to be the means of regeneration to the in- habitants of the place from whence he derived his natural birth. And while we behold with reverence and delight the hand of God with and upon him, let us, as we are told the churches in Judea did while he was by face unknown to them, glorify God in him. (Gal. i. 22, 24.) In all the labours and writings of Paul the glorious apostle, let us keep Saul the persecutor in our eye, still remembering that (according to his own account of the matter) it was for this cause that he, though once the chief of s'niners, ob- tained mercy, that in him, as the chief, Christ 7niiiht show forth a pattern of all long-sufferinfr to them that should hereafter believe. (1 Tim. i. 15, 16.) — Well might the churches be edified by such an additional evidence 31 of the truth and pow(!r of the gospel. May the edification be continued to churches in succeeding ages ; and while a gracious Providence is giving them rest, may they walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and be daily multiplied, established, and improved ! SECTION XXI. Peter cures Mneas at Li/dda, and then raises Dorcas from the dead at Joppa. Acts ix. 32, to the end. Acts ix. 32. Acts ix. 32. pitlVpissed'throu-hout aU HAVING despatched this important history of the conversion of Saul, and of the vigour SECT. qvariers, he came down also and succcss with which he Set out in the christian ministry, let us now turn to another scene, 21. to tlie saints wliich dwelt at vvhich happened during that peaceful interval mentioned above. Now it came to pass at ^ ■ this favourable juncture, that the apostle Peter, as he was making a progress through all acts the [^parts'] of the neighbouring country, that he might rectify any disorders that occurred, n.-j and instruct and confirm the new converts in the knowledge and faith of the gospel, among the other places that he visited, came also to the saints that dwelt at L]/dda, a consider- 33 And there he found able town not far from the coast of the Mediterranean sea. And he found there a certain 33 Xdf 3^"kepT' hif 'bed 'X""- ^'''"■^'^ x"»"^ '^"^ Mneas, who had been long disabled by a palsy, and had kept his eigiit years, and was sick of bed eight years, in so deplorable a state as to be quite incapable of rising from it, or to be ^''sf A^^(i P t 1 ^"y ^^y helpful to himself. And Peter seeing him, and perceiving in himself a strong 34 him, iEneas, Jesus Christ intimation that the divine power would be exerted for his recovery, said to him, Mneas, makeUi thee whole: Arise Jcsus, tlic fruc Mcssiah, in wliosc name I prcach and act, now at this instant healeth thee.^ he'LoseVmmedia'tely. "^"'^ ^"'l operate?, while I speak, to strengthen and restore thy weakened frame : With a de- pendence therefore upon his almighty agency, arise and make thy bed.^ And upon this the palsy left him, and the disabled man was all at once so strengthened, that he arose im- mediately, and did it. much more natural to explain it of the accession made to their would have been very indecent, and have tended to many bad numbers in consequence of that advancement in piety, &c. consequences. a Jesus the Messiah (Inrou? o X^ittoj) healeth thee.] It is worth ouf b Afalie thy bed.] Beza thinks it is in effect bidding; him take while to observe the great difference there is between the manner up his bed ; but De Dieu well observes, that ffrjwiov rather sitrnifies in which this miracle is wrought by Peter, and that in which to smooth it. As he was now for the present to quit his bed. Dr. Christ performed his works of divine power and goodness. The Hammond seems to think it refers to a couch on which he was to different characters of the servant and the Son, Uie creature and lie at the table: But perhaps it might mean as if it were said to the God, are every where apparent. — Clarius justly observes here, him, " AVhereas you have hitherto for a long time been unable to that no faith on the part of the person to be healed was required ; " help yourself at all, now you shall be so entirely restored as not and the like is observable in many other cases, where persons, " only to be able to rise, but to shake up and smooth your own bed perhaps ignorant of Christ, were surprised with an unexpected " against Uie next time you have occasion to lie down upon it ;" cure. But where persons petitioned themselves for a cure, a de- which he miglit immediately do, as a proof of the degree in which clarat'on of their faith v/as often required, that none might be he was strengthened, encouraged to try experiments out of curiosity, in a manner \ hich 478 PETER RAISES DORCAS TO LIFE. SECT. And the miracle appeared so extraordinary to a/l the inhabitants of the learned and 35 And hU that dwelt at 21. celebrated town of Lijdda,'' and to those of the fruitful vale of Saj-on, part of which lay in Lydda, and Saron, saw iiim, the neighbourhood of it, that they no sooner saxv him and had an opportunity of being '''"' *•"''""' ^° '^^ ^°'^''- ACTS informed in the particulars of so unparalleled a fact, but they believed that he in whose l^'- name it was done was undoubtedly the Messiah, and so turned to the Lord, and embraced his gospel. 36 A7id the number of converts in these parts was greatly increased by another and yet Joppa, Tcertlfn dJscip'ie more astonishing event which happened about the same time. For there was then at "^"leJ Tabitiia, whinii by Joppa, a noted sea-port in that neighbourhood,-! a certain female disciple, named Dorcasf tC woman^'was Tahitha,who,hy the interpretation of her name into the Greek language, is called ^vl^^ of good works, and Dorcas f [and'] she was universally respected as a person of a very lovely character, for she '•'"is-deeds which she did. 37 was/«// of good works and alms-deeds, which she did upon all proper occasions. And those d"ays u"t 'she^'was it came to pass in those daijs, while Peter was at Lydda, that she was sick and died sick, and died: whom when And when the,/ had washed' her corpse, according to the custom of the place, thei/ laid //n'^n'an ^er'^'hambV'''^ her in an upper chamber. 38 And forasmuch 'as 38 And as Lydda was very near Joppa, being but about six miles ofF, the disciples at ^.^a'tl'^e disci^'ifs'had"'h?.''d Joppa hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, entreating [/i/w] that he would that Peter waslhirre, 'tltcy not by any means delay to come to them,^ that he might give them his advice and assist- *'^"* ""'" '"'" t'^" ™e"> ance under that great distress which the loss of so dear and useful a friend could not but not'deif/Tcome'tothem.'^ occasion. 39 Then Peter arose, and 39 And Peter presently arose and went to Joppa with them. And when he was come to ^,^"' coraV'tTev ^brou"»-ht Tabitha's house, they brought him into the upper chamber where she was laid out; and him into the upper d"fm. all the widows stood by him, weeping for the loss of such a benefactress, and showina- the ^'''^ '■ ^""^ ='" t'><^ widows coats and mantles wllich Dorcas made hv charitable purposes while she was yet "con- slmwin''|t^rcrt^''ana' "rr*! 40 tinued with them. And Peter putting them all out, as he found in himself a powerful ments which Dorcas nude encouragement to hope that the petition he was about to offer was dictated from above, and "'40'' But P^teT'^ni^tiTem therefore should certainly be heard, kneeled down a)id prayed with great earnestness; and all forth, andkneded dowTi then turning to the body, he said, as with a voice of authority in the name and presence ?"*^ P^yed, and turning of his great Lord, the sovereign of life and death, Tabitha, arise. And he had no sooner biila'^arise. "a/J I'eolt spoke these words but she opened her eyes ; and seeing Peter, she immediately sat up ^^ Ix^r eyes: and when she 41 And giving her his hand, he raised her up on her feet; and having called the saint's '^Ii^lnd'he''eaie"?;er his and widows, who were near the chamber, and had impatiently been waiting for the event, hand, andiift her up; and he presented her to them alive. when he had calkd the 42 And [this] wonderful fact was presently known throughout all the city of Joppa ; and fj her'a"^!.''""'''' P'"''"'' 43 many more believed in the Lord upon the credit of so signal a miracle. And as Peter was -12 And it was known willing to improve so favourable an opportunity of addressing them while their minds were m^^'ylleiieved in'^t'li^e'^LoTd'^ mipressed with so astonishing a miracle, he continued many days at Joppa, in the house 43 And it came to passi of one Simon a tanner .-s from whence he was afterwards sent for to Ceesarea upon an ex- '•'"'' '"= tarrifd many days traordinary occasion, which will be related at large in the next section. a"tan7e?.'' '""' "'" '^'"'°" IMPROVEMENT. Ver, 32 Biessed apostle ! who was thus enabled to imitate his Divine Master in what he himself has celebrated as the 38 brightest glory of his human character, in going about doing good ; (Acts x. 38.) and who had always a concern, like him, when he perforiued the most important offices of kindness to men's bodies, that all might be subservient to the edification and salvation of their souls. 33 Behold, in what has now been read, not only a disease, which a continuance for eight years had rendered in- 40 veterate and hopeless, but death itself yielding to his command, or rather to the infinitely superior power of his Lord, the great conqueror of death for himself, and (adored be his compassionate name) for all his people too. It is most 34 delightful to observe with what solicitous care of pious humility Peter immediately transferred the eye and heart of c The learned and celebrated town of Lydda.'] I call it so, e Tahitha, it'ho by interpre/ation is called Dorcas.'] She might, because there were several celebrated Jewish schools there, and as Dr. Lightfoot supposes, be one of the Hellenist Jews, and be the great sanhedrim sometimes met near it. (See Lightfoot, Ceitl. known among the Hebrews by the Syriac name, Tabitha, while Chor. Mat. cap. IC.) It was but one day's journey distant from the Greeks called her, in their own language, Dorcas. They are Jerusalem, and is said by Josephus to have been so" large a town both words of the same import, and signify, a roe or fnirn, in which as not to have been inferior to a city. {Antiq. lib. ii. cap. 6. [al. 5.] sense the word Ao^-k^s is often used by the Septuagint, Deut. xii. ? 2.) Some have supposed it was the same with Lod, which be- 15, 22; 2 Sam. ii. 18; Cant. ii. 9; iv. 5, &c. And thus the name longed to the tribe of Benjamin. (1 Cbron. viii. 12; and Neh. xi. niigiit probably be given her in her infancy on account of her .'i.j.) However, as it stood near Joppa, it must have been situate amiable form, which rendered her peculiarly pleasant in the eyes near the borders of the tribe of Ephraim. — Saron, or Sharon, which of her parents. — Others suppose it rather to have signified a ti'iild IS here connected with it, was not a town, but a large fertile plain fjnat ; and so the name might be intended to allude to the spright- or valley that lay near to Lydda, and extended from Ca;sarea to liness of her temper, or to the quickness of her sight. — For the Joppa, in which were many villages, as it was noted for its delight- etymology of the words, see Drusius and Grotius, in loc. ful situation, and the fine pasture it afforded for their flocks. 'f That he would not delay to come to them.] We can hardly Compare I Chron. xxvii. 29; Isa. xxxiii. 9; xxxv. 2; Ixv. 10. imagine they urged his coming merely to comfort them under d Joppa, a noted sea-port.] This was the nearest maritime town this'breach : But if they had any view to what followed, it was to Jerusalem, and was the only port belonging to it on the Medi- an astonishing instance of faith, as it does not appear the apostles terranean Sea, but was more than a day's journey distant from it, had before this raised any one from the dead. Were we to have though some have said Jerusalem might be seen from thence, been judges, perhaps we should have thought it much better that (Strabo, Geoyr. lib. xvi. p. 522.) We find it mentioned in the Old Stephen should have been raised than DoVcas ; but we must sub- Testament by the name of Japho, as belonging to the tribe of mit our reasonings on what we think fittest and best, to the infi- Dan. (Josh. xix. 46.) It was the place to which the materials nitely wiser determination of Providence, or we shall be most for building Solomon's temple were brought in floats by sea, and foolish and miserable creatures. carried from thence by land to Jerusalem. (2 Chron. ii. Ifi.) g In the house of one Simon a tanner."] Some render it, « C(/rner. Jonah took ship from hence for Tarshish. (Jonah i. 3.) And as it His business perhaps is mentioned, that it might appear the apostle ot A-_i. J r^ .. ... ... .^.^^ was not elevated, by the dignity of the late miracle, above mean 40.) persons and things. lay between Azotus and Cajsarea, it was probably one of the cil 'vhere l^mlip preached the gospel In his progress. (Acts viii. 4 I Here are still some remains of it under the name of Jaffa. REFLECTIONS ON PETER'S RAISING DORCAS FROM THE DEAD. 479 ^jieas, and of every spectator, from himself to Christ, while he says, JEneas, Jesus Christ hcakih thee. He sect. would not leave them any room for a surmise, as if it \yas by any power of his own that so astonishing a cure 21. was wrought ; but leads them to consider it as the act of Christ, and to ascribe the glory of tlie work to him, whose minister he was, and in whose name he spake. Thus if God favour us as the instruments of healing and Af^Ts I animating those souls that were once lying in a hopeless state, not only disabled, but dead in trespasses and sins, ^^• let us acknowledge that it is not we, but the grace of God that is with us. (1 Cor. xv. 10.) ) Great, no doubt, Mas the affliction which the disciples sustained when so amiable and useful a person as Ver. 37 Dorcas was taken away from them by death ; a person whose heart had been so ready to pity the afflicted, and 38 her hand to help them ; a person whose prudence and diligence had also been as conspicuous as her charity ; for 36, 39 she well knew there were circumstances in which to have given the poor the value of these things in money, would have been a much less certain and suitable benefit than to furnish them with the necessaries and conve- niences of life thus manufactured for their immediate use. And surely the garments which she made and distri- buted, must be the more precious to them in some degree for having passed tlirough so kind a hand. Let us be emulous of such a character in all the expressions of it which suit our circumstances in life, that when we are dead, the memory of our good actions may survive, to the credit of our profession, and to the glory of God. It was a circumstance which greatly enhanced the value of the intended miracle, that it was to call back from 40 the dead so excellent a person. And with what humility, with what faith was it performed ! Again does the servant follow not only the path but the very steps of his Lord, in dismissing all witnesses, that nothing might look like vain-glory, that nothing might interrupt the fervour of that address he was to pour out before God. First he bends his knees in prayer to the Lord of life, and then he directs his voice with a divine efficacy to the dead. So may we, O Lord, learn to address ourselves to those under the power of spiritual death, with that spirit and vigour which we receive by solemn and affectionate intercourse with thee, who hast the life of nature and of grace at thy command ! \Vho can imagine the surprise of Dorcas, when thus called back to life again, or of her pious friends, when 41 tliey saw her ahve ? For their own sakes, and the sake of the indigent and distressed, there was cause of rejoicing, anci much more in the view of such a confirmation given to the gospel, and such a token of Christ's presence with liis servants. Yet to herself it was matter of resignation and of submission rather than of exultation, that she was called back to these scenes of vanity, which surely would hardly have been tolerable, had not a veil of oblivion been drawn over those glories which her separate spirit enjoyed. But we please ourselves with a charitable and reasonable hope that the remainder of her days were yet more zealously and vigorously spent in the service of her Saviour and her God, yielding herself to him as in a double sense alive from the dead. Thus would a richer treasure be laid up for her in heaven ; and she would afterwards return to a far more exceeding weight of glory than that from which so astonishing a providence had, for a short interval, recalled her. SECTION xxn. I Cornelius, an uncircumciscd though pious Gentile, being divinely instructed to do it, sends for Peter, who, taught by a vision not to scruple it, returns with his messengers to Cwsarea. Acts x. 1 — 23. AcTsx. 1. Acts x. 1. TfiF.UE was a certain man HiTHERTO the gospel had been preached to the Jews alone ; but God was now deter- sect. a" oM^iiHo^'of ?he" bind mined to open a way for the discovery of it to the Gentiles ; and, that a proper decorum 22. caikd the lialiaD band : might be observed in the manner of doing it, he first sent it to one who, though uncir cumcised, was nevertheless a worshipper of the true God, whose story we shall here pro- acts ceed to relate. Let it therefore be observed, that while Peter continued at Joppa, (where -^■ the conclusion of the former section left him,) there was a certain man in the neigh- 1 bouring and celebrated city of Cassarea, named Cornelius, who was a centurion, or commander of an hundred men, of that which is called the Italian cohort or band of soldiers,* which attended the Roman governor, who commonly kept his residence at this 2 yf devo'jt jnnn, and one city. This Cornelius was a man of distinguished piety, and one that feared and wor- 2 Uiat feared God with all his shipped the Only living and true God^ with all his house, giving also much alms to the '^mi\nXh(^, l^Mple^and people of the Jews, though he was himself a Gentile; and praying to God continually viayed to God alway. in secret, domestic, and public devotions, as he esteemed it an important part of his daily business and pleasure to employ himself in such sacred exercises. ?, lie saw in a vision evi- j^q^y ^j ^ *jjjjg when he was thus engaged, he evidently saw' in a vision, about the 3 hour \)'f the"day, 'an angel ninth hour of the day, (that is, about three in the afternoon, which, being the hour of a T/ie Jlahan cohort or hand of soldiers.] A Roman cohort was the life-gllard of the Roman governor, who generally resided in a rompany of soldiers commanded by a tribune, consisting general- this splendid and celebrated city. lyot' about a thousand. (See Pitisc. Leric.in voce, COHORS.) Many, b A man of distinguished piety, and onr that feared God.l^ It is with Grotius, have explained this as if the meaning were, that a very unwarrantable liberty that is taken in the version nt 1727, to p Cornelius was a centurion of one of the cohorts belonging to the translate the latter of these clauses, aproseli/te. 1 hope in a proper I Italian ; and the editors of the Prussian Testament, with our Eng- place to shew that the name of proselyte was never applied by so 1 lish follower, have ventured (quite contrary to the original) to ancient and correct a writer as Luke, to an uncircumciscd person, I I translate it so. But I refer the reader to the many learned and and that there is no sufficient authority for the distniction, so gene- l| judicious thinss which Mr. Biscoe has said, [Al Boyle's Icct. chip, rally admitted by learned men, between proselytes of righteous - I ix. ? 1. p. 330—3,35.) to shew that the Italian lesion did not exist at ness, who by circumcision became debtors to the whole law, and I I this time, and that the version here given is to be retained. I thiuk proselytes of the gate, who, worshipping the true God, renouncmg 1 it exceedingly probable, for the reasons he urges, that this was a idolatry, and submitting themselves to the observation ot the seven cohort different from any of the legionary ones, aud consequently (supposed) precepts of Noah, were allowed, though uncircumcised, tliat Luke has here expressed himself with his usual accuracy; to live among the Jews, and converse famriiarly with them. But and tliat the mistake lies, as it generally does, in those who thiiik the question is too complex, and too important, to be handled in thev have learning enough to correct him. It is probable this was these notes. I therefore only desire that I may not be condemned called the Italian cohort, because most of the soldiers belonging to for waving all those interpretations of scripture which depend on it were Italians; whereas Josephus mentions Caesarean cohorts, this distinction of proselytes, till my reasons for doing it have from whom it might be proper to distinguish this. {Antiq. lib. xix. been examined aud answered. cap. 9. [al. 7.] } 2. et lib. xx. cap. 8. [al. 6.] ? 7.) It might perhaps be 180 PETER FALLING INTO A TRANCE, HAS A REMARKABLE VISION. SECT evening sacrifice, was chosen bv him as a proper season for his devotion,) an angel of of God coming: in to liim, 2-2. ' God coming; in to him, in a foria and habit of surprising brightness, and saj/ing to him, conieiius'l"" ""'° '""^ Cornelius ! And having fxcd his eyes upon him with astonishment, he xoas afraid, 4 And wiien he looked on ACTS and said. What is it. Lord ? Protect me from all danger ! and let me know the meaning iiim. he was afraid, and said X. Wliat is it, Lord! And lie of this vision !"= And presently the angel executed the commission with which he was g^jj y„f^ [,;„,_ ^^[^ prayers 4 charged, and said to him. Thy repeated fervent prayers, and thine alms with which and tliine alms are come they have been attended, are "come up into the divine presence as a grateful memorial ^^l'^'^ ^ meinonai biiore 5 before God, far more pleasing to him than the most fragrant incense : And he is now 5 And now send men to about to give thee a very singular demonstration of his favour, by discovering things to ^3%i,o5g'^"''i',.\J^e''"^Pe; thee which it is of the highest importance that thou shouldst know : iicnd therefore some """' C of thy wic« to Joppa, and fetch hither [one] Simon, whose sirname is Peter: He 6 He lodgeth with one lodgeth with one Simon, by trade a tanner, whose house is by the sea-side ; and when ^^^^^\^ by the sea-side ;"l'ie he is come, as he will be instructed from above in the message he is to bring, he shall tell shall tell thee what thou thee what thou must do for the security of thy final happiness. ""? And^when the an-ei 7 As soon then as the angel who spake to Cor?ielius was gone, he was so earnestly ^hich spake unto Cornelius desirous to hear what Peter was to say to him, that he immediately obeyed the orders that was departed I'e caviled two were given him; and calling two of his domestics and a pious soldier, who was one °„j"*j (°e"vou't sofdLV'of 8 of them that always attended his person and waited upon him, And having related to them that waited on him them all Ithese] things just in the manner they had happened, he ordered them to go '^"g'^'"j"y,;p„ ,,g ,,_^j ^^_ for Peter, and sent them away to Joppa that very evening. dared all these things unto 9 And as they set out too late to reach the place that night, on the next day, while they them, he sent them to were on their journey, and drew near the city, Peter went up to the top of the house °PPq|j ^j^^ morrow as tliey to pray ;'^ the tiat open roof with which the houses in those parts were built, affording a went on their journey, and more convenient place of retirement than could at that time be found within doors; and ^^^"^^ "vlnt"ul.'' ujon'^t^c 10 it was now about noon, or the sixth hour of the day.^ And he was very hungry, and house-top to pray, about the •would gladly have taken a little 7'efreshment :' but while they were preparing dinner sixth hour : for the family, he fell into an ecstasy or trance,s in which a very remarkable ana in- xxun^vy, and wonki iia>i 11 structive vision presented itself to him. For he had a strong impression made upon his eaten:" but while they made mind, and apprehended, while he lay in this state, that he saw heaven opened, and some- "j','>';^[|^ ^^^ hl^y^ul^ln- thing of a large extent descending to him from above like a great sheet or wrapper,*" ed, and a certain vessel de- which was fastened at the four corners, and so let down to the earth by an invisible sccndinf^untohim, asithad 12 hand: In which there were all [sorts of] things in great variety, even four footed the"foifr*corne^rs,'and let aniinals of the earth, and wild beasts, and reptiles or creeping things, and fowls of the down to the earth : . 13 air of several kinds. And while thie plenty of provision was before him, there came a nei^of^fiuMbotcd^bcis't^o'f voice from heaveri to him, saying. Rise, Peter, since thou art hungry, and take thy the eartii, and wild beasts, choice of what thou wilt out of this great variety ; kill any of these animals which may and creeping things, and 14 be most agreeable to thee, a«f/ raif freely of what is before thee.' But Peter said, wWh °iV And^'^ there came a a kind of pious horror. By no means. Lord; I would much rather continue fasting a voice to him. Rise, Peter; great while longer than satisfy my hunger on such terms; ./o?- 1 see only unclean animals '"'//B'Ijt''ppter s:iid Not here : and thou knowest, that from a religious regard to the precepts of thy law, I have so, Lord ; for 1 have 'neve:- never, from the day of my birth to this hour, eaten any thing which is common or un- eaten any thing that is com- clean, nor took the liberty of tasting what is prohibited in itself, or polluted by any ac- """" ""^ "'"^ ^'^^' 15 cidental circumstance that has attended it. And the voice [said] to him again the 15 And the voice spnr;e second time. Those things which God hath cleansed by such a declaration of his will in "'!'° him again the second « '^ , I ,/ 1 1-1 1 ■ 1 time, \> liat ijtm liatii bidding thee to eat of them, do not thou any more call common, but readily submit thy- cleansed, tkat call not tliou self to his directions, and leave it in the power of the great Lawgiver to change his pre- comniou. IGcepts as he shall see fit. And, that it might impress his mind the more, and he might ai//ti'ie'"4ssd was'rccei'ved give the more particular attention to it as to a thing established by God, the vision was up again into heaven. c What is it, Lord ?] Dr. Whitby thinks these wordgare address- f ITai'e Uilceii a tittle refreshment.'] After all that Limhorch and ed to the angel as if Cornelius had said, " Sir, what would you say several otiier writers have said, this seems to me the most proper "to me?" Hut it is both more literal and natural to render it as import of the word ytM-aii^ii- and the autliorities produced by in tlie paraphrase, and to understand it as a sudden exclamation Raplielius (^n«rt/. fj //crorf. p. 343, 344.) and Eisner, (Vol. L p. 407.) and prayer to God to preserve him, and let him know what was the to prove that it signifies just tlie same witli making a set meal, con- design of so astonishing an appearance. firm me in the contrary opinion. d tfent up to the top of llie house to' pray. "] It seems a strange g .^« ecstasy or trance.] The word exJr**!! properly signifies fency of Mr. Keeves, (^pol. Vol. U. p. 68.) tliat this place to wliich such a rapture of mind as gives the person who falls into it a look Peter retired was some upper room where the disciples used to as- of astonisliment, and renders liim insensible of the external objects semble, and that he went up to it as a consecrated place, in which round him, while in tlie mean time his imagination is agitated in liis devotions would be more acceptable to God than elsewliere. an extraordinary manner witli some striking scenes which pass be- lt IS not improbable that he might the rather chuse it for the ad- fore it, and take up all the attention. The reader may see some vantage it gave him to look towards the temple at Jerusalem, to extraordinary instances of this kind mentioucd by Gualtperius, ia which Peter might hitherto have the same regard as the other .Tews his large note on this text. j had, who used to turn their faces towards it when they prayed. h Something— lil ^^ i- ^i ^ - Y seen should mean, behold, point out to him, behold, the menxiho "Were sent from Lorneltiis, tlie pious centurion ^• the men which were sent mentioned above, having inquired out the house of Simon the tanner, stood at the door : ^ ' inquiryTor" s"moirs Imuse*^ And ealting to those that were within, they asked if one Simon, whose sirname teas 18 and stood before the gate, ' Peter, lodged there : And being told that he did, they desired immediately to speak witli whethe"r'*sTmoit'whtrt'al him on an'afFair which was of the utmost importance. Now as Peter was rejecting 07i 19 sirnamed Peter', were lodg- the vision, and was attentively revolving it in his own mind, the Spirit, by an inward sug- ^^10* wi 1 P t tl o o-i t gestion, said unto him. Behold, three men are innuiringfor thee : Delay not therefore, 20 onthe vislo*n,the%iiritslid but arise and go down to these men,'' and take the journei/ xvith them which they shall unto him, Behold, three propose, without any scruple of conversing with them, or the person from whom they ™2oTr'^se 'Therefore, and come ; for I have Sent them : and when thou comest to compare their message with what get thee down, and go with thou hast now seen, thou wilt easily know the intent of this vision, and the use thou art to f^'^Thave sent them """^ ' ^^^^ °^ '^ ^°^ ^^^^^ °^" direction. °2iTh'en Peter wTnt down Then Peter instantly, before any message from the strangers could reach him, wc?it 21 to the men which were sent (foxvn from the house-top to the men who were sent to hitn from Cornelius ; and while and°sik™BXld^T'ara"he they still continued at the door, said to them, Behold, Ia7n\the man] whom ye inquire whom ye seek: what is the for : What is the causefor whieh you are come hither ? cause^ wherefore ye are j^^^^i ^y^^ j^j^j ^j^gjj. g|Qj.y jj^ j^ fg^y plain words, and Said, Cornelius the centurion, a 22 °22'And they said, Corne- righteous man, whofeareth God, and hath a character attested by all the Jewish peo- lius tiie centurion, a just jf^^ though he be not completely a proselyte to their religion, has been divinely instructed, G^d,' "'an*!! "of good ^report h the ministry of an holy angel, to send for thee to his house, and to hear words from among all the nation of the thce upon some important subject, in the purport of which we do not doubt but thou art G^T'b Tu hoT "'an e^'^°t'o ^^^^^ iustntcted, though it be not particularly known to us : We therefore desire that, in send for thee into hi^lfouse*^ compliance with his request and this divine cammand, thou wouldst be pleaiied immediately and t() hear words of thee, to go with US to Caesarea. in.^'anS To"dgeH,«' A'nd ff^^i^g therefore called them in, he entertained [//;««] there that night : And the 23 on the morrow Peter went ne.Tt day Peter Set out with them ; and some of the brethren who were inhabitants of trin^bTethren'^from'jo'^'^'a Joppa Went with him upon so great an occasion, which could not but excite their diligent accompanied liim. attention, and raise an high expectation, r IMPROVEMENT. We are now entering on a series of the story in which we ourselve9 are intimately concerned : We are going to see the first-fruits of the Gentiles gathered into the church ; and let us see it with gratitude and delight. Most ami- Ver. 1 able and exemplary is the character of Cornelius, who, though exposed to all the temptations of a military life, maintained not only his virtue but his piety too. He feared God, and he wrought righteousness ; and daily pre- 2 sented before God prayers and alms, which added a beauty and acceptance to each other : And he was also an example of domestic as well as of personal religion : as if he had been trained up under the discipline of that heroic general and prince who so publicly and so resolutely declared before an assembled nation, even on the -sup- position of their general apostasy. As for me and mri house, we xvill serve the Lord. (Josh. xxiv. 15.) To him God was pleased to send the gospel ; and the manner in which he sent it is well worthy of our remark. 3, 5, 6 An angel appeared, not himself to preach it, but to introduce the apostle to whom that work was assigned. With 4 what holy complacency of soul did Cornelius hear by a messenger from heaven, that his prayers and alms were come up for an acceptable memorial before God ! They whose prayers and alms are proportionably affectionate and sin- cere, may consider it as a testimony borne to the gracious manner in which an impartial and immutable God regards and accepts them. — Yet after all that they have done, let them learn, by the conduct of this devout, 7, 8 upright, and charitable man, not so to rest in their own virtues as to neglect inquiring after that way of salvation which God has established by his Son, but always ready to regard it as the one thing needful,— let them maintain an uniformity in their character, by a diligent and candid attention to the declaration of it in the gospel. Peter retires for secret prayer in the middle of the day, as if he had learned of David to say, Evening and 9 morning, and at noon, will I pray and cry aloud. (Psal. Iv. 17.) He seeks a convenient retirement, and in that 10—1 6 retirement the vision of the Lord nieets him ; a vision mysterious indeed in its appearances, but gradually opened by 17—20 Divine Providence, the process of which renders many things plain which at first seemed dark and unaccountable. This vision declared to him in effect the abolition of the Mosaic ceremonial law, of which the precepts relating to 13, 15 the distinction of meats made so important a part ; and we see here with pleasure, that strict as his observation of it 14 had been from his very birth, he was not now disobedient to the heavenly vision, but freely received the uncircum- cised, and freely goes to be a guest to one who was so. Thus let us always preserve an openness and impartiality 21, 23 of mind ; and, in proportion to the degree in which we appear willing to know the truth, we shall find that the truth will make us free. (John viii. 32.) . Nevertheless, as it was an affair about which some difiiculties might arise, (and some censures may, even in the way of duty, be incurred,) he takes some of the brethren with him, that their advice and concurrence in what he did might be a farther justification of his conduct, to those who were not perhaps sufficiently aware of the divme 23 direction under which he was. How agreeable a mixture of prudence and humility ! Let it teach us on all propcr occasions to express at once a becoming deference to our brethren, and a prudent caution in our own best-intended actions, that even our good may not be evil spoken of, when it lies in our power to prevent it. (Rom. xiv. 16.) k Therefore arise and go dowti.-} The learned Eisner, ( Ohserv. produced several instances from approved authors in which it has Vol. T. p. 408.) and Kaphelius, (Annot. ex Herod, p. 345, 34C.) have that signification, observed, that xwji should here be rendered therefore, and have 2 I 482 CORNELIUS DECLARES TO PETER WHY HE HAP SENT FOR HIM. SECTION xxin. Pekr cojiiing to Cmsnrea, preaches the gospel to Cormilui and hisffietHls ; and, upon Ihe/r believing it, and receiving the Holy Spirit bi) a miraculous effusion, he, "without farther scruple, admits tlietn into the church by baptism, though they were uncircumcised Gentiles. Acts X. 24, to the end. ^CTS X. 24. ACTS X. 24. ^ ECT. It was observed in the preceding- section, that Peter and some of the brethren set out from And ihe morrow after 23. JoDpa, upon the invitation of Cornelius : And we now add, that the 72e.rt day they entered 'J^y fijitf red into Caeaireii. . r' XT ' 1 1 /'I /■ u- ^^ ji 1 ■ ii"i i It I ■ Ami Cornelius wailed for into Cmsarea ; and good Lornelius was waiting for them, having called together his them, and liad caHed togc- ACTs relations and most intimate friends upon this great and important occasion. ther liis kinsmen and near ^- . And as Peter was entering into his house, Cornelius ?net him; and, to express his '^"osl^nd as Peter was rom- reverence to one so remarkably the messenger of heaven, falling down at his feet, paid ing in, Cornelius met him, 2G homage to him.'' But Peter would by no means permit this; and therefore raised him ^IJ^ ,^(J[.j,\'i''7,",,'''/|'''^ ''''-''• up, saying, Arise, for I also myself am nothing more than a man as thou art, and pretend 2f) But 'peter 'took him to no right to such profound respects as these, but am ready in civil life to pay thee all the "P, saying, stand uj) ; imy. 1 , 1 , . 1 , ,1 „ sell also am a man. regard that IS due to thee. _ .,,. , 27 And as he talked with 27 This happened just at the entrance of the house ; and thus discoursi7ig with him, he him, lie went in, and found went in, and found many of the friends and acquaintance of Cornelius gathered together; J'j^^'^y *'"' ^"'^'"'^ <^o™e toge- 28 so tliat Peter, at the first sight of them, expressed some surprise. And he said to theyn, asAnd he said unto them, You cannot but know that it is looked upon among us as unlawful for a tnan that is a Ye know how that it is an' Jew to join in friendly conversation with a Gentile, or to come into the house of one of "|"^j"^ " jew"to k°q" con" «, who is not at least naturalized by circumcision and a full conformity to our pany, or come unto one law, which I am well aware that you are not: Nevertheless God hath \a.te\y shown me '>f ■'"other nation ; iJutGod r..-v , , . T 1 in- .• ,1,7/ / 11'/ '•*"' Shewed me that I 29 that I am to make no such distmction, and to call no man common or unclean. (» liere- should not call any man fore, when I was sent for hither by your messengers, I came away without any contra- •=f'n™°" o'" "odean. diction or debate: /would ask therefore, and desire to know from your own mouth, on f^f^^^ wltTiouT gai'lmjing^ what account you have sent for me.^ as soon as I was sent for: i 30 And Cornelius, witli all frankness and seriousness, said. It is now four days ago that I I'fh V"^r'^"'^*^' '""//'"'* '."- ' - ' '' , •^. .o , _ tent ye liave sent for me? was fasting till this hour, and at the usual time of evening prayer, at the ninth hour, I 30 Ami Cornelius said, prayed in 7tu 31 before me in prayed in my house ; and behold, to my unspeakable surprise, a man appeared and stood four days ago i was fasting '\ bright raiment, whom I perceived to be an angel. And as this put me in "ulth hour'nray'l'd' in*^ mv - ,_. .prayed in my some fear, he said, in a most gentle and engaging manner, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, liouse; and, hehoUl, a man aiid thine alms «/•(? graciously i^emembcrcd before God, who is about to give thee a most ^.'°t[|i,fjf'"'^'^ "''^ '" ^'''s''t 82 important token of his favourable regard to thee : Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither 31 And said, Cornelius, Simon, whose siriwme is Peter ; he lodgeth in the house of [ojze] Simon a tanner, by tjiy prayer is heard, and the sea-side ; who, when he is come, shall speak to thee of various things now unknown niembrance i'n'the'si "ht'^of to thee, but on thine acquaintance vvith which, new scenes of duty and happiness shall be God. 33 opened upon thee. Lnmediately therefore, ihsitverv evening, I se?it unto thee the me&sen- ,^'^,,,^l\\'\ J!}^^^','}'^ J'' ^ , ^ r , 1 •^•,, .,1 ■ 7 ,7 •' i ., 7 7/ 1 i 1 II Joppa, and call hither ti- gers whom I now see returned with thee ; and thou hast done very well, and acted like a mon whose sirname is pious and charital:)le person in coming. Now therefore, we are all here present before I'eter : he is lodged in the God, disposed to hear, with a becoming reverence and attention, all those things which by'ufe"sca'-side""who,^when God hath given thee in charge. he cometh, shall speak unto 34 Then Peter opening his mouth, and addressing himself to them with a seriousness and *''^f,",„ ^ i- » 1 ,1 e ■' 1 1 i*^ , • i r^/- . ,7 T ■ J 3,J Immediately Ihcrcfore solemnity answerable to so great an occasion, said, OJ a truth, I perceive, and am now i sent to thee: and thou fully satisfied, whatever ni.y former prejudices were as to the ditference between the Jews liast well done that thou art and Gentiles, that God, the great Father of tlie whole human race, is no llespecter of per-- ^veTii here'^i>resent"before sons, and accepts no man merely because he is of such a nation, nor^o determines his God, to hear all things that regards as to confine his favours to the seed of Abraham and the people of the Jews alone : ^1'^^, commanded thee of 35 But that in every nation, he that with a true filial reverence and oheAiewQe feareth him, 34 Then Peter opened and in consequence of this wor^-c/// righteousness,'^ whatever be the family from which he /';« month, and said, Of a 36 is descended, though he be none of the posterity of Abraham, is acceptable to hiin. And no^Resp'ec'ter' of persons' • " this 1 apprehend now to be the meaning of that tnessagc which he sent to the children of 35 But in every nation he Israel;^ proclaiming the glad tidings «/ mutual peace by Jesus Christ, the great Ambas- e,\f JghTeousn^s^isaceep't- cd with him. 36 The word which Cor/ sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ; (lie is Lord of all:) n And fallinr] doutn at his feci, paid /wnwr/c (0 /lim.^ lie could God would sooner scud nn angel to direct pious and upright per" not, as some have fancied, imagine Peter to be an an^el, consider- sons to the knowledge of the gospel, than suffer them to perish by ing how the angel had spoken of him. But his reverence for him ignoranrc of it. But far from intimating that some such persons as a divine messenger, together with the custom which prevail- may be found among those that reject Christianity wlien oflered to ed in the East of expressing the highest respect by prostration, them in its full evidence, it determines nothing concerning the ex- might induce him to fall down at his feet, and offer an homage istence of such in every nation, thongh it tolls us how God would which Peter wisely and religiously declined. regard Ihom, supposing them to exist. b Onw/int nccniint yon have sent for mc.'] Ptlcr knew it by re- !)- .idmission of the uncircumcised Gentiles into his cliurch ; hut he serve, in one word, that as God was by no means obliged to give had dropped several bints coiicerningf the extent of his kingdom, that perverse people the Jews the highest and most striking degree which Peter, on such a striking occasion as this, niiglit recollect as of evidence tliat could be imagined, (supposing this would have referring to this great event. (Compare Matt. viii. 11, 12; John been such,) so it is certain that the evidence which he gave of this X. Iti; xii. 32; Mark xvi. 15, 16; and Matt, xxviii. IP, 20.) In fact, by the miraculous gifts conferred on the chosen witncs.qes of this view there was a peculiar propriety in mentioning ,lesu^ as it, was of a nature capable of being conveyed to th.e wrfrld in Lord of all: But noihiug can be more Cnnatural than Heinsius's general, in a much more convincing manner than Christ's appear- gloss and version, T/ic LoGOS, ir/io prcac/ieil peace, ^-c. is Lord ance in the temple for several succeeding days could have been. of all. The LOGO.S is never said to do any thing by Jesus Christ. g Appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.] e Concerning Jesus of Nazareth.'] He was not ashamed to own This was declaring, in the strongest terras, how entirely their that the person he preached as the Messiah came out of a place so happiness depended upon an humble suljjection of soul to him infamous among the Jews as Nazareth, since all the reproaches of who was to be their final Judge, that kind were so abundantly rolled awav by the glorious circura- h To him all the prophets bear witness."] Compare note f, on Luke stances which he afterwards relates. The difficulty here in the xxiv. 25. p. 410. It is observable that, in this discourio to an construction of the original, seems to be the best removed by sup- audience of Gentiles, the apostle Peter first mentions Christ's plying the word xxrx, concerning, and so referring it (as Sir Norton persons, miracles, and resurrection, and content." hinisill witli tell- Knatchbull and others have done) to the report which they bad ing them in the general, that there were many prophets in fomier heard. The sense, however, will be the same, if rxvrov be consi- ages who bore v\jtness to him, without entering into a particul.-ir dered as redundant, (in the same manner as we find the like ex- enumeration of their predictions. And Liniborch recommends pression used. Matt. xii. 36.) and the clause rendered, as it is in this as the best way of beginning the controversy with the Jews our translation, tfow God anointed Jesus, Src. It is more natu- themselves, as being liable to least cavil. It would, however, ral to admit either of these explications, than to repeat the words have been easy to iTave proved the truth of what the apostle here [ I Oil know] from the preceding verse, (as some would do,) and to ."..'serts, from several testimonies of the pro)ihets, (bad 't been proper suppose that Peter said to persons who were strangers to the gospel, . for that audience,) as will appear by comparing isa. ''''•'.' ; •'*'■• Vou know Jesus of Nazareth. ' xxxi. 34; Dan. ix. 24; Mic. vii. 19; Zcch. xiii. 1 : Mai. iv. 2.— f Kot lo all the people.] This is not a place for vindicating the AVe may farther observe, that we do not read of Peter'sworkinff wisdom .and righteousness of that dispensation of providence which any miracle on this creat occasion, as the precediue testimony of ordered that Christ should not appear nuhlicly after his resurrcc- the angel, and the descent of the Holy Spirit in his miracu ou.s tion. Many valuable writers have done it at large : See Mr. Ditton, gifts while he was speaking to them, were sufticient proofs both ot On the Resur. part iii. ? 60—70; Bishop Burnet's Four Disc. p. the truth of the gospel, and of Peter's being an aulUorizcd inter- 52—56; Dr. Sykes, Of Christianity, chap. x. p. 164. et seq ; Mr. pretcr of it. Fleming's Clirislol. Vol. III. p. 494— 198; Bishop Blackwall, At i The Holy Spirit fell upon at', &c.] Thus were they conse- 2 I 2 484 REFLECTIONS ON PETER'S INT]' R VIEW WITH CORNELIUS. SECT, in such a visible appearance of cloven tongues as that in which he fell upon the apostles 23. and other disciples at the day of Pentecost. (Compare chap. xi. 15.) Atid all l/ici/ of the circumcision xcho hclicved^ as many as came with Peter upon 45 And thev of the cir- ACTs this occasion, -were exceedingly astonished^ to see that the miraculous and important ^2'^/? cumcisinn wiiUh ijeiievcii, X- of the Holi/ Spirit, which they supposed peculiar to the Jewish nation, was poured out as*^ranic^\viTiavtir"bt'"ause 45 upon the Gentiles also; who, as they imagined, could not have been admitted into the that on the Gontiks also church without receiving circutncision, and so subjecting themselves to the observation of ",'|'J i'i"'i'"'f;|°,s{ "'^ ^'*^' "*^ 4G the whole Mosaic law. But now they found it was incontestably evident that even tiiose 40 For tliey iioard them who were not circumcised might be partakers with them of the highest privileges ; for they speak with toiis"os, and heard them all spcahincr in [cliverse'] languages which they hud never learned, and glo- swcM-ed Peter rifi/ifig God for the rich display of his grace by the gospel, in such exalted sentiments and language as abundantly proved their minds as well as their tongues to be immediately under a divine operation. 47 The7i Peter, yielding to the force of evidence, however contrary to his fomaer prejudices, 47 Can any man foihid with great propriety ajiswered, can any one reasonably forbid that water should be ^^'\l''\ ^'j'!,' t-.'"^ir ^^■x^^x brought, or ofier to insist upon the common prejudice which has prevailed among us, have received tiic iioiy that these persons should not be baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus, and solemnly Chostas well as«e? received into his church,' who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we ? It is surely his seal set upon them \ and it would be an arrogant affiont to him to refuse them admission to the fullest communion with us. 48 And as none of the brethren that came with him pretended to oliject any thing against it, 43 And he commanded nc immediately ordered them to he baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus; chusing to them to he baptized in the make use of the ministry of his brethren in performing that rite, rather than to do it with prayed" they him to tarry his own hands, that by this means the expression of their consent might be the more certain days. explicit. And being thus received into the church, they had so high a value for the con- versation of this divine messenger, and for the joyful tidings which he brought them, and were so earnestly desirous to be farther instructed in that faith into the general profession of which they were baptized, that they entreated him to continue with them several days, and omitted nothing in their power to make his abode agreeable as well as useful. IMPROVEMENT. Vcr. 24 There is no room to wonder that a man of Cornelius's benevolent character should be solicitous to bring his 27 kindred and friends into the way of that divine instruction which he hoped himself to receive from the revelation now opening upon him. What nobler or more rational office can friendship perform ? and how deficient is every thing that would assume such a name, which doth not extend itself to a care for men's highest and everlasting interests ! 25, 26 It must, no doubt, be some prejudice in favour of Peter on the minds of these strangers, to see that he declined that profound homage which good Cornelius, in a rapture of humble devotion, was perhaps something too ready to pay him. The ministers of Christ never appear more truly great than when they arrogate least to themselves, and, without challenging undue respect, with all simplicity of soul, as fellow-creatures and as fellow-sinners, are ready to impart the gospel of Jesus in such a manner as to show that they honour him above all, and have learned of him to honour all men. 33 That humble subjection of soul to the divine authority which Cornelius, in the name of the assembly, expressed, is such as we should always bring along with us to the house of the Lord. And happy is that minister who, when he enters the sanctuary, finds his people all present before God, to hear the things which God shall give him in charge to speak to them, and heartily disposed to acquiesce in whatever he shall say, so far as it shall be siipportefl by those sacred oracles by wiiich doctrines and men are now to be tried. 34, 35 VVell might Peter appreliend so natural a truth as that which he here pvofesseth, that God is no Respecter of persons, Ixit every where accepteth those that fear him, and express that reverence by working righteousness. Let us rejoice in this thought ; and while we take care to show that this is our own character, let us pay an impartial regard to it wherever we see it in others, still cultivating that xoisdom from above which is without partiality as well as with- out hypocrisy. (James iii. 17.) 36 We also know that important word which God sent to Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, the Lord of all. 43 May we know it to saving purposes, and, believing in him, receive the remission of our sins in his name ! May we 38 show ourselves the genuine disciples of this Divine Master, by learning of him, according to our ability, to go about doing good, sowing, as universally as may be, the seeds of virtue and happiness wherever we come! And tiien, 39, 40 should the treatment which we meet with be such as our Lord found, should we be despised and reproached, shoukl we be persecuted and at length slain, he who raised up Christ from the dead will in due time also raise up u.^ ; 42 having suffered, we shall i^eign with hitn, (2 Tim. ii. 12.) and share that triumph in which he shall appear as the appointed Judge both of the quick and dead. 41 Let us not esteem it any objection against his divine mission, that God did not humour the wantonness of men so far as to cause him to appear in person to all the people after his resurrection ; it is aljundantly enough that he crated to God as the first-fruits of the Gentiles ; and thus did God " rests upon an licathen." This astonishment shows that notion direct that they should be baptized, siivinj? this glorious evidence jirevailcd even in these christians, whether the proverb was so old of his receiving them into the christian church as well as the or not. .lews. It is observed by Dr. Lightfoot, tliat one important 1 Can any one forbid iratcr, &c.] Erasmus supposes a trajoc- cflTect of this descent of Uie Holy Spirit upon them probably was, tion or transposition of the words here: as if it had been said that hereby they were enabled to understand the Hebrew language, " Wlio can forbid that these should be baptized with water?" and so had an opportunity of acquainting themselves witti the I^ut it .seems most natural to understand it, (.as Dr. Whitby does,) prophecies of the Old Testament in tlic original. " Who can forbid that water should be brouglit V In which view k They of ike ciTcnmcision were a^lonish.cd.'] The Jews had of the clause, one would naturally conclude tlicy were baptized by long ago a proverb among them, " That the IIolv Spirit never [lOuring water upon them, rather than hy plunging them in it. PETER RELATES THE NARRATION OF HIS VISION -TO THE JEWISH CONVERTS. 485 appcaral to such a number of chosen witnesses, who were thus enabled to evidence the truth of ttieir testimony by sect. tlie dcnioiistration of the Spirit ami of poivcr. (1 Cor. ii. 4.) Of this, what passed with regard to these con- 23. verts, when the Holy Spirit fell upon them and they spake with tongues, is an instance worthy to be had in ever lasting remembrance. Let us rejoice in this anointing of the iirst-fruits of the Gentiles, by which their adoption acts into the family of God was so illustriously declared ; and let us be ready, after the example of Peter, whatever pre- ^■ conceived prejudices it may oppose, to receive all whoni Ihu Lord hath received, from whatever state his grace 44 — 48 hath called them, and cordially to own tliem as brethren whom our heavenly Father himself doth not disdain to number among his chikhen. ^ SECTION XXIV. Peter being questioned about his intcrvieiv -with Cornelius, gives a particular and faithful narration of it, for the satisfaction of his brcthix-n, who were under strong Jewish prejudices. Acts xi. 1 — 18. AcTsxi. I. Acts xi. 1. thre? t'Iu"'«'rro*^iirj!iIiei' '^^^^^ Comelius and his friends were mitiated into the christian religion, as was related SECi'. hc'anl that thu'cicli'tilcs'lmi above 5 and Peter abode with them awhile at Caesarea, to confirm them in the faith tliey 24. also received tlie word of had embraced. But in the mean time the apostles and other brethren who were in 2 And "when Peter was •^«^^''^'' heard in the general that the uncircumcised Gentiles also had received the word acts cnmeupto Jiiiisaieni, tliey of God, and had been baptized; which very much alarmed them, as they were not in- ^'' that were of the circuni- formed in all the particular circumstances attending that affair. cision contended with nim, a i 1 n, j c /-i j t 7 ji r .1 t . , „ ,i Saying, Thmi wcntest ^"" when Veter was come up trom Caesarea to Jerusalein, they of the Jewish con- 2 in to men uncircumcised, verts who were still fond of the circumcision which they had received, and of the other "''iSlut'i^ter'rehe.irs'ed'Mff Ceremonial injunctions to which they had submitted, warmly expostulated and contended vui/ier from the heginuing, with him about what he had done :^ Saj/ing, There is a strange account come to us 3 and expounded it^ by order lately, and we cannot but hear it with great surprise and displeasure, that t/iou didst go 5 1 was in the city of Joppa, ^" ^s a guest to the liouse of ?nen who were uncircumcised, and didst eat and drink as raying; and in a trance 1 freely xvith them as if they had been God's peculiar people as well as ourselves; a thing, 'rdescend?a^"ha'd'h'een ^s thou well knowest, quite unexampled among us. pra saw sel d^„ ,„ v... . . . ._ a great sheet, letdown from And Upon this Peter, begnining from the vision he had seen, which was evidently de- 4 heaven by tour cmuers; and signed to dispose him to such condescension, opened to them [the matter'] in order,^^ and 0 Upon "the whidi when gave them a full detail of all the particulars with the exactest truth and simplicity : sai/- I had fastened mine eyes, I ing, I was, just before this extraordinary event happened, which I confess may well sur- 5 fooTcd*^bea'sts'"of t\\^ eaHh^ P^'*^ Y^"' I"'f'.¥if>g, i" a proper place of retirement in the house of Simon the tanger in the and wihl beasts, and creep- city of Joppa : and in a trance I saw a remarkable -cision, even something like a great ing tlimgs, and fowls oi tlie g/if,,-f descending from heaven, which was let down by the four corners :and it was so 7 And I heard a voice directed that it came close to 7ne. And as I was looking attentively upon it, I observed 6 saying unto me. Arise, Pe- and saxo a great variety offourfooted creatures of the earth, and wild beasts, and rep- '^8'Butlsa'id,No'tso, Lord: ^i^^-'^t andfowls of the air: but I took notice of this circumstance, that they were all of for nothing common or un- sorts prohibited by our law.<= And I heard a voice from heaven saying to me. Arise, 7 tereil iiito'in* '^1^ t!""^ '^"' ■^^^'^''> ^'^^^ ^ny of these animals that are here before thee, and eat freely of whatever thou ;• But the voice answered pleasest. But I Said, By no vieans. Lord; for nothing co?nmon or unclean, nothing 8 nie again from heaven, prohibited in itself or polluted by any accident, hath ever entered into my mouth, and M(;/cairnott'houcx>mmon' ^Y ^^Y gi'^cc nothing of that kind ever shall. And the voice answered ?ne the second 0 10 And this was done tliree time from heaven. Those things which God hath cleansed by bidding thee to eat of times: and all were drawn thgQ^ ^/y ^qI f/^Q^ ^nv inore call common. And this was done three times exactly with 10 up again into heaven. ^i • i ■ ■ 1 1 i • • • 1 . iTAiid behold, immedi- the Same cucumstances, that it might make the greater impression upon ray mind: and ately there were three men at length all the thin.'ss which I had secn Were draivn up again into heaven. wiiere^V'was," sent^ from -^^"^^ behold, at that instant, as soon as the vision was over, while I was thinking li Caesarea uii to me. what might be the meaning of it, three men were come to the door of the house in rar^''(f'vUh^them''"iothin^ "^'^^^^^ I "^'"^^ who weie Sent from Cmsarea to 7ne by Cornelius the centurion. And 12 doubting. IMoreo'ver. these immediately the Spirit commanded >ne to go with them without any scruple or debate: SIX brethren accompanied accordingly I Went, and these six brethren also, who are here present, and are witnesses me, and we entered into the c 11 .t / 1 ^ cl i i 1 iL i • -i ^ r~i 1 man's house: OI all that tiappencd atterwards, went along with me ; and we arrived at Ctesarea, and i.{ And hesliewedusliow entered into the man's house. And when I had enquired what was the reason of his 13 'iouse'\vhVc\rstoo3'an(l'said s*^"^"^? ^o'' ™6, he presently tu'd us how he had seen an angel standing by him in unto 'him, Send men to his house, and Saying to him. Send men to Joppa, and fetch /lit her Simon whose sir- tt Conlcnded with him.'] How good an argument soever this m:iy thnt they were only some of the .Jewish converts who questioned be, as Bisliop Burnet and many others urge it, against the Peter about what he had done, he might no doubt have overborne supremacy of Peter, it is none against the inspiration of the apos- them, by urging his apostolical authority.,and referring them to ties; for it only proves, that some who did not well understand the the miracles by which it was established: But he chose to treat principles on which they went, took upon them, without reason, to them in a more gentle and condescending manner, giving therein arraign their conduct, and consequently did not in this respect pay a most amiable example of humility and condescension, which it a becoming deference to them. It plainly shews how little regard will be the glory and happiness of gospel-ministers to follow in was had to any uncircumcised persons, whatever profession they circumstances which bear any resemblance to this, might make of worshipping the God of Israel, and is therefore very c AVere all of sorts prohibited by our law.] There is no sufficient inconsistent with what has generally been supposed, and so much reason to suppose, as most have done, tliat all manner of living insisted upon, of the great diflerencc which the Jews made between creatures, clean and unclean, were presented to I'etcr in his vision ; those who are commonly called proselytes of the gate and the for though it be expres.scd in very general terms, especially in the idolatrous Gentiles. Had it been usual to distinguish them so first account of it, (chap. x. 12.) yet it is manifest there woulil have much in their regards, Peter would not have needed to vindicate been no room for Peter's scrupling to cat, had he .seen any creatures his conduct by urging the vision, since he knew, from the first there but what he apprehended to be prohibited by the law. And mention of Cornelius to him, (chap. x. 12.) that he was po&uavjs rw the translation 1 have given of that vevs«i which perfectly agrees 0SOV, one lliat fenrcd God, that is, as these critics would explain it, with the original, will not oblige us to suppose that any animals a proselyte of the ;iate. were there but such as \vere esteemed unclean. h Peter opened to them [the matter'] i.i order.] As it is probable 43G REFLECTIONS ON THE RECEPTION OF THE GENTILES INTO THE CHURCH. SECT name is Peter : Who shall instruct thee in t:ie way of life, and speak words to thee by joppiv, nnd call for Simon, ^ 24. ' which thou and all thy family shall be saved, if they are attended to with a proper "'l^'^^i,',"*™^.,!' "teirthcc regard. " words whereby thou and all ACTS Ami as I began to speak, before I had made any considerable progress in my dis- thy house shall be saved. XI- coui-se, the Holy Spirit fell upon them in the visible form of cloven tongues of fire, even sp'liiifthe Holy GhSt" fen 15 as it did upon us at the beginning of our public ministry, after the ascension of our on them, as ou us at the be- 16 blessed Lord. (Chap* ii. 3, 4.) And this was so extraordinary an occurrence, that / ^'"("'IJIfjg,, remembered l immediately rernetnbered, and could not but seriously reflect upon, the word of the Lord ti,e word of the Lord, bow Jesus as then remarkably verified, hoxu he said but just before his ascension, (chap. i. 5.) that he said John indeed John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit : for sh.'n'ife bapi'izc'd "^wiiii" i.^c this pouring forth of the Spirit upon them appeared to be a kind of baptism, whereby that Holy Ghost. 17 prediction was wonderfully accomplished. Since therefore God himself, the sovereign i7 Forasmuch then .is Dispenser of his own favours, gave to them the very same gift as [he did'] to us who had ^g"^/^^,^ ^„"^"y ^^^^ wh?A'e- before believed on the hord Jesus Christ, what was I that I should be able to pro- Heved ou the Lord Jesus hibit God, or should presume to oppose myself against his wise and gracious pleasure ? It Christ, what was I that 1 rather appeared to me, as I persuade myself it must to you, my brethren, matter of con- '"" ' gratulation and praise, than of cavil or complaint. 18 And when they heard these things, they acquiesced in them with pleasure, and iswhcn they heard these glorifed God for so wonderful a manifestation of his rich grace, saying, God hath then f^^'^^\^^P^,^'li\ gZ\, given to the poor Gentiles also repentance uido life,^ and has not only made them the saying. Then' hath God also overtures of it, but has graciously wrought it in some of their hearts : and we shall rejoice to the Gentiles granted re- .,'.,. o ,•' "^ ' pentance unto life. to see it prevailmg more and more. IMPROVEMENT. Ver.1,2 With what joy ought every one who loved God or man to have heard that the Gentiles had received the word of the gospel ! yet we find those of the circumcision disputing with Peter upon the occasion. Their pre- judices as Jews were so strong, that tiiey thought the passage to the church must still lie through the synagogue, and so remembered that they were disciples of Moses, as almost to forget they were the disciples of Christ. Let us always guard against that narrowness of mind which would limit even the Holy One of Israel to the bounds which we shall mark out, and exclude others from his favour, that our own honour may appear so much the m.ore signal. 4 But let us with pleasure observe the mildness and prudence of Peter : warm as Iiis temper nawrally was, and e( seq. high as he was raised by the divine favour ; though he had been so remarkably turning the key of the kingdom of heaven itself, and opening it by immediate divine direction to the uncircumcised, tiiat they might enter, yet he stands not upon the general honours of his apostolic character, nor insists upon that implicit submission to him which some, with no such credentials, have been ready to arrogate to themselves. But he condescends to the younger brethren, and gives them a plain, distinct, and faithful narration of the whole matter, just as it was. Thus let us learn, in the spirit of gentleness, humility, and love, to vindicate our actions where tliey have been uncandidly mistaken. And when we have the pleasure to know that they are right, let us enjoy that happy reflection to such a degree as not to suflfer ourselves to be disquieted and put out of temper by the rash charges and censures of those who will judge our contiuct before they have examined into it; and are disposed, more to their own detriment than it can possibly be to ours, to err on the severe extreme. Peter, we see, very circumstantially recollected what he had seen and heard. Let it also be our care to treasure up in our memory, and to inscribe on our hearts, whatever God shall be pleased, though in more ordinary methods of instruction, to discover to us ; and never let us be disobedient to any intimation of the divine will, 17 but, on the contrary, always most cheerfully acquiesce in it. Who are we, that in any respect we should resist God ? and particularly, who are we, that we should in effect do it by laying down rules relating to christian communion, which should exclude any whom he has admitted ? Oh that all the churches, whether national or separate, might be led seriously to consider how arrogant an usurpation that is on the authority of the Supreme Lord of the church ! Oh that the sin of this resistance to God may not be laid to the charge of those who, per- haps in the main with a good intention, in an over-fondness for their own fonns, have done it, and are continually doing it ! 13 Like these brethren of the circumcision, let us be willing to yield to the force of evidence, even when it leads us into an unexpected path ; and let us glorify God when he is pleased to manifest himself to those who seemed to us to have the least room to hope for such a favour. Whether it be to us or to olliers that God hath granted repentance unto life, may we rejoice in it, and adore his goodness therein! For it is certain that none of the de- light.'! of life, which men so fondly pursue, are half so valuable as that godly sorrow which xcorkcth repentance unto salvation. d God Ktttk then given lo ike Genlites also repentance unto life.] In sion, were in a slate of death,— in whii-b condition it is probable Ihis-thcy acquiesced for the present, till the controversy was re- they had thought all uncircumcised persons to be ; and without iiewed by souie fiercer zealots, chap, xv.^1, 5. But I beg leave to doubt they must mean to include the idolatrous Gentiles among observe here, that it would have been very improper for them thus tlw rest, as those who were most evidently and certainly so.- — To to have spoken of the Gentiles in general, if they had only meant render this clause, " God b?s prantcd salvation (n the Gentiles on such as had already forsaken idolatry, ar.d were worshippers of the " the terms of their repentance," is, I tliink, dtlcrmiuing and (rue God. Tliey plainly speak of those to whom this repentance limiting the sense in an unwarnii'-tabk' iiianncr. was granted, as p"rsons who before, according to their apprehen- THE CiOSPEL IS PREACHED AT ANTIOCH, AND MANY GREEKS ARE CONVERTED. 487 SECTION XXV. The gospel is preached at Antiock : Barnabas co7mn iicre. dispersed from Jerusalem b// the distress and persecution which arose about AuUod'; 'prea^cl.iiVg' the S^'T^"'"^ ^^^.^^ they had gone tiu-ough Judea and Samaria, (chap. viii. 1.) travelled as for acts word to' none but unto the «5 Pha'nicHi, and Ci/prus, and Antioch, preaching the word ot the gospel to none but .^^^ Jousouly. ' the Jeics onh/ ; not being at all apprehensive tiiat the Gentiles were to share in the blessin"s !r '*L*^ iT"""^' '^'^*^''*^'''"° ^°^^ occasion from thence to unitate his example, and having entered into Antioch," spake freely to the Greeks^' as well as to the Jews j preaching the gospel of the Lord ■ . '21 And the hand of tlie jt'.y« 5 to them, and inviting them to accept of his invaluable privileges. And the hand of 21 I ^'!i■K"at^,umher"b"li' ^"if, ^^"-^ ^^^'^ '^'"* remarkably with them in this pious labour, and a great number of tlie ami turned unto the Lord,' Gentiles were so elfectually convinced and wrought upon by their discourses and miracles, that they believed and turned unto the Lord Jesus, consecrating themselves to the service of God through him, with the most humble dependence on his blood and grace. 22 Then tidings of these And the report concerning them came to the ears of the church that was at 22 or't'ife''cVmch"vh'i,-h was''in Jt>'iisalc?)t, who, as they had lately seen a way was opened for the conversion of the .Jerusalem; and they sent Gentiles, received the tidings of this further progress of the gospel with peculiar pleasure ; snouid if heart they would cleave them all to adhere to the Lord with foill determination and resolution of heart, whatever ""21 For^ile'' was a eood circumstances of difficulty and extremity might arise. And tlie exhortation, as it came from 2 1 man, and full of\he Holy li's mouth, was peculiarly graceful and et}ectual,y'i>/' he was a good man himself,'^ andfodl I,''",',f ""'' .?1^ ^^'"' '■ lY!*} ^f^^'^ ^^*^hl spirit and of faith ; and speaking irom the deep experience of his own heart, 'im"o tlieXord". '"'^^ " ' ^""^ ^^'*h that ftill authority which so exemplary a life gave him, as well as with such extraordinary divine assistance, Jie was the happy means, not only of confirming the faith of those who had already embraced the gospel, but of bringing others to an acquaintaoce with it: A)id thus a considerable number believed and were added unto the Lord, and were by baptism received into the church, ims'^to T.irsus^'for to ''seek Then Bamabas perceiving, after some abode there, that he wanted an assistant in his 25 Saul : ' labours, went to Tarsus to seek Saul,'^ whose departure thither we mentioned above in the fouudlilm, he*brou"ht I'lim ^'^^^ particular which we related concerning him. (Compare Acts Lx. 30.) And finding him 2G unto Antiocii.— ° there, he gave him such an account of the state of things, and such a view of the probability th^ '^"vi \\ "^^"^^i" ^^*^' oft;-'^tensive usefulness which seemed to present itself there, that he succeeded in his propo- senibled 'ufemsel'vcs"^ wiUi ^'» ^iid brought him to Antioch,^ at his return to that populous and celebrated city. Uie church, and tauRlit And it camc to pass that then continued there, and assembled at proper times in the "Ss Tere'' 'calleV'ohd^ churchfor a whole year, and taught considerable vumbers of jjcople : And the disciples "tians first at Antfoch. ' Were by divine appointment first named Christians at Antioch / a title tliat was really a H.»iv«! to limit it lo such as were wnnhippers of Tlicy were before this called by the Jews Naz-.reiies, or Galileans, ttie true God : nor can I find the least hint in the New Testament of and by each other, disciples, believers, brtlhren, or sainls. But the two different periods tliat some have supposed, in the first of tliey now assumed the name of their great Leader, as the Platonists, which it was ])reached only to those called proselytes of the gate, Pythagoreans, Epicureans, &c. with much less reason had done the and in the second to those who wei-e before idolaters ; yet the by- name of thciw. 1 think, with Dr. Benson, that the use of theivord pnthesisseeras in itself so improbable, that it stands in need of the xfu-^-'^'^' implies that it was done by a divine direction, and have strongest proof before it can be admitted, as Lmay elsewhere show translated it accordingly : (compare Matt. ii. 12, 22 ; LukH ii. 26 ; at large. It is well known, that as the Greeks were the most celc- Acts x. 22 ; Ileb. viii. 5"; xi. 7 ; xii. 25.) and therefore am ngt soli- bratrd of the Gentile nations near Juilea. tlic Jews called all the citous to inquire whclhtr tbe name were given them, as ccclesias- Genlilesby that mineral name. Compare Rom. x. 12 ; 1 Cor, xiii. 13; ticnl hisiorv fells \\s, by Euodius, (who is mentioned by it as their Gal. iii. 28 ; Col. lii. II. See also 2 Mac. iv. 10, 15, 36 ; vi. 0 , xi. 24. first bishop",) or by Eaiuabus or Saul, as Bishop I'carson seems to 488 REFLECTIONS ON THE SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL AT ANTIOCH. SECT, an honour to them, and was very well adapted to si^ify their relation to Christ as their 25. common Lord, and their expectations from him as their Saviour. A7ul in these daj/s, vfhi\eBaim?ihasdLndSm\ wereaXAniioch, certain prophets who were 27 And in Oiese days ACTS divinely inspired to foretell future events, came from Jerusalem to Anfioch. And one of '^ZIT'am'"'^""''"^' ^'- them whose name was Agabus, stood up in one of their assemblies, and signified hy the 28 And there stood up 28 immediate direction of the Spirit, that there should shortly he a great famine over all one of them^^named Agabus, the land;S which accordingly came to pass quickly after in the days of Claudius Casar, ?hat1here\hoifld be great 29 the Roman emperor then reigning. And, in consideration of the distress which it might dearth throughout all the bring along with it, t'he disciples at Antioch determined that, according to the respective ^^'^fj^^- "^^^^ ''TcwSZ abilities of each,^ they should send a liberal contribution to the assistance of the ca-sar. believinc brethren who dwelt in such great numbers in Judea,' and had many poor among 29 Then the disciples, iji-iii-. 1111, i^. ,, .,, ,., ,1- ^- c I 1 i A ,1 ^1 ■ every man according to his 30 them, who would particularly need to be supported m a time ot such calamity. And tins ability, determined to send accordingly they did, sending [//] to the elders,^ to be delivered to the deacons, or to be relief unto the brethren otherwise distributed as they should think fit ; being satisfied that they would make a pru- '" 3o'\v,7,',' afsfthey' did, dent use of what they sent them upon this occasion by the hand of Barnabas and Saul, and sent it to the elders by who took the money they had collected to Jerusalem, and, as the famine lasted for some |^^^,''*"^' '^^ Barnabas and time, were afterwards employed in prosecuting this generous and necessary work by new collections elsewhere. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 19 Let us with pleasure observe how, in the instance here recorded, the blood of a martyr was the seed of the church ; an event afterwards so common, that it became a proverb. Tlius they who were scattered abroad on the death of 20 Stephen, every where dispersed the gospel ; and let us be thankful that some of them brought it to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews. Freely did it run, and illustriously was it glorified ; But with whatever evidence and advantage they preached it, with whatever spirit and zeal, (in some measure the natural consequence of having been called to 21 suffer so dearly for it,) the success of all is to be traced up to the band of the Lord that was with him. This engaged men to believe and turn unto the Lord ; to stop in their career of sin, to pause upon their conduct, to accept of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour, and to consecrate themselves to God through him. Oh that this hand might be with all his ministers ! Oh that such success might every where be produced by its powerful operations ! 23 Well might Barnabas rejoice when he saw such a scene, and more distant brethren be pleased when they heard of it ; for what is the triumph of the gospel but the triumph of human happiness ? And who that has cordially received the gospel, does not feel his whole heart most tenderly interested in that ? He wisely and properly exhorted them, having once emlfraced this divine and glorious dispensation, with full purpose of heart to cleave unto the Lord ; and there was great need of such an exhortation, as well as a very solid foundation for it. Such difficulties will arise in our christian course, though we should not meet with persecutions like theirs, that we shall need a most steady resolution of mind in order to our adherence to the Lord ; but let us afm ourselves with it, and hold fist the profession of our faith xuithout wavering, since he is invariably ^/«/M/m/ who hath promised. (Heb. x. 23.) Such exhortations as these will be most eflfectual when they come, as in this instance they evidently did, from a 24 good man, whose example will add authority to his words, and so be a means not only to quicken religion in the hearts of those who have already embraced it, but to propagate it to those who are yet strangers to it. 26 With pleasure let us reflect upon this honourable name which the disciples of Jesus first wore at Antioch ; they were called Christians, as it seems, by divine appointment : And would to God that no other, no dividing name, had ever prevailed among them! As for such distinguishing titles, though they were taken from Apollos, or Cephas, or Paul, let us endeavour to exclude them out of the church as fast as we can ; and while they continue in it, let us think. (See Pearson, On the Creed, p. 103.) The learned and can- h Accordinr) to llie respecihe abilities of each.'] I think this all did VVitsius thinks it a circumstance of remarkable wisdom that that is intended by xafos nyrrofEiro rir, though the words might more this celebrated name should arise from Antioch, a church consist- literally be rendered, according to the abundance which each had ; ing of a mixture of Jews and Gentiles, rather than from Jerusalem, for it is hardly tn be imagined that every christian at Antioch was dignified in so many other respects; and tliat it was a kind of vie- in abundant or plentiful circumstances ; nor do I think any thing tory gained over Satan, who from Antioch had some ages before can be inferred concerning the extent of the famine from tliis cir- raised so many cruel persecutors of the church of God. Wits. De cumstance, as it plainly appeai-s not to have been begun when the Vit. Paul. cap. iii. \ F). collection was resolved upon. S A great famine over all the land.] As it is certain oixoD/zsyD may i They shonlil ncnd to the assistance, Sfc.'] Vitringa has shown at have such a limited signification, (see note a, on Luke ii. 1.) I fol- large, that it was common for tlie Jews who lived in foreign parts low this translation as what appears to me safest, and refer my to send relief, in times of distress, to their poor brethren at Jerusa- reader to those reasons for doing it, which he may find at large in lem. (Vitring-a, De Synag. T'et. lib. iii. Part I. cap. 13. p. 809—811.) Dr. Lardner's Credibiiili/. (Book 1. chap. 11. I 2. Vol. I. p. 539. et This tender care in these Gentile converts at Antioch would tend scq.) The learned Archbishop Usher has endeavoured to prove the jiowerfullv to conciliate the affections of their circumcised bre- famine in the fourth year of Claudius [A. D. 44.] universal. But tliren, and was some acknowledgment, though not an equivalent, Mr. Biscoe rather thniks there may be a reference here to what for the voluntary iiovcrly many of the saints in Judca had incurred happened in a course of some years, and observes (as Mr. ISasnage by the sale of thVir istatis, as well as for the peculiar persecutions had done before) that there were famines in various places during which they uiukrwciit from their unbelieving countrymen, the reign of Claudius, not only in Judca, whicli began the latter k Sending it to the elders.] 1 am much surprised that a person of end of his fourth, and was continued in his fifth, sixth, and seventh Dr. AVhilby's.judgmeut should think the persons here spoken of years, (of which Joscphus takes notice, Antir]. lib. xx. cap. 2. ? fi ; were the cli'.ers of the Jewish synagogues, considering that these et cap. Ft. [al. 3.] ? 3.) but also at Rome in his second ; (as mention- were tlie men who would of all others have been most ready to in- ed by I)io. WA. Ix.p. f)7l.) and that Syria in his fourth, (Oros. //A. vii. jure and defraud the christians. It seems much more rational, with rnp. (i.) Greece in his ninth, (Euseb. Chron. p. 204.) and Italy in his the late Lord Barringlon, to conclude from hence that there were „ tenth and eleventh, (Tacit. Annal. lib. ■x\\. cap. 43; and Sucton. now no apostles at Jerusalem, and that the elders having been com- Chud'.cnp, 18.) were visited with the like calamity: lie therefore petently instructed in Christianity, were left to take care of the supposes all these to be included in i\\\f. prophecy. (Serm. at churchthere, while the apostles took a tour into the neighbouring Hoglc's Led. chap. iii. { 3. p. CO — 66.) But the persons with re- parts, more fully to instruct and confirm the new converts. {Mis. gard to whom it is here mentioned, were so much more concerned cell. Sacr. Essay ii. p. 1 10. et seq.) This is the first mention that we in the first of these, which seeras also to have been the most ex- have of eldersin the christian church j and Dr. Hammond has treme, that I am still of opinion the prediction chiefly refers to that, a large and very remarkable note here, in which he labours to prove which was the dearth in which Helena, Queen of Adiabene, so ge- that these elders were the same officers with those called em-rxoiroi, or nerously relieved the Jews with corn and other provisions from ///s/(0;5.?, and thinks there is no certain evidence from Scripture, that I'gypt and Cyprus, which, by the way, proves tliat the famine the na.nc of elders or presbyters was given so early to another order was not universal at that time. See Wits. Melelcm. de Vit. Paul, between them and deacons : but this is not a place to euter accu- cap. iii. \ f5. rately into enquiries of tliis nature. HEROD KILLS JAMES WITH THE SWORD, AND IMPRISONS PETER. 489 take great care that they do not make us forget our most ancient and most glorious title. Let us take heed that we do SECr. not so remember our difference from each other in smaller matters, as to forget our mutual agreement in embracing 25. the gospel of Christ, and in professing to submit ourselves to him as our common Prince and Saviour. The notice of the famine brought to them by Agabus the prophet, awakened the generosity of the christians at acts Antioch to supply the pressing necessities of the saints in Judea. The possibility, at least, that it might have affected ^J^on themselves, would have led some to conclude it the part of prudence to keep what they had to themselves : But ^ '-' they ai^ued much more wisely, chusing thus fu Icnj up in store a good foundation against the time to cotnc, and to secure a title to that peculiar care of Divine Providence which is promised and engaged to those who mind not every one his own things, but each the welfare of others and of all. (Phil. ii. 4.) SECTION XXVI. Herod having slain James, seizes Peter, and commits him to prison, ivho is deUvered hy an angel, in answer to the prayers of the church. Acts xii. 1 — 19. AcTsxii. 1. Acts xii. 1. H *^od tiie'^kin"^^'s^tretch™d ^^^^^ ahout that time, when Saul and Barnabas were preparing to set out for Jerusalem, SECT. fortir A/s 'hands' to vex'^cer- to ca'iTy thither what had been collected by the christians at Antioch for the relief of the 26. taiuof the church. saints in Judea, Herod Agrippa,* the king, abusing the authority with which he was ~ invested by the Roman emperor, laid hands in a very injurious manner on some of the acts 2 And he killed James chureh, to persecute and afflict them. And he carried this injustice so far, that he even^"" the sword" °^ "'°''" '"'*'' ^^^^ James the son of Zebedee, the brother of Jo'ri, one of those three apostles whom "^ Jesus honoured wiJii such peculiar intimacy ; beheading him with the sword,^ as an enemy to the state, as well as an opposer of the law of Moses. 3 And hecause lie saw it And as he found that no immediate vengeance overtook him on this account, and like- 3 ceedTd filnher to t^keVeier ^'^° ^""^ ^^'"^ [this'] was acceptable to the Jexi-s," whose favour he laboured by all possible also. (Then were the days means to conciliate, he went on farther, and presumed to seize Peter also, renowned as of uuleaveued bread. j hg .^vas for such a Variety of miracles, which were wrought by him at Jerusalem in the name of Jesus : And it was in the days of unleavened bread, during the feast of the pass- 4 And when he had ap- over, that Peter was apprehended. And having seized him at this public time, when so 4 in'^'prrsoit'"a"id'' delivered many Jews were come together from all parts, he" put him in prison, delivering him to the him to four quaternions of custody of four quaternions of soldiers, that is, to sixteen, consisting of four in each party, soldiers to keep him, in- who were to relieve each Other by tums, watching him Constantly by day and night : This br?n^"^hira Vorth''\"the Herod Ordered for the greater seciu-ity of so noted a person, intending immediately after people. thepassover to bring him out to the people, to be made a spectacle to them in what he should suffer ; as Jesus his Master had been on the first day of unleavened bread . 5 Peter^ therefore was j,j ^^^ jncan time, therefore, till the day of execution came, Peter was thus kept in the 5 w\is n'ade^'wi^iiout ceas?ng prison. But as the importance of so useful a life was well known to his christian friends, of the church unto God earnest and continued pra>/cr was, v/Hh o^es.t intenseaesi Siiid assidinty o{ mmd, made to ^"e And when Herod would God On his account, by t/ie whole church at Jerusalem. And the event quickly showed 6 have brought him forth, that this their earnest supplication was not in vain ; for when Herod was ready to have the same night Peter was lfQn„}ii /ji„j g^f to execution, \even'] that verii nifrht before he had designed to do it, j;[pp*jujo* uftwecn two sol- ^ 'L-i_«yo o diers, "bound with two Peter was quietly sleeping between two soldiers in full calmness and serenity of mind, chains; and the keepers fhough bound with two chains,^ which joincd each of his hands to one of the soldiers that prison. ^ "^ """^ ^^^ *^''^ lay on either side of him, in such a manner that it was (humanly speaking) impossible he should have risen without immediately awaking them : And the other two guards then on duty stood sentry before the door, and were keeping the prison, that there might be no attempt of any kind made to rescue him ; because he was looked upon as a prisoner of great 7 And behold, the angel consequence. , ,. . „^. , ., - of the Lord came upon And behold, an astonishing deliverance was wrought out for him in all this extremity ot 7 l.im, and a light shined io danger: for an ano-el of the Lord presented himself on a sudden, and a glorious light the prison: and he smote , ■ , , i i'^ 7 n 1 11 •, ^ 7 .ii_- t 1 Peter on the side, and shone in the wholc house, dark and gloomy as it was : And this heavenly messenger was raised him up, saying, no soonev come,hut givinsr Peter a gentle'blow on the side, he awoke him, say ing, Arisc a WfrO(/ Agrippa.] So the Syriac expressly renders it; and tion relating to him fulfilled. (Matt. xx. 23.) I know not how far there is no reason to doubt, especially considering the similarity we are to depend upon the tradition which we find cited by Euse- of circumstances mentioned below, that this Herod was the prince bins, [tJccles. Nisi. lib. ii. cap. 9.) from a book of Clemens Alexaii- whom Josephus calls Agri]ipa, which probably was his Roman, as drinus, now lost, in which he reported, " that the person wlio had Herod was his Syrian, name. He was not (as Grotius by a slip of " accused James, observing the courage with which he bore his memory says) the .«on, but the srrandson, of Herod the Great, by " testimony to Christianity, was converted, and suffered martyr- his son Aristobulus ; (Joseph. Antirj. lib. xviii. cap. 5. [al. 7.] ? 4.) " dom with him." But I Uiink it is very beautifully observed by nephew to Herod Autipas, who beheaded John the Baptist ; bro- Cktins, (who had a great deal of the true spirit of criticism,) that ther to Herodias, whom that incestuous and adulterous tetrarch this early execution of one of the apostles after our Lord's death, married; and father to that better Agrippa before whom Paul would illustrate the courage of the rest in going on with their made his defence. (Acts xxv. 13. et ser;.) Caius Caligula, with ministry, as it would evidently show, that even all their miracu- whom he had an early friendsliip, when he became emperor, re- lous powers did not secure them from dying by the sword of their leased this Agrippa from the confinement under which Tiberius enemies. had (on that very account) kept him, and crowned him king of c Saw thai t/tis was acceptable /o //le Jens.'] Josephus tells us, the tetrarchy of his uncle Philip, to which he afterwards added " that this prince was a great zealot for the Mosaic law ; that he the territories of Antipas, whom he banished to Lyons in Gaul. " dwelt much at Jerusalem, and was fond of all oppin-tunities of (Joseph. An/iq. lib. xviii. cap. 6. [al, 8.] ? 10, 11. ef cap. 7. [al. 9.] " obliging the Jew.s, as his grandfather Herod had been of pleasing ? 2.) In this authority Claudius confirmed him, and made him "strangers;" a character well suiting what Luke here says of him. king of Judea, adding to his former dominions those of Lysanias. Sec Joseph, yinliq. lib. xix. cap. vii. ? 3. {Antiq. lib. xix. cap. 5. [al. 4.] \ 1.) JMr. Fleming thinks it washigh d Bntiud vith tiro chains.'] It is well known that this w^ay nf treason against the Messiah for him to assume the title of King of securing prisoners of importance, by chaining each nf their hands Judea ; and that this arrogancy, joined with his cruelty, rendered to a guard, was practised among the Romans ; and the reader may him more worthy of that terrible death described below. Flem. find authorities to this purpose produced by Grotius, in his note ' ChTistol. Vol. III. p. 35?. on Acts xxviii. 16. and by Dr. Lardncr, Credib. Book I. chap. 10. b Slew James wil/t the sivofd.'] Thus was our Lord's predic- ? 9. Vol. I. p. 521, 522. 400 AN ANGEL DELIVERS PETER OUT OF PRISON. SECT, qukkhj, A/id at the sdmii moment of thnehoih /lis c/iauisfc/l q()yro?nl//i.s'] /laiidx : Yet Arise up qui. klv. Atul Lis 26. the soldiers were, by a miraciiknis power, kept so fast asleep, tliat they were not at all J''"'j;'* f*^" "^ '^"'"> ^" alarmed by tlie noise of their fall. And t/ie angel said to /lim, Gird t/ij/se/f presently in f^ *Aiia tlie angel said ACTS the clothes thou hast on, tie thine i^w^rd garment about thee, and bind on thy sandals, unto iiim, Gird thyseit", X"- that thou mayest walk out ; r/,v^ accordingly lie did so. Ami he says to him farther, a"h1 ^io'i.e'dilii*' Amfhe 9 Throw thy viantle round thee, and follow me out. And Peter going out of the prison siitli miU> liim, Cust thy as he was guided by the angel, met with no opposition in his way, and followed him as he S''"'""^"'^ about thee, and ■was ordered : xind he was so astonisb.ed, that he did not know that what was done hy the i) And lie went out, and angel was true and real, but only supposed that he had seen a vision, as in some other followed him; and wist 10 instances he had done. And passing through the first and second watch, where the was dlino'brthc uimeT, hut guards were all asleep, they ca?ne to the iron gate that leads into the city, which, though thouglit he saw a vision. it was a heavy gate, and very strongly fastened, yet Wiis no hinderance in their way, but ,, lo "^\'><^i' tjiey were iia.st ) J ji \c -i 1 A 1 J ■ i • * *i ■* tl J * *'*'^ '"'■'''• '""' ''"^ second opened to them as of its own accord. And thus going out mto tiie city, they went to- ward, they came unto the gether through one street ; and immediately the angel, having done all that was requisite "o" s«te tliat leadeth unto for his deliverance, and set him at full liberty, departed from him on a sudden, and left them'o^f his"owu''accord" b.iai alone to go where he pleased. And they went out, and 1 1 And Peter, being come to himself, and recovered from the first astonishment of such an |."/p*gf. ""jj (V.'rtliwi'ih u'c extraordinary event, said, Noxc I know truly that the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose cause I angel departed from liim. M'as going to suffer, hath (as he formerly did, chap. v. 19.) sent his angel, one of the many n And when Peter was 1 1 ■ ■, 1 1 ■ 1 1 1 , L 1 r 1 j^ ji ^1 1 ^TT 1 1 come to linnsell, he said, heavenly spirits under nmcoinxnana, ana ha! n aelivet-camcf roin tite liana oj Herod, v,'[\o ^^^y, \ ^now of a surety, intended my death, and from all the expectation of the Jewish people ; who, after the that the Lord hath seat his many beneficial miracles I have wrought among them, were thirsting for my blood, and me'''out"'<>f "the ''han"of ■waited impatiently to see my execution. Herod, and from all the 12 Such was the grateful sense that Peter had of his deliverance; and recollecting where expectation of the people he was,*^ he presently concluded whither to go, and came to the house of Mary the mother lo ^nd when he had con- if John, who was sirnamed Mark, where many christians were gathered together, and sidered /he lUinrj, he came were spending the night in praying earnestly for his deliverance : And God answered them [°„[{,'^r ',',f"Jolm whose sir^" while they were yet speaking ; for he had now discharged the prisoner for whom they name was Mark, wheic were so much concerned, and brought him to the very house in which they were assembled. ™""y "'"-'y;- pf'^rcd toge- 13 And as Peter stood and knocked at the door of the outer gate^ which entered into the VV Ami as^Peter knocked hour-e ; that they might guard against the danger of admitting any pei-son whom they did at the door of the gate, a not know, a maiden whose name was Hose, went to the door, to listen and enquire who ,,3",'^ Hhoda. " ^^" "^"' 14 was thcre.s And he had no sooner answered, but knowing Peter's voice, she was so 14 And when she knew transported with joy and surprise, that she did not open the gate; but runnims to the P'^t'-'j's voice, she opened 1 -^ ' 111-11 1 , I 1 r ,1 -\ i7 Til , . n' / J ""*• ♦'»-' S='tc for i;lndncss, company that were assembled in the house, she tola [tncm\ that J iter xvas actually stand- i,ut ran in, and tohl liow 15 ing at the gate. And they said to her. Surely thou art distracted, to imagine so in- Tvier stood before the gate, credible and so impossible a thing. But she persisted in it, that she was sure she heard j,g^^ -j-i," ^ ^^l ^^'^'^ "^^l his voice ; and confidently affirmed that it was undoubtedly so. Then, as they knew not she constantly afiirmed that how to account for it, they said, in their confusion of thouglit. It is then probably his ^l^^^'^^^^-^\l°'^^^J^\"^ '^'"'' angel, who has assumed his form to bring us some tidings of him 5 or perhaps he is executed ' ■'' e - in prison, (as John the Baptist was,) in the night, and his separate spirit has appeared as a token of its being employed, as angels are, in ministering to the church on earth.'' ic r.nt Peter continued 16 But Peter in the mean time continued knocking, upon which they went out several of knocking: and when they them together; and when they had opened [the door,'] they saw him, and rejoiced to find ^^^ hi'm''"tliejf werc'a'sul- .17 that he was there, but were exceedingly astonished at the sight of him. And as he found, nished. upon his coming in among them, that his presence threw them into a confused transport, ^^'^^ ^^^^^^^^^ '^^^^■•^^^ 'ti'ie''TaIId which grew so loud that lie could not easily be heard, he beckoned to them with [///.v] hand to hol.l ilieir peace, dcdar- to be silent, and related to them how the Lord had conducted him out of prison by ^d uuto them how the .1 ■ ■ . r 1 J 7 1 , M .^ ,^ ,1 £• 1 i. 1 ' 1 1 / Lord had brought him out the ministry of an angel: ^4 ;?f/ having told them the p'articulars 01 what had passed, he of the prison. And he said, said. Let care be taken to inform James,' and the other brethren, of these things, that r.o show these things unt^i lliey may magnify God for this great deliverance, and consider it as an engagement to ^Td^'^he^'d^arted! and'^'wc^^^^^ serve him with great resolution and zeal. And presently departing from thence, he went into another place. c Recollecting where he was.] This is so natural an interpreta- men rendering here, I pretend not certainly to say that Sir Thomas tion of cuwjwv, that there seems no need of Dr. Hammond's con- Browne is mistaken (in his Rellgio Medici, p. 10.) when he says joctural emendation, wlio would read it amuJwv, making haste, as (as Clarius, Cameron, and Hammond also do) that the word ayriXoi lie also would, chap. xiv. G. iicrc signiiies messenger, as to be sure it often does. (Compare f Al the door of the outer gate.'\ Though De Dieu, chiefly on Matt. xi. 10 ; Mark i. 2 ; Luke vii. 2-1, 27 ; ix. .52 ; and Jam. ii. 25.) the authority of Kimchi, in his distinction between i»D and rips, They might perhaps think he had sent somebody, who telling her interprets this of a kind oi wicket in a pair of grcfd gntcs, 1 appre- he came from Peter, she by mistake appreliended it to be him. hend (according to the accurate and useful description whicli Pr. liut 1 think it much more probable that, as she averred that she Shaw has given of the lioases in the East) that the word ■rox-.'v here knew his voice, they tlien judged it to be something supernatural, properly signifies, what we generally call the iinteirnii of a large It is by no mcansccrtain they imagined t!iis to be his guardian iiouse, by which, if there be an area surrounded with buildings, angel ; for Philo speaks of it as a received notion among tlie Jews, you pass into it. And it is probable that this was no small house, thattlicsoulsof good men deceased officiated as ministering spirits, as many were assembled there. See Pliil. l)e Sacrlf. Cain, et Jlljells, p. l.'Uj and Dc Gignnlllius, K To inquire fvho icus there,'] That this is the most exact signi- p. 286 ; and Dr. Waterland's Serm. Vol. H. p. 90, fU. But what- fication of the original word uiaxouTJii, is abundantly demonstrated ever their notion was, one way or other, uo argument can be drawn by Kaphelius (Annot. ex Xen. p. 1.59.) and Eisner. (Ohscrv. Vol. I. from it as to the truth of eiUicr of these suppositions, p. -til.) — I render this maiden's name Plioda by the English name i Inform James.] As James the brotlier of John was dead, Itose, as, wlienever I meet with Greek names in use among us, 1 (ver. 2.) the person here referred to must be James the Less, the think it most natural to give the Englisli termination ; and shall brother or kinsman of our Lord, and author of the General Epistle only add, that Grotius has well observed the Jews frequently gave which bears his name. He appears to have been a person of consi- to their female cliildrcn the name of agreeable iiowers or plants: derable weight and importance: Peter therefore particularly Tluis Susannah signifies a lily, Hedcssa, a myrtle, Tamar, a palm- directs the message to him, for his cnrouragcment, and to engage Irvc, &c. ' . the concurrence of his Ihanksaivings to (!od OU account of lliis h II is his angct, iit:] Though I havt fvUowid the luoic coin- cxliaordinary deliverance. REFLECTIONS ON THE DEATH OF JAMES. 49I to anotlur ptacc,^ and continued some time in retirement, that lie might avoid the search sect. which his persecutors would of course make for him when they should find tliat he was 26. s;one. • ; 18 Now as s«<)ii as it was Aiul accordingly, as soon as it was da?/, there was no small tumult atiiong the acts I day, there was no small stir soldiers on his accouut, and no search was spared that they might know what was be- ^'^■ i was'bocoiiic oTl't'ter. ^ '^ ^ome of Peter J For the guards awaking out of their sound sleep, could none of them 18 give any account of what had passed, and were ready to suspect and accuse each other of M) Anil wiicn Herod had negligence Or treachery in giving the prisoner an opportunity to make his escape. A7hI 19 him \\U'^'L''ex\;nu'ned'The "i^^'^'^^ ^'^ry f^ta"y f"r them he had escaped ; for Herod searehingfor ^lim and not find- keepcrs,' and commanded ing him, examined the keepers as strictly as possible ; and as he could make nothing out that tlu^y should be put to \yy i,is inquiry but that he was gone while they slept, and thought it by no means pru- dent to give any intimation that he suspected a miraculous interposition of Providence in favour of a man whom he had devoted to destruction, he ordered them to he immediately led awaif to exeeidioiv"'^ for their negligence ; and so the atiair ended, and shortly after his life too, as we shall find in the following section. IMPROVEMENT. ' We have now before us the death of another martyr, and that martyr an apostle, and that apostle no less a per- Ver, 1 , 2 son than James the brother of John, who was also one of the chosen favourites and companions of our blessed Lord ; and not the less dear because so early dismissed from mortal life and labour, and dismissed by a violent and bloody death. He was slain with the sword ; but that blow, which was hardly, if at all, to be felt, in one short moment transported him to his long-lc*'ed Lord, and introduced him to that endeared converse with Jesus in liis heavenly presence, of which all the most intimate hours spent with him upon earth, not excepting that of the transfiguration itself, (to which he was an eye-witness,) were but an imperfect shadow. Eut how strange was it that this should j^lease the Jews ! To see the slaughter of one of the most excellent 3 [persons that ever adorned their nation, one of the greatest benefactors, his Lord only excepted, that ever liad appearal in all the list of tlie prophetic and inspired race ! Yet thus it was that they proceeded to fill up the measure of their fathers ; (Matt, xxiii. 32.) and such was still the liaidness of their hearts, that after having re- jected the message, they soon came to hate the messengers, and to thirst for their blood. The surest token of wratli coming upon them to the uttemiost ! as indeed it \\'as but a few yeare more and such an execution was done upon them as seemed to be the accumulated vengeance due for ail the righteous blood which had been shed from Abel to James. Peter was also imprisoned, and was bound with chains; and no doubt the prayers and tears with which the 5,6 church was contending for his" delivery, would appear exceedingly despicable to his enemies, if known by them ; but they found to their confusion that liis Redeemer was strong. (Jer. 1. 34.) The Lord Jesus sent an angel to him, who found him secure in iiis innocence, and happy in his hope, sleeping between those two guards who per- haps in a few hours were to have been his executioners, and sleeping so sweetly sound, that the brightness of the angel's presence did not immediately awake him. The angel smites him,~and his chains fall olf ; the iron gates 7 — lo are 0]iened, and the prisoner is set at full liberty. So does the angel of death smite, as it were but with a gentle blow, the ser\'ants of Christ, and the fetters of mortality fall off; the doors of the dungeon are opened, and they arc led into the new Jerusalem, where they find another kind of society, .another kind of rest, another kind of joy, than Peter knew even in the fii^st transports of his deliverance. The prayers of the night were added to those of the day. Pious men and women, the aged and the young, 12 Id were assembled on this important occasion : And while they were praying, God answered ; while they were r/ei speaking, he heard. (Isa. Ixv. 24.) Behold, Peter is himself sent among them, to bring them the astonishing ;j news of that real deliverance which at first appeared to him but as a vision of the night. What delight must such a mercy give them ! especially when considered as an answer of prayer ! What an encouragement must it be to them all to hold fast the profession of their faith without wavering, and in every future exigence by prayer and 17 supplieation to 7nahe their requests known unto God I (Phil. iv. (>.) Peter was solicitous it might be known to the surviving James and the other apostles, that they might glorify God in him, and might take encouragement from it to go on boldly in the prosecution of their work. With such views should we own the goodness of God in any deliverance he grants us, that others may learn to confide in him, and may join their praises with ours. Herod, in his disappointment, turns his rage on the soldiers, and makes those unhappy men the victims of his Ip,^ (J wrath. Unhappy indeed, if they had not learnt from Peter, whilst they had Imu in their power, that lesson which his charity would be so glad to teach them, in what he apprehended to be the last moments of his life, to believe in Jesus for life and salvation. But whatever they suffered, a much severer vengeance was reserved for Herod, on whom God quickly began to visit that innocent and pious blood which he had spilt, and that too after which he had thirsted ; for in his sight he must have appeared the murderer of Peter as well as of James. k Went lo nnolheT place.'] It was convenient he should withdraw m Ordered Ihem to lie led awny to exectttion.'] It is well known from Jcrnsalem ; but it is utterly incredible that he now went to that the word xr.ax'imxi has this siijiiifiiatiou. See Beza and U'lme, and made that abode of twenty-five years there which the Heinsius, in Inc. He probably punished them witli such scve- I'opish writers pretend. The absurdity of which pretence lias rity, lest an apprehension of a miraculous deliverance should have been abundantly demonstrated by many Protestant writers, and by i)rcvailcd, nnd so Christianity have gained, as it probably did, ad- iionc more pertinently, in a fev/ words, than by IJeza on this place. ditional strength. What liad so notoriously happened to all the 1 Wtiat was become of Peter.] Eisner (Olserv. Vol. 1. p. 412.) twelve apostles on a circumstance much resemblin<; this, (chap. v. and Uapbelius (Ex Xen. p. IfiO.) have so abundantly proved, that Vj. et sc/.) would no doubt add great weight to such a representa- 71 arji 0 nEr^5 iyc/tro, may with great propriety be thus rendered, tion; and it seems that this seasonable interposi-tion of Providence, that I see no reason to imagine, as Erasnuis here hints, that it may joined with the death of Herod yjtm ..fter, put a spceily end to this refer to some notion that Peter had been transforn\ed, perhaps by pcr^'.cut.uii. niagrc art, into some form or shape different from his own. 492 HEROD MAKES A PUBLIC ORATION, AND IS EATEN OF WORMS. SECTION XXVIL 27. ACTS XII. a Passing from Jvdea to Ca-sarea.} niis is tlie same Csesarea ■which was formerly called Straton's Tower, anil liad been rebuilt by Herod the Great. (See note o, on Acts viii. 40. p. 120.) Jo- sephus (who gives us an account of the death of Herod Atrripj)*, which greatly illustrates this of St. Luke) says, that he went to Ca'sarea, in the third year of his reign over tlic wliole country, to celebrate games there in honour of Claudius Caesar, to whom lie had been so much obliged. [Aniiq. lib. xix. cnp. 8. [al. 7.] ? 2.) It seems that the oration, afterwards mentioued, was made in a full theatre there. b Arrayed in a roynl hnln't.'] Josephus expressly says that bis fine robe was richly wronglit with silver, which, reflect iiiu: the rays of the rising sun with an unusual and almost insupporlalile splen- dour,gave his flatterers an occasion of complim(ntin-::him with the title of a deity. — Mr. Fleming imagines they therein referred to the glory with which the Shekinah used to appear, and that Herod, being impious enough to assume the honour of it, provoked the divine Majesty beyond any further sufferance, so that he sent a disease upon him, which rendered him equally ronlemptiblc and miserable. (Flem. Ckristol. Vol. H. p. 300.) Eisner has given several instances of the madness of heathen princes who arrogated divinity to themselves, and .some of tliem came to infamous ends. ( Obsrrv. Vol.1, p. 413, 414.) But, to be sure, Herod's knowledge of the true God, and of his jealousy with respect to divine honours, rendered his guilt incomparably "niore aggravated than theirs. c An anijel of thf Lord smile A/wi.] ' Josephus tells us, (in the place cited above,) " That as he did not rebuke this impious flat- Hcrod, on Ins reconcUiation to the people of Tyre and Sidon, makes a public oration, for which he is extravagantly applauded, but for his pride on that applause, is miraculously destroyed. Acts xii. 19 — 24. Acts xii. 19. »„.„„,„ ^ -^ Acts nh id. SKCT. VV E have just given an account of the miraculous manner in which Peter was delivered And he went down from from the cruel attemjit of Herod, and of the transpoit of rage in which that tyrannical •'"''?•■' t" Cssarea, and there prince ordered the guards to be put to death, though in reality they had been no way accessary to his escape. And now after this disappointment, Herod departed from Jeru- salem, and passing from Judea to the city of Ccesarea,^ he abode [thcrc^ till, in the ' -^ midst of all his pride and glory, the judgment of God overtook him, and Providence avenged the death of James, and the designed murdei* of Peter, in a most awful manner on this persecuting prince, 20 And very observable were the circumstances of his miserable end; as introductory to 20 And Herod was highly which it must be observed, that Herod teas hin-hly incensed airainst the Tiirians and jj,'-"!''*;^'*'^^'' "'"' ''"^ni of f t • ; ■ c IT- ^ 1 ■ 1 1 1 1 ■ 1 f ; ■ iyie ana Sidnii : hut thoy bulonians on account ot some supposed arrront which he had received trom them, which came with one accord to provoked him so far, that, having vowed a severe revenge, he was preparing with all '''■"' "'"' , '.'''y,'"^. "I"''*^ speed to make war upon them : But as they were a trading people, and were apprehensive \!^\^^ ^\^,.\y ivi'eiid^ 'desi'itd of the consequences of the king's displeasure, they unanimously cnnieio a resolution to peace; because their coun- send proper representatives to Csesarea to appear before him ; and having found out means f^jn.^s'foi",'/'',,''*'''^ ^^ """ of gaining Ulastus, the king's chamberlain, to espouse their interest, and being intro- duced by him, they begged fur an accommodation of the difference, and earnestly entreated he would grant them terms of peace, which they found it absolutely necessary to sue for, because their country was nourished and maintained by that of the king; they having little corn of their own growth, and not being able to subsist without a constant supply of provisions from Judea and Galilee. (Compare 1 Kings v. 11 ; and Ezek. x.Kvii. 17.) 21 And to make the transaction as solemn as possible, upon a set day which he thought 21 And ujion a set day proper for that purpose, when a grand assemblv was held, Herod came forth witli great '^'■''"''' I'T^'ye'' i;'.r"ya' -'P- r 1 J 1 1 ° / • "/ 7 ; i h 7 7 • II- 11- P^''^'' si't "PO" bis throne, magnihcence and splendour, arrayed in a royal liat)it, and being seated m a public and made an oration unto theatre upon the throne, made an oration to them with a great deal of state and afFec- f'eni. tation of eloquence, expressing at large his clemency and condescension in admitting them 22 to favour, when he could so easily have subdued them by force. And the people, who 22 And the people gave a flocked in multitudes to this grand spectacle, were so charmed with his appearance and s'lout-^'y"'?. ^'"t'.'e vihco 1 , 11-7 ■ 1111 ' 1 ■ o 1 *'• '' K""> """ ""' "' "^ luau. address, that they all cried out, as m a rapture, as soon as he had done speaking, burely [// is] the voice of a god that we hear, and not that of a mortal man : And the unhappy prince, instead of expressing a just indignation at such base and impious flattery, hearken- ed to it with a secret complacency. 23 But immediately all this haughty parade was disgraced and exposed j for an angel of 23 And immediately the the Lord, by an awful though invisible operation on his vitals, smote him with a sore ""S*^' "{ ^''f '^""^ smote and grievous disease,'^ because he gave not God the glory in rejecting these blasphemous God' the glory: and he was applauses. On which he was presently forced to quit the place in extreme torture, and eaten of worms, and gave being miserably eaten and tormented (as his grandfather, Herod the Great, had been) "'^ ^^ ^ '"^' • with a vast number of small wo?'tns,'^ which bred in his bowels, and rendered him a most nauseous and horrible spectacle to all about him, he expired in equal agony and infamy : sunk as much below the common state of human nature as his flatterers Imd endeavoured to raise him above it, 24 And upon this the word of God grew more and more successful, and in every place 24 But the word of GoU where the seed of the gospel was sown, the number of believers was considerably mul- ^^'^'^ '^"'^ multiplied. " tery, he was immediately seized with exquisite and racking tor- ! " tures in his bowels, so that he was compelled, before he left the f " place, to own his folly in admitting such acclainal ions, and up- i " braided those about bim with the wretched condition in which ' " they then saw their god j and being carried out of the assembly | " to his palace, be expired in violent agonies the fifth day after he | " was taken, in the fifty-fourth year of his age, and the seventh of ■ " his reign ;" (reckoning from ihe time of his first advancement hy Caligula, to the tetrarchy of bis uncle Philip ;) being the fourth , year of the emperor Claudius, A. D. 44. Some have supposed, \ when it is said an angel smote him, that this is only a Jewish , phiasc, to signify he was suddenly seized with this disorder : lint ■ I think it expresses the real though invisible agency of a celes- tial spirit on this occasion. Compare 2 Sam. xxiv. "iC ; 2 Kings 1 xix. 35. d Ueinq ealen yrilh irnrms^'] Beza and Eisner think pxtArixog/oros ' signifies in t!ic general cninvmrd villi vermin, and may express the i disease called mnrlnis pediciilnris, of which, as the latter of these critics has shewn, (Vol. I. p. 417, 418.') several persecuting and cruel > ])rinces have died. (Compare 2 Mac. ix. Oj and Euseb. Eecles. ffixl. lih. viii. cnp. Kt.) I tliink, with Dr. Lardncr, (CVerf/i. Book I. chap. i. 5 G. Vol. I. p. 30, 40.) that Josephus, out of a partial fond- ' ness for Ilerod Agrippa, vvhom lie had so much extolled, has con- coaled this particular, whicli was the true cause of those excru- eiiting pains in the bowels of which this Herod, and bisgrandfa- tiicr ilerod the Great, died. See Joseph. Antiq. lib. xvii. cap. 6. [ul. 8.] \ .5. SAUL AND BARNABAS RETURN FROM JERUSALEM TO ANTIOCH. 493 tiplkd,^ and tlicir faith greatly established : and afler all the opposition of its enemies, who sect. had endeavoured to extirpate it, the progress of Christianity was apparently promoted by the 27. concurrence of these extraordinary events, in the deliverance of Peter and the death of • Herod, that cruel persecutor, under such evident tokens of divine vengeance. acts IMPROVEMENT. The xvrath of a Un SECTION XXVIII. Saul and Barnabas, being returned from Jerusalem to Antioch, are sent out from thence to preach the gos- pel to the Gentiles ; and, coming to Cyprus, smite Elyvias toith blindness, and con-aert Sergius Faulus the Roman governor there. Acts xii. 25. xiii. 1 — 12. Acts xii. 25. AcTS xii. 25. And Barnabas and Saul WE havc formerly taken notice of the message on which the disciples at Antioch sent sect. wben''t1,ev™imd "fuTfin"a Bamabas and Saul to Jemsalem, to carry their alms to the brethren there, who were 28. iheir ministry, and took threatened with an approaching famine, which Agabus had foretold : (chap. xi. 29, 30. s'lru'ime't'^ Mark ''''""^ P" '^^^•'^ ^'^"^ ^^'*^ ^^^" "^^ observe, that Barnabas and Saul having fulfllcd \thcir'] acts siru.ime was . ar . ministri/, and faithfully performed the charge committed to them, returned back to ^^"• we^e'iu tlVecluirdruiatwas Antioch/row Jerusalem,'' bringing along with them John, whose sirname was Mark.^ "* .u^Antiudi^ '"en'aiu^ pro- Now thcrj. were in the church that was at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers of acts piiets and teachers ; as gj-gat note,'"' particularly Barnabas, the generous Levite whom we just now mentioned, wL^'caiTed^'Nlgen"'! Lu*. who had given up the 'whole of his estate to charitable uses; and Simeon, who was also ^ ciusofCyrcne.'andManaci), called Niger, or the Black, from his swarthy complexion ; and Lucius, the Cyrenian, a which had been brought native of Africa : and Manaen, a person of considerable rank, who was edticated with up with Herod tlie tetrarcb, ^^ , ,/ , ',.,.„,, •^ ., ., i , •, i- i i ■ aid Saul. Herod the tctrarch m his fatlier s court,'' yet thought it no disgrace to appear as a chris- e Tlie word nf God grew and was multiplied.'} The expressions learn from Scripture, that this person was the son of Mary, at whose h«re used (r.v^m xf. mkn'ivviTo) relate properly to vegetables, and house the disciples met to pray for Peter when he was imprisoned, may be iiUcndi d to signify that the growth of the gospel, that is, Acts xii. 12; nnd he is spoken of as sister's son to Barnabas, Col. its prevaleiiry in the minds and lives of some, was (as it were) the iv. 10; wlio appears to have had a great aflection for him, not only means of sowing that divine seed in the hearts of many more. by his taking him with them to Antioch, and from thence to I'am- a Having futjilled their ministry, returned from Jerusalem.'] Mr. pliylla, Acta xii. 5. ct seq. where it should seem he was discouraged Fleming thinks, with several other good critics, that they returned by "the difficulties of the work from going any farther, and returned after the deatli of Jaines, and in the mterval between the commit- t') Jerusalem, ver. 13. but by his insisting afterwards, w hen they iTient and deliverance of I'eter ; and that it was to avoid breaking were setting out upon another progress, that Mark should go with tlic thread of the story, that their return was not mentioned sooner, them to visit the churches, which Paul was so averse to, that they (See Ftera. C/irislel. Vol. 11. p. 2:J0.) But Dr. Lardncr argues, parted; and Paul chose Silas to attend him, while Barnal)as took from its being inserted here, that the commission was not executed Mark, and sailed for Cyprus. (Acts xv. 37 — 40.) We have no till after the death of Herod, and dates the beginning of the famine farther account of him in the Acts ; but he appears so far to have accordingly. {Credili. Book I. chap. xi. \. 2. Vol. 1. p. 611.) retrieved his character, that he is recommended afterwards by the Lord Barrington thinks it was during Paul's abode at Jerusalem apostle Paul to the Colossians ; (Col. iv. 10.) and, when he was at on this occasion, that he had the vision in the temple mentioned, Rome, the apostle mentions him among his fellow-labourers, Acts xxii. 17 — 21. and that then the Lord Jesus gave him that (Philem. ver. 24.) and at last speaks of his desire to see him, as one commission to the Gentiles expressed. Acts xxvi. 17, 18; which that was useful to him in the ministry. (2 Tim. iv. 11.) words he supposes to have been spoken at tliis time, and that this c Certain prophets and teachers.'] Who of these might be the extraordinary fact is referred to. Acts xiii. 2. when the Spirit speaks stated pastors of the place, and who only occasional residents there, as having already called him and Barnabas to the work to which we cannot, I think, with any certainty determine, only that Paul they were then to be separated ; wirch must suppose that Barna- and Barnabas were of the latter. Mr. Fleming, on the supposi- bas had also some correspondent vision, or was mentioned in that tion mentioned in note a, concludes that this assembly might be of Paul. (See Miscell. Sticr. Essay ii. p. 21, 27.) But I shall give held with some peculiar regard to Peter's danger, and that in it my reasons, when I come to the text in question, why I understand the Spirit directed that both Paul and Barnabas should be received them in a different sense and coimexion. into the now diminished number of the apostles. Sec Flem. b Jn/tn, whose sirname was Mark.] It appears from what Grotius Christnl. Vol. H. p. 230. has urged, Proleg. ad Marc. Evang. that tlii? was a different person d Manaen, who uas educated with Herod the tetrttrch.] He seems from Mark the Evangelist, who w'as for several years the intinnate by this to tiave been a person of considerable rank, and having been companion of the apostle Peter, and seems to have been converted a courtier, might probably have learnt some peculiar arts of ad- by him, as he calls him his son, (1 Pet. v. 13.) ft title which the dress, yet he had no share in this extraordinary commission granted apo.stlcs used to give to those who were the fruit of their ministry, to Paiil and Barnabas; (Compare 1 Cor. i. 2r., 27.) Josepluis, Antiq. Compare 1 Cor. iv. 15; Gal. iv. 19; and Philem. ver. 10. We ';*. xv. cap. 10. {aX. 13.]i 5. mentions one Manaem an Essene, who XIII. 494 SAUL AND BARNABAS FIND BARJESUS AT PAPIIOS. SKCT. tian minister ; and, to mention no more, SauJj that remaikable convert, whose labom-s iii 28. the church were, as we shall farther learn, so eminently useful. And as they were viinis- a As they niiiiLsterod to terimr to the Lord in public, and joined fastinsr to prayer, the Ilohi Spirit by immediate tl"^', ^'^i^< ■'""' '''s'"'. the i'^- -t V J J T> / ici ij- -,1 i I- I c 1 Holy Ghost said, Separate ACTS revelation said, Separate to me Barnabas and Sauljo)' the extraordmary woric oi preach- n,c Barnabas and Saul for- XJ!I. ing the gospel among the Gentiles, to lahieh I have now expressly called thein.^ tlie work wherennto i iinve 3 And having on this notice appointed a solemn day for this purpose, in which lliey '^"a'^And'^'when die in.i fasted and prayed, and laid their hands upon them, in token of their designation to that fasted and prayed, and I'lili extraordinary office, thc7/ dismissed them from Antioch with all the most atiectionate tlierr hands on them, tli.y , , £> 1 ■ i- c- 1 u- sent Mn« away, tokens oi christian iriendship. ■' 1 They, theriforc, being thus sent out by the immediate direction of the Holy Spirit,' 4 So tliey i)eing- sent and animated to a noble elevation of soul in the thought of such an important mission, ^"[1.''.,^^ ""^ *^°'y *^''':'*f. departed to Scleueia, a considerable port in the Mediterranean sea ; and from thence they and from theiice iliey'sa'iie(i sailed to the island of Cyprus, so celebrated, or rather so infamous, for the worship of to Cyprus. Venus, who was supposed to hold her peculiar residence here, and therefore was commonly ,') called " the Cyprian goddess." And being arrived at Salamis, the eastern port of the 5 And when tiiey were island, and consequently that which lay nearest to the place from whence they came, they ?* Salamis, they prcaelied 7 , ,, ^ , J^ 1 ■ ,1 ^ ./ T i\ r .1 1 the word of God in tlic preaencd the ivord of Lrod in the synagogues oj the Jetcs ineve; lor tliere were great synagogues of the Jews.- numbers of that people in Cypms : And they had also John for their attendant, who '""'. t'ley I'a'J also John to Availed upon them with gi'eat respect, not pretending to a character by any means equal "" "^""*''^'■• to theirs. And having traversed the v/hole island as far as Paphos, which lay on its western 6 And when they had coast, they found there a certain Jew who was a ?naa;ieian [andl false prophet,^ xchosc f,""*; tln'^i'sl' the isle unto ' • • ' • ii e T T u Ti ■ / 1 I"]'""', "ley found a ccr- 7 name xcas Barjesjis, or the son ot one Jesus or Joshua: Ihis was a person who wc.s much tain sorcerer, a false jiro- regarded, and was at that time xcith the Roman ;^;'oco;/.??/• ,/ . ^n ■ f 1 ■ -ri 14 1 4 J ■ i \\ 8 But Elyraas the sor- tlie magician, (for that was the meaning ot his name hlymas, when translated into the cercr (for so 'is his name by Greek language,!") as he was sensible that he should be no more regarded if their doctrine interpretation) withstood was received, set himself all he could to hinder the effect of it, and withstood them in their the^denitv'ffom th"f''Tr* preaching, endeavouring in a crafty way, by a variety of false insinuations which he used, to turn away the proconsul from embracing the faiths 9 Then Saul, (who is also [called'\ Paul,^ and will generally be spoken of hereafter by 9 Then Saul, (who also that name, by which the Romans and Greeks would most naturally mention him,) being j|,J^jf^f Gh"st' s"'* r '^'-''^ filed with the powerful effusion and impulse of the Holy Spirit, turning to Elymas the on himf ' ' '""^ sorcerer, a}id looking stedfastly upon him, said, with just indignation, O thou wretch lo And said, O full of all 10 i'who art] full of all deceit and of all wickedness ! Thou notorious son of the devil, that ?hou''chiw''of''the''Tleln; great deceiver, the adversary both of God and man ! Thou enemy of all righteousness ! timu enemy of all righte- wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the JvOj-r/, and by thy perverse niisrepre- ^"^"g^^jj ^"J* t^lr" "1"* sentations to lay a stumbling-block before those that would embrace the gospel ;■ Thou ways of the Lord 1 . '° ' had foretold Herod the Great, while he was yet a boy, that he liim to despise all stories of miracles and dispossessions, Ibid. should be a king, and was afterwards in high favour with him 1 \ 6. and some have thought this was his son. See Mr. Biscoe, At h That was tiis name wtien translated, &c.] The most probable Boylr-s Led. chap. iii. \ 11. p. 79—81. That IManacn, Simeon, etymology 1 have found of it is that which derives it from the and Lucius, were all apostles, is a strange opinion of Dr. Scott's, Arabic word alaim, which signifies, one acquainted with hidden (C//?is/;ofl X(/f, Vol. IIL p. 1099.) which so judicious a man could secrets, from the tlebrew rkC f/iTW, to hide, and is used in the never have entertained, had it not seeniod necessary to solve Arabic Version of the Old Testament for the Hebrew utp, a viagi- a difllculty, which I hope we shall presently see is only imagi- cian. See Beza, in loc. I'lfy. i Tlie proconsul.'] So the word at^vitam properly signifies; and c For the work tn which I have called t/tem.] Tf there be any though Beza and Dr. Hammond, as well as Grotius and M. reference to a past faci in these words, it is probably to some reve- L'Enfant, (who has taken almost all his notes from him,) say that Nation personally made to Paul and Barnabas, to signify that they the title was improperly applied to the governor of Cyprus, as suould takea journey into several countries of Asia Minor to preach they suppose, by way of compliment, while be was only avn'r^arrj- Ihe gospel there. But that they were now invested with the apostolic yos, a sort of 'lieutenant; Dr. Lardner has with great learning ofliee by these inferior ministers, (though expressly asserted by vindicated the accuracy with which St. Luke speaks, [Credih. Clarius and many others,) is a thing neither credible in itself, nor Book L chap. i. \ 11. Vol. L p. 51—54.) and shown from Dio, [Lib. consistent with what Paul himself says, Gal. i. 1 And that they liii. p. 504, A. et lib. liv. p. 523, B,) that they who presided over the now received a power, before unknown in the church, of preaching Roman provinces by the appointment of the senate, (and Cyprus to the idolatrous Gentiles, is inconsistent with Acts xi. 20, 21. and, was now of that number, though it had once been pr^torian,) were upon many other considerations to be proposed elsewhere, appears called proconsuls, though they had never filled the consular chair ; lo me absolutely incredible. which (as ajipears by the Fasti Consulares) was the case with the f Hi/ the Holy Spirit.'] This seems to be added to remind lis, excellent and happy governor of whom we speak. See Mr. Biscoe, that though they were solemnly recommended to God by the At Boyle's Led. chap. iii. \ 1. p. 5.5, 56. prayers of their brethren, tiKirauthority was not derived from k Saul, who is also called Paul.] Some have thought the apostle them, but from tlie Holy Spirit himself. had originally two names, and many oUiers that he cliangcd the g A magician and fnl'ie prophet.] There were many instance.* former for tlie latter with design, either out of deference to Sergius of real or pretended sorcery among the Jews in these days, which Paulus or to the Gentiles, among whom he now preached so much .seems to have been designed b^ the devil and wicked men to slur as to he called, by way of eminence, (though not in strict apprn- tlie miracles of Christ and bis apostles. But, by confounding priation,) their apostle. See Dr. Hammond, in loc. But I tliink them in several instances, the christian cause was magnified yet Beza's account of the matter most easy and probable — that having more than it would otherwise have been. Nevertheless it Is to be conversed hitherto chiefly with Jews and Syrians, to whom the (eared they wrought on many who were not wise and candid enough name of Saul was tamiliar, and now coming among Romans and lO cxamrne, so as to introduce a general contempt of all pretences Greeks, they would naturally pronounce bis name Paul; as one to supernatural powers as false or inconclusive; a sad instance of whose Hebrew name was Jocbanan, would be railed by the Greeks which we have even iu Marcus Antonicus, who, though he professes and Latins Johannes, by the French Jean, by the Dutch Hans, and some revelations to have been made to himself in dreams, (Ue by the English John. See also Grot, in loc. Beza thinks the Rebus Suis, nil. i. ? 17.) yet reckons it among the great advantages family of thi.s proconsul might be the first who addressed or spoke be received by conversing with Diogcnctus, that he leaint from of hii'n by the name Paul. REFLECTIONS ON ELYMAS'S BEING STRUCK WITH BLINDNESS. 495 shalt be coafoundecl in this cursed undertaking, and made a signal monument of the divine sect. n And now bcliold, the displeasure. And dc/iold, even ??or; t/ie almighty hand of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose 28. iiaii.l <>r til. T.c.id IS uiion gospel thou opposcst, is upon thee, and thou shaU be sXmck blind by it, a7id slialt not be bliifd, notseling tliV sun for able to sce eveii the sun itself at noon-day/o/- a certain ti?ne, that thou mayst be convinced acts a season. And immediately of thy sin and folly, and mayst, if possible, be brought to repentance for it. And untnc- ^H'- I a 'rrknlr! '■ amfbe lAnt diate/i/, while Pad was yet speaking, a thick mist and darkness fell upon him; and 11 about seeking'.somc to lead going about in the utmost confusion, he sought some to lead htju by the hand, not being him by the liand. able SO much as to find the door without a guide, and afraid that he might run upon any one who stood in his way. 12 Then the deputy, Then the proconsul, sccing-what tvas done, yielded to so convincing an evidence, and 1'? belirvcdr^bi^rng artOTishS helieved the gospel ;' ^t//;;ralso struck with admiration of the internal evidence which he nt thedo'cfriue'of the Lord, soon discovered in the doctrine of the Lord, and which broke in with increasing lustre on his mind, in proportion to the degree of attention with which he inquired into it. IMPROVEMENT. We who were once sinners of the Gentiles, and now, by the divine goodness, are brought to the knowledge of the Ver. 2 gospel, have abundant reason to be thankful that inspired messengers were sent to teach it, being separated to that purpose by the direct appointment of the Holy Spirit. May they that go out to this sacred work in all nations and 4 in all times, maintain a becoming regard to his influences; and may he make their way prosperous! That he may , be engaged to do so, it is certainly convenient, upon the justest principles of reason and piety, to send them forth with solemn prayer ; in which ministers and private cliristians should from time to time concur, with an intenseness 3 i and seriousness answerable to the occasion. i Wherever the messengers of the gospel go, they must not be surprised if Satan raise up his instruments and chil- 6, 8 ;' dren to oppose them, especially where they would endeavour to introduce religion into the hearts of princes or other i great men. Well does the prince of the power of the air know how dangerous every such blow is to his kingdom. i Nevertheless, the King of kings knows how to make way to the hearts of the greatest among the children of men ; i nor can any of them show a more solid and important pradence than to inquire impartially into the evidences of 7 ': the gospel, and to give themselves up to be governed by it ; an happy resolution, which they will probably be dis- I posed to form in proportion to the degree in which they observe its nature and tendency : For surely every intelli- gent person that does so must, like Sergius Paulus, be struck with the doctrine of the Lord, as well as with the 12 ! miracles which were wrought to confirm it. j Justly might Paul pronounce that man who endeavoured to obstruct the progress of divine truth in the world, a 9, 10 child of Satan, and an enemy of all righteousness : Justly might God, who knew all his secret wickedness and per- verseness of soul, smite him with a blindness which, while it rendered him incapable of seeing the light of the 1 1 meridian sun, seemed but a doleful emblem of that more fatal darkness which, through the corruption of his heart, had spread itself over his mind, and prevented the light of the gospel of Christ, xcho is the image of God, from shining upon it. (1 Cor. iv, 4.) Have we not reason to fear that God may, in his righteous judgment, punish that iniquity of spirit witii M'hich many now rise up against the right ways of the Lord, (not ceasing to pervert and disguise them, that they may more plausibly and elfectually oppose them,) with an internal blindness in which they may wander on to their destruction ? And if others stupidly permit themselves to be guided by them, what can be expected but that the blind leading the blind, both leaders and followers should /«// into the pit ? (Matt. xv. 14.) SECTION XXIX. Paul and Barnabas come to Antioch in Pisidia, where the former delivers a remarkable discourse in the Jewish synagogue. Acts xlii. 13 — 42. Acts xiii. 13. Acts xiii. 13. Now when Paul and his TlIE reader was informed, in the last section, of the success with which Paul and Barnabas sect. pCsrthey crm^toPergThi preached the gospel in Cyprus, where Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul, was converted 29. Pam'phyiia: and John de- to H; andwe^ve uow to add that, loosing from Paphos, the// and their companions, w/^o cdto'jeriwalern'^'"' '"'''"''"' were desirous to spend some longer time with Paul, that they might be more fully in- acts structed in the christian faith, ca?ne to Perga, a town in Paniphi/lia, a province of the Xlli. Lesser Asia, which lay east of Cilicia, to which it was contiguous, and on the northern 1 3 coast of the Mediterranean sea. But John, sirnamed Mark, perceiving they intended a long tour in those parts, and that they were like to meet with much opposition among the idolatrous Gentiles, to whom they were carrying the gospel, could not, by all the warmest remonstrances of Paul and his o%\'n uncle Barnabas, be persuaded to share their laboure and dangers in so excellent a cause ; but taking the opportunity of a vessel which he tound in that part bound for Palestine, he withdrew himself from them and returned to Jerusalem, 14 But when they de- Nevertheless ^//c?/ remained inflexible in their resolution of prosecuting the important |^ camrtoAnUochTnPisidi7 Work in wliich they were eng-aged ; ^ndiherehre going on from Perga, ihey came to n IOC 1, in isu la, j^^^-^^^^^ ^ considerable city in the district of Pisid)a,^ which lay north of Pamphylia, and 1 l%e proconsul believed.'] I can see no reason at all to imagine, troverted that tlicy bore an unlimited commi.ssion, and fully un- with Lord Barrington, Abstract, p. 21. and Dr. Benson, Vol. II. derstond its extent'? Limborcli justly argues iu favour of chris- ]). 27. that Sergius Paulus was the first convert to Christianity tian magistracy from lience, as it is neither credible, that if Ser- amongthe idolatrous Gentiles, which, if their own interpretation gius Paulus abdicated his office, so important a circumstance of Acts xi. 19, 20. (unsatisfactory as it seems) were to be allowed, should be omitted, or that Paul should have acquiesced in his con- would appear incredible from this very context; for who can iraa- tiauing in it, if he knew it contrary to the will of Christ, which he gine that Paul and Barnabas should, as we are assured they did, would not fail fully to declare to him. Sec Limb. Thcolog. lib. v. traverse the whole island of Cyprus, from Salarais to Paphos, with- cap. 73. \ 3. out converting one person from idolatry, though it is hore uncon- a Antioch in Pisidia.} The situation of this place is thus de- \ 496 PAUL PREACHES IN THE SYNAGOGUE OF ANTIOCH IN PISIDIA. SECT. consef|uentlY farther from the sea: And enteri7ig into the Jewisli .synagogue on tht sab- 29. bath-dai/, tney sat down^ among those that were worshipping there. And after the cus- tomary reading of the proper section for the day out of the law, and another out of the ACTS prophets, the rukrs of the synagogue, knowing in general the public character which the ^"^' two celebrated strangers sustained, and being curious to hear from their own mouth that ■^^ new doctrine which had made so much noise in other places, sent one of the inferior officers ^ M««,'^ saying. Men [and'\ brethren, if you have any word of exhortation to the people, or any declaration to make which may conduce to the edification of the assem- bly, speak [it] freely, as this is the proper season of doing it. 16 Then Paul stood up, and -waving his hand, to render the audience more attentive, said. Ye men of Israel, and all ye that fear God, and are met together with devout hearts to worship him this day, hearken,'^ I beseech you, with patient attention, for I shall mention 17 several facts which well deserve your serious regard. The God of this ^ecuWix people, for such I well know the seed of Israel to be, graciously chose our pious and venerable fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to be the objects of his special favour, and for their sakes was pleased to promise most important blessings to their offspring : Accordingly he took them under his protection from their first beginning, and raised the people from that prostrate and dejected state in which they were while sojourning in the land of Egypt, under the tyranny of Pharaoh ;" and, to deliver them from that inhospitable and oppressive country, he led them out of it with an uplifted and extended arm, having displayed his power in a variety of most astonishing miracles, by which he pleaded their injured cause. 18 And then for the space of about forty years he endured their perverse and ungrateful bchaviou/ in the wilderness, carrying them (as it were) through a course of education there, to form them, in those retired circumstances, to a habit of observing that admirable 19 system of laws which he there thought fit to give them. At length he put a period to that pilgrimage, in which, nevertheless, they had been sustained by so many miraculous tokens of his care ; and having cast out seven mighty nations'^ who were before settled in the land of Canaan, and had erected more than thirty kingdoms there, defended by fortifica- tions of great strength, as well as by numerous forces both of horse and foot, he distributed their whole country to them for an inheritance, and supported them in it for many generations. 20 And, to omit many remarkable circumstances in this period of their history, after these transactions, [which lasted'] about four hundred and fifty years^ that is, after the choice of our fathers and the birth of Isaac, in which the promises to Abraham began to be accom- and wpiit into Ihe syna- goijue on the saljbatli-ilay, and sat down. 15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets, the rvilers of the synagogue sent unto them, sayii\g:, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhorta- tion for the people, say on. 16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand, said, JVIen of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience: 17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fatliers, and exalted the people, when they dwelt as stran- gers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he tliem out of it. 18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in tlie wilderness. 19 And when he had de- stroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he divided their land to them by lot. 20 And after that he gave nnio them judges, about the space of four Hundred and scribed, to intimate how carefully it should be distinguished from Antioch in Syria, so much more frequently mentioned iu this history. b Entering into ihe synagogue, they sat down.'] The professed fol- lowers of Jesus were excommunicated, at least on conviction, by an act of the sauliedrim made before the crucifixion of our Lord ; (compare John i.x. 22; and xii. 42.) and it is wliat he had foretold to his apostles, that they should be so treated. (John xvi. 2.) Yet Paul and Barnabas enter the synagogue without ojjposition, and meet with a regard whicli none can imagine tlie Jews would show to excommunicated persons. Learned men have accounted for this by saying, that elders and doctors among the Jews, (such as Paul and Barnabas are supposed to have been,) though sometimes scourged in the synagogues, were not cast out of them. c The rulers of the synagogue sent to theni~\ It is, I think, a very fruitless attemiit which some learned men liave made, to ascertain the conditions on whicli persons were admitted to teach in tlie Jewish synagogues, and to settle the forms with wliich they were entered on that office. It has been supposed tliat Paul and Barnabas had gone through tliese forms, and tliat their sitting down in the seats appropriated to the doctors or teachers led these rulers, though strangers to them, to send them this permission. But it seems evi- dent from Maimonides and the Talmud, that after public worship ^vas over, any one might make a speech to the people in tlie syna- gogue, on any subject which he appreliended miglit be for their advantage. Yet it would be a circumstance of decency which the good sense and breeding of Paul and Barnalias would lead tliem to regard, that the rulers should be made acquainted with tlicir de- sire of doing it: probably by some message or interview before the devotions began, to which this permission of theirs might refer. See Mr. Biscoe, At Boyle's Led. cliap. vii. 5 2. p. 271, 272. d All ye that fear Cod, hearlcen.'] This discourse seems chiefly intended to illustrate the divine economy in opening the gospel gradually, and preparing the Jews, liy temporal mercies, for otliers of a yet more important nature. Tlie apostle, in consequence of this, had a very handsome and unaffected opportunity of showing his acquaintance with their Scriptures, which it is well known they esteemed as the highest part of literature and object of science. • The expression, ye that fear Cod, is ambiguous, and would best suit those that liad, by embracing the Jewish religion, entered into covenant with the true God, yet so as not to exclude any otliers in whom a filial reverence for the Divine Being was a governing principle. e Jiaiscd the people, while sojourning in the land of Egypt!] Beza and M. L'Enfant explain this as referring to the honour the Is- raelites were in during the ministry of Joseph in Egypt; but Eis- ner, ( Obscrv. Vol. I. p. 41S, 419.) has shown that the word UnJ/w^ev often signifies to deliver or raise out of a calamitous stale. (Compare Psal. ix. 1,3; xviii. 48; cxiii. 7. Septuag.) And, a? Jo-seph pru- dently declined any attempt to make his brethren courtiers, and kept them in the country under the character of shepherds, (a pro- fession whir li the Egyptians held contemptible rather than honour- able. Gen. xlvi. 34.) I think it by far more natural to interpret the passage as in the paraphrase. f Endured their behaviovr.] This is the proper Import of the word 67-foTO^'nnv, and it was very fit to give this oblique intimation of that perverseness and ingratitude which so early began to prevail among them. The Syriac renders it by a word which signifies, to nourisli or educate, so that Beza conjectures they read iret^pvpifn'm ' and it suggests so beautiful a view of the conduct of Providence to- wards them in this rtspect, that I could not forbear inserting the thought, though I prefer tlie common and almost universally re- ceived reading. Yet I find Dr. Hammond thinks the other was probably authentic, and observes that the expression of nursing them (for so he understands it) is beautifully connected with that of taking them up when they lay like an exposed infant. Compare Deut. i. .31 ; and Ezck. xvi. 4, 5, 8. g Cast out seven nations.] Namely, the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Ilivites, and Jebusites. Deut. vii. I; Josh. iii. 10; xxiv. 11. h yl/ter these transactions, [which lasted] about four hundred and fifty years.] The course of the sacred history will by no means permit us to imagine that the judges in their succession continued 4.50 years after the settlement of Israel in Canaan'; since we learn from 1 Kings vi. 1, that Solomon began to build the temple in the 4S0th year after they came out of Egypt. It is certain, there- fore, that if we make no alteration in the reading here, or in the Old Testament, the words must be so pointed as to justify my in- serting in the version those words, [which lasted,] in which I follow M. L'Enfant and the translation of 1727. In that ca.se, I think the time must be computed from the birth of Isaac, on the principle-i which Mr. Lanipe has laid down in his excellent Compendium of Eccles. Hist. lib. i. cap. 5. \ 1 — 7. Yet 1 own that Dr. Whitby has the authority of many great names, ancient and modern, to justify him in following the chronology of Josephus, who places the build- ing of the temple in the five hundred and ninety-second year after Israel's going out of Egypt, [Antiq. lib. viii. cap. ,3. [ai. 2.] \ }.) which would admit of allowing three hundred and thirty-nine years for the administration of the judges, and one hundred and eleven for the years of the several tyrannical oppressions, in all four hundred and fifty years, reserving forty for Samuel and Saul together, forty for David, and four for Solomon, in whose fifth year the temple was l>cgun ; and the coincidence of the numbers in the Book of Judges, as illustrated by Dr. Lightfoot (//or. Heb. in toe.) and Mr. Bisooe, {Boyle's Led. chap. xx. p. CdO, 607.) is very re- niarkable. But I was cautious of paraphrasing this text in a man- ner which m Jst allow an important error in our Hebrew copies, and alTcct the whole system of the sacred chronology. GOD SENDS THEM JESUS FOR A SAVIOUR. 497 fifty years, until Samuel the proiiliet. 21 And afterward tliey desired a king', and God gave unto them Saul the li son of Cis, a man of the p tribe of Benjamin, by the |l space of forty years. •2-3 And when lie had re- I moved him, he raised up I unto them David to be their ' king ; to wiiom also he gave j testimony, and said, 1 have I found David, the snn of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 23 Of this man's seed hath God, according to his pro- mise, raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus : 24 AVhcn John had first preached before his coming, the baptism of repentance unto all the people of Israel. 2) And as John fulfilled his cour.se, he said, AVhom think ye that I am? I am not he. But beholj, there Cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. 26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this sal- vation sent. plisbed, /le gave \_t/iem'] a series of Judges, by whose heroic interposition ho delivered sect. them from those repeated oppressions and miseries which their frequent revolts to idolatry 29. had brought upon them. And this continued, with some intervals, ii/l the time of Samuel the prophet, who was the last of these extraordinary leaders and magistrates. acts And from that time, too fond of being like their neighbours in that respect, theij de- ^'^'• sired a king, (1 Sam. viii. 5.) insensible of the favour which God had done them in 21 asiuming the character and relation of a king to them : xind God gave them, first, Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin ; and his government, with that of Samuel the prophet, lasted for the term of fort>i years} And having in his righteous 22 displeasure rejected Saul, and removed him from reigning over Israel, for his rebellion against the divine command in (he business of Amalek, and for other crimc-s of aggravated guilt, (1 Sam. XV. 23. and 1 Chron. x. 13.) he afterwards raised up to them David for a Icing, the person so justly celebrated in all succeeding ages ; to whom also he gave a more glorious testimony in his word, (1 Sam. xiii. 14. and Psai. Ixxx. 20.) and said, " / " have found my servant David, the son of Jesse, a man according to mine on-n heart, " xvho will not disregard my voice as Saul has done, but shall do all my u'ill, and " rule my people with integrity." From him it was declared that the Messiah should descend, and by a special covenant 23 he was assured that his throne should be established to all generations. (Psal. l.xxxix. 3, 4.) Now therefore, of this holy man's seed, according to the tenor of that frequently repeated promise, (Isa. ix. 6, 7 ; xi. 1 ; Jer. xxiii. 5, 6.) God hath raised up unto Israel Jesus, the great and illustrious Saviour, so long foretold in the sacred oracles, whom I am this day come to preach among you. This is the person God had so often promised he 24 ■ wouFd send into the world, and he appeared just in the time and with the circumstances which those divine prophecies had pointed out ; John the Baptist having been sent be- fore as his herald, and having preached, in a very convincing manner, to introduce his appearance, the baptism of repentance unto all the people of Israel ;^ even that bap^ tism which, in token of their repentance, they were commanded by God to receive ; thereby to signify, on the one hand, their desire to purify themselves from all their pollu- tions, and on the other, to testify God's readiness to forgive them, and admit them into his favour. And iihen John xcas ]n%\. fulfilling his course, he said. Whom do you imagine 25 7ne to be ? I am not [/ie,] nor do I at all pretend to be the promised PJessiah :' But behold, there cpmeth one after 7ne, the shoes of whose feet J am not worthy to unloose, nor to perforin the lowest ofiice of menial service to him. (Compare John i. 20, 27.) And let me assure you, 7nen [and'] brethren, even all you who are children of the 26 family of Abraham, and all those among you that truly fear God and serve him, of whatever family or nation you may be descended, let me (I say) solemnly assure you that these things are your great and immediate concern : For unto you, though provi- dentially cast at some distance from the time and place in which this message of John was 1 FoT the lerm of for It/ years.'] It is the opinion of Beza, Grotius, Calvin, Brennius, Woltzogenius, Limborch, [Amic. Colhit. cap. 28.) and several other considerable critics, that the forty years here spoken of do not all belong to the reign of Saul, but include at least a considerable part of Samuel's government. Dr. Benson has al.so more lately declared himself on the same side of the question, {Hist, of C'hristinniti/, Vol. 11. p. 31.) and Messieurs L'Enfant and Beausohre give us the same interpretation: But the learned Mr. Biscoe has advanced so much in favour of the supposition that the Tcign of Saul continued all these forty years, {Serm. at Hoyle's Lect. chap. xvii. p. 612—616.) which Mr. Bedford also maintains in his Chronology, that I think it incumbent upon me to give some better reason than merely the authority of the greatest names, for paraphrasing the clause as I have done, especially as most of the authors mentioned above have only given their opinion, and none of them has entered fully into the question. The chief considera- tion which determined me is this: Samuel is expressly said to have judged Israel all tke days of his life ; ( 1 Sam. vii. 15.) but we are sure that he lived the greater part (probably by far the greater part) of the forty years preceding Saul's death ; for David was but thirty years old when he began to reign over Judah, (2 Sara. v. 4.) which was uot till after Saul was slain ; and Samuel did not ouly anoint him, (at which time we cannot suppose David to have beenless than fifteen j'ears old,) but lived a considerable time after, that is, till about the time of David's going to Paran, (1 Sam. xxv. 1.) which seems to have been but a little before his sojourning in the country of the Philis- tines, where he dwelt only a year and four months before the bat- tle at Gilboa, in which Saul fell ; (1 Sam. xxvii. 7.) a circumstance that greatly favours the opinion which (as Drusius observes) so commonly prevailed among the Jews, that Saul survived Samuel but little more than two years. I am indeed far from thinking that Saul's reign is to he reckoned only from Samuel's death : the con- trary is most apparent; and Mr. Biscoe has abundantly proved that the "actions assigned to him must have taken up many years. But of the forty in question, it may well suffice to allow twenty to him from his anointing, and the former twenty (computed from the grand action at IMizpeh) to Samuel, who might in that time be past his prime, and so he inclined to associate his sons with him, till on their miscarriages the people took occasion to demand a king, who at first, we are sure from the story, lived privately, and whose authority was never so great as to swallow up that of so illustrious a prophet and judge. 1 know the authority of Joseplius is urged in defence of the scheme I oppose ; for he says, according to our present copies, " that Saul reigned eighteen years durin"|^Samuers " life," which I think very probable, " and two and twenty after his " death." (Joseph. Auliq. lili. vi. cap. 14. [al. 15.] \ 9.) But this is utterly incredible ; for David then could not be eight years old when Samuel anointed him, which, as was said before, was some considerable time before the i)roi>het died ; and it may therefore be assuredly concluded (as Dr. Hudson intimates) that the true reading is that of Epiphanius, Clemens Alesandrinus, and Eiity- chius, which leaves out xati tiwn, and twenty, so as to assign him but two years after the prophet's death, which agrees very well with our interpretation. The argument for Mr. Biscoe'ssc.ieme, taken from Ishbosheth's being forty years old at the time of his father's death, 2 Sam. ii. 10. would indeed be of great weight, if the sacred historian had any where told us that Saul was very voung when anointed hy Samuel ; but the word ■5>r3, which is used on the first mention of him, 1 Sam ix. 2. though rendered by our translators « clioice young man, has not necessarily that import. The Seventy have often rendered it ^i-vcxroj, ekKsxtos, zsaXiiJ-'^^, strong, clioice, war like, and here ivixvii'-.r];, of a stately presence ; and I think it would be easy to show, that in many places where they render it yix-ti-nos, (as indeed they frequently do,) it ouly signifies a person in the full vigour of his constitution. It seems by no means probable that God should chuse a stripling for the first king of Israel ; and I think what is said of the age of Ishbosheth, compared with the passages mentioned above, plainly shows that Saul was then in his prime, per- haps about thirtv-five, and justifies the prudence of Pagniu, Mon tanus, Munster, "and the Vulgate, who render ii electus, a choice per.ion, without determining any tiling concerning his youth, in which they also agree with the Syriac and Arabic Versions. k John hating before preached, &c.] He mentions the preaching of John the Baptist in this incidental manner as a thing already known to them, .because it gave so universal an alarm to the whole Jewish nation, that it might probably be heard of in foreign coun- tries, at least as remote as Pisldia. 1 Jrhoni do you imagine me to he.' I am not tie.] Raphelius has taken pains to ])rove, from some similar passages in the Greek classics, that both these clauses may he considered as united in an affirmation, and rendered, " I am not the person whom you suppose me to he," that is, the Messiah, Annot. ex Herod, p. 251, 252. 498 BY CHRIST ALL THAT BELIEVE SHALL BE JUSTIFIED. ll SECT, first delivered, and in which Jesus at first appeared, yet unto you is the word of this great 29. and important salvation sent. For the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and their rulers, not 27 Forlhey tliat dwell at Jcnowing this ilKiscrious person, though God bore such a convincing testimony to him, and Jerusalem, aucl their rulers, ACTS being also ignorant of what was signified by the sayings of the prophets, which are nor^ye't the votces"^'the XIII. ,.£.(76? even/ sahhath-day among them, (as they have this day been among you,) have prophets which are read 28 un wittingly /«//?//fY/ {them'\ in condemning him. And though they could find no suf- i'l^e^fu'fiUe'wAtf'in co'Z ficient cause of death \in him,"] nor indeed any thing in his whole conduct capable of any demning hi 'inn. 20 that he might be condemned and executed. And when they had inadvertently accom- /,/»;, yet desired they Pilate plished all things that were written concerning him, in such a circumstantial detail of t'lat he should he slain, particulars as is truly astonishing, taking him doxvnfrom the cross,"" on which he had fui'fined'all thaUvas wnUeil expired in the midst of ignominy and torture, they permitted his friends to bury him, and of him, tiiey took liim down 30 laid him in a tomb. And there they took the utmost care to guard him ; but God raised J'.""^ ''"^ *''.'','?■ '■*'"' '"'^ him up from the dead on the third day, according to his own repeated prediction, which "3o"Biir&od 'raised him they had heard from him before, but were unable to obstruct and hinder its accomplish- ''■'""» tl>e dead : 31 ment. And after ho was risen from the dea^l, he appeared for several days to those that 3i And he was seen many came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem &\\\.(\ehdoxQ his death; 7i)/20 most of them "^''y* !^'' them which came continue to this day, and are his witnesses to the people of the Jews, among whom they td' Jerusalem, wh'o are 'his still reside, and where any of you who go up to Jerusalem may hear it from their own witnesses unto the people. mouth. 32 And we, who are sent out by him on the same errand, and furnished with all proper ^^'^ ^"'^ ^'?. '^^'^\^^^ V!''? credentials for that purpose, do now bring you these good tidings, that the very promise the promise Vhich was •which was ynade to the fathers, and which was the hope and joy of their posterity through '"^^fie unto the fathers, so many succeeding ages, God hath now accomplished to us their children, in raising up g^^p ^°^[^ us their clii'idrerf 33 Jesus from the dead. And it is manifest that by his resurrection he has declared him, in in that he hath raised up je- the most convincing manner, to be indeed his Son ; so that it was, as I may speak, the ten^^j^l^tiie^^^econd'^Psaf''" birth-day of his reign, as it is also written in the seventh verse of the second Psalm," Thou art my Son, this day 34 " Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thce."° And agreeable to this, because he ''^;^'= I hesotten thee. hath raised him from the dead, no more to return to the grave, the seat of corruption,'^ ti,at he 'raiseef him'\u7fi'o'm he hath said thus by the prophet, (Isa. Iv. 3.) " I will give you the sure mercies of the dead, now no more to " David ;'^ that is, mercies which, by the resurrection of him whom I have now set upon Hl'"^^ ti?is wise^Fw?!!'?^! " the throne of David, are made sure to you, and shall prove eternal as his life and reign." you the sure mercies of 35 Wherefore also in «??(;Mcr, and that a very remarkable \_plnce,'] he saith, (Psal. xvi. 10.) ■'^^^I'^'wf^ 36 " Thou wilt not permit thine Holy One to see con-ttption." Now it is evident this must also^inanotiierps«/m. Thou refer, not to the inspired writer himself, but to some other person ; for David, by whom stiait not sutler thine Holy this psalm was written, having faithfully served his own generation of men sccording to *^ 3q'''fo7 mvid'''a'fter he the will of God, fell asleep, that is, died, and was gathered to his fathers, a ??r/ being laid had served his own genera- among the dead of former ages, saw corruption, just in the same manner as other human ti"" hy tiie will of God, fell 37 bodies do when the soul is separated from them. But he of whom these words were lus fath'ers^,' an (Tsaw'corr up- spoken, and whom, as I have just been telling you, God raised up from the dead, did 7iot t'o" '■ continue in the grave so long as to see corruption, being laid there on the evening before rai^sld ^gainl'saw^no cornip- 38 the sabbath, and raised early the morning after it. Be it known therefore unto you, men tion. \and'\ brethren, that by him, even this glorious and exalted person, the remission of sins „ '^'^ ^^ " known unto you ■ 1 1 J. iii-n 1 1 1 PI, /y 1,1 there fore, men nnd brethren, IS preached unto you, even the full and assured pardon of all your offences, be they ever that through this man is 39 so great and ever so aggravated. And by him every one who believeth in him is, imme- preached unto you the for- diately in consequence of that faith, freely and MXy justified and acquitted before God, ^'^g^And '^i5y"'him all that not only from the guilt of smaller miscarriages, but even from the guilt of all those things believe are justified from ■which are in the highest degree criminal, m\d.from which ye could not on any considera- ^]^' I^^mA. bT'"usTiS b* tion whatever be justified by the law of Moses,'' but which expressly were pronounced the law'of Moses.^ ' m Taking him down from the cross.'] The apostle was far from q TIic sure mercies of David.'] The blessings of the Messiah s being ashamed to mention the most ignominious parts of his Mas- reign may be called the sure mercies of David, either as they were ter's sufferings to those who were strangers to the gospel, kno'.ving promised to that prince, to which sense the translation of 1727 how sufficiently he answered all that could be oljjected from determines it, by rendering it, "/ WiV/ /i7;M/«//y /)C)/orm the pro- thence, by what he added and testified concerning his resurrection. " mise mndc to J)niid,'" or as the name of David is sometimes given n In llie second Psnlni.] A few copies read it (as Jerome and to the Messiah himself, as the great heir of David, of whose vic- Augustine also did) the firff ; but they are overborne by such tories and glories David's were but a faint shadow. Compare Jer. superior authority, that I am surprised they should have been xxx. 9; Ezek. xxxiv. 23, 24; xxxviii. 24, 2.5; IIos. iii. 5. And followed by any who did not affect to vary from the received when Isaiah calls them sure mercies, he may probably refer to the readings as much as possible, — It seems evident from hence, that last words of David, in which he uses the' same expression with the Psalms were then placed in the same order as now; and it is regard to them, 2 Sam. xxiii. 5 • and the propriety of the applica- observable that this is the only quotation of the Old Testament tion here is evident, as it was the resurrection of Christ which so circumstantially made in the New. Beza conjectures that rendered the blessings he promised sure to his people, who without neither first nor second was mentioned in the original copy. that could have had no hope from him, as the apostle argues at o This day have T begoUen thee.] Bishop Pearson {On the large, 1 Cor. xv. 14. f/ i^-^. See Mr. JefTory's ^rw^ ^)o!/nrfs, p. 139. Cr^frf, p. 252.) well ob.serves, that it is with peculiar propriety and r Bi/ the law of- Moses."] That law appointed sin-offerings to beauty that God is said to liavo begotten Christ on the day of his expiate smaller offences, so far as that the offender who offered resurrection, as he sewmed then to be born out of the earth anew, them should he free from all farther prosecution on account of Compare Rom. i. 4 ; Heb. i. fi ; and Rev. i. 5. — M. L' Enfant says them : But this very view of them shows how absolutely necessary that the anointing-day of kings is sometimes called their birth-day, to the being of society it was that they should not he admitted in for which Heinsius has produced some authorities, Eosercit. Sacr. cases of murder, adultery, &c. These crimes therefore were made in Matt. xiv. 6. Compare note i, on Mark vi. 21. p. 1.57. capital ; nor was the dying criminal, however penitent, allowed p The grave, the seat of cnrriiplinn.] Beza here observes, with to offer them, which would have been quite inconsistent with the his usual accuracy, that as Christ never saw corruption at all, the temporal pardon connected with them.- But the expiatory sacrifice Greek Snxiplo^x [corruption] must signify t/ie f/rave, as roc hi He- of Christ takes away the guilt of all sin ; and though it by no brew also does : compare Psal. xciv. 13 ; cvii. 20 ; and Lam. i v. 20 ; means affects the manner in which offenders would stand in human just as the coffin of a man rai!.sd from the dead, as soon as he was courts, (which the Mosaic sacrifices did,) it delivers from the put mto It, might be ciUed his sarcophagus, though his flesh had condemnation of God in the invisible world, with respect to which not been consumed iu it. the others could have no efficacy at all, as it was a very supposuble REFLECTIONS ON PAUL'S FOREGOING DISCOURSE. 499 by that to be capital offences, for which the criminal was immediately doomed on con- sect. viction to die without mercy, so tliat no room was left for any sacrifice of atonement. 29. 40 Beware therefoie, lest This is the substance of the message with which I am charged : Sec to it therefore, I that come upon you which boseech you, as ye value your own souls, that ivhat is spoken in the prophets, as the fatal acts isspo eno in le prop le s, consequence of rejecting it, 7nai/ nut come upon you: For they speak in very awful ^'i'- 41 Behold, ye despisers, language to such; Isaiah, for instance, when he says, (chap, xxviii. 14.) " Behold, j/e 41 and wonder, and perish : •« dcspisers, ye scomful men that look with haughty contempt on that corner-stone which days,awork wiTichyouslmll " I lay in Zion, the judgment I will execute upon you is so terrible, that it shall be a vex- in no wise believe, thougli '< ation Only to Understand the report :" And in like manner too the prophet Habakkuk, a man declare it unto you. ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^-^^^^ j_ 5) „ Behold ye, and regard and wonder marvellously, turn pale " with terror, and disappear^ as those that shall perish at once, and vanish (as it were) out " of sight, consumed in a moment by the fierceness of my vengeance: For I perform a " most amazing work in your days, even a work which ye shall not believe if any one " fell it you.'' And the destruction God will bring upon you, if you reject the gospel, would appear far more incredible to you, should it be described in all its terrors, than the desolation that was formerly threatened ; which nevertheless, as your unbelieving fathers found to their cost, was circumstantially executed upon them. 42 And when the Jews This was the substance of Paul's plain and serious address to the Jews' in their synagogue 42 T.^ue^"'the"Vent?leV^bc' ^^ Antioch in Pisidia, to which they replied nothing at present; But while the Jews were sousftit that these words going out of the Synagogue,'^ the Gentiles, who out of curiosity were many of them might be preached to them assembled there on the fame of the arrival of such celebrated men, earnestly desired that the next sabbath. these words 7night be spoken to them again the following sabbath^ when they promised to attend themselves, and to bring as many of their friends as they could : And thus the assembly broke up for that time. IMPROVEMENT. That the scriptures have been publicly read in Jewish and christian assemblies, from the primitive times, is a Ver. 15 noble evidence of their genuine authority, which it will be our undoubted wisdom to transmit to those who are to arise after us : From them succeeding generations will be fully informed of that edifying story which the apostle 17 19 here briefly recounts — of the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and their settlement in the land of Canaan, according 20, 21 to the promise of God to their fathers ; and will also learn the ungrateful returns which they made to the divine goodness, when they rejected the Lord from being King over them. (1 Sam. viii. 7.) The character of David, as a man after God's own heart, who would fulfil all his pleasure, is surely worthy of 22 being emulated by every christian : In this respect, may he who is feeble among the Lord's people be like David ! (Zech. xii. 8.) Like him may we all be solicitous to serve our generation according to the will of God ; to do all 3G the good we can in the age and station in which Providence has fixed us, though it be in a crooked and perverse generation ; gradually striving to mend it as fast as we can, and waiting our summons to fall asleep, as we quickly must, and be gathered to our fathers. Were we the greatest princes upon earth, we, like David, must see cor- Ription in the grave : But let us rejoice to think that Jesus, whom God raised up according to his promise, saw no 33 37 corruption ; and if we are his people, he will ransom and redeem us from it. (Hos. xiii. 14.) He, though so outrageously and infamously treated by the Jews, was nevertheless in the most convincing manner 28, 29 declared to be the Son of God, his only-begotten Son : Such a resurrection proclaimed him to be so ; (Rom. i. 4.) 34 and, in consequence of it, the sure mercies of David are now given us by him, and the plenary remission of all the 38 most aggravated transgressions is through him proclaimed. For ever adored be his glorious name ! most thankfully 'accepted be his overflowing grace ! which frees us from the guilt of those ofiences which the law of Moses con- 39 demned without mercy, and takes out the dye of scarlet and crimson sins I Let us take heed lest, if we despise so great a salvation, we meet with an astonishing vengeance, the justice of 40 which will be attested and applauded by the messengers of God to the Jewish and the christian church : All the prophets, and John the Baptist, superior to them all who bore witness to Christ, and all the apostles and succeeding 24 — 27 ministers in every age, have concurred to admonish us of our danger, and they will another day rise up together in 41 judgment against us, if all these admonitions are given in vain. case that an impenitent sinner might present them in all their ness, they were desirou.* of having that doctrine farther explained exactest forms. Compare Rom. viii. 3; Gal. ii. 16 ; and Heb. x. 4. to them, and, upon a promise that it should be done, took care to SeeMr. Hallet, Vol. II. /Ji'ic. iii. p. 269. f/i^"?. eng-ige a vast auditory against the next sabbath, ns we shall s Turn pale with terror, nnrf rfij7r;)pi?«r.] There is an ambiguity presently see. in the word a:fiyi-;3»r£, which may be rendered either of these ways; u JVIiilc the Jews were going out of the st/nngogtie.] To render and as both these senses are consistent, and would probably concur, E|iovrM Jt ex ms umxyi^/r,! twv IvjSiim, when Paul and Barnahns were both are inserted in the paraphrase, though, as 1 think the latter gone out of the Jewish synngogve, is both supposing tlie inspired more expressive, I have marked that as preferable. The attentive historian to have made an uuuecessary distinction witli relation reader who understands the original, will see that I have often to a synagogue which appeared before to belong to the Jews, and taken this method. making him to have expressed himself in an ungrammatical mau- t Address to the Jews.] IIow impertinently Mr. Collins urges ner ; nor, on the other hand, can we well suppose that Paul and this as an instance of the apostles' arguing with the Gentiles from the Gentiles staid in the synagogue when all the Jews had quitted allegorical interpretations of prophecies, must be evident to every it. I therefore render it, wtiHe they were going out. attentive reader on various accounts ; for these scriptures are not x The following sabbath^ Some interpret tit n uitx^v djigg^riv of a allegorically applied, nor are they addressed chiefly to the Gentiles, day between the two sabbaths, as there is a tradition among the Jews, „. ...., „..,^„„..,„ they lieard of an extraordinary person .„ __. _ .^ . by whom all that believed in hira might obtain pardon and happU that it is not an unexampled manner of speaking. 2 K 2 500 THE APOSTLES PREACH AGAIN AT ANTIOCH IN PI9IDIA. SECTION XXX. The Gcntiks at Antioch in Pisidia accept the gospel, •which the Jews reject, and raise a persecution ao-ainst the apostles, who therefore go to Iconiu/n. Acts xiii. 43, to the end. Acts xiii. 43. ^^^^ ^... ^^ SECT. A LARGE account was given in the preceding section of the discourse which Paul had Nowwiien the covrc-a- ^"- adclressea to me jews, m tneir synagogue at Antiocli in Fisidia ; and the ettect of it was, ti"" "as ornken up, many that when the synagogue was broke up, many of the Jews, and of the devout proselytes, proL'lyter*^ wrolvJd'' Paul ACTS ^j^Q^ though not of the stock of Israel, had embraced the Jewish religion, followed Paul ?'iil Barnabas; who speak- ■ and Barnabas, professing their belief of the doctrine they taught ; who gave them farther ufeJ-\^ 'conti'niTe^irthe "^3 exhortations to confirm them in the faith, and speaking to them with great earnestness, grace of God" '""^ persuaded them to continue in the grace ofGod^ which they had received, and to retain that gospel which they had now embraced. 44 And on the following sabbath, almost the whole city was gathered together to hear 44 And the next sabbath- the word of God, in consequence of the report which the Gentiles had spread abroad of "^fy c-ime ■'[iniost the whole what had been delivered before, which awakened in many others an earnest desire of wwd of^God!"^ *° ''^^"^ ''"^ attending to that repetition of their extraordinary iiiessage which the apostles had engaged themselves to make. 45 But the Jews, who continued strongly prejudiced against the message which had been 45 But when the Jews delivered to them, seeing the Gentiles assembled in such great multitudes, were filed with tiere '^fiUe (Tw'ti*""^^^' *'"^S zeal for the honour of their law and nation, which they foolishly imagined to be hurt by spake against those thinss this new sect, and with indignation and envy at the regard which the inhabitants of Antioch ^»''"'='i "^e spoken by Paul, showed to it beyond what they had ever done to the Jewish religion; and therefore they phemlfig.''"^ """^ '''''"' opposed the things which were spoken by Paul and Barnabas ; not only contradicting them, and cavilling at their allegations, but also blaspheming and reviling these divine teachers as impostors and seducers.'' 46 Then Paul and Barnabas, perceiving that no good impression could be made upon 46 Tlien Paul and Bar- them, were not concerned about saving appearances, but with great freedom of speech, n^i'^^i|s^''axed^bold, and said, and with a fervent zeal tempered by wisdom, and animated by unfeigned charity, said. It wnrd''of"*GoTsliouid first was necessary, according to the general instructions of our Divine Master, that the word j'"''*"^ ^^!^" spoken to you: of God, which we are come to deliver, should first be spoken to you Jews ; for, undeserv- yoi, ^'and" j/d?e'' vourseive" ing as you are of such a favpur, he has directed us that wherever we come we should open unworthy of eVerlasting our ministry with an address to you, inviting you to faith and repentance, that you may, [-fes'"' ^^ *^"''"*°""= ^^'*- in the first place, partake of the benefits of his kingdom : (Compare Luke xxiv. 47.) But since you thus disdainfully thrust it away from you, and by that very action do in effect adjudge and condemn yourselves as unworthy of that eternal life and glory which, through the riches of his grace, he has so freely offered to you,'^ behold, we turn ourselves to the Gentiles,^ and declare to them that they are also invited into the church of the Messiah, and shall, upon their believing in him, be admitted to all the privileges of his people as readily as if they had been descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, or had been trained up in the worship of the true God, and were by circumcision entered most 47 expressly into covenant with him. For so the Lord hath charged us to do,^ (Matt. 47 For so hath the Lord xxviii. 19 ; Acts i. 8.) in consequence of that prediction which was uttered by Isaiah in haveTet'th'le to be^aT' ht the name of God, (Isa. xlix. 6.) where he addresses himself to the Messiah, [saying^ " I of the Gentiles, that t'lfou " have set thee for a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldst be for salvation to the s'io"lflst . be for salvation « remotest ends of the earth r Thither therefore will we carry his saving name ; and we "°'° of the earth, doubt not but they will thankfully accept that gospel which you so ungratefully despise and reject. 48 And the Gentiles hearing [these things,"] that the way now was open for their admis- . 48 And when the Gcn- sion into covenant with God, and they were welcome to the benefits of the Messiah's king- giacUrrttlor'ified 'the word doni, rejoiced greatly at the happy tidings, and glorified the word of the Lord, which of the Lord: and as many had invited them to share in all the blessings of his grace, and brought the knowledge of a? "ere ordained to eternal salvation to them : And as many of those who were present as were, through the operation ' of divine grace upon their hearts, in good earnest determined for eternal life, and brought to a resolution of courageously facing all opposition in the way to it, believed,' and openly a To continue in the (jrace of God.} The gospel is often called plainly shows tliat persons are said to be self-condemned who fur- the grace of God, and tlie word of his grace, with the utmost pro- nish out matter of condemnation from their own words, though priety, as containing the richest dTsplay of his grace in the free they do not actually pass sentence on themselves; for nothing was pardon of our sins by Christ, and tlie provision he has made for farther from the thoughts of these Jews, than declaring themselves our sanctification anil eternal happiness. Compare Acts xiv. 3; unworthy of eternal life for not believing tlie gospel; they rather XX. 24 ; Rom. vi. 14 ; Gal. v. 4 ; Col. i. f, ; Tit. ii. 11 ; 1 Pet. v. 12. expected' that life by rejecting it. b Blasplieming and reviling, &c.] The word (Sxii^nAiwvre', in d lichotd, we turn (o the Gentiles.'] The meaning is, not that this connexion with avrA£7ovr£?, must signify their giving them they intended no more to make an oifer to the Jews, for we find abusive language. Probably they charged them to their faces they continued to address them first wherever they came ; but they with falsehood and villany, and represented the cause they were openly declared, that while they continued at Antioch, they should carrying on as most contemptible and wicked. It may seem strange lose no more time in fruitless attempts on their ungrateful coun- this did not prevent the conversion of the Gentiles: But they trymen, but would employ themselves in doing what they could would easily see it was the regard that Paul and Barnabas ex- for the conversio-n of the Gentiles there. pressed for them which had exasperated the Jews: and it is not e For so the Lord hath charged ns.1 They might have argued improbable that some miracles might have been wrought during this from the texts quoted in liie paraphrase; but Paul had afso the preceding week which would set the character of these divine received a more express command to this purpose. Compare Acts teachers above the danger of being overthrown by the malicious xxii. 21 ; xxvi. 17, 18. insinuations or confident assertions of these furious opposcrs. f As many as were determined for eternal life helioj ed."] I cannot c Adjudge yourselves unworthy nf eternal life.'] This text most think, with Sir Norton Knatchbiill, that we should take rmxy/juvoi PAUL AND BARNABAS BEING DRIVEN FROM ANTIOCH COME TO ICONIUM. 501 49 And the word of the Lord was pubhshcd throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honour- able women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. 51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against tliem, and came uuto Ico- nium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. embraced the gospel ; which others who were remiss and unaffected about their future and SECT. everlasting concerns, stupidly neglected, though they could find nothing solid to allege 30. against the evidence by which it was supported. A?id as these new converts joined their most zealous and atiectionate labours with those of Paul and Barnabas to propagate it, t/ic acts word of the Lord ■wa.% borne on, as with a mighty torrent, throughout all that region, ^'''• which by this means was watered as with a river of salvation. But the Jews, provoked beyond all patience at such a conduct and at such success, 50 stirred up [_some'] devout women of considerable rank, who having been proselyted to their religion, were peculiarly zealous for it,* and also applied themselves to the magistrates of the city, representing these new preachers as exciters of sedition and innovators in reli- gion, who might occasion danger to the state ; a«r/ thus they raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their territories with violence and infamy. But they, whai they were going from the boundaries of that place, shook off the dust 5\ of their feet for a testimony against thetn ; as their Lord had commanded his apostles to do, in token of the certain ruin which should befal such despisers of his gospel : (Mark vi. IL) And departing from thence, they ca7ne to the neighbouring city of Iconium,^' and there renewed the proclamation of those glad tidings which many of the inhabitants of Antioch had so ungratefully rejected. But the disciples who were left there were filled with great 707/ that so blessed a message 52 had reached their hearts ; and as Paul and Barnabas had laid their hands upon them, they were furnished with an abundant communication of the gifts as well as graces of the IIoli/ Spirit,' whereby they were not only confirmed in the faith which they had newly em- braced, but were also rendered capable of carrying on the interests of Christianity in that place, when the first planters of their church could no longer continue to cultivate and water it. IMPROVEMENT. It is a great comfort to the ministers of the gospel, that amidst that incredulity which too generally prevails, any Ver. 43 are found who will credit the gospel ; any to whom the arm of the Lord is revealed, in conquering their prejudices against it.: With a chosen remnant of these God will support his faithful servants. Oh that the instances of that consolation may be more numerous and more remarkable in our days ! It is matter of some encouragement when numbers crowd to attend upon the preaching of the gospel ; for faith 44 Cometh by hearing. (Rom. x. 17.) They who reject the counsel of God against themselves, will no doubt be provoked at such a circumstance, and the malignity and envy of their hearts will slir up opposition and contention : 45 But God knows how to bring good out of evil ; nor should his ministers be discouraged by the contradiction of sinners, but rather turn themselves to those who rnay be more willing to hear. In the mean time, let those that 4G thrust from them the word of God know that, in the language of scripture, they judge themselves unworthy of eter- nal life ; and since they will not condescend to accept of it on these terms, the great Author thereof will not conde- scend to give it on any other. And the day is coming when we shall see, and the whole world shall see, how much reason they have to glory in that height of spirit which they now show. Let it be the daily joy of our souls, that tiie hard Jesus Christ was given for a light of the Gentiles, and for 47 God's salvation to "the ends of the earth. Through the tender mercies of our God, the day-spring from on high hath visited us. (Luke i. 78.) Let us pray that it may arise and shine upon the remotest nations. And indeed, here to signify tlie same with (Juv)iy/i6V!)i, and placing the comma call them, and list them (as it were) in their proper places in his after it, render the clause. As many as were met together, (that is, all army, under the great Captain of their salvation. the Gentiles,) believed to [or /«] eternal life, which I think neither g Devout women of considerable rank.'] I am nuicli at a loss to the import nor order of the words will permit Much less can I know why so many learned writers interpret this of proselytes of allow of IMr. Jos. Mede's interpretation, that nrixyiiim eis ^torjv otiwviev the gate. It is ijuite unnatural to suppose, either that such should is a periphrasis to express proselytes of tlie gate, (supposing the dis- be called devout rather than those that had fully embraced the tinction of such proselytes ever so well founded,) since we never meet Mosaic religion, or that they should be more zealous than the others with the phrase elsewliere as a description of them, which indeed in resenting an imaginary injury done to the whole body of the might much better suit other proselytes, and since there is no reason Jews. But taking them for women of figure newly proselyted to to believe that they all, and only they, were now converted, or even Judaism, and full of an opinion of the sanctity and privileges of that the chief number of converts was among them, when almost the the people to whom they now belonged, nothing can be more na- whole city was gathered together. The word mww has various tural than to suppose that they would instigate their husbands and significations: It is rendered orrfrt/nfrf only here and Rom. xiii. 1; other relations to the warmest resentment against Paul aud Bar- (where the margin, I think more properly, renders it ordered;) nabas, whom they would look upon as levellers and apostates, elsewhere it is rendered (/i?/(?r/n/npn!, Acts xv. 3; addicted, 1 Cor. h Came to fconium.'] Raphelius (&■ JTfno/'/'. p. llil— 104.) has xvi. 15 ; and most frequently appointed. Matt, xxviii. IG; .\cts taken great pains to settle the geography of this place, and lias xxii. 10 ; xxviii. 23. In the Greek classics, I think it generally, in its passive form, signifies " Men, who having been ajipointed for " some military expedition, (and set in their proper offices, as we " render it, Luke vii. 8.) are drawn up in battle-array for that pur- " pose." (See Dr. Hammond's learned note here, with Le Clerc's addition to it, and Raphelius, Ex Herod, p. 35.3 — 3fi2.) So that it expresses or refers at once to the action of their commander in mar- ^,..v. „» o — ^,.«.„ , . .- - , ■ . j shalling them according to the plan he has formed in his own Benson (Vol. II. p. 37.) infer that the Holy Snirit descended on mind, and to their own presenting themselves in their proper these converts without the imposition of hands, and perhaps in places, to be led on to the intended expedition. This I take to be flaming tongues. But this appears to me a mere conjecture, and precisely its sense here, and have therefore chosen the word deter- indeed a very improbable one. The phrase of being filled with the mined, as having an ambiguity something like that in the original. Spirit can, to be sure, never prove it. (Compare Acts vi. 3, 5 ; vii. Perhaps if one" word alone were to be used for Tx'iau in all the 55; xi. 24 ; xiii. 9; Luke i. 15; and e.specially Eph. v. 18.) And places where it is used, it should be nii^nv/. The meaning of the had the analogy which (I think quite without reason) they sup- sacred penman seems to be, that all who were deeply and seriously pose exped4ent between the imagined different ca.ses of the first, concerned about their eternal happiness, (whether that concern be- fruits of the proselytes of the gate and of the idolatrous Gentiles, gan now, or were of longer date,) openly embraced the gospel ; for been really observed, then, according to the principles of these surely none could be said to believe who did not make an open learned writers themselves, such an immediate eflusion of tho profession of Christianity, especially in such circumstances; and Spirit must have fallen on Sergius Paulus, as it did on Cornelius wherever this temper was, it was undoubtedly the effect of a divine and his friends, rather than on these Antiochians, whom they (for operation on their hearts, and of God's gracious purpose thus to reasons I am yqt to_ learn) call the harvest of idolatrous Gcutile.?, fully proved that it lay, not (as it is^often placed) in the middle of Lycaonia, which occa.sions some perplexity in following passages, hut on its western borders, and just on the confines of Pisidia, Ga- latia, and Phrygia, to the latter of which it seems once to have belonged. i IVere filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.'] Hence both Lord Barriiigton {Misccll. Sacra, Vol. I. p. 10.5. et Sfq.) and Dt 502 THE UNBELIEVING JEWS STIR UP THE MULTITUDE AGAINST PAUL AND BARNABAS. SECT, if we are entirely unconcerned about its propagation in the world, we have great reason to fear that we have our- 30. selves no part in the saving benefits which it confers. May the silver trumpet every where sound, to awaken the nations to list themselves in this holy war under Christ, against all the enemies of salvation ; and may many ACTS appear determined for eternal life, and, like these converts of Antioch, courageously set themselves in battle-array XIlI. ao-ainst every thing which would oppose their progress towards it ! 50 ° Vain then will all the rage of persecution be, by whomsoever it is excited or maintained ; though by persons of 51 the highest rank or the most honoured charactei's. If the messengers of Christ be cast out of one place, they will appear with renewed zeal in another: And they who are proselyted to Christianity, though in a great fight -of affliction, will have the Spirit of God and of glory resting upon them ; and will be enabled to rejoice, not only m the midst of their afflictions, but on account of them. In the mean while, the dust shaken off from the shoes of tlie rejected ambassadors of the Prince of Peace will be recorded as a witness against those that have despised their message, and will expose them to a final condemnation in the day of judgment, more intolerable than that which was once executed on the cities of Sodom and GomOrrah, or which their wretched inhabitants are then to expect. (Mark vi. II.) - W I' SECTION X^Xl. Paul end Barnabas, after some stai/ at Iconmm, go to Li/stra : The inhabitants of that city, struck b>/ a miracle wrought on a lame man^ could hardly be restrained from giving them divine ho?wurs. Acts xiv. 1—18. Acts xiv. L SECT. It was observed m the preceding section, that Paul and Barnabas, being driven away from ^1- Antioch in Pisidia by the persecution which the Jews raised against them, retired to Ico- ' uium, a city of Lycaonia in the Lesser Asia, to the north of Antioch. And it came to ACTS pdgg^ in a very little time after their arrival at Iconinm, that they went both together ^^^' 1 into the synagogue of the Jews there, and spake on the great subject of the gospel-sal- vation in such a manner that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks 2 believed.^ But the unbelieving Jews, who were greatly provoked at the growing success of the gospel, and studied all they could to put a stop to its progress, stirred up the minds of the heathen inhabitants of the place, and filed the?n with malignity against the christian brethren, and especially against those celebrated teachers of a religion with re- 3 spect to which they had entertained such unfavourable prejudices. Nevertheless God was pleased to interpose in such a manner as to prevent their rage from running presently to an extreme, and to animate his faithful servants amidst all the opposition and hardships they met with : for a considerable time, therefore, they continued their abode there,'' speak- ing freely in [the cause of] the Lord Jesus Christ,*^ who bare witness to the word of his grace which they delivered, and gave a variety of miraculous signs and wonders to be done by their hands, which were of service to confirm the faith of the new converts, and to prevail with many others to receive the gospel, and might have convinced all the in- 4 habitants, if they had exercised a becoming candour. But the multitude of the city was divided into two opposite parties ; and some were of the same mind with the unbelieving Jews, whom they joined in desiring that these new preachers might be expelled as dis- turbers of the established religion, and others most cordially fell in with the apostles, whom they received as messengers from God, to guide men to true piety and eternal hap- 5 piness. But, on the whole, the magistrates favoured the contrary side ; and as a violent attempt was going to be jnade by those who had conspired against them, both of the Gentiles and of the Jews, with their respective rulers, to injure and even to stone them C as Ijlasphemers ; When the project was just ripe for execution, Paul and Barnabas having ' received intelligence of it,'^ prevented the attempt by withdrawing from thence, and get- ting away from Iconium they fled to Lystra and Derbe, which were both cities of Ly- caonia, and to the adjacent country near the borders of Cappadocia and Galatia, which 7 were contiguous provinces. And there they preached the gospel in a very successful manner, so that the church was still propagated by the very methods taken to de- stroy it. Acts xiv. i. And it carae to pass in Iconium, that tliey went bolli togetlier into the syua- gog^ue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multi- tude both of the Jews, and also of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gen- tiles, and made their minds evil-affected agaiust tho brethren. 3 Long time therefore abode they, speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided : and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews, with their rulers, to use them dcspitefully, and to stone them, C They were ware of ;'/, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round abo\it : 7 And there they preach- ed the gospel. who were not called till the gospel had been preached through all Cyprus and Paraphylia, both to Jews and Gentiles. a Multitude- — —of the Greeks fielieveil.'] Dr. ^V'hithy and several other learned writers seem to limit tliis text more than tlrere is any reason to do, by supposing the Greeks here mentioned to have been, chiefly at leost, proselytes of the gate. The argument from their being found iu the Jewish synagogues is very inconclusive ; for, as was observed before, the fame of such extraordinary teachers as I'aul and Barnabas, might naturally draw together great numbers of people who did not usually worship in the synagogues. b Fhr a. considerable time, therefore, t^c] Some think the second verse should be included in a parenthesis, and that the particle [t/iere/ore'] refers to the success that Paul and Barnabas had met with at Iconium, (which had been mentioned, ver. 1.) as what in- duced them to continue preaching there for a long time ; while others who would make no break in the connexion, chuse rather that AcEv «v should be rendered /oi' indeed ; and, supposing the rage uf the Jews to have been exasperated by their long stay and prcach- '"S "'^•■61 would render the beginning of this verse. For indeed the// hnd lurried a lony time, t^c. (See Dr. Wliitby, in loc.) But the con- nexion may be well enough preserved though we retain the usual sense of the paitiole hv, if we consider what is here expressed as an account of tlie great firmness and undaunted zeal with which these faithful ministers pursued their work ; that since the Jews were so intent upon opposing them, and laboured to incense the Gentiles too against them, they therefore thought it needful to continue preaching with the greater boldness, and to make the longer stay there, for the establishment and confirmation of the new converts, and for the vindication of their own character, and of the cause they were engaged in, from the injurious calumnies and false aspersions of their enemies, till they proceeded to such violent methods, that they no longer could remain with any safety there. c Spealiinrj freely in {tile cause of'\ the Lord.'] Some would reu- der tlie words, rxpfyitixfyntm nti tw Kujioj, being inspired with great resolution by the Lord ; but though this was undoubtedly the case, Ijim not sure the words themselves express it. Beza renders it, in a dependence on the Lord ; and indeed the original will very naturally bear that sense. d Having received intelligence of it.] They were, as it sJiouM ' ' ly ra i ■■ seem, informed of it when the mob was actually raised, and coming towards the place where they were. Some have imagined it might be by inspiration ; but I see no necessity for having recourse to that. THE PEOPLE TAKE PAUL AND BARNABAS TO BE GODS. 503 8 Ami Lhcic sat a certain 1 mai) at Lystia, impotent in 'liis feet, being' a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked. 9 The same lieard Paul speak; who stedl'astly be- holding him, and perceiv- tliat he liad faith to be {icaled, 10 Said with a loud voice. Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped aud walked. 11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lift up their voices, saying in the speech of I.ycdonia, The gods are come down to us in the likenei'o of men 12 And they called Bar- nabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercuriiis, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Jupiter which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacri- fice with the people. 14 JFIiich when the apos- tles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among tlie people, crying out, 15 And saying. Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like pas- sions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein : ACTS XIV. But there happened one circumstance while they were in these parts wliich was nuich sect, i taken notice of j and as it gave occasion to a remarkable occurrence, it will not be impro- 31. per to relate it more particularly. There sat a certain man at hystra\wTw xoaP^ disabled in his feet, and thereby rendered incapable of providing a maintenance for himself, being so lame from his mothers womb that he never had walked at all. Now it so happened, that in some place of -public resort near which he was laid to beg for alms of those that ^ passed by, this man heard Paul speaking, who Jixing his ei/es upon him, and seeing, by the ardour and humility which was expressed in his counitenance, that he had faith sufficient to be healed, and iincl'^S also in himself that the power of Christ was to be dis- played on this occasion, directed his speech to the poor cripple, And said with a loud 10 voice, in the hearing of all that were assembled there, as one that was conscious of the divine authority by which he then acted. Arise, and stand upright on thu feet : And the lame man immediately attempted it, in a believing dependence on the po'wer of Christ, which wrought so etfectualiy in Iiim, that he leaped zip at once from the place where he sat with an i^tonishing agility, and not only stood upright, but walked about as firmly and steadily as if he had been accustomed to walk from his infancy. And the fnultiticde who were present when this wonderful cure was wrought, sceino- H what Paul had done by only speaking a word, were all in raptures of astonishment, and (ifted up their voices in loud acclamations, sai/ing, in the Li/caonian language," The gods arc descended irom heaven to us in the form and likeness of men J And perceiving 12 Barnabas to be a person of the better presence and of the more'majestic port, thei/ called him Jupiter : and Paul, wfio was a little active nian, 'they called Mcrcuri/,^ because he was the leader of the discourse, on which accouiit they thought he might more probably ' be their god of eloquence. '. , , . ' . ■ ' . ■ . , , . And the priest of that Jupiicr who was esteemed the tutelar deity of that place, and 13 [whose image'] was therefore placed in a temple erected to him before their city, in the suburbs," not far from the place where the miracle was wrought, imniediately brought oxen crowned with garlands,' according to their usual manner, to the gates of the place where Paul and Barnabas were; and would, with ike multitude, have offered sacrifce [to them,'] to acknowledge the obligation they were under to them for this condescending and beneficent visit, and to take this opportunity of imploring their continued protection in their public and private affairs. But as they were leading on the sacrificial procession towards them, the apostles Bar- 14 ?iabas and Paul hearing of the purpose for which it was intended, were struck with a becoming horror at the proposal, and rent their mantles, in token of that mixture of in- dignation and sorrow with which they beheld this strange abuse of a miracle' wrought to destroy that idolatry which from thence they took occasion to practise ; and in this moving and expressive manner they ran in a?nong the multitude, crying out with the greatest earnestness. And saying, O ^mm, unhappy and misguided meiias ye are, why do ye these 15 things with regard to us ? We are not what you imagine us "to be ; and far frorn having any title to divine honours, we assure you that we also arc mere mortal 7ncn as others are, obnoxious to the s a ?ne common infirmities oi hxxmaxiW^Q with yourselves,^ and are come hither with a design of preaching the gospel to you, that you may be directed to the proper object of religious adoration, and may effectually be taught to turn from these vanities which you now worship,' to Jehovah, the one only living and true God, xcho made the heaven and the earth, and the sea, and all things which are contained in e In the Lycaonian language."] This, as some say, was not a dialect of the Greek, but rather approached the Syriae, as that of Cappadocia is said to have done. f Tlie gods arc descended to us in the likeness of men."] It appears from numberless passages in the heathen writers, that they sup- pose this often to have happened. See Homer, Odyss. P. ver. 485. et scq. ; Hesiod, Op. et Dier. ver. 249, 254. et seq. ; CatuU. De Niipt. Pel. ver. 384. et seq. and the notes of Grotius and Eisner on this place, which last great critic has shown that this notion par- ticularly prevailed with respect to Jupiter and Mercury. Observ. Vol. I. p. 420—422. g Barnabas tlicy called Jupiter, and Paul Mercury.] Chry- sostom observes (and after hun Mr. Fleming, Cliristol. Vol. 11. p. 22G.) that the heathens represented Jupiter as an old but vigorous man, of a noble and majestic aspect, and large robust ^raake, which therefore he supposes might be the form of Barnabas; ' \vhereas Mercury appeared young, JHtlg, and nimble, as Paul might ■"probably do, for he was yet but a young man. Yet the reason given by Luke is different, and more naturally leads to the turn given in the paraphrase. Jamblicms calls Mercury ®£os o -rm Xoyiov nyi/xm, with a remarkable correspondence to the words of the sacred historian, auros m o nycv/xim; toi> X070U. See other learned illustrations of this title, cited by Mr. Biscoe, At Boyle's Led. chap. viii. ? 8. p. 31.3, 314. Mr. Harrington well observes (in his Works, p. 3.30.) that this persuasion might gain the more easily on • the minds of the Lycxonians, on account of the well-known fable of Jupiter and Mercury, who were said to have descended from heaven in human shape, and to have been entertained by Lycaon, from whom the Lycaonians received their name. li The priest of Jupiter, [whose image'] was before their city.] TUsner has shown that it was customary to build temples to their deities iu the suburbs, and to set up their images before the city at the gates. ( Observ. Vol. I. p. 425.) See also Mr. Biscoe, Chap. viii. \ 9. p. 314. It has been argued from hence, ttiat the heathens considered their several images, of Jupiter for instance, as so many distinct Jupiters, tliiit is, as having some spirit sent from the god to whom their worship was ultimately referred, to reside in them ; which, as Mr. Warburlon well observes, may account for the dispute between two Jupiters, the Tonan.s, and the Capitolinus, mentioned by Suetonius. August, cap. 91. See Warb. Div. Legal. Vol. I. p. 279—281. note. i Oxen crowned with garlands.] It is well known tliat the lieathens used to crown both the images of their deities and the victims they offered to them, with chaplets of flowers, as appears from a multitude of pas.sages Iwth in the Latin and Greek classics. See Ilaphel. Not. ex Herod, p. 364 ; and Mr. Biscoe, as above, p. 315. k Obnoxious to the same common infirmities.'] This is also tJie meaning of the oixiima%s. Jam. v. 17. and nothing could be raore absurd or injurious to the character of these holy men, than to imagine that it refers, in either of the places, to any thing of ungovcrned passion. 1 From these vanities.] A bold expression, when considered as addressed to a whole crowd of bigoted idolaters, with their priests at their head. It naturally leads Us to reflect how unlike the con- duct of the apostles was to that of the heathen philosophers, who, instead of entering a generous protest against the absurdities of the established worship, though it often led to such scandalous immoralities, meanly conformed to it themselves, and taught their disciples to esteem such conformity an essential part of a good citizen's character; which seems to have been the design even of the dying words of Socrates himself, a circumstance hardly to be mentioned without tears. See Mr, Warburtou's Div. Legal. Vol. I. p. 322V-- _. 504 REFLECTIONS ON THE DIFFERENT RECEPTION OF THE APOSTLES. SECT, them: Who m for >}ier generations permitted all the heathen nations to -walk in their \c, Wlio in times past 31. 01V n ways, and left them under the darkness into which they were gradually fallen, without ?"tfere'r J' ,.'. .^ ,, not done sacrifice unto the people jrom their purpose, and scarcely could prevent their sacr/jicing to tticm. them. IMPROVEMENT. Vtr. 3 Happy are the ministers of Christ in the midst of labours and persecution too, if they have the presence of their Master with them ; and if the Lord, as in this instance, bear witness to the word of his grace. Almighty Saviour, leave us not destitute of that presence which is our hope and our joy ! but bear witness with all thy faithful servants, while they are bearing their testimony to thee ! 4 — 6 Infinite Wisdom governs those revolutions in Providence which seem most mysterious. These repeated opposi- tions which tlie apostles met with in their work seemed to threaten their destruction ; but they served in effect to render their testimony more credible, when borne in the midst of so many dangers : They served also to exercise the graces 01 these new converts ; to add a growing evidence to Christianity throughout the remotest ages ; and they were the means of spreading the gospel to a greater variety of places, when the apostles M'ere forced to make such short visits at many, through the inhospitaiity of those from whom they deserved a quite different re- ception. 8 — 10 The cure of this cripple was but one miracle of a thousand which the power of Christ made common in those days ; the effect of it one way and another was very remarkable : The multitude, struck with the exertion of an 1 1 — 13 energy truly divine, by an error to which human nature is (alas !) too incident, fix their eyes on the instruments, and pay that honour to mortal men which was due only to tliat God by whom that wonderful work was wrought. Yet a mixture of piety amidst all that superstition cannot but strike the mind with some pleasure, joined with the com- passion we must feel to find it so wretchedly misguided and allayed. When they thought the gods were come down in human form, they were desirous immediately to pay honour to them. The Lord Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh : but, alas, in how different a manner was he generally received ! received indeed with outrage and infamy, instead of that prostrate adoration to which he had so just a claim. 14 These his servants with an honest indignation reject the homage offered to them, and regard it with horror rather than delight. It was a courageous testimony which they bore to the vanity of these heathen deities, while sur- ]5 — 17 rounded with adorers and their priests. While they confess their own infirmities as weak and mortal men, they, with heroic boldness and sacred truth, proclaim the one living and true God, the Creator and Governor of heaven and earth, of the sea, and all that is therein. Let us adore him as the Author of all the blessings of Providence, as giving us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons ; and while our hearts are filled with food and gladness, let our hearts rejoice in him, and to him let us devote that vigour which we derive from his daily bounty. Above all, let us praise him that we have not these witnesses alone of his presence, his power, and his goodness ; but that he who once left the nations to go on in their own ways, has now revealed unto us the path of salvation, and given us y that true bread from heaven, of which if a 7nan eat he shall live for ever. (John vi. 58.) ':■< c - 3 ', - ' . SECTION xxxn. Paul and Barnabas being driven from Lysfra, by a persecution excited by the Jews, return through Derbe, Pisidia, and Paniphylia, to Antioch in Syria, where they make some abode. Acts xiv. 19, to the end. „^ Acts xiv. 19. acts xiv. 19. SECT. WHEN Paul and Barnabas had put a stop to that undue respect the people would have And there came thither 32. shown them, and had instructed them to worship none but the true God, they still con- '■'-''''l'" •'.'^"'* '"7™ Antioch «• AC ii»i 1 1 i T i 1-1 1 ■ . 1 , ••^1 1 am' leoniuin, who persnad- imuea lor a little wniie at Lystra, and endeavoured to improve tiiat advantage which the cure ed tiie people, and having ACTS of the lame man had given them for preaching the gospel there. But though they were so stoned Paul, drew him out XIV happy as to make some converts to it, they were soon interrupted in their work ; for quickly had beendead."'''"""'" ^^ after this, [.?o?«e] Jews came thither from the neighbouring cities of Antioch and Tco- niuni, and persuaded the multitude to disbelieve what they t-aught : and representing them to be deceivers, they prejudiced their minds to such a degree against their persons and their doctrine, that the very people who but just before would have adored them as deities, now rose to put them to death as malefactors : And accordingly having stoned Paul in a Hi //e (lid not leave himself wiihoiit witness.'] As a friend, in (Ex Herod, p. .365, 366.) has a curious note here, in which he I sending us frequent presents, expresses his remenil)rance of us shows that the paprans spoke of rain as Sfiven by God, and, which I and affection to us, though he neither speak nor write, so all the is very remarkable, not as coming from the gods; and this he ! ^H "'^ ^'^"^ divine bounty which are scattered abroad on every (hinks a remnant of patriarchal piety, in a form of speecli older side, (as a late pious philosoplicr most justly observes,) are so than the first idolatry: So that there is no need, with Dr. Hauv . iTiiuiy witnesses sent to attest the divine care and goodness ; and mond, to have recourse to the Jeuisli proverb, that the keys of life, ' t »i ''P^* '*■ '" ^'^•'V sensible language to the heart, though not ruin, find the resurrection, were aliiai/s hept in God's ox»n hand. 10 uie car. See Nature Displayed, Vol. 11. p. 7. Raphelius Compare Jcr. xiv. 22. 1 HAVING ORDAINED ELDERS THE APOSTLES RETURN TO ANTIOCH. 505 tumultuous manner in the streets, they dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be SECT. 20 Howbeit, as the disci- dead."^ Bat CIS the disciples xoere gathered about him with a view of performing the last 32. iiies stood rouud about hira, office of atiection to him, in bearing him to his funeral with proper regard, to their un the'cTty:"and"the'nextday speakable surprise they found him so restored by the power of Christ, that //e immediately acts he departed with Barnabas rose up as in perfect health,'' and his bruises were so healed that he ottered into the city _^^^- to Derbe. again,"^ and was not only able to walk about it, but the next day found that he was ^^ capable of undertaking a journey, and departed with Barnabas to Derbe, a city of Ly- caonia, on the borders of Cappadocia ; as they did not think it coavenient to proceedin their progress to Galatia, Phrygia, or any more distant province. 21 And when they had And having preached the gospel 2X TiQxhe,toi\\e inh'sh'AdinX.soi that Y)0^\i\o\i?,city, and 2\ preaclied tlie ijospel to tliat made a considerable number of disciples there, they trod back the road they had taken, S'?rt1infeVaA1n\oLys: and returned first to Lystra again, and then to leonium and Antioch in Pisidia; Con- tra, and to icouium, and frming the souls of the disciples which they had made in those places in their former jour- 22 Antiocli: ney ; exhorting them to continue in the christian J(7/Y/j with a stcdfastness becoming the of the^disdplef, aiurex- evidence and importance of it; and [testifying'] that it is necessary -we should enter into horting them to continue ///^ kingdoin of God through many tribulations, which, as God has been pleased to order must'tlirou-h mucl?tribu- matters," will unavoidably he in our'way, but which it will be abundantly worth our while lation enter^iuto the king- to encounter in SO good a cause, and in the views of so glorious a reward. domofGod. And when theii had \v'it\\ i^Q concmxeni ivffxd^gQ oi \.he T^o^aXe constituted presbyters 2^ 23 And when they liad „ ,, . ^ > «-.t l ■ u<. ^ i r .u u .u i. ordained them elders in for them in every church,^ who might take care ot them when they were gone away to every church, and iiad other parts, /?flf/»o'jo/'aj/e(/ to God ii'///i solemn_/as//«D-, that a blessing might attend their ?omra'lnded' [t'em'^to^'the inspection and labours, they committed them, in the infant and distressed state of the church at that time, to the guardianship and care of the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom they had believed, and so quitted them, with a cheerful confidence that he would carry on that good work which, in the midst of so much opposition, he had happily begun amongst them. And passing through the province of Pisidia, they came again to Famphylia, which 24 was the country where they had landed when they came from Cyprus. (Chap. xiii. 13.) And having spoken the word of the kingdom in the city oi Perga, where they had been 25 preached" tiTe'word'Tn Per" before, they went down from thence to Attalia, which was a maritime town on the coast ga, they went down into of j^g Mediterranean Sea. And not thinking it proper at that time to travel through 26 ^26* And tlience sailed to Cilicia, though they were .then on the borders of it, and some christian churches were Antioch, from whence they already pTaiited there, (compare chap. ix. 30; xv. 41.) they took shipping, and sailed the oraceoTGo'r'for'^the /'''''« thence to the coast of Syria, and went up the river Orontes to Antioch in that pro- work which they fulfilled! vince ; from whence they had, by the divine appointment, been solemnly recommended to the grace ofGodfor'that work which they had so vigorously prosecuted, and so hap- Lord, on whom they be lievcd. 24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had a. Having stoned Paul, they dragged him oulnf the riti/,^-c.] Pro- bably they left his body exposed to the open air, intending tliat lie (to whom a few days before they would have sacrificed oxen) should be a prey to wild beasts or birds. There might be some- thing extraordinary in the appearance of liis body in this circum- stance, which led tlieni to conclude he was dead while he" was yet aTTve ; for one can hardly imagine that they would have been con- tented with any very slight and transient inquiry whetlier he were dead or not. It is observable, we read of no such injury offer- ed to Barnabas, who seems to have had no share in the efl'ects of pretation : {Not. ex Xen. p. 165.) And theold English Bihie trans- lates it. When they had ordained them etclers by election. The cele- brated author first mentioned has endeavoured largely to vindicate this interpretation from the exceptionyof Dr. Hammond, Dr. Sea- man, and others, who make x^i'^rmix the same with yji^a'atix, or the laying on of hands. See Harrington's Prerogative of Popular Go- vernment, cliap. V. This is not a place for discussing so nice a question ; but as 1 am in my own judgment convinced he is in the right, I chose to paraphrase the passage agreeable to that notion, though I do not fix it in the translation. iTiave not rendered it OT- this popular fury; and it is probable that Paul's distinguished dained, because custom has, among us especially, affixed to that zeal marked him cut as the object of their distinguished cruelty, word, in such a connexion, tlie idea of laying on hands jjinrayer, But it is surely a strange thought of \V(dtzogenius, that this was to invest a person with, or mark him out for, the ministerial office : permitted by God as a punishment on Paul for the concern he had and this which T doubt not was here done, seems to be intimated in stoning Stephen. However, the apostle might well insert it in in the following clause. It seemed to me that the word consti- the brief history he gives us of his suflferings, 2 Cor. xi. 23 — 27. of tule would properly express the apostles' presiding in that pre- which few are particularly mentioned in this book. vious choice, which probably the people signified by %£>;o.ovi», the b He rose tip as in perfect health] That just after he had been stretching out their hands. And this interpretation appears niostna- stoned, and diagged about the street,*, and left for dead, he should turally to suit the circumstances of things, as well as the import of rise and walk back into the city, must certainly be the effect of a the original words made use of; for the people would, no doubt, miraculous cure, approaching, as near as one can conceivej to a re- have a great deference to the judgment of the apostles in the choice surrection from the dead. This Tt file more ilTiisfrated by' his going of those olficers who were in some degree to fill up their places in the next day to Derbe; whereas, in the course of nature, he would. ^ exercising the christian ministry amon^- them ; and on the other then have felt his bruises B»uch.iaore than at first, and probably,' hand, whatever extraordinary power their institution to this office after the best care that could have been taken of hira, would hardly by the apostles might have given, and whatever acts of direct au- have been able to turn himself in his bed. thority it might liave warranted, yet considering how much the c Entered into the city.] Probably by showing himself alive comfort and usefulness [not to say the subsistence) of these minis- . among the new converts at least, if not to others, he hoped, as he ters, wlio had no human laws to establish them, would depend upon reasonably might, to confirm their faitli in the gospel, and their the free consent of the people, and what a natural authority the courageous adherence to it. Paymit mo to miA twno; Uiat though express declaration of that consent would give fh*m in tlie execu- it was not till the next journey hither that Paul formed his inti- tion of their office, the prudence as well as the known humility of mate acquaintance with Timothy, (.\cts xvi. 1, 2.) yet since he the apostles would l,ead them to tq|^e that consent as expressly as speaks of Timothy as having been a witness of his sufferings here thev could; Ccompare 1 Cor. ix.TlTlS; 2 Cor. xi. 9; 1 Tliess. ii. and in tlie neighbourhood, f2 Tim. iii. 10, II.) whereas we read no- G; 'Philem. ver. 8, 9 ; 1 Pet. v. 3.) which it would be the more na- ■ thing of any remarkable siiiferings in that second progress, (Acts tural and expedient to do, as the civil government of these places I xvi. 4.) it seems he began his acquaintance now with that hopeful was in a great measure popular, (as Mr. Harrington has shown, | youth, whose pious mother Eunice, and grandmother J-ois, (2 Tim. Ibid. chap, ii.) and as the apostles also knew how expressly the f'S.Tseem now to have been entered into the christian church, consent of the Jewish people had been taken in the settlement though he was not admitteTtill afterwards. of their civil and ecclesiastical affairs, which the .same writer has d irhen thei/ had constituted presbi/fers for them, ^-c.] Mr. Har- also well illustiiUed, Ibid. chap, iii.— Sir Norton KnatchbuU lias an rington (in his Works, p. 327.) reiiders'the words xei;"'rovi '*n-Es admirable note Tiere, in which he establishes the version I have aturtis 7r§£igur.pTJ5, ordained them elders by the votes of ttie people, given by many incontestable authorities even of ecclesiastical urging the authority of Snidas, who explains xti^ionx by fx>.orii writers: And though it be tru&that in some cases (as Dr. Hara- ■aainswj^-K, " the f/pc^/on of magistrates, or ratification of laws by mond has learnedly shown) xei^o.-wiv signifies to constitute or ap- " niaiTy, iTgnified by holding up or stretching out the hand." ^o/n/ to an office where there colild be nn ro//«.7 at all, I cannot see (Compare 2" Cor. viii. 19.) Raphclius has confirmed the same inter- any evidence that the word is so to be interpreted here*- 506 REFLECTIONS ON THE BENEFIT OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. SECT, pily accomplished : (chap. xiii. 2, 3.) They were therefore very desirous both of rendering 32. a particular account of tiieir ministry there, and also of returning their grateful acknowledg- ments to the divine providence and grace, to which they owed their safety amidst so many ACTS extreme dangers, and their success in such difficult labours. XIV- And tvhcn they -were comcthithtr, and had gathered the church together, they n Aud wlien they were 27 related \o the brethren at Antioch xuhat great and 'wonderful things God had done with cSiuTch'tU'clfr thTy re! > and by them, in the whole of their voyage and journey in all the countries through which iiearsed all that God had , , t 1 / -1 1 r> 1 : in \ „„,/ .,,.^..,, .^v^.^^iolKr nr,r.,T^\nicA doRfi with them, and tiow rheyliad'pas'sedrCcompare chap, xv.'lfj and'xxi. 19.) and more especially acquaiiited ^:",t,;i,V^,|l;nhe'door"o, them with what extraordinary success he had been pleased to bless their ministry among the fajti, unto the Gentiles, heathen, and how he had opened a door of faith and hope to the Gentiles, who had so long continued in ignorance, idolatry, and misery ,'' making the gospel shine into their hearts, and graciously receiving them into the number of his people. 28 And Providence permitting them, after their long fatigues, to repose themselves a while 28 And there they abode in that agreeable situation amidst their dear brethren and friends, they resided there a con- j;','^f ^""'^ ""'" ^^^ '^'"'- iiderahte time with the disciples, establishing them in their adherence to the gospel, and in - a behaviour suitable to their profession of it. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 19 Who would value himself upon the applauses of a multitude, when he sees how soon these changeable inhabitants of Lystra were instigated to assault him as a malefactor whom but a few days before they were ready to adore as a god, and how easily they were prevailed upon to exchange the instruments of sacrifice for those of murder ! They stone him, and drag him out of the city for dead : And who that had seen this lamentable sight would not liave con- cluded that here the labours of Paul were ended, and that henceforward we should hear no more of him in this glorious history ? But God, who amidst all their outrage secretly preserved the flame of life from being utterly 20 extinguished, interposed miraculously to heal his woiands and bruises, and on a sudden restored him to perfect health. Thus could he always have protected his apostles, so that, in a literal sense, not one hair of their heads should have perished; but it was more suitable to those wise maxims on which he proceeded in the government of the world, to suffer them at length to fall by their enemies, and to pour out their blood as a seal of their doctrine, and of the sin- cerity with which they taught it ; nor could any death be more glorious, or, when taken in its full connexion, any more happy. 21 With pleasure let us trace these holy men in all the stages of their undaunted and successful course; converting some, confirming others, and, upon the whole, like their Divine Master, scattering blessings wherever they come. 22 Let their exhortation still have its power with us to engage our stedfast continuance in the christian faith through whatever tribulations we are called to pass ; be the way ever so rugged and painful, let it be enougli for us that it 23 leads to the kingdom of heaven. Thankfully let us own the divine goodness in all the assistances we receive as we pass through it, and particularly in tliat which all ages derive from the christian ministry, settled in the church, by the wise care of its blessed Founder, to be a perpetual blessing to it. May all the prayers which are offered for those who in succeeding generations are set apart to the work, in those solemn devotions which usually attend their ordi- nation to it, be heard and answered ! And may ministers and people flourish in knowledge and piety, under the constant care of the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls ! 26 The success which attended these two apostles in their course, and the pleasure with which they returned to the place from whence they had so affectionately been recommended to the grace of God, may be an encouragement to our prayers and our labours. Whatever we do in the advancement of the gospel, let us, with these holy men, 27 acknowledge that God does it by us ; and let us pray that the door of faith may be opened so wide, that all the nations of the earth may enter in and be saved. \ . o^ i i a f SECTION XXXIII. Some Jewish converts urging it as necessary that the Gentile christians should observe the law of Moses, Paul and Barnabas go to Jerusalem to consult the apostles and elders upon that ejucstion : An assembly is called, in which Peter declares on the side of their liberty. Acts xv. 1 — 11. Acts xv. 1. actsxv. i. SECT. The conclusion of the last section left Patil and Barnabas at Antioch, where they conti- And certain men which 33. nued a considerable time. And now a circumstance occurred which was the occasion of taught'' the' b^^Xen "l^irf very considerable consequences in the christian church there and elsewhere ; for some per- said. Except ye be cir'cura- ACTS sons who came thither from Judea, tausht the brethren, in their public and private "^'^'^ ^^^'^'^ ^''" '""nner «*" ■vv J- ■ ■ •• •»!-.. i ^1 • i iu ii i IX m; J Moses, ye cannot be saved. X V. discourses, insisting with great earnestness, and saying to them in the strongest terms, 1 hat 1 except ye be circumcised according to the manner prescribed in the law of Moses, and become obedient to all the whole system of his precepts, y^ that their inspiration was always so uistantaneous and express as to i supersede any deliberation in their own minds, or any consultation with each ntlier. g God among vs chose.] There seems, as Heinsius and many others have observed, something harsh in this expression, to take it as if Peter had said, " God chose me from among us all." The words [among vs] are wanting in the Syriac Version, and some read [among you ;] but the sense given in the paraphrase seems so easy and pertinent, that 1 see no reason to wish for any authority to change the received reading. h That the Gentiles by my mouih should hear the word of the gos- pel.] It is surprising to me that the learned authors I have so often mentioned above should argue, that because the persons to whom Peter first preached the gospel were not idolaters, that is, because Cornelius was a worshipper of the true God, (for what his friends were, none can certainly say,) therefore the question now before this assembly must only be, " Whether proselytes of the gate were " obliged to observe the whole law of Moses?" See Miscell. i>acr. Essay iv. and Dr. Benson, Vol. II. chap. 3. \ 4, 5, 6. I see not the force of this argument, since it evidently takes it for granted, both that the assembly would know and recollect that they were prose- lytes of the gate, merely from his calling them Gentiles, and also that circumcision would be judged more necessary for such inverts than for those who had before been idolaters ; both which supposi- tions appear to me verv unwarrantable. Peter's argument plainly is "Circumcision canriot be neces!»ary for Gentile converts, because "God by the efl'usion of his Spirit declared his acceptance of un- " circumcised Gentiles in Cornelius's case:" And this argument will be conclusive, if Gentiles be taken in the most extensive, which we are sure was the most usual, sense of the word ; that is, for all who are not, either by birth or complete proselyti.sm, Jews, 508 REFLECTIONS ON THE EVIL OF AN IMPOSING SPIRIT, &c. SECT, who were uQcircumcised, tliat God who knoweth the heart, bare witness to them that etli the hearts, bare them 33. thev were accepted bv him, by givina- them the Holy Spirit in a miraculous effusion and witness, givhig them the •'■■11 "^ r/ J- i-i J i "^1 1 ■ • *u . Holy Ghost, even as /if t/i'J ■ a visible appearance, even as [lie did] to us at the very beginning, on that ever- unto us: ACTS memorable day of Pentecost, which fulfilled our Lord's gracious promise, and furnished ^^" us for our great and successful work. And thus it evidently appeared that he ?nade no 9 And put no difference 9 distinction between us and them, having purified their hearts as well as ours by a sin- fl^n^'^thei'r hearts' bv'fu'ith^^ cexefaithy and thus sanctified them much more effectually than could have been done by any external rite, and made it manifest that he was ready to admit them to the blessings of his gospel. 10 iVoti) MeTc/brc, my brethren, why do you not acquiesce in such a determination ? Why lo Now therefore, why do you insist on farther terms as necessary, where the divine will is already sufficiently de- tempt ye God, to put a yoke 11 J i_xij J. r^ 1 I ■,.■ c • ii I !• J/ upon tlie neck of tlie disci Glared ; and go about to tempt (rod, by a proposition oi imposing on tlie neck oj the pies, which neitlier our fa- disciples a grievous and burthensome yoke, which neither our fathers nor we have been "lers nor we were able to able cheerfully and regularly to bear, without being exposed to great inconveniences and ^""^ ' 11 many transgressions in consequence of it ? But far from consenting to what some of you ii But we beUeve, that propose, we, who are sufficiently instructed on this head by our great Master, do fully and Lor°d JesusChflst^^v***^ x^n assuredly believe that we ourselves are saved, not by obedience to the works of the law, be saved, even as they, but by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the same manner as they are : And therefore we cannot consent, that while they have that faith upon which salvation depends, we should urge upon them the observation of those ceremonial precepts of tlie law by which we ourselves know we cannot be justified. Thus Peter pleaded : and James afterwards seconding his discourse, the council acqui- esced in it, (as we shall presently hear,) only enjoining some easy restrictions, to avoid giving unnecessary offence to their circumcised brethren. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. ] How early did the spirit of bigotry and imposition begin to work in the christian church ! that fatal Iiumour 5, 10 of ifnposing a yoke on the neck of Christ's disciples, by making indifferent things necessary! An unmanly and antichristian disposition, which has almost ever since been rending the church to pieces, and clamorously throw- ing the blame on those who have been desirous, on principles truly evangelical, to stand fast in the liberty with which their Divine Master hath made thetn free. (Gal. v. 1.) How foolish and how mischievous the error of making terms of communion which Christ has never made! and how presumptuous the arrogance of invading his throne, to pronounce from thence damnatory sentences on those who will not, who dare not, submit to our uncom- missioned and usurped authority ! 2 Prudent undoubtedly was the part which these Antiochian christians acted upon this occasion, in sending these messengers to the apostles for their determination : and it will be our prudence, now we can no longer in person consult those ambassadors of Christ, to make their writings the man of our counsel, and the standard both of our faith and worship ; appealing to the tribunal of Christ, our Master and our Judge, from those uncharitable cen- sures which we may sometimes incur even from his faithful though mistaken servants, for retaining the simplicity of that religion which these authorized interpreters of his will taught. 3 Great joy was occasioned to churches through which Paul and Barnabas passed, when they recounted the con- version of the heathen. Oh that such joy may be renewed to us, by the success of all who, with a truly apostolic self-denial and zeal, go forth at any time to the vast multitudes of the Gentiles which yet remain on the face of this uncultivated earth of ours, so great a part of which is yet in a spiritual sense a wilderness ! Whatever success 4 they may have in one part of our Lord's vineyard, or we in another, let us all remember it is in consequence of _ '7 what God does by us and by them ; and let us adore the riches of divine grace, to which we owe it, that we are chosen to make a part of God's people ourselves, and to carry the knowledge and power of his gospel to others. 8, 9 May our heaits be purified by a vital, and not merely enlightened by a notional, faith! May that God who knoweth all hearts, bear witness to us, by giving us his Holy Spirit to seal ?ts to the day of rede}nption ! And being, under the influence of this sacred Agent, animated in the most amiable manner to adorn our profession, 1 1 when we have done all, may we humbly repose ourselves upon the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, as knowing that it is only by the rich and free display of it that, after all our labour, obedience, and care, we can expect salvation ! SECTION XXXIV. The speech of James in the assembly of the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, with their decree in favour of the liberty of Gentile converts. Acts xv. 12 — 29. Acts xv. 12. .^^„ ,„ ., Acts xv. 12. ^^^' ^^^^ observed in the last section, that a meeting of the apostles and elders was held at Then all the multitude • Jerusalem, on account of that attempt which the judaizing christians had made at Antioch '^''P' ^'''^p'"';' ^?^ gave audj- ~~ ^o bring the believing Gentiles under the yoke of the Mosaic law; and an account was ■ ' i ^^'.^^ given of that speech in their favour with whiclr Peter had opened it, wherein he recounted 22 *li6 story of Coj-nelius, and the manner in which he and his friends were admitted into the church without circumcision, yet with most evident tokens of divine approbation. It was then judged convenient that they, who had been in a peculiar manner the apofetles of the Gentiles, should proceed with their narration : And accordingly the whole multitude which was assembled =* kept silence, and attended to Barnabas and Paul, while they a The whole mullitude.'] I suppose this whole multitude is spoken of those reasons on wliicli the learned Beza concludes that all that ot, ver. 22. as the whole church ; for T cannot enter into the force is mentioned from ihe sixth to the twenty -first verse, passed iu a \ JAMES CONCLUDES THAT THE GENTILES OUGHT NOT TO BE CIRCUMCISED, 509 doclarinsr what miracles and wonders God had nrnujjlit among the Gen- tiles by them. 13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying', Men and brethren, liearkcn unto me. 14 Simon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take ont of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets ; as it is written, 1(3 Alter this, I will re- turu, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down: and 1 will build again the ruins thereof, and 1 will set it up : 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, wlio doth all these things. 18 Known unto God are all his works from the be- ginning of the world. 10 Wherefore my sen- tence is, that we troiible uot them which from among the Gentiles are turned to God ; 20 But that we write unto them, that Ihey ab- stain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and/rom blood. were relating ivhcit great signs and •wonders God had done among the heathen ly sect. thew, to reclaim them from their idolatries ;'' and with what miraculous operations he had 34. confirmed their method of admitting them into the christian church, though they never madfe any ei^brt towards engaging them to be circumcised, and become Jews. acts Then after tliey had done speaking, James the son of Alpheus, one of the apostles, ^^• answered," saying. Men [and\ brethren, 1 desire you would attentively hearken unto 13 7nc, while I give you my most deliberate thoughts on this important question. Our be- 14 loved brother Simon Peter hath been just relating how God first looked down on the Gentiles, in his abundant mercy, to take from among tlicm a people for the honour of his name, who should with us be accounted to him for a generation ; sending his servant to them in an extraordinary manner, and crowning his labours with such tokens of success, and such characters of divine acceptance, as could leave no doubt as t(3 the regularity of his proceedings ; to all which tlie relations made by our brethren Barnabas and l^aul, do won- derfully agree. And though this may seem quite contrary to some of our prejudices in 15 favour of our nation and the law of Moses, yet if we will give ourselves leave impartially to examine and consider, we shall find it by no means incredible ; for the words of the prophets harmonize with this, as it is written, particularly by Amos, (chap. ix. 11, 12.) " After this I will return to my people in mercy, and will restore the house and build 16 " up the tabernacle of David my servant, which is fallen down ;'' yea, I will rebuild " its ruins, and set it upright again, with such strength and glory as shall be observed by " all around : That not the Jews alone, but all the remainder of men, may earnestly seek 17 " the hord,^ even all the heathen nations upon whom my name is called, who in that " day shall know my name, and be received into the nurtiber of my people, saith the " Lord Jehovah, who, by his almighty power, with unfailing faithfuluess doth all these " things." [Now"] such a prediction is agreeable to the wise and steady plan of the divine govern- 18 ment; for aU his works are from eternity itseli known unto God,' whom no unexpected event can ever surprise, but who has fixed his schemes on so perfect and exact a foresight of the most contingent events, that he is never under any necessity of changing them in the minutest circumstance. Wherefore I cannot but determine in my own mind,? and I doubt not but you will 19 readily concur with me, that we ought not to disquiet those who from a?nong the Gen- tiles are converted by divine grace to the knowledge and worship of the true God, and to obedience to the gospel,*" with such observances as those now in question ; But only 20 to write to them, that they abstain from things grossly scandalous, and such as would give greatest offence to their brethren of the circumcision ; particularly, from the &hommdh\e pollutions o/ things sacrificed unto idols, and fornication, o» t-'I^e him with who, on some consideration or another which seemed to him not very honourable, had tilen^from°Paii'phyTia, aiid withdrawn himself from them, returning back /ro7?i Paniphylia, as was related above, went not witli them to the (chap. xiii. 13.) and went not with them to the performance of that work into the eflects ^^°''''- of which they were now going to inquire. 39 This was an ailair not easy to be accommodated, as each insisted on his own scheme 39 And the contention and reasons; there was therefore on the whole a sharp ft of anger between them,'' so Jha\The'v d'emrVed^asund'er that they at last separated from each other:'' And Barnabas taking Mark along with one from tlic other; and so hi7n, sailed to his native country of Cyprus, where the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus Barnabas took Mark and had sometime since been converted, and Elymas the sorcerer had been struck with blind- ^^' ^ "" ° yP'""^. ness. (Sect, xxviii.) 40 But Paul made choice q/his faithful friend Silas for the companion of his travels, and ^0 And Paul chose Silas, departed horn Antioch, being, as before, (chap. xiii. 3.) co?n7nended to the grace and niended^^jy 'the'^brMliren 41 blessing of God by the brethren there. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, which unto tlie grace of God. was his native country, confrming and establishing the churches^ which had been planted „ ''I ^"'' '"i;."''."'- <^'"'o"g^> in those parts, in their adherence to the christian faith; and so proceeded on to Lycaonia, ing the churches.' Phrygia, Galatia, Mysia, and other more distant parts, in the manner and witli the circum- stances which will be related hereafter. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. How happy an office had these good men, to go about from one place to another, comforting and confirming 30, 31 the souls of their brethren wherever they came ! They had their present reward in the pleasure of it, and are now also reaping in the heavenly world the fruits of their labour of love. Deliver us, O thou Father of mercies, from lording it over thine heritage, and overbearing the consciences and liberties of our brethren, with whatever secular advantages it might be attended ; and give us to taste at least something of the generous pleasure of these faithful messengers, though it should be with all their labour and persecutions. 32 While we endeavour to comfort, may we be also ready to exhort and quicken, one another ! May christians ani- mate each other in the work and warfare to which they are called : and may ministers remember how great a part of their work consists in practical addresses, to which, like Judas and Silas in the instance before us, they should chuse to digress, rather than entirely omit them. 36 None can wonder that Paul and Barnabas were desirous to visit the churches they had planted ; for it is natural for those who have been spiritual fathers to have a peculiar affection for their offspring, as it also is for the children which God hath given them, to honour and love those who (as the apostle expresses it) have begotten them in Christ Jesus. (1 Cor. iv. 15.) Happy is it indeed when the visits of ministers, animated by such aspirit, are ira- a Contimied at Antioch.'] It is generally thought that during have diverted the council from the business then in hand, and have this time Peter came to Antioch, and after having for some time frustrated the purpose of that journey; (Gal. ii. 2.) yet when that conversed freely with the Gentile christians, changed his behaviour point was carried, and he had quitted Jerusalem, used great frecJ I towards thejn on the arrival of some Jewish zealots from Jerusa- dom in declaring his opinion, which was, " Not that the 31osaic lem, according to the account we have. Gal. ii. 11. et seq. which, if " ceremonies were in conscience to be avoided, but that even to the the first ver.se of that chapter refer to the journey to the council " Jews themselves they were indifferent, any farther than as the described above, seems indeed to have been the case. Nor do I " peace and edification of others were concerned." 1 hope tlie think that visit can be referred to Paul's second journey to Jeru- reader will excuse my digressing to clear up this great diHiculty salem after his conversion, Acts xi. .30. though Barnabas also at- here, which I have not seen elsewhere stated in what I think the tended him then, because it was not till after that journey that the fairest light, especially since it is so uncertain whether I may live gospel of the uncircumcision was so .solemnly committed to him ; to piibli.s1i tlie remainder of this E.vposition on the Epistles. (Acts xiii. 2, .'!.) which the apostles at Jerusalem acknowledge it to b A sliarp fit nf nnr/fr.'] So the word ua^o^u-Aio^ properly signifies, liave been at the lime spoken of. Gal. ii. 7—9. If it be asked why being a medical terrn. Vet if I had rendered it by the English Paul, in his rebuke to Peter, did not cut short all farther arguments, ivord jnnnxysm, derived from it, I fear it would have been unintel- by referring roundly to the Jerusalem decree, if then made ? I an- ligible to many readers. swer, he might perliaps do it, tliough not in that part of his speech c They separated from each other.'] Yet it appears not only that which he mentions in the Epistle to the Galatians; yet even there Paul and Barnabas were afterwards thoroughly reconciled, (com- lie refers to what Peter himself had laid down as the foundation of pare 1 Cor. ix. 6; Gal. ii. 9.) hut also that Jo'hn was taken into that decrees Compare Gal. ii. 16 — 18. with Acts xv. II. And it Paul's favour again, and admitted by him as a companion in his likewise seems to be intimated that Peter had gone farther in his labours. Compare Col. iv. 10 ; Philem. ver. 24 ; 2 Tim. iv. II. It condescensions than the Jerusalem decree extended its derision, is probable the exhortations of Barnabas might concur with these not only in receiving the Gentiles to church-communion, or ad- resentments of Paul, to recover him from his former indolent and mitting them to converse with him, but living after their manner, timorous disposition. See noteb, on Acts xii. 25. p. 493. as if he had himself been without the law ; (as Paul himself in d Confirming the churc'ics.'] Mr. Cra(lock,(in hxa Apost. Hist. proper circumstances used also to do, 1 Cor. ix. 19— 21.) yet after- p. 99.) and many others tiiink, that Paul sailed from Cilicia to wards disscmbhng his conduct, as being solicitous to make a secret Crete at this tirne, and returning to the Asiatic Continent quickly of it; whereas Paul, though just at the crisis of the Jerusalem de- after, left Titus to perfect the settlement of the church there; (Tit. cree he had thought it his duty to keep on the reserve, and wave a i. 5.) which if he did, might lead us to suppose his Epistle to Titus declaration of his sentiments on this head, lest unnecessary debates one of the first he wrote; but I may elsewhere give my reasons as to Uie obligation on believing Jews to observe the law should why I cannot be of this opinion. PAUL AND SIL^VS FIND TIMOTHY, WHOM THEY TAKE WITH THEM. 513 proved to the blessed purposes of advancing the work svhich divine grace has already begun, and of addressing can- sect. • tions as well as encouragements with such alfection, wisdom, and zeal, that it may finally appear they have not run 35. in vain nor labourcdin vain. (Phil. ii. 16.) It is with sensible regret that we read of any ditference, and much more of a sharp contention, arising between acts Paul and Barnabas, so dear to each other in the bonds both of human and christian friendship : But we see it arose ^^• to some degree of severity, in consequence of a remainder of imperfection in the temper of the one or the other, yea, 39, 40 probably of both ; they separated therefore, but it plainly appears that they did not become enemies : They preachecl the same gospel, though in different companies, each taking his proper circuit ; and thus the work of the Lord was performed with greater despatch, and perhaps with greater success, while Mark, who afterwards appears, as well as Barnabas, to have been restored to the intimate friendship of Paul, was, on the one hand, endeavouring to show that Barnabas had not chosen an unworthy associate ; and, on the other hand, Silas, the fellow-labourer and fellow- sutJerer of Paul, would take care to behave in such a manner that this great apostle might have no reason to re- pent of the preference which he had given to him. To conclude : we see that both Barnabas and Paul go to their native country. Some peculiar alfection to it, 41 when it is not injurious to the general happiness of mankind, is natural and allowable ; and it is certain we can- not show our love to it in any nobler and rnore important instance, than by endeavouring to promote the progress and success of the gospel in it ^ ^^r,-, . '". \ f ''-^,'"\ , SECTION XXXVI. Vaul and Silas passing through several provinces of the Lesser Asia, and having associated Timvtht/ with them as the companion of their labours, pass over into Europe, and arrive at Macedonia, bij the special direction of a divine revelation. Acts xvi. 1 — 12. Acts xvi. i. Acts xvi. I. Then came he to Derbe WhEN Paul set out with Silas on his journey, it was observed before that he went SECT. certain ^disciple was \°iere| through the regions of Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches; and passing on from 36. oanied Timotheus, tiie son thence he came to Derbe and Li/stra, where he had preached the gospel in his former ■ of a certain woman wliicli pj-ogress. And while he was at Lystra, behold, a certain disciple was there whose name acts was a Jewess, and believed: ^ » ,1.1 r i? ■ 7 r ■ t i ^ r r^ ■ j- ^r j v\7l but his father was a Greek : was 1 imotliy, tile SOU of One Jiunice, a believing Jewess, but of a urecian father ; and , we mention it as a circumstance worthy of note, because he afterwards became a very considerable person in the church, as well as a faithful and useful friend to the apostle. 2 Which was well re- He was an eminently serious and devout young man, who was remarkable for his early 2 thirwer'e'*at*l?ys'trf and P'^'^J'' having been trained up by his good mother, and his grandmother, whose name Iconiura. was Lois, in an acquaintance with the holy scriptures from his childhood ; (2 Tim. i. 5 ; , iii. 15.) and, upon the whole, was one who had an honourable character given him by 3 Him would Paul have all the brethren in Lystra and Iconiuni. Him therefore Paul, who had before contracted 3 to go forth with liira : and gome intimacy of acquaintance with him, (2 Tim. iii. 10, 11.) determined he would have took ana circumeised him, . .. .,.•'.,. ^ , ^ /• , ; . 1 .1 1 ,1 , ■ i , because of the Jews which ro attend limi in his progress, and to gojortti to preach the gospel with him ; and that were in those quarters -. for lie might not givc an unnccc^ary offence to the Jews, by appearing so intimate with an llier was^a Greek"' "^ '' uncircumcised person, he took him to the place where he dwelt, in order to his more con- stant attendance upon him, and circumcised him with all due solemnity, and before pro- per witnesses,^ according to the usage of the Jews in those days ; which he did, (as was hinted before,) not that he thought circumcision in itself necessary, or of any avail to sal- vation, but on account of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew his father, and were apprized that he was a Greek ; They would therefore naturally con- clude that his son had not received the rite of initiation into the Jewish religion, and consequently looking upon him as a Gentile, would be offended themselves at Paul's in- timacy with him, and propagate that offence to others. After this, Paul laid his hands upon him, and set him apart to the ministerial office, conferring upon him extraordinary gifts, (2 Tim. i. 6.) which were attended with prophecies of his eminent future usefulness. (1 Tim, i. 18; iv. 14.) 4 And as they went And as they passed through the several cities of those regions, that peace might be 4 deU "ere'd then/tliTdecre'es ^^^"•'6'^^ among the brethren, and no unnecessary burden might be laid upon the Gentile for to keep, that were or- converts, they delivered to their custody an exact and attested copy of the decrees^ XVI. n. And circumcistd /lim.J In order to judge rightly of Paul's ing the more desirous to obviate any prejudices against this excel- conduct in this atFair, which some have censured (as they do other lent youth, whose early acquaintance with the .Scriptures of the things in Christianity) because they did not understand it, we Old Testament (2 Tim. iii. 15.) might render hiiu peculiarly capa- must recollect that he always openly avowed " that the Gentiles ble of preaching in the synagogues with advantage, which, had he " were free from the yoke of the Mosaic ceremonies, and that the been uncircumcised, would not have been permitted. Grotius " Jews were not to e.xpect salvation by them ;" and he also taught, observes this was probably the beginning of Luke's acquaintance " that they were not in conscience obliged to observe them at all, with Timothy, though Paul knew hira long before. See note c, " except in cases where the omission of them would give offence." 5 32. p. 305. But because his enemies represented him as teaching people to b T/ier/ delivered the decrees.'] The author of jlliscell. Sacra, despise the law of Moses, and even as blaspliemiug it, he therefore (Essay iv. p- 34.) first taking it for granted that the decree was parli- took some opportunities of conforming to it publicly himself, to cularly intended for the churches of Syria and Cilicia, and not for shew how far lie was from condemning it as evil; an extravagance any converts from the idolatrous Gentiles, would have this verse into which some christian heretics early ran, and with which tlie and the next transposed to the conclusion of the foregoing chapter, apostle himself has been most unjustly charged of late by a writer or the three intermediate verses that begin this chapter inclosed in too contemptible to be named. This is the true key to his conduct, a parenthesis. But it is plain from the contents of tliat decree, that here and Acts xxi. 21 — 24. And though, when the Jewish zealots it was intended for all Gentile christians living among Jews; and would have imposed it upon hira to compel Titus, who was a Greek, it appears from the preceding story, that great numliers of Jews to be circumcised, even while he was at Jerusalem, he resolutely were to be found in Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and the neighbouring refused it; (Gal. ii. 3 — 5.) yet here he voluntarily persuaded Tirao- places ; and therefore, as the transposition would be most unwarrant- thy to submit to that rite, knowing the omission o( it in him, who able, the parenthesis is quite unnecessary, and would pervert the was a Jew by the mother's side, would have giveu offence ; and be- sense. 31. L'Enfact observes that the word ioyiioira, which is 2l 514 PAUL HAVING SEEN A VISION THEY GO AWAY TO MACEDONIA. SECT, which were determined as a rule for their direction, bi; the apostles and elders that were dained of the apostles and 36. assembled lately in full council at Jerusakin. The several churehes, therefore, where aiders which were at Je- • they came, being watered by such faithful labourers, and encouraged with so favourable "^"5^ ^"ul so were the »/'*-'_*'_^ ' tJ Kj rs.\\\K ^\j ** ri V. lilt; ACTS a decision of tlie grand point in question, were much confirmed in their adherence to the churches established in the ^^^- christian yJ//i'/^ and increased more and more in number daily. faitMud increased m num- 6 And with such views and such success thet/ cheerfully pursued their journey, and wejtt 6 Now' when they had through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, which had never before been visited with p"^ throughout Phrygia, the light of the gospel, as the provinces before mentioned had been ; and in tlieir travels and were' forbidden of^ti'ie through Galatia they were received with such peculiar affection, as if an angel from hea- Holy Ghost to preach the ven, or Jesus Christ himself, had come among them ; and such readiness was shown to '^^^'^ '" ^^'^' hear the word, that they made a considerable number of most zealous converts. (Com- pare Gal. iv. 14, 15.) [^And^ alter this, being forbidden by the Holy Spirit (who at that time had other work for them to do) to preach the word in that part of the country which is called the proconsular Asia," in which Colosse, Laodicea, and some other cities 7 lay; When they were conic to Mysia, which was the most -western province of the 7 After they were come Lesser Asia, and lay on the coast of the ^geaa Sea, they attempted to turn northward ^° Mysia, they assayed to and to go to Bithynia, that they might visit the flourishing cities of Nice, Nicomedia, ipir'i't*suf}ere'lthVm''noV '^ and Chalcedon, and so pass into Europe by the straits of the Euxine Sea ; but the Spirit 8 [of Jesus'^'] let them know that it did not permit them to do it. And ih&xehxe passing 8 And they passing by by the northern borders of Mysia, without visiting many places there, they went down to Mysia, came down to Troas. Troas, which lay on the shore of the MgQQ.n Sea, near the ruins of ancient Troy, so ce- lebrated in liistory and poetry. 9 And while they were here, undetermined to what coast of Europe they should sail if, 9 And a vision appeareu according to their intention, they crossed the sea, a vision appeared to Paul in the to Paul in the mght: There ■ ! J. rni ± 1 !•' ^ c 1-j 1 -i^-i ««- , stood a man of Macedonia, mgiit. llicre stood a ceitain man beiore him, whom he perceived to be a Macedo- and prayed him, saying-, nian," entreating him, and saying with great earnestness, We beseech you to come over '-^°™{^ °^''^'' '°*^'* Macedonia, the sea to Macedonia, and help us ; for we stand in great need of your assistance, and ^" "^ ^ ^^' shall joyfully receive you. 10 And this is a circumstance which the author of this book well remembers, for he 10 And after he had seen attended Paul in his journey, and can relate what follows from his own knowledge : As *^^^ vision, immediately we soon then as he had seen this vision and declared it to us, we immediately agreed that Macedonia! assurclw "^a- it was to be regarded; and accordingly we endeavoured to go out from the port of thering, tiiat the Lord had Troas, where we then lay, to Macedonia;^ assuredly inferring from this vision, that the goipei mito'ttrera!^'''"''' ''''^ 1 1 Lord Jesus himself called us to preach the gospel to them. Setting sail therefore from " 11 Therefore loosing- from Troas, with the advantage of a strong easterly wind, we ran directly to the island of '^''°i'^! "'"^ <:^mc with a Samothracia, which lies near the Hellespont ; and having thus despatched the larger part thracia, and the next day of our little voyage, we came the next day to the celebrated port of Neapolis, on the toNeapolis: 12 Thracian shore, near the borders of Macedonia : And landing there, we came froin thence 12 And from thence to to Philippi, which is a city of the first part of Macedonia ;S for it is well" known that c^ly^Ythlt part'of' Macl- the province is divided into four parts, [^and] this is a Roman colony.*^ And we con- donia, and a colony : and tinned in this city for some days, and met with several remarkable occurrences which we we were m that city abiding shall relate in the next section '^^'^ ^'" *^*' here used to express deerees, always signifies something temporary or relate any one thing which he said or did for the service of and ceremonial, and not laws of perpetual and universal obligation. Christianity, though Paul speaks of him in most honourable terms. Compare Eph. ii. 15 , Col. ii. 14. Col. iv. 14 ; 2 Tim. iv. 11 ; and probably 2 Cor. viii. 18. as the bro- c Forbidden to preach in that called the proconsular Asia.l As ther whose praise in the gospel went through all the churches. The all the places mentioned in the former verses lay in Asia Minor, it same remark may be made on the rest of the sacred historians, who is evident that tlie word Asia must be thus explained. It is also ap- every one of them shew the like amiable modesty; nor is the parent that flourishing churches were afterwards planted there, charming story St. John tells of himself (John xxi. 20. et seq.) by particularly at Colosse, Laodicea, Sardis, Tliyatira, and Philadel- any means an exception : See note d, on that passage, \ 201. p. 417. pliia : So that it seems to have been the determination of Provi- And when Paul speaks of his own services, it is by no means in an dence, that instead of going through this region now by such a ostentatious way, but in his own necessary vindication, appealing leisurely progress as that in which they proceeded in their former to his enemies for tlie known truth of them. By which means Pro- journey through Pamphylia, Pisidia, Lycaonia, &c. they should vidence has so ordered it, that the memory of many important facts hasten to Europe directly, and preach the gospel first in Philippi, which would otherwise have been lost should be preserved, and which was a Roman colony, and tlien in the neighbouring parts ; preserved in such a manner as to carry the strongest evidence while in the mean time the Asian provinces now passed over along with tliem. Such instances of tlivine wisdom occurring- in might hear some report of it from their neiglibours, and so be pre- scripture, are worthy our attentive observation and our thankful pared to receive with greater advantage the labours of the apostles, acknowledgment. when they should return to them, as Paul afterwards did. (Chap. g A city of the first part of Macedonia.'] As Amohipolis is xviii. 23. et seq.) By this means tlie spread of the gospel would in mentioned by Livy,"/i4. xlv. cap. 22. as Ihe chief city of this first any given time be wider than (other circumstances being equal) it region of Macedonia, in which Philippi lay, I chuse, with Mr. would have been had they taken all the interjacent places in their Pierce, (Pre/, to his Notes on Phil.) to follow the Syriac here, as way. Chrysostom also docs, reading v^uirrn instead of ■n^urn -rn^, though i( d Tlie Spirit [of Jesns'].'] So many ancient versions, readings, and be true, as Mr. Biscoe well observes, chap. x. sect. 2. p. 367, 368. citations, add the words [of Jesus,'\^t\nt i thought myself not only that Amphipolis was then on the decline. Ilaphelius {E.v Herod. authorized, but obliged, at least to insert them thus, and perhaps p. 374.) supposes it may signify only, it was the first city they met might well have omitted the crotchets. See Beza and Dr. Mill, witk in their journey ; but the authorities he produces seem "by no '" loc. means satisfactory. "Grotius explains it of the first city that was a e A certain Macedonian.'] Some think Paul knew his country by colony, his dress or language, or by his naming it, as we find he did. Yet h A colony.'] Luke, by using a word originally Latin, voXiivi*, in- perhaps the word ns, may intimate that it was some particular per- stead of the correspondent Greek word hctixh, plainly intimates it son whom Paul knew; for which reason I render it literally, and was a Roman colony, which ver. 21. certainly proves it to liave wonder that Grotius should explain it as if it were tlie guardian an- been ; and though the critics were long puzzled to find any mcn- ing his companion Timothy, that he might give them no unnecessary offence : Nor was the condescension and i.I of tl'iis pious youth to be less esteemed, who was willing to submit, not only to that painful rite, but to all the acts y.jke of ceremonial observances to which he was obliged by it, in a View to usefulness in the church. Well may ,^-^^'" i\ expect eminent service from those ministers of the rising generation that set out \vith such a spirit ; while, on the ' other hand, when a fierce and haughty sense of liberty is the reigning, darling character, and a determination is formed to submit in nothing, to oblige in nothing, as the first elements of the christian temper seem as yet to be unknown, there is great reason to believe that the doctrines and precepts of the gospel will not, cannot be success- fully taught ; great reason to fear that such instructors will have their reward in the empty applauses which they give to themselves and each other ; while they brand those who are solicitous to become wise that they may win souls, with reproaches which God will remember i)i the day in which heshall judge the seo-ets of all hea)^ts ; and will find many of them far dilierent from what such rash men have presumed to pronounce them. Indefatigable were the journeys and labours of these ambassadors of Christ; they travelled through wide-extended 4, 6, regions, and sowed the seeds of knowledge and of life wherever they came, and God gave the increase. But the 6, 8 economy of Divine Providence was very remarkable, in not permitting them to preach in Bithynia, and forbidding 6, 7 them to do it in Asia : What were the particular reasons of this determination we know not ; perhaps the inhabit- ants of these places v/ere remarkably conceited of their own wisdom ; perhaps they had treated the flying reports of the gospel \^'ith contempt ; or possibly, without any particular displeasure against them, their visitation might be delayed in a view to more general good. But happy was it for Galatia, Phrygia, and the neighbouring parts, that they were not included in the prohibition : And happy is it for this sinful land of ours, that the abused, insulted gos- pel ia not taken away, and that its ministers are not one way or aaotlier forbidden to repeat those offers which have so long been rejected and despised. The visit of a Macedonian imploring the help of the apostle, was justly regarded by him and his associates as an intimation of the divine pleasure that they should pass over thither. And surely did those nations of the earth that 9, 10 liave not yet received the gospel know in the general how great a blessing it is, instead of opposing those messengers of it who might offer to spread it among them, they v/ould rather in the most pressing manner urge and entreat their presence, and with the greatest joy sit down at their feet. May they who are entrusted with this glorious embassy imitate the pious zeal of these holy men, and be willing, Vv'hen called by Providence, to cross lands and seas on so 11, 12 pious and so charitable an errand ! SECTION XXXVII. Vaul a)\d Silas preach the gospel at Philippi ; but some of the inhahita)its, provoked at their casting out a spirit of divination from a damsel there, rise twnultuously upon them, scourge them, a)id cast them into pri- son. The jailor is awakened bij an earthquake, and convei'ted by the preachbig of Paul. Acts xvi. 13 — 34. ACTS xvi. 13. Acts xvi. 13. And oil the sabbatli we It was observed in the close of the preceding section, that Paul and Silas, in company SECT. riveL"de,"\vhere''''pra|er ^^'^h Timothy and Luke, the penman of this history, arrived at Philippi, and made some 37. was wont 'lo be made; and stay there. And now we go on to relate that on the sabbath-day we went out of the t^e^w '^°T'wr 1''^'''^ "t'l ^^^^ ^° ^^^'^ ^'^'^ of the river Strymon, where, according to the custo?n of the Jews, there acts t/iii/ier. was an oratory or a place of public prayer;^ and sitting down when the devotions were .^^• over, we spake to the women that were assembled there, for most of the congregation '^ \\ And a certain woman -^ere of that seX. jlurp^ic, o/tii(rtUy o^f Thy- ^'"^ " certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, who was a native of the city \\ atira, whicli worsliipped ofThyatira in Asia, and a devout worshipper of the true God after the Jewish manner, God, heard lis : wiiose ^.gg pregg^t at that time, and heairl [the discourse ;1 whose heai-t the Loi-d opened, by the lieaia the Lnrd opened, that ' , i • n r i ■ i ■ i i ■ i ■ ? she attenued unto the Secret and gentle mnuencesoi his grace, to attend in such a manner to the things which things which were spoken f^jerc spoken by Paul, as to be effectually wrought upon and converted by them. Jnd 15 15 And when 'she was when she zvas baptized With her family , */;e earnestly entreated us, saying, Jf you have baptized, and iier house- judged me to be faithful to the Lo)-d Jesus in the profession I have made, and really iir'^^li^v^e h?ve°iud"ed^ni^^^ esteem me a sincere christian, I beg that you would enter into my house, and continue to to^e faithi'ui to tlie Lord, make your abode [there] as long as ,you stay in this city. And she was so extremely come into ray house, and pressing and importunate, that she even compelled us to comply with her proposal, strained us. ' ^ "'' Now while we Continued her guests, it came to pass that as we were one day going to 16 IG And it came to pass, the orator?/ Or praying-place mentioned before, we were met by a ccrtai)i girl who had tairdrmsei%ossc^ssed"wTth '^^^" ^O"" ^^'"^ ^^'"^ "'^^^'' ^^^ influence of what the Greeks call a Pythonic spirit, that is, a spirit of (iiviuatiou, met a Spirit of divination,'' which they suppose to be an inspiration from Apollo, whom they a Where, according to custom, there was an oralory.'] Tlie ori- on that text, p. 106.) and with pleasure refer my reader to the ad- (•jiual %vords are remarkable, and much controverted, ov Evo/zi^tro mirable critic mentioned above for the abundant vindication of it, T!e , °, i -^^ ^, ^u ^ i • l. i i u j i ii, • r,.i same iiour of the night, and And tlie word Came With such a power, that his rough heart was melted at these gracious 33 washed their stripes ; and tidings, and the tcndemcss of it immediately flowed forth toward these messengers of them ; TtraiSvay'^'''^ ''"'''''''"'' ^^ t'^^^' ^f'''"S ^^cm that Very hour of the night, he washed their stripes, which still 34° And when he had remsimed' unhesded,^^ and was immediately baptized, hi?nsclf and all his domestics -wiih brought them into his i^j,^-, r ^^^ J having brought them into his house after this solemn rite had been performed, 34 them,'aud rejoiced believ- he Spread the table before them with the best provisions he had at hand ; and believing in or dirty ground, which renders their joyful frame expressed by gers, and that the divine displeasure was falling on the city, and songs of praise so much the more remarkable. Beza explains it particularly on hiuis<'lf, for persecuting them. Perhaps some of the nuraell«p, in whicli both the feet and the neck were fastened Kind and pious words which Paul and Silas, who took all op])or- in the most uneasy posture that can well be imagined. tunities of doing good, might have uttered while he was fasteuiug i T/tere was a great carlltquake the doors were opened and their feet in the stocks, might throw farther light on his mind', (he bonds loosened.} Eisner has most happily shown, in his notes when recollected amidst such extremity of danger : and, uo doubt, on this text, {Observ. Vol. L p. 441 — 444.) that each of these three the Spirit of God added conviction and energy to all. things was esteemed, even by the pagans, a token of some divine o Oelieve in the Lord Jesus C'lirist.~\ To believe in Christ, does appearance in favour of the oppressed and afflicted who suffered undoubtedly in its primary signification imply, trusting in him, wrongfully, and were dear to them. or committing ourselves to his protection, as 1 have here para- k Drew his sword, and loas going to kill himself.'] Though it is phrased it. (See Dr. Walts's Harmony of all Relig. chap. viii. true that some of the philosophers condemned self-murder, yet it p. 65.) In this connexion it would iramediatcJy imply, subrait- was not only justified by many others, (see Grotius, in loc. and Mr. ting to the farther instructions of these his special ambassadors Biscoe, chap. ix. \ 6. p. 340.) but had in fact prevailed much and authorized messengers: and it always includes a desire to be among the Romans, especially about that time, and had, in the delivered from the power of sin, and a disposition to compjy with memory of some then living, been (as it were) dignified at I'hilippi his scheme of salvation, which is to purify to himself a peculiar by the example of those great men, Brutus and Cassius, among people zealous of good works : The full import of which scheme others who fell on their own swords there. Paul and Silas would not fail to open to this new convert as soon 1 Paul, being aware of that horrid act, &c.] As they were all as possible ; and accordingly it is presently added, that they spake at present in the dark, it is not easy to say how Paul knew of the to him the word of the Lord. jailor's purpose, unless it were by hearing some des|)erate words p Thou shall be sated, and tliine house."] The meaning cannot that declared it, or by some immediate suggestion from God, be, that the eternal salvation of his family could be secured by which amidst such a scene of wonders is by no means incredible. his faith, but that his believing in Christ would be the best secu- m He culled for lights.] As 4?.o7-3i is in the plural number, it seems rity of his family from present danger, and that, if they also to imply, that on this alarm several of his attendants came with themselves believed, they would be entitled to the same spiritual torches, and were present at the inquiry which immediately and everlasting blessings with himself; which Paul might the followed ; nor did he in the least scruple to throw himself down, rather add, as it is probable that many of them, under this terrible before all his domestics, at the feet of these his holy prisoners, alarm, might have attended the master of tlic family into the who were so evidently honoured by the God of nature. dungeon. n What must I do that I may be saved ?] Grotius thinks, that q He washed their stripes, which still remained unhealed.] I in tliis inquiry the jailor went upon the natural principles of the mention this circumstance, as it serves to show what I have else- immortality of the soul. Dr. Whitby, with much greater pro- where observed, (and it is of great importance to remember it,) priety, supposes that he spake thus to them, as referring to the that the aposUes had not a power of working miraculous cures testimony of the Pythoness, (ver. 17.) which had been so often and whenever they pleased ; no, not even on their own bodies, or those so publicly repeated, that tliese servants of the most High God taught of their dearest friends. See note d, ? 17. p. 4G7. Had they pos- the way o/' salvation. I apprehend the sense of what he says to be sessed such a power, it would have been their duty to have used very extensive, as if he should have asked, " What methods shall it, unless they had (as Christ witli such a power in fact had) .1 " I take for my security T' Probably a vast multitude of ideas discovery of the divine will, that in such or such instances the rushed into his njind at once, lie saw by the earthquake the use of it should be waved. Ou the other hand, the continual use power and displeasure of God ; and together with this, the sweet- of such a power would have frustrated many of those noble pur- uess and joy of Paul and Silas in their bonds, their willing con- poses in providence which their sufferings answered, and would tinuance in prison when they mightso easily have escaped, and their iiave introduced many inconveniences which an intelligent reader generous .solicitude for the life of one wlio h;\d used them so ill, will easily apprehend' from tfiis general hint. were all circumstances fit to strike powerfully on a mind so pas- r ^nd^i'as immediately baptized, himself and all his.} His being sionate as his seems to have been, and might all do their part thus baptized with his household, seems to be the only reason toward convincing him that these men were indeed divine messen- which the Greek commentators had to tliiuk this jailor's name 518 THE MAGISTRATES SEND TO RELEASE PAUL AND SILAS. SECT. God with all his house, he xvas even transported tuith unutterable 703/ at the sudden light ing in God, with all liis 37. which had sprung in upon him, and at the happy prospects which were by divine grace house, presented to his view as a christian. ^f^jS IMPROVEMENT. We see remarkably in this period by what various methods divine grace operates upon different persons. As for Ver. 14 Lydia, she was touched by a gentle influence descending upon her like dew from heaven; her heart was melted under the word as snow by the sun ; and by the soft, yet powerful hand of our blessed Saviour, was made willing 24 and obedient. But when the Lord came to subdue the stubborn heart of the savage jailor, who seems to have taken a barbarous pleasure in afflicting his pious prisoners, he came in the whirl-wind, the tempest, and the fire. (1 Kings 26, 27 xix. 11, 12.) His soul, as well as his house, was shaken with an earthquake, and the foundations, as it were, laid 28 bare. A sudden transport of astonishment convinces him of his extreme danger. His hand is mercifully stopped in that terrible moment in which he was rushing on to seek a refuge in hell from the seeming dangers of eailh ; and 29 being taught by a secret grace which he had not as yet been instructed to seek, he falls down before Paul and Silas, honouring them as among the first of mankind, whom he had just before treated, not only as slaves, but as the 30 worst of villains ; yet he is now ready to receive the law and the gospel from their mouth, seeking the way of sal- vation from them, and declaring his readiness to submit to whatsoever they should tell him. What unutterable delight must it afford to these afflicted servants of Christ, when they saw this astonishing 25 change ! Sui-ely it appeared that their prayers and their praises came up in remembrance before God. They had, with a serene conscience and a joyful heart, been singing praises to God in the stocks, and behold, new matter of praise is given them, and in the midst of all their sufferings new songs are put into their mouth, and new occasions 26 for thanksgiving pour in upon them. Those bonds which, however ponderous in themselves, sat so lisjht upon them, are now miraculously loosened ; and the far more infamous and dangerous bonds which Satan liad fastened 30 upon these sons of persecution and violence, fall off too. The awakened jailor asks the question of all others the most important, and asks it with an earnestness and respect that witnesses its sincerity. Sirs, -what must I do to be saved? Gracious God, to whose efficacious influence the most obdurate heart must submit, awaken multitudes who, like this once wretched sinner, but now beloved and triumphant saint, are insensible of their danger and misery ; that seeing themselves perishing, they may enquire after salvation ! And may it please thee to put a faithful word into tiie 31 mouth of tliy ministers, that they may all join in directing such awakened souls to believe in Christ, and trust to him for salvation ! When they are brought to this they may well rejoice ; and however their hearts may be enlarged 33, 34 towards those who have been the instruments of this blessed change, none of the effects of their tenderness or gene- rosity can afford a pleasure comparable to that which they shall find in the consciousness of having rescued souls from eternal death, and conducted them into the way of salvation. SECTION XXXVIIT. Paul and Silas are honourabhj dismissed from their confinement hy the magistrates of Philippi, on insisting upon their privilege as Romans ; and leave that city, after visiting the new converts there. Acts xvi. 35, to the end. ♦ Acts xvi. 35. SECT. Thus Paul and Silas spent the remainder of the night in the house of the jailor, sharing And when it was day, tiie «^S' and increasing that joy which he found on the admission of the gospel into his heart, mag-istratcs sent the ser- ■ And when it was day, the praetorian magistivites of Philippi, who were terrified by the men'ffo^*^'"^' ^^^ *''"^^ ACTS earthquake,"* sent the lictors or beadles^ by whom they had been scourged the day before, Of to the keeper of the prison, saying. Dismiss those men with the custody of whom thou wast yesterday charged ; for this correction and confinement is all the punishment we shall inflict upon them. 36 And the keeper of the prison told these things to Paul, saying. The praetors, our chi^f 36 And the keeper of the 7;iagistrates here, have sent orders, that you may he dismissed, and I inform you of it P^J*"" '•'il''^ *'''^ ^^J'^"/" with great satisfaction : A^ow Mere/brp you are at full liberty to go o?;oi, which not been in some measure appeased by their sufferings ; not to say Grotius would have to be retained in its Greek form, might have how'possible it is that the plea, if rhadc, might not be regarded been rendered vergers, most agreeably to its etymology ; but as amidst such a riotous mob. The circumstances of Paul, when he such olficers only hear a little wand, or something resembling one, pleaded it. Act? xxii. 25. were much different. If it be farther and the Roman lictors had a large bundle of them tied together, asked. Why it was now so soon believed \ it may be replied, not I thought the word beadles, as it is also the name of the officers only that it was an extremely hazardous thing to make such a by whom ofl'enders among us are generally whipped, would present claim fal.sely, (for Claudius punished it with death; Sueton. to an English reader the most genuine idea. Claud, cap. 25.) but also, that there was a certain dignity in the c They linte healen us, vho are Rnmans."] It is well known manner in wliich Paul made this plea, which added a sensible that the Valerian law forbade that a Roman citizen should he credibility to it, especially as they had now no further sufferings bound, and the Semprouian, that he should be beaten with rods, to apprehend, and as ll'.e" earthquake, wh.ich might perhaps affect REFLECTIONS ON THE TREATMENT OF PAUL AND SILAS AT PHILIPPL 519 now do they thrust us out and this they have done puhlidy in the most ignominious manner, as if we had been sect. privily? Niiy verily; but common slaves, though we had never any legal trial, \(ind'\ were uncondeinned oi any 38. unVfetd. ^°'^^t^''*™'^'"' crime at all ; and after this they have cast us into the common prison ; And do they noxu think to thrust us out of the city privately '^ By no incans ; it is not at all fit that acts magislrates should be encouraged in such oppressive and arbitrary proceedings as these, ^^l- which may be so injurious to the most innocent and worthy citizens, whenever a popular 37 cry is raised against them : they cannot but know that this their illegal proceeding hath given us a great advantage against them, if we were disposed to prosecute them to the ut- most, according to the Roman law ; if therefore they desire to accommodate the matter, let them at least cojne themselves and conduct us respectfully out of this place of con- finement,'' into which we have been so unjustly thrown, and thus let them make the best ^ amends they can to our reputation and character, after having irreparably injured us in our persons. 38 And the sergeauts toUl Aiid the beadles reported these tvords to the praetors, who (as we observed above) 3S these words unto the raagis- ^yere the ?nagistrates from whom they came. And ivhen they heard that they were wh*eu'tiie>"hear'rthat^they Ro'nans, they were afraid, well knowing, that even to have' torn the garments of a were Romans. citizen, and much more to have scourged him, especially thus publicly, and without hearing his defence, was a crime which might have exposed them to very high penalties, if the person injured had entered a complaint against them in the legal forms. 39 And they came and And they came therefore in their own persons to the prison where Paul and Silas were, 39 besought them and brougiit (t,jj comforted thenf in the best manner they could, acknowledging their innocence, and toTepTr'toutofth'rcity!'''' commending the patience and fortitude with which they had borne the punishment so rashly inflicted upon them. And conducting them out with the most respectful treat- ment, they requested that they ■would excuse what was past, and would with all con- venient speed depart from the city, to prevent any of those popular tumults which might be the consequence of their longer abode there ; where perhaps the rage of their former accusers might occasion farther embarrassment, both to the magistrates and to them. 40 And they went nut of And upon this, coming out of the prison in the honourable manner v.-e have describ- 40 the prison, and entered into g^^ ^/^ „^ Candidly agreed to excuse what had been done in prejudice of their rights ; and when'They had ^ seen Xbe Only entered into [the house of} Lydia, their convert and friend, with whom they had brethren, they comforted lodged before. And when ttun/ had seen the brethren whom they were to leave behind them, and departed. ^j^^^^^^ ^j^^^^^ comforted them with an account of what God had done both for them and by them in the prison, and exhorted them^ to such a stedfast faith and exemplary life as Christianity always required, and was peculiarly suitable to their present circumstances ; and then they departed out of Philippi,s and directed their journey westward towards Thessalonica, where they met with new difficulties, which will be related in the following section. BIPROVEMENT. We have seen Paul and Silas suffering, not for doing evil but good ; for great good undoubtedly it was, to cast Ver. 16 out the demon which possessed the young woman of whom we have been reading, and made her an instrument 17 — 19 of mischief, though to her mercenary masters a means of gain. Could she indeed have foretold future events, as perhaps she very falsely pretended, it had been a curse rather than a benefit to mankind to know them ; but it is exceedingly probable that this evil spirit, being himself unacquainted with them, did, like many of his brethren, only delude his votaries with ambiguous answers, which proved the occasion of false expectations and numerous inconveniences. At least, it diverted them from all proper regards to the true God, the supreme Disposer of all events, and confirmed them in their unhappy attachment to those which are by nature no gods, to those vain idols by a regard to whom Satan was honoured, and the living Jehovah injured and afironted. Wisely did Paul, in imitation of his Master, refuse applause from so impure a tongue. Yet with what con- 18 sistency could these heathens persecute him ? If this damsel spake under a divine direction, why should she not be credited when she testified that these were servants of the true God, that taught the way of salvation ? If 17 tliey were indeed so, how absurd, how impious, and how dangerous must it be, to treat them with outrage instead of reverence ! What an affront to God ! What defiance to salvation ! If Apollo was indeed any thing more than an empty name; if he was judged to have any power and any deity, what regards were owing to that Jesus of Nazareth, who appeared so much superior that Apollo fled at his very name ! But the god of this world had the whole city, seemed to have so evident a reference to their following clause, and as it gives us an idea of a more respectful case. See 31r. Biscoe, At Boyle's Led. chap. ix. \ 7. p. 356. treatment, as De Dieu also has hinted. et seq. f Tliey comforted and exhorted them.-] 1 unite the two senses of d Let them come themselves and conduct us out.] In all this Paul the word here, as thev would, to be sure, minffle on such an occasion seems to have had a regard to the honour and interest of cliris- consolations and exhortations. Such an extraordinary lulerposition tianity in this place, as well as to their own civil rights as men and of God for his suffeiing servants, and such an addition raaae to Romans; for such a token of public respect from the magistrates their church, had a natural tendency both to clieer tlicir uearts, would undoubtedly encourage the new converts, and remove a and to invigorate their pious resolutions. Accordingly it appears stumbling-block out of the way of others who might not have from Paul's Epistle to this church, that there were many excelienr discerned the true lustre of the characters of Paul and Silas, amidst christians among them who expressed an affection lor liim, ana a so much infamy as they had before suflfered. zeal for their religion, in some considerable degree corresponaent e They came and comforted them.] So our translators render the to such encourageracuts and obligations; 1 hil. i. 5 7, -,, JO; word T^x^ixxXnxv, in the nest verse, as well as in many other places, iv. 10, 14 — 18. Compare Acts xx. 12 ; Rom. i. 12 ; 2 Cor. i. 4 ; vii. 6. in all which texts and many others, it can have no other signification, though in g And departed.] Though many circumstances might now have invited their stay at Philippi, they wisely complied with the re- several others it must signify exhorted, as it is jusllv rendered, Acts quest of the magistrates, that they might not seem (as lirennius xi.2l; IThess. ii. 11; Heb. lii. 13. and elsewhere. There are other well observes) to express any degree of obstinacy or revenge, and instances in which it signifies to entreat, 1 Cor. iv. 13 ; 1 Tim. v. 1. might give no suspicion of auy design to stir up the people to any But I prefer the first sense here, as the latter is expressed in the kind of sedition. 520 AT THESSALONICA THE JEWS RAISE A MOB AGAINST THE APOSTLES. S£C'r. blinded their eyes, and reason and conscience remonstrated in vain, so long as the hopes of gain lay the opposite 38. way. Deliver us, O Lord, from such fatal madness, and teach us how much more valuable salvation is, than ■ any worldly interest which must be sacrificed to it .' ACTS The ministers of Christ, Paul and Silas, had been injured in their reputations, and abused in their persons ; and ^^'^- in this instance, as in many others, were treated like t lie filth of the world, and the off-scourhig of all things, 22, 23 while the ploughers ploughed upon their back, and made long furrows. (1 Cor. iv. 13; Psal. cxxix. 3.) The plea of privilege amidst so tumultuous a multitude, might have been in vain, and therefore was for the present 37 prudently waved ; but it was justly afterwards urged, and the magistrates challenged for their arbitrary proceedings before they knew who and what they were, and required to attend upon them in person, to acknowledge and atone for their fault. Here was a true magnanimity, proceeding not from pride but from humanity. Their re- putation as ministers of Christ was worthy of a guard, and worthy of some reparation, where it had received so notorious an insult. The rashness of the magistrates was also worthy of being rebuked and mortified ; which ■ might have proved an occasion of suffering to other innocent persons, had not this instance of it been animadverted upon ; yet no revenge was sought, nor were they, as some have been in the like case, laid under a necessity of buying their peace, to avoid a prosecution which might have ended in their ruin. Paul knew how to join the tenderness of the christian with the dignity of the Roman citizen, and contended for his own rights no farther than that very contention might be an act of general goodness. Let us go and do likewise. Let us learn, even from 38, 39 the example of these unjust rulers, to be willing to hear reason and truth from those who seem most our inferioi-s, and openly to retract any ill-concerted steps which we may have taken ; especially, let us be willing to make the best reparation in our power to the innocent and the deserving, if, through imprudent heat or weak credulity, we have been engaged in any degree to injure them. SECTION XXXIX. Paul preaches at Thcssalonica and Bercea, but is soon chased from both these places by the violence of the unbelieving Jews. Acts xvii. 1 — 15. ACTSXvii. 1. ACTS xvii. 1. SECT. When Paul and Silas had quitted Philippi in that honourable manner which was de- NoAV when iiicy had pass- es, scribed in the former section, thev went forward in their progress; and takins their edtliroiig:ii Amphipoiis.ancl , ,, /./•,• , A II ■ 1 • L 11 • -111 Apolloma, tliey came to journei/ westward through Aniphipolis and Apolloma, which were likewise consiaerable Tiiessalonica, where was a ACTS cities of Macedonia, (the former of them having been once the capital of the first part of synagogue of tiie Jews. ^^^^- if,) thei/ came to the celebrated Thcssalonica, a city which lay near the coast of the .Sgean sea, where the Roman governor held his residence, and where there was also a 2 si/7iag02:ue of the Jews. And, according to Paul's usual custom of applying first to 2 And Paul, as his man- the Jews, he entered in to their assembly and made one anions them, and strongly ar- nerwas.went in unto them, . / ^ ; 1- 1 1 iL I- ■ i ""1" three sabbath-days rea- gued and discoursed to them, for three succeeding sabbaths,^ from various pajrages out soned with them out of tlie 3 of the scriptures, for which they professed so great a regard ; Opening [thon'] with great scriptures ; n „.• „ exactness, and evidentb/ showing them,^ by clear and incontestable arguments taken that ChriTt muTt needsfiTfe from these sacred oracles, that the Messiah ought, according to the whole tenor of the suflered, and risen again prophecies, to suffer the last extremities from the unbelieving generation among whom {{'^'^^jpjyg 'whom l"prGach he was to appear, and then to rise from the dead, how contrary soever it was to their unto you, is Christ, prejudiced apprehensions; and that this is the true expected Messiah, [even'] Jesus of Nazareth, whom, said he, / make it my business to declare unto you, and to all to whom I come. 4 This was the substance of what he inculcated upon them in repeated discourses ; and a And some of them he- the success was various: for, notwithstanding all the prejudices of the Jew.s, such was the l^eved, and ^nsorted with evidence of what he said, that some of thon believed and adhered to Paul and Silas ; devout Greeks a great mul- and also a considerable number of the devout Greeks, who had either embraced the titude, andof tiie cliief wo- Jewish religion, or at least worshipped with those that had, and not a few of the prin- "ii^nno'^ ^^''''■ cipal women of the city. 5 But, on the other hand, there were many who rejected the gospel, and that, as it after- 5 Rut the Jews whieh be- wards appeared, with great malignity of heart. For after some time the unbelieving vy;^oU'"!ntrthem''clna"n Jews, filled with indignation, -and in a wild transport of ungovernable zeal on the occa- lewd fellows of the baser sion, gathered together some mean and profligate fellows, and making a mob, threw *°'"'' '"'*' gathered a com- a For three sucre^diug sahhaths."] It has heen concluded frftm to behave well, so that Paul received a very comfortable account of hence that Paul continued but three weeVs at 'I'hessalonica ; but as them by Timothy, chap. iii. 6, 7. and they afterwards advaiiced in it evidently appears, that while he was in this city, he not only faith, charity, and courage amidst their growing trials, 2 Thess. j. wrought with his own hands to procure a subsistence, (1 Thess. ii. 3, 4. though some few behaved irregularly, and got into an idle 9; 2 Thess. iii. 8.) but also received supplies more than once from and negligent way of living, which brings much reproach upon a Philippi; (compare Phil. iv. 16.) I think it mucli more probable, christian profession, and therefore required church-discipline ; lb. (as Dr. Benson well argues. Hist. Vol. II. p. 94, 95.) that after the iii. 6—15. It also appears that when Paul was with them, he took Jews appeared so obstinate in their infidelity -as most of them did, an opportunity of hinting to them the rise of Antichrist, which, as he desisted from disputing or teaching in their synagogue after the they a little mistook his meaning, gave occasion to that celebrated tliird sabbath, and llien preached for some lime among the Gen- prophecy, 2 Thess. ii. 1 — 12. I conclude that these hints from the tiles, before the assault mentioned ver. 5. which drove him from Epistles, to complete and illustrate the short account given in the this city. It appears that during his stay here great numbers of Acts, will not, here or elsewhere, be di.sagreeablo to my readers, Gentile idolaters received the gospel with remarkable zeal and but that they will rather be pleased to have as complete a view as affection, 1 Thess. i. 9, 10. so that a church was founded, in the ii^ay be of the scripture-history of the christian church in the midst of their persecutions, which became famous in all Macedonia apostles' time. and Achaia : (Ibid. ver. .5—8.) And though the apostle, after bav- b Evidently showing them.] This seems the proper import of the ing treated these new converts with extraordinary tenderness \vnr(\ Tta^iri'iti/.iW', \\\i\ch nS^mftes Uiylnri a lliinrj open before the q/es during his abode with them, was quickly forced to leave them, of spectators. Grotius and Eisner think the last words of the pre. (chap. ii. 7, 8, 11. 'y tK*=„ ='"''' '''^f^'.^^™^^ but M. L'Enfant's argunient from his name seems not sufficient to tlie gospel, not only that Christ is a I) vine .^I«f f "?*= ' ^"' ?^?° prove him to have been so. that his appearance was foretold to the Jews, th^ ' =^ '™P°'^''^J » - «^. ... -r. -d j'i_.A i — A *« .-:.^,i;.^nf^ r'UT'Jctv- m:c«ir,n witnnnf showinp- tnat It was so. liuc. sense they give in any particular instance, or in an insiaiic«,..- e Of a nobler and more genero.n dhposltion, S,-c.^ There is, as sufficient to balance the other P'""*"^ '''7 //"fX'sion toX^ pr^^^^^^ Dr. Whitby has observed, a peculiar spirit and propriety in this a divine guidance, before we can draw any concIsiontc,t^^^^^ expression, as the Jews boasted that they were .x.v^h^. x« e.ys«.c, dice of their plenary '"^P'"""" • J";"> /"/t c ris ianl^V is false free and nnhle, by virtue of their descent from Abraham and the concluding, without such an ";;'=^''=''':"f' ''^'d ' "t In AlLke^^^^^ other patriarchs.^ These Berceans, imitating the rational faith of ^vhich yet lias pierally lieen the way of o,,r ^^^^^^^ their great progenitor, were ^vy,.^<1r^;o^, hh more geiunne ofspring. and of Mr. Collins in particular, whose reflections on this text gave i DdUy examining the scriptures:] It is very unjust to argue, occasion to this remark. „ , „„„„i„^„-i l\ir T^larkwall has from the conduct of the apostle with respect to U.e Jews, and g Wns.ng a storm among '^f P^P"'"'^^ ,hat tl-i' i' the"xact from that of these free and generous inquirers, that Christianity rightly observed, (Sorr f-^^'-.^.^lJj^J^f;^,^,^^^^^^^ cannot be proved otherwise than from the prophecies of the Old import of he word «xa.., vhic. expresses « t'^'j' «/~ /4™^ Testament.'^ It might be demonstrated from various topics of ex- sea, and admirably illustrates the rage and fury of a seditious niul_ ternal and internal evidence to those who never heard of any former titude. Con^pare Psal. xcm. 3, 4 ; Isa. xv n. 12, 13 , Jer. xivi. 7, o , revelation. Another very important additional argument does in- See Eisner, OOserv. Vol. 1. p. 441'. 5-22 REFLECTIONS ON THE OPPOSITION MADE TO THE APOSTLES. SECT, quence of the growing influence of his unjust accusers, and the peculiar malice which they Paul, to go as it were to tlie 39. had against him, sent axvai/ Paul, as if he v.ere to go bi/ sea to some of the southern ^«^- ^"' '*''/'^ and Timo- ■ cities of Greece ; and they chose to direct him to the road which led to the sea, that if he *"^'^ °'^'' '*" ^ ' ACTS had not an opportunity of embarking, or did not think proper to do it, his malicious enemies XVII. might at least be discouraged from any farther attempt to pursue him ; which they might 14 probably have done, if they had known he would have travelled by land. But Silas and Thnothu, as their characters were not so public, or their persons so obno.xious, did not go with him from Bercea, but continued there ^. while longer, to settle the new-planted church, and to instruct them more fully in the doctrine of the gospel. 15 And they that conducted Paul, brought kirn by land as far as the celebrated city of 1-5 And tliey that con- Athens, that unequalled seat of learning among the Greeks; and having received an unto'^Athen": a'ndreeeiv'i™ order from him to Silas and Timothr/, that they should come to him as soon as 7night a commandment unto Sila-s be,^ to inform him of the state of the new converts he had left behind him at Thessalonica a"-erf/i'evs''au^'\^u"h "he^'^dev''^t ^^^^'^'^fo''^ discoursed publicly upon the great principles of natural and revealed religion in ].. rsuns, and in the market the Synagogue, addressing himself to the Jews, and to the other pious persons [that iiniv with them that met %corshipped with them'] on their sabbath days;'' and took all opportunities of speaking about matters of religion every day, in the great forum or market-place, to those Athenians whom he ?nct with in the public edifices which were erected there. IS Then certain philoso- But somc of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers opposed themselves to hiin ;^ the 18 phers of the Epicureans, fgnner of which entirely denied a Divine Providence, and held the world to be merely the aiKl ot Lhe stoics, enconn- _ . , . •' , , , i • <- i i i ••,• i • ■ ^ , ,t tered him ; and some said, etiect of chance, asserting pleasure to be man s chiet good, and limiting his existence to tne What will this habbier say ? present state ; and the latter maintained the doctrine of an universal necessity, and proudly otlier some, He seemeth to '^ ,, i ,, • • r iU • » • i ^i t^ i i ■ u' th be a setter forth of strange exalted their Wise men as II they were m some respects superior to the Deity himselt. 1 he ?o(is: because he preached notions of both these were so directly contrary to the doctrine which Paul taught, that it is " '"""^ ""^ no wonder they proved violent antagonists ; and as several were present at these occasional debates, some scornfully said. What will this retailer of scraps say ?''■ this trifling fellow, that has somewhere or another picked up some scattered notions, with whiclrhe is vain enough to think he may make a figure here ? And others said, He seems to be a pro- claimer of foreign deities or demons : because he preached to them Jesus and the resur- rection ; the former of which they, through their negligence in attending, ridiculously took for a deified man, and the other for a goddess.'' unto them Jesus resurrection a His spirit within him was strongU/ mnvcd.'] The word ffijo- fyyiTo signifies, that a sharp edge was as it were set upon his spirit, and lliat lie was wrought up to a great eagerness of zeal. Yet it is observable, that it did not throw him into any sallies of rage, eitlier in words or actions, but only engaged him courageously to attempt stopping this torrent of popular superstition, by the most serious and affectionate, yet at the same time manly and rational, remonstrances. Oh that christian zeal had always produced such effects ! b He beheld the city enslaved to idolatry.'] This, which is here expressed in the original by y.xri\K-:\vi, appears to have been its proper character. Athens was therefore called by iElian the altar of Greece; and Xenophon observes, " that it had twice as many " sacred festivals as any other city." (Xen. De Rep. Atlien. p. 700.) The grave Pausanias tells us, " it had more images than " all the rest of Greece :" {Attic, crip. 17, 24.) and one of th.e satirists humorously says, " It was easier to find a god than a n:nn " there." (Petron. Satiric, cap. 17.) Dr. Hammond has a fine note to illustrate this. See also Mr. Biscoe, At Boyle's Led. chap, viii. I II. p. 317, 321. and Tlie Knowledge of Divine Things from Revet, p. 2.18, 23!). The author last mentioned tells us, (I wish I could find on what particular authorities,) that a fool had been capitally condemned there for killing one of jEsculapius's spar- rows, and that a little child accidentally taking up a piece of gold that fell from Diana's crown, was put to deatli for sacrilege. (Ibid. p. 240.) The prevalence of such a variety of senseless superstitions in this most learned and polite city, which all its neighbours beheld with so much veneration, gives us a most lively and affecting idea of the need we have, in the most improved state of human reason, of being taught by a divine revelation. May the admirers of the Grecian wisdom seriously consider it, and they will tind almost every one of their classics an advocate for the gospel ! c The Jems and pious persons that worshipped with them.'] It appears plainly from this text, and perhaps also from ver. 4. I think beyond any other, that the character of (Jiioni-tui is at lea.st some- times given by Luke to persons who used to worship thetrue God, and yet were not circumcised, which if they had been, I think they would not have been distinguished from Jews. But that the title was appropriated to such, and especially that such could pro- perly be called proselytes of the gate, in the technical sense in which INIaimonides, and almost all our modern writers from him, explain the word, will by no means follow. d Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers.] The Epicu- rean notions came so near to those of our gay world, that it may seem less needful to explain them any farther than is done in the paraphrase : and as for those of the Stoics, different writers, accord- ing to their fondness for, or their prejudices against, the philosophy of tlie pagans, and of this sect in particular, have represented their doctrines in a very different view ; and indeed the notorious incon- sistency between some of their own writers and some of the an- cients, in their account of them, has greatly perplexed the matter. But I think Dr. Benson has expressed himself, on the whole, in a very impartial and judicious, as well as comprehensive, manner, (Hist. Vol. II. p. 100.) when he tells us, " They held that matter " was eternal, God corporeal," that is, a fiery substance, " and that " either God was the soul of the world, or the world itself a God. " They" generally " looked upon all things as subject to an irre- " sistible fatality," though some of them at least, seem to me to have exempted the human will from it: " that virtue was its own " sufficient reward, and vice its own sufficient punishment : And " they fluctuated exceedingly as to their belief of future rewards " and punishments, though tliey had some expectations of a future " state" of existence, " as well as of the conflagration and renova- " tion of the world :" with relation to which, several of them seem to have expected a continual revolution of exactly similar events at equally distant periods of time. — The attentive reader will easily see how opposite the genius of each of these sects was to the pure and humble spirit of Christianity, and how happily the apostle levels his incomparable discourse at some of the most distin- guishing and important errors of each, while, without expressly attacking either, he seems only intent on giving a plain summary of his own religious principles, in which he appears a most charm- ing model of the true way of teaching and reforming mankind. fSee Dr. Benlley, At Boyle's Lecture, Sermon li.at the beginning.) For a larger account of the Epicureans and Stoics, see Le-.CIerc's Fcnin. Hist. Crol. \ ii. cap. 4, 5; Budaeus, in his excellent Hist, of Phil. cap. iv. ? 45—30. et Jbid. \ .36—40; and above all for the latter. Lips. Manuduct. ad Phil. Stoicam, prtssertiin lib. i. cap. 14, 15. , . , e Retailer of scraps.] This was the best phrase I could think of, to express the original, um^uckoyo!, which signifies, " a contemp- " tible creature, that picks up scattered seeds in the r-arket, or "elsewhere;" and therefore Mr. Fleming (Christol. \ol. H. p. 429.) would render it grain-gatherer, or less literally, holder-forth. To have rendered it 'titis mountebank, as the translation of 1727 does, seemed both ludicrous and inaccurate. The origmal ad- mirably expresses the contempt thev had of an unknown foreigner, that pretended to teach all the several professors of their learned and illustrious body of philosophers.— A^'itsius [UTeletem p. 81—83.) has taken great pains to show, bv many authorities, that it com- prehends the three ideas of meanness, garrulity, and impiety, as if it had been sai»\ This contemptible, prattling, sacrilegious crea- ture ■ but as this seems to strain the matter to an extreme, I chose the least malignant sense, especially as that was petulant enough, and nives one but an ill idea of their" sense and politeness. f Jesus, and the resurrection.] It seems with great reason that Dr. Hammond follows Chrysostom's interpretation, which is that given in the paraphrase, '.hupid as the mistake seems, it is the 524 PAUL PREACHES IN THE AREOPAGUS AT ATHENS. SECT. And as Ihe crowd increased to a greater number than could conveniently hear him in 19 And tlicy took bin 40. the place where they tlien were, t/ici/ took him and conducted him to that celebrated hill anJ brought him unto Areo^ ■ near the citadel which was called t/ic Areopagus,^ being a part of their city dedicated to w*faT'th^s"^uew^^doctr?nr ! ACTS Mars the god of battle, whom they called Areios, and the seat of that illustrious senate who whereof thou speakest, is?' ^^'11- had the name of Areopagites, from their assembling there. And when he was, come thither 19 they applied to him, saj/ing, Mny wc be allowed to know more fully and particularly ivhat 20 this new doctrine [is} which is spoken by thee ? For thou bringcst some strange things 20 For thou bringest to our cars, exceedingly different from what we have ever received from any of those many our'^e'ars*-^™? would' kiiow professors of various learning which this celebrated city has produced: "we would there- therefore what these things fore willingly know what these things mean ; and chuse to hear them from thine own '"(^an- mouth, rather than by the uncertain report of others, who may not perhaps clearly under- stand what thou intendest, or accurately relate what thou hast said. Now this was entirely agreeable to the genius of the place ; for all the Athenians, and nothing else, but cither to tell or to hear some new thing.) 2-2 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' Hill, and said. Ye men of Athens, ] 21 iNow this was entirely agreeable to the genius ot the place ; for all tlie Athenians, and 21 (Forailthe Athenians, the numerous strangers that sojourn among thenii delight to spend their leisure titnc, J'"^ strangers which were oi v^hic\\xndii\y oiihexnhdiVedi^csiX. AqcA, in nothing else hid telling or hearing somewhat ■' ^^''- ?iew,'^ which may amuse that speculative and curious temper they are exceeding prone to indulge. 22 Paul therefore standing up in the middle of the Areopagus, where he might be most conveniently heard by a large number of people, addressed himself to them in a very suit- able discourse, and said, Yc men of Athens, it seems as if I might address you with the perceive tiiat in all "thh'igs greater prospect of success on the occasion which now calls me to speak among you, as I y^ "re too superstitious. 23 perceive j/ou are exceedingly addicted to the worship of invisible powers :^ For as I 23 For as I passed by, and passed along the streets of this elegant and magnificent city, and beheld the objects and beheld your devotions, i instruments of your worship,^ I found an altar on which there was this remarkable in- inscription, TO THE UN- scription, " To the unknown God ;"^ so desirous do you seem to be that no deity, whether KNOWN god. AVimm known or unknown, may be passed by without some regard. Now I should think myself wo7s^u°pfi,iu^ Ui-cifre^runto inexpressibly happy, if on this incident I might graft those instructions which might bring you. you to the true knowledge of religion, and determine the devotions you seem so ready to pay to him who is the only worthy object of them ; Him, therefore, whom in this instance yc 24 worship without particularly knowing, him do /now publicly declare unto you. This 24 God that made the is the Deity that I am come to preach among you, even the one glorious and eternal God |n"'seein""- \\ai he^L^^Lo^rd who made the world and all things that are therein ; and it is evident that such must be of heaven and earth, dweii- the excellency of his nature, that being the supreme and uncontrollable Lord of all the ^vjji, "°an j ". *'^'"P'^* ""'^® dominions of heaven and earth, he dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Neither 25 Neither is worshipped less to be wondered at, since Resurrection might as well be counted k T7ie objects and instruments of your worship.'] This is the a deity as Shame, Famine, and Desire, among the Athenians, proper signification of aii:f!ix-Kr«, which has no English word (Pausan. Attic, cap. 17.) or as the Fever, and some things too exactly corresponding to it. Compare 2 Thess. ii. 4. scandalous here to name, were among the Romans, as Dr. Ham- 1 To the unknown God.'] The express testimony of Lucian niond, Mr. Reeves, (^i/;o/. Vol. II. p. 53.) and many others, have (Philopat. ad fin.) suflicieiitly proves that there was such an in- long since remarked. Raphelius's attempt to overthrow this scription ^.t Athens, and shows how unnecessary, as well as un- iiiterpretation, by proving that Sxiij.min signifies titc person of a warrantable, it was in Jerome to suppose that the apostle, to serve demon, and also any j>roperty or work belonying to him, (Annot. ex his own purpose, gives this turn to an inscription which bore on Xcn. \t. Ifi7 — 172.) is quite unsuccessful; for none of his aitthori- its front a plurality of deities. Whence this important pheno- ties prove it expresses both in the same place. nienon arose, or to what it particularly referred, it is more diffi- g They took him and conducted Inm to the Areopagus.] For an cult to say. AVitsius, [Mclet. p. 85.) with Heinsius, [in loc.) under- account of this celebrated place, and the court of judges which sat stands it of Jehovah, whose name not being pronounced by the there to try all the most important causes, civil or criminal, see Jews themselves, might give occasion to this appellation ; and to Archbishop Potter's Greek Antiq. Book I. chap. 19. and, for the this sense Mr. Biscoe inclines, Boyle's Lect. chap. viii. sect. 22. etymology, Dr. Hammond, aud Le Clerc's Supplement. As the p. ,322—325. Dr. Welwood [Pref. to the Banquet of Xcnnplion, cognizance of religious causes also lay in these judges, Beza, Dr. p. IS, 1!).) supposes that Socrates reared this altar, to express his Hammond, and some other critics, have thought that Paul was devotion to the one living and true God, of whom the Athenians brought to a formal trial before tliem ; but it evidently appears had no notion, and whose incomprehensible being he insinuated, to be a mistake, not only from the title by which Paul addresses by this inscription, to be far beyond the reach of their understand- thcm in his discourse, (from which Limborch argues,) but from ing or his own : and in this I should joyfully acquiesce, could the whole tenor of the story, and particiriarly as the persons who I find one ancient testimony in confirmation of the fact. As it i.s, brought him hither are represented, not as accusing him of any to omit other conjectures, I must give the preference to that which thing obnoxious, but only as desiring to be informed what that Beza and Dr. Hammond have mentioned, and which Mr. Hallet strange thing, his new doctrine, was. {Disc, on Scrip. Vol. I. )). 307, 308.) has laboured at large to h The strangers that sojourn among them, delight to spend their confirm and illustrate, though 1 think none of these learned writers leisure time (eunm^ouv) in — somewhat new.] It is well known that has set it in its most natural and advantageous light. Diogenes the young nobility and gentry of Italy, and most of the neighbour- Laertius, in his Life of Epimenidcs, (see lib. i. p. 29. C. with the ing countries, generally studied some time at Athen.s, where there Notes of J. Casaubon and Menagius,) assures us, that in the time were the most celebrated professors in all the liberal arts and of that philosopher, [about liOO years before Christ,] there was a sciences. Several of the critics have shown how remarkable the terrible pestilence at Athens, in order to avert which, when none Athenians were for their love of novelty, and none, that I recollect, of the deities to whom they sacrificed appeared able or willing to better than Raphelins, Annot ex. Xen.'\>. 172, 17.3. help them, Kpimenides advised them to bring some sheep to the i Exceedingly addicted to the worship of invisible powers.] This Areopagus, and letting them loose from thence, to follow them .English phrase, which is very agreeable to the etymology of till they lay down, and then to sacrifice them (as I suppose the SiniSxi/xmiiTi^i, lias, what I think a version of Scripture should words rw ir^onixcvTi ©to;, signify) ^ Me god near tehose temple or altar always if possible have, the ambiguity of the original, which Dr. they then were. Now it seems probable, that Athens not being Hammond, and especially Revius, On Valla, urove to be capable then .so full of these monuments of superstition as afterwards, of a good as well as a bad sense ; (compare Acts xxv. 19.) whereas these sheep lay down in places where none of them were near, and neither superstitious nor religions have that ambiguity. Dr. .so occasioned the rearing what the historian calls anonymous altars, liardner, Credit). Book I. chap. 8. \ 7. Vol. I. p. 427 — 430, (as or altars each of whiciriiad the inscription, ayv.vru C-~£i;, /o Mf !;«• Mr. Fleming also had done, Christology, Vol. II. p. 431.) has well known God, meaning thereby the Deity who had sent the plague, observed, that giving it the worst signification of which it is capa- whoever he were ; one of which altars at least, however it might ble, does not well suit the decorum which so well-bred a man as have been repaired, remained till Paiil's time, and long after. I'aul was would no doubt maintain before this polite assembly ; Now, as the God whom Paul preached as Lord of all, was indeed whereas, on our interpretation, it opens his discourse, not only in the Deity who sent and removed this pestilence, the apostle might an inoffensive, but in a very obliging, manner, which I have en- with great propriety tell the Athenians he declared to them him deavoured farther to express in the paraphrase. This accurate whom, without knowing him, they worshipped, as I think the critic shows, that strangers at Athens used to begin their public concluding words "f the 23d verse may most decently be ren- oiscourses with some compliment to the place and its inhabitants, dcrcd. The medium Paul chuscs cannot be sufiicicnllv admired. PAUL CALLS THEM TO REPENT, IN VIEW OF A JUDGMENT TO COME. 525 i,,h men's hands, Hstiiough IS he so'vcd hj human hands lifted up in prayer, or stretched out with the most costly sect. )i, needed any thing; see- offerings, US if hc stood ill need of av!j thing which we can give or which we can do :"' 40. 'I'a ilrcafiCand aU things^!' For ^"^ himself is indeed the great universal Benefactor from whom all our enjoyments and all our powers of action are derived ; as he is continually giving to all the human acts race life, and breath, and all things, which they can neither consecrate to him or pos- ^^ll. 26 And hath made of one sess themselves. And hc hath made of one blood, and caused to descend from one origi- 26 blood all nations of men, for g| p j jj^ immediate work of his own almighty power and goodness, the whole nation to dwell ou all the face of ,^ '. ^ „ i i ■ -j x- i ^ j .lit i the earth, and hath deter- and specics of men," now, by his providential care, so propagated as to inhabit and cover mined the times hefore ap ^/// the face of the earth, having ?narked out in his eternal and unerring counsel, the fheir haliitaUou'': ^""'"'^ **' times fore-all'otted [to each] in their respective order," a?ul appointed the several bound- 27 That they should seek aries of their dilFerent habitations. All things, in the disposition of his providence, 27 ''li-hVfecl 'a*^fterhim ^^Inh Centring in this one great end, that they might be excited to seek after the Lord their fiu(i him, though he be not Maker, if possibli/, amidst all the darkness which their own degeneracy and prejudice far from every one of us: ^^ve brought upon their minds, thei/ might feel after him, and be so happy as io find him out, in the knowledge of whom their supreme happiness consists ; who indeed, though he be so little known and regarded by the generality of mankind, yet is not far 28 For in him we live, and y)-o?» eveiy one of US : For in him we perpetually live, and are ?noved, and do exist ;^ 28 move, and have our being; ^jjg continuance of all our active powei-s, and even of our being, is ever owing to his steady poetTha've\afd^l'or°we°are and uninterrupted agency upon us, according to those stated laws of operation which he also his offspring. hath wisely been pleased to lay down for liimself : as some also of your oivn poets have in effect said, and particularly Aratus, in those remarkable words, " For we his offspring 29 Forasmuch then as we « «rc."i We therefore, with all the noble powers and faculties of the rational nature, 29 oirM'!j*'nofto'th!nk t^a?'the ^'''"g ^nly ^^'e offspri^ig of God, and bearing but a feeble ray of those consummate and GoTihead is like unto gold, original gloriss which shine forth in him, ought not surely to imagine the Deity to er silver, or stone graven by. ^g //^.^ any thing inferior even to ourselves, any thing so mean and vile as gold, or silver, mans e\ice. ^^ stonc, (of which last material, base as it is, most of the idols are made,) how curiously 30 And tlie times of this socver w/vusrht by the art and contrivance of man. Such are indeed the gross con- 30 ifuT'now comnraiKkth \Vl ceptions that have long been entertained by a* great part of mankind, but you are now men every where to repent : called to corrcct these irregular ideas, and to govern yourselves by more rational and exalted views of religion : for though God, as it were, overlooked the times of this ignorance, and did not bear any general testimony against these corruptions in worship, nor severely punish the nations who fell into them, so long as they maintained any thing of natural virtue, humanity, and probity ^"^ he now interposes in a public and solemn manner, and expressly charges all men to whom the sound of his gospel comes, every where to repent and return to his worship and obedience, as they regard their eternal 31 Because he hath ap- happiness and salvation. And this he requires with a merciful kind of severity and im- 31 pointed a day in the which portuuity, as what must immediately be done, because he hath appointed a great and rilhteouinefs! hyVToTraan awful day in which he will Judge the whole world in righteousness, and pass a final whom he hath ordained ; sentence of happiness or misery "on each, according to his true character and behaviour ; ^I'mn'c" mnoa'nmeStha't ^hich he will do by [fhaf-\ illustrious Mf/?2 whom he hath, by miraculous interpositions, he hath raised him from the marked Out as ordained for that important purpose, of which he hath given sufficient '''^'■"'- assurance to all ?>ien, by raising him from the dead according to his known and pub- lic prediction, whereby he has demonstrated how able he is to raise othere. m Neither is tie served by /luman hands, &c.] Dr. Bentley, {At quotation ; so thai I rather think, with Le Clerc, that the poet Boyle's Lcct. Serm. II. p. 43.) and many other critics, have well borrowed it from hence, though, to he sure, many of the ancients observed, this refers to a foolish notion among the heathens, that had before expressed themselves much to the same purpose. See the gods fed on the fumes of sacrifice. Their'vnfaries also cloUied Gataker, Ac! Antnnin. lib. iv. sect. 23. et lib. v. sect. 27. tlieir images with splendid garments, and waited upon them in q For ue fas offspring are.'] These words Tou '/x^ xaii ■/;«; f^.tv, other services ill becoming the majesty and purity essential to the (which I chose to put into a poetical order in the version, as best divine nature. imitating the original,) are well known to be found ;n .\ratus, a n Hc hath made of one blood [txm eSvar avS^i-irav) tlie whole nation of poet of Cilicia, Paul's own country, who lived almost 300 years men.'] By this expression the apostle showed them, in the most un- before this time. — I wonder so few writers should have added that affected raatiuer, that though he were a Jew, he was not enslaved to they are, with the alteration of one letter only, to be found in the any narrow views, but lociked on all mankind as iiis brethren. I Hymn of Cleanlhes to Jupiter, of the Supreme God, which I see no reason to imagine, as Eisner does, that the apostle has any wi'llingly mention, as beyond comparison the purest and finest piece reference here to a notion of some of the philosophers, mentione'd of natural religion, of its length, which I know in the whole world by Julian, " that the whole human race sprung up from some of pagan antiquity ; and which, so far as I can recollect, contains ""drops of .sacred blood which fell down from Jupiter." (Eisner, nothing unwortiiy of a christian, or, I had almost said, of an in- Obscrv. Vol. I. p. 417, 448.) It would, I think, have been beneath spired pen. It is to be found in Hen. Steph. Poes-Pliihsoph. p. 49. him to have taken the advantage of such an ambiguity of expre.s- et seq. and, with Duport's Latin Translation, in Cudworth's Intellect. sion. If it be objected, (as I know it has been,) that no principle System, Book I. chap. 4. p. 432, 433. and I am sorry I know not of reason could prove that all mankind were descended from one where to refer my reader to a good English version of it. the original pair, I answer. That it was not necessary for the apostle scpa- apostle might perhaps refer to Cleanthes, as well as to his country- rately to prove every article of his doctrine, of which he here gives man Aratus, when he introduces this quotation as what some ot a summary account. Had they heard hira out, he would no doubt their own poets had said. . t Tl • have given them proper evidence tliat he had a commission from r God, as it were, overlooked the times of this icpiorancc.} I his God to teach it, and that therefore it was to be received on the au- ur^-iVv expresses, which Mr. Howe paraphrases, " The beamsot Ins thority of the revealer. " eve did in a manner shoot over them ;" (Howe's /^orAs, Vol 11. o J%e times fore.allotled to each in their respective order.] The p. 23.) that is. He did not appear to take notice of them by semling expression vifim^-yixiKv^ xii^-ouf, signifies the irisdom as well as reality express messages to them, as he did to the Jews, and now also to of this dicinc disposition of events, as fixed by God in his eternal the Gentiles, as it follows, charging all men every where to repent, counsels under the conduct of his providence ; which therefore I The reader will easily perceive there is a dignity in this latter have endeavoured to express in the paraphrase. (Compare note f, expression, becoming one who was conscious to himselt that ie was on chap. xiii. 48. p. 500, 501.) This evidently struck at the root of indeed an ambassador from the King of heaven, who could (to al- llie whole Epicurean system. lude to that remarkable story, Livy, lib xlv. cap. 12.) draw a circle s9«) are moved, and do exist.] No nbout the greatest monarch, and demand a decisive answer before ntinual and necessary dependence he stirred out of it. This universal demand of repentance, declared. islence and all their operations, on in the strongest terras, universal guilt, and admirab y confronted e, which the truest philosophy as the pride of the haughtiest Stoic of them all ; aud at the same time, bought, in words just like these, is bore down all the idle pica of fatality; for who could repent of p In Itim. we live, and Unw^i'ii) arc moved, and do exist.] No nbout the greatest monarch, and demand a decisive answer before words can better express that continual and necessary dependence he stirred out of it. This universal demand "f rfipP"tance^ de^claretl. of all derived beings, in their exist their First and Almighty Cause, well •IS theology teaches. The thoug..^, ... -v^.^o j„„v ......^, .„ _ r-^, , , ' , i », , found in an old Greek poet; but Paul does not mention it as a doing what he apprehended he could not but have done ' 526 REFLECTIONS ON PAUL'S PREACHING AT ATHENS. SECT. And tvhen thei/ heard him making mention, though but incidentally, of the resurrcc- 32 And when they heard 40. ' Hon of the dead, some rudely mocked, and, without staying to hear the evidence,^ made °4'.!;%oraeTockea°^ andi a jest of it as a despicable and incredible tale, not worthy to be any longer heard : And othei's said, We will hear 1 ACTS others,'^viho=,Q curiosity was satisfied in hearing in a few words his scheme and design, thee again of this matter. » XVII. -would not allow themselves to attend to his proofs of so extraordinary an assertion ; but 32 coldly said. It is enough ibr the present : we ivill hear thee again npon this subject, when a more convenient opportunity otters. 33 And thus Paid, finding so little disposition in this learned auditory to receive the 33 So Paul departed from truth, or so much as to hearken to the evidence of it, ivent out of the midst of them, and ■■'™°»& t'lc'"- left by far the greater part of the assembly, (notwithstanding all the conceit they had of their own learning, knowledge, and wisdom,) in that deplorable state of ignorance, folly, and superstition, in which he found them. 34 'Nevertheless, though what he said was so generally slighted, some vien adhered to ' 34 Howbeii, certain men him, and inquired farther into the evidence of that extraordmary doctrine which he taught ^^l^ "'anioni^the^whwi concerning Jesus and his resurrection ; the consequence of which was, that they believed was Di'onyslus'the Areona- the aospel, and made a public and courageous profession of it : A/nona; uhom was the s>ie, and a woman nanled , ,° "^ , T~> • ,; 1 J i i r ..1 1 T ■< , Uamaris, and others with celebrated Dwnijsius the Areopagite, a magistrate of great honour and dignity among tij^^, them,' and a woman of considerable rank and character in the city, whose name was Damaris ; and there were also some others with them whom we shall not particularly mention. IMPROVEMENT. Ver.23 Adored be the depths of divine counsel and grace, that v.'hen, in the wisdom of God, the world bi/ wis- dom knew not God, it pleased God, by what they impiously derided as the foolishness of preaching, to save 16 them that believe. (1 Cor. i. 21.) Whose spirit is not stirred, in some measure, to behold the learned and polite 21 city of Athens, not only abandoned to triding speculations, but enslaved to idolatry and superstition ? And, on the other hand, who can be so insensible of all the charms of reason and true eloquence, as not to be deliglited witii those prudent and generous attempts which Paul made to recover them from it ? When derided and affronted 18 as a vain babbler, as a retailer of scraps, by those who indeed showed themselves to deserve that infamous name, judging a matter before they heard it, and so convicting themselves of shame and folly, (Prov. xviii. 13.) he, in 22 the meekness of wisdom, addresses himself to thein with that soft tongue which breaketii the bones. (Prov. xxv. 15.) His doctrine dropped as the rain, and his speech distilled as the dew : (I)eut. xxxii. 2.) Pity it was that it produced no more valuable fruits, but rather was abused, by some that heard it, to nourish those poisonous weeds which were, alas, the native growth of this luxuriant soil. 23 We see that while Paul passed through the streets of Athens, his mind was filled with such pious and benevo- lent affections as became the mind of a christian and an apostle ; and beholding this inscription. To the unknown God, he applies himself immediately to declare him to them. Adored be the divine goodness, that we are from our infancy happy in the use of such divine instructions as he gave the Athenians and others : and that though we worship a God whose infinite perfections can never be traced out, he is not entirely anjunknown deity to us! 24 May he be known, adored, and obeyed, wide as the works of his hands extend ! Even he, the Supreme Lord of all, 25 who made heaven and earth, and all that is in them ; in consequence of which he is infinitely superior to all our most exalted services, as well as beyond any of those representations of him which the ignorance and folly of men 29 have invented in gold, silver, and stone. His power created all, and by his goodness all are supported. Let us 26, 27 consider ourselves as his offspring, honouring and loving him as the great Father of our spirits ; and since we have 28 so necessary and uninterrupted a dependence upon him, since in him we live, and move, and exisf coniinually, let all the affections of our hearts, and all the actions of our lives, be consecrated to his service. And this so much 30 the i-ather, as it evidently appears, by the revelation of his gospel, that he does not overlook us, but in the most solemn manner calls upon us, and upon all men every where, to repent, and to return to him ; setting before us in so . 31 clear a view the awful solemnity of that appointed day in which he will judge the whole world in righteousness, bij that Man whom he hath ordained to this glorious purpose, even by Jesus, to whom, as the Son of man, all judgment is wisely and righteously committed. The Lord grant that v/e may a\\ find nicrci/ of the Lord in that 'day! (2 Tim. i. 18.) In the mean time, may the declaration of it bring multitudes to repentance and faith ! 34 and especially, may it work thus on those who, like Dionysius and Damaris, are distinguished by their rank and circumstances in life, that their usefulness in the world may be as extensive as their influence, and their names pre- cious in the church among those that are yet unborn ! SECTION XLL Paul settles for a year and an half at Corinth with Aquila and Priscilla ; is encouraged by a vision-of Christ SECT. there, and rescued by GaUiofrom the rage of the Jews. Acts xviii. 1 — 17. ' Acts xviii. 1. acts xviii. 1. ^f,,rg After these things, of which an account has been given in the preceding section, ^/plHeVfronrAthfus^iTnd XVIII. 1 Paul departing from Athens, came to the polite and flourishing city of Corinth, so came to Corintli ; s "Without staving to hear tlie evidence.] We are by no means t Dionysius the Areopagite, &c.] The members of this court, of to imagine this was all the apostle intended to have said ; but the which Dionysius was one, are well known to have been persons of indolenceof some of these philosophers, and the pctulancy of others great dignity chosen fron) among the best families and characters of tiiem, cut him short ; and so they went down to righteous con- in Athens, so that the title grew into a proverb of honour and in- demnatiou, under the guilt of having rejected a gospef, the proof of tegrity. Sec Cic. Ad Attii: lih. i. Epist. 14 ; Aul. Gell. Noct. Alt. wliich they might have learnt in one single day, but would not lib. xii. cap. 7; Wits. Mcletcm. p. 86—88; and Mr. Biscoc, At give themselves the trouble of e.'taraining ; and this is the con- Boyle's Led. chap. viii. \ 12. p. 325, 32G. demnation among US. PAUL GOES TO CORINTH, WHERE HE FINDS AQUILA AND PRISCILLA. 527 famous for its elegance and magnificence, and equally remarkable for the dissolute manners sect. 2 Anil fouud a certain of its inhabitants.^ And finding X\\exe a certain Jexo na7)ie(l A(juiki, a native of Poiitus, 41. Jew uained Aquila, ijoni in ^ piQvince of the Lesser Asia, not far from Galatia and Cappadocia, who was lateli/ come Italy,"with hiLv^if"priscil-^^t^/« Itah/, icith PvisciUa his -wife, because the Emperor C/a iidiiis Cdssai /lad com- acts la, (because that Claudius mandcd all the Jcxvs to depart from Rome ;'' Paul entered into such an intimacy with XVllT. departTom 'R^"e^,r'ana them, that he -u^cnt to them to lodge at their house. And as he formerly had learnt the 3 came unto tliem. ' business which they followed, and u'os capable of exercising the same trade,'^ he conti- he tame*" craft *" l!e^ abnck "'"''^ '^''^'' ^'"■'"' *^^''^' <"^(i -^'>'ons;ht [lit /f] for his subsistence : (Compare 1 Cor. iv. 12 ; witli them, and wrought: and 2 Thcss. iii. 8.) For the?/ icere tent-mahers by trade, whose business it was to make (for by their occupation tents or pavilions of linen or skins, which were much used, not only by soldiers and tra- tliey were tent-niakersO yellers, but by Others in those hot countries ; and Paul (as we have said) had been instructed in that art, as it was usual for those of the Jews who had the most learned education to be brought up to some mechanical employment, for the amusement of their leisure hours, and for their maintenance in life, if any unforeseen revolution should strip them of every thing else which they had to depend upon. 4 And lie reasoned in the But while he took up his abode here, he disputed in thesi/nagogne even/ sabbath-day, 4 synagogue every sabbath, ^^^^ eAmestlY persuaded both the Jeivs and the Greeks'^ to emlSrace Christianity as a reli- theGrce^. ^ '* ewsan ^.^^ founded in reason and truth, and the great source and security of happiness both in time and eternity : And he had some success, particularly with regard to the families of Stephanas and Epenetus, who were some of the first converts to Christianity here. (Com- pare 1 Cor. xvi. 1.5 ; Rom. xvi. 5 ; and 1 Cor. i. 14, 16.) 5 And when Silas- and -4nd as soon as Silas and Timotln/, whom he had expected at Athens, came fro?n 5 Timothcus were come from Macedonia to him at Corinth,^ Paul, farther animated by the presence of his brethren, and edTirsiTit, rnd'test'ie'ed to ^he accounts they brought him of the happy consequences of his labours at Thessalonica the Jews that Jesus was and elsewhere, was borne aivay by an unusual impulse in \his~\ spirit^ and zealously per- <^'j'''^t. sisting in his work, openly testified to the Jeivs, and by the strongest arguments endea- voured to convince them, that Jesus xvas undoubtedly the true Messiah, whom they G And when they opposed pretended impatiently to expect. But when, instead of receiving a testimony so warmly 6 themselves, and biasphem- urged, and supported with the most demonstrative proofs, they obstinately and perversely ami 'said' unto ''themlTou^ ^'^i themselves in Opposition to the doctrine he taught, and even blasphemed that glorious blood he upon your own name On which he was pressing them to fix their dependence ; he shook his garment, to heads; I nm clean: from signify that from that time he was determined he would have no more to do with them or the Geutiles. ' ^^ """ ° any thing belonging to them ; and also to intimate that God would soon shake them off, as unworthy to be numbered among his people : And upon this he solemnly said to them. Let the guilt oiyour blood be upon your oion head, and there let it rest : I am pure from it, and declare unto you, that by this wiliul impenitence and unbelief you are your own a Corintti, &c.] Antiquity abounds with passages relating to this at Corinth, not only as being a stranger, and with somepreju- this city, which, before it was destroyed by Muvnmius, was looked dices lying against him as a teacher of a new religion, but perhaps upon by the Romans as a rival almost as dangerous as Carthage ; also, as' Mr. Cradock observes, (Apost. Hist. p. Ill, 112.) from some and having been restored by Julius Caesar, with its almost unparal- prophetic intimation of that false apostle wlio should arise there, leled advantages of situation, was grown very considerable. The and make a great merit of preaching gratis, while at the same time reader may see some entertaining remarks concerning it in Witsius, he domineered over them in a most inconsistent as well as unchris- Meletem. p. 90. tian manner. (See 2 Cor. xi. 7 — 2'J.) — Whetlier Paul and these his b Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome.'] companions made common tents or wove tapestry-hangings, is a Though Josephus be silent as to this edict, probably as he thought question of no importance, though I think the former probable, as it more prudent to omit Uie mention of it in a history in which it is the latter would require a more exact skill than a person so geue- plaiu he studies to recommend himself and his people to the Ro- rally employed in far different work would be like to acquire, mans, yet it is well known that the fact is e.-cpressly mentioned by d" Perstia'ded the Jews and the Greeks.] Some render EirtiOi, he Suetonius, {Claud, cap. 25.) and that Dio, (lib. Ix. p. G69. A.) has tried to gain vpon them ; but the word persuade is often used something to the same purpose ; for prohibiting their religious as- to signify the attempt, without determining the success. It isge- semblies was in fact banishing them, as Mr. Fleming observes, nerally taken for granted that these Greeks were a kind of prose- Cliristol. Vol. II. p. 27. 1 pretend not certainly to determine lytes; but we have before hinted how possible it was that Gentiles whether that Chrestus whom Suetonius mentions as" the occasion of might, out of curiosity, attend such extraordinary preachers in those tumults among the Jews for which they were expelled from Jewish synagogues, though tliey did not commonly worship tliere, Rome, were, as Abp. Usher, Annal. p. 609. and Vandale, De Orac. which would especially take place in this instance, considering the p. 60-1. suppose, a seditious Jew, or whether, as it is generally miracles which Paul wrought at Corinth, to which he .so often re- thought, the name be a corruption cf Christus: (See Tertnll. Apol. fers in the two Epistles whicbhe afterwards wrote to that chyrch. cap. 3. and Lactant. lib. iv. cap. 7.) Yet I think the latter much Compare 1 Cor. i. G, 7; ii. 4, 5; xii. 4—11; xiv; 2 Cor. xi. 5; more probable; and that tlie spread of Christianity, which was xii. 12, 13. looked upon as a sect of Jews, and which we know" prevailed at e As soon as Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia.'] Silas Rome about this time, gave that jealous and wretched emperor an and Timothy had been left at Bercea wlWn Paul came from thence, unne«essary alarm, the occasion of which Suetonius, not thoroughly and had directions sent them, as soon as he arrived at Athen.s, understanding it, has misrepresented. And if this were the case, it quickly to follow him; (chap. xvii. 14, 15.) which Timothy ac- might be, as Dr. Lardner well observes, {Credih. Book I. chap. 11. cordingly did. and was sent back again by Paul to Thessalonica to ? 3. Vol. I. p. 5.56.) an additional reason why Josephus, who is al- confirm the faith of his dear converts there, of whom he had ways cautious on this head, has passed it over without notice. brought so good an account: (I These, iii. 2, 5, 6.) And it .seems c Of the same trade.] It has with great propriety been observed to have beeii from this journey that Timothy now returned with and shown by many learned men here, that it was a point of con- Silas, having probably joined him before he left Macedonia.-—— science with the Jews to teach their children some trade, even This account of the matter seems more probable tlian that of Mr. though they bred them up to the liberal sciences. Hence one of Cradock and some others, who suppose that both Silas and 1 imothy their rabbies is sirnamed the shoemaker, and another the baker, &c. came from Bercea to Paul at Athens, and that after 1 imothy had (See Drusius and Grotius, in loc. Wits. Melelem. p. 11, 12; and Mr. been sent to Thessalonica. and brought the good tidings referred Biscoe, At Boyle's I.ect. chap. vii. \ 3. p. 272—274.) And it is a to, both he and Silas were sent from Athens to 3Iacedonia ana custom, still prevailing among the Easterns. 1 think Sir Paul were appointed to meet Paul at Corinth, which seems multiplyiug Ricaul somewhere observes, that the Grand Seignior, to whom he journies without proof or necessity. ... . .. „. was ambassador, was taught to make wooden spoons. And this is f IVas home au-ay by an unusual impulse in [lus] spirit.] _Hein- ry ungenerous in urooio 10 mention agency pr , ■ t " o a •• q this' as"any reproach to Paul, or as bringing his character into the for the expression ; and, for the cflect, Jer. xx. 8, 9 ; Amos 111. S. least degree of suspicion. Paul might have peculiar reasons for 528 HE IS ENCOURAGED IN HIS WORK BY A VISION OF CHRIST. SECT, murderers, (Compare Ezek. xxxiii, 2 — 9.) And as God and man can witness that I have 41. done all in my power to prevent so sad an event, I now desist from any farther attempts of this kind ; and from henceforth, while I continue in tliis city, / null go and preach to the ACTS Gentiles, who will readily receive that gospel which you so ungratefully reject. XVIII. jlud going out from thence, he ivent into the house of one whose name was culled TAndliedepartedthence, Justus;- who was a worshipper of the true God, though not a complete Jew by profession,' n"a*l,.s"il",^e, named Jultw, and tvhose house was adjoining to the si/nagoguc ; and there he taught. one that woishippea fiodj 8 But though he did not succeed to his wish in what he delivered to the Jews, yet his ^'['^''f ,''."^'f,^„''g°'""' '''"''* '" labours among them were not entirely ineliectual j and it v/as particularly remarkable that « And'cnspus, the cbiet Crispus the ruler of the sj/nagoguc l/clieved in the Lordtvith all his house : (Compare ruler of the synaaoi,nic, hc- 1 Cor. i. 14.) And'tnan?/aho(ifthe Corinthians, hearing not only the report of his con- i'i7iToi°si f'and ?rany oahi version, but the discourse of the apostle, found the conviction which it produced so power- Corinthians hearing-, he- ful, that they believed; and, in token of their full resolution to adhere to the gospel, lieved, and were baptized, whatever extremities might arise, xvere baptized, and thereby entered into the christian church, and settled in it. 9 At this time Paul, conscious of many imperfections attending his person and address, 9 Then spake the Lord to was discouraged in a view of the learning, politeness, and grandeur of many Gentile inha- ^■'"' '" "'^ "'S'jt by '•^^'^• bitants of the city to whom he was to speak, so that he was, as he himself expresses it, speak, and hold not thy " among them in weakness and in fear, and in much trembling :" (1 Cor. ii. 3.) and these peace: alarms were much increased by the violent assaults which had lately been made upon him in other places through which he had passed, and the contempt with which he had gene- rally been treated. But the Lord Jesus Christ interposed in a very gracious manner, and said to Paul by a vision in the night. Fear not to go on with thy work even here, but speak my gospel boldly and courageously, and do not keep silence under any present dis- 10 couragement or future apprehension : For 1 myself, by my powerful and gracious pre- 10 For I am with thee, sence, a?n continually XDith thee, and will engage for it that no man shall fall upon thee "'"1 "^ man shall set on ■ • ,; 1 "^ /• r 1 1 / • j; • -J h 1 1 i • 1 I t''<^P to hurt thee: for I to injure thee here ; for I fiave much people in tins citi/;' and am determinea by my have much people in this grace to make thy ministry successful among many by whom thou art ready to apprehend city, it \\'\\\ be despised. 11 And encouraged by this assurance, in the fidelity and security of which he finnly con- n And he continued fided, Paul did, as it were, pitch his tent at Corinth, and sat down [there'] for a year and fcrchinrthe' wol^^f'cod sixmontlis i"" teaching the tvord of God among them with all freedom, though with deep among them, humility, and maintaining himself by the work of his own hands. 12 And by the divine blessing on his diligent and pious labours, which he so generously 12 And when Gaiiio was gave them, a most flourishing church was planted at Corinth, " the members of which j'g';j,s''''',JJ^[je°'^ insuiTection " were filled with all knowledge and utterance, and came behind in no spiritual gifts, for with ojie accord aj-ainst " the variety of which they were signally remarkable." (Compare 1 Cor. i. 5, 7.) But Paul, and brought him to so glorious a progress of the gospel here could not fail of exciting the opposition of its ene- *^"'''" gment-seat. mies; and accordingly, when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia,^ during the residence that he made at Corinth, the Jews, being now resolved to bear no longer, made an assault upon Paul with one consent, and brought him before t/ic tribunal of that magistrate, 13 Saying, in the most clamorous and furious manner. This turbulent [fellow'] is the author of 13 Saying, This fellow insufferable mischiefs here and all over the coimtry ; for he persuades men to worship God coTcoutrar"^ t' tl" "j'"^^'"'* in a manner directly contrary to that which the law requires and appoints, and would so "' '^"" ''^'^ introduce corruptions in religion, and, to the utmost of his power, would endeavour to subvert it. 14 And when Paul would have opened [his] mouth, and was about to have spoken in his 14 And when Paul was own defence, Gallio would not give him the trouble of making an apology for what he did ""w about to open liis not look upon to come within his cognizance •, but prevented him, and said to tlie Jews, If n^^^fll^^ffui^l"^ a ."mt° it were an act of injustice, or any mischievous licentiousness, O \j/e] Jews, with which ter of wrong, or wicked YOU charged the person vou have now brought before me, it were but reasonable, as it is le^^il'iess, o ye Jews reason £c . 1 .. ■'1 1- i 1 ii. i T 7 7 ; 7 w • lU- would that I should bear my ofhce to guard tne public peace, not only that 1 should bear with you in this prosecu- with you : tion, though managed indeed with some excess erf eagerness, but also tliat, on proper proof, g Into tite house of one called Justus."] Tt has been supposed that compared with Acts xviii. 5. whicti seems to have been the earliest Paul was denied the use and liberty of the synagogue by Sosthencs, of those which occur in the New Testament ; and quickly after it, who, when Crispus was expelled, was made governor of it. (Flem- his Second. — Lord Barrington also thinks, that from lience he wrote ing's Ctiristnlogij, Vol. II. p. 28.) But Paul himself so solemnly his Epistle to the Galatians ; which seems probable, as he refers broke off all farther treaty v.'ith the Jews in a ))ublic way, that we there to his having been but lately among them. Gal. i. (5 ; iii, 1, 3; need seek no other reason for his chusing some other place for dis- iv. 1.3 ; anil yet hints nothing of liis having been there more than coursing to the people who might desire his instructions. Accord- once ; so that it seems to refer to the journey mentioned. Acts xvi. ingly he taught here; but I see no proof at all of his quitting his 6. [Miscell. Siicr. Abstrncl, p. 31.) and to have been before that lodgings with Aquila, and therefore no need of inquiring (as some mentioned in the 23d verse of this chapter, have done) what was his reason for doing it. k When Gnllio vns proconsul at Achaia.} See note i, on chaji. h I have much people in this cili/.] I cannot think, with Lim- xiil. 8. ]>. 494. Dr. Lardncr .justly observes, {Crcrlib. Book i. borch and Dr. Benson, Hist. Vol. II. p. 210. that virtuous and well- chap. 1. \ 12. Vol. I. p. 55—57.) that this is another instance of the disposed heathens, as such, are here called the people of Christ, or exact propriety with which St. Luke expresses himself; for have the character elsewhere of his sheep, John x. 10, 20 ; but ra- though the province of Achaia, which comprehended al! the rest of ther that the expression takes in all who .should according to the Greece, had a more various fortune than that of Cyprus, and frc- gracious purposes of Christ, be converted to Christianity, wliatever quently changed its form of government; yet, A. 1). 44. (which is their tempers then were, even not excepting those very vicious, ill- generally supposed to have been about eight years before this disposed, corrupt per-sons, whose character in their unregenerate event,) it was restored to the senate, and .so became proconsular, state is described in such strong terms, 1 Cor. vi. 9—11. where the It is generally thought this Gallio was elder brother to the fa- apostle speaks of what they were before they were converted. mous L. Annajus Seneca, the moral philosopher, who was preceptor i Sal down there a year and six moht/is.] During this time he to Nero, of which, as Mr. Bi.scoe show,s, there is great probability, wrolo his First Epistle to the Thessalouians, 1 Thess. iii. 1— G. Boyle's Led. chap. Vii. I 3. l>. ^1, 5S. \ REFLECTIONS ON PAUL'S ZEAL TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL. 529 I should exert the power with which I ain invested, to punish the offender in proportion to sect. 15 But If It be a question his crime: But if it be a question concerning tiie propriety of icords and names,^ as 41. of words and names, and of wliether the person wliom he so highly extols should be called your Messiah or not, and fwUllje nT jiulge of 'such wliother God is to be worshipped in the way required by the low -which is received among acts matters. " you as divine ; or what regard is due to any particular ceremony of it : see [to if] in your ,-^^^''' own way, and settle it how you will dLiaon^ yourselves : for IhaQw the design of my office ^" too well to interfere on such an occasion, and tDill be no judge of these matters, which iG And lie drave thera are SO foreign to it. And with this wise and determinate answer, to which he adhered not- 17 from the judgraeut-seat. withstanding all their clamorous importunity, he drove them atuay from the tribunal, and proceeded to other business. 17 Then all the Greeks And all the crowd of Greeks who were present, perceiving how little favour the Jews 13 took Sosthenes, the chief found from the court in this tumultuous and vexatious suit, in which they plainly saw that beaT li[u\''beL're^7he j'ud^*^ I'^^il was insulted for the regards he had expressed for them, laid hold on Sosthenes, the ment-seat : and Gaiiio cared ruler of the Jewish si/nagogue, whom they looked upon as the chief occasion of the prose- for none ot those things. cution, and beat him violently ; and this was so near the place where the proconsul was sitting, that it might be said to be before the very tribunal, and under the judge's eye:"' But though this were certainly an irregular proceeding, Gallio did not concern hiinself to interpose at all in the affair : for perceiving no great mischief was like to follow, he was willing, by bis connivance, to leave so troublesome a plaintitf as Sostiienes to feel some of the consequences of that confusion which his own bigotry and ill-nature had occasioned. * IMPROVEMENT. Much of the divine wisdom and goodness is seen in providing for those who are employed in the work of the Ver. 1 gospel, suitable associates and companions in their labours ; and particularly happy are they to whom God hath 2 been pleased to give, as to the pious Aquila, such a companion, in the nearest relation of lite, as may help them forward in the way to heaven, and may assist them in the service of religion while they continue on earth. Much were the fatigues of Paul's life softened by the converse of such friends, who no doubt rendered the common busi- ness of life more pleasant, as well as the work of the Lord more delightful. We find them, while endeavouring to propagate the gospel, maintaining themselves (for reasons peculiar to that 3 situation) by the labour of their own hands, and even Paul the apostle wrought with them ; not because he had not a right to demand support, for he strenuously maintains that right at large, in his address to these very Corinthians, (1 Cor. ix. 1 — 14.) b'lt to shame his mean-spirited enemies, who accused him of acting on mercenary views j and because he thought in his conscience, on some other accounts, that his fidelity to Christ would be so much the more apparent, and his labours by this means so much the more successful. And what faithful minister, who in his con- science apprehended that to be the case, would not chuse to act as he did ? In the mean time, he was engaged as usual every sabbath-day in discoursing to the Jews, and m demonstrating to 4 them the truth of the gospel ; and it is pleasant and edifying to observe with what earnestness he applied hiinself to do it : But their inveterate prejudices prevailed over all the cogency of his demonstration and all the warmth of his address, so that he was forced at length to give them up as incorrigible. Yet let us observe how he gave them 6 up; with what grief, mixed with just indignation at their folly and ingratitude ! shaking his garment, and saying, Yo?ir blood be upon your own heads 1 I am clean, — ^Thus are impenitent unbelievers their own murderers ; they bring upon themselves even the blood of their own souls. Grievous it is that it should rest upon them ; but abso- lutely necessary that we, who are the messengers of God to them, should take heed that, if they must after all bleed by the sword of divine justice, we ourselves may at last be found pure ; for terrible beyond expression would it be, if by our treachery or neglect their blood should be required at our hand. The apostle's success among the Gentiles raised new opposition, and his iniiimities frequently occasioned return- 9, 10 ing fears : But how graciously did our Lord interpose for his encourage-ment and support, assuring him of his pro- tection, and promising him yet more abundant success ! Blessed Jesus, thy grace was sufficient even for this thy servant, amidst all the labours of the ministerial and apostolical office, amidst all the internal as well as external diffi- culties he had to encounter in the discharge of it ! (2 Cor. xii. 9.) May that grace be imparted to us ; and may it appear that thou hast much people, wherever thou fixest the bounds of our habitation, and the sphere of our ministry ! The tumultuous rage of the Jews is nothing surprising, for we have been accustomed often to read of it ; but the prudence and moderation of Gallio is truly amiable: That wise Roman well knew the extent of his office as a 12 magistrate, and was aware that it gave him no title, no pretence, to dictate in matters of conscience, or to restrain 14, 15 men's religious liberties, so long as they abstained from injustice or mischievous licentiousness, by which the public peace might be disturbed, and the rights of society invaded. May God give to all the magistrates of the earth such a spirit ! and the gospel, under the influences of divine grace, will soon become an universal religion, and show the world how little need it has of being supported by civil penalties, to which those are generally most ready to have recourse who, like these Jews, are confounded by fair argument. 1 A question concerning words and names.'] This wise and equi- tosufTer a person uncondemned to be scourged or beaten with rods table magistrate (for such it appears by the ancient writers that in his immediate presence. I apprehend therefore, that as neither lie was, see Grotius, in Inc. and Dr. Benson, Vol. II. p. 126.) seems the word Amriyo.j nor iiihl,w, is used, but ruirw, whose significition to have heard tlie accusation which the Jews brought, and to have is more general, the real case was, that just as Sosthenes came out perceived by it that the dispute was whether Christ was to be of the court, which perhaps might be held in some open place, called the Messiah, and whether the Mosaic law were to be ira- (see John xviii. 28, 29. p. .^77 ; and John xix. 13. with note k, on posed on all who worshipped the true God; and therefore (as the that place, p. 384.) the mob laid hr)ld of him in a riotous author I mentioned last well observes) he had more honour and manner, and beat him, probablv with their fists ; and though the generosity than to make Paul answer under the notion of a cri- noise of this tumult, and some flying report of the assault on Sos- minal, when, by the Roman law, the matter did not come within thencs, might reach Gallio's car, while he sat on the despatch of his cognizance,' and there was nothing criminal in the charge. .wme other business, he did not seem to take any notice of it, for m It might be said to be before the very tribunal.'] One cannot the reasons suggested in the paraphrase, imagine that Gallio so little understood the dignity of his office as 2 M 530 PAUL DEPARTS FROM CORINTH, AND GOES TO GALATIA AND PHRYGIA. SECTION XLII. ' Paul departs fmn Corinth, and calling at Ephcsus by the tvajj, goes to Jerusalem : He after-wards sets out from Antioch on another progress, and visits the churches i)i Galatia and Phr^gia. Apollos preaches at Ephcsus, and Icing farther instructed in the christian doctrine, goes to Achaia. Acts xviii. 18, to the erid. Acts xviii. IS. ,^^„ ... ,„ Acts xvm. 18. SECT. Thus the tumultuous opposition that was raised at Corinth by the Jews against the pro- And Paul after this tar- 42. gress of the gospel was appeased; atid Paul still continued there for a considerable ried /W yet a good while time after it ; and \thcn'\ taking leave of the brethren, with whom he had made so long the brethren and sailed ACTS and comfortable an abode, he sailed from thence in his return for Si/ria, and took along thence into Syria, and with XVIII. ^^itfi /;/„, his two intimate friends Priscilla and Aquila ; having shaved his head at the |;ivinJ'"''i';o'^ '",^ hc^fV, 13 port otCevchrea, in the neighbourhood of Corinth, before he began his voyage; for he Cenchrea; for he had a had made a votu of doing it, on account of some extraordinary deliverance received f and ^'°"'- there he performed it. 19 And setting sail from Cenchrea, he arrived at Ephesus, and there he parted with ly Andhe came to Ephe- Aquila and Priscilla, and left them behind him,'' having made but a very short stay in that s"^' and left them there ; place ; but during that time he himself entered into the synagogue on the sabbath which he ^"p syna^or-^ue and Reasoned spent there, ai\d reasoned xvith the Jexos upon the great subject of Jesus being the Messiah, with' the Jews. 20 And though they were desirous of hearing more upon this head, and therefore entreated 20 When they desired 21 him to have stayed longer with them, yet he did not consent to do it: But took his '"J" *^?, **''''y Jong^r tmie J y-» , 7 * T r ' /* 7 11 J J 1 I 1 1 I ^^itn lueiTi. lie consented. leave oj them, saying. It is necessary jor me by all means to celebrate tlie approacli- not: ing feast of the passover at Jerusalem f but when I have despatched my business there, I 21 But bade them fare- •will turn my course to you again, God "willing, and make as long an abode amongst you meanrkecp'thi™feast ^hat as Providence shall permit. And so he set sail from Ephesus. cometh, in Jerusalem : but 22 And after a safe and prosperous voyage, landing at the port of Cwsarca, he tccnt up ^, ^^^'l' J'f'"'"" ..".K*'" ""'^'^ immediately to Jerusalem, and there attended at the feast : And having with great tender- sailed from Ephesus. ness.sff/?<^fr/Mf c/??<;t/« there, and expressed his kindness and affection to it, and delivered 22 And when he had the alms which he had brought from the churches of the Gentiles, he afterwards went down jf" a'^nd^sahfted the^'cinfr""" from thence to Antioch in Syria, where he had formerly made so long a stay, and where he'went down to Antioch. there Avas so flourishing a christian church. 23 And having spent some time [_thcre,'\ he again set out upon another progress, and 23 And after he had spent departed from Antioch, soing through the countrii of Galatia and Phrysia in an '"'T"'^ *',™'^ '^'f'''' '"^ "^fP'l^*' •S , , , ^ A^ '^ 1 • 11 , 1 1 1 • 1 • ^^ 1 cd, and went over all the orderly and regular inanner,'^ so as to take n\ all the places that lay m his way where cuntry of Galatia and he had formerly preached the gospel ; confirming all the disciples that he met with there Phry&ia in order, strength- in their adherence to the gospel, whatever opposition and difficulty might arise : And his ^"'°° " '^ '^'^''^ '^^' presence was most welcome to all their churches, who could not but greatly rejoice to see him amongst them who, as a father, liad begotten them in Jesus Christ through the gospel. (Compare 1 Cor. iv. 15.) 24 Now while he was thus employed in those parts, a certain Jew whose name xi-as Apollos, named "apoUos" bom at a native of Alexandria in Egypt, an eloquent man, \and'\ powerful in the scriptures Alexandria, an eloquent of the Old Testament, which he had diligently studied, and had an excellent faculty of ex- "cri%u7ef,cl^f to^Ephesus* pounding, came to Ephesus. This person ffia* in some measure already /ws/rKc/er/ m 23 This'man was instruct- a Having shaved his head at Cenchrea, for he liad a vow^, rite any where but at the temple, Num. vi. 9, 10. I imagine, Grotius, Heinsius, Dr. Hammond, and Witsiiis, {Meletem. p. 99 — therefore, that (unless, as Grotius and Dr. Lardner suppose, the 101.) thiuk this clause refers to Aquila, who was mentioned imme- Jews allowed themselves great liberties in this matter, when ic diately before; and some of them suppose that he and his wife foreign countries) Mepbiliosheth's vow during David's exile, Priscilla were left, not at Ephesus, but at Cenchrea ; and Chrysos- 2 Sam. xix. 24. might more nearly resemble this of Paul. Spencer torn interpreted the cause thus. But with due deference to such has shown, in his excellent dissertation on the Nazarite's vow, great names, I must say, that though it be not certainly deter- (/?«■ Leg. Heh. liti. iii. cap. 6. \ 1.) that the Gentiles, as well as the mined by the original, it seems much more probable, from the Jews, had such a custom. Dr. Lardner thinks that Paul's reasou construction, that xei^xajevj? and xttmvmis. must refer to the same for hastening to Jerusalem was that lie might accomplish his vow ; person, that is, Paul ; nor is there any weight in what some sug- but I see not how that could be any reason why he should keep gested, that Aquila is mentioned here after his wife Priscilla, to the feast there, since the vow might have been accomplished either show that it was he that shaved his head, since they are mentioned before or-after it. See Dr. Lardner's Credib. Book I. chap. 9. \ 7. thrice by the apostle Paul in his epistles, Rom. xvi. 3; 1 Cor. xvi. Vol. I. p. 465 — 472. 19; 2 Tim. iv. 19. and where there could be no such reason to b And there he left iltem.'] It is observable that the Syriac Ver- induce him to it, he has twice named Priscilla first; and as it sion inserts this clause afterwards in ver. 21. which seems its most appears, from ver. 26. that Aquila and Priscilla were at Ephesus natural place: " And he left Aquila and Priscilla there, and sailed when Apollos was there, and from ver 18. that they set out with " from Ephesus." Paul from Corinth to make the intended voyage in his company, c It is necessary far me by all means, 4"C.] This was not from it is most likely they went now to Ephesus," and were not left at any apprehension that he was obliged in conscience to celebrate Cenchrea. As for this vow, it is justly observed by Salmasius, the Jewish feasts, (compare Rom. xiv. 5; Gal. iv. 10, II ; Col. ii. that it could not be a vow of Nazariteship, for then the hair must IC ;) but because he desired to seize that opportunity of meeting have been burnt in the temple under the caldron in which the a great number of his countrymen at Jerusalem, to whom he peace-offerings were boiled ; Num. vi. 18. Petit thinks the men- might preach the gospel, or whom, if already converted, he might tion of his vow relates only to Paul's return to Judca, and not at further instruct, or might remove the prejudices that were ground- all to his shaving his head, which words he would include in a lessly imbibed against him. parenthesis, supposing the Jews at Corinth wore their hair long, d 'Going through the country of Galatia and Phrygia, en were ye with relation to the Holy Spirit ? for christians are appointed, at their first admission into ihuo^johu's baptisnf. ''"' ' the church, to be baptized in his name, as well as in that of the Father and of the Son, and the great promise of the gospel gives them an assurance of the effusion of the Spirit. But they said. We were only baptized into Johns baptism, having been in Judea about the time of his ministry ; and so we were taught to look for a Messiah quickly to be revealed ; and hearing what was testified of Jesus with proper credentials, we embraced 4 him and his religion. And upon this Paul said, John indeed adtninistercd the baptism 4 Then said Paul, John of repentance, and came to prepare the way of the Lord, felling the people that they bant?sm''of'repentance sav'^ should believe in him that was to come after him, that is, in Jesus Christ, whose in^ unto the people, 'that servant he professed himself to be, and so much inferior to him as not to be M'orthy they should believe on hina to loose or to bear his shoes ! It is highly congruous, therefore, to the intention and de- him, that is, on Christ Jesus', sign of John's ministry, now to profess your faith with all solemnity in that Jesus to 5 whom he afterwards bore such express and repeated testimonies. And hearing \_lhis,] 5 When they heard this, their hearts were so impressed with what he said, that they joyfully submitted to the na^,^e'of'the'^Lorrjesus.*''^ direction and advice of the apostle, and were baptized info the name of the Lord Jesus.^ G And immediately after the administration of this solemn ordinance, Paul, laying [/;«] fi And when Taul had hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spake with 7iew tongues j'^"^ /'."J'^rl^ "t''^" *'"^™' which they had never learnt or understood before, and prophesied in such a manner to ti,em ; and they spake with the edification of the church, as plainly shewed they were enriched at once in all utterance tongues, and prophesied. 7 and in all knowledge. And they were in all about twelve men who had the happiness 7 And all the men were of being thus miraculously furnished with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. about twelve. 3 And Paul, as he was used to do in other places, went into the synagogue of the Jews , ^ ^"'^ '^* ^I*^"* lTIIiViT; . . *■ , '^ . ^ ^ svna°"0"'uc 11110 spake uoiuiy at Ephesus, and discoursed with great boldness and freedom, disputing for the space of f6r ^tlPe space of three a Finding ilicre some disciples, he."] Beza has a singular opinion this head, and concludes, as I think all wlio follow th'is interprcta- concerning" these persons. He thinks they were almost the whole t ion do, that Paul did not baptize these converts anew, but only body of christians at Ephesus, and that as Paul found they had declared his acquiescence in the sufficiency of the baptism they none among them who appeared to have received the extraordinary had already received, by imparting to them the gifts of the Spirit, gifts of the Spirit, (of which gifts, indeed, they had never so much But I think it evident beyond all dispute, that the baptism of John as heard,) he imparted them to twelve of the number, perhaps and of Christ were in their own nature quite different, and that it intending them for stations ofsomc peculiar eminence in the church, is plain, in fact, that when persons were converted to Christianity, But this account of the matter must,l think,appear very iniprohalile, they were baptized of course, without inquiring whether they had when it is considered that Aquila and Priscilla, who came from the or had not received the baptism of John, which we know vast num- Corinthian church, so eminent for its spiritual gifts, had made some hers did, (Mat. iii. 5, f!.) who probably afterwards received christian abode at Ephesus, and that Apollos, after he had profited by their baptism. Compare Acts W.XA — 41; iv.4; vi. 7. And therefore, if I were instructions, would probably preach in the synagogue there, before assured the construction of these two verses were that which these lie left the place ; chap, xviii. 19, 25, 26. which if he did, it can gentlemen insist upon, I should interpret the 5th verse in a sense never be imagined he would be silent on this head. 1 conclude, quite contrary to theirs ; as if it was said, " But tliey who paid a due therefore, these twelve men were pious Jews, who having waited " regard to John, when they came more explicitly to understand for the kingdom of God, and being many years before baptized by " who the promised Messiah was, were baptized into the name of John, or some of his disciple.?, had, on receiving something of the " Jesus, as you therefore must be, in order to a regular admittance evidence of Christianity, believed in Jesus, but, perhaps coming " into his church :" And then I should suppose Luke, having given out of some remote country, had not enjoyed an opportunity before this intimation of the baptism of these converts, which must of of being instructed in any thing relating to the Holy Spirit, more course follow such a declaration of Paul, left us to collect that for than migiit be learned from the Old Testament. ourselves, and only mentioned the communication of miraculous b And hearing //lis, l/icy were bap/izcd, ^•c.'] M. L'Enfant has gifts to them on their being thus baptized. But on the whole,— followed the opinion of many great critics, in rendering this verse As the expression is not o» Si axuaxni^, but axH-am^, Si — as ayroit, as a continuance of Paul's discourse, and not as the words of Luke ; ver. 6. seems so plainly to refer to the persons just before said to be as if it had been said, " Jo/in indeed Impiized wi//i i/ic bap/ism of baptized — and as it is so natural to suppose tliat Luke should not " repen/ance, S,-c. but tfiey w/io /leard him, and paid a proper regard omit to mention the baptism of these men, I ratlier conclude that " to his ministry, were, in effect, bnplized into //ic name of Jesus, there is an ellipsis in the 4th verse, (though I own it not a very " since he was /he Messiah whom John spake of as stior/ly to ap- common one,) so that tu X«4) X£y6.-v is put for Xevwv Si tu \-x.u, (as if the " pear;" and the correspondence winch is every where else said to expression wore. But tie said /o the people at the same time, t/iat be found between the particles mv and Se, is urged as a demoustra- thei/ should believe in Jesvs,) and the particle Si might more proba- tion Uiat the 4th and 5th verses mr..5t make one continued sentence, bly be omitted by Luke, as it is used three times besides in these The learned Beza expresses himself witli an unusual confidence on three verses. ' GREAT MIRACLES ARE WROUGHT AND THE EXORCIST JEWS BEATEN. 533 luoiiths, dispviting and per- suadiiigf the tilings conctrn- iug the kinffdom of God. 9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, dis- puting daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 10 Anil this continued for the space of two years ; so thatall they which dwelt in Asia, heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul : 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick, handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits, the name of the Lord Jesus, saying. We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacll- eth. 1-1 And there were seven sons of one Sceva a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit an- swered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know ; but who are ye ? 10 And the man in whom the evil spirit was, leapt on them, and overcame them, and |irevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many that be- lieved came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. three months,'^ with all that opposed him, and strongly evincing the things which re- sECT. taied to the kingdom of God, erected in the world under Jesus the Messiah. 43. But as some of the Jews xvere hardened and would not believe, but still continued in their infidelity and rebellion, speaking reproachfully of the way of salvation which the acts apostle taught, before the multitude, and doing their utmost to inspire them with a con- ^-^• tempt for it, ke departed from them, and separated the disciples he had made, dis- 9 puling daily, for the time to come, with all those who debated his doctrine, in the school of one Tyrannus^ And this was done by Paul, and was his daily practice, for the 10 space of two years ;^ so that all the inhabitants o/"the neighbouring province of -4^/^, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord Jesus, though for some peculiar reason he had been forbidden to preach it there in his former journey. (Chap. xvi. 6.) And to add the greater efficacy and success to this important doctrine, God wrou<^ht ] 1 many extraordinary and uncommon miracles by the hands of Paul : So that, besides 12 his curing those that were brought to him, handkerchiefs or aprons^ were carried from his body to those that were sick at a distance, and presently upon their touching them, the diseases they were troubled with, however threatening or inveterate they were, re- moved from them, and the evil spirits themselves came out of them that were possessed ; which soon raised the reputation of the apostle to a very high degree, and added the authority of a di\'ine attestation to what he taught the Ephesians. And while he abode there, some of the vagabond Jews [who were'] professed exor- 13 cists, and pretended to a power of expelling demons,^ undertook to name the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits and were possessed by them, saying. We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches, to come out of those whom you now possess. And ^ it was that there were seven sons of [one'] Sceva, a Jewish chief 14^ priest, who did M/V, desirous of the honour or profit which they thought would redound from such cures, and imagining there was some secret charm in the name of Jesus to which these infernal agents would submit. But the evil spirit answering their adjuration 1-5 with contempt, boldly said,^ Jesus I know i,o my cost, and Paul I k?iow as his ap- pointed servant, whose power I cannot resist ; Sitt "wko' arc yc that pretend thus, without any authority, to command me in that tremendous name? And the man in whom the IG evil spirit was sprung upon them, and quickly getting master of them all, prevailed against them to such a degree as to tear off their clotticlTroTfi their backs, and beat them with great violence, so that they fled out of that house in which they had attempted the cure, naked and wounded, and became public spectacles of scorn and derision, iu a city where these things were peculiarly regarded. And this was done in such a public manner that it soon became known to all the 17 Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus ; and -thg^jvere so affected with the thought of so remarkable and awful an occurrence, that greatjeiirjell li/ron them all, and the name of the'Lctrd Jesus was magnified. And those who had formerly been professors 13 of unwarrantable arts, which they had diligently studied as the means of helping them to do extraordinary things by the power of magic and the assistance of invisible agents, were now so sensible of their wickedness and folly, that many of them who believed, struck with this triumph of the evil spirit over the sons of Sceva, came of their own accord, and c For the space of three months.'] The late Lord Barringlon sup- poses, (Misc. Sacra, Abstract, p. 33.) that after Paul hod been some time at Ephesus, he visited the neighboifting towns of Asia, and then returned to Ephesus again. And it seems not improbable that the foundation of some others of the seven churches in Asia, so particu- larly favoured with the Epistles of our Lord, might now be laid. Compare ver. 10. d In the school of one Tyrannus.'] I cannot think there is any reason to conclude, as Sir Norton KnatchbuU does, out of regard to the article rivos, that the word rv-^xins expresses the ranl< rather than the name of the person, and therefore to render it, " A certain noble- " raan or ruler of the city," siuce it is so evident that in Luke's writ- ings Tit is often added to a proper name. Compare Acts xxi. 16; xxii. 12; xxiv. 1; xxv. 19. It seems a groundless conceit that this was the Tyrannus mentioned by Suidas, who wrote on popular seditions, or that it refers (as others think) to one of the descend- ants of Androclus, mentioned by Strabo, who had ati hereditary title in his family. (Strab. Geogr. til), xiv. init.) The uanie might be frequent among them, as King is amongst us ; and this Tyrannus might very probably be a converted Jew, and the school referred to a kind of beth-raidrasch or divinity-hall, designed for reading theological lectures, as Dr. Lightfool supposes, Chron. in toe. e This was done for the space of two years.] The very learned and ingenious Mr. iBoyse argues from chap. xx. 31. that Paul spent three years at Ephesus and in the neighbouring towns of Asia, and therefore concludes that this clause expresses the time between the end of the three months, (ver. 8.) and his sending Timothy and Erastus to IMacedonia, (ver. 22.) but that as he staid nine mouths longer in these parts, towards the end of which he returned to Ephesus, they might perhaps both return thither before he quitted it, and consequently, that he might have left Timothy at Ephesus when he was driven i'rom thence, chap. xx. 1. and so liave written his First Epistle to him before the meeting at Miletus, chap. xx. 17. See Mr. Boyse, Of Episcopacy, p. S.'JJ. — I must add here, that to render EXKwas, (i. e. Greeks,) at tlie end of this verse, proselytes, is an unexampled boldness in a late translator, and quite raisreprc- Bents the sense of the passage. f Handkerchiefs oi' aprons : eauSxoia -n iJiAOxtvSia.] These two Latin words, for such they originally are, have been dilTerently rendered ; but the etymology of the first plainly determines it to signify a piece of linen with which the sweat was wiped from the face ; and though the latter may possibly signify drawers, which is the inter- pretation preferred by Calmet, Disser. Vol. II. p. 232. yet as I do not find the ancients wore such a habit, and as it may most literally be rendered, things girt half round tlie waist, I chuse, with Grotius and our translators, to use the word aprons ; for though aprons made no part of the ordinary dress of the Greeks, yet they might very probably have been used, both by men and women, to preserve their clothes while engaged in any kind of works that might endan- ger the spoiling them. — It is justly observed by many writers, that these cures wrought upon absent persons, some of them perhaps at a considerable distance from Ephesus, might conduce greatly to the success of the gospel among those whose faces Paul had not himself seen. g f'agabond Jews, ruho tcere exorcists.] Dr. Whitby, Mr. Biscoe, {At Boyle's Led. chap. vii. \ 0. p. 281. et seq.) and several other critics, have produced many passages from Irenaeus, Origen, Epiphanius, and Josephus, to prove that several of the Jews about this age pretended to a power of casting out demons, particularly by some arts and charms derived from Solomon. See Joseph. Antiq. lib. viii. cap. 2. \ 5. — I do not here use the word, conjurors, as some have done, because, whatever affinity it has with the etymology of exorcists, it e.xpre-sses, among us, those who act in combination with infernal spirits, rather than such as adjure them by a divine name. h The evil spirit answering, &c.] Not to insist on the demonstra- tion arising from this story, that this demoniac was not merely a lunatic, we may observe, that the evil spirit under whose operation this man was, seems either to have been compelled by a superior power to bear au unwilling testimony to Jesus, or craftily to have intended by it to bring Paul into suspicion, as acting in confederacy with himself; and if the latter of these were the case, God, as in other instances, overruled this artifice of Satan to the destruction of his own cause and kingdom. 534 REFLECTIONS ON THE POWER AND SUCCESS ATTENDING THE WORD. SECT, publicly confessed and made a declaration of their unlawful deeds of this kind. And 19 Many also o) them 43. a considerable number of those who had practised magical and curious at'ts,' to ex- ."^"'^J^' "^J"*^. cu^'ous arts, press their detestation of them, bringing their booh together, burnt them before all ther'and l'iiniecr'then°be^ ACTS vvho were present : And as it was observed that there were a^eat many of them which fore all men : and tiiey >^i>^- bore a high price in that place, they computed the value of them, and found that it aTfound 'i7fi'fty thousrd 19 amounted to fftij thousand drachmas, which were the \_picces'\ of silver most current pieces oi silver. 20 in those parts.'* So po-werfully did the word of the Lord grow and prevail, and so 20 So mightily grew the remarkable was the triumph of the gospel over all considerations of honour or interest tliat '•''°^^ of God, and prevailed, could be opposed to it, on this or on any other occasion. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 20 Thus may the word of God still grow and prevail wherever it comes, and separate between the sinner and his sins, be they ever so customary, ever so reputable, ever so gainful ! And thus may the flame of love and zeal 19 consume every snare which hath detained the soul in a base captivity to it! 2 — 6 In order to the production of so noble an effect, may those who are so indifferent to his sacred operations as if they had never yet heard that there was an Holy Spirit, be filled with it, and be made obedient to it! 8, 9 And may they to whom the mysteries of the gospel are committed, declare them boldly, wjioever may be hardened, whoever may oppose, and how evil soever some who boast of their knowledge of God may speak of this way ! 11, 12 We cannot expect that the miracles of Paul's days should be renewed in ours, but we may humbly hope that the noblest effects of his preaching will be renewed ; that dead souls will be quickened, the languishing revived, and evil spirits cast out from men's minds, where their possession is more fatal and dangerous than in their bodies. 13, 14 And God grant that none may ever undertake to invoke the name of Jesus upon such occasions, or to appear under the character of his servants, who have not cordially believed in him themselves, and received their com- lo, 16 mission from him ! We need not wonder if, in such a case, like these sons of Sceva, they meddle to their own wounding, and prove the means of irritating rather than curing those disorders which the influence of Satan has introduced, and which the Spirit of Christ alone can effectually remove. SECTION XLIV. Paul IS driven fro7n Ephesus, on occasion of a tumult which Donetrius raises, and the Chancellor prudentlv appeases. Acts xix. 21, /o the end. Acts xix. 21. SECT. iVoiF" after the extraordinary cures and conversions at Ephesus which have been men- After these tilings were '^4. tioned in the preceding section, when these things were fulfilled,'^ Paul, who was much ended, Paul purposed in the concerned about the spiritual welfare of his former converts, and very solicitous to pro- !P1,",V, J!'"^Iii.I'li"*'^ passed A r'Tc PI 1111 ri-ni 1 1 ■ ■ ■ through iVJacedoiua and AC lb mote the progress 01 the gospel, had thoughts 01 leaving Ephesus, and purposed in spirit,^ Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, "A] i/idt first passing through Macedonia and Achaia, where he had planted so many saymg, Atter I have been flourishing churches some time ago, at Philippi, Thessalonica, Athens, Corinth, and other ' places, he would then go to Jerusalem ; sat/ing, After I have been there, it is neces- sary for me also to see Rome, that I may bear my testimony to the gospel in that me- tropolis of the world : and accordingly Providence brought him thither, though in a 22 manner something different from what he first intended. And in this view, sending two ^^r '^'^ ''* ^^"^ '"'° Mace- of those that ministered to him, namely, Titnothy and Erastus,'^ into Macedonia, to nistered unto him, Timo- i WIto had practised curious 0x1$."] Philostratus, Chrysostom, and Corinth, had watered Paul's plantation there, and was returned to a variety of more ancient autliors, quoted by many, and especially Ephesus again, I Cor. iii. 6; .xvi. 8, 12. — and that it was when Paul by iMr. Biscoe, {At Bo'/le's Led. chap. viii. 5 1. p. 290 — 293.) have himself, having lately given a charge to the Galatian churches on mentioned the t^phesian letters, meaning by them the charms and that head, (compare 1 Cor. xvi 1, 2. with Acts xviii. 23.) intended a other arts of a magical kind which the inhabitants of that city journey from Asia to the Macedonian and Corinthian churches, and professed ; and as theSe practices were in so much reput,ation there, was sending Timothy to prepare his way, 1 Cor. iv. 17, 19; xvi. 5, It is no wonder that the books that taught them, how contemptible 10. compared with the verse now before us, and that which follows. soever they might be in themselves, should bear a considerable Hence it appears that no dependence can be had on the spurious price. additions at the end of the Epistles, which do not only tell us that k Fifty thousand pieces of silver.'] If these be taken for Jewish he wrote to the Cialatians from Home, contrary to the probability shekels, and valued at three shillings each, (which are the principles there is that he wrote it from Corinth, (as was hinted before, note i, of Dr. Benson's computation. Hist. Vol. 11. p. 149.) the sum will on Acts xviii. U.) but also affirm, in spite of his own declaration amount to £7500 sterling, or, setting it at half-a-crown, to £0250. to the contrary, that he wrote the First to the Corinthians from But as the Attic drachm seems to have been more frequently used Philippi. among the Greeks, than any coin equal to the Jewish shekel, I h Paul purposed in spirit.']. It is hot certain from the original, think it more natural to co-.npute by that, which, if with Dr. Pri- eSsro ev tu miu/ixn, whether this relate to a determination he was deaux we reckon it at 9d. reduces the sum to £1875. moved to by the Holy Spirit, by whom he was directed in his a When these tilings were fulfilled.] Many events referred to in journies, or (as Beza and Grotius suppose) to a purpose he formed the Epistles happened during the period. — It is probable that in his own mind. But as we find that he delayed the execution of Philemon, a convert of Paul, (I'hilem. ver. 19.) and Epaphras, it, and was by several circumstances led to alter his intended afterwards a minister of the church at Colossc, were converted course, and to continue longer in his progress than he first designed, about this time : Col. i. 4,7,8; ii. 1 ; iv. 12, 13. The apostle was it seems more reasonable to refer it to his own spirit ; nor is it unusual , also visited by several christians from neighbouring parts, during to insert the article, where it only relates to tlie human spirit. See his abode here, particularly by Sosthenes and Apollos from Corinth, Acts xvii. 16 ; Rom. i. 9; viii. 16 ; iC'or. ii. H; v. 5; vi. 20; Gal. and by some of the family of Chloc, a woman, as it seems, of some vi. IS ; Eph. iv. 23. Gr. Accordingly Beza renders it, Statuit apud figure there, (1 Cor. i. 1, 11.) as also by Stephanas, Fortunatus, and se, ami Stephens, Induxit in animum. Achaicus, all from the same place; (I Cor. xvi. 17.) and Onesipho- c Sending Timothy and Erastus.] Timothy was a person very riis, who afterwards visited him so affectionately at Rome, was, as proper to be employed on this occasion, not only on account of his Timothy had frequent opportunities of observing, very serviceable excellent character, but also as he had formerly been in Macedonia to the apostle here : 2 Tim. i. 16—18. And there is great reason to with Paul, and had assisted in planting the churches there : Acts, believe he wrote his First Epistle to the Corinthians from hence, chap. xvi. and xvii. Erastus, who was joined with him, was p. 1 Cor. xvi. 18. and about this time ; for it is plain — that .\quila and cliamberlain of Corinth, l{om. xvi. 2.3. and they were charged I riscilla were then with him in Asia, 1 Cor. xvi. 19. as they now with a commission to promote the collection which Paul was ■^ were, Acts xviii. 18, 19, 26.— that it was after Apollos had visited making, both in the European and Asiatic churches, 1 Cor. xvi. 1, DEMETRIUS FINDING HIS TRADE IN D.4NGER RAISES A TUMULT. 535 thcus and Erastus; biu he prepare his Way, and to get their collection ready for the poor christians in Judea, he him- sect. himself staid in Asia for a scif staid Some time longer in that part of Asia, waiting for a convenient opportunity of 44. following them. 23 And tlie same time And there happened about that time no spi«H tumult concerning that wai/ oi wox- acts there arose no small stir shipping God, and securing a happy injiTOorteilfy, which Paul taught : For there was in the ^'••'• '' 24 For ascertain man city a man ivhose name "was'TTCmetrius, by pjofesgion a -t^orking silversmith, and a 24 named Demetrius, a silver- nmn of considerable influence ; for making sm^A silver shrincs^'yv[iic\\ were models of the shrines for' Dia"na,''brou^bt Celebrated temple of Diana there/ he employed a considerable number of men under him, no small gain unto the ^xiA procured no Small gain ^o ^//e several r7/7//?ce/'5 by this means : Whom therefore /ic 25 craftsmen: q^q jjj„ ^p^jj ^ wneral iummons, gathered together in a great number, with all the infe- 2.i A\ liom hf. called to- •' ' r s '» ± ji ■ ? ■ / i ^i ^ i -j getlier, with the workmen rior workmen wlio Were empLoi/ea about tins business ; and wlien tliey were met, he said, of like occupation, and My friends, and all you [lonest j/ien that now hear me, t/ou very well know that our main- this' craa^we"°have''^u^ tenance (which, tlianks_bs^tfie gods, is a very liberal one) arises from this inanufacture wealth. of making silver shrines : ^?77rf-therefore I thought it proper to call you togetlrer', that we 26 2G Moreover, ye see and j(^ q^^ counsels for its securitv against the danger that threatens the whole company, hear,that not alone at Ephe- ^ -^ , . , y x .c i ^ 'i I u ui t7 ii i i ^i l ^i- sus, but almost throughout of which I am satisned you cannot but be sensible : ror you all see ana near tliat this all Asia, tiiis Paul hath i\/;o- this epithet of great was given by theiieathens to Jupiter, Diana, lutely to exclude Beza's conjectuVe, that the business of Demetrius and others of tJieir deities; to wliich he adds, that the ascription might possibly be, making a sort of coins or medals, on the reverse ol it to the true GoAt is in scripture called magnifying hira. See of which the temple might be represented. He has given us a cut of Eisner, Observ. VolJl. p. 461. one of these, in which the image itself, with its various rows of i Aristarchus.] This friend and companion o'f Paul was after- breasts, is exhibited as seen through the open doors of a temple. It wards his fellow-prisoner at Rome in the cause of the gospel: is possible this company of workmen might take in those that Col.'iv. 10. wrought in all these sacred commodities, and likewise those that k Some of the principal officers of Asia sent to him.] It has, from made a kind of pageants, intended for public processions, in which this and the following passage, been concluded by many, that the Diana was reprcsPlllBft4u a kind of moveable chapel resembling her people at Ephesus were then celebrating the public games in ho- great temple, in a larger proportion than these supposed models, to nour of Diana, over which these oilicers presided ; (as Grotius, Sal- which some passages of antiquity undoubtedly refer, and which raasius, and Dr. Hammond have largely shown ;) and as it is not the Romans called Thensa-. "\ ' probable that, in such a tumultuous hour, several of them should e Great numbers of people, 'not only of Ephesus, but almost of all have sent to him at once with such a messiige, unless they had been Asia] Dr. "Whitby observes, this is the exact rendering of the in the theatre together, I cannot but declare myself of the same words E?i£icu m Ailxs ixiwv o^Xov so that, as the paraphrase ex- opinion, though I know that the theatres were places in which the plains it, it may refer to what Paul had done among them at Ephe- Greeks often met for the despatch of public business, when there siis, which was the whole that could have fallen under the observa- were no shows exhibited. (See Rapliel. Ex Xen. p. 177.) Some tion of Demetrius and the company. would render the word Afix^x^ primates of Asia, and 1 think very f Saying, that they are not deities which are made with hands.] properly : (see Mr. Biscoe, At HojkUJUeet . chap. viii. \ 4. p. 302 — This plainly shows that the contrary opinion generally prevailed, 305.) and as they were persons of great dignity, and some of them namely, that there was a kind of divinity in the images of their priests too, this civil message from them was at cuce a proof of supposed deities, which Eisner well shows the heathens did think, their candour, and of the moderation with which Paul had behaved, 53C THE CHANCELLOR'S SPEECH APPEASES THE TUMULT. SECT. So?)ie therefore, as they stood there in the theatre, taere cri/ing one thiiigy and so?ne 32 Some therefore cried 44. another, according as their passions led them, or as the zeal of others prompted them ; fur """^ *^'"";-' """^ so^"^ a"o- 'j the aasemblii xcas exceedingly confused, and the greater part did not know for what they confused' 'and''tlie''' more ■ ACTS -were come together, having only joined the crowd upon the alaim that had been given by part knew not wherefore ^^'^- the cry of the greatness of their goddess, without learning what had excited it. ^'^''^ "'""^ '^<'™*^ together. 33 And in the midst of this confusion they thrust forward Alexander from amongst the 33 And they drew Alex- mnltitude, that he might speak unto the people, the Jews also urging him on,^ fearing lest anderoutof the multitude, they, who were known to be disaffected to all kinds of idolatry, should suffer in tire tumult, wa'rd.'^rnd Aicxande"be*^kl without being distinguished from the followers of Paul : And Alexander was willing to oned with tlie hand, and comply with the design, and therefore beckoning with his hand for silence, would have fenclfunTo^thJTe!^ le'^ ^^' 34 ?nade a defence to the people. But when they knew that he was a Jew, and consequently 34 But when they knew an enemy to their image- worship, they would not suffer him to speak ; but one voice that he was a Jew, all with arose from them all, and the whole multitude united as one man, crying out in a ort^vo'^'^holirs" cri'ed^mu. tumultuous way, for about the space of two hours together, Great is Diana of the Great is Diana'of the Ephe- Ephesians. ^ ^'^"^■ 35 But the, chancellor^ who was a person not only of considerable dignity with regard to 35 And when the town- liis office, btrt-iikewise of great discretion, having pacified the people so far as to make '^'^''K ''"'' appeased the tliem tolerably silent, said. Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there in the world that has EpiFesus, w^at man i" u'lei'e any intelligence of things at all, that does not know that the whole city of the Ephesians that knoweth not ho%y that zi^with the mosfliumble and careful regard devoted to the temple of //ze great goddess ^^'Vo\%\\.i^T^ liKl^^^vlll Jjiana,^ and to the worship Ciithe miraculous \image'\ that fell down froin Jupiter ; as goddess Diana, and of tlie oG uodisputed tradition assures us the sacred image in our temple did? Since then these things j™"^jj'"*^'' fell down from are 'plLa:}:^^ incontestable, and this celestial image is no way concerned in any censure of 30 Seeing then tliat these those made with hands, it is necessary for you to he quiet and gentle in your proceedings, things cannot be spoken and to do nothing in a^recipitant ?na)incr,hy which you might4™i^yOT.rselves into vast qf^e^'ancl^ to "lo^ nothing 37 inconveniences and dangersljefore you are aware. And it is particulanyTmportant to attend rashly: to it now, because indeed you have taken a very unreasonable and unwarrantable step; for , -^7 ^"^L ^^ ''^^'^ brought you have violently seized a.nd brought these ?ficn into the iheaire, who are neither sacrile- are neither robbers of gious robbers of te?nples, no4' blasphemers of yojir goddess," which one would imaginehy churches, nor yet blas- these exclamations of yours that they were ; but who,,so far as I can learn, behave themselves P^^'^™'^''^ ^^ y"""" s^ddess. in a grave and orderly manner, and occasion no disturbance" to the state by their private 38 notions, wijatesfer-they be. If therefore De?netrius, and the artificers that are -with .38 Wherefore, if Deme- him,ha.ve suffered in their property, and Jiave a charge of any private injury to offer iTiciiare^vmf him!ha"-ea against any one, the civil courts are held, in which they may have justice done them ; or matter against any man, the if they have any crime relating to the state to allege against any, the law directs them how ];''"' ?e°'^^"i"; tr'* ^'•"^'^'^■''.'j they should proceed, and there are the Roman proconsuls to whom they may apply, one another. who are the proper judges of such cases -.p Let them then bring their action and implead f which made them thusjiiridly solicitous for his safety. Dr. Ben- tic testimonies, (sec Mr. Biscoe, p. 30G, 307 ; and Kaphel. Ex Xcn. ^ son thinks lkey..xecal+^ted the danger to which Paul had been p. 177, 178.) that there were some particular persons at Ephesus exposed in a comiiat with wild beasts in this very theatre, to which who had this office ; but the chancellor, with great strengtli and some have supposed the apostle refers, 1 Cor. xv. 32. a text which beauty of language, to express the unanimity and zeal of the we may consider hereafter. whole city in the service of Diana, speaks of it as one such attendant 1 They thrust forward Alexander, SfC."] Grotius thinks this wag devotee m her temple: and as vtojitojos is compounded of a word Alexander the coppersmith, once a professed christian, but after- which signifies to sweep, it imports the humility with which tliey wards an apostate, and an enemy to Paul ; (1 Tim. i. 20; 2 Tim. iv. were ready to stoop to the lowest office of service there. As for 14.) and he supposes it an artifice of the Jews, who knew themselves the tradition of this image's falling down frorii Jupiter, there was obnoxious on account of their aversion to idolatry, to employ one of the like legend concerning several other images among the hca- their body in declaring against Paul on this public occasion. But thens, (as Mr. Biscoe has shown by many learned quotations, p. I question whether the word airoXoyenSii would have been used, had 307, 308.) as there is likewise concerning some pictures of the Vir- he chiefly intended an accusation against Paul; nor is it evident gin Mary in Popish churches. to me that he had yet renounced Christianity or incurred the sen- o Ncillicr robbers of temples nor hlasplteniers of your (joddess.'] It tence referred to above, if this were indeed the same person, and is very ungenerous in Orobio [Apud Limborch, C'olliii. cum Jud. p. not some other Alexander. 134.) to insinuate from hence, that the fear of suflering kept Paul m T/ie cliancellor.'] Our translators h.'ive rendered the word from declaring against the established idolatries here ; and it is rcccij.u.xrivs, the town-clerk ; it literally signifies the scribe or secre- much more so in Lord Shaftesbury (Chnract. Vol. III. p. 86.) to re- tary ; but as he seems to have been a person of .some authority as present the apostle and his companions as acquiescing in this de- well as learning, I thought the word chancellor, which Mr. Ilarring- fence of the chancellor, and sheltering themselves under it, though ton also uses, ( WorA-s, p. 3.'38.) was preferable ; nor would recorder it maintained that they allowed the divinity of Diana and her have been much amiss. Mr. Biscoe (At Boyle's Lcct. chap. viii. image ; not to insist on Brcnnius's remark, that nothing said 5 4- P- 305.) endeavours to prove, on the testimony of Domniuus and against gods made with hands could affect an image which was Apuleius, that the office referred, not to the city of Ephesus, but to supposed to have fallen down from heaven, nor to urge Paul's ab- the games, and that the person who bore it represented Apollo, one sence, though that puts him quite out of the question as to any of the chief of their deities, and the supposed brother of Diana; reply to this speech : it is obvious to answer, that the chancellor's which, if it were indeed the case, would give great weight to his asseftion'-is only this, " That the persons in question had not dis- interpowtion. He appears by this speech a person of considerable " turbed the public peace by any riotous attempt to plunder or de- prudence and great abilities; for he urges in a few words, — that " molisb the temple or altar of Diana, nor did they abuse her by there was no need of such a ]>ublic declaration that they were vo- " scurrilous language." This was much to their honour ; hut in taries of Diana, since every body knew it, ver. 35, 36. — that the how serious, strenuous, and courageous a manner the apostles bore persons accused were not guilty o'fany breach of thelaws, orpublic an open, though always modest and peaceable, testimony against offence, ver. 37. — that if they were, this was not a legal method of idolatry, the whole series of their history and writing's show, prosecuting them, ver. 38, .30.— and that they were themselves lia- Orobio forgets that the Jews were here silent; and both he and the ble to prosecution for such a tumultuous proceeding, ver. 40. noble f- clean, and beautified in a proper manner; so that, Uy the way, the Asia was at this time administered by Celcr and jElius, who were wnrci (Jmreh-warden among us expresses lint a part of tlie idea. procurators after the death of Silanus, (Tacit. Aiiniii. lib. xiii. cap. It appeal»i>y-some ancient iuscriptious on coins, and other authen- 1.) and having, as such officers sometimes had, the ensigns and ot- REFLECTIONS ON THE PEOPLE'S RAGE AND THE CHANCELLOR'S PRUDENCE. r.37 one another, and traverse their suit in a legal manner in either of these j udicatories, till it SECT. ' .30 But if ye inquire any jg brought to a fair determination. But if tiie cause be not properly either civil or 44. m'lttf rs.'^'irs'iirn'be teeter- Criminal, and i/ou are inquiring any thing concerning other matters relating to our mined ill a lawful assembly, common utility, Or to religion, which may seem of a special nature, there is no room to acts doubt but it shall be determined to the general satisfaction in a lawful asscmblt/ of the ^n '^' Asiatic states, who will inquire into it impartially, and with a diligence proportionable to 40 For we are in dpngcr its importance. And to this it will be highly expedient to refer it ; for indeed'^ we are all 40 to be called lu q"^'*'"'" '"■" jji danger of being called in question by our superiors for the insurrection which has being u i i named Eutyclius, being t-uti/chus, who was there s/ttin; '^7 , ° ° . ,"111, i r J J ; Jews.andalso to tlic dreeks, Jews and Greeks, the great importance and absolute necessity ot repentance towards repentance toward God, God, and of a cordial and living faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, in order to their eternal and faith toward our Lord , .. ""^ Jesus Christ. salvation. 22 '4nd noxv, behold, I am going bound, as it were, in the Spirit, under the strong im- 22 And now, bciioid, I «■» pulse of the Spirit of God' upon my mind, which intimates my duty to me in such a j""u^iem/ .lol^'^'ki^owin^ manner, that I can neither omit nor delay it; and am firmly resolved to proceed to Jc- the things that shall befaf rusalem; not particularly knowing what I shall suffer- in that city, or what the things m^ there: n Called thither the elders of the church.-] It is ko plain that b How Ihaveheen conversant among t/ou all the time. Sec] This tluse elders are in the 28th verse called bishops, that the most can only mean, that durinjr the whole time ot his stay amoni? candid writers of our own establishment allow the distinction them, he had behaved himself in the manner .-ifterwards described ; between bishops and presbyters not to have been of so early a date, and conseciucntly, there can be no room to inter trom Hence, as Compare Phil i I ■ Tit. i. .5, 7 ; 1 Pet. v. 1, 2. which are equally Dr. Hammond does, that all the Asian bishops were present. As strong to the same purpose. Dr. Hammond would indeed evade by far the greatest part of the time had been spent at Ephesus the arsument by saving that he called together all the diocesa.. and the ministers there could not but know how he had acted and bishops of all the neighbouring parts of Asia. But it is certain conversed in the near neighbourhood, it is evident he might use the congregations of Asia, Galatia, Macedonia, &.c. are spoken of this expression to them alone with great propriety. in Paul's writings as distinct churches ; and it is difficult to con- c Testifying and urging, &c.] The word S^x^,«^TV^o^«^, somf- reive how such a number of diocesans could have been called toge- times signifies, to prove n thmq by testimony. Acts ii. 40 ; viii. 2o. theronso short a warning, without supposing them less conscien- and sometimes, from a conviction ot its triitli ana importance, tious in point of residence than one would have suspected such to vrf/c it with yreat earnestness, I J iin. v. 21 ; 2 i im. ii. 14. It is primitive ministers should have been ; nor can we imagine that plain that we are to take it in the latter sense in this place ; but I'aul would have connived at so gross an irregularity and so both are included, ver. 24. dangerous a precedent, had he found It out among them. HE CHARGES THEM TO TAKE HEED TO THE FLOCK COMMTTED TO THEM. 511 . i Save that the Holy I St witnesseth in every < ily, saying, that bonds and alUictions abide me. 21 But none of these tilings move me, neitlier tMiiiit 1 my life dear unto iMVstlf, so tliat 1 miglit liiiish my course with juy, : iii tlie ministry whicli I I rive received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gosj)el of the grace of God. 2o And now, behold, I know that ye all, amonjj whom I have gone preach- ing the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. 2G Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from tlie blood of all men. 27 For I have not shun, ned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 2R Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flork over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath ])ur- chased with his own blood. 29 For 1 know tlii.s, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. may be that shall bcfal me in it when I come thither : Excepting that the lloly Spirit SECT. testifies, in ahnost cvertj city through which I pass, sayinii, by the mouth of the di- 4G. vinely-inspired prophets whom I find among tlie christians tliere, that bonds and offlic- tions await me. But I mal;e no account of anij of these things, nor do I esteem my Af:Ts very life precious to myself on such an occasion,'' so tiiat I may but faithfully and /oy- ^^■ fully finish my course as a christian and an apostle, and fulfil the jninistry •a-hich J 24 have received of the Lord Jesus, [cvoi'] to testify the truth and urge the importance of the glorious gospel of the free and abundant grace of God, to which I am myself so highly obliged, beyond all expression, and beyond all the returns that I can ever make, by any labour or suffering I may undergo for its service. And noxc, behold, I knoxv that you all, my dear brethren, a?nong ndtom I have so 25 long conversed, preaching the kingdom of God,'' shall not see my face any more / for if I should ever return to these parts of the world again, it is particularly intimated to me that I shall no more come to Ephestis. Wherefore I sent for you, that I may take 26 my solemn leave of you ; and I testify to you all this day, that if any of you, or of the people under your care, perish, I at least am clear from the blood of all men. For 27 God is my witness, that I have sincerely laboured for the salvation of all that heard me, and have not declined to declare to you, with the utmost freedom and integrity, all the counsel of God ;S but, on the contrary, have laid before you the whole system of divine truths relating to our redemption by Christ, and the way to eternal happiness with him, in the most plain and faithful manner, whatever censure, contempt, or opposition 1 might incur by such a declaration. Therefore, my brethren, as you desire to live and die with comfort, and to give up your 28 final account well in that day which I have so often mentioned to you, I solemnly charge you that you take heed to yourselves, and to the whole Jloek'^ over which the Holy Spirit has constituted And appointed ?/0!< inspectors or bishops:' See then that you act worthy of that important charge, and be careful diligently to feed the church of God, which he hath redeemed with his own precious blood^ graciously becoming incarnate for its salvation, and submitting to the severest sufferings and death, in that human nature which for this purpose he united to the divine. Wonder not that I give you this charge in so strict a manner ; for, besides the weighty 29 reasons for it which 1 hinted above, / know this, that after my departure from the churches iti these parts, notwithstanding all I have already done to preserve discipline and truth among you, (1 Tim. i. 20.) seducing teachers, like so many grievous and mischiev- ous wolves,^ will enter in among you, who, with unwarrantable and pernicious views, having no mercy on thejtock, will fall upon it with voracious eagerness and overbearing violence, and make a terrible havoc, out of a mean and wicked regard to their own private d Xor do I esteem my life precious to myself.'] It adds great beauty to this and all the other passages of scripture in which the apostles express their contempt of the world, that they were not uttered by persons like Seneca and Antoninus, in the full affluence of its enjoyments, but by men under the pressure of the greatest calamities, who were every day exposing their lives for the sake of God, and in the expectation of an happy immortality. e I know that ye aH among w/tom I have conversed/^-c.l The late learned, moderate, and pious Dr. Edmund Calamy observes, that if the apostles had been used, as some assert, to ordain diocesan bishops in their last visitation, this had been a proper time to do it ; or that if Timothy had been already ordained bishop of Ephesus, Paul, instead of calling them all bishops, would surely have given some hint to enforce Timothy's authority among thera, especially considering what is added, ver. 29, 30. See Dr. Calamy's Vefence, Vol. I. p. 78. et seq. Ignatius would have talked in a very different style and manner on this head. "f Shnll not see my face any more.'] I cannot think, cither that the force of the expression, ouxsn o4'£j9£ u^isif irivrEf, is sufficiently ex- pressed by saying, I'e shnll not ALL see my face any more, or that such an intimation, which might possibly concern only one or two, should have occasioned such a general lamentation as is expressed, ver. 38. and therefore I conclude that the apostle had received some particular revelation, that if he', should ever return to these parts of Asia again, (as from Philem.,ver. 22. I think it probable he might,) yet tliat he should not have an opportunity of calling at Ephesus, or of seeing the ministers whom he now addressed. g Not declined to declare In you, with the utmost freedom and in- tegrity.] IVIy learned and ingenious friend, the Rev. Mr. Brekell, (in his Christian Warfare, p. 33. note,) has proved by some very apposite quotations from Demosthenes ana Lucian, that the proper import of the word uto7j-e\xm in such a connexion is, to disguise any important truth, or at least to decJine the open jmb- lication of it, for fear of displeasing those to whom it ought to be declared. h Take heed to the whole ilock.} A proper concern for the safety and prosperity of the flock would no doubt lead them to guard against the admission of such persons into the ministry as were like to hurt the church, and to do what they could towards forming others to that impoitant office, and admitting thera into it with due solemnity. But as the Ephesian church was for the present supplied with ministers, it was not so immediate a care as their preaching, and therefore did not require such express mention. i Over which the Holy Spirit has constituted you bishops.] As it was by the operation of the Holy Spirit that they were qualified for this high office of the christian ministry, ,/re to the port of Ptolet?iais,^ which 7 a If he tendered his own liberty and safety, MO/ /o/?" wp, »Sr] It bitants. Its ancient name was Accho. (Jud. i. 31.) It was en- j'. "^'■essary to take it with tliis limitation; for had tlie Spirit for- larged and beautified by the first of the Egyptian Ptolemies, from bidden his journey to Jerusalem, we may be sure he would have whence it took its new appellation. It was the scene of many ce- desisted from it. ' lebrated actions in that series of mad expeditions which was called b P/olemais.'] This was a celebrated city on t!ie sea-coast, which the Holy War. The Turks, who are now masters of all this region, feil by lot to the tribe of Asher, who did. not drive out the inha- call it Acca, or Acra ; and notwithstanding all the advantages of its 514 PiVUL IS WARNED OF WHAT THE JEWS WOULD DO TO HIM AT JERUSALEM. SECT lay to the south of the former city, on the same coast of the Mediterranean seaj and a/i- mais, ami saluted «'« i^rc- , 47. ' drachi our carriages, of being present at the approaching festival: and therefore making up our baggage, we ^'"V'^i'here' wen't'^wuii^"u8 \6went up to Jerusalem as expeditiously as we could. And {sotnel of the disciples also also m/a/n of the disciples from Cwsarea went along- with us, and brought las'] to the house of one Mnason a Cy- "{ C'-esarea, and brought •' . 7 7 7- ■ / .1 '^^ ; / 7 ;j/ ; 1 • u n ii- \ with them one Mnason of prtan, an old disciple,'^ with whom we should lodge ; w inch we were tiie more wilhng to Cyprus,an old disciple,with do, as he was a person of established character and reputation in the church. whom we should lodge. IMPROVEMENT. Vcr. Let us observe and einulate that excellent and heroic temper which appeared in the blessed apostle St. Paul, in 11 — 1-3 this journey to Jerusalem. When still the Holy Spirit testified in every city, that bonds and afflictions awaited him j when his friends in so fond a manner hung around him, and endeavoured to divert him from his purpose, he was not insensible to their tender regards : Far from that, his heart melted, and was even ready to break under the im- pression ; yet still he continued inflexible. There was a sacred passion warmer in his soul than the love of friends, or liberty, or life ; the love of Christ constrained him, (2 Cor. v. 14.) and made him willing, joyfully willing, not only to be bound, but to die at Jerusalem for his name who had indeed died for him tiiere. ' Oh that such as this might be the temper, such as these the sentiments, of every minister, of every christian ! For surely imprison- ment in such a case is better than liberty ; and death infinitely preferable to the most prosperous life secured by deserting his service, or flying from any post which the great Captain of our salvation hath assigned us. On the other hand, let us learn of these wise and pious friends of Paul, to acquiesce in the will of God, when the situation, on one of the finest hays on that coast, and in the neigh- quainted with it, tells us it was the finest city of Judea. See Jo- jjourhood of Mount Carmel, it is now, like many other noble and seph. ^ntiq. lib. xv. cap. 9. [al. 13.] \ 6. et Bell. Jud.lib. \\\.^cap. 9. ancient cities, only a heap of ruins. See Mr. Maundreir.s Journcij [al. 14.] \ ]. to Jerusalem, p. 53. d Brought us to one Mnason a Cyprian, an old disciple.'] Mnason c CiEsarea.'] To what I have said in the paraphrase concerning- was a native of Cyprus, but an inhabitant of Jeru-salem, who pro- this city, I shall only add, that it lay in the tract of land which bably had been converted, either by Christ or the apostles, at tlw fell to the tribe of Manasseh ; that it had once been called Straton's first opening of the gospel th'rre. 1 have followed Sir Norton Tower, but took its name of Caesarea from a noble temple wliicli Knatchbull's version of the words, as that which appeared to me Herod Uie Great dedicated to Augustus Ceesar, wlicn he rebuilt it best to suit the original: for it seems very unnatural to rctidei almost^ entirely of marble; so tliat Joseph us, who was well ac- aymru My:muit bringing Mnason with them. PAUL IS KINDLY RECEIVED BY JAMES AND THE BRETHREN. 545 determination of it is apparent, how contrary soever it may be to our natural desires, or even to those views which sect. we had formed for the advancement of his cause and interest in the world ; where perfect resignation may be difficult 47. in proportion to the degree of our piety and zeal. Can any teach him kno-wledge ; (Job xxi. 22.) or pursue the ■ purposes of his glory, by wiser and surer methods than those which he has chosen ? In this instance the bonds of acts Paul, which these good men dreaded as so fatal an obstruction to the gospel, tended, as he himself saw and witnessed ^Xl. while he was yet under them, to the futherance of it; (Phil. i. 12.) and what they apprehended would prevent ^^ their seeing him any more, occasioned his returning to Caesarea, and continuing there for a long time, when, though iie was a prisoner, they had free liberty of conversing with him. (Acts xxiii. 33 ; xxiv. 23, 27.) And even to this day we see the efficacy of his sufferings, in the spiiit they have added to those epistles which he wrote while a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and in that weight which such a circumstance also adds to his testimony. Let Jesus tlierefore lead us and all his other servants whithersoever he pleases, and we will bless his most mysterious conduct ; in sure expectation of that day when what is now most astonishing in it, shall appear beautiful and ordered for tlie best. It is pleasant to observe the honour paid to Mnason as an old disciple : An honourable title indeed it is ; and IG wherever it is found, may dai/s speak, and the inultitude of years teach ivisdom ! (Job xxxii. 7.) And may there be a readiness, as in this good old man, to employ all the remaining vigour of nature, be it more or less, in the service of Christ, and in offices of cordial love and generous friendship to thosu who are engaged in the work of the Lord ! — , — .. , ^ SECTION XLVIII. Paul being arrived at Jerusalem, after an interview with James and the elders of the church there, is as- saulted by the Jews while worshipping in the temple, and rescued by Lysias the Roman officer from the extreinest danger of being torn in pieces by their fury. Acts xxi. 17 — 36. Acts xxi. 17. Acts xxi. 17. And when we were come IN the preceding section we gave an account of our setting out on our journey from sect. to Jerusalera, tlie brethren Caesarea ; and now we are to add, that when we were arrived at Jerusalem, the brethren 48. received us gladly ' _ . . _ ' ' 18 And the rfay following there received us with great pleasure and affection.^ And the next day Paul took us Paul went in with us unto with him who had attended him in his journev, and entered in with us to the house of acts we"e^present. Jflwt'5 the apostle, commonly called James the Less, or the Lord's brother; and all the XXI. elders of the flourishing church in that city 'were present there, to receive so important a ^^ 19 And when he had visitant, of whose arrival and errand they had heard. And Paul having embraced them 19 saluted them, he declared vvith great affection, presented us that were of his company to them ; and after this he gave God"^ha" wrought amon<^ them a particular account o/'all those things which God had done among the Gentiles the Gentiles by his minis- by his ministry since he last left Jerusalem ; informing them of the success that he had "■y- met with in Pliilippi, Thessalonica, Bercea, Athens, Corinth, and Ephesus ; of the churches he had planted in all those places, and of the opportunity he had enjoyed of visiting most of them a second tune, as well as of taking a review of those hi Cilicia, Pamphylia, Lystra, and other parts of Asia, with the plantation of which they had formerly been made ac- quainted. (Acts XV. 4.) And he concluded with an account of those alms which he had brought from the Gentile converts for the relief of their brethren of the circumcision at Je- rusalem. 20 And when they heard And when they heard [zV,] they glorified the Lord Jesus Christ for this wonderful 20 !/, they glorified the Wd ; demonstration of his presence and grace with his servant ; and then they said to him, and said unto him, Thou t-. ■. , ^ i n .*^. ^ , .,'. ,,.,'' , «• seest, brother, how many iJear and honoured (Sz-orrtcr, we rejoice from our hearts m the triumphs of the gospel among tliousands of Jews there are the Gentiles ; and as we doubt not but the whole body of the christian church is dear to Tre'ail zealous'^of the law.*^ ^^^ ^ ^^ *s to US, we assure Ourselves thou wilt candidly join in all prudent endeavours for removing any prejudices which may have been weakly imbibed, to the injury of that mutual affection which we so earnestly desire to cultivate : In a word, thou seest with thine own eyes how many jnyriads of believing Jews there are^ who are gathered together from all parts to Jerusalera, on occasion of this feast ; and they are, in the general, persons 21 And they are informed who are all zealous for the observation of the Mosaic law,'zs supposing it of perpetual all the' Jews which'^ 'are obligation On all our nation, without excepting those that have embraced Christianity. Now, 21 among the Gentiles, to for- SO it is that, through the prejudice and falsehood of thine enemies, they have been (we they o!!Ll°hrnot'to"?ir^m- ^°"^* "°*' ^^^y ^^Iscly) informed of thee, that wherever thou coniest thou teachest all cise t/ten children, neither t^ic Jews which are amoiig the Gentile nations to apostatize from the law of Moses ;'^ to walk after the customs, saying. That they ought 7iot to circumcise their children, nor to walk according to the a The brethren received vs with great pleasure and affection.] scripture that there was. It is surprising, therefore, that the The alms he brouglit with him would be one, though far from ingenious Mr. Slater should lay so much stress upon this text in being the only or the chief, circumstance of endearment ; so that his Original Draught of the Primitive Churches. the prayers of his christian friends were answered, that his ministry c T/iou teachest nil the Jews which are among the Gentile nations with respect to Jerusalem {ri iis 'U^oii-!x\ri/j.) might be acceptable to the to apostatize from Moses.1 It is a leading observation of that saints, Rom. xv. 31. vain and unhappy man, Mr. Toland, in his iXazarcnus, which he b How many myriads of believing Jews there are.'] I do not grounds principally on this text and history, that the gospel never apprehend that it can be certainly argued from hence, that there designed to set the Jews at liberty from tlie law of Mo.ses, except were more than thirty or even twenty thousand Jewish believers with regard to sacrifices, though he allows that the Gentiles were now present at Jerusalem ; for the word /^.v^iocSe! may only in not intended to be subject to it. (See Xazaren. p. 3.'j, 36.) But general denote a great number ; but it is certain that the greater it is evident that he fell into that erroneous opinion, (so directly part of them were not stated inhabitants of Jerusalem, but only contrary to many other scriptures, such as, for instance, Rom. xiv. visited it on occasion of this great festival ; (compare ver. 27.) so 14; Eph. ii. 14, 15; Col. ii. 14 — 17 ; 1 Tim. iv. 4 ; 2 Cor. iii. 9—11 ; that no certain argument can be deduced from hence as to the Heb. viii. 13.) by not attending to a most obvious medium between plurality of congregations supposed to have been now under the enforcing it on their consciences as necessary, and condemning it care of the bishop of Jerusalem, if there were indeed any christian as unlawful. T have strongly expressed this medium in the para- officer who had that title so early, which it does not appear from phrase on ver. 23 and 25. 2 N 546 PAUL JOmS FOUR OF THEM UNDER A VOW, AND BEGINS HIS PURIFICATION. SECT, other rites and customs which we have learned from our forefathers as of divine institution. 22 wiiat is it therefore? 48. What is it then which may not be apprehended on such an occasion ? The multitude, no ^l^n^J^J'ol'^^'jfp'; ""^J ^^x^t^ doubt, who have been thus informed of thee, 7nust by all means come together to observe wiii^ hca"/ tiiat tliou art ACTS thy conduct narrowly ; for they -will soon have notice of thy being here, and must needs come. ^^^' hear that thou art come ; and they immediately will form their judgment of the truth or "^^ falsehood of the information they have received, by what they discover in thy present be- 23 haviour of regard or disregard to the Mosaic ceremonies : And therefore, to show them 23 Do therefore tliis that that, how far soever thou art from imposing them as necessary to salvation, or teaching ^^ ^^^ *^° 'V^^ = ^* ''*^« \ I • fc i 1 .1 i - 1 V / i.T_- 1 xu • • i • ■ 1 ..u four men which have a VOW men to seek justincation by them, yet thou dost not thmk ttiere is any mtrmsic evil in them, on them ; nor teach it as a matter of duty, that believers in Christ should disuse and reject them ; do this that we say to thee,^ and let us counsel thee to take this method, as the best expedient we can think of for immediately taking off any ill impressions which might otherwise be apprehended: There are tjoith us four men who are converts to the gospel, and have at 24 present a vow of Nazariteship iipon them : Now we would advise thee to take them as thy 24 Them take, and purify companions and partners, and purify thyself with them, according to the Jewish ritual ; thyself with them, and be and he at all the necessary charges with them, that they may shave their heads, and offer theVnify'sha've' Mi?/ "head's: the sacrifices which the law has appointed in that case:® And then allihdX come up to and aii may know, that the temple, and see thee in these circumstances, will know, by their own observation, that ^^^^^ i'n/o'rmed '^concern iu^ there is nothing of truth and reality in those things which they have heard of thee ; but thee are nothing, but that that instead of forbidding these observances to others, thoii thyself walkesi regularly,^ *''"" thyself also waikest 25 keeping the law, and avoiding all occasion of offence. And as for the believing Gen- jaw. tiles, thou knowest xue have written some time ago to them, detennining that thei/ should 25 As touching the Gen- think themselves obliged to oi^.?tT»c none of these things, except it be to keep themselves „rrt\enL^nd''co\'fc!ludrd,'thIt froin what is offered to idols, and from blood, and from that which is strangled, and they observe no such thing-, [from fornication. (Chap. xv. 28, 29.) And as we all concurred in this decree, they can- thems*'eWes*''fr»m ''^'th'in-'' not imagine what thou mayst now do, according to the advice we give thee, at all incon- oflered to idols, and from sisteut with asserting their liberty in the manner thou so constantly dost : Nor will this be blood, and from strangled, any proof at all that thou thinkest the observation of these ceremonies necessary to the sal- ^^^ ^™™ fornication, vation even of believing Jews, though duty, prudence, and charity may, in some particular instances, dictate a conformity to them. 26 Now then, as this was the unanimous advice of James and the brethren, Paul, on mature 2C Then Paul took the deliberation, determined to comply with the proposal ; and accordingly he took the men ^^^\^,,\^t ^hfms'e^f ' \^\^\ Avho had engaged in the vow, and the very next day being purified with them, according them, entered into the tem- to the rites of the law, he entered with them into the temple,^ declaring to the priests who ''!?'.*" *'S"'fy the accom- were in waiting there, the purpose he had formed for the accomplishment of the days }!urificatioii° unti*! that a°n of purification, till an offering should be offered for every one of than, as the Mosaic offering- should be oflered ritual required, (Num. vi. 13. et seq.) that so all proper preparations might be made for that ^°2n7d°when'th™seven purpose. days were almost ended, 27 But as the seven days which were to complete this affair were about to be accom- *•'? •^'^"^ which -were of plished,^^ the Jews that were covaefroni Asia to celebrate the feast of Pentecost,' seeing m tiie temple, stirred 'up him in the temple, threw all the populace into confusion, and laid violent hands upon ^il the people, and laid 28 /;/;« in a most tumultuous and outrageous manner; Crj//«^ o?ecu^ chalis about the time of Paul's birUi, which was somewhat later christians ; he might then perhaps '^^""'y f " 'f "l\'^[,,Xe'^,roDer than that of our Lord. Compare Acts vii. 58. I honour tlie tes- the sanhediim, on winch supposition '"'^^^P^'^f ' "°'"''fi!^''t raate timony of the fathers exceedingly when they speak on their per- and consequently no light can be gamed from hence to nx sonal knowledge ; but when they report facts said to have happen- of Paul's conversion ^...t-^l To whit I have said on ed long before" they were bornfl dare not lay much stress upon J> ^^^'^ «"' "Jf ^-J^f^y/'^^V/;,^ ^.^^ifolly add a^^ ^^Tkt the feet of Gamaliel.] Strabo tells us, in the passage referred Fleming, {Chrislol Vol.'l. p. 103 ) that as in *';•= "/^^''^.^f^'e'i'^^t',','",^'^ to above, tiiat it^was customary among the inhabitants''of Tarsus, he might have added, in the "^hed al of St. Pa^l and el ewhere,^^ for the young people, when they had gone through a course of edu- there is a gallery so contrived, th^* t«° Pf"^,"^ dis inctTy hear cation at home to travel abroa.t for farther improvement._Of this their backs to each other in °PP<^^.''^P^',^^°/„'\S in the middle celebrated Gamaliel, to whom the care of Paul in his younger each other, while a person stand n^ between Ihe^^^ years was committed, see note f, on Acts v. .14. p. 450.-The phrase can hear neither; it is -^^sily concevahle hat th^ a r m'o'n ny of being brought up at his feet plainly alludes to the posture in the ministry of angels, or tl>e immed a te po«e J\ ^^' [^'' "^y;,;';*^ power.^But there is no reason to think that this sacred history 4G.3-4ti8.) K'^^V^« ^;,"2,tvheTe it first Lc^^^^^^^ contains a full account of all the outrages committed against chris- ferr.ng to \ 19. p. 472. ^/ '^■'J- "''"Lrt ^ tians during the period to which it extends. explication or illustration it may neea. 550 REFLECTIONS CN PAUL'S ACCOUNT OF HIS CONVERSION. SECT, with so bright a lustre as quite to dazzle and blind my eyes, being led by the hand of those hantl of tliem that were 49. that were ivith 7>ie, I came to Da}?iascus. with me, 1 came into Da- And one Ananias, a pious man according to the law, whose acceptance of the gospel had ""^2 And one Ananias a ACTS by no means destroyed his regard to the Mosaic institutions, and who on that account had an devout man according 'to XXII. honourable character among all the Jews who dwelt [at Daynascus,'] was sent to visit me : "'«'»"'. lYTJ"^,^ ^'""} .'"^' 13 And coming to jne by a divine appointment, and sta7iding bij ?A/e as I lay blind upon ray bed, dwelt^Mfrf, "^ *^**^^ ''" '"^ ' he ifl/r/i?o wf, Uz-oMtrtSaa/, /oo^ m;;, and fix thine eyes upon me. And in that very hour 1 3 Came unto me, and and moment I found ray sight restored ; so that / looked up upon him, and saw him distinctly, Brotller^'stauiT' rec"fve thy 14 And he then addressed me in words which I shall never forget, and which have since sight. And t'hesame liour been remarkably illustrated ; for he said. My dear brother, the God of our fathers hath fore- ^ 'j^'^^'l, [j^ y,'e''"sikl"' The ordained thee to know his wiilas now manifested in his gospel, and to see that righteous God of our'lfatliers iiath Person whom our nation so ungratefully rejected and crucified ; and hath even granted diosen thee, that thnu thee the singular favour to hear a voice from his own ?nouth,' though he be now ascended "'e " tiLV'Tust "onel'' and 15 to the regions of celestial glory : And this because he intends to qualify thee for the most shouidst hear the vo'ice of honourable and important service in his church ; for thou shalt be his authentic witness to '"^j^for Vho shalt be his all men to whom thou raayst come, of those wonderful things which thou hast seen and witness unto all raen, of 16 heard on this extraordinary occasion. And now, considering this, why dost thou delay what thou hast seen and in the most solemn manner to declare thy joyful acceptance of these benefits ? Arise imme- '^\q And now why tarriest diately and be baptized, and thereby take the method which Christ has appointed to wash thou ? Arise and be bap- away thy sins ;^ declaring thy desire of renouncing them, and invoking the name of the ^^^^'^^^^ ^cm Uirname'ot Liord Jesus, who has so mercifully interposed to deliver thee from them, and made that ordi- the Lord. nance a token of remission. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 6 Bv whatever methods God hath been pleased to bring us home to himself, and to introduce into our minds the et scq. saving light of his gospel, we shall have long and indeed everlasting reason to recollect it with pleasure -, especially when he hath gone in any remarkable manner out of his common way for this gracious purpose. They who have ill this respect obtained mercy of the Lord, should undoubtedly make it their care often to recollect the particular circumstances, and should be ready on every proper occasion to recount those wonders of power and love, for the encouragement and instruction of others. (Compare 1 Tim. i. 16.) 3 The learned education which Paul had received at the feet of Gamaliel, was once, no doubt, the matter of his boasting and confidence. Unsanctified learning made his bonds strong, and furnished him with many a specious argument to oppose the gospel : Yet when divine grace changed his heart, and turned these accomplishments into another channel, they made the conquest so much the more glorious, and rendered him the fitter instrument to sub- serve God's wise and merciful purposes, for the defence and propagation of Christianity by his means. Wherever learning is possessed, may it be so directed and improved ! and wherever it is perverted and abused, may Christ manifest his victorious power to cast down imaginations, and even/ high thing which exalts itself in rebellion against him, till every thought be brought into a willing and thankful subjection to his authority ! (2 Cor. x. 5.) 7, 8, ] 0 Adored be the condescension of that blessed Redeemer which spared tliis prostrate enemy, and reduced him by the tender expostulations of mercy rather than the terrors of wrath ; exerting that secret, transforming power upon his heart, without which this miracle, astonishing as it was, would have had no thorough and abiding efiect. Speak, O Lord, from heaven, to them tliat ignorantly persecute thee ; and make them humbly willing to t^eceive the law from thy mouth, (Job. xxii. 22.) 9, 1 1 If they who saw this tremendous scene and the astonishing consequences of it, were not themselves subdued to the gospel, (as it doth not appear that they were,) it must certainly be a sad illustration of the hardness of the human heart, almost beyond parallel; especially when we consider how eager Paul would undoubtedly be, to make those who had been tije associates of liis crime, the partners of his faith, service, and hope as a christian. But however 15 these efforts might miscarry with respect to them, there were those who glorified God in liim. (Gal. i. 24.) Let us take this renewed opportunity of doing it ; and as he is still by his writings a glorious witness to Christ among us, on whom the ends of the world are come, let us, by receiving his testimony with a most cheerful assent, set to our seal that God is true. (John iii. 33.) SECTION L. Paul proceeding in his defence to the Jews at Jerusalein, is interrupted in his remarkable story by their violence; and when about to be scourged by order of the tribune, is exempted from it on pleading his privi- lege as a Roman citizen. Acts xxii. 17 — 29. Acts xxii. 17. actsx i' SECT. Paul went on to give the Jews, to whom he was addressing himself from the stairs of And it camrto pass, that 6U. the castle of Antonia in Jerusalem, an account of some farther circumstances relatin'»- to the ^^'^'^" ^ "'''^ •^"'"'^ »o*'" t" reason he had to engage in the cause of cliristianity : AjhI he proceeded, saying. It 'came to XXl7 n ^"^^' ^^'"^ ^^^^^ ^ ^^^ preached Christ boldly in Damascus and Arabia, when I was iThsee that righleom Person, and to hear a voice from his mowM.] the baptism of repentance, Matt. iii. II ; Mark i. 4 ; Luke iii. ,3 : 1 see no reason at all to refer tins (as Lord Barr.nston and Dr. Acts xiii. 24 j xix. 4.) and of a desire to be cleansed from it, as the Benson do) to a future vision of Christ, and a future commission body was by water cleansed from its pollution ; and beius^ admi- to be received from him. It plainly appeai;s from Paul's own nar- nistered to such professed penitents, by divine appointment, as a ration that he had already seen Inm and heard him speak. It is token of favourable regard to them, it was a seal of pardon : Nor Uierefore most evidently natural to refer it to the nast rather than did God ordinarily give any particular person any public and visi- to a future event though I own it may include botli. ble token of parLi. till ife submitted' to baptisV, and this may PvlnfL ''.i'" ' "' """(• ""'-'^ /'"'' ""*;^ Baptism m the adult, explain in what sense baptism might be said to wash away sins, and of confestion\,,.ri'"j;,'''i™, r^*^"'"^ °f "'.>'", ^'>"^' '"''? ? t"';'-'; t-lsewhere to save. Compare 1 Pet. iii. 21. See Acts ii. 38. aud tho oi coiiicssion and humiliation for sm, (on which account it is called note there, p. 435. , THE TRIBUNE ORDERS HIM TO BE EXAMINED BY SCOURGING. 551 Jerusalem, eveu while I returned to Jerusalem,'^ and was prat/ingheve in the couit oi t/ic tetiiple now be^ove your sect. prayed in the temple, 1 was gygg^ J ^,^5 2>j a kind of trance or ecstasy ■}" And I saw him, even the Lord Jesus Christ 50. '"iVAnd Vaw liim saying himself, and heard him saying. to mc. Make haste from this dangerous place with all the ■ unto me, Make liaste, and diligence that may be, and depart quichly from Jerusalem ; for they will not receive acts get tiiee quickly out of Je- ^i testimony concernins: me, but on the contrary, will rather attempt thy destruction, x;"^!!. rusalem ; tor they will not ^. , t '^ , . ^ r ,■ ■ i , ' „, , f ^ -.r^ receive thy testimony con- And I was SO desirous of continuing my labours with my dear countrymen, and so un- 19 ceniing^ me. willing; to eive them up as desperate, that I presumed to expostulate with Christ himself 19 And I said, Lord, they ., ? ° . i ■ t t j i i. i . i ,u i ■ • i .i -ii u knowtiiati imprisoned and On this occasioti, and sa/d. Lord, i cannot but hope that my acxiresses to them will be beat in every synagogue, attended with success ; for as Jerusalem has been witness to the zeal with which I once them that believed on thee: opposed thy gospel, they to whom I would speak cannot but know that with the utmost eagerness and cruelty I was but a little while ago imprisoning, and scourging in the synagogues,'^ all thern that believed in thee, whenever I could get them into mine 20 And when the blood hands : And that when the blood of Stephen, thy faithful and courageous martyr, was 20 of thy martyr stepiieii was unjustly and barbarously shed, almost on this very spot cf ground, / also ivas standing by, and consenthiguiiiohis hy and consenting to his slaughter, snd M'as so officious on the occasion, that I even death, and kepi Uie raiment hept the garments of tliosc that slew him: (chap. vii. 58.) I may expect therefore, oi tliem that slew him. jj^^j ^ testimony from me will be heard with some peculiar regard, when they see that the evidences of thy gospel were strong enough to conquer such inveterate prejudices and such furious rage against it. 21 And lie said unto me. But the Lord overruled my plea by a renewal of his charge; and he said to me,2\ fer'heace'^uuto'the Ge^\''/'^'^ Reason no farther on this subject, but go thy way, immediately, according to my direc- tion ; for behold, I will send thee far of to the Gentiles, and thou shalt preach the gospel, and publish the glad tidings of salvation, with much greater encouragement and success among them. 22 And they gave him And they heard him with quietness and attention to this word, and [thenl were so 22 and'rtra'^lif't'u" their voiT'*^' ^"'"^g'^d as soon as he began to speak of a mission to the Gentiles, and this too in such a and said. Away with sue" a light as if the Jews were in a manner given up and rejected, that they were no longer able fellow from the earth : for to bear it ; but lifted up their voice in a most outrageous cry, saying, Axcay with lUs not fit that he should ^^^-^ hhsphemom fellow from the earth, for it is not ft that he slwuld Ini-c any longer upon it ; since he hath proved himself such a traitor to God and his chosen peo- ple, that he would presume, even by his own confession, to prefer the Gentiles to us, as if they were more interested than we in the blessings of the Messiah's kingdom. And while they said this, they atfected to break out into all the forms of lamentation as well as expressions of rage, as if such a degree of impiety had never been heard of before. 23 And as they cried out. And as they were crying out in this furious manner, and were rending their garments 23 and cast off titcir clothes, j^ token of indignation and horror at this pretended blasphemy, and casting dust into and tiirew dust into the air, ^j^^ ^-^^^ ^j^^^ .^ might fall dowii on their heads, and so they might appear more completely 24 The chief captain in the habit of moumers for the dishonour done to God and his people ; The tribune, 24 commanded him to be ^ot knowing the particulars of what had passed, but perceiving, by the effect, that Paul bade' 'that '"liV'^s'iKmui '^be had exasperated rather than appeased them by the apology he had been permitted to examined by scourging; \wdkQ, commanded that he should be brought into the castle; and as no witnesses re- fore' theTwi'ed'so'' against gularly appeared to give information against him, he ordered that he should be put to him. the fjuestion by scourging him in the severest manner f that so he might know from his own confession, since he could learn it no other way, for what cause they raised 2.5 And as they bound Such an outcry against him. him with thongs, Paul said And as they were binding him with thongs for this purpose, Paul said to the centu- 25 X'od by! ir'it^hwfu/'for ^''^^n who stood by to command the guard upon this occasion. Is it indeed lawful for you to scourge a man that you to scourge a man who is a Ro?nan citizen,*^ and this too while he is uncondemned ? de ^ ^T^"' ''"'^ '""^""^ Consider, before you do this, how you will answer for the violation of my privilege, of 2G Wlien the centurion which at a proper time you must expect herealter to hear. And the centurion hearing 26 heard rts/, he went and told [//;/>,] presently went and told the tribune, saying. Consider what you are about to a When Iivas relumed lo Jerusalem.'\ Lord Barringlon, [MisceU. an intenseness of countenance, which, if it were observed by any Sacr. Abstract, p. 19 ; and Essay iii. p. II. et seq.) and Dr. Benson, near him, might be imputed to the fixedness of his devotion, or, if (Vol. IL p. 6. et seq.) suppose this memorable circumstance (whicli he fell down, it might be looked upon as an epileptic fit. All that they make Paul's mission to the idolatrous Gentiles) to have hap- he saw and heard was (to be sure) only a miraculous impressiou on pened in the second journey he made to Jerusalem, A. D. 44. his own nerves, not to be perceived by any other persons, (which is mentioned by Luke, Acts xi. 30; xii. 25.) and maintain c Scourging in the synagogues.'] It is strange tliat Beza (on Mat. it was the same ecstasy with that referred to, 2 Cor. xii. 2. as having x. 17.) should think this so incredible as to suspect the reading i.s happened fourteen years before the date of that epistle. I rather corrupted, when the same phrase occurs again, Mat. xxiii. 34. as think the expression intimates that it was on his first return to Je- well as in the passage before us ; nor is there any need we should rusalem that he had this vision in the temple ; and what he pleads suppose that synagogues must signify not places of religion, but here (ver. 19, 20.) as to the probability of their receiving his testi- civil assemblies, when, besides what Vitringa has alleged in con- niony, suits that circumstance of time much better than the other, firmation of the use of such a practice from the Jewish writers. His dispute with some Hellenist Jews who, toward the close of his (Synag. Vet. lib. iii. part. i. cap. 11.) Epiphanius directly mentions first visit to Jerusalem, attempted to kill him, (chap. ix. 29) en- a fact of this kind, {Contra Hwres. torn. ii. lib. I. p. 135.) and it ap- gaged the brethren also to hasten his departure ; and our Lord's pears, from what Eusebius had cited from a writer against the orders to him at this critical season might determine him to yield Montanists, to liave been no uncommon case. (Eccles. Hi^t. lib. v. to their instances, which perhaps his desire and hope of usefulness ra/). 16. p. 230.) The custom has since been confirmed and lUus- at Jerusalem might otherwise have opposed. But when he had trated in the celebrated instance of Acosta. ( Li mborch Co//a/. c«;« been forced in that manner to flee for his life, while the memory Jud. p. 3 19, 330.) Compare note e, on Mat. x. 17. p. 152. of his zeal against Christianity was comparatively fresh in their me- d Be put to tlic question by scourging.'] That the Romans used mory, it does not seem natural to suppose he would have pleaded this method, is proved by several learned writers, particularly by the probability of their regarding it after an interval of six years Dr. Larduer, Credib. Book L chap. x.J 1, 2. Vol. L p.. 496—498 ; more, which, according to the chronology of these ingenious writers, and Mr. Biscoe, chap, ix. \ 8. p. 355, 356. must have been the case. e To scourge a man who is a Roman.] Sec on this head, note c, b I ii}as in a kind of trance or ecstasy.] See note g, on chap. x. on Acts xvi. 37. p. 618, 519. 10. p. 480. Pcrhap!- he might continue standing all the while with 562 PAUL ESCAPES BY PLEADING HIS PRIVILEGE AS A ROMAN. , SECT, do, or you may be entangled in a difficulty of which you seem not to be aware ; Jor the 9iiief captain, saying, 50. t/iis 7/ia?i S9.ys he is a Romcni, and consequently protected by the j/rivileges of a free Takeheed what thou doest; citizen from such usage as is preparing for him. And upon this the tribune, who was ''27'T^hTn "h'/dik-fcap^taiQ ,J^ ACTS alarmed at this report, ca?ne and said to nan. Tell me truly, as knowing how unsafe it came and said unto him, XXII. will be to trifle with me by ofTering a plea of this nature if it cannot be supported, art HesaTd'^'YeV'""^^""''"' 27 thou indeed a Roman citizen, as I am told thou hast asserted ? And he said. Yes, I ^ '*'" ' most assuredly am ; and I am capable of producing proper evidence of it, if it be insisted 28 upon, in due time and place. And the tribune answered, I am surprised to hear this, 28 And the chief captain considering the appearance thou now makest: for J, who (as thou seest) am a person of obtained*' l^' this 'fr'e^^d*'"^^^ high rank in the army, obtained this freedom with a considerable sum of money, which And Paul said. But I was I can hardly suppose thou shouldst have been able to pay, unless there has been some ex- ^^'^ '^°'^"' " traordinary change in thy circumstances. And Paul leplied. But I was under no ne- cessity of making any purchase at all of this kind, for I was 1free-'\born,^ my father hav- ing been entitled to that honour and pririlege before me. 29 Thei/ therefore who were about to have put him to the question, immediately de- 29 Then straightway they parted from him ; And the tribune was glad to compound the matter so ; for he was ^^P^^\<'f *'''"™ him whicii > /• -J I t 1 till 11 Ti I should have examined liira : mucfi ajraid when he knew that he was indeed a Roman, and was greatly concerned and the ciiief captain also because he had bound him in order to his being scourged ; which was a breach of ^"^^ afraid, after he knew privilege for which he might have been accused by Paul to his superiors. He contented because he'had botmd'wm. himself, therefore, with confining him a little while, till he could bring him before the Jewish council ; fearing lest, if he had dismissed him immediately, the Jews would be in- censed against him, and he might thus have been in danger of something much worse from Paul's enraged and tumultuous enemies IMPROVEMENT. Ver. We learn from this scripture, as well as from many other passages, that our Lord Jesus Christ, though invisible, 17, 18 is present while the proclamation of his gospel is made, and is ever attentive to the temper with which it is re- ceived. Justly therefore doth he resent the injury that is done him when these messages of life and peace are neglected : Justly doth he often, in the course of his providence, remove those ordinances which men have un- gratefully slighted, and call away the faithful ministers who have stretched out their hands all the day long to a disobedient and gainsaying people. (Rom. x. 21.) 19, 20 It is not an easy thing for a servant of Christ who is deeply impressed with divine truths himself, to imagine to what a degree men are capable of hardening their hearts against them. They are ready sometimes to think with Paul, Surely it must be impossible for any to resist such arguments and such addresses : But experience makes them wiser, and shows that though they smite the rock again and again, it is in vain till divine giace melt it into streams of water. 21 Blessed be God, when his gospel is removed from one place, it is sent to another; nor shall it ever be totally rooted out of the world, while seed-time and harvest, summer and winter, continue their revolutions. Adored be that grace which sent Paul and the other apostles to speak unto the Gentiles that they might be saved ! The life of 22 our souls was in that commission, and all our eternal hopes take their rise from it. But what cruel malignity did these Jews express, whom all the wonders of this astonishing story could not convince, nor all the eloquence of it persuade ! On the contrary, for no crime but that of being made the ambassador of divine mercy, and the instru- ment of deliverance to thousands of perishing sinners, they raise a cry against the ambassador of God as if he were the most impious of blasphemers, and would have hurried him from the face of the earth as unfit to live upon it : How much less were they fit to continue here ! But thus forbidding the apostles to speak to the Gentiles, (as he himself observes,) they filled up the measure of their iniquities : so that, after the abused mercy of God had waited a little longer, his deserved wrath cajne upon them to the uttermost. (1 Thess. ii. 16.) 25 — 29 Most unrighteous was it in the Roman officer, on this popular clamour, to attempt putting this best of men to the torture : Most reasonable was Paul's plea as a Roman citizen, to decline that suifering. It is a prudence worthy of being imitated by the bravest of men, not to throw themselves into unnecessary difficulties. Nor are we under any obligation as christians, to give up our civil privileges, which we are to esteem as the gifts of God, to every insolent and turbulent invader. In a thousand circumstances, gratitude to God and duty to men will oblige us to insist upon them ; and a generous concert! for those that are to come after us, should engage us to labour and strive that we may transmit them improved, rather than impaired, to posterity as yet unborn. SECTION LI. Paul being brought before the sanhedrim, after having been unjustly smitten by the command of the high- priest, occasions a dissension in the council, on which his sentence is delayed ; but a conspiracy being ^f?^' jormed against his life, lie informs the tribune of it. Acts xxii. 30 ; xxiii, 1 — 22. o 1 . , Acts xxii. 30. » •■ ,„ ' Acts xxii. 30. ACTS Vv HEN tlie Roman officer had rescued Paul from the people in the manner already de- On tiie morrow, because XXII. 30 scribed, he lodged him in the castle that night ; and on the morrow, desiring to hiow ''« ^''°"W '^='^<' known the { Iwas \_free-']horn.']^ cannot think, with !\lr. Cradock, Tillemont, fidehty and bravery in some military service as an auxiliary to the and some other critics, that this was the consequence of his being- a Komans, as Josephus says that several Jews were, [Antiq. lib. %\w. native of Tarsus. Dr. Lardner has, I think, produced unanswerable cap.lO. [al. 17.] \ 13. f/ seq.) See Dr. Lardner, Credib. Book arguraentsagainstadmittinn that city to have been a colony, or what 1. cap. 10. ?. 6. Vol. I. p. .502—513. He observes, in the next the Romans called municipiuni, that is, a place where all the section, not only that the freedom of the city might be bought, natives were free of Rome by birth. I therefore think it much but that some of Claudius's favourites and creatures at last sunk more probable that Paul's father, or some other of his ancestors, tlie price scandalously low. might have been rewarded with the freedom of the city for his \. PAUL BROUGHT BEFORE THE SANHEDRIM. 553 cerlainty wherefore he was clearly and certainly of what he "was accused by the JetLS, which he could not make SECT, accused of the Jews, he out from what had already passed, as he did not understand the Hebrew language, in 51. S^commandTd 'the^'chi'ef ^hich Paul had made his apology to them, he loosed him from [//«] bonds in which he priesUandall their council had laid him a close prisoner, and commanded the chief priests and all the other mem- acts to appear, and brought Paul j^gj.^ ^f ^^^^y sanhedrim to come together and to hold a court: And bringing Paul ,^'^^^- them.' ^^ down from the castle, he set him before them, that he might be examined and tried ac- cording to the laws and usages of his own country ; that so the most seditious of the Jews might have no reason to complain of the manner in which they were treated. Actsxxiii 1. And Paul And Paid looking attentively on the sanhedrim, as he stood before it, that he might acts earnestly behokling the observe whether he could recollect the faces of any whom he had tormerly known in that XXl'I- cunncii, said, Men oflj^ court, *a/f/, Me« ra« , 1 II 7 7 I 7 / ; t 7 ■ p """ said, We liave bound we have one and all bound ourselves by a solemn anathema, not to taste any thing of ourselves under a great food, till we have slain this Paul, whom we look upon as so notorious an enemy to God '^"pe. that wc will eat no- and his country, that if the course of public justice against him be obstructed, it will no \>^^\_ doubt be a meritorious action, which you will certainly approve as what must be pleasing 15 to God himself, to take him off by such a method as this: Now therefore do you, with the^coZcil'"f-uif ^VuVe the other members of the sanhedrim, signify it as your request to the tribune, that he chief captain^ that lie bring f Part were Sadducees.'] Josephus assures us that many of this Witsins well observes, that it must be a greater consolation to so sect were in places of high dignity among the Jews. See Joseph, faithful a soldier of Clirist as Paul was, having been thus approved Antiq. lib. xiii. cap. 10. [al. 18] \ f> • et lili. xviii. cap. I. [al. 2.] \. i. and encouraged by his General, to be led on to fartlier combats, gf For the hope and resurreclioii of tlie dead, inc.'] Orobio charges than to be immediately dismissed. And such a temper he ex- this upon Paul as au artful manner of declining persecution, un- presses, Phil. i. 20 — 26. ' worthy the character of an upright and generous man. (Limborch, k Ip'e have bound ovrselves by a solemn anathema.'] This seems Collat. cum Jud. p. 134, 165.) But there is no just reason for the a proper rendering of the very emphatical form in the original, charge, since this was a part, though not the whole, of the truth; AviSi/x3trits and elders perceive here a remarkable resemblance to the speech of Gamaliel, with their conspiracy against the life of Paul, who were so far from referred to in the paraphrase ; but it appears from Dr. Pridcaux, blaming them for it, that not long after they renewed the same de- (Conncct. Vol. fl. p. 529.) that this happened after the death of that sign themselves. (Actsxxv. 2, .3.) See Dr. Larduer's Credib. Book i. celebrated rabbi. chap. ix. } 9. Vol. I. p. 474—483 ; and Mr. Biscoe, At Boyle's Led. i The Lord standing by him, said, Sfc.'\ This plainly shows that chap. vii. ? 5. p. 278 — 281. Dr. Lightfoot has shown from the our I,orrt approved the part Paul had acted before the sanhedrim, Talmud, [Hor. Hebr. in loc.) that if they were prevented from ac- though some have censured it, without understanding or consider- complishing such vows as these, it was an easy matter to obtain an log the circumstances of it. The pious as well as learned Professor absolution from their rabbles. REFLECTIONS ON PAUL'S BEHAVIOUR BEFORE THE SANHEDRIM. 65t iiiin down unto you to- would dj'ing him down from the castle to you to-j/iorrn-w, as if you •would more accu- SECT. iiiuirow, as though you rcite/t/ examme and discuss w/iot relates to /li/H ; catdu-e are ready at aW adventures, even 51. more''nerfectlv foTerninI ^t the hazard of our Hves, to kill him before he can come near you : And we will manage of their jt^ for the deliverance of his faithful servant from this inhuman and bloody conspiracy, that asUe. and Paul's si^tcrs son hearing of the ambush, came, and entering into the castle of Antonia, more perfectly concerning - ,, - i • • . him : and we, or ever he the attack in such a manner, that you shall not appear at all concerned m it, nor have any acts come near, are ready to kill ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ matter, till you hear that lie is actually dead. XXlll. 'i6 And when Paul's sis- But how privately soever this matter was conducted, the providence of God so ordered 16 ter's son heard lying in wait, he entered into the castle. ^, ., . a rt in told Paul. where (as we observed before) he now lay confined, told Paul the whole story. And Paul 17 17 Then Paul called one (.allinrr one of the ccnturions to hini^ who commanded part of the cohort under the tribune, of the centurions unto hini, '^ , , . -^i - , ,• , • / t i ■ .1 11 ^ ; ^ _. / • ^ and said, Bring this young presented lus kinsman to him, and said, 1 desire tnou wouldst conduct t/iis you)/g man to man unto the chief captain^: f/^; tribune, for he hath something of importance to tell him. He therefore took and led 18 to tell hira. "^ ^'"^ t*^ l^^^ tribune, and having introduced him, said, Paul the prisoner calling me to 18 So he took him and ///;//, desired that I would bring this young man to thee, who has so7nething of con- captamMliTsa'id Pauf the sideiable importance to tell thee, tliough what it is 1 do not at all know. And the tribune 19 prisoner called me unto in a veiy obliging and condescending manner, taking him by the hand and leading him hira, and prayjd me to //^^o rt rt'i'/rerf/»/flce, where none might Overhear them,'" eH^'M/Vcr/ [o/"/;w/,] saying, HV/a^ zs theef who '*liath^soraethin° H that thou hast to tell me ? speak freely, for I shall give thee an attentive hearing. And he 20 to say unto thee. said to the tribune, I have received certain intelligence that the Jews have agreed together tai'n took him hv^Uie^ianS' ^^ ^^^'^ ^''"'^ ^^^'^^ ^^°^'' "^'ouldst bring down Paul to-morrow to the sanhedrim, as f they and went witk' liim aside would enquire Something more accurately concerning him : But if thou hast any regard 21 privately, and asked htm, fo^. ^jjg jjfo of SO innocent and worthv a man, do not be prevailed upon by them to order What IS that thou hast to,.,, , 1,1 /•_,/ j? yj j- ii i- ■ 1 i ^ tell me \ him to be SO brought down ; jor there are more tnanjorty of tliem lie in an ambuslijor 20 And he said. The Jews him, who have obliged thcmselves by a curse neither to eat nor drink till they have killed \\lt t"hotr\voulcM'^ bJhf'^ ^"" • ''"'^ ^^^^1/ '^^'^ ■"'^^ ready, with their weapons as it were in their hands, to execute this down Paul to-morrow into their murderous purpose, waiting only an order from thee to bring him by the place where the council, as thougli they |}jgy ^j.^ posting themselves, in expectation it will prove the signal for his death. would inquire somewhat of /f,, ^T, "j, ^ ,' ■ ' , • 7- • ,. , u} 1 ■ on him more perfectly. 1 he tribune therefore hearmg this, dismissed the young man with a charge, saying, ^^ 21 But do not thou yield ^Be Sure thoii] tell no man that thou hast discovered these things to me, and depend wait forhim*^°ofthlra more "po^ it that I will bear in mind what thou hast told me, and do what is proper upon the than forty men, which have occasion. And accordingly he took immediate measures for Paul's security from this in- bound themselves with an tended assassination, of which a particular account will hereafter be given. oath, that they will neither ' r & eat nor drink till they have killed him : and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee. 22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged liim, See thou tell no man that thoii hast showed these things to me. IMPROVEMENT. Next to the history of the great Captain of our salvation, as recorded by the holy Evangelists, none of the Ver. 1 christian heroes of whom we read makes a brighter figure than Paul ; nor is there any who seems a spectacle more worthy the view of angels, or of God himself : Nobly supported in the midst of persecutions and indignities, by the testimony of his conscience as to the integrity with which he had walked before God, and therefore assured of the divine aid, he appears superior to all human injuries. Most unrighteously did the high-priest command that 2 mouth to be smitten which had spoken the words of truth and soberness : Most justly did God verify the prediction of his faithful though despised servant, and smite that whited wall with speedy destruction which had stood in such 3 a haughty opposition to his gospel. Paul might have urged a great deal in defence of what he had said, and yet he chose prudently to decline that 4, 5 defence ; and seems much more solicitous to prevent the abuse of what might appear dubious, than to assert his own cause to the utmost that it would bear. Thus should we sometimes be ready, as the Psalmist beautifully expresses it, to restore what we took not away ; (Psal. Ixix. 4.) and for the peace of society, and the edification of others, should be content to wave apologies which we might justly oflfer. Let us learn particularly to revere that authority with which God hath clothed magistrates, and be very cautious how we speak evil of the rulers of our people : Let the ministers of the gospel especially be cautious of it, lest the ministry be upon that account blamed, and their own character exposed, as if they were trumpeters of sedition rather than ambassadors of the Prince of Peace. Our Lord had given it in charge to his apostles, that they should be wise as sei'pents and harmless as doves ; 6 — 8 (Matt. X. IG.) both these characters are joined in Paul's behaviour on this important occasion. It was no dishonest artifice to divide the council and to engage the favour of the Pharisees by reminding them of what, if they con- sidered the circumstances of the case, must needs appear to them to be truth ; that it was his zeal for the doctrine of the resurrection that brought upon him a great deal of that opposition which he was then encountering, and that the most convincing evidence of that doctrine depended on the facts which, as an apostle of Jesus, he publicly main- tained. And it had been most happy for the Pharisees had they always borne in their own minds the caution they now gave the Sadducees, to take heed of fighting against God. May none of us provoke the Lord to Jealousy, 9 as if we were stronger than he ! which we shall certainly do by rejecting the tidings he hath sent us by his apostles, and the life and immortality which he promises in his gospel. Graciously did Providence provide for the rescue and deliverance of Paul from the tumult then excited, and the 10, 12 conspiracy afterwards formed. Who would not lament to see a design of murder avowed with impunity before et seq. the chief magistrates of the Jewish nation, and approved by them under a pretence of religious zeal, while it was 14, 15 consecrated to God by the solemnity of a vow ? The time was indeed come, when they that killed the servants of Christ thought they did God good service, (John xvi. 2.) as if no libation or offering could have been so 1 Paul calling one nf the centurions to him.'] Though Paul had an m Taking him hy the hand, Sfc.'] It is observable that Lysias exjircss promise from'Christ for his security, (ver. 11.) yet he did not seems to have conducted this whole affair like a man of great inte- neglect any proper means of safety. Compare Acts xxvii. 24, 25, 31. grity and prudence. 556 THE TRIBUNE SENDS PAUL GUARDED, WITH A LETTER, TO FELIX. SECT, pleasing to him as the blood of his saints : But names alter not the nature of things : God regarded their counsdsl 51. with righteous abhorrence, and he laughed them to scorn. In vain did they form and approve a conspiracy which' heaven had determined to defeat ; their lying in wait was, we know not how, discovered to a youth, and by means 52. ACTS ac;ts of that youth, who might perhaps have seemed beneath their notice, God as effectually preserved Paul as if he had ir'^'oo ^^"' ^" angel from heaven to deliver him, and turned the cabals of these bigots that thirsted for his blood into 10 22 perplexity and shame. So, Lord, do thou continue to earn/ the counsel of the froward headlong, (Job v. 13.) and save from the hand of violence and fraud all who commit themselves unto thee in well-doing, and humbly con- fide in thy wisdom and goodness. SECTION LH. Paul, for the preservation of his life frofn the conspiracy/ of the Jews, is sent by night from Jerusalem to Cwsarea, where he is presented to Felix, and quickly after is accused by Tertullus in the natneofthe sa7i- hedrim. Acts xxiii. 23, to the end ; xxiv. 1 — 9. , . Acts xxiii. 23. acts xxiii. 23. SECT. IN the last section it was shown how the conspiracy which the Jews had formed against And he railed unto him Paul's life had been discovered to the Roman tribune. Now as this officer was a very ^"^ centurions, saying-, equitable and worthy person, he was determined to consult the safety of his prisoner, whose soidiers'^'t'J ^"-o^To Casarea innocence he was the more convinced of, from such base methods taken to destroy him ; ami horsemen tiireescore 00 and finding it necessary for this purpose to remove him from Jerusalem, he called to him •■""• ten, and spe.-irnieii two 23 , r jl J ■ ■ u u ij f 1 1 GJ 7 -J* tu D hundred, at the third hour two of the centurions m whom he could particularly confide, and said to them, frepare of the mght: immediately the two hundred soldiers under your command, that they may be ready to go directly to Ccesarea ; and take with them a further guard of seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, and let them begin their march by the third hour of the night ; 24 (that is, at nine in the evening :) And provide beasts to set Patcl upon, if a change 24 And provide them should be necessary; and see that vou conduct him in safety, and with all convenient ^''^*,'s that they may set T^. . r' /■ ±1 r ..L • ./ .." Faul on, and brine //im safe expedition, to telix, the governor 01 the province. unto Felix trie governor. 25 And he also wrote an epistle to Felix on this occasion, the contents of which are 25 And lie wrote a letter 26 expressed in this copy : " Claudius Lysias, the commander of a body of Roman soldiers after this manner: " at Jerusalem, to his Excellency Felix, the governor of this province, [sendetli] greeting, the most exrcJleivt^'Tve'rnor 27 " with the sincerest wishes of health and prosperity. This comes to inform you, that as this Felix, sendeih i^reeting. " 7nan, who is called Paul, was seized by a multitude of the Jews, who made a sudden in- j.-^, "^'''.^ '"''" ^''^^ \^^T\ " surrection on his account, and had like to have been slain by them, I came upon them iiave been killed of them: " with a parti/ of soldiers, and rescued him from their furious assault ; and I am the better t'"^" c»"ie i with an array, « pleased I had' an opportunity of doing it, 2&I have since learnt that he is a Roman i," derl'to^d'' Vat"li'e 'wis 'f 28 " citizen •?■ And desiring so much the more on this account to know particularly what Roman. " -ffas, the crime of which they accused him, I brought him before the sanhedrim; , ^^ '*"'' when I would ' ' o »' ' nav6 known tlic cnus^^ " imagining that was the most proper tribunal to discuss a cause of such a nature as, from wherefore they accused 29 " general circumstances, I apprehended this must be. And after they had examined him, !'"". I brought him forth " I found he was accused of no great crime, and that a cry was raised against him only '"29 ^v'hom"I"perceived to " concerning some nice questions of their laxv ; but that nothing was charged upon be accused of questions of " him, of which, if there had been sufficient proof to have convicted him, he would have [[jfnL'^'^'d^"/ V' '^^T ""' " hecn worthy of death, or e'^en of bonds : Nevertheless, I chose to keep him confined for worthy of death, or of " a few days, that I might not too much exasperate the people by dismissing him immedi- bonds. 30 " ately. Sut when, during this time, it was signified to me that an ambush would be 30 And when it was told " laid by the Jews for the unfortunate ?nan, with an intention to assassinate him; and me, how that the Jews laid " with this view a scheme was formed to have him brought down from the castle to the san- stral<'htway"^to"thee "nd " hedrim, on a pretence of farther examination, that they might kill him by the way ; I gave"comraandment to his " thought it my duty i?n?nediately to provide for the security of his life, and therefore have ^""''^1'* ^ '*?• *", *^. ^'^f"'"^ " sent [///;«] under a guard to thee, co?nmanding his accusers also, who by these un- him. Farewell. °' " warrantable measures have rendered themselves much suspected, to come and declare *\ before thee what they have to allege against him. And so, with all due respect, I bid " thee most hediTtily farewell." 31 The soldiers therefore, as it was commanded them, taking up Paul, and mounting 31 Then the soldiers, as it him, according to the kind provision which Lysias had maAe, brought him by nisht- ^as commanded them, took , , "i Tvr- 1- 1 T 1 T t • • k ■ ■ 1 : 1 1 1 /i 1 J anl, and brought lum by marches through IN icopolis and Lydda to Antipatris^ a city within the borders 01 tlie night to Antipatris. a And I have since learnt t/inl lip is a Roman.'] As it appears are given of the situation of Antipatris, which must however have from the preceding story, that when Lysias first rescued Paul out been north-we.st of Jerusalem, as it was in the way from thence to of the hands of the populace, he did not so much as imagine him Ctesarea. Its ancient name was Capharsalaina, (I Mac. vii 31 ; and to be a Roman, it is plain that ^x'>m here, as firotius well observes, Joseph. Antiq. lib. xii. cap. 10. [al. 17.] ? 4.) or Chabarzaba ; is put for xiiiEM^i^ov, according to the turn given in the paraphrase ; (Joseph. Antiq. lib. xiii. cap. 15. [al. 23.] ? 1.) but Herod the and consequently, no shadow of an argument can be drawn from Great rebuilt it, and gave it the name of Antipatris, in honour of hence to prove that the Jews had then a power of putting those his father Antipater, (Joseph. BelJ. Jud. lib. i. cnji. 21. [al. Ifi] ? of their countrymen to death who were not Roman citizens, as 9; et Antiq. lib. xvi. cap. 5. [al. 9] \ 2.) Some have supposed it Dr. Lardner has well argued in his large, and I think very con- was but eighteen or twenty miles from Jerusalem ; but Mr. Biscoe elusive, examination of this question. (Credib. Book I. chap, 2. (whose account is followed in the paraphrase) has shown it was See especially \ 10. Vol. I. p. 144—146.) Beza thinks Lysias something more than thirty-eight of our miles, which must have represents the fact a little unfairly, and would have made Felix been too far for one night's march ; he therefore very well observes, believe that he knew Paul was a Roman before he rescued him : it is not necessary to conclude that Paul was carried thither in one but his conduct appears in the main so honourable, that 1 rather night, or that the soldiers returned in one day. It is only said that think he only means in the general to intimate that he had on the they travelled by night, which they might do, and rest by the way ; whole been more solicitous'to provide for Paul's security, out of nor'is it probable they took Paul with them from Jerusalem at regard to his being a Roman citizen. night, and reached Caesarea the next day, when it appears from b Brought him by night to Antipatris.'] Very different accounts Josephus, that from Jerusalem to Caesarea was six hundred furlongs, HE IS ACCUSED BEFORE FELIX BY TERTULLUS. 557 32 On the morrow tliev tribe of Manasseh, which lay not far from the Mediterranean sea, about thirty-eight miles dis- sect. i' ',* '^rnd"^^et™rDed ^to'\'he ^^'^^ ^''°'^ Jerusalem. And the next day after their arrival at that city, as they concluded 52. ^",!,Ue : he was now pretty secure from danger, the two companies of foot returned with the spear ■ 33 AVlio when they came i^^g^ iq f/ig castle, at Jerusalem, leaving the seventy horsctncn to go up with him to the end acts tlie^pi^t'irto'th'i governor, of his joumey ; Who accordingly guarded him the rest of the way, and ottering with him xxill. , preseated Paul aUo before ///^o Cffi^fl/'frt, whichwas about thirty miles from Antipatris, acquitted themselves of their trust} 33 """• and delivering the epistle they had brought from Lysias to Felix the governor, they presented Paul also before him, and so completed the atfair with which they had been charged. 34 And when the gover- And u'/icn the governor had read [the letter,'] and understood that Paul was sent as 34 nor had read Mf letter, he Q^g accused of the Jews, that he should try his cause, he presently ashed of what pro- asKcd ot what province )ie . , a i i ■ ■ r- i ji i i j- rrr ■ t ii i "li iin- was. And when he under- vincc he ivas : And being informed tliat lie was of Lilieia ; 1 will hear thee, said he, do stooclthat hewasofCiltcia; and thoroughly examine into this matter, when thine accusers are also come, which I I he when'thioTaccuse'rs^are suppose will be in a few days. And in the mean time he commanded him to be kept j also come. And he com- bound in Herod's prmtoriuw^ where a body of soldiers was quartered, under whose manded him to be kept in ^ prisoners were often detained. ! Herod sjungment-hall. ".f ,• , • o -r^ i- ■ i ^ r i ^ i i Acts xxiv. 1. And after And, accordmg to the expectation oi ielix, it was not long before he had occasion to acts I five days, Ananias the high- call for Paul again; ioi after he had been but Jive days aX. Csesarea, the high-priest XXIV. elders, an*"w;/M "'certain Ananias, apprehending the matter to be of the utmost importance, came down in person, 1 i orator named TertuUus, [with"] several of the elders who were members of the sanhedrim ; and they brought along [ SinsuCl!^ "'^ governor ^■^^^ ^^em a certain orator {called] TertuUus, whose business it was to open the cause, I and to Ijarangue the governor in the most agreeable manner that he could : And they all 7nadetheir appearance va. form before the- g.overnor, and advanced a general ac- 2 And when he was called cusation against Paul, on which they desired to be more particularly heard. And 2 forth, TertuUus began to /^^ beins called to hear his charge and make his defence, TertuUus began to accuse accuse him, saying, i ■ a ■ -i i- him,"^ saying, with more regard to interest than truth, —Seeing tliat by thee we May it please your Excellency, As we enjoy great peace by your means,^ and many enjoy great quietness and illustrious deeds are happily done to this whole Jewish nation,^ and many disorders done^mUo^this^uatTon "by rectified, by the continual care and vigilance of your prudent administration ; If' e 3 . thy providence; accept [if] always, and in all places, ?nost noble Felix, with all imaginable thankful- and inali piaces*^ mos't'nobie "^^'^j ^'^^ ^* gi'ieves US to be under this unfortunate necessity of troubling you with our cora- Felix, with all tiiankfuhiess. plaints, though we are well assured of your generous disposition to remedy them. Never- 4 4 Notwithstanding that I fheless, it is impossible that the wisest governors should prevent some troubles arising to thee, I pray thee that thou ^^e State Under their care, while so much sedition and wickedness remain in those who ought wouldst hear us of thy to behave as Orderly subjects ; ^.ndiihexQioxe, that I may not trouble you further y/'i\h.atine, what Felix had done to clear the country of robbers and impostors ; even without forms of law, any person who should be found in sucli for all historians agree that he was a man of so bad a character, that an act of profanation, and seems to have intended to make a merit his government was a plague to all the provinces over which he of their moderation, that they intended nevertheless fairly to have presided; and as for Judea, its state under Feli.x was so far from tried him, and not to have destroyed him on the spot, as Lysias being what TertuUus here represents, that Josephus (besides what had justly charged them with attempting to do: and it is observa- he says of the barbarous and cowardly assassination of Jonathan ble that he no where expressly avows so ranch as a design to have the high-priest by his means) declares "that the Jews accused him put Paul to death, though it was undoubtedly intended ; so that I before Nero of in.>iufl"erable oppressions, and had certainly ruined cannot but wonder that this story should ever have been urged to him if his brother Pallas had not interposed in his favour. (Joseph, prove that the Jewish courts had the power of executing capital Antiq. lib. xx. cap. 8. [al. 6, 7.] \ 5, 7, 9) See also Tacit. Histor. punishments %vithout a warrant from the Romans. The phrase lib. v.\9;et Annal. lib. xii. S 54. which TertuUus afterwards uses, of the accusers being commanded f Illuslriovs deeds are happily done, >?T.] Eisner ( Observ. Vol. to come to Felix, (ver. 8.) though the high-priest himself was known I. p. 472, 473.) proves this to be the exact sense of the words to be one of thera, shows plainly to what subjection they were xcfTojStj^arwv 7iysia£vi.v, illustrious undertakings happily accomplis/ied, reduced. man a m 558 REFLECTIONS ON THE CHARGE ADVANCED AGAINST PAUL. SECT, as by our law, on pain of death. As he is one, therefore, who has rendered himself wouia bavejudgcaaccord- 52. on such a variety of accounts obnoxious and odious to our whole nation, and against '"S to our law. luhojii we have so many accusations, tee seized him a few days ago as a notorious ACTS offender, aiid would have judged him according to our lau\ which, in such a case XXIV. as this, it is well known we had a right to execute in its fullest extent, and might have 7 done it even on the spot. But Lvsias the tribune, commander of the Roman garri- 7 But the chief captain son in Jerusalem, coming upon us with a great and armed force, took him away out l^ysias came upon us, and of our hands, and so interrupted the course of our just and regular proceedings against I/m awa'^^'^out^'of ouriia'nds. S him : Nor had we troubled you with hearing us on this occasion, had not he sent 8 Commanding his ac- him hither, commanding his accusers to come to you, if they intended to prosecute the bye^Lnlningof whoV'thy- afFair any farther; by iuhich means you might yourself, on a proper examination, take selfmayest take knowledge cognizance of all these things of which we accuse him. We promise ourselves, therefore, "f ''" tiiese things whereof from the known wisdom, equity, and goodness of your Excellency, that as we can all aver ^*^ ^ '""' the truth of these facts on which we ground our cha?ge,-you will please to consider the im- portance of the case, in which the national honour, safety, and religion are so nearly con- cerned, and will either punish this notorious criminal as he deserves, or order him back again to Jerusalem, and interpose your authority, which is here supreme, to prevent any farther opposition to the legal proceedings of the sanhedrim against him. 9 And when Tertullus had concluded his snoooth and flattering oration, the Jews also 9 And the Jews also as- who were present gave their assent to all that he had urged, saying to Felix, that it was thin|s'were'scf *'*''' *''*^'^ true that all thesethings were so as he had alleged in his discourse, and that he had truly represented the cause which had now brought them to Caesarea. And on this Felix ordered Paul to offer any thing which he had to urge in his own de- fence ; of which, with the issue of the cause, an account will be given in the next section. IMPROVEMENT, Ver. To hear the most amiable goodness injured by false and virulent accusations, is what we have been accustomed to in 2 — 9 the perusal of this sacred history, in which we have now advanced so far. The surprise of it therefore is abated. But who would not lament to seethe great talent of eloquence, in itself so noble, and capable of such excellent use for , the public good, abused to such infamous purposes, on the one hand to varnish over crimes, and on the other, to ren- der innocence suspected, and virtue itself odious I Had that of Tertullus been much greater than it appears by this specimen, it would only have served to perpetuate his own shame to posterity for the mean flattery he addressed to Felix, and the cruel and unjust invectives which he poured out against Paul. But history is juster than panegyric or satire, and has left us the character of the one and the other painted in its true colours : And much more evidently shall every character appear in the justest light before the tribunal of a righteous God, where Paul and Felix, and Tertullus and Ananias, are to meet again. There may we, with the apostle, have honour and praise, whatever elo- quence may now arraign, whatever authority may now condemn us ! 2, 3 In the mean time, where we enjoy great peace under the magistrates which Providence has set over us, and worthy deeds are done by them for the honour of God and the good of mankind, let us always thankfully accept it, 5 and take care ourselves to be quiet in the land. Should they who call themselves the followers of Jesus, be indeed pestilent fellows and movers of sedition, they would act not only beneath their character as christians, but directly contrary to it, and in a manner which must, by necessary consequence, forfeit it ; nor should they affect to be ringleaders in sects and parties. Their Master is the Prince of peace ! In his service let them exert themselves, but always in the spirit of love, labouring by the meekness of their tempers and the usefulness of their lives, to silence, and, if possible, to shame, the clamours of their ignorant or malicious enemies. SECTION LIII. Paul vindicates himself from the accusation which the Jews by the mouth of Tertullus had advanced against him, in such a manner that Felix only orders him to be kept under a gentle confinement at Casarea, Acts xxiv. 10 — 23. Acts xxiv. 10. ACTS xxir. 10. SECT. 1 ERTULLUS, and the Jewish priests and elders who were come from Jerusalem to Caesa- Then Paul, after that the 53. rea with him, opened their charge against Paul, in the presence of Felix the Roman governor had beckoned unto iv, II i 1 • xi r L- mt r» ; 1 „ him to speak, answered, governor, m the manner which was represented in tiie former sechon. Ihen traul also, —Forasmuch as i know ACTS after the governor had made a signal, by his nodding to him, that it was now his time that thou hast been of many ^^^\\ to speak, answered the accusation they had brought against him in terms to this purpose: ^o*"i' jo''t^fcTio*J-e*chee?I Knowing that thou, O Felix, hast been for several years a president va.A judge to this fuiiy answer for myself; nation,^ and consequently art not wholly unacquainted with its customs, or with the temper of its rulers and people, I answer for v\y self with the more cheerfulness in thy presence:'' a Hast been for several years a judge to this nation.'] It might have ever seen,) well observes how exactly Paul's answer cor- \\e more exact to render roXKorti srtjv, many t/ears ; but it seems to be responds to the three articles of TertuUus's charge, sedition, heresy, used with some latitude here. Bisliop Pearson thinks it could not and profanation of the temple. As to the first he suggests that have been more than five years and a half; but Mr. Biscoe has he had not been long enough at Jerusalem to form a party and at- attempted to prove (I think very successfully) that it might now tempt aTi insurrection, and challenges them, in fact, to produce any have ijeen more than seven yearssince Felix entered on his govern- evidence of such practices. Ver. 11 — 13. — As to the second, he coa- ment here. This was considerably longer than any of his three fesses himself to be a christian, but maintains it to be a religion predecessors, Fadus, Alexander, or'Cumanus, had presided in that perfectly agreeable to natural right and to the revelation of the province. See IMr. Biscoe, ^t Jioi/le's Lect. chap. ii. \ 2. p. 44, 4.5. prophets, and consequently not deserving to be branded with .any b I answer for myself, S,-c.'] Mr. Cradock, in his valuable infamous or invidious title. Ver. H— 10. — And as for the profanation Apostolical History, Part'. II. p. 288, 289. (which, with his Harmony, of the temple, he tells them that, on the contrary, he had entered I cannot but recommend, especially to young students, as among it with some peculiar rites of religious purification, and had be- the most useful and judicious expositions of the New Testament I haved himself there in a most peaceful and regular manner, so that PAUL DECLARES HE NEITHER INJURED THE JEWS, NOR PROFANED THE TEMPLE. 559 11 Because that thou And after all that has been said by my accusers, I have no cause to fear they should hnpose sect. mayest uuderetaml, that upon thy judgment by the charges they have brought against me, as thou mcujst easily 53. days^sinc'L l^v'eu'tmi to^Je- /'"OK', by evidence winch cannot be disputed, t/iat it m no more than twelve daf/s ago, the > riisiilem for to worship. greatest part of vi'hich I have been confined, since I went up to ■worship at Jerusalem, ACTS and publicly to pay my homage there to God, on my return from a long journey I had XXIV. 12 And they neither found taken into distant parts : And so far v/ss. I from attempting to excite sedition, that I aver it to 12 me in the temple disputing; jj^g ^^^^ ^f j.j^ggg ,-,^jjjg adversaries, and defy any one to prove the contrary, that theij nei- ?n^'VpYh™''pVp'leVneither thcr found fne so much as disputing with ani/ man in the temple, nor 7naking any inutile synagogues, uor in where an insurrection or any manner of disturbance among the people, either there or ^'^is'^Neither can they prove i>^ the sj/iiagogues, or in any other place in the city of Jerusalem : l^or can they, not- 13 the things whereof they withstanding all their positive assertions, produce an// fair and sufficient proof oi this or now accuse me. ^ Other of the things concerning which they now accuse vie, though I am charged with so much confidence as a pestilent fellow and a mover of sedition. 14 But this I confess un- ]^ni as to what they have alleged against me with regard to the sect of the Nazarenes, 14 lVidTu,ey'cairhere*syr^so ih^s I confcss unto thee, and am not ashamed publicly to avow it in the presence of the ■worship I the God of my greatest personages upon earth, that after the way which they call a sect or heresy," so fathers, hciievin|^ail_things ^j^^ J tvorship the God of my fathers',^ even according to the rules and precepts which Uw andTlte propiiets? "" Christ my great Master has given; which is far from being heresy in any infamous sense of the word, since it is most consistent with firmly believing all things which are written, both in the law and in the prophets, and is indeed most evidently built on 15 And have hope towards those sacred oracles, when rightly understood and explained. And while I act on this 15 SsoV7low'\\^at^{ho"e'siril maxim, I rejoice in the midst of all the tribulations which can befal me, having a cheer- blV r'eri'irrcctiou'"'^of'' the ful and assured hope towards God [of thaf] great event which they themselves also dead, both of the just and prgfess to expect, even that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the ""j"^'' just and of the unjust, when every man's true character shall be laid open, and he 16 And herein do lexer- "shall receive according to what he has done. And upon this account, in the firm 16 a'coS'cVvoid o'f oS^ll expectation and the hope I have of this,'= J daily exercise myself and make it the continual toward God and toward care and study of my life, to have always an inoffensive conscience both towards God ">e°- and towards men : that so, whatever accusations are brought against me, my own heart may not condemn me as long as I live, but I may always find a support within, amidst > all the injuries I may meet with in a mistaken and unkind world. 17 Now after many years, They have represented me indeed as a profane and lawless person, as if I had thrown 17 nutio"n and oSfrhi^s '° ™^ contempt upon religion, and done them a great deal of wrong : but so far have I been ' ° ' from doing any thing to injure or expose the Jews, to whom by birth I belong, or from attempting to profane the temple, as these my enemies falsely pretend, that I hav« given many public and important proofs of my particular regard for the good of my country, 18 Whereupon certain and of the veneration that I have for all that is sacred. Accordingly now, after several 18 Jews from Asia found me ycfl/'s which I had Spent in other parts, / came to Jerusalem, to bring alms to the poor li"ef with muliiTude' n'o^ of viy nation, which I had been collecting for them in the Gentile provinces where I had witli tumult : any interest ; and went, as one that had a vow, to have made the offerings which the 19 Who ought to have law requires : (Compare chap. xxi. 26.) Upon which, at the very time I was thus em- 19 been lieie before thee, and ployed, so7ne Asiatic Jews, who raised the first outcry against me, found me purified in S'i"st me : the temple, which it is manifest I had a right to enter as a Jew, "and ^vhere I attended neither with any multitude about me, nor with any design of raising a tumult, (as they have taken upon them to insinuate,) but behaving myself with that composure and reve- rence which became the act of solemn devotion in which I was engaged. Those very persons, therefore, who began the commotion, and, by their falsely charging me with iDringing Greeks into the temple, raised such a flame among the people, that I was in immediate danger of my life, if Lysias had not come and taken me away, ought now to have been present before thee, and should have come to accuse [wr] face to face, if they had any thing material to allege against me. But it may justly be concluded, that the prosecutorsin their own conscience know my innocence, and therefore -they have not thought fit to produce them, nor even to single out any one fact to be legally proved by the deposition of proper witnesses ; but would rest tlie matter on general invectives 20 Or else let these same and uncertain report, as thou must thyself have observed. Or if it be otherwise, let these 20 ar/rvIidoi5nrae,wh"ie themselves who are here present say, though they are my most inveterate enemies, if, I stood beforc''the council: when I stood before the sanhedrim, they found any crime in me; Unless it be their 21 one' voi'ce''\hat " /""^cried Pleasure to accuse me with relation to th'is^ one word which I cried out when I stood standing""^ among them, among them, That it is surely /or the zeal with which I appear ia defence of the great his innocence had been evident even before the sanhedrim, where was a very proper plea before a Roman magistrate, as it proved . place where the word ars'it, which I own to be often indifferent, is gard to pate used in a bad sense ; for Paul plainly intimates that Christianity did Romans. OAscrf. Vol. I. p. 473 — 475. ., , „ i notdeserve the name they gave it. Yet while it was not the national e And vpon this account, Uc.'] lam sensible the phrase evtbt^, religion, but its professors were distinguished from most of their which literally signifies in /his, is ambiguous, and may reter to countrymen by their adherence to Christ, as the Leader they what goes before or to what follows; but as, in the latter construc- chose to follow, they might properly be called a sect or a party of tion, it seems almost an expletive, and has great weight and spirit men, unless the very word sect, or party, be taken always in a in the former, I chuse, witli Grotius, to explain it as referring to bad signification, which none well acquainted with the Greek his hope of a resurrection. That sv rsra sornetiraes sigmhes on Mis language can imagine. account, is shewn by Raphelius, Annot. ex Xen. p. 18o. d Tlie God of our fathers.'] It has been justly observed that this 560 REFLECTIONS ON PAUL'S DEFENCE BEFORE FELIX. Toucliing the resurrection I of tlie ilead, I am called iu question by you this day. 22 And when Felix heard these things, having- more jK-rtect knowledge of thai way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. 23 And he commanded a centurion to keep I'aul and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. SECT, doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, I am judged by you this day. (Chap, xxiii. 53. 6.) A word to the truth of which I am persuaded their consciences must bear witness, — whatever other cause of persecution or complaint they may artfully pretend. ACTS And wlien Felix heard these things, and perceived how little they made out of their ^^l^'- accusation against Paul, he put tiiem off without bringing the matter to a decision, say- 22 ing. After 1 have Seen more accurately informed concerning [thisl way or form of religion which Paul teaches,' and have inquired more particularly into its principles and tendency, xohen Lysias the tribune comes down to Csesarea, and gives me an account of what he knows as to the facts in question, / will take farther cognizance of the affair between you, and will be ready to hear any witnesses, on one hand or the "other, which either party may think proper to produce, that I may finally determine it. 23 And in the mean time dismissing the assembly, he commanded the centurion to whom he had before been committed, to keep Paul as a prisoner at large, and let him have all the liberty consistent with securing him, and to hinder none of his friends from assist- ing \_him^ or coming to him .-s thereby plainly showing that he was convinced it was merely a malicious prosecution, and that he was a person no way dangerous to the public. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 1 0 We here behold the righteous as bold as a lion, under false accusations most confidently advanced by persons of the highest rank and the most sacred, though (by a strange contrast) at the same time the most detestable, cha- racter : and the more Felix was exercised in atfairs, the more easily might he discern the genuine traces of inno- cence and integrity in his whole defence, to which, plain as it was, he seems to have paid more regard than to all the complimental and insinuating harangue of Tertullus ; so great is the native force of truth, even on minds not entirely free from some corrupt bias ! 14 Justly did Paul dare to avow his serving God according to the purity of gospel-institutions, by whomsoever it might be called heresy ; nor need any fear that charge who make scripture the standard of their faith, and in the sincerity of their hearts seek inward divine teachings, that they may understand the sense of it ; taking care not to \Q run before their guide, and, with this injured servant of Christ, making it their daily exercise to maintain, in the whole of their conversation, a conscience void of offence towards God and men. A noble, though in some in- stances an arduous, exercise ; such an exercise, that he who maintains it may look forward with pleasure to the 15 unseen world, and, through the grace of God in a Redeemer, may entertain a cheerful hope of that resurrection which, how terrible soever it may be to the unjust, shall be to all the righteous the consummation of their joys and of their glory. 22 Whatever danger such may incur in consequence of a steady regard to that hope, let them courageously commit themselves to him that judgeth righteously, who knows how to raise them up protectors where they might least expect it, and to make, as in this instance, those that are strangers to religion and virtue themselves, the 23 means of delivering them from unreasonable and wicked persecutors, and not only of guarding their lives from violence, but of securing to them many conveniences and comforts. SECTION LIV. Vaul, after having been heard Sp Felix several times, and once with great conviction, is nevertheless left a prisoner by him when Festus his successor arrived at Ca;sarca, before whom being again accused by the Jews, he is obliged to appeal to Cccsar. Acts xxiv. 24, to the end ; xxv. 1 — 12. - Acts xxiv. 24. acts xxiv. 24. And after Paul had been kept some days in this gentle confinement at Csesarea, Felix, And after certain days, who had been absent for a short time, coming thither again with Drusilla his wife, who '•^^" T)rai\\a™viW\c\\^ was was a .Tewess,^ sent for Paul, that he might hear from his own mouth what were the a Jewess, he sent for Paul, principles of his religion, and might gratify her curiosity as well as his own, in obliging ""'i ''.^^■'4 '\!,™ concerning that celebrated prisoner to give some account of himself before them ; ajid he heard him discourse at large concerning ihsi faith in Christ as the Messiah which he taught as of so f After I have been more accurately informed concerning tliis way.'] personal ministration and attendance are out of the question ; and as The words in the original are very ambiguous, and might be ren- it is here distinguished from, and prefixed to, coming to him, it may dered, " That Feli.x, when he had heard these things, liaving been probably signify sending him food, books, or other accommodations. " more accurately informed concerning this way of Christianity, and Compare Luke viii. 3. " knowing it not to be so mischievous a thing as these accusers a Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess.'] Joaephus gives us a par- " suggested, pM< Mfm ojf." But 1 rather think, with Beza, Grotius, ticular account of this Jady, who was the daughter of Herod and others, that they are all the words of Felix, and take the mean- Agrippa, and sister of thaf"Agrippa mentioned in the next section, ing to be, " That he would take an opportunity of being more par- She had been married to Azizus, king of the Emesenes; but Felix " ticularly informed of this sect and of its aspect on the public being struck with her beauty, which was remarkably great, made " tranquillity, and when Lysias should come and give him an ac- use of the agency of one Simon, a wicked Jew, who professed hini- " count of what he had observed concerning it, as well as of the self a magician, to persuade her to abandon her husband and marry "circumstances attending Paul's apprehension, &c. he would dc- him; which, more to avoid the envy of her sister Berenice than out " fermiue the affair." Which answer was the more proper, as Paul of love to Felix, she did, though Azizus had but a little before sub- did not deny that he was indeed a leading person among the cliris- mitted to circumcision, and so embraced Judaism, as the condition tians, which made a part of their accusation ; and we soon after find, of the nuptials. She was afterwards (according to Dr. Hudson's in- that Felix .sent for Paul to give him an account of his religion, (ver. terpretation of a dubious passage of Josephus, supported by the 24.) and endeavoured, by this as well as other means, to inform express testimony of Zonaras) consumed with the son she had by himself in it. Felix in a terrible eruption of Vesuvius. See Joseph. Antiq. lib. g To hinder none of his friends from assisting him, SfC.'] This was xx. cap. 7. [al. 5.] \ I, 2. That learned editor justly observes, on a circumstance graciously oroered by Divine Providence, which the testimony of Tacitus, {Hist. lib. v. cap. 9.) that Felix was also would make Paul's confinement much lighter than it could other- married to another Drusilla, (probably before this,) the ^rand- wise have been, and give him an opportunity of much greater use- daughter of Antony.and Cleopatra. See also Dr. Lardner's Crcdib, fulness. Raphelius shows, Annot. ex Xrn. p. 185, 186. that the Book 1. chap. ji. ^ 8, p. 41— 43. word uiryi^sTEni is sometimes used for assistance in general, where SECT. 54. ACTS XXIV. 24 FESTUS COMES IN THE ROOM OF FELIX, WHO LEAVES PAUL BOUND. SGI 25 And as he reasoned of great importance. But as Paul knew the character of his hearers, he took occasion to at- sect. righteousness, temperance, tend what he dehvercd on this subject with proper remarks concerning the obligations we 54. H'enx''"reinbled, andean- ^rc naturally Under to the moral law, the guilt incurred in various instances by the breach swered. Go thy way for this of it, and the account finally to be given to God ; all which render the knowledge of a .\cts leHUjnt''seasoV'rwiU mU Saviour, and a cordial acceptance of him, so absolutely necessary ; and adding such illus- XXIV. for thee. ' trations as might best suit the characters and circumstances of the persons to whom he was ^ addressing, he particularly reasoned concerning righteousness, as he knew Felix was an unjust and oppressive governor ; and concerning temperancei^ as he knew that both he and Drusilla had notoriously violated it, she having left her lawful husbar.d to cohabit witli him; and to enforce these reasonings, he faithfully admonished all that heard him, of an awful and \x&iasa^o\y& judgment that was certainly to come, at wliich the highest pureon- ages should appear, and stand upon equal terms with others before that righteous tribunal. And while he was copiously and seriously insisting on these important subjects as one who felt the weight of what he said, 'Felix was so deeply impressed, that he could not conceal the inward perturbation of his mind, but trembling in a manner that was apparent to Paul and all that were present, ansxvered him, Go 'thy way for this time, for I have other engage- ments before me which require ray attendance ; a)td I ■will take some future opportxinity'^ to call for thee, and hear thee talk more largely on these subjects than the urgency of my afi'airs will now admit. 26 He hoped also that And this he said, as he hoped also at the same time that money -would be given him by 2G ^ven^liim'ol'paurThau'ie ^''"''' ^^'"^ '^^ ""''S''^' ^^^ '^"" ^^ liberty;'^ for he had observed what he hinted in his migiit loose him :' where- defence against the Jews, (ver. 17.) that the alms of the christians had been deposited in his fore he sent for him the hands, upoii which account he hoped for some considerable ransom ; and therefore, in this with hi'm.'"' <^°"^"i""« mean and dishonest view, he sent the more frequently for him, and discoursed -with him, but never appeared under equal impressions any more. *~" '""" *" "" 27 But after two years, Now after Paul had beenTif eastedy t^XX two years were ended, Felix was succeeded 27 Fd?x"*roora"^aud™''Feli'° "^ ^^^ government of that province by Portias Festus : And as he knew that he had by wiiHng to show the Jews his Oppressive administration furnished the people with abundant matter of accusation a pleasure, left Paul bound, against him, Felix, being willing to ingratiate himself with the Jews at quitting the government, in a vain hope that it might prevent them from pursuing him with their com- plaints, left Paul a prisoner ;^ though he was in his own conscience pereuaded not only of the innocence but the worth of his character. Acts XXV. 1. Now when When Festus therefore was come into the province of Judea, he had no sooner taken acts Festus was come into the possession of the government, but after three days he went up from Ccesarea, which was XXV. he°ascended Trora'^Cssarea the usual residence of the Roman governors, to Jerusalem, tlie capital city, both that he ^ to Jerusalem. might gratify his "furiosity in the sight of so celebrated a place, and also that lie might there, 2 Then the hish-pricst, as U the fountain-head, inform himself of the present state of their public affairs. And the 2 and the chief of tiie Jews, //igh-priest, and several persons of the chief rank among the Jews, appeared before him. and besought hfra,"* ^" ' '^'th an accusation against Paul, and earnestly entreated him that he would not, as they pretended Lysias and Felix had done, obstruct the course of public justice against one 3 And desired favour whom they knew to be SO notorious an otFender: Begging it as the on\y favour they de- 3 against him, that he w'nuld gjj,g^ against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem to be judged there : forminc: senator him to Jerusalem ; to ' . ...-^ r i ■ i i r \ laying wait in the way to a scheme, at the Same time, in theu' own secret purposes, oi laying an ambush of desperate ■^i" '"™- wretches for him, who they knew would readily undertake to intercept his journey, and to 4 But Festu» answered, IcjU him by the way J But Festus prudently answered, as God inclined his heart,s that 4 as he had business of another kind to employ him while he continued at Jerusalem, he b Conrerning righteovsness and temperance.'] How suitable this whole the security of his fortune too, had he reformed his life on discourse was to the character and circumstances of so unjust and Paul's admonition, and cultivated those serious impressions which lewd a priuce, may appear from the preceding note, and note e, were once so strongly made upon his conscience ! — It was during on ver. 2. p. 357. tlie two yearc of Paul's imprisonment here, that those contentions c And I will take some future opportunity.'] This the phrase arose between the Jews and Gentiles as to their respective rights Hmjov cJe /xeraxagijv fully expresses. He thought it did not become in Caesarea, which, after many tumults and slaiigliters of the Jews, the dif^nity of a judge on the bench to receive even such oblique were inflamed rather tlian appeased by the hearing at Rome, and admonitions and reproofs from a prisoner, and therefore might did a great deal towards exasperating the Jewish nation to that really intend to give him a fuller audience in private. Paul must war which ended in its utter ruin. See Joseph. Bell. Jud. lib. ii. no doubt discern those marks of confusion that would be so ap- cap. 13. [al. 12.] ^ 7 ; <"/ cap. 14. [al. 13.] ^ 4, 5. parent in hi.s countenance, which would give him some hopes of f Laying an ambush to kill him by tlie way'] The high-priests succeeding in this important attempt for such a conversion, and about this time were, according to the account Josephus gives of consequently would give him spirit when he resumed the dis- them, such monsters of rapine, tyranny, and cruelty, that it is course. This must naturally increase in Felix a conviction of )iis not to be wondered such a design should have been favoured by innocence, and esteem for liis virtues ; yet, in spite of all, lie was him who now bore tlie ntfice. Josephus mentions a great number so far from reforming his life in general, that he would not do of assassins at this time called sicarii, or poignarders, from the justice to Paul, however the conviction might perhaps prevail so weapons they carried, by whom many innocent persons were mur- far as to engage him to persist in his resolution of not delivering dered. Joseph, Bell. Jud. lib. ii. cap. 13. [al. 12.] S 3. him to the Jews. How affecting an instance and illustration of g Ansivered, as God inclined his heart.] It was really strange the treachery of the human heart ! that Festus, who, as a new governor, could not but incline to make d He hoped also that money icoutdbe given him, J^-c] He might not himself popular, should deny this request, when it seemed to be only have a view to the money collected by Paul, which he brought so reasonable, and came from persons of such eminent raiik in ths to Jerusalem ; but perhaps he might also imagine, that Paul being Jewish nation. If curiosity had inclined him to hear this cause so considerable a person among the christians, his charitable sect, himself, since it is certain Paul might have been hurried up from that had sold their possessions to maintain their poor brethren, Caesarea within four or five days from the issuing of the order, would contribute largely for his deliverance. and Festus staid, on the whole, more thau ten at Jerusalem, one e Left Paul a prisoner.] It has already been observed, (note e, would imagine he might have done it : But when we consider how rn chap. xxiv. 2.' p. 557.) that this base artifice did not prevent much edification to the churches depended on the continuance their clamorous accusations from following him to Rome, which of Paul's life, and how evidently, under God, his life depended had rerta^ily ruined him, had not the interest of his brother on this resolution of Fcs'ais, it must surely lead us to reflect by Pallas prevailed to obtain his pardon from Nero. How much more what invisible springs the blessed God governs the world, with what effectually had he consulted the peace of his mind, and on the silence, and vet at the same time with what wisdom and energy ! 2 o 562 PAUL MAIvES HIS DEFENCE, AND APPEALS TO C^SAR. SECT, thought it best Pftul should be kept a while longer at Cccsarea, and that he himself 54. would shortly set out \_for that place ;] Therefore, said he, let those ofi/ou ii-Jto are best al)le to manage the prosecution, and who can most conveniently undertake the journey, go ACTS down along ti'//// [_me f] and if there be am/ thing criminal in this ?nan for which he XXV. should be punished by the Roman laws, let them aceuse him in my hearing. G And thus having continued among them more than ten days, he went down, as he had said, to Casarea ; and several of the Jews attended him, as being determined to lose no time, but to prosecute the atiair in the most strenuous manner they j^ossibly could. And the next day sitting dow/i on the tribunal, he eommanded Paul to be brought before 7 liim. And when he appeared, the Jews who came down from Jerusalem presented them- selves in a numerous company, and stood round about him; bringing many heavy ac- cusations against Paul, like those which Tertullus had formerly advanced before Felix, which, neverfheless, it was evident that they were not by any means able to prove by pro- per witnesses. « Paul therefore, while he answered for himself, insisted on his innocence, and said. What- ever my accusers take upon them to allege against nie, I aver, that neither against the law of the Jeivs, to which I was expressing my regard at the very time I was seized, nor against 'the temple, \o which I came with a design to worship there, nor against C(csar, to whom I always have behaved JTs a peaceable subject, have I committed any offence at all : I openly deny their charge in every branch of it, and challenge them to make it out by proper evidence in any instance or in any degree. 9 But Festus, willing to ii^gratiate himself with the Jews by so popular an action at the beginning of his government, answered Paul and said, I am a stranger in a great measure to the questions in debate among you, which the Jewish council must no doubt understand much better : wilt thou, th.ereibre, go up to Jerusalem wlien I return thither, and there be judged before me in their presence concerning these things, that so the per- sons who were eye-witnesses may be more easily produced, and I may have the sanction of tlie sanhedrim's advice in the sentence I pass, in a cause which has given so great an alarm, and which is apprehended to be of such public importance ? iO But Paul, apprehensive of the attempt which might be made upon his Fife in his journey, or in the city itself, said, I am standing at C(esa>-'s tribunal,^ where, as a Roman citizen, I ought to be judged : and I insist upon my privilege of having my cause decided there ; I have done no wrong to the Jews, as thou, O Festus, knowest perfectly well, and must 1 1 have perceived cleai-ly by what has this day been examined before thee. For if indeed I have done wrong to any, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I pretend not that there is any thing so sacred in my character as to exempt me from human jurisdiction ; and in that case I refuse not to die, nor do I expect or desire any favour, but v/hat I insist upon is strict and impartial justice equally due to all mankind ; and if, as 1 know in my own conscience, and as thou hast from the course of this trial the greatest reason to believe, there is nothi)ig but malice and falsehood [/« these things] of which these mine enemies accuse me, no man can justly give me up to tlicm merely to gratify their prejudice and cruelty.' And since it is an atfair of so great importance, in which I have reason to believe my life is concerned, J must insist upon the privilege which the laws of Rome give me, and appeal unto the hearing of Caesar himself,'' before whom I doubt not but I shall be able to evince the justice of my cause. ^2 Then Festus, having spoken for a while in private with the chief persons of the Roman army and state about him, who constituted a kind of council,^ called in the prisoner again, and answeredhim. Hast thou appealed unto Cwsar ? unto Ca-sar thou shall go : For how desirous soever I am to oblige the people of my province, I will never allow myself, upon any occasion, to violate the privileges of a Roman citizen : I will therefore give proper orders as soon as possible for conveying thee to Rome, that thou mayst there be presented before the emperor himself. In the mean time Paul was remanded to his confinement, and his accusers returned to Jerusalem a second time, with the mortification of not having been able to accomplish their purpose against him. IMPROVEMENT. ACTS In the conduct of Paul towards Felix, we see the character of a gospel-minister illustrated in a most amiable XXIV. manner. What could argue greater magnanimity than to deal thus plainly .with a man in whose power his liberty 25 was? Yet he did not soothe and flatter him, but acted the part of one infinitely more concerned about the salvation that Paul should be kopt at C'aesarea, and that he himself would depart short- ly tliilher : 5 Let them therefore, said he, which among- you are able, go down with me, and accuse tliis man, if there be any wickedness in liim. 6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Csesarea; and the next day sitting- in I he judgment-seat, commanded Paul to be brought. 7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous com|)laints against Paul, which they could not prove; 8 V/hile he answered for himself, Neitlicr against tlie law of the Jews, neither agaiust the temple, nor yet against Cajsar, have 1 of- fended any thing- at all. 9 But Festus, willing lo do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said. Wilt thou go up to Jeru- .salem, and tliere lie judged of these things before uie ? 10 Then said Paul, I stand at Casar's juilgment- seat, where I ought to be judged : to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. 11 For if! be an offender, or have conmiitted any think worthy of death, J refuse not to die ; but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse nif, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Ccbsar. 1-2 Tlien Festus, wlien lie had conferred with the council, answered, Ilast thou appealed unto Ca-sar? unto CiBSar shalt tliou go. h T am standing at Ctpsar's tribiin/il.J Grotius and other writers have abundantly proved that the tribunal of the Roman procura- tors in the provinces, as it was held in Ca-sar's name, and by com- mission from him, was looked upon as Csasar's tribunal. i No man can give me up to them merely to gratify, oic.] The paraplirase expresses the force of x^fi^aiSxi, which I knew not how to do by any one English phrase. This, as Dr. Lardnor observes, will by no means prove that the Jews had the power of life and death m their hands ; (Crediii. Book I. chap. 2. i, 10. Vol. I. p 141, 142.) for Paul might reasonably apprehend, not only that he might be murdered by the way, (as lie probably would have been,) but that, had the sanhedrim condemned hini, Festus might, for poli- tical reasons, have acted the part that Pilate did with respect to our Lord, in permitting and warranting- the execution, though in his own conscience convinced of his innocence, and even declaring that conviction. See Matt, xxvii. 24, 20. k I appeal vnin C/rsar.2 It is well known that the Roman law allowed such an appeal to every citizen before sentence was passed, and made it highly penal for any governor, after that, to proceed to any extremities against the person making it. See Dr. Benson's Hist. Vol. 11. p. 237. and Mr'. Biscoe, yil Boyle's Led. chap. ix. ^ 9. p. 3.18. 1 Constituted a kind of council.'] Dr. Lardner has abundantly shown, by apposite testimonies from Josephus, Pliilo^ and Dio, that it was customary for a considerable number of persons of some distinction to attcndthe Ilouian prefects into the provinces, with REFLECTIONS ON THE CONDUCT OF FELLX AND FESTUS. 563 of bis hearers thaa liis own temporal interest. He chuses faitlifully to represent the evil of tliose vices to which sect. FelLx was especially addicted, and displays the terrors of the judgment to come, as enforcing the sacred laws of 54. righteousness and temperance, which Felix had presumed so notoriously to violate. Let the haughtiest sinners know, even upon their tribunals and upon their thrones, that the universal Judge and acts the universal King will show his superior power, and will ere long call them to his bar ; and if they are conscious of XXIV. allowed disobedience and rebellion against that Supreme Lord of all, let them, like Felix, tremble. Great is the force of truth and of conscience in which the prisoner triumphs while the judge trembles. And O ! 25 how happily might this consternation have ended, had he pursued the views which were then opening on his mind! But, like thousands of awakened sinners in our day, he deterred the consideration of these important things to an uncertain hereafter. He talked of a more convenient season for reviewing them ; a season which, alas, never came! 26 for though he heard again he trembled no more that we can find, or, if he did, it was a vain terror, while he Avent on in that injustice which had given him such dreadful apprehensions, of wliich his leaving Paul bound was a 27 flagrant instiiuce. Let every reader seriously weigh this remarkable but terrible case, and take heed of stifling pre- sent couNl-ictions, lest they only serve to increase the weight of guilt, and to render the soul for ever more sensible of that greater condemnation to which it will be exposed by wickedly overbearing them. In the mean time we do not find that Drusilia, though a Jewess, was thus alarmed :"" She had been used to hear of a future judgment ; perhaps too she trusted to her being a daughter of Abraham, or to the expiations of the law, which were never intended to answer such purposes ; and so, notwithstanding the natural tenderness of her sex, was proof against those terrors which seized so strongly on her husband, though an heathen. Let it teach us to "-uard against those false dependences which tend to elude convictions that might otherwise be produced by the faithful preaching of the word of God. Let it teach lis to stop our ears against those siren songs which would lull us into eternal ruin, even though they should come Irom the mouths of those who appear like angels of light ; for the prince of darkness himself could preach no more pernicious rloctrines than those which reconcile the hopes of salvation with a corrupt heart and an immoral life. In the conduct of Festus as well as of Felix, we see wiiat dangerous snares power and grandeur may prove to a acts man who is not influenced by resolute and courageous virtue. The liberty of the worthiest of mankind was sacrificed XX W by both to their political views of ingratiating themselves with the Jewish people. Happy that ruler who, approv- 1 — ^ ing the equity of his administration to every man's conscience, has no need to court popular favour by mean com- pliances ; and whom the greatest eagerness of men's unjust demands can never turn aside from that steady tenor of justice which a righteous God sequires, and which will engage that protection and favour in which alone tlie most exalted creatures can be happy, in which alone they can be safe. SECTION LV. Agrippa and Berenice coming to visit Festus, Paul is, at their request, brought forth to be examined before them, in a large assembly of persons of considerable rank and figure. Acts xxv. 13, to the end. ACTS XXV. 1.3. Acts xxv. 13. Kin?Aorlppa7na"Ben7ce '^^^^ ^^^^ continued in confinement, by the order of Festus the governor, till an oppor- sect. ' cira? uSto Casarea to sa- tunity could be found of sendmg him to Rome, that he might there be tried by Caesar. 55. lute Festus. Andv:hen some days -a-cre passed ^SXax his appeal. King Agrippa, (the son of Herod- Agrippa, and great-grandson of Herod the Great,) who had considerable' territories in that acts neighbourhood,^ and Berenice his sister, with whom he v,as suspected of living in an inccs- XXV. 14 AuA when they had tuous Commerce,''- cafne to Cmsarca to pay their respects to Festus, and to conKratulate ^^^ unto the king, sayinyr, And as tlicii continued there many dm/s, Festus, among other subjects of discoui?e 14 i?Sn,rsbv Felix-"'''' '"' '''''^^'^ occimed, laid before the king the business of Paul; saying. There is a certain 15 About whoni, when I "''''" wliose name is Paul, left here in bonds by Felix, who has occasioned a great deal of was at .Jerusalem the rhief speculation in tlie?e parts, and indeed involved me in some diflSculties : Concerning vhom, 15 Je,fsL'fo„ued«!.r?eXh,| '^'^'"' ^ -"^"^ dt Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the JcxiS were very earnest ta have jndgmen't against ill their applications to me, and informed \jne'\ of him as a notorious criminal \ desir- '"i6 To whom I a'lswered "''^ judgment asxainst him for "several facts which they laid to his charge, and pre- It is not the manner of the tended fo be highly illegal: To uhoin I anstvcred, that it is not the custom of the Ro- 16 Itomans to deliver any man mans, when a crime is charged upon a person, fo give tin any tnan to destruction (which isVcoused I'aVe the a'cn'sers ^ P^^'^^' perceived they intended fo bring on this' Paul) till he that is accused have the face to face, and have !i- accusers Openly produced, to give their evidence against him face to face," and he have 3 lunn Ajini-.pa.^ The prince here ineutioned was the son of soon forsook, though he had submitted to circumcision to oht:- in the Ilerofl .Agrippa, spoken ot before, chap. xii. l.-(see note a, on that alliance. (.Tosepli. Antin. lib. xx. cmy. 7. [al. 5.] \ 3.) This was also text, i>. 489.1 and grandson of Anstohulus tlie son of Herod the the person whom Titus Vespasian so passionately loved, and whom «.reat. As he was hut seventeen years of age when his father died, he would Iiave made Empress, had not the clamoursof the Uoinans the Lmperor Claudius did not thnik proper to appoint him kingof prevented it. See Sueton. in Tit. cnp. 7. cum JVof. Pitise. and Judea 111 tlie rooua of his fatiier, but m?.^e it a Roman ])roviiice ; Tacit. Nishr. lib. ii. cap. 2. e/. 81. however, ou the death of his uncle Herod, he made him king of c A'-iiv //le accusers /oce to face.] That, according to the Roman Uialeis, v/hich, after he had governed it four years, he exchanged law, accusations were not to be heard in the absence of the accused (or a greater kingdom, and gave him the tetrarchies of Phjlip and person, Pr. Lardner has shown, Crcdih. Cook I. chap. 10. ? 8. Vol. I. J.ysanias, to which Nero afterwards added part of Galilee, with se- p. 515, .'vlf>.— It evidently appears from hence, (as Beza well vera! towns in Persea. Josephus speaks largely of liim in a muUi- argues,) that the judgment tliey demanded against Paul (ver. 15.) tude of passages, the most material of which are collected by Dr. was not a trial, biit a sentence upon a previous conviction, which Lardner, (CrfrfiA. Book I. chap. 1. ^ 9. Vol. I. p. 40— 50.) and Mr. they falsely and wickedly pretended; and probably it was the Biscoe (J^yi'^s Lect. chap. ii. \ .1. p. 49, .50.) knowledge which Festus had of Paul's being a Roman citizen, that b ^Init Hcremcc his lister, &c.] Of this incestuous eoinraerce engaged him to determine to try the cause himself. 2 o2 564 PAUL IS PRODUCED BEFORE AGRIPPA THAT HE MIGHT HEAR HIM. SECT, also libeily to speak, and de allowed an opporiuiiit?/ of 7naking his defence as to the ceuce to answer for himself 55. crime laid to his charge; which has so evident a foundation in reason and equity, that ^°"F'^''"i"^ *'"^ "'^*^ ^''"'^ one would imagine it should be the common law and custom of all mankind. When °n Therefore wiien they ACTS therefore upon this they attended me from Jerusalem, and were come with me hither io were come ijither, without X.\V. prosecute him here, / -anthoiit any delay sat do-wn upon the tribunal, the very 7wxt day ^^^ m,''tL°judlU"nt-seI.tl 18 after my arrival, and commanded the man to be brought forth before me : Against whom, and i commanded the man when the accusers stood up and otfered what they had to say, they brought no charge '"j^*^!"^ ught forth: of such things as I supposed they would have, from the general clamour they had made tlie accusers stood"up,"iiey 19 against him as a seditious and dangerous person : J5e/;! instead of this, they had certain ijrought none accusation of matters of debate, or questions of a different nature, which they urged against him with *"^y' But'ha'd cenai'ii'mies- great vehemence, relating to some niceties of their oxun religion ;'^ «««' particularly about tions against him, of their one Jesus of Nazareth that was dead, whom Paul unaccountably affirmed to be alive, o^vn superstition, and of one . , 11111.11 w^ 1 T 1 1 Jesus winch was dead, . though at the same tmie lie acknowledged that he had been crucined at Jerusalem, and ex- whom Paul affirmed to be 20 pired on the cross. Of this he pretended to produce some extraordinary and to me utterly a'"ve. incredible proofs : But as I was still dubious of the question relati)tg to him, how far it of such mamieT of^ques- might ati'ect the state of the Jews in general, I said to Paul, that, if he were willing, he tions, i asked kim whether should go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these thingshdoxQxne, where I thought i^^uiel-e beVd/ed "nhe'Te I might have an opportunity of hearing the cause, and of examining into several particu- matters. 21 lars with greater advantage. But Paul, apprehensive (as I plainly perceived) of some 21 But when Paul had clandestine attempt upon his life, was so averse to this, that he immediately prevented any appealed to be reserved un- further thought of trying him at Jerusalem, by pleading his privilege as a Roman citizen, i°coimnande"(f °iim"^tcf be , and appealing to be kept to the hearing of [our'] august Emperor himself 5*^ upon which kept till I might send him 1 commanded him to be kept under confinement as before, //// 1 could send him to Cccsar '° c^sar. by some convenient opportunity. 22 Then Agrippa said unto i-'cs/w^, I know this atfair has made a great deal of noise in 2? Then Agrippa said the world, and therefore sliould be glad of an opportunity of gratifying my curiosity with ""to Festus, l would also a more particular and authentic account of it ; so that I also would desire to hear the man morrovv^ safdiie^^hoii shah myself^ that I may learn from his own mouth what it is that he maintains, and on what prin- hear him. ciples he proceeds. And Festus, who was willing to oblige the king in this respect as soon 23 And on the morrow, as possible, promised tliat he would order Paul to be produced, and said. To-morrow thou ^'i^" Agrippa was come, Shalt hear hun as largely as thou pleasest. pompSwas :ute'red^[mo 23 The next day therefore. King Agrippa and his sister Berenice comingwith great pomp tiie place of hearing, with and splendour, and entering into the place of audience, with the tribunes and other *'.'« .""• ^^"'t'^^PJTJ'y '^"^" ther examinatio?i taken,! may have something more intelligible and more considerable that after examination'had' 27 to write, and may know better how to represent his cause. For it seons to mc very ab- I might have somewhat to surd, as I doubt not but it will also appear to you, to send a prisoner to be tried before ^^"^ar^For it seemetii to me Caesar, and not to signify also at the same time what are the crimes or causes of complaint unreasonable to send a pri- lalleged] against him on which the Emperor may proceed in giving judgment on ^^"l\\ ""f, ""' withal to niS case. against him. d Relating to their own religion.'] As Agrippa was a Jew, and of the names of Nero, (as it was of Titus,) I thought the imjiort of now came to pay a visit of respect to Festus on his arrival at his SsestTTOs here, which was plainly a complimental form of speaking, province, it is improbable (whatever Beza insinuates to the con- might be most justly expressed by this version, trary) that he would use so rude a word as superstition ; so that f I also would desire to hear tlie man myself.'] No doubt but this text affords a farther argument that the word Aii:iSxiixon-x will Agrippa had learnt from his father, by whom, it is to be remem- admita milder interpretation, like that given it above, in the ver- bered, James had been put to death and Peter imprisoned. Acts sion of Acts xvii. 22. See note i, on that text, p. 524. And it is xii. 2, 3. and from many others, something of the history and pre- very remarkable, not only that the Jewish religion is spoken of by tensions of Christianity ; so that he woiild naturally have a curiosity this word in several edicts (reported by Josephus) that were made to see and discourse with so eminent a christian teacher as Paul in its iAVOuv, Antiq. lib. xiv. cap. 10. [al. 17.] 5 1.3, 14, in, 18, 19. was; who, on account of what he had been in his unconverted state, but that Josepluis himself uses it in the same sense too. Hell. Jiid. was, to be sure, more regarded and talked of among the Jews than lib. ii. cop. 9. [al. 8.] 5 3. where he has the phrase to 7-»;s i^inn'iaipi.o txs any other of the apostles. axji.-ov, to signify their invincible attachment to their religion. See g To his Imperial Majesti/.'] Tw xu^iw plainly signifies, To the Eisner, Observ.\o\. I. p. 47G, 477. r/rrat Lord of tlie empire, a title by which, it is well known, tlie * Our august Emperor.'] Since Augustus was not properly one Emperor was now often spoken of. " PAUL MAKES HIS DEFENCE BEFORE AGRIPPA. 565 IMPROVEMENT. Mysterious as that dispensation was which permitted Paul's labours to be interrupted by so long an imprison- sect. ment, it is nevertheless very pleasant to trace the manner in which all was graciously over-ruled by a wise and 55. kind Providence. On this occasion he had an opportunity of bearing his testimony, first before rulers and kings in Judea, and then in Rome, and in the palace of Caesar. acts None of the jewels which these princes might wear, none of the revenues which they might possess, were of any XXV. value at all, when compared with the advantage which their converse with Paul gave them for learning the way Ver. 13 of salvation. But how shamefully was the advantage neglected, even the price which was put into their hands to 17 get this divine wisdom ! (Prov. xvii. 16.) Alas! how coldly do they speak of the most important matters, even ] 9 those relating to the death and resurrection of him by whose knowledge and grace alone hell was to be avoided and heaven secured ! There was a question about one Jesus who xoas dead, •whom Paul affirmed to be alive. A doubtful question ! But, O Festus, why was it doubtful to thee ? Surely because thou didst not think it worth thy 20 while seriously to search into the evidence that attended it ; else that evidence had opened upon thee till it had grown into full conviction, and this thine illustrious prisoner had led thee into the glorious liberty of God's children ; had led thee to a throne far brighter than that of Csesar, far more stable than the foundations of the earth. It is no wonder that Agrippa had a curiosity to hear Paul ; it is no wonder that the gospel-story in general 22 should move curiosity ; but God forbid that it should be considered merely as an amusement! in that view it is an amusement that will cost men dear. In the mean time the prudence of Festus is to be commended, who was 24, 26 desirous to get farther information in an affair of such a nature as this ; and his equity, which bore a testimony to the innocence of the apostle, is worthy of applause ; as well as the law which provided that none should be con- 25 demned unheard : a law which, as it is common to all nations, (courts of inquisition only excepted,) ought to be 16, 27 the rule of our proceeding in all atfairs, not only in public but private life, if wo would avoid acting an injurious part in the censures we pass on the character of others, and exposing our own to the just reproach which they seldom escape who take upon them io judge a matter before they have heard it. (Prov. xviii. 13.) SECTION LVI. Paul })ia/:es his defence before Agrippa, Festus, and the rest of the audience, in a manner which leads them to conclude he might have been set at liberty had he jwt appealed to Cccsar. Acts xxvi. 1, to the end. Acts xxvi. i. Acts xxvi. 1. Then Agrippa saia unto FjJEN Agrippa said unto Paul, when he stood before him and Festus, and that great sect. uTspeak for'thysel'^— '"'^ assembly of nobility and gentry which was met at his examination. It is now permitted 56. u7ito thee to speak for th?/self; do it therefore with freedom, and be assured that all due regard shall be paid to what thou hast to oiler on this occasion. acts —Then Paul stretched Then Paul, stretching forth his hand in a graceful and respectful manner,* addressed XXVI. forth the hand, and answer, ^ifnggif to the splendid audience before which he stood, and made his defence in terms 1 eil tor himselt, 111 like these : 2 I thuik myself happy, 0 King Agrippa, I esteem w?/.se/f peculiarly happy, and look upon it as no small 2 King Agrippa, because I advantage to me and mv cause, that I am this daii called to make mii defence before sliall answer lor myself this ^, t> . n j.i ji ■ r i ■ 1 t 1 i ii r " 1^ ■ 1/ r n day before thee, touching- thee concerning all those things of iL-nich 1 am accused by the Jews : Especially as 13 all the things whereof I am know that thou art accurately acquainted -with all things that relate to the customs ^'^a'^EsDecial'ly because I which prevail, rt«rf the questions which are in debate, among the Jews ;^ to some of know thee to be expert in which iriy cause and discourse will refer: ivhcrcforc I humbly entreat thee that thou .all customs ai.d questions ^,^[f hear me tvifh patience and indulgence, since it is necessary for me to enlarge circum- wlierefore I bese"ech thee to stantially upon some important particulars which cannot be justly represented in a few hear me patiently. WOrds. 4 My manner of life from 1 will therefore begin with observing, that the manner of i7iy life from my youth, \ my youtli, winch was at the ^Jijch, from the bcsinnins of that age,*^ -was spent among those of my own nation at nrst among mine own nation _ ' ■/ . ,, '7 '^ i, 1 -r 1 ir^; • j '7 -ii r at Jerusalem, know all the Jerusalem, IS weil knowu to all the Jews there, W ho were acquainted witli me Jrom b '^'"'^ wi Ik ^^^ -fi''^^ °^ ™y setting out in the world, and indeed from the very time of my entrance the be"mning!^'(™'^ t'i?ey npon a coursc of liberal education under tliat celebrated master Gamaliel ; and if they would te'stify.iThat after the tro?- I 13 (compare Acts ix. 2. et seq.) At mid-day, [while I was'] in the way thither, and was saw in the way a'light from drawinof near the end of my iourney, I solemnly declare before thee, O Kin^r As-rippa, '''^''"en- above the bright- and before this assembly, as in the presence of God, J saw a great and most astonishing round about me, and them - light from heaven, exceeding the splendour of the sun, shining about me and those which journeyed with me. 1^ who travelled with tne. And when we were all fallen down to the earth as if we fnHen to the earth I heard had been struck with lightning, J very distinctly heard a voice speaking to me, and a voice speaking unto me, saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? [It is] lon'^^^'sml'ss^u) ■wh'^^'^'^^ hard for thee to attempt an opposition to me, and madly to presume to kick against secutcst thou me ?'/ee to kick against the persecuted thee ? And who can judge of my surprise when he who appeared to me in this '"i;3 ^nd I .said. Who art divine lustre and glory, said, I am Jesus tire Nazarene, who77i thou persecutest by the thou. Lord? And he said, l 16 opposition thou art making to my cau^e and interest. But though, by engaging in this g^y^es"^' ^''°'" "'°" ''®''" desperate attempt, thou hast forfeited thy life, I am determined graciously to spare if, and le But rise and stand 12. Matt, xxiii. 5, 23, 25, 28. And AVitsius a.ssurcs us, (I suppose on as much as he could, in that instance and any other that might oc- the authority of some rabbles,) that they used to sleep on narrow cur, whether at Jerusalem or elsewhere, which (as was hinted be- plaiiks, that, falling down from them, they might soon be awakened fore, note e, on Acts xxii. 4. p. 549.) might perhaps be more than to prayer, and that others lay on gravel, and placed thorns so near are recorded : accordingly the Syriac renders it, I joined with those them, that they could not turn without being pricked by them, that condemned them ; and Grotlus observes that the Greek phrase VV^ts. Meletem. cap. i. \ 15. xarnviyxa \l,upov has sometimes this general signification. e That promise which was made hy God unto our fathers.'] See h 7 compelled them lo blaspheme.'] I cannot think, with the learned tlie paraphrase, and notes f, and g, on'Luke xx. 37, 38. p. 310. AVitsius, that this refers to his obliging them to use that form of i ffhij should a he judged an 'incredible thing, Sf-c.'] Beza would prayer ascribed to Gamaliel, in which the christian religion place a mark of interrogation after Ti, and read it, lyhat > is it was "mentioned as heresy ; and by imposing which, he supposes it thought incredible, Sfc. which is indeed suited to the animated was intended to prevent christians from joining in synagogue- wor- manuer of Paul's speaking ; and a thousand such examples occur in ship. {Whs. Hfeietem. cap.\.\ 22.) Kut the fre((iient instances we ancient authors, where the persons introduced must be supposed have of the apostles' going into the synagogues and joining in their perfectly to understand the rules of decorum. worship, plainly show that prayer riot to have been so anciently !f I gave mi/ vote against them.] Paul had no vote in the sanhe- received. A known passage m Pliny (i/A.x. £';'(«/. 94.) proves that drim, nor do we certainly know that any more than Stephen were heathen persecutors obliged christians that fell under the trial, put to death for Christianity before Paul's conversion, in whose con- not only to renounce Clirist, but also to curse him ; and I think (lemnation there was no voting at all. But the meaning plainly is, it appeals from hence, that the Jews imposed the like test upon tas Beza well observes,) that he instigated the people against them them. FOR THIS CAUSE THE JEWS HAD SOUGHT TO KILL HIM. 567 ujion thy feet : for I have to use thee hereafter as the instrument of niy glory ; arise, therefore, and stand npon f/i/} sec;t. appeareti uiiio thee for tiiis f^.^-f . -f^j, (q (/^is purpose J /lave in this extraordinary manner appeared unto thee, even 56. iniKaml a wUness both >« ordain thee a minister of my gospel, and a tvitness both of the things tchich thou of these thinits wiiich thou ]iast nov/ seen, and of those in xi'hieh I icill hereafter appear unto thee : And thou acts hast^ seen and of those gj^^jj. g^perience my gracious presence with ihee, delivering thee from the rage and malice ^^vi Vpe^^rmito"th'^e":'' ^ "'. of i(//e Jewish people, and ?,ho from ihe dangers thou shalt encounter with among the \1 . j7 Delivering- thee from QcniUes, to whom I jioxv Send thec ;' That 1 may make thee instrumental, by the preach- 18 GcUyK unto"vh{ra'now 1 ing of my gospel, to open their ej/es, which are now in a miserable slate of blindness, that send tiie'c, they may turn from that spiritual darkness in which they are now involved, to the light 18 To open their eyes, ^j. ^^^^■^^;^ knowledge and holiness,"* and from the poxver of Satan, to which they are now ntss to ligiit, aud /com the m a Wretched subjection, unto tlie love and service ot (jorf; t/iat so tlie?/ may receicc j.ower of" .Satan unto God, (j^g fj,gg and full forgiveness of sW their sins, be they ever so many or ever so aggravated, gi\"L.ess7.f?ins, and inherit- dnd may obtain an inherit mice among them that are sanctified, through that faith nrice among- them which trhich is in me, which terminates in me as its great Object, and consists in devoting the are sanctiaed by iaith tb.-it ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ Service, and committing' it to my care as the Saviour of men. '* 19 Whereupon, o King From that ever-memorable time, O king Agrippa, through the grace of God subduing 19 Agrippa, 1 was not disobe- ^^y heart, I tvas not disobedient to the heavenli/ vision wi(h which he was pleased thus vision:""*" heavenly ^-.i^aculously to favour me : E«/Iimmediately engaged, with all the united powers of my 20 But showed first unto goul, in the Service of that Divine Master against whose interest and kingdom T had hitherto 20 V' V? ?^„?n^,ff''i?rA,?"hn;ll becu actlng in so strenuous a manner ; and accordingly I openly declared, first to them all the coasts of judea, and at Damascus, where I was going when tnis vision happened, and atterv\'aras to those at ilien to the Gentiles that j^.fusalem and through all the country of Judea, and \thu\\ to all the Gentiles to (^.KU^and (irwoiTs meet wherever 1 came, in my various and wide-extended travels from one country to another, for repeatauce. tkat they should repent of their sins, and turn to God with their whole hearts, perfonn- ing deeds xeorlliy of that repentance which they profess, and without which the sincerity of it can never be approved in his sight. 21 For these causes the Now let any One judge whether for this I should be treated as a crimmal worthy of 2 1 .lews caught me in the Jgath, or whether indeed I liave deserved these bonds : Yet on account of these things, km me """^ ''""' "^""^ '" and for no other cause, the Jexcs, who have the same inveteracy against the gospel of Jesus that I once had, seirjing me in the tejnple some time ago, atteinpted in a tumul- tuous manner to have killed^ me with their own hands -^ And since I w^as respired at first by Lysias the tribune, they have repeated the attempt again and again, contriving to assassinate me in my way to the council, before ivhich they urged that I might again be 22 Having therefore oh- brought. I impute it therefore to an extraordinary providence that I am yet alive, 22 tained help''of God, I con- ^^j publicly declare it with all thankfulness, that it is by having obtained help frcm llrboTL'smaulnd'S God that ^I Continue until this daj/ ;"^ and I endeavour to employ my life to the saying- none other things purposes for which it is prolonged, resolutely and courageously tcstift/ing, both to than 'th.is^e wWch th^e pro- ^^^^^^^ ^^^^j great, as what is really a matter of the greatest concern both to the riiould^corae:"^^^ ' "''^ meanest and 'the most exalted of mankind, the way of salvation by Christ Jesus my Lord : Thereby indeed in effect saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses 23 That Christ should have declared "should be ; That is, in short, that the Messiah must have suffered, and2'd suffer, raid that he should ^^^./^^o. /^^ fif.gt of (hose who rose from the dead to an immortal life, should discover from*the'deV(Ca'nd"s'houid liglit, and'be the means of revealing knowledge and- happiness, both to the people of the show light unto the people, Jews, and also to the Gentiles ; that by following his instructions and obeying his com- and to the Gentiles. mands, they also might at length obtain a glorious resurrection, and a life of everlasting felicity in the heavenly world. 24 And as he thus spake ^"'^ «•' ^^ '^'^^ ^/'"*' making his defence, Fesius, astonished to hear him represent this 24 forhiraseif^Festussaidwith despised gospel of Jesus of Nazareth as a matter of such high and universal concern, and .I loud voice Paul, thou art thinkins; the vision he had related as introductory to that assertion quite an incredible beside thyself : much learn- o., . , , , . , . , , t ., ^ ^ i , r>' / */. . / ^7:-. ing doth make thee mad, story. Said, With a loud voicc which reached the whole aucmory, rnuf, tnou art dis- tracted : Much study of these ancient records, on ^^ iiich thoa layest so great a stress, i Tltc Gentiles, to whom J vow send thee.'i This text entirely apostles all expected multitudes -would be,) they must first be rc- overthrows the scheme which Lord IBairington and Dr. Beusoii ceived into the Jewish church by circumcision, and tlicn into the have taken so much pain's to establish, relating to Paul's receiving christian by haptism. Many good manuscrints and ancient ver- bis first commission to preach to the idolatrous Gentiles several sions do indeed leave nut vuv, vow; (see Dr. Mill, in loc.) but tew ot years after his conversion, viz. in his second journey to Jerusalem, these read aro.-EXXw, I will send Ihec ; and if we adnut the reading See note a, on Acts xxii. 17. p. 551. To support that hypothesis, tir ow « arafsx^w, to wliom I send iliec, the ^sense will be much the (for it is no more,) tlicv are obliged to maintain that these words same as if we retain that which is commonly received, were not spoken by Christ when be met him on the way to Damas- k That ikcy may turn, <5-c.] This seems to be the sense ot tlie cus, but in the vision he had in the temple ?X the time referred to original Errre=4.«', which (as De Dieu observes) may properly be above. But as the words make a part of the sentence in which rendered thus without the need of any supplement; and tins will ^yjt:,iM-!?im, winch was ine more and this is as recoiicileable with Peter's first opening the christian properly used here, as there was reason to apprelieiui tiiat r.iui church to the uncircumcised Gentiles, as the general commission would liave been actually pulled to pieces [J,i TTr:.53nJ in an assembly, whicli Christ gave to all the apostles before his ascension. Mark as it seems, less n-umerous and less violent than that wiiicli seizea xvi. 15; Mat. xxviii.l9. Tlie plain answer to the seeming objection him in Ihe temple. Compare chap, xxiii. 10. p. 55.5. arising from both is, that though these commissions were indeed m Hacino ol,taincd help from Cn,l,iiot mad, most XXVI. noble Festus ; but I utter the words of truth and sobrieti/,^ which will bear the test 25 of the severest examination ; and I desire nothing more than that they may be brought to 2G it. For the King himself knou-eth of these things, and is no stranger to them, to -whom also I speak with freedom, emboldened by his permission, and assured of his candour : For I am persuaded he has better and more favourable thoughts of what 1 have been say- ing, as none of these things arc entirely hidden from him : for this is not [an afair] that was transacted in a corner ; the death of Jesus, the preaching of his gospel, my rage against it, and sudden conversion to it, were all open and notorious facts, of the truth of which thousands had opportunity of being certainly and thoroughly informed 5 and I am 27 satisfied the King has often lieard of them : Nor can he be ignorant of the correspondence of these things to the predictions of the Old Testament : O King Agrippa, belicvest thou the prophets ? Yes, I know that thou believcst them to have been written by a divine inspiration, and art aware of the weight of those arguments which are derived from the authority of their testimony. 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou hast given such an account of these matters, and hast delivered what thou hast been saying in so natural and so earnest a manner, that thou almost persuadcst me to become a christian myself, instead of condemning thee under that character.'' 29 And Paul, powerfully struck with so remarkable an acknowledgment, said, with great fervency of spirit, and yet with perfect decency, O King, I would to God that not only thou, but also all that hear ?ne this da?/, were both almost and altogether suck as I am, except these bonds ;'' My afflictions I would bear myself till Providence shall release me from them, but my satisfaction in the truth of the gospel is so entire, and the conso- lations I experience from it are so solid and noble, that I could wish nothing greater and better to this illustrious audience, than that every one present had an equal taith in it, and equal zeal to promote its interests ; which I earnestly pray that God may excite in your hearts. 30 And as he said this, that the impression Paul began to make upon the court might reach no farther, the King arose, and Festus the governor, and Berenice, and those who sat 31 with them upon the bench ; for Agrippa was able to hear no more. And when they had retired to the governor's apartment, they spoke one with another, saying. It is evident, so far as we can judge by this discourse, which hath all imaginable marks of candour and sincerity, that this man, whether his reasonings be or be not conclusive, hath done 32 nothing worthy either of death or of bonds. And Agrippa said to Festus, This man might certainly have been set at liberty upon this hearing, without any farther debate, if he had not appealed unto Cwsar :^ But as he has judged it necessary to take that step, he has indeed put it out of our power to discharge him, and therefore he must stand by Catear's av/ard ; to whom it will be convenient to send him as soon as possible. 25 But he said, 1 am not mail, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth aud soberness. 26 For the King knoweth of these tilings, before whom also 1 speak freely • for 1 am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him: for this thing Was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, be- lievest tliou the prophets? I know that thou believcst. 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou l)ersuadest me to be a Chris- tian. 29 And Paul said, I would to God that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bouds. 30 And when he had thus spoken, the Iving rose up, and the governor, and Ber- nice, and they that sat with them. 31 And when they were gone aside, they talked be- tween themselves, saying, This man doth nothing worthy of death, or of bonds. 32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at li- berty, if he had not ap- pealed unto Ca;sar. 11 Miic/i study drives i/ice lo madness.'] This is the exact import of the original, lloXXjr at y^x/x/xxra fi■ 10 Saying unto them. Sirs, I perceive that if this voyage be pursued according to the pre- gip^^ i'perceive"'tliat 'tl??s sent scheme you have in view, it will be attended xcith much injury and 2;rcat damage, voyage will be with hint not only to the ladimj; that we have on board, and to the ship itself, 'but also, in all huiiian ^"^ much damajje, not only , , 1- 7'^ T 1 r- T . 1 1 1 • 1 -, 1 • 1 1 T ■ , '^' the laoins' and snip, but probability, to our lives ; and therefore I should think it highly conducive to our common rjso of our lives. safety, rather to winter here than to attempt to proceed any farther. ^^ Nevei-theies^s tUe cen- 11 But Julius the centurion, in whose breast the determination of the affair lay, paid and the own^-r of the ship, greater 7'egard in this instance to the opinion of thejnlot and the master of the vessel, more- tlian those thinijjs than to those things which were spo/cen by Paul; imagining, notwithstanding the esteem p^^,*}'^ """^ spoken by he had for him in other views, that these were more competent judges in the business of 12 And because the haven 12 navigation. And as the haven, notwithstanding its agreeable name, was not commodious ^»'?s "".' commodious to V,.,, , ,r,i j-;j J 1 J- si ■!• J] Winter in, the more part to Winter in, the greater part of the company advised to set sail from tlience, tj tliey advised to depart thence might possibly reach to Phenice, to winter there ; \which is'] « kind of double haven on also, if by any means they the southern coast of Crete, looking to the south-west and north-west, where, in conse- ^,'f ^Vlpre to wi^?er^i^vhirll' quence of a jutting point of land which defended it, they hoped, on getting into the upper is an haven of Crete, and part of it, to lie secure from almost any wind that could blow. l"^th toward the south 13 And as the weather came to be more favourable, and the south wind blew gently, ^3 '^,^^ „j,en 'tiie' south which would prevent their driving out to sea, supposins; they were now secure of [their'] wind blew softly, supposinij purpose, and by the help of a side wind might coast along the island, they weighed anchor ^^^^l *''p^i,,p4p, "'lool'inj 14 from the Fair Havens, and sailed on close to the shore of CreteJ But not long after thence, they s;iiled close by thev had put to sea, the ship was in great danger, as on a sudden there arose against if a ^'^f\^- . . , r. - , ' ^ 1 ■ V 1 • 1 r° • 7 P- 7 1 ^1 ■ ■ iU- • // J 14 T5ut not Ions after, very tempestuous whirling kind ot wind, which by the manners m this sea is caitca ti,ere arose against it a Euroclydon, or in modern language a Levanter.s which often shifts the quarter from tempestuous wind called whence it blows, and accordingly in our case was fu-st east and by north, and afterwards "s^And^^when the shi[. 15 several degrees southward of the east. And as the ship was violently hurried away by w&s caught, and could not d The city nf Lasea.'] I see no reason, with BeTa, to chanq;-e this known in the Mediterranean. See Raphel. TVb/. far //(?70(/. p. .107 ; reading; for Alassa or Elaa, merely because we do not read of Lasea and Veget. I)e Re Militari. lih. iv. cnp. 39. elsewhere. It is very possible a place may be but once mentioned f Close to Crete.'] That «ioov is to be taken as an ar. Shaw gives of the matter in it would naturally be so, not only on account of winter approach- his Trrtveh, p. 3.58—301. where he explains it as one of the furious ing, but also because of Ilie Michaelmas flows, that are still well kind of winds, now called Levanters, which are easterly winds not \ A VIOLENT STORM ARISES, AND PAUL ASSURES THEM OF THEIR SyVFETY. 571 bear up into Uie wiiid, wo the force of it, and was not able to hear up against the -wind, which was so very boisterous SECT let Iter drive. that (as the seamen use to speak) slie could not look the storm in the face, -we gave [her'] up 5 /. ifi Aiid running under a to the Wind, a7id Were driven before it. J nd running under a certain island called Clauda, certain island which is a little to the south of the western coast of Crete, the Violence of the stomi was such, that witft A(,rs 'f,'! wn'.'n,t' Z IhP i?oTt'. the utmost difficulty we were hardli/ able to get masters of the boat, which we were willing -^f^Vl (. woitt. 10 collie uy iiie uoai. j i < • i ■ i c • tfi ■ / /.^ , *^*- -lU to secure from being staved, as what might be of use in any exigence: t\ hicli wtien at 17 Which when they last thejy had hoisted up, they ?<.?«/ all the helps they could to make the vessel able to 17 had taken up, tliey used f-jje out the storm, luidergirding the ship to keep it from bulging ; and fearing, as the ihiT' am" feafing left they wind had varied more to' the north, and blew them towards Africa, lest they should fall should fall into the quick- upon the greater or the lesser Syrtis, those quicksands on the Alrican shore so famous lor sands strake sail, and so ^|^g destruction of mariners and vessels,'' they struck sail, that so tiieir progress might be were ri\en. slower, and some more favourable weather in the mean time might come for their relief, and 18 And we i.cingr exceed- SO Were driven before the wind. And as we were exceeding/ 1/ tossed by the storm, and IS ing'ly tossed withliie tcm- (here was danger of the vessel's foundering, the next [flay] they lightened the ship, by heav- P.'^f' f'f ,,"'"=','. ''"y ^''^y insr overboard the goods that she was laden with, and throwing out the heaviest wares into lightened the snip: i^j, -^ y ^,. ^v^iy ,, ° ,,■,,> n ,i , i i ii i ii i> u „, 1(> 19 And the third day we the sea. And the third [day] the tempest was so great that all tne passengers as well as I'J cast out with our own hands mariners Were employed ; and we cast out with our own hands theveiy tackling if the tJie tackhng of the ship. ^^^.^^^ vvhich in such circumstances we should have been desirous to have preserved, pre- ferably to the most precious wares with which she could have been laden. 20 And when neither sun Now as we knew not M'here the wind had driven us, for neither sun nor stars appeared 20 "eared 'and no "mal?'teX f^^^ Several days, and still the sea ran high, and no small tempest pressed upon [us,] all pest"lly onw"°UhopetTi"t"the little remainder of hope that we might be saved and delivered from the danger we we siiould be saved was .^gj.g j^i^ ,^,^,_y jj^ ^ manner taken away from us, and the whole company expected nothing then taken away. ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^j^.^^ ^ov\A certainly be lost, and we should perish with it. • 21 But after long absti- And when iu all this time they had no heart to think of taking any regular refreshment, 21 tltr nJdst' of^Them'^ami SO that there was great want of food, and their distress was such that tliey were quite said, Sirs, ye should have dispirited, then Paul standing in 'the midst of them said. Sirs, if it were proper to retlect l\earkened unto me, and not ^^q^^ -vvhat is past, and now tiTetrievable, I might tell you that you ought to have heark- an.r to^havc 'gXeif'this c?ied to me, and not to have loosed from Crete at so inconvenient a time, and so to have "harm and loss. gained this injuri/ and loss which you have already sidered,' and be exposed to that dis- 22 And now I exhort you tress which you are farther to endure. Nevertheless, even now, bad as the situation of 22 then>^hIlfbe1io''lot^'oV a°f affairs may appear, I exhort you to be of good courage : for though you are ready to con- w!(/!'lMfc among "you, bJt clude you must inevitably perish, I assure you that there shall be no loss of any single life x of iiieship. among you, but only of the ship, which must indeed be dashed in pieces. Nor is it with- 23 th?night'u?e'a«g°l*^of G^d! out good authority that I speak in so express and positive a manner with regard to an event whose "l am anTl whom I which seems to you at best very uncertain, or rather utterly improbable ; for there appeared s'^^'"^'^^' to me this very night an angel of the God whose servant and property I joyfully confess that I am, and whom I humbly and diligently worship, though most of you are so un- thcm that sail with thee. Ca2sar ; and, behold, God hath not only determined to rescue thee from this imminent danger, but he hath also given thee the lives of all them that sail in this vessel with thee, 25 Wherefore, Sirs, be of who shall be preserved for thy sake. Wherefore take courage. Sirs, and lay aside your 25 f^°A f"^^"^' ^'"^ ^ believe fears ; /or I trust in God, whose word is faithful and his power almighty, that it shall as it was 'old me" ^^ ''''''" Certainly be so, according to the maimer in which it hath been spoken to me. But 126 20 Howbeit we must be know also, that we must be cast upon a certain island, and that the vessel will be wrecked cast upon a certain island. ^^^^^ thecoast of it : Nevertheless we shall, if we take care to use the proper means for that purpose, all escape and get safe to land, and from thence shall pursue our voyage to Italy more prosperously in another vessel. IMPROVEMENT. We see in this renewed instance the great force of a virtuous character, and of a truly worthy and h.onourable Ver. 3 behaviour, towards engaging the esteem of all around us. Julius the centurion had a reverence and aliection ior Paul, which, as in the beginning of this voyage it procured for him the satisfaction of conversing with his friends at Sidon, and receiving the fruit of their affection, so it was, in the progress of it, the occasion of saving the great apostles life, and witii it that of the rest of the prisoners. (Ver. 42, 43.) Let us learn thus to soften the fierce and to convince the prejudiced, and humbly trust in that God who, if our ways please him, can turn our enemies into friends, (Prov. xvi. 7.) and can preserve and bless us by means of those who were intended to be only the instruments of affliction. confined to one single point, but blowing in all directions from the to it, and is used in the same latitude : Thus """ew""''! scruple to north-east to the south east. Sue also Erasmus on this place. say a ship had been mncb „:j ured by a storm.- 1 he "t'^^'l.^^^'i.''^. ^' h LcH thru ,/wv!rt fall upon the quicksands.-] See a good coUec- signifies a loss, especially «.A«f ; (compare ""te t, on i arK v n • JO. tion of the descriptions given of the greater and the lesser Syrtis, p. 181.) and perhaps ,t may be use-i to '"^'"""^thal h s oss w..s .i bv approved writers of aiitiquitv, in Gualtperius's note on this verse, kind of fine paid for their own imprudence. lo gain " ''" ^f"-™ "i To have gained this injury and loss.} Both these words, uSiiv so odd a phrase, that "n<>/y«"''L*l\l"i.'[!f, I* :I;L "J ii" . in XXI ^nMix'*, are i reference to \ vS^i', generally ; and its compound senses (Compare 32; Rom. i. 30; i lira. i. ij.) aui ii exiciius lu any wic^u t.o- mt ...ci....^.^- . , ■ . -^ Trionn.- /l/.ron, .W/,(Actsxiv.5; I Thess.ii. 2.) and is here used for that of waves the word has iwecisely this sense and force: Eisner, Observ and winds. I apprehend the English word injury exactly corresjiond's Vol. T. p. 486. 572 THE MARINERS WOULD HAVE LEFT THE SHIP BUT PAUL PREVENTS IT. SECT. From the account which is here given us of tiie danger and distress which Paul and his comjjanions suffered uijonl 57. the mighty waters, let us learn to pity those who, being providentially engaged in a seafaring life, are often in such ' deaths as these. When we hear, as it may be we do, while tar from the shores of our island, the stormy winds rag- XXVII 28 ACTS ing around us, and see the eflects of their fury in those stupendous instances which sometimes appear, let us send A^^''- "P. as it were upon their rapid wings, our compassionate cries to that God who holds them all in his fists, (Prov. ■''' ~'^ XXX. 4.) that he would help and save those that are ready to be swallowed up quick in a watery grave, and perhaps many of them, while just on the brink of eternity, in the number of those that are of all others most un- prepared for it. 22 — 25 Happy the man, in whatever extremities of danger, that is conscious of a relation to the God of heaven as his God and his Father ; that can say, like Paul in this l-lessed parenthesis. Whose I am and whom I serve ! Let us, when we can use the language, take the comfort of it, and commit ourselves to the guardian care of our God with cheerfulness. He knoweth them that are his, and will take care of liis own. Let our faith put a reality into all his promises, that it shall certainly be even as he hath spoken unto us. Thus let us cncouraf^e ourselves in ilic Lord our God, (1 Sam. XXX. 6.) and the event shall not shame our hopes ; but we shall find, by happy experience, that God will not only save us from ruin, but conduct us to joy as well as to safety everlasting. Amen ! SECTION LVIII. Paul and his companions, after having suffered further extremities in their voi/age, are at length shipxvreckcd on the shore of Malta ; but all escape with their lives. Acts xxvii. 27, to the end. ActSXXvii. 27. ACTS xxvii. 27. SECT. Several threatening circumstances of the violent storm which Paul and his companions But when the fourteenth 58. mtt with in llieir vovafre, were described before ; and we now proceed to observe, that when '"?•'* '■"'•^^ come, as we were ,/ ,- , ,/ ■ ;, ° ,7 ) ; ui A 1 ■ J- c< ^ clnven up and down in the fourteenth nigiit was come, as we were tossed up ana down in tlic Adriatic bea^ Adria, about raidnio-ht the ACTS the mariners suspected about midnight that they drew near some land: And sounding sliipmen deemed tliat they ''■"" the depth of the water, thei/ found [/V] twcnti/ fathoms ; and having gone a little way from ^'^^l "And'" sounded','" and thence, and sounding again, they found\J,f]on\y fifteen fathoms ; which decrease of their found it twenty fathoms; 29 soundings convinced them that this apprehension was just. And thevefoie, fearing lest ji.'"' when tliey had gone a t hep should fall upon some rocky shore where there might not be depth of water sufficient again, Ynd'^found^irfifteen to keep the vessel from striking, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and heartily fatlioms. wished that the day would break and more clearly discover our situation. ^^^ slmu Id'have falfen uT 30 But when the mariners ^e\:ce\wedii\\eA?in'S,ev so e\iKxne,ihey endeavoured to Jlee out of on rocks, they cast four- tlte ship, and to provide for their own safety by makinsr to the shore; andv/hsn, to compass """^''op, "''J: "J, '^''f stem, ,,.,'. .\ I I I , 1 J} I X J xi J ■ I ■ ■ ^ ■, , and wished for the day. ttieir design, they Itad let down the boat into the sea, and were just going into it, under a 30 And as tlie sliipmen pretence that they were about to carry out anchors from the ship-hcad,to make the vessel ^^^S^ aboutto flee out of tlie 31 more secure by dropping them at a distance, Paul, who knew that it was the will of God f^}^',^ thrboa*t'hito'tht sea! that all proper endeavours should be used for their preservation in a dependence on the pro- under colour as though' niise he had given them, perceiving the design they had in view, said to Julius the centu- tli<^y wi'lfl '"'ve cast an- rioii, and the soldiers that were with him. Unless these mariners continue in the ship, ai'paul said to the cen- without whose help we know not how to manage her, ye cannot be saved ;^ for the pro- turion and to the soldiers, mise made of your lives was to be understood as given on condition of your taking the si'iTp,^ye cannot'b'e saved*'*^ 32 most prudential measures to secure them which present circumstances will admit. Theti '-^2 Then the soldiers rut the soldiers, who had learnt from their commander to pay a deference to what Paul said, "ud kt herfalUfr'^'^ ^°^^' that the success of this intended fraud might be efTectually prevented, cut off the cords of' the boat, by which it was fastened to the side of the ship, and let it fall off mio the sea before any of the mariners were got into it. 33 /iw/ a'/ii/c Me f/«?/ wrts rf)/w/«o- o«, before they had light sufficient to discern what they 33 And wiiile the day should do, Paul earnestly exhorted them all to take \some^ food, saying. To-day you ro''u"ht'"thftn°'all'^to"'take are looking for the fourteenth day since you have been in this distress, and d\\ of you meat, saying. This day is continue fasting, having taken nothing of a regular meal f the necessary consequence of """ fo'Tteenth day that ye which is, that you must thus be very faint and weak, and unfit for those fatigues which may fasting,' haviug"^ takeir'no- farther lie before you ; for it will be a narrow escape that we are to expect, and we may thing. 34 find great difficulties in getting on shore. As therefore till the morning rises we can at- 34 AVherefore I pray you tempt nothing by way of approach to land, I exhort you to improve this little interval of \" ^^}-^ '""'^ ""=at; for this leisure by making use of it to take [somel food, sinee^ it is plain that this is proper to be Ii,ere'"^bal'l"notT"hair nil I i]one for your safety, as it will make you fitter to act for your own preservation, according from the head of any of as future circumstances may require ; and you may allow yourselves this refreshment with y°"- the greater cheerfulness, /wr I can renew the assurance I before gave, that whatever risk you run, and whatever labour we pass through, not ahair shall fall from the head of any ofyou.^ a Til the Adriatic Sra.'] It is well known to those acquainted other affairs of greater moment appears to me both easy and with ancient geography, that all that part of the Mediterranean important. which lay south of Italy was called the Adriatic Sea, and that which c Continue fasting, having taken unlliing.'] Appian speaks of an is now the Gulf of Venice was the Sinus Adriaticus. See (5rotius, army which, for twenty days together, took neither food nor sleep; in toe. and Mr. Biscoe, At Boyle's Led. chap. x. \ 4. p. ,'380, 381. by which he must mean, they never made full meals, nor slept b Unless these continue in the ship, ye cannot lie saved.'] To what wliole nights togetlier. The same interpretation must be given to 1 have said of this in the paraphrase and improvement, I shall only this phrase, which Mr. Brckell also thinks may intimate that they add, that God foretold the deliverance of the ship's company as were now at short allowance, as they were like to^have a mucii certain, though suspended on this condition, because he knew it longer voyage than was at first intended, and had two hundred an-> ./ ./ ..' " ^ ., ' i. ii t j7 the mainsail to the wind, of land where two seas met, such was the violence ot the current, that tliey ran and made toward shore. l|^^ g/ijp ao-roicnd ; and the forepart, which struck upon the sand, stuck fast, and plac\'\vher/''two°seas' met! refnained immovable, while the hinder part was broken to pieces by the force of the they ran the ship agromid ; waveS. and reml'inX unmrn^abk ^^ ^^^^ Critical juncture, as there were several prisoners aboard who were to be conveyed 42 but The hinder part was in custody to Romc, there was a most unjust and cruel purpose formed against them, and broken with the violence f/^, counsel of the soldicrs was, that they should kill the prisoners, lest any one should ° i2"'Amr^the soldiers' take this Opportunity to swim away, and should escape out of their hands : of which counsel was to kill the they did not care to run the hazard, as they well knew how severe the Roman law was rh;',?M*''fji'n?n„'i"n,HLr^nT J" such CBscs wliere there was any room to suspect the guards of connivance or negli- snouiu bwini oui,diui est ape, . i-i- . ^i i 'Jli ,40 4.-! But the centurion, geuce. But the centurion, being desirous to save so worthy and considerable a per- 4J wiiiiiig_to save Paul, kept gon as P^m/," hindered them from executing [their'] purpose, and commanded those that anrcoiZandeTtl!'at''they could swim to throw [themselves'] outfrst into the sea, and get away to land; And AA which could swim, shouiii as for the remainder, some adventured themselves upon planks, with which the wreck sea\wWt to fand ':"*"*'''' Supplied them, and others upon some of [the things] which they found means to get out 44" And the rest, some on of the ship ; and SO, through the singular care of Divine Providence, it came to pass, boards, and some on broken according; to the prediction of Paul, that they all got safe to land, and there was not one iii^cY-s ot the ship ; and so it . , ,.P i . '^ ./ o ./ came to pass that they Single lite lost. escaped all safe to land. IMPROVEMENT. The section we now have been reading contains a remarkable illustration of the obligations we are under to Vet. 31 use the most proper means for security and success, even while we are committing ourselves to the care of Divine 32 Providence, and waiting the accomplishment of God's own promises. For it would be most unreasonable to ' imagine that he ever intended any promise to encourage rational creatures to act in a wild and irrational manner ; or to remain inactive, when he has given them natural capacities of doing something at least for their own benefit. It is in exerting these that we are to expect his powerful aid ; and all the grace, beauty, and wisdom of the pro- mise would be lost if we were to take it in any other view : To abuse it in a contrary view, is at best vain and dangerous presumption, if all pretence of relying upon it be not profane hypocrisy. How solicitous are men in danger for the preservation of this mortal and perishing life! They cast out their 18, 19 goods in a storm ; they throw away the tackling of the ship to lighten it ; and for many succeeding days forget even to eat their bread. O when shall we see a solicitude any thing like this about the concerns of their never- 33 dying souls! Alas, amidst the extremest danger, they are rather like those who, in such a storm as this, should have been sleeping on the top of a mast. (Prov. xxiii. 34.) Let us not wonder if, when awakened on a sudden, and made to see and to feel the extremity of their case, they are for a while taken off from attending as usual to think this alludes to a custom amonjr mariners to make vows in ship, it is not easy to suppose they should immediately contrive a times of extremity, and to sliave their heads in consequence of method to increase the weight of it. That they had frequently them, and so interpret these words as if it were said, " You need two rudders to their ships Bochart and Eisner have confirmed by " not vnw your hair ; you shall be safe without that expedient." several authorities. See Bochart, Hieroz. Part. II. Ub. i. cup. 1. p. (See Dryden's Notes on Juvenal, p. 18:5.) But it appears to have been 4.33 ; and Eisner, Ohserv. Vol. I. p. 488, 489. a proverbial and general expression of entire safety. Compare g Hoisting up the mainsail to the win/!.] So our translators render 1 Kings i. 52 ; Matt. x. 30; Luke xii. 7 ; xxi. IS. the word a^rt/xova, and I, who am not accurately acquainted with e IFhcn theij liad weiglied the anchors, they committed [Ihe ship2 to the form either of ancient or of modern ships, shelter myself under the sea.2 Some 'rather chuse to render this, that having cut the their authority ; but Grotius (who contends that "xfyw, ycr. 17. sig- anchors, they left them in the sea ; and the original indeed is dubi- nifies tlie mainmast, and consequently that the mainsail was now ous, and will admit of either sense : riEfiEXon-Et rx^ acyw^xi, eiwv eis mv gone, ver. 19.) supposes it was a sail near tlie forepart of the sliip, Jj(\ajMv. See De Dieu, ia loc. answering either to what we call the foremast, or to the bowsprit ; i Loosing the rudder-lands : avEvrEt r« ^swmjii! rav TrjiJaXiwv.] Dr. which last seems to agree best with the account which Stephens Benson observes, agreeably to the judgment of Grotius, that their has collected from the most considerable authorities. See his Latin ships in those days had commonly two rudders, one on each side. Thesaurus, in the word Artemon. d r t, which were fastened to the ship by bands or chains, and on loosing li Being desirous to save Paul.'] Thus God, for Paul's sake, not these bands, the rudders sunk deeper into the sea, and by their only saved all the rest of the ship's company from being lost in the weight rendered the ship less subject to be overset by the winds, sea, but kept the prisoners from being murdered according to the f//is/. Vol, IF. p. 2.jt3.) But it seems rather that the rudders bad been unjust and barbarous proposal of the soldiers, who could have fastened before, when they had let the vessel drive, and were now thi)ught of no worse a scheme had they been all condemned male- loosened, when they had need of them to steer her into the creek ; factors, and had these guards, instead of conveying them to their and after they had just been throwing out their corn to lighten the trial, been carrying them to the place of execution. f 574 PAUL MIRACULOUSLY ESCAPES THE EFFECTS OF A VIPER'S BITE AT MALTA. SECT 58. ACTS XXVII 34 their secular aifairs ; nor rashly censure that as madness which may be the first entrance of true wisdom into their minds. We see how cheerful Paul was amidst the rage of winds and waves, under a sense of the faithful care of his God ; and how the assurance which he gave to the rest that their lives should be preserved, though their posses- sions in the ship were all lost, animated them to eat their bread with cheerfulness. With how much greater cheer- •36 fulness may they sustain all temporal losses, and relish, in the midst of them, all tlie remaining bounties of Pro- vidence, (as some always remain,) whose eternal life is secured by the word of God, and the engagement of a covenant which he has confirmed by an oath ! 24 To conclude. It was to Paul that the lives of those that sailed with him were given ; and his fellow-prisoners 42, 43 owed to him a double preservation, first from the sword, and then from the sea. Thus may a relation to God's faithful servants, and a community of interests with them, be the means of great temporal advantage even to those that are strangers to the covenant of promise. Surely after so many remarkable circumstances, pointing out tiie apostle to the company of this ship as a teacher commissioned by God, and favoured with extraordinary inter- courses with him, they must be very inexcusable if they did not henceforward commence his attentive hearers and humble disciples. Those of them who did so, would find their deliverance from the fury of the sea but an 44 earnest of another deliverance infinitely greater and better; and are long ere this lodged with him on a far more hospitable shore, and in a more peaceful harbour, than Malta or than eartii could atford. 2 Aud tlie barbRious ])eo- ple shewed us iio little kindness: for tiiev kindled a fire, and received iis every one, because of the i)rescnt rain aixl because of the cold. 3 And wbcn I'aul bad gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid Ihcm on the fire. SECTION LIX. Vaul and his companions are hospitahl!/ entertained at Malta : he 7niracidoush) escapes the fatal effects of a viper's bite, cures Pubtius's father oj" a fiver, and then pursues his voj/agc to Rotne. Acts xxviii. 1 — 16. Acts xxviii. 1. ~ acts xxviii. t. SECT. The apostle Paul and all the rest of the ship's company having escaped the danger of ^^D when they «'ere ^^- the shipwreck, and being thus got safe [^to land,'] they had no sooner reached the shore that'' the island wal cl'i'iea but some of the inhabitants came to them, and the?/ then knew that the island on which Meiita. ACTS {^ijgy ^gpg (,jgt ^^,^/y called Meiita or Malta.'' And the barbarians of that place (as the ■ Romans, though in many respects more barbarous themselves, proudly accounted those 2 who were its native inhabitants) treated us with an uncoinnwn degree of humanitij i" for having kindled a fire, they brought ?is all to [//,] because of the present rain which had followed the storm, and because ofithe cold, with which we were almost ready to perish. __^ __^^ _^ _^ 3 Now as Paul was gathering up a bundle of sticks and laying {tJicm"] upon the fire, a there came a viper out of viper which had lain concealed among the wood, coming out ofi the heat upon feeling ['.'^.'."-'''l' ''""^ fastened on 4 the warmth of the fire, fastened upon his hand and bit it. And as soon as the barbarians 4 And when the barba- saw the fierce animah hanging on his hand, as they perceived he was a prisoner, and ria'is saw the venomous had some notion of a Divine Providence and its moral government, they said one to \^^l^ j^","^' J^"oii','* tl'ieni- anothcr. This man is certainly a murderer'^ or some other detestable character, whom .selves, No dunbt this man the divine venseance hath not permitted to live, thoug-h he be saved from the danger f. ■', ini'i'lsTer, whom J. „ , f^ J ii 1 c r^L ■ L • L ii • i J .1 I 11- tlioiigli be bath escaped the o 01 the sea. But as the miraculous power ot Christ instantly mterposed to heal hiin, sea, yet vengeance surtercth (compare Mark xvi. IS ; Luke x. 19.) he without any manner of confusion shaking off not to live. the fierce animal into the fire, suffered no evil, and took no further notice of what had hap- ^^^^^ -Jj'jq the^fi'rc and felt 6 pened. However, they expected, according to what they had known to be usual in such no iiarm. cases, that the venom would soon operate in such a manner that he should either have ,^ Howbcit they looked ' 117 7 - 71 7 7 7 1 ^ A 1 1 ■ -17 ■ when be should have sxuollen. or suddenly nave fallen down dead upon the spot : Ana having waited a const- swollen, or fallen down derahle time to observe the efTect of it upon him, and seeing no niischitfi^i all befial hini,^ ''ead suddenly : but after instead of taking him to be a murderer, changing their minds they said that he was ^^^^^^ '^^j "5*^^' „o [ji^m surely some deity descended in a human form, as nothing less than the power of a god come to him, they changed could ward otfso extreme a danger.f ' hclvas^'a god.""'' '''*'' ""' And in the neighbourhood of 1 hat place where our shipwrecked company had met with 7 in the same quarters a MelUa or Malta.] It is well known that this small island (about twelve miles broad and twenty long, and sixty distant from Sicily to the south) took its name from the abundance of honey found in iti It also yields a great deal of cotton, and thougli it h,\s but three feet depth of earth above the solid rock, is very fruilfiiL Paul'n shipwreck liere enga!,'ed a kind of superstitious regard to it, in consequence of which it was given, A. T). l-i.^O, by the Emperor Charles V. to the kniirlils of St. .lohn in Jerusalem, when they had l)een expelled from Ubodcs by the Turks : They arc a thousand in uumber, of whom five hundred always reside, and are called Hospitallers. b The hnrhnriaiis ircatod us wil.Ii uncommon Ivimanily.'] The Greeks and Romans reckoned all otlier nations but their own, Barbarians, as differing from them in their customs or language ; and all man- kind are therefore comprehended by the aposllo Paul under the distinction of Greeks and Barbarians, Rom. i. I!. This island, which had several commodious havens, was iieo])led by a colony of the Phcenicians, and the inhabitants were noted for their civility to strangers. See Diodor. Sic. lib. v. p. 204. Edit. Stepb. c T/ie fierce animal.'] This is the proper import of the vford Srifiov, here used. Bos has well shewn {E.tercit. p. 90, 91.) that tl'.e physicians use it to express any poisonous animal, and Lucian in 'particular applies it, as here, to a viper; (Philopscud. lorn. ii. p. •'i.'JS. Edit. Grsev.) but to render it lienst is by no means justifiable. See Bocbart, Hieroz. Part II. ///'. .'}. cap. 2. d This v'.an in cpr!ainh/ a mvrilercr.'] Eisner says ( Obscrv. Vol. I. p. 489 — 491.) they concluded be was a murderer rather than guilty of any other crime, because they saw the viper banging on bis band, %vbich therufore they judged to have been the offending pari, ac- cording to the rule which (as he shows by many curious and enter- taining instances) prevailed much among the ancients, that persons were often remarkably punislwid in that part of the body which bad been the immediate instrument of their sin. I>eza justly ob- serves that oux tiariev should he rendered, according to its exact form, li/il/i not permilted, to signify that they looked ui)on him as in effect a dead man, after having been bit by that venomous creature. e Seeing no mischief bcfal him.'] Eisner observes that many of the heathens tbongbt there was something divine in the nature of serpents, and that deities, or good genii, who were made use of as the instruments of delivering and honouring those that were the peculiar favourites of the gods, often appeared in that shape. (Eisner, Obscrv. Vol. I. p. (I!)2, 493.) Hence idols were often made w ith serpents near them ; and there have been mnucrous and indeed astonishing instances of religious worship paid to that kind of ani- mal, absurd as it may seem. See Rrvclnt. Kxam. with Ciiniloin; Vol. I, p. 80, 81; Dr. .Tenkins, On Chrisiiani/i/, Vol. II. p. 21()-248; Bishop Stillingfieet, Or/r/. Sncra, p. 510— .518; and Dr. Charles Owen, On Serpents, Dissert. IV. p. 210—232. f They snid that he mas a god.] Grotiiis, Dr. Whitby, and some olher.s, think they took him for Hercules, Axe^ixmoj, who was wor- shipped in this island, and was, according to Ptolemy, [Geoyropli, lib. iv. cap 4.) one of the gods of the P'n.'niciaits. THEY LEAVE MALTA, AND PURSUE THEIR VOYAGE TO ROME. 575 were possessions of the chief man of the ishmd, whose name was I'uhhus, who received us, and lodg;ed us three days courteously. 8 And it came to pass, /that the fitther of Publins jlay sick of a fever, and of a bloody flux : to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and Ihealed him. 9 So when this was done, others also which had dis- eases in the island, came ,nd were healed : 10 Who also honoured us with many honours ; and when we departed, they laded ns with such things as were necessary. II .\nd after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had win- tered ill the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. 12 And landing- at Syra- cuse, we tarried there three days. 13 And from tlience we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium : and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli: 14 AVhere we found bre- thren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days : and so we wet^t toward Rome. 15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as I far as Appii-Forum, and llie I Three Taverns : whom I when Paul saw, he thanked 1 God, and took courage. SO kind a welcome, there •was the estate of the c/i/e/' magistrate or governor ()/ the island,^ SECT. ivhose name was Publius ; who with a generous and i'riendly disposition having received 59. its into his house, entertained us there in a very courteous and liospitable manner for three days togetlier. And so it was that at this very time the father of Publius was acts dangerously ill, being seized with a fiver and bloody Jlux, by which he was confined to XXVIII, his bed ; to whom Paul going in, made him a visit in the apartment where he lay, and having prayed for his recovery, /aid his hands on him and heated him. Now, therefore, when this [miracle^ was wrought on a person so well known and of 9 so great importance, the news of it soon spread abroad ; and as tliey were desirous to obtain the same advantage, all the rest also who had disorders of any kind in the whole island, as many as were able to travel, or could any way be brought, came to Paul and were healed. And this was followed with the highest testimonies of esteem and gratitude from 10 all the people, who also seeing such a divine power exerting itself by means of one in our company, honoured us with great honours, as men peculiarly favoured by heaven : And such was the respect and kindness they had for us, that when we departed thence, they brought us plenty of provision, and put on board such thing^ as were necessary for our comfortable accommodation ; so that, by the good providence of God and the generosity of these hospitable and grateful people, we were well furnished for pursuing our voyage to Rome. And q/?rr wohad been ashore three months, we departed {mm. thence, having shipped 11 ourselves (as we had done before, chap, xxvii. 6.) in a ship of Alexandria that had win- tered in the island, whose sign was Gemini or the twins, that is, Castor and Pollux,^'' fictitious deities of the heathen who were supposed to have some peculiar power over storms ; their figure therefore was placed on the head of the vessel, and to them it was pe- culiarly dedicated. And not long after we had left Melita, we made the island of Sicily ; 12 and bei}ig arrived at Syracuse,' the most considerable city of that island, we continued \_there'\ three days. From thence we coasted round the eastern shore of Sicily, and came 13 over against the city and promontory of Rhegium, in the southernmost part of Italy, from which, as the name of that place im])Iies, it was supposed the island of Sicily was broken off. , And after lying by one day, we had a favourable gale, and the south wind arising, we pursued our voyage, and came in two days to Puteoli, a noted town for trade, which lay not far from Naples, and was very famous for its hot baths ; Where we had no sooner 14 landed but we found some christian brethren, and were earnestly entreated to stay xoith them seven days, that they might have the better opportunity of hearing Paul, and of con- versing with him ; and the centui'ion was so good as to consent that we should stay : And so, having left the ship, we went the rest of the way by land to Ro?ne. And from thence several of the christian brethren who resided at Rome,"^ having heard 15 of our affairs, and particularly that we were on our v/ay thither, (as they were sensible of the great character of Paul, and the important obligations which they were under to him for his excellent Epistle to the Romans, written a few years before this,) came out to meet us, and to attend us in our entrance into that illustrious city : And [somel of them came as for as Appii-Forum, a town adjoining to the famous Appian Way, which was fifty-one miles distant from Rome ; and [others'] only to a place called Tres Taberna?, or the Three Taverns, which was but about thirty : Whom when Paul saw, he thanked God for the encouragement which this circumstance gave him to hope that these christian friends, who were so forward to begin an acquaintance with him, would be a support to him during his confinement there, and a means of promoting the success of any attempts of usefulness which he might be able to make among them ; and accordingly he took courage,^ and pursued the small remainder of his journey with new spirit and alacrity. g Ttic chief of the island.1 Grotius has produced an ancient inscription, by which it appears that the title of t!!::t. vi. p. 186; and Livy, Hist. lib. xxv. cap. 31.) It was bv this time well recovered from the desolation which Marcellus had brought upon it, two hundred and ten years before Christ, when the celebrated Archimedes was slain here. k The christian brethren who resided at Home.] It is very re markable that we have no certain information by whom Chris- tianity was first preached in Rome. Probably, as some inhabitants of that -most famous city were present at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, (Acts ii. 10.) they being converted themselves, might at their return carry the gospel thither, confirming it by miracu- lous works, and by the exercise of extraordinary gifts. 1 He thanked God and took courage.'] This expression may per- haps intimate that his courage began in some measure to be shaken. He knew there was a famoiis church at Rome, which had been long planted, Rom. i. 8. and to which, about three years before this journey, he had written a long Epistle, (compare note c, on Acts XX. 3. p. 538.) in which he had expressed an afi'ectionate desire .to see tiiem; Rom. i. 11; xv. 32. in a near view of doing which he now rejoiced, esteeming it as the first-fruits of their friendsliip, that they had come a day's journey to meet him, no doubt in a 576 REFLECTIONS ON WHAT PASSED AT MALTA. SECT. And tvhcn we ccune to Rome, Julius the eenturion, who ever since we set out from ic And when we oarae 59. Caesarea had treated us in so friendly a manner, and whose regard for Paul could not but t" Rome, -:iie centurion • be greatly increased by what had passed at Meiila, delivered the prisoners, according to u'e'ca^ifain'of ulf^^uard" ACTS his commission, to the prefect ox captain of the praetorian band :^ But as he gave a very but Paul was sutte'red to XXVIII. kind and honourable account of Paul, he was permitted to dwell apart from the other '^'rj!' ''.y ''jm^elf, with a / /• 1 ■ „ \,i T> , I- .7, I 7/- „.ni- soldier that kept him. 16 prisoners m an house of his own," with a Roman soldier that guarded nim,° till his cause might be heard ; which, by one accident and another, was put otF from time to time, so that it was not deepatchcid till above two years after his arrival at Rome. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. ] t.ET us again pause, and on this new occasion of doing it, adore the wise conduct of Providence, though its <2,waiis were in the sea, and its path in the great waters. (Psal. Ixvii. 19.) Still did our dear Redeemer take care of his faithful servants and ministers, not only delivering them and their companions from destruction by ship- wreck, but providing tenderly for them in their destitute condition, when their wet and probably torn garments seem to have been all they could call their own. The custom of Rome and Greece taught them to call all nations but their own barbarous ; but sure the generosity which these uncultivated inhabitants of Malta showed, was far more valuable than all the varnish which the politest education could give, where it taught not humanity and compassion. 4 It is with pleasure that we trace amongst them the force of conscience and the belief of Providence ; which some more learned people have stupidly thought it philosophy to despise : But they erred in concluding that calamities must always be interpreted as judgments; and let us guard against the same error, lest, like them, we unwarily censure, not only the innocent, but the excellent of the earth. 5 God wrought a most seasonable miracle for the preservation of Paul from the fury of the viper ; and this frank and G honest, though ignorant, people, immediately retract their censure : But, as human nature is apt to do, they fall im- mediately from one extreme to another, and from pronouncing him a murderer, conclude him a god. They after- 10 wards submitted to be better taught, and learnt to regard him as what he really was, a holy man favoured of heaven, and raised up to be an instrument of great good, both to the bodies and souls of his fellow-creatures. Let us also be willing candidly to correct and confess our mistakes, when means of better information offer •, and study to adjust our notions of men's characters according to truth ; that we may neither calumniate nor deify them, but Judge right- eous judgment. (John vii. 24.) 7 9 Well was Publius, the chief of the island, with the other inhabitants of it, rewarded for their kindness to these distressed strangers, by the cures wrought on the diseased in their respective families ; and naturally did their kind- ness and libemlity to them increase with such experience of the miraculous power which wrought by Paul. We cannot but conclude that this holy apostle, whose heart was always so warm with zeal for Christ, especially when it was quickened with such a deliverance, would take this happy opportunity of diffusing the savour of his name here. He would tell them, no doubt, who it was that healed them, and testify to them of that greater salvation and more important cure which they were to seek from him ; nor can we imagine that his labour was entirely in vain in the Lord. Happy wreck on the ruins of which the temple of the Lord was raised, and by occasion of which barbarians were transformed into christians ! Who can say how many distempered minds were healed, how many sons and 1 1 daughters were born to God and to glory, in these three months which Paul and Luke spent here ! For modest as that beloved physician of souls as well as of bodies is in every Ihing relating to himself, we oannot imagine that he was inactive or unsuccessful in the pious labour. And how naturally did all this tend to raise the regard of the ship's company for these servants of the Most High God, to whom, as instruments in the hand of his good providence, they first owed their lives, and now their accommodations ; to whom also, we hope, some of them owed even their own souls ! 16 It is extremely probable that the indulgence showed to Paul in Rome, the remains of liberty which he enjoyed while in bonds there, and the much more valued opportunities of usefulness which that liberty gave him, were, in some degree at least, owing to the experience and report of these extraordinary events. Tlius, O Lord, shalt thou lead us into whatever difficulties and dangers thou pleasest, and we will cheerfully wait the happy event which shall at length prove the wisdom and kindness of thy most mysterious conduct. 14, 15 In the mean time, even while travelling in the bonds of affliction, may we see thine hand in all the countenance which we meet with from our christian brethren ; and cheered with their converse and their friendly offices, may we, like Paul, thank God and take courage, in an humble assurance that thou wilt stand by us in every future unknown extremity ; and wilt either manifest thy power and goodness in raising up human supports, or display f hine all-sufficiency in a yet more glorious manner, by bearing us up when they all fail us ! very kind and respectful manner. He might reasonably expect n Apart from the other prisoners in an house of /lis own.'] Ra- they would contribute much to lighten his bonds, as.no doubt phelius has shown (^n«o/. <'.r AV'n. p. 101.) that the expression xa9" they did, though so strange a panic seized them when he appeared taurov, may signify either opart, (for which see Bos, Exerr.it. p. 91.) before Ca-sar to make his apology, 2 Tim. iv. 16. or at his nirn pleasure. But it is well known it often signifies at ni To the prefect or captain of the praetorian hand.'] It was one's own house ; and so ver. 30. seems to explain it here. By this customary for prisoners who were brought to liome, to be delivered means he was excused from all the afllirlion which lying in the to this officer, who had the charge of tlie slate prisoners, as appears common prison, among the wretched creatures who would proba- fiom the instance of Agrippa, who was taken into custody by bly have been his companions tliere, must have given to a man Macro, the praetorian prefect that succeeded Sejanus, (Joseph, of his sense, education, and piety. Anti/j. lib. xviii. cap. 6. [al. 8] \ G.) and from Trajan's order to o tFlfh a soldier tliat ipinrded him.] This soldier was probably Pliny, when two were in commission. (Plin.V/A. x. rnist. O.'i.) See chained to him, as the Roman custom was. AVho that had met IJr. Gardner's C'redih. Book I chap. x. \ II. Vol. I. p. ,'>;i-2, .53;i; Paul in these bonds, would have guessed al his real character, and and Mr. Biscoe, Al Boyle's Led. chap. ix. S 9. p. .liiO.— The person have imagined him to have been one of the most upright, bene- who had now this office, was the noted Burrhus Afranius ; but both volent, and generous of mankind ! Yet such the apostle undoubt- before and after him, it was held by two; 'I'acit. Annul, lib. \'\'\. edly was. S '12. rt lib. xiv, S -^i- 4 • PAUL SENDS FOR THE JEWS OF ROME, AND TELLS THEM HIS CASE. 577 SECTION LX. The hisforj/ concludes with an account of a soU'7nn audience u-hich Paul had of the Jews at Rome, soon after his a/rival there: most of the?n riject the gospel he published among them, but he continues to preach it during two years of his confinement. Acts xxviii. 17, to the end. ' ACTS xxviii. 17. Acts xxviii. 17, And it came tn pass, tiiat PAUL'S confinement at Rome was not so strict but he had liberty to send for persons to sect. ?i?e'chie7onT Jc^vlTcIg'cf- 1"^ ', and while he waited for his appeal to be determined, he was willing to remove the 60. tlier.— ° prejudices of his countrymen, and, notwithstanding the injurious treatment he had met witii, would suffer nothing to be wanting on his part to make them sensible of the affec- acts tionate regard that he had for them : Accordingly it came to pass, that after he had been XXVIII. there three days, Paul called together those that were the chief of the Jews who so- 17 journed then at Rome. —And wiieii tliey were ^nd when, according to his desire, they were come together in the private house come together, he said unto where he dwelt, he Said unto them. Men [rt«^] brethren, though I have done nothing iho™Mi /have'conimiu'ed' contrary to the interest and honour of the Jewish people, or to the authority of our paternal nothing against tlie people customs as derived from the holy patriarchs and Moses, ?/e/ -was I delivered a prisoner from or customs of our fathers, J(,pnsalem into the hands of the Ro?nans : Who having examined me, and heard all 13 vet Wiis 1 Citlivercu prisoner "^ . . ^ . ■from Jerusalem into the that my adversaries could suggest against me, were willing to have set [we] at liberty, as hands of the Romans: there was no offence which they could judge to be a sufficient cause of putting me to examined" merwoVid^ have death, OX of keeping me mider longer confinement, to be discovered in me. But when 19 let ni7/ f/te things xv/iic/i were spoken ; and some, on the other the things wiiicli were spok. hand, were mfluenced by such strong prejudices that they believed not, but were so '"25 MKuXen^theyT^Tecd ACTS hardened as to reject the gospel amidst all the evidence which he advanced to support not among- themseivesrthey XXVllI.it. And so, disasreeins with each other, they broke up the assemhhi ; Paul only '••"P^i'te''. ''fter tliat Paul • r,/ -1 "5 • iU 1 c 11 • f »i i u .■ u- 1 1 liad spoken one word, AV ell 24 saying \lhis\ one xcora in trie close ot all, on occasion 01 that obstinacy which he spake the Holy Ghost, by 25 observed to prevail in most of them, Surely well did the Holy Spirit speak by Isaiah l^saias tlie prophet, unto the prophet to our fathers of old, (Isa. vi. 9, 10.) and well does the description it has °^" " "''^*' 26 given of them set forth tlie hardness of your hearts, and suit you even to this day f When 26 Saying, Go unto this it says, in that awful commission the prophet was commanded to discharge, " Go to people, and say, ijearing " this perverse and obstinate people, to whom I have so often sent in vain, and say, undc'r*stand''[ ami seehi-^Te '^Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing yc shall see, and shall see, and not perceive: 21 " shall not perceive: For the heart of this people is become gross, and as it were 27 For the heart of this " grown stiff with fatness; and with their ears theri hear licavily, in a dull, stupid P^ople is waxed poss, and " , ,, , ! ., ■ J J 7 •- ' . their ears are dull of hear- " way ; and they nave drawn tiieir eyes together, as it were on purpose to compose ing, and their eyes have " themselves to sleep, lest they should see with [their'] eyes, and hear with \_their] ears, they closed ; lest they " and understand with [their'] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal and hear with Mi?/?' ears^and " them." As if he had said. They act in such a manner under the most awakening understand with M^u- heart, means as if thev had studied artful ways of rendering themselves insensible, and were *" j should be converted, ,.' Ill- II- 1 ''"d I shoukt heal Ihera. determined not to receive my message, and the salvation which it proposes to tliem. 28 Therefore be it known imto you, however your proud hearts may resent it, that the 28 Be it known therefore salvation of 'God which you despise, and seem to fortify yourselves against, is sent to ""'o you, that the salvation the Gentiles ; end they will hear and embrace [i^,] and so inherit the blessings which ^\\f.° and'^'Ma" they will you reject : To them therefore will we preach all the words of this life, and I in par- hear it. ticular will from this day forward seek, in their faith and obedience, my consolation under that grief which the infidelity of my brethren gives me. 29 And when he had said these things, the Jews departed out of the place, not be- 29 And when he had said ing prevailed upon to receive the gospel, yet having great debates among themselves ; t^i^se words, the Jews de- some thinking there was considerable weight in what Paul had urged to defend it, while roniiT"-'auion-''tiilmseWcs*' others were enraged, and spoke of him and his arguments with great contempt and indignation. 30 But nevertheless they who were most his enemies, and most desirous to add affliction 30 And Paul dwelt two to his bonds, were not permitted by Providence to do him any harm ; for after this Paul w.i'o'e years in ins own continued two whole years at Rome,^ in his own hired house,* before he was heard all that came in unto him ; by Caesar or his deputy, upon his appeal : And during this long period of time, he was solicitous to do all he could to promote the gospel of his Divine Master, though he could not act so freely as he desired ; in this view, therefore, he received all that came to 31 hi?n to be instructed in the design and evidence of the gospel; Preaching with great 3i Preaching the kin^- ardourand zeal the kingdom of God as established in the person of his '"exalted Son, fiXunSs'wh'ici/concern and teaching those things which relate to the Lord Jesus Christ, and the religion the Lord Jesus Christ, with he hath instituted in the yiov\d,with all freedom of speech, [and] without any re- all confidence, no man for- straint from the Pioman magistrates. In consequence of this, many converts were made, ' "S " • and this confinemeut, which seemed to have so discouraging an aspect, was on the whole a means of promoting the gospel : Many of his retired hours were also employed in corresponding with the christian churches, and writing several of those excellent epistles^ which were to be so great a blessing to the most distant ages. any arg:unient in favour of truth, from which a prejudiced and ment, and that to the Hebrews in or quickly after it; but as for the captious wit cannot draw an objection and frame a sophistry to Second to Timothy, I am ready to think it of a later date. — It seems maintain error. highly probable, that about the end of the two years here spoken d Well did the Holy Spirit speak to our fathers, n.x\A\i!e\\ Aoei\\\e of be was set at liberty. Some have questioned whether he ever description suit you, &c.] The apostle here could not refer to them returned into the East again, which yet, from Philem. ver. 22 ; and all, because some believed ; but it is probable most of them rejected Heb. xiii. 23. he seems to have expected. Clemens Romanus {Ad the gospel. As for the quotation from Isaiah which he applies Cor. Epist. i. cap. 5.) expressly tells us that he preached in the to them, I would observe that it is quoted oftener than any other West, and that to its utmost bounds, which must at least include text from the Old Testament, that is, six times, in the New"; here, Spain, whither he intended to go, Rom. xv. 24, 25. (See C/irijsost. and Mat. xiii. 14, 15; Mark iv. 12; Lukeyiii. 10; John xii. 40; Vol. VIII. p. 59.) Theodoret adds, that he went to the Islands of and Rom. xi. 8. yet in such a variety of expression, as plainly proves the Sea, as elsewhere he numbers Gaul (that is, France) and Britain the apostles did not confine themselves exactly either to the words among the disciples of the tent-maker. (See Bp. Stillingtleet's of the ouiginal or of the Greek version. Ori^. Brit. p. 39.) But in what order he took these places, or how e Paul continued two whole years at Rome.] As Luke concludes long he remained in any of them, cannot be determined. — We are his history with Paul's abode at Rome, before his journey into told, however, that about the year of Christ 63 or 67, (for chrono- Spain, we may refer, as Dr. More observes, Tlieolng. Works, p. 220. logcrs difl%r, and I think we cannot exactly fix it,) he returned to that he wrote both his Gospel and the Acts while the apostle was Rome, where some say he met with Peter, who was thrown into still living, of whose actions he was himself an eye-witness, and by i)rison with other christians, on a pretence of being concerned in whom it is very probable this book was revised, as the ancients also the burning of the city. Chrysostom tells us that he here con- say his Gospel was. verted one of Nero's concubines, which so incensed tliat cruel f In his own hired house.'] Dr. Lardncr proves from Ulpian, that prince that he put him to death ; probably after an imprisonment the proconsul was tojudge whether a person under accusation were in which the Second Epistle to Tiinotby" was written. It is, I to be thrown into prison, or delivered to a soldier to keep, or com- think, universally agreed among all ancient writers who mention mitted to sureties, or trusted on his parole of honour. C'redih. Book, bis death, that he was beheaded at Aquse Salvia^ three miles from I. chap. 10. \ 9. Vol. I. p. 524, .525. It appears from hence, that the Rome; for being free of that city, he could not be crucified, as persecution against christians at Rome was not then begun ; and Peter was, according to the tradition of the Latin church, on the perhaps Paul's friends in Nero's family (Phil. iv. 22.) used their very same day. It is said, and there is great reason to believe it, interest with the Emperor to procure him this liberty. that this glorious confessor gave his bead to the fatal stroke with g Many of his retired hours were also employed in correspond- the greatest cheerfulness, and also that he was buried on the Via ing, Sec] It is well known that the Epistle to the Ephcsians, (or, as Ostensis, two miles from Rome, where Constantine the Great some think, to the Laodiceans, to whom, however, it is certain Paul erected a church to his memory, A. D. 318. which was successively did write, Col. iv. 16.) to the Colossians and Philippians, as well repaired and beautified Ijy Theodosiiis the Great and the Empress as that to Philemon, were written from hence during this imprison- Placidia. (See Euseb. iVc/. Hist. lib. ii. cap. 22. Not. Fleury's REFLECTIONS ON PAUL'S ZEAL TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL. 579 DIPROVEMENT. Let us wilh pleasure observe that uniform tenor of christian zeal, and compassionate regard to the salvation of men, sect. which prevailed in the mind of Paul, and reigned in it even to the very period of this history, yea, to that of his life. 60. No sooner was he arrived at Rome, but an earnest desire of communicating the blessings of the gospel to his kinsmen according to the flesh, engaged him to send for the Jews, and to confer with them concerning the kingdom of God ; acts generously forgetting his own wrongs, and waving those complaints he might so justly have made against his accusers XXVII. and persecutors. He found them here, as well as in Judea, under prejudices which he could not conquer with all Ver. 19 Ins strength of reason and eloquence. They called the christian religion a sect, and maintained that it was every 22 \\ here spoken against : But if this were indeed the case, how far was it from being any reason against embracing and obeying the gospel ! since all the men upon earth might attempt in vain to make falsehood truth, and truth falsehood, in any single instance ; and might as well pull the sun from the firmament, as, by all their malice and rage, dethrone that blessed Redeemer whom God hath established by a decree firmer than the ordinances of heaven. No scripture of the Old Testament is more frequently referred to in the New than those words of Isaiah, which 26, 27 contain so just a description of what the Jewish nation was in the days of that prophet, and in those of Christ and his apostles. How deplorable a case to be spiritually blind and deaf under the brightest light of tlie gospel and its 25 loudest proclamations ; to harden the heart against the most gracious olfers of healing and life, and to arm them- selves against their own salvation with weapons of eternal death ! Justly were they at last given over by God, and sealed up under incurable obstinacy. May divine pity and help be extended to those who are marching on by large steps towards the same character, and as it seems towards the same end ! Adored be divine grace that any are in- clined to hear and to obey. To them the ministers of Christ may turn with pleasure, and find, in their believing 28 regards to the gospel, a sutficieut recompense for all the labours and hazards they encounter in a faithful concern for its propagation. To conclude all. Let us adore the gracious conduct of Providence, which secretly interposed to moderate the 30, 31 apostle's confinement, and thereby gave him an opportunity of performing various and extensive services to the church, of which he must otherwise have been incapable. The xorath of man praises God, and the remainder of it he restrains. (Psal. Ixxvi. 10.) He hath allotted to each of his servants, in his infinite wisdom and goodness, a due proportion both of labours and sufferings, and neither earth nor hell shall be able so to break in on his schemes, as to obstruct the one or increase tlie other. The sacred history, which is now closing upon us, aflx)rds many illus- trations of this remark : Let us be thankful for it ; and while we peruse it, let us indulge those reflections which may naturally arise from it, to establish our faith in the gospel, and to quicken our obedience to it. Amen ! Eccl. Hist. Vol. I. Book ii. chap. 25; and Dr. AVells's Gcogr. of llie lifft to illustrate, I shall .esteem the doing it one of the greatest Kew Testament. Part II. ^ 19 — 23.) But his most glorious monu- honours which can be conferred upon me, and the most important ment remains in his immortal writings, which if God spare my service my pen can perform for the church of Christ. THE FAMILY EXPOSITOR. A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS. This celebrated Epistle was probably written from Corinth when Paul was travelling through Greece, after finishing his tour in Macedonia, about the year of our Lord 5S, which was the fourth of the Emperor Nero. The chief arguments to prove tliis have already been stated in a few words, p. 538, note c ; and they are drawn from comparing Acts xx. 1 — 4. with Rom. xv. 25 — 27 ; xvi. 21. But I shall exhibit them again in my notes on those texts, as they occur in the Epistle, and shall observe the same method elsewhere on the like occasions. The design of the Epistle has been much more controverted than its date ; and yet it seems so obvious, that hardly any tiling has surprised me more than the different and inconsistent plans which ingenious writers have given of it. I should but confound the reader, as well as swell this preface beyond all due bounds, if I should attempt distinctly to propose and examine them here. Instead of this, I shall therefore content myself with exhibiting (not mi/ own hypothesis, for truly it has been my care to have no hypothesis at all, but) what, upon reading the Epistle, without any view but that of follow- ing the apostle whithersoever he should lead me, I find to be assured fact ; and I will state these contents in as few and as plain words as I can, and so every reader will easily see what this great author intended, by seeing what he has done ; for no doubt he answered his own design. Now I think it must be evident to every reader of common discernment and attention, that Paul is labouring, through all this Epistle, " to fix on the Kiind of the christians to whom he addresses himself, a deep sense of the excellency of " the gospel, and to engage them to act in a manner agreeable to their profession of it." For this purpose, after a general salutation, (chap. i. 1 — 7.) and profession of his ardent affection for them, (ver. 8 — 15.) he declares, that he shall not be ashamed openly to maintain the gospel at Rome ; for this general reason, that it is the great and powerful instrument of salvation, both to Jews and Gentiles, by means of faith. (Ver. 16, 17.) And then to demonstrate and vindicate its excellency in this view of it, the apostle shows, I. That the world greatly needed such a dispensation; the Gentiles being fallen into a most abandoned state, (ver. IS, to the end,) and the Jews, though condemning others, being themselves no better ; (chap. ii. throughout ;) as, notwith- standing some cavils, which he obviates, Tchap. iii. 1 — 8.) their own scriptures testify : (ver. 9 — 19.) So that there was an universal necessity of seeking for justification and salvation in this method. (Ver. 20, to the end.) II. That Abraham and David themselves sought justification in such a way as the gospel recommends, that is, by faith, (chap. iv. 1 — 12.) and that a very illustrious act of it entailed everlasting honour on that great patriarch from whom the Jews boasted their descent. (Ver. 13, to the end.) ni. That hereby believers are brought into so happy a state, as turns the greatest afflictions of life into an occasion of joy. (Chap. v. 1 — 11.) IV. That the calamities brought on the seed of the first Adam by his ever to be lamented fall, are with glorious ad- vantage repaired to all who by foith become interested in the second Adam. (Ter. 12, to Vic en^ V. That far from dissolving our obligations to practical holiness, the gospel greatly increases them by peculiar obli- gations, (chap. vi. 1 — 14.) which the apostle strongly urges upon them. (Ver. 15, to the end.) By these general considerations, St. Paul illustrates the excellency of the gospel in the six first chapters of this Epistle, and they must be acknowledged considerations of the highest importance. There were great numbers of Jews at Rome, many of whom had embraced the gospel ; to make them therefore more sensilale how glorious a dispensation it was, and to take them off" from a fond attachment to the Mosaical law, now they were married to Christ 'by a solemn profession of his religion, (chap. vii. 1 — 6.) the apostle largely represents how comparatively ineffectual the motives of the law were to produce those degrees of obedience and holiness, which by a 582 A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS. lively faith in the gospel we obtain. (Chap. vii. 7, to the end. Chap, viii, 1, 2.) And here, in all the remainder of this celebrated chapter, the apostle gives a more particular view of those things which rendered t'he gospel so much more efficacious for this great purpose, viz. that oifonn'tug the soul to holiness, tlian the legal eeonomy had been ; (chap. viii. 9.) The discovery it makes of the incarnation and death of Christ, (ver. 3, 4 ;) the spirituality of temper to which it calls us, (ver. 5 — 8 j) the communication of the sanctifying and comforting influences of the Spirit of God, wiiereby true be- lievers are formed to a filial temper, (ver. 9 — 17 ;) the views which it exhibits of a state of glory so great and illustrious, that the whole creation seemed to wait for the manifestation of it, (ver. 18 — 25 ;) while in the mean time believers are supported under all their trials by the aids of the Spirit, (ver. 26, 27 ;) and an assurance that all events should co-operate for their advantage, (ver. 28 ;) since God has in consequence of his eternally glorious plan already done so much for us, (ver. 29, 30 ;) which emboldens us to conclude, that no accusation shall prevail against us, and no temptations or extremi- ties separate us from his love. (Ver. 31, to the end.) As the blessings so giFectionately displayed above had been spoken of as the peculiar privileges of those who believed in the gospel, this evidentry implied, that as all believing Gentiles had a full share in them, so all unbelieving Jews must necessarily be excluded from them. But as the calling of the Gentiles and the rejection of the Jews was a topic of great importance, the apostle ernploys the ninth, tenth, and eleventh chapters in the discussion of it, and so concludes the argu- mentative part of this Epistle. He introduces what he had to say on this interesting subject, by declaring that he thought most honourably and a^- ^tionately of the Jewish nation, (chap. ix. 1 — 5 ;) and then shows, '"'"is!. That the rejection of a considerable part of the seed of Abraham, and even of the posterity of Isaac too, was an incontestable fact, which the Jews themselves could not but grant to have happened, that is, with respect to the descend- ants of Ishmael and of Esau. (Ver. 6 — 13.) 2ndlfj, That the sovereign choice of some individuals to peculiar privileges, to which none had any claim ,• and the sovereign appointment of some, from among many criminals, to^gecujiar^nd exemplary punishment; was perfectly con- sistent both with reason and scripture. (Ver. 1 4 — 24.) 3rdli/, That the taking the Gentiles to be God's peculiar people when Israel ^ould be rejected, had been actually fore- told, both by Hosea and Isaiah. (Ver. 25, to the end.) Athlij, That God hath graciously offered the gospel- salvation ^M>iA of Jesus many accounts, but on none so happy as on this, that ye also are now the called of Jesus Christ, invited by him into the fellowship of his gospel, and a participation of all its inva- 7 luable blessings. And as God hath especially committed this ministration to me, I do 7Toali tliit i.c in Rome, therefore, agreeably to the general purport of my office, inscribe this epistle to all in Home ^g^inia^^ l^nce'\^'^y^y^ 'and who are to such a degree beloved of God as, to be called to the privileges and hopes of licacp from Ood our Kaiiur, Christianity, [^and] numbered among that holy people who solemnly profess themselves con- '""^ *^''*-' ^'"f'' •^^'^"^ Christ, secrated to his service. And as, in this view, I must think of you with great respect, so I most unfeignedly wish grace and favour to yoit, with all kinds of prosperity and peace, from tlie blessed God, the great original of all good, who is now become our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, who is exalted at his right hand, that he may scatter down all the blessings of providence and grace on his people, and may rule over all things for the good of his church. IMPROVEMENT. Let us begin the perusal of this excellent, though in many passages obscure and difficult Epistle, with paying our humble acknowledgments to the divine goodness that we are favoured with so valuable a part of scripture as that contained in the apostolical Epistles. How happy are we who read from the pen of those holy men the sentiments they entertained of Christianity under the full illumination of the sacred Spirit, — and so learn what were the leading affections which prevailed in their minds ! By these letters they open all their hearts to us amidst their labourings and sufferings, that we also may have fellowship with them in those important things in which their communion was with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. Ver. I With particular pleasure let us peruse the writings of Paul, who was in so peculiar a manner called to be an apostle, and separated to the gospel of God. He gloried in the name of a servant of Christ, and let us emulate it 5 as the greatest honour. Let us be animated to exert ourselves to the utmost under that character, since God hath been pleased to bring us, though originally sinners of the Gentiles, to the obedience of faith, and to reveal unto us 2 the gospel of his Son, that glorious gospel predicted by the prophets and opened by the apostles, yea, by their Divine Master. 3 May our hearts adore the great Emanuel, who, though he condescended to be made of the seed of David 4 according to his flesh, had a divine nature infinitely superior to it! Let us often reflect on that glorious display of the power of the Holy Ghost in his resurrection from the dead, by which he was marked out as the Son of God ; and yielding to the force of such a demonstration, let us confide in him as Jesus our Saviour, and obey him as Christ our Lord. 7 We are called to partake of the privileges of his people; we belong to the society of those who are eminently beloved of God, and wlio lie under obligations, as they are called an holy nation, a peculiar people, to be indeed saints, to be holy in all manner of conversation, as being entirely devoted to God and tiie Redeemer. May such grace be im.parted to us from God our Father, and from Jesus Christ our Lord, fliat we may not dishonour the sacred community to which we belong, that we may not with millions be cast out at last infamous and abhorn d, but may enjoy its most important privileges in that state of final and everlasting glory in which the kingdom of the Son of God shall terminate. SECTION IL The apostle strongly expresses his affection for his christian friends at Rome: thereby to introduce, with greater advantage, the considerations he had to lay before them in the process of the epistle. Rom. i. 8 — 15. Romans i. 8. ' rom. i. .s. SECT. I AM now setting mjgelf to write to you, my dear brethren at Rome; and I must, in the First, I thank my Ooa 2. frst place, dec^eTto you, that J unfeignedly thank that most glorious and excellent ^''"^''"^'J' ti[at"'''onr''fai\h'^'i3 Being who is now become my covenant God and Father through Jesus Christ, by i^'poken 'of ihrouglioiit the UOM. whom we have received the adoption, and bless him for you all, that your faith in his whole worUi. '• Q invaluable gospel is so pure and stedfast, and produces such genuine fruits, tliat it is de- clared and celebrated through the -whole world, and is universally looked upon, by all christians in this extensive empire, as a most happy presage of the general spread of their 9 holy religion. Such a report as this cannot but excite my praises, as being so agreeable o For (.'mi is my wiinrss, to the tenor of my petitions ; for God, whom I make it the continual business of my life "!"■"" ,\.*'^,"''' V^f i"'?'J,'"' to serve, with the greatest ialiii^ritj and ardo.m of 7ny spirit, in the gospel of his Son, is that"witii■*.•■ '""- • _i " 'J A J •/• / any means now at len"th I in my prayers the permission of nis gracieaS providence to come unto you, f by any ^jgiit i,ave a jirosp^rons means now at length, after so long a delay, I may have a prosperous journey to you, journey hy the wiiiof (Jod) by the will of God ; on whose blessing I am sensible the prosperity of all our ways de- '■'' '^"""'^ ""'" y""- heart to the obedience of Christ and fit him for the ministry of the siippore that commission to have been dated. 1 lliercfore chuse Kospel, before he received his apostolical commission, whenever we to keep the clauses thus distinct. \ REFLECTIONS ON PAUL'S ZEAL FOR THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. 585 pcnds, and to whose wise determination I desire to submit all my schemes and purposes, sect. even those which are formed with the most atfectionate regard to the good of his church. 2. II Fori long to see you, Nevertheless, so far as may consist with this due resignation, I am humbly importunate. ' '. ' ' "jmiiwr^^Vr'to ^the ^^'^'^ '^'"^ '^'^ *'^'^ head; /«;• I desire greaf/i/ to see i/oii, not from any curiosity which kom li i'i")o-i may be establish- the grandcur and magnificence of your city excites, nor from any prospect of personal i- f d •■ advantage that I might receive from the most considerable of you, in the greatt"«t distinction 1 1 ofchcumstati.c^j but t/iat I niai/ impart to i/ou some spiritual s^ift, by the laying on of my hands in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ -j^ that by the farther experience which you mav then have of the operations of the Holy Spirit, as v.-ell as the edification to be received from what discourses may pass between us, i/ou may be established in your chris- 12 Tliat is, that I iiiAv be tian faith, and fortified ag-ainst all temptation either to renounce or dishonour it : That is, i'2 comtoited tog-etlier with j,;, other words, [/ desire^ tliat ti'////e / am among you ire may be comforted together, ^oih of'you'au'd nie.^ ^' ' as I have great reason to believe that we shall by the exercise of the 7nutual faith both of you and me, while I am communicating and you receiving these blessing-s, and those correspondent graces are working on each side, which I doubt not will be for inyjm^- provement as well as for yours. *• 13 Now I would not have And while I thus express my desire of an interview with you, I li'ould not have you 13 you ignorant, brethren, that ignorant, my dear brethren, that I have often been proposing and contriving to come to come imf^? you/'imt*' was let J'ou, though I have hitherto, by one means or another, been hindered. I have, I say, hithertoHhat 1 might have long meditated and desired the journey, that I might have some fruit of my ministerial as"mln"other"6eatiles''"' ^""^^ apostolical labouTS a7nong you also, even as I have already had from the many !4 I am a debtor both to churclies I have planted and watered among the rest of the Gentiles. Which [ mention, 1-i iheGriiiks and to the Bar- j^qj- ^y ^jjy ^eans as boasting of what I have done ; for I know that in the circumstances and to the unwise. ""* in which Christ has placed me, considering the charge he honoured me with and the mercy he hath extended to me, I am, in the strictest justice, a debtor both to the Greeks and the Barbarians, both to the learned and the ignorant .-"^ Duty and gratitude bind me to do my best to promote the conversion and salvation of men of every nation and 15 So, .IS much as in me rank, of every genius and character. Therefore, according to my weak abilities and 15 is, I am ready to preach tlie the Opportunities which God may give me, I am rcadi/ and desirous'^ to preach the sos- R'me'aU.J°" "'*' ^^^ "' P^'^ ^0 you also that are at Rome, though it be the capital of the world, a place of so much paliitonooft and grandeur, and a place likewise where it might seem peculiarly danger- ous to oppose those popular superstitions to which the empire is supposed to owe its great- ness and felicity; yet still, at all events, I am willing to come and publish this divine message among you, though it should be at the expense of my reputation, my liberty or life. IMPROVEMENT. Happy is the church of Clirist when its ministers are thus conscious of the excellency of the gos])el, and thus Wr. 15 earnestly desirous, in the midst of reproach, persecution, and danger, to extend its triumphs ; when tiiey can tlius apjieal to God that it is with their spirit that they serve him in the gospel of his Son. 9 This will give them a largeness of heart well becoming their office. Devotion will then flourish in their secret 10 retirements, as well as be maintained by them in public assemblies ; and the concerns of the churches, and some- times of far distant churches, will have a place in their thoughts and prayers at such solemn seasons. May they ever remember, that as the servants of Christ they are to be the friends of mankind, and that tlieir Master has laid such obligations upon them, that for his sake they are debtors to the whole world in every otiice 14 of christian friendship, and especially as to any spiritual gift which by their ministration they may be instrumental 1 1 in imparting. The more they exert themselves in such services, the more will their own faith and comfort, as 12 well as that of their people, be confirmed. But in whatever station we are^ let us be forming schemes for the service of God and good of men, projecting 10 our journies and visits on that plan, yet always with a becoming sense of our dependence on the smiles of heaven for prosperity and success; and, as dtitiful children, referring it to the infinitely superior wisdom of our heavenly Father to put a negative, at his sacred pleasure, upon those purposes wliich lie nearest to our hearts, and in which we most sincerely intend his glory. ^ ^sjv, h--.— "v. '^■^ a fiiipart to you some spiritual gift:] Bos interprets this of b For my improvement as well as for yours.] This thought, so preaching the gospel, which was a divine kind of food by which full of respect to his christian friends at Rome, is suggested wiUi their souls mi^ht be strengthened, and which he, as with the rich- great delicacy and address; and it is very reasonable to suppose ^st liberality, was willing to impart and distriliute among them, that every new instance in which miraculous gitts were comrnum- 15ut as spiritual gifts, in the language of St. Paul, have generally cated by the laving on the ha:ids of any of the apostles would be another signification, (compare 1 Cor. xii. 1, 4, 9 ; xiv. 1, 12.) and it a source of new edification and estalilishment to these ho y men ; was the particular office of the apostles to bestow miraculous gifts as being so evident a token of the divine presence with them, hy the layirg on of their hands, I have taken tlie passage in that and a new and solemn seal set to the commission they Had re- view ; and though it is reasonable to suppose the christians now at ceived. ■ i i ii i Korae had some share of these endowments, chap. xii. 5—7. it is c T/ie learned and tlie ignorant."] I/F.iifant justly observes tliai highly probable that on Paul's arrival among them they might re- e^V^ often signifies learned, (compare 1 Cor. i. 20, 6.«'7,v«i, as they can by no means, otherwise, have any force d Ready and desirous.] Raphelins shows Uiat t^^umw cxpre^es at all. They must therefore, as L' Enfant has well noted, be reii- not only a readiness, but. in some cases, an eagerness oj desire. Aot. dercd ieinj among you ex R'erod. 5S6 THE GOSPEL REVEALS THE WRATH OF GOD AGAINST ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. SECTION m. T/ie apostle declares his readiness loldly to preach the gospel at Rome, supported hy a sense of its excellence/ ; to illustrate which, he shows that the loorld greatly needed such a dispensation. And first he introduces a discourse of the abandoned state into which the Gentiles were fallen. Koni. i. IG — 32. Rom. i. 16. „ . Rom. 1. 10. SECT. I HAVE told you (ver. 15.) that I am ready and desirous to preach the gospel at Rome, For i -.im not ashamed of 3. though the capital city of the world ; and indeed there is nothing that I more earnestly tl'*^ gospel of Christ; for it wish than opportunities of bearing the most public testimony to it ; /o/- with whatever saivaYiortreveJy'^ife "hit KOM. contempt that sacred dispensation, and they who publish it, may be treated on account of believeth ; to tiie Jew first, !• the circumstances and death of its Founder, the character of its ministers, and the nature *'"' ^^'^ ^° '•''® Greek. 16 and tendency of its doctrines, / ain not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, but rather glory in it. And I have great reason to do it ; for while other methods intended to promote the reformation and happiness of mankind have been all ineffectual, it has clearly appeared that this is the power of God for complete and eternal salvation to every one that be- lieveth. It contains the most glorious display of the divine power, efficaciously exerted for this important purpose, and operating in favour of every one who cordially embraces it. Thus salutary is it to the Jexc, who is far from being above the need of it, and to ■whom, by the special command of our Lord, it is to be first preached and proposed,'' wliPrever its ambassadors come ; yet not to be limited to him, but proclaimed also to the Greek and the Roman, and Gentiles of every nation under heaven, who are all, with 17 equal freedom, invited to partake its important benefits. And it is admirably adapted to n For therein is the right- secure this great and blessed end ; >r in it the righteousness of God'' by faith, that is, f3f^it,;\^oVa'ith -'a'tlf. the method which God hath contrived and proposed for our becoming righteous, (Isa. Ivi. written, The just siiall live 1.) by believing his testimony and casting ourselves on his mercy, is revealed to our by faith. faith,"" and most clearly exhibited as the great object of it : As it is written in the pro- phet Habakkuk, chap. ii. 4. " The just shall live by faith ;"'^ and as good men were then delivered from the ruin which involved others, by trusting to and acting upon the divine declaration ; so now the like principle of faith, receiving and embracing this great discovery which God hath made of his mercy in Christ, secures our life and salvation. IS And as, in this view, it is well worthy of our regard, so there is an absolute necessity of its 18 For the wrath of God being attended to ; for the wrath of God is revealed from, heaven'' by many singular ila[,^s7ail'ungodTinesrind interpositions of Divine Providence, and especially by the most express declaration of the unrighteousness of men, sacred oracles, which teach us to look on the grand and final revelation of it as nearly ^':'"° ''"''' ^iie truth in un- approaching. And the terrors of this wrath are apparently levelled against all impiety "^'^ ' '^°"^"*'''^- and unrighteousness of men, who wickedly restrain the truth in unrighteousness, when that heaven-born captive would exert its energy upon their minds, and urge them to obey its dictates. This is, more or less, the generally prevailing character ; and it ex- poses men to a sentence, the terrors of wliich, if they were well understood, would soon drive them, with the greatest solicitude, to seek their refuge in that gospel the tidings of which they now so arrogantly despise. 19 The sad character I hinted at above, of restraining and imprisoning the truth in unright- '^ Because that which eousness, is more general than mankind are aware. We find it not only among those manifest in"thera° for°God who have enjoyed the benefit of a revelation from God, but in all the Gentile nations, hath showed i7 unto them. For the main fundamental principles of what is by any means to be known of God, that is, that he is the great Original of all, is manifest among tliem ; for God hath showed 20 // to them by a liglit universal as the sun. For those things of him which are invisible, x\^^.,<'7^^f\\\m^[^om\\\T^m. are and have been, from the very creation of the world, not only intimated, but being ation of the world are clear- a To the Jew first, itic.'] There isa noble frankness, as well as very that I wonder it should have been rendered so differently in the comprehensive sense, in these few words of the apostle ; by which, former clause. on the one hand, he strongly insinuates to the Jews their absolute d As it is written. The jvst shall live hij faith.'] The prophet need of the gospel in order to salvation ; and on the other, while he Habakkuk, speaking of the destructioij to come upon Jerusalem by declares to them that it was also to be preached to the Gi-ntiles, he tlie Chaldeans, observes how different the behaviour and states of tells the politest and greatest of those nations to whom he might good and bud men would he. The sinner's heart would be vainly come as an ambassador of Christ, both that their salvation alsode- lifted up to his destruction, while trusting to his own wisdom and pended upon receiving it, and that the first oifers of it were every power ; (and accordingly prince and people became the sacrifices of where to be made to the despised Jews. this foolish self-confidence ;) whereas the righteous, the truly good b The righteousness of God.'] AMtxioivm ©£» plainly signifies, in man, would preserve his life by believing the divine declarations, several passages of this Epistle, not the essential riyhleonsness of and acting according to them ; and thus under the gospel, he that God's nature, but the manner of hecomimj righteous which God hath believes shall live. Some would render it. The just by faith shall appointed and exhibited in the gospel. Compare chap. iii. 21, 22; live, or he shall live who is justified by faith ; but however this X. 3 ; and also Phil, iii, 9. with iMatt. vi. 33. And the phrase may might suit the Greek phrase, it seems less agreeable to the Hebrew, perhaps have the same sen.se in several passages of the Old Testa- from whence it is taken. meut. See Isa. xlyi. 13; li. 5, G, 8; Ivi. 1. Mr. Mace generally e For tlie wrath of God is revealed, <5r.] Commentators differ renders it l/ie divine justification, yet cannot always render much in fixing the connexion of these words. Some have con- Ji)tiiaffuv>j so. • sidercd this verse as another reason why he was not ashamed of the c Hi/ faith is rei^ealed to faith.] I would connect ex mirtwt with gospel, because it contained so awakening a declaration of the iiK%a^vm, and suppose fit minv to be governed of aaMxXvnriTxi, wrath of God against sin, and by that means liad a most powerful thinking the transposition easier than the interpretation given by tendency to awaken men's consciences aud save their souls: in many others, as if it implied its being loholbj by faith, as Mr. Mace which view, some, treating the particle vaj as an exi)letive, have renders it, or goinrj on from one degree of faith to another; for rendered it, tliere the wrath of God is revealed. And Mr. Locke though it is true that this is the case, I find no example in which brings it nearly to the same, where he explains it as a reason why the phrase is used in either of these senses, those which Mr. I>ocke Paul was so ready to preach the gospel at Rome. — Rut the con- produces to justify the former of these interpretations (viz. chap. vi. nexion hinted in the paraphrase seems most rational and natural, lil ; and 2 Cor. iii. 18.) being by no means exactly parallel. And it The sentences in Paul's writings often run into each other is so plain that tx Trrrt^j in the close of this verse signifies hij faith. THE GENTILES WERE ABANDONED TO THE MOST INFAMOUS PASSIONS. 587 iv seen, being understood duly attended to, ^ clearly seen hy the things -which are made; the whole system of SECT. !;'.I/his'ele^r'nl\'''poweratd ^^'"^^ ^^^^ ^"^'^ eminent signatures of the great Artificer, as loudly to proclaim his name 3. ' ^..jhead; so that they are ^nd attributes, even his eternal power and divinity;? so that if any of the Gentile na- • Nvuhout excuse: tions neglect to trace it with reverence, love, and obedience, they arc tvifhout excuse, ROM. and would be destitute of every just and plausible apology for themselves if he should enter '■ 21 Because that when into judgment with them : Because knowing God'^ as the ^reat Former of all, and a Be- 21 '■''?h''r.7ou" God'nefther '"» °^ supreme and incomparable perfection, they have not adored and glorified [him'] as 1- thankful, but' became God their Maker, neither were duly thankful' to him as their great and constant n„i"their'f"^l'™^f'"''t°''*' ^^'^^'^^^o'"' '^"^ ^^^^ ^ ^f ^'^^y '^^^ neither opportunity nor capacity of acquainting d'arkelfe'd. °° "" '^'" "''^ themsclves with him. This has generally been the character of the Gentiles, without ex- cepting those of the politest ages and most learned nations. Instead of setting themselves to inquire into the will of the Supreme Being, and with becoming gratitude and zeal devoting themselves to his service, they became vain and foolish in their boasted reason- ings,^ entangling themselves with a thousand unprofitable subtilties which only tended to alienate their souls from every sentiment of true religion ; and their unintelligent heart, instead of being enlightened by these sophistries, was more and more involved in dark- 22 Trofessing themselves ncss, and rendered impenetrable to the simplicity of the most important truths. So that 22 foolsT ''^'^^' "'*^ "^"ame proff,^^i,)g themselves to be wise far beyond the cormnon pitch, assuming and glorying in " the title of sages or wise men, at least in that of lovers of wisdom," they became fools and idiots, degrading, in the lowest and most infamous manner, the reason which they so ar- 23 And changed the glory rogantly pretended to improve, and almost to engross. And as this was evident in a va- 23 fnto an ini" g°e"made ilkeTo "ety of Other vices in which the philosphers of heathen nations joined with the vulgar, so corruptible man, and to particularly in the early and almost universal prevalence of idolatry amongst them, bv KUnd'creepb-'Ss'' ^^'^^ ^^"^^^ changed the glory of the immortal, incorruptible, and eternal God, " ° ■ even all the majestic splendours in which he shines forth through earth and heaven, into the representing image a/ mortal and corruptible man ; which, how elegantly soever it might be traced, was a great and insutferable degradation, had their folly proceeded no farther : But not content with this, they set up as emblems of deity and objects of worship, brutes and their images, birds and four footed animals, and even such vile reptiles as beetles and various kinds of serpents which creep on the dust." 24 AVhcrefore God also This was such scandalous and pernicious superstition, that it is no wonder that God 24 n^ss^ thro"u-h''the Tustfof ^'^^"''^ ''^ righteous judgment withdraw from those who introduced and encouraged it. their own "iiearts, to dis- He therefore not only left them to sink lower and lower in these absurd methods of wor- lionour their own bodies be- ship, but also delivered them zip to the vilest uncleanness in \^gratifuine ^^''' ^^^^ ^''^'^ "^^^^ °^ ^^^"^ '''^° '""^''^ ^"^'^ ^^"^''' ^"^ ^ad in their OWn minds sound- creature more than the er apprehensions of things, yet from mere secular motives suppressed that better knowledge. Creator who is blessed for and conformed to popular superstitions and follies, and thereby changed the truth of God, the true doctrines of his nature and genuine institutions of his worship, into a lic,^ into abominable idolatries, founded on the falsest representations of God, and often supported by a train of artful forgeries ; and, upon the whole, they worshipped and served, with re- ligious homage and solemn devotion, the creature, to the neglect of the great Creator, who, however basely and ungratefully overlooked by men, is surrounded with the per- petual homage of the heavenly world, and blessed for ever. Amen ! May he ever be held in the highest veneration by all his creatures in heaven and earth, throughout all succeeding ages ! 26 For this cause God Therefore, I say, because of this inexcusable neglect of the ever-blessed God, he aban- 2G fe*c\* *'ir"^ ror''el'en' Uiefr doncd them to the most infamous passions; for even their 7i'0?«t'«, from whom the women did change the na- Strictest modesty might reasonably have been expected, changed the natural use of the f lieing diihj at/ended /«.] NoouAtEva seems to have this significa- gratitude to God is here put for the whole of religion ; and no prin- tion, and to be, as it were, included iu a parenthesis ; so that ms ciple can be nobler, and none can be stronger or more extensive. iroin^ujiti is governed of xorSofiarj;!. k Vain in their reasonings : i/^xrjcu,iir)-xt ey tok o^aXo^i-'/xois aurwv.] g nivinity:] It is observable that Augustin (Civ. Dei, vii. 1.) Mr. Locke illustrates this by the stupid folly of their idolatry, 2 nicely distinguishes between ^nm-x and Ssiornra, the word here Kings xvii. 15, 16 ; Acts xiv. 15. But I rather think the word used ; maintaining that the one signifies rf?77y, or (^iV/nenn/i/rp, the iiixXj/i'Moij refers to the perplexing sophis/rT/ of the philosophers, olher diviniti/, or divine majesty and glory: and if there be that I have often thought Lucretius one of the most remarkable illustra- distinction, tlie latter word is apparently more proper here, as divine tions of tlie character here drawn. AVliat vain reasonings, and how glory results from that eternal power which is comprehended in the dark a heart, in the midst of the most pompous profession of oracular divine nature. wisdom I h Knoving God.'] Some understand it as if be had said. Whereas 1 Professing themselves.'] ituxovrtf £ivj:i aijioi seems Just equivalent they might have knoun God; but I think what Paul charges upon the to Xenoplions p«xo»ris (pi>^of;iv, which so evidently refers to the philosophers is, that though they actually knew there was one Su- pride they took in the title of lovers of wisdom. See Raphel. in lac. preme God, they neglected him ito conform (for low and base consi- ra Beetles and serpents.] Of this amazingly stupid, yet prevalent derations) to the established idolatry ; which was really the case, to idolatry, the worship of serpents, see JenW. Iteas. of Christianity, their aggravated guilt and condemnation ; as appears from most of Vol. ii. p. 246 — 248. Tennison, Of Idol. chap. xiv. p. 352 — 354 ; Owen, the passages in which the pagan writers bear a testimony to the On Srrp. chap. iv. and v ; Stillingfl. Orig. Sae. p. 516. &c. doctrine of the Unity ; a specimen of which maybe seen in Dr. n Changed the truth of God into a lie.] Eisner takes great pains Sykes's Connect, chap. xiv. p. 364— .383; Dr. Ab. Taylor, Of Faith, to show tiiat the truth of God here signifies what he really was, p~ 12 — 17. note ; and Cudworth's Intellect. System, chap. iv. j 10 — 31. and a lie a false representation. See Eisner's Observ. Vol. ii. p. 11. especially H9— 28. It is well known that idols are often called lies. Isa. xliv. 20; i JS'eitMT were ihankful?^ It is worthy our observation that Jerem. iii. 23i xiii. 25; xvi, 19. 588 REFLECTIONS ON THE WRETCHED STATE OF THE GENTILE WORLD. SECT, other sex to that 'which is against nature.° And likewise their males, leaving the turai use into that which is 3. natural use of the female, have been injlamed with the most scandalous and abomina- against "jiture: b!e desires towards eaeh other, males with males perpetrating that which is most „,£!,, ieaviii/"the ^latural RO.M. shameful to mention and detestable to think of, and receiving in themselves the just pse of tlie woman, burned I- recompense of their error, in that stupidity and degeneracy of mind to which they were a"o[},'e7 men "wfth'^nien 28 evidently left. And, thus, upon the whole, as they were not solicitous^ to retain God working tliat wiiich is ud- in their knowledge, nor to propagate suitable conceptions of him, or address him by pro- seemly and receiving in per acts of rational and pure devotion, God delivered them over to an undiscerning mind, of tiieir "^error wWch^'was to do things most incxpedienf^ and enormous, as he cannot more dreadfully punish one sin, meet. 29 than by giving up the offender to more. And accordingly, universal depravation and not^like'\o^'retai'n*'God*'in corruption seized and possessed them, and the whole series of their discourses and actions their knowledge, God gave showed that they were full of all manner of injustice, lewdness, mischief, covetousness, ^''.^"} oje"" to a reprobate , ;• •, i 11 • • ■ i_ it, 1 1 ■ 1 J • ii mind, to do those things and malignity ; perpetually injurmg each other, and drawmg damage and misery on them- which are not convenient; selves; while they were filed and intoxicated with every imaginable vice, e7ivy, murder, 29 Being filled with all contention, fraud, the inveteracy of all evil and pernicious habits,^ which no sense of "ionfw'ckedness co*^^etousI 30 decency or regard to reputation or interest could reform. Instead of entertaining those ness| maliciousness ; full of friendly regards to each other which common humanity might have taught them, they ^°X/' ^.i^''''.';''' <'*=l)ate, de- 1 ■ ■ tu- • i. iU .u i i 11 ;;;.<• i. Celt, malignity ; whisperers, were whispering something against those that were present, as well as backbiting such as 30 Backbiters, haters of were absent : and being /jr/Zera o/'Gofl', discontented with his government, and disaffected God, despiteful, proud, to his rule as a righteous and holy Being who could not but be highly displeased with \^l^^^'' 'aT^beTeiu "to their abominations, they were violent and overbearing' in their behaviour to each other, parents, proud of what they had, and arrogant boasters of what they had not ; ingenious inveritors of evil and vicious things, who piqued themselves on making some new discoveries in the arts of sensuality or mischief. And it is no wonder that when there was such an impious disposition to rebel against God, they should also be disobedient to earthly pa- 31 rents ; And that they should act in so wild and unaccountable a manner as to seem to 31 Without understand- be without the natural understanding of men ; implacable in their resentments, without '"."• covenant-breakers, ■natural affection,^ even to their own children in some instances, and to their parents in impiacable%"niuercifui'°"' others. And when a reconciliation was attempted, and mutual engagements entered into with the highest solemnity, they were, on any present appearance of advantage, presently for breaking those pacific treaties, and unmerciful in pursuing their schemes of cruelty 32 and revenge, whenever they got any new opportunity of doing it. This was the cha- . 32 Who knowing the racter which generally prevailed in the heathen world, who, thoug-h the?/ knew the ^^!^!^T'^"^"^^."'^'^^}^^\^}^^y ■ ,, . ? , •' y. fi , ,, 1 ., 1 iu • • ^1 y 1 r which commit such thingji rigliteous judgment of ktocI, and tnougn ttieir consciences, as well as the lessons of are worthy of death,) not their wisest teachers, told them that they who do such things as these are worthy of °"'y ^° ".'<• «ame, but have death, yet not only do these things themselves, but also look with complacency upon them'.''*^ '" "^"' '''"'' and agree together with those that do them ; forming confederacies to countenance and support each other, and impudently out-braving those who should presume to bear testimony against them. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 2 1 When we dwell on the representation of that character which this humane and candid apostle gives us of the ei sc.-j. heathen world with regard to their idolatries, impieties, and other immoralities, what reason have we to bless God for the dispensation of the gospel, which hath wrought so effectually for the reformation of thousands who might otherwise have been as deeply drenched in all these enormities as the vilest of them ! For we know that it was not the barbarous nations alone, but some of the politest, who, in neglect of all the opportunities they had of knowing better, and in opposition to that better knowledge which some of them actually obtained, were often distinguished for the superstition of their worship and the scandal of their lives ; so that the chief illustrations of this sad subject are to be borrowed from Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Let us learn not only to guard against the vices for which the heathens are here branded, (knowing that the practice in us will be yet more criminal,) but let us cultivate the opposite virtues of justice and temperance • o To that which is aqaiiist nature.'] Many horrible illustrations u Who, though they knew the righteous judgment of God, Sec] of this may be seen in Bos, ^Vfrci/. !/! /oe. The Clermont copy inserts the words o-m svon-rav after eiri^vwrEs-, p Were not solicitous.'] ESoxl/J.x^a^^ imports a concern to hring agreeable to which reading, Mr. Locke renders it, who, though tliey things to a trial or touchslone,v/hic\-i tnis translation expresses much acknowledge the rule of right [(5ikj:iwa(«] prescribed them by Godi, better than ours, which coldly renders it, they liked not. and discovered by the light of nature, yet did not understand that q Things most inexpedient.] Tiie original expression is a meiosis they who do these things are worthy of deatn, and therefore, sintvSo. to express things most detestable; as asixsa tfyi signifies all the in- xbi>, live well with those who do them, "that is, converse with hiimnnilies which Achilles most ungenerously practised on the corpse " them without any marks of disesteera and censure ; whereas the of Hector. Compare Wisd. xiv. 22 — 27. See Bos, in loc. " Jew, who condemns the evils which he practises, is much more in- r Mischief, malignity, inveteracy.] According to some acute " excusable:" so connecting this verse with the 2d chapter. But I commentators, wovjifia signifies doing misrhief, xarxii a malicious neither think the authority of the Clermont copy by any means suffi- tcmpcr, and xaxon^ii a custom of repealing it freqnenlhi. clent to .justify our admitting this reading, nor can'imagine it would s Violent and overbearing ] Tf;.?-/)! is properly opposed to Tt^/j.w, make good sense ; for surely if they knew a rule of right prescribed and expresses the character of a man who is resolved to gratify his by God, they could not be ignorant that the violation of it would own appetites and passions, and to pursue what he apprehends his expose them to punishment ; and it is evident, in fact, from nura- oivn interests, right or wrong, without at all regarding those incon- berless passages in lieatheii moralists, that they were not Ignorant venlences or sufferings which he may thereby bring upon others. of It. The vulgar Latin does indeed partly follow this peculiar t Without natural affection.] Afo^yyj may conclude the absence of reading; but they add, »on solum qui faciunt, sed qui consentiunl both parental and filial affection. The custom of exposing new., facientibus, " not only they who commit these crimes, hut they hfjrn infants which prevailed so generally in the heathen world, and " who agree with others that commit them :" which I think makes that among polite nations, and iiersons in other respects not dcsti- a sense much preferable to Mr. Locke'.s, though by no means tute of humanity, is a most striking instance of the truth of this agreeable to the original. — It seems here to he Implied, that to look as.scrlion, as that of killing their aged parents also was of the conn- with complacency on the vices of others is one of the last degrees tcrpart. of degeneracy. PAUL DISCOURSES TO THOSE WHO KNEW THEIR DUTY, BUT ACTED CONTRARY TO IT. 589 Ix'nevolence and contentment, peace and charity, sincerity and humility j and let us cherish the natural tender sect. atiections. If offences arise, let us always be ready to hearken to terms of reconciliation, and faithfully observe 3. our engagements ; taking the greatest heed that, knowing so clearly as we do the judgments of God, we do not, by any means, give countenance to, and seem to join in a confederacy with, sinners. rom. Let us bless God for all the capacities and opportunities he hath given to the heathen nations of coming to the ^■ knowledge of himself by the things that are made, which declare his eternal power and godhead, and render inex- Vcr. 19 cusable both atheists and idolaters among them. But when we recollect how many either entirely lost the truth or 20 imprisoned it in unrighteousness, let us be most affectionately thankful for so superior a light, for that "-ospel which is to every believer, without exception, the power of God for salvation, and which declareth the righteousness of God 16 as the object of our faith. May we properly receive it, and so escape the terrors of that divine wrath which is re- 18 vealed from heaven against all impiety and unrighteousness of men ! To this revelation let us give the most attentive heed, and be much upon our guard against those vain and 2 1 sophistical reasonings to which they who, knowing God, neglect to glorify him as God, are so ready to fly ; lest we 22 approve ourselves fools in proportion to the degree in which we profess to be wise, and provoke God to give us up 28 to an injudicious mind, and to leave us to that reciprocal influence which evil principles and evil actions have to render each other more inveterate and incurable. SECTION IV. The apostle discourses more particularly erf those "who knew their duty and yet acted contrari/ to it, and of the condemnation they tnust expect from God; that so he might pi^operly introduce the particular char.« .1 „.« ii, I » (^1'iA iinmortality, he will graciously render the great prize they pursue, even eternal hfe : 8 But unto them that are _ , , , , •^' , o . ^ ,•',., , ^ ° , ^ • a ^i i mi. ^u -r i o contentious, and do not But to the perverse and ungrateful children of content ion, °- who quarrel with the mercitul b a Some who know they are not of that number.] There is a age were guilty of many of those crimes which had been enume- greater delicacy in the apostle's transition here than most commen- rated above. See Joseph. De Bella Judaic, lib. v. cap. 13. [al. IG.] tators have imagined. From what he had before said to prove the ? fi. et lib. vii cap. 8. [al. 28.] S '■ ^''''- Havercamp. most abandoned and ignorant of the heathens inexcusable in their ' c Gentknes.':, forbearance, and long-sriffering.'] Mr. Blackwall wickedness, he justly infers that the crimes of those who had such (Sacr. Class. Vol. 1. p. 306.) enlarges on the great emphasis of these knowledge of the truth as to condemn the vices of others, were words in the original. He thinks x?!fO''''f signifies benevolence and proportionably yet more inexcusable. This was eminently the generosity in the general, amx'n mrrnj in the ])ropos;\ls of pardon case with the Jews: but he does not directly speak of them till and happines? to fallen creatures, and Aiixco'ti/zi^t patience in attend- the 9th verse, but draws the inference at first in such general terms ing so long on such obstinate wretches. I have given what I take as might also comprehend Gentile philosophers, and all others who to be the exactcst rendering of each ; but did not judge it con- contradicted the moral instructions which they themselves gave. venient to protract the paraphrase of so lively a passage, by at- b Doest the same tltings.'] Dr. Whitby shows by many very tempting in many words to illustrate it. Viroper quotations, chiefly from Josephus, that the Jews of that d Children of contention.} Mr. Locke thinks that patience in the 590 HE WILL JUDGE JEWS AND GENTILES BY THE LIGHT THEY ENJOY. SECT, dispensation tliat should have saved them, and are obstinately disobedient to the dictates of obey Um trutK but obey! 4. truth, hat servilely obedient to the usurped and base tyranny of unrifr/iteousness, perversely "origl'teous'iess ; uuligna- opposing the evidence of true religion because they are averse to its practical design, \_he ROM. 10111 render'] a quite ditTerent portion : For them is reserved all that can be imagined most lA- dreadful ; indignation shall be conceived, and wrath shall break forth against them ; The g Triimlation and an- ^ sharpest tribulation, the most hopeless and inextricable anguish and despair,^ which shall gn'sl' upon every soul of be poured out in a torrent of unmingled misery, even upon evcri/ soul of man who work- j"'^" ^^^"^^ '^.^^l ^iJ,'; ,",f [[jg eth that which is evil. This shall be rendered to the Jew in \hQ first place,'' who, far from Gentile ; ' escaping by his superior advantages and privileges, will, by the abuse of them, be obnoxious to distinguished wrath. Nor shall the Greek escape, who shall be judged according to the 10 light he hath enjoyed, or the opportunity he had of enjoying more. But, as I said before, lo But priory, iionour, and repeat it with pleasure, as the more delightful part of the subiect, which I love to dwell ^""^ peace, to every ujau / 7 1 r I // I ^ jj I 111 1 t'lat worketh gnod, to the upon; glori/, honour, and peace isnall ae] recompensed to evert/ one who worketh good ; jew first and also to the ^rst to the Jew, who stands fairer (in virtue of the divine revelation he enjoys) for dis- Gentile : tinguished degrees of it, as well as receives the first messages of this salvation ; and then to the Greek, who, if he exclude not himself, shall not be exempted from his proper share : 11 For there is 7jo partial acceptance of persons with God,s which should engage him, on ii For there is no respect account of outward condition or lineal descent, to spare obstinacy and wickedness in a Jew, °^ persons with God. or to reject the humble faith and obedience of a Gentile. And he will fully display this impartiality of administration in the great day of universal judgment : for as many as have sinned without the Mosaic law,^^ and have continued impenitent in their crimes, shall without the law perish ; the light of nature, without the knowledge of revelation, being 12 sufficient to condemn them. And as many as have sinned under the instruction and ,12 For ns many as have obligation of the law shall, with proportionable severity, be judged by the law,^ and meet a"s'o'^'!cHsh 'w'tt'''^^' v'*'' with a more awful sentence, as their offences have been aggravated by such express dis- and as many as have sinned 13 covcries of the divine will : For not the men who are merely respectful hearers of the law j" ''^"^ 'j'*''' *'"'" *** judged of God in the synagogues, or loud and vehement applauders or defenders of it elsewhere, ^13 fpor'^not the hearers [^areljust before God, nor will he ever accept any encomiums upon it instead of the obe- of tiie law are just before dience it demands: but the doers of the law, who steadily and universally, in the tenor of P^'^'i^Vi^J'''^ doers of the ... ',, . -^ 111 1 I ji r ■ • /. t '3^*' shall bejustined. their lives, act agreeably to its precepts, they, and they only, s/iall be justified m the day 14 of final audit and account, whether their knowledge of it were more or less express. Fur u For when the Gentiles, when the Gentiles, who have not the written revelation of the divine law, do, by an j^hich have not the hw, do instinct of nature, and in consequence of the untaught dictates of their own mind, the moral tanned 'hi" the lawf" these duties required by the precepts of the law^ these having tiot the benefit of an express having not the law, are a and revealed law, are nevertheless a law unto themselves ; the voice of nature is their rule, '''**' ""'° themselves : and they are inwardly taught, by the constitution of their own minds, to revere it as the 15 law of that God by whom it was formed. And they who are in this state do evidently 15 Which »hnw the work show the work of the law, in its most important moral precepts, written upon titeir hearts '^ '^'^ '^.^^ written in their by the same divine hand that engraved the decalogue upon the tables given to Moses ; their bearing witness, and their consciences Joining to bear witness to it, and [their'] mutual reasonings among them- thoughts the meanwhile ac- selves, accusing those that break such precepts, or defending those who observe them, attest anothf r°) '^'*'' *^'"^"*'"^' ^"^ 16 the same thing. As therefore there are sure traces of some natural knowledge of the law, a I6 in the day when God due regard will be maintained towards them, and on this most equitable principle will the '''*" i^"*'^t "s* 0*^'-'^^ '^^ grand process be conducted, in that awful day when God shall judge the secrets of the cording- to my gospel, hearts of 7nen by Jesus Christ, according to the tenor of that glorious dispensation which I may call my gospel,^ as it is committed to my care ; in which no doctrine is more im- portant or evident than that of a universal and most impartial judgment. former verse, and contention here, refer to the raalipnant enmity improvement, according to the sovereign pleasure of the great with which the Jews endeavoured to exclude the Gentiles from Lord of all. This assertion of the apostle's, so often repeated, the church. Compare Gal. i. 7 ; 1 Tim. vi. 4, 3. but it seems much will appear the more important and seasonable, as the Jev»8 thought better to explain it in a latitude which shall indeed include this that no Israelite should be deprived of future happiness, whatever as one instance of obstinacy and perversene.ss, without contracting his faults had been, unless he were guilty of apostasy, idolatry, and that extensive and important sense which our interpretation gives, a few other very enormous crimes. See Mr. Jortin's Discourses And that the contention of the Gentiles is included here, evidently concerning the Truth of the Christian Religion, p. 26, 27. and the appears by the conclusion of the sentence. notes there. e Indignation and ivralh, trilmlalinn and anguish, &c.] Here h Sinned toithout the Mosaic law, 4"C.] It is evident that must seems to be a reference to those expressive words, Psal. Ixxviii. 49. here be intended ; for none can sin without the natural law, under where, speaking of the Egyptians, it is said, he cast upon them the which all are born. ^fierceness of his anger, ura/h, and indignation, and Iroulile. Audit i Perish — be judged.] These two phrases are so different, tliat may finely intimate, that the Jews would in the day of vengeance one would hardly think they were intended to signify the same be more severely punished than even their Egyptian enemies were ideas; yet so many argument.', both from reason and revelation, when God made their plagues so wonderful. ZrEvox'''?'* properly sig- lie against supposing wicked heathens annihilated, as Mr. Locke nifies ttraitness ; and is used by Xenophon to signify a narrow way seems to insinuate from these words, that I think it most rational that cannot be passed. See Raphel. Not. ex. Xen. inloc. As for the to interpret both these expressions as signifying real punishment, ditVerence between i, Eisner (Ohierv. Vol. II. p. 14.) but in different degrees. takes some pains to show that the former signifies the first conccp- k JHi/ nature.] Raphcliiis [JVot. ex Xen. in he.) shows that Hon of anger, the latter a desire and purpose of punishing. Some animals are said to do that by nature which they do by instinct; reference to this interpretation will be found in the paraphrase, and Eisner, {Observ. Vol. II. p. 16.) that ra tou to/xiv signifies the though expressed as briefly as po.ssible. duties inculcated by the law. f To the Jew first.] Here we have the first express mention of 1 According to my go.ipel.] Nothing is more contrary to the Jews in this section ; and it is introduced with great energy und apostle's meaning, as expressly declared above, than that all men weight. Their being trained up in the knowledge of the triie re- are to be judged by Uie gospel. He only means that the gospel ligion, and having Christ and his apostles first sent to them, will teaches such a judgment. Therefore some, transposing the last place them in the foremost rank of the criminals who obey not the clause, render it very plainly and properly, In the day when Cod truth. shall, according lo my gospel, judge the secrets of men. Mr. Mace S, -Acceptance of persons.] That is, in passing the final sentence transposes the whole sixteenth verse to join it with the twelfth ; he is determined bv their real characters. — This is very consistent and I think it very evident the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth with an inequalityin distributing advantages and opportunities of verses corae in as a parenthesis: but the transposition of verses EXPOSTULATIONS WITH THE JEWS WHO BROKE THEIR LAW. 591 IMPROVEMENT. Let us revere the righteous judgment of God, which is here laid before us in so particular and affecting a man- SECT, ner; remembering we are each of us to have our part in that day of final retribution, and that the secrets of our 4. hearts will then be made manifest. Let us often reflect upon the awful result; and consider that indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, will be our portion, if we are contentious and disobedient to the truth, yea, if we do ROM. not, by a patient continuance in well-doing, seek the promised glory, honour, and immortality; which if we do, ,. ''• we shall, through the grace of God, secure everlasting life. Vain will our knowledge and our profession otherwise • be, and our testimony against the sins of others will only inflame the guilt of our own. -Let it ever be remembered that the goodness of God, which we have such daily reason to acknowledge and adore, gently takes us, as it were, by the hand, and leadeth to repentance; and while we continually live upon it, let us not 4 act in contempt of it, or abuse it to our own inconceivable detriment. Is the wrath already laid up so small that we should be increasing the treasure ? increasing the terrors of the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judg- 5 raent of God ? It will be a most impartial as well as important day. Nor are we concerned to know how the heathen will fare in it; let it suffice us, that if they are condemned, they will be righteously condemned; not for remaining ignorant 14, 15 of the gospel they never had an opportunity of hearing, but for violating those precepts of the divine law which were inscribed on their consciences. Let us bless God that he has written it there, and reverence the traces of his hand on our own minds ; always remembering that the discoveries of revelation were never intended to erase or dis- credit the dictates of nature, but to illustrate and confirra them. We shall be judged by the dispensation we have enjoyed ; and, how devoutly soever we may hear and speak of 12 it, shall be condemned, if we have not acted agreeably thereto. The Lord grant that we may all find that mercy of 13 tiie Lord which we shall every one of us need in that day ; and that we may find it, may we keep that day conti- nually in view, and direct all our actions with regard to its grand decisions ! SECTION V. Paul proceeds to fix the charge upon the Je-u;s, that they -were sinners as well as the Gentiles, and consequent li/ stood in need of justification bi) the grace of the gospel as well as they. Rom. ii. 17, to the end. Rom. ii. 17. Rom. ii. 17. Behold, thou art called I HAVE hitherto been speaking of the inexcusable guilt of those who have the greatest op- sect kvv,*rnd^raal!esTtiiy boast poi^tunity of knowing their duty, and in consequence of this acknowledge it, and condemn " 5. " of God ; others for acting contrary to it, while yet they are guilty of the same evils. I will now keep on the reserve no longer ; but will boldly declare, that in what I have said concerning such, rom. I meaftf the conviction not merely of heathen philosophers, but of wicked Jews ; and if 11. Ihou, O reader, art such an one, I apply myself personally to thee. Behold, thou dearest 17 the name of a Je-w^ and thou rcposest thyself on the knowledge and profession of the law, as if that would save thee ; and thou gloriest in the true God, in whom thou believest; as ii' thy descent and profession, by virtue of the peculiar covenant he made with thy fathers, 18 And knowe.st his will, must necessarily entitle thee to his favour. Thou boastest of it as thine honour and happi- 18 thfi are morfexceHent,' bf! "^^^ *'^^^ ^^°'-' ^'■'"owest [//«] will, not merely by uncertain conjecture and reasoning, but ing instructed out of' the by an express revelation, <7«(^ that thou accurately f/«cer«e5^ and distinguishest upon things ^'^^^- tliat differ,^ which untaught nature may in many respects confound; icing thyself well instructed out of the law, having been from thy infancy cat£chjsed_and educated in the 19 And art confident accurate knowledge of it. Andinconsequenceof ihis,thou artvevy confident that thou thy- 19 giiide*ort'i.e*b]iud! aTiUt ^Hf ^>'i ^t to teach the whole Gentile world ; to he a guide of the blind, as thou thinkest of them which are 'in da'ik- them to be ; a light to them that, for want of the light ,thou dispersest, are in darlaiess : "*2o'An instructor of the ^" instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of these babes^ as thou esteemest them in com- 20 foolish, a 'teacher "of'babe^ parison with thyself ; //(SftJ?>/^ perhaps not Only the sacred oracles in thine hands, but also, wiiich hast the form of in order to render thee more expert and methodical in the use of them, a summary, a com- hr^hekw.^"*^"^ """'""' pendious system and /wv« of the knowledge and truth which is contained in the lawA 21 Thou therefore which Now I deny iiot that thine advantages are in this respect very great ; but I must caution 21 / thou'not th"'*sein't/'^'"^tr^t ^'^^'^ *^^^ ^^^'^^ *** "'^^ deceived by any absolute dependence upon them, and must press thee it/ preachest a man should not to reflect how far thine own temper and conduct is agreeable to this knowledge and profes- steal, dost thou steal? gion. Let mc Sisk therefore, thou that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Dost thou act as if thou hadst forgotten thine own precepts, or didst imagine they did not mm siiouid not ^commit oblige thee ? Thou that preachest, for instance, a man should not steal, dost thou lliink 22 adultery, dost thou commit thyself.tolerajed to Steal ?^ Thou that forbiddest a man to commit adultery, dost thou seems a dangerous thing; though T think, in some evident cases, o Blind,— ignorant,— habes.l These were titles which the proud that of a few words may be pardoned, considering the difl'ercnt gc- Jews often gave to the Gentiles. nius of ancient and modern, eastern and western languages. A Form.'] Mo^?; juj has this signification, 2 Tim. iii. 5. And Bos a Bearest the name of a Jew.] The apostle frequently addresses ( Exercit. p. 100, 101.) shows that it often signifies the sketch or out- hiraself to unconverted Jews in this Epistle, and especially here; lines of a thing ; which suits the interpretation here given better for no doubt tliere were many of them at Rome, who might be cu- tlian he seems to apprehend. — L' Enfant renders it, having in the rious to know what he, who had been so violent an enemy to chris- law the rule of knowledge and truth ; but I know not whether /» tianity, would say to recommend it. And Paul's great love to /j-o^puns ever signifies rule ; and if the article has any force, it is in / them engaged him, .on the contingency of such an event, to insert favour of the rendering we have preferred. such passages; and (Hirer passages are calculated for the conviction e Dost thou steal?] Grotius on this text proves from Josephus, of other unbelievers, as well as for the edification of christians. that some of the Jewish priests lived by rapine, depriving others of b Discernest things that dijf'er.] So Beza renders Soxiu-n^iis ~x their due share of the tithes, and even suti'ering tliera to perish for oiipEfsvj-x ; and Eisner vindicates it in a manner which seems very want; that others were guilty of gross nncleanncss; and as for sa- satistactory ; though Capellus, Hammond, and Erasmus defend crilegiously robbing God and his altar, it had been complained of our translation, aj>provest things wliich are more excellent. See as earlv as Malachi's days, Mai. i. 8, 12, 13. So that the instances Eisner, Obscrv. Vol. II. p. 17. are given with great propriety and judgment. 592 CIRCUMCISION AVAILETII NOTHING WITHOUT KEEPING THE LAW. I SECT commit adultery ? Thou that dost so abominate idols, and speakcst of them at all times adultery 1 'n»ou tl.iit ab- I 5. ' with such great and just abhorrence, dost thou com»iit sacrilcfre by robbing the true God |.o,'[,''[t ^^cHlege'^^^^^ "'"" • of what he so justly claims from thee, whether of outward tribute or inward homage ; while ROM. thou so strenuously disputest against any other object of v/orship? In jjnew.ord, Mo« i?/i(7^ 23 Thou that makpst i'- gloricst ill the law as so excellent, and thinkest it such an honour to be acquainted with it, [j;j',,^,!ii'^*[,re"[i,,!.'''ti.e'i'aw 23 'i'/ost thou by the transgression of the law dishonour God, and act as if thou wert studying dishoi?ourcst"'thou Gud ! the declaration of his will only to show him in a more presumptuous and contumacious 24 manner that thou dost not regard it ? It is not an improbable supposition that I have now 21 For tl-.o name of God been making ; /or I, who have had an opportunity of knowing by long experience the oentii'sUi"^ temper and character of the Jewish people, know it to be such, that I will boldly say to is written, their faces, " The name of the God of Israel, for which you profess so warm a zeal, is by "your fncans blasphemed among the Gentiles, and his holy religion brought into con- " tempt by your notorious and scandalous immoralities ; as it is written in your own " scriptures, concerning your fathers, whose evil deeds you so generally imitate." (Com- pare 2 Sam. xii. 14 ; Isa. lii. 5 ; Ezek. xxxvi. 23.) 25 My duty absolutely requires me to give such cautions and to make such remonstrances as 25 For circuinri.sion ve- thesej/or circutncision is indeed profitable if a man keep the law :^ his being a Jew, if [J,^ i^^^y : 'imt if thm' 1"^!^ he be truly a good man, will give him many advantages for becoming a christian, and, breaker of tlie law, thy cir- were his obedience perfect, would entitle him to the blessings promised in the law. But if '^^^^ *' '"'^^'^ "'"-''- thou be a transgressor of the law, thy cireumcision is in effect become uncircumcision ; thou wilt have "no more benefit by il; tiian if thou hadst never received it ; as thou well knowest that, according to the tenor of the law itself, circumcision, far from being any ex- cuse for thy offence, will rather expose thee in many respects to a much greater punishment. 26 And therefore, by a parity of reason, if the uncircumcision, that is, an uncircumcised .28 Therefore, if the un- person, observe and oljey the greatest and most important precepts or righteous determina- ri'^i'teousuess of the law*; tions of the law, though without any acquaintance with the book that contains them; if siiall not his uncircumci- he faithfully and steadily conform himself to the main braaches of virtue and rectitude it c'u^,ci^?^,„7""^^'' ''"'' '=''- requires, shall not his uncircumcision he imputed ox reckoned as circumcision ? Shall he \ not be treated as favourably by God in his final account as if he had been circumcised, when his not being so does not proceed from any contempt of the divine authority, but from his knowing nothing of the rite, or not apprehending it in his particular circumstances 27 to be his duty to practise it ? Yea, it is certain that the uncircumcisioiiTTfiat is by nature, 27 And shall not uncir- a man that continues uncircumcised as he was born, accomplishing the great moral purposes ["rT,''',T"it "fulfil 'the^iaw^ of the law, in subserviency to which its rituals were appointed, shall Judge and condemn judi/e thee, wiio by the ict- thee; who, while thou actest by the /e/f/t^r of its ceremonial precepts, r//?(/retainest c/rc«;«- t^anssr^ess tlie law'''"" '^^^^ cision and all its appendages with the greatest exactness, art nevertheless, in things far more • essential and important, a transgressor of the law, to the spiritual meaning and extent of which thou continuest an utter stranger, and which thou encouragcst thyself, by these 28 external observances, to neglect. For upon the whole, as you would not allow any man 28^°.'' ''^ is not a Jew, to be truly a Jew merely for any outward rites which he might observe, if he continued un- ne'ju.er 7s //"Jci"r"mucisioa circumcised, how carefully soever he might conceal it ; so must I freely declare to you, that which is ouiward iu the he is not in the most au]ilinie^and_ hn^ortant sense a Jew, that is, one of God's covenant *''^^'' = and beloved people, who is merely 50 in ouiward show ; neither indeed [/•? thaf\ the true 29 circumcision which is apparent in the Jlesh : Nothing merely ritual or ceremonial can 20 But he is a 3e^, recommend a man to the divine favour; but he Sis'] a /cai, that is, one of God's chosen ^''■'^'1 'f "y^?^ inwardly; , , . . 7 , . , 7 TN • 1 ■ /T-> 1 1- /^ \ • il i SOQ Circumcision is that ox people, who is one in the hidden part, as David expresses it, (Fsal. n. 0.) or m tne secret the heart, in the spirit. ««(/ recesses of the soul ; and ihe. ?.ccG-^\?ih\Q circumcision [is that] of the heart, which your not in the letter; whose own prophets so often inculcate, (see Deut. x. 16; xxx. 6; Jer. iv. 4.) when they urge the v/;^^^'^ " "-^t of men, but of putting away all inward impurity and obstinacy, as that which is most highly offensive in the sight of God. This excellent circumcision is seated in the spirit, consisting of a change made there by the operation of the Divine Spirit himself, and not merely in an external con- formity to the letter of the law, of which the worst of men may be capable. Now such a person, whatever his outward profession may be, is one whose praise [/.y] ?iot so much of men,^ who, eager to spread their own^ects, applaud those who become their proselytes, or most strenuously retain their peculiar forms ; but is of God, who alone knows the iieart, and whose esteem and complacency is infinitely preferable to that of whole nations or worlds. ' '■•-■-■ - ~~' — "■■"-- — IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 28 Let our hearts be always attentive to these lessons of inward religion which the sacred oracles fail not continually 29 to inculcate. It is the praise of God that is in question; and who can be so lost to all true greatness of mind, to all generous ambition, as that he should not long and even burn to obtain it ? Or who can enjoy or attend to the praise of men, while he has any reason to fear that God condemns ? 17 To have the name of a Jew or of a christian, how little will it signify ! To boast in an external and temporary IS relation to God, if we are such as shall finally be disowned by him, will make us the more wretched. To have f Fnr circvmciswv, Sfc.'] It is most evident that 715 cannot here in attempting- which, many have vainly perplexed themselves to no signify that the following words are a reason for what was asserted other purpose than to make the writings of St. Paul appear more r~-, in those immediately preceding; it seems little more than exide- obscure than they really are. live, as the particle now among us often is. I shall not therefore g Praise tsvoloftnen, &c.] Perhaps here is a reference to tliC • ^ ill many passages take the pains of endeavouring to find such a etymology of the word Jew, it heiii- derived from I lie word Juda/i, connexion as would ju.stify the use of it in its strictest propriety; which signifies /Jrai'sf. Compare CJen. j^ix. 35; and xli.>:. 8. GOD IS NOT UNRIGHTEOUS IN T/VKING VENGEANCE 593 kaow'ii his will, to have distinguished things that differ, and set up for instructors or reprovers of others, will only SECT. Jurnish_oyt matter of condemnation from our own moutlis, if, while teaching others, we teach not ourselves. Well 5, may the punishment be aggravated where the guilt is so great ; when it brings so peculiar a reproach upon religion, and in effect dictates so many blasphemies against the name of God, at the very time it pretends to exalt it. rom. We pity the'Gentilcs, and we have reason to do it; for they are lamentably bhnd and dissolute : but let us take "• heed lest those appearances of virtue which are to be found among some of them condemn us, who, with the letter 26, 27 of the law and the gospel, and with the solemn tokens of a covenant-relation to God, transgress his precepts, and violate our engagements to him ; so turning the means of goodness and happiness into the occasion of more aggra- vated guilt and misery. c- c'y '"?.'/ i •' SECTION VI. After removing so?ric objections, the sad case both qfjexvs and Gentiles is farlher illustrated, and the repre- sentation s/ioivn to be agreeable to the scriptures of the Old Testament. Rom. iii. 1 — 19. ROM. iii. 1. Rom- ii'- 1- What advantasre then BUT some may be ready to objcct, "If it be so that no circumcision but that of the heart SECT, fiuv Zreoil^cnmlUou] " will avail to men's final happiness, u-liat then [«] the advantage of the Jen; or ti'hat 6. " the profit of circumcision, which yet you seemed to allow when you said but just before, 2 Much every way: " (chap. ii. 25.) that it in some circumstances profiteth ?" Nor do I deny it now : I say that RO>r. chierty because that unto jj^ profiteth much even/ %i'a?/, or in a variety of respects ; as I shall hereafter more fully ^''• oradJo'fGoT™"''' "'" show, (compare chap. Lx. 4,^5.) and chief,/ in that they who have received it have been ^ intrusted xoith the oracles of God"" in the divinely-inspired scriptures, by which they are taught many important lessons, which may direct their lives and dispose them to embrace the gospel, to the security of their final and everlasting salvation. 3 For what if some did Of great importance indeed are these divine oracles to this purpose. And tohat if some, 3 not believe ; shall their uii- ^j^^j jj^gy ^ considerable number, of those who once possessed these invaluable treasures, God^wiUioul effect?^'"* " believed them not, or did not duly consider what they speculatively believed, and so rejected the gospel to which they were intended to lead, shall their unbelief disannul and enervate the faith of God ?^ Shall it destroy his fidelity to his promises, or prevent our receiving 4 God forbid: yea, let them and Owning their accomplishment with becoming regard ? Gor//t>r3;V/ that we should 4 God be true, but every man jnsjnuate any thing of this kind. No: let tlie blessed God ever be acknowledged to be thou^ raighte^s^be justified true and faithful, though evert/ man be esteemed a liar and unfit to have any confidence in thy sayings, and mightest rcposed in him; OS it is Written (Psal. Ii. 4.) " That thou mightest be justified iiiihj/ j'ud-ed™*' "''^° "'°" "^ " -^'ords, and mightesi upon the whole overcome xvhen thou art called into judgment ;" " ' " that they who insolently dare to arraign the equity of thy conduct may soon meet with " the confusion they deserve." 5 But if our unrighteous- But a Jew may be ready farther to object and say, " If our unrighteousness rcco?n- 5 uess commend tiie righte- « mend the righteousness of God,'^ and illustrate his perfections \n that way of becoming we'Tay ° /f G;.d" unVfght- " rig'^^ous by faith which he now ordains, xvhat shall u^e sai/, and what are we to expect ? eous who taketh ven- « /i- not GcJ^ M«r/o-///eoiis, Tt'/^o /^^/^/c/f//^ that wra//i whicli it is well known you assert he geauce \ (I speak as a man.) ,< ^^j]| g^ecute upon the whole Jewish nation for rejecting it ?" I now speak as a man who had a mind to cavil at the gospel might plead, and by no means express my own sentiments, as you may well imagine. 6 God forbid : for then No : God forbid that I should harbour such a thought or allow such a consequence: 6 how shall God judge the p^j. fj^.^ f/j^j^ should God judge the uwrld? With Abraham our father, I acknowledge him under the character of the Judge of all the earth, and maintain that he will always 7 For if the truth of " do right." (Gen. xviii. 25.) And as_/b;- such a caviller, he might as well speak out and 7 God bath more abounded g^y^ " If the truth of God hath abounded to his o'wn glorj/ by means of my lie, ^ my glory,' why\er am" l" also "falsehood and iniquity of any kind; if he has taken occasion to overrule my offence judged as a sinner? " to the accomplishment of his word and the honour of his administration; xshy am I " nevertheless called into judgment as a sinner, and arraigned for that as a crime which is 8 And not ra//ier, (as we " attended with such happy consequences ?" [And tvhy may I not say^ (as we are calum- S be slanderously reported, niated, and Some mostiunmouslv a/^r/n that we maintain,) " Let us do evil things that and as some affirm that we ,, , > zi mi -^r i iU i ■ ■ i ri iu„ say,) Let us do evil that go''" consequences may come from them ? You may easily see that principles like these go'od rnay cnme? whose would justify the greatest crimes in the world, if they might be so overruled as to prove damnation IS just. the occasion of good; and consequently, would so entirely confound the nature of good and evil, that I think it not worth while to argue with such persons, whose condemna- tion is indeed so apparently Jusf,^ that I leave them to be convinced and silenced by a 71ie oracles of God.'] This is so remarkable and important a d T/ie righteousness of God.] Though the phrase be in itself testimony to the divine inspiration of the Old TestStnent in general, ambiguous, I think Dr. Whitby has abundantly proved it has here that it can leave no doubt concerning the full persuasion of St. the sense we give it. Paul upon this head. e //" the truth of God, S^c] The Prussian Testament renders b The faith of God.] This is an ambiguous expression, and may tliis clause, " In the mean time, if ray he conduces to the glory of either signify the fidelity of God, or that faith of ours which GoS " God by making the grandeur of his truth shine forth with supe- has pointed out as the way of obtaining justification and life. The " rior advantage," &c. This is the clear 3.ni genuine sense, but it seii.sesrun at last into each other. 1 have included both; and is not consistent with the rule I generally follow, to deviate so far hinted, in the last words of the paraplirase, at a sort of intermediate from the words of the original ; and 1 mention it as a specimen of sense; as the attentive reader will observe. many liberties in which I have declined following that versio.n, c irhen thou art called into judgment.'] Eisner and Bos have after attentive examination of it. . , , abundantly shown that x.-ivEiSii has this signification, (compare f IFhose condemnation is just.] I think this must imply that Acts XXV. 25; xxvi. 6.) aiid that vixiv, in such a connexion, sig- there are certain rules which God has laid down for us, disobedience nifies to carry the cause. See Eisner, Observ. Vol. II. p. 18, 19; and to which in any imaginable circumstances is universally a moral Bos, in he. evil ; even though the quantity of good arising from thence to our 2 Q 594 WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAITH IS TO CONVICT THE WORLD. SECT, their own consciences, and only mention such a detestable principle solemnly to warn 6. you against it. But to return from this long digression — If the question I mentioned before be repeated, 9 What then? are ROM. and any say, " iV/iat then, upon the whole, liave we Jews t/ic advantage of the Gen- ^e^ier t/ian thei/ ? No.iouo III. tt {jjgg SQ far^ that in consequence of having these oracles of God which we have received, proved botirjews^-nid Geu! ^ " the promises which he will never fail to observe, and the principles of righteousness tiles, that they are all under " which he will never himself violate in his conduct, we can claim justification before God ^'"' " by virtue of our obedience to his law?" Not at all : for we have before proved that Jews and Gentiles are all under sin, and have placed them as convicted criminals at the 10 divine bar; As it is written,^ (Psal, xiv. 1.) in a variety of passages which may be 10 As it is written There 11 applied to the present occasion, " There is none righteous, no not one : There is none 's none righteous, no not " that understandeth his duty and his true interest; there is none that seeketh after °"ii There is none th 12 " God,^ and constantly endeavoureth to secure his favour: Theij are all declined from derstaudeth, there is none "that moral rectitude which is the glory of the rational nature; the7/ are altogether that seeketh after God : " become useless as to the great end for which they were made, so that there is none of the way, thev ifre" t< °"e- " that practiseth good, there is not so much as one : (Psal. xiv. 1 — 3 ; liii. 1 — 3.) f'^r become unprofitabfe ; 13" Their throat [/s] noisome and dangerous as aii open sepulchre, gaping to swallow o-ood' no not"o*'nc*''^'^ '^°'^"' "them up or poison them with its infected air; with their tongues they have used 13 'Their throat is au " the most mischievous deceit ; and while they make the fairest profession of friendship, toi^°uesP['|',p'"i'^ ' .^"'"^ j''^''' " the mortal venom of asps [is'] hid under their lips, which utter the most infectious celt; the poison of asps is 14 " and fatal slanders. (Psal. cxl. 3.) They are men whose mouth [is] full of cursing nnder their lips: " and bitterness ; (Psal. x. 7.) so tiiat the most shocking profaneness mingles itself of cursingattTbitteniess"'' " with that malignity of heart towards their fellow-men which breathes in every word. 15 " l^heir feet [are'] swift to run towards the places where they have appointed to shed 15 Their feet are swift to IG " the blood of the innocent. (Prov. i. 16, 18.) Ruin and misery [are,] on the whole, '''^j! '^i'"''= ,. ,,.,,,,. .., 1 • i. iu J u ■ 4 lY '16 Destruction ar.d rai- " in all their ways; they brmg it upon others, and so, by an mevitable consequence, sery are in their ways: 17 " upon themselves at last. And as for the way of peace and happiness, they have not n And the way of peace 18" known or regarded it. (Isa. lix. 7, 8.) And to sum up all in one word, the great I'ave tj^'^ey not known : " cause of all this degeneracy is, that the fear of God is not before their eyes, but they God before their eyes!^^'^ ° " are utterly destitute of any true principle of religion, of any reverence and love to the "-great and adorable Object of it." (Psal. xxxvi. 1.) 19 This, my brethren, is in general the sad character of mankind in their fallen state ; '9 Now we know, that and the representation is the more striking as it is borrowed from the sacred writings. g^lTh u'salth To 'tLem who Now we know that what the law saith in such passages as these, it saith to those that are under the law; that were under the law ;' they do not immediately relate to the heathen, but contain the 7ed'^^and"an\i™'''l '^?i*'"P" character of those that were at that time the professing people of God. And as most become guilty before God^ of these passages are borrowed from the writings of David, Solomon, or Isaiah, it appears that, even in the best days of their state, they had a great deal of enormous wickedness among them. And if Israel, even at such a time, could not justify itself, much less can it be imagined that the idolatrous nations of the Gentiles should be able to do it ; so that every mouth ynust be stopped, and the whole world stand convicted before God^ as guilty, and acknowledge itself obnoxious to a dreadful sentence from his tribunal. Now I earnestly desire to bring every reader under a sense of this, as what is of the highest importance in order to receiving the gospel with becoming gratitude and joy. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. Who can read this melancholy picture of human nature, copied by the hand of an apostle from the lines first 10, 11 drawn by inspired prophets, without deep humility and lamentation ? To this was it sunk, that there was none 18 righteous, no not one ; none disposed to seek after God or to cultivate his fear. And from this bitter root, the apostasy of our nature from God, what detestable fruit proceeds ! The throat which is like an open sepulchre, the 13, 14 deceitful tongue, the envenomed lips, the malicious heart, the murderous hand ! And who can wonder that such rebels to their heavenly Father should sometimes prove ruffians to their brethren ? Let us bless God that we have been preserved from falling into such enorjiiities, and from falling by them. His grace has restrained us from sinning against him in such an aggravated manner ; his providence has guarded us 15, 16 from those whose feet are swift to shed blood, and in whose paths there is destruction and misery. Let us remember the view in which these instances were brought, even to evince this deplorable but undeniable fellow-creat'ures should be greater than that arising from observing h There is none that seeketh after God, &c.] It is allowed that those rules. For if this be not allowed, there can be no shadow of this passage only proves directly what was the character of the force in the apostle's conclusion. Jews in IDavid's' time ; but it plainly shows that the wrath of God g As it is written.'] These scriptures are collected from different was awakened against them as well as others for their sins: it paits of the Old Testament; but there are many editions of the proves also that a general degeneracy might prevail among them, Seventy in which they all stand together, in the xivth, or, accord- though by profession God's people; and it suggests a strong pre- ing to their order, xiiith Psalm ; which has given some occasion to sumption, that if Israel in David's time, which was one of its best think that other alterations may have been made in that Greek ages, was so bad. Gentile nations were still worse ; and in all these version, to render It more agreeable to the New Testament; though views it was much to the apostle's purpose to produce the passage, inany passages might escape the notice ofsuch as made this attempt. The like observation is in a great measure applicable to all the fol- if it were really made. But it must have been, as we see in this loiwing quotations ; as the paraphrase on ver. 19. suggests, or rather instance it was, a fruitless one ; considering how wide such copies as the apostle himself there evidently insinuates, were dispersed, and how d-.fferent the religious sentiments of the i ff hat the law saith.'] It appears here that this word fau) doth persons with whom they were lodged. It seems much more rea- sometimes signify tlie Old Testament in general ; for not one of the sonable to account for the ai versify we find between the original quotations above is taken from the Pentateuch. »nd qijotations, by supposing the sense rather than words inten- k Stand convicted before God.] So vtoJixos tw 0ko seems exactly tionally regarded ; and some accidental alterations have happened to signify. Archbishop Tillotson would render it liable to divine since in the Hebrew copies, which, in several places, mav make the justice; which is the same in sense. Sec his Works Vol. I. Uitterence greater than it originally was. " p. 120. NO FLESH TO BE JUSTIFIED, BUT BY GRACE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. 595 truth, that Jews and Gentiles are all under sin. The purpose of conviction therefore being answered on our hearts, SECT let us humble ourselves before God as those that stand guilty in his presence and obnoxious to his judgment. 6. Thankfully let us own the inestimable goodness of God in having favoured us with his sacred oracles, and en- deavour to improve in the knowledge of them. Thus instructed let us be careful to form the most honourable ROM. notion of God, as the worthy and universal Judge who will never fail to do right ; and may these views of him ^^'• produce an abhorrence of every thing evil, which must necessarily be displeasing to him I Nor let us ever allow ourselves to be brought under the influence of those fallacious and pernicious maxims which would persuade us that the goodness of the intention sanctifies the badness of the action, or that the pretended benevolence of the end 8 will justify irregularities in the means. God's judgment and decision is final ; and an inspired apostle's authority is an answer to a thousand subtilties which might attempt to turn us from the strictest rules of that immutable rectitude on which it always proceeds. SECTION VII. From the represent at io7i made above of the guilt and inisery of mankind, the apostle deduces the vecessitt/ of seeking jusfijication by the gospel, and consequently the excellency of that dispensation, as exhibiting the method of it. Rom. iii. 20, ^o the end. Rom. iii. 20. RoM. iii. 20. Therefore by tiie I HAVE just been proposing to you convincing evidences of the universal degeneracy sect. ii"flesli be'Vistified'^^n I'lis ^"'^ corruption of mankind, and showing you that the whole world must stand convicted 7. siglit : for by tlie law is the before God : therefore let all my readers be persuaded to admit it as a most certain principle, kbowiedge of siii. ^^^ ^^ ^U jj^^gg f^o act upon it, that accordmg to the just and humble acknowledgment of ROM. the Psalmist, fPsal. c.xliii. 2.) no Jlcsh shall be justified, or pronounced righteous, 3^/ore ^^''• him,^ by works o/* complete obedience to the law of GoJ,** whether natural or revealed : For instead of justifying any man, it only anticipates, in a more obvious and affecting manner, the sense of his condemnation ; as by the law is the knowledge of sin, '^ it dis- covers to us how grievous a thing it is, and exhibits the righteous displeasure of God against it. 21 But now the righteous- But yet, blessed be God, every door of hope is not shut against the sinner convicted by 21 ness of God without the^iaw (j^g \^^^ . ^q^ f/^^. righteousness of God, that is, the manner of becoming righteous which nessed by tbe law and the God hath Ordained and appointed in his gospel, without that perfect obedience which the prophets ; iaxo requires, is now made manifest ; being indeed attested by the whole tenor of the law 22 Even tlie righteous- (jfid fi,g prophets,'^ which join in leading our eyes to the great Messiah : Even the right- 22 faTb of Jesus Christ/unto cousness of God, which helTatli appointed us to seek by the exercise of a living faith all and upon all tiiem that on the power and grace of his Son Jesus Christ ; to whom he commands us to commit fe'^'Tie'^ ■ '^"'^ ^'^"^"^^ '^ "° '^''^^ our souls, with all humble and obedient regard. This way of obtaining righteousness and life is now, I say, made manifest to all, and, like a pure, complete, and glorious robe, is put upon all fhetn that believe, whether they were or were not acquainted with, or subject to, the Mosaic law before their conversion to Christianity ; for there is in this re- 23 For all have sinned, spect no difference at all between one believer and another; For all have sinned, as we 23 3"^,''"™« short of the glory demonstrated above, and come short of the glory of God,"" they have failed of render- ing him that glory that was so justly his due, and thereby have not only made themselves unworthy the participation of glory and happiness with him, but stand exposed to his 24 Being justified freely Severe and dreadful displeasure : And if any escape it, they are such as, being induced to 24 by his grace, through tlie embrace the gospel, are justified freely, without pretending to plead any merit of their Chrlstf'*^'"" * '^' '^ '° ^*"* own, by his rich and sovereign grace, proposed there by virtue of that redemption and 25 AVhom God hath set deliverance which is in Christ Jesus his well-beloved Son: Who>n God hath in his 25 a Be justified, &c.] The learned Vitringa hath with great pro- ing, as (vcr. 27.) the apostle expresses the law of works by words priety observed ttiat this word is borrowed from Psal. cxliii. 2. and placed in a different order, iqixh ti^i e^y^-v, opposed to w/xa nffw? ■ and must therefore signify to receive the testimony of being righteous (ver. 28.) x^^u i(r/wt vo/iu is plainly, as we render it, without the works from a judge, and cannot merely signify to obtain mercy. To be of tlie law ; as the continuation of the apostle's argument in refer- /u«///i>rf also sometimes signifies to ot f rcomf in y«(/jmen/, Psal. li. 4. ence to Abraham shows. Nor can 1 see what great end could be and the expression of being /«so;uo! without the article signifies the Mosaic law, as the sense evi- xv. C; Isa. liii. nit ; Dan. ix. 24. dently proves,) but from the conclusion which the apostle draws, e Come s/iort of the glory of God.] Mr. Fleming, and after him, and the whole tenor of his subsequent argument; which would if I mistake not, Loi-d Barrington, explains Ihe falling short of have very little weight, if there were room to object, though we God's glory, as signifying the loss of that lucid resemblance of the cannot be justified by our obedience to the law of Mose-s, we may glorious Shcchinah, which they, after Mr. Joseph Mede, suppose , be justified by our obedience to God's natural law. And nothing our first parents to have worn in their primeval state. But if it j can be more evident than that the premises from which this con- were to be granted they had such a glory in that state, I cannot elusion is drawn refer to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews, and think it would have been natural to have called it God's glory, or consequently that law has here, and in many subsequent passages, to explain the word vniiMtrxi. of losing it, which certainly signifies that general sense.— A very learned person has lately proposed to a deficiency of what might have been attained, rather than the loss render £§ tpym woixs, by the law of works; pleading SzTn-r/xi.y SiSxxis of wTraHs actually possessed. Compare Mat. xix. 20 ; I Cor. i. 7 ; (Heb. vi. 2.) as a parallel instance : but I have declined this render- Heb. iv. 1 ; chap. xii. 15. 2 Q 2 596 JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ESTABLISHES THE LAW. SECT, infinite mercy proposed and exhibited to us in the gospel/ as a propitiation through forth to he a propitiation 7. -whom he may honourably discover hmiself as propitious to us, and converse favourably J'Tougli faith in his blood, with us, as he did with Moses from the mercy-seat 5 an inestimable privilege, which we for' Uirremissimi "^"f"*'"^^^ ROM. receive bt/ virtue of faith in his atoning blood, with which tfie throne of God is, as it ti'at are past, tlirougli tlic I- were, sprinkled over, as the propitiatory in the tabernacle was with the blood of the sin- *"or'^=irance of God; 25 offering. (Lev. xvi. 15, 16.) And this is appointedybr a demonstration of his righteousness in the remission of sins, which now appears to be accomplished without any reflecUon upon that awful attribute which might seem to have a claim so directly contrary To it ; and this remission extends not only to the present but former age, and to all the offences ■which arc long since past, according to the forbearance of God, who has forborne to execute judgment upon sinners for their repeated provocations, in reference to that atone- 26 ment which he knew in due time should be made. He has, I say, proposed his Son 26 To declare, / say, at for a demonstration of his righteousness, which now, in this present ever-memorable thaVire m'i^hV^ile Ui"ra'nd and signal ti7ne, is so wonderfully illustrated in the great transactions of our own age, the Justifitr of him which intended for this purpose, that he might be and appear j«5/^, and yet at the same time, ijflieveth in Jesus, without impeaching in any degree the rights of his government, the Just if cr of him uho is of the faith of Jesus, whosoever he be,8 that is, of every one who sincerely believes in him, and acquiesces in that method of salvation which God hath published by him, and established in his perfect obedience and meritorious sufferings. 27 Contemplate, I beseech you, this only way of redemption and acceptance, and say, 27 Where is boasting Where then [/v] boasting in our own righteousness, or on account of any other peculiar |v'ivu\awN'of'^works'f Na^^ privileges ? Or what reason can any who partake of these blessings have to glory in them- but by the law of faith, selves ? You will easily see that it is entirely excluded. And reflect f^irther, bi/ lohat law is it excluded ? [By the law] of works ? by that of Moses, or any other law promising life only to perfect obedience, and threatening all disobedience with inevitable death ? By no means. This would leave a man all the little reason for boasting he could possibly have ; even tliat he had acted perfectly and well, and had all that excellence and worth of character which a being in his circumstances could attain. Hut if you suppose him to have recourse to the gospel, bj/ the law of faith it must certainly be excluded, since the very constitution of that requires persons to acknowledge themselves sinners, and, as guilty and indigent, to make an humble application to the free mercy of God in Christ for pardon and every other blessing which is necessary to their final happiness. 28 ^^"^ therefore are come to a conclusion of this part of our argument, that a ?nan, of 28 Therefore we conclude whatever nation, profession, or character, isjustifed by a true, lively, and effectual ^/a/if^ fouh^vUhourtiie^'deeds'd^ in the gospel, without the works of the law ;^ that is, though destitute of any legal the law. works in consequence of which he could claim justification and life. 29 And this naturally leaves room to add, [Is God,] who hath established such a method 29 Is he the God of the of justification,77rc God of the Jews only, and not also of the Gentiles? Surely he oruifl^ent^les'' YL,''o'f is the God of the Gentiles too ; since it is very evident that all claim from works being the Gentiles also': thus universally given up, the Jews and Gentiles must in this respect stand upon a level. ^OSo that [it is] one God, the same eternal and unchangeable Jehovah, tJiat will justify 30 Seeing it is one God the Jews, who have received ciixumcision, not by that, but bii faith ; and will justify the ^'•'''<^'! ^'I'l'} J"/ti'"y f'e '^'r- _, ., ' , ,.„ . ,, . ■ ■ ■ ^1 ; ;i /• ±1 J iu c r\imcision by faith, and un- Gentiles too, who are still in their uncircumcision, through the same /a«/i ; and theretore circumcision through faith. demands the grateful love and the new obedience of both.' 31 Now while we maintain this method of justification and salvation, can it be said that we 3i Do we then make void derogate from the honour of God's justice or his law ? Bo we set aside the law by faith as fo^VidT ''yc°a"^we^'esUbHsh if it were a faulty, or annihilate it as if it were an useless, thing ? God forbid that we should the law. ever insinuate such a design or entertain such a thought. Nay, on the contrary, we really establish the law^ on a firmer foundation than ever, and place it in a juster and more beautiful point of light : for we show also its honour displayed in the atonement as well as tlie obedience of Christ ; and we make it of everlasting use for attesting the truth and illustrating the necessity of the gospel, as well as for directing tlie lives of men when they profess to have received it ; as we shall abundantly show in the process of this discourse. f Proposed.] Some contend that w/joESsro here signifies fc fx/i/ii/,- scrts tliat no faith can suffice to our justification which is not in others, that it signifies to determine, intend, or fix upon. (Compare fact productive of obedience; and wlien the matter is thus stated. Bos, in loc. and Eph. i. 9, U ; liom. i. 13.) I have chosen the word there is no appearance of contradiction. propose, as having just the same ambiguity. i One God lUat justilieth the circumcision by fnith, and uncirciini- g Just, and tlie justifier, S;c.'] By fust Mr. Taylor would under- cision t/iroiiijh faith.] Mr. Locke would render it seeing Cod is one, stand merciful, and Mr. Locke faitliful to his promises ; but either and supposes it an allusion to the prediction, Zech. xiv. 9. that the of these makes but a very cold sense when compared with that we Lord shall be one and his name one; fulfilled by the publication have here given. It is no ^va^'XrofiVlerful that God should be mer- of the gospel. But I think tliis supposed allusion far-fetched, and ciful, or faithful to his promises, though the Justifier of believing see not any occasion for supposing £x mf£.vs, by faith, and Six TTifius, sinners; but that he should be just in such an act might have Mro«7/( /(/)//(, to signify different things ; uor can 1 see what difter- seemed incredible, had we not received such an account of the ent idea can here be affixed to them. L'Enfant renders it, .'le will propitiation and atonement. But our explication is vindicated in justify (he circumcision by fait/i, and uncircumcision by the same a most nagsterly and ujjanswerable manner by th&^vorthy author faith. of an csceTTent tract, eiilii^^; Clirist tlie lMediator'^'9,b. ii.c. to k Ife establish the lam.] Some render it, A'ay, hut we are lite vhich I with great pleasure refer the reader. persons that observe the law ; which is a jjjsL_and strong thought, h A lively and effectual faith without works, £fc.] By thus (compare Rom. viii. 3, 4.) but I think, not the proper signification guarding the assertion we sufficiently see how very consistent it is of ift^Msv. — For the justness of this inference, see Christ the Med. with that of St. James, (chap. ii. 17, 23, 24.) who only in effect as- p. 90 — 96. ABRAHAM'S FAITH WAS IMPUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 5&7 IMPROVEMENT. Let our whole souls rejoice in this glorious display of the divine mercy, in so beautiful an harmony with divine SECT. justice, in our redemption by Christ ; to which the apostle in this section bears so noble a testimony. We are all 7, become guilty before God ; so that if he should mark iniquity, no flesh living could be justified before him : let us therefore, with all reverence and esteem, and with all joy, embrace the righteousness of God as now attested by the rom. law and prophets, by Christ and his apostles, which shall be upon all believers without any difference; humbling !"• ourselves deeply in the presence of God, as those who liave sinned and come short of his glory, and seeking to be Ver. 23 justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. To him let us continually look as the great propitiation ; exercising faith in his blood, and rejoicing that 25 those which seemed to our feeble apprehensions the most jarring attributes, are now reconciled and glori- fied. Let us readily acknowledge that boasting is excluded ; and in the grateful overflowings of our souls fall 27 down before that throne whence pardons are dispensed, and confess " that this act of grace is our only plea," and that we must remain humble before God for ever, in a sense of the demerit of our sins and the abundance of his mercy. Let Jews and Gentiles unite in thanksgivings to God and in love to each other, as having been all involved in the 29, 30 Fame condemnation, and all partakers of the same compassion. And let christians remember that God intended by this illustrious display of grace, not to supersede but to establish the law. May we, therefore make it our concern, that 31 not only the actions of our lives, but the sentiments of our hearts, be directed and determined by it ! as it is now en- forced by more powerful motives than when it appeared in its unallayed terrors. y\; c^^tiv ' C| • I » 5"^ . ( Ovi-frnixw io^,^ W** SECTION VIII. T/ie apoaf/c here ahoxcs tliat Abraham and David sought justification in such a "way as the gospel rccun- incnds, that is, by faith. Rom. iv. i — 12. Rom. iv. 1. Rom. iv. 1. tliat' Ab i"*" ^^^ S'"')' t'lf"' I_RAVE^ been observing to_you that we christians, by maintaining the doctrine of justiiica-' SECT. as'pertaiiiing to the flesh, tion by faifh, instead of superseding and enervating, do indeed establish the divine law, and 8. hath found ? assert, in the most convincing manner, both its authority and purity. Fo;: the illustration of - this, therefore, let us consider the important instance of Abraham, and the manner in which rom he was justified. What then shall we say that the holy patriarch Abraham, our reverend 'V. father according to the flesh, hath found eti'ectual in this respect }'^ and to what must his ' 2 For if Abraham were justification and acceptance with God be ascribed ? For if Abraham were justified by cir- 2 justifisd by works, he hatli cumcision, or by the merit of any other works, rather than by the free grace and mercy of wliercnf to glory ; but not /^ i ,, ; ; ,7 ,7 ■ • i ■ 1 j 7 1, 7 , •■ ■ . • . , •' , before God. God, then he hath something in which he may glory ;" out it is certain, by what the sacred oracles express, that though the behaviour of this celebrated person was indeed inno- cent, fair, and honourable before men, yet [he hath'] not any thing to boast in the sight 3 For what saith the of God. For what saith the scripture upon this head} (Gen. xv. 6.) " Abraham be- 3 Scripture? Abraham be- « Heved God, when he made him the promise of that miraculous and important seed, and lieved God, and it was „ ., .' , , , 7 ■ 1 i ^ 1 • . /■ • 7 , ^ • , , . counted unto him for right- SO it was imputed to htm. Or placed to his account, jt»r righteousness, or in order to hjs <^°"^'i''ss. " justification :" that is, God was pleased graciously to accept it, though he had that com- plete and perfect righteousness which might in strict justice be demanded of every rational t Now to liim tiiat work- Creature as the only condition of his being acquitted at the divine bar. Now to him who 4 ^ edo'rglace.lut of d7bt^°"' *'^"s -woi-keth to the utmost extent of all that was required, the ?-ea'rt?'f/ proportioned to that work is not charged to account as matter of grace,^ but of debt ; and he may glory at 5 But to him that work- ]gast in having diligently earned it. (Compare chap. xi. 6.) But to him who in this sense 5 etli not, hut beheveUi on , ,, ,1 u iSii, liii-i^ 7,1 11 him that justifieth the uu- 'i^'orA-efh iwt, who can by no means pretend to have wrought all righteousness, but humbly ffodly, his faith is counted helieveth On him who declareth the freeness of pardoning grace, and by that justifieth even or rigliteousuess. ^/^^ ungodly, if he repent and return, the phrase used concerning Abraham may be applied with the strictest propriety, and it may be said that his faith is imputed to him, or placed to his account, /y/- righteousness, or to the purpose oi' his being accepted and treated by 6 Even as David also God as rightCOUS. describetii the blessedness And [this w] Very agreeable to what we read elsewhere ; particularly as David (Psal. 6 "mpu'teTir ""righte"o"usne"6s ^^^^^- ^' ^O dcscribeth the blcsscdness of the man who is accepted of God, whom he without works, ^ speaks of as " one to whom God, according to the method of proceeding we now maintain, 7 Saying, Blessed are a impufcth r/V///eo?wwc.?.?, wiMo?<^ any Supposition of, or regard to, a former series of good foTgiveV^and'^whose ^ shis " ti-'or/is, supposed to have been performed by him." For he expresses himself thus : are covered. " Blessed are theii whose iniquities are pardoned, and whose sins are as it were covered"^ 7 whom "hf Lo/d %vTirno't " ^^ ''^<^ ^^'^ °^ '^'^'"^ "^^^'^Y = Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sin." 8 impute sin. Which plainly implies that sin had been committed by the best and happiest of men, and a Hnl/i found.'] Some wwuld transpose the words, and render but that it was by the grace of God in freely annexing the promise them, " S/iall wp sat/ thai our father Ahratiam Itath found, that is, of justification and life to such a rite. " obtained, justification and life according to the flesh, that is, by c An of grace.'] Raplielius has shown that ah'^ov does not only " circumcision and observing the carnal rites of the Mosaic eco"- signify a reicard of debt, but also a gift of favour ; and that the " noray ' ' But when the natural order and usual import of the plirase //i-Cov J- fw occurs in Herodotus : so that a reward of s:race phrase makes so easy and so good a sense, I can see no reason for or favour is a classical as well as theological e.^prossion. — Could admitting this construction. Raplielius shows that Herodotus we be sure that Abraham was once an idolater, it would bo some and other authentic Greek authors use iVfr.xn for obtaining, and illustration of the apostle's reasoning here ; but the validity of it that bi/ merit. Annot. ex Herod, in loc. by no means depends upon that fact. I _ b jffe hath .<:omc/h!ng in which tie may glory.'] This seems to H Jl'hose ini(/uity is pardoned, and nhose sin is covered.] Arch- \ intimate that the Jews maintained not only tlie necessity but the bishop I.cighton has so elegantly and beautifully illustrated these \ merit of the Jewish observances; else it might have beeli replied, words, that I must beg leave to refer those of ray readers that can- Ihat Abraham was indeed justified upon his being circumcised, not use his Latin */i?rf(7«^on« on the xxxiid Psalm, to review the 9 CoOTfM tliis blessedness tlion upon the circumcision e«/y, or upon tlie uncircum- • cision alsof for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for rigliteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned 1 when he was in circumcision, or in un- circumcision^ Not in cir- cumcision, but in uncir- cumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision ; a s^'al of the righteousness of the faith which ?ie had, yet being uncircumcised ; that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circum- cised ; tliat rigliteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of cir- cumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had, being' yW uncircum- cised. 598 REFLECTIONS ON THE HAPPINESS OF A JUSTIFIED STATE. SECT, that it is matter of mercy and favour that it is not charged to account, so that he should 8. finally be condemned for it. l^io-w while we are speaking of this blessedness of the pardoned and accepted sinner, give ROM. me leave to ask, [(loth it come'\ upon the circumcision [o«/7/,] or also on the uncircuin- 'V. cision ?- The celebrated instance we have just been mentioning will show how far circum- ^ cision is from being necessary to a share in it: For \y:hen'\ roe say, as above, that faith 10 xcas irnputed to Abraham for righteousness ;^ How and when -n^as if thus imputed dXid charged to his account, in this view ? Wlien he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision ? \Trulf\ the history plainly shows us that it was not in circumcision, but in uncircinn- cision ; for it relates this important circumstance of Abraham as taking place many years 11 before circumcision was instituted.*^ And it assures us that he received the sign of circum- cision, not as the means of making him acceptable to God when he was not before so, but as the token of his being already accepted ; and therefore as the seal of the righteousness of thai faith which he had in tuicircumcision fi that so he jnight be the father of all those who believe in uncircumcision, that righteousness may also be imputed unto them, that they may be justified in the same means, and that it may be written down 12 in the book of God's remembrance that they are so. And he received this right by divine appointment, that he might also be the father of the circumcision, that is, to those who sliould afterwards practise it, and ipe/'e 7iot only partakers of the external ceremony of cir- cumcision, which in itself indeed can have no efiicacy, but shall also walk in the foot- steps of that faith of bur father Abraham which he had in uncircumcision, and which rendered him so dear to God while he was in that state. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 7 If there be indeed such a thing as happiness to be enjoyed by mortal man, it is the portion of that man of whom Da- 8 vid speaks, even of him whose iniquity is pardoned and whose sin is covered, and who enjoys the manifestation of that pardon. Well may he endure the greatest afflictions of life with cheerfulness, and look forward to death with com- fort, when the sting of all these evils is taken out, and the returning tokens of the divine favour convert them into blessings. Oh let us earnestly pray that this happiness may be ours ; that the great and glorious Being whom by our sins we have offended, and in whom alone the right and power of pardon resides, would spread the veil of his mercy over our provocations, and blot them out of the book of his remembrance ! Let us on the one hand fix it in our mind, that it is the character of that man to whom this blessedness belongs, that in his spirit there is no guile ; and on the other, let us often reflect that it is in consequence of a righteousness which God imputes, and which faith receives and embraces. We are saved by a scheme that allows us not to 1,2 mention any works of our own, as if we had whereof to glory before God, but teaches us to ascribe our salvation to believing on him who justifieth the ungodly. Nor need we be ashamed of flying to such a method, to which 5, 1, 3 Abraham the father of the faithful had recourse himself, and on which he built his eternal hope. May we share his 12 disposition of mind, that we may inherit the same promises, walking in the footsteps of our father Abraham ! So shall we also be called the friends and children of God, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in his heavenly kingdom. ' ' •■ :■ ■ ■ '- •' > ■' - : : SECTION IX. In order to recommend the scheme of justification by believing God's promises, the apostle shows that it was an illustrious act of faith which entailed everlasting honours on the great patriarch Abraham ; in xchich he was intended for an example to us. Rom. iv. 13, to the end. Rom. iv. 13. rom. iv. 13. I HAVE spoken of Abraham as the father of uncircumcised believers as well as those of For the promise that he the circumcision, (ver. 11, 12.) and that with evident propriety ; for the promise to Abra- should he the heir ot the ham and his seed, that he should be heir of the world,^ that is, that he should inherit all or to his seed, throush the ^OM. tjig nations of the earth as a seed that should be blessed in him, was not and could not be law, but through the'right- ^^"l^ by the law of circumcision or of Moses, being, as we have already observed, prior to both ; <^ousness ot aith. but it was by the righteousness of faith. God gave him that promise on his exerting a remarkable act of faith, on which God in the most gracious and honourable manner de- 14 clared his acceptance of him as righteous. Now if they who are of the law, and depend 14 For if they which upon that alone, \jire] heirs exclusive of all others, (as some so eagerly contend,) then that •'>reof the lawii? heirs, faith SECT, 9. English translation of it in the 2d volume of hi* Etposiiory Dis- courses ; printed at Edinburgh, 174S. e Imputed to him for rir/fiteniisnesf:.'] I think noUiing can be easier than to understand how this may be said in full consistence , with our being justified by the imputation of the righteousness of Christ, that is, our being treated by God as righteous for the sake of what he has done and suflered ; for though this be the meritorious cause of our acceptance with God, yet faith may be said to be imputed to us, us Hixxioimnv, in order In our l>ein(] justified or becoming righteous ; that is, according to the view in which I have elsewhere more largely stated it, as we are charged as debtors in the book of God's account, what Christ has done in fulfilling all righteousness for us is charged as the grand balance of the account; but that it may appear that we are, according to the tenor of the gospel, entitled to the benefit of this, it is also entered in the book of God's remembrance " that we are believers ;" and this appearing, we are graciously discharged, yea and rewarded, as if we ourselves liad been perfectly innocent aiid obedient. See ' my Sermons on Salvation bt/ Cracf , p. 14— 1 9 ; which account is ptrfcctly agreeable to what Witsius has remarked, Econ. Fed. lib. iii. chap", viii. \ 36. f Many years before circumcision was instituted.] It is said this imputation was made on Abraham's believing the promise. Gen. XV. G. about a year before the birth of Ishmael ; but he did not receive circumcision till Ishmael was thirteen years old. Gen. xvii. 27. consequently Abraham was declared justified at least fourteen years before he was circumcised. " g Scat of the righteousness of failh.'] This seems an incontest-\ able proof that circumcision was a seal of the covenant of grace,; and not merely of temporal promises; and consequently obviates the most consfderable objection that hath ever been urged against, infant-br.ptism. a Heir of the world.'] Kot/xo.c cannot here signify, as yn sometimes does, one country or land, how fine or large soever. It must there- fore imply his inheriting a seed out of all nations, whom he might be said to possess in such a sense as children are said to be an AS ABRAHAM WAS, SO ARE WE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH. 599 is made voiii, and the pro- faith which ill the instance before us was so eminently honoured of God, is made useless, sect. niise made of none effect : ^nd treated as a thing of no value ; and so the promise made to it is in effect abrogated, 9. the performance of it being put, not only on new conditions, but on such as cannot be 15 Because the law work- perfectly performed in this sinful state.'' For the latv of God, considered in itself alone, rom. rtli wrath ; for where no and without any regard to that grace which, though it, was in fact mingled with it, yet iv. gress'ion.""^'^^ " "" *"'"^' "^^kes no part of the legal dispensation as such, is so extensive and difficult, and we are 15 so weak and sinful, that in fact, instead of securing to us the promised blessings, it only li-orketh wrath, that is, it becomes to us accidentally an occasion of wrath, and exposes us to punishment as transgressors ; for ivhere there is )io law, either revealed or i'otimated, [there is'] no transgression ; but the multiplication of precepts increases the danger of oiiending, and the clearer declarattbn of those precepts aggravates the guilt attending the iG Therefore it is of faith, violation. But therefore [it,] that is, the promise and the inheritance to which it relates, [is] 1 6 that it mi'jlit be by grace ; qf faith, or annexed to If, that it [might be] of graee ; timt God might magnify the i!'i<'hrbe"sure'^to au'"the "ches of his grace in proposing justification and life to us in a way that might in mul- tl,iiotto that only wiiich fitudcs of instances be effectual, that so the blessing exhibited in the promise inight be iiso wll'ich'ts'of'th'e foith'of ^^™ ^"^ secure to all the believing seed, not only to that part of his descendants which \iirahim, who is the father was placed under the dispensation of the Jewish law, who are not indeed excluded from ' »s^"> it if they seek it in a proper manner, but to that which is the seed of that holy patriarch to whom the promise was made by a nobler relation, even by a participation of the faith 17 (As it is written,! have of Abraham, who is in this view the father of us all : As it is x::ritten, (Gen. xvii. 16.) 17 made thee a father of many J have made thee a father, not of one family alone to descend from Isaac or Jacob, but lie 'jjeHeved, ^tsnGod" w°™ of many nations ; so that he is in some degree even like God himself,"^ who is the Father quickeneth the dead, and of all good men ; like tbjit Almighty Being in whom he believed as re-animating those be'L'ot^I'tho'u^h tlfeVwere' ^'^"^ ^''*^ dead, and calling into action and enjoyment things that are not now in ex- istence, with the same ease as those that are.^ 18 Who against hope be- And since I have begun to touch upon it, permit me, my hrptbrffl, to animate your 18 ml^M becomT^the''fath'r ^^^''^ ^^ dilating a little farther upon that of this illustrious patriarch. It was he who, of many nations, accordin- against all human and proljable hope, believed with an assured and joyful hope, on the to that which was spoken, security of the diviuc word, that, unlikely as it seemed, he should be a father of manij So shall thy seed be. nations, according to that which was spoken to him (Gen. xv. 5.) when he was called to take a view of the stars of heaven, and God said, " So numerous and glorious shall 19 And being not weak " thy sccd be." And having received such a promise, not being feeble in faith, how 19 in faith, he considered not feeble soever he might be in his animal constitution, he considered not his own body, \\he\C''\\e was about '^^an wliich, with regard to the probability of begetting children, was now dead, being about hundred years old, neither an hundred i/cars old ; nor the deadness of Sarah's womb, of whom the sacred historian womb f ''''"'""''''' ^'"''''''' *^^1^ "S' " that it ceased to be with her after the manner of women." (Gen. xviii. 11.) 20 lie staggered not at Amidst all these difficulties and discouragements, he objected not to the promise of God 20 the promise of God through through unbelief, but was strengthened by the exercise of the most vigorous and tri- faith, giving glory to'ood" umphantyrt///?, thereby giving a due and becoming glory to the gi'eat God, the Lord of 21 And being "fully per- universal nature; And was conRdentiy persuaded, that what he had thus graciously 21 promiled',' he wa^abie aho promised, he was, and ever is, able to perform, though that performance should, to sensi- to perform. ble view, seem ever so improbable. And therefore this heroic faith was so acceptable to 22 im^'ut'ed'to'^hlra'fo^ 'i' x'l^ ^^^^ Divine Being, that it was, as we have heard again and again, imputed or accounted ousne.'is. to him for righteousness, that is, in order to his justification. Neither was it written in 23 23 Now it was not writ- the sacred records, which are to reach the remotest ages, with regard to him only, or it war^mputedlo him'; " chiefly to do a personal honour to that illustrious patriarch, that it was thus imputed to 21 But for us also, to him ; But ahofor our snkes, to whom if, that is, the like faith, shall also be imputed, 24 if'we^ beifeve on h'im"that ^^'^'^ Steadily believe in him who not only brought Isaac as from the dead womb of Sarah, raised up Jesus our Lord buf> in the most literal sense, raised Jesus our Lordfro?n the dead, when he lay among '^^"^ \VM ^''^'"^ ' ri V H *'^^"^ ^'^''^ ^^^^ mangled by his cruel enemies : Even that great and glorious Redeemer 25 for^our 'offences, amV^vas "^'^'^ "^^^ delivered up to them by the detemninate counsel of God, that by his death and raised again for our justifi- sufferings he might 3.{ox\e for our many offences, and, when he had fully satisfied the '^^^"'°- divine justice for them,*^ was raised again for our justification ; that putting our trust in him who was thus apparently discharged from all farther claim upon him as our Surety, we might obtain, by virtue of our relation to him, plenary pardon and eternal life. DIPROVEMENT. Let us continually bear in our mind the great and venerable example of our father Abraham ; labour to the utmost to trace his steps, and have faith in God, who at his pleasure quickeneth the dead, and calleth things Vt^r. 17 heritage, Psal. cxxvii. 3. Compare Gen. iv. 1 ; Prov. xvii. 6. See summoning them, as it were, to rise into being, and appear before also Psal. Ixxxii. 8. where God is said to inherit Uie nations that are him, Eisner has well proved on this place. taken into his family on the profession of the true religion. e Fully satisfied the divine justice for them. By satisfying the b Cannot be perfectly performed.] This is here said with refer- divine justice, I mean, " doing all that was necessary amply and ence to a moral impossibility. It seems evident, from what follows, " perfectly to secure the honour of the divine government in the that the law is to be considered as insisting ou an obedience abso- " pardon and acceptance of penitent and believing sinners;" but I lately perfect ; so that these good men who were justified under do not mean " the payment of the debt, iu such a sense as that our it, were not justified by it, but by the dispensation of grace under " engagements to holiness should be dispensed with or in any de- which Abraham was, which, though not a part of the covenant of " gree weakened, or our obligation to the free gi-ace of the tatlier God by Moses, was not and could not be abrogated by it. Compare " in our salvat on transferred or enervated." And I desire it may Gal. iii. 17. be remembered and attended to throughout, that this is the sense c Like God.'} So 1 think xirsuvri may here signify ; and accord- iu which I would use the phrase wherever it occurs in any of my inglyit is rendered, ad ins/ar Dei, by Paraeus. writings, and I hope it will uot be found that 1 have ever deviated , A'C'alUng things that are not.] That this is to be understood of from it. GOO WE REJOICE IN THE FRUITS OF OUR TRIBULATION. SECT, 'whkh are not as ifthcij xvere. If sense were to judge, it would pronounce many of those difficulties invincible 9. which lie in the way of the accomplishment of his promises; but they shall all be fulfilled in their season. Let us therefore be strong in faith, remembering that tiuis it beconies us to glorify that God who condescends so far as noM. to engage the honour of his word for the support of our souls. He wlio hath promised is able to perform, for with IV. him all things are possible. .Alf^dy hath he done that for us which we had much less reason to expect than we 25 noj,v have to hope for any thing that remains. He delivered his Son Jesus for our offences, to redeem "us bv hir "Blood from final and everlasting ruin. ' 24 Let it be our daily joy that he was raised again for our just ificaf ion ; and let his resurrection be continually 22, 23 considered as a noble argument, to establish our faith in him who performed this illustrious work of power and mercy. So shall it be imputed to us likewise for righteousness ; yea, so shall the righteousness of our Redeemer be reckoned as ours, to all the purposes of our justification and acceptance with God. And though, by our trans- 14, 15 gression of the law, we can never inherit by any claim from that which only worketh wrath and condemnation 16 in consequence of our breach of it ; yet shall we, by believing and obeying the gospel, find the promise sure to us as the spiritual seed of Abraham, and be for ever happy in the enjoyment of that better Canaan, when every earthly inheritance shall be no more found. ■;., ,^ ?^ «| (j v" . I C viers, and therefore not only undeserving of his favour, but justly obnoxiotis to.wrath and punishment, Christ dicd'in our stead, that our guilt might be cancelled, and we brought into a state of divine accept- 9 Much more then, heing ance. Since therefore it hath pleased the blessed God to give us such an unexampled 9 now J>"^t'fi"i lO' |"s blood, display of his love as this, how high may our expectations rise, and how cheerfully may we wraih Through lum. ^""^ conclude, that much mnre being nowjustifcd by the efficacy of his most precious blood, we shall be saved from wrath by him ! For we can never imagine that God would provide at so expensive a rate for our justification, and then finally leave us under wrath, though we have acquiesced in the scheme of his grace, for our deliverance. 10 For if when we were For. if, as I have already maintained, when we were enemies, through the perverseness of 10 enemies, we were reconciled our miiids and the rebellion ofour lives, we were reconciled to God bi/ the death of his Soi^^much morTbeinJ re! own dear Son : and if, foreseeing we should fall info this state of hostility, he made this couc'iled, we shall be saved wonderful provision for our being admitted to terms of peace, how much more, being thus ^y '"^ ''""• reconciled, shall we be saved from misery and made completely happy by his recovered life, now he is risen from the dead, and ascended to glory ! IJVIPROVEIMENT. With what ecsfacies of holy joy may we justly survey these inestimable privileges, the blessed consequences of having embraced the gospel and being justified by faith unfeigned ! How great a happiness to have peace with God, Ver. 1 with that Omnipotent Being who can at pleasure arm all Tistiire against us or for us ! to have access to him by Jesus Christ, and daily converse with him as our Father in heaven ! to rejoice in an assured hope of enjoying glory 2 witli Christ in his presence, yea, of enjoying the God of glory ! to see all affliction not only disarmed but turned into matter of triumph, while tribulation worketh experience, patience, and hope ! So may all our tribulations work ; 3, 4 and be they ever so severe, they will be reasons for our joy and praise. The pain of them will soon be over, the happy consequences will be as lasting as our immortal souls. Let us endeavour to dilate our hearts, that we may receive the largest effusions of the love of God to be shed 5 abroad there. The love of God ! that giant of paradise which will spring up unto eternal life. And to excite it, let us be daily meditating upon the richwonders ofT^edeeming love and"giace , adoring that seasonable interposi- tion of divine mercy, that when we were weak and guilty creatures, when we lay for ever helpless under a sentence 6 of everlasting condemnation, that is, when we appeared thus in the eyes of him who beholdeth things which are not as if they were, Christ died for us, and gave a token of hi? love even for the worst of sinners, which few among the 7 children of men are willing to give with respect to the most upright and benevolent of their brethren. Since the love of God comes thus recommended, let us cordially embrace it, and awaken all the powers of our souls to a dili- gent care to secure the happy fruits, that we may not receive the grace of God in vain. If we do indeed experience in ourselves, not only that there is a foundation laid for our reconciliation, but that we are actually reconciled to God 10 Ijy the death of his Son, our hopes may rise high that we shall much more obtain consummate salvation by his life. e Died in the stead of the vngodly.'] By ungodly here, Mr. some moderns have done, may be seen by consulting Grotius's Locke understands Gentiles ; as alsc, by weak sinners, enemies, gloss on 1 Pet. ii. 19. {De Salisf. cap. ix.) and Le Clerc on 4"C. They are undoubtedly included; but it seems very incon. John i. 29. sistent wi-th the whole strain of the apostle's argument in tlie f A'ow : 71?.] It is very evident that 7*e cannot have the force preceding chapters, to confine it to them. Compare chap. iii. of an illative particle here or in the preceding verse ; and it is 9—20, 2'2, 23; iv. 5; v. 20. I therefore all along explain such hardly possible to number all the passages in Paul's writings to passages in the most extensive sense; and think nothing in the which the like remark may be applied. whole New Testament plainer than that the gospel supposes every g Riqliteous, — good.] It is true that in one sense righteousness human creature to whom it is addressed to be in a state of guilt and must inrlude goodness, as we owe to every man a benevolent anec- condeninalion, and -incapable of being accepted with God any tion, and are bound in duty to God to do all the good we can to the otherwise than through the grace and mercy which it proclaims, wliole human species. But he may in common speech be called a Compare John iii. IG, 36; chap. v. 24; 1 .lolin iii. 14; Mark xvi. just or righteous man who gives to every one what is by law his 15, 16; Luke xxiv. 47. and especially 1 John i. 10. than which no due, and he a good or benerolent man who voluntarily abounds in assertion can be more positive and express. Albert ( Oliserv. Sacr. kind and generous actions to which no human laws can compel mm. p. .304.) has well proved that xxtx y.tt;m should be rendered, season- Tiilly has the like distinction, [I)e Offic. lib. 1. cap. x, edit. Pierc.) ably, and Raphelius (.Yo/. ex Xen. in ver. 8.) has abundantly demon- and it is admirably illustrated by Raphelius, [Not. ex Xen. in toe.) strated that KiTip nuOTct:r£52vE signifies, /if (/(>iiH OKI- room a/Jrf.f/f^rf; by apposite quotations from other ancient writers.^ It may very nor can I Ind that xr.o'ixiin jBstT'"' bas ever any other signification possibly (as Gfnlwin has shown in his Jewish Antiqut'lies, lib \. cap. tlanihaXoi rescuing the life of another at tlie expense of our own; ix ) bear some allusion to a distribution of mankind into the three and the very next verse shows', iiulependent,on any other authority, classes, cnsp, o.p-r:, and O'Sf, good men, righteous men, and sinners, how evidently it bears that sense here ; as on* can hardly imagine which some rabbinical writers mention. All the beauty and grace any one would die for a good man, unless it were to redeem his life of this passage is lost by reading ^Jixw instead of J.xiim.asthe bygiving up his own. How mucli hij;lier not only Grotius, but editor of the new version of 1727 does, without, as I can find, any LeClcrc, carried their explications of this great doctrine than single authority: For a wicked man no one uould willingly die, 602 WE GLORY IN GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. SECT.] For surely it is infinitely more astonishing that the Son of God should die to reconcile enemies, than that having 10. ' subdued their hearts by his dying love, and received them to friendship as the purchase of his blood, he should employ his recovered life and extensive authority for their protection and complete salvation. 'i)\ (ittfc l^. \^^ ^/ SECTION XL The apostle shows that the calamities brought ly the first Adam on his seed are repaired, tvith glorious advantage, to all who, by faith, become interested in the second Adam. Rom. \.\\,to the end. ^OM. V. 11. ROM. V. 11. SECT. I HAVE been breathing out our hopes and our joys, as we are christians, and are taught And not only so, but «e 11. by the principles of our divine religion to rejoice, not -only in tlie prospect of glory, but ^J^° iMj'je^'^''cbris't"b' • even in tribulation itself. And now I must add, that it is not only [so,] but that there is whom we have now recei'vctl ROM. another grand consideration which, though not yet mentioned, lies at the root of all our the atonement. V. confidence and happiness ; which is this, that we boast in God as invariably our covenant ^^ God and Father through Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom we have now, in these late times, received the great and important rcconciliction,^ which not only averts the terrors of his wrath, but opens upon us all the blessings of his perpetual friendship and love. 12 And therefore^ we may from these premises infer th'at the benefit which we believers 12 Wherefore, as by one receive from Christ"^ is equal to the detr'.nent we receive from Adam, yea, is on the whole """ ,s"' f"^'^''':^ '"''^ ""^ , ■ r. ^ 1 . ■ • 1 . 1 IT r I ii i world, and death by .sin; greater than that; for we now obtain righteousness and hie trom one, as l)y one ?nan, that and so death passed upon is, Adam, the common father of the human species, sin entered into the new-made world, ^U men, for that all have and death, before unknown in the creation of God, entered by sin ; and so death passed '"'"'^' '■ on from one generation to another upon all men, unto which all have sinned in him;"^ that is, they are so far involved in the consequence of his first transgression, as by means 13 of it to become obno.xious to death. And that this was indeed the case, and this offence ^.J^^j^^^^",^ "vn'-k|!' buu'iifis the engine of mortality in the whole human species, we may infer from one very obvious not "mputed"when there is fact, I mean the death of infants from the very beginning ; for from the fall of Adam unto uo law. the time when God gave the law by Moses, as well as after it, sin was and appeared to be , tn the world, by the continual execution of its punishment, that is, death. But it is a , self-evident principle, that sin is not and cannot be imputed where there is no /ar:-, since the very essence of sin is the violation of a law. And consequently, if we see in fact that sin was imputed, we must conclude that the persons to whose account it appears to have 14 been charged were under some law. Nevertheless, \t is certa.m death reig/udfro?n Ada?n 14 Nevertheless, death to Moses, even over infants as well as others, over those, I say, who had not sinned ac- Mlles.'Vve^nTverthem thl't cording to the likeness of the transgression of Adam,'^ that is, who had never in their had not sinned after the si- own persons oflfended God as Adain their father did ; who, with respect to the extent of miiitude of Adam's trans- , . r 11 1 • 1 , ; /- 1 ir /- ; • ; a rr .i, i • sfression ; who is the figure his actions to all his seed, was the figure or model' of him xviio was to come,^ that is, a of him that was to come: kind of type of the Messiah, as being a public person and federal head. 15 Yet I must observe by the way, that with respect to the free gift of God in the 15 But not as the ofTence, gospel-dispensation, it [w] not exactly as the offence, nor limited in all respects as • f t[,7outh^''th'e'"''oltnce*'of that is;^^;' if by the offence of one many died, if the whole human family, numerous one man'y be dead; much as it is,' became obnoxious to death and destruction thereby, how much more hath more the jfiace of God, the free grace of God, and the gift [which is granted~\ by that grace, as manifested ^"by o'nemanfjes^us Christ, and displayed in that one greater and better 7nan Jesus Christ, abounded to many, that hatu abounded unto many, is, to all the numerous family of believers ! 16 And this in two very important respects. In the first place, the gift [is] not merely, le And not as it was by as the ruin that came upon us by one that sinned, in respect to the number of offences on^ t'^''* sinned, so is the t/toiigh/or a hcnef actor some have readily offered to die. And ccyaiou iv. 7; 2 Tim. ii. 14.) with the use of the particles in some of the does not signify merely s. personal benefactor, but in general a be- purest Greek classics, sufficient to support his rendering, which I nevolent vian. have here followed. See his Scripture Doctrine of Original Sin, a Received the reconciliation.'] The word xarnXKafyn here has so Part T. p. 31. &c. note, apparent a reference to xjiT-nWotyji/iev and xjij-arxxivevrEs- in the pre- e Likeness of Adam's transgression.'] Mr. Locke and several certinj? verse, that it is surprising it should have been rendered by more interpret this of the Gentilss, who did not sin against a posi- so different a word in our version ; especially as it is so improper live law : But they might certainly have died for their tran.s- to speak of our receiving an atonement, which God receives as'made gression against the natural law, under which they were born, and for our sins. for which the apostle expressly asserts, not only that they were in b Therefore.] Aix rouro certainly does often signify, in this re- fact liable to perish, (chap. ii. 12. &c.) but that they knew they spect ; but there are some instances, even among tlie texts col- were worthy of deatli. (Chap. i. vlt.) lected by Mr. Taylor here, in which it may as well be rendered f Figure or model.] That the word totos lias this signification, therefore; particularly Matt. xiii. 1.3 ; John ix. 2.3; chap. xii. 18 ; will appear frnin Acts vii. 44 ; Rom. vi. 17; Phil. iii.l7; 1 Thess. chap.xiii.2; lCor.iv.l7; chap, xi, 33; Eph. i. 15. In all which i. 7 ; 2 The-ss. iii. 9; 1 Tim. iv. 12; Tit. ii. 7; Heb. viii. 3; 1 Pet. v. 3. places our rendering seems preferable to what he would propose. g Of him who was to come : th /xeWviro!.] Here is evidently an - c AVe believers.] As this 12th verse is an inference from the ellipsis. Most commentators have explained it as referring to the 11th, it seems evident that they only are spoken of; for it is plain, great person that was to come, or in other words, the future ^.tdatn,] from comparing the 9th, lOtb, and 11th verses with the 1st, that that is, Christ. But Sir Norton Knatchbull would explain it of it is only they w/w are justified by faith who have peace with God, manlcind to come. He thinks that Adam cannot with anj' propriety and who joy in him by Christ, as having received the reconciliation, be called a type of Christ, as the type of a thing is its shape, mode}, And this obvious remark clears the following passage of difficulties, or representation, and therefore if the thing be good, the type of it which would be exceeding great if it were to be considered with- must be so too. Dr. Wiliier, in vindication of this interpretation, out regard to this connexion, and which have in fact misled many observes that this will best agree with the apostle's design : For if commentators; who for want of attending to it, have plunged Adam was to be considered as a public person, the type, figure, or themselves and their readers into great perplexity, and given a representation of mankind, his conduct will, as the apostle says it sense to the paragraiili of which it is by no means capable. does, affect infants. Dr. Milner's Fading Flowers of Lijs^jp. 14. — d Unto which all have sinned : «(p' w asTivrts n^ifrov.] Eisner ( OJ- But it may be sufficient to ans\vei% lliSTupOTrthe'common inter- serv. Vol. II. p. 26.) would render it, on account of whom : and he pretation there was plainly a correspondence between Christ and produces some remarkable authorities for it ; .compare Phil. iii. Adam, as each was a public head^ though the uifluence of each on 52 ; Uom. X. Ifi; chap. xvi. 19 ; 1 Thess. iii. 7.) but 1 think those his respective seed was different ; so that the whole reasoning of produced by Mr. Taylor, (from Gal. v. 13; Eph. ii. 19; 1 Thess. both these learned and ingenious writcrsseems inconclusive. REFLECTIONS ON ADAM'S SIN AND THE GRACE OF CHRIST. 603 ^'ift : for tlic. judgment was in question ; Jbr the sentence of hui one [offence passecT] upon us to coiidcui nation, and SECT. by one toc<)ndeninaiion,but ^yg vievQ no iartiier affected by tlie subsequent sins of Adam than by those ot any interme- 1 !• offences" unto justificatioii. diate parent ; but the gift of divine grace exhibited in the gospel, [is effectual] to our justif cation from the guilt of mami offences : It not only delivers us from the sentence ROM. to which we were from our birth liable on account of Adam's sin, but from that more ,„^- grievous and dreadful sentence which we had brought upon ourselves in adult life by our 17 For if by one man's innumerable and aggravated personal transgressions. Moreover, there is another impor- 17 onr'miidrmoreTi'ifrwhich *^"* article in which the grace of the gospel exceeds the seeming severity which attended receive abundance of grace, the imputation of guilt from our first father Adam ; namely, that if hi/ one man's offence andof tliegirtofrigiiteous- death reigned, bj/ one, over all his posterity, as we observed above, thei/ ivho thankfully one^' Jesus Cluist.'" ' "^ ^ ^^'^ obediently receive^ the overflowing abundance of free grace, and of the munificent gift of righteousness exhibited in the gospel, shall much more reign in life by the one great Restorer and Recoverer of his seed, even Jesus Christ ; that is, believers shall by him be brought to a much nobler and more excellent life than that from which Adam fell, and which they lost in him. 18 Therefore as by the Therefore, on the whole, you see, as I began to observe to you before,' that as [the 18 offence of one, judgment consequence} of one offence, on the one hand, [extended'] to all men, to brine: condem- cnmf upon all men to con- , • ■* ■' .x i .i ^l j ni n ^ i , /• demnation; even so by the "'^'"O'' upon them, 50 also. On the other Side, [tlie consequence] of one gTd.nd act of righteousness of one, f/ie righteousness [exfended] to all vien who receive and embrace it, securing to them that uX^justificati"u°ofVife™'" justification which will be crosvned with the enjoyment of eternal life. For as by the 19 19 For as by one man's disobedience of one man many -were constituted sinners, that is, became obnoxious to disobedience many were death as if they themselves had sinned, so by the complete and persevering obedience of obedience ofoi'ie shall many ^'^^ many shall be constituted righteous ;^ that is, they shall be treated as such in the be made rightsous. day of God's final account, though they have no perfect righteousness of their own to plead, in consequence of which they should stand before God and claim the reward. 20 Moreover, the law en- But as for the law of Moses, that could not possibly procure this great benefit to them ; 20 aboundf bat°"'wTeT'?in ^^"^ ^^^^ '"^'^'^ '' ^''^'"^ entrance,' that is, took place among comparatively a very small f} abounded, grace did much number of mankind for a few ages, that the offence ?nighf, instead of being removed, ' more abound : abound much more than before ; as in consequence of it many things became offensive to God which were before indifferent, and the guilt of moral offences was aggravated by so express a declaration of the rule of duty violated by them : so that, on the whole, it seemed intended to convince and humble rather than to justify. Yet, on the whole, God hath taken an occasion to glorify the riches of his mercy by that dispensation, and xihere si?i has abounded under the most aggravating circumstances, grace hath superabounded, so 21 That as sin had reigned as thereby to gain a superior and more illustrious triumph : That as sin had reigned in 21 "race ret'^'n t? o" A" "vf't* *^^ ^^'^^ ^^^ univei-sul devastation which death had made on those whom it had brought eousn ess "unto ete'rnal 7ife. Under that fatal Sentence, so grace might reign to such a degree as to bestow eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord, and happiness, through the glorious and complete righteousness^^ vjhich. we obtain (^^z Jesus Christ our Lord, when we sincerely believe in him as our Saviour, and give up our souls to the authority of his equitable and auspicious government. IMPROVEMENT. , Let us daily remember our relation to God by Christ Jesus, and glory in this relation ; saying frequently, " He Ver. 11 " is indeed our Father. This God, with all his adorable, unfathomable, immutable perfections, is our God. He " will be our Guide unto death, and our Portion for ever. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord. What " relation can be so honourable, what can afford such an unfailing spring of perpetual joy ?" Let us honour him in all his dispensations, even those which may appear the most mysterious. In this number we are undoubtedly to reckon his constituting Adam the covenant-head of his posterity, and involving our life or death in him ; yea, adjusting the relation so, that our spiritual state should be greatly affected by his conduct, and we should by histransgression become the heirs not only of death but of moral pollution, and ultimately, by virtue of our descent from him, be shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin. It is a consideration which must carry awe and solemnity, grief and lamentation, throughout all ages, that by 12 one man sin entered i-nto the -world, and death made such a progress by the entrance of sin, as to pass upon all men in consequence of that act. O God, how terrible are thy judgments ! and yet how rich thy compassion in appointing the second Adam to repair the ruin and desolations of the first ! Yea, more than to repair them ; to h Thankfully and obediently r^'CP/ir.] It is so very plain that k J/nny stiall be conslitiiled righteous.] To become liable to the abundant reiijn in life by Jesus Christ is appropriated to persons death for the offence of another, is indeed being thereby constituted of a particular cliaracter, expressed here by receiving the gift, that a sinner, or treated as a sinner; since death is, in its primary view, it is surprising any should ha\e spoken of it as common to the to be considered ag the wages o/ sin, or the animadversion of a whole human race. And nothing is more evident than that the righteous God upon it: but simply to be raised from the dead is not word li^ugivi has often this sense, and signifies being active in em- being made righteous, ov treated as a righteous person ; since it is bracing a benefit proposed, or a person offering himself uiidgr a a very sapposable case, and will in fact be the case of millions, that cjjaracter of imporUiMie. Compare John i. U, 12; iii. II^T^; v. asioner may beraised in order to more condign and dreadliil punish- 43r~Xtr.--'»eT-!CtfTr20 ; Jam. v. 10; 1 Jotui v. 9; 2 John 10; mcnt. The whole interpretation, therefore, which Mr. Taylor has 3 John 7. given of this text, in this view appears to me destitute of a sufficient i As I began to observe, &c.] This 18th verse seems connected foundation. . with the end of the I2th, and all the intermediate verses do un- i Afadc a little entrance.l %n aafn-!ri\U properly signifies, and is doubtedly come in as a parenthesis; and the reader, by perusing well rendered by the Vulgate, ii/Ai/i/rn!;;/, in which sense rripEi^axioi the interwoven text alone, will observe that the.se verses, viz. 12th, is used. Gal. ii. 4. Thus the partial anilimited entrance of thclaw 18th, 19th, make one continued sentence. But I judged it neces- is distinguished from that universal entrance of sin which passed sary, here and elsewhere, to break the paraphra.se into several sen- on all, as Mr. Locke well observes. This I think preferable f o M. tences, lest the exce.ssive length should have rendered the sense L'Enfant's rendering ii, the law in/frrfn^-rf, that is, between Adam obscure, and the passage unwieldy and disagreeable. Many of and Christ. Paul's sentences are, as theystaaU iu-iiie te.ttr^tJS'cured by the m Grace might reign to eternal life through righteousness, &c.J length. Compare 2 Cor. xii.']4 ; xiii. This trajection the sense absolutely requires 604 HIS GRACE LEADS US TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE. SECT, deliver us from all our most aggravated transgressions, if we believe in him, and receive the gift of righteousness ! '11. to cause us lo reign in life by him ! to bring us to a more exalted and secure happiness than Adam himself enjoyed in the day in which he was created, or tlian Eden, the garden of God, could afford I ROM. Let us adore tliese superaboundings of divine grace, and its reign unto eternal life. And let all our knowledge ^- of the law of God, our distress under a sense of having broken it, and being thereby exposed to its condemn- 17 — 20 ing sentence, be considered as illustrating the riches of that grace whereby we are saved, and so animate us to re- turns of the humblest gratitude and a persevering obedience. Amen, lllo-t--.) ^ 1?j .1 b S ^ Tta^tur) SECTION XII. The apostle shows that the gospel, far from dissohhig our obligations to practical holiness, docs strong/?/ in- crease them ; which is a consideration tending highly to recommend it to the esteem and acceptance of all. Rom. vi. 1 — 14. Rom. vi. 1. „ . , „T Rom. VI. 1. SECT. 1 HUS we have asserted the doctrine of justification by faith, or, in other words, of salva- What shall we say tiien ? 12. tion by grace. And now let us consider how it is to be improved. What shall we say, shall we continue in sin Uiat then, concerning the practical inferences to be drawn from it ?'' Shall we say, Let us con- ^""^"^ ™^^ ^ °"" ' ^OM. ti/iuc in the habitual practice of sin, that grace may abound so much the more in par- ■ n doning and saving us ? God forbid that such an unworthy thought should ever arise in 2 God forbid! how shuii our hearts! We have disclaimed the consequence above, (chap. iii. 7, 8.) and we most any lonVertliereiuT'"'''^'^ solemnly disclaim it again. We who are dead to sin,^ we who, by our profession, are under such sacred engagements to hiortify it with the greatest care, how shall wc yet live in it ? Surely it were the grossest contradiction that can be imagined. On the con- trary it is apparent that nothing h.as so great a tendency to animate us to avoid sin, and to enable us to conquer it, as this doctrine of gospel-grace. 3 What, Sirs, know ye not, and is it possible that any of you should be ignorant of this 3 Know ye not that so great and obvious truth, that as many of us as have beeh baptized into Jesus Christ, ■= |!^t"^T°l?r,' Yc7';Jf.l''i',f„'^ 1 ■ 1 (- • n ^ 1 ■'• /*■! i*i"i f* 117 / IIIlU Jesus ^^(iriSlj VVLvc UtlJ)- that IS, into the profession ot the christian laith, which is the case ot us all, nave been tized into his death ? baptized into his death, and engaged to conform to the great purposes of it, which we 4 know were to abolish sin ? (1 Pet. iv. 1, 2 j 1 John iii. 5.) Thei^fore, as this is the known -4 Tiierefore we are buried obligation of this solemn initiatory ordinance, it may be said that we arc buried with "'"', '"'" by baptisni into i- ■ ,1 , 1 ,• H lu • 1 u- • -J i-jrrii 1- r/i death : Itiat like as Clinst nun m that baptisnr which we received as bringing us into a kind ot lellowship in \_his\ ^.^^ raised up from the dead death ; most evidently for this purpose, that as Christ was raised from the dead by by the glory of the Father, the glory cf the Father, and the operation of his illustrious though mysterious power, f,rnewVesVonife.''"''^ ''''''' so we also should continue, during the remainder of our days, to walk in newness of 5 life, maintaining a course of conduct and actions entirely diiferent from the former. For 5 For if we have been surely these two must e;o together : and we may conclude that if we are thus made to planted togther in the like- J ii ■ ii II /• I ■ I ii t, I ; 11 I 1. Si r- J I 11 T ni^ss of '"s death, we shall grow toget/ier in the likeness of his deatli^ so also shall we be united \in the likeness] j,e also /« the likeness o( /lis of [/;«] resurrection, and shall rise up to a life spiritually new, as he rose lo iramor- resurrection : 6 tal life and vigour; As we know this, that our old iiran, that is, the whole system of 6 Knowing this, that our our former inclinations and dispositions, which did by a fatal contagion spread them- ^l^^ '",^"j. 'ti,e' lio'jv ' of" sill selves over the whole man, and were incorporated with it, hath now, as it were, been might be destroyed, that crucified together \_with Christ,'] the remembrance and consideration of his cross co- henceforth we should uot operating in the most powerful manner with all the other motives which the gospel sug- gests to destroy the former habits of sin, and to inspire us with an aversion to it ; that so the body of sin, of which this old man did as it were consist, might be enervated, deposed, and destroyed / that we might no longer be in bondage to sin, as we were before we were so happy as to know the gospel and the efficacy of this great doctrine 7 of a crucified Saviour: For he that is thus dead with Christ is set at liberty from sin,s 7 For he that is dead is sin being crucified to him and he to sin, on the principles mentioned before ; just as the ^''^'"^ from sin. r a What shall we say, then? &c.] The apostle here sets himself being planted iogetlier. — As there is soraelhinK harsh in tlie eon- more fully to clear and vindicate the doctrine he taught, from the struction of ei and aXXce here, Beza would for cOVka read .\a signifies so. As for the future i-o/ii^x, foundation of it. he shows that it signifies a necessary cousefjuence from the b Head to sin^ Eisner shows how frequently moral writers premises, among the heathens speak of wise and good men as dead to sen- f .F/ffrKaW, deposed, and destroyed: )c«ra:('y>!9i.] We render it sualities and animal pleasures. Eisner, Ohserv. Vol. H. p. 28. destroyed, not only tormented or enfeebled, but utterly slain ; and c Baptized into Jesus Christ.'] As the church at Rome seems to so the same word is rendered, 2 Thess. ii. 18 ; and 1 Cor. xv. 20 — per- liave been planted about the year 43, and this Epistle was written haps not with exact propriety, Heb. ii. 14. The titter destruction in the year 58, that is, 15 years after, and yet the apostle speaks of of the body nf sin in iis is certainly intended in the gospel, but the the converted Roma-ns in general as baptized, it must be supposed, particular import of this word is to make void, deltilitate, enervate, , as Dr. Gale well argues, that baptism was administered to those disannvl, abolish, or dispose. Compare Rom. iii. 3T ; iv. 14 ; whose parents had been christians at the time of their birth. Com- lCor.ii.6; xiii.8; xv. 24; Eph. ii. 15; 2 Tim. i. 10. I have pare Col. ii."l2. See Gale's , Sermons, "Vol. H. p. 202, 203. joined the significations in the paraphrase, and given the ver- d Jiuried with him in baptism.] It seems the part of candour to sion which appears to me most exactly to answer the import of confess that here is an allusion to the manner of baptising by im- the original. The body of sin in believers is indeed an enfeebled, mersion, as most usual in these early times ; but that will not prove conquered, and deposed tyrant, and the stroke of death finishes its this particular circumstance to be essential to the ordinance : and destruction. in whatever manner it was administered, if it were intended as a g Set at liberty.] Ai!it>c^i:.}rMs\gmfie^ to he justified or vindicated, declaration of faith in the death and resurrection of Christ, as it is and here it secrifis to Import beinf! delivered from future claims of well known Christ died for sin, it would infer an obligation to die subjection. But this sense is so uncommon, that I am much in doubt to it and rise again to a holy Jife, which is the main point the wheiher it might not be rendered justified here, to intimate that a a])osUe labours. sense of justification by the cross of Christ is the great means of e Made to grow together.] Dr. AVells observes that this is the our delivery from the bondage of sin, as it animates and excites us most exact import of ovijjpvni, and that it does not signify merely to shake of!' its yoke. ^ REFLECTIONS ON OUR OBLIGATIONS TO HOLINESS FROM THE GRACE OF CHRIST. 605 8 Now if we be dead with death either of the master or the slave, and much more evidently of both, dissolves the SECT. Christ, Vie believe tiiat we relation and destroys the oppressive power which miglit before be exercised. And let 12. me farther remind you, that as we are christians, tue believe that if we he thus dead ■ 'wit/i'Uhrist, ive shall also live together -icith hi//i. We expect ere long to share with ROM. Christ in the complete holiness and glory of the heavenly world ; and you will easily un- ^^• derstand, and I hope easily feel, the obligation which that hope lays upon us, not only 9 Knowing that Christ, to cease from sin, but through his grace to cultivate universal holiness. We should ever 9 dfetlf no m'on-'deathliatli ^^ under the influence of these views, even to the very end of our course, as we know that no more doiiiiuion over Christ being raised from the dead, dies HO more ; death no more reigneth over liim,^% 1"™- it seemed for a while to do. And thus your immortal life and happiness, if you pursue it according to his direction and intention, is secure : Tor whereas he died, he died once for all, as a sacrifice /<;/• sin, to atone the injured justice of God and repair the honours of his 10 For in that he died, he ^violated law : And OS he liveth, he liveth to God for ever ; his immortal life is entirely 10 died unto sin ouce : but in appropriated and devoted to his service, wherein we ought to make it our constant care to unto God. '^'^ '' ^^ '^^ ' imitate his example. Sutler therefore the word of exhortation grounded on this important 11 u Likewise reckon ye principle, and SO do ye also reckon yourselves to be once for all dead unto sin, never to ind'ee^°u'i^to*shi*"but aihe return under its power any more ; ««6? being thus made alive, let it be your care, in imita- unto God through Jesus tion of your Divine Master, to devote your recovered life to the honour and service of God Christ our Lord. ^ /^^ Christ Jesus our Lord, whose pattern and authority in such a relation concur to de- 12 Let not sin therefore mand it of US. Therefore let not sin reign as an uncontrollable sovereign, now you have 12 reign in your mortal body, another Lord SO much greater and better : let not the irregular inclinations of vour minds, that ye should obey it in .o , ; ? ;• • i , -m i r ■ the lusts thereof. wlien they may move in your mortal bodies, give law to them. 1 he early conquest ot sm over the human nature hath, alas! reduced them to the sad state of mortality; but do not go on, after such a deliverance hath been wrought out for you, in a servile and wretched la Neither yield ye your manner to obey it in its licentious desires and demands : Neither present your members to 13 roerabers as instruments of ^//, j-^^j weapons and instruments of unrighteousness ; /^«^ with all devout atfection and but' Y'efd^ yourselves unto holy ZQsA present yoursclves to God as those who, by his rich mercy and almighty power, God, as those that are alive are now made Spiritually alive, and called out from that wretched state in which you lay members^ os'^fnstrunienlts of ^ ^inong the dead. Conscious therefore of the obligations you lie under to him who hath righteousness unto God. raised you to this new and glorious life, present all your members and powers to God as weapons and instruments of righteousness to fight his battles,'^ and to be for ever devoted 1-1 For sin shall not have to his service. Do it boldly and resolutely, and not as if you feared that your former 14 dominion over you : for ye master should rccover liis power and prove a severer tyrant, after you had thus attempted to under "-race. ' revolt ; /br you may on the contrary be assured th3.t sin shall not have any more (fo- minion over you, as you arc not under the law,' a dispensation of bondage and terror, , but under grace, under the merciful dispensation of the gospel, which atfords such conso- lations, and inspires such hopes, as may animate the soul to a much more successful com- bat with sin than the law could do, and give a much nobler assurance of a complete victory over it. Rom. viii. 1 — 4. BIPROVEMENT. Let our hearts rise with indignation at the thoughts of so ungrateful an abuse of the divine goodness, as to take encouragement from the aboundings of grace to continue in sin. Are not we likewise by profession dead to it ? are Ver. 1 not we bound by our baptismal vow, as the ancient christians to whom Paul addresses himself were ? Or has the use 2 and purpose of baptism been since altered, so as to allow a covenant with sin, an agreement with hell, even to those who arerjisted, under the banners of a Saviour ? Is Christ then become the Minister of sin, or shall his death lose all its effect, wliile we profess to honour the solemn memorials of it ? Recollecting that we are not under tht- law, but 14 under grace, let so glorious a dispensation animate us to resolutions proportionably heroic; and may the remem- brance of the death of the Son of God, in concurrence with that of his resurrection, engage us to walk in newness 4, 5 of life, if we desire another day to be planted into the likeness of that resurrection, and to rise victorious and trium- phant from the grave ! No more let us return under the power of that spiritual death from which Christ, at the price of his own life, hath 10, 13 delivered us ; but let us live to God, solemnly presenting our bodies and our souls to him, to be honoured as the instniments of his service, and employing each of our members, according to its proper office, for his glory. JVe arc alive from the dead, we are raised by a divine power : Let us therefore daily set ourselves as in the presence of the God of our renewed lives, and account that time lost in which we are not acting for him. Without this, in vain do we know the vital truths of his gospel, in vain do we plead for them, and amuse ourselves with a sanguine hope of . ^, bearing the image of Christ in glory, if all these powerful arguments cannot now engage us to bear it in holiness. , j V ^ \ SECTION XIII. The apostle takes this opportunity of urging on the christians at Rome that holiness to which they were so Sitrongly obliged by the gospel. Rom. vi. 15, to the end. ^^^' Rom. vi. 13. Ro.M. vi. 15. What then? Slmll we I HAVE just been reminding you christians of your great privileges; that you are now rom. sm, because we are not ^^^^^ ^ dispensation of the most glorious grace in the gospel, and not under the restraints nor VI. 15. h Instruments to fight his battles.] The word irnXx properly sig- the viith chapter : but it may very well imply that we are not so uifies weapons, and in this sense it has a beautiful propriety. uuder any law as to be utterly condemned for want of a legal, that i Under tl.u law.'] The Mosaiclaw may be particularly intended : is, a perfect, righteousness ; an apprehension of which would tend and the propriety of what is here said, when considered in reference utterly to discourage the soul in all its attempts to free itself to that, is illustrated by that excellent discourse of the apostle in for the future from the dominion of sin. G(X) THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE. SECT, under the terrors of the Mosaic law. And what then are we to infer ? Shall xve take en- under the law, but under 13. courageraent from thence to offend him to whose distinguishing goodness we are so much grace? God forbid. obUo-ed, and sin securely and presumptuously because we are not under the law, but un- ROM. flcr the irrace of the gospel ? God forbid ! The inference would be so odious and so dan- VI- gerous, that though I disclaimed it before, (ver. L) I cannot too frequently guard you 1^ a"-ainst it. And should you allow yourselves to argue thus, it would sufficiently prove that you do not belong to Christ, however you may glory in a pretended external relation. 16 Know ye not that to whomsoever 7/e present yourselves [as] servants, actually to obey ifi K'>"w Y^ not, that to his commands, his servants you are? Not his whose name ye may bear without practi- servants' *to'"obey!°hIs'^ser- ' cally acknowledging his authority, but his whom you in fact obey. Least of all can you \*ants ye are to wiiom ye ; divide yourselves between two contrary masters, but must either be entirely the servants of ^J^^y^J or'of 'obedience ullto sin, which you know by a certain consequence leads to eternal death, or entirely the ser- righteousness? vants of God, by a course of resolute and persevering obedience, which, notwithstanding 17 your former failures, will securely lead to righteousness and life. But thanks be to God, \^ But God be thanked. that whereas you were once the servants of sin, this is to be spoken of as a bondage past that ye were the servants and gone ; and that ye have now obeyed, not in profession alone, hMifrom the heart, the from" the hear't that form of model of doctrine into which ye were delivered •is,\xAo'd.\x\o\AAf that your whole temper doctrine wliich was deli- and lifeinight be formed and fashioned into an amiable and glorious correspondence with ^^'■«'tl yo"- 18 it. And therefore being thus made free from sin, ye arc become the servants of right- i8 Being then made free eousness, and are at once enabled and obliged to lead a life of true piety and exemplary ^^"'^^^^^"^f righteousness""" goodness. 19 I speak as a man, and upon the common principle of human equity and justice, as well ^J^J^ speak aftej-^thejian- as with a reference to civil customs, with which you Romans are so familiarly acquainted. "nfirniit"y'^of yourflesh : for And I reason thus with you because of the weakness of yourjlesh, because of those in- as ye have yielded your firmities and temptations arising from it, against which I would endeavour to fortify you by [IJ^™^^//^ a'nd''!"'' n^quius every consideration that may render you victorious over it. As ye have^ in time past, unto iniquity ; even so now while ignorant of the gospel, and maiiy of you the slaves of heathen vice and idolatry, ;;/Y'- yield your members ser- sented your members servants to uncleanness, and to other kinds of iniquity into which ho'li\iess/'°''*'^°"'''"^^^ ""''* that debauchery too naturally leads ; so let it now be your care to present your members servants of righteousness, in order ^o the practice of universal holiness. 20 And it is very fit that this should be your entire employment ; for when ye "were servants 20 For when ye were the of sin, ye were free from ivghteousness, you never did any single action that was truly frorn'riohteous/els"""^ -"^^ good and on the whole acceptable to God, because none was performed from such princi- ° pies as could entitle it to his complete approbation. Now surely you should be as ready to obey righteousness as you have been to obey sin, and show as much zeal in the best as you 21 have done in the worst of causes. To engage you therefore to this, consider what fruit 21 What fruit had ye or advantage did you then derive from those things of^the very remembrance of which ye'" r" now aSedT'for you are now heartily ashamed, which you would not be if you had indeed obtained any the end of those things is "solid advantage by them ; whereas this is far from being the case, /or the certain end of '^'^^"i- 22 those thino-s [is] death. But remember you have now what is most honourable and most 22 But now being made advantageous in your view; for being set free from sin, and engaged to God as his ser- lZtJ,nrto"Go'^Sl"'\Tyl vants and property, you have your fruit unto holiness, in which you find a present and your fruit unto' holiness; most solid advantage, and the end you have in view is nothing less than eternal life ; such a»d the end everlasting life. 23 is the infinite difference, and so advantageous the exchange you have made. For eternal 2.3 For the wages of sin ■ death [is] the proper wages and desert of sin, and is all the gain which its wretched slave God*^'etenl'ai'iife?throug'ii will have to show from the hand of his tyrannical master in the great day of future account ;<^ jcsus Christ our Lord. hut eternal life [is] not, as in the former instance, the justly-deserved retribution of the action, but the gift o/" a gracious and bountiful God in Christ Jesus our Lord, to wh&m 1^ " we are to ascribe it that any of our services are accepted, and much more that they are re- compensed with a munificence worthy tlie Lord of all. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 15 Being set at liberty from the condemning sentence of God's law, let us charge our souls, by all the ties of grati- tude, that we do not turn his grace into wantonness, or deceive ourselves with vain words in a matter of infinite importance. We cannot be at the same time the servants of God and the servants of sin ; and certainly our undersland- 17 ings must be darkened to infatuation if we can long doubt whose service we should prefer. The work of righteous- 23 ness is peace, the effect of it (juiefness and assurance for ever, (Isa. xxxii. 17.) but death is the wages of sin, and it shall be repaid to all that go on in it. And oh what and how terrible a death, to be cast into the lake which hurncth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death ! How merciful are all the repeated admonitions 18, 19 which warn us to fiee froin it ! Let us all judge that it is already too long that we have yielded ourselves the servants of a nfodfil of doctrine, Sfc. : ek ov iiip£.)o9)ir£ tuitov Ji.^arxi^.] That tutto? moment to observe this; and I think it had been better if our may nropeilv be rendered model, see note f, on Rom. v. 14. p. C02. translators had more frequently attended to it. and add to the instances there given, Eisner's note on this place; c Eternal death— \n the great day of future account.] I see no and see Dr. Sykes, Of C/irixlinnity, p. 178.— Mr. Locke thinks it imaginable reason to believe, as some late writers have intimated is an eie^aiit metaphor to represeni the delivery of a servant over in their paraphrase on this verse, that death here signifies beinij cast from one master to another, and that the gospel, expressed by the out of existence. Sec chap. ii. 12. note i, p .590. If this could be form of sound words, is the master succeeding to the law. But it inferred with relation to wicked heathens from the places before seems more probable that it may allude to melted metal being us, it might also, contrary to the opinion of these authors, be con- formed by the mould into which it is poured ; and it finely ex- eluded to be the case of wicked christians, from chap. yiii. 13. presses that pliancy of temper with respect to the gospel, which Tlie truth is, that to die signifies to fall under the capital sentence constitutes so lovely a part of the true christian's character. of the divine law ; and it is well known that bcing^ast into the b As ye tinre.'i It is in the original w-iir.e ycc^: but ya^ is here ever burning lake is in this view called death, Rev. xxi. 8. most evidently an expletive, as in Greek it often is. It is of some WE ARE SET AT LIBERTY FROM THE DOMINION OF THE LAW. G07 sin ; too long that our members, made for the service of their Creator, devoted perhaps with great solemnity to our SECT. l^edeemer, have been abused and prostituted as the instruments of unrighteousness. Surely it is too much time 13. that we ha\e already spent, too much vigour that we have already exerted, in so base a servitude. For the future k't us act as those who are made free from sin. rom. And to animate us to it, let us often reflect how unfruitful the works of darkness have been found, in what ^ '• shame they have already ended, in what shame and everlasting contempt they must end if they be finally pursued. Ver. 21 And let us daily direct our eye to that everlasting life that crowns the happy prospect of those who have their fruit unto holiness. Blessed efTect of serving God now, to serve and enjoy him for ever! to enjoy, through eter- 22 nal ages, the pleasures of a nature thoroughly sanctified, and the sight and favour of that God who is the original Source and Pattern of sanctification ! It is the glorious mark at which we are aiming. Let us pursue it steadily and resolutely ; yet always remembering that it is the gift of God, and never presuming to think of so glorious a 23 remuneration as the wages of any duty we can perform. Alas ! the imperfections of our best services daily forfeit the blessings of time : how impossible then is it that the sincerity of them, amidst so macy frailties and defects, should purchase the glories of eternity !^ ^ SECTION XIV. T/te apostle enters upon his design of taking off the believing Jexvs from their fond attachment to the Mosaic law, now they were, in a spiritual sense, married to Christ by the gospel. Rom. vii. 1 — 6 Rom. vii. 1, Rom. vii. 1- t .. 1 1 Know ye not, bietliren, ^ HAVE been endeavouring to direct your regards to the gospel, and to Christ as there sect. (for I speak to them tiiat exhibited, in Order to your justification and salvation. Now you may perhaps be ready 14. k"rhath'domiuTon'mer'a ^ object, that you, who are Jews, Will certainly be out of the way of obtaining those man as long as he livetli? privileges if you should neglect the Mosaic law, the divine authority of which none can ro.m. reasonably question. J5«/ know you not, brethren, (for I am now speaking to those Vir. that are supposed to be familiarly acquainted with the contents of that law for which 1 they are so zealous;) that, on the principles which the law itself lays down, it ruleth octr a man only so long as if livcth ;^ its dominion over particular persons can, at the utmost, last no longer than till it is itself abrogated ; for that is as it were its death, since the divine authority going along with it was the very life and soul of the law. Suppose that to cease, and the letter of the precept is but a dead corpse, and, with respect to its 2 For the woman which obligation, as if it had never been. Just as it is, according to the law itself, with respect 2 bath an husband, is bound jg the power of an husband over his wife, which death entirely dissolves: for the mar-. so'loii" as hehveUi •"ijut"if ^'i'^^i woman is indeed bound and confined by the law to [lier'] husband white he is alive ; the husband be dead, she is but if \Jicr'] hushand be dead, she is set at libertri from any farther subjection to the Lu'band™™ "'^ '*"' °^ ''" '■^'^ '?/"[/"'/■] husband, that is, from that law which'had given him a peculiar property in 3 So then, if, wliile Iter her and authority over her. Therefore, if she become the properti/ of another man*" 3 husband liveth, shebe mar- ii^hUst Jicr husband Hvcth, shc carries the infamous name of an adulteress ; but if her slTall be called an adulteress: husband be dead, she is Set at liberty from the obligation of the law that bound her to but if her husband be dead, him, SO as to be no more subject to the shame and punishment of an adulteress, though so^ihat^she Is^no adulteress' '^''"^ become the property of another man : for death, having interposed between them, though she be married to hath dissolved the former relation ; he is dead to her and she to him. Thus ye also, my 4 ^notl'" '"''"• dear brethren, are in effect dead to the Mosaic law by the body of Christ," his death thren, ye\\so are become ^^^ Sufferings having now accomplished its design and abrogated its authority ; and this dead lo the law by the body with a gracious intent that ye might be, as it were, married to another, \that isf\ to him be marde^ to Mother!'ft''« '^''"^ ""^^^ ^"^ ^° glorious and triumphant a manner raised from the dead, no more to die; to him who is raised'from that in consequence of this new marriage we might bring forth fruit unto God in all b'^ -'fo^h'fmitmito Golf *^^ "'^y^ ^^ ^^*^'y obedience. s'For^viieii we were in And ye should do it with the greatest zeal ; for when we were in the flesh, that is, 5 the flesh, the motions of sins under the comparatively carnal dispensation of Moses, a variety of sinful passions, ac- ^vork^n'^our^■^members''to cideiitally occasioned and irritated by the law, were active in our members, so as to pio- briiiy forth fruit unto duce visible sinful actions, and in them ^0 ^Wwo-/brM a very different yrw/^ from that which ''*^"'= I have just been mentioning ; even, as I observed before, (chap. vi. 21, 23.) such fruit as would expose you to eternal death if God were to be strict to mark your offences, and if his mercy did not interpose to break the fatal connexion ; a circumstance which it is of 6 But now we are deliver- the utmost importance seriouslv to reflect upon. Rut now we are set at liberty from Q did'^™,e\'dn're\vereiield° ^^^ obligation to the law, that ""obligation in which we were held being in effect dead or that we should serve in abrogated, (as I told you above, ver. 1 — 4.) so as that now you are, in a more liberal man- ner, and from nobler principles, to serve God as your Master and Father in Christ, in the a So long ax it liveth ; £?>' otov ^rovov ^ii.] It would be contrary to the first husband, whose decease leaves them free to be married to the apostle's design tn suppose the sense of this to be, as our trans- Christ. lation renders it, as lomj as he, that is, the man in question, liveth ; b /f she become the property of another (im yirnr^i ivJ^i Ertju) white for he professedly endeavours to prove t'liat they had outlived their her husband liveth, ^•c.'] The apostle here speaks in the general, not obligations to the law. Eisner would connect iv^^cjira with voaio?, and entering exactly into every excepted case that might be imagined : render it, the law and aullioritij of the husband continues in force as to infer therefore, contrary to oui Lord's express decision elsewhere, long as he, that is, tlie husband, liveth ; and produces authorities to that adultery is not a sufficient foundation for divorce, seems very prove that xu^iE-jM is often applied to the o/j/Zjin;/ /'ore* o/ a /aw, or unreasonable; though Bishop Burnet assures us that stress was matrimonial customs are sometimes called Iuh'S. [Ohserv. Vol, H. once laid on the argument. Burn. Hist, of the Reformation, Vol. II. p. 31.) But this, if it avoid, as he pleads, one tautology, certainly p. 57. occasions another ; for the 2d verse plainly expresses this sense; c By the body of Christ.] He is to be considered here as testify- and it would require a transpa';ition not to be allowed without more ing by the authority of a christian apostle, that this was the design apparent reason. Our rendering is more natural, and Suits the con- of Christ's death ; so that all he docs in his argument here, is to nexion with the following verses, in which the law is represented as show that allowing it to have been thus, (as Jewish believers all did,) 608 BY THE LAW OF MOSES IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN. SECT, newness of the spirit, and not [/«] the oldness of the letter :^ lliat is, you are to live as ne-.vness of spirit, and not 14. those that are renewed by the Holy Spirit of God, in a rich abundance poured out upon '" t''^ oldness of tlie letter. you under this new and better dispensation, whereby you are brought to observe the spi- ROM. ritual meaning and design of the law, being no longer bound by these literal and cere- ^^^- nionial precepts which were indeed obligatory long since, but now begin to be antiquated ° and out of date. (Heb. viii. 13.) IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 4 God hath conferred upon all christians this singular honour, that the whole body of them should be represented as espoused to Christ. Let us always remember how we are engaged by that sacred relation to bring forth fruit iinto God. And may the remembrance of the resurrection of Christ put continual vigour into our obedience, while we regard him as the ever-living Lord, to whom our obligations are indissoluble and everlasting ! 5 Too much have sinful passions reigned in our flesh during our unconverted state. In too many instances have they wrought etfectually to bring forth fruit unto death. And we owe it to the wonderful mercy and forbear- ance of God, that death, eternal death, hath not long since been the consequence. 6 Being freed from the yoke of the ceremonial law, being freed also from the condemning sentence of that moral law under the obligations of which, by the constitution of our intelligent and rational nature, we are all born, let us thankfully acknowledge the favour, and charge it upon our grateful hearts that we serve God in newness of spirit and of life. To engage us to this, may we experience more abundantly the renewings of the Holy Ghost, and the actions of our lives will be easily and delightfully reduced to the obedience of these precepts which his omnipotent and gracious hand hath inscribed on our hearts, i . • : ; SECT. 15. ROM. VII. SECTION XV. To u-ean the believing Jews from their undue attaehment to the law of Moses, the apostle represents at large hoxu comparatively ineffectual its motives were to produce that holiness which, by a lively faith in the gospel, we may so happily obtain. Rom. vii. 7, to the end ; viii. 1 — 4. l^OM. vii. 7. ^0,, ,ii 7 I HAVE been observing above, to those of my christian brethren who were educated in What shall wesay tlien? the Jewish relisrion, that irregular passions, while we were under the law of Moses, and ^f the law sm? God forbid! ", ' ° . *^T ' . II- • . 1 c ^^ ?>av, I liad not known sjn ■ were acquainted with no superior dispensation, did m some mstances, by means ot the but by the law: for i had law, operate so as to bring forth fruit unto death. And it is necessary that I should not not know« lust except the only farther illustrate that important remark, but expressly caution against any mistake ,'fj[ covct.^*' ' '"" ^ with relation to it. What shall we say then, or what do we intend by that assertion ? [that'] the law itself [w] sin, that there is any moral evil in it, or that it is intended by 'God, or adapted by its own nature, to lead men into sin > God forbid I We revere the high authority by which it was given too humbly to insinuate any thing of that kind. And indeed there are many particulars in which / should not have known sin but by the law.'^ I should not, in a mere state of nature, have apprehended the evil of them ; which I now learn from finding them so expressly- prohibited. I had not, for instance, known the sinfulness of lust or irregular desires, unless the law had said, " Thou shall not covet ;"'' from whence it was easy to infer that this law takes cognizance of the heart as J well as of external actions. But as soon as I had understanding enough to perceive that 8 But sin taking occasion the law forbade the indulgence of irregular desires, I found that I liad in fact broken it, '^y Vf • ''"'""'/;"<^™<="'' 1.1- 117 -1 1 r 1 1 111- £• 11 wrought in me all manner and thereby incurred the penalty, without any hope ot help and deliverance troni the law. of concupiscence: Forwith- And this, while I looked no farther, naturally tended to throw my mind into a state of out the law sin wus dead, dejection and despair. So that I may say that sin, taking occasion from the awful sanc- tion of the commandment^ the wrath and ruin which it denounced, brought me into so sad a situation of mind, and left me so little strength and spirit to resist future temptation, when I seemed already undone, that it might in a manner be said to have wrought pow- erfully in me all manner of concupiscence ;'^ such advantage did sin g n against me. And I mention this as the effect of my becoming acquainted with the la because while I was ignorant of the sentence, and considered myself as without th<. law of God, sin their freedom from the Mosaic law followed on the very principles powers of their souls were under a divine inspection, and that of that law itself. much guilt might be contracted which did not appear to any A Newness of llie spirit, not [in] (he oldness of tlte letter."] This is human eye. the literal version, but new spirit, and old letter, arc tantamount ex- c Sin tnliinrj occasion from the commandment.] Mo.<;t commenta- jiressions, and are more agreeable to the turn of our language. tors have explained this as signifying that sin was quickened by the a / sliould not have linown sin, i^-c] The apostle here, by a very prohibition, the inclination of human nature In general being" like dexterousjjjiu^hanges the person, and speaks as of himself. This that of a froward child, who will do a thing because It was forbid- TTiTelse^vITere does, (Rora. ili.G; 1 Cor. x. 30; chap. iv. 6-) when he den, and perhaps is, as it «ere, reminded of an evil, on hearing it is only personating another character. And the character assumed ' mentioned In a prohibition. But not to examine how far this Is a liere is that of a man first ignorant of the law, then under it, and ' universal case, it must surely be acknowledged that all lust does sincerely desiring to please God, but finding, to his sorrow, the not arise from hence, much iieing previous to any possible know- weakness of the motives it suggested, and the sad discouragement le which often rises, with an almost irresistible strength, to assume a tyrannical dominion over me, as if I were its slave and 15 For that which I do property. For that which I actually do, I allow or approve not' in many instances ; /or 15 I allow net: for what 1 too often, through the strength of passion and surprise of temptation, / practise not that would that do I "ot; but _^,/^^-^^ ^^ ^j^^ general tenor of my mind I habitually will; but the things which I even What nate, tuat ao . ^^^^^^ ^^.^^^ ^ ^^.^^ ^^ ^^.^^^ ^^^^ greatest abhorrence, those things in many respects /am so 16 iftheni dothatwhioh unhappy to do; which indeed makes me a burden to myself. Now if I do that which 1 16 I would not, I consent unto ^oould not, in willing not to do it / do so far, though to my own condemnation, consent the law that it is good. ^^ ^/^^, ^^„^,^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^, testimony to it that [it «] good, and do indeed desire to fulfil^ it ; though, when a pressing hour of temptation comes, contrary to my resolution, I fail in n Now then it is no more observing it. But now, in these circumstances, It is no more I myself that can propcily 17 1 that do it, but sin that ^e said to do it, but rather sin, which dwellcth in me, and which makes, as it were, dwellethinme. another person, having desires and motions and interests entirely contrary to these of tlie 18 Fori know that in me renewed part within, which I would call my better self. For I well know that in me, IS many good purposes : 2;ood I find not. ^^.j^^^ ^j^^^^ -j^j^ ^^^^^^ j ^^^j „^^ -^^ ^^^ jjg^rt a sufficient [ability'] strenuously to perfor, 19 For the good that I that which I know is good, and which I acknowledge to be most amiable and desirable, would, I do not; but the jj j^ indeed so grievous a reflection to me, that I cannot forbear repeating it again and again ; I J ev,!^ wh.ch I would not, that ^^^, .^ .^ ^^^^^ »^ ^^^^ j ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ j ^^^^^^ ^-^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ do ; but the evil c I was once alive without the law.-] The apostle cannot, as Mr. h Sold under sin.-] This is often urged as an argument H'-it t''e Locke supposes here, speak in the person of the whole Jewish peo- apostle here speaks in the person of a wicked "i^"- *"" ' . n i7 pie, and in this clause refer to the time between Abraham and sented as a phrase parallel to 1 Kings xxi. 2U;_^ ^ino-^N i^^.j^j- which, not being rightly applied, prove fatal, may nevertheless be mainder of imperfecta. .- , „,;„i,f ,„;, u intn die nmntli said to have been inlended for cure plainly show with what propriety Paul might put it into th( nmutl. saiaionaveoeen.«««u™/07 e«rf. ^f one\vhom he did not consider as an abandoned sinner, and dosti- g So that it appeared : iva (pivn] Eisner contends that ^3!v») \ expletive here; but I chuse not to allow any word in scripture to tute of every principle ot real piety. ^ \ bean expletive that may fairly and naturally be expounded into i I approve not.] *j3.UKeT (JJe an/t. i \ any significant sense; as it is plain this may here b&r-Jsfi»-«1sncr, vers. Miscell. li/> i. cap. 6.) and Kaphelii 06si?r" Vol II p 37. ■ instances of such a use of the word vivcoTx, rove not.] Gataker {J)e Sti/l. Nov. Testam. cap. 4 ; Ad- us (in loc.) bring apposite TXW. 2 R 610 SECT. 15. HOM. vn. ROM VIII. THE HAPPINESS OF BEING FREED FROM THE LAW OF SIN. •which I will not to do, which I form the strongest purposes against, that I do'' in repeated instances. If therefore, as I said before, I do that -which I would not, and am, as it were, overpowered in some cases and circumstances, contrary to the settled and prevailing bent and inclination of my soul, it is no morel that do it, hut sin, which, as another person, dwelleth in me^ and, like an evil demon when it has taken possession of a man, uses my •2*^ faculties and powers, over which it usurps an a]2hon:ed dominion, to carry on its own con- 21 trary and destructive interests. J find then, upon the whole, a sort of constraining law, which so influences me, that when I would do good, evil is in fact present with me. 22 For with regard to the inner man, that is, my mind, the better and nobler powers of my intellectual nature, I delight in the law of God,"" I most heartily approve it, and look upon its whole system with complacency, as what I could rejoice to be conformed to in the 23 completest manner and highest degree. But, alas ! I see another and quite opposite law of vicious and irregular inclinations seated in my viembers, which, taking its rise from a lower and meaner principle, is continually making war against thehbiiex law of my mind, and too frequently captivating me to the law of sin, which is, as I said, seated in my cor- 2Aporcal members. fVrefcherl ?nan that I am ! do I often cry out, in such a circumstance, with no better supports and incitements than the law can give ; who slultt rescue me, miserable captive as I am, from the body of this death ? From this continual burden which I carry about with me, and which is cumbersome and odious as a dead carcase tied to a living body, to be dragged along with it v/herever it goes." Thus I bemoan myself when I think only of the Mosaic law, the discoveries it makes, the motives it suggests, and the circumstances in which it leaves the otTender : but in the midst of this gloomy prospect, a sight of the gospel revives my heart, and I cry out as in a kind of rapture, as soon as I turn mine eyes to it, I thank God, through Jesus Christ owr Lord,° in whom he now reveals himself to me, and by whom he dehvereth me from this bondage and misery. So then, whereas I myself,^ with the nobler powers of my spirit, serve the law of God, though in too many instances I am so oppressed with the infirmity . oimy Jlcsh, that I am subdued by the law of sin, [There «] now, under the gospel -dis- pensation, no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Jlesh but ^ after the Spirit ;i that is, to those who, making a profession of the christian faith, do in the main course of their lives verify that profession, governing themselves by spiritual views 2 and maxims, and not by carnal appetites and interests. I say it again, I thank God for thisdispensation with all the powers of my soul ; for though, when considering myself as only under the law, I made such melancholy complaints, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, that glorious gospel which is attended with an abundant effusion of the vivifying and animating Spirit, has now recovered me, mortally wounded as I seemed to have been, and set me at liberty from that lamented captivity to the law of sin and 3 death.^ For God hath now, by a gracious and most wonderful appearance, [done'] what if was impossible for the law to do, in that it was comparatively weak through the great infirmity of the flesh ^^ against which in so corrupt a state it coald not, merely by its own principles, sufficiently provide:' [/^e,] I say, the great Father of mercies, by sending his 25 20 Now if I do that I wouU! not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelletli ill me. 21 I find tlien :i law, that when I would do good, rvil is present witli me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward raan : i 23 But I see another law iu ray members, warring against the law of my mind, and briuginy me into cap- tivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am, who sliall deliver me from the body of this death ! 25 I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. -.So then, with tlie mind I my- self serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condem- nation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath maderne free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the k Tlie evil winch J will not, that I do.l If the meaning of such expressions as these were, that, upon the whole, the person using them went on in a prevailing course of haljitual wickedness, against the convictions and dictates of his own conscience, one would imagine Paul,ivould have rebuked such a one with great se- vftnt-yT'and answered fiTFse vain and hypocrittTal pleas ; whereas he represents this person afterwards as with joy embracing the gos- pel, and so obtaining superior strength, upon the full manifestation of pardoning grace there. I Sin that dwelleth, Sfc"] This seems indeed no more than a re- petition of verse 17. but it is avgiaccfuj-'and expressive repetition, and shows how near the afl'air Iay~1»-qgreeable illustration"orthis paragfapTT — Trr~rcletig/il in the law of God after the inner man.'] This is so sure a trace of real piety, and is represented in scripture as, in this view, so decisive, that if it be supposed a true representation of the character, we must surely allow it to have been that of a truly good man, whatever lamented imperfections might attend it. — Plato uses the'jjhrase o eins avSpim; for the rational part of our nature. n Dead carcase, &c.] It is well known that some ancient writers mention this as a cruelty practised by some tyrants on miserable captives who fell into their hands; and a more forcible and ex- pressive image of the sad case represented cannot surely enter into the mind of man. o I thank God, through Jes'is Christ.'] For wx'^^iitu tu ©£w, some copies read n x"?'^ "" &tou, the grace of God, which to be sure makes a, noble,sense ; but that of the received .-ind much move authentic cdpteTcomes very near it, and in the main coincides with it. p If'hcrcas J serve, ^-c. — there is now no condemnation, Sfc] 1 think there is not in the whole New Testament a more unhappy division between two chapters than what has been made here, not only in the midst of an argimient, but even of a sentence. Agat ol>v and aQx vuv answer so evidently to each other, that I think it plain (the former should he rendered whereas, and then the sense appears plain and strong. I must confess this to be an uncommon use of vpx ■ but if it be, as it of'tep is, an_ expletive, it will, come to much the same. *""~~ vXX '' ' OOQ'^-*''" ^ ' q To those in Christ Jesus who walk, S,-c.'] ilt is certain that/to be in Christ, though it sometimes imports a true and sanctifying faith, (2 Cor. v. 17.) at other times expresses only an external pro- fession ; (John XV. 2.) and as the article «k is not repeated, 1 think it is plain the latter clause limits the former, which justifies our renderinc. Compare Psal. l.fxiii. 1. r Hath set me at liberty, S,-c.'] It is to be observed that the same person who spoke before is here represented as continuing the dis- course, and speaks of himself as delivered from the bondage so bit- terly complained of. s " l/'hat it teas impossible for the law to do, Sfc.'] It is indeed true in the general, as the uious Professor Zimmerman justly observes, (in his «celkHt Comiitnrf.' de Emin. Cognit. Christi, p. C, 7, and ,3'1.) " that tnr^ength of the law is not adequate to that of corrupt " nature ; and it is by evangelical considerations that we are most " effectually animated to subdue sin." But that is to be consider- ed as a consequence of what the apostle here asserts concerning the law of Mo.scs, rather tlian the assertion itself. And indeed, who- ever considers the awful nature and sanctions of that law, must ac- knowledge that it was calculated to be a much more efiicacious restraint from sin than the unassisted light of nature, or than any other dispensation revealing God's law, prior to the gospel, so that the above-mentioned consequence is very51T?ing. t Merely by its own principles, sufficiently provide,] By this clause I endeavour to lay in an efl'ectual answer to that objection which might lie against' t'lie apostle's argument and our explication of it, from (he eminent heights of goodness attained by some holy men under the law. It was not by the law, though under it, that they obtained them, but by tho.se evangelical promises which mingled with the law, though they did not make a part of it, but sprang from the AJjrahamic covenant, which, as the apostle else- where urges, was unrepealed by the law ; and this, whicli the Jews were so ready to forget, (Kora. x. 3.) is the point that he so parti- cularly labours, both in this Epistle and that to the Galatians, to inculciite. REFLECTIONS ON GOD'S SENDING HIS OWN SON TO FREE US FROM SIN. 611 likeness of sinful fiesh, and oTvn well-beloved So)i, in the likeness of sinful Jlesh,"^ \vith all those innocent infirmities SECT. for sin, condemned sin in which the first apostasy of our nature brought upon human flesh, artdjoy appointing him 15. "*'' to be a sacrifice to make expiation /«/• sin,'^ hath condemned sin in the Jlesh. In stead of being victorious, it is now brought under a sentence of death and destruction, ROivr. which we, animated by these glorious motives of the gospel, are enabled to put into ^ ^"• 4 That the righteousness execution : That the righteousness of the law, in all its fundamental branches, 7na>/ 4 of the law mi-ht be ful- y,]^]^ greater ardour of holy zeal be fulfilled in us, -who answer the eng:ag:ements of our tilled in us, who walk not • • ^" r • i .,1 , c i- ;/ . y , ^ ? . , , Mter the flesh but after the christian profession, and, m the tenor ot our lives, -goalie not after the flesh to indulge its ^iiir'* desires and demands, but after the Spirit ; that is, who, under the influences of the Spirit of God, abound in the sentiments and duties of a truly spiritual life. You see therefore, my dear brethren, by the whole series of this discourse, not only how safely you may cease the observation of the Mosaic law, but how absolutely necessary it is that you should' look beyond that, and consequently beyond any other law, natural or revealed ; as ever you expect justification before God, and desire to be animated to serve him in an acceptable mauner. IMPROVEMENT. Admirable and adorable indeed were the condescensions of the blessed God, in sending his orcn Son in the Ver. 3 likeness of our sinful flesh, stript of its original glories, that he might become an expiatory sacrifice for sin. Let us remember the grand purpose for which he did it ; that he might condemn sin in our flesh, that he might enable us to do execution on sin as a condemned malefactor. In his name therefore let us pursue the victory, and rejecting every overture of accommodation, with determined zeal to do justice upon it. And may what we have been reading establish our resolution of walking, not after f lie flesh, but after the Spirit, since we are nov/ delivered from the 1 curse of a broken law, and blessed with a dispensation so properly called the law of the Spirit of life in Christ 2 Jesus : a dispensation by attending to the peculiarities of which we may be enabled to extend our conquests over sin in the most elfectual manner, and to attain heights of virtue and piety to which no legal considerations and motives alone could raise us. But oh, what reason of humiliation is there that we improve it no better, and that these melancholy jUaips should so well become us ! that instead of pressing forward daily to fresh victories, and making new improvements in the divine life, we should so often complain, and have so much cause to complain, of a law in our members, not only v warring against the law of our minds, but even, in many instances, bringing us into captivity to the law of sin and 23, 24 death ; so that we christians should cry out, likeJliosejinder the Mosaic economy, O wretched meji that we arc, who shall deliver us ? Let renewed views of Christ Jesus amtnafe uTfoTeneweJvigour in this warfare ; lest, when 25 we are delivered from those ^ervUe_t£r«)rs which the legal dispensation under a consciousness of guilt might have 8, 11 awakened, sin, no longer able to take this occasion from the law, should appear yet more exceeding sinful, by taking 13 occasion, in another view, even from the gospel itself; which in many instances it seems to do. Let us remember that the law of God is holy, just, and good ; delighting in it more and more after o«r inner 12, 22 man, and taking heed that we do not deceive ourselves, by such a passage as this, into a secret but vain and fatal hope, that because we are convinced of our duty, and feel in our conscience a sense of the evil of sin, we might be said to serve the law of God, while, by abandoning ourselves to known acts of wilful transgression, we are, in our flesh, serving the law of sin. Habitually to allow ourselves in neglecting the good we approve and committing the evils we condemn, is the readiest way that hell itself can point out for the ruin of immortal souls ; in such a case, all that we know and all that we feel concerning the obligations of duty and the excellence of holiness, aggravate rather than extenuate our failures ; and though the sublime vie\vs which eminently good men under the gospel have of re- ligion may sometimes incline them to adopt such complaints as these, in reference to the unallowed and lamented deficiencies and infirmities of a tmly upright and pious life, it remains an eternal truth, which, instead of being abrogated under the New Testament, is most expressly confinned, that he who doth righteousness is righteous, and 21, 24 aot he that merely wishest^o doit; and he who committeth sin is of the devil, even though he should speak against it like arTaposfle or an angeh It is indeed impossible exactly to jay the line that separates the boundaries of the kingdom of Christ and of Satan ; nor is it by any means a desirable thing that we should know the lowest state of weakness and degeneracy into which a christian may fall while he continues in the main a christian. We have great reason to doubt whether we be really"c!nTstians ourselves, if for our own sakes we~wish to know it. Our calling obliges us to aspire after the most eminent attainment in religion ; it obliges us never to rest till we find ourselves dead indeed unto sin and alive to . c r" God throuo-h Jesus Christ, so as to abound in all the vital fruits of righteousness unto his praise and glory. "VTuxvUv J-H > \ o % SECTION XVI. ' The obligations which the gospel lays upon us to a holy life are further urged, and especially those arising from the communication of the Spirit of God to believers. Rom. viii. 5 — 17. ROM. viii. 5. I^O^- ^'"i- 5. SECT. For they that are after I HAVE in the preceding discourse urged it again and again, that we who profess ourselves IG. the flesh.do mind the things christians should walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, as ever we desire to rejoice in the glorious deliverance which the gospel brings ; and with the greatest reason : for this is rom. indeed the most important distinction in the character of men, and not any fonn of outward VIH. 5. u The likeness of sinful flesh.'] Those writers who imagine that x For sin.'\ That anxfTnc signifies a sacrifice for sin, is very our first parents were in their original state clothed with a visible apparent from Heb. x. G ; 2 Cor. v. ult. and a^vast 'P^'iy other lustre, wtiich was lost by their transgression, in reference to which passages. The reader will observe how very eAsy ilils IlUTe trans- it is said t/iat they knew they trere naked, naturally explain this position, on account of what is so plainly a parenthesis, makes tins clause by that hypothesis. passage, which is generally thought so obscure. C12 HE WHa HATH NOT THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST IS NOT HIS. SECT, profession, or rite of worship and devotion. They- who are after thejicsh, that is, who of the flesh ; but they that 16. remain under the influence of a corrupt and degenerate nature, do mind the things of the «■'': ^fter the^ spirit, the Jlesh, they prefer and pursue carnal and animal gratifications ; but thej/ ivho are "after the t'"ugsofthe Spmt. ROM. Spirit, that is, who linow any thing experimentally of that Spirit of life which I mentioned ^JII- above, (ver. 2.) [clo mind'\ and pursue the things of the Spirit ; their minds are formed to ^ a superior relish of spiritual, intellectual, and sacred pleasures, suited to that nobler and 6 immortal part of their nature. Now as the character of these persons is so widely different, o For to be carnally their end will be proportionably so ; for the ?ninding ofthe^esh,^ the preferring and pur- ™'i"^t'^'^ii* ''^'^1''] ^^\ ^° ]>^ suing its interests, [m] death ; it is the greatest misery that can be imagined, and that which a'l'd'peac/: """ "^ '* ' « leads to everlasting death and ruin ; whereas the minding, preferring, and pursuing the in- terests of the Spirit [/s] life and peace ; the greatest present good and happiness, which 7 leads to life and glory everlasting. And it must needs be so ; because the carnal mind, as 7 Because the carnal I have described it above, [«] in the very essence of it an absolute enmity to the blessed f^^^. f^* itT'iot subject God, from whom all life and peace and happiness proceed ; and consequently it brings us to the law of God, neither into a state of hostility against him. For it is iinpossible his creatures should be in a state '"'l*^'^^' '^'i" be. of friendship with him unless they are in a state of willing subjection to him. Now as for the carnal mind, it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it possibly be [.so.] For, however you may suppose any law of God to vary as to ritual and ceremonial institutions, while the nature of God continues pure and holy, as it must eternally and im- mutably do, he cannot but require the observation of the grand branches of moral virtue, founded on the unalterable nature and relation of things ; ,'he therefore must require us to be 8 spiritually minded, and to prefer the interest of the soul to that of the body. .So that they 8 So then they that are who are in thejlesh, that is, under the government of a fleshly principle, whatever ceremo- q^J^''^ *'^*'' ^'^^^^^ please nial precepts they may observe, or whatever orthodox principles of faith they may profess and maintain, yet cannot possibly please God : He must either abhor and punish them, 9 or dishonour his own law, and contradict his pure, holy, and unchangeable nature. But 9 But ye are not in the blessed be God »ou christians ai-e not in the flesh, in that carnal, enslaved state described ?!^k ' .u",' 1" i.^*^ ^J"VU 'f 1- I ^ .lY o ■ .L J 1 I.- • n '^ 1. .V i • 1 so be that the Spirit of God above, out in the Spirit, and unaer his mtiuence ; yea, ray brethren, are certamly so if dwell in you. Now if any that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you ; for wherever he dwells he reigns, and makes the ™*". ^aj^e not the Spirit of soul thoroughly holy. And if any ?nan have not the Spirit of Christ thus residing and " e is none o us. governing in him, then, whatever he may pretend, he is none of his ; he is not to be reckoned as a disciple of Christ, and Christ will disown him another day, as having only abused his name while he wore it. 10 And, by the way, to animate your hopes and all your graces, remember that if Christ lo And if Christ be in [be] thus resident in you by his sanctifying Spirit, though the body [«] indeed dead be- cause *o/sin°''b uf ''s^ "^^t cause of the first sin that ever entered into the world,'' which, as I showed above, has is life, because of right- brought on a sentence of universal death ; yet the Spirit [is] life, and shall after death eousness. continue living, active, and happy, because of that righteousness of whicli our great 11 Head, the second Adam, is the Author, as I have inculcated at large. And we have this n Bat if the Spirit of farther joyful hope, that if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus, our great Covenant- fw™ the^dead cUve"i*in"'you! }ie3id, from the dead, dwell in you, he that so povreriuWy and gioriousiy raised up Christ he that raised up Christ from the dead will also, in due time, quicken your mortal bodies, though corrupted and '^''°.™ *'"^ ^^'^^ •'*'''j'} V.^° J . ^, , ., ' c ji i i. J r 1 t< • -J L- i quicken your mortal bodies consumed m the grave, by the agency of that great and poweriul Spirit which now by bis Spirit that dwelleth dwelleth in you, and acts to quicken you in the divine life. i" you- 12 Therefore, my dear brethren, since it is certain the gratifications of the flesh can do '2 Therefore, brethren, nothing for us like that which will be done for us at the resurrection, and since all present fle^sjf to live afterthe flesh? enjoyments are mean and worthless when compared with that, here is a most substantial argument for that mortification and sanctity which the gospel requires. And it necessarily follows that we are debtors to the Spirit, which gives us such exalted hopes, and not unto 13 the flesh, that we should live_ after the dictates, desires, and appetites of the flesh. For 13 For if ye live after the I must plainly and faithfully tell you, and must repeat and inculcate it upon you as a ye^^thr^uA'rth^'Ipiri't'^ do matter of infinite importance, that if you, though professing christians, and some of you mortify tiie deeds of the eminent for so high and distinguishing a profession, (compare chap. i. 8.) do live after the body, ye shall live. ^esh, and mind nothing superior to its interests, ye shall assuredly die, that is, shall perish by the sentence of an holy God, no less than if you were Jews or heathens. But if you, through the influence and assistance of God's Holy Spirit, and the exercise of those graces which he by regeneration has implanted in your souls, do rnortify and subdue the deeds of the body, those carnal inclinations from whence all criminal indulgences of the body arise, ye shall live ; ye shall finally obtain a state of complete felicity, in spite of all that death can do to dissolve these animal bodies ; not now to insist on that true, rational delight which is only to be found here in such a course, and without which our abode on earth scarce deserves the name of life. Well may it be expected that in this case you shall live for ever, since hereby your adoption of God, which must entitle you to a blissful immortality, will 14 be approved. For as many as arc led by the Spirit of God, and humbly resign them- 14 For as many as are led selves to be guided whithersoever he will, by his sweet and secret influence on the soul, they J^ ^^^ soi's'of°Gotr ' * are indeed the sons and daughters of God, and shall inherit eternal life with their a Now the viinding, S)-c.2 It is plain yx^ must here signify now, a death with respect to sin, and a life with respect to righlcnus- fiir nothing could be more absurd than to say that some minded ness, I tliink the version here retained much preferable; and if ' the tilings of the flesh, because it is death to do it. this be admitted, it will certainly determine the sense of the next b T/w body is dead because of sin, &c.] Some would render it verse quite contrary to Mr. Locke's unnatural gloss, which explains U'tlh respect to sin ; but as there is uo seeming opposition between quickening the mortal body by sanctifying the immortal spirit. REFLECTIONS ON THE PRIVILEGES OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD. 613 heavenly Father ; of which, indeed, if we are obedient to his holy dictates and motions, sect. 15 F..r ye liave not re- we already receive the earnest and foretastes. For ye who are real christians /laie 7joi 16. ceivedtlie spirit ot boiidage received the spirit of bondage again unto fear,'' ye are not come under another dis- • rfi^ei've'd th^e .spirit of adop- pensation like that of IMoses, which was much more adapted to strike the mind with ROM. tion, whereby wc cry, Abba, terror, and often produces a servile disposition ; but, on the contrary, ye have received ^'''■ ^'^^^'^- the spirit of adoption, ihe confidence of children in approaching to God; bi/ •which \5 spirit, whatever our different nations and languages may be, ice can with equal joy and freedom, present our addresses to his throne, and rrv, with the overflowings of filial afiec- 16 The Spirit itselfbear- tion to him, and fraternal love to each other, Abba, Father.^ For as the communication 16 tth witness with our spirits, of the visible and extraordinary gifts of the Spirit both to Jews and Gentiles, witnesses (r'ud."'^^'^'^ "^ ^ ' '^'^° ° oxii exactly signifies) for such a remedy and a yet more exalted state .after the resurrection. • relief as the gospel brings, by the prevalency of which human ; c The adoption, &c.] I entirely agree with Mr. Howe, {Works, nature would be rescued from vanity and corruption, and inferior: Vol. I. p. fiSO, 681.) that here is an allusion to the two kinds of creatures from tyranny and abuse. Nothing is more common than j adoption among the Romans : the first of which was private, the to represent a land as mourning or rejoicing, as calling for rain, ^x. second pid/iic in the forum, when tlie adopted person was solemnly And if this be allowed to be the meaning of tliese three verses,thegra- declared and avowed to be the son of the adopter. Compare dation in the 2.3d will be much more intelligible than on any other Luke xx. 36. scheme that I knov/. See the next note. d Deliverance, &c.] That redemption sometimes signifies b Bring on this important birth, &c.] It is indeed true, that to deliverance, is very certain. Compare Luke jjxi. 28; Eph. i. M ; be in ponj/s /(7.e rt w;oniffln !rt <)aDa(7 sometimes only signifies being Heb. xi. 35. in great distress, where there is no reference to any expected birth ; REFLECTIONS ON THE AID AND FIRST-FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT. 615 something in the greatness of the prospect to repay the tediousness of the most afflicted sect. circuinstances, and to excite us to prepare for it by cultivating a suitable temper in all its 17. branches. 26 Likewise (he Spirit^^^^'Sndi hope doth our holy profession administer to us for our support amidst all the dif- rom. also helpeth our infirmities; fi(^ulties of our christian course ; and we have moreover this important privilege, that the ^'m IliouM ''pruy "'/'or'''^' we Holy Spirit of God graciously Icndcth us his helping hand'' under all our burdens and 26 ougiii: but flie Spirit itself infirmities ; so that we are not left to sustain them alone: wiiich is of vast moment in niuketh intercessijin tor us ,-,^ri,iv respects, and particularly in the conduct of our devotions i for we are surrounded v>ith Kioaniiiars which can- "'""J • r '. > j • j- ^\ l ■ • i / l i i i not ix^utteri rtl With SO much iguorancc and prejudice, taat m many instances tve do not kao~di what we should fray for as xce ought, because we know not on the whole what may be best for us • but the Spirit itself tnanages llicse affairs for us, guiding our minds to suitable petitions, anu exciting in them correspondent affections, and sometimes inspiring us -with that intense ardour of holy desire which no words can express, but ^jinust therefore vent 27 Aiulheihatsearcheih themselves in unutterable g?'oanings. But though we are not able to speak these de- 27 tiio hearis knoweth what is ^[^■^;^^ they are not concealed from God : he who searchith the inmost recesses of human c!lusT''hc°'^makeur'i'i',ter- hearts, hioweth what [is^, the mind of the Spirit;^ he reads all these secret agitations of . rssinn for the saints ac- our spirits which answer to the ^motions of his ; for he manages affairs for his saints cndmg to lAe will o/Go(\. according to [the'] gracious [livl^-ftTid appointment [of] God.-s 'a circiinistance which we cannot recollect without the greatest ^easuro, and the most cheerful expectations of receiving every suitable blessing in consequence^ it, and in answer to these prayere which are presented to God under such influence. IMPROVEIMENT. For ever adored be the divine goodness, in sending down his Spfrit on such sinful creatures to help our Infir- Vtr, 26 ■ultlcs; to implant and to excite graces in our hearts, to be a source of present delights and of eternal happiness. May we feel him helping our infirmities and improving our joy in the Lord to such a degree, that all our devo- tions may be animated sacrifices ! Let not the want of expression in that case trouble us ; these unutterable groan- 27 ings are sometimes the sweetest music in the ear of God. Well may such fervent groanings be excited, when we view that great and glorious object which the gospel IS proposes to our hope. Let us encounter the sufferings of the present time with a fortitude becoming those that see them so short and so far overbalanced by tlie immense and boundless prospects which lie beyond them ; pros- pects of unclouded lustre and unmingled felicity. When we consider the state of that part of the world in which Christianity is unknown, or of those among whom 19 it is a mere empty form ; when we consider the vanity to which that part of God's creation is subject, let it move our compassion and our prayers, that the state of glorious liberty into which God has already brought those who 20 / by faith in Christ are his children, may become more universally prevalent, and the knowledge of the Lord cover 21 ' the earth as the waters cover, the channdofAlie seas. Oh that divine and omnipotent grace may give a birth j to that grand event, in the expectatiismsfwhich nature seems in pangs; such a birth that nations might be born 22 in a day : and where the children are born, may it give a more abundant grovv'th and more happy increase ! We have received what the travailing creation has not, the first-fruits of the Spirit, and they must surely excite 23 us to groan after the redemption ofUsodies ; yet still with humble submission to the will of God, waiting his wisely- appointed hour for the dissolution' and for the restoration of them. That God in whose hand these important events are, best knows how long to exercise our faith, whether in this mortal world or in the intermediate state ; nor should any delay be esteemed long by those who have so cheerful an hope of enjoying God for ever. ' jY\ w-^-*,/^ ' i-^V i s SECTION XVIIf. The apostle represents other advantages for holiness which the gospel gives us, particularly those which arise from an assurance that all things shall work together for our good ; and from the view we have, as true christians, of an eternally gracious plan xrhlch God has laid Jor our happiness, in pursuance of which he hath already done such great things for us, especially in sending his Son for our redemption ; whence his people may be assured that no accusation shall prevail against them, and no tefnptations separate them from his love. Rom. viii. 28, to the end. KoM.viii.28. ., Rom. viii. 28. And we know that all I HAVE taken occasion to hint at many privileges which, in coHsequence of paiticijoating SECi'. thingrs work togetiier for ^f {{^g gospel, you enjov : and now.I must add this to the rest, that though our afflictions ^"7- good to them that love God, i- , -^ "^ • i ^i i i i .• i ^ ii may he heavy upon us, and though our burdens may continue long, yet we assuredly know that all things which occur in the course of Divine Providence, either in their pre- ^°?!' sent and immediate, or future and more remote, consequences, do and shall work together for real and everlasting good to tllcm that sincerely and prevalently love the blessed God," 28 e Lendcth vs his helping hand.] I know not how better to render aysuv, mnnages affairs for the saints, as the office of an intercessor that cxprcEsive phrase, av)/xvri\xpi^xvsrxt ri/yuv, which literally ex- with God is so peculiarly that of Christ, our Advocate uith the Fa- 'presses the action of one who helps another to raise or bear a burden, ther, ^ John ii. 1. As for the phrase, xjra ©tov, it is capable of many by taking hold of it on one side and lifting it or bearing it with him ; different significations ; but I do not think it here signifies the same and so it seeins'to intimate the obligation on us to exert our lit^e with evmiiov ra e>ie, in the presence of God, but rather on the pari of strength, feeble as it is, in concurrence with this almighty aid. \ God, that is, by his appointment, or perhaps, as we render it, nc- f the mind of tlie Spirit.1 The phrase is here fe^vnAtx th v/tvuxT^t-- cording to the will of God. I have tlierefore retained our version, the very same that was used ver. 6. and expresses not merely the \ and included both tlie senses in the paraphrase. meaning, but Uie temper and disposition of the vund, as, under the > a All things which occur in the cour.'e of Divine Providence, &c.] influences of the Divine Spirit, pursuing and breathing after sucli ' It is so plain from the whole context that the apostle only speaks ol blessings as suit its rational and immortal nature. providential events, and it is so evident that the universal ex- g Manages affairs for the saints, ^■c.'] I agree with a late ingenious prcssion all is sometimes to be taken in a limited sense, that it must writer, several times mentioned before, in rendering ivruvx^vEiv vn^ argue, I fear, something worse than weakness, to pretend that sin is G\6 HE THAT SPARED NOT HIS OWN SON, WILL GIVE US ALL THINGS. SECT, a/id are by divine grace called and formed to this happy principle, nccording to {Ids] to them who arc the called 18. gracious and effectual purpose. We have this confidence, I say, because God in his eter- according to i,is purpose. nal counsels designed this, and appointed a proper series of subordinate causes to make way knolvj^e ahrdid'nreVi'tt ROM. for that blessed event in which all is to terminate ; establishing a certain connexion be- "ate to be conformed to the ^''11- t\veen the one and the other ; a connexion which in the greatest distress is our confidence '"""S^ *^f his Son that he 29 and our joy : For whom heforckncxv as the objects of his peculiarly favourable regards," among ma^ny brethren °™ knoM ing with everlasting complacency his own thoughts of peace towards them, (com- pare 3ev. xxix. 2.) he did also predestinate [to'\ stand in a peculiar relation to the great Redeemer, and [be'] made in due tim.e conformable to the image of that glorious and blessed Person, even Jesus his only-begotten and best-beloved Son', who is now exalted high above all heavens. He appointed, I say, such a conformity between him and them, that he might be, and appear to be, the first-horn among many brethren ; and might at length see many of his brethren by his means sharing with him in that happiness to which he is now received, and in which he shall for ever shine, distinguished from them 30 all in rays of peculiar glory. To this felicity did the Father of mercy decree to raise a 30 Moreover, whom lie part of our fallen and miserable race ; and those -whom he thus predestinated he in ''''* p'cdestiuate, them he due time hath called, or will hereafter in their succeeding generations call, by the invita- caiieT't'lfen/he aLoTus'tf tions of the gospel and operations of his Spirit, to repent and believe, that so they might fieJ : 'and whom he justi- claim the promised blessings, in virtue of that everlasting covenant which they cordially *'^'"' ""^'" ''^ ^''*'' g'o^fied. embrace; and ivko/n he hath thus called, he hath, on their compliance with that call, Justified,'^ freed them from the condemning sentence of his law, and given them a plead- s^aWe,right to a full acquittal at his bar; and those whom, he hath thus justified hcliath also glorified,'^ that is, he hath appointed they should ere long attain to complete glory and happiness, to which, by virtue of their union with him, they may be said even now to arrive. (Eph. iii. 4.) 31 Onthe whole, what shall we therefore saj/ to these things, OT conclude uponihkreview} 3i What shall we then surely we may courageously defy all our enemies, and say, J/" that God who hath all ^'ly to "'ese things? If God power in himself, and all the events of time and eternity under his direction, [be,] as we ^^^ p ""- '"'^^ '^«« *^ against have heard, for us, who [c.'/«] presume to [be] against its, or be able to do us any hurt by the fiercest opposition, while we are guarded by such a Protector ? Yea, I may add, 32 He that spared not his 32 not only what have we to fear, but what have we not to hope and expect, in connexion ''^''" ^'^"' "^"^ 'leiiveredhim with such views as these ? He that spared not his oxen, his proper and only-begotten Son, ZiZ\i^ him'' aTso^'fLiy when even his blood and life came into question, but willingly delivered him up to agony &>ve us all things? and death, that he might be a sacrifice /o/- us all, how shall he not with him freely o-rant us all other things subservient to our truest happiness, which may now be regarded as the purchase of his blood ? We may reasonably conclude that what is now withheld would be detrimental rather than advantageous to us. 33 Upon the whole, the:.i, we may take courage and say. Who shall lodge any accusation against the elect of God," against those who love him, and have been, as we before ob- served, predestinated and called according to his eternal purpose ? [Is it] God ? What ! he who himself justificth ?^ as the prophet in his own case expresses it; (Isa. 1. 8. 9.) he 34 is ready to answer all objections, and solemnly to pronounce us absolved : Who [is] he then that eondemneth ? [Is it] the Lord Jasus Christ, whom we know to be appointed d'e"d'"vt'a (athe^''1hal'"is as the final Judge ? What ! doth he condemn, who hath died to expiate our guilt and risen again, who is even rescue us from condemnation ? yea rather, (which is the most delightful consideration of ♦'.'^ riffi't 'land of God, w all,) who is risen again ? shall he undo the purposes of his death and resurrection ? He for^us!" ""'^'■'^'-'^^' •who IS norv sitting at (he right hand of God, where he appears under a^ quite contrary/ character, and is also tnaJdng intercession for us ; undertaking the mana>eHieuLQt-ei3r 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect .' It is God that justi- fieth ; 34 Who is he ^liat con- en at ho ercession comprehended in the apostle's assertion. Plato's sentence, so nearly parallel to this, is a commentary infinitely preferahle to such an explication. "Whether a righteous man be in poverty, sickness, or "any other calamity, we must conclude that it will turn to his " advantage either in life or death." See Plato, De Hep. lib. ix. b iriiom he foreknew as the objects of his peculiarly favourable regards.] To know sometimes signifies to favour, Amos iii. 2 • 2 Tim 11.19; E.Kod.xxxiii. 12, 17; Psal. i. C; Jer. x. 14; Rom.xi. 2; I Pet. 1. 2 ; IIos. xiii. 5 ; and they who interpret these verses, as Mr. Locke and many others do, of God's intending to bring the Gentiles into the church on a footing of equal privileges with the Jews, must certainly take the word in this sense. Hut the reader will easily perceive, by my paraphra.se, that I consider them as applicable to all true christians, whether originally of Jewish or Gentile descent; as the privileges themselves relate not to communities as such, but to individuals. c if'hom lie liath called lie liath Justified.] Barclay pleads that this justification must include /toliness, or it is left out of the chain Barcl. yipol. p. 221. But the apostle had so plainly declared, in the beginning of the chapter, th3.t!i freedom from ccndemnnlinn was the peculiar privilege of lliose wlio walk after tlie Spirit, that it was the less necessary for him here distinctly'lo mention sanctification. A IVIioni he justified he ijlorijicd.l It is plain that jiistification is here considered as distinct from and prior to ^lorificalioit ; and consequently, that there is a sense in which believers may be said to be justified now, {as they often are, compare Luke xviii. 14 ■ Acts xiii. 39 ; Rom. v. 9; 1 Cor. vi. 11.) though it is at the great day uidttheircomplete/KS///ifa/,o„ will be declared; and there seems generally to be an ultimate reference to that great transaction, in the use of this forensic term. (Matt. xii. .37 ; Rom. ii. 13; iii. .30.) To suppose that christians are said lo be i/lorified merely in reference to tlie Spirit of glory now resting upon them, (1 Pet. iv. 14.) is limiting the phrase to a sense less subiime and extensive than it generally has, particularly verse 17, 18; 2 Cor. iv. 17; Col. i. 27 ; iii. 4 ; 1 Thess. ii. 12; I Pet. v. 10. to which a multitude of other texts might be added, where glory refers to the exaltation and blessedness of the future state. — This isa memorable instance, and there are scores, and perhaps hundreds more, in which things that shall certainly and speedily be done are spoken of as done already. Moses gave a remarkable example of this noble language of faith, in his song, (Exod. xv. 13, &c.) on the destruction of Pharaoh in the Red spu ; and the prophets and apostles have continued it in a variety of triumphant passages, which it will be a great pleasure to the pious reader to observe for himself. e U'ho shall lodge any accusation, 4'f.] This £vj(iX£7£i plainly sig- nifies — By the elect of God, many understand the Gentiles; but as it is certain the phrase, whatever it imports, is not to be confined to them, and is presently afler used of believing Jews, (Rom. xi. 5, 7, 28.) it seems highly reasonable to conl;ider it here as including them also; especially as their unbelieving brethren might be ready to lodge the heaviest accusations against them, as deserters and apos- tates from their own law if tliey acted on the principles the apostles had been laying down in the former chapter. f Cod whojustificlh, &c.] I here follow the pointing proposed by the learned and ingenious T)r. Samuel Harris, in his Observations, (p. 51, 5.5.) which greatly illustrates the spirit of this pas.sage, and sliows how justly that author adds, that it is remarkably in ttie grand manner of Demosthenes. NOTHING SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST. GH affairs, and, far from accusing us, appears ready to answer all accusations brought against sect. us, and to frustrate all the designs of our enemies ? 18. .■)j AV ho shall separate us Confident therefore in his protection and favour, we defy them all ; and say in strains — • fi-iiijl the Inve of Christ? Qf ygj gublimer triumph, IV/io shall separate us fro?n the love of Christ ? Who or what ROM. j/ia// tribulation, or distress, , %, i- , ,, , ■ i i_- i ■ il • ' i .. i i i i i i- ^ VIII or persecution, or famine, shall dissolve that union to him whicti is our great security, and be able to alienate our „. or nakedness, or peril, or hearts from him who is the source of such invaluable blessings, and hath displayed such *'''°'^' ■ incomparable riches of grace ? [ShaW] the severest ajfiictioifi or the most pressing straits, or the most cruel persecution, to the inconveniences and extremities of which we may indeed be exposed in our christian warfare; or hunfrer, if we be starving in desolate places j"" or 7ialacl)iess, if it had not so much as sheep-skins or goat-skins to cover it; or, in a word, any other peril to which in our different situations we may be exposed, or even the dra-wn 30 (As it is written, For sword of our blood-thirsty enemies, ready to be plunged into our defenceless bosoms ? It 3G the daV lon-Y we 'are fc- ™^y indeed cut short the residue of our mortal days ; as it is -written, in words which may counted as "sheep for the justly be applied to US, (Psal. xliv. 22.) " For thij sake -we are without remorse killed all slaughter.) n. ^j^^ ^j^^y long, K'e are accounted as so many sheep destined to the slaughter, and deli- 37 Nay in all these things " vered Over to it without resistance on our part or mercy on that of our enemies." Ne- 37 «o are "^^^e^ than con- x)crtheless, while we appear in so weak and helpless a state, toe do in all these things more loved us. ° Ma« co»(7««', we triumph in certain and illustrious victory, Mro;//j/2 him who hath loved us, and, having redeemed us to God by his own blood, will secure us amidst all these temp- tations, and finally show that our sufferings and death have been precious in his sight, and have made a part in his merciful scheme for our more exalted happiness. 38 For 1 am persuaded Well may I thus boast of the securest and completest victory, even amidst the combat ; 38 that iieUher death nor life, f^,, I am persuaded that neither the fear of death, in any imaginable forrn_oLterrOT, nor des, "nor '^pow'ers, nor th'ings the hope and desires of life, in the most agreeable circumstances that can be imagined, nor present, nor things to come, all the efforts of infernal angels, nor of principalities, nor of powers,^ however various their rank, however subtle their artifices, however furious and malignant their rage may be, nor things present, difficult as they are, nor things future, extreme as they may possibly 39 Nor height, nor depth, prove : Nor the height of prosperity, nor the depth of adversity, iior anp other creature 39 shall be^abie to'^separate'us above Or beneath, in heaven, earth, or hell, shall be able to separate any of its, who are from the love of God, which christians indeed, /}"o??i the love of the almighty and ever-blessed God, -which is graciously IS in Christ Jesus our Lord, gjven US in Christ Jesiis our Lord,^ by a tenure so certain, that it shall never be lost : and being thus secure that nothing shall separate us from that, weassure^lly know that nothing can, on the whole, hurt us ; and feel a courage which nothing can dismay. IIVIPRO^^MENT. O BLESSED souls indeed, who, having been in the eternal counsels of the divine love foreknown and predestinated, Ver. are, in consequence thereof, called and justified, as the earnest of being ere long glorified ! Who would not desire to 29^.30 see his own title to privileges so inestimable as these ? And how shall we know that we have our part in them ? how, -J \ but by securing an evidence that we love God ? Then may we be assured that all things shall u-ork together for 28 our good, and glory in it that we are the elect of God ; to whose charge therefore nothing shall be alleged, since 33 God justifieth; whom none shall condemn, since Christ died to expiate our sins, and is ascended into heaven con- 34 tinually to intercede for us. In cheerful dependence on his patronage and care, let us bid defiance to all our ene- mies, and be willing to submit to the greatest extremities, since they shall not be able to separate us from the 35 love of Christ, even though for his sake we should be killed all the day long, and accounted as sheep 36 for the slaughter. O blessed souls, whom neither death nor life, nor angels, nor any other creature, shall be able to divide and cut 38, 39 off from the love of God! What then can harm us?, what evil can we then suffer? what good can we want? When God is for us, and when we are sensible of his love in giving us his Son, how can we allow ourselves to sus- pect hi.s readiness with him to give us all things truly reasonable or desirable? All other blessings, when compared 32 with these, will appear unworthy of a mention; and we should have a great reason to suspect that they were not ours, if we did not find a heart superlatively to value them above every thing else. g Sluill affliction, &c.] None can imagine that Christ would that a/ixii may signify mr/j/s/ra/f.?, compare Tit. iii. 1. But as it is love a good christian the less for enduring such extremities for his certain that evil angels are called principnlilics and powers, (Eph. sake. The text must therefore be intended to express the apostle's vi. 12; Col. ii. 15.) and as that interpretation of the words best suits contidence that God's invariable love to his people, illustrated al- the context, (for it is not to be thought that good angels would al- ready in so glorious a manner, would engage him to support them tempt to separate men from Christ's love,) I must adliere to it. under all their trials, by vital communications of divine strength. k Shall separate us, &t.c.'] Archbishop Tillotson thinks (Vol.1. h Hunger.'] The word Xi^cos is more extensive than/a»i(«f, and p. 491.) Paul speaks thus confidently in reference to himself, and may bo applied to personal as well as public necessity. the experience he had passed through of so peculiar a nature; but i Angels, principalities, and pollers.'] Eisner ( OAifr!'. Vol. II. p. he seems to me to found the argument on considerations common 42.) has sufliciently shown that good angels arc sonletiraes called to all christians, ver. 28 ; and the connexion is such, that if these /JOKJfrs, to express their being used as iustnmients of W\e divine latter clauses are limited to St. Paul, I do not see how the preceding poiocT, (compare Eph. i. 21 ; iii. 10; Col. i. 16; ii. 10.) as likewise can be extended farther. 618 THE APOSTLE COULD WISH TO BE AN ANATHEMA FOR HIS COUNTRYMEN. SECTION XIX. The apostle mw finding it necessary to speak more expressly of the rejection of the Jews and the calling of the Gentiles, introduces the subject with vcri/ tender expressions of his regard to his Jewish brethren; and then shows that the rejection of a considerable part of the seed of Abraham, and even of the posterity of Isaac, from the peculiar privileges of God's chosen people, was an incontestable fact, which the Jews could not but grant to have happened, that is, with regard to the descendants of Ishmael and of Esau. Rom. ix. 1 Rom. ix. 1—13. SECT. 19. ROM. rx. 1 ' have 2 That I have great hea- happened *''"''** ■■^'"^ continual sor- f'^ j^ row in my heart. 3 For 1 could wish that Thus, my brethren, I have endeavoured to animate you by leading your meditations to I say the truth in Christ, those inestimable privileges which we receive in virtue of the gospel, which renders us so I 'ie not, my conscience al- far superior to all the hardships wo can endure; and I hope the thought of them will be ^^'^'"■'^J'SJ^'e witness in the abundantly sufficient to establish your adherence to it. Faithfulness will also oblige me to ^ ^°^ ' add, that as all who embrace and obey this gospel, whether Jews or Gentiles, are accepted of God, so all who reject it are rejected by him.^ And lest, while I maintain this important truth, any should imagine that I bear hard upon my dear countrymen the Jews, on account of any personal injury which I, or my christian brethren Of whose sutferings I have been speaking, (chap. viii. 35 — 39.) have received from them or by their means ; I begin this discourse with the most solemn assurance I can give you to the contrary. And herein I say the truth in Christ, I speak with that candour and integrity which becomes a chris- ' tian, and as in the presence of that blessed Redeemer who searches all hearts. He knows that / lie not, mi/ conscience also bearing me witness as to the truth of what I say in the Holi/ Ghost, as under his influence who so thoroughly discerns the soul on which he ope rates. With all tliis solemnity, on so great an occasion, do I declare to you, that I ' great grief aiid incessant anguish in my heart, when I think of what hath happ and will happen unto them in consequence of their opposition to the gospel. For methinks, if I may be allowed to express myself so, I could even wish, that as Christ sub- myself were accursed from jected hin-iself to the curse, that he might deliver us from it, so J myself likewise were made i^l^lm ^°\^P' 'V'.^thren, my an anathema after the example of Christ ;'' like him exposed to all the execrations of an flesh : ' ° enraged people, and even to the infamous and accursed death of crucifixion itself, ./"or the sake of my brethren and kinsmen according to the flesh, that they might thereby be delivered from the guilt they have brought upon their own heads, and become entitled to the forfeited and rejected blessings of the Messiali's kingdom. \ So cordial and disinterested 4 Who are Israelites ; to a regard have I for my dear nation, who are Israelites," the seed of Jacob .that eminent "jon"a''d'tl"'"^f *^''"^ d^T' patriarch, who, as a prince, had power with God, and prevailed ; whose the spinTual «^/i- cm-euants, inf thTgWingof tion {^is,f in consequence of which, as a people, they were called the sons and daughters of ^'^"^ '''^^> '^"'i *''•<= service of the Most High God; and the glory, which in the Shechinah resided visibly among them on ' '""^^''^ promises; the mercy-seat,*^ and the covenants made successively, first with Abraham and then with Moses, and with the whole Jewish people in him, who were honoured with the giving of the law in such solemn pomp, and received with the precepts of that excellent polity an exact ritual for the so-vicc [of God] in their tabernacles, afterward practised in their tem- ple with unequalled solemnity a)id magnificence ; who were also the heirs of such peculiar and important promises, relating not only to their abode in Canaan, under the administra- tion of an equal and miraculous providence, but likewise including and centring in the • spiritual kingdom of the Messiah, who was to arise among them. I cannot iDut have a 5 AVhose m-e the fathers respectful and tender regard for a nation thus dignified and distinguished ; a nation whose =>"'! "f whom, as concerning privileges [«re] handed down to them from so many illustrious ancestors, in a long "'over'ali, Gof We^e'd't? descent, who were in their respective ages the ^reat fathers of the world and church; and ever. Anien.' fro?n whom, to crown the whole, according to-the flesh, Christ himself is [descended,'] who, though found in fashion like a man, and truly l^artaker of our nature in all its sinless infirmities, is also possessed of a divine nature, by virtue of which he is above all our con- ceptions and praises, above creatures of the highest order, and indeed God blessed for ever,' the worthy Object of our humblest adoration, as well as unreserved dependence, love. a As all who embrace, &c.] This the apostle had intimated all along- in tlie preceding discourse, which is addressed to christians as christians, without any reg.ird to their having been .Jews or Gentiles; nay, he had expressly declared in the 2d and 3d chapters, that their having been Gentiles would be no obstruction. And it is certain the peculiar oppositions and persecutions which tlie be- lieving Jews met with from their obstinate countrymen would make encouragements and consolations like those suggested in the eighth cliaptcr, as necessary for them as for any christians in tlie world. So vety much mistaken have some learned commentators been in the peculiar turn they have given to that chapter, and se- veral passages in those preceding it. b AJ/idc an analkei'ui. after the example of Clirixt.] This sense is given by the learned Dr. Waterland, [Serm.. Vol. I. p. 77, 78.) who urges the manner in which avo is used, 2 Tim. i. 3. am r.w Tjoyoviv, after l/ie example of mi/ forefathers. Compare 1 John iii. 10. Next to this I .sliould incline to the interpretation given by Dr. Clarke, {Seventeen Serm. p. 310.) who supposes the apostle m'eaus, that he could be content that Christ should give him up to .■such calamities as these to which the Jewish people were doomed for rejecting mm ; so that if they conld all be centred in one person, he could be willing they sliould unite in him, could he thereby be a means of saving his countrymen. Compare Deut. vii. 20; Josh. vi. 17, vii. 12. — Grotius understands it of a separation from the church of Christ, (which is sometimes called by the narnc, Ch'rist, I Cor. xii. 12 ; Gal. iii. 27.) or of excommunication. — Eisner (who, agree- a,ble to Dr. Cligrke's interpretation, joins aio tou X^iTrou with lu^o- ij.m,) shows very well, as many other commentators have done, how vsjvabsjird it would be to suppose he meant that he could be con- tenTToTie delivered over to everlasting misery for the good of others. c mo are Israelites.] The apostle with great a^^ress, enumerates these privileges of the Jews; both that he migbtsliow how honour- ably he thought of them, and that lie might awaken their solicitude not to sacrifice that divine favour by which they had been so emi- nently and so long distinguished. d The apivitaal adoption is.] That is, whom God hath taken in- to a special covenant with himself, whereby he stands engaged ever to act the part of a God and Father to them, and to own them as his children. Deut. xiv. 1; Jer. xxxi. 9; Exod. iv. 22; IJos. xi. 1. c Resided on the mercy-seat.] Hence the art; was called the qhry ; Psal. Ixxviii. 6l;"l Sam. iv. 21, 22. to which some add Tsai. liii. 3. f Above all, God blessed for erer.'] How ingenious soever that conjecture may be thought by which some would read this ct o ©ew ALL THE SEED OF ABRAHAM ARE NOT THE CHILDREN OF GOD. 619 and obedience. Ame7i : Let his divine glories be ever proclaimed and confessed ! May all SECT, the house of Israel know this assuredly, and fall down before him, as in and with the Father 19. of all, their Lord and their God ! 6 Not as tliough the word Yet, notwithstanding all these tender prejudices in favour of myjanndear countrjmenj I rom. of God iiath taken none cannot defend or excuse their conduct ; nor must I conceal the ungratefiir trutfi asserted ^^■ Israel which aievTsradt above, that by rejecting the gospel they bring upon themselves rejection from God. But to 6 prevent mistakes, let me in the first place observe, that it is not to be supposed I would by am/ Jiicans insinuate that the Tvord of God hath fallen ineffectual to t/ic ground, even all that glorious system of promises by which he engaged to bestow protection, favour, and hap- piness upon his people. For in order to provide against any such allegation, I must insist upon it, as a very certain and appareixt truth, that all [arc] not reckoned to be the Israel of God, so as to be the heirs of the promises made to his people, ivho arc descended of 7 Neither because tliey Israel by natural generation: Neither because thet/ are the seed of Abraham, the head 7 are the seed^of Abraliam ^f <^^^ |-,^jy family according to the t^esh, \are thci/] all children of the promise ; but you ill Isaac shaM thy seed be know it is said, (Gen. xxi. 12.) though Ishmael were the son of Abraham long before, ii"ed. <■<■ Jn Isaac, then unborn, shall thy seed be called ; the descendants of Isaac shall be " spoken of as thy seed by way of eminence, to the exclusion of those who may spring s That is, they which " from thee by thine other children." That is, on^ the whole, not the children of the 8 arc the children of the flesh, M^g/^ alone, nor anv One of them merely as such, \afeTrfie children of God, but the chil- tliLSc (ire uot the children-^, /~ , , ■ ■ ii- x j ji " i c ^^ ^ i of God : but the children dren of the proviise, m one peculiar line, are accounted as the seed oi Abraham, and of the promise are counted honoured with the adoption : For this [/s] the liord of the promise, (Gen. xviii. 10, 14.) 9 '^"g'For^Ui'is is the word of " According to this time, that is, reckoning the conception of the child from hence, I " irill come \_to thee] in a way of gracious and merciful interposition, and Sarah shall " have a son ;" which was said when Hagar had many years been Abraham's wife, and had long since born a son to him. Nor was [this] the onlj/ instance of the kind ; but in the case of Rebecca, -when she 10 promise. At this time will J come, and Sarah shall have a son. 10 And not only //lis, but when Rebecca also had ^^g xvifh child of twins b// one man, that is, our father Isaac ; While [the children'] 11 conceived by oue, even by . .,'-:. . . , •^' . .....'-... . ■' our father Isaac, 11 (For the cliihiren being not yet born, neither liav- done any good or evil. The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I ioved, but Esau have I hated. were not yet born, and had done neither good to merit 7ior evil to forfeit the divine fa- vour, that the sovereign purpose of God, according to his free electio?i, jnight stand stedfast, and appear not to be formed in respect o/'the uwrks done by either, but according that the purpose of God to the mere good pleasure oj" him xi-ho calleth things that do not yet exist into being, and according to election might (Jisposeth of all according to his own will : It ivas said to her, when consulting the divine 12 stand, not oi works, but oil & ii-i-i ,i it itii him that calleth :) Oracle on the unusual commotions she lelt m her womb, that two dinerent people should !? ii,il™^^i'n l"l',!i 'irj proceed from the birth then approaching, (Gen. xxv. 23.) and " that the elder of them, " that is, the posterity of Esau, should serve the younger, that is, the descendants of Ja- " cob." As it is also -written, (Mai. i. 2, 3.) " / have loved Jacob and hated Esau, 13 " that is, I have greatly;^£referredjlie former to the latter,^ bestowing many peculiar privi- " leges and favours upon the posterity of Jacob which I have denied to that of Esau, whose " habitation I have laid waste for die dragons of the wilderness, while that of his brother " flourished in the richest abundance of all things." We see then, to close this branch of the argument, that the exclusion of a considerable part of the seed of Abraham, and even of the descendants of Isaac, from the special promises of God, is not only a case which may be supposed possible, but a case which, according to the Jewish scriptures themselves, hath actually happened. IMPROVEMENT. Let that affection which the apostle expresses for the Jews, his countrymen and brethren according to the flesh, Ver. 1 and the tender and pathetic representation wliich he makes of the privileges which they once enjoyed, awaken in 2 our hearts an earnest solicitude that they may, by divine grace, be brought back ; that they may again be adopted into the family from wiiich they have been cut off, again clothed with the glory which is departed from them ;4 that through him who was given for a covenant to the people they may receive the law of life and grace, be formed to that spiritual service which it introduces instead of their pompous ritual, and embrace the promises on which the 5 faith and hope of their illustrious fathers were fixed. '"~- — ^ Let it likewise teach us spiritual compassion for our kindred who are strangers to Christ, and let us be willing to 3 submit to the greatest difficulties, and think nothing too much to be done or borne for their recovery. Let our souls pay an humble homage to him who is in such an incommunicable and sublime sense the Son of 3 God, as to be himself over all, God blessed for evermore. With prostrate reverence let us adore him as our Lord 5 0 ETTi TTOTriv to answer to !vv oi rarri^ES, (whose are /he fa/hers, and ii-hose prove that it was not upon the foresight of the obedience and piety is the supreme God,) I think it would be extremely dangerous to of Jacob on the one hand, or the profaneness of Esau on the other, follow this reading, unsupported as it is by any critical authority tliat this preference was given ; for then the argument taken from of manuscripts or ancient quotations. — Nor can 1 find any autlio- their having actually done neither good nor evil would be very rity for rendering Bios ivkv/nm ek tous cctmxs, God lie blessed for weak, since, to an omniscient God, that which he certainly fore- ever. 1 must therefore render airri paraphrase and improve this knew would be, is, with regard to his purpose of events, to succeed memorable text, as a proof of Clirist's proper deity which I think it as if it already were. Nevertheless it is certain the apostle does the opposcrs of that doctrine have never been able nor will ever be not here speak of the eternal state of Jacob and Esau, (whatever able to answer : Though common sense must teacli, what christians snnie may suppose deducible from what he says,) nor does he in- have always believed, that it is not with respect to the Father, but deed so much speak of their persons as of their posteritij ; since to the created world, that this august title is given to him. Com- it is plainly to that posterity that both the propliecies vih\c\\ he pare ! Cor. xv. 27, &c. quotes in support of his argument refer: Gen. xxv. 23; Mai. i. 2, 3. g Greatly preferred the former to the latter.] That to love and His In'/ing waste llie heritage of the Kdomites for the dragons of the hnle have this-sense in scripture, is evident. Compare Gen. xxix. wilderness, is so different a thing from his appointing the person 3! ; Luke xiv. 26; John xii. 25. and tiic notes there. These words, of Esau to eternal misery by a mere act of sovereignty, vvithout ni their connexion with the preceding and following, do indeed regard to anv thing done or to be done by him to deserve it, that \ prove that God arts with a sovereign and ynaccountable freedom 1 will rather submit to any censure from ray fellow-servants than j ill the dispensation of his favours; and do, IHrt«k,.«9t)sequeutially deal sofreelv with my Maker as to conclude the one from the other. - 620 GOD HATH A RIGHT TO SHOW MERCY TO WHOM HE WILL. SECT, and our God, and repose that unbounded confidence in him which such an assemblage of divine perfections will 19. warrant, putting our most hearty amen to every ascription of glory, to every anthem of praise, addressed to him. And, to conclude, since we see that many of the children of Abraham and of Isaac failed of any share in the ROM. special promises of God, let us learn to depend on no privilege of birth, on no relation to the greatest and best of men. ^^- May we seek to be inserted into the family of God, by his adopting love in Christ Jesus, and to maintain the lively 10 13 exercise of faith; without which no child of Abraham was ever acceptable to God, and with which none of the children of strangers have ever failed of a share in his mercy and favour. C\.\. j, ! \ '•. ?, ^ ;;. SECTION XX. The apostle shows that the sovereign choice of some individuals to peculiar privileges, to which none had anj/ claim, and the sovereign appoint7nent,fro7n among many criyninals, of some to peculiar and exeinplary punishments, was perfectly consistent both with reason and scripture. Rom. Lx. 14 — 24. I^OM. ix. 14. ^.o„ i^ ,^ SECT. I HAVE already shown you how possible it is that persons descended from Abraham,and What shall we say then? 20. even from Isaac, may be cut off from the special promises of God ; as the posterity, first of ^^1, q^'j, Godl'''ij'i'd^"''*' Ishmaelaiid then of Esau, evidently were. What therefore shall we saii \.o\\\\%} \Js ROM. there'] unrighteousness with God in the proceedings and distributions of his providence, •, . in this or any other instance to be produced ? God forbid we should insinuate any thing of that nature! It is, in theJiighest consistence with justice, matter of the freest choice to 15 whom such favours shall be gra'nted. For he saith to Moses, (Exod.-xxxiii. 19.) when I5 For he saith to Mosos, intimating a gracious purpose toward Israel, though they had broke his covenant so soon after } "'." ''j'^'; mercy ou whoin the first confirmation of it, and by an act of flagrant idolatry had justly merited immediate wiu have^'^coni^passiou" on destruction, I will have mercjj on whomsoever I will have mercy, and will compassion- ^fli'^m 1 "ill have compas- ate whomsoever I please to compassionate, so as to dispense acts of pardon according to ^'°"' my own sovereign pleasure. IG Jacob and Esau, of whom I was speaking just above, may be farther considered as .16 So then it is not of an illustration of the sovereignty of the divine dispensations in such cases 1 fhelatter of them, [jjJJJ |,'jg| runnetl'' b"t of after he had foolishly sold his birth-right, was exceedingly desirous of obtaining his fatlier's God that showeth mercy, blessing, and ran put eagerly to hunt venison for him ; (Gen. xxvii. 5 — 30.) nevertheless it was bestowed upon Jacob. [It /s] not therefore, you see, to be referred into 4he forward- ness of ///wi that willeth, 7ior of hi)n that runneth ; but it is of God~tlial showcth mercy ' to one rather than another, on . sovereign reas'ons which we cannot penetrate, but must alwai^^s believe to be worthy of himself. 17 And inoreovcr we may add, that such is the conduct of God in other instances, when of i^ F"r "le scripture saith various sinners he appoints one rather than another to be a monument of special vengeance : "ime purpose 'imve'\'^"rai-sed For the scripture says to Pharaoh,^ (Exod. ix. 16.) " For this cause have I raised thee thee up, that I might show " up to that height of eminence in which thou gloriest,'' that Imaji remarkably show forth "'^ l"^"'^'' '" ''j':'^' ^"i i ■ and whosoever beheveth on " happiness, shall in tact prove a stone oj stumvlrng and a rock of qlience, that is, an him shall not be ashamed. " occasion of sin and ruin io many, through their own prejudice and perverseness ; and " every one who believeth in him shall not be ashamed, shall not be brought under a ', j " necessity of seeking his refuge elsewhere, in helpless and hasty confusion, to v/hich all ■ " they who slight him shall at last be reduced." IMPROVEMENT. How can we sinners of the Gentiles ever sufficiently acknowledge the goodness of God to us in calling us to that full participation of gospel-blessings which we enjoy ? That in our native lands, where the name of the true Vcr. 26 God was so long unknown, we should have the honour of being called his children ! Oh that we may indeed be 27 so, not only by an external profession, but by regenerating grace ! May we be of that remnant, that little 28 remnant, which shall be saved, when numbers countless as the sand of the sea, which had only the name of God's Israel, shall perish, even in the day when his work shall be cut short in righteousness ! 29 Blessed be God that there is a seed remaining. It is the preservation of the people among which it is found ; and had it not been found among us, we had probably long since "been made a seat of desolation. May it in- crease in the rising age, that the pledges of our continued peace and prosperity may be more assured, till our peace be like a river, and our salvation like the waves of the sea ! It will be so if we be awakened seriously to inquire how we may be justified before God, and seek that invalu- a Call tliem my people wliicli were not my people.'] It seems very the nature of things more probable that he should call the heathen evident, from the connexion of these words in Hosea, that they than that he should restore the .Jews, when he had cast them off for refer to God's purpose of re.storing the .lews tothe privileges of his such ingratitude as rendered them less worthy of his favour than people after they had been a while rejected of him. But it is ob- the most idolatrous nations. Compare Jefftry's True Grounds, vious they might with great propriety be accommodated to the p. 149. calling of the Gentiles ; and indeed that great event might with b Cii/liiii/ short Ids account in rigfifeonsness.] Mr. Locke would some probability be inferred, partly from the temporary rejection translate itj For the Lord,finisldng or culling short his tcork in right- ot the Jews, of which this text spake, (for it was not to be intiagined coiisness, shnll make a short or small remnant in the earth. Tliis is Hod would have no peoi>le in the world,) and paitlv as it was in undoubtedly the sense, but the version is not exact. CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 623 able blessing in the way here pointed out ; if toe seek it ?iot as by the 'works of the law, but by faith in Chi'ist sect. as the Lord our righteousness. He hath in this respect been to many a stone of stumbling and a roek of 21. offcnee ! May divine grace teach us the necessity of building upon him, of resting upon him the whole stress of ■ SECT. 22. ROM. X. our eternal hopes ! Then shall they not sink into disappointment and ruin ; then shall we not flee away ashamed rom. in that awful day when the hail shall sxveep away the refuge of lies, and the waters of that final deluge of IX. * divine wrath shall overflow every hiding-plaee but that which God hath prepared for us in his own Son. { ,vv-vv\, ^- ^'^^ SECTION XXII. The apostle shows that God hath offered pardon and salvation on the saine equitable, gracious, and easy terms to all ; though Israel, by a bigoted attachment to their own law, rejected it. Rom. x. 1 13. Brethren, my iiearfs ^OU see, my brethren, to what this discourse of mine tends, in which I have been re- fcrisraei'i^ tTaUhe *° '^At F^^^^S ^^i^'^ *^ Christ as the onTyinelhod to prevent our shame and niin, without the bT saved.''' '^ 'eyniigi ^^ception of any, whether Jews Or Gentiles, who should reject him. I know how unkind - and unjust an mterpretation may be put on such an assertion, though thus supported by the sacred oracles themselves ; and therefore I think it proper to renew the assurances I before gave, that the most affectionate desire of my heart, in the accomplishment of ; which I should find the greatest complacency, and {inyl supplication, which I am with daily importunity repeating before God concerning Israel, is for its present and eternal 2 For I bear thera record, salvation and happiness, which I wish as sincerely as my own For I am ready to $ that they have a zeal of ff^stifii, from what I well know of them by my own observation and experience, that fcrod, but not accordinir to ,, • ', , ^ i ,• r^ i i , i \ , .i , •, • ■ > i , knowledge: they have a very ardent zeal for God ; out 1 lament that it is a zeal not regulated ac- cording to knowledge, or directed into a right channel, in consequence of which it leads 3 For they being ignorant them into the most fatal mistakes and excesses: For they being ignorant of the right- [ ^L^"'' aboljt'To 'estabn'sh '""^^■^"^'^-^ "f ^°^' ^f the purity of his nature, the,^xtent of his law, and the niiethod w'hich their" own righteousness, la consequeiice thereof he hath established for the justification of a sinner; and seeking have not submitted them- with great diligence to establish and shore up, as it were, by the most insufficient props, nes^*^of'God. '" "^ ^ '^'^"^' the ruinous edifice of their own righteousness, by the observation of the precepts or ex- piations of their law,^ have not submitted with due humility to the righteousness of God exhibited in his Son, nor placed their own attempts of obedience in a due subordination to that. This is the most fatal error that can be imagined ; for how insensible soever Israel in ' general may be of it, it is on the whole most certain that Christ [/.s] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth^ that is, it is the great scope and design of the law to bring men to believe in Christ for righteousr,?ss and life, and its ceremonial 5 For Moses describetli and moral precepts and constitutions most harmoniously centre in this. For Moses most i orthe"'law,"Timt tile man ^^'^^^'Y describcth the only way of righteousness which is aftainable by the law, [when which d'oet'h those tilings he saith,] again and again, (Lev. xviii. 5. compared with Deut. xxvii. 26.) The ?jian shall live by them. j^i/^o (/of/i them shall live in and by them f that is, the man who perfectly observes these precepts in every particular and in every punctilio, he, and he alone, if such a person there be, may claim life and salvation by them. Now this is a way of justification which, when the law has once been broken, becomes absolutely impossible to the transgressor. 6 But the righteousness 'But the righteousness which is bi/ faith spedketh a very different language, and may be i o'n"this'%vise'!'''snv^not1n considered as expressing itself thus: Q{J may be allowed to borrow the words of the thine heart,' w1io shall great Jewish legislator, when representing the plainness and perspicuity of his law, Deut. ascend into he^aven J (that jfSTfr iT— T4r)-«-:Sff1/^ woif in thine heart. Who shall ascend into heaven, that is, as I IS, to bring Christ down -,, ■ ^i, ■ • i ^ ^i , i , y-r ; • , 7 ■,/ ; • ,- - from ciiiove 7) "jimyjnthis view accommodate the passage, to conduct Christ down with him \_Jrom 7 Or, Who shall descend " /// encc, ]ToTeacti~and"Tnst riJcTTTs, or fo atone for our offences > Or, Who shall descend ' into the deep ! (that is, to « into the deep abyss, that is, to bring Christ again from his abode among the dead the"deac(. ''°''"" ' " J" '^e bowels of the earth ?" No : blessed be God, Christ hath already descended from heaven to bring down the gospel, and he hath in a triumphant manner arisen from the dead, to set an everlasting seal to its divine authority : so that there is no more room to puzzle ourselves about difficulties, or to wish for a power of doing what to human skill or 8 But what saith it? strength is impossible. But what saith he afterwards? even these words, so remarkably f The word is nigh thee, fiT« applicable to the subjcct before us: "The word is nigh to thee, [even'] in thy mouth heart: tiuu" is,' tiie word of " ^'"^ '" thine heart ; easy to be understood, easy to be remembered, and, if thine heart faith wliich we preach ; " be rightly disposed, easy to be practised too." And that is eminently the case with 9 That if tiiou Shalt con- relation to the word of christian _/r?/M which we preach : For God hath given a very i fess with thy mouth the plain and intelligible revelation in "his gospel ; and the substance of it is this : That if thozt a Observation of the precepts or expiations of their law.] Many place, that rjXot signifies ; he parapiirases the words, no one can fill- writers, and especially the late Dr. Sherlock, in his book, O/M* _fil the law till he believe in Christ. But that, how true soever, Knowledge of Christ, have been ranch mistaken in the representa- (compare chap. viii. 2 — 4.) seems not the chief view of the apostle tion they have made of the Pharasaical righteousness, as if it con- here. sisted merely in substituting ceremonial observances instead of c The man that doth H.ern sliall live by them.'] The Sinai covenant moral duties. The Pharisees certainly inculcated the external made no express provision for the pardon of any sin deliberately duties of morality, how much soever they might themselves fail in and wickedly committed against it, and so was indeed a covenant of observing them, or rest merely in outward acts; but they trusted works; though the dispensation of Moses contained some further in legal expiations to procure the jajtlon of those evils wliich miglit intimation of the covenant of grace which was made with Abraham, ^lappen ; and thej:anriiosttion of tliese, if I may be allowed the ex- and was quite a distinct thing from the law. And the apostle ptgssion, constituted the righteousness which they went about rnixi, builds so Tiuwh on these thoughts here and elsewhere, that it will to establish or prop tip,.dejiiep\l as it was. be of importance to render them familiar to the mind, and to trace b The end 0/ the taw/] The scope of it, as Eisner shows, on this the evidence and illustration of them in the Mosaic writings. 4 FoC Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (T'l G24 REFLECTIONS ON THE CLEAR KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE IN THE GOSPEL. SECT, dost Qourageously confess ivith thy mouth that Jesus is the Lord, and at the same time Lord Jesus, and slialt be- 22. bclicveynrth/ heart, with a vital and influential faith, that God haih raised him from ''<^^<= '" thine lieart that the dead in proof of his divine mission, thmf^shalt assuredly he saved, whoever thou art, f^°^ delli, "thou 'shalt'°b™ ROM. and how heinous and aggravated soever thy past sins may have been. For it is with the saved. X- heart that a tiian beliexeth to righteousness, ox so as to obtain iustification, nor can any , jf* for wuhtlie heart man ,„,. ,, J., . ^1. 1 Li ii .1 >•■ • I, 7'' oeljeveth unto ngnteous- 10 thing but a cordial assent secure tliat; and •with the 7nouth co/fession is made to salva- ness; and with the mouth tion, and that public profession of Christianity is maintained without which a secret con- confession is made unto sai- viction of its truth would only condemn. Let therefore the heart and the tongue do their ^'''"'"• respective parts on this occasion, and your salvation and happiness will be secure ; though your obedience to the law of God may have been very defective, and you could have no 11 claim to reward or forgiveness from thence. For the scripture, in reference to Christ, as n Tor the scripture saitii, in the fore-cited text, (Isa. xxviii. 16.) saith, " Evcri/ one that bciicveth in him shall hTmXlTuot be'aXmetr " not be in danger of being ashamed and put to confusion in any imaginable circum- 12 " stance." Every one without distinction, for you see there is no difference be- 72 For there is no differ- tween Jew and Greek: For the same Lord of all, the Creator, Governor, Preserver, "'ce between Uie Jew and ^ and Benefactor of the whole human species, displays his riches and magnifies his bounty Lord over all is rich unto to all that call upon him, imparting to them all the same blessings of his providence all that call upon him. 13 and grace. For ivhosoever shall invoke the name of the Lord shall be saved,^ as the 13 For whosoever shall call prophet Joel testifies, (Joel ii. 32.) when he had been speaking of those great events which "po" the twme of the Lord have in part been so wonderfully accomplished in the effusion of the Spirit, and shall be ^''^" ^^ saved. farther fulfilled in those scenes of providence which are shortly to open on the Jewish nation. " ^ IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 1 Let our hearts, after the example of St. Paul here before us, be overflowing with love and compassion to our 2 brethren, and let us be earnestly interceding with God for their salvation. Where we see a zeal for God, let us pay all due regard to it, and compassionate that ignorance which may sometimes be mingled with it 5 especially 3 if it.effect so important an article as that of our becoming righteous before God by a better righteousness than our own. Let us pray that God would teach us, and would enable us, according to our respective situations, in a 4 proper manner to teach others that Christ is indeed the end of the law, of all the laws which God ever gave to fallen man for righteousness ; all were intended to convince men of their need of coming to him that righteousness and life may be obtained. Great reason have we to adore the divine goodness, and to congratulate ourselves and one another upon our great happiness in this respect, that God hath given us a revelation so obvious and intelligible in all the grand 6, 7 points of it. We have indeed no necessity, no temptation to say. Who shall go up into heaven ? or. Who shall descend into the deep ? or. Who, (like the jadustrious but bewildered sages of antiquity^ shall cross the seas, to bring that knowledge from distant countries which is wanting in our own ? The word is nigh to us ; it is indeed I 8 in our mouth : Oh that it may be in our heart too ! We know a descending, a risen Redeemer. He still visits us I in his gospel, still preaches in our assemblies, and stretches out a gentle and compassionate hand to lead us in the 9, 10 way to happiness. May our profession of faith in him be cordial, and then it will be open and courageous, what- ever sacrifices we may be called to make. Believing on h?m tvc shall not be ashamed, calling on liis name we 5 shall be saved ; though we can meet with nothing but despair from a dispensation that saith, The man who per- fectly doth these precepts shall live by them. '|Vv -, 5 . Dv.*- ~'.'- ^''^ •! ^ '' * SECTION XXIII. The apostle pursues the view given in the last section, and shows that the gospel had been diffused widely through the world ; though, according to other prophecies, which he here mentions, from Moses and Jsaiah, the Jews had rejected it, while the Gentiles embraced it. Rom. x. 14, to the end. RoM. X. 14. „„„ P Rom. X. 1-1. SECT, r ROM the promise of salvation to them that shall call on the name of the Lord, I have How then shall they call 23. .just been inferring (ver. 12, 13.) that there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles as on him in whom they have to the possibility of obtaining salvation from God. And from hence we may farther infer "hey 'believe '"in him'"of ROM. what is very sufficient to justify me and my brethren in preaching the gospel to the Gen- whom they have not heard? ^ tiles, though we are the objects of so much reproach and persecution on that account. ^y'Sfiidul"^ preadiei'P "^^""^ 14 Let us therefore attend to the inference. For how shall they call on him on whom they have not believed as worthy to be invoked with divine honours and adoration > and how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard? and hoxo shall they hear of him without a preacher to carry these important tidings, which the light of nature could 15 never be able to discover ? And as for the ministers of the gospel, how should they 15 And how shall they preach except they be sc7it expressly for that purpose? For as we were originally Jews, preach, except they be our own prejudices on this head were so strong, that we should never have thought of beautifuV a'iV\7ie*^feet°of carrying the gospel to the Gentiles if God had not particularly charged us to do it. But blessed be God that the charge has been given and the embassy sent ; and most wel- come should it be to all that receive it, as it is written and described in that lively pro- phecy,^ (Isa. lii. 7, 8.) " O how beautiful are the feet, the very footsteps, of those d Invoke the name of the Lord, ^x.'] Bishop Pearson argues at liid chapter of I.saiah is to bp explained as a prophecy of the return lavgc from hence, that if Clirist be not here called Jehovah, the of the Jews from Babylon, and that the text here <]uoted refers to apostle's argument is quite inconclusive. Pearson, On the Creed, the joyful welcome that should he given to tlie messengers who P^""'- brouj^htthe first tidings of Cyrus'sdecrec for theirdismission. And a lu that lively prophecy.] Most commentators think that the if it were so, the apostle might very justly infer from thence the THE JEWS MIGPIT HAVE LEARNED FROM MOSES AND ISAIAH. G23 Uiem tlmt preach the pos- " tjiiho bring the good tidings of peace, xu/to bring the good tidings of those various SECT pel of peace, and brii.sj glad f good things vvhicli Gocl hath iiow been pleased to bestow on his church. It is plea- 23. tiainssofgoodthiugs! ^, ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^j ^^^^ ^j^^ messengers, pleasant to view the very tract of ground over which they have passed on the mountains which surround Jerusalem."" rom. iG But they have not all But, alas, all have not obeyed the gospel, glorious as its tidings are, nor given it that '^■ obeyed the gospel For cordial reception which its happy contents might well have demanded. And they who ^° bcii'e'ved our rcporU '" "^ * are Well acquainted with the oracles of the Old Testament, and study them impartially, will not be surprised at it : For Isaiah saith, in that very context which contains so many illustrious testimonies to the cause in which we are engaged, (Isa. liii. 1.) " Lord, who " hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed and made nSotheufiiithramfMby "bare?" Faith indeed [comet li] by hearing, and hearing in the case now before 17 hearing, and hearing by the ^^ ^ ^j^^ word, the express command of God, to make the declaration."^ It is therefore word of God. ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ deliver the message wheresoever we come, whether to Jews or Gentiles, in humble hope that some will believe though we have so much reason to fear that many will reject it. 18 But I say, Have they This is our duty, but a duty which we cannot perform without some discouragements; IS "^"'ur we'll! '^nitr'ali^'ui'e Y^t I may Confidently say it hath in the main been practised ; and I may appeal to what earth, and their words unto you at Rome knew of the matter, in consequence of your correspondence with all parts 'the ends of the world, ^f ^^g empire. Have they 7iot heard of the gospel all abroad, so that I may take up the words of David (Psal. xix. 4.) when describing the course of the celestial luminaries, and apply them to the zeal, and in some measure to the success, with which the mission- aries of this holy religion have exerted themselves, assisted by the blessed Spirit of God, and animated by the hope of that glorious immortality to which they have taught others to aspire? Of them may I say, that " verily their voice is gone out through all the earth, " and their words to the end of the world:" many distant nations have already heard these glad tidings, which God vi^ill at length render universal. (Col. i. 6, 23.) ' 19 But I say. Did not But I may farther say, Hath not Israel known, or had an opportunity not only of 19 su'th' nvm 'ro^voke ylTio knowing that the gospel should be preached, but that it should be carried to the Gentiles jeiiousy'"by''/Tp»! that are too ? Forfrst Moses satth, in that celebrated song of his which the children in all genera- no people, n«(/ by a foolish jj^j^g ^gj,g ^q leam, (Dcut. xxxii. 21.) " I will raise your jealousy 6y [those who wei^e'] nation I ^viU anger you. ,^ ^^^^ ^ nation, [and} your anger with a foolish people ;" which may well be understood 20 But Esaias is very as ultimately referring to this great scheme. And Isaiah hath the boldness to sat/, in a 20 of '''them that''sVu^iu° me context where so many things evidently refer to the gospel, (Isa. Ixv. ], 2.) "I was found not; 1 was made manifest " of them that sought me not ; I was made manifest to them that inquired not for me, unto them that asked n--! « ^qj. discovered any concem to be informed of my nature or my will -." Whereas, invidi- ^"^2" But to Israel he saith, 0U3 as he knew it would be to a nation so impatient of rebuke, with relation to Israel he 21 All day long 1 have stretchl saith in the very next verse, " All the day long have I stretched out mine hands in the dLbedienramf -llnSi'n- " ^^^^ importunate and atfectionate addresses to a disobedient and gainsaying people, people. " <« who are continuaTTy objecting and cavilling ; whom no persuasion can win to regard " their own happiness, so as to be willing to admit the evidence of truth and the counsels " of wisdom." It appears then, on the whole, that since the prophets so plainly foretold that the Gentiles should be called and the Jews rejected, it is no way unbecoming my cha- racter as a messenger from God, and a friend to the Jewish nation, to assert the same, and to act upon it. IMPROVEMENT. Blessed be God for the preaching of the gospel, so absolutely necessary to that faith without which we can Ver. 14 liave no well-grounded hope of salvation. Blessed be God therefore for the mission of his ministers, and for his 15 abundant goodness in sending them to us sinners of the Gentiles. Let us give them a respectful and attentive hear- ing, and say. How beautiful upon the ynountains are the feet of those that preach salvation, that publish peace ! And tet us take great care that we do not only speak respectfully of their doctrine, but that we comply with the purpose of their embassy. It is matter of continual joy to reflect, not only that God hath afforded to all men such means of attaining divine 18 knowledge by the intimations of it which he hath given in the constitutions of the heavenly bodies, and in the whole frame of visible nature, but also that he hath sent the express messages of grace to so many millions in the extensive publication of his gospel. Let us rejoice in the spread it hath already had, and let us earnestly and daily pray that the voice of those divine messengers that proclaim it may go forth unto all the earth, and their words reach, in a literal sense, to the remotest ends of our habitable world. Let us pray that wherever the word of God hath a free course, it may be more abundantly glorified, and that its ministers may not have so much reason to say. Who hath believed our report ? and to complain of stretching out their hands all the day long to a disobedient 16,21 and gainsaying people. Exert, O Lord God, thine almighty arm, make it bare in the sight of all the nations ! Shed abroad thy saving influences on the hearts of multitudes, that they may believe and turn unto the Lord 1 May the great Saviour of his Israel be found of those that seek him not ; and by the surprising condescensions of his 20 superior joy with which the messengers of the gospel should be serves, tlmt in Sophocles the hands and feet of those who come upon \ received. But I think a great deal may be said to show it probable a kind design are represented as beautiful to those who received ) that the context in question has in its original sense a farther refer- benefit by their arrival. cnce. Compare Isa. li. 4— 6. But not judging it necessary in the c Faith indeed [cometh']:] INI. L' Enfant would transpose the I6th paraphrase to build upon it as an argument, I shall not by any and nth verses; and it is certain, as any one may easily perceive, means discuss the matter' here. that the connexion of all from the 15th to the 18th would in that b The very footsteps.] L'Enfant thinks the feet are put for the view be clearer ; but as no copies warrant it, I think it is by no airivat. Compare Gen. xxv. 30. in the original. But I think the means to be presumed upon. I have therefore translated «()3i, which turn given in the Paraphrase illustrates it much better. Bos ob- is often a sort of an expletive, by the word ijirfffrf, which throws this 2 s 626 GOD HATH NOT ENTIRELY FORSAKEN HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL. SECT, grace may he manifest himself to those that do not inquire after him ! And may his ancient people not only be pro- 23. yoked to anger, but awakened to emukition too, and put m their claim for those blessings which God has by his Son vouchsated to olier to. all the Gentiles! 0 ■,. \ I . -,■ ^ ( c._Nt^v( (c vU-\c/«v-,; SECTION XXIV. T/ie apostle shoxvs that though the rejection of Israel be for the present general, according to their own pro- phecies, and attended ■with astonishing blindness and obstinaci/, yet it is not total, there being still a num- ber of happy believers ajnong them. Rom. xi. 1 — 10. Rom. xi. L n^,, ..; , ROM. nounce a sentence of reprobation upon myself j for I also am an Israelite, as it is well 'i^*.™- "/ t'le tribe of Uenja- ^'- known I ara of the seed of Abraham, and can trace my genealogy, and show particu- """' 2 larly that I am [of ] the tribe of Benja7nin. No: blessed be his name, God hath not 2 God liathnoi cast away rejected those of his people li'hom he foreknew ; but hath still, as in the most degenerate knew^" AVor ye 'not %viua ages, a seed whom he hath chosen to faith and salvation. Know you not xuhat the scrip- the scripture saith of Ellas?, ture saifh to this purpose in the story of Elijah 'f (Compare 1 Kings xix. 14.) when he lo GoHSnlt 'rsr^e^ly! 3 pleads -with God against Israel, saying, " Lord, they have cruelly slain all thy faithful iug, " prophets, and they have digged up the very foundations of thine altars ;^ and I am ^^^^ ^ro'''i,ets^'aii'd*^d^'J-"^1 " l(ft alone, after the slaughter of all thine other servants : and they seek my life too, and down'^Uniie altars; anT\ " send murderers in pursuit of me from place to place, that there may not be one worshipper am left alone, and they seek 4 " of Jehovah left in their whole land." But recollect, what says the Divine Oracle to "Vfiut what saith the an- him in answer to this doleful complaint ? " J have reserved unto myself, by my grace swer of God unto him ? i " and providence, no less than seven thousand inen who have not bowed the knee before '^^^.^^ thousand me"' wi^^ " the image of Baal, nor complied with any of these idolatrous rites which are established i,ave not bowc-d thrknee to 5 " by these iniquitous laws." And so also in the present time, bad as this generation of '/"? inm$e of Baal. Israelites is, and sure they were never worse, yet there is a remnant who continues faithful present^ ii'me°al.'!f"hcre*i's a to God, according to the free election o/"his grace, whereby God hath reserved them to remnant according to the himself, and made them to differ from others.'' election of grace. 6 And bv the way, I cannot forbear observing and entreating you to reflect, that if it be, . 6 And if by grace, then T 1 -- „-, »T i «u 1 1- /• J I r-1 ■-! -^ , IS tt no more of works: as I have ?aid, according to the election of grace, then \tt is\ no more, as some have otherwise grace is no more maintained, of works, whether of the Mosaic or any other law; else grace is no longer grace. But if //ie of works, grace,'' if the glory of our acceptance with God is not on the whole to be ascribed to that, otherwise workTs'no^more But on the other side, if{_it be] of works, then it is no more of grace, else work is no work. longer work. There is something so absolutely inconsistent between being saved by grace and by works, that if you lay down either, you do of necessity exclude the other from being the cause of it. 7 But to return from this short digression : What then do we conclude ? What but this, ' '^Vhat then t Israel hath that Israel hath not obtained ^//rt/', justification and righteousness which it has sought, seeketh'forl but threlee! nor retained these particular privileges of the church of God which they pretend entirely tion hath obtained it, aud to engross : but the election, the chosen remnant, hath obtained it, having been by divine *'"^ '''^*' were blinded grace engaged to embrace the gospel ; whereas the rest were blinded by their own fatal 8 prejudices, to v/hich God hath in righteous judgment given them up: According as it is ^ 6 (According as it is writ- ^ ■,, ,T • 1 r> /-I -iR 1 -A J T ■ -in-^ /-< 1 I ji '• u! ten, God liatli given them written, (Isa. Jixix. 10. Compare Deut. xxix. 4; and Isa. vi. 10.) God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes a spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, that they should not see. He threatened, you see, to punish their perverseness when it should 'come to a certain n"? hea^ IImo tWs'day""''^ degree, by abandoning them to increasing stupidity and obstinacy, and he hath done it even unto this day ; for tbeir blindness continues notwithstanding all the extraordinary 9 things which have been done, even in our own age of wonders, for their conviction. And 9 And David saith, Let this is agreeable to what David hath said, in that prophetical imprecation which is appli- f/,datr.mamiTst1fn'^w?^^^^^ cable to them as well as to Judas, (Psal. Ixix. 22, 23. Compare Acts i. 20.) Let all the block, and a recompense blessings of their most plentiful table become a snare to them, and that which should, ""^o them i according to its original use and intention, have been 'for their welfare, a trap. Thus the gospel, which should have been the means of their salvation, is now become an instrument of ruin and destruction to them, and an occasion of stumbling in the most fatal manner. And it must be acknowledged to be a just recompense for their wickedness, that the best of blessings should thus be turned into a curse to them that so ungratefully rejected and loLet their eves be dark- 10 despised it. And in them the following words are also fulfilled: Let their eyes be dark- ened, that they may not verse into some kind of connexion with the next, and if referred to clause or with the next verse, in which the apostle comments on his «xxa there, will, I hope, be thought agreeable enough to the Greek own words. idiom. c Etso grace is no longer t/race, &c.] Some interpret this, " The a Digged up thine altars.J It seems from hence, that though, ac " gospel would not deserve the name of grace, if the observation of cording to the law, there was only one altar for sacrifice, and that in " the Mosaic law were to be taken in as a part of tlie terms of oar the place where God had fixed his peculiar residence ; yet, by some " acceptance with God." But this would have been a strange posi- special dispensation, pious persons in the ten trihes'built altars tion. Who that in any degree knew the terrors of God's anger, elsewhere. It is well known, at least, that Samuel and Elijah had would not most glae''''dimU.ishin-''of accident the riches of the world, and their diminution the riches of the Gentiles, by theiu the riches of tiie'cen- scattering the preachers of the gospel among them, by proving our veracity and integrity, tiles, how much more their and in some measure exciting compassion too ; though their rejecting us, in itself con- sidered, migjit rather appear as an argument against it ; how much more shall the bringing in their whole fulness, that is, the whole body of the Jewish nation, be a means of propa- gating the gospel much farther, and recovering multitudes, by whom it hath been rejected, from their scepticism anJTnfidelity, when so great an event appears in accomplishment of '^f/X/!/ 13 For I speak to you its known predictions "r^ For I now speak /o ^o^/ Gt'/7^//fS, and I do it with tenderness and 13 'v /, Gentiles ^masmuciws^I^ am ■j.^^gctj as J am, by a Special designation of Providence, the apostle of the'Gcntiles ; I I magnify mine office : ' therein citol my office, and esteem it the most signal honour of my life to be employed in 14 If by any means I may it. And while I thus addrcss you, it is also with a desire that I may, if possible, excite /o 14 provoke to emulation Oiem emulation [them wlio are] my biethren according to the flesh, and who are dear to me nii'o-ht save some of\hem. as the members of my own body j that if I may not prevail for the recovery of their nation in general, I 7nay at least save some of them, while I speak of those kind purposes which I assuredly know God will accomplish towards the whole Jewish people in his appointed time. And this thought gives new spirit to my address to you, as I hope it may not only tend to your edification and salvation, but also to theirs.'' 15 For if the casting away In like manner, when I wish their recovery, it is not for their sakes alone, but also with 15 of them be the reconcihng respect to those happy consequences which I know it will have upon the spread of the riches of divine grace which the apostle makes by the way, and thousands of deists in countries professedly christian ; (of which, which well agrees with the fulness of his heart on this subject. under such corrupt establishments as generally prevail, there will a Accomplishment of its known predictions.] So many of the pro- of conrse be increasing multitudes;) nor will this only captivate phecies of the Old Testament do evidently refer to the reduction of tlieir understanding, but will have the greatest tendency to awaken the Jews into their own land as the people of the Messiah, tlmt I n sense of true religion in their hearts ; and this will be a means of can by no means doubt of the certainty of that event. Compare propagating the gospel with an amazing velocity in Pagan and Ma- Isa. xxvii. 12, 13; Ezek. xi. 17—21; xx. 34—44; xxxiv. 1.3, 14; hometan countries; which piobablv had been evangelized long XXXV. 2.5 — 29; xxxvi. 24— 28; xxxvii. 21— 28 ; Amos ix. 14,1.5; ago, had genuine Christianity prevailed in those who have made a Obad. ver. 17 ; Mic. vii. 14, 15 ; Zech. xiv. 10, 11 ; Hos. i. 10, 11. And profession, and God knows, for the most part, a very scandalous pro- the wonderful preservation of them as a distinct people thus far, not fcssion, of its forms.— The 1.5th verse has so natural a connexion witli only leaves a possibility of this great event, but encourages our hope the 12tli, that Eisner includes the 13th and 14tli in a parenthesis, of it. When it shall be accomplished, it will be so unparalleled as ne- b Also to theirs.] Perhaps we can no where find an instance of cessarily to excite a general attention and to fix upon men's minds a more popular and afl'ectionate turn than this, in which the apostle such an almost irresistible demonstration both of the Old and N^sijr seems to find a reason for liis zeal to convert tli-.> Gentiles in his Testament revelation, as will orobably captivate the minds of many love to his own countrymen the Jews. 2 S 2 \ g28 THE GENTILES MUST NOT BOAST AGAINST THE JEWS. SECT eospel among the Gentiles. For, as I hinted above, if their rejection Itvere] the rccon- of tiie world, what s/iall tlie 25. ' ciiiatwn o/so great a part of the heathen' ^-.r/r/ to G6d, as it was the ineans of sending ]^^^^^ ,td\ ''' ^"' •the gospel of peace among them; what {toiW] the.rcccption [of them be] but lifejrom ROM. the dead? What joy will it necessarily give, and what a general spread of the gospel will XI. it naturally produce! 16' And this blessed event we may assuredly expect ; for if the first fruits [be'] hohj, so le For if the first^ fruit i? [is] the lump. The consecration of them was looked upon as in eifect the consecration an/-,- Jhe'rooVAf h^oly/so of all. And so would I look upon the conversion of some few of the Jewish nation as an are the brandies, earnest of the conversion of all the rest. And so much the rather, when I consider how eminently dear to God those pious patriarchs were from whom they have descended : for if the root [be] holy, the branches [are likewise'] so, and will surely at length be regarded 17 as such And this though some of them be at present in so melancholy a state; /or if 17 And if some of the some of the branches were broken off, and ^//o?i,^ Gentile, being as it were a scion of a tCrbeing a wild o'lh"e- wild olive were grafted in mnong them that remained;'^ and art with them partaker tree, wert grafted in among of and nourished by, the root and fatness of the good olivchem^ not only a graft upon ^^^^ o'f'lhc' rool' ani '^a^ 18 another stock, but a meaner graft on a stock originally noble and more excellent ; Boast „css of the olive-tree; not //i?/5e/f presumptuously and ungratefully against the natural branches: and if thou is Boast not against the ' '■"■J^^.i r r J .,. ,• r±i It jz. i i t j.1 t J j^ j I . „t branches. But if thou boast, boastest, [rcme?nbe?-] to thy humiliation [that] thou bcarest not the root, but the root ti,^^ Nearest not the root! thee. Thou hast received many benefits from Abraham's seed and the covenant made but the root thee. 19 with him, but they have received none from thee. Wilt thou therefore object and sai/, ' 19 Thou wilt say then, " The natural branches were broken off that I might be grafted in, and therefore we Jii-'tiI';ri'|;,ToiTt'b'e gS 20 " may olory over them as they once, did over us ?" Well, take this thought at least along in.' with thee, ihey were broken off foY their infidelity, and tho-u hitherto standest in their f Well; because of un- wiiu Liicc, iii'-y tvi,iv, «" >- ' „•''•', , 7 • *^; -77 1 L 1 s J' A \ L iU„ bcl 1 cf t lie v wcrc hr oKen ofi J place throuirh faith. Therefore be not high-minded and arrogant, but fcar,^ lest thou ^^^ thou standest by faith! 21 by thy sins forfeit the privileges to which thou art so wonderfully raised. For if God Be uot high-minded, but spared not the branches which were according to nature, neither will he by any means ^'"aVporif God spared not spare thee, if thine unbelief make thee, after all thy peculiar obligations, as bad, and in the natural branches, take 22 that respect even worse than they. Behold therefore, on the whole, a remarkable display /'^^^^ I"t '>« also spare not of the intermingled goodness and severity of God, and endeavour to improve both ^ Behold therefore the well. Towards them that fell thou indeed seest a memorable instance of his severity ; goodness and .severity of but 'to thee a display of gentleness and goodness, if thou wilt be careful to continue in fev«urb" 'Towards' th**)'; [his] goodness, and endeavour gratefully and dutifully to improve it ; else thou also shall goodne"s.s, if Uiou continue' be cut off, for the blessed God will not bear always to be insulted with the petulancy of ihouaifo°sh"u be°cuu?ff!'^ 23 sinners. " And I would have you farther to consider, as a motive to think of the Jews with ^3 And they also if they respect rather than contempt, that they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted on asain, and restored to their former privileges: For it is certain God shall he grafli-d in: for God is able again to ingraft them; hopeless as their state may seem both with respect to ag,.jf„/ '" ^™" *"^™ "* their obstinacy and their misery, his powerful access to their mind can subdue their pre- judices against the gospel, as thou mayst easily argue from what thou hast thyself 24 experienced. For if thou wert, as I may propedy enough express it, cut off froyn the 24 For if thou wert cut olive-tree, which was naturally w'lld, and, contrary to the course and process of nature, "^fl^l^ ly nature.Tnd'wert wert grafted on the good olive-tree : if thou wert admitted into covenant with God, graffed contrary 'to nature though descended from parents that were strangers and enemies, how much jnore shall j,"u;,';^^ore''shai'rthesr they who are the natural [branches,] to whom the promises do originally belong, be „hich be the natural grafted on their own olive ? God will not seem to do so wonderful a thing in restoring branches, be grafted into them to what might seem the privilege of their birth-right and descent, and saving the their own ohve-tree? seed of Abraham his friend, as he hath done in calling you sinners of the Gentiles to participate the blessings of which you had not the least notion, and to which you cannot be supposed to have had any imaginable claim. - IMPROVEMENT. Let us set ourselves seriously to pause upon the conduct of God towards the Jews and Gentiles in that part of it which the apostle here describes, atid rejoice with trembling in it. Let us reflect on the divine severity to them and Ver. 22 the divine goodness to us. What immense goodness ! that we should be taken from that wretched condition in which we were utterly ignorant of the great Author and end of our being, of the nature of true happiness, and the 24 way of obtaining it, that we and our offspring might be grafted on the good stock, be called to the most important 17 of those privileges and hopes with which the seed of Abraham were honoured and enriched ! We partake of the fatness of the good olive, may our fruit abound to the honour of God, to the benefit of mankind ! Let us cherish the most benevolent and tender disposition towards the house of Israel, to whose spiritual privi- 11 leges we are raised; and let us earnestly pray that they may be awakened to emulation, especially as ihm fulness 15 /5 to be the riches of the Gentiles, and the receiving them again as life from the dead to the languishing and decaying church. In the mean time, as the gospel comes to us in so awful a manner vindicated from the contempt of former despisers, let us solemnly charge upon our souls this lesson of holy caution, these salutary words, (Oh that they may be con- c frUd olive grafted in among them.'] It is very improper to it should boast against it ! how much more when the case was the object that it is unnatural to suppose an ignoble brmch grafted on a reverse of what in human usage is practi.sed, and the wild olive is rich stock; for it was not necessary that the simile taken from ingrafted on the good ! jjioculation should hold in all its particulars : and the engagement d Be not higli-minded, Sec] Archbishop T illotson well observes To'JWISlKy arises in a considerable degree from the circumstance that tliis caution ill .suits the claim to infallibility which the modern objected against. Had the scion been nobler than the stock, its church of Rome .so arrogantly makes, amidst all the absurdities depeudcuce on it for life and uourishment would render it unfit that with which her doctrine and her ritual are loaded. BLINDNESS IS TO ISRAEL TILL THE FULNESS OF THE GENTILES COME IN. 629 tinually present to our thoughts !) Be not high-minded bid fear. Whatever our privileges, whatever our experiences sect. are, whatever our conficlence may be, let us dwell upon the thought ; for there is no christian upon earth that hath 25. not reason to fear in proportion to the degree in which he feels his thoughts towering on high, and grows into any conceit of himself. Daily let us recollect what we were in our natural estate ; and what, with all our improvements ROM. and attainments, we should immediately be if God should forsake us. '^'■ Let us pray therefore that we may continue in God's goodness ; and whoever may appear to fall from it, let us not 22 glory but rather mourn over them, and pray for their recovery and salvation to that God who is able to recover from 18 the most obstinate infidelity and impenitence, and to graft on not only foreign branches, but what may seeiii yet more wonderful, those that have appeared more than twice dead, j ' " ' • ■ ■' SECTION XXVI. The apostle farther illustrates the future conversion of the Jews to the gospel; and concludes the argument •with observing, that in the mean time their obstinacij is overruled to such happy purposes as make the •whole scene a most glorious display of the unsearchable -wisdom of God. Rom. xi. 25, to the end. „ . „, Rom. xi. 25. Rom. XI. 25. 1 1 1 1 T 1 I,- For I would uot, brethren, AND now, my brethren, upon the whole! will conclude what I have to say upon this sect. that ye should be ignorant interesting and atfecting subject, which I have indeed enlarged upon pretty copiously ; for 26. should'be^vise'in'your'own it lies with great weight upon my heart. And therefore I would ^ not have you to be ig- ■ conceTts"; t'llat biiudness in jiorant of this material ciixumstance relating to the great 7nystery in the dispensation before rom. rtluVefi;CoUhlGen: "s. which, On the first views of it, may appear vexyun^ccom^\^h\^- lest you should have^^l- tiles be come in. too high an opinion of yourselves, when you see the Jews rejected lor their fatal error. l.->^ would not, I say, have you ignorantof this, that the lamentable blindness and infatuation we have been speaking "of is in part happened unto Israel, and has spread itself over by far the greatest part of the Jewish people, not that they may utterly perish and be for ever cut ofl;"but that they may continue in this humbled and rejected state till a certain period arrive, when the fulness of the Gentiles, the Appointed harvest of them, shall be brought 26 And so all Israel shall in,"- and incorporated with those already associated to the church of Christ. And so, when 26 be saved : as it is written, jj-jjg happv season marked out in the divine decrees, though to us unknown, shall be come, ii'ru,e'De'l'iver,and"Lu that blessed event shall make way for it, and all the seed of Israel shall, by a general con- ' turn away ungodliness from version, be Saved from its dispersion and misery, and fixed in a state of covenant-favour and J^cob : acceptance with God again : As it is written, (Isa. lix. 20.) a Deliverer shall come out ofSion, and he shall turn away the punishment of their former impiety from Jacob, when 27 For this is my cove- he hath brought them to true repentance.'' As it is added, And this [is'] my covenant 27 nant unto them, when I which I shall make wi7A them when I shall take away their sins; that is, when their sins 28 ATconreYningUie gos. as a nation are remitted, it shall be to bring them again into covenant with myself. And 28 pel, tlieij are enemies for (]^us qu C'^ whole, with respect to the gospcl {they are] indeed regarded as enemies ]'n"'"the''?lecti'!fn '''tiTt'o for \our sakes ; that is, for their obstinate rejecting the gospel, God hath rejected them in beToved for the fathers' favour of you, and that he might receive you into his church as in their stead f but as for sakes. ^j^^ election, that remnant of them which God hath graciously chosen to be subdued by the grace of the gospel, [they arc] beloved for their fathers' sakes. God's gracious regard to the memory of their pious ancestors engages him to take care that some of their seed shall always continue in covenant with him, till at length he recover them as a nation, and 00 For the gift., and call- astonish the world with their unequalled glory and felicity. And this shall most assuredly 29 ing of God are without re- be,/o/' the gifts and callino: of God [are] not to be repented of:^ he doth not resume !""*="'"• the gifts he hath once bestowed" nor retract the calls he hath once given, but will maintain a remembrance of them, and act in perfect harmony with them, in all his dispensations ; ac- cording to that wise plan which he hath laid in his eternal counsels, and from which no unforeseen contingency can ever cause him to vary, have not beneveVoTd ''vet '^^ '/''■« V^ Gentiles Were once, and for a, long time, disobedient to God, and buried m 30 have Tow obtained m'efc'y ignorance and superstition, but now have obtained mercy by means of their disobedience, ■ 5ir unbelief; (W havin<^ taken you to be his people instead of the Jews : So they also havmg been "beli''ever't''at disobedient \o the gospel, and the more prejudiced against it on occasion of your admit- a Tin the fulness of the Cenliles shall be brnvgh hid, represent the recovery of the Gentile uafons as consequent ^^^tj;'^ "J^' ™/;s'^vhi^m^htha;e^aught some chri: 'b^'.infnnZ':?!- lix. 20.) *..] This text, as it stands in the vln^fto^speak moVe honourably of them than they do >n tiau di- some oJ b As it is written, {I _..,-,-._, , j ,u • -c Hebrew, seems different from the sense in which it is here quoted, their writings. 630 REFLECTIONS ON THE FINAL CONVERSION OF JEWS AND GENTILES. SECT, tance to such distinguishing vwrcy, yet shall not be utterly and finally ruined, but shall through your mercy they 26. also, to the glory of divine grace, at length themselves ohtain the mvrcy tliey have envied "'»" "''^y "I'taiu mercy. you. And llius the divine goodness is illustrated even by that which might seem most 32 ForGod hathconolurl- ROM. contrary to it : for it appears that God hath for a certain time shut up all under obstinacy ^^ ^'V™ ''" '" "n'^el'*;'". t'lat ^'- and disobedience," suffering each in their turn to revolt, under different degrees of light, all.™''' ' "'^*^ '"'^'''^y "Po» '^^ that he fiiight in a more remarkable manner have mercy on all, and glorify the riches of his grace in favours bestowed on those who evidently appeared so undeserving. 33 And now to conclude this article : Who in the view of such a series of events must not 33 O the depth of the cry out, O the awful and unfathomable f/f/?///^ of the riches, and tvisdoju, and knowledge "'^^^^ ^"f'.',"*^ 'ip 'Vff'"^ of God ! How rich are the treasures of his mercy, how deep the contrivances of his wisdom, unsearchable^orf \\L jacig- how boundless the stretch of his knowledge ! //ow z<«.?ert'/r/irti^/c', and yet how unquestion- ments, an, , : . g , f ? c f . 'j-i ; . ' SECTION XXVII. The apostle enters on a series of most admirable practical exhortations and directions, in which he labours to persuade christians to act in a tnanner worthy of that gospel the excellency of which he had been illus- trating. And here particularly urges an entire consecration to God, and a care to glorify him in their respective stations, by a faithful improvement of their various talents. Rom. xii. 1 — 11. Rom. xii. 1. rom. xii. 1. Having thus despatched what I proposed in the argumentative part of the Epistle, and I beseech you tiierefore, ROM. suggested a variety of considerations which may convince you of the great excellency of 'Jfethren, by the mercies of XII. 1'. the gospel, and the singular favour which God has shown to those Gentiles whom he hath e Shiit up nil under dmhtdicnce, &c.] It is of great importance Jews to jealousy, and so bring them to faitli by that which had at to observe that this refers to different periods. First, God suffered first hecii an offence in the way to it. This was truly a mystery in *''6j'E''tiles, in the early ages of the world, to revolt, and then the divine conduct, which the apostle most rationally as well as took the Abraha'.nic family aB a peculiar seed to himself, and be- respectfully adores, in the concluding words of the chapter, stowed extraordinary favours upon them. Afterwards he permitted f Of him, tkrmiglt him, for him, Sec] Antoninus, speaking of them, by unbelief and disobedience, to fall, and took in the Gen- Nature, that is, of God, has" an expression which one would imagine lies on their believing; and he did even this witli an intent to he had borrowed from this of Paul, tx ns Trxvi-a, ev ooi ■nmrx, eis ue maiic that very mercy to the Gentiles a means of provoking the xxvroc, alt t/iiiiffs arcoft/ice, in i/iec, and to lUcc. SECT. 27. THEY ARE EXHORTED AGAINST CONFORMITY TO THE WORLD AND PRIDE. . 631 V God, tiiat yo present your Called into the christian church, and to that remnant of the Jews who are kept in so happy sect. bodies a living sicrifice, a relation to them, while the bulk of their nation are fallen into a state of rejection • let 27. ^tohL'/i^Ts'^^'yanr reasonable "^^ now endcavour to animate you all to behave in a suitable manner. I entreat you your service. therefore,^ my dear brethren, partakers with me in this holy calling, by all the tender ROM mereies of our most compassionate God, Mrt^; instead of the animal victims whose slaugh- '^''■ tered bodies you have been accustomed to offer, either to the true God or to idols, you ' would now present, as it were, at his spiritual altar, your own bodies, as a living sacrifice, holy and uell pleasing to God. Let all the members of your bodies and all the faculties of your souls,'' being sanctified and animated by divine grace, be employed in the service of him to whom you are under such immense obligations. This he requires of you [els'] your rational service ; and it v/ill be much more acceptable to him than any ceremonial 2 And be not conformed foims, though most exactly prescribed in a ritual of his own appointment. Arid as you 2 traiVsformed'^bV tiie renew- desire to engage his approbation and favour, be not, in the general course of your temper ing of your mind, that ye and actions. Conformed to the sentiments and customs of this vain and sinful "world, but may prove ^^''^* " *'"j Tsdher be ye transformed in the renewing of your viind : endeavour to become new perfect wiii'of God. ' creatures, contractino- new habits, and engaging in new pursuits, under the influence of the Divine Spirit on your hearts 5 that you may not only be speculatively acquainted with the doctrines, precepts, and design of the gospel, but may experimentally know that will of God [which is] in itself so excellently good, and which, as it is most acceptable to him, has the most apparent tendency to purify and perfect our natures.'^ 3 For I say, through the And I particularly say, and give it in charge,'* according to that grace which is 3 every ralm"tharis arnon" g'^'^f" ^^^ '"t" ^s an inspired apostle, to evcry one that is among you, as if personally named, you, not to think of himscff to take the greatest heed that he be not exalted into spiritual pride by the gifts and more highly than he ought privileges which God hath conferred upon you. I charge each not to arrogate [to him- beriy, according as God *<-'//"] nbove what he ouglit to tlunk^ but that he think of himself with modesty, hath dealt to every man the M^7e(?/, and humility •, according to the measure of that ya/M, and in correspondent measure of faith. proportion to those gifts, which God hath distributed to every man among you. And . surely when you consider it is God who hath given all, there will appear little reason to magnify yourselves on any distinguishing share of his bounty which any one may have received. Especially when you remember, that this distribution is made, not only or 4 For as we have many chiefly for your own sake, but out of regard to the good of the whole : For as in one 4 members lu one I'o'ly. '^^^ lody We have many members, but all the members have not the same use, but each its same office: proper function and service appointed by the wise Former and gracious Preserver of the 5 So we, being many, are wholc ; So wc, though many, are one body in 'Christ, and evcry one member of each 5 one body in Christ, and (,//ier ; we should therefore endeavour each of us to know his own place and condition, every one members one of i , i, . , • •,■ ■ i i another. and mutually to make our various capacities as serviceable as we can. 6 Having then gifts dif- Having therefore gifts, all proceeding from God, the great Fountain of every good 6 fering according to the thing:, and different according; to the diversity of the grace that is £-/De'« imto us : whether grace that is given to us, ^., P., •/ i i- ^ , r ^ u /• * ^ .it r ,i whetiier prophecy, let us [it be] prophecy, as enabling us to toretell future events, or to make discourses for the prop/iesy accordiffg to the edification and direction of the church, [let us be employed in it] according to the degree proporbo^n^of^faith^; ^^^ ^^^_^ ^^ ^^^ ^.j^^^ which is in proportion to the degree of faith that is respectively in us :' Or 7 on ovr ministering; or he [havbig] the office of ministry, as deacons, let a man employ himself actively and faith-e that teacheth, on teaching ; fyjjy ^-^ j^jg ministration:^ or if he be an instructor of catechumens, who are to be fitted for the communion of the church, let him continue humbly, tenderly, and patiently 8 Or he that exhorteth, in the work of teaching: Or if he be an exhorter, whose peculiar business it is to S gi'veth, ''letllim 'do 'It with ""'o^ christians to duty, or to comfort them in the discharge of it, let him continue in simplicity; he that ruleth, his exhortation ; hcthat giveth any thing to a charitable use, [let him do it] with with diligence ; lie that ^j.^,g sinipHcil!/ and unfeigned liberality of heart, neither seeking the ai^plause of men nor showeth mercy, with cheer- ,' . ^ , ,°. , , , i -^i • , ; ; , -i ii ■ ii i- * • fulness. any other sinister end which he could desire to conceal : he that presideth m the distri- bution of charities so collected, let him do it with diligence-^ that he may know the case proposed, and that he may see that nothing be wanting to make the charity as effectual a Entreat you therefore.'] Some apply this to the Gentiles ; and e Not to arrogntc, S;c.'] Raplielius, Annot. ex Herod, in he. as most of tHe members of the church at Rome were originally so, has shown that VT.if'pfmii has properly this significatimi. it is reasonable to believe the apostle had them principally in view; i ylccording to tlie proportion, of faitlt.'] Many interpret this, liut not excluding the converted Jews, who, as he had just before " Do it according to the general scheme of divine revelation, not expressed it, remained as a remnant according to the election of " .setting up any novel interpretations of scripture injurious to it." grace, when the rest were hardened, and therefore had surely rea- But Raplielius (Aiinot. ex Xeii. in loc.) objects that Xoyo;, not son to acknowledge the tender mercies of God to them, and were avjcMyix, would be the proper word to express that. Dr. Sam. under strong obligations to devote themselves to him. I have ac- Clarke [Post/turn. Serm. Vol. 1. p, 6.) hy fail h understands the trust coidingly in the paraphrase applied it to both. reposed in them, or the nature and use of tlie gift they had ; which b IJodies and souls.] The body is here by a usual figure put for is a very unusual sense of the word 'miu?. Tlie Rheinish Jesuits the whole person ; nor can the soul be now presented to God other- suppose it was a confession or summary of faith, drawn up by all wise than as dwelling in the body, or truly consecrated to him, uii- • •■ .,.,., /■__ n„ less the body be employed in his service; nor, on the other hand, can the body be presented as a living sacrifice, otherwise than as acted and animated by the soul. — For the propriety of the word ...... -i .- n- j -j i i t- ■nx^xnniii, which properly signifies placing the victim before the deed, that lean fintf, by any other. If we suppose the prophetic altar, see Eisner, in loc. gift to be given in proportion to the exercise of faith, that is, ot de- c Good, acceptable, and perfect."] L'Enfant explains each of these pendcnce on God when he signified a disposition in general to im- as opposed to the Jewish ritual : this christian sacrifice being more part it, we have, I think, the clearest explication the phrase will excellent in itself, Ezek. xx. 25. more pleasing to God, Psal. xl. admit. See p. 301. note b, on Mark xi. 22. 7, 8. and tending more to make us perfect, Heb. vii. 19. I under- g Employ himself in ministration] It seems the word mu is stand it as referring to all the preceptive part of Christianity, the understood. Compare 1 Pet. iv. 10, 11.— The word Inxonx pro- excellency of whicli they will best understand who set themselves perly signifies the ministration of a deacon, and so interpreted gives most exactly to practise upon it. the distiiiclest sense. d Sai/, and give it in charge] So XtyEiv signifies. Acts xv. 24, h He that presideth, with diligence.] In this and the following See Raphel. Annot. ex Herodot. in loc. clause, I follow the iuterprehilion of Lord Earrington, [Misc. Sacra, tlie apostles in coniunction : to which they refer Rom. vi. 17 ; xvi. 17- 1 Tim . vi. 20 ;' Gal. i. vi; Acts xv. G. none of which texts seem to imply any thing like it ; nor is it pretended that such a creed was ever quoted in antiquity by tlie name of JiviXoyi* ir.irEwf, or in- 632 THEY ARE TO CULTIVATE LOVE AND BROTHERLY AFFECTION. SECT, as possible; and as for him that showeth mercy, that is, who has the care of those who, on 27. account of pecuHarly grievous calamities are the objectsof particular compassion, let him do it with an obliging c/^c'f;y«/Hf5s of temper, cautiously guarding against any disgust at what may KOM. seem mean and disagreeable in the offices which must necessarily be performed for such. ^''- On the whole, \_let'\ love [be] undissemhled, and all your expressions of mutual friend- 9 Let love he without 9 ship as free as possible from base flattery and from vain compliment. Abhor that which without an unnecessary expense of time. For this purpose be fervent, warm, and active in spirit : and certainly you will see the greatest obligation and encouragement to be so, when you consider that you are serving the Lord Jesus Christ,' to whose condescension and love you are infinitely indebted. May you always attend his service with the greatest zeal and delight, and may every action of life be brought into a due subordination , ~ to that great end ! IMPROVEMENT. How rich were a christian in practical directions for the conduct of life, even if this excellent chapter were his only treasure of this kind .' Let such scriptures as these be welcotne to us ; the scriptures that teach us our duty, as well as those that display before our eyes the richest variety of spiritual privileges. Indeed it is one of our greatest privileges to be taught our duty, if at the same time we are inclined by divine grace to perform it ; and if we are not, we have no privileges that will prevent, none that will not increase, our ruin. Ver. 1 Wisely does the great apostle lay the foundation of all virtue in a principle of unfeigned piety towards God — in presenting before him our bodies as living sacrifices. How great an honour and happiness will it be to us to do it ! That we may be engaged to this, let us often think of his tender mercies, so many and so great ; and especially of that most illustrious of all mercies, his redeeming us by the blood of his Son, and calling us into the christian covenant. Can there be a more reasonable service than this ? that we should be consecrated to our Creator, to our Redeemer, to our Sanctifier, to our constant Benefactor, to our supreme End and Happiness ? — ^The world indeed neglects him, yea, even what is called the christian world neglects him to such a degree as, if we did 2 not continually see it, we should not suppose to be possible. But let us not in this instance be conformed to it. Oh that divine grace may so transform and renew our hearts, that we may not ! Nothing but experience can teach us how good, and perfect, and acceptable the will of God is, and how happy a thing it is to be governed, jn every respect, by its unerring declarations. Let us remember, that as our sanctification so also our humility and our usefulness are his will ; and therefore 3, 4 let us endeavour to conquer every high conceit of ourselves, and every sordid and selfish sentiment. Let us often 7. &c. reflect that we are all members of each other; and being so happily united in Clirist, have all but on,e interest, which is that of the body and of its glorified Head. Whether our station in the church be more public or pri- vate, whether our capacities and endowments be more or less distinguished, let us all be faithful, be affectionate, be disinterested, be active, endeavouring to serve Christ, and even the poorest of his people, with iimplicity, with diligence, with cheerfulness ; preferring others to ourselves ; abhorring that love which is spent in hypocritical 1 1 words and unmeaning forms ; cultivating that which gives to the soul tenderness, condescension, and vigour. In one word, let us remember we are serving the Lord, the Lord Christ ; and doing all in his name and for his sake, let this add fervour to our spirit, zeal to our diligence, and abasement to our humility ; for nothing surely can be so animating, nothing so melting, nothing so humbling, as to recollect, on the one hand, how much we owe him, and, on the other, how little we are able, how much less we are careful, to do for his service. Vol. I. p. 77— 80.) and refer to him for the reasons which I think or in giving honour going before each other. This I have endeavoured sufficient to justify it, only mentioning t\)e application of the word to express in this clause of the paraphrase, but have retained our irgof-Tri! in the same sense to Phoebe, Rom. xvi. 2. who could not be version, as expressing something of the esteem from which this supposed a ruler in the cliurch. Ufa^x/xiyx properly signifies one respectful behaviour should proceed. L'Enfant renders it, mvlu- w/w presides, but in what, the connexion must determine. For the ally prevent one unolher with honour. extraordinary mercy exercised among the ancient christians, see 1 Serving the Lord.'\ Several copies for xujioj read xxifcj, serving Lucmi,J)e Morts Pergrin. ofud Opera, \o\. U. p. 76i. £dit. Sal- the time, that is, husbanding your opportunities; and Dr. Mill, »nwr. 1619; and Julian. £■/)(>/. xlix. trusting chiefly to the authority of Jerome and some other Latin i Jn brotherly love [lie'] mutyallif full of tender afection.'] Perhaps translations, admits this as the true reading. But it is by no means the extremely expressive words of the original, T»!piXi.5£X$ii EisaXXn- supported by an adequate number of Greek manuscripts ; and be- XBf (piMin^m, might justly be rendered, delight in the tcndcrest fra- sides tliat it would be an unnatural and inelegant expression in that ternal affcetion to each other : The word piXatro^yoi not only signifying sense, it sinks the noble sense of the commonly received reading so a strong affection, like that of parent animals to their oltJipring, but much, that I could by no meaps persuade myself to follow it. It is adelight in it, as the ingenious I)r. Balguy has justly oljservcd in a lively exhortation to christians to be always serving Christ, and liis excellent Sermon on this text. to cultivate the temper which the apostle expresses w'hcn he says, k Preventing them in every office of respect.] Archbishop t.aoi to ^w XfiTro?, Phil. i. 21. Tb me to live is Christ. Italso suggests Leighton well observes, (Expository fForks, Vol. IF. p. 429.) that a motive to enforce the forraer exhortation; as I have hinted in the original words, m rifj.*i akXriXm it^myupum, are very expressive, the paraphrase, and might literally be rendered, leading on each other with respect, i CHRISTIANS MUST, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, LIVE IN PEACE WITH ALL. 633 SECTION XXVIII. The apostle pursues his practical exhortations, and particularly recommends devotion, patience, hospitality^ mutual sympathy, humility, a peaceful temper, and a readiness to forgive injuries. Rom. xii. 12, to the end. ROM. xii. 12. ^OM. xii. 12. Rejoicing in hope ; pa- I HAVE been exhorting you, my brethren, to many christian duties and graces, and among sect. tinu'io- iistauUiiZayerT" the rest to the greatest activity and zeal in the service of Christ. Let me exhort you to 28. ° ' guard against such a dejection of spirit as would enervate that holy activity and zeal. On the contrary, [de'] you that are the servants of Christ always rejoicing in the hope of those rom. glorious rewards which your Divine Master, in the riches of his grace, hath set before you, Xll. and in that support which he gives you in the way to that eternal glory. And animated by 12 that hope, he patient in all the tribulation which you may bear in his cause, or from his hands, in the wise disposals of his gracious providence. And while under these pressures, continuing instant in prayer, draw down those necessary supplies of his Holy Spirit which 13 Distributinn- to the may carry you honourably through all your trials : 'LihexdW)! communicating to the neces- \^ necessity of the saints; sitics of the saints, and accounting nothing your own which their relief requires you given to hospitality. j.^ fumish out ; "^dxiicnX^xly pursuing that hospitality which present circumstances so pe- culiarly demand,"* especially towards those strangers that are exiles or travellers in the cause of Christianity. Stay not till occasions of this kind force themselves upon you, and much less till importunity extort the favour, as it were, against your will ; but, like Abraham, look out for proper objects of such a bounty, and follow after them to bring them back to your 14 Blcssthem which per- houses. On the Other hand, bless them u-ho are pursuing you with evil intentions, and 14 secuteyou: bless, and curse persecute you with the greatest severity for conscience-sake. Wish them well, and pray ""'• for their conversion ; yea, if they should go on to revile you for all the expressions of your love, go on to bless, and curse them not, though provoked by their bitterest imprecations 15 Rejoice with them against you. Make it a constant maxim with yourselves to maintain a constant sympathy 15 that do rejoice, and weep with your brethren of mankind, .which may lead you to rejoice with them that rejoice, with them that weep. ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ „^^Y/i them that wecp ; to congratulate others on their felicity, and to bear your part with them in their sorrows, as members of one body, who have^ll, as it were, one 16 Be of the same mind common feeling. [Ef] entirely united in your regards for each othcr.^ Let each con- 16 one towards another. Mind descend to the rest, and agree with them as far as he fairly and honourably can ; and where descend'' to" men ''of "^low YOU must differ, do not by any means quarrel about it, but allow the same liberty of senti- estite. Be not wise in your ments you would claim. Affect not high things, either to possess exalted stations of life or own conceits. ^q converse with those that bear them, but rather condescend and accommodate yourselves to men of loxv rank ; for itlTchiefly among the poorer part of mankind that the gospel is ' like-to prevail : and all christians ought, in this respect, to bear the image of their great Master, who spent most of his time in conversing with such. Be not so laise in your own conceit as to think yourselves above the divine direction, or that of your fellow-christians, 17 Recompense to no man in this respect or in any other. Render to none evil for evil ; nor imagine that any man's 17 evil for evil Provide things injurious treatment of you will warrant your returning the injury ; but act in such a cautious mem' m le sig o a ^^^^ circumspect manner, that it may evidently appear you provide against the malignity which will lead many to put the worst constructions upon your actions. And do only those things which may be above the need of excuse, and may appear, at the first view, fair and 18 If it be possible, as reputable in the sight of all men. If it be possible, and at least to the utmost of your 18 much as lieth in you, live power, as far as it is consistent with duty, honour, and conscience, live peaceably with all peaceably with all men. ^^^^^^ _ ^^^ ^^j^ ^^^^ ^^^^ countrymen or fellow-christians, but Jews and Gentiles, Greeks and barbarians.*^ 19 Dearly beloved, avenge Upon the whole, my dearly beloved brethren, whatever wrongs you may receive, re- 19 not yourselves, but rather venge not yoursclves on those that have injured vou ; but rather yield and give place to ftTs wrTtten"ven-eance^°' the uTfl//? of the enemy ^-^ for God hath forbidden us to indulge any of the vindictive mine ; I will rep"iy, saith passions : as it is written, (Deut. xxxii. 35.) Vengeance [/.s] 7nine, that is, it properly "'<= Lord. belongs to me, and I will recompense the deserved punishment, saith the Lord. And indeed it requires the wisdom as well as the dignity and majesty of a God to claim and 20 Therefore, if thine manage it aright. Therefore, instead of bearing any thoughts of hurting f hein that have 20 jer, feed him; yx%eA. you most unkindly and unjustly, if thine enemy hunger, feed him, and if he thirst, ''• ^'^'® '"™ give him drink ; and on the whole, do' him all the good in thy power, as Solomon urgeth, a Pursuing hoapitality.'] It was the more proper for the apostles c Greeks and barbarians.] It is remarkable that Dr. Barrow adds, V so frequently to enforce this duty, as the want of public inns 'much this must incUide living peaceably with heretics and schismatics j I less common than among us, though not quite unknown, Luke x. Barrow's /ForAs, Vol. I. p. 278. however, the ill treatment which | 34, 3.5.) rendered it difficult for strangers to get accommodations, must be expected under these hard names from men of unpeace- and as many christians might be banished their native country able tempers, should never lead any to deny or slight what they in for religion, and perhaps laid under a kind of bann of excommuni- their consciences judge the truth t)f doctrine or purity of cation, both among Jews and heathens, wliich would make it a high worship. . . crime for any of their former brethren to receive them into their d Give place lo wralh.'] L'Enfant and others explain this of jfp- houses. For the illustration which the paraphrase gives of the ing waij to the wrnth of God, ■\w\ qnoic\.h6 -phme of giving place lo energy of this text, I am obliged to Mr. Blackwall, 5acr?(i Class, the p/iysician, {Ecclus. xxxviii. 12.) and giring place to the law. Vol. I. p. 232. (chap. xix. 17.) as authorizing thai interpretation. But I think, in b Be entirehj vnitcd in your regards for each other.'] This, on both those passages, to give place signifies to yield without oppos- the whole, seemed the most proper version of auro £k jUhXb? (pjo- ing ; in which sense it best suits the interpretation given in the pa- y«vrc5 • and though Dr. Whitby paraphrases it, " Desire the same raphrase, which seems most natural. The ingenious and learned " things forothersthat you do for yourselves, and would have them Dr. Balguy determines in favour of the other interpretation, (Bal- " desire for you," I think the sense given above preferable, as it guy's Serm. Vol. II. p. 222, 223.) though the force of the reason supposes less of an ellipsis, which 1 would not suppose without ap- that follows is not at all impaired by ours, parent necessity. enemy hunger if he thirs C34 REFLECTIONS ON OUR OBLIGATIONS TO JOY, LOVE, AND PEACE. SECT. fProv. XXV. 21.) fur di/ doing this thou shalt, as it were, heap coals of fire on his drink: for in so doing thou 28. head :^ thou wilt touch him so sensibly, that he will no more be able to stand against such a ^iialt heap coals of fire ou conduct than to bear on his head burning coals ; but will rather submit to seek thy friend- ROM. ship, and endeavour by future kindness to overbalance the injury. XI'- On all occasions act on this as an inviolable maxim, and if you do not find the imme- 21 Be nut overcome of 21 diate good effect, persist in such a conduct ; 6e not overcome with evil where it seems most e^''. iJi'tovercomc evil with obstinate, but overcome evil with good: for that is the most glorious victory, and a victory ^°° ' which may certainly be obtained, if you will have the courage to adhere to that which, being good, is always in its own nature, on the whole, invincible, to whatever present dis- advantage it may seem obnoxioi:s. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 12 Surely if any thing consistent with the burdens and sorrows of mortal Hfe can inspire constant joy, it must be the christian hope, the hope of our calling. Surely, with a joy thus supported, no tribulation can be too great to be endured with patience, yea, with cheerfulness; since whatever it be, the glorious object of our hope, far from being endangered or diminished by it, shall rather be secured and increased. Let us therefore continue instant in ^jrayer, that our minds may be so fortified and ennobled that we may dwell upon these views. Well may they keep the heart in so serene and pleasant a state as to make us ready to every act of kindness 13 to our fellow-creatures, but especially to those who are heirs with us of this hope, whom we ought to esteem it our great honour and privilege to be able in any measure to assist and accommodate, while they are travelling through this too often inhospitable wilderness in the way to that kingdom they are going to receive. It is no wonder, that as we are not of this world, but are chosen and called out of the world to so glorious a prospect, the world should hate and persecute us : but let us neither be dismayed nor in any degree exasperated with the ill usage we may meet with. Rather, with unfeigned compassion and good will to the most injurious of our enemies, let us not only re- 17 frain from repaying evil with evil, but render them blessing for curses, and benefits for wrongs, since we have ourselves found such mercy, and are called to inherit such a blessing. Let us cultivate those kind and social affections which this great proficient in them all so forcibly inculcates; — 15 that tender sympathy which may teach us to share in the joys and sorrows of all about us — that candid humility 16 which shall, with graceful, unaffected freedom, stoop to the lowest and the meanest, and while it stoops, rise in unsought honours — that distrust of ourselves which shall cause us to cease from our own wisdom, that we may 18, &c. repose ourselves upon the unerring guidance of our heavenly Father — that kindly obstinate attachment to peace — that heroic superiority which melts down with kindness the heart that but a little before was glowing with rage : 21 And, on the whole, that resolute perseverance in goodness which must be finally victorious, and will assuredly rise with a new accession of strength and of glory from every seeiriing defect. Q^Mv-XK V 0 • \ % ^ ^ - SECTION XXIX. The apostle urges obedience to magistrates, justice in all its iranshei, and love as the fulfilling of the law : concluding t/ie chapter with a warm exhortation to that universal §anctiti/ which 7mght become and adorn the excellent dispensation of the gospel. Rom. xiii. 1, to the end. '' Rom. xiii. 1. - „ ... , . ROM. XIII. 1. SECT. AMONG the many exhortations I am now giving you, my christian brethren, to a life Let every soul be subject 29. worthy of the gospel, that of obedience to magistrates, to which I now proceed, must be p"^",, *'"^ higher powers. ' acknowledged of distinguished importance. 1 know the Jews are strongly prejudiced of God" Uie po°w?rTthat be ROM. against the thoughts of submitting to heathen governors ; but let me strictly charge and are ordained of God. ^''- enjoin it upon everi/ soul among you without exception, how holy soever his profession be, and however honourable his station in the church, that he be in all regular and orderly subjection to the superior civil authorities which Divine Providence hath established in the places where you live. For there is no such legal authority but may, ip one sense or another, be said to be from God, It is his will that there should be magistrates to guard the peace of societies ; and the hand of his providence in directing to the persons of particular governors, ought to be seriously considered and revered. The authorities that exist under one form or another, are in their different places ranged, disposed, and esta- 2 blished bi/ God,^ the original and universal Governor. He, therefore, who, by an unjust 2 Whosoever t|jerefore resistance, endeavours to confound these ranks, and sets himself, as it were, in array'' s"te[[i^'\i,*e'^^ordhwBc'e "^of against the authority of which magistrates are possessed,*^ withstands the disposition of \^ c Tlwu shall heap, Sfc."] The sense cannot bo, thou shall consume c Authority o( vi\\\c\\ magistrates are possessed.] Bishop Hopkins liim and bring judgments upon him ; for tliat would be applying to lays great stress on the word £|oi/ji« here used, as signifying a lawful revenge, and building upon it, while it is most expressly ToTtildtlen. autlioriti/, waA incapable of being applied to an usurper; and, in It must therefore intimate in how tender a manner human nature pursuance of this, has taken some pains to show that the power of is affected with favours received from one who has been considered the Roman Emperors in the apostle's time was not usurped, the as an enemy. people having given up tlieir original riglits to the senate, and the a VisposedanA established.] Sol render tlie word rEravAiEvzi, think- senate to the Emperors. But as tliis is a very abstruse question, and ing the English word ordained rather too strong. Compare Acts the pretended evidence for it very slender and exceptionable, and, xiii. 48. and the note there. Divine Providence ranges and in fact so far as I can judge, quite unsatisfactory; so it is certain that eslablislies the various governments of the worlil; tUey are, ttiere- e|ouTit is sometimes applied to an usurped aiitliority, being applied fore, under the character of governments, in the general, to be re- to the power of Satan, Acts xxvi. 18; Eph. ii. 2. Compare Eph. , vered -. but this cannot make what is wrong and |)ernicious in any vi. 12; Col. i. 13 ; ii. 15; Rev. xiii. 2, 4, .5. to which several other particular forms, sacred, divine, and immutable, any more than the instances might be added. But the natural^and candid interpreta- liand of God in a famine or pestilence is an argument against seek, lion proposed above needs not the support of such a criticism, and ing proper means to remove it. frees us from the ejiilless embarrassment of the question of a king b Sets himself, &.C.] This seems the most direct import of ovri. de jure and de /V/e/irl'-J^shoijU think it unlawful to resist the most "'"*'"« which may allude to the word Tirxyfiivxi, ranged or mar- unjust power that can beTitiagined, if there was a probability only sliallcd by God, used above with respect to the magistrate, ver. I. of'doing mischief by it. %/ SUBJECTION AND TRIBUTE ARE DUE FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE. 635 God: ami tlicy that resist God for the public peace and order: and thty who withstand so wise and beneficial an SECT, shall receive to themselves appointment shall receive to themselves condemnation, not only from the civil powers 29. they injure, but from the Supreme Sovereign, whose laws they break, and whose order ■ Ihey endeavour to reverse. eom. 3 For rulers are not a ter- And indeed the good purposes to which magistracy is subservient, make it very apparent ^'l^- the evif"°wnrth'oii*"then ^^^^ God must be displeased when that is despised : for rulers, in their several offices, are ^ not be afraid of tlie power! not. Oil the whole, a terror to good works, but to such as are evil,'^ being intended to thou'\iiait"^li'ave ^°v^\l ^ o'f encourage"fh~s former by punishing the Jatter. Wouldst thou not therefore be afraid lie same : ' of the high authtyritu with which they are invested ? Tki that -which is good, and thou shall, according to the general course of administration, have not only protection but 4 For he is the minister praise and respect />'o??e it.'^ This, I say, may reasonably be expected, and will be the 4 But*^if*'tlio"u dTtlf^t'^ wi'i'ich ^^^'^ where the magistrate understands himself and his office : for lie is, according to the is evil, be afraid; for he Original appointment, to be considered as elevated above his fellow-men, not for his own bearetii not the sword in indulgence, dominion, and advantage, but that he might be to thee, and to all the rest ofGod,arevenoerto""(^n//^ of his subjects, as ('/u' Servant and instrument of God for thine and the public good. But wrath upon liiin that dueih ifthou dost that which is evil, and so makest thyself the enemy of that society of which '^*'''' he is the guardian, thou hast indeed reason to be afraid : for he holdeth not the sword of justice, which .God hath put into his hand, in vain J It was given him yor this very purpose, that lie might smite malefactors, and thereby preserve peace and order in his dominions. And in doing it he is to be reg-arded, not as acting a severe and oppressive part, but as the servant and substitute of God ; an avenger appointed in his name, to [execute,'] not his own personal resentment, but the wrath of a righteous Providence, against him that docth evil, in instances wherein it would be highly improper to leave 5 Wherefore yc must that avenging power in the hands of private injured persons. Therefore, when this is 5 needs be subject, not only considered, piety, as well as prudence and human virtue, will teach thee that it is for wrath, but also tor con- j 7 • 1 /• j- j. 1 ^ r ; j .1 1 1 ,1 science-sake. necessarij to be in a regular sut>jcction, not only out oj regard to the dread thou mayst reasonably have of that wrath and punishment which man can execute, but also for the sake of conscience, v.'hich will be Violated and armed with reproaches against you, if you disturb the public peace, and resist the kind purposes of God, by opposing governors, c For, for this cause pay Mhile they act under his commission. This-Ts in^etfect what all subjects profess to own, 6 ai"eV<'d4"rniids°eU*^°aUeniN ^^ ''" ^^'''^ account you also pay tribute ; which magistrates everywhere receive, and is ing continually upon this levied /or this apparent reason, that they are to be considered as the 7n in istc rs o{ ihes,oodi very thing. providence of God, who give to the public the whole of their time, care, and labour, and continually applying themselves to this one affair, the execution of their high office, have ^ aright to be honourably maintained out of the public revenues, on the most obvious prin- ciples of eqiiity and justice. 7 Render tlierefore to all On this principle, therefore, be careful that you render to o// what is justly their due, 7 their dues; tribute to whom gyeu thougli you may have opportunities of defrauding them of it, to your own immediate wiiora custom, fear to whom ^n^ temporal advantage. To whom tribute \is due\ for your persons or estates, \render'\ fear, honour to whom sucli tribute Or taxes jS and to whom custom is due for any commodity exported or "'"''"'^' imported, render that custom ; and seek not clandestinely to convey such commodities ' away without paying it. To whom reverence is due"* on account of their worth and character, render reverence ; and to whom any external form of civil honour and respect is due by virtue of their office and rank of life, though it should so happen that they have no peculiar merit to recommend them to your regard, scruple not to pay all proper marks of honour ; and guard against that stiffness which, under pretence of christian smiplicity, 8 Owe no man anything, by disputing such common forms, mav rather indulge pride and occasion reproach. On 8 but to love one another: for ij 11 ji ■ s 7 j " 1 . o 1 .1 .; . he tliat lovcth another hath *"*^ whole, owe nothing to any, but endeavour to manage your affairs with that economy fulfilled the law. and prudent attention, that you may as soon as possible balance accounts with all who have demands upon you, except it be with respect to that debt which while you pay you will be renewing ; I mean the obligation you will ever be under to love one another. That I would recommend to your constant care ; for he that loveth another, hath in a not (ximmii'aduTterv Ti'iou <^*"ii2ei^.^ous laanncT fii If I led every thing that the law requireth with respect to him. Shalt not kill, Thou siialt For t/fat \_prccept,'\ Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shall not kill. Thou shall 9 d Are not a terror to good works, <5"c.] If circumstances arise in pret the words with this latitude. And there is great reason to "• which this argument is not applicable, it is reasonably to be taken conclude t/tnt magistrates in general are in/act much more beneficial ; for granted that the apostle did not intend here to pronounce con- than hurtful to society, which is a good argument for a general sub- ceruiiig such cases. Nothing can be said for interpreting these pas- mission ; and that was, as we observed above, all the apostle could sages ill favour of unlimited passive obedience, which will not prove intend to enforce. Compare Prov. xviii. 22. where, if 1 mistake not, any resistance of a private injury unlawful, by the authority of our the sense is similar, and is to be understood thus; "Generally Lord's decision. Matt. v. 39, 40. And this would subvert the great " speaking, a wife is ajtUcitjt ritlier tlian a detriment to her hus- foundation of magistracy itself, which is appointed by force to " band, though to be sure TKiere are many excepted instances." ward oft" and prevent it, or avenge sucli injuries. But it was very f Holdeth not the sword in vain.'] This strongly intimates the prudent in the apostle not to enter into any question relating to the lawfulness of inflicting capital puoishraent, which to deny, is sub- right of resistance in some extraordinary cases, as those cases are verting the chief use of magistracy. comparatively few, and as the just decisions wliiclicould have been g- Tribute to whom tribute.] It is well known that the. Jews had given on that subject might possibly have been misrepresented to a favourite notion among them, that they, as the peculiar people of his own detriment and that of the gospel. The general laws of be- God, were exempted frnm obligations to pay tribute to Gentiles ; nevolence to the whole, so strongly asserted in this context, are in (Joseph. Antiq. lib xviii. cap. 1 ; Bell. Jud. lib. ii. cop. i. 5 2. et cap. particular cases to determine ; and all particular precepts, in what- 8. [al. 7.] ^ 1.) against which this passage is directly levelled, though ever universal terms they are delivered, are always to give way to without pointing them out in any invidious manner, them. h Reverence.] This must certainly be the import of foSov here, e In the general course of administration, &c.] As it is certain as also of Jofnr^ri, Eph. v. ;///. and it expresses the inward disposition, the case often is otherwise, and was particularly so with respect to as rjf<>;, honour, expresses the conduct and external behaviour pro- , Nero, under whom this Epistle was written, it is necessary to inter- cecding from it. 636 . CHRISTIANS ARE TO PUT OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS. SECT, not steal. Thou shalt not hear false witness against thy neighbour, Thou shalt not covet not steal, Thou shall not 29. any thing that is thy neighbour's, a« J ««j/ oMcr co?«?«a«^/ respecting our fellow-creatures, ^^'■"" '"^'*<^ witness, Thou • if such [there be,'] is suf/imed tip in this one-ejicellent and compreliensive precept, which L'aily ot'hTr^commandraent! ROM. I wish may be engraven on all our hearts, so as to regulate every atfection and action, it is briefly comprehended ^^^^' Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Thou shalt learn to put thyself, as it were, Tiiou'sbaitliole^th "'^'""f' ^ in his place, and to act' as, in a supposed change of circumstances, thou couldst reasonably hour as thyself. " 10 desire to be treated. Now it is very obvious that love worketh no evil to one's neighbour ; lo Love worketh no ill nay, wherever that noble principle governs, it will put men upon doing all they can to Jo ''is "eishboiir; therefore ward otF injury from one another, and to make the life of each as comfortable and happy {^n. " "^ " "'° ° '^ as possible : therefore it may well be said, as it is asserted above, that love [/.?] the accom- f plisknient of the whole law. •' 11 And let me urge you to attend to this and to the other precepts I have given, with so n And that kuowing the much the greater diligence, knowing the circumstances of the present .JtY/.fo/;, which if vou fl'"^- *''«' ""^^ ''' '? '"&'» « 1 11 J 7 J r 1 • T 7 ■ ; . • , J . • , ' < ■ > time to awake out ot sleep: consider, you will see tnat \_/t is] high time now to awake out of sleep, and vigorously to for now is our salvation improve every opportunity of doing good and prosecuting the great business of life, which "carer than when we be- is to secure the divine favour and your final happiness : for our gxcd.i expected salvation ^^"^ ' [«] wou' considerably nearer than when we at first believed. We have complete salvation in view, it is continually advancing upon us, fiying forward, as it were, on the swiftest wings of time 5 and that which remains interposed between the present moment and our entering on the promised reward, is comparatively but a very small span. Act therefore at all times 12 in a holy subordination to such.a circumstance. And since the night is far advanced, 12 The night is far spent, since the dark state of the present life, in which we often confound good and bad, is almost JI"^ ''ij^ '* ^\ ''i"'] = ^^^ "^ 1 ,7 , . , r . ' ., , 1 1 • 1 11 , .1 • • •, therefore cast off the works over, and trie day is drawing near, even that day which will show every thing in its of darkness, and let us put proper colours and forms ; let us therefore put off the works which suit only a state of °" "'<= armour of light. fi darkness, and let us put on the complete armour of light. Let us be clothed with all the ^ christian graces, which, like burnished and beautiful armour, will be at once an ornament and defence, and which will reflect the bright beams that are so gloriously rising upon us. 13 And as \_being'] now in the clear and open day, let us take care to walk decently, honour- J3 Let us walk honestly abl)/, and gracefully,' since the lustre already shining about us requires crreat reformation '" '" "j^ ^^y < ""* '" ''"*- j „, 1 u r 1 •' "~^-~i~- 7 7 I 7 7 7 , • 7 7-1. iiiJ? and drunkenness, not in and exemplary holiness ; not in noting ana drunken debauches, not in chambering^ chamberino- and wanton- efFeminacy, and lasciviousness} the vices in which so many are wasting and polluting the I'^^s, not in strife and envy- hours which nature has destined to necessary repose : ixot in the contention and emulation "'°' 14 which the indulgence of such irregular desires often occasion. But laying aside all these 14 But put ye on the abominations and enormities, let us put on the Lord Jesus Christ,"^ our 2;reat-.5overeie:n ^'"V^ "^^"^ f\"''^l' "?'^ jr.. T-'i 11 11 r ■ <■ 70 make not provision tor the and baviour. lindeavour, my brethren, to obtain the greatest conformity to his temper, flesh, to fuljil the lusts and to appear as like him as possible in every particular in which he can be the object of '''^''i^"/- our imitation ; for that short precept will contain all that is necessary to adorn our profes- sion to its greatest height. And v/hile so many are spending their time and thoughts and substance in those low pursuits which regard only the -meaner part of their nature, make not a sohcitous provision for the flesh, to [fulfil its] irregular desires, nor be intent in pleasing any of the senses, even where their demands may not appear directly criminal ; but labour to preserve the superiority of the immortal spirit, and to keep it continually un- der the discipline of so holy and so noble a religion. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. While subjects learn reverence and obedience to their magistrates, not only for wrath but for conscience-sake, 1 — 5 may magistrates learn a correspondent care to answer that end of their ofhce which the apostle makes the founda- 3, 4 tion of such precepts as these, and to be indeed the ministers of God for good, a terror not to good but to evil works. Great Britain, while I write this,* is happy in a government to which this character may justly be applied. Its subjects are under the greatest obligations to the divine goodness, in having so remarkably overthrown the attempts of those who would have left us little use of the scripture, but would themselves have abused it, to have riveted on the heaviest fetters by perverting this passage of St. Paul, as if he had intended to subvert every free con- stitution under heaven, and to put a sword into the hand of merciless tyrants, to kill and take possession of the 7 heritage of the Lord, counting his people but as sheep for the slaughter. While we are thus happy, we shall be doubly inexcusable if we fail in rendering both honour and tribute where they are so justly due. 8 — 10 May we extend our care to the universal law of love; and may it be so deeply engraven on our hearts, that the practice of every social virtue may become easy and delightful. • Anno Domini, 174!). i Let us walk ttonourably and eracefullv-] So wix-niji.mm exactly nifios a aoft, luxuriovs, and effeminate manner of life, attended with signifies. Dr. Milner renders it, let us walk wilh a (jrucc. — Fading an atlected delicacy, very detrimental to that resolution which is so Flowers of Life, p. 38. necessary an ingredient in the character of one who would approve . , 'kChamhcring : Koiraif.] This Leigh explains of ^(/('n,'/ /oni? !« A^'rf. h\mse\( n good soldier of Jesvs Christ. I will not defend that sense of the word ; hut I will here record the ni Put on the Lord Jesus Christ."} A strong expression for en- observation, which I have found of great ii.se to myself, and to deavouring to be clothed with all the virtues and graces wliich which I may say that the production of this Work, and most of, composed his character: which reminds me of what Plutarch tells my other AVritiiigs, is owing; viz. that tlie difference between' us concerning the kings of Persia, that on their coronation-day they rising at 5 and at 7 of the clock in the morning, for the space of put on a robe which the first Cyrus wore before he was king, to re- forty years, supposing a man to go to bed at the same hour at mind them of imitating his exemplary temper and behaviour, night, is nearly equivalent to the "addition of ten years to a man's Plutarch, Arlaxcrx. apud Opera, torn. vi. p. 18.31. Edit. Steph. 1572. I • 1 "( "'^'cli (supposing the two hours in question to be so spent) It is observable the apostle does not say, " Put on purity and so- ;| eight hours every day sjiould be employed in study and devotion. " hriety, peacefulness and benevolence ;" but he in effect says all at '^tiemina.cy and lasciviousness.l I think ajsXvEu properly sig- ouce, in sdying,' Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. { THE WEAK SHOULD BE RECEIVED, BUT NOT TO DOUBTFUL DISPUTATIONS. G37 And on the whole, being animated by the approach of salvation, may we awake to the vigorous discharge of sect. our duty ; and while the light of the gosixil scatters about us so bright a ray, may we walk in every respect worthy 29. of it, that we may have no reason to wish for tlie veil of darkness to cover our shame. May we not only abstain from the vices which are here branded with the infamy they deserve, but distinguish ourselves in cultivating the ROM. contrary virtues. And that we may do it etlectually, may we put on the Lord Jesus Christ, remembering con- ^I'l- tinually the obligations we are under to consider his life as the model of our own. So shall we make the gospel 14 day yet brighter in the eyes of all around us, and anticipate, while we are here in this world of comparative dark- ness, the lustre with which we hope, through his influence and grace, to shine forth in the celestial kingdom of our Father. i , _ ' ' ' . \ ,:■ s SECTION XXX. The apostle rccovimcnds mutual candour, especially between those christians who did and those xvho did not think themselves obliged in conscience to observe the ceremonies enjoined bi/ Moses ; and strenuoushj at- tempts to turn their .zeal for or against those observances into a concern to prepare for their Jinal appear- ance before the great tribunal. Rom. xiv. 1 — 12. Rom. xiv. 1. Rom. .xiv. 1. Him that is weak in tlie I KNOW there are different opinions among you christians at Rome with regard to the sect. do'ubtfurdi'sputations?"* ^° obligations of the Mosaic ritual. Now here I would be solicitous to suggest the most 30. peaceful counsels, and to persuade you to mutual forbearance and mutual love. As for ■ him that is so tceak in the christian yrt/^/i as still to retain the prejudices of a Jewish edu- rom. cation on this head, let me prevail on you Gentile believers, in this respect better instructed ^l^'- in the nature and extent of christian liberty, to receive and converse with him in a friendly 1 and respectful manner : and do not indulge yourselves in the inclination which you may sometimes find, to run into debates and distinctions about matters in doubt between you.^ 2 For one believeth that fo/' one, that is, the converted Gentile, believeth very truly and rightly that he inay eafi anotl™r?'wUoSs''weak""lu- ^^^ things inditierently that are good for food; but another, who is in this respect weak, eth herbs. ' cateth nothing but herbs and other vegetables,'' to express his humility and self-denial, and to guard against the pollution that might attend even the use of clean animals for food, if they are not killed and prepared after the Jewish manner. Now in this diversity of opinion and practice, exercise candour and forbearance to each other, and all will be 3 Let not him that cateth well. Let not him that eateth all kinds of flesh freely, despise and set at nought him 3 fn^'kt'n™ him which eat- ^^'"^ ccitetk not these prohibited or suspicious things, as if he were a weak and superstitious eth not, jud^e him that bigot : and let not him that eateth them not, but conscientiously abstains from them, eateth: for God hath re- j^^^/o-g and condcmu him that eateth them, as a profane, unclean, and intemperate person: For God hath received him into the number of his children and people, without laying him under such restraints ; and surely where God receives we should not presume to reject. 4 • Ho-^^'^" ^[' "'"^^" *^''*'^ ^^^ "^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ seriously on this occasion, whoever thou mayst be, and how wise and vantTto^'^^s own "master "e holy soever thou mayst think thyself. Who art thou that Judgest the servant of another ? standeth or faiietlu Yd, Wouldst tliou think it an indecent thing to meddle with the domestic servant of thy God'i's"able^°o'^raak^llira neighbour Or of thy friend, and wilt thou pretend to govern Christ's family, and judge of stand. his administration towards the members of it ? Know that not to thee, but to his own master, he standeth or falleth : it is by Christ he is to be finally acquitted or condemned. Yea, if he offends in no greater points than these in debate amongst you, he shall be upheld in his christian profession, and established to eternal salvation ; for God is able to establish him,'^ and his promises assure us that he will do it. 5 One man esteemeth one What I have said with relation to the distinction of meats may also be applied to that 5 es\lera°eth ''eveiy day"«/''^" ^^ ^^'^^- ^"^ "'""' ^^^^ ^^' ^^^ Jewish convert, esteemeth one day above another :^ He Let every man be fully per- thinks their sabbaths and new-moons, and yearly fasts or feasts, have something inviolably suaded m Ins own mind. sacred, and that the observation of them is matter of perpetual and universal obligation. Another educated among the Gentiles, or more thoroughly instructed in the design and genius of Christianity, esteemeth every dai/ [cdike,'] without any regard at all to the Jewish institution. Let every man freely enjoy his oxsn sentiment,^ and go on in his own way, a Debates and distinctions about matters in doubt."] Dr. Whitby have been offered to idols, or at least contracted some other ceremo- ficpX^xnsSi^y.fi'iiii oi discriminating persons a.ccovi\\\^tothe\r inward nia) pollutions. Mr. Baxter thinks here is a reference to such thoughts and reasonings on these heads. The force of tlie apostle's christians as might have been Pythagoreans before their conversion, admirable reasoning in favour of C(7rt(/o«r and mutual condescension and mig;ht retain their old prejudices against animal food. Baxter's cannot be enervated by saying, as some have unhappily done, that U'orks^Xo], VI. p. 614. But as that aversion to animal food de- here was no separation between Jev.'ish and Gentile christians, pended on their doctrine of the transmigration of souls, which no Had the things judged indifferent by the latter, and apprehended christian could retain, I think that interpretation is much prefer- sinful by the former, been imposed, a separation of communion must able which refers it to Jewish converts, who were also much more ha%e ensued, and the schism, on the apostle's principles, would numerous in the church, and possibly might some of them come have been chargeable on the imposers. When it shall please God from the Essenes, a Jewish sect peculiarly strict on this head, so to awaken in the governors of established protestant churches such that tliey abstained not only from flesh but from fruit, a spirit of moderation and goodness, joined with a true zeal for reli- c God is able to establish him.'] Dr. Whitby explains this of gion, as to leave such things in that natural state of indifference in God's convincing the Jewish converts in general of the inditlereuce which almost all sensible men confess it is best they should be left, of the Mosaic ritual, by putting a speedy period to the very possi- many separations will cease of course, and the "healers of such bility of observing it, in the destruction of the temple at Jerusa- breaches will do a noble service to their country, be honoured by lem ; which would have a peculiar efficacy to wean men's minds all that love Christianity, and amply rewarded by the great Heaii from an attachment to it, when considered in connexion with of the church. Christ's predictions of that event. But I chuse the more extensive b Eateth herbs.] Dr. Whitby demonstrates by many learned interpretation, as more obvious and less liable to objection, quotations here, that some of the Jews used to eat no flesh at all, d Esteemeth one day above anot/icr.] Raphelius here produces and others looked upon it as a very high pitch of virtue to abstain some apposite passages to show that Xfivsiv iu such a construction from it in Gentile countries, and to subsist entirely on vegetables ; signifies /opr^/(?r. ^ because they did not know but any flesh sold in the shambles naight c Lei every man freely enjoy Itis Own sentiment.] Critics have ob- 638 EVERY MAN IS FREELY TO ENJOY HIS OWN SENTIMENTS. SECT, without impediment or censure. For we may reasonably hope that christians are actuated, o He that regnnleth the 30. in the main, by the same principles, when their practices differ according to the difference ''•''y' rcgardeth it unto the of their judgments; so that /^e thatregardeth a day in this peculiar manner, rcgardcth ^u^n-^t'tt K tou" ^L^rd ROM. \i.t\ to the Lord, and takes this distinguishmg notice of it, because he thinks it is the will he doth not regard it. He XIV. of Christ that an honour should still be done to these Mosaic institutions : and on the *,'''''', '^''\^^\ eateth to the 6 other hand, he that regards not a day, it is to the Lord we hope that he doth not re- tl.Tnks : amn^ie^that wteih gard \it ,-] it is because he thinks Christ will be honoured by asserting the liberty of his ""♦- *" i''<= ^'^''^ ''^ Weth followers m this respect. He that eateth freely of whatever comes before him, cateih to "han'ks "'"' ^"'"' ^°'^ the Lord, endeavours to glorify him for it, as becomes a good christian, and g'lvcth God thanks ioxiha various provision of his liberal providence; and he that eateth not the food which the law forbids, may act on tiie same pious principles, and we ought charitably to conclude that it is out of a regard to what he apprehends the will of the Lord that he eateth it not ; he cheerfully denies himself what he supposes Christ would have him for- bear ; and he likewise givefh God thanks that other food is provided on which he may conveniently subsist, and that he is not forced to eat what he thinks unclean out of abso- lute necessity. Now where is the damage of all this > and while such a religious temper towards God prevails, how little does it comparatively signify whether it acts by the use of these things, or by a conscientious abstinence from them ! 7 It may well be supposed that this is a just representation of the case; for it is certainly 7 For none of us liveth what every christian is obliged to by virtue of our common profession ; as none of us, who a'icth to himself "^ "° ""*" understands and answers that engagement, iivcth to himself; and none of us, so far as the circumstances of his death are under the direction of his own choice, di'eth to himself, S nor determines the most important affairs by his own humour or present interest. But 8 For whether we live, from the time of our giving up our names to" Christ, as our Divine Master, to the last day ''f ';?'•= ""'" ti'e Lord ; and and hour of our continuance in life, if -we live, it is our concern that tse may live to the th^Lo'rd'rwh'e'ther wVl'i'!e Lord, and strenuously pursue the great purposes of his glory; o/^ that if roe die, tve may thereforc.'ordie, wcare the die unto the Lord, either by sacrificing our lives to his gospel, if he demands it of us, or ^'"■'*'^' if we expire in a natural way, by behaving to the last as those who have his love ruling in our hearts, and his sacred cause still in our eye: so that whether we live or die we are the Lord's ; in consequence of being thus faithfully devoted to Christ, both in life and death, we have the pleasure to think that, living or dying, we are the objects of his care 9 and favour. For to this purpose Christ both died and rose again from the dead, and 9 For to tliis end Christ still continues alive, that he might be the sovereign Lord both of the dead and of the vh•ed''''tll'a^'lle'^°m'i^"t "if living. This is the reward bestowed upon him for all his services as Mediator, that he Lord'both of the^dwdand should be exalted to such a kingdom, and that all christians should thus own themselves ^'^'"S- his servants ; not only in this present world, but in that unchangeable state into which they pass by death; yea, that all the inhabitants of both worlds should be ever subject to his disposal and command. 10 But the thought of Christ's exaltation furnishes another argument for the candid temper lolJut why dost thou judge I am now recommending, as it implies his future appearance to the universal judgment, f'y brother? or why liost where our temper, in this respect, will be strictly reviewed. In this light, then, let me lllerVtr^lrshf i'/air.t^rd seriously ask. Why dost thou, O Jewish convert, jud^e thy Gentile brother for the non- hefor'e the judgment-seat of observation of those precepts by which thou thinkest 'thyself bound ? Or why dost thou, ^'"'"^• O Gentile believer, set at nought and deride, as weak or superstitious, thi/ Jewish brother, who conscientiously observes that burdensome ritual from which thou art so happy as to apprehend thyself free ? This censoriousness or contempt is greatly to be blamed, and either must very ill become the state in which we are and must quickly be : for no principle of our common faith is more certain than this, that we must oil at length appear and be solemnly presented before the tribunal of Christ : and as it is there that we are all to 11 take our final trial, it must be dangerous presumption to anticipate that judgment. Re- ii For it is written, As i member it, my brethren, and ponder seriously upon that awful day; for it will assuredly live, saith tiie Lord, every come, a. it zs written, (Isa. xlv. 23.) « [AsU live, saith the Lord, surely every knee XtniuTr./auTo'nf:^ s/iau bow unto me, and every tongue shall confess to God;" and it is then only that to God, 12 such a great and extensive prophecy shall be completely accomplished : So that every 12 So then every one of us one of us shall render an account of himself to God. Let each of us therefore apply sl>j>l' SJ^Y""""' °^ ''""" It to his own case, and say to his heart, " This account must be mine." And we shall '" ° ° ' then be too intent on regulating our own conduct, to have either leisure or inclination to be severe or pragmatical in censuring that of our brethren. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 1 Let all the different sects and parties of christians study to imbibe more of the equitable and lovely temper Which the apostle here expresses in so genuine a manner. The divisions of the church are not to be healed by imposing our own sentiments, phrases, and forms, and censuring and harassing those that will not acquiesce in uiem. huch a temper will only engender strife, and mutual provocations will produce mutual increasing re- Let us receive our weaker brethren with tenderness and respect; not despising those who scruple what we sWn^wWi! ^'"^ "'°'' J ^^'^m^'-'S*' is most properly applied to a a text this is for the right of private jndsment, I need fake no pains soreid to fnJ ''T'f °',' ^y."'^ "*'"'' ''"'' *'"'''' '"'"' ''" '" ^^''' t" ■'l'"^'' i but the reader mav see it vindicated from the evasions of inq' !■; r w^ZY„ '■'*",• ""thing to obstruct it ; and so the mean- a very celebrated writer, in Mr. Benncl's Appendix to his Irenicvm, fi'^' '-""tm goon tn /its nwH way wil/iout impediment. How sirong p. 126— 121. \ CHRISTIANS ARE NOT TO JUDGE ONE ANOTHER. 639 1 .lactise, not judging those who practise what we scruple. God may receive the one and the other : yea, the dif- sect. krent practices of both may proceed from the same general principles, a desire to please him, and to approve our- 30. selves in his sight. In this we may all unite in a concern that we may not live or die to ourselves, but to Christ. His dying love, ROM. ; liis living care, may surely challenge this. Worthy is he who died, and rose again and revived, to be adored and ^'^• obeyed as t/ic Lord hotli of the dead and of the living ! And such, in one view or another, he will finally ap- ^» "^ pear. We shall know it in that day when we shall be called before his judgment-seat. Conscious of so many 10 crimes, and, even in our best days, of so many imperfections, how shall we dare to appear before him , especially if we should then receive judgment without mercy ? Let us not tempt it, to our own everlasting confusion, by show- ing no mercy. Let us not add to all the offences which may justly cause us to tremble before his tribunal, the criminal arrogance of usurping the place and prerogative of our Judge. Let us remember our relation to him and to each other, and act in a manner becoming it. Let us diligently judge ourselves as those who must be judged of tlie Lord; so 12 thinking of that grand account, as with an increasing solicitude to prepare for it. The Lord grant that rse may find mercy of the Lord in that day ! The Lord grant that it may also be imparted to many of our brethren who have differed most from us ; yea, and througli- the indulgence of our compassionate Saviour, to many who have been prone to censure and condemn us for those things which he knows we have done from a desire to please him, or refused to do from a fear of olfendina; him! i.; '. ■ \ <"; ', ^ r t SECTION XXXI. The apostle farther tirges the Tmttual tenderness and candour he had I'ecommendcd above, by representing the love of Christ to all christians, the nature and design of his religion, and the danger of a contrary temper. Rom. xiv. 1.3, to the end. Rom. xiv. 13. Rom. xiv. 13. Let us not tiierefore judjje I HAVE just been reminding you of your appearance before the tribunal of Christ, and the SECT. Judg''e"thirratL"rti>at^ro account which every man must render of himself there: and now give me l^ve a little 31. man put a stumbling-block, farther to pursue the consequence which so naturally follows. Let us not flierefore am/ A*" *b^th"^-^'wa *° *^"' '" longer judge one another,'- bid rather judge ye and determine this as matter of un- ROM. doubted and important duty, not to lay any stumbling-block or scandal before a brother -^ .^^^• to do nothing, how inditlerent soe\'er it may be in itself, which may tend to prejudice, dis- courage, or mislead any other christian. 1-1 I know, and am per- / know, for instance, and aju at length persuaded, by the powerful teaching of the 14 thafL'^rf '> nothfniT-' ^°'''^ -^""^ Christ, though it be so contrary to the principles I imbibed in my education, clean of itself; but to liira and SO strenuously maintained m my Pharisaical state, that nothing {is'] unclean of itself , tiiat.steeraeth any thing: to that there is no moral turpitude in any kind of food by which the human body may be cfean"'^ *'"'' " "" ' '* ""' nourished ; but that, separate from particular circumstances which may arise, it may lawfully be eaten; there is nothing, I say, unclean, unless {it be] to lii?n that in his conscience accountcth any thing to be unclean : [and to hi7n,] while he retaineth that opinion, \_it »] indeed unclean, how indifferent soever it is in itself; and he will contract guilt before God, by allowing himself in it, whether it be to indulge his own tasle or to engage the favour of others, whilst he hath this inward apprehension of its being unlawful. 15 But if tliy brotlier be But if there should not be such an apprehension concerning the thing in itself considered, 15 wa\l'efttrou\fJcSabiy' yet it may be in elfect prohibited to thee, as injurious to others; iox f thy brother be Destroy not him with thy grieved," wounded, and let Jnto sin, by {thy] use of 7neaf, hoxv dost thou any longer meat, for whom Christ died, -i^alk according to that noSle principle of love which I have just now been so earnestly recommending ? How innocent soever it may in itself seem,.0 do not, if thou hast any bowelafer him, or any regard for thy great Master, destroy him by thy rash and unkind use of such particular meat, for v:ho7n Christ not only submitted to smaller instances of self-denial, but died in the agonies of the cross. Is a morsel of meat indeed so great a thing to a christian, that for the sake of it an immortal soul should" be endangered, and 16 ^^et not then your the blood of a Redeemer injured > Let not then your liberty, which is in itself jg-ooo', be 16 goo e evi spo en o . slandered and blamed for being the occasion of so much mischief as such an ill use of it may probably produce. And surely none of you can pretend to object any thing from 17 For the kin?:dom of Conscience, against abstaining from these things. For the kingdo?n of God, into which 17 b^friKht"eousnVssand'^peace' "'^ ^^^ entered by believing in Christ and becoming his subjects, consists not in meat and andjoy in the Holy Ghost.' drink; it neither prohibits nor enjoins such things as these, nor is taken up with such little matters : but the great design of it is to regulate the temper of its professors, and in the most effectual maimer to cultivate and promote righteousness and peace, andjoy in the Holy Ghost ; that is, a cheerful temper, supported by a consciousness of strict integrity, established on principles of universal love, and inspired by the blessed Spirit of God.^ 18 For he that in these And he that in these things faithfully serveth Christ, and acts upon the great maxims 13 Uiings serveth Christ, is ac of his religion, [is] acceptable to God, whether he abstain from the liberties in question 3 Let !/.? not Vierefore any longer jiidfje one another.'] It is very c Tf thi/ brother be grieted.} Hence it appears that grieving a plain that the word x-iveiv is here used in two very different senses ; person does not signify merely putting him out of humour, biut as Haplielius on this text shows ;x-i%litt is used in the same sentence leading him into sin. The grief therefore is that which arises from by Herodotus. • a consciousness of having acted amis.«, in conformity to the example b A stumbling-block.'] Some say that ffxavSsXov properly signifies of a person considered as superior, whe_ther in rank or genius, know- " a piece of wood that supports a trap, which falls on its being ledge or piety. " moved," and so may with peculiar propriety signify whatever d .\ cheerful temper, &c.] This is the interpretation which Dr. mat/ be the occasion of ensnaring another, and drawing him into sin Scott has given in his Christian Life, Vol. I. p. 285, and I think and mischief. it, on the whole, preferable to any other. 640 THEY MUST PURSUE THEIR OWN PERSUASION WITHOUT OFFENDING OTHERS. SECT, or allows himself in them : and he will also be in tlie main approved hy men too ; for ccptabie to God, and ap. 31. • bad as the world is, upright and benevolent men who put on no aftected rigour and seve- proved of men. ■ \ rities in religion, are generally esteemed and beloved in it. Thus let us therefore act, i9 Let us therefore foi- ROM. and with all possible di\\gen.ce pursue the things which tend to peace, and may promote 1"^ after these things which ■viv , ; ir 1- ■ /• -,1 °» 1 ■ , ^ , .X . •' K- 1 , make for peace, and thinars 90 °"'' "'"^"'''^ edijicatton m our common laith. . And whoever thou art that mayst disrelish wherewiiil one may edify ■^^ the exhortation in this connexion, do not indulge so mean a taste as, for the sake o/this another. or that particular kind of 7neat to destroy thy brother; who, as a man, would appear 20 For rneat destroy not the noblest work of God in this lower world", if all the peculiar considerations of Christianity ImlJed'ajr' i^u'rcV^ut'^v^fs were out of the question. It is true indeed, as I hinted above, that in themselves all things evil for that man who eat- [rtrc] pure; yet [that is'] morally evil to a man, that he eatcth with offence and et'^ with offence. 21 scandal, contrary to the rule of his own conscience, and ensnaring to that of others. In 21 // is good neither to this view, I may venture to say, [it is] good neither to eat any kind oi flesh, though that ^^* *''=^|' "?^ ^ w?'^'"'[ "tT' would be a much more rigorous self-denial than I am now pleading for ; nor even to brotl'i'e^sturabktiror^s of^ drink wine, though in the most moderate degree ; nor indeed to indulge in [aiiy thing] fended, or is made weak, else by which thy brother is scandalized or weakened, that is, by which he may either be ensnared or discouraged in his religious course. 22 Tliou wilt perhaps plead, that thou hast faith in a superior exercise, and beholdest 22 Hast thou faith? have Christianity in a more extensive and generous view. It is well ; and I could not wish thy *.' *" *!^y^^'[, 'before <;od. views should be more contracted. But if thou hast such a just persuasion of the indifference eth 'Ifot* ifimself'^Tn ^Tiat of these things which others scruple, yet in circumstances like these which 1 here suppose, ti''ns which he alloweth. have it to thyself before God; content thyself that he is witness to it, and conceal those apprehensions, just as they may be, in thine own breast, when they cannot be published with advantage or without offence. But permit me to add, upon this occasion, happy \_is] he who doth not condemn himself in the thing which he alloweth : it is a happy thing for a man to be quite easy in what he does, and free not only from the reproaches but the suspicions of his conscience, and to use even lawful enjoyments only in a lawful and re- 23 gular degree. But he that really in his conscience maketh a difference between one sort 23 And he that doubteth of food and another, is condemned by God as a sinner, if he eat out of unbridled appe- '.^ damned if lie eat, because tite, vain complaisance, or weak «hame. It must in such a case be criminal, because [lie whatsoLeTis "not of' faith^ eatcth] not with faith, that is, with a full satisfaction in his own mind that God allows is sin. and approves the action. For it may be laid down as a general maxim in all these cases, that whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin ; since the divine authority ought to be so sacred with every man, as to engage him not only to avoid what is plainly and directly contrary to it, but what he apprehends or even suspects to be so, though that apprehension or sus- picion should chance to be founded on his own ignorance or mistake. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 12 Still let that great and final account which each must render of himself to God be kept in our mind, that we may learn obedience to him, candour to each other, and a tender care to avoid every thing that might give unnecessary offence to our brethren. And in the views of it, let us learn always to reverence our own con- sciences, so as never to be engaged to do what we suspect to be unlawful : since no consideration can ever balance 14 — ^23 the intinite evil of offending God and bringing guilt on our own souls. That is to us unclean which we esteem to be so, and what is not of faith is sin. Let us also be cautious that we do not incur guilt and condemnation, even by things which we allow as in the main lawful ; solicitously attending, not only to the general nature, but the probable consequences, of our actions. 15 And where there is danger of injuring the souls of others, let us often reflect that Christ died for them ; and estimate, so far as we can conceive it, the value of souls by the value of that blood by which they were redeemed. 1 6 Let us also take great heed that we do not give occasion to others, by our imprudent conduct, to speak evil of that which is in itself good. And that we may not do it, let us study those great and generous notions of religion 17 which this excellent passage of scripture gives us. Let it be written upon our hearts, that the kingdom of God is not meat or drink ; that it doth not consist in a zeal for or against any of the little distinctions by which chris- tians have been so often divided, and which have been too frequently the occasion of mutual alienation in their 18 affections. Let us study and practise more righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. The appro- bation of God consequent on this may well support us, though men should censure us as lukewarm, yea, perhaps as hypocritical and interested too, in the candid regards we show to those which differ from each other and from us. God will remember their rashness and forwardness to these uncharitable censures : but let us rather say, " May he cure and forgive them !" Yet while we cultivate the amiable temper here set before us, bad as the world is, we may hope that we shall be accepted by many : and indeed, in proportion to this knowledge of our real character, by all whose accept- ance and friendship is most to be valued. Let us not therefore be discouraged at any ill usage which, in par- 19 ticular instances, we may meet with; but still /o/Zoti-' the things that make for peace ami conduce to mutual edification ; and the God of peace v/ill be with us, and Jesus the great Lord of the church, which is his house, will smile on our attempts to build it up into one united and beauteous edifice, till he c^ls us to his temple above, where all is order, and harmony, and love, for ever. _.- THE STRONG MUST BEAR THE INFIRMITIES OF THE WEAK. G41 SECTION XXXII. The apostle fart Iter urges 7nutiial condescension hy neiv ?notives, particularli/ the example of Christ and the goodness of God to us all, and the regard -which Christ had shown to Jews and Gentiles, in bringing or send- ing the gospel to them, according to the tenor of prophecies which he adds to the list of those produced above. Rom. XV. 1 — ]7. ROM XV. 1. Rom. XV. 1. We then that ire strong- SEEING therefore, my brethren, it is so dangerous for any to do that concerning which SFXT. ?^.?..f f^„ .tt"!!, \''.,.i" irV' thev are not in their consciences satisfied that it is assuredly lawful, we ousrht to take great 32. pJease ourselves. care that we do not, by our uncharitable impositions or irregular examples, lay a tempta '- tion in their way to do it. And we who are strong,lha.t is, who perfectly understand the RO.w. liberty which Christianity gives to its professors, ought, with all tender sympathy and ^^• compassion, to bear the infirmities of the weak, not only tolerating them, but in some instances restraining our own inclinations out of a regard to their advantage, and not, as too many do, to please ourselves, to gratify our own inclinations and humours, whether 2 Let every one of us others be comforted or grieved, edified or ensnared. On the contrary, let every one of '2 please /lis neighbour for lu$ ^^ ^ rather make it his care, so far as he lawfully and conveniently can, to please [his'] '^''" "^ ' neighbour where it may hQ for ihis] real good, and condescend even to his ignorance and prejudices, where there is reason to hope it may conduce to his edification and that of the church, which is nearly interested in the mutual tenderness of its members for each other. 3 For even Christ pleased And surely we must be disposed to act such a part towards our brethren ; for \vq all 3 not iiimseif; but, as it is ^yej] know that the Lord Jesus Christ, our great and divine Master, though so infinitely th'eui'^that reproacheVthee exalted above US, pleased not himself; but when he vouchsafed in inercy to visit this fell on me. low world of ours, instead of studying his own ease and pleasure, he submitted to an almost continual series of self-denial, mortification, and trouble, for our sakes. He con- sidered the weakness and infirmities of those about him, that he might teach them and train them up for service, as they were able to bear it. (Mark iv. 33.) Yea, he even submitted, with the greatest gentleness, to much reproach and contempt ; as it is written, (Psal. Ixix. 9.) in words which may; w'ell b.eapplied to him-', ^ The reproaches of those who " reproached thee are fallen upon ?ne.^ I have placed myself in a world where I have " been afflicted with the wickedness of mankind, which I have continually seen and heard " about me, and which has been, through the whole course of my life, my continual " grief and burden." 4 For whatsoever things Now, J2y_thejyay, I accomiTiodate this text to the purpose before me, because I think 4 were written aforetime were ^g j,^j^y make the best we Can of everv scripture, to produce and cherish grood dispositions written for our learning, , y ,. ^ . , . r^ i ± _■/ • /■ / -^ , tliat we through patience and pious sentiments m our hearts, ror whatever things were formertji written were and comfort of the scrip- written for our instruction, that we through patience and consolation of the scriptures, tures might have hope. ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^j^^ strenuous exercise of that patience which the consolations administered in scripture so powerfully support, jnight have an assi>red and jojful hope m the midst of all our tribulation. 5 Now the God of pa- A^oti' ?«<7?/ Mt Go^ o/"/?<7^/encecf/7rf ro??so/fl//o«, from whom all these gracious and season- 6 tience and consolation grant q^\q provisions proceed, fi'/re vou more of this blessed temper, that vou may have the sa?ne j'ou to be hke-minded one t^ , „ X 'to.. ■^, ., i j? r ft r ■ s h' rnr j. u/ jr. toward anotlier, according mutual affection, according to the example ot Jesus Christ r 1 liat witli one mind 6 to Christ Jesus ; [and] one mouth, with united hearts and voices, ye may glorify the God and Father muX2!'/onTnmuth gl'J- of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath sent his beloved Son into the world, to unite our rify God, even tiie Fatlier hearts ill love to each Other, and to tune them to those devout praises which we address to "' "^\^,rf''"^''f '^*'*"^ Christ, jijg blessed self through him. Therefore, whether ve were, before your conversion to 7 7 W licr6iorc rer6ive vc -^ ^ — ^ ^ .,„——- o ./ ' o ' •' _ . " one another, as Christ also christianity7Jews.and^ Geutiles, considering it now as an endearing bond, which. causes received us, to the glory of every difference to be forgot, receive ye one another, and embrace one another, with mutual love; as Christ hath, without any distinction, received us all to the glory of God. And greatly will that sublime end at which he aimed in all, even the glory of his heavenly Father, be promoted by such endeared afTection in his people towards each other. 8 Now 1 say that Jesus Now I say this with peculiar regard to those differences in judgment which I know are S Christ wasa rninisterof the gQ ready to prevail among christians of different educations, as to the obligations of the circumcision tor the truth ,, . % . , t ?■> • i .-, i ; ^-i- , ,?^ i_ ^ Mosaic law. And I would remind you Gentiles, that you ought not to suiier your hearts to be alienated from your Jewish brethren for their attachment to it ; because Jesus Christ was [7nade'] a minister of the circumcision ; as he was a Jew by birth, he received cir- cumcision himself, in token of his obligation to observe the law : and confined his personal ministry, according to what he Jiimself declared concerning the limitation of his embassy, a The reproaches of those, Sfc.'] Some expositors refer this to Messiah. How inexpressible a grief and burden the sight of so Christ's having undertaken by his sufferings to expiate the guilt of much wickedness must have been to so pure and holy a mind as sin, every species of which may be conside'red as a reproach cast on that of our Lord, it is impossible for us fully to conceive; but the law and government of God. See Cradock, in loc. I have given were v*e more like him, v.e might, and we certainly should, enter what seemed to me the more direct and natural sense, but will not more into it than we generally do. say this other should be excluded, which may well agree both with b The same mutual affection, according to the example of Jesus ^ w the words and connexion. It must, on the principle on which the Christ.'^ Raplieliiis has cvideijfly shown that«im) ^.-ovsiv signifies /o v^ apostle goes in many of his quotations, he very pleasant to observe agree in an harmonious anTTaffectionale manner ; and that the prepo- how all the expressions of the highest pietv and devotion, to be sition Kir* may be rendered according to the example of. Compare found in the writings or discourses of good men of old, are applica- Gal. iv. 28 ; 1 Pet. i. 15 ; Eph. iv. 24. See Raphel. Annot. ex He- bie to Christ. But many learned critics maintain that the lxi;cth rod. in loc. Psalm may, in its original sense, be interpreted as a prophecy of the 2 T 642 THE JEWS AND GENTILES SHOULD GLORIFY GOD TOGETHER. - M SECT. (Matt. XV. 24.) to the lost sheep of tho house of Israel, Aad this was foi^ the illustration of God, to confirm tho pro. 32. of the iruth and fidelity of God, to confirm and verify the promises so long since [inadc} "I'^es made uuio the ft- to Abraham and the other fathers of that nation. A7id I would remind Jewish believers, g^A'nd tli.7t the Gentiles ROM. that he ako came that he might gather together all the children of God scattered abroad might gloriiv God lor XV. among the Gentiles, that they might glorify God for [/i«] mercy in granting them a u,tr^a.>se '/ Ivitrwe'ss^to ^ 9 participation of the same privileges; and gave it in charge to his apostles, that they should thee among the Gentiles, raise disciples to him among all nations : (Matt, xxviii. 19.) So that it is a failure of love "'"^ ^'"e ""to thy name, and duty to Christ, not to receive them. And accordingly the Gentiles are often spoken of in the Old Testament, as called to join with the Jews in worshipping the God of Israel : as it is written, (Psal. xviii. 49.) " For this cause will I confess to thee a?nong the 10 " Gentiles, and sing praises unto thij nameT'^ And again, he, that is, Moses, saitit, lo And again he saitli, (Deut. xxxii. 43.) " Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people T which may intimate their [^^'"'"'.y^ Gentiles, with 11 being called to participate the blessings once peculiar to Israel. And again, David suith, \\ "AnY'again, Praise the (Psalm cxvii. 1.) " Praise the Lord, all ye distant nations, and repeat his praise, all Lord, all ye Gentiles: and " ye peopled Now surely this glorious privilege of an admission into the church, may ■*" >""; nil yei^eopie. justly engage the Gentile nations to praise God in sublimer strains than any other occasion 1 2 to which we can suppose either Moses or David to refer. And again, Isaiah says, ex- 12 AndaKain,Esaiassaith, pressly in this view, (Isa. xi, 10.) " There shall be a root from the stock of Jesse, and There shall be a root of Jes- " one arising to rule over the. Gentiles, [ani T ■ u X ^ • .lu J *"^ Christ in those tlungs than any services of the Jewish state or priesthood. which pertain to God. IMPROVEMENT. Ver. 1 May the abundant communication of the Spirit that ia in Jesus C^hrist form us more to the amiable temper here recommended ! That we may prove the .distinguished sti-ength of our minds by the superior fortitude with which 2 we bear the infirmities of our weaker brethren, and may seek the noble pleasure of pleasing our neighbours for their good, and to their edification. Let the generous self-denial of our great Lord be in this view before our eyes : and 3 let us endeavour to feel the reproaches which are cast upon God much more sensibly than those which imme- diately fall upon ourselves. 4 Happy are we in the scriptures, which, through Divine Providence and grace, have been written for our instruc- tion. May they inspire us with patience and consolation, and establish our souls in humble hope ! May our hearts c I mill cnnfc&i to thee, ffc."] Diodati and many olhet-s suppose rncvlovs descent of Ihc Ifobj S/in//, supposed to have happened at this to be only an«aUuii«n to the words of David in the place Antiocli in Pisidia, on converts who migiit be called the first-frnits referred to. Mr. Pierce has taken great pains to prove that the of the idolatrous Gentiles, (Acts xiii. 52.) which is the interpreta- whole .wiiith Psalm isa direct prophecy of Christ, who is, accord- tion advanced by the author n( Mi seel. Sacra. (Vol. I. p. 112.) and ing to his interpretation, to be considered as speaking throughout his followers, is not only a needless limitation of the more noble \ the whole of it. In which view he would render the title "The and natural sense here given, but in my judgment, for reasons in " song which David sang when God delivered him from the hand part given in my notes on the Acts, an explication which goes ^ " of Sheol, (instead of Saul,) that is, l/ie grave." But I cannot upon various principles, precarious, or rather utterly incredible. think his reasoning conclusive ; and the 23d verse of that Psalm e With respect lo the thimjs of God,&u:. tx ap; jm @im.'] Raphe- secnis an invincible objection against this solution. I have taken a lius very justly observes that this phrase has a peculiar propriety middle way, which I hope the attentive reader will see reason to when applied to sacerdotal afl'airs, and especially victims presented approve. Compare chap. i-i. 24. where the same method of quoting to God, of which the apostle is here speaking. Other texts are seems evidently to be taken. illustrated by this remark, and particularly Heb. ii. 17. See Ra- d Scmclijiedhy the Holy Spirii, &c.] To explain this of the mi- phel. Not. ex Xcn. in loc. THE APOSTLE WOULD NOT BOAST OF WHAT CHRIST HAD DONE BY HIM. G43 be cemented In the bond of mutual love, that rvit/i one mind unci one mouth -me mai/ glorify God ; and receive sect. each other with an endearment like that with which, if we are true believers, notwithstanding our smaller differ- 32. ences, we are received by him. . Mercy is communicated by Christ to Jews and Gentiles, who therefore are justly required to unite their praises ROM. to the root of Jesse. Let us all trust under the shadow of Jtbis pleasant plant, and may we be filled with all joy XV. and peace in believing. What can furnish ou^ so calm a peace, so subHme a joy, as the christian hope ? May 13 we all abound in it by the power of the HoTy Ghost. And surely if we are filled with such joy and hope, we must be filled with all goodness too, with a truly benevolent temper towards others, which a sense of our own 14 happiness tends most powerfully to promote. We Gentiles have been presented to God as a holy offering ; may 16 we be sanctified more and more by his Spirit, and established in a firm confidence in Christ, that he will transact all our concerns with God under the character of the great Mediator : esteeming that the most happy and glorious 17 circumstance in the station which providence may have assigned to us, which gives us the greatest opportunity / of spreading the honour of so dear a name, and of presenting praises and services to God through him. (\ . " ' ' "* , ^ > C b SECTION xxxni. The apostle takes occasion from -cvhat he had been saying, to mention the extent of his o-nn labours and his purposes of further journics, in v^hich he hoped to visit the Rojiians : in the viean time earnestly recom- mending himself to their prayers. Rona. xv. 18, to the end. Rom. XV. 18. SECT. 33. Rom. xr. 18. For I will uot dare to I HAVE hinted above at the cause I have to rejoice and boast in Christ as to what re- whidi"' ciurst*''ha'ih^"no't 'ates to God and the oflice of my christian ministry. For I u-ill not dare to boast wrou;,'hf by me, to make falseLy, nor even Speak any thing of what Christ hath not indeed wrought by me to bring - wo.d^^Dd^deed"''*'"^'''"' ^^ *^^ Gentiles into obedience. No : God forbid that I should either exceed 'the bounds of rom. truth in making the report, or arrogate any thing to myself as my own work, when speak- XV. ing of the conversions that have indeed been made. I humbly confess that it is Christ 1^ who hath wrought whatever is done : yet I boldly declare that his grace and mercy hath in this respect distinguished me both in word and deed, by the manner in which he hath 19 Through mighty signs enabled me to speak, and the things which he hath strengthened me to perform. He hath 19 ''f'\i7i?"s'^[rit''or*God°^'^so '"Thought by the miraculous energy of signs and wonders, accomplished in and bi/ the that from Jerusalem, and amazing power of the Spirit of God, which hath not only been plentifully imparted to round about unto lliyricura, me, but bestowed on others by the laying on of my hands ; so that, thus supported, / gospef of"christ.**'^ *^ "^ ^"'^'^ '^'th the happiest effect fully preached and .explained the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem, Antioch, and Arabia, in the east, round about through all the Lesser Asia and Greece, even as far as the western shores of Illyricum, which so nearly borders on your 20 Yea, so have 1 strived Qwn celebrated Italy.* For it has still been the object of my ambition, so far as Provi- 20 wliereT^airl'r wa's''nam°d' ^^"^^ woui4-pennit me to indulge it, to preach the gospel, not where Christ was [already] lest I should build upon named, lest I should Seem desno\jsto build upon another fnan's foundation,^ and SO de- another man's foundation ; cline the difficulties which attend the settlement of new churches. Others indeed have 21 To whom'he^was not spoken done this and little else ; but I have chosen a different manner of acting, as it is written, of, they shall sc;e: and ihey in words vieW applicable to the Series of my labours, (Isa. lii. 15.) " They to whom no- " thing was'^Pctrrred concerning him shall see, and they who have not krard shall " understand.'" Thus have many received from my mouth the first notices they have ever 22 For which cause also had of tmc religion, and of the method of salvation by the great Redeemer. The conse- oo n-om co'tuh')<'"lo'^vou'"'^'^'^^'^ quence therefore was, that I have been long hindered from coming to you ; which, out ° ' of my singular affection for you, I was very desirous of doing, though it be something con- trary to the method of proceeding which I generally chuse, as you have the christian re- - ligion already, by the divine grace, most liappily planted among you. But now having 23 and ^lav■in"^ 'a greaT d "ire "" longer place, either at Corinth or elsewhere in these Grecian climates, no more work these many years to come of this kind remaining to be done here of which Providence seems to open any probable ""^°y°"' prospect, and having also on various accounts a great desire for ?nany years to come my journey^ into Spain, 1 ^^ J^""' I '^i" attempt to put it into execution. // I go into Spain, I will endeavour, 24 will come to you: for 1 if possible, to cojne to you ;^ for I hope quickly to have an opportunity of going thither, lournev" an*d to be brought ^^^ ^^ ^ P"^^ A'/' ^'^^^ contrive, if I can, to see you, and shall expect to he brought on my way thitherward^by forward by you in my way thither, by the kind attendance of some of my friends at that have not heard shall understand 23 But now having a As far as the western shores of Illyricum.'] Though it is evident from hence that St. Paul, before the dale of this Epistle, which was in the year 58, had preached the gospel in these regions, it is observable that Luke takes no notice of this in the history of tlie Acts, where he also omits to mention the j.ourney he took to Arabia on his first conversion, and several other very remarkable facts, re- ferred to in the xith chanter of the Second" Epistle to the Corin- thians and elsewhere ; and it is very possible that the visit to Crete, wlieu Titus was left behind to ordain elders, Tit. i. 5. might be of this number. b Ohject of my ambition, so far as Providence would permit me to indulge it, to f reach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, Sfc.'] The meaning, to be sure, cannot be that Paul scorned to come after any other cliiristian minister; which would have argued a height of temper very inconsistent with the humility of this blessed apostle, and does not agree with what we read in the history of the Acts, of his going to preach the gospel at Damascus, Antioch, and Jerusalem ; to wliich it seems probable Troas, if not Corinth or Ephesus, may be added. It may signify, that far from declining dangers and oppositions which might especially be ex- pected in first breaking up, as it were, the fallow-ground of heathen and unevangelized countries, he rather felt a sublime ambition, as ?;iXor>/iEiv signifies, (see Eisner, Vol. 11. p. 64.) to make the.first pro- clamation oi ^ Redeemer's name in places where it had before been fjuite unheard of. And probably, in mentioning this, he may glance upon those false apostles who crept into churches which he had planted, and endeavoured to establish their own reputation and in- llueuce there, by alienating the hearts of his own converts from him, their spiritual father ; while, like some in our own days, who have trod most exactly in their footsteps, they built on his grand and noble foundations an edifice of wood, and hay, and stubble, 1 Cor. iii.12. c If I go to Spain, &-C.'] It appears probable from hence, consi- dering the principle which St. Paul chose to govern himself by, of not building on another man's foundation, that no apostle had yet planted any church in Spain; which, as Dr. Geddesjustly observes, very ill agrees with the legend of St. James; for, according to that, he had now been 1.5 years in Spain, and had erected several bishoprics there. Gcdd. Misc. Vol. II. p. 221. 2 T 2 844 HE DESIRES THEIR PRAYERS, AND GIVES THEM HIS BENEDICTION. SECT. Rome, and the refreshment which my spirit may receive from others ; if I may first not you, if first I be somcwiiat 33. only have a short interview in passing, but make such an abode with you as to be in some fi''^^ ^^'t'' your wwi;7««y deorte satisfied with your [company .•] I say, in some degree, for I know that if I were UOM. to Indulge my own affection to you, my visit would be much longer than the views of ^V. duty elsewhere will permit. 25 This I speak with relation to my future designs : hut I am no-w going to Jerusalem, 25 But now Igo unto Je- ministering to the necessities of the saints there by such contributions as I have raised for [JJes^il^ts '*""'^'"' """' 26 their subsistence, or may farther collect as I prosecute my journey. For it hath pleased 2g For it hath pleased [the churches of] Macedonia and Achaia'' to make a certain collection for the poor ^Xi/[^ niakf a'certllu saints, their believing brethren, that are in Jerusalem, who are exposed to such peculiar contribution for tiie poor 27 persecution and affliction. I say, it hath pleased them to do this ; and though I acknow- saints which are at Jerusa- ledge their free love and generosity in it, yet I may say that in a sense they are their "^ 27 It hath pleased them f/ciito-i.'/o/' j/'^/^c Gc/;///eJ have been brought into so happy a union with God's j3nce pecu- verily, and their debtors liar people, and are made partakers of their spiritual things, the invaluable Blessings of [|'|^J j';"-^ been' made ^^r'. the gospel, first brought to them from Jerusalem, and by persons of the Jewish nation takers of their spiritual too • then ouo-ht certainly to be ready with all religious gratitude and respect to minister things, their duty is also to ' ''"\y fi . , ^, I ■ 1 • , ii ■ ? • ?i • c T^ ■ 1 • 11 minister unto them in car- fo them in their carnal things, and impart the interior blessings ot Frovidencc, in which ^^i ti.ings. 28 they so muc'h more abound. Having therefore despatched this affair, and sealed 28 When therefore I have to them, that is, safely delivered as under seal, \his present, which is the//'«/Y of that love P^.tf^^lfulem'thiffruit;! and care which their Gentile brethren so justly express towards them, I xvill, if it please win come by you into 29 God to give me a favourable opportunity, co77ie by you into Spain. Ami as I doubt not ^^^l^\^^ j ^^ ^^^^ „^.^^ but you will pray for me, that my coming may be comfortable and useful for your con- „.hen i come unto you,' i firmation in religion ; so I have a cheerful confidence that God will hear your prayers, and shall come in the fulness of may say, that I knotv that when I come among you I shall come in the fulness of the ^f cS"^ °^ ^"''"'' blessing of the gospel of Christ, that is, with a full and abundant blessing attending my 30 ministerial and evangelical labours. Yet when I write thus, it is not from any particular 30 Now l beseech you, revelation to assure me that I shall be enabled to fulfil this purpose. I know that in this ^^^^'^'^^^l^J ^^^ ^^l j^^; journey to Jerusalem I have, humanly speaking, a very dangerous scene before me, having ,|,e love of the spirit, that some of my most mortal and implacable enemies to contend with. And therefore, as I ye strive together witii me cannot but apprehend the interest of the gospel to be concerned in my life and liberty, '^y°"' ^•''3'"" *° ^"^ *'"■ I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love which is the genuine fruit of the Spirit,^ that you join your utmost strength and fervency with 31 mine/ in \_your'] daWy prayers to God for me. That I may be rescued froin the un- 31 That 1 may be de- believers in Judea .-e who are so fu^l of rancour against me as a deserter from their cause, „',lt'' beiievrin '.I'udea'; and and will, I am sure, spare no force or fraud to destroy me ; and also that my ministration that my service whiVh i at Jerusalem, in the charitable affair which I mentioned above, may be acceptable to the f,",%^°diTthe's.Tnt"-^ '^ saints, for whose use it is intended ; so that no prejudices in our christian brethren there, against the believing Gentiles, may prevail so far as to prevent their receiving it with a 32 becoming candour and gratitude: That so, in consequence of all, I may come to you 32 That I may come unto ■with joy by the will of God, and that I may be refreshed \together-]w^tM you in our J?:;f^^Z^l^ ^^ ^l 33 intended interview. And, in the mean time, 7/wy the God of peace, who has graciously refreshed. given us that peace with himself which we esteem the first and greatest of blessings, and 33 Now the God of peace hath cemented our hearts in those christian bonds of peace and love to each other, [be} ''^ with you all. Amen. u-ith you all, whether I am present or absent. Amen ! IMPROVEMENT. Ver. Let us behold with pleasure the modesty and humility which is joined with all the zeal of his holy apostle 18, 19 while he thus obliquely owns, in a manner which shows how familiar the thought was to his mind, that all he had done in the christian ministry, and for the propagation and advancement of the gospel, was only what Christ had done by him to procure such obedience of the Gentiles, both in word and in deed. Adored be the grace that made his labours so successful, and sowed the blessed seed so wide by his diligent hand, from Jerusalem unto Illyricum. Most divine instructions did he give them in matters of fliith, and he taught Ihem to express that faith by their works. While he was dead to all thoughts of enriching himself, and in some instances chose rather to maintain himself by his own labours than to subsist on the bounty of others, his liberal soul devised 25, &c. liberal things for his necessitous brethren. He raised a noble collection, and was much concerned, not only that it 31 might be safely but acceptably delivered. Well may our souls be edified by observing the things which lay nearest the heart of this generous aposde, that coming to his christian friends at Rome he might come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ, and that iflie was spared through their prayers, it might be for public usefulness. Saint Paul, dead as he was to human applause, was, from much nobler motives, solicitous about his acceptance ; and he shows by his mariner of speak- ing, what a sense he had of the degree in which it depended upon the turn and disposition which God should be d Chnrches of STacedonia, &!€.'] As we read of no more than one { Join your vlmost streiiqt/t ii^i/fi mine.l Eisner ( OAs^ri'. Vol. II. collection of the Macedonian churches, which was Uiat directed p. 65.) has a beautiful note on this word ffyvayOTiTa^Sa:., to show how by Paul when he went from Ephesus to Macedonia, (Acts XX. 1.) in exactly that is the import of it. , , ,. the year of Christ 57, this circumstance seems to fix the date of this g T/iat T mm/ be rescued from the nnhehevers in Judea.^ How Epistle pretty early in 58, is was observed in the introduction, and extreme their bigotry and rage was, appears from their behaviour the former note there referred to. to him at the very time here referred to, Acts xxi.— xxir. It was e By the love of the Spirit.'] Sofne would explain this of the /or? from a sense of the great importance of his hfe to the cause of which'the Sjiirit of God bears to us, or the nffection which we owe rhri.-itianity, that he is thus urgent ; else we may be assured he to that grncioiis arjent ; and were we certain that either of these would gladly have given it up. Phil. i. 21, &c. were the genuine sense, important consequences would follow. ROM. XV. THE APOSTLE SALUTES SEVERAL FRIBNDS AMONG THE ROMANS. 64 1 leased to give to the spirits of men : may this just and pious thought frequently dwell upon the hearts of the minis- SEcr Some of the prayers which the apostle so affectionately bespeaks were answered, and some seemed to be for- o-otfen • Y_et did God make what seemed the rejection of some the means of answering the rest. He was for a while delivered into the hands of tliose id Judea who believed not ; and this providence, which might have seemed an invincible obstacle to his design, proved the occasion of bringing him to Rome, and promoted the success of liis ministry there. , . r oo Let us adore the God of grace and peace, who works the most important ends by methods to us unthought ot ; Si .cai\ let us be greatly cautious that we do not rashly judge that he hath rejected our prayers, because we do not see them answered in that particular way which might have been more agreeable to our own wishes. SECTION XXXIV. T/ie apostle, afler recommending Phebe to the Roniaiis, partieularly salutes several of his friends resident Rom. xvi. 1. among thou. Rom. xvi. i — 16. Ro.M, xvi. 1. 1 COMMEND unto you HAVING thus despatched the substaiice of my epistle, I would add, by way of postscript, SECT. serv^t°ofthfc"u7cl!wUich something relating to a few particular christian friends, with us or with you: and first 34. is in Cenchrea: would recommend to you the bearer of this Epistle, Phebe our sister, ti-ho is not only partaker with us in the profession of the gospel, but in the office of a stated servant or ^'^^ deaconess* of the church in Cenchrea,^ in the neighbourhood of which I write to you. ^ ' 2 Tliat ye receive her in And I d'esire that you would entertain her, in regard to her relation to the Lord Jesus 2 ^'ints^mftiiatV^atsrsUiw Clirist, our common Saviour, with all christian atfection, and in a manner becoming those in whatsoever business stie that profess fnemselves saints, separated from the world to the honour of his name ; and hath need of you : for she jj^^j y^^ would assist her in any thing in which she may need it of you ; for I can raaVy, a''nd o" m yse°f"a Uo. ° assure you she has been, in her office, an helper of many, and of myself in particular ; on which account she is well worthy of your regard, and will I hope meet with a very kind reception from all that love me or have any concern for the common cause. 3 Greet Priscilla and \ desire you would also salute the pious Priscilla and her worthy consort Aquila,'^ who 3 Jcln's^™^''^'''"*'"*^'"''' have both deserved the name of my felbtv-labourers in Christ Jesus, as they have each of them, according to their different stations and characters, been ready to do their utmost 4 AVho iiave for my life to promote the interest of the gospel amongst us. And indeed they are persons -who, for 4 laid down their own necks : ^^ preservation of w/?/ life, exposed to so many tumultuous dangers, (Acts xviii. 6, 7, unto whnni not only l gi\e r _ .y ^ ' r , j 7 .1 . • ^ ^ l^ ^ a au« thanks, but also all the 12, 13.) have, as it Were, laid do-ivn their own necks, that is, ottered themselves to ttie churches of the Gentiles. extreniest dangers; to whom therefore I do not only owe my own personal thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles, whose apostle I peculiarly am, and for whose 5 LTikewise greet the spiritual liberties and privileges I am always so strenuous an advocate. You will also, I 5 church that is in their'jjQpg^ ipresent my sincere and affectionate salutation to the church that is in their house ; SEpenetus!"wiro is the as I know there are several other christians with them, resident in the family, or meeting first-fruits of Achaia unto t^jgni for social worship there. Salute also my beloved Epenetus, who is one of the first- Christ. fruits of Achaia^ to Christ in the number of the first christian converts of these regions, 6 Greet Mary ; who be- "and therefore worthy my particular remembrance. Salute Mary, who has taken a great 6 stowed much labour on us. ^^^^ of pains on our account, to accommodate me and my companions when we were in 7 Salute Andronicus and her neighbourhood. Salute Andronicus^ and Junius my kinsmen, and dear in the bond 7 Junia, ray kinsmen and my Qf christian fellowship and United sufferins;s too, having once been 7ny fellow-prisoners ; [rotr'amrs""he''apostTes ; "^ho Were early in great reputation among the apostles,^ and were also happy in being who ..'so were in Christ bel joined to the church of Christ before me ; and therefore, though once the object of my ^"s Greet Auiplias mv be ^Lirious persecuting zeal, are now honoured and beloved as my elder brethren in the Lord, loved' in the Lord. ' Salute AjnpUas, my beloved in the Lord, for whom I have a most affectionate friendship, » 9 Salute Urbane our cemented in the bonds of mutual faith and love. Salute also Urbanus, ?ni/ fellow-labourer J chys'my'beioved.' in the gospel of Christ, to the service of which he is so faithfully devoted, and with him 10 Salute Apelles, approv. ,/?y beloved Stachi/s, of whosc friendship I cannot but retain an affectionate remembrance. w1,id,^aJfof ArfstobuluTs '^'^^"^^ Apellcs, whose long-experienced worth renders him thoroughly approved in the 10 household. cause of Christ, as a disciple of a character undoubtedly honourable. Salute also those a A stated servant or deaconess] Compare 1 Tim. v. 9. That Achaia, (I Cor. xvi. 15.) for there is no manner of necessity to un- there were some grave and pious matrons engaged in such an derstand by that expression, the very ./(ij:^ cAris//an conr^rA indeed office in the primitive church, is, I think, very apparent from these it is possible Epenetus might be one of that happy family to winch places: but it is obvious tliere were circumstances which rendered this appellation is given. ,i t ,i • such sort of servants much more useful and necessary in the e Andronicus, *c.] Dr. Jenkins very justly observes that tins churches at that time than they would now generally l>e. list of names can be no objection at all to the authority ot tins t-pis h The church in Cenchrea.'] As Paul mentions the church in tie; for it might be an encouragement to the persons thus particu Cenchrea as distinct from that at Corinth, though Cenchrea lav in larly mentioned, might conciliate some additional respect to tliem, the suburbs of it, I must submit it to the candid reader, whether whereby their usefulness might be promoted, and would render it be not probable that it had a distinct pastor or bishop of iU each of these persons a kind of witness to the genuineness ot tne own Epistle, as we may naturally suppose it was shown to each ot tliem. c Priscilla and Aquila.-] This excellent couple appear, by this Jciik. Of Christianity, Vol. II. p .37 ,nn.=Mp, passage, to be returned to Rome, on the ceasing of that edict i In reputation amont, tite apostles.-] Diodati thinks that apostles against the Jews which had driven them from therce, in the reign here sign'ies Evangelists ; and that the meaning is, that these per- of Claudius, Acts xviii. 2. Priscilla seems to have be^-n a woman of sons were noted raesscng.TS of tie churches, 2 Cor. vin.-. 5 ; t n u great note, and probably of distinguished genius and influence; ii.5. But I rather apprehend with Mr Cradock, (^pos/. //'.^^ p. 'J. which appears, not only from the manner in which she is here that they were some early converts who had been known ^i d n > cli named, tiut also from the edification which the eloquent Apollos esteemed by the apostles before the dispersion oecasioned by the received from her instructions, in concurrence with those of her death of Steplien, (Acts viii. 2.] and if so, perhaps Paul might once husband have been active m persecuting them, and have learned tUeir d Tlie first-fruits, ^-c] It is very probable he might be converted names at first, with an hostile intent of hunting them down to at the same time v?ith Stephana.5, called also the first-fruits of destruction. 646 REFLECTIONS ON THE FRIENDLY SALUTATIONS OF ST. PAUL. SECT, [of the famibf\ of Anstobulus,^ and assure the christians that hold the lowest station in 34. it, that they are not forgotten by me. Salute my cousin Herodion, still dearer to me in u Salute Herodioo my the ties of grace than in those of nature ; and those belonging to [the household of] Nar- k'nsmun. tireet them that ROM. cissus, who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Salute those excellent women. Try- lissus, wh'kirare "in tiie XVI. phena and Tryphosa, who, according to their stations, have laboured with great diligence Lord. 12 in the service of the Lord. Salute the beloved Fersis, who distinguished herself among Tr^'phosa.^vvim'labounn'the many who were faithful and diligent ; so that it may properly be said, she laboured tnueh Lord. Salute the below 13 in the Lord. Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord, whom I esteem as a christian of a most ra.id?i'n't'he'l'i'rd ''''^°"'*'^ excellent character ; and pay the most affectionate respects in my name to his mother and 13 Saiuiff Rufus, chosen mine ;^ for so I may call her, on account of that maternal tenderness and care which she '" '^'"^ Lord; and his mo- 14 has often shown towards me. Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hennas, Patrobas, Hermes, ' '14 ""sahlir' Asyncritus, and all the brethren -with them, as if every one of them had been particularly named. I'hiegon, Hermas, Patrobas' 15 Salute Philologus and Julias, Nereus and his sister, and Oli/mpas, and all the other "'^F";*"' ^"'' "?f brethren ■yii-.- ij;j •,;,/ 1 "T.. ,. . vvlijcn are with them. smcere saints and christians' that are with them; whom, with the rest of the persons i.i Salute Philologus, and 16 that I have mentioned, I most sincerely honour and love. In a word, whether you be •'"''''• Nereus and his sister, Jews or Gentiles, when you meet at your assemblies, salute one another with a holy kiss ;^ saintfwiricira'rL^wlth'them^ and take care that the kiss which you give to each other at the conclusion of your worship, ,10 Saiute one another be expressive of a pure and undissenibled affection, and conducted with the gravest and Churches of ' Christ sa'ute most decent circumstances. All the churches of Christ in these parts salute you ; as you. they, with me, have heard of the eminent figure you make in religion, and the many excellent persons who are resident among you. IMPROVEMENT. Though so much of this section be a mere catalogue of names, it is not without its moral and religious in- struction. We see in it the good heart of the apostle 5 how full he was of the sentiments of christian friend- ship ; how solicitous he was to express his esteem and love for his brethren in the Lord. And God hath made him the means of transmitting to posterity the memorials of many excellent persons of whom we no where else read or hear any thing : of whom all that we know is, that they were such as deserved the particular affection of St. Paul, and were professors of the gospel at Rome in the reign of a very worthless and wicked prince, under whom it is highly probable that some of them suffered martyrdom for Christ. His large heart opened to embrace them all, whether by birth Jews or Gentiles : and as they shared in his sa- Ver, lutations, we cannot doubt but they shared in his prayers too. We find some of these pious and much-esteemed 1, 2 friends of the apostle were women, of whom he speaks with great regard, as of persons whom divine grace had made very useful in the church 5 who had been helpers of many, and particularly of him ; who had laboured, 12 yea, had laboured much in the Lord, Let not that sex therefore think that it is cut off from the service of Christ be- cause the ministry is appropriated to men. Eminently useful have many of them been. Tiie most valuable ministers have often been assisted by them in the success of their work, while their pious care, under the restraint of the strictest modesty and decorum, has happily and effectually influenced children, servants, and young friends ; yea, has been the means of sowing the seeds of religion in tender minds, before they have been capable of coming under ministerial care. 3 Generous was the zeal which Aquila and Priscilla showed in exposing even their own lives in the defence of this holy apostle. Great obligations did they thereby lay upon all the churches of the Gentiles, and on us, who, at this distance of time, receive so many blessings from the longer continuance of St Paul's life, which Uiey were ready 4 so heroically to defend at the hazard of their own. Truly valuable were these mutual friendships, of which zeal for Christ was the common bond ; lasting, and in- deed everlasting. These excellent persons are doubtless the companions of Paul in glory now, and will many of them be his crown in the day of the Lord. Some of them indeed were in Christ before him, and he speaks 7 of it as peculiarly to their honour. Let those who were early in Christ rejoice in the thought. Let those who came later into his church be exhorted to exert themselves with the greater vigour in his service, that they may re- cover the time they have lost : and let us all learn to esteem it as the most substantial proof of our love to those who are peculiarly dear to us, to show, upon all occasions, how sincerely we wish that they may early form an acquaintance with Christ ; that they may constantly walk in him, and grow u.p in all thmgs in him, as our com- mon Head. g Those \nf Ike familyl of Aristobulus.'] The Roman church hath pression refer to the maternal care this good woman had taken of him. consecrated days to the honour, of many of the saints mentioned in i All lite saints, &c.] Calvin and others very justly observe, that this chapter, whom they declare, I know not on what sufficient had Peter been now at Rome, lie would undoubtedly have been authority, to have been martyrs. See L'Enf. Prcf. to the Jiomans, named ; since no one in this numerous catalogue was of a dignity p. 6, 7. To these they have added Aristobulus and Narcissas, and eminence by any means comparable to hirn; and yet, if he though there is no certain evidence that they were christians. It were not there at this time, the whole tradition of the Roman seems roost probable they were persons of high rank who had each bishops, as the Roman church delivers it, fails in the most funda- a great family of slaves ; and some of them being christian con- mental article of all. verts, the apostle would not forget them, low as their rank in life k A holy kiss.-] The custom of thus saluting each other was bor- was, when he was saluting his brethren in so particular a manner, rowed from the Jewish synagogue ; and as chastely and prudently We may observe what a regard the apostle had for foreign churches, as it was managed, it seems to have been the occasion of those false when he informed himself of the names, circurastanccp, aud abodes and scandalous reports which were so industriously propagated of so many then ii. Rome ftmoiig the heathen, of the adulterous and incestuous practices in h His mother and mine.'] Hence some have thought that Rufus christian assemblies ; on which account it seems to have been laid was at least half-brother to Paul ; but perhaps he might in this ex- «side very early. THE APOSTLE CAUTIONS AGAINST THOSE THAT CAUSE DIVISIONS. G47 SECTION XXXV The apostle concludes with other salutations, and a necessaiy caution against those tvho would divide the church, together xvith a doxology suited to the general purport of what he had been writing. Rom. xvi. 17, to t^e end. ROM. xvi. 17. I^o.M. xvi. 17. Now I beseech von, A ND wott', having despatched these salutations which cbaristiaD friendship lias largely dic- SECT. L'uIe'a^iis^onsanTonlnces <^ted, let me Conclude my Epistle to you wiUi a few words of additional advice. And I 35. contrary to the doctrine would particularly ejhort you, brethren, to have your eyes upon, and to mark out for 'void'theni"^^ '^*'^°^'' ' ^^^ ''''^ caution of others, those persons, whether in public or private life, which cause divi- ROM. sions and offences [among J/ou,'\ by false doctrines, factious tempers, and scandalous '^^ '• lives: therein doing contrary to that pure, certain, and uniting doctrine which you have learned of us, the apostles of Jesus Christ who have been commissioned by him as the authentic teachers of his gospel. And when you have discovered such pernicious seducers, avoid them, so as to have no intimate converse with them, nor even to permit them to continue in your communion, if they will not be reclaimed by the milder methods 18 Fcr they that are such of brotherly admonition. For you may be assured that such, whatever they may pre- IS Chritt" uit*their^own bitiT ^^^^' '^^'"^^ "^^ ^¥ ^-''^''^ •^'^•^"* Christ, Under whose commission we so apparently act, and by good words and fair and the nature of'whose religion is so holy and benevolent: but, on the contrary, it is speeches deceive the hearts plain they Serve their own belly ; they have only their own secular interest in view, and le simp e. ho^ to gain some temporal advantage by setting themselves up as heads of parties among you; and by fair speeches and flattering forms of add ress, "" ihey deceive the hearts of the innocent and well-meaning, and lead them into snares of which they are little aware. 19 For your obedience is It is very possible, that having done so much mischief here at Corinth and at other 19 iTm glad uferefor"e on your P^^^^' they may also make some attempts upon you, especially considering the figure you behalf: but yet I would make in the christian world ; but I trust their endeavours will be unsuccessful, /or the report wh^^cli^is"'>ood'^ "d*° '' '^ of //o«/' exemp^ry obedience to the dictates of our holy religion is come abroad unto conceniing evil all; therefore I rejoice on your account, in hope you will overcome this and every other danger, and maintain the good character you have already gained. But I give you this caution out of my abundant tenderness and care; because / am desirous you may be wise and sagacious with respect to every opportunity of practising and main- taining that which is good, and as simple as possible with regard to that which is evil ; perfectly free from all ill views and designs of every kind. And I know how much the insinuations of those men tend to destroy those benevolent dispositions which should ever reign in the hearts of christians, and to fill them with such prejudices against each other as may produce mutual injuries. 20 And the God of peace And I have an agreeable persuasion that you will take care to maintain this happy 20 your ^feer^hortly. "xhe mixture of iunocence and prudence, and will succeed in that care. Yes, my brethren, I grace of our Lord Jesus am well assured that the God of peace, from whom we derive all our peace and happiness, Clnistii? with you. Amen ^nd who delights in seeing this peaceful temper prevail among his servants, will quickly bruise Satan under your feet ; will defeat the artifices by which the great enemy of God and men is endeavouring to insinuate himself into the church, and to infuse his own _ malignant spirit into its membei-s. God will enable you, animated by the first great pro- mise, (Gen. iii. 15.) which you have seen so illustriously fulfilled, to trample on the sly deceiver, as on a wounded serpent whose head your great Leader hath already crushed. And for this purpose, 7nay the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, which hath already been ^ in so considerable a degree imparted to you, [be] still more constantly and abundantly with you ! Amen. 21 Timoiheus my work- J add by way of postscript, that Timothy mv pious and zealous fellow-labourer, to 21 fellow, and Lucius, and Ja- , n- ■',■ •'i \ u uv j j t '• ; i- j c< ■ 2 ,i son, and Sosipater, my kins- wliose atiection 1 am SO much Obliged, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, the mes- men, salute you. sengers of the church at Beroea,'' and both of them my kinsmen, salute you with sincere christian friendship. 22 I Tertius, wiio wrote I Tcrtius, or Silas, who wrote [this'] Epistle, while the apostle Paul dictated it to me,-*^ 22 the Lord"'' '''"'* ^°" '" ^^ '^'^ secretary, do also most alfectionately salute you in the Lord. 2.'! Gains mine host, and The generous Gaius, who is my host, and indeed I may say, that of the whole church, 23 of the wiioie ciiurch, sahu- gg ready is he to every act of hospitality and goodness, salutes you, [and] Erastus the beriai'n of t'i^e cUy'sa[uuth ste~ward of the city [also'] salutes you ; and so doth one 2uartus, who though you may you, and Guartus a brother, not particularly know him, is a christian brother,"^ whose name I think worthy of being inserted. 24 The grace of our Lord Once more rccdve my repeated good wishes that the best of all blessings may attend 24 a Flattering formi of address.'] Euxsyi*, in this connexion, has a what the apostle dictated ; and I submit to consideration, whether . force which i knew not how to express but by this periphrasis. We some of the intricate and some of the unfinished sentences which see here what these weapons are which these false apostles opposed we meet with in these Epistles, might not be owing to this method i to the miracles of tlie true. of writing by an amanuensis. They whose variety of business has b Sosipater.'] As it appears from Acts XX. 4. that Sosipater was obliged them to dictate to others, and use their pens in such a man- with St. Paul when he travelled in Greece, in the year 58, this is one ner, will be very sensible this is no absurd or very improbable argument for fixing the date of this epistle to that year. conjecture. Compare Jer. xxvi. 17, 18. as an instance of a similar c Wlio wrote ttiii Epistle, Sec] St. Paul seems not himself to nature, have been very well versed in the Greek characters, Gal. vi. 11. d A hrotltcr.] lUr. Pierce thinks this expression intimates that he compare I Cor. xvi. 21. He therefore made use of the hand of was a christian minister. Compare Phil. iv. 21, 22; but 1 cannot Sila.s, or, as^tlie Latin would express his name, Tertius, who wrote say it appears sufliciently evident. 648 REFLECTIONS ON THE CONCLUDING SECTION. J| SECT, you ; even that i/te grace of our Lord Jesus Christ may be tvith j/ou all : to which I jcsus ciirist be with you 35. again put my cordial Amen. • all. Amen. No-w, let me sum up all with ascribing praise to the great Author of all the blessings of 25 Now to him th.it is of ROM. which I have been writing ; even to him, ~xho, as he has called you to participate these po"'"" *" stablish y v/hich, on account of his personal concern in it, was attended with circumstances of peculiar delicacy. The second topic which the apostle considers, was the case of a notorious offender in the Corinthian church, who was guilty of most scandalous incest with his father's wife. Animated, therefore, with a warm zeal for the honour of Christ, for the punty and credit of the christian church, with a benevolent concern for the conviction of the offender, and that others might be deterred from the like enormous practices, he exhorts them, upon these principles, to beware of all unnecessary connexion with him, and to exclude him from christian communion. (Cliap. v. throughout.) The third article which, in this Epistle. St. Paul exhibits against the Corinthians, is, that by a covetous and litigious temper fhey were led, contrary to the rules of christian prudence and love, and sometimes contrary even to tlie principles of justice, to prosecute their brethren in the heathen courts. This he solemnly ceasures and condemns, and closes what he offers upon this head, by warning them of the sad consequences that would attend the indulgence of those criminal dis- positions in which Christianity found them, and from which it was intended to deliver them. (Chap. vi. 1 — 11.) ^ \n ihft fourth place, the Apostle Paul cautions them against the sin (A fornication, to which they had been, in their Gentile slate, greatly addicted. And it should seem that having Ix-en formerly wont to look upon tliis heinous crime as lawful, there were even now some among them who reckoned it among the things indifferent, and that they were not in general sufficiently convinced of its enonnity. He therefore introduces what he proposed to say on this subject, with some useful refifcctions on things really indifferent, and then illustrates the heinous evil of fornication, from views peculiar to the christian religion. (Ver. 12, to the end.) Having thus largely, and with great faitlifuln^ and plainness, corrected some sad disorders with which the Corinthians were chargeable. The apostle proceeds to the other main end of his Epistle, namely, to answer certain important questions which it seeuis the Corinthians had proposed. And here. He determines, 7?r.s/, Those which related to the marriage state. Some questions upon this would naturally arise among the first converts to Christianity, as. Whether they should disown and withdraw from their partners if they continued unbelievers ? And, Whether it was good to marry in the present circumstances of the church, when the contracting new and fcsjxcially such near alliances in those times of persecution, would involve in peculiar difficulties those who sho if 1 enter into the marriage relation, which they might, notwithstanding, judge it proper for other reasons to do ? Now the ajxjstle shows, at his entrance upon this subjtict, that in some circumstances the marriage state should be entered into and continued in, but in others forborne, particularly at that time j and enjoins wives not to depart from their husbands, and husbands not to dismiss their wives : (Chap. vii. 1 — 11.) He then shows that marriages were not to be dissolved, as .some thought they might, on account of a difference in religion ; and very properly urges in the general, contentment with the .stations in which they were called, and a concern to serve God in their proper condition, whether married or single, bound or free. (Ver. 12 — 24.) And with regard to single persons, he asserts the inexpediency of their marrying in tiie cir- cumstances of the church at that juncture, inculcating a serious sense of the shortness of time, as the best remedy against inordinate attachment to any secular interest. fVer. 25, to tht-end.) A second query which the Corinthians had proposerJ to the apostle to be resolved, was, How far they might comply with their heathen neighbours in eating thiniis samfierd to idols 'f St. Paul upon this reminds them, that though all cliristians might well be supposed to know the vanity of those imaginary deities to which the sacrifices were offered, yet it might prove to some an occasion of grief and scandal, that the professors of chrittianity should partake of these sacrifices in their temple: which therefore charity would require them by all means to avoid. (Chap. viii. throughout.) And having, in this instance, urged them to a christian condescension to their brethren, that he might enforce the principle more strongly, by his own condescension to the weak in waving to accept of a maintenance from the Corinthians, he introduces what he had to say upon this hear! with a sliort diswurse on the right which, as a gospel-minister, he really had to be supported by those among whom he lal)0ured; which he argues both from natural equity and scripture principles; (Chap. ix. 1 — l4.) ^He then proceeds to show, that out of tenderness to them, and to prevent exceptions to the gospel, he had waved this right, and had been cautious upon all occasions to avoid offence, by exercising self-denial, which he illustrates by a very expressive simile taken from those who contended in the Grecian games. (Ver. 15, to the end.) And to recommend this selfklenial and holy caution to the Corinthians, he represents the privileges which Israel of old enjoyed, and the displeasure which, notwithstanding this, God manifested against them in the wilderness, when they indulged their irregular and lux- urious desires, and in contempt of the manna, lustefi after quails ; an example proper to put the Corinthians in mind of the danger they ran of incurring the divine displeasure, if they should Ije induced, for the sake of gratifying a luxurious appetite, to partake of entertainments upon things offered to idols in the heathen temples. (Chap. x. 1 — 13.) That he might there- fore caution them against all approaches to idolatry, he particularly argues, from that communion which as christians they harj with Christ at his table, that they ought to keep at the remotest distance from what might justly be called having com- munion with devils. (Ver. 14 — 22.) After which he lays down more particular directions as to the cases and circumstances in which things sacrificed to idols might or might not lawfully be eaten ; and urges further considerations to engage them willingly to resign their own gratification for the glory of God and the good of their brethren. (Ver. 23, to the end; chap. xi. 1.) The apostle now proceeds to a third query, concerning the manner in which tcomen should deliver any thing in public, when by a divine impulse called to it. And after having settled this point, he particulariy corrects the indecency of women's prophesying with their head uncoveral. (Ver. 2 — IG.y Iking thus led to consider circumstances which attended the chris- tian worship, he takes the occasion naturally affordtf introffucing a discourse upon several abuses among them of a higher nature, with respect to the public celebration of the Lord's Supper ; leading back their views to its original institution, and inferring from thence the danger of profaning it in the manner they did. (Ver. 17, to the end.) Being thus naturally, and as it were accidentally, brought to take notice again of the corruptions prevailing in the Corinthian church, the apostle makes some remarks upon ttieir abuse of the spiritual gifts ; observing that they all proceed from the same Sacred Agent, and are intmdc-d for the edification of the same bo, ., , i r • t // ; ; i r • x i i j- • ii • /t ft letjo-e . copious in all utterance, and ready [in] all knowledge ot spiritual and divine things : As o c'Even as the testimony (he testimony which I bore to the gospel of Christ, when I abode so long at Corinth, of^^Christ was confirmed in ^^^ confirmed among yous by such various communications of the Spirit, in consequence 7 So that ye cnrae behind of which you became living witnesses of it to all who knew you. So that you are de- 7 in no gift; waiting for the fcient in no gift which can render you useful in his church, while you are waiting for a Called [/o be] an apostle.] There is great propriety in every promote in this Epistle, than this declaration of his good wishes for clause of the salutation prefixed to this Epistle, and particularly in every true christian upon earth, whether Jew or Gentile, learned or this, as there were those in the church of Corinth who affected to i/n/rarni?^, Greek or -Barbarian. To limit it, as Grotius, L'Enfant, call the authority of his mission into question. and some others would do, to the christians in Achaia, is to spoil all h Sosttienes.] This was a Corinthian minister who attended Paul the s/r^n'/M and ifn«/^ of the sentiment, in his travels. (Compare Acts xviii. 17.) It was both humility and e Invoke It, e name, every one of you lists li ITIiat yc may bcl blameless, &c.] I think it would make a very cities, that they should all agree in opinion ; nor could he inte low sense of this, to explain it, as some have done, that they would Mo/, because he does not urge any argument to reduce them be preserved if blameless ; the apostle plainly intends to encourage such an agreement, nor so much as declare what that one opin.... their hope in that grace which might enable them so to persevere, was in which he would have them agree. The words must therc- that tliey might be found blameless. fore express that peaceful and unanimous temper which christians of „,^ "y {"^ venerable and endearing name of our Lord Jesus Christ.'] different opinions mayaud ought to maintain towards each other , I Ins IS beautifully and properly opposed to the various human which will do a much greater honour to the gospel and to human names uirder which they were so ready to list themselves. nature, than the most perfect uniformity that can be imagined. i> Jn t/ie same mtnd and in t/ie same sentiment.] It was morally c T/iose of C/iloe's [ family].] Grotius supposes Fortunatlis and impossi jle, considering the diversity of their educations and capa- Achaicus (mentioned, chap xvi. 17.) to have been her sons. tend to pinion HE EXPOSTULATES WITPI THEM CONCERNING THEIR CONTENTIONS. G55 ,<,{ Paul ; and I nm of Apol- himself uuder one or another of those dividing names whicli are so unhappily used among sect. jlos; and I of Cephas; ami I yQ^ on this Occasion. One, for instance, says, I am fur I'aul, admiring the plainness 2. and purity of his doctriae j and a second, I Mwfor Apollos, charmed with the eloquence • ' and beauty of his address ; and a third, / am for Cephas, the apostle of the circumcision, 1 cor. \ who may be well called a foundation-stone in the church, as he maintains so strict a regard '• ' to the Mosaic ceremonies and the peculiar privileges of God's ancient people ; while a 12 fourth says, I am for Christ,'^ whose superior name, and strict observation of the IMosaic law in his own person, unanswerably testify its perpetual obligation, however any of his ministers may regard or neglect it. 13 Is Clirist divided? was Give me leave now to ask, Is Christ divided into as many parties as you are split into, 13 Paul crucified iVir you? or gQ ^^^^ gj^(,jj ^^^ ^ distinct Saviour ? or is he become only tlie head of one party of his name of Paul ! followers, that his name should thus be appropriated by way of distinction, as if it were to exclude all the rest of his disciples from any relation to him ? And on the other hand, (not to introduce the name of rfiy honoured and beloved brethren upon this invidious occasion,) xvas this Paul, whom some of you so much extol, crucified for i/ou ^^ Or ti'tre you baptized into the name of Paul, that you should thus affect to wear it as a 14 1 thank God that I mark of distinction ? Since there have been these unhappy divisions in your society, and 14 baptized none of you but jjiy name, among Others, has been made use of to such a purpose, I thank God that it so rispus an aius, happened in the course of his providence that / baptized none of you except Crispus, once 15 Lest any shovild say the ruler of the Synagogue, and my worthy friend the hospitable Gains : Lest any should lo that I liad baptized in mine j^ yg ^ pretence to san, though ever so falsely, that I made the waters of baptism waters own name. « ^' i ; 7 ? • > • . • r 11 01 strife ; and had baptized into my oxvn name,' or in a view ot particular and personal 16 And I baptized also attachment to myself, to the injury of my brethren or of the church in general. I remem- 16 besiderrknl'^w^norwheiher ^^^ ^'^^^ ^ baptized also the family of Stephanas, the first-fruits of Achaia ; and I knoio 1 baptized any other. not xihether I baptized any other fi And indeed it might very naturally happen that 117 17 ForClaibtsentmenot sliould baptize Only these few ; yb/' Christ sent me not so much to baptize ; which was gwpch"^' ""*°1"''^'"^ '' '^ an office that others of a much inferior rank in the ministry might as well perform ; hut to preach the gospel, and thereby to bring persons to that faith which would entitle them to this appropriate ordinance of Christianity. And I bless God with all my heart, that I have been enabled to do it with such simplicity, fidelity, and success. IMPROVEIMENT. While we live in the midst of so much darkness, and continue obnoxious to so many prejudices and errors, it will be absolutely impossible for us to speak the same thing, and so perfectly to be joined in the same mind and Vcr. 10 judgment, as that there should be no diversity of opinion or expression. But let us labour to obey the apostle's pathetic exhortation, so far as the imperfection of this mortal state may admit. Let us be entreated in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that venerable, that endeared, that sacred name, that there be no schism among us, no mu- tual hatred or animosity, no uncharitable contentions, no severe censures of each other. And as we desire that there may not, let us take care that we do not impose upon our brethren indifferent things as necessary, and thereby drive thein into a separation for conscience-sake, and tempt them at the same time, by our ill usage, to that bitterness of resentment which would make them what the mere separation would not, transgressors of this precept, and us par- takei-s in their sins. On the other hand, let none of us be disposed to dispute merely for the sake of disputing, nor unnecessarily op- pose the judgment or taste of our brethren, out of an affectation of singularity, or a spirit of contention. But let us rather labour, so far as with a safe conscience we can, to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. And while we do this, if our brethren will exact such submissions from us as they are not warranted by God to require, and as we cannot in conscience pay, let us follow conscience whithersoever it leads us, taking all necessary care that it be rightly guided \ and if in that circumstance our brethren will cast us out and say. Let the Lord be glorified ; and if to the rest of their unkindness they will add the farther injury of branding us with the odious names of schismatics or of heretics, let it be a light thing to us to be judged of man's judgment. Let us not render railing for railing, nor injury for injury, but rather, by our meekness, endeavour to overcome their severity ; and wait for that happy time when more of the spirit of knowledge and of charity shall dispose them to throw down those middle walls of partition by which the temple of God is straitened and defaced, and the convenience, the symmetry, and grandeur of its original plan so lamentably spoiled. Above all, let us wait that day when the secrets of all hearts shajl be made manifest, and that world where they who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity shall d iMwfof C/irii/.] They might perhaps be displeased with any one of them all to say that the ordinance was administered to Peter for his condescension to the uncireumcised at Antioch, (Gal. him in Paul's name. ii 12.) which happened long before the date of this Epistle; and p; I know not u/iel/ier I baptized any ollie>\] This expression of might also, as L'Eufant intimates, have valued tiieniselves on hav- uncerlainti/ as to such a. fact, is by no means inconsistent with ing heard Christ preach in his own person during the time of his inspiration, in that view and notion of it which I have endeavoured ministration on earth. to state and vindicate mnu/ discourse on that suliject, annexed to tills c jyas Paul crucified for you /] As if he had said, Are your work. I can by no means think with Bishop Burnet, that the rea- obligations to me equator comparable to those you are under to our son why Paul baptized so iev/, was because baptism was delayed till common Master, to him who died for us upon the cross? He men. some considerable time after conversion to christiauity, and that Waas himself , as it was least invidious to do it, though the ap- tlie apostle did not stay so long in a place as to do it ; (Burnet, On plication was equally just as to every other instance. Compare the Articles, Art. xxvii. p. 304. Edit. 1699.) for it does not appear to chap. iii. 6. me that baptism in these earliest and purest ages was long delayed ; f Lest any should say I baptized into my own name.'] If any and it is certain that this cause could not take place here, as Paul should object that others might do it for him, it may be answered, continued at Corinth 18 months. I rather think the office was ge- that Paul's attendants (who seem to have been Timothy and Silas, neially assigned to inferiors, as requiring no extraordinary abilities. Acts xviii. 5; 2 Cor. i. 19.) were persons of an established character, and as being attended with some trouble and inconvenience, espe- so as to be above such suspicion ; that baptism was probably admi- cially where immersion was used, as I suppose it often, though not nislcreu too openly to allow of this ; and that the apostle herein docs, constantly, was. as it were, appeal to the baptized persons themselves, challenging 656 , PAUL PREACHES THE DOCTRINE OF THE CRUCIFIXION. SECT, retain no remembrance of the controversies that once divided them, unless it be to balance the alienations of time 2. with the endearments of eternity. In the mean while, let us avoid as much as possible a party-spirit, and not be fond of listing ourselves under the 1 COR. name of this or that man, how wise, how good, how great, soever. For surely if the names of Peter and Paul ^- were in this view to be declined, much more are those which, in these latter days, have so unhappily crumbled the ' christian and protestant interest, and have given such sad occasion, to our enemies to reproach us. Christ is not divided : nor were Luther or Calvin, or even Peter or Paul, crucified for usj nor were we baptized into any of their names. Happy shall that disciple of our compassionate Lord be, whom he shall most eminently own in healing the breaches which the artifices of the tempter, too often abetted by the infirmities of Christ's faithful servants, have already made in the church, and which the great enemy is continually endeavouring to multiply, a-nd to widen ! Happy he, who, reverencing and loving his Master's image wherever he sees it, shall teach others to do so too ! And who, being himself an example of yielding, so far as he conscientiously can, and of not taking upon him to censure others, where he cannot yield to them, shall do his part towards cementing, in the bonds ot holy love, all the children of God, and the members of Christ ! How unsuccessful soever his efforts may be, amidst that angry and contentious, that ignorant and bigoted, crowd who miscal themselves christians ; or by whatever suspicious and reproachful names his moderation may be stigmatized j his Divine Master will neither tail to consider it in its true view, nor to honour it with proportionable tokens of his acceptance and favour. Love is the first and greatest of his commands ; and after all the clamour that has been made about notions and forms, he who practises and teaches love best, shall be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. SECTION in. The apostle, /criotving that a fond regard to eloquence and philosophy , to which some of their teachers made high pretensions, was one great occasion of their divisions, sets himself to show how little stress was to he laid ?.pon them ; which he illustrates by the choice which God had made of gospel-preachers quite destitute of those accomplishments. 1 Cor. i. 17, to the end. lC««-i-17. ' lC0E.i.l7. SECT. 1 JUST now told you that Christ did not send me to baptize, as my principal business. For Christ sent mc not to 3. but rather to preach the gospel ;* and now I must add, that in the commission which I baptize but to preach ti-.e 'had the honour to receive from him, he did not instruct me to preach it with those philo- fvm-'ds,' lest "tl'e ^" ros™ of 1 COR. sophical niceties of expression, or laboured rhetoric, which many are so ready to esteem Christ should be made of I- as tiie wisdom of words ; lest if I had attended to these little things, the cross of Christ """'^ '^'^'-''^'• should have been deprived of its just honours, and so have been enervated and rendered vain.^ For this must have been the natural consequence, when men saw one who pre- tended to know so much, and to have received such extraordinary discoveries of the gos- pel, and of Christ crucified as its great foundation, seeming not so much to trust to the grand important facts he averred, as to artificial reasonings, or ornaments of speech, in his manner of representing them to the world. 18 I might well be cautious on this head ; for the doctrine of the cross is indeed folly, 18 For the preacliing- of with respect to the iuderment of thcni that are pcrisliins ; to wretched creatures, who ""^. ?''°f '?,^^ ""^I" '''** • .,^ - If 1 Tu • .1 i f ; 1 1 I ■ u 1 J ii perish, foolishness; but un- are m the way to be for ever undone. Ihey, in that iatal maaness, which leads them tons which are saved, it is to speedy ruin, think it a ridiculous and mean thing, to expect salvation from one who the power of God. seemed unable to save himself ; and glory from one that expired in ignominy. But to us who are saved from the contagion of so wicked an age, and are in the way to ever- lasting salvation, it is a most illustrious display of the power of God, to the noblest 19 purposes our minds can conceive. For it is written, and the words are remarkably ap- I9 For it is written, i will plicable to this great event. Tsa. xxix. 14.) I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and fv?sSd wiiT'ifrin^^ ?o no*: abolish the sagacity of the prudent ; thus hath God, by this dispensation, poured con- thing the understanding of 20 fusion on human wit and learning, eloquence and philosophy : so that, in allusion to other "'2()"\yi^ere A the w" i words of the same prophet, we may say,'= (Isa. xxxiii. 18.) Where [/i] the celebrated sage, where is the scribe? where whose wise counsel and penetrating genius have been held in greatest esteem ? IFhei^e the is the disputer of this learned scribe ? Where the ostentatious disputer of this world,^ who has been most a Baptize, hut to preac/i."} As I knew not how to avoid the rcpe- that these words are an exact translation of the passage referred to ; tition of this clause, without prolonging the former section beyond or to show that passage to be a prophecy of the success of the gos- due bounds, or making an improper division ; I hope the reader pel. The context in Isa. xxxiii. refers to the deliverance ofjudea will excuse it and a few other instances of this kind which will from Sennacherib ; and the 18th verse describes the Jews as re- occur, viewing and meditating on the terror into which they had been b Should have been enervated or rendered vain.'] If thedoctrine thrown; and then crying out in a noble exultation over all the of the crucifixion of the Son of God for the sins of men be indeed baffled schemes of the enemy : Where is the scribe that mustered true, it is undoubtedly a truth of the highest importance, and it the forces! Where the receiver, or paymaster, who distributed might reasonably be expected, that a person who had been in- money or stores among them; AVhere the engineer, that co.unted structed in it by such extraordinary methods, should appear to lay the towers, to determine where the attack miglit most conveniently the main stress of his preaching upon it. The design of this won- be made? In a bold and beautiful allusion to, and imitation of, derful dispensation might therefore have been in a great measure these words, though witli very different ideas, the apostle proceeds, frustrated, if it had been the care of the first preachers of it, and in the animated clause that follows, to triumph over the oppositions particularly of Paul, to study a vain parade of words, and to set off of human science in its vaiious forms, when levelled against God's their discourses with those glittering ornaments which the Grecian victorious gospel. orators so often sought, and Which the Corinthians were so ready to d Sage, srri/je, dispntcr.'] Notwithstanding all the learned pains affect. But amidst sU the beautiful simplicity which a deep con- which Dr. Fuller, In his Alisrellanies, (lib. iii. cap. 7.) or Goodwin, viction of the gospel tended to produce, there was room left for the in his Hebrew Antiquities, (lib. ii. cap. 6.) have taken to prove most manly and noble kind of eloquence; which therefore the that these Mr^-f z/'ojy/s refer to three orders of learned men among christian preacher should labour to make habitual to him, and of the Jews — the naluralp/iilosopher, aud the literal, andihe allegorical which this apostle himself isa most illustrious example. interpreter of scripture ; I rather think the apostle meant to in- c 111 allusion to otlier words of the same prophet, we may say.] I elude persons most eminent for their learning and sagacity, whe- think it would be a very unnecessary labour, to endeavour to prove ther amony Jews or Gentiles. The sages of the latter, and scribes GOD HATH CONFOUNDED THE WISE BY THE PREACHING OF SALVATION. 657 fworia ? hath not God made admired foF the subtilty of his reasoning, and acxjuracy of his distinctions ? As God of sect. jfooiish the wisdom of this old delivered his people, in spite of all the proud preparations and insolent boastings of 3. '"'""^ ' the Assyrians, not by their own counsels or arms, but by his almighty power ; so dotli he now conduct his grand design for the immortal happiness of his chosen. Look upon 1 cor. the dispensation of the gospel as now administered, and say, /lat/i not God made the 'ois- '• dam of this -workl appear to bo foolish and vain, when the highest results of it are com- ^^ pared with those great eifects which he knows how to produce without it, and even in op- 21 For after that, in the position to it all. For it is indeed so : since in the wisdom of God, in the midst of the 21 wisdom of God, the world j^q^j. stupendous displays of the divine wisdom with which they were always surrounded, by wisdom knew not God, ,, f, 7 n j, • ^ c -^ \ ^ ^ ■ 1 / , ,1 i- • 1 it pleased God by the fool- the World, by all the improvements 01 its boasted wisdom, knew not the living and tme ishness of preaching to save Qod, but ran into the wildest and most absurd sentiments that can be imagined concerning \em I la e leve. ^j^^ Deity ; (some of them absolutely denying it, and others representing it under the most monstrous notions and forms ;) when this I say was generally the case, it pleased God, by that which they have impiously ridiculed as the most egregious folly of preaching, by preaching, which is indeed destitute of all the wisdom of which they boast, to save mul- titudes 5 and those, not such as are the most artful cavillers, or the most sagacious reasoners, but those that with honest simplicity and plainness of heart, believe what is credibly testi- fied to them, and taught by a superior authority. 22 For the Jews require For whereas the Jews demand a sign'^ from heaven to introduce a Messiah, wJio shall 22 a sign, and the Greeks seek establish a temporal kingdom, victorious over all their enemies ; and the Greeks seek a depth of wisdom and philosophy, or the ornaments of eloquence and charms of address ; 23 But we preach Christ We nevertheless, conscious of our high commission, and faithful to our important trust, 23 crucified, unto the Jews a -without regarding at all the unreasonable and petulant demands of either, go on plainly to stumbling-block, and unto , „p . , & r 1 . .1 r • j j j ir 11 T t u ■ K ■>■ .^ ■ the Greeks foolishness ; preach Christ crucijicd ; to the Jews indeed a stumbling-block,^ being most airectly 1 contrary to all their secular expectations; and foolishness in the abstract, to the Greeks,' I 24 But unto them which who treat it as a low and idle tale, hardly worth the least degree of notice : But to those 24 ! are called both Jews and ^,/io ^re by divine grace effectually called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, amidst all the Greeks, Clirist the power of ,., ri_- -i 1 iiij j^i rr^ j j ±1 ■ j 1 God, and the wisdom of dishonours ot his cross, is known and acknowledged as the power of God and the wisdom \ God. of God; to the converted Jews his mission is confirmed by miraculous evidence, and the j accomplishment of prophecies, far more important than any event which their carnal brethren expect ; and the believing Gentile finds it infinitely fuller of divine wisdom and 25 Because the foolishness goodness to a lost world, than any system of philosophy that was ever invented. And 25 ""^d^t^^ 'v "''*'"'' .''''J"™^".' well may they thus judge because what the world profanely censures as a folly most stronger than men. ' unworthy of God,^ is, and in its effects appears to be, incomparably wiser than all the projects which the wit of vien can devise ; and what it in^piously insults, as the weakness of christian teachers, which it charges them with falsely ascribing to God, being really his own work, will be found to be stronger than all the etforts which fnen can make, , either to reform the world any other way, or to obstruct the prevalency and success of this: and this is the necessary consequence /Of its being indeed divine. 26 For ye see your calling, And /ir the farther illustration of this thought, let me call you to behold, and seriously 26 w^semen'after*theflesi""n'ot ^^ Contemplate yoitr calling,^ brethren ; consider the state of your fellow-christians in many mighty, not many no- general, and even of those who are employed as ministers of the gospel, and you will \)\e, are called : perceive [there are'] not jnany wise according to the flesh, according to those maxims which a sensual world governs itself by, in its principles of secular policy ; there are not many mighty heroes renowned for their martial courage, there are not many of noble birth 27 But God hath chosen and illustrious rank among men, to be found on their list. But God hath chosen those 27 ^'^"^ ld*^to'coiifoumfthe wile*^ ^^^* ^'"^ reputed the foolish things of the world, that he may shame the wise men of and God hath chosen the whom it is most ready to boast; and the weak things of the world, who pretend to no weak things of the world extraordinary strength or valour, hath God chosen, that he may, by their heroic patience which''."re mighty! "°°' under the severest sufferings, shame its mighty things, which have never been able, with 28 And base things of the all their boasted fierceness, to equal that meek fortitude with which we trace the footsteps world, and things which are j- ^^ ^ j^ f q^ ^^ ignoble thinc^s of the world hath God chosen, and things 2S despised, hath God chosen, n tt ^ j 1, / j7 • 7 • 7 yea, and things which are most commonly and scomfuUy Set at nought^ among men; yea, and things which are of the former, are well known; and the cisputer of the age may rision "b?, Tolvi, the man t/iat was hanged, that is. onthe cross ; «nd include such of both, as, proud of their natural sagacity, were fond christians 'lip n3S, Abdelolvi, the disciples of the crucified male/ac- of engaging in controversies, and fancied they could confute every tor ; and by a paronomasia, or malignant playing on the word, they adversary. If, as Mr. Locke supposes, the chief leader of the fac- called Etii-yyEKiov, lij yfi, Avert gelon, a revelation, of vanity. See tion against St. Paul (whom that learned and ingeninus writer Ijeigh's Critica Sacra, in loc. styles the false apostle) called himself a scribe, there will be a pe- g To the Greeks foolishness.'] It is well known how profanely culiar propriety in the use of the word here ; but without that sup- Lucian insults the christians, on worshipping a crucified impostor ; position, it might easily be understood by the Corinthians, who and many of the fathers speak of the same reproach. Arciibishop iiad so considerable a synagogue of Jews among them. Tillotson appears to have given credit to the charge brought against e The,Jcws demand n sign, &c.] M'hen we consider how many the Jesuits, who, to avoid the like ofleuce of the Chinese, denied miracles were continually wrought by and upon the first preachers that Christ was crucified, and represented it as an invention of the and converts of Christianity, this may seem an astonishing demand ; Jews to asperse Christianity. Tillotson's Works, Vol. II. p. 284. but from a memorable passage in Josephus, in which he speaks of h The follij of God.S^c.'] As it is absolutely impossible that there an impostor, promising his followers to show them a sign of their should be cither foHi/ or weakness in God, so it is certain that the being set at liberty from the Roman yoke, compared with their world did not in general believe that there was ; and consequently requiring from Christ, amidst the full torrent of his miracles, a these strong phrases must be used in a vCTy peculiar sense, and must sign from heaven ; I am led to conclude, that the sense given in the mean that scheme which was really his, though the world, for want paraphrase is the genuine interpretation of this much controverted of understanding it, represented it as weakness and follg unwof thy passage. See the paraphrase and note on Matt. xii. 38. p. 126. and of God. Matt. xvi. 1. p. 177. i your calling.} L'Enfajit renders it, those among you who are f To the Jews indeed a stumbling-block.'] It is well known, that called: wliich, with many other passages in this version, retains nothing exposed Christianity more to the contempt of the Jews the sense, hut departs from the exactness of St. Paul's expression, than the doctrine of the cross ; they therefore called Christ in de- k Things set at nought.] Agreeable to this, the Danish raission- 2u G58 REFLECTIONS ON THE WISDOM OF GOD DESPISED BY THE WORLD. SECT, not ill the least rcgarJcJ, but overlooked aa if they had no being, and were below con- not, to bring to nought 3. tempt itself, hath God chosen, that he may aLolish and anniliilate things that are in things tliat are ; the highest esteem, and make the most illustrious figure among tlie children of men : That 29 Tliat no flpsU siiouKi 1 coa. his great end of humbling us might be more effectually secured, and that no Jlcsh might g'°''y '" '"s presence. '• boa.st of any advantages or distinctions in his presence. For on the whole, all we have 30 But of liim arc ye 30 that is wortii mentioning, we receive from Christ; and we receive it froui him as the gift QoaSg" n,\,]e'^^i",^[„ us'wi'v' of God, since it is of him, and his free mercy and grace, that ye are called to share in the dnm.auaris^hic'oiiEuess, uini blessings given by Christ Jesus his Son. He exhibits this blessed Saviour to us, and sanctification, ami rcdf.ni)- disposes our hearts to accept of him, luho, amidst our ignorance and folly, is made of God '""' unto us a source of wisdom ; and through him, guilty as we are, we receive righteousness ; polluted as we are, we obtain sanctification ; end enslaved as we naturally are to the power of our lusts, and the dominion of Satan, we obtain by him complete rede nipt ion. ^"^ 31 So that we may now indeed boast of our happy change, in whatever point of light it be ?a That, acroleins as it considered; but it is a boast not of insolent presumption, but humble gratitude; as it is let^^iJi\n''"i„'/^|||'t5,f Loni''' written, (Jer. ix. 23, 24; Isa. Ixv. 16.) " He that boasteth let hint boast in. the Lord, "^ "'" ° "''' '" " a)id in this, that he knoweth me who exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteous- " ness on the earth." IMPROVEMENT. May divine grace form the taste of ministers and tlieir hearers more to this doctrine of Christ crucified I May he Vtr. 17 every where be preached, and that be accounted the truest wisdom of words by which his cross may become most efficacious. Tliere cannot be surely a more evident demonstration of folly, or a more dreadful token of approaching IS ruin, than despising the wisdom of God and the power of God. If we are ever shaken by that contempt for the gospel which so many are continually ready in our age to express, let us reccllcct what glorious effects it hath pro- 21 duced ; whilst, in the midst of such illustrations of the wisdom of God, the world by all its wisdom knew not its Maker ; how many believers have been saved, how many by believing are daily brought into the way of salvation ! 20 In this view let us triumphantly say. Where is the wise, the scribe, the disputer of this world ? what has wisdom, learning, disputation done in comparison of what the plain and simple doctrine of a crucified Saviour has wrought, and is continually working ? Let us earnestly pray that God would, by the power of his grace, disperse the preju- 23 dices of men ; that the Jews may not so demand a sign, as that Christ crucified should be a stumbling-block to 24 them, nor the most learned of the Gentiles so seek after science, as that the wisdom of God should seem ibolishness to them ; but that both may join in feeling and owning how divinely wisd and how divinely powerful the dispen- sation of the gospel is. 2C), 27 Let us not be offended with our caUing, though so few of the wise, the mighty, and the noble, partake of i^ta benefits. If God hath chosen the weak things, they shall confound the mighty ; and the foolish, they shall shame the wise. Never shall we find ourselves truly happy till we come to feel that we are naturally Ibolish and guilty, polluted and enslaved ; and that our wisdom and righteousness, our sanctification and redemption, are in Chiist, 30 who is made unto us of God, all this, and indeed all in all. Then shall we know, and not till then, what true 31 glory means, even when we can abase ourselves to the dust in his presence, and have learned only to glory in llie Lord. SECTION IV. The apostle farther illustrates the reasons for which he had declined all ostentation of eloquence whcji he came among the Corinthians ; and particularly insists on the extraordinary nature of the fads and doctrines he was to teach, which were of a ?nuch higher original than any discoveries which human wit or learning could make, and were to be traced up to the immediate teachings of the Holy Spirit ; tlieir nature being jo won- derful that it was diJicuU for the corrupted inind-s of men to receive them, even when they were taught. I Cor. ii. 1, to the cud. ^ . 1 Con. ii. 1. , COR. ii. 1. SECT. 1 HAVE observed that the design of God in the gospel is of a very humbling nature, ad- And i, hrothriMi, when I 4- mirably calculated to siain the pride of human glory, and bring men to boast in him alone. '■«»i<; /> yon, cai.ie not m ith ^ ; "ii i .1 11 T . 7,1 . 1 . ■ !■ 1 -1 excellcncv ot speton, or or Ana witli truth and pleasure J can say to you, my brethren, that m perfect harmony with wisrioro, dcciarins- unto you 1 COR. this wise and excellent scheme, when I first came among you, I came not with the pomp the testimony ..f Cod. ■ J of language^ or worldly wisdo7n, with the laboured charms of eloquence or philosophy: ibr I remembered that I was declaring to you no human invention, which needed or ad- mitted such ornaments or recommendations, but was exhibiting the testimony of God to a plain fact, for which 1 produced authentic evidence by visible divine operations. I therefore endeavoured to exhibit it in as intelligible a way as I could, and treated it as one who be- 2 lieved that it really came from God, and so needed not the varnishing of human art. For 2 For i dcicrminc.l not to / was previously detei-mined in my mind, that, fond as I knew you were of refined specu- know any tiling amonj; you, lation and polite address, I would appear to know,^ and employ myself to make known, aries tell us, that most of the Malabarian converts were the poorest rip/tfronxnefx, sanctification, and redemption, that is, completely jns-